《Urban God-level Youth》


 Chapter 1: Chapter 1 SuperCivilization Technology System

    May 3, 2018, at 5:45 PM


    Changle District, Changle Second Middle School, Jiangshan City, Xuan Country.


    The school bell for dismissal rang, and students in blue and white uniforms came out in groups.


    Some were chasing and frolicking, filled with laughter and cheerful voices.


    Some boys and girls were bold enough to hold hands and wrap arms around waists right after exiting the academic building, their faces expressing romance and happiness.


    ...


    In a small grove outside Changle Second Middle School, a group of people ran out scattering in every direction, leaving the area.


    A student in a uniform lay on the ground inside the grove, his body covered with mud and footprints.


    ...


    The grove was now completely silent with not a single person around.


    At that moment, the space around him suddenly twisted, revealing a fist-sized black hole from which multicolored divine light burst forth.


    A beam of multicolored light shot out and then entered the body of Qin Hao on the ground; the black hole healed instantly, leaving no trace as if nothing had happened.


    "Ding ding, the Master Recognition System is initiating!"


    "Master recognition successful, congratulations to the host for receiving the basic body modification reward and a beginner''s gift pack."


    "Basic body modification underway, please wait."


    ...


    Minutes later, Qin Hao opened his eyes and observed his surroundings; the events that had just unfolded replayed in his mind.


    Xu Liang''s voice echoed in his mind, "I''m telling you, stay away from Du Wanrou from now on. Consider today a lesson."


    Du Wanrou? Was all this because of Du Wanrou? Qin Hao''s gaze flickered.


    Who was behind Xu Liang? He had never known Xu Liang; they were not in the same class and had never interacted before, so there was no reason for Xu Liang to trouble him out of the blue.


    Moreover, Qin Hao felt that someone was manipulating Xu Liang''s actions, probably someone from his class.


    He stood up, his hands clenched into fists. Why? Why do you always bully me?


    Why?


    Many in his class bullied him, and he had always endured it, but today''s beating by Xu Liang and others had ignited a long-suppressed rage within him.


    Why must they always bully? Why can''t they coexist with me in peace?


    A crisp and melodic female voice suddenly said, "A docile horse is mounted by all, a docile person is oppressed by all."


    Qin Hao''s face changed dramatically, "Who? Who is speaking?"


    Qin Hao opened his backpack and saw the ''Newbie Gift Pack'' quietly lying inside.


    ''Open.''


    ''Congratulations host, you have obtained 100 achievement points, 5 free attribute points to distribute, 3 bottles of Health Potion, and 3 bottles of Mental Potion.''


    Achievement points can be used for drawing lots, each draw consumes 50 achievement points.


    Character attribute points can be freely assigned to the four attributes: strength, agility, intelligence, and stamina.


    Health Potion: A magic formula concocted, cures all diseases, as long as one still breathes, it can restore one to their original state.


    Mental Potion: A magic formula concocted, can cure various neurological diseases.


    ''Main quest activated: Revenge!''


    ''Quest description: A gentleman shall avenge his wrongs. Revenge Xu Liang and others with rewards in achievement points based on the completion degree.''


    After reading the quest, Qin Hao closed the system because his parents would start worrying if he didn''t return soon.


    Seeing the footprints on his body, he calmed his gaze, dusted off his clothes, and then dashed home.


    His parents were mid-level managers at a state-owned car manufacturing plant; their monthly income was not low, and the factory''s subsidies and benefits were very good, making their economic situation quite decent.


    In Jiangshan City, his family was considered to be above the middle class, especially since Jiangshan City was merely a third-tier bottom city in Shuinan Province.


    His home was not too far from his school, and it took him less than ten minutes to make it back to his housing complex.


    The house prices were already over ten thousand per square meter by now, but fortunately, his family had purchased it when the prices were still low.


    When he arrived home, Qin Hao''s parents had already returned from work; his father, Qin Youguo, was watching television while his mother was cooking in the kitchen.


    Seeing him return, Qin Youguo looked up and asked, ''Back already?''


    Qin Hao nodded, then hurried into his room. First thing he did was change his clothes.


    No matter how much he cleaned, the clothes would still have some slight traces. He didn''t want his parents to know about this matter, as it would only cause them to worry.


    After changing his clothes, Qin Hao studied the God Creation System in his room, silently summoning the system, and the mature, sexy woman would appear beside him.


    Next to the woman were options for character attributes, backpack, and lot drawing.


    Qin Hao noticed the word ''name'' above the woman''s head, ''What does this naming mean?''


    The mature, sexy woman spoke up, ''Host has one opportunity to rename me.''


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, ''Then why did you say you are called Goddess?''


    ''I thought that name sounded nice, so I temporarily gave it to myself.''


    ...


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ''That name is too awkward, from now on you''ll be called Xiao Ying, shadow-like, a pleasing name.''


    ''Congratulations host, the naming was successful, Xiao Ying at your service.''

 Chapter 2 The Loving Heart of Parents Across the World

    "Prize Draw"


    Before his eyes appeared a circle of bronze treasure chests.


    Xiao Ying''s voice was crisp and pleasant, "Would you like to spend fifty achievement points for a draw?"


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What kind of prizes can one usually draw?"


    Xiao Ying: "There''s nothing you can''t draw that you can think of."


    Qin Hao: "Let''s draw one then."


    Ten bronze treasure chests began to spin rapidly, and after he yelled stop, one bronze treasure chest stopped in front of him.


    "Congratulations, host has obtained a bronze treasure chest, would you like to open it right now?"


    "Open it."


    The bronze treasure chest opened, and a book appeared before him.


    "Congratulations, host has obtained Fighting Skill, would you like to study it immediately?"


    "Study."


    The book transformed into specks of golden light and entered Qin Hao''s head, adding some information to his brain.


    Seeing he still had fifty achievement points left, Qin Hao said, "Continue the draw."


    The bronze compartment began to rotate again, and after he called stop, he directly opened the bronze treasure chest.


    "Congratulations, host has obtained a free attribute point."


    Qin Hao opened the attribute panel; he now had six free attribute points, all of which he added to strength.


    Instantly, he felt a warm current flowing inside his body. It circulated from top to bottom and then disappeared.


    He opened his character attribute panel again to take a look:


    Name: Qin Hao


    Age: 19


    Gender: Male


    Realm: Mortal


    Achievement Points: 0


    Strength: 21


    Agility: 15


    ...


    Li Shujie saw her son with his head down, about to speak, when she noticed a few tears fall.


    She asked anxiously, "Son, what''s wrong? Did Mom and Dad do something wrong? Why are you crying?"


    Qin Hao lifted his head and hurriedly said, "Mom, I''m fine, I just realized I was too willful before. I''ll study hard and definitely get into a top university."


    Li Shujie looked at her son, feeling that he had suddenly matured a lot, her face showing a relieved smile, "Do your best, no matter what, Mom will support you."


    Qin Youguo also said, "Dad will support you too. Even if we don''t end up with good results, don''t be disheartened because results don''t represent everything."


    "Okay, Mom, Dad, let''s eat," Qin Hao said with a smile on his face, secretly resolving to get into a top university and make his parents happy.


    "Congratulations host, you have achieved a hidden achievement: As a son, filial piety comes first; you''ve earned a thousand achievement points."


    Qin Hao, hearing Xiao Ying''s voice, was momentarily startled. Could that also earn achievement points?


    At dinner, he discovered something else; he could now see an option to check his parents'' attributes next to his father and mother.


    He clicked on it, and his father''s character attribute panel appeared:


    Name: Qin Youguo


    Gender: Male


    Age: 45


    Strength: 7


    Agility: 4


    Intelligence: 7


    Constitution: 5


    Health condition: Suffers from early-stage cervical spondylosis, arthritis, poor sleep, recently under great mental stress.


    Could it really reveal someone''s health condition? And what''s this about father being under great mental stress?


    Qin Hao glanced at his father, seeing no sign of the mental stress he was supposedly under. His father must be hiding it, not wanting him and his mother to know.


    After dinner, Qin Hao went back to his room. First, he reviewed the homework assigned by his teacher. Normally, it took him over two hours to review, but today he finished it all in just about fifteen minutes.


    And the effect was much better than before. Normally, even after two hours of reviewing, he couldn''t remember much.


    But today, he had memorized all the reviewed homework, able to recite it verbatim.


    Could this be because of the system? Qin Hao quickly summoned the system and asked.


    Xiao Ying explained, "Today, host''s body underwent a basic transformation, and all attributes have been enhanced. The increase in strength attribute represents the growth of your physical strength, and the increase in intelligence represents an enhancement in your perceptiveness, understanding ability, and logical thinking ability, among others."

 Chapter 3: Chapter 3 The Kind Are Easy to Bully

    Qin Hao was relieved, so that''s what it was. His intelligence was at fifteen whereas his father''s was only seven.


    Also, his father''s strength was at seven, which he knew was just average among middle-aged men.


    Meanwhile, his own strength was at an impressive twenty-one, three times that of an average middle-aged man, enough to deal with Xu Liang and his group, especially since he also knew Fighting Skill.


    Qin Hao checked his achievements, a full one thousand points, enough for twenty draws in the lottery. This hidden achievement really gave a lot of points.


    He drew five times in a row.


    "Congratulations, host, for obtaining table tennis skills."


    "Congratulations, host, for obtaining calligraphy skills."


    "Congratulations, host, for obtaining basketball skills."


    "Congratulations, host, for obtaining painting skills."


    "Congratulations, host, for obtaining Fighting Skill."


    Qin Hao learned them all, and when he learned Fighting Skill again,


    he felt his strength seemed to have increased a bit. The skills section in his character attribute panel showed Fighting Skill experience had gone from zero to fifty, with only fifty more needed to level up.


    He checked his achievement points and saw he had 750 left.


    Thinking of Xu Liang''s numerous underlings, he spent fifty achievement points to level his Fighting Skill up to level 1, feeling a warm flow throughout his body.


    To level up from level 1 to level 2 in Fighting Skill would require five hundred experience, or five hundred achievement points.


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment and then leveled up his Fighting Skill from level 1 to level 2.


    ...


    The next morning,


    After breakfast, Qin Hao went to school as a student in the senior third grade, class two, at Changle Second Middle School.


    When he walked into his classroom and arrived at his spot, someone was already sitting there, talking to Du Wanrou who was next to him.


    Before he could speak, from the back of the classroom, Song Wei casually said, "Qin Hao, take a broom and clean our class''s sanitation area. If you can''t clean it well, don''t bother coming back to class."


    A hint of anger rose in Qin Hao''s heart. Do you still think I''m the same old Qin Hao?


    Impatiently, Song Wei said, "CN, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and grab a broom to clean."


    Everyone in the class turned to look at Qin Hao, Sun Wanrou frowned slightly and glanced at Song Wei.


    Yuan Zhengxiang, sitting in Qin Hao''s spot, looked on with interest.


    The reason Qin Hao was unkind to him was because he suspected that Yuan Zhengxiang had orchestrated the incident yesterday.


    Yuan Zhengxiang, with a gloomy expression, lowered his head. He couldn''t believe that the timid Qin Hao dared to humiliate him in front of the whole class. At that moment, he wished he could kill Qin Hao.


    Song Wei had also returned to his seat by then and hissed venomously, "Xiang, we really need to teach this kid a lesson today."


    "After school today, I''ll make him pay," Yuan Zhengxiang said, clenching his fists, his tone sinister.


    The classroom was now dead silent; no one spoke loudly.


    Qin Hao sat at his desk, looking at the review materials, while Du Wanrou occasionally stole glances at him.


    After a while, Qin Hao turned to look at her and said helplessly, "Class leader, do I have a flower on my face?"


    Du Wanrou''s face flushed slightly, "It''s just that you seem different from before."


    Qin Hao said self-deprecatingly, "Was I too timid before?"


    Du Wanrou did not answer, which was a tacit agreement. She indeed thought the old Qin Hao was somewhat timid, but today''s Qin Hao impressed her.


    Just then their class teacher walked into the classroom, and the bell for class also rang.


    There was only one month left until the college entrance examination, so nearly every day was spent reviewing or taking mock exams.


    Their class teacher, a middle-aged woman nearing her fifties, held a score sheet and said, "The results of the last mock exam are in, I will read out the scores."


    "First place, Du Wanrou with 710 points."


    The class was in uproar; 710 points was a remarkably high score, enough to get into top-tier institutions like Shangjinghua or Jing University.


    Upon hearing her score, a small smile appeared on Du Wanrou''s face, clearly very satisfied with her results.


    "Second place, Chen Shuna with 660 points."


    ...


    Fifth place, Yuan Zhengxiang with 610 points.


    ...


    Fiftieth place, Qin Hao with 450 points.


    With a total of sixty students in the class, Qin Hao ranked tenth from the bottom, truly living up to the title of underachiever.


    Their class teacher announced the scores and then discussed some weaknesses with the top twenty students, advising them on which subjects needed improvement.


    As for the students ranked lower, in their class teacher''s view, there was little hope; even with improvement, it wouldn''t be significant.


    After finishing, the class teacher allowed them to study freely. Qin Hao bowed his head and looked at the review materials.


    There was still a month left. For many, the outcomes might already be decided, but for him, there was still a chance¡ªit wasn''t too late.

 Chapter 4 The Deceptive Task

    Du Wanrou glanced at Qin Hao, surprised in her heart. Was he actually studying?


    This guy used to be lost in his own world before. What happened today?


    She tentatively asked, "Qin Hao, which university do you plan to attend in the future?"


    Qin Hao curiously looked at her, feeling that she was unusually talkative today.


    They had been desk mates for three years in high school and had spoken only a handful of times. What was up with Du Wanrou today?


    Not far away, Yuan Zhengxiang, seeing the two of them talking, had a thick shade of jealousy in his eyes, because Du Wanrou had never taken the initiative to talk to him before.


    He gritted his teeth in hatred. It seems that Xu Liang''s lesson yesterday was not enough for you. Just wait; you''ll suffer today.


    ...


    Du Wanrou, seeing that he was not talking, said irritably, "I''m asking you a question."


    Qin Hao: "Class rep, why are you talking so much today?"


    Upon hearing his words, Du Wanrou''s face turned cold, and she turned her head to look at her own review materials.


    Qin Hao was somewhat confused. What happened again? Was it wrong to just ask out of curiosity?


    Indeed, a woman''s mood changes faster than flipping a book.


    He shook his head, speechless, and continued to look at the review materials. He spent the whole morning revising the mathematics materials of the senior year.


    By lunchtime, he had covered about one-fifth of the material, which could be said to be extremely efficient.


    When the school bell rang for lunch, everyone in the class got up and went to the cafeteria to eat.


    Yuan Zhengxiang and Song Wei glanced at Qin Hao and walked out of the classroom.


    Qin Hao stood up, stretched lazily, and also planned to go to the cafeteria. He glanced at Du Wanrou next to him, only to see her taking out a thermal lunch box, planning to have lunch.


    "Ding, side mission activated: Invite Du Wanrou to have lunch together. Successful reward: 100 achievement points, failure penalty: 200 achievement points."


    Hearing the system''s voice, Qin Hao''s face was stunned. Invite Du Wanrou to dine together?


    The system wants me to invite her to lunch? Are you kidding me?


    Seeing that Du Wanrou had already unpacked her lunch box, Qin Hao hurriedly said in a low voice, "Class rep."


    Du Wanrou looked up, "What''s up?"


    Qin Hao, a bit embarrassed, said softly, "Um... could I treat you to lunch?"


    Du Wanrou''s expression was surprised, thinking if she had misheard, "What did you say?"


    Back at his desk, Du Wanrou smiled at him, "Thank you for the meal."


    Qin Hao: "You''re welcome, it''s my pleasure."


    Du Wanrou didn''t speak further but started looking at her revision materials.


    Qin Hao spent half the day pondering how to write her a love letter. Since he had a few days left, he put aside the thought and continued revising.


    He reviewed the math materials for the whole afternoon. He had gone through more than half of the senior year mathematics knowledge points, and he could almost finish them by the end of the next day.


    In the afternoon, Du Wanrou stole a few glances at him, and seeing Qin Hao engrossed in his revision, she was astonished. Had this guy changed?


    At 5:45 PM, the school bell rang for dismissal.


    Classmates began gathering their books and gradually left the classroom, and Qin Hao also started packing up his review materials.


    Today was Friday, and there were no classes for the next two days, so he decided to take more review materials home.


    That''s when Yuan Zhengxiang and Song Wei walked over, "Meet us at the small woods outside the school."


    After the others had left the classroom, Du Wanrou spoke up, "Qin Hao, don''t go, they must have gathered people to beat you up."


    This wasn''t something he could avoid; it was a good opportunity to find Xu Liang and the others, and also to test the power of level 2 Fighting Skill.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "It''s okay."


    In his smile, Du Wanrou saw a confidence she had never seen before, which momentarily stunned her.


    Qin Hao: "I''ll go ahead, see you on Monday."


    "Okay, bye." Du Wanrou smiled and waved.


    Qin Hao, with his backpack, left the classroom and exited the teaching building, still seeing many students heading towards the school exit.


    At the school gate, two of Xu Liang''s underlings were waiting for him, presumably to prevent him from running away.


    Upon seeing him emerge, they walked towards him.


    Qin Hao looked at them sharply, remembering that these two were among those who had beaten him up the night before.


    Not waiting for them to speak, he said, "Let''s go."


    In the small woods, several people were standing, including Yuan Zhengxiang, Song Wei, and Xu Liang.


    Except for Yuan Zhengxiang and Song Wei, the others were those who had beaten Qin Hao the previous night, not one more or less among them.


    Xu Liang, also a senior student, was from Class 8 and was a known figure in school, often addressed as Liang.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao''s arrival, Song Wei''s expression grew fierce, "Qin Hao, you acted tough this morning. Now kneel and crawl from under Xiang''s crotch, and we''ll let you go today."

 Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Revenge

    Qin Hao didn''t bother with him but instead looked at Yuan Zhengxiang, "You were the one behind what happened yesterday, weren''t you?"


    Yuan Zhengxiang also looked at him and nodded, "That''s right, if you realize your mistake now, it''s not too late.


    I can give you a chance to repent. Just as Song Wei said, crawl under my legs, and I''ll let you off today."


    Getting a definite answer, Qin Hao''s expression turned cold as he looked at Xu Liang, "You all remember how you beat me yesterday, right? Today, I''m going to hit back."


    Xu Liang and the others, upon hearing his words, were momentarily stunned then burst into laughter.


    "Did you hear what he said?"


    "Hit back? I think this guy''s brain is messed up."


    "Yesterday he was lying on the ground like a dog, but today he actually starts to act tough."


    "Damn, it seems that we didn''t beat him hard enough yesterday."


    Xu Liang turned his head to look at Yuan Zhengxiang, the meaning obvious: say something if we should beat him up.


    Yuan Zhengxiang nodded his head; Qin Hao had made him lose face in class today, and now he was going to show Qin Hao just how formidable he was.


    Xu Liang: "Beat him up, damn it, a brat trying to act tough in front of me."


    Six guys from Xu Liang''s side approached, and one of them ran over, lifting his leg to aim a kick at Qin Hao''s chest.


    Qin Hao sidestepped, avoiding the flying kick, while his right leg rose and kicked the guy in the stomach.


    "Bang"


    The man fell to the ground, screaming out in severe pain.


    As soon as he landed, the others rushed forward, but Qin Hao''s body suddenly went airborne, launching a spinning kick.


    "Bang Bang Bang Bang"


    His foot struck several of them on the side of the face, and in an instant, they were all kicked to the ground.


    Yuan Zhengxiang, Song Wei, and Xu Liang''s eyes nearly popped out, looking at Qin Hao in disbelief.


    Was this the same weakling from yesterday?


    Qin Hao was also somewhat surprised by his own strength, had he really taken care of six people so easily?


    He quickly snapped back to reality and walked towards Xu Liang. Xu Liang was somewhat frightened, and as he saw Qin Hao approaching, he couldn''t help but take two steps back, "I tell you, I know Brother Bao, if you dare touch me, I''ll have Brother Bao destroy you."


    ...


    "Congratulations to the host for completing the main mission: Revenge; Completion: Perfect; Reward: 500 Achievement Points, and for perfect completion of the mission an additional reward item: Invisibility Cloak."


    Invisibility Cloak? What''s that?


    Qin Hao quickly opened his system backpack, where a black cloak lay inside.


    Invisibility Cloak: Upon wearing, it can render the wearer invisible for thirty minutes. After thirty minutes, the effect expires, with a cooldown time of one day.


    This is a nice piece of gear. Though it can only be used for half an hour each day, wearing it to stroll into the ladies'' restroom... cough cough.


    He checked his achievement points again, totaling seven hundred now.


    But his mood fell when he saw ''Fighting Skill Lv2 (0/3000)''. To upgrade from level two to level three, he needed three thousand achievement points, which was an exorbitant amount!


    In a black BMW not far away, Du Wanrou, upon seeing Qin Hao emerge unscathed, exhibited a puzzled look and said, "Mr. Lin, let''s drive back home."


    "Understood, Miss." Lin Kang nodded, started the car, and left the place.


    Back at home, Qin Hao started to experiment with the Invisibility Cloak in his room. He put on the cloak, quietly opened his room door, and stepped out.


    Qin Youguo was watching TV. Qin Hao deliberately walked in front of him and circled around, but his father showed no sign of noticing anything.


    Qin Hao then went to the kitchen, where Li Shujie was busy cooking and did not realize an extra person had entered.


    After confirming the effectiveness of the Invisibility Cloak, Qin Hao returned to his room and took off the cloak, reappearing in his room.


    There were twenty-eight minutes and five seconds remaining on the Invisibility Cloak; the time couldn''t be accumulated. If it wasn''t used up before dawn, the next day''s time would still be thirty minutes.


    Qin Hao: "Xiao Ying, are you there?"


    "Does the host need something?"


    "No, just wanted to chat."


    Xiao Ying: "..."


    "Actually, I like Du Wanrou. The first time I saw her when we started high school, I fell for her. But I didn''t have the courage to speak to her, scared that I might leave a bad impression, scared that if I said the wrong thing, she would hate me, I''m scared of..."


    Qin Hao had never confided these words to anyone before because he had no friends and nobody ever treated him like one.


    Deep down, he was lonely, but no one knew it.


    "Host, if you like her, then go after her boldly. You are no longer who you used to be. With the system, you will become the strongest man ever."

 Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Go Die

    Qin Hao curiously asked, "Xiao Ying, do you have thoughts?"


    Xiao Ying: "Yes."


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "So, theoretically speaking, you''re no different from a human?"


    Xiao Ying: "Aside from a body, Xiao Ying indeed has no significant differences from humans."


    Qin Hao: "Then, can we become friends?"


    "We are in a host relationship," replied Xiao Ying.


    Qin Hao: "Does that mean we can''t be friends?"


    "If the host requests it, Xiao Ying can consider it."


    ...


    With a giggle, Xiao Ying revealed a charming smile, "Just kidding. Since the host wants to be friends with Xiao Ying, then from now on, we are friends."


    When Qin Hao saw her enchanting smile, he was immediately stunned.


    Because Xiao Ying was very beautiful, with a curvaceous figure and a stunning appearance that, apart from Du Wanrou, was the second woman to impress him so profoundly.


    Qin Hao came to his senses, feeling a bit embarrassed, and hurriedly changed the subject, "Xiao Ying, should I use the lottery now or save up achievement points?"


    "Considering that the host''s basic skills are rather limited, I suggest you continue to use the lottery. Once you accumulate more achievement points, you can choose to upgrade essential skills or the system, at which point the system will become even more comprehensive," Xiao Ying advised.


    Qin Hao glanced at his seven hundred achievement points and decided to draw four times.


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining four bronze treasure chests. Would you like to open them?"


    "Open them," he said.


    "Congratulations to the host for acquiring the Singing God skill."


    "Congratulations to the host for acquiring the Gaming God skill."


    "Congratulations to the host for acquiring the Medical skill."


    "Congratulations to the host for acquiring a Memory Card."


    A Memory Card?


    Eagerly, Qin Hao learned the Singing God skill, Gaming skill, Medical skill, and then examined the Memory Card.


    The Memory Card is a one-time use item; upon use, it can enhance learning efficiency and memory for a duration of twelve hours.


    Qin Hao opened his character attribute panel to check:


    Name: Qin Hao


    Age: 19


    Gender: Male


    Realm: Mortal


    Just then, a notification from the chat software popped up; someone had sent him a friend request. The name was Wan Rou.


    Qin Hao was stunned and somewhat excited. Could it be Du Wanrou?


    He quickly accepted and then sent a message, "Who is this?"


    On the other side, Du Wanrou saw the message and a smile crossed her lips, "Guess."


    Qin Hao: "Could it really be Du Wanrou?"


    Du Wanrou: "Yes, it''s me."


    Qin Hao: "Where did you find my chat software ID?"


    Du Wanrou came up with a reason for herself, "I just happened to see your chat ID and thought, we''ve been desk-mates for years, so I added you."


    After all, she was the school belle of No. 2 Middle School, never having taken the initiative to add a boy before.


    Without an explanation, she thought Qin Hao might misunderstand.


    Qin Hao didn''t expose her lie, replying instead, "What are you doing now? Have you had dinner?"


    "I''ve eaten, what about you?"


    "I''ve eaten too."


    Xiao Ying couldn''t bear to watch anymore, thinking, with that approach, how are you ever going to charm a girl?


    "Ding, random quest activated: Send Du Wanrou a racy joke with sexual innuendo. Succeed for a reward of 100 achievement points, fail and all achievement points will be deducted."


    Seeing this, Qin Hao stood frozen, astonished. Send a racy joke with sexual innuendo, isn''t this like forcing a decent person into prostitution?


    If I really send it, my wholesome image would be completely ruined in Du Wan''s eyes.


    I resolutely refuse...


    Xiao Ying: "The host has ten seconds left. If you don''t agree, all achievement points will be deducted."


    "A poor man cannot be swayed by money, a brave man cannot be bent by force... I agree."


    Qin Hao''s account automatically sent out a message.


    When he saw the content of the chat, Qin Hao almost spat blood: Xiao Ying, is this how you betray a friend?


    ...


    On the other side, Du Wanrou was stunned for a moment. Her cheeks turned red instantly, "This jerk, this hooligan, sending me something like this, I never would have thought he was such a person."


    Du Wanrou did not reply, which was within his expectations. The fact that she hadn''t blocked him was already a mercy.


    He started to ponder what to do. Claim his account was hacked? That sounded too fake. Someone else sent the message? That wouldn''t work either.


    Apologize? It seemed that was the only option left.


    "Congratulations, host, for completing the random quest. A reward of one hundred achievement points granted."


    Just then, his chat software chimed again. Du Wan had replied to his message: "Go to hell."

 Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Qin Haos Transformation

    Qin Hao quickly replied, "It wasn''t on purpose, really!"


    Du Wanrou replied, "You think I would believe that?"


    Qin Hao began to beg for mercy, "I was wrong, please forgive me this time."


    It took a long while before Du Wanrou replied, "If there''s a next time, I won''t bother with you anymore."


    Qin Hao promised, "There definitely won''t be a next time."


    Du Wanrou asked, "Hmm, how''s your revision going?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Not bad. Which university are you planning to apply to?"


    "Jianghai University in Jianghai City."


    Qin Hao was startled and asked, "Aren''t you considering Chenhua University or Chen University?"


    Du Wanrou explained, "They''re too far, and besides, Jiang University is also a 985 key university. Their business management program is very good. What about you? Which university are you planning to apply to?"


    Qin Hao answered, "I''m also planning to apply to Jianghai University."


    ...


    Du Wanrou thought she had read wrong and replied incredulously, "You? Jianghai University?"


    Qin Hao asked, "What? You look down on me too?"


    "No, I didn''t mean that. It''s just that with your grades, it''s very difficult to get into Jianghai University."


    What Du Wanrou said was quite subtle, considering that with his past performance, even getting into a third-tier university would be difficult, let alone such a key university.


    The two chatted for a while, and then Du Wanrou said she was going to rest.


    After chatting with Du Wanrou, Qin Hao lay on his bed, looked at his watch, and smiled. He had just talked to his goddess for almost half an hour.


    This was something he had never even dared to dream of before.


    But since he had the system, and after the revenge earlier that evening, he didn''t realize that his long-lost confidence was gradually returning.


    Qin Hao didn''t study further but instead rested well that night.


    That night he had a beautiful dream where he and Du Wanrou were together as a couple, holding hands and walking through the school campus of their high school.


    The next day, Qin Hao also spent the day revising.


    He had already finished revising Math and had begun revising Chinese.


    Within a day, he barely finished revising the Chinese knowledge points for the first year of high school. While his intelligence score was as high as 15, the continuous studying still made him feel very tired.


    All three were no match for him. This guy had been really low-key before, hiding his true capabilities.


    Qin Hao walked over to Liu Wei, kicked him in the chest, "Speak now or not?"


    Liu Wei stubbornly retorted, "What can I say? I don''t know who put ink on your chair."


    "Smack smack"


    Qin Hao slapped him twice, the loud sound echoing throughout the classroom.


    That directly baffled Liu Wei, who had not anticipated Qin Hao''s ferocity; he didn''t even spare him some dignity.


    Qin Hao shouted, "I''m asking you one more time, speak or not? If you don''t speak, I''ll keep hitting you."


    Liu Wei finally gave in, "I''m sorry, Qin Hao. I shouldn''t have pranked you like that. I know I was wrong."


    "Lick the ink off the chair." Qin Hao dragged him to his seat.


    Upon hearing those words, Liu Wei''s face changed instantly¡ªlick it clean?


    At that moment, Chen Shuna came over and said, "Let it go, Qin Hao. It''s not such a big deal. We''re all classmates here."


    Qin Hao glanced at Chen Shuna. She was the class representative and had never bullied or mocked him; she had even defended him a few times before.


    It was only because the old Qin Hao had been too weak. Even when Chen Shuna spoke for him, he never dared to confront Liu Wei and the others at the time.


    Qin Hao stated, "For Chen Shuna''s sake, you don''t have to lick it clean, just wipe it up thoroughly. If there''s a next time, I''ll make you drink a whole bottle of ink."


    Feeling immensely relieved, Liu Wei quickly nodded and took some paper, wiping his chair over and over.


    Qin Hao didn''t say it was okay; Liu Wei didn''t dare to stop.


    After a long while, Qin Hao, seeing no trace left, finally said, "Alright, get lost."


    Liu Wei did not dare make a sound and quickly got away from Qin Hao.


    Chen Shuna looked at Qin Hao, feeling puzzled, "I feel like you''re different from before."


    Qin Hao retorted, "Did you think the old timid and bullied me had a good life?"


    Chen Shuna did not know how to respond.


    In the past, she indeed felt frustrated seeing Qin Hao so weak, wondering why he couldn''t just man up.


    But now, seeing the changes in Qin Hao, she felt it was sudden and hard to adapt to.


    "I need to study now. You should go back and study too. Thanks for before," Qin Hao said sincerely at the end.


    Chen Shuna could hear it and smiled, nodding, "Study hard, there is still hope."

 Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Writing Love Letters

    "Congratulations, Host, for completing the random task. You have been rewarded with three hundred achievement points."


    At that moment, Du Wanrou arrived, her delicate face bearing a faint smile as she walked into the classroom with her backpack.


    Qin Hao couldn''t help but look up, and the more he looked, the more he found Du Wanrou charming and alluring, like a flower yet to bloom on her chest.


    Just before the class started, Yuan Zhengxiang and Song Wei entered the classroom.


    Honestly, Qin Hao had felt some envy towards Yuan Zhengxiang before, because not only was his family wealthy, but he also excelled in his studies.


    However, now Qin Hao no longer held that envy in his heart, having the system meant it would soon be others envying him.


    Du Wanrou sat at her desk, took out her revision materials, and started to read them earnestly.


    Qin Hao glanced at his side task; writing a love letter to Du Wanrou was still incomplete.


    He also noted that his calligraphy skill was still at level zero, but his achievement points had reached nine hundred. He spent six hundred achievement points to upgrade his calligraphy skill to level 2 without hesitation.


    After all, it was his first time writing a love letter to a beautiful girl, and attractive handwriting would undoubtedly make a good impression.


    He took out the colorful stationery he had prepared in advance, took a deep breath, and began to write.


    A one-thousand-word love letter was still quite a challenge for him; he started with the very first moment he had seen Du Wanrou.


    As the graceful and flowing handwriting appeared on the page, even Qin Hao was stunned. Did I really write this?


    After more than half an hour, Qin Hao finally finished the love letter, which was well over a thousand words.


    He carefully folded the love letter and sneaked a glance at Du Wanrou, relieved to see her engrossed in her studies.


    Little did he know that while he was focused on writing the love letter, Du Wanrou had stolen several looks at him.


    She was curious about what he was writing on that colored paper. Could it be a love letter for someone?


    As she thought about it, she couldn''t help but take a few more peeks. When she saw Qin Hao was nearly done, she quickly pretended to be diligently studying.


    After finishing, Qin Hao carefully put the letter away, planning to give it to Du Wanrou after school at noon.


    He spent the entire morning reviewing, and before he knew it, time had passed by.


    When the noon school bell rang, those in the class who were going to have lunch left, leaving only a few people still in the classroom.


    Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention, Qin Hao quickly placed the love letter on Du Wanrou''s desk.


    Then he walked quickly out of the classroom, under Du Wanrou''s astonished gaze.


    He didn''t want to end up on an autopsy table as a lab rat for experiments.


    Qin Hao''s face maintained a natural smile, "If you had gone through what I have, perhaps you would act the same, either dying in cowardice or erupting out of it, and I belong to the latter."


    Chen Shuna paused at his words, finding there was some sense to them.


    While they spoke, a guy with his meal sat directly beside Qin Hao.


    Both Qin Hao and Chen Shuna frowned slightly, and Chen Shuna asked the newcomer, "Lv GuiBo, what do you want?"


    Lv GuiBo with an unruly expression retorted, "Nothing, can''t I eat here?"


    Qin Hao had heard of Lv GuiBo, a student from Class Seven well-known at Changle Second Middle School, constantly pursuing Chen Shuna.


    There had been someone who tried to woo Chen Shuna before, but it was said they were severely dealt with by Lv GuiBo.


    Qin Hao finished his meal and said, "You guys talk. I''m taking off first."


    No sooner had he exited through the canteen''s back door than he was stopped by several men, seven in total.


    Liu Wei, Yu Da, and Wang Fei were among them; Qin Hao understood what was happening immediately upon seeing the scene.


    Liu Wei was out for revenge.


    Qin Hao looked at Liu Wei with a sneer, "It seems you haven''t learned your lesson."


    Liu Wei cursed, "Quit your damn posturing in front of me. I''m going to teach you a lesson this noon."


    Just then, Lv GuiBo came walking out of the canteen. He glanced over and said, "Take him to the back."


    Liu Wei obediently called out, "Yes, Bo."


    Qin Hao showed no fear; if he didn''t want to be bullied in the future, he had to establish his might and show these people how formidable he was to keep them from provoking him.


    He followed them to the back of the canteen, where some onlookers had gathered for the spectacle.


    Lv GuiBo made no move to disperse the crowd; he wanted them to realize his toughness, to bolster his reputation at Changle Second Middle School.


    Lv GuiBo addressed Qin Hao, "Liu Wei, Yu Da, and Wang Fei are my brothers. Since you beat up my brothers, don''t you think you owe me an explanation?"


    Qin Hao glanced at him, responding lightly, "Give you an explanation? Who the hell are you?"


    The onlookers were stunned at this retort: Brother, at a time like this, you still talk tough? Aren''t you just asking for it? Now if you called him ''Bro'' a few times, offered a few soft words, maybe they''d go a little easier on you.


    Someone murmured under their breath: This guy just can''t lose face even when he''s suffering. Just you watch, he''s going to get beaten up badly in a moment.

 Chapter 9 The University Promise

    ```


    Lv Guibo''s face turned red with humiliation as he heard Qin Hao''s words, "CN, you still dare to show off in front of me? Hit him!"


    "Smack smack"


    Two slaps rang out, and Lv Guibo''s left and right cheeks quickly bore the imprint of palm marks.


    Before he could react, Qin Hao lifted his leg and kicked him to the ground, and Lv Guibo''s flunkies rushed towards them.


    Qin Hao turned and kicked one in the chest, then raised his hands to strike at the others.


    His strength was three to four times theirs, and his fighting skills were at a Level 2, surpassing that of average professional players.


    In less than a minute, he had knocked all six to the ground, unavoidably taking a few punches himself.


    But it didn''t affect him at all, as his physical condition was also three to four times stronger than theirs, with an extremely strong resistance to being hit.


    The onlookers with widened eyes exclaimed, "Holy shit, that''s freaking badass, those moves are damn suave."


    "So cool."


    This was the heartfelt admiration of the crowd, their eyes filled with envy as they watched Qin Hao, believing he possessed the ultimate tool for picking up girls.


    Qin Hao walked over to Lv Guibo, who had managed to stagger to his feet, looking fearfully at Qin Hao: "Brother, this is a misunderstanding. I swear I won''t mess with you again."


    Qin Hao gave him another slap, "You think I''d be afraid of your trouble? Take your revenge whenever you want, but you better check if you''ve got the strength for it."


    Lv Guibo''s cheek stung painfully, and he quickly said, "I know I was wrong, Brother Hao. I won''t dare to do it again."


    Qin Hao nodded, satisfied, "As long as you know your mistake, that''s good. And about Chen Shuna, since she doesn''t like you, stop harassing her, got it?"


    Chen Shuna had been good to Qin Hao before, so now that he could help her, of course, he would.


    Lv Guibo nodded hastily, "Sure, Brother Hao. To be honest, I never really liked Chen Shuna¡ªit was just a game to me. You go ahead and hook up with her."


    ...


    Qin Hao couldn''t be bothered to explain. These things only get more complicated the more you talk about them. He warned Lv Guibo and then left.


    After Qin Hao had left, the onlookers dispersed too, leaving only Lv Guibo and his gang.


    Liu Wei cautiously asked, "Bro, what should we do?"


    Lv Guibo glared at him, "Let''s never talk about this again. I won''t provoke him anymore, and if you three overconfident fools want to, that''s on you."


    Song Wei, flattering, "Why bother getting angry over this kind of person, Xiang? Qin Hao is all brawn and no brains. When it comes to money, you''re streets ahead of him, academically, he can''t even catch up if he flattered you two times over, and in terms of looks, he''s not even as good as me. Du Wanrou couldn''t possibly fancy him."


    Upon hearing his words, Yuan Zhengxiang''s face broke into a smile. Song Wei''s words hit right at home, giving him great satisfaction.


    ...


    Out of curiosity, Du Wanrou asked, "Xu Liang is looking for you again?"


    "Mhm." Qin Hao answered while continuing to read his book.


    Seeing his unconcerned expression, Du Wanrou asked doubtfully, "You don''t seem scared at all."


    Qin Hao, "Why should I be scared? The one who should be scared is him."


    ...


    Afternoon after school.


    Qin Hao walked out of the school by himself, carrying his backpack. At the school gate, he saw Xu Liang.


    Xu Liang was followed by six lackeys, their presence formidable, drawing the sideways glances of many students.


    Qin Hao walked over and said to Xu Liang, "Going to start something here?"


    Xu Liang replied calmly, "It''s Bao who wants to see you today."


    Qin Hao, "Where? If it''s too far, I don''t have time."


    Xu Liang, "Just at the Xinghui Pool Hall nearby."


    "Lead the way."


    The group headed toward Xinghui Pool Hall, and after about five minutes, they arrived outside Xinghui Pool Hall.


    It was a dilapidated two-story building with numerous e-bikes and motorcycles parked outside, along with a few old Volkswagen cars.


    Xu Liang and the others entered first, with Qin Hao following closely behind. As soon as he entered, the thick scent of smoke and sweat hit his nostrils.


    Inside the pool hall, there were about five pool tables, not many people were playing, just around seven or eight groups.


    Xu Liang approached a pool table where two individuals stood nearby¡ªone a young man with neatly cropped hair, the other, a hefty youth.


    The young man with cropped hair was playing pool, while Xu Liang stood beside him, not daring to speak.


    "Ding, random mission initiated: Subdue Li Bao and Kang Youyi, reward 500 achievement points."

 Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Li Bao

    Qin Hao heard the task details, his eyes widened in shock, subdue? Not teach a lesson? How would he subdue him?


    Could it be like recruiting underlings as shown in movies?


    This was the only method he could think of, aside from using force, Qin Hao felt he had no other way to subdue Li Bao.


    And who was Kang Youyi? Could he be the fat guy beside Li Bao?


    Qin Hao scanned Li Bao.


    Name: Li Bao


    Gender: Male


    Age: 26


    Strength: 8.5


    Agility: 6


    Intelligence: 5


    Physique: 6.5


    Description: This person is shrewd, good at manipulating the hearts of his subordinates, a management talent.


    Then he looked at the fat man beside Li Bao:


    Name: Kang Youyi


    Gender: Male


    Age: 26


    Strength: 4


    Agility: 3


    Intelligence: 9


    Physique: 4


    Description: Possesses business acumen, poor physical condition.


    Li Bao''s strength was strong, but Qin Hao didn''t take it seriously; instead, he was surprised by the attributes of the fat man.


    All attributes were low, only the intelligence attribute reached 9 points, and the system description stated that he had business acumen.


    Could this dirty, disordered pool hall be the manifestation of his business acumen?


    ...


    After Li Bao finished playing his shot, Xu Liang walked over to him and said, "Bao, the guy has been brought here."


    After he finished speaking, he looked at Qin Hao, "Kid, you strike first."


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, "With that kind of temperament, you''d probably die countless times if you were in the underworld. Hasn''t anyone told you not to underestimate any opponent?"


    Wang Hong, feeling embarrassed and angered after hearing these words, thought to himself, ''I''ve been in the underworld for years.''


    And now he was being schooled by a student¡ªhow could he stand for that!


    "Damn it, stop acting tough in front of me." After that, Wang Hong charged forward in a dash.


    Then he raised his leg and kicked toward Qin Hao''s chest.


    Qin Hao slightly sidestepped, dodging his kick, while his right hand reached out and grabbed Wang Hong''s ankle.


    With a slight exertion of force, he threw Wang Hong away.


    Wang Hong''s foot slammed directly into the wall behind Qin Hao, causing his face to immediately contort in pain.


    Li Bao, seeing this, narrowed his eyes. An expert shows his skill with a single move, and this Qin Hao was a skilled martial artist.


    The move he just executed, using the opponent''s force against them, was performed perfectly with great timing and power.


    Qin Hao looked at Wang Hong, who was now clutching his foot and gasping for air. If there weren''t so many people around, he probably would have cried out.


    Qin Hao, "I told you, that attitude of yours would cost you."


    Li Bao then spoke, "It seems I, Li Bao, was mistaken today. I didn''t expect the young brother to be a martial artist. But two fists can''t beat four hands. Do you really want to oppose me, Li Bao?"


    Qin Hao, "I said it already, come at me together."


    "Attack," Li Bao ordered, and he and his three underlings charged together.


    All four of them were well-practiced in fighting together in a coordinated manner; some aimed for Qin Hao''s upper body and some for his lower body.


    Qin Hao couldn''t retreat because the space was too small, and retreating would press him against the wall.


    He kicked out fiercely, landing a kick in the chest of one of the men.


    The man staggered backward several steps, then fell on his rear.


    At that moment, the other three were already on him, one fist aimed at his face and two kicks targeting his legs.


    Qin Hao pushed off the ground and leaped up, narrowly avoiding the trio''s assault, then executed a mid-air 180-degree whirlwind kick.


    Except for Li Bao, who swiftly dodged, the other two were knocked to the ground by this kick.


    Once Qin Hao touched down, he didn''t pause even for a second; his movements flowing like water, he pressed a hand on the billiard table and threw a sidekick right into Li Bao''s chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.


    All of this happened in the blink of an eye, less than a minute went by before Li Bao and his men were all down.


    Kang Youyi and Xu Liang were left utterly dumbfounded.


    Qin Hao''s movements were exceptionally skilled and graceful, just like the martial arts masters seen on TV. Could such people actually exist in real life? He was astoundingly impressive.

 Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Indescribable Items

    Qin Hao looked toward Kang Youyi, who, frightened, backed away two steps, squeezing a smile onto his plump face, "Brother, let''s talk this out peacefully."


    Li Bao and the others had also all stood up by then, but they dared not take any action.


    For Qin Hao''s skills were too terrifying.


    Li Bao said, "Brother, I admit I made a mistake this time, from now on we''ll mind our own waters."


    Qin Hao said, "You say we''ll mind our own waters just like that? You call me here, and I come; you ask me to leave, and I leave; wouldn''t that be too humiliating for me?"


    Li Bao looked at him and tentatively asked, "Brother, just say whatever you mean. As long as it''s not too much, I, Li Bao, will accept it."


    Qin Hao said, "I think you are quite alright, how about we become friends?"


    What?


    Everyone around was stunned.


    As expected, Li Bao didn''t agree, his tone very firm, "Impossible."


    Qin Hao was out of options, what to do? He had absolutely no experience in this regard, was he supposed to resort to violence again?


    But he knew that it was not a matter of force; even if he beat Li Bao up again, Li Bao wouldn''t likely yield.


    Even if he did yield, it would be insincere.


    Just like in the TV shows where with a shake of the body, the weakling spirit leaks out, that was all nonsense.


    It seemed this random quest was impossible to complete.


    Qin Hao gave him one last look, "If you ever change your mind one day, you can have Xu Liang contact me."


    After leaving Xinghui Pool Hall, he started walking home, feeling somewhat dejected as the five hundred achievement points were not in his grasp¡ªan opportunity to draw ten times missed.


    After arriving home and having dinner, Qin Hao went to his room to revise.


    Qin Hao said, "Xiao Ying, what happens if I can''t complete this random quest? Is there any penalty?"


    Xiao Ying replied, "If there isn''t any mention of a penalty in the quest, then there is no penalty. However, if the host is unable to complete this random quest, then no more random quests will be generated in the future, and the host will lose an important way to obtain achievement points."


    Qin Hao checked his quests. The main quest could only be updated after the results of the college entrance exam were out.


    There were no side quests refreshed at the moment, and the random quest was in pending status.


    Qin Hao curiously asked, "How are these quests triggered?"


    Xiao Ying explained, "Main quests don''t need to be triggered; the system will actively release main quests, and the host simply needs to complete the main quests as required. Generally, the rewards for main quests are the richest.


    During these days, Qin Hao hadn''t gained any achievement points, he still had 100 achievement points.


    After these ten days of review, he had finished all the books from his freshman to senior years, and now he was starting on practice college entrance exam papers to see where he was still lacking.


    It was the third session of the afternoon when the class ended.


    Qin Hao was reviewing his material when Chen Shuna said from the classroom door, "Qin Hao, someone is looking for you outside."


    Du Wanrou gave him a glance. Qin Hao was also puzzled¡ªsomeone looking for me? He didn''t really have friends at school, so who could it be?


    He stood up and went out of the classroom, outside he saw Xu Liang and was momentarily stunned, "You were looking for me?"


    Xu Liang gave a dry laugh and hurriedly said, "Hao, Bao said he wants you to stop by after school, he has something to discuss with you."


    Li Bao?


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, then quickly realized¡ªhad he changed his mind? But why would he suddenly change his mind?


    "Okay, got it."


    Xu Liang cautiously said, "If there''s nothing else, I''ll head out first, Hao."


    Qin Hao nodded, and Xu Liang quickly turned and left Class Two.


    At that moment, Chen Shuna''s voice suddenly rose next to him: "Qin Hao, was that Xu Liang from Class Eight just now?"


    Qin Hao turned to look, Chen Shuna and three other girls from his class were standing there looking at him. "Yeah."


    Chen Shuna''s eyes were filled with curiosity, "He''s known as a bad student at school, but in front of you, he''s as meek as a lamb. What''s going on?"


    Qin Hao said indifferently, "Just beat him up a few times."


    "You''re saying you''ve beaten Xu Liang a few times?" Wang Juan was visibly shocked.


    The others had the same look on their faces.


    Qin Hao was puzzled looking at them, "Is that strange? I''m going back to study, you guys keep having fun."


    Saying this, Qin Hao returned to the classroom. Chen Shuna and the others exchanged glances, noticing that Qin Hao was indeed different these days.


    Nobody dared to mess with him in the class anymore, nor did he seem as timid as before. Moreover, Qin Hao seemed to have been focusing hard on his studies lately.


    Zhao Man whispered, "Why do I feel that Qin Hao looks different from before? Xu Liang was so respectful to him. It''s pretty impressive."


    Wang Juan teased, "Are you moved? It''s too late, in half a month we''ll all be going our separate ways."


    Zhao Man''s cheeks turned slightly red, and she gave a quick annoyed glance, "I think it''s you who''s interested, you''ve always wanted to find someone tough to date."

 Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Li Baos Change

    In the classroom


    When Du Wanrou saw him return, she curiously asked, "Who was looking for you? Was it a beautiful girl?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, it was Xia Qing from Class 1."


    Xia Qing and Du Wanrou were both known as the school beauties of Changle Second Middle School, though Xia Qing was in the humanities class of Class 1.


    Du Wanrou paused for a moment, "What did she want from you?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Just kidding, it wasn''t her."


    Du Wanrou gave him an annoyed look, playful and cute, then turned her head back to continue reviewing her materials.


    These days, they had been talking more and more, sometimes even chatting on messaging apps in the evenings.


    Yuan Zhengxiang, who was at the back of the classroom, watched them chatting and laughing, grinding his teeth in frustration. He really wanted to beat Qin Hao up badly.


    Song Wei noticed too and whispered, "Xiang, don''t get angry. He''s just a poor student, and his family isn''t wealthy. He can''t possibly end up with Du Wanrou.


    After the college entrance exams are over, he won''t see Du Wanrou again. It''s different for you, Xiang, you might even go to the same university as Du Wanrou, and your families are well-matched financially."


    Yuan Zhengxiang nodded slightly, aware of everything Song Wei was saying, but seeing Qin Hao talking to Du Wanrou still upset him.


    ...


    After the school bell rang in the afternoon, everyone started packing up to go home.


    Du Wanrou quickly finished packing and said to Qin Hao, "I''m going ahead, Qin Hao. Talk to you tonight."


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Alright."


    He watched Du Wanrou leave the classroom, admiring her charming figure, feeling delighted as if he were appreciating something he loved dearly.


    "Do you like Du Wanrou?" Yuan Zhengxiang''s voice suddenly rang out beside him.


    Qin Hao turned to look at him, disdainfully glancing at him, "Who I like is none of your business. Looking for a fight, are you?"


    If he had dared say this before, Song Wei, who was usually by Yuan Zhengxiang''s side, would have rushed up to hit him immediately.


    But now, Song Wei took a step back in fear, not daring to look Qin Hao in the eyes.


    Yuan Zhengxiang also felt a bit scared and hurriedly said, "I like Du Wanrou, and I hope you can stay away from her."


    Li Bao nodded, "The day before yesterday, Wang Qiang came here, and we were unprepared, so they beat us up."


    Qin Hao: "What do you need from me then?"


    Li Bao looked at him and answered, "All you need to do is help us get revenge by teaching Wang Qiang a lesson."


    Qin Hao didn''t immediately agree but considered for a moment.


    Li Bao and the others watched him, and Qin Hao finally agreed, not just for the accomplishment but also for his and Du Wanrou''s future.


    He really liked Du Wanrou, and he didn''t want their relationship to end without a fight; he had to strive for their future.


    Qin Hao spoke, "I agree, but Fatty has to join in too."


    Kang Youyi was taken aback, not expecting Qin Hao to appreciate his worth, and quickly said, "This matter started because of me, as long as we can teach that Wang Qiang a lesson, I''ll do whatever you say."


    Qin Hao asked, "Okay, when do we go after Wang Qiang?"


    Li Bao thought for a moment and said, "Today is Thursday, let''s go to Golden Bright KTV on Saturday afternoon."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Alright, I''ll come here to find you guys then."


    After making plans, Qin Hao left.


    Inside Xinghui Pool Hall, someone whispered, "Li Bao, he''s just a student though."


    Li Bao: "Appearances can be deceiving, as long as he has the capability."


    Kang Youyi nodded, "Right."


    Everyone nervously nodded in agreement.


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao left the pool hall and was walking home. After a while, he stopped.


    Ahead, a few guys were blocking a female student from Changle Second Middle School, who Qin Hao recognized as Xia Qing.


    The guys were in the uniform of Third Middle School, clearly students from there.


    Qin Hao paused, surprised. Were students from Third Middle School blocking one of our school beauties?


    If it had been before, Qin Hao might not have stepped forward, lacking the strength and courage.


    But now, he had changed; even without the strength, he had the courage to stand up.

 Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Meeting Xia Qing on the Way

    "Beauty, where are you headed? Hang out with us for a bit."


    Xia Qing looked at the three people in front of her, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, her voice pleasant, "I don''t know you; please get out of the way, or I''ll call for help."


    Liu Jun laughed, "Go ahead and call, we''re not doing anything; feel free to shout."


    The two people beside him also said with a laugh, "Yeah, shout, I want to see who''d dare to come out; this is our Jun from the third school."


    At this moment, Qin Hao walked up next to Xia Qing and looked at Liu Jun and his group, "You''re from the third school, right? Coming to our second school to block our school belle, isn''t that a bit too brazen?"


    Liu Jun and his group looked toward him; Liu Jun''s lackey, Wang Jianhua, sneered, "Who do you think you are? Beat it if you don''t want to be thrashed."


    Xia Qing turned her head toward Qin Hao and whispered, "Thank you, but you better leave quickly."


    After all, in her view, Qin Hao was just one person, while Liu Jun had three, and in a fight, Qin Hao was surely at a disadvantage.


    She didn''t want the person who helped her to get hurt; she would feel terrible about it.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "It''s okay, just stand back a bit."


    Seeing his reaction, Liu Jun''s face filled with anger, "Kid, you''re freaking looking for death. Damn it, I''ll show you what''s what today, beat him up."


    Wang Jianhua and Li Peng charged forward, their large feet kicking towards Qin Hao''s upper body.


    Qin Hao''s body swayed right, dodging their strikes, and at the same time his hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Li Peng''s ankle and pulling hard.


    "Crack"


    Li Peng instantly sat on the ground in a splits position, the severe pain turning his complexion ashen as he wailed miserably.


    Wang Jianhua was momentarily stunned, and at that moment, Qin Hao delivered a spinning kick straight to his neck, sending him tumbling to the ground.


    To the side, Xia Qing and Liu Jun who saw his sharp moves, both flashed a hint of surprise in their eyes.


    Qin Hao slowly approached Liu Jun, who wanted to flee but couldn''t lose face, especially since he was the boss of the third school, and prestige was very important to him.


    Finally, as Qin Hao got closer, he made his move, throwing a punch at Qin Hao''s head.


    "Bang"


    Qin Hao''s right hand shot out, catching his fist, while his leg kicked out, hitting Liu Jun in the thigh, making him fall flat on the ground.


    "I''m Qin Hao, from senior year class two. If you want revenge, feel free to come at me anytime."


    Liu Jun looked at him, his eyes flashing with rage, "Qin Hao, huh? I''ll remember you. Wait for me tomorrow."


    Qin Hao nodded stiffly. The school beauty of Changle Second Middle School, Xia Qing, was from the same neighborhood as me¡ªand I only found out after three years!!!


    Xia Qing, curious, asked, "Which building do you live in?"


    "Building 17, Unit 1. How about you?"


    "I live in Building 3, Unit 3. I''m going home now, see you." After saying that, Xia Qing walked into the neighborhood gate and turned right.


    Qin Hao''s Building 17 was at the back of the neighborhood; after entering the main gate, he had to walk straight in.


    When he got home, Mr. and Mrs. Qin had returned from work and were cooking dinner in the kitchen. He also smelled the fragrance of meat.


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What''s cooking, Mom? It smells so good."


    Qin Youguo said with a smile, "After getting off work, your mom bought a fish and a roast duck, saying she wanted to nourish you."


    Qin Hao grinned, "Thanks, Mom."


    "You rascal, still so formal with your mom? Go put your backpack down. The braised fish will be ready soon."


    Qin Hao returned to his room and hung the backpack on the wall.


    Sitting in his chair, he couldn''t help but think again about what Yuan Zhengxiang had said to him¡ªhow should he go about making money?


    After a good while, Qin Hao still hadn''t come up with any good ideas, and his head started to hurt.


    He opened the system backpack, and inside lay a few items: an Invisibility Cloak, a small experience book, and the Ultimate Roast Duck Skill Book.


    The Invisibility Cloak was a great item, but he didn''t need it at all. He couldn''t possibly use it to rob a bank, after all, that was something he mustn''t do.


    In the end, Qin Hao''s gaze rested on the Ultimate Roasted Duck Skill Book. What was the use of this thing? Did it mean I should drop out of school to sell roast duck?


    Qin Hao learned the Ultimate Roasted Duck Skill, after all, it was drawn using achievement points. Although it seemed useless, it might come in handy one day if he had no other options, at least it would keep him from starving.


    ...


    "Congratulations to the host for learning the Ultimate Roasted Duck Skill."


    A stream of information entered Qin Hao''s mind, and he was stunned for a moment, because he was shocked by the method of making the Ultimate Roasted Duck.


    Made from a brine of eighty-one different kinds of Chinese herbal medicines, mixed in various proportions, it was to be applied inside and outside of the roast duck, and the method of roasting was also very particular.


    Then there were the condiments. When eating the Ultimate Roasted Duck, adding the condiments would make the flavor even more delicious¡ªit was a culinary delight, which is where the name Ultimate Roasted Duck came from.


    At that moment, he had a thought: if the Ultimate Roasted Duck was as good as they say, maybe selling roast duck could indeed be a good choice.

 Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Delicious Roast Duck Recipe

    Qin Hao opened his mouth to ask Xiao Ying, "Xiao Ying, is this delicious roast duck really as good as they say?"


    Xiao Ying: "Is the host doubting the system''s ability?"


    Qin Hao explained, "Look at the description of this delicious roast duck. Besides being fragrant, crispy, tender, mellow without being greasy, and salivating just at the smell, it is said to also strengthen the body, nourish vitality, enhance resistance and so on. Is this roast duck or ginseng?"


    "The delicious roast duck is made from a secret recipe. There is not a shred of falsehood in the effects the system has mentioned."


    Hearing Xiao Ying say this, Qin Hao was shocked. If the delicious roast duck was really that powerful, wouldn''t it sweep the domestic roast duck industry?


    The most famous roast duck in Xuan Country was still Jinchen Deju Xiang Roasted Duck, which, with its secret roasting technique and management and operations, gave De Juxiang a market value of more than five billion and a reputation known at home and abroad.


    Even national banquets for foreign guests would use De Juxiang''s roast duck.


    This shows how influential Jinchen Deju Xiang Roasted Duck is. Now with the secret recipe for delicious roast duck, the future might not be any worse than De Juxiang, maybe even stronger.


    Because the effects of delicious roast duck are incomparable to any other roast duck shop.


    In Shuinan Province, De Juxiang roast duck shops aren''t many ¨C there are only three in the entire province, because the roasting process of De Juxiang roast duck is strict and complicated.


    The duck embryos must be transported from Jinchen, and the wood used to smoke the ducks is also particular¡ªit can only be fruitwood from Jinchen, otherwise the taste will change.


    This is the main reason why De Juxiang roast duck cannot expand wildly; the restrictions are too great.


    But this doesn''t affect its fame¡ªon the contrary, it makes people chase after it even more.


    In terms of market value, Zhou Yaya Company from Jiangbei Province is higher than De Juxiang, reaching a market value of nearly twenty billion, but in terms of reputation, Zhou Yaya cannot compare to De Juxiang.


    Of course, Zhou Yaya Company''s high market value isn''t just because of Zhou Yaya, but also their company''s subsidiary products of geese, duck by-products, vegetarian products, and so on.


    Thinking of this, Qin Hao suddenly had an idea: he wanted to sell roast duck!


    "Xiao Hao, time to eat."


    Just as he fantasized about sweeping the domestic market, Mrs. Qin''s voice awakened him.


    Qin Hao chuckled and hurried out of the room.


    The dining table was set with braised fish, roast duck, and several stir-fries.


    Qin Youguo took out a bottle of Wuliangye baijiu, poured himself a small cup, and then said to Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, do you want to have a drink with dad?"


    Upon hearing this, Mrs. Qin said disapprovingly, "Xiao Hao is still in school. What is he doing drinking?"


    Qin Hao glanced at his father, and it was as if he could see a trace of fatigue in the depths of his father''s eyes, "It''s fine, mom. I''ll just have a little."


    Mr. Qin smiled at this and said, "A little drink is fine, but you can''t have too much. Drinking too much is bad for your health."


    While saying this, Mr. Qin poured a bit of the alcohol for Qin Hao, roughly a little more than one shot.


    Guan Yu raised his sword and chopped Liu Chan into two halves.


    Liu Bei: "Damn, that''s not what I was talking about..."


    Guan Yu then killed Liu Feng.


    Liu Bei: "Dammit, not him either!"


    With a flash of his sword, the space between Liu Bei''s legs turned to blood red...


    ...


    Seeing the joke, Du Wanrou was left speechless with black lines across her forehead: "Is that supposed to be funny?"


    Qin Hao felt a bit embarrassed: "How about we guess riddles instead?"


    "What riddles?"


    Qin Hao: "Four women and four men standing together, guess an idiom."


    After seeing the question, Du Wanrou racked her brains for ten minutes but still couldn''t figure it out.


    She had no choice but to give up and asked out of curiosity, "What''s the answer?"


    Qin Hao replied, "More often unlucky than lucky."


    After seeing the answer, Du Wanrou was stunned for a moment. More often unlucky than lucky? What kind of nonsensical answer is that?


    Suddenly, she seemed to realize something, her cheeks instantly turning crimson red. More hens than roosters? This bastard, utterly shameless.


    Seeing her daughter''s flushed face, Feng Yun asked curiously, "Rourou, what''s wrong? Why is your face so red?"


    Du Wanrou''s face stiffened, "Ah, no, mom, I''m fine. I''m going to my room to study now. You should rest early too."


    After speaking, Du Wanrou hurriedly went upstairs back to her room.


    Feng Yun watched her daughter''s retreating figure with suspicion, as if something dawned on her. She turned off the television and started heading upstairs.


    Back in her room, Du Wanrou let out a long sigh of relief, touched her still warm cheeks, and thought angrily to herself: Qin Hao, you jerk, you''re done for. Just wait and see how I deal with you at school tomorrow.


    Just as Du Wanrou put down her phone, Feng Yun walked in, staring at her without saying a word.


    Du Wanrou felt a bit uneasy, "Mom, what''s wrong?"


    Feng Yun looked at her and asked, "Are you in a relationship?"


    Du Wanrou quickly explained, "No, mom, the college entrance examination is in half a month. What relationship can I be in? I''m focusing all my attention on revision right now."


    Feng Yun: "Is that so? Then give me your phone."


    ...

 Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Got Blacklisted

    Du Wanrou''s face changed color, "Mom, why are you looking at my phone when there''s nothing wrong?"


    Feng Yun, seeing her daughter''s expression, became even more certain of her own thoughts and walked over to the bed to take Du Wanrou''s phone.


    The phone''s screen was open to a messaging app, and the first contact in the recent list was Qin Hao.


    When Feng Yun opened it and saw the riddle, and the joke, her face grew darker.


    What reassured her was that her daughter hadn''t said anything too intimate to the other party.


    Du Wanrou lay on the bed, her face flushing with shame, not daring to look at her mother, as if she had been caught in some guilty act.


    Feng Yun asked, "Who is this Qin Hao? Why is he so shameless?"


    In a low voice, Du Wanrou replied, "He''s a classmate."


    Feng Yun said, "Don''t bother with people like that in the future. Look at what he''s saying, so shameless. I know you''re embarrassed to block him, but don''t worry, I''ll do it for you."


    After speaking, Feng Yun added Qin Hao to the blacklist.


    Du Wanrou wanted to stop her mother, but before she could utter a word, her mother had already handed her the phone, where Luo Hao could no longer be found.


    Feng Yun looked at her daughter earnestly, "Daughter, you''re still young, you need to be more careful not to be deceived by others. You are the apple of your parents'' eye, and we don''t want to see you get hurt."


    Du Wanrou nodded slightly, "Mm, I know, mom. Don''t worry, your daughter isn''t so easily fooled."


    A smile appeared on Feng Yun''s face, "Hmm, get some rest early. If that shameless Qin Hao adds you again, tell me, and I will have someone deal with him."


    Du Wanrou said, "It''s fine, mom, he''s in the blacklist now; he can''t add me."


    Feng Yun remained vigilant, "Nowadays everyone has alternate accounts. What if he adds you with an alternate account? Don''t accept anyone you don''t recognize."


    "Um... Got it, mom."


    On the other side, Qin Hao, seeing that Du Wanrou had not replied for a long time, was about to ask her why.


    Suddenly he realized that Du Wanrou had disappeared from his contacts list; he searched several times but couldn''t find her.


    Damn, she didn''t blacklist me, did she?


    Qin Hao''s face turned pale; surely Wan Rou wasn''t angry? But that didn''t make sense¡ªwas the riddle really too much?


    In a mix of confusion and melancholy, Qin Hao drifted off to sleep; he dreamed that Du Wanrou''s parents strongly disapproved of their relationship.


    Xu Liang indeed had considerable deterrence at Second Middle School, and seeing him, the crowd hastily made a path.


    Xu Liang turned to look at Qin Hao, "Hao."


    The people around them all turned to look at Qin Hao, surprised in their hearts: Who is this guy, that even Xu Liang is so respectful?


    Qin Hao and Chen Shuna entered, and within the crowd, Wang Juan and Zhao Man stood in a corner, looking somewhat unwell, surrounded by six or seven girls and a few boys.


    Chen Shuna hurried over, "Wang Juan, are you guys okay?"


    Wang Juan and Zhao Man shook their heads; thankfully Qin Hao and Chen Shuna had arrived on time. If they had been a minute later, they might have faced a beating.


    Liu Fang was dressed provocatively, with heavy makeup, and her outfit was quite revealing¡ªa black pair of stockings, a short skirt, a deep V long-sleeve top, with a very impressive bust, ranking her among the top few at Second Middle School.


    Qin Hao wondered if it was real or fake; if it was real, was it Innate natural development or post-natal artificial enhancement?


    Liu Fang turned her head to look at Qin Hao and Xu Liang. She didn''t recognize Qin Hao but knew Xu Liang and was on good terms with him: "Liang, what is this about?"


    Xu Liang said, "I''m just here to help Hao with some business. For the specifics, you''d better ask Hao himself."


    Hao?


    Liu Fang turned to look at Qin Hao; if Xu Liang called him "brother," he was definitely not ordinary, which meant this Hao was more formidable than Xu Liang.


    While Liu Fang was checking out Qin Hao, he was also sizing her up. Liu Fang was decent-looking, but she didn''t compare to Du Wanrou or Xia Qing.


    However, her attire was quite bold, seductively charming; to put it bluntly, it was trashy!


    A student dressed like that disgusted Qin Hao, but somewhere deep inside, he had evil thoughts as well.


    ...


    Liu Fang spoke up, "Hao, are you going to handle this matter yourself?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Wang Juan is my classmate. This matter isn''t really related to her, so don''t bother her again in the future."


    Liu Fang smiled and nodded, "Since Hao has said so, of course I''ll give face to Hao. Let''s forget about this matter, and I won''t trouble her again."


    The reason Liu Fang had a big reputation at school was primarily because she was well-connected with people like Xu Liang, Lv GuiBo, and Zheng Yi.


    There were even rumors that Liu Fang had slept with many people.


    Hearing her words, Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Thanks."


    Liu Fang was eloquent, smiling as she said, "Brother Hao, you''re too polite. If your little sister here ever needs help, you''ve got to support me."

 Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Fame

    Qin Hao nodded his head; after all, so many people were watching. Liu Fang had given him face, and he couldn''t possibly refuse.


    Then Qin Hao said to Chen Shuna and the other two, "Let''s go; it''s time for class soon."


    Chen Shuna nodded slightly and left with Wang Juan and Zhao Man.


    When Wang Juan and Zhao Man left, they looked at Qin Hao with grateful eyes.


    Seeing there was no more drama to watch, the others also left. Qin Hao was about to leave when Xu Liang hastily stopped him.


    Qin Hao turned around and asked curiously, "What''s up?"


    Xu Liang: "Hao, did you beat up Liu Jun from the third middle school yesterday?"


    Liu Fang and her few friends hadn''t left yet, and they were shocked when they heard Xu Liang''s words.


    They had heard of Liu Jun''s reputation, and he had actually beaten him up? What kind of background did he have?


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yesterday on my way back, I happened to see them blocking Xia Qing. I couldn''t stand it and taught them a lesson. How did you know about this?"


    After he spoke, he looked at Xu Liang curiously. Apart from him, only Xia Qing knew about this¡ªhow could Xu Liang know?


    Xu Liang explained: "Hao, I have a classmate over there at the third middle school. He told me, and he also said that Liu Jun would come here to block you after school tonight."


    Qin Hao''s expression remained calm, showing no change: "Then I''ll wait for him after school."


    Xu Liang hesitated a moment before saying, "Hao, we''ll accompany you after school to meet that Liu Jun."


    Qin Hao didn''t refuse: "If you guys want to go, then go. I''ll head back first."


    After Qin Hao left, Liu Fang curiously asked, "Liang, what''s the story with this Hao?"


    Liu Fang''s friends also looked at Xu Liang curiously. They all wanted to know Qin Hao''s background since even Xu Liang was so respectful toward him.


    Xu Liang thought for a moment and said, "Do you know Bao from Xinghui Pool Hall?"


    Liu Fang nodded her head. Li Bao was a well-known figure around Changle Second Middle School. She hadn''t met him, but she had heard of him.


    Xu Liang whispered, "In the future, even Bao will probably have to call him ''brother''."


    Liu Fang and the others'' eyes widened, surprise showing on their faces: "He''s that powerful?"


    Xu Liang warned them: "Just know this between us, don''t spread it around or blame me, Xu Liang, for turning against you."


    Qin Hao, observing her flawlessly crafted features, felt a suffocating sensation, a true beauty indeed.


    "Class president? Why did you block me?"


    Du Wanrou responded irritably, "You deserved it for sending that kind of nonsense."


    Qin Hao quickly begged for mercy, "Give me another chance, class president. I swear I won''t dare again."


    Du Wanrou replied dismissively, "It''s useless, my mom was the one who blocked you."


    ...


    Qin Hao felt as if struck by lightning. What? Blocked by Du Wanrou''s mother? Did her mom see our chat history?


    Damn, I haven''t even met her yet and I''ve already offended my future mother-in-law. What am I supposed to do now?


    Seeing his expression, Du Wanrou hummed slightly and turned her head back to her study materials.


    Qin Hao was completely distressed, not knowing what to do, thinking about being discovered by Du Wanrou''s mother. What would her mom think of me? It''s over, things with Du Wanrou are going to be even more difficult now.


    He looked at Du Wanrou with a troubled expression and sighed deeply.


    Hearing his sigh, a smile flickered across Du Wanrou''s lips. She didn''t know why, but hearing Qin Hao sigh was somehow funny to her.


    "Is there really no way, class president?" Qin Hao asked once more.


    Du Wanrou gave him a glance, "Stop fretting about it. Let''s wait a few days until my mom forgets about this matter, then we''ll talk."


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao''s face lit up, "Alright, class president is the best."


    ...


    That day, Qin Hao continued with his study schedule, going through books and knowledge points from grades ten to twelve.


    He had begun working on the unified exam''s mock papers, completing a full set in one day.


    It included subjects like language, math, Federation language, and a combined mock paper, after which he scored himself.


    He tallied his total score: 536 points.


    His last mock exam scored 450 points; although making obvious progress, he wasn''t satisfied.


    536 points was practically useless, barely enough to qualify for the worst first-tier universities. For a prestigious university like Jianghai University, this score was far from sufficient, missing by nearly a hundred points.

 Chapter 17: Chapters 17-18: Campus Belle Xia Qing

    Qin Hao carefully reviewed the questions he had answered incorrectly to see exactly where he had gone wrong.


    He did this to identify his shortcomings and then improve upon them.


    Among those incorrect answers, some resulted from carelessness, while others were due to inadequate proficiency in adapting certain knowledge points.


    The saying "I examine myself three times every day" felt very apt to Qin Hao at this moment.


    By the afternoon after school, Qin Hao had almost finished reviewing his mistakes and had also focused on revising those knowledge points.


    Today was Friday, and he had picked up three sets of unified exam mock papers, planning to do them over the weekend at home.


    Du Wanrou packed up quickly and said to Qin Hao, "Qin Hao, I''m leaving first, bye, see you Monday."


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Yeah, be careful on your way."


    After a while, Qin Hao finished packing up his things and walked out of the classroom with his backpack.


    Just as he left the classroom, he was stopped by someone. When he saw who it was, his face froze, "What are you doing here?"


    Xia Qing asked back, "Why can''t I be here?"


    Qin Hao found himself somewhat at a loss for words, "Um... Xia Qing, are you looking for me?"


    Xia Qing nodded, "The incident yesterday was because of me, I can''t just ignore it. If you got beaten up because of this, I would feel terrible."


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, "It''s okay, who beats whom is still uncertain."


    Xia Qing''s expression faltered, she could tell that Qin Hao''s confidence was not like others merely boasting.


    She was curious about what Qin Hao had up his sleeve, why was he not afraid at all?


    Xia Qing, "No, I must go with you."


    Qin Hao didn''t mind, and he couldn''t stop Xia Qing either, "It''s up to you, if you want to follow then follow."


    Xia Qing was taken aback, what do you mean ''it''s up to me''? What kind of attitude is that?


    I''m recognized as the school beauty at Secondary School No. 2, so many boys would love to be seen with me, yet you seem so indifferent?


    She was a bit indignant.


    Qin Hao walked down from the school building, with Xia Qing following beside him.


    On the way, many people recognized Xia Qing, and their expressions were surprised to see her walking with Qin Hao.


    Because, in their impression, Xia Qing was always solitary, never walking with any boy.


    A freshman whispered, "Who is that guy? He''s actually walking with my goddess."


    Another freshman replied, "You don''t even know him?"


    "That impressive? No wonder he''s walking with the goddess Xia." Upon hearing Xu Liang''s name, that person showed fear.


    Now, hearing that Qin Hao was even more formidable than Xu Liang, his tone immediately changed.


    ...


    Qin Hao soon arrived at the school gate, and on the way, he really didn''t know how to chat with Xia Qing, so he remained silent.


    Because he used to be very introverted, he barely had any experience talking with women.


    Only Qin Hao and Liu Jun remained in the grove.


    Seeing that the situation was unfavorable today, Liu Jun decided to leave, "Consider yourself lucky today, we''ll see next time."


    If there really was a fight, there was no doubt that he would be at a disadvantage.


    Just as Liu Jun was about to leave, Qin Hao spoke up, "Hold it, do you think this is a place you can come and go as you please?"


    Upon hearing his words, Liu Jun''s face turned sour, "Qin Hao, don''t think just because you know a bit of martial arts that you''re invincible. In Mr. Fa''s and Qiang''s eyes, you''re nothing."


    Qin Hao dashed up in one move and landed two slaps on his face, "I don''t care who you know, today I, Qin Hao, am determined to teach you an unforgettable lesson."


    Liu Jun, having been slapped, couldn''t hold back and threw a punch at Qin Hao.


    His strength and speed seemed feeble and posed no threat in Qin Hao''s eyes.


    Qin Hao easily caught his fist and then kicked out, knocking him down to the ground.


    Before Liu Jun could get up, Qin Hao stepped on his chest, the immense force changing Liu Jun''s complexion drastically.


    He struggled to rise, but he simply couldn''t compare to Qin Hao''s strength.


    Liu Jun was now like a fish on a chopping board, thrashing helplessly but unable to escape.


    His face turned beet red, filled with humiliation. Now, he harbored thoughts of killing Qin Hao, his hatred reaching its peak.


    From a distance, Xia Qing, seeing this, felt no pity for Liu Jun. Considering his past actions, she found them infuriating and thought this punishment was deserved.


    Moreover, Xia Qing felt the punishment was somewhat light.


    Qin Hao looked down at Liu Jun on the ground and said coldly, "Are you convinced or not?"


    "What are you worth? If you have the nerve, just kill me," Liu Jun said, his eyes full of humiliation and anger.


    Qin Hao: "How would you feel if I were to strip off your clothes, tie you to a tree, and let mosquitoes bite you all night?"


    Liu Jun''s expression changed instantly, he would rather have Qin Hao beat him than endure that.


    Qin Hao looked at Xu Liang, Lv GuiBo, and Zheng Yi. They quickly caught on and came over.


    Qin Hao: "Strip him and tie him to a tree."


    Xu Liang and the others were relentless. As two of them held him, they were about to proceed.


    Seeing this, Liu Jun panicked and quickly said, "I give up, I give up."


    Xu Liang and the others stopped and turned to look at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao stared at Liu Jun, who was visibly frightened and uneasy, "Qin Hao, I give in, I truly give in."


    "Fine, as long as you''re convinced. Remember, if you dare to come here again, next time I''ll tie you to a tree, and begging won''t help, got it?"


    Liu Jun nodded hurriedly, agreeing with whatever was said just to be able to leave this place.


    Liu Jun, having been beaten, left the place with his dignity in tatters.


    Qin Hao said to Xu Liang and the others, "Thanks for today."


    "No worries, Hao, it was the right thing to do. We''ll be heading off now," Xu Liang and the others bid farewell to Qin Hao one by one.


    After everyone had left, Xia Qing came over, her fair and delicate face wearing a slight smile, "Thank you for today."

 Chapter 18: Chapter 19 Can We Be Friends?

    Qin Hao asked in confusion, "Why are you thanking me again? I didn''t help you today."


    Xia Qing''s pretty face bloomed with a smile, "Let''s walk and talk."


    She turned and walked out of the woods, and Qin Hao watched her beautiful back with an admiring look in his eyes.


    Xia Qing was wearing the school uniform from No.2 Middle School, with a high-collared long-sleeve top and a black short skirt underneath. Her straight and slender jade legs were particularly eye-catching.


    Fortunately, she was also wearing black over-the-knee socks, otherwise those legs alone would be enough to lead to crime.


    Qin Hao took a couple of glances, then hurriedly followed her, afraid that he wouldn''t be able to control himself if he looked any longer.


    Having left the grove of trees, Qin Hao caught up with her and they walked side by side towards the Cuijing District.


    Xia Qing walked slowly, her head down as she looked at her black boots, "Do you know why I thanked you just now?"


    Qin Hao shook his head blankly, "Why?"


    Xia Qing raised her head to look ahead, her cherry lips parting slightly, "When I was in junior high, I had a good friend named Chen Rourou. She was pretty, and she was my good friend."


    Chen Rourou? Qin Hao had not heard this name in No.2 Middle School. If Xia Qing said she was pretty, she must be not bad-looking.


    Since she brought up this Chen Rourou, Qin Hao felt that it must be related to her, and he also felt it had to do with Liu Jun.


    But he couldn''t quite figure out what exactly the situation was, and asked gently, "She doesn''t attend our No.2 Middle School, does she?"


    Xia Qing nodded, the smile gone from her face, "Right, she scored very low on the entrance exams and could only go to No.3 Middle School."


    Just as he guessed, No.3 Middle School, her story matched Qin Hao''s speculations precisely, and he also sensed that this matter had something to do with Liu Jun.


    She continued, "She went to No.3 Middle School, the same school as Liu Jun. Because she was very pretty, a lot of people pursued her, including Liu Jun.


    Rourou was deceived by his sweet talk, and they started dating. Not long after, Liu Jun found ways to sleep with her."


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, then came to a realization; there were many who dated in high school and even more who crossed that line.


    Someone like Liu Jun must have had his share of women. Damn, all the good cabbages were dug up by pigs.


    Xia Qing didn''t look at his reaction, speaking as if to herself, "Afterwards, Liu Jun''s true nature came out. After he slept with Rourou, he dumped her.


    But they broke up not long after, and then Liu Jun started pursuing me. I had no feelings for him and turned him down, but he wouldn''t let up.


    Somehow Rourou got wind of this, and she blamed me for their breakup, accusing me of being blind to be friends with me."


    ...


    The whole story was just as Xia Qing told it, not much different from what Qin Hao had guessed.


    After finishing her story, Xia Qing''s mood dipped, and she fell silent.


    Qin Hao knew she felt upset because the situation really had nothing to do with her; it was all because of Liu Jun.


    Liu Jun was not the faithful type to begin with, and Rourou''s interest in him was a mistake from the start.


    Qin Hao sought to comfort her, "Don''t be sad. These things will pass, and maybe Rourou said those hurtful things because she''s in a tough spot herself. Try to look at the bright side."


    Xia Qing looked up at him, a smile breaking across her face, a cheerful, infectious beam that brought out the charming dimples on her cheeks.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao was captivated. In that moment, Xia Qing was truly beautiful. His heart thudded wildly; it was like returning to the moment he first saw Du Wanrou, a thrilling feeling.


    Xia Qing saw him spaced out and felt a bit smug; she had thought her beauty had no effect on Qin Hao, but it seemed to work quite well now. She asked beamingly, "What kind of difficulties do you think she''s having?"


    Qin Hao came to his senses, his cheeks flushing slightly, rather embarrassed.


    After all, being caught staring is quite an awkward situation.


    He was relieved to see Xia Qing didn''t dwell on it and said after some thought, "Maybe she feels she doesn''t deserve to be friends with you anymore, which is why she''s saying things that hurt you."


    Xia Qing inquired, "Anything else?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "That''s all I can think of, and it''s quite likely."


    After a moment''s contemplation, as if struck by a realization, Xia Qing smiled at him, "Qin Hao, can we be friends?"


    Qin Hao was deeply moved, looking at Xia Qing earnestly, "You''re the first person to ever say that to me. I would be glad to be your friend, just afraid you might not want to."


    He looked somewhat shy as he finished.


    Seeing him now, Xia Qing found it hard to associate the Qin Hao before her with the assertive presence he had in the woods just earlier, like they were two different people.

 Chapter 19: Chapter 20 Untitled

    Xia Qing suddenly remembered and asked, "What''s your chat app ID? I''ll add you when I get back."


    Qin Hao took out a piece of paper and a pen, wrote down his chat app ID, and handed it to her.


    Xia Qing accepted the slip of paper, smiled, and said, "Remember to go online when you get back and accept my request, I''m heading out first."


    Qin Hao nodded, watched her until she was out of sight, and then headed back to his own home.


    When he arrived at home, Qin Youguo and Li Shujie were already there; Qin Hao greeted them and then went back to his room.


    The first thing he did was turn on his computer and log into the chat app, as soon as he logged in, the notification bell rang, and when he checked it, what popped up was a female avatar, the screen name was Xia Tianqinglang.


    Could this be Xia Qing? Isn''t this screen name kinda tacky?


    Qin Hao clicked accept, and the two became friends, he sent a message: "Xia Qing?"


    Xia Qing replied quickly: "Yes, that''s right. You''re quite fast."


    Qin Hao: "I just got home and turned on the computer."


    Xia Qing, pleased with his reply, asked: "Are your uncle and aunt home?"


    "Yes, they are. But isn''t your screen name a bit tacky?"


    Seeing his response, Xia Qing was speechless: "Tacky? Why does everyone say that? I think it''s quite nice."


    ...


    Seeing her message, Qin Hao was startled, how did she know? She couldn''t have just asked around, could she?


    Qin Hao: "Yeah, how did you know?"


    On the other end, Xia Qing was smiling: "Your classmate Chen Shuna and I are friends. I just asked her, and I heard that your grades are at the bottom of the class..."


    Qin Hao felt a bit embarrassed, since he had always been at the bottom of his class, and just now in front of Xia Qing, he had talked about attending Jianghai University, she might just think he was bragging.


    But before Qin Hao could respond, Xia Qing sent him another message: "Not going to talk now, my mom''s calling me."


    ...


    Qin Hao didn''t study; he lay in bed thinking about the next day, that afternoon he had to find Li Bao to help him neutralize Wang Qiang and his crew, it was going to be a real battle.


    In the past, fights at school were just minor scuffles.


    The fight with Wang Qiang tomorrow would be a true fight, even breaking limbs was a very real possibility, he had to be cautious.


    And this battle could only end in victory, not just to bring Li Bao and the others under his wing, gain achievement points, but also for his future plans.


    For his parents, for Du Wanrou, and for his future self, he had to give it his all.


    The next day


    When Qin Hao got up, it was already after nine in the morning, he washed up, and by the time he finished breakfast, it was already past ten.


    He got ready and dressed in casual attire before leaving his home, heading toward Xinghui Pool Hall.

 Chapter 20: Chapters 21-22 Golden Bright KTV

    Qin Hao walked for about ten minutes and arrived at the entrance of Xinghui Pool Hall.


    Three vans were parked at the entrance of the pool hall. He glanced at them and walked in. Inside, a group of people were gathered, talking about something.


    Qin Hao looked around, and there were at least nearly twenty people in the pool hall, including Xu Liang.


    When Xu Liang saw him, he quickly said to Li Bao, "Bao, Hao has arrived."


    Li Bao hurried out, "Hao has arrived."


    Qin Hao looked at the crowd and asked Li Bao, "Has everyone been gathered?"


    Li Bao nodded and then led Qin Hao inside to take the main seat.


    Although Qin Hao had not yet taught Wang Qiang a lesson, given Qin Hao''s strength, it was not excessive to address him as Hao.


    In the world of the underworld, the one with the toughest fists is the big brother, and strength is respected.


    Li Bao introduced him to the people around, "This is Hao. Today, Hao will lead us to teach Wang Qiang a lesson and show him our power."


    "Right, let Wang Qiang know our power too."


    "We follow Bao and Hao, whatever you say, we''ll do."


    "Wang Qiang is arrogant and overbearing, he must be taught a lesson today."


    Li Bao''s followers had often suffered under Wang Qiang''s men and they were all holding in their anger.


    Li Bao gestured for everyone to be quiet, then said to Qin Hao, "Wang Qiang usually stays in Golden Bright KTV, where he watches over the place. He has a few followers, and his two confidants are Cao Fa and Feng Hao, both of whom are skilled martial artists."


    Li Bao had suffered a loss at the hands of these two before, and if it weren''t for them, he and Kang Youyi would not have been beaten so badly.


    Qin Hao, "Since everyone is here, let''s not wait till the afternoon. Let''s set out now. After dealing with Wang Qiang, I still have other matters to attend to."


    Li Bao, Kang Youyi, Xu Liang, and the others around them were stunned.


    Dealing with Wang Qiang and then other matters too?


    Big brother, you talk so lightly, completely disregarding Wang Qiang. He is not just some street thug.


    Although Wang Qiang is not part of any big triad, he is definitely not easy to provoke.


    Li Bao and Kang Youyi looked at Qin Hao, "Hao, you say we should go now?"


    Qin Hao, "Everyone is already here, so let''s go. The sooner we finish, the better."


    Seeing Qin Hao say this, Li Bao nodded, "Alright, let''s listen to Hao, and get ready to set out."


    Three minutes later


    All three vans parked outside Xinghui Pool Hall started up and left for Golden Bright KTV.


    Yonghe Street is large, with Kang Youyi''s Xinghui Pool Hall on the east side of Yonghui Street and Golden Bright KTV in the bustling center of Yonghui Street. Although on the same street, the distance is not short.


    In the first van, Qin Hao was sitting with Li Bao, Kang Youyi, Xu Liang, and others.


    Li Bao asked, "Hao, what shall we do when we get there?"


    Qin Hao, "As long as they are Wang Qiang''s men, just beat them. Just don''t kill anyone."


    Wang Qiang looked him over and sneered, "Who are you to pop out from nowhere? Can you speak for Li Bao?"


    Li Bao: "Whatever Hao says can certainly represent me. Today, whoever loses gets out of Yonghe Street."


    "Fine, you think you can challenge me with these people? Attack!"


    At Wang Qiang''s command, several men charged forward while Cao Fa and Feng Hao, who stood by his side, did not move.


    Because he felt there was no need, these men were enough to handle Li Bao and the others.


    The two sides clashed, and Qin Hao was very strong, hardly having an equal, with anyone who confronted him ending up lying on the ground, incapacitated.


    ...


    Five minutes later, all of Wang Qiang''s men were defeated and laying on the ground.


    Wang Qiang was also hauled away by Li Bao for handling.


    Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in a suit hurriedly entered, and his expression faltered as he saw the scene inside the dance floor.


    Seeing the man, Li Bao said to Qin Hao, "He is the boss here, He Gongxiang."


    He Gongxiang, seeing the scene, understood what was happening.


    He walked up to Li Bao with a smile, "I presume this must be Brother Bao?"


    Li Bao glanced at him and said, "This is our Brother Hao."


    He Gongxiang turned to Qin Hao, his expression taken aback¡ªthis person with a youthful, delicate appearance is your boss? Are you kidding me?


    "What do you mean, Mr. He? Are you looking down on our Brother Hao?" Li Bao saw him standing there, hesitating, and his expression darkened.


    What He Gongxiang feared most in his job was offending people like Li Bao and Wang Qiang.


    He had previously hired Wang Qiang to oversee the place, to deter others from causing trouble.


    If it weren''t for Wang Qiang''s oversight, his KTV wouldn''t have been able to operate peacefully.


    Now that Wang Qiang had been defeated, Golden Bright KTV needed to find another powerful figure to watch over it to continue operating.


    Seeing Li Bao''s displeasure, he quickly said, "Don''t get me wrong, Brother Bao, I was just struck by Brother Hao''s distinguished air, far from the ordinary, and I was momentarily stunned."


    Then, smiling widely at Qin Hao, He Gongxiang said, "Brother Hao, hello, I am He Gongxiang, the boss of Golden Bright KTV."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "What''s the matter?"


    He Gongxiang: "Let''s talk upstairs."


    ...


    Inside a luxurious VIP room on the third floor of Golden Bright KTV,


    Qin Hao, Li Bao, Kang Youyi, and He Gongxiang sat inside the room, the coffee table laden with the finest red wine.


    Several young and beautiful women also sat next to Li Bao and company.


    He Gongxiang brought out ten bundles of money, "Brother Hao, we still need your men to help look after the place, this is a little token of my appreciation."


    ...

 Chapter 21: Chapter 23 Medicinal Herb Market

    He Gongxiang respectfully offered a glass of wine to both Qin Hao and Li Bao before leaving.


    Qin Hao said to Li Bao, "This kind of money can be taken, but there are certain things you must never do. Do you understand what I mean?"


    Li Bao knew what he was referring to and nodded.


    He didn''t want to engage in illegal activities, but earning some money from gray areas was still acceptable.


    Li Bao: "Hao, what should we do next?"


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, "Feel free to share any ideas you have."


    Li Bao: "There are three KTVs and several bars on Yonghe Street, as well as some small hotels. I want our brothers to take over these places and collect some protection fees. This should more than suffice to support them monthly."


    Kang Youyi nodded, "This way, we''ll also have extra funds for other activities."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and nodded, "Being in this industry isn''t a long-term plan. I have some ideas too. Eventually, you''ll follow me into legitimate businesses."


    "What kind of legitimate businesses?" Li Bao and Kang Youyi asked curiously.


    Qin Hao: "You''ll know when the time comes. Right now, your task is to generate more income. Li Bao, you handle the remaining KTVs. Any problems with that?"


    Li Bao confidently replied: "Don''t worry, Hao, there are no problems. Right now we are considered the second in command on Yonghe Street, no one dares to claim they are the top."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Whether it''s making roast duck or something else, it all requires capital."


    He was currently a senior high school student, utterly broke, and didn''t have a penny to his name. Right now, he could only rely on this to raise some funds.


    Qin Hao took a stack of money, probably ten thousand yuan, "Take half of this money and distribute it among the brothers, the two of you keep the rest."


    When Li Bao and Kang Youyi heard this, they quickly said, "Hao, isn''t what you''re keeping too little? Also, isn''t fifty thousand too much to give to those guys?"


    Qin Hao: "Although I don''t have much social experience, I know that if you treat others well, they will treat you well in return. Fifty thousand for the brothers, and out of the remaining fifty thousand, each of us takes ten, and we keep twenty as capital."


    Li Bao and Kang Youyi were moved, "Hao, you take thirty thousand, and Fatso and I will each take ten thousand, the rest goes to the brothers."


    No matter what Qin Hao said, the two were adamant, and ultimately Qin Hao took thirty thousand, Li Bao and Kang Youyi each took ten thousand, and the remaining fifty thousand went to the brothers.


    After sorting out the money, Li Bao said to Luo Hao, "Hao, I, Li Bao, am fortunate to have met you in this life. I mean what I say, from now on, you are my big brother."


    Kang Youyi said earnestly too, "Hao, although we are older than you, you have the capabilities and the means. From now on, you are my big brother."


    The herbal market was bustling with people and many herb shops; he walked around inside and soon arrived at a shop called the Hundred Medicine Pavilion.


    This shop was almost the largest in the herbal market.


    Qin Hao stepped inside and saw the shop filled with densely packed cabinets of herbs, incredibly numerous at first glance.


    Inside the shop, a middle-aged man and a young, pretty girl were talking with an old man.


    As Qin Hao walked in, a girl at the counter smiled and asked, "What would you like to buy, sir?"


    "Licorice, Angelica, Solomon''s Seal... Do you have these?" Qin Hao listed all eighty-one types of traditional Chinese herbs in one breath.


    The girl behind the counter stared at him blankly. Big brother, have you memorized all these herbs?


    Are you a practitioner of Chinese medicine or what?


    Seeing her in a daze, Qin Hao curiously asked, "Are you alright?"


    The girl snapped back to reality, her cheeks slightly blushing as she hurriedly said, "Sir, could you please speak a bit slower?"


    After speaking, she couldn''t help but steal a few glances at Qin Hao. He appeared to be only about eighteen or nineteen and spoke with an air of familiarity about herbal materials.


    Perhaps his family was a line of traditional Chinese physicians, or maybe they dealt with herbal materials, Liang Ya speculated in her mind.


    At that moment, the old man not far away said to the girl at the counter, "Xiao Ya, bring out that top-quality ginseng."


    The girl at the counter apologized to Qin Hao, "Please wait a moment, sir."


    She hurriedly went upstairs and then came down carrying a wooden box about fifty to sixty centimeters long.


    The old man, as well as the middle-aged man and the young girl, came over.


    The old man, named Liang Chengwang and the owner of the Hundred Medicine Pavilion, smiled and took the box, saying, "Mr. Xu, you check the goods first."


    Xu Jiekang opened the wooden box, which was wrapped in a vacuum-sealed plastic bag. The ginseng inside was about thirty centimeters long and was free of wormholes, a rare top-quality specimen.


    Standing beside, Qin Hao also couldn''t help but take a few more glances, internally marveling at the robustness of this ginseng which must be several hundred years old.


    The price of such ginseng must be astronomical.


    Having observed the ginseng, Qin Hao glanced at Xu Jiekang and the young girl beside him again, realizing that those who could afford such premium ginseng must be no ordinary people.

 Chapter 22: Chapter 24: An Interlude at the Pharmacy

    Xu Jiekang was very satisfied with the top-notch red ginseng, "Mr. Liang, the red ginseng is good, let''s talk price."


    Liang Chengwang said with a smile, "Mr. Xu, we''ve done business quite often, for this red ginseng, I''ll charge you three hundred thousand. You''re in the industry, so you should know the value of this top-notch red ginseng."


    Xu Jiekang smiled, "Mr. Liang, three hundred thousand is a bit expensive, how about two hundred and sixty thousand?"


    Liang Chengwang hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded with difficulty, "Fine, I''ll sell it to you for two hundred and sixty thousand. Brother, I''m not really making much profit here, consider it a thank you for all the support you''ve given my business over the years."


    In just a few minutes, a nearly three hundred thousand yuan deal was done.


    Qin Hao marveled to himself, the world of the wealthy really is different.


    Two hundred and sixty thousand yuan would almost amount to all the savings for Qin Hao''s family.


    Xu Siyao noticed the look of envy and jealousy in Qin Hao''s eyes and disdainfully curled her lip, "What are you ogling at, bumpkin."


    Qin Hao furrowed his brow and looked at Xu Siyao, "I thought you were pretty and cute, but who knew you were so ill-mannered."


    Upon hearing his words, Xu Siyao''s face changed instantly, "Bumpkin, who are you saying is ill-mannered? Say it again if you dare."


    Xu Jiekang quickly held his daughter back, saying sternly, "What did you promise your dad before you came out? Apologize to this young man."


    "Why should I apologize, he insulted me first, saying I''m ill-mannered," Xu Siyao struggled, flailing her arms and legs.


    If it wasn''t for her father holding her back, she might have landed her punches and kicks on Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao couldn''t be bothered with such a shrew, "Let it be, I don''t need an apology from someone who''s about to die."


    Instantly, the pharmacy fell silent, and all four people turned to look at Qin Hao.


    Xu Siyao was furious, "You bumpkin, how dare you curse me to die. I''ll have you know, if this were in Jianghai City, you''d be finished, got that?"


    Xu Jiekang''s expression also soured, "Young man, mind your words. Some things are not to be joked about lightly."


    Qin Hao looked at Xu Jiekang, "Do you think I have time to joke with someone so unreasonable?"


    Xu Siyao was enraged, "Bumpkin, who are you calling unreasonable? Don''t think just because this isn''t Jiangshan City that I can''t deal with you."


    Qin Hao didn''t respond to her, but instead said to Xu Jiekang, "Uncle, you seem like a nice man, but your daughter''s upbringing isn''t quite there. Seeing as you can discern right from wrong, I''ll give you a piece of advice: Take the time to find someone to treat her illness."


    After saying that, he added another sentence: "If uncle doesn''t believe me, you can go back and consult an expert in ancient medicine."


    Liang Chengwang and Liang Ya were completely baffled. Look at the complexion? They thought Xu Siyao looked perfectly normal, no different from an ordinary person.


    And her voice¡ªas far as they could tell, Xu Siyao''s voice sounded normal. How did he discern a deficiency in her breath?


    ...


    Xu Jiekang was now nearly eighty percent convinced by what he said, since Qin Hao''s words were so uncannily accurate that he couldn''t help but believe them.


    After swiping his card to pay for the red ginseng, he hurried off with Xu Siyao.


    Qin Hao watched as the two departed, shaking his head nonchalantly. He no longer felt as repulsed by Xu Siyao as before.


    Her mother had passed away at her birth, and given her tendency to be sickly as a child, her family surely indulged her every whim, which must have shaped her present personality.


    Qin Hao sighed. Life is full of disappointments, and right now, he couldn''t even assist his own family, let alone concern himself with others.


    He said to Liang Ya, "Are we settled now? Licorice, angelica, Polygonatum... I''ll take a pound of each of these eighty-one medicinal herbs."


    "Ah, sir, please wait a moment," Liang Ya said, her tone much more respectful than before.


    After Qin Hao repeated himself countless times, she finally gathered all the herbs.


    Liang Chengwang, curious, looked at him: "Young man, someone in your family practices medicine?"


    Qin Hao''s expression stiffened, and he shook his head: "I''ve read a few medical books."


    Liang Chengwang: "You don''t seem like someone who has only read a few books. I''ve met some experts in ancient medicine, and you outdo them all."


    "Uncle is too kind," Qin Hao humbly replied, but he felt a sense of caution in his heart.


    It seems he shouldn''t display his medical skills carelessly, or it would reveal many flaws. How could someone from an ordinary family have such profound medical knowledge?


    He considered whether he should buy some medical books when he returned.


    Liang Chengwang quickly asked, "Young man, can you check if there''s something wrong with my health?"


    Qin Hao chuckled and said, "Uncle, you take so many supplements every day, your health is very good. However, you could cut down on the deer antler a bit. While deer antler nourishes vital energy and blood, it also strengthens kidney yang. If you over-nourish without releasing it, it''s not good for the body."


    Liang Chengwang''s face turned red upon hearing this and was simultaneously startled. This youngster could even tell what supplements he had taken: "Young man, you are remarkable, you have a promising future."

 Chapter 23: Chapter 25: National Medical Master

    Liang Chengwang asked curiously, "Young man, what''s your last name? I''m Liang Chengwang, the owner of this pharmacy, and this is my daughter, Liang Ya."


    Daughter?


    Qin Hao originally thought Liang Ya was a waitress, and even if she wasn''t a waitress, he couldn''t imagine that the two were father and daughter.


    Because Liang Chengwang was quite old, looking almost about sixty, while Liang Ya was only about twenty-two or twenty-three.


    "My name is Qin Hao."


    Liang Chengwang noted the name and casually chatted with Qin Hao for a bit.


    Soon, Liang Ya had all the medicinal herbs packaged, each type weighed, totaling over eighty pounds, costing about a thousand yuan.


    Qin Hao took out a wad of cash, intending to pay Liang Ya.


    Standing by, Liang Chengwang said with a smile, "Xiao Hao, no need for the money, it''s not much anyway, consider it a gift from Uncle Liang in making a new friend."


    "No, no, Uncle Liang, you''re also in business, how can I let you lose money?" After saying this, Qin Hao continued to take out his money.


    Liang Chengwang held his hand and said, "Xiao Hao, I know you are kind-hearted, you don''t want to take advantage, but if you don''t accept in the business circle, it means you look down on me, you don''t want to be my friend.


    That could easily offend people. Even if you don''t want to befriend him, just don''t contact him in the future, it''s always good to have more friends."


    Hearing his words, Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Then thank you, Uncle Liang."


    Liang Chengwang, seeing that he got the point right away, also showed a smile, "Why thank me? The few words you just said to me are worth this much money, nowadays a consultation fee from an ancient medicine expert costs thousands of yuan."


    After saying that, he continued, "Like what you did just now, checking Mr. Xu''s daughter, if that was genuine, even if he gave you a hundred thousand or eighty thousand, it would be too little."


    Now in Xuan Country, very few people can master the ancient medical arts of observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking to perfection.


    Some ancient medical practitioners carry the title of expert, but in reality, their medical skills are nowhere near that level.


    Although Qin Hao''s medical skill rank is only level one, it is truly at the level of a national master of medicine.


    Observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking were the most fundamental, yet most difficult, medical skills in the past.


    Fundamental because any ancient medicine doctor would know a bit of it, difficult because it''s complex and profound, and even ancient medicine experts wouldn''t dare to claim they mastered it completely.


    ...


    Hearing about the hundred thousand or eighty thousand, Qin Hao felt a pang in his heart; he really didn''t expect it to be that much.


    If he had known earlier, even twenty or thirty thousand would have been fine, and he would have had sufficient capital.


    Wang''s expression changed when he saw the cigarettes, and he quickly pushed them back, "No, no, these are too precious."


    "Take them," Qin Hao insisted, stuffing the cigarettes into his pocket.


    He was afraid that if he brought them home, his parents would find out and he would inevitably be lectured.


    Wang hurried over intending to help him carry the bag upstairs, but Qin Hao easily lifted it with one hand, "Wang, go back, I can handle it myself."


    Seeing Qin Hao effortlessly lifting the bag weighing over eighty pounds, he was a bit surprised and didn''t insist anymore.


    Walking up to the fourth floor, Qin Hao didn''t find it hard. He unlocked his door and placed the herbs in his room.


    He was a bit worried about how to explain the herbs if his parents came back.


    And the thirty thousand yuan in his pocket, if he dared to say it was protection money he had collected, his father would probably kill him.


    He could let his parents know about the herbs, but the money absolutely had to be kept secret from them.


    Qin Hao found a secure spot and hid the money, keeping about a thousand yuan on him.


    It was now nearly one o''clock, and his stomach was empty and growling.


    Ever since he acquired the system, Qin Hao had noticed something¡ªhe ate more than usual, at least twice his normal portion.


    He checked his kitchen and found nothing to eat, so he had no choice but to go downstairs to the supermarket at the entrance of the Cuijing District.


    Inside the supermarket at the district entrance.


    Qin Hao bought a tub of instant noodles and then some ingredients for making roast duck.


    Just as he was paying, Xia Qing walked in. Seeing Qin Hao at the checkout, she paused for a moment and said, "Qin Hao, you''re buying stuff too?"


    Seeing the instant noodles Qin Hao had bought, Xia Qing smiled and said, "You haven''t had lunch yet today, have you?"


    Qin Hao, "Just got back from outside. I''ll make do with a tub of instant noodles. Are you buying something?"


    Xia Qing nodded and said to the supermarket owner, "Auntie, bring me a pack of ''Yuxi''."


    Afterward, she said to Qin Hao, "I''m planning to go out. My dad ran out of cigarettes, so he asked me to buy a pack for him."


    Qin Hao, "I should get going then, see you."


    "Hmm, try to eat less instant noodles, they''re not good for your health."


    ...

 Chapter 24: Chapter 26 Making Roast Duck

    Qin Hao returned home, finished his instant noodles, and then began to study his tasty roasted duck.


    He used the household electronic scale to weigh out the herbs, each with a specific weight in grams.


    Though the household scale was not as accurate as a specialty scale for herbs, the difference was negligible.


    It took him about twenty minutes to prepare the medicine, after which he added the right amount of water and set it to simmer on medium heat on the coal stove.


    These herbs were mostly common tonics, but after being fused and boiled, their effects had altered in ways no one but Qin Hao knew.


    When a faint fragrance wafted from the pot, Qin Hao added a few spices.


    The aroma from the pot grew stronger, provoking a ravenous appetite. Upon smelling it, Qin Hao''s stomach growled again.


    Qin Hao initially thought the herbal decoction would taste and smell unpleasant, as his impression of herbal medicine from childhood was that it was bitter and off-putting.


    But today he realized he had been wrong, as herbal medicine could also produce such an intoxicating aroma.


    He was so tempted to drink the herbal broth right away because it smelled so good.


    After the potion in the pot had reduced to two-thirds and become somewhat thick, Qin Hao turned off the heat, for the duck''s marinade was ready.


    Then, he smacked his forehead in annoyance when he realized he had forgotten to get the duck. He covered the pot and rushed downstairs.


    Once outside the residential complex, he hailed a taxi and headed to the nearby live poultry market.


    He didn''t linger in the market, spending thirty-six yuan on a 2-pound duck.


    At Qin Hao''s request, the duck had already been plucked and cleaned, and it would be ready for roasting after another wash.


    After purchasing the duck, he caught a cab back home, the whole round trip taking less than half an hour.


    When he arrived home again, the seasoning in the pot was still warm.


    He washed the duck once more, then used a knife to score the skin, enhancing the flavor absorption.


    He submerged the duck in the pot with the marinade to soak.


    Five minutes later, Qin Hao removed the duck, placed it on a dish, and then popped it into the microwave.


    ...


    The preparation of a delicious roasted duck is roughly this process. It is neither simple nor difficult to articulate.


    There isn''t much technical skill involved, but the most challenging part is getting the seasoning right.


    He occupied himself with a mock math test for the standardized exam and then reviewed the answers, ending up with a score of 120.


    This was still some distance from his goal, but his improvement had been quite rapid.


    During the previous mock test, he had scored just over seventy in math.


    He reviewed the questions he got wrong and reflected on his shortcomings.


    Then he continued working on math mock tests, repeating the process over and over.


    ...


    At six-thirty in the afternoon, Mrs. Qin finally called out, "Xiao Hao, come and eat."


    He was actually already hungry; if it weren''t for his studies distracting him, he felt he couldn''t have lasted until now, mainly because the smell of roast duck was too tempting.


    Qin Hao quickly left his room. Mrs. Qin brought the dishes to the table and took the roast duck out of the microwave.


    Suddenly, the aroma in the room intensified, and the three of them couldn''t help but swallow their saliva.


    Mrs. Qin brought the roast duck over; it was golden brown, shiny, and fragrant.


    Mr. Qin swallowed again and asked, "Xiao Hao, where did you buy this roast duck? How come I don''t know of such a roast duck restaurant in Jiangshan City?"


    Qin Hao spoke evasively, "It seems like it''s a new restaurant. I forgot where exactly."


    Qin Youguo chimed in, "This color and aroma are the best I''ve seen, so delicious. What brand of roast duck is this?"


    "Forgot."


    "Where in Jianghua District did you buy it?"


    "Forgot."


    ...


    Mrs. Qin sat down, slightly annoyed, "What do you keep in your head all day? You can''t even remember this."


    Qin Hao let out a dry laugh and hurriedly gave each of his parents a duck leg, "Dad, Mom, you both work hard, eat more."


    Mr. Qin said contentedly, "You''re finally getting sensible, my boy."


    Mrs. Qin tried to give the duck leg to Qin Hao, "I''ve had duck legs often enough, you have it."


    Qin Hao insisted, "Mom, you eat it. You definitely haven''t tried this before, taste how it is."


    Mrs. Qin didn''t insist further, her face breaking into a smile before taking a bite, "Mm? Crispy, tender, rich but not greasy, this meat melts in your mouth. It''s very delicious and not the least bit cloying."

 Chapter 25: Chapter 27 Remember to Buy Roast Duck

    Qin Youguo also picked up his chopsticks and took a bite, and then the duck leg rapidly shrunk in size.


    Qin Hao also picked up his chopsticks to try it; with the first bite, his eyes brightened with joy as the texture and flavor were the best he had ever experienced in his life.


    Indeed, it was a truly delectable roasted duck, living up to its fame.


    A look of delight appeared in his eyes because he saw the huge business opportunity it presented.


    One could tell how delicious the roasted duck was just by the speed at which his parents were eating it.


    Qin Hao had tasted only one bite from start to finish, and in less than ten minutes, his parents had devoured the entire duck.


    They still seemed to long for more as they gazed at the empty plate.


    Mrs. Qin said to him, "Xiao Hao, this roasted duck is so delicious, why didn''t you buy a few more? Look, it wasn''t enough for us."


    Mr. Qin chimed in, "Exactly, let''s go buy two more tomorrow; this duck is great, tastes even better than Jinchen roasted duck."


    ...


    Two catties of duck isn''t enough?


    Usually, the two of you can''t even finish one catty, right?


    Qin Hao didn''t dare respond, fearing that his parents would really push him to go buy more tomorrow. Where would he go to buy it then?


    He hurriedly finished dinner, then found an excuse to return to his room.


    After closing his door, he sat in the chair and began planning for the future. Selling roasted ducks was something he had to do; it was his only way out at the moment.


    Thinking of this, he quickly summoned the system and opened the character attribute panel.


    Name: Qin Hao


    Age: 19


    Gender: Male


    Realm: Mortal


    Strength: 21


    Agility: 15


    Intelligence: 15


    Physique: 15


    Achievement Points: 600


    Skills: Fighting Skill (Lv2, 0/3000); Calligraphy (Lv2, 0/3000); Basketball, Table Tennis, Drawing, Singing, Gaming, Medical Skills (Lv0, 0/100)


    Items: Invisibility Cloak, Small Experience Book (Adds 100 experience points to a skill), Bust-enhancing Bra, Hip-enhancing Underwear.


    Qin Hao quickly left home, surprised that his parents still remembered the roast duck matter.


    Once out of the residential area, he took out his phone and called Li Bao.


    The call connected quickly, and Li Bao''s voice came through from the other end, "Hao, you looking for me?"


    Qin Hao asked, "Where are you and Fatty right now?"


    Li Bao replied, "Fatty and I are near the pool hall."


    "Great, I have something to discuss with you both. Wait for me there for a bit."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao headed towards Xinghui Pool Hall. En route, he passed a Xuan Country Development Bank.


    He entered the bank and, using the intelligent machine, opened a Development Bank account, then deposited twenty-five thousand yuan.


    It took about ten minutes to get the card, and on his way to the pool hall, he linked the bank card to his mobile payment app.


    In the age of mobile internet, mobile payments had become extremely popular, making it convenient to pay for taxis, food, hotels, and much more directly from one''s phone.


    When Qin Hao arrived at Xinghui Pool Hall, two people were standing at the entrance. Seeing Qin Hao, their faces showed a hint of shock as they respectfully greeted, "Brother Hao."


    These people had witnessed Qin Hao''s terrifying prowess the day before ¨C taking on more than a dozen men without as much as a scratch, which was something close to a monstrous existence.


    But that wasn''t what they feared most; what truly intimidated them was Luo Hao''s ruthlessness, crippling Wang Qiang without a second thought.


    Wang Qiang was still lying in the hospital, his hand, even if it were to heal, would likely suffer complications.


    Qin Hao gave a smile and nodded. He recognized the two men as Li Bao''s subordinates, "Wang Hong, Zheng Tai, right?"


    Wang Hong and Zheng Tai were somewhat taken aback that Qin Hao knew their names, flattered, "We didn''t expect Brother Hao to remember us. Please come in, Bao and Fat Brother are waiting for you inside."


    Walking into the pool hall, he saw that there wasn''t a soul inside as it had not opened for business. Li Bao and Kang Youyi were sitting on chairs waiting for him.


    As he entered, Li Bao and Kang Youyi quickly rose from their seats, "Brother Hao, you''ve arrived."


    Qin Hao walked over, and Kang Youyi promptly moved a chair towards him, "Have a seat, Brother Hao."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Let''s not be too formal. Why haven''t you opened for business today?"


    Li Bao explained, "Fatty plans to rent out this pool hall and open another one beside Golden Bright KTV."


    Qin Hao nodded subtly. The foot traffic here indeed couldn''t compare with that near Golden Bright KTV, and not much money was being made.


    Golden Bright KTV''s vicinity was the prime area of Yonghe Street, crowded with people, and opening a more upscale pool hall there would definitely be better.


    Qin Hao then inquired, "The rent there must be expensive, right? Does Fatty have enough money?"


    Li Bao said with a smile, "Brother Hao, you don''t know yet, but we call the shots on Yonghe Street now.


    All those KTVs and bars have been taken over, and this is the money we''ve got left after splitting it. Count it, Brother Hao."


    After speaking, Li Bao brought out a black backpack and placed it next to Qin Hao.

 Chapter 26: Chapter 28: I Want to Sell Roast Duck

    Qin Hao opened it and saw that there were over a hundred thousand, a staggering amount, and he was somewhat astonished, "Is this all collected?"


    Li Bao nodded, "Yes, Hao, after the split there''s still over a hundred and fifty thousand left."


    Qin Hao now understood why so many people risked danger to mix in the underworld, the money really did come fast and was brutally straightforward.


    Of course, the dangers of being in the underworld were also significant, like Wang Qiang who ended up with a disabled arm, even making a living afterwards was a problem.


    Moreover, rising to prominence wasn''t that simple, either you had superb skills or a brain, otherwise, you were just a low-level follower, practically useless.


    Qin Hao looked at the chubby guy and asked, "Chubby, do you really not need the money? Opening a billiard hall there costs quite a bit for the renovation, right? Plus, with the high rent, is your money enough?"


    Kang Youyi said with a smile, "Hao, you don''t know, that place didn''t cost anything, it was rented to us for free."


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "There''s such a good thing?"


    Li Bao explained, "That developer developed a lot of commercial and residential buildings in the Yonghe Street area, the boss wanted to curry favor with us and rented a room to Chubby for free."


    Qin Hao nodded, he held off commenting, now they owed the other side a favor, and one day, when the other side needed something, they would likely come to them.


    Dealing with developers usually didn''t involve anything good, which Qin Hao resented.


    He didn''t want to deal with developers internally, but presently, being in this position, he had no choice.


    Because if you don''t foster relations with them, they''ll just go and cultivate relationships with someone else, there''s no shortage of people who want to deal with wealthy developers.


    ...


    Li Bao saw Qin Hao in deep thought and didn''t interrupt; he took out a cigarette and gave one to Chubby, and they both started smoking.


    Suddenly, Qin Hao spoke up, "Give me one, too."


    Li Bao was startled, then hurriedly took out a box of cigarettes from another pocket, previously he was smoking cigarettes that cost ten yuan a pack, now he pulled out ones that cost over forty yuan a pack.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao said with a smile, "Any cigarette will do."


    Still, Li Bao insisted on giving him the good cigarettes and personally lit one for him.


    Li Bao still found it hard to accept and asked softly, "Hao, do you really plan to sell roasted ducks? What''s the future in selling ducks?"


    Qin Hao said, "What I say now, you might not believe, but when the ducks are made, you''ll see."


    Hearing this, Li Bao didn''t try to persuade him further; he believed that once Hao realized the reality, he would give up.


    Just then, Li Bao''s phone rang, and he answered after checking, "Hello, Mr. Liu, what brings you to call me?"


    Over the phone, a middle-aged man''s voice came through, "Bao, are you free for lunch? Let''s meet and eat at Yonghe Hotel, my treat."


    Li Bao said with a smile, "How could I refuse an invitation from Mr. Liu?"


    Liu Jianming continued to ask, "Is Hao available as well?"


    Qin Hao shook his head because he didn''t want to reveal himself too much in this matter.


    Li Bao said, "Hao isn''t here now; I''ll call him in a bit. However, Hao is quite busy and probably won''t have time, so please don''t hold it against him, Mr. Liu."


    Liu Jiangong said, "How could we? We just wanted to meet Hao, so it wouldn''t be awkward if we bumped into him and didn''t recognize him."


    The two talked for a while, and then the call ended.


    Li Bao said to Qin Hao, "Hao, you''re still a student and will go to university in the future. It''s really not suitable for you to show up in these matters. I''ll handle it in the future."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yeah, handle whatever you can. If you can''t, then let me know. I was planning to treat you guys to lunch today, but it seems that''s no longer necessary. Go enjoy a good meal."


    Li Bao and Kang Youyi chuckled; their status on Yonghe Street was second only to Qin Hao.


    The owners of the KTVs and bars had to greet them respectfully as Bao and Fatty which greatly satisfied their vanity.


    But both knew how they had gotten to where they were, and it was all because of Qin Hao.


    If it weren''t for Qin Hao, they wouldn''t have what they had.


    Qin Hao didn''t stay any longer, exchanged a few words with them, and then left.


    On his way home, he deposited the hundred thousand yuan back into his account, prompting the bank clerk, who was handling his transaction, to look surprised.


    Because Qin Hao had just deposited money, and she had helped him with that as well.

 Chapter 27: Chapter 29 Gradually

    After Qin Hao finished his business at the bank, he walked towards his neighborhood.


    As he walked, he thought about the roast duck business. In a week''s time, the house renovation should be complete.


    Now that it was summer, the wall putty would probably dry in about two days, and he could get ready to open next weekend.


    Initially, he had no immediate intention of opening a roast duck shop, because he didn''t have enough capital to start one.


    His goal wasn''t just to open a roast duck shop but to create a brand like Jin Chen De Juxiang that was more than just selling roast duck.


    His initial plan was simple: hire someone with a tricycle to sell roast duck to accumulate capital and build popularity.


    This was also a way to test the market. Although the roast duck was delicious, he still felt some trepidation.


    He lacked confidence when the delicious roast duck wasn''t selling.


    "Qin Hao"


    While he was walking and pondering, Xia Qing''s voice suddenly rang out.


    Qin Hao looked up and realized he had unknowingly reached the entrance of his neighborhood, and Xia Qing was coming back from the opposite direction.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "What a coincidence, where have you been?"


    Qin Hao was also surprised, and they went to school together.


    As the time for the unified exam approached, Qin Hao had been reviewing continuously, and his overall scores kept getting higher.


    By Wednesday, the putty in the pool hall was done, and it was cleaned up. On Thursday, the three roast duck stoves ordered by Fatty arrived.


    Kang Youyi even made a special trip to several roast duck shops in Jiangshan City to take a look, and then decorated the place based on one he thought was good, buying many tools needed for the roast duck shop.


    After the pool hall was tidied up, it was already the eighth day.


    That day was Friday, June 1, with five days left until the unified exam.


    In those days, Qin Hao did mock papers during the day and reviewed after talking to Fatty at night, rapidly improving his grades.


    Yesterday, his estimated score had reached more than 670 points. If he could maintain this score during the actual unified exam, there should be no problem in getting into Jianghai University.


    Today, he finished another set of mock unified exam papers in the morning and the afternoon.


    After finishing, he began grading his own paper. Du Wanrou, who was next to him, looked curious because she had seen Qin Hao check his scores many times these past days and was quite curious about the scores he had estimated for himself.


    Once Qin Hao finished grading, Du Wanrou asked curiously, "How many points?"


    Qin Hao saw her curious big eyes, not knowing how long Du Wan had watched, and showed a smile, "710."

 Chapter 28: Chapters 30-31 Chen Shunas Curiosity

    Du Wanrou couldn''t help but laugh when she heard his words, "Why don''t you say it was a perfect score of 750 then."


    Qin Hao knew she didn''t believe him because he hardly believed it himself, but he had checked twice and the score was still the same.


    Scoring 710 was something he had never dared to dream of before.


    Suddenly, Du Wanrou asked, "Do you know Xia Qing?"


    Qin Hao''s expression changed slightly, "Yes, some students from the third middle school were bullying her a few days ago, and I helped her out."


    Du Wanrou looked at him with a smiling face, "Isn''t this the legendary hero saving the beauty? According to the plot, shouldn''t the beauty offer herself to the hero in return?"


    For some reason, Qin Hao felt a chill when he saw the smile on her face, "We''re just ordinary friends."


    Du Wanrou: "Ordinary friends? There are quite a few people in school who have seen you two going to and from school together, others might think you''re a couple."


    By then, if Qin Hao still couldn''t hear the implication, he was really foolish.


    Du Wanrou had obviously seen him with Xia Qing going to and leaving school; she was jealous.


    Qin Hao felt a thrill in his heart. Could this mean that Du Wanrou also had feelings for me? Was she gradually accepting me?


    Thinking this, he became excited and hurriedly explained, "Class leader, don''t misunderstand, we live in the same neighborhood, and we just happen to go the same way to and from school."


    Du Wanrou was not very satisfied with his explanation and responded with a soft "Oh" while looking at the study materials.


    Qin Hao didn''t know if she was angry or not, he softly asked, "Class leader, do the things you said before still count?"


    Du Wanrou looked at him curiously, "What things?"


    Qin Hao chuckled, "About us, if I get into Jianghai University."


    "Let''s talk about it when you get admitted," Du Wanrou replied unenthusiastically.


    ...


    From a not too distant part of the classroom, Chen Shuna was quietly watching Qin Hao and Du Wanrou talk softly.


    Among these people, many he didn''t recognize, though a few seemed familiar, probably those whom Xu Liang had called upon initially.


    Qin Hao nodded politely. As he reached the school gate, he didn''t see Xia Qing.


    Usually, Xia Qing would come out earlier than him and would wait at the school gate to walk home with him.


    Qin Hao paused at the school gate, planning to wait a bit for her.


    "Waiting for Xia Qing, Hao? I just saw her still in the classroom, she should be coming down now," Lv Guibo and a few others came out of the school and greeted him eagerly.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Thanks a lot."


    Lv Guibo was flattered. Not many at Changle Second Middle School knew of Qin Hao''s true identity, but he was one of those who did.


    "No need to be polite, Hao. Take your time waiting; we''ll be heading off first."


    Not long after Lv Guibo left, a girl''s voice rang out, "Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao turned to look as several girls walked out of the school, their attire and makeup very stylish, not at all like typical students, yet still possessing a distinctive charm.


    Of these girls, he only recognized Liu Fang, the leader; he didn''t know the others.


    With a smile on her face, Liu Fang approached Qin Hao while a wave of perfume hit him.


    She spoke, "Are you free tonight? Let''s have a drink, especially since tomorrow is the weekend."


    The other girls beside her looked at Qin Hao curiously, their eyes filled with shyness, hope, and admiration.


    These girls had significant connections at Second Middle and had heard about Qin Hao''s reputation.


    "Hao of Yonghe Street" was not only known at Changle Second Middle but also at Third Middle and among various bar owners, making him a top-notch figure in their eyes.


    Spending an evening with such a key figure was something to boast about indeed.


    Unaware of their thoughts, Qin Hao smiled and shook his head, "Not tonight, I need to keep studying for the upcoming unified exam. When I''m free, I''ll treat you all to a meal."


    The girls showed disappointment, but Liu Fang quickly smiled and said, "Sure, we''ll remember your words. A man''s word, once given, must be kept."

 Chapter 29: Chapters 30-31 Chen Shunas Curiosity_2

    "Exactly, once a word is out, it''s hard to take it back," the other four girls echoed.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless. Are the girls at school really that naive? Can''t they see I''m just brushing them off?


    But with so many people around, he was too embarrassed to say anything else, so he just smiled and nodded, "Don''t worry, I, Qin Hao, always keep my word."


    Upon hearing his promise, Liu Fang and the four girls left, giggling as they turned to head home.


    Qin Hao turned to look at the school and noticed Xia Qing already standing beside him, a smile playing on her lips and two shallow dimples adorning her face as she watched him.


    He was taken aback, "When did you come out?"


    Xia Qing was very beautiful, flawless in both face and figure.


    She pursed her lips and said, "Did I interrupt your conversation with the beauties?"


    Qin Hao awkwardly explained, "I''m not familiar with them."


    "You''re not familiar with them, yet you''re inviting them out?"


    It was clear that Xia Qing had heard everything Qin Hao had just said.


    Qin Hao had an expression of helpless resignation, "I was just brushing them off, who knew they''d actually take it seriously."


    Seeing him like this, Xia Qing''s smile blossomed, "I''m just teasing you. I could tell what you meant. You can only blame Liu Fang for being so shameless. Anyway, were you waiting for me?"


    Qin Hao gave her a look, "Who else do you think it could be?"


    Xia Qing''s eyes lit up at his words, and she blurted out, "I thought you were waiting for Du Wanrou."


    ...


    Upon hearing her words, Qin Hao''s face froze for a moment, and he couldn''t help but recall what Du Wanrou had asked him that afternoon.


    Xia Qing had been watching his expressions closely, and feeling a bit downcast at his reaction, she managed to hide her disappointment.


    Without mentioning Du Wanrou again, Xia Qing smiled and asked, "How''s your review going? The unified exams are in just five days."


    "Not bad, I should be able to make it into Jianghai University," he said.


    Hearing Qin Hao''s words, Xia Qing internally thought he was lying. She didn''t call him out because she knew boys liked to save face.


    She believed he was lying because she was familiar with Qin Hao''s past, including his terrible grades.


    In Xia Qing''s view, Qin Hao''s grades might allow him to get into a third-tier university.


    If he didn''t perform well, he might even end up at a vocational college.


    As they walked and talked, both wearing smiles, they were unaware that Du Wanrou was watching them from inside a nearby BMW.


    Her face was calm as she spoke indifferently, "Mr. Lin, let''s go back."


    The BMW started up and slowly left the area.


    It didn''t take long for Qin Hao and Xia Qing to reach the entrance of the residential area.


    Gathering her courage, Xia Qing looked at Qin Hao and said, "Actually, whether your grades are good or bad, we''re still friends. I won''t look down on you or despise you because of them."


    After speaking, Xia Qing''s cheeks flushed red. In her view, what she had just said was hardly different from a confession, and then she quickly fled the scene, leaving a confused Qin Hao behind.


    What kind of ridiculous task is this?


    Qin Hao felt an urge to strangle the system which was clearly messing with him.


    And I only have 400 achievement points in total, where are you going to deduct 600 from?


    "Points can be negative, but negative points cannot exceed one month, or the system will perform a humane destruction on the host," Xiao Ying answered his doubts.


    "Ding, random task initiated: Give Xia Qing two items of clothing that are conducive to development."


    "Task duration: Before the unified exam."


    "Task reward: 600 achievement points. Failure will result in a deduction of 600 achievement points."


    Qin Hao felt as if he had been struck by lightning. One task involving Du Wanrou was enough, and now he had to give something to Xia Qing?


    If it were an ordinary gift, then it wouldn''t be a big deal, but this was the most private type of clothing for a girl. Could he just give them away randomly?


    If one of them found out he had given the other the same type of gift, what would they think?


    Xiao Ying: "Every task issued by the system has its significance."


    Significance?


    Was it to balance the two girls'' emotional state or to make me juggle two relationships, or was it simply a matter of giving gifts?


    With a headache from overthinking, Qin Hao stopped pondering and lay down in bed to sleep.


    The next morning.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao left home and went straight to Xinghui Pool Hall, or rather, what was now supposed to be called the roast duck shop.


    When he arrived, he almost didn''t recognize the place, as the pool hall had completely transformed.


    The exterior walls had been painted, looking clean and tidy, and the entrance was free of any trash, very neatly maintained.


    He stepped inside, where everything had already been set up. The first thing that caught his eye was the duck warming cabinet, freshness cabinet, and so on.


    Kang Youyi, seeing Qin Hao come in, hurried over, "Hao, what do you think?"


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Not bad. Where''s the roast duck oven placed?"


    "It''s in the back on the second floor, Hao. I''ll take you to see it," Kang Youyi led Qin Hao to the back of the second floor.


    There was a bungalow at the back, covering more than a hundred square meters. Previously, it was used by the fatty to store clutter, but now it had been cleaned out, skimmed with plaster, very neat, with three duck ovens placed inside.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly as the fatty had arranged everything very much to his liking.


    Fatty: "The three-wheel carts for selling roast ducks are in the yard, Hao. I also had someone skim the second floor. It can be used for living or storage, and only a few more things are needed before we can open. By the way, Hao, what name are you thinking of for the shop?"


    Name?


    Qin Hao''s face froze, as he hadn''t thought about the name at all. Should it be called the Delicious Roast Duck Shop?


    He remembered that the meiwei trademark had already been registered in Xuan Country, and they were also a big name in this industry.


    The Meiwei Group was a commercial behemoth worth over a hundred billion.


    It was believed that many people had tasted delicacies from the Meiwei Group, like the Delicious Duck Neck, which was a snack that sold well all across Xuan Country.

 Chapter 30: Chapter 32 Jiangshan Roasted Duck

    Kang Youyi saw his expression and expressed surprise, "Hao, you don''t even have a name thought out, do you?"


    Qin Hao chuckled awkwardly, "Fatty, what do you think it should be called?"


    The Fatty touched his head sheepishly, "Hao, I''m no good at naming either. The name Xinghui was given by a fortune-teller I consulted. How about I call him over to pick a name?"


    Qin Hao was exasperated, "Rather than having someone else do it, I might as well come up with one myself."


    After he said this, he began to ponder. In his opinion, the name should be simple and memorable, but it also needed its own charm.


    After thinking for a few minutes, Qin Hao spoke up, "How about we call it Jiangshan Roasted Duck?"


    Since the city he lived in was called Jiangshan City.


    Kang Youyi''s eyes lit up, "Hao, that''s a great name. People from Jiangshan will definitely feel a connection and might even buy a roasted duck from us."


    Qin Hao, "Cut the flattery, just get the billboard custom-made first, and then buy a few promotional signs. Write the words according to my requirements."


    He definitely wouldn''t disclose the secret recipe of the delicious roasted duck, but he could write down the general preparation methods.


    Of course, he had to mention the benefits of eating the delicious roasted duck as well.


    Made with eighty-one types of Chinese herbs, the delicious roasted duck was not only flavorful but also boasted benefits like strengthening the foundation, nourishing the vitality, balancing yin and yang, and enhancing immunity.


    After hearing Hao''s words, Kang Youyi looked at him admiringly, but he also had some concerns, "Hao, can we not oversell it? Otherwise, we might give ourselves away. Just write a dozen or so types of herbs, maybe skip the benefits, to avoid getting hit."


    Qin Hao glared at him, "Can''t be bothered to explain, just do as I say. I want it not just in the shop, but on every tricycle as well."


    "Alright, Hao."


    Qin Hao, "Is there enough money left?"


    Kang Youyi replied, "The billboards will probably cost a few thousand. Subtracting that, we have a bit over six thousand left. We haven''t received our permits yet, but if we grease some palms, they should be processed quickly."


    Qin Hao, "Come with me to the second-hand car market later, we need to buy a used van for future deliveries."


    A new Jinbei van costs around seventy thousand, and he only has a total of one hundred twenty thousand in his bank account.


    He also had to purchase medicinal herbs and live ducks, which were also a significant expense.


    Kang Youyi said with a smile, "Hao, I remember Li Bao has a friend in the second-hand car market. I''ll give him a call; otherwise, if the two of us go alone, we''re likely to get cheated."


    Liu Guangqiang shook his head. With his years of experience in the second-hand car market and knowing Li Gaoshu well, he said, "Thirty thousand."


    Li Gaoshu: "Qiangzi, are you serious? This car hasn''t been repaired, and I have inspected its exterior which hasn''t been renovated or repainted. If you were to buy it outside, it would cost at least over fifty thousand. Forty thousand is really just for your sake."


    Liu Guangqiang laughed, "Mr. Li, we''ve known each other for so many years, we know each other well. I don''t need a commission, how about thirty thousand?"


    "Bro, you''re cutting the price too much; I was hoping to make a bit of profit."


    After a bout of bargaining, Li Gaoshu was finally persuaded by Liu Guangqiang, to settle at thirty thousand yuan.


    Qin Hao and the others went to Li Gaoshu''s office and made a direct online transfer.


    After signing and collecting various documents, Qin Hao and the fat man walked over to the van. He then handed the car key to the fat man, "Let''s go to the medicinal market."


    The fat man looked bewildered, "Hao, I... I don''t know how to drive."


    "What? You don''t know how to drive?"


    The fat man nodded his head earnestly and carefully, afraid of angering Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao really had to hand it to him; he had brought the fat man along intending for him to drive, only to find out he couldn''t.


    Neither of them had licenses, so how could they drive the car away?


    Qin Hao remembered that he had a skill transfer card in his backpack, "Xiao Ying, can I use a skill to get the driving skill?"


    Xiao Ying: "Of course."


    "Then switch the ping pong skill to driving skill."


    Qin Hao was indifferent to ping pong, seeing the skill as rather useless.


    He watched as the ping pong skill disappeared from his attribute panel, replaced with driving skill, and his mind flooded with new information.


    Grabbing the car keys, Qin Hao said, "Get in the car."


    The fat man, astonished, asked, "Hao, you know how to drive?"


    Qin Hao sat in the driver''s seat and started the car proficiently, "I can drive, but I don''t have a license. Remember to ask Li Bao to get me one later."


    "That''s a small matter, but how good is your driving?" The fat man was still somewhat worried.


    After all, he knew Qin Hao had always been in school and therefore must have driven very little, which naturally did not inspire confidence in his driving skills.

 Chapter 31: Chapter 33 Preparation

    Qin Hao was driving, pressing the clutch and shifting gears, as the van swiftly and smoothly reversed out of the courtyard.


    Kang Youyi had a look of surprise on his face; the skilled handling didn''t seem like that of someone who had just started driving.


    "Hao, do you drive often?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "Occasionally, I drive my dad''s car."


    He actually had never even touched a car before, but he absolutely couldn''t let anyone know about the system.


    Qin Hao drove straight towards the Jiangshan City wholesale medicinal herb market, planning to stop first at the Hundred Medicine Pavilion to purchase some herbs.


    There were no traffic police checks along the way, and he smoothly reached the outside of the Hundred Medicine Pavilion.


    He and the chubby guy walked inside the herb shop where Liang Ya was sitting at the counter. Seeing someone enter, she got up.


    Seeing Qin Hao, she paused for a moment and then smilingly said, "Mr. Qin, welcome."


    Seeing that she was a beautiful woman, the chubby guy chuckled, "Hello, beautiful."


    Liang Ya glanced at the chubby guy, and though he had a cheeky grin, there was no lecherous look in his eyes, so she nodded slightly.


    Qin Hao, somewhat speechless at the chubby guy''s behavior but in Liang Ya''s presence, did not scold him and instead asked, "Mr. Liang isn''t here?"


    Liang Ya curiously asked, "My dad went to the mountains to collect herbs. Mr. Qin, were you looking for my dad?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I''m here to buy herbs. I''ll take ten jin of each listed here." He then handed Liang Ya a piece of paper.


    "Alright, Mr. Qin, please have a seat and wait for a moment," she said and then got busy.


    Kang Youyi sat beside Qin Hao, but his eyes were fixed on Liang Ya.


    Liang Ya appeared to be around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, above average in looks, with a well-proportioned figure, truly a standard beauty.


    "Enough of that; haven''t you seen a beautiful woman before?" Qin Hao finally couldn''t help but comment.


    Kang Youyi sheepishly scratched his head, "Hao, do you know this lady?"


    Qin Hao rolled his eyes at him, "Met her once. With your physique, do you think any woman would take a second look at you?"


    Kang Youyi felt dejected, "Hao, could you not be so blunt?"


    About twenty minutes later, Liang Ya had packed up all the herbs. Eighty-one types of herbs, totaling over eight hundred jin.


    Qin Hao stood up and asked, "Miss Liang, how much for all of these?"


    Qin Hao asked, "How much are the ducks?"


    Curious, the middle-aged man asked, "Young man, how many do you plan to buy? If the quantity is large, I can give you a discount."


    "Are your ducks genuine?"


    The middle-aged man quickly replied, "You can rest assured, young man. You can inspect the goods directly when the time comes. They are definitely authentic farm-raised meat ducks."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. He had specifically looked up the difference between fast-growing ducks and normal ducks on the internet a couple of days ago. He could tell at a glance, and he assumed the middle-aged man wouldn''t deceive him about this.


    "Tell me the price. I initially plan to buy a hundred ducks. If the price is right, I''ll continue to order from you."


    The middle-aged man''s eyes widened. A hundred ducks was no small number¡ªif this deal went through, he could make a tidy profit.


    Thinking this, his smile grew even wider, and his tone changed, "May I know your esteemed surname? I''m Du Xing."


    "I''m Qin Hao."


    Mr. Du became serious and said, "Qin, you want a substantial number of ducks. For a hundred ducks, I can give you a price of seventeen yuan per pound. This price is absolutely fair, and the ducks are definitely of guaranteed quality."


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao turned and walked away. The last time he bought a duck, the price was only eighteen yuan per pound, and Du Xing was offering him just one yuan less.


    Seeing him walk away, Du Xing quickly grabbed him, "Brother, don''t rush. The price can still be negotiated."


    "Mr. Du, you are not being realistic at all. If it''s still that price, we have nothing to discuss."


    Du Xing muttered to himself, realistic? Who nowadays in business is realistic? "Young man, name your price."


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, "Thirteen yuan per pound."


    Mr. Du immediately responded, "Young man, my cost isn''t even that low. Fifteen yuan per pound is my bottom line. If you still can''t accept it, then you might need to look elsewhere."


    Qin Hao looked at Mr. Du, then nodded, "Okay."


    Mr. Du asked, "Young man, when do you want the goods?"


    Qin Hao replied, "In the next couple of days. Do you do the slaughtering here?"


    He had neither the manpower nor the energy to slaughter ducks.


    Mr. Du clarified, "The market has specialists for slaughtering ducks. You can hire them. It''s not expensive, but you''ll have to pay for that service."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Okay, I''ll give you a call when I''m ready."


    "Sure, but you''ll need to pay a five hundred yuan deposit first."


    After paying the deposit and leaving his number, Qin Hao left. The roast duck shop still wasn''t ready, and with the weather being too hot, bringing in the roast ducks too early could easily spoil them.

 Chapter 32: Chapter 34 Opening (Part 1)

    Qin Hao spent the whole day busying himself with the roasted duck restaurant.


    It wasn''t until three or four in the afternoon that the issues with the billboard were sorted out. A few odds and ends were still needed for the roasted duck shop, and it could open for business after those were purchased.


    Qin Hao urged Kang Youyi and the others to hurry up, striving to open the next day.


    It was past six in the evening by the time Qin Hao got home.


    Qin Youguo, seeing him return, frowned and asked, "What have you been up to all day? Couldn''t you find time to come back home?"


    Qin Hao casually made an excuse, "I was discussing some problems at a classmate''s house."


    "How come you didn''t bring any books if you were studying problems?"


    "My classmate had them."


    At this point, Mrs. Qin stepped in to defend him, "Qin Youguo, are you interrogating a criminal? Can''t you speak with a smile?"


    Qin Hao chuckled, "You two chat, I''ll go back to my room first."


    During dinner, Mr. Qin didn''t pursue what Qin Hao had been up to during the day, which gave him a sigh of relief.


    The next morning, after breakfast, Qin Hao hurried out of the house again.


    Once Qin Hao left, Qin Youguo turned to Li Shujie and said, "Have you noticed that our son has been acting a bit off these past two days?"


    Li Shujie, washing dishes in the kitchen, replied, "Off in what way? Don''t be paranoid. The unified exams are only a few days away. Our son is probably just trying to relax. A few days ago, the class teacher even called to praise our son for his diligent studying."


    Qin Youguo, hearing her say this, didn''t comment further.


    ...


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant


    When Qin Hao arrived and saw the exterior decorations of the restaurant, he nodded slightly in approval.


    Upon entering, he saw Kang Youyi and a few others sitting there waiting for him. They quickly stood up when they saw him come in.


    Qin Hao asked, "How''s it going?"


    Kang Youyi replied, "Hao, everything is ready; we can open for business."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and then took out his phone to call Du Xing at the live poultry and seafood market. He gave the address and then hung up.


    During this time, he inspected the roasted duck shop and asked Kang Youyi, "How''s the hiring coming along?"


    Du Xing got out of the truck and, seeing the sign for Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant, he felt relieved.


    So, it was a roast duck restaurant. No wonder they needed so many ducks all at once; it seemed the place hadn''t opened yet.


    Qin Hao and the others came out of the shop upon hearing the noise.


    Du Xing was surprised, then quickly smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, the ducks have been delivered; you can check them."


    Qin Hao walked to the back of the small truck; the ducks were fresh and had just been slaughtered.


    He gestured to Liu Pengyun and the others to unload the ducks.


    Du Xing offered Qin Hao a cigarette, and Qin Hao didn''t refuse, lighting it with his lighter.


    Du Xing started by flattering him, "I never imagined someone as young as you, Mr. Qin, would open his own shop. It''s truly impressive."


    Qin Hao took a drag of his cigarette and said indifferently, "Just messing around for fun. Mr. Du, how much does it all cost?"


    "The ducks weigh a total of 260 pounds, and the slaughter fee is three hundred, so the total comes to four thousand two hundred. You can just give me three thousand two hundred."


    Qin Hao transferred three thousand two hundred directly to him, and after the ducks were accounted for, Du Xing greeted them and left.


    Kang Youyi and the others had already unloaded the ducks into the backyard, awaiting his next instruction.


    When he got to the backyard, Qin Hao brought several large barrels over and said, "First wash your hands and disinfect them, then clean these ducks."


    Everyone followed his instructions, washed their hands, disinfected, and then started cleaning the ducks.


    Soon, the ducks were cleaned. Some were put into the safe, and some were taken into the roasting room.


    By then, the auxiliary ingredients had been properly cooked, and about a dozen ducks had already been put in to soak.


    Seeing that there were not many barrels with auxiliary ingredients, Qin Hao went upstairs to prepare another batch of medicinal materials.


    With two barrels of auxiliary ingredients, nearly thirty ducks could be soaked in one go.


    Three minutes later, more than a dozen ducks were placed inside the roasted duck ovens.


    At ten past ten, a rich aroma wafted out of the roasting room, filling the entire duck restaurant.


    Kang Youyi and the rest couldn''t help but swallow their saliva upon smelling it; damn, it was so fragrant, they had never smelt such delicious roasted duck before.


    There truly was drool-worthy anticipation; this wasn''t just some overblown nonsense by the system.


    "Damn, Hao, I''m hungry." Kang Youyi''s stomach growled a few times after he spoke.


    The others weren''t any better off, staring at Qin Hao with the expressions of starving wolves.

 Chapter 33: Chapter 35 Opening (Part 2)

    Qin Hao said with a smile, "It''s just past ten in the morning, a great time to sell roasted ducks. Come and eat after you''re done with the busy work."


    Kang Youyi knew that the major matters came first, and today was the first day of the roasted duck store''s opening.


    It was not only important to Qin Hao, but also to himself since he had been working hard for the roasted duck store all this time.


    One could say his efforts were even greater than Qin Hao''s.


    "It''s almost lunchtime. Liu Pengyun, take a tricycle and deliver thirty ducks to the Wumei Supermarket on Yonghe Street for takeaway."


    Qin Hao had already researched the area around Yonghe Street in the past two days.


    Large supermarkets and sales venues have the highest foot traffic, and the more people there are, the greater the chance of selling roasted ducks.


    Liu Pengyun nodded and asked, "Hao, how are we going to sell these roasted ducks, and what''s the price?"


    Qin Hao patted his head, almost forgetting the most important matter, "Sell by weight, set the price at thirty yuan per jin (500 grams)."


    This pricing did not surprise the others because in terms of taste alone, their roasted duck was far superior to any other.


    Kang Youyi spoke up, "First run those thirty ducks through a scale."


    Liu Pengyun was taken aback, but he quickly understood what Kang Youyi meant and hurriedly nodded, "Right, weigh them first."


    Qin Hao inwardly admired the chubby man; he had actually wanted to say that too.


    But if he had said it, the meaning would have been completely different coming from him than from the chubby man.


    The thirty ducks Liu Pengyun had amounted to a total of 75 jin, which Kang Youyi recorded, and then placed the roasted ducks into the insulated cabinet on the tricycle.


    Even though it''s summer and insulation isn''t needed, considering hygiene among other factors, an insulated cabinet is still very important.


    Liu Pengyun rode the electric tricycle slowly away from the roasted duck store, heading straight for Wumei Supermarket.


    Before long, Zhao Hongyu and another person also set off, each carrying thirty ducks.


    The remaining ten ducks, Qin Hao roasted and then placed in the store.


    ...


    An unknown roasted duck store quietly opened in Jiangshan City.


    It didn''t even set off fireworks or firecrackers for its opening, nor did it invite anyone.


    He looked up at the brand-new sign: Jiangshan Roasted Duck!


    According to the billboard and the surrounding decor, it seemed the restaurant had just recently opened.


    Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong walked inside and immediately started looking around at the decor.


    The walls inside the shop were adorned with many promotional pictures.


    The top part of the frame featured a golden, glistening roasted duck, followed by a detailed description of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck was crafted using a blend of eighty-one different types of Chinese herbal medicines, slow-cooked and roasted to achieve a fragrant, crisp, delicate, and rich but not oily taste; just smelling it could make one salivate, and eating it was an unforgettable experience days later.


    Since it was roasted using a pure herbal secret formula, eating Jiangshan Roasted Duck had significant benefits for one''s health.


    It could nourish the body, strengthen it, enhance one''s immunity, among other effects.


    ...


    Beyond this promotional banner, there were many others in the store; some introduced Jiangshan Roasted Duck, while others detailed certain Chinese medicinal herbs.


    When Qin Hao saw the guests, he quickly stood up, smiling, and said, "Welcome to Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant."


    Only then did Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong turn to look at him.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao, Xia Yingjie paused for a moment, then smilingly asked, "Young man, how old are you? Aren''t you in school?"


    "I''m in school. Just helping out at a friend''s store opening," Qin Hao replied with a smile.


    Xia Yingjie nodded, "Young man, the duck smells great. How much are you selling it for?"


    As this was Qin Hao''s first customer, he responded with a smile, "Sir, you must have seen the advertising paintings in our store. Our roasted duck is made using a pure herbal secret formula.


    Eating it is highly beneficial for the body, so the price is a bit higher than regular roasted duck, thirty yuan per jin."


    Tian Rong exclaimed in surprise, "That expensive? The highest price at other duck restaurants is only twenty-two or twenty-three per jin."


    Qin Hao continued, "The roasted duck you mentioned is ordinary, ma''am. Ours is different."


    Before Tian Rong and Xia Yingjie could speak, he went on, "For instance, this gentleman has been experiencing poor appetite, weakness, and bloating for the past few days.


    If he had smelled any other roasted duck, he probably wouldn''t have felt any desire to eat it. But our roasted duck makes him crave it. That''s the difference between our duck and the others.


    I can even assure you, sir, that if you eat our roasted duck regularly for a few days without drinking alcohol, your illnesses will naturally improve."


    After hearing his words, Xia Yingjie looked surprised, "How do you know I''ve been having a poor appetite, weakness, and bloating these past few days?"

 Chapter 34: Chapter 36 Sold Out

    Tian Rong looked at Qin Hao with equal surprise. Was he just a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, or did he actually see something?


    Qin Hao said to Xia Yingjie with a smile, "I dabble in ancient medicine in my spare time. I''m sort of a doctor. Your uncle has bloodshot eyes, a slightly yellow complexion, and a thick, dry yellow coating on his tongue. It''s quite easy to diagnose your uncle''s condition."


    Xia Yingjie was genuinely stunned, "So, young man, what illness do I have? How should it be treated?"


    Qin Hao showed an expression of difficulty, "Uncle, this is a roasted duck shop."


    Xia Yingjie, slightly embarrassed, smiled, "Then, give me a roasted duck first."


    Qin Hao, "Sure, which one would you like?"


    "That one there."


    Qin Hao donned a thin plastic glove, took out the duck Xia Yingjie pointed to, and weighed it, a little over three pounds, "Ninety yuan and fifty cents, let''s make it ninety. Shall I cut it here?"


    "Um, yes, cut it."


    Qin Hao took out a kitchen knife and skilfully cut open the duck on the chopping board, quickly finishing the task.


    Once the duck was cut, it released an even more intense aroma, making one''s mouth uncontrollably salivate copiously.


    After packing the roasted duck, Qin Hao handed it to Xia Yingjie.


    Xia Yingjie pulled out a hundred yuan and handed it to him, "No need for change, young man, thank you for just now."


    Though it wasn''t a lot of money, it was enough to show that Xia Yingjie was a pretty decent person.


    Qin Hao warned him, "Uncle, you are already in the early stages of cirrhosis. If you keep drinking heavily, nobody will be able to treat you."


    Upon hearing this, Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong''s faces changed immediately. Cirrhosis?


    Early stage cirrhosis is hard to detect in hospitals; typically, by the time it''s detected, it''s already in the middle or late stage. At that point, treatment is almost hopeless.


    Qin Hao continued, "Uncle, Aunt, don''t worry so much. Our roasted duck here benefits in strengthening the foundation, invigorating the body, and easing the muscles and meridians. Consistent consumption can also achieve therapeutic effects through food."


    Next to him, Kang Youyi looked at him with eyes full of admiration. Damn, Hao is really something, ending with such a twist.


    So, you were waiting for this moment, huh? Deep game, I''m impressed!


    Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong paused, "Young man, are you sure you''re not joking?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Uncle, you''ll know if I was lying after you go back and eat."


    Moreover, the Jiangshan Roasted Duck was not so expensive; most people found the price acceptable.


    Not long after Liu Pengyun''s return, Zhao Hongyu and another person also came back; they too had sold everything.


    Today, out of one hundred roasted ducks, including the five sold in the shop, a total of 95 ducks were sold, bringing in revenue of 7,393 yuan.


    The cost of the ducks, slaughter fees, and condiments was about 4,500 yuan.


    Subtracting these, he made about 2,900.


    He didn''t include the labor cost. Even after deducting the labor cost, he still made over 2,000.


    More than 2,000 is not a small amount; many people in Jiangshan City earn about 4,000.


    He made money in a short amount of time that amounted to nearly half a month''s salary for an average person.


    Qin Hao then made a call to Du Xing: "Mr. Du, send over two hundred ducks this afternoon."


    "It looks like Mr. Qin''s sales are good, congratulations on a very auspicious start," Du Xing said with a smile, his form of address changing.


    With two hundred ducks, he could make a tidy sum.


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Du, if nothing out of the ordinary happens, I will be buying several hundred ducks every day. I think we could talk more about the price."


    "How about this, I''ll cover the slaughtering fees, which are three yuan per duck. With several hundred, it''s not a small amount," Du Xing offered.


    "Alright, Mr. Du is indeed a straightforward man."


    Qin Hao would be a fool to fully trust his word, but if he could save some money, then why not. Others might charge three yuan per duck for slaughtering.


    He believed that if he let those people slaughter, the price would likely be even lower.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao said to Kang Youyi: "Fatty, if you''re free this afternoon, take someone else and go to the live poultry and seafood market to find a duck seller. If the price is no higher than his, talk to them and initially ask for a hundred."


    "Alright, Hao," Kang Youyi nodded.


    Even a sly rabbit has three dens; all the more so for people.


    If Qin Hao always depended on Du Xing, and one day Du Xing turned against him, it could deal a big blow to his roasted duck shop.


    Just after half-past eleven, those who had gone to survey the market also returned.


    Qin Hao primarily sent them to Yonghe Street and several other bustling streets to observe the market.

 Chapter 35: Chapter 37 Li Baos Reputation

    The news these people brought back was all quite good; there was a large number of visitors, and plenty of vendors selling goods.


    Just as Qin Hao was about to close up, another customer came in.


    This person had planned to buy from Zhao Hongyu, but unfortunately, they had already sold out.


    The address of the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant was on the tricycle, so this customer came straight here.


    He spent one hundred and fifty yuan and bought two whole roasted ducks.


    After twelve o''clock, there were still three roasted ducks left. Qin Hao took them out, cut them up and sent Fatty to buy some beers and other food. Soon, several of the guys were enjoying lunch in the shop.


    "Damn, this is so delicious?" Fatty took a bite, his eyes widened in disbelief.


    Seeing Fatty''s reaction, the others laughed and said, "Fatty, are you exaggerating a bit?"


    After that, the other guys also grabbed a piece and then it was unstoppable¡ªthey didn''t speak, just kept shoving roasted duck into their mouths.


    The three roasted ducks were devoured by them at an incredibly fast pace.


    Not just here, but in many households in Changle District of Jianghai City, the same scene was unfolding.


    In one household, a middle-aged man said while eating, "This duck is authentic, really good value for money; I''ll buy another one tomorrow."


    The middle-aged man''s wife asked, "Where did you buy this duck? It tastes so good. Why haven''t I been able to find it before?"


    The middle-aged man replied, "I bought it outside Wumei Supermarket; it seems to be a newly opened shop called Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant. The main store is near Yonghe Street No. 2 Middle School."


    In a young couple''s home, the young wife said, "Delicious, honey, this roast duck is so good, let''s buy a few more when we go to my mom''s place tomorrow."


    "Yeah, let your aunt also try our Jiangshan City''s roasted duck; I think it tastes even better than De Juxiang."


    At Xia Qing''s place in Cuijing District.


    Xia Yingjie took a bite of the duck, his eyes lighting up, "Wife, Xiaoqing, you guys try this too, this duck is really tasty."


    Tian Rong took a piece of duck meat and told him, "Be careful with your stomach, eat less if you''re unwell to avoid discomfort."


    After she spoke, she bit into the duck meat and her expression clearly changed, "This roasted duck is really good."


    Xia Qing also took a bite, and the rich taste captivated her.


    A three-pound roasted duck usually lasted them a meal, but today they had eaten it all by noon, and they were still left wanting more.


    ...


    Could Qin Hao be that person?


    Qin Hao didn''t speak. In business, sometimes you need to demonstrate your strength to intimidate the other party.


    Seven subordinates quickly unloaded the ducks to the back.


    Qin Hao then asked Mr. Du, "Would you like to sit inside?"


    Mr. Du nodded his head and followed Qin Hao and the group inside.


    Once inside, Qin Hao told Li Bao, "Get a chair for Mr. Du."


    Li Bao brought a chair from behind and placed it next to Mr. Du, then stood next to Qin Hao.


    Mr. Du, sweating from his forehead, thought how unbelievable it would be if someone told him that Li Bao himself had brought him a chair.


    Qin Hao sat there, with Li Bao and others standing behind him, naturally exuding an intimidating aura.


    "Mr. Du, how much for the two hundred ducks in total?"


    Mr. Du wiped the sweat from his forehead, "That would be 7500 in total, but Mr. Qin since you take such good care of my business, 7000 will do."


    Qin Hao was surprised. He hadn''t expected Li Bao''s reputation to be so useful, and he didn''t refuse since Mr. Du dared to offer him a 500 discount, indicating that he still made a good profit.


    He took out the money from the counter and handed Mr. Du 7000, "Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Du."


    Mr. Du smiled and said, "Mr. Qin managed to sell a hundred roasted ducks just this morning, truly impressive."


    The two exchanged a few more compliments, and then Mr. Du left.


    Before leaving, Mr. Du didn''t forget to flatter Li Bao a bit, after all, he was the boss of Yonghe Street, and getting familiar with him could only be beneficial.


    After Mr. Du left, a fat man arrived with another owner of a poultry and seafood store.


    This was a man in his fifties, named Tan He''an.


    Tan He''an gave off a very stable impression, which might be related to his age and experience.


    Kang Youyi introduced by the side, "Boss Tan, this is our boss."


    Tan He''an reached out his hand and said, "I didn''t expect Mr. Qin to be so young, to have your own shop at such an age is no small feat."


    Qin Hao also smiled and responded, "You flatter me, Boss Tan, what I do is just a small business."


    Boss Tan said, "Mr. Qin, take a look at the ducks then. The quality of my ducks is guaranteed. I''ve been in the poultry and seafood business for decades, my reputation is definitely assured."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, checked the ducks, and then had them unloaded.

 Chapter 36: Chapter 38 Job Application

    When it came time to settle the accounts, Tan He''an charged him $3,250, and he didn''t even charge him for the slaughtering fee.


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment and asked in surprise, "How much per pound for Boss Tan''s ducks?"


    "Thirteen dollars, including the slaughtering fee."


    Tan He''an, as if knowing the surprise in his heart, said with a smile, "Generally, people buy ducks and have them slaughtered at my place. The slaughtering fee for each duck is about seventy to eighty cents. Du Xing has had his ducks slaughtered at my place twice already, in large numbers each time."


    This Du Xing is really ruthless, charging me three dollars per duck for the slaughtering fee.


    And the price of the ducks, only thirteen dollars here with Tan He''an, and he was charging me fifteen.


    Qin Hao wasn''t angry because that''s how business is. Since he had accepted the terms, it only meant his own judgement hadn''t been sharp enough.


    "There''s no problem with the ducks here, right, Boss Tan?"


    Tan He''an: "Mr. Qin, rest assured, my wife runs a breeding farm just outside the suburbs of Jiangshan City. You can check it out anytime. If Mr. Qin wants to buy in large quantities in the future, we can negotiate the price."


    Qin Hao felt relieved. No wonder Tan He''an could offer such a low price; it turns out the breeding farm is his family''s business.


    Smiling even more upon hearing this, Qin Hao said, "Boss Tan is an honest man. I believe we will have even more opportunities for cooperation in the future."


    Tan He''an also smiled, "Mr. Qin may have some concerns now, but over time you''ll come to know what kind of person I, Tan, am. I will take my leave now, Mr. Qin."


    After Tan He''an left, Qin Hao asked Kang Youyi, "How did you find this man?"


    Kang Youyi chuckled, "Heard about him from asking around. He''s been doing business in the live poultry and aquatic products market for decades, with a very good reputation."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "He made a good impression on me. Starting from tomorrow, we''ll temporarily get our supplies from Tan He''an."


    "Alright."


    Walking into the shop, Kang Youyi had already arranged for people to clean the ducks.


    Li Bao had someone take a document out of the car, "Hao, here''s the driving license you wanted. It''s been taken care of."


    Qin Hao was surprised, "So soon?"


    Kang Youyi said from the side, "Hao, Bao''s capabilities are high now. He knows many people in the business sector and in the government. Just a license, hand over some money and it''s done."


    "Don''t talk nonsense," Li Bao glared at the chubby man irritably.


    Yu Jie: "My hometown is in Yong''an County, Jiangshan City, and I planned to find a job in Jiangshan City because of my family''s situation.


    A few days ago, I interviewed at several other places in Jiangshan City, but I wasn''t very satisfied."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "What are your requirements for a job?"


    Yu Jie: "I would like to ask about our work hours, salary, and so on."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Your work hours will generally be from nine in the morning to seven or eight in the evening, depending on the workload, with no breaks on weekends for now, and the hours might be longer but they include meals.


    Your salary during the probation period is four thousand per month, after becoming regular it''s five thousand, and there are bonuses every month, depending on work performance."


    This salary, Qin Hao didn''t dare to say it was very high in Jiangshan City, but it definitely wasn''t bad either.


    Hearing the salary Qin Hao mentioned, Yu Jie''s eyes clearly lit up; four thousand during probation, five thousand after being regularized, plus bonuses, this was the best offer she''d received after several days of interviews.


    But she worried about whether Qin Hao''s Peking duck restaurant would fold in less than a month.


    If it did, would she still receive her salary?


    Seeing she wasn''t speaking, Qin Hao asked curiously, "Miss Yu, do you have any other concerns?"


    "No... no others." Yu Jie didn''t dare to speak her mind.


    Qin Hao noticed her reluctance to speak and said with a smile, "Perhaps Miss Yu lacks confidence in my Peking duck restaurant.


    If you''re free this afternoon, you can try working here, and if you feel it''s not right, I''ll give you a hundred yuan as payment for today, and you can continue your search tomorrow. If it feels okay, then stay on,"


    Yu Jie, feeling embarrassed, nodded, "Mhm, okay."


    Qin Hao introduced her to someone, "This chubby guy is Kang Youyi; when I''m not here, he''s in charge of the matters in the store."


    "Hello, Mr. Kang," Yu Jie said to Kang Youyi with a smile.


    Kang Youyi quickly returned the smile, "Miss Yu, hello."


    "Fatty, show Miss Yu around and familiarize her with the work environment in the store," said Qin Hao to Kang Youyi.


    In the afternoon, two more people came for interviews; he was interviewing them for selling Peking ducks, which required no special skills, just the ability to handle money and cut ducks. When not selling, they would help out in the store, and it wasn''t tiring. Qin Hao had set their salary at three thousand for the moment.


    Qin Hao thought these two were quite okay, so he decided to keep them on.

 Chapter 37: Chapter 39: Revenue Breaks Ten Thousand

    By four o''clock in the afternoon, the people inside the restaurant started to get busy.


    The two newly hired workers also began bustling about in the back, washing ducks, soaking the garnishes, and then roasting them in the duck oven.


    Yu Jie had nothing else to do, so she helped out by washing ducks in the back. Everyone was wearing aprons, which were bought by the chubby guy.


    Just after five, Liu Pengyun and Zhao Hongyu took fifty ducks each, weighed them at Yu Jie''s station, and then set off.


    Chen Da, the younger brother brought by the chubby guy, also left with fifty ducks.


    All three men had sold ducks in the morning, so Qin Hao gave them more ducks, believing there would be returning customers in the afternoon.


    The two other new hires took forty ducks each; they were headed to a new location, so Qin Hao did not allocate as many ducks to them.


    In the store, Qin Hao kept twenty ducks and placed another fifty cleaned ducks into the refrigeration cabinet.


    After five thirty, all five people had been dispatched.


    There was still one person cleaning up in the duck roasting area in the back, a younger brother brought by the chubby guy.


    This afternoon, acquiring the ducks had cost Qin Hao over ten thousand, and he also purchased two second-hand tricycles at almost five thousand.


    He had made quite a bit of money in the morning, but by the afternoon not only had the morning''s earnings been used up, he had also ended up putting in almost ten thousand more.


    Now, he had a little over thirty thousand left in his bank account.


    Just a few days ago, he had a hundred thousand, and now it was almost down to zero.


    Yu Jie, having nothing else to do, sat at the front desk, looking at the figures in the ledger, recording the weights of the several people.


    She had also calculated roughly how much money it should be; if the money brought back by those people was not correct, there definitely would be a problem.


    Qin Hao and Yu Jie were sitting together at the front desk, and as it was approaching dinner time, most people would come out to shop at this hour.


    Yu Jie, looking at Qin Hao next to her, asked softly, "Boss, they took so many ducks out, do you think they can sell them all?"


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, "Whether they can sell them all or not, you''ll know when they return."


    "Boss, this roast duck smells so good. Did you develop this recipe yourself?" Yu Jie swallowed a mouthful of saliva.


    She found that selling roast ducks here was really tormenting; she could only look but not eat.


    Seeing her distressed look, Qin Hao laughed and said, "Of course. I want to build it into a national brand like De Juxiang."


    "You child, come back early." After saying that, Li Shujie hung up the phone.


    Qin Hao returned to the front desk and sat there. Kang Youyi walked over from behind and asked, "Hao, do we need to roast any more? Liu Pengyun just called saying they might not have enough to sell."


    "Sell out and then come back. If they want more, let them come to the main store to buy."


    Kang Youyi nodded, "Alright, Hao."


    At that moment, five or six people walked in, one of them speaking while entering, "This is the place. I bought my roast duck here at noon. It''s absolutely delicious. Once you try their roast duck, you won''t want anyone else''s."


    "Yeah, the taste almost made me drool. Not bad."


    "This is the first time I''ve heard Yu praising roast duck so much. Today, I''ll buy one to try."


    Yu Xing came in and said, "Young man, I''ve brought you a few customers. How about that, isn''t it nice of me?"


    Qin Hao recognized Yu Xing, as he had been the second customer at the roast duck shop: "Uncle, that''s really nice of you. By introducing your friends here, they will definitely thank you later.


    Our roast ducks are made from eighty-one types of Chinese herbs. They can strengthen the body, enhance physical health, and clear the meridians with healing effects. After having a meal, you should know its effects."


    Yu Xing nodded, "Now that you mention it, I do feel something. After eating your roast duck at noon, I felt much more spirited than usual and warm all over."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Uncle, rest assured, as long as you keep eating it, it will greatly improve your immunity and it might even make you immune to many diseases. We sell conscientious roast ducks."


    "Alright, give me another duck. There are many mouths to feed at home, and we didn''t get enough at noon," Yu Xing said.


    All six of them bought a duck each, totaling just under five hundred yuan.


    Later, two more people came, buying one and a half ducks.


    Until six-thirty, no more ducks were sold in the roast duck shop, totaling eight ducks sold.


    Upon seeing this, Yu Jie sighed in her heart. Only eight ducks sold. She wondered how the sales were going outside.


    The first to return that evening was Liu Pengyun. He had sold all fifty ducks and handed Yu Jie three thousand seven hundred forty-nine yuan, which was one yuan short according to Yu Jie''s accounts.


    Soon after, Zhao Hongyu and Chen Da also returned. The two newly recruited individuals came back a little later, but they also sold out.


    Altogether, the five people handed over eighteen thousand five hundred forty-five yuan. Yu Jie''s accounts showed eighteen thousand five hundred fifty, a discrepancy of five yuan.


    Qin Hao''s rule was that discrepancies within ten yuan were acceptable, since some roast ducks sold might have had small change, thus he allowed for some leeway in collecting the exact amount.


    Adding the sales from the store to the total after deducting the cost of the ducks, the revenue reached eight thousand four hundred twenty.


    Together with the morning''s income, the day''s total revenue had surpassed ten thousand.

 Chapter 38: Chapter 40 I Really Went for Tutoring

    Yu Jie looked at the accounts in her hand, somewhat incredulous, "Over eight thousand in revenue just this afternoon?"


    Is this really a new roast duck restaurant?


    Qin Hao had also shared the morning''s accounts with her, and at first, she thought Qin Hao was bragging.


    But now, seeing the actual figures, she knew she had been wrong initially. Given this situation, it should not end up closing down mid-way.


    After six-thirty, a few more customers came to the store, and in total, seven ducks were sold.


    The customers who came later found the place through the address advertised on the tricycle.


    By nightfall, there were still seven ducks left in the store.


    Qin Hao said, "Let''s call it a day. Everyone go home early. Fatty, I won''t be here tomorrow, keep an eye on things, and call me if there''s any issue."


    "Mmm, okay, Hao," Kang Youyi nodded.


    The two new hires, Li Xing''an and Liu Zhi, said to Qin Hao, "Hao, we''re leaving first."


    "Wait a moment."


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    Qin Hao took out a roast duck, cut it in half, then packed it and gave each of them half.


    The two quickly protested, "Hao, this isn''t right, it''s too expensive."


    "Don''t refuse, these ducks would likely not sell anyway. Consider it a benefit for your first day at work. Once we have more people at the roast duck restaurant, you won''t even be able to get any," Qin Hao said as he stuffed it into their hands.


    "Thank you, Hao," they quickly expressed their gratitude.


    Qin Hao said, "Go home early and rest. Remember to come to work before nine tomorrow."


    "Okay, Hao."


    The two left the roast duck restaurant with half a duck each.


    Qin Hao called Kang Youyi and those seven other guys over, saying, "You brothers have worked hard these past few days."


    Liu Pengyun replied, "Hao, you''re too polite. There''s nothing hard about it, being able to work for Hao is fortune enough for us."


    Hearing their conversation, Yu Jie grew curious by the side, wondering what exactly these people did.


    And why do they call him Hao? He''s much younger than you all, isn''t he?


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "That''s the thing to say, but I can''t under appreciate your efforts.


    He wouldn''t have time to come here in the following few days because the unified exams were almost upon him.


    After finishing the accounting records, Yu Jie took another set of photos with her phone.


    These records were very important and absolutely could not be lost; if the notebook were to go missing, she could still retrieve them from her phone.


    After finishing this, she waved to Fatty and left.


    ...


    After Qin Hao got home, Mr. Qin glared at him: "Where have you been all day? Don''t you know the exams are coming up?"


    "Dad, I had my classmate help me with my Federation language, and then I treated them to lunch," Qin Hao hurriedly made up an excuse.


    Upon hearing this, Qin Youguo''s expression softened, "Really? Why haven''t I heard about this? Which classmate?"


    "She lives in our neighborhood; she''s from the humanities class at our school and is very good at Federation language. I''ve improved a lot after studying with her for a day," Qin Hao said without blinking an eye, now adept at lying.


    In the past, when he lied, he would stutter and couldn''t look people in the eye, making it obvious he was lying.


    Curious, Qin Youguo asked, "What''s her name? Which building does she live in?"


    "Xia Qing, she lives in building number three."


    Li Shujie asked curiously upon hearing this, "Is it a girl?"


    Qin Hao nodded awkwardly, "Uh huh."


    "What does the young lady look like?" Mrs. Qin asked curiously.


    Qin Hao rolled his eyes at his mother, "Mom, why are you asking all these questions?"


    Li Shujie glared at him, "What? Can''t your mother know? Let us see, or else you are just lying to me and your dad."


    Qin Hao didn''t expect his mother to press the issue at this time, "Mom, Dad, I really didn''t lie to you, she''s one of the top students in school, really impressive."


    "Without seeing her, how would we know if you are deceiving us?" Mrs. Qin was relentless, determined to see Xia Qing.


    Having no choice, Qin Hao took out his phone, hurriedly sent Xia Qing a message: "Big sis, help me out."


    Then he clicked on video call, and soon Xia Qing answered the call.


    She was in her room, revising, with a lot of Federation language practice papers and materials on her desk.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao was relieved; indeed, fortune was on his side.


    When Xia Qing saw several people on his side, her expression clearly hesitated, "What''s up, Qin Hao?"


    Hastily, Qin Hao said: "I was at your place today for a Federation language tutorial, my parents don''t believe it. Can you explain to them?"

 Chapter 39: Chapter 41 Token of Love

    Li Shujie and Qin Youguo saw Xia Qing in the video, their eyes clearly stunned for a moment, such a beautiful girl.


    Xia Qing, upon hearing Qin Hao''s words, immediately understood what was going on and smiled, saying, "Hello, Uncle and Auntie."


    "Ah, hello, hello," Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin hurriedly replied.


    With a smile on her face and two charming dimples showing, Xia Qing said, "Uncle and Auntie, Qin Hao really came to study Federation language with me today, don''t think too much."


    "Mmm, hearing you say that puts us at ease," Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin replied with a smile.


    At this moment, a middle-aged woman''s voice came from Xia Qing''s side: "Qingqing, stop studying and come eat."


    "Uncle and Auntie, I''m going to eat now, goodbye."


    "Mmm, goodbye, and thank you for tutoring our Xiao Hao," Mrs. Qin added with thanks at the end.


    After hanging up the video chat, Qin Hao heaved a long sigh: "Mom and Dad, you believe me now, right?"


    Mrs. Qin, smiling, asked, "Whose daughter is this? She''s really pretty; were you two together all day?"


    "Yes, how else would we tutor?"


    Mrs. Qin whispered softly, "Xiao Hao, this girl is nice, willing to tutor you, she must have feelings for you, son, you should really hold on to her."


    At these words, Qin Hao''s head was full of black lines, and Mr. Qin was somewhat speechless: "What are you talking about? The child is still young, stop nagging all the time."


    "Young? Our son is about to go to university, and after a few years of dating, he should be getting married by the time he graduates. Plus, the girl is so pretty, once she''s in university, definitely a lot of people will chase after her!"


    ...


    "Mom, I''m hungry, can we eat now?" Qin Hao couldn''t help but interrupt his mother.


    Mrs. Qin snapped back to reality: "Right, right, let''s eat first, we can talk later."


    After dinner, Qin Hao went back to his room. He was rather tired that day. He didn''t even look at his books, just lay on the bed and fell asleep.


    June 4, Monday.


    After an early breakfast, Qin Hao went to school, meeting Xia Qing at the entrance of the community as usual.


    Xia Qing''s mouth curved into a slight smile: "What were you up to yesterday?"


    "Nothing, just went out for the day," Qin Hao replied.


    Seeing that he didn''t elaborate, Xia Qing didn''t ask further. They chatted about some random topics and soon arrived at school.


    When he had taken it out of the system backpack, it was already in a high-end, classy box.


    He had really pushed himself for those 600 achievement points.


    "Class president, since we''re about to graduate and might go our separate ways, you''ve been my deskmate for three years. This is a gift I''ve prepared for you," Qin Hao said to Du Wanrou.


    Du Wanrou looked somewhat surprised; like Qin Hao, many had prepared gifts for their deskmates.


    "Thank you, ha." If Du Wanrou knew what was inside, she''d probably kill him.


    Having received Qin Hao''s gift, she too took out a box, but in terms of elegance, it was nowhere near Luo Hao''s.


    "This is the gift I prepared for you," Du Wanrou handed it over.


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised, his smile somewhat forced.


    Because he was afraid that Du Wanrou would be furious if she knew what he had given her.


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    He quietly put away the box, forcing a laugh: "Thank you, class president."


    Not far away, Yuan Zhengxiang''s face darkened upon seeing this; he hadn''t expected Du Wanrou to give Qin Hao a gift.


    He was absolutely green with envy and resentment.


    He was very good at controlling himself; although he felt murderous inside, his smile did not fade, and he walked up to Qin Hao.


    Yuan Zhengxiang also took out an exquisitely boxed gift, and said to Du Wanrou: "Wan Rou, you''ve been our class president for three years. I''ve seen all your hard work and efforts. This is a gift from me to our class president."


    The box was inlaid with fine jewels and clearly wasn''t ordinary¡ªthe contents were definitely even more precious.


    Du Wanrou shook her head, "No need, you should take it back."


    "Class president, this is my heartfelt gesture. Please accept it. You''ll definitely like it," Yuan Zhengxiang insisted.


    Du Wanrou: "This is too valuable. I accept your sentiment, but please take the item back."


    Yuan Zhengxiang was about to insist further when Qin Hao couldn''t stand it any longer.


    He spoke up: "Have some shame. She''s declining your gift, can''t you take a hint? Wan Rou is my future girlfriend, and if you keep pestering her, don''t blame me for being rude."


    At his words, a flicker of fear crossed Yuan Zhengxiang''s eyes, and he looked at Du Wanrou again.


    Her cheeks were slightly red, but she said nothing, which, to Yuan Zhengxiang, seemed like tacit consent.


    Could it be that they had just exchanged love tokens?

 Chapter 40: Chapter 42 Shameless

    Yuan Zhengxiang''s face turned ugly, as dark as a storm cloud.


    Remembering his past deeds with Song Wei, Qin Hao''s expression grew even colder, "Get out now."


    Yuan Zhengxiang''s face turned from pale to flush, a hint of viciousness flashing in his eyes while his hand turned somewhat white from gripping too hard.


    With a cold smirk, Qin Hao watched him until Yuan Zhengxiang finally turned and went back to his seat.


    Du Wanrou spoke softly, "You really shouldn''t offend him, his family is quite powerful."


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, "What does his family do?"


    "A small jewelry company," Du Wanrou answered. Chapter Enjoy:


    No wonder that guy had such an exquisite box, probably a fine item taken from home.


    At eleven forty-five in the morning, the school bell rang for dismissal.


    The senior students gathered all their belongings, as it was mandatory to take everything with them or it would be treated as trash.


    Most had already taken a lot of things home, only carrying some revision materials and mock exam papers at noon.


    Outside the school, Xia Qing was already waiting for him at the gate.


    Seeing Qin Hao come out, she called out with a charming dimple on her face, "Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded; she was carrying a small black backpack and looked strikingly charming.


    The two walked side by side, looking like a couple and drawing envious glances.


    From inside a nearby BMW, Du Wanrou saw this and glanced at the fancy gift box beside her, pouting slightly in dissatisfaction.


    She said, "Mr. Lin, let''s go back."


    "Sure, Miss."


    Picking up the box, she looked at it curiously, "What has he sent me?"


    The exquisite gift box was slowly opened, and upon seeing its contents, Du Wanrou''s eyes widened and her cheeks instantly flushed red.


    The box was quickly covered again, "This jerk actually sent this? Shameless, lewd, why don''t you drop dead."


    She felt an urge to have Mr. Lin turn back and beat up Qin Hao.


    ...


    After walking a distance, Xia Qing suddenly remembered something, "Oh, my parents asked me to buy a roasted duck, would you come with me since you''re free?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yeah, sure."


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, "What were you going to say just now?"


    Xia Qing''s cheeks reddened further. She took a deep breath, looked Qin Hao in the eyes, and said earnestly, "No matter which university you get into, my feelings for you won''t change."


    Having said that, Xia Qing''s cheeks were completely crimson, and she quickly turned and hurried away from there.


    The unified exam was imminent, and given Qin Hao''s scores, it was unlikely that he and she, as well as Du Wanrou, would end up at the same university.


    She was afraid that if she didn''t speak now, she would never get another chance.


    Qin Hao stood there, watching Xia Qing''s retreating figure, his expression complex. He sighed deeply after a long while.


    Xia Qing''s words were tantamount to a confession to him.


    She clearly knew about Qin Hao''s past performance and was afraid they would end up in different places, never getting another chance to speak.


    Qin Hao could tell she was serious, that even if he ended up in a lesser university, she wouldn''t change her heart.


    This had a huge impact on his heart.


    His mind involuntarily thought of Du Wanrou. If he really ended up in a lesser university, would she act like Xia Qing?


    The answer was no.


    Even if he got into Jianghai University, whether Du Wanrou would fall for him remained an unknown.


    But even he didn''t know why he was so fond of Du Wanrou.


    Perhaps it was fate.


    But when he thought of Xia Qing, he was very conflicted.


    Well, let it be up to fate.


    ...


    "Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the side mission and random task, awarding 1200 achievement points."


    Qin Hao heard the system''s message but could not feel happy as he walked home.


    Once home, Qin Hao turned on his computer and logged onto the messaging software, but he didn''t know what to do next.


    Just then, his messaging software pinged. When he opened it, he was surprised to see someone had sent him a friend request.


    When he saw the username, he was taken aback¡ªwasn''t that Du Wanrou''s username?


    After he accepted, he cautiously sent a message: "Is it the class president?"


    But Du Wanrou did not reply. In the afternoon, he did a few test papers, and at five o''clock, he went out to buy a roasted duck and also checked on the roasted duck restaurant''s business.


    He could clearly see that the roasted duck restaurant''s business was stronger day by day, with significantly more foot traffic than on the first day.

 Chapter 41: Starting from Chapter 43

    Xia Qing returned home and went to her room after lunch.


    She closed her door and then sat on the bed to take out the gift box Qin Hao had given her from her backpack.


    She slowly opened the gift box, curious about what Qin Hao might have given her.


    When she saw the contents of the gift box, Xia Qing was stunned for a moment, as if she couldn''t believe her own eyes.


    Then her cheeks instantly heated up and turned crimson, because lying inside was a set of women''s lingerie, and it was black lace.


    What does he mean by giving me this?


    Does he have those feelings for me? Otherwise, why would he give me something so intimate?


    If he has feelings for me, he shouldn''t give me such a thing, it will be so awkward when we meet in the future.


    ... Find your next read on M V L


    At around 5:30 PM, Qin Youguo and Li Shujie returned home and immediately smelled a familiar aroma.


    Li Shujie said with a smile, "Xiao Hao, did you buy Jiangshan Roasted Duck?"


    Upon hearing his mom''s words, Qin Hao was startled, "Mom, you know the name of this roast duck?"


    Mrs. Qin answered, "Your dad and I just bought one on the way home. It tastes just like the one you bought last time. We didn''t expect you''d buy one this afternoon as well."


    Qin Hao, "It''s okay, we''ll set the other one aside, and just heat it up in the microwave later, the taste won''t change."


    Qin Youguo, sitting on the couch, said, "I heard the Jiangshan Roasted Duck store is right next to our community; it will be convenient to go there whenever we want."


    Li Shujie went into the kitchen to start preparing dinner as soon as she got home.


    Mr. Qin said to Qin Hao, "Come sit down, Xiao Hao, your dad wants to talk to you."


    Qin Hao sat on the couch, curiously looking at his dad, "What is it, Dad?"


    "The unified exam is the day after tomorrow, right? Are you confident?"


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Don''t worry, I won''t let you down."


    Qin Youguo showed a relieved smile, "Confident about reaching the second tier?" He didn''t dare to hope too high.


    Qin Hao, "No problem, Dad, just wait to invite your friends and relatives then."


    "When did this cheeky kid learn to brag?" Qin Youguo glared at him, unamused.


    Qin Hao said earnestly, "Dad, I''m not bragging. I''ve let you down many times before, but not this time. I will make you proud."


    Qin Youguo stared at his son''s expression, his eyes closing briefly. He had had a lot to say, but now he was at a loss for words.


    Eventually, Mr. Qin said, "Dad believes in you."


    More than an hour later, Qin Hao finished writing the essay, and had completed the entire test paper.


    He glanced around; some were frowning in thought, others were writing rapidly, and some even fell asleep on the exam table.


    This left him dumbstruck, as this was a standardized test. How could they treat it so casually?


    At that moment, he recalled a saying, "How you treat life, life will treat you in return."


    If you treat life carelessly, then life will treat you carelessly in return.


    He glanced at his paper and started to check it from beginning to end to see if there were any mistakes.


    Twenty minutes later, Qin Hao had checked his paper thoroughly once and found a mistake, which he corrected.


    He did not relax just because he had checked once, but kept checking over and over again, striving for perfection.


    This serious, patient attitude lasted until 11:30 AM.


    At 11:30 AM, the proctors promptly collected the answer sheets, gathering everyone''s papers.


    Qin Hao sighed deeply, then picked up his things and walked out of the exam room, heading towards the school exit.


    There was one session this morning and another in the afternoon, with two more exams tomorrow.


    Out of school, Qin Hao found his parents.


    Seeing him come out, Qin Youguo and Li Shujie both eagerly asked, "How did it go?"


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "It was fairly simple."


    "That''s good, tired? Let''s go home, and mom will make you something delicious."


    They talked as they got into the car, then slowly drove away from there.


    Similar scenes played out in many places, some joyful, some sorrowful.


    Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong, seeing their daughter come out, smiled and asked, "Xiaoqing, how did it go?"


    "Pretty good, not too difficult," Xia Qing said with a smile.


    Then she looked around, did not find that particular figure, and got into the car with her parents to leave.


    ...


    After 2:00 PM


    Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin once again dropped him off at the school gate, this afternoon''s subject was mathematics.


    This was a difficult subject to define; to some, the questions were not tough, but to others, they were very difficult.


    Some could score over a hundred forty points, even a perfect score, while others struggled to even pass.


    Qin Hao entered the exam room early, and at 3:00 PM, the mathematics exam officially began.

 Chapter 42: Chapter 44 ends

    The mathematics exam lasted two hours, ending promptly at five o''clock.


    When taking the math test, one must be even more serious and careful, because if you don''t read carefully, you will misunderstand the questions, which leads to incorrect answers.


    Qin Hao was extremely cautious, and it took him about an hour and ten minutes to finish the test paper.


    After finishing, he began to check his answers, carefully reviewing each question one by one.


    The invigilator in the examination room had noticed him in the morning and nodded slightly when he saw him checking his paper after finishing it.


    This must be a good student¡ªhis demeanor while taking the test and his patience while checking his answers were giveaways.


    The invigilator wondered to himself which school the student was from.


    With that thought, he walked over slowly, glanced at Qin Hao, and then continued forward.


    Students generally write their name and school on the left side of the answer sheet and test paper.


    A student from the Second High School?


    The invigilator was somewhat surprised; he was a teacher from Changle District''s Fifth High School and had assumed that Qin Hao was a student from either the First or Eighth High Schools.


    After all, he had only seen such demeanor in the top students of the First and Eighth High Schools.


    Five o''clock in the afternoon


    After the invigilator collected the answer sheets and test papers, the students gradually left the examination room.


    As soon as Qin Hao left the school, he went home with his parents.


    In the kitchen, Li Shujie was cooking and asked, "Son, how about fish for dinner tonight?"


    "Mom, I''m fine with anything," Qin Hao replied from the couch.


    Mr. Qin turned on the television, which was broadcasting the local Jiangshan TV station.


    It was a news program, with a reporter standing in front of a bustling school entrance thronged with cars and people.


    "Isn''t that the entrance to the First High School?" Qin Youguo asked, recognizing the background behind the reporter.


    Qin Hao nodded; he had taken his exams there.


    Qin Youguo had been the one to take him there back then.


    Originally, with his grades, he had hoped to be admitted to Changle District''s prestigious First or Eighth High Schools.


    But due to an underperformance, he missed out on the key high schools and ended up at the Second High School.


    When he learned of his entrance examination results, he could clearly sense his father and mother''s disappointment.


    The TV reporter began saying, "Today, over a hundred thousand students in Jiangshan City are facing the most important moment of their lives.


    Mr. Qin chuckled awkwardly and didn''t ask any further, simply sitting down on the sofa and turning on the TV.


    Qin Hao felt he had nothing better to do, so he sat down next to his dad to watch TV.


    Mr. Qin whispered, "When will the results come out?"


    "Not for half a month, but we can go check the scores at school in three days, and there''s also the graduation ceremony to attend."


    Mr. Qin, "But the scores checked in school aren''t very accurate, right?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "It''s just an approximate score, but most people can get a general idea."


    After dinner, Qin Hao returned to his room and lay on his bed, his mind blissfully empty.


    This time, he had to make his parents proud and give them a reason to be joyful.


    He had let them down too many times these past few years.


    Now he was just waiting for the results.


    Checking the scores? It didn''t mean much to him, because right after the exam, he already had a rough estimate of his performance.


    At the very least, he should score over seven hundred, that was his estimate.


    That would be more than enough. Getting into Jianghai University would not be a problem.


    The next day, after his parents went off to work, Qin Hao took the medicinal herbs from his room to the roast duck restaurant.


    Kang Youcai had called him that day and mentioned the restaurant was running low on auxiliary supplies and asked him to make some time to go to the roast duck restaurant and prepare the auxiliary ingredients.


    Around nine, he arrived at the restaurant. Yu Jie was tending the front while the others were in the back cleaning ducks.


    When Yu Jie saw him come in, she smiled and said, "Good morning, boss."


    "Uh-huh, I''m going upstairs to prepare the auxiliary supplies," Qin Hao responded, taking the medicinal herbs up to the second floor.


    There were still plenty of herbal ingredients in the storeroom. He spent the morning preparing ten herbal prescriptions, then carried the medicine downstairs.


    By then, everyone had already left on tricycles, and only two people were in the store ¨C Yu Jie and the fat man.


    Qin Hao handed the auxiliary medicines over to the fat man, "Once you''ve used up the auxiliary supplies, open these up and use them. Make sure they''re stored correctly; don''t lose them."


    The fat man nodded hurriedly, "Don''t worry, Hao, I''ll put them in my office right away."


    "Office?" Qin Hao was taken aback.


    The fat man chuckled, "Well, there are a few rooms upstairs that are empty, so I took one to use as my office. After all, I am the general manager."


    ...


    Yu Jie couldn''t help but laugh when she overheard, but her smile faded as she remembered the restaurant''s revenue over the last few days.

 Chapter 43: Chapter 45 Employee Assaulted

    Qin Hao smiled and didn''t say much.


    The chubby man took those medicinal materials up to the second floor; this was the most valuable thing in the roasted duck restaurant, and absolutely could not be leaked out.


    Fortunately, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant hadn''t caught people''s attention yet. Otherwise, given the restaurant''s current security measures, the secret recipe could very well have leaked out.


    Qin Hao said to Yu Jie, "Show me the accounts for these past few days."


    Yu Jie took out the small accounting book and handed it to him.


    Qin Hao opened the book and began reading on one side. The accounts were recorded very clearly: how much was spent on purchases, how much was earned from sales, and so on.


    The last line on the page also included a summary of the day.


    He looked at it, and the revenue for the first four days showed a stepwise increase, with yesterday''s revenue reaching more than eighteen thousand.


    The net profit had reached more than ten thousand, which pleasantly surprised Qin Hao; the growth rate was too fast.


    At that moment, the chubby man came down. He said with a smile, "Hao, in the past few days, we''ve added another five tricycles. Now, on Yonghe Street, we have ten of our vehicles, almost completely covering all the places with a high flow of people."


    The accounting book had a record; the roasted duck restaurant still had over twenty thousand in working capital.


    Yu Jie also added, "Based on the current trend, today''s revenue is expected to exceed twenty thousand."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Everyone, keep up the good work. If we can maintain a daily revenue of over twenty thousand, I will give everybody a bonus."


    Hearing this, Yu Jie chuckled, "Really? Boss, your word counts."


    Around 11:30 a.m., Liu Pengyun and the others started to come back.


    Seeing Qin Hao in the store, everyone respectfully greeted, "Hao (Boss)"


    The business was also very good at noon. All the customers buying were local residents, and in the course of the afternoon, they sold dozens of roasted ducks.


    By twelve o''clock, one vehicle had not returned. Kang Youyi asked curiously, "Why hasn''t Yu Chengcai come back yet?"


    "Who is Yu Chengcai?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Yu Jie quickly said, "Boss, it''s my younger brother. He came back quite early yesterday, what''s with today?"


    As she finished, she seemed puzzled; could it be that today''s business wasn''t good?


    Just as she finished speaking, Kang Youyi''s phone rang.


    Kang Youyi looked at it and said to Qin Hao and the others, "It''s a call from Chengcai." Then he quickly answered the phone.


    "Hello, Chengcai, haven''t you come back yet?"


    A man in his sixties next to them said to the person beside him, "These duck sellers are all relatives, and they''ve been domineering around here for some time. Anyone else who tried to sell here got driven out. Now, they are jealous of Jiangshan''s Roasted Duck sales."


    Hearing this, the people around nodded and looked at the aggressors with disgust, but no one dared to intervene as the six men were muscular and intimidating.


    Yu Jie, seeing the person being beaten was her brother, cried out urgently, "Stop it, what are you doing? If you keep hitting him, I''ll call the police!"


    The men showed no signs of stopping, and by this time, Yu Chengcai had a lot of blood on him from not being hit lightly.


    Qin Hao, seeing this, became instantly furious, "What the hell are you all looking at? Hit them!"


    Li Bao and his men immediately charged forward, several of them ganging up on each person.


    Yu Jie rushed to her brother''s side, her eyes red, "Chengcai, Chengcai, are you okay?"


    Yu Chengcai''s nose had been broken, and he had lost a lot of blood. There were many footprints on his body. The attackers had shown restraint and didn''t beat him to death; they likely just wanted to teach him a lesson.


    "Sis, I''m okay," Yu Chengcai managed a weak smile through a cracked mouth.


    Qin Hao also walked over and asked, "Are you alright, brother?"


    Curiously, Yu Chengcai looked at Qin Hao and then turned to his sister, "Sis, who is this? Is he your husband?"


    ...


    Yu Jie''s cheeks reddened slightly, and she said irritably, "Nonsense, he is the boss."


    Yu Chengcai''s expression changed, and he hurriedly said, "Sorry, boss, I didn''t mean to."


    "It''s fine, clean yourself up first. Leave the rest to me," Qin Hao patted his shoulder and then turned to look at the six men.


    Li Bao and his men were presently beating the assailants.


    The bystanders stepped back a few paces upon seeing Li Bao and his group, keeping a distance.


    The six men were also stunned. They hadn''t expected a group of people to show up at this moment and were both shocked and afraid.


    After a while, Qin Hao gestured for Li Bao and the others to stop.


    He looked at the assailants and said, "You''re the first to dare touch my employee."


    The men glanced at Yu Chengcai, and then at Qin Hao. Jiangshan Roasted Duck was run by him?


    The crowd around also looked at Qin Hao with curiosity and astonishment. The young man ran Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant?


    ```

 Chapter 44: Chapter 46: Envied by Others

    Qin Hao looked at them and asked, "Why did you guys beat up my staff?"


    The men looked at each other cluelessly, not knowing what to say.


    "Slap slap slap"


    Li Bao''s underlings slapped those men a few times and said, "Damn it, did you not hear Hao asking you a question?"


    "Are you going to talk or not? My brothers here are not as lenient as I am," Qin Hao said, looking at one of them.


    Under the pressure of Li Bao and the others'' imposing manner, the man hurriedly said, "Big brother, this really has nothing to do with me. I was just called over by my cousin. He said your roasted duck is so delicious that it''s stealing his business, so he asked me to come help teach your staff a lesson."


    Upon hearing this, the surrounding crowd immediately started chattering. These guys were actually jealous of someone else''s business success. What kind of character do they have, to be this lousy?


    "Brothers, trying to do good business by suppressing others is useless. The only way to succeed is to improve the taste of your own roasted duck.


    Today you hit my staff, and I hit you too, so let''s call it even. If you have any problems in the future, you can come and challenge me directly but don''t touch my people, or else don''t blame me for being ruthless," Qin Hao told them.


    The men, upon hearing that he would not pursue the matter, quickly nodded in agreement and simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.


    Li Bao looked at those men and said, "Hao has let you off, but that doesn''t mean I have. Starting today, if I see your stalls on Yonghe Street again, don''t blame me for sending my boys to take care of you."


    The men''s faces changed instantly upon hearing his words, but they could see that Li Bao and his men were not to be trifled with and didn''t dare to say anything.


    Moreover, the events of today at this place would likely spread quickly, and their business would probably suffer as a result.


    The reason why Qin Hao didn''t act too harshly was because of his different status. He now considered himself an entrepreneur who started from scratch.


    On the other hand, a lot of people were gathered around, and if he was too harsh, it would not only affect his reputation but also the reputation of his roasted duck restaurant.


    If he became more prominent one day, this could become a stain on his record.


    He was quite satisfied with Li Bao''s handling of the situation, as it coincided with his own thoughts, it''s just that his status prevented him from saying it outright.


    Qin Hao got into the car with his people, and Liu Pengyun rode the tricycle back.


    Looking at Yu Chengcai, he said, "Maybe you should go to the hospital to check up, just to avoid any issues."


    Yu Chengcai hastily replied, "Boss, I''m fine. It''s just a broken nose, nothing serious."


    "Let''s head back first," Qin Hao said as he drove the car back to the roasted duck restaurant with him.


    Qin Hao, "Dad, Mom, why did you buy roasted duck again?"


    "This Jiangshan Roasted Duck is indeed good. After eating it for a few days, I feel invigorated, and even my work has more energy than before. It''s said that Jiangshan Roasted Duck is roasted with eighty-one kinds of herbal ingredients," Mr. Qin said with a smile.


    Qin Hao was startled, good grief, Dad even knows that?


    It seemed the advertisements on the tricycles were quite effective.


    Over the next two days, Qin Hao would visit the roast duck shop during the day and return home after five in the afternoon.


    These two days'' revenue had broken twenty-thousand, with a net profit of more than ten-thousand each day.


    On the fourth day, which was the third day after the standardized test ended.


    Qin Hao left the house just after seven in the morning heading towards school, and at the entrance of the community, he ran into Xia Qing.


    Xia Qing stood there in a pink dress, her fair skin and her slender figure accentuated, with her long hair flowing gently in the breeze.


    Qin Hao, who was not far away, was struck dumb; he found Xia Qing extraordinarily beautiful today.


    He quickly recovered, and remembered the gift he gave Xia Qing, feeling a bit embarrassed.


    Xia Qing saw him and turned her head, a smile on her lips, her dimples showing immediately, "Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao smiled awkwardly and walked over. As he got closer, he noticed that today Xia Qing had a light makeup on, which doubled her charm.


    "What are you staring at? Haven''t you seen me before?" Xia Qing said softly with slightly flushed cheeks as she saw his stunned look.


    "No, just noticed you look especially beautiful today." Qin Hao hurriedly walked a couple of steps past Xia Qing,


    So she wouldn''t see the color of his embarrassment.


    Xia Qing caught up to him quickly, and she didn''t bring up the topic of their grades because she feared it might touch upon Qin Hao''s sore spot.


    This was a gentle and kind girl, understanding and considerate of others.


    Qin Hao could feel it too. He had planned to ask Xia Qing about her grades.


    But seeing she didn''t bring it up, he knew what she was thinking and decided not to mention their grades either.


    Chatting as they walked, they quickly arrived at the school.


    Upon reaching the class, there were already students there, most sitting together chatting away.


    Others were discussing the exam questions, debating the solutions and answers.

 Chapter 45: Chapter 47 Graduation Ceremony

    Qin Hao had just entered the classroom when he encountered Chen Shuna and her two friends.


    Upon seeing him, Chen Shuna said with a smile, "How did you do on the exam, Qin Hao?"


    "Not bad, how about you?" Qin Hao replied indifferently.


    Chen Shuna answered with a smile, "I think I did okay, and Wang Juan and Zhao Man also feel the same."


    Qin Hao: "That''s good. I hope you all get into the universities of your dreams."


    "Thank you." The three girls quickly expressed their gratitude.


    Just then, Yuan Zhengxiang and Song Wei walked in. Song Wei, seeming to have eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard, deliberately bumped into Qin Hao.


    "Hey, Song Wei, are you looking for trouble?" Seeing Song Wei''s behavior, Chen Shuna spoke up.


    Song Wei turned his head and glanced at Chen Shuna, "Mind your own business."


    Yuan Zhengxiang stood by with a smile on his face, silently watching.


    Qin Hao looked at Song Wei, who was also staring back at him with a very apparent provocation in his eyes, "What are you looking at? Do you know who I''m hanging out with now? Kun from Anchang Street."


    "Slap"


    Qin Hao slapped him across the face, then landed a spinning kick on Song Wei''s neck.


    Song Wei hit the ground without even a chance to react, stars swirling in his vision and his head buzzing loudly.


    The people inside the room wore stunned expressions. Wow, that was impressive.


    The movements were fluid and seamless as if moving clouds and flowing water. In the eyes of Chen Shuna and the others, Qin Hao looked very cool at that moment.


    "No matter who you hang out with, you''re just a piece of trash in my eyes," Qin Hao said in a calm tone.


    Now that they had graduated, even if they fought in the classroom, they didn''t have to worry about being punished by the school''s Discipline Office.


    After speaking, he glanced at Yuan Zhengxiang, "If you want to mess with me, be a man and stand up for yourself. Why let others do it for you?"


    Yuan Zhengxiang, somewhat fearful of his martial ability, said dismissively, "Are you even worth the trouble to me? Just a poor student. After the unified exam scores come out, we''ll be in completely different worlds."


    After saying this, he headed towards his own seat, actually fearful that Qin Hao might lash out at him.


    Qin Hao let out a cold snicker but didn''t say much more. Time would give the best answer to these people.


    He returned to his seat and glanced at Du Wanrou next to him; however, she was turned away, talking to someone else.


    Before long, their homeroom teacher arrived, first inquiring about how everyone''s exams had gone, then discussing the exam answers and letting the students roughly estimate their scores.


    All morning, Du Wanrou had ignored him, and Qin Hao thought it could be because of the gift he had given her.


    But now that Du Wanrou was here, he was a bit confused.


    Without paying attention to Qin Hao, Du Wanrou instead said to Xia Qing with a smile, "You don''t mind, do you, Xia Qing?"


    Xia Qing smiled back, "It''s a public canteen, how could I mind?"


    Though both spoke with smiling faces, Qin Hao could feel the invisible hostility between the two.


    At that moment, students from Class 2 and other nearby classes turned their attention towards Qin Hao.


    Damn, who was this guy? The two most beautiful girls of the school were sitting by his side.


    Yuan Zhengxiang and the others couldn''t believe it. He was a slacker, had no money, and wasn''t particularly handsome. Why were the two prettiest girls in the school favoring him?


    Were these two blind? I have the looks, top grades, and money at home.


    Where am I worse than this loser?


    Qin Hao had a rather lackluster meal at noon, mainly because of Xia Qing and Du Wanrou.


    Although they didn''t talk much afterwards, that invisible hostility remained.


    He was also somewhat conflicted internally.


    ...


    After 2 p.m.


    All senior year students gathered in the lecture theater for the graduation ceremony, which was about to begin.


    It started with the principal''s opening remarks, followed by speeches from the vice principal, the director of education, and representative teachers.


    That alone took almost an hour.


    Then Class 1 of the arts stream started their performance, and the first to go on stage was surprisingly Xia Qing.


    She glanced in the direction where Qin Hao was sitting, and with a smile said, "In the vast sea of people, it''s fate that brought us together, let''s share the moment with ''Just Met You''."


    "Great..."


    The audience erupted with thunderous applause, and Qin Hao also softly clapped his hands.


    Xia Qing wasn''t just beautiful; her singing was enchanting, mesmerizing everyone who heard it.


    After the song ended, people clapped enthusiastically. Xia Qing looked at Qin Hao once more, then smiled as she stepped off the stage.

 Chapter 46: Chapter 48 Du Wanrous Response

    After Xia Qing''s performance, another group went up to perform, followed by the students from the second liberal arts class.


    This pattern repeated until all the classes had performed, which took about one and a half hours.


    Latter, several teachers took the stage to perform, and by the time everyone had finished, it was almost five o''clock.


    Finally, it was time for the school leaders to deliver closing remarks, and only after they had finished their speeches did the graduation ceremony for Changle Second Middle School''s senior year come to an end.


    Back in the classroom, the homeroom teacher spoke a few more words, and then everyone went home.


    They now just needed to wait for the results, which would be released on June 22, still eleven days away. Then, they could check their scores online and fill in their university preferences.


    On the way back, Xia Qing was still walking with him, chatting and laughing.


    Neither of them brought up the subject of the gift, as both felt too embarrassed to be the first to mention it.


    At the entrance to the residential area, Xia Qing looked at him and asked, "Don''t you have anything you want to say to me?"


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.


    Seeing his expression, Xia Qing''s eyes dimmed slightly: "I''m going to head back first."


    Watching Xia Qing walk away, Qin Hao felt somewhat stifled.


    Thinking about Du Wanrou, he felt confused.


    He didn''t know how Du Wanrou felt about him, and he also didn''t know what the outcome would be if he tried to pursue her.


    But how could he know the outcome without trying?


    Yet, taking such action might be somewhat unfair to Xia Qing, and at this moment, he found himself in a dilemma.


    Back at home, Qin Hao lay on his bed, unsure what to do, as his parents hadn''t come back yet.


    It was nearly seven o''clock in the evening when Qin Youguo and Li Shujie returned with grim expressions and without speaking.


    Qin Hao came out of his room and curiously asked, "Mom, Dad, what''s wrong?"


    Mr. Qin sighed, sat on the sofa, and silently lit a cigarette without saying a word.


    Qin Hao turned to his mom: "Mom, what happened?"


    Li Shujie, still visibly angry, responded: "The factory manager''s relative has taken over your dad''s position, and now your dad has been demoted. That Mr. Huang really isn''t decent. He''s taken plenty of favors from us, and now he just replaces us just like that."


    Qin Youguo took a drag of his cigarette and said, "Stop it, what''s the use of telling the kid this? It''s just a demotion, not a suspension."


    But remembering her family background, she felt it would be difficult to be with Qin Hao. But should she give up because of this?


    She wasn''t that type of person. Even if she couldn''t be with Qin Hao in the end, she wanted to give it a try.


    But the most important thing now was to test Qin Hao''s heart.


    She needed to know if Qin Hao truly cared about her or if he was just after her family''s wealth and her beauty.


    It was quite a while before she received a reply from Qin Hao, "If you really get into Jianghai University, I can consider trying to date you."


    When Qin Hao saw the message, he was thrilled, "Am I dreaming?"


    "Really, Wanrou? That''s great," Qin Hao replied, his fingers trembling.


    Du Wanrou, "Don''t get too happy yet. The results aren''t out. Got to go, my mom is back."


    "Mmm, have an early night, Wanrou," Qin Hao boldly called her Wanrou, no longer calling her monitor.


    ...


    The next morning, around seven, Qin Hao got up, and his parents had already eaten breakfast and gone to work.


    He took out breakfast from the microwave, ate a bit, and then left the house.


    When he arrived at Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant around eight, Kang Youyi was already there.


    Not just Kang Youyi, but Yu Jie, Yu Chengcai, and Liu Pengyun were also present.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao curiously asked, "How come you guys are here so early?"


    Yu Jie responded with a smile, "We got up around six, had nothing to do at home, so we came over. We''d be idle anyway."


    Turning to Yu Chengcai, Qin Hao asked, "Chengcai, is your health okay now?"


    "No problems, boss. I''m in great shape," Yu Chengcai said with a simple, honest smile.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Good to hear, work hard, and learn more from your sister when you can."


    At the roasted duck restaurant, he basically had little to do. There was no shortage of manpower, and he just oversaw the workers.


    In the morning, Qin Hao mixed more than ten sets of ingredients on the second floor.


    Around eleven o''clock, he came downstairs; the restaurant was already open for business.


    Now, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant was selling nearly a thousand ducks a day, with daily revenues of about forty to fifty thousand yuan. The growth was nothing short of spectacular.


    This was mainly due to the secret recipe of Jiangshan Roasted Duck, which had the perfect aroma, appearance, and taste. It was hard for Jiangshan Roasted Duck not to be popular.

 Chapter 47: Chapter 49 Li Baos Request

    ```


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant could now produce at most a thousand roasted ducks per day.


    Any more than that would exceed the current capacity of the roasted duck restaurant.


    However, the fatty had just ordered two rather large duck roasting ovens, and once they arrived, the production capacity of the restaurant would be even higher.


    Revenue was also expected to increase, and he was very much looking forward to this month''s revenue, which was going to be an astonishing figure.


    By a little after six in the evening, he returned home where Qin Youguo and Li Shujie had already arrived.


    Mrs. Qin saw him come back and asked curiously, "Xiao Hao, why did you come back so late today?"


    "Mom, I found a summer job today, working at the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant. They said they''d pay me three thousand a month."


    Qin Youguo asked curiously, "Is the job there tiring? You''re still in school, don''t wear yourself out."


    His father usually had a stern expression, but Qin Hao could feel that his father''s love for him was in no way less than his mother''s, and perhaps even more.


    But he did not seek for his son to know it, even if his son did not understand.


    Perhaps this was the greatness of paternal love.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "It''s fine, Dad, not too tiring."


    Qin Youguo, "Hmm, as long as it''s not tiring that''s good, work hard and it''ll toughen you up."


    And so, Qin Hao went to the roasted duck restaurant during the day, and would return after six in the evening.


    On the 15th of June.


    Inside Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant.


    Qin Hao was looking at the account books when Li Bao walked in with four people.


    Upon seeing this, Yu Jie turned her head towards Qin Hao, "Boss, you have visitors."


    Qin Hao lifted his head, saw Li Bao holding a backpack, and he walked over, "Hao, can I have a word with you?"


    Qin Hao handed the account book to Yu Jie, then headed upstairs.


    He led Li Bao and the others into the fatty''s office on the second floor, and Li Bao entered while Wang Hong and the four others stood guard outside.


    Once inside the room, Li Bao opened the briefcase, revealing stacks of cash.


    He began, "Hao, here''s the money we collected, this is your share."


    Qin Hao shook his head, "I don''t need money right now. You keep it and do something legitimate. Lead those brothers away from that path. After all, what you''re doing can''t last, and if you''re not careful, you might even end up in prison."


    Li Bao was stunned for a moment. To be honest, he admired Qin Hao''s audacity. To decline an offer of over two hundred thousand yuan without even blinking an eye.


    At the same time, he was pondering what Qin Hao had said. He knew Qin Hao was right¡ªit probably was time to extricate himself before getting in too deep.


    "As long as the problem is solved, I don''t mind." Liu Jianming was genuinely scared.


    Because Wang Kun from Anchang Street was too infamous.


    This man had been jailed for intentional assault before, and it hadn''t been long since he was released.


    His ruthlessness was unmatched even by Li Bao, as Wang Kun used to really go at people with a knife.


    It is said that he has more than one life on his hands, just that the police haven''t found the evidence.


    It was just past eleven-thirty.


    A middle-aged man with a face covered in horizontal scars and wearing a black vest walked in.


    He had a dragon tattoo over his shoulder and a long scar, sinister and terrifying, on his right arm.


    Following him was a middle-aged man in a suit.


    The two did not speak and simply found a place to sit down.


    Li Bao stood up and with a smile said, "Kun, this is Mr. Liu from Fubang Real Estate Company, and this is Hao."


    Wang Kun glanced at Qin Hao and said with a laugh, "Li Bao, you''re kidding me, bringing a kid whose hair hasn''t fully grown in to mess with me?"


    Li Bao furrowed his eyebrows upon hearing this, glanced at Qin Hao, unsure how to respond to Wang Kun''s words.


    Qin Hao, sensing Wang Kun''s contempt, said to Li Bao, "Introduce me to the person next to him."


    "That''s Mr. Wang Guanding from Guanding Real Estate Company," Li Bao introduced.


    Wang Guanding was a middle-aged man, balding, with a chubby face and large ears.


    He glanced at Qin Hao without the slightest intention of greeting him.


    Qin Hao looked at Wang Guanding and said, "Does Mr. Wang have some misunderstanding with Mr. Liu?"


    Wang Guanding replied, "Indeed, there has been a misunderstanding. Liu Jianming cursed me behind my back in front of others, who wouldn''t be able to tolerate this?"


    All this over trivial matters?


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; in his view, it was just petty squabbling.


    But for people like Liu Jianming and Wang Guanding, it was a serious matter of losing face, which necessitated teaching the other a lesson.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "My purpose in inviting everyone here was to help resolve this issue, Mr. Wang, tell us, how would you like to settle this matter?"


    Wang Guanding clapped his hands, and a waitress walked in.


    He said to the attendant, "Bring three bottles of Moutai."


    After the waitress left and quickly returned with the liquor, placing it on the table and then exiting.


    Looking at Liu Jianming, Wang Guanding said, "Since Hao has brought it up, I have to give Hao some face. If you, Liu Jianming, can finish these three bottles of liquor, we''ll consider the matter resolved."

 Chapter 48: Chapter 50 Hidden Quest

    ```


    Qin Hao and Li Bao squinted their eyes upon hearing his words, which clearly showed a blatant lack of respect for them.


    After drinking these three bottles of alcohol, Liu Jianming would probably have to stay in the hospital for a while.


    If this matter were resolved this way, the loss of face wouldn''t just be Liu Jianming''s, but also Qin Hao''s and Li Bao''s.


    At their level, face is a very important thing.


    Qin Hao will certainly need to mix in Jiangshan City in the future, and Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant is definitely going to be developed, so he can''t afford to lose this face.


    "It seems Mr. Wang is not planning to resolve this matter properly," Qin Hao said, his expression darkening.


    Wang Guanding chuckled, but said nothing because he had already said what he wanted to say.


    Wang Kun saw him and said indifferently, "This is the best solution, otherwise I, Wang Kun, will make sure he spends the rest of his life in a wheelchair.


    ''If you give me face, you are Hao, but if you don''t, you are nothing in my eyes, just a little kid, at best. People on Yonghe Street really seem to be regressing more as they live.''"


    Li Bao''s face turned very awkward; Wang Kun was too arrogant, daring to insult Hao like that. Did he really think Li Bao was easy to bully?


    Qin Hao looked at Wang Kun, and there was a red exclamation mark next to his head.


    "Congratulations host, you''ve triggered a hidden mission?"


    "Mission name: Punish the Evil-doer, Mission description: Expose Wang Kun''s murder of Liu Man Yue five years ago and his disposal of the body in an abandoned factory in Jianghua Suburb."


    "Mission reward: 1000 achievement points, 1 merit point."


    Merit point? What is this thing?


    Qin Hao looked at Wang Kun with a smile on his face, but it was a cold smile.


    Reporting will come later, but today he must get his face back.


    "Since you''re not giving me face, don''t blame me for not giving you face."


    Wang Kun also stood up and looked at him with a cold laugh, "What? You want to fight me?"


    "Whoosh"


    Qin Hao dashed forward in a flash, reaching out and slapping Wang Kun on the face.


    Wang Kun had no chance to react, and the full force of the slap left him dazed and disoriented.


    Seeing Qin Hao take action, Li Bao also rushed over and started to let loose a flurry of punches and kicks on Wang Kun.


    People outside heard the commotion and rushed in. Wang Kun had only brought two people with him; they tried to come and help, but were immediately restrained by Wang Hong and four of Li Bao''s men.


    Wang Guanding hurriedly said, "I''m treating everyone today. From now on, we''re all friends."


    After he finished speaking, he called the waiter over and ordered a lot of expensive dishes and drinks.


    Now with Wang Kun possibly bedridden for a long time, or even likely to be taken down, Wang Guanding was also making preparations for a rainy day.


    The meal went on for a long time, and during it, Qin Hao also touched on the matter of Wang Kun.


    After all, Li Bao had broken Wang Kun''s arm. If Wang Kun was determined to sue, Li Bao would have to spend some time inside as well.


    If there were no witnesses, Wang Kun''s lawsuit would be futile.


    After lunch, Wang Guanding settled the bill and left.


    Qin Hao, Li Bao, and Liu Jianming shared a car on the way back. During the drive, Qin Hao said to Liu Jianming, "Mr. Liu, I heard that you exempted the rent for the pool hall my brother Fatty opened. How much would it cost to buy it?"


    Liu Jianming was stunned for a moment but instantly grasped what he meant: "The market price is usually around six or seven hundred thousand. Today has been troublesome for Hao, so I''ll have someone send the property contract over in a bit. Consider it a gift for Hao''s brother."


    "How could that be acceptable? I''ll pay whatever it costs," Qin Hao insisted.


    Liu Jianming internally scoffed, saying you clearly want to just take it.


    But he also knew that if it weren''t for Qin Hao today, things would have been difficult to resolve.


    Furthermore, Qin Hao had taken care of Wang Kun and assumed a fair amount of risk.


    He had initially planned to rent the pool hall to Kang Youyi permanently, to get on good terms with Li Bao and Qin Hao.


    Initially, it was almost no different from giving it away, and now he was just adding the formal transfer of the property contract.


    If Qin Hao had asked for a different property, it might have hurt him financially.


    But as for the pool hall run by Kang Youyi, he wasn''t pained at all to part with it.


    "Look at you, Hao, talking like that. Talking about money hurts the feelings between brothers. This is my initiative to give to you. If you don''t accept it, it''s like looking down on your brother," Liu Jianming said with firmness in his voice.


    Qin Hao didn''t insist further, tacitly agreeing.


    Liu Jianming asked with some concern, "Hao, what do we do if Wang Kun gets out of the hospital later?"


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Liu. I''ll take care of this matter," said Qin Hao in an indifferent tone.


    ...


    Li Bao, listening to the two men''s conversation, couldn''t help but admire Qin Hao. He didn''t even know how to describe him anymore, and he was even more elusive.


    Astute and ruthless?


    To demand a house just like that¡ªif it were Li Bao, he couldn''t have mustered the gall.


    Back at Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant, it wasn''t long before Liu Jianming sent someone to deliver the property contract to the restaurant.

 Chapter 49: Chapter 51 The Disappearance Case from Five Years Ago

    Kang Youyi was stunned when he saw the property contract, "Hao, how can this be in my name? I didn''t do anything for it, I can''t take it."


    Qin Hao said, "Just take it, it''s yours anyway."


    Kang Youyi shook his head, unable to fathom why he would get a property contract worth six to seven hundred thousand for nothing.


    Although he was somewhat tempted, there were some things he couldn''t accept.


    Li Bao spoke up, "How about this? Fatty signs here, and you give this old house to Hao."


    The new billiards hall Kang Youyi had opened, although smaller than this one, was in a prime location and could easily sell for five hundred thousand.


    While this house could at most sell for five hundred thousand, and even that would be difficult.


    Qin Hao knew that if he didn''t agree, Fatty wouldn''t sign, so he nodded slightly, "Let''s do it that way, Fatty."


    Only then did Fatty reluctantly agree to sign.


    When Fatty left to get busy, only Qin Hao and Li Bao remained in the office.


    Qin Hao asked Li Bao, "How much do you know about Wang Kun?"


    Li Bao replied, "I don''t know much about him, because he was always locked up. He''s only been released recently. However, I''ve heard he''s responsible for several deaths, but the police have never found any evidence."


    "Hmm, be careful these next few days. It''s very likely that Wang Kun will seek revenge on you or me," Qin Hao cautioned him.


    Li Bao nodded, "Alright, Hao."


    Qin Hao added, "You should also start preparing to change your ways sooner rather than later, so you don''t get in any deeper."


    Li Bao left, and watching his departing figure, Qin Hao sighed.


    After Li Bao left, Qin Hao used his phone to look up a missing person case from five years ago on the internet.


    For something like this, there should be reports in the newspapers and online.


    Half an hour later, he finally found a report on Liu Man Yue.


    One summer night five years ago, Liu Man Yue, a senior student at Changle High School, disappeared on her way home from evening class.


    To this day, there has been no news, her family has already reported it to the police, but she has yet to be found.


    There was also a photo of Liu Man Yue in the report, a very beautiful girl, almost as pretty as Xia Qing or Du Wanrou.


    What a pity that she is now gone too soon.


    If the system said she was dead, then she must be dead, and her body was in an abandoned factory in Jianghua Suburb.


    "Check for me, how many abandoned factories there are in Jianghua Suburb, no, how many there were five years ago in Jianghua Suburb," Tie Gaoming, the deputy captain of the criminal police, said to the people behind him.


    Immediately, two detectives walked out, while he stood there, listening to Qin Hao''s words, deep in thought.


    Three minutes later.


    The two detectives strode back in: "Captain, there are currently four abandoned factories in Jianghua Suburb, but five years ago, there was only one."


    "Gather a team and follow me there to have a look," Tie Gaoming turned and walked out.


    ...


    By this time, Qin Hao had already returned to the roast duck restaurant, which was doing better and better business now.


    He didn''t know if the police would respond to the call, nor did he know if they would be able to find Liu Man Yue''s body.


    If they didn''t find Liu Manyu''s body, then his task wouldn''t be considered successful.


    Even if they found Liu Manyu''s body, but didn''t catch the real culprit, Wang Kun, his task would still not be considered a success.


    But he didn''t have other methods, since even the police couldn''t uncover any evidence.


    He didn''t think he could be more capable than the well-equipped police.


    Whether justice could be served for Liu Man Yue was now in the hands of fate.


    Around six in the evening.


    Qin Hao got home, where his father was watching TV. On the screen, there was a news reporter standing in an abandoned factory, with police tape in the background and police officers walking back and forth.


    She began, "Today, the Jiangshan City Police Department''s criminal investigation team discovered the body of a woman inside an abandoned factory in Jianghua District. As for the specific identity of the woman, the authorities have not yet confirmed, but they have revealed that the victim was a young female."


    Qin Hao was momentarily stunned. He felt some surprise at the efficiency of the police¡ªit had been less than two hours, right?


    "Xiao Hao, are your exam results coming out soon?" Mr. Qin asked from the sofa.


    Qin Hao took a seat on the couch, his gaze on the TV: "Another week to go, Dad."


    "Oh, do you think you have a good chance of getting into a second-tier college?" Mr. Qin couldn''t help but ask again.


    It was mainly because at the factory, his co-workers were always boasting to him about their daughters, hoping to get into a first-tier college, but being sure about a second-tier was not a problem at all.


    Qin Hao''s past performance had not been promising, so much so that even Li Shujie felt embarrassed to mention their son''s grades at the factory.


    "Getting into a second-tier college is definitely no problem."


    Qin Youguo said with a smile, "That''s good, then. Tomorrow when I get to the factory I also need to boast a bit to old Liu, always talking about how well his daughter''s doing, but my son is not any worse."

 Chapter 50: Chapter 52 The Police Arrive

    The next morning, after finishing breakfast, Qin Hao stepped out of the residential complex.


    The system notification sounded, "Congratulations to the host for completing the hidden task, reward 1000 achievement points, 1 merit point."


    Could it be that Wang Kun has been caught? Qin Hao paused and thought.


    After he arrived at the roasted duck restaurant, he received a call from Li Bao.


    Li Bao: "Hao, has Wang Kun been caught?"


    Qin Hao asked, "What for?"


    Li Bao answered, "I''m not very clear on the details, but the observer said: A large group of police came and took Wang Kun away, it looks like it''s not a minor case."


    Hearing Li Bao''s words, Qin Hao was pretty clear in his mind, it must be about the case of Liu Man Yue.


    The police must have found evidence on Liu Man Yue''s body; otherwise, they wouldn''t dispatch criminal police.


    It also indirectly showed that the police must have been investigating overnight, otherwise they wouldn''t have cracked the case so quickly.


    "Hmm, I got it." After speaking, Qin Hao hung up the phone.


    Qin Hao had thought it would take a long time to solve the case, but to his surprise, it was solved overnight.


    Liu Jianming and Wang Guanding also received the news immediately.


    When they heard the news, they were shocked. Could this be because of Qin Hao? Did he have such incredible means?


    Around eleven a.m.


    Jiangshan City Police Station held a press conference, announcing the breakthrough of the five-year-old Liu Man Yue disappearance case.


    The body of the high school student Liu Man Yue was found in an abandoned factory in Jianghua Suburb; following a police investigation, Liu Man Yue died of strangulation.


    Before her death, she had been violated, and the police found the suspect''s hair on Liu Man Yue''s body.


    After DNA comparison, the murderer was finally confirmed to be Wang Kun.


    The press conference roughly conveyed this message, and Qin Hao also saw the heart-wrenchingly weeping relatives of Liu Man Yue.


    If the case hadn''t been solved, they might still have a glimmer of hope, fantasizing that their daughter wasn''t dead, that perhaps one day when they opened the door, they would see their daughter standing there with a beaming smile.


    ...


    Qin Hao turned off the TV and walked out of the Fatty''s office.


    He opened the system to check his character attribute panel:


    Name: Qin Hao


    Sex: Male


    Age: 19


    Level: Mortal


    Achievement points: 2600


    Merit points: 1


    Yu Jie: "Please wait a moment, I''ll go call our boss."


    After saying that, Yu Jie hurried upstairs. Qin Hao should be resting on the second floor at this time.


    The male and female officers surveyed the interior decoration of the roasted duck restaurant, and female police officer Feng Xue said, "I didn''t expect this Qin Hao to be the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant."


    "What''s so curious about such a small roasted duck shop?" Li Bao scoffed.


    This type of small shop was too common in Jiangshan City, and in his opinion, there was nothing strange about it.


    Feng Xue explained to him, "My home is just around Yonghe Street, you don''t know how delicious this roasted duck is and how well it sells, the daily turnover is almost around forty to fifty thousand yuan."


    "That much?" Li Bao was somewhat surprised.


    ...


    At this moment, Qin Hao followed Yu Jie downstairs.


    As soon as he descended, Qin Hao greeted them with a smiling face, "Hello officers, I''m Qin Hao, were you looking for me?"


    Li Bao and Feng Xue were stunned, sizing him up, "How old are you?"


    "19 years old," Qin Hao said with a shy smile on his face.


    These two in police uniforms, could they be here for a census check?


    A 19-year-old entrepreneur? Are young people today this impressive?


    Feng Xue was the first to recover, "There is something we need your assistance with for an investigation, come with us to the police station."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Alright, cooperating with a police investigation is our civic duty."


    At this time, Kang Youyi heard the news and hurriedly ran over from the back, "What''s happening, Hao?"


    Feng Xue and Li Bao looked towards Kang Youyi and then back at Qin Hao. Hao? You''re almost thirty, and you''re calling a nineteen-year-old kid ''brother''; could your skin be any thicker?


    They had never seen such blatant sucking up to the boss before.


    Qin Hao was exasperated, "What ''Hao'', call me boss."


    "What''s wrong boss? What do these police officers want with you?" Kang Youyi asked worriedly.


    Qin Hao, "Don''t ask so many questions, it''s just cooperation with an investigation. Make sure everything at the shop is fine, and if I''m not back tonight, remember to call my family, understand?"


    "Yes, yes."


    After leaving the roasted duck shop, Qin Hao got into the police car, heading straight for Jiangshan City Police Station.


    Sitting in the backseat, countless questions flashed through his mind. Could the matter he reported have been discovered?


    It shouldn''t be, there were no surveillance devices there, and I even wore gloves while making the call, leaving no fingerprints.


    It was almost impossible for the police to find him.


    If it wasn''t for that, then it could very well be about Wang Kun''s matter.


    Remembering that Wang Kun had been arrested this morning, he thought it was very likely that Wang Kun had filed a complaint against him. By now, Li Bao probably had also been summoned to the police station.


    From Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant to the city''s police station took some time. Sitting in the passenger seat, Feng Xue said, "The roasted duck from your place is really good. You don''t use chemical additives in your duck, do you?"

 Chapter 51: Chapter 53 Tie Gaoming

    Qin Hao said with a smile, "How could that be possible, Jiangshan Roasted Duck is made using a secret recipe that blends eighty-one types of herbs."


    Liu Bo, who was driving, heard this and curled his lips dismissively, thinking that only a fool would believe in those eighty-one herbs.


    The police car soon arrived at the city police station.


    Liu Bo and Feng Xue reported upstairs briefly, then took him into an interrogation room.


    They asked him to wait a moment and then left.


    Qin Hao frowned slightly, having a bad feeling about this. Logically, if it was just to assist with an investigation, they shouldn''t have taken him to an interrogation room.


    An interrogation room is a place for questioning suspects or prisoners.


    About fifteen minutes later, a middle-aged man with a square face walked in. His expression was blank as he took the principal seat.


    Feng Xue and Liu Bo sat beside him, their faces equally serious, pens in hand ready to take notes.


    Mr. Tie found it hard to associate this eighteen-nineteen-year-old boy with the Hao from Yonghe Street.


    But his investigations confirmed that Qin Hao was indeed the Hao from Yonghe Street, a student who had just finished a unified examination.


    Perhaps it related to his poor academic performance, Mr. Tie thought to himself.


    Qin Hao''s academic records from the educational system were completely accessible to him.


    This boy was a thorough bad student, or more accurately, a bad student with some capabilities, as Mr. Tie defined him.


    Mr. Tie looked at him, his tone devoid of any emotion, "Should I call you Qin Hao, or should I call you Hao?"


    Qin Hao awkwardly smiled, "Mr. Officer, I''m only nineteen, and you''re over forty, don''t you think it''s inappropriate?"


    Feng Xue stole a glance at Qin Hao, curiosity in her eyes. Was he really the famous Hao from Yonghe Street?


    But he was only nineteen years old. How could that be possible?


    Mr. Tie said, "You should know why we asked you here today, right?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "Sorry officer, I really don''t know why you''ve called me here. Have I broken the law?"


    Mr. Tie said coldly, "Qin Hao, I hope you realize where you are. Have you forgotten what happened a few days ago at the Jinshan Hotel?"


    Qin Hao paused and replied, "Are you talking about Wang Kun''s incident? But what does that have to do with me?"


    "His leg was broken by Li Bao at your command, wasn''t it?" Mr. Tie''s eyes flashed as he stared at him intensely.


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Tie, see? He is clearly trying to retaliate against me. I wasn''t the only one there eating.


    There were Mr. Liu from Fubang Real Estate and Wang Guanding from Guding Real Estate. As for what happened initially, you can ask them; they were all eyewitnesses."


    Tie Gaoming turned to Wang Kun, "Is what he says correct? Were Li Bao, Wang Guanding, and Liu Jianming there as well?"


    Wang Kun nodded, "That''s right."


    Tie Gaoming then looked at Feng Xue, "Contact these two people, and if you can''t reach them, have them come to the station."


    "Yes, Captain."


    Feng Xue left and returned about ten minutes later, then whispered something into Tie Gaoming''s ear.


    Tie Gaoming frowned slightly, glanced at Wang Kun, then at Qin Hao.


    "Take Wang Kun away," Tie Gaoming told Liu Bo who was standing nearby.


    Liu Bo escorted Wang Kun out of the interrogation room, leaving just the three of them inside.


    Qin Hao looked at him with a smile, "Captain Tie, things should be clear after the investigation, right?"


    Tie Gaoming looked at him, a trace of resentment flashing in his eyes; he believed Qin Hao was definitely not clean.


    But without evidence and with people vouching for him,


    seeing Qin Hao''s smile seemed like mockery to him.


    It made him feel a surge of anger, with nowhere to vent it.


    Remembering the oath he had taken under the national flag, his face grew hot.


    "Bang"


    Tie Gaoming slammed his fist on the table, the dull sound startling both Feng Xue and Qin Hao.


    Cautiously, Qin Hao said, "Captain Tie, are you all right? Take your time, no need to hurry; getting upset is bad for your health.


    "You have excessive liver heat; you need to balance it. It''s best to eat some Jiangshan Roasted Duck; otherwise, you might develop serious illnesses later."


    When Feng Xue heard this, she couldn''t help but burst out laughing, "Pu-chi"; this guy really was something else.


    In such a situation, he still remembered to recommend his roasted duck.


    "Get out now," Tie Gaoming glared at him, looking like he might kill him at any moment, and then he also glared at Feng Xue.

 Chapter 52: Chapter 54 Li Baos Mother

    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; this guy''s temper was really terrible.


    After Qin Hao came out, Feng Xue hurriedly followed. She feared that if she didn''t leave soon, Tie Gaoming would lose his temper with her.


    Looking at Qin Hao in front of her, to be honest, she didn''t feel much aversion.


    Even though he was the Hao from Yonghe Street, even though he had someone break both of Wang Kun''s legs.


    Wang Kun, that scumbag, not only had insulted Liu Man Yue but also brutally murdered this girl in the prime of her youth.


    Breaking just one leg was too lenient for such a person.


    If it weren''t for an anonymous tip-off, the police might not have caught Wang Kun, allowing him to roam free.


    Feng Xue stealthily glanced at the interrogation room behind her and wondered, "If Captain Tie knew what I''m thinking, would he hit me?"


    She knew Tie Gaoming was a very stubborn and principled man, but sometimes she felt he was somewhat old-fashioned.


    If he had been more flexible and adaptable, he might not have been stuck at the position of squad captain for over a decade and even demoted from chief captain to deputy captain.


    After leaving the police station building, Qin Hao suddenly turned and asked Feng Xue, "Aren''t you supposed to drive me back?"


    "You can take a bus back yourself; we''re too busy to drive you," Feng Xue responded with a glance.


    You think a police car is a taxi?


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, and he walked out of the police station. It wasn''t long before Li Bao also came out from inside.


    "Everything okay?" Qin Hao asked him.


    Li Bao said with a smile, "Hao, it''s not my first time here; it''s all good."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than his phone in his pocket rang urgently. He answered the call and asked, "What''s up?"


    "Brother, where are you? Mom suddenly fell ill today and is now in the hospital," a girl''s voice came through from the other end of the phone.


    Li Bao''s face changed at this news: "What did you say? Which hospital is Mom at? I''ll be right there."


    "She''s at Jiangshan City Second Hospital, currently in the emergency room. Remember to bring some money when you come, brother."


    After hanging up the phone, Li Bao said to Qin Hao in a hurried tone, "Hao, I''ve got to go; got an emergency."


    Qin Hao: "Is Auntie ill? Let me come and have a look too; I also know some medical skills."


    Li Bao nodded, then hailed a taxi and rushed towards Jiangshan City Second Hospital.


    On the way, Qin Hao made a call to Kang Youyi to tell him that he was fine now.


    Half an hour later, the two arrived at the entrance of the Second Hospital, and Li Bao hurried inside as soon as he got out of the car.


    Qin Hao said, "No problem, I''ll wait until Auntie''s surgery is finished."


    Before long, Kang Youyi arrived too. He had received the news from Qin Hao and came over right after getting off work.


    "Auntie hasn''t come out yet?" Kang Youyi saw Qin Hao and the other two sitting there and asked softly.


    Li Bao nodded: "Sit down and we''ll talk."


    Li Bao had a good reputation on Yonghe Street, but he didn''t really have many true friends. The fatty was one, and now Qin Hao was also one.


    The rest were fair-weather friends, who only followed you when there were benefits involved.


    He was well aware that if one day he fell from grace, those people would be the first to leave him.


    Eight o''clock in the evening


    The door to the emergency room opened, and a group of doctors and nurses walked out.


    One doctor, his head drenched in sweat so that his cap was soaked through, hurried towards Li Bao.


    He said anxiously, "The patient has severe gastrointestinal bleeding, and the situation is dire. Our facilities here are limited.


    We absolutely cannot cure the patient. I advise you to transfer her to another hospital as quickly as possible, or else you''ll only be left to prepare for the worst."


    "Uncle, I beg you, please save my mom. I can''t lose her," pleaded Li Bao''s sister.


    Li Qian had depended solely on her mother since she was a child, and upon hearing the doctor''s words, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face as she looked at the doctor with a pleading gaze.


    "Little girl, we have done our best." Chen Deshi let out a sigh.


    He had been a doctor for decades and had seen too many scenes of life and death, but this was also the scene he least wanted to witness.


    Because it made him feel guilty.


    Guilty for not being able to cure the patient, for causing their family grief.


    Although he knew it wasn''t his fault, sometimes things are beyond explanation.


    "Doctor, which hospital do you think we should transfer her to?" Li Bao asked urgently.


    Chen Deshi answered, "Given the current medical techniques and equipment, if she is transferred to Jianghai City First Hospital, there''s a sixty to seventy percent chance of saving her, but if transferred to Jinchen 309 Hospital, there''s an eighty to ninety percent chance of recovery."


    Jianghai City? Jinchen City?


    Li Bao''s eyebrows furrowed slightly, as these places were too far, and no one could be sure what might happen on the road.


    Looking at his mother, whose face was pale on the hospital bed, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes: "Could my mother''s condition flare up on the way? What should we do if it does?"


    Chen Deshi spoke with a complicated look in his eyes, "We are not certain when your mother''s condition might flare up. If it happens on the road, I''m afraid there might really be no hope."

 Chapter 53: Chapter 55: Life Potion

    Li Bao was stunned in his tracks, what should he do?


    If they didn''t transfer hospitals, his mother would hardly survive here; if they did transfer, she was very likely to die on the way.


    Even if they reached Jianghai First Hospital, there was only a sixty percent chance.


    He quickly made a decision to transfer hospitals, as not transferring meant no chance at all of survival.


    Qin Hao suddenly stood up and said, "Transferring hospitals is too risky, let me try instead."


    Everyone around looked at him, their faces filled with shock.


    You try? All these doctors have been trying for two hours and said it was hopeless. How are you going to try?


    Chen Deshi hurriedly said, "Young man, you''re not joking, right? How are you going to try?"


    Li Bao''s siblings, Kang Youyi, and those doctors and nurses all looked towards him.


    Qin Hao didn''t need to stand up, but seeing the pale-faced Li Bao and the heartbroken Li Qian,


    he felt he needed to step forward, especially because Li Bao was his man; it was even more his responsibility to care.


    Qin Hao felt there was a saying that held true now, "The bigger your capability, the bigger your responsibility."


    Now that he was exceptionally skilled in medicine, and although he couldn''t treat everyone, he would do all that he could.


    Qin Hao looked at Chen Deshi and said, "Your face is slightly red, your eyes have a web-like pattern of blood vessels, and your internal organ energy is chaotic, you probably have mild coronary heart disease."


    Chen Deshi''s face showed surprise, and he looked at him in disbelief, "How do you know?"


    He was certain he did not know Qin Hao, and only a few colleagues knew about his condition; a stranger couldn''t possibly know.


    Qin Hao said, "I''m also a doctor. I''m somewhat confident about her condition, so I plan to give it a try."


    After saying this, he looked at Li Bao, "It''s up to you to agree or not."


    Li Bao looked at Qin Hao, then at Chen Deshi. It was clear that Hao understood some medical knowledge.


    If he had some medical knowledge, he wouldn''t say this without any confidence, especially since it was a thankless task.


    But Li Bao was concerned about how confident Qin Hao was: "Hao, is there much hope?"


    Qin Hao nodded but didn''t specify how confident he was.


    "Okay, then I''ll trouble you, Hao," Li Bao''s eyes flashed with determination, now they could only hope for the best from the worst.


    Seeing Li Bao agree, Qin Hao breathed a sigh of relief.


    He then said to those in charge, "I need to use your resuscitation room."


    Around nine in the evening, Qin Hao walked out of the emergency room.


    Li Bao, his sister, Kang Youyi, Chen Deshi, and a few nurses were all waiting outside for him.


    "How''s it, Hao?" Li Bao asked anxiously.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "There shouldn''t be any major issue now, I''ll prepare a few more prescriptions for her, and after taking them for a while, your aunt''s condition should improve."


    "What? Are you joking?" Chen Deshi''s body shook as he widened his eyes in disbelief.


    Qin Hao, "Dr. Chen, please examine the patient again."


    Chen Deshi, accompanied by the nurses, went back inside. At this moment, Mrs. Li''s complexion looked much better than before.


    They conducted several more checks on Mrs. Li, and indeed, her condition had greatly improved.


    A proper period of convalescence, and she should be fully recovered without much trouble.


    Chen Deshi exclaimed in amazement, "Incredible! How could this young man possess such exceptional medical skills? How did he do it?"


    The nurses were also stunned; they were well aware of Mrs. Li''s condition, which was almost certainly fatal, yet now the reality was in front of their eyes.


    Li Bao and Li Qian were overjoyed upon hearing this news.


    "Hao, thank you," Li Bao said grasping Qin Hao''s hand tightly.


    Qin Hao, "As long as your aunt is fine. It''s getting late; I should head home now and will come to visit her again tomorrow."


    Li Bao quickly said, "Hao, let me walk you out."


    Qin Hao, "No need, your aunt is about to awaken. You better stay here by her side, prepare some light dinner later, and I''ve sent the prescriptions to your phone, remember to boil them and let your aunt take them before meals."


    "Yes, yes, thank you, Hao. Thank you so much," Li Bao repeated his thanks incessantly.


    He and his sister had depended on their mother ever since they were young; she was their everything.


    ...


    Qin Hao left the hospital and hailed a cab back home.


    Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin were still up, sitting on the sofa waiting for his return.


    "What happened? Where have you been until this late?" Mrs. Qin asked impatiently.


    Qin Hao didn''t dare mention that he had been summoned to the police station and quickly explained, "Just before finishing work, a friend''s mother fell ill, and I accompanied my friend to the hospital; I came back as soon as they were stable."


    "Oh, what illness did your friend''s mother have?" Youguo asked curiously.


    Qin Hao, "Severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage, the situation was very critical, it could have easily resulted in a failed rescue."

 Chapter 54: Chapter 56 Buying a Phone

    Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin, upon hearing this, showed concern in their eyes, "Is he out of danger now?"


    "Yes, he is out of danger now, and then I hurried back," Qin Hao replied.


    Qin Youguo spoke, "Tomorrow, we should buy something and go visit him."


    "Yes, Dad, I know. You guys should rest early," Qin Hao ate something casually in the kitchen, and then he went back to his room.


    Once in his room, he lay on the bed and sighed deeply.


    At that moment, his phone suddenly rang; it was a message from Xia Qing: "What are you doing?"


    Qin Hao: "Just got home."


    "Why did you come home so late? Did you go out to have fun?" Xia Qing asked curiously.


    Qin Hao replied, "No, I found a job a few days ago, planning to challenge myself and earn some tuition money."


    Xia Qing sent a surprised emoji, and then asked, "Where did you find the job?"


    "At that Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant we went to last time."


    Xia Qing: "Are they still hiring? I also want to do a part-time job there."


    Qin Hao, his face falling upon hearing this, thought, Xia Qing is coming too? Wouldn''t I be exposed then?


    He quickly said, "It seems they aren''t hiring; I got in through a relative."


    "Oh, never mind then, my parents wouldn''t agree to me looking for a job outside anyway."


    Xia Qing sounded a bit downhearted as she spoke about this issue.


    It was also clear from her words that she cared about Qin Hao.


    Her parents had long disapproved of her working a summer job, and her inquiry about the job at the roasted duck restaurant was an attempt to be with Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao was about to reply to the message when his phone suddenly went dark and powered off.


    He hurriedly took out the charger and plugged it in, but the phone did not respond, and it felt very hot.


    Could it be broken? Qin Hao tapped the phone a few times, but it remained unresponsive.


    He didn''t turn on the computer to chat with Xia Qing; the day''s events had been too much, and he fell asleep after a shower as soon as he lay down on the bed.


    The next day,


    Qin Hao first went to the roasted duck restaurant and then bought some fruits to go to the hospital.


    When he entered the hospital room, only Li Qian was keeping watch by herself over Mrs. Li.


    The casing is made of aluminum alloy, and it has a large battery capacity with a long standby time. Its price is 3688.


    However, we are currently having a summer promotion, and the promotional price is 3588."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, then asked the saleswoman to introduce other brands of phones as well.


    Eventually, Qin Hao stopped in front of the Red Fruit phone counter, where there were also many people choosing phones.


    He took a liking to a Red Fruit phone, a new model called Red Fruit Z.


    Whether it was the color of the device or the user experience, it indeed was better to use than many others.


    Qin Hao was a normal person, and he had his vanities.


    Moreover, he was not short of money, so he also wanted to buy a better phone.


    Qin Hao also knew another thing; the market value of this Red Fruit company was nearly 900 billion Federation Coins.


    Nine hundred billion Federation Coins is equivalent to five trillion Xuan Country Coins; for a company to achieve such a market value is terrifying indeed.


    No company in Xuan Country has ever reached this level, state-owned enterprises excluded.


    A private enterprise achieving this is truly phenomenal and something many entrepreneurs could learn from.


    Qin Hao, now an entrepreneur himself, held a respect for such industry giants.


    Even with the system at his disposal, he wasn''t very confident about growing his own company to a market value near a trillion Federation Coins.


    He was now curious about what kind of mind did the creator of the Red Fruit company have?


    "Sir, which phone would you like?" the saleswoman, seeing Qin Hao lost in thought, interrupted him softly.


    Qin Hao had been here for nearly half an hour already, and she had been tirelessly explaining, her mouth dry from talking.


    "Get me a black Red Fruit Z, 256GB," Qin Hao came around and said apologetically.


    Her face lit up with joy at his words, "Alright, sir, that will be 8999. Please wait a moment."


    After filling out his personal information and swiping his card, the phone was in his hands; he swapped out the SIM card and added a screen protector and a case.


    Many people nearby were watching him, especially a few young men and women, their eyes filled with envy.


    That was the latest model of Red Fruit Z, and they too wanted one, but they knew their parents would not agree.


    Still, one girl said to her dad, "Dad, I want a Red Fruit Z too."


    "If you can get into a top university, not just a Red Fruit Z phone, even a Red Fruit computer, Dad would make the decision for Mom to buy it for you."


    After hearing her dad''s words, the girl suddenly deflated.

 Chapter 55: Chapter 57 Results Announced

    Qin Hao left the mobile store and headed to the roast duck restaurant.


    Days passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was June 22nd.


    This day was crucial for many students taking the national exam, as the scores could determine the fate of their lives.


    Despite being confident in himself, Qin Hao now sat in front of the computer feeling nervous, with sweaty palms.


    Mrs. Qin took a day off just to see her son''s exam results.


    "It''s after nine o''clock, you can check now, quick," Mrs. Qin hurriedly said from behind him.


    Qin Hao had already opened the national exam results query website, and upon hearing his mother''s words, he clicked on the exam results query button.


    A dialog box appeared, and he rapidly typed his ID number on the keyboard and then pressed the enter key to confirm.


    "Querying, please wait..."


    Qin Hao took a deep breath, holding the mouse with sweaty hands.


    He wondered how many points he could score? Surely over six hundred fifty, right?


    He had checked his exam paper over and over again, and in the last few checks, he could find no errors.


    He believed scoring six hundred sixty or seventy points should be no problem.


    Mrs. Qin also held her breath, waiting for the results to appear, her eyes fixed firmly on the screen.


    A new webpage interface appeared seconds later.


    Name: Qin Hao (Shuinan Province Jiangshan City Changle District Changle Second Middle School Grade 12 Class 2 student)


    Score: 750 points


    Chinese score: 150 points, Mathematics score: 150 points, Federation Language score: 150 points, Comprehensive score: 300


    When they saw the scores displayed on the webpage, both Qin Hao and Mrs. Qin were stunned.


    Not only them, but even the person who had uploaded the data to the website was shocked upon seeing this score for the first time.


    A perfect score of 750 points, someone had scored a perfect score in the national exam?


    After a while, Mrs. Qin swallowed hard and said, "Xiao Hao, are my eyes deceiving me, does it show your score as 750 points?"


    She too was a college graduate, albeit from the old era, but she was quite familiar with the national exam.


    Only then did Li Shujie come back to herself and hurriedly said to the customer service, "Sorry, I was distracted just now."


    "No need to apologize, is there anything else you need information about?"


    Li Shujie replied, "No, no, thank you, thank you."


    "Alright then, I wish you a pleasant life."


    After hanging up the phone, Mrs. Qin looked at Qin Hao, her face breaking into a smile, then unprepared, she hugged his head.


    "Son, you''ve done amazing, a perfect score on the national exam, you''re the top scholar in the nation."


    Li Shujie exerted a lot of strength without even realizing it, but Qin Hao said nothing.


    Seeing his mother happy, he was sincerely happy too.


    Before the national exam, he had promised to achieve a good result to make his parents happy and proud of him.


    Now, he had succeeded, and thinking of this, a smile appeared on Qin Hao''s lips.


    "Plop"


    A tear drop fell on his cheek, Qin Hao looked up to see his mother''s eyes brimming with tears, cheeks streaked with two lines of tears.


    "Mom, why are you crying?" Qin Hao felt uneasy seeing his mother''s reddened eyes.


    Over the years, he had disappointed his parents too many times.


    Li Shujie, breaking into a smile through her tears, wiped them away and said, "It''s tears of joy, mom. Check out that top scorers list."


    Following his mother''s instructions, Qin Hao returned to the homepage of the website, then opened the national exam top scorers list.


    In the national exam top scorers list, Shuinan Province had only Qin Hao, ranked first with 750 points.


    The second place was from Jiangbei Province, ranked second with 739 points.


    ...


    After checking, Mrs. Qin''s phone rang; it was Mr. Qin, who had been anxious as he hadn''t received any calls.


    Mrs. Qin''s face lit up as she answered the phone.


    Mr. Qin''s voice came from the phone, "How did it go? Are the results out?"


    "They are out," Mrs. Qin spoke in a very calm tone, simply responding with three words.


    Upon hearing her tone, Mr. Qin paused, "Did he not do well? Watch your mouth and don''t nag the kid, no matter what school he got into, it will be fine."

 Chapter 56: Chapter 58: Top Scorer in the Unified Examination

    Mrs. Qin heard what he said and hastily responded, "Who said our son didn''t do well?"


    Qin Youguo, "Then why did you sound like that just now? How many points did our son actually score?"


    Mrs. Qin, smiling, said, "Xiao Hao scored 750 points."


    Qin Youguo, "What? Stop joking around, will you? I just snuck out to the bathroom. If I go back late, that guy will definitely nag me again. Just tell me how many points Xiao Hao scored?"


    "I''m not lying to you, our son really scored 750 points, the full score on the unified exam." Mrs. Qin became increasingly excited and couldn''t help but repeat herself twice.


    Qin Youguo''s voice suddenly increased, "Wife, you''re not joking?"


    "Do you think I''d joke about this with you? Come home early in the evening, and notify relatives and friends," Mrs. Qin said urgently.


    "Alright, I''m hanging up, wife. I''m heading home now," said Mr. Qin, unable to contain his impatience.


    Their son scored the full points on the unified exam, and was the top scorer in the country.


    This was the most important event in his life.


    Mrs. Qin asked softly, "Then, can He An approve it?"


    "He wouldn''t dare not to approve. My son scored the highest in the country, he''s nothing, wait for me, I''ll be home in half an hour." Mr. Qin then hung up the phone.


    After coming out of the bathroom, Qin Youguo was so buoyant that even a fool could tell he was extremely excited.


    Back inside the workshop, Liu saw Qin Youguo jumping around and curiously asked, "Qin, what''s with you? Are you having a fit?"


    Mr. Qin proudly said, "Let me tell you, Liu, my son scored full marks, the national top scorer, haha, I''m going home now."


    Liu Shengguang was startled and smirked, "Qin, have you been triggered or something? Your son scored full marks on the unified exam? Then my daughter could be the number one in the entire world."


    "Believe it or not, just wait for my invitation to drink when the time comes," Qin Youguo said before walking into the manager''s office.


    This used to be his office, but now it had been taken over by He An.


    A relative of the factory manager Huang Wencai, though Qin Youguo was unclear about the specific relation.


    He walked into the office to find He An with his feet up on the desk watching a movie.


    Upon seeing Qin Youguo enter, He An frowned, "Don''t you know to knock before coming in? Don''t think I won''t take action against you just because you''re a veteran staff, your bonus this month is gone, just so you know."


    Qin Youguo had long despised him. If Huang Wencai had brought in someone competent, he would have accepted it.


    He felt like someone was playing a big joke on him.


    At that moment, his office was filled with people, including the deputy principals, the director of studies, and the heads of various senior year classes.


    Ma Yingzhuang took out his cell phone and called someone at the Jiangshan City Department of Education. He wanted to check if there had been a mistake with the scores.


    Ma Yingzhuang, "Hello, Mr. Li, this is Ma Yingzhuang. I wanted to ask about the scores of our student Qin Hao. There''s no mistake, right?"


    "The scores of the national exam are meticulously verified. There are no mistakes. Old Ma, your school performed well this year. There might be radio stations coming for interviews, so you should prepare what to say."


    Ma Yingzhuang was invigorated by the words, "Don''t worry, Mr. Li, I understand. Thank you for your help. Please continue with your other tasks."


    After hanging up the phone, Ma Yingzhuang looked at the people in the room and asked, "Who is Qin Hao''s homeroom teacher?"


    "Principal, I am," a woman in her late forties stepped forward.


    Ma Yingzhuang said, "Qin Hao''s scores are genuine. He is this year''s national top scorer. There might be TV stations coming to the school for interviews. Do you know what to say?"


    Qin Hao''s homeroom teacher smiled and said, "Principal, you don''t know, but Qin Hao is a very intelligent child who studies extremely hard. Although I''m a bit surprised that he scored so high, it also makes sense."


    ...


    Not only Changle Second Middle School but almost everyone in Jiangshan City had heard the news in the shortest time and was amazed.


    A national top scorer from Jiangshan City?


    This was a huge celebration for the entire city of Jiangshan.


    Not just the ordinary citizens, even the officials were shaken.


    When Mr. Qin had just returned home, the landline rang. He hurriedly answered, "Hello, good evening."


    "Is this Qin Hao''s residence?" a middle-aged man''s voice came through the phone.


    Qin Youguo answered, "Yes, I am Qin Hao''s father. May I know who this is?"


    The middle-aged man, "I''m Liu Wenshi, the Director of the Jiangshan City Education Bureau. First of all, congratulations on Qin Hao achieving full marks on the national exam.


    He not only became the national top scorer but also broke the national exam record. He is the pride of our Jiangshan City and the entire Shuinan Province educational community."


    Qin Youguo, hearing the other''s title, responded solemnly, "Director Liu flatters us. This achievement is mainly due to my son''s own efforts.


    Secondly, it''s because of the good educational atmosphere and well-developed education system in our city, which is inseparable from the Party''s construction of educational affairs..."

 Chapter 57: Chapter 59 Dads Realization

    Qin Hao was pouring water in the kitchen when he heard his father''s words. He wordlessly pursed his lips.


    When did dad start talking like a bureaucrat? You''re not even in the system.


    The phone call was soon over, and Qin Hao came out of the kitchen, placing the water cup beside his dad, "Dad, whose call was that? Why did you start speaking all official?"


    Mrs. Qin was also curious, "Mr. Liu? Which Mr. Liu?"


    Qin Youguo was sitting on the couch, took a sip of water, and said, "It was Mr. Liu from Jiangshan City''s education department. He called to congratulate us because Xiao Hao scored full marks on the unified exam and became the national top scorer."


    Mrs. Qin was stunned. She hadn''t expected the head of Jiangshan City''s education department to personally make a phone call. That was a great honor.


    Seeing her expression, Qin Youguo knew what she was thinking, "Are you surprised by that?


    In the past, when a province released its top scorer for the provincial unified exam, the top official from the local city personally visited them and even brought gifts.


    Xiao Hao is not just a provincial top scorer; he''s the national top scorer, first in the whole country. Think about that."


    Qin Hao, hearing his father''s words, smiled and said, "Dad, whether or not anyone comes or calls to congratulate us, we will live our own lives."


    "Son, you are absolutely right. In any situation, one must remain calm," Qin Youguo smiled in agreement.


    Just then, the phone rang again. Calls came from Qin Hao''s homeroom teacher and the principal of Changle Second Middle School.


    Later, the secretary of the city''s top official also made a call. Mr. Qin remained calm, answering smoothly and at ease.


    Qin Hao, standing nearby, was taken aback: "Dad, were you an official before? You answer like it''s second nature.


    I thought you were part of the system, talking about how good the city''s education environment is, the Party''s educational construction. That''s a bit of a stretch."


    Qin Youguo''s expression turned serious as he spoke, "Xiao Hao, you scored well, and dad should indeed encourage you.


    But on this point, I must correct your perspective and opinions"


    Seeing Qin Youguo looking so serious, Mrs. Qin spoke irritably, "Qin Youguo, it''s a day for celebration. What are you doing?"


    Mr. Qin began, "Wife, this has nothing to do with you. I''m educating our child. A true talent must possess both virtue and ability.


    That you could score so well is naturally tied to your gifts and hard work, but I believe what''s even more important is that you were born in such a good era.


    You must approach society with a heart filled with gratitude and thankfulness, and repay those who have helped you in the past."


    Mr. Qin took another sip of water and continued, "I know you might feel unjust inside, but you have to admit it.


    After checking her results, Du Wanrou smiled; she had scored 697 points, surpassing the past cutoff score for the Business Administration College of Jianghai University.


    Both Du Hongfeng and Feng Yun smiled when they saw their daughter''s score.


    Feng Yun said with a smile, "697 points, higher than last year''s top scorer in Jiangshan City. Xiao Rou must be our top scorer, right?"


    Du Hongfeng said, "Daughter, quickly check this year''s Jiangshan City unified exam leaderboard to see if you are the top scorer."


    With a smile on her face, Du Wanrou knew that 697 was already a very high score, probably out of reach even for the top students from first and eighth high schools.


    She went to the unified exam website and opened the local city-wide leaderboard.


    Jiangshan City Unified Exam Leaderboard.


    First place: Qin Hao (Changle Second Middle School, Class Two of Senior Year Three)


    Score: 750 points


    Second place: Du Wanrou (Changle Second Middle School, Class Two of Senior Year Three)


    Score: 697 points


    Third place: Ning Yao (Changle High School, Class One of Senior Year Three)


    Score: 695 points


    ...


    The Du Wanrou family was astonished when they saw the scores on the list. 750 points? Wasn''t that a perfect score?


    What shocked Du Wanrou most was Qin Hao''s name, which was very clearly stated, Changle Second Middle School, Class Two of Senior Year Three.


    He was in the same class as her, and in Class Two, there was only one Qin Hao, who had been her deskmate for three years.


    Her father, Du Hongfeng, also noticed the information and turned to his daughter, "Xiao Rou, is the guy who scored a perfect score in your class? What''s your relationship like with him?


    Lad, a perfect score on the unified exam, that''s a first in many years. This young man is impressive, really impressive."


    Feng Yun felt the name Qin Hao sounded familiar, and after a few seconds, she remembered.


    Recently, a young man had sent that kind of suggestive joke to their daughter, which she discovered and then blocked him.


    The name she had saved for that person was Qin Hao, but she wasn''t entirely sure if they were the same person.

 Chapter 58: Chapter 60 Massive Rewards

    Du Hongfeng asked, "Daughter, is this Qin Hao your classmate?"


    "I think so," Du Wanrou said, unsure whether it was really Qin Hao, but there was only one Qin Hao in their class.


    Du Hongfeng looked at his daughter, "What do you mean ''you think so''? Don''t you even know your own classmates?"


    "There is only one Qin Hao in our class, but he usually performs poorly. How could he possibly score this high?" Du Wanrou expressed her doubts.


    Hearing his daughter''s words, Du Hongfeng''s expression turned to one of surprise, "You''re saying this Qin Hao usually has bad grades?"


    Du Wanrou nodded, "When we first started high school, his grades were pretty good, but I don''t know what happened later; his performance plummeted significantly."


    "The young people these days are no simple matter. According to what you''re saying, there are only two possibilities: one, he obtained the answers in advance.


    Do you think the test questions of a national unified exam could be leaked? Not just for an ordinary person like him, even a provincial official would find it impossible to do so.


    Even if he did get the answers, do you think he could memorize every single answer to perfection?"


    The second possibility is: his grades are actually very good, but he didn''t show it usually, keeping a low profile and enduring quietly until suddenly achieving fame known by all.


    If it really is like that, then this classmate of yours is definitely no ordinary person, and he might do great things in the future. How is your relationship with him?"


    Du Wanrou was taken aback, "Well... it''s okay, I guess!"


    Feng Yun looked at her daughter and asked, "Is this Qin Hao the same person I blocked a while ago?"


    "Uh," Du Wanrou didn''t expect her mother to remember that.


    Hearing his wife and daughter''s conversation, Du Hongfeng curiously asked, "What''s this all about?"


    Feng Yun replied with a smile, "This Qin Hao used to chat with our daughter and seemed to have taken a fancy to her, but I blocked him."


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned slightly red, "Mom, don''t talk nonsense."


    Seeing his daughter''s reaction, Du Hongfeng thought for a moment and said, "Daughter, dating is a serious matter. You must be cautious, and of course, you should tell your parents when the time comes. We''ll help you check him out."


    Feng Yun nodded, "That''s right, don''t just agree when a boy pursues you. If you do, the boy will think you''re easy to chase and he won''t cherish you. Your father pursued me for three years before I agreed."


    ...


    At Qin Hao''s home, in the afternoon, Mr. Qin received a call from a reporter from the Xuan Country Daily.


    This is the most authoritative top newspaper in the entire country.


    Everyone featured in the Xuan Country Daily is a known figure, or someone who has made outstanding contributions in their field,


    Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong exchanged glances. As people who had been through it all themselves, how could they not understand what their daughter meant?


    It seemed their daughter had taken a liking to this young man, but they had to vet him first. If he didn''t pass their scrutiny, they couldn''t agree to it.


    ...


    "Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the main mission: Unified Exam. Rewarding 10,000 achievement points and five attribute points.


    As the host has achieved a perfect level of mission completion, reward item: PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds anti-cheat program package."


    Qin Hao, hearing the system''s voice one after another, smiled. Ten thousand achievement points, that was a very generous reward.


    Plus, there were five attribute points.


    And then there was this anti-cheat program package.


    PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds anti-cheat program package: Can eliminate all types of cheats in the game PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds.


    Qin Hao had heard of PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds, a very popular ''battle royale'' game at the moment, and many in his class played it.


    In the afternoon shortly after Qin Hao''s family had lunch, several black sedans parked downstairs in their building, led by a red flag car, with the rest being Audis.


    Seven or eight middle-aged men in suits got out of the cars, with some carrying cameras.


    One person walked in front, followed by five or six others.


    They made their way up to the fourth floor and then knocked on the door.


    Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin were discussing who to call on the sofa when Qin Hao, hearing the knock, went to the door and opened it.


    Standing outside were a group of people in suits, with a man in his fifties leading them.


    His eyes were bright, sparkling with a sharp light, and his presence exuded an imposing aura that commanded respect without anger, putting invisible pressure on others.


    Taken aback, Qin Hao curiously asked, "May I know who you''re looking for?"


    The man from Chang An Country was momentarily surprised, and so were the people behind him. They wondered, you don''t recognize the top official from Shuinan Province?


    This was a big shot who often appeared on TV, and yet you don''t recognize him?


    This was, well, a bit awkward.


    The man from Chang An Country smiled: "You must be Qin Hao, right? I am from Chang An Country, and I''m here on behalf of the provincial government to congratulate you."


    At the mention of this name, Qin Hao was taken aback. Chang An Country?

 Chapter 59: Chapter 61: Upgrading Skills

    ```


    This is a name he had seen more than once on the local TV station, a veritable local celebrity official.


    "Please come in, Uncle Chang," Qin Hao said, unsure of how to address him, so he simply used the term "uncle."


    Mr. Chang from Chang An Country smiled and nodded, then stepped inside.


    When Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin saw a group of people entering, they turned their heads to look. The moment they saw Mr. Chang and the people behind him, they were momentarily stunned.


    Mr. Qin was the first to recover. "Mr. Chang, what brings you here? Please, have a seat, have a seat," he said.


    Mr. Chang''s demeanor was calm, his face wearing a warm and friendly smile. "Our province has produced the top student in the national unified exam. This is a tremendous honor. As a fatherly figure in the region, I naturally had to come," he said.


    The middle-aged man standing behind him also spoke up with a smile, "Mr. Chang has also brought a gift for student Qin Hao this time. He hopes that he will continue to work hard and become a pillar of the country."


    The speaker was Mr. Li Feiyue, a fatherly figure in Jiangshan City, known to Mr. Qin, Mrs. Qin, and Qin Hao.


    Following Mr. Li''s words, someone placed a box containing a laptop on the coffee table.


    Mr. Qin felt a surge of excitement, but he said, "How can we accept this? It''s too valuable."


    Mr. Chang smiled and said, "This is a token of appreciation from the provincial departments and the provincial government for student Qin Hao. We hope that he will strengthen his cultivation in ideology and morality, learning, and physical health at this new starting point, to serve the country."


    Mr. Qin hastily said, "Mr. Chang, rest assured. With my guidance, this child will definitely repay society and serve the country."


    Mr. Chang nodded slightly and stood up. "May I have a few words with the young man alone? You don''t mind, do you?" he said.


    "Not at all, Mr. Chang, please," Mr. Qin promptly replied.


    At this moment, Mrs. Qin had poured a glass of water for each person. Almost everyone who entered the room was an important political figure in Jiangshan City, none of whom they could afford to offend.


    Qin Hao and Mr. Chang went into Qin Hao''s room.


    Seeing that his bed was a bit messy, Qin Hao said somewhat embarrassedly, "Uncle Chang, sorry for the mess in the room."


    Mr. Chang looked around and said with a smile, "It''s normal for young people to be a bit disorganized. I understand, I''ve been there myself."


    Qin Hao knew that Mr. Chang wanted to speak with him alone for a reason, but after they entered the room and Mr. Chang didn''t get to the point, it made him somewhat speechless.


    The two chatted casually for a while.


    "Let''s go back now; we have yet to inform our friends and relatives," said Mr. Qin as both he and Mrs. Qin went upstairs.


    When Qin Hao returned, he opened the new laptop and checked its model and specifications ¨C its value was roughly around seven to eight thousand yuan, quite a decent laptop indeed.


    With nothing better to do, he browsed online for information about the game PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds.


    He didn''t realize until he checked ¨C it was the hottest strategic shooting game of the moment, generating profits of over tens of billions a year for Green Hole Company.


    Especially since the Xuan Country servers were launched, the profits from PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds had been steadily increasing.


    However, it''s inevitable for games to deal with the scourge of cheats; the popular PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds was plagued by various hacks.


    These hacks were like bacteria, slowly corroding the game, and the day it fell terminally ill would be the day PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds started its decline.


    Which hugely popular game in the past hadn''t been ruined by cheats?


    Qin Hao logged onto the official forum of PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds to see what was happening, and many people were reporting cheats.


    He briefly looked through them ¨C there were all kinds of hacks available: x-ray vision, wall hacks, auto-targeting headshots, no recoil, Wave-Riding Micro Steps, Ghost Boxing, and so on.


    For instance, the Wave-Riding Micro Steps cheat: running faster than cars, can you believe it?


    The Ghost Boxing cheat: standing there while someone punches you and you lose health, but you can''t see anyone, can you believe it?


    And even the terrifying Rulai Divine Palm hack: directly blowing up the plane with a slap, can you believe it?


    Of course, those horrifying hacks would definitely get one banned after a single use, but those common hacks were hard to completely eradicate.


    Qin Hao''s eyes lit up with an idea ¨C he could sell his anti-cheat program for PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds to Green Hole Company and make a good sum of money.


    But it wasn''t as simple as he initially thought. He looked at his hacker skills, then spent 3600 achievement points to upgrade his hacker skill to Level 3.


    First, he closed some ports on his computer, then downloaded a sophisticated programming software.


    Qin Hao didn''t download any of the hacker software available online; instead, he started coding himself, now at a hacker level three.


    In the entire Earth''s hacking community, he was definitely at the apex of existence.


    The skill levels in the God Creation System were not ranked according to the standards of Earth.


    They were ranked according to the standards of another parallel universe; hence, despite the levels not being high, their caliber was indeed strong.

 Chapter 60: Chapter 62 The Past of Parents

    It was after six in the evening.


    The Jiangshan Evening News and Shuinan Daily published evening newspapers, all featuring the topic of the national exam''s top scorer.


    At six thirty, Shuinan TV news also aired footage of a visit to the home of the national exam''s top scorer in Chang An Country.


    Simple recordings were made of Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin talking with the officials.


    Qin Hao only appeared in a side profile, as Chang An Country likely didn''t want him to attract too much attention.


    The footage lasted only about ten seconds before moving on to the next local headline.


    But Qin Hao hadn''t watched the news; he had been in his room the whole time, tapping on his computer and coding software.


    Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin had been watching the news from before it started until it ended.


    Shortly after the news ended, just as Mrs. Qin was about to start cooking, her cellphone suddenly rang.


    Seeing the number from Qingjiang Province, she hesitated before walking into the kitchen to answer the call.


    After answering, Li Shujie lowered her voice and said, "Mom."


    ...


    Qin Youguo glanced at his wife, who was talking softly in the kitchen, and sighed internally.


    Just then, Qin Hao came out of his room. Mr. Qin saw him and quickly motioned for him to come over.


    Qin Hao walked over, looking puzzled, "What''s up, Dad?"


    "Your mom''s on the phone, don''t disturb her," Mr. Qin said, watching Li Shujie in the kitchen.


    Qin Hao glanced at his mom, then back at his dad, "Who''s calling Mom? Why so secretive?"


    Qin Youguo replied, "It must be your grandmother."


    "Whose grandmother?" Qin Hao asked, surprised.


    Mr. Qin responded, "Your grandmother."


    Qin Hao said, "I have a grandmother?"


    "Who said you don''t have a grandmother? Don''t talk nonsense," Mr. Qin glared at him.


    Qin Hao was puzzled. He had never visited his grandmother''s house from childhood and had always thought he didn''t have one. How come he suddenly had one today?


    About five or six minutes later, Mrs. Qin came out of the kitchen with red eyes.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao curiously asked, "Mom, what''s wrong?"


    "It''s nothing."


    He didn''t like Federation names, so he used a tool he developed to scan the site.


    After finding a vulnerability, he directly accessed the website''s backend and gained administrator privileges.


    He then created an Xuan Country name for himself: Hei Ye, and then entered the forum.


    Qin Hao posted a thread titled: "Selling PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds Anti-Cheat Software Package."


    Then, the content of the post described the function of the anti-cheat software package, and he even included a bit of the software code in the package to help verify its authenticity.


    He did not list a price, knowing that if someone from Green Hole Company saw it and was genuinely interested, they would definitely contact him.


    To make it noticeable, he directly set the post as sticky, highlighted, and featured!


    After doing all this, he logged out of Black Blade Network.


    ...


    Little did he know, as soon as he logged out, many people saw his post.


    "How come this person''s name is in Xuan Country script? Isn''t it impossible to register Xuan Country names?" a hacker from Xuan Country saw the name Hei Ye and looked puzzled.


    Had they now opened up Xuan Country names for registration?


    He tried registering a new account and found that Xuan Country names were still unavailable.


    At this point, his expression grew serious. Had this Hei Ye person infiltrated Black Blade Network?


    If that were true, how skilled must this person be?


    He also noticed that the post had been made sticky, highlighted, and featured¡ªa privilege only administrators had.


    Usually, administrators at Black Blade Network wouldn''t sticky or feature any posts. What was going on?


    It wasn''t just him; within just a few minutes, dozens of people noticed this issue, including the administrators of Black Blade Network.


    "What?" the administrator was stunned when he saw the sticky, featured post.


    When had I ever made this post sticky?


    He tried to use his administrator account to remove the sticky status, but after he clicked, the system told him he had no authority to do so.


    He was flabbergasted and quickly reported the situation to his superiors.


    Without a doubt, someone had infiltrated Black Blade Network''s backend, not only had they created an Xuan Country name, but they had also obtained total administrator privileges.


    This level of skill was terrifying. Considering the site was created by several top-tier hackers and had never been infiltrated before, how could he not be shocked?


    Almost simultaneously, many hackers received notifications from their friends and logged onto Black Blade Network.


    This was the first time Black Blade Network had been infiltrated, and they wanted to see who was behind it.

 Chapter 61: Chapter 63 Celebratory Banquet for Academic Achievements

    ```


    Hackers from all over the world, as well as senior programmers from major networking companies, logged onto Black Blade Network in a very short span of time.


    Senior programmers from famous companies in Xuan Country such as Aba Net Shopping Company, Tenglong Chatting Software Network Company and Qian Du Search Engine Company, to name a few, were all there.


    Green Cave Game Company had made a name for itself in the gaming world thanks to the game PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds, which was now quite renowned.


    Many hackers and senior programmers were employed by their company, working every day on maintaining their games.


    A senior programmer from Green Cave named Ada looked at this post in shock and disbelief.


    He was astonished that someone named Hei Ye managed to infiltrate the backend of Black Blade Network, obtaining the top administrator''s privileges, something that was not easily achieved.


    This was definitely a world-class, top-tier hacker.


    Considering the name, this person was likely from Xuan Country.


    Xuan Country had many well-known hackers, but he had never heard of anyone named Hei Ye.


    After examining the piece of program code released below, he noted it down and began to experiment with it.


    ...


    The next morning


    Qin Hao and his family had breakfast early and started preparing for the noon banquet.


    Mr. Qin had booked the dishes at Heshun Hotel on Yonghe Street yesterday, which was considered a decent restaurant there.


    They bought some cigarettes and sunflower seeds, then headed to the hotel to wait.


    Qin Hao was sent by his father to the entrance of the hotel to greet the guests.


    "It''s just past ten, who comes this early?" Qin Hao stood at the entrance of the hotel and frowned with boredom.


    Just then, a black Volkswagen sedan stopped at the entrance of the hotel, and a middle-aged man with a young woman got out of the car.


    After the two of them looked at Heshun Hotel, they came over, and the middle-aged man asked, "Young man, is Qin Hao''s celebration banquet here?"


    Qin Hao sized up the couple, "Yes, it''s here. Are you a friend of my dad?"


    "Your dad? You''re Hao?" The middle-aged man was taken aback.


    Qin Hao: "Who exactly are you?"


    "I''m Li Yonghe, the owner of the Midnight Bar on Anchang Street. I heard from Bao''s people that Hao scored first in the national exam. I came especially to congratulate you. Liu, go and write the gift money inside," said Li Yonghe with a smile on his face.


    Anchang Street?


    As expected, Li Bao had extended his reach to Anchang Street as well.


    Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin were entertaining guests. Seeing that Qin Hao was having a chat with a friend, Mr. Qin didn''t call him over.


    Kang Youyi said, "Hao, Li Bao asked me to thank you on his behalf. His mother''s illness is almost cured, and she has been discharged from the hospital."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Why didn''t he come himself?"


    Kang Youyi hesitated for a moment and said, "He thinks he should keep his distance from us for now. It''s not convenient for him to see you, Hao. He hardly even sees me these days."


    "Did he get himself into trouble?" Qin Hao''s brow furrowed slightly.


    Kang Youyi shook his head, "No, he''s gotten involved with Anchang Street. He''s afraid if he gets caught one day, it''ll drag us down with him."


    "Forget it, let''s drop this subject. I''ll talk to him when I''m free." Qin Hao couldn''t let him go on like this.


    If Li Bao didn''t pull back now, he would indeed be beyond redemption.


    Kang Youyi said, "Hao, I''m going to head off first, the shop is really busy right now."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "If I''m free this afternoon, I''ll come by and visit."


    The chubby guy wrote down his and Li Bao''s gift money before he left.


    As soon as Qin Hao entered the banquet hall, someone called out to him, "Xiao Hao, come over here and let Mr. Liu take a good look at our national top scorer."


    "Mr. Liu." Qin Hao walked over awkwardly.


    Liu Shengguang said with a smile, "No place to sit, right? Come sit next to me. This is my daughter, Liu Yun, she also just finished her college entrance exams and got into a first-tier university."


    Liu Yun was a very shy girl. Hearing her father''s words, her cheeks turned pink, and she seemed embarrassed.


    Qin Hao glanced at Liu Yun and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Mr. Liu."


    "Today the main focus is on you. Qin sure has raised a fine child. Do you have a partner yet?" Liu Shengguang asked with a smile.


    Ah?


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, then hastily said, "I''m still in school, Mr. Liu."


    "You''re almost at college age, it''s time to consider these things."


    ...


    This meal left Qin Hao feeling miserable, and Liu Yun didn''t enjoy it either, with her cheeks burning red.


    Both could tell that Liu Shengguang was trying to set them up.


    In the end, Qin Hao and Liu Yun hurriedly finished their meal and left the restaurant, then let out a long breath of relief.


    Liu Yun said with shyness, "I''m sorry about that, my dad had a bit too much to drink earlier."


    Qin Hao didn''t mind and replied with a smile, "It''s okay. Which university are you planning to apply to?"

 Chapter 62: Chapter 64 The Development of the Roast Duck Restaurant

    Liu Yun: "I plan to apply to Jianghai Normal University in Jianghai City. What about you? Going to Jinhua or Chen University?"


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, "I''m thinking about Jianghai University."


    "What? Why not Jinhua or Chen University? Those are the top institutions in Xuan Country," Liu Yun looked at him, somewhat puzzled.


    But for some reason, hearing his words, she felt a bit happy. Could it be because they would both be in the same city in the future?


    Qin Hao replied, "Jianghai University isn''t that far behind those two, it just has a bigger reputation. Jianghai City is also closer to home, and the air is nicer there. The smog in Jinchen is too serious."


    "Xiao Hao, Xiao Yun, why have you come out? Come back in and eat, the dishes aren''t even all on the table yet. Why did you leave?" Qin Youguo came out from the hotel and spoke to them.


    "Dad, we''re already full," Qin Hao said, not daring to go back. He was afraid Mr. Liu would bring up their matter again.


    Qin Youguo said irritably, "The guests are still eating, what do you mean by coming out here? Come back with me."


    Liu Yun said softly, "Qin Hao, let''s just go back, shall we?"


    "Alright."


    The two returned to the dinner table at the hotel, and as soon as Qin Hao sat down, he smelled a familiar scent.


    Seeing the shiny, golden roasted duck in the middle of the table, his face faltered, "Jiangshan Roasted Duck?"


    "Xiao Hao, you know about Jiangshan Roasted Duck too? Let me tell you, this duck is really delicious, it''s simply a delicacy of the world, try it quickly." Liu Shengguang unceremoniously grabbed a duck leg and started eating.


    The others at the table also knew the taste of Jiangshan Roasted Duck, and within a few short minutes, a whole duck was swiftly divided up amongst them.


    Qin Hao and Liu Yun weren''t as quick, and they only managed to get a piece each.


    Liu Shengguang asked Qin Hao, "When''s your birthday, Xiao Hao?"


    "June 21st. Why do you ask, Uncle Liu?" Qin Hao replied curiously.


    Liu Shengguang said with a smile, "My daughter Xiao Yun''s is August 26th. You''re two months older than her, so you''ll be the older brother. If my daughter ever needs help, you, as her brother, should help, understand?"


    Qin Hao sighed in relief when he heard him, "Don''t worry, Uncle Liu. Even just considering the relationship between you and my dad, I couldn''t stand by idly if Xiao Yun needed help."


    The celebration banquet for the school ended later than planned, and it was not until 1:30 am that people gradually left.


    Liu Shengguang was the last to leave. After exchanging a few words with Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin, he took Liu Yun and left.


    Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin roughly estimated the gift money to be around seventy or eighty thousand yuan, which surprised them both immensely.


    Most of this money was from the bar owners on Anchang Street and Yonghe Street.


    Yu Jie was no longer collecting money at the restaurant. The task of handling cash and giving change had been handed over to the staff selling roast duck.


    She now worked in a small, independent cabin on the first floor, which served as the new financial office.


    Kang Youyi was sitting at the front desk. Seeing Qin Hao come in, he greeted him with a smile, "Is Hao finished with his busy schedule?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Take me to the financial office to take a look."


    Led by Kang Youyi, Qin Hao entered the financial office, where Yu Jie was typing away at the keyboard.


    The business of the roast duck restaurant was getting better and better. Without a computer, keeping records in a notebook was becoming cumbersome and unclear.


    Seeing Qin Hao arrive, Yu Jie hurriedly stood up and said, "Boss."


    "Hmm, can you manage the work on your own? Do we need to hire another person?" Qin Hao asked.


    Yu Jie quickly replied, "There''s no need, boss. The current workload isn''t too much."


    Qin Hao said, "Add my chat software account, and starting next month, send me a performance report for the roast duck restaurant every half a month."


    Yu Jie nodded, "Okay, boss. And congratulations on becoming the top scorer in the national unified examination."


    "How do you guys know about this news?"


    He hadn''t told anyone about his unified examination scores. Logically, people like Bao shouldn''t know.


    Bao said with a smile, "Hao, do you remember Xu Liang? He told Bao and me about it, and then they found out."


    Qin Hao said, "Oh, Xiao Jie, continue your work. I''m going to check out the back."


    Yu Jie nodded, her eyes filled with admiration as she looked at him. Having gone through the unified examination herself, she knew how difficult it was.


    For her boss to have scored the highest in the country was a huge shock to her.


    No wonder the boss could create something as delicious as Jiangshan Roasted Duck; maybe this was the difference between a genius and an ordinary person?


    Qin Hao then went to the back to check on things. There were quite a few staff members at the roast duck restaurant now, and they were all familiar faces.


    He recognized people like Liu Pengyu, Zhao Hongyu, Chen Da, and Yu Chengcai.


    They were cleaning ducks, getting ready for the evening roast. Upon seeing Qin Hao enter, they all hurriedly greeted him respectfully, "Boss."


    Finally, Qin Hao and Kang Youyi went upstairs. He wanted to hear Bao''s report.


    Of course, he also wanted to know what was going on with Jiangshan Roasted Duck at Heshun Hotel.

 Chapter 63: Chapter 65 Dads Words

    The two sat on chairs, and the fat man began, "Hao, I''ll briefly run through our roasted duck restaurant''s current sales performance.


    Our maximum in a single day was around 1,200 ducks, with an average of about 800 daily."


    Qin Hao exclaimed, "That many?"


    The fat man nodded, "These days, our daily profit has been around 30,000 to 40,000."


    With daily profits of 40,000, the monthly profit would be over a million, a truly terrifying figure.


    And that''s just for a small roasted duck restaurant occupying a few hundred square meters.


    Kang Youyi continued, "We''ve also had many expenses lately¡ªair conditioning, roasting ovens, safes, computers, and so on. Our expenditures have nearly reached 100,000."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. These were all necessary expenses, "Yu Jie has a record of all the item expenses, right?"


    The fat man, "Mmm-hmm, rest assured, Hao. You probably already know about the hotels and our roasted duck, right?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "What''s the situation? Did they approach us on their own, or did we reach out to them?"


    Kang Youyi replied, "It was those hotels and restaurants that sought us out."


    "There''s been no change in the price?" This was Qin Hao''s primary concern.


    Kang Youyi, "The price is still 30 yuan per jin. How much the hotels add on top of that is none of our concern."


    Qin Hao, "Without my orders, the prices cannot change. Make sure to inform me about any important matters."


    Kang Youyi nodded, "Mmm-hmm, don''t worry, Hao."


    That afternoon, Qin Hao stayed there the entire time. Around 5 PM, batches of roasted ducks came out of the oven.


    Some were sold from tricycles, some were placed in the restaurant''s warming cabinets, and others were delivered to several hotels in Yonghe Market by van.


    Now, for the guests at those hotels on Yonghe Street, Jiangshan Roasted Duck had almost become a must-order dish.


    About 100 to 200 ducks were delivered to various restaurants each day.


    By 6:30 PM, customers began to patronize the duck restaurant.


    Now, Liu Pengyun was in charge of selling roasted duck in the store, and the business was much better than before.


    People from the nearby neighborhoods would come here almost daily to buy roasted ducks.


    The store could sell about 200 ducks each day.


    Qin Hao spent that entire afternoon contemplating the future development of the roasted duck restaurant.


    He now felt that the development model of De Juxiang might not necessarily suit the current Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    The unique flavor of Jiangshan Roasted Duck was widely loved, and retail sales contributed a significant portion of the profits, which was absolutely something to maintain.


    Qin Hao: "Then you can''t blame me, can you? It''s not my fault you didn''t believe me."


    Xia Qing pouted unhappily and muttered quietly, "No wonder you don''t have a girlfriend."


    ...


    "Ah? What did you say?"


    Xia Qing: "Nothing, I was just saying you''re smart."


    The two kept talking as they walked and soon arrived at the entrance of the residential area. That''s when Qin Youguo and Li Shujie were approaching the entrance from another direction.


    Seeing Qin Hao and Xia Qing nearby, Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin were surprised and called out, "Xiao Hao?"


    Qin Hao turned his head and replied, "Dad, Mom? Where have you been?"


    Li Shujie recognized Xia Qing and said with a smile, "Your father and I went out to buy some things. Is this Xiaoqing? She''s much prettier than she is in videos."


    Xia Qing''s cheeks turned slightly red as she softly greeted, "Hello, uncle and auntie."


    "Ah, such a sensible girl. You two have a chat, we won''t disturb you." With that, Li Shujie left with Mr. Qin.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; he felt his mother''s words were somewhat ambiguous. What did she mean by ''won''t disturb you two''?


    Xia Qing''s cheeks flushed even more, but she felt a hint of happiness inside, as Qin Hao''s parents seemed to like her.


    "Remember to come to my house tomorrow at noon, Block 3, Unit 3, Apartment 301." After saying that, Xia Qing turned and left.


    "Mm-hmm, got it."


    Qin Hao walked home. As soon as he arrived, Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin called him over.


    Li Shujie started, "Xiao Hao, tell your mother the truth, what is your relationship with that girl Xiaoqing?"


    Qin Hao: "There''s nothing special, just ordinary friends."


    Li Shujie glared at him: "Don''t lie to me with your eyes wide open. Do you think your mother can''t see the obvious? It''s clear Xiaoqing likes you. What are your intentions?"


    Qin Hao: "Mom, leave my affairs alone, please."


    Li Shujie looked at him and continued, "What? Now that you are the top scorer of the national unified exams, you won''t let your parents butt in? Are you too proud now? Looking down on Xiaoqing?


    Xiaoqing is such a nice girl, beautiful and with a good personality. It''s hard to find a girl like her even with a lantern."


    After speaking, Mrs. Qin asked further, "How many points did Xiaoqing score? Which university is she going to?"


    Qin Hao: "Almost seven hundred, she''s also going to Jianghai University."


    Mrs. Qin: "That''s perfect then. Xiao Hao, I''m telling you, don''t get all high and mighty just because you scored full marks on the exam. Xiaoqing is a good girl, and she has feelings for you too. You should cherish her."


    Mr. Qin also chimed in, "Xiao Hao, your mother is right. Xiaoqing is indeed a nice girl. Both your parents approve of her, cherish her well, don''t regret it if you lose her someday."

 Chapter 64: Chapter 66 Main Quest

    Qin Hao said hurriedly, "I got it, Mom and Dad, I''m going back to my room now."


    "Wait, what''s this about Xiao Yun?" Qin Youguo asked.


    Qin Hao, looking puzzled, said, "Xiao Yun who?"


    Mr. Qin frowned at him, "You know, Mr. Liu''s daughter, weren''t you chatting quite happily with her at noon?"


    Qin Hao said in frustration, "Dad, I was just talking to her as a normal friend, what are you thinking?"


    Li Shujie jumped in, "You''re not interested in Mr. Liu''s Xiao Yun?"


    "Mom, we barely knew each other before today; how could there be any interest? Relationships are built on mutual knowledge and understanding." Qin Hao couldn''t figure out why his parents were acting like this today.


    Why were they so concerned about his business?


    After finishing, he hurriedly went into his room, not knowing what else his parents might say if he stayed in the living room any longer.


    Turning on his desktop computer, Qin Hao logged into his chat software account, then saw a news article about him on the front page.


    The headline read: "Genius Equals Diligence, Xuan Country Daily Interviews the National Unified Exam Top Scorer''s High School, Changle Second Middle School"


    Qin Hao glanced through it. The principal of Second Middle, and Qin Hao''s class teacher, both praised how diligent and hardworking he was.


    He was somewhat embarrassed reading it. In high school, he had only really studied hard during the month prior to the unified exam.


    Before that, he was a notorious underachiever, the kind even his class teacher considered beyond help.


    Below, the comments were many: "Perfect scores on the unified exam, is he even human? As a top student at Jinhua, I admire him."


    "Jinchen University sends its congratulations."


    "Bullseye, I worked extremely hard for three years in high school and only scored 660. How did you achieve a perfect score?"


    "I was Qin Hao''s classmate, he was known as the class underachiever. There must be a dark secret behind this."


    The reply to this comment was plentiful: "You must be brain-damaged. The exam room had not only supervisors but also high-definition electronic monitoring. Someone like Qin Hao, the national top scorer, would have had his exam watched more than once."


    If there were any cheating or dark secrets, the officials wouldn''t announce these results.


    "Your class has produced a genius, shouldn''t you be happy? Coming out like this to smear him clearly shows you''re just envious and resentful."


    "A complete case of jealousy, assessment over."


    "You deserve your low score, you big fool."


    ...


    He glanced over, and most of the messages were from Black Blade Network administrators, "How did you do it?"


    "You better drop your own permissions now, or we will attack you."


    "Can we talk? I am Walter, the founder of the Black Blade Network."


    ...


    Initially, the administrators of the Black Blade Network were threatening him; later, they might have realized they couldn''t remove Qin Hao''s permissions, so their tone softened.


    The messages were all in Federation text. If his Federation language wasn''t pretty good, he really wouldn''t understand what these people were saying.


    "We can talk, but use Xuan Country language to talk to me," Qin Hao replied, then went to check his own posts.


    Now his post had reached thousands of views and had several hundred replies, but there was not a single one about buying the software package.


    Some people wanted to challenge his skills, others wanted him to join their companies as the head of cybersecurity, and so on.


    Seeing that no one was buying, Qin Hao logged out.


    Just as he logged out of the Black Blade Network, the administrators sent him another message, but got no reply.


    The next day, the administrators saw that he had already logged off.


    They breathed a sigh of relief. Qin Hao''s account called Hei Ye had super admin permissions.


    Fortunately, he hadn''t messed around on Black Blade Network, otherwise they definitely would have had to shut down the net for reorganization.


    Even so, the administrators of the Black Blade Network were constantly on edge, fearing that Qin Hao would cause trouble on Black Blade Network.


    If Black Blade Network really had to shut down for reorganization, it would be a great blow to the network''s reputation and would also significantly boost the notoriety of the hacker Hei Ye.


    But they could see that Hei Ye wasn''t there to increase his fame.


    If he wanted to boost his fame, with his skills to hack into the Black Blade Network''s backend, just breaking into any large network company would make his name well known in the hacker community.


    ...


    The next day


    Qin Hao didn''t get up until after nine in the morning, ate some breakfast, and then went to the roast duck restaurant.


    He spent the day mixing herbal supplements in the restaurant. They sold nearly a thousand roast ducks every day, and the supplements were used up quickly.


    After mixing seven or eight batches, there were a few types of herbs he ran out of.


    Qin Hao went downstairs and said to Kang Youyi, "Fatty, come with me to stock up."


    Fatty quickly came over, "Okay, Hao."

 Chapter 65: Chapter 67 Visiting

    The two drove to the Hundred Medicine Pavilion store outside the Jiangshan City herbal medicine wholesale market.


    Qin Hao and Kang Youyi walked in, and there weren''t many people buying medicinal ingredients in the pharmacy.


    Since Hundred Medicine Pavilion mainly dealt in wholesale medicinal ingredients, the profit from retail was not substantial.


    Liang Ya and Liang Chengwang were both inside the shop. When they saw Qin Hao and Kang Youyi enter, Liang Chengwang was startled,


    but it was Liang Ya who reacted first, smiling and asking, "Mr. Qin, are you here to buy medicinal ingredients again?"


    Liang Chengwang also remembered and said with a smile, "Qin, it has been a long time since we''ve seen each other."


    Qin Hao greeted them with a smile, "Mr. Liang, you look even healthier than a few days ago."


    "I''ve acquired some good stuff in the mountains recently," Liang Chengwang said to him with a smile.


    Qin Hao said to Kang Youyi, "You go get the medicinal ingredients."


    Kang Youyi nodded and walked up to the counter, but he first took out a confidentiality agreement and placed it on the counter.


    Liang Ya''s expression turned to one of surprise, not quite catching on. What did this mean?


    Kang Youyi said with an awkward smile, "This is a confidentiality agreement. Whatever medicinal ingredients we buy from you, you''ll need to keep it a secret.


    You can''t let it leak out. The terms are all in there; take a look. It''s what our boss wants."


    After speaking, he glanced at Qin Hao, as if to say this wasn''t his fault but rather it was his boss''s idea.


    Hearing this, Liang Chengwang came over, picked up the confidentiality agreement, and started to read it, while Liang Ya looked on from the side.


    They had never signed a confidentiality agreement before; this was indeed a first.


    After finishing their review, Liang Chengwang looked at Qin Hao and asked, "Is the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant owned by Qin?"


    Qin Hao nodded with a smile, "Mr. Liang, have you heard of it?"


    Liang Chengwang replied, "Heard of it? I''ve even tasted it. A friend brought some over, and the flavor was indeed good.


    However, because it was too delicious, I was afraid there might be some chemical components in it, so I didn''t eat it again."


    Hearing his words, Qin Hao was at a loss for words with frustration. Had anyone ever refused to eat something because it was too tasty?


    This was the first time he had heard such a thing.


    The root cause was that Jiangshan Roasted Duck wasn''t very well known, and its advertising wasn''t strong enough. Otherwise, why would Liang Chengwang have such concerns?


    If Jiangshan Roasted Duck were a big company with total assets in the tens or hundreds of millions, it would inherently give people a sense of security.


    Liang Chengwang said with a smile: "That''s easy to handle, Xiao Ya bring over that ginseng and the deer antler from the sika deer."


    Liang Ya went to the back and brought out two rectangular brocade boxes, placing them on the counter and opening them up.


    A fifty-gram ginseng root and a piece of deer antler were laid out before their eyes.


    Qin Hao asked: "How much for these?"


    Liang Chengwang: "Qin, if it were someone else, it would be at least one thousand yuan, but for you, just the cost price of four hundred yuan will do."


    Qin Hao didn''t bargain; he felt Liang Chengwang wouldn''t cheat him on such a small matter, and he also found the price very reasonable.


    He took out four hundred yuan and gave it to Liang Ya, then asked for a gift bag: "Deliver the goods in the afternoon then. If there''s nothing else, Mr. Liang, I''ll be leaving first."


    "Mmm, okay, take care." Liang Chengwang saw them to the door and watched as they left.


    By the time Qin Hao returned to the roasted duck restaurant, it was already past eleven o''clock. He said to the plump guy: "I have something on at noon, I''m leaving early."


    "Mmm, okay, Hao."


    Qin Hao, carrying the two gifts, walked towards the residential area.


    Halfway there, he received a call from Xia Qing: "Hello, Qin Hao, where are you?"


    Qin Hao: "I''m on my way, almost there."


    Xia Qing said with a light laugh: "Mmm, my parents are almost ready, just waiting for you to come."


    "I''ll be there soon, hanging up now."


    After hanging up, it took Qin Hao less than ten minutes to arrive at Building 3, Unit 3, and then he walked up to the third floor.


    Standing at the door of 301, Qin Hao''s heart inexplicably began to race, suddenly feeling like a son-in-law about to meet his mother-in-law.


    He didn''t know why he had this thought, took a deep breath, and then knocked on the door.


    The door quickly opened from the inside, and there stood Xia Qing, smiling, with two charming dimples.


    She wore a loose T-shirt that just covered the ultra-short shorts below, revealing her long, straight, and flawless legs.


    "You''re here?" Xia Qing asked cheerily.


    Then she led Qin Hao inside. Upon seeing the items in Qin Hao''s hands, she paused: "Why did you buy something?"


    Qin Hao tried to appear calm, as this was his first time visiting a friend of the opposite sex at their home. He smiled and said: "It''s my first visit, I couldn''t come empty-handed, could I?"


    Xia Qing smiled gently and quickly called out: "Mom and Dad, my classmate is here."

 Chapter 66: Chapter 68 Xia Qings Parents

    Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong came out of the kitchen after hearing their daughter''s words and were stunned for a moment when they saw Qin Hao''s complexion.


    Xia Qing smiled shyly, "Mom and Dad, this is the classmate I told you was coming over today."


    Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong had heard their daughter mention it more than once; they originally thought it would be a female classmate, but it turned out to be a male.


    Furthermore, both of them recognized Qin Hao. They still remembered clearly what he had said during their first visit to Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant.


    That afternoon, the couple had gone to the hospital for a checkup, and after a thorough examination, issues were indeed detected.


    But the doctors could not confirm whether it was truly the early stages of liver cirrhosis, so they were unable to prescribe treatment.


    Because the initial reactions of many diseases, both minor and severe, are similar, it''s only in the middle and later stages that the condition can be confirmed.


    By the middle and later stages, the difficulty of cure increases by several tens of times.


    But if a severe patient reaches the middle or later stages, it becomes very difficult to cure them with the current level of medical advancement.


    Maybe with good luck, a few could be cured, but most would just have their time of death delayed.


    Xia Yingjie was the first to recover, smiling, "I didn''t expect you to be Xiaoqing''s classmate. This time, you''ll have to take a good look at your uncle''s illness."


    "Right, have another look at how my husband Xia is doing?" Tian Rong also quickly added.


    Xia Qing was stunned, looking from her parents to Qin Hao, and asked, "You know each other?"


    Qin Hao, recalling their words, also remembered that they were the first customers of the roasted duck restaurant.


    He explained to Xia Qing, "I met uncle and auntie once at the roasted duck restaurant."


    Xia Qing nodded, her eyes filled with curiosity, "What''s this disease about?"


    Xia Yingjie hastily said, "Come sit down and talk, don''t stand there. Let''s discuss inside."


    Qin Hao: "Uncle, Auntie, as it''s my first visit, here''s a small gift I bought."


    Tian Rong: "You''re still a student, what are you buying things for? Remember, next time you come, don''t bring anything, or your uncle will be upset."


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao''s face: "Okay, I''m a straightforward person, I''ll listen to uncle."


    "That''s right, sit down. Xiaoqing, go pour some water," Xia Yingjie told his daughter.


    Xia Qing, seeing her parents'' attitude towards Qin Hao, felt a bit pleased and hurriedly got up to pour water for them.


    Tian Rong stopped cooking and asked Qin Hao, "We still don''t know your name. This girl Xiaoqing didn''t even introduce you."


    Qin Hao: "Yeah, I''ve studied it on my own for a while."


    "Studied it on your own for a while and you''re this good? Geniuses really excel at whatever they do."


    Qin Hao gave a wry laugh: "Are you mocking me?"


    Xia Qing: "Not at all, you were the national college entrance examination top scorer. If I mocked you, wouldn''t that be looking down on myself?"


    ...


    Inside the kitchen


    Tian Rong whispered to Xia Yingjie, "Xia, what does our daughter mean by this?"


    Xia Yingjie: "Xiaoqing must like him, right? Otherwise, why would she invite him over to our house as a guest?"


    Tian Rong: "Xiao Hao seems alright, his medical skills are not bad, but this is our daughter''s lifelong matter, we must be cautious."


    Xia Yingjie nodded in agreement: "Our daughter got into Jianghai University, her future prospects are vast, and I don''t even know which university Xiao Hao got into. If it''s a good university, then it''s okay."


    Tian Rong was quite open-minded: "Such things are unclear. Since Xiaoqing invited him over, it indicates that she''s interested in him. We just need to remind our daughter not to overstep the boundaries, I''ve never seen her act this way towards anyone before."


    Xia Yingjie nodded: "Xiaoqing has grown up and has her own thoughts. We should respect her decisions, but also remind her what is appropriate and what is not."


    As it was nearly twelve o''clock.


    Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong brought the dishes to the dining table: "Xiaoqing, Xiao Hao, it''s time to eat."


    "Got it, Mom." Xia Qing said with a smile as she stood up, then said to Qin Hao, "Come on, let''s eat."


    Both sat down at the dinner table, and Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong also took their seats, with the former even bringing out a bottle of liquor: "Come on Xiao Hao, have a drink, this is genuine Wuliangye."


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Xia, you better not drink, it''s not good for your health."


    Xia Yingjie: "An occasional drink is fine, it can even be beneficial for the body, you''re a doctor, you must know that."


    Qin Hao was left speechless, and Xia Yingjie filled his cup to the brim, about a two-liang cup.


    Before they started eating, Xia Yingjie raised his cup: "Here, Xiao Hao, your uncle toasts you. I owe you for helping me with my illness."


    Qin Hao quickly raised his cup: "You''re exaggerating, Mr. Xia. As Xiaoqing''s father, it''s only right for me to help."


    "Here''s to it."


    After saying this, Xia Yingjie drank all the liquor in his cup in one gulp.

 Chapter 67 Chapter 69 What You Are Talking About Is Me

    Qin Hao''s face turned pale; he had never drunk strong liquor before, but he was well aware that downing a glass in one gulp was no simple feat.


    Xia Qing was also startled, "Dad, Qin Hao doesn''t drink regularly like you, what''s the rush to drink so fast?"


    Xia Yingjie said with a smile, "I''m just happy today, Xiao Hao, Uncle drank up, so you drink as much as you can."


    Qin Hao gave a wry smile as he looked at the wine in his glass, "Since Mr. Xia has drank up, how can I, as the younger one, not do the same? I''ll drink up too."


    Having said that, he tilted his head back and drank it all at once, immediately feeling a burning spiciness radiating from within.


    Xia Yingjie said, "Good tolerance there, I''m sure Uncle''s liquor won''t make you drunk, come on, let Uncle pour you another."


    Qin Hao quickly grabbed the bottle before Xia Yingjie could, pouring him another glass, "How could I let you pour, Mr. Xia, when I''m the younger one?"


    After pouring for Xia Yingjie, he poured himself another glass.


    Xia Yingjie said, "Xiao Hao, eat up, have some more. This Kung Pao chicken was cooked by your uncle himself, try it and see how it tastes."


    Qin Hao picked up his chopsticks and started eating.


    Tian Rong asked while eating, "Xiao Hao, are you still helping your friend out at the roast duck restaurant?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Mhm, there wasn''t much to do over the summer, so I took up a summer job to challenge myself."


    Xia Yingjie nodded, "That''s good, young people indeed need to be tempered. I have some employees under me, but not many young people; there are too few youths willing to endure hardships these days."


    Qin Hao spontaneously asked, "What do you do for a living, Uncle Xia?"


    Xia Yingjie answered, "Your Uncle Xia isn''t much skilled, and I''m not very educated either, just manage a few people and take on some small construction projects."


    "So Uncle Xia is a project contractor, if that isn''t considered skillful, then what is? Here''s to you, Uncle Xia."


    Qin Hao took a small sip, as he didn''t dare to drink too fiercely, fearing he might get drunk again.


    They chatted while eating, with Xia Qing hardly speaking; it was her parents who conversed with Qin Hao.


    Tian Rong asked, "Where does your family live, Xiao Hao?"


    "We also live in this complex, Building 17."


    Tian Rong looked surprised, "That close? How come I''ve never seen you before?"


    "Auntie, I''m quite a homebody, I didn''t use to go out much," Qin Hao answered awkwardly.


    Tian Rong nodded and went straight to the point, "By the way, Xiao Hao, how did you do on the unified exam? Where do you plan to go to university?"


    She felt second-hand embarrassment for her father as well.


    "How did everyone do on the exams this year? Xiao Hao, how many points did you score?" Xia Yingjie, after talking for a while, brought the focus back to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao decided not to hide it any longer, as doing so would seem too pretentious.


    Enjoy more content from empire


    "Mr. Xia, the person you were just talking about is me; I am Qin Hao."


    Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong looked surprised, "Xiao Hao, what are you saying?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Mr. Xia, the national top scorer of the unified exam you just mentioned is me; my name is Qin Hao."


    At this, both Mr. Xia and Mrs. Xia were shocked, their eyes wide as they looked at him.


    Qin Hao? Qin Hao? They realized¡ªthe national top scorer of the unified exam was named Qin Hao.


    And he was a student from Class Two, Grade Three at Changle Second Middle School. Could it really be him?


    Tian Rong couldn''t believe it and looked at him incredulously, "Xiao Hao, you''re not joking, are you?"


    Xia Qing couldn''t stand it anymore, "Mom, how can someone joke about this kind of thing? Qin Hao is a student at our school, and there''s only one person named Qin Hao there; it''s him."


    Xia Yingjie''s eyes widened, "Xiao Hao, the genius reported in People''s Daily is you? Then, uncle must toast to you once more; you''ve made Jiangshan people proud. Uncle will finish his drink."


    After saying that, Xia Yingjie''s glass was empty.


    Although Qin Hao was the top scorer of the national unified exam, he had never considered himself any different because of it.


    Here, he was the junior, "Mr. Xia has finished his, and so will I. But let''s not drink any more after this glass; too much drinking is bad for the health."


    After saying that, Qin Hao also finished the liquor in his glass.


    Xia Yingjie, smiling, said, "Hmm, alright, we''ll listen to Xiao Hao."


    Mr. Xia and Mrs. Xia''s tone towards him clearly improved a lot, and Qin Hao held no resentment in his heart.


    Because this was human nature; they were also looking out for their daughter.


    The meal lasted until one-thirty in the afternoon; Qin Hao realized he wasn''t drunk and didn''t even feel dizzy.


    Could it be that my physique has changed, and my alcohol tolerance has increased?


    Xia Yingjie''s face was slightly flushed, looking a bit tipsy as the two sat on the sofa, drinking tea and chatting.


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Xia, you really need to watch your drinking with that body of yours in the future. The mountain ginseng I brought can be used to infuse liquor, just two ounces a day is enough, and it''s good for your health."

 Chapter 68 Chapter 70 Party Invitation

    Xia Yingjie nodded: "Yeah, good, Xiao Hao is really thoughtful."


    Around two o''clock, Qin Hao got up to say goodbye and left Xia Qing''s house.


    Xia Qing accompanied him all the way downstairs and asked with concern, "You drank quite a bit. Are you okay?"


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "I''m fine. Has my face turned red?"


    Xia Qing: "Not really. I didn''t expect you to be such a good drinker. Do you drink often?"


    Qin Hao: "You''re wrong there, this is the first time I''m drinking outside."


    "That''s good. Drinking too much isn''t good for your health. Are you going home or to Jiangshan Roasted Duck later?" Xia Qing asked curiously.


    After thinking for a moment, Qin Hao replied, "I''ll go to the roasted duck restaurant, there''s still work to do in the afternoon."


    "Okay, then be careful with the work. If there''s nothing else, I''ll head back first," Xia Qing said to him softly.


    Qin Hao nodded: "Alright, goodbye."


    Xia Qing turned and walked upstairs. Qin Hao watched her go up before turning to leave.


    He slowly walked out of the complex and headed outside; Xia Qing had gone upstairs and stood on the balcony watching Qin Hao''s figure until he disappeared.


    She didn''t know when she started liking Qin Hao. Maybe it was the first time she met him or perhaps it was the warm and mild-mannered aura he emitted that influenced her.


    She couldn''t pinpoint when exactly, but sometimes fate just arrives so suddenly.


    Seeing their daughter''s behavior, Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong would have been too foolish not to understand what she meant.


    It was obvious that their daughter had taken a liking to Qin Hao.


    They looked at each other, and then Tian Rong said to her daughter, "Xiaoqing, come here, mom wants to talk to you."


    Hearing this, Xia Qing''s cheeks reddened slightly as she came over and sat on the sofa: "What is it, mom?"


    Tian Rong: "Mom wants to ask you, tell me the truth, do you like Qin Hao?"


    Xia Qing''s face heated up, turning bright red, and she nodded gently without lifting her head.


    Tian Rong continued to ask, "Have you two made it official?"


    Xia Qing, embarrassed, shook her head: "Not yet."


    Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong were taken aback: "He hasn''t confessed to you?"


    If he didn''t attend after a personal invitation from the class teacher, he would certainly hurt Mr. Liu''s feelings.


    If that were to happen, Mr. Liu might say something behind his back like: He''s successful now and has forgotten his old teacher, and so on.


    This would be a stain on his future reputation.


    Similarly, Mr. Liu had said many good things about him in interviews, though under pressure from above, Qin Hao still felt thankful.


    Mr. Liu, pleased with his response, said, "The location will be at the Garden Restaurant near our school."


    "Alright, Mr. Liu, you can continue to notify the other classmates. I''ll definitely be there tomorrow," Qin Hao assured.


    "Fine, then I''ll hang up first," said Liu Xiu, ending the call.


    Actually, Qin Hao didn''t want to go to the reunion, because he was practically unfamiliar with any of the high school classmates, Du Wanrou being the exception.


    Since Mr. Liu personally called to invite, Du Wanrou would probably also attend.


    That evening, after dinner at home, Qin Hao returned to his room.


    He turned on his computer and logged into the chat software, sending Du Wanrou a message: "Did Mr. Liu call you today?"


    Du Wanrou replied quickly, almost instantaneously: "Yes, he did. Are you going?"


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Liu personally called, do you think I can afford not to go?"


    Seeing his message at home, Du Wanrou''s face revealed a slight smile: "You were the champion of our class''s unified exams, tomorrow''s star."


    "...Don''t joke with me; you know how those people used to treat me."


    Seeing his response, Du Wanrou blinked, memories of Qin Hao being bullied and ridiculed surfaced in her mind.


    Many of those incidents had started because of her, so she always felt a sense of guilt towards Qin Hao.


    But sometimes, seeing his timidity, Du Wanrou felt a frustration, wishing he had been made of sterner stuff.


    Thinking of Qin Hao now, she couldn''t help but recall a few lines: Not heard is well, but a thunderous peal when heard.


    Three years of enduring hardships, then soaring high in one fell swoop.


    Truth be told, Du Wanrou thought the current Qin Hao was quite good, and his personality had also changed a lot compared to before.


    "?? Why aren''t you saying anything?" Qin Hao, seeing that she hadn''t replied for a while, couldn''t help but send another message.


    Then Du Wanrou snapped back to the moment: "Got distracted for a bit. By the way, it''s almost time to choose our university preferences. Are you going to Chen University or Jinhua?"

 Chapter 69 Chapter 71 Class Reunion

    Qin Hao: "I''m going to Jianghai University."


    Du Wanrou''s pretty face was startled, her heartbeat accelerated slightly, and she asked curiously, "Why?"


    Qin Hao: "Because of you."


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks flushed slightly, thankfully they were chatting online, so Qin Hao couldn''t see the color of her face.


    He thought for a moment and said, "Jinhua and Chen University are Xuan Country''s top institutions, you shouldn''t delay your future because of me.


    In the future, when you have a career, you can find any kind of girl, even one better than me."


    When Qin Hao saw what she said, he replied, "You make a lot of sense, but I don''t know why I made this decision, maybe it''s destiny."


    Destiny?


    Upon hearing his words, Du Wanrou''s lips curved into a smile.


    The things she had just said were both honest and a test to see if Qin Hao was truly sincere about her.


    Of course, this couldn''t completely prove anything, but it did prove a part.


    Wan Rou asked curiously, "Do your parents agree?"


    Qin Hao replied, "They respect my choice, and Jianghai University is also one of the top institutions. Although not as renowned as Jinhua and Chen University, it''s still a very good school."


    "Oh, what major are you planning to apply for?"


    "Computer Science. You said it before, didn''t you? If I get into Jianghai University, you''ll give me a chance."


    Du Wanrou: "I need to think about that."


    Qin Hao made a face, "Ah? When will you have thought it over?"


    Du Wanrou: "I don''t know."


    ...


    After chatting for a while, Du Wanrou said she needed to rest, and Qin Hao lay down on his bed to sleep as well.


    The next morning, Qin Hao didn''t go to the roast duck shop. He got up after half-past ten and headed to school.


    It was already summer, but since Shuinan Province is at the southernmost end of Xuan Country, the climate isn''t too hot, although it''s still over twenty degrees.


    The streets were filled with girls in miniskirts and ultra-short hot pants, their straight, slender legs attracting attention.


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao arrived at the school gate and then continued walking a few dozen meters.


    The group entered a large private room on the second floor of the restaurant, which featured two tables already filled with quite a few classmates.


    Qin Hao said to Du Wanrou, "Can I sit with you?"


    Du Wanrou looked at him, neither denying nor agreeing, which was taken as tacit consent.


    The two of them found empty chairs and sat down. Lin Kang didn''t come in but stood at the entrance of the private room instead.


    Yuan Zhengxiang had wanted to sit next to Du Wanrou, but seeing Qin Hao seated with her, a flash of anger crossed his eyes.


    On the other side of Du Wanrou were Chen Shu and her group. Chen Shuhui and the others instantly understood the implication when they saw Qin Hao and Du Wanrou sitting together.


    Liu Xiu stood in the center and said to everyone, "Now that everyone is here, I''ll go order the dishes. You all chat for a bit; the food will be served shortly."


    Yuan Zhengxiang glanced at Qin Hao, then stood up and said, "Teacher, let me help you with the order. Today''s meal is on me¡ªI''m treating my classmates."


    "Good, Xiang is so generous."


    "Thanks, Xiang."


    Everyone thanked him with smiling faces, and Yuan Zhengxiang waved his hand, "As long as you''re happy, that''s good. Today we should all just let loose, as we might not have the chance to gather like this again in the future."


    "Yeah, let''s have fun today!" a male student exclaimed excitedly.


    Many girls in the class looked at Yuan Zhengxiang with admiration in their eyes; he hadn''t often been this generous back at school.


    The dishes arrived quickly, alongside lots of beer and soft drinks. Their class advisor, Liu Xiu, even started drinking beer.


    She raised her glass and drank with everyone, then toasted Yuan Zhengxiang separately.


    Most of the girls were drinking soft drinks, but many also tried the beer, considering it was likely their last gathering.


    With Liu Xiu taking the lead, numerous boys and girls went over to toast Yuan Zhengxiang.


    Qin Hao sat there eating his food and sipping his drink, occasionally exchanging a few words with Du Wanrou, not mingling with others.


    After dealing with many people and nearly finishing a bottle of beer, Yuan Zhengxiang looked over at Qin Hao sitting comfortably next to Du Wanrou, feeling rather annoyed inside.


    He walked over to Qin Hao with a glass of beer, "Qin Hao, you are the top scorer in the national unified examination. I''m proud that our school has produced such a talented person. Let me toast to you."


    Qin Hao picked up his drink intending to drink, but Yuan Zhengxiang looked at him and said, "Are you looking down on me? I''m drinking beer and you''re having a soft drink? Are you even a man?"


    "Exactly, what''s wrong with Qin Hao drinking some beer?"


    "It seems like becoming top scorer has made Qin Hao look down on us!"


    "Come on, Qin Hao, drink one for Xiang. It''s not like it''s hard liquor," a girl also chimed in.

 Chapter 70 Chapter 72 The Visitor Bodes Ill

    Many classmates were egging them on, and their words were biased towards Yuan Zhengxiang.


    Qin Hao stood up, glanced at those people with a smile on his face, then said to Yuan Zhengxiang, "Alright."


    He opened a bottle of beer, took an empty glass, filled it with beer, and downed it in one go.


    When Yuan Zhengxiang saw that he had finished, he also picked up his drink and downed it in one go, then said, "I hope you succeed in your studies in the future, I toast you another glass."


    After he spoke, he poured himself another and drank it down.


    "This third glass is the last one, we''re classmates, and I kindly remind Qin Hao here.


    Don''t be reckless just because you have good grades, sometimes it''s the wise who are the heroes." After saying that, he also glanced at Du Wanrou, his meaning very clear.


    He downed three glasses, and Qin Hao did the same.


    Qin Hao knew what he meant, and said, "Thanks for the reminder, Yuan Zhengxiang, I have a saying for you as well.


    My family is from the countryside, and we have a saying: wealth doesn''t last more than three generations, and poverty doesn''t exceed five ''outfits'', I hope Yuan Zhengxiang will remember that."


    Yuan Zhengxiang''s eyes flashed a shade darker when he heard his words, "Thanks for the words, Qin Hao, I''ll remember them."


    After he spoke, he returned to his original position, as many people glanced between Yuan Zhengxiang and Qin Hao, clearly feeling something was off.


    Liu Xiu came over and had a drink with Qin Hao, after all, he was the national exam top scorer, perhaps he might achieve something great in the future?


    Soon, Song Wei came over: "Qin Hao, there might have been a small misunderstanding between us in the past. Today, using this gathering, I would like to make amends and toast you a glass."


    Qin Hao didn''t believe he had repented; he was actually just trying to make him drink.


    It was a way to stifle him, leaving him no room to refuse.


    Song Wei and he drank three glasses then went to drink with other classmates.


    Before he realized it, Qin Hao had already drunk more than two bottles of beer.


    When Du Wanrou saw this, she asked, "Are you all right? If you can''t drink, don''t drink so much."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "I''m fine; my alcohol tolerance is quite good."


    "Alright, but you should still drink less," Du Wanrou said with a hint of concern in her voice.


    Many male classmates in the class grew somewhat jealous seeing Qin Hao whispering with the goddess Du Wanrou.


    Additionally, because of Yuan Zhengxiang, someone came over to drink with Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao did not refuse anyone; today he saw clearly the true colors of some people, and most importantly, Du Wanrou was by his side, how could he lose face in front of the woman he loved.


    At that time, Secondary School No.2 was already on summer break, there were no students in sight, and even the gatekeeper uncle was on holiday.


    Qin Hao looked at the school and then at the small grove not far away, feeling very sentimental.


    Just then, four vans drove up from a distance, and the piercing sound of the brakes filled the air.


    A group of men holding baseball bats got out of the vans.


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou were momentarily stunned when they saw these men rushing toward them.


    Qin Hao''s expression suddenly changed, "Run quickly."


    No sooner had he spoken than those men sped up their approach.


    Qin Hao didn''t have time to think who might want revenge on him, but he felt it was likely these people were after him.


    Du Wanrou snapped out of it and glanced at Qin Hao with worried eyes, then ran towards a nearby BMW.


    Lin Kang also realized something was wrong and hurried down from the car, running towards Du Wanrou.


    Within seconds, Qin Hao confronted those men; they were all wielding baseball bats and swung bluntly at Qin Hao''s head without holding back.


    Qin Hao reacted quickly, dodging the bat with a sidewards move.


    At the same time, he grabbed the man''s arm and twisted it violently, breaking it instantly.


    The man screamed in pain, his face instantly turning pale.


    Qin Hao quickly grabbed a baseball bat and held it in front of him.


    "Clang"


    Two baseball bats struck the one in his hands, the forceful rebound nearly causing the bats to fly from their holders'' hands.


    Qin Hao felt it too, his arms slightly numb as both men had put their full strength into the blow.


    From not far away, someone said, "This guy is tough; some of you keep him busy, the rest go and teach Du Hongfeng''s daughter a lesson."


    Nearly ten people blocked Qin Hao, while about twenty others rushed toward Du Wanrou.


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao''s expression changed. Were these people targeting Du Wanrou?


    He was surrounded now, breaking through was not so simple. Although he was much stronger than a normal person, it didn''t mean he was invincible.


    Two fists can''t beat four hands.


    These ten young men with bats were not vegetarians. Without weapons, Qin Hao was confident he could break through, but now it was difficult.

 Chapter 73 Injuries

    But as those people got closer and closer to Du Wanrou, his anxiety surged like wildfire.


    Kang Youyi might have a hard time holding off so many people.


    Qin Hao steeled his heart and rushed outside, swinging the baseball bat with all his might.


    It knocked the bats from the hands of the two people in front, but he had no time to worry about what was behind him.


    Because he needed to hurry over and protect Du Wanrou.


    If he didn''t worry about Du Wanrou, he could take down those ten people in a bit of time, but he didn''t have that luxury.


    Although he was fast, the two people closest to him had already swung their baseball bats.


    "Bang bang"


    The sound of bats striking flesh rang out, and Qin Hao grunted, feeling a fierce pain in his back.


    His brow furrowed in pain, but his pace didn''t slow down as he charged toward Du Wanrou.


    By now, Lin Kang had already engaged in combat with those people, protecting Du Wanrou in front of him.


    His moves were quite good, and in the blink of an eye, two men lay on the ground, but the attackers all wielded weapons.


    Before long, Lin Kang had taken several hits, and his movements slowed down considerably.


    Behind him, Du Wanrou''s face was pale, deeply frightened by the commotion.


    Seeing Lin Kang nearing his limit, Qin Hao unleashed his full strength, moving incredibly fast.


    After Lin Kang had taken down six people, he could no longer hold his ground and fell to the ground after a bat struck his leg.


    Then a group swarmed and mercilessly beat him.


    These people did not aim for Lin Kang''s head, otherwise, his chances would be slim.


    Explore hidden tales at empire


    With Lin Kang down, Du Wanrou lost her last line of protection.


    The leader glanced at Du Wanrou and commanded, "Beat her up, teach Du Hongfeng a lesson."


    Three young men charged at her, showing no mercy or chivalry.


    Their baseball bats aimed ruthlessly at Du Wanrou''s shoulders and head, clearly targeting her.


    Du Wanrou, terrified, went pale and quickly covered her head with her hands.


    "Bang bang bang"


    Three sounds echoed, but Du Wanrou didn''t feel any pain, looking up curiously through her arms.


    A figure stood before her, none other than Qin Hao.


    Du Wanrou was stunned for a moment, staring blankly at him.


    All three bats had struck Qin Hao''s back and head.


    Before he could finish his sentence, Qin Hao collapsed to the ground with a thud.


    Stunned, Du Wanrou stood there, her mind going blank, not knowing what to do.


    Lin Kang quickly said, "Miss, call for emergency help, and then call Mr. Lin."


    Snapping back to reality, Du Wanrou hurriedly took out her phone, her hands trembling uncontrollably.


    ...


    First Hospital in Jiangshan City.


    Qin Hao slowly opened his eyes, now wrapped up like a mummy. Moving his body, he winced in sharp pain.


    The hospital room was full of people: Du Wanrou, a middle-aged couple, Kang Youyi, and Li Bao.


    Seeing Qin Hao awaken, Du Wanrou''s face lit up with joy, "Qin Hao, you''re awake? How do you feel?"


    "It''s fine, just a bit painful."


    Qin Hao noticed her reddened eyes, clearly showing she had cried.


    He felt the beating was worth it.


    Since childhood, he had been beaten up because of Du Wanrou twice now, the first time being in the grove, and this was the second time.


    This was also the first time in three years he had seen Du Wanrou with tears in her eyes.


    Upon hearing his words, Du Wanrou''s tears poured out again, uncontrollable.


    On the way to the hospital, she had been with him in the ambulance while the doctors provided simple first aid.


    As they cut Qin Hao''s clothes and saw the purple marks from the beating, even the doctors were shocked.


    If it had been any ordinary person, they would have probably fallen after a few hits.


    He had over a dozen bruises from the beating, not just on his head, chest, and back, but even his legs were covered in contusions.


    Even two of his ribs were broken.


    Du Hongfeng looked at Qin Hao and said, "You''re Wan Rou''s classmate, aren''t you? Thank you for today. The outcome would have been unthinkable without you. I''ll cover your medical expenses; just focus on healing."


    "What do you mean? Does my bro Hao need your money?"


    Li Bao, upon hearing Du Hongfeng''s offer, couldn''t contain himself and spoke up in retort.


    Feng Yun quickly said, "We mean no offense; he got hurt because of our daughter Xiao Rou, so it''s right that we cover the medical expenses. If you''re after money, just name your price."


    "Mom, what are you doing?" Du Wanrou was also losing her patience.


    Li Bao wanted to argue further, but Qin Hao quickly interjected, "Li Bao, step outside."


    "Bro Hao," Li Bao looked at him, anger and confusion in his eyes.


    His anger wasn''t directed at Qin Hao, but at Du Hongfeng and Feng Yun.


    Qin Hao glared at him, "Get out."

 Chapter 74 Scumbag

    ```


    Li Bao turned and walked out.


    With a smile, Du Hongfeng said to Qin Hao, "Young man, we have other matters to attend to. I''ve already paid the medical expenses, which should be enough until you''re discharged."


    Du Wanrou did not want to leave, but she was pulled away by Feng Yun.


    Once Du Wanrou had left, he sighed. He could tell that Wanrou''s parents didn''t like him very much.


    Even to say there was a bit of antipathy.


    From their gazes and tone of voice, Qin Hao could feel it.


    He couldn''t figure out why. Could it be that they looked down on him? But he felt that wasn''t quite right.


    The way Du Hongfeng spoke and looked at him was with a sense of respect but also distance.


    Qin Hao thought hard but couldn''t understand what was going on. Just then, the door to the hospital room opened, and two police officers, one male and one female, walked in.


    Furthermore, Qin Hao knew these two people¡ªthey were Liu Bo and Feng Xue.


    It seemed the situation was serious, as the city''s detectives had been directly involved.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao, who looked like a mummy, Feng Xue said with a smile, "We''ve almost finished investigating the matter, but we still need you to make a statement."


    Qin Hao recounted the whole incident in full detail.


    Liu Bo and Feng Xue were taking notes; they had already recorded Du Wanrou and Lin Kang''s statements, and now only his was left.


    At first, they were somewhat incredulous that he alone had taken down so many people.


    But now that the stories of all three practically matched without discrepancy, the way they looked at Qin Hao changed.


    One man had taken down so many thugs armed with clubs¡ªwhat kind of fighting ability was that? It was terrifying, right?


    After Liu Bo and Feng Xue finished taking the statement, they said a few words of encouragement to him and then left.


    Qin Hao said to the fat man, "Ask Li Bao to come in."


    Kang Youyi went out and then came back in with Li Bao.


    Looking at Qin Hao, Li Bao said, "I''m sorry, Hao."


    Qin Hao responded with a smile, "I know you think it''s unjust for me, but some things are beyond fairness or unfairness. It''s enough that I like her."


    Li Bao was stunned for a moment and then suddenly realized, was it because Hao liked that girl?


    But to be honest, that girl really was not bad¡ªpretty and a nice person. At the very least, she genuinely cared for Qin Hao.


    It was just her parents that Li Bao found somewhat annoying.


    Qin Hao continued, "Have you found out what happened? Who were those people?"


    He''s Li Bao, a notorious thug from Changle District, known to have many minions and a fearsome reputation.


    The people who attacked you today are minions of Wang Dajun, and Li Bao and Wang Dajun are cut from the same cloth.


    You must have heard what Li Bao called Qin Hao. He called him Brother Hao, what does that tell you?


    It means that he is in cahoots with Li Bao, he''s the big boss behind Li Bao.


    He, Li Bao, Wang Dajun, and others like them, are parasites and scum of society."


    Du Hongfeng had always hated such people in his life.


    Having hands and feet and not working hard to earn money and support a family, instead choosing to degenerate into societal pests.


    He would never allow his daughter to be with someone like that, even if he saved her.


    Du Hongfeng had conducted himself with honor all his life, never causing harm or injustice.


    He had no contact whatsoever with those societal parasites.


    In his many years of fighting in the business world, he relied on his intelligence and integrity, never resorting to any unfair methods.


    In the business world, there were many businessmen who used shady tactics.


    But there were also many who relied on their own hard work and intelligence.


    ...


    After hearing her father''s words, Du Wanrou was stunned; she could hardly believe it.


    But thinking over her father''s words, as well as Li Bao and the six or seven strong young men outside the hospital room.


    Du Wanrou realized it all must be true.


    It pained her heart. Could Qin Hao really be involved with those hoodlums?


    Seeing the look on his daughter''s face, Du Hongfeng knew what she was thinking.


    He sighed and said: "Xiao Rou, you are the apple of Daddy''s eye, how could I bear to see you hurt?


    I''d rather be the one who''s hurt than you. I was terrified when I received your call today, fearing you might have had an accident.


    If anything were to happen to you, I would never forgive myself for the rest of my life."


    Du Wanrou''s eyes were red with tears: "Dad, this isn''t your fault. Those people are just too wicked."


    Du Hongfeng''s eyes also became moist: "My dear daughter, don''t go out for the next few days. Let the police take care of those scum first, then you can go out and have fun.


    At that point, I will hire a few bodyguards for you. Mr. Lin is skilled, but after all, one man can''t fight off many."


    "Mm, I understand, Dad," Du Wanrou obediently replied.


    Du Hongfeng turned to Feng Yun and said: "Wife, stay home with our daughter. I have to go take care of some business."

 Chapter 75 Filling in Preferences

    In First Hospital of Jiangshan.


    Qin Hao said to Li Bao and Kang Youyi, "You two go and take care of the discharge procedures."


    The chubby guy hastily said, "Hao, the doctor said your injuries are severe, you can''t be discharged anytime soon."


    Qin Hao glared at him. If he stayed in the hospital for another half month, his parents would probably go crazy with worry.


    "I am a doctor myself, do I still need their help to look after me? Hurry up and go."


    The chubby guy realized his mistake, chuckled, and said, "Heh, I forgot about that."


    When the two left, Qin Hao quickly summoned the system, then opened the system''s backpack, and drank the remaining half-bottle of life potion.


    A warm feeling spread throughout his body, his bones slowly healed, and the bruises on his body were also fading.


    About ten minutes later, Li Bao and the chubby guy returned, but a doctor followed them.


    He seriously said to Qin Hao, "Your injuries are severe right now, you can''t be discharged."


    Qin Hao said, "I know my own body, and I am also a doctor; I can manage on my own."


    The middle-aged doctor still didn''t want to discharge him, "No, I''m your primary doctor, I have to be responsible for your health."


    Qin Hao said, "Would you still say that if I haven''t paid the money?"


    Li Bao spoke irritably, "Cut the nonsense, my Hao wants to be discharged, he will be discharged."


    Eventually, the middle-aged doctor could not stop him, and he sighed deeply.


    It was unclear whether he was worried about Qin Hao or about the hospital fees.


    Upon leaving the hospital and getting into Li Bao''s car, Qin Hao told the chubby guy, "Go buy me some clothes, I want to take this stuff off."


    "Alright, Hao," the chubby guy hurried off to buy clothes for Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao''s body was now freely mobile, but there was still a slight pain, though it was not a big problem.


    The chubby guy came back quickly, Qin Hao removed his bandages and immediately got dressed.


    He had Li Bao drop him off at the entrance of his neighborhood.


    It was already past six-thirty in the evening, and the sun was about to set.


    Qin Hao waved goodbye to the two, then walked towards his home.


    After he got home, his parents had already returned.


    Qin Youguo was on the phone, smiling, talking to someone at the other end of the line.


    After hanging up, Qin Youguo looked at Qin Hao and said, "Xiao Hao, both Chen University and Jinhua, even some famous universities abroad, have called."


    At Jianghai University, our admission scores are always above six hundred sixty. Isn''t that considered high?


    Explore more at empire


    Is this person just trying to stir up trouble because they think we''re idle?


    He Tingting wasn''t originally from the admissions office; she was primarily there because the Jianghai University admissions office was too busy.


    She had been assigned to help out as a counselor.


    She responded coolly, "Hello, our admission score threshold at Jianghai University is already very high. If your scores are high, you can choose to apply to our university."


    Qin Hao asked, "What I mean is, if my scores exceed your admission threshold by a significant margin, is there any special treatment available?"


    He Tingting replied, "Yes, if your scores are above seven hundred twenty, you can enjoy all fees waived and also receive a scholarship every year."


    Qin Hao asked, "What if it''s a perfect score?"


    "Are you going to tell me next that your name is Qin Hao?"


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao''s face; this person was quick on the uptake, "Yes, I am Qin Hao."


    "Click"


    He Tingting hung up the phone directly, as this was already the sixteenth person today pretending to be Qin Hao.


    A perfect scorer, a genius student.


    Even if he didn''t attend prestigious foreign universities like Haji or Ying Qiao, he would choose Jinhua or Chen University, not Jianghai University.


    Jianghai University was well-known in Xuan Country but fell a bit short compared to those prestigious institutions.


    Qin Hao was stunned. What''s going on? Did she just hang up on me?


    He called again, and the phone was answered quickly, the same voice answering.


    "Please show some respect for others; our admissions office is really busy."


    Qin Hao hurriedly said, "Hold on, when did I ever disrespect you? It''s you who are disrespecting me."


    He Tingting retorted, "Impersonating Qin Hao and making fun of us, do you think that''s showing respect?"


    "Impersonating?" Qin Hao was speechless. Someone else was pretending to be me?


    He Tingting asked, "Are you trying to say you''re the real one?"


    Qin Hao didn''t know how to prove himself anymore and asked, "You tell me, how can I prove it?"


    "If you really are Qin Hao, just fill out your choices first. If there''s nothing else, I''m going to hang up."


    Before Qin Hao could speak, He Tingting had already ended the call, clearly unconvinced.

 Chapter 76 Transaction

    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless and ended up filling out his preferences on the official website of Jianghai University.


    A few minutes later, he clicked to confirm his submission, and then his application was completed.


    Honestly, with his grades, Jianghai University would definitely be vying for him, so he didn''t bother applying for a second preference at all.


    Indeed, just a few minutes after he had submitted his application, the admissions office at Jianghai University noticed it.


    "Qin Hao actually applied for our school''s computer science program," someone in the admissions office said in disbelief.


    The news spread quickly throughout the entire admissions office.


    Upon hearing this, He Tingting hurried over, "What, did Qin Hao really apply to our school?"


    A man from the admissions office said with a smile, "Yes, Mr. He, he applied to your Computer College, he might become your student."


    He Tingting, "Could it really have been him just now?"


    "Who really was him? Mr. He, who are you talking about?" someone nearby curiously asked.


    He Tingting recounted the incident that had just occurred.


    "No way? Mr. He, you should contact him quickly, lest he decides to apply to another school because of this."


    He Tingting hurried back to her seat and then dialed Qin Hao''s number.


    When Qin Hao saw the caller ID on his phone, a smile appeared on his face, and he answered the call, "Do you believe me now?"


    He Tingting said with a slight apology, "I''m sorry, Qin Hao. It''s just that there are too many people impersonating you."


    Qin Hao, "No worries, I want to ask about the benefits your school offers. If I''m satisfied, I won''t consider changing my preference."


    "Qin Hao, please hold on a moment. Regarding the benefits you mentioned, I''m not very clear on it, I need to ask," He Tingting said and then hurriedly went to look for the director of the admissions office.


    The director of the admissions office then made a call to the office of the vice-chancellor in charge of this matter.


    Finally, the response to Qin Hao was: he could enjoy some privileges, as long as they did not harm the reputation of Jianghai University.


    All fees would be waived, and he would also receive an annual scholarship subsidy of thirty thousand.


    What Qin Hao wanted were those privileges; as for the fees, he didn''t even consider them important.


    "Thank you, beautiful, but I want to remind you of something: between people, there should be some trust."


    After saying this, Qin Hao promptly hung up the phone.


    Let you taste what it''s like to be hung up on.


    He Tingting initially wanted to retort, but from the other end of the phone, she heard a series of beeps.


    Green Hole Company, "Twenty million is our final offer, if Mr. Hei Ye accepts it, we have a deal."


    After thinking it over, Qin Hao finally agreed.


    Twenty million was already quite a sum, especially since this item was a reward from the system; the twenty million was practically a gift.


    Green Hole Company, "Mr. Hei Ye, we will pay you twenty million Federation coins on Black Blade Network."


    When Qin Hao saw their message, his expression stiffened, Federation coins?


    He had forgotten that these global groups conducted transactions in Federation coins, not in Xuan Country Coins.


    Was twenty million Federation coins equivalent to one hundred twenty-two million Xuan Country Coins?


    Fortunately, he hadn''t mentioned Xuan Country Coins; otherwise, they probably would have agreed immediately.


    He was excited and somewhat incredulous, had he really just become a billionaire that easily?


    It felt like a dream to him.


    He quickly replied, "Okay, I''ll now post the complete anti-cheat package on the Black Blade Network trading platform, and you can directly purchase it there."


    The main business of Black Blade Network is supporting the transactions between hackers and companies around the world.


    Such transactions were abundant on Black Blade Network, enabling them to legally deposit money into a hacker''s account.


    This could barely be considered a form of money laundering.


    Shortly after Qin Hao posted the package, Green Hole Company purchased it straightaway, and twenty million was credited to his account.


    However, to withdraw, Black Blade Network would charge a one percent transaction fee.


    One hundred twenty-two million would mean a transaction fee of one point two two million!


    That''s too steep!


    Qin Hao used his master administrator privileges to adjust his transaction fee to one in a million. Explore more adventures at empire


    After all, it was sold on Black Blade Network, and it wouldn''t be appropriate not to give some sort of facilitation payment.


    He immediately converted the twenty million Federation coins into Xuan Country Coins.


    Black Blade Network not only supported conversion into Xuan Country Coins but also provided currency conversions for all countries globally.


    Twenty million Federation coins converted into one hundred twenty-five million four hundred fifty thousand Xuan Country Coins.


    He employed hacking methods to apply for several unregistered accounts online and then withdrew the money in over a dozen transactions.


    For safety, he completely erased all operation records and online traces.

 Chapter 77 Preparations

    ```


    Qin Hao transferred the spare amount of five million four hundred and fifty thousand to his own bank card.


    The sum of over one hundred and twenty million was too large; transferring it all to his card might draw attention.


    Although the funds were clean, it still could put him on someone''s radar.


    Five million or so wasn''t considered too much.


    In Jiangshan City, there were far too many people with that kind of money to count, so it wouldn''t attract any undue attention.


    He planned to invest this money into the roasted duck restaurant to expand the scale of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant.


    After finishing lunch.


    Qin Hao went to the roasted duck restaurant and called Fatty and Yu Jie to the second-floor office.


    "If we were to apply for a loan, about how much could we get?" Qin Hao asked Kang Youyi and Yu Jie.


    Kang Youyi began, "Hao, I''ve looked into bank loans, and they will appraise the value of our storefront.


    They will also consider our store''s monthly turnover."


    Yu Jie said, "Currently, our daily turnover is around thirty to forty thousand, which should reach about a million this month.


    We could probably secure a loan of around two to three million. However, before that, we should apply to set up a company."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Fatty, I''ll leave this matter to you. Name the company Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd, and secure as much of a loan as we can."


    "Mm-hmm, alright, Hao," Fatty nodded excitedly.


    After speaking, he asked, "Hao, are you planning to expand?"


    Experience more tales on empire


    Qin Hao nodded slightly again, "Correct. Remember to scout for new roasted duck restaurant locations and report back to me.


    Starting today, let''s hire a batch of new staff, enough to support two stores."


    Upon hearing this, Yu Jie felt some excitement. Employees like her who had been with the company for a while were usually promoted when the company expanded.


    She was currently in control of the restaurant''s finances and stood a great chance of becoming the financial director if she did well in the future.


    Qin Hao calling her over indicated satisfaction with her work; she needed only keep up with her capabilities.


    She could definitely hope to become the financial director eventually.


    ...


    After giving instructions, Qin Hao let them get back to work, and he went downstairs to take a look around.


    He stayed there all afternoon, and after five-thirty, the tricycles at the roasted duck restaurant started rolling out.


    Qin Hao was taken aback by her message¡ªshe knew Li Bao? "Friends."


    Du Wanrou: "Do you think I''m stupid? He''s in his twenties and he calls you Hao. Does that sound like just friends to you?


    Why did you lie to me? Are you really a bad guy?"


    Qin Hao hadn''t expected Du Wanrou to know about this; he didn''t know how to explain.


    Du Wanrou continued to press, "Are you Li Bao''s boss?"


    Qin Hao knew he had to make things clear: "In the past, I fought with him, then he lost.


    He acknowledged me as his superior. As for being a bad guy, do I look like one to you?


    I, the national college entrance examination top scorer, with a promising future, would I do something to ruin my own prospects?


    What he does has nothing to do with me, and I do not condone his misdeeds either."


    Du Wanrou: "Really?"


    Qin Hao: "Even by thinking with your toes, you should know it''s true. Do you think a national college entrance examination top scorer would do something so low?"


    After some thought, Du Wanrou answered, "I don''t think so, either."


    Qin Hao cautiously asked, "Do your uncle and aunt have any misunderstandings about me?"


    Du Wanrou didn''t hide the truth from him, "My dad thinks you are closely related to Li Bao; he thinks you''re not a good person."


    Qin Hao suddenly realized why Du Wanrou''s parents disliked him¡ªit was because of Li Bao.


    This was something he never expected.


    He replied with a smile, "It doesn''t matter, as long as you believe in me, that''s enough."


    Blushing at his words, Du Wanrou retorted, "What nonsense, what''s this about me believing being enough."


    Qin Hao shamelessly said, "Because you are the one I love, as long as you believe in me, even if the whole world doesn''t, it wouldn''t matter."


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned crimson, feeling slightly feverish, she remembered Qin Hao''s figure from the day before.


    A faint sweetness lingered in the depths of her heart.


    "I''m not talking to you anymore."


    After replying, Du Wanrou quickly covered her head with a blanket.


    Seeing her reply, Qin Hao''s face was covered with smiles; he felt Du Wanrou might also have feelings for him.


    As long as he persisted a little longer, there was a good chance for them.


    But thinking of Du Wanrou''s parents, he calmed down again.


    They were Du Wanrou''s parents; if they firmly opposed, could there be any hope for the two of them?

 Chapter 78 Side Quest

    Now, Du Wanrou obviously felt differently about him than before.


    Perhaps it was because of what happened yesterday that Qin Hao left a deep impression on her.


    Midnight.


    PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds servers worldwide announced: Tomorrow morning at eight, PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds servers will undergo an update, and Green Hole Company has developed a powerful anti-cheat program.


    At that time, no cheats will appear in PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds, and all players can compete fairly.


    The update is expected to end at six in the afternoon.


    When all players saw this message, they were stunned for a moment, and most of them were pleased.


    Since Green Hole Company dared to announce this, they must be very confident.


    Because if they cannot solve it, it will result in the loss of company credibility and embarrassment.


    The losses at that time would be immense.


    Some were joyful, some were worried; certain players who often used cheats in games could not muster cheer.


    There were also some game streamers on the chat software live streaming platforms who secretly used cheats within the streamer community.


    They did this to gain a large audience and receive tips and rewards.


    The happiest were the true technical players and professional gamers, for this update was a huge boon for them.


    They were looking forward to tomorrow''s game update.


    ...


    The next day


    Qin Hao did not go to the roasted duck restaurant in the morning but left the house around eleven.


    He took a taxi to Yonghe Street again to observe the work attitude and situation of the roasted duck restaurant''s employees.


    He didn''t go back at noon but walked around the bustling central area of Yonghe Street, looking for suitable shop spaces.


    After touring around, he found a small restaurant nearby and hastily had his lunch.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao also visited other streets in Changle District.


    He was calculating in his mind that if he could get a loan of two million, together with his over five million,


    he would probably be able to open about three shops.


    Qin Hao spent the day wandering around Changle District and had a rough idea by the end of it.


    After six in the evening, he secretly observed those people for a while before going home.


    After dinner, Qin Hao returned to his room and gave Kang Youyi a call, "Prepare to hire more people and train them first."


    Kang Youyi curiously asked, "Hao, how many people do you mean?"


    At present, this game was not only popular in Xuan Country but also in other countries, definitely having the potential to become a phenomenon-level game.


    About ten minutes later, the download was completed.


    This was a game licensed by Tenglong Group. The messaging software under Tenglong Group was the most popular instant messaging software in Xuan Country.


    So as long as you had a messaging account, you could log directly into the game.


    After logging into the game, a window popped up asking him to enter a game name.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and then picked a name: "Top Gun God of the National Server."


    "Sorry, that name has already been taken."


    "World''s No.1 Gun God."


    "Sorry, that name has already been taken."


    ...


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; he found naming truly tiresome, especially these kicker names.


    "Jianghai Gun Demon"


    "Congratulations on the successful naming, welcome Jianghai Gun Demon."


    He hadn''t played this game before, so he didn''t rush into starting the game but first familiarized himself with it.


    Know thyself, know thy enemy. A hundred battles, a hundred victories.


    If he played the game without understanding it, he would surely die terribly.


    In just over ten minutes, he roughly understood the game.


    The game modes were divided into three types: solo mode, duo mode, and four-person squad mode.


    This game also had a player leaderboard that displayed the top five hundred players in the national server.


    All of these players were either professional gamers or well-known game streamers with very strong skills, well-known in the gaming world.


    PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds had just updated, adding not only anti-cheat software but also many other features.


    Making the game more colorful and varied.


    Many people planned to test the effects of this update, and those with cheats turned on their cheats immediately.


    "The system detects that you plan to use a cheat. Please use it cautiously, or your account will be permanently banned."


    Those who used cheats were stunned when they saw this message box. Damn, that''s user-friendly?


    ...


    Qin Hao clicked on the solo mode, and in a few seconds, the screen shifted, and his controlled character appeared on Nameless Island.


    Many people stood around him, and the top right corner quickly showed that it had reached 100 people.

 Chapter 79 PlayerUnknowns Battlegrounds

    Qin Hao had just entered Nameless Island when he heard a chaotic babble of voices.


    The voices of these people were loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.


    "Hey, any girls here? How about a duo next round, I''ll take you to victory."


    "If you''re a man, jump at the airport; anyone who doesn''t is a coward."


    "Left, right, left, right, QE QE, those standing are fools, those standing won''t win."


    "Wow, come look, this girl''s skirt is showing,"


    "Young guys, hoping for an encounter in P City, I''m a soft and cute girl."


    "Such a beautiful voice, wait for me, girl, see you in P City."


    "What if it''s some big guy using a voice changer?"


    "I really am a cute girl, I''ll jump at P City, and those who don''t are cowards."


    "Okay, see you in P City, watch me sneak up on you."


    ...


    "10 seconds until the game starts!"


    ...


    "1 second until the game starts!"


    The game countdown ended, the scene switched, and the roar of an airplane could be heard as a large airliner flew over a large island.


    The island was dotted with many towns and houses, which contained various resources needed by the players.


    The genre of this game is a strategic shooting game.


    Players would find suitable weapons inside the houses, then use various terrains, strategies, and fight with other players.


    The airliner flew in a straight line, allowing players to find a suitable landing spot along its flight path.


    Then they could prepare to jump as the plane reached that spot.


    Qin Hao glanced around; the flight path crossed the entire island, conveniently going over P City, the school, Jianghai, and more.


    The number on the cabin display dwindled as more than twenty people jumped off in no time.


    When the plane flew over P City, there were still more than fifty people left in the cabin.


    Then suddenly, twenty or thirty people flew down, all aiming for P City.


    Qin Hao also jumped, P City was large with plenty of resources.


    From the air, he could clearly see groups of people flying toward P City.


    As they neared the ground, the parachutes would open automatically.


    Qin Hao controlled his character to drift towards a two-story building that was clear of people.


    His character finally landed outside that building.


    By this time, gunfire was already booming in P City, those who had landed first had found weapons and begun to engage in combat.


    Qin Hao hurriedly opened the door and ran into the room, where he found a pistol and a level-one backpack on the first floor.


    After sweeping through the first floor, he quickly ran up to the second floor; before finding big guns, every second counted.


    Inside a game''s popular live streaming room on a chatting software platform.


    Little Witch said with a bit of embarrassment, "I''m using an alternate account, hope I wasn''t recognized?"


    The fans below typed: "The host said if she doesn''t get over 20 kills, she will start a ''hype train'' on her stream."


    "6666666"


    "This angelic face and devilish figure starting a hype train would absolutely mesmerize anyone."


    "Toilet paper is ready, waiting for the host to start the hype train."


    "My big ''sword'' is thirsty already, someone quick kill the host."


    ...


    "Bang bang bang"


    "I am Little Witch using SCAR-L killed Handsome 13."


    "I am Little Witch using SCAR-L killed Ant."


    Explore stories on empire


    The audience in the live stream were astonished by her perfect kills and commented, "66666"


    Little Witch''s gameplay this time was indeed impressive, killing two people without losing any health, showcasing the skills of a master.


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao also began to show off his prowess.


    With the UMP9 submachine gun''s trajectory and recoil, he had roughly handled it after a dozen shots.


    Emerging from the gray house, he spotted someone on the street not far away running toward an opposite building.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao raised his gun and fired a burst of bullets again.


    "Jianghai''s marksman using UMP9 killed Ye''s Black."


    He did not go over to loot because it was a bit far.


    Had he run over, it would have been highly likely he would have been killed, so just to be safe, he ran into another building nearby.


    Qin Hao searched this building and found a med kit, grenade, and some submachine gun attachments.


    Looking out a second floor window, he saw someone looting the package of the man he''d just killed.


    "Courting death."


    "Da da da"


    Half a burst of bullets hit the person, killing them instantly in the street.


    "Bang bang bang"


    Qin Hao''s health bar dropped rapidly. He hastily retreated.


    Three bullets took away two-thirds of his health, and had he not pulled back quickly, he would probably have died.


    He hurriedly applied a med kit to himself.


    Just as he finished bandaging, he heard something being thrown in, Qin Hao didn''t even look, he just hurriedly ran out of the shack.


    "Boom"


    The grenade''s explosion was powerful. Had it not been for his quick reflexes, it would have been enough to kill him.

 Chapter 80 The Number One Gun Mage in the National Server

    Qin Hao jumped out of the window of this room, intending to circle around the side.


    He used the close-range advantage of the submachine gun to kill that person he had just encountered.


    He hadn''t noticed that person earlier and had almost been killed.


    It would have been quite a joke if he, the famed Jianghai Gun Devil, had been killed so easily.


    Qin Hao made his way to one side of the house, where there was a fence, and he moved forward in a crouch.


    The man was also moving forward, clearly confident in his skills, planning to go upstairs and take out Qin Hao.


    The two met, separated by a fence, and then gunshots rang out.


    "Da da da"


    "Bang"


    Both of them spurted blood, but that person fell first.


    In terms of reflexes, Qin Hao was a God, firing three or four shots before the other even reacted, losing the initiative.


    "Jianghai Gun Devil used UMP9 to kill Summer Hates Cold."


    After killing the man, Qin Hao quickly ran over to loot the body.


    This person was quite wealthy¡ª2x scope, full health level-two armor, med kits, drinks, level-two helmet shattered.


    On this person, Qin Hao found an AKM assault rifle and over seventy 7.62mm rounds.


    The AKM assault rifle is one of the more powerful weapons in PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds.


    However, this gun has significant recoil and muzzle shake, which makes it hard for the average person to control.


    After looting, Qin Hao ran toward two other loot piles not far away.


    He swiftly looted, picking up a level-three helmet among other supplies.


    Then he ran into the nearby room.


    He was now inside the safe zone. The refreshed circle had just enveloped all of P city, with 72 people still remaining.


    Qin Hao had killed four people so far.


    That person named "I am a Little Witch" had killed quite a few people; Qin Hao had seen her name at least seven or eight times.


    She must be a pro.


    Qin Hao checked the system; his reputation points had reached four, corresponding to the people he had killed.


    He was somewhat speechless. If he needed to reach 10,000 reputation points, would that mean he had to kill 10,000 people?


    Isn''t that a bit too much?


    ...


    Qin Hao activated his taunt move: "Listen up, people of P city, the country''s top Gun Devil is coming to kill you. Tremble, noobs."


    "Damn, so arrogant. Dare you report your position?"


    "Is this some elementary student?"


    "Just from the name I can tell this is a kid, and a Gun Devil? More like brain-dead."


    "Haha, I''m dying here, playing this game for so long and it''s the first time I''ve encountered such a talent."


    "Streamer, reveal your identity and scare him. He dares to act tough in front of our goddess."


    A few minutes later, the second circle refreshed, P City was still safe, but it was on the edge.


    The sound of gunfire continued inside P City, including rifles, submachine guns, and the sniper rifle 98K.


    Qin Hao had already switched from small arms to heavy ones, equipped with a level three helmet, level three armor, an eight-times scope, a fully-equipped SCAR-L assault rifle, and a 98K sniper rifle.


    The number of people who died by his hand just increased


    He felt that the rifle was somewhat better than the AKM, and the 98K sniper rifle almost always meant a one-shot kill when aimed at the head.


    It was simply a murder weapon, which he grew to like after using it a few times.


    Qin Hao: "Is there anyone left?"


    "Seems like it''s just the two of us left, Gun Demon, bro," I Am Little Witch''s voice rang out again.


    In P City, Qin Hao had killed more than a dozen people, and so had I Am Little Witch.


    Almost everyone in P City had been killed by these two.


    Upon hearing his voice, Qin Hao chuckled, "Little sister, tell me where you are, I can be gentle when I strike."


    I Am Little Witch: "Guess, uncle. If you guess right, there''s a reward."


    By the time Qin Hao spoke again, he had already run to the right.


    The only places he hadn''t searched in P City were those six or seven houses in front; I Am Little Witch must have been in that area.


    So, Qin Hao planned to move to the higher ground on the right to snipe her from a favorable position.


    I Am Little Witch had also roughly figured out Qin Hao''s location.


    She directly searched forward in the city, confident in her skills.


    After searching for a minute or two without seeing Qin Hao, she asked, "Hey, is the Gun Demon, bro still there?"


    No one answered, but unknown to her, a hundred meters away behind a rock, Qin Hao was eyeing the building where I Am Little Witch was.


    He had his gun ready, confident that if Little Witch''s figure crossed the window, he could kill her in those few milliseconds.


    Upon finishing the search on the first floor, Little Witch moved up to the second floor.


    She made a round and didn''t see anyone, and turned to leave.


    "Bang"


    The distinct, thudding sound of the 98K rang out.


    Little Witch saw her health bar drop instantly, her level three helmet shattered.


    Shocked, she reacted swiftly, lying down on the ground and began to heal herself.


    Her streaming room erupted with surprise: "Damn, where did that bullet come from?"


    "Where did that shot come from? I didn''t see it."


    "I didn''t see it either, is that guy using hacks?"


    "Definitely a hack, probably a wall hack and an aimbot."


    "Didn''t Green Hole Company say they updated it to be hack-free?"


    "Little Witch has played so many rounds and it seems she really hasn''t encountered any hackers."

 Chapter 81 Rowing Without Paddles

    The Little Witch used a computer pack, her health bar fully restored, and she lay on the ground observing outside the window in front of her.


    The shot just now had left her shaken; had it not been for her level three helmet at full health, she would have been killed by that shot instantly.


    At the same time, she was even more astonished by Qin Hao''s marksmanship.


    Who was this expert?


    I have always been on the move, never stopping.


    The fact that the opponent could seize such a brief opportunity to headshot me proves the strength of their shooting skills.


    For a master like the Little Witch, even if she can''t see the enemy, she sways her body when crouching to heal, to avoid getting headshotted by a hidden sniper rifle.


    She spoke to the people in the live stream, "That person is probably not a hacker. Do you see this window in front of me?


    There is a big rock, and he is hiding behind that big rock."


    In the moment Qin Hao had just finished shooting and was recoiling, the Little Witch had caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye.


    But the Little Witch didn''t dare to stand up and exchange gunfire with him. Without her level three helmet, she could likely be killed by the opponent''s 98K with one shot.


    The visitors in the live stream room commented, "Not a hacker? Damn, could it be we''ve encountered a pro?"


    "If it''s not a cheat, then this sniping is too awesome, right?"


    "Could this be some God''s alternate account?"


    "Little Witch, don''t chicken out, just do it."


    "Little Witch, use your deadly weapon to silently kill him."


    ...


    Qin Hao, hidden behind the large rock, was a bit puzzled. He clearly hit the head, so why didn''t they die?


    When he shot other people, a headshot always killed them instantly.


    At this moment, the third circle had refreshed, and P city was no longer in the safe zone.


    The school, R city, and Y city areas were now the safe zone.


    "Little sister, today uncle will spare your life. If we meet again next time, don''t blame uncle for not showing mercy," Qin Hao said before turning to run toward the school.


    There was a long distance from here to the school, and if he didn''t run now, he might not make it later.


    I am the Little Witch heard his words, grinding her teeth in hatred. She, the Little Witch of the esports world, needing someone else to show mercy?


    Once she had confirmed that Qin Hao had indeed left, she quickly went downstairs, found a level two helmet to wear, and then found a car to rush towards R city.


    Qin Hao ran cautiously, continually observing his surroundings.


    After crossing several mountains, he finally saw the outline of the school, with six or seven buildings across from it.


    Most were three-story buildings, with people fighting on the rooftops.


    Qin Hao stopped, crouched behind a large tree, aimed at one of them, scoped in, fired, and ducked back.


    He executed this series of movements in an extremely short time.


    "Bang"


    "Jianghai, the Gun Mage, using the 98K, headshot kills Jie."


    Equipped with a suppressor, the 98K was very quiet, and Long Legs Oppa had no idea where the shot had come from when he was killed.


    He only knew that it was Jianghai the Sniper who had taken him down.


    The 98K with a suppressor was like an invisible assassin, killing unseen.


    "Bang Bang"


    Gunfire echoed from afar, and soon the top right corner showed: "I Am Little Witch used an M16A4 to headshot and kill Prince Dongre."


    "I Am Little Witch used a 98K to headshot and kill Brother Big Society."


    "Jianghai the Sniper used a 98K to headshot and kill the Otaku."


    "Jianghai the Sniper used a 98K to headshot and kill Burning Snow."


    "Jianghai the Sniper used a SCAR-L to headshot and kill Easy to Unrobe."


    ...


    The top right corner was almost entirely filled with the kill records of Little Witch and Jianghai the Sniper.


    Soon, the final circle refreshed, and now only six people remained.


    Aside from I Am Little Witch and Qin Hao, the other four were being very cautious and trying to stay concealed.


    Qin Hao crouched and walked along the edge of the poison, looking at the big trees, ravines, and watchtowers ahead.


    "Come on out, there''s no use hiding; nobody can escape the country''s top sniper."


    The others were frustrated. Damn it, you''re looking down on us, aren''t you?


    Little Witch and the people in the live stream collapsed when they heard his words.


    This guy is too bold, isn''t he?


    This is the final circle, where everyone else is being extra careful, holding their breath for fear of being the last one out.


    And you''re actually taunting others? Aren''t you afraid of getting your face punched?


    In the live stream, I Am Little Witch said, "I can only describe brother Sniper with one phrase: he rows his boat without oars, relying entirely on his brazenness."


    "666666"


    "He rows his boat without oars, living entirely on his brazenness."


    "Haha, indeed quite audacious."


    ...


    Qin Hao: "Are you guys too timid? I''m standing right here and no one dares to show their face?"


    Inside a nearby ravine, someone had already spotted Qin Hao''s location, wandering on the edge of safety, and using a sniper rifle wasn''t a good option from there.


    He quickly stood up, switched his M16A4 to the basic scope, aimed at Qin Hao''s body, and was about to fire.


    "Bang"


    Before the man could even open fire, a burst of gunfire flashed in the distance, and he fell to the ground.


    "Jianghai the Sniper used a 98K to headshot kill the Desolate Paper."


    Desolate Paper was stunned. Damn, a quick-scope? In this low-rank game, there was a god-tier player capable of quick-scoping?

 Chapter 82 Instant Sniper God

    Right after Qin Hao''s gunshot rang out, half a body emerged from behind a big tree not far away.


    The person held a rifle in hand and swept it towards Qin Hao.


    "Dadada"


    "Bang"


    Blood spurted from Qin Hao''s body, but he didn''t dodge and fired a shot that blew the person''s head off.


    "God of Jianghai used a 98K to headshot and kill the Tank."


    "Bang"


    At that moment, another gunshot echoed from afar.


    "I''m the Little Witch using a 98k to headshot and kill the Freak."


    Her 98K wasn''t equipped with a silencer, and although Qin Hao didn''t see her, he could roughly guess her location from the sound.


    Now, only three were left; I''m the Little Witch on the other side of the safe zone, with a two-story artillery tower between them.


    The third person was inside the second floor of the artillery tower, which was located in the middle of the safe zone.


    Both Qin Hao and the Little Witch were moving towards this artillery tower.


    As the zone was shrinking, if they didn''t move inside quickly, they would be poisoned to death.


    The poison at this stage was potent, barely allowing anyone full health to last more than a few seconds.


    The person inside the artillery tower was a bit uncomfortable as he could see both approaching him from above.


    But he didn''t know which one to shoot; whoever he chose, he risked being killed by the other.


    In his hesitation, Qin Hao and the Little Witch smartly threw a grenade inside.


    The person''s expression changed dramatically at once.


    "Boom boom"


    "God of Jianghai killed Clean Sweep with a grenade."


    The Little Witch was speechless, "Damn, why was it him who killed him?"


    Qin Hao said, "Little sister, didn''t expect our fates are so tied, eh? Last time I spared you, but this time, Uncle can''t let you go."


    The Little Witch''s youthful voice was pleasant to hear, sounding like a teenage girl.


    She responded irritably, "You better watch out for yourself, Uncle~"


    Qin Hao''s online persona completely differed from his reality.


    In reality, he was stern and calm, but online, he became someone else: flamboyantly narcissistic and overwhelmingly charming.


    He completely unleashed another side of his inner self.


    Actually, many are like him, reluctant to chat in reality, but online, they could be masters of jokes.


    Initially, Qin Hao changed his voice with software to sound deeper, resembling an uncle.


    ...


    Qin Hao said in a light tone, "Remember my name, God of Jianghai, I will be your nightmare for life."


    The chat in Little Witch''s live stream was filled with vomiting emojis: "Ew..."


    "Damn, this is the most shameless guy I''ve ever seen in my life."


    "A frying pan probably isn''t as thick-skinned as this guy."


    Qin Hao''s screen lit up: Big success, winner winner chicken dinner tonight.


    Ranked 1st, kills 31, reward coins: 2180.


    ...


    "How did Little Witch die? How did I not see it clearly?"


    "Holy crap, this Jianghai Sniper God must be cheating, report him."


    "Exactly, definitely cheating, report him."


    Little Witch froze for a few seconds, her pretty face expressionless, she opened the opponent''s perspective to check the death replay.


    If the opponent was really cheating, it would show.


    Hundreds of thousands in the livestream were also staring at the screen.


    The image that appeared on the computer showed Qin Hao just after his dance, standing there motionless.


    Seconds later, from Qin Hao''s position, you could see the figure of Little Witch, only her upper body visible from the side of the turret.


    Then Qin Hao quickly raised the 98K, the screen flashed, and with a bang, he shot and Little Witch fell to the ground.


    Qin Hao''s health dropped by only a fifth, meaning Little Witch had landed only one shot on him before dying.


    The people in the livestream still did not understand what happened and kept saying Qin Hao was cheating.


    Because the speed of Qin Hao''s scoped kill was too fast, too fast to be noticeable.


    But Little Witch, being an expert of the game, spotted a clue.


    She played the replay several times slower, and this time everyone saw it clearly.


    The moment Little Witch just peeked out from behind the turret, Qin Hao had already aimed his gun at her.


    Then he scoped, the red crosshair perfectly on Little Witch''s head.


    "Bang"


    The bullet flew out, and Little Witch fell to the ground.


    "Is this a 98K quick-scope?" Little Witch couldn''t believe it.


    Because in the whole national server, only three people could quick-scope with 98K, and she knew one of them.


    Who was this person? She was sure it wasn''t one of those three national server Gods, because she could tell by the voice.


    This time, the people in the livestream also saw clearly how Little Witch died.


    "My God, a 98K quick-scope God? How many in the national server can quick-scope? Just a handful, right?"


    "Could it be a smurf account of some God?"


    "Impossible, his voice doesn''t match those Gods, and besides, would a God really act so unscrupulously?"


    "True, Gods care about their image, this must be a random God."


    "Indeed, experts are among the common folk, can''t learn this skill, just can''t."


    "Gods and I are playing different games, why do I always die as soon as I land?"


    "Little Witch, didn''t you say you''d give him a ride if you lost? Quickly add him as a friend."


    "Exactly, bring the God for a ride, let us see who this God is."


    "Hurry up, let us witness the grace of the God."


    Little Witch was also very curious about Qin Hao''s identity, she typed in Jianghai Sniper God, and added Qin Hao as a friend.

 Chapter 83 Two People in Four Rows

    After finishing a game, Qin Hao opened the system tasks to check his reputation points.


    Progressive sub-quest: Road to Gaming God, Reputation (1186/10000).


    So many reputation points? How come there are so many? Didn''t I just kill about twenty people?


    Qin Hao was somewhat puzzled and asked Xiao Ying, "Xiao Ying, what''s the deal with these reputation points?"


    Xiao Ying: "In the gaming world, each person who recognizes your strength generates one reputation point.


    Merely knowing your name doesn''t count, they must also know of your formidable strength."


    Qin Haoruo nodded thoughtfully, "So, I have 1186 reputation points now, does that mean 1186 people know of my skills?"


    Xiao Ying: "Exactly."


    Qin Hao: "But I didn''t kill that many people just now. How could there be so many reputation points?"


    Xiao Ying: "This relates to the players you''ve killed. Perhaps one of them is a live streamer or has certain influence online. Killing such people usually gives you more reputation points."


    Qin Hao nodded, no wonder his reputation points had increased so much; there was this factor involved.


    It seems this sub-quest isn''t that hard to complete.


    He closed the system, and just then, a notification appeared on the gaming interface: Wicked Witch requests to add you as a friend.


    Qin Hao clicked agree, thinking maybe this little sister was captivated by my skills?


    "Wicked Witch invites you to join her game, do you accept?"


    Qin Hao thought it was boring to play alone, clicked accept, and then entered the room created by Wicked Witch.


    "Little sister, were you stunned by my skills, the best gunslinger in Jianghai? Do you want me to carry you?" Qin Hao said confidently through voice chat.


    Wicked Witch was speechless, this was the first time she encountered someone so self-centered: "As I said earlier, if I lost, I promised to give you a free lift in the game, and now I''m fulfilling that promise."


    Qin Hao was taken aback: "This is what you meant by ''giving me a lift''? I thought you meant riding in your luxury car."


    "Dude, do you really not understand, or are you pretending?" Wicked Witch was defeated by his naivety.


    Qin Hao said awkwardly, "Sorry, I just started playing this game, I misunderstood."


    Wicked Witch: "Just started? Dude, that joke isn''t funny at all, why pretend to be innocent?


    "Pfft"


    The visitors in the live stream laughed out loud on hearing Wicked Witch''s comment.


    "Damn, I was drinking water, I spit it all over my screen because of what you said, compensate my monitor."


    "Compensate my keyboard, it''s all wet, so wet."


    "666, even grandma wouldn''t help, but I respect you"


    "Wicked Witch, I love your fierce spirit, straightforward confrontation."


    "66666"


    "Hahahaha, this guy is a major clown, verified."


    "Xiao Ying spewed, her camera is all blurry now, wipe it off quick."


    "I think I''m starting to like this clown, laughing so hard my stomach hurts, haha."


    Your next chapter is on empire


    ...


    Inside the game at Suzhi Square.


    "Damn, where did this idiot come from, claiming to be the number one marksman of the server? Clearly, he''s just a grade-schooler."


    "Look at him acting all mighty, let''s see if this number one marksman can jump into a few matches without getting wrecked by me."


    "Yeah, let''s crush him for acting all tough here."


    Xiao Ying, after cleaning her monitor, warned, "Uncle, be careful, they are all in squads of four, whereas we are only two."


    Qin Hao: "No problem, I have a question for you."


    Xiao Ying, curious, replied, "What''s the question? I won''t answer personal ones."


    Qin Hao: "Don''t be so narcissistic, I''m not interested in undeveloped little girls."


    Me, narcissistic? Where was I narcissistic?


    Xiao Ying retorted with irritation, "Just ask your question quickly."


    The audience in the live stream, upon hearing Qin Hao''s remark, burst out laughing, "Uncle, you probably haven''t seen Xiao Ying live streaming, have you?"


    "Daring to say Xiao Ying is an undeveloped little girl? I disagree with that statement."


    "Xiao Ying is definitely a 36D, and you say she hasn''t developed?"


    ...


    Confused, Qin Hao asked, "Last game, I clearly blew up your head, how come you didn''t die?"


    "Pfft"


    "Can''t take it anymore guys, I''m out, if I stay in this stream I might die of laughter."


    "Haha, no one can beat you bro, here''s a 6666 for you."


    "Xiao Ying is so pretty, and you still say her head looks like a dog''s head?"


    On hearing this, Xiao Ying''s face turned red, "Who did you say has a dog''s head? You''re the dog''s head, your whole family has dog''s heads."


    Qin Hao forced a laugh, "I misspoke, what I meant was I hit you on the head, why didn''t you die?


    I usually kill others with one shot."

 Chapter 84 Jumping at the Airport

    The little witch, upon hearing his novice question, wore an expression of surprise.


    People in the live-streaming room were also taken aback. Could it be that this God-like sniper didn''t know the answer to such a simple question?


    "Hey, little sister, are you still there?" Qin Hao asked curiously when he saw she didn''t respond.


    Little witch: "Do you really not know?"


    Qin Hao: "Er, even though I''m a genius, I don''t know everything."


    The little witch then asked: "You know what a level three helmet is, right?" Your next read awaits at empire


    Qin Hao: "I know. I checked out a beginner''s guide before I started playing, and I also know about the level three armor."


    The little witch said with a laugh: "You do know quite a lot."


    ...


    Qin Hao continued to ask: "So what exactly happened?"


    The little witch explained: "I was wearing a level three helmet back then, and it was nearly at full health. A Kar98k can''t one-shot a player wearing a full-health level three helmet, only an AWM can."


    Qin Hao nodded: "I see, that''s how it is. Thanks, little sister. I''ll protect you in the game, uncle will help you win."


    Little witch: "Psh, you better just take care of yourself."


    Fans of the little witch in the live stream could not stand it anymore: "Streamer, reveal your identity and let him know how formidable you are."


    "My goddess needs your protection? Little witch is among the top thousand players in the national server."


    "That''s right, streamer, show your identity and let him know how formidable you are."


    The little witch saw what her fans were saying in the chat: "The game is starting, wait a moment, I''m afraid revealing my identity will scare him."


    Meanwhile in the game, the plane had taken off, starting at the airport and ending in S-city.


    Qin Hao asked: "Little sister, where shall we drop?"


    "Airport," the little witch answered without hesitation.


    You think you''re so badass? Then let''s drop at the airport. I''d like to see if you can still act tough after you''re dead on arrival.


    Even when she dropped at the airport, she wasn''t 100% sure she would survive without teammates. It was quite difficult.


    If she played more cautiously, though, surviving wouldn''t be that much of a problem for her.


    "Drop at the airport, whoever doesn''t is a coward. The number one shooter of the national server seeks a beating," Qin Hao bragged on the plane.


    "Damn it, too arrogant. See you at the airport," someone said.


    "If you disagree, fight me. See you at the airport, brothers," another chimed in.


    The little witch was frustrated, thinking him quite foolish. A lot of people usually dropped at the airport.


    And you''re actually here attracting hate; you really must not be afraid of dying.


    Her livestream viewers enjoyed watching the spectacle unfold.


    "666, I just love his personality."


    "Haha, can''t wait for both of them to be dead on arrival."


    "If they win this round, I''ll eat crap on live stream, and it''ll be steaming hot."


    "If they make it out of the airport alive, I''ll stick my hand in a fan on live stream."


    "The two above are crazy, go shooter bro and little witch, I want to see someone stick their hand in a fan."


    "Bang, bang, bang"


    "Bang"


    His shots only hit Qin Hao once, and then he was down on the ground.


    "Jianghai''s gun demon uses a 98K to headshot Shadowless Gun Skill."


    "Fuck, how is he so damn good?"


    Duoqing Xiao Ge said, "Quick, pick up my submachine gun and kill him."


    "Bang"


    "Jianghai''s gun demon uses a 98K to headshot Shadowless Blade Skill."


    The last guy was stunned; had their whole team nearly been wiped out in just over ten seconds?


    Knowing he was up against a pro, he didn''t bother to rescue his teammates. With a leap, he jumped down from the building.


    "Bang"


    Another muffled 98K gunshot. Mid-air, the guy was headshotted, and Qin Hao single-handedly wiped out the four-man squad.


    "Jianghai''s gun demon uses a 98K to headshot Duoqing Xiao Mei."


    With the last teammate dead, the other three turned directly into crates.


    Since all the teammates were dead with no one to revive them, the system automatically declared them all out of the game.


    Now with four kills under his belt, a smile crept onto Qin Hao''s face as he began to loot the items on the rooftop.


    ...


    On the other side, Xiao Bai landed on Building No. 1. She had a good drop location; a M416 assault rifle was nearby.


    She picked it up immediately, and there were more than sixty bullets available.


    After grabbing the gun, she immediately aimed at the people on the rooftop; there were three in total.


    One of them had already picked up a gun, but the other two were unarmed.


    At this moment, the skill of a national server top 1000 player became apparent.


    "Bang, bang, bang"


    She took out the one who had just picked up a gun.


    "I am Xiao Bai uses an M416 to take down Bafang Fengyu."


    Then she aimed at another person. Half a burst later, another one on the rooftop was down.


    "I am Xiao Bai uses an M416 to take down Chun Yeren."


    There was still one person left on the rooftop of Building No. 1. He took advantage of her reloading and quickly ran down the stairs.


    "Dada dada"


    Xiao Bai could only see her health plummet rapidly; without any armor or a helmet, she was very vulnerable in the early game.


    "Brother, handsome and dashing uses a UMP9 to take down I am Xiao Bai."


    The team from Building No. 2, with two armed people on the rooftop, had targeted Xiao Bai.


    "Damn it, where did you go? Come save me; I''m getting shot down." It was only then that Xiao Bai realized Qin Hao wasn''t in the same building as her.


    ```

 Chapter 85 Rookie

    Qin Hao: "No way? Dead just like that? You''re really that bad?"


    Me, bad? The little witch felt a surge of anger to curse someone''s mother. She landed, picked up a gun, and instantly killed two people.


    If it hadn''t been for the people in building two aiming at her, she could have killed another person, maybe even wiped out the whole squad from building one.


    But when she saw the kill record, she was left speechless.


    A 98K team wipeout?


    Holy shit, did you really wipe a team with a 98K without a scope?


    "Bang bang"


    The two people in building two didn''t finish off the little witch. Instead, they pointed their guns at Qin Hao on the rooftop of building three.


    Because he was the only one standing now, the others had all been taken down.


    At that moment, Qin Hao had finished scanning the rooftop.


    When he had just started scanning, he heard the little witch''s call for help.


    At the same time, several bullets hit the obstacle beside him.


    Qin Hao quickly crouched down, hiding behind the protruding cover on the rooftop.


    As soon as the gunfire stopped, he swiftly stood up, "bang" fired a shot, then quickly crouched down again, moving very fast.


    Just as he hunkered down, countless bullets poured in, but the enemies didn''t react fast enough, missing him and hitting the cover instead.


    "Jianghai the gun demon uses a 98K to headshot and kill Wielding Heaven and Earth."


    Wielding Heaven and Earth and his teammate were shocked. Holy shit, such fast movement technique?


    "Hurry up and rescue me, don''t exchange fire with him, the guy opposite is a pro," Wielding Heaven and Earth said urgently to his teammate beside him.


    Inside building two, their other two teammates spoke, "Be careful, we''ve found guns, we''ll be up in a moment."


    "Bang"


    Another gunshot, that person was about to go rescue his teammate Wielding Heaven and Earth, but the moment the gunfire started, he fell to the ground.


    "Damn, this guy''s shooting is badass."


    "Jianghai the gun demon uses a 98K to headshot and kill Evil God."


    The other two in building two urgently asked, "What happened? How did you two die?"


    The two quickly advised their teammates, "Don''t exchange fire with the person on the rooftop of building three, be sneaky."


    The little witch''s health had already dropped by half, she hurriedly said, "Uncle, come and save me quick."


    "Got it, I''m on my way," Qin Hao jumped straight off the rooftop.


    Then he ran towards building one.


    On the rooftop of building two, the two downed players urgently said, "That guy jumped down, he''s in the garden, come quick and save us."


    Seeing him running down, the little witch warned, "There are still two people inside this building, be careful."


    Qin Hao didn''t dodge because if he did, Little Witch behind him would definitely be killed.


    He switched to his UZI submachine gun in a second, and a burst of bullets hit the opponent.


    "Jianghai, the Gun Demon, uses an UZI submachine gun to headshot and kill Uncle Loves Lolita."


    This squad had already lost two players to Little Witch, and now these two were also killed by Qin Hao.


    The three teams that jumped to the C-shaped building were completely wiped out.


    Qin Hao''s health had also dropped to one-third, so he hurriedly continued healing Little Witch.


    After reviving her, Qin Hao healed himself a little.


    Then he quickly ran over to start looting.


    Little Witch was faster than him, already picking through those two loot piles.


    He had to jump down and run towards the second building, not forgetting to say, "Didn''t expect you to be so bad, looting so quickly."


    ...


    "Who are you calling bad? Who hasn''t died yet?" Little Witch couldn''t help but retort.


    Qin Hao: "I''ve never died, ah, it''s lonely at the top."


    Little Witch felt an urge to beat him up but she restrained herself.


    Qin Hao ran up to the rooftop of Building Two, took a quick look at the loot, these people were quite rich, they had already searched through the whole building.


    He said to Little Witch, "Rookie, Building Three hasn''t been searched yet, go check it out."


    Little Witch asked in surprise, "Who are you calling?"


    Qin Hao: "You, of course."


    Little Witch wanted to argue, but after looking at his kill count and then at hers, she silently headed towards Building Three.


    "Who would''ve thought that Little Witch would one day be called a rookie, and she''s one of the top thousand players in the national server."


    "The Gun Demon speaks the truth, looking at the kill count, Little Witch only has two, while the Gun Demon already has ten."


    "The name fits the deed, killing ten people just minutes after landing, truly a Gun Demon."


    After the two had cleared the C-shaped building, they began to clean up the surrounding area.


    Little Witch with an M416 and an SKS sniper rifle, Qin Hao with a 98K and a SIGA automatic rifle.


    No one could withstand their onslaught, especially Qin Hao''s 98K, as he was on target every single time.


    By the time Little Witch charged in, the enemy had already become corpses.


    Two minutes later, Qin Hao''s kill count had reached 20, and Little Witch had also reached 8.


    The area around the airport had been almost cleared of people.


    Little Witch: "I''ve got a car here, the play area''s about to shrink, let''s head over to P city first."


    After getting in the car, Little Witch drove straight for P city, and driving out required crossing a bridge.


    While driving, Little Witch mentioned, "We might run into bridge campers, be careful."

 Chapter 86 Shocking Everyone

    Qin Hao: "You might want to save that remark for yourself."


    The witch was fuming; how could this guy be so annoying?


    The fans in the live stream saw the witch being outsmarted and, instead of scolding Qin Hao, burst into laughter.


    It was the first time they had seen someone get the better of the witch, and it felt oddly satisfying.


    Upon reaching the bridge, the witch immediately stopped the car, and instantly, several bullets hit the car, sending sparks flying.


    Both of them hastily got out of the car, and the witch hurriedly said, "There''s someone behind that abandoned car ahead using a 98K, just..."


    She hadn''t finished speaking when a gunshot rang out.


    "Jianghai the firearms master used the 98K to headshot and take down God."


    God: "Be careful; the sniper on the other side is pretty strong."


    The other three didn''t easily show themselves; one went over to revive him.


    Qin Hao then spoke to the witch, "You rush forward, I''ll set up the gun behind."


    The witch had the same idea; hunched over, she ran onto the bridge, using the bridge''s cover to advance towards the opposite side.


    Opposite was a full squad; after God was revived.


    Seeing the witch on the bridge, he said, "Be careful, someone is coming up from the other side."


    "Just one person dares to come up? Watch me knock him down," another said.


    He was holding an SKS sniper rifle and was about to shoot the witch as he peeked out.


    "Bang"


    At the sound of the gunshot, he had just peeked out and was instantly headshot, collapsing to the ground.


    "Damn, isn''t the sniper on the other side too good? He got me the moment I showed my head?"


    The little witch, seeing the person on the other side get headshot just as he peeked, suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of security.


    This is what you call setting up a gun; those were all crappy teammates before.


    She charged faster; while one from the other side went to revive a teammate, the other two didn''t dare show themselves to shoot at the witch.


    Mainly because the sniper on the other side was too strong.


    By the time they revived that person, the witch had already charged more than halfway through. Now with no cover in front of her, she could only rely on her movement.


    "In a moment, all four of us will show ourselves; no matter how good the sniper on the other side is, he can''t kill us all at the same time."


    "Right, let''s all show ourselves at once and take down the one on the bridge first."


    Five seconds later, the four of them suddenly appeared from behind their cover and opened fire on the witch on the bridge.


    "Bang"


    The first sound was also the 98K, and one of the squad fell yet again.


    The witch also took out an SKS sniper rifle and started firing. She was a good shot, directly taking out the unhelmeted God.


    Now only two were left on the other side, and the witch had lost half her health.


    "Bang"


    Another gunshot, and the third on the opposite side also fell, leaving just one remaining.


    That person quickly pulled back; if he died too, their squad would be finished.


    The witch used a med kit on herself, then continued to charge towards the other side.


    Three people shot at Little Witch, knocking her to the ground and then finished her off with a few more shots.


    "Bang"


    Another gunshot, and another person from the opposing team went down. Now, two remained.


    After Little Witch died, she switched to spectating Qin Hao, "Be careful, there are two more behind those trees."


    ...


    "I''ll move beside, you cover from behind. Shoot him as soon as he shows his head," the two opponents planned.


    Then one of them ran toward the front right of Qin Hao, while the other aimed at Qin Hao with an SKS from behind a tree.


    Little Witch warned, "One is coming towards you, the other is covering you."


    The fans in the live stream also commented, "This game is over, haha, no need to broadcast eating shit this time."


    "A Cool Cool song for the streamer and Gun Devil bro."


    "Even if it were the top player in the national server playing this situation, they''d be dead."


    "If he survives this, I''ll gift ten cruise packages."


    ...


    Qin Hao also saw the situation, leaned right, scoped, shot, then ducked back.


    "Bang"


    "Jianghai Gun Devil with an M24 headshots Black-Bellied Fish."


    Black-Bellied Fish was dumbfounded, he just saw Qin Hao''s figure emerge, and had barely raised his gun.


    Then the opponent ducked back, a gunshot sounded, and his character collapsed to the ground.


    The man covering with the gun could only react and start shooting after Qin Hao ducked back, his bullets hitting the tree.


    Qin Hao ducked back, then quickly switched to AWM, leaned left, scoped, and shot.


    "Bang"


    "Jianghai Gun Devil with an AWM headshots Invincible Bug."


    The other three were all reduced to crates after their last teammate died.


    Viewers in Little Witch''s live stream were petrified by the action.


    "666666"


    "I only want to say two words to express my feelings right now: Freaking awesome."


    "Holy shit, what kind of shooting is this?"


    "Crazy, one against two without losing a sliver of health? Bro, you''re even better than cheats."


    "Jianghai Gun Devil, are you accepting disciples? I can pay tuition."


    "Gun Devil Uncle, I''m a little lolita, tender and easy to push over."


    ...


    Little Witch also widened her eyes in disbelief, "Quick-scoping? Is this quick-scoping?"


    Quick-scoping: As the name implies, it involves quickly emerging from cover to shoot and kill, then instantly retreating, all done very swiftly.


    Usually, the opponent doesn''t even have time to react before they''re dead.


    This technique she had only heard from her brother, and this was her first time seeing it, too awesome, too fierce.


    She felt a surge of excitement, realizing she was in the presence of a true master!

 Chapter 87 How Can Anyone Watch This if Its So Bad?

    The fans in the live broadcast room, hearing her words, all sent greetings: A quick-scope shot?


    "Do you know, host, what kind of shooting technique this is?"


    The little witch simply explained the meaning of a quick-scope to the fans in the live broadcast room.


    Instantly, everyone again spammed "66666"


    "Brother Gun God, take me as your disciple. I want to be as cool as you and charm the girls at our school."


    "I want to learn too. God, please take me in. I''m already on my knees."


    The little witch, seeing the fans in her live broadcast room, said grumpily, "Don''t fight over it; I''m first in line. Wait until I learn, and I''ll let you all watch every day in the live broadcast room."


    "What? The little witch wants to become his apprentice?"


    "Did the style just change too fast? Weren''t you just hating on him a moment ago?"


    "As expected, a woman changes her mind faster than flipping a page."


    "My little witch couldn''t have fallen for the Gun God uncle, right? No, she''s my goddess."


    ...


    In the game, after Qin Hao wiped out that squad, another team ran over from behind.


    They had heard the sounds of the fight and quickly ran over, hoping to benefit from the aftermath.


    Just as Qin Hao finished off the first team, another team ran over; both sides could already see each other.


    "Bang"


    Qin Hao fired directly; a quick-scope shot rang out, and someone on the opposing side fell to the ground.


    "Jianghai, the Gun Demon, uses the 98K to headshot and knock down Crazy Little Second 13."


    Crazy Little Second 13 was the only one among the four wearing a level two helmet, while the others all had level three helmets.


    The little witch and the people in the broadcast room only saw a quick flash from the 98K''s scope.


    Then, Qin Hao returned behind the big tree and switched to the AWM, his movements as smooth as flowing clouds, elegant and unrestrained.


    He didn''t have any pause or hesitation, not even taking an extra glance to see if the opponent was dead. Such was the confidence of a master.


    In less than a second, he popped out from the other side.


    "Bang"


    The opposing sniper''s head burst into a flower of blood, instantly hitting the ground.


    At the same time, dozens of bullets hit the big tree in front of him, and wood chips flew everywhere.


    "Dammit, how is this person so good? Headshot with every shot," cursed the two who were knocked down.


    "Be careful; don''t show your head. That sniper on the other side is a bit twisted."


    The remaining two became much more cautious.


    They cowered just as Qin Hao wanted. He threw a grenade towards one of them.


    That person had no choice but to dodge and quickly ran out from behind the tree. Then, "bang," he was shot and fell to the ground.


    Less than a minute left, and there was only one person remaining in the four-man squad.


    The last one trembled in fear: "Damn, this guy is too strong?"


    "Congratulations to the host for completing the phase-side quest The Road to Gaming God (I), reward 1,000 achievement points, Delicious Duck Head Skill Book."


    "Phase-side quest: The Road to Gaming God (II) unlocked, achieve a reputation of five hundred thousand (125,788/500,000)"


    "Quest reward: 5,000 achievement points, Delicious Duck Neck Skill Book."


    He was surprised by his current reputation points: over a hundred and twenty-five thousand? How did it increase so much?


    Qin Hao turned on the team voice chat and asked, "Little sister, are you a streamer?"


    The little witch''s heart leapt, could it be that this guy knew who she was? "Yes, I''m a streamer."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Which platform? How popular are you?"


    There was a hint of pride in the little witch''s voice: "A game streamer on a chat software live broadcasting platform, with a popularity just under two hundred thousand."


    Qin Hao was a bit surprised: "You''re this noob and yet so many people watch you?"


    ...


    The little witch had several responses prepared, but Qin Hao''s comment left her speechless.


    "Haha, that hit hard, bro."


    "Ten thousand points of critical hit damage."


    "Not only is the rifle demon uncle awesome in shooting, but he''s also sharp-tongued."


    "666666666"


    Soon enough, the little witch added Qin Hao as a friend on the chat software.


    After checking Qin Hao''s profile, she messaged him: "Are you Rifle Demon Uncle?"


    Qin Hao: "You got a problem?"


    "How old are you?"


    "19."


    The little witch looked stunned: "19? But what about your voice?"


    Realization dawned on her: "Are you using a voice changer software?"


    Qin Hao: "Disappointed I''m not an uncle?"


    The little witch rolled her eyes: "I''m not into uncles. So you''re called Jianghai''s Rifle Demon, are you from Jianghai?"


    "No, but I''ll be going to university in Jianghai after the summer vacation starts."


    Going to university in Jianghai? The little witch''s eyes lit up: "You just finished your unified exams? Which university will you be attending?"


    Qin Hao: "Little sister, you ask too many questions. Even if you like me, you don''t have to make it so obvious."


    "Pfft, who likes you? Aren''t you full of yourself?" retorted the little witch, pouting.


    Qin Hao: "Are you still playing games or not? If not, I''m logging off."


    The little witch quickly said, "Playing, it''s just past eight o''clock. I play until after ten every night, come on, let''s continue."


    The two played a few more games together, and after seeing Qin Hao''s strength firsthand, she didn''t try to test him anymore, they stuck to playing duos.


    With Qin Hao there, they won in every game, and her live room''s popularity gradually increased.


    The little witch had never imagined winning could be so easy. She had a great time playing until she ended the live stream at ten in the evening.

 Chapter 88 Tian Yamei

    After shutting down his computer, Qin Hao checked his reputation points, which had reached over 214,000, still far from enough.


    He opened his attribute panel to take a look.


    Name: Qin Hao


    Gender: Male


    Age: 19


    Realm: Mortal


    Achievement Points: 10000


    Virtue Points: 1


    Strength: 26


    Agility: 15


    Intelligence: 15


    Constitution: 15


    Skills: Combat skills, Calligraphy skills (Lv2 0/3000);


    Basketball skills, Driving skills, Painting skills, Singing skills, Gaming skills (Lv0 0/100);


    Medical skills (Lv1 0/500), Hacking skills (Lv3 0/10000)


    Items: Invisibility Cloak, Detoxification Elixirs, Invisible Bulletproof Vest, 99 Silver Needles, 2 bottles of Life Potion, 3 bottles of Spirit Potion, Delicious Duck Head Skill Book.


    Qin Hao spent 3600 achievement points to upgrade his gaming skills from Lv0 to Lv3.


    Upgrading from level 0 to level 1 required 100 achievement points, from level 1 to level 2 required 500 achievement points, and from level 2 to level 3 required 3000 achievement points.


    He could feel that the players he had encountered in the last few games had become much tougher than those at the beginning.


    If he didn''t upgrade his gaming skills, he probably wouldn''t be able to achieve consecutive victories, which would prevent his reputation from increasing.


    If he completed the second phase of the mission, he would earn a bonus of 5000 achievement points and also obtain the Delicious Duck Neck Skill Book.


    This was a very worthwhile deal.


    Your next journey awaits at empire


    After closing his computer, Qin Hao lay on his bed playing with his phone, pondering his future plans.


    Now that he had ample funds, the development plan for Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant definitely had to change from the original plan.


    While he was thinking, his phone chimed.


    He checked and saw that Xia Qing had messaged him: "What are you doing, asleep yet?"


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and replied, "Not yet, why are you still awake at this hour?"


    Xia Qing: "Can''t sleep, are you still working part-time at the roasted duck restaurant?"


    "Okay, Hao," Kang Youyi replied.


    Qin Hao: "Also, remember that in front of the staff, no one can call me ''Hao'', including you. The new people who don''t know the reason might think something''s up.


    "I''ve got it all, Mr. Qin," Kang Youyi corrected himself.


    Qin Hao: "Get to work."


    The fatty spoke up: "By the way, Hao, that Wang Dajun has been arrested. He''s been charged with many crimes and is unlikely to get out."


    "Who? Wang Dajun who?"


    ...


    Kang Youyi explained: "The boss of those people we encountered that day, Wang Dajun."


    Only then did Qin Hao remember. If the fatty had not mentioned it, he would have forgotten about this incident: "Oh right, Li Bao didn''t screw up, did he?"


    Kang Youyi chuckled: "He actually fanned the flames and helped the police find some evidence."


    "Not too dumb, this guy."


    Just as Qin Hao finished speaking, a woman in a long dress entered.


    She looked at Qin Hao and Kang Youyi and asked: "Excuse me, are you hiring here?"


    Seeing a beautiful woman arrive, the fatty''s face lit up with a smile: "That''s right, I''m the deputy general manager of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd., Kang Youyi."


    Tian Yamei looked around the roasted duck restaurant and then back to Kang Youyi.


    If she hadn''t inquired about Jiangshan Roasted Duck, she really wouldn''t have dared to enter such a remote little shop.


    Tian Yamei said with a smile: "Hello, Mr. Kang, I''m here for the legal affairs interview."


    Qin Hao''s tone was flat: "Hello, let''s talk upstairs."


    Tian Yamei looked at him, then at Kang Youyi, a puzzled expression on her face.


    Kang Youyi quickly explained: "This is our company''s boss, you can just call him Mr. Qin."


    Mr. Qin? He''s the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck? So young?


    She said a bit embarrassedly: "So you''re Mr. Qin, please lead the way."


    The three went upstairs and then entered the second-floor office.


    Qin Hao took the main seat, Kang Youyi sat next to him, and Tian Yamei faced them both across the table.


    No sooner had she sat down, Tian Yamei took her resume out of her bag: "Hello, Mr. Qin, Mr. Kang, my name is Tian Yamei, and this is my resume."


    Having said that, she handed her resume to Qin Hao with both hands.


    Qin Hao glanced at it briefly, then placed it on the table: "You used to be a manager in the legal department at Qian Du Network Company?"


    Qian Du Network Company is one of Xuan Country''s top three giants. Although they are not as prominent now as Aba Net Shopping or Tenglong, they are still well-regarded.


    Tian Yamei nodded slightly and looked directly at Qin Hao: "That''s right, Mr. Qin. After graduating from college, I joined the legal department at Qian Du Network Company and worked there for over three years. I resigned just a while ago."

 Chapter 89 Deep Schemes

    Qin Hao curiously asked, "May I ask the reason for your resignation?"


    Tian Yamei replied somewhat embarrassedly, "Mainly because my parents want me to come back and quickly find a boyfriend to marry."


    She appeared to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, dressed very beautifully and with above-average looks, definitely qualifying as a beauty.


    Such a beauty should have many suitors, right? She has no partner?


    Qin Hao didn''t ask further, after all, it was her privacy. As for whether she had work capabilities, that would naturally become known after she started working.


    Now, the roasted duck restaurant was desperately short-staffed, especially in certain specialized talents.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and said, "What are your requirements for our company?"


    Tian Yamei, "I would like to specifically ask about the salary and benefits."


    Qin Hao, "Nine to six, your salary will initially be 4,000, weekends are for ''Dual Cultivation,'' and the workload might be heavier at first, a bit tiring, until we recruit enough staff. Do you think that''s okay?"


    Tian Yamei nodded slightly, "Okay, when can I start work?"


    Qin Hao, "You can come tomorrow, first get to know our company, and tomorrow Mr. Kang will tell you in detail about the future development plans of the company.


    If you see anything lacking in the company, feel free to make some suggestions, and about the staffing issue in the legal department, you can also tell Mr. Kang.


    Your primary task is to sign the employment contracts of the current staff, and you''ll take charge of this area once the new staff arrive."


    "Hmm, I can." Tian Yamei used to do this, so handling these matters was second nature to her.


    Qin Hao stood up and smiled shaking her hand, "On behalf of all the employees, I welcome Miss Tian to our team."


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin, Mr. Kang."


    Tian Yamei offered a few polite words and then left.


    Kang Youyi began to speak, "Hao, we now need a larger head office."


    Qin Hao, "Yes, I''ll check out some places in the next few days, then finalize the locations for the stores, you go ahead and start recruiting."


    ...


    Many people had come for interviews today, mainly because the recruiter had posted many job openings on a local recruitment website.


    The majority of the applicants were for general positions; in the afternoon, however, two women interviewed for the HR department.


    Generally, as long as there weren''t any significant issues, Qin Hao would pass the interview, as the roasted duck shop was precisely in need of people.


    General staff were easy to recruit, almost filling the quota in just one day, but it wasn''t so easy to recruit specialized talents.


    Firstly, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company wasn''t very well known, and secondly, those with skills generally preferred to develop their careers in larger cities.


    Very few chose to develop their careers at home.


    This was the first time she encountered someone like this, and she felt quite annoyed, "Hey, uncle, what are you busy with?"


    "Anything?"


    Besides the first few sentences being a bit long, the rest were almost just one or two words.


    Little witch: "Can''t I talk to you if there''s nothing particular?"


    Qin Hao glanced and continued looking at his computer, reviewing a high-definition map of Changle District in Jiangshan City.


    He was preparing to choose a store location, looking to see which area was more suitable for Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant.


    After waiting a long while, the little witch still hadn''t received a reply, and her frustration was boiling up, "What do you mean, huh? Ignoring me when I''m speaking to you?"


    Out of helplessness, Qin Hao replied: "Sister, I''m really busy. If you have something just say it, if not, you better go to sleep."


    Seeing his response wasn''t just one or two words, the little witch huffed, "I want to become your apprentice."


    "What? Become my apprentice?" Qin Hao was a bit taken aback.


    Little witch: "You''re really good at the game, aren''t you? I want you to teach me."


    Qin Hao: "Not taking any."


    He wouldn''t really teach any apprentice, it was all because of the system. Without the system, he was just a noob.


    Little witch: "I''m quite a beauty, and I''m wealthy too."


    Qin Hao still replied with the same two words: "Not taking."


    "Ding"


    Qin Hao opened his phone and saw that the little witch sent him a photo, featuring a girl around the age of 18 or 19.


    She had a sweet, doll-like face but a mature figure, curvy and very appealing.


    Her charms were in no way inferior to Du Wanrou or Xia Qing, perhaps even more captivating.


    The little witch sent him another message: "What do you think, master? Is your apprentice appealing? Pretty? Stunning?"


    Qin Hao: "It''s fine, I guess."


    "Ding"


    Qin Hao looked, and the little witch had sent him a red envelope. He curiously opened it: "8888"


    Damn, this girl is so rich? Looks like a real catch.


    Before he could respond, the little witch sent another message: "If you don''t take me as your apprentice, I''m going to the police to report you for fraud. Fraud over two thousand can be officially investigated by the authorities."


    Seeing her message, Qin Hao''s forehead creased, and he finally muttered, "Damn, that''s a deep plot."

 Chapter 90 Accepting an Apprentice

    On the other side, the little witch had a triumphant smile on her face, "You think you can outsmart me?"


    The title of Little Witch wasn''t just for show.


    Qin Hao, "Big sister, it''s not that I refuse to take you in, but I really can''t teach you."


    The little witch felt he was brushing her off, "How can you not teach me? How come you play so well?"


    Qin Hao, "I played PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds for the first time yesterday, I hadn''t played any games before, and there''s some common knowledge that you know more about than I do. Did you know that?"


    The little witch, "What are you trying to say?"


    Qin Hao, "What I''m trying to say is, talent for gaming is really important."


    The little witch, "Are you saying I don''t have talent? Do you believe I''ll call the police right now?"


    ...


    A single sentence left Qin Hao speechless, and he sent over another 8,888 yuan to prevent her from using the matter as leverage against him.


    The little witch saw the red packet he sent, but she didn''t accept it, "Haha, if it''s not accepted within 24 hours, it''ll still be returned."


    Qin Hao discovered he had absolutely no way to deal with her, "Big sister, what exactly do you want?"


    "Take me as your disciple."


    Qin Hao, "But I really can''t teach you."


    The little witch, "It''s okay if you can''t teach me, just come out and help me dominate if someone bullies your disciple.


    Also, you must include your disciple whenever you play games."


    This condition wasn''t too much.


    Qin Hao, "Alright, I agree. Now go ahead and accept that red packet."


    Seeing his response, the little witch giggled, "I was just teasing you. How could I call the cops on my master?"


    Qin Hao, "I can be your master and agree to those conditions, but the sum is a bit too large, I can''t take it."


    The little witch, "Consider it as my way of showing respect for my master. It''s just eight thousand yuan, I spent over a million today while shopping."


    Qin Hao, exasperated, "You can boast, but you can''t out-boast your master."


    "I''m not boasting, it''s true," the little witch said with a hurt look on her face.


    Qin Hao anyway didn''t believe her; no matter how rich your family is, could it really withstand you blowing through money like that?


    Spending over a million in one day of shopping, even if it''s burning money, should take at least half a day, right?


    Li Moying, laughing, said, "Brother, you''re just a duck that won''t admit it''s cooked. When my master has the time, I''ll let him thoroughly thrash you so you see what being a real sniper god is like." Explore stories on empire


    "Your master? When did you get a master?" Li Jianjun asked, looking at her in amazement.


    Li Moying, "Exactly, that person is my master. Just today he took me as his disciple. If it hadn''t been for his constant pleading, I wouldn''t have agreed to be his disciple."


    ...


    Li Jianjun, "Little sister, don''t get fooled. There are too many scumbags in society these days."


    Li Moying, with a sly look, watched him, "Do you think I can be fooled?"


    Seeing the smile on his sister''s face, Li Jianjun shivered involuntarily.


    He had experienced firsthand how formidable his sister was and changed his tone, "You''re right, I overthought it. It''s only you who fools others, who has the ability to fool you?"


    He had said those words just now because he was concerned for his sister.


    Now, thinking back on what his sister had done, he really felt that no one could fool her.


    He quietly asked, "Does your master have any interest in going pro? I think he''s quite good and want to recruit him."


    Li Moying''s lips curled up, revealing a cunning smile, "Don''t even think about it. I plan on starting my own team to play around, and then I''ll thrash you guys."


    Li Jianjun disdainfully said, "Cut it out, do you know how strong your brother''s team is? Top three in the country''s server, a top-tier powerful team. Beat my team? Maybe in your next life."


    "Hmm, just you wait," Li Moying snorted in disdain at his words.


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao freshened up and changed into a casual sportswear outfit.


    He made a phone call to Kang Youyi, "I have some matters and won''t be able to make it to the shop today, let someone go check out the office space we''re renting."


    "Hmm, okay, Mr. Qin."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao called Xia Qing, "Are you ready? I''m coming over to pick you up."


    Xia Qing responded with a pleasant voice, "Hmm, okay, I''m waiting at home."


    From the words and tone she used, it was clear she was very happy.


    Qin Hao went downstairs and then arrived at Xia Qing''s doorstep, knocking on the door.


    The door was quickly opened from the inside. Xia Qing stood in the doorway, dressed in a light purple dress, with light makeup on her face.


    Qin Hao was stunningly amazed when he saw her and stood frozen at the doorway for a few seconds.


    Seeing his reaction, Xia Qing felt a bit of secret joy, her lips slightly pursed, revealing two shallow dimples, looking even more enchanting.

 Chapter 91 Out for Fun

    After coming to his senses, Qin Hao said somewhat embarrassingly, "You look really beautiful today."


    Hearing his words, Xia Qing deliberately pouted and said, "Are you saying I''m not usually beautiful?"


    Qin Hao explained, "I didn''t mean that at all."


    "Just kidding, let''s go." Xia Qing walked out of the house and locked the door.


    As the two descended the stairs, walking together, Qin Hao caught a faint scent of fragrance.


    It must be her body scent, right?


    The two left the residential area and headed to the nearby bus stop, then took the bus towards Shanhai District.


    The bus was not very crowded, and they sat together.


    Sitting next to Qin Hao, Xia Qing felt her heart beating rapidly.


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    She asked, "Is working at the roast duck restaurant tiring?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "It''s alright, not too tiring. We''re expanding now, hired a lot of people."


    Xia Qing: "Oh, how long do you plan to work there?"


    Qin Hao: "Until school starts, I guess. It''s better than just idling around."


    Xia Qing: "Did you apply to the Jianghai University Computer College? I applied to the Jianghai University Foreign Language College. I heard that our two colleges are on the same campus."


    The two chatted while riding the bus, and after about half an hour, they arrived at the final stop in Shanhai District.


    They switched to another bus and arrived at Joy Valley around nine thirty.


    The entrance to Joy Valley was crowded with people as it had recently opened, so there were many visitors.


    Seeing the crowd, Xia Qing expressed her surprise: "Wow, so many people."


    Qin Hao: "It''s summer vacation, so it''s bound to be crowded. Let''s go in and take a look."


    Xia Qing nodded slightly and followed Qin Hao into the newly opened Joy Valley.


    This was the only large amusement park in Jiangshan City. There had been others before, but they were small in scale with few attractions.


    Most people inside Joy Valley were kids and young people, with some parents accompanying their children.


    As they walked, they noticed that the place had not only amusement rides but also snack and food stalls.


    Curiously, Xia Qing asked, "Qin Hao, what''s going on over there? Why are so many people gathered?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Let''s go over and take a look."


    Contempt flashed in the eyes of the person next to them. He had thought Qin Hao was something special, but it turned out he was no different, and with that thought, he continued tossing his rings.


    Qin Hao threw another plastic ring from his hand, and it flew out, perfectly encircling the small cage.


    "I got it, I really got it," Xia Qing said, somewhat excitedly.


    She quickly said to the stall owner in the area, "Boss, we''ve won."


    The stall owner picked up the small cage and handed it to Xia Qing, and then placed another cage on the stand.


    Qin Hao asked the boss, "If I win the crystal cup containing five hundred yuan, you''ll really give out the money, right?"


    "Don''t worry, young man, a spit and a handshake seal the deal. If you win it, you take it."


    With so many witnesses, the stall owner couldn''t possibly refuse to pay up.


    Moreover, he had set this prize out for a very long time to attract a large number of customers, and still, nobody had won it.


    The main reason was the distance and the small size of the plastic ring''s opening; the difficulty level was exceptionally high.


    The people around heard Qin Hao''s bold claim and turned their heads to look at him.


    Qin Hao glanced at the glass cup and then tossed the plastic ring from his hand.


    The plastic ring traced a graceful arc through the air and then, with a "bang," nestled inside the crystal cup.


    "I won, I really won, haha, Qin Hao you''re so amazing," Xia Qing seemed more excited than Qin Hao, dancing with happiness.


    The surrounding crowd and the stall owner were stunned. Holy crap, did he actually win?


    The young man next to them couldn''t believe it either, sizing Qin Hao up and down. This guy can''t be this lucky, can he?


    "Boss, give us the money," Xia Qing urged hastily.


    The boss still wore a smile, though it seemed a bit forced, and he handed Qin Hao five hundred yuan, "You''re impressive, young man. You''re the first to win the big prize."


    "I won this one, so I can go for the grand prize too, right?" Qin Hao asked with a smile.


    The boss''s face flickered slightly, "Of course, but I only allow three tries at the grand prize per day."


    He didn''t believe Qin Hao could win again; even those who specialized in this game might not manage to win at such a distance. To the boss, it was all luck.


    Qin Hao threw another ring, and just like before, it landed perfectly on the crystal cup.


    Throwing rings was all about controlling one''s strength and logical calculation abilities, and with his attributes far above the average person, it posed no difficulty.


    "Holy cow, he won again? This guy is too good," the crowd exclaimed in amazement.


    "This is a master, two shots, two wins, a thousand bucks easy money."


    "Incredible, he could make a fortune just with this."


    "Haha, the boss is about to cry, he''s going to lose big time."

 Chapter 92 Decision

    Xia Qing was also stunned, and then exclaimed with delight, "Another win, haha, Qin Hao you''re amazing."


    As she spoke, her eyes were full of admiration.


    Qin Hao smiled and said to the vendor, "Vendor, hand over the money."


    The vendor walked over and said, "A deal''s a deal, take it Qian brothers, ring toss success, two yuan a ring, if you can land the big prize, we''ll definitely pay out."


    "Vendor, give me fifty yuan''s worth," someone said from not too far away.


    "Same for me, fifty yuan''s worth."


    Because Qin Hao had won a big prize, he had sparked the interest of many people around, and their competitive nature became apparent.


    The vendor breathed a sigh of relief, as in a short while he had sold several hundred yuan''s worth of rings.


    Qin Hao turned to Xia Qing and asked, "Is there anything else you like?"


    Xia Qing shook her head, "No more, how about you try for another big prize?"


    Upon hearing this, the vendor staggered and almost fell, he glanced at Qin Hao then turned back to selling plastic rings.


    Qin Hao laughed and said, "Those big prizes aren''t so easy to win."


    After he finished speaking, he threw another plastic ring, aiming again for the big prize.


    This time the plastic ring hit the rim of the crystal glass and didn''t land the prize, but it was very close.


    "Ah, so close to winning," Xia Qing said with slight regret.


    Qin Hao glanced at the vendor, then said to Xia Qing with a smile, "Let''s go, let''s check out over there."


    Xia Qing nodded, "Mm-hmm, alright."


    Seeing Qin Hao walk away, the vendor breathed a sigh of relief, thankful for his quick thinking; otherwise, he might have lost five hundred yuan.


    He could tell that Qin Hao really had the skill to win and it wasn''t just luck. Encountering such a tough customer, he''d have to discreetly give them some money to send them on their way.


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    If the customer appreciated the gesture, they might leave; if not, they could keep winning until it hurt his business.


    After leaving that stall, Qin Hao took out his money and counted it, totaling twelve hundred yuan.


    The vendor had given him two hundred more than expected, and although Qin Hao hadn''t played this game before, he roughly understood what it meant.


    This kind of business just makes a small few thousand yuan a day, all needed to support a family, so he hadn''t played too harshly.


    Xia Qing asked curiously, "Why is there an extra two hundred yuan?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "The vendor gave extra, hinting that I shouldn''t win again next time."


    Xia Qing had an epiphany, "So you deliberately didn''t win the third time?"


    Qin Hao: "Let me hold it for you."


    The two wandered around some more, but Qin Hao did not play any more games, and Xia Qing didn''t find anything else she liked.


    "There''s a place to store stuff up ahead; let''s go keep our things there," Qin Hao noticed a small shop that offered storage.


    Xia Qing nodded, "Mm, sounds good."


    After storing the plush toys and the little cage, they finally entered Joy Valley.


    The game stalls they had played at were located in a square inside the front gate; it was only after entering the inner gate that they reached the real Joy Valley.


    The pair continued playing in Joy Valley until noon, riding the carousel, the rapids, the Ferris wheel, the pirate ship, and more.


    Xia Qing had a blast, and so did Qin Hao. He had never had such a great time before, and it was even more special with a beautiful woman by his side.


    They had lunch nearby at noon, then went back in to play for a long time.


    Joy Valley was vast, with many attractions¡ªthey had barely scratched the surface in the morning.


    At four in the afternoon, they took a bus and left Joy Valley.


    Xia Qing carried the small cage, while Qin Hao helped her with the plush toy.


    Just after five, they arrived back at the entrance of Cuijing District.


    Xia Qing took the teddy bear and said, "Thank you, Qin Hao, I had a really great day today."


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, "I had a great time too. Go home and rest well after such a long day."


    "Mm-hmm, you should also rest up. I''ll be heading home," Xia Qing said, then turned to walk towards her house.


    Watching her beautiful silhouette and graceful figure disappear, Qin Hao''s gaze became complex and he sighed.


    Once home, Qin Hao sat on the sofa, lost in thought, looking at his hands.


    During the roller coaster ride in the afternoon, Xia Qing, scared and nervous, had grabbed his hand. At that moment, Qin Hao felt a jolt like an electric shock, his heart pounding.


    Her hand was slender and soft, the touch was very pleasant, and now the memory was making his heart race.


    He didn''t know why he felt this way¡ªcould it be that deep down, he actually liked Xia Qing?


    But what about Du Wanrou?


    Thinking about all this gave him a headache. Just then, his phone rang; it was a message from Du Wanrou, "Qin Hao, I have good news. Those bad guys have been caught."


    Qin Hao: "Mm, mm, I heard."


    Du Wanrou: "Did you know? There''s a Joy Valley that opened in Jianghai District. My mom took me there yesterday, it was so much fun."


    Luckily, Du Wanrou hadn''t gone today; if they had bumped into each other, he didn''t know what he would have done.


    At the same time, he made a decision in his heart¡ªto resolve the issues with Du Wanrou and Xia Qing as soon as possible.


    Otherwise, if this dragged on, it would end up hurting everyone.

 Chapter 93 The Team is Formed

    Du Wanrou continued to ask, "Qin Hao, are your injuries healed? Not bothering you anymore?"


    Laughing, Qin Hao replied, "They''ve been healed for a while now, there''s no issue."


    Recalling the events of that day, Du Wanrou still felt a lingering fear. If it hadn''t been for Qin Hao, she couldn''t imagine what would have become of her.


    Although her parents always said that Qin Hao was no good, she thought he wasn''t a bad person; in fact, she''d been dreaming about him almost every night for the past few days.


    Now that a few days had passed without chatting with Qin Hao, she felt a kind of emptiness inside, as if something was missing.


    Du Wanrou: "Qin Hao, I''m so bored at home by myself, can you tell me a joke?"


    After she said this, she quickly added, "Don''t send those embarrassing jokes, I want to hear a normal one."


    Qin Hao hurriedly scrolled up to look for one, and after a while, he finally found a joke that wasn''t risque?.


    He sent Du Wanrou the joke: "My little brother just came out of the operating room, pale faced and barely breathing.


    I asked him: ''Do you need anything?''


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    Little brother: ''Take some photos for me.''


    I: ''You''re like this, and you still want photos?''


    Little brother: ''Go on, take them, I''ll use them later for sick leave.''


    I: ''...''"


    After reading it, Du Wanrou sent him two laughing emojis.


    Qin Hao also smiled, thinking: Is her sense of humor this low? He had read the joke once and thought it was just average.


    That was the only joke he could find, so that''s what he had sent to Du Wanrou.


    The two of them continued chatting until past six-thirty in the evening.


    Since Du Wanrou''s mother had come home, she didn''t continue chatting with Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao''s parents had also returned home and asked in surprise why he had come back so early today.


    "I finished up early and decided to come back home," Qin Hao made up an excuse.


    After dinner, Qin Hao went back to his room and at seven-thirty, the little devil sent him a message: "Master, quickly log on, it''s time to play the game."


    Qin Hao looked at the reputation points of the side quest and saw that it was almost at four hundred thousand.


    This surprised him. He clearly remembered it being just over two hundred and ten thousand last time. How could it have increased so much in two days?


    "Hey, Master, are you there?" the little devil sent another message seeing that he hadn''t replied.


    Qin Hao: "Yeah, yeah, wait a sec."


    Little Witch became Shadow Witch, and the other two teammates were called Shadow Xiaoya and Shadow Xiaoqi respectively.


    From their voices, Qin Hao could tell both of them were cute girls, and also streamers.


    Seeing that everyone had changed their names, Little Witch said with a smile, "Let''s practice well tonight, and I''ll go sign up tomorrow.


    We''ll join the PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds tournament on the chat software''s livestream platform, and we''ll grab first place to show them."


    "Plunk, plunk"


    Inside the livestream room, there was a chorus of worship: "Practice for one day and compete? And take first place? You''re really understating this competition, aren''t you?"


    "I heard that this PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds tournament was organized by the chat software official, and they invited the top team LG to participate."


    "That''s right, I heard too, they were given a million just to show up, and the champion team of this tournament will also get a million in cash."


    Qin Hao didn''t say anything. On the contrary, he quite agreed with Little Witch signing up because it would increase his exposure.


    With increased exposure came reputation, and with a high reputation, tasks would be easier to complete.


    "Everyone, get ready; I''m starting the game now," Little Witch announced.


    Once Qin Hao and the other two were ready, he clicked to start matchmaking, and a few seconds later, they entered Suzhi Square.


    Little Witch: "Master, we''re all using our main accounts, so the teams we match with are all very strong."


    Qin Hao didn''t respond to her. Instead, he opened the public channel: "The nation''s number one Gun God here, all you trash, tremble before me."


    Little Witch was used to this by now, so she didn''t react much, but Xiaoya and Xiaoqi were filled with dismay.


    If they didn''t know about Qin Hao''s skills, they would definitely leave this team.


    Dammit, it''s so embarrassing.


    The livestream room was filled with laughter:


    "Haha, wow, 6666."


    "God, please accept my knees."


    "Gun God, can''t you stop being so funny? You''ll scare those people."


    "Really sassy, I like it."


    Players in Suzhi Square, hearing his boast, started swearing, "What the hell, where did this idiot come from?"


    "Daring to claim the title of nation''s number one Gun God, I''ll teach you how to behave in a bit."


    "Dare to drop at the airport, I''ll show you what''s strong."


    "World''s number one team, Shadow Team has been established today, you trash, tremble before us."


    When Qin Hao heard Little Witch''s shout, he almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

 Chapter 94 God Teaches Me

    Members from Shadow Team, Shadow Xiaoqi, and Xiao Ya almost had a stroke, "What kind of team did we join?"


    People in the live stream also fainted one by one, "Haha, the host is 6666."


    "I give your act of being cool a 9 out of 10, the one point off is to keep you from being arrogant."


    "Like master, like disciple indeed."


    "God of Guns, please give us back our innocent little witch."


    ...


    People on Suzhi Square were speechless, "How did we run into so many idiots while playing a game today?"


    "The guy earlier claimed to be the number one Gun Demon of the national service, and now here''s the number one team of the national service, I just want to say MMP to you guys."


    "Judging by the voice, she''s a cute girl, does your team still need people? Not only am I handsome, but my shooting skills are also great."


    Amidst the noise, the game started.


    The flight path began near the airport and the last stop was S City, a vertical trajectory.


    Shadow Xiaoya asked, "Where shall we drop?"


    The little witch thought for a moment and asked Qin Hao, "Master, where do you say we should drop?"


    Qin Hao thought about it and said, "Let''s go to the airport. It''s crowded there which could hone our shooting and teamwork faster."


    "Yeah, okay, let''s drop at the C building in the airport. There are plenty of resources there."


    After about ten seconds, the four of them jumped out of the plane simultaneously and headed straight for the C building of the airport.


    The number of people dropping at the airport was neither few nor many. Including their squad, there were about five teams.


    They were now matched with mid to high-level players, not low-tier players anymore, so each team had their own strategy.


    More than just Qin Hao''s squad aimed for the C building¡ªanother team did as well.


    Initially, there was another team heading over, but upon seeing two teams already there, they decisively changed direction.


    The little witch cautioned, "Be careful, there''s another team. Let''s stick together and head for Building 1."


    Qin Hao spoke, "I''ll go to Building 3; it looks like that team is heading for Building 2."


    Soon they landed on the C building, with the little witch and the other two landing on the rooftop of Building 1.


    The other team had two people drop on Building 2, and two dropped below Building 1.


    After landing on the rooftop, Qin Hao scanned the area and made a beeline for a nearby SCAR-L assault rifle.


    Once he picked up the gun, he aimed at the people on Building 2.


    "Bang bang bang"


    Four shots, all headshots, instantly downing one person.


    "Shadow Gun Demon uses SCAR-L headshot to down Little Mahua."


    At the same time, the little witch and Xiao Ya also found guns, and together they downed another person.


    Little Witch and Xiao Qi pincered the people inside the factory and killed them.


    Since Xiao Qi was the first to engage, her health was now less than half.


    Xiao Ya then said, "I have some meds in my bag, if you need them, go pick them up."


    Hearing her words, Shadow Xiaoqi ran outside, planning to take Xiao Ya''s meds and the 98K.


    She had just reached there and was about to pick up the items.


    With a "bang" of a gunshot, she was headshot and knocked down by a 98K.


    Little Witch didn''t go for the rescue because she couldn''t do it from the outside; she''d also expose herself to the enemy''s gunfire.


    Xiao Qi let out a scream: "The person is on the overpass."


    Then, she was finished off by her attacker.


    From another direction, Qin Hao used the four-time scope on his AKM to aim at the overpass, where a person was half-squatting and aiming at the factory entrance.


    "Bang bang bang"


    A burst of three shots directly knocked down the person on the overpass; the SIG in his hands, notoriously difficult to control, was very stable.


    Then, with two more shots, he finished off the person.


    "Shadow Gun Demon headshot and killed the Sniper God of the village with an AKM."


    He looked around once more, saw no one else, and ran into a nearby room to start searching.


    Qin Hao''s gaming skills were now level three, and his technique was enough to crush some well-known gods.


    After Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi died, they chose to spectate Luo Hao, wanting to see just how impressive Qin Hao''s skills really were.


    They saw him take down the person on the overpass, and so did the fans in their live stream.


    "Wow, that AKM is super steady."


    "So stable, that''s someone who knows how to handle an AKM."


    "Amazing, headshot with every shot."


    "Is this the Gun Demon god who made forty-plus sniper kills online? I had no idea he was also this brilliant with the AKM."


    Afterwards, Qin Hao engaged in killing people he came across, whether it was direct confrontation, ambushing from the grass, or sneak attacks, all ended with his headshots.


    It was truly astonishing, almost unbelievable.


    Damn, are we even playing the same game?


    Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi were indeed stunned by his marksmanship; Qin Hao had killed more than a dozen people, each with a headshot.


    His headshot rate reached a terrifying one hundred percent.


    With a bit of a coquettish tone, Xiao Ya said, "Gun Demon brother, your shooting is so impressive, can you teach me?"


    Xiao Qi also hurriedly said, "Gun Demon brother, teach me too, I''m really bad at this."


    Both were game streamers, so they were experts at acting cute and coquettish.

 Chapter 95 Im Going for a Midnight Snack

    Qin Hao was basking in self-satisfaction and about to respond.


    "No way, only my master can teach me; nobody else is allowed to," the Little Witch said abruptly and assertively.


    Qin Hao: "Ahem, there''s not much to teach anyway. Just watch more and practice."


    As he spoke, he noticed someone in the distance running towards the outside of the airport, about two hundred meters away.


    He switched to the AKM rifle and after aiming through the scope, he tapped the trigger three times, and the person collapsed to the ground.


    "Shadow Gun Demon used the AKM to headshot Lightweight Grass Flying."


    Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi''s livestream audience were astounded.


    "Damn, 666666."


    "To land a headshot from such a distance, too leet."


    "This AKM is simply divine, even better than the 98K."


    "Wow, Brother Gun Demon, you''re so awesome, headshotting from so far away," Xiao Ya said in her sweet voice.


    Qin Hao chuckled proudly, "That was nothing. Once you understand the AKM''s ballistic trajectory and control the muzzle shake, you can play incredibly well with it."


    Xiao Qi: "Brother Gun Demon, go for it, I want to see you win this round."


    The Little Witch felt a bit uncomfortable hearing their chatter. ''He''s my master, and no one else is allowed to flirt with him.''


    She decided she''d have to warn them both after the game was over.


    The airport was quickly cleared out by Qin Hao, and the safe zone continued to be at the airport.


    It seemed that the final circle would also be at the airport.


    Qin Hao''s guns were now fully equipped, and his bag was full of medicine, a level-three helmet, and level-three armor.


    Qin Hao asked, "Have you finished looting, apprentice?"


    Little Witch: "I''m done, what''s up, master?"


    Qin Hao: "Let''s find a car and head to the bridge. The final circle is likely to be here, and there will definitely be a lot of people coming over the bridge."


    The Little Witch paused for a moment, "Just the two of us?"


    "What''s wrong with the two of us? I found a car, and I''m coming to pick you up." After saying that, he drove straight to the Little Witch''s location.


    The two drove to the bridge closest to N Port.


    There were a few houses and a bunker at the head of the bridge.


    The Little Witch entered the bunker, while Qin Hao took cover behind the bridgehead, waiting for prey to come.


    A minute later, they heard the sound of a car. Two jeeps were coming from the other side of the bridge, carrying a four-man squad.


    Qin Hao swapped out the eight times scope on his AKM for a four times scope.


    The ammo count had reached a terrifying five hundred plus.


    ...


    Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi''s live stream was flooded with a barrage of ''66666''.


    Qin Hao''s swift reaction and precise shooting had been nothing short of astonishing.


    "Is this dude even human? Too awesome, right?"


    "Holy shit, it''s like watching a cheater; take my knee, big bro."


    "I have a feeling the Gun Demon''s about to get reported."


    ...


    Over ten minutes later, the bridge was lined with car after car, and the surface was littered with boxes¡ªmore than thirty, a truly spectacular sight.


    Not only that, but in the water below the bridge lay another six or seven boxes and some wrecked speedboats.


    The whole bridge surface was blocked by jeeps, sedans, and buggies.


    Forget driving across; even walking over was difficult.


    By now the safezone had shrunk a lot, with the bridge and N Port being right in the safe area.


    There were nineteen people still left in the game.


    Qin Hao said to the little witch, "Keep an eye on our back, more teams will definitely be crossing the other bridge."


    No response.


    He continued, "Hello? Hello? Anyone there?"


    The little witch''s livestream was filled with raucous laughter.


    "Gun Demon, didn''t you notice the little witch''s gunfire stopped six or seven minutes ago?"


    "God, the little witch has been AFK for about seven or eight minutes."


    Qin Hao: "Xiao Ya, Xiao Qi, where''s my apprentice?"


    "We don''t know either," Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi seemed clueless. The final circle was about to form, where could she have gone?


    Soon the little witch returned, still munching on something, "Master, Master, did you call me?"


    Qin Hao: "Where did you go?"


    The little witch: "I didn''t really go anywhere. My mom made some supper, so I went to eat for a bit."


    "Pfft"


    Qin Hao almost spat out a mouthful of blood, "I''m fighting on the front line, and you go eating supper?"


    The little witch: "I''m not much help here, couldn''t even snag a kill, so I went for supper. Besides, isn''t it the master''s job to protect his apprentice? Right, master? Hehe."

 Chapter 96 He is a Cheater

    "I never thought the game could be played like this, I want to AFK and get a chicken dinner too."


    "I wish I had a master as awesome as this."


    "Shadow Gun Demon, are you still taking disciples?"


    "Streamer, just kill yourself already, we can''t see Shadow Gun Demon''s moves when we''re watching you."


    "Exactly, streamer, just kill yourself."


    "Streamer, kill yourself +1."


    "Streamer, kill yourself +2."


    ...


    Instantly, everyone in the Little Witch''s livestream was typing: Streamer, just kill yourself.


    Little Witch: "Right, let me show you my master''s skills."


    Then all Qin Hao heard was a "boom."


    "Your teammate was killed by a grenade."


    Qin Hao jumped: "What happened? Did someone sneak up on us?"


    Little Witch explained, "No, I blew myself up."


    "Why?" Qin Hao was puzzled as to why she had killed herself.


    Little Witch: "The fans in the livestream wanted to see your shooting, I had to die so they could watch you, then the fans can see you."


    Qin Hao: "..."


    "Damn, she really did kill herself, what a conscientious streamer."


    "The streamer is literally a role model for the industry."


    "66666, even Emperor Qin Shi Huang bows down to no one but you, streamer."


    Shadow Xiaoya and Xiao Qi''s streams had now reached a whopping 150,000 viewers.


    This surge in viewers happened after they died and switched to watching Qin Hao.


    All these people were captivated by Qin Hao''s formidable shooting skills.


    Such sharp shooting skills, they had never seen even in God''s livestreams.


    Now, Little Witch''s stream had nearly hit 300,000 viewers, almost 100,000 more than the day before.


    Not long after Little Witch died, another team approached from across the bridge.


    It was team two members from the DF squad.


    "Master, there''s another delivery coming from across the bridge," Little Witch quickly said with a laugh upon seeing the newcomers.


    The viewers from all three streams were glued to the screen, eager to see how Qin Hao would take out the opposing team.


    They were not the least bit worried about his getting killed, as the numerous boxes on the bridge were the strongest evidence of his prowess.


    With more than thirty boxes, terrifyingly impressive, it was evident at a glance.


    Qin Hao had already noticed the team on the other side of the bridge, who had stopped at the bridge head.


    Seeing the vehicles and boxes strewn across the bridge, all members of DF team two were stunned.


    DF Dream didn''t even get the chance to crawl to the back of the vehicle before Qin Hao finished him off.


    DF Dream cursed loudly, "Damn it, the other side must be cheating, damn, so unlucky."


    The poison circle was already shrinking, and if those two didn''t rush over, they''d definitely be poisoned to death.


    Qin Hao was now behind a barricade at the bridgehead, surrounded by cars on two sides, and a tower on the other¡ªgood for attacking and defending.


    The remaining two members of Team DF had no choice but to run out; if they didn''t come out, they''d be poisoned, but if they did, they might still have a chance to survive.


    "Bang bang"


    "Bang bang"


    Two triple tap bursts, and those two didn''t get far before they were killed.


    "Shadow Gun Demon used an AKM to headshot and down DF Tearless."


    "Shadow Gun Demon used an AKM to headshot and kill DF Niao."


    DF Tearless: "MMP, report this guy on the other side, damn it, was just about to ''chicken dinner'', and then we run into a ''god''."


    At first, he was a bit skeptical, but he believed it after both he and Niao were killed.


    Both of them were sprinting and using evasive movement techniques.


    Even a top godly player in the national server couldn''t directly kill them like that.


    The excitement in the Little Sorceress''s live room was boiling over: "Damn, that''s awesome, this prediction, this shooting, how should I even describe it?"


    "Gun Demon, are you even human?"


    "Are we even playing the same game? Can anyone even play like this?"


    "What the national server''s first AK master Qingfeng, in front of Gun Demon, he''s nothing."


    "6666, changed sides to be a fan, forever in love with Gun Demon."


    "Too awesome, bro, I, Zhao Ritian, have never respected anyone in my life, I only respect you, Gun Demon."


    ...


    After finishing off those people, Qin Hao ran behind the tower because the poison circle was moving in, and that area was no longer safe.


    At this time, ten people were left.


    Just reaching behind the tower, Qin Hao saw a lone wolf running out from the water nearby.


    "Bang bang"


    His AKM rang out again, directly killing the person on the beach.


    The safe zone was getting smaller and the number of people was dwindling.


    The final circle was positioned on the beach, almost without any cover, where now only three people remained.


    Qin Hao and a duo team.


    The duo had average shooting skills and stood no chance against him.


    They barely managed to take off a quarter of his health before being headshot and killed.


    Winner winner, chicken dinner.


    Team rank: First. Eliminations: 53. Reward: 4998.

 Chapter 97 Immortal? God?

    "Master, how many people have you killed?" the little witch asked on behalf of the fans in the live stream.


    Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi also curiously listened in.


    Initially, they didn''t think Qin Hao was all that impressive since it was a low-level game.


    But after this game, they realized how formidable he was.


    Bodies lay everywhere he passed, truly living up to the name of a big demon.


    Discover more content at empire


    Qin Hao: "Not many, just 53."


    Upon hearing his words, the little witch and the others were all stunned. Fifty-three?


    Wow, this wasn''t a low-level game, this was definitely a mid-to-high-end game. Killing over fifty people was unbelievable.


    Even the top gods of the national server couldn''t possibly kill that many people in such a game.


    A top-level strong team might kill that many as a group, but one person killing so many? Unheard of in the national server.


    "53? Wow, Gun God is truly terrifying."


    "Out of a total of about a hundred people in a game, you actually killed over fifty, how did you do it, God?"


    "Sick, I bow down to you, Gun God."


    "Gun God, I want to have your babies."


    "Gun God, I just love your wild and domineering nature"


    "The current national server record for solo kills in a four-man team game is forty-six, Gun God just broke the record."


    ...


    "Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the side mission: Path of God (II), reward 5000 achievement points, Delicious Duck Neck Skill Book."


    "Periodic side mission: Path of God (III) unlocked, reach a reputation of five million (532000/5000000)"


    "Mission reward: 10000 achievement points, Delicious Duck Wings Skill Book."


    After the game ended, Qin Hao and the others started the second game.


    Not even two minutes into the game, the little witch, Xiao Ya, and Xiao Qi finally found a grenade.


    Then, with a loud "bang," the three of them were blown to death.


    Qin Hao, exasperated: "Ladies, what in the world are you doing?"


    "Brothers wanted to watch your live stream, so we had to die to spectate," the trio of little witch innocently said.


    "6666, such conscientious streamers, everyone start sending gifts."


    Qin Hao felt there was some truth to what she said, but people are different, as are their thoughts. It''s hard to say in such matters.


    After chatting for over half an hour, they both went to bed.


    On the official PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds forum, one post was particularly eye-catching.


    "Quad Game High-Skill Game, Solo 53 Kills, Professional Team Annihilated, A God Reborn? Or a Real God?"


    The post contained a video, and in just half an hour, it received tens of thousands of views and several thousand comments.


    Some comments read, "This guy must be cheating; I''m reporting him for a ban."


    "Damn, didn''t Green Hole Company say there were no cheats? Why can this guy still use them?"


    "This is the God of Guns; he didn''t use any cheats, it''s pure skill; I was watching the live stream."


    Below this comment, many replied: God of Guns? Lol, who crowned him a god? I''ve never heard of him.


    "It''s definitely a cheat, damn, he must be reported."


    "Everyone, let''s push this up so that Tenglong Company can see. They represent PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds, and they need to explain this to us players."


    "Exactly, they need to explain this to us."


    Below, someone noticed a comment from a member of Team DF: "For such disturbances that severely disrupt game balance, we hope Tenglong Company deals with it seriously and provides all players with a fair competitive platform."


    ...


    About the online uproar, he knew nothing at all, nor was he aware of the magnitude of the subsequent stir it caused.


    The next morning, after eating breakfast, he left home.


    His parents didn''t have to work today, as it was the weekend.


    When he arrived at the roasted duck restaurant around a bit past nine, many people were already there.


    As Qin Hao entered, many in the restaurant turned to look at him.


    Kang Youyi addressed the new employees, "This is our general manager, Mr. Qin.


    "Hello, Mr. Qin."


    Although Qin Hao was young, no one dared to underestimate him; they all greeted him respectfully as ''Hello, Mr. Qin.''


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: "Everyone, work hard, and I won''t let any employee under my supervision be unrewarded.


    The company will also establish a system for rewards and promotions as soon as possible."


    After saying a few words, he went to find Yu Jie in the finance office.


    "Have the loans come through?"


    Yu Jie shook her head: "Not yet, but it should happen in the next couple of days."

 Chapter 98 Awkward

    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Mmm, get ready, today I''ll take someone to look at the office spaces."


    "Okay, Mr. Qin," Yu Jie nodded slightly in response.


    Qin Hao stepped out of the finance room and called out Tian Yamei, Yuan Qing, and Liu Man.


    He asked, "Which office space did you three think was good when you went to see them yesterday?"


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    Tian Yamei spoke up, "We looked at a few, and Shenghua Office Building is not only conveniently located and reasonably priced, but it''s also close to the downtown area."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Mmm, okay, let''s go talk about it today."


    After leaving the roast duck restaurant, Qin Hao realized a big problem as he looked at the Jinbei van parked beside him.


    Should we really use this van for business negotiations? Isn''t that a bit too embarrassing?


    Tian Yamei seemed to sense his embarrassment and said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, you can take my car."


    After she spoke, she took out her car keys; parked not far away was a Honda Civic worth about a hundred thousand yuan or so.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless. An employee''s car is better than the boss''s. Wouldn''t people laugh their heads off if word got out?


    Seeing Yuan Qing and Liu Man trying to hold back their laughter, he said irritably, "If you want to laugh, just laugh. It''s uncomfortable to hold it in."


    "Pfft"


    Tian Yamei was the first who couldn''t help but laugh, "Mr. Qin, with your status, I think you should buy a car."


    Qin Hao was exasperated, "I know, just focus on the office spaces for now."


    Once in the car, Qin Hao sat in the passenger seat, with Yuan Qing and Liu Man in the back.


    Half an hour later, Tian Yamei drove them to the parking lot of the Shenghua Office Building.


    Getting out of the car, Qin Hao started to walk towards the building, but Tian Yamei quickly pulled him back, "Mr. Qin, it''s not good for you to go in like this."


    Qin Hao looked at her, puzzled, "What do you mean ''like this''? What''s the matter?"


    Tian Yamei reminded him, "In Jinchen City, those bosses always dress formally for business talks, wearing suits and leather shoes."


    She didn''t say the following words out loud, but if you don''t dress formally, the other party might look down on you, or feel you''re not respecting them.


    Of course, that''s when facing major clients. For negotiations like these, it''s not a big issue.


    But as a subordinate, she must remind her boss of some matters, so he wouldn''t stumble on such details in the future.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Mmm, you''re right, people who''ve been to big cities do have more experience."


    After parking the car, Tian Yamei and the others followed Qin Hao into Fubang Real Estate sales office.


    "Welcome," said the receptionist at the front desk with a smile.


    Qin Hao immediately asked, "How much is that larger retail space on the side?"


    The receptionist replied with a smile, "This area is bustling and has a high foot traffic, so it''s priced higher, at eleven thousand and one hundred yuan per square meter.


    The larger retail space is over one hundred and seventy square meters, so the price is roughly one million eight hundred ninety thousand.


    Moreover, our properties are renovated, so sir, you only need to do some simple redecorating, and you can start your business right away."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: "Take us to have a look, and if it''s suitable, I''ll buy it."


    "Certainly, sir, please wait a moment," the receptionist said as she hurried to get the keys.


    She then led Qin Hao and the others to inspect the retail space, which was quite large¡ªbig enough to operate a roast duck restaurant.


    Back at the sales office, the receptionist asked with a smile, "What do you think, sir?"


    "Hmm, it''s acceptable," Qin Hao nodded slightly.


    At that moment, two people came downstairs, a man and a woman.


    Liu Jianming said while descending, "Wang, arrange something for tomorrow; I want to entertain some friends."


    "Mm-hmm, okay, Mr. Liu."


    The young woman known as Wang was made up and dressed in a professional miniskirt with a decent figure, her face still flushed.


    It was unclear whether she was flushed from the heat or some other reason.


    As Liu Jianming reached the bottom of the stairs, several female sales associates on the first floor respectfully greeted, "Mr. Liu."


    Liu Jianming nodded slightly, and his gaze inadvertently fell on Qin Hao, causing him to freeze.


    "Isn''t that Hao?" After confirming it was Qin Hao, Liu Jianming hurried over, simultaneously casting a glance at Tian Yamei and the others.


    Both the receptionist and Tian Yamei''s group were taken aback.


    Qin Hao glanced at Liu Jianming and said with a faint smile, "Haven''t seen you in a few days, Mr. Liu, and you''ve gained weight again."


    Liu Jianming chuckled, "You''re joking, Hao. Even drinking water makes me put on weight, I really want to lose some."


    All the sales associates at Fubang Real Estate Company were stunned. When had Mr. Liu ever spoken so casually to someone?


    Who exactly was this person?


    The sales associate showing Qin Hao the property was also dumbfounded. You know our general manager, and you still come to us for...?

 Chapter 99 Buying a Car

    Liu Jianming curiously asked the saleswoman, "What is Hao doing here, buying a house?"


    The saleswoman hurriedly nodded, "This gentleman is interested in a retail space."


    Liu Jianming looked at Qin Hao and said, "Hao, that''s not very generous of you. Whichever one you fancy, I''ll give it to you as a gift."


    After he finished, he told the saleswoman, "Which one did Hao fancy? Just give it directly, and I''ll still compute your commission based on the market price."


    All the saleswomen on the entire first floor were stunned¡ªa retail space worth nearly two million given away just like that?


    Who is this person?


    So young, could he be some rich young master?


    Tian Yamei, Yuan Qing, and Liu Man all had expressions of disbelief, looking back and forth between their boss and Liu Jianming.


    This real estate boss sounded like he was currying favor with our boss?


    Liu Jianming is indeed the head of a real estate company; status-wise, Qin Hao couldn''t possibly compare with him. Could our boss have political backing?


    Qin Hao shook his head, "Mr. Liu, this is too valuable. I''ll just pay whatever the amount is."


    To tell the truth, he was somewhat tempted, but he was fully aware that a person like Liu Jianming would not give out something for free without expecting something in return.


    He would surely find some way to recoup it with even greater force later on.


    Liu Jianming still wanted to insist, but Qin Hao still shook his head.


    He stepped back, "Hao, why not just make it at cost price? Will that be acceptable this time?"


    Qin Hao slightly nodded; since he had conceded, Qin gave him some face.


    This could only be considered a small favor, easy to repay later, and equally, it would not embarrass him.


    "Alright, Hao, you''re busy, I have to leave now," Qin Hao said.


    "Mm, okay," Liu replied.


    Once Liu Jianming left, Qin Hao told the saleswoman, "Calculate how much it costs."


    In the end, Qin Hao spent one million and two hundred thousand to purchase the retail space.


    After leaving Fubang Real Estate Company, Qin Hao took out his phone and made a call to Li Bao, spoke a few sentences, then hung up.


    Just as he had suspected, Li Bao''s reach was already quite extensive, no wonder Liu Jianming was so generous.


    Later, Qin Hao went to Anchang Street and another street, and bought two more properties in bustling areas with heavy traffic.


    In total, he spent just over five million.


    Tian Yamei and the others truly saw his strength; initially, they had been somewhat uneasy, but now they were completely reassured.


    The saleswoman went on and on, but Qin Hao understood very little.


    When the saleswoman finished, he asked, "Just tell me the price; I didn''t understand much of what you said."


    ...


    The saleswoman was nearly exasperated; she had explained for over ten minutes until she was parched and thirsty, and he hadn''t understood any of it?


    Was he here just to mess with her?


    However, her professionalism was high, and her face still wore a smile, "Sir, this model is priced at 1.35 million."


    Qin Hao, "Then I''ll take this one. Do you have new cars available?"


    The saleswoman paused, surprised. Is he really buying it just like that? No questions asked? So swiftly?


    "No stock cars?" Qin Hao curiously asked her.


    The saleswoman, somewhat uncertain, asked, "We do have stock cars. Are you sure you want it?"


    Qin Hao nodded affirmatively, "Yes."


    "Very well, please come this way to complete the paperwork." This was the quickest sale the saleswoman had ever made.


    After paying and processing the papers, the saleswoman took her to pick up the car from the back.


    Qin Hao chose a black Porsche Panamera and drove it out of the 4S store with Tian Yamei and the others looking on enviously.


    "As long as you work hard and are ambitious, I guarantee you could also drive a car like this," Qin Hao said to them with a smile.


    Upon hearing his words, Tian Yamei and the others'' eyes lit up, "Mr. Qin, you''re the boss, but you can''t just make empty promises to the employees."


    "I''ve never talked big. Give it time and you''ll see. Yuan Qing, which car are you coming in?"


    Without hesitation, Yuan Qing and Liu Man got into Qin Hao''s car, and Tian Yamei rolled her eyes at both, "Heartless people."


    The four of them drove back in two cars directly to the outside of the Peking duck restaurant.


    Kang Youyi was right at the entrance of the Peking duck restaurant, and when he saw a brand-new Porsche Panamera pull up, he was stunned.


    When he saw Qin Hao getting out, he widened his eyes and hurried over, inspecting Qin Hao''s car, "Mr. Qin, did you buy this car?"


    Qin Hao, "Uh-huh, it''s just for show; we''ll use it for company business from now on."


    "Really?" Kang Youyi was a bit excited, his eyes gleaming as he eyed the Porsche Panamera.


    Qin Hao gave him a look, "Just focus on managing the duck restaurant. There''s no need to drive; the office building and stores are all set. Get ready quickly."


    Kang Youyi''s face fell, showing his upset, "Mr. Qin, I''m also the vice president of our company. How could I not need it? If I biked there, that''d be embarrassing for our company."


    Qin Hao looked at his physique and said, "It''d be best if you could really bike there, lose some weight."

 Chapter 100 Getting on the Right Track

    The chubby guy had a pained expression on his face, his gaze somber as he looked at him, like a deeply aggrieved woman in seclusion.


    Qin Hao felt goosebumps all over his body, "Don''t look at me like that. If you can get your weight down to 140 kilograms, I don''t mind giving you the car."


    "Hao, are you serious?" The chubby guy''s eyes widened immediately upon hearing this.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, Tian Yamei and the others are listening too. As long as you slim down, it''s yours."


    Upon hearing his words, Tian Yamei and the other two looked at the chubby guy with envy¡ªwhether it was losing weight to 140 kilograms or even just to 100 kilograms, they''d be willing.


    After all, we''re talking about a Porsche worth over one million three hundred thousand.


    Qin Hao said, "Tian Yamei, you hold on to this key. If you need to go out for official business, use this car. If Mr. Kang wants to drive it, he needs to report to me first, I''m afraid he''ll crush it."


    "Pfft"


    The three, including Tian Yamei, couldn''t help but laugh: "Alright, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao handed her the key, then said to the group, "You guys come with me, and call Yu Jie over as well."


    "Alright, Mr. Qin."


    They walked into the roasted duck shop, and Qin Hao led them upstairs to the office.


    Soon, Tian Yamei and Yu Jie came in too.


    The office was a bit small, and it seemed somewhat crowded with six people.


    Qin Hao looked at everyone and said, "I called you here today to discuss the future division of duties."


    "Li Bao, as the company''s vice-president, is responsible for the operation and management of all the roasted duck shops, while Yu Jie will temporarily fill the role of Financial Director.


    "Tian Yamei will temporarily serve as the Legal Director. Yuan Qing and Liu Man, your work experience is insufficient, so for now, we cannot assign you titles.


    "As long as you study diligently and enhance your capabilities, I will consider you first.


    "All these positions are provisional, good performance may lead to a permanent status."


    "Of course, thank you, Mr. Qin, we will definitely work hard."


    Qin Hao: "We also need to refine the company''s rules and regulations, the salary structure for different levels, and the reward system as soon as possible. This task is up to you, under Mr. Kang''s supervision. Once completed, let me review it."


    "Alright, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao: "Yu Jie, finance is the heart of the company, so I hope all income and expenditure can be crystal clear."


    Qin Hao spoke earnestly: "This is of utmost importance. Make sure it''s one hundred percent secure, understand?"


    In this company, Qin Hao still trusted Kang Youyi more than anyone else. He wouldn''t really feel secure entrusting this to someone else.


    "Yes, yes, sure Hao," Kang Youyi felt Qin Hao''s trust and was somewhat moved.


    After finishing the conversation, he asked curiously, "Hao, who will be the third store manager?"


    Qin Hao: "What do you think of Yu Chengcai?"


    Kang Youyi paused: "Yu Jie''s brother? His work is quite good, but isn''t he a bit young?"


    Qin Hao: "It''s the young who have the energy. Let him have a try."


    "Okay, Hao."


    Qin Hao stayed in the roasted duck shop until after seven in the evening before he went home.


    After a busy day, he had some dinner at home and then went back to his room to rest.


    Right on time, at eight o''clock, the little witch sent him a message: "Master, master, are we playing the game?"


    Qin Hao replied with a sentence: "I''m too tired today, don''t feel like playing."


    The little witch said cheerfully: "Master, have you seen the posts on the official forum? You''re famous."


    "What post? I haven''t had time; I was dead tired all day."


    Little witch: "It''s about the video of you playing the game yesterday. Many people are saying you''re cheating, reporting you.


    But the official response is out now, they said you''re not cheating, and they even released a complete slow-motion video."


    Qin Hao was stunned momentarily, then he checked his reputation in the system, and it had actually reached two million and one hundred thousand.


    The reputation had risen by nearly two million, which was terrifying.


    Curious, Qin Hao turned on his computer and checked the official forum.


    As soon as he entered, he saw those two posts, both very noticeable: "Turn of Fate in the High-Level Squad Battles: Solo Player with 53 Kills, Defeats Professional Team, Is He a God or Just an Unknown Prodigy?"


    That post had over three million clicks, and the comments had reached hundreds of thousands.


    The comments were mostly about him cheating, with calls for bans and reports and the like.


    The other post was an official sticky note: "Official Response Regarding the Video of Shadow Gun Demon''s 53 Kills Solo"


    After clicking in, the officials briefly commented, then posted a video. It was the same video of Qin Hao playing the game but in slow motion, a forceful response to those querying it.

 Chapter 101 Xu Jiekang Seeks Help

    The little witch, curious, asked, "Master, why are you tired after what you did during the day? Shouldn''t you be at home playing since it''s summer vacation?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Do you think everyone''s family is like yours? Mine is poor. I go out to do manual labor during the day to earn some school fees and pocket money."


    Upon reading his words, the little witch''s eyes widened in surprise, "Manual labor? That must be very tough, right?"


    "Try it and you''ll know."


    The little witch said, "Today, a lot of teams contacted me, asking if you''re going to play professionally? The lowest offer was three million."


    Qin Hao was startled, the lowest at three million? Has my value really become so high?


    He curiously asked, "What''s the highest offer?"


    "A top-tier team offered five million," said the little witch, waiting for his response.


    Qin Hao was indeed tempted, but remembering his own company, he simply didn''t have the time to go pro.


    Because professional teams required daily training and being under someone''s control, he hesitated and then dismissed the idea.


    He curiously asked, "Don''t we have a team? I''ll just play on your team, I don''t want to go anywhere else."


    "Hehe, that''s why you''re the best, Master. Here''s a reward for you."


    After saying that, she sent Qin Hao a photo.


    Qin Hao nearly had a nosebleed looking at the photo. In it, the little witch was wearing a loose nightgown, with a generous expanse of fair skin visible below her neck.


    Though she had the face of a young girl, she possessed an impressively mature figure that was exceedingly alluring.


    As a normal man, he had all the normal reactions that one would expect.


    The little witch asked with a giggle, "Master, do I look good? Hehe."


    Qin Hao coughed dryly, "Good-looking, very good-looking!"


    Heartened by his praise, the little witch''s mood lifted even more, "Master, I''ve already signed up for the chicken dinner tournament on the live chat software streaming platform today, there''s one week of preparation time, and the competition starts on the evening of July 1st."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mhm, okay, I''ll find some time to play it that day."


    The little witch asked, "Mhm, okay, Master, can I see what you look like?"


    "Why?"


    With a bit of a coquettish tone, the little witch said, "I just want to see."


    In the end, Qin Hao couldn''t resist her persistent pestering and sent her a photo of himself.


    Upon seeing his photo, the little witch replied, "Hehe, Master, you have a delicate appearance. You''re not that handsome, but you have another kind of charming aura."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Just tell me straight, Mr. Liang. If I can help, I will; if I can''t, there''s nothing I can do."


    Liang Chengwang got straight to the point, "Brother Qin Hao, do you still remember Mr. Xu?"


    Qin Hao asked, puzzled, "Mr. Xu? Which Mr. Xu? Do I know this person?"


    Liang Chengwang reminded him, "The Mr. Xu you met the first time you came to my shop, along with his daughter."


    With that prompt, Qin Hao remembered, "What about him?"


    Liang Chengwang said, "Mr. Xu came to me today; he wants you to help save his daughter."


    Qin Hao fell silent for a while, saying nothing.


    Liang Chengwang sighed and said, "Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-tiered stupa, brother Qin Hao. Although the girl doesn''t speak well, she''s not all that bad at heart. Mr. Xu only has this one daughter, and he''s willing to pay any price." Experience more on empire


    After a moment''s thought, Qin Hao said, "I''ll go and take a look."


    "Alright, thank you, brother Qin Hao."


    After hanging up, Liang Chengwang turned to Xu Jiekang beside him and said, "Mr. Xu, brother Qin Hao says he will come over and take a look."


    Xu Jiekang nodded, "Mr. Liang, I''ll remember this favor."


    Qin Hao took the elevator down to Shenghua Building''s underground parking lot, got in his car, and drove towards Jiangshan Medicinal Materials Wholesale Market.


    In Jiangshan City, it wasn''t rare to see luxury cars worth over a million, but Qin Hao''s Panamera still drew many envious glances.


    Arriving at the entrance of the Hundred Medicine Pavilion, Qin Hao parked the car beside the doorway.


    The people inside heard the roar of the engine and came out to look.


    When they saw Qin Hao get out of the car, Liang Chengwang and the others were taken aback for a moment.


    Xu Siyao was surprised, knowing the price of the car; someone who could afford such a vehicle had assets worth tens of millions at least.


    Qin Hao also glanced at Xu Siyao; her complexion was pale, her hair dry and yellow, and you could see wrinkles on her face.


    She looked over ten years older than before, which caught him off guard.


    Liang Chengwang was the first to snap out of it, saying with a laugh, "Brother Qin Hao, where did you make your fortune these past few days? You''ve even got a Porsche now."


    With a faint smile, Qin Hao replied, "Needed it for the company''s image, so I bought one."


    Liang Chengwang chuckled, "It''s no wonder, brother Qin Hao, the national college entrance exams'' top scorer is running a company now. You''re far ahead of your peers."


    Xu Jiekang appeared startled and couldn''t help but ask, "Brother Qin Hao is the national college entrance exams'' top scorer, Qin Hao?"


    Xu Siyao was also shocked, thinking to herself, Is he really that national exam top scorer?

 Chapter 102 Let me be willful one more time

    Qin Hao showed no sign of pride, speaking calmly, "I didn''t expect Mr. Xu had heard of my name."


    Xu Jiekang felt relieved when Qin Hao responded to him, "Qin Hao, your fame has long spread across the nation, it''s not an exaggeration to say it''s a household name."


    Upon hearing his praise, Qin Hao smiled and said, "You flatter me, Mr. Xu. Let''s go inside to talk."


    Liang Chengwang came to his senses, "Right, right, look at my memory, please, everyone come inside."


    The group walked into the pharmacy, and then under Liang Chengwang''s guidance, they went into a room in the back.


    Liang Ya brought over a set of tea utensils and brewed a cup of fragrant tea for each person.


    Xu Jiekang started directly, "Qin Hao, I''ve asked you to come over this time to have a look at my daughter''s illness."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. Xu Jiekang seemed to have aged a bit since before, his demeanor carried a trace of worry.


    Since that return trip, he had taken his daughter to see many traditional medicine experts.


    It was from that time that her illness became apparent and grew increasingly severe.


    However, those traditional medicine experts didn''t know how to treat it, and eventually, he had no choice but to think of Qin Hao.


    Now his daughter''s complexion was extremely poor, looking like a woman in her thirties.


    Xu Siyao looked at Qin Hao, with a glimmer of hope deep in her eyes.


    These days she had grown a lot, and likewise had come to see the true colors of many people.


    Those so-called good friends from the past, not one of them came to see her when she fell ill, and some even avoided her.


    What was more unbearable were the former friends who mocked her behind her back.


    In just a month''s time, she had recognized too many faces and seen through too many hearts, and equally matured a great deal.


    Qin Hao: "You should know how difficult your daughter''s illness is to treat, right?"


    Xu Jiekang nodded. If those experts could treat her, he wouldn''t have come to find Qin Hao.


    He said, "Qin Hao, name your price. As long as you can cure my daughter, I can accept any cost."


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao''s face, "I heard Mr. Xu runs a pharmacy in Jianghai City?"


    Xu Jiekang: "That''s right, a nationwide chain of pharmacies."


    Qin Hao asked with a smiling tone, "So what is the total asset value of Mr. Xu''s company?"


    Liang Chengwang, Liang Ya, and Xu Siyao were stunned by his question, what did he mean?


    Xu Jiekang looked at Qin Hao, his eyes flickering with a determination, "I agree to your terms. Thirty-one percent of Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group''s shares for you, as long as you can cure my daughter."


    "Okay," Qin Hao nodded slightly in agreement.


    Xu Siyao, already weak and exhausted, fainted on the spot after hearing her father''s words and Qin Hao''s response.


    Xu Jiekang, who was close by, quickly caught his daughter, pleading earnestly, "Qin Hao, I''ll agree to anything, just save my daughter."


    In that moment, he was no longer the domineering General Manager of Yuan Kang Group but a father full of paternal love.


    Qin Hao said, "Take her to a room."


    Xu Jiekang hurriedly carried his daughter to a room and laid her down on the bed.


    Qin Hao said, "I will need to perform acupuncture on her abdomen''s dantian area soon. You don''t mind, do you?"


    Xu Jiekang replied, "It''s no problem at all, Qin Hao, please go ahead with the treatment."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Mr. Xu, go prepare the documents. Mr. Liang should have a printer here. No one must disturb me while I am treating her."


    Once everyone had left, Qin Hao stood by the bedside and asked Xiao Ying, the system, "Xiao Ying, to what level must my medical skill reach in order to cure her illness?"


    He possessed a life-saving elixir, but he did not want to waste it, for it was a miraculous medicine for saving lives.


    Xiao Ying replied indifferently, "Level 3."


    Qin Hao used up 3,600 skill points to raise his medical skill to Level 3, and with it, new information flooded his mind.


    After digesting the information, he looked towards the bed where Xu Siyao lay.


    Xu Siyao was wearing a dress, which presented him with a dilemma; it would have been easier if she had been wearing a T-shirt and shorts.


    How should he remove the dress? If she was not wearing anything underneath, wouldn''t that take undue advantage of her?


    Qin Hao turned his head and saw a pair of scissors on the dressing table; he picked them up and cut out a piece of the fabric over her abdomen.


    Now that his medical skill had reached Level 3, he could perform the Nine-Nine Returning to the Origin Needle Skill, specifically designed to treat conditions like Xu Siyao''s, which stemmed from a congenital deficiency of vital energy.


    The needle application did not take long, but after more than half an hour, only when Xu Siyao''s complexion became rosy did he remove the silver needles.


    He then found paper and a pen, and wrote down a prescription.


    With just one and a half months of taking the medicine, her condition was almost certain to be cured.


    To many experts, her illness seemed difficult to treat, even feeling impossible to begin with.


    But to a true master of traditional Chinese medicine, the answer was simple: with the right skill and medicine, cure follows naturally.


    Just like problems that seem difficult to laymen are actually quite simple in the hands of professionals.

 Chapter 103 Confirming the Relationship

    Qin Hao walked out of the room holding a prescription, with Xu Jiekang and a few others waiting for him outside.


    Seeing him come out, Xu Jiekang quickly asked, "Qin Hao, how is my daughter?"


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Here is the prescription, if you get the medicine and she takes it for one and a half months, your daughter should be able to recover completely."


    Upon hearing this, Xu Jiekang''s face lit up with joy. He took out a stack of contracts and said, "This is the stock ownership transfer contract. However, this one only contains ten percent of the shares. The remaining twenty-one percent, I will give to you once my daughter''s sickness is cured."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Qin Hao took it and looked over it; Xu Jiekang had already signed his name. All it needed to make it effective was Qin Hao''s signature.


    His net worth would instantly increase by ten billion.


    With a smile on his face, Qin Hao said, "Mr. Xu is indeed generous. Over thirty billion transferred to me just like that?"


    No displeasure could be seen on Xu Jiekang''s face.


    He said with a smile, "Ever since her mother passed away, I''ve owed her too much. As long as it can cure my daughter,


    I can accept any conditions. I still have some private assets; I won''t have problems with food and drink for the rest of my life."


    The father and daughter both felt guilty towards each other, both feeling they owed the other.


    This was a good father, and now Xu Siyao was also a good daughter.


    She no longer had her previous arrogance and haughtiness; on the contrary, she had matured a lot, and this illness must have made her realize a lot about people.


    Qin Hao handed Xu Jiekang both the contract and the prescription, "She has indeed changed a lot, and inner beauty makes one truly beautiful.


    This is why I decided to save her. If she had been the same as before, even if you gave me all your shares, I would not have saved her.


    Mr. Xu, I have other matters, goodbye."


    After saying that, he left, leaving Xu Jiekang and Liang Chengwang, along with their party, stunned in place, unable to react.


    By the time they had come to their senses, Qin Hao had already left in his Porsche Panamera.


    Xu Jiekang stood at the door, staring blankly at the fading outline of the car.


    After a long while, Liang Chengwang said, "Qin Hao is really unpredictable in his actions."


    Liang Ya had a somewhat embarrassed look on her face. She had just severely looked down on Qin Hao in her mind, even cursing him as a villain.


    But the outcome was completely different from what she had thought. Qin Hao was simply testing the two of them and hadn''t asked for any compensation.


    Actually, it wasn''t like that. Even though Qin Hao hadn''t asked for anything, it was still much better than bluntly asking for a few million.


    If he had initially asked for a few million, then there wouldn''t have been such a great sense of indebtedness between them.


    Shouldn''t he at least ask her out for a meal?


    Although she thought this, she didn''t voice it because she had been chatting with Qin Hao almost every day.


    Not chatting with him for a day would leave her feeling like something was missing, which she believed was a sign of affection.


    Moreover, she felt that Qin Hao was not like her father described and her parents must have misunderstood him somewhat.


    Du Wanrou replied, "Okay, but you can''t bully me."


    Seeing her response, Qin Hao nearly jumped out of bed in excitement. Was it a success? Did he really succeed?


    He then calmed down and said with a smile, "How could I possibly bully you?"


    Du Wanrou already began to stake her claim, "Hmph, I don''t think you dare. From now on, you''re not allowed to be too intimate with any other woman except for me, understand?"


    Qin Hao, "Mhm, okay, Wan Rou. Do you have time tomorrow? Let''s go out and have some fun?"


    Du Wanrou said doubtfully, "Don''t you have to work?"


    Qin Hao came up with an excuse, "It''s okay, my relative is a leader there, I can take time off whenever I want."


    Du Wanrou, "Alright then, I''ll call you tomorrow. I''m going to sleep now."


    "Mhm, good night."


    "Good night."


    That night, the two officially confirmed their relationship, and Qin Hao was too excited to fall asleep for a long time.


    Du Wanrou was the goddess he had admired. From the first time he saw her in the first year of high school, he fell for her.


    Her appearance and temperament deeply attracted him.


    Now that they were finally together, one could only imagine how he felt.


    The next morning, Qin Hao got up and groomed himself well before heading out.


    At nine o''clock, he received a call from Du Wanrou, and they met at the entrance of Changle Park.


    Qin Hao left home and took the bus straight to Changle Park, arriving at the park entrance about half an hour later.


    Du Wanrou was already there, standing at the entrance in a T-shirt and skirt, attracting countless gazes with her graceful stature.


    Seeing her there, Qin Hao quickly approached, "You got here so early?"


    "I just arrived as well," Du Wanrou replied, her cheeks slightly red, though it was unclear if it was from the heat or shyness.


    Qin Hao walked over and bought two ice creams, "Here, have one to cool down."

 Chapter 104 Ounuo Company

    Du Wanrou nodded slightly and took the ice cream as they walked towards the park.


    As they walked, Qin Hao said, "Wan Rou, are your uncle and aunt not home?"


    Du Wanrou replied, "My parents went to the company; they are usually very busy."


    Qin Hao said, "By the way, I still don''t know what your family does?"


    Du Wanrou smiled faintly, "My family is in the cosmetics business, Ounuo Cosmetics."


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised, "Ounuo Cosmetics Company? That''s a well-known cosmetics company in Shuinan Province. Your family owns it?"


    Du Wanrou nodded, "Yeah, right now they are negotiating the acquisition of Meihuali Cosmetics Company. My dad has already made strategic plans for Nanyan Province and Nangui Province."


    Qin Hao secretly clicked his tongue in admiration, comparing that others were beginning to expand across provinces while his own roasted duck shop was still in Jiangshan City.


    The gap was not just a little large.


    He had known before that Du Wanrou''s family was quite wealthy, but he hadn''t expected they were this rich.


    Ounuo Cosmetics Company, with total assets of several billion, is one of the top ten native enterprises of Shuinan Province.


    It is a local enterprise of Jiangshan City and Shuinan Province, receiving considerable support from the government.


    As they walked, Qin Hao subtly reached out and grasped her delicate hand.


    Du Wanrou resisted a little, but did not pull back. She stopped struggling and her cheeks flushed red.


    She hung her head low, not daring to look around, for fear of running into someone she knew.


    Qin Hao, holding her smooth hand, felt his heart pounding, his palms sweaty with nerves.


    This was the first time he had touched Du Wanrou''s hand, and his nervousness was self-evident.


    All morning, the two of them strolled in the park, looking very much like a loving couple.


    At noon, Du Wanrou received a call from her mother and had to rush back.


    Qin Hao sent her to the car, and only after the vehicle had disappeared into the distance did he turn and leave.


    He grabbed a quick bite for lunch and then headed to the company.


    Today, Qin Hao had received quite a shock; Du Wanrou''s family had assets totaling billions.


    The gap between him and Du Wanrou was huge, and he knew he had to work much harder. Only if he could far surpass the Ounuo Company would he and Du Wanrou have a chance to be together.


    He was determined to strive for this goal. He believed in the potential of delicious roasted duck and in the strength of the system.


    As long as he worked harder than the average person, he believed there was nothing in this world he couldn''t achieve.


    Let''s have a little activity now; everyone can guess which team will take first place in this round."


    "Shadow Team, without a doubt."


    "Exactly, I bet on Shadow Team for first place."


    "Shadow Team? Which team is that? I''ve never heard of them."


    "You know the Gun God? The terrifying figure who solo killed 53 people in a four-man squad? People gave him the nickname ''Gun Demon''..."


    "Damn, the Gun God is in Shadow Team?"


    "Gun God has a team now? I saw a professional team offering a high price for him just a few days ago."


    "What Shadow Team? This time the first place will definitely be the Flying Dragon Team." There were also many fans of other teams here.


    "This game is all about team cooperation; it doesn''t matter how strong one person is, I support the Cheetah Team."


    ...


    In this official broadcast room, there were supporters of all kinds of teams, as there were nearly a million viewers watching.


    Soon the game started, and a plane was roaring through the sky.


    Discover hidden tales at empire


    The official game broadcast room had a God''s-eye view, allowing commentators to see the players'' locations and names for ease of commentary.


    A delay had also been set up in the broadcaster''s room, so there was no concern about players sneaking peeks at the live stream.


    Little Witch asked, "Master, where do we jump?"


    "Airport''s building C, it has abundant resources," Qin Hao said without a clear idea, simply glancing at the flight path.


    Little Witch: "Okay, jumping at the airport''s building C."


    Just ten seconds after the plane took off, Qin Hao and the three others jumped down, heading straight for the airport''s building C.


    Four other teams were also heading towards the airport.


    Each of these teams had their strategies and routes, so not many teams jumped towards the airport,


    Those daring to jump to the airport in competition were confident in their abilities or were simply risk-takers.


    The resources here were abundant, allowing for rapid development.


    Inside the official broadcast room.


    The male commentator laughed and said, "The airport has always been a hotly contested battleground, and this time five teams have jumped there.


    Two teams are heading to building C, while the other three teams have split up and are not grouped together, making it seem like the first shot of the game will be fired at the airport''s building C."

 Chapter 105 The Gun Demon is Here

    Airport Building C


    Qin Hao and his three teammates each landed at Building 1 and Building 2.


    The three witches landed in Building 1, while Qin Hao himself was in Building 2. The team at Building 3 had two people on the rooftop.


    The other two were below and, after jumping down, they ran into the room to start searching.


    After landing on the rooftop, Qin Hao swept the area with a glance, then headed straight for the AKM automatic rifle not far away.


    He was quite lucky, finding an AKM as soon as he landed.


    He immediately aimed at the two people in Building 3, who had been watching him. Seeing him pick up the gun, they hurriedly started to run.


    These two were quite unlucky, unable to find a gun on the rooftop, only some accessories and materials.


    "Bang bang"


    The distinctive sound of the AKM rang out.


    "Shadow Gun Demon snipes with AKM for a headshot takedown of Cheetah One."


    "Shadow Gun Demon snipes with AKM for a headshot takedown of Cheetah Four."


    "Damn, he''s that badass?" Cheetah One was somewhat surprised.


    Cheetah Two spoke, "Boss, look at that guy''s ID, seems like it''s that Gun Demon from the forums."


    Cheetah One: "Damn it, how did we run into this guy."


    Qin Hao didn''t go on a killing spree but instead went into the building to search for supplies.


    The official game broadcast room captured the moment Qin Hao made the kills.


    Perhaps the commentators had seen his videos before, so they had switched to Qin Hao''s first-person perspective just then.


    His recent spectacular takedown of two members from the Cheetah Team was just witnessed by everyone in the broadcast room.


    "666, the Gun Demon God is still terrifyingly formidable."


    "So badass, is this the Gun Demon from the forums? Truly impressive."


    "Could it be cheats? Headshots with every shot." There were also many people who didn''t know his name, curiously commenting.


    "Bro, you''re hilarious. This is the official competitive server of the chatting app, there''s no way there can be cheats. Besides, even in the game now, it''s impossible to encounter cheats."


    "Cheetah Team can be considered a strong team in this competition, didn''t expect they would lose two major players right at the start."


    After Qin Hao finished searching Building 2, he went to Building 3 and took out the other two members of the Cheetah Team as well.


    The level of competition in this Chicken Dinner Grand Prize event hosted by the chatting app platform wasn''t very high, with varying levels of abilities.


    Some teams barely reached professional standards, but many did not.


    With a level 3 gaming skill, Qin Hao was crushing these players as if he were bullying noobs, with barely any pressure.


    This match was completely Shadow Team''s home ground; whoever encountered the Shadow Team was doomed to die.


    As everyone in the live streaming room was discussing, the little witch was also knocked down by Wumeng.


    The Feilong Team is a professional team; the members'' skills are very strong¡ªthey are among the top few hundred players on the national server.


    "Master, quickly kill him, the three of us are no match for him," the little witch said with a crying face.


    She hadn''t expected that the three of them together couldn''t beat a single opponent. This was a major embarrassment.


    Qin Hao said nothing but pursed his lips, then stood up from behind the wheat field: "Shadow Gun Demon is here, brother, do you blow yourself up, or do you want me to see you off?"


    ...


    "Pfft, the Gun Demon is still so sao."


    "666666"


    "So dominant, the Gun Demon blasts his dog head off with one shot."


    "This guy is too arrogant, just openly standing out like that? Wumeng''s shooting skills are really strong."


    "Showing off, let Wumeng kill him and wipe out the Shadow Team."


    Wumeng, hiding behind the tree, also saw Qin Hao''s movement and did not act rashly; he was adjusting his state.


    He had watched Qin Hao''s video of a solo 53-kill game. AKM in his hands was simply a Divine Artifact, lethal to anyone who faced it.


    Wumeng could clearly feel his blood boiling, his spirits becoming more focused.


    He peered out from behind the tree, scoped in, aimed, and fired...


    "Bang Bang"


    "Shadow Gun Demon uses an AKM to headshot and kill Feilong-Wumeng."


    Wumeng sat in front of the computer stunned for a long time. He was confident that the sequence of actions he had just performed was even faster than his best form.


    Yet, he didn''t even get the chance to fire before being killed. Just what kind of moves did that person make?


    The Feilong Team''s coach came over and spoke softly, "Don''t dwell on it, it''s not that you''re too weak, but that guy is just monstrous.


    Your performance today is very good, take a rest. I believe you will make great progress next time."


    In the official game live streaming room, everyone was stunned.


    Even the male and female commentators were shocked by Qin Hao''s lightning-fast reaction.


    "Holy moly, that''s awesome, truly fitting for the Gun Demon who solo killed 53 in squads. Who else has that reaction speed?"


    "Damn, just asking you trash whether you accept this or not?"


    "Only 6666666 can express my feelings at this moment."


    "Really awesome, gained a fan here, does anyone know where the Gun Demon is streaming? Please tell me."


    "What about AK Prince, or God Qingfeng''s AKM? Can they compare?"


    "The Gun Demon''s skills are the sickest I''ve ever seen, second to none."

 Chapter 106 Grand Opening

    The male and female commentators in the official game live stream room finally reacted.


    The female commentator said with a smile, "Let''s congratulate the Shadow Team for taking first place."


    The male commentator said, "Now let''s take a look at the top five teams in this competition."


    The competition increased Qin Hao''s reputation by more than three hundred thousand, bringing his total reputation to almost three million five hundred thousand.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    After the match, the three little witches went on to start their live stream, and Qin Hao played games with them for a while.


    When playing games, Qin Hao seemed like a completely different person, announcing his name before the start of each game.


    He was incredibly high-profile, a stark contrast to his real-life persona.


    He logged off the game at 9:30 in the evening because Du Wanrou wanted to chat with him; reputation is important, but a girlfriend is more important.


    And so, he went to the company during the day and came back at night to play games and chat with Du Wanrou.


    Time passed day by day, and before he knew it, July 6th had arrived.


    For many people, it was just an ordinary day, but for Qin Hao, it was significant.


    The three Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurants officially opened for business that day.


    On the tenth floor of the Shenghua Office Building, at Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd.


    Qin Hao sat in his office, with the sound of telephones ringing occasionally from outside.


    "Bang bang," a knock on the door sounded.


    "Come in."


    Kang Youyi walked in, wearing an oversized suit that bulged at the belly, making him look somewhat comical.


    He began, "Hao, the three stores opening today have received a lot of flower baskets."


    "Who sent them?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Kang Youyi replied, "Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group, Fubang Real Estate Company, Guanding Real Estate Company, and also Hundred Medicine Pavilion, suppliers, and so on."


    Qin Hao asked, "Hmm, how is the establishment of the internal control department coming along?"


    Kang Youyi reassured, "Don''t worry, Mr. Qin. It''s been set up already. According to your instructions, we secretly send people to inspect the stores every day."


    Yuan Qing and the others were curious about why he didn''t drive his car, but they didn''t dare to ask.


    Kang Youyi shamelessly said, "Hao, if you''re not driving your nice car, why don''t I take it home instead?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I see you''ve gained a few more pounds, and you still want to drive? Have you forgotten what was said at the beginning?"


    The fat man''s face went pale; he really did want to lose weight at first.


    But then he realized how hard it was to diet. Faced with the choice between a luxury car and good food, he decisively chose the food.


    Soon, Tian Yamei drove her Honda Civic out of the underground parking lot.


    She said to Yuan Qing and Liu Man, "It''s on the way; I''ll drop you off."


    Without a second word, the fat man opened the car door and promptly sat in the passenger''s seat, "Take me along for the ride, too, if it''s on the way."


    Yuan Qing and Liu Man suppressed a smile and took their seats in the back.


    Tian Yamei looked at Qin Hao and asked, "Mr. Qin, do you need a ride?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "No need, I''m fine taking the bus home, you guys go ahead."


    Tian Yamei didn''t insist any further and slowly drove off.


    ...


    From the first day of their opening, the three roasted duck stores'' daily revenues didn''t decrease but subtly increased.


    During the day, he would go to the company when he had nothing else to do and occasionally asked Du Wan to go out with him; their relationship was progressing rapidly.


    At first, they just held hands, and later their hugs progressed to waist-level, but he had never kissed her because Du Wanrou didn''t agree.


    In the blink of an eye, over a month had passed, and there was less than a week left before Jianghai University''s fall term started.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Company had already gotten onto the right track, and even without his presence, the company could run smoothly.


    In July, the total revenue of the three stores reached over four million yuan, with the Danhe Street Store alone bringing in one and a half million yuan, making it the sales champion.


    Based on performance, Qin Hao rewarded them with different bonuses.


    The Danhe Street Store''s dozen or so employees each received at least two thousand yuan in bonuses.


    Kang Youyi and the marketing planning department were already planning the next stage of expansion, and Qin Hao had entrusted it all to Kang Youyi and the department.

 Chapter 107 I am the Boss

    By early August, he had already completed the main mission and received five thousand achievement points.


    The current main mission is: Business Tycoon Path (II), with a net profit of ten million per month, awarding ten thousand achievement points.


    Jianghai University was about to start its new semester, and soon he wouldn''t have much time to spend at the company.


    Today is August 24th, and there are three days left until the start of the school term.


    He arrived at the company after breakfast this morning and gave Kang Youyi instructions on many matters.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. has already gained some fame in Jiangshan City by now.


    In terms of taste as well as reputation, the response in Jiangshan City was very positive.


    After Qin Hao finished instructing Kang Youyi, he received a call from Du Wanrou and then walked out of his office.


    The office area outside was already full of people.


    Everyone was busy with their work, and the entire company was filled with a vibrant, upward energy.


    The number of employees in the company had reached over a hundred, and the monthly payroll was about six or seven hundred thousand.


    The person next to him saw him come out and respectfully greeted, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and then walked outside, where two young female receptionists were at the front desk.


    "Good morning, Mr. Qin."


    The two young female receptionists greeted him with a clear and pleasant voice when they saw him approaching.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and then left the company.


    Watching Qin Hao''s retreating figure, the two female receptionists showed admiration and affection in their eyes.


    To be so young and already the president of a company, and with such a good personality, it would be wonderful to have a boyfriend like him.


    Qin Hao took the elevator down one floor and into the lobby, where his phone buzzed.


    He glanced at it¡ªit was a message from Xia Qing. He hesitated for a moment but didn''t reply.


    These days, Xia Qing had also tried many times to chat with him, but was always met with simple and dismissive responses.


    He hoped Xia Qing would understand his intentions, not to get too deeply involved.


    Xia Qing waited for his reply for a long time, feeling a bit dejected and melancholic.


    These days she could feel the change in Qin Hao''s attitude towards her, clearly different from before, somewhat distant, as if he was intentionally avoiding her.


    She sighed; after a long while, a trace of determination flashed in her eyes, as if she had made a decision.


    Qin Hao knew what she meant and was somewhat touched, feeling even more determined to treat her well.


    Although the girl was a rich young lady, she did not have those bad habits typical of rich young mistresses.


    At noon, they found a restaurant.


    While eating, Du Wanrou asked him, "You work at the roasted duck restaurant, how much do they pay you a month?"


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, "Three to four thousand."


    Du Wanrou said, "The Jiangshan Roasted Duck is delicious, with perfect color, aroma, and taste. I fell in love with it after eating it just once."


    Qin Hao, hearing her praise his roasted duck, said with a smile, "Of course, it''s roasted using a pure herbal secret recipe, eating it is good for the body."


    As she ate, Du Wanrou mentioned, "I''ve heard from my dad that Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant''s total assets have already exceeded ten million, with immense potential.


    Some estimates say that Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company makes a profit of about three to four million a month. Their profitability is terrifying, the owner of this company is no ordinary person."


    Qin Hao laughed, "I am the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd."


    He didn''t want to keep it a secret from Du Wanrou any longer.


    At the same time, he wanted to subtly tell Du Wanrou that even though his family was average, he had the ability to earn money.


    Their relationship was very good at the moment, but no one could predict the future. Revealing his identity was also a way to give Du Wanrou a dose of reassurance.


    Who knew that Du Wanrou would burst into laughter at his words, "You can''t make such a joke at your store; if your boss heard, he might fire you."


    Qin Hao said, "I''m not joking, I really am the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company."


    Du Wanrou gave him a disbelieving look, "The registered legal person of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Company is Kang Youyi, and generally, the registered legal person is the boss.


    Of course, there are exceptions, some big companies might find someone else to register the company and control it from behind the scenes."


    Qin Hao had forgotten that it was Kang Youyi who had dealt with these things initially because they needed some documentation, so Kang Youyi had used his own name directly.


    Qin Hao didn''t know how to explain, "If you don''t believe it, then let it be."


    Du Wanrou said seriously, "Qin Hao, my being with you has nothing to do with other things.


    I feel secure with you and my heart feels at ease. I like this feeling. Though you don''t have money now, in the future, we can create something together."


    Qin Hao''s face broke into a smile, "Yeah, when the time comes, I''ll take care of earning money, and you can take care of counting it."


    ...


    Continue reading at empire


    Du Wanrou pouted discontentedly, "I''m enrolled in the Business Administration College. I''ll be the general manager and you can just be a technician." After saying this, she chuckled to herself.

 Chapter 108 Shopping

    After lunch, the pair resumed their stroll along the pedestrian street.


    The pedestrian street was vast; they hadn''t managed to explore it all in the morning.


    As Qin Hao walked, he pondered the notion of opening a Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant here, convinced that it would do well.


    It was then that Du Wanrou suddenly suggested, "There''s a big department store owned by Qin Hao over there, shall we have a look inside?"


    Realizing what she meant, Qin Hao nodded and replied, "Mm-hm, sure."


    The two entered Wanxing Supermarket, the largest store on the pedestrian street.


    Despite the sweltering midday heat, the place was still bustling with people, many of whom came just to enjoy the air conditioning.


    The first floor offered a variety of food, while clothes, shoes, and wallets were sold from the second floor up.


    Having bought a bottle of water, they proceeded upstairs to find a vast second level replete with countless shops.


    There were high-end designer shops as well as mid-range and budget brands.


    Du Wanrou led him to a mid-range menswear shop.


    The saleswoman greeted them with a smile, "Welcome! Feel free to try on any item you''re interested in, sir, miss."


    Du Wanrou stopped in front of a set of shorts and a T-shirt, turning to ask Qin Hao, "What do you think of this outfit?"


    Qin Hao furrowed his brow, but before he could retort,


    Du Wanrou asked with a smile, "Is this Miss Li Dimei from Yumei Jewelry Company?"


    Yuan Zhengxiang''s face went through several shades, turning red then pale, mortification written all over it.


    His expression darkened as he turned and walked away.


    "Yuan Zhengxiang, you damn wait for me," Li Dimei said, fuming at being ignored as he ran off.


    Sure enough, Yuan Zhengxiang stopped, turning back with a forced smile. "Da Mei, I... I need to use the restroom urgently," he said.


    Li Dimei''s voice was coarse, "Oh, then you better hurry, don''t make yourself sick."


    ...


    Qin Hao struggled to hold back laughter, asking Du Wanrou curiously, "What''s the deal with those two? You know her?"


    After paying for the clothes and walking out of the store, Du Wanrou explained, "Somehow, Yuan Zhengxiang''s family got connected with Yumei Jewelry Company.


    That Li Dimei is the heiress of Yumei Jewelry Company, the only daughter of the chairman. Their family business is in jewelry, too, so they need that sort of backer."


    Qin Hao nodded his understanding. Yuan Zhengxiang was selling his attractiveness for his family''s business development.


    He couldn''t help but admire the guy''s endurance. Indeed, extraordinary circumstances required extraordinary actions.

 Chapter 109 The Finals Begin

    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou had finished browsing the second floor and proceeded to the third floor, where Du Wanrou bought him a few more clothes.


    The two leisurely strolled around the mall, and Qin Hao was taken aback when he saw the prices of the high-end brand clothing.


    A single T-shirt cost thousands of yuan, some even over ten thousand, which were definitely luxury items.


    In a high-end luxury clothing store, Qin Hao spotted Yuan Zhengxiang and Li Dimei.


    Yuan Zhengxiang was picking out clothes for Li Dimei, who looked into the mirror and asked, "Zhengxiang, do I look beautiful?"


    Yuan Zhengxiang replied, "Beautiful, Da Mei, you are the most beautiful in my eyes."


    The saleswoman nearby maintained her composure. Everyone who shopped here was influential, and she couldn''t afford to offend them.


    Thus, no matter what she heard, she could pretend she hadn''t heard anything.


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised inside. This guy''s ability to say such insincere words just showed his shrewdness, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals.


    Just as they were planning to leave, that Li Dimei spotted Du Wanrou, "You, stop there."


    Du Wanrou looked at her, puzzled, "Miss Li, is there something you need?"


    Li Dimei replied, "I know you like our Zhengxiang, but Zhengxiang only has me in his heart, so you might as well get that idea out of your head.


    Read exclusive content at empire


    Stop clinging to our Zhengxiang, or else don''t blame me for being rude to you."


    Du Wanrou nearly burst a blood vessel hearing her words, I like him? Only someone like you would like such a hypocrite.


    She glanced at Yuan Zhengxiang, who turned his head to look at the clothes, pretending he hadn''t heard a thing.


    Du Wanrou smiled and said, "Don''t worry, Miss Li, I have no interest in your man, I have a boyfriend, and I really like him." After speaking, she even wrapped her arms around Qin Hao''s.


    Yuan Zhengxiang, with his back to the trio, heard Du Wanrou''s words and his face turned as gloomy as water, extremely embarrassed.


    Why is Qin Hao being compared to me? How is he better than me? Just a bumpkin.


    Li Dimei glanced at Qin Hao, "I hope you can do as you say."


    ...


    Du Wanrou and Qin Hao left the mall directly.


    Du Wanrou was somewhat angry, "I didn''t expect Yuan Zhengxiang to be so shameless, it''s infuriating."


    Qin Hao comforted her, "Don''t be angry, you know what kind of person he is, I think he''s also holding a grudge against you."


    The two shopped until about five in the afternoon, and then Du Wanrou had to leave.


    If she returned home too late, her mother would discover.


    Qin Hao dropped her off at the entrance of the residential area, watched her go inside, then left.


    Having the chance to play in a match with someone like him, talking about it later would also bring prestige.


    If they were lucky enough to kill him, that would be even more worth boasting about.


    At eight o''clock, the match began.


    Twenty-five teams, one hundred people entered the plaza as the sixty-second game countdown started.


    Inside the official game live-streaming room, the match hadn''t even started yet, but the viewer count had already reached nearly three million.


    The male commentator said with a smile, "Welcome everyone to watch the Chat Software Live Tournament; I''m your commentator, Han, and this is Mini."


    After more than a month of brutal elimination matches, only twenty-five teams remain.


    Tonight, we will select our champion, runner-up, and third-place teams, and you can also predict the champion team in the section below.


    The fans who guess correctly will receive a little gift from us."


    Female commentator Mini said with a smile, "I believe everyone''s looking forward to this match, LD Team, whose strength is immense as a top-notch national server team, I need not say much, and there are many other professional teams.


    The super dark horse, Shadow Team, and the God-level sharp shooting and superhuman reaction of Shadow Gun Demon, many friends must have seen it.


    Let''s see who will claim the championship."


    The fans of LD Team were numerous: "Go LD Team!"


    "Go Starshine, go LD!"


    "Awei is the coolest, LD Team will definitely win."


    "Go God Gun Demon, smash their heads."


    "This championship is definitely for Shadow Team, God Gun Demon alone is enough."


    "66666"


    "It''s time for God Gun Demon''s performance again, everyone keep your eyes wide open and watch closely."


    After the sixty-second countdown ended, the plane took off, flying a route from the airport to the mountain top ruins.


    Qin Hao didn''t hesitate and said, "Jump at the airport''s C-building."


    Whenever he played games, if the route passed by the airport, Qin Hao would always choose to jump at the airport.


    Because he was very familiar with it and also because this place was rich in resources, almost any gun could be found here.


    Qin Hao, with his public mic on, said, "Guys, we Shadow Team are jumping at the airport, monopolizing it, if you don''t want to die, jump somewhere else."


    Arrogant, damn, too arrogant.


    Upon hearing this familiar and arrogant voice, people were at a loss for words.


    Don''t you feel uncomfortable if you don''t act cool before a game?

 Chapter 110 Finals

    The plane soon flew over the airport and the four from Shadow Team directly parachuted.


    The Witch checked the surroundings. In the vast airport airspace, there were only the four of them, "Has Master''s fame become so great?"


    Shadow Xiaoya and Xiao Qi were also speechless, I mean, you guys are a professional team, just going to chicken out like that?


    Looking at the figure of Qin Hao, they felt some admiration in their hearts, so freaking awesome.


    Only one team jumped into the resource-richest area at the airport. Who would believe this if it got out?


    In the official game broadcast room, when they heard Qin Hao''s words and saw the team jumping at the airport, everyone started typing "66666"


    "Holy cow, the deterrence of Shadow Gun Demon really is terrifying, isn''t it?"


    "A man''s name, a tree''s shadow, Shadow Gun Demon is indeed freaking awesome."


    "Only one team at the airport, is Shadow Gun Demon planning to play solo?"


    "Freaking awesome, this is the first time I''ve seen only one team at the airport since watching the stream."


    "66666, looks like those guys were scared of Shadow Gun Demon''s mighty AKM."


    "Fan converted, this is how you should play the game, dominate, dominate, didn''t expect you could book the whole place in a game..."


    Qin Hao and his team quickly spread out as there were no other teams that jumped there. Each person took a separate area and started looking for supplies.


    Before long, each of them was fully equipped.


    Qin Hao carried a 98K on his back and held an AKM in his hands.


    "The area''s about to shrink, let''s go," said the Witch, having finished searching her area.


    Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi also finished their searches, "Yeah, okay, what about cars?"


    The Witch said, "Take two; you two go ahead, Master and I will follow. Be careful when crossing the bridge; there might be someone camping it."


    Shadow Xiaoya nodded, "Okay, Captain."


    There was no dissent to this decision; Qin Hao was the main force of the team and naturally needed protecting.


    If he died, their team absolutely wouldn''t stand a chance at winning the championship.


    Winning the championship meant a cash prize of a million, but that wasn''t the most important thing. The most important thing was that their popularity would definitely skyrocket.


    A surge in popularity would bring them even more benefits, like a skyrocketing value and increase in income.


    These were things that a million couldn''t buy.


    The first safe zone ended up being on the other side of the bridge, their luck was a bit bad.


    "Shadow Gun Demon using an AKM headshot and knocked down Wind and Rain-Demon Beast."


    "Shadow Gun Demon using an AKM headshot and knocked down Wind and Rain-Black Demon Beast."


    "Shadow Gun Demon using an AKM headshot killed Wind and Rain-Old Silver."


    Out of a magazine of forty bullets, he only used half, not a single bullet wasted, all four were killed by him.


    This precise headshot, the strong triple burst, left viewers stunned in the live stream.


    "Holy crap, that''s some badass AKM." Someone seeing his shooting skills for the first time was truly shocked.


    "Shadow Gun Demon''s style is still so badass."


    "66666, wiped out a team in just a few seconds."


    "This shooting skill is literally explosive."


    Qin Hao and the little witch now drove over to loot the bodies.


    Having learned this lesson, they became even more cautious, but Qin Hao was still so bold, running through the poison gas and killing all along the way.


    The safe zone kept pushing north, and by the time Qin Hao and the little witch got to Y City, he had already killed more than twenty people.


    All these teams could barely be considered professional, yet Qin Hao could kill so many, it was truly terrifying.


    Even the full LD team had only killed eleven people, not even close to how many he had killed alone.


    Now, there were still seventeen people left, the safe area was in the vicinity of Y City.


    According to this trend, the final circle is very likely to refresh in Y City.


    Qin Hao and the little witch were now in a house on the edge of the city, watching inside the city area.


    In a few houses not far across from them, four people from the LD Team were hiding inside, also watching the outside.


    The little witch spoke, "Master, it seems there are people in those houses across, what should we do?"


    Qin Hao, "Let''s see where the final circle refreshes. There are too many people right now; if we get sandwiched, we''re done for."


    If they were to get attacked from both front and back, Qin Hao didn''t have much confidence.


    A minute later, the final circle refreshed in the central location of Y City, right where the LD Team was located.


    "It''s a destiny circle, heaven is also helping us," Yu Feng from the LD Team laughed.


    The other members also smiled; this final circle was very advantageous for them, they didn''t even need to run from the poison.


    If others had to run from the poison, they could simply fight from where they were, giving them a significant edge.


    They were very strong, and if they spotted others running from the poison, they were highly confident they could eliminate them.

 Chapter 111 Devils Body Skill

    The LD team had the advantage of the right moment, location, and people, and their chances of winning the championship were very high.


    In the official game live broadcast room, there was a betting event where the LD team had the highest support rate, followed by the Shadow Team.


    After all, the LD team was a top-ranked powerhouse in the national server, with a substantial fan base.


    Though Qin Hao was also very famous, his foundation couldn''t compare with the LD team. Being second in the support rate was quite good.


    After the final circle refreshed, many teams couldn''t resist heading towards Y city.


    Qin Hao and the little witch didn''t move immediately and made sure there was no one behind them.


    Only then did the two of them walk out of the room and, using the house as cover, run towards the city.


    Soon, intense gunfire erupted from ahead.


    The final circle was very small, and with still over a dozen people left, clashes were likely.


    When Qin Hao and his team ran out of a house, they saw two people on the right also running towards the safe zone.


    "Bang bang bang"


    Qin Hao fired immediately, killing the two people on the right, then quickly crouched behind a wall.


    "Bang bang"


    Bullets hit the wall, sending chips of stone flying. Yu Feng from the LD team had seen him the moment he opened fire.


    LD-Yu Feng hurriedly said, "I saw the two people from Shadow Gun Demon. They''re right in front of the wall ahead of me."


    LD-Xingchen quickly came over, "Let''s pin them down, the two of us; captain, you take the other side."


    The number of people in the final circle was rapidly decreasing; in less than a minute, the count had dropped to eight.


    The LD team took a significant lead by strategically eliminating many players without losing a single member.


    Of the nine players left, four were from the LD team, two from the Shadow Team, and the remaining two were lone wolves.


    "Master, what do we do now?" the little witch asked.


    Qin Hao replied, "Those two have a good position. We can''t hit them, but they can hit us. In a moment, you run ahead.


    Draw their fire, and I''ll deal with them."


    The little witch nodded, "Okay, Master. Should I run now?"


    Qin Hao adjusted his position, "Run now. If the other two get taken out, it will be even harder for us."


    Hearing this, the little witch nodded, first throwing two smoke grenades, then quickly leaping out of the wall and running towards a house up ahead.


    As long as she got behind that house, the people from the LD team couldn''t hit them.


    "Bang bang bang"


    At that moment, Yu Feng ran out from that small room, aiming to help his teammate take down Qin Hao.


    But when he came out, Star had already been killed by Qin Hao, and the barrel was already pointing at him.


    Before he could even pull the trigger, he was headshot and taken down by Qin Hao.


    ...


    The official game broadcast room was already abuzz.


    "Woah, is the Gun Demon God going to wipe out the team solo?"


    "Beast, he took down two elites from LD Team without a scratch."


    "6666666"


    "Damn, how bad can Star''s shooting be to miss at such close range?"


    "It''s the Gun Demon God''s amazing movement technique, what kind of movement technique is that? Does any brother know?"


    "Damn, this movement technique is insane, how fast does one''s hand speed have to be?"


    Broadcasters Han and Mini in the live room were also stunned; they had seen long-distance S or Z movement techniques to dodge bullets.


    But they had never seen such close-range dodging, it''s just too formidable, right? Find adventures at empire


    After Yu Feng and Star died, LD Team''s Awei quickly asked, "What happened? How did you two die?"


    Back at LD headquarters, Star''s face was an unsightly color, feeling as if he had been toyed with.


    At such a close range, over a dozen bullets didn''t hit, which felt like being slapped hard across the face, leaving a burning sensation.


    He was a famous God-level player on the national server; after this game ended, the audience would probably ridicule him a lot.


    LD Yu Feng was equally frustrated; he, a top national server God-level player, didn''t even get a chance to shoot.


    "Captain, this Gun Demon is too strong. Be careful," he said.


    Qin Hao shouted over the public channel, "LD Star, are you scared? How do you like the Gun Demon''s Devil''s Body Skill? I let you fire a salvo, and you couldn''t hit a single shot."


    "Fuck you, posing as a fucking calf." LD Star, after all, was a God-level player on the national server, with his own pride and arrogance.


    Unable to contain himself after being mocked by Qin Hao, he burst out instantly.


    Qin Hao clicked his tongue in wonder, "A loser chicken, where do you get the courage to show off in front of the Gun Demon? Don''t let the Gun Demon see you again, or you''ll be beaten into quitting the game."


    ...


    "Haha, the Gun Demon God is right, a defeated subordinate has no right to speak."


    "66666, LD Team''s Star has lost face and has started to rage."


    "Can''t take a loss, eh? And he calls himself a national server God, pah."


    "The Gun Demon God is really mean, I like it."

 Chapter 112 Champion

    While speaking, Qin Hao had already leaped out of the building and rushed towards another one.


    As soon as he jumped in, the other two members of LD Team were coming down from the staircase.


    They met in a narrow path with no cover in sight.


    The captain of LD Team, Awei, responded very quickly, aiming his gun at Qin Hao as soon as he saw him.


    But someone was even quicker.


    As Qin Hao fired his gun while dodging, he shot Awei in the head, knocking him down.


    He was hit by only one bullet and lost a small amount of health.


    LD-Moment also reacted quickly, his submachine gun firing rapidly.


    As Qin Hao took down LD-Awei, LD-Moment''s bullets came flying.


    While controlling his character''s movement, he fired back at LD-Moment.


    "Da da da"


    "Bang bang bang"


    LD-Moment lasted a second longer and then he lay on the ground, while Qin Hao only lost a third of his health.


    In other words, the two members of LD Team hardly hit him with a few shots.


    "Winner winner, chicken dinner,"


    Qin Hao said lightly in the team chat, "Is this really a top-tier team in the Chinese server? That''s all they got."


    Shadow Xiaoya and Xiao Qi looked unconvinced, ''That''s all they got?'' Dude, that''s for you.


    For us, they''re the gods, skill and awareness both extremely impressive.


    "Holy cow, is he that badass?" LD Team''s captain Awei was somewhat incredulous.


    They had their championship acceptance speech ready, but it was no longer needed.


    ...


    The official game live stream was almost exploding: "Solo wipes out LD Team, this move is super lit."


    "Awesome"No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Awesome"


    "Badass, a top-tier team wiped out by one person, Gun God is about to become famous off this one match."


    "Damn, that''s amazing, God, are we even playing the same game?"


    "Gun God, take my knees."


    "This movement technique is too badass, if I could learn it, I could definitely lead the girls to victory."


    "Could it be the legendary master-apprentice romance?"


    "Damn, is it that thrilling? Is it really a master-apprentice romance?"


    "No way, did my goddess get snagged by Gun God?"


    ...


    Mini spoke up: "Little Witch, may I ask a few questions on behalf of the fans?"


    The Little Witch nodded: "You may, but only three questions."


    Eagerly, Mini smiled and said to the audience in the live broadcast room: "Everyone, if you have any questions, type them in the public screen, and I''ll ask them for you."


    "Is Little Witch in a master-apprentice romance with Gun God? Did my goddess get taken by the God?"


    "Are they in a master-apprentice romance?"


    Initially, there weren''t many messages on the public screen, but soon it was flooded with that question, many chiming in to stir things up.


    Seeing this, Mini smiled and asked: "Little Witch, the fans want to know, are you and Gun God in a master-apprentice romance?"


    The Little Witch was slightly stunned by the question, then smiled and replied: "I think that''s a secret."


    Instantly, many hearts in the live broadcast room shattered. Was the goddess really with Gun God?


    A moment later, Mini continued, "Little Witch, the audience is very curious about Gun God''s age. Could you disclose that?"


    Little Witch: "My master is 19 years old and about to start college."


    "Damn, go smash your keyboards, folks, this is too much."


    "Damn it, indeed, being compared to others really kills your vibe."


    "Gun God, did you come from Mars or what?"


    ...


    Mini: "Here''s the third question, also the last one: Will Gun God participate in professional games?"


    The Little Witch thought for a moment and said, "I''m not sure about that, probably not. My master only started playing this game last month and averages just over an hour each day. He doesn''t seem to have much interest in going professional." Discover stories with empire


    "What? Only started last month? And plays just a bit over an hour each day?" The two commentators were stunned by her statement.


    Are you sure you''re not just bragging for your master? Why do you talk so much like him?


    "Total game time still less than a hundred hours, yet so badass? Damn, I''m quitting gaming."


    "Smash your keyboards, if I still play this game, I''ll eat shit."


    "I''ve noted your ID upstairs, I''ll monitor you."


    "I''ve played almost a thousand hours and still not even one percent as skilled as Gun God, damn it."


    "This must be the difference between a genius and an ordinary person!"

 Chapter 113 Heartbroken Xia Qing

    The little witch had just finished her interview when her phone rang; it was a call from her brother.


    She quickly spoke, "Master, I have to go first because of some matters."


    Qin Hao responded, "Mmm, I also just received a call. Xiao Qi, you guys play, I''ll leave first too."


    Xiao Qi and Xiao Ya nodded, "Mmm, okay."


    The little witch turned off the game and answered the call, "Hello, what''s up, bro?"


    Li Jianjun began, "Fifty million, I''ll only sign him for one year, give me his contact information."


    What he wanted now was to get Qin Hao to leave for his team, believing that once Qin Hao joined his team, the atmosphere and charisma of his team would surely keep him.


    The little witch asked, "Bro, are you trying to poach from me? Our Shadow Team is still aiming for the national championship."


    Li Jianjun brutally retorted, "Your team, without the Gun Wizard, isn''t even third rate."


    Feeling rubbed the wrong way by his disdain, the little witch said, "Is there anything else? If not, I''m hanging up."


    Li Jianjun quickly said, "Wait, wait, I am your real brother after all. Can you just help your brother out?


    With him on the team, we have an eighty to ninety percent chance of winning the global championship, bringing our country supreme glory."


    The little witch pursed her lips, "Don''t pressure me with righteousness. I understand your intentions; you just want to satisfy your own vanity."


    ...


    Li Jianjun clenched his teeth and said, "Little sister, if you agree, I''ll give you that global limited edition sports car of mine."


    Li Moying was somewhat surprised; that global limited edition sports car had cost him nearly fifty million initially.


    Now, he was indeed making a big sacrifice to bring it out, clearly showing he was dead serious.


    Li Moying said with a smile, "I''ll take the car, and I can give you his contact, but whether he agrees, I''m not sure."


    After speaking, she chuckled to herself: Sorry, "Master," but I have to sell you out just this once.


    "Alright, I''ll give you the car, and you give me his contact," Li Jianjun was determined to get Qin Hao on his side.


    He had watched all the recent match videos online.


    He had never taken Qin Hao seriously before, but now he realized he had underestimated Qin Hao''s abilities.


    With his skill level, he was definitely capable of becoming the top player nationally, and with such a strong player on the team, his team would undoubtedly become a top international team.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao did receive a call, and it was from Xia Qing.


    Things weren''t going as he had expected.


    Just then, his phone rang again. He took it out and saw it was a number from Jianghai City.


    Curiously, he answered the call, "Hello, who''s this?"


    Li Jianjun asked directly, "Are you Gun Demon?"


    Qin Hao was taken aback. In the game, only one person had his contact information ¡ª the Little Witch.


    He had never given it to anyone else, not even to Xiao Qi and Xiao Ya.


    This person knowing it now could only mean one thing: his apprentice had betrayed him.


    He was somewhat speechless: "What do you need?"


    Li Jianjun got straight to the point: "I''ll give you fifty million to sign with my team for a year. How about it?"


    Qin Hao was stunned. Fifty million was no small amount for him, and someone opening with fifty million had to be significant.


    Having interacted with the Little Witch for so long, he had a rough idea of her identity.


    She was a rich, beautiful woman from a wealthy family. A person who could obtain her number must be somebody significant too.


    He thought for a moment and then refused. Fifty million was substantial, but the constraints would be too great.


    With the system by his side, he believed he could create many more fifty millions in a year.


    Li Jianjun didn''t expect him to refuse such a big offer. Even an average wealthy heir would be tempted by it.


    Unless Qin Hao was also a powerful wealthy heir, but was he?


    Li Jianjun continued: "We can negotiate the price. Eighty million flat rate, that''s the highest I can offer.


    It''s also the highest price in the gaming world. I hope you will give it some thought."


    Qin Hao, considering the face of the Little Witch, didn''t hang up directly: "No need, I don''t plan to go pro, and I still need to study."


    Li Jianjun: "Study? Big brother, what are you studying for? Isn''t it just to get a good job and make money later on?


    Now you have eighty million right in front of you, the fast track to success."


    "If you''re so rich, why do you still need to study?" Qin Hao''s retort left him speechless.


    Li Jianjun nearly choked on his frustration, damn, your words really cut deep.


    Qin Hao: "If there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up first."


    He was already in a bad mood because of Xia Qing, so he didn''t want to talk more with Li Jianjun.

 Chapter 114 Acquisition?

    Li Jianjun, hearing the busy tone on the phone, frowned slightly and felt somewhat displeased.


    The price of eighty million was already not low, but truthfully, it wasn''t too high either.


    As long as Qin Hao kept up at this level, he believed there would be others willing to pay a higher price to poach him.


    For instance, on streaming platforms for chat apps, such highly popular players could attract a lot of traffic.


    In the past, officials from chat apps had offered over a hundred million to buy a popular professional player.


    For someone like Qin Hao, there was a strong possibility they would make a move to acquire him.


    Of course, buying Qin Hao for the streaming platform merely meant signing a contract to have him stream on the chat app platform, not a team contract.


    Qin Hao hanging up his phone was not only because of Xia Qing''s matter, but also due to the tone of Li Jianjun''s speech.


    He was somewhat put off by Li Jianjun''s tone, which was arrogant, superior, and as if he had everything under control.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Li Jianjun himself might not have even realized it.


    It was the influence of his upbringing since childhood; whether it was his tone of speech or demeanor, they were not like ordinary people''s.


    Moreover, such people have their own circles that are difficult for ordinary people to break into.


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao lay down on his bed and went to sleep.


    That night, he didn''t sleep well, having many fragmented dreams that he couldn''t even clearly recall.


    Around nine in the morning, he finally got up, washed up, and had a quick bite to eat.


    Right after breakfast, he received a call from Kang Youyi, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Bai from Jiu Chang Group has come and would like to talk to you."


    Qin Hao was curious, What does Jiu Chang Group want with me?


    He replied, "Okay, I''ll be right over."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao left the complex and took a taxi to Shenghua Building.


    About ten minutes later, Qin Hao arrived at Shenghua Building, got out of the car, and walked into the building.


    Taking the elevator to the company, the two female receptionists at the front desk hurriedly greeted him when they saw him, "Good morning, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded his head, then asked, "Where are the people from Jiu Chang Group?"


    The female receptionist replied, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Bai from Jiu Chang Group is waiting for you in your office, Mr. Kang is with him."


    "Uh-huh," Qin Hao walked into his office.


    Inside the office, Kang Youyi was chatting with a sophisticated and charming woman.


    Bai Jing didn''t have much hope for this visit, as business cooperation rarely succeeds on the first attempt.


    Now, at least, she had successfully taken the first step by leaving a good impression on Qin Hao.


    After chatting a bit more, Bai Jing took her leave.


    Not long after Bai Jing had left, there was a knock on the door as Qin Hao sat in his office.


    "Come in."


    The receptionist led a group of people inside, "Mr. Qin, this is Meng Hui, the vice president of Zhengyuan Company."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "You can go now."


    Meng Hui brought five people with him, including a female secretary and some subordinates.


    When he first entered, he glanced around Qin Hao''s office, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao, he held him in even lower regard.


    Just a milk-nosed brat, a little show of my aura, and he''d probably be intimidated by me.


    Thinking this, he slouched arrogantly on the sofa, as if he were in his own home.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao slightly furrowed his brows, "May I know what brings Vice President Meng to my company?"


    Meng Hui said with a smile, "I''m here to tell you some good news."


    Good news?


    Qin Hao was a bit surprised. He didn''t know him, did he? What good news could this person possibly have for me?


    "Mr. Meng, please speak your mind."


    Meng Hui: "Alright, our company plans to acquire your Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, and I believe you will be very satisfied with the price, ten million.


    Such a young fellow and already a millionaire; this would surely make many people jealous if word got out."


    Qin Hao nearly choked, ten million? Are you kidding me?


    Zhengyuan Group originally planned to offer thirty million, but Meng Hui felt he could secure it for ten million, so he pitched that amount.


    Qin Hao sneered, "Mr. Meng, are you joking? Ten million for my company?


    Do you know the value of just those stores, not to mention the secret recipe of my Jiangshan Roasted Duck?"


    Meng Hui said with a smile, "The price is negotiable, how about fifteen million?"


    Qin Hao''s expression cooled, "Mr. Meng, I don''t have time to play here with you. If you have nothing else, please leave, I have other matters to attend to."

 Chapter 115 Back to School

    He didn''t give Zhengyuan Company any face, nor did he give Meng Hui any face either.


    It was obvious that Meng Hui did not consider him important either.


    If Meng Hui didn''t respect him, why would he respect Meng Hui?


    As expected, when Meng Hui heard his words, he struggled to maintain his dignity, especially with his female secretary and subordinates standing next to him.


    If he didn''t reclaim some dignity, he would probably be ridiculed when he got back.


    Meng Hui''s expression turned cold, and he indeed exuded a bit of authority, "Qin Hao, I advise you not to be ungrateful.


    My Zhengyuan Company is an established business in Jiangshan City. You better consider the consequences of offending us."


    Qin Hao snorted coldly, "You can go and ask around who Qin Hao has ever been afraid of? Calling you Mr. Meng is giving you face, without giving you face you are nothing to me, get lost."


    Meng Hui''s face went from green to white, and he nodded fiercely, "Fine, we''ll see."


    After he spoke, he stood up and left with his people, looking extremely upset.


    After those people left, Kang Youyi hurriedly came over, "Hao, what happened?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "Nothing, just a bunch of people trying to take advantage of us, block them outside if they come again."


    "Okay, sure Hao."


    ...


    A lot of people visit Qin Hao''s company this day, mostly local businesses from Jiangshan City.


    The talks mostly revolve around acquisitions and financing, these people are simply eyeing the potential of Jiangshan Roasted Duck, all wanting a piece of it.


    Qin Hao refused, as the company was not in need of cash nor did he plan to raise funds.


    He didn''t know if those people would hold a grudge, but if anyone dared to play dirty, he was no pushover either.


    August 26, one day before the university starts, he had already booked his ticket, for early morning at six tomorrow.


    He didn''t go to the company this day but stayed home packing.


    In the morning, he called Du Wanrou, who was also leaving tomorrow, but her parents were flying her there.


    Li Shujie didn''t go to work; she stayed at home helping her son pack his things.


    Mrs. Qin was still worried, "Xiao Hao, let your dad and me take you there tomorrow. What if you get deceived by someone in a place you''re unfamiliar with?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Mom, I''m already an adult, I can make my own decisions, please don''t worry."


    Mrs. Qin, "You''re going to a strange city miles away, how could I not worry?"


    All that had to be built on a foundation of strength.


    He set a goal for himself.


    He wanted to expand his roasted duck business across the entire Shuinan Province before the New Year.


    He aimed to possess a force equal to or even surpassing that of Ounuo Company, so that nothing would stand in his way with Du Wanrou.


    He woke up at five o''clock the next morning.


    Mr. and Mrs. Qin were also up; they had a quick bite, and then drove him to the train station.


    All the way there, Mrs. Qin kept instructing him to be careful while he was away and to call home if anything came up.


    Mr. Qin parked the car and then walked him into the train station.


    Qin Hao first collected his ticket, then entered the waiting hall. He had bought a high-speed train ticket, which would get him there in about five hours.


    The waiting hall was crowded with people. These few days marked the peak of school starts, so there were many students traveling.


    Moreover, many students were accompanied by their parents, making it even more crowded.


    Qin Hao looked at his parents beside him and said, "Mom, Dad, you should head back. They''re about to start checking tickets; I''ll go in first."


    Mrs. Qin said, "Why the rush? Mom hasn''t had enough of seeing you yet. I don''t know when I''ll be able to see you again once you leave."


    Qin Hao felt a pang of sorrow upon hearing his mom''s words; this was his first time traveling far.


    His emotions were complex, filled with excitement as well as reluctance and uncertainty.


    At six fifteen,


    the employees began checking tickets for Qin Hao''s train, and he turned and said, "Mom, Dad, you should go back."


    Mr. Qin said, "It''s fine; we''ll leave in a bit."


    Qin Hao took a deep breath, pulled his suitcase, and headed to the ticket gate, not daring to look back. He was afraid of seeing his mom''s teary eyes.


    He was also afraid that he couldn''t stop his own tears.


    After waiting a few minutes, it was Qin Hao''s turn; once the checker had inspected his ticket, he walked through the gate.


    He couldn''t help but look back; his parents were still standing there, watching in his direction.


    Youguo saw him turn and waved at him.


    Mrs. Qin was wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, her face breaking into a smile as she looked at him.


    Qin Hao waved back, then turned and walked into the passageway, "I''m coming, Jianghai City!"

 Chapter 116 Arriving in Jianghai City

    Qin Hao followed the crowd out from the passage, his seat was in car number four, seat 60.


    He walked towards the front to car number four, dragging his suitcase.


    Upon boarding the train, Qin Hao walked along while searching for his seat.


    Soon, he found his seat in the middle of the car, placed his suitcase on the luggage rack, and then sat down.


    His seat was by the window, with an adjacent seat that was still empty, presumably the person hadn''t arrived yet.


    This high-speed train had no face-to-face seating, all were double seats facing forward.


    Similar to the seats on a coach, but with more space here, the seats could be reclined backward, allowing for lie-down sleeping.


    After a while, a young girl arrived, pulling a suitcase and carrying a backpack.


    She looked purely innocent, with finely chiseled features and blushing cheeks, probably out of breath from pulling the somewhat heavy suitcase.


    Ning Yao glanced at the high luggage rack, her face showing a worried expression as she looked around hoping to find someone to help.


    But the people nearby were busy with their own things or chatting, with no one intending to lend her a hand.


    Qin Hao saw her dilemma and stood up, saying, "Let me help you put it up."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Thank you so much, my suitcase is a bit heavy," Ning Yao expressed her gratitude while also reminding him.


    Since Qin Hao appeared somewhat slim, she was concerned he might not be able to lift it.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "No problem."


    Then he easily picked up Ning Yao''s suitcase and placed it on the luggage rack.


    Ning Yao was somewhat surprised by his strength, then she took seat 61 and thanked him again, "Thank you."


    Qin Hao felt she was being too polite and casually remarked, "When on your own, everyone inevitably encounters difficulties, help out if you can, it''s all about mutual assistance."


    Ning Yao nodded slightly, she didn''t dare to engage in more conversation with Qin Hao, maintaining a bit of caution.


    From her dress and demeanor, Qin Hao could tell her family''s living conditions weren''t very good.


    She was wearing an old-style T-shirt on top and faded jeans below.


    But this in no way concealed her unstained, serene charisma.


    Qin Hao saw a hint of Xia Qing in her, both maintaining caution around strangers.


    Qin Hao didn''t mind, after all, they didn''t know each other at all previously.


    If Ning Yao were to completely trust him because of this incident, Qin Hao would also think she was too gullible.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "That''s right, she was in my class, and we were desk mates too."


    Ning Yao, "No wonder both of you did so well."


    It might have been because Qin Hao mentioned his own name, or maybe because they would be classmates in the future,


    but Ning Yao spoke much more than before, and they chatted for over an hour.


    Around twelve-thirty PM, Ning Yao grabbed some food and then planned to rest.


    Qin Hao was chatting with Du Wanrou on his phone, "Have you already reached Jianghai City?"


    Du Wanrou, "Yeah, we arrived at eleven o''clock and are now heading to the school. Qin Hao, Jianghai City is so big and beautiful."


    Qin Hao, "Then, on weekends when we have breaks, I''ll take you around Jianghai City properly."


    Du Wanrou replied, "Yeah, sounds good. It''s a deal. If you don''t take me, I won''t talk to you."


    The two chatted for a while, and then Du Wanrou arrived at Jianghai University.


    The enrollment period at Jianghai University was from the 27th to the 31st of the month, lasting five days.


    At 1:45 PM, the high-speed train from Jiangshan to Jianghai City reached Jianghai South Station in Xuanbo District.


    Qin Hao helped Ning Yao take her suitcase off the rack, and then the two of them got off the train together and followed the crowd towards the exit of the station.


    Jianghai South Station was huge, with many people either arriving or departing.


    As Qin Hao and Ning Yao came out of the exit, they were surrounded by many people, "Need a taxi, young man? Cheap."


    "Miss, need a cab?"


    "Young man, where are you heading?"


    ...


    Ning Yao, a bit frightened by the imposing crowd, instinctively moved closer to Qin Hao.


    She walked beside Qin Hao and asked, "Qin Hao, which way should we go?"


    Qin Hao looked up at the blue sky, then replied, "Let''s head outside."


    He led Ning Yao towards the outer area of the train station plaza.


    The station plaza was crowded, with people waiting, picking others up, and others just arriving.


    The two of them walked towards the outside of the plaza, and just as they stepped out, a little girl around ten years old approached them.


    The girl carried a large backpack and held two bottles of water in her hand.


    Looking at Qin Hao and Ning Yao, she smiled, "Brother, sister, do you want water? One yuan per bottle."

 Chapter 117 Jianghai University

    Qin Hao looked at the little girl, her head covered in sweat, her lips pale and already beginning to crack.


    The temperature in Jianghai City was very high, almost around thirty degrees, extremely hot.


    Of course, this was also related to the large backpack she was carrying. If he wasn''t mistaken, the backpack was also filled with mineral water.


    Qin Hao had just gotten off the train not long ago and was already starting to sweat.


    Ning Yao''s cheeks were even more drenched in sweat; carrying so much was exhausting for a girl.


    Qin Hao took out two yuan from his pocket, "Here, brother wants two bottles."


    "Uh-huh, okay, brother." The little girl quickly set down her backpack, then unzipped it and took out two bottles of water.


    She earnestly said, "Brother, here you go. This mineral water definitely hasn''t been opened and refilled with tap water, you and sister can drink it without worries."


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Uh-huh, brother believes you."


    After saying that, he handed Ning Yao a bottle, "Have some water, the weather in Jianghai City is really hot."


    Ning Yao did not hesitate, as she was indeed quite thirsty; she had already finished her water on the train, "Thank you."


    The little girl put her backpack on again and then went off to sell her water to other people.


    However, she hadn''t gone far when two scruffy-looking youths approached her.


    One of them cursed as he walked over, "You little brat, who the hell allowed you to sell stuff here?"


    The little girl''s gaze turned timid, and she involuntarily took a step back, "I didn''t sell on the plaza, I sold outside."


    The blond youth said, "All of South Station is our territory, you can''t sell anywhere here. I see you''ve sold quite a bit, hand over the money."


    The little girl clutched her pocket, "No, I sold these myself, why should I give it to you?"


    The blond youth pushed her, "Don''t be ungrateful, you little brat."


    The little girl was pushed to the ground, and immediately her eyes turned red, tears swirling in her eyes.


    Not far away, Qin Hao and Ning Yao saw this scene, and their eyebrows furrowed.


    Qin Hao could roughly understand what was happening; this area around South Station was the turf claimed by the blond, and others were not allowed to sell things here.


    This sort of thing was common everywhere; such people were generally the local ruffians.


    But treating a child this way, Qin Hao felt it was a bit too much.


    He walked over and helped the little girl up, "Are you alright, little sister?"


    The little girl''s eyes were filled with admiration. This big brother was so formidable.


    Ning Yao was also somewhat surprised. Wow, how handsome. He knows martial arts?


    Qin Hao glanced coolly at Huang Mao, didn''t strike again, and turned to walk away, pulling his suitcase behind him.


    He said to the little girl, "You should head back soon."


    "Mmm, thank you, Big Brother."


    After the little girl left, Qin Hao and Ning Yao caught a taxi and headed directly to Jianghai University.


    The taxi driver was very chatty. "Young man, are you here to study at Jianghai University?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Mmm, yes, it''s my first time in Jianghai City."


    The driver smiled and asked, "Is this young lady your girlfriend?"


    Hearing the driver''s words, Ning Yao blushed slightly, and Qin Hao hurriedly explained, "No, we''re from the same hometown, both from Jiangshan City."


    "Sorry about that, miss. My mistake," the driver said with a chuckle.


    Ning Yao replied softly, "No problem, uncle."


    Suddenly remembering something, the driver asked, "Wasn''t this year''s top scorer in the national exam from Shuinan Province Jiangshan City? His name is Qin Hao, right?"


    "That''s right, he''s from our Jiangshan City." Qin Hao didn''t reveal that he was Qin Hao, as there was no need to.


    The driver chatted with Qin Hao the whole way, and in less than an hour, they arrived on the street outside Jianghai University.


    The street was too crowded with cars and people for the driver to enter, so he had to stop at the intersection.


    While paying, Ning Yao insisted on paying, but Qin Hao stopped her and handed a hundred to the driver.


    Once the taxi left, Qin Hao said with a smile, "It''s just a few tens of yuan. Don''t be so formal; we might even end up being classmates."


    Ning Yao didn''t insist any further, and the two of them, pulling their suitcases, walked toward the entrance of Jianghai University.


    Along the few hundred meters, the roadsides were lined with cars, almost all of them luxury cars worth over a million.


    Qin Hao even saw several super luxury cars worth tens of millions.


    Jianghai City truly lived up to its name, not at all like the smaller scale of Jiangshan.


    After walking for several minutes, they arrived at the entrance of the university.


    The majestic stone pillars engraved with dragons and flowers conveyed a grand atmosphere, and the calligraphy of "Jianghai University" above was clearly the work of a master.


    Looking at the gate and then inside, where trees cast cool shade and flowers and plants flourished, Ning Yao expressed her happiness, "So this is Jianghai University, it''s beautiful."

 Chapter 118 The Weird Dormitory

    Though Qin Hao had a system, to tell the truth, he hadn''t really seen much of the world.


    Beholding the grandeur of Jianghai University, he couldn''t help but feel some admiration, truly befitting one of Xuan Country''s top institutions.


    "Beep beep"


    A car horn sounded nearby as a Mercedes-Benz sedan slowly drove into the campus.


    Ning Yao, upon seeing the Mercedes-Benz enter, curiously said, "Doesn''t the sign say that outside vehicles are not allowed to enter?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "It''s the invisible hierarchy, although the sign at the gate says outside vehicles cannot enter, that''s meant for ordinary people."


    Ning Yao seemed to understand but did not speak further.


    Qin Hao was right, no matter where, there are always situations where some rules don''t apply to certain people.


    The two walked into the campus and then saw umbrellas set up under the large trees along the road, with tables and signs beneath them.


    They were labeled with different departments, and Qin Hao looked for the Computer College as he walked further in.


    After several dozen meters, he finally saw the sign for the Computer College.


    There were three tables registering new students, and Qin Hao and Ning Yao queued up at one with fewer people.


    In front of them were two people; after those two completed their registration and left, it was Ning Yao''s turn.


    "Hello, student, please take out your admission notice," the mature woman in the middle, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, asked Ning Yao.


    She was flanked by two sophomore female students, whose badges on their chests showed they were members of the student council.


    Ning Yao took out her admission notice and handed it to He Tingting, "Hello, this is my admission notice."


    He Tingting glanced at it, then did some registration, "Hello, Ning Yao, your class is Computer Science Class 1, and I am your mentor, He Tingting."


    Ning Yao hastily said, "Hello, Mr. He."


    He Tingting nodded slightly, "Here is your student card, meal card, and other items. I will have someone take you to your dormitory in a while."


    Ning Yao nodded and then stood aside.


    Qin Hao stepped forward, taking out his admission notice.


    He Tingting looked at it, paused, and then looked up at him, "You are Qin Hao?"No?v(el)B\\jnn


    The two sophomore student council members also looked up at him. Qin Hao? Was he that freak who scored full marks on the national unified exam?


    Qin Hao looked at He Tingting, "Is there a problem with my name?"


    He Tingting evaluated him, thinking how quickly you forget, don''t remember how you schooled me before?


    Wang Yanghua exclaimed, "Qin Hao from Jiangshan City? No way, brother, are you the freak who got a perfect score on the unified exam?"


    The other four also stared at him with wide eyes as if looking at an alien.


    The tall Zhao De spoke up, "Brother, how did you score a perfect mark? Are you even human?"


    Qin Hao was at a loss for words. Was this a compliment or an insult? What kind of dormitory was this, filled with eccentrics?


    But these people were very enthusiastic, helping him make his bed and organize his things.


    His bed was in the upper bunk, with a computer desk underneath. The dormitory was well-equipped.


    There were a total of six upper bunks, all with uniform computer desks below, and cabinets and such.


    While making his bed, Qin Hao got to know these people one by one, their names were Zhao De, Wang Yanghua, Sun Feng, Wu Jun, and Chen Ping.


    What shocked Qin Hao the most was their scores on the unified exam¡ªaround 700 points each, all of them top-tier students.


    Damn it, how could these guys resemble good students? Qin Hao felt like there must be some mistake.


    They even ranked themselves by age. Sun Feng was the oldest, followed by Qin Hao. Wu Jun was the third, then came Zhao De, the fifth was the fatty Wang Yanghua, and the sixth was Chen Ping.


    After Qin Hao''s bed was made, the chubby Wang Yanghua said, "Come on, brothers, I''ve got some rare files here."


    Hearing his words, everyone crowded around. Qin Hao also looked on curiously.


    A nosebleed-inducing image appeared before their eyes¡ªexplosive, thrilling...


    After watching, everyone dispersed. The youngest, Chen Ping, asked, "Does anyone play ''Survival at the Brink''? Let''s play together?"


    "Sure, I''m the ultimate Voldemort, come on, little six, add me," the chubby Wang Yanghua eagerly said.


    The oldest Sun Feng and the third oldest Wu Jun also played this game, and they quickly formed a four-man team.


    The tall Zhao De didn''t play games, instead, he took out a basketball and asked Qin Hao, "Second brother, wanna play ball?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I''ve got something else to do, you go ahead."


    "Mm, okay, second brother." Zhao De took the basketball and left on his own.


    Qin Hao took out his phone and sent a message to Du Wanrou, "Wan Rou, where are you?"


    "In the dorm, chatting. Qin Hao, my college is in the east campus, not the same campus as yours." She then sent a crying face emoji.


    Qin Hao paused, the east campus? What the heck? "Where''s the east campus?"


    Du Wanrou replied with a gloomy face, "It''s in Bailing District. Your Computer College is on the main campus."


    ```

 Chapter 119 Second Brother Qin Hao

    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou had been talking for a long time when Qin Hao''s phone rang; it was his mother calling.


    Seeing it was his mother''s call, he quickly answered, "Mom, I''ve arrived at school. I was a bit busy and forgot to call you earlier."


    Contrary to her usual self, Li Shujie didn''t scold him, "Mm, as long as you''ve arrived. If you''re short on money, just let mom know, understand?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "I understand, Mom."


    Mrs. Qin said, "Mm, alright then, mom is hanging up first."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao let out a long sigh. He and Du Wanrou chatted a bit more, then she was pulled away by her roommate to talk.


    Just after Qin Hao hung up the call, he received another call from Kang Youyi, the fatty. He stepped out of the dorm to take the call.


    He asked, "What''s up?"


    Kang Youyi said, "Hao, we have plans to open six roasted duck stores by the end of the month."


    Qin Hao asked, "That many? Are they all ready?"


    Kang Youyi nodded, "Every department is ready, and the rented stores are now renovated. The staff has also been well trained. I''ve sent the development plan to your email."


    Qin Hao replied, "Mm okay, I''ll check it out later. Remember to notify me first thing if anything comes up in the company."


    "Don''t worry, Hao."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao returned to the dormitory where Sun Feng and the others were still playing video games; none of them won the first round.


    They were now playing the second round, with thirty people left.


    Qin Hao glanced at them, then took out his laptop and logged into his chat software account.


    He opened the chat software and found an email from Kang Youyi.


    It was the development plan for Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd, decided by the marketing planning department and others including Kang Youyi.


    He read through it carefully; the development plan was excellent, primarily authored by the marketing director Meng Zhicheng.


    Meng Zhicheng, a talent whom Kang Youyi had poached with a high salary, had previously been a director of marketing planning at a major company and had extensive experience.


    The plan set by Kang Youyi and others was, roughly, to expand swiftly and capture the market through renting stores.


    The email also roughly mentioned the cost of renting stores in Jiangshan City, about sixty thousand per month.


    Last month, the roasted duck stores made a net profit of over three million, from which two million was used for the expansion to rent six new stores.


    They also needed to purchase many facilities and items; the two million planned by Kang Youyi and his team was almost exactly enough.


    This time it was Li Bao calling. He didn''t go outside to talk but answered right there in the room.


    The voice of Li Bao rose, "Hao, I heard you left this morning?"


    It had been a long time since Qin Hao had heard his voice, and ever since he got his own company, he seldom dealt with Li Bao''s affairs.


    Li Bao had also rarely contacted him because he knew his identity could be troublesome. Reaching out to Qin Hao would only bring trouble to him.


    Qin Hao replied, "Yeah, I took the train at six in the morning."


    Li Bao said, "Hao, since you''re unfamiliar with places outside, just tell me if you need anything, and I''ll come over with the guys."


    Qin Hao responded with a smile, "Got it, I heard you started a company. Are you short on cash?"


    Li Bao answered, "No, I have enough."


    Qin Hao said calmly, "Well, if you ever run short, just let me know. Don''t be shy."


    "Alright, Hao," Li Bao responded.


    After hanging up, the chubby Wang Yanghua remarked, "Big brother, you sure are busy with business."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Some old friends heard I left and called me."


    Wang Yanghua sneered, "Old friends? Big brother, you''re so young. Why do you talk like an old man? It''s too mature. Girls generally don''t like that. I bet you definitely don''t have a girlfriend."


    ...


    Qin Hao just smiled and didn''t explain anything. You''ll see when you meet my girlfriend.


    The tall Zhao Dehua came back around six, and after arriving, he took a basin to wash up.


    Sun Feng and his three friends finished another round of the game, perfectly clinching a victory. Old Six Chen Ping had impressive skills.


    Qin Hao had watched for a while, and Chen Ping''s skills were very impressive, stronger than the "little witch". Without him, they wouldn''t have clinched the victory.


    Although the skills of Sun Feng, Wu Jun, and the chubby Wang Yanghua were just average, especially Wang Yanghua''s were very poor.


    Qin Hao could barely look straight, using a phrase from the netizens to describe it: Holy crap, that''s so bad.


    After finishing the game, Wang Yanghua exclaimed, "Old Six, your skills are awesome, really kickass."


    Sun Feng was quite handsome. He was a local and his family had some money.


    But he didn''t have that obnoxious arrogance about him.


    He also smiled and said, "Never thought our dormitory was hiding a gaming ace, we can definitely ask Old Six to help with picking up girls in the future."

 Chapter 120 The Sleazy Fat Man

    Wu Jun nodded his head, "Old Six is really impressive, both his operations and awareness are much better than ours."


    Just then, the tall Zhao De came back from freshening up, "Brothers, are you hungry? Let''s go have a meal, my treat."


    Sun Feng quickly said, "How can you pay for the first meal? I''m a local, I should treat you to this first meal."


    "The boss is right, tonight the first meal must be on him," the others echoed.


    Zhao De didn''t insist anymore and said with a smile, "Alright, then let''s let the boss treat us."


    After preparing a little, they left the dormitory and went to the school''s cafeteria.


    Sun Feng led them to the second floor of the cafeteria restaurant, which was like a restaurant crowded with both men and women.


    The chubby guy immediately scoped the place, his mouth nearly watering, as he eyed the fair, thick thighs around him.


    Sun Feng generously said, "Order whatever you like."


    Old Three, Wu Jun, and Old Five, the chubby guy, were very enthusiastic, choosing several dishes, while Old Four Zhao De and Old Liu, Chen Ping, appeared much calmer.


    About seven or eight minutes later, the food arrived, and Sun Feng also brought a few bottles of white liquor and a case of beer.


    Each poured a glass of white liquor, then Sun Feng spoke, "Xuan Country is so big, yet fate has brought us brothers together in one dorm. Here''s to us all coming together."


    They all lifted their glasses, took a sip, and then started on the food, chatting while they ate.


    The meal lasted over two hours. Aside from Qin Hao who was still somewhat sober, the others were all showing signs of drunkenness.


    There weren''t many people left in the second-floor restaurant by then, and Sun Feng staggeringly paid the bill before they all started walking towards the dormitory.


    The new freshmen wouldn''t officially gather until September 1st, so these days were free for them to do as they liked.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Back at the dormitory, they all washed their faces, regaining a bit of sobriety.


    After freshening up, the tall Zhao De collapsed into bed and fell asleep, fatigued from playing basketball for a long time in the afternoon and having drunk alcohol.


    Old Six, Chen Ping, who presumably hadn''t drunk much before, also went to bed early.


    The rest lay in their beds playing with their phones.


    Qin Hao also lay in bed playing with his phone, next to him was Old Five, the chubby Wang Yanghua.


    "Baby, what are you doing?" Qin Hao sent a message to Du Wanrou.


    Du Wanrou replied, "Chatting with my roommates, and you?"


    Qin Hao: "Just got back from drinking, lying on the bed now."


    The first one is the popular channel, followed by singing and dancing, gaming, talk shows, outdoor, anime, and so on.


    Qin Hao clicked into the gaming channel, and then scrolled through, eventually spotting Witch''s live stream.


    He recognized it as Witch''s live room because the room''s title was: "Shadow Team Witch."


    Qin Hao clicked in, and the displayed popularity was 530,000 people, which can only be considered medium to high in the gaming channel.


    The top professional team members generally have seven to eight hundred thousand, or even up to over a million viewers, which is quite terrifying.


    Witch was not playing games, instead, she was chatting with the fans in her live room.


    There were many people in her microphone queue, Witch being the host stayed on microphone one.


    Microphone two hosted a duke, nicknamed Soft Tiger, and below him were many other people who had sent lots of gifts, all big shots.


    For instance, Soft Tiger''s weekly contribution leaderboard reached over 200,000 Xuan Country Coins.


    That is to say, within a week, he had spent over 200,000 yuan on Witch, a bona fide big shot.


    Moreover, Qin Hao also checked out this duke title, which costs 100,000 yuan a month.


    This wasn''t even the most expensive, above duke there were two more impressive titles.


    One was marquis, requiring 200,000 a month, and the most powerful was emperor, costing 660,000 yuan a month.


    Qin Hao was astonished, this was simply highway robbery.


    Tenglong Group, with just this TT Live platform, probably earns an extremely terrifying sum each month.


    TT Live platform is a subsidiary company under Tenglong Group, and the income of this subsidiary is much greater than some listed big companies.


    Only to hear Witch in the live room saying, "Don''t ask me where my master is studying at, I cannot tell you without his permission."


    Qin Hao switched to TT, sent her a message: "Now you know how to keep secrets? Whom did you give my phone number to?"


    Witch was startled upon seeing the message, then hurriedly said, "Master, master, you are in my live room?"


    After saying that, she quickly sent Qin Hao a message: "Master, what''s your account number? I''ll get you on the microphone queue."


    The people in the live room hearing Witch''s words began to shout: "Is God Gunner in the live room? Where?"


    "Where is God Gunner, come out quick."


    "Idol, where are you?"


    "God, come out quick, you haven''t played in days, we miss you."

 Chapter 121 Candidness

    Qin Hao gave her his account, and the little witch found it and took him to the second microphone queue.


    The little witch said to the people in the live stream room, "This Spade Ace is my master. Everyone, please follow him."


    In an instant, Qin Hao''s followers skyrocketed. Without the little witch having to say anything, these people all followed him immediately.


    This was the Gun God, a top national god player, and now Qin Hao''s game account was ranked within the top ten in the national server.


    After a few more games, he might be able to claim the top spot and become the number one god in the national server.


    Qin Hao was in the dormitory and it wasn''t convenient to speak with the microphone, so he didn''t speak, he just hung around for a while.


    In less than half an hour, his followers had risen to nearly four hundred thousand.


    Almost everyone in the live streaming room, eighty to ninety percent of them, had followed him.


    These people had watched Qin Hao play games for a long time; they were not only fans of the little witch but also his fans.


    Around nine o''clock in the evening, Qin Hao logged off and went to bed.


    The next morning, Qin Hao got up early while the others in the dormitory were still sound asleep.


    After washing up, he went to the cafeteria and brought back some steamed buns and soy milk to the dormitory.


    By the time he returned, Wang Feng, the fatty, and the others had woken up and were chatting in bed.


    Seeing him returning with a pile of breakfast, Wang Yanghua laughed and said, "It''s still our second brother who''s reliable. Brothers, time to get up for breakfast."


    Everyone got up, and while getting out of bed, they continued asking, "Where are we going to have fun today? Big bro, you''re a local, what fun places are there in Jianghai City?"


    Sun Feng said, "Where do you guys want to go? To an amusement park, or someplace with a nice view?"


    Wu Jun spoke up, "I heard Jianghai City''s ocean aquarium is huge, how about we go there for fun?"


    The fatty nodded and said, "Sure, I''ve never been to Jianghai City''s ocean aquarium."


    The others nodded in agreement, "Alright, let''s go after we finish eating."


    Qin Hao spoke up, "You guys go ahead, I''ve got some things to do, so I won''t join."


    Upon hearing this, Wang Yanghua hurriedly said, "Second bro, you''ve just got to Jianghai City, what could you possibly have to do? Let''s go have fun together, brothers."


    Sun Feng also joined in, "Yeah, Old Two, let''s all go and have fun together."


    Qin Hao smiled bitterly, "You guys go ahead, I really have things to do."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Nice to meet you all, I''m Qin Hao. I hope you''ll look after Wan Rou for me in the future."


    Li Niannian was wearing a very large pair of glasses, looking somewhat cute.


    She looked at Qin Hao and asked, "Are you the Qin Hao who scored full marks on the Jiangshan City unified exam?"


    The others, upon hearing Li Niannian''s words, widened their eyes in surprise.


    Is he the genius who scored full marks on the unified exam? He''s our roommate''s boyfriend?


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh and nodded. He hadn''t expected his reputation to be so widespread. It seemed the notoriety of being the national top scorer in the unified exam was significant indeed.


    Du Wanrou felt a sense of pride and said with a smile, "Niannian, Qin Hao and I are going to hang out now."


    "Go on, stop flaunting your love in front of us. It''s getting unbearable," Li Niannian said with a feigned look of disgust.


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou, hand in hand, walked out of the school.


    Once out of the school, Du Wanrou asked, "Where shall we go to have fun?"


    Qin Hao was well-prepared, "Let''s go to Pan Garden in Jianghai. It''s one of the top ten scenic spots in Jianghai City."


    Du Wanrou nodded, "Okay, sounds good."


    Qin Hao didn''t take her to catch a bus, as the weather was very hot and some buses didn''t have air conditioning, which made it very uncomfortable.


    Money wasn''t an issue for him, so he directly hailed a cab to the famous Pan Garden in Jianghai City.


    Located in Xuanbo District, Pan Garden was quite far away. After more than half an hour in the taxi, they reached the entrance of Pan Garden.


    The fare totaled more than one hundred and seventy yuan, which Qin Hao pulled out and paid to the driver.


    Once the taxi had left, Du Wanrou said, "Qin Hao, actually, we could have just taken the bus."


    Qin Hao knew what she meant. He opened his email on his phone, clicked on a message, and showed it to Du Wanrou.


    Du Wanrou took a curious glance and then froze, "Why do you have Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant''s financial statement for July? That''s confidential for a company."


    She looked at him with worried eyes, thinking he might have stolen it.


    Qin Hao laughed and said, "Because I am the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd., they have to send me the financial statement every month for my review."


    Du Wanrou looked incredulous, taking Qin Hao''s phone to examine further.


    Besides that email, there were several others from Kang Youyi, Yu Jie, and Tian Yamei.


    Du Wanrou looked up at him, her eyes filled with surprise and delight, "Are you really the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck?"

 Chapter 122 The Name of the Man, The Shadow of the Tree

    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Why would I deceive you about this? I will support you in the future."


    After he said this, he wrapped his arms around Du Wanrou''s slender and soft waist.


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned slightly red, and she didn''t resist, still immersed in the surprise.


    Qin Hao was the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck, so in the future, they would face less resistance.


    If the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company developed well, it would be much easier to get her parents'' approval.


    Initially, she had some worries about their future, but now she saw hope, the hope given to her by Qin Hao.


    Pan Garden was filled with a classical beauty; pavilions, halls, corridors, rockeries.


    The environment was beautiful, and the scenery charming, walking inside gave one the feeling of stepping back into ancient times.


    There weren''t many people enjoying the sights at Pan Garden during this period. After wandering for more than an hour, they finished touring the entire garden.


    Qin Hao looked at the time; it was almost noon. He asked, "Wan Rou, what would you like to eat for lunch?"


    After thinking for a moment, Du Wanrou said, "On the way here, I saw a western restaurant nearby. I feel like eating steak."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Then let''s go eat steak."


    The two left Pan Garden and entered a nearby western restaurant, where they had a simple meal.


    Qin Hao, for one, hadn''t eaten his fill, so in the afternoon, they went to the City God Temple in Jianghai City.


    The City God Temple was a street famous for its food and snacks from Jianghai, and it was extremely crowded.


    Upon arriving here, Du Wanrou and Qin Hao bought many snacks and local delicacies, eating and walking, enjoying the famous City God Temple in Jianghai City.


    When they got tired, they sat down to take a break.


    At six in the afternoon, after eating dinner at a snack shop, they started heading back.


    Qin Hao dropped her off at the school gate and noticed the Sunshine Hotel next to the school.


    He took a deep breath and said, "There''s no TV in your dormitory, Wan Rou. How about we go watch some TV?"


    Du Wanrou was slow to react, "Huh? Where are we going to watch TV?"


    Qin Hao looked towards the adjacent Sunshine Hotel, "They should have a TV there, right?"


    Understanding his intention when she saw the hotel, Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned bright red.


    She whispered, "No, I... I''m not ready yet."


    After she said this, she lowered her head, bashfully not daring to look at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao didn''t hold out much hope, and seeing her act so shy and dependent, he reached out and embraced her.


    Du Wanrou was startled for a moment, then also reached out to hug his waist.


    Qin Hao caught a whiff of her light body fragrance, pleasant and alluring, which instantly ignited a fire within him.


    "Master, are you free today?" the Little Witch asked, her voice coming through the speakers.


    Qin Hao, wearing his headset, replied: "Just got back with nothing much to do, thought I''d play for a while."


    And just as he finished speaking, Shadow Xiaoya and Xiao Qi were also pulled into the team by the Little Witch.


    The fans in their three streaming rooms saw Qin Hao come online and immediately erupted: "The Gun God has arrived!"


    "The Gun God finally logs on, is it time to start the massacre mode?"


    "66666"


    "When the Gun God makes a move, the whole server shakes."


    "Welcome to the Gun God coming online."


    "Welcome, Gun God."


    ...


    The Little Witch spoke up: "Master, I am starting now."


    "Yeah, go ahead, I''m going to sleep after playing for a while."


    With a click from the Little Witch, seconds later, their squad appeared in Suzhi Square.


    The square was in chaos, with people chatting, singing, and others picking fights and acting tough.


    Now all four of their rankings were incredibly high, all within the top fifty in the national server, with Qin Hao currently ranked sixth in the national server.


    Having played for so long, bagging victory after victory, and averaging about thirty kills per game, it was nothing short of terrifying.


    Qin Hao was in a good mood and boasted: "The nation''s number one Gun God is here; you trash, shake in your boots."


    Instantly, Suzhi Square went quiet, and the number of people, which was at 96 in the top-right corner just a moment ago-


    Started dropping rapidly. In less than ten seconds, the 96 people in the square had dropped to about sixty.


    "Damn, why is everyone running away?" Qin Hao, seeing people continue to leave from the top-right corner, was somewhat at a loss for words.


    The Little Witch and the other two looked at each other, puzzled. Was the Gun God so fearsome now that just a word from him caused this?


    The people in the live broadcast room couldn''t help but laugh, spamming the chat with 6666666.


    "6666666"


    "A person''s reputation is like a tree''s shadow; the Gun God is truly terrifying."


    "Damn, I respect no one but the Gun God; he can scare people away just like that."


    "Haha, it seems the ones who ran away know all too well how formidable the Gun God is, too badass, too harsh."


    "Holy crap, this scene is too damn intense, Gun God, you have my admiration."


    "Now there are less than fifty people left, 666666, Gun God will be making the gaming headlines again tomorrow."

 Chapter 123 Gun Devil Roommate

    The live stream was filled with voices of admiration and worship.


    Having watched live streaming for so long, this was the first time they had encountered such a situation, even surpassing the former live streams of the top god of the national server.


    Never before had they seen such a crazy mass exit.


    The main reason was that Qin Hao''s skills were too terrifying, leaving them without a glimmer of hope to win.


    His prowess far exceeded that of the current number one in the national server rankings.


    Everyone knew that Shadow Gun Demon''s skills were strong, and it was only a matter of time before he topped the national server.


    There were fewer and fewer people in Suzhi Square; these were all top-tier players, including many national server gods and professional team players.


    Originally, some people had no intention of leaving, but the number of leavers was too high, and with fewer people, it lost its fun, so they followed suit and left as well.


    Seeing this situation, the little witch could only retreat as well, since it was not interesting when less than fifty people were up for a fight.


    Going into the second game, Qin Hao shouted again, and the number of participants dropped once more.


    He was exasperated, "Dammit, it''s just a game, why is it so difficult? Why do you all run off, I''m not a demon."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Master, can we keep a low profile next time?" urged the little witch.


    Qin Hao: "Alright."


    In the following two matches, Qin Hao remained silent, successfully played two games, and won each game.


    After these two games, his account reigned supreme in the national server, and he became a top-tier god in survival games.


    While Qin Hao was on his second game, the fatty and his friends finished theirs and the fatty came over to take a look.


    After just a few glances, Wang Yanghua couldn''t take his eyes off the screen.


    After Qin Hao wiped out a team, Wang Yanghua''s eyes widened, "Holy shit, Bro, your gun skills are insanely good."


    Sun Feng, Wu Jun, and Chen Ping, hearing his comment, became curious and came over to watch Qin Hao play.


    Qin Hao did not conceal his skills, his expression indifferent as he stared at the computer screen.


    Ten minutes later, Qin Hao had already claimed twenty lives, leaving Sun Feng, Wu Jun, and Wang Yanghua dumbfounded.


    Shocked, Wu Jun exclaimed, "Damn, Bro, you''re this awesome at gaming? Even better than Liu Li."


    Chen Ping glanced at Qin Hao''s ID, and felt a jolt.


    He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, "Shadow Gun Demon?" "Bro, you''re the Shadow Gun Demon?"


    "What Shadow Gun Demon are you talking about, Liu Li? That name sounds so lame," the fatty remarked upon hearing Chen Ping''s words.


    The chubby guy chuckled, "No wonder you don''t have a girlfriend, Sixth Brother, with the way you talk, which girl would like you?"


    Qin Hao gave the chubby guy a glance, "Stop talking about Sixth Brother. Look at yourself, how fat you''ve become."


    "Haha, yeah, fatty, you''re one to talk about Sixth Brother," Wu Jun also said with a laugh.


    Even though Qin Hao had revealed his gaming identity, the guys didn''t feel any more distant from him.


    After chatting for a while, they finished washing up and went to bed.


    Du Wanrou had been out all day, so she went to bed early at night, but it was Little Witch who closed her stream and chatted with him for a while.


    Little Witch asked, "Master, are you at Jianghai University now?"


    Qin Hao: "Mm-hmm, in the dormitory."


    Little Witch: "I have some good news for you, Master. I am also going to study at Jianghai University, hehe."


    "Oh."


    Li Moying didn''t like his reaction and felt displeased, "Master, what kind of reaction is that? You don''t seem happy at all."


    Qin Hao replied exasperatedly, "You going to university, why should I be happy? Your parents should be the ones who are happy."


    Li Moying: "...So, becoming your classmate doesn''t make you happy?"


    Qin Hao realized, "Oh, that''s what you meant. Happy, happy."


    "Hmph, you''re just placating me. What major are you in at Jianghai University, Master?"


    Qin Hao: "Computer Science."


    Little Witch: "I applied for Finance. The faculty is at the main campus. Which campus are you at, Master?"


    Qin Hao paused for a bit: "I''m also at the main campus."


    "Hehe, that''s great. I''ll come find you when I have time, Master. By the way, I still don''t know your family name."


    Qin Hao asked warily, "Why do you want to find me?"


    Li Moying, seeing his somewhat disdainful words, felt a bit frustrated. So many people want to find me, and I don''t agree to meet them.


    Your ladyship is personally going to look for you, and you still act so disdainful? That''s really annoying.


    If you weren''t my master, that person would already be beaten to a pulp by now.


    Li Moying: "Of course, to hang out with you, Master. Besides, your apprentice is quite an influential figure in Jianghai City.


    If you encounter any troubles at school, you can ask your apprentice for help. I will solve them for you."


    Qin Hao: "Don''t talk so big. If I do have a problem and you can''t solve it, you''ll have slapped your own face."

 Chapter 124 Ideas

    The two chatted idly for a while before they went to sleep.


    The next day, Qin Hao didn''t go looking for Du Wanrou, as her aunt had taken her away, and she wasn''t due back until the formal start of the school term.


    He and a few people from his dorm went out to have fun. Jianghai City was vast, and in three days they only visited a few places.


    At the same time, Qin Hao also witnessed the prosperity of an international metropolis.


    The flow of people here was incomparable to Jiangshan, and he was confident that if he were to open a roasted duck restaurant in Jianghai City, it would likely sell like hotcakes.


    Of course, investing in opening a store here would cost several times more than in Jiangshan; input and returns were proportional.


    With high foot traffic and consumer spending, returns would come faster here.


    Moreover, being an international metropolis, its reputation within Xuan Country was no less than that of the capital, Jinchen.


    Having his own store in such a place would also enhance the reputation of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    Over these few days, the idea of opening a branch in Jianghai City took root in his mind.


    On the evening of August 31, at a little past 8 PM, Qin Hao received a call from Kang Youyi.


    He began, "Hao, the performance data of the six newly opened stores is out. The total is two hundred and eighty thousand four hundred and fifty-two, with an average performance of over thirty thousand per store."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Reward those who should be rewarded, and penalize those who should be penalized. I don''t want nepotism within the company."


    Kang Youyi said, "Yeah, sure, Hao, don''t worry. I have already given a cash bonus to the best performing store."


    Qin Hao replied, "Okay, good. You''ll have to work a bit harder while I''m away."


    Kang Youyi said, "You''re speaking as if we''re outsiders, Hao. I already feel unworthy of that one percent share in the company. Furthermore, Yu Jie and the others from the company are still compiling the performance report for August. It might be sent to you a bit later."


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, "How many people are in the finance department now? If we''re short-staffed, we should hire some more people."


    Kang Youyi responded, "Sure thing, Hao, I''ll check with Yu Jie about that."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao returned to his dorm, and the chubby guy asked him, "Second bro, gonna play some games? Carry us in a round of ''Battle Royale''."


    "You guys play; I have to chat with my girlfriend."


    The chubby guy grumbled, "Damn, dog food out of nowhere."


    Sun Feng said with a smile, "We have to gather with the class tomorrow, and I think we''ll also start a week of military training. Let''s go to sleep early."


    "Alright, then let''s sleep."


    Qin Hao chatted with Du Wanrou for over an hour before he finally put down his phone to sleep.


    The next morning, at a little after 6 AM, the group in the dorm got up¡ªthere was no choice; the instructor had announced it in the group the day before.


    Wow, this is too good to be true."


    Wu Jun and Sun Feng were also stunned, because the girl who had just stepped up was also very pretty, not the least bit inferior to Ning Yao.


    Xu Siyao stood at the podium looking down at everyone, her gaze resting on Qin Hao.


    With a smile, she said, "Hello everyone, my name is Xu Siyao, and I am from Jianghai City."


    After she spoke, she bowed slightly and then walked down from the podium.


    Thunderous applause erupted from below, and Qin Hao also softly clapped his hands.


    He had not expected to encounter Xu Siyao here; on her, Qin Hao could no longer see any sign of arrogance.


    Compared to before, she seemed like a completely different person.


    Seeing her like this now, with a smile on her face, she had gotten back on the right track.


    ...


    The self-introductions soon came around to the people in Qin Hao''s dorm; Sun Feng was the first to step up, "Hello everyone, my name is Sun Feng, from Jianghai City."


    Then it was Wu Jun, Zhao De, and Chen Ping''s turn.


    Before Qin Hao could stand up, the fat boy hurriedly walked up; as he walked, Qin Hao could feel the ground shaking beneath him.


    Standing at the podium, Wang Yanghua smiled at He Tingting and said, "Hello, Mr He."


    He Tingting nodded slightly, then the fat boy turned to face the entire class, "Hello everyone, my name is Wang Yanghua, and I come from Nanzhe Province.


    I''m currently single and welcome all the beauties to hit on me."


    "Pfft"


    "Hahaha"


    The class erupted into laughter all of a sudden, this little fat guy really had thick skin.


    When He Tingting heard what he said, she was full of black lines, "Get down from there, now."


    The fat boy chuckled dryly and hurriedly made his way down, not forgetting to say, "If anyone has a crush on me, feel free to boldly ask for my contact details."


    Everyone in Qin Hao''s dorm lowered their heads as if to say I don''t know this guy.


    When the fat boy returned, it was Qin Hao''s turn; he was the only one left, and many turned their heads to look over.


    Qin Hao glared at the fat boy annoyedly; he had not planned to be the last to go, originally intending to go before him.


    Who knew that the fat boy would jump the gun and go out ahead of time.

 Chapter 125 Privilege

    Under the gaze of so many people, Qin Hao''s expression remained calm as he walked to the podium with a smile on his face.


    Ning Yao, Xu Siyao, and others all watched him.


    Qin Hao spoke, "Hello everyone, my name is Qin Hao, and I come from Jiangshan City in Shuinan Province."


    The crowd clapped their hands just the same, and just as Qin Hao was about to step down, He Tingting suddenly spoke, "Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao turned his head toward He Tingting, "Yes, teacher, what is it?"


    He Tingting took a step forward and addressed the audience, "You may not know this, but Qin Hao is this year''s top scorer in the national unified examination. Let''s welcome him with a warm round of applause."


    Most people below were taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly clapped their hands.


    Qin Hao? He is the national top scorer Qin Hao? Is such a genius really in our class?


    However, there were a few male students who were disdainful, clapping lightly if only to give He Tingting some face.


    He looked quite handsome, with a special aura about him. I wonder if he has a girlfriend! Many female students thought this.


    Qin Hao gave a slight bow as thanks for their applause, then stepped down.


    He Tingting then continued, "Does anyone want to be a class officer? You can write an application and submit it to me.


    After the military training, I will check them and announce it in the class. Everyone can also discuss it now.


    At nine o''clock, all students are to gather at the playground where comrades from the military department will conduct a week-long military training for everyone."


    After she finished speaking, the people in the class immediately started talking amongst themselves.


    The six people in Qin Hao''s dorm also started discussing. Wang Yanghua asked, "Brothers, what do you want to be?"


    Sun Feng and the others exchanged glances, all looking toward Qin Hao first, "Second Brother, do you want to be the class president or something else?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "I''m not interested in being a class officer. Apply for whatever you want; don''t mind me."


    Sun Feng thought for a moment and said, "I plan to apply to be the class president. What about you guys?"


    Wu Jun and Chen Ping shook their heads, neither of them had any desire to be class officers.


    Although there were many benefits to being a class officer in university, they had no experience and were quite afraid of doing a poor job.


    Wang Yanghua said with a smile, "I also want to apply for class president."


    Qin Hao and the others groaned," "You as class president? Don''t scare us, if you become class president, can our class even hold its head up?"No?v(el)B\\jnn


    When Wang Yanghua heard their comments, he deflated like a frostbitten eggplant, "For the sake of my lifetime happiness, can''t you guys support me just this once?"


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "How does this relate to a matter of lifelong importance?"


    The plump roommate chuckled, "Being the class president makes it easier to find a girlfriend, right?"


    With delicate features and a mature, voluptuous figure full of charm, she definitely qualified as a goddess-level character.


    Qin Hao hurried to catch up with her and said, "Teacher, I''ve got something to take care of these next few days, so I won''t be participating in the military training."


    He Tingting suddenly stopped, and with beautiful, captivating eyes, she said, "No."


    Qin Hao, "But didn''t you say I have privileges, Teacher? Otherwise, I''ll go and talk to the Dean of the College."


    "... Are you threatening me?" He Tingting''s face turned cool as she looked at him.


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, "How dare I? You''re my instructor, I really do have something important."


    "What is it?" asked He Tingting.


    Qin Hao, "It''s a private matter, I''d rather not say."


    He Tingting''s expression turned dark instantly, thinking what kind of ''private matter'' could a kid have.


    She didn''t ask any further but reminded him, "You''re a stranger in Jianghai City, so be careful if you go out."


    Qin Hao could tell that she was genuinely worried about him, that was the kind of concern a teacher would have for her student.


    He nodded slightly, "Yes, I understand, Teacher."


    Qin Hao and she then went to the Logistics Department and picked up dozens of sets of military training uniforms, hauling them back to the playground on a small cart.


    He Tingting walked alongside, helping to steady the boxes on the cart with her hands.


    As Qin Hao pulled the cart, he asked, "Teacher, how did you become an instructor at Jianghai University at such a young age?"


    He Tingting answered with a smile, "Why, can''t I?"


    Qin Hao, "Did you get in through the backdoor, Teacher?"


    ...


    He Tingting replied indignantly, "You''d better shut that mouth of yours."


    Qin Hao laughed awkwardly; it seemed that he had hit a nerve, otherwise, she wouldn''t have reacted so strongly.


    He delivered the uniforms to the playground and everyone received a set, which were the summer camouflage uniforms for military training.


    After getting their uniforms, everyone went to change, and Qin Hao and his roommates returned to the dormitory.


    Qin Hao placed the military training uniform on his bed, then tidied up a bit and said, "You guys go for training, I''m going out for a walk."


    The chubby student was stunned, "Huh? Second Brother, what do you mean? Aren''t you going for military training?"


    Qin Hao, "No need. I just told the teacher."


    Wu Jun said enviously, "Second Brother is so cool. Is this the privilege of getting full marks on the unified exam?"

 Chapter 126 Meeting Xia Qing Again

    Qin Hao hadn''t attended the grueling military training, instead he spent the day wandering outside, looking for a decent storefront.


    He was planning to start a roast duck restaurant in Jianghai City.


    After roaming around all day, he had found several good spots, but all were already leased out.


    Having had no success that day, he returned to the campus. It was just past six in the evening, and the day''s military training had already ended.


    Hoards of students emerged from the sports field, heading towards the cafeteria.


    Qin Hao walked along the painted pavement on the campus, contemplating the stores he had visited.


    He wondered which one was more suitable, or if he should continue looking elsewhere tomorrow.


    As he was deep in thought, walking forward with his head down, he saw a graceful figure standing in front of him, staring blankly at him.


    "Xiaoqing, what are you looking at?" a girl next to Xia Qing asked curiously.


    Xia Qing turned her head, speaking indifferently, "It''s nothing."


    Just as she was about to leave, several boys from her class approached.


    One of them asked Xia Qing, "Xia Qing, are you free tonight? How about we have dinner together?"


    Xia Qing replied, "No need."


    "It''s okay, everyone''s coming, I''ll treat," Cui Zhi spoke up.


    Upon hearing this, Xia Qing''s roommates'' eyes lit up.


    Cui Zhi was dressed in branded clothing that morning, exuding an aura of elegance that clearly marked him as a wealthy person.


    Just then, Qin Hao walked up to them. Sensing people in front of him, he looked up and planned to bypass them.


    However, after glancing, he paused, looking somewhat embarrassed, "Xiaoqing."


    Cui Zhi, hearing Qin Hao''s greeting to Xia Qing, felt uneasy. Who was this guy and what was his relation to Xia Qing?


    Xia Qing nodded, "You didn''t have military training?"


    Qin Hao replied, "No, just took a stroll outside."


    Suddenly, Xia Qing spoke up, "Oh, you mentioned dinner tonight, shall we go now?"


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, then noticing Cui Zhi and the others beside her, he understood the situation.


    He smiled and said, "Yeah, sure."


    Xia Qing exchanged a few words with her roommates, then followed Qin Hao, leaving Cui Zhi with a sour expression standing there.


    "Zhi, who is this kid? Should we teach him a lesson?" one of Cui Zhi''s companions asked.


    Cui Zhi coldly responded, "First, go to the cafeteria. After dinner, find out which department and class this guy is from."


    Xia Qing, feeling their stares, blushed slightly.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, "Why keep staring? Haven''t you seen a beautiful woman before?"


    Wu Jun asked with a smile, "Big bro, is this your wife?"


    Qin Hao: "No, she''s a good friend of mine."


    Wang Yang Hua immediately said to Xia Qing, "Hello, I''m Wang Yang Hua, big bro''s close roommate."


    Xia Qing nodded slightly, "Hello, I''m Xia Qing."


    Sun Feng and the others also introduced themselves and then went to eat elsewhere.


    Xia Qing breathed a sigh of relief, "Your roommate is quite enthusiastic."


    Qin Hao was a bit embarrassed, it was clear to anyone that the fat guy was interested in her.


    "Ignore them, they''re always like this, let''s eat."


    At that moment, the food arrived, and Qin Hao quickly changed the subject.


    ...


    That evening, back at the dorm.


    The fat guy eagerly asked, "Hao, can you give me the contact info of the beauty you were dining with?"


    "Fatso, can''t you see, that girl likes our big bro," Zhao De reminded him.


    Fatso: "But big bro already has a girlfriend."


    Zhao De couldn''t help but say, "Fatso, get some self-awareness, okay? That beauty, even if she can''t get big bro,


    she definitely wouldn''t be interested in you. If she were interested in anyone, it would be me. Big bro, give me her contact info."


    Qin Hao thought the first part of his speech was okay, but the latter left him speechless, these two were really oddballs.


    After washing up, he went to bed, Sun Feng and the others didn''t play games either, as the day''s military training had been exhausting.


    The next morning they went back to military training, while Qin Hao went out to scout for stores again.


    So it went, during the day he scouted for stores and at night, he chatted with Du Wanrou.


    On the seventh day, Qin Hao took a taxi to a very crowded square in Bailing District.


    The square was called Xing''an Square, with another square across from it, though less crowded.


    Qin Hao was also impressed by the traffic here, then he went to the fifth floor of Xing''an Square to the Xing''an Real Estate Management Company.


    Upon reaching the fifth floor, he saw the reception at the front desk of Xing''an Real Estate Management Company.


    One of the receptionists smiled and asked, "Hello, are you looking for someone?"


    Qin Hao walked over and said, "I''m looking for the person in charge here."

 Chapter 127 Obstructed

    The front desk receptionist asked curiously, "May I ask what brings you here?"


    Qin Hao responded, "I''d like to speak to the person in charge here about renting a store."


    The receptionist paused, gave him a glance, and said, "Sir, please wait a moment."


    After speaking, she went into the company to notify the leadership.


    Another receptionist looked at him with curiosity in her eyes. He appeared to be only about twenty years old ¡ª renting a store?


    Did he even know how much the stores here cost? Judging by his attire, he didn''t look like someone wealthy at all.


    Soon, the receptionist came out and said to Qin Hao, "Hello, please follow me."


    "Thank you," Qin Hao followed the receptionist into the Xing''an Real Estate Management Company.


    Under the receptionist''s guidance, he arrived at the manager''s office.


    Inside the office were two people, a slightly overweight middle-aged man sitting in the office chair, with a young and beautiful woman standing beside him ¡ª presumably his secretary.


    After bringing Qin Hao inside, the receptionist said, "Mr. Manager, the person has been brought in."


    The middle-aged man lifted his head for a glance and frowned slightly, "Is this the guy you mentioned?"


    Seeing the manager''s reaction, the receptionist became somewhat afraid, unsure of how to respond.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "What''s the matter, Mr. Li? Do you think I don''t have the means to rent a store?"


    Li Guangfu felt even more annoyed when he heard that, as there was no hint of flattery in Qin Hao''s tone.


    Nowadays, those who come here to rent stores would speak to him humbly and fawningly.


    Li Guangfu said with a cold voice, "All the stores here have already been rented out. You should look elsewhere."


    Qin Hao understood his meaning upon hearing those words. Li Guangfu simply did not respect him.


    And since there was no shortage of people wanting to rent the stores here, he could afford to be choosy and not lease to Qin Hao.


    Some people even had to secretly treat him to meals and offer him benefits to get a chance to rent here.


    Qin Hao''s expression also cooled, "Is this how you do business, Mr. Li?"


    Li Guangfu retorted, "I don''t need a brat to teach me how to do my business. You''re no longer needed. Just hurry her away," the latter part directed at the front desk receptionist.


    Upon hearing Li Guangfu''s words, the receptionist''s face changed immediately, "Mr. Li, I... I..."


    As they walked, Qin Hao said, "You know I came here looking to rent a store for business. I''m still studying, so I don''t have a lot of time.


    I really do need an assistant, and I think you''re quite good. I''d like for you to try."


    Nie Si considered his words for a moment.


    Qin Hao continued, "What''s your monthly salary here?"


    "Three thousand five hundred, food and accommodations not included."


    Qin Hao commented, "That''s quite low. Is it enough to get by in Jianghai City?"


    Nie Si looked a bit embarrassed, "I barely make ends meet sharing a rental with a classmate."


    Qin Hao proposed, "I''ll offer you five thousand per month. Why don''t you try working with me for now, what do you say?"


    Nie Si hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Without a job and without a salary, surviving in Jianghai City was indeed tough.


    Qin Hao smiled, "Then from now on, you''re my assistant. Let''s continue to look for a store together."


    "Right, I still don''t know your name, boss. My name''s Nie Si."


    "I''m Qin Hao. As for the employment contract, give me your contact information and I''ll have someone from the legal department reach out to you tonight."


    Nie Si asked curiously, "Mr. Qin, you have your own company, so why are you out here yourself?"


    Qin Hao explained, "My company is back in my hometown. I don''t have one in Jianghai City yet. I''m planning to open a branch here."


    Relieved to hear his response, Nie Si thought that having a company meant a secure salary.


    Usually, companies registered with the state departments can be checked online¡ªshe''ll check it out when she gets back.


    Qin Hao took Nie Si out of Xing''an Square and across to Xinshang Square.


    He had visited these squares a few days ago, and after several days of consideration, he had settled on this location.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t secure the spot in Xing''an Square, and thinking of Li Guangfu still irked him.


    The day would come when such a short-sighted person with no vision would regret their actions.


    Upon arriving at Xinshang Square, Qin Hao set his sights on a rather large store, which was several hundred square meters.


    Since he couldn''t secure the store in Xing''an Square, he could only consider this one for now.


    With Nie Si''s assistance, he came to the Xinshang Real Estate Management Company.

 Chapter 128 Scouting Stores

    Xinshang Real Estate Management Company and Xing''an Real Estate Company are similar, each having two female receptionists at the front desk.


    After being announced, Qin Hao and another person were led to the manager''s office by a front desk attendant.


    The manager at Xinshang Real Estate Management Company was a mature woman, about thirty years old, fully displaying the demeanor of a mature woman.


    She was looking down, writing a document when she saw Qin Hao and another person enter.


    She smiled and said, "Please have a seat, Feng, bring some tea."


    A tall woman came over and smilingly poured water for the two of them.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, his demeanor very calm, while Nie Si appeared somewhat nervous; she was usually the one pouring tea for others.


    It was rare for someone to pour tea for her.


    At this moment, Yang Mei put down her pen and looked at Qin Hao, saying, "Are you here to rent a shop?"


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "I think the shop on the first floor of Xinshang Square looks good, so I''d like to rent it."


    Yang Mei smiled and said, "Hello, my name is Yang Mei and I am in charge here. May I know your surname, sir?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Hello, Manager Yang, my name is Qin Hao."


    Yang Mei came over and then sat opposite: "Mr. Qin, which shop are you interested in renting?"


    Qin Hao, "The one on the east side of the main door of the mall. If the price is right, I''ll rent it."


    Yang Mei paused, "That shop is quite large, and the price is high; are you sure you''re interested in that one?"


    The shop Qin Hao was interested in had not been rented out since Xinshang Square opened.


    The main reason was the high rent; the foot traffic here wasn''t as heavy as across the street, so hardly anyone rented it.


    Afraid that even the rent could not be earned back, not to mention the staff costs.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Manager Yang, please mention the rent."


    Her secretary brought over a folder; Yang Mei opened it to reveal a floor plan, marked with the area.


    She began, "Mr. Qin, the shop you are interested in is three hundred and eighty square meters.


    Our usual price here is sixty thousand a month, but we have a promotion now, only fifty-five thousand."


    Qin Hao shook his head slightly, "Manager Yang, you should be aware of the situation here; the foot traffic has all been captured by the opposite side.


    There''s a similar shop across that costs only seventy thousand."


    Yang Mei''s expression remained unchanged, still smiling, "What is your ideal price, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao said to her, "Find a renovation team to fix up the roasted duck store. I will have the company''s people contact you with specific renovation designs."


    Nie Si asked cautiously, "Yes, Mr. Qin, what is the name of our company?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd."


    After that he continued, "Take a set of keys, give me your contact information, and just sit by the computer when you get back."


    Nie Si replied, "Yes, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao said, "It''s already noon; let''s go have lunch."


    Nie Si hastily said, "There''s no need, Mr. Qin. I''ll go home and cook for myself."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "You are my assistant. Whatever the boss says, you just agree. Don''t worry, I''m not trying to exploit you."


    ...


    Nie Si''s cheeks turned slightly red; that was too blunt a statement.


    The two then went to a nearby restaurant, ate something, and then both went back.


    The midday sun was merciless. When Qin Hao returned around two o''clock, those people were still training under the scorching sun, sweating profusely.


    Qin Hao returned to the dormitory, turned on the computer, and sent Nie Si''s contact information to Kang Youyi, instructing him to arrange for someone to contact Nie Si.


    Then he told Kang Youyi to transfer Liu Pengyun and a group of employees over.


    After Nie Si returned to her place, her roommate was surprised to see her back, "Nie Si, why have you come back?"


    Nie Si recounted the events, including Li Guangfu''s intention to exploit her.


    Lv Rong cautioned her, "What did you say that roasted duck company was called? You should check it out first to avoid being deceived again."


    Nie Si nodded slightly, opened her computer, and searched Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd on Qian Du.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd: Registered in Shuinan Province Jiangshan City, with a registered capital of ten million.


    The company was established on May 26, 20XX.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck is made from seventy-two types of Chinese herbal ingredients, known for its delicious taste, crispy outside and tender inside...


    Its aroma is so enticing it leaves one drooling, and its flavor unforgettable for days.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company has developed very quickly; established only a few months ago, it now has nearly ten stores.


    The monthly profit is estimated to be close to ten million, and professional firms have valued it between two hundred million and three hundred million.


    This valuation is not based on the total assets of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, but rather on the potential of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    Upon seeing this, Lv Rong exclaimed, "Wow, this company is really impressive. It''s a company with potential, and now they even want to expand to Jianghai City. This boss has big ambitions."

 Chapter 129 Furious He Tingting

    Nie Si nodded in agreement, impressed by the swift development of the organization in just a few months.


    While they were discussing, the computer pinged with a friend request sound.


    Nie Si clicked "agree," and then the other party sent her a video call request.


    She accepted it, and a well-dressed, attractive woman appeared on the screen.


    Tian Yamei started, "Hello, Assistant Nie, I am Tian Yamei, the legal affairs director of Jiangshan Video Company."


    "Hello, Mr. Tian," Nie Si hastily replied when she heard the title of the person on the other end.


    She had thought only a staff member from legal affairs would contact her; she hadn''t expected the director to reach out personally.


    Tian Yamei said with a smile, "Assistant Nie, Mr. Qin has already told me about your matter. Next, I will send you the contract documents. Please sign them, then send them back to us by courier. We''ll stamp it and send you a copy in return."


    After finishing the discussion about the contract, Tian Yamei also described the style of decoration for the roast duck restaurant to her.


    ...


    At Jianghai University, all classes participated in a military training competition on the playground that afternoon, which marked a farewell ceremony with the instructors.


    Ultimately, the judges selected the top three classes in military training performance and awarded certificates, a real honor.


    However, all of this was unrelated to Qin Hao, who was sleeping in his dormitory.


    The dormitory had air conditioning, making it exceptionally comfortable. When Wang Yanghua and others returned and saw him blissfully sleeping, they felt so angry they nearly spat blood. They were all freshmen; how could the treatment be so unequal?


    After seven days of military training, these few had obviously become much darker.


    When they returned, they woke him up, "Hao, it''s already six o''clock, let''s go eat. There''s still evening self-study to do."


    Qin Hao hazily opened his eyes and checked his watch; it indeed was past six in the evening.


    He yawned and said, "Oh, okay, got it."


    After he got up and washed up a bit, they headed to the cafeteria for dinner.


    The cafeteria was crowded, and Qin Hao noticed that these people had become noticeably darker than a few days ago.


    They got their food in the first-floor cafeteria and found a secluded spot to start eating.


    The food on the second floor was expensive, and they weren''t lavish enough to eat there every day.


    Usually, those who could afford to eat there every day were wealthy people.


    After finishing their meal, they exited the cafeteria and headed toward the distant academic building.


    On the way back, Sun Feng reminded him, "Second Brother, be careful, I don''t think that guy will let it go easily."


    Qin Hao nodded lightly, "Mm, okay."


    Arriving in the classroom, it was noisy with everyone chatting and talking, the spots around several beauties in the class were surrounded by people.


    Sun Feng and the others returned to their seats and began chatting with the people around them, having gotten to know almost everyone through the military training.


    Qin Hao sat in his seat, pondering his own matters.


    Xu Siyao glanced at him and hesitated for a moment before standing up and walking over.


    Many people surrounded her, both men and women, who parted to make way for her.


    But when those people saw Xu Siyao stopping next to Qin Hao, they looked puzzled and confused.


    The men''s eyes filled with envy; had they known that good academic performance could earn the favor of a goddess, they definitely would have studied harder.


    Huo Qiang also looked bewilderingly at Xu Siyao''s back, wondering if these two had known each other before?


    Sun Feng and the others by Qin Hao noticed Xu Siyao as well, quickly turning their heads towards her and then back at Qin Hao.


    Damn, what charm does Second Brother have? How does he know so many goddess-level figures?


    Xu Siyao said to the chubby guy next to her, "You don''t mind if I sit here, do you?"


    The chubby guy hurriedly got up and made space, saying with a big smile, "Not at all, not at all."


    Xu Siyao sat in the chubby guy''s spot, next to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao turned to look at her, smiling, "Looks like we''re quite fated."


    Having heard his words, Xu Siyao''s pretty face broke into a smile, "I also didn''t expect that we''d end up in the same class."


    Qin Hao, unsure what to talk about, asked something trivial, "Are you better now?"


    Xu Siyao nodded, "It''s all good now, thanks to you. My dad hopes you can come over for a meal when you''re free."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mm okay, I also have something to discuss with your dad."


    The two chatted for a while, and she went back when He Tingting entered the room.


    The classroom quieted down as He Tingting looked at the students and said, "The seven days of military training are now over.


    Next, let''s talk about the class officer positions. Since there are too many applicants, we''ll conduct an anonymous vote.


    For the position of class president: Sun Feng, Song Yushu, Ning Yao, Liu Jing, a total of four candidates. Everyone write down the name of the candidate you support and then hand it in."

 Chapter 130 System Upgrade

    More than sixty people in the class began writing names, and then He Tingting collected them one by one.


    She placed all the pieces of paper in a box on the lecturer''s desk.


    He Tingting spoke up, "Next, I will ask a student to come up and read out the names. Whoever receives the most votes will become the class leader.


    Qin Hao, would you please come up and do the reading?"


    Qin Hao was startled for a moment. Why me? It seems it''s true that it''s better to offend a gent than a lady.


    But others didn''t think so; they were envious, believing that the teacher favored him, or else she wouldn''t have called on him.


    Although he felt somewhat annoyed, Qin Hao didn''t show it and walked up to the podium with a smile on his face.


    He Tingting wrote the names of the four candidates running for class leader on the blackboard separately. Read exclusive chapters at empire


    Standing on the podium, with He Tingting behind him to his right, Qin Hao was told, "Qin Hao, you can start now."


    He took out a slip of paper, glanced at it, then read out, "Ning Yao."


    He Tingting made a mark behind Ning Yao''s name.


    "Liu Jing"


    "Ning Yao"


    "Ning Yao"


    ...


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao finished reading off the names. Ning Yao received the most votes, with a total of 28.


    Liu Jing was second with 23 votes, Song Yushu had 8, and Sun Feng came in last with only six votes.


    These six votes were probably all thanks to his dorm mates.


    He Tingting spoke again, "Congratulations to our Ning Yao for getting the highest number of votes. From today onwards, she will be our class leader.


    Next up is the appointment of the study committee member. Qin Hao received full marks on the unified exam, so I think he is more than qualified for this position."


    Qin Hao wanted to refuse, but in front of so many people, he feared he would suffer consequences if he did.


    Under someone''s roof, one must bow their head.


    As long as he didn''t perform well in the future, she would probably give the position to someone else.


    Then, the selection for the youth league secretary was held, and Huo Qiang was directly elected.


    Lifestyle committee member, labor committee member and sports committee member were also elected. Zhao De did quite well for himself, securing the position of sports committee member.


    Following that, He Tingting had them all share their thoughts.


    Afterwards, Qin Hao, Ning Yao, and Huo Qiang were taken aside by her to move some books.


    The plump student beside him urgently whispered, "Second Brother, the teacher is calling you."


    Qin Hao was momentarily stunned, then he looked up at the podium and saw the teacher staring at him.


    He stood up and asked, "Were you looking for me, sir?"


    ...


    Huang Bo saw his calm expression and felt a bit helpless: "Never mind, please sit down."


    Qin Hao sat down again and quickly opened the system to check; he had vaguely heard the system''s notification while sleeping.


    Upon checking, he discovered that the side quest had already been completed, and his renown points had reached over fifty million.


    Now his achievement points amounted to a terrifying seventy-two thousand eight hundred.


    "Ding, the side quest ''Path of the Master'' has been initiated, achieve one hundred million renown points, with a reward of one hundred thousand achievement points, Delicious Duck Head, and Duck Liver Skill Book."


    "Ding, forced task initiated. The system will compulsorily use fifty thousand achievement points to upgrade.


    After the upgrade, the host will receive an upgrade gift pack, and new functions will be available.


    Upgrading now, please wait."


    ...


    System upgrade? New functions? Qin Hao''s expression froze upon hearing this.


    At ten-thirty, after class, Qin Hao received a phone call from Nie Si. She said, "Mr. Qin, I''ve made contact with the decoration company.


    They have already come to start the work. Do you want to come over and take a look at noon?"


    Qin Hao nodded: "I''ll come over and check it out in a bit."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao was about to go to the shop when Ning Yao came in from outside and walked toward him.


    Ning Yao spoke up, "Qin Hao, Mr. He has asked you to come over."


    Qin Hao replied, "I have something else to do; please tell the teacher for me."


    Ning Yao was taken aback by his words, thinking ''Big brother, our mentor is looking for you, and you dare to decline?


    Are you not afraid of not being able to get by in school? What are you thinking?''


    She reminded him, "You''d better go, our mentor seems a bit angry."


    Qin Hao nodded: "All right, I''ll go check it out."


    After speaking, he left the classroom and went to the office building where he found the office for the freshmen Computer College mentors and walked in.


    This was just one of the offices, inside were various department teachers and class mentors from the Computer College.


    After entering, Qin Hao glanced around, found He Tingting''s desk, and went over.

 Chapter 131

    He Tingting was writing materials, and Qin Hao approached her; she must have felt his presence but did not look up.


    Not far from the side, Qin Hao saw Huang Bo, the teacher he had just had in class, watching him.


    Seeing that He Tingting was still writing without looking up, Qin Hao asked, "Teacher, did you say you were looking for me?"


    He Tingting put down her pen, looked up at him with a delicate face, a calm expression, and bright eyes that revealed a hint of intelligence.


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    She said, "As a class representative and being a sleep during class, Qin Hao, do you think that sets a good example?"


    Qin Hao replied earnestly, "It''s not good, I have failed the trust you placed in me as your teacher, and I feel I am not suitable for this position.


    Perhaps you should give the role of class representative to a more capable student?"


    At first, He Tingting thought his remarks were reasonable, but his later words took on a different tone.


    It was clear that Qin Hao simply did not want to be the class representative, and he was hoping she would quickly dismiss him from the role.


    The more Qin Hao acted like this, the less He Tingting wanted to dismiss him¡ªthis is a common psychological reaction.


    She stood up and said to Qin Hao, "Come to my office."


    After saying that, He Tingting walked out of the room first, and Qin Hao followed her out, not forgetting to glance at Huang Bo before leaving.


    Damn, considering you are in your forties or fifties, why would you still tattle from behind someone''s back?


    Huang Bo, having sensed his resentful gaze, chuckled awkwardly.


    ...


    As the mentor for class one in the Computer College, He Tingting had her own private office.


    Upon entering He Tingting''s private office, Qin Hao smelled a faint scent of fragrance; the office decor was simple.


    A desk, a bookshelf, and a few pots of plants.


    He Tingting leaned against the desk with her arms crossed and looked at him: "What''s the matter with you, Qin Hao?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Teacher, you assigned me as class representative without even asking me; I feel that''s a great disrespect to me.


    I''m not saying I don''t want to be the class representative, but that I''m very busy and don''t have time to handle these matters."


    He Tingting smiled and said, "Busy? So busy that you''re sleeping?"


    Qin Hao smiled awkwardly, "Teacher, I''m just replenishing my energy because I have to go out in a while."


    He Tingting looked at him puzzled, "What keeps you so busy every day? Remember, you are still a student.


    Qin Hao walked around the store and then asked, "Approximately how long will it take to finish the renovation?"


    "It''s estimated to take about three to four days, and then two days for airing out," Li Peng answered from behind.


    The store had fewer than twenty workers; there were many hands available, and three to four days was actually the longest duration he mentioned.


    Qin Hao took out two thousand yuan from his pocket and handed it to Nie Si, "Buy a box of good cigarettes for each of the workers; they''re having a tough time these days."


    Nie Si was momentarily stunned, then took the money, "Yes, of course, Mr. Qin."


    Li Peng hurriedly said, "Mr. Qin, there''s no need for you to spend."


    Qin Hao looked at Li Peng, "This is my way of showing appreciation."


    Some people live at the very bottom of society yet do the hardest and most tiring work.


    They need to strive for their families, work hard for their parents, and children; their lives aren''t as easy as those of the bosses.


    They also don''t have time to go to bars, flirt with girls, or play with secretaries.


    Sometimes, they even face others'' disdain, scorn, and rejection.


    In Qin Hao''s view, it was not because these people were not hardworking, but rather due to the primary reasons attributed to societal development.


    Although Xuan Country''s development was rapid, it was still far from the ideal technologically advanced nation envisioned.


    Even the economically and militarily strong Federation had not achieved the state of a technologically advanced nation as conceived in the ideal.


    In Qin Hao''s ideal technocracy, nobody would need to work, nor worry about life and family.


    All basic necessities would be provided by the state; of course, if one wanted to live a superior life, they would still need to work hard.


    This was the society Qin Hao envisioned; perhaps somewhat naive and unrealistic.


    But if capable, he would strive for this goal.


    ...


    Nie Si, following Qin Hao''s instructions, took the money to buy two cartons of cigarettes and then distributed them among the working craftsmen.


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin." Knowing this was Qin Hao''s gesture, some workers expressed their gratitude.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Make sure you all do a good job, as we are opening in a few days."


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Qin, just leave it to us."


    Qin Hao stayed around, and at noon, the workers didn''t take a break; they had regulations requiring them to continue working after lunch.


    The lunch was also arranged by Nie Si as directed by Qin Hao, although normally this would be managed by the decoration company; but that was just Qin Hao''s character.

 Chapter 132 Upgrade Complete

    Qin Hao also had lunch here, eating the same food as those people, and he chatted with the masters while eating.


    Nie Si also had lunch here, and she noticed Qin Hao chatting happily with the workers not far away.


    She found it hard to believe, sensing that Qin Hao wasn''t faking it, but truly enjoying the conversation with these people.


    Moreover, there was no need for Qin Hao to pretend, since there was no point in pretending with these people.


    This approachable boss gave Nie Si a very good impression; working under such a boss seemed like a great thing.


    After lunch, Qin Hao heard a system notification, "System update complete, congratulations to the host for receiving the Silver Upgrade Gift Pack."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    He walked out of the shop and sat down on the steps outside before opening the system to check.


    The system added a store feature, and the draw system had also been upgraded; now, each draw required five hundred achievement points.


    Qin Hao, curious, opened the store, which was filled with top-quality items, but most of them were grayed out.


    Only a small part of the items were in normal color, as the gray items could not be bought due to the current low system level.


    The first item in the store was: Xinghai Generation One Smart Robot Manufacturing Technology.


    Xinghai is the name of an interstellar empire in the universe where the God Creation System is located.


    This generation one smart robot was developed by the Xinghai Empire at the beginning of its development, a kind of smart robot they researched and created.


    There are nine generations of smart robots in the store, currently, only the generation one smart robot is available for purchase.


    The others are grayed out; buying a generation one smart robot requires fifty thousand achievement points.


    Aside from the generation one smart robot technology, the store also features super network server manufacturing technology, wireless photovoltaic technology, air energy engine technology, skill upgrade silver card, and so on.


    Inside the store, Qin Hao didn''t find any Skill Books; those still had to be obtained through draws.


    ...


    After browsing the store, he opened his backpack, where there was also a Silver Upgrade Gift Pack.


    Silver Upgrade Gift Pack: Upon opening, you will receive ten free attribute points and randomly obtain an item; there is a certain chance to get a top-tier item of this phase.


    Qin Hao clicked to open it, and the system notification sounded, "Congratulations to the host for obtaining ten free attribute points."


    "Currently drawing a random item, please wait."


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining New Energy Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technology."


    Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technology?


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao''s expression froze, and then he hurriedly opened his backpack to check.


    Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technology: A new energy vehicle developed with air energy engine as the core technology.


    Eco-friendly and energy-saving, an essential car for developing countries.


    He allocated four points to Strength and two points to each of the other three attributes.


    Just after he finished distributing the points, Qin Hao received a call from Kang Youyi, "Mr. Qin, Liu Pengyun will be arriving in the next couple of days.


    I will send a few of his skilled operators over as well."


    Qin Hao: "Mm-hmm, okay."


    Kang Youyi continued, "Hao, around the middle of this month, we''ll be opening a few more stores."


    Qin Hao: "That soon? You must pay attention to management."


    Kang Youyi nodded, "Mm-hmm, don''t worry, Hao. The roasted duck stores don''t really require specialized talents.


    People can be trained at the old stores for a while, but choosing the right manager and managing the finances are very important. I''ll keep an eye on those."


    Hearing this, Qin Hao had nothing more to say, "Mm-hmm, just be careful with it."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao walked into the store and then said to Nie Si, "When you have time, look for accommodation nearby.


    For the employees who will work here in the future."


    Nie Si was momentarily stunned, "Mr. Qin, are we providing accommodation, too?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mm-hmm, it makes it more convenient for work."


    "What kind of price range should I look for, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao: "Just find something nearby. As long as it''s not too expensive, it should house about twenty people."


    "Mm-hmm, okay, Mr. Qin, I''ll get on it as soon as possible."


    ...


    In the afternoon, after two o''clock, Qin Hao left the shop and took a turn around Xinshang Square and then went across to Xing''an Square.


    This area is a commercial district with a large flow of people, but half the traffic gets drawn to Xing''an Square.


    Even though Xinshang Square only accounts for less than a third of the foot traffic, there are still quite a few people coming over here.


    As long as there are people, Qin Hao is confident he can keep them here, and through word of mouth, he believes Jiangshan Roasted Duck will only get better, even becoming the symbol of Xinshang Square.


    That afternoon, Qin Hao did not return to school, but instead made a call to Du Wanrou, "Wan Rou, do you have class this afternoon?"


    With curiosity, Du Wanrou asked, "No, why?"


    Qin Hao: "We don''t have classes either, so I''m on my way over to you."


    Du Wanrou nodded, "Mm-hmm, okay, I''m just strolling around campus right now. Call me when you get here."


    After the call, Qin Hao took a taxi to Du Wanrou''s East Campus.


    Jianghai University East Campus is located in Bailing District, and it took him just over ten minutes to reach the entrance.

 Chapter 133 Du Wanrous Classmate

    Qin Hao got out of the car, and walked toward the school while calling Du Wanrou.


    After the call connected, he said, "I have entered your school, where are you, Wan Rou?"


    Du Wanrou exclaimed in surprise, "So soon? I''m at the sports field, I''ll come to pick you up right away."


    "No need, I''ll come over, just wait for me there." After saying that, Qin Hao hung up the phone.


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao arrived at the sports field of East Campus; there were many people there, both men and women.


    On the roads beside the sports field, Qin Hao saw quite a few luxury cars.


    The second-generation rich from the Business Administration College were obviously more numerous than those from the Computer College.


    Qin Hao scanned the sports field and spotted Du Wanrou and a group of people by the fitness equipment in the distance.


    Moreover, he saw several boys around them.


    Qin Hao walked over to where Du Wanrou was.


    Next to Du Wanrou''s group, one of the guys dressed in branded clothing said, "Let''s go to the Night Club tonight; I''ll treat."


    Another person said, "Mr. Li, the Night Club in Jianghai City is a famous club, and the bartenders there make extraordinary drinks."


    "I''ve been there a few times, a single drink can cost tens of thousands, but the drinks are indeed good."


    ...


    Shen Yaping, Du Wanrou''s roommate, said with a smile, "Anyway, we don''t have class tomorrow morning, so why don''t we go out tonight?"


    The others also showed some interest, normally they could not afford to go, but now that someone was treating, they all felt tempted.


    Smiling, Du Wanrou said, "You go ahead, I won''t be going after my boyfriend arrives."


    Upon hearing her words, Li Xing''s expression changed slightly, boyfriend?


    He said with a smile, "It''s okay, let''s all go together, your boyfriend is our friend too."


    Another roommate of Du Wanrou, Wang Jie, also chimed in, "Li Xing is right, let''s go together, it''s just for fun."


    Shen Yaping said, "Let''s go together, we''re all classmates in the same class."


    At this moment, Qin Hao walked over, and looking at Du Wanrou, smiled and said, "Wan Rou, what are you guys up to?"


    Seeing him arrive, Du Wanrou quickly walked over and hugged his arm, "Nothing much, just some classmates inviting us out."


    Only then did Qin Hao begin to look around at the people, he had seen a few of Du Wanrou''s roommates before.


    The three impressive guys beside them were seeing him for the first time.


    The car slowly started and gradually drove away from Jianghai University East Campus.


    Li Xing spoke up, "Let''s go to Jinxiu Hotel for dinner. The food there is excellent, and it''s a nationally renowned five-star chain hotel."


    "Must be very expensive, right?" Lin Yunxin asked softly.


    Li Xing lightly smiled, "It''s not so fast normally. If you order the signature dishes, of course, they are expensive, costing tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands each."


    Qin Hao quietly looked at Du Wanrou, his hand holding hers. As for those pretentious words of Li Xing, he didn''t pay attention.


    Perhaps Li Xing wasn''t pretending; after all, his family was extraordinary, possibly just mentioning something quite ordinary.


    But if an ordinary person heard it, many would surely think he was showing off.


    Around four in the afternoon, Li Xing and the others arrived at the entrance of Jinxiu Hotel.


    The hotel, a grand thirty-story building, was majestic and opulent, worthy of its five-star chain status, and looked stunning.


    Du Wanrou''s roommates, who didn''t come from wealthy families, had never been to such a place before.


    Seeing the magnificent Jinxiu Hotel, they expressed their longing.


    Li Xing smiled and said, "Let''s go in."


    The decor inside Jinxiu Hotel was even more luxurious, with dazzling marble floors and large stone pillars carved with dragons and phoenixes.


    Every detail showcased the hotel''s splendor.


    Li Xing went to the front desk, took out a gold membership card, and said, "Please get me a private room."


    "Certainly, Mr. Li, please wait a moment," the front desk clerk registered some details and then someone led them upstairs.


    Under the guidance of a waiter, several people arrived at room 8008 on the eighth floor.


    When Li Xing handed over the menu for everyone to order, seeing the astounding prices, Li Niannian and the others felt too embarrassed to order anything.


    Chen Chengwen and Lin Mingzhe, without any reservation, ordered several dishes.


    Soon the menu reached Du Wanrou''s hands, she ordered two dishes, and then handed it to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao glanced at it, then handed the menu back to Li Xing: "I am fine with anything, Li Xing, you order."


    Hearing Qin Hao''s words, people like Wang Jie felt somewhat disdainful.


    Even though Qin Hao had good academic performance, his family''s financial situation wasn''t great, seeing the menu terrified him to the point of not daring to order.


    Indeed, when choosing a boyfriend, one should really pick someone wealthy, so you can buy whatever you want, eat whatever you wish.


    If you choose a poor scholar like Qin Hao, you might suffer for a lifetime.

 Chapter 134 The Grand Hotel

    Li Xing heard his words, although he disdained them in his heart, he did not show it on the surface.


    He still smiled and said, "No problem, order whatever you want, it''s my treat."


    The last three words he said very clearly, seemingly a bit cordial, but in fact, they were a taunt.


    Qin Hao heard his words, took the menu, and ordered two dishes, one Pine and Crane Prolonging Life and one Phoenix Spreading Its Wings.


    Both of these were Jinxiu Hotel''s signature dishes, with Pine and Crane Prolonging Life priced at ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine yuan.


    Generally, those celebrating significant birthdays here would order this dish.


    The Phoenix Spreading Its Wings was priced at sixty-six thousand six hundred and sixty-six yuan, also one of the signature dishes here.


    Both dishes were made of pure hand-carved craftsmanship, labor-intensive and time-consuming.


    Li Xing saw the dishes he ordered and his heart twitched, my god, you really dared to go for it.


    Chen Chengwen and Lin Mingzhe wanted to laugh, but they held back, letting you, Li Xing, show off, this brother is really bold.


    Li Niannian and the others felt it was a bit too much; Qin Hao was obviously retaliating for what Li Xing had said.


    You think you''re rich?, then I''ll order the most expensive.


    What''s with this Qin Hao, how could Du Wanrou fall for him?


    ...


    Li Xing couldn''t say anything; after this meal, he would need to be careful with his spending money for the month.


    He ordered two more dishes and several bottles of wine, then let the waiter go.


    Li Xing asked, "Qin Hao, do you also study in Jianghai City?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "I am at the Computer College of Jianghai University Main Campus."


    Li Xing chatted casually, "And what do your parents do, Qin Hao?"


    "My parents are just ordinary workers."


    Li Niannian and others hearing his response looked down on him even more. What''s the use of good grades?, they couldn''t compare with Li Xing at all.


    Even though you scored full marks on the standardized test, can you guarantee your annual salary after graduation?


    Even if it''s a million yuan annual salary, that''s just a month''s pocket money for Li Xing, the gap is too big.


    After chatting for a while, Qin Hao could clearly feel the change in attitude from Du Wanrou''s roommates toward him.


    He also saw that among the three guys, only Li Xing was interested in Du Wan.


    Chen Chengwen and Lin Mingzhe were both interested in Li Niannian and Liu Dan.


    Qin Hao, "I''m not at the school."


    The little witch asked curiously, "Then where did you go?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I''m out eating. What''s up, is something wrong?"


    The little witch said with a laugh, "No issue, you are my master, and as your disciple, I should come and see you. Where are you eating, Master?"


    "At Jinxiu Hotel."


    The little witch paused for a moment after hearing his words, isn''t Jinxiu Hotel our family''s hotel?


    She quickly asked, "Master, which Jinxiu Hotel are you at in Bailing District?"


    "Bailing District, why?"


    Little witch: "Master, wait for me, I''ll come right over. Which room are you in?"


    "8008."


    "Alright, Master, take your time eating, I''ll be there soon." She hung up before Qin Hao could respond.


    ...


    Du Wanrou asked curiously, "Who was that? It sounded like a woman."


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, "A friend, indeed a woman."


    "Is she coming over?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Coming to have a look."


    Hearing his words, Li Xing beside them asked, "Is your friend coming over, Qin Hao? Should we add a few more dishes?"


    "No need."


    Shen Yaping spoke without mincing words, "Qin Hao, your presence here is because of Li Xing giving face to Wan Rou, and now you''re inviting someone else over? Isn''t that a bit too much?"


    Du Wanrou''s eyebrows furrowed slightly, "Yaping, it''s not Qin Hao who invited her, it''s his classmate who said she wanted to come over."


    "What''s the difference?" Shen Yaping said disdainfully.


    As Qin Hao was about to speak, Li Xing suddenly said, "What you are saying is a bit too much, Yaping. Since she is Qin Hao''s classmate, it''s fine for her to come. I can still afford to host one more meal."


    "Mr. Li, I''m not targeting you, I just feel that some people are rather distasteful."


    Li Xing, "Let''s drop it, nobody else say anything."


    Shen Yaping then closed her mouth. From start to finish, the two acted very in sync, never giving Qin Hao a chance to speak.


    Qin Hao''s gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at Shen Yaping. Du Wanrou''s expression wasn''t very good; what Shen Yaping had just said was too excessive.


    Clearly, she was insulting Qin Hao.

 Chapter 135 Miss

    Qin Hao didn''t mention Shen Yaping, nor did he scold her.


    He felt there was no need to stoop to arguing with this kind of woman; it would only make him look petty.


    Just as they finished eating and were about to leave, the door of the private room was opened from outside, and five or six people came in.


    The people in the room paused for a moment, looking at the newcomers.


    The little witch scanned the crowd and saw Qin Hao, who was still eating.


    Her face brightened with joy as she quickly called out, "Master."


    Qin Hao turned his head to glance at her, his face revealing a moment of surprise, "Who are you?"


    The Li Moying he saw had short, flaxen hair and delicate features, especially those bright and captivating eyes.


    She was a far cry from the little witch in the video with long black hair.


    Li Moying chuckled, "Master, can''t you recognize me once I''ve taken off the wig?"


    Qin Hao let out a dry laugh, "I almost didn''t recognize you. You look a bit like a drifter."


    ...


    Li Xing, Chen Chengwen, and Lin Mingzhe, who were inside the room, looked shocked when they saw the people with Li Moying.


    Li Xing quickly got up and said, "Isn''t that Manager Wang? What brings you here?"


    Li Moying looked at him and said, "Sorry, I''ve never heard of it."


    Li Xing''s expression became a bit awkward, but he didn''t dare to make a fuss.


    Jinxiu Hotel was a nationwide chain of five-star hotels with total assets exceeding a hundred billion.


    Li Xing''s family''s total assets amounted to just over ten billion, barely enough to match a single Jinxiu Hotel.


    With more than a thousand Jinxiu Hotels across the country, the disparity was clear.


    Qin Hao turned to Li Xing and said, "Thanks for your hospitality, Li Xing. I have other matters to attend to, so I''ll be leaving first."


    Having said that, he left with Du Wanrou, and Li Moying quickly followed after them.


    With the young Miss gone, Wang Yongfeng also stepped out, and the Jinxiu Hotel executives left the private room.


    Li Xing and his companions looked at each other in disbelief, their eyes reflecting skepticism. Du Wanrou''s boyfriend knew the Jinxiu Hotel heiress?


    Li Niannian and the others were confused about Li Moying''s identity, and Lin Yunxin asked curiously, "Who was that person just now?"


    Lin Mingzhe replied with a neutral tone, "The heiress of Jinxiu Hotel."


    The group of them gasped, well aware of Jinxiu Hotel''s reputation, with locations in every major city nationwide.


    Jinxiu Group was among the top 500 enterprises in the country, and that person was the heiress to this enterprise?


    Wasn''t she the daughter of a billionaire? And what had she just called Qin Hao? Master?

 Chapter 136 Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technique

    Li Xing and his friends hurriedly followed after they saw Li Moying leave.


    If they had a chance to enter the circle of top-tier rich second generations, it would benefit not only him but also their elders.


    Li Niannian and the others trailed behind Li Xing''s group.


    Ahead, Li Moying was chatting with Qin Hao, "Master, this is a black card from my family''s hotel, only available to internal staff or big clients.


    It''s accepted at Jinxiu Hotels nationwide, and with this card, dining and accommodation are free. I''ll just get another one from my dad when we get back."


    Wang Yongfeng and the others behind them were dumbstruck upon hearing that¡ªdamn, who exactly is this guy?


    The missy is actually offering her own black card to him, what an honor that is?


    The eyes of Li Xing''s group almost popped out in envy¡ªthis was a Jinxiu Group black card, after all.


    Even their elders had never seen a black card, they had only heard about it.


    The holders of these black cards across the entire Xuan Country number less than fifty, and each one is a huge figure in the industry, with immense influence.


    Du Wanrou was incredibly shocked in her heart. Even she could see the extraordinary status of Li Moying.


    Qin Hao responded indifferently, shaking his head, "No need, I eat a lot, I''m afraid I might bankrupt your family."


    ...


    Bankrupt the Jinxiu Group? You must be joking.


    But not one of the few people behind him laughed; who can resist the temptation of a black card?


    Wang Yongfeng, who had met all sorts of people, could feel that this guy next to the miss wasn''t faking it¡ªhe genuinely didn''t want it.


    He may seem ordinary and unremarkable, yet he has a pride and nonconformity that sets him apart from the rest.


    Indeed, anyone who can walk side by side with the young missy isn''t ordinary.


    Li Moying, upset by his refusal, pouted and said, "Master, please just take it. It''s a token of your apprentice''s sincerity. You might need it sometime when treating someone to a meal."


    With Li Moying''s persistence, she finally stuffed the card into Qin Hao''s pocket, which brought her satisfaction.


    After leaving the hotel, a red, limited-edition Bugatti Veyron was parked at the entrance.


    The price of this car in Xuan Country was over forty million, making it one of the most top-tier luxury cars, and it was something Li Moying had wheedled out of her brother.


    Li Moying offered, "Master, Mistress, let me drive you back."


    "No, we''ll just take a taxi back," said Du Wanrou hastily.


    Li Moying said, "Don''t be polite with me, hurry up and get in the car."


    At her insistent request, Qin Hao and company got into her car, and then she started the car and drove away.


    Li Moying gently swirled her glass and then took a sip, her attitude elegant and her movements charming.


    Qin Hao listlessly swirled his glass, then raised it and downed it in one gulp.


    The bartender and Li Moying were taken aback, staring at him openly.


    Qin Hao burped and, seeing their expressions, curiously asked, "What''s wrong?"


    The bartender said, "Brother, this is Ice and Fire, not plain water. It''s meant to be savored slowly. Are you feeling dizzy?"


    "It''s okay, although it is a bit strong." Qin Hao now felt bursts of heat and cold within him.


    A bit strong? Just a bit strong? This was one of the strongest drinks in the bar.


    Normally, it would take more than an hour to enjoy.


    Li Moying spoke up, "Make another cocktail for my Master."


    Qin Hao looked at Li Moying and said, "Did you call me out this late just to drink?"


    Li Moying chuckled, "Master, I''m planning to sign up for the national city competition online."


    Qin Hao responded, "I might not have the time to play. I''m okay with playing occasionally."


    "Then forget it. I also think it''s not that interesting."


    Her initial plan was to persuade Qin Hao on behalf of her older brother, but after hearing his response, she knew it was not going to happen, so she didn''t bring it up again.


    After finishing their drinks, the two left the bar. Li Moying offered to send him back.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "It''s so late, I can just take a cab back myself. You should go back and rest early too."


    Li Moying couldn''t persuade him otherwise, so she watched as he got into a taxi and then left.


    Qin Hao arrived back at the dormitory, and it was already past nine in the evening.


    Seeing him return, Wang Yanghua said, "Big Brother, you''ve been really busy today, not even attending classes."


    "Had some things to take care of," Qin Hao replied.


    After freshening up, he went to bed. The fatty and the others were still playing games, while Zhao De was playing with his phone in his bed.


    Qin Hao lay in bed and opened the system, directly learning the Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technology from the backpack.


    A vast amount of information filled his mind, and after digesting this knowledge, he was stunned.


    It was truly a product of a new era.


    Every single technology in this car, if made public, would drive countless car manufacturers insane.


    He believed that if he developed this kind of car, it would create a huge sensation.


    Although he couldn''t compare to Watt who started the steam era, he felt he wouldn''t be too far behind.

 Chapter 137 He Tingtings Public Class

    Qin Hao suppressed his excitement and checked his tasks again.


    The main task should be about to be completed, and the side tasks could be completed gradually as well.


    Now, his reputation was growing at an extremely fast pace, as the number one ranking in the Xuan Country server had high visibility.


    As long as someone opened the ranking system, they would see the name Shadow Gun Demon.


    So even if he didn''t play games every day, his reputation would still be on the rise.


    Especially that terrifying record, it was simply unbelievable: a one hundred percent victory rate, who could believe it?


    The next morning


    Qin Hao and a few of his roommates finished eating, then headed to the classroom, as the schedule for freshmen was quite busy.


    This time during class, he didn''t sleep but instead read a book, taking ten lines with a single glance, and reading at a very fast pace.


    The content wasn''t too difficult for him, and he could grasp it thoroughly with just one read-through.


    After class, the fatty said to him, "Hao, I''m leaving first."


    After saying that, he ran out, and Qin Hao looked at him puzzledly. What did he mean by telling me this?


    Many in the classroom were walking out, and the number of people was dwindling.


    Qin Hao felt something was amiss, as if there was something he didn''t know about.


    At that moment, Xu Siyao came over: "Why aren''t you going?"


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Go where? Where did they all go?"


    Xu Siyao''s expression was somewhat speechless: "As the class representative, don''t you know that the next class is an open lecture on future intelligence?


    And it''s our advisor''s lecture, too. Students from six classes will be there, and even sophomores and juniors."


    Embarrassed, Qin Hao laughed, "I forgot to check the schedule, let''s go together then."


    Xu Siyao nodded, "Qin Hao, my dad would like to invite you over for a meal at our house the day after tomorrow at noon, do you have time?"


    Qin Hao: "Sure."


    Seeing him agree, Xu Siyao smiled, "Mm-hmm, let''s go to the class."


    The two walked side by side out of the classroom, and Huo Qiang, who was inside, glared at them with a hint of jealousy.


    In the multimedia open class classroom.


    After Qin Hao and Xu Siyao entered, the room was packed, seemingly with three to four hundred people.


    Although there are still many shortcomings, I think this is already a successful first step."


    He Tingting nodded slightly, and then let a few other students share their opinions.


    She continued, "Everyone has different views on this, now let me share my thoughts.


    I believe that the artificial intelligence depicted in science fiction movies will be realized someday in the future.


    They will have bodies of steel and at the same time, they will have thought processes like the human brain.


    Now, countries have dedicated research teams, and progress is fast, evident from AlphaGo a couple of years ago.


    We are getting closer to the intelligent era, maybe it will be on a certain day in a few decades, or perhaps on a certain day hundreds of years from now."


    While He Tingting was speaking passionately on the podium, everyone below listened intently and took notes.


    Qin Hao''s classmate Xu Siyao was also taking notes seriously, because she thought that what He Tingting said made a lot of sense.


    Even the person who initially thought artificial intelligence was just a figment of the imagination was persuaded by He Tingting and started taking notes earnestly.


    During this class, He Tingting spoke for more than half an hour, during which she provided many examples, making a very compelling case.


    While everyone was taking notes diligently, He Tingting glanced down and saw Qin Hao sitting there shaking his head and looking around.


    Is this guy really getting perfect scores on the unified exams?


    With his attitude towards learning, how can he possibly get perfect scores on the unified exams? Could the examiners have been blind?


    Suddenly, He Tingting spoke up, "Qin Hao, I see you sitting there looking unconvinced. Could you share your thoughts with everyone? Do you feel there''s something incorrect in what the teacher said?"


    Qin Hao froze for a moment. Wasn''t it just an inadvertent glance? Was she holding a grudge?


    Besides, it wasn''t even my intention to look; it was your own exposure...


    Xu Siyao next to him covered her mouth and chuckled. She had long felt that Qin Hao hadn''t been listening carefully.


    ...


    Qin Hao stood up and said, "Teacher, what did you say? I didn''t hear it clearly."


    He Tingting replied, "I said, don''t you think that the teacher''s views are incorrect? You can share your own views.


    Don''t treat this place as just a classroom; you can consider it a place for academic exchanges."


    The entire lecture hall turned their gaze toward Qin Hao, and to him, this feeling was not particularly pleasant.


    Qin Hao reluctantly said, "Teacher, I think some of your points aren''t quite right."


    He Tingting, curious, asked, "Oh? Which points do you think are incorrect?"

 Chapter 138 As Long as the Thinking Doesnt Slip

    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Regarding the artificial intelligence mentioned by the teacher, I think it can indeed be realized."


    But like the teacher said, having the same thinking as a human, I find that very difficult to realize."


    We should divide the development of artificial intelligence into several stages, just like computers in the past.


    A long time ago, computers had very low configurations, a few hundred megabytes of memory, vacuum tubes, then later several gigabytes, transistors;


    several hundred gigabytes, large-scale integrated circuits; I think artificial intelligence should also be divided into several stages."


    His theory didn''t have a remarkable feeling to it, but it was also decent and standard.


    He Tingting nodded slightly, "Then how many stages do you think artificial intelligence should be developed in?"


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, "Teacher, that question is quite profound, I''m not very clear on it."


    He only knew that the smart robots in the store were divided into many generations, but he was not clear on how these generations of intelligent robots were demarcated.


    He Tingting didn''t seem to intend to let him off the hook, continuing to ask, "Then can you talk about your understanding of artificial intelligence?"


    Today, she wanted to make Qin Hao realize his place, not to think that just because he scored full marks on the unified exam, he could look down on everything.


    Qin Hao, "Which aspect of understanding did the teacher mean? Could you be more specific?"


    "Your understanding of artificial intelligence, just talk about it casually."


    Qin Hao quickly opened the system store and looked at the general description of the Xinghai Generation I smart robots.


    Then he began to speak, "I think the development of artificial intelligence is closely related to computers.


    Modern computers can be said to be the embryo of artificial intelligence. Everyone has used computers and is very clear about their functions.


    You click the confirm button, and it will react; there''s also the more advanced voice-activated computers, when you speak, they will react.


    To me, all these count as having a little bit of intelligence. But how do these functions come about?


    Quite a few people should be aware that programming these features into a chip will realize these functions.


    I believe many research institutions must have focused on this. I think the direction is correct, but with some outdated things, I feel that if they need to be changed, they should be."


    Xu Siyao spoke indifferently, "I didn''t expect you guys still remembered me, I thought you would have forgotten about me long ago."


    The expressions of those people became a bit awkward; in the past, they used to hang out with Xu Siyao frequently.


    Their family backgrounds were inferior to Xu Siyao''s, so they all had their own motives for spending time with her.


    But later, when Xu Siyao got a strange illness and they thought she wouldn''t live much longer, they stopped paying attention to her.


    Now seeing Xu Siyao back to her former self, they felt a bit regretful.


    If they had paid more attention to Xu Siyao back then, they may not have ended up like they were now.


    The girl said, "What are you talking about, Sister Yao? How could we possibly forget about you? You are our big sister after all."


    Another person chimed in, "That''s right, Sister Yao. Now seeing you''re fine, we''re all really happy."


    Hearing their words, Xu Siyao''s expression grew colder and colder, "Get out of here while I''m still in a not-so-bad mood."


    Seeing her expression, those people knew she was truly angered, and they promptly left the area.


    When Xu Siyao got angry, she didn''t care about the consequences, and they didn''t want to be beaten for nothing.


    After those people left, Xu Siyao apologized to Qin Hao with embarrassment, "That... those were my former friends, sorry to have embarrassed you."


    Qin Hao laughed, "You did the right thing, these people indeed shouldn''t be associated with."


    Xu Siyao nodded slightly, realizing that although Qin Hao wasn''t old, his way of speaking was very experienced and mature.


    "By the way, how is your roast duck restaurant doing?" Xu Siyao made small talk with him.


    Qin Hao, "It''s developing well. I plan to open a branch in Jianghai City. I''ve already chosen the location and it''s currently under renovation."


    Xu Siyao was somewhat surprised, "You''re expanding to Jianghai City so soon?"


    Qin Hao spoke with a smile, "Diversification."


    Xu Siyao, "You''re amazing. So young and already starting your own business, much stronger compared to us second-generation disciples who loiter around."


    Qin Hao replied, "There are second-generation disciples who loiter, but there should also be many who are striving hard.


    Your starting point is higher than that of us ordinary people, and you have broader avenues to explore. Any development you engage in is likely to be more impressive than ours."

 Chapter 139 Campus Belle List

    Xu Siyao nodded slightly, "Jianghai City indeed has several rather famous second-generation disciples whose companies have already broken the annual profit of one billion."


    Qin Hao felt some admiration inside, there really were many capable people in Xuan Country, breaking the annual profit of one billion wasn''t something an ordinary company could achieve.


    After the two finished lunch, they returned to the classroom, as they still had one more class in the afternoon.


    Back in the classroom, Xu Siyao returned to her seat, and there were quite a few people in the classroom.


    Huo Qiang saw Qin Hao come back, stood up and walked over, "Qin Hao, step outside with me for a moment."


    Qin Hao looked at him with confusion, "Is there a problem?"


    "You''ll know once you come out," Huo Qiang said to him.


    Qin Hao detected something off in his tone, but still got up and walked out.


    After Huo Qiang left the classroom, he brought him to the restroom.


    Inside the restroom stood four or five guys, all summoned by Huo Qiang, who planned to give Qin Hao a warning.


    Upon seeing this scene, Qin Hao''s face broke into a smile, but he was a bit puzzled¡ªthere didn''t seem to be any friction between him and Huo Qiang, right?


    Huo Qiang spoke while looking at him, "Do you know why I called you out here?"


    Once back in the dorm, Fatty said to Qin Hao, "Brother, Jianghai University''s beauty ranking has been updated."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What beauty ranking?"


    Fatty chuckled, "It''s the beauty ranking of our Jianghai University, featuring beauties from every campus."


    While speaking, he opened up Jianghai University''s official forum, where there was a pinned post: Jianghai University Beauty Ranking.


    The group from the dormitory all crowded around, and then Fatty clicked on the post.


    The latest Jianghai University Beauty Ranking, first place: Li Moying.


    Accompanying it was a photo of Li Moying standing beside a red Bugatti Veyron.


    Noble and spirited, young and beautiful, this photo was indeed quite high-quality.


    Sun Feng exclaimed, "Wow damn, worthy of being the top beauty, she''s so gorgeous, I really like it."


    Wu Jun also nodded, "So beautiful, so distinctive, if I could marry a beauty like that, it would be worth dying for."


    "Keep scrolling," Qin Hao wanted to see what place Du Wanrou was in.


    Second place was a beauty from junior year named Zhao Qian, perfect from every angle, truly a top-notch beauty.


    When he reached sixth place, he saw Xia Qing, and then seventh place was Du Wanrou.

 Chapter 140 Zhao De Fights

    Qin Hao finished looking at the school beauty ranking and curled his lip, "This list seems fake."


    Several people like Sun Feng nodded in agreement; the goddesses they fancied were ranked lower down.


    The chubby guy said with a smile, "Second Brother, don''t worry about whether it''s fake or not, anyways all the girls on this list are top-notch beauties.


    The owner of this post probably has a different taste from us, he might like the type like Li Moying.


    Like I think Xia Qing should be ranked first. Just look at her smile with dimples, I feel like even ice could melt."


    Behind them, Wu Jun nodded in agreement: "That Du Wanrou is also not bad, with her delicate face and playful eyes, she''s simply the goddess of my dreams. I hope I can dream about her tonight."


    "Scram," Qin Hao cursed him without good humor.


    My girlfriend, and you still have thoughts about her?


    Wu Jun smiled sheepishly, "So Second Brother also likes the type like Du Wanrou. I''ll switch to another one then."


    Sun Feng spoke up, "I prefer the type like Zhao Qian; each of these beauties has her own charm, this ranking is not an accurate judge.


    I think it should be changed to ''Jianghai University Legendary Goddess Ranking,'' without any particular order."


    The chubby guy nodded, "All these beauties are too gorgeous, saying who''s first is unfair to the others.


    If it''s done by voting, those wealthy beauties would have an advantage, so this list is very suspect."


    This Li Moying definitely has a significant background; I see there''s a reason she''s ranked first."


    Qin Hao glanced at the chubby guy curiously and asked, "How do you know she has a significant background?"


    "Second Brother, how did you score full marks on the intelligence test? Didn''t you see the background picture? A limited edition luxury car worth tens of millions."


    ...


    Zhao De, a man from Beilu Province with a forthright and hot-tempered character, was taking quite a beating, but his spirit was not in the slightest bit diminished.


    Qin Hao was the first to charge in. He flew into the air with a kick that landed on one of the assailant''s backs.


    After landing, he delivered a spinning kick that knocked down another man. His combat skills had been upgraded after reaching the level of National Martial Arts.


    His moves were more graceful and elegant, with techniques that were varied and flexible. He could execute many highly difficult moves.


    Ten seconds later, those who had been surrounding Zhao De were all laid out on the ground. The chubby guy only arrived, panting, at this moment.


    He looked at Qin Hao in shock, "Second Brother, when did you get so good at fighting?"


    Qin Hao made up an excuse, "I practiced when I was little."


    "Damn all of you, daring to touch my brother. I''ll kick the life out of you!" The chubby guy unleashed a barrage of kicks and punches on the guys on the ground.


    Sun Feng, Wu Jun, and Chen Ping didn''t even get a chance to throw a punch as they looked at Qin Hao in astonishment.


    They had all seen Qin Hao''s moves just now, which were incredibly impressive.


    The onlookers around the basketball court were also amazed, "Wow, this guy is so badass, his skills are comparable to someone from the Martial Arts Club."


    "So awesome, just like the masters in martial arts TV shows. That flying side kick is a super high-level move!"


    "Wow, so cool." There were also few girls in the crowd, their eyes filled with stars as they watched.


    Qin Hao went over to Zhao De and asked, "You okay?"


    Zhao De grimaced in pain and took in a sharp breath, "I''m fine, Second Brother. I''ll be okay in a couple of days."


    Qin Hao looked at the people on the ground and asked Zhao De curiously, "What happened?"


    Zhao De replied, "I don''t know either, Second Brother. I was just playing basketball, and these guys came up looking for trouble."

 Chapter 141 Everyone Has Their Own Agenda

    Qin Hao looked at the people on the ground who had already stood up, their eyes filled with fear as they looked back at him.


    They were all athletic champions who had been taken down by Qin Hao alone in a very short time, which spoke to his impressive abilities.


    Qin Hao looked at them and asked, "Speak, why did you beat up my brother?"


    "He took over our basketball court," one of them replied.


    Qin Hao then said to the fatty, "Take him to our dormitory. I have a way to make him tell the truth."


    "Alright, second brother," the fatty and Wu Jun went over to take the man away.


    The man''s complexion changed, and he said hurriedly, "I''ll talk, I''ll talk, it was Cui Zhi who sent us here."


    Cui Zhi?


    An image of a person flashed through Qin Hao''s mind, Cui Zhi, someone he remembered was in the same class as Xia Qing.


    And this person had given him trouble just a few days before.


    Qin Hao asked, "Where is he now?"


    The man hesitated before replying, "Mr. Cui should still be in the dormitory now."


    "Which dormitory?"


    "Building three, room 301."


    Qin Hao led Zhao De and the others away from the basketball court and headed straight for the freshman dormitory building three.


    As they were about to arrive at the freshman dormitory building three, Sun Feng said anxiously, "Second brother, don''t act rashly, that Cui Zhi comes from a family with connections."


    Qin Hao said calmly, "I''m just going to teach him a lesson. Even with his background, can he possibly get me sentenced to prison?


    This matter started because of me, and Zhao De got beaten up because of me as well; I can''t swallow this indignity.


    This has nothing to do with you guys; I can go by myself."


    Wang Yanghua said, "Second brother, it sounds like you''re shutting us out. We brothers face troubles together and share good times together.


    How can we let you go alone for this kind of thing? I have thick skin and can take a beating. If anyone is scared, they can go back."


    Zhao De said, "Second brother, I''ll go with you too. I, Zhao De, have never tolerated such disrespect before. If we don''t strike back today, it wouldn''t fit my character."


    Sun Feng said, "That''s not what I meant. Cui Zhi''s family owns a company and has connections. I''m saying this for your own good."


    Since the last time Cui Zhi had caused them trouble, Sun Feng made some inquiries and thus got to know about Cui Zhi''s background.


    "Big bro, we are all top students of the Computer College. If things really escalate, it''s better to have many of us backing you up than you facing it alone," Chen Ping said.


    "Right, what six has said is true."


    Qin Hao didn''t say anything more; he took this show of friendship to heart.


    The group went upstairs to the dormitory and then arrived outside Cui Zhi''s room.


    Qin Hao pushed open the door and entered. The room was filled with smoke, with three people inside.


    Cui Zhi was lying on the bed, smoking and playing with his phone, while the other two were playing games.


    Upon hearing someone enter, Cui Zhi looked over, and when he saw Qin Hao and the others, he was stunned, a bad premonition arose in his heart.


    Qin Hao walked over to his bed, grabbed his clothes, and dragged him off the bed, "Do you know why I''m here?"


    The two guys playing games sprang up to stop Qin Hao but were blocked by Zhao De and the others.


    Cui Zhi was frightened by Qin Hao''s aggression, his face turning pale, "What do you want?"


    "You know very well what I want. You can mess with me, but not with my brothers." After saying this, Qin Hao threw him to the ground.


    He gave Cui Zhi a lesson, punching and kicking, but he measured his blows well to ensure they only left superficial injuries.


    "Next time you want trouble, come to me. If you dare touch any of my friends again,


    I''ll break your legs. If you don''t believe me, try it." Qin Hao''s tone was calm, yet it carried a powerful momentum.


    After finishing, he said to Wang Yanghua and the others, "Let''s go."


    After Qin Hao and his group left, Cui Zhi struggled to his feet, his face bruised, grimacing in pain.


    He had never experienced such humiliation in his life: "Damn it, just you wait."


    ...


    When Qin Hao and his friends returned to their dormitory, they saw Sun Feng and the other person packing.


    The group didn''t bother with them and sat on their chairs talking among themselves.


    After packing, Sun Feng and his companion took their suitcases and left, having rented a place outside.


    After the two left, the fatty let out a sigh of relief: "At least those two had the sense to realize."


    Qin Hao hadn''t been back long when he received a call from Nie Si, who had found a suitable apartment.


    She didn''t have much money, so she could only call Qin Hao.


    After hanging up his phone, Qin Hao received another call from Liu Pengyun, saying he and a few others would be arriving in Jianghai City tonight.

 Chapter 142 Liu Pengyun Arrives

    Liu Pengyun brought a few experienced hands with him, which would save a lot of trouble when opening the store.


    Qin Hao and Fatty mentioned it to a few people, then left the university.


    He hailed a taxi and headed straight for the place Nie Si had mentioned, arriving at the entrance of a residential complex about half an hour later.


    Nie Si was waiting for him at the entrance of the complex. Seeing him arrive, she hurried over, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Let''s go take a look at the house first, the people from Jiangshan will come over tonight."


    Nie Si: "Okay, Mr. Qin."


    He followed Nie Si into the complex, which had a quite nice environment. All the residential buildings here were twenty-story high-rises.


    As they walked, Nie Si said, "Mr. Qin, I have looked carefully, the security and property management in this complex are very good.


    The greening is beautiful, and the price is reasonable,"


    They arrived beneath a building and then took the elevator to the eighteenth floor.


    There were two households on the eighteenth floor; both doors were open, with a middle-aged man standing at one of the doorways.


    Upon seeing Nie Si, the middle-aged man hurriedly greeted them with a smile, "Miss Nie, this is Mr. Qin, isn''t it?"


    Nie Si nodded slightly, "Mr. Liu, this is our boss, Mr. Qin."


    The middle-aged man glanced at Qin Hao, a flash of surprise crossing his mind¡ªso young?


    But he did not show it on his face; instead, he reached out smiling, "Hello, Mr. Qin, I am Liu Sheng."


    Qin Hao also extended his hand, "Hello Mr. Liu, I''m here to check the house."


    Qin Hao took them out to eat something nearby.


    During the meal, Liu Pengyun looked at Nie Si and asked, "Mr. Qin, who is this?"


    Qin Hao: "This is my assistant Nie Si, who will also be your colleague in the future."


    Liu Pengyun quickly raised his glass, "Nice to meet you, Assistant Nie, I am Liu Pengyun, cheers."


    Nie Si promptly picked up her glass, "Mr. Liu, you''re too kind, I should be the one toasting you."


    "Assistant Nie, you''re a lady, drink as you wish, I''ll finish mine." Saying this, Liu Pengyun emptied his glass of beer in one go.


    By the time they finished the meal, it was nearly ten in the evening.


    When Qin Hao returned to the dorm, Fatty and several others were still awake, either on their phones or computers.


    Fatty: "Brother, you''re back? What kept you so late?"


    "Had some things to handle, just finished."


    ...


    The next day


    After breakfast, Qin Hao and his group went to the classroom.


    The first lecture was He Tingting''s specialty course, talking about the future development of computers.


    Not long after the lecture began, a police car drove into Jianghai University Main Campus.


    The police car stopped at the Computer College, and two officers got out, heading straight to the class of new computer science students.

 Chapter 143 Light Injury

    Computer Science Major, Class 1.


    He Tingting was teaching when a knock at the door was heard, followed by a middle-aged man entering, "Mr. He, could you please come out for a moment?"


    This middle-aged man was a director at the Computer College.


    He Tingting walked out with a look of curiosity in her eyes.


    Outside the classroom stood two men in police uniforms.


    Feeling even more puzzled, He Tingting curiously asked, "Director Li, what is the matter?"


    Li Minghui spoke up, "I''m not too clear on the details, let the police explain to you."


    One of the officers said, "Hello, we''ve received a report that a student from your class is suspected of intentional assault, so we''d like to take him away to assist with the investigation."


    He Tingting, "Suspected of intentional assault? Who is it?"


    "After our investigation, it appears to be Qin Hao from your class."


    Qin Hao?


    He Tingting paused for a moment, "Are you sure you''ve got the right person? Qin Hao is the national exam top achiever and has been featured in the Xuan Country Daily. I hope you will investigate this matter seriously."


    Hearing this, the two officers were surprised; being featured in the Xuan Country Daily was not something ordinary people could achieve. Those who made it there were either individuals who had made significant contributions to society, high-ranking officials, or corrupt bureaucrats under investigation.


    Nevertheless, they could not just leave on this account.


    One of the police officers said, "The victim has already provided a medical assessment certificate, and there are witnesses. We will investigate thoroughly, but right now, we need to take him to assist with the investigation."


    He Tingting nodded, "Mhm, I hope you will conduct a fair and just investigation."


    The two police officers nodded, then followed He Tingting into the classroom.


    The students inside looked at the officers entering with curiosity, wondering what the police were doing in our classroom.


    The chubby ones among them changed expression for a moment and looked towards Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao maintained a calm demeanor, with a faint smile on his face.


    He Tingting said to Qin Hao, "Qin Hao, please come out for a moment. The police officers have something to inquire about and need your assistance."


    The classroom erupted in shock. The police were looking for Qin Hao? Could he have done something wrong?


    Qin Hao got up and walked over, showing no fear, "Officers, what do you need to investigate with my assistance?"


    One officer said, "You are suspected of intentional assault, so we hope you will cooperate with our police investigation."


    Qin Hao: "Yes, I''m a doctor, and I saw that he''d only suffered superficial damage. At most, it could be classified as a minor injury; I''d like to see the medical certificate."


    Wang Kai said to the person beside him, "Show him the medical certificate."


    The person pulled out a medical certificate and handed it to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao glanced at it; it was an official certificate, issued by Jianghai Third Hospital, no less.


    The certificate stated that Cui Zhi had a visibly deformed nasal bone and ear canal damage, affecting his hearing, which qualified the injuries as minor.


    Seeing this, Wang Kai said, "Do you have any further objections? Not only did the Third Hospital make this assessment, but our forensic doctor has also confirmed that Cui Zhi''s injuries are indeed minor. Here are the results of our forensic examination."


    Qin Hao: "Sorry, officer, but I feel there might be some foul play involved here."


    Wang Kai''s face immediately darkened, "Foul play? Are you questioning the authority of the police?"


    Qin Hao replied calmly, "No, I just hope you''ll investigate thoroughly; I''ve been framed."


    Wang Kai snorted coldly, "We don''t need your instructions on how to solve this case. Now, not only do we have physical evidence,


    but also two witnesses. The evidence is incontrovertible. Are you still trying to plead not guilty? Come clean and seek leniency or you''ll face even harsher punishment."


    Qin Hao: "How can I confess to something I haven''t done?"


    Wang Kai: "You sure are tough, with both eyewitness and physical evidence against you, I wonder how long you can keep this up."


    Qin Hao''s expression remained unchanged as he said, "I''d like to make a phone call, if that''s alright?"


    After saying so, he had already taken out his cellphone and called Li Moying, the only person he knew in Jianghai City.


    He knew Xu Siyao as well, but didn''t have her contact information.


    The call connected quickly, and Qin Hao spoke, "I''m at the Xinhai District Police Station, come here, please."


    "Who allowed you to make a call? Hand the phone over to me," demanded Wang Kai, snatching the phone away the moment he finished speaking.


    Qin Hao didn''t dodge or resist, allowing him to take the phone, his gaze calm as he watched.


    Wang Kai: "According to regulations, for criminal cases like yours, you''re not allowed any contact with the outside world until the case is closed."


    Qin Hao closed his eyes and said no more; he could sense that Wang Kai must have some connection to Cui Zhi''s side.


    The best defense for him now was silent protest; Li Moying''s arrival would make a difference.


    Wang Kai noticed his silence and frowned slightly, finding the situation somewhat troublesome. Qin Hao was like a hedgehog, presenting a challenge that felt impossible to tackle.


    He didn''t seem like a nineteen-year-old youth, but rather a slick character well-versed in police encounters.

 Chapter 144 Jianghais Friend

    Upon receiving Qin Hao''s call, Li Moying was momentarily stunned before she heard Wang Kai''s words.


    She could already guess that her mentor must have run into trouble; she promptly walked out of the classroom.


    The teacher didn''t say anything when he saw this since he knew Li Moying''s identity and didn''t dare to speak up.


    Meanwhile, right after Qin Hao was taken away, Xu Siyao immediately made a call to her father.


    When Xu Jiekang received the call from his daughter, he asked curiously, "What''s wrong, daughter?"


    Xu Siyao hurriedly spoke, "Dad, something seems to have happened to Qin Hao."


    Xu Jiekang: "What happened to him?"


    Xu Siyao: "I''m not very clear about the specifics, but a moment ago two policemen took him away. Can you go check on it, Dad?"


    "Hmm, alright, I''m on my way. Which police station is it?"


    "It should be the Xin Hai Police Station."


    ...


    Less than half an hour after Qin Hao entered the Xin Hai Police Station, a limited edition Bugatti Veyron stopped at the entrance.


    Li Moying got out of the car and walked straight into the police station.


    Once inside the lobby, she asked, "Where''s my mentor? Where have you detained him?"


    "Miss, may I ask who you are looking for? Who is your mentor?" the front desk police officer asked curiously.


    Li Moying: "My mentor is named Qin Hao, and you''ve arrested him. Where is he? I want to see my mentor."


    "Please wait a moment."


    A few minutes later, the police officer returned: "I''m sorry, madam, but you cannot go in."


    Li Moying frowned, "Why can''t I go in?"


    "These are orders from above."


    Li Moying took out her phone and made a call; once connected, she said, "Mr. Wang, your people have arrested my mentor, and now they won''t even let me see him. They aren''t using torture on my mentor, are they?"


    Upon hearing this, Wang Lihe was full of frustration: "What kind of society do you think this is? How could such a thing be possible? What''s your mentor''s name? I''ll make a call to inquire."


    "He is called Qin Hao, at Xin Hai District Police Station."


    After hanging up, the nearby police officer glanced at her. Mr. Wang?


    This must be some top-ranking officer''s disciple, right? Should I tell Captain Wang about this?


    Wang Kai''s face was a bit awkward, "Mr. Qin, there are still some doubts in this case, I might have been too hasty earlier."


    Too hasty?


    I bet you just want to screw me over.


    Qin Hao scoffed, "You were quite aggressive just now, Officer Wang."


    Liu Haiping quickly came forward to mediate, "Mr. Qin, there''s been a misunderstanding. How about if Officer Wang apologizes to you, and we let bygones be bygones?"


    Right then, Li Moying''s phone rang. She glanced at it and answered, "Hello, Mr. Wang."


    Hearing Li Moying''s reference, Liu Haiping and Wang Kai''s expressions turned serious, they listened intently, trying to catch what their superior had to say.


    But Li Moying kept her voice low, and they couldn''t hear a thing, whereas Qin Hao, with his sharp senses, heard everything clearly.


    The message from Li Moying''s "Mr. Wang" was simple: downplay the big issues and dissolve the small ones. After all, these two men were his subordinates, and any trouble wouldn''t look good for him either.


    Liu Haiping and Wang Kai could probably guess the same; they might face discipline at most but were unlikely to lose their jobs.


    Just as Li Moying hung up, Wang Kai''s phone rang in his pocket¡ªit was Qin Hao''s phone, which he had confiscated earlier.


    The ringing made Wang Kai somewhat embarrassed, and he quickly took out the phone and handed it to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao took the phone and saw an unfamiliar number: "Hello, this is Qin Hao speaking."


    Xu Jiekang''s voice came through from the other side, "Is that you, Qin Hao? It''s Xu Jiekang. Are you alright? No trouble, I hope?"


    Qin Hao paused, and then he remembered Xu Siyao.


    She must have told Xu Jiekang about his situation.


    Qin Hao replied, "Oh, it''s Mr. Xu. I''m fine."


    Xu Jiekang asked, "We''re on our way; are you still at the station?


    Qin Hao: "Still here."


    "Then wait there, I''ll be there shortly."


    After hanging up, Li Moying asked curiously, "Master, who was that?"


    "A friend from Jianghai. Let''s wait a bit longer; he''ll be here soon," Qin Hao said.


    Li Moying nodded slightly and said no more.


    They didn''t have to wait long; Xu Jiekang arrived promptly, accompanied by someone else.


    Seeing the person with Xu Jiekang, Liu Haiping and Wang Kai were so frightened they nearly collapsed...

 Chapter 145 Reporting

    Xu Jiekang was startled when he saw the person inside the room, "Miss Li, what are you doing here too?"


    Li Moying said with a smile, "I came to see my master, turns out Mr. Xu is here to see my master as well."


    "Master?"


    Xu Jiekang looked somewhat surprised.


    Li Moying smiled and nodded, "That''s right, Qin Hao is my master; he''s really good at gaming."


    ...No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Xu Jiekang had a speechless look on his face, scaring me for a moment¡ªI had thought you took him as your master in medicine.


    He had witnessed Qin Hao''s masterful medical skills. Whoever could take him as a master, that would truly be extraordinary luck.


    Xu Jiekang said to Qin Hao with a smile, "Qin Hao, it seems you don''t need my help after all, you''ve managed to get out of this safely, but while I''m here, let me introduce you to this person. This is my older brother, as well as Si Yao''s great-uncle, Xu Jiejian."


    Xu Jiejian had a square face, a stern complexion, and an imposing demeanor that didn''t require anger to assert authority, the kind gained from long-held high positions.


    This man must be either a major official or a business tycoon.


    His presence was even stronger than Xu Jiekang''s.


    Xu Jiejian gave a little nod, "Mm, we will investigate this matter thoroughly; it is also our duty to give everyone a clear world."


    Wang Kai felt even more desperate. With Xu Jiejian saying that, his life was probably really over.


    Liu Haiping felt relieved, grateful that he was unaware of this incident; otherwise, given Qin Hao''s ruthlessness, he wouldn''t have been able to avoid it either.


    This kind of ruthless character is someone I should offend less in the future, or I won''t be able to bear the consequences.


    ...


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao and the others walked out of the police station. Xu Jiekang said to Qin Hao, "Qin Hao, don''t forget about tomorrow''s matter."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, of course, Mr. Xu."


    After Xu Jiekang and Xu Jiejian had left, Qin Hao got into Li Moying''s car. "Take me back," he said.


    Li Moying started the car, her curiosity piqued, "Master, how do you know Mr. Xu?"


    "I''ve met him a couple of times before; I helped him once."


    "Oh, no wonder."


    Qin Hao returned to the school dormitory. The fatso and his friends saw him come back and asked anxiously, "Brother Second, are you alright?"

 Chapter 146 Untitled

    Qin Hao chuckled and shook his head, "No worries, the one who should be concerned now is Cui Zhi."


    He was convinced that Wang Kai was definitely a connection made by Cui Zhi.


    If Wang Kai were investigated, Cui Zhi''s family wouldn''t be able to escape involvement either.


    Bribery is a serious crime that can lead to many years in prison.


    The chubby friend asked with interest, "Big bro, do you also have connections in Jianghai? Otherwise, how could you have gotten out so easily? Today Chen Ping checked, and the company owned by Cui Zhi''s family is no small deal, with assets of hundreds of millions. Although it''s not notable in Jianghai City, it''s really impressive to us."


    Qin Hao nodded, but he didn''t mention Li Moying or Xu Jiekang.


    Because in his view, these two connections were not as solid as one might think.


    Li Moying helped him entirely because of the relationship established in the game; she was willing to help with minor matters, but if it involved her family''s concrete interests, she probably wouldn''t assist Qin Hao.


    As for Xu Jiekang, it was even simpler; the other party was probably returning a favor, and favors eventually run out. When that day came, he would have no connections to speak of.


    Only self-strength is the true principle.


    Because every action of the country has an impact on its hundreds of millions of citizens.


    The site the chubby friend was browsing was a well-known online forum, where many people were discussing the topic, which was also pinned at the top. Virtually everyone who entered the forum could see it.


    Qin Hao read through the forum post. This war without the smoke of gunpowder was terrifying; any slight mistake could lead to disaster.


    Back then, Beisu''s dissolution was due to economic blockades and sanctions led by the Northwest Federation against Beisu in conjunction with other countries.


    As a result, Beisu retreated, and the vast country was torn apart.


    Nowadays, Beisu is also mired in diplomatic quagmires, too busy responding to offer help to Xuan Country. Even if they had the capability to help, Beisu probably wouldn''t.


    Because Xuan Country''s development was much faster than Beisu had anticipated; Beisu was likely already wary of Xuan Country.


    One reply below resonated deeply with Qin Hao.


    The netizen said, "From importing to replicating, from ''Made in Xuan'' to full surpassing, the rapid progress of Xuan Country''s industrial technology has astounded the world. That is the power of Xuan Country, the power that makes the Northwest Federation afraid."


    "Big bro, you don''t think this will lead to war, do you?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "A war is unlikely, after all, both sides possess nuclear weapons. If they were really put to use, the Earth would lose nine out of ten of its inhabitants. It wouldn''t be good for anyone."

 Chapter 147 His Connections are Very Strong

    Fatty was reading and said, "Our country has also introduced a series of counter-policies, I think some things are going to start getting more expensive."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and said with a smile, "Study hard and make contributions to the country in the future, take down the Northern Federation."


    Chen Ping and Zhao De agreed, "You''re right, bro, it''s all up to you to take down the Northern Federation in the future. You''re a genius with a full score on the unified exam."


    ...


    Qin Hao gave the three a look, "If everyone thought like you guys, we''d have been long gone."


    The four chatted for a while, and Fatty asked, "Bro, what are you up to this weekend, where will you go to hang out?"


    Qin Hao: "I have something at noon tomorrow, do you guys want to go out and have fun?"


    Fatty chuckled and said, "I''m planning to hang out with Xiao Cui."


    Qin Hao''s expression became odd, "Xiao Cui? Why does that sound like a name for an ancient maid?


    Fatty almost went crazy, "Bro, that''s not nice, her name is Xie Cui, lovingly called Xiao Cui."


    ...


    Zhao De spoke up, "Bro, you don''t know, Xie Cui drives a BMW, she comes from an extraordinary family, Fatty has landed himself a rich beauty."


    Zhang Ping also nodded, "That''s right, bro, Xie Cui''s family must be pretty special."


    At noon, the group of them rested in the dorm for a bit, then went to the classroom in the afternoon.


    When the classmates saw Qin Hao return safely, they were somewhat puzzled. Those two cops came with such an aggressive attitude, so how did Qin Hao come back just like that?


    Huo Qiang was also confused and felt somewhat disappointed.


    After inquiring in the morning, he learned that it was Cui Zhi from the Foreign Language College who wanted to mess with Qin Hao, and now it was clear that Cui Zhi was no match for him.


    Could it be that Qin Hao has some powerful connections in Jianghai?


    Thinking of this, Huo Qiang felt a sudden apprehension and decided to wait and see before he took any action on his planned scheme.


    As soon as Qin Hao returned to his seat, Ning Yao stood up and walked over to him. She wore a pink dress that had faded slightly from washing and that she had clearly worn for many years.


    Even so, it couldn''t conceal her beauty.


    Ning Yao asked, "Qin Hao, are you okay?"


    Qin Hao: "I''m fine, I was just assisting with an investigation this morning."


    Ning Yao nodded, "Oh right, Mr. He said that when you come back, you should go to the office to see her."


    Qin Hao''s expression froze, and he couldn''t help but recall what had happened in the office last time. She wouldn''t be looking to get back at me, would she? Read the latest on empire


    ...


    He Tingting almost died of anger when she heard what he said.


    She had originally been quite pleased when Qin Hao was assigned to her class, but now she felt somewhat troubled.


    She felt that the school hadn''t sent a good student to her but a problematic one instead.


    He Tingting: "What''s the deal with you? Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you have good grades? If it were any other student, they would have been expelled by now. Being taken away by the police, you would have been a disgrace to our school."


    Qin Hao: "Please investigate the cause of the matter before saying those words, lest you come across as very annoying. If you wish to expel me, feel free."


    "You..." He Tingting was so infuriated her chest heaved violently.


    Annoying?


    That was the first time she had heard this word from someone else''s mouth.


    And it came from her own student.


    "If there''s nothing else, Teacher, I''ll take my leave now."


    He Tingting, expressionless: "Leave now, I don''t want to see you at the moment."


    After Qin Hao had left, He Tingting was so angry she felt like smashing something. Damn it, is this my student?


    Is this how you talk to a teacher? I''m annoying?


    I was the top beauty of a prestigious university, and now I''m known as the most beautiful teacher. Who dares to call me annoying?


    At this time, her phone rang.


    He Tingting looked at the number and answered the call: "Dad, I''m so angry I could die. I should have never let you deal with Qin Hao''s matter."


    "His case doesn''t require my intervention. When I inquired, he had already been released. I called at noon; your student is not simple, he has a strong background."


    "Dad, what do you mean by that?"


    "What I mean is that your student has very solid connections. I was about to look into it when I realized he had been released. The person who was interrogating him has just been taken away by the discipline committee, and his career is over. It must be your student''s doing."


    He Tingting''s expression showed surprise, a disbelief creeping in, "Dad, are you saying he got out without your influence?"


    "Yes, the officer who interviewed him just got escorted away by the discipline committee, his life''s pretty much finished. It seems like it was due to moves from your student."


    He Tingting was shocked inside. He has such powerful connections in Jianghai City?


    No wonder this guy is fearless; he must be relying on someone backing him up.


    Her father continued, "I also inquired a bit about the cause. It seems Cui Zhi from the Foreign Language College wanted to mess with him."

 Chapter 148 is Simply Inhuman

    He Tingting, upon hearing her father''s words, looked surprised. Cui Zhi from the Foreign Language College?


    And from the sound of her father''s words, the main issue wasn''t Qin Hao, it was that Cui Zhi who wanted to mess with him?


    What He Tingting found most curious was the relationship her father mentioned. Did Qin Hao have such influential connections in Jianghai?


    Just what was his background? Wasn''t he from an ordinary family?


    It seems like there is a lot about Qin Hao that I don''t know.


    His family background must not be as simple as I thought.


    ...


    The next day


    Since there were no classes today because it was the weekend, Qin Hao and his friends got up quite late.


    It was a little past eight in the morning when the cellphone by Qin Hao''s bedside rang.


    He groggily opened his eyes and answered the call, "Hello, what happened to Wan Rou?"


    Upon hearing his languid voice, Du Wanrou asked curiously, "You haven''t gotten up yet?"


    Qin Hao, "Today is the weekend. There''s no point in getting up so early."


    Du Wanrou''s mood clearly wasn''t high, "Oh, I just called to let you know that I''m not staying in the dorm anymore, I moved to my aunt''s house."


    Qin Hao''s face showed surprise at her words, "Why? Are the people in the dorm picking on you?"


    Qin Hao initially thought those people were quite alright, but ever since the last meal, he had completely realized that none of them were worth making close friends with.


    Du Wanrou, "No, I just didn''t want to stay there anymore."


    Though they weren''t openly ostracizing her, they would often whisper this and that in her ear. Enjoy more content from empire


    They always subtly mentioned Li Moying, hinting that Qin Hao might end up with Li Moying.


    Du Wanrou knew exactly what they were up to; these people had been won over by Li Xing, and they were trying to break them up so that Li Xing could swoop in during the moment of weakness.


    Du Wanrou wasn''t foolish¡ªshe understood their intentions very well. And in her heart, she had some worries as well.


    Before, she might not have had any worries, but the emergence of the outstanding Li Moying, vastly more exceptional than her, caused her to feel a trace of insecurity.


    ...


    Qin Hao, "If you don''t want to stay there, then don''t. Where''s your aunt''s house? Is it far from the school?"


    Du Wanrou replied, "Not far, my aunt has a car. She can give me a ride."


    Seeing Zhao De so earnest, Qin Hao didn''t interrupt him.


    After Zhao De finished explaining, he asked, "Second brother, did you get all that?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yeah, it''s pretty simple. I''ve watched NBA games before."


    Basketball was Zhao De''s favorite sport, and being able to teach a newcomer how to play gave him a great sense of achievement.


    He said with a smile, "Then second brother, you try to attack, and I''ll defend. I''ll see where you''re lacking and give you some tips."


    Qin Hao took the basketball, gave it a couple of light bounces, and Zhao De stood in front of him, about a meter away, on defense.


    He wasn''t putting his heart into it, as in his eyes Qin Hao was just a beginner, and even without going all out, he believed he could easily guard him.


    As he dribbled the ball, Qin Hao said, "Ready? I''m starting."


    Zhao De nodded, "Go ahead, second brother."


    Qin Hao dribbled the ball slowly, then suddenly accelerated.


    His speed was very fast, and his explosive power extremely terrifying. Zhao De was stunned for a moment, and by the time he thought to defend, Qin Hao had already dashed past him, took three steps and easily made a layup.


    Zhao De looked at him in amazement, "Second brother, are you really playing basketball for the first time?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, why?"


    Zhao De, "No... your learning ability is really freakish, fitting for someone who scored full marks on the unified exam. Come on, second brother, let''s do it again. I don''t believe I can''t guard you. I was just being careless. I was the captain of the school team in high school."


    Qin Hao once again took the ball to the three-point line, Zhao De watched the ball in his hands seriously this time,


    Just like before, Qin Hao dribbled forward. Zhao De reacted quickly, shifting his body to the right to defend, but Qin Hao suddenly stopped, dribbled the ball behind his back, and went around Zhao De from the left.


    The sequence of movements was smooth and stylish, ending in another effortless layup.


    Zhao De looked at him with disbelief. What kind of move was that? Incredible speed, sharp reflexes.


    That level of reaction speed was surely on par with professional players, wasn''t it?


    Are you really playing for the first time?


    This is way too demoralizing, isn''t it? I''ve been playing for six years and I''m not as good as someone who has just started?


    Is this what they mean by a natural talent?


    It''s just inhuman!!


    After playing a while, Qin Hao went to rest on a nearby bench. There were also people playing basketball on the adjacent court, including quite a few women.


    On Court One, ten people were playing a game, watched not only by male students but also by many female basketball fans.

 Chapter 149 Please See a Doctor

    Zhao De played for a while and was a bit tired, so he came over, sat down, and rested.


    He started to say, "Second brother, it''s such a waste that you aren''t playing professionally, even though you''re not very tall, you''re agile."


    Qin Hao smiled and shook his head, "I''m not interested in that." Continue reading stories on empire


    The two chatted for a while, and soon it was past ten o''clock. Qin Hao''s phone rang, it was Xu Siyao calling, "Qin Hao, where are you?"


    Qin Hao, "I''m at the basketball court."


    Xu Siyao said, "Then wait for me, I''ll come over."


    Qin Hao, "Okay, sure."


    After hanging up, Zhao De curiously asked, "Second brother, was that Xu Siyao?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Got some business to handle."


    It was not quite five minutes later


    when a silver gray BMW sedan parked outside the basketball court.


    People on the playground turned their heads when they saw it.


    A slim beauty in a light purple dress stepped down from the car, looking around as if searching for someone.


    "Wow, she''s so beautiful, and the car too, must be the latest BMW model right? Costs three to four million, do we have so many wealthy beauties in our school?" someone stared at Xu Siyao with fiery eyes.


    Someone nearby said, "That''s Xu Siyao from the Computer College, the stunning beauty from the campus beauty rankings, no idea what she''s doing here at the playground."


    "Is she here to watch us play basketball?" someone playing basketball speculated.


    Qin Hao saw her get out of the car, stood up, and walked over, his expression calm without any ripples.


    Xu Siyao saw him, a smile appeared on her face, and then she waved her white-jade-like arms towards him.


    Many people at the basketball court followed her gaze.


    When they saw Qin Hao, they sneered, is he the one?


    Qin Hao had met Xu Jiekang and Xu Jiejian before, but he hadn''t seen the other woman. She sat next to Xu Jiejian, likely his wife.


    When Qin Hao entered, the three stood up.


    Xu Siyao announced, "Dad, Qin Hao is here."


    Xu Jiekang said, "Qin Hao, come and sit."


    Qin Hao walked to the sofa and sat down, Xu Siyao sat next to him, dutifully pouring tea for everyone.


    Xu Jiekang smiled and said, "Qin Hao, try this, it''s genuine Da Hong Pao from Wuyi Mountain."


    Qin Hao chuckled, "Mr. Xu, I don''t know much about tea."


    Then he sipped gently, indeed the tea tasted great.


    "I''ve always heard Jiekang talk about you, didn''t expect you so young, and you''re schoolmates with Siyao, truly young and promising, oh, I forgot to introduce myself, I''m Siyao''s aunt," said the middle-aged woman next to Xu Jiejian.


    This middle-aged woman had a certain authoritative presence, somewhat similar to the aura of Xu Jiejian; she must also be a figure from the political field, and in a rather high position too.


    Qin Hao smiled and responded, "Auntie, you flatter me, there are many who are more capable than I am."


    "Jiekang calls you older brother, and you call me aunt, isn''t that messing up the seniority? Why don''t you call me big sister instead?"


    ...


    Xu Siyao displayed a speechless expression; if you and Qin Hao are of the same generation, doesn''t that make me a generation lower than him?


    Qin Hao, chuckling, said, "SiYao and I are classmates which technically makes me a generation younger, Mr. Xu, please don''t call me little brother."


    Xu Jiekang laughed, "Alright, then you shouldn''t call me Mr. Xu either; it sounds too distant. If you don''t mind, call me Uncle Xu."


    Qin Hao was not pretentious; after all, he had to build his network in Jianghai City and needed such a powerful ally.


    He began, "I came here today to discuss a matter with Uncle Xu, about the procurement of medicinal herbs, I want to collaborate with you on it."


    Xu Jiekang smiled and said, "That''s a minor matter, I''ll instruct someone later. I invited you over today because I need your help with something."


    Qin Hao curiously asked, "Uncle Xu, please feel free to tell me what it is."


    He said, "I want to ask you to take a look at my father''s illness."

 Chapter 150 Beisu Province Gujing City

    Qin Hao listened to his words and his expression froze for a moment.


    Xu Siyao also felt some surprise, she hadn''t expected her father to look for Qin Hao because of her grandmother''s illness, but wasn''t her grandmother''s disease said to be incurable?


    Qin Hao asked, "Can you describe the condition in more detail?"


    "My mother fell ill suddenly fifty years ago, and after many examinations, the cause was still undetermined," Xu Jiekang and Xu Jiejian both frowned when mentioning their mother''s illness.


    Qin Hao said, "I can''t be sure what the disease is without seeing her myself."


    Xu Jiekang felt somewhat embarrassed, "Xiao Hao, would you mind taking a trip to see her yourself?"


    "Sure, I happen to be free today."


    Qin Hao indeed needed the Xu family''s goodwill; after what had happened last time, he had realized the importance of connections in Jianghai City.


    If he didn''t have any contacts, perhaps he really could have gotten set up by Cui Zhi.


    Even if he couldn''t figure out the illness this time, the Xu family would remember his favor.


    Xu Jiekang spoke up, "The journey is a bit long, shall we set out now?"


    Qin Hao nodded indifferently, since he had already decided to go, any time was fine for him.


    Xu Jiejian said, "I''ll call our dad first."


    Read new adventures at empire


    Xu Siyao replied, "I''m not very clear myself, just that she suddenly couldn''t stand up without any warning. We''ve sought the top specialists in the country, but they also couldn''t find out what''s wrong."


    Couldn''t stand up? That meant paralysis, and even specialists couldn''t diagnose it; this piqued his curiosity about what kind of illness could cause someone to suddenly experience such a condition without warning.


    ...


    After driving for an hour, Xu Siyao dozed off, her head gently swaying and then inadvertently leaning onto Qin Hao''s shoulder.


    Sun Fang, seeing this, didn''t know whether to laugh or cry; not mentioning it felt wrong, but mentioning it felt just as inappropriate.


    Xu Jiekang in the front seat also noticed and chuckled, "This child always gets sleepy in the car."


    Sun Fang also chuckled and said, "She''s so grown up, yet she still doesn''t care about her image."


    Qin Hao lightly laughed, "I drool in my sleep, it''s a normal reaction..."


    At noon, they finally entered the territory of Gujing.


    However, they didn''t go into the city center of Gujing City but took the outer ring road instead.


    Around half-past twelve, they arrived outside a beautifully landscaped residential area.


    Soldiers were occasionally seen patrolling around the complex, and there were armed guards at the entrance.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao felt a chill in his heart. Who exactly was Xu Siyao''s grandfather to live in such a place?


    With such security measures, not even a significant official might receive such treatment.


    When Xu Jiejian''s car pulled up to the gate, the guard glanced at it, then let them through.

 Chapter 151 Xu Liangguo

    Xu Jiejian drove into the residential complex, and not only outside but also inside, the security was even tighter.


    Patrol cars roamed the area almost every hour, accompanied by squads of soldiers leading black shepherd police dogs.


    This was Qin Hao''s first visit to such a place, and seeing the level of security, he knew the residents here were definitely not ordinary.


    Even provincial executives did not receive such treatment.


    It was obvious that Xu Siyao''s grandfather''s status was remarkable.


    Any knowledgeable person was aware that there were seven military regions in Xuan Country, and Gu Jing Military Region was one of them.


    Xu Jiejian''s position as a leader in the prosecutorial department in Jianghai City was definitely not simple.


    Jie Kang''s company had grown so large, and that also had to do with his backing.


    Qin Hao was curious about Xu Siyao''s grandfather''s status within the military region.


    It couldn''t be too low; in his view, it must belong to the very top echelon.


    As he contemplated this, Xu Jiejian drove up to the entrance of a villa courtyard.


    At the entrance, there stood guards, each sharp-eyed and burly, exuding an aura that clearly set them apart from ordinary soldiers.


    After a thorough check, Xu Jiejian was finally allowed to enter.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; even his own son faced such stringent checks upon coming home.


    The car drove into the courtyard, and Qin Hao saw two elderly men around seventy playing chess under the shade of a nearby tree.


    Next to one of the elders, a kindly old woman sat watching them play.


    Seeing the car approach, the old woman turned her head and said, "Xu, stop playing now. Your son and Yaoyao are here."


    In the car, Sun Fang woke Xu Siyao, "Yaoyao, wake up. We''re home."


    Xu Siyao shook her head and grunted unwillingly, before realizing and suddenly sitting up.


    Seeing a small wet patch on Qin Hao''s clothes next to her, her cheeks instantly turned red, "Sorry, I wasn''t paying attention..."


    Qin Hao smiled lightly, "It''s okay, it''s not tiring anyway."


    "We''re home. Come on down," Jie Kang said from the front, easing his daughter''s embarrassment.


    Several people got out of the car, and the old woman in the wheelchair wheeled herself over.


    Sun Fang quickly walked over, calling out, "Mom." Experience more tales on empire


    Then she pushed the wheelchair slowly toward them.


    Jie Kang and Jiejian called out, "Mom."


    "Grandma."


    Chen Shengjun grew even more curious. Who exactly was this young man? Xu was even ignoring his own granddaughter to talk to him first.


    Qin Hao: "Thank you, Mr. Xu."


    "You cured Yaoyao''s illness; on behalf of the whole Xu Family, I thank you. You took the time to come and see the old lady today; we will remember this favor. If you ever run into any trouble in the future, as long as it''s nothing illegal or against discipline, you can count on the Xu Family to help you," Xu Liangguo made clear.


    Xu Liangguo spoke very clearly and plainly.


    This was exactly why Qin Hao had come here.


    He didn''t know what difficulties he might face in the future, but it was always good to be prepared.


    Chen Shengjun, who was standing close by, understood and looked at him with a surprised expression. He was the one who cured Xu Siyao''s illness?


    He knew quite well about the case; even the experts from the Gu Jing Military Region''s general hospital were at a loss, yet this young man managed to cure her?


    Was Xu joking?


    Where did he find such a person?


    "Let''s eat first. Xiao Hao, don''t treat us like strangers; just behave as if you are at your own home," said Wang Ping kindly.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, thank you, Ms. Xu."


    At the dinner table, Xu Liangguo brought out a bottle of wine that had been treasured for decades and poured some for everyone, including Qin Hao.


    "Young man, don''t drink too much, a little is fine," Xu Liangguo said with a smile.


    While eating, Chen Shengjun curiously asked, "Jie Kang, is Yaoyao''s illness really cured?"


    Xu Jiekang nodded, "Yes, Mr. Chen, it''s kind of fate how I met Xiao Hao."


    Chen Shengjun, intrigued, said, "Oh? Do tell, I''m quite curious."


    "The first time I met Xiao Hao was in Jiangshan City of Shuinan Province. At that time, Yaoyao was being spoiled and arrogant, and had a little friction with Xiao Hao. After he spoke a few words, everything that followed happened."


    Xu Jiekang briefly recounted the events.


    Not only Chen Shengjun, but others at the table listened too.


    Chen Shengjun, curious, asked Qin Hao, "Young man, who did you learn this medical skill from?"


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Chen, I taught myself. I took a bit of a risk in treating Miss Xu, but it was destined that she would recover."


    "Self-taught? Are you trying to fool me because I''m old?"


    Qin Hao, embarrassed, said, "Mr. Chen, I really am not deceiving you!"


    Xu Si Yao spoke up, "Mr. Chen, you might not know, but Qin Hao was the top scorer in this year''s national exam, a genius with full marks in every subject."


    Chen Shengjun paused in surprise: "So you''re the Qin Hao who scored full in the national exams?"


    Qin Hao nodded; he hadn''t expected his reputation to be so widespread that even he was aware of it.

 Chapter 152 Treating Illness

    Chen Shengjun didn''t ask further, and even though Qin Hao had aced the unified exam with perfect scores, he still found it somewhat unbelievable.


    "Work hard and bring honor to our country in the future," he said to him.


    Chen Shengjun said these words to him.


    Qin Hao nodded: "Mr. Chen is right."


    As the group talked and chatted, Qin Hao vaguely discerned the identities of Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun.


    He was incredibly shocked; one was a military region commander and the other was the chief of the general staff, both holding significant power.


    After dinner, Chen Shengjun didn''t leave. Upon learning that Qin Hao was there to see Wang Ping, he decided to stay and observe.


    He wanted to see just how skilled this young man was in medicine, as he was going to treat an ailment that even the country''s top experts couldn''t cure. Could he really be confident?


    "Xiao Hao, have a cigarette," Xu Liangguo offered him one.


    Although Qin Hao seldom smoked, he couldn''t refuse when such an eminent figure offered him a cigarette¡ªit was a great honor.


    Xu Siyao, without such reservations, gave her grandfather a disapproving look: "Grandpa, didn''t you tell me you quit smoking?"


    Xu Liangguo laughed awkwardly: "This is a special supply cigarette, it''s not harmful to the body."


    "Humph, you don''t keep your word," Xu Siyao pouted and huffed.


    After the kitchen was tidied up, Sun Fang pushed Wang Ping out.


    Xu Liangguo and the others had finished their cigarettes, and he said, "Xiao Hao, I''d like to trouble you to have a look at my wife."


    Although he spoke casually, a glimmer of hope arose in his heart. Having been honest and loyal partners for dozens of years, deep down he truly wished his wife could stand again.


    Qin Hao stood up, walked over to Wang Ping, and then squatted down to observe her complexion.


    Her complexion looked good, and there were no signs of illness on her body.


    Wang Ping smiled kindly: "Young man, I''ve had this illness for many years, I''m used to it; don''t feel any pressure. It''s okay if you can''t do anything."


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded: "Ms. Xu, please stretch out your right hand, I''ll take your pulse."


    Wang Ping extended her right hand, and everyone in the room turned their heads to watch.


    Qin Hao took her pulse for a while, didn''t find any problems; her physical condition was quite good.


    This made him frown slightly; Wang Ping''s paralysis of her legs seemed to have no correlation to her physical condition.


    Her blood vessels and muscles were no different from those of a healthy person.


    Qin Hao lifted her leg and then tapped the nerve points around her knee joint; there was no reaction in her legs.


    He then used the system to check her condition.


    Qin Hao rolled up her trouser leg and then reached into his pocket for the 99 silver needles.


    He began to insert the needles into her calf, and half an hour later, her leg from her foot to her knee was full of silver needles.


    Qin Hao was stimulating Wang Ping''s nerves through acupuncture.


    Actually, if she directly took the mental elixir, all this wouldn''t be necessary, but he needed to appear as though the treatment was difficult.


    At that moment, his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat. Just after finishing the needling, Xu Siyao handed him a towel.


    "Thank you," Qin Hao took the towel and expressed his thanks.


    Xu Siyao said, "I should be the one thanking you. What do we do next?"


    "Wait ten minutes."


    Everyone in the living room quietly awaited as time passed.


    These ten minutes seemed rather long for Xu Liangguo and the others.


    After ten minutes, Qin Hao removed the silver needles one by one.


    Then he said to Wang Ping, "Ms. Xu, whether it''s a success or not depends on this moment."


    "Go ahead, I believe in you, young man," Wang Ping said with a faint smile.


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, then lowered his head to look at her knee and tapped the nerve area of her knee with his right hand.


    "Whoosh"


    Wang Ping''s left leg suddenly jolted and then fell back down.


    The onlookers were stunned; it moved, it really moved.


    In the past, none of the many experts could elicit any response from Wang Ping''s leg, and now it had moved.


    Qin Hao let out a long breath, a smile appearing on his face: "Ms. Xu, your condition shouldn''t be a problem now. Since there''s a reaction, there''s a great chance of recovery."


    "Really? That''s wonderful!" Xu Siyao''s cheeks flushed with excitement.


    Xu Jiekang was also somewhat incredulous: "Xiao Hao, are you telling the truth? Can my mother''s condition really be cured?"


    Qin Hao nodded: "Ms. Xu''s leg nerves have not completely degenerated, there''s still a great chance for recovery. I''ll write a prescription now, and Ms. Xu should take it for a week to see the effect."


    He named several herbal medicines, and then Xu Liangguo immediately instructed someone to handle it.


    In less than half an hour, everything Qin Hao needed was delivered, the efficiency of which even surprised him.


    He ground the herbs into powder in the kitchen and, when no one was watching, added half the amount of the mental elixir.


    Then he divided the herbs into seven portions: "Ms. Xu, drink one pack of these herbs in water every day."


    After that, he said to Xu Liangguo, "Mr. Xu, remember to accompany Ms. Xu for more walks daily after a week, to exercise her legs and let her get accustomed to them again."No?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 153 Special Ingredients

    Xu Liangguo, upon hearing his words, exclaimed with pleasant surprise, "Do you mean you can recover by next week?"


    Qin Hao placed the medicine on the coffee table, "According to estimates, it should be so. If there is any situation, Mr. Xu can contact me again."


    "Okay," Xu Liangguo tried to contain his excitement.


    Sun Fang asked, "Can we brew the medicine now? Should we use warm water or hot water?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Yes, brew it with hot water, but it doesn''t need to be too hot."


    Sun Fang, carrying a packet of medicinal herbs, went into the kitchen, with Xu Siyao following behind.


    Qin Hao said to Xu Liangguo and the others, "Mr. Xu, I hope you can keep this matter confidential for me."


    Xu Liangguo nodded slightly, "Um, okay."


    Chen Shengjun said nothing. He knew what Qin Hao was thinking. A person dreads fame as a pig dreads fattening; too much fame would not be good for him at the moment.


    Sun Fang and Xu Siyao soon came out of the kitchen, followed by a strong medicinal scent, very bitter.


    Wang Ping furrowed her brows slightly after smelling it because the odor was quite unpleasant.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Ms. Xu, drink it while it''s hot. Good medicine tastes bitter."


    A smile appeared on Wang Ping''s face, "Alright, the thing I hate to drink the most in my life is herbal medicine, because I''ve had too much of it."


    After finishing her words, she took the bowl and slowly drank it, finishing it all before long.


    Xu Siyao quickly handed her grandmother a cup of water to rinse her mouth.


    After drinking the water, Wang Ping exclaimed in surprise, "Why do I feel a warm sensation in both of my lower legs?"


    Qin Hao explained, "Ms. Xu, this is the effect of the medicine working, stimulating the nerves in your legs to regenerate."


    "So that''s how it is." Wang Ping had a smile on her face as she spoke.


    Xu Liangguo and the others could see her smile was much more relaxed than before.


    Xu Jiekang''s face was flushed with excitement. If his mother could truly stand up again, it would fulfill a great wish of his.


    The ultimate goal of his management of Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group was to find the mythical Immortal Elixir to cure his mother''s legs. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    Over the years, he had traveled to many places to purchase medicinal materials, but all in vain.


    He asked Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, do you think there really is an Immortal Elixir that can bring the dead back to life as in the legends?"


    Xu Liangguo affirmed, "Yes, that''s right. Jiekang happened to come across an extraordinary person who took a look today."


    Mr. Liu asked, "Commander, may I see the madam?"


    "Go ahead. I was planning to have you do a check-up on her anyway."


    Mr. Liu entered the villa and examined Wang Ping, showing a look of astonishment, "This... The madam''s legs have already shown a reaction. Who could have treated this? What method did they use?"


    Upon hearing this, Chen Shengjun inquired with curiosity, "Do you think Mrs. Xu''s condition can be completely cured?"


    After pondering, Mr. Liu said, "Since the person could provoke a reaction in madam''s legs, that proves everything. It''s likely that the madam can stand up again."


    ...


    Qin Hao returned to Jianghai City around five o''clock in the afternoon. Xu Jiekang wanted to invite him for dinner, but Qin Hao insisted on leaving.


    Xu Jiekang had Xu Siyao drive him to Xinshang Square.


    Xu Siyao looked curiously at the square and asked, "Qin Hao, what are you doing here?"


    Qin Hao said, "My shop is here. I came to check on it."


    Xu Siyao followed him out of the car, "May I take a look?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Of course, let''s go in together."


    The two walked from the parking lot to the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant in Xinshang Square.


    The sign outside the store was already installed, and the interior decoration was exquisite. Liu Pengyun and several others were busy inside.


    Noticing Qin Hao and a beautiful lady entering, he quickly stopped his work, "Mr. Qin, you''re here."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Is everything ready?"


    Liu Pengyun replied, "Everything is ready. Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical contacted me today. The medicinal materials can be delivered at any time. There are still some equipment that hasn''t arrived yet, but they should be here by tomorrow at the latest, and we can probably open the day after tomorrow."


    Qin Hao affirmed, "Mm-hmm."


    While they conversed, Nie Si entered from outside.


    "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao instructed, "Nie Si, expedite the recruitment process."


    "Yes, Mr. Qin," Nie Si answered promptly.


    Xu Siyao, after taking a tour, commented, "Qin Hao, your store looks pretty good. You''re opening the day after tomorrow, right? I''ll have my father send you a flower basket."

 Chapter 154 Lack of Core and Spirit

    Qin Hao said with a smile, "No need to go through such trouble."


    Xu Siyao also replied with a smile, "It''s fine, it''s no trouble at all."


    Qin Hao pondered the idea of setting up a Jianghai branch in his mind.


    Setting it up now seemed a bit premature. He planned to wait until the roast duck restaurant opened and then decide on the branch matter based on the business situation.


    After spending some time at the roast duck restaurant with Xu Siyao, they left.


    Upon leaving the restaurant, Xu Siyao asked, "Where to next?"


    "Let''s head back to school," Qin Hao replied.


    Xu Siyao nodded, "Then I''ll drop you off first."


    At 5:30 p.m., Qin Hao returned to Jianghai University Main Campus. After Xu Siyao dropped him off, she didn''t leave either.


    It was pointless for her to go back since there was no one she could hang out with, and her dad was still busy with business matters.


    As they emerged from the parking lot, Xu Siyao asked nonchalantly, "Hao, do you have plans for tomorrow? It''s quite boring at school, how about going out together?"


    Qin Hao was momentarily caught off guard, "I still have some things to do tomorrow."


    "Oh, in that case, never mind. We can do it another time when you''re free," Xu Siyao felt a semblance of disappointment.


    She glanced at Qin Hao, who had a calm expression on his face and looked thoughtful, as though he was contemplating something.


    "Si Yao," a voice came from not too far away.


    Qin Hao and Xu Siyao curiously turned their heads to see Sun Feng and Wu Jun coming towards them from the other side of the parking lot.


    Initially, Sun Feng was quite excited, but his expression changed when he clearly saw who was by Xu Siyao''s side.


    Xu Siyao looked at Sun Feng and asked in confusion, "What''s up?"


    Trying to sport what he thought was a charming smile, Sun Feng asked, "Are you free tonight? I''d like to take you out for dinner."


    Xu Siyao replied apologetically, "Sorry, I have plans."


    Sun Feng''s face turned awkward at the blunt rejection, then looking at Qin Hao, he casually said, "Qin Hao, aren''t you hanging out with your girlfriend today?"


    Upon hearing Sun Feng''s words, Xu Siyao felt a jolt in her heart, and her complexion subtly shifted, though she quickly returned to normal.


    Seeing her reaction, Sun Feng felt a wave of smugness. If I can''t have it, this bumpkin from Jiangshan shouldn''t get his hopes up either.


    Qin Hao gave him a glance before turning his head away, not even bothering to acknowledge him.


    It was outright disdain.


    "Does it have to do with the trade war? This is a multinational corporation with assets over a trillion; can it really go down that easily?"


    Chen Ping nodded and replied, "Second Brother, you don''t know, our country has a weak spot in the chip industry. Although some companies can independently develop chips, they are far behind others in terms of performance, and the production of our independent chips is too low, catering to only about 8% of the market demand. The gap is significant.


    Every year, our country''s chip imports amount to about two trillion, second only to crude oil imports."


    Hearing such a detailed explanation, Qin Hao nodded slightly without saying anything, as he thought of the Xinghai generation intelligent robots in the system.


    Within the Xinghai generation intelligent robots, there was a Xinghai generation chipset including the CPU chip and other components. Chips are the most critical part, equivalent to the human brain, heart, and torso.


    Seeing him not speaking, Chen Ping sighed, "Our country is developing too fast. The Northwest Federation is afraid we''ll surpass them in high-tech industries, and this trade war is almost half about restricting our high-tech products."


    "The country will have to rely on you in the future, so keep up the good work, young man," Qin Hao joked.


    Chen Ping smiled awkwardly, "Second Brother, stop teasing me. You''re the genius with perfect scores. This kind of thing will definitely depend on you."


    Right then, Qin Hao''s phone rang. He took it out to see that Li Moying was calling.


    "Hey, Master, what are you up to? Play a game for a bit?" Li Moying''s voice came through the phone. Find exclusive stories on empire


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yeah, okay, I''m free right now anyway."


    "Alright, Master, I''ll wait for you in the game."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao checked the system and saw that he still had two tasks not completed, one was the main task of Business Tycoon, and the other was the side task of Gaming God.


    He checked the side task reputation points, which had reached over seventy-nine million, still a significant gap from the one hundred million target.


    He had noticed that the reputation points were increasing slower these days.


    At the beginning, his reputation could rise by a few million a day, but now it was just a few hundred thousand, making it difficult to reach one hundred million at this rate.


    Logging into the game, he checked the leaderboard, still in first place, but the second place was quickly catching up.


    As soon as he logged in, Li Moying pulled him into a team.


    She was live streaming and said to her viewers with a laugh after pulling Qin Hao in, "Didn''t I tell you? One call and my master will log on."


    "It''s been a long time since we''ve seen the God of Guns perform, I miss it."


    "Streamer 66666"


    "Gun God, we miss you."


    ...


    Li Moying''s stream suddenly became lively, and simultaneously, her popularity soared, quickly breaking through one million, which was terrifying.


    Only top-tier gaming gods would break through one million viewers during a live stream. The little witch''s room could break one million viewers solely because of the name Shadow Gun Demon.

 Chapter 155 Strong Collision

    Li Moying started her livestream today, and she changed the title to include "No. 1 God of the National Server, Shadow Gun Demon."


    Although many people admired him, there were also quite a few in the chat room badmouthing Luo Hao.


    "What Shadow Gun Demon? If he faced off against my Qingfeng, he would be trash."


    "Would he be No. 1 on the national server rankings if those top professional teams didn''t need to train?"


    "Exactly, exactly, as if no one else has ever been No. 1."


    There were quite a few people in the livestream setting the pace.


    Seeing these comments about Luo Hao, Li Moying retorted, "Open your eyes wide and look at my master''s battle record. Are you sure those top teams can do that?"


    "Exactly, I''ve watched livestreams of those top professional team members, and I''ve also watched the livestream of the Gun Demon God. The difference is clear once you compare them, those guys are no match for the Gun Demon God."


    Most people in the livestream still supported Luo Hao.


    Because they had witnessed Luo Hao''s marksmanship, which was truly terrifying.


    Shadow Xiaoqi and Xiao Ya also entered the team quickly, and they were also livestreaming, with their popularity increasing manifold.


    "Let''s start."


    Qin Hao said, opening the team''s voice chat.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Li Moying clicked on the match button, and within seconds they entered Suzhi Square.


    Now that cheats were extinct in this game, the number of players had surged. According to Longteng Group, the number of registered users in the country for Survival of the Fittest had exceeded three hundred million, with daily active players reaching a terrifying thirty million plus.


    Qin Hao didn''t speak on the public channel, afraid of scaring these people away again.


    "Little Witch, how can I increase my fame in this game?" Qin Hao asked.


    His reputation growth was very slow now, still far from the target of a hundred million.


    Now he was only gaining about three hundred thousand reputation points a day, still nearly thirty million points short.


    At this rate, it would take another hundred days to complete the mission.


    That was too long.


    Read latest stories on empire


    Li Moying was taken aback for a moment, "Master, your fame is already very high."


    "I want it even higher. Any ideas?"


    Li Moying: "Compete in international events, livestream, undertake promotional work."


    Qin Hao: "Is there any other way? Your livestreams might as well count as mine..."


    Li Moying suddenly spoke up, "Master, how about we go play on the Asian or American servers later? If our Shadow Team can top the leaderboard, we will definitely become the most dazzling players in the world."


    "Hmm, that works," Qin Hao said, nodding slightly.


    Li Moying laughed slyly, "Master, if you lead us to a few more wins, we could almost be contending for second, third, and fourth places in the national server. Then, we''ll go play on the Asian server."


    "Damn, is that an aim lock hack?" GM Traceless cursed loudly.


    His teammate spoke up, "Take a look at the kill feed in the upper right corner."


    "Shadow Gun Demon? Damn, how did we run into him? Hasn''t he been offline for several days?" Seeing Qin Hao''s ID, he was speechless.


    "Ming, be careful and don''t engage him head-on. Wait for us to come down," the other two members of Team GM on the rooftop said.


    "Hmm... okay, I have a shotgun. If he dares to come, he''ll definitely get taken out with a single shot."


    "Bang bang bang"


    "Shadow Gun Demon using the UZI to headshot and knock down GM Ming."


    ...


    "What happened?" the two on the rooftop asked anxiously.


    GM Ming: "He charged straight at me. I clicked the left mouse button, but before I could shoot, I was dead. His moves were too fast."


    Everyone on the battlefield who saw the kill feed in the upper right corner frowned slightly. Why was this guy online again today?


    "Damn it, this game is over." In a certain internet cafe?, someone saw the name Shadow Gun Demon and uttered these words in despair.


    Curiously, their classmate asked, "What''s wrong? Why is this game over?"


    "Do you think anyone else stands a chance of winning when Gun Demon is in the game?"


    "You mean the Gun Demon who is ranked first in the national server? The battlefield is ever-changing; just because he''s ranked first doesn''t mean he can win 100%, right?"


    "Buddy, just look at his record. A 100% win rate. He''s that terrifying."


    As they were talking, a team approached quietly, and within moments they were all taken out.


    "King in White headshot and knocked down Game Without Integrity."


    "King Qingfeng using AKM to headshot and knock down I''m the Grand Handsome."


    ...


    "Damn, the King team? Currently the number one team in the national server?" Those who just got killed were stunned when they read the ID in the kill feed.


    Excitedly, Game Without Integrity said, "There''s going to be a great show this time. Not only is the strongest team in the national server, Team King, present, but the number one ranked Gun Demon God as well.


    Will it be God who single-handedly takes down Team King, or will Team King put an end to God? Hurry to the TT live streaming platform, Witch is definitely broadcasting God''s game."


    At that moment, at least tens of thousands of people flooded into Witch''s live stream.


    ...


    In three minutes, three teams at Airport C building were slaughtered by Qin Hao with an UZI submachine gun.


    He showed no intention of switching weapons, sticking to the UZI despite spotting a SIGA Rifle and a 98k sniper rifle.


    "Wow, what''s God doing with just a submachine gun? Is he planning to win with just that?"


    "66666, I love it when God shows off, always stands out from the crowd in style."

 Chapter 156 Do Not Recognize

    Qin Hao indeed meant that.


    He was planning to take first place with this UZI submachine gun.


    Winning with an automatic rifle in one hand and a sniper rifle in the other hand wasn''t novel; seeking fame, he decided to play something interesting.


    This gun also had significant advantages; its firing rate was the fastest among all guns, but the drawback was that it was difficult to hit targets at a great distance.


    It was a weapon suited for mid to close range.


    As time passed, the safe zone gradually moved towards the direction of the airport.


    The airport had now become silent, apart from the sound of Qin Hao''s driving.


    He arrived at the great bridge from M City to the airport.


    After hiding his car, Qin Hao entered the two-story bunker beside it.


    As the poison circle closed in, it wasn''t long before a car came from the opposite direction.


    Qin Hao''s UZI couldn''t be fitted with a scope; hence he didn''t rush to open fire.


    His gun was equipped with a silencer, an extended magazine, and a stock.


    When the car drove into Qin Hao''s range, he immediately showed his head from the window.


    "Ping ping ping ping"


    The submachine gun with a silencer emitted a unique sound.


    In less than a second, Qin Hao retracted his body,


    twenty out of the thirty-five bullets were fired; with such terrifying rapid fire, even if the person in the car had a level three helmet, they were instantly killed.


    "Shadow Gun Demon uses UZI to score a headshot kill on the Lone Ranger."


    "6666"


    "Damn, that... that was too fast, right?"


    "What level three helmet? It looked no better than a level one."


    The UZI submachine gun exhibited its terrifying capabilities in the hands of Qin Hao.


    No one could last a second against his gun, not even those protected by level three helmets and vests.


    After killing seven or eight people, Qin Hao didn''t linger there and retreated towards N Harbor.


    Because the safe zone had moved to the location of N Harbor.


    Qin Hao was curious¡ªthis guy thought he was who, betting with me?


    "Who are you to make a bet with me? Do I have to accept a bet with everyone?"


    "Pfft"


    Upon hearing this, the other members of the King team spit out the water they had just drunk.


    The number one sniper god of the national server, God, and there are actually people who don''t know him?


    Is this guy joking?


    The audience in the three major streaming rooms laughed too: "Haha, Gun Demon God actually doesn''t know King team''s captain White Clothes."


    "God in white probably feels like dying right now, doesn''t he?"


    Li Jianjun was speechless: "I am the White Clothes of King team." Stay updated with empire


    "Sorry, really never heard of it..." Qin Hao replied truthfully.


    ...


    "No matter whether you''ve heard of me or not, do you dare take a bet with me?"


    "Whoosh"


    A grenade thrown from the sky was his response.


    Seeing it, Li Jianjun''s face changed, "Damn," and he quickly ran to the other side.


    Qin Hao had been waiting for him to come out, immediately stood up and fired, and then instantly lay flat on the ground.


    This set of movements was very fast, taking roughly only a fraction of a second.


    Just as he laid down, a few bullets hit beside him.


    That was Qingfeng''s shot; his reaction was not slow at all, being the first to react when Qin Hao just showed himself.


    But Qin Hao''s movement technique was too fast; he had just come and gone back in.


    Although the time was short, more than ten bullets all hit his head, instantly killing him.


    "Shadow Gun Demon uses UZI submachine gun to headshot and down King God in White Clothes."


    The distance was far, well beyond the effective range of the UZI submachine gun.


    Li Jianjun found it hard to believe, Damn, is this really not cheating?


    Before he could crawl away, another grenade flew over and directly sent him off.

 Chapter 157 Its just a team, right?

    Not only was Li Jianjun shocked, but the audience in the live streaming room was also boiling over.


    "Damn, to instantly kill King''s team''s White from such a distance, does the God''s UZI submachine gun really not have a scope?"


    "6666666"


    "The best sniper in the national server, didn''t even get a chance to shoot, and he was taken out by a UZI submachine gun, am I seeing this right?"


    "The terrifying firing rate, coupled with precise shooting, is practically a BUG."


    King White said, "Be careful, guys, his UZI is terrifying, he has completely mastered this gun."


    King Qingfeng asked, "He was shooting in single fire mode, right?"


    Li Jianjun: "Exactly, he fired over ten bullets in tenths of a second, and every shot was a headshot."


    "Damn, to single-tap that fast? Is he even human?" from King Xiao Gou.


    Qingfeng said, "You two cover me with grenades, I don''t believe he can wipe out our entire team alone."


    The other two threw several grenades towards the rooftop where Qin Hao was positioned, and then Qingfeng took this opportunity to run forward.


    He intended to hide in a spot unknown to Qin Hao.


    The recent death of Li Jianjun was a clear indication that Qin Hao knew their locations.


    After throwing the grenades, King''s team members, Xiao Gou and Xinghen, also threw a smoke bomb and then ran forward as well.


    "Boom boom"


    Explosions were heard from the rooftop, but Qin Hao was not killed.


    After killing Li Jianjun, he had immediately moved down from the rooftop.


    He positioned himself near a third-floor window, watching the movements below, unable to see the three men at all.


    There were many possible hiding spots below, and Qin Hao eventually narrowed down six locations.


    Based on the timing of the rooftop grenade explosion, he could deduce when these people started moving and the farthest distance they could have covered by this point.


    He factored all these in, and surely the King''s team''s three members were in three out of those six spots.


    All three were experts and would likely not foolishly stick together, as that would afford them no advantage.


    If unlucky, a single grenade could wipe them out.


    The safe zone was about to shrink soon, and the refreshed position was disadvantageous for Qin Hao, he had to move quickly or else he would be killed by the poison.


    Qin Hao checked his backpack for grenades, four remained.


    He took out a grenade and threw it at one of the locations, then the second, and the third...


    When he threw the third one, finally, someone ran out from inside.


    If they didn''t come out, they would most certainly be blasted to death, but coming out gave them a slim chance of survival.


    As Qin Hao was throwing the grenades, his position was exposed, and now all three members of King''s team knew his location.


    The moment King Xiao Gou ran out, gunfire erupted.


    Xiao Gou fell to the ground at the sound, and Qin Hao''s exposed window was riddled with bullet holes, but he didn''t lose any health.


    His standing position was quite tricky; although Xinghen did fire his gun, it didn''t scare Qin Hao away.


    Qingfeng''s hiding spot could barely reach him, but since Qingfeng wasn''t certain, he didn''t reveal his position.


    He was waiting for the right opportunity, a chance to deliver a fatal blow to Qin Hao.


    After dealing with Xiao Gou, Qin Hao jumped down from the back window of the building.


    If he didn''t go down now, once the poison circle closed in, he''d have to jump out the front, greatly increasing his chances of getting killed.


    After this round was over, Qin Hao could clearly see his reputation points skyrocketing.


    Meanwhile, the video of this game was also posted on various major gaming forums.


    "King team tragically wiped out by Gun God God"


    "Gun God God sweeps four sides with a sub-machine gun, instantly kills the number one sniper in the national server, wiping out the King team"


    "The rise of a king, this year''s WWJ champion will belong to Xuan Country"


    "Master, you are so amazing, so cool." Li Moying said excitedly.


    "We actually wiped out the King team, I can hardly believe it." Shadow Xiaoqi also spoke up.


    "Brother Gun God, I heard you''re still a student; many female fans in my live stream want to have your babies." Xiao Ya said cheerfully.


    Qin Hao was embarrassed, and curiously asked, "Is King very famous?"


    ...


    He was using the team voice chat, and Li Moying and the other two had their sound broadcast, so the people in all three live stream rooms heard him.


    Is King team famous? Can you remove the word might?


    "Damn, Gun God God doesn''t even know about the King team?"


    "Haha, this is killing me, the people from King team would probably spit blood if they heard this?"


    "I only respect you, who doesn''t respect even the jj."


    Li Moying: "Cough cough, Master, you really don''t know about King team? It''s a top national team that has competed in international tournaments and ranked in the top five."


    Qin Hao: "I really don''t know... I''m not very familiar with this game, but is this level still in the top five?"


    "Uh... Master, it''s because you''re too strong, not because they are too weak." Her own brother was the captain of that team, she didn''t want to put down her own brother.


    Qin Hao played a few more games with them, and in the following rounds, they consistently won, quickly boosting Li Moying and the others'' scores. Discover hidden content at empire


    By around ten o''clock in the evening, all three of them finally reached the top four of the national server.


    Qin Hao: "Let''s call it a day, if I''m free tomorrow, we can play again."


    "Yes, Master."


    ...


    After logging out of the game, Li Moying chatted with him on TT: "Master, are you busy tomorrow?"


    "Hmm, why?"


    Li Moying: "No reason, just thinking of asking you out to play, but if you''re busy, never mind."


    Qin Hao: "Hmm, okay."


    Inside the dormitory, Fatty and Chen Ping had been standing behind him all along.


    Qin Hao got up and saw their expressions, curiously asked, "What''s with those expressions?"


    "Big bro, did you just wipe out the King team?"


    "It''s just one team, what''s there to be surprised about." After speaking, Qin Hao took his basin and went out to wash up.


    It''s just one team?


    Damn, is it an ordinary team? That''s a top national team.


    Fatty and Chen Ping looked at each other, then sighed.


    Indeed, comparing oneself to others would only make one frustrated.


    This is a genius with full marks in the unified exam, how could we compare with someone like that.

 Chapter 158 The Young Aunt

    The next morning


    After getting up, Qin Hao spoke with his plump friend and a few others, then left the school.


    He gave Du Wanrou a call, "Hey, Wan Rou, where are you? I''m coming to find you."


    The lazy voice of Du Wanrou came from the phone, "I''m at my aunt''s house. Are you up already?"


    Qin Hao, "Where is your aunt''s house? I''ll come to find you."


    "Okay, good." Du Wanrou told him the name of the district.


    After hanging up the phone, he hailed a taxi and headed straight for Meilin Waterfront District.


    ...


    After Du Wanrou hung up, a young and beautiful woman was lying next to her, "Was that your boyfriend''s call?"


    Du Wanrou nodded, "He will be here soon, and we''re going out today."


    Feng Xiangyi, "Do your parents know?"


    Du Wanrou shook her head, "I haven''t told them yet."


    "Where is your boyfriend from? Is he handsome? What''s his family''s condition like?" Feng Xiangyi asked several questions consecutively.


    Du Wanrou chuckled softly, "He is also from Jiangshan, and we were high school classmates. As for his looks, I think he''s the handsomest, and his family is average."


    "Oh, then I''ll help you vet him later. If he can''t even pass my test, let alone your parents. Get up and tidy up," Feng Xiangyi said with a smile.


    "Aunt, please don''t mess around."


    Feng Xiangyi, "Don''t worry, you know I''m not that kind of person.


    But, dear, I must remind you, a girl needs to respect herself and not let a man succeed too easily; otherwise, you will suffer later on. Tell your aunt the truth, how far have you two gone?"


    Du Wanrou blushed slightly, "At most, we''ve just held hands."


    "That''s still okay, just make sure to keep it in check!"


    ...


    At nine in the morning, Qin Hao arrived at Meilin Waterfront District by taxi.


    The scenery of the district was quite nice with a small river winding around.


    He found building number 29, first unit, then took the elevator up to the sixteenth floor, outside room 1601.


    He rang the doorbell.


    "Ding-dong"


    The door was quickly opened, and Du Wanrou greeted him with a smile, "You''re here, come on in."


    "Hmm"


    Qin Hao walked into the room, which was a two-bedroom, one living room apartment.


    There was still a young and beautiful woman sitting on the living room sofa.


    The woman was very pretty, tall and slender.


    Wasn''t Wan Rou supposed to be living with her aunt? Could this be a child from her aunt''s family?


    When Qin Hao entered, Feng Xiangyi turned her head to look, an ordinary looking man with delicate features, not particularly handsome.


    Du Wanrou introduced, "Qin Hao, this is my aunt Feng Xiangyi, and aunt, this is my boyfriend Qin Hao."


    The dealership was huge and had all kinds of luxury cars.


    Entering the store, the brightly polished floor was like a mirror.


    Dozens of luxury cars were on display, the variety of models and brands was dazzling.


    Each car had a tall, curvy model standing in front of it.


    There were quite a few people around, each accompanied by a saleswoman.


    As the three of them entered, a saleswoman in a red cheongsam came over.


    "Hello, welcome to the Jianghai Luxury Car Pavilion. We have all kinds of luxury brands here. What type are you interested in, sir, miss?"


    With a smile, Feng Xiangyi looked towards Qin Hao, her meaning was clear: He''s the main decision-maker.


    People who sell cars here are very good at reading the room.


    The saleswoman looked at Qin Hao with a professional smile.


    From his clothes and appearance, she couldn''t tell that Qin Hao was wealthy, but her expression and demeanor didn''t change at all.


    Maybe the other party preferred to keep a low profile, or maybe he really wasn''t wealthy, but as part of her job, she had to be responsible to her profession and maintain the company''s image.


    Qin Hao looked around and said, "Show us around."


    The saleswoman nodded slightly, "Sure sir, please follow me."


    The three followed the saleswoman further inside.


    The first car was a latest model BMW, which the saleswoman introduced in detail.


    Qin Hao shook his head slightly, feeling that the car wasn''t very attractive.


    Feng Xiangyi was somewhat surprised to see his expression.


    She didn''t expect him to pretend so well, turning up his nose at an 800,000-yuan BMW?


    Not impressed? I bet he can''t afford it!


    The group continued forward, inspecting a few BMW models, but Qin Hao was still shaking his head. The saleswoman then took them to the Audi section.


    They checked out Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes, Range Rover, and more.


    But Qin Hao shook his head at those too.


    It wasn''t that these models were bad, some of them he found quite nice, but he thought they didn''t suit Du Wanrou well.


    Somewhat exasperated, Feng Xiangyi said, "Maybe we should just go back?"


    Not wanting Qin Hao to spend so much money on her, Du Wanrou agreed, "Yeah, maybe we should head back."


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Since we are here, let''s choose something we like, I plan to buy one myself, too."


    ...


    Feng Xiangyi didn''t expect that she had given him an out, and yet he still didn''t take it. Was this guy really going to ''pretend to be a pig while eating the tiger''?


    The saleswoman kept smiling, "Sir, are you planning to buy one for this miss and one for yourself?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, that''s right, let''s keep looking, I think over there isn''t bad."


    He pointed to the high-end area of the showroom.


    The saleswoman nodded, "All right sir, please follow me."


    Find exclusive stories on empire


    "This is the Porsche exclusive area." The saleswoman led them to the Porsche exclusive area.

 Chapter 159 Buying a Car

    There were quite a few cars in the Porsche section, with prices ranging from several hundred thousand to nearly ten million.


    The saleswoman gave a brief introduction, and Qin Hao asked Du Wanrou, "Do you see anything you like?"


    Du Wanrou shook her head.


    "Let''s go over there and have a look," Qin Hao said to the saleswoman.


    Feng Xiangyi''s patience was almost worn out, and she felt even more disgusted with Qin Hao. How could this guy be such a poser?


    He clearly knew Du Wanrou wasn''t interested, yet he still asked.


    The saleswoman still maintained a smile: "Sure, sir. This way is the Ferrari exclusive area, which is also one of the main brands we promote."


    There were many Ferrari models in the exclusive area, and there were also more than ten people looking at cars.


    As they had just walked over, a voice suddenly rang out: "Isn''t that Manager Feng?"


    The three turned their heads to look, and saw a bald, slightly overweight middle-aged man looking at her with a smile on his face. Read the latest on empire


    Beside the middle-aged man was a young and beautiful woman.


    The woman was attractive in both face and figure, with her hands on the bald man''s arm.


    When Feng Xiangyi saw the man, she said expressionlessly, "Mr. Kang, what a coincidence, brazenly bringing your mistress out like this. Aren''t you afraid that the legitimate wife at home will find out?"


    Kang Ruiming''s face changed slightly.


    They worked at the same company; Feng Xiangyi was a department manager, while Kang Ruiming was a vice president and her superior.


    Kang Ruiming had tried several times to take advantage of her, but she had firmly rejected him, causing him much embarrassment. Therefore, he had always been suppressing her at the company.


    With Feng Xiangyi''s capabilities, she had hoped to become the vice president of another department, but Kang Ruiming had foiled her opportunities.


    Since then, the two had been at odds, but Feng Xiangyi''s status in the company was not as high as Kang Ruiming''s, so she had always been at a disadvantage.


    Now that they met, given her character, she naturally would not show a pleasant face to Kang Ruiming.


    The female secretary did not look very pleased, especially with so many people around.


    Being a mistress wasn''t exactly an honorable thing.


    She scoffed, "Manager Feng, you should think about your own situation. Next month you might be rolling up your mattress and leaving. Surprisingly, you still have the leisure to stroll around here. Are you envious? Too bad, someone like you will never be able to afford such luxuries. You might as well not waste the salesperson''s time. I''m embarrassed for you."


    Feng Xiangyi''s face showed some embarrassment: "I don''t need lessons from a mistress like you."


    "Hehe, Mr. Kang, let''s continue looking at cars. I think this one is nice, and priced at just over a million. It''s quite suitable," said the secretary in a strange tone, clearly aiming her comments at Feng Xiangyi.


    Du Wanrou frowned slightly, finding this person utterly shameless.


    Qin Hao wanted to help Feng Xiangyi, since after all, she was Wan Rou''s aunt, but he didn''t know how to intervene.


    He wasn''t sure how to get involved in an argument between women.


    He thought for a moment and then said, "Aunt, don''t bother arguing with those kinds of people. It''s not worth getting angry and hurting your own health."


    Du Wanrou agreed, "That''s right, aunt. Such people aren''t worth your anger."


    The sales lady was seeing someone this generous for the first time, taking two cars worth tens of millions each in one go.


    Was he the son of some conglomerate?


    "Alright, sir, please follow me to proceed with the paperwork," the sales lady recovered first, knowing that nothing was certain until everything was settled.


    Even though Qin Hao didn''t seem to be joking, with a deal in the tens of millions, she couldn''t afford to be careless.


    If the deal really went through, just the commission would equal her entire year''s income.


    "Wait," Qin Hao suddenly spoke up.


    The sales lady stopped in her tracks, her heart racing; was he having second thoughts?


    "Sir, do you have any doubts?" she asked cautiously.


    Qin Hao turned to look at Feng Xiangyi, "Auntie, do you see anything you like? Why not choose one for yourself."


    Feng Xiangyi also thought he was about to back out, after all, it was nearly thirty million yuan, a sum she could never earn in her entire life.


    But hearing Qin Hao''s words, she felt somewhat ashamed and quickly said, "No need, the car I have is fine."


    She probably didn''t realize how her tone had changed.


    Qin Hao said, "Auntie, don''t be polite, we''re practically family."


    "Really, it''s not necessary," Feng Xiangyi was embarrassed by his gesture; who gives away cars upon first meeting?


    Seeing her reaction, Qin Hao didn''t insist any further, "Alright then."


    The three of them followed the sales lady to the office for processing the payment and paperwork.


    Inside, there were three young and beautiful women sitting there.


    Mr. Kang Ruiming and his secretary were at station one, doing their paperwork.


    The sales lady led Qin Hao and his companions to station number two.


    She handed over two forms to the young woman at station two, "These are the purchase forms for this gentleman."


    The woman took the forms, glanced at them, and her face showed surprise. Wow, twenty-eight million fourteen thousand?


    "Sir, you are purchasing two cars from our store; a latest limited edition red Ferrari sports car and a starlight gray Lamborghini sports car, totalling twenty-eight million. How will you pay?"


    Mr. Kang Ruiming and his secretary, who were about to mock Feng Xiangyi, were stunned upon hearing the cashier''s words.


    Twenty-eight million? Him?


    Feng Xiangyi knew someone of this stature?


    "Charge it to the card, and put my girlfriend''s name on the Ferrari," Qin Hao took out a card and handed it to the cashier, reminding her.


    Put the girlfriend''s name on the car?


    The people around turned their heads to look at Du Wanrou, their eyes filled with envy. A thirteen-million car in the girlfriend''s name was practically the same as giving it as a gift.


    If only I had a boyfriend like that!!

 Chapter 160 Watching the Store

    ```


    Going through the procedures took quite a bit of time, and when she came out from the luxury car dealership, Feng Xiangyi was in a very good mood.


    Seeing Kang Ruiming and that secretary with faces like they had swallowed flies made her incredibly refreshed, and it was such a relief.


    Let them be arrogant and complacent, now they know who is standing beside this miss!


    "Qin Hao, what does your family do, to be so wealthy?" she asked curiously.


    The words Du Wanrou said this morning were obviously deceiving her, could a person from an ordinary family afford this kind of luxury car?


    That wretched girl dared to deceive me, see how I deal with you when I get back. Fortunately, I did not make a fool of myself, or it would have been such an embarrassment.


    Qin Hao answered with a smile, "My parents work in a car manufacturing plant, and I own a company myself, specializing in roasted duck."


    "What roasted duck? Can you make that much money selling roasted duck?" Feng Xiangyi exclaimed in surprise.


    "Jiangshan Roasted Duck."


    Feng Xiangyi paused, "The Jiangshan Roasted Duck is yours?"


    Qin Hao, "Umm, my aunt has heard of it?"


    "A few days ago when Wan Rou started school, her parents brought over a few Jiangshan Roasted Ducks. They were simply a delicacy of this world, a memory that is still fresh in my mind. When do you plan to open a branch in Jianghai City?"


    Feng Xiangyi became much more talkative and her tone had greatly improved.


    Qin Hao, "I''ve been preparing for a while, and it''s opening tomorrow."


    "Opening tomorrow? Where? Why didn''t you tell me?" Du Wanrou pouted with a hint of displeasure.


    Qin Hao said with a laugh, "Alright, I will definitely tell you next time, my boss lady, okay? The location is at the Xinshang Square in your district."


    Instantly, Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned red, "Stop it, who''s your boss lady."


    "Cough cough, there''s another person here. Can you two stop showing off your love and making me feel so out of place as a lonely soul?" Feng Xiangyi complained.


    Qin Hao, "Alright, let''s go to the vehicle management office to get the license plates."


    "Today is the weekend; the vehicle management office is closed, and it''s difficult to get a license plate in Jianghai City. Do you know anyone there?" Feng Xiangyi reminded him.


    Qin Hao paused upon hearing this, "I''d forgotten about that, I''ll make a call and ask."


    He called Xu Jiejian, the most influential person he knew.


    The call was quickly connected.


    Xu Jiejian''s voice came through from the phone, "Xiao Hao, have you run into some trouble?"


    Although Qin Hao had done the Xu Family a favor, his tone was still polite and respectful, "Mr. Xu, I''ve just bought two cars but haven''t gotten their license plates yet. I don''t really know anyone at the vehicle management office; I was hoping you could help."


    Xu Jiejian laughed, "I thought it was something major. Which vehicle management office do you plan to go to?"


    "Bailing District, it''s closer to me." Read exclusive adventures at empire


    Xu Jiejian, "Mm, Old Wang from Bailing District vehicle management office used to work under me. I''ll give him a call and mention you; just use my name when you get there."


    "Okay, thank you, Mr. Xu, for the trouble."


    Xu Jiejian, "Why the formalities, my boy. Today, I received a call from the elder, saying my mother''s leg is recovering quickly, and he asked me to thank you as well."


    Two luxury cars drove in, instantly capturing the attention of many onlookers.


    "Wow, what a handsome car!"


    Many young women''s gaze fell on Du Wanrou''s red Ferrari.


    Because both the color and the design appealed to women''s tastes.


    The three cars stopped beside the entrance of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant.


    Qin Hao and his companions got out, with Du Wanrou''s arm linked with his, her fair cheeks blushing slightly.


    Seeing this scene, many men and women flashed looks of disappointment.


    ...


    "This is your new store?" Du Wanrou looked at the outdoor sign.


    The four big characters read "Jiangshan Roasted Duck," and there was a line of smaller text below: Jianghai City Bailing District Xinshang Store.


    Feng Xiangyi was also assessing the sign and could tell that just this signboard was more expensive than those of several adjacent stores.


    At first glance, it gave off a clean and tidy impression.


    Unlike some signs that appeared cluttered and complex.


    Even the colors of the sign, black with gold letters.


    Looked steady and grand.


    "Not bad, this signboard is very well made. It will attract a lot of customers for you. Did your own company design it?" she praised.


    Qin Hao thought it was nice too, and a bit embarrassed, said, "It was done by people under me, I''m not too clear about it. I''ll ask in a bit."


    "Mr. Qin?" a voice called out.


    The three of them turned to look and saw a mature woman in her thirties standing not far away looking at Qin Hao, with a hint of surprise in her expression.


    Qin Hao greeted her with a smile, "It''s Mr. Yang. Long time no see."


    "This is Mr. Yang from Xinshang Square Real Estate, this is my girlfriend Du Wanrou, and this is my aunt Feng Xiangyi," he introduced them to each other.


    "Miss Du, Miss Feng, hello," Yang Mei greeted them with a smile.


    Du Wanrou and Feng Xiangyi also replied, "Hello, Mr. Yang."


    Yang Mei looked at the two luxury cars next to her and said, "Mr. Qin, are these newly purchased?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I still have to get by in Jianghai City. Not having a car would make me look bad."


    Yang Mei didn''t know if he was subtly referencing her; she certainly felt a degree of disdain when she heard Qin Hao was opening a duck restaurant.


    But now she thought she was wrong. She was not someone without experience; those two cars had to be worth over twenty million at the very least.


    What kind of person can spend tens of millions on cars?


    What does he really do for a living? Does he actually sell roasted duck? Yang Mei decided to investigate thoroughly when she returned.


    She chuckled awkwardly, "Mr. Qin, you joke too much. You''re busy, I should head back, I have things to do."


    "Okay, see you later, Mr. Yang."

 Chapter 161 Terrifying Potential

    As they entered the store, Nie Si and Liu Pengyun were busy setting up something.


    They were preparing for the opening.


    These past few days, they had also done some basic advertising and promotion.


    Seeing Qin Hao enter with two young, beautiful women, Liu Pengyun and Nie Si hurriedly said, "Mr. Qin, you''ve arrived."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Everyone has worked hard these past few days. How are the preparations going?"


    "Mr. Qin, we are almost ready, we can officially open tomorrow," Nie Si replied earnestly.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "This is my girlfriend, Du Wanrou, and this is my aunt, Feng Xiangyi."


    "Nice to meet you, Miss Du," Liu Pengyun and the others hurriedly said with respect.


    Du Wanrou felt a bit embarrassed, "It''s okay, everyone. There''s no need to be formal, I''m just here to have a look with Qin Hao."


    "The decoration style is also quite nice," Feng Xiangyi commented as she looked around and nodded.


    Liu Pengyun began to explain, "Both the interior decor and the exterior billboard design were sent over by the headquarters, and then we hired a decorating company.


    Tomorrow, Jiangshan will also have a few new stores opening, Mr. Qin, I will definitely not disappoint you," he added.


    Qin Hao''s smile was encouraging, "Alright, keep up the good work. Sweat is not necessarily rewarded, but it will definitely help you grow."


    "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Qin."


    The three of them walked around inside and then sat down.


    Qin Hao asked, "Auntie, what do you do for work?"


    "I''m an administrative manager at a company. There was a chance for me to be promoted to vice president, but Kang Ruiming sabotaged me. He''s been trying to take advantage of me, and failed, so he''s been picking trouble with me ever since."


    Mentioning Kang Ruiming made her look angry.


    Qin Hao, "How''s your treatment there?"


    "A salary of twenty-three thousand a month, plus the five insurances and one fund, it''s okay."


    Feng Xiangyi''s family conditions were not very good. Her parents had died when she was in university.


    She only had one relative, who is Du Wanrou''s mother, Feng Yun.


    Feng Yun and Du Hongfeng met in university, and then moved to marriage together.


    ...


    Qin Hao, "Auntie, since we''re not strangers, how about working for me? I plan to set up a branch here and still need some key positions filled. It might be a bit tiring initially."


    "What position are you thinking of offering me?" Feng Xiangyi asked directly without any politeness.


    "Congratulations Host, you''ve won the Go Skill."


    "Congratulations Host, you''ve won a Beginner''s Strength Potion"


    Beginner''s Strength Potion: Slightly increases the user''s strength attribute for a duration of half an hour.


    This potion was somewhat useful. He checked the Go skill; because the lottery system was upgraded, the Go skill he drew was directly at level two.


    Around six o''clock after dinner, he started playing video games with Li Moying and two others to further increase his reputation points.


    ...


    In the office at Xinshang Square, Yang Mei.


    After returning, she immediately had someone investigate Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd.


    The information was quickly delivered to her desk.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. was established at the end of May 2019 in Xuan Country, specializing in roasted duck.


    From the beginning, it had caused a significant reaction in Jiangshan; within just three months, Jiangshan Roasted Duck had expanded to over twenty stores, with monthly profits in the millions.


    According to sources from venture capitalists, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. was valued at three hundred million, with investment firms reaching out to the company, but no response was received.


    If the current trend continues, the valuation of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. would climb even higher.


    The company''s general manager is named Kang Youyi, but according to the investigation, he is not the chairman of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd.


    The hidden boss behind the scenes is a man named Qin Hao, who also invented and created the secret recipe for the roasted duck.


    Upon reading this information, a look of shock flickered through Yang Mei''s eyes.


    Despite that the monthly profits of millions couldn''t compare with Xinshang Real Estate yet, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. had just been established.


    On the other hand, Xinshang Real Estate was a well-established company of over a decade, the two couldn''t really be compared.


    Moreover, it was clear that Qin Hao was beginning to strategize for Jianghai City, appearing as an ordinary youth with grand ambitions.


    Realizing this, she felt that she had underestimated Qin Hao in the past.


    Tomorrow his new store seems to be opening, I should personally go congratulate him and also try their roasted duck.


    If it could become all the rage in Jiangshan, it must be good.


    ...


    On the other side, after returning home, Feng Xiangyi also did some online research. Although not as detailed as Yang Mei''s, she too saw the immense potential of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. definitely has the potential to become an industry giant. If she joins the company now, her status is bound to rise along with its success.


    Now is the best time to get onboard.

 Chapter 162 Jianghai Branch Opening

    Du Wanrou was also a bit surprised, "Is Qin Hao''s company valued at several billion? That high?"No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Feng Xiangyi nodded, "You''ve got a sharp eye, girl. How come I never meet such capable men?"


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks flushed red, "Auntie, you''re so annoying, always teasing me."


    "Haha, you better keep a close eye on this kind of man, or someone else might snatch him away," Feng Xiangyi reminded her.


    "Yeah, if they manage to snatch him away, that''s their skill."


    Despite saying this, Du Wanrou was still more alert inside.


    The image of Li Moying came to her mind, a woman whose appearance and family background were in no way inferior to hers.


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao didn''t go to class and took the bus to Xinshang Square after having breakfast.


    He arrived at Xinshang Square at eight-thirty in the morning.


    Outside the duck store, two rows of ceremonial cannons were set up, all adorned with red cords, looking festive and joyful.


    Outside the storefront, there was also a pair of beautiful floral baskets.


    Beneath the floral baskets was written: Gift from Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group.


    At the same time, Yang Mei came with her assistant carrying two floral baskets. Seeing Qin Hao, she smiled and said, "Mr. Qin."


    "Mr. Yang, what''s this about?" Qin Hao curiously asked her.


    Yang Mei smiled and said, "Since your store is in my Xinshang Square, it''s only right to send floral baskets to congratulate you on its opening. Xiao Mei, place the baskets on both sides of the entrance."


    After she spoke, she also glanced at the floral basket by the entrance.


    Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group?


    Seeing this name, her eyes narrowed slightly, and a glint flashed in her pupils, "Do you know Mr. Xu from Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group?"


    Both sides had organized many events in the past to attract foot traffic, even hiring celebrities for performances.


    But Xinshang Square was still at a disadvantage with no significant change. Discover more content at empire


    Li Guangfu''s secretary spoke up, "That''s a new store opening at Xinshang Square."


    Li Guangfu scoffed, "Oh? A new store opening there? Are they blind? Don''t they know our Xing''an Square has higher traffic?"


    "Mr. Li, the owner of that store is the young man who visited us last time," the secretary whispered.


    Li Guangfu looked somewhat embarrassed, yet he scoffed, "He''ll regret it soon and then he''ll have to come to our Xing''an Square."


    ...


    After the salvo of ceremonial cannons, everyone in the store became busy.


    Nie Si poured Qin Hao a cup of tea and then stood by cautiously.


    Qin Hao sat in his office making phone calls.


    The store not only had a manager''s office, but also a finance office.


    "I understand, send me the performance report of the new store tonight," Qin Hao said calmly to Kang Youyi over the phone.


    Kang Youyi, "Okay, Hao, there''s another matter that needs your decision."


    Qin Hao, "What''s the matter?"


    "After some discussions, everyone thinks that our company should establish a training base to support our rapid development. What do you think, Hao?"


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Mhm, that''s a possibility. We must keep a tight control over the mid and senior management positions to avoid any mishaps."


    "Okay, Hao."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao''s phone rang again. It was a call from Li Moying.


    "Master, where are you? I couldn''t find you in your classroom," Li Moying directly asked.

 Chapter 163 Invisible Perspective Glasses

    Qin Hao said, "I''m outside, what''s up?"


    "Where are you? I''ll come to find you."


    "Something wrong?" Qin Hao asked, puzzled.


    Li Moying replied, "Mmm, there''s a bit of an issue."


    Qin Hao gave her the location, and soon after, Li Moying hung up the phone.


    The aroma from the Jiangshan Roasted Duck started wafting out around 9:30 p.m., making people drool with desire.


    Even up in Xinshang Square, one could smell the delicious scent of roasted duck.


    In the office, Qin Hao boredly gazed at the jade cabbage sculpture. It was finely crafted, and the quality of the jade was excellent. It mustn''t have been cheap.


    As he looked on, Qin Hao suddenly remembered something.


    He hastily summoned the system and opened his backpack where he found something: invisible X-ray glasses.


    They could see through anything, but could only be used for half an hour each day.


    His hometown was Shuinan Province, which bordered Nangong Country. Your next read is at empire


    Nangong Country''s jade was renowned worldwide. Although several other countries had discovered jade mines, Nangong''s production and quality were the highest.


    About ninety percent of the commercial jade on the market came from Nangong, so when one mentioned jade, it was typically referred to as Nangong jade.


    Jade is extremely hard, earning the title of "King of Gems" and had considerable value for collectors. Furthermore, it was visually stunning and had health benefits.


    Speaking of jade, one must mention "jade gambling."


    Jade gambling involved betting on the raw jade stones, which were mined stones unprocessed and covered with a thick weathered skin.


    Nobody knew whether the inside held worthless material or top-quality jade.


    The risks in jade gambling were huge. A single cut could lead to bankruptcy, while another could propel someone into the ranks of billionaires.


    Despite this, many were enamored with it.


    Such was the charm of jade gambling.


    Qin Hao wondered if wearing the invisible X-ray glasses would allow him to see through the raw stones.


    He had never used them since he obtained them.


    Thinking this, Qin Hao looked around. Nie Si had already left, and he was alone in the office.


    He put on the X-ray glasses directly, immediately feeling a difference. Everything around him seemed clearer.


    "Activate the X-ray feature?"


    A crisp voice echoed in his mind.


    The voice came from the X-ray glasses.


    It entered the human brain through microwaves and then was converted into human language.


    "Hehe, you''re really nice, Master,"


    Li Moying said with a mischievous grin.


    Qin Hao gave her a glance, "Aren''t you supposed to be in class?"


    "What''s the use of classes, my family isn''t short on money."


    ...


    That''s disturbingly logical, Qin Hao found himself at a loss for words!


    After ten in the morning, people gradually started entering the roasted duck shop.


    Some came because of the advertisements, while others were drawn in by the aroma.


    The morning business was quite good, considering Jiangshan Roasted Duck had little brand influence here.


    They could only move forward one step at a time.


    A little after eleven, Qin Hao spoke to Nie Si and Liu Pengyun, then left the roasted duck shop with Li Moying.


    By the door of the shop was Li Moying''s Bugatti.


    "I''ll drive myself, I have to get the license plate this afternoon."


    Li Moying looked at his car, somewhat surprised, "Master, did you buy this?"


    "Mhm."


    "How much was it?"


    "Fifteen million."


    ...


    Li Moying: "Wow, it turns out Master is a hidden tycoon."


    "Alright, let''s go, or your brother will get anxious."


    The two sports cars slowly drove out of Xinshang Square.


    They drove to Jinxiu Hotel in Bailing District.


    After parking the cars, Qin Hao got out and saw a man in a white suit standing at the hotel entrance.


    The man was strikingly handsome, comparing favorably with some idol stars.


    Li Jianjun saw Qin Hao getting out and his eyes flashed with surprise, recognizing quality when he saw it.


    He had seen this new model of Lamborghini before, priced at fifteen million.


    It looked like a new car, and he could actually afford such a multi-million dollar luxury vehicle, no wonder he was unmoved by my 80 million offer before.


    He approached with a smile, extending a hand, "Hello, Qin Hao, I''m Li Jianjun, Moying''s brother."


    "Hello," Qin Hao shook his hand lightly.

 Chapter 164 Signing the Contract

    "Mr. Qin, please come in."


    Li Jianjun was courteous and spoke with elegance, an immediate indication that he was no ordinary individual.


    "The guest follows the host''s lead, so Mr. Li, after you."


    Li Moying said exasperatedly, "Are you two planning to dawdle until tomorrow? Get inside, I''m starving."


    ...


    The three of them entered the hotel, where the general manager had already prepared a suite and meals.


    No sooner had they sat down than the food was served, sumptuous and accompanied by a bottle of expensive red wine.


    "I''ll start eating; you guys can talk amongst yourselves," said Li Moying as she picked up her chopsticks to eat.


    Li Jianjun looked at Qin Hao with a smile and said, "Mr. Qin, let''s have a drink to start with."


    Qin Hao shook his head, "I''m sorry, I have to drive later in the afternoon, I''d better not drink."


    "Right, I wasn''t thinking. Instead, let''s have a drink with tea in place of liquor."


    After a sip of tea, Li Jianjun went straight to the point, "Mr. Qin, the reason I invited you is to discuss a potential collaboration."


    "Cooperation? What kind of cooperation?" Qin Hao asked with curiosity.


    Li Jianjun said, "In the realm of gaming. I know you''re a college student and education is a priority, so I won''t be too demanding. It''s alright if you don''t train, as long as you''re present for the matches."


    Qin Hao said, "I''m not interested in that."


    That one sentence effectively stumped Li Jianjun.


    He truly wasn''t interested and had never thought of making money by playing professionally.


    Grinding his teeth, Li Jianjun said, "Just name your conditions. As long as it''s within my power and the Jinxiu Group''s capability, I''ll agree to it."


    Li Moying, who was sitting nearby, was taken aback, somewhat in disbelief that her older brother would say such a thing.


    Qin Hao could see his determination and was somewhat puzzled, "Can you explain why? I''m very curious."


    Li Jianjun''s expression changed, and after a moment, he said, "Last year, I led the King team to international competition as the top team from Xuan Country."


    "We finished seventh, and after the match, our team suffered humiliation at the hands of the Beidou Country Team and the Beihai Country Team. I can''t swallow that insult. Since then, I have sworn to lead the King team to world championship glory and show those dogs what we''re made of."


    After speaking, his face looked terrible, clearly, they had suffered a great humiliation back then.


    Hearing this, Qin Hao fell into deep thought.


    Seeing his reaction, Li Jianjun held back from speaking, a thought crossing his mind.


    That was what she had found attractive, but there was simply no room for negotiation.


    Even though Qin Hao had put it very tactfully, she could tell that he had no intention of raising funds.


    After having lunch, Li Moying asked, "Master, where are you planning to go this afternoon?"


    "I plan to go and register the car license plate, and then head back to the roast duck restaurant to check on things there."


    Li Moying: "Oh, in that case, I''ll head home first."


    "Alright then."


    Qin Hao drove out of Jinxiu Hotel, then made a phone call to Du Wanrou, "Wanrou, where are you?"


    "I''m at home. I came back after my morning classes were done."


    Qin Hao: "I''ll come over to find you; let''s go to the vehicle administration office to get the license plate."


    "Alright, sure."


    ...


    When Li Moying got home, she was humming a tune as she opened the door and walked in, but she instantly froze.


    Because her parents were sitting on the living room sofa.


    "Skipping class again?" Li Xutian''s brow furrowed slightly when he saw her.


    Li Moying quickly ran to her mom: "Mom, my stomach hurts, it''s really uncomfortable."


    "Stop pretending, I know all your little tricks," Li Xutian said somewhat speechlessly when he saw her act.


    Li Moying giggled, "Dad, why are you back so early today?"


    Li Xutian asked back, "I heard you gave your black card to someone?"


    "Was it that jerk who snitched again? I''m going to kill him," Li Moying''s face changed, and she stood up to leave.


    Li Xutian shouted sternly, "Stay right there."


    Li Moying was so scared she froze in place, and then her eyes instantly turned red.


    Seeing this, Gu Yusu quickly interjected, "Talk about the issue at hand, what are you yelling at the child for?"


    Li Xutian: "I will have someone cancel that card of yours, and from now on, steer clear of those shady characters."


    Li Moying shot back, "What do you mean by shady? What''s wrong with my master that makes him shady?"


    "Anyone who plays video games all day can''t be any good. There are all kinds of people on the internet, and your dad just wants the best for you," Gu Yusu said, trying to persuade her daughter.

 Chapter 165 Everything Is Like a Dream

    Li Mo Ying''s voice was choked with sobs, "Mom, how can you say the same? My master is really not the person you think he is."


    Li Xutian: "If he''s not that kind of person, would he be in the police station? Stop talking, from today on, you should see him less."


    "Xiao Ying, listen to dad."


    With tears in her eyes, Li Mo Ying said, "Dad... Mom... How can you be like this? Don''t I even have the right to make friends anymore?"


    "You have the right to make friends, but you can''t be friends with this kind of person."


    "I''m already an adult. I can be friends with whoever I want, it''s none of your business." Having said that, Li Mo Ying ran upstairs crying.


    Li Xutian was quite angered, his daughter had always been obedient, but her reaction today infuriated him.


    Gu Yusu: "Alright, you say less."


    Li Xutian: "I''m also doing this for Xiao Ying''s good. What if she''s deceived? No, I have to warn that young man."


    ...


    Qin Hao drove to the residential area where Du Wanrou lived and then headed upstairs as if he knew the way well.


    He knocked on the door, and soon Du Wanrou opened the door from inside.


    Her hair was messy, as if she had just woken up.


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao found it strangely enticing and smoothed her hair with his hand: "Were you asleep?"


    With a blush on her cheeks, Du Wanrou nodded gently with her head lowered.


    Attracted by her shyness, Qin Hao couldn''t help but wrap his arms around her waist.


    "Stop it, the door''s still open," Du Wanrou said with a blush on her cheeks.


    Qin Hao gave a sheepish smile, entered the house, and closed the door behind him.


    "Which room were you resting in?"


    With a blushing face, Du Wanrou felt extremely shy and her heart was pounding.


    She whispered softly, "This one."


    Qin Hao let go of her slender waist and walked into the room.


    A faint fragrance filled his nostrils.


    The air conditioning in the room was cool, and the bed was still unmade.


    "Mmhmm, you''re going for the license plate? I''m free anyway, you don''t mind if I come along as a third wheel, do you?"


    Clearly embarrassed, Du Wanrou had probably guessed what had happened inside.


    "It''s fine, auntie, let''s go together." Qin Hao acted very calm.


    The three of them got in the car and drove to the vehicle administration office in Bailing District. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire


    The service hall had quite a few people, and Qin Hao approached a window and asked, "Excuse me, where is your leader''s office?"


    "Upstairs, do you have an appointment?"


    Qin Hao: "Yes, I am Qin Hao, I need to see your leader about something."


    "Oh, Mr. Qin, our leader mentioned this. When you come, you can go straight upstairs," the service staff said with a smile.


    "Thank you," Qin Hao said.


    Qin Hao led Du Wanrou and Feng Xiangyi upstairs.


    Under their leader''s instruction, a staff member came in.


    ...


    Following the staff member to an office area, the person sat at the computer and told Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, please have a seat and show me the vehicle registration certificate and the car owner''s information."


    In front of the trio was also a display screen, showing the content on the opposite person''s computer screen.


    "Wan Rou, you go first."


    Du Wanrou took out her documents and filled in her personal information.


    Once everything was filled in, she clicked to receive a random plate number.


    The display screen changed, and dozens of car license numbers appeared on the screen.


    Seeing the numbers on the display, the trio was stunned.


    Because the numbers that appeared were the kind of premium license plates that are rarely encountered.


    "Jianghai Z11111, 22222, 66666..."


    Feng Xiangyi''s eyes bulged, she swallowed hard, somewhat in disbelief. These numbers would sell for sky-high prices out in the market.


    To know that these were Jianghai City license plates, not some ordinary city''s numbers. Even ordinary city license plates are of great value.


    "Miss Du is really lucky," the staff member remarked, astonished.

 Chapter 166 Repay kindness with kindness.

    Qin Hao knew this was because of Xu Jiejian.


    He said to Du Wanrou, "Choose whichever one you like."


    Du Wanrou hesitated for a moment. She didn''t know which one to choose because all the license plates were great.


    Even with money, you couldn''t necessarily get such high-level plates in Jianghai City.


    "Can I refresh it?" Du Wanrou asked softly.


    ...


    Feng Xiangyi and the staff member almost spat out a mouthful of blood upon hearing this.


    Refresh?


    Lady, are you mistaken? These are the best plates we have here. Discover exclusive content at empire


    "If you don''t like it, then let''s change it," Qin Hao didn''t like them too much either because the plates were too ostentatious.


    The staff member was encountering this type of situation for the first time; indeed, extraordinary people do extraordinary things.


    Du Wanrou clicked to refresh, and the numbers changed; this time, there weren''t as many attractive numbers.


    Having looked at them once, Du Wanrou took a liking to one in particular: Hai V520QH


    "I''ll take this one." Du Wanrou didn''t even think twice.


    The staff member nodded: "Okay, miss."


    Qin Hao also chose a plate for himself, still in the Hai V series: Hai V21212


    Although this one didn''t look particularly impressive, it was still passable, and it wouldn''t detract from his car.


    Once they had chosen the plates, the vehicle registration office quickly produced them, at a speed that Feng Xiangyi could hardly believe.


    After the plates were attached, Qin Hao and the two women left.


    The staff member went back and reported the situation to Wang Jieyun.


    ...


    After they left the vehicle registration office, Qin Hao received a call from Xu Jiejian.


    Xu Jiejian: "Xiao Hao, have the plates been put on? Where are you now?"


    Qin Hao replied: "Just left the vehicle registration office, and I have to thank Mr. Xu for this time."


    Xu Jiejian: "It''s a small matter, don''t be so polite. I''m calling today because I need a favor from you. Your aunt and I are at Tianming Pavilion; if you''re free, come over for a bit."


    "Sure, Mr. Xu, please wait a moment."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao slowly stopped the car at the roadside; seeing his reaction, Du Wanrou also came to a halt.


    "What''s wrong?" Du Wanrou asked, rolling down her window.


    Qin Hao: "I have something I need to take care of. You and aunt should head back first; drive carefully on the road."


    Ever since his beloved wife passed away, Xu Jiekang hasn''t felt anything for any other woman, and he isn''t planning on having more children either.


    The Xu Family''s lack of an heir is a regret that lies deep within everyone in the family.


    Now that Qin Hao knew about it, he naturally planned to do a good deed thoroughly and gift the Xu Family two boys all at once.


    Whether a child turns out to be a boy or a girl is entirely up to the XY chromosomes of the male; females only have X chromosomes.


    XX pairings result in a girl, while XY pairings produce a boy.


    Qin Hao intended to use medication to assist Xu Jiejian so that his Y chromosome could combine with Sun Fang''s chromosomes.


    This was not an impossible task.


    Medical science is nearly at the point where this can be achieved.


    ...


    Xu Jiejian''s eyes widened, "Two? Xiao Hao, you''re not joking with Mr. Xu, are you? One would already be more than enough for the Xu Family."


    Qin Hao did not further explain; he wrote two prescriptions, "Mr. Xu, remember to take this before sex each night, this one''s yours, that one''s for Auntie."


    "Um, okay, I trust your medical skills, Xiao Hao."


    Though Xu Jiejian said this, he was still somewhat incredulous in his heart. He knew of Qin Hao''s exquisite medical abilities, but their problem was not a neurological disorder.


    After all, every doctor has their specialty, and he feared Qin Hao might not understand this particular area.


    Qin Hao, "Mr. Xu, If there''s nothing else, I''ll head back now. If you have any questions later on, you can call me directly."


    Xu Jiejian nodded, "Um, okay, thank you for the trouble, Xiao Hao."


    "Don''t mention it, Mr. Xu."


    Although the Xu Family holds high status and power, the tone and actions of Qin Hao did not show excessive fawning. Helping Jiejian was also a way of helping himself in the future.


    The relationship between the two sides was not one of master and servant, but one of cooperation; neither had the right to order the other around.


    When Qin Hao drove back to the roast duck restaurant, it was already after three in the afternoon.


    At this time, the shop was fairly quiet, with a few employees cleaning and tidying up the place.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao come in, they respectfully greeted him, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao did not show any arrogance. His tone was approachable as he said, "You all worked hard today. Let Mr. Liu pick a place after work¡ªI''ll treat."


    As a child from an ordinary family, he knew that everyone had their dignity. Respecting others was a way of respecting oneself.


    Even as the company''s boss, he wouldn''t exhibit an attitude of superiority over his employees.


    This was one of his principles in dealing with matters.


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin," the employees said smilingly upon hearing his words.


    Qin Hao nodded with a smile and then walked into the manager''s office.


    Liu Pengyun, Nie Si, and a newly hired accountant were in the office, calculating the midday performance.

 Chapter 167 Break the Record

    Qin Hao walked in, and the three quickly turned their heads.


    "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "How''s the calculation going?"


    Liu Pengyun was somewhat embarrassed, "Just over twenty thousand."


    Qin Hao patted his shoulder, "We don''t have any reputation or influence in Jianghai City, reaching this amount by noon is already very good. Keep it up tonight."


    "Yes, alright, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao said, "After work, find a restaurant close by. Everyone has worked hard all day, let''s have dinner together."


    Liu Pengyun replied, "Yes, alright, Mr. Qin, you are really a good boss."


    Qin Hao said, "Less flattery, more solid work."


    ...


    Qin Hao stayed in the store all afternoon and did not return to school.


    The roasted duck restaurant began its business at five-thirty.


    In the evening, the flow of people in the square was obviously higher than at noon,


    and the business of the roasted duck restaurant improved as well.


    They were busy until nine-thirty in the evening.


    By the time the performance chart came out, it was almost ten o''clock at night.


    The day''s turnover reached seventy thousand, already breaking the previous daily sales record of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant.


    Today, Jiangshan also had several new stores opening, but their performance should not exceed Jianghai''s.


    The restaurant was very busy in the evening, and in the end, Nie Si also went up to help.


    Qin Hao asked Liu Pengyun to gather all the employees for a meeting; he could see the fatigue in their eyes.


    He began, "Today, you all have set a new sales record for our Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant, and I am very pleased. I hope everyone can continue to strive and maintain this performance."


    "Mr. Qin, we will not only maintain it, but we will also do even better," Liu Pengyun said loudly.


    Qin Hao said, "Good, today I will make a decision on my own. From now on, everyone''s salary will be based on the performance of the store. The higher the store''s performance, the higher the salary. I will have the headquarters implement this policy as soon as possible.


    Cancel tonight''s gathering, and distribute a cash bonus of five hundred to each person as a reward. Go home early and rest."


    Hearing his words, smiles appeared on their faces, "Thank you, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao said to the store''s accountant, "Right, Liu Min, go get the money and distribute it to everyone. Don''t forget your share, and then let everyone go home early to rest."


    The performance reports of the five newly opened stores in Jiangshan City had been sent over; the highest daily sales were over forty thousand, and the lowest were over thirty thousand.


    Qin Hao sent an email to all senior management through the corporate email, which was about the relationship between store performance and salary.


    ...


    After finishing these tasks, he went to bed.


    The next morning, after having breakfast with the three chubby guys, they headed to the classroom.


    There were two classes in the morning, both taught by He Tingting, covering the principles of computers.


    She entered the classroom and noticed Qin Hao; she glanced at him and then looked away.


    He Tingting was wearing a floral dress today, beautiful and charming, even more appealing than those top beauties listed in the school beauty rankings.


    She said indifferently, "Today I am going to talk about computer principles. Everyone must be familiar with computers since you almost play games on them or watch movies daily.


    But do you understand their underlying principles?"


    Some shook their heads; though they often used computers, many indeed did not understand the internals.


    He Tingting said, "I will simply explain, the computer''s structure is divided into two major parts: hardware and software.


    Hardware generally includes the motherboard, mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc., while software is generally system software and application software. Today, let''s focus on computer hardware."


    "Whether it''s a laptop or a desktop computer, they both have a PC motherboard, which includes CPU chips, northbridge and southbridge chips, as well as other chipsets.


    ...


    Chips are the soul of the motherboard. Without chips, the motherboard would be meaningless, which is why Huaxing was in dire straits after being banned by the Northwest Federation. They did not have their own chip supply, and many chips had to be imported. High-grade chips used in aviation and military equipment must be imported."


    "Some might say, since there are no chips, why not make them ourselves? But do you know how difficult it is to manufacture chips?


    This is akin to building a city on a tiny chip. When observed through a microscope, you can see a complicated network of paths, and research and development are costly, with high failure rates. Without the accumulation of time and experience, it would take many more years for us to develop domestic high-grade chips."


    ...


    This class made Qin Hao feel sleepy and uninterested, eventually leading him to just lay his head down on the desk and fall asleep.


    When he woke up, it was because the chubby guy had roused him, and he opened his eyes to see He Tingting standing beside him, with an expressionless face.


    "Is there a problem, teacher?"


    He Tingting was quite upset, You sleep during class and still ask if I have a problem? What do you think?


    "It''s the second period now. If you want to sleep, go back to the dormitory. Don''t disturb other students here."


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, "Can I go back to the dorm to sleep?"


    ...

 Chapter 168 Taekwondo Club

    The several people nearby heard his words and almost laughed out loud.


    Damn, does this guy have a problem with his brain? Thinking about going back to the dorm to sleep.


    He Tingting also felt an urge to beat him up, "Do you think that''s okay?"


    Qin Hao realized her tone and gave a dry laugh, "No, it isn''t, it''s class time now."


    "Come to my office after class."


    Discover more stories at empire


    ...


    After the second class ended, Qin Hao followed He Tingting to her office.


    He Tingting sat there and asked, "Do you know why I called you here?"


    Qin Hao shook his head.


    He Tingting said, "You were absent from class all day yesterday, where did you go? And falling asleep during class today, can you stop giving me worries and take your studies seriously?"


    Qin Hao said, "Teacher, didn''t we agree that I have privileges before I reported in? Are you going back on your word now?"


    "The teacher is also doing this for your own good. I think you have potential to be molded. The country is in a difficult period, and it needs young people like you for innovation in science and technology."


    Qin Hao said, "Teacher is right, I understand your good intentions. I will surely skip less class and sleep less."


    ...


    "When the time comes if you fail your subjects and don''t get a diploma, don''t blame the teacher for not reminding you."


    He Tingting was speechless with him. She really wondered how on earth such a person could have scored full marks on the unified exam?


    He was no different from those delinquent students.


    After handling the matter with He Tingting, he left the office building.


    The morning classes were already over, and there was one more class in the afternoon; he headed towards the cafeteria.


    On the school roads, one could see beauties wearing short skirts and super-short shorts everywhere.


    As he passed behind an experimental building, a row of tents appeared in front, each with tables and chairs under them, and many young men and women sitting around.


    In front of each tent stood a banner, ''Such and such club is recruiting!''


    Many freshmen were gathered around, choosing their favorite clubs to join.


    Qin Hao glanced over and then continued walking forward.


    "Qin Hao."


    Xu Siyao''s voice rang out; she was sitting in a chair looking at him.


    Qin Hao saw her and smiled, "What are you doing here?"


    "Exactly, we just want to spar with this fellow student."


    ...


    Many people around them turned to look, everyone watching with the anticipation of a spectacle.


    "Come on, kid, spar with me; do you have the guts to come here?" a green-blue belt man said as he moved to the center of the road.


    Qin Hao was about to walk over when Xu Siyao grabbed his arm, "Don''t go, they are all from the Taekwondo Club."


    Qin Hao paused, then smiled, "It''s okay."


    After saying that, he walked over.


    Seeing Xu Siyao''s gesture, jealousy raged in Huo Qiang''s heart.


    In the middle of the road, the green-blue belt said, "Kid, today I''ll let you know how formidable I am."


    Having said that, he stepped forward and executed a high kick straight at Qin Hao''s face.


    If this kick connected, Qin Hao''s nose would probably be smashed in.


    Qin Hao didn''t move his body, just his hand, which shot out like lightning, grabbing the man''s ankle.


    The green-blue belt attempted to withdraw his leg but couldn''t move it at all, as if clamped by iron tongs.


    His reaction was sharp; he took advantage of the momentum to turn in mid-air, kicking towards the side of Qin Hao''s head with his other foot.


    Qin Hao snorted coldly and his other hand shot out, grabbing the other ankle and pushed both hands forward forcefully.


    The man landed heavily on his buttocks, his face contorting with pain on the spot.


    Seeing Qin Hao''s response and skill, the crowd was somewhat astonished, thinking he was quite formidable.


    Qin Hao looked toward the blue belt man, "Do you want to give it a try?"


    "Indeed, you are quite capable. Let me meet you," he said as he rushed over, planning to execute an impressive and chic aerial side kick.


    Because he had taken several running steps, combined with the power of his leg, the kick was very forceful.


    Even a red belt expert wouldn''t dare to block it directly and would have to retreat.


    However, Qin Hao didn''t have a leg retreat; he delivered an on-the-spot spinning back kick that struck the blue belt man directly in the waist.


    "Bang!"


    The blue belt man flew out like a sandbag, landing more than two meters away on the ground.


    He looked at Qin Hao in disbelief; he was a blue belt expert, yet he had been knocked down by one kick?


    The crowd was also in disbelief. Damn, what kind of skills were those? Could he be a black belt expert?


    Xu Siyao and Liu Yue were also stunned; Qin Hao''s spinning kick was too cool, very fast, and many people hadn''t seen it clearly.


    Qin Hao said with disdain, "You learned some crude Taekwondo and want to show off? You''re far from ready."

 Chapter 169 Li Xutian

    The three men in blue ribbons could no longer swagger as they did before, their cheeks flush with embarrassment, not daring to raise their heads to look at those around them.


    Without looking, they knew the mocking expressions on the faces of those nearby.


    Qin Hao looked at Huo Qiang with a dismissive tone, "Next time you want to teach me a lesson, find someone stronger, not trash like you."


    Hoo Qiang''s face turned ugly, "You wait."


    After he spoke, he left with the blue-ribboned men in tow.


    Qin Hao''s expression returned to indifference, planning to continue towards the cafeteria.


    "Qin Hao." Xu Siyao hurriedly spoke up.


    Qin Hao turned his head, "What''s up?"


    Xu Siyao said shyly, "We haven''t recruited anyone today, why don''t you join our painting society?"


    "I haven''t really painted much."


    Xu Siyao smiled and said, "No problem, I can teach you. Painting is fun and can relax the mind."


    Qin Hao was a bit troubled, "I don''t have much time, I''d better not join the club."


    "It''s fine, you come to the club when you have time, and it''s no big deal if you don''t." Xu Siyao was still cordially inviting him.


    Qin Hao, seeing her like this, finally nodded his head.


    Xu Siyao was inviting him in front of so many people; to refuse would be leaving her to lose face, and since it wasn''t a big loss, he agreed.


    At worst, he could just join and not attend.


    Liu Yue saw Xu Siyao persuade Qin Hao and was delighted, "Qin Hao, here is the application form."


    Qin Hao walked over and sat down, filling out the application form.


    "Qin Hao, you also need to pay the club fee, a hundred yuan for one semester." Liu Yue reminded.


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, then took out the money and paid, a hundred yuan for one semester wasn''t expensive.


    Once everything was settled, Qin Hao said to Xu Siyao, "Have you eaten yet? Want to go together?"


    Xu Siyao, "Sure, Miss Liu, I''ll go eat first, and I''ll bring something back for you if you want."


    Liu Yue smiled and said, "No need, I''ll go eat myself in a bit. Take time this afternoon to show Qin Hao around the club."


    "Mhm, okay."


    ...


    At noon, the two of them simply bought some food.


    "I don''t eat meat, you can have it." Xu Siyao picked the meat out from the dish and gave it to him.


    To those who didn''t know them, they might have mistaken them for a couple.


    After eating, Xu Siyao led him to the painting society.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Qin Hao: "Right, you can go look for it yourself, and then apply for funds from the headquarters'' finance department."


    "Okay. Also, regarding personnel issues, can I make decisions on the recruitment?"


    "Yes, you''re the vice-president of the Jianghai District. You can decide on these small matters."


    That day, a massive earthquake hit the gaming world.


    The God-level player joined the King team, significantly strengthening the team''s power.


    All the forums and Tieba were publicizing this news.


    Li Jianjun had a hand in this. He was doing everything he could to boost Qin Hao''s fame.


    The effect was significant, and Qin Hao''s fame was growing fast.


    ...


    Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, it was September 29th.


    In the meantime, Huo Qiang hadn''t caused him any more trouble,


    and the Xinshang Square roast duck restaurant was running smoothly, with its performance steadily improving and daily turnover increasing every day.


    The daily turnover had already broken through the one hundred thousand mark a few days ago.


    Feng Xiangyi had also found an office location and recruited many staff members.


    The Jianghai District division was gradually taking shape, and Qin Hao could implement his expansion plan in Jianghai City at any time.


    Jiangshan had a few more new stores opening yesterday, with the company''s strength growing rapidly.


    His relationship with Du Wanrou was also progressing fast, just not taking that final step yet.


    As for gaming, he would play with the King team members in the evening when he had time, and sometimes with the little witch and her two friends.


    In the rankings, Qin Hao had already entered the top ten. At this point, his fame had reached over ninety million, and he was about to complete the sideline mission.


    The National Day holiday was fast approaching, with the school starting their break tomorrow.


    The holiday would last for seven days, and Qin Hao had already booked his train ticket.


    He originally planned to go back with Du Wanrou, but she was going to the capital of Shuinan Province because her parents were there.


    He had no choice but to book a high-speed rail ticket; there were no direct flights to Jiangshan, so he didn''t book a flight.


    That day, after class, Qin Hao received a call from an unfamiliar man. Judging by the voice, it was a middle-aged man.


    "You''re Qin Hao, right? I''m waiting for you in the guest room on the fifth floor of Building No. 2." After speaking, Li Xutian hung up.


    In the past few days, he had specifically researched Qin Hao and was somewhat shocked to learn about his perfect score on the standardized exam. But then, after hearing the evaluation from his mentor, He Tingting, his expression darkened again.


    He speculated that Qin Hao might have become arrogant after scoring full marks on the standardized exam, which might have led to his current behavior.


    Once a moldable talent, what a pity it had gone awry!


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless. Who was this person with such a big attitude?

 Chapter 170 A Show of Authority

    Qin Hao originally didn''t want to deal with him.


    But suddenly, he remembered that the people in the second office building were generally professors, directors, or higher.


    Could it be some bigshot from the university?


    But he didn''t seem to know anyone there, did he?


    In a room on the fifth floor of the second office building, besides Li Xutian, there were two other people, one was He Tingting, and the other was her father, the president of Jianghai University, He Qizhi!


    Li Xutian said to He Qizhi, "Mr. He, I''m sorry for troubling you this time."


    He Qizhi smiled and said, "Mr. Li, given our relationship, no need for such formalities."


    He Tingting had met Li Xutian before and knew his identity, the general manager of Jinxiu Group.


    Li Xutian looked at He Tingting and sighed, "Tingting is such a relief, my daughter really worries me."


    "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, don''t worry too much. The young man should be here soon; Tingting and I will step aside." He Qizhi said cheerfully.


    "Yes, sure." Li Xutian nodded.


    Seven or eight minutes later, Qin Hao arrived on the fifth floor of the second office building.


    The corridor was very quiet, with four bodyguards in black suits standing in front of a reception room.


    These four bodyguards exuded an intimidating aura.


    Qin Hao was taken aback, the strength of these four bodyguards was very strong, in no way inferior to Xu Liangguo''s guards.


    He used the system to check one of them.


    Name: Wang Qiang


    Gender: Male


    Age: 33


    Strength: 28


    Agility: 16


    Intelligence: 9


    Constitution: 17


    Description: Retired special forces soldier, close-combat fighting ability level 3, capable of overcoming ten opponents.


    Qin Hao took a sharp intake of breath when he saw these attributes, except for intelligence, the others were hardly weaker than his, and even surpassed him a bit in constitution.


    The fighting skill had also reached a terrifying level 3.


    Qin Hao left the office building and headed towards the dormitory.


    After he left, He Qizhi and He Tingting returned to the reception room.


    Curious, He Qizhi asked, "How did it go? Is he listening? If not, I''ll have Tingting talk to him."


    Li Xutian said self-mockingly, "I didn''t expect to be lectured by a brash young kid. Quite arrogant."


    He decided in his heart to have someone look into this Qin Hao.


    ...


    Qin Hao returned to the dormitory, where only Chen Ping was present; Zhao De had gone to play basketball, and the "fatty" was out with his girlfriend.


    He sat in his chair, pondering his own affairs.


    These days, he had carefully reviewed the Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technology and felt that manufacturing the car directly would be very difficult.


    Some core technologies were simply beyond his capability.


    Of course, there were top automotive manufacturing experts in the country, but he had no capital to attract those people.


    His bank card had only about 240 million, with 150 million given by Li Jianjun. Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company''s liquid funds were limited, mostly invested in new stores.


    The company was preparing to acquire several large duck farms to form a complete supply, delivery, roasting, and sales ecological chain.


    His funds were nowhere near comparable to those of the automotive moguls.


    So, attracting those top experts was out of the question.


    Since that path was impractical, he thought of another way. He set his sights on the Xinghai Generation intelligent robots.


    The initial purpose of the Xinghai robots was applied in factories to perform precise machining.


    The system store required fifty thousand achievement points for a trade.


    He currently had just over twenty thousand achievement points; he was far from fifty thousand, but he was about to complete a side quest.


    Once completed, he would gain one hundred thousand achievement points.


    Thinking of this made him eager; he turned on his computer and tried to log onto TT, but couldn''t access it.


    "Eh? What''s going on? Why can''t I access the forum?" Chen Ping also exclaimed in surprise.


    Not only at Jianghai University, but all over the country, the same scene unfolded: the largest social media application TT couldn''t be logged into, and major well-known forum official websites were paralyzed. Some who opened forums even saw a bizarre image: the Federation''s flag was placed at the center of the Xuan Country map, with "Federation" written in its script.


    "Crap, two big brother, many of our country''s websites have been attacked!" Chen Ping said urgently.


    Qin Hao had also noticed, and his brow furrowed slightly, recalling recent news about the trade war between Xuan Country and the Federation. He suspected something.


    It was the Federation making a show of force to Xuan Country!

 Chapter 171 Siege

    Qin Hao''s fingers tapped on the keyboard, speaking as he typed, "Mmm, I see it."


    "Damn it, do they think Xuan Country is defenseless?" Chen Ping''s eyes didn''t stray from the computer screen as his fingers also flew across the keyboard.


    This scene was unfolding in many parts of the nation.


    Whether it was governmental agencies or large internet companies, everyone was mobilizing their personnel to start defense measures.


    This time, the adversary''s attack was clearly premeditated, or else all the major websites in Xuan Country wouldn''t have been taken down within a short ten minutes.


    Moreover, the number of attackers must be significant, at least over a hundred.


    All the applications open on Qin Hao''s computer screen were software he had created himself.


    He didn''t set out to defend; that wasn''t his style.


    Hackers can be categorized into many types: some specialize in defense, others in attack, and there are also those who infiltrate silently, akin to silent assassins.


    Qin Hao was the assassin type of hacker; through his software tools, he had directly infiltrated a computer in Beihai Country.


    Then, using it as a springboard, he successively infiltrated more than ten computers.


    Afterwards, he bypassed the firewall to log into a major internet company in the Federation.


    He observed for a while. This network company had shut down many ports. It was clear they were preventing attacks and were prepared.


    Once the Xuan Country''s major companies and government agencies realized what was happening, they began a tug-of-war with the invading hackers, with websites gradually getting back online.


    In recent years, Xuan Country''s development in the field of network technology has been rapid. In terms of the number and power of cyber hackers, they are no less inferior to the Federation; in fact, they might be even stronger.


    Tenglong Group, which TT belongs to, had even won the world championship in security defense.


    In just half an hour, Qin Hao had taken down the official websites of more than a dozen major internet companies.


    Besides, others like him were also attacking some well-known websites and forums in the Federation.


    While Qin Hao was attacking, he was also capturing bots. He now had hundreds of them at his disposal.


    Soon he targeted FDK, the largest social platform in the Federation.


    The server''s defense was very tight; even if he could infiltrate it alone, he probably wouldn''t be able to do much.


    He directly controlled the hundreds of bots to launch an attack against the FDK server, with each bot sending data packets at the rate of tens of billions per second to the server.


    Qin Hao''s intention was simple: push the FDK server to its limits, forcing it into a state of paralysis.


    The simultaneous attack from hundreds of bots was terrifying, with trillions of data packets being sent every second.


    At first, there were no issues, but after ten minutes or so, the FDK server began to stutter and respond sluggishly. The users found it hard to open pages on FDK. Some were even outright disconnected.


    A few minutes later, the Federation''s largest social platform collapsed, all users were forcibly logged out, and the server was in a state of paralysis.

 Chapter 172 Shut Down the Server

    The FDK company of the Northern Federation was in chaos, as many employees'' computers were attacked.


    On their screens was an image of a little panda standing on two feet, burning incense and praying to Buddha.


    This wasn''t the work of Qin Hao, but rather another top hacker from Xuan Country.


    While Qin Hao was attacking the FDK company''s servers, that person begun attacking the employees'' computers.


    ...


    Qin Hao discovered him, and he discovered Qin Hao.


    A special department in Xuan Country.


    A very young-looking person exclaimed, "Take a look, someone has actually paralyzed the servers of the Northern Federation''s FDK!"


    "No way? The FDK servers are top-of-the-line, who could incapacitate them?" People around were somewhat incredulous.


    Their department''s leader came over and looked at the young man''s computer.


    "Many well-known forums and websites in the Northern Federation have been attacked too, and there''s even a photo uploaded, check it out!" a woman said hastily.


    The others quickly opened up some of the bigger forum websites of the Northern Federation.


    "Pfft"


    "Haha, who is the mastermind behind this?"


    "Woah, badass, 66666!"


    Not only had they noticed, but many hackers among the public had too, and soon many such posts appeared on internet forums.


    "Peak hacker invades the major forums of the Northern Federation, tens of large websites fall into paralysis, the divine photoshop is hilariously on point"


    "6666, so satisfying, damn, our websites went down earlier because of them, right?"


    "Beautifully done!"


    "Pfft, crap, this God is so adorable, the Northern Federation leader riding a pig, haha!"


    There were many comments under the post, almost all of them united in the same anger.


    Xuan Country special department


    That leader asked, "Can we find out who this person is? When did our country produce such a powerful hacker?"


    "It''s hard, their skills are too sophisticated!" someone beside them responded.


    ...


    At this moment, Qin Hao had silently taken control of thousands of zombies.


    He set his sights on the official website of the Northern Federation''s Black Palace Server.


    If this continued, the backup server would also overload and then crash within ten minutes!


    If the Black Palace official website were to be attacked and paralyzed, it would be a tremendous humiliation for the Federation.


    The leaders of the Federation received the news immediately, their faces dark and dismal.


    Initially, he had been pleased, but now the situation was somewhat beyond his expectations!


    He issued an unequivocal order, "Whatever you do, if the Black Blade Network is hacked, you all might as well pack your bags!"


    The hackers who were on the front lines attacking Xuan Country''s websites quickly received notice to defend the Black Blade Network and stop the mysterious hacker''s attack.


    "What do you mean we can''t hold the Black Palace? How''s that even possible?"


    "We''ve tied up most of Xuan Country''s hackers. How could they still have the strength to attack the Black Palace Server?"


    Receiving such orders, they had no choice but to fall back and defend the Black Palace official website.


    How could the hackers from Xuan Country miss such an opportunity? Once they had restored their own sites, a large group of Xuan Country hackers entered the Federation''s network to retaliate.


    ...


    The people defending the site logged into the Black Palace official website, but the login was excruciatingly slow and always on the verge of crashing.


    "Damn it, what''s going on? The server of the Black Palace official website is top-grade. It should be able to withstand tens of thousands of people attacking it simultaneously."


    "Xuan Country actually has such a terrifying hacker?"


    "Could it be that Hei Ye?" Someone remembered a name.


    "Hei Ye? Who''s that?"


    The person replied, "A God who once infiltrated the Black Blade Network''s backend!"


    "Isn''t the Black Blade Network''s defense supposed to be the highest grade? And still someone managed to break in?"


    Even with many hackers defending, it was of little use; it only delayed the inevitable by several minutes.


    The processing status of the Black Palace backup server quickly reached an overload as well, and the official website was so sluggish that the images weren''t even clear!


    "What do we do? At this rate, the Black Palace Server will really crash."


    "There''s only one solution now, and that is to shut down the Black Palace Server, claiming external maintenance due to a malfunction!"


    Everyone fell silent. If they really did this, it would be no different from admitting defeat!


    They had invaded the websites of Xuan Country with great fury, only to end up surrendering and conceding, inviting mockery!


    This battle without smoke between the Federation and Xuan Country had already caught the attention of many countries and organizations.


    They were all watching the two sides, to see who would ultimately come out on top.


    It was better to cover up the matter than to be attacked and paralyzed; in the end, they opted to shut down the server.

 Chapter 173 Great Filial Piety to the Country

    After the Black Palace Server was shut down, there was an uproar!


    Beihai Country, "The Federation actually lost? Have Xuan Country''s hackers become so powerful?"


    Beidou Country, "The Black Palace Server was shut down; everything is over now. Xuan Country has won the confrontation between the two countries this time."


    Some countries in the West Continent also found it hard to believe.


    They acknowledged the rapid development and huge potential of Xuan Country, but they had never imagined that in this hacker technology confrontation, Xuan Country would actually gain the upper hand.


    The Federation was among the earliest countries to have the internet, while Xuan Country was several decades behind.


    Now, just twenty years after Xuan Country connected to the internet, their hacker skills have become so terrifying?


    Even though Xuan Country won this confrontation, many countries were still not optimistic about it.


    Because the internet used by Xuan Country''s citizens is that of the Federation''s.


    Should the Federation wish it, they can cut off Xuan Country''s internet at any time!


    The Federation offers "good" technology and services to countries around the world, but in fact, aims to achieve control through these services.


    The blockade of Huaxing is the best example!


    Xuan Country has hundreds of millions of netizens; if their domain IP were to be blocked, the consequences would be severe!


    Although it wouldn''t cause chaos, it would still have a significant impact.


    Not everywhere in Xuan Country uses the internet; for instance, the military uses its own network, and the police department uses the police network.


    Financial institutions, banks, and some other important departments all use their own internal networks.


    Even if the Federation cuts off Xuan Country''s internet, it wouldn''t affect these crucial departments.


    Of course, should the Federation actually decide to take such actions, they must consider it carefully, because once they do, the impact would be huge not only on Xuan Country but also on the Federation itself.


    Many of the Federation''s giant corporations are in Xuan Country, and the enormous financial loss would be unacceptable to any company.


    ...


    "We won," Chen Ping said, his face flushed with excitement.


    Qin Hao had already withdrawn from the attack, as there was no longer any need; the victory was already decided.


    He was looking at a threatening post on a network forum, which stated that Xuan Country''s internet is at the mercy of others; at the will of the Federation, Xuan Country could be kicked off the internet at any time!


    This person was stating a fact, a very cruel fact.


    Qin Hao fell into deep thought. Although Xuan Country was developing rapidly as the world''s second largest economy, it had many weaknesses and was controlled in certain aspects.


    With this in mind, he turned on his computer, logged into the game, and then called up his four teammates from the king squad on voice chat.


    They were all currently ranked in the top ten of the Asian server; without any accidents, they would occupy the first to fourth places today!


    ...


    While Qin Hao was gaming, many people online were looking for him.


    A certain special department in Xuan Country: "Have you found him? Where is this person?"


    "Not yet, he hasn''t left a trace. It''s really difficult to locate such an expert if he doesn''t want to be found, unless we have the root server, which might show some traces based on what we can investigate."


    The department director asked, "What do you mean by that? Are you saying that the Federation people could track him down?"


    The person nodded, "No one has ever seen the root server of the Internet, so we''re not sure if he can be found for certain, but it should be possible, it just requires a lot of time to filter through IPs!"


    The department director said, "You must investigate thoroughly; our country''s experts must not fall victim to the hands of the Federation."


    Many hackers from various countries overseas were also looking for Qin Hao, but almost none could find him.


    Indeed, there were people in the Federation using the root server to look for clues.


    ...


    Around six in the evening that day, Qin Hao and his team topped the first-place position.


    After shutting down the game, Qin Hao rubbed his eyes; only Chen Ping and he remained in the dormitory.


    Chen Ping was tapping on the keyboard; he was communicating with others on a hacker website.


    This attack on the Federation''s websites had introduced him to many new friends.


    Qin Hao rested his eyes for a bit when Zhao De returned with a basketball, a smile on his face.


    "What''s making you so happy?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Zhao De chuckled and responded, "I just got to know a second-year senior; she''s really pretty and likes basketball too. It seems she also has a good impression of me; we exchanged TT contacts."


    Qin Hao said speechlessly, "That''s it? I thought you''d won her over already."


    "Hey, bro, how do you chase after girls? How did you manage to win over sister-in-law in the first place?" Zhao De sought his advice.


    Qin Hao, proudly boasting, replied, "It was all about personal charm, of course. Your sister-in-law had a crush on me for several years. Later, when we were about to graduate, she pursued me persistently; I couldn''t bear to hurt her feelings, so I agreed."


    ...


    Zhao De nodded, actually believing it; this guy had brawn but was not the sharpest tool in the shed.


    Continuing to inquire, he said, "Bro, how should I pursue her? I really like her."

 Chapter 174 Eating

    ```


    Ahem.


    Qin Hao hardly had any experience; he had only ever pursued Du Wanrou.


    After a moment of thought, he said, "Just ask her out to hang out. If she agrees, it means she has a good feeling about you.


    Then you can go sightseeing, shop, watch movies, and eat together. Once the feelings develop, just confess."


    Zhao De nodded thoughtfully.


    Right then, Qin Hao''s phone rang in his pocket; it was a call from the chubby guy.


    "Second Bro, where are you guys? All at the dorm?"


    Qin Hao, "We''re all here. What''s up?"


    The chubby guy chuckled, "Xiao Cui said she wanted to treat you guys to dinner, so come out for a bit."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Where at?"


    The chubby guy replied, "Right here at the Jia Mei Hotel by the school gate."


    Qin Hao, "Uh-huh, all right, we''ll be over in a bit."


    "Hurry up and get ready, Chubby''s girlfriend is treating us to dinner," he told Zhao De and the others.


    Zhao De hurriedly said, "I''m going to wash up; wait for me."


    "I need to wash up too. Can''t embarrass Fifth Bro," Chen Ping also said with a smile as he stood up and left.


    It took half an hour for the two to finish freshening up, and then the three of them left the dormitory building and walked outside the university.


    The Jia Mei Hotel was right next to the university, a four-star establishment over twenty stories tall!


    Wealthy students from the school who held birthday parties and such would host them there.


    The three entered the hotel, and Chen Ping looked around curiously, "Wow, it''s so fancy. Second Bro, isn''t eating here expensive?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Yeah, it''s quite expensive for the average person. Just work hard; you have a talent for computers, and maybe one day you''ll be wealthy too!"


    "What about me, Second Bro?" Zhao De asked eagerly.


    Qin Hao gave him a look, "Are you as serious in class as Old Six? All you think about is basketball. Are you planning to pursue a professional basketball career as a Jiang University talent?"


    "Actually, that''s what I was thinking, but my family doesn''t agree," Zhao De said, pursing his lips.


    ...


    Just then, Qin Hao''s phone rang in his pocket; it was the chubby guy again, "Second Bro, where are you? Why haven''t you arrived?"


    Qin Hao, "We''re already here. Which room are you in?"


    "606"


    Qin Hao: "Food."


    Xie Cui: "I love good food the most, otherwise I wouldn''t have gotten this plump. Dare you tell me what you''re selling? I''d like to try it; I''m quite picky with my food."


    Zhao De and Chen Ping were also listening intently; this was their first time hearing about this from Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao: "Roasted duck. There''s a place in Bailing District at Xinshang Square in Jianghai City, called Jiangshan Roasted Duck."


    Xie Cui was momentarily stunned. Roasted duck? How could there be any prospects in that!


    She still said with a smile, "I''ll definitely give it a try when I have the time!"


    Zhao De was somewhat speechless, "Big Brother, you''re a genius from the unified exams and now you''re selling roasted duck?"


    Qin Hao glanced at him, "Who said you can''t sell roasted duck?"


    The waiter brought up the food and a case of beer while they were chatting.


    "Would you like a drink?" Xie Cui asked with a smile.


    If a lady could say so, Qin Hao and the other two would be too ashamed to refuse.


    The meal was quite enjoyable. Xie Cui was generous and had a heroic aura about her.


    "I''m going to the bathroom," said Chen Ping, his cheeks slightly red from not being used to drinking so much.


    Zhao De also said, "I need to go too."


    The two of them left the private room in succession. Qin Hao was eating, his physical condition was pretty good, and he didn''t feel anything after several bottles of beer.


    Xie Cui could also hold her liquor; downing three bottles without any sign of being affected.


    Fatty had also drunk some, but his tolerance was not that great.


    A few minutes later, noises from outside could be heard, with Zhao De''s curses faintly discernible, but quickly drowned out by a group of people, followed by the sounds of a scuffle.


    Qin Hao''s senses were sharp. Although the door was closed, he heard everything clearly.


    Upon hearing Zhao De''s voice, his face changed slightly, and he rushed out.


    Xie Cui and fatty were startled by his reaction, but they quickly realized what was happening and hurried out as well.


    Seven or eight people in the corridor were surrounding Zhao De and Chen Ping, beating them up, and these assailants were agile; Zhao De and Chen Ping stood no chance and were quickly knocked to the ground.


    Qin Hao rushed over, grabbed two of them by their clothes, and lifted them up forcefully.


    "Bang bang"


    He threw the two of them hard against the wall.


    Xie Cui and fatty came out just in time to see this, their mouths agape.


    Wow, Big Brother is this strong?


    Fatty quickly snapped out of it and charged forward, cursing, "You bastards dare to hit my brothers."

 Chapter 175 Vacation

    The noise of fighting here alarmed many people from the surrounding private rooms.


    Several waiters hurriedly reported the situation, they wanted to intervene, but the fight was so intense that they couldn''t get involved.


    Xie Cui was worried that the chubby guy and the others would get hurt, her eyes anxious.


    Qin Hao was exceptionally brave, and although those men were also trained, they were no match for him.


    Just when the fight was at its fiercest, Huo Qiang ran out from a nearby private room, his hand still holding a wine bottle, and he aimed it at the back of Qin Hao''s head.


    "Be careful."


    Xie Cui saw Huo Qiang''s action, her face changed, and she hurriedly warned.


    Qin Hao felt the wind from behind and instantly turned around, grabbing Huo Qiang''s wrist.


    At that moment, the beer bottle was only a few centimeters away from Qin Hao''s head.


    A fierce look flashed in Qin Hao''s eyes as he snatched the wine bottle from Huo Qiang''s hand and smashed it down hard.


    "Bang"


    The wine bottle shattered with a loud crash, and blood instantly flowed from Huo Qiang''s head, causing him to stagger backward two steps.


    The wine bottle was very hard, causing severe harm when it hit the head.


    As a master of traditional medicine, Qin Hao knew the human body well, so with this hit, Huo Qiang would at most bleed a bit.


    After subduing Huo Qiang, he turned and dealt with the other two assailants.


    Qin Hao helped Zhao De and Chen Ping to their feet; they had just taken a beating, and their opponents, knowing the dangers of going too far, hadn''t been lethal.


    He asked, "What happened?"


    Zhao De spoke with some anger, "Just now they deliberately bumped into Number Six, and they even demanded an apology. Number Six, being honest, wanted to apologize. I didn''t allow it, and then this happened."


    Qin Hao looked at the people on the ground and finally at Huo Qiang, "You orchestrated this, didn''t you?"


    Huo Qiang, one hand covering his head, had lost a lot of blood.


    Probably used to being pampered, he wasn''t accustomed to injuries, so his emotions were a bit intense, "Qin Hao, you''re dead, I''m telling you."


    At this moment, a person emerged from the private room of Huo Qiang and his group.


    This person was handsome and tall, emitting a commanding presence.


    He glanced at the scene on the floor, then frowned slightly at Qin Hao, "You are Qin Hao?"


    Qin Hao glanced at him, his tone indifferent, "Yes, are you his lackey?"


    Tang Chen Dong''s eyes narrowed slightly, "Bullying my friend like this is going a bit too far."


    "They deserved it, if you disagree, just try me," Qin Hao retorted coldly.


    Xie Cui said from the side, "This person is Tang Chen Dong, a third-year student and the head of the Taekwondo Club, and he comes from a powerful background."


    Tang Chen Dong''s expression shifted slightly, "You''re the first person to be so arrogant in front of me."


    On the way back, Qin Hao looked at Chen Ping and asked, "Sixth, are you alright?"


    Zhao Deyou complained, "Big bro, why don''t you care about me too?"


    "You''re tough enough to take a beating."


    ...


    Chen Ping was somewhat frail, and Qin Hao was worried he might have internal injuries.


    Chen Ping smiled and said, "I''m fine, big bro."


    This time, Huo Qiang clearly wanted revenge on Qin Hao, and his friends got involved, for which Qin Hao felt somewhat guilty.


    Back at the dorm, Qin Hao''s phone rang; it was from Li Bao.


    "Hao, when are you coming back?" Li Bao asked with a laugh.


    Qin Hao, "I''m taking the morning train tomorrow, should arrive around five in the afternoon."


    Li Bao, "Okay Hao, I''ll come pick you up then."


    Qin Hao, "No need, I''ll just take a taxi back."


    "Hao, it''s been so long since we last met. I''ll come pick you up, it''s settled then, I''ll be there tomorrow afternoon," and with that Li Bao hung up.


    Qin Hao smiled wryly and shook his head, decided not to play on the computer, and instead called his mom.


    "Mom, I''ll be back tomorrow. No need to pick me up; my friend will come."


    "Okay, be careful on the road."


    "Got it, Mom."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao chatted with Du Wanrou for a while.


    Her flight was tomorrow at noon, flying directly to the capital of Shuinan Province.


    Her parents were currently there, and they had also asked her to go.


    ...


    Late in the evening, Qin Hao and his friends packed some belongings, and the chubby trio also went home since the October holiday left plenty of time.


    The next day


    Around eight in the morning, Qin Hao was standing at the school gate with a backpack on. Soon, Ning Yao also came out with a backpack.


    When Qin Hao was booking the tickets earlier, Ning Yao had informed him, so he helped book hers as well.


    Seeing him waiting, Ning Yao felt a bit embarrassed, "Have you been waiting long? Sorry, you know, girls have some troubles."


    Qin Hao glanced at her. Ning Yao, now, looked utterly different from when she first arrived. She wore a skirt and light makeup, appearing very beautiful.


    "No worries, I just got here too. Let''s go."


    Qin Hao walked down the street and hailed a taxi, heading straight for the train station.


    His Lamborghini had been parked in the company''s underground parking lot for a long time and was seldom used.

 Chapter 176 Interests at Stake

    inside the taxi


    the two sat in the backseat, and ning yao opened the conversation, "qin hao, what sports do you like?"


    "they''re all okay, i guess, why do you ask?" qin hao didn''t understand why she was asking this.


    ning yao looked surprised, "don''t you know that after school starts on the 11th, there will be a school-wide sports event?"


    qin hao, "i didn''t know, i haven''t paid attention to these things."no?v(el)b\\jnn


    ning yao was speechless, you''re a class leader, how can you not know about this stuff?


    ning yao asked, "what sports are you good at? do you want to sign up for some events during the sports meet?"


    qin hao, "forget it, i don''t have that much time."


    ning yao was a little curious, how could a student be so busy?


    what exactly was he busy with?


    about half an hour later, they arrived at the train station.


    when they got out of the car, qin hao and ning yao were both stunned.


    they saw the train station square was packed with people, crowded and bustling.


    qin hao reminded her, "stick close to me and watch your belongings, so they don''t get stolen."


    ning yao nodded, "mmm!"


    qin hao led the way, and ning yao followed behind, arriving at the automatic ticketing hall, where they queued for ten minutes before getting their tickets.


    then the two hurried to the ticket-checking gate, as they could only enter the station after having their tickets checked.


    before they even got to the ticket-checking queue, ning yao was already being pushed to the back by the crowd.


    she was somewhat anxious, but as a woman, she really had no advantage in this respect.


    qin hao, seeing this, stopped, walked back to her, and, taking her hand, squeezed their way forward.


    because there wasn''t much time left, if they missed the train, they probably wouldn''t be able to return.


    ning yao felt the warmth from his palm on her hand, her cheeks flushed, and her heart pounded.


    she knew qin hao didn''t mean anything by it and was simply helping her out, but she couldn''t help feeling shy.


    they queued for thirteen minutes at the ticket-checking gate; though there were many gates, there were even more people.


    after entering the station, it was almost nine o''clock, and their train tickets were for nine ten.


    the two rushed to platform 1, where their train had already started ticket checking.


    after checking their tickets, they boarded the train at platform 3.


    even if the air energy car could promote the progress of technology worldwide, those people wouldn''t hesitate for a second.


    because to them, technological advancement was irrelevant, interests were everything.


    qin hao was no longer as naive as before; his iq was higher than anyone else''s, and he thought of far more things.


    now he was somewhat afraid. if he really launched the air energy car, would he become a target for all?


    could it affect the safety of his friends and family?


    thinking this, his brows furrowed slightly.


    he was weighing the pros and cons!


    should he develop his roast duck company quietly, or should he take risks for the progress of technological society?


    what could he gain by taking risks? merely more money, but he had enough from the roast duck company alone.


    he pondered for a long time but couldn''t figure out what to do. discover stories with empire


    forget it, let''s take things one step at a time, starting with getting the technology for the xinghai generation smart robots.


    this would face much less resistance, and might even get strong support from the country, given that xuan country is currently in need of high-end chip manufacturing technology.


    at that moment, ning yao turned over in her sleep, and then she continued sleeping.


    qin hao glanced at her, feeling a mix of envy and concern. the system brought him many benefits, but at the same time, it also brought him a lot of worries.


    without the system, he might currently be getting bullied somewhere unknown.


    even if given another chance, he would still choose to have it, rather than give up.


    ning yao slept on until two in the afternoon and still didn''t wake up.


    qin hao felt something was amiss and touched her, waking her up.


    ning yao''s cheeks were flushed, and she looked at qin hao groggily, "what''s wrong?"


    "i should be asking you. why is your face so red? you don''t have a fever, do you? let me check."


    with that, qin hao placed his hand on her forehead.


    this made ning yao''s cheeks turn even redder, though it wasn''t visible.


    "you do have a fever, your head is very hot," qin hao said with a furrowed brow.


    ning yao also felt her head spinning, heavy as if weighted down; she had thought it was just because she had just woken up, but hearing what qin hao said, she also sensed something was off.


    qin hao spoke, "your fever is serious, i''ll go find a steward and ask for some fever-reducing medicine. wait here for a bit."


    having said this, he got up and walked to the back. there was a steward''s office at the end of this carriage.


    ```

 Chapter 177 Return to Jiangshan

    arriving at the service room door, qin hao knocked.


    soon an attendant opened the door, "hello, sir. what can i do for you?"


    qin hao, "do you have any fever-reducing medicine? my classmate has a fever."


    "just a moment, please."


    after speaking, he turned and took a first-aid kit out of the service room and searched through it for a while, then handed a pill to him.


    "here''s the fever-reducing medicine, give it to your classmate."


    "thank you."


    qin hao returned to his seat with the pill, where ning yao sat listlessly, looking rather unwell.


    qin hao spoke up, "take the fever medicine first."


    ning yao nodded slightly, took the mineral water, and swallowed the pill.


    seeing her condition, qin hao said, "lie down and don''t move, i''ll give you acupuncture, it can help you recover faster."


    ning yao nodded again, she no longer had the strength to ask why he knew how to perform acupuncture.


    qin hao took out several silver needles and inserted them into acupuncture points on her head.


    your journey continues on empire


    in fact, there are countless acupoints on the human body, but currently, medical science is not advanced enough to identify all of them.


    and some faint and tiny acupoints remain unknown!


    sometimes, these faint and tiny acupoints can have a significant impact.


    in just a few minutes, ning yao fell asleep lying there.


    this was due to the acupuncture, qin hao deliberately made her sleep.


    about half an hour later, qin hao finally put away the silver needles.


    at five in the afternoon, the train arrived at the final station, jiangshan station.


    ning yao was still asleep, even the loudspeaker announcements hadn''t awakened her.


    qin hao gently nudged her, "we''ve arrived home."


    ning yao finally woke up, seeing people moving towards the exit, she came to her senses, "we''ve arrived at jiangshan so soon?"


    qin hao, "you''ve been asleep almost the whole way here, of course, it feels quick. how do you feel now? better?"


    ning yao nodded shyly, "yeah, much better, my head doesn''t hurt anymore."


    qin hao, "that''s good, let''s get off then."


    the two followed the crowd towards the exit. along the way, qin hao''s phone rang; it was li bao''s call.


    qin hao turned to see that ning yao hadn''t left yet and spoke, "find someone to take my classmate home. she''s just had a fever, and i''m not at ease letting her go back alone."


    li bao chuckled slyly, not his sister-in-law yet so concerned.


    he quickly said to one of the drivers, "send miss... miss ning back home. make sure to get her safely to her front door."


    "sure thing, mr. li."


    ning yao hurriedly said, "no need, no need. i can go back by myself."


    "it''s fine, get in the car. these guys aren''t bad people. my friend runs a security company. let me know once you''re home."


    after finishing, qin hao felt a bit embarrassed.


    because these guys looked anything but friendly.


    in the end, ning yao got into the car, and the mercedes slowly drove away.


    once ning yao had left, li bao asked out of curiosity, "hao, you haven''t won her over yet?"


    qin hao replied, "won her over your head. be careful about what you say in the future. if you really let your sister-in-law find out, you''re done for!"


    li bao asked, "hao, where is sister-in-law from? is she a rich heiress from jianghai city?"


    "no, she''s from jiangshan, the daughter of the president of ono cosmetics group," qin hao replied as he got into the car.


    li bao exclaimed, "ono group? that''s a big corporation in shuinan province! hao, you really are something else. that''s no small feat."


    qin hao didn''t continue that topic. "how''s your company doing?"


    "pretty good. many residential complexes, factories, and office buildings use our security; competition is tough, though. it can''t compare to your company."


    qin hao advised, "take it slow. doing this is much better than messing with the wrong crowd. avoid getting involved in that stuff; it''s not good for you."


    "yeah, i know, hao," as li bao''s expression turned serious.


    after that, he continued, "now, most of the younger guys working for me are ex-servicemen, with a few from the special forces. they''re very skilled."


    qin hao nodded slightly, "train them well, don''t just stick to these low-end market tasks. you need to look ahead. the mid-to-high-end market tasks are where the real money is."


    li bao nodded and chuckled, "actually, there''s something i was planning to discuss with you, hao."


    about ten minutes after driving away from the train station, qin hao saw a jiangshan roasted duck restaurant in a plaza not far off.


    the entrance to the duck restaurant was swamped with people, many lined up inside buying roasted duck.


    qin hao told the driver, "stop the car."


    "what''s up, hao?" asked li bao, following his gaze.


    then he saw the jiangshan roasted duck restaurant.


    li bao said, "hao, you don''t know. this past month, jiangshan roasted duck has expanded aggressively. they already have dozens of stores. keep going a bit further, and you''ll see another jiangshan roasted duck store."


    "let''s go, take a look inside," qin hao decided to check it out.

 Chapter 178 Anger

    qin hao got out of the car and walked toward the roasted duck store in the square.


    li bao followed him, and then his subordinates also followed behind.


    jiangshan roasted duck xiangyang road store.


    qin hao went inside, because it was now the evening peak period, so there were many people, although there were seven or eight sales windows, but each window had more than ten people.


    he looked at the environment inside and nodded slightly; the store was very clean and made a good impression.no?v(el)b\\jnn


    the store had two floors. the first floor sold roasted duck, and the second floor housed the manager''s office, the finance office, and so on.


    occasionally, he could see one or two people coming down from upstairs.


    are they hiring here?


    curiously, qin hao walked upstairs and turned to li bao, saying, "have your people wait down here."


    li bao nodded, "alright, you guys wait at the entrance for a while."


    qin hao and li bao walked up, and on the second floor corridor, there was another person standing at the manager''s office door, waiting for an interview.


    seeing qin hao and li bao coming up, she glanced at them and then turned her head away.


    qin hao approached and asked, "are you waiting for an interview?"


    the woman''s name was sun wan, twenty-eight years old, busty and very charming.


    she lightly nodded to qin hao''s question, "yes, are you also here for an interview? it seems quite strict here."


    qin hao wondered, "is it hard to get hired? what position are you interviewing for?"


    "it seems the few people before me didn''t pass. i''m here for the deputy manager position," sun wan answered with a smile.


    qin hao was taken aback, "deputy manager? have you had experience in this area before?"


    "i''m aware of that, and i''m prepared for the possibility of being eliminated. thanks for the reminder, mr. chen," sun wan said earnestly.


    chen tao continued with a smile, "i''m very familiar with the manager of the hr department. with just one phone call, i can decide whether you stay or leave."


    sun wan was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding his implication.


    was he planning to help her?


    before she could speak, sun wan felt his foot on her calf, gently rubbing it.


    sun wan was wearing a skirt, her calves were exposed, and feeling the unusual touch, her face slightly changed: "mr. chen, please show some respect."


    "miss sun, a wise person knows how to seize the opportunity. jiangshan roasted duck food co., ltd. has tremendous potential, and with your abilities, you''re bound to improve. what you''re lacking now is a guide like me. just agree to have some fun with me, and i guarantee you''ll become our store''s deputy manager."


    hearing chen tao''s words, if sun wan didn''t understand his intentions now, she would indeed be very naive.


    feeling chen tao''s foot moving, she was about to explode when suddenly the office door was kicked open from the outside.


    both were startled, and chen tao quickly withdrew his foot, but qin hao still saw it.


    qin hao''s face was grim, his eyes filled with anger.


    he hadn''t expected one of his subordinates to be such a person.


    sun wan also felt uncomfortable and looked at chen tao, saying, "i never expected my ideal company to have scum like you. i will report you to your company."


    "heh, report? you think they will believe you? you''re just harboring resentment because you didn''t get the deputy manager position," chen tao retorted.


    then he looked at qin hao, "who are you? get lost, this isn''t a place for you to throw a tantrum."


    li bao charged up in a flash, "who the hell are you cursing? are you looking for death?"


    qin hao glared at chen tao, full of rage, "who am i? i am qin hao, the chairman of jiangshan roasted duck food co., ltd."


    chen tao''s face drained of color, sun wan also looked at him, incredulous,


    he was qin hao? the elusive chairman of jiangshan roasted duck food co., ltd.!

 Chapter 179 Covert Investigation

    chen tao reacted quickly, his tone full of entreaty as he said, "mr. qin, i know i was wrong, i was also temporarily blinded. please give me another chance."


    qin hao glanced at li bao, "call everyone over."


    li bao nodded and then made a phone call. his subordinates quickly entered, expressionless and with a threatening air.


    chen tao turned pale with fright, thinking that qin hao was going to have him beaten, "mr. qin, i know i was wrong, please give me another chance."


    "give you a chance? you heartless scum, am i to give you another chance to harm others?" qin hao''s tone was sharp.


    having said that, he composed himself and spoke indifferently, "now you have two choices in front of you. one: go to the police station and confess your crime of harassment to the police.


    two: apologize to miss sun and then roll up your bedding and get out immediately. of course, this is up to miss sun to decide. how would you like to punish him, miss sun?"


    sun wan hesitated before saying, "mr. qin, i really don''t mind, you handle it."


    chen tao''s face was a mix of clouds and sunshine; his pride and respect from becoming a store manager now threatened by qin hao''s dismissal, which left his mood dark.


    "miss sun, it''s all my fault. i apologize to you. i was also temporarily blinded by lust. i hope you can give me another chance and not send me to the police station."no?v(el)b\\jnn


    chen tao did not want to end up in such a place because if he did, he would bear an indelible stain, and it would become very hard for him to find a job in the future.


    sun wan did not want to make a complete enemy of him and spoke up, "mr. qin, why not give mr. chen one more chance."


    read exclusive chapters at empire


    qin hao nodded, "mr. chen, you can now roll up your bedding and get out. if you dare spread the news of my return, don''t blame me for being unkind."


    "yes, yes, mr. qin, i definitely won''t say anything," chen tao replied, watching those burly men, his heart trembling.


    at the same time, he thought of qin hao''s intentions, which might have been to secretly inspect the stores.


    fired by qin hao, they should wait too, aware of some other stores'' situations.


    his eyes hesitated for a moment as he looked at qin hao, "mr. qin, i also know of some other situations."


    qin hao''s eyes slightly narrowed while sun wan tactfully said, "mr. qin, i''ll wait outside."


    after sun wan left, chen tao told qin hao a lot inside.


    later, chen tao left first, not even glancing at sun wan, taking his belongings, and leaving straight away.


    when qin hao came out, his expression was not good.


    he smiled at sun wan, "miss sun, i have looked at your resume, and i heard what you said earlier. i think you are quite fit for the position of store manager in our company, would you be interested in staying?"


    sun wan''s face brightened up at his words, "of course i''m interested, thank you, mr. qin, for your trust."


    none of them drank alcohol, and li bao spoke up, "hao, there''s something i want to discuss with you."


    "what is it?" qin hao replied as he took a bite of his food.


    li bao was somewhat embarrassed: "i''m thinking of expanding the company, hiring more people, but i''m short on funds."


    qin hao: "how much do you need?"


    li bao: "about three to four million. hao, i''ll give you fifty-five percent of the shares, and i''ll hold forty-five percent. you''ll have absolute control."


    qin hao nodded, "i''m also planning to invest. you specifically recruit some elite ex-military or civilian experts. i''ll need them in the future. even if it loses money, that''s fine. what i want is elites."


    li bao nodded, "okay, got it, hao."


    qin hao: "send me your account details later, and i''ll transfer the money to you. remember my requirement; i want a group of elites."


    li bao: "sure, hao. i actually have a group of elites on hand right now. take them with you next time you go to jianghai city."


    qin hao: "i don''t need them yet, but i will in the future."


    li bao: "okay, got it, hao."


    qin hao then said: "if management becomes too challenging, find a professional manager to help you run things."


    he had just finished speaking when his phone rang from his pocket; it was a call from his mother.


    qin hao hurriedly answered the call: "mom, what''s up?"


    "why haven''t you come back yet?" mrs. qin asked.


    qin hao: "mom, i''m out eating with friends. don''t wait up for me."


    "oh, okay, don''t drink, and come back early," mrs. qin reminded.


    after hanging up, qin hao said to li bao: "pick some clever people to investigate some of our stores and certain management at the headquarters."


    li bao nodded: "okay, hao."


    kang youyi, hearing this, didn''t speak, nor dared he speak because such an incident in the company meant he bore an inescapable responsibility.


    all he could do was pray that those who were on good terms with him hadn''t done anything to betray the company!


    they took a long time over their meal, and it was nearly eight o''clock in the evening when li bao finally drove qin hao home.


    when qin hao got home, mr. and mrs. qin were watching television. seeing him return, mrs. qin got up hastily and came over: "welcome back, son."


    qin hao: "mom, have you eaten yet? i''ve brought back some delicious food for you."


    after saying this, he placed the takeout food on the dining table.

 Chapter 180 Desperate to Benefit the Nation at the Risk of Death

    "i''ve eaten, i just ate, i''ll eat it tomorrow." mrs. qin took it and put it in the fridge.


    mr. qin spoke up, "xiao hao, come over and chat with your dad."


    qin hao walked over and sat on the sofa. the tv was showing the news channel, currently broadcasting the news.


    as he sat down, he asked, "dad, is the factory still busy?"no?v(el)b\\jnn


    mr. qin said, "business at the factory isn''t going well. the foreign and joint venture cars have too big of an impact on the market, i heard our factory might be pulling out."


    qin hao replied, "oh, if the factory pulls out, you and mom shouldn''t work anymore. i''ll support you."


    mr. qin said with a smile, "your dad isn''t that old yet, how can i let you support us? you just need to focus on your studies for now."


    "yeah, i know, dad."


    mr. qin continued, "technology is the foundation of a nation''s strength, innovation is the soul of a nation''s progress. xiao hao, you''re studying computer science, a high-tech field. i hope you can excel in your studies and help our motherland, so we won''t be beholden to others for certain things anymore."


    qin hao nodded, "don''t worry, dad. i''ll study hard."


    mr. qin began to say, "a country''s strength can''t be judged by its gdp alone, nor can a nation''s prosperity be determined merely by its population size or territorial extent. one of the fundamental reasons our country has fallen behind and been bullied is due to its lagging technology."


    qin hao was somewhat surprised. what''s with dad today? why is he spouting so much truth? and he''s not wrong at all.


    "showing off in front of your son, huh? you just saw it on the news and copied it verbatim. anyone who didn''t know better would think you were incredibly learned," mrs. qin said bluntly from the side.


    ...


    mr. qin looked somewhat embarrassed and glared at her irritably, "i''m educating our son. why are you interrupting? why don''t you try educating him?"


    qin hao struggled not to laugh, realizing all this had come from the news, and he thought his dad had come up with it himself.


    mrs. qin remarked, "as if you''ve been the one to educate our son all these years."


    "what? it wasn''t me who educated him, was it you then?" mr. qin seemed about to lose his patience.


    "forget it, you do the educating. i''ll go tidy our son''s room," mrs. qin said and then went into qin hao''s room.


    mr. qin huffed and continued speaking to qin hao, "xiao hao, why have western countries been able to dominate the world in recent times? the most important reason is their control over cutting-edge technology."


    qin hao nodded. although his dad had just copied the words, they made a lot of sense.


    he agreed and curiously asked, "dad, who said these words?"


    qin hao woke up after eight and since his parents were off work for seven days, they weren''t going to the office.


    after breakfast, mr. and mrs. qin went out shopping. qin hao didn''t go with them as he was at home waiting for news from li bao.


    around ten in the morning, qin hao received messages from li bao. he looked upset.


    he didn''t leave his house all day!


    nobody knew what he was contemplating!


    on the morning of october 2, all mid and high-level managers at jiangshan roasted duck food co., ltd received a message.


    whether on vacation or resting, everyone had to be in the headquarters meeting room before three o''clock in the afternoon for a meeting led by mr. qin. under no special circumstances, everyone had to be present, or they would be dismissed.


    this message caused quite a stir.


    the chairman is back? what does this meeting mean at this time?


    is it to let everyone know below him? after all, many people don''t know him.


    even some of the new high-level managers had never seen qin hao.


    in the early afternoon, qin hao drove to the company.


    his porsche panamera was still parked in the parking lot, rarely driven by anyone else.


    he took the elevator to the office, where half of the staff were on rotating shifts.


    the two receptionists at the front desk recognized him and quickly said, "mr. qin, you''re back."


    qin hao replied, "mm, is vice president kang here?"


    "vice president kang wasn''t here at noon; he should be in his office now."


    qin hao nodded, "okay, i know."


    he walked inside the company; many of the employees looked at him, but a large part did not recognize him.


    "stop gawking, get back to work. that''s our company''s chairman," someone whispered.


    "the chairman? so young?" someone said in disbelief.


    "our chairman is a genius who scored full marks on the unified exam, a celebrity of jiangshan. there is nothing surprising about him being a chairman."

 Chapter 181 Reorganization

    qin hao arrived at the meeting room, where several people were already seated.


    kang youyi, yu jie, yuan qing, and liu man, seeing qin hao enter, hurriedly stood up and greeted him, "mr. qin."


    qin hao saw smiles on their faces, "you came early?"


    "we were working overtime at the company anyway, so we just came over to wait," yu jie said softly.


    soon, the door to the meeting room was opened from the outside, and a middle-aged man wearing glasses walked in.


    "hello, mr. qin, i am meng zhicheng! director of market planning," meng zhicheng said respectfully.


    qin hao slightly nodded his head, "hmm, take a seat."


    meng zhicheng sat next to kang youyi, while qin hao took the main seat, "does anyone have anything to report?"


    kang youyi spoke up, "mr. qin, mr. meng has made a suggestion; he plans to acquire several duck farms to supply our roasted duck stores'' development. this is the detailed proposal mr. meng wrote."


    after finishing his words, he handed qin hao a folder.


    qin hao took it, skimmed through it in a few minutes, and read the proposal, which detailed the future development of the roasted duck stores.


    the proposal was very much in line with qin hao''s thoughts, acquiring duck farms, building large-scale duck farms, constructing logistics and distribution services, and planning future roasted duck factory production lines to form a complete ecological industrial chain.


    the proposal was excellent; qin hao looked at meng zhicheng, who was also looking at him with a meticulous expression on his face.


    qin hao gave an affirmative answer, "the proposal is excellent; we can proceed step by step as outlined."


    "thank you for your affirmation, mr. qin. i have tried our roasted duck, and the taste is incomparable to any other. that''s our biggest advantage. as long as the plan is correct and we develop steadily, our company''s future achievements might match those of major roasted duck conglomerates," meng zhicheng said.


    qin hao slightly nodded his head, "mr. meng, where were you employed before?"


    meng zhicheng was momentarily taken aback, then replied, "mr. qin, i previously worked as a director of marketing at a large multinational supermarket chain."


    qin hao asked, "the compensation there must have been better, right?"


    meng zhicheng said somewhat awkwardly, "the salary was about the same, but it was difficult to rise up in the company. there were no chinese in the senior ranks of the multinational supermarket chain, and i am also from jiangshan, so when such a promising company emerged back home, i came here."


    as they spoke, more people started arriving in the meeting room: the logistics director, the audit director, deputy directors of various departments, heads, and deputy heads.


    seeing qin hao there, they remained silent as they sat in the meeting room.


    managers and assistant managers from various stores also slowly arrived.


    there are millions of people in jiangshan who want to work for the company. similarly, if you leave the company, finding another with such generous terms might be difficult. therefore, i hope everyone cherishes their positions."


    "who are the deputy managers of those four stores? stand up."


    "swish, swish"


    four men stood up, and qin hao glanced at them and said, "from today, you are the managers of your respective stores. manage well, the company won''t let any employee suffer."


    "thank you, mr. qin, for your trust," the four said, somewhat excited.


    there was a significant difference between the monthly salary and commission of a deputy manager and a manager.


    this new salary system had been implemented, and everyone estimated that a normal store manager could make over twenty thousand a month, whereas deputy managers would make just over ten thousand.


    ordinary employees were paid according to normal performance commissions, with management personnel receiving relatively higher commissions, and higher positions receiving even higher commissions.


    qin hao started, "i seldom come to the company, but that does not mean i am unaware of what you all do. you all understand what i mean, right?"


    he finished speaking and, smiling, glanced around the meeting room.


    the expressions on people''s faces varied, some flickering, some calm, others puzzled.


    qin hao asked, "is the manager of longquan store, guo feng, present?"


    at the mention of his name, guo feng''s body trembled, and after a moment he stood up. "chairman, i am here."


    qin hao asked, "would you like to tell your glorious deeds yourself, or shall i do it?"


    sweat started forming on guo feng''s forehead. "chairman, i don''t understand what you mean!" he said.


    "ha, ha, you abused your authority, harassed a female staff member, and when she did not comply, you forced her to leave. am i right or wrong?" qin hao said, his tone growing increasingly intense as he spoke.


    guo feng''s face turned deathly pale, large beads of sweat falling.


    seeing his state, qin hao said indifferently, "i have already had someone locate gao meimei. the police will be here shortly for an investigation, and you will go with them."


    upon hearing this, guo feng''s legs weakened. he had thought at worst he would be fired, but now he was facing police custody, how could he not be afraid.


    "chairman, i know i was wrong. please give me another chance; i will resign voluntarily," begged guo feng, not wanting to end up in that place.


    looking at him, qin hao saw a pitiable sight, a far cry from the domineering presence he had in store.


    qin hao replied, "opportunities are not given by others but earned by oneself. the company has its rules and regulations, and since you violated them, you should be prepared for the consequences."

 Chapter 182 Clear Rewards and Punishments

    guo feng''s expression dimmed upon hearing the news; if he ended up in that kind of place, finding a decent job later would be difficult!


    now, he somewhat regretted it, but there was no medicine for regret in the world.


    qin hao continued, "the manager of the industrial road store, wang lihai, colluded with the accountant and embezzled tens of thousands from public funds. i have already submitted the relevant evidence to the police."


    the crowd was greatly shocked, and both yuan qing and wang lihai''s expressions changed dramatically.


    qin hao looked at yuan qing and asked, "mr. yuan, you are the director of human resources. you must be very clear about how wang lihai joined our company, right?"


    yuan qing''s face slightly changed, and she sat there, not daring to make a sound.


    qin hao said, "wang lihai was your high school classmate, wasn''t he? from today onward, you are no longer the director of human resources. liu man will take over as director, and you will continue as a regular staff member in hr. if you find the punishment too severe, you have the option to resign."


    yuan qing hastily said, "thank you, mr. qin. i will comply with the company''s arrangement."


    qin hao did not fire her; he still considered their old ties.


    discover hidden tales at empire


    she was well aware of this and felt grateful to qin hao, also regretting her past actions in helping wang lihai and others.


    "furthermore, wang lihe from the ping chun store has been secretly forming alliances and bribing zhao hongyu, the director of the prosecution department, to misappropriate company bonuses. starting today, the prosecution department will be dissolved, and i will personally establish a new one to monitor all store personnel."


    the conference room was filled with an uneasy atmosphere, and people like kang youyi and yu jie also looked quite disturbed. their subordinates had committed so many acts without their knowledge.


    qin hao continued, "yu chengcai."


    yu chengcai, frightened, hastily stood up, "mr. qin, i... didn''t..."


    yu jie felt a pang in her heart upon hearing this. could it be that her brother also did something detrimental to the company?


    seeing his reaction, qin hao smiled and said, "don''t be nervous. i have seen your hard work. the anchang street store''s monthly sales rank first among all jiangshan stores, which is commendable.


    i''ve decided to reward the anchang store with a hundred thousand in cash, to be distributed proportionally, and the anyang and longqing stores will be rewarded with eighty thousand and fifty thousand respectively. starting today, the top three performing stores each month will receive these rewards."


    everyone''s expression brightened; these were not insignificant amounts.


    each store had only about a dozen employees, and the distributed money was almost equivalent to a month''s salary.


    together with the new salary system, these employees were more motivated to work, as they were not earning a fixed salary, but one based on sales performance¡ªthe higher the sales, the higher the salary.no?v(el)b\\jnn


    that day, jiangshan roasted duck company dismissed nearly a quarter of its middle and upper management, ranging from directors to managers, supervisors, and store managers.


    although some were initially fearful, with the substantial cash rewards, they were once again filled with motivation.


    "yes, by several city leaders."


    qin hao thought for a moment and said, "then let''s go. what time tomorrow night?"


    kang youyi said, "you need to be there before seven. mr. qin, would you like to bring a female companion?"


    "a female companion?"


    kang youyi explained, "you don''t have a secretary, and going alone might not look good. how about mr. tian accompanies you?"


    after saying this, he looked at tian yamei, who was sitting there distracted, unaware of what was being discussed.


    seeing her expression, kang youyi asked, "does mr. tian have any objections?"


    "ah? i have no objections," tian yamei hurriedly responded.


    qin hao smiled and said, "mr. tian, did you hear what we were talking about?"


    tian yamei was slightly embarrassed: "sorry, mr. qin, i was lost in thought."


    qin hao said with a smile, "it''s okay. mr. kang just mentioned having you accompany me to the gala tomorrow. are you available?"


    "yes, no problem," tian yamei agreed.


    yu jie felt somewhat envious, but she knew the difference between herself and tian yamei.


    tian yamei was outgoing, cheerful, and talkative, whereas she was somewhat introverted. her presence might not be helpful to qin hao and could even embarrass the company.


    "that settles it; i have to step out for a bit. mr. tian, i''ll wait for you at the company tomorrow." qin hao stood up and said.


    he was going to visit li bao''s company.


    after taking the car keys from kang youyi, he rode the elevator to the underground parking lot and drove the porsche panamera towards li bao''s company.


    li bao''s company was located in the suburbs of jiangshan. at the entrance, four strong security personnel stood dressed in uniform black outfits.


    flying leopard security company.


    one of them spoke up: "hello, sir, may i ask who you''re looking for?"


    qin hao replied, "i''m looking for li bao, just tell him i''m qin hao."


    upon hearing his name, the faces of the four men changed, "so it''s hao. please come in; mr. li has instructed us that you don''t need to be checked."


    "thanks a lot."


    qin hao slowly drove into flying leopard security company.

 Chapter 183 Father Gets Beaten

    as soon as qin hao drove up to the building, li bao came out with a group of people.


    "hao," li bao called out urgently.


    qin hao nodded slightly, "the place is quite spacious."


    "got it at the lowest price through some connections," li bao whispered in his ear.


    qin hao gave him a look, "in the future, you should keep this kind of thing to yourself, talk less about it to me."


    li bao chuckled dryly, then led him to the third-floor meeting room.


    feibao security company had two buildings: a dormitory building at the back and an office building at the front.


    to establish this company, li bao had borrowed a considerable amount of money from the bank.


    now his company had hundreds of employees, and ninety percent of them had been dispatched out; there were only a few dozen people left in the company.


    moreover, li bao''s company didn''t have many departments, and the business he was currently managing still relied on his previous connections.


    qin hao sat in the meeting room, looking at li bao with a strange expression, "is it just you in the management team?"


    li bao smiled awkwardly, "apart from those team leaders, it''s just me for now."


    ...


    qin hao really wanted to give him a thumbs up, keeping the company afloat was an achievement in itself!


    you are in the security business, there has to be at least a marketing department, right?


    without even a marketing department, what are you going to use to expand into new markets?


    qin hao said, "you received the money, right? set up all the necessary departments for the company. if you really don''t know how, you could take a look at what your competitors are doing."


    li bao said, "hao, i know all that, this money is enough."


    qin hao nodded, "well, if it really doesn''t work out, consider offering high salaries to poach talents. there are many things you don''t need to do yourself, let your subordinates handle them."


    li bao nodded, "hao, i''ve picked a few bodyguards who are quite agile and smart for you. they will take care of your company''s matters."


    after saying that, he shouted towards the door, "li yang, you guys come in."


    eight men dressed in black walked in; each of them looked fierce and formidable.


    li bao said, "hao, li yang and these guys are all ex-special forces. they are skilled and smart. from now on, they''ll be your bodyguards."


    there are many special forces, and they vary in skill levels!


    like xu liangguo''s personal guards, they are the elite of the elite among special forces.


    and li xutian''s bodyguards are either military champions or civilian experts.


    qin hao had also reviewed the capabilities of li yang and his group. they were much stronger than ordinary people, but they truly couldn''t compare with those others.


    qin hao said, "that won''t be necessary, i don''t need bodyguards."


    a brand new ferrari had crashed into the rear of a citroe?n, the impact was not light, and the ferrari''s front headlights were smashed.


    behind the ferrari was also a mercedes-benz coupe; three young men were beating a middle-aged man while a woman loudly tried to stop them.


    many cars were blocked behind.


    seeing this, some people hurriedly took out their phones and called the police.


    "stop hitting him, please stop," mrs. qin cried uncontrollably as she saw her husband lying in a pool of blood.


    "get lost, goddamn it, my brand new car, and you just had to smash it up, can you even afford to compensate?"


    ...


    in less than five minutes, everyone heard the sound of a car''s engine roaring from a distance, it was very loud despite the distance.


    suddenly, they could see a car speeding from afar.


    the driver was qin hao, and he had reached a terrifying speed of over two hundred.


    he had spotted his father''s car from a distance.


    "screech, screech, screech"


    the shrill sound of brakes rang out as the porsche panamera slid several dozen meters, leaving behind a large cloud of thick smoke.


    everyone turned their heads to look, even the three assailants including ma tengfei turned their heads.


    qin hao stopped the car from the opposite lane and immediately ran over.


    seeing his father lying on the ground and his mother crying helplessly beside him, qin hao''s head buzzed.


    "goddamn it, i''m going to kill you."


    he charged over at top speed and landed a punch on ma tengfei''s face; his body flew backward, spitting out several teeth.


    "bang"


    ma tengfei fell onto the road three meters away.


    the nearby two were stupefied; who was this guy with such incredible strength?


    "bang"


    before they could react, qin hao kicked out, striking one on the head.


    the man saw stars, his head humming, and he fell to the ground and didn''t get up.


    the last one didn''t escape either; before he could run, he was laid out on the ground.


    his large fists relentlessly pounded down on one man''s body.


    "screech, screech, screech"


    series of braking sounds were heard as five cars stopped on the opposite lane, a group of people dressed in black dashed down wearing jackets embossed with ''flying leopard security'' on their backs.

 Chapter 184 Broken Leg

    li bao got out of the car and saw qin hao brutally beating someone.


    the man was already spitting out blood, and the beating could really result in a fatality.


    he knew the strength of qin hao was not ordinary at all.


    he hurried over, grabbed qin hao''s arm, and pulled him back, "hao, that''s enough, if you keep hitting him, he might die."


    qin hao''s raised fist stopped, and he turned to look at li bao, his eyes bloodshot.


    his hands were trembling slightly, and he spoke in a low tone, "break his legs, smash the car, i''ll take responsibility for the consequences!"


    "don''t worry, hao, leave it to me!" li bao gave a signal to the people nearby, and then helped qin hao retreat back.


    qin hao hurried to his father''s side, where a lot of blood had already been spilled, and he suppressed his urge to kill.


    "dad, are you alright?"


    ma tengfei and his few friends, full of youthful arrogance and with a distinguished background, didn''t hold back at all when they hit qin youguo, using their full strength.


    qin youguo wasn''t seriously hurt, suffering only superficial wounds.


    qin youguo stood up with one hand on his head, and mrs. qin hurried over with tissues to wipe it.


    "i''m fine, who are they?" mr. qin asked.


    mrs. qin also came to her senses and looked at her son.


    qin hao: "dad, they are employees from my company, and jiangshan roasted duck food co., ltd is also my company."


    "your company?" mr. and mrs. qin widened their eyes.


    by then, qin hao had calmed down and he said to his parents, "mom and dad, let''s talk about this at home later, these people are too arrogant, they hit someone after a rear-end collision."


    "xiao hao, these people are not from ordinary families, let it go," qin youguo, fearful of his son getting into trouble, said.


    qin hao: "dad, this is not just about you, it involves me too. if i remain silent after my father was beaten, everyone will look down on me."


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    "ah!"


    screams echoed from the crowd, ma tengfei and his friends'' legs were both broken, then a group rushed towards their two cars and started smashing them.


    the sounds of "bang, bang, bang" were incessant.


    this was actually a straightforward case, and there would be no problem as long as both parties reached a settlement.


    but the person behind ma tengfei was no simple character; his father was the chairman of dayuan group.


    dayuan group was a leading enterprise in jiangshan and ranked highly throughout shuinan province, with very strong connections, especially in jiangshan city!


    although qin hao was also prominent, he was still a newcomer in the business world, unable to compare with a major corporation like dayuan group. his connections were also not as solid, so liu bo felt that, in the end, qin hao would definitely be at a disadvantage and might even end up in prison.


    "mr. qin, do you know who you''ve beaten?" liu bo began.


    qin hao shook his head, "i only know he was the one who hit my dad."


    liu bo, "the owner of that ferrari is ma tengfei. he is currently in the hospital with both legs broken, and his father is ma dayuan, the chairman of dayuan group."


    qin hao, "no wonder he dares to defy the law; he has some backing."


    liu bo continued, "although the other two''s status is not comparable to ma tengfei''s, they are also children of big company ceos."


    qin hao, "so what? i believe the law will give me a fair and just answer."


    "bang"


    the door to the interrogation room was flung open, and tie gaoming walked in, "qin hao, what you say is grand, but you broke their legs. do you think you have not violated the law?"


    "captain tie." liu bo and feng xue quickly stood up upon seeing him.


    qin hao turned to look at him, "captain tie, i must correct your mistake. their legs were not broken by me. there were many people around at the time, and they can all be witnesses. also, captain tie, you should not be here, but rather resting at the hospital."


    liu bo, feng xue, and tie gaoming were shocked.


    what did he mean by those words?


    had he figured out captain tie''s condition? were those words he had said before not without basis?


    tie gaoming snorted coldly, "my matters are none of your concern. you better worry about yourself, for ma bing, the chairman of dayuan group, is no ordinary person."


    although his words were harsh, they also carried a warning.


    to be honest, he was not very fond of qin hao, but he disliked ma tengfei and his associates even more.


    at the very least, qin hao never initiated trouble!


    qin hao calmly said, "his son, ma bing, was the first to strike, and if ma bing doesn''t personally apologize, this matter is not over!"


    the three were startled by his tone; qin hao''s confidence seemed misplaced. how could he expect an apology from ma bing when he was in such a precarious position himself?

 Chapter 185 Zhengyuan Group

    tie gaoming spoke, "dayuan group is a major enterprise within the province, and ma bing has deep connections. he''s also ruthless and decisive, so good luck to you.


    without an order from the director, you cannot leave for now. your father has already been sent to the hospital for treatment, accompanied by your mother."


    after finishing his words, tie gaoming left.


    even when he intended to help, his face remained cold.


    "congratulations to the host for completing the phased mainline task of becoming a business tycoon, reward: ten thousand achievement points."


    "congratulations to the host for completing the phased side quest, reward: one hundred thousand achievement points."


    two system prompt tones suddenly sounded.


    qin hao was taken aback, had his company''s profits for september already surpassed ten million?


    had the september performance report come out already?


    just as he was wondering, his mobile phone in his pocket rang, and he received an internal company email.


    qin hao asked, "is captain tie also secretly investigating ma bing?"


    liu bo and feng xue were stunned for a moment and did not answer him.


    they didn''t know how qin hao found out, but they wouldn''t disclose such secrets.


    seeing their reaction, qin hao knew he had guessed correctly; he deduced it from what tie gaoming had said.


    he waited for about another half hour, during which liu bo and feng xue went out a few times and then came back.


    the way they looked at him was clearly different from before.


    qin hao had a bad feeling and asked, "can i make a phone call?" enjoy more content from empire


    "yes!" liu bo and feng xue nodded.


    qin hao took out his mobile phone and called xu liangguo.


    although xu jiejian was quite powerful in jianghai city, this was shuinan province, and he feared xu jiejian might not have the necessary connections.


    xu liangguo, on the other hand, was an old hand in government circles; perhaps he knew people here too, and even if he didn''t, his words would carry great influence.


    after several seconds, xu liangguo picked up the phone, "hello, xiao hao, this is ms. xu."no?v(el)b\\jnn


    qin hao replied with a smile, "ms. xu, how are you feeling now?"


    "i''ve completely recovered a while ago, practically no different from before. are you looking for xu?"


    qin hao: "yes, ms. xu, i need to talk to mr. xu about something."


    "alright, he''s out playing chess, i''ll go find him right now."


    a few seconds later, xu liangguo was on the phone: "xiao hao, what''s the matter?"


    qin hao: "mr. xu, there''s a favor i need to ask of you."


    xu liangguo: "don''t be so formal in the future, just speak your mind."


    qin hao''s expression remained calm. "mr. xing, i think you might want to wait a bit."


    liu bo, feng xue, and the others admired his composure; even at a time like this, he could still keep his cool. was this really a nineteen-year-old kid?


    "wait? wait for what? i don''t have time to play games with you here. take him away," xing su said emotionlessly.


    several police officers came forward, handcuffing qin hao and preparing to take him away to the detention center.


    qin hao did not resist, quietly watching the scene unfold.


    the icy handcuffs, the indifferent looks, all made him feel very uncomfortable.


    qin hao followed the officers out. as he reached the door of the interrogation room, suddenly, a ringtone from a cell phone filled the room.


    everyone turned to look.


    xing su took out his phone from his pocket, his expression changing as he cautiously answered. "hello, mr. wang."


    after the call connected, his face went through several changes, though no one heard the voice on the other end of the phone.


    after hanging up, xing su looked at qin hao with an incredulous look in his eyes.


    "quickly, release mr. qin," his attitude had done a complete 360-degree turn.


    everyone around was stunned. release him? hadn''t he just said qin hao was to be taken to the detention center?


    "what are you standing around for? this matter still needs further investigation; we were too hasty," xing su quickly found an excuse.


    the officers hurriedly unlocked qin hao''s handcuffs, looking at him with a mix of respect and awe.


    ma bing''s face flushed with embarrassment; from xing su''s expression, he could tell that qin hao must have significant backing. otherwise, xing su would not have acted this way.


    qin hao said, "mr. xing, my subordinates?"


    "please wait a moment, mr. qin; i''ll have someone take care of it right away," xing su replied urgently.


    qin hao glanced at ma bing and spoke indifferently, "mr. ma, i hope you look after your own son. he''s lucky to have run into me - if it had been someone else, he might not have made it out alive. nothing is more tragic than a parent sending off their own child."


    "i''ll remember your words, mr. qin," ma bing said, his face darkening.


    [to the browser readers, a word from the author: i work during the day to provide for my family in an automobile parts manufacturing factory. i get one hour for lunch, and while others rest, i take the chance to write a bit. after work and dinner, when all the workers have gone home and the dormitory area is empty, i stay behind, not returning home, living alone in the quiet dorms, all in order to write a bit more and spare myself a few less criticisms from you all.


    i''ve said it many times, but browser readers don''t see it, so i''m putting it here in the chapter. i hope all readers can understand that i''m at my limit updating two chapters every day. although it''s tiring, i feel fulfilled and happy thanks to your votes and comments. thank you for your support; it means a lot to me. without it, this book might not have been written up to this point, and there might not be a future for it...


    my eyes are red as i write this, so i''ll say no more. i won''t explain these things in the future, fearing it might bother you if mentioned too often.


    in writing this novel, i have lost much and endured a great deal of abuse.


    the feeling is like setting on a path that nobody else believes in, and despite the hardships and challenges, continuing down that road alone.


    although i do it for the world in my heart, to share it with more people,


    and to change the living conditions of my family,


    i have no regrets.]


    ```

 Chapter 186 Confession

    qin hao knew that things between the two parties were far from over; instead, it had just begun.


    qin hao said to xing su, "mr. xing, if there''s nothing else, i''ll be leaving now. i really don''t want to stay here any longer."


    "mr. qin, let me escort you."


    qin hao: "no need, having liu bo and feng xue escort me will suffice."


    after leaving the interrogation building, qin hao walked ahead while liu bo and feng xue followed behind.


    qin hao said to feng xue, "may i borrow your paper and pen?"


    feng xue was momentarily stunned, then handed him her notebook and pen.


    qin hao wrote hurriedly on it, then handed it back to feng xue: "give this prescription to captain tie. he''s a good police officer; he shouldn''t just leave this world like this."


    "what is this prescription?" feng xue and liu bo asked curiously as they looked at the prescription.


    qin hao: "it''s a prescription that could slowly treat captain tie''s stomach cancer."


    the two looked shocked. "how did you know captain tie had stomach cancer? can this prescription really work? can it cure stomach cancer?"


    "i am a doctor, so naturally, i could tell. this prescription needs to be taken over a long period, and it will take more than six months before it shows effects."


    qin hao had not taken the life-saving potion, as it wasn''t necessary yet.


    moreover, he could not use the life-saving potion frequently; it could easily expose him.


    when he reached the doorway, li bao and his group quickly came out as well.


    qin hao looked at him and said, "be careful going forward, ma bing is not a simple man."


    "yes, okay, hao," li bao nodded.


    qin hao: "if there''s nothing else, go back. i''m going to the hospital to see my dad."


    li bao: "hao, i''ll come with you."


    aside from the two of them, li yang and eight other people also followed them out, while the rest went back.


    inside the hospital ward, youguo was discussing discharge issues with the doctor.


    he wasn''t seriously ill. what mattered most was his concern for his son''s safety.


    qin hao and li bao entered the room, and upon seeing him return, mr. and mrs. qin''s faces brightened: "are you okay, xiao hao?"


    "dad, mom, i''m fine. i just did some paperwork, cooperated with the investigation," qin hao said with a smile.


    "really, you''re okay?" mr. qin was somewhat incredulous.


    after all, his son not only had broken those three people''s legs but also smashed a car, and that was really okay?


    qin hao said with a smile, "really, it''s okay. if they couldn''t fight back, it''s just a matter of paying some money."


    and at the bottom, there was the total, september''s net profit was eleven million, one hundred thirty-one thousand, seven hundred fifty-two.


    "that much?" mr. qin and mrs. qin were both somewhat shocked.


    qin hao: "dad, mom, quit your jobs. when you are free, help me check on the company and the restaurants. if there''s any problem, tell me. this is our family''s company. you have to pay close attention when i''m not around."


    "of course, our factory is almost closing down anyway. when it does, i''ll go with your mother to help you keep an eye on things," qin youguo said with a laugh.


    his tone carried a hint of pride and self-satisfaction.


    because this was his son!


    mrs. qin gave him a glance: "what do you know? don''t go and mess things up for our son."


    "what do you mean, what do i know? i was a workshop director, after all, that''s better than you, right?" mr. qin retorted slightly annoyed.


    mrs. qin shot him another glance: "i''m telling you, stay out of trouble for our son, don''t interfere with the company''s operations."


    "woman, what do you know? go and start cooking. i''m going to buy some bottles of wine," he said. then he addressed qin hao, "son, where are the car keys?"


    "here they are." qin hao handed the car keys to his dad.


    mrs. qin: "the supermarket is right at the entrance of the community. can''t you just walk there? i see you just want to show off outside."


    mr. qin: "what do you mean ''show off''? my son''s car is my car too, isn''t it okay if i drive it?"


    "dad, you don''t need that old car of yours anymore. from now on, this car will do."


    mr. qin said with a smile, "good, i''ve never driven such a nice car before."


    ...


    during dinner, mr. qin drank quite a lot. qin hao could tell there was something that had been weighing on his mind for a very long time.


    from some of the things he said, it was clear that his parents had not approved of his marriage to his mother.


    his father had endured countless snubs and taunts.


    but he couldn''t argue back because his family was destitute while his mother came from a wealthy background, creating a huge disparity in their statuses.


    their wedding had even been conducted in secret!


    qin youguo felt deeply touched to have a wife like li shujie, and so after they got married, he was incredibly attentive to her.


    at the same time, he also resented his own incompetence, unable to make his beloved wife proud and causing her to be unable to lift her head in front of her family.


    in the first couple of years after they got married, they would visit beisu province during the holidays, but each visit was embarrassingly humiliating.


    for years, qin youguo had been holding his breath.


    he had tried to start a business several times, all to prove to the li family that he was worthy of li shujie, but he failed every time.


    he had long since given up hope, but now he saw hope in his son, so today he was very happy and drank a lot.


    "thank you everyone for your votes and for your comments. thank you for your support!"

 Chapter 187 Is Li Mo Ying Coming?

    mrs. qin sighed and helped him into the house when she saw him like this.


    he said to his mother''s retreating figure, "mom, i will try my best."


    "mm, mom believes you," mrs. qin''s eyes were somewhat moist.


    ...


    meanwhile, after qin hao left the police station.


    ma bing asked xing su, "what''s his background, mr. xing? whose call was that just now?"


    xing su replied, "it was a call from the provincial leaders. the message was simple: turn big issues into small ones, and small issues into none. this is also the intention of shuinan province''s top official. mr. ma, you should be very clear about the stakes involved. better to drop the case and settle it privately, especially since your son was in the wrong."


    ma bing''s face changed, somewhat in disbelief, "that young whippersnapper, he has such connections?"


    xing su explained, "he was this year''s national unified exam top scholar. mr. chang had visited his home before, perhaps mr. chang helped him because he broke the record on the unified exam."


    ma bing''s expression shifted. regardless of what relationship qin hao had with chang an country, now that chang an country had spoken, he must act accordingly, or the consequences would be hard to predict.


    even though he had people in the province, he simply couldn''t compare to chang an country.


    his son had his leg broken, and this bitter pill he simply had to swallow.


    he could imagine the reaction when this news spread through jiangshan''s business elite the next day.


    he and the entire dayuan group would be disgraced!


    ...


    the next day


    news that the son of ma bing, chairman of dayuan group, had his leg broken in the street, spread throughout jiangshan''s high society.


    qin hao, chairman of jiangshan roasted duck food co., ltd, also gained significant notoriety for breaking ma bing''s son''s leg and remaining unscathed. his background was evidently strong, certainly stronger than dayuan group.


    dayuan group was among the top five corporations in jiangshan, and very powerful. since not even dayuan group could touch him, this was someone to be on good terms with, not to offend.


    in the morning, qin hao had a long chat at home with du wanrou. she wouldn''t be able to return to jiangshan for another seven days, which qin hao found regrettable.


    he had planned to take his chances beyond the boundary, but now it seemed there would be no opportunity.


    after finishing his conversation with du wanrou, qin hao''s phone rang; it was li jianjun calling.


    "hello, qin hao, the national survival games are starting in the next two days. the competition will last two months, then the top three teams will go abroad to compete."


    qin hao replied, "mm, i know. i won''t participate in the domestic competition because i don''t have much time. you guys shouldn''t have any problems, right?"


    li jianjun responded, "no problem, i''m just called to inform you. if you are free during the competition, you could come to the venue to watch. by the way, is my sister with you?"


    qin hao paused for a moment: "your sister? no, she isn''t here."


    "oh, well then, i''ve got to hang up." stay tuned to empire


    mrs. qin: "your dad can stay in your room, and i''ll share a room with the girl."


    qin hao, puzzled, said, "mom, isn''t that inconvenient?"


    mrs. qin said irritably, "how is it inconvenient? she''s come all the way to find you, and you''d just leave her alone in a hotel? if you don''t bring her back tonight, don''t bother coming back yourself."


    "exactly. you must listen to your mom on this." mr. qin agreed as well.


    ...


    qin hao was somewhat speechless. am i even your biological child?


    why does it feel like she''s your long-lost daughter?


    after lunch, qin hao said to his dad, "dad, i''m going to drive to the company first."


    "yeah, you drive. dad doesn''t really need to drive such a nice car." mr. qin said with a smile.


    qin hao: "it''s okay, dad. i''ll get the company to buy another one this afternoon."


    mr. qin: "don''t buy it. keep that money for developing the company. dad has had his share of luxury cars. there''s no difference."


    ...


    qin hao didn''t say more, as he had already made up his mind.


    he went downstairs, where several residents of the neighborhood were sitting in the shade of the trees.


    "xiao hao going out?" a man about his dad''s age asked.


    qin hao smiled and nodded, "yeah, mr. li, not resting?"


    "couldn''t sleep, just came out to chat. you go on, i won''t keep you," mr. li said.


    qin hao smiled and nodded, then slowly drove out of the neighborhood.


    after qin hao left, mr. li sighed, "never thought that the introverted kid from before would now be a company ceo."


    another person also said, "he even scored full marks on the unified exam. i heard qin''s son was not good at his studies before, how did he score full marks?"


    "who knows how he suddenly got wise; it must be fate. when it''s destined for you to be wealthy, you can''t even hide from it."


    ...


    after qin hao drove away, two more cars followed him. this was li yang and his eight guys.


    arriving at the shenghua office building, qin hao got out of the car, followed by li yang and three others, while the remaining four stayed outside to keep watch.


    qin hao noted that all eight men were wearing communication earpieces, fully equipped with various devices.


    at the company entrance, qin hao said to li yang and his three men, "just wait here."


    "yes, mr. qin," li yang responded respectfully.

 Chapter 188 Xia Qing is in trouble!

    walking into the company, qin hao saw meng zhicheng, tian yamei, and yu jie all present, the three sitting and chatting.


    they had just finished lunch and it wasn''t yet time to resume work.


    upon seeing qin hao arrive, the three quickly stood up: "mr. qin, you''re here."


    qin hao: "hmm, continue talking, just don''t mind me. i had nothing to do at home so i came to take a look."


    meng zhicheng: "mr. qin, we were just discussing the membership card issue. we plan to introduce a membership card service after the national day holiday with different amounts offering different discounts. i should be able to draft the specific plan in the next couple of days."


    "hmm, when it''s ready, show it to mr. kang, just keep talking, i am heading back to my office now."


    entering his office, qin hao opened the system.


    he still had one main quest, the path to a business magnate, with a monthly profit of fifty million, and a reward of fifty thousand achievement points.


    currently, his achievement points were one hundred forty thousand three hundred.


    he opened the system store and then purchased the xinghai generation intelligent robot manufacturing technology.


    a manufacturing manual appeared in his inventory, and qin hao clicked ''learn''; a stream of information entered his mind.


    he took a long time to digest the information, his brow slightly furrowed.


    although he had learned the manufacturing technology, the manufacturing process was extremely difficult and complex.


    he browsed the system store again before exiting.


    he took out his phone and called li bao: "have someone thoroughly investigate dayuan group and the person ma bing."


    "okay, hao."


    hanging up the phone, qin hao began to study the xinghai generation intelligent robot manufacturing technology again.


    around four in the afternoon, qin hao received an email from li bao.


    it contained very detailed information about dayuan group and the personal information of ma bing.


    qin hao carefully examined it; dayuan group''s main business was da yuan wine, and they were also involved in some ordinary puffed food operations.


    da yuan wine was the pillar product of dayuan group!


    after looking through dayuan group''s information, he reviewed ma bing''s profile.


    it showed his education, previous experiences, and the accomplishments he led in developing dayuan group.


    this was a very cunning and resourceful man!


    he considered how to deal with dayuan group and ma bing.


    he had broken ma bing''s son''s legs, which ma bing definitely would not let slide; he must prepare for defense, if not strike first.


    the two companies did not intersect in business, making it difficult to suppress the opposition.


    qin hao spent the afternoon in his office.


    now, qin hao looked like he had a unique charismatic allure, absolutely mesmerizing.


    seeing their expressions, qin hao asked, "how about this? does it look okay?"


    "it looks great, go with this one, mr. qin. you look handsome. just a hairstyle change would be perfect," tian yamei said with a smile.


    qin hao nodded, "let''s take this one then. how much is it?"


    the female sales assistant said with a smile, "hello sir, this suit is an international elysee brand imported from the league of nations, priced at thirty-three thousand."


    what? thirty-three thousand?


    qin hao was startled, "that''s a bit pricey; all the clothes i''ve owned over the years haven''t come up to this price."


    ...


    tian yamei and the female sales assistant were a bit speechless.


    read latest stories on empire


    you, the chairman of the jiangshan roasted duck company, a tycoon with a monthly income of tens of millions, are worried about thirty thousand?


    the sales assistant glanced at tian yamei and li yang''s four bodyguards and thought, "could he be a pseudo wealthy man?"


    tian yamei said, "mr. qin, this suit really suits you well, it makes you look very dignified."


    qin hao nodded, "let''s take this one then."


    after buying the clothes, tian yamei took him to a hair salon for a hairstyle makeover.


    then, qin hao looked at himself in the mirror and was stunned.


    he looked like a different person, very handsome and also very charismatic.


    qin hao muttered, "i didn''t know i could look this handsome."


    tian yamei was also stunned, her heartbeat noticeably faster than before.


    "it''s getting late, mr. qin, we should go," tian yamei took a deep breath as she reminded him.


    exiting the hair salon, li yang acted as the driver. four bodyguards in a mercedes in the front, three in a mercedes in the back.


    a porsche in the middle, the scene was incredibly stylish.


    qin hao and tian yamei both sat in the backseat.


    tian yamei looked at qin hao, hesitating to speak, with an indecisive expression.


    seeing her like this, qin hao asked, "mr. tian, is there something you want to say? if there is something, just say it."


    upon hearing his words, tian yamei, with her gaze fixed on him, asked, "mr. qin, did you know something happened to xia qing?"


    [thank you to "i raise a chestnut" for the gift of 1000 book coins. this is a reader from the browser book city who registered on qidian to gift the book coins. this support is deeply appreciated.


    it isn''t that complicated; donations can also be made directly through qq reading. i look at all the comments when i have time. thank you everyone for your support and five-star ratings.]

 Chapter 189 Things Dont Go as People Wish

    qin hao''s expression changed slightly upon hearing the words.


    he looked at tian yamei, his eyes piercing, "you know xia qing? what happened to her?"


    tian yamei explained, "xia qing is my cousin, her mom is my aunt, and i know a bit about what''s going on between you and xiaoqing.


    something happened to her family; she told me not to tell you, but i couldn''t help it."


    qin hao, "what happened to her family?"


    tian yamei, "my uncle took on a contract with someone, and after the work was done, that person ran off with the money. now my uncle not only is in debt up to his neck but also owes a lot of money to the workers.


    their house has been sold, but they still owe more than two million to relatives, friends, and workers."


    qin hao''s brow furrowed slightly, "where have they gone now?"


    "they went back to their hometown."


    qin hao, "give me your bank account number; i''ll transfer three million to you so you can give it to xia qing''s parents."


    tian yamei was surprised, three million just like that, without a moment''s hesitation; he was a completely different person from the one who was buying clothes just moments ago.


    he must have feelings for xia qing, right?


    otherwise, why would he do this?


    tian yamei, "okay, i will find a way to give it to my uncle."


    qin hao nodded, "thanks a lot."


    tian yamei gave qin hao her uncle''s bank card number directly, "this is my uncle''s account, just transfer it here and then i''ll let my uncle know."


    qin hao took out his cellphone, and a few minutes later, transferred the money.


    ...


    in a village in a county of jiangshan.


    xia yingjie lay on the bed with a dim and lifeless look in his eyes, appearing much older.


    tian rong sat there as well with a worried face, sighing repeatedly.


    she said, "xia, don''t think too much about it. maybe the police will catch that scumbag; you need to keep your spirits up."


    at that moment, xia qing walked in, holding medicine, and sat by the bed, "dad, drink some medicine. it''s only when you get better that our family can have hope."


    xia yingjie looked at his wife and daughter with moist eyes, "i have let you down, how could i have been so foolish."


    while speaking, he also began to hit his own face.


    xia qing quickly grabbed his hand, and tears immediately started to stream down, crying and saying, "dad, please don''t do this, it''s not your fault; it''s those people who are too wicked."


    just then, the cellphone on the table suddenly beeped.


    qin hao: "answer it."


    "hello, xiaoqing, what''s up?" tian yamei answered the call.


    xia qing was silent for a few seconds before asking, "sis, are you with qin hao?"


    tian yamei glanced at qin hao, then replied, "yes, mr. qin is indeed by my side."


    xia qing bit her lip and said, "could you let him talk on the phone?"


    tian yamei passed the phone to qin hao.


    qin hao took the phone and said, "don''t overthink things, i''ve got it all covered."


    xia qing''s tears welled up as she heard his words, why do you still have to be so kind to me?


    why can''t you let me completely forget you?


    why does fate have to torture me like this?


    if only there was no du wanrou.


    unfortunately, there are no ifs in the world!


    she took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and said, "i will repay you. thank you."


    qin hao sighed internally, "xiaoqing, you don''t need to be so formal with me, i... we don''t need to be like this."


    xia qing''s tears silently slid down her cheeks: "thank you."


    she hung up the phone.


    qin hao sighed, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.


    tian yamei, who was beside him, dared not speak, but she could tell that qin hao probably had feelings for xia qing.


    at six fifty.


    qin hao and the others arrived at the jiangshan welcoming hotel, where the banquet was being held in the banquet hall.


    the parking lot already had numerous luxury cars, and some people had just arrived and were getting out of their cars.


    qin hao got out of the car and looked around. to his right, he saw a familiar face, yuan zhengxiang.


    but qin hao quickly turned his head as if he hadn''t recognized him.


    yuan zhengxiang also saw him, his expression startled.


    he could hardly believe it was qin hao?


    dressed in a designer suit with a beautiful woman by his side and bodyguards following behind, this couldn''t be qin hao, could it? yet, why did he look so much like qin hao?


    yuan mingkun said to his son, "don''t look around; those who come here are all big company honchos. keep your gaze respectful. da mei has arrived, go find her."


    "dad, i think i saw a classmate. do you know that person?" yuan zhengxiang asked.

 Chapter 190 A Show of Force

    yuan mingkun followed his son''s gaze and then shook his head, "i don''t recognize them. could you have mistaken them? how could your classmate possibly qualify for such an event? hurry and go find da mei and chat with those uncles and elders."


    qin hao said to li yang and the others, "you guys just wait outside, mr. tian and i will go in."


    "okay, mr. qin," li yang nodded.


    just as qin hao was about to enter, a voice came from the side, "is that really mr. qin?"


    bai jing looked at qin hao, with a somewhat surprised expression.


    qin hao turned his head and wore a smile on his face, "mr. bai, long time no see."


    bai jing had once visited his company, attracted by the potential of jiangshan roasted duck and wanted to invest.


    "having not seen you for more than a month, mr. qin, you seem to become increasingly charismatic; even i feel a little captivated," bai jing joked.


    qin hao chuckled dryly, "you flatter me, mr. bai. however, you have become more beautiful yourself, to the point that i almost didn''t recognize you."


    tian yamei felt somewhat speechless. did they find pleasure in praising each other?


    but bai jing was indeed beautiful and had an elegant demeanor.


    bai jing noticed tian yamei and curiously asked, "mr. qin, is this your girlfriend?"


    qin hao, "no, she is the director of our legal department, tian yamei."


    tian yamei spoke gracefully, "nice to meet you, mr. bai. i''ve long heard of the great reputation of jiuchang jewelry group, and i never expected to meet you in person today. you are a role model for all of us women."


    bai jing smiled slightly, "director tian overrates me. it''s about time, let''s go inside together, mr. qin. do you mind?"


    qin hao, "it would be an honor."


    bai jing, along with her female assistant and qin hao, entered the yingbin hotel.


    on the way, bai jing said, "mr. qin, i heard that you''ve had some friction with mr. ma of dayuan group. do you need me to help mediate?"


    qin hao responded indifferently, "no need, mr. bai, i haven''t even taken dayuan group seriously yet."


    bai jing looked surprised for a moment. if it were someone else, they might think qin hao was arrogant, but she was different; she had her sources.


    and she was very clear about who was helping qin hao from behind.


    bai jing said with a smile, "mr. qin, stop calling me mr. bai. i am older than you; calling me ''sister'' wouldn''t be a loss, right?"


    sister?


    she was at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, eight or nine years older than qin hao.


    but that''s the way of business exchange.


    since when did jiangshan have a mr. qin?


    "who is this mr. qin? i haven''t seen him before?" someone quietly said.


    a person nearby quickly reminded, "do you know about yesterday''s incident? the son of the chairman of dayuan group got his legs broken, and he did it."


    "what? could he be the president of jiangshan roasted duck company, so young?" someone said in disbelief.


    "don''t underestimate him because of his young age. you should be able to see the potential of jiangshan roasted duck company. it won''t be long before we might look up to him. what''s most important is the person backing him; even ma bing doesn''t dare to offend him."


    "let''s hurry over and get to know him, make some connections first."


    suddenly, about seven or eight people moved toward qin hao.


    most of them were presidents of small and medium-sized companies; their businesses were either unrelated or hostile to dayuan group, so they didn''t care about offending dayuan group.


    "hello mr. qin, i am the owner of huayuan company, ji hong, this is my business card,"


    "hello mr. qin, i am the owner of hongwei company, wu wei."


    ...


    for a while, many people handed him their business cards, and qin hao accepted them with a smile.


    after all, these people were coming to greet him, which was an honor for him, and he also needed to show them respect.


    the respectful are respected!


    but qin hao realized he hadn''t brought any business cards; he looked at tian yamei.


    tian yamei was more thoughtful than him, as she took out company business cards and handed them to the surrounding people.


    bai jing watched the scene with a smiling face.


    just then, a group of people walked into the door, led by ma bing, with several followers by his side.


    ma bing saw qin hao among the nearby crowd, and his face immediately darkened. he looked around at the other people, then glanced at qin hao and snorted coldly.


    the people around qin hao flinched, and some were already thinking of retreating and leaving. experience exclusive tales on empire


    he hadn''t spoken, but his cold snort could already express his attitude; this was his way of subtly giving qin hao a warning.


    the banquet hall fell silent, with nearly everyone looking over this way.


    they wanted to see how qin hao would respond, as dayuan group had significant influence in the jiangshan business world.


    qin hao knew that at this moment, he had to make a stand, otherwise, his reputation would take a major hit.


    qin hao looked at ma bing and flashed a subtly mocking smile: "mr. ma, aren''t you at home taking care of your son tonight?"


    [thank you to i raise a chestnut for the 1000 coin tip again!]

 Chapter 191 Fundraising Gala

    the crowd inhaled sharply at these words.


    qin hao was really pushing ma bing to the brink.


    the harmfulness of that statement was akin to rubbing salt into ma bing''s wounds.


    plus, there was qin hao''s contemptuous and mocking smile.


    everyone around felt a twinge in their heart for ma bing.


    sure enough, ma bing''s face turned ashen, his eyes glaring at qin hao as if about to shoot flames.


    unfazed, qin hao''s smile remained on his face; he didn''t believe ma bing would dare to make a move in such a setting, and even if he did, qin hao was confident he could beat him until he couldn''t tell which way was north.


    ma bing clenched his teeth fiercely, then walked forward, no longer paying attention to qin hao.


    qin hao said to liu jianming and wang guanding, "mr. liu, mr. wang, we''ll talk more when there''s time; i''m going to find my seat now."


    "mr. qin, your company''s seats are right at the front; i saw them when i arrived early," liu jianming said.


    qin hao nodded with a smile, "thank you, mr. liu."


    "mr. qin, you''re too polite; it''s only proper," liu jianming replied, his posture very humble.


    by now, jiangshan roasted duck company was making over ten million in monthly profit, far surpassing him.


    moreover, behind qin hao was a group of people who didn''t fear death.


    those were the kind of people no one wanted to offend.


    the dayuan group might be large, but if qin hao were truly provoked, liu jianming believed qin hao wouldn''t hesitate to break ma bing''s legs.


    plus, with qin hao''s official backing, who would dare offend him?


    the fact that jiangshan roasted duck company was seated in the front row was the best proof of his powerful official backing.


    qin hao and bai jing, along with two others, arrived at the front; their two companies'' seats were right beside each other.


    it wasn''t clear whether this was intentionally arranged or a coincidence.


    on the other side of qin hao was zhongbao group, where a middle-aged man and a young woman were sitting.


    the young woman was curiously looking at qin hao, who smiled back at her before taking his seat.


    in the crowd behind, yuan zhengxiang stared unblinkingly at qin hao''s back, his heart roiling with tumultuous waves.


    it was him, indeed him¡ªhe was the owner of jiangshan roasted duck company.


    how could this be? when had he founded the company?


    ...


    xuan country was indeed developing rapidly and many areas had decent infrastructure, but many regions still lived in hardship.


    it wasn''t just jiangshan; such places were numerous across the country, only lesser known.


    sometimes the nation itself was stretched thin!


    the host began, "these are the conditions of several impoverished counties under our jiangshan jurisdiction. our shuinan province is mountainous, and the living conditions in many mountain villages are still very backward.


    "moreover, with the rainy season approaching, many areas are prone to landslides and mudslides. as elites in the business world, both the government and i hope that, to the extent possible, you will help these mountain villages and those poor children."


    a leader from the education bureau spoke, "today, we have gathered you here in hopes of raising funds for the construction of poverty-stricken areas in jiangshan. the donations you make will be used openly and fairly, with absolute transparency, so you can be completely assured of that.


    "furthermore, both the government and all the people in the impoverished areas will remember what you all do today."


    several other department leaders spoke as well, mentioning that government funds were insufficient, which is why they had called everyone to donate and raise money.


    the expressions of the crowd remained unchanged as this was not the first time they had encountered such an event. although reluctant, everyone was expected to donate some amount of money.


    in a room behind the banquet hall, sat several people.


    if anyone had seen them, they would certainly be surprised, for these individuals were all leading figures of jiangshan.


    "it''s hard to say how much money we''ll be able to raise," someone said with a furrowed brow.


    "last year, it was only seven million. who knows how much it will be this year."


    li feiyue didn''t speak; he was contemplating the areas most prone to landslides and mudslides.


    by his estimates, at least ten million was needed. what if that was not enough?


    applying for more funds from above was impossible since the provincial government''s budget had already been exceeded, and shuinan province had more than just jiangshan city.


    yet, if precautions were not taken in time, heavy rain could easily cause landslides leading to casualties.


    ...


    "we will now begin the donation ceremony," announced the host.


    after the announcement, a person was in charge of the official registration.


    the crowd already knew the drill, starting with the smaller companies at the back.


    "liangcai company donates one hundred thousand."


    "yixiu company donates one hundred thousand."


    ...


    qin hao looked around, noting that there were roughly forty company ceos present tonight.


    at this rate of donation, reaching ten million would be for the best.

 Chapter 192 The Great Righteousness of the Nation

    the donation amount quickly increased from one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand.


    those small companies were replaced by medium-sized companies.


    the amounts donated by these people seemed as if they had been agreed upon in advance.


    small companies mostly donated one hundred thousand, while medium-sized companies donated around two hundred thousand.


    the current total donations were nearly three million.


    and almost all the medium-sized companies had finished donating, leaving only the large companies sitting in the first row.


    yuan zhengxiang''s father had just gone on stage to represent yuxiang company with a donation of two hundred thousand.


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    the first to stand up from the first row was li wanfu, the chairman of the jade beauty jewelry group.


    he went on stage and donated five hundred thousand on behalf of the company.


    then it was the second, the third... and soon it was ma bing from dayuan group, who also donated five hundred thousand.


    qin hao couldn''t help shaking his head, after all, they were large companies with assets amounting to several billion, couldn''t they donate a little more to help the country and the people in the poor regions?


    at this rate, it would be good if they could break ten million.


    these business leaders in the front row drive cars worth millions, yet they act so passively when it comes to doing something beneficial for the country and its people.


    although it''s not your duty, you are not an ordinary citizen now; you are a capable business magnate.


    without the country providing you with a stable operating environment and market, you probably wouldn''t even have the opportunity to start a company.


    now that you are a business elite, don''t you have even the most basic sense of social responsibility and national mission?


    the saying "merchants prize profit and lack loyalty" qin hao felt could be applied to people like ma bing.


    these companies'' liquid assets were at least several tens of millions, taking out one or two million was easy for them and wouldn''t affect their companies or their lifestyles.


    yet, this one million could help many people, even save many lives.


    it was just that these people didn''t want to give.


    if there were an opportunity for an investment that could make money, qin hao believed these people would definitely fight tooth and nail to invest.


    of course, what others did was none of his business, and he had no right to criticize them; after all, they had also donated money.


    sometimes, people think differently, and therefore act differently.


    ...


    it was quickly deng zhenyuan from zhongbao group''s turn.


    he stood up and walked on stage, saying, "i represent zhongbao group with a donation of one million for the poor regions."


    "applause"


    the applause rang out, and the host ended the clapping before speaking with a smile, "thank you, mr. deng, thank you zhongbao group."


    deng zhenyuan nodded slightly and then walked down.


    "i need to send someone to supervise the flow of the funds."


    he hoped that his money would be completely spent where it was needed, and not embezzled by someone.


    "there is no problem with that. mr. qin, rest assured, all the movements of the funds will be made public, guaranteed to be absolutely transparent. if anyone dares to tamper with this money, i, li feiyue, will be the first to not let him off."


    li feiyue walked in from the back, his tone authoritative.


    "mr. li?"


    the people below the stage hadn''t expected li feiyue to be there and were stunned.


    qin hao, hearing li feiyue address him as mr. qin, felt somewhat embarrassed: "mr. li, you''re here too?"


    "it''s no big deal, i just came to take a look. this is our second meeting, right? unexpected, indeed. not bad, very admirable, for someone so young to achieve so much," said li feiyue, his tone full of surprise and admiration.


    qin hao: "mr. li praises too highly. it was the country that provided me with an environment to study, the opportunity to grow. naturally, with the abilities i have acquired, i should give back to society, to the motherland.


    moreover, jiangshan is my hometown. if there''s a need in my hometown, it''s my duty to help."


    li feiyue nodded. if everyone had such awareness, why would jiangshan worry about wealth? why would the country worry about strength?


    looking at those sitting in the front row, li feiyue sighed inwardly. when it came to the pursuit of power and profit, they never missed an opportunity, but they were conspicuously absent during events like these.


    the charity event quickly drew to a close after qin hao made his donation.


    in total, the event raised twenty-eight million nine hundred thousand, of which eighty percent was donated by qin hao, far exceeding the budget.


    li feiyue was delighted, as the funds would not only complete the prevention work in several key regions but also allow for the construction of additional primary schools.


    these were great deeds that would aid in the development of the people''s livelihood.


    he had always been an honest and incorruptible official, never exploiting his power for personal gain.


    his goal in holding office was to ensure a better life for the people under his governance.


    this gave him a great sense of achievement.


    it was also his lifelong pursuit and goal.


    otherwise, he could never have reached this position today.


    the money was quickly transferred to an official account, and qin hao also transferred twenty million over.


    when everyone saw that qin hao had indeed transferred twenty million, they were immensely shocked.


    could it be that besides the jiangshan roasted duck company, he had other sources of income?


    as he left, many people exchanged business cards with qin hao.


    when qin hao went out, he was accompanied by bai jing and deng zhenyuan.


    "mr. qin is remarkable, i am impressed," said deng zhenyuan to him.


    there was no sarcasm or ridicule in his voice, he was truly expressing his admiration for qin hao.


    qin hao gave a dry laugh: "mr. deng, don''t you think i''m a fool?"


    deng zhenyuan shook his head and said with a smile, "the world says no heroes exist today, but if they met mr. qin, they would probably stop saying that. a true hero is the very essence of a nation''s grand morality."


    ```

 Chapter 193 Li Moying Arrives

    upon leaving yingbin hotel, deng zhenyuan and qin hao bid farewell and left.


    bai jing looked qin hao up and down and asked with a grin, "hao, do you have some secret way of making money? tell your sister so i can make some money too."


    good little brother?


    cough cough


    qin hao laughed and said, "not at all, it''s all from selling roasted ducks. jing, i have to go to the station to pick up a friend, let''s catch up another day when we''re free."


    after that, he hurried into his car.


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    bai jing watched his figure, rolled her eyes at him, and then returned to her car as well.


    qin hao looked at his watch, 7:46: "first, i''ll drop mr. tian off."


    tian yamei was still immersed in the donation scene from before.


    twenty million just like that?


    that was twenty million!!!


    where did he get so much money?


    if it were me, would i donate it? the answer is no.


    qin hao noticed her expression and asked, "what''s on your mind?"


    tian yamei looked at him: "mr. qin, where did you get all that money?"


    "obviously, i earned it myself."


    "then why did you donate so much? there was no newspaper or tv coverage; it doesn''t really benefit our company much."


    qin hao questioned back, "why does there need to be a benefit?"


    "isn''t that how it is nowadays? some companies and celebrities get onto news and newspapers for their donations, using it to boost their company''s image and fame."


    qin hao: "that''s already straying from the original intention."


    "original intention? what does original intention rate against reputation and popularity? if tonight''s donation made the newspaper headlines, it would definitely greatly improve our company''s recognition."


    "mr. tian, you have to remember, no matter what you do, never lose sight of your original intention and principles."


    qin hao didn''t want to turn charity into a means for profit, as that detracted from the essence of it.


    of course, many charity donations do get media coverage; it''s unavoidable.


    qin hao was talking about those who make a small donation and then heavily promote themselves.


    ...


    after dropping tian yamei off, qin hao instructed li yang to drive to jiangshan railway station.


    he arrived at the station around 8:30.


    not long after he arrived, his phone rang; it was from his mother.


    mrs. qin: "xiao hao, where are you? did you pick up the person?"


    mrs. qin, "xiao ying, take a rest for a while. i''ll go warm up the roasted duck in the kitchen; it will be ready soon."


    "yeah, thank you, auntie."


    mrs. qin, "xiao ying, don''t be so formal. just make yourself at home."


    "okay, auntie."


    mr. qin told qin hao, "come keep xiao ying company for a bit; i''m going to help your mom in the kitchen."


    qin hao sat on the couch looking at li moying, who just kept giggling.


    "is it that funny? did you have a falling out with your family and that''s why you''re here?" qin hao asked.


    li moying nodded, and the smile faded from her face.


    qin hao, "because of me?"


    "did you know, master?"


    qin hao nodded, "your father once came to see me."


    "what did you tell him, master?" li moying asked curiously.


    qin hao, "i told him my decisions are not up for others to dictate."


    "master, you''re so cool. they say you''re a bad guy, but i think not only are you a good person, you''re the best."


    qin hao, "good or bad is not for him to judge. justice lies in the heart of the people. at the end of the day, your dad is just looking out for you, and you should understand that."


    "i know, it''s just sometimes i can''t stand his temper, so i left."


    in the kitchen


    "this young lady looks quite nice, she''s very pretty, and she seems decent," whispered mr. qin.


    mrs. qin nodded, "yeah, she is quite nice, and she came all this way to see our son, she must really like xiao hao."


    mr. qin, "but i think xiao hao doesn''t seem to like xiao ying that much."


    mrs. qin, "i think he''s gotten too cocky, thinking he''s all that because he''s a boss now? if he doesn''t pursue such a nice girl, i''ll kill him."


    ...


    dinner was ready soon, including a jiangshan roasted duck.


    "auntie, what kind of duck is this? it''s so delicious," li moying said after having eaten half of it herself.


    mrs. qin smiled, "xiao hao didn''t tell you? this is the roasted duck sold by his company. it''s very popular."


    "ah? so this is the roasted duck sold by master? it''s really tasty. i don''t think the de juxiang''s roasted duck is as good as this," li moying said as she ate.


    after dinner was cleaned up, it was nearly ten in the evening.


    qin hao seeing li moying yawn said, "it''s late, and you must be tired after a day on the train. you should rest early; my mom has already made up the bed."


    "yeah, okay." li moying was indeed a bit tired.


    qin hao planned to take a trip to ying county by the border tomorrow, as it bordered nangong country and was rich in jade.


    he said, "mom, dad, i''m going to sleep as well, as i have to go out early tomorrow."

 Chapter 194 Border Ying County

    Qin Hao went back to his room and fell asleep.


    Mr. Qin had originally planned to talk to him about Li Moying''s matter, but seeing that he was already asleep, he didn''t wake him up.


    The next morning, around six o''clock, Qin Hao got up.


    Mrs. Qin and Mr. Qin had already been up for a while, and even Li Moying was up already.


    "You''re up so early, did you sleep well?" Qin Hao was somewhat surprised.


    Li Moying said, "The sun is already so high in the sky, how is this early? I usually go running and exercise by six."


    "Xiao Ying, have some breakfast," Mrs. Qin said to Li Moying.


    Li Moying smiled brightly, "Sure, Auntie."


    She had taken off her head cover, revealing her golden short hair.


    During breakfast, Mrs. Qin asked curiously, "Xiao Hao, where are you going today?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I need to handle some business in Ying County."


    Mr. Qin curiously asked, "That''s quite far. What business?"


    "Company business."


    Mrs. Qin asked, "What about Xiao Ying?"


    Li Moying hurriedly said, "It''s fine, Auntie. I can go with him. I would like to look around anyway."


    "That''s also good," Mrs. Qin nodded.


    Qin Hao felt that he had already lost authority at home¡ªhe hadn''t agreed yet, and his mom had already given permission!


    He tactfully remained silent since he knew his mom had a lot of things to discuss with him.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao and Li Moying went downstairs.


    Li Yang and his team of eight were on rotation for 24-hour duty. They saw Qin Hao as he came downstairs.


    Then Li Yang walked over, opened the car, and sat down in the driver''s seat.


    Inside the car, Qin Hao said to him, "Let''s go!"


    Li Yang started the car and slowly drove out of the neighborhood, heading straight for the freeway.


    The drive from Jiangshan to the border at Ying County was about two hours.


    In the car, Li Moying asked curiously, "Master, what are you going to Ying County for? To buy jadeite?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yeah, just to take a look."


    Li Moying was puzzled. To look at jadeite for what? Could it be that the master was thinking of getting into the jewelry business?


    All the jade here was transported from Nangong Country.


    There were finished products, semi-finished goods, and raw stones all at different prices.


    Semi-finished goods referred to jade that had not been polished or buffed yet.


    Si Li Jade Market was very famous and large, with countless merchants, and it had made many people rich.


    Qin Hao got out of the car and looked at the bustling market.


    There were lots of people here, most of whom came to buy goods for resale. Very few came here to buy retail.


    "Master, where to next?" Li Moying asked, seeing so many people.


    Qin Hao said with an embarrassed smile, "It''s my first time too!"


    Li Moying expressed her surprise, "Master, don''t tell me you don''t even know where to go?"


    "No worries, I''ll make a call and ask."


    Having said that, Qin Hao took out his phone and called Bai Jing. She was in the jade jewelry business, so she should be clear about this.


    They had exchanged numbers just yesterday, and now it came in handy.


    The call connected quickly.


    Bai Jing teased, "Gosh, Hao, what made you think of calling your sister? Do you want to treat sister to dinner tonight?"


    Cough cough!


    Qin Hao was a bit embarrassed, "Jing, we can talk about dinner when I get back. I''m not in Jiangshan right now, there''s something I want to ask you."


    Bai Jing laughed as if she could picture his embarrassed expression, "Go ahead, as long as I know, I will definitely tell you. Personal questions are okay too, you know."


    ...


    Qin Hao broke into a cold sweat, "Jing, do you know where in Si Li Jade Market I can buy raw stones? Preferably a bigger place with a variety of types."


    "Si Li Jade Market? You''re not in Ying County, are you?" Bai Jing asked in surprise.


    Qin Hao, "That''s right, I just got here and don''t know the place, so I''m asking you."


    Bai Jing said cheerfully, "Hao, we really must be fated. I''m actually entering Ying County right now. I came here to procure a batch of high-end jade. If you don''t mind, just wait there for me, I''ll be there in a few minutes."


    "Sure, Jing, I''ll wait for you for a while."


    After finishing speaking, Qin Hao hung up the phone.


    Li Moying mumbled to the side, "Master, who''s this saucy fox?"


    "That''s her style of interaction, it easily endears people to her. She''s a woman who has managed to grow her company to this point, which is no easy task. Without knowing her personally, don''t jump to conclusions, and show some respect when you speak later," Qin Hao replied.


    Having seen through all this, Qin Hao actually had a good impression of Bai Jing. He wasn''t put off by what she said but did find it a bit overwhelming.

 Chapter 195 Jade Market

    Li Moying softly uttered an "Oh."


    She thought Qin Hao made sense, but she felt a bit awkward hearing Bai Jing''s tone of speech.


    This is my master; no one should tease him!


    Bai Jing did not keep Qin Hao waiting long, and she arrived here a few minutes later.


    She and her secretary got out of the car, followed by two bodyguards.


    "Hao, sorry to keep you waiting. Oh, who is this beautiful lady? Your girlfriend, young brother?" Bai Jing hurriedly changed her manner of addressing seeing a beauty standing next to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "This is my friend Li Moying."


    "Hello, Sister Jing," Li Moying said politely.


    Bai Jing nodded, "Hello, don''t be so formal. Since you''re a friend of the younger brother, you are my friend too. It''s so hot outside, let''s go inside and talk."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, that sounds good."


    As they walked, Bai Jing curiously asked, "Young brother, what brings you here? Planning to enter the jewelry business?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I heard the gem betting here is pretty good, so I came to just have a bit of fun."


    Bai Jing was taken aback, "Young brother, let me advise you, it''s better not to get involved with this stuff. I''ve seen too many millionaires, even billionaires, go bankrupt."


    "It''s okay, Sister Jing, I''m just playing occasionally. Isn''t buying rough gems also a gamble?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Bai Jing shook her head, "I usually purchase the cut rough stones directly, only making a move when I''m sure they''re good quality. I rarely bet on rough stones directly, or buy the ones that have been ''windowed.''


    Qin Hao asked, "Windowed rough stones? What does that mean?"


    Bai Jing was somewhat speechless, "Young brother, you don''t even know this and still want to bet on stones? ''Windowing'' means removing a bit of the outer layer from the rough stone to reveal the jade inside.


    Based on the texture and quality, you can roughly judge what quality of jade will come from the stone. It''s another form of gem betting but with much less risk.


    However, there are also losses involved. In Myanmar, there are experts in windowing who reveal small areas of the stone that look good in terms of color and quality but end up being worthless once they are fully cut.


    Of course, there are also fakes, where they attach a high-quality jade exterior to a worthless stone and then bury it in soil soaked with acid or alkali to create a similar-looking genuine exterior, disguising the man-made traces. I paid a lot of tuition fees to learn these things." She spoke in detail and seriously.


    Finally, she added, "The place I''m taking you to is frequently where I do business. It''s a big operation; there''s no counterfeit stuff there, all authentic from the Nangong Country mines. Many jewelry companies from across the country come here to buy their stock."


    Li Moying was also listening to Bai Jing''s explanations, hearing about these matters for the first time.


    As they talked, they walked through the market to a row of large courtyard houses behind it.


    Bai Jing led them to a courtyard called Yushiyuan.


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    For example, Liu Zhen Tao, whose gaze at Bai Jing carried a hint of lasciviousness.


    Among the people whom Qin Hao surveyed, many brought along elders aged around fifty or sixty.


    These elders were jade gambling experts maintained by big companies, having dealt with jadeite raw stones almost all their lives.


    They were specifically employed by companies to select raw stones.


    Such masters were not easy to find, and their prices were not something ordinary jewelry companies could afford.


    At that moment, another group of people came in from outside.


    Qin Hao turned his head to look, and saw Li Da Mei, Yuan Zhengxiang, and a middle-aged man entering.


    Li Da Mei spoke, "Dad, I heard there''s a new batch of goods here this time. Let me help you pick a few stones today?"


    Li Qiangsheng replied, "Nonsense, Master Guo is a master. You two should learn properly from Master Guo."


    Mr. Guo said, "Mr. Li, you flatter me. I''m no master, I only know a bit."


    Bai Jing also saw Li Qiangsheng; the two were competitors in Jiangshan City, and these days Yumei Jewelry Company had been edging out her Jiuchang Jewelry.


    Because Li Qiangsheng had somehow recruited a jade gambling expert.


    Therefore, Li Qiangsheng''s side had produced a lot of high-quality goods, which sold very well.


    Yuan Zhengxiang spotted Qin Hao, and then noticed Li Moying by his side, his look somewhat enviable and jealous.


    Damn, how come this guy changes the girl beside him every day?


    Wasn''t it rumored that he was with Du Wanrou?


    He''s really a scumbag, just you wait, I''ll let Du Wanrou see your true colors, Yuan Zhengxiang thought grimly.


    By ten in the morning, many people had arrived.


    Someone spoke up, "Mr. Xu, it seems everyone is almost here. Bring out the new goods, let us have a look."


    Smiling, Xu Yunfu said, "Alright, everyone, come with me."


    He led the crowd to the backyard, where stones of various sizes and shapes were laid out on the ground.


    There were hundreds of them.


    Xu Yunfu said, "These are all materials from the old pits, recently mined. I wrapped them up immediately and just had them transported here. Each stone has a price tag; feel free to make a purchase if you like any."


    Qin Hao quietly asked Bai Jing, "Jing, what does ''materials from the old pits'' mean?"


    Bai Jing explained, "Old pits are mines that have been excavated for decades or even a century. Stones from such old pits are very likely to produce top-grade gems.


    Raw stones from new pits are cheaper. Although top-grade jadeites have been found in new pits, jadeites excavated from new pits often change color and turn gray when worn over time!"

 Chapter 196 Selection

    The two were speaking softly; by now, many people had already started selecting stones.


    Among these people were numerous jade gambling enthusiasts.


    Many others hadn''t started handling any stones, as they were mainly there to buy directly.


    If someone cut a good stone and wanted to sell it, they would make an offer to purchase it.


    Qin Hao then asked some basic questions, and Bai Jing answered each patiently.


    Jade quality generally depends on its texture and color.


    The finer and more transparent the texture, the higher the price.


    Jade is classified from high to low quality based on its texture. The best grade is glass-type: fine, pure texture without flaws, with pure, bright, even color.


    The so-called imperial green belongs to the top tier of this glass-type jade.


    There''re also ice type, water type, bean type, ice glutinous type, hibiscus type, horse tooth type, and so forth, with more than a dozen grades in total, quite comprehensive.


    The better the texture and the flawless the stone, the generally higher the price.


    Color is also a bonus factor; good texture with correct color makes for a higher price!


    Qin Hao asked, "Jing, why don''t you buy a couple of pieces?"


    Bai Jing shook her head, "Without a jade gambling master to pick, it''s all up to luck if I buy; there''s a high chance of losing money. Although buying jade that others have cut is more expensive, at least there is a chance to make some profit."


    Qin Hao didn''t push her further but instead looked at the variously shaped large stones around the place.


    The smallest were the size of a fist, the largest more than half a meter long.


    The pricing varied, and it wasn''t that the bigger stones were more expensive, but most of the larger stones were generally higher-priced.


    The cheapest here cost tens of thousands of yuan each, while the most expensive cost millions.


    Li Qiangsheng from Yumei Jewelry Company was following Mr. Guo around, selecting raw stones.


    These people were holding strong flashlights in their hands, occasionally shining them, but it wasn''t very useful.


    The weathered skin outside the raw stones was too thick; the strong flashlight couldn''t penetrate it.


    Qin Hao put on invisible X-ray glasses from his system inventory.


    He didn''t activate the X-ray function yet, but instead said to Bai Jing, "Jing, I''m going to pick a few stones."


    "Hmm, just play around, don''t get addicted," Bai Jing kindly advised.


    Qin Hao nodded and then walked into the midst of the stones.


    Mo Ying followed beside him; she wanted to see what Qin Hao had come all this way for.


    Was it really just for jade gambling?


    This wasn''t the Qin Hao she knew. Although they hadn''t known each other long, Mo Ying could tell that Qin Hao wasn''t the type to engage in fruitless endeavors.


    Everything he did had a purpose.


    To see someone like him buy one in just a few minutes, especially such a large one, was a first for everyone.


    "Is this guy serious?"


    "Is this what they call a fool with too much money?"


    "Another one who relies on luck; such people usually end tragically."


    Liu Zhen Tao, who was also helping people choose raw stones, saw Qin Hao''s action, glanced at Bai Jing, and chuckled, "Mr. Bai''s guest is indeed extraordinary, impressive."


    Bai Jing heard his sarcasm and snorted coldly, ignoring him.


    The first time she came here, Liu Zhen Tao had pursued her, even though he was already married.


    "Heh, definitely a novice. I hope he loses big time," Yuan Zhengxiang thought to himself.


    While they were talking, Qin Hao had picked another raw stone, also priced over a million.


    Li Yang and the others moved it over, and just as they set it down, Qin Hao had already selected another, with astonishing speed.


    What the hell, what is he doing?


    Even gambling on stones isn''t done this way, right?


    Bai Jing was also stunned; these three stones were almost ten million now, and this is all real money!


    The others stopped choosing and just watched him.


    They wanted to see what exactly Qin Hao was up to.


    Qin Hao couldn''t be bothered with those people, continuing to choose his own raw stones.


    Before long, he had already picked seven or eight raw stones, the total value had exceeded twenty million.


    Xu Yunfu''s expression was calm, but he was extremely pleased inside.


    He had spent thirty million on these stones in total, and now he had already made back more than twenty million; anything else sold was pure profit.


    Qin Hao was still picking. When he saw a stone the size of a baby''s fist, he paused for a moment.


    Then he looked up at Mr. Xu, "Mr. Xu, why isn''t there a price on this one?"


    Mr. Xu was startled, "It must have been overlooked. With this kind of weathered skin and size, our price is usually five hundred thousand."


    Qin Hao, "Oh, then I''ll take it."


    From start to finish, he had spent just over ten minutes picking, and had chosen thirteen raw stones, totaling twenty-six million six hundred fifty thousand.


    Qin Hao transferred the money to Mr. Xu without any delay.


    Mr. Xu''s tone was much more respectful than before, "Mr. Qin, are you taking them back to cut yourself, or do you want to cut them here?"


    "Cut them here." Qin Hao had come here to gamble on stones and make money, so of course he chose to cut on site.


    The people around perked up; they too wanted to see what sort of quality Qin Hao''s selected raw stones were!


    Many were even eager to see his expression if he suffered a loss.

 Chapter 197 Emperor Green

    "Mr. Qin, which piece will you cut first?" Xu Yunfu asked.


    Qin Hao replied, "Cut the biggest one first, right through the middle, into two slices."


    "Mm-hmm, okay Mr. Qin."


    A few people worked together to move the biggest rough stone onto the cutting machine.


    The cutter followed Qin Hao''s instructions and made a cut in the middle of the rough stone.


    "Zzzzzz"


    The sound of the cutting machine filled the air, and stone chips flew everywhere.


    People on both sides of the stone were holding it to prevent it from breaking apart when cut.


    A few minutes later, the rough stone was completely cut open, but the people didn''t let go, so everyone couldn''t yet see the water quality of the jade inside.


    "Open it up," Qin Hao said to Li Yang and others.


    The two placed their pieces of the rough stone flat down, and Xu Yunfu turned on the powerful flashlight, shining it on the cut surface of the stone.


    The light instantly filled the entire jade rough stone.


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    "Ice jadeite?" An experienced old-timer, upon seeing this, opened his eyes wide in astonishment.


    Such a large piece of ice jadeite was very rare, especially one with so few cracks and impurities on its surface.


    Xu Yunfu was stunned, glancing at Qin Hao, wondering whether the latter was truly a novice or a stone gambling expert.


    Everyone was somewhat incredulous¡ªhad they struck such a high-quality piece of jade on the very first cut?


    Yuan Zhengxiang and Liu Zhen Tao were agape with astonishment. Had he stepped in dog poop when he left the house for having such luck?


    "Damn, how can this guy''s luck be so good? Such a large piece of ice jadeite?"


    "There are cracks only on the edge, hardly affecting it at all. This piece of jadeite is conservatively estimated to be worth more than 20 million."


    "With just one piece, he''s nearly made his money back. Xu''s batch is way too good."


    Someone asked, "Mr. Qin, are you selling this piece of jadeite? I''ll offer 20 million?"


    "I''ll bid 22 million." Someone immediately raised the price.


    Bai Jing also spoke up, "Mr. Qin, I''ll offer 25 million."


    The remaining rough stones were cut one after another, none as astonishingly good as the previous ones.


    But none were too bad either, some netting a few hundred thousand, with the higher ones making a million.


    After cutting more than ten stones, with two left, Qin Hao''s earnings had reached over 30 million.


    When he initially selected the stones, he didn''t always choose the exceptionally good ones because that would easily raise suspicion.


    Now, this approach greatly reduced any doubts they might have had.


    The appraised estimation of Qin Hao shifted from initial disdain to acknowledgement.


    Qin Hao was definitely not a novice; on the contrary, he was a stone gambling expert.


    The courage he displayed in such a short time to make purchases was not something everyone possessed.


    Xu Yunfu now felt so regretful he could turn blue. The stones Qin Hao cut were worth over 50 million. If he had kept them for himself to cut, he would have earned much more.


    The twelfth stone was also about to be cut. This was a rough stone about the size of an adult''s fist. Instead of cutting it, Qin Hao had Xu carve two windows into it from the top and bottom.


    When the first window was made, revealing a vivid, rich green.


    Everyone''s eyes lit up, staring at the window that had just been opened.


    Upon seeing it, Xu Yunfu swallowed hard. Emperor green?


    He quickly took out his flashlight to illuminate it, confirming its transparent crystal and naturally pure color.


    Was he really witnessing someone cut emperor green in his shop?


    He was somewhat excited; after all, such top-quality jadeite was rare and even harder to come by when cutting.


    Being able to personally cut emperor green was also a stroke of luck for him.


    He hurriedly opened another window below, turned on the light, and the glow shone straight through from top to bottom, looking beautiful.


    "50 million," Liu Zhen Tao couldn''t help but make an offer this time.


    This was emperor green after all, a supreme jadeite with a value that''s difficult to define by price alone. If turned into a decorative piece, it could definitely serve as the centerpiece of a jewelry store.


    "60 million," Li Qiangsheng also joined the bidding.


    "80 million," a blonde, blue-eyed foreign man bid.


    This was the first time Qin Hao saw the foreign man make a move.


    The price soared rapidly; emperor green jadeite was too rare to come by!

 Chapter 198 Dragon Stone Seed

    Bai Jing also spoke at this point, "One hundred million!"


    She truly liked this fist-sized piece of imperial green, but she knew her chances of getting it were slim.


    There were many jewelry groups present with far greater resources than hers.


    Such a large piece of imperial green was rare and completely flawless, and its market value should be between three hundred million and five hundred million.


    This was only her estimate, after all, imperial green was too rare, and she was not clear on the exact price herself.


    A few years ago, this market had seen an imperial green of a woman''s fist size, but the color and size were not as good as this one; it sold for nearly three hundred million at the time.


    Its value would definitely be higher now.


    Xu Yunfu''s heart was bleeding. If he could choose again, he would definitely not sell these raw stones.


    Imperial green, worth hundreds of millions.


    He could have made a great sum of money from it.


    But there are no regrets for sale in this world, and he didn''t have the courage to cut it open.


    He had once cut open a batch of old mine raw stones by himself before, and ended up with a loss so severe it left him green-faced.


    Since then, he never cut again; he just bought in batches and sold them off, making a decent profit.


    ...


    "Three hundred million!" A middle-aged man who had been silent until now suddenly spoke up, raising the price to three hundred million outright.


    Many retracted on hearing this price, it was too high.


    Their companies didn''t have that much in liquid assets.


    Many turned their eyes toward the bidding middle-aged man, showing puzzled looks. Who was this man?


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    The blond, blue-eyed foreigner then said, "Please hold on a moment, sir, I need to make a call."


    Qin Hao nodded. He was here to make money, and naturally, the higher the price, the better.


    Creating the latest generation of Xinghai intelligent robots required extensive funds, and, for now, he could only rely on gemstone gambling to raise some money.


    Soon, the blond, blue-eyed foreigner hung up the phone and said, "Three hundred and fifty million."


    The middle-aged man didn''t hesitate and raised the price again, "Four hundred million."


    "Four hundred and ten million!"


    "Four hundred and fifty million!"


    The blond, blue-eyed foreigner shook his head, indicating he would not raise his bid any further.


    The reason it was called Dragon Stone type is that this variety of jade was extremely rare, like a dragon whose presence is unseen.


    Bai Jing stared dumbfounded at Qin Hao''s profile, the more she looked, the more she felt Qin Hao was like an enigma, exuding mystery everywhere.


    She felt somewhat fortunate, thankful that she had not sided with the Dayuan Group back then, otherwise, she feared she would have been the one to lose in the end.


    She had a premonition that if Dayuan Group foolishly continued to confront Qin Hao head-on, Dayuan Group would meet a miserable end!


    "I''ll offer eight billion, Mr. Qin, would you sell?" Liu Zhen Tao asked.


    Qin Hao glanced at him and said with a light smile, "Even if I were giving it away, I wouldn''t sell it to you."


    Liu Zhen Tao''s expression fluctuated, and Qin Hao saying this in front of so many people was tantamount to slapping his face publicly.


    But he didn''t reflect on how he had just treated Qin Hao.


    Contempt, disdain, mockery!


    Although Qin Hao didn''t speak, his heart was like a clear mirror, he was aware of how everyone treated him.


    Bai Jing felt very satisfied hearing Qin Hao''s words.


    Serves you right, for looking down on people!


    The expressions of the crowd varied, some schadenfreude, and some remained composed.


    At that moment, the middle-aged man said, "Dragon Stone type is a once-in-a-century rarity, a priceless treasure for many, Mr. Qin, do you intend to deal? If so, we could go have a chat."


    Qin Hao looked at the fist-sized piece of Dragon Stone type jade and nodded slightly.


    He wasn''t particularly fond of jade, and although the Dragon Stone type was a rare treasure, in his eyes, it was just a stone,


    "Alright, Mr. Qin, I''ll find a place, and we can talk slowly," the middle-aged man said with a smile.


    Qin Hao followed him out of the Jade Origin, with Li Moying, Bai Jing, and others also coming out.


    After they left, the crowd reacted and began to choose rough stones, feeling that Xu Yunfu''s batch of goods contained many good items, so they also planned to make a purchase.


    Little did they know that all the good items had already been chosen by Qin Hao.


    ...


    Qin Hao and the others followed the middle-aged man to a nearby teahouse.


    The middle-aged man secured a private room, where only Qin Hao, Li Moying, Bai Jing, and he were present.


    Smiling, the middle-aged man said, "Let me introduce myself, I am Zhu Huasheng, the chairman of Shenglong Group."


    "Shenglong Group?" Bai Jing was so surprised she nearly jumped from her chair.


    Qin Hao hadn''t heard of the name, but seeing Bai Jing''s reaction, he believed this Shenglong Group must be significant.


    Smiling, he said, "So you are Mr. Zhu of Shenglong Group, I have long heard of your great reputation."

 Chapter 199 Ungrateful

    Zhu Huasheng said with a laugh, "Mr. Qin, you probably haven''t heard of Shenglong Group and my name before!"


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh, "Well, knowing now isn''t too late."


    Zhu Huasheng continued, "Shenglong Group is a multinational jade and jewelry group with total assets of nearly one hundred billion. We have branches in many countries around the world.


    We are a family-run enterprise. The Zhu Family has been doing business in jade jewelry in Shuinan Province for generations, and we were prominent merchants in Lingnan since the previous dynasties."


    Qin Hao listened intently, but couldn''t understand why he was saying all this.


    To intimidate with power? But Zhu Huasheng didn''t come off that way!


    "To get to the point, I was actually hoping to discuss with Mr. Qin the possibility of joining our company. I guarantee the terms we offer will satisfy you," Zhu Huasheng finally revealed his intention.


    He believed that Qin Hao had an uncanny ability to judge raw stones, which was evident from those he selected.


    If such a talent were to join their company, he was confident that Shenglong Group would become even more powerful.


    Qin Hao was speechless internally, so it was a recruitment pitch!


    Even though Shenglong Group was strong now, Qin Hao was confident that he would far surpass Zhu Huasheng and his Shenglong Group in the future.


    Qin Hao said, "Sorry, Mr. Zhu, I''m not too keen on working for others."


    Zhu Huasheng nodded slightly, "No problem. Don''t mind my prying. Shall we talk about the Dragon Jade now?"


    Qin Hao asked, "What price does Mr. Zhu plan to offer?"


    Zhu Huasheng replied, "Dragon Jade is very rare. I can offer up to fifteen billion to Mr. Qin. This price is absolutely fair, as I still hope to be friends with Mr. Qin."


    Fifteen billion!


    The price left Qin Hao astonished; could a mere stone really be worth so much?


    Adding to the money earned from those raw stones, he had made close to twenty billion that morning.


    The thought was terrifying even to himself.


    Even robbing a bank probably wouldn''t yield as much, right?


    Qin Hao thought for a moment, then agreed.


    His total funds had now reached twenty-two billion. Although it wasn''t quite enough, it wasn''t far off either.


    Li Moying, standing beside him, had her mouth slightly open in shock at the price.


    Twenty billion in less than a morning, am I dreaming?


    Her family''s entire hotel business might make that much in a month.


    After the transaction, they exchanged contact information and left the teahouse.


    Once out of the teahouse, Qin Hao had a smile on his face, "I''ll treat you to lunch today, let''s have some lamb offal soup."


    ...


    Kang Youyi, "Hao, something has come up. Could you come to the company?"


    After hanging up, Qin Hao frowned slightly, as Kang Youyi wouldn''t have put it this way unless it was something important.


    He said to Li Yang, "Go to the company first."


    "Yes, Mr. Qin," Li Yang replied and turned at the junction ahead.


    After about ten minutes, Qin Hao''s car arrived at the Shenghua Building.


    Li Moying also followed him out, curious to see Qin Hao''s company for herself.


    Taking the elevator to the office, the atmosphere inside was different from usual.


    Qin Hao went to Kang Youyi''s office.


    With a worried face, Kang Youyi quickly stood up from his seat on the ground as soon as he saw Qin Hao come in.


    "What''s happened?" Qin Hao asked.


    Kang Youyi let out a heavy sigh, "Hao, today at the Danhe Shop, we caught one of the roast duck staff hiding a cooked ingredient recipe.


    Upon questioning, we found out someone offered him a high price for the recipe.


    As for who''s behind it, we''ve already investigated; it''s the assistant to Meng Hui, the vice president of the Dayuan Group.


    "Dayuan Group?" Qin Hao''s gaze narrowed slightly.


    Kang Youyi nodded, "What should we do, Hao?"


    "Even if he gets his hands on the cooked ingredient recipe, he won''t be able to figure out the actual formula for the ingredients. Even if he knows how many types of herbs there are, he doesn''t know the correct amounts and proportions to use. Trying one by one, he''d grow old and still not figure it out. You don''t have to worry about this," Qin Hao said.


    Kang Youyi finally relaxed, but then he noticed Li Moying standing nearby.


    Damn, Hao is always surrounded by beautiful women.


    "Hao, who is this lady?" Kang Youyi asked, his eyes showing admiration upon looking at Li Moying.


    Qin Hao, "My university friend Li Moying." Stay tuned for updates on empire


    He didn''t refer to Li Moying as his apprentice; that was just a game. It was one thing to say it in the game, but he found it difficult to say the same in reality.


    Li Moying smiled slightly, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Kang."


    "Please, don''t call me Mr. Kang, you can just call me Fatty," Kang Youyi quickly said.


    Qin Hao then spoke up, "Fatty, be extra careful these days. I have a feeling the Dayuan Group won''t let things slide easily."


    Kang Youyi was aware of the feud between Qin Hao and Ma Bing and knew it was beyond reconciliation.


    "Don''t worry, Hao. I''ll definitely heighten security, and surveillance has already been set up in all our shops."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, a ruthless glint in his eye, If the Dayuan Group doesn''t know what''s good for them, then they can''t blame me, Qin Hao, for being harsh.


    [Vote for us]

 Chapter 200 Pulling the Rug from Underneath

    "Hao, how should we deal with that person?" Kang Youyi asked cautiously.


    Qin Hao: "Deal with it seriously, notify all staff, and add him to the company''s blacklist, never to be employed again."


    Kang Youyi asked uncertainly, "Hao, should we turn the person over to the police station?"


    Qin Hao: "Yes, then communicate the outcome to all the employees. I pay them a good salary, not for them to steal company secrets. What use is there in keeping such ingrates?"


    The rest of the matter was left to Kang Youyi.


    He left the company with Li Moying.


    Getting into the car, Qin Hao thought for a moment and then took out his phone to make a call.


    The call was quickly answered, and he asked, "Li Bao, are you at the company?"


    "Here, Hao." Li Bao replied.


    Qin Hao: "Wait for me at the company, I''ll be right there."


    Li Yang started the car and drove toward the Feibao Security Company.


    Qin Hao turned to Li Moying sitting beside him, "Are you tired? Should I take you home first?"


    "It''s okay, I''m not tired." Li Moying replied with a smile.


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao and his company arrived at Feibao Security Company.


    After getting out of the car, Qin Hao and Li Moying walked upstairs.


    As they walked, Li Moying asked, "Master, is this also your company?"


    Qin Hao nodded: "Sort of, I own half of the shares."


    While talking, Qin Hao arrived at Li Bao''s office.


    Li Bao was seen sitting there, frowning.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao enter, Li Bao stood up and said, "Hao is here."


    "Did you hire more people?" Qin Hao had seen many individuals training in the plaza outside when he arrived.


    Li Bao shook his head: "No, those were all dismissed by their employers. Dayuan Group put pressure on those companies, and they terminated their contracts with us. If it weren''t for the little influence I have, I fear everyone would have been fired and sent back."


    Qin Hao frowned: Dayuan Group again, they move fast.


    Dayuan Group had been established for decades and held significant influence in the local Jiangshan area, simply not comparable to Qin Hao''s Jiangshan Company.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Select a group of reliable and smart people to form the inspection department of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company. I''ll speak to company finance, and then wages will be transferred to you."


    After dinner, Li Moying went to rest.


    Qin Hao also returned to his room, and his father followed him in.


    "Xiao Hao, Dad has something he wants to ask you," Mr. Qin said, sitting on the bed.


    Curiously, Qin Hao looked at his father: "What is it, Dad?"


    Mr. Qin asked, "Do you have a girlfriend?"


    Qin Hao hesitated, then said, "I do."


    Mr. Qin''s eyebrows furrowed slightly: "Who?"


    "My high school classmate."


    "Xiaoqing?" Mr. Qin asked.


    Qin Hao shook his head: "No, Xia Qing wasn''t in my class."


    Mr. Qin said, "Then what''s the deal with this Mo Ying? If you two have nothing going on, would she come all this way to find you? Be honest, have you done something to that girl? And what about Xiaoqing, have you been playing with her feelings? Do you think that just because you have money now, you can do whatever you want? Hao, Dad wants to make this clear to you today: no matter whether you are rich or poor, if you dare to do something so disgraceful, don''t blame your father for driving you out of the Qin family and disowning you as my son."


    "What''s going on? Why so loud? Mo Ying just fell asleep," Mrs. Qin, having heard the noise, came in from outside.


    Without paying attention to Li Shujie, Mr. Qin continued to speak to Qin Hao: "The men of the Qin family must be upright and honest, never doing anything against their conscience."


    "How is our son not upright?" Mrs. Qin retorted.


    Mr. Qin snorted coldly: "Let him tell you himself."


    That day Mr. Qin suddenly remembered Xia Qing and, thinking about Li Moying, started to suspect his son might have gone astray.


    Qin Hao explained, "Dad, there''s really nothing between Mo Ying and me. If there were, Mom would have found out last night."


    ...


    Mrs. Qin glared at him displeasedly: "What do you mean ''found out''? I was just asking."


    Qin Hao continued to explain, "There''s nothing between Xia Qing and me either. After she knew I had a girlfriend, we hardly contacted each other."


    Mrs. Qin was astonished: "Girlfriend? Xiao Hao, you have a girlfriend? Why didn''t you say so earlier? When will you bring her home for your mom to see?"


    Qin Hao said, "Her parents don''t really approve of us, so I didn''t tell you."


    "Don''t approve? My son is so excellent, what right do they have to disapprove? What does her family do?" Mrs. Qin asked curiously.


    Qin Hao said, "They also run a business and own a company, bigger than mine."


    Mrs. Qin remarked, "No wonder they disapprove; they look down on us."


    Mr. Qin felt somewhat guilty inside. If he had been a capable father, his son wouldn''t have to face such disrespect.

 Chapter 201 Young Mans Success

    Mrs. Qin started to advise, "Son, if it really doesn''t work, then let''s not chase after it. Although your company isn''t as big as his now, who can guarantee what the future holds?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mm, I understand, Mom. I can handle this matter."


    Mrs. Qin didn''t say anything else and returned to her room.


    Qin Hao looked at his silent father, knowing he was blaming himself.


    He spoke up, "Dad, I will work hard. I''ll go with you to Grandma''s house at the end of the year. By then, no one will look down on us."


    Mr. Qin''s face broke into a smile, "Mm, good. I, Qin Youguo, have a great son."


    "Dad, don''t think too much. Go to sleep early."


    ...


    October 5th


    In the morning, after breakfast, Mrs. Qin said to him, "Xiao Hao, if you''re free today, take Xiao Ying for a stroll around Jiangshan."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mm, got it Mom."


    He had plans to go out anyway.


    He and Li Moying went downstairs, and Qin Hao said to her, "I''ll stop by the office first, then I''ll take you around Jiangshan."


    "Mm-hmm," Li Moying nodded.


    Qin Hao drove to the office; most people were off, so there weren''t many there today.


    Kang Youyi was at the company, and Qin Hao went straight to him.


    "Hao, what brought you here? Aren''t you resting?" Kang Youyi was somewhat surprised.


    Qin Hao asked, "Youyi, are you familiar with the distilleries? Do you know how many distilleries we have in Jiangshan?"


    Kang Youyi replied, "Distilleries? Dayuan Group''s distillery is the biggest; I''m not sure about the others. Hao, why are you asking about this?"


    Qin Hao said, "Have someone investigate; I plan to acquire a distillery."


    Kang Youyi looked stunned, "Acquire a distillery? Hao, you''re not planning to compete with Dayuan Group, are you?"


    Qin Hao responded, "Does Dayuan Group really think I, Qin Hao, am a pushover? I want them to know the consequences of offending me."


    "Hao, we still have to acquire a few more duck farms, and the roasted duck shops need to expand. We don''t have that much capital," Kang Youyi said softly.


    Qin Hao reassured, "Don''t worry about the funds, I have it. If the company needs more, you can also let me know."


    Kang Youyi replied, "Hao, the funds we have should be enough. Growing step by step, we can also keep up with the management; taking too big a step could lead to trouble."


    ...


    After leaving the company, Qin Hao took Li Moying out to have fun.


    Joy Valley and two other historical sites.


    In Kun City, the capital of Shuinan Province.


    Du Wanrou had accompanied her father to several business banquets these past few days. She didn''t want to go originally, but Du Hongfeng insisted on bringing her along.


    Since Du Hongfeng only had this one daughter, the company would definitely be left to her in the future, and he wanted to cultivate her properly.


    That morning, Du Hongfeng was working in the office at the headquarters in Kun City.


    His email received a message from a stranger.


    He opened it and immediately froze.


    There were several photos of a man and a woman standing close together, looking at the ground.


    He felt the man looked somewhat familiar.


    Upon closer inspection, he frowned: Qin Hao?


    Below the pictures was a line of text: Mr. Du, your daughter is already with Qin Hao, but Qin Hao as a person is not all that great. Yesterday, he took a beautiful woman to Ying County and they were very intimate.


    My daughter is with Qin Hao?


    His pupils contracted at this sentence.


    Then he got up and left the office, driving straight back to his home in Kun City.


    In the living room, Feng Yun and Du Wanrou were sitting together chatting.


    Seeing Du Hongfeng return with a gloomy face, the mother and daughter curiously looked at him.


    "What''s wrong?" Feng Yun asked.


    Without a word, Du Hongfeng looked at Du Wanrou and asked, "Are you together with that Qin Hao?"


    Du Wanrou was taken aback. How did her father know?


    Could it have been her aunt?


    But she had told her aunt not to tell her parents yet.


    Seeing his daughter''s reaction, Du Hongfeng had already gotten his answer, and his expression was very embarrassed: "You know very well what kind of person he is. Why are you still with him?"


    Enjoy new tales from empire


    Knowing it wasn''t the time to be silent, Du Wanrou spoke, "Dad, you might have misunderstood him. He is actually quite decent. My aunt has met him too, and she is now working at his branch office in Jianghai City."


    "How could Xiangyi be working at his company?" Feng Yun said in surprise.


    Turning to speak, Du Hongfeng said, "You know his background. Just a few days ago, in broad daylight, he broke both legs of the son of the Dayuan Group''s chairman Ma Bing. He''s arrogant from young success; such a person will not end well in the future. Do you think you''ll have a future with him?"

 Chapter 202 Attitude Shift

    Du Hongfeng didn''t bring up the matter of the photos. He also feared his daughter wouldn''t be able to accept it, so he was trying to convince his daughter in other ways now.


    "He wouldn''t hit someone for no reason," Du Wanrou defended Qin Hao. "Dad, who told you that?"


    "I heard it from a friend in Jiangshan. He just mentioned it in passing, and I happened to hear it. Wan Rou, it''s easy to know someone''s face, but not their heart," Du Hongfeng advised earnestly.


    Du Wanrou was exceptionally adamant, "Dad, I believe in him."


    "You believe in him? Do you know what he''s been doing these past few days? He''s been entertaining a beautiful woman."


    After saying that, Du Hongfeng took out his cellphone to show her a few photos.


    Du Wanrou''s expression tightened when she saw them; she recognized the woman, the daughter of the chairman of Jinxiu Group.


    How could they be together?


    What have they been doing together?


    Du Wanrou didn''t want to think about it, nor did she dare to, but some images kept popping into her mind on their own.


    She turned pale and stood up, saying, "Dad, I''m tired. I want to rest for a bit."


    After speaking, she went back to her own room and locked the door behind her.


    Concern showed on Feng Yun''s face as she looked at Du Hongfeng.


    Du Hongfeng sat on the sofa, frowning, and lit a cigarette.


    Feng Yun thought for a moment and then took out her cellphone to call her sister, Feng Xiangyi.


    The call was quickly connected.


    Feng Xiangyi asked curiously, "Sis, what''s up?"


    Feng Yun said, "You know about Xiao Rou''s situation; how could you not say a word to me?"


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "Sis, are you talking about Qin Hao and Xiao Rou?"


    Impatiently, Feng Yun said, "Of course, what else could it be?"


    "Xiao Rou asked me not to say anything, so I didn''t. Sis, the boyfriend Xiao Rou found is really not bad. You should meet him someday; I''m sure you''ll approve of him," Feng Xiangyi added a word of praise for Qin Hao.


    ...


    "What kind of future can a guy who sells roasted duck have? Sis, I know you''re working for him; stop making him sound so good," Feng Yun said disapprovingly.


    "Well-connected? Could his connections be stronger than yours, Deng?" Du Hongfeng asked tentatively.


    Deng Zhenyuan chuckled, "Du, we''ve been old classmates for years, I won''t hide it from you¡ªnone of the business tycoons in Shuinan Province have connections as powerful as his."


    Du Hongfeng gasped in amazement. Had someone else said this to him, he would have dismissed it as bragging.


    But he knew Deng Zhenyuan; Deng was not that kind of person.


    Qin Hao had connections that reached the heavens?


    He was just now realizing how little he actually knew about Qin Hao.


    His understanding of him remained stuck in the distant past.


    Deng Zhenyuan kept talking, "I sat with him at a banquet a few days ago. The man is wise and composed, cool-headed in the face of trouble, and what''s more important¡ªhe has the heart of a noble child, a concern for the whole world. My daughter also thinks highly of him, and I heard he doesn''t have a girlfriend. In a few days, I plan to take some time to have a meal with him, perhaps play matchmaker."


    Cough cough


    "Thanks, Deng, I''ve got to go now," said Du Hongfeng.


    Continue reading at empire


    Deng Zhenyuan replied, "Sure, when we''re both free, I''ll introduce you to him."


    Introduce him to me? Do I need you to introduce my future son-in-law?


    At that moment, Du Hongfeng felt a clear sense of joy, saying with a smile, "Alright then, I''ll hang up first, Deng."


    ...


    After hanging up the phone, the gloomy look on Du Hongfeng''s face had vanished; he wore a grin.


    He turned to Feng Yun and instructed, "Go and call Xiao Rou out."


    Feng Yun responded, "You made your daughter angry; you go get her."


    Helplessly, Du Hongfeng got up and went to the door of Du Wanrou''s room. He knocked and said, "Xiao Rou, open the door. Dad has something to tell you."


    There was no response from inside!


    Du Hongfeng continued, "After giving it some thought, Dad feels that those photos from before weren''t quite right. This might very well be someone''s ploy, trying to use me to drive a wedge between you two. Open the door, I won''t stop you from dating Qin Hao, but there are some things I need to tell you."


    The bedroom door opened from the inside; Du Wanrou''s eyes were slightly red as she looked at him, "Dad, you weren''t just pacifying me earlier, were you?"


    Seeing his daughter''s red eyes, he felt a pang of distress, "How could Dad possibly lie to you? However, there are some things Dad needs to tell you."

 Chapter 203 Tianquan Wine Industry

    Du Wanrou asked curiously, "What are you talking about?"


    "Sit down, Dad will tell you slowly," Du Hongfeng said with a smile.


    Du Wanrou sat back down on the sofa.


    Du Hongfeng began, "Xiao Rou, what Dad did just now was wrong, but it was all for your good. I''ve thought it through now. I won''t object to you and Qin Hao anymore, but your mom and I need to meet him and make sure everything is okay for you."


    "I don''t want to see him right now," Du Wanrou thought about those photos and her mind couldn''t stop wandering.


    Knowing what she was thinking about, Du Hongfeng said, "Xiao Rou, this matter is very strange. When I was at work, an email suddenly came to my inbox, and when I opened it, it was these photos.


    Now, I''ve thought it over carefully and feel that this is a plot, someone is deliberately trying to sabotage your relationship.


    These photos really don''t prove anything. If Qin Hao truly had something going on with that woman, the person wouldn''t have sent just these pictures. Of course, it''s also possible they didn''t have the chance to take more, but chances are slim since they were sneaking photos.


    So I''m guessing that Qin Hao and that woman don''t have anything going on."


    Upon hearing her father''s analysis, Du Wanrou felt a little better. "Dad, you were opposing it just now. Why are you saying this now?"


    With an embarrassed smile, Du Hongfeng didn''t know how to explain.


    Feng Yun, who had no such reservations, spoke up, "Just now he called your Uncle Deng to ask about Qin Hao. Your Uncle Deng praised him non-stop and even thought about introducing his daughter to Qin Hao."


    "Ah? Dad, what did you say?" Du Wanrou''s heart suddenly raced.


    Du Hongfeng said, "I didn''t say much, Qin Hao has been shamelessly pursuing you, even if Old Deng wanted to, he couldn''t snatch him away."


    ...


    Blushing, Du Wanrou protested, "Dad, Qin Hao wasn''t shamelessly pursuing me."


    Du Hongfeng replied, "You think Dad doesn''t know how he used to chat with you? Now thinking about it, I feel like hitting him."


    Her cheeks turning even redder, Du Wanrou wondered, How does Dad know all this?


    With an annoyed glance at Du Hongfeng, Feng Yun then said, "Today your mother will tell you how to keep a man''s heart. You should show your virtues and elegance in front of him, but at times you also need to show your capabilities, being able to share his worries at home, and help him with business matters outside..."


    Feng Yun said a lot, and both Du Hongfeng and Du Wanrou were left stunned.


    ...


    Jiangshan City


    Approaching eleven in the morning, Qin Hao received a call from Du Wanrou.


    "Hello, what''s wrong, Wan Rou?" Qin Hao quickly answered the call.


    "What are you doing?" Du Wanrou asked.


    Qin Hao replied, "I''m out playing with a friend, what''s up?"


    "A guy or a girl?"


    By the time the two got to the hotel, it was almost half-past eleven.


    Taking the elevator to room 701, Bai Jing was already there waiting for him.


    Seeing Qin Hao arrive, she smiled, "Hao, Miss Li, please sit. Waiter, serve the dishes."


    "There''s no need to be so polite, Jing," Qin Hao said as he sat down.


    Bai Jing: "You helped me a lot yesterday, so this meal is the least I could do."


    Li Moying sat beside them, quiet and seemingly lost in thought.


    Qin Hao: "You''re too kind, Jing. I just said a word."


    Bai Jing: "Hao, don''t be so modest. If you need anything in the future, just ask. If I can do it, I will."


    After thinking for a moment Qin Hao said, "Actually, Jing, there is something I want to ask you about."


    "What is it?" Bai Jing was curious.


    Qin Hao: "Do you know of any large wineries in Jiangshan?"


    "Wineries?" Bai Jing was surprised.


    What does Qin Hao mean by this? Is he planning to compete with Dayuan Group for market share?


    But does he even know about wine-making? Even if he does, could his wine be better than Dayuan Group''s?


    With a look of surprise, she asked, "Are you planning to go head-to-head with Dayuan Group?"


    "Yes, Jing, do you know of any? Preferably a larger one," Qin Hao nodded.


    After thinking, Bai Jing said, "There is one I know called Tianquan Wine Industry. It used to be quite famous in Jiangshan, but it was almost driven out of business by Dayuan Group, who tried to acquire it several times without success."


    Qin Hao''s eyes lit up: "Do you know the owner of Tianquan Wine Industry, Jing?"


    "I do know him, but I haven''t contacted him in a long time."


    Qin Hao: "Would you mind contacting him for me?"


    Bai Jing nodded: "Sure, I''ll call Mr. An right now."


    After saying that she took out her phone and dialed An Dongsheng, the owner of Tianquan Wine Industry.


    The phone rang a few times before connecting: "Mr. Bai, what brings you to call? If it''s about being an intermediary for Dayuan Group, forget it."


    Bai Jing: "Mr. An, don''t rush, Ma Bing hasn''t got me acting as an intermediary yet. I have a friend who would like to meet you to discuss something."


    "A friend? What friend?" An Dongsheng asked, puzzled.


    Bai Jing: "Mr. An might not know him. I''ll bring my friend over this afternoon, do you have time?"


    After hesitating for a moment, An Dongsheng on the other end said, "Yeah, sure."

 Chapter 204 Acquiring Tianquan Winery

    After hanging up the phone,


    Bai Jing said to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, it looks like there''s hope."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, the fact that An Dongsheng agreed to meet indicated that there was room for negotiation.


    Tianquan Wine Industry had long been driven out of the market by Da Yuan Wine.


    Struggling to survive, An Dongsheng, although Bai Jing didn''t specify what she intended to do, could guess that someone must be looking to buy his winery.


    Bai Jing asked, "Hao, what''s your relationship with Feibao Security Company?"


    "That''s also my company, Jing. In the future, if you ever need anything, feel free to give it more support," Qin Hao replied with a smile.


    Bai Jing was taken aback and then said, "Rest assured, as your sister, I''ll certainly take care of your business. I''ll promote it for you later on, and I believe many will be rushing to seek out Flying Leopard Security."


    Their lunch was a mix of conversation and dining, with Li Moying listening the entire time. She connected the dots to the previous day''s events and somewhat understood the situation.


    Qin Hao and Dayuan Group were at odds, and Dayuan Group had already made a covert move. Qin Hao was planning a counterattack.


    "Master, you also know how to make wine?" Li Moying asked curiously.


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "Is it that difficult?"


    ...


    Bai Jing and Li Moying were somewhat speechless. Qin Hao made it sound so easy, but the craft of winemaking was complex and profound; a slight mistake could result in a significant change in flavor.


    After lunch, the three of them left the hotel.


    Then, led by Bai Jing, they drove towards Tianquan Winery.


    Tianquan Winery was located in the Ningshan Development Zone of Jiangshan City.


    They arrived outside the winery just after two in the afternoon.


    Stepping out of the car, Qin Hao and Li Moying both looked at the winery in front of them; it was large and seemed deserted and quiet.


    There wasn''t even a security guard at the main gate.


    Bai Jing took out her phone and called An Dongsheng, "Mr. An, we''ve arrived."


    An Dongsheng replied, "Mr. Bai, please wait a moment; I''ll be right there."


    About two minutes later, two people emerged from inside the winery.


    They looked somewhat alike, one around sixty years old, the other about thirty, probably father and son.


    Bai Jing whispered, "That''s An Dongsheng, and the other is his son, An Linxuan. He used to be one of the young talents of Jiangshan, but unfortunately, he''s still too young."


    Qin Hao observed An Dongsheng and An Linxuan.


    Upon reaching the gate, An Dongsheng displayed a smile on his weathered face, "Mr. Bai, it''s been a long time since we last saw each other, and you''ve become even more beautiful."


    Bai Jing responded with a light smile, "Mr. An, this is the first time you''ve complimented me like this. Let me introduce you.


    Even if someone acquired it, they would likely get crushed by the Dayuan Group eventually.


    This was one of the reasons why the Tianquan Winery had not found a buyer for so long.


    Apart from Dayuan Group, no one in Jiangshan dared to take over.


    The price Qin Hao offered was already very fair.


    He believed that as long as An Dongsheng wasn''t foolish, he would definitely accept the price. Discover hidden tales at empire


    If he missed this chance, the Dayuan Group might not even offer eight million later on.


    If the Dayuan Group did not acquire it, and no one else stepped forward, An Dongsheng would have nowhere to even cry about it.


    He feigned hesitation for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, twelve million. Mr. Qin, when shall we make the transaction?"


    An Dongsheng and An Linxuan felt somewhat grateful to Qin Hao in their hearts.


    Given Qin Hao''s information channels, he should have known about the plight of their winery.


    Even so, he still gave them a generous offer, not taking advantage of their misfortune, which made both of them have a good impression of him.


    What a generous person!


    Qin Hao: "In a moment, I will send someone to sign a contract with Mr. An. However, there''s another matter I''d like to discuss with Mr. An."


    "What is it?" An Dongsheng asked curiously.


    Qin Hao: "I would like to offer you the position of general manager of the winery. I wonder what you think about that!"


    An Dongsheng and An Linxuan were taken aback, not expecting him to make such a proposal.


    An Dongsheng said with a bitter smile, "Thank you for the honor, Mr. Qin, but I''ve long since lost interest in business, and my age is also a concern. I''m afraid I won''t be able to assist you much, I''m truly sorry."


    "No worries, Mr. An, it was presumptuous of me. We''ll stick to the agreed price, and I''ll find someone else," Qin Hao''s eyes flashed a hint of disappointment.


    An Dongsheng was familiar with winery management, and although he had been defeated by Ma Bing, his abilities could not be denied.


    It would be very difficult for Qin Hao to find someone as suitable as him!


    An Dongsheng then said, "Mr. Qin, if you don''t mind, may I suggest Lin Xuan assist you? He''s previously been my right-hand man and is competent in management."


    Qin Hao was inwardly delighted, seeing no real difference between having An Linxuan or An Dongsheng take the position.


    An Dongsheng was unlikely to let his son remain insignificant in the winery.


    Moreover, An Dongsheng''s refusal might have been a way to recommend his own son.


    Qin Hao wasn''t upset and responded with a slight smile, "Sure, but let me be frank, my company has no place for incompetent people."


    "Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Qin. I will definitely not disappoint you," An Linxuan felt somewhat excited.


    Though Qin Hao was very young, his words carried respect.


    [I took time off from factory overtime which goes until 8 pm to update for everyone! I''m earning a few tens of yuan less, so in appreciation for the sweetened time off, please send some recommendation votes!]

 Chapter 205 Meeting

    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "I will have someone come over to sign the contract soon, and the money will be transferred after the contract is signed.


    Your compensation can be one of two options: one is a fixed monthly salary, and the other is a five percent dry share dividend. It''s your choice."


    "I''ll take the five percent dry share dividend," An Linxuan replied without hesitation.


    He made this choice because he wanted Qin Hao to know that he had the confidence to do well in the position of general manager.


    Once everything was agreed upon, Qin Hao called Tian Yamei and asked her to bring the contract and people over.


    About half an hour later, Tian Yamei arrived with her team.


    Qin Hao didn''t understand the contract details, Tian Yamei was the professional, and to prevent any disputes in the future, he asked Tian Yamei to come over.


    After both parties signed, Qin Hao said to Tian Yamei, "Keep the contract and documents in the company''s safe for now. You can go back."


    "Understood, Mr. Qin." Although Tian Yamei had many questions, she was very clear about her responsibilities.


    As a subordinate, you ask what you should ask, and you don''t ask what you shouldn''t.


    After Tian Yamei left, Qin Hao said to An Linxuan, "Mr. An, call all the workers back and raise their monthly wages by five hundred."


    "Mr. Qin, our factory is quite large. If we call everyone back, there will be at least two hundred people," An Linxuan reminded him.


    Qin Hao said, "No worries, money is not an issue. I will send someone to teach you the brewing technique. I will allocate some people from the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company to the human resources, finance, and marketing departments. You just need to manage them, and don''t inquire about other matters."


    The unspoken meaning of his words was clear: do not concern yourself with things you should not know about.


    Qin Hao had to ensure the safety of the secret recipe for Xinghui Wine and absolutely could not let it be stolen.


    An Linxuan nodded, "Understood, Mr. Qin."


    After finalizing some details, Qin Hao left. They would need at least ten days to prepare before the winery could start operation. Enjoy new tales from empire


    After leaving the winery, Qin Hao said to Bai Jing, "I apologize, Jing, for having you accompany me all afternoon."


    "It''s fine, don''t be so polite. I wasn''t busy anyway," Bai Jing replied with a smile.


    Qin Hao said, "Regardless, I still want to thank you, Jing. I''ll treat you to a meal when I have the time."


    "You said it, so I''ll be waiting," Jing responded.


    ...


    After they parted ways, on the way back, Li Moying spoke up, "Master, I''ll be going back tomorrow."


    Qin Hao asked, "Did your aunt and uncle call you?"


    Li Moying nodded, "They called many times. If I don''t go back soon, they might come here looking for me."


    She said this with a slightly embarrassed tongue sticking out.


    With her family''s notoriety, it wouldn''t be difficult to find Li Moying.


    Dressed in a long gown, her curvy figure, together with her beautiful face, attracted many glances from those around.


    A few minutes later, she saw Qin Hao in a suit and hurriedly waved her hand.


    Qin Hao spotted her immediately and walked over with his entourage.


    The eight bodyguards behind him were quite conspicuous.


    Qin Hao came up to Du Wanrou, a smile spreading across his face, "Miss, did you miss me?"


    Du Wanrou, "Miss your head, look at you now, even coming out with bodyguards,"


    Qin Hao chuckled awkwardly, "It was arranged by my men, worried about any dangers to me."


    Recalling the events of the past few days, Du Wanrou asked, "Has the issue with Dayuan Group been resolved?"


    "Not yet, but it''s nothing to worry about," Qin Hao reassured with an easy smile.


    Du Wanrou didn''t pursue the subject further, "Let''s go, let''s head home first. My parents are waiting for you at home."


    "Alright, Li Yang, you guys take a taxi," Qin Hao turned and instructed Li Yang and the others.


    They got into Du Wanrou''s car, with Lin Kang in the driver''s seat.


    "Mr. Qin, we meet again," Lin Kang greeted him proactively.


    Qin Hao responded with a smile, "Mr. Lin, just call me Xiao Hao."


    On the way back, Qin Hao bought some things, including fruits and wine.


    After all, it was his first visit to Du Wanrou''s home, and he couldn''t arrive empty-handed.


    The price of the gifts didn''t matter, what was important was the gesture.


    Du Wanrou''s house was located in a high-end residential area in Ming City.


    At the entrance of the community were camouflage-dressed, spirited security personnel, standing upright and unmoving.


    Such high-end communities had excellent security measures, and the personnel were all elite security company employees, giving a very safe impression.


    Upon arriving at the doorstep of Du Wanrou''s house, Qin Hao took a deep breath and said, "Let''s knock on the door."


    Du Wanrou knocked, and the door quickly opened.


    Du Hongfeng and Feng Yun were both standing at the doorway, "Xiao Hao is here, come in quick. What''s this about bringing things? Don''t bring anything next time, we have everything we need at home."


    This wasn''t their first meeting; it should be their second encounter.


    The first was when Qin Hao had helped Du Wanrou fend off some people and got injured, meeting Mr. and Mrs. Du for the first time at the hospital.


    "Hello, uncle and auntie," Qin Hao had prepared lots of things to say, but now could only remember this one line.


    "Sit down, don''t be so formal, just make yourself at home," said Feng Yun as she poured him a cup of tea.


    ```

 Chapter 206 You Are Really Amazing

    Qin Hao took the glass and quickly said, "Thank you, Auntie."


    "It''s nothing, I''ll go cook, you two chat." After saying that, Feng Yun went into the kitchen.


    Du Hongfeng looked at Qin Hao with a smile and asked, "Is the company developing well?"


    Qin Hao: "Everything is progressing as planned, and I''ve set a goal for them to dominate the entire Jiangshan market within two months, including the surrounding counties."


    Du Hongfeng was a bit surprised, "How much is your company''s monthly profit now? Is it enough for development?"


    Qin Hao: "Last month we made over ten million, and this month it''s all invested back into the company''s development."


    "That much?" Du Hongfeng was somewhat shocked.


    His Ounuo Group cosmetics occupied thirty percent of the market in Shuinan Province. The other markets were all taken by other cosmetics, and thirty percent might not seem like a lot, but it''s actually quite significant.


    Even so, the monthly profit is only about ten to twenty million.


    How could his company''s profit be so high?


    Qin Hao explained, "Mr. Du, our products are different, so the cost and profit margins are not the same.


    Besides, there aren''t many competitors in Jiangshan, which is one of the reasons why Jiangshan Roasted Duck has been able to develop so rapidly.


    Your cosmetics company is different. Not to mention those well-known foreign cosmetics brands, there are too many domestic cosmetics brands, countless really, with great competition, naturally the turnover will be much lower."


    Du Hongfeng nodded slightly, Qin Hao was right.


    Nowadays, domestic cosmetics brands are springing up like mushrooms after the rain, many of which are very cheap to produce.


    And using them can cause damage to people''s skin and health.


    Some cosmetics even contain chemical agents, which seem effective at first but can lead to disfigurement over time.


    Du Wanrou sat next to Qin Hao with a faint smile on her lips, quietly listening to their conversation.


    Seeing Qin Hao talk earnestly with her dad, she felt happy and also thought that Qin Hao had a special charm when he spoke seriously.


    "Ah, it''s too difficult for a cosmetics company to grow and expand," Du Hongfeng sighed.


    He was in this industry and knew just how complex it could be.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Mr. Du, no matter what business you are in, the most important thing is product quality. With a good reputation, the company''s name will gradually grow."


    Du Hongfeng nodded slightly, "The principle is right, but unfortunately, our R&D team simply cannot compare with those international brands; the gap is too wide."


    The two talked a lot, and from his conversation with Qin Hao, Du Hongfeng was quite satisfied inside.


    He found him to be a capable and promising young man.


    Qin Hao, "I''m in Ming City, Mr. Xu, is there something urgent?"


    Xu Liangguo''s hearty laugh came through the phone, "Of course, it''s a big deal, Xiao Fang is pregnant, and it''s twins at that, Xiao Hao, you''re truly impressive."


    Suddenly, Qin Hao felt three sharp glares aimed at him, causing him to shiver.


    Xiao Fang is pregnant?


    Who is Xiao Fang?


    What does that have to do with me?


    Twins?


    Qin Hao suddenly remembered Xu Jiejian; he quickly asked, "Mr. Xu, are you talking about Ms. Xu being pregnant?"


    "Yes, your Uncle Xu''s wife, she just had a check-up today at the hospital," Xu Liangguo said, unable to mask his excitement.


    It was then that Qin Hao felt the three piercing gazes on him dissipate, and he breathed a long sigh of relief.


    The Xu family had no descendants, which had always troubled Xu Liangguo.


    Now, he finally saw hope.


    In a low voice, Xu Liangguo asked, "Xiao Hao, are you sure they are both boys?"


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Xu, they definitely are," Qin Hao assured confidently.


    Xu Liangguo now completely trusted his words, "Great, that''s wonderful. In the future, just call Mr. Xu if you have any issues. Whoever dares to mess with you is messing with me."


    ...


    Qin Hao knew he was overly excited, but he could also imagine how thrilled Xu Liangguo was. Your next read is at empire


    He had helped the Xu family continue their lineage, resolving the issue of having no heirs, a favor that, in Xu Liangguo''s eyes, was worth a hundred, no, a thousand times more than curing his wife''s leg.


    "By the way, I need you to come over for one more thing," Xu Liangguo said.


    Qin Hao asked in confusion, "Mr. Xu, what is it?"


    Xu Liangguo, "Remember a few days ago Mr. Chen helped you out with that issue? Now he is seeking your assistance."


    Then, Qin Hao heard Chen Shengjun''s voice from the phone, "Xiao Hao, Mr. Chen needs your help with a medical issue."


    Qin Hao hurriedly said, "Mr. Chen, you are too courteous, weren''t you in good health when I visited last time? What''s making you uncomfortable now?"


    Chen Shengjun, "It''s not me, it''s my niece, it''s a bit complicated to explain over the phone. Are you free today? Come in the afternoon, Chang is also in Ming City now, I''ll ask him to pick you up."


    [Thanks to "Wolf" brother for the reward of 10,000 book coins, there will be an additional chapter today! This is the first chapter for today; two more to come. For every 10,000 book coins rewarded, there will be one extra chapter, and votes are appreciated!]

 Chapter 207 Arriving at Gujing City

    Qin Hao: "Is it that urgent, Mr. Chen?"


    "Mm, very urgent."


    Qin Hao: "Okay then, I''ll come over in the afternoon."


    "All right, that''s settled then, Xiao Hao. We''ll talk more when you arrive." After saying that, Chen Shengjun hung up the phone.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at Du Hongfeng and the other two.


    Curiously, Du Hongfeng asked, "Whose call was that?"


    Qin Hao: "Uncle Du, have you ever heard of Xu Liangguo?"


    After thinking, Du Hongfeng shook his head: "Who?"


    Qin Hao thought about it and decided to answer truthfully: "The leader of the Gu Jing Military Region."


    Du Hongfeng and Feng Yun took a sharp breath; the leader of the Gu Jing Military Region?


    "Xiao Hao, you''re not joking, are you? How did you come to know such a person?" Du Hongfeng found it hard to believe.


    Qin Hao: "It was a coincidence. I once taught myself medical skills and then cured Mr. Xu''s granddaughter, which led to subsequent events."


    "And what about Mr. Chen?" Du Hongfeng felt this person must be extraordinary as well.


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Chen is the Chief of General Staff, and Mr. Chang is his nephew. The situation with Ma Bing a few days ago was resolved with Mr. Chen''s help."


    Inside, Du Hongfeng felt a tumultuous wave stirring; one of the seven major military regions, the Gu Jing Military Region.


    And both of these men held high positions.


    No wonder Ma Bing was no match for Qin Hao; anyone would have swallowed that loss in silence!


    He now looked at Qin Hao with completely different eyes from before.


    Although Qin Hao sat just as he had before, deep down, Du Hongfeng felt a sense of looking up to him.


    "Uncle Du, let''s continue our meal. I''ll toast to you and promise I''ll treat Wan Rou well in the future." After speaking, Qin Hao drained his glass of wine in one go.


    "Okay, here''s what I''ll say as your uncle: Don''t be blinded by greed and lust; stay true to your original intentions." Du Hongfeng had returned to normal and spoke earnestly.


    Initially, he thought his daughter was more than a good match for Qin Hao, but now he recognized the gap.


    With those two figures shielding Qin Hao, his daughter might be unworthy of him in the future.


    Now that he knew how powerful Qin Hao was, he reminded himself to make sure his daughter would hold on to him tightly.


    Qin Hao nodded: "Don''t worry, Uncle Du, I''m not someone who changes his mind when he sees someone new."


    Soon, a call from Chang An Country came in.


    "Yeah, Uncle Chang, I didn''t expect it either," Qin Hao replied with a dry laugh.


    Chang An Country: "Your girlfriend is quite beautiful, cherish her."


    "Thank you for your compliment, Uncle Chang."


    ...


    At half-past two in the afternoon, they arrived at Ming City Airport, where someone picked up their tickets and then they went through a special passage to the first-class cabin of the plane.


    "Rest for a bit," Chang An Country told him.


    After saying that, he closed his eyes.


    Qin Hao, having ridden in a car for an hour in the morning and having drunk a bit of alcohol at noon, was indeed a little tired and lay down to sleep.


    The first-class cabin was indeed comfortable to lie down in.


    About two hours later, Qin Hao was woken up by Chang An Country.


    "We''ve arrived at Gujing City, it''s time to get off the plane," Chang An Country told him.


    Qin Hao woke up and hurriedly stood up to follow Chang An Country out.


    Outside the airport, there were people sent by Chen Shengjun to receive them.


    A car with a military license plate was parked there, quite conspicuous.


    Chang An Country walked over, and beside the car stood two soldiers, who quickly opened the doors as they saw Chang An Country and Qin Hao approaching.


    After another half an hour in the car, Qin Hao arrived at the heavily guarded villa complex.


    The car stopped in front of Xu Liangguo''s villa courtyard.


    No sooner had the car stopped than Wang Ping, Sun Fang, Xu Jiejian, and Xu Siyao came out from inside.


    "Xiao Hao has arrived, come in and take a seat," Wang Ping said with a kindly smile on her face. Find more chapters on empire


    Qin Hao: "Ms. Xu, you shouldn''t have come out yourself. How does your leg feel? Is anything bothering you?"


    "It''s nothing, my leg feels the same as a normal person. Xiao Hao, your medical skills are indeed amazing," Wang Ping said, holding his hand with a very friendly manner.


    Xu Jiejian also had a smiling face: "Uncle Chang, Xiao Hao, come inside, let''s talk inside."


    Chang An Country sighed in relief, finally, someone was paying attention to him.


    Being ignored like that really didn''t feel very good.


    He hadn''t expected to have such a good relationship with the Xu Family; no wonder his uncle had personally called me.


    [Second update, one more chapter to go, it takes me about two to three hours to write one chapter, please excuse me!]

 Chapter 208 Born Innocent

    Upon entering the room, the living room was occupied by several people.


    Among them were Chen Shengjun and Xu Liangguo, whom Qin Hao knew, accompanied by two other individuals he had never met before.


    "Xiao Hao, An Guo, you''re here, please have a seat!" Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun said as they saw the two arriving.


    Instantly, the other two shifted their gaze to Qin Hao.


    Could this be the miraculous doctor, Qin Hao?


    So young?


    As Qin Hao settled down, Xu Siyao poured him a cup of tea, "Are you thirsty? Have some water."


    "Thank you," Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Xu Siyao, sitting beside him, smiled lightly, "It''s nothing, no need to be so formal."


    Chen Shengjun said, "Xiao Hao, you hastened to call him here; I hope we haven''t disturbed you?"


    "Not at all," Qin Hao observed everyone present; they all seemed in good health, with no one appearing to be sick.


    Chen Shengjun introduced the others, "You know An Guo. This is An Bang, and this is An Ding. These three brothers are my nephews. It''s An Ding''s daughter who needs medical attention."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Right, when shall we go for the checkup?"


    "There''s no rush. Have a drink and rest a bit; we''ll go after that," Chen Shengjun offered.


    Qin Hao, with a smile, said, "No trouble at all, Mr. Chen, shall we go now?"


    "Alright, then. We appreciate it, Xiao Hao."


    Having said that, a few of them stood up and walked outside.


    Everyone followed along, with Xu Siyao walking beside Qin Hao and asking, "Do you feel confident, Qin Hao?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I haven''t seen the condition yet, so I can''t be certain."


    Under the guidance of Chen Shengjun, Qin Hao and the group arrived at the adjacent villa.


    The living room was occupied by four or five women, including some elders and a few young and beautiful ladies.


    First, Chen Shengjun introduced them to Qin Hao, "This is my companion; this is my spouse''s sister-in-law; this lady is An Ding''s wife; this is my grandniece; and this is Qin Hao, highly praised by Old Xu."


    "Xiao Hao, you''ve arrived so quickly, please take a seat," Chen Shengjun''s wife said eagerly.


    Qin Hao didn''t dare to sit, as everyone present was either a significant official or a business tycoon, and he was merely a junior amongst them.


    "No trouble at all, Ms. Chen," Qin Hao quickly declined.


    Nevertheless, Ms. Chen pressed him down onto the sofa, opposite of which sat a young and beautiful woman in a black dress.


    Her figure was curvaceous, her waist slender, she was indeed beautiful.


    Her features were delicate, her eyes bright, yet devoid of life.


    Apart from Xu Liangguo, Ms. Xu, and Chen Shengjun, everyone else stood as the sofa simply couldn''t accommodate so many people.


    Chen Shengjun then spoke up, "Xiao Hao, this is An Ding''s daughter, Chang Jing. She was born blind, and none of the major hospitals have found a solution. Please have a look."


    With a smile, Chang Jing said, "Thank you, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao responded, "Mis Chang, no need for thanks. Saving lives and providing care is the duty of a physician."


    How many people have shed helpless tears in the night countless times?


    They were born innocent, so why should they endure such tribulations?


    Some believe in karma and reincarnation, but in Qin Hao''s opinion, those are feudal superstitions, ways to deceive oneself and others.


    He only believed in science!


    Technology, that''s about turning the impossible into possible!


    Indeed, there are many things in the world that science can''t explain.


    But in Qin Hao''s view, that''s only because science hasn''t advanced enough yet.


    After all, our Earth''s scientific development only has a history of a little over a hundred years, which is far too short compared to the billions of years of Earth''s history!


    As long as science and technology become powerful enough, even the universe would not seem so mysterious in front of everyone!


    ...


    "Upgrade medical skills."


    "Upgrade successful, ten thousand achievement points consumed."


    Qin Hao scanned again, and this time, the description below finally revealed Chang Jing''s medical condition:


    Innate optic nerve hypoplasia!


    In other words, Chang Jing was blind from birth because her optic nerves had not developed at all.


    "Xiao Hao, if it''s really not possible, let it be; no need to force it," Chen Shengjun said upon seeing him standing there motionless.


    Chang Anding and his wife flashed a look of disappointment in their eyes.


    Even he has no solution?


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Mr. Chen, don''t worry, Miss Chang has innate optic nerve hypoplasia, which is the main reason she can''t see."


    The crowd was invigorated by his words. Innate optic nerve hypoplasia?


    They had visited too many renowned hospitals for check-ups, even hospitals abroad, but not one had identified the cause of the condition!


    Now that he had identified it, did it mean he could cure her?


    Thinking along these lines, Chang Anding and his wife, Song Cai, showed excitement in their eyes.


    Anxiously, Ms. Chang, Zhou Zhen, asked, "Xiao Hao, do you have a way to cure her? Xiao Jing has suffered a lot over the years; please, you must cure her."


    If the people of Jinchen City saw Zhou Zhen acting this way, they would definitely be in for a shock.


    The normally dignified and strong matriarch of the Chang family, begging someone?


    This was the mother of Chang An Country, and hearing her pleading with him, Qin Hao hurriedly said, "Ms. Chang, please don''t get agitated; I will certainly try my best.


    Now you need to help Miss Chang into the room, and then I will treat her."


    Chang Jing''s mother, Song Cai, quickly came over and helped Chang Jing into a guest room.


    As instructed by Qin Hao, Chang Jing lay flat on the bed.


    Song Cai looked towards Qin Hao: "Xiao Hao, is this okay?"


    [Third update delivered, an extra chapter for the ten thousand coin reward from Brother Lang. It''s already midnight, I''m very sleepy, and I have work tomorrow. Please give me some recommendation tickets, a reward, some motivation! " "]

 Chapter 209 Treating Chang Jing

    Qin Hao glanced at Zhou Zhen, Song Cai, and the others, saying, "I need a quiet environment for the treatment. Ms. Zhou, could you wait outside for a while?"


    "Sure, we will be right outside if you need us,"


    Zhou Zhen and the others all exited and then closed the door behind them.


    Qin Hao looked at Chang Jing on the bed and said, "Miss Chang, I''m going to start the treatment now."


    "Um, Mr. Qin, please proceed," replied Chang Jing flatly.


    Qin Hao kneeled on one knee beside her and took a deep breath, "Miss Chang, I need to spread out your hair. Is that okay?"


    Chang Jing was very beautiful, and she also possessed a special temperament.


    He was afraid his inadvertent movements might offend Chang Jing.


    So he was very careful.


    As if imagining his restrained expression, Chang Jing smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, don''t be too formal. Treat me as you would normally."


    Upon hearing her affirmative response, Qin Hao extended his hand to gently lift her head and then spread her hair out.


    A faint scent wafted into Qin Hao''s nostrils.


    Chang Jing''s fair neck could also feel the warmth from Qin Hao''s arms.


    But she remained calm, without any shy blush.


    After spreading her hair, Qin Hao took out the Nine-Nine Silver Needles and started inserting them at the sides and on top of her head.


    Outside, Chang Anding, Song Cai, and others waited anxiously.


    They were unsure whether Qin Hao could cure her and were praying in their hearts.


    Chen Shengjun wasn''t very confident either and asked Xu Liangguo, "Xu, do you think Xiao Hao can do it?"


    After thinking for a moment, Xu Liangguo nodded, "Since he dared to treat Xiao Jing, he must be quite confident. Don''t worry, Mr. Chen."


    Inside the room, after about half an hour, Chang Jing''s temples and head were filled with silver needles.


    This set of acupuncture was specifically designed to stimulate nerve growth and served as an auxiliary function.


    The most crucial aspect was still the effect of the spirit medicinal solution.


    This acupuncture technique became available only after Qin Hao''s medical skills had upgraded.


    Each silver needle was precisely inserted into the tiny nerve lines, a task as difficult as balancing a needle on a grain of wheat.


    There could be no mistakes during acupuncture, or it could cause even more severe damage.


    After finishing the acupuncture, Qin Hao was drenched in sweat.


    Though it seemed effortless, the process was enormously draining.


    "Drip"


    Chang Jing: "A bit warm!"


    The acupuncture was beginning to take effect; Qin Hao checked the time and ten minutes later, he removed the silver needles, one by one.


    Seeing Chang Jing, he felt somewhat embarrassed, "Miss Chang, please don''t close your eyes. I need to apply some medicine for you."


    Chang Jing: "Um, okay."


    Qin Hao took out half a bottle of tonic solution and then gently dropped it into Chang Jing''s eyes.


    The solution entered her eyes without spilling out, but instead, it miraculously soaked in.


    Chang Jing''s eyes were like parched land soaking up rainwater.


    Chang Jing also felt a change; after the solution dropped in, there was a refreshing feeling that was very comforting.


    Qin Hao dropped more than a dozen drops into both her eyes, and the half bottle of tonic solution was completely used up.


    "Miss Chang, you can close your eyes now, but don''t squeeze them too tight."


    Upon hearing this, Chang Jing closed her eyes gently, and Qin Hao took the bandages in one hand while gently lifting her head with his other hand under her neck.


    Then he wrapped her eyes with the bandages several times.


    After he was done, Qin Hao put her down and heaved a sigh of relief, "There you go, Miss Chang. I''ll come back tomorrow to remove them for you."


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin. You sound pretty young, don''t you?" Chang Jing asked.


    Qin Hao chuckled, "I''m nineteen this year."


    "You''re so young. Can you tell me what the world outside looks like? Is the sky blue? Are the flowers colorful? My mom often reads me articles that say so," Chang Jing asked with a smile on her face.


    Seeing her smile, Qin Hao said, "Miss Chang, you can see for yourself tomorrow."


    When Chang Jing heard this, her expression froze for a second, "Do you mean I''ll be able to see the outside world tomorrow, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "If nothing unexpected happens, you should be able to."


    The tonic solution was very potent and could develop her optic nerves to a normal condition overnight.


    "Thank you." Chang Jing''s smile became even brighter.


    Seeing her smile, Qin Hao felt a sense of accomplishment.


    This sort of fulfillment wasn''t something that could be exchanged with money or favors.


    He sought no reward but only wished that there would be fewer people in the world like Chang Jing, who suffered from innate ailments.


    "I''ll leave now, Miss Chang. You can rest," Qin Hao said as he exited the room.


    The people outside watched him leave, but no one spoke.


    Qin Hao then said, "I''ll come over tomorrow to remove Miss Chang''s bandages. If there are no unexpected issues, her eyes should recover."


    "Really?" Song Cai and Chang Anding were somewhat excited.


    Over the years, they were acutely aware of the pain their daughter had endured. Even though she often wore a smile, they knew it was her way of comforting them.

 Chapter 210 Return to Jianghai City

    Qin Hao nodded affirmatively.


    Chang An Country and Chang Anbang looked at him somewhat surprised.


    How had he cured a disease that had baffled both domestic and foreign experts, and in just one night?


    By this time, the sun was already setting.


    Chen Shengjun and the others wanted to keep him for dinner, but Qin Hao insisted it wasn''t necessary.


    Today, Chen Shengjun''s home was filled with so many people, all significant figures, that he wouldn''t be able to enjoy his meal there.


    In the end, only when Xu Liangguo spoke did Chen Shengjun let Qin Hao leave.


    Back at Xu Liangguo''s villa, Qin Hao found it much quieter.


    He said, "Mr. Xu, have someone take me to a hotel later."


    Xu Liangguo''s eyes widened, "Why go to a hotel? You can just stay here tonight, there are plenty of rooms anyway."


    "That''s right, Xiao Hao, you''re better off staying here. Just think of this place as your home," urged Ms. Xu.


    Xu Jiejian added, "Xiao Hao can stay here, and I''ll have someone drive you back tomorrow."


    Sun Fang and Xu Siyao also spoke up, urging him to stay.


    Qin Hao did not insist further, as it would seem ungrateful.


    In the evening, they all sat down together for dinner.


    During the meal, Xu Siyao sat beside him, occasionally offering him food to try and see if he liked it.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    After dinner, Qin Hao wanted to take a shower, but he hadn''t brought any change of clothes.


    Xu Siyao found a shirt from Xu Jiejian for him that, after trying it on, fit rather well.


    He took a shower and then went back to his room to sleep and rest.


    ...


    The next morning, after breakfast,


    Qin Hao and Xu Liangguo, among others, arrived at Chen Shengjun''s villa.


    "Can we remove it now?" Chen Shengjun and his group asked as soon as they saw him approach.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Yes, it''s time."


    At that moment, Chang Jing was sitting on the couch, her eyes bandaged, looking rather fragile.


    He approached Chang Jing and asked, "Miss Chang, do your eyes feel any different?"


    Chang Jing responded, "Since last night, my eyes felt kind of cool, as if there were a breeze."


    Her parents'' hearts leapt upon hearing this.


    Qin Hao reassured, "That''s normal, Miss Chang. Close your eyes; I''m going to remove the bandage now."


    Chang Jing nodded, "I''m ready."


    Qin Hao said to her, "You go back, I''m leaving first."


    "Leaving?" Xu Siyao was startled, not expecting him to leave at this time.


    Qin Hao smiled, "Miss Chang''s illness has recovered, and I have nothing else here, so I need to go back first."


    Xu Siyao felt a bit disappointed, "Are you not going to say goodbye to my grandfather and Mr. Chen?"


    "No need, please tell them for me, I''m leaving first," Qin Hao said, then walked out of the community.


    After leaving the community, he hailed a taxi to the high-speed train station.


    October 7th, 10 AM


    Jianghai North Station, Qin Hao came out of the high-speed train station and hailed a taxi to the Jianghai branch office.


    The Jianghai branch office is located in the Peak Building in Bailing District of Jianghai City.


    In the taxi, he made a phone call to Feng Xiangyi.


    The call connected quickly.


    Feng Xiangyi: "Mr. Qin!"


    Qin Hao: "Are you at the office? I plan to come over and have a look."


    "Yes, everyone is working overtime," Feng Xiangyi replied.


    As the Jianghai branch had just been established, there were a lot of matters to handle, so there was no holiday over the October period.


    "Alright, I will be there shortly."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao made a few more calls to Li Yang and others.


    During the time Qin Hao and Chang An Country went to Gujing City, they had taken a train directly to Jianghai City.


    Currently, they were in an ordinary hotel.


    Now that they knew Qin Hao was coming back, they also headed for the Peak Building in Bailing District.


    By the time Qin Hao arrived at the base of the Peak Building, Li Yang and the others had already arrived early, and hurried over when they saw Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, then walked into the Peak Building.


    He took the elevator to the 16th floor of the Peak Building.


    "You guys wait outside for me," Qin Hao told Li Yang.


    Li Yang nodded and stood at the office entrance.


    At the office reception, there were two young and beautiful girls.


    This was not Qin Hao''s first visit; as soon as he walked in, the receptionist saw him and hurriedly greeted him respectfully, "Mr. Qin."


    "Yes, thank you for your hard work."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and walked in, the inside space was large and divided into many areas, each department having its own specific area.


    Within each area, there were quite a few people, all busy working overtime.


    [Sorry, I fell asleep while writing and only woke up around 11:30 PM, sigh!]

 Chapter 211 Financing Price

    Qin Hao entered his own Chairman''s office.


    Nie Si was sitting at the assistant''s desk, dealing with some company documents.


    When she saw Qin Hao come in, she quickly stood up, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Just keep working."


    Nie Si took a brand new water cup from the shelf behind her and went to the water dispenser to pour him a cup of water.


    "Mr. Qin, have some water."


    Qin Hao asked, "How does it feel? Is the job as my assistant very tiring?"


    Nie Si gave an awkward smile, "It''s okay, I think it''s fulfilling."


    She indeed felt tired sometimes, because when Qin Hao was not there, she, as an assistant, had to handle many things on his behalf, and had to call Qin Hao for the decisions she couldn''t make.


    But she couldn''t ask Qin Hao about everything, as that would make her seem useless as an assistant.


    Qin Hao said, "Call Mr. Feng over, I have something to discuss with her."


    "Mr. Qin, Mr. Feng is in the meeting room meeting with people from Xing''an Square," Nie Si replied softly.


    Qin Hao frowned upon hearing this, people from Xing''an Square?


    He got up and walked outside, and Nie Si quickly followed.


    Qin Hao arrived outside the meeting room and directly pushed the door open and entered.


    Six or seven people were sitting inside the meeting room.


    When the door of the meeting room was opened, those inside all turned their heads to look.


    Feng Xiangyi, along with the manager of the marketing department, quickly stood up when they saw him, "Mr. Qin."


    Li Guangfu was stunned for a moment, but also quickly stood up with a smile, "Mr. Qin, long time no see."


    Qin Hao ignored Li Guangfu, walked to the front, and sat down, making the atmosphere in the meeting room somewhat awkward.


    Feng Xiangyi glanced at Li Guangfu and Qin Hao, curious in her heart, Li Guangfu knows Qin Hao?


    Li Guangfu, though furious inside, did not show it, and upon seeing Nie Si beside Qin Hao, his eyes took on a complicated expression.


    Nie Si, who was once casually dismissed from the company by him, had now risen high and become Qin Hao''s assistant.


    Qin Hao looked at Li Guangfu with a smile and asked, "I wonder what Mr. Li is doing in my company? Is there something you need?"


    Li Guangfu forced a smile, "Mr. Qin, I came today to discuss a potential cooperation with your company, a mutually beneficial proposition."


    Jianghai City is one of the largest cities in the country, with so many people coming here to work, there is no worry about not being able to recruit enough staff.


    Qin Hao was about to speak when there was a knock at the door.


    "Come in."


    A female receptionist at the front desk opened the door and came in.


    She approached Qin Hao and said, "Mr. Qin, there''s someone named Yang Mei looking for you outside, do you know her?"


    Yang Mei? She moves fast.


    "Let Mr. Yang in," Qin Hao replied.


    The front desk receptionist went out, and soon after, Yang Mei and her group entered.


    Yang Mei said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, long time no see, I am here on behalf of Xinshang Real Estate Company to discuss a partnership with you."


    Qin Hao: "Please, take a seat, Mr. Yang."


    Yang Mei and her six companions sat opposite Qin Hao. The people beside her were all from the head office, and seeing how young Qin Hao was, they were somewhat surprised.


    Yang Mei began by asking, "Mr. Qin, I wonder if your company is considering any financing?"


    Financing is a common experience for many companies.


    Many newly established companies lack sufficient funds for development and usually seek financing.


    If certain venture capital firms see potential in your company, they would invest money early on, but you have to give up a corresponding share of equity as a condition for financing.


    If the company develops well subsequently, there would be further rounds of financing like Series A, Series B, and so on, with increasing amounts of investment later on.


    Those who can afford these are usually venture capital firms or large companies with ample cash flow.


    Xinshang Real Estate Company, having seen the potential of Jiangshan Roasted Duck, now wanted to get involved in the financing.


    If Jiangshan Roasted Duck were to develop well in the future, they too would benefit greatly.


    Qin Hao smiled and shook his head, "Sorry, Mr. Yang, my company is not considering financing at the moment."


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s monthly profit was in the tens of millions, with ample cash flow. Moreover, the imminent launch of a membership card service would also bring a substantial cash inflow to the company. Ultimately, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company had developed.


    Yang Mei: "Mr. Qin, please hear my offer. One hundred and fifty million, Xinshang Real Estate only wants twenty percent of your company''s shares, and we will not participate in management. You will have the ultimate say."


    Twenty percent, which is one-fifth.


    She had valued Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company at roughly seven hundred and fifty million, far exceeding the market valuation.


    The price was indeed sincere!


    But Qin Hao had no plans for financing, not now, and not in the future.

 Chapter 212 Pick Up

    Mr. Qin: "I''m sorry, Mr. Yang, I''m not considering financing at the moment, as the company''s profits are sufficient to support its current stage of development."


    Yang Mei''s eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment, but she still smiled and said, "Alright, Mr. Qin, then let''s move on to discussing cooperation."


    Qin Hao nodded: "Please go ahead, Mr. Yang."


    Yang Mei: "Your roasted duck restaurant is doing very well, and we at Xinshang Real Estate would like to engage in deeper cooperation with Mr. Qin. Our company has more than a dozen large plazas in Jianghai City, and we sincerely invite Mr. Qin''s shops to enter all our plazas.


    We will prepare the best shop locations for Mr. Qin and offer the most favorable prices."


    Yang Mei was well aware of the appeal of Jiangshan Roasted Duck, which is why she wanted to collaborate with Qin Hao and have his roasted duck stores in her plazas.


    This would be beneficial for both sides.


    Qin Hao: "What is the most favorable price?"


    Yang Mei: "The rental for all the shops would be half the market price, but we have one condition."


    Qin Hao looked at her.


    She continued: "Our condition is that Mr. Qin''s roasted duck shops cannot open in our competitors'' plazas."


    Qin Hao shook his head: "This definition of ''competitor''s plazas'' is too broad."


    Yang Mei: "For example, you cannot work with Xing''an Square."


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Yang, I''m not lacking that small amount of rent. If I open stores elsewhere, I can earn that rent back.


    I can agree to your company''s terms and not open shops within a certain distance from your plazas, but of course, this would depend on the situation."


    Yang Mei pondered for a moment, then discussed it with her companions.


    Half an hour later, the two parties signed some cooperation agreements, and then Yang Mei and her group left.


    Only Feng Xiangyi and Qin Hao were left in the conference room.


    The managers of the marketing, financial, and legal departments had all left to attend to their duties.


    Feng Xiangyi spoke up: "Mr. Qin, I think we should also set up a training institution in Jianghai to continuously inject new vitality into our roasted duck stores."


    Qin Hao nodded. A training institution was indeed necessary.


    Feng Xiangyi: "Also, Mr. Qin, I''ve found that our company''s finance department doesn''t have its own financial system, which makes it easy for our financial performance to leak. Should we find a network company to develop a financial system just for our company?"


    "Financial system?" Qin Hao was momentarily puzzled; he really didn''t know about these things.


    Feng Xiangyi nodded: "A financial system is essential for a large company, and some even have their own dedicated office systems to prevent corporate secrets from leaking."


    A spark of realization flashed in Qin Hao''s mind, and he said, "I''ll handle this issue, there''s no need to contact those network companies."


    "Ah?"


    Feng Xiangyi was taken aback. Creating a system wasn''t simple, did Mr. Qin mean to write it himself?


    Remembering Qin Hao''s specialty and his unified exam results, she didn''t ask any further questions.


    As soon as Qin Hao got out of his car, he attracted a lot of attention because his car was too dazzling.


    Its streamlined body and unique exterior design were incredibly beautiful.


    He walked towards the airport exit.


    The airport was huge, with large passenger planes flying overhead from time to time.


    It took a few minutes for him to reach the exit.


    At the exit, four or five men were surrounding Du Wanrou.


    One of them was holding a mobile phone, occasionally speaking into it.


    "Hey, beauty, how about getting to know each other?" The man holding the cell phone gaze lingered on certain parts of Du Wanrou''s body, his tone frivolous.


    Du Wanrou glanced at Wang Jian and responded with a slight frown, "Is there something you need?"


    Seeing her reaction, Wang Jian cursed inwardly: Damn, what a saint act.


    I''ve been with plenty of women, plenty like you who play the saint on the surface but are whores in bed.


    He did not show his annoyance and continued to ask, "Do you know about the TT Live Streaming platform?"


    Du Wanrou felt a sense of disgust in her heart. These men had been pointing at her and whispering on the plane, and now they had followed her after disembarking.


    She replied coldly, "I don''t know, and if you don''t mind, please keep a distance from me."


    Laughter filled Wang Jian''s live streaming room.


    "Haha, failed at hitting on her."


    "Deserved it, embarassing isn''t it?"


    "Wow, this beauty is so pretty, boss, go for her."


    "Just by looking, you can tell she''s a plaything. Boss, take care of her tonight, let her know who''s boss."


    "This is a bit too much, she doesn''t know you, why should she talk to you?"


    "The one above is an idiot, assessment complete."


    "Where did this idiot come from, if you don''t like it, just leave."


    "Exactly, just a pure big idiot."


    All at once, that person''s comments were drowned out by the crowd.


    Wang Jian''s face really could not hang on anymore; he used to be a local thug before he got into the internet live streaming platform.


    Then he became an outdoor live streamer, using hitting on girls outdoors as a gimmick to attract a bunch of fans and viewers.


    He continued to address Du Wanrou, "Beauty, my name is Wang Jian, I''m a popular outdoor live streamer on the TT Live Streaming platform, earning just over a million a month."


    [Vote, vote, vote, sometimes I really feel so tired, working during the day, writing novels at night, when others are out playing after work, I''m writing, and then I get scolded...]

 Chapter 213 Life and Death Together

    "Does this have anything to do with me? Please don''t point your phone at me, or I''ll call the police." Du Wanrou said with a look of disgust on her face.


    Wang Jian''s face was embarrassed. Normally, when he tried to hit on girls, they would show a hint of admiration.


    He would then exchange contact details with them, and eventually ask them out to have fun in the evening.


    This was his usual routine, but today it had failed.


    Wang Jian: "DAMN, playing the saint, huh?"


    Du Wanrou''s face flushed with anger: "Are you sick or something? Do I know you? Do I need to bother with you?"


    "I''ve got a mouth on me¡ªI''ll say what I want, it''s my ''freedom of speech.''" Wang Jian glanced at Du Wanrou''s chest.


    "...Shameless!"


    Du Wanrou took out her phone intending to make a call.


    "Bang"


    "Ah"


    Just then, Wang Jian screamed miserably and fell on the ground in a pose resembling a dog eating shit; his phone flew out of his hand.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    The few people around Wang Jian quickly turned to look.


    Officially, they were Wang Jian''s assistants, but in reality, they were just his lackeys.


    He brought these people in case he got beaten up while hitting on girls during outdoor livestreams.


    The one who hit Wang Jian was none other than Qin Hao.


    The lackeys around Wang Jian originally planned to react, but upon seeing the eight muscular bodyguards behind Qin Hao, they immediately froze.


    "Qin Hao." Du Wanrou saw him and her face lit up; she hurried over, her eyes filled with a hint of grievance.


    By this time, Wang Jian had gotten up from the ground. He picked up his phone and saw that the tempered film was cracked, but the phone itself was fine.


    Inside his livestream room: OMG, what happened?


    "Did he get beat up?"


    "Quick, call the police, is Jianghai City this chaotic too?"


    "His girlfriend''s boyfriend shows up, haha, got beat up."


    "Serves him right." Some people had been disliking him for a while.


    ...


    Wang Jian turned his phone toward Qin Hao: "You dare to hit me, do you know who I am..."


    Before he could finish, Li Yang and a few others charged over and snatched his phone away.


    "Damn, an eight man bodyguard squad, looks like Jian really hit the iron plate this time."


    Li Yang took the phone, subdued Wang Jian with a martial arts move, and the others didn''t dare to resist and were subdued by the rest.


    "Mr. Qin, what should we do?" Li Yang asked.


    He replied, "In broad daylight, openly harassing a woman, this kind of behavior has already seriously violated public security regulations. It must be severely punished, detain if detention is warranted, fine if fines are needed, we must handle this impartially."


    "Okay, Mr. Wang, I understand."


    The results of the handling were very standard; Wang Jian was detained, and Qin Hao compensated a hundred yuan for medical expenses.


    ...


    Qin Hao directly brought Du Wanrou to her place of residence.


    He said, "Are you tired? Why not go take a nap?"


    Seeing his smile, Du Wanrou''s cheeks flushed slightly, "I''m not sleepy."


    "A nap is very necessary. I''m quite sleepy too, let''s go sleep," Qin Hao said, pulling her hand toward the bedroom.


    Du Wanrou knew what he was thinking, her cheeks turned crimson, and her mind was in turmoil.


    A woman''s reserve made her want to refuse.


    But remembering Qin Hao''s dedication and care for her, her heart wavered, along with what her mother had once said.


    He was a vigorous young man and a company president, surely surrounded by many admirers.


    Simply refusing was not the solution.


    ...


    Lost in thought, Du Wanrou found herself pulled into the bedroom by Qin Hao.


    Unable to hold back any longer, he lifted Du Wanrou onto the bed.


    That afternoon, Qin Hao lost his virginity.


    Du Wanrou also transformed from a girl into a woman.


    She was like a pristine lotus, pure and charming, softly fragrant and enchanting.


    Qin Hao was very gentle, for Du Wanrou was the goddess of his heart.


    This day, she finally became his woman, and it was not a dream.


    "I''ve given everything to you, if one day you stop loving me, I will die for you to see," said Du Wanrou, acting like a spoiled little woman, lying in Qin Hao''s arms.


    Qin Hao''s eyes were filled with tenderness, and he firmly said, "To live and die together, never to part."


    Du Wanrou held him tightly, as if fearing he might suddenly disappear.


    Qin Hao had a unique constitution, so he lasted quite a long time, leaving Du Wanrou very tired, and she soon fell asleep.


    ...


    It was a little after five in the afternoon.


    Feng Xiangyi came home, and she glanced around the empty living room.


    It was odd, Qin Hao''s car and bodyguards were all here, but where was everyone?


    Suddenly, she looked towards the tightly closed bedroom door, then cautiously walked over.

 Chapter 214 Writing System

    Feng Xiangyi hesitated for a moment, then still placed her hand on the doorknob.


    "Click"


    The door opened, and Feng Xiangyi looked inside.


    Upon seeing the scene, she was stunned like a wooden chicken, her mouth agape.


    Inside the room, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou were wrapped in each other''s arms, with the air conditioning on and a summer quilt over them, their shoulders exposed.


    Qin Hao subconsciously heard the noise and groggily opened his eyes.


    He saw Feng Xiangyi standing at the door.


    Feng Xiangyi''s cheeks flushed, and she quickly backed out and closed the door.


    Qin Hao also felt somewhat embarrassed, he hadn''t expected to sleep so long, and to have his and Du Wanrou''s affair seen.


    He gently nudged Du Wanrou, who whined coquettishly and turned over to continue sleeping.


    "Girl, your auntie''s back, wake up," Qin Hao nudged her again and said.


    "So what if she''s back..."


    "What? Auntie''s back?"


    Du Wanrou''s eyes shot open instantly.


    Qin Hao grinned, "She just opened the door and took a look..."


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned bright red, "You jerk, it''s all because of you. Now get out of bed quickly."


    Qin Hao hurriedly put on his clothes, and Du Wanrou was also dressing, but her expression was a bit pained.


    "What''s wrong?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks flushed, "It''s all because of you."


    Qin Hao was startled at first, then he understood what was going on. He said, astonished, "You really put it on?"


    "Where did you buy this? It''s so comfortable..."


    Qin Hao said, "You can''t buy this, I need to use the bathroom first."


    After saying that, he hurriedly went out, and then entered the restroom.


    Feng Xiangyi was cutting vegetables and cooking in the kitchen.


    By the time Qin Hao came out of the restroom, Du Wanrou had also emerged from the bedroom.


    Her cheeks were rosy, making her look very attractive.


    The two sat on the sofa and watched TV for a while, and Feng Xiangyi finished cooking the meal.


    During the meal, Feng Xiangyi spoke, "Next time you two do that, remember to lock the door."


    ...


    Du Wanrou''s face instantly became burning hot, "Auntie, you''re awful."


    Qin Hao, "Just got here."


    Du Wanrou, "Well, that''s good. Remember to rest early. I''m a bit tired and I''m going to sleep now. Goodnight."


    "Goodnight."


    After hanging up, Fatty looked at him with envy and resentment, "Second brother, you''re so lucky to have such a tender and considerate girlfriend."


    Qin Hao, "Your Xie Cui is quite nice too."


    Fatty, "Don''t even mention it, Second Brother, I''m almost worried to death. Her parents have met me, and they don''t quite agree."


    Qin Hao asked with a puzzled look, "What''s the issue? They think you''re too fat?"


    Wang Yanghua chuckled awkwardly, "That''s part of the problem. Primarily, it''s about not being a match in terms of family backgrounds. Her family owns a factory, and although my family has some money, we can''t compare to them."


    Qin Hao, "Poverty can''t diminish ambition. You have to believe that one day you will surpass them."


    "Easy for you to say, but it''s not that simple. Second Brother, do you have any good projects?"


    Qin Hao, "No."


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao didn''t go to class. He had Fatty and the others sign in for him.


    After breakfast, he went back to the dormitory and started working on writing the financial and office systems for the company.


    When Feng Xiangyi mentioned this to him, he had an idea in mind.


    Now he had the method for writing an intelligent program in his head.


    So he decided to try it out on the office and financial systems.


    Although he couldn''t fully develop the capabilities of an intelligent program, in some aspects, he was certain to outdo the products of those networking companies.


    He spent the whole day in his dormitory coding, only completing a third of the financial system by nightfall.


    After dinner, he continued working on it!


    Zhao De didn''t come back, probably out having fun with his beautiful senior.


    Fatty came back and was quiet, lying on his bed contemplating life.


    Qin Hao, busy with his work, didn''t pay much attention.


    Chen Ping, however, took a curious glance at his coding interface and then stood behind him watching.


    When Qin Hao''s arms became sore from typing, Chen Ping asked, "Second Brother, what are you doing? What is this that you''re writing?"


    Qin Hao replied, "It''s the company''s financial system I''m coding."


    "What does this piece of program code mean?" He pointed to a section of the code.


    Qin Hao didn''t hide anything, "That''s the code for a semi-intelligent program."


    Chen Ping was dumbfounded, "Semi-intelligent program code? Isn''t that taught in courses later in the third year?"


    "I don''t know." Qin Hao genuinely didn''t know about that.

 Chapter 215 Sports Day

    Qin Hao was working on the computer while Chen Ping watched closely behind him, his eyes gleaming as if he had seen a beautiful woman.


    Just then, the chubby guy suddenly yelled, "Damn, bro, you guys should quickly check the internet, it''s blowing up."


    "What''s up?" Qin Hao was startled by his reaction.


    The chubby guy said, "Someone is tearing into a top-tier domestic female star."


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, "What''s there to see? Just some idle people stirring up drama." Find exclusive stories on empire


    "No, bro, take a look." The chubby guy said, walking over with his phone.


    A top-tier domestic star receives the National Spirit Creator Award!


    The chubby guy said, "National Spirit Creator, are they kidding me? How would that make the scientists, soldiers, and martyrs feel?"


    Qin Hao frowned slightly, "Which organization issued this? It''s too arbitrary, right?"


    "A foreign car company, Mercedes, issued it."


    Qin Hao chuckled, an award filled with commercial flavor.


    The chubby guy continued, "And not just that, bro, there''s more gossip below."


    "Sixty million?" Chen Ping was somewhat incredulous.


    Qin Hao was also somewhat incredulous, "Sixty million in four days? Are you joking? What''s our national average salary?"


    "It''s all written in the contract, the person who exposed it is also well-known in the industry, it likely isn''t fake, this time the entertainment industry might face a major earthquake."


    ...


    Qin Hao sighed inwardly, thinking about the promised ''getting rich first to help others get rich, aiming for common prosperity.''


    Now, in Qin Hao''s view, the polarization between the rich and the poor was getting more severe.


    The rich think about how to make more money, who cares about the poor?


    Xuan Country''s economy had rapidly developed in recent years, especially the real estate and Internet industries, which indeed had achieved many astonishing results and created many billionaires.


    But the salaries of most lower-level workers hadn''t changed at all.


    Even due to the impact of the Internet, countless factories closed, and workers lost their jobs.


    Factories, general distributors, distributors, retail stores, this chain of earning intermediary profit supported millions of businessmen.


    This chain of interest had those who produced products, sold products, opened markets, rented out shop spaces, and others who dealt with promotions, advertised, and made business cards, etc!


    Online platforms, through capital operations, shattered and restructured the complete economic chain that originally supported ten million people.


    Then they hired a hundred thousand employees, manipulating a million people to work for them, leaving the remaining nine million to fend for themselves.


    ...


    In Qin Hao''s view: behind today''s prosperous economy, there actually lay an unhealthy development.


    Soon Ning Yao came over to Qin Hao.


    "Qin Hao, can you help me register?"


    Seeing her busy and flushed, Qin Hao nodded: "Oh, okay!"


    However, almost no boys came to him. Instead, a few girls approached.


    "Qin Hao, I want to sign up for the girls'' sprint," a girl with slightly dark skin and short hair told him.


    Qin Hao nodded, looked down to write, then looked up again and asked, "Could you tell me your name?"


    ...


    "My name is Guo Li," the short-haired girl said, equally speechless.


    He had registered six or seven girls without looking up, and habitually asked, "What event do you plan to register for?"


    As he finished, he looked up to see the person in front of him. Xu Siyao was there, smiling at him, "I''m not signing up; I''m really bad at sports. What do you plan to sign up for?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I don''t know, I don''t want to participate."


    "What, afraid of losing face if you don''t place?" Xu Siyao scoffed.


    From a distance, Huo Qiang and Sun Feng looked on with jealousy.


    Sun Feng thought scornfully: You''ll see what I''m capable of this afternoon.


    By now, Ning Yao had finished tallying and looked at Qin Hao and Xu Siyao, "Qin Hao, I''m almost dead from exhaustion, and here you are flirting."


    ...


    She continued, "You go and deliver the finalized list to the teacher. Oh, and add your own events too. If anyone else wants to sign up later, I''ll just add them."


    "Okay," Qin Hao saw the sweat on her forehead and swallowed his refusal.


    "I''ll go now."


    He told Xu Siyao and then left the classroom to head to Tingting''s office.


    Upon reaching Tingting''s office, he handed over the list: "Teacher, here''s the list we just compiled."


    Tingting glanced at it, then asked curiously, "Why aren''t you on it?"


    "Teacher, I''m not physically fit, can I not participate?"


    Tingting smiled slightly, "No problem, you don''t have to participate, but make sure to cheer for our classmates during the sports day."


    "Of course, teacher." Qin Hao was surprised at how agreeable Tingting was today?


    After Qin Hao left the office, a sly look flashed in Tingting''s eyes.


    Let you oppose me, let you skip classes every day!


    Today, you''ll see what I''m made of, she thought, then wrote Qin Hao''s name on the list and filled in many events...

 Chapter 216 Company Development

    Because of the sports meet, there have been no courses scheduled in class these past few days, and everyone is preparing for the upcoming event.


    Back in the classroom, Xu Siyao was chatting and laughing with Ning Yao, looking quite happy.


    After Qin Hao returned, Xu Siyao asked him, "Qin Hao, do you have time the evening after tomorrow?"


    "What''s up?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Xu Siyao, "My dad wants to bring you to a business banquet, to meet some friends."


    Qin Hao, "Alright, please thank Mr. Xu for me."


    Xu Jiekang was thinking of helping him to integrate into the Jianghai business circle ahead of time.


    "No problem, you''ve helped me even more," Xu Siyao said with a smile.


    Having tallied the class affairs in the morning, Qin Hao then went back to his dorm to continue working on the company''s office system.


    ...


    In the afternoon, Du Wanrou arrived back at her place, and her mobile phone chimed, indicating someone had sent her a friend request.


    Friend request message: I have photos of Qin Hao being intimate with other women.


    Upon seeing this request, Du Wanrou clicked accept.


    Then the other party sent a barrage of photos, nearly every one of Qin Hao with a woman.


    "No need, my aunt is still at home," Du Wanrou said, her cheeks reddening.


    Qin Hao, "Then I''ll ask her to work overtime tonight."


    Du Wanrou exasperated, "Is that really okay for you to do?"


    Qin Hao, "Haha, just kidding. Are you at home?"


    Du Wanrou, understandingly, replied, "Mhm, just got home not long ago. Go ahead with your work; we can chat when you''re free."


    "Alright, girlie, I''ll come to see you another day."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao continued working on the office system.


    Not long after hanging up with Du Wanrou, his phone rang again, it was Kang Youyi calling.


    "Hao, today we signed acquisition contracts with three large-scale duck farms, spending a total of seven hundred and thirty thousand.


    Additionally, five more roast duck restaurants opened today, and the business is quite good."


    Qin Hao nodded with a smile, "Jiangshan is our stronghold, we must firmly secure the Jiangshan Market."


    Kang Youyi, "Alright, Hao, we''ll strive to take over the entire Jiangshan Market by the end of the month."


    "I''m developing the office and financial systems for the company. Once they''re finished, I''ll send them to you. Every computer in the company must have the office and financial systems installed."


    By then, he would be able to see on the backend what was done on the computers.

 Chapter 217 Tracking

    Kang Youyi: "Hao, there''s also the matter of the factory. Currently, our business mostly involves baking and selling on the spot, which has many disadvantages.


    If we start a few production lines, we could sell the roasted duck to various malls and even sell online, making it available to people all over the country."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and then said, "Let''s start with one or two production lines as a trial. We must have strict requirements in terms of sanitation and safety."


    "I understand, Hao. I''ll personally check on the sanitation aspect when the time comes."


    Qin Hao: "How are things at the distillery?"


    Kang Youyi replied, "I''ve already allocated some people there, and Mr. An is still preparing."


    Qin Hao asked, "Is there any movement from Dayuan Group?"


    Kang Youyi: "Nothing for now. Aside from pressuring Flying Leopard Security, they haven''t affected our company much."


    Qin Hao felt that Ma Bing was not the type to suffer losses easily, and was likely searching for Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s vulnerabilities to deal him a fatal blow when Qin Hao was least expecting it.


    "We must be careful with that Ma Bing; he''s an old fox," Qin Hao warned the chubbier man.


    "I''ll keep an eye out, Hao."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao continued to work on the system.


    By noon on the 12th, Qin Hao had also finished the office system.


    The office system was simpler, so it was completed a bit faster.


    After he finished, he stretched leisurely, with only him and Chen Ping in the dormitory.


    Qin Hao could tell that Chen Ping was obsessed with computers and that he was also very talented in this area.


    "Number Six, don''t only play with computers; occasionally go out and exercise a bit," Qin Hao reminded him.


    Chen Ping nodded, "Got it, Second Brother. Have you finished?"


    Qin Hao: "Yeah, I''m heading out now."


    "Alright, Second Brother."


    Qin Hao left the dorm building and walked towards the outside of the school. On his way, he took out his phone and called Li Yang. Explore more stories with empire


    "Wait for me at the school''s east gate; I''ll be right there."


    There were many people on campus, and Qin Hao could distinctly feel that the atmosphere was more vibrant than it had been a few days earlier.


    Perhaps it was because a sports event was forthcoming.


    A few minutes later, he left the school grounds, and a black Volkswagen car slowly followed behind him, driven by He Tingting.


    He didn''t turn his head back, so he didn''t see He Tingting behind him.


    He Tingting, seeing Qin Hao, was curious: What is this guy always up to, coming and going like a ghost?


    "A company? You have started a company?" He Tingting was somewhat incredulous. He had his own company at just nineteen?


    Looking at Qin Hao''s vehicle, it was clearly not an ordinary car; it was obvious that his company was likely doing quite well.


    Qin Hao, "Yes, if you''re not busy, teacher, I should head to the company now. You have a friend to meet, right?"


    He Tingting, "It''s okay, my friend isn''t in a hurry. I want to look at your company. I''ve visited many large companies, and I can help you see if there''s anything lacking."


    ...


    On the sixteenth floor of Dingfeng Building was Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd.


    The entire sixteenth floor was the office area for Qin Hao''s company, with monthly rent hovering around two hundred thousand.


    Feng Xiangyi had planned this for the company''s future development. As the stores expanded, the number of people in each department would surely increase.


    Although many places weren''t being used now, they would be in the future.


    Upon arriving at the company, the female receptionist at the front desk greeted him with a smile, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, while He Tingting walked beside him, taking in his company.


    "Your company doesn''t have many employees, but the office space is quite large."


    Qin Hao explained, "The Jianghai branch has just been established and is still in the development phase."


    "A branch? Where''s the headquarters?" He Tingting asked curiously.


    Qin Hao, "The headquarters is in Jiangshan."


    Recalling the company name she saw earlier, He Tingting asked, "Is your company selling roasted duck?"


    "Yes, for now."


    While talking, Qin Hao arrived at Feng Xiangyi''s office door.


    He knocked on the door.


    "Come in."


    Qin Hao pushed the door open and walked in. Feng Xiangyi was dealing with some documents, and her secretary sat on the other side, busy with work.


    "Mr. Qin," Feng Xiangyi and the secretary immediately stood up when they saw him.


    Qin Hao, "This is my college teacher, He Tingting. I ran into her outside, and she came over for a look."


    "Nice to meet you, Mr. He," Feng Xiangyi greeted with a smile.


    He Tingting, "Hello."


    The secretary poured tea for both of them and stood motionless behind them.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Mr. Feng, the office and financial systems are ready. Let''s try them out first."


    He Tingting, curious, wondered what office and financial systems were?

 Chapter 218 is difficult, isnt it?

    Qin Hao took out a USB drive and plugged it into Feng Xiangyi''s computer.


    He copied two program packages and then began the installation.


    While doing so, Qin Hao explained, "Our office system is very simple. Each person just needs to enter their name to access it, and the backend will directly bind to your device''s address.


    The suite includes all necessary office software, and I''ve added a special chat app so everyone can contact anyone within the company about work issues."


    Feng Xiangyi and He Tingting were both watching the computer.


    The office system was quickly installed.


    "Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company office system installation successful."


    "The system detects it is now eleven twenty-three AM, please log into the office system."


    Two electronic voices sounded one after the other, and the login interface for the office system appeared on the screen.


    Qin Hao said, "If you don''t log in, you won''t be able to perform any operations on your computer. It will remain on this screen, even if you try restarting."


    He Tingting looked at the computer with a surprised expression. Is this really just a company''s office system?


    Feng Xiangyi was somewhat curious and found it a bit fun.


    Following Qin Hao''s instructions, she typed in her name, not needing to press enter or click okay; the computer processed it automatically.


    "This is a semi-intelligent detection program. It operates on its own once your hand leaves the keyboard."


    "Congratulations, Mr. Feng of Jianghai branch, for logging in successfully."


    The display changed to the desktop of the office system.


    It included various office applications, a browser, and a Jiangshan Company chat app.


    Qin Hao: "Okay, now that you''ve logged in successfully, you can operate it as usual. For everyone using the office system, I can check your operation records for the day in the backend, no matter what you do."


    He demonstrated this by opening a browser and randomly clicking to download a game.


    "Please do not download games during work hours. The backend has automatically recorded this, warning you once. Multiple offenses will result in termination, so please cherish your hard-earned job."


    Qin Hao: "In cases like this, I can receive a message in the backend. The current chip is too basic and has not reached the level of an intelligence chip. It can''t fully achieve artificial intelligence, so we''ll have to make do with this for now."


    Feng Xiangyi looked like a child who''d just found a new toy. This office system is really interesting, isn''t it?


    The stunned He Tingting couldn''t believe what she was seeing on the computer operating system.


    "Is this an intelligent operating system?"


    Currently, He Tingting''s research area was artificial intelligence. Seeing such an advanced office system filled her eyes with excitement.


    Qin Hao: "No, no, this is our company''s semi-intelligent office system, not quite an intelligent operating system."


    "Where did you buy this from?" He Tingting didn''t recall any domestic network company capable of developing such an intelligent office system.


    Qin Hao: "I didn''t buy it; I made it over a few days."


    He Tingting spoke up, "Then name your price."


    "You can''t afford it." Qin Hao didn''t mention a price because he really didn''t want to sell it, as his research on smart chips would have great use in the future.


    The value of smart programming codes was comparable to, if not higher than, the price of smart chips.


    "Then can I at least copy this office system?" He Tingting asked as a fallback.


    Qin Hao hesitated before saying, "If you weren''t my teacher, I would never agree to it."


    He Tingting borrowed a USB drive and then copied the office system installation package.


    Qin Hao gave the financial system installation package to Feng Xiangyi, instructing her to arrange for it to be installed on all the company''s computers.


    Qin Hao also delegated the duties concerning the head office to Feng Xiangyi.


    Qin Hao, "Didn''t you have plans to meet a friend? It''s almost noon."


    "It''s fine, they''re not that important. I''m heading back to the school now," He Tingting said, taking the USB drive and leaving.


    She planned to gather some professors to study the office system.


    ...


    Feng Xiangyi, "Mr. Qin, we are currently renovating three stores. They are all located in the best spots in Xinshang Square and should be ready to open in about four or five days."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "In the future, write all the daily expenses and income on it, I can see them from the backend."


    "Yes, Mr. Qin, I will pass on your message," Feng Xiangyi replied.


    The operations of the roasted duck company generally didn''t require his management anymore.


    Kang Youyi, Meng Zhicheng, and others managed Jiangshan, while Feng Xiangyi and Nie Si managed Jianghai.


    After finishing his tasks, Qin Hao made a call to Du Wanrou, "Hey, where are you right now?"


    "At school, just about to head back."


    Qin Hao, "Do you have classes in the afternoon?"


    "No, why?"


    "Then wait for me at home, I''ll come to see you."


    Wanrou''s cheeks instantly turned red, her voice timid, "Okay."


    Qin Hao''s eyes sparkled with excitement; he hurriedly left the office and then took a ride to Wanrou''s residence.


    He was newly captivated by a seductive sensation.


    On the way, Qin Hao also reflected on the Xinghai generation smart robots, anticipating the start of the distillery.


    He believed it was time to commence the development of the Xinghai generation smart robots.


    He was confident that the day the Xinghai smart generation robots were launched, they would sweep across the globe like a storm.

 Chapter 219 Drawing

    Qin Hao arrived at Du Wanrou''s place.


    She was cooking in the kitchen, a faint scent of food wafting through.


    He curiously walked into the kitchen, "Wow, I didn''t expect you to be good at cooking."


    "It''s quite normal, actually. My mom taught me when I was in junior high," said Du Wanrou as she continued cooking.


    After she finished speaking, she added, "You go wait outside, it''ll be ready soon."


    Qin Hao went outside and turned on the television.


    The TV was broadcasting the noon news.


    "The Federation has announced a tariff list on China involving over a thousand products valued at fifty billion, affecting hundreds of high-tech companies."


    The tariff list targeted many high-tech companies in Xuan Country, aiming to curb the development of Xuan high-tech products.


    "Government forces and rebels in Saiya Country clashed again, resulting in casualties on both sides exceeding twenty people."


    "The European Union has approved retaliatory tariffs on Federation goods."


    "Alright, let''s eat," said Du Wanrou, bringing the food out from the kitchen.


    Qin Hao stood up and smiled, "Let me taste the culinary skills of my girl."


    The food Du Wanrou made was fine, not particularly delicious but passable, and Qin Hao ate a lot.


    After the meal, Qin Hao offered to wash the dishes, but Du Wanrou beat him to it.


    Having such a beautiful and virtuous girlfriend made Qin Hao very pleased.


    Once Du Wanrou finished washing the dishes, Qin Hao eagerly said, "Let''s go rest this afternoon."


    "Naughty, what if my aunt comes back?" Du Wanrou half-heartedly resisted.


    "It''s fine, she won''t come back during working hours," he reassured.


    After he spoke, he picked up Du Wanrou and headed to the bedroom.


    Meanwhile, He Tingting received the system and headed straight back to school to experiment on her own computer.


    However, she realized she didn''t have login permissions!


    She called Qin Hao, but no one answered.


    He Tingting nodded, "And it''s a student from our college."


    Old Professor: "A student from our college? Fourth-year student? I didn''t know we had such a talent."


    ...


    He Tingting: "Not a fourth-year, a first-year freshman."


    "A freshman?" Some were puzzled.


    Then one seemed to realize something, "You''re not talking about Qin Hao, are you?"


    "Mr. Wang, how did you know it was him?" He Tingting was quite surprised.


    Mr. Wang: "He Tingting, do you really think scoring full marks in the unified exam is that simple? Missing by one mark is vastly different, not to mention several dozen marks. It''s not an exaggeration."


    Another added, "Mr. Wang is right. Even if we took the unified exam now, we wouldn''t be confident of scoring full marks. He is a rare genius."


    He Tingting: "Mr. Wang, aren''t you exaggerating a bit?"


    "He Tingting, I once had the privilege of meeting a genius who was the top scorer of the unified exam in a certain province in a certain year, and now works at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He had never dealt with engines before, but after reading about them twice, he understood the principles and could even propose the correct research directions," Mr. Wang explained.


    Such talents were rare, and though there were many high scorers in the unified exam, they often faded into obscurity in university.


    About twenty minutes later, Li Yang drove up to the entrance of Jianghai University.


    Qin Hao got out of the car and walked into the school.


    Once back in his dormitory, he quickly set up permissions for He Tingting on his computer.


    After setting up the permissions, he informed He Tingting, eager to avoid her nagging.


    Just after he had finished, Zhao De walked in, "Second brother, do you guys know how to paint?"


    Chen Ping shook his head, and Qin Hao curiously asked, "What are you planning to do?"


    Zhao De appeared somewhat embarrassed, "Second brother, Xu Lu''s dad is a painter, and I want to date her, so today I met her dad. To impress him, I boasted that I could paint. Unexpectedly, he set me a task to paint a landscape painting for him. If he''s satisfied, he''ll agree to our relationship."


    ...


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; this was the first time he''d heard of such a thing.


    Zhao De: "Second brother, can you paint?"


    "A bit!"


    Zhao De hastily said, "Then could you paint one for me?"

 Chapter 220 I Want to Start a Business

    Qin Hao glanced at him disdainfully, "Didn''t they ask you to paint?"


    Zhao De chuckled, "Big bro, if neither you nor I say anything, who''s going to know it wasn''t me who painted it?


    For your little brother''s lifelong happiness, won''t you help me out?"


    Qin Hao: "I haven''t really painted much either. If it turns out bad, what if your future father-in-law doesn''t like it?"


    Zhao De made a bitter face, "Big bro, I don''t even know how to start painting."


    "Why not go ask a master from the painting club to do it for you?"


    Zhao De replied, "The president of the painting club is his disciple. If I were to ask someone from outside, it would cost at least a few thousand. Big bro, just paint one for me."


    After Zhao De''s persistent requests, Qin Hao nodded and agreed.


    "Big bro, I''ve prepared everything."


    As he spoke, Zhao De took out some items and placed them on the table.


    Qin Hao stood there, unsure, as he didn''t know what landscape painting to create.


    "What''s the matter, big bro?" Zhao De, seeing him motionless, asked curiously.


    Qin Hao: "I''m thinking about which one to do. They didn''t have any specific requests, right?"


    "No, just paint anything."


    After thinking for a bit, Qin Hao reached into his pocket and pulled out some money. He looked through it and then took out a twenty Xuan Country Coin.


    The back of the coin featured a Xilin Mountain and Water landscape painting. The mountains were mystical, the waters picturesque, with an elder rowing a boat and an osprey perching majestically.


    Qin Hao: "How about I paint this one?"


    "Big bro, you''re so talented..." Zhao De was thoroughly impressed, figuratively throwing himself at Qin Hao''s feet.


    Qin Hao placed the coin beside him as a reference.


    He picked up the brush and began painting directly, the image from the back of the coin already fully outlined in his mind.


    Zhao De knew better than to disturb him while he painted, so he stood by quietly, watching without making a sound.


    In less than half an hour, a landscape painting vividly emerged on the paper.


    Zhao De was stunned when he saw it because the landscape painting Qin Hao created was incredibly beautiful.


    The mountains were vividly portrayed, the rivers were winding, the fisherman wore a straw raincoat, and the osprey stood tall on a bamboo pole.


    To Zhao De, everything looked so lifelike. He felt as if he was in the scene, itching to visit that place for himself.


    "Holy crap, big bro, is this what you meant by ''not having painted much''?" Zhao De''s eyes were glued to the painting.


    This painting was far more beautiful than the landscape paintings hung on the walls of Xu Lu''s home.


    And those were all made by famous artists!


    Although he knew nothing about painting, Zhao De could still tell what was visually appealing.


    Qin Hao took a look and felt quite satisfied too: "Taking it out shouldn''t be too embarrassing, right?"


    "Hao can paint too?" The fatty was momentarily stunned.


    Zhao De: "Of course, you underestimate who Hao is¡ªa once-in-a-century young genius, a future pillar of the nation.


    By the way, Hao, do you have a car? Can I borrow it to drive tomorrow? Although it''s already autumn, it''s still a bit hot out."


    Qin Hao laughed speechlessly: "Cut out the flattery, I''ll have someone bring the car to you tomorrow. We can''t lose face of our 301 dorm."


    "Thanks, Hao. If this works out, I''ll treat everyone to a meal," Zhao De gratefully said.


    Qin Hao looked at the fatty and asked, "What did you do all day today?"


    The fatty took a sip of water, sat down on a chair, and said, "Today, Xiao Cui and I went shopping and talked a lot. Hao, I''ve decided I''m going to start a business; otherwise, I''ll drift further and further away from her, and I don''t want to lose her!"


    Chen Ping and Zhao De looked at him in surprise.


    Qin Hao asked, "So, what kind of company do you plan to start? Do you have a target yet?"


    The fatty shook his head: "No, Hao, you have experience. What kind of company should I start?"


    Qin Hao: "That depends on what industry you understand and which you''re interested in."


    "I don''t know," the fatty said awkwardly.


    Qin Hao: "If you don''t know what kind of business to start, you should think about it carefully."


    The fatty nodded, his mind harboring entrepreneurial ideas, but he was still unsure what to pursue.


    Xie Cui''s family dealt in electronic products. He initially wanted to go into that, but later reconsidered.


    ...


    The next morning


    Qin Hao and three others left the dormitory, Zhao De still holding onto a scroll of painting that had dried after last night''s inking, which he had framed a bit.


    It wasn''t long before Qin Hao saw six girls walking toward them.


    The fatty curiously asked, "Hao, which one is your girlfriend?"


    Zhao De: "The prettiest one in the middle."


    "Hao, you''ve got good taste," Chen Ping remarked as he saw Xu Lu.


    Soon, Xu Lu and her group approached.


    Zhao De began, "Lu Lu, let me introduce you. These three are my buddies. This is Qin Hao, Wang Yanghua, and Chen Ping."


    Xu Lu smiled and said, "Hello, I''m Xu Lu."


    "Nice to meet you, sister-in-law."


    Xu Lu''s cheeks turned slightly red. Was it alright to address her so directly?


    Her roommates snickered. These freshmen sure talked interestingly.


    But they weren''t much interested in Qin Hao and the others¡ªthey weren''t handsome and didn''t look like they were rich.


    To them, Zhao De, with his tall and handsome appearance, seemed the most handsome, followed by Qin Hao, Chen Ping, and Wang Yanghua.


    [Update has arrived!]

 Chapter 221 Masters Hand

    Xu Lu''s roommates followed her out, specifically to see if Zhao De''s roommates included any handsome guys.


    Unfortunately, they were somewhat disappointed, although some thought that Qin Hao and his friends weren''t bad.


    They all walked towards the school entrance together.


    On the way, a dainty and delightful girl approached Chen Ping and started talking to him.


    Chen Ping, being shy by nature, blushed slightly, appearing rather embarrassed.


    He only spoke when the girl asked him questions.


    But the girl didn''t mind and continued to chat happily with Chen Ping.


    Seeing this, the chubby one whispered, "Second bro, I think our sixth brother is about to hit the jackpot with the ladies."


    Qin Hao, "Sixth is too shy, and deep down, he feels somewhat inferior. If a girl shows him kindness, he would probably just go along with it, which isn''t good for him; he could easily get hurt.


    When you have time, have someone check out what kind of person this girl is."


    The chubby one, "Second bro, how come you weren''t this concerned when I was dating?"


    "You''ve got a thick skin. Even if you break up, it''s the girl who would be at a loss."


    ...


    In the midst of their conversation, they arrived at the school entrance.


    Suddenly, a honking sound came from behind, and a black Volkswagen drove past them.


    When it reached Zhao De and Xu Lu upfront, the car slowed down, and the window rolled down, revealing a man inside looking at Zhao De and Xu Lu.


    Zhao De gave the man a puzzled glance; he didn''t recognize him.


    Then the man in the car spoke, "Yo, Xu Lu, this is your boyfriend, huh?"


    His tone was disdainful, somewhat looking down on Zhao De.


    Xu Lu''s face immediately turned sour, and she ignored him.


    Zhao De''s expression wasn''t pleasant either, but he managed to hold back from lashing out.


    "Where are you two headed? Need a ride from me?" Zhao Zheng said mockingly.


    Xu Lu replied curtly, "No need, just drive carefully yourself."


    By this time, they were at the school gate.


    Qin Hao waved toward a spot not too far away, and Li Yang and a few others drove up.


    They then stopped at the school entrance, effectively blocking Zhao Zheng''s car.


    Zhao Zheng wanted to curse out loud, but upon seeing the Lamborghini, he immediately held his tongue. Anyone who could afford to drive such a car was not someone he could afford to offend.


    Li Yang and the others got out of their car and respectfully called out to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin!"


    The surrounding people were all stunned, and their eyes slowly turned to Qin Hao, scarcely believing it.


    It took Xu Lu a moment to respond, "Fifteen million."


    "Screech"


    Brakes sounded as Zhao De turned his head towards Xu Lu, "How much did you say?"


    "Fifteen million!"


    Zhao De exclaimed, "Damn, that expensive? I thought it was just a few million..."


    "What exactly does your buddy do, to be driving a fifteen million car!" Xu Lu was very curious.


    Zhao De replied, "I really don''t know."


    "You should learn more, I see you have a good relationship. Have him mentor you properly," Xu Lu suggested.


    Zhao De replied with a wry smile, "You know I love basketball!"


    Xu Lu retorted, "What future is there in playing basketball, unless you become a big domestic star?"


    Zhao De pleaded, "Lu Lu, give me a chance, okay? I really love basketball, I want to be a legend like Jordan or Chamberlain."


    Seeing the spark in his eyes, Xu Lu was deeply moved, "Alright, whatever you do, I''ll support you. I believe you are the best."


    "Heh, my darling."


    Zhao De hugged her head and kissed her fiercely.


    "Stop it, drive now, my dad is still waiting."


    Around nine in the morning, Zhao De drove into a residential area.


    Xu Lu was a local; her father was a painter, not very famous but not bad either, a mid-tier artist.


    Her mother was a pianist, currently performing outside with a team.


    Returning to Xu Lu''s home, Zhao De no longer felt the nerves he had the first time.


    Looking at him, Xu Lu''s father was surprised when he saw the scroll in his hand, "You finished it already?"


    "It''s just a landscape painting. It was done in a few dozen minutes," Zhao De said casually.


    Mr. Xu''s brow furrowed immediately, "When painting, one must be calm and focused, paint with heart, not rush or be impulsive, or you won''t produce a good work."


    Xu Lu quickly interjected, "Dad, why don''t you look at it first? I''ll go get some water for you guys."


    Zhao De handed over the scroll, "Mr. Xu, please have a look." Read exclusive content at empire


    Mr. Xu took the scroll, laid it flat on the coffee table, and spread it out.


    As he saw the Xilin Mountain and Water painting, Mr. Xu was stunned on the spot, his eyes widened in disbelief.


    "This... did you paint this?"


    Seeing his expression, Zhao De felt a bit proud, "That''s right, I painted it yesterday after I went back, working from the background image on the money."


    "How is this possible, this must be the work of a master, it''s so beautiful, just too beautiful, it perfectly captures the essence of Xilin''s mountains and waters," Mr. Xu said, his gaze fixated on the painting.

 Chapter 222 News Spreads

    Xu Lu brought over some water at this point.


    After setting the water down, she glanced at the landscape painting.


    Then she froze, unable to help but admire, "This painting is so beautiful!"


    Having been surrounded by art from a young age, she had some understanding of paintings.


    The skill exhibited in this painting was clearly superior to her father''s!


    As for how advanced it was, she wasn''t quite sure.


    Without lifting his head, Mr. Xu said, "The craftsmanship of this painting is absolutely at a master level; the artistry is profound and remarkable. These mountain peaks, the Li River, are drawn so perfectly, fully capturing the scenery of my hometown."


    "Master level?" Xu Lu was somewhat surprised.


    Zhao De didn''t really understand what ''master level'' meant, so his expression didn''t change.


    Mr. Xu said, "Someone who can paint at this level is one in a million in our country. Just with this skill, if put up for auction, it would fetch at least several hundred thousand."


    "What? How many hundred thousand?" Zhao De''s eyes widened upon hearing this.


    Smiling, Mr. Xu looked at him and said, "You heard right, several hundred thousand. Tell me, who painted it?"


    Zhao De, realizing his cover was blown, didn''t try to hide it any longer because that would only make the other party dislike him more.


    He said, "Mr. Xu, I really like Lu Lu, and indeed the painting wasn''t done by me; it was my classmate who helped me do it."


    "Your classmate?" Mr. Xu was in disbelief.


    How old could his classmate be to have such profound artistic skill?


    Zhao De nodded, "He''s a good brother of mine, ranked second in our dormitory. We all call him ''Second Brother.'' Lu Lu also met him today."


    "He painted this?" Xu Lu was surprised.


    He knows how to paint?


    Mr. Xu could tell that Zhao De wasn''t lying and exclaimed, "A new generation replaces the old, impressive, very impressive!"


    Zhao De, seeing that he had read the room well, quickly said, "Mr. Xu, if you like it, feel free to take the painting. If it''s not enough, I can ask my brother to paint a few more."


    "That would be very embarrassing."


    Although Mr. Xu said this, his eyes and hands never left the scroll.


    He truly loved this painting because his hometown was Xilin, and seeing the painting gave him a sense of kinship. Most importantly, it was definitely the work of a famous artist, worth collecting.


    Zhao De, "It''s nothing, Mr. Xu. It''s just a painting. My brother can whip one up in about fifteen minutes. If you like, I can have him paint a few more some other day."


    "Good, Xiao Lu, go buy some vegetables and meat later. I will cook lunch myself to treat Xiao Zhao."


    Having received such a prized painting, Mr. Xu felt very happy and found Zhao De much more appealing as well.


    The news of Qin Hao acquiring Tianquan Wine Industry still had not been fully contained.


    "Founder of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd, Qin Hao, acquired Tianquan Wine Industry."


    "Is he intending to enter the white liquor industry and compete with Ma Bing?"


    "Has he lost his mind? What does he have to contend with Dayuan Group?" someone incredulously said.


    "Dayuan Group has been pressuring his companies; is this his counterattack?"


    "Although Qin Hao is young, he would not do something foolish; he must have a plan. There might be a good show to watch in Jiangshan," Deng Zhenyuan remarked.


    Ma Bing from Dayuan Group promptly convened a high-level company meeting.


    The focus was to guard against Tianquan Wine Industry, or to be more precise, Xinghui Wine Industry, as the new company name would be adopted in the next few days.


    He also sent out people to investigate the details of the new winery, wanting to know where Qin Hao''s confidence came from to compete with him for market share!


    What trump card did he hold?


    Nowadays, the market share of the white liquor industry in Shuinan Province has been entirely occupied by major liquor companies, leaving no room for a newly established winery to develop, able only to exist in the gaps.


    ...


    Once the news spread, An Linxuan was the first to call Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, the news about your acquisition of Tianquan Winery has leaked!"


    Qin Hao knew it couldn''t be kept secret for long and was unconcerned, "Don''t worry about that, just continue with the preparations."


    An Linxuan replied, "Mr. Qin, the factory preparations are nearly complete. We can start operations in a couple of days. We''ve sent out invitations, inviting friends in Jiangshan for the opening. Will you have time to come back on the opening day, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao responded, "The school is starting its sports event tomorrow, and I''m quite busy. If I can make it, I''ll definitely come back."


    "Alright, Mr. Qin."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao placed a call to Kang Youyi.


    "What''s up, Hao?"


    Qin Hao: "The Xinghui Winery is about to start operations. I''ll send you the secret recipe and the brewing process for Xinghui Wine through the office system later. Then, find a few reliable people to handle these."


    "Got it, Hao."


    The security measures on mobile phones are not strong enough, and someone could buy call records with money. Even regular online chat software did not give him peace of mind.


    The office system he developed, he was fairly confident in.


    It would be nearly impossible for outsiders to breach it.


    After sending the information to Kang Youyi, Qin Hao received a text message from Li Moying, "Master, come and help me!"


    "What''s wrong?" Qin Hao replied in confusion.


    "My stomach hurts, it''s so uncomfortable!" And she sent a pitiful emoji to emphasize her point.

 Chapter 223 Li Moyings Childhood Sweetheart

    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What''s wrong? Did you eat something bad?"


    "No, Master, please come over, Finance Class One."


    Qin Hao replied, "Then wait a moment, I''ll be right over."


    After hanging up the phone, he left the dormitory and then headed towards the Finance College.


    Seven or eight minutes later, he arrived at the Finance College.


    Entering the academic building of the Finance College, he quickly found Finance Class One.


    He walked in, and there were quite a few people in the classroom, both men and women.


    Looking around, he saw Li Mo Ying leaning on the desk.


    Qin Hao walked over to her, and the people in Finance Class One looked curiously at him as a stranger walked in.


    When they saw Qin Hao stop at Li Mo Ying''s place, many were taken aback.


    Qin Hao ignored everyone else''s gazes and asked Li Mo Ying, "What''s wrong?"


    Li Mo Ying, hearing his voice, lifted her head and smiled, "Master, you''re here."


    Qin Hao, looking at her complexion, couldn''t discern any illnesses, "Weren''t you having a stomachache?"


    "It''s much better now. You know how women have those days every month when their stomach hurts." Li Mo Ying chuckled.


    Qin Hao rolled his eyes at her, "It''s good that it''s nothing, then I''m heading back."


    Li Mo Ying quickly grabbed his hand, "Don''t go, Master, it''s almost noon, let me treat you to lunch."


    Suddenly, Qin Hao felt countless gazes converging on him.


    If gazes could kill, he would have died countless times by now.


    Some people''s expressions turned outright sour.


    Many looked towards one of the men in the class.


    In the class, who didn''t know that Tang Feipeng was fond of Li Mo Ying?


    Now Li Mo Ying was even boldly grabbing that guy''s hand.


    Who exactly is this guy?


    Could he be Li Mo Ying''s boyfriend?


    But no one had heard that Li Mo Ying had a boyfriend.


    ...


    "Please, Master?" Li Mo Ying''s tone carried a hint of coquetry.


    Qin Hao, somewhat overwhelmed, quickly responded, "Alright!"


    Only then did Li Mo Ying let go of his hand and stood up from her seat.


    The two of them walked together towards the outside.


    But they hadn''t got far when they were blocked by someone.


    "Yeah, Hao, I''m off to play basketball. After the sports meeting, it''s the basketball tournament, and I definitely need to win a championship for our class," Zhao De said firmly.


    Having said that, he grabbed a basketball and left.


    Fatty was sitting in front of the computer, intently staring at the screen.


    Qin Hao didn''t disturb him, and opened his computer to check the financial system.


    The performance from the day before was already there; combining several stores, the turnover had reached over 1.63 million.


    The profit for just one day had already reached over a million!


    The system''s main mission was monthly profits of fifty million.


    Continue reading on empire


    He still had seventy thousand three hundred achievement points.


    Qin Hao checked the store, where many high-tech products were available for exchange.


    But those items were all high-end, and even if he exchanged them now, they wouldn''t be of much use.


    It would be nice if there were life potions and spirit potions for sale in the store.


    Both of these items could save lives.


    He idly opened the lottery system.


    A single draw now cost five hundred achievement points.


    He directly spent five thousand achievement points for a ten-consecutive draw.


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining a free attribute point."


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining a life potion."


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Special Warfare Soldier Training Manual (Basic)"


    ...


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Junior Agility Gene Potion."


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining a set of Tianli Skincare development technology."


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining Gambling Skill."


    Special Warfare Soldier Training Manual (Basic): Systematically improves the training of soldiers to make them the best of the best.


    Junior Agility Gene Potion: Permanently increases the user''s agility by five points.


    Tianli Skincare: Skincare and cosmetic products that can be used by both women and men, without any side effects, effectively caring for the skin, removing dark spots, wrinkles, blackheads, etc.


    Gambling Skill: Once learned, mastery over gambling is achieved, dominating the gambling houses, seeking only defeat.


    Apart from these, there was also a life potion and a spirit potion, the others were all free attribute points.


    "Stage side mission Legendary Tycoon I launched: Spend ten million Xuan Country Coins online, reward ten thousand achievement points."


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless seeing this side mission, what kind of mission was this? Forcing me to spend money?


    "I got it, big bro, I got it."


    Just then, Fatty''s voice suddenly rang out.

 Chapter 224 The Fat Mans Entrepreneurial Goal

    Qin Hao was startled by the hefty man''s exclamation, "What do you know?"


    The hefty man said with a smile, "Big bro, I''ve figured out what I want to do!"


    "What is it?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    The hefty man took out his phone and said, "Big bro, I''ve thought about it for a long time, and I decided to start an online media company."


    Qin Hao was somewhat astonished, "An online media company?"


    The hefty man nodded, "With the rise of the live streaming industry, there are so many people becoming streamers online, especially on the TT live streaming platform which nearly dominates ninety percent of the internet traffic, attracting an enormous audience."


    Qin Hao, not very knowledgeable about live streaming, said, "If you need funds, just ask, don''t be polite with me."


    The hefty man chuckled, "To start a small guild on the TT live streaming platform, not much is needed, roughly just a hundred thousand or so, I''ll start slowly."


    Qin Hao said, "Having a goal is good, I don''t know much about this industry."


    The hefty man continued, "In reality, many large companies have also entered the live streaming platforms. They invest a fortune in establishing online media companies, signing large-scale streamer artists, and then when there are official events, they splurge to promote their own artists.


    The income split is 5:2:3, the platform takes half of a dollar''s worth of gifts, the guild takes twenty percent, and the streamers get thirty percent. Some top streamers get a higher share."


    Qin Hao listened attentively to what he was saying, nodding slightly.


    The hefty man went on, "Big bro, some top streamers, with the help of their guilds, have started entering the entertainment industry, and their earning capacity is terrifying.


    At first, I planned to start a guild, then hire a few scouts to discover potential new talent, then grow healthily and expand gradually."


    Qin Hao recalled Wang Jian whom he had met at the airport a few days earlier and spoke up, "Be careful when recruiting streamers, don''t just take anyone, those with vulgarity or corrupted values will sooner or later be cracked down on and banned by the state."


    The hefty man nodded, "Yeah, I heard that the government is going to strictly control the live streaming industry. Some vulgar streamers will be banned, and I''m planning to set up both an online and offline media company in the future. I definitely won''t sign those vulgar streamers."


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised, "Your ambition isn''t small, an offline media company isn''t easy to manage."


    The hefty man chuckled, "Just taking it slow. Who knows what the future holds? Having a grand goal is always good."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Just let me know if you need anything, as long as it''s not too much, a million or eight hundred thousand is not a problem."


    The hefty man''s eyes widened, "Big bro, are you that rich?"


    At that moment, Chen Ping returned, carrying a few pieces of clothing, and he didn''t seem very happy when he walked in.


    The hefty man asked out of curiosity, "What''s wrong, number six? Did you get dumped?"


    "Big bro, I want to make money," Chen Ping said as he looked at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao could tell something was amiss from his demeanour and frowned slightly, "What''s the matter? That girl thinks you don''t have money?"


    "Over ten million."


    Xu Siyao said, "That expensive, my dad definitely wouldn''t be willing to buy me such a nice car."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "You don''t have much to do anyway, just going to school. What''s the use of having such a good car? Let''s go, don''t let Mr. Xu wait anxiously."


    Xu Siyao drove in front, and Qin Hao followed behind with his three cars.


    About half an hour later, they arrived inside a villa community.


    The cars stopped at the entrance; at that moment, Xu Jiekang just happened to come out of the house, accompanied by a few bodyguards.


    Seeing Qin Hao dressed in a suit and getting out of the Lamborghini, he was taken aback.


    The Qin Hao he saw now was very different from the Qin Hao he had met before.


    Now, Xu Jiekang could feel an intangible aura emanating from him, one that ordinary people could not possess.


    Even some company CEOs didn''t have this kind of presence.


    He had seen this kind of aura on certain tycoons in the business world.


    "Mr. Xu!"


    Qin Hao stood there and spoke in a calm tone.


    Xu Jiekang nodded, "It''s about time, let''s go."


    Xu Jiekang''s car was a black Mercedes, which looked solid and imposing.


    This matched his personality.


    Xu Siyao spoke up, "Dad, I''m riding with Qin Hao, I''m tired of your car."


    Xu Jiekang showed a wry smile, "As you wish."


    After getting into the car, Qin Hao and Xu Siyao sat in the back, and then the car slowly left the community.


    Six twenty-five PM.


    Their convoy stopped in the parking lot of Jinxiu Hotel in the city center.


    The parking lot was filled with luxury cars, the cheapest among them worth several million.


    As they got out of the car, Xu Jiekang came over and said, "Tonight''s attendees are all big names and seniors from the Jianghai business world, with company assets of at least tens of billions. There''s a very important person coming tonight, as a welcome ceremony."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, curious in his heart. What kind of person warranted such grand arrangements?

 Chapter 225 Yang Su

    Xu Jiekang walked in the middle, with Qin Hao and Xu Siyao by his side.


    "Mr. Xu, long time no see."


    Just a few steps in, Xu Jiekang encountered an acquaintance.


    Xu Jiekang smiled in response, "Mr. Guo, it''s been a long time. You look even younger."


    "Mr. Xu flatters me, and this must be Xiao Yao, growing more beautiful by the day," complimented Mr. Guo to Xu Siyao.


    After speaking, he noticed Qin Hao and asked curiously, "Mr. Xu, who might this be?"


    Xu Jiekang introduced, "This is Qin Hao, the chairman of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd, a rising star in Jianghai. I brought him today to broaden his horizons. Xiao Hao, this is Mr. Guo from Wo Hu Group. Almost all the modern buildings and high-rise residential complexes in Jianghai City use elevators developed by Mr. Guo''s company."


    He did not mention his relationship with Qin Hao.


    This made Guo Jie even more curious, he glanced at Xu Siyao and seemed to be thinking about something.


    Qin Hao took the initiative to greet him, his tone neither humble nor overbearing, "Mr. Guo, hello, I hope for your support in the future."


    Guo Jie replied, "Xiao Hao, you''re too polite. Of course, let''s go inside, many old friends have not been seen for a long time."


    He hadn''t heard of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd and didn''t pay it much mind.


    As they moved further in, many greeted Xu Jiekang along the way.


    Although Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group isn''t that large in scale, its background cannot be ignored, and no one dares to offend it.


    This is also why so many people took the initiative to greet him.


    Xu Jiekang''s business capacity isn''t very strong, but his background is what allowed him to reach this scale.


    No one dares to offend him, and no one will offend him!


    If it were anyone else, Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group would definitely be stronger, even dominating the southern market.


    Of course, Xu Jiekang didn''t start the company just to make money, but to search for the legendary Spiritual Medicine.


    He hadn''t found the Spiritual Medicine but had met Qin Hao; perhaps this was fate.


    Entering the Jinxiu Hotel, two lines of young women in red cheongsams stood on either side of the red carpet, smiling at the guests.


    The venue was closed off, only receiving the guests of the night.


    Xu Jiekang and his companions arrived at the elevator, where quite a few people were waiting.


    A mature and full-figured woman saw Xu Jiekang and smiled, "Mr. Xu, it''s been a long time."


    Xu Jiekang''s expression was neutral as he nodded slightly, "Mr. Yang, long time no see."


    After saying this, Xu Jiekang didn''t seem eager to continue the conversation.


    "Mr. Xu, Mr. Yang, long time no see," someone in the reception room greeted them out of their own initiative.


    Xu Jiekang, normally just nodding without speaking, now would walk over and exchange a few words because of Qin Hao''s presence, then introduce Qin Hao to them.


    By doing this, those people understood what he meant; they took note to help Qin Hao if he needed anything in the future.


    Yang Su followed all along, observing Xu Jiekang''s high regard for Qin Hao, and couldn''t help but take an extra glance at him.


    When she also saw Xu Siyao nearby, her thoughts quickly turned: could he be Si Yao''s boyfriend?


    Otherwise, why would Xu Jiekang go to such lengths for Qin Hao?


    Xu Jiekang took him around for nearly half an hour, meeting with eighty percent of the people present.


    The smile on Qin Hao''s face was almost frozen.


    After it was over, he breathed a sigh of relief and found a quiet place to sit down.


    Xu Siyao sat beside him, drinking a bottle of juice, "Just looking at you is exhausting; I really don''t know how you managed to keep it up."


    Qin Hao, "I hope this is the last time."


    Xu Siyao, seeing Yang Su standing with her father not far away, muttered, "Sly fox."


    Qin Hao couldn''t help but ask, "I think Mr. Yang is pretty nice; why do you have such a big problem with her?"


    Xu Siyao replied, "You don''t know; she''s always clinging to my dad trying to get together with him. Wouldn''t you say she''s a sly fox?"


    ...


    Qin Hao: "Does she have a husband?"


    Xu Siyao, "He died a long time ago."


    Qin Hao, realizing, "Don''t you think they''d be quite a good match?"


    "A good match? Match for what? I certainly don''t want that sly fox to be my step-mother," Xu Siyao said with conviction.


    Qin Hao: "But your dad likes her, too."


    Xu Siyao: "Likes her? How is that possible? Haven''t you seen that my dad doesn''t really pay much attention to her?"


    Qin Hao could tell that Yang Su was a decent person, and he could also sense Xu Jiekang''s fondness for her.


    The biggest obstacle between them was Xu Siyao.


    Such matters Xu Jiekang couldn''t voice, and Yang Su couldn''t possibly convince her.


    Yet, Qin Hao felt that he might have some hope in persuading her.


    While sipping his drink, he said, "I think your dad is considering your feelings. He knows you don''t like Mr. Yang, so he dares not appear too affectionate. Don''t you think your dad has been truly happy living alone all these years?


    And speaking of Mr. Yang''s character, how long has she been pursuing Mr. Xu? Have you ever seen such a sly fox?"

 Chapter 226 Shock

    Xu Siyao was taken aback by his words.


    "Do you think your dad is happy?"


    She had never considered this question, and had it not been for Qin Hao mentioning it today, she might never have asked herself this.


    There was also Yang Su. As far as Xu Siyao knew, Yang Su had had feelings for her father for seven or eight years and was still persevering!


    Her thoughts were in chaos at this moment!


    Seeing her reaction, Qin Hao spoke up, "Actually, Mr. Yang is quite a decent woman."


    Xu Siyao looked at Yang Su in the distance.


    For some reason, seeing her slender figure now made Xu Siyao''s nose slightly tingle with sadness, and she felt somewhat guilty.


    Seven or eight years of perseverance!


    Enduring countless mockeries!


    Yet, she had not given up.


    Perhaps she had already touched my father''s heart, but for my sake, he had never accepted her.


    My mother has been gone for a long time; it really is time for my father to find someone to spend the rest of his days with.


    "Qin Hao, thank you," said Xu Siyao, her eyes brimming with tears, her tone sincere.


    Qin Hao had not expected her to come around so quickly and replied with a smile, "Don''t be so formal; Mr. Xu has been very good to me. I''m just doing what I should."


    At this moment, a group of people walked in from outside.


    Qin Hao and Xu Siyao both turned their heads to look. When they saw who it was, Qin Hao''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    He recognized one of them, whom he had just met that day.


    "The one in the middle is the General Manager of Tang Group. Next to him is his son, Tang Feipeng, a renowned newcomer in the business world. The companies under Tang Feipeng now have an annual revenue exceeding one billion. He''s really impressive," Xu Siyao explained to him.


    At this moment, Tang Feipeng was dressed in formal attire with a smile on his face. He seemed modest, polite, and charming.


    "Mr. Tang, long time no see."


    "Mr. Tang, still as distinguished as ever."


    ...


    A chorus of flattering and complimentary remarks filled the air.


    Tang Group was an old and established enterprise in Jianghai City, involved in real estate, finance, entertainment, catering, export trade, and many other sectors. With over a dozen listed subsidiaries, total assets in the hundreds of billions, it was a renowned giant in the business world!


    Tang Zhongqian responded with a smile and then walked into the banquet hall.


    Afterward, Qin Hao saw Tang Feipeng come out, mingling and laughing with the heads of various companies, exuding an extraordinary presence.


    Tang Zhongqian, meanwhile, was chatting and laughing with a few old friends.


    He didn''t need to personally deal with those people, leaving it to his son was perfect; it was good training for him as well.


    Looking at Li Moying, he said, "Mo Ying, come with me to meet some uncles and seniors."


    "Why are you so annoying? Go meet them if you want, what''s that got to do with me?" Li Moying said with a disgusted expression.


    Tang Feipeng''s expression was extremely dark. He turned to Qin Hao, and enunciated each word carefully, "I gave you a chance, but you didn''t cherish it."


    "Opportunities are to be seized on one''s own, not given by someone else," Qin Hao said calmly, sipping his drink.


    "Get lost, get out of here right now, or I''ll make you crawl out," Tang Feipeng said somberly, the coldness in his voice was palpable.


    His hands pressed on the table, veins bulging!


    Upon hearing this, Xu Siyao''s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she stood up to say, "Mr. Tang, you don''t yet have the authority to order the people my dad brought."


    Not far off, Xu Jiekang, Yang Su, Li Xutian, and Tang Zhongqian all turned their attention this way.


    Because almost everyone was looking in Qin Hao''s direction, Li Xutian and Tang Zhongqian were curious about what these people were staring at!


    Seeing his daughter sitting with Qin Hao, and noting Tang Feipeng''s dark expression, it was as if he had realized something, and his brows slightly furrowed.


    Xu Jiekang and Yang Su came over.


    He glanced at Tang Feipeng, then turned to his daughter, "Siyao, what''s going on?"


    Xu Siyao reported truthfully, "Dad, he said to make Qin Hao get out, or else make him crawl out."


    Xu Jiekang looked at Qin Hao, who had no expression on his face and didn''t seem angry at all, but that calmness was chilling.


    "Slap"


    A loud, crisp slap rang out in the banquet hall.


    The entire banquet hall was silent, everyone held their breath, disbelieving what they had just witnessed.


    Tang Feipeng''s eyes widened in disbelief, a clear handprint on his right cheek.


    Qin Hao also looked at Xu Jiekang with some surprise.


    Because that slap had come from him!


    At that moment, Qin Hao felt that Xu Jiekang was too domineering, completely overturning what he had thought of him.


    Xu Jiekang''s tone was icy, "A honored guest of the Xu Family is not to be insulted."


    Surprise flashed in Yang Su''s eyes. She had not expected Xu Jiekang to strike Tang Zhongqian''s son for the sake of Qin Hao.


    And there was that statement he made, "a honored guest of the Xu Family"¡ªthe implications of those words were profound.


    Her eyes sparkled with fascination.


    Li Moying, Li Jianjun, and Li Xutian were all very shocked!


    With the Xu Family making a firm stand in such a setting, just what was Qin Hao''s relationship with them?


    Many people directed their gaze toward Xu Siyao!


    Could it be that he is the future son-in-law of the Xu Family?

 Chapter 227 The Internet Oligarchs

    Although the Tang Group has a significant influence in the Jianghai Business World, its background simply cannot compare with that of the Xu Family.


    Tang Zhongqian''s reaction was swift. With a cold face, he walked over and kicked his own son, "You bastard, aren''t you going to get lost right now, making a fool out of me here?"


    Tang Feipeng knew the Xu Family was not to be trifled with, and his father was seeking a way out.


    He bowed his head and turned to leave.


    "Wait, apologize to Mr. Xu and this young friend," Tang Zhongqian suddenly said.


    Tang Feipeng, a standout of the younger generation, knew when to yield and when to stand tall.


    He bowed and said, "Mr. Xu, Mr. Qin, I apologize for losing my composure just now."


    Though Tang Feipeng had been slapped, he still bowed his head to apologize, displaying a very humble attitude.


    If Xu Jiekang were to pursue the matter further, it would appear overly aggressive.


    Tang Zhongqian proved himself a sly old fox of the business world; every word he spoke was impeccable.


    Xu Jiekang looked at Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, you decide on this matter."


    Qin Hao stood up, smiling as he said, "Mr. Xu, since Mr. Tang has recognized his mistake, let''s just leave it at that."


    "Thank you for your generosity, now get out," he said to Tang Feipeng after expressing gratitude.


    Tang Feipeng left dejectedly.


    Tang Zhongqian still appeared very calm, jovial as if it was not his son who had just been slapped, "I apologize everyone, my young son is ignorant and caused some amusement. Please, continue."


    After finishing, he returned to his previous conversation.


    Qin Hao felt a slight surprise at his performance, without a hint of anger showing.


    The old man''s depth of strategy was chilling.


    Thinking of this, Qin Hao raised his guard. With someone like that, you never know when they might strike from the shadows, leaving you devastated.


    Li Xutian gave Qin Hao a meaningful look and then left as well.


    He had not expected Qin Hao to be so closely connected with the Xu Family.


    Fortunately, he had not done anything too outrageous previously, or it would have strained his relationship with the Xu Family.


    Li Jianjun was even more shocked; he had originally thought Qin Hao was just good at playing games, but now realized that his backing was so formidable.


    ...


    Xu Jiekang looked at Qin Hao and said, "I''m sorry, Xiao Hao."


    Qin Hao understood the implication: by tonight''s events, he had thoroughly offended the Tang Family, and from now on, they would certainly seek ways to move against him in secret.


    This was the source of Xu Jiekang''s remorse.


    Qin Hao quickly said, "Mr. Xu, it''s not your fault at all."


    Yang Su was puzzled. What exactly was his relationship with the Xu Family? It seemed that Jiekang greatly valued Qin Hao''s reactions and attitude.


    Could it be that he knew the patriarch of the Xu Family?


    Qin Hao sat in a chair, gazing at the infinite expanse of stars, feeling like with his arms outstretched, he could embrace the entire night sky.


    "Sorry Master, I didn''t mean to offend."


    Li Mo Ying apologised with some regret by his side.


    All of this had started because of her, and she felt very guilty.


    Gazing at the night sky, Qin Hao said indifferently, "What''s done is done, apologies are useless. The Tang Family may be powerful, but I fear nothing. Who can say what the future holds?"


    "Master, what''s your relationship with Miss Xu? I see that Mr. Xu cares a lot about your attitude," Li Moying asked curiously.


    Qin Hao, "We''re pretty good friends."


    At that moment, Xu Siyao also ran up and sat down beside Qin Hao and Li Moying.


    Seeing her demeanor, Qin Hao knew she must have spoken her mind. What would happen between Xu Jiekang and Yang Su was now up to fate.


    "Which big shot is coming tonight?" Qin Hao asked with curiosity.


    Li Moying replied, "The founder of Aba Net Shopping, Lv Tian, a tycoon of Xuan Country''s internet, the wealthiest man in the country."


    Qin Hao was taken aback; no wonder so many bigwigs from the Jianghai Business World had shown up tonight¡ªthey were all here to meet Lv Tian.


    He often saw Lv Tian''s name online, on television, and in the newspapers.


    His fame surpassed that of some A-list celebrities!


    Especially his quote that had become a trending phrase online: "I''ve never touched money; I have no interest in money!"


    ...


    Qin Hao didn''t return to the banquet hall; he had already achieved his purpose for attending tonight.


    Almost everyone present knew of his relationship with the Xu family, and that was enough.


    The evening came to a close around eight o''clock.


    After saying goodbye to Xu Jiekang, he headed straight back to school.


    When he got back to his dorm, it was almost nine o''clock.


    Zhao De was chatting with his Lu Lu, and Fatty was still focused on his online media company.


    Chen Ping was tapping away on his computer.


    "Big Brother is back."


    Upon seeing him return, Chen Ping and the others hurriedly greeted him.


    Qin Hao, "It''s late, don''t play on the computer anymore. It''s bad for your eyes, rest early."


    "Big Brother, take a look at the office system I modified, what do you think?" Chen Ping said to him.


    Qin Hao walked over to take a look, his eyes widened in surprise, "Did you do this yourself this afternoon? You figured out those complex codes on your own?"


    Chen Ping nodded, "Understood some of it, but there are still many parts I''m not too clear on."


    Qin Hao was astounded by his computer talent. Without any instruction, he had managed to make sense of it on his own, a truly frightening gift.


    ```

 Chapter 228 Sports Day

    Qin Hao planned to work on high-tech products in the future.


    He couldn''t handle it alone and would definitely need to recruit a team eventually.


    Chen Ping''s talent in computers was quite impressive, definitely worth developing.


    The next day, the school sports day was held as scheduled.


    The school was adorned with promotional banners, looking cheerful and festive.


    The stadium was already full of people, with each class having its own designated area, large enough to accommodate dozens of classes.


    In Class One of the Computer Science Major, He Tingting told everyone, "Let''s give it our all and aim for first place. While I''m away, Ning Yao and Qin Hao will maintain order in the class."


    "Alright, teacher," Ning Yao responded hastily.


    He Tingting glanced at Qin Hao and then left.


    Qin Hao and the chubby boy sat together, while Xu Siyao was on the other side.


    Ning Yao distributed the participant numbers, and Qin Hao had one too, which read 0168.


    The chubby boy, curious, asked, "Bro, what events did you sign up for?"


    Qin Hao replied, "The 100 meters and 200 meters dash."


    "Wow, bro, are you planning to show us a bit of ''Fast and Furious''?" the chubby boy joked.


    "Qin Hao, can you handle it?" Xu Siyao looked at his slender physique, a bit skeptical.


    Qin Hao smiled lightly and said, "It''s the participation that counts."


    Zhao De wanted to say something but held back. He had played basketball with Qin Hao once and had some idea of his speed.


    Incredibly fast, even he couldn''t guard him.


    But that was different from a 100 meters dash, so he wasn''t sure if Qin Hao could handle it.


    Their class was flanked by Class Two of the Computer Science Major on the right and the freshman class of the Physical Education Major on the left.


    "All the champions of this sports meet will undoubtedly belong to our Physical Education Major." someone on that side declared.


    "All the other classes are just nerds with no real strength, how can they compare with us?"


    Counting freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, the Physical Education Major had only three classes, not many people.


    Each year, the Physical Education Major scooped up eighty percent of the championships, as sports was their forte.


    At that moment, the vice chancellor of Jianghai University''s voice came through the loudspeaker, "Everyone, please quiet down."


    Instantly the entire stadium fell silent, many people turning their heads towards the dais.


    "The 113th Jianghai University Annual Sports Meet is held today as scheduled..."


    The vice-chancellor spoke at length, merely discussing the long history and current influence of Jianghai University.


    After that person finished, He Duozhi started to speak.


    On the dais, not only were there leaders from Jianghai University, but also officials from the Jianghai Sports Bureau and representatives from the city''s professional sports teams.


    They were here to watch Jianghai University''s sports meet and to scout for promising athletes.


    "Come on, aim for the first place in the group," someone in his class said. Find your next read at empire


    "Haha, you dream of first place with us around?" a disdainful voice from the sports major sneered nearby.


    "What do you mean?" someone from Qin Hao''s class disliked his tone.


    The person mocked lightly, "I mean your class is trash."


    "Enough, Li Bing, why are you getting serious with them?" another from the sports major said.


    Though he didn''t say much, his disdain was clear.


    At Jianghai University, many students who were admitted through regular exams looked down on the specially recruited ones.


    Similarly, those specially recruited didn''t take a liking to those students either.


    Li Bing: "I won''t stoop to argue with you trash. If you don''t like it, see you on the track and show you the real gap."


    "Acting tough, it''s not like you''ve never been beaten," a chubby guy also replied irritably.


    The people from Computer Science Class One felt a bit stifled. In terms of athletic competitions, they really couldn''t compare to Li Bing''s class.


    Being called trash, they had no words to argue.


    ...


    Ding Xue returned; he had advanced to the preliminaries as the second in his group, winning a round of applause.


    Soon, Li Jian also returned; he was eliminated with a fifth-place result in his group, looking somewhat dejected.


    The first place was a third-year student from the sports class, even faster than Wang Kai from just before.


    Li Bing from the freshman sports class couldn''t help but laugh after seeing that, "Impressive, managing to get the fifth place in the group race."


    "What the hell do you mean, looking for trouble?" Li Jian was already in a bad mood when he heard Li Bing''s mockery, and he lashed out.


    "What, you want to fight?" Li Bing was not at all afraid.


    "Screw it, who''s afraid of whom?" Li Jian charged to hit Li Bing.


    But he was held back by those around him.


    Ning Yao quickly said, "Li Jian, calm down, this is a sports meet."


    "Let me go, fuck, stop acting," Li Jian was very impulsive, and almost nobody could hold him back.


    Qin Hao stood up and walked over; after all, He Tingting had left him and Ning Yao in charge here.


    He held Li Jian and said, "Participation is more important than ranking in a sports meet. That guy just ate shit, no need to stoop to his level."


    Li Jian looked at Qin Hao. He wanted to react, but his shoulders felt like they were being pressed down by a mountain; he couldn''t move at all.


    "Consider yourself lucky," Li Jian finally backed off.


    Li Bing laughed and said, "Trash will always find excuses for failure."


    "Great, rankings don''t matter, that''s so noble, truly befitting a scholar," someone beside Li Bing alsomocked.


    "Don''t bother flaunting words here, show what you''ve got on the field," the sports class monitor also spoke up.


    Qin Hao turned to look at them, and said in an even tone, "The field? I am not targeting any one of you in particular, I just want to say that everyone present is trash."

 Chapter 229 Hundred Meter Record

    Students from the Computer Science class and the Sports class were stunned upon hearing his words.


    Holy cow!


    He actually said they were trash on the sports field right in front of the Sports class?


    Li Jian was also shocked.


    He hadn''t expected the usually quiet Qin Hao to act so boldly and fluently.


    Ning Yao, Xu Siyao, and a few others were also stunned.


    They were somewhat confused: the usually composed and calm Qin Hao was being so impulsive today?


    The captain of the Sports class, Tian Fei, laughed, "You didn''t sign up for the sports events, did you?"


    "Ha ha, no wonder he''s saying this, this guy probably didn''t even sign up."


    "Look at his frail body, he''d probably start coughing up blood after running a few steps."


    ...


    Qin Hao said, "100 meters, 200 meters sprint¡ªif you guys can win first place,


    from now on I''ll walk around you when I see you. But if I win first place, let him apologize to Li Jian."


    Tian Fei said, "Fine, we won''t bully you. If you win first place in either the 100 or 200 meters, I''ll consider it your win."


    "Will competitors 0168, 0218... please enter the field."


    Qin Hao checked his number, and it was just as he said.


    "Go for it, big bro." Zhao De shouted loudly.


    "Go Qin Hao," Xu Siyao also cheered him on.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, then turned and walked towards the field.


    At the same time, someone from the sophomore Sports class also came out, his number was 0218.


    The freshmen didn''t recognize this person, but sophomores and juniors did.


    He was the runner-up of last year''s university track meet''s 100-meter sprint, missed the first place by just a few hundredths of a second.


    You should know, during last year''s sports meet, he was just a freshman.


    A freshman who defeated countless sophomores and juniors to become the 100-meter sprint runner-up¡ªthat was terrifying.


    After a year of systematic training, his speed had become even more terrifying.


    Inside the Computer Science class.


    "This time there''s another guy from Sports, and he''s even a sophomore." someone said disheartenedly.


    Typically, if there are people from Sports, first place is always theirs, leaving no chance for others.


    "It''s over, there''s also a third-year from Sports; it''s going to be tough for Qin Hao to even make it to the top three."


    Li Bing said sarcastically, "Do you know who 0218 is? He''s the runner-up of the last university track meet''s sprint.


    He missed first place by just a few hundredths of a second, and back then he hadn''t even undergone systematic training; this year, he''s probably even stronger."


    ...


    But now, he had no choice but to give his all to defend his first-place position in the group.


    Qin Hao was also accelerating.


    "Go Qin Hao,"


    "Go Qin Hao,"


    The students of Computer Science Class 1, seeing this scene, were blood-boiling and shouted in unison to cheer him on.


    The entire playground could hear their class''s cheers.


    Was that person a freshman from Computer Science Class 1?


    In just a few seconds, Tian Liang not only failed to close the distance but fell even further behind.


    Realizing this, Tian Liang slowed down a bit and ceased to chase.


    He needed to prepare for the upcoming finals.


    At last year''s school sports event, just like Qin Hao now, he had used all his strength in the group races, which impacted his finals performance.


    If he had conserved some energy during the group races, the championship might have been his.


    Competitive sports is not just a race of speed but also a contest of mindset and intellect.


    At the finish line, Qin Hao was the first to cross, followed by Tian Liang and a senior from the third-year sports class.


    The computer class''s hefty students roared with cheers.


    First-place time: 11¡ä¡ä12.


    Second-place time: 12¡ä¡ä23


    Seeing the time, Qin Hao had little reaction; he steadied his breath and headed back to his class.


    But the nearby referee teachers were dumbfounded.


    11 seconds 12?


    He remembered clearly; the Jianghai University school sports event record for the 100 meters was 11 seconds 45.


    "Congratulations to Qin Hao, number 0168 from Computer Science Class 1, for breaking the school''s sports event 100-meter record,"


    Suddenly a voice resounded from the loudspeaker.


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao paused briefly then continued walking back.


    Not far behind him, Tian Liang watched him with a complex look in his eyes.


    He hadn''t expected Qin Hao to break the school sports event record.


    This was a formidable opponent, igniting fierce combativeness in him, ''See you at the finals!''


    When Qin Hao returned to his class, a round of cheers erupted.


    Ning Yao and Xu Siyao each handed him a bottle of water; Qin Hao took them with a smile, "Thanks."


    "Big bro is awesome, broke the school sports event sprint record right off the bat,"


    Having said that, the hefty guy looked towards Li Bing and others, "Not acting tough now, huh? Know how formidable my big bro is? A champion is nothing; he can break records any minute."


    ...

 Chapter 230 Ten Billion Investment

    ```


    Many in Computer Science class one looked at the neighboring PE class with smug expressions in their eyes.


    Upon seeing this, Tian Fei and others felt irritated, but they were unable to argue back.


    Qin Hao sat in his seat, unscrewed his water bottle, and took a sip.


    Although his physique was several times stronger than that of an ordinary person, after running the 100 meters, he too felt a bit tired.


    On the main stand,


    a short-distance running coach from a city professional sports team spoke up, "Tian Liang has shown significant improvement. If he performs well in the finals, we can recruit him into the city professional sports team."


    The people next to him nodded slightly.


    "That Qin Hao is even more terrifying. Without any training, he ran eleven seconds. With a bit of training, it shouldn''t be difficult to break ten seconds, and he even has a great chance to get into the nine-second range."


    After saying this, the short-distance running coach looked toward the nearby Director of Education, "Mr. Wang, we would like to have this student as well."


    "This Qin Hao is a tough case," Mr. Wang replied.


    Short-distance running coach: "Why? His sprinting ability is very strong. With systematic training, he definitely has the potential to compete for a world championship, which would be a great honor for our country."


    Mr. Wang: "Mr. Guo, Qin Hao is this year''s national top scholar, a genius with a perfect score on the unified exam. He is a pillar of the country''s future. Asking him to run would likely meet with opposition from our principal."


    ...


    There were no men''s 200 meter events in the morning, they were scheduled for the afternoon instead.


    After returning, Qin Hao just sat there watching the field.


    "Big Brother, I have something to discuss with you. Shall we step outside to talk?" Fatty whispered beside him.


    Qin Hao glanced at him and nodded.@@@@


    He turned to Ning Yao and said, "I have something to take care of and will be back shortly."


    Ning Yao: "Okay, come back soon."


    Qin Hao left the stadium with Fatty, and Xu Siyao followed them after watching for a moment.


    Once outside the stadium, under the shade of trees, Qin Hao said, "Out with it."


    Fatty seemed to have difficulty speaking.


    Seeing his hesitance, Qin Hao frowned slightly, "What''s wrong? This hesitation doesn''t suit you."


    Fatty: "Big Brother, I was planning to start an online media company, right?


    I just found out that if you want to open a guild on the TT Live broadcasting platform, the minimum registered capital for an online media company is one million. I didn''t expect it to be this much, so I''m short on funds.


    I haven''t even mentioned this to Xiao Cui, I know she has money, but I can''t take hers."


    Qin Hao gave a faint smile, "And here I thought it was something serious. Give me your account info, I''ll transfer the money to you. Consider it an investment from me."


    Xu Siyao''s face showed shock, "That much?"


    Qin Hao nodded. Artificial intelligence robots need a lot of chips, and just investing in one chip production line costs upwards of two billion.


    He needed to set up at least three chip production lines, and then there was the robot production line and so on.


    The ten billion investment was his minimum estimate.


    With high investment comes naturally high returns.


    Once the factory is built, the profits will be equally terrifying, unimaginable.


    After considering for a few days, Qin Hao finally decided to pull in a few people with strong backgrounds to join the partnership, and also ensure that they wouldn''t affect his management rights.


    If the Xinghai first-generation intelligent robots really were developed.


    Qin Hao didn''t dare to guarantee that those towering figures in politics and business wouldn''t be green with envy.


    At that time, with just a little manipulation from them, it would be something he couldn''t withstand; he had no background, that was his biggest vulnerability.


    That''s why he decided to pull in a few partners; their backgrounds had to be strong, and they also needed to have money.


    The Xu Family was the first candidate he considered; the Xu Family''s background was strong enough, but they might not have that much capital, and he would still need to pull in a few more people to join.


    But other than knowing Xu Siyao, there was Li Moying.


    Li Moying''s father didn''t have a good impression of him, so he probably wouldn''t agree to invest so much money in him.


    Thinking of all this, Qin Hao felt somewhat troubled.


    Seeing his expression, Xu Siyao, who didn''t look like she was joking, said, "I''ll go back and talk to my dad about it."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "How are Mr. Xu and Ms. Yang doing?"


    Xu Siyao said with a smile, "They are doing well, thank you. My dad really hasn''t had an easy time by himself, he needs someone like Ms. Yang."


    "Qin Hao, my friend."


    While they were talking, a middle-aged man suddenly walked over.


    Qin Hao and Xu Siyao turned to look. They didn''t know the man, but he wore a badge around his neck.


    Jianghai City Sports Team, coach Wang Wei.


    "Mr. Wang, may I ask what''s the matter?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Wang Wei said with a smile, "I was watching your race just now, and your explosive power and speed are very fast.


    Continue your journey with empire


    However, you''re slightly lacking in the start and professionalism. If you undergo systematic training, you definitely have the opportunity to become an outstanding sprinter in the domestic athletics.


    I wonder if you are interested in joining our Jianghai City Sports Team?"


    [Another chapter is coming, please recommend and reward!]

 Chapter 231 Special Training

    Qin Hao heard Wang Wei''s words, looked surprised for a moment, and said with a smile, "I''m sorry, Mr. Wang, but I''m not interested in pursuing a career in sports."


    "Qin Hao, you probably don''t know your own potential. With proper training, you could be the next big star in Xuan Country."@@@@


    Qin Hao: "I''m sorry, Mr. Wang, but I really don''t have that in mind."


    Seeing his firm stance, Wang Wei still wanted to persuade him.


    "Mr. Wang, you don''t need to say anymore; I''m really not interested."


    After he finished speaking, Qin Hao turned around and walked back with Xu Siyao.


    The cheers at the sports field were continuous. Everyone had already gotten into the spirit, cheering and boosting morale for their classmates.


    As the two were about to return to the sports field, a few people came out from inside.


    Huo Qiang, Song Yushu, Sun Feng, and Wu Jun, all laughing and talking, walked out.


    When these four saw Qin Hao and Xu Siyao, Sun Feng and Wu Jun flashed a look of jealousy when they saw Qin Hao.


    The exit was just that big, and Qin Hao and Xu Siyao didn''t move.


    Wu Jun walked straight toward him, without any intention of dodging.


    Huo Qiang wanted to speak out to warn him, but it was already too late; Wu Jun had already bumped into Qin Hao.


    Continue your adventure with empire


    Qin Hao looked at Wu Jun, his expression calm.


    Xu Siyao frowned, "Are you sick? Didn''t you see the people here?"


    Sun Feng, seeing Xu Siyao standing up for Qin Hao, cursed her under his breath.


    Qin Hao already had a girlfriend, yet you''re still so close to him. Why are women so cheap?


    He had now shifted from love to hate regarding Xu Siyao.


    Unaware of Qin Hao''s skills, Wu Jun, relying on having more people on his side,


    sneered, "Sorry, I indeed didn''t see anyone. There was just a dog in my way."


    "Snap snap"


    Qin Hao slapped Wu Jun across the face, first with a backhand then a forehand, very quickly.


    Wu Jun had no chance to dodge.


    "Ungrateful."


    Wu Jun, who had never been struck like this before, was instantly enraged, "Damn it, you dare hit me."


    "Bang"


    Qin Hao lifted his leg and kicked him in the stomach, knocking him down to the ground.


    "Mm, I know, Hao," Chen Ping nodded earnestly.


    ...


    After finishing talking with Chen Ping, Qin Hao thought for a moment and then made a call to Li Bao.


    "Hao," Li Bao quickly answered the call.


    Qin Hao asked, "How''s the business doing at the company?"


    Li Bao replied, "Not very ideal, ever since Dayuan Group found out that you acquired Tianquan Wine Industry, they''ve started to fully suppress our company.


    The roasted duck company isn''t much affected, no one can shake Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s position in Xuan Country''s catering industry."


    Qin Hao asked, "Are there a lot of people in the company who are idle right now?"


    Li Bao replied, "Yes, Hao, I''m also worried about this, should we disband these people?


    If we don''t send them away, we have to pay to keep them, multiple tens of people, just the salary expenses would be over a hundred thousand a month."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Do you have many people over the age of forty-five there?"


    Li Bao replied, "Not many, most of them are aged between twenty-five and forty."


    Qin Hao said, "Hmm, in the future, don''t hire anyone over forty.


    Tomorrow I''ll have Li Yang and a few others return.


    Then I''ll send you something, it''s a training manual I wrote, anyone who can pass the training will start with at least a salary of ten thousand, and the top performers will start with a monthly salary of one hundred thousand.


    Those who can''t keep up will maintain their original salary. Just train them for me, I''ll handle the money, but remember to have them sign a confidentiality agreement."


    Li Bao was stunned by Qin Hao''s words, "Hao, what are you planning to do?"


    Qin Hao said, "Just follow my instructions. Since we are in the security industry, we must aim to be the biggest and the best.


    I''ll send you five million later; if it''s not enough, let me know."


    Li Bao nodded, although he didn''t know what Qin Hao''s aim was, he felt it must be something extraordinary.


    "Okay, Hao."


    He had just hung up the phone.


    Qin Hao''s phone rang again, it was An Linxuan calling.


    An Linxuan reported the work, "Mr. Qin, everything is ready, the winery can officially open tomorrow."


    Qin Hao replied, "I won''t be able to come back tomorrow, you and Mr. Kang host it, entertain the guests well and manage the winery''s operations."


    An Linxuan replied, "Okay, Mr. Qin."


    Meanwhile, Xu Siyao returned home and found Yang Su was also there.


    "Si Yao, how come you''re home today?"


    Xu Jiekang was a bit embarrassed, although they hadn''t done anything, he still felt his cheeks were somewhat hot.

 Chapter 232 Dream Media

    Yang Su''s demeanor was much better than Xu Jiekang''s.


    She greeted with a smile, looking very cordial, "Siyao is back."


    Xu Siyao nodded, "Hello, Ms. Yang."


    Xu Jiekang and Yang Su were visibly taken aback; Yang Su had visited many times before.


    Every time, Xu Siyao was cold, but today she actually greeted her pleasantly.


    Such a significant change made them somewhat unable to accept it.


    Yang Su was the first to recover, her smile growing even brighter, "Ah, Si Yao, please take a seat. Aunty got you some clothes, come see if you like them."


    Having said that, Yang Su took out several dresses from the bags on the sofa, all of which were brand name clothes.


    There were casual outfits and dresses, and each one was very pretty. Yang Su had taken a long time choosing them.


    Xu Siyao walked over and began to look, her eyes revealing a fondness, "They''re beautiful, thank you, Ms. Yang."


    "If you like them, that''s good, that''s good."


    This was the first time Xu Siyao accepted something Yang Su had bought after countless attempts.


    Xu Jiekang, seeing this situation, wore a relieved expression on his face.


    The reason he had always avoided Yang Su was precisely for fear that Xu Siyao wouldn''t accept her.


    If she didn''t accept Yang Su, even if Xu Jiekang was with her, he would feel uneasy inside.


    Xu Siyao said, "Ms. Yang, why don''t you stay for dinner tonight? Let my dad cook, he''s really good."


    "Yes, yes, sure." Yang Su was somewhat excited.


    She hadn''t expected Xu Siyao would ask her to stay for dinner; it was something she wouldn''t even dare to think of.


    Xu Jiekang said with a smile, "Then I''ll go cook now, and you two can chat a bit."


    After speaking, he got up and walked into the kitchen.


    In the living room.


    Xu Siyao and Yang Su sat on the couch.


    Yang Su began the conversation, "Siyao, I heard your school is holding a sports meet?"


    Xu Siyao nodded her head, "It started today."


    Their conversations usually consisted of Yang Su asking questions and her responding.


    Although she had changed her attitude toward Yang Su, she really didn''t know what to talk about.


    About half an hour later, Xu Jiekang had finished cooking the meal.


    The three of them sat down at the dining chairs and started to eat.


    Xu Siyao began, "Dad, Qin Hao is planning to do a project, and he is short of funds."


    Xu Jiekang was taken aback, "What kind of project is Xiao Hao planning to do? How much is he short of?"


    ...


    Jianghai University freshman dormitory 301.


    It was nearly eight in the evening when fatty returned from outside, holding some documents in his hand.


    "Big bro, I''ve got the contracts all ready for you, just sign them and they''ll be effective," said the fatty as he handed over two contracts to Qin Hao immediately.


    The agreement on equity division was written on them.


    Qin Hao knew that if he didn''t sign, fatty wouldn''t accept his one million.


    He picked up a pen and signed his name.


    Fatty said excitedly, "Big bro, our company''s name is Dream Media, do you think the name is good?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "The name is fine."


    "Tomorrow I''ll sign the contract with TT Live officials, and then the media company can start operating online."


    After speaking, fatty rubbed his hands together with excitement.


    Qin Hao encouraged, "Work hard, and one day make Xie Cui''s parents look at you with new eyes."


    After speaking, Qin Hao sat at the table and began writing in his notebook.


    He needed to write down some of the training items and sequences from the special training manual for Li Yang and others to take away the next day.


    He also had to write down the equipment that was needed.


    ...


    The following morning.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao left the university early.


    Li Yang and several others were waiting outside for him. Seeing Qin Hao approach, they respectfully greeted, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao said, "Mm, you guys take a car back to Jiangshan today. Give this to Mr. Li; this item is very important and must not be lost."


    Li Yang took it, "Rest assured, Mr. Qin, as long as I''m alive, I''ll definitely put it personally in Mr. Li''s hands."


    Qin Hao responded, "Mm, go on then."


    Li Yang hurriedly said, "Mr. Qin, I can go back by myself, let them stay to protect you."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "I''m sending you back with a purpose.


    The company is going to hold training, and those who pass successfully will start at a minimum monthly salary of ten thousand. The top performers in the training will start at a monthly salary of a hundred thousand. I hope you''ll train well and continue to serve as my bodyguards."


    Upon hearing his words, the expressions of Li Yang and the eight others were startled. A monthly salary of ten thousand just for passing the training?


    And that last part, starting at a hundred thousand monthly for the top performers?


    Their expressions turned excited, "Mr. Qin, you''re not kidding us, are you?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Do I look like someone who jokes? Go back and train hard. In a few months, I hope you can still stand by my side."


    [Please vote and support!]

 Chapter 233 Xinghui Winery

    Li Yang and his seven people were all somewhat excited, with a starting monthly salary of one hundred thousand, which meant an annual salary of over a million.


    They had never imagined such an opportunity before.


    For retired special forces like them, they usually served as bodyguards for various bosses, with monthly salaries of around twenty or thirty thousand.@@@@


    Those earning over a hundred thousand were almost non-existent, unless they were exceptionally skilled experts.


    Li Yang said, "Mr. Qin, you need to be careful about your own safety when we''re not around."


    Qin Hao nodded, "I know, you guys should hurry back."


    Li Yang and the other seven people drove off in two cars, leaving the Lamborghini behind.


    Qin Hao drove the car to the university parking lot.


    When he came out, he happened to run into Xu Siyao.


    Xu Siyao saw him and hurriedly called out, "Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao turned his head to look, "Just came from home?"


    Xu Siyao nodded, "Yeah, about what you mentioned yesterday, I talked to my dad, and he says if you''re free at noon, to come over to my house."


    Qin Hao replied, "Sure, I was actually planning to have a detailed discussion with Mr. Xu."


    ...


    Jiangshan.


    That morning at nine o''clock, many cars were parked outside Xinghui Winery.


    Bai Jing, Wang Guanding, Liu Jianming, and others arrived at Xinghui Winery.


    At the entrance of Xinghui Winery, stood more than ten staff members from Flying Leopard Security Company, standing ramrod straight with vigilant eyes.


    They were all there to attend the opening ceremony of Xinghui Winery.


    Many people arrived that day, not only prominent figures from the political world but also big shots from the Jiangshan Business World.


    Even if some did not come in person, they sent secretaries and assistants to attend.


    Although Dayuan Group bore a grudge against Qin Hao, his Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was thriving and was about to cover the entire Jiangshan.


    The most important factor was the connections behind Qin Hao.


    This was the reason most people were here.


    Honestly, many people didn''t have high hopes for Xinghui Winery because Dayuan Group had already gained certain renown in the market.


    Qin Hao''s Xinghui Wine had just begun production, and newly brewed wine typically needed to be stored for a year before it could be sold to ensure its taste.


    In other words, it would be a year before Qin Hao''s Xinghui Wine could compete with Da Yuan Wine.


    A year was a long time, ample for Dayuan Group to implement many countermeasures.


    ...


    But what these people didn''t know was the brewing process of Xinghui Wine; storage for a year before sale?


    That was for ordinary mass-market liquor, but Xinghui Wine didn''t require that.


    Among those present, only Kang Youyi was privy to this information.


    Today was not just the day Xinghui Winery commenced operations, but also the opening of eight Jiangshan Roasted Duck stores simultaneously.


    Now, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company had its training institution, so there were no worries about staffing.


    With seventy to eighty meters left to the finish line, many began to speed up, and the rankings changed rapidly, sending the crowd into a frenzy.


    The cheers in the stadium rose one after the other, creating an electrifying atmosphere.


    Qin Hao''s blood pumped faster, and he felt a rush of adrenaline; he slightly increased his speed to maintain his lead.


    With fifty meters to go, Zhang Ming in second place picked up the pace again.


    The ones behind, trying to catch up, were stunned, "Damn, he can still accelerate?"


    He actually had reserved energy?


    "Go Zhang Ming, go Zhang Ming."


    "Go Qin Hao, go Qin Hao."


    Zhang Ming was closing the gap on Qin Hao; if Qin Hao didn''t speed up, Zhang Ming would overtake him before reaching the finish line.


    That was Qin Hao''s estimation.


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    Qin Hao also accelerated, his legs pushing off the ground with increasing frequency.


    The distance that had been narrowing was starting to widen again.


    At this point, the cheers from the two classes were particularly loud, everyone almost screaming themselves hoarse.


    "Whoosh,"


    "Whoosh,"


    Qin Hao was the first to cross the finish line, followed closely by Zhang Ming.


    "He''s this strong in the two hundred meters too?" Wang Wei, sitting on the main stand, widened his eyes when he saw Qin Hao burst across the finish line first.


    Qin Hao was slightly out of breath as he turned to glance at Zhang Ming.


    Zhang Ming was also looking at him with a hint of disbelief in his eyes.


    Seeing Qin Hao look at him, Zhang Ming slowly walked over, "Let''s get acquainted. My name is Zhang Ming."


    "I''m Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao reached out and shook his hand.


    "Congratulations to Qin Hao from Computer Science Class 1, who broke the men''s 200 meters school sports event record with a time of 20"54. Congratulations to Qin Hao,"


    "Wow,"


    "Another record broken? This Qin Hao is so strong."


    "So handsome, I want to be his girlfriend."


    "The freshmen this year are really impressive."


    ...


    Back in the classroom, Ning Yao handed him a new towel and a bottle of water.


    Most of his classmates looked at him with admiration.


    A girl spoke up, "Qin Hao, you were so cool. Keep it up."


    "Keep it up, Qin Hao. Try to win two championships for our class."


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Thank you, everyone."

 Chapter 234 Li Xutians View

    Returning to his seat, Qin Hao found that Li Moying had somehow ended up sitting there.


    She was talking to Xu Siyao.


    Zhao De had saved him a seat, so Qin Hao sat down.


    He looked at Li Moying and asked, "How did you get over here?"


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    Li Moying replied, "Our class area was as silent as a memorial hall, with none of the atmosphere of a sports event."


    ...


    Memorial hall?


    You really dare to say anything!


    Just as well, Qin Hao was about to look for her, "Actually, there''s something I want to talk to you about."


    "What is it?" Li Moying asked curiously.


    Qin Hao said, "Let''s go outside to talk, it''s not convenient here. Siyao, you come with us, too."


    The three of them were ready to head out of the stadium.


    Suddenly, a voice rang out.


    "Qin Hao."


    The trio turned their heads to see several young and pretty girls looking at him.


    Qin Hao did not recognize the person.


    He asked in confusion, "May I help you?"


    "Um...could we have your contact information?" the girls mustered up their courage to ask.


    Huh?


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, unsure how to refuse.


    Li Moying next to him spoke up, "My master already has a girlfriend, and she''s a knockout. So don''t get your hopes up."


    Hearing her words, a hint of disappointment flashed in the girls'' eyes, and they no longer asked Qin Hao for his contact information.


    Qin Hao hurriedly left the stadium.


    Once outside, Qin Hao and the others headed towards the park at Jianghai University.


    As they walked, Qin Hao said, "I''m planning to start a project and need some more capital, so I was wondering if you might be interested in investing."


    "Master, what kind of project is it?" Li Moying asked curiously.


    Qin Hao replied, "A completely proprietary artificial intelligence robot."


    At those words, Li Moying''s face showed surprise, "Artificial intelligence robot?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "That''s right, I have the technology, but not enough funds."


    Xu Siyao kept silent. She had been listening all along, and she was somewhat surprised to see how readily Li Moying agreed.


    It was tens of billions, not just tens of dollars, and she just agreed like that?


    After their conversation, the three of them then went back.


    Noon.


    Li Moying drove home. She didn''t have that much capital, so she planned to ask her father for it.


    Qin Hao went to Xu Siyao''s house.


    At twelve o-five, Li Moying arrived home.


    Li Xutian and Gu Yusu were both at home.


    As soon as Li Moying entered, she began, "Dad, there''s something I need to talk to you about."


    "What is it?" Li Xutian asked curiously.


    Li Moying said, "I need about three billion in capital. Can you help me prepare it?"


    Li Xutian expressed his astonishment: "Three billion? What do you need so much money for?"


    Li Moying chuckled, "For an investment. You always tell me to learn from my brother, right? I''ve found a project with huge potential, so I want to invest."


    Li Xutian inquired, "What kind of project requires such a large investment? An internet project?


    Is this a Series D or Series E financing round? How many shares are they offering you?"


    Li Moying shook her head: "It''s a company that''s just starting up."


    "A company that hasn''t been established yet?" Li Xutian furrowed his brows.


    Gu Yusu also chimed in, "Mo Ying, is the person starting this company your friend?"


    Li Moying replied, "It''s my master. He''s starting a high-tech company."


    "Are you talking about Qin Hao?" Li Xutian''s frown deepened.


    If it had been before, he wouldn''t have given it a second thought before refusing, but ever since that banquet, he felt he had underestimated Qin Hao.


    He continued to ask, "What kind of high-tech product is Qin Hao planning to make? Is he only asking you to invest?"


    Li Moying answered, "Artificial intelligence robots. The Xu family will invest too, and I estimate they''ll put in no less than two billion.


    Qin Hao has the technology; he just lacks the capital."


    Li Xutian said, "Artificial intelligence robots are a bottomless pit of a project.


    Our family has invested in such projects before, so how did it end up? The technology hit a bottleneck.


    If you keep investing at this point, you might get a return, but there''s also the possibility that it will all sink without a trace.


    If you stop investing, all the money you''ve put in until now will have been for nothing.


    Many of the people who start these enterprises just slap a high-tech label on it and snag a round of financing money.


    Such examples are a dime a dozen."

 Chapter 235 Xu Jiekangs Method

    Mo Ying was trying to convince her dad, "Dad, there''s also the Xu family. Who would dare to swindle money from the Xu family in Xuan Country?"


    Li Xutian responded, "Dad is worried that he might set a trap and in the end, your money will be wasted.


    What if his company really falls into a technological bottleneck and still needs financial investment? Will you continue to invest?"


    "I''ll invest, even if no one else does, I will."


    Li Xutian was somewhat angry, "I think you are now charmed by Qin Hao. Do you know the future development prospects of the company?


    Do you understand his technical team? Does his technical team have that capability?"


    Mo Ying knew that no matter how she explained, it would be useless.


    She directly asked, "Dad, I just want to know if you can give me three billion in funding."


    Li Xutian replied, "The money is not the problem, but you need to give me a valid reason.


    Like future prospects of the company, potential of the company, and so on. You don''t even have a reason to convince me, how am I supposed to give it to you?"


    Mo Ying said, "If you don''t fund me, then I''ll sell a portion of my ten percent shares in Jinxiu Group."


    "You wouldn''t dare!" Li Xutian glared angrily when he heard this.


    Mo Ying calmly stated, "Why wouldn''t I dare? My name is on the stock certificate, I have the right to sell these shares."


    After that, she turned and walked out, "I''m going back to school."


    "This child... she''s really making me angry." Li Xutian was furiously upset.


    Yu Su spoke up, "You invested over a hundred billion in various companies last month. What''s wrong with your daughter investing thirty billion?


    If these thirty billion can help her see Qin Hao''s true colors, I think there''s no loss."


    Li Xutian thought for a while, then nodded his head.


    Jinxiu Group''s liquid funds have always been maintained above fifty billion, so thirty billion wasn''t much.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao arrived at Xu Siyao''s place in her car.


    Upon entering the living room, Qin Hao noticed that Yang Su was also present, and he smiled, addressing them, "Mr. Xu, Ms. Yang."


    Xu Jiekang showed a smile upon seeing him, "Xiao Hao, have a seat. Dinner is all set; we''ve been waiting just for you."


    Qin Hao said, "Thank you, Mr. Xu."


    Xu Jiekang chuckled and patted his shoulder, "No need to be so formal, just make yourself at home. Si Yao, go get the wine."


    Si Yao walked over to the wine rack, fetched a bottle of white wine, and then brought out two wine glasses.


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    Just like when he treated his mother and Chang Jing, he never once said with certainty that he could cure them.


    Xu Jiekang could see that Qin Hao was cautious and maturely deliberate.


    If he said eighty-five to ninety percent, then it was almost as if he was nearly one hundred percent sure.


    Xu Jiekang asked, "How many people do you plan to partner with?"


    Qin Hao: "I will offer forty percent of the shares. My idea is to invite four shareholders, but I know too few people.


    So far, I have only found you, Mr. Xu, and Jinxiu Group''s Li Moying."


    Xu Jiekang knew Li Moying; he nodded slightly, "Jinxiu Group has strong capabilities, letting them invest ten billion is not a problem."


    Qin Hao: "Even if he wants to invest ten billion, I wouldn''t agree. I need someone with a background like Mr. Xu because I''m afraid of being sabotaged later."


    Xu Jiekang nodded slightly, knowing the huge potential profits involved, it was hard to guarantee that others wouldn''t be envious.


    "So, you''re saying you still need two more shareholders?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, Mr. Xu, do you have anyone to recommend?"


    Xu Jiekang thought for a moment and then said, "I do have an idea, Xiao Hao, do you want to hear it?"


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Xu, just speak directly."


    Xu Jiekang: "Chang Jing''s father, Chang Anding, runs Hongya Heavy Industry Group, which is very strong. The Chang Family is influential.


    Additionally, there is the Southern Military Industry Group under the Gu Jing Military Region, a state-owned enterprise.


    If you think that''s acceptable, I''ll talk to my father and Mr. Chen, and with their approval, there shouldn''t be any problems from Southern Military Industry Group''s side."


    Qin Hao''s eyes lit up, Xu Jiekang''s solution was very good, even better than what he initially thought.


    "Then I''ll trouble Mr. Xu," Qin Hao gratefully said.


    Xu Jiekang: "Not troublesome at all. If you really develop the smart chip, our entire country will benefit.


    From then on, we won''t have to depend on those foreign companies anymore."


    Qin Hao: "Don''t worry, Mr. Xu, one day they will be begging us to buy our products."


    ...


    The lunch Qin Hao and Xu Jiekang had that afternoon went very well.


    That afternoon, Xu Jiekang would go to contact Chang Anding and then Xu Liangguo.


    Things were going more smoothly than Qin Hao had imagined; initially when he was looking for partners, it was a headache, but now he didn''t need to worry anymore.


    [In a few days, there will be a breakout, seeking recommendation tickets, seeking rewards]

 Chapter 236 Recruiting Hosts

    Qin Hao was somewhat worried whether Chang Anding would agree or not.


    However, he thought there shouldn''t be much of a problem, first because the Chang Family still owed him a favor, and second because Xu Jiekang would lobby for him.


    Once the factory eventually produced the smart chips, they would realize how much of a bargain they had gotten initially.


    In the afternoon, it was Xu Siyao who brought him back to school.


    Because he had drunk quite a bit, Qin Hao went straight to sleep in the dorm after returning to school, not even going to the sports field.


    Chen Ping was also in the dorm; he hadn''t gone to the sports field today but had instead been studying the things Qin Hao taught him the night before.


    Qin Hao took a nap in the afternoon and by the time he woke up it was already after 7 pm.


    Zhao De and the fatty had already returned, with Zhao De chatting with his Lulu.@@@@


    The fatty was sitting in front of the computer, seemingly researching his online media company.


    Chen Ping was tapping away at the keyboard.


    Qin Hao got out of bed, picked up the water, and started drinking.


    "Second Brother, have something to eat," Chen Ping said to him.


    Fatty: "Second Brother, you''re awake. I''ve sorted out all the paperwork today, and the online guild is now established."


    Qin Hao picked up something from the table to eat and then walked over to the fatty, "What are you doing now?"


    The fatty pointed to the computer screen and explained, "Second Brother, this is our company''s main channel on the TT live streaming platform.


    New hosts uncovered by talent scouts or those who come to apply on their own must be assessed.


    Usually, the assessment takes place on the guild''s main channel. If I think they can pass the assessment, I''ll send them the electronic version of the contract.


    After signing with our guild, they can start broadcasting and making money, and they might even get a recommendation from the guild.


    The platform has a support system for newly established small guilds, with each small guild getting a few recommendations each month.


    We can allocate these to potential new hosts to increase their visibility, attracting more viewers."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "How many hosts have been recruited so far?"


    The fatty laughed awkwardly, "None yet, but I''ve hired five talent scouts to discover new hosts or those from smaller platforms who want to change companies.


    As soon as a talent scout successfully signs a host, they can get a commission of three hundred RMB."


    "Three hundred? Is it that much, Fifth Brother?" Chen Ping was shocked when he heard this and stopped programming.


    Fatty: "Sixth, have you finished the filtering software yet?"


    "Almost, Fifth Brother, don''t rush me," Chen Ping replied.


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What filtering software?"


    Upon hearing his words, Fatty''s expression darkened, and he used his admin authority to kick him out.


    "Next."


    This time, a young girl came up, of average appearance, with no talents, and her conversation lacked humor.


    In the end, Fatty tactfully rejected her as well, meanwhile pointing out her deficiencies, hoping she would improve.


    The scout named Xiao Yu couldn''t hold back and sent Fatty a private message: "President Wang, I think she''s quite good. Aren''t your standards a bit too high?"


    Fatty replied: "She''s of average appearance and has no talents at all. She won''t attract any audience. If she learns some talents in real life, you can bring her here again."


    After viewing four, Fatty was not quite satisfied.


    Soon the fifth girl came up, a woman around twenty-five or twenty-six, above average in looks and with a very nice figure.


    She was wearing a tight T-shirt and short shorts, her body prominently displaying her curves, and she was quite attractive.


    Fatty''s eyes lit up when he saw her: "Hello, Miss Qianqian, please introduce yourself first."


    Streamer Qianqian said, "Hello, President Wang. I''m Qianqian. I''ve streamed on other platforms before, and I just arrived at TT streaming platform these past few days. I''m good at dancing."


    "Please start your performance."


    Qianqian selected a popular dance track: Gentlemen!


    It was a pop dance song from the Beidou Country.


    Streamer Qianqian took a few steps back, her whole body coming into view in the video.


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    As the music started, she began to move. The song had a fast beat, and the dance moves were rather big.


    Fatty''s eyes brightened upon seeing her dance: "Not bad, Elder Brother, this is good. I''ve seen many dance streamers perform this.


    If a perfect score is a hundred, she could score at least eighty-five."


    Qin Hao also nodded: "Indeed, it''s quite good. We can sign her."


    After the dance was over.


    Fatty spoke up: "The dance was quite good. Would you like to sign a contract with Dream Media?"


    Streamer Qianqian asked, "May I inquire if your guild has any support plan for new streamers?"


    Fatty said, "Of course, we have. Although our guild has just been established today,


    our guild has substantial funds and a complete support plan for newbies,


    as long as you perform exceptionally, you will receive strong support from the guild. We have many recommendation spots.


    Unlike other medium and large guilds with too many streamers, it''s hard to get a spot on the recommendations, leaving no room for growth."


    [To all the brothers and sisters reading this book, I ask for a wave of five-star reviews. Let me see how many people are following this book.]

 Chapter 237 Seaview Villa

    "Yeah, okay, I''ll sign with you all," the anchor Qianqian pondered and agreed.


    She had actually about agreed to the hard bargain when she came here, and after being sweet-talked by the fatso, she successfully agreed to sign with Dream Media.


    The fatso and she added each other as friends on the TT live streaming platform.


    Then he sent her the electronic version of the contract, and after anchor Qianqian had signed, it still needed to be mailed back with the company''s seal affixed.


    After stamping the seal and mailing back a copy of the contract, each party holding one, this would be the complete contracting process.


    Xiao Yu, the talent scout, let out a sigh of relief when he saw a satisfactory outcome, as long as the contract was signed, he would get a reward of five hundred.


    Until midnight.


    The few talent scouts had found many anchors, but only seven or eight satisfied the fatso.


    There are many internet anchors, so this also results in a big quality gap among them.


    Some don''t have any special skills and are still live streaming!


    Some might come from ordinary backgrounds but possess extraordinary talents.


    Then there are many opportunists who, seeing the rise of the industry, also want to make a quick buck.


    They rely on vulgar live streams to get tips from viewers.


    Like tonight, Qin Hao and the fatso saw several women.


    Though they looked alright, they were all passed by the fatso because they had improper values and could have a negative impact.


    He didn''t need such low-brow anchors.


    But on the TT live streaming platform, quite a few guilds recruit such anchors.


    Speaking vulgarly, dressing provocatively, and often playing to the edge of the rules.


    This would instantly attract a group of underage visitors who lack proper judgment.


    Eighty percent of Xuan Country''s netizens are young people, of which about forty to fifty percent are minors.


    As long as it makes money, those guilds'' backroom bosses don''t care about any of this at all.


    Even if an anchor gets banned, it''s only the anchor that loses out, while the guild suffers no loss.


    The guild can still continue to recruit such anchors to rake in the cash.


    ...


    The next morning, the sky was overcast, looking like it might rain.


    The sports meeting was still held as scheduled, and Qin Hao, because he had a competition, went to the stadium, taking an umbrella with him when he left.


    Today, there was also the men''s 100 meters preliminary race, with the first place in each group advancing.


    Since the strengths of the various athletes had more or less been scoped out, during the allocation, some of the stronger competitors were separated and did not run into each other.


    "You''ll know when we get there." Qin Hao revealed a mysterious smile and then drove off from the place.


    He drove out of Bailing District and arrived at the seaside Xin Hai District.


    Xin Hai District is one of the most economically developed areas in Jianghai City.


    Here, skyscrapers stand in great numbers, with busy pedestrian streets and commercial districts attracting large crowds.


    Furthermore, there''s a seaside tourist area here, and the tourism industry is very well developed.


    Qin Hao took Du Wanrou to the famed Haoting Sea View Villa sales center in Xin Hai District.


    This is a seaside villa community developed by the famous Wanhao Real Estate Group.


    "Qin Hao, why have we come here?" Du Wanrou already had a vague idea in her mind.


    Qin Hao said, "We should also have our own home in Jianghai City by now, the scenery here is very nice. How about we buy a villa here?"


    Du Wanrou indeed liked the place, as would anyone else for that matter.


    "It''s very expensive here, and you''re about to start a new company. You should save your funds for developing the new company."


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, the new company was a project worth tens of billions, and tens of millions were practically negligible for it.


    Moreover, he didn''t need to put in any money for the new company; the contributions from four other entities were almost enough to reach ten billion.


    What he contributed was core technology, which he wouldn''t sell for even a hundred billion, let alone ten billion.


    If it weren''t for numerous considerations, he wouldn''t share an opportunity to prosper in silence with others.


    Qin Hao said, "It''s okay, the new company won''t need this money."


    After saying that, he grabbed Du Wanrou''s hand and walked towards the sales center.


    In the sales center, several young and beautiful sales ladies sat, all wearing the same uniform.


    It was reminiscent of a cheongsam, but not quite, highlighting their slender and graceful figures.


    Inside, there weren''t many people; the sales ladies were chatting among themselves.


    "Hello, welcome."


    As Qin Hao and Du Wanrou entered, one of them immediately stood up with a smile and approached them.


    Qin Hao asked, "Do you still have sea view villas available?"


    "Sir, are you looking to purchase a sea view villa?" the sales associate asked softly.


    Qin Hao nodded. Haoting Sea View Villa was very well-known throughout Jianghai.


    First for its location, and second for its price.


    The price of Haoting Sea View Villa was much higher than any other sea view villas, significantly so.


    The interior decoration of each villa was of the highest caliber, and the community amenities and security measures were extremely comprehensive, among the best in the country.

 Chapter 238 Buying a House [Extra for Wolf Brother]

    "May I ask for your surname, sir?" the sales associate asked with a professional smile.


    Qin Hao: "My surname is Qin."


    Sales Associate: "Hello, Mr. Qin, my name is Xiao Li, and I am the sales associate here.


    May I inquire what size of sea view villa you need, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao: "Any size is fine, it''s mainly about the location."


    Sales Associate Xiao Li led the two of them inside: "Mr. Qin, this is a scale model of Haoting Villa District.


    The ones marked in green have been sold, and those marked in red are still available."


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou looked over and saw that there were roughly more than forty sea view villas in the model.


    More than twenty had been sold, and there were more than ten still vacant.


    The price of the sea view villas here is very expensive, with the starting price generally in the tens of millions, and the best-located ones approaching a hundred million."


    Sales Associate Xiao Li introduced, "Currently, we have two types of sea view villas left, one is a small type of more than two hundred square meters.


    There is also a larger type of more than four hundred square meters."


    Qin Hao looked at the scale model and took an interest in a large villa.


    Its location was good, and it was also complete with an outdoor swimming pool facility.


    Qin Hao: "Girl, what do you think of this one?"


    Du Wanrou nodded slightly.


    Qin Hao to Sales Associate Xiao Li: "Can you take us to have a look?"


    "Certainly, sir."


    After speaking, Sales Associate Xiao Li led them both out of the sales hall.


    Right next to it was the entrance of the community, with four straight-bodied security guards standing at the gate.


    These people were mostly around thirty years old and had all undergone special training.


    At the entrance of the community, Qin Hao also saw personnel with black Belgian Shepherds.


    The landscaping inside the community was beautiful, and upon entering, Qin Hao and Du Wan were captivated by the beautiful environment.


    A few minutes later, the sales associate took them to the inside of the villa.


    In the villa courtyard, gardens, swimming pools, garages, and more were all included.@@@@


    Xiao Li then opened the door to the villa and went inside, where the decoration was gorgeous and magnificent.


    Especially the side facing the sea, with uniform floor-to-ceiling glass windows.


    On the first floor, there were a living room, dining room, kitchen, guest bedroom, and study.


    "You hold the keys, let''s go play by the sea," Qin Hao said to her.


    Du Wanrou, with her arm in his, had a face full of happiness.


    They arrived at the beach, where quite a few people were enjoying themselves, given that the weather was just perfect.


    Du Wanrou wore a white dress and ran barefoot on the sandy beach.


    Qin Hao looked at the majestic, boundless sea, felt the gentle breeze and cool waters, and with his love by his side¡ªwasn''t this the scene he had always dreamed of?


    "Qin Hao, will you chase me, please?" Du Wanrou turned around, smiling at him.


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao''s face: "Okay."


    As soon as he finished speaking, he chased after her. Du Wanrou let out a surprised shriek and hurried forward, her laughter ringing pleasantly in the air.


    Qin Hao deliberately slowed down, not catching up to her.


    As he chased her, he said, "Run faster, or the big bad wolf will catch you."


    "Giggle"


    "Hurry up and catch me," laughed Du Wanrou in her bell-like voice.


    Shortly after speaking, she tripped on something, screamed, and fell uncontrollably toward the beach.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao quickly sped up and caught up to her in an instant, blocking her slender waist with one hand and holding her in his arms. Find exclusive stories on empire


    "Got you, tonight you''re the big bad wolf''s meal," Qin Hao said with a mischievous smile.


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned red: "Stop it, let me go! So many people are watching."


    "So what if they''re watching? You''re my girlfriend."


    After saying that, Qin Hao carried her and ran forward quickly.


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks were flushed with shyness, and she was a bit worried she might fall, so she hugged his neck tightly.


    Not far from the beach, a group of more than a dozen people walked in a grand manner.


    Some held laptops, others had microphones and earphones.


    Wang Jian said with a smile, "Bros, see that? That''s our man Jun. Check out those ten bodyguards, isn''t that impressive?"


    Female fan: "Is that the legendary wealthy Jun? So handsome, I want to have his babies."


    "Jun, I''m from Jianghai too; wanna meet tonight? I''m good and not clingy."


    "Wow, Jun is so cool, going out with more than ten bodyguards, total boss energy."


    "Boss, did Jun arrange any fresh models or beauties for you guys tonight?"


    ...


    Suddenly, someone next to Wang Jian said, "Jian, isn''t that the guy who beat you up last time?"


    [Extra chapter added, today''s third update, thanks to Brother Wolf for the reward of ten thousand book coins.]

 Chapter 239 Encountering Wang Jian Again

    Wang Jian and Wang Jun followed his gaze.


    Not far away, a man was running with a young woman in his arms.


    The distance was a bit far, and while Wang Jian felt that the man looked familiar, he couldn''t be sure.


    "Jian, it really looks like that guy," another person also chimed in.


    Wang Jun spoke up, "Let''s go over and take a look. I want to see who dares mess with my friend in Jianghai."


    The person holding the computer even purposefully angled the camera in that direction.


    The viewers in Wang Jian''s live stream overheard their conversation.


    "Is Jianghai that small? Running into them again?"


    "Looks like the other side didn''t bring bodyguards this time, Jian. Your chance for revenge has come."


    "Beat him, touch our Jian''s heart, beat him to death."@@@@


    "Right, kill him."


    ...


    Wang Jun, Wang Jian, and their group walked towards Qin Hao.


    At first, Qin Hao didn''t notice, but he quickly sensed something was wrong.


    Because he saw Wang Jian, the same person who had tried to hit on Du Wanrou at the airport, and he had not forgotten.


    Qin Hao put down Du Wanrou and said, "Someone''s looking for trouble."


    Du Wanrou also spotted Wang Jian and his group, her eyes revealing concern, "Qin Hao, shall we just leave? There are so many people; they wouldn''t dare to do anything."


    Qin Hao shook his head, "No worries, I want to see what they''re up to."


    Wang Jian and his group quickly approached. When Wang Jun saw Du Wanrou, his eyes lit up.


    She was so beautiful.


    He had been with many beautiful women, but he had never met someone as beautiful and poised as Du Wanrou.


    "Kid, remember me?" Wang Jian said to Qin Hao with a smug look.


    If he hadn''t made connections with Wang Jun in Jianghai, he probably would have been detained for a couple of weeks.


    Seeing Wang Jun''s smug look, Qin Hao replied indifferently, "You feel that I didn''t hit you hard enough last time, is that it?"


    "Kid, why the airs now? Today, I am going to settle the score for that day," Wang Jian said and then gave a signal to someone beside him. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire


    That person shut down the computer, as broadcasting a fight would lead to severe punishment.


    Wang Jun didn''t look at Qin Hao but instead turned to Du Wanrou, "Beauty, how about making a new friend? My name is Wang Jun.


    ...


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou walked towards Haoting Villa District.


    On the way, Qin Hao''s expression wasn''t very good; he could tell that Wang Jun wouldn''t let things stand.


    Had it not been for the crowded beach, Qin Hao might have killed Wang Jun on the spot.


    Such a person must not be spared, or else there would be grave consequences later.


    Thinking this, Qin Hao frowned slightly, now feeling it wouldn''t be bad to have a group of people under him.


    There were many things inconvenient for him to settle personally, which he could delegate to them.


    "Qin Hao, are you okay?" Du Wanrou held his hand, saw his expressionless face, and asked worriedly.


    Qin Hao smiled, "I''m fine, just had my mood spoiled by these people. Be careful in the future, I don''t think Wang Jun will let this go."


    Du Wanrou nodded, "Okay, let''s go have dinner."


    The two found a nearby seafood restaurant, had some seafood, and then returned to Haoting Villa District.


    Qin Hao drove the car into the district and parked it in the villa''s courtyard.


    The villa had already been cleaned that morning, and Qin Hao sat down on the sofa upon entering.


    "There''s even soda in the fridge, and it''s all freshly stocked," Du Wanrou said, somewhat surprised as she opened the fridge.


    Qin Hao: "Is that so? The service here is really not bad."


    Du Wanrou opened two bottles of coffee drink and handed one to him.


    Just as Qin Hao took a sip, his phone in his pocket rang. It was a call from Li Bao.


    He answered the call and before he could speak, he heard Li Bao''s voice from the other end, "Hao, what is this insane training manual?"


    "What''s up?" Qin Hao asked with a smile.


    Li Bao: "Hao, your training is just too insane, Li Yang and some others are struggling to keep up.


    I tried it myself this morning, and now I''m lying in bed, sore all over whenever I move."


    Qin Hao''s lips curled into a smile, "No worries, just stick to the training. Keep up with the diet and all that. I want elites."


    Li Bao nodded, "Hao, according to your training manual, I think there won''t be many who can fully pass.


    Should we recruit some more?"


    Qin Hao: "Recruit, keep recruiting, but make it clear to them, no salary during training with food and accommodation provided.


    Starting salary of ten thousand a month after passing the training, and exceptional performers start from one hundred thousand. Just recruit as many as you can, the more the merrier, don''t worry about having too many people, money is not an issue."


    Li Bao: "Got it, Hao, I understand."

 Chapter 240 Deep Affection

    Qin Hao: "This is currently your most important task, accept company business if available, and don''t worry if there isn''t any.


    I''m not short of that bit of money. I want a group of elites, a group that obeys commands."


    Li Bao sensed something was off, but he didn''t ask further.


    He hung up the phone.


    Du Wanrou asked curiously, "Was that Li Bao''s phone? Was it the person I met at the hospital originally?"


    Qin Hao nodded, he had been injured and ended up in the hospital to protect Du Wanrou originally.


    Both Li Bao and Kang Youyi had been there, and Du Wanrou had seen them once.


    "What did he want from you?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "He has started a security company, and I invested some money in it, so it''s sort of my company too."


    Du Wanrou: "That''s good, I heard from my dad before that he was involved in the underworld."


    Qin Hao embraced her slender waist, "That was in the past, and he hasn''t done anything unforgivable, just loved to fight."


    "Oh, Qin Hao, I really hope you guys won''t get involved in those things anymore. I am really scared that one day you will suddenly leave me." Du Wanrou hugged him tightly as she spoke.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, "Don''t worry, silly girl."


    After saying that, Qin Hao suddenly picked her up, "Girl, let''s try out our new bedroom."


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks instantly turned red, "Stop it, don''t."


    ...


    The two were in the master bedroom on the second floor.


    Afterward, they both fell asleep, later Du Wanrou''s phone rang, it was a call from Feng Xiangyi.


    "Why hasn''t Wan Rou returned yet?"


    Du Wanrou quickly replied, "Auntie, Qin Hao and I are out playing, we''ll be back soon."


    Feng Xiangyi: "Out? Why do you sound like you just woke up?"


    Qin Hao woke up too, and he said, "Auntie, Wan Rou won''t be coming back tonight."


    "Oh, I see." After saying that, Feng Xiangyi hung up the phone on the other end.


    From her tone, she seemed a bit angry.


    Honestly, Feng Xiangyi was very comfortable staying at the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, without the previous restrictions.


    She could fully stretch out her limbs and demonstrate her abilities.


    But the thought of her boss sleeping with a woman while she was working hard, irritated her.


    And the worst part, the woman involved was her niece!!


    That damned capitalist, grumbled Feng Xiangyi while cooking.


    Meanwhile, Du Wanrou said with slightly red cheeks, "I want to go back tonight."


    Du Wanrou, "I can''t imagine what it''d be like to lose you one day. Just thinking about it makes it hard to breathe."


    Qin Hao, "Don''t think too much, go freshen up, then try the heart-shaped breakfast I made."


    ...


    After breakfast.


    Qin Hao drove to the Bailing District of Jianghai University East Campus.


    "I''ll walk you in," Qin Hao said, getting out of the car.


    Du Wanrou, smiling, said, "It''s okay, you should hurry to school too, or you''ll be late."


    Qin Hao, "I checked yesterday and there''s no event for me today, so it doesn''t make any difference whether I go or not."


    At this time, the entrance of the East Campus was bustling with many people coming and going.


    Seeing Du Wanrou getting out of a Lamborghini, many turned their heads to look.


    She was well-known in the East Campus because she was one of the beauties of Jianghai University.


    "Hey, isn''t that Du Wanrou? Who is that guy?" remarked one of the male students upon seeing them.


    "Bro, do you even need to ask? Just look at that car and you know, definitely a rich second generation."


    "Can''t believe my goddess is such a realistic person, why oh why."


    "I thought she was a pure and innocent beauty, turns out she''s one of those as well," a female student commented sarcastically.


    Qin Hao walked hand in hand with Du Wanrou towards the school.


    He accompanied her all the way to the sports field where, upon seeing them, almost ninety percent of the people in her class turned their gaze to him.


    Qin Hao''s expression remained calm, unchanging, "I''ll head off now."


    "Okay, take care on the road."


    After leaving the East Campus, Qin Hao drove towards the main campus.


    ...


    In a high-end residential area in Jianghai City.


    Wang Jun, with a stern face, was on the phone, "Have you checked on Qin Hao from the Computer College of Jianghai University?"


    "Mr. Wang, it''s all clear now, I''ll send you the documents and photos right away," a man''s voice came through the phone.


    "Okay, good, I''ll transfer the money to you."


    Shortly after hanging up, Wang Jun received an email in his inbox.


    He opened it to find Qin Hao''s details along with several photos of him.


    Following that were details of Du Wanrou, Du Wanrou from the Business Administration College of Jianghai University.


    Wang Jun, his eyes fiercely cold, "Dare to hit me, just you wait, and you, you stinking bitch, see how I''ll ruin you."


    Saying this, he picked up his phone, "Second Master, got a job for you."

 Chapter 241 Zhao Qian [Extra for Wolf Brother]

    "Oh, it''s you, Wang Jun. What do you need?" A middle-aged man''s voice came from the other side.


    Wang Jun: "To teach two people a lesson."


    Second Master: "Which people?"


    Wang Jun replied, "Students from Jianghai University, a male and a female, one in the main campus, and the other in the east campus."


    "Do you have their information?"


    Wang Jun: "I''ve already found out. They''re both from out of town and have no background."


    He had someone investigate Qin Hao''s family background, an ordinary family, which is why he was so reckless.


    Second Master laughed and said, "Good, send me the information later, and I''ll have someone take care of it in the next two days."


    After hanging up the phone, a cunning smile appeared on Wang Jun''s face.


    The Second Master on the phone was a well-known underworld figure in Jianghai City, whom he had met by chance.


    As long as there was enough money, anything could be done.


    Even murder could be arranged.


    ...


    Jianghai University


    Just as Qin Hao parked his car in the parking lot, his phone rang; it was a call from Feng Xiangyi.


    "Hello, what''s up, Mr. Feng?"


    Feng Xiangyi: "Mr. Qin, we have three new stores opening today. Do you want to come and host the opening ceremony?"


    Qin Hao replied as he got out of the car, "You can handle it; I just arrived at school."


    "Oh, well, alright then," Feng Xiangyi said, sounding speechless.


    Qin Hao: "How''s the establishment of the Monitoring Department going? I don''t want any violations of company policies at any of our stores."


    Feng Xiangyi: "It''s already been set up."


    "Alright, then. If there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up now."


    Just as Qin Hao was about to hang up, a red BMW sedan came around the curve ahead.


    The car was speeding and quickly approached where Qin Hao stood.


    At that moment, the driver saw Qin Hao and immediately hit the brakes.


    "Screech"


    Qin Hao reacted extremely quickly and, with a strong push of his legs, jumped up in the air.


    He landed one foot on the BMW''s front hood and performed a backflip, landing steadily on the ground.


    After landing, Qin Hao glanced at the two people inside the car, his brows furrowing slightly.


    Upon hearing her name, Qin Hao finally remembered where he had seen her.


    He had seen a list of Jianghai University campus beauties online before, and Zhao Qian was on it.


    "You''re Qin Hao?" Zhao Qian sounded surprised.


    Perfect scores on the unified exam, breaking university sports records repeatedly.


    And that Lamborghini key, is that his car?


    Isn''t he from Jiangshan? Where did he get such a nice car?


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "You''ve heard of my name, senior sister?"


    Zhao Qian replied, "Your reputation precedes you, I never imagined I''d meet you in person today."


    Qin Hao chuckled, "You flatter me, senior sister, I''m really not that famous."


    Zhao Qian asked, "Have you practiced Taekwondo before? I also like Taekwondo, I noticed you were very quick just now."


    Qin Hao replied, "What I practiced is national martial arts, not Taekwondo."


    "National martial arts?" Zhao Qian paused. Is there such a thing as national martial arts now?


    Aren''t all martial arts schools focused on various types of Taekwondo?


    While they were walking and chatting, a few people stopped them.


    Qin Hao looked up and frowned slightly, he recognized these people, they were Tang Chen Dong and others from the Taekwondo Club.


    Zhao Qian also saw Tang Chen Dong and seemed to recognize him, "Why are you blocking the way, Tang Chen Dong? Is there something you need?"


    "Why are you together? What is your relationship?" Tang Chen Dong looked displeased.


    He had been pursuing Zhao Qian for a long time, and everyone in their second year knew it.


    To pursue Zhao Qian, he even funded a Taekwondo club himself, but unfortunately, Zhao Qian was not in his Taekwondo club.


    Zhao Qian felt annoyed by Tang Chen Dong; if it weren''t for the fear of offending the Tang Group behind him, she wouldn''t bother dealing with him.


    Tang Chen Dong looked respectable, but almost every pretty girl in their class had had dealings with him.


    And many other beauties from different classes had fallen for his monetary temptations.


    ...


    Zhao Qian coldly said, "Who I''m with is none of your business. Why do you care so much?"


    Tang Chen Dong''s face darkened, and he glared at Qin Hao, "Kid, if you know what''s good for you, stay away from her, or don''t blame me for crippling you."


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently, "I think you should go to the hospital to have your brain checked."


    "You think you''re so great because you have some backing? Today, I''ll let you know who''s boss."


    Tang Chen Dong had long regarded Zhao Qian as his untouchable territory; nobody was allowed to touch her, except him, Tang Chen Dong.


    [Today is the third update, with an additional chapter thanks to Brother Wolf, who awarded ten thousand book coins.]

 Chapter 242 Kneeling Down

    As soon as the words were spoken,


    Tang Chen Dong rushed over in a few quick strides, his roundhouse kick whistling through the air.


    Zhao Qian hurriedly reacted, completely aware that this had nothing to do with Qin Hao.


    If he were to be hurt because of her, Zhao Qian would feel incredibly guilty.


    "Bang"


    Zhao Qian blocked Tang Chen Dong''s roundhouse kick with her leg.


    But Zhao Qian wasn''t unscathed, she staggered back two steps, feeling a burst of pain in her leg.


    Tang Chen Dong was a second-degree black belt, and his skills were exceptional.


    Zhao Qian was a first-degree black belt, one rank lower, and was no match for Tang Chen Dong in terms of strength.


    Seeing Zhao Qian protecting Qin Hao infuriated Tang Chen Dong even more.


    He pointed at Qin Hao and said, "If you''re a man, come out and duel me."


    Qin Hao glanced at Zhao Qian and took two steps forward.


    Zhao Qian quickly said, "Qin Hao, don''t be rash, he''s a second-degree black belt master."


    A black belt in Taekwondo is considered a very powerful master, with the rank divided into nine degrees.


    Across the whole world, the number of masters above the seventh degree in Taekwondo can be counted on one hand.


    For someone like Tang Chen Dong, with a second-degree black belt, he would be qualified to open a large Taekwondo dojo.


    Qin Hao looked puzzled, "Is a second-degree black belt that great?"


    He wasn''t familiar with Taekwondo and didn''t understand what a second-degree black belt signified.


    A second-degree black belt in Taekwondo wasn''t considered a top master; those who held a fifth or sixth-degree were considered top masters.


    But to be as young as Tang Chen Dong and have such a high rank was very, very rare.


    His talent in martial arts must be remarkable for him to have achieved such heights.


    The people around Tang Chen Dong chuckled, "Is a second-degree black belt impressive? Seems like this kid knows nothing about Taekwondo."


    "More than ten ordinary people can''t even get close to a black belt master; what do you think?"


    "Idiot, you dare to get so close to Mr. Tang''s woman, you''re asking to be crippled."


    Tang Chen Dong said, "Cut the talk. Kid, I know you have some skills. I spared you once before, but today I''ll show you just how formidable I am."


    Zhao Qian, emotionless, stepped forward to shield Qin Hao, "What exactly do you want to do, Tang Chen Dong?"


    Qin Hao pushed aside Zhao Qian''s hand and stepped forward, "Let''s do this, show me how impressive a second-degree black belt really is."


    "Whoosh"


    Tang Chen Dong lunged forward with his signature roundhouse kick once again.


    Qin Hao used both arms to block in front of him.


    "Bang bang"


    But having just met Zhao Qian, and considering she was a woman, there were many inconveniences.


    "Ah? Okay then, I''ll call my brother," Zhao Qian said after some thought.


    Qin Hao: "Your brother is in high school, right? He should be in class now. If you don''t mind, I can take you. You were injured because you protected me."


    Zhao Qian: "You don''t have a competition today, do you?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "No, the final is tomorrow."


    "Then I must trouble you, I''m really sorry," Zhao Qian said, her tone filled with profound apologies.


    Qin Hao: "I have a responsibility in this as well, let''s go."


    Zhao Qian placed one hand on his shoulder, while Qin Hao''s hand supported her arm.


    Luckily, the parking lot wasn''t far away, and within a few minutes, they arrived there.


    With his other hand, Qin Hao took out the car keys and unlocked the car.


    He pressed a button on the key, and the two front car doors automatically opened slowly.


    After placing Zhao Qian in the car, Qin Hao circled around to sit in the driver''s seat.


    He started the car and slowly drove out of the parking lot, heading towards Jianghai Ancient Hospital in Xin Hai District.


    Zhao Qian looked at the car curiously, then asked, "Is this car yours?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Hmm, why, is it strange?"


    Zhao Qian: "Of course, how does a university student drive such a luxury car? Besides, the newspapers said before that your family was ordinary."


    Qin Hao explained, "I started a business before I began university, it''s all money I earned myself."


    Zhao Qian asked curiously, "Oh, is that so? What kind of company did you start?"


    "A duck roasting company, just a small one," Qin Hao explained as he drove.


    Soon, they arrived at Jianghai Ancient Hospital. After parking the car, Qin Hao supported her into the hospital.


    Once inside the hospital lobby, Qin Hao settled her in a chair, "Wait here for a moment, I''ll ask the reception where surgery is."


    "Okay, thank you."


    "Hello, can you tell me where surgery is?" Qin Hao asked the nurse at the reception desk.


    The female nurse smiled, "Surgery is on the third floor."


    "Thank you."


    Qin Hao then helped Zhao Qian to the elevator and they went up to the third floor to surgery.


    After the doctor''s X-ray examination, it turned out that her shinbone was slightly cracked. A bit of medication and some rest should be enough for her to recover.


    After the treatment, the two of them took the elevator down, intending to leave.


    Suddenly, an emergency announcement came over the hospital''s loudspeaker, "A patient in the emergency room currently undergoing surgery has lost an excessive amount of blood.


    We urgently need RH negative blood. If any friend has RH negative blood, please come to the emergency room door on the fifth floor to donate. Thank you for your cooperation."


    The announcement echoed several times with increasing urgency.


    Zhao Qian suddenly stopped, "Wait, Qin Hao, I have RH negative blood. Take me to the fifth floor."

 Chapter 243 Blood Donation

    Qin Hao nodded and then supported Zhao Qian back to the elevator.


    Upon reaching the fifth floor, as soon as they got out of the elevator, Qin Hao and Zhao Qian heard a girl crying.


    It was the cry of utter heartbreak.


    A cry that tore at the heartstrings.


    Qin Hao and Zhao Qian walked over and saw a girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, standing at the entrance of the emergency room, sobbing uncontrollably.


    The girl''s clothes were filthy, and there were several bruises and abrasions on her body.


    Two female nurses were there, comforting her, "There, there, don''t cry. Your mom will definitely get better."


    "Hello, are you here to donate blood?" one of the nurses asked Qin Hao and Zhao Qian.


    Zhao Qian nodded, "I have Rh-negative blood."


    The nurse''s face lit up with happiness at her words, "That''s wonderful, that''s wonderful. Ma''am, please take a seat."


    Another nurse brought over the equipment and began to draw blood.


    The nurse continued to comfort, "Don''t cry, little girl. Someone''s donating blood. Your mom is going to be alright very soon."


    Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Thank you~ sister, thank you~ sister."


    The little girl''s voice was choked with sobs as she knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing to Zhao Qian.


    Zhao Qian tried to pull her up, but she couldn''t move, and she also had injuries on her legs.


    The nurses were trying to pull the little girl up but couldn''t manage it.


    Seeing this scene, Qin Hao felt a complex emotion in his heart; he went over and picked up the little girl, "Don''t cry. Your mother won''t be in danger, she will get better."


    While Zhao Qian was donating blood, a few more people arrived on the fifth floor, men and women, young and old.


    They had all come to donate blood voluntarily after hearing the announcement, making their way over.


    Some came from the wards above, and others from the hospital courtyard.


    There were many people online always cursing how the society is deteriorating, talking about the decline of public morals and the indifference of people''s hearts.


    But in Qin Hao''s eyes, there were still many compassionate people.


    It''s just that the occasional cases that appeared online were used to portray society as grim due to their amplification through the power of the internet.


    Qin Hao didn''t deny the existence of dark aspects, but affirmed they were the extreme minority.


    In Xuan Country, with over a million government officials, who could guarantee a complete absence of bad apples?


    Qin Hao asked one of the nurses, "How much do I need to pay?"


    "Fifty thousand. You can settle any differences when she''s discharged."


    Qin Hao said to Han Qiao''er, "Qiao''er, wait here with this sister. I''ll go downstairs and pay the surgery and hospitalization fees."


    "Okay, big brother."


    Qin Hao stood up and walked toward the elevator; a few minutes later, he returned with the hospitalization form and handed it to a nurse.


    The nurses were somewhat surprised by his generosity; paying fifty thousand as if it was nothing was a great fortune for the mother and daughter.


    In the morning, both Qin Hao and Zhao Qian did not leave, they waited for the surgery to end.


    Throughout the surgery, several groups of nurses went in.


    Finally, around noon, the door of the resuscitation room opened, and several nurses came out, pushing a hospital bed.


    "Mom." When Han Qiao''er saw her mother, her tears couldn''t be stopped.


    Qin Hao asked, "How is the patient?"


    A doctor spoke up, "She''s out of life-threatening danger now, but she needs to be observed in the ICU for a few days.


    The patient has severe fractures in both legs and varying degrees of internal injuries."


    The doctor''s clothes were soaked with sweat, and his cheeks were also covered in sweat.


    There were several exhausted doctors in the emergency room, slumped on the floor.


    Han Qiao''er''s mother was next door in the ICU, and Han Qiao''er could only look at her through the window.


    Qin Hao said to the nearby nurse, "Please arrange for a caregiver and a room to stay in. I''ll pay for it."


    The female nurse nodded, "Mhm, okay sir, thank you for helping them."


    Qin Hao approached Han Qiao''er and asked, "Qiao''er, do you know the bad guy who bullied your mom?


    And do you know where your mom works?"


    "I know, the bad guy is my mom''s boss," replied Han Qiao''er.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Then I will call the police uncle, and you can tell them what happened."


    Han Qiao''er said in a weak voice, "Big brother, that person said that if we dared to call the police, he would kill us."


    "Don''t worry with me around."


    After saying that, Qin Hao took out his phone and made a call. He dialed the police station directly to report the crime.


    It wasn''t long before the police arrived. They took a detailed report, and then went off to investigate and gather evidence.

 Chapter 244 Everything is Ready

    Qin Hao and Zhao Qian had lunch with Han Qiao''er at the hospital at noon, and then they left.


    Both of them really didn''t want to leave because Han Qiao''er was so pitiful.


    Before they left, they left their numbers and told Han Qiao''er to contact them if there was anything.


    On the way back, Zhao Qian sighed, "Qin Hao, could you please take me home? I''m not in a condition to go to school like this."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Okay."


    "Let''s visit them again after my leg gets better in a couple of days," Zhao Qian said, looking at him.


    "Yes, we should."


    Qin Hao took Zhao Qian home, to a high-end residential area in Xin Hai District.


    He helped Zhao Qian into her home and found that there was no one there.


    Zhao Qian explained while sitting on the sofa, "My parents are busy with their company, they usually come back in the evening."


    "Is it convenient for you to be at home alone?" Qin Hao asked.


    Zhao Qian said with a smile, "It''s okay, my leg feels much better than this morning."


    Qin Hao, "Then you get some rest early. I''ll head back to school."


    "Thank you."


    "No need to mention it."


    Qin Hao drove back to school. He didn''t go to the stadium, but returned to his dormitory instead.


    Chen Ping and Fatty were in the dorm, only Zhao De was not there.


    Upon seeing him return, Chen Ping hurriedly said, "Hao, just now someone from the Jiangshan Monitoring Department sent you a message."


    Qin Hao, "What message?"


    "A manager of a store has been taking money from an employee using his position, and that employee wanted to become the assistant manager."


    Qin Hao, "Send this to all middle and senior management of the company. Both people, immediately fire them and never hire them again."


    "Alright, Hao."


    Chen Ping used his administrator rights to send a message to all middle and senior management of the company through the office system.


    From Youyi at the top to the managers of every store at Jiangshan Company, everyone received this message.


    Within less than three minutes, both the bribing employee and the corrupt manager were fired from the company and blacklisted from future hiring.


    Qin Hao walked over to Fatty and started, "How''s the guild coming along, Fatty?"


    Hidden growth-type task: Benevolent Heart for the People, Good Deeds for the World: For every mandatory donation of 150, the system automatically awards the host an achievement point.


    Seeing this task, Qin Hao''s eyes lit up. It was an excellent task.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao fell into a drowsy sleep, but later he was woken up by his phone ringing.


    He took it and saw it was a call from Xu Jiekang. He hurriedly answered, "How is it going, Mr. Xu?"


    Xu Jiekang smiled and said, "Chang Anding and the Southern Military Industry Group have both been settled. They will begin their journey to Jianghai City in the next few days, and then we can discuss the details."


    Qin Hao was pleased, "That''s great, Mr. Xu, thank you for your efforts."


    "Why be so formal with me? Xiao Hao, Mr. Xu believes in you. Push on, this is not only about our interests, but also about the national interest," Xu Jiekang told him.


    Qin Hao: "Rest assured, Mr. Xu."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao got out of bed and saw Fatty still trying to attract viewers to his channel.


    "Where did Lao Liu go?"


    Fatty: "He seems to have gone to meet his girlfriend."


    It was now a little past five in the afternoon. Qin Hao washed up, then left the dormitory.


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    He took out his phone and called Li Mo Ying, "Mo Ying, how are things? Did your father agree?"


    Li Mo Ying: "It''s all set. Master, why didn''t you come to the sports field? It''s so boring here."


    Qin Hao: "I had something to do today. I called to let you know that I''ve found the other shareholders. In a few days, when everyone is here, we''ll gather and talk about the new company."


    Curious, Li Mo Ying asked, "That was quick. Besides the Xu Family, who else is there, Master?"


    "I can''t say yet, you''ll know when the time comes," Qin Hao said mysteriously.


    Li Mo Ying: "Fine, don''t tell me. I''ll find out eventually."


    Before he could hang up from Li Mo Ying, Feng Xiangyi''s call came through.


    Qin Hao told her, "Sorry, I have to go, another call is coming in."


    He hung up and answered Feng Xiangyi''s call, "What''s up, Auntie?"


    "Mr. Qin, it''s work hours, please address me as Mr. Feng," Feng Xiangyi said, slightly annoyed.


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, then seriously said, "Is there something you need, Mr. Feng?"


    Feng Xiangyi began, "Mr. Qin, the membership card business has already started its trial run.


    Currently, all cards are uniformly priced at five hundred, and in the four stores of Jianghai branch, over three thousand members have signed up for cards."

 Chapter 245 Wang Juns Revenge

    Over three thousand people, roughly amounts to about one hundred fifty thousand in funds.


    Feng Xiangyi, "Mr. Qin, I want to use this money to further develop the company, but I am worried that some might maliciously cancel their memberships.


    If we end up with insufficient cash flow, we will enter a debt crisis."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Okay, but every penny must be clearly accounted for and must go through the finance department.


    Don''t worry about the funds."


    Feng Xiangyi, "Alright, Mr. Qin, where will Wan Rou stay tonight?"


    Qin Hao, "She should be staying at your place."


    After hanging up the phone with Feng Xiangyi, Qin Hao walked toward the cafeteria. Before he reached the cafeteria, two people stopped him.


    They were two men in their thirties, tall and burly, with fierce expressions and tattoos on their arms.


    Qin Hao looked at the two men, "Is there something you need?"


    "Qin Hao, right? Come with us, there''s something we need to discuss with you," one of them said.


    Qin Hao''s brows furrowed slightly, these two were clearly baleful visitors.


    Could they be people sent by Tang Chen Dong, seeking revenge?


    If they really were sent by Tang Chen Dong, then there should be more people waiting outside the campus.


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, then said, "Lead the way."


    The two men did not expect him to cooperate so easily, and led him out of the school.


    Once they left the school premises, the two did not stop and took him to an alley.


    Just as Qin Hao had anticipated, there was a group of people waiting in the alley, along with two vans.


    These were the people called by the second boss to take Qin Hao away.


    Wang Jun had told the second boss that Qin Hao was no ordinary man, so they brought many people, all armed.


    Qin Hao quickly sized up the situation, about fifteen or sixteen strong men.


    His expression remained unchanged as he looked at the two men beside him and asked, "Who sent you?"


    The men nearby responded, "You don''t need to know. Just come with us quietly, or don''t blame us for being rude."


    Qin Hao, "If you won''t say, then I''ll have to beat it out of you."


    As he finished speaking, he suddenly made a move, a diagonal kick aimed at the man on his right, followed by a spinning kick to the man on his left.


    "Damn it, he dares to fight back, get him!"


    A group of men wielding clubs and steel pipes charged at him.


    Qin Hao''s reflexes were quick, making it hard for the steel pipes to hit him.


    As fight continued, one minute later, half of the men were down on the ground, and although Qin Hao had taken a hit or two, it didn''t affect him much.


    Now he, too, had a wooden club in his hand, his face wearing a cold smirk as he looked at the remaining men.


    Qin Hao''s face turned grim, and he hurriedly took out his mobile phone to call Du Wanrou, but her phone was off and unable to connect.


    Du Wanrou''s phone is normally never off!


    "Speak, where did your people take Du Wanrou?" Qin Hao''s face was fierce, and he pointed the wooden stick at the man''s head.


    If he dared to say no, his head would definitely be smashed into pieces right there.


    "That... that man surnamed Wang told us to take her to a chemical waste factory in Xuanbo District," the man said, his face pale with fright.


    Qin Hao grabbed him and then threw him onto a van inside the alley.


    He started the vehicle, and people in the alley hurriedly rolled aside.


    The white van sped out at a high speed.


    In a matter of seconds, the van reached speeds of eighty to ninety miles per hour.


    "Don''t move, or I''ll make you meet King Yan," Qin Hao said lightly.


    The man trembled with fear, sitting in the passenger seat, hardly daring to breathe.


    It was the rush hour, and the road was crowded with vehicles, but he still didn''t slow down, weaving through the traffic.


    The middle-aged man''s face turned pale with fear: "Big brother, slow down."


    "Bang"


    Qin Hao struck his stomach with the stick: "Less talking."


    Soon, sirens sounded behind Qin Hao, as he headed towards the suburbs, and the traffic thinned a bit.


    However, the police cars behind him did not decrease but instead continued to increase.


    "The vehicle ahead, listen, please stop your vehicle and submit for checking," a voice from a loudspeaker in the cars behind called out.


    Qin Hao called Xu Jiejian, and the call was quickly connected.


    Xu Jiejian had just finished accompanying his wife for a prenatal checkup, he answered the phone with a smile, asking, "What''s up, Xiao Hao?"


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Xu, my girlfriend has been kidnapped. I''m on my way to rescue her now, and there''s a bunch of traffic cops behind me, I''m in a white van."


    Upon hearing this, Xu Jiejian''s expression turned serious: "Alright, I''ll make a call. Do you need the police to assist?"


    "No need, Mr. Xu." After saying that, Qin Hao ended the call.


    In less than a minute, the police cars behind him all stopped.


    The middle-aged man sitting in the passenger seat was shocked. Who exactly was he?


    Under the guidance of this middle-aged man, Qin Hao quickly drove toward the abandoned chemical factory he had mentioned.


    Xuanbo District, a certain abandoned chemical factory.


    A white van stopped inside the factory, and six men in black were escorting Du Wanrou into the factory building.


    Inside the building, Wang Jun was sitting in a chair with two men in black standing behind him.


    Seeing Du Wanrou being brought in, a sinister smile appeared on his face.


    [Unless something special happens, there will be a mass update tomorrow.]

 Chapter 246 The Dragon Has Reverse Scales

    Du Wanrou was bound with rope, and when she saw Wang Jun, she understood what was happening.


    "Mr. Wang, we''ve brought the person," one of them said to Wang Jun.


    Wang Jun smiled and nodded, then turned to look at Du Wanrou, "Remember me?"


    Du Wanrou''s eyes were filled with fear, "What are you going to do?"


    A gloomy expression crossed Wang Jun''s face, "What? Did you think I was easy to mess with? Today''s not just about you. I''m going to cripple Qin Hao''s legs and arms too."


    "You''re breaking the law, the police will catch you," Du Wanrou said, trying to remain calm.


    Wang Jun: "Breaking the law? Haha, the police won''t be able to trace it back to me."


    After finishing speaking, he turned to someone beside him and asked, "Why hasn''t Qin Hao been brought here yet? Call that brother of yours."


    The person stepped out of the warehouse to make the call on his phone.


    Wang Jun looked at Du Wanrou with a sinister smile and said, "When Qin Hao is brought here, I want him to watch helplessly. Messing with me, Wang Jun, I''ll make his life a living hell."


    Du Wanrou''s face turned deathly pale in an instant.@@@@


    Soon, the man who went to make the call returned with a frown and said to Wang Jun, "I couldn''t get through."


    "Couldn''t get through? Could something have gone wrong?" Wang Jun''s frown deepened, a bad feeling rising within him.


    The man replied, "Shouldn''t be. They were less than twenty men, and they were all armed. They might just be on their way here."


    Wang Jun looked at Du Wanrou, a vicious gleam in his eye, "I can''t worry about that now. After I have my fun, it''ll be your turn."


    "Thank you, Mr. Wang," the others exclaimed joyfully upon hearing this.


    A beauty of Du Wanrou''s level was something they had never touched before, and the opportunity to have their way with her today excited them greatly.


    ...


    Outside the abandoned factory.


    A van pulled up to a stop, and Qin Hao glanced at the person beside him before knocking him out with a swift strike.


    At this moment, Qin Hao seemed like a completely different person, pulling out the Invisibility Cloak from his system backpack.


    He had hardly ever used this item before, but today was the day for it.


    A dragon has its reverse scale, and touching it means death!


    After putting on the Invisibility Cloak, he vanished into thin air.


    The Invisibility Cloak was a high-tech product made from special materials.


    Day or night, rain or snow, none would affect its functionality.


    Wearing the Invisibility Cloak, he ran towards the abandoned factory with extreme speed.


    He was afraid that being even one minute late could cause irreversible consequences.


    Inside the factory were two vehicles, a van and a black sedan.


    "Please... I beg you, stop."


    Du Wanrou''s pleading voice came from inside the building as Qin Hao raced inside at top speed.


    Two seconds later, he entered the warehouse to find Wang Jun tearing at Du Wanrou''s clothes.


    The sound of a knife penetrating flesh rang out, and Wang Jun and the man both stopped, disbelievingly staring at the blade.


    "Ssshhh, ssshhh, ssshhh"


    The knife was pulled out and then repeatedly stabbed back in, over and over, at least a dozen times, each stab fatal.


    Du Wanrou had already closed her eyes in fear.


    The others who were running away had reached the doorway; they turned to look back and froze.


    One of their own had stabbed Wang Jun to death?


    "It wasn''t me, really, it wasn''t me," muttered the man who had stabbed Wang Jun.


    At the same time, he felt his body being lifted into the air and quickly soaring towards the few people at the door.


    "How is he flying?" one of them trembled with fear, wanting to run but finding his legs unresponsive.


    "Run, damn it, run!" the others turned and ran away.


    Although Qin Hao was carrying someone as he ran, his speed remained incredibly fast.


    The four who hadn''t made it to the factory entrance were killed before reaching it.


    The person who had come with Qin Hao was also killed in the car.


    Then, unable to bear the immense pressure, that person collapsed, fainting.


    Since Qin Hao was wearing the Invisibility Cloak, there would be no fingerprints or footprints of his at the scene.


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    After putting away the Invisibility Cloak, he took out his phone and dialed the emergency number.


    If he didn''t call the police, he would become even more suspicious.


    ...


    After the call, Qin Hao entered the factory. This time he walked in openly and without hiding.


    Seeing the people who were already dead on the ground, his expression remained unchanged.


    Wang Jun deserved to die, so did these people, and so did that Second Master.


    Inside the factory building, Du Wanrou was still keeping her eyes tightly shut; Qin Hao went over and held her in his arms.


    "No, no..." Du Wanrou, startled, struggled fiercely.


    "Silly girl, it''s me," Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Du Wanrou opened her eyes, saw that it was truly him, and burst into tears.


    "It''s okay, girl, stop crying, I''m here," Qin Hao said as he untied the ropes bounding her and held her tight.


    Du Wanrou cried for a long time: "I was so scared, I was really so scared."


    "It''s all my fault, girl, I got here too late," Qin Hao said, feeling an immense sense of guilt upon hearing her sobs.


    "I was so afraid I''d never see you again," Du Wanrou choked out,


    Just then, the shrill sound of police sirens filled the air, and from the sound of it, more than one car had arrived.


    [First update]

 Chapter 247 Suspicion

    Du Wanrou heard the car and realized, "The police are here."


    Qin Hao nodded calmly, "Mm."


    "What about those people?" As soon as Du Wanrou finished speaking, she tried to look at Wang Jun.


    But Qin Hao stopped her, "Don''t look, or you''ll have nightmares tonight."


    "Mm." Du Wanrou didn''t look, and buried her head in his chest.


    A few minutes later, several police officers walked in, their eyebrows furrowing slightly as they surveyed the situation in the room.


    Someone immediately took out a camera and started taking pictures.


    "Who called the police?" one of the officers asked, looking at Qin Hao and her.


    Qin Hao: "I did."


    The officer looked at him, then turned to Du Wanrou: "Is this your girlfriend?"


    "That''s right."


    Officer: "You two should first come back to the police station with us. We need you to make a statement."


    When they had entered a moment ago, they had seen nine people dead¡ªa major homicide case.


    Such a serious case had not occurred in Jianghai City in recent years.


    Qin Hao, holding Du Wanrou, left the abandoned factory, got onto the police car, and then went to the Jianghai City police station.


    Upon arriving at the station, the two were separated to make their statements individually.


    "Please start from the beginning and tell us in detail what happened," a male police officer said upon seeing him.


    Qin Hao narrated the entire event from start to finish, only omitting the part after he became invisible.


    "I drove there, and just as I got out of the car, I saw someone covered in blood rush out.


    He was raving madly, saying something like ''I am a ghost, I will kill you all...''


    You know the rest¡ªhe killed that person and then came after me, but I knocked him down."


    The officer recorded everything in detail, meticulously and with utmost seriousness.@@@@


    On the other side, Du Wanrou was also making a statement, questioned by a female police officer.


    "You''re saying you saw the chair lift by itself and then smash into those people?" the female officer asked somewhat incredulously.


    Du Wanrou nodded affirmatively: "Really, I truly saw it. I was so scared that I broke out in a cold sweat, and those people were pale with fright as well."


    "What happened next?" the female officer continued to record and asked.


    Du Wanrou: "After that, those people ran away. While they were running, I heard screams.


    One of them stabbed Wang Jun with a knife."


    May I ask when will he be done? Is it possible for us to see our Chairman?"


    "Please wait a moment," the detective hurried inside.


    Before long, he came back out: "I''m sorry, ladies, Qin Hao is a suspect in this case.


    He is a suspect, and no one can have contact with him."


    "A suspect? Do you have any evidence?" Ji Xiangyi asked.


    "Not at the moment, but Qin Hao is under significant suspicion," the man replied.


    After finishing his words, the detective left.


    Du Wanrou voiced her concern, "What should we do?"


    Ji Xiangyi: "Wang Jun had a dispute with you, and Qin Hao indeed is a suspect, but if they don''t have evidence, the duration of a criminal summons cannot exceed twelve hours."


    ...


    Inside the interrogation room.


    Not long after Qin Hao had finished giving his statement, he was brought into the interrogation room.


    He knew there were loopholes in his story, and the deaths of those men were mysterious, but he was confident he had left no evidence behind.


    Outside, several people were watching the surveillance, and the screen showed Qin Hao in the interrogation room.


    At this moment, Qin Hao''s expression was calm. He sat in the interrogation chair, showing no sign of change.


    A male detective said to a female detective, "Captain, we''ve examined the crime scene. The wounds on the deceased were all inflicted by a spring knife.


    The fingerprints found on it belong to the man who was in a coma. There are no fingerprints from Qin Hao, and the only footprints found inside the abandoned factory were Qin Hao''s going in and out.


    If he killed the people, there would certainly be other footprints."


    Miao Jing shook her head slightly, "I feel like there''s more to this case than meets the eye. Who do you think really wanted Wang Jun and his men dead?"


    "Qin Hao."


    Miao Si: "Exactly, Wang Jun harassed Du Wanrou numerous times, and this time he even kidnapped her, attempting to assault her. Who do you think has the motive for murder?"


    "Qin Hao."


    Miao Si continued asking, "The identities of those men are clear, they are all Er Ye''s men, and Wang Jun hired them.


    So there''s no reason for them to kill each other, there must be some unknown factors. I want to interrogate him."


    After she spoke, Miao Si turned and walked out of the surveillance room, followed by two of her subordinates.


    Inside the interrogation room, Qin Hao sat meditating with his eyes closed when suddenly the door opened, and the lights were switched on.


    Two women and a man then walked in and sat across from Qin Hao.


    Miao Jing took the center seat. The other female detective was in charge of taking notes, and the man was the deputy interrogator.

 Chapter 248 Miao Jings Guess

    Qin Hao looked at Miao Jing and the two others and asked, "The police record is done; when can I leave?"


    Miao Si''s tone was icy as she said, "Leave? Qin Hao, you''d better honestly confess, how did you kill nine men including Wang Jun?"


    Qin Hao''s eyes narrowed slightly, his heart pounding fiercely, stay calm, stay calm, he must remain calm.


    Miao Jing''s beautiful eyes stared at him, unwavering.


    She didn''t want to miss any clue that could be utilized.


    Qin Hao suddenly let out a chuckle, "May I know the officer''s respected surname?"


    "Miao Jing, captain of the Jianghai City Criminal Police Team."


    Qin Hao: "Captain Miao, since you are convinced of my suspicion, whatever explanation I give, you probably won''t believe it.


    Let''s talk with evidence in the end," he said, planning not to say more.


    Miao Jing: "Among these people, you are the most suspicious, with the strongest motive for murder, so now I need you to go over the details of the incident again without missing any detail."


    Qin Hao nodded, "This afternoon, I took a nap in the dorm, then got up and washed up before heading out.


    Later, I received a few calls from subordinates at work; while I was on my way to the cafeteria, two men stopped me,


    asked me to step outside, and then I followed them out. In the alley, a dozen men armed with clubs threatened me.


    I fought with them, and after a few minutes, I had knocked them all to the ground and forced the name of the person behind the scenes and the fact that my girlfriend had been kidnapped."


    "Wait, you''re saying you alone knocked down several middle-aged men armed with clubs? Did you get injured?"


    Miao Jing asked, looking at him.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes. I took two hits on the back and probably also two on the legs."


    "Go check him," Miao Jing said to the male deputy investigator beside her.


    The man walked over, and Qin Hao stood up, turning his back to the three people.


    The man lifted the clothes on his back, revealing two startling bruises that ran across his entire back.


    Then on the legs, there was a bruise from a club hit on his right thigh and another on the shinbone, already swollen.


    "Do you practice martial arts?" Miao Jing asked.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Self-taught for a while."


    "Continue."


    Qin Hao: "After that, I took the man onto their van, and we drove towards the abandoned chemical plant.


    Since we were driving fast, there were many traffic police chasing us."


    "Then why weren''t the traffic police chasing you later?" Miao Jing continued to ask.


    The two policemen, knowing his relationship, also became more polite, "Mr. Qin, you can''t leave the police station now. Please cooperate with us."


    Qin Hao: "Okay, but I want to see my girlfriend; I''m worried she''s concerned."


    Qin Hao was escorted to the detectives'' office, and soon Feng Xiangyi and Du Wanrou arrived.


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    Upon seeing Qin Hao, Du Wanrou hurried over, "Qin Hao, are you okay?"


    Qin Hao lovingly stroked her hair, "What could possibly be wrong with me? Don''t worry."


    "Mr. Qin, you should first dress your wounds," said the policewoman, bringing over a first-aid kit.


    Upon hearing this, Du Wanrou had a shocked expression, "Qin Hao, are you injured? Where are you hurt?"


    "Ma''am, you may not know, but a group also went after Mr. Qin; he got some injuries during the fight."


    When Du Wanrou saw the startling wounds on Qin Hao''s back and the bruises on his legs, her tears couldn''t stop flowing.


    Feng Xiangyi glanced at Qin Hao, her nose tingling slightly.


    One could ask for no greater love in life.


    With tears, Du Wanrou applied medicine to his wounds and then wrapped his leg with gauze.


    By then, Xu Jiejian had arrived, accompanied by a middle-aged man.


    "Mr. Xu, Mr. Wang," the policemen nearby respectfully greeted them upon arrival.


    Feng Xiangyi turned her head curiously to look. She had seen these two men a few times, but only on the local TV station.


    Xu Jiejian walked quickly to Qin Hao''s side, "Xiao Hao, you''re alright?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "I''m fine, Mr. Xu."


    "This is outrageous, such a blatant disregard for the law," Xu Jiejian said with an ashen face.


    Seeing his expression, Wang Jiang quickly spoke up, "Mr. Xu, the investigation is clear. The mastermind is a person from Jianghai City known as ''Second Master''."


    Xu Jiejian: "Then what are we waiting for? Such criminal organizations must be thoroughly eradicated; they pose a serious threat to the safety of citizens and their property.


    Tomorrow I''ll discuss with Mr. Xie. It''s necessary to conduct another special police operation to crackdown on crime in Jianghai City."


    "Yes, Mr. Xu. I will immediately gather all the special police to carry out the arrest of Second Master and his associates."


    ...


    Elsewhere, Miao Jing took his team to the hospital.


    In the hospital room, Miao Jing and his group looked at Zhu Qiang on the bed.


    Zhu Qiang looked at them with eyes filled with terror, "Ghosts, there are ghosts. I didn''t kill them, it wasn''t me."

 Chapter 249 Doubts Abound

    Miao Jing asked the doctor beside her, "What happened here?"


    The attending physician replied, "The patient went into a coma after experiencing a considerable mental shock, or seeing something unbelievable.


    That''s why the nerves have become confused."


    Miao Jing looked at Zhu Qiang and called out, "Zhu Qiang!"


    Zhu Qiang''s body trembled, and he looked at Miao Jing.


    "What happened inside the abandoned factory?" Miao Jing asked.


    Zhu Qiang replied in horror, "There was a ghost, really a ghost. The chair floated up by itself, I didn''t kill anyone, it really wasn''t me."


    Miao Jing said, "Then who did?"


    "A ghost, it was a ghost. The ghost forced my hand to do it, I really didn''t kill them."


    ...


    Miao Jing''s brow furrowed slightly, and she asked a few more questions, but Zhu Qiang kept saying the same two sentences: There was a ghost, there was a ghost.


    After leaving the hospital room, Miao Jing received the autopsy report call which had been determined by the forensic expert.


    The wounds on the victim''s body were all caused by the knife in Zhu Qiang''s hand.


    Only Zhu Qiang''s fingerprints were found on the knife, none from anyone else.


    Miao Jing went back, but she always felt that the case was not that simple, with many suspicious points.


    The one with the most motive to kill, Qin Hao, hadn''t murdered anyone; instead, Zhu Qiang, who had no motive for murder at all, had killed those people.


    Ghosts and spirits?


    Miao Jing didn''t believe in these things at all, she thought there must be some unknown factors involved.


    Returning to the bureau was already past eight in the evening.


    Qin Hao and the others had not left; when Miao Jing came back, she saw Xu Jiejian there and greeted him with a smile, "Mr. Xu."


    Xu Jiejian nodded slightly, "Mr. Miao, is there anything else? If not, I will take Xiao Hao with me."


    Miao Jing thought for a moment and said, "That''s fine, we may need Mr. Qin and Miss Du to cooperate if any new clues emerge in the case."


    Qin Hao said, "Alright, Mr. Miao."


    The group walked out of the bureau, Xu Jiejian wanted to say something to Qin Hao but ultimately didn''t, and then he left.


    Qin Hao was also feeling a bit complicated, especially with Zhu Qiang being an unpredictable factor since he was still alive.


    If one day he mentally recovered and spoke about what had happened, the bureau might find new clues.


    In the morning, Feng Xiangyi got up early. By the time she had breakfast ready, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou had just gotten out of bed.


    "Xiao Hao, I just bought you a new toothbrush set. It''s in the bathroom," Feng Xiangyi said when she saw him coming out.


    Qin Hao: "Thanks, Auntie."


    After breakfast, Qin Hao said to Feng Xiangyi, "Auntie, why don''t you skip the company today and stay at home with Xiangyi."


    He was truly scared now, worried that Du Wanrou might be kidnapped again.


    Du Wanrou spoke up, "I''m fine. There aren''t that many bad people in the world. Don''t worry, Qin Hao."


    Feng Xiangyi knew that Qin Hao was suffering from a fear of this situation and could also objectively see Du Wanrou''s place in Qin Hao''s heart.


    "If you are really worried, let''s go buy a locator to put on Wan Rou''s phone later, so if anything happens to her, you can find out immediately." Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    A light dawned on Qin Hao''s face, but since it was somewhat an invasion of her privacy, he did not speak. Instead, he looked at Du Wanrou,


    Du Wanrou nodded with a smile, "That''s a good idea. Let''s go."


    Feng Xiangyi drove the two to the electronics market, where they bought two high-end locators and installed them on Du Wanrou''s phone.


    Qin Hao insisted on having the other one installed on his own phone.


    After doing all this, Qin Hao felt a bit more relieved.


    By the time they arrived at the university, it was nearly nine o''clock, and the stadium was quite crowded that day.


    Because today were all the finals, it could be said to be the most exciting day of the competition.


    Qin Hao arrived at the stadium and found He Tingting there as well.


    The only person from the Computer Science Class One to make it to the finals was Qin Hao.


    "Second Brother, you didn''t come home all night, what were you up to?" The chubby classmate asked with a smile.


    "Something came up," Qin Hao glanced at him.


    He Tingting also came over, "Qin Hao, right after the 100-meter final there''s going to be the 200-meter final. Do your best to win both championships."


    "I''ll do my best," Qin Hao chuckled dryly.


    Although his physique was exceptional and he had strong recovery abilities, his injuries had not fully healed yet.


    After He Tingting left, the chubby classmate whispered, "Second Brother, guess who I saw last night."


    Qin Hao asked in surprise, "You went peeping in the ladies'' room?"


    The chubby classmate, exasperated, said, "Would I do that, Second Brother? I''m talking about TT live streaming platform; you know the person."


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, "Who is it?"


    The chubby classmate said, "The belle of Jianghai University, Xia Qing from the Foreign Language College, your fellow townsman."

 Chapter 250 Pursuit

    Qin Hao looked startled, "Who are you talking about?"


    The fatty replied, "Xia Qing, didn''t you guys have dinner together on the second floor of the cafeteria before?"


    "You''re saying Xia Qing is livestreaming on the TT platform?"


    The fatty nodded, "Yes, I saw it with my own eyes last night, and today I plan to recruit her to our guild.


    If she signs with those big guilds, it will be dangerous."


    Qin Hao said curiously, "Why do you say that?"


    The fatty explained, "Brother, you don''t understand this livestreaming industry, it''s murky waters, not any less shady than the entertainment circle.


    For those big guilds'' new female streamers, if you''re a bit good-looking, you get targeted easily.


    Do you want to get ahead? Do you want the guild''s strong recommendation? If so, you have to curry favor with the president of those big guilds.


    And a lot of the second-rate or higher female streamers, nine out of ten have been with rich sponsors or guild executives.


    If Xia Qing signs with those big guilds and doesn''t get promoted, getting sidelined, you can imagine the outcome.


    Either leave the livestreaming world, or choose to submit."


    With an even tone, Qin Hao said, "Then you sign her, and if you can''t, there''s no need to keep your media company running."


    "Brother, do you have to be so ruthless?" the fatty looked at him, feeling wronged.


    Qin Hao, "I''m not joking with you, you must sign her."


    "Okay, brother," the fatty replied earnestly.


    "We are about to start the men''s 100-meter sprint finals, can all the athletes come to the field to prepare."


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao got up and walked outside.


    "Go Qin Hao," Ning Yao shouted.


    "Go Qin Hao," many classmates were also cheering for him.


    He Tingting followed him to the sports field, saying as they walked, "I''ll wait for you at the finish line, with your strength, first place shouldn''t be a problem."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and jogged to the starting line, testing his calf, not feeling any pain.


    At the starting line, a dozen people stood in their own lanes ready to start.


    "On your marks."


    "Bang"


    With the sound of the gunshot, everyone dashed out instantly.


    Qin Hao was not holding back at this moment, exploding with his fastest speed. He had added two agility points yesterday, so he was even faster than before.


    After thirty meters.


    Qin Hao was already four or five meters ahead of the second-place runner, and the distance was still increasing.


    All the athletes were giving it their all, the frequency of their leg movements extremely fast.@@@@


    "Qin Hao!"


    "Keep it up!"


    "Wang Kai!"


    "Keep it up!"


    ...


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "I want to make my country, Xuan Country, the number one superpower in the world.


    I want to use my efforts to improve the living standards of the entire nation.


    I want all the descendants of Yan Huang to take pride in Xuan Country."


    "Next up is the men''s 200 meters final. Athletes, please get ready on the track."


    Huh?


    He Tingting stood there, dazed, while Qin Hao was already heading toward the starting line.


    Watching Qin Hao''s figure, she felt she couldn''t quite understand him. Just what kind of person was he?


    Every single thing he mentioned was nearly impossible to achieve.


    It couldn''t be done by a single person; it would require the collective effort of the whole nation.


    Was he really planning to change all this by himself?


    Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    "On your marks"


    "Bang!"


    The men''s 200-meter dash started, and with the sound of the whistle, Qin Hao burst forward once more.


    Although his stamina had dropped after the 100-meter race, his robust physique kept him in the lead.


    Close behind him was Zhang Ming, who, this time, wasn''t trailing at the end but was using all his strength.


    The gap between the two wasn''t very large.


    At the 100-meter mark, Tian Liang started to speed up, closing the distance with Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao didn''t accelerate, maintaining his pace.


    The cheering from his class rang out again.


    Zhang Ming was closing in on Qin Hao rapidly, soon catching up and then overtaking him.


    Qin Hao didn''t panic; the 100-meter final just now had taken a lot of his energy, and there was also the injury on his lower leg.


    Although it was almost healed, it still had some impact on his performance.


    He was conserving his strength, waiting for the final burst.


    "It''s over, this time the champion must be Zhang Ming," someone in the stadium said.


    "After all, Qin Hao just ran the 100 meters, and without any rest, he went for the 200 meters. Even the World''s Fastest Man couldn''t do that, right?"


    "Look at those who just finished the 100 meters; they''ve collapsed in their seats, unable to get up."


    "Go Qin Hao!"


    "Go Qin Hao!"


    Initially, it was just his class cheering for him, but later, students from other classes also rooted for him.


    Not for anyone else, but because his spirit of hard work and struggle had touched everyone.


    With fifty meters left to the finish line, Luo Hao began to speed up, trailing six or seven meters behind Zhang Ming.


    Zhang Ming was also accelerating, very fast indeed.


    But the speed Qin Hao unleashed in an instant was even more terrifying, with the gap between them quickly shrinking.


    [Fifth release, vote and reward!]

 Chapter 251 Seven Minutes

    As they neared the finish line, Qin Hao overtook Zhang Ming.


    He was the first to dash past the finish line, followed by Zhang Liang running past it too.


    After stopping, Qin Hao sat on the ground, rubbing his calves. During the sudden acceleration, his calf injury had worsened.


    It was almost healed, but the intense exercise made it more severe.


    He Tingting quickly ran over and, seeing him, asked, "What''s wrong, are you okay?"


    "My leg injury has flared up again," Qin Hao said with a wry smile.


    "I''ll take you to the medical room," He Tingting hurriedly helped him up and walked him out of the stadium.


    Fatty, Chen Ping, and Xu Siyao, seeing this, showed worried expressions. "What happened to Second Brother?"


    Xu Siyao stood up and walked out, noticing that Qin Hao''s foot seemed injured.


    Together with He Tingting, the two supported Qin Hao out of the stadium. Many male students, seeing this, were filled with envy, wishing they were the injured Qin Hao.


    Inside the medical room.


    "It''s nothing serious, just apply some medicinal solution and it''ll be fine in a few days," the doctor said after checking.


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. He, Si Yao, I''m not seriously hurt, you can go back first."


    Xu Siyao spoke up, "Mr. He, you still have many things to attend to, I''ll stay here and take care of Qin Hao."


    "Hmm, that''s fine, call me if you need anything."


    "Alright, teacher."


    He Tingting left, being the class tutor, she had many duties to handle.


    "How did you injure your leg?" Xu Siyao curiously asked.


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh, "Got it from fighting with someone."


    Xu Siyao was somewhat speechless, "What? Who were you fighting with? You are grown up and still fighting."


    Qin Hao awkwardly smiled, not elaborating on the topic. "Let''s go for a walk outside."


    Xu Siyao asked, "Is your leg okay?"


    Qin Hao replied, "It''s fine, feels much better now."


    The two walked out of the medical room, chatting under the campus''s greenery.


    Xu Siyao asked with a smile, "Did you know that Chang Jing is coming to Jianghai City?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, that serene and elegant woman had left a deep impression on him.


    "Didn''t my dad tell you? Chang Jing is coming with her father to discuss new business with you."


    Qin Hao said, "I knew about Uncle Chang coming, by the way, how are Aunt Yang and Mr. Xu?"


    ...


    She suddenly turned her head towards someone nearby: "Were the brake marks from that van yesterday recorded?"


    "They were recorded."


    Miao Jing spoke sternly, "Immediately check all nearby surveillance footage for this van, and instruct the people at the city bureau to calculate the van''s speed before it braked for me."


    A few people looked at her, puzzled, "Why check the van?"


    Miao Jing ignored them and continued, "Check Qin Hao''s time of calling the police yesterday for me.


    See if the time he drove here matches the time he called the police."


    After speaking, she felt slightly agitated, sensing she was getting closer to the truth.


    Three o''clock in the afternoon.


    A data sheet was placed on Miao Jing''s desk.


    She opened it and saw, according to the nearest surveillance camera,


    The white van driven by Qin Hao passed this surveillance point at 6:03:47 PM.


    The speed was 127 km/h!


    Based on the brake marks in front of the abandoned factory, the speed of the white van was calculated to be 125 km/h.


    From that surveillance point to the factory''s entrance at this speed,


    Qin Hao would have arrived at the abandoned factory at approximately 6:11 PM.


    However, Qin Hao''s emergency call was made at 6:18:25 PM, leaving a seven-minute gap.


    What did he do during those seven minutes?


    Miao Jing was now fairly certain that the people inside the factory were killed by Qin Hao, but how he did it, Miao Jing was still unsure.


    Although she had found some clues, she still lacked strong evidence.


    ...


    Night at Jianghai University''s freshman dormitory.


    "Brother, come look, isn''t this Xia Qing?" the chubby one hurriedly called out to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao got up from the bed and walked over; the person on the fat guy''s computer was indeed Xia Qing.


    She was wearing a tight T-shirt, and the video only showed her upper body as she chatted with fans in the live stream.


    There were seventy to eighty people in the live room, almost all mesmerized by her looks.


    Her online name was Qingtian!


    The chubby guy sent her a private message: "Are you interested in signing with a guild?"


    [Sixth update, more updates after 8 PM tonight, votes and rewards requested. Today is the first day on the shelf, stats are crucial, almost half a year of free period is finally up, I won''t play the sympathy card, I''ve said too much before, please support as always, updates will speed up in the future.]

 Chapter 252 Its a Pity We Met Late

    Xia Qing saw his message and replied, "Who are you?"


    "I''m the president, OW, of Dream Guild. I started to follow you yesterday. Both your looks and talents are quite impressive.


    I think you have great potential on the live streaming platform, so I want to sign you," the fat man replied.


    Xia Qing was in her rented apartment now, with the background in the video being a backdrop she bought.


    When she saw the fat man''s reply, she hesitated for a moment: Dream Guild? She hadn''t heard of it.


    Before deciding to become a host, she had looked into the large and medium-sized guilds on the TT live streaming platform in detail.


    Her goal was clear, to sign with a large guild where she could enjoy the shade of a big tree, and if she caught their attention for promotion, her development was certain to be much better than in a small guild.


    Her family was struggling at home, with both parents out of work.


    She needed to earn money to support her family and repay debts; the three million given to her by Qin Hao, she would return it with her own efforts.


    "Many guilds have approached me, I am considering," Xia Qing replied to him.


    During her few days of live streaming, indeed, many scouts and guilds had come to her with offers, but she had not signed with any.@@@@


    Because these were all small guilds, not the medium to large-sized ones that she had in mind.


    Seeing her reply, the fat man''s heart sank a bit, sensing from her tone that she might already have a target in mind.


    "What should we do, Second Brother?" the fat man turned and asked Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao: "How should I know what to do? You''re in charge of this."


    After some thought, the fat man replied to Xia Qing: "Are you planning to sign with a large guild?"


    "Exactly, large guilds have strong financial backing, more recommendations, and more popular hosts. I think my prospects for development there would be better."


    The fat man: "You''ve just started with the TT live streaming platform, right? If you want to sign with a large guild, are you prepared to make sacrifices?"


    "What do you mean by that?" Xia Qing sent back a reply.


    The fat man spoke earnestly, "I''ve been around the TT live streaming platform for six or seven years, and I know very well how murky things are here.


    Large guilds have strong financial resources and lots of promotional opportunities, and there are many popular hosts, but they won''t give you these things for nothing.


    Have you heard of the host Milk Tea from Starlight Guild?"


    Xia Qing: "I have, a very popular female host on the TT live streaming platform."


    The fat man: "When she first signed with Starlight Guild, she was shelved for half a year.


    Do you know how she got popular later? She became the mistress of one of the senior executives in Starlight Guild and then got various promotional resources and opportunities to co-host with big names.


    Everything I''m telling you can be checked, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.


    Your beauty stands out. If you go to those large guilds, there''s a ninety-nine percent chance you''ll be preyed upon.


    Banners of gifts floated up in Xia Qing''s live streaming room in an instant:


    Dream Guild OW Little Fatty: Recruiting anchors, once sent Qingtian 1314 handshakes X1


    Dream Guild OW Little Fatty: Recruiting anchors, once sent Qingtian 1314 handshakes X2


    ...


    A set of 1314 handshakes equalled 131.4 yuan, and Fatty tipped a hundred sets, which made it 13,140 yuan.


    As he reached the 88th set, a broadcast banner appeared at the top of various live streaming rooms:


    Dream Guild OW Little Fatty: Recruiting anchors, lavishly sent Qingtian 1314 handshakes X88 sets, shocking the audience.


    Although this server-wide banner lasted only a brief two or three seconds, it drew quite a number of people, bringing several hundred viewers to Xia Qing.


    "Thank you for the tip, Little Fatty, thank you, really thank you."


    Xia Qing was excited as it was the first time she had received so many tips.


    Before Fatty tipped, the contribution leaderboard in her room only totalled three hundred yuan, all small amounts given by her followers.


    After thanking him in the live streaming room, she sent Fatty a private message: "Thank you."


    Fatty: "No need to be polite, whether you sign with our guild or not, I''ll bear no grudge, even if it''s just making a friend.


    I believe you have great potential and a limitless future. Just don''t forget me, alright? Really, if you make it big, look out for me."


    Xia Qing: "I''ll take your kind words, thank you."


    Visitors in the streaming room were also stunned: "Wow, the plane is taking off."


    "Boss is so generous, thanks for rewarding our Qingtian Goddess."


    "Is Qingtian Goddess going to sign with Dream Guild? This guild seems to have some strength by the looks of it."


    ...


    In the streaming room, Xia Qing began to speak, "I''ve been live streaming for several days, constantly adjusting my computer and equipment.


    Finally got everything tuned today, so I''ll sing a song for Little Fatty, brother, and all the fans in the streaming room."


    "Wow, the goddess can sing too? I want to listen."


    "How about 9277?"


    "I want to hear a lovely love song."


    Fatty, hearing Xia Qing calling him Little Fatty, brother, couldn''t help but giggle in front of his computer.


    "Smack"


    Qin Hao slapped him impatiently: "Laugh again and I''ll kill you."

 Chapter 253 Ruining the Equipment

    The chubby guy hurriedly hid his smile, showing a look of aggrievement.


    Was Big Brother getting jealous?


    Cough cough, he dared not ask that.


    Xia Qing''s face lit up with a smile, revealing two charming dimples, "A classic old song ''It''s a Pity We Met Late'' for everyone."


    The melody of the music began to play.


    Her expression turned serious and focused, her smile fading to reveal a touch of sadness and sorrow.


    She softly began to sing:


    You have a face that seems so new to me


    Only visible today


    A faint heartache between us


    Such a fleeting affair


    ...


    You said it''s a pity we met so late


    I said I wasn''t brave enough for love


    I don''t dream of forever


    Forever is too far away


    Yet trapped in the depths of love


    You said it''s a pity we met so late


    I said I wasn''t brave enough for love


    Moving back and forth between love and not love countless times


    Even though already covered in scars


    I don''t care


    ...


    Xia Qing sang very seriously and earnestly, tears swirling in her eyes before sliding down.


    The melancholic melody and heart-piercing song infected many in the live streaming room.


    Those who had just entered were planning to leave, as they initially thought Xia Qing was just a pretty face.


    But before they could exit the streaming room, they were captivated by her singing.


    Her voice was beautiful, and it touched the heart deeply, resonating with great emotional impact.


    Many people brushed gifts to show their support, although not much, but a few dollars from one person, ten from another, together amounted to a few hundred.


    "I think this is the best song I''ve heard, instant fan."


    "It sounds so good, goddess keep it up, I will always be with you."


    "I thought she was just an ornament, turns out she''s a powerhouse vocalist, totally fan-struck now."


    "She could easily thrive on her looks, yet she insists on showcasing her talent."


    "Why is Qingtian crying, has some jerk upset you? Tell me, I''ll take him down."


    Having said that, Qin Hao lay on the table and started to sleep, as he hadn''t slept well last night, dreaming several times of Xia Qing crying and singing.


    He Tingting had been lecturing for a while when she noticed Qin Hao asleep on the table.


    Although it was already a common occurrence, she still felt a bit annoyed.


    Don''t you see the other students staring at me and listening attentively?


    Even though their gazes sometimes wandered off, at least they weren''t sleeping.


    ...


    At the end of the class, just before it was over, He Tingting walked over to Qin Hao.


    With a cold expression, she woke Qin Hao: "Qin Hao, wake up."


    Groggily, Qin Hao opened his eyes and seeing He Tingting standing in front of him, he raised his head and asked, "What''s wrong, Mr. He?"


    "Come to my office." After speaking, He Tingting turned and walked out of the classroom.


    Qin Hao, puzzled, thought, Why is she asking me to her office? Is she going to scold me again?


    He followed He Tingting out of the teaching building and into her office.


    He Tingting turned to him and asked, "Qin Hao, are you interested in joining our school''s artificial intelligence research lab?"


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment: "Artificial intelligence research lab?"


    He Tingting nodded, "Jianghai University''s artificial intelligence research lab is very famous nationwide.


    Even some internet giants send teams here to learn and exchange ideas. I think you have a natural talent for programming.


    So, I wanted to invite you to join, knowing that the minimum requirement here is a PhD."


    This was the first Qin Hao heard of such a research lab in the school.


    Curiously, he asked, "What stage of artificial intelligence research has this lab reached?"


    "I knew you''d ask. Come take a look." He Tingting sat in her chair and turned on the computer.


    Qin Hao leaned in to see; she had opened a video.


    The video showed a science lab similar to those in movies, where people in white lab coats were working with various precise instruments.


    Inside, there were small unmanned flying machines, steel-bodied spiders crawling, and human-sized robots moving mechanically...


    After the video ended, He Tingting turned to him and asked, "What do you think? Isn''t this your first time seeing such a high-tech lab?


    You have a real talent for smart programming, are you interested in joining our lab?"


    Qin Hao shook his head; these people were still at the preliminary stages, while he had fully mastered the development technology.


    Joining this lab would be of no help to him at all.


    Seeing his reaction, He Tingting asked, perplexed, "What does your head shake mean?"


    Qin Hao: "It''s a pity for those precision instruments."


    "What do you mean?" He Tingting''s eyes filled with a murderous look as she stared at him.


    "I mean no offense, just that they seem to be squandering those instruments."


    ...


    Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire


    [Eighth update, seeking recommendation and monthly tickets!]

 Chapter 254 Luo Ze

    No other meaning?


    Just that they are wasting the equipment?


    Your grandpa, how is that no other meaning?


    He Tingting''s face flushed with embarrassment, "What do you mean? You look down on these people? Do you know how much they have contributed?


    Do you know how much of their precious time they have sacrificed?"


    She became more agitated as she spoke, her breathing grew heavy and her chest heaved.


    Qin Hao, because he was standing next to her, looked down and could not help but notice the heaving peaks.


    Although he didn''t see much, he still felt a bit embarrassed, his cheeks flushed red, and he stepped back two steps.


    He started to explain, "Mr He, I didn''t mean that."


    He Tingting: "Then what do you mean? Are you praising us? Don''t think you can look down on others just because you have a bit of talent."


    Qin Hao gave an embarrassed smile, "Mr He, I really didn''t mean that."


    He Tingting''s tone softened a bit: "Qin Hao, you are very young and talented.


    If you join our artificial intelligence research lab, it would be a great help to you.


    Similarly, your intelligent program would be of great help to the lab''s research."


    Qin Hao asked, "Mr He, I have already raised enough capital and plan to open an artificial intelligence robot manufacturing plant.


    I wonder if you and those senior professors in the lab would be interested in joining?"


    "An artificial intelligence robot manufacturing plant? How large is it going to be?" He Tingting''s expression froze for a moment.


    Qin Hao: "I''ve gathered around ten billion in funds. I want to build an artificial intelligence robot that is completely independently produced by Xuan Country.


    Including the intelligent chips, circuits, intelligent sensors, alloys and so on."


    He Tingting looked at him in surprise: "Ten billion? Are you sure you''re not joking? Isn''t your company selling roast duck?" Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao explained, "Mr He, I''m not joking, I have the research and development technology."


    He Tingting: "You''re saying you have the research technology for intelligent chips?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Exactly, to reach what people refer to as artificial intelligence, intelligent chips are indispensable.


    If you can''t even research intelligent chips, then no matter what, you can''t achieve real artificial intelligence.


    If you''re willing to join my company, once the contract is signed, I can show you what real artificial intelligence is, and if you want to learn, that''s also no problem."


    He Tingting eyed him up and down: "Your reasons still can''t convince me or those people."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and nodded: "Fine, but you can''t do anything excessive to me."


    "Get lost, go drop dead¡ªdo you think this Miss would take advantage of you?" He Tingting lashed out with a kick.


    Together, they left the office building and headed to the parking lot behind it.


    After getting into Qin Hao''s Lamborghini, He Tingting looked around curiously: "Nice car."


    Qin Hao: "Mr. He, what should I say when we run into him later?"


    He Tingting: "Haven''t you ever chased a girl before? Do I really need to teach you that?"


    Qin Hao nodded thoughtfully as if he understood, then started the car and drove out of the parking lot.


    Upon arriving at the front entrance, a man in a suit was standing beside a Mercedes SUV, peering inside.


    He Tingting said: "That''s him, his name is Luo Ze. He was my college classmate, comes from a wealthy family, and is currently a senior manager at a foreign-owned company."


    Qin Hao drove over, and Luo Ze looked at the Lamborghini coupe.


    The car window rolled down, Luo Ze saw Qin Hao and He Tingting inside, and his expression changed slightly.


    Qin Hao also gauged him: "You must be Luo Ze, right?"


    Luo Ze, a handsome man, was even more distinguished in his branded suit.


    Luo Ze squinted at Qin Hao, a flicker of sharpness passing quickly: "That''s right. And who might you be?"


    Qin Hao: "It doesn''t matter who I am. From now on, do well to keep away from Tingting. Got it?"


    In truth, Qin Hao didn''t quite know what to say, but he remembered that''s how others used to talk in the past.


    Luo Ze''s face revealed a sardonic smile: "I haven''t been back to Jianghai City for years, and now someone dares to talk to me like this. Kid, you''re the first."


    Qin Hao just laughed: "You think I''m easily scared? Right now, I''m taking Tingting to lunch. Goodbye."


    He rolled up the car window and floored the gas pedal, and the car shot forward by dozens of meters in an instant.


    Luo Ze watched and followed suit in his car.


    "Mr. He, how did I do with my acting just now?" Qin Hao inquired.


    He Tingting: "Barely passable."


    Qin Hao looked in the rearview mirror and said: "He''s following us, where should we go?"


    He Tingting, feeling annoyed at being tailed, responded: "Annoying as a lingering spirit. Let''s find a restaurant for lunch, then."


    Jinxiu Hotel


    Qin Hao and He Tingting stepped out of the car, and then saw Luo Ze also driving in.


    Feeling irritated, He Tingting hooked her arms around Qin Hao''s and walked towards the hotel.

 Chapter 255 Human Shield [Thanks to Overlord Wolf Brother]

    "Teacher, didn''t we agree not to do anything extreme?" Qin Hao was a bit embarrassed, his cheeks flushed slightly.


    He Tingting found his shy expression amusing, "Who would have thought he''d be so persistent? Sorry for the inconvenience."


    Luo Ze, witnessing the scene, suddenly felt a surge of rage.


    With a grim face, he took out his phone and made a call, "Some of you come here, I need help teaching someone a lesson, at Jinxiu Hotel in Bailing District."


    After hanging up, he walked into the hotel.


    Qin Hao and He Tingting went up to the second floor and found a seat to sit down.


    "Hello, sir, ma''am, what would you like to order?" The waitress handed them the menu.


    Qin Hao ordered four dishes, then handed the menu to He Tingting, "Uh... Tingting, what would you like to eat?"


    He Tingting didn''t order more, "Four dishes are enough."


    Luo Ze also came up soon after and took a seat next to them.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless. Why was this guy sticking around like a plaster? It was getting endless.


    Knowing full well that she had a boyfriend, yet shamelessly clinging on, he was asking for a beating.


    The food arrived quickly, and He Tingting picked up her chopsticks to serve Qin Hao some dishes, "Eat this, it''s good for your health."


    "And this, it''s good for the kidneys."


    ...


    Luo Ze, listening from the side, clenched his teeth so hard they made a grating sound, wishing he could kill Qin Hao.


    Just as the two had started eating, five people entered the hall, glanced around, and then headed towards Luo Ze.


    Qin Hao saw them as well. No wonder he had been sitting here, he was waiting for his backup.


    From their attire and demeanor, these five men were not mere thugs but rich second generation kids.


    "Mr. Luo, who''s the kid that''s crossed you?" The five men approached Luo Ze and asked with a smile.


    Luo Ze didn''t speak but looked towards Qin Hao.


    The group turned their gaze to Qin Hao, their faces revealing malicious smiles.


    He Tingting furrowed her brows, "Luo Ze, what are you guys doing?"


    Luo Ze''s face showed a scornful smile, "Seems like the guy at your side is pretty bold. He''s not from Jianghai, huh?"


    Qin Hao, "So what if I''m not a local?"


    Luo Ze, pointing at him, said, "Jianghai isn''t a place where you can act tough just because you''re wealthy.


    Everyone quickly made way and started calling out, "Mr. Li, Mr. Li."


    Seeing Li Jianjun, a look of relief appeared on Luo Ze''s face as he hurriedly called out, "Jianjun."


    Li Jianjun was taken aback when he saw Luo Ze, "Luo Ze, what are you doing here?"


    Luo Ze pointed at Qin Hao and said, "It''s this guy, he''s too damn arrogant, even wanted to hit me right here."


    Li Jianjun looked up, "Qin Hao? He Tingting?"


    Qin Hao chuckled, "Mr. Li, long time no see."


    He Tingting also recognized Li Jianjun and nodded with a smile.


    Luo Ze knew that He Tingting knew Li Jianjun, but he hadn''t expected that Li Jianjun would also know Qin Hao.


    Li Jianjun took one look and understood why they were fighting.


    He laughed dryly, "Let''s all give me some face, and let''s forget about this incident today."


    Luo Ze said, "Jianjun, for your sake, I''ll let this go for now."


    Qin Hao chuckled, "Brother Luo Ze, no wonder Tingting doesn''t fancy you, you really are a bit too shameless."


    Since Li Jianjun was there, Luo Ze wasn''t as afraid, "Don''t push me too far, Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao said, "Harassing my girlfriend and hiring people to teach me a lesson, if Mr. Li wasn''t here today, I''d break your legs."


    Upon hearing this, Li Jianjun''s eyes widened as he looked toward He Tingting, girlfriend?


    He Tingting put on a forced smile, wanting to explain but couldn''t, thinking she was completely ruined by this scoundrel now.


    What would happen if her dad found out?


    "Let''s leave it, Qin Hao, let''s go," He Tingting said hurriedly, pulling his hand to leave.


    She couldn''t let Qin Hao keep talking; if her father heard about this, she couldn''t imagine the consequences.


    After Qin Hao and He Tingting left, Luo Ze''s face was awful, "Jianjun, I''ll be going now."


    Li Jianjun nodded, "Mm-hmm, alright."


    Once everyone had left, Li Jianjun quickly took out his phone and called his father, Li Xutian, "Dad, Mr. He''s daughter, He Tingting and Qin Hao are dating. Does Mr. He know about this?"


    Li Xutian, "You''re saying Tingting and Qin Hao are dating? How is that possible? Tingting is his teacher and she really dislikes him."


    Originally, Li Xutian had gotten information about Qin Hao from He Tingting, and at that time, he could tell that He Tingting was very averse to Qin Hao.


    "Really, dad, I saw it with my own eyes. They were eating at our hotel this noon,


    and He Tingting even took the initiative to pull his hand and leave," Li Jianjun stated with certainty.


    Li Xutian: "Then I''ll ask Mr. He."

 Chapter 256 Wu Roasted Duck

    Li Xutian hung up the phone and immediately called He Qizhi.


    "He, what are you busy with?"


    He Qizhi: "Just keeping busy, but not as busy as you, boss."


    Li Xutian tentatively asked, "So, Tingting is seeing someone, is she?"


    At this question, He Qizhi sighed, "If only this child were seeing someone, that would be great.


    Just the other day, the Luo family''s kid came back, and I arranged for them to meet, but Tingting didn''t go."


    Li Xutian: "Today, Jianjun saw Tingting dining at Jinxiu Hotel with a guy, holding hands and looking very intimate."


    "Really? Is Tingting seeing someone?" He Qizhi was somewhat incredulous.


    Li Xutian: "He, do you think I would lie to you? Jianjun saw it with his own eyes, and they even admitted themselves that they are in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship."


    He Qizhi was somewhat happy because he was always concerned about his daughter''s lifelong matters.


    He didn''t care whether the other party was from a wealthy family, as long as the two truly loved each other.


    He said with a smile, "Why didn''t Tingting tell me about this? I''m definitely not as conservative as some people. By the way, what''s the guy like?"


    Knowing he was being mocked, Li Xutian said with a laugh, "The guy is pretty good. You might have heard his name, his name is Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao?


    "Pfft"


    Just as He Qizhi was happily sipping his tea, he spat it out immediately: "What did you say? What''s his name?"


    Li Xutian chuckled and said, "He, you heard right, his name is Qin Hao, your student, and also Tingting''s."


    He Qizhi was furious: "Preposterous, absolutely preposterous, I could never agree to this."


    Just moments ago, he was happy to hear his daughter was seeing someone, but now he couldn''t feel happy at all.


    Li Xutian: "He, please don''t say I told you this, or else Tingting will blame me again."


    ...


    Jinxiu Hotel parking lot


    As the two got into the car, Tingting said irritably, "Who told you to call me your girlfriend?"


    Qin Hao: "Teacher, how can you flip faster than flipping a book? Wasn''t it you who asked me for help?


    I get it now, teacher, you''re just using me till the job''s done, then casting me aside."


    Tingting was distressed: "I don''t even know how to say it to you."


    This would not only bring significant profits but also greatly impact real life, driving societal progress.


    In the end, Qin Hao agreed, "Okay, Teacher, that''s settled then."


    He Tingting nodded: "Then please drop me back, I still have to go to the laboratory this afternoon."


    He had just driven to the school gate when he received a call from Feng Xiangyi.


    "Mr. Qin, please come to the company, there''s something going on."


    Qin Hao: "Alright, I''m aware."


    After hanging up, he told He Tingting, "Teacher, there''s something at the company, I have to go."


    "Okay, then you go ahead, I can go in by myself." After saying this, He Tingting got out of the car and walked into the school.


    Qin Hao drove towards Dingfeng Building, and arrived at the company half an hour later.


    "Mr. Qin." The two receptionists at the entrance greeted him with a smile.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and walked in; Nie Si was already waiting inside for him.


    Seeing him come in, she quickly stood up and walked over: "Mr. Qin, there are some people from Wu Roasted Duck Group in the guest room."


    Qin Hao knew about Wu Roasted Duck Group, a company specializing in duck roasting with a franchising business model.


    Wu Roasted Duck franchises were spread across the country and were beloved by the masses for their affordable prices.


    Their influence in Jianghai was not to be underestimated.


    Qin Hao entered the guest room, where Feng Xiangyi and a few executives were conversing with people from Wu Roasted Duck Group.


    Seeing Qin Hao enter, Feng Xiangyi stood up and said, "Mr. Qin."


    There were five people from Wu Roasted Duck Group, both men and women, who also stood up.


    The group''s leader, Wu Fuwei, smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, I''ve heard much about you. I am Wu Fuwei, the vice president of Wu Roasted Duck."


    "Hello, Mr. Wu, please have a seat," Qin Hao said as they shook hands.


    Once both parties were seated, Wu Fuwei smiled and said, "We came to your esteemed company today to discuss a possible acquisition with Mr. Qin.


    We believe Jiangshan Roasted Duck, in terms of flavor, appearance, and taste, is very unique and has great development potential.


    We plan to invest one hundred and fifty million to acquire Mr. Qin''s Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company."


    One hundred and fifty million?


    Qin Hao smiled: "Mr. Wu, do you know how many direct stores my Jiangshan Roasted Duck currently has?


    Over fifty, and each month this number grows at a crazy pace. One hundred and fifty million to acquire it? Mr. Wu, it seems you''re still dreaming."

 Chapter 257 Vigilance

    Wu Fuwei did not seem the least bit angry, still smiling as he said, "Mr. Qin, you''ve only started Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company a few months ago, and $150 million is not a small amount."


    A hint of annoyance flashed across Qin Hao''s face. Clearly, Wu Fuwei was not here to sincerely buy out his company.


    The current market value of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was at least over $500 million.


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Wu, I have no intention of selling the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company. I believe it can go much farther."


    Wu Fuwei smiled as he spoke, "Mr. Qin, you should really think it over, otherwise in a few days, Jiangshan Roasted Duck won''t be worth that much."


    The threat in his tone was very clear.


    Qin Hao''s face turned cold. "Show the guests out."


    Feng Xiangyi and Nie Si, expressionless, stood up and said, "Mr. Wu, please." Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    With his people, Wu Fuwei left, and in the reception room, Qin Hao asked, "How has our roast duck store been performing these past few days?"


    Feng Xiangyi said, "Right now, our daily turnover stays around $100,000, but Mr. Qin, I think there''s something not quite right."


    "What is it?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "There are shops around our roast duck store that are being renovated, and I had someone inquire about them. They belong to Wu Roasted Duck."


    Qin Hao sneered, "So he''s giving me a show of politeness followed by a threat. He doesn''t see what he''s up against."


    Feng Xiangyi said softly, "Mr. Qin, we can''t ignore this. We have to prepare countermeasures.


    Although Wu Roasted Duck''s taste is far from ours, the Wu Group has connections and influence in Jianghai''s roast duck industry.


    The market here is already saturated. Our expansion and development of Jiangshan Roasted Duck here are like cutting into their flesh.


    Mr. Qin, do you think they would just sit back and watch you take their profits?"


    She thought far ahead and spoke very clearly; developing Jiangshan Roasted Duck in Jianghai City wouldn''t be easy.


    Jiangshan, being a third-tier city without strong competitors, expanded rapidly.


    But Jianghai is different from Jiangshan; it has various roast duck companies.


    From large nationwide franchises to small, simple roast duck workshops.


    The market share here has already been cleanly divided among various roast duck businesses.


    Now Jiangshan Roasted Duck entering is like a hungry wolf, directly seizing many others'' interests.


    If those people are not fools, they can certainly see how great a threat Jiangshan Roasted Duck poses.


    That''s just the basic prerequisite. What''s most important is the company''s operation."


    Back in his office, Qin Hao sat in his office chai, frowning and contemplating something.


    Nie Si poured him a cup of tea, then sat there processing documents.


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao took out his phone, intending to make a call. He glanced at Nie Si, then got up and walked out of the office.


    He went outside the company and called Li Moying on his cell phone.


    Calling Li Moying was a decision he had pondered over repeatedly. He had also considered Xu Siyao,


    but his medicinal materials came from Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group. If Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical was to acquire duck farms, it would be too conspicuous.


    Those people probably also knew about his relationship with Xu Jiekang, so Xu Jiekang''s side was not very safe either.


    However, not many people knew about his relationship with Li Moying.


    The call connected quickly, and Li Moying laughed, "Master, are you calling me because there''s something you need?"


    Qin Hao, somewhat embarrassed, "Indeed, there''s a matter for which I need your help."


    Li Moying, "Say no more, I''ll definitely help you if it''s something I can handle."


    Qin Hao, "Where are you now? Is it convenient to talk?"


    Li Moying, "I''m at home sleeping, go ahead, Master."


    Qin Hao, "I want to acquire a few duck farms but I can''t show up publicly, so I need you to handle the acquisitions."


    "Acquire duck farms? Sure, Master, how many do you want to acquire?" Li Moying was astute and understood his deeper implications.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "However many you can handle, I''m not worried about being unable to manage them, just worried that you might not be able to negotiate successfully."


    Li Moying snorted, "Master, are you looking down on me? If I manage to negotiate successfully for you, what should you owe me?"


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "I don''t know, you tell me what you want me to do, as long as I can do it."


    Li Moying, "I can''t think of anything right now, I''ll tell you when I do. Just make sure you don''t forget."


    Qin Hao smiled, "Mmm, I won''t forget."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao breathed a sigh of relief. With Li Moying stepping in, this matter should be doable.


    But he couldn''t place all his hopes solely on Li Moying.


    Back inside the company, he called Kangyou Yee at the headquarters, asking him to expand the scale of the duck farms,


    Jiangshan was their stronghold. If Li Moying''s efforts were to fail, Qin Hao could still rely on their main base there, although it would incur higher transportation costs.

 Chapter 258 Supervisor Lv Rong

    In the afternoon, Qin Hao stayed in the company, pondering the future development of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    After Nie Si finished processing some documents, she had nothing else to do.


    She sat in front of the computer and occasionally turned her head to look at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao noticed her several times and couldn''t help but ask, "What''s the matter, Nie Si?"


    Nie Si''s cheeks turned slightly red, and she felt somewhat embarrassed.


    She spoke up, "Mr. Qin, I have a suggestion, but I''m not sure if I should voice it."


    Qin Hao smiled, "You''re part of the company. Just speak up if you have a suggestion; there''s no need to hesitate. If it''s good, you''ll be rewarded."


    Nie Si said, "Mr. Qin, what do you think about building a large-scale duck farm here?"


    After she spoke, she took out a map of Xuan Country and pointed at the border between Nan''e Province and Nanxiang Province.


    This place was almost at the center of the south, radiating in all directions.


    If a large-scale duck farm were constructed here, it could completely cover more than ten southern provinces and hundreds of cities.


    "Which city is this?" Qin Hao asked as she pointed to the location.


    "Yangyue City, under the jurisdiction of Nanxiang Province, but near the border of the two provinces, close to the Jiutian River; both road and water transportation are very convenient,"


    Qin Hao looked at her with some surprise, "Nie Si, today you''ve truly surprised me. Your bonus for this month will be doubled."


    Nie Si''s face lit up with joy; her bonus for a month was over two thousand, and doubled, that would be four to five thousand.


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin."


    Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao said, "No need for thanks. Going forward, we''ll add this to the company''s policy: whoever puts forth suggestions beneficial to the company''s development will receive varying rewards based on their contribution."


    Nie Si nodded, "Understood, Mr. Qin!"


    Before the troops move, the provisions must be prepared.


    This not only applies to the battlefield but also to the marketplace.


    Although investing in a large-scale duck farm would consume a significant amount of funds, it would all be worth it.


    Sooner or later, Jiangshan Roasted Duck would enter these southern provinces. Preparing a large-scale duck farm now would be perfect!


    At the very least, they wouldn''t have to worry about others joining forces to blockade them in the future.


    Moreover, having their own duck farm would also maximize company profits.


    Qin Hao asked, "Who is familiar with this place?"


    If the cooked duck industry does not innovate in flavors, then the market will continue to shrink, and market contraction will directly affect the duck farms.


    In the first half of this year, a good number of duck farms have closed down in Nan''e Province and Nanxiang Province.


    I''ve had friends and relatives inquire, and there are several duck farms in Yangyue City planning to sell, because the industry is not that easy to work in anymore.


    As long as the price is reasonable, I am eighty percent certain that we can successfully acquire those duck farms."


    From her analysis and understanding of the entire market, Qin Hao could see that she had put a great deal of effort into it.


    Moreover, her vision was far-sighted, and her strategy was equally far-reaching; she truly was a rare talent.


    Qin Hao felt somewhat pleased and, with a smile, asked, "Mr. Lv, what industry were you involved in previously?"


    Lv Rong said, "I used to be in product promotion, just at a very ordinary company with no prospects for development.


    Coming to our company was also on my own initiative, as I saw great prospects for development here. With proper management, the future is boundless."


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Lv, I will leave the acquisition of the duck farms in Yangyue City to you. Strive to acquire them all.


    Once completed, come back and I''ll promote you to deputy director of the company''s marketing department."


    Lv Rong''s heart raced, excited, yet she kept a calm demeanor and nodded, "Mr. Qin, I will do my utmost."


    There was no director position at the Jianghai branch; the highest position was the manager held by Song Zhu.


    The deputy director position that Qin Hao mentioned was for the entire company''s marketing department.


    It was past five in the afternoon.


    Feng Xiangyi walked into his office, "Mr. Qin, it''s time to leave."


    Only then did Qin Hao react; the two left the office together and headed to the underground parking lot.


    "Auntie, please ride with me. Let''s go find Wan Rou first."


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "All right."


    Qin Hao drove towards the Jianghai University East Campus in Bailing District.


    As they neared the university, he made a call to Du Wanrou.


    Both waited at the school gate for a while before seeing Du Wanrou drive out in her red Ferrari.


    The three of them, in two cars, drove towards the seaside. The scenery there was beautiful and although they had been there once before, they hadn''t fully enjoyed themselves.


    After over half an hour, they arrived at the Haoting Sea View Villa District and parked their cars in the yard.


    With a smile, Du Wanrou suggested, "Let''s go play by the sea, and catch some seafood tonight."


    "Wan Rou, whose house is this?" Feng Xiangyi asked, looking at the luxurious sea view villa in front of her.

 Chapter 259 Sudden Interrogation

    Du Wanrou: "Auntie, this is what Qin Hao bought a few days ago."


    Feng Xiangyi said with some surprise, "How much did this cost?"


    Qin Hao replied, "All in, over sixty million."


    Feng Xiangyi gasped, over sixty million, where did Qin Hao get so much money?


    The revenues of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company were all reinvested in development, and Qin Hao hadn''t received a penny from it.


    So where did this money come from?


    Could it be that he had other companies? Or some other way to make money, otherwise where would he get so much money?


    Feng Xiangyi didn''t ask; after all, it wasn''t her place to pry into such private matters.


    The three of them went to the seaside.


    They had a blast catching crabs, digging for clams, and fishing.


    Qin Hao held a plastic bucket, filled with the spoils of war gathered by Du Wanrou and Feng Xiangyi.


    "Haha, Qin Hao come quickly, I caught a big one!" Du Wanrou called from not far away, her face beaming with joy.


    Qin Hao hurried over and saw Du Wanrou holding a crab the size of a palm.


    "Be careful not to let it clamp you with its big pincers."


    Du Wanrou chuckled, "No problem, I know where to grab it, we can have a feast tonight."


    After about two hours of fun, the women caught plenty of crabs, clams, and fish and were very happy. Even with their skirts soaked on the way back, it did not dampen their spirits one bit.


    Back at the villa, Du Wanrou gave Feng Xiangyi a set of her own clothes to change into.


    Qin Hao went into the kitchen to clean the crab, clams, and fish.


    Although he had never done this before, it did not stop him from learning online.


    How to cook various dishes, what to pay attention to, and what seasoning to use¡ªall were clearly described on the internet.


    By now, they had bought everything needed for living in the villa.


    Feng Xiangyi and Du Wanrou, having changed their clothes, came in to help.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "You two just go watch TV in the living room, I got this."


    Yet she was disappointed, for Qin Hao''s face revealed nothing, adorned instead with a faint smile.


    "Take these two to the interrogation room," Miao Jing instructed someone by her side. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou were led to the interrogation room¡ªand they were put in the same one.


    Feng Xiangyi asked, puzzled, "Officer Miao, what does this mean? Weren''t the statements completed?"


    Miao Jing spoke indifferently, "Mr. Feng, there''s been a new finding in the case. Qin Hao is highly likely the murderer who killed Wang Jun and his nine men."


    Feng Xiangyi coldly retorted, "Qin Hao killed Wang Jun''s nine men? Officer Miao, you should have evidence before you speak, or don''t blame us for suing you for defamation.


    Our company''s legal department will be here shortly."


    Miao Jing ignored her and entered the interrogation room.


    Miao Jing had been collecting evidence these past few days but had found nothing conclusive.


    So she decided to take a risk, as time was running short.


    The nine-man homicide case had reached the city leadership''s ears, and an expedient resolution was demanded¡ªthe deadline had already been set.


    Miao Jing had no choice but to make a move today.


    Inside the interrogation room.


    Miao Jing looked at Qin Hao and said, "Qin Hao, you murdered Wang Jun and his nine men and framed Zhu Qiang. Do you plead guilty?"


    Du Wanrou''s face stiffened in shock. "Officer Miao, are you mistaken? I saw with my own eyes another man killing Wang Jun."


    Qin Hao chuckled. "Officer Miao, you haven''t rested in days and seem somewhat delusional.


    You should rest now, rather than talking nonsense here."


    Miao Jing sneered, "I''m talking nonsense? Why then does Wang Jun have over a dozen fatal knife wounds.


    While the others have only one?


    Qin Hao tensed inwardly but responded coolly, "You should be asking the murderer that, not me, Officer Miao."


    Miao Jing pressed on, "Because you witnessed Wang Jun trying to assault your girlfriend.


    You killed him in a fit of anger. How else can you explain the numerous fatal stabs? One was enough to kill; why stab him over a dozen times?


    This indicates profound hatred between the two, and upon investigation, Zhu Qiang had no quarrel with Wang Jun."


    [Two more chapters tonight.]

 Chapter 260 Joint Blockade

    Qin Hao still had that calm expression, "Officer Miao, your imagination is splendid, it''s a waste you don''t write detective novels."


    Miao Jing glanced at Qin Hao and then turned to Du Wanrou, "If I''m not mistaken, Miss Du''s statement is also fabricated, isn''t it?


    The purpose is to exonerate Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao laughed, "Officer Miao, why don''t you take a break?"


    Du Wanrou also felt somewhat speechless, "Officer Miao, I can swear that my statement does not contain a single lie."


    Miao Jing, "Miss Du, if Zhu Qiang is the murderer, why did everyone else die, and you did not?


    You claimed in your statement that you had your eyes closed afterwards. I think this is an excuse to absolve Qin Hao."


    She had read Du Wanrou''s statement many times, looking for loopholes in it.


    Miao Jing believed that Du Wanrou likely knew the true culprit was Qin Hao, hence she made such a statement.


    All the talking about chairs flying on their own and ghosts were just to divert and dilute the police''s attention.


    Du Wanrou felt Miao Jing was being unreasonable, "Officer Miao, I''m a victim, not a suspect. Please mind your language."


    Qin Hao, "Officer Miao, is there anything else you want to ask? If not, we''ll be leaving."


    Miao Jing, "There''s one thing I need Mr. Qin to explain."


    "Please speak, Officer Miao."


    Miao Jing, "On the day of the incident at 6:03 PM, you were driving the van appearing at the closest surveillance point to the abandoned factory, then traveling at a speed of 127 km per hour.


    Our experts have calculated the brake marks at the abandoned factory, and the speed was roughly 125 km per hour at that time.


    Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    You traveled more than thirty miles on that route, and based on this speed, you would have arrived at the abandoned factory by 6:11 PM.


    However, you reported the case at 6:18 PM, leaving a seven-minute gap.


    Wang Jun was the first to die, and the last one to die was the person in the van, with a time span of not more than six minutes between the deaths.


    This was enough time for you to kill these people and then call the police, am I right, Mr. Qin?"


    Without waiting for Qin Hao''s response, Miao Jing continued, "The numerous fatal stab wounds on Wang Jun, Du Wanrou''s survival, a seven-minute gap. Mr. Qin, can you explain this to me?"


    Qin Hao, "Officer Miao, I think you are a bit obsessed. We live in a society governed by law, where evidence is crucial, and even judges rely solely on evidence."


    "Although I don''t have the evidence now, I will definitely find it in the future," Miao Jing said earnestly.


    Qin Hao, "Officer Miao, feel free to investigate. I, Qin Hao, am not afraid of any investigation for things I haven''t done."


    Just then, Wang Jiang walked in. Seeing the situation inside, he frowned, "Mr. Miao, what is going on here?"


    There were about seven or eight people in the room, other than Li Jianjun and Luo Ze, he didn''t recognize the others.


    Li Jianjun pulled Qin Hao to sit on the sofa, then addressed the others around him, "This is Qin Hao, Mr. Qin from Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company."


    "Hello, Mr. Qin."


    Several people greeted him in turn; having such a good relationship with Li Jianjun, their statuses were obviously not simple.


    These were the sons of some big corporation bosses or descendants of high-ranking officials, all of distinguished statuses.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, acknowledging them.


    Li Jianjun looked towards Luo Ze, whom he learned about Qin Hao''s background from later on.


    The Xu family, he was not someone they could afford to offend.


    Luo Ze picked up a bottle of wine and said, "Mr. Qin, there seems to have been a misunderstanding between us, and I''d like to take this opportunity to apologize."


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, "Just stop bothering Tingting in the future, I''m not one to hold grudges."


    Luo Ze''s expression stiffened, but he still nodded: "You''re right, Mr. Qin, I''ll drink to that first."


    After saying that, he drank the wine down.


    Qin Hao: "I accept Mr. Luo''s apology. If there''s nothing else, I''ll be leaving first."


    Li Jianjun was taken aback: "Qin, you just got here and leaving so soon doesn''t give me much face."


    Qin Hao explained: "I don''t really like places like this. You guys have fun, I''m heading out."


    After saying that, he turned and walked out of the room; Li Jianjun, seeing this, quickly said to everyone in the room, "You guys enjoy yourselves."


    As soon as Qin Hao left, Li Jianjun followed him: "Qin, I''m not very fond of these places either. Let''s go somewhere quiet."


    Qin Hao turned and looked at him: "Mr. Li must have something he wants to say."


    Li Jianjun laughed dryly: "Qin, your company is facing a difficult situation.


    Companies in the Jianghai cooked duck industry have been secretly united with the sole purpose of driving your company out of Jianghai City."


    Qin Hao turned to him: "You''re talking about the Tang Group, aren''t you?"


    "You know?" Li Jianjun''s eyes widened.


    Qin Hao: "The Tang Group is involved in various industries and has many subsidiaries in the food and catering sector.


    The cooked duck industry''s Delicious Duck Neck Group is the leading company in Jianghai, and the only one capable of integrating the entire Jianghai cooked duck industry is the Tang Group."


    Li Jianjun: "Today, they have already blocked your channels for buying ducks, and it''s very difficult for you to get live ducks in Jianghai now."


    Qin Hao''s eyes narrowed slightly, Li Jianjun had no reason to lie to him. Were these people moving so fast?

 Chapter 261 News of Xu Jiekang

    Li Jianjun said these things, and Qin Hao could probably guess what he was thinking.


    He said with a smile, "Mr. Li wants to invest in Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company?"


    Li Jianjun, "Exactly. According to a ten-billion valuation, I will pay every penny, I''ll invest two billion for twenty percent of the shares.


    Moreover, I will also help Brother Qin''s company through its difficult times."


    The price he offered was pretty fair, and he didn''t mean to take advantage of the situation.


    Li Jianjun had never seen a company that could provoke an entire industry to resist.


    From a side, it also reflected the endless potential of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    According to his estimates, the future market value of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company could perhaps exceed fifty billion.


    If he held twenty percent of the shares, once the market value hit fifty billion, his shares would be worth ten billion!


    That''s a several dozen times increase! Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    If it weren''t for the Tang Group''s difficulties, he wouldn''t have had this great opportunity.


    Moreover, Li Jianjun was seventy to eighty percent confident that he could persuade Qin Hao because if Qin Hao did not cooperate with him, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company would find it very difficult to gain a foothold in Jianghai.


    If Qin Hao let Jiangshan Base provide the raw ducks, the transportation cost would increase, reducing the profits.


    The most important thing was that it wouldn''t solve the problem at its root and would severely hinder Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s development in Jianghai.


    Expanding the business was almost impossible.


    Only cooperation with him was the best way out for Jiangshan Roasted Duck at present.


    This was Li Jianjun''s confidence; he believed that if Qin Hao were smart, he would agree.


    From his words, Qin Hao could tell that he had a way to resolve the crisis of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    Qin Hao shook his head and said, "Sorry, Mr. Li, I have no plans to raise funds."


    Li Jianjun was puzzled, "Brother Qin, this is a mutually beneficial opportunity, why are you so obstinate?


    Without my cooperation, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company will hardly be able to move an inch in Jianghai.


    You''ve already carved out a path in Jianghai. If you quit now, it will be difficult to reenter later on.


    And even expanding into other provinces will be difficult, ultimately relegating you to a corner."


    Qin Hao, "Sorry, Mr. Li, if it really comes to that, I''ll seek a partnership with you."


    Having said that, Qin Hao drove off.


    Li Jianjun was somewhat speechless; did he really think that Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company could still hold out?


    ...


    It might even cause our loyal customers to lose faith in our stores."


    The others nodded slightly, feeling that Li Jing''s comment was valid.


    The company''s biggest problem now was the lack of channels to procure live ducks.


    Qin Hao: "Manager Li is right. The procurement department should continue to look for new procurement channels. Mr. Zhao, you should go now. It''s urgent."


    "Okay, Mr. Qin." Zhao Peng left the conference room.


    Qin Hao continued to address the others: "Regarding Delicious Duck Neck, does anyone have any suggestions?"


    Li Jing: "Mr. Qin, Delicious Roasted Duck has significant influence, and I think we must respond.


    Otherwise, it could seriously impact our performance."


    The marketing manager, Song Zhu, said: "Mr. Qin, I believe we need not worry about Delicious Duck Neck right now. They sell duck necks, which do not conflict much with our roasted duck. The impact won''t be that great.


    Our main issue to solve right now is the procurement channel."


    Assistant Manager Li Jing disagreed with her, and the two argued for a while.


    Qin Hao could see that the two did not get along well. He remained silent and gave Feng Xiangyi a look.


    Feng Xiangyi spoke up: "Alright, let''s discuss Delicious Duck Neck another time. Let''s end today''s meeting here."


    One by one, everyone left, leaving only Qin Hao, Feng Xiangyi, and Du Wanrou in the conference room.


    Qin Hao took out his phone and called Kang Youyi: "Mr. Kang, I need fifty thousand ducks delivered to Jianghai City today."


    Kang Youyi was taken aback: "Brother Hao, can''t you get any over there?"


    Qin Hao replied: "The market for live ducks has been blockaded by our rivals. We can''t buy any."


    "Alright, I''ll arrange for transportation right away," Kang Youyi responded hastily.


    Qin Hao: "How large is the duck farm now?"


    Kang Youyi replied: "We have about two hundred thousand ducks, with tens of thousands hatching every day."


    Qin Hao: "Acquire all the duck farms in Jiangshan for me. I want to build a large-scale duck farming base in Jiangshan.


    Also, regarding Yangyue City, I''ve already sent people to scout the area. We need to build a large-scale duck farming base there as well."


    Kang Youyi: "Okay, Brother Hao. The head office has enough cash on hand to develop the duck farming bases."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao considered calling Li Moying but decided against it.


    Soon his phone rang; it was Xu Jiekang calling.


    "Mr. Xu," Qin Hao answered the phone with a smile.


    Xu Jiekang: "Xiao Hao, tomorrow morning Chang Anding and the deputy head of the Southern Military Industry Group will come to Jianghai. Find a place and gather the shareholders; we need to discuss the new company''s business."@@@@

 Chapter 262 Anger

    Qin Hao felt a surge of happiness, "Okay, Mr. Xu, then I''ll find a place tomorrow."


    Xu Jiekang said, "You can make a reservation today, tell me once you have booked it, and I will pick up Chang Anding and the others tomorrow."


    Qin Hao replied, "Alright, Mr. Xu."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao thought for a moment and then called Li Moying.


    Li Moying was talking to Li Jianjun when suddenly her phone rang in her pocket.


    She took it out, glanced at the caller ID, and then answered the call, "Master, I know your company is in trouble. I''m persuading my brother; don''t panic."


    Qin Hao said, "It''s not about that. Tomorrow, the heads of Hongya Heavy Industry, Southern Military Industry Group, and Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group will come to Jianghai.


    I need you to book a high-end room for me at Jinjiang Hotel, we will be discussing the new company''s matters starting tomorrow."


    Li Moying was taken aback for a moment, "So soon? Okay, Master, it''s no big deal."


    "Alright, I''m hanging up now."


    Qin Hao ended the call and glanced at Du Wanrou.


    Du Wanrou, smiling, said, "Was that Miss Li? She''s quite nice."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mo Ying is a good person, she always helps me out fully. Some day, let''s invite her to dinner."


    "Sure," Du Wanrou responded with a smile.


    Feng Xiangyi curiously asked, "Mr. Qin, Hongya Heavy Industry and Southern Military Industry are both top-tier heavy industry groups in the country.


    Moreover, Southern Military Industry is also a super state-owned enterprise under the banner of Gu Jing Military Region. Are you starting a new company?"


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "We are starting a high-tech company, but keep this matter confidential. It''s enough that just the two of you know."


    Feng Xiangyi felt a shock inside; Hongya Heavy Industry and Southern Military Industry were both conglomerates with market values in the hundreds of billions.


    What kind of new company were they planning to form?


    ...


    On the other side.


    Li Moying said to her brother at home, "Sell me your large duck farm for fifteen million."


    Li Jianjun started to understand, "So that''s why Qin Hao wouldn''t agree to let me invest. He had already asked you for help early on.@@@@


    I thought the guy was honest, but didn''t expect him to be so cunning."


    Li Moying, with a stern face, said, "Fifteen million, is it okay? I''m asking you for the last time."


    Li Jianjun replied, "Really, it''s not okay."


    ...


    At lunchtime, Qin Hao received a call from Zhao Qian.


    Zhao Qian: "Qin Hao, where are you? Are you free this afternoon?"


    Qin Hao: "I''m free. Going to the hospital?"


    Zhao Qian said, "Yes, let''s go see Qiao''er."


    "Okay, see you at the hospital this afternoon."


    After lunch, Feng Xiangyi and Du Wanrou went back to rest, and Qin Hao drove to the hospital.


    By the time he arrived, Zhao Qian was already there waiting for him at the entrance of the parking lot.


    After parking the car, Qin Hao got out and asked Zhao Qian, "Has your leg healed?"


    Zhao Qian smiled: "Yeah, it''s almost better now, let''s go upstairs."


    The two walked together into the hospital building and took the elevator to the fifth floor.


    Just getting off the elevator, Qin Hao heard Han Qiao''er''s crying, along with a man''s cursing voice.


    "Damn it, who let you call the cops? Believe it or not, I''ll kill you and your mother."


    "Sob, sob."


    "Bang!"


    Sun Gang lifted his leg and kicked Han Qiao''er, sending her tumbling over with the blow.


    He cursed: "Just like your mother, a slut."


    Hearing Han Qiao''er''s crying, Qin Hao''s expression changed, the cries coming from the stairwell next to them.


    He quickly walked over and saw five men surrounding her, one of them just retracting his foot.


    Seeing this scene, Qin Hao couldn''t hold back his rage: "Damn it, you beasts!"


    Qin Hao directly grabbed two men from behind, lifted them up, and with a forceful clash, the two screamed.


    Then he threw them right onto the stairs.


    At this moment, Sun Gang and the two others reacted, turned their heads, and were just about to speak.


    Qin Hao''s right foot kicked straight into Sun Gang''s chest while his arms swung left and right, kicking the other two to the ground as well.


    "Qiao''er, it''s okay now, everything''s okay." Qin Hao quickly picked up Han Qiao''er and comforted her.


    There were slight swellings on Han Qiao''er''s cheeks with several handprints, and her body had many footprints.


    [First update, should still be four updates today!]

 Chapter 263 Stunning Beauty

    When Han Qiao''er saw Qin Hao, she hugged him tightly and started crying.


    At that moment, Zhao Qian entered the stairwell and saw the footprints on Han Qiao''er''s body.


    Her face turned awkward as she viciously stomped on a few people on the ground.@@@@


    "You bastards, how could you lay hands on such a young child?"


    When Qin Hao saw Sun Gang trying to get up, he kicked him in the leg, forcing him back to the ground.


    He looked at Sun Gang and his group and said, "Everyone stay down and come out, or I will beat you to death."


    Sun Gang hesitated for a moment and wanted to speak, asking about Qin Hao''s background.


    "Bang"


    Qin Hao didn''t give him the chance, stepping on his head and making him have intimate contact with the ground.


    "Didn''t understand what I said?" Qin Hao''s tone was chilling as he put more force on his foot.


    "Heard it, heard it, big brother, go easy," Sun Gang hastily said.


    Five people crawled out from the stairwell and then walked towards the nurse''s station ahead.


    Qin Hao, holding Han Qiao''er, arrived at the nurse''s station, where there were four female nurses.


    When they saw Qin Hao, their expressions slightly changed: "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao''s expression wasn''t good as he did not believe these nurses were unaware of Han Qiao''er being bullied.


    But these people turned a blind eye, which angered him.


    One of the nurses quietly explained, "Mr. Qin, they threatened us, and we didn''t dare to offend them."


    After all, they were vulnerable women. Those people wouldn''t dare to mess around in the hospital, but what about after work?


    They had to consider their own safety, such is human nature.


    Qin Hao didn''t say anything and picked up their phone to make a police call: "Hello, this is Jianghai City, Xin Hai District call center, how may I assist you?"


    "Get Mr. Liu on the phone, tell him it''s Qin Hao."


    The other side hesitated for a moment, and after a minute, Liu Haiping picked up the call.


    Qin Hao hadn''t forgotten; this was Mr. Xu''s man, he didn''t dare to neglect him.


    "Mr. Qin, what can I do for you?" Liu Haiping asked cautiously.


    Qin Hao: "I reported a case a few days ago, why is the criminal still out there committing crimes?


    The nearby nurses watched, horrified.


    Qin Hao said, "Qiao''er, if someone bullies you in the future, hit them like this. If you can''t beat them, call Brother."


    Han Qiao''er stopped her kicking, her forehead already covered in sweat, "Hmm."


    Qin Hao said, "If you get tired, rest a bit before hitting again."


    Upon hearing this, Sun Gang''s eyes rolled back, and he fainted.


    The police arrived quickly. They spoke a few words with Qin Hao, then took Sun Gang and four others back to the station.


    Han Qiao''er, holding Qin Hao''s hand, said, "Big Brother, Big Sister, my mom has woken up. Can I take you to see her?"


    Qin Hao and Zhao Qian smiled, "Sure, let''s go."


    They went to a superior hospital room on the fifth floor, which housed a special nurse taking care of Han Qiao''er''s mother.


    Although he was angry at what those nurses had done earlier, the arrangements for Han Qiao''er and her mother were quite good.


    The hospital room had two beds, with the one on the side being used by Han Qiao''er for sleeping at night.


    The room also had some fruits and nutritional supplements, bought by some nurses and doctors who felt sorry for the mother and daughter.


    "Mom, you''re awake." Han Qiao''er walked into the room, saw her mother with open eyes, and smiled.


    Han Meng, seeing the palm prints on her daughter''s face, her eyes immediately reddened, "Qiao''er, what happened to your face? Who did this?"


    Han Qiao''er smiled and said, "It was the bad person who bullied you, but just now I hit him too, and now the police uncle has taken him away."


    "Does it hurt, Qiao''er?" Han Meng wanted to touch her daughter''s face, but her arm was broken, and she couldn''t move it.


    Han Qiao''er smiled and said, "It''s okay, Mom, it doesn''t hurt at all."


    Hearing her daughter''s words, tears fell down Han Meng''s face.


    Han Qiao''er quickly introduced, "Mom, these are the Big Brother and Big Sister who helped us. It was also Big Brother who fought off those bad people just now."


    Han Meng looked towards Qin Hao and Zhao Qian, her eyes filled with gratitude, "Thank you, thank you."


    Qin Hao opened his mouth to call her aunt, but Han Meng looked so young and beautiful, elegant and with sparkling eyes, evoking a strong desire to protect her.


    Today he learned what is meant by the beauty that could "sink fish and fell geese, and make the moon shy and flowers blush." She looked no less charming than Zhao Qian or Li Moying, her delicateness especially moving.


    Zhao Qian, too, was stunned by her looks, but quickly recovered, "Big Sister, don''t be polite. Just focus on healing now, don''t worry about anything else, the bad people have been caught."


    Qin Hao said, "Right, and don''t worry about the money, I''ve taken care of it."


    [Chapter two update, two more chapters to follow.]


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 Chapter 264 Han Mengs Thoughts

    Han Meng was not articulate and kept thanking the two of them incessantly, "I really appreciate it a lot."


    "Big brother, big sister, please have a seat," Han Qiaoer brought them stools.


    Qin Hao patted her head and said, "Very good."


    Curious, Han Qiaoer asked, "Big brother, what do you do? You are so awesome."


    Qin Hao,"Big brother is in university and owns a company, you also need to study hard, and when you grow up, be like big brother."


    "Yes, I''ll listen to big brother," Han Qiaoer responded.


    Han Meng watched them chatting, a look of relief on her face, but a hint of sadness flickered deep in her eyes.


    They conversed for a while, and aside from thanking them, Han Meng didn''t know what else to say, so she just listened to her daughter and Qin Hao talking.


    After a while, the special care staff, noticing that Han Meng had fallen asleep, spoke up, "The patient is still very weak and needs to rest."


    Qin Hao said apologetically with a smile, "Qiao''er, we''ll leave for today then, not to disturb your mom''s rest."


    Grabbing his hand, Han Qiaoer pleaded, "Big brother, could you stay and talk with me a little longer? Can we talk outside?"


    Seeing her pleading eyes, Qin Hao nodded, "Okay, but let''s keep our voices down so we don''t wake your mom."


    They left the ward and sat on chairs not far down the hallway.


    Han Qiaoer hesitated then asked, "Big brother, can I work at your company?"


    Qin Hao and Zhao Qian looked startled, exchanging glances.


    In haste, Han Qiaoer said, "Big brother, I can clean, cook, and even do laundry. I want to earn money."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Didn''t big brother tell you? Don''t worry about money. After you grow up and graduate, then you can earn money and pay big brother back."


    Han Qiaoer bowed her head and said nothing.


    Qin Hao took out some money, about a few thousand yuan, "Take this money and spend it. If it''s not enough, just tell big brother."


    Han Qiaoer, "Big brother, I don''t want it, I already owe you so much."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "It''s okay, take it. When mom gets better, you both can earn money and pay big brother back.


    Today big brother didn''t buy anything for you, I see there''s a mall below, let''s go have a look."


    Qin Hao remembered that the first time he saw Han Qiaoer, she was wearing the same clothes.


    He planned to buy her some clothes and shoes.


    The two took Han Qiaoer to a large shopping mall next to the hospital.


    Han Meng shook her head, "Mr. Qin, the doctor has said my legs are very unlikely to recover. I''ll have to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair.


    My biggest concern is Qiao''er. I beg you, could you please take care of Qiao''er for me? In my next life, I would repay your great kindness, even if it means I have to be a labourer or a beast of burden."


    Upon hearing her words, Qin Hao''s expression froze, and he instantly understood what Han Meng meant.


    She was entrusting her child to him.


    She and her daughter were alone and helpless in Jianghai, without a home or income, and now she was paralyzed, unable to take care of Qiao''er.


    Han Meng had made this decision out of sheer necessity, forced by her dire circumstances.


    Seeing that Qin Hao remained silent, she pleaded with a sorrowful voice, "Mr. Qin, I beg you, I know this is a lot to ask, but I really have no other choice. Please pity Qiao''er and take her in."


    Qin Hao replied sternly, "By abandoning Qiao''er like this, do you think it''s fair to her?


    What if she wants to find her mother later? What if she finds out you committed suicide for her sake? Do you think she would live a happy life? She would probably live with guilt all her life.


    I''ll figure out a way for your legs, guaranteed to get you fully healed, so don''t ever speak of this again."


    Han Meng, slightly intimidated by his stern tone, murmured a soft "Okay."


    Qin Hao continued, "Your legs are not a big issue, I am sure I can cure you, so don''t worry about it.


    Just focus on getting better for now. Qiao''er needs you, and she can''t be without you."


    Hearing about Qiao''er, Han Meng''s eyes immediately reddened, tears swirling in her eyes, "Okay."


    Qin Hao, seeing her tear up so often, felt a complex emotion stirring within him.


    Fortunately, at that moment, Han Qiaoer came back. She handed Qin Hao a big red fruit, "Big Brother, have a red fruit."


    Qin Hao took a bite, "You have one too, they''re quite tasty."


    Han Qiaoer also ate one, while Han Meng, still unwell, couldn''t eat these things.


    After finishing the red fruits, Qin Hao said, "Qiao''er, Big Brother has to leave today, but I''ll come to see you again soon. If you need anything, remember to give me a call."


    "Okay, take care, Big Brother," Han Qiaoer said as she walked him to the elevator, her eyes a bit reluctant to let him go.


    Qin Hao said, "Go back, take good care of your mom."


    It was only after the elevator doors closed that Han Qiaoer turned back.


    Leaving the elevator, Qin Hao walked toward the exit of the hospital building.


    Before he could leave, he saw Zhao Qian supporting Zhao Han, who was clutching his head, his clothes stained red with blood.


    [Third update, one more to go]


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 Chapter 265 Xia Qing Live Broadcast

    Qin Hao walked over, curious, and asked, "What happened?"


    Zhao Qian''s face was filled with worry: "Had a fight, the youngsters nowadays are not learning good things."


    Zhao Han said with a smile, "Sis, the person I fought is in worse shape, probably has to stay in the hospital for half a month."


    "You still have the nerve to say that, don''t go out to play anymore on weekends," Zhao Qian''s face stiffened.


    Qin Hao accompanied Zhao Qian to see the doctor for her brother. It wasn''t anything serious, just a scrape on his head that was bandaged and he was fine.


    After about ten minutes, the three of them left.


    Zhao Qian: "I''m sorry, Qin Hao, for troubling you."


    Qin Hao laughed and said, "It''s nothing, I didn''t help much anyway."


    When they got to the parking lot, Qin Hao got into his own car. Zhao Han''s eyes widened when he saw it: "Damn, Sis, this is his car? So cool."


    Zhao Qian said irritably, "Stop talking nonsense, get in the car quickly. When we get back and our parents see the wound on your head, let''s see how they''ll deal with you."


    Qin Hao drove to school, and by the time he got back, it was already six in the evening.


    In the dormitory, Zhao De, Fatty, and Chen Ping were all there.


    Seeing him return, Zhao De quickly said, "Hao, I signed you up for the basketball game yesterday afternoon when you weren''t here."


    Qin Hao: "I have been a bit busy these days and might not have time to participate."


    Zhao De said with a smile, "You don''t have to worry about the first few rounds, Hao. The big battles are later on."


    "Hmm, I''ll join in if I have time," Qin Hao said, sitting on the chair.


    Chen Ping: "Hao, I just finished designing our company''s official website, have a look."


    The scale of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was growing bigger and definitely needed its own official website by now.


    After all, it''s the internet era now. Having their own official website means people can learn more about Jiangshan Roasted Duck in detail.


    It also makes it convenient to receive customer complaints, suggestions, etc.@@@@


    Qin Hao went over to have a look. The web page design was quite good, clear at a glance, simple and tidy, yet it maintained an air of sophistication.


    "Not bad, did you design this?"


    Chen Ping grinned and nodded: "If you''re happy with it, Hao, that''s great. I was afraid you wouldn''t like it."


    Qin Hao: "You should have confidence in yourself, Six. Deep down you lack self-confidence and have an inferiority complex.


    Qin Hao: "Go ahead, enjoy yourself."


    ...


    Once Chen Ping also left, Qin Hao looked at the Fatty and asked, "How are things between you and Xie Cui now?"


    Fatty was stunned for a moment before replying, "Don''t even mention it, we''re close to breaking up."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What happened?"


    Fatty sighed, "Her family doesn''t agree with our relationship. We''ve been in touch less and less, and I can feel that she''s intentionally distancing herself from me."


    Qin Hao patted his shoulder, "Maybe there''s an even better girl waiting for you out there."


    Fatty: "You''re right, I might give up on one tree, but ahead lies a whole forest. Once I become a big boss, there''ll be plenty of beauties wanting to be with me."


    Qin Hao settled back in his seat and asked, "What time does Xia Qing stream?"


    Fatty: "Nowadays she usually streams from seven to ten in the evening. The stream room ID is 625819."


    Qin Hao booted up his computer, downloaded and installed the TT live streaming software, and logged into his previously registered account on the phone.


    After logging in, he typed Xia Qing''s live stream ID 625819 into the search bar and hit the Enter key.


    The screen shifted, and he entered Xia Qing''s live stream room.


    At that moment, Xia Qing was in the middle of her stream, with over two hundred people in her room, which was a significant improvement from the previous day.


    The monthly contribution ranking showed a total of 14,523, with the top contributor being Fatty''s guild account: 13,140.


    The second place was number 122, a fan named Silver Fox, while the rest were mostly a few dozen yuan.


    Although not much, excluding the money Fatty spent, she managed to earn over thirteen hundred yuan on her own.


    She would likely receive about four hundred of that, and considering she had only been streaming for a few days, such earnings were quite impressive.


    For a new streamer like her, some didn''t even make this much in a month.


    The main issue was the sheer number of streamers now, and without a guild''s operation and promotion, it was hard for streamers to get noticed by visitors and fans.


    Inside the stream room, Xia Qing was chatting with fans, smiling as she said, "How about we play a match?"


    TT''s live streaming platform has a great interactive feature, random matching!


    Random matching, as the name implies, is when the host clicks on random match and is paired with another host who has also clicked on random match for a split-screen live chat.


    Random matching is usually played by smaller hosts, as it can increase their exposure.


    If they match with a big-name host, then it''s a jackpot for the smaller ones, as their popularity can instantly skyrocket.


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 Chapter 266 The Sharpness of the Sword Comes from Sharpening

    "Yeah, sure, let''s play matching and sing to attract followers," a supporter suggested. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    "Once the match starts, everyone should send some gifts. It''d be really awkward if we didn''t have any health bar progress on our side."


    "Right, let''s support Qingtian, go for it!"


    Xia Qing opened the interactive mode, which included both friend matching and random matching.


    She didn''t have any anchor friends in her list, so even if she wanted to do friend matching, there was no one to match with; she clicked on random matching.


    Xia Qing only knew about this function because Xiang had told her about it.


    During the video search, a few seconds later, the screen split, dividing the video in two, with Xia Qing on the left and another host on the right.


    The host opposite was a female who had just over ten thousand followers, also a new host.


    However, she was much stronger than Xia Qing, who only had a few hundred followers.


    "Hello, my name is Zhenzhen, and I''m a dance host," said the host across, smiling.


    Xia Qing: "Hello, I''m Qingtian, and I''m a singing host."


    Zhenzhen: "We each have half the time. Should I go first, or would you like to?"


    This was Xia Qing''s first time playing, and she wasn''t very good at it, so she said, "You go first."


    Random matching had a 500-second duration, with each person having 250 seconds to showcase their talent.


    During this period, both parties had a health bar. The side that received more gifts and votes had a longer health bar, with one cent counting as one vote.


    When the time ended, the host with the higher score won, and the victor could punish the loser for 150 seconds.


    The host opposite started a dance track and adjusted the camera, stepping back to reveal her full figure.


    She was dressed very fashionably and sexily, because that''s generally what fans prefer to see.


    As the dance track played, she said, "Those who have votes, cast your votes now."@@@@


    After saying this, Zhenzhen began to dance, though apart from shaking her hips and jiggling around, there wasn''t much appealing about her moves.


    Even so, there were quite a few people watching her, and by the end of her dance, her votes had reached over 1500.


    Then it was Xia Qing''s turn to perform.


    "Let''s have ''It''s a Pity We Met Late'' again, it sounds great, I want to hear it again."


    "It''s a Pity We Met Late."


    Many people in the live room were asking her to sing ''It''s a Pity We Met Late''.


    Xia Qing originally didn''t plan to sing this song, but seeing the fans'' enthusiasm, she chose it.


    "A classic old song for everyone: ''It''s a Pity We Met Late.''"


    The familiar melancholic melody resounded, and Xia Qing started to sing.


    Qin Hao sat in front of his computer, listening quietly, the song felt like Xia Qing''s personal confession.


    ...


    Her tone was a bit upset, "Why did you stop? You haven''t even done one."


    Xia Qing''s voice was somewhat pleading, "Can we change the punishment?"


    "Losing and still not accepting the punishment? If you can''t play the game then don''t, it''s really disappointing to meet someone pretending to be pure again." After saying that, the person on the other end turned off the match.


    The atmosphere in the live stream became a bit awkward. Xia Qing''s expression was not very good, her eyes conveyed anger, confusion, grievance, embarrassment...


    She managed to squeeze a slight smile on her face, but didn''t know what to say.


    Qin Hao saw her complicated eyes and felt very uncomfortable.


    Being a host wasn''t as simple as one might imagine. Some people saw only the glamorous side of the hosts.


    But nobody knew how much suffering and humiliation they endured.


    Like any other profession, only those who endure hardship excel.


    Of course, Qin Hao''s words were aimed at those hosts who diligently strived in their live streams.


    Not those who appealed to vulgarity and attracted fans by flaunting themselves.


    Still, there were quite a few people in the live room supporting her, "Qingtian goddess, don''t bother with that kind of flirtatious tramp, she''s just jealous of your beauty."


    "That showy and cheap type, she just can''t stand it that you''re better than her."


    ...


    Qin Hao also typed a line to support her, advising her: The sharpest sword is forged in the hardest fire, the sweetest plum scent comes from the bitterest cold.


    Seeing the words on the public screen, Xia Qing felt very touched, at least she still had these people supporting her.


    "The sharpest sword is forged in the hardest fire, the sweetest plum scent comes from the bitterest cold, thank you for these words, Spade A, I''m going to use them as my personal signature," she said, understanding the deeper meaning of Qin Hao''s words and smiling as she spoke.


    Soon, her signature was updated with this phrase.


    Her mood had mostly recovered, and she smiled and said, "Let''s continue matching."


    For popularity, to become famous, she clicked on the random match again.


    A few seconds later, the video split into two, and this time, she matched with a male host named Xiang, in his twenties, fairly good-looking.


    A fan checked the opposing host''s profile, "Wow, that guy is a big host, he has over six hundred thousand followers."


    The people in Xiang''s live room were similarly surprised when they saw Xia Qing, "Wow, such a beauty."


    "And she''s got charming dimples too, so cute."


    "I''m in love again, Xiang, ask if she has a boyfriend."


    A wealthy guy in Xiang''s live room said, "Get her contact info, ask where she''s from."


    ...


    Xiang also had a flash of amazement in his eyes, "Hello, beautiful, hello."


    Xia Qing smiled back, "Hello."


    Xiang looked at her beaming and asked, "How old are you? Do you have a boyfriend?"


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 Chapter 267 Owes Her Too Much

    Xia Qing smiled and replied, "Can I choose not to answer that question?"@@@@


    Xiang said, "I think not only do I want to know, but fans in both of our live streaming rooms probably want to know too."


    Indeed, many fans in Xia Qing''s live streaming room were curious about her situation.


    After thinking for a moment, Xia Qing responded, "I''m 19 years old this year and I don''t have a boyfriend yet."


    Xiang said, "I won''t perform a talent, just chatting is fine. Brothers and sisters, cast your votes, give a little attention to the broadcaster on the other side. Are you a full-time live streamer?"


    Xia Qing''s followers quickly increased from a few hundred to over a thousand.


    She smiled and said, "Thank you all for your support, I go to school during the day and live stream at night."


    "School? Which university do you go to?" Xiang asked curiously.


    Xia Qing replied, "Jianghai. I''d rather not say which university exactly."


    "There are still three hundred seconds left, time for you to drum up some votes, beauty. There''s a penalty for losing," Xiang said with a smile.


    Xia Qing nodded, "If anyone has votes, please cast them. I''m not good at soliciting votes, so I''ll sing a song for everyone."


    In Xiang''s live streaming room, he said to the big spender Ye in his room, "Ye, when she loses, we''ll get her contact information. Then you can go to her live streaming room and splurge a bit. She''ll definitely make sure you''re well taken care of."


    Ye immediately spent over three thousand yuan, and together with the votes from other fans, his vote count reached over forty thousand.


    It completely depleted Xia Qing''s health bar, who had only a measly few hundred votes.


    Xia Qing knew she had few people on her side and winning against them was utterly impossible, yet she felt no discouragement.


    She reminded herself to perform the song well. The other side was very popular and a good performance would definitely attract more people.


    "I''ll dedicate the classic old song ''Rain Butterfly'' to everyone."


    Qin Hao had heard this song before. It was a classic TV drama ending theme, and the song itself was also a classic that influenced a generation.


    Loved till the heart shattered,


    Blame no one,


    Simply because the encounter was too beautiful.


    Even if tears ran dry,


    Hurt to the core,


    Heart turned to ash,


    It wouldn''t matter.


    I break out of my chrysalis to become a butterfly,


    Wishing to spread wings and fly with you.


    ...


    From the moment she began to sing, the audiences in both live streaming rooms were stunned by Xia Qing''s voice.


    Her singing was powerful and emotionally resonant.


    Qin Hao decided to send her a gift but saw that his balance was insufficient. He clicked on the top-up link and recharged one million into his account.


    Then he chose a gift. Among the dozens of gifts, the one-cent handshake gift showed Xia Qing ranked over three hundred.


    A few days ago, Fatty had spent over ten thousand yuan on the handshake gift for her. Currently, she had just over one hundred thirty thousand of such gifts, ranking three hundred sixty-first for the week.


    At the same time, many people flooded into Xia Qing''s live stream.


    Because when Qin Hao sent 88 sets and 188 sets of 1314 gifts, there was a three-second broadcast across the server,


    Don''t underestimate these two three-second broadcasts, they had high visibility, and now the number of people in her live stream had already surpassed a thousand.


    Some of them were from Xiang''s live stream, just curious to see which tycoon had spent so much money.


    This time, Xiang''s tone when speaking to Xia Qing was not as casual as before.


    Having a tycoon''s support in the live streaming world is like having a powerful backer in real life¡ªusually, nobody wants to provoke them.


    He smiled and said, "Big Bro, come hang out in your bro''s live stream when you have time. I''m kind of in need."


    Qin Hao heard it but ignored him.


    Xia Qing spoke up, "You lost, can I punish you?"


    Xiang: "Sure, tell me how you want to punish me."


    Xia Qing thought for a bit and said, "Then draw a little turtle on your forehead."


    It was a very common punishment, and without any objection, Xiang took a pen and drew a small turtle on his forehead.


    The PK ended, and only Xia Qing was left in the video.


    She said somewhat embarrassedly, "Thank you for the support, Ace of Spades Big Bro. Would you mind adding me as a friend?"


    These were also the things Fatty had taught her¡ªto add Big Bros as friends to chat and keep them around.


    "Okay, I''ll send you the friend request," Qin Hao said in the public chat, and then privately messaged her his friend request.


    Xia Qing added him quickly and sent him a smiling emoji.


    Seeing it, Qin Hao''s mind conjured up Xia Qing''s singing voice and her smiling face.


    He replied, "You sing very well. I hope you continue to strive, and I will always support you."


    "Thank you, Ace of Spades Bro."


    "Ye, what are you up to?" Fatty asked, having come up beside him at some point.


    Qin Hao: "I want her to become famous on the TT live broadcasting platform, to become the top host in the shortest amount of time."


    Fatty said, "Ye, do you know how much money it takes to make her the top host in the shortest time?"


    Qin Hao replied calmly, "Would ten billion be enough?"


    Fatty swallowed hard: "Ye, how much did you say? Ten billion? Holy crap, have you gone mad?


    Why are you doing this?"


    Qin Hao: "Because I owe her too much."


    ...


    Owe her too much? What kind of debt could be worth ten billion?


    Fatty thought he was crazy, and at the same time, he was shocked by Qin Hao''s net worth¡ªjust how much money did Ye have? Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao asked, "You know more about this stuff; got any good ideas?"


    Fatty asked uncertainly, "Ye, you''re not joking, right?"


    Qin Hao: "Do I look like I''m joking? Just tell me if you have any ideas."


    Fatty: "Sure, but it needs a massive amount of funds."


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 Chapter 268 Fattys Plan

    Qin Hao: "Sit down and tell me your plan."


    The fatty pulled a stool over and sat beside him: "Second bro, let me organize my thoughts."


    A few minutes later, the fatty picked up his mouse and said, "Second bro, you must know about the several dozen gifts inside here, right?"


    Qin Hao said irritably, "Of course, I''m not an idiot!"


    The fatty chuckled: "Hear me out, second bro. Among these gifts, seven are weekly star gifts.


    Whoever receives the most gifts in a week ranks first.


    The first place not only gets a reward of a short ID for their streaming room but also promotional rewards next week, as well as significant exposure.


    Another important point, the hosts who can compete for the weekly star ranking are all popular hosts or super hosts on the platform.


    Suppressing them would create a huge buzz, although it might bring Xia Qing some temporary haters, it would help rapidly boost his popularity."


    Competing for the weekly star is just the first step, once his popularity rises, we must build Xia Qing''s loyal fanbase.


    There''s a saying on the platform: ''The tycoon is as transient as the stream; the army is as solid as iron.''


    Tycoons might run out of money to spend, but the fan army is always there. As long as the loyal fan army supports him, it would be hard for him to fall once he rises."


    Qin Hao: "So you mean we first aim for the weekly star first?"


    The fatty nodded: "Yes, and another important point is the networking circle.


    Relationships are important in the real world, and they are equally important on a live streaming platform. Befriending some people can help you at certain times."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, feeling that the fatty was making some good points.


    The fatty: "Second bro, I know a top-level host with extremely high popularity. Every time he streams, it attracts hundreds of thousands of people.


    If we can take Xia Qing there for a joint stream, it would be a great help for her."


    Qin Hao: "If you know such an impressive host, why haven''t you taken Xia Qing there sooner?"


    The fatty laughed awkwardly: "I know him, but he doesn''t know me. I mean, he is a really good person.


    He has a great reputation on the platform and rarely has any negative news. It''s good to befriend him and arrange a joint stream, although the fee for joining is quite expensive."


    Qin Hao asked, "How much?"


    The fatty: "Normally, thirty thousand for a single session, around five minutes, which is pretty good considering he is a top popularity host."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, thirty thousand wasn''t much since it''s not easy for someone to become a top host and charging for joint streaming wasn''t excessive.


    He asked, "What''s the host''s name? What''s the ID of his streaming room? Is he streaming right now?"


    The fatty looked at the time and said, "He should be streaming now. His name is Da, a top host under the Qingyi Guild, one of the top five guilds, streaming from eight to ten at night, his streaming ID is 9793!"


    The chubby guy replied, "Don''t worry, Second Brother, there are many low-key tycoons here who don''t buy any title; they just splurge magnanimously."


    While they were talking, Ruomeng''s votes had already reached over a million, and around a hundred thousand bucks had been spent on her side.


    Da''s live room had a large fan base, and lots of people were giving gifts. Although the money spent was less, he still amassed over two hundred thousand votes.


    And it wasn''t even his time to solicit votes yet.


    After Ruomeng finished singing, her votes had reached over one and a half million, while Da had less than three hundred thousand.


    "It''s all up to you, Da. Remember, there''s a penalty if you lose," said Ruomeng, her demeanor exuding an adorable charm.


    As a top-tier popular host like Ruomeng, there were unique aspects and charms that contributed to their popularity.


    Da spoke up, "Brothers and sisters, step up the voting, the two big brothers on the other side are too fierce."


    With over two hundred seconds still on the clock, the opposing side''s votes kept increasing¡ªit seemed they intended to crush him with an absolute advantage.


    The chubby guy remarked, "Second Brother, his side also has a few big brothers, but they seem off-line today; otherwise, he wouldn''t be taking such a beating."


    Qin Hao selected one of the most expensive gifts: a cruise ship, which could be gifted up to ten times at once.


    Ten of them would cost 9,999 bucks, equivalent to 99,999 votes.


    Sending ten cruise ships at once would also trigger a full-banner announcement on the entertainment channel.


    A banner appeared at the top middle of all the smaller and larger live stream rooms in the entertainment channel:


    "Spade A generously gifts Da of Qingyi Guild 10 cruise ships X1"


    "Spade A generously gifts Da of Qingyi Guild 10 cruise ships X2"


    ...


    "Spade A generously gifts Da of Qingyi Guild 10 cruise ships X20"


    One banner after another was displayed across all the major live stream rooms.


    Xia Qing saw this and, honestly, felt a twinge of disappointment seeing these banners.


    In just a few seconds, Qin Hao had clicked the left mouse button 20 times, catapulting Da''s votes to over two million. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Seeing this, Da got a bit excited, "Thanks to Spade A for the gifts, managers, quickly bring him up here."


    The public screen was now full of: 666666666


    "Holy shit!"


    "Sick!"


    "Just splashed two hundred grand instantly, such an extravagant tyrant."


    "Spade A? Never heard of such a tycoon. Could it be a secondary account of some big brother?"


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 Chapter 269 Secretly Helping Xia Qing

    Ruomeng hadn''t expected Da to suddenly have a tycoon appear on his side.


    Her votes were at 1.8 million, while Da''s were at 2.4 million.


    "Bro, we''ve been hit, they also have a tycoon bro supporting them," Ruomeng said with a pained expression.


    Seeing this, Xing Mo and Ming Yue, the two emperors from her livestream, felt they couldn''t lose face and once again made their move.


    "Swoosh swoosh swoosh"


    For a moment, rockets shot across Ruomeng''s livestream, and the entertainment channel''s server-wide banners once again appeared across various small and large livestream rooms.


    They caught up with the votes fairly quickly.


    Ruomeng''s votes reached 2.8 million, while Da''s were at 2.55 million.


    After a match that churned out over five hundred thousand, such numbers were rarely seen on the platform, though, of course, it still happened.


    Since Qin Hao had already started splurging, naturally he intended to help Da win, his fingers once again tapping away.


    "Spade A generously sends [Qingyi] Da 10 cruise ships X1"


    This time he tapped twenty times, spending two hundred thousand dollars.


    Ruomeng didn''t continue to chase, and in the end, Da won with an advantage of two million votes.


    Da made Ruomeng dance as a punishment, and then their match ended.


    Qin Hao was now brought to the second mic, and his followers increased by several tens of thousands in just a few minutes.


    "Wow, look at Spade A bro''s followers, over three hundred thousand, that''s so many?"


    "Really, Spade A bro has so many followers? Among the wealthy tycoons, there aren''t many with that much."


    The chubby guy curiously took a look and was startled for a moment, "Second bro, how come you have so many followers?"


    "I used to play before," Qin Hao remembered using this account to enter the game channel of Li Moying''s livestream room,


    Da clasped his hands together and said, "Thank you for the gifts, Spade A bro. Bro, is it possible to add you as a friend?


    You can just hold the mic to speak, others need to pay for holding the mic, but you, bro, can hold it anytime."


    Qin Hao, using a voice changer, said, "Sure!"


    He didn''t want to reveal his identity, at least not letting Xia Qing find out who he was.


    Da: "Bro, I''ve sent you my friend request privately, take a look and add me."


    Qin Hao saw the message he sent and added him.


    "Bro, hello, thank you for your support."


    Qin Hao: "No problem, can I join you on the mic?"


    Da replied, "For you, bro, this is a small matter. Just call over the person, give me the account, and I''ll let them announce it."


    Qin Hao sent a message to Xia Qing: "Qingtian, come to channel 9793 for a bit."


    Since you''ve left,


    Gone is all the gentleness.


    The wait on this snowy mountain path is long,


    Listening to the howling cold wind, still going strong.


    ...


    I still remember you promised me,


    That I would never lose sight of you.


    But you followed the migratory birds southward, flying so far away,


    Love is like a kite that''s lost its string,


    I can''t hold onto the promises you made.


    ...


    The moment she started singing, many were captivated by her voice.


    Although it''s a song originally sung by a man, she lowered her voice, giving it a unique touch and offering a refreshing feeling.


    After finishing the song, her follower count had increased by another seventy to eighty thousand, showing that her performance was indeed very impressive.


    After she finished singing, Da gave her a thumbs up: "Impressive, Qingtian girl, your voice is beyond my expectations.


    But you still fall a bit short compared to me, now let me sing for you."


    After saying that, he began to sing, but deliberately sang off-key, nowhere near as good as Xia Qing.


    Qin Hao could tell that this Da was a clever person, both in the way he spoke and handled things.


    Afterward, he stayed connected with Xia Qing for nearly half an hour, letting her sing several songs. After the stream, her follower count was close to two hundred thousand, which was quite astonishing.


    When Xia Qing returned to her own stream, the number of viewers quickly surpassed a thousand, then kept rising rapidly, eventually settling at over five thousand.


    Latter, the number dropped a bit, and by the time Qin Hao logged off, there were about four thousand people in her stream.


    When logging off, Qin Hao sent Xia Qing a message: "I''m off to rest, you should rest early too."


    "Okay, good night, Ace of Spades big brother."


    Qin Hao: "Good night, if anyone dares to bully you, just let me know."


    Xia Qing was quite moved inside. Having known each other for less than a day, Qin Hao was so kind to her: "Why are you so kind to me, Ace of Spades big brother?"


    "Because you''re very likable and you sing well; you''re my type," Qin Hao said, finding a reasonable excuse as he couldn''t reveal his real identity.


    Xia Qing didn''t know how to respond to his words.


    After thinking for a while, she said, "You should rest early too, Ace of Spades big brother."


    Qin Hao saw the message and smiled faintly before shutting down the computer. He had important things to do tomorrow, so he needed to go to bed early.


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 Chapter 270 All Have Arrived

    It was just past six in the morning on the second day.


    Qin Hao got up and finished his morning routine. Seeing that the fatty was still asleep, he recalled that the fatty had not gone to bed when he himself did last night.


    The poor guy must have been stimulated by Xie Cui and was putting in the effort to fight on.


    Although he seemed calm yesterday, Qin Hao could tell that deep down, he harbored affection and reluctance to part with Xie Cui.


    He was not a playboy who could walk away so nonchalantly when it came to farewells.


    Qin Hao didn''t wake him up; he went to the cafeteria for breakfast and then bought some steamed buns and millet porridge on his way back, placing them on the fatty''s desk.


    After leaving the dormitory, he arrived at the parking lot and drove out of the school.


    On the road, he called Li Moying and found out that the room had already been booked ¨C a business presidential suite at the Jinxiu Hotel.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao drove straight there, and half an hour later, he arrived outside the Jinxiu Hotel.


    Li Moying had told him that she would wait for him in the lobby on the first floor.


    The lobby of the Jinxiu Hotel had many sofas for guests to sit on.


    Upon entering, he saw Li Moying chatting with Li Jianjun.


    Seeing Qin Hao arrive, Li Jianjun greeted him with a smile, "Qin."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and sat opposite the two.


    Li Moying said to him, "Master, the duck farm situation has been settled. My brother owns a large-scale duck farm valued at fifteen million in the market."


    Li Jianjun''s expression was a bit awkward; he hadn''t told Li Moying about what he''d said to Qin Hao the day before.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Thank you, Mr. Li, for parting with it despite the pain it must cause."


    Li Jianjun replied, "You''re overstating it, Qin. I''ve wanted to get rid of that duck farm for a while now; it''s of little use to me."


    Li Moying took out a share transfer agreement, which already bore Li Jianjun''s signature, "Master, this is the equity transfer contract."


    Qin Hao took the contract and looked it over. Li Jianjun had full control of the duck farm and was now selling it to him for fifteen million.


    After reviewing the contract, Qin Hao signed his name and then transferred the money to Li Jianjun.


    With the acquisition of the large-scale duck farm, the predicament faced by Jiangshan Roasted Duck in Jianghai had been solved with one fell swoop.


    The united blockade of those people had fallen apart of its own accord.


    Qin Hao''s lips curled into a slight smile; now it was time for them to bear the brunt of his counterattack.


    Seeing his smile, Li Moying had a bad feeling.


    Qin Hao walked over to greet them, smiling, "Mr. Xu, Mr. Chang, Mr. Zhang."


    The three of them nodded slightly, and Chang Jing looked at him with her pair of bright and profound eyes, "Mr. Qin, long time no see."


    Qin Hao felt a bit awkward when he saw Chang Jing, "Miss Chang''s eyes are the most beautiful I have ever seen among everyone."


    His words were not meant as flattery, but as an honest statement.


    Chang Jing''s eyes were bright and profound, and looking into them gave one the feeling of being seen through.


    Indeed, some people lacked the confidence to make eye contact with Chang Jing.


    Chang Anding laughed heartily, "This is all thanks to you, Xiao Hao."


    Li Xutian extended his hand in greeting, "Mr. Xu, Mr. Chang, Mr. Zhang, good to see you."


    "Mr. Li, good to see you, I''ve long heard of your reputation." Chang Anding and the others each shook hands with him.


    Qin Hao said, "Let''s go inside to talk, we shouldn''t stand out here."


    The group entered the Jinxiu Hotel, where a private elevator awaited them.


    Several people took the elevator up to a high floor of the Jinxiu Hotel, into a business presidential suite.


    There was a large conference room inside, capable of accommodating nearly twenty people.


    The walls of the conference room were equipped with the latest projectors, suitable for PowerPoint presentations or speeches.


    All of them took seats inside the conference room. Though young, Qin Hao was the organizer and therefore sat in the main seat.


    Qin Hao turned on the computer in front of him and began, "Today I''m very pleased that all the uncles and elders could come. Now let me give you a rough explanation of our company''s future development plans."


    Everyone''s gaze turned to him, curious to see what he would say.


    Qin Hao organized his thoughts before speaking, "We are now in the age of the internet, which has developed rapidly over the years.


    I''m sure you''ve all witnessed how fast the internet three giants have risen, the rapid evolution of the web, and the changes in people''s standard of living.


    All are declaring to the world that the internet age has arrived, and the high-speed internet shows no signs of slowing down.


    Now, many industry giants and car manufacturers are collaborating to research intelligent driving.


    Some are working with the electrical appliance industry to study smart appliances.


    We can foresee that the future of the internet will belong to artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.


    Autonomous driving, intelligent appliances, and the smartification of various industries¡ªall of this can be achieved.


    But the prerequisite is that we must develop high-level intelligent processing chips, advanced storage chips, various voice control chipsets, and so on." Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire


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 Chapter 271 When Favors Run Out

    ```


    The few people in the meeting room listened to his words.


    Chang Jing asked curiously, "Mr. Qin, aren''t you going to make intelligent robots?"


    Qin Hao nodded. "That''s right, our artificial intelligence robots will be produced entirely autonomously, including all sorts of chips, circuits, etc.


    I can assure everyone with certainty that I can develop the technology for manufacturing intelligent chips.


    Xuan Country will have its own high-grade intelligent chips, and even the top foreign companies will have to come to us for imports.


    Similarly, our intelligent chips can also be sold to companies in various industries. The profits from that, needless to say, everyone can understand.


    Also, once the artificial intelligence robots are developed, they can completely replace human labor, suitable for secret positions, assembly line work, and so on."


    When he said this, his tone was filled with confidence and determination.


    To be honest, Li Xutian didn''t think highly of his claims; these are all high-tech things that aren''t so simple to create.


    If chips were that easy to make, Huaxing wouldn''t be on the verge of bankruptcy right now.


    Nor would the country be so passive in this area!


    Xu Jiekang, Chang Anding, and Zhang Yifei said nothing; even if Qin Hao said nothing, they would still invest.


    Qin Hao said this also to reassure them.


    Although he knew that whether he said anything or not, they would invest their money, it made him feel a little more comfortable.


    Xu Jiekang spoke up, "Alright, Xiao Hao, let''s now talk about the capital and shares."


    Qin Hao sat down and said, "My initial target for capital is to raise ten billion in funds, and I am offering forty percent of the shares.


    If additional funds are needed later, they must be topped up."


    Li Xutian frowned slightly; ten billion in funds, yet you are only offering forty percent of the shares.


    To talk your way into taking ten billion just by sweet-talking? Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    Even a scheemer can''t be more ruthless than you!


    Zhang Yifei from the Southern Military Industry Group was also somewhat speechless inside; only forty percent of the shares?


    If it was split among each, it would be about ten percent of the shares per company!


    But since Xu Jiekang hadn''t spoken, he dared not speak out.


    He had received orders before coming here, to follow Xu Jiekang''s arrangements.


    Chang Anding also felt it was a bit low, but he didn''t voice any opposition because the Chang Family still owed him a favor.


    This was also considered repayment.


    If he encountered difficulties in the future, the Chang Family may not help him again, whereas the Xu family seemed more reliable.


    If there were troubles, the Xu family might help, but if it was a serious matter, they might not.


    Not to mention the Jinxiu Group, as Li Xutian was already not fond of him.


    Everything had to rely on himself. He was confident that once the artificial intelligence robots were introduced to the market, everyone would have to look up to him.


    Even if you were a business tycoon or an industry leader, you would have to beg me to sell to you!


    ...


    Qin Hao walked out of the Jinxiu Hotel together with Xu Jiekang and Xu Siyao.


    Xu Jiekang said to Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, come to our house for a visit. Mr. Xu has some words for you."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Okay, Mr. Xu."


    He drove his car and followed Xu Jiekang to the villa complex where he lived.


    As they entered the living room, they saw Yang Su watching TV at home.


    Yang Su got up hurriedly when they arrived, "You''re back. How did the negotiations go?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Ms. Yang, the negotiations went quite smoothly."


    They sat down, and Xu Jiekang asked Qin Hao, "Have you found a location for the company and a construction company?"


    Qin Hao responded, "I''ve already targeted a location for the company, but I haven''t found a construction company yet. Ms. Yang''s company handles construction, so we can just have Ms. Yang take care of it."


    Yang Su said with a smile, "A multi-billion-dollar investment in a company involves a massive project, doesn''t it?"


    Qin Hao answered, "It''s not really a huge project. Just office buildings, workshops, dormitory areas, and the like."


    What he needed was a factory, not the kind of dense residential community. The construction was not that massive.


    Xu Jiekang broke in, "Xiao Hao, there''s something we should discuss in the study."


    Qin Hao was momentarily puzzled, lost in his thoughts. What did he have to say to me?


    He followed Xu Jiekang to the upstairs study.


    Yang Su sat next to Xu Siyao, "Your dad is probably talking about your matter."


    "Our matter?" Xu Siyao asked in surprise.


    Yang Su nodded with a smile, "You like him, and both your dad and I have noticed."


    Xu Siyao''s cheeks turned slightly red as she said, looking down, "He already has a girlfriend."


    Yang Su spoke with a laugh, "Nowadays, many young couples break up. It''s not unusual. His girlfriend doesn''t have any advantages.


    Her family owns a small company with no significant achievements. Qin Hao has endless potential for the future, and she will only be a burden to him.


    I think Qin Hao is a smart man; he should know who is most important to him and who provides him with the greatest help."


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 Chapter 272 Chang Jing

    Inside the study on the second floor.


    Xu Jiekang sat on the chair and said, "Xiao Hao, please sit."


    Qin Hao sat opposite him, his gaze curious as he looked at him, "Mr. Xu, what''s the matter that''s so secretive?"


    Xu Jiekang, "It''s about Xiao Yao''s matter."


    Qin Hao''s heart "clenched" suddenly, a bad premonition arising.


    Xu Jiekang continued, "I can tell that Xiao Yao really likes you, so I took the initiative today to talk about you two.


    You are very outstanding. I don''t know what you think of Si Yao."


    Qin Hao, "Si Yao is a good girl, but I already have a girlfriend."


    Xu Jiekang, "I know about that. You think about it carefully, after all, this is a major lifelong matter."


    Qin Hao frowned slightly. Although Xu Jiekang did not state it directly, he had already conveyed his intentions.


    He wanted Qin Hao to break up with Du Wanrou and then be together with Xu Siyao.


    "Mr. Xu, I will consider it. I have some other things to attend to, so I''ll be leaving now." After saying this, he walked out of Xu Jiekang''s study.


    Descending the stairs, Yang Su and another person looked at him. Qin Hao forced a small smile, "Ms. Yang, Si Yao, I''m heading back first."


    Xu Siyao stood up to see him off, "Hmm, take care on the road."


    "Head back." Qin Hao drove away.


    Xu Siyao returned inside the villa, and at that moment, Xu Jiekang also came downstairs.


    "Dad, what did you say to Qin Hao?" Xu Siyao asked, frowning.


    She could sense that Qin Hao seemed a bit angry when he left.


    Xu Jiekang looked at his daughter with a doting gaze, "What can I say, of course it was about the two of you."


    Xu Siyao pressed further, "Then what did you say exactly?"


    Xu Jiekang, "I asked Xiao Hao to think it over."


    Xu Siyao grew angry, "Isn''t that just using your power to pressure him? Asking him to think it over is just trying to force him to leave his girlfriend, right? How can you do this?"


    Yang Su quickly intervened, "Si Yao, your dad is just looking out for your best interest."


    Xu Siyao, "Dad, I don''t care about what you all do, and I hope you won''t meddle in my affairs either." With that, she turned around and left the villa. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Yang Su attempted to stop her but failed.


    After hanging up, Chang Jing''s face carried a trace of a smile.


    Chang Anding, seeing this, asked in confusion, "Xiao Jing, why would you take up a vice presidency there? It doesn''t seem to have much of a future."


    Chang Jing, "Dad, why would you think that?"


    Chang Anding, frustrated, said, "How do you expect me to think? To ask abruptly for 2.5 billion, he truly has the nerve to ask for such a big amount.


    If it weren''t for Xu Jiekang broaching it, I wouldn''t put forth this money. But, having done so, at least the Chang Family no longer owes him any favors."


    Chang Jing calmly said, "Dad, do you think he was just spouting nonsense this morning?"


    Chang Anding, "Otherwise? You think he can actually create intelligent chips and AI robots?


    Those engaged in this research are either huge corporations or government enterprises funded by the nation, all possessing top-tier talent.


    Do you believe that a nineteen-year-old can create intelligent chips? I think he just wants to earn what''s needed to treat you."


    Chang Jing shook her head; she did not agree with her father''s view, "Dad, I believe his words."


    Chang Anding, puzzled, "You believe? Why?"


    Chang Jing, "Instinct! Dad, I''ve already decided to take a position at his company, and I won''t be coming back with you."


    Chang Anding hesitated. Although his daughter was blind from an early age, she exhibited astounding capabilities in certain aspects.


    Some have photographic memories, she has an audio-graphic memory!


    When Chang Jing was young, her mother used to read articles to her daily.


    Latter on, Chang Jing told her mother there was no need for a second reading; she had already memorized them.


    Whether it was a few hundred words of prose or short stories spanning tens of thousands of words, she could remember them after just one hearing.


    Later, this extended to textbooks on business management, economics, finance, sociology, and so forth.


    As a father, he was fully aware of just how formidable his daughter was.


    In corporate management and operations, Chang Jing also exhibited an extraordinary talent.


    The current market value of Hongya Heavy Industry, which amounted to hundreds of billions, could not have been achieved without Chang Jing''s strategic planning behind the scenes.


    Although she could not see, having listened to the descriptions from her father and mother, she could visualize a picture in her mind.


    She then offered the best solutions.


    So, upon hearing his daughter''s declaration, he did not object, as he knew it would be futile.


    His daughter always had her own opinions, and apart from the elderly grandfather occasionally being able to persuade her, no one else could.


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 Chapter 273 The Contest of the Painting Club

    Qin Hao returned to school and had just gotten out of the car when he saw Xu Siyao driving into the parking lot.


    After she got out of the car, she walked over to Qin Hao. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao looked at her and smiled, "Why aren''t you staying at home?"


    Xu Siyao with an apologetic face, "I''m sorry, Qin Hao, I didn''t know my dad would say those things to you."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "It''s okay. I was a bit angry at first, but I understand Mr. Xu''s intentions, so you don''t need to blame yourself too much.


    Being as gentle and beautiful as you are, and the fact that Mr. Xu thinks highly of me, I''m quite happy about it."


    Xu Siyao, upon hearing him say that, blushed slightly and felt a bit happy inside, "Do you really think so?"


    Qin Hao nodded his head, "A man, after all, always dreams of having a harem."


    "Do you often dream about it too?" Xu Siyao was more relaxed than before and asked with a smile.


    Qin Hao gave an embarrassed smile, "Occasionally."


    Xu Siyao, "There''s an activity in the painting club today, let''s go together. You''ve joined the club but haven''t really been there much, the president even wants to kick you out."


    Qin Hao, "Okay, sure, I''ve been quite busy lately and haven''t had time to go."


    Xu Siyao nodded her head, "I know you''ve been busy, so I spoke to the president about it, that''s why he hasn''t kicked you out yet."


    Qin Hao, "I think it might be better to just kick me out, I don''t have much time to go anyway."


    "I was the one who introduced you to the club, it would be really embarrassing for me if you got kicked out."


    As they talked, they arrived at the school''s club office building.


    This building was almost entirely occupied by various clubs as well as the offices of the student council and the Communist Youth League members.


    Even though it was the weekend, there were still many people around. Weekends are generally when all the clubs hold their events, so it was crowded.


    As they entered the building, they could see quite a few guys standing in the hallway looking into a classroom.


    Xu Siyao explained, "That classroom is for a dance club; they''re all tall and beautiful women."


    Qin Hao nodded his head, no wonder there were so many guys gathered to watch; they were admiring the beauties.


    They went up the stairs to the fourth floor, which housed several painting clubs and other types of clubs.


    Qin Hao had been here once when he first joined the club.


    Entering the classroom, it was crowded with many people.


    These people were clearly divided into two groups, on one side were members of the Seven-colored Painting Club, and on the other side were members of the Skillful Hands Club.


    Today, the two painting clubs had an exchange activity, and a few teachers from the art department were there as judges.


    "Mr. Fan, if your overall score is lower, you''ll have to merge into our club," Wang Anshi said with a smile.


    Fan Ruobing ignored him; they had already established the rules earlier when Qin Hao had not yet arrived.


    The contest was three rounds, and the side with the highest total score from the three rounds would win.


    Xu Siyao bravely stepped forward and, following the same procedure, drew lots: the theme was to be a landscape.


    Landscape painting is considered one of the more difficult genres in Chinese painting, especially challenging to capture the artistic conception.


    Xu Siyao''s painting skills weren''t very good, but she could manage and quickly started painting.


    The man on the opposite side hadn''t expected Xu Siyao to draw the landscape theme, and his brow furrowed; he was confident in widening the score gap with any other theme.


    But landscape painting was not easy for him, and he wasn''t very sure he could create a large margin.


    Luckily, they were given plenty of time, a full hour!


    After more than half an hour, Xu Siyao had finished her painting. It wasn''t that her painting skills were strong, but rather that was the extent of her capability.


    The man quickly finished his painting as well.


    After the judges scored, Xu Siyao ended up with fifty-four points, and the man on the opposite side scored sixty-eight points.


    Now, the Skillful Hands Painting Club had a lead of thirteen points over the Seven-Colored Club!


    After her competition, several people from Qin Hao''s side were giving him meaningful looks, including Fan Ruobing, who glanced at him a few times.


    Their intention was for him to leave quickly.


    In their view, Qin Hao was probably even less capable than Xu Siyao, so they wanted him to leave first.


    If someone from the Skillful Hands Club chose him, it would be over.


    Qin Hao was actually planning to leave anyway. Seeing the looks from Fan Ruobing and the others, he turned around intending to walk away.


    Before he could take a step, someone from the opposite side called out, "Hold on, big brother, where are you off to? You''re not scared, are you?"


    The hearts of the Seven-colored Painting Club members lifted, wondering if they would shamelessly choose Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao turned around with a smile and said, "I have something else to take care of, so I won''t disturb your competition."


    Liu Baoliang mocked, "That''s a pretty lame excuse. If you''re scared, just say it. After all, no matter who you compete with over there, you''re going to lose in the end."


    Xu Siyao, once a fierce young girl, couldn''t hold back and retorted, "Who says we''re scared?


    You think you''ve won before the match is even over? Which event in the past have you ever won against us?"


    Liu Baoliang was left speechless by her rebuttal, pointing at Qin Hao he said, "Fine then, let him come out and compete with me. We''ll see who loses and who wins."


    [It''s 11:30 p.m., finally finished the fourth update, see you tomorrow!]


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 Chapter 274 President Fan Ruobing

    "Shameless."


    The members of the Seven-Colored Painting Club''s faces slightly changed upon hearing Liu Baoliang''s words.


    Liu Baoliang was also a minor celebrity and master of ink painting within the Skillful Hands Painting Club.


    Since Qin Hao had never painted even one painting, they thought Qin Hao must be a novice.


    If competing against Liu Baoliang, there was a 99.9% chance of losing.


    If the Seven-Colored Painting Club lost, the two clubs would have to merge, which wasn''t an outcome the Seven-Colored Painting Club wanted to see. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    "Why aren''t you coming out? No worries, we can switch people too, giving you a chance." Liu Baoliang looked at Qin Hao and sneered lightly.


    Qin Hao stepped forward. "I''ll compete with you, but don''t regret it later."


    Liu Baoliang scoffed. "I think it''ll be you who regrets it. "


    This time, it was their turn to draw lots. Liu Baoliang casually drew one¡ªit was to paint a flower within a thirty-minute time limit.


    Liu Baoliang''s mouth curled up when he saw it; he was quite skilled at painting flowers.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and then started painting with his brush.


    The people from Ruobing''s side couldn''t bear to watch, thinking they were surely going to lose this time.@@@@


    They never expected Xu Siyao and Qin Hao to arrive at such a crucial time.


    Fifteen minutes later.


    Qin Hao put down his brush. "I''ve finished."


    The bystanders were taken aback, and Liu Baoliang didn''t expect him to finish so quickly. He turned his head to look and then was stunned.


    He gaped, disbelievingly staring at the painting Qin Hao had done, not even noticing the ink dripping onto the rice paper.


    "Baoliang."


    Wang Baishi of the Skillful Hands Painting Club saw Liu Baoliang standing there, dumbfounded, and frowned slightly.


    Liu Baoliang came to his senses, but upon seeing the inkwork on the paper, he no longer had the mood to continue painting.


    "I concede."


    "What?"


    Both parties could hardly believe it. Concede? Wasn''t he just full of bluster a moment ago? Why concede now?


    The four judges approached to take a look, and when they saw Qin Hao''s work, they quickly gathered around.


    "It''s beautiful, truly a master''s brushwork; this is definitely master-level skill."


    The four judges were astonished, carefully admiring the painting Qin Hao had made.


    Qin Hao had painted several mountain peaks surrounded by mist, with a plum tree standing resiliently on top, strong as iron and defiant against the frost.


    Ruobing replied coldly, "No."


    The judges looked somewhat embarrassed and also disappointed, missing such a painting was a great pity.


    Knowing Ruobing''s personality and background, they dared not offend her and did not ask further, leaving reluctantly.


    When everyone had left, only the members of the Seven-Colored Painting Club remained in the society room. They admired the painting for a while before going about their own business.


    Ruobing had been looking at Qin Hao''s painting all along, not just the painting, but also the line of text on it.


    Perfectly natural, vigorous and powerful, impressive in spirit; just this calligraphy alone set it apart, establishing its unique style.


    Xu Siyao asked puzzledly, "Ruobing, why do you keep staring at it? Is it that beautiful?"


    Ruobing said, "Si Yao, you don''t understand paintings, so you can''t see it. Is Qin Hao the one you introduced?"


    Xu Siyao laughed, "Ruobing, you must have heard his name, Qin Hao, the national unified exam''s top scorer."


    Ruobing was somewhat surprised, "He is that Qin Hao?"


    When the unified exam results were announced, many people indeed heard Qin Hao''s name.


    But as time passed, many had long forgotten him.


    After all, he was not frequently featured in the news or newspapers.


    Even today''s popular celebrities, if they don''t appear in the public eye for a long time, will gradually be forgotten.


    Xu Siyao said, "Yeah, Ruobing, he''s also an entrepreneur, he started his own company."


    ...


    After leaving the society office building, Qin Hao returned to his dormitory.


    In the dorm, Zhao De, Chen Ping, and Fatty were all there, with Fatty still managing his guild.


    Seeing him return, Fatty spoke up, "Second brother is back. There''s something I want to discuss with you."


    "What is it?"


    Fatty said, "The guild now has more and more broadcasters, and I can''t manage them all by myself.


    I plan to rent a smaller place to use as an office and hire a few more people to help run it."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Hmm, just decide it by yourself; do you have enough money?"


    Fatty replied, "Enough, second brother."


    Qin Hao nodded, and went back to his computer to log into the Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s office and financial systems to check the company''s revenue for the month.


    Today was October 21st; Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s revenue had already reached over thirty million, with profits around ten million.


    With stores numbering fifty-three, it was quite fearsome.


    He thought to himself: Time to launch a new product, Delicious Duck Neck, Wu Roasted Duck, all just trifles!


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 Chapter 275 Snatch a Weeks Star

    Jiangshan Roasted Duck now fully dominates the Jiangshan market, reaching even the surrounding counties with its branches.


    The next step is to expand to other cities in Shuinan Province.


    Jiangshan is located in the southwestern part of Shuinan Province, very close to Nangong Country.


    However, Jiangshan Roasted Duck is not convenient to expand into Nangong Country right now because there are still large domestic markets that have not been tapped into.


    Qin Hao took out his phone and stepped out of the dormitory, dialing Kang Youyi''s number.


    The call connected quickly.


    Kang Youyi: "Hao, I was just about to call you. The factory has already produced a batch of Xinghui Wine."


    Qin Hao: "That was fast. The wine bottles and packaging are all made according to my requirements, right?"


    Kang Youyi replied: "Yes, the marketing department is advertising it, but the effect isn''t particularly good.


    After all, the market here is already occupied by major brands, and it''s hard to break through."


    Some time later, there will be a new wine conference in Nangui Province, and Mr. An plans to take Xinghui Wine there to give it a try."


    Qin Hao: "Let him give it a shot. You can also put Xinghui Wine on the shelves in Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant for now. That should be able to sell some."


    Kang Youyi nodded: "Yes, that''s what the marketing department thinks too. After all, our Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant has a lot of traffic. Having Xinghui Wine there will aid in selling it."


    Qin Hao: "Alright, I''ll send you the secret recipe for duck necks and wings in a while. Keep the recipe and auxiliary ingredients confidential, and airfreight the materials for the duck necks and wings to Jianghai by tomorrow. We need them here."


    Kang Youyi was a bit excited: "Don''t worry, Hao. Our company has already established a separate auxiliary ingredient processing plant. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    No one besides me can access the secret recipe, and we''ve already made plans. Next month, we''ll be entering DL city."


    The two chatted for a while, then ended the call.


    Qin Hao returned to the dormitory and sent the secret recipe for duck necks and wings to Kang Youyi through the office system.


    After receiving the message, Kang Youyi jotted down the secret recipe and then deleted the chat history.


    He immediately arranged for people to start mixing the auxiliary ingredients for the duck necks and wings.


    ...


    "What are you up to, Qin Hao?" Du Wanrou sent him a message online.


    Qin Hao: "I was discussing the new company today. Just got back to the dorm, what''s up?"


    Du Wanrou said: "Nothing much, just missing you a little. I heard Xia Qing''s family ran into trouble."


    Qin Hao was stunned: "How did you know?"


    Du Wanrou: "Chen Shuna told me, you knew already, didn''t you?"


    Qin Hao, a bit embarrassed: "Uh! I also found out a few days ago."


    Suddenly, Du Wanrou asked, "Do you regret it?"


    "Regret what?"


    Du Wanrou: "Regret letting her go, choosing me."


    "I don''t regret it."


    Du Wanrou continued to press: "Then do you like her? I''m not into empty sweet talk, I want the truth."


    Hard to forget the first time I saw you


    Those charming eyes


    In my mind


    Your silhouette


    Is indelible


    ...


    Her singing was very sweet, with a clear and pleasant voice; in terms of singing talent alone, she wasn''t inferior to any of the broadcasters up there.


    But when it came to chatting and banter, she needed to learn and improve a bit more.


    Qin Hao kept clicking his mouse, and soon one banner after another appeared across the live broadcast rooms in the entertainment channel, both large and small.


    "Ace of Spades gifts [Dream] Qingtian 1314 beers X288 sets."


    A rush of people quickly filled Xia Qing''s live broadcast room, and the numbers were growing fast.


    A few minutes later, Xia Qing finished her song and thanked Qin Hao again.


    As she started singing, the entire chat room burst into a chorus of: 666666


    "A beauty with an even more beautiful voice"


    "So pleasant to listen to, can''t get enough."


    "From far and wide, Qingtian is the prettiest."


    "From far and wide, Qingtian is the loveliest."


    ...


    The latter comment was quickly spammed across the screen.


    "Is the Ace of Spades done yet?"


    "No, damn, he''s still going. What''s he trying to do?"


    "Is he trying to snatch the beer weekly star?"


    "That intense?"


    Ten minutes later, Qin Hao stopped; he had run out of balance. By then, Xia Qing''s beer tally had nearly reached six hundred thousand.


    She shot up in the rankings, landing at twenty-second place for the beer weekly star.


    Many broadcasters logged into their alt accounts to enter Xia Qing''s live broadcast room; they wanted to see what was going on here!


    Xia Qing was also stunned by the money Qin Hao had gifted. In just the last few minutes, Qin Hao had spent over five hundred thousand yuan.


    "Ace of Spades, what''s going on?" she quickly messaged Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao replied, "Just helping you snatch a weekly star to boost your popularity."


    Seeing Qin Hao''s response, Xia Qing was conflicted, thinking that he must have some intentions after spending so much money on her.


    What if he wants me to go out and hang with him? What should I do?


    After grappling with herself, Xia Qing responded, "Ace of Spades, I''m not that kind of person. If you''re tipping just to sleep with me, I won''t agree to it."


    [Second update, two more to go, recommending two books to everyone ''The Exquisite President is a God-level Expert'' and ''The Supreme Devourer of the City'']


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 Chapter 276 I am a Prodigal Son

    Qin Hao saw her reply and couldn''t help laughing; the girl was still as adorable as ever.


    Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    He thought for a moment and replied, "You are indeed beautiful, and I do like you, but isn''t it a bit premature to talk about sleeping together?


    Or are you trying to hint at something, hoping I''ll ask you out?"


    Upon seeing this, Xia Qing''s cheeks flushed red: "Bah, I didn''t think that at all."


    Qin Hao: "That''s good, if you did, you''d better squash it right away, as I''m not that easy."


    Xia Qing, curious, asked, "Uncle? How old are you, anyway?"


    Qin Hao: "Why are you so concerned about my age? You don''t really have a thing for me, do you?"


    Xia Qing rolled her eyes: "Conceited!"


    Qin Hao''s lips curved upward in a smile, his tone now completely different from usual.


    Xia Qing would probably never guess his true identity, and that was enough.


    Xia Qing, worried that her words had angered the boss, added, "I''m just curious why you''re so nice to me; sometimes, I feel very lucky."


    Qin Hao countered, "Is this your indirect way of confessing to me?"@@@@


    ...


    Qin Hao checked the rankings for beer gifts, with the top streamer named Yu Mi having received over one hundred thirty thousand.


    He deposited two million into his account, believing that should be enough to take the lead.


    At this moment, a King-level noble named Fairy Tale [Positioning Yu Mi] entered Xia Qing''s broadcast room.


    Although Xia Qing''s room now had over ten thousand viewers, the highest in the VIP seats was a Duke noble.


    "Welcome, Brother Fairy Tale," Xia Qing greeted the King noble.


    Fairy Tale typed a line: "Damn, thought you were grabbing weekly stars, just heating up fame, pretending to be badass without any real power."


    As he was a King noble, his typed message appeared in the noble''s exclusive typing area, very prominently displayed.


    He brought quite a few of Yu Mi''s fans, who also said on the platform, "This is heating up our boss''s fame."


    "Shameless, scheming bitch."


    "Heating up our boss''s fame."


    Upon hearing the King''s words, Xia Qing''s expression froze; what did he mean by that? I don''t think I''ve offended him.


    Seeing the words below in the broadcast, she checked the beer leaderboard; these people were almost all fans of the streamer Yu Mi.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao''s expression turned cold: "Who the hell do you think you are, acting badass here?"


    In an instant, beer gifts flew across his stream room as his fans and wealthy supporters all swung into action.


    The number of beers quickly overtook those in Xia Qing''s room, and they continued to soar rapidly.


    ...


    The audience in Xia Qing''s stream room had now reached fifty thousand, mostly spectators there for the excitement.


    They were eager to see who would ultimately be more impressive, Qingtian or the people on Yu Mi''s side.


    In the chat someone said, "Big bro, their side has so many kings and emperors, all donating."


    "Big bro, make your move. Today will be the legendary battle for Qingtian."


    "Support Qingtian, support Brother Ace."


    "Everyone with money, donate some, and support Qingtian."


    "Go screw yourselves, a bunch of trash, still trying to beat our boss to first place."


    "You bunch of losers, better give up now."


    There were quite a few nasty fans of Yu Mi in the stream room, and they started trash-talking as soon as they arrived.


    Xia Qing''s moderators were constantly muting, but there were too many from the other side, and they simply couldn''t mute them all.


    Qin Hao sent Xia Qing a message, "Fame breeds strife, just sing well and forget those slanderers; this week''s star is ours."


    Xia Qing logged into an alternate account to check the opposing side, and the list of noble titles in the VIP seats was frightening, further boosted by the presence of dozens of streamers.


    She hesitated, "Maybe we should just let it go, they have a lot of people on their side."


    Qin Hao''s tone was dominant, "They''re just a bunch of clowns, uncle will protect you, don''t worry."


    "An emperor, seven kings, and dozens of ducal nobles, and you call them clowns?"


    Xia Qing, "I don''t want your real life to be affected by spending money here; I stream to make money, but I am not after just any kind of money."


    Qin Hao, "Oh dear, you''re making uncle like you even more, this amount of money won''t affect my real life."


    "Kid, poverty limits your imagination. For a spendthrift like me, my monthly allowance is tens of millions."


    Xia Qing, exasperated, "Forget I said anything."


    ...


    Qin Hao didn''t immediately start donating, but instead coded a small program: a mouse autoclicker.


    This meant he didn''t have to click manually, and the autoclicker was very fast.


    After testing it a few times, in less than a minute, he had donated almost eight to nine hundred thousand from his account.


    Now, Xia Qing was in first place with 2,670,000 votes, followed by Starlight Guild''s Yu Mi with over 2,400,000 votes. The gap wasn''t large.


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 Chapter 277 I Havent Finished Brushing Yet

    Inside Yu Mi''s streaming room, nearly all the gifts now are from some rich big brothers.


    The fans had reached their limit and had given all they could.


    At this point, dozens of streamers who were supporting the event began to chip in, each prepared around ten thousand or so, some even prepared three ten thousands.@@@@


    This act was essentially a display of loyalty, hoping to attract some of Yu Mi''s fans.


    They were also hoping that Yu Mi might help them out in the future.


    With more than thirty streamers giving gifts, the number of beers quickly surpassed those in Xia Qing''s room.


    When it reached three million, Yu Mi''s side stopped since Xia Qing''s side had already ceased.


    Xia Qing had inched close to 2.6 million whereas Yu Mi reached 3 million, a difference of nearly four hundred thousand.


    Yu Mi''s face lit up with a smile, "Thank you big brothers for your support. They''ve already stopped over there, seems like they''ve given up.


    This wave of action was nicely done; I give her a hundred thumbs up."


    His fans said, "The other side just plays mind games."


    "The other streamer''s followers increased by several hundred thousands, and the popularity of their room is about to break a hundred thousand."


    "Exactly, just playing mind games, probably just wants to attract a wave of followers."


    ...


    Yu Mi said with a smile, "Alright everyone, let''s not curse anymore. Even though they are playing mind games, there''s no need to say it out loud."


    Xia Qing''s alternate account was here too, naturally heard his words, and she looked none too pleased before leaving the room.


    Now, the numbers in Xia Qing''s streaming room were nearing a hundred thousand.


    Many people in her room blasted her, "Mind games player, really knows how to hype.


    "Mind games player, just leave, why bother staying and streaming."


    "Trying to compete with our boss Yu Mi, you''re just asking for trouble."


    "Where''s that Spade Ace? Why did they stop giving? Losing courage?"


    "Wasn''t it all tough just a while ago? Why lose nerve now?"


    ...


    There were many cursing at Xia Qing and Qin Hao, but also many supporting them.


    Qin Hao said to Xia Qing, "Why don''t you sing? You sing beautifully, your talent attracted them, that''s why they stayed."


    "Okay sure."


    Xia Qing started singing in the streaming room, and then instantly, it was all cheers and ''666666''.


    The curses were completely drowned out; they couldn''t be seen at all.


    "Wow, her voice is too good," a newcomer who just tuned in was instantly captivated.


    Qin Hao checked the system''s side task for network tycoons, still lacking seven million; the first stage of the mission would then be completed.


    After all, this event had happened suddenly and didn''t give them time to prepare.


    Li Tianpeng sent a message to his female VP: "Fang, how much money do you still have in your account?"


    Fang replied: "I still have 300,000."


    Li Tianpeng pleaded, "Baby, can you help recharge some more? I really can''t afford to lose this time, okay? If nothing else, next time I''m at your disposal."


    He had met the wealthy Fang in real life, and they had been involved.


    Even though Fang wasn''t very attractive, she was rich.


    "Then I''ll add another million, but that''s really all I have left."


    Li Tianpeng''s face brightened: "Yeah, that''s great, baby, love you mwa."


    He then spoke to another wealthy woman named Da Mei, "Baby Mei, Fang still has 1.5 million, how much do you have?"


    Da Mei: "I''ve almost run out in my account."


    Li Tianpeng: "Baby, can you add some more? Once it''s past midnight, I''ll come to see you, since we''re in the same city anyway."


    "Alright, I can add up to a million at most."


    ...


    Both sides reactivated the extravagant spending mode, and the number of gifts continued to skyrocket.


    After about fifteen minutes, many people on Li Tianpeng''s side stopped, except for King Fang and King Dimei who continued.


    Five minutes later, the beer gift count in Xia Qing''s room reached 6.5 million and was still increasing.


    The beer gift count in Li Tianpeng''s room reached 5.1 million, but then stopped.


    Nearly everyone tonight was captivated by this battle; the viewership in Li Tianpeng''s live streaming room was very high, reaching nearly 500,000.


    But the atmosphere was awkward, and Li Tianpeng''s expression was equally poor.


    Because his side was completely out of funds, while the other side continued to spend. Where did this god-like wealthy person come from?


    Do they not consider money as money?


    Li Tianpeng''s face was grim, and without saying a word, he shut off the live stream.


    His mindset had collapsed, and he couldn''t continue streaming.


    Xia Qing''s live stream


    "Big Brother is so cool."


    "You''ve already knocked that fool off the air."


    "The power of the Ace of Spades Big Brother is terrifying, he''s already spent seven million!"


    "Big brother, you can stop now, we''ve won."


    Qin Hao: "I''m not done yet, everyone just wait a bit more."


    ...


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 Chapter 278 Student Council

    Everyone had a look of disbelief; Brother Ace of Spades sure had a sense of humor.


    When Xia Qing''s beer count reached eight million five hundred thousand, Qin Hao stopped.


    He left around one million; since Cui Mingwen and the others had tipped quite a bit, he planned to return the favor for Xia Qing.


    Gifts are to be reciprocated, and that''s how relationships grow closer.


    He hoped that the day he had to leave, Xia Qing would have many friends by her side.


    Even if he had to leave, others could still lend her a hand.


    Later, Xia Qing and Cui Mingwen connected their mics, she thanked him, and after chatting for a bit, Cui Mingwen went off to start his own live stream.


    After everyone had left, there were still more than a hundred thousand people in the live room, though the number was slowly decreasing.


    Xia Qing knew opportunities like this were hard to come by, so she sang earnestly, hoping to retain more viewers.


    Qin Hao and a few others were busy managing.


    "The Qingtian Goddess fan group has been created; all fans of Goddess Qingtian, please join."


    Soon, the group with a capacity of ten thousand was full, and then came the second group, third group, and so on.


    "Qingtian Nobility Team is actively recruiting members. Anyone with a title can join, please follow the uniform name format," the chubby guy was also helping to manage in Qingtian''s live room.


    The main issue was now the excessive number of fans; the managers simply couldn''t keep up.


    Even Qin Hao was busy posting group links: Qingtian Iron Core Guardian Team is recruiting; I''m the team leader, if you''re interested, feel free to join the group.


    ...


    After being busy for more than half an hour, they finally finished, then Xia Qing started recruiting managers for her live room.


    After all, there were too many people, and a few managers simply couldn''t handle them all.


    Xia Qing was also very tired tonight, having sung for a long time, her voice was a bit hoarse.


    When Qin Hao was done, his first stop was Cui Mingwen''s live stream, where he tipped some gifts.


    Afterward, he visited the live rooms of his disciples, tipping about fifty thousand in each.


    After depleting the money in his account.


    A system voice echoed in Qin Hao''s mind: "Congratulations to the host for completing the periodic sub-quest, awarding ten thousand achievement points, two random attribute points."


    "Periodic sub-quest opened: Online Spending Tycoon, tip fifty million online, reward fifty thousand achievement points, random reward points."


    Qin Hao added the attribute points to his strength and intelligence attributes.


    His achievement points had now reached over seventy thousand. He did not gamble for more because these could be exchanged for high-tech products in the system store.


    There was no point in exchanging them now as he didn''t have the energy to develop them; he just had to save the achievement points.


    At nine-thirty.


    Qin Hao said to Xia Qing, "I''m going to sleep, you should rest early too."


    "Alright, good night."


    You are very beautiful, and if you follow me, I will take good care of you."


    Ning Yao tactfully refused, "I''m sorry, Mr. Liu, but we are not suitable."


    Liu Shengzhi, "I think we are very suitable."


    Just as he finished speaking, his body was suddenly twisted around.


    Liu Shengzhi was about to curse when Qin Hao punched him, "How can the school tolerate scum like you?"


    "Bang"


    The punch landed on Liu Shengzhi''s eye socket, and he immediately covered his eyes.


    Qin Hao kicked him in the stomach, knocking him to the ground.


    By the time Ning Yao reacted, Liu Shengzhi was already lying on the ground.


    She hurriedly said, "Qin Hao, stop it, he''s from the student council."


    Qin Hao, "So what if he''s from the student council? Does that mean they can take advantage of people as they please?


    When he touched you just now, you should have slapped him. Otherwise, it only encourages people like him."


    Ning Yao didn''t speak; she felt Qin Hao made sense, but she couldn''t do it herself.


    Qin Hao, "Let''s go back; this broken student council isn''t worth joining."


    If it were someone else, Qin Hao wouldn''t have intervened, but Ning Yao was his fellow villager and a classmate.


    Seeing her being bullied, and since he witnessed it, he couldn''t just stand by and do nothing.


    Ning Yao realized that Qin Hao was somewhat angry and didn''t dare to speak, following him to the classroom.


    As they neared the classroom, Qin Hao turned to look at Ning Yao behind him, "Do you really want to join the student council? What''s so good about it?"


    Ning Yao, "I want to challenge myself and possibly secure a better job in the future."


    Qin Hao, "Then I''ll ask around for you."


    Ning Yao looked at him, "Thank you, Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao, "But don''t get your hopes up too high; I don''t know anyone from the student council."


    They arrived at the classroom.


    Xu Siyao waved at him, and Qin Hao walked over, "What''s up?"


    "Sit down and we''ll talk."


    Once Qin Hao sat down, Xu Siyao started, "I have something to discuss with you."


    "What is it?" Qin Hao curiously looked at her.


    Xu Siyao, "Ruobing wants you to teach her how to paint."


    Qin Hao was a bit speechless, "I don''t have time to teach her painting, let her find someone else. Do you know anyone from the student council?"


    Xu Siyao, "Ruobing is from the student council, and she''s even the vice-chair."


    [This is the fifth update of the day, at 11:51 PM. I ask for your votes and support!]


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 Chapter 279 The Foundation of the Business Empire

    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, "She''s the vice president of the student council?"@@@@


    Xu Siyao asked curiously, "What''s wrong? Do you want to join the student council?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "I''m not interested, just asking for Ning Yao. She''s planning to join the student council, but that Liu, the director of the publicity department, wants to take advantage of her."


    Xu Siyao: "Oh, then just tell Ruo Bing about it. Ning Yao is a good student and also a class leader, so it should be easy for her to get in."


    Qin Hao asked, "Okay, where can I usually find her?"


    "The community art studio. Ruobing is a junior, she doesn''t have many classes."


    After finishing the first class, Qin Hao left the classroom, intending to find Fan Ruobing.


    Fan Ruobing had just received his message, asking her for a favor. She probably wouldn''t refuse.


    Just as he walked out of the classroom, he saw He Tingting heading this way.


    "Qin Hao, come with me," He Tingting said urgently upon seeing him.


    When Qin Hao arrived at her office, he asked curiously, "Is something wrong, teacher?"


    He Tingting: "My dad wants to see you."


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "What? Your dad is too hasty, isn''t he? Is he that eager to marry you off?"


    He Tingting rolled her eyes, "What are you thinking about? My dad doesn''t approve of us, so he wants to meet you."


    Qin Hao sighed with relief, it was better he didn''t approve. He was actually worried that He Tingting''s dad might agree, "Where is your dad?"


    "My dad is at the school, he works here too. When you meet him, you have to stay calm and not give anything away."


    He Tingting thought about it but decided not to reveal her dad''s position. She was afraid Qin Hao would be too scared to go if he knew.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Don''t worry, I am a company CEO after all. I''ve met all sorts of important figures."


    He Tingting: "I hope so."


    Qin Hao said, "Let''s go, I have things to do later."


    He Tingting led him out of that office building, and they headed to another one at the back.


    On the way, Qin Hao started, "Teacher, my company is already in the application process, and it will probably take a little over a month to set up the factory.


    Since you have been researching artificial intelligence all this time, would you be interested in coming to work as our company''s chief engineer for AI research?"


    He Tingting was startled, "Me? I''m afraid my expertise in this area might not be as good as yours."


    Qin Hao: "Ten billion, just now... Tingting mentioned it."


    He Qizhi''s expression darkened: "Young man, bragging is not a good habit."


    Just then, Qin Hao''s phone rang. It was a call from Chang Jing.


    He spoke apologetically, "I need to take this call."


    Chang Jing: "Mr. Qin, the company registration has been approved, and funds from all parties have been credited. I''m currently on my way to the Land Bureau."


    Qin Hao replied, "I''ve been troubling you with these matters recently, Mr. Chang. The sooner we secure the land, the better. Then contact Rutong Engineering Group and ask them to start work at the fastest pace."


    He was getting somewhat impatient because, once the research on artificial intelligence robots was complete,


    he wouldn''t have to worry about lacking high-end technology talent, as intelligent robots could completely take their place.


    Just input specific programs, and they could perform precision work.


    For the air energy cars of the future, he could rely entirely on these robots for production and manufacturing.


    And for the many high-tech products in the system store, there would be no worries about production as long as he had artificial intelligence robots.


    He could use this to build his own business empire.


    Artificial intelligence robots were the foundation of his business empire and the most important thing at the current stage.


    ...


    He Tingting nudged Qin Hao, and he came back to the conversation: "Mr. He, the call just now was from the vice president of my company.


    Xinghai High-tech Co., Ltd has been registered, and you can look up the registered capital."


    He Qizhi opened his browser, searched for Xinghai High-tech Co., Ltd, and found that it was established today with a registered capital of ten billion Xuan Country Coins.


    He was somewhat shocked inside¡ª it really was ten billion!


    He knew Qin Hao''s family background very well: a normal family from Jiangshan, not some wealthy tycoon.


    He Qizhi suddenly realized, I didn''t bring him here to talk about this!


    He said to Qin Hao sternly, "The reason I asked you to come today is to tell you: you and my daughter are not suitable for each other, and I will not approve of this."


    He Tingting retorted, "Why isn''t free love suitable? Love has no boundaries, no status."


    "It is absolutely not possible, unless one of you leaves the school," said He Qizhi, worried about the impact.


    A teacher-student relationship sounds romantic, but it could have a bad impact when word gets out.


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 Chapter 280 on Xinghui Wine

    Qin Hao opened his mouth and said, "Mr. He, how about we discuss this matter some other day? Let everyone calm down and have a good talk."


    He Qizhi hesitated for a moment after seeing his daughter''s expression, "Alright, but you two must keep your distance. I don''t want the word to get out about this."


    Qin Hao: "Don''t worry, Mr. He, this won''t get out."


    The two of them hadn''t actually done anything, so there really wasn''t anything to worry about.


    After leaving the principal''s office, Qin Hao and He Tingting took a long breath of relief.


    Once they were a good distance away, Qin Hao said to He Tingting, "Mr. He, this situation isn''t going to work. You better find a boyfriend soon."


    He Tingting replied irritably, "Do you think finding a boyfriend is that easy? Don''t you think I want to? The problem is there''s no suitable one."


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, "Teacher, don''t be so picky, someone decent will do."@@@@


    He Tingting: "This is a matter of a lifetime, how can I settle for just decent? Our views on marriage are different."


    Qin Hao: "Alright then, you better hurry up. I don''t know when it''ll all come out."


    "Got it." He Tingting was somewhat annoyed.


    As soon as they left the office building, the two split up; Qin Hao headed towards the club office building, and He Tingting went to the laboratory.


    Club Office Building.


    Qin Hao arrived at the Seven-colored Painting Club''s studio, where four or five girls were chatting and painting.


    Seeing Qin Hao come in, the girls paused and then hurriedly got up and came over, "Qin Hao, could you draw a painting for me too?"


    "Yes, I want one too."


    "Draw one for me as well."


    The five girls surrounded him, their fragrance overwhelming, and he even felt several hands roaming over his body.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, wondering what this was all about¡ªit felt like he had entered an ancient brothel.


    "Ahem, alright, go back to what you were doing."


    Fan Ruobing, unable to watch anymore, coughed lightly.


    The girls then dispersed; after knowing the price Qin Hao charged for his paintings since yesterday, they all wanted one.


    Qin Hao breathed a sigh of relief and approached Fan Ruobing: "President, I need a favor from you."


    "Let''s talk inside," Fan Ruobing walked into an interior room.


    This room was her private studio, as it sometimes got too noisy outside, which would affect her.


    The studio was not too small, at about twenty to thirty square meters.


    Fan Ruobing, with delicate features and a tall figure, was approximately one meter sixty-eight, with long, straight thighs.


    He would just find an excuse not to show up when the time comes, Qin Hao thought to himself.


    After leaving the painting club, Qin Hao received a phone call from Kang Youyi.


    Kang Youyi said, "Hao, the auxiliary formulas for the duck neck and duck wings have been signed for and received in Jianghai City."


    Qin Hao replied, "I know, have you guys begun selling them onsite?"


    Kang Youyi replied, "They started going on sale at ten stores this noon, Jiangshan Duck Neck and Jiangshan Duck Wings; we are now branding under Jiangshan."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "How much wine can the distillery produce in a month now?"


    Kang Youyi said, "Tens of thousands of bottles, I''m not sure about the exact figure. Hao, do you want the distillery to slow down production?


    Right now, grains and various auxiliary materials are a huge expense, not to mention labor costs, packaging fees, machine wear and tear, and so on."


    Qin Hao said, "No, if Mr. An''s side lacks funds, transfer some from your end to his.


    We absolutely cannot delay the production. How many bottles have been produced in the factory now?"


    Kang Youyi nodded, "There are more than five thousand bottles, each holding 250 milliliters."


    Qin Hao asked, "How long will Mr. An''s new wine tasting session last?"


    "About three days."


    Qin Hao said, "After the wine tasting session is over, start stocking them at various roasted duck stores, and have the salespeople promote our wine as well. Include this in their performance."


    Fatty said, "Hao, is the unit price still 45? I''ve tasted our wine and it can match Dayuan Group''s high-end wine that costs hundreds per bottle.


    The most important thing is that our wine has the effects of strengthening the body, loosening the muscles, and nourishing the body.


    This is no longer just wine; it''s a health supplement."


    Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao said, "This isn''t a health product, I think this should be called real wine.


    Those that deplete the body and cause diseases aren''t wine; they are slow poisons produced by capitalists to make huge profits."


    He said this because his grandfather had died of liver cirrhosis.


    Qin Hao''s grandfather liked to drink, and he usually drank relatively cheap liquor.


    His grandfather wasn''t a heavy drinker; he just drank a little each day to relieve fatigue, little knowing this was like quenching thirst with poison!


    As chronic exposure built up over time, it developed into a serious illness and finally exploded.


    Qin Hao was not saying there were no good domestic spirits; many big brands had excellent high-end liquors.


    It''s just that good, affordable liquors accessible to the average consumer were few and far between.


    What he now wanted to do was make Xinghui Wine well-known, so everyone could drink healthy liquor.


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 Chapter 281 Duck Farm

    Qin Hao had another goal, that was to undermine the Dayuan Group.


    This time, An Linxuan took wine to Nangui Province to attend a new wine tasting event. Barring any surprises, Xinghui Wine should secure a favorable ranking.


    Though it was just a lower-end product of Xinghui Wine, it was still not comparable to those ordinary spirits.


    After chatting with Kang Youyi for a while, a call from Feng Xiangyi came through.


    He hung up on the chubby man''s call and answered Feng Xiangyi''s call, "Mr. Qin, there''s news from Lv Rong."


    Qin Hao asked, "How did it go?"


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "It was successful, and the price was settled at a bit lower than the market rate."


    Qin Hao stated, "I''ll head over in a bit, we''ll talk when I get there."


    He hung up the phone.


    Qin Hao then went to the school''s parking lot, drove straight to Dingfeng Building.


    Just as Qin Hao parked his car and was about to get out, he saw a man and a woman.


    He recognized the woman as Li Jing, the Deputy Manager of the Marketing Department at his company; he didn''t recognize the man.


    But judging from his attire and demeanor, the man appeared to be a wealthy second-generation.@@@@


    They seemed to be discussing something, but Qin Hao was too far away to hear.


    Latter, the man left in a BMW sports car, while Li Jing took the elevator back to the company.


    Qin Hao glanced at the departing BMW sports car, got out of his vehicle, and headed towards the elevator.


    Upon arriving at the office, Li Jing was already seated and working at her desk. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao went straight into the office; Nie Si was not there.


    He then came out and entered Feng Xiangyi''s office. Nie Si was talking to her about something, and when they saw Qin Hao, they turned their heads.


    "Mr. Qin," Nie Si quickly called out.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Have the auxiliary materials sent from the head office been received?"


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "They''ve been received; they will be crafted into products at various outlets this afternoon. Mr. Qin, do our duck necks and wings taste alright?"


    Qin Hao, "Good or not, we''ll know after trying this afternoon. What''s going on with Lv Rong?"


    Nie Si started, "Mr. Lv has already signed a contract with the other party, and all the duck farms have been secured.


    The total capital is about 12 million yuan; the finance department has already transferred the money to them. Now, Mr. Lv is managing the duck farms there and will likely return in a few days."


    Qin Hao commented, "I have purchased the Heshun Duck Farm in Jianghai City; I''ll go over there later to check it out."


    Feng Xiangyi was somewhat surprised, then she remembered the call Qin Hao had made earlier; it must have been Mo Ying who helped him.


    Fortunately, he came today, otherwise, the duck farm would have been a waste of money.


    "Nonsense, who said I was going to cut wages?" Qin Hao''s voice boomed as he walked toward the crowd.


    Everyone turned to look at him, a young man and two young women among them.


    Liu Xiaofeng looked at Qin Hao, his expression stunned. Could he be the new boss?


    "Who are you?" someone asked.


    Qin Hao: "I am your new boss, Qin Hao, the owner of the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company. I just heard someone saying that I was going to cut your wages?


    I don''t even know about this myself, how could he know? Who said that just now? Dare to step forward?"


    Many people turned to look at Liu Xiaofeng.


    Qin Hao turned to him and asked, "May I know who you are?"


    "I am Liu Xiaofeng, the manager of the duck farm," Liu Xiaofeng replied.


    Qin Hao chuckled: "You said I was going to cut wages; may I ask who told you? We haven''t even had a phone call, have we?


    Or did someone from another department tell you? Name the person. If anyone dares to say this, I''ll have him pack up and leave immediately.


    At Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, there''s never talk of cutting wages,


    my parents are ordinary workers, and I know how hard it is for workers at the bottom. I, Qin Hao, am not one of those heartless bosses.


    In my company, wages only increase, there''s never a possibility of a reduction.


    If you don''t believe it, you can ask around, inquire about the wages of the employees at Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    They are now paid based on the performance of the store, and each store in Jianghai typically generates sales of over one hundred thousand a day.


    The monthly turnover is several million, and the salary of the most ordinary employees is over eight thousand, far exceeding the wages of employees in the same industry."


    Liu Xiaofeng was immediately at a loss for words, unsure of what to say. He had not expected Qin Hao to arrive so coincidentally.


    Qin Hao looked at Liu Xiaofeng and said, "It seems that you have been bought by a competitor of my company, right?


    Tell them to spend their time thinking about how to make tastier roasted duck instead of resorting to underhanded tactics."


    Having said that, Qin Hao looked at the ordinary workers: "I want to ask everyone, how much were you earning per month before?"


    "Just over three thousand." Someone replied.


    Qin Hao: "Now, I make you all a promise, as long as you work hard and focus on the development of the duck farm.


    Your salary will never be less than five thousand a month."


    "Great!" Cheers erupted from the crowd.


    Qin Hao looked at two people in the crowd and said, "You two who just cooperated pretty well, leave with him."


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 Chapter 282 This is the Boys Dormitory

    Those two people had some regrets and hastily said, "Mr. Qin, give us another chance, we were also deceived by him."


    Qin Hao curiously asked, "How did he deceive you?"


    "He said he''d give us five hundred yuan as a reward, then take us to a new place for a good job position. We really know we were wrong, Mr. Qin, please give us one more chance."


    Qin Hao looked at the two of them and nodded slightly, "You''re both in your thirties or forties, raising a family is not easy, I''ll give you one chance, but whether you can seize it depends on yourselves."


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin, thank you, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao: "This is Mr. Feng, the vice president of the company, and Nie Si, you two, where is your deputy factory manager?"


    Someone replied, "The deputy factory manager went on a business trip a while ago, to visit some more advanced duck farms for study and inspection."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Who is the director?"


    "Mr. Qin, I am the one, my name is Luo Cheng." The person who had just spoken, said.


    Qin Hao: "The main purpose of our visit today is to take a look at the condition of the duck farm and then see how everyone is working."


    If you encounter any difficulties during your work, you can report them to higher management.@@@@


    Tomorrow, we will install the company''s office system on your computers here, which will make it easier for everyone to report any issues, and you can also anonymously report any leaders who are not doing their jobs.


    Everyone who should be working, please go ahead with your work now. Mr. Luo, please show us around the duck farm."


    Luo Cheng led the three of them into the first large factory building, and before they even entered, a foul smell hit them in the face.


    Nie Si and Feng Xiangyi frowned.


    Luo Cheng said, "Mr. Qin, the smell inside here is quite strong, why don''t we go to another building to take a look?"


    Qin Hao, with a stern face, said, "If the workers can stand this smell, why can''t I? Don''t say things like that in the future."


    Luo Cheng was not lightly scared, he hurriedly nodded in agreement, and then led Qin Hao and the other two into the factory building.


    Inside were layers of metal cages filled with ducks, stretching almost out of sight.


    Underneath the ducks, there was an automated manure belt responsible for transporting the duck manure out of the building.


    Workers were picking up duck eggs nearby and then taking them to a back building to be incubated in hatchers. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Mr. Qin, this is our duck raising factory building. There are roughly fifty to sixty thousand ducks in this building, and we have three buildings like this.


    We also have a specific building for incubating duck eggs, and another for raising ducklings."


    Qin Hao and his group followed Luo Cheng around the entire duck farm; most of it was equipped with automated machinery.


    However, certain tasks still needed to be done manually.


    Qin Hao, "Give me a pound of each."


    After purchasing the duck necks and wings, he walked out, where Feng Xiangyi and Nie Si were waiting for him.


    He took out a piece of duck neck to eat and then exclaimed loudly, "Damn, this is so delicious?"


    Several bystanders turned their heads to look. Qin Hao chuckled awkwardly, "Sorry about that, but Jiangshan Duck Neck is just too tasty. I got carried away."


    Originally, a few people were planning to buy Jiujiu Duck Neck, but upon hearing his words, they entered Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant instead.


    Feng Xiangyi and Nie Si were somewhat speechless. Aren''t you worried about being recognized, acting this way as a CEO?


    "Try some, it''s really good," Qin Hao offered the food to the two of them.


    After taking a bite, their eyes lit up, "It really is delicious, especially the mild spiciness. It makes you want more."


    On the way back, Qin Hao asked, "Which company is behind the Delicious Duck Neck store?"


    "Tang Group. The Tang Group owns fifteen percent of Meiwei Group, and these stores are probably acting under the Tang Group''s direction."


    After dropping the two off at the company, Qin Hao drove back to the university.


    Back in the dorm, Zhao De and the other two were there. They had won their basketball game in the afternoon, and it was an easy victory.


    Qin Hao had been out all afternoon, and to say he wasn''t tired would be a lie. When he got back to the dorm, he lay down on his bed.


    But he had not been lying down for long when a knock at the door sounded.


    Zhao De went to open the door, and then there was a cry of surprise. He hurried back in.


    The fat guy, Chen Ping, turned his head curiously, only to see a woman with a cool demeanor walking in.


    It was none other than Fan Ruobing. She swept the room with her gaze, and though Zhao De was shirtless, her expression didn''t change at all, as if she hadn''t seen anything.


    "Qin Hao."


    Hearing a woman''s voice, Qin Hao sat up in bed. When he saw Fan Ruobing, he was stunned.


    He stuttered, "Big... Big sister, this is the men''s dorm."


    Fan Ruobing said, "You promised to come at six, and now it''s already six-ten."


    Qin Hao said awkwardly, "Sorry, President, I really got a bit tired today. How about we talk about it tomorrow?"


    Fan Ruobing didn''t speak but stared at him with her beautiful eyes.


    After a dozen seconds, Qin Hao gave in, "Fine, I''ll go, okay?"


    ...


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 Chapter 283 Basketball Game

    Qin Hao had a feeling that if he did not go, Fan Ruobing could sit there watching him all night long.


    She was a strange person, a very strange person indeed.


    The fatty, Zhao De, and Chen Ping were dumbfounded. Damn, was the second brother''s luck with the ladies too freaking strong?


    Qin Hao got dressed and walked out with Fan Ruobing. Along the way, many male students looked at them with disbelieving expressions.


    How could such a beautiful woman run into the men''s dorm?


    On the way, Fan Ruobing didn''t speak, and Qin Hao didn''t know what to say either. The two walked silently to the society office building.


    Arriving at the studio, it was already empty.


    Fan Ruobing fetched paper, ink, and brushes, and said, "Paint."


    Qin Hao asked in surprise, "Paint what?"


    Fan Ruobing: "The one you painted that day, I really like that painting."


    Qin Hao stood there and began to paint, while she watched closely by his side.


    ...


    The tides of time are easy to wane, a bit of heat hard to retain.


    In the blink of an eye, it was the end of October. The weather grew cooler, and autumn was in full swing.


    In recent days, eight more Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurants appeared in Jianghai City. Their rapid expansion caught the attention of many in Jianghai.


    The downfall of Delicious Duck Neck in Jianghai City demonstrated Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s strength and potential.


    At the Jiangshan Base, Kang Youyi and others had already renovated fifteen storefronts in DL City, Shuinan Province.


    At the same time, promotional activities had been underway for three to four days, and on the first of November, all fifteen storefronts would open for business simultaneously.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant now sold not only roasted duck but also duck necks, duck wings, and Xinghui Wine from the Jiangshan Company''s range.


    Xinghui Wine won first place at the new wine tasting event, beating all major wine companies'' new products in taste, price, and health benefits.


    The victory of Xinghui Wine brought a lot of liquor distributors to Xinghui Winery.


    Although the quantity required for the first order was not large, it opened up a bit of the market.


    In the beginning, Xinghui Wine sold quite a lot, especially due to the brand effect of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    Whether it was roasted duck, duck necks, or duck wings, all were loved by customers, who tended to trust new products introduced by Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    Sometimes, this kind of intangible reputation is very important.@@@@


    In just a few days, Xinghui Wine had taken up nearly half of the liquor market for Jiangshan.


    Xia Qing''s live streaming popularity had stabilized at eighty or ninety thousand viewers, occasionally breaking a hundred thousand.


    Even without Qin Hao spending money, her daily income was already over fifty thousand, plus Qin Hao''s lavish spending of several tens of millions.


    This month, her income was close to ten million¡ªa truly terrifying figure.


    ...


    Today, just after nine in the morning, there was a semi-final basketball game at the indoor basketball court of Jianghai University.


    Qin Hao''s classmates had all come here, and Zhao De and the others who were about to compete were warming up.


    Their opponents were Class 2 of the Sports Academy, known for their strong basketball skills and undefeated record.


    Qin Hao''s class had also never lost, mainly thanks to Zhao De''s strong prowess.


    There were many who came to watch the game, lovers of basketball, both male and female.


    "Qin Hao, the substitute player, finally showed up today," Ning Yao said, sitting next to him.


    Qin Hao, "Just dropping by to sit for a while."


    Xu Siyao, sitting beside them, said with a smile, "Qin Hao, why don''t you play for a bit later? We''ll cheer for you."


    "No need. I''m just here for the excitement."


    "Don''t let him go on the court. It would be an embarrassment for our class. Don''t worry, with me here, we can''t lose. Class 2 of the Sports Academy isn''t that strong," Zhao De said, confident in himself.


    Clad in a red jersey, Huo Qiang walked out from behind. Seeing Qin Hao made him feel uncomfortable.


    He knew Qin Hao was skilled, but surely you can''t hit me just for speaking a bit of truth, can he? So he felt somewhat fearless.


    "Huo Qiang, the important thing about the competition is to take part, it''s not about losing face," Ning Yao chastised him.


    Huo Qiang chuckled with a hint of sarcasm, "The class president is right, it''s not shameful."


    Qin Hao gave him a nonchalant glance, scaring Huo Qiang into hurrying onto the basketball court, no longer daring to speak here.


    The match began shortly, and from the start, it was close, with the score fluctuating between both sides.


    But by the third quarter, the Sports Academy started to exert their strength, and the gap between the teams began to show, with the score gradually pulling apart.


    The athletes from the Sports Academy had superior physical fitness and skill level. Aside from Zhao De, who was still doing alright, Huo Qiang and the others were simply being outplayed.


    At that moment, a player from Class 2 of the Sports Academy, holding the ball beyond the three-point line, faced Huo Qiang''s sweaty defense. With a feint maneuver, he left Huo Qiang sprawling on the ground, then with a look of disdain, he easily scored a three-pointer.


    The score now stood at 81:101, Qin Hao''s class trailing by a full twenty points.


    Laughter came from the Sports Academy''s Class 2. Huo Qiang became visibly frustrated and cursed, "Laughing at what? Idiots."


    "M*therf*cker, playing so trash and still cursing," retorted a player from Class 2 of the Sports Academy.


    "How can you still have the face to play with such terrible skills? Worthless trash."


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 Chapter 284 Fierce

    "Loser, you''re already behind by twenty points. Can''t afford to lose, huh?"


    At that moment, many people from Class 2 were cursing him from the outside.


    The game on the court was stopped, with a little over a minute left in the third quarter.


    A basketball game consists of four quarters, each lasting ten minutes.


    Zhao De frowned slightly, thinking Huo Qiang had no real skill yet liked to show off unnecessarily.


    He walked over and said, "Come on, the game''s still on."


    Huo Qiang, "I''m not playing with you, I quit, whoever the hell wants to play, plays."


    Zhao De''s face turned awkward. Huo Qiang''s voice was loud, and everyone around heard him. If he responded, it would show discord in the class, but if he didn''t, he would completely lose face.@@@@


    "Bang"


    A basketball flew in from outside the court and hit Huo Qiang on the head with a "bang."


    His eyes rolled up as he passed out, and the crowd followed the path of the ball, only to see a person standing up from his seat.


    It was Qin Hao.


    Initially, he didn''t plan to intervene, but Huo Qiang was going too far later.


    Qin Hao walked over to Huo Qiang, then turned to the bystanders, a plump guy and Chen Ping, saying, "Just drag him aside, no need for the infirmary, he''ll wake up on his own in a while."


    The crowd exchanged glances, thinking, holy crap, this guy is too tough.


    Qin Hao told the referee, "Sir, we can continue now."


    The referee glanced at Huo Qiang lying outside the court, hesitated for a moment, but blew the whistle to resume the game.


    The ball was with their team. The inbounder passed the ball to Zhao De, who began advancing it.


    Just as he crossed mid-court, two players came to trap him.


    They knew Zhao De''s skills well; he was incredibly good. As long as they focused on him, Class 1 of Computer Science could not win.


    Zhao De was initially worried about this tactic, but now with Qin Hao on the court, he smiled.


    Guarding me? Soon you''ll see how ridiculously wrong you are.


    He passed the ball mid-air to Qin Hao, who, standing outside the three-point line, didn''t wait for the defenders to reach him and shot directly.


    "Swoosh"


    The basketball traced a beautiful arc in the air and fell into the hoop.


    Three points!


    Class 1 of Computer Science erupted in cheers; the shot was too cool.


    Qin Hao and Zhao De were among the five players who took the field. The sports class team had the ball, and they were much more cautious this time.


    Each player marked a man, and Qin Hao was responsible for guarding the opposing team''s best player, who was strong at dribbling and breaking through defenses.


    Under Qin Hao''s tight defense, his opponent couldn''t break through, which frustrated him.


    Ultimately, he had no choice but to pass the ball to someone else.


    The other player shot from beyond the three-point line, the basketball hit the rim, bounced into the air, and then fell.


    Zhao De jumped up and grabbed the ball; his height and jumping ability were impressive.


    On the court, he not only played as a forward but also as a center and had to score as well, which was exhausting.


    Now with Qin Hao, he was much more relaxed. After grabbing the rebound, he vigorously passed the ball to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao caught the ball, dribbled past midcourt with his right hand, while the opposing small forward closely guarded him, wary of him shooting a three-pointer.


    The others were quickly getting back in defense.


    Qin Hao suddenly stepped forward with his right foot, and his body swayed slightly to the right.


    At the same time, the basketball moved from under his crotch to his left hand.


    The player, anticipating a breakthrough by Qin Hao, quickly shifted to his right.


    But at that moment, Qin Hao dribbled with his left hand and rushed past him from the other side, scoring an easy two points with a layup.


    The feint was simple yet required speed.


    The teams went back and forth, and the score gradually closed. With two minutes left in the game, the teams were tied.


    Now with the ball, Qin Hao had entered the game zone.


    The opposing team had initially focused on defending Zhao De, but now they had switched to guarding Qin Hao tightly.


    As two players approached him, Qin Hao had no intention of passing, dribbling straight toward them.


    Just before the collision, he spun around, eluding one, but another defender was still behind him.


    Qin Hao''s body swayed left and right, adjusting his steps.


    The defending player only lasted a second or two before stumbling to the ground, and Qin Hao shot another three-pointer, hitting it again.


    "Damn, was that the Butterfly Step?" spectators exclaimed as they watched Qin Hao''s mesmerizing footwork, their eyes wide.


    "What''s a Butterfly Step? It looked so cool," a curious girl asked.


    The recent display by Qin Hao dazzled the crowd, essentially a visual feast.


    "A signature move by a legendary superstar in NBA history."


    [Vote please!]


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 Chapter 285 Han Meng Discharged from Hospital

    In the end, the basketball game was won by Computer Science Class 1 with an eight-point lead over Physical Education Class 2.


    Ning Yao and the others cheered, and many girls looked at Qin Hao with an admiring gaze.


    Qin Hao''s performance on the court was dazzling, his movements graceful and fluid, captivating and elegant.


    After leaving the indoor basketball court, Qin Hao received a call from Zhao Qian, "Qin Hao, have you guys finished the game? Shall we go to the hospital to see Qiao''er and the others?"


    Qin Hao said, "Yeah, it''s about time for their discharge, I''ll wait for you in the parking lot."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao went to the parking lot and soon enough, Zhao Qian arrived.


    Today she was wearing tight leggings with a loose long-sleeved top that covered her hips, making it look like a short skirt.


    "You didn''t have to wait too long, did you?" Zhao Qian said apologetically as she approached.


    Qin Hao shook his head, "Get in the car, we haven''t seen Qiao''er and the others for several days."


    On the way, Zhao Qian initiated a conversation, "Your company is called Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, right?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Yes, you know about it?" Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire


    Zhao Qian said with a smile, "I heard from a friend. I''ve tried the roasted duck, duck neck, and duck wings from your company; they''re super delicious."


    Qin Hao joked, "I didn''t expect you to be my customer, quite an honor."


    As they talked, the two arrived at the hospital.


    After parking the car, they took the elevator together to the fifth floor outside Han Meng''s ward.


    Qin Hao knocked on the door, and Han Qiaoer quickly opened it to see Qin Hao and Zhao Qian at the door.


    Her face lit up with surprise, "Big Brother, Big Sister, you''re here."


    Qin Hao walked in and patted her head, "Did you miss us?"


    Han Qiaoer nodded, "I did, I think about you every day."


    Zhao Qian placed some snacks she had just bought on the side table, "Qiao''er, you''re so adorable. Tell me, who do you miss more? Big Brother or Big Sister?"


    Qiao''er hesitated before saying, "Both, a lot."


    With a smile on her face, Han Meng said, "Qiao''er, haven''t I told you? From now on, you should call them uncle and auntie."


    Since Qin Hao and Zhao Qian called her big sister, Qiao''er calling them big brother and big sister was a bit off in terms of seniority.


    ...


    At that moment, a doctor walked in, "May I ask which one of you is Mr. Qin?"


    Han Meng''s cheeks instantly turned red, and she gave a mosquito-like "Mhm" in response.


    Feeling the warmth of Qin Hao''s large hands, Han Meng''s cheeks grew even redder, and she kept her head down, too embarrassed to look at anyone.


    Qin Hao placed her in the passenger seat. The front seat could recline to prevent bumping her legs, as the space in the back was too small.


    Han Qiao''er sat in the back seat, which was already full of food and clothing, leaving no room for another person.


    Seeing this, Zhao Qian said with a smile, "I''ll head back first. I''ll come visit you another day."


    "Mhm, Auntie, remember to come find us," Han Qiao''er said.


    Qin Hao drove slowly out of the hospital, thinking it over before deciding to settle Han Meng and her daughter into his villa.


    Renting an apartment for the two would be impractical, as Han Meng had disabled legs and Han Qiao''er was too young to take care of her mother on her own.


    Along the way, Han Meng still had a blush on her cheeks, her head hung low, not daring to look at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao, seeing how easily embarrassed she was, was somewhat speechless. What had he done, really? He simply lifted her into the car, was that not a bit much?


    Han Qiao''er was somewhat excited and asked curiously, "Uncle, where is your place?"


    Qin Hao replied, "By the sea. Later, Uncle will take you to experience the vastness of the ocean."


    Han Qiao''er''s eyes lit up with anticipation, "Wow, really? I''ve never seen the sea before."


    He didn''t drive very fast, mainly because he was afraid that braking too abruptly might injure Han Meng again.


    After about half an hour, they finally arrived at Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    By then, it was nearly twelve o''clock at noon.


    After parking the car in the villa''s yard, he and Han Qiao''er got out.


    Looking at his residence, Han Qiao''er was stunned, "It''s so beautiful! Uncle, is this where you live?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Qiao''er, from now on, this is your home too."


    He then took out a wheelchair and moved Han Meng from the car to the wheelchair.


    Han Meng''s cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, and she couldn''t bring herself to look at him.


    Qin Hao pushed her into the house where Han Meng and Han Qiao''er were dumbfounded by the magnificent decor.


    Qin Hao said, "Qiao''er, come with me to fetch our things."


    Together, they brought everything from the car and then Qin Hao cleared a bedroom on the first floor.


    Qin Hao said, "You both can stay in this room from now on."


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 Chapter 286 Exchange Student

    Han Qiao''er wheeled her mother into the room, and both were pleased by the decor and the large bed.


    Speaking softly, Han Meng said, "Mr. Qin, I still haven''t repaid you for the medical expenses, and now you''re providing a place for me and my daughter to stay. I don''t know how to thank you enough."


    Qin Hao replied, "Meng, I really like Qiao''er, and it''s fate that we met. It doesn''t matter whether you repay the money or not. Don''t call me Mr. Qin; I''m a few years younger than you. Just call me Xiao Hao."


    "Uncle, you''re so kind," Han Qiao''er said, lifting her delicate, pretty face to look at him.


    Han Qiao''er resembled Han Meng quite a lot. Although she was only twelve or thirteen, the semblance to her mother''s beauty was already apparent¡ªa true little beauty.@@@@


    Qin Hao said, "Meng, you shouldn''t sit in your wheelchair for too long. Should I place you on the bed?"


    "That would be a trouble for you, Xiao Hao," replied Han Meng, her face flushing instantly.


    Seeing her reaction, Qin Hao smiled wordlessly, then lifted her and laid her on the bed.


    After placing Han Meng down, he couldn''t help but ask, "Meng, how old are you?"


    "I''m 28," she replied.


    "And what about Qiao''er?"


    "Qiao''er is ten, according to the traditional count."


    Qin Hao glanced at Han Qiao''er; he had initially thought she was twelve or thirteen years old.


    Perhaps due to her family circumstances, she seemed more mature than her peers.


    "Qiao''er, come turn on the TV and watch it with your mom for a while. I''ll go cook," Qin Hao said.


    There was a 32-inch TV in their bedroom¡ªperfect for watching inside the room.


    Han Qiao''er turned on the TV and sat by the bed, engrossed in it.


    They had hardly ever watched television, only occasionally seeing advertisements on the big screens in the square.


    Han Meng came from the impoverished mountainous region of Nangui Province. When she first left her village, it had only just gotten electricity, and only one or two households possessed a television set, which was in black and white.


    When she first arrived in Jianghai City, she was astounded by its prosperity¡ªat stark contrast to her hometown, it seemed like heaven on Earth.


    Nangui Province was the poorest among all of Xuan Country''s provinces, with the lowest GDP per capita.


    Mountainous areas were scattered throughout, and for some people, getting to the county town involved a seven- or eight-hour trek through the mountains¡ªsome paths were steep and treacherous, with immense dangers.


    About half an hour later, Qin Hao finished preparing lunch.


    "Qiao''er, come and eat," he called out.


    "Okay," replied Han Qiao''er promptly, and after washing her hands, she sat at the dining chair.


    She spoke up, "Uncle, that TV show was really interesting."


    Taken aback, Qin Hao asked, "You''ve never watched TV before?"


    Qin Hao said, "Meng, drink this cup of water. It has medicine I mixed in it, and it should cure your fracture."


    Han Meng paused, "Really?"


    Qin Hao affirmed, "Mm, drink it, Meng."


    Han Meng drank all the water in the cup.


    At that moment, Qin Hao''s phone rang; it was Du Wanrou''s call.


    He walked to the living room with his phone, "What''s the matter, Wanrou?"


    Du Wanrou said, "Qin Hao, there''s something I want to talk to you about."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What''s the matter? What is it?"


    Du Wanrou explained, "Our school has a few exchange student spots, and the teacher asked me about it. I want to go."


    Qin Hao asked in confusion, "Exchange student? Where to?"


    Du Wanrou replied, "To Haji University in the Federation, for half a semester. I can come back by the end of the year."


    "If you want to go, then go, I respect your decision," Qin Hao said.


    Actually, Qin Hao didn''t want her to go, but Du Wanrou wasn''t his puppet; she had her own thoughts and aspirations.


    Du Wanrou''s decision to go was also multi-faceted; she wanted to be able to help Qin Hao in business in the future, not just be a decorative vase.


    Qin Hao''s company was growing day by day, and although she never showed it, she had her own inner worries.


    She feared one day Qin Hao might leave her because she was incompetent.


    She feared one day Qin Hao would choose a woman who could help him more in business.


    To make herself better, to be able to share Qin Hao''s troubles and solve them, she decided to go to Haji as an exchange student.


    Feng Xiangyi also supported her going, saying: "While Qin Hao''s affection for you is still strong, make yourself better, make him unable to leave you."


    Du Wanrou stated, "Mm, I''m leaving the day after tomorrow."


    "That soon?" Qin Hao frowned slightly.


    Du Wanrou explained, "It''s the school''s requirement, and there are over a dozen others going with me."


    Qin Hao asked, "Where are you now? I''ll come to see you."


    In a soft voice, Du Wanrou replied, "Mm, I''m at my aunt''s place."


    Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    [Fourth update, please vote for me seeing as I work so hard every day! Just had a big storm and a power outage, uploaded the chapter using mobile hotspot.]


    ```


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 Chapter 287 A Bit Embarrassing

    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao told Qiao''er and Han Meng to take care at home, then he left the house.


    He drove to the residential area where Du Wanrou lived.


    Du Wanrou was at home alone, sorting out her clothes and belongings.


    When Qin Hao entered, he looked at her, and Du Wanrou walked over and gently hugged him.


    "Girl, why are you suddenly going to be an exchange student?" Qin Hao hugged her, asking somewhat reluctantly.


    Du Wanrou: "There, I can learn more advanced management concepts, so I can help you when your company grows."


    Qin Hao felt touched: "It''s unfamiliar territory over there, you have to take care of yourself."


    Du Wanrou: "Mhm, you also need to take care of yourself when I''m not here."


    Qin Hao carried her into the bedroom.


    "Today, you have to make up for the many months ahead."


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned red with shyness, her eyes dreamy as she looked at him.


    Qin Hao could tell that she was also reluctant, she didn''t want to go to the faraway Federation either.


    ...


    Around five o''clock, Feng Xiangyi came back, entered her room, and saw a man''s shoes on the shoe rack, pausing for a moment.


    Then she looked towards Du Wanrou''s bedroom door.


    Just then, she heard sounds that made her face burn with embarrassment, and she blushed instantly.


    She took a deep breath and hurried back to her own room.


    Their bedrooms adjoined each other, and sitting on the bed, Feng Xiangyi could still vaguely hear some sounds, which made her feel uncomfortable.


    Thankfully, the sounds didn''t last long before disappearing.


    Inside Du Wanrou''s bedroom.


    Du Wanrou whispered, "I just heard the sound of a door opening. Is it Auntie coming back?"


    Qin Hao looked at the clock, it was almost half-past five: "Let me go check."


    He got dressed and stepped out of the room, seeing Feng Xiangyi''s slippers still there; she must not be back.


    Qin Hao then looked towards the kitchen and the living room, with no sign of Feng Xiangyi.


    "Mhm, be careful on your way."


    ...


    Seeing Qin Hao leave, Feng Xiangyi felt relieved; being caught during such a moment was certainly awkward.


    She maintained an outward calm, but inwardly she felt embarrassed.


    Especially since the two of them were in a superior-subordinate relationship; without maintaining some composure, how would they face each other in the future!


    Qin Hao went downstairs and drove towards the school; he was due at the studio at six o''clock to teach Fan Ruobing how to paint.


    Although he had taught her for many days, progress was not very noticeable.


    Such things couldn''t be learned in a few days; they required years of diligent practice.


    Even though they spent a lot of time together, their relationship hadn''t progressed emotionally.


    Over all these days, their conversations could be counted on one hand, and it was difficult to define their relationship - it wasn''t exactly friendship, but it also wasn''t entirely unlike it.


    Fan Ruobing''s personality baffled him; she exuded strangeness from every angle.


    He parked the car outside the school and then bought a rolled pancake and porridge nearby.


    "Qin Hao?" A voice called out from not too far away.


    He turned to look, and Su Jia, Feng Ying, and a few others were buying food; they were Ning Yao''s roommates and Qin Hao''s classmates.


    The group widened their eyes as they watched him, then glanced at the Lamborghini sports car beside him.


    When the car arrived, it had already attracted a lot of attention. Seeing Qin Hao coming down from it, Su Jia and the others were dumbfounded and in disbelief.


    Qin Hao was driving such a nice car? What did he do for a living?


    Qin Hao looked at them, smiled faintly, and nodded as an acknowledgment.


    He bought two portions of rolled pancakes and millet porridge, which he had been doing for these days.


    He wasn''t buying such food for Fan Ruobing because he liked her or wanted to pursue her.


    It was because it felt embarrassing to eat alone while Fan Ruobing just watched.


    Fan Ruobing had never thanked him either. The first time Qin Hao offered it to her, she hesitated for a moment before accepting it, and it later became a routine.


    "Wow, that''s a Lamborghini, Qin Hao actually drives such a good car?" Su Jia watched Qin Hao''s retreating figure, her eyes filled with complex emotions.


    Feng Ying: "He''s been so low-key, not showing off in class, who would have thought he''s a hidden tycoon."


    Han Jing: "Let''s go and find out what his family does later."


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 Chapter 288 Not So Good

    Six or seven minutes later.


    Qin Hao arrived at the art studio, where Fan Ruobing was seated, looking at the painting from the previous day, waiting for him.


    Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire


    Fan Ruobing, "You are five minutes late again today."


    Qin Hao was a bit embarrassed; he was never this punctual for class, "I got held up with something. Haven''t finished dinner yet, have you? Let''s talk after you eat."


    He placed the rolled pancakes and rice porridge beside her.


    Fan Ruobing took a bite and then looked at him, "I don''t like cilantro."


    Qin Hao, "Picky even when someone buys you food. Be content, big sister, and besides, cilantro has medicinal benefits: indigestion, loss of appetite, and more. It''s good stuff."


    Fan Ruobing hesitated for a moment and then continued to eat.


    Five minutes later, after finishing their meal, Qin Hao said to her, "Start painting, let me see if you''ve made any progress."


    Fan Ruobing began to paint, and Qin Hao sat down and started playing with his phone.


    A few minutes later, Fan Ruobing set down her brush and looked at him, "I still can''t capture the feeling of your painting. Teach me again."


    Qin Hao walked over to look at her painting, a plum blossom tree, mediocre at best.@@@@


    He said, "Practice makes perfect. Just keep painting."


    Fan Ruobing, "Teach me your technique for painting plum blossoms. It''s not just about painting more; there''s a knack to it."


    Qin Hao, "What technique? I just got good because I painted a lot."


    Fan Ruobing, looking at him, "Hold my hand as you paint, so once I''ve learned, you won''t have to come teach me every day."


    Qin Hao, surprised, "Hold your hand? How can I teach that way?"


    Fan Ruobing, "By holding my hand as you paint. That way, I can clearly see your movements and techniques."


    Qin Hao looked at her fair and slender fingers, "Is this okay?"


    "Why not? Hurry up; don''t waste time," Fan Ruobing said as she changed the paper.


    Having said that, Fan Ruobing bent down beside the desk.


    Qin Hao walked over, stood behind her, and then leaned forward slightly, gently grasping her fair, delicate hand.


    Fan Ruobing, at another desk with a brush in hand, focused and serious.


    Qin Hao felt a bit embarrassed; fortunately, he hadn''t been discovered, or he truly didn''t know how Fan Ruobing would react.


    Scream? Get physical?


    A few minutes later, Fan Ruobing turned to him, a glint of happiness in her eyes, "It really works. I feel like I''ve made a lot of progress."


    Qin Hao offered a dry laugh, "That''s good, it wasn''t in vain that I put in so much effort."


    Fan Ruobing, in a tone of no debate, said, "Continue teaching me like this tomorrow."


    *Thud*


    Qin Hao nearly fell to the floor, pleading, "Club President, isn''t once enough?"


    Fan Ruobing looked at him with her beautiful eyes, unsmiling, but Qin Hao felt the temperature in the studio drop several degrees.


    Her lips parted lightly, "Are you unwilling to teach me?"


    Qin Hao explained, "It''s not that I''m unwilling, Club President, but men and women should keep their distance. It''s too intimate when I teach you. If others see this, it could tarnish your reputation, and of course, it might affect me a little too."


    After speaking, Qin Hao mentally gave himself a pat on the back for his quick thinking.


    Fan Ruobing paused and then said, "I don''t mind. What about you?"


    Ah?


    Qin Hao didn''t know how to respond. Fan Ruobing herself had said it didn''t matter; how should he reply?


    "Club President, I still feel it''s not quite right."


    Fan Ruobing, "Say what''s not right directly."


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment and finally confessed, "I''m a normal man, and you''re so beautiful.


    I''m afraid I''ll react in a way that will make us both uncomfortable."


    A physiological reaction?


    Fan Ruobing spoke without giving it another thought, "That''s fine, as long as it''s not deliberate."


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; she could accept even that?


    He couldn''t quite fathom what was going on in Fan Ruobing''s mind!


    Fan Ruobing said to him, "Come and see my painting. Have I improved since just now?"


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 Chapter 289 The Buddha Speaks

    Qin Hao looked over and nodded, "Not bad, there''s indeed improvement."


    Fan Ruobing''s eyes lit up with joy, and a rare smile appeared on the corners of her mouth as she continued to paint.


    Soon, it was seven o''clock.


    Qin Hao spoke, "Time''s up, shall we go together?"


    Fan Ruobing nodded slightly, and they both turned off the lights in the studio and then walked outside together.


    Leaving the office building, they walked towards the campus exit together.


    Fan Ruobing was stunned for a moment, "Aren''t you going back to the dorm?"


    Qin Hao, "I have some things to do, I won''t be staying in the dorm these days."


    Fan Ruobing didn''t speak again, and they continued towards the campus exit side by side, looking like strangers despite walking together.


    Before they reached the school gate, a Mercedes-Benz sports car slowly drove past them.


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    Yet neither of them turned to look, as it wasn''t enough to arouse their interest.


    The window of the sports car slowly rolled down, and Xu Siyao called out, "Qin Hao, Ruobing."


    Turning their heads to look, Fan Ruobing nodded slightly without speaking.


    Qin Hao looked at her car and smiled, "When did you switch to this car?"


    Xu Siyao gave an awkward smile, "My dad bought it during high school. How come you two are together?"


    In the past, she was a well-known rebellious girl in Jianghai City, frequently seen speeding and in bars.


    It was only after a serious illness that her personality had changed dramatically.


    Qin Hao, "We were painting in the studio just now."


    Xu Siyao seemed thoughtful; she remembered that Qin Hao initially didn''t want to go, so why did he start teaching again?


    She spoke, "Qin Hao, my dad said you should come over for lunch the day after tomorrow. Ms. Yang will be there too."


    Remembering what Xu Jiekang had told him previously, he felt somewhat reluctant, but it wouldn''t be good not to go.


    He nodded, "Hmm, okay."


    "Then I''ll go first."


    "Drive safely."


    "Got it."


    ...


    After leaving the school, Qin Hao and Fan Ruobing boarded their cars and drove away.


    Many fans were very understanding.


    Xia Qing opened random matching, and a few minutes later the screen split in two, stunning both parties because they were matched with a broadcaster named Yu Mi.


    Qin Hao was also stunned because the person they matched with was Li Tianpeng.


    Xia Qing felt a little awkward; she hadn''t expected to be matched with Li Tianpeng.


    The fans also expressed speechless emotions, saying this coincidence was too much.


    Li Tianpeng, who watched Xia Qing every day with a minor account, knowing that Spade A wasn''t around, spoke up, "Brothers, cast your votes, let some people see the strength of our Yu Mi army."


    Xia Qing pretended not to see the other party, campaigning for votes in her live streaming room. Losing would be embarrassing and might lead to losing fans.


    Li Tianpeng''s votes were rising quickly; he was seeking revenge for a past grudge.


    Apart from Spade A, Xia Qing''s side had almost no big supporters.


    Because on this platform, rich patrons donating money to female broadcasters often did so with ulterior motives.


    In recent days, Qin Hao had been very aggressive on this platform, having already donated over forty million, and last week alone, he had secured four weekly top positions for Xia Qing.


    The other rich patrons knew they couldn''t compete with Qin Hao, so almost none came forward.


    At this moment, Li Tianpeng spoke up, "A brother mentioned he saw this female broadcaster in a Beihai Country action movie. Is that true? Oops, that can''t be."


    This blatant sarcasm made Xia Qing visibly uncomfortable and angered her fans as well.


    Many people rushed to the opposite live streaming room to curse Li Tianpeng relentlessly.


    Li Tianpeng didn''t care, continuing, "A brother said this female broadcaster escaped from Wan City.


    Buddy, you''re really funny, but I think you''re right. She does look like a high-priced girl from Wan City."


    Xia Qing wasn''t very good at insulting people, and in front of hundreds of thousands of live viewers, she did not want to lose her composure by cursing.


    She smiled and said, "I remember an ancient master once said,


    ''When people deceive me, insult me, slander me, curse me, laugh at me, cheat me, how should I deal with it?


    Just endure them, let them, be patient with them, ignore them; in a few more years, you''ll see what becomes of me without them."


    "666666, worthy of being a college student, that''s some high-level talk."


    "Awesome, is the goddess also a top student?"


    ...


    Although Li Tianpeng didn''t quite understand what she meant, he could guess, and he did not look very pleased.


    He wasn''t just anyone; he started changing the subject, "Some people try so hard to act cool without the capability. Ah, I''ve already got seven hundred thousand votes, how come she only has two hundred thousand?"


    "Damn, Yu Mi is becoming more and more disgusting."


    "It''s just because our big brother isn''t here, you think you''re something!"


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 Chapter 290 Forget About Him

    Qin Hao''s eyes narrowed slightly when he heard Li Tianpeng''s veiled insults.


    He still had several million in his account, which he began to use on his phone.


    Xia Qing''s votes skyrocketed in just a few seconds, catching up to Li Tianpeng''s numbers.


    "Holy crap, Ace A is actually here."


    "Big Bro, that guy on the other side is showing off, take him down."


    "Bro, let''s follow Big Bro''s lead and give it a push together."


    Instantly, gifts flew across Xia Qing''s live broadcast, and her votes increased at an alarming speed.


    Although Li Tianpeng was also spending, he couldn''t keep up with Qin Hao''s pace.


    He was spending on yachts at 999 each, ten at a time. That''s almost a hundred thousand votes with each purchase.


    Qin Hao didn''t stop until the PK time ended.


    The moment the server-wide broadcast sounded, tens of thousands of viewers flooded into Xia Qing''s live room.


    Li Tianpeng''s face was an embarrassing shade of iron blue¡ªhe had clearly seen that Qin Hao wasn''t around, only to find out that he had been invisible.


    After being outbid the last time for a Weekly Star rating, Li Tianpeng lost some fans, and today, his lost composure disappointed many more.@@@@


    The punishment time ended along with the match, and throughout it all, Xia Qing did not pay Li Tianpeng any attention.


    She messaged Qin Hao, "Ace A, why were you invisible today?"


    Qin Hao replied, "It''s inconvenient for me to go online with my phone, so I went invisible."


    Xia Qing: "Ace A, thank you for always supporting and accompanying me in silence. I''m very touched. You''re the first person to be so kind to me."


    Qin Hao revealed a smile upon reading her message, "Are you thinking about how to confess to me?"


    Xia Qing: "Ace A, you''d be perfect if you weren''t so narcissistic."


    She chatted with Qin Hao while also talking to her fans in the live broadcast.


    After a moment of thought, Qin Hao asked her, "Do you have someone you like?"


    Xia Qing replied, "Yes!"


    Qin Hao joked, "It''s not me, is it?"


    Xia Qing: "No, it''s a high school classmate of mine."


    Qin Hao: "Oh? Can you tell me more about it?"


    ...


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    Qin Hao was taken aback; she hadn''t been to the restroom since this morning, had she?


    That hadn''t crossed his mind.


    "Meng, I''ll carry you there. You can''t hold it, it could cause problems." After saying this, he gently lifted Han Meng and carried her into the bathroom.


    Han Meng was wearing just her hospital gown, with nothing underneath.


    "Meng, shall I help you take it off?" Qin Hao couldn''t afford to think too much now.


    Urination is a normal physiological elimination process, a way of detoxifying, and holding it in is bad for the bladder and kidneys.


    It could lead to a buildup of toxins and trigger a range of illnesses.


    He struggled quite a bit to get Han Meng out of her hospital gown.


    Han Meng''s cheeks were burning hot, and even her neck and ears were red.


    After a quick wipe, he redressed Han Meng in her gown and carried her back to bed.


    He tucked her in and said to Han Meng and Han Qiao''er, "Go to sleep early, and call me if you need anything."


    "Mm, good night, Uncle."


    Quitting Han Meng''s bedroom, Qin Hao took a deep breath and lay down to sleep when he got back to his room.


    The next morning, he awoke early.


    Coming downstairs from the upper floor, he freshened up first and then knocked on Han Meng''s bedroom door before entering.


    Han Qiao''er and Han Meng were both awake. Han Qiao''er greeted him with a smile, "Uncle."


    Han Meng''s cheeks were slightly red, avoiding Qin Hao''s gaze.


    "Meng, do you need to go to the restroom?"


    With her cheeks flushing red, Han Meng felt too embarrassed to speak.


    Han Qiao''er chimed in, "Mom, Uncle is asking you something, why are you blushing?"


    Her daughter''s words made her even more embarrassed.


    Qin Hao, feeling speechless, lifted Han Meng and took her to the bathroom, just like the night before. He quickly carried her back out afterward.


    Seeing this, Han Qiao''er said enviously, "Uncle, I want a hug too."


    Qin Hao teased her, "Go and wash up quickly. If you don''t listen, Uncle won''t hug you."


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 Chapter 291 Visitors from the Three Major Companies

    Qin Hao placed Han Meng on the bed and asked, "Meng, do you feel any better now?"


    "It doesn''t seem to hurt that much anymore," Han Meng replied softly, her cheeks flushed.


    Qin Hao said, "After we eat, I''ll help you remove the bandage to check. It should be fine now."


    "Mmm, thank you, Xiao Hao."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Everyone faces difficulties sometimes. Helping others is helping oneself. Meng, I''ll go get some water to wash your face for you."


    Han Meng''s cheeks turned even redder at his words, and Qin Hao was already accustomed to her blushing at the drop of a hat.


    He brought over a basin of warm water and a new towel and wiped Han Meng''s face and hands.


    After wiping her down, Qin Hao went to make breakfast.


    He simply cooked some millet porridge and fried a few eggs.


    After the meal, Han Qiaoer took the initiative to wash the dishes in the kitchen, while Qin Hao was having some trouble in the bedroom.


    It was because Han Meng was wrapped in bandages in many places: her legs, lumbar spine, ribs, arms, and so on.


    To remove the bandages, it was obvious that the patient gown would have to come off.


    ...


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Meng, shall I remove it for you?"


    Han Meng closed her eyes upon hearing that. Although it made little difference to covering her ears while stealing a bell, she felt it was somewhat more bearable.


    Qin Hao gradually removed the bandages from her waist and ribs since the bandages were wrapped around and around her body.


    Therefore, he had to gently lift Han Meng''s body to get them off.


    Han Qiaoer, having finished the dishes, stood by and watched without saying anything.


    Soon the bandages around Han Meng''s waist and ribs were removed.


    The scars and cuts had completely healed, with not even a trace visible.


    Gently pinching the bones at her lower back, Qin Hao asked, "Meng, does it hurt?"


    Han Meng pursed her lips and clenched her teeth, shaking her head to indicate it didn''t hurt.


    Qin Hao increased the pressure slightly and asked again. Han Meng still shook her head.


    "I heard there are crabs by the sea; I''m going to catch some," Han Qiaoer said giggling as she ran off.


    Seeing her daughter so happy, a smile appeared on Han Meng''s face.


    The scenery by the sea was beautiful, and not far away was a little harbor with yachts, jet skis, and beautiful buildings.


    All these were developed by the luxury residential area, aimed at providing residents with top-notch service and environment.


    After playing for more than half an hour, Qin Hao''s phone rang¡ªit was a call from Feng Xiangyi.


    Feng Xiangyi said, "Mr. Qin, could you come to the company? "


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    Qin Hao knew that if she said this, it must be something important, "Okay, I''ll be there in a bit."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao said to Han Qiaoer, "Qiao''er, let''s go home, uncle has some work at the company."


    Although Han Qiaoer hadn''t had enough fun yet, she obediently ran back.


    Qin Hao said to her, "We''ll come again when I''m free, it''s not too far anyway."


    "Yeah, uncle, I''ll push mom." Han Qiaoer took over pushing the wheelchair.


    Back in the villa, Qin Hao said to them, "I''ll try to come back by noon, just wait for me at home."


    Han Qiaoer: "Uh-huh, drive safe, uncle."


    "Uncle knows, take good care of mom at home."


    ...


    About half an hour later, Qin Hao arrived at the company.


    Walking into the company meeting room and seeing the people inside, his expression was one of mild surprise as he said indifferently, "Well, if it isn''t Mr. Wu!"


    This was none other than Wu Fuwei, the man who had previously proposed to buy Qin Hao''s company for 150 million.


    Wu Fuwei wasn''t alone; there were two middle-aged men with him, and it seemed like he was just accompanying them.


    The other two were meeting Qin Hao for the first time and were somewhat surprised to see how young he was.


    Is this the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, Qin Hao?


    One of the middle-aged men wearing glasses stood up and said: "Hello Mr. Qin, I am Lin Helai, the general manager of Jianghai branch of Meiwei Group.


    This is Chen Xiaofeng, Mr. Chen from Meiwei Roasted Duck Company, Mr. Wu you already know, so I won''t introduce him."


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 Chapter 292 Despicable

    Qin Hao''s expression was indifferent as he casually took the seat of honor: "Is there something you gentlemen need from me?"


    "Or perhaps you''re planning to offer one hundred and fifty million to acquire my company?"


    His blatant sarcasm made Wu Fuwei feel both embarrassed and angry, but he dared not show it.


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    The Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was no longer the newcomer just entering Jianghai.


    They had their own duck farms in Jianghai, capable of supplying the city''s needs, and it was rumored that these farms were still expanding.


    The ambition of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was gradually revealing itself: the expansion of the duck farms was nothing less than a declaration to everyone that Jiangshan Roasted Duck intended to continue its frenzied expansion.


    It was precisely because of this that individuals like Lin Helai, Chen Xiaofeng, and Wu Fuwei had joined forces to come here.


    If they allowed Jiangshan Roasted Duck to continue developing, their interests would suffer immense losses.


    They might even face the danger of bankruptcy and closure.


    Lin Helai said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, you must be joking. Some venture capital firms offered fifteen billion valuation not long ago, and you didn''t even bother with them¡ªone hundred and fifty million is indeed a joke."


    Qin Hao couldn''t be bothered with these people. Now that they saw Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s rising prominence and became afraid, what were they doing earlier?


    When they united to blockade us back then, did they ever consider that a day like today might come?


    He went straight to the point and asked, "Gentlemen, please state your purpose. I don''t have much time to play with you."


    Lin Helai continued smiling, "Today, we came to invite Mr. Qin to join us at a banquet this evening. All the owners from Jianghai''s catering and prepared food industry will be present, and we plan to discuss the future development of Jianghai City''s industry."


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment as he looked at Lin Helai; this seemed like it could be a setup.


    Nonetheless, Qin Hao agreed readily, "Alright then, I''ll see you in the evening."


    What of a banquet that might be a trap? He was actually curious to see what tricks these people could conjure up.


    After Lin Helai and the others left, Chen Xiaofeng, the CEO of Delicious Duck Company, gave Qin Hao a smile on his way out.


    Wu Fuwei and Lin Helai in the front hadn''t noticed it.


    Qin Hao felt that his smile contained many implications, so he responded with a smile in kind.


    Once these people had left, Feng Xiangyi said to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, do you really intend to go tonight?"


    When Qin Hao heard Feng Xiangyi''s voice, he couldn''t help but recall the incident from yesterday, feeling somewhat embarrassed and unable to look at Feng Xiangyi: "Why wouldn''t I go for a free meal?"


    Seeing his reaction, Feng Xiangyi knew he was still embarrassed about yesterday''s events.


    Her cheeks turned slightly red as she started, "Mr. Qin, that Li Jing you asked me to keep an eye on does seem to have a problem."


    In the conference room, Qin Hao and two others watched as Li Jing cried.


    A few minutes later, while still crying, Li Jing said, "Mr. Qin, I''ll tell everything, everything."


    "One night, half a month ago, after work, a girl who was a close university friend invited me out to have fun, and we went to a bar.


    After having a few drinks, I distinctly remember not drinking much, but later I lost consciousness.


    When I woke up again, I found myself naked on a bed in a hotel, and I was raped.


    Standing next to me was Wu Caida; he had videotaped the rape and used it to blackmail me into stealing the secret recipe of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    If I didn''t agree, he threatened to send those videos to my university''s forum and to my family''s phones.


    Mr. Qin, it wasn''t intentional, I''m sorry for you and the company, I''m so sorry... sorry... sorry..."


    Li Jing collapsed onto the floor in agony after speaking, not having revealed to anyone the pressure she had been under all these days.


    She had even considered suicide on numerous occasions, but the thought of her parents and her younger brother, who was still in school back home, kept her from having the courage to carry through the act.


    Feng Xiangyi and Nie Si, after listening, felt a tightness in their throat, deeply distressed.


    Feng Xiangyi couldn''t help but curse, "Scum, bastard."


    She and Nie Si helped Li Jing to her feet and seated her on the sofa.


    Qin Hao''s face showed great difficulty; he felt both rage and some guilt.


    His anger was directed at Wu Caida''s vile tactics, doing something so despicable just for the sake of business competition.


    The guilt was for Li Jing; if she hadn''t been working at Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, none of this would have happened!


    Qin Hao took a deep breath to suppress the anger inside. Looking at Li Jing, he said, "You now have two choices.


    One: Have the courage to face everything, report Wu Caida to the police, and let this scum receive the punishment he deserves.


    Rest assured that even though the Wu Group is powerful, I, Qin Hao, am not a pushover.


    Whoever dares to protect him, I''ll deal with them.


    Two: Continue acting this way, but you won''t be able to get the secret recipe, and maybe you''ll live under his threats for the rest of your life.


    Choose one of these paths!"


    Li Jing''s eyes were red with determination as she said, "Mr. Qin, I choose the first one; even if it ruins my reputation, I want to expose him."


    In the past, she had entertained this thought, but she was alone in Jianghai City.


    The Wu Roasted Duck Group, with its large business and extensive network, made her fear that reporting them would lead to nothing, with no result to her plea.


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 Chapter 71 Injuries

    But as those people got closer and closer to Du Wanrou, his anxiety surged like wildfire.


    Kang Youyi might have a hard time holding off so many people.


    Qin Hao steeled his heart and rushed outside, swinging the baseball bat with all his might.


    It knocked the bats from the hands of the two people in front, but he had no time to worry about what was behind him.


    Because he needed to hurry over and protect Du Wanrou.


    If he didn''t worry about Du Wanrou, he could take down those ten people in a bit of time, but he didn''t have that luxury.


    Although he was fast, the two people closest to him had already swung their baseball bats.


    "Bang bang"


    The sound of bats striking flesh rang out, and Qin Hao grunted, feeling a fierce pain in his back.


    His brow furrowed in pain, but his pace didn''t slow down as he charged toward Du Wanrou.


    By now, Lin Kang had already engaged in combat with those people, protecting Du Wanrou in front of him.@@@@


    His moves were quite good, and in the blink of an eye, two men lay on the ground, but the attackers all wielded weapons.


    Before long, Lin Kang had taken several hits, and his movements slowed down considerably.


    Behind him, Du Wanrou''s face was pale, deeply frightened by the commotion.


    Seeing Lin Kang nearing his limit, Qin Hao unleashed his full strength, moving incredibly fast.


    After Lin Kang had taken down six people, he could no longer hold his ground and fell to the ground after a bat struck his leg.


    Then a group swarmed and mercilessly beat him.


    These people did not aim for Lin Kang''s head, otherwise, his chances would be slim.


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    With Lin Kang down, Du Wanrou lost her last line of protection.


    The leader glanced at Du Wanrou and commanded, "Beat her up, teach Du Hongfeng a lesson."


    Three young men charged at her, showing no mercy or chivalry.


    Their baseball bats aimed ruthlessly at Du Wanrou''s shoulders and head, clearly targeting her.


    Du Wanrou, terrified, went pale and quickly covered her head with her hands.


    "Bang bang bang"


    Three sounds echoed, but Du Wanrou didn''t feel any pain, looking up curiously through her arms.


    A figure stood before her, none other than Qin Hao.


    Du Wanrou was stunned for a moment, staring blankly at him.


    All three bats had struck Qin Hao''s back and head.


    Before he could finish his sentence, Qin Hao collapsed to the ground with a thud.


    Stunned, Du Wanrou stood there, her mind going blank, not knowing what to do.


    Lin Kang quickly said, "Miss, call for emergency help, and then call Mr. Lin."


    Snapping back to reality, Du Wanrou hurriedly took out her phone, her hands trembling uncontrollably.


    ...


    First Hospital in Jiangshan City.


    Qin Hao slowly opened his eyes, now wrapped up like a mummy. Moving his body, he winced in sharp pain.


    The hospital room was full of people: Du Wanrou, a middle-aged couple, Kang Youyi, and Li Bao.


    Seeing Qin Hao awaken, Du Wanrou''s face lit up with joy, "Qin Hao, you''re awake? How do you feel?"


    "It''s fine, just a bit painful."


    Qin Hao noticed her reddened eyes, clearly showing she had cried.


    He felt the beating was worth it.


    Since childhood, he had been beaten up because of Du Wanrou twice now, the first time being in the grove, and this was the second time.


    This was also the first time in three years he had seen Du Wanrou with tears in her eyes.


    Upon hearing his words, Du Wanrou''s tears poured out again, uncontrollable.


    On the way to the hospital, she had been with him in the ambulance while the doctors provided simple first aid.


    As they cut Qin Hao''s clothes and saw the purple marks from the beating, even the doctors were shocked.


    If it had been any ordinary person, they would have probably fallen after a few hits.


    He had over a dozen bruises from the beating, not just on his head, chest, and back, but even his legs were covered in contusions.


    Even two of his ribs were broken.


    Du Hongfeng looked at Qin Hao and said, "You''re Wan Rou''s classmate, aren''t you? Thank you for today. The outcome would have been unthinkable without you. I''ll cover your medical expenses; just focus on healing."


    "What do you mean? Does my bro Hao need your money?"


    Li Bao, upon hearing Du Hongfeng''s offer, couldn''t contain himself and spoke up in retort.


    Feng Yun quickly said, "We mean no offense; he got hurt because of our daughter Xiao Rou, so it''s right that we cover the medical expenses. If you''re after money, just name your price."


    "Mom, what are you doing?" Du Wanrou was also losing her patience.


    Li Bao wanted to argue further, but Qin Hao quickly interjected, "Li Bao, step outside."


    "Bro Hao," Li Bao looked at him, anger and confusion in his eyes.


    His anger wasn''t directed at Qin Hao, but at Du Hongfeng and Feng Yun.


    Qin Hao glared at him, "Get out."

 Chapter 72 Scumbag

    ```


    Li Bao turned and walked out.


    With a smile, Du Hongfeng said to Qin Hao, "Young man, we have other matters to attend to. I''ve already paid the medical expenses, which should be enough until you''re discharged."


    Du Wanrou did not want to leave, but she was pulled away by Feng Yun.


    Once Du Wanrou had left, he sighed. He could tell that Wanrou''s parents didn''t like him very much.


    Even to say there was a bit of antipathy.


    From their gazes and tone of voice, Qin Hao could feel it.


    He couldn''t figure out why. Could it be that they looked down on him? But he felt that wasn''t quite right.


    The way Du Hongfeng spoke and looked at him was with a sense of respect but also distance.


    Qin Hao thought hard but couldn''t understand what was going on. Just then, the door to the hospital room opened, and two police officers, one male and one female, walked in.


    Furthermore, Qin Hao knew these two people¡ªthey were Liu Bo and Feng Xue.


    It seemed the situation was serious, as the city''s detectives had been directly involved.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao, who looked like a mummy, Feng Xue said with a smile, "We''ve almost finished investigating the matter, but we still need you to make a statement."


    Qin Hao recounted the whole incident in full detail.


    Liu Bo and Feng Xue were taking notes; they had already recorded Du Wanrou and Lin Kang''s statements, and now only his was left.


    At first, they were somewhat incredulous that he alone had taken down so many people.


    But now that the stories of all three practically matched without discrepancy, the way they looked at Qin Hao changed.


    One man had taken down so many thugs armed with clubs¡ªwhat kind of fighting ability was that? It was terrifying, right?


    After Liu Bo and Feng Xue finished taking the statement, they said a few words of encouragement to him and then left.


    Qin Hao said to the fat man, "Ask Li Bao to come in."


    Kang Youyi went out and then came back in with Li Bao.


    Looking at Qin Hao, Li Bao said, "I''m sorry, Hao."


    Qin Hao responded with a smile, "I know you think it''s unjust for me, but some things are beyond fairness or unfairness. It''s enough that I like her."


    Li Bao was stunned for a moment and then suddenly realized, was it because Hao liked that girl?


    But to be honest, that girl really was not bad¡ªpretty and a nice person. At the very least, she genuinely cared for Qin Hao.


    It was just her parents that Li Bao found somewhat annoying.


    Qin Hao continued, "Have you found out what happened? Who were those people?"


    He''s Li Bao, a notorious thug from Changle District, known to have many minions and a fearsome reputation.


    The people who attacked you today are minions of Wang Dajun, and Li Bao and Wang Dajun are cut from the same cloth.


    You must have heard what Li Bao called Qin Hao. He called him Brother Hao, what does that tell you?


    It means that he is in cahoots with Li Bao, he''s the big boss behind Li Bao.


    He, Li Bao, Wang Dajun, and others like them, are parasites and scum of society."


    Du Hongfeng had always hated such people in his life.


    Having hands and feet and not working hard to earn money and support a family, instead choosing to degenerate into societal pests.


    He would never allow his daughter to be with someone like that, even if he saved her.


    Du Hongfeng had conducted himself with honor all his life, never causing harm or injustice.


    He had no contact whatsoever with those societal parasites.


    In his many years of fighting in the business world, he relied on his intelligence and integrity, never resorting to any unfair methods.


    In the business world, there were many businessmen who used shady tactics.


    But there were also many who relied on their own hard work and intelligence.


    ...


    After hearing her father''s words, Du Wanrou was stunned; she could hardly believe it.


    But thinking over her father''s words, as well as Li Bao and the six or seven strong young men outside the hospital room.


    Du Wanrou realized it all must be true.


    It pained her heart. Could Qin Hao really be involved with those hoodlums?


    Seeing the look on his daughter''s face, Du Hongfeng knew what she was thinking.


    He sighed and said: "Xiao Rou, you are the apple of Daddy''s eye, how could I bear to see you hurt?


    I''d rather be the one who''s hurt than you. I was terrified when I received your call today, fearing you might have had an accident.


    If anything were to happen to you, I would never forgive myself for the rest of my life."


    Du Wanrou''s eyes were red with tears: "Dad, this isn''t your fault. Those people are just too wicked."


    Du Hongfeng''s eyes also became moist: "My dear daughter, don''t go out for the next few days. Let the police take care of those scum first, then you can go out and have fun.


    At that point, I will hire a few bodyguards for you. Mr. Lin is skilled, but after all, one man can''t fight off many."


    "Mm, I understand, Dad," Du Wanrou obediently replied.


    Du Hongfeng turned to Feng Yun and said: "Wife, stay home with our daughter. I have to go take care of some business."

 Chapter 73 Filling in Preferences

    In First Hospital of Jiangshan.


    Qin Hao said to Li Bao and Kang Youyi, "You two go and take care of the discharge procedures."


    The chubby guy hastily said, "Hao, the doctor said your injuries are severe, you can''t be discharged anytime soon."


    Qin Hao glared at him. If he stayed in the hospital for another half month, his parents would probably go crazy with worry.


    "I am a doctor myself, do I still need their help to look after me? Hurry up and go."


    The chubby guy realized his mistake, chuckled, and said, "Heh, I forgot about that."@@@@


    When the two left, Qin Hao quickly summoned the system, then opened the system''s backpack, and drank the remaining half-bottle of life potion.


    A warm feeling spread throughout his body, his bones slowly healed, and the bruises on his body were also fading.


    About ten minutes later, Li Bao and the chubby guy returned, but a doctor followed them.


    He seriously said to Qin Hao, "Your injuries are severe right now, you can''t be discharged."


    Qin Hao said, "I know my own body, and I am also a doctor; I can manage on my own."


    The middle-aged doctor still didn''t want to discharge him, "No, I''m your primary doctor, I have to be responsible for your health."


    Qin Hao said, "Would you still say that if I haven''t paid the money?"


    Li Bao spoke irritably, "Cut the nonsense, my Hao wants to be discharged, he will be discharged."


    Eventually, the middle-aged doctor could not stop him, and he sighed deeply.


    It was unclear whether he was worried about Qin Hao or about the hospital fees.


    Upon leaving the hospital and getting into Li Bao''s car, Qin Hao told the chubby guy, "Go buy me some clothes, I want to take this stuff off."


    "Alright, Hao," the chubby guy hurried off to buy clothes for Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao''s body was now freely mobile, but there was still a slight pain, though it was not a big problem.


    The chubby guy came back quickly, Qin Hao removed his bandages and immediately got dressed.


    He had Li Bao drop him off at the entrance of his neighborhood.


    It was already past six-thirty in the evening, and the sun was about to set.


    Qin Hao waved goodbye to the two, then walked towards his home.


    After he got home, his parents had already returned.


    Qin Youguo was on the phone, smiling, talking to someone at the other end of the line.


    After hanging up, Qin Youguo looked at Qin Hao and said, "Xiao Hao, both Chen University and Jinhua, even some famous universities abroad, have called."


    At Jianghai University, our admission scores are always above six hundred sixty. Isn''t that considered high?


    Explore more at empire


    Is this person just trying to stir up trouble because they think we''re idle?


    He Tingting wasn''t originally from the admissions office; she was primarily there because the Jianghai University admissions office was too busy.


    She had been assigned to help out as a counselor.


    She responded coolly, "Hello, our admission score threshold at Jianghai University is already very high. If your scores are high, you can choose to apply to our university."


    Qin Hao asked, "What I mean is, if my scores exceed your admission threshold by a significant margin, is there any special treatment available?"


    He Tingting replied, "Yes, if your scores are above seven hundred twenty, you can enjoy all fees waived and also receive a scholarship every year."


    Qin Hao asked, "What if it''s a perfect score?"


    "Are you going to tell me next that your name is Qin Hao?"


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao''s face; this person was quick on the uptake, "Yes, I am Qin Hao."


    "Click"


    He Tingting hung up the phone directly, as this was already the sixteenth person today pretending to be Qin Hao.


    A perfect scorer, a genius student.


    Even if he didn''t attend prestigious foreign universities like Haji or Ying Qiao, he would choose Jinhua or Chen University, not Jianghai University.


    Jianghai University was well-known in Xuan Country but fell a bit short compared to those prestigious institutions.


    Qin Hao was stunned. What''s going on? Did she just hang up on me?


    He called again, and the phone was answered quickly, the same voice answering.


    "Please show some respect for others; our admissions office is really busy."


    Qin Hao hurriedly said, "Hold on, when did I ever disrespect you? It''s you who are disrespecting me."


    He Tingting retorted, "Impersonating Qin Hao and making fun of us, do you think that''s showing respect?"


    "Impersonating?" Qin Hao was speechless. Someone else was pretending to be me?


    He Tingting asked, "Are you trying to say you''re the real one?"


    Qin Hao didn''t know how to prove himself anymore and asked, "You tell me, how can I prove it?"


    "If you really are Qin Hao, just fill out your choices first. If there''s nothing else, I''m going to hang up."


    Before Qin Hao could speak, He Tingting had already ended the call, clearly unconvinced.

 Chapter 74 Transaction

    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless and ended up filling out his preferences on the official website of Jianghai University.


    A few minutes later, he clicked to confirm his submission, and then his application was completed.


    Honestly, with his grades, Jianghai University would definitely be vying for him, so he didn''t bother applying for a second preference at all.


    Indeed, just a few minutes after he had submitted his application, the admissions office at Jianghai University noticed it.


    "Qin Hao actually applied for our school''s computer science program," someone in the admissions office said in disbelief.


    The news spread quickly throughout the entire admissions office.


    Upon hearing this, He Tingting hurried over, "What, did Qin Hao really apply to our school?"


    A man from the admissions office said with a smile, "Yes, Mr. He, he applied to your Computer College, he might become your student."


    He Tingting, "Could it really have been him just now?"


    "Who really was him? Mr. He, who are you talking about?" someone nearby curiously asked.


    He Tingting recounted the incident that had just occurred.


    "No way? Mr. He, you should contact him quickly, lest he decides to apply to another school because of this."


    He Tingting hurried back to her seat and then dialed Qin Hao''s number.


    When Qin Hao saw the caller ID on his phone, a smile appeared on his face, and he answered the call, "Do you believe me now?"


    He Tingting said with a slight apology, "I''m sorry, Qin Hao. It''s just that there are too many people impersonating you."


    Qin Hao, "No worries, I want to ask about the benefits your school offers. If I''m satisfied, I won''t consider changing my preference."


    "Qin Hao, please hold on a moment. Regarding the benefits you mentioned, I''m not very clear on it, I need to ask," He Tingting said and then hurriedly went to look for the director of the admissions office.


    The director of the admissions office then made a call to the office of the vice-chancellor in charge of this matter.


    Finally, the response to Qin Hao was: he could enjoy some privileges, as long as they did not harm the reputation of Jianghai University.


    All fees would be waived, and he would also receive an annual scholarship subsidy of thirty thousand.


    What Qin Hao wanted were those privileges; as for the fees, he didn''t even consider them important.


    "Thank you, beautiful, but I want to remind you of something: between people, there should be some trust."


    After saying this, Qin Hao promptly hung up the phone.


    Let you taste what it''s like to be hung up on.


    He Tingting initially wanted to retort, but from the other end of the phone, she heard a series of beeps.


    Green Hole Company, "Twenty million is our final offer, if Mr. Hei Ye accepts it, we have a deal."


    After thinking it over, Qin Hao finally agreed.


    Twenty million was already quite a sum, especially since this item was a reward from the system; the twenty million was practically a gift.


    Green Hole Company, "Mr. Hei Ye, we will pay you twenty million Federation coins on Black Blade Network."


    When Qin Hao saw their message, his expression stiffened, Federation coins?


    He had forgotten that these global groups conducted transactions in Federation coins, not in Xuan Country Coins.


    Was twenty million Federation coins equivalent to one hundred twenty-two million Xuan Country Coins?


    Fortunately, he hadn''t mentioned Xuan Country Coins; otherwise, they probably would have agreed immediately.


    He was excited and somewhat incredulous, had he really just become a billionaire that easily?


    It felt like a dream to him.


    He quickly replied, "Okay, I''ll now post the complete anti-cheat package on the Black Blade Network trading platform, and you can directly purchase it there."


    The main business of Black Blade Network is supporting the transactions between hackers and companies around the world.


    Such transactions were abundant on Black Blade Network, enabling them to legally deposit money into a hacker''s account.


    This could barely be considered a form of money laundering.


    Shortly after Qin Hao posted the package, Green Hole Company purchased it straightaway, and twenty million was credited to his account.


    However, to withdraw, Black Blade Network would charge a one percent transaction fee.


    One hundred twenty-two million would mean a transaction fee of one point two two million!


    That''s too steep!


    Qin Hao used his master administrator privileges to adjust his transaction fee to one in a million. Explore more adventures at empire


    After all, it was sold on Black Blade Network, and it wouldn''t be appropriate not to give some sort of facilitation payment.


    He immediately converted the twenty million Federation coins into Xuan Country Coins.


    Black Blade Network not only supported conversion into Xuan Country Coins but also provided currency conversions for all countries globally.


    Twenty million Federation coins converted into one hundred twenty-five million four hundred fifty thousand Xuan Country Coins.


    He employed hacking methods to apply for several unregistered accounts online and then withdrew the money in over a dozen transactions.


    For safety, he completely erased all operation records and online traces.

 Chapter 75 Preparations

    ```


    Qin Hao transferred the spare amount of five million four hundred and fifty thousand to his own bank card.


    The sum of over one hundred and twenty million was too large; transferring it all to his card might draw attention.


    Although the funds were clean, it still could put him on someone''s radar.


    Five million or so wasn''t considered too much.


    In Jiangshan City, there were far too many people with that kind of money to count, so it wouldn''t attract any undue attention.


    He planned to invest this money into the roasted duck restaurant to expand the scale of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant.


    After finishing lunch.


    Qin Hao went to the roasted duck restaurant and called Fatty and Yu Jie to the second-floor office.


    "If we were to apply for a loan, about how much could we get?" Qin Hao asked Kang Youyi and Yu Jie.


    Kang Youyi began, "Hao, I''ve looked into bank loans, and they will appraise the value of our storefront.


    They will also consider our store''s monthly turnover."


    Yu Jie said, "Currently, our daily turnover is around thirty to forty thousand, which should reach about a million this month.


    We could probably secure a loan of around two to three million. However, before that, we should apply to set up a company."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Fatty, I''ll leave this matter to you. Name the company Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd, and secure as much of a loan as we can."@@@@


    "Mm-hmm, alright, Hao," Fatty nodded excitedly.


    After speaking, he asked, "Hao, are you planning to expand?"


    Experience more tales on empire


    Qin Hao nodded slightly again, "Correct. Remember to scout for new roasted duck restaurant locations and report back to me.


    Starting today, let''s hire a batch of new staff, enough to support two stores."


    Upon hearing this, Yu Jie felt some excitement. Employees like her who had been with the company for a while were usually promoted when the company expanded.


    She was currently in control of the restaurant''s finances and stood a great chance of becoming the financial director if she did well in the future.


    Qin Hao calling her over indicated satisfaction with her work; she needed only keep up with her capabilities.


    She could definitely hope to become the financial director eventually.


    ...


    After giving instructions, Qin Hao let them get back to work, and he went downstairs to take a look around.


    He stayed there all afternoon, and after five-thirty, the tricycles at the roasted duck restaurant started rolling out.


    Qin Hao was taken aback by her message¡ªshe knew Li Bao? "Friends."


    Du Wanrou: "Do you think I''m stupid? He''s in his twenties and he calls you Hao. Does that sound like just friends to you?


    Why did you lie to me? Are you really a bad guy?"


    Qin Hao hadn''t expected Du Wanrou to know about this; he didn''t know how to explain.


    Du Wanrou continued to press, "Are you Li Bao''s boss?"


    Qin Hao knew he had to make things clear: "In the past, I fought with him, then he lost.


    He acknowledged me as his superior. As for being a bad guy, do I look like one to you?


    I, the national college entrance examination top scorer, with a promising future, would I do something to ruin my own prospects?


    What he does has nothing to do with me, and I do not condone his misdeeds either."


    Du Wanrou: "Really?"


    Qin Hao: "Even by thinking with your toes, you should know it''s true. Do you think a national college entrance examination top scorer would do something so low?"


    After some thought, Du Wanrou answered, "I don''t think so, either."


    Qin Hao cautiously asked, "Do your uncle and aunt have any misunderstandings about me?"


    Du Wanrou didn''t hide the truth from him, "My dad thinks you are closely related to Li Bao; he thinks you''re not a good person."


    Qin Hao suddenly realized why Du Wanrou''s parents disliked him¡ªit was because of Li Bao.


    This was something he never expected.


    He replied with a smile, "It doesn''t matter, as long as you believe in me, that''s enough."


    Blushing at his words, Du Wanrou retorted, "What nonsense, what''s this about me believing being enough."


    Qin Hao shamelessly said, "Because you are the one I love, as long as you believe in me, even if the whole world doesn''t, it wouldn''t matter."


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned crimson, feeling slightly feverish, she remembered Qin Hao''s figure from the day before.


    A faint sweetness lingered in the depths of her heart.


    "I''m not talking to you anymore."


    After replying, Du Wanrou quickly covered her head with a blanket.


    Seeing her reply, Qin Hao''s face was covered with smiles; he felt Du Wanrou might also have feelings for him.


    As long as he persisted a little longer, there was a good chance for them.


    But thinking of Du Wanrou''s parents, he calmed down again.


    They were Du Wanrou''s parents; if they firmly opposed, could there be any hope for the two of them?

 Chapter 76 Side Quest

    Now, Du Wanrou obviously felt differently about him than before.


    Perhaps it was because of what happened yesterday that Qin Hao left a deep impression on her.


    Midnight.


    PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds servers worldwide announced: Tomorrow morning at eight, PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds servers will undergo an update, and Green Hole Company has developed a powerful anti-cheat program.


    At that time, no cheats will appear in PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds, and all players can compete fairly.


    The update is expected to end at six in the afternoon.


    When all players saw this message, they were stunned for a moment, and most of them were pleased.


    Since Green Hole Company dared to announce this, they must be very confident.


    Because if they cannot solve it, it will result in the loss of company credibility and embarrassment.


    The losses at that time would be immense.


    Some were joyful, some were worried; certain players who often used cheats in games could not muster cheer.


    There were also some game streamers on the chat software live streaming platforms who secretly used cheats within the streamer community.


    They did this to gain a large audience and receive tips and rewards.


    The happiest were the true technical players and professional gamers, for this update was a huge boon for them.


    They were looking forward to tomorrow''s game update.


    ...


    The next day


    Qin Hao did not go to the roasted duck restaurant in the morning but left the house around eleven.


    He took a taxi to Yonghe Street again to observe the work attitude and situation of the roasted duck restaurant''s employees.


    He didn''t go back at noon but walked around the bustling central area of Yonghe Street, looking for suitable shop spaces.


    After touring around, he found a small restaurant nearby and hastily had his lunch.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao also visited other streets in Changle District.


    He was calculating in his mind that if he could get a loan of two million, together with his over five million,


    he would probably be able to open about three shops.


    Qin Hao spent the day wandering around Changle District and had a rough idea by the end of it.


    After six in the evening, he secretly observed those people for a while before going home.


    After dinner, Qin Hao returned to his room and gave Kang Youyi a call, "Prepare to hire more people and train them first."


    Kang Youyi curiously asked, "Hao, how many people do you mean?"


    At present, this game was not only popular in Xuan Country but also in other countries, definitely having the potential to become a phenomenon-level game.


    About ten minutes later, the download was completed.


    This was a game licensed by Tenglong Group. The messaging software under Tenglong Group was the most popular instant messaging software in Xuan Country.


    So as long as you had a messaging account, you could log directly into the game.


    After logging into the game, a window popped up asking him to enter a game name.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and then picked a name: "Top Gun God of the National Server."


    "Sorry, that name has already been taken."


    "World''s No.1 Gun God."


    "Sorry, that name has already been taken."


    ...


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; he found naming truly tiresome, especially these kicker names.


    "Jianghai Gun Demon"


    "Congratulations on the successful naming, welcome Jianghai Gun Demon."


    He hadn''t played this game before, so he didn''t rush into starting the game but first familiarized himself with it.


    Know thyself, know thy enemy. A hundred battles, a hundred victories.


    If he played the game without understanding it, he would surely die terribly.


    In just over ten minutes, he roughly understood the game.


    The game modes were divided into three types: solo mode, duo mode, and four-person squad mode.


    This game also had a player leaderboard that displayed the top five hundred players in the national server.


    All of these players were either professional gamers or well-known game streamers with very strong skills, well-known in the gaming world.


    PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds had just updated, adding not only anti-cheat software but also many other features.


    Making the game more colorful and varied.


    Many people planned to test the effects of this update, and those with cheats turned on their cheats immediately.


    "The system detects that you plan to use a cheat. Please use it cautiously, or your account will be permanently banned."


    Those who used cheats were stunned when they saw this message box. Damn, that''s user-friendly?


    ...


    Qin Hao clicked on the solo mode, and in a few seconds, the screen shifted, and his controlled character appeared on Nameless Island.


    Many people stood around him, and the top right corner quickly showed that it had reached 100 people.

 Chapter 77 PlayerUnknowns Battlegrounds

    Qin Hao had just entered Nameless Island when he heard a chaotic babble of voices.


    The voices of these people were loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.


    "Hey, any girls here? How about a duo next round, I''ll take you to victory."@@@@


    "If you''re a man, jump at the airport; anyone who doesn''t is a coward."


    "Left, right, left, right, QE QE, those standing are fools, those standing won''t win."


    "Wow, come look, this girl''s skirt is showing,"


    "Young guys, hoping for an encounter in P City, I''m a soft and cute girl."


    "Such a beautiful voice, wait for me, girl, see you in P City."


    "What if it''s some big guy using a voice changer?"


    "I really am a cute girl, I''ll jump at P City, and those who don''t are cowards."


    "Okay, see you in P City, watch me sneak up on you."


    ...


    "10 seconds until the game starts!"


    ...


    "1 second until the game starts!"


    The game countdown ended, the scene switched, and the roar of an airplane could be heard as a large airliner flew over a large island.


    The island was dotted with many towns and houses, which contained various resources needed by the players.


    The genre of this game is a strategic shooting game.


    Players would find suitable weapons inside the houses, then use various terrains, strategies, and fight with other players.


    The airliner flew in a straight line, allowing players to find a suitable landing spot along its flight path.


    Then they could prepare to jump as the plane reached that spot.


    Qin Hao glanced around; the flight path crossed the entire island, conveniently going over P City, the school, Jianghai, and more.


    The number on the cabin display dwindled as more than twenty people jumped off in no time.


    When the plane flew over P City, there were still more than fifty people left in the cabin.


    Then suddenly, twenty or thirty people flew down, all aiming for P City.


    Qin Hao also jumped, P City was large with plenty of resources.


    From the air, he could clearly see groups of people flying toward P City.


    As they neared the ground, the parachutes would open automatically.


    Qin Hao controlled his character to drift towards a two-story building that was clear of people.


    His character finally landed outside that building.


    By this time, gunfire was already booming in P City, those who had landed first had found weapons and begun to engage in combat.


    Qin Hao hurriedly opened the door and ran into the room, where he found a pistol and a level-one backpack on the first floor.


    After sweeping through the first floor, he quickly ran up to the second floor; before finding big guns, every second counted.


    Inside a game''s popular live streaming room on a chatting software platform.


    Little Witch said with a bit of embarrassment, "I''m using an alternate account, hope I wasn''t recognized?"


    The fans below typed: "The host said if she doesn''t get over 20 kills, she will start a ''hype train'' on her stream."


    "6666666"


    "This angelic face and devilish figure starting a hype train would absolutely mesmerize anyone."


    "Toilet paper is ready, waiting for the host to start the hype train."


    "My big ''sword'' is thirsty already, someone quick kill the host."


    ...


    "Bang bang bang"


    "I am Little Witch using SCAR-L killed Handsome 13."


    "I am Little Witch using SCAR-L killed Ant."


    Explore stories on empire


    The audience in the live stream were astonished by her perfect kills and commented, "66666"


    Little Witch''s gameplay this time was indeed impressive, killing two people without losing any health, showcasing the skills of a master.


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao also began to show off his prowess.


    With the UMP9 submachine gun''s trajectory and recoil, he had roughly handled it after a dozen shots.


    Emerging from the gray house, he spotted someone on the street not far away running toward an opposite building.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao raised his gun and fired a burst of bullets again.


    "Jianghai''s marksman using UMP9 killed Ye''s Black."


    He did not go over to loot because it was a bit far.


    Had he run over, it would have been highly likely he would have been killed, so just to be safe, he ran into another building nearby.


    Qin Hao searched this building and found a med kit, grenade, and some submachine gun attachments.


    Looking out a second floor window, he saw someone looting the package of the man he''d just killed.


    "Courting death."


    "Da da da"


    Half a burst of bullets hit the person, killing them instantly in the street.


    "Bang bang bang"


    Qin Hao''s health bar dropped rapidly. He hastily retreated.


    Three bullets took away two-thirds of his health, and had he not pulled back quickly, he would probably have died.


    He hurriedly applied a med kit to himself.


    Just as he finished bandaging, he heard something being thrown in, Qin Hao didn''t even look, he just hurriedly ran out of the shack.


    "Boom"


    The grenade''s explosion was powerful. Had it not been for his quick reflexes, it would have been enough to kill him.

 Chapter 78 The Number One Gun Mage in the National Server

    Qin Hao jumped out of the window of this room, intending to circle around the side.


    He used the close-range advantage of the submachine gun to kill that person he had just encountered.


    He hadn''t noticed that person earlier and had almost been killed.


    It would have been quite a joke if he, the famed Jianghai Gun Devil, had been killed so easily.


    Qin Hao made his way to one side of the house, where there was a fence, and he moved forward in a crouch.


    The man was also moving forward, clearly confident in his skills, planning to go upstairs and take out Qin Hao.


    The two met, separated by a fence, and then gunshots rang out.


    "Da da da"


    "Bang"


    Both of them spurted blood, but that person fell first.


    In terms of reflexes, Qin Hao was a God, firing three or four shots before the other even reacted, losing the initiative.


    "Jianghai Gun Devil used UMP9 to kill Summer Hates Cold."


    After killing the man, Qin Hao quickly ran over to loot the body.


    This person was quite wealthy¡ª2x scope, full health level-two armor, med kits, drinks, level-two helmet shattered.


    On this person, Qin Hao found an AKM assault rifle and over seventy 7.62mm rounds.


    The AKM assault rifle is one of the more powerful weapons in PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds.


    However, this gun has significant recoil and muzzle shake, which makes it hard for the average person to control.


    After looting, Qin Hao ran toward two other loot piles not far away.


    He swiftly looted, picking up a level-three helmet among other supplies.


    Then he ran into the nearby room.


    He was now inside the safe zone. The refreshed circle had just enveloped all of P city, with 72 people still remaining.


    Qin Hao had killed four people so far.


    That person named "I am a Little Witch" had killed quite a few people; Qin Hao had seen her name at least seven or eight times.


    She must be a pro.


    Qin Hao checked the system; his reputation points had reached four, corresponding to the people he had killed.


    He was somewhat speechless. If he needed to reach 10,000 reputation points, would that mean he had to kill 10,000 people?


    Isn''t that a bit too much?


    ...


    Qin Hao activated his taunt move: "Listen up, people of P city, the country''s top Gun Devil is coming to kill you. Tremble, noobs."


    "Damn, so arrogant. Dare you report your position?"@@@@


    "Is this some elementary student?"


    "Just from the name I can tell this is a kid, and a Gun Devil? More like brain-dead."


    "Haha, I''m dying here, playing this game for so long and it''s the first time I''ve encountered such a talent."


    "Streamer, reveal your identity and scare him. He dares to act tough in front of our goddess."


    A few minutes later, the second circle refreshed, P City was still safe, but it was on the edge.


    The sound of gunfire continued inside P City, including rifles, submachine guns, and the sniper rifle 98K.


    Qin Hao had already switched from small arms to heavy ones, equipped with a level three helmet, level three armor, an eight-times scope, a fully-equipped SCAR-L assault rifle, and a 98K sniper rifle.


    The number of people who died by his hand just increased


    He felt that the rifle was somewhat better than the AKM, and the 98K sniper rifle almost always meant a one-shot kill when aimed at the head.


    It was simply a murder weapon, which he grew to like after using it a few times.


    Qin Hao: "Is there anyone left?"


    "Seems like it''s just the two of us left, Gun Demon, bro," I Am Little Witch''s voice rang out again.


    In P City, Qin Hao had killed more than a dozen people, and so had I Am Little Witch.


    Almost everyone in P City had been killed by these two.


    Upon hearing his voice, Qin Hao chuckled, "Little sister, tell me where you are, I can be gentle when I strike."


    I Am Little Witch: "Guess, uncle. If you guess right, there''s a reward."


    By the time Qin Hao spoke again, he had already run to the right.


    The only places he hadn''t searched in P City were those six or seven houses in front; I Am Little Witch must have been in that area.


    So, Qin Hao planned to move to the higher ground on the right to snipe her from a favorable position.


    I Am Little Witch had also roughly figured out Qin Hao''s location.


    She directly searched forward in the city, confident in her skills.


    After searching for a minute or two without seeing Qin Hao, she asked, "Hey, is the Gun Demon, bro still there?"


    No one answered, but unknown to her, a hundred meters away behind a rock, Qin Hao was eyeing the building where I Am Little Witch was.


    He had his gun ready, confident that if Little Witch''s figure crossed the window, he could kill her in those few milliseconds.


    Upon finishing the search on the first floor, Little Witch moved up to the second floor.


    She made a round and didn''t see anyone, and turned to leave.


    "Bang"


    The distinct, thudding sound of the 98K rang out.


    Little Witch saw her health bar drop instantly, her level three helmet shattered.


    Shocked, she reacted swiftly, lying down on the ground and began to heal herself.


    Her streaming room erupted with surprise: "Damn, where did that bullet come from?"


    "Where did that shot come from? I didn''t see it."


    "I didn''t see it either, is that guy using hacks?"


    "Definitely a hack, probably a wall hack and an aimbot."


    "Didn''t Green Hole Company say they updated it to be hack-free?"


    "Little Witch has played so many rounds and it seems she really hasn''t encountered any hackers."

 Chapter 79 Rowing Without Paddles

    The Little Witch used a computer pack, her health bar fully restored, and she lay on the ground observing outside the window in front of her.


    The shot just now had left her shaken; had it not been for her level three helmet at full health, she would have been killed by that shot instantly.


    At the same time, she was even more astonished by Qin Hao''s marksmanship.


    Who was this expert?


    I have always been on the move, never stopping.


    The fact that the opponent could seize such a brief opportunity to headshot me proves the strength of their shooting skills.


    For a master like the Little Witch, even if she can''t see the enemy, she sways her body when crouching to heal, to avoid getting headshotted by a hidden sniper rifle.


    She spoke to the people in the live stream, "That person is probably not a hacker. Do you see this window in front of me?


    There is a big rock, and he is hiding behind that big rock."


    In the moment Qin Hao had just finished shooting and was recoiling, the Little Witch had caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye.


    But the Little Witch didn''t dare to stand up and exchange gunfire with him. Without her level three helmet, she could likely be killed by the opponent''s 98K with one shot.


    The visitors in the live stream room commented, "Not a hacker? Damn, could it be we''ve encountered a pro?"


    "If it''s not a cheat, then this sniping is too awesome, right?"


    "Could this be some God''s alternate account?"


    "Little Witch, don''t chicken out, just do it."


    "Little Witch, use your deadly weapon to silently kill him."


    ...


    Qin Hao, hidden behind the large rock, was a bit puzzled. He clearly hit the head, so why didn''t they die?


    When he shot other people, a headshot always killed them instantly.


    At this moment, the third circle had refreshed, and P city was no longer in the safe zone.


    The school, R city, and Y city areas were now the safe zone.


    "Little sister, today uncle will spare your life. If we meet again next time, don''t blame uncle for not showing mercy," Qin Hao said before turning to run toward the school.


    There was a long distance from here to the school, and if he didn''t run now, he might not make it later.


    I am the Little Witch heard his words, grinding her teeth in hatred. She, the Little Witch of the esports world, needing someone else to show mercy?


    Once she had confirmed that Qin Hao had indeed left, she quickly went downstairs, found a level two helmet to wear, and then found a car to rush towards R city.


    Qin Hao ran cautiously, continually observing his surroundings.


    After crossing several mountains, he finally saw the outline of the school, with six or seven buildings across from it.


    Most were three-story buildings, with people fighting on the rooftops.


    Qin Hao stopped, crouched behind a large tree, aimed at one of them, scoped in, fired, and ducked back.


    He executed this series of movements in an extremely short time.


    "Bang"


    "Jianghai, the Gun Mage, using the 98K, headshot kills Jie."


    Equipped with a suppressor, the 98K was very quiet, and Long Legs Oppa had no idea where the shot had come from when he was killed.


    He only knew that it was Jianghai the Sniper who had taken him down.


    The 98K with a suppressor was like an invisible assassin, killing unseen.


    "Bang Bang"


    Gunfire echoed from afar, and soon the top right corner showed: "I Am Little Witch used an M16A4 to headshot and kill Prince Dongre."


    "I Am Little Witch used a 98K to headshot and kill Brother Big Society."


    "Jianghai the Sniper used a 98K to headshot and kill the Otaku."


    "Jianghai the Sniper used a 98K to headshot and kill Burning Snow."


    "Jianghai the Sniper used a SCAR-L to headshot and kill Easy to Unrobe."


    ...


    The top right corner was almost entirely filled with the kill records of Little Witch and Jianghai the Sniper.


    Soon, the final circle refreshed, and now only six people remained.


    Aside from I Am Little Witch and Qin Hao, the other four were being very cautious and trying to stay concealed.


    Qin Hao crouched and walked along the edge of the poison, looking at the big trees, ravines, and watchtowers ahead.


    "Come on out, there''s no use hiding; nobody can escape the country''s top sniper."


    The others were frustrated. Damn it, you''re looking down on us, aren''t you?


    Little Witch and the people in the live stream collapsed when they heard his words.


    This guy is too bold, isn''t he?


    This is the final circle, where everyone else is being extra careful, holding their breath for fear of being the last one out.


    And you''re actually taunting others? Aren''t you afraid of getting your face punched?


    In the live stream, I Am Little Witch said, "I can only describe brother Sniper with one phrase: he rows his boat without oars, relying entirely on his brazenness."


    "666666"


    "He rows his boat without oars, living entirely on his brazenness."


    "Haha, indeed quite audacious."


    ...


    Qin Hao: "Are you guys too timid? I''m standing right here and no one dares to show their face?"


    Inside a nearby ravine, someone had already spotted Qin Hao''s location, wandering on the edge of safety, and using a sniper rifle wasn''t a good option from there.


    He quickly stood up, switched his M16A4 to the basic scope, aimed at Qin Hao''s body, and was about to fire.


    "Bang"


    Before the man could even open fire, a burst of gunfire flashed in the distance, and he fell to the ground.


    "Jianghai the Sniper used a 98K to headshot kill the Desolate Paper."


    Desolate Paper was stunned. Damn, a quick-scope? In this low-rank game, there was a god-tier player capable of quick-scoping?

 Chapter 80 Instant Sniper God

    Right after Qin Hao''s gunshot rang out, half a body emerged from behind a big tree not far away.


    The person held a rifle in hand and swept it towards Qin Hao.


    "Dadada"


    "Bang"


    Blood spurted from Qin Hao''s body, but he didn''t dodge and fired a shot that blew the person''s head off.


    "God of Jianghai used a 98K to headshot and kill the Tank."


    "Bang"


    At that moment, another gunshot echoed from afar.


    "I''m the Little Witch using a 98k to headshot and kill the Freak."


    Her 98K wasn''t equipped with a silencer, and although Qin Hao didn''t see her, he could roughly guess her location from the sound.


    Now, only three were left; I''m the Little Witch on the other side of the safe zone, with a two-story artillery tower between them.


    The third person was inside the second floor of the artillery tower, which was located in the middle of the safe zone.


    Both Qin Hao and the Little Witch were moving towards this artillery tower.


    As the zone was shrinking, if they didn''t move inside quickly, they would be poisoned to death.


    The poison at this stage was potent, barely allowing anyone full health to last more than a few seconds.


    The person inside the artillery tower was a bit uncomfortable as he could see both approaching him from above.


    But he didn''t know which one to shoot; whoever he chose, he risked being killed by the other.


    In his hesitation, Qin Hao and the Little Witch smartly threw a grenade inside.


    The person''s expression changed dramatically at once.


    "Boom boom"


    "God of Jianghai killed Clean Sweep with a grenade."


    The Little Witch was speechless, "Damn, why was it him who killed him?"


    Qin Hao said, "Little sister, didn''t expect our fates are so tied, eh? Last time I spared you, but this time, Uncle can''t let you go."


    The Little Witch''s youthful voice was pleasant to hear, sounding like a teenage girl.


    She responded irritably, "You better watch out for yourself, Uncle~"@@@@


    Qin Hao''s online persona completely differed from his reality.


    In reality, he was stern and calm, but online, he became someone else: flamboyantly narcissistic and overwhelmingly charming.


    He completely unleashed another side of his inner self.


    Actually, many are like him, reluctant to chat in reality, but online, they could be masters of jokes.


    Initially, Qin Hao changed his voice with software to sound deeper, resembling an uncle.


    ...


    Qin Hao said in a light tone, "Remember my name, God of Jianghai, I will be your nightmare for life."


    The chat in Little Witch''s live stream was filled with vomiting emojis: "Ew..."


    "Damn, this is the most shameless guy I''ve ever seen in my life."


    "A frying pan probably isn''t as thick-skinned as this guy."


    Qin Hao''s screen lit up: Big success, winner winner chicken dinner tonight.


    Ranked 1st, kills 31, reward coins: 2180.


    ...


    "How did Little Witch die? How did I not see it clearly?"


    "Holy crap, this Jianghai Sniper God must be cheating, report him."


    "Exactly, definitely cheating, report him."


    Little Witch froze for a few seconds, her pretty face expressionless, she opened the opponent''s perspective to check the death replay.


    If the opponent was really cheating, it would show.


    Hundreds of thousands in the livestream were also staring at the screen.


    The image that appeared on the computer showed Qin Hao just after his dance, standing there motionless.


    Seconds later, from Qin Hao''s position, you could see the figure of Little Witch, only her upper body visible from the side of the turret.


    Then Qin Hao quickly raised the 98K, the screen flashed, and with a bang, he shot and Little Witch fell to the ground.


    Qin Hao''s health dropped by only a fifth, meaning Little Witch had landed only one shot on him before dying.


    The people in the livestream still did not understand what happened and kept saying Qin Hao was cheating.


    Because the speed of Qin Hao''s scoped kill was too fast, too fast to be noticeable.


    But Little Witch, being an expert of the game, spotted a clue.


    She played the replay several times slower, and this time everyone saw it clearly.


    The moment Little Witch just peeked out from behind the turret, Qin Hao had already aimed his gun at her.


    Then he scoped, the red crosshair perfectly on Little Witch''s head.


    "Bang"


    The bullet flew out, and Little Witch fell to the ground.


    "Is this a 98K quick-scope?" Little Witch couldn''t believe it.


    Because in the whole national server, only three people could quick-scope with 98K, and she knew one of them.


    Who was this person? She was sure it wasn''t one of those three national server Gods, because she could tell by the voice.


    This time, the people in the livestream also saw clearly how Little Witch died.


    "My God, a 98K quick-scope God? How many in the national server can quick-scope? Just a handful, right?"


    "Could it be a smurf account of some God?"


    "Impossible, his voice doesn''t match those Gods, and besides, would a God really act so unscrupulously?"


    "True, Gods care about their image, this must be a random God."


    "Indeed, experts are among the common folk, can''t learn this skill, just can''t."


    "Gods and I are playing different games, why do I always die as soon as I land?"


    "Little Witch, didn''t you say you''d give him a ride if you lost? Quickly add him as a friend."


    "Exactly, bring the God for a ride, let us see who this God is."


    "Hurry up, let us witness the grace of the God."


    Little Witch was also very curious about Qin Hao''s identity, she typed in Jianghai Sniper God, and added Qin Hao as a friend.

 Chapter 81 Two People in Four Rows

    After finishing a game, Qin Hao opened the system tasks to check his reputation points.


    Progressive sub-quest: Road to Gaming God, Reputation (1186/10000).


    So many reputation points? How come there are so many? Didn''t I just kill about twenty people?


    Qin Hao was somewhat puzzled and asked Xiao Ying, "Xiao Ying, what''s the deal with these reputation points?"


    Xiao Ying: "In the gaming world, each person who recognizes your strength generates one reputation point.


    Merely knowing your name doesn''t count, they must also know of your formidable strength."


    Qin Haoruo nodded thoughtfully, "So, I have 1186 reputation points now, does that mean 1186 people know of my skills?"


    Xiao Ying: "Exactly."@@@@


    Qin Hao: "But I didn''t kill that many people just now. How could there be so many reputation points?"


    Xiao Ying: "This relates to the players you''ve killed. Perhaps one of them is a live streamer or has certain influence online. Killing such people usually gives you more reputation points."


    Qin Hao nodded, no wonder his reputation points had increased so much; there was this factor involved.


    It seems this sub-quest isn''t that hard to complete.


    He closed the system, and just then, a notification appeared on the gaming interface: Wicked Witch requests to add you as a friend.


    Qin Hao clicked agree, thinking maybe this little sister was captivated by my skills?


    "Wicked Witch invites you to join her game, do you accept?"


    Qin Hao thought it was boring to play alone, clicked accept, and then entered the room created by Wicked Witch.


    "Little sister, were you stunned by my skills, the best gunslinger in Jianghai? Do you want me to carry you?" Qin Hao said confidently through voice chat.


    Wicked Witch was speechless, this was the first time she encountered someone so self-centered: "As I said earlier, if I lost, I promised to give you a free lift in the game, and now I''m fulfilling that promise."


    Qin Hao was taken aback: "This is what you meant by ''giving me a lift''? I thought you meant riding in your luxury car."


    "Dude, do you really not understand, or are you pretending?" Wicked Witch was defeated by his naivety.


    Qin Hao said awkwardly, "Sorry, I just started playing this game, I misunderstood."


    Wicked Witch: "Just started? Dude, that joke isn''t funny at all, why pretend to be innocent?


    "Pfft"


    The visitors in the live stream laughed out loud on hearing Wicked Witch''s comment.


    "Damn, I was drinking water, I spit it all over my screen because of what you said, compensate my monitor."


    "Compensate my keyboard, it''s all wet, so wet."


    "666, even grandma wouldn''t help, but I respect you"


    "Wicked Witch, I love your fierce spirit, straightforward confrontation."


    "66666"


    "Hahahaha, this guy is a major clown, verified."


    "Xiao Ying spewed, her camera is all blurry now, wipe it off quick."


    "I think I''m starting to like this clown, laughing so hard my stomach hurts, haha."


    Your next chapter is on empire


    ...


    Inside the game at Suzhi Square.


    "Damn, where did this idiot come from, claiming to be the number one marksman of the server? Clearly, he''s just a grade-schooler."


    "Look at him acting all mighty, let''s see if this number one marksman can jump into a few matches without getting wrecked by me."


    "Yeah, let''s crush him for acting all tough here."


    Xiao Ying, after cleaning her monitor, warned, "Uncle, be careful, they are all in squads of four, whereas we are only two."


    Qin Hao: "No problem, I have a question for you."


    Xiao Ying, curious, replied, "What''s the question? I won''t answer personal ones."


    Qin Hao: "Don''t be so narcissistic, I''m not interested in undeveloped little girls."


    Me, narcissistic? Where was I narcissistic?


    Xiao Ying retorted with irritation, "Just ask your question quickly."


    The audience in the live stream, upon hearing Qin Hao''s remark, burst out laughing, "Uncle, you probably haven''t seen Xiao Ying live streaming, have you?"


    "Daring to say Xiao Ying is an undeveloped little girl? I disagree with that statement."


    "Xiao Ying is definitely a 36D, and you say she hasn''t developed?"


    ...


    Confused, Qin Hao asked, "Last game, I clearly blew up your head, how come you didn''t die?"


    "Pfft"


    "Can''t take it anymore guys, I''m out, if I stay in this stream I might die of laughter."


    "Haha, no one can beat you bro, here''s a 6666 for you."


    "Xiao Ying is so pretty, and you still say her head looks like a dog''s head?"


    On hearing this, Xiao Ying''s face turned red, "Who did you say has a dog''s head? You''re the dog''s head, your whole family has dog''s heads."


    Qin Hao forced a laugh, "I misspoke, what I meant was I hit you on the head, why didn''t you die?


    I usually kill others with one shot."

 Chapter 82 Jumping at the Airport

    The little witch, upon hearing his novice question, wore an expression of surprise.


    People in the live-streaming room were also taken aback. Could it be that this God-like sniper didn''t know the answer to such a simple question?


    "Hey, little sister, are you still there?" Qin Hao asked curiously when he saw she didn''t respond.


    Little witch: "Do you really not know?"


    Qin Hao: "Er, even though I''m a genius, I don''t know everything."


    The little witch then asked: "You know what a level three helmet is, right?" Your next read awaits at empire


    Qin Hao: "I know. I checked out a beginner''s guide before I started playing, and I also know about the level three armor."


    The little witch said with a laugh: "You do know quite a lot."


    ...


    Qin Hao continued to ask: "So what exactly happened?"


    The little witch explained: "I was wearing a level three helmet back then, and it was nearly at full health. A Kar98k can''t one-shot a player wearing a full-health level three helmet, only an AWM can."


    Qin Hao nodded: "I see, that''s how it is. Thanks, little sister. I''ll protect you in the game, uncle will help you win."


    Little witch: "Psh, you better just take care of yourself."


    Fans of the little witch in the live stream could not stand it anymore: "Streamer, reveal your identity and let him know how formidable you are."


    "My goddess needs your protection? Little witch is among the top thousand players in the national server."


    "That''s right, streamer, show your identity and let him know how formidable you are."


    The little witch saw what her fans were saying in the chat: "The game is starting, wait a moment, I''m afraid revealing my identity will scare him."@@@@


    Meanwhile in the game, the plane had taken off, starting at the airport and ending in S-city.


    Qin Hao asked: "Little sister, where shall we drop?"


    "Airport," the little witch answered without hesitation.


    You think you''re so badass? Then let''s drop at the airport. I''d like to see if you can still act tough after you''re dead on arrival.


    Even when she dropped at the airport, she wasn''t 100% sure she would survive without teammates. It was quite difficult.


    If she played more cautiously, though, surviving wouldn''t be that much of a problem for her.


    "Drop at the airport, whoever doesn''t is a coward. The number one shooter of the national server seeks a beating," Qin Hao bragged on the plane.


    "Damn it, too arrogant. See you at the airport," someone said.


    "If you disagree, fight me. See you at the airport, brothers," another chimed in.


    The little witch was frustrated, thinking him quite foolish. A lot of people usually dropped at the airport.


    And you''re actually here attracting hate; you really must not be afraid of dying.


    Her livestream viewers enjoyed watching the spectacle unfold.


    "666, I just love his personality."


    "Haha, can''t wait for both of them to be dead on arrival."


    "If they win this round, I''ll eat crap on live stream, and it''ll be steaming hot."


    "If they make it out of the airport alive, I''ll stick my hand in a fan on live stream."


    "The two above are crazy, go shooter bro and little witch, I want to see someone stick their hand in a fan."


    "Bang, bang, bang"


    "Bang"


    His shots only hit Qin Hao once, and then he was down on the ground.


    "Jianghai''s gun demon uses a 98K to headshot Shadowless Gun Skill."


    "Fuck, how is he so damn good?"


    Duoqing Xiao Ge said, "Quick, pick up my submachine gun and kill him."


    "Bang"


    "Jianghai''s gun demon uses a 98K to headshot Shadowless Blade Skill."


    The last guy was stunned; had their whole team nearly been wiped out in just over ten seconds?


    Knowing he was up against a pro, he didn''t bother to rescue his teammates. With a leap, he jumped down from the building.


    "Bang"


    Another muffled 98K gunshot. Mid-air, the guy was headshotted, and Qin Hao single-handedly wiped out the four-man squad.


    "Jianghai''s gun demon uses a 98K to headshot Duoqing Xiao Mei."


    With the last teammate dead, the other three turned directly into crates.


    Since all the teammates were dead with no one to revive them, the system automatically declared them all out of the game.


    Now with four kills under his belt, a smile crept onto Qin Hao''s face as he began to loot the items on the rooftop.


    ...


    On the other side, Xiao Bai landed on Building No. 1. She had a good drop location; a M416 assault rifle was nearby.


    She picked it up immediately, and there were more than sixty bullets available.


    After grabbing the gun, she immediately aimed at the people on the rooftop; there were three in total.


    One of them had already picked up a gun, but the other two were unarmed.


    At this moment, the skill of a national server top 1000 player became apparent.


    "Bang, bang, bang"


    She took out the one who had just picked up a gun.


    "I am Xiao Bai uses an M416 to take down Bafang Fengyu."


    Then she aimed at another person. Half a burst later, another one on the rooftop was down.


    "I am Xiao Bai uses an M416 to take down Chun Yeren."


    There was still one person left on the rooftop of Building No. 1. He took advantage of her reloading and quickly ran down the stairs.


    "Dada dada"


    Xiao Bai could only see her health plummet rapidly; without any armor or a helmet, she was very vulnerable in the early game.


    "Brother, handsome and dashing uses a UMP9 to take down I am Xiao Bai."


    The team from Building No. 2, with two armed people on the rooftop, had targeted Xiao Bai.


    "Damn it, where did you go? Come save me; I''m getting shot down." It was only then that Xiao Bai realized Qin Hao wasn''t in the same building as her.


    ```

 Chapter 83 Rookie

    Qin Hao: "No way? Dead just like that? You''re really that bad?"


    Me, bad? The little witch felt a surge of anger to curse someone''s mother. She landed, picked up a gun, and instantly killed two people.


    If it hadn''t been for the people in building two aiming at her, she could have killed another person, maybe even wiped out the whole squad from building one.


    But when she saw the kill record, she was left speechless.


    A 98K team wipeout?


    Holy shit, did you really wipe a team with a 98K without a scope?


    "Bang bang"


    The two people in building two didn''t finish off the little witch. Instead, they pointed their guns at Qin Hao on the rooftop of building three.


    Because he was the only one standing now, the others had all been taken down.


    At that moment, Qin Hao had finished scanning the rooftop.


    When he had just started scanning, he heard the little witch''s call for help.


    At the same time, several bullets hit the obstacle beside him.


    Qin Hao quickly crouched down, hiding behind the protruding cover on the rooftop.


    As soon as the gunfire stopped, he swiftly stood up, "bang" fired a shot, then quickly crouched down again, moving very fast.


    Just as he hunkered down, countless bullets poured in, but the enemies didn''t react fast enough, missing him and hitting the cover instead.


    "Jianghai the gun demon uses a 98K to headshot and kill Wielding Heaven and Earth."


    Wielding Heaven and Earth and his teammate were shocked. Holy shit, such fast movement technique?


    "Hurry up and rescue me, don''t exchange fire with him, the guy opposite is a pro," Wielding Heaven and Earth said urgently to his teammate beside him.


    Inside building two, their other two teammates spoke, "Be careful, we''ve found guns, we''ll be up in a moment."


    "Bang"


    Another gunshot, that person was about to go rescue his teammate Wielding Heaven and Earth, but the moment the gunfire started, he fell to the ground.


    "Damn, this guy''s shooting is badass."


    "Jianghai the gun demon uses a 98K to headshot and kill Evil God."


    The other two in building two urgently asked, "What happened? How did you two die?"


    The two quickly advised their teammates, "Don''t exchange fire with the person on the rooftop of building three, be sneaky."


    The little witch''s health had already dropped by half, she hurriedly said, "Uncle, come and save me quick."


    "Got it, I''m on my way," Qin Hao jumped straight off the rooftop.


    Then he ran towards building one.


    On the rooftop of building two, the two downed players urgently said, "That guy jumped down, he''s in the garden, come quick and save us."


    Seeing him running down, the little witch warned, "There are still two people inside this building, be careful."


    Qin Hao didn''t dodge because if he did, Little Witch behind him would definitely be killed.


    He switched to his UZI submachine gun in a second, and a burst of bullets hit the opponent.


    "Jianghai, the Gun Demon, uses an UZI submachine gun to headshot and kill Uncle Loves Lolita."


    This squad had already lost two players to Little Witch, and now these two were also killed by Qin Hao.


    The three teams that jumped to the C-shaped building were completely wiped out.


    Qin Hao''s health had also dropped to one-third, so he hurriedly continued healing Little Witch.


    After reviving her, Qin Hao healed himself a little.


    Then he quickly ran over to start looting.


    Little Witch was faster than him, already picking through those two loot piles.


    He had to jump down and run towards the second building, not forgetting to say, "Didn''t expect you to be so bad, looting so quickly."


    ...


    "Who are you calling bad? Who hasn''t died yet?" Little Witch couldn''t help but retort.


    Qin Hao: "I''ve never died, ah, it''s lonely at the top."


    Little Witch felt an urge to beat him up but she restrained herself.


    Qin Hao ran up to the rooftop of Building Two, took a quick look at the loot, these people were quite rich, they had already searched through the whole building.


    He said to Little Witch, "Rookie, Building Three hasn''t been searched yet, go check it out."


    Little Witch asked in surprise, "Who are you calling?"


    Qin Hao: "You, of course."


    Little Witch wanted to argue, but after looking at his kill count and then at hers, she silently headed towards Building Three.


    "Who would''ve thought that Little Witch would one day be called a rookie, and she''s one of the top thousand players in the national server."


    "The Gun Demon speaks the truth, looking at the kill count, Little Witch only has two, while the Gun Demon already has ten."


    "The name fits the deed, killing ten people just minutes after landing, truly a Gun Demon."


    After the two had cleared the C-shaped building, they began to clean up the surrounding area.


    Little Witch with an M416 and an SKS sniper rifle, Qin Hao with a 98K and a SIGA automatic rifle.


    No one could withstand their onslaught, especially Qin Hao''s 98K, as he was on target every single time.


    By the time Little Witch charged in, the enemy had already become corpses.


    Two minutes later, Qin Hao''s kill count had reached 20, and Little Witch had also reached 8.


    The area around the airport had been almost cleared of people.


    Little Witch: "I''ve got a car here, the play area''s about to shrink, let''s head over to P city first."


    After getting in the car, Little Witch drove straight for P city, and driving out required crossing a bridge.


    While driving, Little Witch mentioned, "We might run into bridge campers, be careful."

 Chapter 84 Shocking Everyone

    Qin Hao: "You might want to save that remark for yourself."


    The witch was fuming; how could this guy be so annoying?


    The fans in the live stream saw the witch being outsmarted and, instead of scolding Qin Hao, burst into laughter.


    It was the first time they had seen someone get the better of the witch, and it felt oddly satisfying.


    Upon reaching the bridge, the witch immediately stopped the car, and instantly, several bullets hit the car, sending sparks flying.


    Both of them hastily got out of the car, and the witch hurriedly said, "There''s someone behind that abandoned car ahead using a 98K, just..."


    She hadn''t finished speaking when a gunshot rang out.


    "Jianghai the firearms master used the 98K to headshot and take down God."


    God: "Be careful; the sniper on the other side is pretty strong."


    The other three didn''t easily show themselves; one went over to revive him.


    Qin Hao then spoke to the witch, "You rush forward, I''ll set up the gun behind."


    The witch had the same idea; hunched over, she ran onto the bridge, using the bridge''s cover to advance towards the opposite side.


    Opposite was a full squad; after God was revived.


    Seeing the witch on the bridge, he said, "Be careful, someone is coming up from the other side."


    "Just one person dares to come up? Watch me knock him down," another said.


    He was holding an SKS sniper rifle and was about to shoot the witch as he peeked out.


    "Bang"


    At the sound of the gunshot, he had just peeked out and was instantly headshot, collapsing to the ground.


    "Damn, isn''t the sniper on the other side too good? He got me the moment I showed my head?"


    The little witch, seeing the person on the other side get headshot just as he peeked, suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of security.


    This is what you call setting up a gun; those were all crappy teammates before.


    She charged faster; while one from the other side went to revive a teammate, the other two didn''t dare show themselves to shoot at the witch.


    Mainly because the sniper on the other side was too strong.


    By the time they revived that person, the witch had already charged more than halfway through. Now with no cover in front of her, she could only rely on her movement.@@@@


    "In a moment, all four of us will show ourselves; no matter how good the sniper on the other side is, he can''t kill us all at the same time."


    "Right, let''s all show ourselves at once and take down the one on the bridge first."


    Five seconds later, the four of them suddenly appeared from behind their cover and opened fire on the witch on the bridge.


    "Bang"


    The first sound was also the 98K, and one of the squad fell yet again.


    The witch also took out an SKS sniper rifle and started firing. She was a good shot, directly taking out the unhelmeted God.


    Now only two were left on the other side, and the witch had lost half her health.


    "Bang"


    Another gunshot, and the third on the opposite side also fell, leaving just one remaining.


    That person quickly pulled back; if he died too, their squad would be finished.


    The witch used a med kit on herself, then continued to charge towards the other side.


    Three people shot at Little Witch, knocking her to the ground and then finished her off with a few more shots.


    "Bang"


    Another gunshot, and another person from the opposing team went down. Now, two remained.


    After Little Witch died, she switched to spectating Qin Hao, "Be careful, there are two more behind those trees."


    ...


    "I''ll move beside, you cover from behind. Shoot him as soon as he shows his head," the two opponents planned.


    Then one of them ran toward the front right of Qin Hao, while the other aimed at Qin Hao with an SKS from behind a tree.


    Little Witch warned, "One is coming towards you, the other is covering you."


    The fans in the live stream also commented, "This game is over, haha, no need to broadcast eating shit this time."


    "A Cool Cool song for the streamer and Gun Devil bro."


    "Even if it were the top player in the national server playing this situation, they''d be dead."


    "If he survives this, I''ll gift ten cruise packages."


    ...


    Qin Hao also saw the situation, leaned right, scoped, shot, then ducked back.


    "Bang"


    "Jianghai Gun Devil with an M24 headshots Black-Bellied Fish."


    Black-Bellied Fish was dumbfounded, he just saw Qin Hao''s figure emerge, and had barely raised his gun.


    Then the opponent ducked back, a gunshot sounded, and his character collapsed to the ground.


    The man covering with the gun could only react and start shooting after Qin Hao ducked back, his bullets hitting the tree.


    Qin Hao ducked back, then quickly switched to AWM, leaned left, scoped, and shot.


    "Bang"


    "Jianghai Gun Devil with an AWM headshots Invincible Bug."


    The other three were all reduced to crates after their last teammate died.


    Viewers in Little Witch''s live stream were petrified by the action.


    "666666"


    "I only want to say two words to express my feelings right now: Freaking awesome."


    "Holy shit, what kind of shooting is this?"


    "Crazy, one against two without losing a sliver of health? Bro, you''re even better than cheats."


    "Jianghai Gun Devil, are you accepting disciples? I can pay tuition."


    "Gun Devil Uncle, I''m a little lolita, tender and easy to push over."


    ...


    Little Witch also widened her eyes in disbelief, "Quick-scoping? Is this quick-scoping?"


    Quick-scoping: As the name implies, it involves quickly emerging from cover to shoot and kill, then instantly retreating, all done very swiftly.


    Usually, the opponent doesn''t even have time to react before they''re dead.


    This technique she had only heard from her brother, and this was her first time seeing it, too awesome, too fierce.


    She felt a surge of excitement, realizing she was in the presence of a true master!

 Chapter 85 How Can Anyone Watch This if Its So Bad?

    The fans in the live broadcast room, hearing her words, all sent greetings: A quick-scope shot?


    "Do you know, host, what kind of shooting technique this is?"


    The little witch simply explained the meaning of a quick-scope to the fans in the live broadcast room.


    Instantly, everyone again spammed "66666"


    "Brother Gun God, take me as your disciple. I want to be as cool as you and charm the girls at our school."


    "I want to learn too. God, please take me in. I''m already on my knees."


    The little witch, seeing the fans in her live broadcast room, said grumpily, "Don''t fight over it; I''m first in line. Wait until I learn, and I''ll let you all watch every day in the live broadcast room."


    "What? The little witch wants to become his apprentice?"


    "Did the style just change too fast? Weren''t you just hating on him a moment ago?"


    "As expected, a woman changes her mind faster than flipping a page."


    "My little witch couldn''t have fallen for the Gun God uncle, right? No, she''s my goddess."


    ...


    In the game, after Qin Hao wiped out that squad, another team ran over from behind.


    They had heard the sounds of the fight and quickly ran over, hoping to benefit from the aftermath.


    Just as Qin Hao finished off the first team, another team ran over; both sides could already see each other.


    "Bang"


    Qin Hao fired directly; a quick-scope shot rang out, and someone on the opposing side fell to the ground.


    "Jianghai, the Gun Demon, uses the 98K to headshot and knock down Crazy Little Second 13."


    Crazy Little Second 13 was the only one among the four wearing a level two helmet, while the others all had level three helmets.


    The little witch and the people in the broadcast room only saw a quick flash from the 98K''s scope.


    Then, Qin Hao returned behind the big tree and switched to the AWM, his movements as smooth as flowing clouds, elegant and unrestrained.


    He didn''t have any pause or hesitation, not even taking an extra glance to see if the opponent was dead. Such was the confidence of a master.


    In less than a second, he popped out from the other side.


    "Bang"


    The opposing sniper''s head burst into a flower of blood, instantly hitting the ground.


    At the same time, dozens of bullets hit the big tree in front of him, and wood chips flew everywhere.


    "Dammit, how is this person so good? Headshot with every shot," cursed the two who were knocked down.


    "Be careful; don''t show your head. That sniper on the other side is a bit twisted."


    The remaining two became much more cautious.


    They cowered just as Qin Hao wanted. He threw a grenade towards one of them.


    That person had no choice but to dodge and quickly ran out from behind the tree. Then, "bang," he was shot and fell to the ground.


    Less than a minute left, and there was only one person remaining in the four-man squad.


    The last one trembled in fear: "Damn, this guy is too strong?"


    "Congratulations to the host for completing the phase-side quest The Road to Gaming God (I), reward 1,000 achievement points, Delicious Duck Head Skill Book."


    "Phase-side quest: The Road to Gaming God (II) unlocked, achieve a reputation of five hundred thousand (125,788/500,000)"


    "Quest reward: 5,000 achievement points, Delicious Duck Neck Skill Book."


    He was surprised by his current reputation points: over a hundred and twenty-five thousand? How did it increase so much?


    Qin Hao turned on the team voice chat and asked, "Little sister, are you a streamer?"


    The little witch''s heart leapt, could it be that this guy knew who she was? "Yes, I''m a streamer."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Which platform? How popular are you?"


    There was a hint of pride in the little witch''s voice: "A game streamer on a chat software live broadcasting platform, with a popularity just under two hundred thousand."


    Qin Hao was a bit surprised: "You''re this noob and yet so many people watch you?"


    ...


    The little witch had several responses prepared, but Qin Hao''s comment left her speechless.


    "Haha, that hit hard, bro."


    "Ten thousand points of critical hit damage."


    "Not only is the rifle demon uncle awesome in shooting, but he''s also sharp-tongued."


    "666666666"


    Soon enough, the little witch added Qin Hao as a friend on the chat software.


    After checking Qin Hao''s profile, she messaged him: "Are you Rifle Demon Uncle?"


    Qin Hao: "You got a problem?"


    "How old are you?"


    "19."


    The little witch looked stunned: "19? But what about your voice?"


    Realization dawned on her: "Are you using a voice changer software?"


    Qin Hao: "Disappointed I''m not an uncle?"


    The little witch rolled her eyes: "I''m not into uncles. So you''re called Jianghai''s Rifle Demon, are you from Jianghai?"


    "No, but I''ll be going to university in Jianghai after the summer vacation starts."


    Going to university in Jianghai? The little witch''s eyes lit up: "You just finished your unified exams? Which university will you be attending?"


    Qin Hao: "Little sister, you ask too many questions. Even if you like me, you don''t have to make it so obvious."


    "Pfft, who likes you? Aren''t you full of yourself?" retorted the little witch, pouting.


    Qin Hao: "Are you still playing games or not? If not, I''m logging off."


    The little witch quickly said, "Playing, it''s just past eight o''clock. I play until after ten every night, come on, let''s continue."


    The two played a few more games together, and after seeing Qin Hao''s strength firsthand, she didn''t try to test him anymore, they stuck to playing duos.


    With Qin Hao there, they won in every game, and her live room''s popularity gradually increased.


    The little witch had never imagined winning could be so easy. She had a great time playing until she ended the live stream at ten in the evening.

 Chapter 86 Tian Yamei

    After shutting down his computer, Qin Hao checked his reputation points, which had reached over 214,000, still far from enough.


    He opened his attribute panel to take a look.


    Name: Qin Hao


    Gender: Male@@@@


    Age: 19


    Realm: Mortal


    Achievement Points: 10000


    Virtue Points: 1


    Strength: 26


    Agility: 15


    Intelligence: 15


    Constitution: 15


    Skills: Combat skills, Calligraphy skills (Lv2 0/3000);


    Basketball skills, Driving skills, Painting skills, Singing skills, Gaming skills (Lv0 0/100);


    Medical skills (Lv1 0/500), Hacking skills (Lv3 0/10000)


    Items: Invisibility Cloak, Detoxification Elixirs, Invisible Bulletproof Vest, 99 Silver Needles, 2 bottles of Life Potion, 3 bottles of Spirit Potion, Delicious Duck Head Skill Book.


    Qin Hao spent 3600 achievement points to upgrade his gaming skills from Lv0 to Lv3.


    Upgrading from level 0 to level 1 required 100 achievement points, from level 1 to level 2 required 500 achievement points, and from level 2 to level 3 required 3000 achievement points.


    He could feel that the players he had encountered in the last few games had become much tougher than those at the beginning.


    If he didn''t upgrade his gaming skills, he probably wouldn''t be able to achieve consecutive victories, which would prevent his reputation from increasing.


    If he completed the second phase of the mission, he would earn a bonus of 5000 achievement points and also obtain the Delicious Duck Neck Skill Book.


    This was a very worthwhile deal.


    Your next journey awaits at empire


    After closing his computer, Qin Hao lay on his bed playing with his phone, pondering his future plans.


    Now that he had ample funds, the development plan for Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant definitely had to change from the original plan.


    While he was thinking, his phone chimed.


    He checked and saw that Xia Qing had messaged him: "What are you doing, asleep yet?"


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and replied, "Not yet, why are you still awake at this hour?"


    Xia Qing: "Can''t sleep, are you still working part-time at the roasted duck restaurant?"


    "Okay, Hao," Kang Youyi replied.


    Qin Hao: "Also, remember that in front of the staff, no one can call me ''Hao'', including you. The new people who don''t know the reason might think something''s up.


    "I''ve got it all, Mr. Qin," Kang Youyi corrected himself.


    Qin Hao: "Get to work."


    The fatty spoke up: "By the way, Hao, that Wang Dajun has been arrested. He''s been charged with many crimes and is unlikely to get out."


    "Who? Wang Dajun who?"


    ...


    Kang Youyi explained: "The boss of those people we encountered that day, Wang Dajun."


    Only then did Qin Hao remember. If the fatty had not mentioned it, he would have forgotten about this incident: "Oh right, Li Bao didn''t screw up, did he?"


    Kang Youyi chuckled: "He actually fanned the flames and helped the police find some evidence."


    "Not too dumb, this guy."


    Just as Qin Hao finished speaking, a woman in a long dress entered.


    She looked at Qin Hao and Kang Youyi and asked: "Excuse me, are you hiring here?"


    Seeing a beautiful woman arrive, the fatty''s face lit up with a smile: "That''s right, I''m the deputy general manager of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd., Kang Youyi."


    Tian Yamei looked around the roasted duck restaurant and then back to Kang Youyi.


    If she hadn''t inquired about Jiangshan Roasted Duck, she really wouldn''t have dared to enter such a remote little shop.


    Tian Yamei said with a smile: "Hello, Mr. Kang, I''m here for the legal affairs interview."


    Qin Hao''s tone was flat: "Hello, let''s talk upstairs."


    Tian Yamei looked at him, then at Kang Youyi, a puzzled expression on her face.


    Kang Youyi quickly explained: "This is our company''s boss, you can just call him Mr. Qin."


    Mr. Qin? He''s the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck? So young?


    She said a bit embarrassedly: "So you''re Mr. Qin, please lead the way."


    The three went upstairs and then entered the second-floor office.


    Qin Hao took the main seat, Kang Youyi sat next to him, and Tian Yamei faced them both across the table.


    No sooner had she sat down, Tian Yamei took her resume out of her bag: "Hello, Mr. Qin, Mr. Kang, my name is Tian Yamei, and this is my resume."


    Having said that, she handed her resume to Qin Hao with both hands.


    Qin Hao glanced at it briefly, then placed it on the table: "You used to be a manager in the legal department at Qian Du Network Company?"


    Qian Du Network Company is one of Xuan Country''s top three giants. Although they are not as prominent now as Aba Net Shopping or Tenglong, they are still well-regarded.


    Tian Yamei nodded slightly and looked directly at Qin Hao: "That''s right, Mr. Qin. After graduating from college, I joined the legal department at Qian Du Network Company and worked there for over three years. I resigned just a while ago."

 Chapter 87 Deep Schemes

    Qin Hao curiously asked, "May I ask the reason for your resignation?"


    Tian Yamei replied somewhat embarrassedly, "Mainly because my parents want me to come back and quickly find a boyfriend to marry."


    She appeared to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, dressed very beautifully and with above-average looks, definitely qualifying as a beauty.


    Such a beauty should have many suitors, right? She has no partner?


    Qin Hao didn''t ask further, after all, it was her privacy. As for whether she had work capabilities, that would naturally become known after she started working.


    Now, the roasted duck restaurant was desperately short-staffed, especially in certain specialized talents.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and said, "What are your requirements for our company?"


    Tian Yamei, "I would like to specifically ask about the salary and benefits."


    Qin Hao, "Nine to six, your salary will initially be 4,000, weekends are for ''Dual Cultivation,'' and the workload might be heavier at first, a bit tiring, until we recruit enough staff. Do you think that''s okay?"


    Tian Yamei nodded slightly, "Okay, when can I start work?"


    Qin Hao, "You can come tomorrow, first get to know our company, and tomorrow Mr. Kang will tell you in detail about the future development plans of the company.


    If you see anything lacking in the company, feel free to make some suggestions, and about the staffing issue in the legal department, you can also tell Mr. Kang.


    Your primary task is to sign the employment contracts of the current staff, and you''ll take charge of this area once the new staff arrive."@@@@


    "Hmm, I can." Tian Yamei used to do this, so handling these matters was second nature to her.


    Qin Hao stood up and smiled shaking her hand, "On behalf of all the employees, I welcome Miss Tian to our team."


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin, Mr. Kang."


    Tian Yamei offered a few polite words and then left.


    Kang Youyi began to speak, "Hao, we now need a larger head office."


    Qin Hao, "Yes, I''ll check out some places in the next few days, then finalize the locations for the stores, you go ahead and start recruiting."


    ...


    Many people had come for interviews today, mainly because the recruiter had posted many job openings on a local recruitment website.


    The majority of the applicants were for general positions; in the afternoon, however, two women interviewed for the HR department.


    Generally, as long as there weren''t any significant issues, Qin Hao would pass the interview, as the roasted duck shop was precisely in need of people.


    General staff were easy to recruit, almost filling the quota in just one day, but it wasn''t so easy to recruit specialized talents.


    Firstly, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company wasn''t very well known, and secondly, those with skills generally preferred to develop their careers in larger cities.


    Very few chose to develop their careers at home.


    This was the first time she encountered someone like this, and she felt quite annoyed, "Hey, uncle, what are you busy with?"


    "Anything?"


    Besides the first few sentences being a bit long, the rest were almost just one or two words.


    Little witch: "Can''t I talk to you if there''s nothing particular?"


    Qin Hao glanced and continued looking at his computer, reviewing a high-definition map of Changle District in Jiangshan City.


    He was preparing to choose a store location, looking to see which area was more suitable for Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant.


    After waiting a long while, the little witch still hadn''t received a reply, and her frustration was boiling up, "What do you mean, huh? Ignoring me when I''m speaking to you?"


    Out of helplessness, Qin Hao replied: "Sister, I''m really busy. If you have something just say it, if not, you better go to sleep."


    Seeing his response wasn''t just one or two words, the little witch huffed, "I want to become your apprentice."


    "What? Become my apprentice?" Qin Hao was a bit taken aback.


    Little witch: "You''re really good at the game, aren''t you? I want you to teach me."


    Qin Hao: "Not taking any."


    He wouldn''t really teach any apprentice, it was all because of the system. Without the system, he was just a noob.


    Little witch: "I''m quite a beauty, and I''m wealthy too."


    Qin Hao still replied with the same two words: "Not taking."


    "Ding"


    Qin Hao opened his phone and saw that the little witch sent him a photo, featuring a girl around the age of 18 or 19.


    She had a sweet, doll-like face but a mature figure, curvy and very appealing.


    Her charms were in no way inferior to Du Wanrou or Xia Qing, perhaps even more captivating.


    The little witch sent him another message: "What do you think, master? Is your apprentice appealing? Pretty? Stunning?"


    Qin Hao: "It''s fine, I guess."


    "Ding"


    Qin Hao looked, and the little witch had sent him a red envelope. He curiously opened it: "8888"


    Damn, this girl is so rich? Looks like a real catch.


    Before he could respond, the little witch sent another message: "If you don''t take me as your apprentice, I''m going to the police to report you for fraud. Fraud over two thousand can be officially investigated by the authorities."


    Seeing her message, Qin Hao''s forehead creased, and he finally muttered, "Damn, that''s a deep plot."

 Chapter 88 Accepting an Apprentice

    On the other side, the little witch had a triumphant smile on her face, "You think you can outsmart me?"


    The title of Little Witch wasn''t just for show.


    Qin Hao, "Big sister, it''s not that I refuse to take you in, but I really can''t teach you."


    The little witch felt he was brushing her off, "How can you not teach me? How come you play so well?"


    Qin Hao, "I played PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds for the first time yesterday, I hadn''t played any games before, and there''s some common knowledge that you know more about than I do. Did you know that?"


    The little witch, "What are you trying to say?"


    Qin Hao, "What I''m trying to say is, talent for gaming is really important."


    The little witch, "Are you saying I don''t have talent? Do you believe I''ll call the police right now?"


    ...


    A single sentence left Qin Hao speechless, and he sent over another 8,888 yuan to prevent her from using the matter as leverage against him.


    The little witch saw the red packet he sent, but she didn''t accept it, "Haha, if it''s not accepted within 24 hours, it''ll still be returned."


    Qin Hao discovered he had absolutely no way to deal with her, "Big sister, what exactly do you want?"


    "Take me as your disciple."


    Qin Hao, "But I really can''t teach you."


    The little witch, "It''s okay if you can''t teach me, just come out and help me dominate if someone bullies your disciple.


    Also, you must include your disciple whenever you play games."


    This condition wasn''t too much.


    Qin Hao, "Alright, I agree. Now go ahead and accept that red packet."


    Seeing his response, the little witch giggled, "I was just teasing you. How could I call the cops on my master?"


    Qin Hao, "I can be your master and agree to those conditions, but the sum is a bit too large, I can''t take it."


    The little witch, "Consider it as my way of showing respect for my master. It''s just eight thousand yuan, I spent over a million today while shopping."


    Qin Hao, exasperated, "You can boast, but you can''t out-boast your master."


    "I''m not boasting, it''s true," the little witch said with a hurt look on her face.


    Qin Hao anyway didn''t believe her; no matter how rich your family is, could it really withstand you blowing through money like that?


    Spending over a million in one day of shopping, even if it''s burning money, should take at least half a day, right?


    Li Moying, laughing, said, "Brother, you''re just a duck that won''t admit it''s cooked. When my master has the time, I''ll let him thoroughly thrash you so you see what being a real sniper god is like." Explore stories on empire


    "Your master? When did you get a master?" Li Jianjun asked, looking at her in amazement.


    Li Moying, "Exactly, that person is my master. Just today he took me as his disciple. If it hadn''t been for his constant pleading, I wouldn''t have agreed to be his disciple."


    ...


    Li Jianjun, "Little sister, don''t get fooled. There are too many scumbags in society these days."


    Li Moying, with a sly look, watched him, "Do you think I can be fooled?"


    Seeing the smile on his sister''s face, Li Jianjun shivered involuntarily.


    He had experienced firsthand how formidable his sister was and changed his tone, "You''re right, I overthought it. It''s only you who fools others, who has the ability to fool you?"


    He had said those words just now because he was concerned for his sister.


    Now, thinking back on what his sister had done, he really felt that no one could fool her.


    He quietly asked, "Does your master have any interest in going pro? I think he''s quite good and want to recruit him."


    Li Moying''s lips curled up, revealing a cunning smile, "Don''t even think about it. I plan on starting my own team to play around, and then I''ll thrash you guys."


    Li Jianjun disdainfully said, "Cut it out, do you know how strong your brother''s team is? Top three in the country''s server, a top-tier powerful team. Beat my team? Maybe in your next life."


    "Hmm, just you wait," Li Moying snorted in disdain at his words.


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao freshened up and changed into a casual sportswear outfit.


    He made a phone call to Kang Youyi, "I have some matters and won''t be able to make it to the shop today, let someone go check out the office space we''re renting."


    "Hmm, okay, Mr. Qin."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao called Xia Qing, "Are you ready? I''m coming over to pick you up."


    Xia Qing responded with a pleasant voice, "Hmm, okay, I''m waiting at home."


    From the words and tone she used, it was clear she was very happy.


    Qin Hao went downstairs and then arrived at Xia Qing''s doorstep, knocking on the door.


    The door was quickly opened from the inside. Xia Qing stood in the doorway, dressed in a light purple dress, with light makeup on her face.


    Qin Hao was stunningly amazed when he saw her and stood frozen at the doorway for a few seconds.


    Seeing his reaction, Xia Qing felt a bit of secret joy, her lips slightly pursed, revealing two shallow dimples, looking even more enchanting.

 Chapter 89 Out for Fun

    After coming to his senses, Qin Hao said somewhat embarrassingly, "You look really beautiful today."


    Hearing his words, Xia Qing deliberately pouted and said, "Are you saying I''m not usually beautiful?"


    Qin Hao explained, "I didn''t mean that at all."


    "Just kidding, let''s go." Xia Qing walked out of the house and locked the door.


    As the two descended the stairs, walking together, Qin Hao caught a faint scent of fragrance.


    It must be her body scent, right?


    The two left the residential area and headed to the nearby bus stop, then took the bus towards Shanhai District.


    The bus was not very crowded, and they sat together.


    Sitting next to Qin Hao, Xia Qing felt her heart beating rapidly.


    Continue reading on empire


    She asked, "Is working at the roast duck restaurant tiring?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "It''s alright, not too tiring. We''re expanding now, hired a lot of people."


    Xia Qing: "Oh, how long do you plan to work there?"


    Qin Hao: "Until school starts, I guess. It''s better than just idling around."


    Xia Qing: "Did you apply to the Jianghai University Computer College? I applied to the Jianghai University Foreign Language College. I heard that our two colleges are on the same campus."


    The two chatted while riding the bus, and after about half an hour, they arrived at the final stop in Shanhai District.


    They switched to another bus and arrived at Joy Valley around nine thirty.


    The entrance to Joy Valley was crowded with people as it had recently opened, so there were many visitors.


    Seeing the crowd, Xia Qing expressed her surprise: "Wow, so many people."


    Qin Hao: "It''s summer vacation, so it''s bound to be crowded. Let''s go in and take a look."


    Xia Qing nodded slightly and followed Qin Hao into the newly opened Joy Valley.


    This was the only large amusement park in Jiangshan City. There had been others before, but they were small in scale with few attractions.


    Most people inside Joy Valley were kids and young people, with some parents accompanying their children.


    As they walked, they noticed that the place had not only amusement rides but also snack and food stalls.


    Curiously, Xia Qing asked, "Qin Hao, what''s going on over there? Why are so many people gathered?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Let''s go over and take a look."


    Contempt flashed in the eyes of the person next to them. He had thought Qin Hao was something special, but it turned out he was no different, and with that thought, he continued tossing his rings.


    Qin Hao threw another plastic ring from his hand, and it flew out, perfectly encircling the small cage.


    "I got it, I really got it," Xia Qing said, somewhat excitedly.


    She quickly said to the stall owner in the area, "Boss, we''ve won."


    The stall owner picked up the small cage and handed it to Xia Qing, and then placed another cage on the stand.


    Qin Hao asked the boss, "If I win the crystal cup containing five hundred yuan, you''ll really give out the money, right?"


    "Don''t worry, young man, a spit and a handshake seal the deal. If you win it, you take it."


    With so many witnesses, the stall owner couldn''t possibly refuse to pay up.


    Moreover, he had set this prize out for a very long time to attract a large number of customers, and still, nobody had won it.


    The main reason was the distance and the small size of the plastic ring''s opening; the difficulty level was exceptionally high.


    The people around heard Qin Hao''s bold claim and turned their heads to look at him.


    Qin Hao glanced at the glass cup and then tossed the plastic ring from his hand.


    The plastic ring traced a graceful arc through the air and then, with a "bang," nestled inside the crystal cup.


    "I won, I really won, haha, Qin Hao you''re so amazing," Xia Qing seemed more excited than Qin Hao, dancing with happiness.


    The surrounding crowd and the stall owner were stunned. Holy crap, did he actually win?


    The young man next to them couldn''t believe it either, sizing Qin Hao up and down. This guy can''t be this lucky, can he?


    "Boss, give us the money," Xia Qing urged hastily.


    The boss still wore a smile, though it seemed a bit forced, and he handed Qin Hao five hundred yuan, "You''re impressive, young man. You''re the first to win the big prize."


    "I won this one, so I can go for the grand prize too, right?" Qin Hao asked with a smile.


    The boss''s face flickered slightly, "Of course, but I only allow three tries at the grand prize per day."


    He didn''t believe Qin Hao could win again; even those who specialized in this game might not manage to win at such a distance. To the boss, it was all luck.


    Qin Hao threw another ring, and just like before, it landed perfectly on the crystal cup.


    Throwing rings was all about controlling one''s strength and logical calculation abilities, and with his attributes far above the average person, it posed no difficulty.


    "Holy cow, he won again? This guy is too good," the crowd exclaimed in amazement.


    "This is a master, two shots, two wins, a thousand bucks easy money."


    "Incredible, he could make a fortune just with this."


    "Haha, the boss is about to cry, he''s going to lose big time."

 Chapter 90 Decision

    Xia Qing was also stunned, and then exclaimed with delight, "Another win, haha, Qin Hao you''re amazing."@@@@


    As she spoke, her eyes were full of admiration.


    Qin Hao smiled and said to the vendor, "Vendor, hand over the money."


    The vendor walked over and said, "A deal''s a deal, take it Qian brothers, ring toss success, two yuan a ring, if you can land the big prize, we''ll definitely pay out."


    "Vendor, give me fifty yuan''s worth," someone said from not too far away.


    "Same for me, fifty yuan''s worth."


    Because Qin Hao had won a big prize, he had sparked the interest of many people around, and their competitive nature became apparent.


    The vendor breathed a sigh of relief, as in a short while he had sold several hundred yuan''s worth of rings.


    Qin Hao turned to Xia Qing and asked, "Is there anything else you like?"


    Xia Qing shook her head, "No more, how about you try for another big prize?"


    Upon hearing this, the vendor staggered and almost fell, he glanced at Qin Hao then turned back to selling plastic rings.


    Qin Hao laughed and said, "Those big prizes aren''t so easy to win."


    After he finished speaking, he threw another plastic ring, aiming again for the big prize.


    This time the plastic ring hit the rim of the crystal glass and didn''t land the prize, but it was very close.


    "Ah, so close to winning," Xia Qing said with slight regret.


    Qin Hao glanced at the vendor, then said to Xia Qing with a smile, "Let''s go, let''s check out over there."


    Xia Qing nodded, "Mm-hmm, alright."


    Seeing Qin Hao walk away, the vendor breathed a sigh of relief, thankful for his quick thinking; otherwise, he might have lost five hundred yuan.


    He could tell that Qin Hao really had the skill to win and it wasn''t just luck. Encountering such a tough customer, he''d have to discreetly give them some money to send them on their way.


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    If the customer appreciated the gesture, they might leave; if not, they could keep winning until it hurt his business.


    After leaving that stall, Qin Hao took out his money and counted it, totaling twelve hundred yuan.


    The vendor had given him two hundred more than expected, and although Qin Hao hadn''t played this game before, he roughly understood what it meant.


    This kind of business just makes a small few thousand yuan a day, all needed to support a family, so he hadn''t played too harshly.


    Xia Qing asked curiously, "Why is there an extra two hundred yuan?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "The vendor gave extra, hinting that I shouldn''t win again next time."


    Xia Qing had an epiphany, "So you deliberately didn''t win the third time?"


    Qin Hao: "Let me hold it for you."


    The two wandered around some more, but Qin Hao did not play any more games, and Xia Qing didn''t find anything else she liked.


    "There''s a place to store stuff up ahead; let''s go keep our things there," Qin Hao noticed a small shop that offered storage.


    Xia Qing nodded, "Mm, sounds good."


    After storing the plush toys and the little cage, they finally entered Joy Valley.


    The game stalls they had played at were located in a square inside the front gate; it was only after entering the inner gate that they reached the real Joy Valley.


    The pair continued playing in Joy Valley until noon, riding the carousel, the rapids, the Ferris wheel, the pirate ship, and more.


    Xia Qing had a blast, and so did Qin Hao. He had never had such a great time before, and it was even more special with a beautiful woman by his side.


    They had lunch nearby at noon, then went back in to play for a long time.


    Joy Valley was vast, with many attractions¡ªthey had barely scratched the surface in the morning.


    At four in the afternoon, they took a bus and left Joy Valley.


    Xia Qing carried the small cage, while Qin Hao helped her with the plush toy.


    Just after five, they arrived back at the entrance of Cuijing District.


    Xia Qing took the teddy bear and said, "Thank you, Qin Hao, I had a really great day today."


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, "I had a great time too. Go home and rest well after such a long day."


    "Mm-hmm, you should also rest up. I''ll be heading home," Xia Qing said, then turned to walk towards her house.


    Watching her beautiful silhouette and graceful figure disappear, Qin Hao''s gaze became complex and he sighed.


    Once home, Qin Hao sat on the sofa, lost in thought, looking at his hands.


    During the roller coaster ride in the afternoon, Xia Qing, scared and nervous, had grabbed his hand. At that moment, Qin Hao felt a jolt like an electric shock, his heart pounding.


    Her hand was slender and soft, the touch was very pleasant, and now the memory was making his heart race.


    He didn''t know why he felt this way¡ªcould it be that deep down, he actually liked Xia Qing?


    But what about Du Wanrou?


    Thinking about all this gave him a headache. Just then, his phone rang; it was a message from Du Wanrou, "Qin Hao, I have good news. Those bad guys have been caught."


    Qin Hao: "Mm, mm, I heard."


    Du Wanrou: "Did you know? There''s a Joy Valley that opened in Jianghai District. My mom took me there yesterday, it was so much fun."


    Luckily, Du Wanrou hadn''t gone today; if they had bumped into each other, he didn''t know what he would have done.


    At the same time, he made a decision in his heart¡ªto resolve the issues with Du Wanrou and Xia Qing as soon as possible.


    Otherwise, if this dragged on, it would end up hurting everyone.

 Chapter 91 The Team is Formed

    Du Wanrou continued to ask, "Qin Hao, are your injuries healed? Not bothering you anymore?"


    Laughing, Qin Hao replied, "They''ve been healed for a while now, there''s no issue."


    Recalling the events of that day, Du Wanrou still felt a lingering fear. If it hadn''t been for Qin Hao, she couldn''t imagine what would have become of her.


    Although her parents always said that Qin Hao was no good, she thought he wasn''t a bad person; in fact, she''d been dreaming about him almost every night for the past few days.


    Now that a few days had passed without chatting with Qin Hao, she felt a kind of emptiness inside, as if something was missing.


    Du Wanrou: "Qin Hao, I''m so bored at home by myself, can you tell me a joke?"


    After she said this, she quickly added, "Don''t send those embarrassing jokes, I want to hear a normal one."


    Qin Hao hurriedly scrolled up to look for one, and after a while, he finally found a joke that wasn''t risque?.


    He sent Du Wanrou the joke: "My little brother just came out of the operating room, pale faced and barely breathing.


    I asked him: ''Do you need anything?''


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    Little brother: ''Take some photos for me.''


    I: ''You''re like this, and you still want photos?''


    Little brother: ''Go on, take them, I''ll use them later for sick leave.''


    I: ''...''"


    After reading it, Du Wanrou sent him two laughing emojis.


    Qin Hao also smiled, thinking: Is her sense of humor this low? He had read the joke once and thought it was just average.


    That was the only joke he could find, so that''s what he had sent to Du Wanrou.


    The two of them continued chatting until past six-thirty in the evening.


    Since Du Wanrou''s mother had come home, she didn''t continue chatting with Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao''s parents had also returned home and asked in surprise why he had come back so early today.


    "I finished up early and decided to come back home," Qin Hao made up an excuse.


    After dinner, Qin Hao went back to his room and at seven-thirty, the little devil sent him a message: "Master, quickly log on, it''s time to play the game."


    Qin Hao looked at the reputation points of the side quest and saw that it was almost at four hundred thousand.


    This surprised him. He clearly remembered it being just over two hundred and ten thousand last time. How could it have increased so much in two days?


    "Hey, Master, are you there?" the little devil sent another message seeing that he hadn''t replied.


    Qin Hao: "Yeah, yeah, wait a sec."


    Little Witch became Shadow Witch, and the other two teammates were called Shadow Xiaoya and Shadow Xiaoqi respectively.


    From their voices, Qin Hao could tell both of them were cute girls, and also streamers.


    Seeing that everyone had changed their names, Little Witch said with a smile, "Let''s practice well tonight, and I''ll go sign up tomorrow.


    We''ll join the PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds tournament on the chat software''s livestream platform, and we''ll grab first place to show them."


    "Plunk, plunk"


    Inside the livestream room, there was a chorus of worship: "Practice for one day and compete? And take first place? You''re really understating this competition, aren''t you?"


    "I heard that this PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds tournament was organized by the chat software official, and they invited the top team LG to participate."


    "That''s right, I heard too, they were given a million just to show up, and the champion team of this tournament will also get a million in cash."


    Qin Hao didn''t say anything. On the contrary, he quite agreed with Little Witch signing up because it would increase his exposure.


    With increased exposure came reputation, and with a high reputation, tasks would be easier to complete.


    "Everyone, get ready; I''m starting the game now," Little Witch announced.


    Once Qin Hao and the other two were ready, he clicked to start matchmaking, and a few seconds later, they entered Suzhi Square.


    Little Witch: "Master, we''re all using our main accounts, so the teams we match with are all very strong."


    Qin Hao didn''t respond to her. Instead, he opened the public channel: "The nation''s number one Gun God here, all you trash, tremble before me."


    Little Witch was used to this by now, so she didn''t react much, but Xiaoya and Xiaoqi were filled with dismay.


    If they didn''t know about Qin Hao''s skills, they would definitely leave this team.


    Dammit, it''s so embarrassing.


    The livestream room was filled with laughter:


    "Haha, wow, 6666."


    "God, please accept my knees."


    "Gun God, can''t you stop being so funny? You''ll scare those people."


    "Really sassy, I like it."


    Players in Suzhi Square, hearing his boast, started swearing, "What the hell, where did this idiot come from?"


    "Daring to claim the title of nation''s number one Gun God, I''ll teach you how to behave in a bit."


    "Dare to drop at the airport, I''ll show you what''s strong."


    "World''s number one team, Shadow Team has been established today, you trash, tremble before us."


    When Qin Hao heard Little Witch''s shout, he almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

 Chapter 92 God Teaches Me

    Members from Shadow Team, Shadow Xiaoqi, and Xiao Ya almost had a stroke, "What kind of team did we join?"


    People in the live stream also fainted one by one, "Haha, the host is 6666."


    "I give your act of being cool a 9 out of 10, the one point off is to keep you from being arrogant."


    "Like master, like disciple indeed."


    "God of Guns, please give us back our innocent little witch."


    ...


    People on Suzhi Square were speechless, "How did we run into so many idiots while playing a game today?"


    "The guy earlier claimed to be the number one Gun Demon of the national service, and now here''s the number one team of the national service, I just want to say MMP to you guys."


    "Judging by the voice, she''s a cute girl, does your team still need people? Not only am I handsome, but my shooting skills are also great."


    Amidst the noise, the game started.


    The flight path began near the airport and the last stop was S City, a vertical trajectory.


    Shadow Xiaoya asked, "Where shall we drop?"


    The little witch thought for a moment and asked Qin Hao, "Master, where do you say we should drop?"


    Qin Hao thought about it and said, "Let''s go to the airport. It''s crowded there which could hone our shooting and teamwork faster."


    "Yeah, okay, let''s drop at the C building in the airport. There are plenty of resources there."


    After about ten seconds, the four of them jumped out of the plane simultaneously and headed straight for the C building of the airport.


    The number of people dropping at the airport was neither few nor many. Including their squad, there were about five teams.


    They were now matched with mid to high-level players, not low-tier players anymore, so each team had their own strategy.


    More than just Qin Hao''s squad aimed for the C building¡ªanother team did as well.


    Initially, there was another team heading over, but upon seeing two teams already there, they decisively changed direction.


    The little witch cautioned, "Be careful, there''s another team. Let''s stick together and head for Building 1."


    Qin Hao spoke, "I''ll go to Building 3; it looks like that team is heading for Building 2."


    Soon they landed on the C building, with the little witch and the other two landing on the rooftop of Building 1.


    The other team had two people drop on Building 2, and two dropped below Building 1.


    After landing on the rooftop, Qin Hao scanned the area and made a beeline for a nearby SCAR-L assault rifle.


    Once he picked up the gun, he aimed at the people on Building 2.


    "Bang bang bang"


    Four shots, all headshots, instantly downing one person.


    "Shadow Gun Demon uses SCAR-L headshot to down Little Mahua."


    At the same time, the little witch and Xiao Ya also found guns, and together they downed another person.


    Little Witch and Xiao Qi pincered the people inside the factory and killed them.


    Since Xiao Qi was the first to engage, her health was now less than half.


    Xiao Ya then said, "I have some meds in my bag, if you need them, go pick them up."


    Hearing her words, Shadow Xiaoqi ran outside, planning to take Xiao Ya''s meds and the 98K.


    She had just reached there and was about to pick up the items.


    With a "bang" of a gunshot, she was headshot and knocked down by a 98K.


    Little Witch didn''t go for the rescue because she couldn''t do it from the outside; she''d also expose herself to the enemy''s gunfire.


    Xiao Qi let out a scream: "The person is on the overpass."


    Then, she was finished off by her attacker.


    From another direction, Qin Hao used the four-time scope on his AKM to aim at the overpass, where a person was half-squatting and aiming at the factory entrance.


    "Bang bang bang"


    A burst of three shots directly knocked down the person on the overpass; the SIG in his hands, notoriously difficult to control, was very stable.


    Then, with two more shots, he finished off the person.


    "Shadow Gun Demon headshot and killed the Sniper God of the village with an AKM."


    He looked around once more, saw no one else, and ran into a nearby room to start searching.


    Qin Hao''s gaming skills were now level three, and his technique was enough to crush some well-known gods.


    After Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi died, they chose to spectate Luo Hao, wanting to see just how impressive Qin Hao''s skills really were.


    They saw him take down the person on the overpass, and so did the fans in their live stream.


    "Wow, that AKM is super steady."


    "So stable, that''s someone who knows how to handle an AKM."


    "Amazing, headshot with every shot."


    "Is this the Gun Demon god who made forty-plus sniper kills online? I had no idea he was also this brilliant with the AKM."


    Afterwards, Qin Hao engaged in killing people he came across, whether it was direct confrontation, ambushing from the grass, or sneak attacks, all ended with his headshots.


    It was truly astonishing, almost unbelievable.


    Damn, are we even playing the same game?


    Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi were indeed stunned by his marksmanship; Qin Hao had killed more than a dozen people, each with a headshot.


    His headshot rate reached a terrifying one hundred percent.


    With a bit of a coquettish tone, Xiao Ya said, "Gun Demon brother, your shooting is so impressive, can you teach me?"


    Xiao Qi also hurriedly said, "Gun Demon brother, teach me too, I''m really bad at this."


    Both were game streamers, so they were experts at acting cute and coquettish.

 Chapter 93 Im Going for a Midnight Snack

    Qin Hao was basking in self-satisfaction and about to respond.


    "No way, only my master can teach me; nobody else is allowed to," the Little Witch said abruptly and assertively.


    Qin Hao: "Ahem, there''s not much to teach anyway. Just watch more and practice."


    As he spoke, he noticed someone in the distance running towards the outside of the airport, about two hundred meters away.


    He switched to the AKM rifle and after aiming through the scope, he tapped the trigger three times, and the person collapsed to the ground.


    "Shadow Gun Demon used the AKM to headshot Lightweight Grass Flying."


    Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi''s livestream audience were astounded.


    "Damn, 666666."


    "To land a headshot from such a distance, too leet."


    "This AKM is simply divine, even better than the 98K."


    "Wow, Brother Gun Demon, you''re so awesome, headshotting from so far away," Xiao Ya said in her sweet voice.


    Qin Hao chuckled proudly, "That was nothing. Once you understand the AKM''s ballistic trajectory and control the muzzle shake, you can play incredibly well with it."


    Xiao Qi: "Brother Gun Demon, go for it, I want to see you win this round."


    The Little Witch felt a bit uncomfortable hearing their chatter. ''He''s my master, and no one else is allowed to flirt with him.''


    She decided she''d have to warn them both after the game was over.


    The airport was quickly cleared out by Qin Hao, and the safe zone continued to be at the airport.


    It seemed that the final circle would also be at the airport.


    Qin Hao''s guns were now fully equipped, and his bag was full of medicine, a level-three helmet, and level-three armor.


    Qin Hao asked, "Have you finished looting, apprentice?"


    Little Witch: "I''m done, what''s up, master?"


    Qin Hao: "Let''s find a car and head to the bridge. The final circle is likely to be here, and there will definitely be a lot of people coming over the bridge."


    The Little Witch paused for a moment, "Just the two of us?"


    "What''s wrong with the two of us? I found a car, and I''m coming to pick you up." After saying that, he drove straight to the Little Witch''s location.


    The two drove to the bridge closest to N Port.


    There were a few houses and a bunker at the head of the bridge.


    The Little Witch entered the bunker, while Qin Hao took cover behind the bridgehead, waiting for prey to come.


    A minute later, they heard the sound of a car. Two jeeps were coming from the other side of the bridge, carrying a four-man squad.


    Qin Hao swapped out the eight times scope on his AKM for a four times scope.


    The ammo count had reached a terrifying five hundred plus.


    ...


    Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi''s live stream was flooded with a barrage of ''66666''.


    Qin Hao''s swift reaction and precise shooting had been nothing short of astonishing.


    "Is this dude even human? Too awesome, right?"


    "Holy shit, it''s like watching a cheater; take my knee, big bro."


    "I have a feeling the Gun Demon''s about to get reported."


    ...


    Over ten minutes later, the bridge was lined with car after car, and the surface was littered with boxes¡ªmore than thirty, a truly spectacular sight.


    Not only that, but in the water below the bridge lay another six or seven boxes and some wrecked speedboats.


    The whole bridge surface was blocked by jeeps, sedans, and buggies.


    Forget driving across; even walking over was difficult.


    By now the safezone had shrunk a lot, with the bridge and N Port being right in the safe area.


    There were nineteen people still left in the game.


    Qin Hao said to the little witch, "Keep an eye on our back, more teams will definitely be crossing the other bridge."


    No response.


    He continued, "Hello? Hello? Anyone there?"


    The little witch''s livestream was filled with raucous laughter.


    "Gun Demon, didn''t you notice the little witch''s gunfire stopped six or seven minutes ago?"


    "God, the little witch has been AFK for about seven or eight minutes."


    Qin Hao: "Xiao Ya, Xiao Qi, where''s my apprentice?"


    "We don''t know either," Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi seemed clueless. The final circle was about to form, where could she have gone?


    Soon the little witch returned, still munching on something, "Master, Master, did you call me?"


    Qin Hao: "Where did you go?"


    The little witch: "I didn''t really go anywhere. My mom made some supper, so I went to eat for a bit."


    "Pfft"


    Qin Hao almost spat out a mouthful of blood, "I''m fighting on the front line, and you go eating supper?"


    The little witch: "I''m not much help here, couldn''t even snag a kill, so I went for supper. Besides, isn''t it the master''s job to protect his apprentice? Right, master? Hehe."

 Chapter 94 He is a Cheater

    "I never thought the game could be played like this, I want to AFK and get a chicken dinner too."


    "I wish I had a master as awesome as this."


    "Shadow Gun Demon, are you still taking disciples?"


    "Streamer, just kill yourself already, we can''t see Shadow Gun Demon''s moves when we''re watching you."


    "Exactly, streamer, just kill yourself."


    "Streamer, kill yourself +1."


    "Streamer, kill yourself +2."


    ...


    Instantly, everyone in the Little Witch''s livestream was typing: Streamer, just kill yourself.


    Little Witch: "Right, let me show you my master''s skills."


    Then all Qin Hao heard was a "boom."


    "Your teammate was killed by a grenade."


    Qin Hao jumped: "What happened? Did someone sneak up on us?"@@@@


    Little Witch explained, "No, I blew myself up."


    "Why?" Qin Hao was puzzled as to why she had killed herself.


    Little Witch: "The fans in the livestream wanted to see your shooting, I had to die so they could watch you, then the fans can see you."


    Qin Hao: "..."


    "Damn, she really did kill herself, what a conscientious streamer."


    "The streamer is literally a role model for the industry."


    "66666, even Emperor Qin Shi Huang bows down to no one but you, streamer."


    Shadow Xiaoya and Xiao Qi''s streams had now reached a whopping 150,000 viewers.


    This surge in viewers happened after they died and switched to watching Qin Hao.


    All these people were captivated by Qin Hao''s formidable shooting skills.


    Such sharp shooting skills, they had never seen even in God''s livestreams.


    Now, Little Witch''s stream had nearly hit 300,000 viewers, almost 100,000 more than the day before.


    Not long after Little Witch died, another team approached from across the bridge.


    It was team two members from the DF squad.


    "Master, there''s another delivery coming from across the bridge," Little Witch quickly said with a laugh upon seeing the newcomers.


    The viewers from all three streams were glued to the screen, eager to see how Qin Hao would take out the opposing team.


    They were not the least bit worried about his getting killed, as the numerous boxes on the bridge were the strongest evidence of his prowess.


    With more than thirty boxes, terrifyingly impressive, it was evident at a glance.


    Qin Hao had already noticed the team on the other side of the bridge, who had stopped at the bridge head.


    Seeing the vehicles and boxes strewn across the bridge, all members of DF team two were stunned.


    DF Dream didn''t even get the chance to crawl to the back of the vehicle before Qin Hao finished him off.


    DF Dream cursed loudly, "Damn it, the other side must be cheating, damn, so unlucky."


    The poison circle was already shrinking, and if those two didn''t rush over, they''d definitely be poisoned to death.


    Qin Hao was now behind a barricade at the bridgehead, surrounded by cars on two sides, and a tower on the other¡ªgood for attacking and defending.


    The remaining two members of Team DF had no choice but to run out; if they didn''t come out, they''d be poisoned, but if they did, they might still have a chance to survive.


    "Bang bang"


    "Bang bang"


    Two triple tap bursts, and those two didn''t get far before they were killed.


    "Shadow Gun Demon used an AKM to headshot and down DF Tearless."


    "Shadow Gun Demon used an AKM to headshot and kill DF Niao."


    DF Tearless: "MMP, report this guy on the other side, damn it, was just about to ''chicken dinner'', and then we run into a ''god''."


    At first, he was a bit skeptical, but he believed it after both he and Niao were killed.


    Both of them were sprinting and using evasive movement techniques.


    Even a top godly player in the national server couldn''t directly kill them like that.


    The excitement in the Little Sorceress''s live room was boiling over: "Damn, that''s awesome, this prediction, this shooting, how should I even describe it?"


    "Gun Demon, are you even human?"


    "Are we even playing the same game? Can anyone even play like this?"


    "What the national server''s first AK master Qingfeng, in front of Gun Demon, he''s nothing."


    "6666, changed sides to be a fan, forever in love with Gun Demon."


    "Too awesome, bro, I, Zhao Ritian, have never respected anyone in my life, I only respect you, Gun Demon."


    ...


    After finishing off those people, Qin Hao ran behind the tower because the poison circle was moving in, and that area was no longer safe.


    At this time, ten people were left.


    Just reaching behind the tower, Qin Hao saw a lone wolf running out from the water nearby.


    "Bang bang"


    His AKM rang out again, directly killing the person on the beach.


    The safe zone was getting smaller and the number of people was dwindling.


    The final circle was positioned on the beach, almost without any cover, where now only three people remained.


    Qin Hao and a duo team.


    The duo had average shooting skills and stood no chance against him.


    They barely managed to take off a quarter of his health before being headshot and killed.


    Winner winner, chicken dinner.


    Team rank: First. Eliminations: 53. Reward: 4998.

 Chapter 95 Immortal? God?

    "Master, how many people have you killed?" the little witch asked on behalf of the fans in the live stream.


    Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi also curiously listened in.


    Initially, they didn''t think Qin Hao was all that impressive since it was a low-level game.


    But after this game, they realized how formidable he was.


    Bodies lay everywhere he passed, truly living up to the name of a big demon.


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    Qin Hao: "Not many, just 53."


    Upon hearing his words, the little witch and the others were all stunned. Fifty-three?


    Wow, this wasn''t a low-level game, this was definitely a mid-to-high-end game. Killing over fifty people was unbelievable.


    Even the top gods of the national server couldn''t possibly kill that many people in such a game.


    A top-level strong team might kill that many as a group, but one person killing so many? Unheard of in the national server.


    "53? Wow, Gun God is truly terrifying."


    "Out of a total of about a hundred people in a game, you actually killed over fifty, how did you do it, God?"


    "Sick, I bow down to you, Gun God."


    "Gun God, I want to have your babies."


    "Gun God, I just love your wild and domineering nature"


    "The current national server record for solo kills in a four-man team game is forty-six, Gun God just broke the record."


    ...


    "Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the side mission: Path of God (II), reward 5000 achievement points, Delicious Duck Neck Skill Book."


    "Periodic side mission: Path of God (III) unlocked, reach a reputation of five million (532000/5000000)"


    "Mission reward: 10000 achievement points, Delicious Duck Wings Skill Book."


    After the game ended, Qin Hao and the others started the second game.


    Not even two minutes into the game, the little witch, Xiao Ya, and Xiao Qi finally found a grenade.


    Then, with a loud "bang," the three of them were blown to death.


    Qin Hao, exasperated: "Ladies, what in the world are you doing?"


    "Brothers wanted to watch your live stream, so we had to die to spectate," the trio of little witch innocently said.


    "6666, such conscientious streamers, everyone start sending gifts."


    Qin Hao felt there was some truth to what she said, but people are different, as are their thoughts. It''s hard to say in such matters.


    After chatting for over half an hour, they both went to bed.


    On the official PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds forum, one post was particularly eye-catching.


    "Quad Game High-Skill Game, Solo 53 Kills, Professional Team Annihilated, A God Reborn? Or a Real God?"


    The post contained a video, and in just half an hour, it received tens of thousands of views and several thousand comments.


    Some comments read, "This guy must be cheating; I''m reporting him for a ban."


    "Damn, didn''t Green Hole Company say there were no cheats? Why can this guy still use them?"


    "This is the God of Guns; he didn''t use any cheats, it''s pure skill; I was watching the live stream."


    Below this comment, many replied: God of Guns? Lol, who crowned him a god? I''ve never heard of him.


    "It''s definitely a cheat, damn, he must be reported."


    "Everyone, let''s push this up so that Tenglong Company can see. They represent PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds, and they need to explain this to us players."


    "Exactly, they need to explain this to us."


    Below, someone noticed a comment from a member of Team DF: "For such disturbances that severely disrupt game balance, we hope Tenglong Company deals with it seriously and provides all players with a fair competitive platform."


    ...


    About the online uproar, he knew nothing at all, nor was he aware of the magnitude of the subsequent stir it caused.


    The next morning, after eating breakfast, he left home.


    His parents didn''t have to work today, as it was the weekend.


    When he arrived at the roasted duck restaurant around a bit past nine, many people were already there.


    As Qin Hao entered, many in the restaurant turned to look at him.


    Kang Youyi addressed the new employees, "This is our general manager, Mr. Qin.


    "Hello, Mr. Qin."


    Although Qin Hao was young, no one dared to underestimate him; they all greeted him respectfully as ''Hello, Mr. Qin.''


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: "Everyone, work hard, and I won''t let any employee under my supervision be unrewarded.


    The company will also establish a system for rewards and promotions as soon as possible."


    After saying a few words, he went to find Yu Jie in the finance office.


    "Have the loans come through?"


    Yu Jie shook her head: "Not yet, but it should happen in the next couple of days."

 Chapter 96 Awkward

    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Mmm, get ready, today I''ll take someone to look at the office spaces."


    "Okay, Mr. Qin," Yu Jie nodded slightly in response.


    Qin Hao stepped out of the finance room and called out Tian Yamei, Yuan Qing, and Liu Man.


    He asked, "Which office space did you three think was good when you went to see them yesterday?"


    Enjoy new tales from empire


    Tian Yamei spoke up, "We looked at a few, and Shenghua Office Building is not only conveniently located and reasonably priced, but it''s also close to the downtown area."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Mmm, okay, let''s go talk about it today."


    After leaving the roast duck restaurant, Qin Hao realized a big problem as he looked at the Jinbei van parked beside him.


    Should we really use this van for business negotiations? Isn''t that a bit too embarrassing?


    Tian Yamei seemed to sense his embarrassment and said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, you can take my car."


    After she spoke, she took out her car keys; parked not far away was a Honda Civic worth about a hundred thousand yuan or so.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless. An employee''s car is better than the boss''s. Wouldn''t people laugh their heads off if word got out?


    Seeing Yuan Qing and Liu Man trying to hold back their laughter, he said irritably, "If you want to laugh, just laugh. It''s uncomfortable to hold it in."


    "Pfft"


    Tian Yamei was the first who couldn''t help but laugh, "Mr. Qin, with your status, I think you should buy a car."


    Qin Hao was exasperated, "I know, just focus on the office spaces for now."


    Once in the car, Qin Hao sat in the passenger seat, with Yuan Qing and Liu Man in the back.


    Half an hour later, Tian Yamei drove them to the parking lot of the Shenghua Office Building.


    Getting out of the car, Qin Hao started to walk towards the building, but Tian Yamei quickly pulled him back, "Mr. Qin, it''s not good for you to go in like this."


    Qin Hao looked at her, puzzled, "What do you mean ''like this''? What''s the matter?"


    Tian Yamei reminded him, "In Jinchen City, those bosses always dress formally for business talks, wearing suits and leather shoes."


    She didn''t say the following words out loud, but if you don''t dress formally, the other party might look down on you, or feel you''re not respecting them.


    Of course, that''s when facing major clients. For negotiations like these, it''s not a big issue.


    But as a subordinate, she must remind her boss of some matters, so he wouldn''t stumble on such details in the future.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Mmm, you''re right, people who''ve been to big cities do have more experience."@@@@


    After parking the car, Tian Yamei and the others followed Qin Hao into Fubang Real Estate sales office.


    "Welcome," said the receptionist at the front desk with a smile.


    Qin Hao immediately asked, "How much is that larger retail space on the side?"


    The receptionist replied with a smile, "This area is bustling and has a high foot traffic, so it''s priced higher, at eleven thousand and one hundred yuan per square meter.


    The larger retail space is over one hundred and seventy square meters, so the price is roughly one million eight hundred ninety thousand.


    Moreover, our properties are renovated, so sir, you only need to do some simple redecorating, and you can start your business right away."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: "Take us to have a look, and if it''s suitable, I''ll buy it."


    "Certainly, sir, please wait a moment," the receptionist said as she hurried to get the keys.


    She then led Qin Hao and the others to inspect the retail space, which was quite large¡ªbig enough to operate a roast duck restaurant.


    Back at the sales office, the receptionist asked with a smile, "What do you think, sir?"


    "Hmm, it''s acceptable," Qin Hao nodded slightly.


    At that moment, two people came downstairs, a man and a woman.


    Liu Jianming said while descending, "Wang, arrange something for tomorrow; I want to entertain some friends."


    "Mm-hmm, okay, Mr. Liu."


    The young woman known as Wang was made up and dressed in a professional miniskirt with a decent figure, her face still flushed.


    It was unclear whether she was flushed from the heat or some other reason.


    As Liu Jianming reached the bottom of the stairs, several female sales associates on the first floor respectfully greeted, "Mr. Liu."


    Liu Jianming nodded slightly, and his gaze inadvertently fell on Qin Hao, causing him to freeze.


    "Isn''t that Hao?" After confirming it was Qin Hao, Liu Jianming hurried over, simultaneously casting a glance at Tian Yamei and the others.


    Both the receptionist and Tian Yamei''s group were taken aback.


    Qin Hao glanced at Liu Jianming and said with a faint smile, "Haven''t seen you in a few days, Mr. Liu, and you''ve gained weight again."


    Liu Jianming chuckled, "You''re joking, Hao. Even drinking water makes me put on weight, I really want to lose some."


    All the sales associates at Fubang Real Estate Company were stunned. When had Mr. Liu ever spoken so casually to someone?


    Who exactly was this person?


    The sales associate showing Qin Hao the property was also dumbfounded. You know our general manager, and you still come to us for...?

 Chapter 97 Buying a Car

    Liu Jianming curiously asked the saleswoman, "What is Hao doing here, buying a house?"


    The saleswoman hurriedly nodded, "This gentleman is interested in a retail space."


    Liu Jianming looked at Qin Hao and said, "Hao, that''s not very generous of you. Whichever one you fancy, I''ll give it to you as a gift."


    After he finished, he told the saleswoman, "Which one did Hao fancy? Just give it directly, and I''ll still compute your commission based on the market price."


    All the saleswomen on the entire first floor were stunned¡ªa retail space worth nearly two million given away just like that?


    Who is this person?


    So young, could he be some rich young master?


    Tian Yamei, Yuan Qing, and Liu Man all had expressions of disbelief, looking back and forth between their boss and Liu Jianming.


    This real estate boss sounded like he was currying favor with our boss?


    Liu Jianming is indeed the head of a real estate company; status-wise, Qin Hao couldn''t possibly compare with him. Could our boss have political backing?


    Qin Hao shook his head, "Mr. Liu, this is too valuable. I''ll just pay whatever the amount is."


    To tell the truth, he was somewhat tempted, but he was fully aware that a person like Liu Jianming would not give out something for free without expecting something in return.


    He would surely find some way to recoup it with even greater force later on.


    Liu Jianming still wanted to insist, but Qin Hao still shook his head.


    He stepped back, "Hao, why not just make it at cost price? Will that be acceptable this time?"


    Qin Hao slightly nodded; since he had conceded, Qin gave him some face.


    This could only be considered a small favor, easy to repay later, and equally, it would not embarrass him.


    "Alright, Hao, you''re busy, I have to leave now," Qin Hao said.


    "Mm, okay," Liu replied.


    Once Liu Jianming left, Qin Hao told the saleswoman, "Calculate how much it costs."


    In the end, Qin Hao spent one million and two hundred thousand to purchase the retail space.


    After leaving Fubang Real Estate Company, Qin Hao took out his phone and made a call to Li Bao, spoke a few sentences, then hung up.


    Just as he had suspected, Li Bao''s reach was already quite extensive, no wonder Liu Jianming was so generous.


    Later, Qin Hao went to Anchang Street and another street, and bought two more properties in bustling areas with heavy traffic.


    In total, he spent just over five million.


    Tian Yamei and the others truly saw his strength; initially, they had been somewhat uneasy, but now they were completely reassured.


    The saleswoman went on and on, but Qin Hao understood very little.


    When the saleswoman finished, he asked, "Just tell me the price; I didn''t understand much of what you said."


    ...


    The saleswoman was nearly exasperated; she had explained for over ten minutes until she was parched and thirsty, and he hadn''t understood any of it?


    Was he here just to mess with her?


    However, her professionalism was high, and her face still wore a smile, "Sir, this model is priced at 1.35 million."


    Qin Hao, "Then I''ll take this one. Do you have new cars available?"


    The saleswoman paused, surprised. Is he really buying it just like that? No questions asked? So swiftly?


    "No stock cars?" Qin Hao curiously asked her.


    The saleswoman, somewhat uncertain, asked, "We do have stock cars. Are you sure you want it?"


    Qin Hao nodded affirmatively, "Yes."


    "Very well, please come this way to complete the paperwork." This was the quickest sale the saleswoman had ever made.


    After paying and processing the papers, the saleswoman took her to pick up the car from the back.


    Qin Hao chose a black Porsche Panamera and drove it out of the 4S store with Tian Yamei and the others looking on enviously.


    "As long as you work hard and are ambitious, I guarantee you could also drive a car like this," Qin Hao said to them with a smile.


    Upon hearing his words, Tian Yamei and the others'' eyes lit up, "Mr. Qin, you''re the boss, but you can''t just make empty promises to the employees."


    "I''ve never talked big. Give it time and you''ll see. Yuan Qing, which car are you coming in?"


    Without hesitation, Yuan Qing and Liu Man got into Qin Hao''s car, and Tian Yamei rolled her eyes at both, "Heartless people."


    The four of them drove back in two cars directly to the outside of the Peking duck restaurant.


    Kang Youyi was right at the entrance of the Peking duck restaurant, and when he saw a brand-new Porsche Panamera pull up, he was stunned.


    When he saw Qin Hao getting out, he widened his eyes and hurried over, inspecting Qin Hao''s car, "Mr. Qin, did you buy this car?"


    Qin Hao, "Uh-huh, it''s just for show; we''ll use it for company business from now on."


    "Really?" Kang Youyi was a bit excited, his eyes gleaming as he eyed the Porsche Panamera.


    Qin Hao gave him a look, "Just focus on managing the duck restaurant. There''s no need to drive; the office building and stores are all set. Get ready quickly."


    Kang Youyi''s face fell, showing his upset, "Mr. Qin, I''m also the vice president of our company. How could I not need it? If I biked there, that''d be embarrassing for our company."


    Qin Hao looked at his physique and said, "It''d be best if you could really bike there, lose some weight."

 Chapter 98 Getting on the Right Track

    The chubby guy had a pained expression on his face, his gaze somber as he looked at him, like a deeply aggrieved woman in seclusion.


    Qin Hao felt goosebumps all over his body, "Don''t look at me like that. If you can get your weight down to 140 kilograms, I don''t mind giving you the car."


    "Hao, are you serious?" The chubby guy''s eyes widened immediately upon hearing this.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, Tian Yamei and the others are listening too. As long as you slim down, it''s yours."


    Upon hearing his words, Tian Yamei and the other two looked at the chubby guy with envy¡ªwhether it was losing weight to 140 kilograms or even just to 100 kilograms, they''d be willing.


    After all, we''re talking about a Porsche worth over one million three hundred thousand.


    Qin Hao said, "Tian Yamei, you hold on to this key. If you need to go out for official business, use this car. If Mr. Kang wants to drive it, he needs to report to me first, I''m afraid he''ll crush it."


    "Pfft"


    The three, including Tian Yamei, couldn''t help but laugh: "Alright, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao handed her the key, then said to the group, "You guys come with me, and call Yu Jie over as well."


    "Alright, Mr. Qin."


    They walked into the roasted duck shop, and Qin Hao led them upstairs to the office.


    Soon, Tian Yamei and Yu Jie came in too.


    The office was a bit small, and it seemed somewhat crowded with six people.


    Qin Hao looked at everyone and said, "I called you here today to discuss the future division of duties."


    "Li Bao, as the company''s vice-president, is responsible for the operation and management of all the roasted duck shops, while Yu Jie will temporarily fill the role of Financial Director.


    "Tian Yamei will temporarily serve as the Legal Director. Yuan Qing and Liu Man, your work experience is insufficient, so for now, we cannot assign you titles.


    "As long as you study diligently and enhance your capabilities, I will consider you first.


    "All these positions are provisional, good performance may lead to a permanent status."


    "Of course, thank you, Mr. Qin, we will definitely work hard."


    Qin Hao: "We also need to refine the company''s rules and regulations, the salary structure for different levels, and the reward system as soon as possible. This task is up to you, under Mr. Kang''s supervision. Once completed, let me review it."


    "Alright, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao: "Yu Jie, finance is the heart of the company, so I hope all income and expenditure can be crystal clear."


    Qin Hao spoke earnestly: "This is of utmost importance. Make sure it''s one hundred percent secure, understand?"


    In this company, Qin Hao still trusted Kang Youyi more than anyone else. He wouldn''t really feel secure entrusting this to someone else.


    "Yes, yes, sure Hao," Kang Youyi felt Qin Hao''s trust and was somewhat moved.


    After finishing the conversation, he asked curiously, "Hao, who will be the third store manager?"


    Qin Hao: "What do you think of Yu Chengcai?"


    Kang Youyi paused: "Yu Jie''s brother? His work is quite good, but isn''t he a bit young?"


    Qin Hao: "It''s the young who have the energy. Let him have a try."


    "Okay, Hao."


    Qin Hao stayed in the roasted duck shop until after seven in the evening before he went home.


    After a busy day, he had some dinner at home and then went back to his room to rest.


    Right on time, at eight o''clock, the little witch sent him a message: "Master, master, are we playing the game?"


    Qin Hao replied with a sentence: "I''m too tired today, don''t feel like playing."


    The little witch said cheerfully: "Master, have you seen the posts on the official forum? You''re famous."


    "What post? I haven''t had time; I was dead tired all day."


    Little witch: "It''s about the video of you playing the game yesterday. Many people are saying you''re cheating, reporting you.


    But the official response is out now, they said you''re not cheating, and they even released a complete slow-motion video."


    Qin Hao was stunned momentarily, then he checked his reputation in the system, and it had actually reached two million and one hundred thousand.


    The reputation had risen by nearly two million, which was terrifying.


    Curious, Qin Hao turned on his computer and checked the official forum.


    As soon as he entered, he saw those two posts, both very noticeable: "Turn of Fate in the High-Level Squad Battles: Solo Player with 53 Kills, Defeats Professional Team, Is He a God or Just an Unknown Prodigy?"


    That post had over three million clicks, and the comments had reached hundreds of thousands.


    The comments were mostly about him cheating, with calls for bans and reports and the like.


    The other post was an official sticky note: "Official Response Regarding the Video of Shadow Gun Demon''s 53 Kills Solo"


    After clicking in, the officials briefly commented, then posted a video. It was the same video of Qin Hao playing the game but in slow motion, a forceful response to those querying it.

 Chapter 99 Xu Jiekang Seeks Help

    The little witch, curious, asked, "Master, why are you tired after what you did during the day? Shouldn''t you be at home playing since it''s summer vacation?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Do you think everyone''s family is like yours? Mine is poor. I go out to do manual labor during the day to earn some school fees and pocket money."


    Upon reading his words, the little witch''s eyes widened in surprise, "Manual labor? That must be very tough, right?"


    "Try it and you''ll know."


    The little witch said, "Today, a lot of teams contacted me, asking if you''re going to play professionally? The lowest offer was three million."


    Qin Hao was startled, the lowest at three million? Has my value really become so high?


    He curiously asked, "What''s the highest offer?"


    "A top-tier team offered five million," said the little witch, waiting for his response.


    Qin Hao was indeed tempted, but remembering his own company, he simply didn''t have the time to go pro.


    Because professional teams required daily training and being under someone''s control, he hesitated and then dismissed the idea.


    He curiously asked, "Don''t we have a team? I''ll just play on your team, I don''t want to go anywhere else."


    "Hehe, that''s why you''re the best, Master. Here''s a reward for you."


    After saying that, she sent Qin Hao a photo.


    Qin Hao nearly had a nosebleed looking at the photo. In it, the little witch was wearing a loose nightgown, with a generous expanse of fair skin visible below her neck.


    Though she had the face of a young girl, she possessed an impressively mature figure that was exceedingly alluring.


    As a normal man, he had all the normal reactions that one would expect.


    The little witch asked with a giggle, "Master, do I look good? Hehe."


    Qin Hao coughed dryly, "Good-looking, very good-looking!"


    Heartened by his praise, the little witch''s mood lifted even more, "Master, I''ve already signed up for the chicken dinner tournament on the live chat software streaming platform today, there''s one week of preparation time, and the competition starts on the evening of July 1st."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mhm, okay, I''ll find some time to play it that day."


    The little witch asked, "Mhm, okay, Master, can I see what you look like?"


    "Why?"


    With a bit of a coquettish tone, the little witch said, "I just want to see."


    In the end, Qin Hao couldn''t resist her persistent pestering and sent her a photo of himself.


    Upon seeing his photo, the little witch replied, "Hehe, Master, you have a delicate appearance. You''re not that handsome, but you have another kind of charming aura."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Just tell me straight, Mr. Liang. If I can help, I will; if I can''t, there''s nothing I can do."


    Liang Chengwang got straight to the point, "Brother Qin Hao, do you still remember Mr. Xu?"


    Qin Hao asked, puzzled, "Mr. Xu? Which Mr. Xu? Do I know this person?"


    Liang Chengwang reminded him, "The Mr. Xu you met the first time you came to my shop, along with his daughter."


    With that prompt, Qin Hao remembered, "What about him?"


    Liang Chengwang said, "Mr. Xu came to me today; he wants you to help save his daughter."


    Qin Hao fell silent for a while, saying nothing.


    Liang Chengwang sighed and said, "Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-tiered stupa, brother Qin Hao. Although the girl doesn''t speak well, she''s not all that bad at heart. Mr. Xu only has this one daughter, and he''s willing to pay any price." Experience more on empire


    After a moment''s thought, Qin Hao said, "I''ll go and take a look."


    "Alright, thank you, brother Qin Hao."


    After hanging up, Liang Chengwang turned to Xu Jiekang beside him and said, "Mr. Xu, brother Qin Hao says he will come over and take a look."


    Xu Jiekang nodded, "Mr. Liang, I''ll remember this favor."


    Qin Hao took the elevator down to Shenghua Building''s underground parking lot, got in his car, and drove towards Jiangshan Medicinal Materials Wholesale Market.


    In Jiangshan City, it wasn''t rare to see luxury cars worth over a million, but Qin Hao''s Panamera still drew many envious glances.


    Arriving at the entrance of the Hundred Medicine Pavilion, Qin Hao parked the car beside the doorway.


    The people inside heard the roar of the engine and came out to look.


    When they saw Qin Hao get out of the car, Liang Chengwang and the others were taken aback for a moment.


    Xu Siyao was surprised, knowing the price of the car; someone who could afford such a vehicle had assets worth tens of millions at least.


    Qin Hao also glanced at Xu Siyao; her complexion was pale, her hair dry and yellow, and you could see wrinkles on her face.


    She looked over ten years older than before, which caught him off guard.


    Liang Chengwang was the first to snap out of it, saying with a laugh, "Brother Qin Hao, where did you make your fortune these past few days? You''ve even got a Porsche now."


    With a faint smile, Qin Hao replied, "Needed it for the company''s image, so I bought one."


    Liang Chengwang chuckled, "It''s no wonder, brother Qin Hao, the national college entrance exams'' top scorer is running a company now. You''re far ahead of your peers."


    Xu Jiekang appeared startled and couldn''t help but ask, "Brother Qin Hao is the national college entrance exams'' top scorer, Qin Hao?"


    Xu Siyao was also shocked, thinking to herself, Is he really that national exam top scorer?

 Chapter 100 Let me be willful one more time

    Qin Hao showed no sign of pride, speaking calmly, "I didn''t expect Mr. Xu had heard of my name."


    Xu Jiekang felt relieved when Qin Hao responded to him, "Qin Hao, your fame has long spread across the nation, it''s not an exaggeration to say it''s a household name."


    Upon hearing his praise, Qin Hao smiled and said, "You flatter me, Mr. Xu. Let''s go inside to talk."


    Liang Chengwang came to his senses, "Right, right, look at my memory, please, everyone come inside."


    The group walked into the pharmacy, and then under Liang Chengwang''s guidance, they went into a room in the back.


    Liang Ya brought over a set of tea utensils and brewed a cup of fragrant tea for each person.


    Xu Jiekang started directly, "Qin Hao, I''ve asked you to come over this time to have a look at my daughter''s illness."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. Xu Jiekang seemed to have aged a bit since before, his demeanor carried a trace of worry.


    Since that return trip, he had taken his daughter to see many traditional medicine experts.


    It was from that time that her illness became apparent and grew increasingly severe.


    However, those traditional medicine experts didn''t know how to treat it, and eventually, he had no choice but to think of Qin Hao.


    Now his daughter''s complexion was extremely poor, looking like a woman in her thirties.


    Xu Siyao looked at Qin Hao, with a glimmer of hope deep in her eyes.


    These days she had grown a lot, and likewise had come to see the true colors of many people.


    Those so-called good friends from the past, not one of them came to see her when she fell ill, and some even avoided her.


    What was more unbearable were the former friends who mocked her behind her back.


    In just a month''s time, she had recognized too many faces and seen through too many hearts, and equally matured a great deal.


    Qin Hao: "You should know how difficult your daughter''s illness is to treat, right?"


    Xu Jiekang nodded. If those experts could treat her, he wouldn''t have come to find Qin Hao.


    He said, "Qin Hao, name your price. As long as you can cure my daughter, I can accept any cost."


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao''s face, "I heard Mr. Xu runs a pharmacy in Jianghai City?"


    Xu Jiekang: "That''s right, a nationwide chain of pharmacies."


    Qin Hao asked with a smiling tone, "So what is the total asset value of Mr. Xu''s company?"


    Liang Chengwang, Liang Ya, and Xu Siyao were stunned by his question, what did he mean?


    Xu Jiekang looked at Qin Hao, his eyes flickering with a determination, "I agree to your terms. Thirty-one percent of Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group''s shares for you, as long as you can cure my daughter."


    "Okay," Qin Hao nodded slightly in agreement.


    Xu Siyao, already weak and exhausted, fainted on the spot after hearing her father''s words and Qin Hao''s response.


    Xu Jiekang, who was close by, quickly caught his daughter, pleading earnestly, "Qin Hao, I''ll agree to anything, just save my daughter."


    In that moment, he was no longer the domineering General Manager of Yuan Kang Group but a father full of paternal love.


    Qin Hao said, "Take her to a room."


    Xu Jiekang hurriedly carried his daughter to a room and laid her down on the bed.


    Qin Hao said, "I will need to perform acupuncture on her abdomen''s dantian area soon. You don''t mind, do you?"


    Xu Jiekang replied, "It''s no problem at all, Qin Hao, please go ahead with the treatment."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Mr. Xu, go prepare the documents. Mr. Liang should have a printer here. No one must disturb me while I am treating her."


    Once everyone had left, Qin Hao stood by the bedside and asked Xiao Ying, the system, "Xiao Ying, to what level must my medical skill reach in order to cure her illness?"


    He possessed a life-saving elixir, but he did not want to waste it, for it was a miraculous medicine for saving lives.


    Xiao Ying replied indifferently, "Level 3."


    Qin Hao used up 3,600 skill points to raise his medical skill to Level 3, and with it, new information flooded his mind.


    After digesting the information, he looked towards the bed where Xu Siyao lay.


    Xu Siyao was wearing a dress, which presented him with a dilemma; it would have been easier if she had been wearing a T-shirt and shorts.


    How should he remove the dress? If she was not wearing anything underneath, wouldn''t that take undue advantage of her?


    Qin Hao turned his head and saw a pair of scissors on the dressing table; he picked them up and cut out a piece of the fabric over her abdomen.


    Now that his medical skill had reached Level 3, he could perform the Nine-Nine Returning to the Origin Needle Skill, specifically designed to treat conditions like Xu Siyao''s, which stemmed from a congenital deficiency of vital energy.


    The needle application did not take long, but after more than half an hour, only when Xu Siyao''s complexion became rosy did he remove the silver needles.


    He then found paper and a pen, and wrote down a prescription.


    With just one and a half months of taking the medicine, her condition was almost certain to be cured.


    To many experts, her illness seemed difficult to treat, even feeling impossible to begin with.


    But to a true master of traditional Chinese medicine, the answer was simple: with the right skill and medicine, cure follows naturally.


    Just like problems that seem difficult to laymen are actually quite simple in the hands of professionals.

 Chapter 101 Confirming the Relationship

    Qin Hao walked out of the room holding a prescription, with Xu Jiekang and a few others waiting for him outside.


    Seeing him come out, Xu Jiekang quickly asked, "Qin Hao, how is my daughter?"


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Here is the prescription, if you get the medicine and she takes it for one and a half months, your daughter should be able to recover completely."


    Upon hearing this, Xu Jiekang''s face lit up with joy. He took out a stack of contracts and said, "This is the stock ownership transfer contract. However, this one only contains ten percent of the shares. The remaining twenty-one percent, I will give to you once my daughter''s sickness is cured."


    Qin Hao took it and looked over it; Xu Jiekang had already signed his name. All it needed to make it effective was Qin Hao''s signature.


    His net worth would instantly increase by ten billion.


    With a smile on his face, Qin Hao said, "Mr. Xu is indeed generous. Over thirty billion transferred to me just like that?"


    No displeasure could be seen on Xu Jiekang''s face.


    He said with a smile, "Ever since her mother passed away, I''ve owed her too much. As long as it can cure my daughter,


    I can accept any conditions. I still have some private assets; I won''t have problems with food and drink for the rest of my life."


    The father and daughter both felt guilty towards each other, both feeling they owed the other.


    This was a good father, and now Xu Siyao was also a good daughter.


    She no longer had her previous arrogance and haughtiness; on the contrary, she had matured a lot, and this illness must have made her realize a lot about people.


    Qin Hao handed Xu Jiekang both the contract and the prescription, "She has indeed changed a lot, and inner beauty makes one truly beautiful.


    This is why I decided to save her. If she had been the same as before, even if you gave me all your shares, I would not have saved her.


    Mr. Xu, I have other matters, goodbye."


    After saying that, he left, leaving Xu Jiekang and Liang Chengwang, along with their party, stunned in place, unable to react.


    By the time they had come to their senses, Qin Hao had already left in his Porsche Panamera.


    Xu Jiekang stood at the door, staring blankly at the fading outline of the car.


    After a long while, Liang Chengwang said, "Qin Hao is really unpredictable in his actions."@@@@


    Liang Ya had a somewhat embarrassed look on her face. She had just severely looked down on Qin Hao in her mind, even cursing him as a villain.


    But the outcome was completely different from what she had thought. Qin Hao was simply testing the two of them and hadn''t asked for any compensation.


    Actually, it wasn''t like that. Even though Qin Hao hadn''t asked for anything, it was still much better than bluntly asking for a few million.


    If he had initially asked for a few million, then there wouldn''t have been such a great sense of indebtedness between them.


    Shouldn''t he at least ask her out for a meal?


    Although she thought this, she didn''t voice it because she had been chatting with Qin Hao almost every day.


    Not chatting with him for a day would leave her feeling like something was missing, which she believed was a sign of affection.


    Moreover, she felt that Qin Hao was not like her father described and her parents must have misunderstood him somewhat.


    Du Wanrou replied, "Okay, but you can''t bully me."


    Seeing her response, Qin Hao nearly jumped out of bed in excitement. Was it a success? Did he really succeed?


    He then calmed down and said with a smile, "How could I possibly bully you?"


    Du Wanrou already began to stake her claim, "Hmph, I don''t think you dare. From now on, you''re not allowed to be too intimate with any other woman except for me, understand?"


    Qin Hao, "Mhm, okay, Wan Rou. Do you have time tomorrow? Let''s go out and have some fun?"


    Du Wanrou said doubtfully, "Don''t you have to work?"


    Qin Hao came up with an excuse, "It''s okay, my relative is a leader there, I can take time off whenever I want."


    Du Wanrou, "Alright then, I''ll call you tomorrow. I''m going to sleep now."


    "Mhm, good night."


    "Good night."


    That night, the two officially confirmed their relationship, and Qin Hao was too excited to fall asleep for a long time.


    Du Wanrou was the goddess he had admired. From the first time he saw her in the first year of high school, he fell for her.


    Her appearance and temperament deeply attracted him.


    Now that they were finally together, one could only imagine how he felt.


    The next morning, Qin Hao got up and groomed himself well before heading out.


    At nine o''clock, he received a call from Du Wanrou, and they met at the entrance of Changle Park.


    Qin Hao left home and took the bus straight to Changle Park, arriving at the park entrance about half an hour later.


    Du Wanrou was already there, standing at the entrance in a T-shirt and skirt, attracting countless gazes with her graceful stature.


    Seeing her there, Qin Hao quickly approached, "You got here so early?"


    "I just arrived as well," Du Wanrou replied, her cheeks slightly red, though it was unclear if it was from the heat or shyness.


    Qin Hao walked over and bought two ice creams, "Here, have one to cool down."

 Chapter 102 Ounuo Company

    Du Wanrou nodded slightly and took the ice cream as they walked towards the park.


    As they walked, Qin Hao said, "Wan Rou, are your uncle and aunt not home?"


    Du Wanrou replied, "My parents went to the company; they are usually very busy."


    Qin Hao said, "By the way, I still don''t know what your family does?"


    Du Wanrou smiled faintly, "My family is in the cosmetics business, Ounuo Cosmetics."


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised, "Ounuo Cosmetics Company? That''s a well-known cosmetics company in Shuinan Province. Your family owns it?"


    Du Wanrou nodded, "Yeah, right now they are negotiating the acquisition of Meihuali Cosmetics Company. My dad has already made strategic plans for Nanyan Province and Nangui Province."


    Qin Hao secretly clicked his tongue in admiration, comparing that others were beginning to expand across provinces while his own roasted duck shop was still in Jiangshan City.


    The gap was not just a little large.


    He had known before that Du Wanrou''s family was quite wealthy, but he hadn''t expected they were this rich.


    Ounuo Cosmetics Company, with total assets of several billion, is one of the top ten native enterprises of Shuinan Province.


    It is a local enterprise of Jiangshan City and Shuinan Province, receiving considerable support from the government.


    As they walked, Qin Hao subtly reached out and grasped her delicate hand.


    Du Wanrou resisted a little, but did not pull back. She stopped struggling and her cheeks flushed red.


    She hung her head low, not daring to look around, for fear of running into someone she knew.


    Qin Hao, holding her smooth hand, felt his heart pounding, his palms sweaty with nerves.


    This was the first time he had touched Du Wanrou''s hand, and his nervousness was self-evident.


    All morning, the two of them strolled in the park, looking very much like a loving couple.


    At noon, Du Wanrou received a call from her mother and had to rush back.


    Qin Hao sent her to the car, and only after the vehicle had disappeared into the distance did he turn and leave.


    He grabbed a quick bite for lunch and then headed to the company.


    Today, Qin Hao had received quite a shock; Du Wanrou''s family had assets totaling billions.


    The gap between him and Du Wanrou was huge, and he knew he had to work much harder. Only if he could far surpass the Ounuo Company would he and Du Wanrou have a chance to be together.


    He was determined to strive for this goal. He believed in the potential of delicious roasted duck and in the strength of the system.


    As long as he worked harder than the average person, he believed there was nothing in this world he couldn''t achieve.


    Let''s have a little activity now; everyone can guess which team will take first place in this round."


    "Shadow Team, without a doubt."


    "Exactly, I bet on Shadow Team for first place."


    "Shadow Team? Which team is that? I''ve never heard of them."


    "You know the Gun God? The terrifying figure who solo killed 53 people in a four-man squad? People gave him the nickname ''Gun Demon''..."


    "Damn, the Gun God is in Shadow Team?"


    "Gun God has a team now? I saw a professional team offering a high price for him just a few days ago."


    "What Shadow Team? This time the first place will definitely be the Flying Dragon Team." There were also many fans of other teams here.


    "This game is all about team cooperation; it doesn''t matter how strong one person is, I support the Cheetah Team."


    ...


    In this official broadcast room, there were supporters of all kinds of teams, as there were nearly a million viewers watching.


    Soon the game started, and a plane was roaring through the sky.


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    The official game broadcast room had a God''s-eye view, allowing commentators to see the players'' locations and names for ease of commentary.


    A delay had also been set up in the broadcaster''s room, so there was no concern about players sneaking peeks at the live stream.


    Little Witch asked, "Master, where do we jump?"


    "Airport''s building C, it has abundant resources," Qin Hao said without a clear idea, simply glancing at the flight path.


    Little Witch: "Okay, jumping at the airport''s building C."


    Just ten seconds after the plane took off, Qin Hao and the three others jumped down, heading straight for the airport''s building C.


    Four other teams were also heading towards the airport.


    Each of these teams had their strategies and routes, so not many teams jumped towards the airport,


    Those daring to jump to the airport in competition were confident in their abilities or were simply risk-takers.


    The resources here were abundant, allowing for rapid development.


    Inside the official broadcast room.


    The male commentator laughed and said, "The airport has always been a hotly contested battleground, and this time five teams have jumped there.


    Two teams are heading to building C, while the other three teams have split up and are not grouped together, making it seem like the first shot of the game will be fired at the airport''s building C."@@@@

 Chapter 103 The Gun Demon is Here

    Airport Building C


    Qin Hao and his three teammates each landed at Building 1 and Building 2.


    The three witches landed in Building 1, while Qin Hao himself was in Building 2. The team at Building 3 had two people on the rooftop.


    The other two were below and, after jumping down, they ran into the room to start searching.


    After landing on the rooftop, Qin Hao swept the area with a glance, then headed straight for the AKM automatic rifle not far away.


    He was quite lucky, finding an AKM as soon as he landed.


    He immediately aimed at the two people in Building 3, who had been watching him. Seeing him pick up the gun, they hurriedly started to run.


    These two were quite unlucky, unable to find a gun on the rooftop, only some accessories and materials.


    "Bang bang"


    The distinctive sound of the AKM rang out.


    "Shadow Gun Demon snipes with AKM for a headshot takedown of Cheetah One."


    "Shadow Gun Demon snipes with AKM for a headshot takedown of Cheetah Four."


    "Damn, he''s that badass?" Cheetah One was somewhat surprised.


    Cheetah Two spoke, "Boss, look at that guy''s ID, seems like it''s that Gun Demon from the forums."


    Cheetah One: "Damn it, how did we run into this guy."


    Qin Hao didn''t go on a killing spree but instead went into the building to search for supplies.


    The official game broadcast room captured the moment Qin Hao made the kills.


    Perhaps the commentators had seen his videos before, so they had switched to Qin Hao''s first-person perspective just then.


    His recent spectacular takedown of two members from the Cheetah Team was just witnessed by everyone in the broadcast room.


    "666, the Gun Demon God is still terrifyingly formidable."


    "So badass, is this the Gun Demon from the forums? Truly impressive."


    "Could it be cheats? Headshots with every shot." There were also many people who didn''t know his name, curiously commenting.


    "Bro, you''re hilarious. This is the official competitive server of the chatting app, there''s no way there can be cheats. Besides, even in the game now, it''s impossible to encounter cheats."


    "Cheetah Team can be considered a strong team in this competition, didn''t expect they would lose two major players right at the start."


    After Qin Hao finished searching Building 2, he went to Building 3 and took out the other two members of the Cheetah Team as well.


    The level of competition in this Chicken Dinner Grand Prize event hosted by the chatting app platform wasn''t very high, with varying levels of abilities.@@@@


    Some teams barely reached professional standards, but many did not.


    With a level 3 gaming skill, Qin Hao was crushing these players as if he were bullying noobs, with barely any pressure.


    This match was completely Shadow Team''s home ground; whoever encountered the Shadow Team was doomed to die.


    As everyone in the live streaming room was discussing, the little witch was also knocked down by Wumeng.


    The Feilong Team is a professional team; the members'' skills are very strong¡ªthey are among the top few hundred players on the national server.


    "Master, quickly kill him, the three of us are no match for him," the little witch said with a crying face.


    She hadn''t expected that the three of them together couldn''t beat a single opponent. This was a major embarrassment.


    Qin Hao said nothing but pursed his lips, then stood up from behind the wheat field: "Shadow Gun Demon is here, brother, do you blow yourself up, or do you want me to see you off?"


    ...


    "Pfft, the Gun Demon is still so sao."


    "666666"


    "So dominant, the Gun Demon blasts his dog head off with one shot."


    "This guy is too arrogant, just openly standing out like that? Wumeng''s shooting skills are really strong."


    "Showing off, let Wumeng kill him and wipe out the Shadow Team."


    Wumeng, hiding behind the tree, also saw Qin Hao''s movement and did not act rashly; he was adjusting his state.


    He had watched Qin Hao''s video of a solo 53-kill game. AKM in his hands was simply a Divine Artifact, lethal to anyone who faced it.


    Wumeng could clearly feel his blood boiling, his spirits becoming more focused.


    He peered out from behind the tree, scoped in, aimed, and fired...


    "Bang Bang"


    "Shadow Gun Demon uses an AKM to headshot and kill Feilong-Wumeng."


    Wumeng sat in front of the computer stunned for a long time. He was confident that the sequence of actions he had just performed was even faster than his best form.


    Yet, he didn''t even get the chance to fire before being killed. Just what kind of moves did that person make?


    The Feilong Team''s coach came over and spoke softly, "Don''t dwell on it, it''s not that you''re too weak, but that guy is just monstrous.


    Your performance today is very good, take a rest. I believe you will make great progress next time."


    In the official game live streaming room, everyone was stunned.


    Even the male and female commentators were shocked by Qin Hao''s lightning-fast reaction.


    "Holy moly, that''s awesome, truly fitting for the Gun Demon who solo killed 53 in squads. Who else has that reaction speed?"


    "Damn, just asking you trash whether you accept this or not?"


    "Only 6666666 can express my feelings at this moment."


    "Really awesome, gained a fan here, does anyone know where the Gun Demon is streaming? Please tell me."


    "What about AK Prince, or God Qingfeng''s AKM? Can they compare?"


    "The Gun Demon''s skills are the sickest I''ve ever seen, second to none."

 Chapter 104 Grand Opening

    The male and female commentators in the official game live stream room finally reacted.


    The female commentator said with a smile, "Let''s congratulate the Shadow Team for taking first place."


    The male commentator said, "Now let''s take a look at the top five teams in this competition."


    The competition increased Qin Hao''s reputation by more than three hundred thousand, bringing his total reputation to almost three million five hundred thousand.


    After the match, the three little witches went on to start their live stream, and Qin Hao played games with them for a while.


    When playing games, Qin Hao seemed like a completely different person, announcing his name before the start of each game.


    He was incredibly high-profile, a stark contrast to his real-life persona.


    He logged off the game at 9:30 in the evening because Du Wanrou wanted to chat with him; reputation is important, but a girlfriend is more important.


    And so, he went to the company during the day and came back at night to play games and chat with Du Wanrou.


    Time passed day by day, and before he knew it, July 6th had arrived.


    For many people, it was just an ordinary day, but for Qin Hao, it was significant.


    The three Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurants officially opened for business that day.


    On the tenth floor of the Shenghua Office Building, at Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd.


    Qin Hao sat in his office, with the sound of telephones ringing occasionally from outside.


    "Bang bang," a knock on the door sounded.


    "Come in."


    Kang Youyi walked in, wearing an oversized suit that bulged at the belly, making him look somewhat comical.


    He began, "Hao, the three stores opening today have received a lot of flower baskets."


    "Who sent them?" Qin Hao asked curiously.@@@@


    Kang Youyi replied, "Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group, Fubang Real Estate Company, Guanding Real Estate Company, and also Hundred Medicine Pavilion, suppliers, and so on."


    Qin Hao asked, "Hmm, how is the establishment of the internal control department coming along?"


    Kang Youyi reassured, "Don''t worry, Mr. Qin. It''s been set up already. According to your instructions, we secretly send people to inspect the stores every day."


    Yuan Qing and the others were curious about why he didn''t drive his car, but they didn''t dare to ask.


    Kang Youyi shamelessly said, "Hao, if you''re not driving your nice car, why don''t I take it home instead?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I see you''ve gained a few more pounds, and you still want to drive? Have you forgotten what was said at the beginning?"


    The fat man''s face went pale; he really did want to lose weight at first.


    But then he realized how hard it was to diet. Faced with the choice between a luxury car and good food, he decisively chose the food.


    Soon, Tian Yamei drove her Honda Civic out of the underground parking lot.


    She said to Yuan Qing and Liu Man, "It''s on the way; I''ll drop you off."


    Without a second word, the fat man opened the car door and promptly sat in the passenger''s seat, "Take me along for the ride, too, if it''s on the way."


    Yuan Qing and Liu Man suppressed a smile and took their seats in the back.


    Tian Yamei looked at Qin Hao and asked, "Mr. Qin, do you need a ride?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "No need, I''m fine taking the bus home, you guys go ahead."


    Tian Yamei didn''t insist any further and slowly drove off.


    ...


    From the first day of their opening, the three roasted duck stores'' daily revenues didn''t decrease but subtly increased.


    During the day, he would go to the company when he had nothing else to do and occasionally asked Du Wan to go out with him; their relationship was progressing rapidly.


    At first, they just held hands, and later their hugs progressed to waist-level, but he had never kissed her because Du Wanrou didn''t agree.


    In the blink of an eye, over a month had passed, and there was less than a week left before Jianghai University''s fall term started.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Company had already gotten onto the right track, and even without his presence, the company could run smoothly.


    In July, the total revenue of the three stores reached over four million yuan, with the Danhe Street Store alone bringing in one and a half million yuan, making it the sales champion.


    Based on performance, Qin Hao rewarded them with different bonuses.


    The Danhe Street Store''s dozen or so employees each received at least two thousand yuan in bonuses.


    Kang Youyi and the marketing planning department were already planning the next stage of expansion, and Qin Hao had entrusted it all to Kang Youyi and the department.

 Chapter 105 I am the Boss

    By early August, he had already completed the main mission and received five thousand achievement points.


    The current main mission is: Business Tycoon Path (II), with a net profit of ten million per month, awarding ten thousand achievement points.


    Jianghai University was about to start its new semester, and soon he wouldn''t have much time to spend at the company.


    Today is August 24th, and there are three days left until the start of the school term.


    He arrived at the company after breakfast this morning and gave Kang Youyi instructions on many matters.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. has already gained some fame in Jiangshan City by now.


    In terms of taste as well as reputation, the response in Jiangshan City was very positive.


    After Qin Hao finished instructing Kang Youyi, he received a call from Du Wanrou and then walked out of his office.


    The office area outside was already full of people.


    Everyone was busy with their work, and the entire company was filled with a vibrant, upward energy.


    The number of employees in the company had reached over a hundred, and the monthly payroll was about six or seven hundred thousand.


    The person next to him saw him come out and respectfully greeted, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and then walked outside, where two young female receptionists were at the front desk.


    "Good morning, Mr. Qin."


    The two young female receptionists greeted him with a clear and pleasant voice when they saw him approaching.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and then left the company.


    Watching Qin Hao''s retreating figure, the two female receptionists showed admiration and affection in their eyes.


    To be so young and already the president of a company, and with such a good personality, it would be wonderful to have a boyfriend like him.


    Qin Hao took the elevator down one floor and into the lobby, where his phone buzzed.


    He glanced at it¡ªit was a message from Xia Qing. He hesitated for a moment but didn''t reply.


    These days, Xia Qing had also tried many times to chat with him, but was always met with simple and dismissive responses.


    He hoped Xia Qing would understand his intentions, not to get too deeply involved.


    Xia Qing waited for his reply for a long time, feeling a bit dejected and melancholic.


    These days she could feel the change in Qin Hao''s attitude towards her, clearly different from before, somewhat distant, as if he was intentionally avoiding her.


    She sighed; after a long while, a trace of determination flashed in her eyes, as if she had made a decision.


    Qin Hao knew what she meant and was somewhat touched, feeling even more determined to treat her well.


    Although the girl was a rich young lady, she did not have those bad habits typical of rich young mistresses.


    At noon, they found a restaurant.


    While eating, Du Wanrou asked him, "You work at the roasted duck restaurant, how much do they pay you a month?"


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, "Three to four thousand."


    Du Wanrou said, "The Jiangshan Roasted Duck is delicious, with perfect color, aroma, and taste. I fell in love with it after eating it just once."


    Qin Hao, hearing her praise his roasted duck, said with a smile, "Of course, it''s roasted using a pure herbal secret recipe, eating it is good for the body."


    As she ate, Du Wanrou mentioned, "I''ve heard from my dad that Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant''s total assets have already exceeded ten million, with immense potential.


    Some estimates say that Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company makes a profit of about three to four million a month. Their profitability is terrifying, the owner of this company is no ordinary person."


    Qin Hao laughed, "I am the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd."


    He didn''t want to keep it a secret from Du Wanrou any longer.


    At the same time, he wanted to subtly tell Du Wanrou that even though his family was average, he had the ability to earn money.


    Their relationship was very good at the moment, but no one could predict the future. Revealing his identity was also a way to give Du Wanrou a dose of reassurance.


    Who knew that Du Wanrou would burst into laughter at his words, "You can''t make such a joke at your store; if your boss heard, he might fire you."


    Qin Hao said, "I''m not joking, I really am the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company."


    Du Wanrou gave him a disbelieving look, "The registered legal person of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Company is Kang Youyi, and generally, the registered legal person is the boss.


    Of course, there are exceptions, some big companies might find someone else to register the company and control it from behind the scenes."


    Qin Hao had forgotten that it was Kang Youyi who had dealt with these things initially because they needed some documentation, so Kang Youyi had used his own name directly.


    Qin Hao didn''t know how to explain, "If you don''t believe it, then let it be."


    Du Wanrou said seriously, "Qin Hao, my being with you has nothing to do with other things.


    I feel secure with you and my heart feels at ease. I like this feeling. Though you don''t have money now, in the future, we can create something together."


    Qin Hao''s face broke into a smile, "Yeah, when the time comes, I''ll take care of earning money, and you can take care of counting it."


    ...


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    Du Wanrou pouted discontentedly, "I''m enrolled in the Business Administration College. I''ll be the general manager and you can just be a technician." After saying this, she chuckled to herself.

 Chapter 106 Shopping

    After lunch, the pair resumed their stroll along the pedestrian street.


    The pedestrian street was vast; they hadn''t managed to explore it all in the morning.


    As Qin Hao walked, he pondered the notion of opening a Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant here, convinced that it would do well.


    It was then that Du Wanrou suddenly suggested, "There''s a big department store owned by Qin Hao over there, shall we have a look inside?"


    Realizing what she meant, Qin Hao nodded and replied, "Mm-hm, sure."


    The two entered Wanxing Supermarket, the largest store on the pedestrian street.


    Despite the sweltering midday heat, the place was still bustling with people, many of whom came just to enjoy the air conditioning.


    The first floor offered a variety of food, while clothes, shoes, and wallets were sold from the second floor up.


    Having bought a bottle of water, they proceeded upstairs to find a vast second level replete with countless shops.


    There were high-end designer shops as well as mid-range and budget brands.


    Du Wanrou led him to a mid-range menswear shop.


    The saleswoman greeted them with a smile, "Welcome! Feel free to try on any item you''re interested in, sir, miss."


    Du Wanrou stopped in front of a set of shorts and a T-shirt, turning to ask Qin Hao, "What do you think of this outfit?"


    Qin Hao furrowed his brow, but before he could retort,


    Du Wanrou asked with a smile, "Is this Miss Li Dimei from Yumei Jewelry Company?"


    Yuan Zhengxiang''s face went through several shades, turning red then pale, mortification written all over it.


    His expression darkened as he turned and walked away.


    "Yuan Zhengxiang, you damn wait for me," Li Dimei said, fuming at being ignored as he ran off.


    Sure enough, Yuan Zhengxiang stopped, turning back with a forced smile. "Da Mei, I... I need to use the restroom urgently," he said.


    Li Dimei''s voice was coarse, "Oh, then you better hurry, don''t make yourself sick."


    ...


    Qin Hao struggled to hold back laughter, asking Du Wanrou curiously, "What''s the deal with those two? You know her?"


    After paying for the clothes and walking out of the store, Du Wanrou explained, "Somehow, Yuan Zhengxiang''s family got connected with Yumei Jewelry Company.


    That Li Dimei is the heiress of Yumei Jewelry Company, the only daughter of the chairman. Their family business is in jewelry, too, so they need that sort of backer."


    Qin Hao nodded his understanding. Yuan Zhengxiang was selling his attractiveness for his family''s business development.


    He couldn''t help but admire the guy''s endurance. Indeed, extraordinary circumstances required extraordinary actions.

 Chapter 107 The Finals Begin

    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou had finished browsing the second floor and proceeded to the third floor, where Du Wanrou bought him a few more clothes.@@@@


    The two leisurely strolled around the mall, and Qin Hao was taken aback when he saw the prices of the high-end brand clothing.


    A single T-shirt cost thousands of yuan, some even over ten thousand, which were definitely luxury items.


    In a high-end luxury clothing store, Qin Hao spotted Yuan Zhengxiang and Li Dimei.


    Yuan Zhengxiang was picking out clothes for Li Dimei, who looked into the mirror and asked, "Zhengxiang, do I look beautiful?"


    Yuan Zhengxiang replied, "Beautiful, Da Mei, you are the most beautiful in my eyes."


    The saleswoman nearby maintained her composure. Everyone who shopped here was influential, and she couldn''t afford to offend them.


    Thus, no matter what she heard, she could pretend she hadn''t heard anything.


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised inside. This guy''s ability to say such insincere words just showed his shrewdness, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals.


    Just as they were planning to leave, that Li Dimei spotted Du Wanrou, "You, stop there."


    Du Wanrou looked at her, puzzled, "Miss Li, is there something you need?"


    Li Dimei replied, "I know you like our Zhengxiang, but Zhengxiang only has me in his heart, so you might as well get that idea out of your head.


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    Stop clinging to our Zhengxiang, or else don''t blame me for being rude to you."


    Du Wanrou nearly burst a blood vessel hearing her words, I like him? Only someone like you would like such a hypocrite.


    She glanced at Yuan Zhengxiang, who turned his head to look at the clothes, pretending he hadn''t heard a thing.


    Du Wanrou smiled and said, "Don''t worry, Miss Li, I have no interest in your man, I have a boyfriend, and I really like him." After speaking, she even wrapped her arms around Qin Hao''s.


    Yuan Zhengxiang, with his back to the trio, heard Du Wanrou''s words and his face turned as gloomy as water, extremely embarrassed.


    Why is Qin Hao being compared to me? How is he better than me? Just a bumpkin.


    Li Dimei glanced at Qin Hao, "I hope you can do as you say."


    ...


    Du Wanrou and Qin Hao left the mall directly.


    Du Wanrou was somewhat angry, "I didn''t expect Yuan Zhengxiang to be so shameless, it''s infuriating."


    Qin Hao comforted her, "Don''t be angry, you know what kind of person he is, I think he''s also holding a grudge against you."


    The two shopped until about five in the afternoon, and then Du Wanrou had to leave.


    If she returned home too late, her mother would discover.


    Qin Hao dropped her off at the entrance of the residential area, watched her go inside, then left.


    Having the chance to play in a match with someone like him, talking about it later would also bring prestige.


    If they were lucky enough to kill him, that would be even more worth boasting about.


    At eight o''clock, the match began.


    Twenty-five teams, one hundred people entered the plaza as the sixty-second game countdown started.


    Inside the official game live-streaming room, the match hadn''t even started yet, but the viewer count had already reached nearly three million.


    The male commentator said with a smile, "Welcome everyone to watch the Chat Software Live Tournament; I''m your commentator, Han, and this is Mini."


    After more than a month of brutal elimination matches, only twenty-five teams remain.


    Tonight, we will select our champion, runner-up, and third-place teams, and you can also predict the champion team in the section below.


    The fans who guess correctly will receive a little gift from us."


    Female commentator Mini said with a smile, "I believe everyone''s looking forward to this match, LD Team, whose strength is immense as a top-notch national server team, I need not say much, and there are many other professional teams.


    The super dark horse, Shadow Team, and the God-level sharp shooting and superhuman reaction of Shadow Gun Demon, many friends must have seen it.


    Let''s see who will claim the championship."


    The fans of LD Team were numerous: "Go LD Team!"


    "Go Starshine, go LD!"


    "Awei is the coolest, LD Team will definitely win."


    "Go God Gun Demon, smash their heads."


    "This championship is definitely for Shadow Team, God Gun Demon alone is enough."


    "66666"


    "It''s time for God Gun Demon''s performance again, everyone keep your eyes wide open and watch closely."


    After the sixty-second countdown ended, the plane took off, flying a route from the airport to the mountain top ruins.


    Qin Hao didn''t hesitate and said, "Jump at the airport''s C-building."


    Whenever he played games, if the route passed by the airport, Qin Hao would always choose to jump at the airport.


    Because he was very familiar with it and also because this place was rich in resources, almost any gun could be found here.


    Qin Hao, with his public mic on, said, "Guys, we Shadow Team are jumping at the airport, monopolizing it, if you don''t want to die, jump somewhere else."


    Arrogant, damn, too arrogant.


    Upon hearing this familiar and arrogant voice, people were at a loss for words.


    Don''t you feel uncomfortable if you don''t act cool before a game?

 Chapter 108 Finals

    The plane soon flew over the airport and the four from Shadow Team directly parachuted.


    The Witch checked the surroundings. In the vast airport airspace, there were only the four of them, "Has Master''s fame become so great?"


    Shadow Xiaoya and Xiao Qi were also speechless, I mean, you guys are a professional team, just going to chicken out like that?


    Looking at the figure of Qin Hao, they felt some admiration in their hearts, so freaking awesome.


    Only one team jumped into the resource-richest area at the airport. Who would believe this if it got out?


    In the official game broadcast room, when they heard Qin Hao''s words and saw the team jumping at the airport, everyone started typing "66666"


    "Holy cow, the deterrence of Shadow Gun Demon really is terrifying, isn''t it?"


    "A man''s name, a tree''s shadow, Shadow Gun Demon is indeed freaking awesome."


    "Only one team at the airport, is Shadow Gun Demon planning to play solo?"


    "Freaking awesome, this is the first time I''ve seen only one team at the airport since watching the stream."


    "66666, looks like those guys were scared of Shadow Gun Demon''s mighty AKM."


    "Fan converted, this is how you should play the game, dominate, dominate, didn''t expect you could book the whole place in a game..."


    Qin Hao and his team quickly spread out as there were no other teams that jumped there. Each person took a separate area and started looking for supplies.


    Before long, each of them was fully equipped.


    Qin Hao carried a 98K on his back and held an AKM in his hands.


    "The area''s about to shrink, let''s go," said the Witch, having finished searching her area.


    Xiao Ya and Xiao Qi also finished their searches, "Yeah, okay, what about cars?"


    The Witch said, "Take two; you two go ahead, Master and I will follow. Be careful when crossing the bridge; there might be someone camping it."


    Shadow Xiaoya nodded, "Okay, Captain."


    There was no dissent to this decision; Qin Hao was the main force of the team and naturally needed protecting.


    If he died, their team absolutely wouldn''t stand a chance at winning the championship.


    Winning the championship meant a cash prize of a million, but that wasn''t the most important thing. The most important thing was that their popularity would definitely skyrocket.


    A surge in popularity would bring them even more benefits, like a skyrocketing value and increase in income.


    These were things that a million couldn''t buy.


    The first safe zone ended up being on the other side of the bridge, their luck was a bit bad.


    "Shadow Gun Demon using an AKM headshot and knocked down Wind and Rain-Demon Beast."


    "Shadow Gun Demon using an AKM headshot and knocked down Wind and Rain-Black Demon Beast."


    "Shadow Gun Demon using an AKM headshot killed Wind and Rain-Old Silver."


    Out of a magazine of forty bullets, he only used half, not a single bullet wasted, all four were killed by him.


    This precise headshot, the strong triple burst, left viewers stunned in the live stream.


    "Holy crap, that''s some badass AKM." Someone seeing his shooting skills for the first time was truly shocked.


    "Shadow Gun Demon''s style is still so badass."


    "66666, wiped out a team in just a few seconds."


    "This shooting skill is literally explosive."


    Qin Hao and the little witch now drove over to loot the bodies.


    Having learned this lesson, they became even more cautious, but Qin Hao was still so bold, running through the poison gas and killing all along the way.


    The safe zone kept pushing north, and by the time Qin Hao and the little witch got to Y City, he had already killed more than twenty people.


    All these teams could barely be considered professional, yet Qin Hao could kill so many, it was truly terrifying.


    Even the full LD team had only killed eleven people, not even close to how many he had killed alone.


    Now, there were still seventeen people left, the safe area was in the vicinity of Y City.


    According to this trend, the final circle is very likely to refresh in Y City.


    Qin Hao and the little witch were now in a house on the edge of the city, watching inside the city area.


    In a few houses not far across from them, four people from the LD Team were hiding inside, also watching the outside.


    The little witch spoke, "Master, it seems there are people in those houses across, what should we do?"


    Qin Hao, "Let''s see where the final circle refreshes. There are too many people right now; if we get sandwiched, we''re done for."


    If they were to get attacked from both front and back, Qin Hao didn''t have much confidence.


    A minute later, the final circle refreshed in the central location of Y City, right where the LD Team was located.


    "It''s a destiny circle, heaven is also helping us," Yu Feng from the LD Team laughed.


    The other members also smiled; this final circle was very advantageous for them, they didn''t even need to run from the poison.


    If others had to run from the poison, they could simply fight from where they were, giving them a significant edge.


    They were very strong, and if they spotted others running from the poison, they were highly confident they could eliminate them.

 Chapter 109 Devils Body Skill

    The LD team had the advantage of the right moment, location, and people, and their chances of winning the championship were very high.


    In the official game live broadcast room, there was a betting event where the LD team had the highest support rate, followed by the Shadow Team.


    After all, the LD team was a top-ranked powerhouse in the national server, with a substantial fan base.


    Though Qin Hao was also very famous, his foundation couldn''t compare with the LD team. Being second in the support rate was quite good.


    After the final circle refreshed, many teams couldn''t resist heading towards Y city.


    Qin Hao and the little witch didn''t move immediately and made sure there was no one behind them.


    Only then did the two of them walk out of the room and, using the house as cover, run towards the city.


    Soon, intense gunfire erupted from ahead.


    The final circle was very small, and with still over a dozen people left, clashes were likely.


    When Qin Hao and his team ran out of a house, they saw two people on the right also running towards the safe zone.


    "Bang bang bang"


    Qin Hao fired immediately, killing the two people on the right, then quickly crouched behind a wall.


    "Bang bang"


    Bullets hit the wall, sending chips of stone flying. Yu Feng from the LD team had seen him the moment he opened fire.


    LD-Yu Feng hurriedly said, "I saw the two people from Shadow Gun Demon. They''re right in front of the wall ahead of me."


    LD-Xingchen quickly came over, "Let''s pin them down, the two of us; captain, you take the other side."


    The number of people in the final circle was rapidly decreasing; in less than a minute, the count had dropped to eight.


    The LD team took a significant lead by strategically eliminating many players without losing a single member.


    Of the nine players left, four were from the LD team, two from the Shadow Team, and the remaining two were lone wolves.


    "Master, what do we do now?" the little witch asked.


    Qin Hao replied, "Those two have a good position. We can''t hit them, but they can hit us. In a moment, you run ahead.


    Draw their fire, and I''ll deal with them."


    The little witch nodded, "Okay, Master. Should I run now?"


    Qin Hao adjusted his position, "Run now. If the other two get taken out, it will be even harder for us."


    Hearing this, the little witch nodded, first throwing two smoke grenades, then quickly leaping out of the wall and running towards a house up ahead.


    As long as she got behind that house, the people from the LD team couldn''t hit them.


    "Bang bang bang"


    At that moment, Yu Feng ran out from that small room, aiming to help his teammate take down Qin Hao.


    But when he came out, Star had already been killed by Qin Hao, and the barrel was already pointing at him.


    Before he could even pull the trigger, he was headshot and taken down by Qin Hao.


    ...


    The official game broadcast room was already abuzz.


    "Woah, is the Gun Demon God going to wipe out the team solo?"


    "Beast, he took down two elites from LD Team without a scratch."


    "6666666"


    "Damn, how bad can Star''s shooting be to miss at such close range?"


    "It''s the Gun Demon God''s amazing movement technique, what kind of movement technique is that? Does any brother know?"


    "Damn, this movement technique is insane, how fast does one''s hand speed have to be?"


    Broadcasters Han and Mini in the live room were also stunned; they had seen long-distance S or Z movement techniques to dodge bullets.


    But they had never seen such close-range dodging, it''s just too formidable, right? Find adventures at empire


    After Yu Feng and Star died, LD Team''s Awei quickly asked, "What happened? How did you two die?"


    Back at LD headquarters, Star''s face was an unsightly color, feeling as if he had been toyed with.


    At such a close range, over a dozen bullets didn''t hit, which felt like being slapped hard across the face, leaving a burning sensation.


    He was a famous God-level player on the national server; after this game ended, the audience would probably ridicule him a lot.


    LD Yu Feng was equally frustrated; he, a top national server God-level player, didn''t even get a chance to shoot.


    "Captain, this Gun Demon is too strong. Be careful," he said.


    Qin Hao shouted over the public channel, "LD Star, are you scared? How do you like the Gun Demon''s Devil''s Body Skill? I let you fire a salvo, and you couldn''t hit a single shot."


    "Fuck you, posing as a fucking calf." LD Star, after all, was a God-level player on the national server, with his own pride and arrogance.


    Unable to contain himself after being mocked by Qin Hao, he burst out instantly.


    Qin Hao clicked his tongue in wonder, "A loser chicken, where do you get the courage to show off in front of the Gun Demon? Don''t let the Gun Demon see you again, or you''ll be beaten into quitting the game."


    ...


    "Haha, the Gun Demon God is right, a defeated subordinate has no right to speak."


    "66666, LD Team''s Star has lost face and has started to rage."


    "Can''t take a loss, eh? And he calls himself a national server God, pah."


    "The Gun Demon God is really mean, I like it."

 Chapter 110 Champion

    While speaking, Qin Hao had already leaped out of the building and rushed towards another one.


    As soon as he jumped in, the other two members of LD Team were coming down from the staircase.


    They met in a narrow path with no cover in sight.


    The captain of LD Team, Awei, responded very quickly, aiming his gun at Qin Hao as soon as he saw him.


    But someone was even quicker.


    As Qin Hao fired his gun while dodging, he shot Awei in the head, knocking him down.


    He was hit by only one bullet and lost a small amount of health.


    LD-Moment also reacted quickly, his submachine gun firing rapidly.


    As Qin Hao took down LD-Awei, LD-Moment''s bullets came flying.


    While controlling his character''s movement, he fired back at LD-Moment.


    "Da da da"


    "Bang bang bang"


    LD-Moment lasted a second longer and then he lay on the ground, while Qin Hao only lost a third of his health.


    In other words, the two members of LD Team hardly hit him with a few shots.


    "Winner winner, chicken dinner,"


    Qin Hao said lightly in the team chat, "Is this really a top-tier team in the Chinese server? That''s all they got."


    Shadow Xiaoya and Xiao Qi looked unconvinced, ''That''s all they got?'' Dude, that''s for you.


    For us, they''re the gods, skill and awareness both extremely impressive.


    "Holy cow, is he that badass?" LD Team''s captain Awei was somewhat incredulous.


    They had their championship acceptance speech ready, but it was no longer needed.


    ...


    The official game live stream was almost exploding: "Solo wipes out LD Team, this move is super lit."


    "Awesome"


    "Awesome"


    "Badass, a top-tier team wiped out by one person, Gun God is about to become famous off this one match."


    "Damn, that''s amazing, God, are we even playing the same game?"


    "Gun God, take my knees."


    "This movement technique is too badass, if I could learn it, I could definitely lead the girls to victory."


    "Could it be the legendary master-apprentice romance?"


    "Damn, is it that thrilling? Is it really a master-apprentice romance?"


    "No way, did my goddess get snagged by Gun God?"


    ...


    Mini spoke up: "Little Witch, may I ask a few questions on behalf of the fans?"


    The Little Witch nodded: "You may, but only three questions."


    Eagerly, Mini smiled and said to the audience in the live broadcast room: "Everyone, if you have any questions, type them in the public screen, and I''ll ask them for you."


    "Is Little Witch in a master-apprentice romance with Gun God? Did my goddess get taken by the God?"


    "Are they in a master-apprentice romance?"


    Initially, there weren''t many messages on the public screen, but soon it was flooded with that question, many chiming in to stir things up.


    Seeing this, Mini smiled and asked: "Little Witch, the fans want to know, are you and Gun God in a master-apprentice romance?"


    The Little Witch was slightly stunned by the question, then smiled and replied: "I think that''s a secret."


    Instantly, many hearts in the live broadcast room shattered. Was the goddess really with Gun God?


    A moment later, Mini continued, "Little Witch, the audience is very curious about Gun God''s age. Could you disclose that?"


    Little Witch: "My master is 19 years old and about to start college."


    "Damn, go smash your keyboards, folks, this is too much."


    "Damn it, indeed, being compared to others really kills your vibe."


    "Gun God, did you come from Mars or what?"


    ...


    Mini: "Here''s the third question, also the last one: Will Gun God participate in professional games?"


    The Little Witch thought for a moment and said, "I''m not sure about that, probably not. My master only started playing this game last month and averages just over an hour each day. He doesn''t seem to have much interest in going professional." Discover stories with empire


    "What? Only started last month? And plays just a bit over an hour each day?" The two commentators were stunned by her statement.


    Are you sure you''re not just bragging for your master? Why do you talk so much like him?


    "Total game time still less than a hundred hours, yet so badass? Damn, I''m quitting gaming."


    "Smash your keyboards, if I still play this game, I''ll eat shit."


    "I''ve noted your ID upstairs, I''ll monitor you."


    "I''ve played almost a thousand hours and still not even one percent as skilled as Gun God, damn it."


    "This must be the difference between a genius and an ordinary person!"

 Chapter 111 Heartbroken Xia Qing

    The little witch had just finished her interview when her phone rang; it was a call from her brother.


    She quickly spoke, "Master, I have to go first because of some matters."


    Qin Hao responded, "Mmm, I also just received a call. Xiao Qi, you guys play, I''ll leave first too."


    Xiao Qi and Xiao Ya nodded, "Mmm, okay."


    The little witch turned off the game and answered the call, "Hello, what''s up, bro?"


    Li Jianjun began, "Fifty million, I''ll only sign him for one year, give me his contact information."


    What he wanted now was to get Qin Hao to leave for his team, believing that once Qin Hao joined his team, the atmosphere and charisma of his team would surely keep him.@@@@


    The little witch asked, "Bro, are you trying to poach from me? Our Shadow Team is still aiming for the national championship."


    Li Jianjun brutally retorted, "Your team, without the Gun Wizard, isn''t even third rate."


    Feeling rubbed the wrong way by his disdain, the little witch said, "Is there anything else? If not, I''m hanging up."


    Li Jianjun quickly said, "Wait, wait, I am your real brother after all. Can you just help your brother out?


    With him on the team, we have an eighty to ninety percent chance of winning the global championship, bringing our country supreme glory."


    The little witch pursed her lips, "Don''t pressure me with righteousness. I understand your intentions; you just want to satisfy your own vanity."


    ...


    Li Jianjun clenched his teeth and said, "Little sister, if you agree, I''ll give you that global limited edition sports car of mine."


    Li Moying was somewhat surprised; that global limited edition sports car had cost him nearly fifty million initially.


    Now, he was indeed making a big sacrifice to bring it out, clearly showing he was dead serious.


    Li Moying said with a smile, "I''ll take the car, and I can give you his contact, but whether he agrees, I''m not sure."


    After speaking, she chuckled to herself: Sorry, "Master," but I have to sell you out just this once.


    "Alright, I''ll give you the car, and you give me his contact," Li Jianjun was determined to get Qin Hao on his side.


    He had watched all the recent match videos online.


    He had never taken Qin Hao seriously before, but now he realized he had underestimated Qin Hao''s abilities.


    With his skill level, he was definitely capable of becoming the top player nationally, and with such a strong player on the team, his team would undoubtedly become a top international team.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao did receive a call, and it was from Xia Qing.


    Things weren''t going as he had expected.


    Just then, his phone rang again. He took it out and saw it was a number from Jianghai City.


    Curiously, he answered the call, "Hello, who''s this?"


    Li Jianjun asked directly, "Are you Gun Demon?"


    Qin Hao was taken aback. In the game, only one person had his contact information ¡ª the Little Witch.


    He had never given it to anyone else, not even to Xiao Qi and Xiao Ya.


    This person knowing it now could only mean one thing: his apprentice had betrayed him.


    He was somewhat speechless: "What do you need?"


    Li Jianjun got straight to the point: "I''ll give you fifty million to sign with my team for a year. How about it?"


    Qin Hao was stunned. Fifty million was no small amount for him, and someone opening with fifty million had to be significant.


    Having interacted with the Little Witch for so long, he had a rough idea of her identity.


    She was a rich, beautiful woman from a wealthy family. A person who could obtain her number must be somebody significant too.


    He thought for a moment and then refused. Fifty million was substantial, but the constraints would be too great.


    With the system by his side, he believed he could create many more fifty millions in a year.


    Li Jianjun didn''t expect him to refuse such a big offer. Even an average wealthy heir would be tempted by it.


    Unless Qin Hao was also a powerful wealthy heir, but was he?


    Li Jianjun continued: "We can negotiate the price. Eighty million flat rate, that''s the highest I can offer.


    It''s also the highest price in the gaming world. I hope you will give it some thought."


    Qin Hao, considering the face of the Little Witch, didn''t hang up directly: "No need, I don''t plan to go pro, and I still need to study."


    Li Jianjun: "Study? Big brother, what are you studying for? Isn''t it just to get a good job and make money later on?


    Now you have eighty million right in front of you, the fast track to success."


    "If you''re so rich, why do you still need to study?" Qin Hao''s retort left him speechless.


    Li Jianjun nearly choked on his frustration, damn, your words really cut deep.


    Qin Hao: "If there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up first."


    He was already in a bad mood because of Xia Qing, so he didn''t want to talk more with Li Jianjun.

 Chapter 112 Acquisition?

    Li Jianjun, hearing the busy tone on the phone, frowned slightly and felt somewhat displeased.


    The price of eighty million was already not low, but truthfully, it wasn''t too high either.


    As long as Qin Hao kept up at this level, he believed there would be others willing to pay a higher price to poach him.


    For instance, on streaming platforms for chat apps, such highly popular players could attract a lot of traffic.


    In the past, officials from chat apps had offered over a hundred million to buy a popular professional player.


    For someone like Qin Hao, there was a strong possibility they would make a move to acquire him.


    Of course, buying Qin Hao for the streaming platform merely meant signing a contract to have him stream on the chat app platform, not a team contract.


    Qin Hao hanging up his phone was not only because of Xia Qing''s matter, but also due to the tone of Li Jianjun''s speech.


    He was somewhat put off by Li Jianjun''s tone, which was arrogant, superior, and as if he had everything under control.


    Li Jianjun himself might not have even realized it.


    It was the influence of his upbringing since childhood; whether it was his tone of speech or demeanor, they were not like ordinary people''s.


    Moreover, such people have their own circles that are difficult for ordinary people to break into.


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao lay down on his bed and went to sleep.


    That night, he didn''t sleep well, having many fragmented dreams that he couldn''t even clearly recall.


    Around nine in the morning, he finally got up, washed up, and had a quick bite to eat.


    Right after breakfast, he received a call from Kang Youyi, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Bai from Jiu Chang Group has come and would like to talk to you."


    Qin Hao was curious, What does Jiu Chang Group want with me?@@@@


    He replied, "Okay, I''ll be right over."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao left the complex and took a taxi to Shenghua Building.


    About ten minutes later, Qin Hao arrived at Shenghua Building, got out of the car, and walked into the building.


    Taking the elevator to the company, the two female receptionists at the front desk hurriedly greeted him when they saw him, "Good morning, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded his head, then asked, "Where are the people from Jiu Chang Group?"


    The female receptionist replied, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Bai from Jiu Chang Group is waiting for you in your office, Mr. Kang is with him."


    "Uh-huh," Qin Hao walked into his office.


    Inside the office, Kang Youyi was chatting with a sophisticated and charming woman.


    Bai Jing didn''t have much hope for this visit, as business cooperation rarely succeeds on the first attempt.


    Now, at least, she had successfully taken the first step by leaving a good impression on Qin Hao.


    After chatting a bit more, Bai Jing took her leave.


    Not long after Bai Jing had left, there was a knock on the door as Qin Hao sat in his office.


    "Come in."


    The receptionist led a group of people inside, "Mr. Qin, this is Meng Hui, the vice president of Zhengyuan Company."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "You can go now."


    Meng Hui brought five people with him, including a female secretary and some subordinates.


    When he first entered, he glanced around Qin Hao''s office, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao, he held him in even lower regard.


    Just a milk-nosed brat, a little show of my aura, and he''d probably be intimidated by me.


    Thinking this, he slouched arrogantly on the sofa, as if he were in his own home.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao slightly furrowed his brows, "May I know what brings Vice President Meng to my company?"


    Meng Hui said with a smile, "I''m here to tell you some good news."


    Good news?


    Qin Hao was a bit surprised. He didn''t know him, did he? What good news could this person possibly have for me?


    "Mr. Meng, please speak your mind."


    Meng Hui: "Alright, our company plans to acquire your Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, and I believe you will be very satisfied with the price, ten million.


    Such a young fellow and already a millionaire; this would surely make many people jealous if word got out."


    Qin Hao nearly choked, ten million? Are you kidding me?


    Zhengyuan Group originally planned to offer thirty million, but Meng Hui felt he could secure it for ten million, so he pitched that amount.


    Qin Hao sneered, "Mr. Meng, are you joking? Ten million for my company?


    Do you know the value of just those stores, not to mention the secret recipe of my Jiangshan Roasted Duck?"


    Meng Hui said with a smile, "The price is negotiable, how about fifteen million?"


    Qin Hao''s expression cooled, "Mr. Meng, I don''t have time to play here with you. If you have nothing else, please leave, I have other matters to attend to."

 Chapter 113 Back to School

    He didn''t give Zhengyuan Company any face, nor did he give Meng Hui any face either.


    It was obvious that Meng Hui did not consider him important either.


    If Meng Hui didn''t respect him, why would he respect Meng Hui?


    As expected, when Meng Hui heard his words, he struggled to maintain his dignity, especially with his female secretary and subordinates standing next to him.


    If he didn''t reclaim some dignity, he would probably be ridiculed when he got back.


    Meng Hui''s expression turned cold, and he indeed exuded a bit of authority, "Qin Hao, I advise you not to be ungrateful.


    My Zhengyuan Company is an established business in Jiangshan City. You better consider the consequences of offending us."


    Qin Hao snorted coldly, "You can go and ask around who Qin Hao has ever been afraid of? Calling you Mr. Meng is giving you face, without giving you face you are nothing to me, get lost."


    Meng Hui''s face went from green to white, and he nodded fiercely, "Fine, we''ll see."


    After he spoke, he stood up and left with his people, looking extremely upset.


    After those people left, Kang Youyi hurriedly came over, "Hao, what happened?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "Nothing, just a bunch of people trying to take advantage of us, block them outside if they come again."


    "Okay, sure Hao."


    ...


    A lot of people visit Qin Hao''s company this day, mostly local businesses from Jiangshan City.


    The talks mostly revolve around acquisitions and financing, these people are simply eyeing the potential of Jiangshan Roasted Duck, all wanting a piece of it.@@@@


    Qin Hao refused, as the company was not in need of cash nor did he plan to raise funds.


    He didn''t know if those people would hold a grudge, but if anyone dared to play dirty, he was no pushover either.


    August 26, one day before the university starts, he had already booked his ticket, for early morning at six tomorrow.


    He didn''t go to the company this day but stayed home packing.


    In the morning, he called Du Wanrou, who was also leaving tomorrow, but her parents were flying her there.


    Li Shujie didn''t go to work; she stayed at home helping her son pack his things.


    Mrs. Qin was still worried, "Xiao Hao, let your dad and me take you there tomorrow. What if you get deceived by someone in a place you''re unfamiliar with?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Mom, I''m already an adult, I can make my own decisions, please don''t worry."


    Mrs. Qin, "You''re going to a strange city miles away, how could I not worry?"


    All that had to be built on a foundation of strength.


    He set a goal for himself.


    He wanted to expand his roasted duck business across the entire Shuinan Province before the New Year.


    He aimed to possess a force equal to or even surpassing that of Ounuo Company, so that nothing would stand in his way with Du Wanrou.


    He woke up at five o''clock the next morning.


    Mr. and Mrs. Qin were also up; they had a quick bite, and then drove him to the train station.


    All the way there, Mrs. Qin kept instructing him to be careful while he was away and to call home if anything came up.


    Mr. Qin parked the car and then walked him into the train station.


    Qin Hao first collected his ticket, then entered the waiting hall. He had bought a high-speed train ticket, which would get him there in about five hours.


    The waiting hall was crowded with people. These few days marked the peak of school starts, so there were many students traveling.


    Moreover, many students were accompanied by their parents, making it even more crowded.


    Qin Hao looked at his parents beside him and said, "Mom, Dad, you should head back. They''re about to start checking tickets; I''ll go in first."


    Mrs. Qin said, "Why the rush? Mom hasn''t had enough of seeing you yet. I don''t know when I''ll be able to see you again once you leave."


    Qin Hao felt a pang of sorrow upon hearing his mom''s words; this was his first time traveling far.


    His emotions were complex, filled with excitement as well as reluctance and uncertainty.


    At six fifteen,


    the employees began checking tickets for Qin Hao''s train, and he turned and said, "Mom, Dad, you should go back."


    Mr. Qin said, "It''s fine; we''ll leave in a bit."


    Qin Hao took a deep breath, pulled his suitcase, and headed to the ticket gate, not daring to look back. He was afraid of seeing his mom''s teary eyes.


    He was also afraid that he couldn''t stop his own tears.


    After waiting a few minutes, it was Qin Hao''s turn; once the checker had inspected his ticket, he walked through the gate.


    He couldn''t help but look back; his parents were still standing there, watching in his direction.


    Youguo saw him turn and waved at him.


    Mrs. Qin was wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, her face breaking into a smile as she looked at him.


    Qin Hao waved back, then turned and walked into the passageway, "I''m coming, Jianghai City!"

 Chapter 114 Arriving in Jianghai City

    Qin Hao followed the crowd out from the passage, his seat was in car number four, seat 60.


    He walked towards the front to car number four, dragging his suitcase.


    Upon boarding the train, Qin Hao walked along while searching for his seat.


    Soon, he found his seat in the middle of the car, placed his suitcase on the luggage rack, and then sat down.


    His seat was by the window, with an adjacent seat that was still empty, presumably the person hadn''t arrived yet.


    This high-speed train had no face-to-face seating, all were double seats facing forward.


    Similar to the seats on a coach, but with more space here, the seats could be reclined backward, allowing for lie-down sleeping.


    After a while, a young girl arrived, pulling a suitcase and carrying a backpack.


    She looked purely innocent, with finely chiseled features and blushing cheeks, probably out of breath from pulling the somewhat heavy suitcase.


    Ning Yao glanced at the high luggage rack, her face showing a worried expression as she looked around hoping to find someone to help.


    But the people nearby were busy with their own things or chatting, with no one intending to lend her a hand.


    Qin Hao saw her dilemma and stood up, saying, "Let me help you put it up."


    "Thank you so much, my suitcase is a bit heavy," Ning Yao expressed her gratitude while also reminding him.


    Since Qin Hao appeared somewhat slim, she was concerned he might not be able to lift it.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "No problem."


    Then he easily picked up Ning Yao''s suitcase and placed it on the luggage rack.


    Ning Yao was somewhat surprised by his strength, then she took seat 61 and thanked him again, "Thank you."


    Qin Hao felt she was being too polite and casually remarked, "When on your own, everyone inevitably encounters difficulties, help out if you can, it''s all about mutual assistance."


    Ning Yao nodded slightly, she didn''t dare to engage in more conversation with Qin Hao, maintaining a bit of caution.


    From her dress and demeanor, Qin Hao could tell her family''s living conditions weren''t very good.


    She was wearing an old-style T-shirt on top and faded jeans below.


    But this in no way concealed her unstained, serene charisma.


    Qin Hao saw a hint of Xia Qing in her, both maintaining caution around strangers.


    Qin Hao didn''t mind, after all, they didn''t know each other at all previously.


    If Ning Yao were to completely trust him because of this incident, Qin Hao would also think she was too gullible.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "That''s right, she was in my class, and we were desk mates too."


    Ning Yao, "No wonder both of you did so well."


    It might have been because Qin Hao mentioned his own name, or maybe because they would be classmates in the future,


    but Ning Yao spoke much more than before, and they chatted for over an hour.


    Around twelve-thirty PM, Ning Yao grabbed some food and then planned to rest.


    Qin Hao was chatting with Du Wanrou on his phone, "Have you already reached Jianghai City?"


    Du Wanrou, "Yeah, we arrived at eleven o''clock and are now heading to the school. Qin Hao, Jianghai City is so big and beautiful."


    Qin Hao, "Then, on weekends when we have breaks, I''ll take you around Jianghai City properly."


    Du Wanrou replied, "Yeah, sounds good. It''s a deal. If you don''t take me, I won''t talk to you."


    The two chatted for a while, and then Du Wanrou arrived at Jianghai University.


    The enrollment period at Jianghai University was from the 27th to the 31st of the month, lasting five days.


    At 1:45 PM, the high-speed train from Jiangshan to Jianghai City reached Jianghai South Station in Xuanbo District.


    Qin Hao helped Ning Yao take her suitcase off the rack, and then the two of them got off the train together and followed the crowd towards the exit of the station.


    Jianghai South Station was huge, with many people either arriving or departing.


    As Qin Hao and Ning Yao came out of the exit, they were surrounded by many people, "Need a taxi, young man? Cheap."


    "Miss, need a cab?"


    "Young man, where are you heading?"


    ...


    Ning Yao, a bit frightened by the imposing crowd, instinctively moved closer to Qin Hao.


    She walked beside Qin Hao and asked, "Qin Hao, which way should we go?"


    Qin Hao looked up at the blue sky, then replied, "Let''s head outside."


    He led Ning Yao towards the outer area of the train station plaza.


    The station plaza was crowded, with people waiting, picking others up, and others just arriving.


    The two of them walked towards the outside of the plaza, and just as they stepped out, a little girl around ten years old approached them.


    The girl carried a large backpack and held two bottles of water in her hand.


    Looking at Qin Hao and Ning Yao, she smiled, "Brother, sister, do you want water? One yuan per bottle."

 Chapter 115 Jianghai University

    Qin Hao looked at the little girl, her head covered in sweat, her lips pale and already beginning to crack.


    The temperature in Jianghai City was very high, almost around thirty degrees, extremely hot.


    Of course, this was also related to the large backpack she was carrying. If he wasn''t mistaken, the backpack was also filled with mineral water.


    Qin Hao had just gotten off the train not long ago and was already starting to sweat.


    Ning Yao''s cheeks were even more drenched in sweat; carrying so much was exhausting for a girl.


    Qin Hao took out two yuan from his pocket, "Here, brother wants two bottles."


    "Uh-huh, okay, brother." The little girl quickly set down her backpack, then unzipped it and took out two bottles of water.


    She earnestly said, "Brother, here you go. This mineral water definitely hasn''t been opened and refilled with tap water, you and sister can drink it without worries."


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Uh-huh, brother believes you."


    After saying that, he handed Ning Yao a bottle, "Have some water, the weather in Jianghai City is really hot."


    Ning Yao did not hesitate, as she was indeed quite thirsty; she had already finished her water on the train, "Thank you."


    The little girl put her backpack on again and then went off to sell her water to other people.


    However, she hadn''t gone far when two scruffy-looking youths approached her.


    One of them cursed as he walked over, "You little brat, who the hell allowed you to sell stuff here?"


    The little girl''s gaze turned timid, and she involuntarily took a step back, "I didn''t sell on the plaza, I sold outside."


    The blond youth said, "All of South Station is our territory, you can''t sell anywhere here. I see you''ve sold quite a bit, hand over the money."


    The little girl clutched her pocket, "No, I sold these myself, why should I give it to you?"


    The blond youth pushed her, "Don''t be ungrateful, you little brat."


    The little girl was pushed to the ground, and immediately her eyes turned red, tears swirling in her eyes.


    Not far away, Qin Hao and Ning Yao saw this scene, and their eyebrows furrowed.


    Qin Hao could roughly understand what was happening; this area around South Station was the turf claimed by the blond, and others were not allowed to sell things here.


    This sort of thing was common everywhere; such people were generally the local ruffians.


    But treating a child this way, Qin Hao felt it was a bit too much.


    He walked over and helped the little girl up, "Are you alright, little sister?"


    The little girl''s eyes were filled with admiration. This big brother was so formidable.


    Ning Yao was also somewhat surprised. Wow, how handsome. He knows martial arts?


    Qin Hao glanced coolly at Huang Mao, didn''t strike again, and turned to walk away, pulling his suitcase behind him.


    He said to the little girl, "You should head back soon."


    "Mmm, thank you, Big Brother."


    After the little girl left, Qin Hao and Ning Yao caught a taxi and headed directly to Jianghai University.


    The taxi driver was very chatty. "Young man, are you here to study at Jianghai University?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Mmm, yes, it''s my first time in Jianghai City."


    The driver smiled and asked, "Is this young lady your girlfriend?"


    Hearing the driver''s words, Ning Yao blushed slightly, and Qin Hao hurriedly explained, "No, we''re from the same hometown, both from Jiangshan City."


    "Sorry about that, miss. My mistake," the driver said with a chuckle.


    Ning Yao replied softly, "No problem, uncle."


    Suddenly remembering something, the driver asked, "Wasn''t this year''s top scorer in the national exam from Shuinan Province Jiangshan City? His name is Qin Hao, right?"


    "That''s right, he''s from our Jiangshan City." Qin Hao didn''t reveal that he was Qin Hao, as there was no need to.


    The driver chatted with Qin Hao the whole way, and in less than an hour, they arrived on the street outside Jianghai University.


    The street was too crowded with cars and people for the driver to enter, so he had to stop at the intersection.


    While paying, Ning Yao insisted on paying, but Qin Hao stopped her and handed a hundred to the driver.


    Once the taxi left, Qin Hao said with a smile, "It''s just a few tens of yuan. Don''t be so formal; we might even end up being classmates."


    Ning Yao didn''t insist any further, and the two of them, pulling their suitcases, walked toward the entrance of Jianghai University.


    Along the few hundred meters, the roadsides were lined with cars, almost all of them luxury cars worth over a million.


    Qin Hao even saw several super luxury cars worth tens of millions.


    Jianghai City truly lived up to its name, not at all like the smaller scale of Jiangshan.


    After walking for several minutes, they arrived at the entrance of the university.


    The majestic stone pillars engraved with dragons and flowers conveyed a grand atmosphere, and the calligraphy of "Jianghai University" above was clearly the work of a master.


    Looking at the gate and then inside, where trees cast cool shade and flowers and plants flourished, Ning Yao expressed her happiness, "So this is Jianghai University, it''s beautiful."

 Chapter 116 The Weird Dormitory

    Though Qin Hao had a system, to tell the truth, he hadn''t really seen much of the world.


    Beholding the grandeur of Jianghai University, he couldn''t help but feel some admiration, truly befitting one of Xuan Country''s top institutions.


    "Beep beep"


    A car horn sounded nearby as a Mercedes-Benz sedan slowly drove into the campus.


    Ning Yao, upon seeing the Mercedes-Benz enter, curiously said, "Doesn''t the sign say that outside vehicles are not allowed to enter?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "It''s the invisible hierarchy, although the sign at the gate says outside vehicles cannot enter, that''s meant for ordinary people."


    Ning Yao seemed to understand but did not speak further.


    Qin Hao was right, no matter where, there are always situations where some rules don''t apply to certain people.


    The two walked into the campus and then saw umbrellas set up under the large trees along the road, with tables and signs beneath them.


    They were labeled with different departments, and Qin Hao looked for the Computer College as he walked further in.


    After several dozen meters, he finally saw the sign for the Computer College.


    There were three tables registering new students, and Qin Hao and Ning Yao queued up at one with fewer people.


    In front of them were two people; after those two completed their registration and left, it was Ning Yao''s turn.


    "Hello, student, please take out your admission notice," the mature woman in the middle, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, asked Ning Yao.


    She was flanked by two sophomore female students, whose badges on their chests showed they were members of the student council.


    Ning Yao took out her admission notice and handed it to He Tingting, "Hello, this is my admission notice."


    He Tingting glanced at it, then did some registration, "Hello, Ning Yao, your class is Computer Science Class 1, and I am your mentor, He Tingting."


    Ning Yao hastily said, "Hello, Mr. He."


    He Tingting nodded slightly, "Here is your student card, meal card, and other items. I will have someone take you to your dormitory in a while."


    Ning Yao nodded and then stood aside.


    Qin Hao stepped forward, taking out his admission notice.


    He Tingting looked at it, paused, and then looked up at him, "You are Qin Hao?"


    The two sophomore student council members also looked up at him. Qin Hao? Was he that freak who scored full marks on the national unified exam?


    Qin Hao looked at He Tingting, "Is there a problem with my name?"


    He Tingting evaluated him, thinking how quickly you forget, don''t remember how you schooled me before?


    Wang Yanghua exclaimed, "Qin Hao from Jiangshan City? No way, brother, are you the freak who got a perfect score on the unified exam?"


    The other four also stared at him with wide eyes as if looking at an alien.


    The tall Zhao De spoke up, "Brother, how did you score a perfect mark? Are you even human?"


    Qin Hao was at a loss for words. Was this a compliment or an insult? What kind of dormitory was this, filled with eccentrics?


    But these people were very enthusiastic, helping him make his bed and organize his things.


    His bed was in the upper bunk, with a computer desk underneath. The dormitory was well-equipped.


    There were a total of six upper bunks, all with uniform computer desks below, and cabinets and such.


    While making his bed, Qin Hao got to know these people one by one, their names were Zhao De, Wang Yanghua, Sun Feng, Wu Jun, and Chen Ping.


    What shocked Qin Hao the most was their scores on the unified exam¡ªaround 700 points each, all of them top-tier students.


    Damn it, how could these guys resemble good students? Qin Hao felt like there must be some mistake.


    They even ranked themselves by age. Sun Feng was the oldest, followed by Qin Hao. Wu Jun was the third, then came Zhao De, the fifth was the fatty Wang Yanghua, and the sixth was Chen Ping.


    After Qin Hao''s bed was made, the chubby Wang Yanghua said, "Come on, brothers, I''ve got some rare files here."


    Hearing his words, everyone crowded around. Qin Hao also looked on curiously.


    A nosebleed-inducing image appeared before their eyes¡ªexplosive, thrilling...


    After watching, everyone dispersed. The youngest, Chen Ping, asked, "Does anyone play ''Survival at the Brink''? Let''s play together?"


    "Sure, I''m the ultimate Voldemort, come on, little six, add me," the chubby Wang Yanghua eagerly said.


    The oldest Sun Feng and the third oldest Wu Jun also played this game, and they quickly formed a four-man team.


    The tall Zhao De didn''t play games, instead, he took out a basketball and asked Qin Hao, "Second brother, wanna play ball?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I''ve got something else to do, you go ahead."


    "Mm, okay, second brother." Zhao De took the basketball and left on his own.


    Qin Hao took out his phone and sent a message to Du Wanrou, "Wan Rou, where are you?"


    "In the dorm, chatting. Qin Hao, my college is in the east campus, not the same campus as yours." She then sent a crying face emoji.


    Qin Hao paused, the east campus? What the heck? "Where''s the east campus?"


    Du Wanrou replied with a gloomy face, "It''s in Bailing District. Your Computer College is on the main campus."


    ```

 Chapter 117 Second Brother Qin Hao

    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou had been talking for a long time when Qin Hao''s phone rang; it was his mother calling.


    Seeing it was his mother''s call, he quickly answered, "Mom, I''ve arrived at school. I was a bit busy and forgot to call you earlier."


    Contrary to her usual self, Li Shujie didn''t scold him, "Mm, as long as you''ve arrived. If you''re short on money, just let mom know, understand?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "I understand, Mom."


    Mrs. Qin said, "Mm, alright then, mom is hanging up first."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao let out a long sigh. He and Du Wanrou chatted a bit more, then she was pulled away by her roommate to talk.


    Just after Qin Hao hung up the call, he received another call from Kang Youyi, the fatty. He stepped out of the dorm to take the call.


    He asked, "What''s up?"@@@@


    Kang Youyi said, "Hao, we have plans to open six roasted duck stores by the end of the month."


    Qin Hao asked, "That many? Are they all ready?"


    Kang Youyi nodded, "Every department is ready, and the rented stores are now renovated. The staff has also been well trained. I''ve sent the development plan to your email."


    Qin Hao replied, "Mm okay, I''ll check it out later. Remember to notify me first thing if anything comes up in the company."


    "Don''t worry, Hao."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao returned to the dormitory where Sun Feng and the others were still playing video games; none of them won the first round.


    They were now playing the second round, with thirty people left.


    Qin Hao glanced at them, then took out his laptop and logged into his chat software account.


    He opened the chat software and found an email from Kang Youyi.


    It was the development plan for Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd, decided by the marketing planning department and others including Kang Youyi.


    He read through it carefully; the development plan was excellent, primarily authored by the marketing director Meng Zhicheng.


    Meng Zhicheng, a talent whom Kang Youyi had poached with a high salary, had previously been a director of marketing planning at a major company and had extensive experience.


    The plan set by Kang Youyi and others was, roughly, to expand swiftly and capture the market through renting stores.


    The email also roughly mentioned the cost of renting stores in Jiangshan City, about sixty thousand per month.


    Last month, the roasted duck stores made a net profit of over three million, from which two million was used for the expansion to rent six new stores.


    They also needed to purchase many facilities and items; the two million planned by Kang Youyi and his team was almost exactly enough.


    This time it was Li Bao calling. He didn''t go outside to talk but answered right there in the room.


    The voice of Li Bao rose, "Hao, I heard you left this morning?"


    It had been a long time since Qin Hao had heard his voice, and ever since he got his own company, he seldom dealt with Li Bao''s affairs.


    Li Bao had also rarely contacted him because he knew his identity could be troublesome. Reaching out to Qin Hao would only bring trouble to him.


    Qin Hao replied, "Yeah, I took the train at six in the morning."


    Li Bao said, "Hao, since you''re unfamiliar with places outside, just tell me if you need anything, and I''ll come over with the guys."


    Qin Hao responded with a smile, "Got it, I heard you started a company. Are you short on cash?"


    Li Bao answered, "No, I have enough."


    Qin Hao said calmly, "Well, if you ever run short, just let me know. Don''t be shy."


    "Alright, Hao," Li Bao responded.


    After hanging up, the chubby Wang Yanghua remarked, "Big brother, you sure are busy with business."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Some old friends heard I left and called me."


    Wang Yanghua sneered, "Old friends? Big brother, you''re so young. Why do you talk like an old man? It''s too mature. Girls generally don''t like that. I bet you definitely don''t have a girlfriend."


    ...


    Qin Hao just smiled and didn''t explain anything. You''ll see when you meet my girlfriend.


    The tall Zhao Dehua came back around six, and after arriving, he took a basin to wash up.


    Sun Feng and his three friends finished another round of the game, perfectly clinching a victory. Old Six Chen Ping had impressive skills.


    Qin Hao had watched for a while, and Chen Ping''s skills were very impressive, stronger than the "little witch". Without him, they wouldn''t have clinched the victory.


    Although the skills of Sun Feng, Wu Jun, and the chubby Wang Yanghua were just average, especially Wang Yanghua''s were very poor.


    Qin Hao could barely look straight, using a phrase from the netizens to describe it: Holy crap, that''s so bad.


    After finishing the game, Wang Yanghua exclaimed, "Old Six, your skills are awesome, really kickass."


    Sun Feng was quite handsome. He was a local and his family had some money.


    But he didn''t have that obnoxious arrogance about him.


    He also smiled and said, "Never thought our dormitory was hiding a gaming ace, we can definitely ask Old Six to help with picking up girls in the future."

 Chapter 118 The Sleazy Fat Man

    Wu Jun nodded his head, "Old Six is really impressive, both his operations and awareness are much better than ours."


    Just then, the tall Zhao De came back from freshening up, "Brothers, are you hungry? Let''s go have a meal, my treat."


    Sun Feng quickly said, "How can you pay for the first meal? I''m a local, I should treat you to this first meal."


    "The boss is right, tonight the first meal must be on him," the others echoed.


    Zhao De didn''t insist anymore and said with a smile, "Alright, then let''s let the boss treat us."


    After preparing a little, they left the dormitory and went to the school''s cafeteria.


    Sun Feng led them to the second floor of the cafeteria restaurant, which was like a restaurant crowded with both men and women.


    The chubby guy immediately scoped the place, his mouth nearly watering, as he eyed the fair, thick thighs around him.


    Sun Feng generously said, "Order whatever you like."


    Old Three, Wu Jun, and Old Five, the chubby guy, were very enthusiastic, choosing several dishes, while Old Four Zhao De and Old Liu, Chen Ping, appeared much calmer.


    About seven or eight minutes later, the food arrived, and Sun Feng also brought a few bottles of white liquor and a case of beer.


    Each poured a glass of white liquor, then Sun Feng spoke, "Xuan Country is so big, yet fate has brought us brothers together in one dorm. Here''s to us all coming together."


    They all lifted their glasses, took a sip, and then started on the food, chatting while they ate.


    The meal lasted over two hours. Aside from Qin Hao who was still somewhat sober, the others were all showing signs of drunkenness.


    There weren''t many people left in the second-floor restaurant by then, and Sun Feng staggeringly paid the bill before they all started walking towards the dormitory.


    The new freshmen wouldn''t officially gather until September 1st, so these days were free for them to do as they liked.


    Back at the dormitory, they all washed their faces, regaining a bit of sobriety.


    After freshening up, the tall Zhao De collapsed into bed and fell asleep, fatigued from playing basketball for a long time in the afternoon and having drunk alcohol.


    Old Six, Chen Ping, who presumably hadn''t drunk much before, also went to bed early.


    The rest lay in their beds playing with their phones.


    Qin Hao also lay in bed playing with his phone, next to him was Old Five, the chubby Wang Yanghua.


    "Baby, what are you doing?" Qin Hao sent a message to Du Wanrou.@@@@


    Du Wanrou replied, "Chatting with my roommates, and you?"


    Qin Hao: "Just got back from drinking, lying on the bed now."


    The first one is the popular channel, followed by singing and dancing, gaming, talk shows, outdoor, anime, and so on.


    Qin Hao clicked into the gaming channel, and then scrolled through, eventually spotting Witch''s live stream.


    He recognized it as Witch''s live room because the room''s title was: "Shadow Team Witch."


    Qin Hao clicked in, and the displayed popularity was 530,000 people, which can only be considered medium to high in the gaming channel.


    The top professional team members generally have seven to eight hundred thousand, or even up to over a million viewers, which is quite terrifying.


    Witch was not playing games, instead, she was chatting with the fans in her live room.


    There were many people in her microphone queue, Witch being the host stayed on microphone one.


    Microphone two hosted a duke, nicknamed Soft Tiger, and below him were many other people who had sent lots of gifts, all big shots.


    For instance, Soft Tiger''s weekly contribution leaderboard reached over 200,000 Xuan Country Coins.


    That is to say, within a week, he had spent over 200,000 yuan on Witch, a bona fide big shot.


    Moreover, Qin Hao also checked out this duke title, which costs 100,000 yuan a month.


    This wasn''t even the most expensive, above duke there were two more impressive titles.


    One was marquis, requiring 200,000 a month, and the most powerful was emperor, costing 660,000 yuan a month.


    Qin Hao was astonished, this was simply highway robbery.


    Tenglong Group, with just this TT Live platform, probably earns an extremely terrifying sum each month.


    TT Live platform is a subsidiary company under Tenglong Group, and the income of this subsidiary is much greater than some listed big companies.


    Only to hear Witch in the live room saying, "Don''t ask me where my master is studying at, I cannot tell you without his permission."


    Qin Hao switched to TT, sent her a message: "Now you know how to keep secrets? Whom did you give my phone number to?"


    Witch was startled upon seeing the message, then hurriedly said, "Master, master, you are in my live room?"


    After saying that, she quickly sent Qin Hao a message: "Master, what''s your account number? I''ll get you on the microphone queue."


    The people in the live room hearing Witch''s words began to shout: "Is God Gunner in the live room? Where?"


    "Where is God Gunner, come out quick."


    "Idol, where are you?"


    "God, come out quick, you haven''t played in days, we miss you."

 Chapter 119 Candidness

    Qin Hao gave her his account, and the little witch found it and took him to the second microphone queue.


    The little witch said to the people in the live stream room, "This Spade Ace is my master. Everyone, please follow him."


    In an instant, Qin Hao''s followers skyrocketed. Without the little witch having to say anything, these people all followed him immediately.@@@@


    This was the Gun God, a top national god player, and now Qin Hao''s game account was ranked within the top ten in the national server.


    After a few more games, he might be able to claim the top spot and become the number one god in the national server.


    Qin Hao was in the dormitory and it wasn''t convenient to speak with the microphone, so he didn''t speak, he just hung around for a while.


    In less than half an hour, his followers had risen to nearly four hundred thousand.


    Almost everyone in the live streaming room, eighty to ninety percent of them, had followed him.


    These people had watched Qin Hao play games for a long time; they were not only fans of the little witch but also his fans.


    Around nine o''clock in the evening, Qin Hao logged off and went to bed.


    The next morning, Qin Hao got up early while the others in the dormitory were still sound asleep.


    After washing up, he went to the cafeteria and brought back some steamed buns and soy milk to the dormitory.


    By the time he returned, Wang Feng, the fatty, and the others had woken up and were chatting in bed.


    Seeing him returning with a pile of breakfast, Wang Yanghua laughed and said, "It''s still our second brother who''s reliable. Brothers, time to get up for breakfast."


    Everyone got up, and while getting out of bed, they continued asking, "Where are we going to have fun today? Big bro, you''re a local, what fun places are there in Jianghai City?"


    Sun Feng said, "Where do you guys want to go? To an amusement park, or someplace with a nice view?"


    Wu Jun spoke up, "I heard Jianghai City''s ocean aquarium is huge, how about we go there for fun?"


    The fatty nodded and said, "Sure, I''ve never been to Jianghai City''s ocean aquarium."


    The others nodded in agreement, "Alright, let''s go after we finish eating."


    Qin Hao spoke up, "You guys go ahead, I''ve got some things to do, so I won''t join."


    Upon hearing this, Wang Yanghua hurriedly said, "Second bro, you''ve just got to Jianghai City, what could you possibly have to do? Let''s go have fun together, brothers."


    Sun Feng also joined in, "Yeah, Old Two, let''s all go and have fun together."


    Qin Hao smiled bitterly, "You guys go ahead, I really have things to do."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Nice to meet you all, I''m Qin Hao. I hope you''ll look after Wan Rou for me in the future."


    Li Niannian was wearing a very large pair of glasses, looking somewhat cute.


    She looked at Qin Hao and asked, "Are you the Qin Hao who scored full marks on the Jiangshan City unified exam?"


    The others, upon hearing Li Niannian''s words, widened their eyes in surprise.


    Is he the genius who scored full marks on the unified exam? He''s our roommate''s boyfriend?


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh and nodded. He hadn''t expected his reputation to be so widespread. It seemed the notoriety of being the national top scorer in the unified exam was significant indeed.


    Du Wanrou felt a sense of pride and said with a smile, "Niannian, Qin Hao and I are going to hang out now."


    "Go on, stop flaunting your love in front of us. It''s getting unbearable," Li Niannian said with a feigned look of disgust.


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou, hand in hand, walked out of the school.


    Once out of the school, Du Wanrou asked, "Where shall we go to have fun?"


    Qin Hao was well-prepared, "Let''s go to Pan Garden in Jianghai. It''s one of the top ten scenic spots in Jianghai City."


    Du Wanrou nodded, "Okay, sounds good."


    Qin Hao didn''t take her to catch a bus, as the weather was very hot and some buses didn''t have air conditioning, which made it very uncomfortable.


    Money wasn''t an issue for him, so he directly hailed a cab to the famous Pan Garden in Jianghai City.


    Located in Xuanbo District, Pan Garden was quite far away. After more than half an hour in the taxi, they reached the entrance of Pan Garden.


    The fare totaled more than one hundred and seventy yuan, which Qin Hao pulled out and paid to the driver.


    Once the taxi had left, Du Wanrou said, "Qin Hao, actually, we could have just taken the bus."


    Qin Hao knew what she meant. He opened his email on his phone, clicked on a message, and showed it to Du Wanrou.


    Du Wanrou took a curious glance and then froze, "Why do you have Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant''s financial statement for July? That''s confidential for a company."


    She looked at him with worried eyes, thinking he might have stolen it.


    Qin Hao laughed and said, "Because I am the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd., they have to send me the financial statement every month for my review."


    Du Wanrou looked incredulous, taking Qin Hao''s phone to examine further.


    Besides that email, there were several others from Kang Youyi, Yu Jie, and Tian Yamei.


    Du Wanrou looked up at him, her eyes filled with surprise and delight, "Are you really the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck?"

 Chapter 120 The Name of the Man, The Shadow of the Tree

    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Why would I deceive you about this? I will support you in the future."


    After he said this, he wrapped his arms around Du Wanrou''s slender and soft waist.


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned slightly red, and she didn''t resist, still immersed in the surprise.


    Qin Hao was the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck, so in the future, they would face less resistance.


    If the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company developed well, it would be much easier to get her parents'' approval.


    Initially, she had some worries about their future, but now she saw hope, the hope given to her by Qin Hao.


    Pan Garden was filled with a classical beauty; pavilions, halls, corridors, rockeries.


    The environment was beautiful, and the scenery charming, walking inside gave one the feeling of stepping back into ancient times.


    There weren''t many people enjoying the sights at Pan Garden during this period. After wandering for more than an hour, they finished touring the entire garden.


    Qin Hao looked at the time; it was almost noon. He asked, "Wan Rou, what would you like to eat for lunch?"


    After thinking for a moment, Du Wanrou said, "On the way here, I saw a western restaurant nearby. I feel like eating steak."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Then let''s go eat steak."


    The two left Pan Garden and entered a nearby western restaurant, where they had a simple meal.


    Qin Hao, for one, hadn''t eaten his fill, so in the afternoon, they went to the City God Temple in Jianghai City.


    The City God Temple was a street famous for its food and snacks from Jianghai, and it was extremely crowded.


    Upon arriving here, Du Wanrou and Qin Hao bought many snacks and local delicacies, eating and walking, enjoying the famous City God Temple in Jianghai City.


    When they got tired, they sat down to take a break.


    At six in the afternoon, after eating dinner at a snack shop, they started heading back.


    Qin Hao dropped her off at the school gate and noticed the Sunshine Hotel next to the school.@@@@


    He took a deep breath and said, "There''s no TV in your dormitory, Wan Rou. How about we go watch some TV?"


    Du Wanrou was slow to react, "Huh? Where are we going to watch TV?"


    Qin Hao looked towards the adjacent Sunshine Hotel, "They should have a TV there, right?"


    Understanding his intention when she saw the hotel, Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned bright red.


    She whispered, "No, I... I''m not ready yet."


    After she said this, she lowered her head, bashfully not daring to look at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao didn''t hold out much hope, and seeing her act so shy and dependent, he reached out and embraced her.


    Du Wanrou was startled for a moment, then also reached out to hug his waist.


    Qin Hao caught a whiff of her light body fragrance, pleasant and alluring, which instantly ignited a fire within him.


    "Master, are you free today?" the Little Witch asked, her voice coming through the speakers.


    Qin Hao, wearing his headset, replied: "Just got back with nothing much to do, thought I''d play for a while."


    And just as he finished speaking, Shadow Xiaoya and Xiao Qi were also pulled into the team by the Little Witch.


    The fans in their three streaming rooms saw Qin Hao come online and immediately erupted: "The Gun God has arrived!"


    "The Gun God finally logs on, is it time to start the massacre mode?"


    "66666"


    "When the Gun God makes a move, the whole server shakes."


    "Welcome to the Gun God coming online."


    "Welcome, Gun God."


    ...


    The Little Witch spoke up: "Master, I am starting now."


    "Yeah, go ahead, I''m going to sleep after playing for a while."


    With a click from the Little Witch, seconds later, their squad appeared in Suzhi Square.


    The square was in chaos, with people chatting, singing, and others picking fights and acting tough.


    Now all four of their rankings were incredibly high, all within the top fifty in the national server, with Qin Hao currently ranked sixth in the national server.


    Having played for so long, bagging victory after victory, and averaging about thirty kills per game, it was nothing short of terrifying.


    Qin Hao was in a good mood and boasted: "The nation''s number one Gun God is here; you trash, shake in your boots."


    Instantly, Suzhi Square went quiet, and the number of people, which was at 96 in the top-right corner just a moment ago-


    Started dropping rapidly. In less than ten seconds, the 96 people in the square had dropped to about sixty.


    "Damn, why is everyone running away?" Qin Hao, seeing people continue to leave from the top-right corner, was somewhat at a loss for words.


    The Little Witch and the other two looked at each other, puzzled. Was the Gun God so fearsome now that just a word from him caused this?


    The people in the live broadcast room couldn''t help but laugh, spamming the chat with 6666666.


    "6666666"


    "A person''s reputation is like a tree''s shadow; the Gun God is truly terrifying."


    "Damn, I respect no one but the Gun God; he can scare people away just like that."


    "Haha, it seems the ones who ran away know all too well how formidable the Gun God is, too badass, too harsh."


    "Holy crap, this scene is too damn intense, Gun God, you have my admiration."


    "Now there are less than fifty people left, 666666, Gun God will be making the gaming headlines again tomorrow."

 Chapter 121 Gun Devil Roommate

    The live stream was filled with voices of admiration and worship.


    Having watched live streaming for so long, this was the first time they had encountered such a situation, even surpassing the former live streams of the top god of the national server.


    Never before had they seen such a crazy mass exit.


    The main reason was that Qin Hao''s skills were too terrifying, leaving them without a glimmer of hope to win.


    His prowess far exceeded that of the current number one in the national server rankings.


    Everyone knew that Shadow Gun Demon''s skills were strong, and it was only a matter of time before he topped the national server.


    There were fewer and fewer people in Suzhi Square; these were all top-tier players, including many national server gods and professional team players.


    Originally, some people had no intention of leaving, but the number of leavers was too high, and with fewer people, it lost its fun, so they followed suit and left as well.


    Seeing this situation, the little witch could only retreat as well, since it was not interesting when less than fifty people were up for a fight.


    Going into the second game, Qin Hao shouted again, and the number of participants dropped once more.


    He was exasperated, "Dammit, it''s just a game, why is it so difficult? Why do you all run off, I''m not a demon."@@@@


    "Master, can we keep a low profile next time?" urged the little witch.


    Qin Hao: "Alright."


    In the following two matches, Qin Hao remained silent, successfully played two games, and won each game.


    After these two games, his account reigned supreme in the national server, and he became a top-tier god in survival games.


    While Qin Hao was on his second game, the fatty and his friends finished theirs and the fatty came over to take a look.


    After just a few glances, Wang Yanghua couldn''t take his eyes off the screen.


    After Qin Hao wiped out a team, Wang Yanghua''s eyes widened, "Holy shit, Bro, your gun skills are insanely good."


    Sun Feng, Wu Jun, and Chen Ping, hearing his comment, became curious and came over to watch Qin Hao play.


    Qin Hao did not conceal his skills, his expression indifferent as he stared at the computer screen.


    Ten minutes later, Qin Hao had already claimed twenty lives, leaving Sun Feng, Wu Jun, and Wang Yanghua dumbfounded.


    Shocked, Wu Jun exclaimed, "Damn, Bro, you''re this awesome at gaming? Even better than Liu Li."


    Chen Ping glanced at Qin Hao''s ID, and felt a jolt.


    He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, "Shadow Gun Demon?" "Bro, you''re the Shadow Gun Demon?"


    "What Shadow Gun Demon are you talking about, Liu Li? That name sounds so lame," the fatty remarked upon hearing Chen Ping''s words.


    The chubby guy chuckled, "No wonder you don''t have a girlfriend, Sixth Brother, with the way you talk, which girl would like you?"


    Qin Hao gave the chubby guy a glance, "Stop talking about Sixth Brother. Look at yourself, how fat you''ve become."


    "Haha, yeah, fatty, you''re one to talk about Sixth Brother," Wu Jun also said with a laugh.


    Even though Qin Hao had revealed his gaming identity, the guys didn''t feel any more distant from him.


    After chatting for a while, they finished washing up and went to bed.


    Du Wanrou had been out all day, so she went to bed early at night, but it was Little Witch who closed her stream and chatted with him for a while.


    Little Witch asked, "Master, are you at Jianghai University now?"


    Qin Hao: "Mm-hmm, in the dormitory."


    Little Witch: "I have some good news for you, Master. I am also going to study at Jianghai University, hehe."


    "Oh."


    Li Moying didn''t like his reaction and felt displeased, "Master, what kind of reaction is that? You don''t seem happy at all."


    Qin Hao replied exasperatedly, "You going to university, why should I be happy? Your parents should be the ones who are happy."


    Li Moying: "...So, becoming your classmate doesn''t make you happy?"


    Qin Hao realized, "Oh, that''s what you meant. Happy, happy."


    "Hmph, you''re just placating me. What major are you in at Jianghai University, Master?"


    Qin Hao: "Computer Science."


    Little Witch: "I applied for Finance. The faculty is at the main campus. Which campus are you at, Master?"


    Qin Hao paused for a bit: "I''m also at the main campus."


    "Hehe, that''s great. I''ll come find you when I have time, Master. By the way, I still don''t know your family name."


    Qin Hao asked warily, "Why do you want to find me?"


    Li Moying, seeing his somewhat disdainful words, felt a bit frustrated. So many people want to find me, and I don''t agree to meet them.


    Your ladyship is personally going to look for you, and you still act so disdainful? That''s really annoying.


    If you weren''t my master, that person would already be beaten to a pulp by now.


    Li Moying: "Of course, to hang out with you, Master. Besides, your apprentice is quite an influential figure in Jianghai City.


    If you encounter any troubles at school, you can ask your apprentice for help. I will solve them for you."


    Qin Hao: "Don''t talk so big. If I do have a problem and you can''t solve it, you''ll have slapped your own face."

 Chapter 122 Ideas

    The two chatted idly for a while before they went to sleep.


    The next day, Qin Hao didn''t go looking for Du Wanrou, as her aunt had taken her away, and she wasn''t due back until the formal start of the school term.


    He and a few people from his dorm went out to have fun. Jianghai City was vast, and in three days they only visited a few places.


    At the same time, Qin Hao also witnessed the prosperity of an international metropolis.


    The flow of people here was incomparable to Jiangshan, and he was confident that if he were to open a roasted duck restaurant in Jianghai City, it would likely sell like hotcakes.


    Of course, investing in opening a store here would cost several times more than in Jiangshan; input and returns were proportional.


    With high foot traffic and consumer spending, returns would come faster here.


    Moreover, being an international metropolis, its reputation within Xuan Country was no less than that of the capital, Jinchen.


    Having his own store in such a place would also enhance the reputation of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    Over these few days, the idea of opening a branch in Jianghai City took root in his mind.


    On the evening of August 31, at a little past 8 PM, Qin Hao received a call from Kang Youyi.


    He began, "Hao, the performance data of the six newly opened stores is out. The total is two hundred and eighty thousand four hundred and fifty-two, with an average performance of over thirty thousand per store."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Reward those who should be rewarded, and penalize those who should be penalized. I don''t want nepotism within the company."


    Kang Youyi said, "Yeah, sure, Hao, don''t worry. I have already given a cash bonus to the best performing store."


    Qin Hao replied, "Okay, good. You''ll have to work a bit harder while I''m away."


    Kang Youyi said, "You''re speaking as if we''re outsiders, Hao. I already feel unworthy of that one percent share in the company. Furthermore, Yu Jie and the others from the company are still compiling the performance report for August. It might be sent to you a bit later."


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, "How many people are in the finance department now? If we''re short-staffed, we should hire some more people."


    Kang Youyi responded, "Sure thing, Hao, I''ll check with Yu Jie about that."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao returned to his dorm, and the chubby guy asked him, "Second bro, gonna play some games? Carry us in a round of ''Battle Royale''."


    "You guys play; I have to chat with my girlfriend."


    The chubby guy grumbled, "Damn, dog food out of nowhere."


    Sun Feng said with a smile, "We have to gather with the class tomorrow, and I think we''ll also start a week of military training. Let''s go to sleep early."


    "Alright, then let''s sleep."


    Qin Hao chatted with Du Wanrou for over an hour before he finally put down his phone to sleep.


    The next morning, at a little after 6 AM, the group in the dorm got up¡ªthere was no choice; the instructor had announced it in the group the day before.


    Wow, this is too good to be true."


    Wu Jun and Sun Feng were also stunned, because the girl who had just stepped up was also very pretty, not the least bit inferior to Ning Yao.


    Xu Siyao stood at the podium looking down at everyone, her gaze resting on Qin Hao.


    With a smile, she said, "Hello everyone, my name is Xu Siyao, and I am from Jianghai City."


    After she spoke, she bowed slightly and then walked down from the podium.


    Thunderous applause erupted from below, and Qin Hao also softly clapped his hands.


    He had not expected to encounter Xu Siyao here; on her, Qin Hao could no longer see any sign of arrogance.


    Compared to before, she seemed like a completely different person.


    Seeing her like this now, with a smile on her face, she had gotten back on the right track.


    ...


    The self-introductions soon came around to the people in Qin Hao''s dorm; Sun Feng was the first to step up, "Hello everyone, my name is Sun Feng, from Jianghai City."


    Then it was Wu Jun, Zhao De, and Chen Ping''s turn.


    Before Qin Hao could stand up, the fat boy hurriedly walked up; as he walked, Qin Hao could feel the ground shaking beneath him.


    Standing at the podium, Wang Yanghua smiled at He Tingting and said, "Hello, Mr He."


    He Tingting nodded slightly, then the fat boy turned to face the entire class, "Hello everyone, my name is Wang Yanghua, and I come from Nanzhe Province.


    I''m currently single and welcome all the beauties to hit on me."


    "Pfft"


    "Hahaha"


    The class erupted into laughter all of a sudden, this little fat guy really had thick skin.


    When He Tingting heard what he said, she was full of black lines, "Get down from there, now."


    The fat boy chuckled dryly and hurriedly made his way down, not forgetting to say, "If anyone has a crush on me, feel free to boldly ask for my contact details."


    Everyone in Qin Hao''s dorm lowered their heads as if to say I don''t know this guy.


    When the fat boy returned, it was Qin Hao''s turn; he was the only one left, and many turned their heads to look over.


    Qin Hao glared at the fat boy annoyedly; he had not planned to be the last to go, originally intending to go before him.


    Who knew that the fat boy would jump the gun and go out ahead of time.@@@@

 Chapter 123 Privilege

    Under the gaze of so many people, Qin Hao''s expression remained calm as he walked to the podium with a smile on his face.


    Ning Yao, Xu Siyao, and others all watched him.


    Qin Hao spoke, "Hello everyone, my name is Qin Hao, and I come from Jiangshan City in Shuinan Province."


    The crowd clapped their hands just the same, and just as Qin Hao was about to step down, He Tingting suddenly spoke, "Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao turned his head toward He Tingting, "Yes, teacher, what is it?"


    He Tingting took a step forward and addressed the audience, "You may not know this, but Qin Hao is this year''s top scorer in the national unified examination. Let''s welcome him with a warm round of applause."


    Most people below were taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly clapped their hands.


    Qin Hao? He is the national top scorer Qin Hao? Is such a genius really in our class?


    However, there were a few male students who were disdainful, clapping lightly if only to give He Tingting some face.


    He looked quite handsome, with a special aura about him. I wonder if he has a girlfriend! Many female students thought this.


    Qin Hao gave a slight bow as thanks for their applause, then stepped down.


    He Tingting then continued, "Does anyone want to be a class officer? You can write an application and submit it to me.


    After the military training, I will check them and announce it in the class. Everyone can also discuss it now.


    At nine o''clock, all students are to gather at the playground where comrades from the military department will conduct a week-long military training for everyone."


    After she finished speaking, the people in the class immediately started talking amongst themselves.@@@@


    The six people in Qin Hao''s dorm also started discussing. Wang Yanghua asked, "Brothers, what do you want to be?"


    Sun Feng and the others exchanged glances, all looking toward Qin Hao first, "Second Brother, do you want to be the class president or something else?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "I''m not interested in being a class officer. Apply for whatever you want; don''t mind me."


    Sun Feng thought for a moment and said, "I plan to apply to be the class president. What about you guys?"


    Wu Jun and Chen Ping shook their heads, neither of them had any desire to be class officers.


    Although there were many benefits to being a class officer in university, they had no experience and were quite afraid of doing a poor job.


    Wang Yanghua said with a smile, "I also want to apply for class president."


    Qin Hao and the others groaned," "You as class president? Don''t scare us, if you become class president, can our class even hold its head up?"


    When Wang Yanghua heard their comments, he deflated like a frostbitten eggplant, "For the sake of my lifetime happiness, can''t you guys support me just this once?"


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "How does this relate to a matter of lifelong importance?"


    The plump roommate chuckled, "Being the class president makes it easier to find a girlfriend, right?"


    With delicate features and a mature, voluptuous figure full of charm, she definitely qualified as a goddess-level character.


    Qin Hao hurried to catch up with her and said, "Teacher, I''ve got something to take care of these next few days, so I won''t be participating in the military training."


    He Tingting suddenly stopped, and with beautiful, captivating eyes, she said, "No."


    Qin Hao, "But didn''t you say I have privileges, Teacher? Otherwise, I''ll go and talk to the Dean of the College."


    "... Are you threatening me?" He Tingting''s face turned cool as she looked at him.


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, "How dare I? You''re my instructor, I really do have something important."


    "What is it?" asked He Tingting.


    Qin Hao, "It''s a private matter, I''d rather not say."


    He Tingting''s expression turned dark instantly, thinking what kind of ''private matter'' could a kid have.


    She didn''t ask any further but reminded him, "You''re a stranger in Jianghai City, so be careful if you go out."


    Qin Hao could tell that she was genuinely worried about him, that was the kind of concern a teacher would have for her student.


    He nodded slightly, "Yes, I understand, Teacher."


    Qin Hao and she then went to the Logistics Department and picked up dozens of sets of military training uniforms, hauling them back to the playground on a small cart.


    He Tingting walked alongside, helping to steady the boxes on the cart with her hands.


    As Qin Hao pulled the cart, he asked, "Teacher, how did you become an instructor at Jianghai University at such a young age?"


    He Tingting answered with a smile, "Why, can''t I?"


    Qin Hao, "Did you get in through the backdoor, Teacher?"


    ...


    He Tingting replied indignantly, "You''d better shut that mouth of yours."


    Qin Hao laughed awkwardly; it seemed that he had hit a nerve, otherwise, she wouldn''t have reacted so strongly.


    He delivered the uniforms to the playground and everyone received a set, which were the summer camouflage uniforms for military training.


    After getting their uniforms, everyone went to change, and Qin Hao and his roommates returned to the dormitory.


    Qin Hao placed the military training uniform on his bed, then tidied up a bit and said, "You guys go for training, I''m going out for a walk."


    The chubby student was stunned, "Huh? Second Brother, what do you mean? Aren''t you going for military training?"


    Qin Hao, "No need. I just told the teacher."


    Wu Jun said enviously, "Second Brother is so cool. Is this the privilege of getting full marks on the unified exam?"

 Chapter 124 Meeting Xia Qing Again

    Qin Hao hadn''t attended the grueling military training, instead he spent the day wandering outside, looking for a decent storefront.


    He was planning to start a roast duck restaurant in Jianghai City.


    After roaming around all day, he had found several good spots, but all were already leased out.


    Having had no success that day, he returned to the campus. It was just past six in the evening, and the day''s military training had already ended.


    Hoards of students emerged from the sports field, heading towards the cafeteria.


    Qin Hao walked along the painted pavement on the campus, contemplating the stores he had visited.


    He wondered which one was more suitable, or if he should continue looking elsewhere tomorrow.


    As he was deep in thought, walking forward with his head down, he saw a graceful figure standing in front of him, staring blankly at him.


    "Xiaoqing, what are you looking at?" a girl next to Xia Qing asked curiously.


    Xia Qing turned her head, speaking indifferently, "It''s nothing."


    Just as she was about to leave, several boys from her class approached.


    One of them asked Xia Qing, "Xia Qing, are you free tonight? How about we have dinner together?"


    Xia Qing replied, "No need."


    "It''s okay, everyone''s coming, I''ll treat," Cui Zhi spoke up.


    Upon hearing this, Xia Qing''s roommates'' eyes lit up.


    Cui Zhi was dressed in branded clothing that morning, exuding an aura of elegance that clearly marked him as a wealthy person.


    Just then, Qin Hao walked up to them. Sensing people in front of him, he looked up and planned to bypass them.


    However, after glancing, he paused, looking somewhat embarrassed, "Xiaoqing."


    Cui Zhi, hearing Qin Hao''s greeting to Xia Qing, felt uneasy. Who was this guy and what was his relation to Xia Qing?@@@@


    Xia Qing nodded, "You didn''t have military training?"


    Qin Hao replied, "No, just took a stroll outside."


    Suddenly, Xia Qing spoke up, "Oh, you mentioned dinner tonight, shall we go now?"


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, then noticing Cui Zhi and the others beside her, he understood the situation.


    He smiled and said, "Yeah, sure."


    Xia Qing exchanged a few words with her roommates, then followed Qin Hao, leaving Cui Zhi with a sour expression standing there.


    "Zhi, who is this kid? Should we teach him a lesson?" one of Cui Zhi''s companions asked.


    Cui Zhi coldly responded, "First, go to the cafeteria. After dinner, find out which department and class this guy is from."


    Xia Qing, feeling their stares, blushed slightly.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, "Why keep staring? Haven''t you seen a beautiful woman before?"


    Wu Jun asked with a smile, "Big bro, is this your wife?"


    Qin Hao: "No, she''s a good friend of mine."


    Wang Yang Hua immediately said to Xia Qing, "Hello, I''m Wang Yang Hua, big bro''s close roommate."


    Xia Qing nodded slightly, "Hello, I''m Xia Qing."


    Sun Feng and the others also introduced themselves and then went to eat elsewhere.


    Xia Qing breathed a sigh of relief, "Your roommate is quite enthusiastic."


    Qin Hao was a bit embarrassed, it was clear to anyone that the fat guy was interested in her.


    "Ignore them, they''re always like this, let''s eat."


    At that moment, the food arrived, and Qin Hao quickly changed the subject.


    ...


    That evening, back at the dorm.


    The fat guy eagerly asked, "Hao, can you give me the contact info of the beauty you were dining with?"


    "Fatso, can''t you see, that girl likes our big bro," Zhao De reminded him.


    Fatso: "But big bro already has a girlfriend."


    Zhao De couldn''t help but say, "Fatso, get some self-awareness, okay? That beauty, even if she can''t get big bro,


    she definitely wouldn''t be interested in you. If she were interested in anyone, it would be me. Big bro, give me her contact info."


    Qin Hao thought the first part of his speech was okay, but the latter left him speechless, these two were really oddballs.


    After washing up, he went to bed, Sun Feng and the others didn''t play games either, as the day''s military training had been exhausting.


    The next morning they went back to military training, while Qin Hao went out to scout for stores again.


    So it went, during the day he scouted for stores and at night, he chatted with Du Wanrou.


    On the seventh day, Qin Hao took a taxi to a very crowded square in Bailing District.


    The square was called Xing''an Square, with another square across from it, though less crowded.


    Qin Hao was also impressed by the traffic here, then he went to the fifth floor of Xing''an Square to the Xing''an Real Estate Management Company.


    Upon reaching the fifth floor, he saw the reception at the front desk of Xing''an Real Estate Management Company.


    One of the receptionists smiled and asked, "Hello, are you looking for someone?"


    Qin Hao walked over and said, "I''m looking for the person in charge here."

 Chapter 125 Obstructed

    The front desk receptionist asked curiously, "May I ask what brings you here?"


    Qin Hao responded, "I''d like to speak to the person in charge here about renting a store."


    The receptionist paused, gave him a glance, and said, "Sir, please wait a moment."


    After speaking, she went into the company to notify the leadership.


    Another receptionist looked at him with curiosity in her eyes. He appeared to be only about twenty years old ¡ª renting a store?@@@@


    Did he even know how much the stores here cost? Judging by his attire, he didn''t look like someone wealthy at all.


    Soon, the receptionist came out and said to Qin Hao, "Hello, please follow me."


    "Thank you," Qin Hao followed the receptionist into the Xing''an Real Estate Management Company.


    Under the receptionist''s guidance, he arrived at the manager''s office.


    Inside the office were two people, a slightly overweight middle-aged man sitting in the office chair, with a young and beautiful woman standing beside him ¡ª presumably his secretary.


    After bringing Qin Hao inside, the receptionist said, "Mr. Manager, the person has been brought in."


    The middle-aged man lifted his head for a glance and frowned slightly, "Is this the guy you mentioned?"


    Seeing the manager''s reaction, the receptionist became somewhat afraid, unsure of how to respond.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "What''s the matter, Mr. Li? Do you think I don''t have the means to rent a store?"


    Li Guangfu felt even more annoyed when he heard that, as there was no hint of flattery in Qin Hao''s tone.


    Nowadays, those who come here to rent stores would speak to him humbly and fawningly.


    Li Guangfu said with a cold voice, "All the stores here have already been rented out. You should look elsewhere."


    Qin Hao understood his meaning upon hearing those words. Li Guangfu simply did not respect him.


    And since there was no shortage of people wanting to rent the stores here, he could afford to be choosy and not lease to Qin Hao.


    Some people even had to secretly treat him to meals and offer him benefits to get a chance to rent here.


    Qin Hao''s expression also cooled, "Is this how you do business, Mr. Li?"


    Li Guangfu retorted, "I don''t need a brat to teach me how to do my business. You''re no longer needed. Just hurry her away," the latter part directed at the front desk receptionist.


    Upon hearing Li Guangfu''s words, the receptionist''s face changed immediately, "Mr. Li, I... I..."


    As they walked, Qin Hao said, "You know I came here looking to rent a store for business. I''m still studying, so I don''t have a lot of time.


    I really do need an assistant, and I think you''re quite good. I''d like for you to try."


    Nie Si considered his words for a moment.


    Qin Hao continued, "What''s your monthly salary here?"


    "Three thousand five hundred, food and accommodations not included."


    Qin Hao commented, "That''s quite low. Is it enough to get by in Jianghai City?"


    Nie Si looked a bit embarrassed, "I barely make ends meet sharing a rental with a classmate."


    Qin Hao proposed, "I''ll offer you five thousand per month. Why don''t you try working with me for now, what do you say?"


    Nie Si hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Without a job and without a salary, surviving in Jianghai City was indeed tough.


    Qin Hao smiled, "Then from now on, you''re my assistant. Let''s continue to look for a store together."


    "Right, I still don''t know your name, boss. My name''s Nie Si."


    "I''m Qin Hao. As for the employment contract, give me your contact information and I''ll have someone from the legal department reach out to you tonight."


    Nie Si asked curiously, "Mr. Qin, you have your own company, so why are you out here yourself?"


    Qin Hao explained, "My company is back in my hometown. I don''t have one in Jianghai City yet. I''m planning to open a branch here."


    Relieved to hear his response, Nie Si thought that having a company meant a secure salary.


    Usually, companies registered with the state departments can be checked online¡ªshe''ll check it out when she gets back.


    Qin Hao took Nie Si out of Xing''an Square and across to Xinshang Square.


    He had visited these squares a few days ago, and after several days of consideration, he had settled on this location.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t secure the spot in Xing''an Square, and thinking of Li Guangfu still irked him.


    The day would come when such a short-sighted person with no vision would regret their actions.


    Upon arriving at Xinshang Square, Qin Hao set his sights on a rather large store, which was several hundred square meters.


    Since he couldn''t secure the store in Xing''an Square, he could only consider this one for now.


    With Nie Si''s assistance, he came to the Xinshang Real Estate Management Company.

 Chapter 126 Scouting Stores

    Xinshang Real Estate Management Company and Xing''an Real Estate Company are similar, each having two female receptionists at the front desk.


    After being announced, Qin Hao and another person were led to the manager''s office by a front desk attendant.


    The manager at Xinshang Real Estate Management Company was a mature woman, about thirty years old, fully displaying the demeanor of a mature woman.


    She was looking down, writing a document when she saw Qin Hao and another person enter.


    She smiled and said, "Please have a seat, Feng, bring some tea."


    A tall woman came over and smilingly poured water for the two of them.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, his demeanor very calm, while Nie Si appeared somewhat nervous; she was usually the one pouring tea for others.


    It was rare for someone to pour tea for her.


    At this moment, Yang Mei put down her pen and looked at Qin Hao, saying, "Are you here to rent a shop?"


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "I think the shop on the first floor of Xinshang Square looks good, so I''d like to rent it."


    Yang Mei smiled and said, "Hello, my name is Yang Mei and I am in charge here. May I know your surname, sir?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Hello, Manager Yang, my name is Qin Hao."


    Yang Mei came over and then sat opposite: "Mr. Qin, which shop are you interested in renting?"


    Qin Hao, "The one on the east side of the main door of the mall. If the price is right, I''ll rent it."


    Yang Mei paused, "That shop is quite large, and the price is high; are you sure you''re interested in that one?"


    The shop Qin Hao was interested in had not been rented out since Xinshang Square opened.


    The main reason was the high rent; the foot traffic here wasn''t as heavy as across the street, so hardly anyone rented it.


    Afraid that even the rent could not be earned back, not to mention the staff costs.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Manager Yang, please mention the rent."


    Her secretary brought over a folder; Yang Mei opened it to reveal a floor plan, marked with the area.


    She began, "Mr. Qin, the shop you are interested in is three hundred and eighty square meters.


    Our usual price here is sixty thousand a month, but we have a promotion now, only fifty-five thousand."


    Qin Hao shook his head slightly, "Manager Yang, you should be aware of the situation here; the foot traffic has all been captured by the opposite side.


    There''s a similar shop across that costs only seventy thousand."


    Yang Mei''s expression remained unchanged, still smiling, "What is your ideal price, Mr. Qin?"@@@@


    Qin Hao said to her, "Find a renovation team to fix up the roasted duck store. I will have the company''s people contact you with specific renovation designs."


    Nie Si asked cautiously, "Yes, Mr. Qin, what is the name of our company?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd."


    After that he continued, "Take a set of keys, give me your contact information, and just sit by the computer when you get back."


    Nie Si replied, "Yes, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao said, "It''s already noon; let''s go have lunch."


    Nie Si hastily said, "There''s no need, Mr. Qin. I''ll go home and cook for myself."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "You are my assistant. Whatever the boss says, you just agree. Don''t worry, I''m not trying to exploit you."


    ...


    Nie Si''s cheeks turned slightly red; that was too blunt a statement.


    The two then went to a nearby restaurant, ate something, and then both went back.


    The midday sun was merciless. When Qin Hao returned around two o''clock, those people were still training under the scorching sun, sweating profusely.


    Qin Hao returned to the dormitory, turned on the computer, and sent Nie Si''s contact information to Kang Youyi, instructing him to arrange for someone to contact Nie Si.


    Then he told Kang Youyi to transfer Liu Pengyun and a group of employees over.


    After Nie Si returned to her place, her roommate was surprised to see her back, "Nie Si, why have you come back?"


    Nie Si recounted the events, including Li Guangfu''s intention to exploit her.


    Lv Rong cautioned her, "What did you say that roasted duck company was called? You should check it out first to avoid being deceived again."


    Nie Si nodded slightly, opened her computer, and searched Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd on Qian Du.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd: Registered in Shuinan Province Jiangshan City, with a registered capital of ten million.


    The company was established on May 26, 20XX.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck is made from seventy-two types of Chinese herbal ingredients, known for its delicious taste, crispy outside and tender inside...


    Its aroma is so enticing it leaves one drooling, and its flavor unforgettable for days.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company has developed very quickly; established only a few months ago, it now has nearly ten stores.


    The monthly profit is estimated to be close to ten million, and professional firms have valued it between two hundred million and three hundred million.


    This valuation is not based on the total assets of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, but rather on the potential of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    Upon seeing this, Lv Rong exclaimed, "Wow, this company is really impressive. It''s a company with potential, and now they even want to expand to Jianghai City. This boss has big ambitions."

 Chapter 127 Furious He Tingting

    Nie Si nodded in agreement, impressed by the swift development of the organization in just a few months.


    While they were discussing, the computer pinged with a friend request sound.


    Nie Si clicked "agree," and then the other party sent her a video call request.


    She accepted it, and a well-dressed, attractive woman appeared on the screen.


    Tian Yamei started, "Hello, Assistant Nie, I am Tian Yamei, the legal affairs director of Jiangshan Video Company."


    "Hello, Mr. Tian," Nie Si hastily replied when she heard the title of the person on the other end.


    She had thought only a staff member from legal affairs would contact her; she hadn''t expected the director to reach out personally.


    Tian Yamei said with a smile, "Assistant Nie, Mr. Qin has already told me about your matter. Next, I will send you the contract documents. Please sign them, then send them back to us by courier. We''ll stamp it and send you a copy in return."@@@@


    After finishing the discussion about the contract, Tian Yamei also described the style of decoration for the roast duck restaurant to her.


    ...


    At Jianghai University, all classes participated in a military training competition on the playground that afternoon, which marked a farewell ceremony with the instructors.


    Ultimately, the judges selected the top three classes in military training performance and awarded certificates, a real honor.


    However, all of this was unrelated to Qin Hao, who was sleeping in his dormitory.


    The dormitory had air conditioning, making it exceptionally comfortable. When Wang Yanghua and others returned and saw him blissfully sleeping, they felt so angry they nearly spat blood. They were all freshmen; how could the treatment be so unequal?


    After seven days of military training, these few had obviously become much darker.


    When they returned, they woke him up, "Hao, it''s already six o''clock, let''s go eat. There''s still evening self-study to do."


    Qin Hao hazily opened his eyes and checked his watch; it indeed was past six in the evening.


    He yawned and said, "Oh, okay, got it."


    After he got up and washed up a bit, they headed to the cafeteria for dinner.


    The cafeteria was crowded, and Qin Hao noticed that these people had become noticeably darker than a few days ago.


    They got their food in the first-floor cafeteria and found a secluded spot to start eating.


    The food on the second floor was expensive, and they weren''t lavish enough to eat there every day.


    Usually, those who could afford to eat there every day were wealthy people.


    After finishing their meal, they exited the cafeteria and headed toward the distant academic building.


    On the way back, Sun Feng reminded him, "Second Brother, be careful, I don''t think that guy will let it go easily."


    Qin Hao nodded lightly, "Mm, okay."


    Arriving in the classroom, it was noisy with everyone chatting and talking, the spots around several beauties in the class were surrounded by people.


    Sun Feng and the others returned to their seats and began chatting with the people around them, having gotten to know almost everyone through the military training.


    Qin Hao sat in his seat, pondering his own matters.


    Xu Siyao glanced at him and hesitated for a moment before standing up and walking over.


    Many people surrounded her, both men and women, who parted to make way for her.


    But when those people saw Xu Siyao stopping next to Qin Hao, they looked puzzled and confused.


    The men''s eyes filled with envy; had they known that good academic performance could earn the favor of a goddess, they definitely would have studied harder.


    Huo Qiang also looked bewilderingly at Xu Siyao''s back, wondering if these two had known each other before?


    Sun Feng and the others by Qin Hao noticed Xu Siyao as well, quickly turning their heads towards her and then back at Qin Hao.


    Damn, what charm does Second Brother have? How does he know so many goddess-level figures?


    Xu Siyao said to the chubby guy next to her, "You don''t mind if I sit here, do you?"


    The chubby guy hurriedly got up and made space, saying with a big smile, "Not at all, not at all."


    Xu Siyao sat in the chubby guy''s spot, next to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao turned to look at her, smiling, "Looks like we''re quite fated."


    Having heard his words, Xu Siyao''s pretty face broke into a smile, "I also didn''t expect that we''d end up in the same class."


    Qin Hao, unsure what to talk about, asked something trivial, "Are you better now?"


    Xu Siyao nodded, "It''s all good now, thanks to you. My dad hopes you can come over for a meal when you''re free."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mm okay, I also have something to discuss with your dad."


    The two chatted for a while, and she went back when He Tingting entered the room.


    The classroom quieted down as He Tingting looked at the students and said, "The seven days of military training are now over.


    Next, let''s talk about the class officer positions. Since there are too many applicants, we''ll conduct an anonymous vote.


    For the position of class president: Sun Feng, Song Yushu, Ning Yao, Liu Jing, a total of four candidates. Everyone write down the name of the candidate you support and then hand it in."

 Chapter 128 System Upgrade

    More than sixty people in the class began writing names, and then He Tingting collected them one by one.


    She placed all the pieces of paper in a box on the lecturer''s desk.


    He Tingting spoke up, "Next, I will ask a student to come up and read out the names. Whoever receives the most votes will become the class leader.


    Qin Hao, would you please come up and do the reading?"


    Qin Hao was startled for a moment. Why me? It seems it''s true that it''s better to offend a gent than a lady.@@@@


    But others didn''t think so; they were envious, believing that the teacher favored him, or else she wouldn''t have called on him.


    Although he felt somewhat annoyed, Qin Hao didn''t show it and walked up to the podium with a smile on his face.


    He Tingting wrote the names of the four candidates running for class leader on the blackboard separately. Read exclusive chapters at empire


    Standing on the podium, with He Tingting behind him to his right, Qin Hao was told, "Qin Hao, you can start now."


    He took out a slip of paper, glanced at it, then read out, "Ning Yao."


    He Tingting made a mark behind Ning Yao''s name.


    "Liu Jing"


    "Ning Yao"


    "Ning Yao"


    ...


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao finished reading off the names. Ning Yao received the most votes, with a total of 28.


    Liu Jing was second with 23 votes, Song Yushu had 8, and Sun Feng came in last with only six votes.


    These six votes were probably all thanks to his dorm mates.


    He Tingting spoke again, "Congratulations to our Ning Yao for getting the highest number of votes. From today onwards, she will be our class leader.


    Next up is the appointment of the study committee member. Qin Hao received full marks on the unified exam, so I think he is more than qualified for this position."


    Qin Hao wanted to refuse, but in front of so many people, he feared he would suffer consequences if he did.


    Under someone''s roof, one must bow their head.


    As long as he didn''t perform well in the future, she would probably give the position to someone else.


    Then, the selection for the youth league secretary was held, and Huo Qiang was directly elected.


    Lifestyle committee member, labor committee member and sports committee member were also elected. Zhao De did quite well for himself, securing the position of sports committee member.


    Following that, He Tingting had them all share their thoughts.


    Afterwards, Qin Hao, Ning Yao, and Huo Qiang were taken aside by her to move some books.


    The plump student beside him urgently whispered, "Second Brother, the teacher is calling you."


    Qin Hao was momentarily stunned, then he looked up at the podium and saw the teacher staring at him.


    He stood up and asked, "Were you looking for me, sir?"


    ...


    Huang Bo saw his calm expression and felt a bit helpless: "Never mind, please sit down."


    Qin Hao sat down again and quickly opened the system to check; he had vaguely heard the system''s notification while sleeping.


    Upon checking, he discovered that the side quest had already been completed, and his renown points had reached over fifty million.


    Now his achievement points amounted to a terrifying seventy-two thousand eight hundred.


    "Ding, the side quest ''Path of the Master'' has been initiated, achieve one hundred million renown points, with a reward of one hundred thousand achievement points, Delicious Duck Head, and Duck Liver Skill Book."


    "Ding, forced task initiated. The system will compulsorily use fifty thousand achievement points to upgrade.


    After the upgrade, the host will receive an upgrade gift pack, and new functions will be available.


    Upgrading now, please wait."


    ...


    System upgrade? New functions? Qin Hao''s expression froze upon hearing this.


    At ten-thirty, after class, Qin Hao received a phone call from Nie Si. She said, "Mr. Qin, I''ve made contact with the decoration company.


    They have already come to start the work. Do you want to come over and take a look at noon?"


    Qin Hao nodded: "I''ll come over and check it out in a bit."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao was about to go to the shop when Ning Yao came in from outside and walked toward him.


    Ning Yao spoke up, "Qin Hao, Mr. He has asked you to come over."


    Qin Hao replied, "I have something else to do; please tell the teacher for me."


    Ning Yao was taken aback by his words, thinking ''Big brother, our mentor is looking for you, and you dare to decline?


    Are you not afraid of not being able to get by in school? What are you thinking?''


    She reminded him, "You''d better go, our mentor seems a bit angry."


    Qin Hao nodded: "All right, I''ll go check it out."


    After speaking, he left the classroom and went to the office building where he found the office for the freshmen Computer College mentors and walked in.


    This was just one of the offices, inside were various department teachers and class mentors from the Computer College.


    After entering, Qin Hao glanced around, found He Tingting''s desk, and went over.

 Chapter 129

    He Tingting was writing materials, and Qin Hao approached her; she must have felt his presence but did not look up.


    Not far from the side, Qin Hao saw Huang Bo, the teacher he had just had in class, watching him.


    Seeing that He Tingting was still writing without looking up, Qin Hao asked, "Teacher, did you say you were looking for me?"


    He Tingting put down her pen, looked up at him with a delicate face, a calm expression, and bright eyes that revealed a hint of intelligence.


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    She said, "As a class representative and being a sleep during class, Qin Hao, do you think that sets a good example?"


    Qin Hao replied earnestly, "It''s not good, I have failed the trust you placed in me as your teacher, and I feel I am not suitable for this position.


    Perhaps you should give the role of class representative to a more capable student?"


    At first, He Tingting thought his remarks were reasonable, but his later words took on a different tone.


    It was clear that Qin Hao simply did not want to be the class representative, and he was hoping she would quickly dismiss him from the role.


    The more Qin Hao acted like this, the less He Tingting wanted to dismiss him¡ªthis is a common psychological reaction.


    She stood up and said to Qin Hao, "Come to my office."


    After saying that, He Tingting walked out of the room first, and Qin Hao followed her out, not forgetting to glance at Huang Bo before leaving.


    Damn, considering you are in your forties or fifties, why would you still tattle from behind someone''s back?


    Huang Bo, having sensed his resentful gaze, chuckled awkwardly.


    ...


    As the mentor for class one in the Computer College, He Tingting had her own private office.


    Upon entering He Tingting''s private office, Qin Hao smelled a faint scent of fragrance; the office decor was simple.


    A desk, a bookshelf, and a few pots of plants.


    He Tingting leaned against the desk with her arms crossed and looked at him: "What''s the matter with you, Qin Hao?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Teacher, you assigned me as class representative without even asking me; I feel that''s a great disrespect to me.


    I''m not saying I don''t want to be the class representative, but that I''m very busy and don''t have time to handle these matters."


    He Tingting smiled and said, "Busy? So busy that you''re sleeping?"


    Qin Hao smiled awkwardly, "Teacher, I''m just replenishing my energy because I have to go out in a while."


    He Tingting looked at him puzzled, "What keeps you so busy every day? Remember, you are still a student.


    Qin Hao walked around the store and then asked, "Approximately how long will it take to finish the renovation?"


    "It''s estimated to take about three to four days, and then two days for airing out," Li Peng answered from behind.


    The store had fewer than twenty workers; there were many hands available, and three to four days was actually the longest duration he mentioned.


    Qin Hao took out two thousand yuan from his pocket and handed it to Nie Si, "Buy a box of good cigarettes for each of the workers; they''re having a tough time these days."


    Nie Si was momentarily stunned, then took the money, "Yes, of course, Mr. Qin."


    Li Peng hurriedly said, "Mr. Qin, there''s no need for you to spend."


    Qin Hao looked at Li Peng, "This is my way of showing appreciation."


    Some people live at the very bottom of society yet do the hardest and most tiring work.


    They need to strive for their families, work hard for their parents, and children; their lives aren''t as easy as those of the bosses.


    They also don''t have time to go to bars, flirt with girls, or play with secretaries.


    Sometimes, they even face others'' disdain, scorn, and rejection.


    In Qin Hao''s view, it was not because these people were not hardworking, but rather due to the primary reasons attributed to societal development.


    Although Xuan Country''s development was rapid, it was still far from the ideal technologically advanced nation envisioned.


    Even the economically and militarily strong Federation had not achieved the state of a technologically advanced nation as conceived in the ideal.


    In Qin Hao''s ideal technocracy, nobody would need to work, nor worry about life and family.


    All basic necessities would be provided by the state; of course, if one wanted to live a superior life, they would still need to work hard.


    This was the society Qin Hao envisioned; perhaps somewhat naive and unrealistic.


    But if capable, he would strive for this goal.


    ...


    Nie Si, following Qin Hao''s instructions, took the money to buy two cartons of cigarettes and then distributed them among the working craftsmen.


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin." Knowing this was Qin Hao''s gesture, some workers expressed their gratitude.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Make sure you all do a good job, as we are opening in a few days."


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Qin, just leave it to us."


    Qin Hao stayed around, and at noon, the workers didn''t take a break; they had regulations requiring them to continue working after lunch.


    The lunch was also arranged by Nie Si as directed by Qin Hao, although normally this would be managed by the decoration company; but that was just Qin Hao''s character.

 Chapter 130 Upgrade Complete

    Qin Hao also had lunch here, eating the same food as those people, and he chatted with the masters while eating.


    Nie Si also had lunch here, and she noticed Qin Hao chatting happily with the workers not far away.


    She found it hard to believe, sensing that Qin Hao wasn''t faking it, but truly enjoying the conversation with these people.


    Moreover, there was no need for Qin Hao to pretend, since there was no point in pretending with these people.


    This approachable boss gave Nie Si a very good impression; working under such a boss seemed like a great thing.


    After lunch, Qin Hao heard a system notification, "System update complete, congratulations to the host for receiving the Silver Upgrade Gift Pack."


    He walked out of the shop and sat down on the steps outside before opening the system to check.


    The system added a store feature, and the draw system had also been upgraded; now, each draw required five hundred achievement points.


    Qin Hao, curious, opened the store, which was filled with top-quality items, but most of them were grayed out.


    Only a small part of the items were in normal color, as the gray items could not be bought due to the current low system level.


    The first item in the store was: Xinghai Generation One Smart Robot Manufacturing Technology.@@@@


    Xinghai is the name of an interstellar empire in the universe where the God Creation System is located.


    This generation one smart robot was developed by the Xinghai Empire at the beginning of its development, a kind of smart robot they researched and created.


    There are nine generations of smart robots in the store, currently, only the generation one smart robot is available for purchase.


    The others are grayed out; buying a generation one smart robot requires fifty thousand achievement points.


    Aside from the generation one smart robot technology, the store also features super network server manufacturing technology, wireless photovoltaic technology, air energy engine technology, skill upgrade silver card, and so on.


    Inside the store, Qin Hao didn''t find any Skill Books; those still had to be obtained through draws.


    ...


    After browsing the store, he opened his backpack, where there was also a Silver Upgrade Gift Pack.


    Silver Upgrade Gift Pack: Upon opening, you will receive ten free attribute points and randomly obtain an item; there is a certain chance to get a top-tier item of this phase.


    Qin Hao clicked to open it, and the system notification sounded, "Congratulations to the host for obtaining ten free attribute points."


    "Currently drawing a random item, please wait."


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining New Energy Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technology."


    Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technology?


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao''s expression froze, and then he hurriedly opened his backpack to check.


    Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technology: A new energy vehicle developed with air energy engine as the core technology.


    Eco-friendly and energy-saving, an essential car for developing countries.


    He allocated four points to Strength and two points to each of the other three attributes.


    Just after he finished distributing the points, Qin Hao received a call from Kang Youyi, "Mr. Qin, Liu Pengyun will be arriving in the next couple of days.


    I will send a few of his skilled operators over as well."


    Qin Hao: "Mm-hmm, okay."


    Kang Youyi continued, "Hao, around the middle of this month, we''ll be opening a few more stores."


    Qin Hao: "That soon? You must pay attention to management."


    Kang Youyi nodded, "Mm-hmm, don''t worry, Hao. The roasted duck stores don''t really require specialized talents.


    People can be trained at the old stores for a while, but choosing the right manager and managing the finances are very important. I''ll keep an eye on those."


    Hearing this, Qin Hao had nothing more to say, "Mm-hmm, just be careful with it."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao walked into the store and then said to Nie Si, "When you have time, look for accommodation nearby.


    For the employees who will work here in the future."


    Nie Si was momentarily stunned, "Mr. Qin, are we providing accommodation, too?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mm-hmm, it makes it more convenient for work."


    "What kind of price range should I look for, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao: "Just find something nearby. As long as it''s not too expensive, it should house about twenty people."


    "Mm-hmm, okay, Mr. Qin, I''ll get on it as soon as possible."


    ...


    In the afternoon, after two o''clock, Qin Hao left the shop and took a turn around Xinshang Square and then went across to Xing''an Square.


    This area is a commercial district with a large flow of people, but half the traffic gets drawn to Xing''an Square.


    Even though Xinshang Square only accounts for less than a third of the foot traffic, there are still quite a few people coming over here.


    As long as there are people, Qin Hao is confident he can keep them here, and through word of mouth, he believes Jiangshan Roasted Duck will only get better, even becoming the symbol of Xinshang Square.


    That afternoon, Qin Hao did not return to school, but instead made a call to Du Wanrou, "Wan Rou, do you have class this afternoon?"


    With curiosity, Du Wanrou asked, "No, why?"


    Qin Hao: "We don''t have classes either, so I''m on my way over to you."


    Du Wanrou nodded, "Mm-hmm, okay, I''m just strolling around campus right now. Call me when you get here."


    After the call, Qin Hao took a taxi to Du Wanrou''s East Campus.


    Jianghai University East Campus is located in Bailing District, and it took him just over ten minutes to reach the entrance.

 Chapter 131 Du Wanrous Classmate

    Qin Hao got out of the car, and walked toward the school while calling Du Wanrou.


    After the call connected, he said, "I have entered your school, where are you, Wan Rou?"


    Du Wanrou exclaimed in surprise, "So soon? I''m at the sports field, I''ll come to pick you up right away."


    "No need, I''ll come over, just wait for me there." After saying that, Qin Hao hung up the phone.


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao arrived at the sports field of East Campus; there were many people there, both men and women.


    On the roads beside the sports field, Qin Hao saw quite a few luxury cars.


    The second-generation rich from the Business Administration College were obviously more numerous than those from the Computer College.


    Qin Hao scanned the sports field and spotted Du Wanrou and a group of people by the fitness equipment in the distance.


    Moreover, he saw several boys around them.


    Qin Hao walked over to where Du Wanrou was.


    Next to Du Wanrou''s group, one of the guys dressed in branded clothing said, "Let''s go to the Night Club tonight; I''ll treat."


    Another person said, "Mr. Li, the Night Club in Jianghai City is a famous club, and the bartenders there make extraordinary drinks."


    "I''ve been there a few times, a single drink can cost tens of thousands, but the drinks are indeed good."


    ...


    Shen Yaping, Du Wanrou''s roommate, said with a smile, "Anyway, we don''t have class tomorrow morning, so why don''t we go out tonight?"


    The others also showed some interest, normally they could not afford to go, but now that someone was treating, they all felt tempted.


    Smiling, Du Wanrou said, "You go ahead, I won''t be going after my boyfriend arrives."


    Upon hearing her words, Li Xing''s expression changed slightly, boyfriend?


    He said with a smile, "It''s okay, let''s all go together, your boyfriend is our friend too."


    Another roommate of Du Wanrou, Wang Jie, also chimed in, "Li Xing is right, let''s go together, it''s just for fun."


    Shen Yaping said, "Let''s go together, we''re all classmates in the same class."


    At this moment, Qin Hao walked over, and looking at Du Wanrou, smiled and said, "Wan Rou, what are you guys up to?"


    Seeing him arrive, Du Wanrou quickly walked over and hugged his arm, "Nothing much, just some classmates inviting us out."


    Only then did Qin Hao begin to look around at the people, he had seen a few of Du Wanrou''s roommates before.


    The three impressive guys beside them were seeing him for the first time.


    The car slowly started and gradually drove away from Jianghai University East Campus.


    Li Xing spoke up, "Let''s go to Jinxiu Hotel for dinner. The food there is excellent, and it''s a nationally renowned five-star chain hotel."


    "Must be very expensive, right?" Lin Yunxin asked softly.


    Li Xing lightly smiled, "It''s not so fast normally. If you order the signature dishes, of course, they are expensive, costing tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands each."


    Qin Hao quietly looked at Du Wanrou, his hand holding hers. As for those pretentious words of Li Xing, he didn''t pay attention.


    Perhaps Li Xing wasn''t pretending; after all, his family was extraordinary, possibly just mentioning something quite ordinary.


    But if an ordinary person heard it, many would surely think he was showing off.


    Around four in the afternoon, Li Xing and the others arrived at the entrance of Jinxiu Hotel.


    The hotel, a grand thirty-story building, was majestic and opulent, worthy of its five-star chain status, and looked stunning.


    Du Wanrou''s roommates, who didn''t come from wealthy families, had never been to such a place before.


    Seeing the magnificent Jinxiu Hotel, they expressed their longing.


    Li Xing smiled and said, "Let''s go in."


    The decor inside Jinxiu Hotel was even more luxurious, with dazzling marble floors and large stone pillars carved with dragons and phoenixes.


    Every detail showcased the hotel''s splendor.


    Li Xing went to the front desk, took out a gold membership card, and said, "Please get me a private room."


    "Certainly, Mr. Li, please wait a moment," the front desk clerk registered some details and then someone led them upstairs.


    Under the guidance of a waiter, several people arrived at room 8008 on the eighth floor.


    When Li Xing handed over the menu for everyone to order, seeing the astounding prices, Li Niannian and the others felt too embarrassed to order anything.


    Chen Chengwen and Lin Mingzhe, without any reservation, ordered several dishes.


    Soon the menu reached Du Wanrou''s hands, she ordered two dishes, and then handed it to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao glanced at it, then handed the menu back to Li Xing: "I am fine with anything, Li Xing, you order."


    Hearing Qin Hao''s words, people like Wang Jie felt somewhat disdainful.


    Even though Qin Hao had good academic performance, his family''s financial situation wasn''t great, seeing the menu terrified him to the point of not daring to order.


    Indeed, when choosing a boyfriend, one should really pick someone wealthy, so you can buy whatever you want, eat whatever you wish.


    If you choose a poor scholar like Qin Hao, you might suffer for a lifetime.

 Chapter 132 The Grand Hotel

    Li Xing heard his words, although he disdained them in his heart, he did not show it on the surface.


    He still smiled and said, "No problem, order whatever you want, it''s my treat."


    The last three words he said very clearly, seemingly a bit cordial, but in fact, they were a taunt.


    Qin Hao heard his words, took the menu, and ordered two dishes, one Pine and Crane Prolonging Life and one Phoenix Spreading Its Wings.


    Both of these were Jinxiu Hotel''s signature dishes, with Pine and Crane Prolonging Life priced at ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine yuan.


    Generally, those celebrating significant birthdays here would order this dish.


    The Phoenix Spreading Its Wings was priced at sixty-six thousand six hundred and sixty-six yuan, also one of the signature dishes here.@@@@


    Both dishes were made of pure hand-carved craftsmanship, labor-intensive and time-consuming.


    Li Xing saw the dishes he ordered and his heart twitched, my god, you really dared to go for it.


    Chen Chengwen and Lin Mingzhe wanted to laugh, but they held back, letting you, Li Xing, show off, this brother is really bold.


    Li Niannian and the others felt it was a bit too much; Qin Hao was obviously retaliating for what Li Xing had said.


    You think you''re rich?, then I''ll order the most expensive.


    What''s with this Qin Hao, how could Du Wanrou fall for him?


    ...


    Li Xing couldn''t say anything; after this meal, he would need to be careful with his spending money for the month.


    He ordered two more dishes and several bottles of wine, then let the waiter go.


    Li Xing asked, "Qin Hao, do you also study in Jianghai City?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "I am at the Computer College of Jianghai University Main Campus."


    Li Xing chatted casually, "And what do your parents do, Qin Hao?"


    "My parents are just ordinary workers."


    Li Niannian and others hearing his response looked down on him even more. What''s the use of good grades?, they couldn''t compare with Li Xing at all.


    Even though you scored full marks on the standardized test, can you guarantee your annual salary after graduation?


    Even if it''s a million yuan annual salary, that''s just a month''s pocket money for Li Xing, the gap is too big.


    After chatting for a while, Qin Hao could clearly feel the change in attitude from Du Wanrou''s roommates toward him.


    He also saw that among the three guys, only Li Xing was interested in Du Wan.


    Chen Chengwen and Lin Mingzhe were both interested in Li Niannian and Liu Dan.


    Qin Hao, "I''m not at the school."


    The little witch asked curiously, "Then where did you go?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I''m out eating. What''s up, is something wrong?"


    The little witch said with a laugh, "No issue, you are my master, and as your disciple, I should come and see you. Where are you eating, Master?"


    "At Jinxiu Hotel."


    The little witch paused for a moment after hearing his words, isn''t Jinxiu Hotel our family''s hotel?


    She quickly asked, "Master, which Jinxiu Hotel are you at in Bailing District?"


    "Bailing District, why?"


    Little witch: "Master, wait for me, I''ll come right over. Which room are you in?"


    "8008."


    "Alright, Master, take your time eating, I''ll be there soon." She hung up before Qin Hao could respond.


    ...


    Du Wanrou asked curiously, "Who was that? It sounded like a woman."


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, "A friend, indeed a woman."


    "Is she coming over?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Coming to have a look."


    Hearing his words, Li Xing beside them asked, "Is your friend coming over, Qin Hao? Should we add a few more dishes?"


    "No need."


    Shen Yaping spoke without mincing words, "Qin Hao, your presence here is because of Li Xing giving face to Wan Rou, and now you''re inviting someone else over? Isn''t that a bit too much?"


    Du Wanrou''s eyebrows furrowed slightly, "Yaping, it''s not Qin Hao who invited her, it''s his classmate who said she wanted to come over."


    "What''s the difference?" Shen Yaping said disdainfully.


    As Qin Hao was about to speak, Li Xing suddenly said, "What you are saying is a bit too much, Yaping. Since she is Qin Hao''s classmate, it''s fine for her to come. I can still afford to host one more meal."


    "Mr. Li, I''m not targeting you, I just feel that some people are rather distasteful."


    Li Xing, "Let''s drop it, nobody else say anything."


    Shen Yaping then closed her mouth. From start to finish, the two acted very in sync, never giving Qin Hao a chance to speak.


    Qin Hao''s gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at Shen Yaping. Du Wanrou''s expression wasn''t very good; what Shen Yaping had just said was too excessive.


    Clearly, she was insulting Qin Hao.

 Chapter 133 Miss

    Qin Hao didn''t mention Shen Yaping, nor did he scold her.


    He felt there was no need to stoop to arguing with this kind of woman; it would only make him look petty.


    Just as they finished eating and were about to leave, the door of the private room was opened from outside, and five or six people came in.


    The people in the room paused for a moment, looking at the newcomers.


    The little witch scanned the crowd and saw Qin Hao, who was still eating.


    Her face brightened with joy as she quickly called out, "Master."


    Qin Hao turned his head to glance at her, his face revealing a moment of surprise, "Who are you?"


    The Li Moying he saw had short, flaxen hair and delicate features, especially those bright and captivating eyes.


    She was a far cry from the little witch in the video with long black hair.


    Li Moying chuckled, "Master, can''t you recognize me once I''ve taken off the wig?"


    Qin Hao let out a dry laugh, "I almost didn''t recognize you. You look a bit like a drifter."


    ...


    Li Xing, Chen Chengwen, and Lin Mingzhe, who were inside the room, looked shocked when they saw the people with Li Moying.


    Li Xing quickly got up and said, "Isn''t that Manager Wang? What brings you here?"


    Li Moying looked at him and said, "Sorry, I''ve never heard of it."


    Li Xing''s expression became a bit awkward, but he didn''t dare to make a fuss.


    Jinxiu Hotel was a nationwide chain of five-star hotels with total assets exceeding a hundred billion.


    Li Xing''s family''s total assets amounted to just over ten billion, barely enough to match a single Jinxiu Hotel.


    With more than a thousand Jinxiu Hotels across the country, the disparity was clear.


    Qin Hao turned to Li Xing and said, "Thanks for your hospitality, Li Xing. I have other matters to attend to, so I''ll be leaving first."


    Having said that, he left with Du Wanrou, and Li Moying quickly followed after them.


    With the young Miss gone, Wang Yongfeng also stepped out, and the Jinxiu Hotel executives left the private room.


    Li Xing and his companions looked at each other in disbelief, their eyes reflecting skepticism. Du Wanrou''s boyfriend knew the Jinxiu Hotel heiress?


    Li Niannian and the others were confused about Li Moying''s identity, and Lin Yunxin asked curiously, "Who was that person just now?"


    Lin Mingzhe replied with a neutral tone, "The heiress of Jinxiu Hotel."


    The group of them gasped, well aware of Jinxiu Hotel''s reputation, with locations in every major city nationwide.


    Jinxiu Group was among the top 500 enterprises in the country, and that person was the heiress to this enterprise?


    Wasn''t she the daughter of a billionaire? And what had she just called Qin Hao? Master?

 Chapter 134 Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technique

    Li Xing and his friends hurriedly followed after they saw Li Moying leave.


    If they had a chance to enter the circle of top-tier rich second generations, it would benefit not only him but also their elders.


    Li Niannian and the others trailed behind Li Xing''s group.


    Ahead, Li Moying was chatting with Qin Hao, "Master, this is a black card from my family''s hotel, only available to internal staff or big clients.


    It''s accepted at Jinxiu Hotels nationwide, and with this card, dining and accommodation are free. I''ll just get another one from my dad when we get back."


    Wang Yongfeng and the others behind them were dumbstruck upon hearing that¡ªdamn, who exactly is this guy?


    The missy is actually offering her own black card to him, what an honor that is?


    The eyes of Li Xing''s group almost popped out in envy¡ªthis was a Jinxiu Group black card, after all.


    Even their elders had never seen a black card, they had only heard about it.


    The holders of these black cards across the entire Xuan Country number less than fifty, and each one is a huge figure in the industry, with immense influence.


    Du Wanrou was incredibly shocked in her heart. Even she could see the extraordinary status of Li Moying.


    Qin Hao responded indifferently, shaking his head, "No need, I eat a lot, I''m afraid I might bankrupt your family."


    ...


    Bankrupt the Jinxiu Group? You must be joking.


    But not one of the few people behind him laughed; who can resist the temptation of a black card?


    Wang Yongfeng, who had met all sorts of people, could feel that this guy next to the miss wasn''t faking it¡ªhe genuinely didn''t want it.


    He may seem ordinary and unremarkable, yet he has a pride and nonconformity that sets him apart from the rest.


    Indeed, anyone who can walk side by side with the young missy isn''t ordinary.


    Li Moying, upset by his refusal, pouted and said, "Master, please just take it. It''s a token of your apprentice''s sincerity. You might need it sometime when treating someone to a meal."


    With Li Moying''s persistence, she finally stuffed the card into Qin Hao''s pocket, which brought her satisfaction.


    After leaving the hotel, a red, limited-edition Bugatti Veyron was parked at the entrance.


    The price of this car in Xuan Country was over forty million, making it one of the most top-tier luxury cars, and it was something Li Moying had wheedled out of her brother.


    Li Moying offered, "Master, Mistress, let me drive you back."


    "No, we''ll just take a taxi back," said Du Wanrou hastily.


    Li Moying said, "Don''t be polite with me, hurry up and get in the car."


    At her insistent request, Qin Hao and company got into her car, and then she started the car and drove away.


    Li Moying gently swirled her glass and then took a sip, her attitude elegant and her movements charming.


    Qin Hao listlessly swirled his glass, then raised it and downed it in one gulp.


    The bartender and Li Moying were taken aback, staring at him openly.


    Qin Hao burped and, seeing their expressions, curiously asked, "What''s wrong?"


    The bartender said, "Brother, this is Ice and Fire, not plain water. It''s meant to be savored slowly. Are you feeling dizzy?"


    "It''s okay, although it is a bit strong." Qin Hao now felt bursts of heat and cold within him.


    A bit strong? Just a bit strong? This was one of the strongest drinks in the bar.


    Normally, it would take more than an hour to enjoy.


    Li Moying spoke up, "Make another cocktail for my Master."


    Qin Hao looked at Li Moying and said, "Did you call me out this late just to drink?"


    Li Moying chuckled, "Master, I''m planning to sign up for the national city competition online."


    Qin Hao responded, "I might not have the time to play. I''m okay with playing occasionally."


    "Then forget it. I also think it''s not that interesting."


    Her initial plan was to persuade Qin Hao on behalf of her older brother, but after hearing his response, she knew it was not going to happen, so she didn''t bring it up again.


    After finishing their drinks, the two left the bar. Li Moying offered to send him back.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "It''s so late, I can just take a cab back myself. You should go back and rest early too."


    Li Moying couldn''t persuade him otherwise, so she watched as he got into a taxi and then left.


    Qin Hao arrived back at the dormitory, and it was already past nine in the evening.


    Seeing him return, Wang Yanghua said, "Big Brother, you''ve been really busy today, not even attending classes."


    "Had some things to take care of," Qin Hao replied.


    After freshening up, he went to bed. The fatty and the others were still playing games, while Zhao De was playing with his phone in his bed.


    Qin Hao lay in bed and opened the system, directly learning the Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technology from the backpack.


    A vast amount of information filled his mind, and after digesting this knowledge, he was stunned.


    It was truly a product of a new era.


    Every single technology in this car, if made public, would drive countless car manufacturers insane.


    He believed that if he developed this kind of car, it would create a huge sensation.


    Although he couldn''t compare to Watt who started the steam era, he felt he wouldn''t be too far behind.

 Chapter 135 He Tingtings Public Class

    Qin Hao suppressed his excitement and checked his tasks again.


    The main task should be about to be completed, and the side tasks could be completed gradually as well.


    Now, his reputation was growing at an extremely fast pace, as the number one ranking in the Xuan Country server had high visibility.


    As long as someone opened the ranking system, they would see the name Shadow Gun Demon.


    So even if he didn''t play games every day, his reputation would still be on the rise.


    Especially that terrifying record, it was simply unbelievable: a one hundred percent victory rate, who could believe it?


    The next morning


    Qin Hao and a few of his roommates finished eating, then headed to the classroom, as the schedule for freshmen was quite busy.


    This time during class, he didn''t sleep but instead read a book, taking ten lines with a single glance, and reading at a very fast pace.


    The content wasn''t too difficult for him, and he could grasp it thoroughly with just one read-through.


    After class, the fatty said to him, "Hao, I''m leaving first."


    After saying that, he ran out, and Qin Hao looked at him puzzledly. What did he mean by telling me this?


    Many in the classroom were walking out, and the number of people was dwindling.


    Qin Hao felt something was amiss, as if there was something he didn''t know about.


    At that moment, Xu Siyao came over: "Why aren''t you going?"


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Go where? Where did they all go?"


    Xu Siyao''s expression was somewhat speechless: "As the class representative, don''t you know that the next class is an open lecture on future intelligence?


    And it''s our advisor''s lecture, too. Students from six classes will be there, and even sophomores and juniors."


    Embarrassed, Qin Hao laughed, "I forgot to check the schedule, let''s go together then."


    Xu Siyao nodded, "Qin Hao, my dad would like to invite you over for a meal at our house the day after tomorrow at noon, do you have time?"


    Qin Hao: "Sure."


    Seeing him agree, Xu Siyao smiled, "Mm-hmm, let''s go to the class."


    The two walked side by side out of the classroom, and Huo Qiang, who was inside, glared at them with a hint of jealousy.


    In the multimedia open class classroom.


    After Qin Hao and Xu Siyao entered, the room was packed, seemingly with three to four hundred people.


    Although there are still many shortcomings, I think this is already a successful first step."


    He Tingting nodded slightly, and then let a few other students share their opinions.


    She continued, "Everyone has different views on this, now let me share my thoughts.


    I believe that the artificial intelligence depicted in science fiction movies will be realized someday in the future.


    They will have bodies of steel and at the same time, they will have thought processes like the human brain.


    Now, countries have dedicated research teams, and progress is fast, evident from AlphaGo a couple of years ago.


    We are getting closer to the intelligent era, maybe it will be on a certain day in a few decades, or perhaps on a certain day hundreds of years from now."


    While He Tingting was speaking passionately on the podium, everyone below listened intently and took notes.


    Qin Hao''s classmate Xu Siyao was also taking notes seriously, because she thought that what He Tingting said made a lot of sense.


    Even the person who initially thought artificial intelligence was just a figment of the imagination was persuaded by He Tingting and started taking notes earnestly.


    During this class, He Tingting spoke for more than half an hour, during which she provided many examples, making a very compelling case.


    While everyone was taking notes diligently, He Tingting glanced down and saw Qin Hao sitting there shaking his head and looking around.


    Is this guy really getting perfect scores on the unified exams?


    With his attitude towards learning, how can he possibly get perfect scores on the unified exams? Could the examiners have been blind?


    Suddenly, He Tingting spoke up, "Qin Hao, I see you sitting there looking unconvinced. Could you share your thoughts with everyone? Do you feel there''s something incorrect in what the teacher said?"


    Qin Hao froze for a moment. Wasn''t it just an inadvertent glance? Was she holding a grudge?


    Besides, it wasn''t even my intention to look; it was your own exposure...


    Xu Siyao next to him covered her mouth and chuckled. She had long felt that Qin Hao hadn''t been listening carefully.


    ...


    Qin Hao stood up and said, "Teacher, what did you say? I didn''t hear it clearly."


    He Tingting replied, "I said, don''t you think that the teacher''s views are incorrect? You can share your own views.


    Don''t treat this place as just a classroom; you can consider it a place for academic exchanges."


    The entire lecture hall turned their gaze toward Qin Hao, and to him, this feeling was not particularly pleasant.


    Qin Hao reluctantly said, "Teacher, I think some of your points aren''t quite right."


    He Tingting, curious, asked, "Oh? Which points do you think are incorrect?"

 Chapter 136 As Long as the Thinking Doesnt Slip

    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Regarding the artificial intelligence mentioned by the teacher, I think it can indeed be realized."


    But like the teacher said, having the same thinking as a human, I find that very difficult to realize."


    We should divide the development of artificial intelligence into several stages, just like computers in the past.


    A long time ago, computers had very low configurations, a few hundred megabytes of memory, vacuum tubes, then later several gigabytes, transistors;


    several hundred gigabytes, large-scale integrated circuits; I think artificial intelligence should also be divided into several stages."


    His theory didn''t have a remarkable feeling to it, but it was also decent and standard.


    He Tingting nodded slightly, "Then how many stages do you think artificial intelligence should be developed in?"


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, "Teacher, that question is quite profound, I''m not very clear on it."


    He only knew that the smart robots in the store were divided into many generations, but he was not clear on how these generations of intelligent robots were demarcated.


    He Tingting didn''t seem to intend to let him off the hook, continuing to ask, "Then can you talk about your understanding of artificial intelligence?"


    Today, she wanted to make Qin Hao realize his place, not to think that just because he scored full marks on the unified exam, he could look down on everything.


    Qin Hao, "Which aspect of understanding did the teacher mean? Could you be more specific?"@@@@


    "Your understanding of artificial intelligence, just talk about it casually."


    Qin Hao quickly opened the system store and looked at the general description of the Xinghai Generation I smart robots.


    Then he began to speak, "I think the development of artificial intelligence is closely related to computers.


    Modern computers can be said to be the embryo of artificial intelligence. Everyone has used computers and is very clear about their functions.


    You click the confirm button, and it will react; there''s also the more advanced voice-activated computers, when you speak, they will react.


    To me, all these count as having a little bit of intelligence. But how do these functions come about?


    Quite a few people should be aware that programming these features into a chip will realize these functions.


    I believe many research institutions must have focused on this. I think the direction is correct, but with some outdated things, I feel that if they need to be changed, they should be."


    Xu Siyao spoke indifferently, "I didn''t expect you guys still remembered me, I thought you would have forgotten about me long ago."


    The expressions of those people became a bit awkward; in the past, they used to hang out with Xu Siyao frequently.


    Their family backgrounds were inferior to Xu Siyao''s, so they all had their own motives for spending time with her.


    But later, when Xu Siyao got a strange illness and they thought she wouldn''t live much longer, they stopped paying attention to her.


    Now seeing Xu Siyao back to her former self, they felt a bit regretful.


    If they had paid more attention to Xu Siyao back then, they may not have ended up like they were now.


    The girl said, "What are you talking about, Sister Yao? How could we possibly forget about you? You are our big sister after all."


    Another person chimed in, "That''s right, Sister Yao. Now seeing you''re fine, we''re all really happy."


    Hearing their words, Xu Siyao''s expression grew colder and colder, "Get out of here while I''m still in a not-so-bad mood."


    Seeing her expression, those people knew she was truly angered, and they promptly left the area.


    When Xu Siyao got angry, she didn''t care about the consequences, and they didn''t want to be beaten for nothing.


    After those people left, Xu Siyao apologized to Qin Hao with embarrassment, "That... those were my former friends, sorry to have embarrassed you."


    Qin Hao laughed, "You did the right thing, these people indeed shouldn''t be associated with."


    Xu Siyao nodded slightly, realizing that although Qin Hao wasn''t old, his way of speaking was very experienced and mature.


    "By the way, how is your roast duck restaurant doing?" Xu Siyao made small talk with him.


    Qin Hao, "It''s developing well. I plan to open a branch in Jianghai City. I''ve already chosen the location and it''s currently under renovation."


    Xu Siyao was somewhat surprised, "You''re expanding to Jianghai City so soon?"


    Qin Hao spoke with a smile, "Diversification."


    Xu Siyao, "You''re amazing. So young and already starting your own business, much stronger compared to us second-generation disciples who loiter around."


    Qin Hao replied, "There are second-generation disciples who loiter, but there should also be many who are striving hard.


    Your starting point is higher than that of us ordinary people, and you have broader avenues to explore. Any development you engage in is likely to be more impressive than ours."

 Chapter 137 Campus Belle List

    Xu Siyao nodded slightly, "Jianghai City indeed has several rather famous second-generation disciples whose companies have already broken the annual profit of one billion."


    Qin Hao felt some admiration inside, there really were many capable people in Xuan Country, breaking the annual profit of one billion wasn''t something an ordinary company could achieve.


    After the two finished lunch, they returned to the classroom, as they still had one more class in the afternoon.


    Back in the classroom, Xu Siyao returned to her seat, and there were quite a few people in the classroom.


    Huo Qiang saw Qin Hao come back, stood up and walked over, "Qin Hao, step outside with me for a moment."


    Qin Hao looked at him with confusion, "Is there a problem?"


    "You''ll know once you come out," Huo Qiang said to him.


    Qin Hao detected something off in his tone, but still got up and walked out.


    After Huo Qiang left the classroom, he brought him to the restroom.


    Inside the restroom stood four or five guys, all summoned by Huo Qiang, who planned to give Qin Hao a warning.


    Upon seeing this scene, Qin Hao''s face broke into a smile, but he was a bit puzzled¡ªthere didn''t seem to be any friction between him and Huo Qiang, right?


    Huo Qiang spoke while looking at him, "Do you know why I called you out here?"


    Once back in the dorm, Fatty said to Qin Hao, "Brother, Jianghai University''s beauty ranking has been updated."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What beauty ranking?"


    Fatty chuckled, "It''s the beauty ranking of our Jianghai University, featuring beauties from every campus."


    While speaking, he opened up Jianghai University''s official forum, where there was a pinned post: Jianghai University Beauty Ranking.


    The group from the dormitory all crowded around, and then Fatty clicked on the post.


    The latest Jianghai University Beauty Ranking, first place: Li Moying.


    Accompanying it was a photo of Li Moying standing beside a red Bugatti Veyron.


    Noble and spirited, young and beautiful, this photo was indeed quite high-quality.


    Sun Feng exclaimed, "Wow damn, worthy of being the top beauty, she''s so gorgeous, I really like it."


    Wu Jun also nodded, "So beautiful, so distinctive, if I could marry a beauty like that, it would be worth dying for."


    "Keep scrolling," Qin Hao wanted to see what place Du Wanrou was in.


    Second place was a beauty from junior year named Zhao Qian, perfect from every angle, truly a top-notch beauty.


    When he reached sixth place, he saw Xia Qing, and then seventh place was Du Wanrou.

 Chapter 138 Zhao De Fights

    Qin Hao finished looking at the school beauty ranking and curled his lip, "This list seems fake."


    Several people like Sun Feng nodded in agreement; the goddesses they fancied were ranked lower down.


    The chubby guy said with a smile, "Second Brother, don''t worry about whether it''s fake or not, anyways all the girls on this list are top-notch beauties.


    The owner of this post probably has a different taste from us, he might like the type like Li Moying.


    Like I think Xia Qing should be ranked first. Just look at her smile with dimples, I feel like even ice could melt."@@@@


    Behind them, Wu Jun nodded in agreement: "That Du Wanrou is also not bad, with her delicate face and playful eyes, she''s simply the goddess of my dreams. I hope I can dream about her tonight."


    "Scram," Qin Hao cursed him without good humor.


    My girlfriend, and you still have thoughts about her?


    Wu Jun smiled sheepishly, "So Second Brother also likes the type like Du Wanrou. I''ll switch to another one then."


    Sun Feng spoke up, "I prefer the type like Zhao Qian; each of these beauties has her own charm, this ranking is not an accurate judge.


    I think it should be changed to ''Jianghai University Legendary Goddess Ranking,'' without any particular order."


    The chubby guy nodded, "All these beauties are too gorgeous, saying who''s first is unfair to the others.


    If it''s done by voting, those wealthy beauties would have an advantage, so this list is very suspect."


    This Li Moying definitely has a significant background; I see there''s a reason she''s ranked first."


    Qin Hao glanced at the chubby guy curiously and asked, "How do you know she has a significant background?"


    "Second Brother, how did you score full marks on the intelligence test? Didn''t you see the background picture? A limited edition luxury car worth tens of millions."


    ...


    Zhao De, a man from Beilu Province with a forthright and hot-tempered character, was taking quite a beating, but his spirit was not in the slightest bit diminished.


    Qin Hao was the first to charge in. He flew into the air with a kick that landed on one of the assailant''s backs.


    After landing, he delivered a spinning kick that knocked down another man. His combat skills had been upgraded after reaching the level of National Martial Arts.


    His moves were more graceful and elegant, with techniques that were varied and flexible. He could execute many highly difficult moves.


    Ten seconds later, those who had been surrounding Zhao De were all laid out on the ground. The chubby guy only arrived, panting, at this moment.


    He looked at Qin Hao in shock, "Second Brother, when did you get so good at fighting?"


    Qin Hao made up an excuse, "I practiced when I was little."


    "Damn all of you, daring to touch my brother. I''ll kick the life out of you!" The chubby guy unleashed a barrage of kicks and punches on the guys on the ground.


    Sun Feng, Wu Jun, and Chen Ping didn''t even get a chance to throw a punch as they looked at Qin Hao in astonishment.


    They had all seen Qin Hao''s moves just now, which were incredibly impressive.


    The onlookers around the basketball court were also amazed, "Wow, this guy is so badass, his skills are comparable to someone from the Martial Arts Club."


    "So awesome, just like the masters in martial arts TV shows. That flying side kick is a super high-level move!"


    "Wow, so cool." There were also few girls in the crowd, their eyes filled with stars as they watched.


    Qin Hao went over to Zhao De and asked, "You okay?"


    Zhao De grimaced in pain and took in a sharp breath, "I''m fine, Second Brother. I''ll be okay in a couple of days."


    Qin Hao looked at the people on the ground and asked Zhao De curiously, "What happened?"


    Zhao De replied, "I don''t know either, Second Brother. I was just playing basketball, and these guys came up looking for trouble."

 Chapter 139 Everyone Has Their Own Agenda

    Qin Hao looked at the people on the ground who had already stood up, their eyes filled with fear as they looked back at him.


    They were all athletic champions who had been taken down by Qin Hao alone in a very short time, which spoke to his impressive abilities.@@@@


    Qin Hao looked at them and asked, "Speak, why did you beat up my brother?"


    "He took over our basketball court," one of them replied.


    Qin Hao then said to the fatty, "Take him to our dormitory. I have a way to make him tell the truth."


    "Alright, second brother," the fatty and Wu Jun went over to take the man away.


    The man''s complexion changed, and he said hurriedly, "I''ll talk, I''ll talk, it was Cui Zhi who sent us here."


    Cui Zhi?


    An image of a person flashed through Qin Hao''s mind, Cui Zhi, someone he remembered was in the same class as Xia Qing.


    And this person had given him trouble just a few days before.


    Qin Hao asked, "Where is he now?"


    The man hesitated before replying, "Mr. Cui should still be in the dormitory now."


    "Which dormitory?"


    "Building three, room 301."


    Qin Hao led Zhao De and the others away from the basketball court and headed straight for the freshman dormitory building three.


    As they were about to arrive at the freshman dormitory building three, Sun Feng said anxiously, "Second brother, don''t act rashly, that Cui Zhi comes from a family with connections."


    Qin Hao said calmly, "I''m just going to teach him a lesson. Even with his background, can he possibly get me sentenced to prison?


    This matter started because of me, and Zhao De got beaten up because of me as well; I can''t swallow this indignity.


    This has nothing to do with you guys; I can go by myself."


    Wang Yanghua said, "Second brother, it sounds like you''re shutting us out. We brothers face troubles together and share good times together.


    How can we let you go alone for this kind of thing? I have thick skin and can take a beating. If anyone is scared, they can go back."


    Zhao De said, "Second brother, I''ll go with you too. I, Zhao De, have never tolerated such disrespect before. If we don''t strike back today, it wouldn''t fit my character."


    Sun Feng said, "That''s not what I meant. Cui Zhi''s family owns a company and has connections. I''m saying this for your own good."


    Since the last time Cui Zhi had caused them trouble, Sun Feng made some inquiries and thus got to know about Cui Zhi''s background.


    "Big bro, we are all top students of the Computer College. If things really escalate, it''s better to have many of us backing you up than you facing it alone," Chen Ping said.


    "Right, what six has said is true."


    Qin Hao didn''t say anything more; he took this show of friendship to heart.


    The group went upstairs to the dormitory and then arrived outside Cui Zhi''s room.


    Qin Hao pushed open the door and entered. The room was filled with smoke, with three people inside.


    Cui Zhi was lying on the bed, smoking and playing with his phone, while the other two were playing games.


    Upon hearing someone enter, Cui Zhi looked over, and when he saw Qin Hao and the others, he was stunned, a bad premonition arose in his heart.


    Qin Hao walked over to his bed, grabbed his clothes, and dragged him off the bed, "Do you know why I''m here?"


    The two guys playing games sprang up to stop Qin Hao but were blocked by Zhao De and the others.


    Cui Zhi was frightened by Qin Hao''s aggression, his face turning pale, "What do you want?"


    "You know very well what I want. You can mess with me, but not with my brothers." After saying this, Qin Hao threw him to the ground.


    He gave Cui Zhi a lesson, punching and kicking, but he measured his blows well to ensure they only left superficial injuries.


    "Next time you want trouble, come to me. If you dare touch any of my friends again,


    I''ll break your legs. If you don''t believe me, try it." Qin Hao''s tone was calm, yet it carried a powerful momentum.


    After finishing, he said to Wang Yanghua and the others, "Let''s go."


    After Qin Hao and his group left, Cui Zhi struggled to his feet, his face bruised, grimacing in pain.


    He had never experienced such humiliation in his life: "Damn it, just you wait."


    ...


    When Qin Hao and his friends returned to their dormitory, they saw Sun Feng and the other person packing.


    The group didn''t bother with them and sat on their chairs talking among themselves.


    After packing, Sun Feng and his companion took their suitcases and left, having rented a place outside.


    After the two left, the fatty let out a sigh of relief: "At least those two had the sense to realize."


    Qin Hao hadn''t been back long when he received a call from Nie Si, who had found a suitable apartment.


    She didn''t have much money, so she could only call Qin Hao.


    After hanging up his phone, Qin Hao received another call from Liu Pengyun, saying he and a few others would be arriving in Jianghai City tonight.

 Chapter 140 Liu Pengyun Arrives

    Liu Pengyun brought a few experienced hands with him, which would save a lot of trouble when opening the store.


    Qin Hao and Fatty mentioned it to a few people, then left the university.


    He hailed a taxi and headed straight for the place Nie Si had mentioned, arriving at the entrance of a residential complex about half an hour later.


    Nie Si was waiting for him at the entrance of the complex. Seeing him arrive, she hurried over, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Let''s go take a look at the house first, the people from Jiangshan will come over tonight."


    Nie Si: "Okay, Mr. Qin."


    He followed Nie Si into the complex, which had a quite nice environment. All the residential buildings here were twenty-story high-rises.


    As they walked, Nie Si said, "Mr. Qin, I have looked carefully, the security and property management in this complex are very good.


    The greening is beautiful, and the price is reasonable,"


    They arrived beneath a building and then took the elevator to the eighteenth floor.


    There were two households on the eighteenth floor; both doors were open, with a middle-aged man standing at one of the doorways.


    Upon seeing Nie Si, the middle-aged man hurriedly greeted them with a smile, "Miss Nie, this is Mr. Qin, isn''t it?"


    Nie Si nodded slightly, "Mr. Liu, this is our boss, Mr. Qin."


    The middle-aged man glanced at Qin Hao, a flash of surprise crossing his mind¡ªso young?


    But he did not show it on his face; instead, he reached out smiling, "Hello, Mr. Qin, I am Liu Sheng."


    Qin Hao also extended his hand, "Hello Mr. Liu, I''m here to check the house."


    Qin Hao took them out to eat something nearby.


    During the meal, Liu Pengyun looked at Nie Si and asked, "Mr. Qin, who is this?"


    Qin Hao: "This is my assistant Nie Si, who will also be your colleague in the future."


    Liu Pengyun quickly raised his glass, "Nice to meet you, Assistant Nie, I am Liu Pengyun, cheers."


    Nie Si promptly picked up her glass, "Mr. Liu, you''re too kind, I should be the one toasting you."


    "Assistant Nie, you''re a lady, drink as you wish, I''ll finish mine." Saying this, Liu Pengyun emptied his glass of beer in one go.


    By the time they finished the meal, it was nearly ten in the evening.


    When Qin Hao returned to the dorm, Fatty and several others were still awake, either on their phones or computers.


    Fatty: "Brother, you''re back? What kept you so late?"


    "Had some things to handle, just finished."


    ...


    The next day


    After breakfast, Qin Hao and his group went to the classroom.


    The first lecture was He Tingting''s specialty course, talking about the future development of computers.


    Not long after the lecture began, a police car drove into Jianghai University Main Campus.


    The police car stopped at the Computer College, and two officers got out, heading straight to the class of new computer science students.

 Chapter 141 Light Injury

    Computer Science Major, Class 1.


    He Tingting was teaching when a knock at the door was heard, followed by a middle-aged man entering, "Mr. He, could you please come out for a moment?"


    This middle-aged man was a director at the Computer College.


    He Tingting walked out with a look of curiosity in her eyes.


    Outside the classroom stood two men in police uniforms.


    Feeling even more puzzled, He Tingting curiously asked, "Director Li, what is the matter?"


    Li Minghui spoke up, "I''m not too clear on the details, let the police explain to you."


    One of the officers said, "Hello, we''ve received a report that a student from your class is suspected of intentional assault, so we''d like to take him away to assist with the investigation."


    He Tingting, "Suspected of intentional assault? Who is it?"


    "After our investigation, it appears to be Qin Hao from your class."


    Qin Hao?


    He Tingting paused for a moment, "Are you sure you''ve got the right person? Qin Hao is the national exam top achiever and has been featured in the Xuan Country Daily. I hope you will investigate this matter seriously."


    Hearing this, the two officers were surprised; being featured in the Xuan Country Daily was not something ordinary people could achieve. Those who made it there were either individuals who had made significant contributions to society, high-ranking officials, or corrupt bureaucrats under investigation.


    Nevertheless, they could not just leave on this account.


    One of the police officers said, "The victim has already provided a medical assessment certificate, and there are witnesses. We will investigate thoroughly, but right now, we need to take him to assist with the investigation."


    He Tingting nodded, "Mhm, I hope you will conduct a fair and just investigation."


    The two police officers nodded, then followed He Tingting into the classroom.


    The students inside looked at the officers entering with curiosity, wondering what the police were doing in our classroom.


    The chubby ones among them changed expression for a moment and looked towards Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao maintained a calm demeanor, with a faint smile on his face.


    He Tingting said to Qin Hao, "Qin Hao, please come out for a moment. The police officers have something to inquire about and need your assistance."


    The classroom erupted in shock. The police were looking for Qin Hao? Could he have done something wrong?


    Qin Hao got up and walked over, showing no fear, "Officers, what do you need to investigate with my assistance?"


    One officer said, "You are suspected of intentional assault, so we hope you will cooperate with our police investigation."


    Qin Hao: "Yes, I''m a doctor, and I saw that he''d only suffered superficial damage. At most, it could be classified as a minor injury; I''d like to see the medical certificate."


    Wang Kai said to the person beside him, "Show him the medical certificate."


    The person pulled out a medical certificate and handed it to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao glanced at it; it was an official certificate, issued by Jianghai Third Hospital, no less.


    The certificate stated that Cui Zhi had a visibly deformed nasal bone and ear canal damage, affecting his hearing, which qualified the injuries as minor.


    Seeing this, Wang Kai said, "Do you have any further objections? Not only did the Third Hospital make this assessment, but our forensic doctor has also confirmed that Cui Zhi''s injuries are indeed minor. Here are the results of our forensic examination."


    Qin Hao: "Sorry, officer, but I feel there might be some foul play involved here."


    Wang Kai''s face immediately darkened, "Foul play? Are you questioning the authority of the police?"


    Qin Hao replied calmly, "No, I just hope you''ll investigate thoroughly; I''ve been framed."


    Wang Kai snorted coldly, "We don''t need your instructions on how to solve this case. Now, not only do we have physical evidence,


    but also two witnesses. The evidence is incontrovertible. Are you still trying to plead not guilty? Come clean and seek leniency or you''ll face even harsher punishment."


    Qin Hao: "How can I confess to something I haven''t done?"


    Wang Kai: "You sure are tough, with both eyewitness and physical evidence against you, I wonder how long you can keep this up."


    Qin Hao''s expression remained unchanged as he said, "I''d like to make a phone call, if that''s alright?"


    After saying so, he had already taken out his cellphone and called Li Moying, the only person he knew in Jianghai City.


    He knew Xu Siyao as well, but didn''t have her contact information.


    The call connected quickly, and Qin Hao spoke, "I''m at the Xinhai District Police Station, come here, please."


    "Who allowed you to make a call? Hand the phone over to me," demanded Wang Kai, snatching the phone away the moment he finished speaking.


    Qin Hao didn''t dodge or resist, allowing him to take the phone, his gaze calm as he watched.


    Wang Kai: "According to regulations, for criminal cases like yours, you''re not allowed any contact with the outside world until the case is closed."


    Qin Hao closed his eyes and said no more; he could sense that Wang Kai must have some connection to Cui Zhi''s side.


    The best defense for him now was silent protest; Li Moying''s arrival would make a difference.


    Wang Kai noticed his silence and frowned slightly, finding the situation somewhat troublesome. Qin Hao was like a hedgehog, presenting a challenge that felt impossible to tackle.


    He didn''t seem like a nineteen-year-old youth, but rather a slick character well-versed in police encounters.

 Chapter 142 Jianghais Friend

    Upon receiving Qin Hao''s call, Li Moying was momentarily stunned before she heard Wang Kai''s words.


    She could already guess that her mentor must have run into trouble; she promptly walked out of the classroom.


    The teacher didn''t say anything when he saw this since he knew Li Moying''s identity and didn''t dare to speak up.


    Meanwhile, right after Qin Hao was taken away, Xu Siyao immediately made a call to her father.


    When Xu Jiekang received the call from his daughter, he asked curiously, "What''s wrong, daughter?"


    Xu Siyao hurriedly spoke, "Dad, something seems to have happened to Qin Hao."


    Xu Jiekang: "What happened to him?"


    Xu Siyao: "I''m not very clear about the specifics, but a moment ago two policemen took him away. Can you go check on it, Dad?"


    "Hmm, alright, I''m on my way. Which police station is it?"


    "It should be the Xin Hai Police Station."


    ...


    Less than half an hour after Qin Hao entered the Xin Hai Police Station, a limited edition Bugatti Veyron stopped at the entrance.


    Li Moying got out of the car and walked straight into the police station.


    Once inside the lobby, she asked, "Where''s my mentor? Where have you detained him?"


    "Miss, may I ask who you are looking for? Who is your mentor?" the front desk police officer asked curiously.


    Li Moying: "My mentor is named Qin Hao, and you''ve arrested him. Where is he? I want to see my mentor."


    "Please wait a moment."


    A few minutes later, the police officer returned: "I''m sorry, madam, but you cannot go in."


    Li Moying frowned, "Why can''t I go in?"


    "These are orders from above."


    Li Moying took out her phone and made a call; once connected, she said, "Mr. Wang, your people have arrested my mentor, and now they won''t even let me see him. They aren''t using torture on my mentor, are they?"


    Upon hearing this, Wang Lihe was full of frustration: "What kind of society do you think this is? How could such a thing be possible? What''s your mentor''s name? I''ll make a call to inquire."


    "He is called Qin Hao, at Xin Hai District Police Station."


    After hanging up, the nearby police officer glanced at her. Mr. Wang?@@@@


    This must be some top-ranking officer''s disciple, right? Should I tell Captain Wang about this?


    Wang Kai''s face was a bit awkward, "Mr. Qin, there are still some doubts in this case, I might have been too hasty earlier."


    Too hasty?


    I bet you just want to screw me over.


    Qin Hao scoffed, "You were quite aggressive just now, Officer Wang."


    Liu Haiping quickly came forward to mediate, "Mr. Qin, there''s been a misunderstanding. How about if Officer Wang apologizes to you, and we let bygones be bygones?"


    Right then, Li Moying''s phone rang. She glanced at it and answered, "Hello, Mr. Wang."


    Hearing Li Moying''s reference, Liu Haiping and Wang Kai''s expressions turned serious, they listened intently, trying to catch what their superior had to say.


    But Li Moying kept her voice low, and they couldn''t hear a thing, whereas Qin Hao, with his sharp senses, heard everything clearly.


    The message from Li Moying''s "Mr. Wang" was simple: downplay the big issues and dissolve the small ones. After all, these two men were his subordinates, and any trouble wouldn''t look good for him either.


    Liu Haiping and Wang Kai could probably guess the same; they might face discipline at most but were unlikely to lose their jobs.


    Just as Li Moying hung up, Wang Kai''s phone rang in his pocket¡ªit was Qin Hao''s phone, which he had confiscated earlier.


    The ringing made Wang Kai somewhat embarrassed, and he quickly took out the phone and handed it to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao took the phone and saw an unfamiliar number: "Hello, this is Qin Hao speaking."


    Xu Jiekang''s voice came through from the other side, "Is that you, Qin Hao? It''s Xu Jiekang. Are you alright? No trouble, I hope?"


    Qin Hao paused, and then he remembered Xu Siyao.


    She must have told Xu Jiekang about his situation.


    Qin Hao replied, "Oh, it''s Mr. Xu. I''m fine."


    Xu Jiekang asked, "We''re on our way; are you still at the station?


    Qin Hao: "Still here."


    "Then wait there, I''ll be there shortly."


    After hanging up, Li Moying asked curiously, "Master, who was that?"


    "A friend from Jianghai. Let''s wait a bit longer; he''ll be here soon," Qin Hao said.


    Li Moying nodded slightly and said no more.


    They didn''t have to wait long; Xu Jiekang arrived promptly, accompanied by someone else.


    Seeing the person with Xu Jiekang, Liu Haiping and Wang Kai were so frightened they nearly collapsed...

 Chapter 143 Reporting

    Xu Jiekang was startled when he saw the person inside the room, "Miss Li, what are you doing here too?"


    Li Moying said with a smile, "I came to see my master, turns out Mr. Xu is here to see my master as well."


    "Master?"


    Xu Jiekang looked somewhat surprised.


    Li Moying smiled and nodded, "That''s right, Qin Hao is my master; he''s really good at gaming."


    ...@@@@


    Xu Jiekang had a speechless look on his face, scaring me for a moment¡ªI had thought you took him as your master in medicine.


    He had witnessed Qin Hao''s masterful medical skills. Whoever could take him as a master, that would truly be extraordinary luck.


    Xu Jiekang said to Qin Hao with a smile, "Qin Hao, it seems you don''t need my help after all, you''ve managed to get out of this safely, but while I''m here, let me introduce you to this person. This is my older brother, as well as Si Yao''s great-uncle, Xu Jiejian."


    Xu Jiejian had a square face, a stern complexion, and an imposing demeanor that didn''t require anger to assert authority, the kind gained from long-held high positions.


    This man must be either a major official or a business tycoon.


    His presence was even stronger than Xu Jiekang''s.


    Xu Jiejian gave a little nod, "Mm, we will investigate this matter thoroughly; it is also our duty to give everyone a clear world."


    Wang Kai felt even more desperate. With Xu Jiejian saying that, his life was probably really over.


    Liu Haiping felt relieved, grateful that he was unaware of this incident; otherwise, given Qin Hao''s ruthlessness, he wouldn''t have been able to avoid it either.


    This kind of ruthless character is someone I should offend less in the future, or I won''t be able to bear the consequences.


    ...


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao and the others walked out of the police station. Xu Jiekang said to Qin Hao, "Qin Hao, don''t forget about tomorrow''s matter."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, of course, Mr. Xu."


    After Xu Jiekang and Xu Jiejian had left, Qin Hao got into Li Moying''s car. "Take me back," he said.


    Li Moying started the car, her curiosity piqued, "Master, how do you know Mr. Xu?"


    "I''ve met him a couple of times before; I helped him once."


    "Oh, no wonder."


    Qin Hao returned to the school dormitory. The fatso and his friends saw him come back and asked anxiously, "Brother Second, are you alright?"

 Chapter 144 Untitled

    Qin Hao chuckled and shook his head, "No worries, the one who should be concerned now is Cui Zhi."


    He was convinced that Wang Kai was definitely a connection made by Cui Zhi.


    If Wang Kai were investigated, Cui Zhi''s family wouldn''t be able to escape involvement either.@@@@


    Bribery is a serious crime that can lead to many years in prison.


    The chubby friend asked with interest, "Big bro, do you also have connections in Jianghai? Otherwise, how could you have gotten out so easily? Today Chen Ping checked, and the company owned by Cui Zhi''s family is no small deal, with assets of hundreds of millions. Although it''s not notable in Jianghai City, it''s really impressive to us."


    Qin Hao nodded, but he didn''t mention Li Moying or Xu Jiekang.


    Because in his view, these two connections were not as solid as one might think.


    Li Moying helped him entirely because of the relationship established in the game; she was willing to help with minor matters, but if it involved her family''s concrete interests, she probably wouldn''t assist Qin Hao.


    As for Xu Jiekang, it was even simpler; the other party was probably returning a favor, and favors eventually run out. When that day came, he would have no connections to speak of.


    Only self-strength is the true principle.


    Because every action of the country has an impact on its hundreds of millions of citizens.


    The site the chubby friend was browsing was a well-known online forum, where many people were discussing the topic, which was also pinned at the top. Virtually everyone who entered the forum could see it.


    Qin Hao read through the forum post. This war without the smoke of gunpowder was terrifying; any slight mistake could lead to disaster.


    Back then, Beisu''s dissolution was due to economic blockades and sanctions led by the Northwest Federation against Beisu in conjunction with other countries.


    As a result, Beisu retreated, and the vast country was torn apart.


    Nowadays, Beisu is also mired in diplomatic quagmires, too busy responding to offer help to Xuan Country. Even if they had the capability to help, Beisu probably wouldn''t.


    Because Xuan Country''s development was much faster than Beisu had anticipated; Beisu was likely already wary of Xuan Country.


    One reply below resonated deeply with Qin Hao.


    The netizen said, "From importing to replicating, from ''Made in Xuan'' to full surpassing, the rapid progress of Xuan Country''s industrial technology has astounded the world. That is the power of Xuan Country, the power that makes the Northwest Federation afraid."


    "Big bro, you don''t think this will lead to war, do you?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "A war is unlikely, after all, both sides possess nuclear weapons. If they were really put to use, the Earth would lose nine out of ten of its inhabitants. It wouldn''t be good for anyone."

 Chapter 145 His Connections are Very Strong

    Fatty was reading and said, "Our country has also introduced a series of counter-policies, I think some things are going to start getting more expensive."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and said with a smile, "Study hard and make contributions to the country in the future, take down the Northern Federation."


    Chen Ping and Zhao De agreed, "You''re right, bro, it''s all up to you to take down the Northern Federation in the future. You''re a genius with a full score on the unified exam."


    ...


    Qin Hao gave the three a look, "If everyone thought like you guys, we''d have been long gone."


    The four chatted for a while, and Fatty asked, "Bro, what are you up to this weekend, where will you go to hang out?"


    Qin Hao: "I have something at noon tomorrow, do you guys want to go out and have fun?"


    Fatty chuckled and said, "I''m planning to hang out with Xiao Cui."


    Qin Hao''s expression became odd, "Xiao Cui? Why does that sound like a name for an ancient maid?


    Fatty almost went crazy, "Bro, that''s not nice, her name is Xie Cui, lovingly called Xiao Cui."


    ...


    Zhao De spoke up, "Bro, you don''t know, Xie Cui drives a BMW, she comes from an extraordinary family, Fatty has landed himself a rich beauty."


    Zhang Ping also nodded, "That''s right, bro, Xie Cui''s family must be pretty special."


    At noon, the group of them rested in the dorm for a bit, then went to the classroom in the afternoon.


    When the classmates saw Qin Hao return safely, they were somewhat puzzled. Those two cops came with such an aggressive attitude, so how did Qin Hao come back just like that?


    Huo Qiang was also confused and felt somewhat disappointed.


    After inquiring in the morning, he learned that it was Cui Zhi from the Foreign Language College who wanted to mess with Qin Hao, and now it was clear that Cui Zhi was no match for him.


    Could it be that Qin Hao has some powerful connections in Jianghai?


    Thinking of this, Huo Qiang felt a sudden apprehension and decided to wait and see before he took any action on his planned scheme.


    As soon as Qin Hao returned to his seat, Ning Yao stood up and walked over to him. She wore a pink dress that had faded slightly from washing and that she had clearly worn for many years.


    Even so, it couldn''t conceal her beauty.


    Ning Yao asked, "Qin Hao, are you okay?"@@@@


    Qin Hao: "I''m fine, I was just assisting with an investigation this morning."


    Ning Yao nodded, "Oh right, Mr. He said that when you come back, you should go to the office to see her."


    Qin Hao''s expression froze, and he couldn''t help but recall what had happened in the office last time. She wouldn''t be looking to get back at me, would she? Read the latest on empire


    ...


    He Tingting almost died of anger when she heard what he said.


    She had originally been quite pleased when Qin Hao was assigned to her class, but now she felt somewhat troubled.


    She felt that the school hadn''t sent a good student to her but a problematic one instead.


    He Tingting: "What''s the deal with you? Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you have good grades? If it were any other student, they would have been expelled by now. Being taken away by the police, you would have been a disgrace to our school."


    Qin Hao: "Please investigate the cause of the matter before saying those words, lest you come across as very annoying. If you wish to expel me, feel free."


    "You..." He Tingting was so infuriated her chest heaved violently.


    Annoying?


    That was the first time she had heard this word from someone else''s mouth.


    And it came from her own student.


    "If there''s nothing else, Teacher, I''ll take my leave now."


    He Tingting, expressionless: "Leave now, I don''t want to see you at the moment."


    After Qin Hao had left, He Tingting was so angry she felt like smashing something. Damn it, is this my student?


    Is this how you talk to a teacher? I''m annoying?


    I was the top beauty of a prestigious university, and now I''m known as the most beautiful teacher. Who dares to call me annoying?


    At this time, her phone rang.


    He Tingting looked at the number and answered the call: "Dad, I''m so angry I could die. I should have never let you deal with Qin Hao''s matter."


    "His case doesn''t require my intervention. When I inquired, he had already been released. I called at noon; your student is not simple, he has a strong background."


    "Dad, what do you mean by that?"


    "What I mean is that your student has very solid connections. I was about to look into it when I realized he had been released. The person who was interrogating him has just been taken away by the discipline committee, and his career is over. It must be your student''s doing."


    He Tingting''s expression showed surprise, a disbelief creeping in, "Dad, are you saying he got out without your influence?"


    "Yes, the officer who interviewed him just got escorted away by the discipline committee, his life''s pretty much finished. It seems like it was due to moves from your student."


    He Tingting was shocked inside. He has such powerful connections in Jianghai City?


    No wonder this guy is fearless; he must be relying on someone backing him up.


    Her father continued, "I also inquired a bit about the cause. It seems Cui Zhi from the Foreign Language College wanted to mess with him."

 Chapter 146 is Simply Inhuman

    He Tingting, upon hearing her father''s words, looked surprised. Cui Zhi from the Foreign Language College?


    And from the sound of her father''s words, the main issue wasn''t Qin Hao, it was that Cui Zhi who wanted to mess with him?


    What He Tingting found most curious was the relationship her father mentioned. Did Qin Hao have such influential connections in Jianghai?


    Just what was his background? Wasn''t he from an ordinary family?


    It seems like there is a lot about Qin Hao that I don''t know.


    His family background must not be as simple as I thought.


    ...


    The next day


    Since there were no classes today because it was the weekend, Qin Hao and his friends got up quite late.


    It was a little past eight in the morning when the cellphone by Qin Hao''s bedside rang.


    He groggily opened his eyes and answered the call, "Hello, what happened to Wan Rou?"


    Upon hearing his languid voice, Du Wanrou asked curiously, "You haven''t gotten up yet?"


    Qin Hao, "Today is the weekend. There''s no point in getting up so early."


    Du Wanrou''s mood clearly wasn''t high, "Oh, I just called to let you know that I''m not staying in the dorm anymore, I moved to my aunt''s house."


    Qin Hao''s face showed surprise at her words, "Why? Are the people in the dorm picking on you?"


    Qin Hao initially thought those people were quite alright, but ever since the last meal, he had completely realized that none of them were worth making close friends with.


    Du Wanrou, "No, I just didn''t want to stay there anymore."


    Though they weren''t openly ostracizing her, they would often whisper this and that in her ear. Enjoy more content from empire


    They always subtly mentioned Li Moying, hinting that Qin Hao might end up with Li Moying.


    Du Wanrou knew exactly what they were up to; these people had been won over by Li Xing, and they were trying to break them up so that Li Xing could swoop in during the moment of weakness.


    Du Wanrou wasn''t foolish¡ªshe understood their intentions very well. And in her heart, she had some worries as well.


    Before, she might not have had any worries, but the emergence of the outstanding Li Moying, vastly more exceptional than her, caused her to feel a trace of insecurity.


    ...


    Qin Hao, "If you don''t want to stay there, then don''t. Where''s your aunt''s house? Is it far from the school?"


    Du Wanrou replied, "Not far, my aunt has a car. She can give me a ride."


    Seeing Zhao De so earnest, Qin Hao didn''t interrupt him.


    After Zhao De finished explaining, he asked, "Second brother, did you get all that?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yeah, it''s pretty simple. I''ve watched NBA games before."


    Basketball was Zhao De''s favorite sport, and being able to teach a newcomer how to play gave him a great sense of achievement.


    He said with a smile, "Then second brother, you try to attack, and I''ll defend. I''ll see where you''re lacking and give you some tips."


    Qin Hao took the basketball, gave it a couple of light bounces, and Zhao De stood in front of him, about a meter away, on defense.


    He wasn''t putting his heart into it, as in his eyes Qin Hao was just a beginner, and even without going all out, he believed he could easily guard him.


    As he dribbled the ball, Qin Hao said, "Ready? I''m starting."


    Zhao De nodded, "Go ahead, second brother."


    Qin Hao dribbled the ball slowly, then suddenly accelerated.


    His speed was very fast, and his explosive power extremely terrifying. Zhao De was stunned for a moment, and by the time he thought to defend, Qin Hao had already dashed past him, took three steps and easily made a layup.


    Zhao De looked at him in amazement, "Second brother, are you really playing basketball for the first time?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, why?"


    Zhao De, "No... your learning ability is really freakish, fitting for someone who scored full marks on the unified exam. Come on, second brother, let''s do it again. I don''t believe I can''t guard you. I was just being careless. I was the captain of the school team in high school."


    Qin Hao once again took the ball to the three-point line, Zhao De watched the ball in his hands seriously this time,


    Just like before, Qin Hao dribbled forward. Zhao De reacted quickly, shifting his body to the right to defend, but Qin Hao suddenly stopped, dribbled the ball behind his back, and went around Zhao De from the left.


    The sequence of movements was smooth and stylish, ending in another effortless layup.


    Zhao De looked at him with disbelief. What kind of move was that? Incredible speed, sharp reflexes.


    That level of reaction speed was surely on par with professional players, wasn''t it?


    Are you really playing for the first time?


    This is way too demoralizing, isn''t it? I''ve been playing for six years and I''m not as good as someone who has just started?


    Is this what they mean by a natural talent?


    It''s just inhuman!!


    After playing a while, Qin Hao went to rest on a nearby bench. There were also people playing basketball on the adjacent court, including quite a few women.


    On Court One, ten people were playing a game, watched not only by male students but also by many female basketball fans.

 Chapter 147 Please See a Doctor

    Zhao De played for a while and was a bit tired, so he came over, sat down, and rested.


    He started to say, "Second brother, it''s such a waste that you aren''t playing professionally, even though you''re not very tall, you''re agile."


    Qin Hao smiled and shook his head, "I''m not interested in that." Continue reading stories on empire


    The two chatted for a while, and soon it was past ten o''clock. Qin Hao''s phone rang, it was Xu Siyao calling, "Qin Hao, where are you?"


    Qin Hao, "I''m at the basketball court."


    Xu Siyao said, "Then wait for me, I''ll come over."


    Qin Hao, "Okay, sure."


    After hanging up, Zhao De curiously asked, "Second brother, was that Xu Siyao?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Got some business to handle."


    It was not quite five minutes later


    when a silver gray BMW sedan parked outside the basketball court.


    People on the playground turned their heads when they saw it.


    A slim beauty in a light purple dress stepped down from the car, looking around as if searching for someone.


    "Wow, she''s so beautiful, and the car too, must be the latest BMW model right? Costs three to four million, do we have so many wealthy beauties in our school?" someone stared at Xu Siyao with fiery eyes.


    Someone nearby said, "That''s Xu Siyao from the Computer College, the stunning beauty from the campus beauty rankings, no idea what she''s doing here at the playground."


    "Is she here to watch us play basketball?" someone playing basketball speculated.


    Qin Hao saw her get out of the car, stood up, and walked over, his expression calm without any ripples.


    Xu Siyao saw him, a smile appeared on her face, and then she waved her white-jade-like arms towards him.


    Many people at the basketball court followed her gaze.


    When they saw Qin Hao, they sneered, is he the one?


    Qin Hao had met Xu Jiekang and Xu Jiejian before, but he hadn''t seen the other woman. She sat next to Xu Jiejian, likely his wife.


    When Qin Hao entered, the three stood up.


    Xu Siyao announced, "Dad, Qin Hao is here."


    Xu Jiekang said, "Qin Hao, come and sit."


    Qin Hao walked to the sofa and sat down, Xu Siyao sat next to him, dutifully pouring tea for everyone.


    Xu Jiekang smiled and said, "Qin Hao, try this, it''s genuine Da Hong Pao from Wuyi Mountain."


    Qin Hao chuckled, "Mr. Xu, I don''t know much about tea."


    Then he sipped gently, indeed the tea tasted great.


    "I''ve always heard Jiekang talk about you, didn''t expect you so young, and you''re schoolmates with Siyao, truly young and promising, oh, I forgot to introduce myself, I''m Siyao''s aunt," said the middle-aged woman next to Xu Jiejian.


    This middle-aged woman had a certain authoritative presence, somewhat similar to the aura of Xu Jiejian; she must also be a figure from the political field, and in a rather high position too.


    Qin Hao smiled and responded, "Auntie, you flatter me, there are many who are more capable than I am."


    "Jiekang calls you older brother, and you call me aunt, isn''t that messing up the seniority? Why don''t you call me big sister instead?"


    ...


    Xu Siyao displayed a speechless expression; if you and Qin Hao are of the same generation, doesn''t that make me a generation lower than him?


    Qin Hao, chuckling, said, "SiYao and I are classmates which technically makes me a generation younger, Mr. Xu, please don''t call me little brother."


    Xu Jiekang laughed, "Alright, then you shouldn''t call me Mr. Xu either; it sounds too distant. If you don''t mind, call me Uncle Xu."


    Qin Hao was not pretentious; after all, he had to build his network in Jianghai City and needed such a powerful ally.


    He began, "I came here today to discuss a matter with Uncle Xu, about the procurement of medicinal herbs, I want to collaborate with you on it."


    Xu Jiekang smiled and said, "That''s a minor matter, I''ll instruct someone later. I invited you over today because I need your help with something."


    Qin Hao curiously asked, "Uncle Xu, please feel free to tell me what it is."


    He said, "I want to ask you to take a look at my father''s illness."

 Chapter 148 Beisu Province Gujing City

    Qin Hao listened to his words and his expression froze for a moment.


    Xu Siyao also felt some surprise, she hadn''t expected her father to look for Qin Hao because of her grandmother''s illness, but wasn''t her grandmother''s disease said to be incurable?


    Qin Hao asked, "Can you describe the condition in more detail?"


    "My mother fell ill suddenly fifty years ago, and after many examinations, the cause was still undetermined," Xu Jiekang and Xu Jiejian both frowned when mentioning their mother''s illness.


    Qin Hao said, "I can''t be sure what the disease is without seeing her myself."


    Xu Jiekang felt somewhat embarrassed, "Xiao Hao, would you mind taking a trip to see her yourself?"


    "Sure, I happen to be free today."


    Qin Hao indeed needed the Xu family''s goodwill; after what had happened last time, he had realized the importance of connections in Jianghai City.


    If he didn''t have any contacts, perhaps he really could have gotten set up by Cui Zhi.


    Even if he couldn''t figure out the illness this time, the Xu family would remember his favor.


    Xu Jiekang spoke up, "The journey is a bit long, shall we set out now?"@@@@


    Qin Hao nodded indifferently, since he had already decided to go, any time was fine for him.


    Xu Jiejian said, "I''ll call our dad first."


    Read new adventures at empire


    Xu Siyao replied, "I''m not very clear myself, just that she suddenly couldn''t stand up without any warning. We''ve sought the top specialists in the country, but they also couldn''t find out what''s wrong."


    Couldn''t stand up? That meant paralysis, and even specialists couldn''t diagnose it; this piqued his curiosity about what kind of illness could cause someone to suddenly experience such a condition without warning.


    ...


    After driving for an hour, Xu Siyao dozed off, her head gently swaying and then inadvertently leaning onto Qin Hao''s shoulder.


    Sun Fang, seeing this, didn''t know whether to laugh or cry; not mentioning it felt wrong, but mentioning it felt just as inappropriate.


    Xu Jiekang in the front seat also noticed and chuckled, "This child always gets sleepy in the car."


    Sun Fang also chuckled and said, "She''s so grown up, yet she still doesn''t care about her image."


    Qin Hao lightly laughed, "I drool in my sleep, it''s a normal reaction..."


    At noon, they finally entered the territory of Gujing.


    However, they didn''t go into the city center of Gujing City but took the outer ring road instead.


    Around half-past twelve, they arrived outside a beautifully landscaped residential area.


    Soldiers were occasionally seen patrolling around the complex, and there were armed guards at the entrance.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao felt a chill in his heart. Who exactly was Xu Siyao''s grandfather to live in such a place?


    With such security measures, not even a significant official might receive such treatment.


    When Xu Jiejian''s car pulled up to the gate, the guard glanced at it, then let them through.

 Chapter 149 Xu Liangguo

    Xu Jiejian drove into the residential complex, and not only outside but also inside, the security was even tighter.


    Patrol cars roamed the area almost every hour, accompanied by squads of soldiers leading black shepherd police dogs.


    This was Qin Hao''s first visit to such a place, and seeing the level of security, he knew the residents here were definitely not ordinary.


    Even provincial executives did not receive such treatment.


    It was obvious that Xu Siyao''s grandfather''s status was remarkable.


    Any knowledgeable person was aware that there were seven military regions in Xuan Country, and Gu Jing Military Region was one of them.


    Xu Jiejian''s position as a leader in the prosecutorial department in Jianghai City was definitely not simple.


    Jie Kang''s company had grown so large, and that also had to do with his backing.


    Qin Hao was curious about Xu Siyao''s grandfather''s status within the military region.


    It couldn''t be too low; in his view, it must belong to the very top echelon.


    As he contemplated this, Xu Jiejian drove up to the entrance of a villa courtyard.


    At the entrance, there stood guards, each sharp-eyed and burly, exuding an aura that clearly set them apart from ordinary soldiers.


    After a thorough check, Xu Jiejian was finally allowed to enter.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; even his own son faced such stringent checks upon coming home.


    The car drove into the courtyard, and Qin Hao saw two elderly men around seventy playing chess under the shade of a nearby tree.@@@@


    Next to one of the elders, a kindly old woman sat watching them play.


    Seeing the car approach, the old woman turned her head and said, "Xu, stop playing now. Your son and Yaoyao are here."


    In the car, Sun Fang woke Xu Siyao, "Yaoyao, wake up. We''re home."


    Xu Siyao shook her head and grunted unwillingly, before realizing and suddenly sitting up.


    Seeing a small wet patch on Qin Hao''s clothes next to her, her cheeks instantly turned red, "Sorry, I wasn''t paying attention..."


    Qin Hao smiled lightly, "It''s okay, it''s not tiring anyway."


    "We''re home. Come on down," Jie Kang said from the front, easing his daughter''s embarrassment.


    Several people got out of the car, and the old woman in the wheelchair wheeled herself over.


    Sun Fang quickly walked over, calling out, "Mom." Experience more tales on empire


    Then she pushed the wheelchair slowly toward them.


    Jie Kang and Jiejian called out, "Mom."


    "Grandma."


    Chen Shengjun grew even more curious. Who exactly was this young man? Xu was even ignoring his own granddaughter to talk to him first.


    Qin Hao: "Thank you, Mr. Xu."


    "You cured Yaoyao''s illness; on behalf of the whole Xu Family, I thank you. You took the time to come and see the old lady today; we will remember this favor. If you ever run into any trouble in the future, as long as it''s nothing illegal or against discipline, you can count on the Xu Family to help you," Xu Liangguo made clear.


    Xu Liangguo spoke very clearly and plainly.


    This was exactly why Qin Hao had come here.


    He didn''t know what difficulties he might face in the future, but it was always good to be prepared.


    Chen Shengjun, who was standing close by, understood and looked at him with a surprised expression. He was the one who cured Xu Siyao''s illness?


    He knew quite well about the case; even the experts from the Gu Jing Military Region''s general hospital were at a loss, yet this young man managed to cure her?


    Was Xu joking?


    Where did he find such a person?


    "Let''s eat first. Xiao Hao, don''t treat us like strangers; just behave as if you are at your own home," said Wang Ping kindly.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, thank you, Ms. Xu."


    At the dinner table, Xu Liangguo brought out a bottle of wine that had been treasured for decades and poured some for everyone, including Qin Hao.


    "Young man, don''t drink too much, a little is fine," Xu Liangguo said with a smile.


    While eating, Chen Shengjun curiously asked, "Jie Kang, is Yaoyao''s illness really cured?"


    Xu Jiekang nodded, "Yes, Mr. Chen, it''s kind of fate how I met Xiao Hao."


    Chen Shengjun, intrigued, said, "Oh? Do tell, I''m quite curious."


    "The first time I met Xiao Hao was in Jiangshan City of Shuinan Province. At that time, Yaoyao was being spoiled and arrogant, and had a little friction with Xiao Hao. After he spoke a few words, everything that followed happened."


    Xu Jiekang briefly recounted the events.


    Not only Chen Shengjun, but others at the table listened too.


    Chen Shengjun, curious, asked Qin Hao, "Young man, who did you learn this medical skill from?"


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Chen, I taught myself. I took a bit of a risk in treating Miss Xu, but it was destined that she would recover."


    "Self-taught? Are you trying to fool me because I''m old?"


    Qin Hao, embarrassed, said, "Mr. Chen, I really am not deceiving you!"


    Xu Si Yao spoke up, "Mr. Chen, you might not know, but Qin Hao was the top scorer in this year''s national exam, a genius with full marks in every subject."


    Chen Shengjun paused in surprise: "So you''re the Qin Hao who scored full in the national exams?"


    Qin Hao nodded; he hadn''t expected his reputation to be so widespread that even he was aware of it.

 Chapter 150 Treating Illness

    Chen Shengjun didn''t ask further, and even though Qin Hao had aced the unified exam with perfect scores, he still found it somewhat unbelievable.


    "Work hard and bring honor to our country in the future," he said to him.


    Chen Shengjun said these words to him.


    Qin Hao nodded: "Mr. Chen is right."


    As the group talked and chatted, Qin Hao vaguely discerned the identities of Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun.


    He was incredibly shocked; one was a military region commander and the other was the chief of the general staff, both holding significant power.


    After dinner, Chen Shengjun didn''t leave. Upon learning that Qin Hao was there to see Wang Ping, he decided to stay and observe.


    He wanted to see just how skilled this young man was in medicine, as he was going to treat an ailment that even the country''s top experts couldn''t cure. Could he really be confident?


    "Xiao Hao, have a cigarette," Xu Liangguo offered him one.


    Although Qin Hao seldom smoked, he couldn''t refuse when such an eminent figure offered him a cigarette¡ªit was a great honor.


    Xu Siyao, without such reservations, gave her grandfather a disapproving look: "Grandpa, didn''t you tell me you quit smoking?"


    Xu Liangguo laughed awkwardly: "This is a special supply cigarette, it''s not harmful to the body."


    "Humph, you don''t keep your word," Xu Siyao pouted and huffed.


    After the kitchen was tidied up, Sun Fang pushed Wang Ping out.


    Xu Liangguo and the others had finished their cigarettes, and he said, "Xiao Hao, I''d like to trouble you to have a look at my wife."


    Although he spoke casually, a glimmer of hope arose in his heart. Having been honest and loyal partners for dozens of years, deep down he truly wished his wife could stand again.


    Qin Hao stood up, walked over to Wang Ping, and then squatted down to observe her complexion.


    Her complexion looked good, and there were no signs of illness on her body.


    Wang Ping smiled kindly: "Young man, I''ve had this illness for many years, I''m used to it; don''t feel any pressure. It''s okay if you can''t do anything."


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded: "Ms. Xu, please stretch out your right hand, I''ll take your pulse."


    Wang Ping extended her right hand, and everyone in the room turned their heads to watch.


    Qin Hao took her pulse for a while, didn''t find any problems; her physical condition was quite good.


    This made him frown slightly; Wang Ping''s paralysis of her legs seemed to have no correlation to her physical condition.


    Her blood vessels and muscles were no different from those of a healthy person.


    Qin Hao lifted her leg and then tapped the nerve points around her knee joint; there was no reaction in her legs.


    He then used the system to check her condition.


    Qin Hao rolled up her trouser leg and then reached into his pocket for the 99 silver needles.


    He began to insert the needles into her calf, and half an hour later, her leg from her foot to her knee was full of silver needles.


    Qin Hao was stimulating Wang Ping''s nerves through acupuncture.


    Actually, if she directly took the mental elixir, all this wouldn''t be necessary, but he needed to appear as though the treatment was difficult.


    At that moment, his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat. Just after finishing the needling, Xu Siyao handed him a towel.


    "Thank you," Qin Hao took the towel and expressed his thanks.


    Xu Siyao said, "I should be the one thanking you. What do we do next?"


    "Wait ten minutes."


    Everyone in the living room quietly awaited as time passed.


    These ten minutes seemed rather long for Xu Liangguo and the others.


    After ten minutes, Qin Hao removed the silver needles one by one.


    Then he said to Wang Ping, "Ms. Xu, whether it''s a success or not depends on this moment."


    "Go ahead, I believe in you, young man," Wang Ping said with a faint smile.


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, then lowered his head to look at her knee and tapped the nerve area of her knee with his right hand.


    "Whoosh"


    Wang Ping''s left leg suddenly jolted and then fell back down.


    The onlookers were stunned; it moved, it really moved.


    In the past, none of the many experts could elicit any response from Wang Ping''s leg, and now it had moved.


    Qin Hao let out a long breath, a smile appearing on his face: "Ms. Xu, your condition shouldn''t be a problem now. Since there''s a reaction, there''s a great chance of recovery."


    "Really? That''s wonderful!" Xu Siyao''s cheeks flushed with excitement.


    Xu Jiekang was also somewhat incredulous: "Xiao Hao, are you telling the truth? Can my mother''s condition really be cured?"


    Qin Hao nodded: "Ms. Xu''s leg nerves have not completely degenerated, there''s still a great chance for recovery. I''ll write a prescription now, and Ms. Xu should take it for a week to see the effect."


    He named several herbal medicines, and then Xu Liangguo immediately instructed someone to handle it.


    In less than half an hour, everything Qin Hao needed was delivered, the efficiency of which even surprised him.


    He ground the herbs into powder in the kitchen and, when no one was watching, added half the amount of the mental elixir.


    Then he divided the herbs into seven portions: "Ms. Xu, drink one pack of these herbs in water every day."


    After that, he said to Xu Liangguo, "Mr. Xu, remember to accompany Ms. Xu for more walks daily after a week, to exercise her legs and let her get accustomed to them again."

 Chapter 151 Special Ingredients

    Xu Liangguo, upon hearing his words, exclaimed with pleasant surprise, "Do you mean you can recover by next week?"


    Qin Hao placed the medicine on the coffee table, "According to estimates, it should be so. If there is any situation, Mr. Xu can contact me again."


    "Okay," Xu Liangguo tried to contain his excitement.


    Sun Fang asked, "Can we brew the medicine now? Should we use warm water or hot water?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Yes, brew it with hot water, but it doesn''t need to be too hot."


    Sun Fang, carrying a packet of medicinal herbs, went into the kitchen, with Xu Siyao following behind.


    Qin Hao said to Xu Liangguo and the others, "Mr. Xu, I hope you can keep this matter confidential for me."


    Xu Liangguo nodded slightly, "Um, okay."@@@@


    Chen Shengjun said nothing. He knew what Qin Hao was thinking. A person dreads fame as a pig dreads fattening; too much fame would not be good for him at the moment.


    Sun Fang and Xu Siyao soon came out of the kitchen, followed by a strong medicinal scent, very bitter.


    Wang Ping furrowed her brows slightly after smelling it because the odor was quite unpleasant.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Ms. Xu, drink it while it''s hot. Good medicine tastes bitter."


    A smile appeared on Wang Ping''s face, "Alright, the thing I hate to drink the most in my life is herbal medicine, because I''ve had too much of it."


    After finishing her words, she took the bowl and slowly drank it, finishing it all before long.


    Xu Siyao quickly handed her grandmother a cup of water to rinse her mouth.


    After drinking the water, Wang Ping exclaimed in surprise, "Why do I feel a warm sensation in both of my lower legs?"


    Qin Hao explained, "Ms. Xu, this is the effect of the medicine working, stimulating the nerves in your legs to regenerate."


    "So that''s how it is." Wang Ping had a smile on her face as she spoke.


    Xu Liangguo and the others could see her smile was much more relaxed than before.


    Xu Jiekang''s face was flushed with excitement. If his mother could truly stand up again, it would fulfill a great wish of his.


    The ultimate goal of his management of Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group was to find the mythical Immortal Elixir to cure his mother''s legs. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    Over the years, he had traveled to many places to purchase medicinal materials, but all in vain.


    He asked Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, do you think there really is an Immortal Elixir that can bring the dead back to life as in the legends?"


    Xu Liangguo affirmed, "Yes, that''s right. Jiekang happened to come across an extraordinary person who took a look today."


    Mr. Liu asked, "Commander, may I see the madam?"


    "Go ahead. I was planning to have you do a check-up on her anyway."


    Mr. Liu entered the villa and examined Wang Ping, showing a look of astonishment, "This... The madam''s legs have already shown a reaction. Who could have treated this? What method did they use?"


    Upon hearing this, Chen Shengjun inquired with curiosity, "Do you think Mrs. Xu''s condition can be completely cured?"


    After pondering, Mr. Liu said, "Since the person could provoke a reaction in madam''s legs, that proves everything. It''s likely that the madam can stand up again."


    ...


    Qin Hao returned to Jianghai City around five o''clock in the afternoon. Xu Jiekang wanted to invite him for dinner, but Qin Hao insisted on leaving.


    Xu Jiekang had Xu Siyao drive him to Xinshang Square.


    Xu Siyao looked curiously at the square and asked, "Qin Hao, what are you doing here?"


    Qin Hao said, "My shop is here. I came to check on it."


    Xu Siyao followed him out of the car, "May I take a look?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Of course, let''s go in together."


    The two walked from the parking lot to the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant in Xinshang Square.


    The sign outside the store was already installed, and the interior decoration was exquisite. Liu Pengyun and several others were busy inside.


    Noticing Qin Hao and a beautiful lady entering, he quickly stopped his work, "Mr. Qin, you''re here."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Is everything ready?"


    Liu Pengyun replied, "Everything is ready. Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical contacted me today. The medicinal materials can be delivered at any time. There are still some equipment that hasn''t arrived yet, but they should be here by tomorrow at the latest, and we can probably open the day after tomorrow."


    Qin Hao affirmed, "Mm-hmm."


    While they conversed, Nie Si entered from outside.


    "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao instructed, "Nie Si, expedite the recruitment process."


    "Yes, Mr. Qin," Nie Si answered promptly.


    Xu Siyao, after taking a tour, commented, "Qin Hao, your store looks pretty good. You''re opening the day after tomorrow, right? I''ll have my father send you a flower basket."

 Chapter 152 Lack of Core and Spirit

    Qin Hao said with a smile, "No need to go through such trouble."


    Xu Siyao also replied with a smile, "It''s fine, it''s no trouble at all."


    Qin Hao pondered the idea of setting up a Jianghai branch in his mind.


    Setting it up now seemed a bit premature. He planned to wait until the roast duck restaurant opened and then decide on the branch matter based on the business situation.


    After spending some time at the roast duck restaurant with Xu Siyao, they left.


    Upon leaving the restaurant, Xu Siyao asked, "Where to next?"


    "Let''s head back to school," Qin Hao replied.


    Xu Siyao nodded, "Then I''ll drop you off first."


    At 5:30 p.m., Qin Hao returned to Jianghai University Main Campus. After Xu Siyao dropped him off, she didn''t leave either.


    It was pointless for her to go back since there was no one she could hang out with, and her dad was still busy with business matters.


    As they emerged from the parking lot, Xu Siyao asked nonchalantly, "Hao, do you have plans for tomorrow? It''s quite boring at school, how about going out together?"


    Qin Hao was momentarily caught off guard, "I still have some things to do tomorrow."


    "Oh, in that case, never mind. We can do it another time when you''re free," Xu Siyao felt a semblance of disappointment.


    She glanced at Qin Hao, who had a calm expression on his face and looked thoughtful, as though he was contemplating something.


    "Si Yao," a voice came from not too far away.


    Qin Hao and Xu Siyao curiously turned their heads to see Sun Feng and Wu Jun coming towards them from the other side of the parking lot.


    Initially, Sun Feng was quite excited, but his expression changed when he clearly saw who was by Xu Siyao''s side.


    Xu Siyao looked at Sun Feng and asked in confusion, "What''s up?"


    Trying to sport what he thought was a charming smile, Sun Feng asked, "Are you free tonight? I''d like to take you out for dinner."


    Xu Siyao replied apologetically, "Sorry, I have plans."


    Sun Feng''s face turned awkward at the blunt rejection, then looking at Qin Hao, he casually said, "Qin Hao, aren''t you hanging out with your girlfriend today?"


    Upon hearing Sun Feng''s words, Xu Siyao felt a jolt in her heart, and her complexion subtly shifted, though she quickly returned to normal.


    Seeing her reaction, Sun Feng felt a wave of smugness. If I can''t have it, this bumpkin from Jiangshan shouldn''t get his hopes up either.


    Qin Hao gave him a glance before turning his head away, not even bothering to acknowledge him.


    It was outright disdain.


    "Does it have to do with the trade war? This is a multinational corporation with assets over a trillion; can it really go down that easily?"


    Chen Ping nodded and replied, "Second Brother, you don''t know, our country has a weak spot in the chip industry. Although some companies can independently develop chips, they are far behind others in terms of performance, and the production of our independent chips is too low, catering to only about 8% of the market demand. The gap is significant.


    Every year, our country''s chip imports amount to about two trillion, second only to crude oil imports."


    Hearing such a detailed explanation, Qin Hao nodded slightly without saying anything, as he thought of the Xinghai generation intelligent robots in the system.


    Within the Xinghai generation intelligent robots, there was a Xinghai generation chipset including the CPU chip and other components. Chips are the most critical part, equivalent to the human brain, heart, and torso.


    Seeing him not speaking, Chen Ping sighed, "Our country is developing too fast. The Northwest Federation is afraid we''ll surpass them in high-tech industries, and this trade war is almost half about restricting our high-tech products."


    "The country will have to rely on you in the future, so keep up the good work, young man," Qin Hao joked.


    Chen Ping smiled awkwardly, "Second Brother, stop teasing me. You''re the genius with perfect scores. This kind of thing will definitely depend on you."


    Right then, Qin Hao''s phone rang. He took it out to see that Li Moying was calling.


    "Hey, Master, what are you up to? Play a game for a bit?" Li Moying''s voice came through the phone. Find exclusive stories on empire


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yeah, okay, I''m free right now anyway."


    "Alright, Master, I''ll wait for you in the game."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao checked the system and saw that he still had two tasks not completed, one was the main task of Business Tycoon, and the other was the side task of Gaming God.


    He checked the side task reputation points, which had reached over seventy-nine million, still a significant gap from the one hundred million target.


    He had noticed that the reputation points were increasing slower these days.


    At the beginning, his reputation could rise by a few million a day, but now it was just a few hundred thousand, making it difficult to reach one hundred million at this rate.


    Logging into the game, he checked the leaderboard, still in first place, but the second place was quickly catching up.


    As soon as he logged in, Li Moying pulled him into a team.


    She was live streaming and said to her viewers with a laugh after pulling Qin Hao in, "Didn''t I tell you? One call and my master will log on."


    "It''s been a long time since we''ve seen the God of Guns perform, I miss it."


    "Streamer 66666"


    "Gun God, we miss you."


    ...


    Li Moying''s stream suddenly became lively, and simultaneously, her popularity soared, quickly breaking through one million, which was terrifying.


    Only top-tier gaming gods would break through one million viewers during a live stream. The little witch''s room could break one million viewers solely because of the name Shadow Gun Demon.

 Chapter 153 Strong Collision

    Li Moying started her livestream today, and she changed the title to include "No. 1 God of the National Server, Shadow Gun Demon."


    Although many people admired him, there were also quite a few in the chat room badmouthing Luo Hao.@@@@


    "What Shadow Gun Demon? If he faced off against my Qingfeng, he would be trash."


    "Would he be No. 1 on the national server rankings if those top professional teams didn''t need to train?"


    "Exactly, exactly, as if no one else has ever been No. 1."


    There were quite a few people in the livestream setting the pace.


    Seeing these comments about Luo Hao, Li Moying retorted, "Open your eyes wide and look at my master''s battle record. Are you sure those top teams can do that?"


    "Exactly, I''ve watched livestreams of those top professional team members, and I''ve also watched the livestream of the Gun Demon God. The difference is clear once you compare them, those guys are no match for the Gun Demon God."


    Most people in the livestream still supported Luo Hao.


    Because they had witnessed Luo Hao''s marksmanship, which was truly terrifying.


    Shadow Xiaoqi and Xiao Ya also entered the team quickly, and they were also livestreaming, with their popularity increasing manifold.


    "Let''s start."


    Qin Hao said, opening the team''s voice chat.


    Li Moying clicked on the match button, and within seconds they entered Suzhi Square.


    Now that cheats were extinct in this game, the number of players had surged. According to Longteng Group, the number of registered users in the country for Survival of the Fittest had exceeded three hundred million, with daily active players reaching a terrifying thirty million plus.


    Qin Hao didn''t speak on the public channel, afraid of scaring these people away again.


    "Little Witch, how can I increase my fame in this game?" Qin Hao asked.


    His reputation growth was very slow now, still far from the target of a hundred million.


    Now he was only gaining about three hundred thousand reputation points a day, still nearly thirty million points short.


    At this rate, it would take another hundred days to complete the mission.


    That was too long.


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    Li Moying was taken aback for a moment, "Master, your fame is already very high."


    "I want it even higher. Any ideas?"


    Li Moying: "Compete in international events, livestream, undertake promotional work."


    Qin Hao: "Is there any other way? Your livestreams might as well count as mine..."


    Li Moying suddenly spoke up, "Master, how about we go play on the Asian or American servers later? If our Shadow Team can top the leaderboard, we will definitely become the most dazzling players in the world."


    "Hmm, that works," Qin Hao said, nodding slightly.


    Li Moying laughed slyly, "Master, if you lead us to a few more wins, we could almost be contending for second, third, and fourth places in the national server. Then, we''ll go play on the Asian server."


    "Damn, is that an aim lock hack?" GM Traceless cursed loudly.


    His teammate spoke up, "Take a look at the kill feed in the upper right corner."


    "Shadow Gun Demon? Damn, how did we run into him? Hasn''t he been offline for several days?" Seeing Qin Hao''s ID, he was speechless.


    "Ming, be careful and don''t engage him head-on. Wait for us to come down," the other two members of Team GM on the rooftop said.


    "Hmm... okay, I have a shotgun. If he dares to come, he''ll definitely get taken out with a single shot."


    "Bang bang bang"


    "Shadow Gun Demon using the UZI to headshot and knock down GM Ming."


    ...


    "What happened?" the two on the rooftop asked anxiously.


    GM Ming: "He charged straight at me. I clicked the left mouse button, but before I could shoot, I was dead. His moves were too fast."


    Everyone on the battlefield who saw the kill feed in the upper right corner frowned slightly. Why was this guy online again today?


    "Damn it, this game is over." In a certain internet cafe?, someone saw the name Shadow Gun Demon and uttered these words in despair.


    Curiously, their classmate asked, "What''s wrong? Why is this game over?"


    "Do you think anyone else stands a chance of winning when Gun Demon is in the game?"


    "You mean the Gun Demon who is ranked first in the national server? The battlefield is ever-changing; just because he''s ranked first doesn''t mean he can win 100%, right?"


    "Buddy, just look at his record. A 100% win rate. He''s that terrifying."


    As they were talking, a team approached quietly, and within moments they were all taken out.


    "King in White headshot and knocked down Game Without Integrity."


    "King Qingfeng using AKM to headshot and knock down I''m the Grand Handsome."


    ...


    "Damn, the King team? Currently the number one team in the national server?" Those who just got killed were stunned when they read the ID in the kill feed.


    Excitedly, Game Without Integrity said, "There''s going to be a great show this time. Not only is the strongest team in the national server, Team King, present, but the number one ranked Gun Demon God as well.


    Will it be God who single-handedly takes down Team King, or will Team King put an end to God? Hurry to the TT live streaming platform, Witch is definitely broadcasting God''s game."


    At that moment, at least tens of thousands of people flooded into Witch''s live stream.


    ...


    In three minutes, three teams at Airport C building were slaughtered by Qin Hao with an UZI submachine gun.


    He showed no intention of switching weapons, sticking to the UZI despite spotting a SIGA Rifle and a 98k sniper rifle.


    "Wow, what''s God doing with just a submachine gun? Is he planning to win with just that?"


    "66666, I love it when God shows off, always stands out from the crowd in style."

 Chapter 154 Do Not Recognize

    Qin Hao indeed meant that.


    He was planning to take first place with this UZI submachine gun.


    Winning with an automatic rifle in one hand and a sniper rifle in the other hand wasn''t novel; seeking fame, he decided to play something interesting.


    This gun also had significant advantages; its firing rate was the fastest among all guns, but the drawback was that it was difficult to hit targets at a great distance.


    It was a weapon suited for mid to close range.


    As time passed, the safe zone gradually moved towards the direction of the airport.


    The airport had now become silent, apart from the sound of Qin Hao''s driving.


    He arrived at the great bridge from M City to the airport.@@@@


    After hiding his car, Qin Hao entered the two-story bunker beside it.


    As the poison circle closed in, it wasn''t long before a car came from the opposite direction.


    Qin Hao''s UZI couldn''t be fitted with a scope; hence he didn''t rush to open fire.


    His gun was equipped with a silencer, an extended magazine, and a stock.


    When the car drove into Qin Hao''s range, he immediately showed his head from the window.


    "Ping ping ping ping"


    The submachine gun with a silencer emitted a unique sound.


    In less than a second, Qin Hao retracted his body,


    twenty out of the thirty-five bullets were fired; with such terrifying rapid fire, even if the person in the car had a level three helmet, they were instantly killed.


    "Shadow Gun Demon uses UZI to score a headshot kill on the Lone Ranger."


    "6666"


    "Damn, that... that was too fast, right?"


    "What level three helmet? It looked no better than a level one."


    The UZI submachine gun exhibited its terrifying capabilities in the hands of Qin Hao.


    No one could last a second against his gun, not even those protected by level three helmets and vests.


    After killing seven or eight people, Qin Hao didn''t linger there and retreated towards N Harbor.


    Because the safe zone had moved to the location of N Harbor.


    Qin Hao was curious¡ªthis guy thought he was who, betting with me?


    "Who are you to make a bet with me? Do I have to accept a bet with everyone?"


    "Pfft"


    Upon hearing this, the other members of the King team spit out the water they had just drunk.


    The number one sniper god of the national server, God, and there are actually people who don''t know him?


    Is this guy joking?


    The audience in the three major streaming rooms laughed too: "Haha, Gun Demon God actually doesn''t know King team''s captain White Clothes."


    "God in white probably feels like dying right now, doesn''t he?"


    Li Jianjun was speechless: "I am the White Clothes of King team." Stay updated with empire


    "Sorry, really never heard of it..." Qin Hao replied truthfully.


    ...


    "No matter whether you''ve heard of me or not, do you dare take a bet with me?"


    "Whoosh"


    A grenade thrown from the sky was his response.


    Seeing it, Li Jianjun''s face changed, "Damn," and he quickly ran to the other side.


    Qin Hao had been waiting for him to come out, immediately stood up and fired, and then instantly lay flat on the ground.


    This set of movements was very fast, taking roughly only a fraction of a second.


    Just as he laid down, a few bullets hit beside him.


    That was Qingfeng''s shot; his reaction was not slow at all, being the first to react when Qin Hao just showed himself.


    But Qin Hao''s movement technique was too fast; he had just come and gone back in.


    Although the time was short, more than ten bullets all hit his head, instantly killing him.


    "Shadow Gun Demon uses UZI submachine gun to headshot and down King God in White Clothes."


    The distance was far, well beyond the effective range of the UZI submachine gun.


    Li Jianjun found it hard to believe, Damn, is this really not cheating?


    Before he could crawl away, another grenade flew over and directly sent him off.

 Chapter 155 Its just a team, right?

    Not only was Li Jianjun shocked, but the audience in the live streaming room was also boiling over.


    "Damn, to instantly kill King''s team''s White from such a distance, does the God''s UZI submachine gun really not have a scope?"


    "6666666"


    "The best sniper in the national server, didn''t even get a chance to shoot, and he was taken out by a UZI submachine gun, am I seeing this right?"


    "The terrifying firing rate, coupled with precise shooting, is practically a BUG."


    King White said, "Be careful, guys, his UZI is terrifying, he has completely mastered this gun."


    King Qingfeng asked, "He was shooting in single fire mode, right?"


    Li Jianjun: "Exactly, he fired over ten bullets in tenths of a second, and every shot was a headshot."


    "Damn, to single-tap that fast? Is he even human?" from King Xiao Gou.


    Qingfeng said, "You two cover me with grenades, I don''t believe he can wipe out our entire team alone."


    The other two threw several grenades towards the rooftop where Qin Hao was positioned, and then Qingfeng took this opportunity to run forward.


    He intended to hide in a spot unknown to Qin Hao.


    The recent death of Li Jianjun was a clear indication that Qin Hao knew their locations.


    After throwing the grenades, King''s team members, Xiao Gou and Xinghen, also threw a smoke bomb and then ran forward as well.


    "Boom boom"


    Explosions were heard from the rooftop, but Qin Hao was not killed.


    After killing Li Jianjun, he had immediately moved down from the rooftop.


    He positioned himself near a third-floor window, watching the movements below, unable to see the three men at all.


    There were many possible hiding spots below, and Qin Hao eventually narrowed down six locations.


    Based on the timing of the rooftop grenade explosion, he could deduce when these people started moving and the farthest distance they could have covered by this point.


    He factored all these in, and surely the King''s team''s three members were in three out of those six spots.


    All three were experts and would likely not foolishly stick together, as that would afford them no advantage.


    If unlucky, a single grenade could wipe them out.@@@@


    The safe zone was about to shrink soon, and the refreshed position was disadvantageous for Qin Hao, he had to move quickly or else he would be killed by the poison.


    Qin Hao checked his backpack for grenades, four remained.


    He took out a grenade and threw it at one of the locations, then the second, and the third...


    When he threw the third one, finally, someone ran out from inside.


    If they didn''t come out, they would most certainly be blasted to death, but coming out gave them a slim chance of survival.


    As Qin Hao was throwing the grenades, his position was exposed, and now all three members of King''s team knew his location.


    The moment King Xiao Gou ran out, gunfire erupted.


    Xiao Gou fell to the ground at the sound, and Qin Hao''s exposed window was riddled with bullet holes, but he didn''t lose any health.


    His standing position was quite tricky; although Xinghen did fire his gun, it didn''t scare Qin Hao away.


    Qingfeng''s hiding spot could barely reach him, but since Qingfeng wasn''t certain, he didn''t reveal his position.


    He was waiting for the right opportunity, a chance to deliver a fatal blow to Qin Hao.


    After dealing with Xiao Gou, Qin Hao jumped down from the back window of the building.


    If he didn''t go down now, once the poison circle closed in, he''d have to jump out the front, greatly increasing his chances of getting killed.


    After this round was over, Qin Hao could clearly see his reputation points skyrocketing.


    Meanwhile, the video of this game was also posted on various major gaming forums.


    "King team tragically wiped out by Gun God God"


    "Gun God God sweeps four sides with a sub-machine gun, instantly kills the number one sniper in the national server, wiping out the King team"


    "The rise of a king, this year''s WWJ champion will belong to Xuan Country"


    "Master, you are so amazing, so cool." Li Moying said excitedly.


    "We actually wiped out the King team, I can hardly believe it." Shadow Xiaoqi also spoke up.


    "Brother Gun God, I heard you''re still a student; many female fans in my live stream want to have your babies." Xiao Ya said cheerfully.


    Qin Hao was embarrassed, and curiously asked, "Is King very famous?"


    ...


    He was using the team voice chat, and Li Moying and the other two had their sound broadcast, so the people in all three live stream rooms heard him.


    Is King team famous? Can you remove the word might?


    "Damn, Gun God God doesn''t even know about the King team?"


    "Haha, this is killing me, the people from King team would probably spit blood if they heard this?"


    "I only respect you, who doesn''t respect even the jj."


    Li Moying: "Cough cough, Master, you really don''t know about King team? It''s a top national team that has competed in international tournaments and ranked in the top five."


    Qin Hao: "I really don''t know... I''m not very familiar with this game, but is this level still in the top five?"


    "Uh... Master, it''s because you''re too strong, not because they are too weak." Her own brother was the captain of that team, she didn''t want to put down her own brother.


    Qin Hao played a few more games with them, and in the following rounds, they consistently won, quickly boosting Li Moying and the others'' scores. Discover hidden content at empire


    By around ten o''clock in the evening, all three of them finally reached the top four of the national server.


    Qin Hao: "Let''s call it a day, if I''m free tomorrow, we can play again."


    "Yes, Master."


    ...


    After logging out of the game, Li Moying chatted with him on TT: "Master, are you busy tomorrow?"


    "Hmm, why?"


    Li Moying: "No reason, just thinking of asking you out to play, but if you''re busy, never mind."


    Qin Hao: "Hmm, okay."


    Inside the dormitory, Fatty and Chen Ping had been standing behind him all along.


    Qin Hao got up and saw their expressions, curiously asked, "What''s with those expressions?"


    "Big bro, did you just wipe out the King team?"


    "It''s just one team, what''s there to be surprised about." After speaking, Qin Hao took his basin and went out to wash up.


    It''s just one team?


    Damn, is it an ordinary team? That''s a top national team.


    Fatty and Chen Ping looked at each other, then sighed.


    Indeed, comparing oneself to others would only make one frustrated.


    This is a genius with full marks in the unified exam, how could we compare with someone like that.

 Chapter 156 The Young Aunt

    The next morning


    After getting up, Qin Hao spoke with his plump friend and a few others, then left the school.


    He gave Du Wanrou a call, "Hey, Wan Rou, where are you? I''m coming to find you."


    The lazy voice of Du Wanrou came from the phone, "I''m at my aunt''s house. Are you up already?"


    Qin Hao, "Where is your aunt''s house? I''ll come to find you."


    "Okay, good." Du Wanrou told him the name of the district.


    After hanging up the phone, he hailed a taxi and headed straight for Meilin Waterfront District.


    ...


    After Du Wanrou hung up, a young and beautiful woman was lying next to her, "Was that your boyfriend''s call?"


    Du Wanrou nodded, "He will be here soon, and we''re going out today."


    Feng Xiangyi, "Do your parents know?"


    Du Wanrou shook her head, "I haven''t told them yet."


    "Where is your boyfriend from? Is he handsome? What''s his family''s condition like?" Feng Xiangyi asked several questions consecutively.


    Du Wanrou chuckled softly, "He is also from Jiangshan, and we were high school classmates. As for his looks, I think he''s the handsomest, and his family is average."


    "Oh, then I''ll help you vet him later. If he can''t even pass my test, let alone your parents. Get up and tidy up," Feng Xiangyi said with a smile.


    "Aunt, please don''t mess around."


    Feng Xiangyi, "Don''t worry, you know I''m not that kind of person.


    But, dear, I must remind you, a girl needs to respect herself and not let a man succeed too easily; otherwise, you will suffer later on. Tell your aunt the truth, how far have you two gone?"


    Du Wanrou blushed slightly, "At most, we''ve just held hands."


    "That''s still okay, just make sure to keep it in check!"


    ...


    At nine in the morning, Qin Hao arrived at Meilin Waterfront District by taxi.


    The scenery of the district was quite nice with a small river winding around.


    He found building number 29, first unit, then took the elevator up to the sixteenth floor, outside room 1601.


    He rang the doorbell.


    "Ding-dong"


    The door was quickly opened, and Du Wanrou greeted him with a smile, "You''re here, come on in."


    "Hmm"


    Qin Hao walked into the room, which was a two-bedroom, one living room apartment.


    There was still a young and beautiful woman sitting on the living room sofa.


    The woman was very pretty, tall and slender.


    Wasn''t Wan Rou supposed to be living with her aunt? Could this be a child from her aunt''s family?


    When Qin Hao entered, Feng Xiangyi turned her head to look, an ordinary looking man with delicate features, not particularly handsome.


    Du Wanrou introduced, "Qin Hao, this is my aunt Feng Xiangyi, and aunt, this is my boyfriend Qin Hao."


    The dealership was huge and had all kinds of luxury cars.


    Entering the store, the brightly polished floor was like a mirror.


    Dozens of luxury cars were on display, the variety of models and brands was dazzling.


    Each car had a tall, curvy model standing in front of it.


    There were quite a few people around, each accompanied by a saleswoman.


    As the three of them entered, a saleswoman in a red cheongsam came over.


    "Hello, welcome to the Jianghai Luxury Car Pavilion. We have all kinds of luxury brands here. What type are you interested in, sir, miss?"


    With a smile, Feng Xiangyi looked towards Qin Hao, her meaning was clear: He''s the main decision-maker.


    People who sell cars here are very good at reading the room.


    The saleswoman looked at Qin Hao with a professional smile.


    From his clothes and appearance, she couldn''t tell that Qin Hao was wealthy, but her expression and demeanor didn''t change at all.


    Maybe the other party preferred to keep a low profile, or maybe he really wasn''t wealthy, but as part of her job, she had to be responsible to her profession and maintain the company''s image.


    Qin Hao looked around and said, "Show us around."


    The saleswoman nodded slightly, "Sure sir, please follow me."


    The three followed the saleswoman further inside.


    The first car was a latest model BMW, which the saleswoman introduced in detail.


    Qin Hao shook his head slightly, feeling that the car wasn''t very attractive.


    Feng Xiangyi was somewhat surprised to see his expression.


    She didn''t expect him to pretend so well, turning up his nose at an 800,000-yuan BMW?


    Not impressed? I bet he can''t afford it!


    The group continued forward, inspecting a few BMW models, but Qin Hao was still shaking his head. The saleswoman then took them to the Audi section.


    They checked out Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes, Range Rover, and more.


    But Qin Hao shook his head at those too.


    It wasn''t that these models were bad, some of them he found quite nice, but he thought they didn''t suit Du Wanrou well.


    Somewhat exasperated, Feng Xiangyi said, "Maybe we should just go back?"


    Not wanting Qin Hao to spend so much money on her, Du Wanrou agreed, "Yeah, maybe we should head back."


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Since we are here, let''s choose something we like, I plan to buy one myself, too."


    ...


    Feng Xiangyi didn''t expect that she had given him an out, and yet he still didn''t take it. Was this guy really going to ''pretend to be a pig while eating the tiger''?


    The saleswoman kept smiling, "Sir, are you planning to buy one for this miss and one for yourself?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, that''s right, let''s keep looking, I think over there isn''t bad."


    He pointed to the high-end area of the showroom.


    The saleswoman nodded, "All right sir, please follow me."


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    "This is the Porsche exclusive area." The saleswoman led them to the Porsche exclusive area.

 Chapter 157 Buying a Car

    There were quite a few cars in the Porsche section, with prices ranging from several hundred thousand to nearly ten million.


    The saleswoman gave a brief introduction, and Qin Hao asked Du Wanrou, "Do you see anything you like?"


    Du Wanrou shook her head.


    "Let''s go over there and have a look," Qin Hao said to the saleswoman.


    Feng Xiangyi''s patience was almost worn out, and she felt even more disgusted with Qin Hao. How could this guy be such a poser?


    He clearly knew Du Wanrou wasn''t interested, yet he still asked.


    The saleswoman still maintained a smile: "Sure, sir. This way is the Ferrari exclusive area, which is also one of the main brands we promote."


    There were many Ferrari models in the exclusive area, and there were also more than ten people looking at cars.


    As they had just walked over, a voice suddenly rang out: "Isn''t that Manager Feng?"


    The three turned their heads to look, and saw a bald, slightly overweight middle-aged man looking at her with a smile on his face. Read the latest on empire


    Beside the middle-aged man was a young and beautiful woman.


    The woman was attractive in both face and figure, with her hands on the bald man''s arm.


    When Feng Xiangyi saw the man, she said expressionlessly, "Mr. Kang, what a coincidence, brazenly bringing your mistress out like this. Aren''t you afraid that the legitimate wife at home will find out?"


    Kang Ruiming''s face changed slightly.


    They worked at the same company; Feng Xiangyi was a department manager, while Kang Ruiming was a vice president and her superior.


    Kang Ruiming had tried several times to take advantage of her, but she had firmly rejected him, causing him much embarrassment. Therefore, he had always been suppressing her at the company.


    With Feng Xiangyi''s capabilities, she had hoped to become the vice president of another department, but Kang Ruiming had foiled her opportunities.


    Since then, the two had been at odds, but Feng Xiangyi''s status in the company was not as high as Kang Ruiming''s, so she had always been at a disadvantage.


    Now that they met, given her character, she naturally would not show a pleasant face to Kang Ruiming.


    The female secretary did not look very pleased, especially with so many people around.


    Being a mistress wasn''t exactly an honorable thing.


    She scoffed, "Manager Feng, you should think about your own situation. Next month you might be rolling up your mattress and leaving. Surprisingly, you still have the leisure to stroll around here. Are you envious? Too bad, someone like you will never be able to afford such luxuries. You might as well not waste the salesperson''s time. I''m embarrassed for you."


    Feng Xiangyi''s face showed some embarrassment: "I don''t need lessons from a mistress like you."


    "Hehe, Mr. Kang, let''s continue looking at cars. I think this one is nice, and priced at just over a million. It''s quite suitable," said the secretary in a strange tone, clearly aiming her comments at Feng Xiangyi.


    Du Wanrou frowned slightly, finding this person utterly shameless.


    Qin Hao wanted to help Feng Xiangyi, since after all, she was Wan Rou''s aunt, but he didn''t know how to intervene.


    He wasn''t sure how to get involved in an argument between women.


    He thought for a moment and then said, "Aunt, don''t bother arguing with those kinds of people. It''s not worth getting angry and hurting your own health."


    Du Wanrou agreed, "That''s right, aunt. Such people aren''t worth your anger."


    The sales lady was seeing someone this generous for the first time, taking two cars worth tens of millions each in one go.


    Was he the son of some conglomerate?


    "Alright, sir, please follow me to proceed with the paperwork," the sales lady recovered first, knowing that nothing was certain until everything was settled.


    Even though Qin Hao didn''t seem to be joking, with a deal in the tens of millions, she couldn''t afford to be careless.


    If the deal really went through, just the commission would equal her entire year''s income.


    "Wait," Qin Hao suddenly spoke up.


    The sales lady stopped in her tracks, her heart racing; was he having second thoughts?


    "Sir, do you have any doubts?" she asked cautiously.


    Qin Hao turned to look at Feng Xiangyi, "Auntie, do you see anything you like? Why not choose one for yourself."


    Feng Xiangyi also thought he was about to back out, after all, it was nearly thirty million yuan, a sum she could never earn in her entire life.


    But hearing Qin Hao''s words, she felt somewhat ashamed and quickly said, "No need, the car I have is fine."


    She probably didn''t realize how her tone had changed.


    Qin Hao said, "Auntie, don''t be polite, we''re practically family."


    "Really, it''s not necessary," Feng Xiangyi was embarrassed by his gesture; who gives away cars upon first meeting?


    Seeing her reaction, Qin Hao didn''t insist any further, "Alright then."


    The three of them followed the sales lady to the office for processing the payment and paperwork.


    Inside, there were three young and beautiful women sitting there.


    Mr. Kang Ruiming and his secretary were at station one, doing their paperwork.


    The sales lady led Qin Hao and his companions to station number two.


    She handed over two forms to the young woman at station two, "These are the purchase forms for this gentleman."


    The woman took the forms, glanced at them, and her face showed surprise. Wow, twenty-eight million fourteen thousand?


    "Sir, you are purchasing two cars from our store; a latest limited edition red Ferrari sports car and a starlight gray Lamborghini sports car, totalling twenty-eight million. How will you pay?"


    Mr. Kang Ruiming and his secretary, who were about to mock Feng Xiangyi, were stunned upon hearing the cashier''s words.


    Twenty-eight million? Him?


    Feng Xiangyi knew someone of this stature?


    "Charge it to the card, and put my girlfriend''s name on the Ferrari," Qin Hao took out a card and handed it to the cashier, reminding her.


    Put the girlfriend''s name on the car?


    The people around turned their heads to look at Du Wanrou, their eyes filled with envy. A thirteen-million car in the girlfriend''s name was practically the same as giving it as a gift.


    If only I had a boyfriend like that!!

 Chapter 158 Watching the Store

    ```


    Going through the procedures took quite a bit of time, and when she came out from the luxury car dealership, Feng Xiangyi was in a very good mood.


    Seeing Kang Ruiming and that secretary with faces like they had swallowed flies made her incredibly refreshed, and it was such a relief.


    Let them be arrogant and complacent, now they know who is standing beside this miss!@@@@


    "Qin Hao, what does your family do, to be so wealthy?" she asked curiously.


    The words Du Wanrou said this morning were obviously deceiving her, could a person from an ordinary family afford this kind of luxury car?


    That wretched girl dared to deceive me, see how I deal with you when I get back. Fortunately, I did not make a fool of myself, or it would have been such an embarrassment.


    Qin Hao answered with a smile, "My parents work in a car manufacturing plant, and I own a company myself, specializing in roasted duck."


    "What roasted duck? Can you make that much money selling roasted duck?" Feng Xiangyi exclaimed in surprise.


    "Jiangshan Roasted Duck."


    Feng Xiangyi paused, "The Jiangshan Roasted Duck is yours?"


    Qin Hao, "Umm, my aunt has heard of it?"


    "A few days ago when Wan Rou started school, her parents brought over a few Jiangshan Roasted Ducks. They were simply a delicacy of this world, a memory that is still fresh in my mind. When do you plan to open a branch in Jianghai City?"


    Feng Xiangyi became much more talkative and her tone had greatly improved.


    Qin Hao, "I''ve been preparing for a while, and it''s opening tomorrow."


    "Opening tomorrow? Where? Why didn''t you tell me?" Du Wanrou pouted with a hint of displeasure.


    Qin Hao said with a laugh, "Alright, I will definitely tell you next time, my boss lady, okay? The location is at the Xinshang Square in your district."


    Instantly, Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned red, "Stop it, who''s your boss lady."


    "Cough cough, there''s another person here. Can you two stop showing off your love and making me feel so out of place as a lonely soul?" Feng Xiangyi complained.


    Qin Hao, "Alright, let''s go to the vehicle management office to get the license plates."


    "Today is the weekend; the vehicle management office is closed, and it''s difficult to get a license plate in Jianghai City. Do you know anyone there?" Feng Xiangyi reminded him.


    Qin Hao paused upon hearing this, "I''d forgotten about that, I''ll make a call and ask."


    He called Xu Jiejian, the most influential person he knew.


    The call was quickly connected.


    Xu Jiejian''s voice came through from the phone, "Xiao Hao, have you run into some trouble?"


    Although Qin Hao had done the Xu Family a favor, his tone was still polite and respectful, "Mr. Xu, I''ve just bought two cars but haven''t gotten their license plates yet. I don''t really know anyone at the vehicle management office; I was hoping you could help."


    Xu Jiejian laughed, "I thought it was something major. Which vehicle management office do you plan to go to?"


    "Bailing District, it''s closer to me." Read exclusive adventures at empire


    Xu Jiejian, "Mm, Old Wang from Bailing District vehicle management office used to work under me. I''ll give him a call and mention you; just use my name when you get there."


    "Okay, thank you, Mr. Xu, for the trouble."


    Xu Jiejian, "Why the formalities, my boy. Today, I received a call from the elder, saying my mother''s leg is recovering quickly, and he asked me to thank you as well."


    Two luxury cars drove in, instantly capturing the attention of many onlookers.


    "Wow, what a handsome car!"


    Many young women''s gaze fell on Du Wanrou''s red Ferrari.


    Because both the color and the design appealed to women''s tastes.


    The three cars stopped beside the entrance of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant.


    Qin Hao and his companions got out, with Du Wanrou''s arm linked with his, her fair cheeks blushing slightly.


    Seeing this scene, many men and women flashed looks of disappointment.


    ...


    "This is your new store?" Du Wanrou looked at the outdoor sign.


    The four big characters read "Jiangshan Roasted Duck," and there was a line of smaller text below: Jianghai City Bailing District Xinshang Store.


    Feng Xiangyi was also assessing the sign and could tell that just this signboard was more expensive than those of several adjacent stores.


    At first glance, it gave off a clean and tidy impression.


    Unlike some signs that appeared cluttered and complex.


    Even the colors of the sign, black with gold letters.


    Looked steady and grand.


    "Not bad, this signboard is very well made. It will attract a lot of customers for you. Did your own company design it?" she praised.


    Qin Hao thought it was nice too, and a bit embarrassed, said, "It was done by people under me, I''m not too clear about it. I''ll ask in a bit."


    "Mr. Qin?" a voice called out.


    The three of them turned to look and saw a mature woman in her thirties standing not far away looking at Qin Hao, with a hint of surprise in her expression.


    Qin Hao greeted her with a smile, "It''s Mr. Yang. Long time no see."


    "This is Mr. Yang from Xinshang Square Real Estate, this is my girlfriend Du Wanrou, and this is my aunt Feng Xiangyi," he introduced them to each other.


    "Miss Du, Miss Feng, hello," Yang Mei greeted them with a smile.


    Du Wanrou and Feng Xiangyi also replied, "Hello, Mr. Yang."


    Yang Mei looked at the two luxury cars next to her and said, "Mr. Qin, are these newly purchased?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I still have to get by in Jianghai City. Not having a car would make me look bad."


    Yang Mei didn''t know if he was subtly referencing her; she certainly felt a degree of disdain when she heard Qin Hao was opening a duck restaurant.


    But now she thought she was wrong. She was not someone without experience; those two cars had to be worth over twenty million at the very least.


    What kind of person can spend tens of millions on cars?


    What does he really do for a living? Does he actually sell roasted duck? Yang Mei decided to investigate thoroughly when she returned.


    She chuckled awkwardly, "Mr. Qin, you joke too much. You''re busy, I should head back, I have things to do."


    "Okay, see you later, Mr. Yang."

 Chapter 159 Terrifying Potential

    As they entered the store, Nie Si and Liu Pengyun were busy setting up something.


    They were preparing for the opening.


    These past few days, they had also done some basic advertising and promotion.


    Seeing Qin Hao enter with two young, beautiful women, Liu Pengyun and Nie Si hurriedly said, "Mr. Qin, you''ve arrived."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Everyone has worked hard these past few days. How are the preparations going?"


    "Mr. Qin, we are almost ready, we can officially open tomorrow," Nie Si replied earnestly.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "This is my girlfriend, Du Wanrou, and this is my aunt, Feng Xiangyi."


    "Nice to meet you, Miss Du," Liu Pengyun and the others hurriedly said with respect.


    Du Wanrou felt a bit embarrassed, "It''s okay, everyone. There''s no need to be formal, I''m just here to have a look with Qin Hao."


    "The decoration style is also quite nice," Feng Xiangyi commented as she looked around and nodded.


    Liu Pengyun began to explain, "Both the interior decor and the exterior billboard design were sent over by the headquarters, and then we hired a decorating company.


    Tomorrow, Jiangshan will also have a few new stores opening, Mr. Qin, I will definitely not disappoint you," he added.


    Qin Hao''s smile was encouraging, "Alright, keep up the good work. Sweat is not necessarily rewarded, but it will definitely help you grow."


    "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Qin."


    The three of them walked around inside and then sat down.


    Qin Hao asked, "Auntie, what do you do for work?"


    "I''m an administrative manager at a company. There was a chance for me to be promoted to vice president, but Kang Ruiming sabotaged me. He''s been trying to take advantage of me, and failed, so he''s been picking trouble with me ever since."


    Mentioning Kang Ruiming made her look angry.


    Qin Hao, "How''s your treatment there?"


    "A salary of twenty-three thousand a month, plus the five insurances and one fund, it''s okay."


    Feng Xiangyi''s family conditions were not very good. Her parents had died when she was in university.


    She only had one relative, who is Du Wanrou''s mother, Feng Yun.


    Feng Yun and Du Hongfeng met in university, and then moved to marriage together.


    ...


    Qin Hao, "Auntie, since we''re not strangers, how about working for me? I plan to set up a branch here and still need some key positions filled. It might be a bit tiring initially."


    "What position are you thinking of offering me?" Feng Xiangyi asked directly without any politeness.


    "Congratulations Host, you''ve won the Go Skill."


    "Congratulations Host, you''ve won a Beginner''s Strength Potion"


    Beginner''s Strength Potion: Slightly increases the user''s strength attribute for a duration of half an hour.


    This potion was somewhat useful. He checked the Go skill; because the lottery system was upgraded, the Go skill he drew was directly at level two.


    Around six o''clock after dinner, he started playing video games with Li Moying and two others to further increase his reputation points.


    ...


    In the office at Xinshang Square, Yang Mei.


    After returning, she immediately had someone investigate Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd.


    The information was quickly delivered to her desk.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. was established at the end of May 2019 in Xuan Country, specializing in roasted duck.


    From the beginning, it had caused a significant reaction in Jiangshan; within just three months, Jiangshan Roasted Duck had expanded to over twenty stores, with monthly profits in the millions.


    According to sources from venture capitalists, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. was valued at three hundred million, with investment firms reaching out to the company, but no response was received.


    If the current trend continues, the valuation of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. would climb even higher.


    The company''s general manager is named Kang Youyi, but according to the investigation, he is not the chairman of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd.


    The hidden boss behind the scenes is a man named Qin Hao, who also invented and created the secret recipe for the roasted duck.


    Upon reading this information, a look of shock flickered through Yang Mei''s eyes.


    Despite that the monthly profits of millions couldn''t compare with Xinshang Real Estate yet, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. had just been established.


    On the other hand, Xinshang Real Estate was a well-established company of over a decade, the two couldn''t really be compared.


    Moreover, it was clear that Qin Hao was beginning to strategize for Jianghai City, appearing as an ordinary youth with grand ambitions.


    Realizing this, she felt that she had underestimated Qin Hao in the past.


    Tomorrow his new store seems to be opening, I should personally go congratulate him and also try their roasted duck.


    If it could become all the rage in Jiangshan, it must be good.


    ...


    On the other side, after returning home, Feng Xiangyi also did some online research. Although not as detailed as Yang Mei''s, she too saw the immense potential of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. definitely has the potential to become an industry giant. If she joins the company now, her status is bound to rise along with its success.


    Now is the best time to get onboard.

 Chapter 160 Jianghai Branch Opening

    Du Wanrou was also a bit surprised, "Is Qin Hao''s company valued at several billion? That high?"


    Feng Xiangyi nodded, "You''ve got a sharp eye, girl. How come I never meet such capable men?"


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks flushed red, "Auntie, you''re so annoying, always teasing me."


    "Haha, you better keep a close eye on this kind of man, or someone else might snatch him away," Feng Xiangyi reminded her.


    "Yeah, if they manage to snatch him away, that''s their skill."


    Despite saying this, Du Wanrou was still more alert inside.


    The image of Li Moying came to her mind, a woman whose appearance and family background were in no way inferior to hers.


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao didn''t go to class and took the bus to Xinshang Square after having breakfast.


    He arrived at Xinshang Square at eight-thirty in the morning.


    Outside the duck store, two rows of ceremonial cannons were set up, all adorned with red cords, looking festive and joyful.


    Outside the storefront, there was also a pair of beautiful floral baskets.


    Beneath the floral baskets was written: Gift from Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group.


    At the same time, Yang Mei came with her assistant carrying two floral baskets. Seeing Qin Hao, she smiled and said, "Mr. Qin."


    "Mr. Yang, what''s this about?" Qin Hao curiously asked her.


    Yang Mei smiled and said, "Since your store is in my Xinshang Square, it''s only right to send floral baskets to congratulate you on its opening. Xiao Mei, place the baskets on both sides of the entrance."


    After she spoke, she also glanced at the floral basket by the entrance.


    Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group?


    Seeing this name, her eyes narrowed slightly, and a glint flashed in her pupils, "Do you know Mr. Xu from Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group?"


    Both sides had organized many events in the past to attract foot traffic, even hiring celebrities for performances.


    But Xinshang Square was still at a disadvantage with no significant change. Discover more content at empire


    Li Guangfu''s secretary spoke up, "That''s a new store opening at Xinshang Square."


    Li Guangfu scoffed, "Oh? A new store opening there? Are they blind? Don''t they know our Xing''an Square has higher traffic?"


    "Mr. Li, the owner of that store is the young man who visited us last time," the secretary whispered.


    Li Guangfu looked somewhat embarrassed, yet he scoffed, "He''ll regret it soon and then he''ll have to come to our Xing''an Square."


    ...


    After the salvo of ceremonial cannons, everyone in the store became busy.


    Nie Si poured Qin Hao a cup of tea and then stood by cautiously.


    Qin Hao sat in his office making phone calls.


    The store not only had a manager''s office, but also a finance office.


    "I understand, send me the performance report of the new store tonight," Qin Hao said calmly to Kang Youyi over the phone.


    Kang Youyi, "Okay, Hao, there''s another matter that needs your decision."


    Qin Hao, "What''s the matter?"


    "After some discussions, everyone thinks that our company should establish a training base to support our rapid development. What do you think, Hao?"


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Mhm, that''s a possibility. We must keep a tight control over the mid and senior management positions to avoid any mishaps."


    "Okay, Hao."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao''s phone rang again. It was a call from Li Moying.


    "Master, where are you? I couldn''t find you in your classroom," Li Moying directly asked.

 Chapter 161 Invisible Perspective Glasses

    Qin Hao said, "I''m outside, what''s up?"


    "Where are you? I''ll come to find you."


    "Something wrong?" Qin Hao asked, puzzled.


    Li Moying replied, "Mmm, there''s a bit of an issue."


    Qin Hao gave her the location, and soon after, Li Moying hung up the phone.


    The aroma from the Jiangshan Roasted Duck started wafting out around 9:30 p.m., making people drool with desire.


    Even up in Xinshang Square, one could smell the delicious scent of roasted duck.


    In the office, Qin Hao boredly gazed at the jade cabbage sculpture. It was finely crafted, and the quality of the jade was excellent. It mustn''t have been cheap.


    As he looked on, Qin Hao suddenly remembered something.


    He hastily summoned the system and opened his backpack where he found something: invisible X-ray glasses.


    They could see through anything, but could only be used for half an hour each day.


    His hometown was Shuinan Province, which bordered Nangong Country. Your next read is at empire


    Nangong Country''s jade was renowned worldwide. Although several other countries had discovered jade mines, Nangong''s production and quality were the highest.


    About ninety percent of the commercial jade on the market came from Nangong, so when one mentioned jade, it was typically referred to as Nangong jade.


    Jade is extremely hard, earning the title of "King of Gems" and had considerable value for collectors. Furthermore, it was visually stunning and had health benefits.


    Speaking of jade, one must mention "jade gambling."


    Jade gambling involved betting on the raw jade stones, which were mined stones unprocessed and covered with a thick weathered skin.@@@@


    Nobody knew whether the inside held worthless material or top-quality jade.


    The risks in jade gambling were huge. A single cut could lead to bankruptcy, while another could propel someone into the ranks of billionaires.


    Despite this, many were enamored with it.


    Such was the charm of jade gambling.


    Qin Hao wondered if wearing the invisible X-ray glasses would allow him to see through the raw stones.


    He had never used them since he obtained them.


    Thinking this, Qin Hao looked around. Nie Si had already left, and he was alone in the office.


    He put on the X-ray glasses directly, immediately feeling a difference. Everything around him seemed clearer.


    "Activate the X-ray feature?"


    A crisp voice echoed in his mind.


    The voice came from the X-ray glasses.


    It entered the human brain through microwaves and then was converted into human language.


    "Hehe, you''re really nice, Master,"


    Li Moying said with a mischievous grin.


    Qin Hao gave her a glance, "Aren''t you supposed to be in class?"


    "What''s the use of classes, my family isn''t short on money."


    ...


    That''s disturbingly logical, Qin Hao found himself at a loss for words!


    After ten in the morning, people gradually started entering the roasted duck shop.


    Some came because of the advertisements, while others were drawn in by the aroma.


    The morning business was quite good, considering Jiangshan Roasted Duck had little brand influence here.


    They could only move forward one step at a time.


    A little after eleven, Qin Hao spoke to Nie Si and Liu Pengyun, then left the roasted duck shop with Li Moying.


    By the door of the shop was Li Moying''s Bugatti.


    "I''ll drive myself, I have to get the license plate this afternoon."


    Li Moying looked at his car, somewhat surprised, "Master, did you buy this?"


    "Mhm."


    "How much was it?"


    "Fifteen million."


    ...


    Li Moying: "Wow, it turns out Master is a hidden tycoon."


    "Alright, let''s go, or your brother will get anxious."


    The two sports cars slowly drove out of Xinshang Square.


    They drove to Jinxiu Hotel in Bailing District.


    After parking the cars, Qin Hao got out and saw a man in a white suit standing at the hotel entrance.


    The man was strikingly handsome, comparing favorably with some idol stars.


    Li Jianjun saw Qin Hao getting out and his eyes flashed with surprise, recognizing quality when he saw it.


    He had seen this new model of Lamborghini before, priced at fifteen million.


    It looked like a new car, and he could actually afford such a multi-million dollar luxury vehicle, no wonder he was unmoved by my 80 million offer before.


    He approached with a smile, extending a hand, "Hello, Qin Hao, I''m Li Jianjun, Moying''s brother."


    "Hello," Qin Hao shook his hand lightly.

 Chapter 162 Signing the Contract

    "Mr. Qin, please come in."


    Li Jianjun was courteous and spoke with elegance, an immediate indication that he was no ordinary individual.


    "The guest follows the host''s lead, so Mr. Li, after you."


    Li Moying said exasperatedly, "Are you two planning to dawdle until tomorrow? Get inside, I''m starving."


    ...


    The three of them entered the hotel, where the general manager had already prepared a suite and meals.


    No sooner had they sat down than the food was served, sumptuous and accompanied by a bottle of expensive red wine.@@@@


    "I''ll start eating; you guys can talk amongst yourselves," said Li Moying as she picked up her chopsticks to eat.


    Li Jianjun looked at Qin Hao with a smile and said, "Mr. Qin, let''s have a drink to start with."


    Qin Hao shook his head, "I''m sorry, I have to drive later in the afternoon, I''d better not drink."


    "Right, I wasn''t thinking. Instead, let''s have a drink with tea in place of liquor."


    After a sip of tea, Li Jianjun went straight to the point, "Mr. Qin, the reason I invited you is to discuss a potential collaboration."


    "Cooperation? What kind of cooperation?" Qin Hao asked with curiosity.


    Li Jianjun said, "In the realm of gaming. I know you''re a college student and education is a priority, so I won''t be too demanding. It''s alright if you don''t train, as long as you''re present for the matches."


    Qin Hao said, "I''m not interested in that."


    That one sentence effectively stumped Li Jianjun.


    He truly wasn''t interested and had never thought of making money by playing professionally.


    Grinding his teeth, Li Jianjun said, "Just name your conditions. As long as it''s within my power and the Jinxiu Group''s capability, I''ll agree to it."


    Li Moying, who was sitting nearby, was taken aback, somewhat in disbelief that her older brother would say such a thing.


    Qin Hao could see his determination and was somewhat puzzled, "Can you explain why? I''m very curious."


    Li Jianjun''s expression changed, and after a moment, he said, "Last year, I led the King team to international competition as the top team from Xuan Country."


    "We finished seventh, and after the match, our team suffered humiliation at the hands of the Beidou Country Team and the Beihai Country Team. I can''t swallow that insult. Since then, I have sworn to lead the King team to world championship glory and show those dogs what we''re made of."


    After speaking, his face looked terrible, clearly, they had suffered a great humiliation back then.


    Hearing this, Qin Hao fell into deep thought.


    Seeing his reaction, Li Jianjun held back from speaking, a thought crossing his mind.


    That was what she had found attractive, but there was simply no room for negotiation.


    Even though Qin Hao had put it very tactfully, she could tell that he had no intention of raising funds.


    After having lunch, Li Moying asked, "Master, where are you planning to go this afternoon?"


    "I plan to go and register the car license plate, and then head back to the roast duck restaurant to check on things there."


    Li Moying: "Oh, in that case, I''ll head home first."


    "Alright then."


    Qin Hao drove out of Jinxiu Hotel, then made a phone call to Du Wanrou, "Wanrou, where are you?"


    "I''m at home. I came back after my morning classes were done."


    Qin Hao: "I''ll come over to find you; let''s go to the vehicle administration office to get the license plate."


    "Alright, sure."


    ...


    When Li Moying got home, she was humming a tune as she opened the door and walked in, but she instantly froze.


    Because her parents were sitting on the living room sofa.


    "Skipping class again?" Li Xutian''s brow furrowed slightly when he saw her.


    Li Moying quickly ran to her mom: "Mom, my stomach hurts, it''s really uncomfortable."


    "Stop pretending, I know all your little tricks," Li Xutian said somewhat speechlessly when he saw her act.


    Li Moying giggled, "Dad, why are you back so early today?"


    Li Xutian asked back, "I heard you gave your black card to someone?"


    "Was it that jerk who snitched again? I''m going to kill him," Li Moying''s face changed, and she stood up to leave.


    Li Xutian shouted sternly, "Stay right there."


    Li Moying was so scared she froze in place, and then her eyes instantly turned red.


    Seeing this, Gu Yusu quickly interjected, "Talk about the issue at hand, what are you yelling at the child for?"


    Li Xutian: "I will have someone cancel that card of yours, and from now on, steer clear of those shady characters."


    Li Moying shot back, "What do you mean by shady? What''s wrong with my master that makes him shady?"


    "Anyone who plays video games all day can''t be any good. There are all kinds of people on the internet, and your dad just wants the best for you," Gu Yusu said, trying to persuade her daughter.

 Chapter 163 Everything Is Like a Dream

    Li Mo Ying''s voice was choked with sobs, "Mom, how can you say the same? My master is really not the person you think he is."


    Li Xutian: "If he''s not that kind of person, would he be in the police station? Stop talking, from today on, you should see him less."@@@@


    "Xiao Ying, listen to dad."


    With tears in her eyes, Li Mo Ying said, "Dad... Mom... How can you be like this? Don''t I even have the right to make friends anymore?"


    "You have the right to make friends, but you can''t be friends with this kind of person."


    "I''m already an adult. I can be friends with whoever I want, it''s none of your business." Having said that, Li Mo Ying ran upstairs crying.


    Li Xutian was quite angered, his daughter had always been obedient, but her reaction today infuriated him.


    Gu Yusu: "Alright, you say less."


    Li Xutian: "I''m also doing this for Xiao Ying''s good. What if she''s deceived? No, I have to warn that young man."


    ...


    Qin Hao drove to the residential area where Du Wanrou lived and then headed upstairs as if he knew the way well.


    He knocked on the door, and soon Du Wanrou opened the door from inside.


    Her hair was messy, as if she had just woken up.


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao found it strangely enticing and smoothed her hair with his hand: "Were you asleep?"


    With a blush on her cheeks, Du Wanrou nodded gently with her head lowered.


    Attracted by her shyness, Qin Hao couldn''t help but wrap his arms around her waist.


    "Stop it, the door''s still open," Du Wanrou said with a blush on her cheeks.


    Qin Hao gave a sheepish smile, entered the house, and closed the door behind him.


    "Which room were you resting in?"


    With a blushing face, Du Wanrou felt extremely shy and her heart was pounding.


    She whispered softly, "This one."


    Qin Hao let go of her slender waist and walked into the room.


    A faint fragrance filled his nostrils.


    The air conditioning in the room was cool, and the bed was still unmade.


    "Mmhmm, you''re going for the license plate? I''m free anyway, you don''t mind if I come along as a third wheel, do you?"


    Clearly embarrassed, Du Wanrou had probably guessed what had happened inside.


    "It''s fine, auntie, let''s go together." Qin Hao acted very calm.


    The three of them got in the car and drove to the vehicle administration office in Bailing District. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire


    The service hall had quite a few people, and Qin Hao approached a window and asked, "Excuse me, where is your leader''s office?"


    "Upstairs, do you have an appointment?"


    Qin Hao: "Yes, I am Qin Hao, I need to see your leader about something."


    "Oh, Mr. Qin, our leader mentioned this. When you come, you can go straight upstairs," the service staff said with a smile.


    "Thank you," Qin Hao said.


    Qin Hao led Du Wanrou and Feng Xiangyi upstairs.


    Under their leader''s instruction, a staff member came in.


    ...


    Following the staff member to an office area, the person sat at the computer and told Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, please have a seat and show me the vehicle registration certificate and the car owner''s information."


    In front of the trio was also a display screen, showing the content on the opposite person''s computer screen.


    "Wan Rou, you go first."


    Du Wanrou took out her documents and filled in her personal information.


    Once everything was filled in, she clicked to receive a random plate number.


    The display screen changed, and dozens of car license numbers appeared on the screen.


    Seeing the numbers on the display, the trio was stunned.


    Because the numbers that appeared were the kind of premium license plates that are rarely encountered.


    "Jianghai Z11111, 22222, 66666..."


    Feng Xiangyi''s eyes bulged, she swallowed hard, somewhat in disbelief. These numbers would sell for sky-high prices out in the market.


    To know that these were Jianghai City license plates, not some ordinary city''s numbers. Even ordinary city license plates are of great value.


    "Miss Du is really lucky," the staff member remarked, astonished.

 Chapter 164 Repay kindness with kindness.

    Qin Hao knew this was because of Xu Jiejian.


    He said to Du Wanrou, "Choose whichever one you like."


    Du Wanrou hesitated for a moment. She didn''t know which one to choose because all the license plates were great.@@@@


    Even with money, you couldn''t necessarily get such high-level plates in Jianghai City.


    "Can I refresh it?" Du Wanrou asked softly.


    ...


    Feng Xiangyi and the staff member almost spat out a mouthful of blood upon hearing this.


    Refresh?


    Lady, are you mistaken? These are the best plates we have here. Discover exclusive content at empire


    "If you don''t like it, then let''s change it," Qin Hao didn''t like them too much either because the plates were too ostentatious.


    The staff member was encountering this type of situation for the first time; indeed, extraordinary people do extraordinary things.


    Du Wanrou clicked to refresh, and the numbers changed; this time, there weren''t as many attractive numbers.


    Having looked at them once, Du Wanrou took a liking to one in particular: Hai V520QH


    "I''ll take this one." Du Wanrou didn''t even think twice.


    The staff member nodded: "Okay, miss."


    Qin Hao also chose a plate for himself, still in the Hai V series: Hai V21212


    Although this one didn''t look particularly impressive, it was still passable, and it wouldn''t detract from his car.


    Once they had chosen the plates, the vehicle registration office quickly produced them, at a speed that Feng Xiangyi could hardly believe.


    After the plates were attached, Qin Hao and the two women left.


    The staff member went back and reported the situation to Wang Jieyun.


    ...


    After they left the vehicle registration office, Qin Hao received a call from Xu Jiejian.


    Xu Jiejian: "Xiao Hao, have the plates been put on? Where are you now?"


    Qin Hao replied: "Just left the vehicle registration office, and I have to thank Mr. Xu for this time."


    Xu Jiejian: "It''s a small matter, don''t be so polite. I''m calling today because I need a favor from you. Your aunt and I are at Tianming Pavilion; if you''re free, come over for a bit."


    "Sure, Mr. Xu, please wait a moment."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao slowly stopped the car at the roadside; seeing his reaction, Du Wanrou also came to a halt.


    "What''s wrong?" Du Wanrou asked, rolling down her window.


    Qin Hao: "I have something I need to take care of. You and aunt should head back first; drive carefully on the road."


    Ever since his beloved wife passed away, Xu Jiekang hasn''t felt anything for any other woman, and he isn''t planning on having more children either.


    The Xu Family''s lack of an heir is a regret that lies deep within everyone in the family.


    Now that Qin Hao knew about it, he naturally planned to do a good deed thoroughly and gift the Xu Family two boys all at once.


    Whether a child turns out to be a boy or a girl is entirely up to the XY chromosomes of the male; females only have X chromosomes.


    XX pairings result in a girl, while XY pairings produce a boy.


    Qin Hao intended to use medication to assist Xu Jiejian so that his Y chromosome could combine with Sun Fang''s chromosomes.


    This was not an impossible task.


    Medical science is nearly at the point where this can be achieved.


    ...


    Xu Jiejian''s eyes widened, "Two? Xiao Hao, you''re not joking with Mr. Xu, are you? One would already be more than enough for the Xu Family."


    Qin Hao did not further explain; he wrote two prescriptions, "Mr. Xu, remember to take this before sex each night, this one''s yours, that one''s for Auntie."


    "Um, okay, I trust your medical skills, Xiao Hao."


    Though Xu Jiejian said this, he was still somewhat incredulous in his heart. He knew of Qin Hao''s exquisite medical abilities, but their problem was not a neurological disorder.


    After all, every doctor has their specialty, and he feared Qin Hao might not understand this particular area.


    Qin Hao, "Mr. Xu, If there''s nothing else, I''ll head back now. If you have any questions later on, you can call me directly."


    Xu Jiejian nodded, "Um, okay, thank you for the trouble, Xiao Hao."


    "Don''t mention it, Mr. Xu."


    Although the Xu Family holds high status and power, the tone and actions of Qin Hao did not show excessive fawning. Helping Jiejian was also a way of helping himself in the future.


    The relationship between the two sides was not one of master and servant, but one of cooperation; neither had the right to order the other around.


    When Qin Hao drove back to the roast duck restaurant, it was already after three in the afternoon.


    At this time, the shop was fairly quiet, with a few employees cleaning and tidying up the place.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao come in, they respectfully greeted him, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao did not show any arrogance. His tone was approachable as he said, "You all worked hard today. Let Mr. Liu pick a place after work¡ªI''ll treat."


    As a child from an ordinary family, he knew that everyone had their dignity. Respecting others was a way of respecting oneself.


    Even as the company''s boss, he wouldn''t exhibit an attitude of superiority over his employees.


    This was one of his principles in dealing with matters.


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin," the employees said smilingly upon hearing his words.


    Qin Hao nodded with a smile and then walked into the manager''s office.


    Liu Pengyun, Nie Si, and a newly hired accountant were in the office, calculating the midday performance.

 Chapter 165 Break the Record

    Qin Hao walked in, and the three quickly turned their heads.


    "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "How''s the calculation going?"


    Liu Pengyun was somewhat embarrassed, "Just over twenty thousand."


    Qin Hao patted his shoulder, "We don''t have any reputation or influence in Jianghai City, reaching this amount by noon is already very good. Keep it up tonight."


    "Yes, alright, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao said, "After work, find a restaurant close by. Everyone has worked hard all day, let''s have dinner together."


    Liu Pengyun replied, "Yes, alright, Mr. Qin, you are really a good boss."


    Qin Hao said, "Less flattery, more solid work."


    ...


    Qin Hao stayed in the store all afternoon and did not return to school.


    The roasted duck restaurant began its business at five-thirty.


    In the evening, the flow of people in the square was obviously higher than at noon,


    and the business of the roasted duck restaurant improved as well.


    They were busy until nine-thirty in the evening.


    By the time the performance chart came out, it was almost ten o''clock at night.


    The day''s turnover reached seventy thousand, already breaking the previous daily sales record of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant.


    Today, Jiangshan also had several new stores opening, but their performance should not exceed Jianghai''s.


    The restaurant was very busy in the evening, and in the end, Nie Si also went up to help.


    Qin Hao asked Liu Pengyun to gather all the employees for a meeting; he could see the fatigue in their eyes.


    He began, "Today, you all have set a new sales record for our Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant, and I am very pleased. I hope everyone can continue to strive and maintain this performance."


    "Mr. Qin, we will not only maintain it, but we will also do even better," Liu Pengyun said loudly.


    Qin Hao said, "Good, today I will make a decision on my own. From now on, everyone''s salary will be based on the performance of the store. The higher the store''s performance, the higher the salary. I will have the headquarters implement this policy as soon as possible.


    Cancel tonight''s gathering, and distribute a cash bonus of five hundred to each person as a reward. Go home early and rest."


    Hearing his words, smiles appeared on their faces, "Thank you, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao said to the store''s accountant, "Right, Liu Min, go get the money and distribute it to everyone. Don''t forget your share, and then let everyone go home early to rest."


    The performance reports of the five newly opened stores in Jiangshan City had been sent over; the highest daily sales were over forty thousand, and the lowest were over thirty thousand.


    Qin Hao sent an email to all senior management through the corporate email, which was about the relationship between store performance and salary.


    ...


    After finishing these tasks, he went to bed.


    The next morning, after having breakfast with the three chubby guys, they headed to the classroom.


    There were two classes in the morning, both taught by He Tingting, covering the principles of computers.


    She entered the classroom and noticed Qin Hao; she glanced at him and then looked away.


    He Tingting was wearing a floral dress today, beautiful and charming, even more appealing than those top beauties listed in the school beauty rankings.


    She said indifferently, "Today I am going to talk about computer principles. Everyone must be familiar with computers since you almost play games on them or watch movies daily.


    But do you understand their underlying principles?"


    Some shook their heads; though they often used computers, many indeed did not understand the internals.


    He Tingting said, "I will simply explain, the computer''s structure is divided into two major parts: hardware and software.


    Hardware generally includes the motherboard, mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc., while software is generally system software and application software. Today, let''s focus on computer hardware."


    "Whether it''s a laptop or a desktop computer, they both have a PC motherboard, which includes CPU chips, northbridge and southbridge chips, as well as other chipsets.


    ...


    Chips are the soul of the motherboard. Without chips, the motherboard would be meaningless, which is why Huaxing was in dire straits after being banned by the Northwest Federation. They did not have their own chip supply, and many chips had to be imported. High-grade chips used in aviation and military equipment must be imported."


    "Some might say, since there are no chips, why not make them ourselves? But do you know how difficult it is to manufacture chips?


    This is akin to building a city on a tiny chip. When observed through a microscope, you can see a complicated network of paths, and research and development are costly, with high failure rates. Without the accumulation of time and experience, it would take many more years for us to develop domestic high-grade chips."


    ...


    This class made Qin Hao feel sleepy and uninterested, eventually leading him to just lay his head down on the desk and fall asleep.


    When he woke up, it was because the chubby guy had roused him, and he opened his eyes to see He Tingting standing beside him, with an expressionless face.


    "Is there a problem, teacher?"


    He Tingting was quite upset, You sleep during class and still ask if I have a problem? What do you think?


    "It''s the second period now. If you want to sleep, go back to the dormitory. Don''t disturb other students here."


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, "Can I go back to the dorm to sleep?"


    ...

 Chapter 166 Taekwondo Club

    The several people nearby heard his words and almost laughed out loud.


    Damn, does this guy have a problem with his brain? Thinking about going back to the dorm to sleep.


    He Tingting also felt an urge to beat him up, "Do you think that''s okay?"


    Qin Hao realized her tone and gave a dry laugh, "No, it isn''t, it''s class time now."


    "Come to my office after class."


    Discover more stories at empire


    ...


    After the second class ended, Qin Hao followed He Tingting to her office.


    He Tingting sat there and asked, "Do you know why I called you here?"


    Qin Hao shook his head.


    He Tingting said, "You were absent from class all day yesterday, where did you go? And falling asleep during class today, can you stop giving me worries and take your studies seriously?"


    Qin Hao said, "Teacher, didn''t we agree that I have privileges before I reported in? Are you going back on your word now?"


    "The teacher is also doing this for your own good. I think you have potential to be molded. The country is in a difficult period, and it needs young people like you for innovation in science and technology."@@@@


    Qin Hao said, "Teacher is right, I understand your good intentions. I will surely skip less class and sleep less."


    ...


    "When the time comes if you fail your subjects and don''t get a diploma, don''t blame the teacher for not reminding you."


    He Tingting was speechless with him. She really wondered how on earth such a person could have scored full marks on the unified exam?


    He was no different from those delinquent students.


    After handling the matter with He Tingting, he left the office building.


    The morning classes were already over, and there was one more class in the afternoon; he headed towards the cafeteria.


    On the school roads, one could see beauties wearing short skirts and super-short shorts everywhere.


    As he passed behind an experimental building, a row of tents appeared in front, each with tables and chairs under them, and many young men and women sitting around.


    In front of each tent stood a banner, ''Such and such club is recruiting!''


    Many freshmen were gathered around, choosing their favorite clubs to join.


    Qin Hao glanced over and then continued walking forward.


    "Qin Hao."


    Xu Siyao''s voice rang out; she was sitting in a chair looking at him.


    Qin Hao saw her and smiled, "What are you doing here?"


    "Exactly, we just want to spar with this fellow student."


    ...


    Many people around them turned to look, everyone watching with the anticipation of a spectacle.


    "Come on, kid, spar with me; do you have the guts to come here?" a green-blue belt man said as he moved to the center of the road.


    Qin Hao was about to walk over when Xu Siyao grabbed his arm, "Don''t go, they are all from the Taekwondo Club."


    Qin Hao paused, then smiled, "It''s okay."


    After saying that, he walked over.


    Seeing Xu Siyao''s gesture, jealousy raged in Huo Qiang''s heart.


    In the middle of the road, the green-blue belt said, "Kid, today I''ll let you know how formidable I am."


    Having said that, he stepped forward and executed a high kick straight at Qin Hao''s face.


    If this kick connected, Qin Hao''s nose would probably be smashed in.


    Qin Hao didn''t move his body, just his hand, which shot out like lightning, grabbing the man''s ankle.


    The green-blue belt attempted to withdraw his leg but couldn''t move it at all, as if clamped by iron tongs.


    His reaction was sharp; he took advantage of the momentum to turn in mid-air, kicking towards the side of Qin Hao''s head with his other foot.


    Qin Hao snorted coldly and his other hand shot out, grabbing the other ankle and pushed both hands forward forcefully.


    The man landed heavily on his buttocks, his face contorting with pain on the spot.


    Seeing Qin Hao''s response and skill, the crowd was somewhat astonished, thinking he was quite formidable.


    Qin Hao looked toward the blue belt man, "Do you want to give it a try?"


    "Indeed, you are quite capable. Let me meet you," he said as he rushed over, planning to execute an impressive and chic aerial side kick.


    Because he had taken several running steps, combined with the power of his leg, the kick was very forceful.


    Even a red belt expert wouldn''t dare to block it directly and would have to retreat.


    However, Qin Hao didn''t have a leg retreat; he delivered an on-the-spot spinning back kick that struck the blue belt man directly in the waist.


    "Bang!"


    The blue belt man flew out like a sandbag, landing more than two meters away on the ground.


    He looked at Qin Hao in disbelief; he was a blue belt expert, yet he had been knocked down by one kick?


    The crowd was also in disbelief. Damn, what kind of skills were those? Could he be a black belt expert?


    Xu Siyao and Liu Yue were also stunned; Qin Hao''s spinning kick was too cool, very fast, and many people hadn''t seen it clearly.


    Qin Hao said with disdain, "You learned some crude Taekwondo and want to show off? You''re far from ready."

 Chapter 167 Li Xutian

    The three men in blue ribbons could no longer swagger as they did before, their cheeks flush with embarrassment, not daring to raise their heads to look at those around them.


    Without looking, they knew the mocking expressions on the faces of those nearby.


    Qin Hao looked at Huo Qiang with a dismissive tone, "Next time you want to teach me a lesson, find someone stronger, not trash like you."


    Hoo Qiang''s face turned ugly, "You wait."


    After he spoke, he left with the blue-ribboned men in tow.


    Qin Hao''s expression returned to indifference, planning to continue towards the cafeteria.


    "Qin Hao." Xu Siyao hurriedly spoke up.


    Qin Hao turned his head, "What''s up?"


    Xu Siyao said shyly, "We haven''t recruited anyone today, why don''t you join our painting society?"


    "I haven''t really painted much."


    Xu Siyao smiled and said, "No problem, I can teach you. Painting is fun and can relax the mind."


    Qin Hao was a bit troubled, "I don''t have much time, I''d better not join the club."


    "It''s fine, you come to the club when you have time, and it''s no big deal if you don''t." Xu Siyao was still cordially inviting him.


    Qin Hao, seeing her like this, finally nodded his head.


    Xu Siyao was inviting him in front of so many people; to refuse would be leaving her to lose face, and since it wasn''t a big loss, he agreed.


    At worst, he could just join and not attend.


    Liu Yue saw Xu Siyao persuade Qin Hao and was delighted, "Qin Hao, here is the application form."


    Qin Hao walked over and sat down, filling out the application form.


    "Qin Hao, you also need to pay the club fee, a hundred yuan for one semester." Liu Yue reminded.


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, then took out the money and paid, a hundred yuan for one semester wasn''t expensive.


    Once everything was settled, Qin Hao said to Xu Siyao, "Have you eaten yet? Want to go together?"


    Xu Siyao, "Sure, Miss Liu, I''ll go eat first, and I''ll bring something back for you if you want."


    Liu Yue smiled and said, "No need, I''ll go eat myself in a bit. Take time this afternoon to show Qin Hao around the club."


    "Mhm, okay."


    ...


    At noon, the two of them simply bought some food.


    "I don''t eat meat, you can have it." Xu Siyao picked the meat out from the dish and gave it to him.


    To those who didn''t know them, they might have mistaken them for a couple.


    After eating, Xu Siyao led him to the painting society.


    Qin Hao: "Right, you can go look for it yourself, and then apply for funds from the headquarters'' finance department."


    "Okay. Also, regarding personnel issues, can I make decisions on the recruitment?"


    "Yes, you''re the vice-president of the Jianghai District. You can decide on these small matters."


    That day, a massive earthquake hit the gaming world.


    The God-level player joined the King team, significantly strengthening the team''s power.


    All the forums and Tieba were publicizing this news.


    Li Jianjun had a hand in this. He was doing everything he could to boost Qin Hao''s fame.


    The effect was significant, and Qin Hao''s fame was growing fast.


    ...


    Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, it was September 29th.


    In the meantime, Huo Qiang hadn''t caused him any more trouble,


    and the Xinshang Square roast duck restaurant was running smoothly, with its performance steadily improving and daily turnover increasing every day.


    The daily turnover had already broken through the one hundred thousand mark a few days ago.


    Feng Xiangyi had also found an office location and recruited many staff members.


    The Jianghai District division was gradually taking shape, and Qin Hao could implement his expansion plan in Jianghai City at any time.


    Jiangshan had a few more new stores opening yesterday, with the company''s strength growing rapidly.


    His relationship with Du Wanrou was also progressing fast, just not taking that final step yet.


    As for gaming, he would play with the King team members in the evening when he had time, and sometimes with the little witch and her two friends.


    In the rankings, Qin Hao had already entered the top ten. At this point, his fame had reached over ninety million, and he was about to complete the sideline mission.


    The National Day holiday was fast approaching, with the school starting their break tomorrow.


    The holiday would last for seven days, and Qin Hao had already booked his train ticket.


    He originally planned to go back with Du Wanrou, but she was going to the capital of Shuinan Province because her parents were there.


    He had no choice but to book a high-speed rail ticket; there were no direct flights to Jiangshan, so he didn''t book a flight.


    That day, after class, Qin Hao received a call from an unfamiliar man. Judging by the voice, it was a middle-aged man.


    "You''re Qin Hao, right? I''m waiting for you in the guest room on the fifth floor of Building No. 2." After speaking, Li Xutian hung up.


    In the past few days, he had specifically researched Qin Hao and was somewhat shocked to learn about his perfect score on the standardized exam. But then, after hearing the evaluation from his mentor, He Tingting, his expression darkened again.


    He speculated that Qin Hao might have become arrogant after scoring full marks on the standardized exam, which might have led to his current behavior.


    Once a moldable talent, what a pity it had gone awry!


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless. Who was this person with such a big attitude?

 Chapter 168 A Show of Authority

    Qin Hao originally didn''t want to deal with him.


    But suddenly, he remembered that the people in the second office building were generally professors, directors, or higher.


    Could it be some bigshot from the university?


    But he didn''t seem to know anyone there, did he?


    In a room on the fifth floor of the second office building, besides Li Xutian, there were two other people, one was He Tingting, and the other was her father, the president of Jianghai University, He Qizhi!


    Li Xutian said to He Qizhi, "Mr. He, I''m sorry for troubling you this time."


    He Qizhi smiled and said, "Mr. Li, given our relationship, no need for such formalities."


    He Tingting had met Li Xutian before and knew his identity, the general manager of Jinxiu Group.


    Li Xutian looked at He Tingting and sighed, "Tingting is such a relief, my daughter really worries me."


    "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, don''t worry too much. The young man should be here soon; Tingting and I will step aside." He Qizhi said cheerfully.


    "Yes, sure." Li Xutian nodded.


    Seven or eight minutes later, Qin Hao arrived on the fifth floor of the second office building.


    The corridor was very quiet, with four bodyguards in black suits standing in front of a reception room.


    These four bodyguards exuded an intimidating aura.


    Qin Hao was taken aback, the strength of these four bodyguards was very strong, in no way inferior to Xu Liangguo''s guards.


    He used the system to check one of them.


    Name: Wang Qiang


    Gender: Male


    Age: 33


    Strength: 28


    Agility: 16


    Intelligence: 9


    Constitution: 17


    Description: Retired special forces soldier, close-combat fighting ability level 3, capable of overcoming ten opponents.


    Qin Hao took a sharp intake of breath when he saw these attributes, except for intelligence, the others were hardly weaker than his, and even surpassed him a bit in constitution.


    The fighting skill had also reached a terrifying level 3.


    Qin Hao left the office building and headed towards the dormitory.


    After he left, He Qizhi and He Tingting returned to the reception room.


    Curious, He Qizhi asked, "How did it go? Is he listening? If not, I''ll have Tingting talk to him."


    Li Xutian said self-mockingly, "I didn''t expect to be lectured by a brash young kid. Quite arrogant."


    He decided in his heart to have someone look into this Qin Hao.


    ...


    Qin Hao returned to the dormitory, where only Chen Ping was present; Zhao De had gone to play basketball, and the "fatty" was out with his girlfriend.


    He sat in his chair, pondering his own affairs.


    These days, he had carefully reviewed the Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technology and felt that manufacturing the car directly would be very difficult.


    Some core technologies were simply beyond his capability.


    Of course, there were top automotive manufacturing experts in the country, but he had no capital to attract those people.


    His bank card had only about 240 million, with 150 million given by Li Jianjun. Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company''s liquid funds were limited, mostly invested in new stores.


    The company was preparing to acquire several large duck farms to form a complete supply, delivery, roasting, and sales ecological chain.


    His funds were nowhere near comparable to those of the automotive moguls.


    So, attracting those top experts was out of the question.


    Since that path was impractical, he thought of another way. He set his sights on the Xinghai Generation intelligent robots.


    The initial purpose of the Xinghai robots was applied in factories to perform precise machining.


    The system store required fifty thousand achievement points for a trade.


    He currently had just over twenty thousand achievement points; he was far from fifty thousand, but he was about to complete a side quest.


    Once completed, he would gain one hundred thousand achievement points.


    Thinking of this made him eager; he turned on his computer and tried to log onto TT, but couldn''t access it.


    "Eh? What''s going on? Why can''t I access the forum?" Chen Ping also exclaimed in surprise.


    Not only at Jianghai University, but all over the country, the same scene unfolded: the largest social media application TT couldn''t be logged into, and major well-known forum official websites were paralyzed. Some who opened forums even saw a bizarre image: the Federation''s flag was placed at the center of the Xuan Country map, with "Federation" written in its script.


    "Crap, two big brother, many of our country''s websites have been attacked!" Chen Ping said urgently.


    Qin Hao had also noticed, and his brow furrowed slightly, recalling recent news about the trade war between Xuan Country and the Federation. He suspected something.


    It was the Federation making a show of force to Xuan Country!

 Chapter 169 Siege

    Qin Hao''s fingers tapped on the keyboard, speaking as he typed, "Mmm, I see it."


    "Damn it, do they think Xuan Country is defenseless?" Chen Ping''s eyes didn''t stray from the computer screen as his fingers also flew across the keyboard.


    This scene was unfolding in many parts of the nation.


    Whether it was governmental agencies or large internet companies, everyone was mobilizing their personnel to start defense measures.


    This time, the adversary''s attack was clearly premeditated, or else all the major websites in Xuan Country wouldn''t have been taken down within a short ten minutes.


    Moreover, the number of attackers must be significant, at least over a hundred.


    All the applications open on Qin Hao''s computer screen were software he had created himself.@@@@


    He didn''t set out to defend; that wasn''t his style.


    Hackers can be categorized into many types: some specialize in defense, others in attack, and there are also those who infiltrate silently, akin to silent assassins.


    Qin Hao was the assassin type of hacker; through his software tools, he had directly infiltrated a computer in Beihai Country.


    Then, using it as a springboard, he successively infiltrated more than ten computers.


    Afterwards, he bypassed the firewall to log into a major internet company in the Federation.


    He observed for a while. This network company had shut down many ports. It was clear they were preventing attacks and were prepared.


    Once the Xuan Country''s major companies and government agencies realized what was happening, they began a tug-of-war with the invading hackers, with websites gradually getting back online.


    In recent years, Xuan Country''s development in the field of network technology has been rapid. In terms of the number and power of cyber hackers, they are no less inferior to the Federation; in fact, they might be even stronger.


    Tenglong Group, which TT belongs to, had even won the world championship in security defense.


    In just half an hour, Qin Hao had taken down the official websites of more than a dozen major internet companies.


    Besides, others like him were also attacking some well-known websites and forums in the Federation.


    While Qin Hao was attacking, he was also capturing bots. He now had hundreds of them at his disposal.


    Soon he targeted FDK, the largest social platform in the Federation.


    The server''s defense was very tight; even if he could infiltrate it alone, he probably wouldn''t be able to do much.


    He directly controlled the hundreds of bots to launch an attack against the FDK server, with each bot sending data packets at the rate of tens of billions per second to the server.


    Qin Hao''s intention was simple: push the FDK server to its limits, forcing it into a state of paralysis.


    The simultaneous attack from hundreds of bots was terrifying, with trillions of data packets being sent every second.


    At first, there were no issues, but after ten minutes or so, the FDK server began to stutter and respond sluggishly. The users found it hard to open pages on FDK. Some were even outright disconnected.


    A few minutes later, the Federation''s largest social platform collapsed, all users were forcibly logged out, and the server was in a state of paralysis.

 Chapter 170 Shut Down the Server

    The FDK company of the Northern Federation was in chaos, as many employees'' computers were attacked.


    On their screens was an image of a little panda standing on two feet, burning incense and praying to Buddha.


    This wasn''t the work of Qin Hao, but rather another top hacker from Xuan Country.


    While Qin Hao was attacking the FDK company''s servers, that person begun attacking the employees'' computers.


    ...


    Qin Hao discovered him, and he discovered Qin Hao.


    A special department in Xuan Country.


    A very young-looking person exclaimed, "Take a look, someone has actually paralyzed the servers of the Northern Federation''s FDK!"


    "No way? The FDK servers are top-of-the-line, who could incapacitate them?" People around were somewhat incredulous.


    Their department''s leader came over and looked at the young man''s computer.


    "Many well-known forums and websites in the Northern Federation have been attacked too, and there''s even a photo uploaded, check it out!" a woman said hastily.


    The others quickly opened up some of the bigger forum websites of the Northern Federation.


    "Pfft"


    "Haha, who is the mastermind behind this?"


    "Woah, badass, 66666!"


    Not only had they noticed, but many hackers among the public had too, and soon many such posts appeared on internet forums.


    "Peak hacker invades the major forums of the Northern Federation, tens of large websites fall into paralysis, the divine photoshop is hilariously on point"


    "6666, so satisfying, damn, our websites went down earlier because of them, right?"


    "Beautifully done!"


    "Pfft, crap, this God is so adorable, the Northern Federation leader riding a pig, haha!"


    There were many comments under the post, almost all of them united in the same anger.


    Xuan Country special department


    That leader asked, "Can we find out who this person is? When did our country produce such a powerful hacker?"


    "It''s hard, their skills are too sophisticated!" someone beside them responded.


    ...


    At this moment, Qin Hao had silently taken control of thousands of zombies.


    He set his sights on the official website of the Northern Federation''s Black Palace Server.


    If this continued, the backup server would also overload and then crash within ten minutes!


    If the Black Palace official website were to be attacked and paralyzed, it would be a tremendous humiliation for the Federation.


    The leaders of the Federation received the news immediately, their faces dark and dismal.


    Initially, he had been pleased, but now the situation was somewhat beyond his expectations!


    He issued an unequivocal order, "Whatever you do, if the Black Blade Network is hacked, you all might as well pack your bags!"


    The hackers who were on the front lines attacking Xuan Country''s websites quickly received notice to defend the Black Blade Network and stop the mysterious hacker''s attack.


    "What do you mean we can''t hold the Black Palace? How''s that even possible?"


    "We''ve tied up most of Xuan Country''s hackers. How could they still have the strength to attack the Black Palace Server?"


    Receiving such orders, they had no choice but to fall back and defend the Black Palace official website.


    How could the hackers from Xuan Country miss such an opportunity? Once they had restored their own sites, a large group of Xuan Country hackers entered the Federation''s network to retaliate.


    ...


    The people defending the site logged into the Black Palace official website, but the login was excruciatingly slow and always on the verge of crashing.


    "Damn it, what''s going on? The server of the Black Palace official website is top-grade. It should be able to withstand tens of thousands of people attacking it simultaneously."


    "Xuan Country actually has such a terrifying hacker?"


    "Could it be that Hei Ye?" Someone remembered a name.


    "Hei Ye? Who''s that?"


    The person replied, "A God who once infiltrated the Black Blade Network''s backend!"


    "Isn''t the Black Blade Network''s defense supposed to be the highest grade? And still someone managed to break in?"


    Even with many hackers defending, it was of little use; it only delayed the inevitable by several minutes.


    The processing status of the Black Palace backup server quickly reached an overload as well, and the official website was so sluggish that the images weren''t even clear!


    "What do we do? At this rate, the Black Palace Server will really crash."


    "There''s only one solution now, and that is to shut down the Black Palace Server, claiming external maintenance due to a malfunction!"


    Everyone fell silent. If they really did this, it would be no different from admitting defeat!


    They had invaded the websites of Xuan Country with great fury, only to end up surrendering and conceding, inviting mockery!


    This battle without smoke between the Federation and Xuan Country had already caught the attention of many countries and organizations.


    They were all watching the two sides, to see who would ultimately come out on top.


    It was better to cover up the matter than to be attacked and paralyzed; in the end, they opted to shut down the server.

 Chapter 171 Great Filial Piety to the Country

    After the Black Palace Server was shut down, there was an uproar!


    Beihai Country, "The Federation actually lost? Have Xuan Country''s hackers become so powerful?"


    Beidou Country, "The Black Palace Server was shut down; everything is over now. Xuan Country has won the confrontation between the two countries this time."


    Some countries in the West Continent also found it hard to believe.


    They acknowledged the rapid development and huge potential of Xuan Country, but they had never imagined that in this hacker technology confrontation, Xuan Country would actually gain the upper hand.


    The Federation was among the earliest countries to have the internet, while Xuan Country was several decades behind.


    Now, just twenty years after Xuan Country connected to the internet, their hacker skills have become so terrifying?


    Even though Xuan Country won this confrontation, many countries were still not optimistic about it.


    Because the internet used by Xuan Country''s citizens is that of the Federation''s.


    Should the Federation wish it, they can cut off Xuan Country''s internet at any time!


    The Federation offers "good" technology and services to countries around the world, but in fact, aims to achieve control through these services.


    The blockade of Huaxing is the best example!


    Xuan Country has hundreds of millions of netizens; if their domain IP were to be blocked, the consequences would be severe!


    Although it wouldn''t cause chaos, it would still have a significant impact.


    Not everywhere in Xuan Country uses the internet; for instance, the military uses its own network, and the police department uses the police network.


    Financial institutions, banks, and some other important departments all use their own internal networks.


    Even if the Federation cuts off Xuan Country''s internet, it wouldn''t affect these crucial departments.


    Of course, should the Federation actually decide to take such actions, they must consider it carefully, because once they do, the impact would be huge not only on Xuan Country but also on the Federation itself.


    Many of the Federation''s giant corporations are in Xuan Country, and the enormous financial loss would be unacceptable to any company.


    ...


    "We won," Chen Ping said, his face flushed with excitement.


    Qin Hao had already withdrawn from the attack, as there was no longer any need; the victory was already decided.


    He was looking at a threatening post on a network forum, which stated that Xuan Country''s internet is at the mercy of others; at the will of the Federation, Xuan Country could be kicked off the internet at any time!


    This person was stating a fact, a very cruel fact.


    Qin Hao fell into deep thought. Although Xuan Country was developing rapidly as the world''s second largest economy, it had many weaknesses and was controlled in certain aspects.


    With this in mind, he turned on his computer, logged into the game, and then called up his four teammates from the king squad on voice chat.


    They were all currently ranked in the top ten of the Asian server; without any accidents, they would occupy the first to fourth places today!


    ...


    While Qin Hao was gaming, many people online were looking for him.


    A certain special department in Xuan Country: "Have you found him? Where is this person?"


    "Not yet, he hasn''t left a trace. It''s really difficult to locate such an expert if he doesn''t want to be found, unless we have the root server, which might show some traces based on what we can investigate."


    The department director asked, "What do you mean by that? Are you saying that the Federation people could track him down?"


    The person nodded, "No one has ever seen the root server of the Internet, so we''re not sure if he can be found for certain, but it should be possible, it just requires a lot of time to filter through IPs!"


    The department director said, "You must investigate thoroughly; our country''s experts must not fall victim to the hands of the Federation."


    Many hackers from various countries overseas were also looking for Qin Hao, but almost none could find him.


    Indeed, there were people in the Federation using the root server to look for clues.


    ...


    Around six in the evening that day, Qin Hao and his team topped the first-place position.


    After shutting down the game, Qin Hao rubbed his eyes; only Chen Ping and he remained in the dormitory.


    Chen Ping was tapping on the keyboard; he was communicating with others on a hacker website.


    This attack on the Federation''s websites had introduced him to many new friends.


    Qin Hao rested his eyes for a bit when Zhao De returned with a basketball, a smile on his face.


    "What''s making you so happy?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Zhao De chuckled and responded, "I just got to know a second-year senior; she''s really pretty and likes basketball too. It seems she also has a good impression of me; we exchanged TT contacts."


    Qin Hao said speechlessly, "That''s it? I thought you''d won her over already."


    "Hey, bro, how do you chase after girls? How did you manage to win over sister-in-law in the first place?" Zhao De sought his advice.


    Qin Hao, proudly boasting, replied, "It was all about personal charm, of course. Your sister-in-law had a crush on me for several years. Later, when we were about to graduate, she pursued me persistently; I couldn''t bear to hurt her feelings, so I agreed."


    ...


    Zhao De nodded, actually believing it; this guy had brawn but was not the sharpest tool in the shed.


    Continuing to inquire, he said, "Bro, how should I pursue her? I really like her."

 Chapter 172 Eating

    ```


    Ahem.


    Qin Hao hardly had any experience; he had only ever pursued Du Wanrou.


    After a moment of thought, he said, "Just ask her out to hang out. If she agrees, it means she has a good feeling about you.


    Then you can go sightseeing, shop, watch movies, and eat together. Once the feelings develop, just confess."


    Zhao De nodded thoughtfully.


    Right then, Qin Hao''s phone rang in his pocket; it was a call from the chubby guy.


    "Second Bro, where are you guys? All at the dorm?"


    Qin Hao, "We''re all here. What''s up?"


    The chubby guy chuckled, "Xiao Cui said she wanted to treat you guys to dinner, so come out for a bit."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Where at?"


    The chubby guy replied, "Right here at the Jia Mei Hotel by the school gate."


    Qin Hao, "Uh-huh, all right, we''ll be over in a bit."


    "Hurry up and get ready, Chubby''s girlfriend is treating us to dinner," he told Zhao De and the others.


    Zhao De hurriedly said, "I''m going to wash up; wait for me."


    "I need to wash up too. Can''t embarrass Fifth Bro," Chen Ping also said with a smile as he stood up and left.


    It took half an hour for the two to finish freshening up, and then the three of them left the dormitory building and walked outside the university.


    The Jia Mei Hotel was right next to the university, a four-star establishment over twenty stories tall!


    Wealthy students from the school who held birthday parties and such would host them there.


    The three entered the hotel, and Chen Ping looked around curiously, "Wow, it''s so fancy. Second Bro, isn''t eating here expensive?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Yeah, it''s quite expensive for the average person. Just work hard; you have a talent for computers, and maybe one day you''ll be wealthy too!"


    "What about me, Second Bro?" Zhao De asked eagerly.


    Qin Hao gave him a look, "Are you as serious in class as Old Six? All you think about is basketball. Are you planning to pursue a professional basketball career as a Jiang University talent?"


    "Actually, that''s what I was thinking, but my family doesn''t agree," Zhao De said, pursing his lips.


    ...


    Just then, Qin Hao''s phone rang in his pocket; it was the chubby guy again, "Second Bro, where are you? Why haven''t you arrived?"


    Qin Hao, "We''re already here. Which room are you in?"


    "606"


    Qin Hao: "Food."


    Xie Cui: "I love good food the most, otherwise I wouldn''t have gotten this plump. Dare you tell me what you''re selling? I''d like to try it; I''m quite picky with my food."


    Zhao De and Chen Ping were also listening intently; this was their first time hearing about this from Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao: "Roasted duck. There''s a place in Bailing District at Xinshang Square in Jianghai City, called Jiangshan Roasted Duck."


    Xie Cui was momentarily stunned. Roasted duck? How could there be any prospects in that!


    She still said with a smile, "I''ll definitely give it a try when I have the time!"


    Zhao De was somewhat speechless, "Big Brother, you''re a genius from the unified exams and now you''re selling roasted duck?"


    Qin Hao glanced at him, "Who said you can''t sell roasted duck?"


    The waiter brought up the food and a case of beer while they were chatting.


    "Would you like a drink?" Xie Cui asked with a smile.


    If a lady could say so, Qin Hao and the other two would be too ashamed to refuse.


    The meal was quite enjoyable. Xie Cui was generous and had a heroic aura about her.


    "I''m going to the bathroom," said Chen Ping, his cheeks slightly red from not being used to drinking so much.


    Zhao De also said, "I need to go too."


    The two of them left the private room in succession. Qin Hao was eating, his physical condition was pretty good, and he didn''t feel anything after several bottles of beer.


    Xie Cui could also hold her liquor; downing three bottles without any sign of being affected.


    Fatty had also drunk some, but his tolerance was not that great.


    A few minutes later, noises from outside could be heard, with Zhao De''s curses faintly discernible, but quickly drowned out by a group of people, followed by the sounds of a scuffle.


    Qin Hao''s senses were sharp. Although the door was closed, he heard everything clearly.


    Upon hearing Zhao De''s voice, his face changed slightly, and he rushed out.


    Xie Cui and fatty were startled by his reaction, but they quickly realized what was happening and hurried out as well.


    Seven or eight people in the corridor were surrounding Zhao De and Chen Ping, beating them up, and these assailants were agile; Zhao De and Chen Ping stood no chance and were quickly knocked to the ground.


    Qin Hao rushed over, grabbed two of them by their clothes, and lifted them up forcefully.


    "Bang bang"


    He threw the two of them hard against the wall.


    Xie Cui and fatty came out just in time to see this, their mouths agape.


    Wow, Big Brother is this strong?


    Fatty quickly snapped out of it and charged forward, cursing, "You bastards dare to hit my brothers."

 Chapter 173 Vacation

    The noise of fighting here alarmed many people from the surrounding private rooms.


    Several waiters hurriedly reported the situation, they wanted to intervene, but the fight was so intense that they couldn''t get involved.


    Xie Cui was worried that the chubby guy and the others would get hurt, her eyes anxious.


    Qin Hao was exceptionally brave, and although those men were also trained, they were no match for him.


    Just when the fight was at its fiercest, Huo Qiang ran out from a nearby private room, his hand still holding a wine bottle, and he aimed it at the back of Qin Hao''s head.


    "Be careful."


    Xie Cui saw Huo Qiang''s action, her face changed, and she hurriedly warned.


    Qin Hao felt the wind from behind and instantly turned around, grabbing Huo Qiang''s wrist.


    At that moment, the beer bottle was only a few centimeters away from Qin Hao''s head.


    A fierce look flashed in Qin Hao''s eyes as he snatched the wine bottle from Huo Qiang''s hand and smashed it down hard.


    "Bang"


    The wine bottle shattered with a loud crash, and blood instantly flowed from Huo Qiang''s head, causing him to stagger backward two steps.@@@@


    The wine bottle was very hard, causing severe harm when it hit the head.


    As a master of traditional medicine, Qin Hao knew the human body well, so with this hit, Huo Qiang would at most bleed a bit.


    After subduing Huo Qiang, he turned and dealt with the other two assailants.


    Qin Hao helped Zhao De and Chen Ping to their feet; they had just taken a beating, and their opponents, knowing the dangers of going too far, hadn''t been lethal.


    He asked, "What happened?"


    Zhao De spoke with some anger, "Just now they deliberately bumped into Number Six, and they even demanded an apology. Number Six, being honest, wanted to apologize. I didn''t allow it, and then this happened."


    Qin Hao looked at the people on the ground and finally at Huo Qiang, "You orchestrated this, didn''t you?"


    Huo Qiang, one hand covering his head, had lost a lot of blood.


    Probably used to being pampered, he wasn''t accustomed to injuries, so his emotions were a bit intense, "Qin Hao, you''re dead, I''m telling you."


    At this moment, a person emerged from the private room of Huo Qiang and his group.


    This person was handsome and tall, emitting a commanding presence.


    He glanced at the scene on the floor, then frowned slightly at Qin Hao, "You are Qin Hao?"


    Qin Hao glanced at him, his tone indifferent, "Yes, are you his lackey?"


    Tang Chen Dong''s eyes narrowed slightly, "Bullying my friend like this is going a bit too far."


    "They deserved it, if you disagree, just try me," Qin Hao retorted coldly.


    Xie Cui said from the side, "This person is Tang Chen Dong, a third-year student and the head of the Taekwondo Club, and he comes from a powerful background."


    Tang Chen Dong''s expression shifted slightly, "You''re the first person to be so arrogant in front of me."


    On the way back, Qin Hao looked at Chen Ping and asked, "Sixth, are you alright?"


    Zhao Deyou complained, "Big bro, why don''t you care about me too?"


    "You''re tough enough to take a beating."


    ...


    Chen Ping was somewhat frail, and Qin Hao was worried he might have internal injuries.


    Chen Ping smiled and said, "I''m fine, big bro."


    This time, Huo Qiang clearly wanted revenge on Qin Hao, and his friends got involved, for which Qin Hao felt somewhat guilty.


    Back at the dorm, Qin Hao''s phone rang; it was from Li Bao.


    "Hao, when are you coming back?" Li Bao asked with a laugh.


    Qin Hao, "I''m taking the morning train tomorrow, should arrive around five in the afternoon."


    Li Bao, "Okay Hao, I''ll come pick you up then."


    Qin Hao, "No need, I''ll just take a taxi back."


    "Hao, it''s been so long since we last met. I''ll come pick you up, it''s settled then, I''ll be there tomorrow afternoon," and with that Li Bao hung up.


    Qin Hao smiled wryly and shook his head, decided not to play on the computer, and instead called his mom.


    "Mom, I''ll be back tomorrow. No need to pick me up; my friend will come."


    "Okay, be careful on the road."


    "Got it, Mom."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao chatted with Du Wanrou for a while.


    Her flight was tomorrow at noon, flying directly to the capital of Shuinan Province.


    Her parents were currently there, and they had also asked her to go.


    ...


    Late in the evening, Qin Hao and his friends packed some belongings, and the chubby trio also went home since the October holiday left plenty of time.


    The next day


    Around eight in the morning, Qin Hao was standing at the school gate with a backpack on. Soon, Ning Yao also came out with a backpack.


    When Qin Hao was booking the tickets earlier, Ning Yao had informed him, so he helped book hers as well.


    Seeing him waiting, Ning Yao felt a bit embarrassed, "Have you been waiting long? Sorry, you know, girls have some troubles."


    Qin Hao glanced at her. Ning Yao, now, looked utterly different from when she first arrived. She wore a skirt and light makeup, appearing very beautiful.


    "No worries, I just got here too. Let''s go."


    Qin Hao walked down the street and hailed a taxi, heading straight for the train station.


    His Lamborghini had been parked in the company''s underground parking lot for a long time and was seldom used.

 Chapter 174 Interests at Stake

    Inside the taxi


    The two sat in the backseat, and Ning Yao opened the conversation, "Qin Hao, what sports do you like?"


    "They''re all okay, I guess, why do you ask?" Qin Hao didn''t understand why she was asking this.


    Ning Yao looked surprised, "Don''t you know that after school starts on the 11th, there will be a school-wide sports event?"


    Qin Hao, "I didn''t know, I haven''t paid attention to these things."


    Ning Yao was speechless, you''re a class leader, how can you not know about this stuff?


    Ning Yao asked, "What sports are you good at? Do you want to sign up for some events during the sports meet?"


    Qin Hao, "Forget it, I don''t have that much time."


    Ning Yao was a little curious, how could a student be so busy?


    What exactly was he busy with?


    About half an hour later, they arrived at the train station.


    When they got out of the car, Qin Hao and Ning Yao were both stunned.


    They saw the train station square was packed with people, crowded and bustling.


    Qin Hao reminded her, "Stick close to me and watch your belongings, so they don''t get stolen."


    Ning Yao nodded, "Mmm!"


    Qin Hao led the way, and Ning Yao followed behind, arriving at the automatic ticketing hall, where they queued for ten minutes before getting their tickets.


    Then the two hurried to the ticket-checking gate, as they could only enter the station after having their tickets checked.


    Before they even got to the ticket-checking queue, Ning Yao was already being pushed to the back by the crowd.


    She was somewhat anxious, but as a woman, she really had no advantage in this respect.


    Qin Hao, seeing this, stopped, walked back to her, and, taking her hand, squeezed their way forward.


    Because there wasn''t much time left, if they missed the train, they probably wouldn''t be able to return.


    Ning Yao felt the warmth from his palm on her hand, her cheeks flushed, and her heart pounded.


    She knew Qin Hao didn''t mean anything by it and was simply helping her out, but she couldn''t help feeling shy.


    They queued for thirteen minutes at the ticket-checking gate; though there were many gates, there were even more people.


    After entering the station, it was almost nine o''clock, and their train tickets were for nine ten.


    The two rushed to Platform 1, where their train had already started ticket checking.


    After checking their tickets, they boarded the train at Platform 3.


    Even if the Air Energy Car could promote the progress of technology worldwide, those people wouldn''t hesitate for a second.


    Because to them, technological advancement was irrelevant, interests were everything.


    Qin Hao was no longer as naive as before; his IQ was higher than anyone else''s, and he thought of far more things.


    Now he was somewhat afraid. If he really launched the Air Energy Car, would he become a target for all?


    Could it affect the safety of his friends and family?


    Thinking this, his brows furrowed slightly.


    He was weighing the pros and cons!


    Should he develop his roast duck company quietly, or should he take risks for the progress of technological society?


    What could he gain by taking risks? Merely more money, but he had enough from the roast duck company alone.


    He pondered for a long time but couldn''t figure out what to do. Discover stories with empire


    Forget it, let''s take things one step at a time, starting with getting the technology for the Xinghai generation smart robots.


    This would face much less resistance, and might even get strong support from the country, given that Xuan Country is currently in need of high-end chip manufacturing technology.


    At that moment, Ning Yao turned over in her sleep, and then she continued sleeping.


    Qin Hao glanced at her, feeling a mix of envy and concern. The system brought him many benefits, but at the same time, it also brought him a lot of worries.


    Without the system, he might currently be getting bullied somewhere unknown.


    Even if given another chance, he would still choose to have it, rather than give up.


    Ning Yao slept on until two in the afternoon and still didn''t wake up.


    Qin Hao felt something was amiss and touched her, waking her up.


    Ning Yao''s cheeks were flushed, and she looked at Qin Hao groggily, "What''s wrong?"


    "I should be asking you. Why is your face so red? You don''t have a fever, do you? Let me check."


    With that, Qin Hao placed his hand on her forehead.


    This made Ning Yao''s cheeks turn even redder, though it wasn''t visible.


    "You do have a fever, your head is very hot," Qin Hao said with a furrowed brow.


    Ning Yao also felt her head spinning, heavy as if weighted down; she had thought it was just because she had just woken up, but hearing what Qin Hao said, she also sensed something was off.


    Qin Hao spoke, "Your fever is serious, I''ll go find a steward and ask for some fever-reducing medicine. Wait here for a bit."


    Having said this, he got up and walked to the back. There was a steward''s office at the end of this carriage.


    ```

 Chapter 175 Return to Jiangshan

    Arriving at the service room door, Qin Hao knocked.


    Soon an attendant opened the door, "Hello, sir. What can I do for you?"


    Qin Hao, "Do you have any fever-reducing medicine? My classmate has a fever."


    "Just a moment, please."


    After speaking, he turned and took a first-aid kit out of the service room and searched through it for a while, then handed a pill to him.


    "Here''s the fever-reducing medicine, give it to your classmate."


    "Thank you."


    Qin Hao returned to his seat with the pill, where Ning Yao sat listlessly, looking rather unwell.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Take the fever medicine first."


    Ning Yao nodded slightly, took the mineral water, and swallowed the pill.


    Seeing her condition, Qin Hao said, "Lie down and don''t move, I''ll give you acupuncture, it can help you recover faster."


    Ning Yao nodded again, she no longer had the strength to ask why he knew how to perform acupuncture.


    Qin Hao took out several silver needles and inserted them into acupuncture points on her head.


    Your journey continues on empire


    In fact, there are countless acupoints on the human body, but currently, medical science is not advanced enough to identify all of them.


    And some faint and tiny acupoints remain unknown!


    Sometimes, these faint and tiny acupoints can have a significant impact.


    In just a few minutes, Ning Yao fell asleep lying there.


    This was due to the acupuncture, Qin Hao deliberately made her sleep.


    About half an hour later, Qin Hao finally put away the silver needles.


    At five in the afternoon, the train arrived at the final station, Jiangshan Station.


    Ning Yao was still asleep, even the loudspeaker announcements hadn''t awakened her.


    Qin Hao gently nudged her, "We''ve arrived home."


    Ning Yao finally woke up, seeing people moving towards the exit, she came to her senses, "We''ve arrived at Jiangshan so soon?"


    Qin Hao, "You''ve been asleep almost the whole way here, of course, it feels quick. How do you feel now? Better?"


    Ning Yao nodded shyly, "Yeah, much better, my head doesn''t hurt anymore."


    Qin Hao, "That''s good, let''s get off then."


    The two followed the crowd towards the exit. Along the way, Qin Hao''s phone rang; it was Li Bao''s call.


    Qin Hao turned to see that Ning Yao hadn''t left yet and spoke, "Find someone to take my classmate home. She''s just had a fever, and I''m not at ease letting her go back alone."


    Li Bao chuckled slyly, not his sister-in-law yet so concerned.


    He quickly said to one of the drivers, "Send Miss... Miss Ning back home. Make sure to get her safely to her front door."


    "Sure thing, Mr. Li."


    Ning Yao hurriedly said, "No need, no need. I can go back by myself."


    "It''s fine, get in the car. These guys aren''t bad people. My friend runs a security company. Let me know once you''re home."


    After finishing, Qin Hao felt a bit embarrassed.


    Because these guys looked anything but friendly.


    In the end, Ning Yao got into the car, and the Mercedes slowly drove away.


    Once Ning Yao had left, Li Bao asked out of curiosity, "Hao, you haven''t won her over yet?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Won her over your head. Be careful about what you say in the future. If you really let your sister-in-law find out, you''re done for!"


    Li Bao asked, "Hao, where is sister-in-law from? Is she a rich heiress from Jianghai City?"


    "No, she''s from Jiangshan, the daughter of the president of ONO Cosmetics Group," Qin Hao replied as he got into the car.


    Li Bao exclaimed, "ONO Group? That''s a big corporation in Shuinan Province! Hao, you really are something else. That''s no small feat."


    Qin Hao didn''t continue that topic. "How''s your company doing?"


    "Pretty good. Many residential complexes, factories, and office buildings use our security; competition is tough, though. It can''t compare to your company."


    Qin Hao advised, "Take it slow. Doing this is much better than messing with the wrong crowd. Avoid getting involved in that stuff; it''s not good for you."


    "Yeah, I know, Hao," as Li Bao''s expression turned serious.


    After that, he continued, "Now, most of the younger guys working for me are ex-servicemen, with a few from the special forces. They''re very skilled."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Train them well, don''t just stick to these low-end market tasks. You need to look ahead. The mid-to-high-end market tasks are where the real money is."


    Li Bao nodded and chuckled, "Actually, there''s something I was planning to discuss with you, Hao."


    About ten minutes after driving away from the train station, Qin Hao saw a Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant in a plaza not far off.


    The entrance to the duck restaurant was swamped with people, many lined up inside buying roasted duck.


    Qin Hao told the driver, "Stop the car."


    "What''s up, Hao?" asked Li Bao, following his gaze.


    Then he saw the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant.


    Li Bao said, "Hao, you don''t know. This past month, Jiangshan Roasted Duck has expanded aggressively. They already have dozens of stores. Keep going a bit further, and you''ll see another Jiangshan Roasted Duck store."


    "Let''s go, take a look inside," Qin Hao decided to check it out.

 Chapter 176 Anger

    Qin Hao got out of the car and walked toward the roasted duck store in the square.


    Li Bao followed him, and then his subordinates also followed behind.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Xiangyang Road store.


    Qin Hao went inside, because it was now the evening peak period, so there were many people, although there were seven or eight sales windows, but each window had more than ten people.


    He looked at the environment inside and nodded slightly; the store was very clean and made a good impression.


    The store had two floors. The first floor sold roasted duck, and the second floor housed the manager''s office, the finance office, and so on.@@@@


    Occasionally, he could see one or two people coming down from upstairs.


    Are they hiring here?


    Curiously, Qin Hao walked upstairs and turned to Li Bao, saying, "Have your people wait down here."


    Li Bao nodded, "Alright, you guys wait at the entrance for a while."


    Qin Hao and Li Bao walked up, and on the second floor corridor, there was another person standing at the manager''s office door, waiting for an interview.


    Seeing Qin Hao and Li Bao coming up, she glanced at them and then turned her head away.


    Qin Hao approached and asked, "Are you waiting for an interview?"


    The woman''s name was Sun Wan, twenty-eight years old, busty and very charming.


    She lightly nodded to Qin Hao''s question, "Yes, are you also here for an interview? It seems quite strict here."


    Qin Hao wondered, "Is it hard to get hired? What position are you interviewing for?"


    "It seems the few people before me didn''t pass. I''m here for the deputy manager position," Sun Wan answered with a smile.


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "Deputy manager? Have you had experience in this area before?"


    "I''m aware of that, and I''m prepared for the possibility of being eliminated. Thanks for the reminder, Mr. Chen," Sun Wan said earnestly.


    Chen Tao continued with a smile, "I''m very familiar with the manager of the HR department. With just one phone call, I can decide whether you stay or leave."


    Sun Wan was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding his implication.


    Was he planning to help her?


    Before she could speak, Sun Wan felt his foot on her calf, gently rubbing it.


    Sun Wan was wearing a skirt, her calves were exposed, and feeling the unusual touch, her face slightly changed: "Mr. Chen, please show some respect."


    "Miss Sun, a wise person knows how to seize the opportunity. Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd. has tremendous potential, and with your abilities, you''re bound to improve. What you''re lacking now is a guide like me. Just agree to have some fun with me, and I guarantee you''ll become our store''s deputy manager."


    Hearing Chen Tao''s words, if Sun Wan didn''t understand his intentions now, she would indeed be very naive.


    Feeling Chen Tao''s foot moving, she was about to explode when suddenly the office door was kicked open from the outside.


    Both were startled, and Chen Tao quickly withdrew his foot, but Qin Hao still saw it.


    Qin Hao''s face was grim, his eyes filled with anger.


    He hadn''t expected one of his subordinates to be such a person.


    Sun Wan also felt uncomfortable and looked at Chen Tao, saying, "I never expected my ideal company to have scum like you. I will report you to your company."


    "Heh, report? You think they will believe you? You''re just harboring resentment because you didn''t get the deputy manager position," Chen Tao retorted.


    Then he looked at Qin Hao, "Who are you? Get lost, this isn''t a place for you to throw a tantrum."


    Li Bao charged up in a flash, "Who the hell are you cursing? Are you looking for death?"


    Qin Hao glared at Chen Tao, full of rage, "Who am I? I am Qin Hao, the Chairman of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd."


    Chen Tao''s face drained of color, Sun Wan also looked at him, incredulous,


    He was Qin Hao? The elusive chairman of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd.!

 Chapter 177 Covert Investigation

    Chen Tao reacted quickly, his tone full of entreaty as he said, "Mr. Qin, I know I was wrong, I was also temporarily blinded. Please give me another chance."


    Qin Hao glanced at Li Bao, "Call everyone over."


    Li Bao nodded and then made a phone call. His subordinates quickly entered, expressionless and with a threatening air.


    Chen Tao turned pale with fright, thinking that Qin Hao was going to have him beaten, "Mr. Qin, I know I was wrong, please give me another chance."


    "Give you a chance? You heartless scum, am I to give you another chance to harm others?" Qin Hao''s tone was sharp.


    Having said that, he composed himself and spoke indifferently, "Now you have two choices in front of you. One: go to the police station and confess your crime of harassment to the police.


    Two: apologize to Miss Sun and then roll up your bedding and get out immediately. Of course, this is up to Miss Sun to decide. How would you like to punish him, Miss Sun?"


    Sun Wan hesitated before saying, "Mr. Qin, I really don''t mind, you handle it."


    Chen Tao''s face was a mix of clouds and sunshine; his pride and respect from becoming a store manager now threatened by Qin Hao''s dismissal, which left his mood dark.


    "Miss Sun, it''s all my fault. I apologize to you. I was also temporarily blinded by lust. I hope you can give me another chance and not send me to the police station."


    Chen Tao did not want to end up in such a place because if he did, he would bear an indelible stain, and it would become very hard for him to find a job in the future.


    Sun Wan did not want to make a complete enemy of him and spoke up, "Mr. Qin, why not give Mr. Chen one more chance."


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    Qin Hao nodded, "Mr. Chen, you can now roll up your bedding and get out. If you dare spread the news of my return, don''t blame me for being unkind."


    "Yes, yes, Mr. Qin, I definitely won''t say anything," Chen Tao replied, watching those burly men, his heart trembling.


    At the same time, he thought of Qin Hao''s intentions, which might have been to secretly inspect the stores.


    Fired by Qin Hao, they should wait too, aware of some other stores'' situations.


    His eyes hesitated for a moment as he looked at Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, I also know of some other situations."


    Qin Hao''s eyes slightly narrowed while Sun Wan tactfully said, "Mr. Qin, I''ll wait outside."


    After Sun Wan left, Chen Tao told Qin Hao a lot inside.


    Later, Chen Tao left first, not even glancing at Sun Wan, taking his belongings, and leaving straight away.


    When Qin Hao came out, his expression was not good.


    He smiled at Sun Wan, "Miss Sun, I have looked at your resume, and I heard what you said earlier. I think you are quite fit for the position of store manager in our company, would you be interested in staying?"


    Sun Wan''s face brightened up at his words, "Of course I''m interested, thank you, Mr. Qin, for your trust."


    None of them drank alcohol, and Li Bao spoke up, "Hao, there''s something I want to discuss with you."


    "What is it?" Qin Hao replied as he took a bite of his food.


    Li Bao was somewhat embarrassed: "I''m thinking of expanding the company, hiring more people, but I''m short on funds."


    Qin Hao: "How much do you need?"


    Li Bao: "About three to four million. Hao, I''ll give you fifty-five percent of the shares, and I''ll hold forty-five percent. You''ll have absolute control."


    Qin Hao nodded, "I''m also planning to invest. You specifically recruit some elite ex-military or civilian experts. I''ll need them in the future. Even if it loses money, that''s fine. What I want is elites."


    Li Bao nodded, "Okay, got it, Hao."


    Qin Hao: "Send me your account details later, and I''ll transfer the money to you. Remember my requirement; I want a group of elites."


    Li Bao: "Sure, Hao. I actually have a group of elites on hand right now. Take them with you next time you go to Jianghai City."


    Qin Hao: "I don''t need them yet, but I will in the future."


    Li Bao: "Okay, got it, Hao."


    Qin Hao then said: "If management becomes too challenging, find a professional manager to help you run things."


    He had just finished speaking when his phone rang from his pocket; it was a call from his mother.


    Qin Hao hurriedly answered the call: "Mom, what''s up?"


    "Why haven''t you come back yet?" Mrs. Qin asked.


    Qin Hao: "Mom, I''m out eating with friends. Don''t wait up for me."


    "Oh, okay, don''t drink, and come back early," Mrs. Qin reminded.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao said to Li Bao: "Pick some clever people to investigate some of our stores and certain management at the headquarters."


    Li Bao nodded: "Okay, Hao."


    Kang Youyi, hearing this, didn''t speak, nor dared he speak because such an incident in the company meant he bore an inescapable responsibility.


    All he could do was pray that those who were on good terms with him hadn''t done anything to betray the company!


    They took a long time over their meal, and it was nearly eight o''clock in the evening when Li Bao finally drove Qin Hao home.


    When Qin Hao got home, Mr. and Mrs. Qin were watching television. Seeing him return, Mrs. Qin got up hastily and came over: "Welcome back, son."


    Qin Hao: "Mom, have you eaten yet? I''ve brought back some delicious food for you."


    After saying this, he placed the takeout food on the dining table.

 Chapter 178 Desperate to Benefit the Nation at the Risk of Death

    "I''ve eaten, I just ate, I''ll eat it tomorrow." Mrs. Qin took it and put it in the fridge.


    Mr. Qin spoke up, "Xiao Hao, come over and chat with your dad."


    Qin Hao walked over and sat on the sofa. The TV was showing the news channel, currently broadcasting the news.


    As he sat down, he asked, "Dad, is the factory still busy?"


    Mr. Qin said, "Business at the factory isn''t going well. The foreign and joint venture cars have too big of an impact on the market, I heard our factory might be pulling out."


    Qin Hao replied, "Oh, if the factory pulls out, you and mom shouldn''t work anymore. I''ll support you."


    Mr. Qin said with a smile, "Your dad isn''t that old yet, how can I let you support us? You just need to focus on your studies for now."


    "Yeah, I know, Dad."


    Mr. Qin continued, "Technology is the foundation of a nation''s strength, innovation is the soul of a nation''s progress. Xiao Hao, you''re studying computer science, a high-tech field. I hope you can excel in your studies and help our motherland, so we won''t be beholden to others for certain things anymore."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Don''t worry, Dad. I''ll study hard."


    Mr. Qin began to say, "A country''s strength can''t be judged by its GDP alone, nor can a nation''s prosperity be determined merely by its population size or territorial extent. One of the fundamental reasons our country has fallen behind and been bullied is due to its lagging technology."


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised. What''s with Dad today? Why is he spouting so much truth? And he''s not wrong at all.


    "Showing off in front of your son, huh? You just saw it on the news and copied it verbatim. Anyone who didn''t know better would think you were incredibly learned," Mrs. Qin said bluntly from the side.


    ...


    Mr. Qin looked somewhat embarrassed and glared at her irritably, "I''m educating our son. Why are you interrupting? Why don''t you try educating him?"


    Qin Hao struggled not to laugh, realizing all this had come from the news, and he thought his dad had come up with it himself.


    Mrs. Qin remarked, "As if you''ve been the one to educate our son all these years."


    "What? It wasn''t me who educated him, was it you then?" Mr. Qin seemed about to lose his patience.


    "Forget it, you do the educating. I''ll go tidy our son''s room," Mrs. Qin said and then went into Qin Hao''s room.


    Mr. Qin huffed and continued speaking to Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, why have Western countries been able to dominate the world in recent times? The most important reason is their control over cutting-edge technology."@@@@


    Qin Hao nodded. Although his dad had just copied the words, they made a lot of sense.


    He agreed and curiously asked, "Dad, who said these words?"


    Qin Hao woke up after eight and since his parents were off work for seven days, they weren''t going to the office.


    After breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Qin went out shopping. Qin Hao didn''t go with them as he was at home waiting for news from Li Bao.


    Around ten in the morning, Qin Hao received messages from Li Bao. He looked upset.


    He didn''t leave his house all day!


    Nobody knew what he was contemplating!


    On the morning of October 2, all mid and high-level managers at Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd received a message.


    Whether on vacation or resting, everyone had to be in the headquarters meeting room before three o''clock in the afternoon for a meeting led by Mr. Qin. Under no special circumstances, everyone had to be present, or they would be dismissed.


    This message caused quite a stir.


    The chairman is back? What does this meeting mean at this time?


    Is it to let everyone know below him? After all, many people don''t know him.


    Even some of the new high-level managers had never seen Qin Hao.


    In the early afternoon, Qin Hao drove to the company.


    His Porsche Panamera was still parked in the parking lot, rarely driven by anyone else.


    He took the elevator to the office, where half of the staff were on rotating shifts.


    The two receptionists at the front desk recognized him and quickly said, "Mr. Qin, you''re back."


    Qin Hao replied, "Mm, is Vice President Kang here?"


    "Vice President Kang wasn''t here at noon; he should be in his office now."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Okay, I know."


    He walked inside the company; many of the employees looked at him, but a large part did not recognize him.


    "Stop gawking, get back to work. That''s our company''s chairman," someone whispered.


    "The chairman? So young?" someone said in disbelief.


    "Our chairman is a genius who scored full marks on the unified exam, a celebrity of Jiangshan. There is nothing surprising about him being a chairman."

 Chapter 179 Reorganization

    Qin Hao arrived at the meeting room, where several people were already seated.


    Kang Youyi, Yu Jie, Yuan Qing, and Liu Man, seeing Qin Hao enter, hurriedly stood up and greeted him, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao saw smiles on their faces, "You came early?"


    "We were working overtime at the company anyway, so we just came over to wait," Yu Jie said softly.


    Soon, the door to the meeting room was opened from the outside, and a middle-aged man wearing glasses walked in.


    "Hello, Mr. Qin, I am Meng Zhicheng! Director of Market Planning," Meng Zhicheng said respectfully.


    Qin Hao slightly nodded his head, "Hmm, take a seat."


    Meng Zhicheng sat next to Kang Youyi, while Qin Hao took the main seat, "Does anyone have anything to report?"


    Kang Youyi spoke up, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Meng has made a suggestion; he plans to acquire several duck farms to supply our roasted duck stores'' development. This is the detailed proposal Mr. Meng wrote."


    After finishing his words, he handed Qin Hao a folder.


    Qin Hao took it, skimmed through it in a few minutes, and read the proposal, which detailed the future development of the roasted duck stores.


    The proposal was very much in line with Qin Hao''s thoughts, acquiring duck farms, building large-scale duck farms, constructing logistics and distribution services, and planning future roasted duck factory production lines to form a complete ecological industrial chain.


    The proposal was excellent; Qin Hao looked at Meng Zhicheng, who was also looking at him with a meticulous expression on his face.


    Qin Hao gave an affirmative answer, "The proposal is excellent; we can proceed step by step as outlined."@@@@


    "Thank you for your affirmation, Mr. Qin. I have tried our roasted duck, and the taste is incomparable to any other. That''s our biggest advantage. As long as the plan is correct and we develop steadily, our company''s future achievements might match those of major roasted duck conglomerates," Meng Zhicheng said.


    Qin Hao slightly nodded his head, "Mr. Meng, where were you employed before?"


    Meng Zhicheng was momentarily taken aback, then replied, "Mr. Qin, I previously worked as a Director of Marketing at a large multinational supermarket chain."


    Qin Hao asked, "The compensation there must have been better, right?"


    Meng Zhicheng said somewhat awkwardly, "The salary was about the same, but it was difficult to rise up in the company. There were no Chinese in the senior ranks of the multinational supermarket chain, and I am also from Jiangshan, so when such a promising company emerged back home, I came here."


    As they spoke, more people started arriving in the meeting room: the Logistics Director, the Audit Director, Deputy Directors of various departments, heads, and deputy heads.


    Seeing Qin Hao there, they remained silent as they sat in the meeting room.


    Managers and assistant managers from various stores also slowly arrived.


    There are millions of people in Jiangshan who want to work for the company. Similarly, if you leave the company, finding another with such generous terms might be difficult. Therefore, I hope everyone cherishes their positions."


    "Who are the deputy managers of those four stores? Stand up."


    "Swish, swish"


    Four men stood up, and Qin Hao glanced at them and said, "From today, you are the managers of your respective stores. Manage well, the company won''t let any employee suffer."


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin, for your trust," the four said, somewhat excited.


    There was a significant difference between the monthly salary and commission of a deputy manager and a manager.


    This new salary system had been implemented, and everyone estimated that a normal store manager could make over twenty thousand a month, whereas deputy managers would make just over ten thousand.


    Ordinary employees were paid according to normal performance commissions, with management personnel receiving relatively higher commissions, and higher positions receiving even higher commissions.


    Qin Hao started, "I seldom come to the company, but that does not mean I am unaware of what you all do. You all understand what I mean, right?"


    He finished speaking and, smiling, glanced around the meeting room.


    The expressions on people''s faces varied, some flickering, some calm, others puzzled.


    Qin Hao asked, "Is the manager of Longquan Store, Guo Feng, present?"


    At the mention of his name, Guo Feng''s body trembled, and after a moment he stood up. "Chairman, I am here."


    Qin Hao asked, "Would you like to tell your glorious deeds yourself, or shall I do it?"


    Sweat started forming on Guo Feng''s forehead. "Chairman, I don''t understand what you mean!" he said.


    "Ha, ha, you abused your authority, harassed a female staff member, and when she did not comply, you forced her to leave. Am I right or wrong?" Qin Hao said, his tone growing increasingly intense as he spoke.


    Guo Feng''s face turned deathly pale, large beads of sweat falling.


    Seeing his state, Qin Hao said indifferently, "I have already had someone locate Gao Meimei. The police will be here shortly for an investigation, and you will go with them."


    Upon hearing this, Guo Feng''s legs weakened. He had thought at worst he would be fired, but now he was facing police custody, how could he not be afraid.


    "Chairman, I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance; I will resign voluntarily," begged Guo Feng, not wanting to end up in that place.


    Looking at him, Qin Hao saw a pitiable sight, a far cry from the domineering presence he had in store.


    Qin Hao replied, "Opportunities are not given by others but earned by oneself. The company has its rules and regulations, and since you violated them, you should be prepared for the consequences."

 Chapter 180 Clear Rewards and Punishments

    Guo Feng''s expression dimmed upon hearing the news; if he ended up in that kind of place, finding a decent job later would be difficult!


    Now, he somewhat regretted it, but there was no medicine for regret in the world.


    Qin Hao continued, "The manager of the Industrial Road Store, Wang Lihai, colluded with the accountant and embezzled tens of thousands from public funds. I have already submitted the relevant evidence to the police."


    The crowd was greatly shocked, and both Yuan Qing and Wang Lihai''s expressions changed dramatically.@@@@


    Qin Hao looked at Yuan Qing and asked, "Mr. Yuan, you are the director of human resources. You must be very clear about how Wang Lihai joined our company, right?"


    Yuan Qing''s face slightly changed, and she sat there, not daring to make a sound.


    Qin Hao said, "Wang Lihai was your high school classmate, wasn''t he? From today onward, you are no longer the director of human resources. Liu Man will take over as director, and you will continue as a regular staff member in HR. If you find the punishment too severe, you have the option to resign."


    Yuan Qing hastily said, "Thank you, Mr. Qin. I will comply with the company''s arrangement."


    Qin Hao did not fire her; he still considered their old ties.


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    She was well aware of this and felt grateful to Qin Hao, also regretting her past actions in helping Wang Lihai and others.


    "Furthermore, Wang Lihe from the Ping Chun Store has been secretly forming alliances and bribing Zhao Hongyu, the director of the prosecution department, to misappropriate company bonuses. Starting today, the prosecution department will be dissolved, and I will personally establish a new one to monitor all store personnel."


    The conference room was filled with an uneasy atmosphere, and people like Kang Youyi and Yu Jie also looked quite disturbed. Their subordinates had committed so many acts without their knowledge.


    Qin Hao continued, "Yu Chengcai."


    Yu Chengcai, frightened, hastily stood up, "Mr. Qin, I... didn''t..."


    Yu Jie felt a pang in her heart upon hearing this. Could it be that her brother also did something detrimental to the company?


    Seeing his reaction, Qin Hao smiled and said, "Don''t be nervous. I have seen your hard work. The Anchang Street Store''s monthly sales rank first among all Jiangshan stores, which is commendable.


    I''ve decided to reward the Anchang Store with a hundred thousand in cash, to be distributed proportionally, and the Anyang and Longqing stores will be rewarded with eighty thousand and fifty thousand respectively. Starting today, the top three performing stores each month will receive these rewards."


    Everyone''s expression brightened; these were not insignificant amounts.


    Each store had only about a dozen employees, and the distributed money was almost equivalent to a month''s salary.


    Together with the new salary system, these employees were more motivated to work, as they were not earning a fixed salary, but one based on sales performance¡ªthe higher the sales, the higher the salary.


    That day, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company dismissed nearly a quarter of its middle and upper management, ranging from directors to managers, supervisors, and store managers.


    Although some were initially fearful, with the substantial cash rewards, they were once again filled with motivation.


    "Yes, by several city leaders."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Then let''s go. What time tomorrow night?"


    Kang Youyi said, "You need to be there before seven. Mr. Qin, would you like to bring a female companion?"


    "A female companion?"


    Kang Youyi explained, "You don''t have a secretary, and going alone might not look good. How about Mr. Tian accompanies you?"


    After saying this, he looked at Tian Yamei, who was sitting there distracted, unaware of what was being discussed.


    Seeing her expression, Kang Youyi asked, "Does Mr. Tian have any objections?"


    "Ah? I have no objections," Tian Yamei hurriedly responded.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Mr. Tian, did you hear what we were talking about?"


    Tian Yamei was slightly embarrassed: "Sorry, Mr. Qin, I was lost in thought."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "It''s okay. Mr. Kang just mentioned having you accompany me to the gala tomorrow. Are you available?"


    "Yes, no problem," Tian Yamei agreed.


    Yu Jie felt somewhat envious, but she knew the difference between herself and Tian Yamei.


    Tian Yamei was outgoing, cheerful, and talkative, whereas she was somewhat introverted. Her presence might not be helpful to Qin Hao and could even embarrass the company.


    "That settles it; I have to step out for a bit. Mr. Tian, I''ll wait for you at the company tomorrow." Qin Hao stood up and said.


    He was going to visit Li Bao''s company.


    After taking the car keys from Kang Youyi, he rode the elevator to the underground parking lot and drove the Porsche Panamera towards Li Bao''s company.


    Li Bao''s company was located in the suburbs of Jiangshan. At the entrance, four strong security personnel stood dressed in uniform black outfits.


    Flying Leopard Security Company.


    One of them spoke up: "Hello, sir, may I ask who you''re looking for?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I''m looking for Li Bao, just tell him I''m Qin Hao."


    Upon hearing his name, the faces of the four men changed, "So it''s Hao. Please come in; Mr. Li has instructed us that you don''t need to be checked."


    "Thanks a lot."


    Qin Hao slowly drove into Flying Leopard Security Company.

 Chapter 181 Father Gets Beaten

    As soon as Qin Hao drove up to the building, Li Bao came out with a group of people.


    "Hao," Li Bao called out urgently.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "The place is quite spacious."


    "Got it at the lowest price through some connections," Li Bao whispered in his ear.


    Qin Hao gave him a look, "In the future, you should keep this kind of thing to yourself, talk less about it to me."


    Li Bao chuckled dryly, then led him to the third-floor meeting room.


    Feibao Security Company had two buildings: a dormitory building at the back and an office building at the front.


    To establish this company, Li Bao had borrowed a considerable amount of money from the bank.


    Now his company had hundreds of employees, and ninety percent of them had been dispatched out; there were only a few dozen people left in the company.


    Moreover, Li Bao''s company didn''t have many departments, and the business he was currently managing still relied on his previous connections.


    Qin Hao sat in the meeting room, looking at Li Bao with a strange expression, "Is it just you in the management team?"


    Li Bao smiled awkwardly, "Apart from those team leaders, it''s just me for now."


    ...


    Qin Hao really wanted to give him a thumbs up, keeping the company afloat was an achievement in itself!


    You are in the security business, there has to be at least a marketing department, right?


    Without even a marketing department, what are you going to use to expand into new markets?


    Qin Hao said, "You received the money, right? Set up all the necessary departments for the company. If you really don''t know how, you could take a look at what your competitors are doing."@@@@


    Li Bao said, "Hao, I know all that, this money is enough."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Well, if it really doesn''t work out, consider offering high salaries to poach talents. There are many things you don''t need to do yourself, let your subordinates handle them."


    Li Bao nodded, "Hao, I''ve picked a few bodyguards who are quite agile and smart for you. They will take care of your company''s matters."


    After saying that, he shouted towards the door, "Li Yang, you guys come in."


    Eight men dressed in black walked in; each of them looked fierce and formidable.


    Li Bao said, "Hao, Li Yang and these guys are all ex-special forces. They are skilled and smart. From now on, they''ll be your bodyguards."


    There are many special forces, and they vary in skill levels!


    Like Xu Liangguo''s personal guards, they are the elite of the elite among special forces.


    And Li Xutian''s bodyguards are either military champions or civilian experts.


    Qin Hao had also reviewed the capabilities of Li Yang and his group. They were much stronger than ordinary people, but they truly couldn''t compare with those others.


    Qin Hao said, "That won''t be necessary, I don''t need bodyguards."


    A brand new Ferrari had crashed into the rear of a Citroe?n, the impact was not light, and the Ferrari''s front headlights were smashed.


    Behind the Ferrari was also a Mercedes-Benz coupe; three young men were beating a middle-aged man while a woman loudly tried to stop them.


    Many cars were blocked behind.


    Seeing this, some people hurriedly took out their phones and called the police.


    "Stop hitting him, please stop," Mrs. Qin cried uncontrollably as she saw her husband lying in a pool of blood.


    "Get lost, goddamn it, my brand new car, and you just had to smash it up, can you even afford to compensate?"


    ...


    In less than five minutes, everyone heard the sound of a car''s engine roaring from a distance, it was very loud despite the distance.


    Suddenly, they could see a car speeding from afar.


    The driver was Qin Hao, and he had reached a terrifying speed of over two hundred.


    He had spotted his father''s car from a distance.


    "Screech, screech, screech"


    The shrill sound of brakes rang out as the Porsche Panamera slid several dozen meters, leaving behind a large cloud of thick smoke.


    Everyone turned their heads to look, even the three assailants including Ma Tengfei turned their heads.


    Qin Hao stopped the car from the opposite lane and immediately ran over.


    Seeing his father lying on the ground and his mother crying helplessly beside him, Qin Hao''s head buzzed.


    "Goddamn it, I''m going to kill you."


    He charged over at top speed and landed a punch on Ma Tengfei''s face; his body flew backward, spitting out several teeth.


    "Bang"


    Ma Tengfei fell onto the road three meters away.


    The nearby two were stupefied; who was this guy with such incredible strength?


    "Bang"


    Before they could react, Qin Hao kicked out, striking one on the head.


    The man saw stars, his head humming, and he fell to the ground and didn''t get up.


    The last one didn''t escape either; before he could run, he was laid out on the ground.


    His large fists relentlessly pounded down on one man''s body.


    "Screech, screech, screech"


    Series of braking sounds were heard as five cars stopped on the opposite lane, a group of people dressed in black dashed down wearing jackets embossed with ''Flying Leopard Security'' on their backs.

 Chapter 182 Broken Leg

    Li Bao got out of the car and saw Qin Hao brutally beating someone.


    The man was already spitting out blood, and the beating could really result in a fatality.


    He knew the strength of Qin Hao was not ordinary at all.


    He hurried over, grabbed Qin Hao''s arm, and pulled him back, "Hao, that''s enough, if you keep hitting him, he might die."


    Qin Hao''s raised fist stopped, and he turned to look at Li Bao, his eyes bloodshot.


    His hands were trembling slightly, and he spoke in a low tone, "Break his legs, smash the car, I''ll take responsibility for the consequences!"@@@@


    "Don''t worry, Hao, leave it to me!" Li Bao gave a signal to the people nearby, and then helped Qin Hao retreat back.


    Qin Hao hurried to his father''s side, where a lot of blood had already been spilled, and he suppressed his urge to kill.


    "Dad, are you alright?"


    Ma Tengfei and his few friends, full of youthful arrogance and with a distinguished background, didn''t hold back at all when they hit Qin Youguo, using their full strength.


    Qin Youguo wasn''t seriously hurt, suffering only superficial wounds.


    Qin Youguo stood up with one hand on his head, and Mrs. Qin hurried over with tissues to wipe it.


    "I''m fine, who are they?" Mr. Qin asked.


    Mrs. Qin also came to her senses and looked at her son.


    Qin Hao: "Dad, they are employees from my company, and Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd is also my company."


    "Your company?" Mr. and Mrs. Qin widened their eyes.


    By then, Qin Hao had calmed down and he said to his parents, "Mom and Dad, let''s talk about this at home later, these people are too arrogant, they hit someone after a rear-end collision."


    "Xiao Hao, these people are not from ordinary families, let it go," Qin Youguo, fearful of his son getting into trouble, said.


    Qin Hao: "Dad, this is not just about you, it involves me too. If I remain silent after my father was beaten, everyone will look down on me."


    Explore stories on empire


    "Ah!"


    Screams echoed from the crowd, Ma Tengfei and his friends'' legs were both broken, then a group rushed towards their two cars and started smashing them.


    The sounds of "bang, bang, bang" were incessant.


    This was actually a straightforward case, and there would be no problem as long as both parties reached a settlement.


    But the person behind Ma Tengfei was no simple character; his father was the chairman of Dayuan Group.


    Dayuan Group was a leading enterprise in Jiangshan and ranked highly throughout Shuinan Province, with very strong connections, especially in Jiangshan City!


    Although Qin Hao was also prominent, he was still a newcomer in the business world, unable to compare with a major corporation like Dayuan Group. His connections were also not as solid, so Liu Bo felt that, in the end, Qin Hao would definitely be at a disadvantage and might even end up in prison.


    "Mr. Qin, do you know who you''ve beaten?" Liu Bo began.


    Qin Hao shook his head, "I only know he was the one who hit my dad."


    Liu Bo, "The owner of that Ferrari is Ma Tengfei. He is currently in the hospital with both legs broken, and his father is Ma Dayuan, the chairman of Dayuan Group."


    Qin Hao, "No wonder he dares to defy the law; he has some backing."


    Liu Bo continued, "Although the other two''s status is not comparable to Ma Tengfei''s, they are also children of big company CEOs."


    Qin Hao, "So what? I believe the law will give me a fair and just answer."


    "Bang"


    The door to the interrogation room was flung open, and Tie Gaoming walked in, "Qin Hao, what you say is grand, but you broke their legs. Do you think you have not violated the law?"


    "Captain Tie." Liu Bo and Feng Xue quickly stood up upon seeing him.


    Qin Hao turned to look at him, "Captain Tie, I must correct your mistake. Their legs were not broken by me. There were many people around at the time, and they can all be witnesses. Also, Captain Tie, you should not be here, but rather resting at the hospital."


    Liu Bo, Feng Xue, and Tie Gaoming were shocked.


    What did he mean by those words?


    Had he figured out Captain Tie''s condition? Were those words he had said before not without basis?


    Tie Gaoming snorted coldly, "My matters are none of your concern. You better worry about yourself, for Ma Bing, the chairman of Dayuan Group, is no ordinary person."


    Although his words were harsh, they also carried a warning.


    To be honest, he was not very fond of Qin Hao, but he disliked Ma Tengfei and his associates even more.


    At the very least, Qin Hao never initiated trouble!


    Qin Hao calmly said, "His son, Ma Bing, was the first to strike, and if Ma Bing doesn''t personally apologize, this matter is not over!"


    The three were startled by his tone; Qin Hao''s confidence seemed misplaced. How could he expect an apology from Ma Bing when he was in such a precarious position himself?

 Chapter 183 Zhengyuan Group

    Tie Gaoming spoke, "Dayuan Group is a major enterprise within the province, and Ma Bing has deep connections. He''s also ruthless and decisive, so good luck to you.


    Without an order from the director, you cannot leave for now. Your father has already been sent to the hospital for treatment, accompanied by your mother."


    After finishing his words, Tie Gaoming left.


    Even when he intended to help, his face remained cold.


    "Congratulations to the host for completing the phased mainline task of becoming a business tycoon, reward: ten thousand achievement points."


    "Congratulations to the host for completing the phased side quest, reward: one hundred thousand achievement points."


    Two system prompt tones suddenly sounded.


    Qin Hao was taken aback, had his company''s profits for September already surpassed ten million?


    Had the September performance report come out already?


    Just as he was wondering, his mobile phone in his pocket rang, and he received an internal company email.


    Qin Hao asked, "Is Captain Tie also secretly investigating Ma Bing?"


    Liu Bo and Feng Xue were stunned for a moment and did not answer him.


    They didn''t know how Qin Hao found out, but they wouldn''t disclose such secrets.


    Seeing their reaction, Qin Hao knew he had guessed correctly; he deduced it from what Tie Gaoming had said.


    He waited for about another half hour, during which Liu Bo and Feng Xue went out a few times and then came back.


    The way they looked at him was clearly different from before.


    Qin Hao had a bad feeling and asked, "Can I make a phone call?" Enjoy more content from empire


    "Yes!" Liu Bo and Feng Xue nodded.


    Qin Hao took out his mobile phone and called Xu Liangguo.


    Although Xu Jiejian was quite powerful in Jianghai City, this was Shuinan Province, and he feared Xu Jiejian might not have the necessary connections.


    Xu Liangguo, on the other hand, was an old hand in government circles; perhaps he knew people here too, and even if he didn''t, his words would carry great influence.


    After several seconds, Xu Liangguo picked up the phone, "Hello, Xiao Hao, this is Ms. Xu."


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "Ms. Xu, how are you feeling now?"


    "I''ve completely recovered a while ago, practically no different from before. Are you looking for Xu?"


    Qin Hao: "Yes, Ms. Xu, I need to talk to Mr. Xu about something."


    "Alright, he''s out playing chess, I''ll go find him right now."


    A few seconds later, Xu Liangguo was on the phone: "Xiao Hao, what''s the matter?"


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Xu, there''s a favor I need to ask of you."


    Xu Liangguo: "Don''t be so formal in the future, just speak your mind."


    Qin Hao''s expression remained calm. "Mr. Xing, I think you might want to wait a bit."


    Liu Bo, Feng Xue, and the others admired his composure; even at a time like this, he could still keep his cool. Was this really a nineteen-year-old kid?


    "Wait? Wait for what? I don''t have time to play games with you here. Take him away," Xing Su said emotionlessly.


    Several police officers came forward, handcuffing Qin Hao and preparing to take him away to the detention center.


    Qin Hao did not resist, quietly watching the scene unfold.


    The icy handcuffs, the indifferent looks, all made him feel very uncomfortable.


    Qin Hao followed the officers out. As he reached the door of the interrogation room, suddenly, a ringtone from a cell phone filled the room.


    Everyone turned to look.


    Xing Su took out his phone from his pocket, his expression changing as he cautiously answered. "Hello, Mr. Wang."


    After the call connected, his face went through several changes, though no one heard the voice on the other end of the phone.


    After hanging up, Xing Su looked at Qin Hao with an incredulous look in his eyes.


    "Quickly, release Mr. Qin," his attitude had done a complete 360-degree turn.


    Everyone around was stunned. Release him? Hadn''t he just said Qin Hao was to be taken to the detention center?


    "What are you standing around for? This matter still needs further investigation; we were too hasty," Xing Su quickly found an excuse.


    The officers hurriedly unlocked Qin Hao''s handcuffs, looking at him with a mix of respect and awe.


    Ma Bing''s face flushed with embarrassment; from Xing Su''s expression, he could tell that Qin Hao must have significant backing. Otherwise, Xing Su would not have acted this way.


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Xing, my subordinates?"


    "Please wait a moment, Mr. Qin; I''ll have someone take care of it right away," Xing Su replied urgently.


    Qin Hao glanced at Ma Bing and spoke indifferently, "Mr. Ma, I hope you look after your own son. He''s lucky to have run into me - if it had been someone else, he might not have made it out alive. Nothing is more tragic than a parent sending off their own child."


    "I''ll remember your words, Mr. Qin," Ma Bing said, his face darkening.


    [To the browser readers, a word from the author: I work during the day to provide for my family in an automobile parts manufacturing factory. I get one hour for lunch, and while others rest, I take the chance to write a bit. After work and dinner, when all the workers have gone home and the dormitory area is empty, I stay behind, not returning home, living alone in the quiet dorms, all in order to write a bit more and spare myself a few less criticisms from you all.


    I''ve said it many times, but browser readers don''t see it, so I''m putting it here in the chapter. I hope all readers can understand that I''m at my limit updating two chapters every day. Although it''s tiring, I feel fulfilled and happy thanks to your votes and comments. Thank you for your support; it means a lot to me. Without it, this book might not have been written up to this point, and there might not be a future for it...


    My eyes are red as I write this, so I''ll say no more. I won''t explain these things in the future, fearing it might bother you if mentioned too often.


    In writing this novel, I have lost much and endured a great deal of abuse.


    The feeling is like setting on a path that nobody else believes in, and despite the hardships and challenges, continuing down that road alone.


    Although I do it for the world in my heart, to share it with more people,


    And to change the living conditions of my family,


    I have no regrets.]


    ```

 Chapter 184 Confession

    Qin Hao knew that things between the two parties were far from over; instead, it had just begun.


    Qin Hao said to Xing Su, "Mr. Xing, if there''s nothing else, I''ll be leaving now. I really don''t want to stay here any longer."


    "Mr. Qin, let me escort you."


    Qin Hao: "No need, having Liu Bo and Feng Xue escort me will suffice."


    After leaving the interrogation building, Qin Hao walked ahead while Liu Bo and Feng Xue followed behind.


    Qin Hao said to Feng Xue, "May I borrow your paper and pen?"


    Feng Xue was momentarily stunned, then handed him her notebook and pen.


    Qin Hao wrote hurriedly on it, then handed it back to Feng Xue: "Give this prescription to Captain Tie. He''s a good police officer; he shouldn''t just leave this world like this."


    "What is this prescription?" Feng Xue and Liu Bo asked curiously as they looked at the prescription.


    Qin Hao: "It''s a prescription that could slowly treat Captain Tie''s stomach cancer."


    The two looked shocked. "How did you know Captain Tie had stomach cancer? Can this prescription really work? Can it cure stomach cancer?"


    "I am a doctor, so naturally, I could tell. This prescription needs to be taken over a long period, and it will take more than six months before it shows effects."


    Qin Hao had not taken the life-saving potion, as it wasn''t necessary yet.


    Moreover, he could not use the life-saving potion frequently; it could easily expose him.@@@@


    When he reached the doorway, Li Bao and his group quickly came out as well.


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, "Be careful going forward, Ma Bing is not a simple man."


    "Yes, okay, Hao," Li Bao nodded.


    Qin Hao: "If there''s nothing else, go back. I''m going to the hospital to see my dad."


    Li Bao: "Hao, I''ll come with you."


    Aside from the two of them, Li Yang and eight other people also followed them out, while the rest went back.


    Inside the hospital ward, Youguo was discussing discharge issues with the doctor.


    He wasn''t seriously ill. What mattered most was his concern for his son''s safety.


    Qin Hao and Li Bao entered the room, and upon seeing him return, Mr. and Mrs. Qin''s faces brightened: "Are you okay, Xiao Hao?"


    "Dad, Mom, I''m fine. I just did some paperwork, cooperated with the investigation," Qin Hao said with a smile.


    "Really, you''re okay?" Mr. Qin was somewhat incredulous.


    After all, his son not only had broken those three people''s legs but also smashed a car, and that was really okay?


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Really, it''s okay. If they couldn''t fight back, it''s just a matter of paying some money."


    And at the bottom, there was the total, September''s net profit was eleven million, one hundred thirty-one thousand, seven hundred fifty-two.


    "That much?" Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin were both somewhat shocked.


    Qin Hao: "Dad, Mom, quit your jobs. When you are free, help me check on the company and the restaurants. If there''s any problem, tell me. This is our family''s company. You have to pay close attention when I''m not around."


    "Of course, our factory is almost closing down anyway. When it does, I''ll go with your mother to help you keep an eye on things," Qin Youguo said with a laugh.


    His tone carried a hint of pride and self-satisfaction.


    Because this was his son!


    Mrs. Qin gave him a glance: "What do you know? Don''t go and mess things up for our son."


    "What do you mean, what do I know? I was a workshop director, after all, that''s better than you, right?" Mr. Qin retorted slightly annoyed.


    Mrs. Qin shot him another glance: "I''m telling you, stay out of trouble for our son, don''t interfere with the company''s operations."


    "Woman, what do you know? Go and start cooking. I''m going to buy some bottles of wine," he said. Then he addressed Qin Hao, "Son, where are the car keys?"


    "Here they are." Qin Hao handed the car keys to his dad.


    Mrs. Qin: "The supermarket is right at the entrance of the community. Can''t you just walk there? I see you just want to show off outside."


    Mr. Qin: "What do you mean ''show off''? My son''s car is my car too, isn''t it okay if I drive it?"


    "Dad, you don''t need that old car of yours anymore. From now on, this car will do."


    Mr. Qin said with a smile, "Good, I''ve never driven such a nice car before."


    ...


    During dinner, Mr. Qin drank quite a lot. Qin Hao could tell there was something that had been weighing on his mind for a very long time.


    From some of the things he said, it was clear that his parents had not approved of his marriage to his mother.


    His father had endured countless snubs and taunts.


    But he couldn''t argue back because his family was destitute while his mother came from a wealthy background, creating a huge disparity in their statuses.


    Their wedding had even been conducted in secret!


    Qin Youguo felt deeply touched to have a wife like Li Shujie, and so after they got married, he was incredibly attentive to her.


    At the same time, he also resented his own incompetence, unable to make his beloved wife proud and causing her to be unable to lift her head in front of her family.


    In the first couple of years after they got married, they would visit Beisu Province during the holidays, but each visit was embarrassingly humiliating.


    For years, Qin Youguo had been holding his breath.


    He had tried to start a business several times, all to prove to the Li Family that he was worthy of Li Shujie, but he failed every time.


    He had long since given up hope, but now he saw hope in his son, so today he was very happy and drank a lot.


    "Thank you everyone for your votes and for your comments. Thank you for your support!"

 Chapter 185 Is Li Mo Ying Coming?

    Mrs. Qin sighed and helped him into the house when she saw him like this.


    He said to his mother''s retreating figure, "Mom, I will try my best."


    "Mm, Mom believes you," Mrs. Qin''s eyes were somewhat moist.@@@@


    ...


    Meanwhile, after Qin Hao left the police station.


    Ma Bing asked Xing Su, "What''s his background, Mr. Xing? Whose call was that just now?"


    Xing Su replied, "It was a call from the provincial leaders. The message was simple: turn big issues into small ones, and small issues into none. This is also the intention of Shuinan Province''s top official. Mr. Ma, you should be very clear about the stakes involved. Better to drop the case and settle it privately, especially since your son was in the wrong."


    Ma Bing''s face changed, somewhat in disbelief, "That young whippersnapper, he has such connections?"


    Xing Su explained, "He was this year''s national unified exam top scholar. Mr. Chang had visited his home before, perhaps Mr. Chang helped him because he broke the record on the unified exam."


    Ma Bing''s expression shifted. Regardless of what relationship Qin Hao had with Chang An Country, now that Chang An Country had spoken, he must act accordingly, or the consequences would be hard to predict.


    Even though he had people in the province, he simply couldn''t compare to Chang An Country.


    His son had his leg broken, and this bitter pill he simply had to swallow.


    He could imagine the reaction when this news spread through Jiangshan''s business elite the next day.


    He and the entire Dayuan Group would be disgraced!


    ...


    The next day


    News that the son of Ma Bing, Chairman of Dayuan Group, had his leg broken in the street, spread throughout Jiangshan''s high society.


    Qin Hao, Chairman of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd, also gained significant notoriety for breaking Ma Bing''s son''s leg and remaining unscathed. His background was evidently strong, certainly stronger than Dayuan Group.


    Dayuan Group was among the top five corporations in Jiangshan, and very powerful. Since not even Dayuan Group could touch him, this was someone to be on good terms with, not to offend.


    In the morning, Qin Hao had a long chat at home with Du Wanrou. She wouldn''t be able to return to Jiangshan for another seven days, which Qin Hao found regrettable.


    He had planned to take his chances beyond the boundary, but now it seemed there would be no opportunity.


    After finishing his conversation with Du Wanrou, Qin Hao''s phone rang; it was Li Jianjun calling.


    "Hello, Qin Hao, the national survival games are starting in the next two days. The competition will last two months, then the top three teams will go abroad to compete."


    Qin Hao replied, "Mm, I know. I won''t participate in the domestic competition because I don''t have much time. You guys shouldn''t have any problems, right?"


    Li Jianjun responded, "No problem, I''m just called to inform you. If you are free during the competition, you could come to the venue to watch. By the way, is my sister with you?"


    Qin Hao paused for a moment: "Your sister? No, she isn''t here."


    "Oh, well then, I''ve got to hang up." Stay tuned to empire


    Mrs. Qin: "Your dad can stay in your room, and I''ll share a room with the girl."


    Qin Hao, puzzled, said, "Mom, isn''t that inconvenient?"


    Mrs. Qin said irritably, "How is it inconvenient? She''s come all the way to find you, and you''d just leave her alone in a hotel? If you don''t bring her back tonight, don''t bother coming back yourself."


    "Exactly. You must listen to your mom on this." Mr. Qin agreed as well.


    ...


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless. Am I even your biological child?


    Why does it feel like she''s your long-lost daughter?


    After lunch, Qin Hao said to his dad, "Dad, I''m going to drive to the company first."


    "Yeah, you drive. Dad doesn''t really need to drive such a nice car." Mr. Qin said with a smile.


    Qin Hao: "It''s okay, Dad. I''ll get the company to buy another one this afternoon."


    Mr. Qin: "Don''t buy it. Keep that money for developing the company. Dad has had his share of luxury cars. There''s no difference."


    ...


    Qin Hao didn''t say more, as he had already made up his mind.


    He went downstairs, where several residents of the neighborhood were sitting in the shade of the trees.


    "Xiao Hao going out?" A man about his dad''s age asked.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Yeah, Mr. Li, not resting?"


    "Couldn''t sleep, just came out to chat. You go on, I won''t keep you," Mr. Li said.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, then slowly drove out of the neighborhood.


    After Qin Hao left, Mr. Li sighed, "Never thought that the introverted kid from before would now be a company CEO."


    Another person also said, "He even scored full marks on the unified exam. I heard Qin''s son was not good at his studies before, how did he score full marks?"


    "Who knows how he suddenly got wise; it must be fate. When it''s destined for you to be wealthy, you can''t even hide from it."


    ...


    After Qin Hao drove away, two more cars followed him. This was Li Yang and his eight guys.


    Arriving at the Shenghua office building, Qin Hao got out of the car, followed by Li Yang and three others, while the remaining four stayed outside to keep watch.


    Qin Hao noted that all eight men were wearing communication earpieces, fully equipped with various devices.


    At the company entrance, Qin Hao said to Li Yang and his three men, "Just wait here."


    "Yes, Mr. Qin," Li Yang responded respectfully.

 Chapter 186 Xia Qing is in trouble!

    Walking into the company, Qin Hao saw Meng Zhicheng, Tian Yamei, and Yu Jie all present, the three sitting and chatting.


    They had just finished lunch and it wasn''t yet time to resume work.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao arrive, the three quickly stood up: "Mr. Qin, you''re here."


    Qin Hao: "Hmm, continue talking, just don''t mind me. I had nothing to do at home so I came to take a look."


    Meng Zhicheng: "Mr. Qin, we were just discussing the membership card issue. We plan to introduce a membership card service after the National Day holiday with different amounts offering different discounts. I should be able to draft the specific plan in the next couple of days."


    "Hmm, when it''s ready, show it to Mr. Kang, just keep talking, I am heading back to my office now."


    Entering his office, Qin Hao opened the system.


    He still had one main quest, the Path to a Business Magnate, with a monthly profit of fifty million, and a reward of fifty thousand achievement points.


    Currently, his achievement points were one hundred forty thousand three hundred.


    He opened the system store and then purchased the Xinghai generation intelligent robot manufacturing technology.


    A manufacturing manual appeared in his inventory, and Qin Hao clicked ''Learn''; a stream of information entered his mind.


    He took a long time to digest the information, his brow slightly furrowed.


    Although he had learned the manufacturing technology, the manufacturing process was extremely difficult and complex.


    He browsed the system store again before exiting.


    He took out his phone and called Li Bao: "Have someone thoroughly investigate Dayuan Group and the person Ma Bing."


    "Okay, Hao."


    Hanging up the phone, Qin Hao began to study the Xinghai generation intelligent robot manufacturing technology again.


    Around four in the afternoon, Qin Hao received an email from Li Bao.


    It contained very detailed information about Dayuan Group and the personal information of Ma Bing.


    Qin Hao carefully examined it; Dayuan Group''s main business was Da Yuan Wine, and they were also involved in some ordinary puffed food operations.


    Da Yuan Wine was the pillar product of Dayuan Group!


    After looking through Dayuan Group''s information, he reviewed Ma Bing''s profile.


    It showed his education, previous experiences, and the accomplishments he led in developing Dayuan Group.


    This was a very cunning and resourceful man!


    He considered how to deal with Dayuan Group and Ma Bing.


    He had broken Ma Bing''s son''s legs, which Ma Bing definitely would not let slide; he must prepare for defense, if not strike first.


    The two companies did not intersect in business, making it difficult to suppress the opposition.


    Qin Hao spent the afternoon in his office.


    Now, Qin Hao looked like he had a unique charismatic allure, absolutely mesmerizing.


    Seeing their expressions, Qin Hao asked, "How about this? Does it look okay?"


    "It looks great, go with this one, Mr. Qin. You look handsome. Just a hairstyle change would be perfect," Tian Yamei said with a smile.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Let''s take this one then. How much is it?"


    The female sales assistant said with a smile, "Hello sir, this suit is an International Elysee brand imported from the League of Nations, priced at thirty-three thousand."


    What? Thirty-three thousand?


    Qin Hao was startled, "That''s a bit pricey; all the clothes I''ve owned over the years haven''t come up to this price."


    ...


    Tian Yamei and the female sales assistant were a bit speechless.


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    You, the chairman of the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, a tycoon with a monthly income of tens of millions, are worried about thirty thousand?


    The sales assistant glanced at Tian Yamei and Li Yang''s four bodyguards and thought, "Could he be a pseudo wealthy man?"


    Tian Yamei said, "Mr. Qin, this suit really suits you well, it makes you look very dignified."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Let''s take this one then."


    After buying the clothes, Tian Yamei took him to a hair salon for a hairstyle makeover.


    Then, Qin Hao looked at himself in the mirror and was stunned.


    He looked like a different person, very handsome and also very charismatic.


    Qin Hao muttered, "I didn''t know I could look this handsome."


    Tian Yamei was also stunned, her heartbeat noticeably faster than before.


    "It''s getting late, Mr. Qin, we should go," Tian Yamei took a deep breath as she reminded him.


    Exiting the hair salon, Li Yang acted as the driver. Four bodyguards in a Mercedes in the front, three in a Mercedes in the back.


    A Porsche in the middle, the scene was incredibly stylish.


    Qin Hao and Tian Yamei both sat in the backseat.


    Tian Yamei looked at Qin Hao, hesitating to speak, with an indecisive expression.


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao asked, "Mr. Tian, is there something you want to say? If there is something, just say it."


    Upon hearing his words, Tian Yamei, with her gaze fixed on him, asked, "Mr. Qin, did you know something happened to Xia Qing?"


    [Thank you to "I Raise a Chestnut" for the gift of 1000 book coins. This is a reader from the browser book city who registered on Qidian to gift the book coins. This support is deeply appreciated.


    It isn''t that complicated; donations can also be made directly through QQ reading. I look at all the comments when I have time. Thank you everyone for your support and five-star ratings.]

 Chapter 187 Things Dont Go as People Wish

    Qin Hao''s expression changed slightly upon hearing the words.


    He looked at Tian Yamei, his eyes piercing, "You know Xia Qing? What happened to her?"


    Tian Yamei explained, "Xia Qing is my cousin, her mom is my aunt, and I know a bit about what''s going on between you and Xiaoqing.


    Something happened to her family; she told me not to tell you, but I couldn''t help it."


    Qin Hao, "What happened to her family?"


    Tian Yamei, "My uncle took on a contract with someone, and after the work was done, that person ran off with the money. Now my uncle not only is in debt up to his neck but also owes a lot of money to the workers.


    Their house has been sold, but they still owe more than two million to relatives, friends, and workers."


    Qin Hao''s brow furrowed slightly, "Where have they gone now?"


    "They went back to their hometown."


    Qin Hao, "Give me your bank account number; I''ll transfer three million to you so you can give it to Xia Qing''s parents."


    Tian Yamei was surprised, three million just like that, without a moment''s hesitation; he was a completely different person from the one who was buying clothes just moments ago.


    He must have feelings for Xia Qing, right?


    Otherwise, why would he do this?


    Tian Yamei, "Okay, I will find a way to give it to my uncle."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Thanks a lot."


    Tian Yamei gave Qin Hao her uncle''s bank card number directly, "This is my uncle''s account, just transfer it here and then I''ll let my uncle know."


    Qin Hao took out his cellphone, and a few minutes later, transferred the money.


    ...


    In a village in a county of Jiangshan.


    Xia Yingjie lay on the bed with a dim and lifeless look in his eyes, appearing much older.


    Tian Rong sat there as well with a worried face, sighing repeatedly.


    She said, "Xia, don''t think too much about it. Maybe the police will catch that scumbag; you need to keep your spirits up."


    At that moment, Xia Qing walked in, holding medicine, and sat by the bed, "Dad, drink some medicine. It''s only when you get better that our family can have hope."


    Xia Yingjie looked at his wife and daughter with moist eyes, "I have let you down, how could I have been so foolish."


    While speaking, he also began to hit his own face.


    Xia Qing quickly grabbed his hand, and tears immediately started to stream down, crying and saying, "Dad, please don''t do this, it''s not your fault; it''s those people who are too wicked."


    Just then, the cellphone on the table suddenly beeped.


    Qin Hao: "Answer it."


    "Hello, Xiaoqing, what''s up?" Tian Yamei answered the call.


    Xia Qing was silent for a few seconds before asking, "Sis, are you with Qin Hao?"


    Tian Yamei glanced at Qin Hao, then replied, "Yes, Mr. Qin is indeed by my side."


    Xia Qing bit her lip and said, "Could you let him talk on the phone?"


    Tian Yamei passed the phone to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao took the phone and said, "Don''t overthink things, I''ve got it all covered."


    Xia Qing''s tears welled up as she heard his words, why do you still have to be so kind to me?


    Why can''t you let me completely forget you?


    Why does fate have to torture me like this?


    If only there was no Du Wanrou.


    Unfortunately, there are no ifs in the world!


    She took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and said, "I will repay you. Thank you."


    Qin Hao sighed internally, "Xiaoqing, you don''t need to be so formal with me, I... we don''t need to be like this."


    Xia Qing''s tears silently slid down her cheeks: "Thank you."


    She hung up the phone.


    Qin Hao sighed, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.


    Tian Yamei, who was beside him, dared not speak, but she could tell that Qin Hao probably had feelings for Xia Qing.


    At six fifty.


    Qin Hao and the others arrived at the Jiangshan Welcoming Hotel, where the banquet was being held in the banquet hall.


    The parking lot already had numerous luxury cars, and some people had just arrived and were getting out of their cars.


    Qin Hao got out of the car and looked around. To his right, he saw a familiar face, Yuan Zhengxiang.


    But Qin Hao quickly turned his head as if he hadn''t recognized him.


    Yuan Zhengxiang also saw him, his expression startled.


    He could hardly believe it was Qin Hao?


    Dressed in a designer suit with a beautiful woman by his side and bodyguards following behind, this couldn''t be Qin Hao, could it? Yet, why did he look so much like Qin Hao?


    Yuan Mingkun said to his son, "Don''t look around; those who come here are all big company honchos. Keep your gaze respectful. Da Mei has arrived, go find her."


    "Dad, I think I saw a classmate. Do you know that person?" Yuan Zhengxiang asked.

 Chapter 188 A Show of Force

    Yuan Mingkun followed his son''s gaze and then shook his head, "I don''t recognize them. Could you have mistaken them? How could your classmate possibly qualify for such an event? Hurry and go find Da Mei and chat with those uncles and elders."


    Qin Hao said to Li Yang and the others, "You guys just wait outside, Mr. Tian and I will go in."


    "Okay, Mr. Qin," Li Yang nodded.


    Just as Qin Hao was about to enter, a voice came from the side, "Is that really Mr. Qin?"


    Bai Jing looked at Qin Hao, with a somewhat surprised expression.


    Qin Hao turned his head and wore a smile on his face, "Mr. Bai, long time no see."


    Bai Jing had once visited his company, attracted by the potential of Jiangshan Roasted Duck and wanted to invest.


    "Having not seen you for more than a month, Mr. Qin, you seem to become increasingly charismatic; even I feel a little captivated," Bai Jing joked.


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, "You flatter me, Mr. Bai. However, you have become more beautiful yourself, to the point that I almost didn''t recognize you."


    Tian Yamei felt somewhat speechless. Did they find pleasure in praising each other?


    But Bai Jing was indeed beautiful and had an elegant demeanor.


    Bai Jing noticed Tian Yamei and curiously asked, "Mr. Qin, is this your girlfriend?"


    Qin Hao, "No, she is the director of our legal department, Tian Yamei."


    Tian Yamei spoke gracefully, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Bai. I''ve long heard of the great reputation of Jiuchang Jewelry Group, and I never expected to meet you in person today. You are a role model for all of us women."


    Bai Jing smiled slightly, "Director Tian overrates me. It''s about time, let''s go inside together, Mr. Qin. Do you mind?"


    Qin Hao, "It would be an honor."


    Bai Jing, along with her female assistant and Qin Hao, entered the Yingbin Hotel.


    On the way, Bai Jing said, "Mr. Qin, I heard that you''ve had some friction with Mr. Ma of Dayuan Group. Do you need me to help mediate?"


    Qin Hao responded indifferently, "No need, Mr. Bai, I haven''t even taken Dayuan Group seriously yet."@@@@


    Bai Jing looked surprised for a moment. If it were someone else, they might think Qin Hao was arrogant, but she was different; she had her sources.


    And she was very clear about who was helping Qin Hao from behind.


    Bai Jing said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, stop calling me Mr. Bai. I am older than you; calling me ''sister'' wouldn''t be a loss, right?"


    Sister?


    She was at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, eight or nine years older than Qin Hao.


    But that''s the way of business exchange.


    Since when did Jiangshan have a Mr. Qin?


    "Who is this Mr. Qin? I haven''t seen him before?" someone quietly said.


    A person nearby quickly reminded, "Do you know about yesterday''s incident? The son of the chairman of Dayuan Group got his legs broken, and he did it."


    "What? Could he be the president of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, so young?" someone said in disbelief.


    "Don''t underestimate him because of his young age. You should be able to see the potential of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company. It won''t be long before we might look up to him. What''s most important is the person backing him; even Ma Bing doesn''t dare to offend him."


    "Let''s hurry over and get to know him, make some connections first."


    Suddenly, about seven or eight people moved toward Qin Hao.


    Most of them were presidents of small and medium-sized companies; their businesses were either unrelated or hostile to Dayuan Group, so they didn''t care about offending Dayuan Group.


    "Hello Mr. Qin, I am the owner of Huayuan Company, Ji Hong, this is my business card,"


    "Hello Mr. Qin, I am the owner of Hongwei Company, Wu Wei."


    ...


    For a while, many people handed him their business cards, and Qin Hao accepted them with a smile.


    After all, these people were coming to greet him, which was an honor for him, and he also needed to show them respect.


    The respectful are respected!


    But Qin Hao realized he hadn''t brought any business cards; he looked at Tian Yamei.


    Tian Yamei was more thoughtful than him, as she took out company business cards and handed them to the surrounding people.


    Bai Jing watched the scene with a smiling face.


    Just then, a group of people walked into the door, led by Ma Bing, with several followers by his side.


    Ma Bing saw Qin Hao among the nearby crowd, and his face immediately darkened. He looked around at the other people, then glanced at Qin Hao and snorted coldly.


    The people around Qin Hao flinched, and some were already thinking of retreating and leaving. Experience exclusive tales on empire


    He hadn''t spoken, but his cold snort could already express his attitude; this was his way of subtly giving Qin Hao a warning.


    The banquet hall fell silent, with nearly everyone looking over this way.


    They wanted to see how Qin Hao would respond, as Dayuan Group had significant influence in the Jiangshan business world.


    Qin Hao knew that at this moment, he had to make a stand, otherwise, his reputation would take a major hit.


    Qin Hao looked at Ma Bing and flashed a subtly mocking smile: "Mr. Ma, aren''t you at home taking care of your son tonight?"


    [Thank you to I Raise a Chestnut for the 1000 coin tip again!]

 Chapter 189 Fundraising Gala

    The crowd inhaled sharply at these words.@@@@


    Qin Hao was really pushing Ma Bing to the brink.


    The harmfulness of that statement was akin to rubbing salt into Ma Bing''s wounds.


    Plus, there was Qin Hao''s contemptuous and mocking smile.


    Everyone around felt a twinge in their heart for Ma Bing.


    Sure enough, Ma Bing''s face turned ashen, his eyes glaring at Qin Hao as if about to shoot flames.


    Unfazed, Qin Hao''s smile remained on his face; he didn''t believe Ma Bing would dare to make a move in such a setting, and even if he did, Qin Hao was confident he could beat him until he couldn''t tell which way was north.


    Ma Bing clenched his teeth fiercely, then walked forward, no longer paying attention to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao said to Liu Jianming and Wang Guanding, "Mr. Liu, Mr. Wang, we''ll talk more when there''s time; I''m going to find my seat now."


    "Mr. Qin, your company''s seats are right at the front; I saw them when I arrived early," Liu Jianming said.


    Qin Hao nodded with a smile, "Thank you, Mr. Liu."


    "Mr. Qin, you''re too polite; it''s only proper," Liu Jianming replied, his posture very humble.


    By now, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was making over ten million in monthly profit, far surpassing him.


    Moreover, behind Qin Hao was a group of people who didn''t fear death.


    Those were the kind of people no one wanted to offend.


    The Dayuan Group might be large, but if Qin Hao were truly provoked, Liu Jianming believed Qin Hao wouldn''t hesitate to break Ma Bing''s legs.


    Plus, with Qin Hao''s official backing, who would dare offend him?


    The fact that Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was seated in the front row was the best proof of his powerful official backing.


    Qin Hao and Bai Jing, along with two others, arrived at the front; their two companies'' seats were right beside each other.


    It wasn''t clear whether this was intentionally arranged or a coincidence.


    On the other side of Qin Hao was Zhongbao Group, where a middle-aged man and a young woman were sitting.


    The young woman was curiously looking at Qin Hao, who smiled back at her before taking his seat.


    In the crowd behind, Yuan Zhengxiang stared unblinkingly at Qin Hao''s back, his heart roiling with tumultuous waves.


    It was him, indeed him¡ªhe was the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    How could this be? When had he founded the company?


    ...


    Xuan Country was indeed developing rapidly and many areas had decent infrastructure, but many regions still lived in hardship.


    It wasn''t just Jiangshan; such places were numerous across the country, only lesser known.


    Sometimes the nation itself was stretched thin!


    The host began, "These are the conditions of several impoverished counties under our Jiangshan jurisdiction. Our Shuinan Province is mountainous, and the living conditions in many mountain villages are still very backward.


    "Moreover, with the rainy season approaching, many areas are prone to landslides and mudslides. As elites in the business world, both the government and I hope that, to the extent possible, you will help these mountain villages and those poor children."


    A leader from the Education Bureau spoke, "Today, we have gathered you here in hopes of raising funds for the construction of poverty-stricken areas in Jiangshan. The donations you make will be used openly and fairly, with absolute transparency, so you can be completely assured of that.


    "Furthermore, both the government and all the people in the impoverished areas will remember what you all do today."


    Several other department leaders spoke as well, mentioning that government funds were insufficient, which is why they had called everyone to donate and raise money.


    The expressions of the crowd remained unchanged as this was not the first time they had encountered such an event. Although reluctant, everyone was expected to donate some amount of money.


    In a room behind the banquet hall, sat several people.


    If anyone had seen them, they would certainly be surprised, for these individuals were all leading figures of Jiangshan.


    "It''s hard to say how much money we''ll be able to raise," someone said with a furrowed brow.


    "Last year, it was only seven million. Who knows how much it will be this year."


    Li Feiyue didn''t speak; he was contemplating the areas most prone to landslides and mudslides.


    By his estimates, at least ten million was needed. What if that was not enough?


    Applying for more funds from above was impossible since the provincial government''s budget had already been exceeded, and Shuinan Province had more than just Jiangshan City.


    Yet, if precautions were not taken in time, heavy rain could easily cause landslides leading to casualties.


    ...


    "We will now begin the donation ceremony," announced the host.


    After the announcement, a person was in charge of the official registration.


    The crowd already knew the drill, starting with the smaller companies at the back.


    "Liangcai Company donates one hundred thousand."


    "Yixiu Company donates one hundred thousand."


    ...


    Qin Hao looked around, noting that there were roughly forty company CEOs present tonight.


    At this rate of donation, reaching ten million would be for the best.

 Chapter 190 The Great Righteousness of the Nation

    The donation amount quickly increased from one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand.


    Those small companies were replaced by medium-sized companies.


    The amounts donated by these people seemed as if they had been agreed upon in advance.


    Small companies mostly donated one hundred thousand, while medium-sized companies donated around two hundred thousand.@@@@


    The current total donations were nearly three million.


    And almost all the medium-sized companies had finished donating, leaving only the large companies sitting in the first row.


    Yuan Zhengxiang''s father had just gone on stage to represent Yuxiang Company with a donation of two hundred thousand.


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    The first to stand up from the first row was Li Wanfu, the chairman of the Jade Beauty Jewelry Group.


    He went on stage and donated five hundred thousand on behalf of the company.


    Then it was the second, the third... and soon it was Ma Bing from Dayuan Group, who also donated five hundred thousand.


    Qin Hao couldn''t help shaking his head, after all, they were large companies with assets amounting to several billion, couldn''t they donate a little more to help the country and the people in the poor regions?


    At this rate, it would be good if they could break ten million.


    These business leaders in the front row drive cars worth millions, yet they act so passively when it comes to doing something beneficial for the country and its people.


    Although it''s not your duty, you are not an ordinary citizen now; you are a capable business magnate.


    Without the country providing you with a stable operating environment and market, you probably wouldn''t even have the opportunity to start a company.


    Now that you are a business elite, don''t you have even the most basic sense of social responsibility and national mission?


    The saying "merchants prize profit and lack loyalty" Qin Hao felt could be applied to people like Ma Bing.


    These companies'' liquid assets were at least several tens of millions, taking out one or two million was easy for them and wouldn''t affect their companies or their lifestyles.


    Yet, this one million could help many people, even save many lives.


    It was just that these people didn''t want to give.


    If there were an opportunity for an investment that could make money, Qin Hao believed these people would definitely fight tooth and nail to invest.


    Of course, what others did was none of his business, and he had no right to criticize them; after all, they had also donated money.


    Sometimes, people think differently, and therefore act differently.


    ...


    It was quickly Deng Zhenyuan from Zhongbao Group''s turn.


    He stood up and walked on stage, saying, "I represent Zhongbao Group with a donation of one million for the poor regions."


    "Applause"


    The applause rang out, and the host ended the clapping before speaking with a smile, "Thank you, Mr. Deng, thank you Zhongbao Group."


    Deng Zhenyuan nodded slightly and then walked down.


    "I need to send someone to supervise the flow of the funds."


    He hoped that his money would be completely spent where it was needed, and not embezzled by someone.


    "There is no problem with that. Mr. Qin, rest assured, all the movements of the funds will be made public, guaranteed to be absolutely transparent. If anyone dares to tamper with this money, I, Li Feiyue, will be the first to not let him off."


    Li Feiyue walked in from the back, his tone authoritative.


    "Mr. Li?"


    The people below the stage hadn''t expected Li Feiyue to be there and were stunned.


    Qin Hao, hearing Li Feiyue address him as Mr. Qin, felt somewhat embarrassed: "Mr. Li, you''re here too?"


    "It''s no big deal, I just came to take a look. This is our second meeting, right? Unexpected, indeed. Not bad, very admirable, for someone so young to achieve so much," said Li Feiyue, his tone full of surprise and admiration.


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Li praises too highly. It was the country that provided me with an environment to study, the opportunity to grow. Naturally, with the abilities I have acquired, I should give back to society, to the motherland.


    Moreover, Jiangshan is my hometown. If there''s a need in my hometown, it''s my duty to help."


    Li Feiyue nodded. If everyone had such awareness, why would Jiangshan worry about wealth? Why would the country worry about strength?


    Looking at those sitting in the front row, Li Feiyue sighed inwardly. When it came to the pursuit of power and profit, they never missed an opportunity, but they were conspicuously absent during events like these.


    The charity event quickly drew to a close after Qin Hao made his donation.


    In total, the event raised twenty-eight million nine hundred thousand, of which eighty percent was donated by Qin Hao, far exceeding the budget.


    Li Feiyue was delighted, as the funds would not only complete the prevention work in several key regions but also allow for the construction of additional primary schools.


    These were great deeds that would aid in the development of the people''s livelihood.


    He had always been an honest and incorruptible official, never exploiting his power for personal gain.


    His goal in holding office was to ensure a better life for the people under his governance.


    This gave him a great sense of achievement.


    It was also his lifelong pursuit and goal.


    Otherwise, he could never have reached this position today.


    The money was quickly transferred to an official account, and Qin Hao also transferred twenty million over.


    When everyone saw that Qin Hao had indeed transferred twenty million, they were immensely shocked.


    Could it be that besides the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, he had other sources of income?


    As he left, many people exchanged business cards with Qin Hao.


    When Qin Hao went out, he was accompanied by Bai Jing and Deng Zhenyuan.


    "Mr. Qin is remarkable, I am impressed," said Deng Zhenyuan to him.


    There was no sarcasm or ridicule in his voice, he was truly expressing his admiration for Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh: "Mr. Deng, don''t you think I''m a fool?"


    Deng Zhenyuan shook his head and said with a smile, "The world says no heroes exist today, but if they met Mr. Qin, they would probably stop saying that. A true hero is the very essence of a nation''s grand morality."


    ```

 Chapter 191 Li Moying Arrives

    Upon leaving Yingbin Hotel, Deng Zhenyuan and Qin Hao bid farewell and left.


    Bai Jing looked Qin Hao up and down and asked with a grin, "Hao, do you have some secret way of making money? Tell your sister so I can make some money too."


    Good little brother?


    Cough cough


    Qin Hao laughed and said, "Not at all, it''s all from selling roasted ducks. Jing, I have to go to the station to pick up a friend, let''s catch up another day when we''re free."


    After that, he hurried into his car.


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    Bai Jing watched his figure, rolled her eyes at him, and then returned to her car as well.


    Qin Hao looked at his watch, 7:46: "First, I''ll drop Mr. Tian off."


    Tian Yamei was still immersed in the donation scene from before.


    TWENTY MILLION just like that?


    That was TWENTY MILLION!!!


    Where did he get so much money?


    If it were me, would I donate it? The answer is no.


    Qin Hao noticed her expression and asked, "What''s on your mind?"


    Tian Yamei looked at him: "Mr. Qin, where did you get all that money?"@@@@


    "Obviously, I earned it myself."


    "Then why did you donate so much? There was no newspaper or TV coverage; it doesn''t really benefit our company much."


    Qin Hao questioned back, "Why does there need to be a benefit?"


    "Isn''t that how it is nowadays? Some companies and celebrities get onto news and newspapers for their donations, using it to boost their company''s image and fame."


    Qin Hao: "That''s already straying from the original intention."


    "Original intention? What does original intention rate against reputation and popularity? If tonight''s donation made the newspaper headlines, it would definitely greatly improve our company''s recognition."


    "Mr. Tian, you have to remember, no matter what you do, never lose sight of your original intention and principles."


    Qin Hao didn''t want to turn charity into a means for profit, as that detracted from the essence of it.


    Of course, many charity donations do get media coverage; it''s unavoidable.


    Qin Hao was talking about those who make a small donation and then heavily promote themselves.


    ...


    After dropping Tian Yamei off, Qin Hao instructed Li Yang to drive to Jiangshan Railway Station.


    He arrived at the station around 8:30.


    Not long after he arrived, his phone rang; it was from his mother.


    Mrs. Qin: "Xiao Hao, where are you? Did you pick up the person?"


    Mrs. Qin, "Xiao Ying, take a rest for a while. I''ll go warm up the roasted duck in the kitchen; it will be ready soon."


    "Yeah, thank you, auntie."


    Mrs. Qin, "Xiao Ying, don''t be so formal. Just make yourself at home."


    "Okay, auntie."


    Mr. Qin told Qin Hao, "Come keep Xiao Ying company for a bit; I''m going to help your mom in the kitchen."


    Qin Hao sat on the couch looking at Li Moying, who just kept giggling.


    "Is it that funny? Did you have a falling out with your family and that''s why you''re here?" Qin Hao asked.


    Li Moying nodded, and the smile faded from her face.


    Qin Hao, "Because of me?"


    "Did you know, master?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Your father once came to see me."


    "What did you tell him, master?" Li Moying asked curiously.


    Qin Hao, "I told him my decisions are not up for others to dictate."


    "Master, you''re so cool. They say you''re a bad guy, but I think not only are you a good person, you''re the best."


    Qin Hao, "Good or bad is not for him to judge. Justice lies in the heart of the people. At the end of the day, your dad is just looking out for you, and you should understand that."


    "I know, it''s just sometimes I can''t stand his temper, so I left."


    In the kitchen


    "This young lady looks quite nice, she''s very pretty, and she seems decent," whispered Mr. Qin.


    Mrs. Qin nodded, "Yeah, she is quite nice, and she came all this way to see our son, she must really like Xiao Hao."


    Mr. Qin, "But I think Xiao Hao doesn''t seem to like Xiao Ying that much."


    Mrs. Qin, "I think he''s gotten too cocky, thinking he''s all that because he''s a boss now? If he doesn''t pursue such a nice girl, I''ll kill him."


    ...


    Dinner was ready soon, including a Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    "Auntie, what kind of duck is this? It''s so delicious," Li Moying said after having eaten half of it herself.


    Mrs. Qin smiled, "Xiao Hao didn''t tell you? This is the roasted duck sold by his company. It''s very popular."


    "Ah? So this is the roasted duck sold by master? It''s really tasty. I don''t think the De Juxiang''s roasted duck is as good as this," Li Moying said as she ate.


    After dinner was cleaned up, it was nearly ten in the evening.


    Qin Hao seeing Li Moying yawn said, "It''s late, and you must be tired after a day on the train. You should rest early; my mom has already made up the bed."


    "Yeah, okay." Li Moying was indeed a bit tired.


    Qin Hao planned to take a trip to Ying County by the border tomorrow, as it bordered Nangong Country and was rich in jade.


    He said, "Mom, dad, I''m going to sleep as well, as I have to go out early tomorrow."

 Chapter 192 Border Ying County

    Qin Hao went back to his room and fell asleep.


    Mr. Qin had originally planned to talk to him about Li Moying''s matter, but seeing that he was already asleep, he didn''t wake him up.


    The next morning, around six o''clock, Qin Hao got up.


    Mrs. Qin and Mr. Qin had already been up for a while, and even Li Moying was up already.


    "You''re up so early, did you sleep well?" Qin Hao was somewhat surprised.


    Li Moying said, "The sun is already so high in the sky, how is this early? I usually go running and exercise by six."


    "Xiao Ying, have some breakfast," Mrs. Qin said to Li Moying.


    Li Moying smiled brightly, "Sure, Auntie."


    She had taken off her head cover, revealing her golden short hair.


    During breakfast, Mrs. Qin asked curiously, "Xiao Hao, where are you going today?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I need to handle some business in Ying County."


    Mr. Qin curiously asked, "That''s quite far. What business?"


    "Company business."


    Mrs. Qin asked, "What about Xiao Ying?"


    Li Moying hurriedly said, "It''s fine, Auntie. I can go with him. I would like to look around anyway."


    "That''s also good," Mrs. Qin nodded.


    Qin Hao felt that he had already lost authority at home¡ªhe hadn''t agreed yet, and his mom had already given permission!


    He tactfully remained silent since he knew his mom had a lot of things to discuss with him.@@@@


    After breakfast, Qin Hao and Li Moying went downstairs.


    Li Yang and his team of eight were on rotation for 24-hour duty. They saw Qin Hao as he came downstairs.


    Then Li Yang walked over, opened the car, and sat down in the driver''s seat.


    Inside the car, Qin Hao said to him, "Let''s go!"


    Li Yang started the car and slowly drove out of the neighborhood, heading straight for the freeway.


    The drive from Jiangshan to the border at Ying County was about two hours.


    In the car, Li Moying asked curiously, "Master, what are you going to Ying County for? To buy jadeite?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yeah, just to take a look."


    Li Moying was puzzled. To look at jadeite for what? Could it be that the master was thinking of getting into the jewelry business?


    All the jade here was transported from Nangong Country.


    There were finished products, semi-finished goods, and raw stones all at different prices.


    Semi-finished goods referred to jade that had not been polished or buffed yet.


    Si Li Jade Market was very famous and large, with countless merchants, and it had made many people rich.


    Qin Hao got out of the car and looked at the bustling market.


    There were lots of people here, most of whom came to buy goods for resale. Very few came here to buy retail.


    "Master, where to next?" Li Moying asked, seeing so many people.


    Qin Hao said with an embarrassed smile, "It''s my first time too!"


    Li Moying expressed her surprise, "Master, don''t tell me you don''t even know where to go?"


    "No worries, I''ll make a call and ask."


    Having said that, Qin Hao took out his phone and called Bai Jing. She was in the jade jewelry business, so she should be clear about this.


    They had exchanged numbers just yesterday, and now it came in handy.


    The call connected quickly.


    Bai Jing teased, "Gosh, Hao, what made you think of calling your sister? Do you want to treat sister to dinner tonight?"


    Cough cough!


    Qin Hao was a bit embarrassed, "Jing, we can talk about dinner when I get back. I''m not in Jiangshan right now, there''s something I want to ask you."


    Bai Jing laughed as if she could picture his embarrassed expression, "Go ahead, as long as I know, I will definitely tell you. Personal questions are okay too, you know."


    ...


    Qin Hao broke into a cold sweat, "Jing, do you know where in Si Li Jade Market I can buy raw stones? Preferably a bigger place with a variety of types."


    "Si Li Jade Market? You''re not in Ying County, are you?" Bai Jing asked in surprise.


    Qin Hao, "That''s right, I just got here and don''t know the place, so I''m asking you."


    Bai Jing said cheerfully, "Hao, we really must be fated. I''m actually entering Ying County right now. I came here to procure a batch of high-end jade. If you don''t mind, just wait there for me, I''ll be there in a few minutes."


    "Sure, Jing, I''ll wait for you for a while."


    After finishing speaking, Qin Hao hung up the phone.


    Li Moying mumbled to the side, "Master, who''s this saucy fox?"


    "That''s her style of interaction, it easily endears people to her. She''s a woman who has managed to grow her company to this point, which is no easy task. Without knowing her personally, don''t jump to conclusions, and show some respect when you speak later," Qin Hao replied.


    Having seen through all this, Qin Hao actually had a good impression of Bai Jing. He wasn''t put off by what she said but did find it a bit overwhelming.

 Chapter 193 Jade Market

    Li Moying softly uttered an "Oh."


    She thought Qin Hao made sense, but she felt a bit awkward hearing Bai Jing''s tone of speech.


    This is my master; no one should tease him!


    Bai Jing did not keep Qin Hao waiting long, and she arrived here a few minutes later.


    She and her secretary got out of the car, followed by two bodyguards.


    "Hao, sorry to keep you waiting. Oh, who is this beautiful lady? Your girlfriend, young brother?" Bai Jing hurriedly changed her manner of addressing seeing a beauty standing next to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "This is my friend Li Moying."


    "Hello, Sister Jing," Li Moying said politely.


    Bai Jing nodded, "Hello, don''t be so formal. Since you''re a friend of the younger brother, you are my friend too. It''s so hot outside, let''s go inside and talk."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, that sounds good."


    As they walked, Bai Jing curiously asked, "Young brother, what brings you here? Planning to enter the jewelry business?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I heard the gem betting here is pretty good, so I came to just have a bit of fun."


    Bai Jing was taken aback, "Young brother, let me advise you, it''s better not to get involved with this stuff. I''ve seen too many millionaires, even billionaires, go bankrupt."


    "It''s okay, Sister Jing, I''m just playing occasionally. Isn''t buying rough gems also a gamble?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Bai Jing shook her head, "I usually purchase the cut rough stones directly, only making a move when I''m sure they''re good quality. I rarely bet on rough stones directly, or buy the ones that have been ''windowed.''


    Qin Hao asked, "Windowed rough stones? What does that mean?"


    Bai Jing was somewhat speechless, "Young brother, you don''t even know this and still want to bet on stones? ''Windowing'' means removing a bit of the outer layer from the rough stone to reveal the jade inside.


    Based on the texture and quality, you can roughly judge what quality of jade will come from the stone. It''s another form of gem betting but with much less risk.


    However, there are also losses involved. In Myanmar, there are experts in windowing who reveal small areas of the stone that look good in terms of color and quality but end up being worthless once they are fully cut.


    Of course, there are also fakes, where they attach a high-quality jade exterior to a worthless stone and then bury it in soil soaked with acid or alkali to create a similar-looking genuine exterior, disguising the man-made traces. I paid a lot of tuition fees to learn these things." She spoke in detail and seriously.


    Finally, she added, "The place I''m taking you to is frequently where I do business. It''s a big operation; there''s no counterfeit stuff there, all authentic from the Nangong Country mines. Many jewelry companies from across the country come here to buy their stock."


    Li Moying was also listening to Bai Jing''s explanations, hearing about these matters for the first time.


    As they talked, they walked through the market to a row of large courtyard houses behind it.


    Bai Jing led them to a courtyard called Yushiyuan.


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    For example, Liu Zhen Tao, whose gaze at Bai Jing carried a hint of lasciviousness.


    Among the people whom Qin Hao surveyed, many brought along elders aged around fifty or sixty.


    These elders were jade gambling experts maintained by big companies, having dealt with jadeite raw stones almost all their lives.


    They were specifically employed by companies to select raw stones.


    Such masters were not easy to find, and their prices were not something ordinary jewelry companies could afford.


    At that moment, another group of people came in from outside.


    Qin Hao turned his head to look, and saw Li Da Mei, Yuan Zhengxiang, and a middle-aged man entering.


    Li Da Mei spoke, "Dad, I heard there''s a new batch of goods here this time. Let me help you pick a few stones today?"


    Li Qiangsheng replied, "Nonsense, Master Guo is a master. You two should learn properly from Master Guo."


    Mr. Guo said, "Mr. Li, you flatter me. I''m no master, I only know a bit."


    Bai Jing also saw Li Qiangsheng; the two were competitors in Jiangshan City, and these days Yumei Jewelry Company had been edging out her Jiuchang Jewelry.


    Because Li Qiangsheng had somehow recruited a jade gambling expert.


    Therefore, Li Qiangsheng''s side had produced a lot of high-quality goods, which sold very well.


    Yuan Zhengxiang spotted Qin Hao, and then noticed Li Moying by his side, his look somewhat enviable and jealous.


    Damn, how come this guy changes the girl beside him every day?


    Wasn''t it rumored that he was with Du Wanrou?


    He''s really a scumbag, just you wait, I''ll let Du Wanrou see your true colors, Yuan Zhengxiang thought grimly.


    By ten in the morning, many people had arrived.


    Someone spoke up, "Mr. Xu, it seems everyone is almost here. Bring out the new goods, let us have a look."


    Smiling, Xu Yunfu said, "Alright, everyone, come with me."


    He led the crowd to the backyard, where stones of various sizes and shapes were laid out on the ground.


    There were hundreds of them.


    Xu Yunfu said, "These are all materials from the old pits, recently mined. I wrapped them up immediately and just had them transported here. Each stone has a price tag; feel free to make a purchase if you like any."


    Qin Hao quietly asked Bai Jing, "Jing, what does ''materials from the old pits'' mean?"


    Bai Jing explained, "Old pits are mines that have been excavated for decades or even a century. Stones from such old pits are very likely to produce top-grade gems.


    Raw stones from new pits are cheaper. Although top-grade jadeites have been found in new pits, jadeites excavated from new pits often change color and turn gray when worn over time!"

 Chapter 194 Selection

    The two were speaking softly; by now, many people had already started selecting stones.


    Among these people were numerous jade gambling enthusiasts.


    Many others hadn''t started handling any stones, as they were mainly there to buy directly.


    If someone cut a good stone and wanted to sell it, they would make an offer to purchase it.


    Qin Hao then asked some basic questions, and Bai Jing answered each patiently.


    Jade quality generally depends on its texture and color.


    The finer and more transparent the texture, the higher the price.


    Jade is classified from high to low quality based on its texture. The best grade is glass-type: fine, pure texture without flaws, with pure, bright, even color.


    The so-called imperial green belongs to the top tier of this glass-type jade.


    There''re also ice type, water type, bean type, ice glutinous type, hibiscus type, horse tooth type, and so forth, with more than a dozen grades in total, quite comprehensive.


    The better the texture and the flawless the stone, the generally higher the price.


    Color is also a bonus factor; good texture with correct color makes for a higher price!


    Qin Hao asked, "Jing, why don''t you buy a couple of pieces?"


    Bai Jing shook her head, "Without a jade gambling master to pick, it''s all up to luck if I buy; there''s a high chance of losing money. Although buying jade that others have cut is more expensive, at least there is a chance to make some profit."


    Qin Hao didn''t push her further but instead looked at the variously shaped large stones around the place.


    The smallest were the size of a fist, the largest more than half a meter long.


    The pricing varied, and it wasn''t that the bigger stones were more expensive, but most of the larger stones were generally higher-priced.


    The cheapest here cost tens of thousands of yuan each, while the most expensive cost millions.


    Li Qiangsheng from Yumei Jewelry Company was following Mr. Guo around, selecting raw stones.


    These people were holding strong flashlights in their hands, occasionally shining them, but it wasn''t very useful.


    The weathered skin outside the raw stones was too thick; the strong flashlight couldn''t penetrate it.


    Qin Hao put on invisible X-ray glasses from his system inventory.


    He didn''t activate the X-ray function yet, but instead said to Bai Jing, "Jing, I''m going to pick a few stones."


    "Hmm, just play around, don''t get addicted," Bai Jing kindly advised.


    Qin Hao nodded and then walked into the midst of the stones.


    Mo Ying followed beside him; she wanted to see what Qin Hao had come all this way for.@@@@


    Was it really just for jade gambling?


    This wasn''t the Qin Hao she knew. Although they hadn''t known each other long, Mo Ying could tell that Qin Hao wasn''t the type to engage in fruitless endeavors.


    Everything he did had a purpose.


    To see someone like him buy one in just a few minutes, especially such a large one, was a first for everyone.


    "Is this guy serious?"


    "Is this what they call a fool with too much money?"


    "Another one who relies on luck; such people usually end tragically."


    Liu Zhen Tao, who was also helping people choose raw stones, saw Qin Hao''s action, glanced at Bai Jing, and chuckled, "Mr. Bai''s guest is indeed extraordinary, impressive."


    Bai Jing heard his sarcasm and snorted coldly, ignoring him.


    The first time she came here, Liu Zhen Tao had pursued her, even though he was already married.


    "Heh, definitely a novice. I hope he loses big time," Yuan Zhengxiang thought to himself.


    While they were talking, Qin Hao had picked another raw stone, also priced over a million.


    Li Yang and the others moved it over, and just as they set it down, Qin Hao had already selected another, with astonishing speed.


    What the hell, what is he doing?


    Even gambling on stones isn''t done this way, right?


    Bai Jing was also stunned; these three stones were almost ten million now, and this is all real money!


    The others stopped choosing and just watched him.


    They wanted to see what exactly Qin Hao was up to.


    Qin Hao couldn''t be bothered with those people, continuing to choose his own raw stones.


    Before long, he had already picked seven or eight raw stones, the total value had exceeded twenty million.


    Xu Yunfu''s expression was calm, but he was extremely pleased inside.


    He had spent thirty million on these stones in total, and now he had already made back more than twenty million; anything else sold was pure profit.


    Qin Hao was still picking. When he saw a stone the size of a baby''s fist, he paused for a moment.


    Then he looked up at Mr. Xu, "Mr. Xu, why isn''t there a price on this one?"


    Mr. Xu was startled, "It must have been overlooked. With this kind of weathered skin and size, our price is usually five hundred thousand."


    Qin Hao, "Oh, then I''ll take it."


    From start to finish, he had spent just over ten minutes picking, and had chosen thirteen raw stones, totaling twenty-six million six hundred fifty thousand.


    Qin Hao transferred the money to Mr. Xu without any delay.


    Mr. Xu''s tone was much more respectful than before, "Mr. Qin, are you taking them back to cut yourself, or do you want to cut them here?"


    "Cut them here." Qin Hao had come here to gamble on stones and make money, so of course he chose to cut on site.


    The people around perked up; they too wanted to see what sort of quality Qin Hao''s selected raw stones were!


    Many were even eager to see his expression if he suffered a loss.

 Chapter 195 Emperor Green

    "Mr. Qin, which piece will you cut first?" Xu Yunfu asked.


    Qin Hao replied, "Cut the biggest one first, right through the middle, into two slices."


    "Mm-hmm, okay Mr. Qin."


    A few people worked together to move the biggest rough stone onto the cutting machine.


    The cutter followed Qin Hao''s instructions and made a cut in the middle of the rough stone.


    "Zzzzzz"


    The sound of the cutting machine filled the air, and stone chips flew everywhere.


    People on both sides of the stone were holding it to prevent it from breaking apart when cut.


    A few minutes later, the rough stone was completely cut open, but the people didn''t let go, so everyone couldn''t yet see the water quality of the jade inside.


    "Open it up," Qin Hao said to Li Yang and others.


    The two placed their pieces of the rough stone flat down, and Xu Yunfu turned on the powerful flashlight, shining it on the cut surface of the stone.


    The light instantly filled the entire jade rough stone.


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    "Ice jadeite?" An experienced old-timer, upon seeing this, opened his eyes wide in astonishment.


    Such a large piece of ice jadeite was very rare, especially one with so few cracks and impurities on its surface.


    Xu Yunfu was stunned, glancing at Qin Hao, wondering whether the latter was truly a novice or a stone gambling expert.


    Everyone was somewhat incredulous¡ªhad they struck such a high-quality piece of jade on the very first cut?


    Yuan Zhengxiang and Liu Zhen Tao were agape with astonishment. Had he stepped in dog poop when he left the house for having such luck?


    "Damn, how can this guy''s luck be so good? Such a large piece of ice jadeite?"


    "There are cracks only on the edge, hardly affecting it at all. This piece of jadeite is conservatively estimated to be worth more than 20 million."


    "With just one piece, he''s nearly made his money back. Xu''s batch is way too good."


    Someone asked, "Mr. Qin, are you selling this piece of jadeite? I''ll offer 20 million?"


    "I''ll bid 22 million." Someone immediately raised the price.


    Bai Jing also spoke up, "Mr. Qin, I''ll offer 25 million."


    The remaining rough stones were cut one after another, none as astonishingly good as the previous ones.


    But none were too bad either, some netting a few hundred thousand, with the higher ones making a million.


    After cutting more than ten stones, with two left, Qin Hao''s earnings had reached over 30 million.


    When he initially selected the stones, he didn''t always choose the exceptionally good ones because that would easily raise suspicion.


    Now, this approach greatly reduced any doubts they might have had.


    The appraised estimation of Qin Hao shifted from initial disdain to acknowledgement.


    Qin Hao was definitely not a novice; on the contrary, he was a stone gambling expert.


    The courage he displayed in such a short time to make purchases was not something everyone possessed.


    Xu Yunfu now felt so regretful he could turn blue. The stones Qin Hao cut were worth over 50 million. If he had kept them for himself to cut, he would have earned much more.


    The twelfth stone was also about to be cut. This was a rough stone about the size of an adult''s fist. Instead of cutting it, Qin Hao had Xu carve two windows into it from the top and bottom.


    When the first window was made, revealing a vivid, rich green.


    Everyone''s eyes lit up, staring at the window that had just been opened.


    Upon seeing it, Xu Yunfu swallowed hard. Emperor green?


    He quickly took out his flashlight to illuminate it, confirming its transparent crystal and naturally pure color.


    Was he really witnessing someone cut emperor green in his shop?


    He was somewhat excited; after all, such top-quality jadeite was rare and even harder to come by when cutting.


    Being able to personally cut emperor green was also a stroke of luck for him.


    He hurriedly opened another window below, turned on the light, and the glow shone straight through from top to bottom, looking beautiful.


    "50 million," Liu Zhen Tao couldn''t help but make an offer this time.


    This was emperor green after all, a supreme jadeite with a value that''s difficult to define by price alone. If turned into a decorative piece, it could definitely serve as the centerpiece of a jewelry store.


    "60 million," Li Qiangsheng also joined the bidding.


    "80 million," a blonde, blue-eyed foreign man bid.


    This was the first time Qin Hao saw the foreign man make a move.


    The price soared rapidly; emperor green jadeite was too rare to come by!

 Chapter 196 Dragon Stone Seed

    Bai Jing also spoke at this point, "One hundred million!"


    She truly liked this fist-sized piece of imperial green, but she knew her chances of getting it were slim.


    There were many jewelry groups present with far greater resources than hers.


    Such a large piece of imperial green was rare and completely flawless, and its market value should be between three hundred million and five hundred million.


    This was only her estimate, after all, imperial green was too rare, and she was not clear on the exact price herself.


    A few years ago, this market had seen an imperial green of a woman''s fist size, but the color and size were not as good as this one; it sold for nearly three hundred million at the time.


    Its value would definitely be higher now.


    Xu Yunfu''s heart was bleeding. If he could choose again, he would definitely not sell these raw stones.


    Imperial green, worth hundreds of millions.


    He could have made a great sum of money from it.


    But there are no regrets for sale in this world, and he didn''t have the courage to cut it open.


    He had once cut open a batch of old mine raw stones by himself before, and ended up with a loss so severe it left him green-faced.


    Since then, he never cut again; he just bought in batches and sold them off, making a decent profit.


    ...


    "Three hundred million!" A middle-aged man who had been silent until now suddenly spoke up, raising the price to three hundred million outright.


    Many retracted on hearing this price, it was too high.


    Their companies didn''t have that much in liquid assets.


    Many turned their eyes toward the bidding middle-aged man, showing puzzled looks. Who was this man?


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    The blond, blue-eyed foreigner then said, "Please hold on a moment, sir, I need to make a call."


    Qin Hao nodded. He was here to make money, and naturally, the higher the price, the better.


    Creating the latest generation of Xinghai intelligent robots required extensive funds, and, for now, he could only rely on gemstone gambling to raise some money.


    Soon, the blond, blue-eyed foreigner hung up the phone and said, "Three hundred and fifty million."


    The middle-aged man didn''t hesitate and raised the price again, "Four hundred million."


    "Four hundred and ten million!"


    "Four hundred and fifty million!"


    The blond, blue-eyed foreigner shook his head, indicating he would not raise his bid any further.


    The reason it was called Dragon Stone type is that this variety of jade was extremely rare, like a dragon whose presence is unseen.


    Bai Jing stared dumbfounded at Qin Hao''s profile, the more she looked, the more she felt Qin Hao was like an enigma, exuding mystery everywhere.


    She felt somewhat fortunate, thankful that she had not sided with the Dayuan Group back then, otherwise, she feared she would have been the one to lose in the end.


    She had a premonition that if Dayuan Group foolishly continued to confront Qin Hao head-on, Dayuan Group would meet a miserable end!


    "I''ll offer eight billion, Mr. Qin, would you sell?" Liu Zhen Tao asked.


    Qin Hao glanced at him and said with a light smile, "Even if I were giving it away, I wouldn''t sell it to you."


    Liu Zhen Tao''s expression fluctuated, and Qin Hao saying this in front of so many people was tantamount to slapping his face publicly.


    But he didn''t reflect on how he had just treated Qin Hao.


    Contempt, disdain, mockery!


    Although Qin Hao didn''t speak, his heart was like a clear mirror, he was aware of how everyone treated him.


    Bai Jing felt very satisfied hearing Qin Hao''s words.


    Serves you right, for looking down on people!


    The expressions of the crowd varied, some schadenfreude, and some remained composed.


    At that moment, the middle-aged man said, "Dragon Stone type is a once-in-a-century rarity, a priceless treasure for many, Mr. Qin, do you intend to deal? If so, we could go have a chat."


    Qin Hao looked at the fist-sized piece of Dragon Stone type jade and nodded slightly.


    He wasn''t particularly fond of jade, and although the Dragon Stone type was a rare treasure, in his eyes, it was just a stone,


    "Alright, Mr. Qin, I''ll find a place, and we can talk slowly," the middle-aged man said with a smile.


    Qin Hao followed him out of the Jade Origin, with Li Moying, Bai Jing, and others also coming out.


    After they left, the crowd reacted and began to choose rough stones, feeling that Xu Yunfu''s batch of goods contained many good items, so they also planned to make a purchase.


    Little did they know that all the good items had already been chosen by Qin Hao.


    ...


    Qin Hao and the others followed the middle-aged man to a nearby teahouse.


    The middle-aged man secured a private room, where only Qin Hao, Li Moying, Bai Jing, and he were present.


    Smiling, the middle-aged man said, "Let me introduce myself, I am Zhu Huasheng, the chairman of Shenglong Group."


    "Shenglong Group?" Bai Jing was so surprised she nearly jumped from her chair.


    Qin Hao hadn''t heard of the name, but seeing Bai Jing''s reaction, he believed this Shenglong Group must be significant.


    Smiling, he said, "So you are Mr. Zhu of Shenglong Group, I have long heard of your great reputation."@@@@

 Chapter 197 Ungrateful

    Zhu Huasheng said with a laugh, "Mr. Qin, you probably haven''t heard of Shenglong Group and my name before!"


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh, "Well, knowing now isn''t too late."@@@@


    Zhu Huasheng continued, "Shenglong Group is a multinational jade and jewelry group with total assets of nearly one hundred billion. We have branches in many countries around the world.


    We are a family-run enterprise. The Zhu Family has been doing business in jade jewelry in Shuinan Province for generations, and we were prominent merchants in Lingnan since the previous dynasties."


    Qin Hao listened intently, but couldn''t understand why he was saying all this.


    To intimidate with power? But Zhu Huasheng didn''t come off that way!


    "To get to the point, I was actually hoping to discuss with Mr. Qin the possibility of joining our company. I guarantee the terms we offer will satisfy you," Zhu Huasheng finally revealed his intention.


    He believed that Qin Hao had an uncanny ability to judge raw stones, which was evident from those he selected.


    If such a talent were to join their company, he was confident that Shenglong Group would become even more powerful.


    Qin Hao was speechless internally, so it was a recruitment pitch!


    Even though Shenglong Group was strong now, Qin Hao was confident that he would far surpass Zhu Huasheng and his Shenglong Group in the future.


    Qin Hao said, "Sorry, Mr. Zhu, I''m not too keen on working for others."


    Zhu Huasheng nodded slightly, "No problem. Don''t mind my prying. Shall we talk about the Dragon Jade now?"


    Qin Hao asked, "What price does Mr. Zhu plan to offer?"


    Zhu Huasheng replied, "Dragon Jade is very rare. I can offer up to fifteen billion to Mr. Qin. This price is absolutely fair, as I still hope to be friends with Mr. Qin."


    Fifteen billion!


    The price left Qin Hao astonished; could a mere stone really be worth so much?


    Adding to the money earned from those raw stones, he had made close to twenty billion that morning.


    The thought was terrifying even to himself.


    Even robbing a bank probably wouldn''t yield as much, right?


    Qin Hao thought for a moment, then agreed.


    His total funds had now reached twenty-two billion. Although it wasn''t quite enough, it wasn''t far off either.


    Li Moying, standing beside him, had her mouth slightly open in shock at the price.


    Twenty billion in less than a morning, am I dreaming?


    Her family''s entire hotel business might make that much in a month.


    After the transaction, they exchanged contact information and left the teahouse.


    Once out of the teahouse, Qin Hao had a smile on his face, "I''ll treat you to lunch today, let''s have some lamb offal soup."


    ...


    Kang Youyi, "Hao, something has come up. Could you come to the company?"


    After hanging up, Qin Hao frowned slightly, as Kang Youyi wouldn''t have put it this way unless it was something important.


    He said to Li Yang, "Go to the company first."


    "Yes, Mr. Qin," Li Yang replied and turned at the junction ahead.


    After about ten minutes, Qin Hao''s car arrived at the Shenghua Building.


    Li Moying also followed him out, curious to see Qin Hao''s company for herself.


    Taking the elevator to the office, the atmosphere inside was different from usual.


    Qin Hao went to Kang Youyi''s office.


    With a worried face, Kang Youyi quickly stood up from his seat on the ground as soon as he saw Qin Hao come in.


    "What''s happened?" Qin Hao asked.


    Kang Youyi let out a heavy sigh, "Hao, today at the Danhe Shop, we caught one of the roast duck staff hiding a cooked ingredient recipe.


    Upon questioning, we found out someone offered him a high price for the recipe.


    As for who''s behind it, we''ve already investigated; it''s the assistant to Meng Hui, the vice president of the Dayuan Group.


    "Dayuan Group?" Qin Hao''s gaze narrowed slightly.


    Kang Youyi nodded, "What should we do, Hao?"


    "Even if he gets his hands on the cooked ingredient recipe, he won''t be able to figure out the actual formula for the ingredients. Even if he knows how many types of herbs there are, he doesn''t know the correct amounts and proportions to use. Trying one by one, he''d grow old and still not figure it out. You don''t have to worry about this," Qin Hao said.


    Kang Youyi finally relaxed, but then he noticed Li Moying standing nearby.


    Damn, Hao is always surrounded by beautiful women.


    "Hao, who is this lady?" Kang Youyi asked, his eyes showing admiration upon looking at Li Moying.


    Qin Hao, "My university friend Li Moying." Stay tuned for updates on empire


    He didn''t refer to Li Moying as his apprentice; that was just a game. It was one thing to say it in the game, but he found it difficult to say the same in reality.


    Li Moying smiled slightly, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Kang."


    "Please, don''t call me Mr. Kang, you can just call me Fatty," Kang Youyi quickly said.


    Qin Hao then spoke up, "Fatty, be extra careful these days. I have a feeling the Dayuan Group won''t let things slide easily."


    Kang Youyi was aware of the feud between Qin Hao and Ma Bing and knew it was beyond reconciliation.


    "Don''t worry, Hao. I''ll definitely heighten security, and surveillance has already been set up in all our shops."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, a ruthless glint in his eye, If the Dayuan Group doesn''t know what''s good for them, then they can''t blame me, Qin Hao, for being harsh.


    [Vote for us]

 Chapter 198 Pulling the Rug from Underneath

    "Hao, how should we deal with that person?" Kang Youyi asked cautiously.


    Qin Hao: "Deal with it seriously, notify all staff, and add him to the company''s blacklist, never to be employed again."


    Kang Youyi asked uncertainly, "Hao, should we turn the person over to the police station?"


    Qin Hao: "Yes, then communicate the outcome to all the employees. I pay them a good salary, not for them to steal company secrets. What use is there in keeping such ingrates?"


    The rest of the matter was left to Kang Youyi.@@@@


    He left the company with Li Moying.


    Getting into the car, Qin Hao thought for a moment and then took out his phone to make a call.


    The call was quickly answered, and he asked, "Li Bao, are you at the company?"


    "Here, Hao." Li Bao replied.


    Qin Hao: "Wait for me at the company, I''ll be right there."


    Li Yang started the car and drove toward the Feibao Security Company.


    Qin Hao turned to Li Moying sitting beside him, "Are you tired? Should I take you home first?"


    "It''s okay, I''m not tired." Li Moying replied with a smile.


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao and his company arrived at Feibao Security Company.


    After getting out of the car, Qin Hao and Li Moying walked upstairs.


    As they walked, Li Moying asked, "Master, is this also your company?"


    Qin Hao nodded: "Sort of, I own half of the shares."


    While talking, Qin Hao arrived at Li Bao''s office.


    Li Bao was seen sitting there, frowning.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao enter, Li Bao stood up and said, "Hao is here."


    "Did you hire more people?" Qin Hao had seen many individuals training in the plaza outside when he arrived.


    Li Bao shook his head: "No, those were all dismissed by their employers. Dayuan Group put pressure on those companies, and they terminated their contracts with us. If it weren''t for the little influence I have, I fear everyone would have been fired and sent back."


    Qin Hao frowned: Dayuan Group again, they move fast.


    Dayuan Group had been established for decades and held significant influence in the local Jiangshan area, simply not comparable to Qin Hao''s Jiangshan Company.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Select a group of reliable and smart people to form the inspection department of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company. I''ll speak to company finance, and then wages will be transferred to you."


    After dinner, Li Moying went to rest.


    Qin Hao also returned to his room, and his father followed him in.


    "Xiao Hao, Dad has something he wants to ask you," Mr. Qin said, sitting on the bed.


    Curiously, Qin Hao looked at his father: "What is it, Dad?"


    Mr. Qin asked, "Do you have a girlfriend?"


    Qin Hao hesitated, then said, "I do."


    Mr. Qin''s eyebrows furrowed slightly: "Who?"


    "My high school classmate."


    "Xiaoqing?" Mr. Qin asked.


    Qin Hao shook his head: "No, Xia Qing wasn''t in my class."


    Mr. Qin said, "Then what''s the deal with this Mo Ying? If you two have nothing going on, would she come all this way to find you? Be honest, have you done something to that girl? And what about Xiaoqing, have you been playing with her feelings? Do you think that just because you have money now, you can do whatever you want? Hao, Dad wants to make this clear to you today: no matter whether you are rich or poor, if you dare to do something so disgraceful, don''t blame your father for driving you out of the Qin family and disowning you as my son."


    "What''s going on? Why so loud? Mo Ying just fell asleep," Mrs. Qin, having heard the noise, came in from outside.


    Without paying attention to Li Shujie, Mr. Qin continued to speak to Qin Hao: "The men of the Qin family must be upright and honest, never doing anything against their conscience."


    "How is our son not upright?" Mrs. Qin retorted.


    Mr. Qin snorted coldly: "Let him tell you himself."


    That day Mr. Qin suddenly remembered Xia Qing and, thinking about Li Moying, started to suspect his son might have gone astray.


    Qin Hao explained, "Dad, there''s really nothing between Mo Ying and me. If there were, Mom would have found out last night."


    ...


    Mrs. Qin glared at him displeasedly: "What do you mean ''found out''? I was just asking."


    Qin Hao continued to explain, "There''s nothing between Xia Qing and me either. After she knew I had a girlfriend, we hardly contacted each other."


    Mrs. Qin was astonished: "Girlfriend? Xiao Hao, you have a girlfriend? Why didn''t you say so earlier? When will you bring her home for your mom to see?"


    Qin Hao said, "Her parents don''t really approve of us, so I didn''t tell you."


    "Don''t approve? My son is so excellent, what right do they have to disapprove? What does her family do?" Mrs. Qin asked curiously.


    Qin Hao said, "They also run a business and own a company, bigger than mine."


    Mrs. Qin remarked, "No wonder they disapprove; they look down on us."


    Mr. Qin felt somewhat guilty inside. If he had been a capable father, his son wouldn''t have to face such disrespect.

 Chapter 199 Young Mans Success

    Mrs. Qin started to advise, "Son, if it really doesn''t work, then let''s not chase after it. Although your company isn''t as big as his now, who can guarantee what the future holds?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mm, I understand, Mom. I can handle this matter."


    Mrs. Qin didn''t say anything else and returned to her room.


    Qin Hao looked at his silent father, knowing he was blaming himself.


    He spoke up, "Dad, I will work hard. I''ll go with you to Grandma''s house at the end of the year. By then, no one will look down on us."


    Mr. Qin''s face broke into a smile, "Mm, good. I, Qin Youguo, have a great son."@@@@


    "Dad, don''t think too much. Go to sleep early."


    ...


    October 5th


    In the morning, after breakfast, Mrs. Qin said to him, "Xiao Hao, if you''re free today, take Xiao Ying for a stroll around Jiangshan."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mm, got it Mom."


    He had plans to go out anyway.


    He and Li Moying went downstairs, and Qin Hao said to her, "I''ll stop by the office first, then I''ll take you around Jiangshan."


    "Mm-hmm," Li Moying nodded.


    Qin Hao drove to the office; most people were off, so there weren''t many there today.


    Kang Youyi was at the company, and Qin Hao went straight to him.


    "Hao, what brought you here? Aren''t you resting?" Kang Youyi was somewhat surprised.


    Qin Hao asked, "Youyi, are you familiar with the distilleries? Do you know how many distilleries we have in Jiangshan?"


    Kang Youyi replied, "Distilleries? Dayuan Group''s distillery is the biggest; I''m not sure about the others. Hao, why are you asking about this?"


    Qin Hao said, "Have someone investigate; I plan to acquire a distillery."


    Kang Youyi looked stunned, "Acquire a distillery? Hao, you''re not planning to compete with Dayuan Group, are you?"


    Qin Hao responded, "Does Dayuan Group really think I, Qin Hao, am a pushover? I want them to know the consequences of offending me."


    "Hao, we still have to acquire a few more duck farms, and the roasted duck shops need to expand. We don''t have that much capital," Kang Youyi said softly.


    Qin Hao reassured, "Don''t worry about the funds, I have it. If the company needs more, you can also let me know."


    Kang Youyi replied, "Hao, the funds we have should be enough. Growing step by step, we can also keep up with the management; taking too big a step could lead to trouble."


    ...


    After leaving the company, Qin Hao took Li Moying out to have fun.


    Joy Valley and two other historical sites.


    In Kun City, the capital of Shuinan Province.


    Du Wanrou had accompanied her father to several business banquets these past few days. She didn''t want to go originally, but Du Hongfeng insisted on bringing her along.


    Since Du Hongfeng only had this one daughter, the company would definitely be left to her in the future, and he wanted to cultivate her properly.


    That morning, Du Hongfeng was working in the office at the headquarters in Kun City.


    His email received a message from a stranger.


    He opened it and immediately froze.


    There were several photos of a man and a woman standing close together, looking at the ground.


    He felt the man looked somewhat familiar.


    Upon closer inspection, he frowned: Qin Hao?


    Below the pictures was a line of text: Mr. Du, your daughter is already with Qin Hao, but Qin Hao as a person is not all that great. Yesterday, he took a beautiful woman to Ying County and they were very intimate.


    My daughter is with Qin Hao?


    His pupils contracted at this sentence.


    Then he got up and left the office, driving straight back to his home in Kun City.


    In the living room, Feng Yun and Du Wanrou were sitting together chatting.


    Seeing Du Hongfeng return with a gloomy face, the mother and daughter curiously looked at him.


    "What''s wrong?" Feng Yun asked.


    Without a word, Du Hongfeng looked at Du Wanrou and asked, "Are you together with that Qin Hao?"


    Du Wanrou was taken aback. How did her father know?


    Could it have been her aunt?


    But she had told her aunt not to tell her parents yet.


    Seeing his daughter''s reaction, Du Hongfeng had already gotten his answer, and his expression was very embarrassed: "You know very well what kind of person he is. Why are you still with him?"


    Enjoy new tales from empire


    Knowing it wasn''t the time to be silent, Du Wanrou spoke, "Dad, you might have misunderstood him. He is actually quite decent. My aunt has met him too, and she is now working at his branch office in Jianghai City."


    "How could Xiangyi be working at his company?" Feng Yun said in surprise.


    Turning to speak, Du Hongfeng said, "You know his background. Just a few days ago, in broad daylight, he broke both legs of the son of the Dayuan Group''s chairman Ma Bing. He''s arrogant from young success; such a person will not end well in the future. Do you think you''ll have a future with him?"

 Chapter 200 Attitude Shift

    Du Hongfeng didn''t bring up the matter of the photos. He also feared his daughter wouldn''t be able to accept it, so he was trying to convince his daughter in other ways now.


    "He wouldn''t hit someone for no reason," Du Wanrou defended Qin Hao. "Dad, who told you that?"@@@@


    "I heard it from a friend in Jiangshan. He just mentioned it in passing, and I happened to hear it. Wan Rou, it''s easy to know someone''s face, but not their heart," Du Hongfeng advised earnestly.


    Du Wanrou was exceptionally adamant, "Dad, I believe in him."


    "You believe in him? Do you know what he''s been doing these past few days? He''s been entertaining a beautiful woman."


    After saying that, Du Hongfeng took out his cellphone to show her a few photos.


    Du Wanrou''s expression tightened when she saw them; she recognized the woman, the daughter of the chairman of Jinxiu Group.


    How could they be together?


    What have they been doing together?


    Du Wanrou didn''t want to think about it, nor did she dare to, but some images kept popping into her mind on their own.


    She turned pale and stood up, saying, "Dad, I''m tired. I want to rest for a bit."


    After speaking, she went back to her own room and locked the door behind her.


    Concern showed on Feng Yun''s face as she looked at Du Hongfeng.


    Du Hongfeng sat on the sofa, frowning, and lit a cigarette.


    Feng Yun thought for a moment and then took out her cellphone to call her sister, Feng Xiangyi.


    The call was quickly connected.


    Feng Xiangyi asked curiously, "Sis, what''s up?"


    Feng Yun said, "You know about Xiao Rou''s situation; how could you not say a word to me?"


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "Sis, are you talking about Qin Hao and Xiao Rou?"


    Impatiently, Feng Yun said, "Of course, what else could it be?"


    "Xiao Rou asked me not to say anything, so I didn''t. Sis, the boyfriend Xiao Rou found is really not bad. You should meet him someday; I''m sure you''ll approve of him," Feng Xiangyi added a word of praise for Qin Hao.


    ...


    "What kind of future can a guy who sells roasted duck have? Sis, I know you''re working for him; stop making him sound so good," Feng Yun said disapprovingly.


    "Well-connected? Could his connections be stronger than yours, Deng?" Du Hongfeng asked tentatively.


    Deng Zhenyuan chuckled, "Du, we''ve been old classmates for years, I won''t hide it from you¡ªnone of the business tycoons in Shuinan Province have connections as powerful as his."


    Du Hongfeng gasped in amazement. Had someone else said this to him, he would have dismissed it as bragging.


    But he knew Deng Zhenyuan; Deng was not that kind of person.


    Qin Hao had connections that reached the heavens?


    He was just now realizing how little he actually knew about Qin Hao.


    His understanding of him remained stuck in the distant past.


    Deng Zhenyuan kept talking, "I sat with him at a banquet a few days ago. The man is wise and composed, cool-headed in the face of trouble, and what''s more important¡ªhe has the heart of a noble child, a concern for the whole world. My daughter also thinks highly of him, and I heard he doesn''t have a girlfriend. In a few days, I plan to take some time to have a meal with him, perhaps play matchmaker."


    Cough cough


    "Thanks, Deng, I''ve got to go now," said Du Hongfeng.


    Continue reading at empire


    Deng Zhenyuan replied, "Sure, when we''re both free, I''ll introduce you to him."


    Introduce him to me? Do I need you to introduce my future son-in-law?


    At that moment, Du Hongfeng felt a clear sense of joy, saying with a smile, "Alright then, I''ll hang up first, Deng."


    ...


    After hanging up the phone, the gloomy look on Du Hongfeng''s face had vanished; he wore a grin.


    He turned to Feng Yun and instructed, "Go and call Xiao Rou out."


    Feng Yun responded, "You made your daughter angry; you go get her."


    Helplessly, Du Hongfeng got up and went to the door of Du Wanrou''s room. He knocked and said, "Xiao Rou, open the door. Dad has something to tell you."


    There was no response from inside!


    Du Hongfeng continued, "After giving it some thought, Dad feels that those photos from before weren''t quite right. This might very well be someone''s ploy, trying to use me to drive a wedge between you two. Open the door, I won''t stop you from dating Qin Hao, but there are some things I need to tell you."


    The bedroom door opened from the inside; Du Wanrou''s eyes were slightly red as she looked at him, "Dad, you weren''t just pacifying me earlier, were you?"


    Seeing his daughter''s red eyes, he felt a pang of distress, "How could Dad possibly lie to you? However, there are some things Dad needs to tell you."

 Chapter 201 Tianquan Wine Industry

    Du Wanrou asked curiously, "What are you talking about?"


    "Sit down, Dad will tell you slowly," Du Hongfeng said with a smile.


    Du Wanrou sat back down on the sofa.


    Du Hongfeng began, "Xiao Rou, what Dad did just now was wrong, but it was all for your good. I''ve thought it through now. I won''t object to you and Qin Hao anymore, but your mom and I need to meet him and make sure everything is okay for you."


    "I don''t want to see him right now," Du Wanrou thought about those photos and her mind couldn''t stop wandering.


    Knowing what she was thinking about, Du Hongfeng said, "Xiao Rou, this matter is very strange. When I was at work, an email suddenly came to my inbox, and when I opened it, it was these photos.


    Now, I''ve thought it over carefully and feel that this is a plot, someone is deliberately trying to sabotage your relationship.


    These photos really don''t prove anything. If Qin Hao truly had something going on with that woman, the person wouldn''t have sent just these pictures. Of course, it''s also possible they didn''t have the chance to take more, but chances are slim since they were sneaking photos.


    So I''m guessing that Qin Hao and that woman don''t have anything going on."@@@@


    Upon hearing her father''s analysis, Du Wanrou felt a little better. "Dad, you were opposing it just now. Why are you saying this now?"


    With an embarrassed smile, Du Hongfeng didn''t know how to explain.


    Feng Yun, who had no such reservations, spoke up, "Just now he called your Uncle Deng to ask about Qin Hao. Your Uncle Deng praised him non-stop and even thought about introducing his daughter to Qin Hao."


    "Ah? Dad, what did you say?" Du Wanrou''s heart suddenly raced.


    Du Hongfeng said, "I didn''t say much, Qin Hao has been shamelessly pursuing you, even if Old Deng wanted to, he couldn''t snatch him away."


    ...


    Blushing, Du Wanrou protested, "Dad, Qin Hao wasn''t shamelessly pursuing me."


    Du Hongfeng replied, "You think Dad doesn''t know how he used to chat with you? Now thinking about it, I feel like hitting him."


    Her cheeks turning even redder, Du Wanrou wondered, How does Dad know all this?


    With an annoyed glance at Du Hongfeng, Feng Yun then said, "Today your mother will tell you how to keep a man''s heart. You should show your virtues and elegance in front of him, but at times you also need to show your capabilities, being able to share his worries at home, and help him with business matters outside..."


    Feng Yun said a lot, and both Du Hongfeng and Du Wanrou were left stunned.


    ...


    Jiangshan City


    Approaching eleven in the morning, Qin Hao received a call from Du Wanrou.


    "Hello, what''s wrong, Wan Rou?" Qin Hao quickly answered the call.


    "What are you doing?" Du Wanrou asked.


    Qin Hao replied, "I''m out playing with a friend, what''s up?"


    "A guy or a girl?"


    By the time the two got to the hotel, it was almost half-past eleven.


    Taking the elevator to room 701, Bai Jing was already there waiting for him.


    Seeing Qin Hao arrive, she smiled, "Hao, Miss Li, please sit. Waiter, serve the dishes."


    "There''s no need to be so polite, Jing," Qin Hao said as he sat down.


    Bai Jing: "You helped me a lot yesterday, so this meal is the least I could do."


    Li Moying sat beside them, quiet and seemingly lost in thought.


    Qin Hao: "You''re too kind, Jing. I just said a word."


    Bai Jing: "Hao, don''t be so modest. If you need anything in the future, just ask. If I can do it, I will."


    After thinking for a moment Qin Hao said, "Actually, Jing, there is something I want to ask you about."


    "What is it?" Bai Jing was curious.


    Qin Hao: "Do you know of any large wineries in Jiangshan?"


    "Wineries?" Bai Jing was surprised.


    What does Qin Hao mean by this? Is he planning to compete with Dayuan Group for market share?


    But does he even know about wine-making? Even if he does, could his wine be better than Dayuan Group''s?


    With a look of surprise, she asked, "Are you planning to go head-to-head with Dayuan Group?"


    "Yes, Jing, do you know of any? Preferably a larger one," Qin Hao nodded.


    After thinking, Bai Jing said, "There is one I know called Tianquan Wine Industry. It used to be quite famous in Jiangshan, but it was almost driven out of business by Dayuan Group, who tried to acquire it several times without success."


    Qin Hao''s eyes lit up: "Do you know the owner of Tianquan Wine Industry, Jing?"


    "I do know him, but I haven''t contacted him in a long time."


    Qin Hao: "Would you mind contacting him for me?"


    Bai Jing nodded: "Sure, I''ll call Mr. An right now."


    After saying that she took out her phone and dialed An Dongsheng, the owner of Tianquan Wine Industry.


    The phone rang a few times before connecting: "Mr. Bai, what brings you to call? If it''s about being an intermediary for Dayuan Group, forget it."


    Bai Jing: "Mr. An, don''t rush, Ma Bing hasn''t got me acting as an intermediary yet. I have a friend who would like to meet you to discuss something."


    "A friend? What friend?" An Dongsheng asked, puzzled.


    Bai Jing: "Mr. An might not know him. I''ll bring my friend over this afternoon, do you have time?"


    After hesitating for a moment, An Dongsheng on the other end said, "Yeah, sure."

 Chapter 202 Acquiring Tianquan Winery

    After hanging up the phone,


    Bai Jing said to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, it looks like there''s hope."@@@@


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, the fact that An Dongsheng agreed to meet indicated that there was room for negotiation.


    Tianquan Wine Industry had long been driven out of the market by Da Yuan Wine.


    Struggling to survive, An Dongsheng, although Bai Jing didn''t specify what she intended to do, could guess that someone must be looking to buy his winery.


    Bai Jing asked, "Hao, what''s your relationship with Feibao Security Company?"


    "That''s also my company, Jing. In the future, if you ever need anything, feel free to give it more support," Qin Hao replied with a smile.


    Bai Jing was taken aback and then said, "Rest assured, as your sister, I''ll certainly take care of your business. I''ll promote it for you later on, and I believe many will be rushing to seek out Flying Leopard Security."


    Their lunch was a mix of conversation and dining, with Li Moying listening the entire time. She connected the dots to the previous day''s events and somewhat understood the situation.


    Qin Hao and Dayuan Group were at odds, and Dayuan Group had already made a covert move. Qin Hao was planning a counterattack.


    "Master, you also know how to make wine?" Li Moying asked curiously.


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "Is it that difficult?"


    ...


    Bai Jing and Li Moying were somewhat speechless. Qin Hao made it sound so easy, but the craft of winemaking was complex and profound; a slight mistake could result in a significant change in flavor.


    After lunch, the three of them left the hotel.


    Then, led by Bai Jing, they drove towards Tianquan Winery.


    Tianquan Winery was located in the Ningshan Development Zone of Jiangshan City.


    They arrived outside the winery just after two in the afternoon.


    Stepping out of the car, Qin Hao and Li Moying both looked at the winery in front of them; it was large and seemed deserted and quiet.


    There wasn''t even a security guard at the main gate.


    Bai Jing took out her phone and called An Dongsheng, "Mr. An, we''ve arrived."


    An Dongsheng replied, "Mr. Bai, please wait a moment; I''ll be right there."


    About two minutes later, two people emerged from inside the winery.


    They looked somewhat alike, one around sixty years old, the other about thirty, probably father and son.


    Bai Jing whispered, "That''s An Dongsheng, and the other is his son, An Linxuan. He used to be one of the young talents of Jiangshan, but unfortunately, he''s still too young."


    Qin Hao observed An Dongsheng and An Linxuan.


    Upon reaching the gate, An Dongsheng displayed a smile on his weathered face, "Mr. Bai, it''s been a long time since we last saw each other, and you''ve become even more beautiful."


    Bai Jing responded with a light smile, "Mr. An, this is the first time you''ve complimented me like this. Let me introduce you.


    Even if someone acquired it, they would likely get crushed by the Dayuan Group eventually.


    This was one of the reasons why the Tianquan Winery had not found a buyer for so long.


    Apart from Dayuan Group, no one in Jiangshan dared to take over.


    The price Qin Hao offered was already very fair.


    He believed that as long as An Dongsheng wasn''t foolish, he would definitely accept the price. Discover hidden tales at empire


    If he missed this chance, the Dayuan Group might not even offer eight million later on.


    If the Dayuan Group did not acquire it, and no one else stepped forward, An Dongsheng would have nowhere to even cry about it.


    He feigned hesitation for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, twelve million. Mr. Qin, when shall we make the transaction?"


    An Dongsheng and An Linxuan felt somewhat grateful to Qin Hao in their hearts.


    Given Qin Hao''s information channels, he should have known about the plight of their winery.


    Even so, he still gave them a generous offer, not taking advantage of their misfortune, which made both of them have a good impression of him.


    What a generous person!


    Qin Hao: "In a moment, I will send someone to sign a contract with Mr. An. However, there''s another matter I''d like to discuss with Mr. An."


    "What is it?" An Dongsheng asked curiously.


    Qin Hao: "I would like to offer you the position of general manager of the winery. I wonder what you think about that!"


    An Dongsheng and An Linxuan were taken aback, not expecting him to make such a proposal.


    An Dongsheng said with a bitter smile, "Thank you for the honor, Mr. Qin, but I''ve long since lost interest in business, and my age is also a concern. I''m afraid I won''t be able to assist you much, I''m truly sorry."


    "No worries, Mr. An, it was presumptuous of me. We''ll stick to the agreed price, and I''ll find someone else," Qin Hao''s eyes flashed a hint of disappointment.


    An Dongsheng was familiar with winery management, and although he had been defeated by Ma Bing, his abilities could not be denied.


    It would be very difficult for Qin Hao to find someone as suitable as him!


    An Dongsheng then said, "Mr. Qin, if you don''t mind, may I suggest Lin Xuan assist you? He''s previously been my right-hand man and is competent in management."


    Qin Hao was inwardly delighted, seeing no real difference between having An Linxuan or An Dongsheng take the position.


    An Dongsheng was unlikely to let his son remain insignificant in the winery.


    Moreover, An Dongsheng''s refusal might have been a way to recommend his own son.


    Qin Hao wasn''t upset and responded with a slight smile, "Sure, but let me be frank, my company has no place for incompetent people."


    "Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Qin. I will definitely not disappoint you," An Linxuan felt somewhat excited.


    Though Qin Hao was very young, his words carried respect.


    [I took time off from factory overtime which goes until 8 pm to update for everyone! I''m earning a few tens of yuan less, so in appreciation for the sweetened time off, please send some recommendation votes!]

 Chapter 203 Meeting

    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "I will have someone come over to sign the contract soon, and the money will be transferred after the contract is signed.


    Your compensation can be one of two options: one is a fixed monthly salary, and the other is a five percent dry share dividend. It''s your choice."


    "I''ll take the five percent dry share dividend," An Linxuan replied without hesitation.


    He made this choice because he wanted Qin Hao to know that he had the confidence to do well in the position of general manager.


    Once everything was agreed upon, Qin Hao called Tian Yamei and asked her to bring the contract and people over.


    About half an hour later, Tian Yamei arrived with her team.


    Qin Hao didn''t understand the contract details, Tian Yamei was the professional, and to prevent any disputes in the future, he asked Tian Yamei to come over.


    After both parties signed, Qin Hao said to Tian Yamei, "Keep the contract and documents in the company''s safe for now. You can go back."


    "Understood, Mr. Qin." Although Tian Yamei had many questions, she was very clear about her responsibilities.


    As a subordinate, you ask what you should ask, and you don''t ask what you shouldn''t.


    After Tian Yamei left, Qin Hao said to An Linxuan, "Mr. An, call all the workers back and raise their monthly wages by five hundred."


    "Mr. Qin, our factory is quite large. If we call everyone back, there will be at least two hundred people," An Linxuan reminded him.


    Qin Hao said, "No worries, money is not an issue. I will send someone to teach you the brewing technique. I will allocate some people from the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company to the human resources, finance, and marketing departments. You just need to manage them, and don''t inquire about other matters."


    The unspoken meaning of his words was clear: do not concern yourself with things you should not know about.


    Qin Hao had to ensure the safety of the secret recipe for Xinghui Wine and absolutely could not let it be stolen.


    An Linxuan nodded, "Understood, Mr. Qin."


    After finalizing some details, Qin Hao left. They would need at least ten days to prepare before the winery could start operation. Enjoy new tales from empire


    After leaving the winery, Qin Hao said to Bai Jing, "I apologize, Jing, for having you accompany me all afternoon."


    "It''s fine, don''t be so polite. I wasn''t busy anyway," Bai Jing replied with a smile.


    Qin Hao said, "Regardless, I still want to thank you, Jing. I''ll treat you to a meal when I have the time."


    "You said it, so I''ll be waiting," Jing responded.


    ...


    After they parted ways, on the way back, Li Moying spoke up, "Master, I''ll be going back tomorrow."


    Qin Hao asked, "Did your aunt and uncle call you?"


    Li Moying nodded, "They called many times. If I don''t go back soon, they might come here looking for me."


    She said this with a slightly embarrassed tongue sticking out.


    With her family''s notoriety, it wouldn''t be difficult to find Li Moying.


    Dressed in a long gown, her curvy figure, together with her beautiful face, attracted many glances from those around.


    A few minutes later, she saw Qin Hao in a suit and hurriedly waved her hand.


    Qin Hao spotted her immediately and walked over with his entourage.


    The eight bodyguards behind him were quite conspicuous.


    Qin Hao came up to Du Wanrou, a smile spreading across his face, "Miss, did you miss me?"


    Du Wanrou, "Miss your head, look at you now, even coming out with bodyguards,"


    Qin Hao chuckled awkwardly, "It was arranged by my men, worried about any dangers to me."


    Recalling the events of the past few days, Du Wanrou asked, "Has the issue with Dayuan Group been resolved?"


    "Not yet, but it''s nothing to worry about," Qin Hao reassured with an easy smile.


    Du Wanrou didn''t pursue the subject further, "Let''s go, let''s head home first. My parents are waiting for you at home."


    "Alright, Li Yang, you guys take a taxi," Qin Hao turned and instructed Li Yang and the others.


    They got into Du Wanrou''s car, with Lin Kang in the driver''s seat.


    "Mr. Qin, we meet again," Lin Kang greeted him proactively.


    Qin Hao responded with a smile, "Mr. Lin, just call me Xiao Hao."


    On the way back, Qin Hao bought some things, including fruits and wine.


    After all, it was his first visit to Du Wanrou''s home, and he couldn''t arrive empty-handed.


    The price of the gifts didn''t matter, what was important was the gesture.


    Du Wanrou''s house was located in a high-end residential area in Ming City.


    At the entrance of the community were camouflage-dressed, spirited security personnel, standing upright and unmoving.


    Such high-end communities had excellent security measures, and the personnel were all elite security company employees, giving a very safe impression.


    Upon arriving at the doorstep of Du Wanrou''s house, Qin Hao took a deep breath and said, "Let''s knock on the door."


    Du Wanrou knocked, and the door quickly opened.


    Du Hongfeng and Feng Yun were both standing at the doorway, "Xiao Hao is here, come in quick. What''s this about bringing things? Don''t bring anything next time, we have everything we need at home."


    This wasn''t their first meeting; it should be their second encounter.


    The first was when Qin Hao had helped Du Wanrou fend off some people and got injured, meeting Mr. and Mrs. Du for the first time at the hospital.


    "Hello, uncle and auntie," Qin Hao had prepared lots of things to say, but now could only remember this one line.


    "Sit down, don''t be so formal, just make yourself at home," said Feng Yun as she poured him a cup of tea.


    ```

 Chapter 204 You Are Really Amazing

    Qin Hao took the glass and quickly said, "Thank you, Auntie."


    "It''s nothing, I''ll go cook, you two chat." After saying that, Feng Yun went into the kitchen.


    Du Hongfeng looked at Qin Hao with a smile and asked, "Is the company developing well?"


    Qin Hao: "Everything is progressing as planned, and I''ve set a goal for them to dominate the entire Jiangshan market within two months, including the surrounding counties."


    Du Hongfeng was a bit surprised, "How much is your company''s monthly profit now? Is it enough for development?"


    Qin Hao: "Last month we made over ten million, and this month it''s all invested back into the company''s development."


    "That much?" Du Hongfeng was somewhat shocked.@@@@


    His Ounuo Group cosmetics occupied thirty percent of the market in Shuinan Province. The other markets were all taken by other cosmetics, and thirty percent might not seem like a lot, but it''s actually quite significant.


    Even so, the monthly profit is only about ten to twenty million.


    How could his company''s profit be so high?


    Qin Hao explained, "Mr. Du, our products are different, so the cost and profit margins are not the same.


    Besides, there aren''t many competitors in Jiangshan, which is one of the reasons why Jiangshan Roasted Duck has been able to develop so rapidly.


    Your cosmetics company is different. Not to mention those well-known foreign cosmetics brands, there are too many domestic cosmetics brands, countless really, with great competition, naturally the turnover will be much lower."


    Du Hongfeng nodded slightly, Qin Hao was right.


    Nowadays, domestic cosmetics brands are springing up like mushrooms after the rain, many of which are very cheap to produce.


    And using them can cause damage to people''s skin and health.


    Some cosmetics even contain chemical agents, which seem effective at first but can lead to disfigurement over time.


    Du Wanrou sat next to Qin Hao with a faint smile on her lips, quietly listening to their conversation.


    Seeing Qin Hao talk earnestly with her dad, she felt happy and also thought that Qin Hao had a special charm when he spoke seriously.


    "Ah, it''s too difficult for a cosmetics company to grow and expand," Du Hongfeng sighed.


    He was in this industry and knew just how complex it could be.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Mr. Du, no matter what business you are in, the most important thing is product quality. With a good reputation, the company''s name will gradually grow."


    Du Hongfeng nodded slightly, "The principle is right, but unfortunately, our R&D team simply cannot compare with those international brands; the gap is too wide."


    The two talked a lot, and from his conversation with Qin Hao, Du Hongfeng was quite satisfied inside.


    He found him to be a capable and promising young man.


    Qin Hao, "I''m in Ming City, Mr. Xu, is there something urgent?"


    Xu Liangguo''s hearty laugh came through the phone, "Of course, it''s a big deal, Xiao Fang is pregnant, and it''s twins at that, Xiao Hao, you''re truly impressive."


    Suddenly, Qin Hao felt three sharp glares aimed at him, causing him to shiver.


    Xiao Fang is pregnant?


    Who is Xiao Fang?


    What does that have to do with me?


    Twins?


    Qin Hao suddenly remembered Xu Jiejian; he quickly asked, "Mr. Xu, are you talking about Ms. Xu being pregnant?"


    "Yes, your Uncle Xu''s wife, she just had a check-up today at the hospital," Xu Liangguo said, unable to mask his excitement.


    It was then that Qin Hao felt the three piercing gazes on him dissipate, and he breathed a long sigh of relief.


    The Xu family had no descendants, which had always troubled Xu Liangguo.


    Now, he finally saw hope.


    In a low voice, Xu Liangguo asked, "Xiao Hao, are you sure they are both boys?"


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Xu, they definitely are," Qin Hao assured confidently.


    Xu Liangguo now completely trusted his words, "Great, that''s wonderful. In the future, just call Mr. Xu if you have any issues. Whoever dares to mess with you is messing with me."


    ...


    Qin Hao knew he was overly excited, but he could also imagine how thrilled Xu Liangguo was. Your next read is at empire


    He had helped the Xu family continue their lineage, resolving the issue of having no heirs, a favor that, in Xu Liangguo''s eyes, was worth a hundred, no, a thousand times more than curing his wife''s leg.


    "By the way, I need you to come over for one more thing," Xu Liangguo said.


    Qin Hao asked in confusion, "Mr. Xu, what is it?"


    Xu Liangguo, "Remember a few days ago Mr. Chen helped you out with that issue? Now he is seeking your assistance."


    Then, Qin Hao heard Chen Shengjun''s voice from the phone, "Xiao Hao, Mr. Chen needs your help with a medical issue."


    Qin Hao hurriedly said, "Mr. Chen, you are too courteous, weren''t you in good health when I visited last time? What''s making you uncomfortable now?"


    Chen Shengjun, "It''s not me, it''s my niece, it''s a bit complicated to explain over the phone. Are you free today? Come in the afternoon, Chang is also in Ming City now, I''ll ask him to pick you up."


    [Thanks to "Wolf" brother for the reward of 10,000 book coins, there will be an additional chapter today! This is the first chapter for today; two more to come. For every 10,000 book coins rewarded, there will be one extra chapter, and votes are appreciated!]

 Chapter 205 Arriving at Gujing City

    Qin Hao: "Is it that urgent, Mr. Chen?"


    "Mm, very urgent."


    Qin Hao: "Okay then, I''ll come over in the afternoon."


    "All right, that''s settled then, Xiao Hao. We''ll talk more when you arrive." After saying that, Chen Shengjun hung up the phone.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at Du Hongfeng and the other two.


    Curiously, Du Hongfeng asked, "Whose call was that?"


    Qin Hao: "Uncle Du, have you ever heard of Xu Liangguo?"


    After thinking, Du Hongfeng shook his head: "Who?"


    Qin Hao thought about it and decided to answer truthfully: "The leader of the Gu Jing Military Region."


    Du Hongfeng and Feng Yun took a sharp breath; the leader of the Gu Jing Military Region?


    "Xiao Hao, you''re not joking, are you? How did you come to know such a person?" Du Hongfeng found it hard to believe.


    Qin Hao: "It was a coincidence. I once taught myself medical skills and then cured Mr. Xu''s granddaughter, which led to subsequent events."


    "And what about Mr. Chen?" Du Hongfeng felt this person must be extraordinary as well.


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Chen is the Chief of General Staff, and Mr. Chang is his nephew. The situation with Ma Bing a few days ago was resolved with Mr. Chen''s help."


    Inside, Du Hongfeng felt a tumultuous wave stirring; one of the seven major military regions, the Gu Jing Military Region.


    And both of these men held high positions.


    No wonder Ma Bing was no match for Qin Hao; anyone would have swallowed that loss in silence!


    He now looked at Qin Hao with completely different eyes from before.


    Although Qin Hao sat just as he had before, deep down, Du Hongfeng felt a sense of looking up to him.


    "Uncle Du, let''s continue our meal. I''ll toast to you and promise I''ll treat Wan Rou well in the future." After speaking, Qin Hao drained his glass of wine in one go.


    "Okay, here''s what I''ll say as your uncle: Don''t be blinded by greed and lust; stay true to your original intentions." Du Hongfeng had returned to normal and spoke earnestly.


    Initially, he thought his daughter was more than a good match for Qin Hao, but now he recognized the gap.


    With those two figures shielding Qin Hao, his daughter might be unworthy of him in the future.


    Now that he knew how powerful Qin Hao was, he reminded himself to make sure his daughter would hold on to him tightly.


    Qin Hao nodded: "Don''t worry, Uncle Du, I''m not someone who changes his mind when he sees someone new."


    Soon, a call from Chang An Country came in.


    "Yeah, Uncle Chang, I didn''t expect it either," Qin Hao replied with a dry laugh.


    Chang An Country: "Your girlfriend is quite beautiful, cherish her."


    "Thank you for your compliment, Uncle Chang."


    ...


    At half-past two in the afternoon, they arrived at Ming City Airport, where someone picked up their tickets and then they went through a special passage to the first-class cabin of the plane.


    "Rest for a bit," Chang An Country told him.


    After saying that, he closed his eyes.


    Qin Hao, having ridden in a car for an hour in the morning and having drunk a bit of alcohol at noon, was indeed a little tired and lay down to sleep.


    The first-class cabin was indeed comfortable to lie down in.


    About two hours later, Qin Hao was woken up by Chang An Country.


    "We''ve arrived at Gujing City, it''s time to get off the plane," Chang An Country told him.


    Qin Hao woke up and hurriedly stood up to follow Chang An Country out.


    Outside the airport, there were people sent by Chen Shengjun to receive them.


    A car with a military license plate was parked there, quite conspicuous.


    Chang An Country walked over, and beside the car stood two soldiers, who quickly opened the doors as they saw Chang An Country and Qin Hao approaching.


    After another half an hour in the car, Qin Hao arrived at the heavily guarded villa complex.


    The car stopped in front of Xu Liangguo''s villa courtyard.


    No sooner had the car stopped than Wang Ping, Sun Fang, Xu Jiejian, and Xu Siyao came out from inside.


    "Xiao Hao has arrived, come in and take a seat," Wang Ping said with a kindly smile on her face. Find more chapters on empire


    Qin Hao: "Ms. Xu, you shouldn''t have come out yourself. How does your leg feel? Is anything bothering you?"


    "It''s nothing, my leg feels the same as a normal person. Xiao Hao, your medical skills are indeed amazing," Wang Ping said, holding his hand with a very friendly manner.


    Xu Jiejian also had a smiling face: "Uncle Chang, Xiao Hao, come inside, let''s talk inside."


    Chang An Country sighed in relief, finally, someone was paying attention to him.


    Being ignored like that really didn''t feel very good.


    He hadn''t expected to have such a good relationship with the Xu Family; no wonder his uncle had personally called me.


    [Second update, one more chapter to go, it takes me about two to three hours to write one chapter, please excuse me!]

 Chapter 206 Born Innocent

    Upon entering the room, the living room was occupied by several people.


    Among them were Chen Shengjun and Xu Liangguo, whom Qin Hao knew, accompanied by two other individuals he had never met before.


    "Xiao Hao, An Guo, you''re here, please have a seat!" Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun said as they saw the two arriving.


    Instantly, the other two shifted their gaze to Qin Hao.


    Could this be the miraculous doctor, Qin Hao?


    So young?


    As Qin Hao settled down, Xu Siyao poured him a cup of tea, "Are you thirsty? Have some water."


    "Thank you," Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Xu Siyao, sitting beside him, smiled lightly, "It''s nothing, no need to be so formal."


    Chen Shengjun said, "Xiao Hao, you hastened to call him here; I hope we haven''t disturbed you?"


    "Not at all," Qin Hao observed everyone present; they all seemed in good health, with no one appearing to be sick.


    Chen Shengjun introduced the others, "You know An Guo. This is An Bang, and this is An Ding. These three brothers are my nephews. It''s An Ding''s daughter who needs medical attention."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Right, when shall we go for the checkup?"


    "There''s no rush. Have a drink and rest a bit; we''ll go after that," Chen Shengjun offered.


    Qin Hao, with a smile, said, "No trouble at all, Mr. Chen, shall we go now?"


    "Alright, then. We appreciate it, Xiao Hao."


    Having said that, a few of them stood up and walked outside.


    Everyone followed along, with Xu Siyao walking beside Qin Hao and asking, "Do you feel confident, Qin Hao?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I haven''t seen the condition yet, so I can''t be certain."@@@@


    Under the guidance of Chen Shengjun, Qin Hao and the group arrived at the adjacent villa.


    The living room was occupied by four or five women, including some elders and a few young and beautiful ladies.


    First, Chen Shengjun introduced them to Qin Hao, "This is my companion; this is my spouse''s sister-in-law; this lady is An Ding''s wife; this is my grandniece; and this is Qin Hao, highly praised by Old Xu."


    "Xiao Hao, you''ve arrived so quickly, please take a seat," Chen Shengjun''s wife said eagerly.


    Qin Hao didn''t dare to sit, as everyone present was either a significant official or a business tycoon, and he was merely a junior amongst them.


    "No trouble at all, Ms. Chen," Qin Hao quickly declined.


    Nevertheless, Ms. Chen pressed him down onto the sofa, opposite of which sat a young and beautiful woman in a black dress.


    Her figure was curvaceous, her waist slender, she was indeed beautiful.


    Her features were delicate, her eyes bright, yet devoid of life.


    Apart from Xu Liangguo, Ms. Xu, and Chen Shengjun, everyone else stood as the sofa simply couldn''t accommodate so many people.


    Chen Shengjun then spoke up, "Xiao Hao, this is An Ding''s daughter, Chang Jing. She was born blind, and none of the major hospitals have found a solution. Please have a look."


    With a smile, Chang Jing said, "Thank you, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao responded, "Mis Chang, no need for thanks. Saving lives and providing care is the duty of a physician."


    How many people have shed helpless tears in the night countless times?


    They were born innocent, so why should they endure such tribulations?


    Some believe in karma and reincarnation, but in Qin Hao''s opinion, those are feudal superstitions, ways to deceive oneself and others.


    He only believed in science!


    Technology, that''s about turning the impossible into possible!


    Indeed, there are many things in the world that science can''t explain.


    But in Qin Hao''s view, that''s only because science hasn''t advanced enough yet.


    After all, our Earth''s scientific development only has a history of a little over a hundred years, which is far too short compared to the billions of years of Earth''s history!


    As long as science and technology become powerful enough, even the universe would not seem so mysterious in front of everyone!


    ...


    "Upgrade medical skills."


    "Upgrade successful, ten thousand achievement points consumed."


    Qin Hao scanned again, and this time, the description below finally revealed Chang Jing''s medical condition:


    Innate optic nerve hypoplasia!


    In other words, Chang Jing was blind from birth because her optic nerves had not developed at all.


    "Xiao Hao, if it''s really not possible, let it be; no need to force it," Chen Shengjun said upon seeing him standing there motionless.


    Chang Anding and his wife flashed a look of disappointment in their eyes.


    Even he has no solution?


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Mr. Chen, don''t worry, Miss Chang has innate optic nerve hypoplasia, which is the main reason she can''t see."


    The crowd was invigorated by his words. Innate optic nerve hypoplasia?


    They had visited too many renowned hospitals for check-ups, even hospitals abroad, but not one had identified the cause of the condition!


    Now that he had identified it, did it mean he could cure her?


    Thinking along these lines, Chang Anding and his wife, Song Cai, showed excitement in their eyes.


    Anxiously, Ms. Chang, Zhou Zhen, asked, "Xiao Hao, do you have a way to cure her? Xiao Jing has suffered a lot over the years; please, you must cure her."


    If the people of Jinchen City saw Zhou Zhen acting this way, they would definitely be in for a shock.


    The normally dignified and strong matriarch of the Chang family, begging someone?


    This was the mother of Chang An Country, and hearing her pleading with him, Qin Hao hurriedly said, "Ms. Chang, please don''t get agitated; I will certainly try my best.


    Now you need to help Miss Chang into the room, and then I will treat her."


    Chang Jing''s mother, Song Cai, quickly came over and helped Chang Jing into a guest room.


    As instructed by Qin Hao, Chang Jing lay flat on the bed.


    Song Cai looked towards Qin Hao: "Xiao Hao, is this okay?"


    [Third update delivered, an extra chapter for the ten thousand coin reward from Brother Lang. It''s already midnight, I''m very sleepy, and I have work tomorrow. Please give me some recommendation tickets, a reward, some motivation! " "]

 Chapter 207 Treating Chang Jing

    Qin Hao glanced at Zhou Zhen, Song Cai, and the others, saying, "I need a quiet environment for the treatment. Ms. Zhou, could you wait outside for a while?"


    "Sure, we will be right outside if you need us,"


    Zhou Zhen and the others all exited and then closed the door behind them.


    Qin Hao looked at Chang Jing on the bed and said, "Miss Chang, I''m going to start the treatment now."


    "Um, Mr. Qin, please proceed," replied Chang Jing flatly.


    Qin Hao kneeled on one knee beside her and took a deep breath, "Miss Chang, I need to spread out your hair. Is that okay?"


    Chang Jing was very beautiful, and she also possessed a special temperament.


    He was afraid his inadvertent movements might offend Chang Jing.


    So he was very careful.


    As if imagining his restrained expression, Chang Jing smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, don''t be too formal. Treat me as you would normally."


    Upon hearing her affirmative response, Qin Hao extended his hand to gently lift her head and then spread her hair out.


    A faint scent wafted into Qin Hao''s nostrils.


    Chang Jing''s fair neck could also feel the warmth from Qin Hao''s arms.


    But she remained calm, without any shy blush.


    After spreading her hair, Qin Hao took out the Nine-Nine Silver Needles and started inserting them at the sides and on top of her head.


    Outside, Chang Anding, Song Cai, and others waited anxiously.


    They were unsure whether Qin Hao could cure her and were praying in their hearts.


    Chen Shengjun wasn''t very confident either and asked Xu Liangguo, "Xu, do you think Xiao Hao can do it?"


    After thinking for a moment, Xu Liangguo nodded, "Since he dared to treat Xiao Jing, he must be quite confident. Don''t worry, Mr. Chen."


    Inside the room, after about half an hour, Chang Jing''s temples and head were filled with silver needles.


    This set of acupuncture was specifically designed to stimulate nerve growth and served as an auxiliary function.


    The most crucial aspect was still the effect of the spirit medicinal solution.


    This acupuncture technique became available only after Qin Hao''s medical skills had upgraded.


    Each silver needle was precisely inserted into the tiny nerve lines, a task as difficult as balancing a needle on a grain of wheat.


    There could be no mistakes during acupuncture, or it could cause even more severe damage.


    After finishing the acupuncture, Qin Hao was drenched in sweat.


    Though it seemed effortless, the process was enormously draining.


    "Drip"


    Chang Jing: "A bit warm!"


    The acupuncture was beginning to take effect; Qin Hao checked the time and ten minutes later, he removed the silver needles, one by one.


    Seeing Chang Jing, he felt somewhat embarrassed, "Miss Chang, please don''t close your eyes. I need to apply some medicine for you."


    Chang Jing: "Um, okay."


    Qin Hao took out half a bottle of tonic solution and then gently dropped it into Chang Jing''s eyes.


    The solution entered her eyes without spilling out, but instead, it miraculously soaked in.


    Chang Jing''s eyes were like parched land soaking up rainwater.


    Chang Jing also felt a change; after the solution dropped in, there was a refreshing feeling that was very comforting.


    Qin Hao dropped more than a dozen drops into both her eyes, and the half bottle of tonic solution was completely used up.


    "Miss Chang, you can close your eyes now, but don''t squeeze them too tight."


    Upon hearing this, Chang Jing closed her eyes gently, and Qin Hao took the bandages in one hand while gently lifting her head with his other hand under her neck.


    Then he wrapped her eyes with the bandages several times.


    After he was done, Qin Hao put her down and heaved a sigh of relief, "There you go, Miss Chang. I''ll come back tomorrow to remove them for you."


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin. You sound pretty young, don''t you?" Chang Jing asked.


    Qin Hao chuckled, "I''m nineteen this year."


    "You''re so young. Can you tell me what the world outside looks like? Is the sky blue? Are the flowers colorful? My mom often reads me articles that say so," Chang Jing asked with a smile on her face.


    Seeing her smile, Qin Hao said, "Miss Chang, you can see for yourself tomorrow."


    When Chang Jing heard this, her expression froze for a second, "Do you mean I''ll be able to see the outside world tomorrow, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "If nothing unexpected happens, you should be able to."


    The tonic solution was very potent and could develop her optic nerves to a normal condition overnight.


    "Thank you." Chang Jing''s smile became even brighter.


    Seeing her smile, Qin Hao felt a sense of accomplishment.


    This sort of fulfillment wasn''t something that could be exchanged with money or favors.


    He sought no reward but only wished that there would be fewer people in the world like Chang Jing, who suffered from innate ailments.


    "I''ll leave now, Miss Chang. You can rest," Qin Hao said as he exited the room.


    The people outside watched him leave, but no one spoke.


    Qin Hao then said, "I''ll come over tomorrow to remove Miss Chang''s bandages. If there are no unexpected issues, her eyes should recover."


    "Really?" Song Cai and Chang Anding were somewhat excited.


    Over the years, they were acutely aware of the pain their daughter had endured. Even though she often wore a smile, they knew it was her way of comforting them.

 Chapter 208 Return to Jianghai City

    Qin Hao nodded affirmatively.


    Chang An Country and Chang Anbang looked at him somewhat surprised.


    How had he cured a disease that had baffled both domestic and foreign experts, and in just one night?


    By this time, the sun was already setting.


    Chen Shengjun and the others wanted to keep him for dinner, but Qin Hao insisted it wasn''t necessary.


    Today, Chen Shengjun''s home was filled with so many people, all significant figures, that he wouldn''t be able to enjoy his meal there.


    In the end, only when Xu Liangguo spoke did Chen Shengjun let Qin Hao leave.


    Back at Xu Liangguo''s villa, Qin Hao found it much quieter.


    He said, "Mr. Xu, have someone take me to a hotel later."


    Xu Liangguo''s eyes widened, "Why go to a hotel? You can just stay here tonight, there are plenty of rooms anyway."


    "That''s right, Xiao Hao, you''re better off staying here. Just think of this place as your home," urged Ms. Xu.


    Xu Jiejian added, "Xiao Hao can stay here, and I''ll have someone drive you back tomorrow."


    Sun Fang and Xu Siyao also spoke up, urging him to stay.


    Qin Hao did not insist further, as it would seem ungrateful.


    In the evening, they all sat down together for dinner.


    During the meal, Xu Siyao sat beside him, occasionally offering him food to try and see if he liked it.


    After dinner, Qin Hao wanted to take a shower, but he hadn''t brought any change of clothes.@@@@


    Xu Siyao found a shirt from Xu Jiejian for him that, after trying it on, fit rather well.


    He took a shower and then went back to his room to sleep and rest.


    ...


    The next morning, after breakfast,


    Qin Hao and Xu Liangguo, among others, arrived at Chen Shengjun''s villa.


    "Can we remove it now?" Chen Shengjun and his group asked as soon as they saw him approach.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Yes, it''s time."


    At that moment, Chang Jing was sitting on the couch, her eyes bandaged, looking rather fragile.


    He approached Chang Jing and asked, "Miss Chang, do your eyes feel any different?"


    Chang Jing responded, "Since last night, my eyes felt kind of cool, as if there were a breeze."


    Her parents'' hearts leapt upon hearing this.


    Qin Hao reassured, "That''s normal, Miss Chang. Close your eyes; I''m going to remove the bandage now."


    Chang Jing nodded, "I''m ready."


    Qin Hao said to her, "You go back, I''m leaving first."


    "Leaving?" Xu Siyao was startled, not expecting him to leave at this time.


    Qin Hao smiled, "Miss Chang''s illness has recovered, and I have nothing else here, so I need to go back first."


    Xu Siyao felt a bit disappointed, "Are you not going to say goodbye to my grandfather and Mr. Chen?"


    "No need, please tell them for me, I''m leaving first," Qin Hao said, then walked out of the community.


    After leaving the community, he hailed a taxi to the high-speed train station.


    October 7th, 10 AM


    Jianghai North Station, Qin Hao came out of the high-speed train station and hailed a taxi to the Jianghai branch office.


    The Jianghai branch office is located in the Peak Building in Bailing District of Jianghai City.


    In the taxi, he made a phone call to Feng Xiangyi.


    The call connected quickly.


    Feng Xiangyi: "Mr. Qin!"


    Qin Hao: "Are you at the office? I plan to come over and have a look."


    "Yes, everyone is working overtime," Feng Xiangyi replied.


    As the Jianghai branch had just been established, there were a lot of matters to handle, so there was no holiday over the October period.


    "Alright, I will be there shortly."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao made a few more calls to Li Yang and others.


    During the time Qin Hao and Chang An Country went to Gujing City, they had taken a train directly to Jianghai City.


    Currently, they were in an ordinary hotel.


    Now that they knew Qin Hao was coming back, they also headed for the Peak Building in Bailing District.


    By the time Qin Hao arrived at the base of the Peak Building, Li Yang and the others had already arrived early, and hurried over when they saw Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, then walked into the Peak Building.


    He took the elevator to the 16th floor of the Peak Building.


    "You guys wait outside for me," Qin Hao told Li Yang.


    Li Yang nodded and stood at the office entrance.


    At the office reception, there were two young and beautiful girls.


    This was not Qin Hao''s first visit; as soon as he walked in, the receptionist saw him and hurriedly greeted him respectfully, "Mr. Qin."


    "Yes, thank you for your hard work."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and walked in, the inside space was large and divided into many areas, each department having its own specific area.


    Within each area, there were quite a few people, all busy working overtime.


    [Sorry, I fell asleep while writing and only woke up around 11:30 PM, sigh!]

 Chapter 209 Financing Price

    Qin Hao entered his own Chairman''s office.


    Nie Si was sitting at the assistant''s desk, dealing with some company documents.


    When she saw Qin Hao come in, she quickly stood up, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Just keep working."


    Nie Si took a brand new water cup from the shelf behind her and went to the water dispenser to pour him a cup of water.


    "Mr. Qin, have some water."


    Qin Hao asked, "How does it feel? Is the job as my assistant very tiring?"


    Nie Si gave an awkward smile, "It''s okay, I think it''s fulfilling."


    She indeed felt tired sometimes, because when Qin Hao was not there, she, as an assistant, had to handle many things on his behalf, and had to call Qin Hao for the decisions she couldn''t make.


    But she couldn''t ask Qin Hao about everything, as that would make her seem useless as an assistant.


    Qin Hao said, "Call Mr. Feng over, I have something to discuss with her."


    "Mr. Qin, Mr. Feng is in the meeting room meeting with people from Xing''an Square," Nie Si replied softly.


    Qin Hao frowned upon hearing this, people from Xing''an Square?


    He got up and walked outside, and Nie Si quickly followed.


    Qin Hao arrived outside the meeting room and directly pushed the door open and entered.


    Six or seven people were sitting inside the meeting room.


    When the door of the meeting room was opened, those inside all turned their heads to look.


    Feng Xiangyi, along with the manager of the marketing department, quickly stood up when they saw him, "Mr. Qin."


    Li Guangfu was stunned for a moment, but also quickly stood up with a smile, "Mr. Qin, long time no see."


    Qin Hao ignored Li Guangfu, walked to the front, and sat down, making the atmosphere in the meeting room somewhat awkward.


    Feng Xiangyi glanced at Li Guangfu and Qin Hao, curious in her heart, Li Guangfu knows Qin Hao?


    Li Guangfu, though furious inside, did not show it, and upon seeing Nie Si beside Qin Hao, his eyes took on a complicated expression.


    Nie Si, who was once casually dismissed from the company by him, had now risen high and become Qin Hao''s assistant.


    Qin Hao looked at Li Guangfu with a smile and asked, "I wonder what Mr. Li is doing in my company? Is there something you need?"


    Li Guangfu forced a smile, "Mr. Qin, I came today to discuss a potential cooperation with your company, a mutually beneficial proposition."


    Jianghai City is one of the largest cities in the country, with so many people coming here to work, there is no worry about not being able to recruit enough staff.


    Qin Hao was about to speak when there was a knock at the door.


    "Come in."


    A female receptionist at the front desk opened the door and came in.


    She approached Qin Hao and said, "Mr. Qin, there''s someone named Yang Mei looking for you outside, do you know her?"


    Yang Mei? She moves fast.


    "Let Mr. Yang in," Qin Hao replied.


    The front desk receptionist went out, and soon after, Yang Mei and her group entered.


    Yang Mei said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, long time no see, I am here on behalf of Xinshang Real Estate Company to discuss a partnership with you."


    Qin Hao: "Please, take a seat, Mr. Yang."


    Yang Mei and her six companions sat opposite Qin Hao. The people beside her were all from the head office, and seeing how young Qin Hao was, they were somewhat surprised.


    Yang Mei began by asking, "Mr. Qin, I wonder if your company is considering any financing?"


    Financing is a common experience for many companies.


    Many newly established companies lack sufficient funds for development and usually seek financing.


    If certain venture capital firms see potential in your company, they would invest money early on, but you have to give up a corresponding share of equity as a condition for financing.


    If the company develops well subsequently, there would be further rounds of financing like Series A, Series B, and so on, with increasing amounts of investment later on.


    Those who can afford these are usually venture capital firms or large companies with ample cash flow.


    Xinshang Real Estate Company, having seen the potential of Jiangshan Roasted Duck, now wanted to get involved in the financing.


    If Jiangshan Roasted Duck were to develop well in the future, they too would benefit greatly.


    Qin Hao smiled and shook his head, "Sorry, Mr. Yang, my company is not considering financing at the moment."


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s monthly profit was in the tens of millions, with ample cash flow. Moreover, the imminent launch of a membership card service would also bring a substantial cash inflow to the company. Ultimately, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company had developed.


    Yang Mei: "Mr. Qin, please hear my offer. One hundred and fifty million, Xinshang Real Estate only wants twenty percent of your company''s shares, and we will not participate in management. You will have the ultimate say."


    Twenty percent, which is one-fifth.


    She had valued Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company at roughly seven hundred and fifty million, far exceeding the market valuation.


    The price was indeed sincere!


    But Qin Hao had no plans for financing, not now, and not in the future.

 Chapter 210 Pick Up

    Mr. Qin: "I''m sorry, Mr. Yang, I''m not considering financing at the moment, as the company''s profits are sufficient to support its current stage of development."


    Yang Mei''s eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment, but she still smiled and said, "Alright, Mr. Qin, then let''s move on to discussing cooperation."


    Qin Hao nodded: "Please go ahead, Mr. Yang."


    Yang Mei: "Your roasted duck restaurant is doing very well, and we at Xinshang Real Estate would like to engage in deeper cooperation with Mr. Qin. Our company has more than a dozen large plazas in Jianghai City, and we sincerely invite Mr. Qin''s shops to enter all our plazas.


    We will prepare the best shop locations for Mr. Qin and offer the most favorable prices."


    Yang Mei was well aware of the appeal of Jiangshan Roasted Duck, which is why she wanted to collaborate with Qin Hao and have his roasted duck stores in her plazas.


    This would be beneficial for both sides.


    Qin Hao: "What is the most favorable price?"


    Yang Mei: "The rental for all the shops would be half the market price, but we have one condition."


    Qin Hao looked at her.


    She continued: "Our condition is that Mr. Qin''s roasted duck shops cannot open in our competitors'' plazas."


    Qin Hao shook his head: "This definition of ''competitor''s plazas'' is too broad."


    Yang Mei: "For example, you cannot work with Xing''an Square."@@@@


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Yang, I''m not lacking that small amount of rent. If I open stores elsewhere, I can earn that rent back.


    I can agree to your company''s terms and not open shops within a certain distance from your plazas, but of course, this would depend on the situation."


    Yang Mei pondered for a moment, then discussed it with her companions.


    Half an hour later, the two parties signed some cooperation agreements, and then Yang Mei and her group left.


    Only Feng Xiangyi and Qin Hao were left in the conference room.


    The managers of the marketing, financial, and legal departments had all left to attend to their duties.


    Feng Xiangyi spoke up: "Mr. Qin, I think we should also set up a training institution in Jianghai to continuously inject new vitality into our roasted duck stores."


    Qin Hao nodded. A training institution was indeed necessary.


    Feng Xiangyi: "Also, Mr. Qin, I''ve found that our company''s finance department doesn''t have its own financial system, which makes it easy for our financial performance to leak. Should we find a network company to develop a financial system just for our company?"


    "Financial system?" Qin Hao was momentarily puzzled; he really didn''t know about these things.


    Feng Xiangyi nodded: "A financial system is essential for a large company, and some even have their own dedicated office systems to prevent corporate secrets from leaking."


    A spark of realization flashed in Qin Hao''s mind, and he said, "I''ll handle this issue, there''s no need to contact those network companies."


    "Ah?"


    Feng Xiangyi was taken aback. Creating a system wasn''t simple, did Mr. Qin mean to write it himself?


    Remembering Qin Hao''s specialty and his unified exam results, she didn''t ask any further questions.


    As soon as Qin Hao got out of his car, he attracted a lot of attention because his car was too dazzling.


    Its streamlined body and unique exterior design were incredibly beautiful.


    He walked towards the airport exit.


    The airport was huge, with large passenger planes flying overhead from time to time.


    It took a few minutes for him to reach the exit.


    At the exit, four or five men were surrounding Du Wanrou.


    One of them was holding a mobile phone, occasionally speaking into it.


    "Hey, beauty, how about getting to know each other?" The man holding the cell phone gaze lingered on certain parts of Du Wanrou''s body, his tone frivolous.


    Du Wanrou glanced at Wang Jian and responded with a slight frown, "Is there something you need?"


    Seeing her reaction, Wang Jian cursed inwardly: Damn, what a saint act.


    I''ve been with plenty of women, plenty like you who play the saint on the surface but are whores in bed.


    He did not show his annoyance and continued to ask, "Do you know about the TT Live Streaming platform?"


    Du Wanrou felt a sense of disgust in her heart. These men had been pointing at her and whispering on the plane, and now they had followed her after disembarking.


    She replied coldly, "I don''t know, and if you don''t mind, please keep a distance from me."


    Laughter filled Wang Jian''s live streaming room.


    "Haha, failed at hitting on her."


    "Deserved it, embarassing isn''t it?"


    "Wow, this beauty is so pretty, boss, go for her."


    "Just by looking, you can tell she''s a plaything. Boss, take care of her tonight, let her know who''s boss."


    "This is a bit too much, she doesn''t know you, why should she talk to you?"


    "The one above is an idiot, assessment complete."


    "Where did this idiot come from, if you don''t like it, just leave."


    "Exactly, just a pure big idiot."


    All at once, that person''s comments were drowned out by the crowd.


    Wang Jian''s face really could not hang on anymore; he used to be a local thug before he got into the internet live streaming platform.


    Then he became an outdoor live streamer, using hitting on girls outdoors as a gimmick to attract a bunch of fans and viewers.


    He continued to address Du Wanrou, "Beauty, my name is Wang Jian, I''m a popular outdoor live streamer on the TT Live Streaming platform, earning just over a million a month."


    [Vote, vote, vote, sometimes I really feel so tired, working during the day, writing novels at night, when others are out playing after work, I''m writing, and then I get scolded...]

 Chapter 211 Life and Death Together

    "Does this have anything to do with me? Please don''t point your phone at me, or I''ll call the police." Du Wanrou said with a look of disgust on her face.


    Wang Jian''s face was embarrassed. Normally, when he tried to hit on girls, they would show a hint of admiration.


    He would then exchange contact details with them, and eventually ask them out to have fun in the evening.


    This was his usual routine, but today it had failed.


    Wang Jian: "DAMN, playing the saint, huh?"


    Du Wanrou''s face flushed with anger: "Are you sick or something? Do I know you? Do I need to bother with you?"


    "I''ve got a mouth on me¡ªI''ll say what I want, it''s my ''freedom of speech.''" Wang Jian glanced at Du Wanrou''s chest.


    "...Shameless!"


    Du Wanrou took out her phone intending to make a call.


    "Bang"


    "Ah"


    Just then, Wang Jian screamed miserably and fell on the ground in a pose resembling a dog eating shit; his phone flew out of his hand.


    The few people around Wang Jian quickly turned to look.


    Officially, they were Wang Jian''s assistants, but in reality, they were just his lackeys.


    He brought these people in case he got beaten up while hitting on girls during outdoor livestreams.


    The one who hit Wang Jian was none other than Qin Hao.


    The lackeys around Wang Jian originally planned to react, but upon seeing the eight muscular bodyguards behind Qin Hao, they immediately froze.


    "Qin Hao." Du Wanrou saw him and her face lit up; she hurried over, her eyes filled with a hint of grievance.


    By this time, Wang Jian had gotten up from the ground. He picked up his phone and saw that the tempered film was cracked, but the phone itself was fine.


    Inside his livestream room: OMG, what happened?


    "Did he get beat up?"


    "Quick, call the police, is Jianghai City this chaotic too?"


    "His girlfriend''s boyfriend shows up, haha, got beat up."


    "Serves him right." Some people had been disliking him for a while.


    ...


    Wang Jian turned his phone toward Qin Hao: "You dare to hit me, do you know who I am..."


    Before he could finish, Li Yang and a few others charged over and snatched his phone away.


    "Damn, an eight man bodyguard squad, looks like Jian really hit the iron plate this time."


    Li Yang took the phone, subdued Wang Jian with a martial arts move, and the others didn''t dare to resist and were subdued by the rest.


    "Mr. Qin, what should we do?" Li Yang asked.


    He replied, "In broad daylight, openly harassing a woman, this kind of behavior has already seriously violated public security regulations. It must be severely punished, detain if detention is warranted, fine if fines are needed, we must handle this impartially."


    "Okay, Mr. Wang, I understand."


    The results of the handling were very standard; Wang Jian was detained, and Qin Hao compensated a hundred yuan for medical expenses.


    ...


    Qin Hao directly brought Du Wanrou to her place of residence.


    He said, "Are you tired? Why not go take a nap?"


    Seeing his smile, Du Wanrou''s cheeks flushed slightly, "I''m not sleepy."


    "A nap is very necessary. I''m quite sleepy too, let''s go sleep," Qin Hao said, pulling her hand toward the bedroom.


    Du Wanrou knew what he was thinking, her cheeks turned crimson, and her mind was in turmoil.


    A woman''s reserve made her want to refuse.


    But remembering Qin Hao''s dedication and care for her, her heart wavered, along with what her mother had once said.


    He was a vigorous young man and a company president, surely surrounded by many admirers.


    Simply refusing was not the solution.


    ...


    Lost in thought, Du Wanrou found herself pulled into the bedroom by Qin Hao.


    Unable to hold back any longer, he lifted Du Wanrou onto the bed.


    That afternoon, Qin Hao lost his virginity.


    Du Wanrou also transformed from a girl into a woman.


    She was like a pristine lotus, pure and charming, softly fragrant and enchanting.


    Qin Hao was very gentle, for Du Wanrou was the goddess of his heart.


    This day, she finally became his woman, and it was not a dream.


    "I''ve given everything to you, if one day you stop loving me, I will die for you to see," said Du Wanrou, acting like a spoiled little woman, lying in Qin Hao''s arms.


    Qin Hao''s eyes were filled with tenderness, and he firmly said, "To live and die together, never to part."


    Du Wanrou held him tightly, as if fearing he might suddenly disappear.


    Qin Hao had a unique constitution, so he lasted quite a long time, leaving Du Wanrou very tired, and she soon fell asleep.


    ...


    It was a little after five in the afternoon.


    Feng Xiangyi came home, and she glanced around the empty living room.


    It was odd, Qin Hao''s car and bodyguards were all here, but where was everyone?


    Suddenly, she looked towards the tightly closed bedroom door, then cautiously walked over.

 Chapter 212 Writing System

    Feng Xiangyi hesitated for a moment, then still placed her hand on the doorknob.


    "Click"


    The door opened, and Feng Xiangyi looked inside.


    Upon seeing the scene, she was stunned like a wooden chicken, her mouth agape.


    Inside the room, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou were wrapped in each other''s arms, with the air conditioning on and a summer quilt over them, their shoulders exposed.


    Qin Hao subconsciously heard the noise and groggily opened his eyes.


    He saw Feng Xiangyi standing at the door.


    Feng Xiangyi''s cheeks flushed, and she quickly backed out and closed the door.


    Qin Hao also felt somewhat embarrassed, he hadn''t expected to sleep so long, and to have his and Du Wanrou''s affair seen.


    He gently nudged Du Wanrou, who whined coquettishly and turned over to continue sleeping.


    "Girl, your auntie''s back, wake up," Qin Hao nudged her again and said.


    "So what if she''s back..."


    "What? Auntie''s back?"


    Du Wanrou''s eyes shot open instantly.


    Qin Hao grinned, "She just opened the door and took a look..."


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned bright red, "You jerk, it''s all because of you. Now get out of bed quickly."


    Qin Hao hurriedly put on his clothes, and Du Wanrou was also dressing, but her expression was a bit pained.


    "What''s wrong?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks flushed, "It''s all because of you."


    Qin Hao was startled at first, then he understood what was going on. He said, astonished, "You really put it on?"


    "Where did you buy this? It''s so comfortable..."@@@@


    Qin Hao said, "You can''t buy this, I need to use the bathroom first."


    After saying that, he hurriedly went out, and then entered the restroom.


    Feng Xiangyi was cutting vegetables and cooking in the kitchen.


    By the time Qin Hao came out of the restroom, Du Wanrou had also emerged from the bedroom.


    Her cheeks were rosy, making her look very attractive.


    The two sat on the sofa and watched TV for a while, and Feng Xiangyi finished cooking the meal.


    During the meal, Feng Xiangyi spoke, "Next time you two do that, remember to lock the door."


    ...


    Du Wanrou''s face instantly became burning hot, "Auntie, you''re awful."


    Qin Hao, "Just got here."


    Du Wanrou, "Well, that''s good. Remember to rest early. I''m a bit tired and I''m going to sleep now. Goodnight."


    "Goodnight."


    After hanging up, Fatty looked at him with envy and resentment, "Second brother, you''re so lucky to have such a tender and considerate girlfriend."


    Qin Hao, "Your Xie Cui is quite nice too."


    Fatty, "Don''t even mention it, Second Brother, I''m almost worried to death. Her parents have met me, and they don''t quite agree."


    Qin Hao asked with a puzzled look, "What''s the issue? They think you''re too fat?"


    Wang Yanghua chuckled awkwardly, "That''s part of the problem. Primarily, it''s about not being a match in terms of family backgrounds. Her family owns a factory, and although my family has some money, we can''t compare to them."


    Qin Hao, "Poverty can''t diminish ambition. You have to believe that one day you will surpass them."


    "Easy for you to say, but it''s not that simple. Second Brother, do you have any good projects?"


    Qin Hao, "No."


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao didn''t go to class. He had Fatty and the others sign in for him.


    After breakfast, he went back to the dormitory and started working on writing the financial and office systems for the company.


    When Feng Xiangyi mentioned this to him, he had an idea in mind.


    Now he had the method for writing an intelligent program in his head.


    So he decided to try it out on the office and financial systems.


    Although he couldn''t fully develop the capabilities of an intelligent program, in some aspects, he was certain to outdo the products of those networking companies.


    He spent the whole day in his dormitory coding, only completing a third of the financial system by nightfall.


    After dinner, he continued working on it!


    Zhao De didn''t come back, probably out having fun with his beautiful senior.


    Fatty came back and was quiet, lying on his bed contemplating life.


    Qin Hao, busy with his work, didn''t pay much attention.


    Chen Ping, however, took a curious glance at his coding interface and then stood behind him watching.


    When Qin Hao''s arms became sore from typing, Chen Ping asked, "Second Brother, what are you doing? What is this that you''re writing?"


    Qin Hao replied, "It''s the company''s financial system I''m coding."


    "What does this piece of program code mean?" He pointed to a section of the code.


    Qin Hao didn''t hide anything, "That''s the code for a semi-intelligent program."


    Chen Ping was dumbfounded, "Semi-intelligent program code? Isn''t that taught in courses later in the third year?"


    "I don''t know." Qin Hao genuinely didn''t know about that.

 Chapter 213 Sports Day

    Qin Hao was working on the computer while Chen Ping watched closely behind him, his eyes gleaming as if he had seen a beautiful woman.


    Just then, the chubby guy suddenly yelled, "Damn, bro, you guys should quickly check the internet, it''s blowing up."


    "What''s up?" Qin Hao was startled by his reaction.


    The chubby guy said, "Someone is tearing into a top-tier domestic female star."


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, "What''s there to see? Just some idle people stirring up drama." Find exclusive stories on empire


    "No, bro, take a look." The chubby guy said, walking over with his phone.


    A top-tier domestic star receives the National Spirit Creator Award!


    The chubby guy said, "National Spirit Creator, are they kidding me? How would that make the scientists, soldiers, and martyrs feel?"


    Qin Hao frowned slightly, "Which organization issued this? It''s too arbitrary, right?"


    "A foreign car company, Mercedes, issued it."


    Qin Hao chuckled, an award filled with commercial flavor.


    The chubby guy continued, "And not just that, bro, there''s more gossip below."


    "Sixty million?" Chen Ping was somewhat incredulous.


    Qin Hao was also somewhat incredulous, "Sixty million in four days? Are you joking? What''s our national average salary?"


    "It''s all written in the contract, the person who exposed it is also well-known in the industry, it likely isn''t fake, this time the entertainment industry might face a major earthquake."


    ...


    Qin Hao sighed inwardly, thinking about the promised ''getting rich first to help others get rich, aiming for common prosperity.''


    Now, in Qin Hao''s view, the polarization between the rich and the poor was getting more severe.


    The rich think about how to make more money, who cares about the poor?


    Xuan Country''s economy had rapidly developed in recent years, especially the real estate and Internet industries, which indeed had achieved many astonishing results and created many billionaires.


    But the salaries of most lower-level workers hadn''t changed at all.


    Even due to the impact of the Internet, countless factories closed, and workers lost their jobs.


    Factories, general distributors, distributors, retail stores, this chain of earning intermediary profit supported millions of businessmen.


    This chain of interest had those who produced products, sold products, opened markets, rented out shop spaces, and others who dealt with promotions, advertised, and made business cards, etc!


    Online platforms, through capital operations, shattered and restructured the complete economic chain that originally supported ten million people.


    Then they hired a hundred thousand employees, manipulating a million people to work for them, leaving the remaining nine million to fend for themselves.


    ...


    In Qin Hao''s view: behind today''s prosperous economy, there actually lay an unhealthy development.


    Soon Ning Yao came over to Qin Hao.


    "Qin Hao, can you help me register?"


    Seeing her busy and flushed, Qin Hao nodded: "Oh, okay!"


    However, almost no boys came to him. Instead, a few girls approached.


    "Qin Hao, I want to sign up for the girls'' sprint," a girl with slightly dark skin and short hair told him.


    Qin Hao nodded, looked down to write, then looked up again and asked, "Could you tell me your name?"


    ...


    "My name is Guo Li," the short-haired girl said, equally speechless.


    He had registered six or seven girls without looking up, and habitually asked, "What event do you plan to register for?"


    As he finished, he looked up to see the person in front of him. Xu Siyao was there, smiling at him, "I''m not signing up; I''m really bad at sports. What do you plan to sign up for?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I don''t know, I don''t want to participate."


    "What, afraid of losing face if you don''t place?" Xu Siyao scoffed.


    From a distance, Huo Qiang and Sun Feng looked on with jealousy.


    Sun Feng thought scornfully: You''ll see what I''m capable of this afternoon.


    By now, Ning Yao had finished tallying and looked at Qin Hao and Xu Siyao, "Qin Hao, I''m almost dead from exhaustion, and here you are flirting."


    ...


    She continued, "You go and deliver the finalized list to the teacher. Oh, and add your own events too. If anyone else wants to sign up later, I''ll just add them."


    "Okay," Qin Hao saw the sweat on her forehead and swallowed his refusal.


    "I''ll go now."


    He told Xu Siyao and then left the classroom to head to Tingting''s office.


    Upon reaching Tingting''s office, he handed over the list: "Teacher, here''s the list we just compiled."


    Tingting glanced at it, then asked curiously, "Why aren''t you on it?"


    "Teacher, I''m not physically fit, can I not participate?"


    Tingting smiled slightly, "No problem, you don''t have to participate, but make sure to cheer for our classmates during the sports day."


    "Of course, teacher." Qin Hao was surprised at how agreeable Tingting was today?


    After Qin Hao left the office, a sly look flashed in Tingting''s eyes.


    Let you oppose me, let you skip classes every day!


    Today, you''ll see what I''m made of, she thought, then wrote Qin Hao''s name on the list and filled in many events...

 Chapter 214 Company Development

    Because of the sports meet, there have been no courses scheduled in class these past few days, and everyone is preparing for the upcoming event.


    Back in the classroom, Xu Siyao was chatting and laughing with Ning Yao, looking quite happy.


    After Qin Hao returned, Xu Siyao asked him, "Qin Hao, do you have time the evening after tomorrow?"


    "What''s up?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Xu Siyao, "My dad wants to bring you to a business banquet, to meet some friends."


    Qin Hao, "Alright, please thank Mr. Xu for me."


    Xu Jiekang was thinking of helping him to integrate into the Jianghai business circle ahead of time.


    "No problem, you''ve helped me even more," Xu Siyao said with a smile.


    Having tallied the class affairs in the morning, Qin Hao then went back to his dorm to continue working on the company''s office system.


    ...


    In the afternoon, Du Wanrou arrived back at her place, and her mobile phone chimed, indicating someone had sent her a friend request.


    Friend request message: I have photos of Qin Hao being intimate with other women.


    Upon seeing this request, Du Wanrou clicked accept.


    Then the other party sent a barrage of photos, nearly every one of Qin Hao with a woman.


    "No need, my aunt is still at home," Du Wanrou said, her cheeks reddening.


    Qin Hao, "Then I''ll ask her to work overtime tonight."


    Du Wanrou exasperated, "Is that really okay for you to do?"


    Qin Hao, "Haha, just kidding. Are you at home?"


    Du Wanrou, understandingly, replied, "Mhm, just got home not long ago. Go ahead with your work; we can chat when you''re free."


    "Alright, girlie, I''ll come to see you another day."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao continued working on the office system.


    Not long after hanging up with Du Wanrou, his phone rang again, it was Kang Youyi calling.


    "Hao, today we signed acquisition contracts with three large-scale duck farms, spending a total of seven hundred and thirty thousand.


    Additionally, five more roast duck restaurants opened today, and the business is quite good."


    Qin Hao nodded with a smile, "Jiangshan is our stronghold, we must firmly secure the Jiangshan Market."


    Kang Youyi, "Alright, Hao, we''ll strive to take over the entire Jiangshan Market by the end of the month."


    "I''m developing the office and financial systems for the company. Once they''re finished, I''ll send them to you. Every computer in the company must have the office and financial systems installed."


    By then, he would be able to see on the backend what was done on the computers.

 Chapter 215 Tracking

    Kang Youyi: "Hao, there''s also the matter of the factory. Currently, our business mostly involves baking and selling on the spot, which has many disadvantages.


    If we start a few production lines, we could sell the roasted duck to various malls and even sell online, making it available to people all over the country."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and then said, "Let''s start with one or two production lines as a trial. We must have strict requirements in terms of sanitation and safety."


    "I understand, Hao. I''ll personally check on the sanitation aspect when the time comes."


    Qin Hao: "How are things at the distillery?"


    Kang Youyi replied, "I''ve already allocated some people there, and Mr. An is still preparing."


    Qin Hao asked, "Is there any movement from Dayuan Group?"@@@@


    Kang Youyi: "Nothing for now. Aside from pressuring Flying Leopard Security, they haven''t affected our company much."


    Qin Hao felt that Ma Bing was not the type to suffer losses easily, and was likely searching for Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s vulnerabilities to deal him a fatal blow when Qin Hao was least expecting it.


    "We must be careful with that Ma Bing; he''s an old fox," Qin Hao warned the chubbier man.


    "I''ll keep an eye out, Hao."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao continued to work on the system.


    By noon on the 12th, Qin Hao had also finished the office system.


    The office system was simpler, so it was completed a bit faster.


    After he finished, he stretched leisurely, with only him and Chen Ping in the dormitory.


    Qin Hao could tell that Chen Ping was obsessed with computers and that he was also very talented in this area.


    "Number Six, don''t only play with computers; occasionally go out and exercise a bit," Qin Hao reminded him.


    Chen Ping nodded, "Got it, Second Brother. Have you finished?"


    Qin Hao: "Yeah, I''m heading out now."


    "Alright, Second Brother."


    Qin Hao left the dorm building and walked towards the outside of the school. On his way, he took out his phone and called Li Yang. Explore more stories with empire


    "Wait for me at the school''s east gate; I''ll be right there."


    There were many people on campus, and Qin Hao could distinctly feel that the atmosphere was more vibrant than it had been a few days earlier.


    Perhaps it was because a sports event was forthcoming.


    A few minutes later, he left the school grounds, and a black Volkswagen car slowly followed behind him, driven by He Tingting.


    He didn''t turn his head back, so he didn''t see He Tingting behind him.


    He Tingting, seeing Qin Hao, was curious: What is this guy always up to, coming and going like a ghost?


    "A company? You have started a company?" He Tingting was somewhat incredulous. He had his own company at just nineteen?


    Looking at Qin Hao''s vehicle, it was clearly not an ordinary car; it was obvious that his company was likely doing quite well.


    Qin Hao, "Yes, if you''re not busy, teacher, I should head to the company now. You have a friend to meet, right?"


    He Tingting, "It''s okay, my friend isn''t in a hurry. I want to look at your company. I''ve visited many large companies, and I can help you see if there''s anything lacking."


    ...


    On the sixteenth floor of Dingfeng Building was Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd.


    The entire sixteenth floor was the office area for Qin Hao''s company, with monthly rent hovering around two hundred thousand.


    Feng Xiangyi had planned this for the company''s future development. As the stores expanded, the number of people in each department would surely increase.


    Although many places weren''t being used now, they would be in the future.


    Upon arriving at the company, the female receptionist at the front desk greeted him with a smile, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, while He Tingting walked beside him, taking in his company.


    "Your company doesn''t have many employees, but the office space is quite large."


    Qin Hao explained, "The Jianghai branch has just been established and is still in the development phase."


    "A branch? Where''s the headquarters?" He Tingting asked curiously.


    Qin Hao, "The headquarters is in Jiangshan."


    Recalling the company name she saw earlier, He Tingting asked, "Is your company selling roasted duck?"


    "Yes, for now."


    While talking, Qin Hao arrived at Feng Xiangyi''s office door.


    He knocked on the door.


    "Come in."


    Qin Hao pushed the door open and walked in. Feng Xiangyi was dealing with some documents, and her secretary sat on the other side, busy with work.


    "Mr. Qin," Feng Xiangyi and the secretary immediately stood up when they saw him.


    Qin Hao, "This is my college teacher, He Tingting. I ran into her outside, and she came over for a look."


    "Nice to meet you, Mr. He," Feng Xiangyi greeted with a smile.


    He Tingting, "Hello."


    The secretary poured tea for both of them and stood motionless behind them.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Mr. Feng, the office and financial systems are ready. Let''s try them out first."


    He Tingting, curious, wondered what office and financial systems were?

 Chapter 216 is difficult, isnt it?

    Qin Hao took out a USB drive and plugged it into Feng Xiangyi''s computer.


    He copied two program packages and then began the installation.


    While doing so, Qin Hao explained, "Our office system is very simple. Each person just needs to enter their name to access it, and the backend will directly bind to your device''s address.


    The suite includes all necessary office software, and I''ve added a special chat app so everyone can contact anyone within the company about work issues."


    Feng Xiangyi and He Tingting were both watching the computer.


    The office system was quickly installed.


    "Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company office system installation successful."


    "The system detects it is now eleven twenty-three AM, please log into the office system."


    Two electronic voices sounded one after the other, and the login interface for the office system appeared on the screen.


    Qin Hao said, "If you don''t log in, you won''t be able to perform any operations on your computer. It will remain on this screen, even if you try restarting."


    He Tingting looked at the computer with a surprised expression. Is this really just a company''s office system?


    Feng Xiangyi was somewhat curious and found it a bit fun.


    Following Qin Hao''s instructions, she typed in her name, not needing to press enter or click okay; the computer processed it automatically.


    "This is a semi-intelligent detection program. It operates on its own once your hand leaves the keyboard."


    "Congratulations, Mr. Feng of Jianghai branch, for logging in successfully."


    The display changed to the desktop of the office system.


    It included various office applications, a browser, and a Jiangshan Company chat app.


    Qin Hao: "Okay, now that you''ve logged in successfully, you can operate it as usual. For everyone using the office system, I can check your operation records for the day in the backend, no matter what you do."


    He demonstrated this by opening a browser and randomly clicking to download a game.


    "Please do not download games during work hours. The backend has automatically recorded this, warning you once. Multiple offenses will result in termination, so please cherish your hard-earned job."


    Qin Hao: "In cases like this, I can receive a message in the backend. The current chip is too basic and has not reached the level of an intelligence chip. It can''t fully achieve artificial intelligence, so we''ll have to make do with this for now."


    Feng Xiangyi looked like a child who''d just found a new toy. This office system is really interesting, isn''t it?


    The stunned He Tingting couldn''t believe what she was seeing on the computer operating system.


    "Is this an intelligent operating system?"


    Currently, He Tingting''s research area was artificial intelligence. Seeing such an advanced office system filled her eyes with excitement.


    Qin Hao: "No, no, this is our company''s semi-intelligent office system, not quite an intelligent operating system."


    "Where did you buy this from?" He Tingting didn''t recall any domestic network company capable of developing such an intelligent office system.


    Qin Hao: "I didn''t buy it; I made it over a few days."


    He Tingting spoke up, "Then name your price."


    "You can''t afford it." Qin Hao didn''t mention a price because he really didn''t want to sell it, as his research on smart chips would have great use in the future.


    The value of smart programming codes was comparable to, if not higher than, the price of smart chips.


    "Then can I at least copy this office system?" He Tingting asked as a fallback.


    Qin Hao hesitated before saying, "If you weren''t my teacher, I would never agree to it."


    He Tingting borrowed a USB drive and then copied the office system installation package.


    Qin Hao gave the financial system installation package to Feng Xiangyi, instructing her to arrange for it to be installed on all the company''s computers.


    Qin Hao also delegated the duties concerning the head office to Feng Xiangyi.


    Qin Hao, "Didn''t you have plans to meet a friend? It''s almost noon."


    "It''s fine, they''re not that important. I''m heading back to the school now," He Tingting said, taking the USB drive and leaving.


    She planned to gather some professors to study the office system.


    ...


    Feng Xiangyi, "Mr. Qin, we are currently renovating three stores. They are all located in the best spots in Xinshang Square and should be ready to open in about four or five days."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "In the future, write all the daily expenses and income on it, I can see them from the backend."


    "Yes, Mr. Qin, I will pass on your message," Feng Xiangyi replied.


    The operations of the roasted duck company generally didn''t require his management anymore.


    Kang Youyi, Meng Zhicheng, and others managed Jiangshan, while Feng Xiangyi and Nie Si managed Jianghai.


    After finishing his tasks, Qin Hao made a call to Du Wanrou, "Hey, where are you right now?"


    "At school, just about to head back."


    Qin Hao, "Do you have classes in the afternoon?"


    "No, why?"


    "Then wait for me at home, I''ll come to see you."


    Wanrou''s cheeks instantly turned red, her voice timid, "Okay."


    Qin Hao''s eyes sparkled with excitement; he hurriedly left the office and then took a ride to Wanrou''s residence.


    He was newly captivated by a seductive sensation.


    On the way, Qin Hao also reflected on the Xinghai generation smart robots, anticipating the start of the distillery.


    He believed it was time to commence the development of the Xinghai generation smart robots.


    He was confident that the day the Xinghai smart generation robots were launched, they would sweep across the globe like a storm.

 Chapter 217 Drawing

    Qin Hao arrived at Du Wanrou''s place.


    She was cooking in the kitchen, a faint scent of food wafting through.


    He curiously walked into the kitchen, "Wow, I didn''t expect you to be good at cooking."


    "It''s quite normal, actually. My mom taught me when I was in junior high," said Du Wanrou as she continued cooking.


    After she finished speaking, she added, "You go wait outside, it''ll be ready soon."


    Qin Hao went outside and turned on the television.


    The TV was broadcasting the noon news.


    "The Federation has announced a tariff list on China involving over a thousand products valued at fifty billion, affecting hundreds of high-tech companies."


    The tariff list targeted many high-tech companies in Xuan Country, aiming to curb the development of Xuan high-tech products.


    "Government forces and rebels in Saiya Country clashed again, resulting in casualties on both sides exceeding twenty people."


    "The European Union has approved retaliatory tariffs on Federation goods."


    "Alright, let''s eat," said Du Wanrou, bringing the food out from the kitchen.


    Qin Hao stood up and smiled, "Let me taste the culinary skills of my girl."


    The food Du Wanrou made was fine, not particularly delicious but passable, and Qin Hao ate a lot.


    After the meal, Qin Hao offered to wash the dishes, but Du Wanrou beat him to it.


    Having such a beautiful and virtuous girlfriend made Qin Hao very pleased.


    Once Du Wanrou finished washing the dishes, Qin Hao eagerly said, "Let''s go rest this afternoon."


    "Naughty, what if my aunt comes back?" Du Wanrou half-heartedly resisted.


    "It''s fine, she won''t come back during working hours," he reassured.


    After he spoke, he picked up Du Wanrou and headed to the bedroom.


    Meanwhile, He Tingting received the system and headed straight back to school to experiment on her own computer.


    However, she realized she didn''t have login permissions!


    She called Qin Hao, but no one answered.


    He Tingting nodded, "And it''s a student from our college."


    Old Professor: "A student from our college? Fourth-year student? I didn''t know we had such a talent."


    ...


    He Tingting: "Not a fourth-year, a first-year freshman."


    "A freshman?" Some were puzzled.


    Then one seemed to realize something, "You''re not talking about Qin Hao, are you?"


    "Mr. Wang, how did you know it was him?" He Tingting was quite surprised.


    Mr. Wang: "He Tingting, do you really think scoring full marks in the unified exam is that simple? Missing by one mark is vastly different, not to mention several dozen marks. It''s not an exaggeration."


    Another added, "Mr. Wang is right. Even if we took the unified exam now, we wouldn''t be confident of scoring full marks. He is a rare genius."


    He Tingting: "Mr. Wang, aren''t you exaggerating a bit?"


    "He Tingting, I once had the privilege of meeting a genius who was the top scorer of the unified exam in a certain province in a certain year, and now works at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He had never dealt with engines before, but after reading about them twice, he understood the principles and could even propose the correct research directions," Mr. Wang explained.


    Such talents were rare, and though there were many high scorers in the unified exam, they often faded into obscurity in university.


    About twenty minutes later, Li Yang drove up to the entrance of Jianghai University.


    Qin Hao got out of the car and walked into the school.


    Once back in his dormitory, he quickly set up permissions for He Tingting on his computer.


    After setting up the permissions, he informed He Tingting, eager to avoid her nagging.


    Just after he had finished, Zhao De walked in, "Second brother, do you guys know how to paint?"


    Chen Ping shook his head, and Qin Hao curiously asked, "What are you planning to do?"


    Zhao De appeared somewhat embarrassed, "Second brother, Xu Lu''s dad is a painter, and I want to date her, so today I met her dad. To impress him, I boasted that I could paint. Unexpectedly, he set me a task to paint a landscape painting for him. If he''s satisfied, he''ll agree to our relationship."


    ...


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; this was the first time he''d heard of such a thing.


    Zhao De: "Second brother, can you paint?"


    "A bit!"


    Zhao De hastily said, "Then could you paint one for me?"

 Chapter 218 I Want to Start a Business

    Qin Hao glanced at him disdainfully, "Didn''t they ask you to paint?"


    Zhao De chuckled, "Big bro, if neither you nor I say anything, who''s going to know it wasn''t me who painted it?


    For your little brother''s lifelong happiness, won''t you help me out?"


    Qin Hao: "I haven''t really painted much either. If it turns out bad, what if your future father-in-law doesn''t like it?"


    Zhao De made a bitter face, "Big bro, I don''t even know how to start painting."


    "Why not go ask a master from the painting club to do it for you?"


    Zhao De replied, "The president of the painting club is his disciple. If I were to ask someone from outside, it would cost at least a few thousand. Big bro, just paint one for me."


    After Zhao De''s persistent requests, Qin Hao nodded and agreed.


    "Big bro, I''ve prepared everything."


    As he spoke, Zhao De took out some items and placed them on the table.


    Qin Hao stood there, unsure, as he didn''t know what landscape painting to create.


    "What''s the matter, big bro?" Zhao De, seeing him motionless, asked curiously.


    Qin Hao: "I''m thinking about which one to do. They didn''t have any specific requests, right?"


    "No, just paint anything."


    After thinking for a bit, Qin Hao reached into his pocket and pulled out some money. He looked through it and then took out a twenty Xuan Country Coin.


    The back of the coin featured a Xilin Mountain and Water landscape painting. The mountains were mystical, the waters picturesque, with an elder rowing a boat and an osprey perching majestically.


    Qin Hao: "How about I paint this one?"


    "Big bro, you''re so talented..." Zhao De was thoroughly impressed, figuratively throwing himself at Qin Hao''s feet.


    Qin Hao placed the coin beside him as a reference.


    He picked up the brush and began painting directly, the image from the back of the coin already fully outlined in his mind.


    Zhao De knew better than to disturb him while he painted, so he stood by quietly, watching without making a sound.


    In less than half an hour, a landscape painting vividly emerged on the paper.


    Zhao De was stunned when he saw it because the landscape painting Qin Hao created was incredibly beautiful.


    The mountains were vividly portrayed, the rivers were winding, the fisherman wore a straw raincoat, and the osprey stood tall on a bamboo pole.


    To Zhao De, everything looked so lifelike. He felt as if he was in the scene, itching to visit that place for himself.


    "Holy crap, big bro, is this what you meant by ''not having painted much''?" Zhao De''s eyes were glued to the painting.


    This painting was far more beautiful than the landscape paintings hung on the walls of Xu Lu''s home.


    And those were all made by famous artists!


    Although he knew nothing about painting, Zhao De could still tell what was visually appealing.


    Qin Hao took a look and felt quite satisfied too: "Taking it out shouldn''t be too embarrassing, right?"


    "Hao can paint too?" The fatty was momentarily stunned.


    Zhao De: "Of course, you underestimate who Hao is¡ªa once-in-a-century young genius, a future pillar of the nation.


    By the way, Hao, do you have a car? Can I borrow it to drive tomorrow? Although it''s already autumn, it''s still a bit hot out."


    Qin Hao laughed speechlessly: "Cut out the flattery, I''ll have someone bring the car to you tomorrow. We can''t lose face of our 301 dorm."


    "Thanks, Hao. If this works out, I''ll treat everyone to a meal," Zhao De gratefully said.


    Qin Hao looked at the fatty and asked, "What did you do all day today?"


    The fatty took a sip of water, sat down on a chair, and said, "Today, Xiao Cui and I went shopping and talked a lot. Hao, I''ve decided I''m going to start a business; otherwise, I''ll drift further and further away from her, and I don''t want to lose her!"


    Chen Ping and Zhao De looked at him in surprise.


    Qin Hao asked, "So, what kind of company do you plan to start? Do you have a target yet?"


    The fatty shook his head: "No, Hao, you have experience. What kind of company should I start?"


    Qin Hao: "That depends on what industry you understand and which you''re interested in."


    "I don''t know," the fatty said awkwardly.


    Qin Hao: "If you don''t know what kind of business to start, you should think about it carefully."


    The fatty nodded, his mind harboring entrepreneurial ideas, but he was still unsure what to pursue.


    Xie Cui''s family dealt in electronic products. He initially wanted to go into that, but later reconsidered.


    ...


    The next morning


    Qin Hao and three others left the dormitory, Zhao De still holding onto a scroll of painting that had dried after last night''s inking, which he had framed a bit.


    It wasn''t long before Qin Hao saw six girls walking toward them.


    The fatty curiously asked, "Hao, which one is your girlfriend?"


    Zhao De: "The prettiest one in the middle."


    "Hao, you''ve got good taste," Chen Ping remarked as he saw Xu Lu.


    Soon, Xu Lu and her group approached.


    Zhao De began, "Lu Lu, let me introduce you. These three are my buddies. This is Qin Hao, Wang Yanghua, and Chen Ping."


    Xu Lu smiled and said, "Hello, I''m Xu Lu."


    "Nice to meet you, sister-in-law."


    Xu Lu''s cheeks turned slightly red. Was it alright to address her so directly?


    Her roommates snickered. These freshmen sure talked interestingly.


    But they weren''t much interested in Qin Hao and the others¡ªthey weren''t handsome and didn''t look like they were rich.


    To them, Zhao De, with his tall and handsome appearance, seemed the most handsome, followed by Qin Hao, Chen Ping, and Wang Yanghua.


    [Update has arrived!]

 Chapter 219 Masters Hand

    Xu Lu''s roommates followed her out, specifically to see if Zhao De''s roommates included any handsome guys.


    Unfortunately, they were somewhat disappointed, although some thought that Qin Hao and his friends weren''t bad.


    They all walked towards the school entrance together.


    On the way, a dainty and delightful girl approached Chen Ping and started talking to him.


    Chen Ping, being shy by nature, blushed slightly, appearing rather embarrassed.


    He only spoke when the girl asked him questions.


    But the girl didn''t mind and continued to chat happily with Chen Ping.


    Seeing this, the chubby one whispered, "Second bro, I think our sixth brother is about to hit the jackpot with the ladies."


    Qin Hao, "Sixth is too shy, and deep down, he feels somewhat inferior. If a girl shows him kindness, he would probably just go along with it, which isn''t good for him; he could easily get hurt.


    When you have time, have someone check out what kind of person this girl is."


    The chubby one, "Second bro, how come you weren''t this concerned when I was dating?"


    "You''ve got a thick skin. Even if you break up, it''s the girl who would be at a loss."


    ...


    In the midst of their conversation, they arrived at the school entrance.


    Suddenly, a honking sound came from behind, and a black Volkswagen drove past them.


    When it reached Zhao De and Xu Lu upfront, the car slowed down, and the window rolled down, revealing a man inside looking at Zhao De and Xu Lu.


    Zhao De gave the man a puzzled glance; he didn''t recognize him.


    Then the man in the car spoke, "Yo, Xu Lu, this is your boyfriend, huh?"


    His tone was disdainful, somewhat looking down on Zhao De.


    Xu Lu''s face immediately turned sour, and she ignored him.


    Zhao De''s expression wasn''t pleasant either, but he managed to hold back from lashing out.


    "Where are you two headed? Need a ride from me?" Zhao Zheng said mockingly.


    Xu Lu replied curtly, "No need, just drive carefully yourself."


    By this time, they were at the school gate.


    Qin Hao waved toward a spot not too far away, and Li Yang and a few others drove up.@@@@


    They then stopped at the school entrance, effectively blocking Zhao Zheng''s car.


    Zhao Zheng wanted to curse out loud, but upon seeing the Lamborghini, he immediately held his tongue. Anyone who could afford to drive such a car was not someone he could afford to offend.


    Li Yang and the others got out of their car and respectfully called out to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin!"


    The surrounding people were all stunned, and their eyes slowly turned to Qin Hao, scarcely believing it.


    It took Xu Lu a moment to respond, "Fifteen million."


    "Screech"


    Brakes sounded as Zhao De turned his head towards Xu Lu, "How much did you say?"


    "Fifteen million!"


    Zhao De exclaimed, "Damn, that expensive? I thought it was just a few million..."


    "What exactly does your buddy do, to be driving a fifteen million car!" Xu Lu was very curious.


    Zhao De replied, "I really don''t know."


    "You should learn more, I see you have a good relationship. Have him mentor you properly," Xu Lu suggested.


    Zhao De replied with a wry smile, "You know I love basketball!"


    Xu Lu retorted, "What future is there in playing basketball, unless you become a big domestic star?"


    Zhao De pleaded, "Lu Lu, give me a chance, okay? I really love basketball, I want to be a legend like Jordan or Chamberlain."


    Seeing the spark in his eyes, Xu Lu was deeply moved, "Alright, whatever you do, I''ll support you. I believe you are the best."


    "Heh, my darling."


    Zhao De hugged her head and kissed her fiercely.


    "Stop it, drive now, my dad is still waiting."


    Around nine in the morning, Zhao De drove into a residential area.


    Xu Lu was a local; her father was a painter, not very famous but not bad either, a mid-tier artist.


    Her mother was a pianist, currently performing outside with a team.


    Returning to Xu Lu''s home, Zhao De no longer felt the nerves he had the first time.


    Looking at him, Xu Lu''s father was surprised when he saw the scroll in his hand, "You finished it already?"


    "It''s just a landscape painting. It was done in a few dozen minutes," Zhao De said casually.


    Mr. Xu''s brow furrowed immediately, "When painting, one must be calm and focused, paint with heart, not rush or be impulsive, or you won''t produce a good work."


    Xu Lu quickly interjected, "Dad, why don''t you look at it first? I''ll go get some water for you guys."


    Zhao De handed over the scroll, "Mr. Xu, please have a look." Read exclusive content at empire


    Mr. Xu took the scroll, laid it flat on the coffee table, and spread it out.


    As he saw the Xilin Mountain and Water painting, Mr. Xu was stunned on the spot, his eyes widened in disbelief.


    "This... did you paint this?"


    Seeing his expression, Zhao De felt a bit proud, "That''s right, I painted it yesterday after I went back, working from the background image on the money."


    "How is this possible, this must be the work of a master, it''s so beautiful, just too beautiful, it perfectly captures the essence of Xilin''s mountains and waters," Mr. Xu said, his gaze fixated on the painting.

 Chapter 220 News Spreads

    Xu Lu brought over some water at this point.


    After setting the water down, she glanced at the landscape painting.


    Then she froze, unable to help but admire, "This painting is so beautiful!"


    Having been surrounded by art from a young age, she had some understanding of paintings.


    The skill exhibited in this painting was clearly superior to her father''s!


    As for how advanced it was, she wasn''t quite sure.


    Without lifting his head, Mr. Xu said, "The craftsmanship of this painting is absolutely at a master level; the artistry is profound and remarkable. These mountain peaks, the Li River, are drawn so perfectly, fully capturing the scenery of my hometown."


    "Master level?" Xu Lu was somewhat surprised.


    Zhao De didn''t really understand what ''master level'' meant, so his expression didn''t change.


    Mr. Xu said, "Someone who can paint at this level is one in a million in our country. Just with this skill, if put up for auction, it would fetch at least several hundred thousand."


    "What? How many hundred thousand?" Zhao De''s eyes widened upon hearing this.


    Smiling, Mr. Xu looked at him and said, "You heard right, several hundred thousand. Tell me, who painted it?"


    Zhao De, realizing his cover was blown, didn''t try to hide it any longer because that would only make the other party dislike him more.


    He said, "Mr. Xu, I really like Lu Lu, and indeed the painting wasn''t done by me; it was my classmate who helped me do it."


    "Your classmate?" Mr. Xu was in disbelief.


    How old could his classmate be to have such profound artistic skill?


    Zhao De nodded, "He''s a good brother of mine, ranked second in our dormitory. We all call him ''Second Brother.'' Lu Lu also met him today."


    "He painted this?" Xu Lu was surprised.


    He knows how to paint?


    Mr. Xu could tell that Zhao De wasn''t lying and exclaimed, "A new generation replaces the old, impressive, very impressive!"


    Zhao De, seeing that he had read the room well, quickly said, "Mr. Xu, if you like it, feel free to take the painting. If it''s not enough, I can ask my brother to paint a few more."


    "That would be very embarrassing."


    Although Mr. Xu said this, his eyes and hands never left the scroll.


    He truly loved this painting because his hometown was Xilin, and seeing the painting gave him a sense of kinship. Most importantly, it was definitely the work of a famous artist, worth collecting.


    Zhao De, "It''s nothing, Mr. Xu. It''s just a painting. My brother can whip one up in about fifteen minutes. If you like, I can have him paint a few more some other day."


    "Good, Xiao Lu, go buy some vegetables and meat later. I will cook lunch myself to treat Xiao Zhao."


    Having received such a prized painting, Mr. Xu felt very happy and found Zhao De much more appealing as well.


    The news of Qin Hao acquiring Tianquan Wine Industry still had not been fully contained.


    "Founder of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd, Qin Hao, acquired Tianquan Wine Industry."


    "Is he intending to enter the white liquor industry and compete with Ma Bing?"


    "Has he lost his mind? What does he have to contend with Dayuan Group?" someone incredulously said.


    "Dayuan Group has been pressuring his companies; is this his counterattack?"


    "Although Qin Hao is young, he would not do something foolish; he must have a plan. There might be a good show to watch in Jiangshan," Deng Zhenyuan remarked.


    Ma Bing from Dayuan Group promptly convened a high-level company meeting.


    The focus was to guard against Tianquan Wine Industry, or to be more precise, Xinghui Wine Industry, as the new company name would be adopted in the next few days.


    He also sent out people to investigate the details of the new winery, wanting to know where Qin Hao''s confidence came from to compete with him for market share!


    What trump card did he hold?


    Nowadays, the market share of the white liquor industry in Shuinan Province has been entirely occupied by major liquor companies, leaving no room for a newly established winery to develop, able only to exist in the gaps.


    ...


    Once the news spread, An Linxuan was the first to call Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, the news about your acquisition of Tianquan Winery has leaked!"


    Qin Hao knew it couldn''t be kept secret for long and was unconcerned, "Don''t worry about that, just continue with the preparations."


    An Linxuan replied, "Mr. Qin, the factory preparations are nearly complete. We can start operations in a couple of days. We''ve sent out invitations, inviting friends in Jiangshan for the opening. Will you have time to come back on the opening day, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao responded, "The school is starting its sports event tomorrow, and I''m quite busy. If I can make it, I''ll definitely come back."


    "Alright, Mr. Qin."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao placed a call to Kang Youyi.


    "What''s up, Hao?"


    Qin Hao: "The Xinghui Winery is about to start operations. I''ll send you the secret recipe and the brewing process for Xinghui Wine through the office system later. Then, find a few reliable people to handle these."


    "Got it, Hao."


    The security measures on mobile phones are not strong enough, and someone could buy call records with money. Even regular online chat software did not give him peace of mind.


    The office system he developed, he was fairly confident in.


    It would be nearly impossible for outsiders to breach it.


    After sending the information to Kang Youyi, Qin Hao received a text message from Li Moying, "Master, come and help me!"


    "What''s wrong?" Qin Hao replied in confusion.


    "My stomach hurts, it''s so uncomfortable!" And she sent a pitiful emoji to emphasize her point.

 Chapter 221 Li Moyings Childhood Sweetheart

    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What''s wrong? Did you eat something bad?"


    "No, Master, please come over, Finance Class One."


    Qin Hao replied, "Then wait a moment, I''ll be right over."


    After hanging up the phone, he left the dormitory and then headed towards the Finance College.


    Seven or eight minutes later, he arrived at the Finance College.


    Entering the academic building of the Finance College, he quickly found Finance Class One.


    He walked in, and there were quite a few people in the classroom, both men and women.


    Looking around, he saw Li Mo Ying leaning on the desk.


    Qin Hao walked over to her, and the people in Finance Class One looked curiously at him as a stranger walked in.


    When they saw Qin Hao stop at Li Mo Ying''s place, many were taken aback.


    Qin Hao ignored everyone else''s gazes and asked Li Mo Ying, "What''s wrong?"


    Li Mo Ying, hearing his voice, lifted her head and smiled, "Master, you''re here."


    Qin Hao, looking at her complexion, couldn''t discern any illnesses, "Weren''t you having a stomachache?"


    "It''s much better now. You know how women have those days every month when their stomach hurts." Li Mo Ying chuckled.


    Qin Hao rolled his eyes at her, "It''s good that it''s nothing, then I''m heading back."@@@@


    Li Mo Ying quickly grabbed his hand, "Don''t go, Master, it''s almost noon, let me treat you to lunch."


    Suddenly, Qin Hao felt countless gazes converging on him.


    If gazes could kill, he would have died countless times by now.


    Some people''s expressions turned outright sour.


    Many looked towards one of the men in the class.


    In the class, who didn''t know that Tang Feipeng was fond of Li Mo Ying?


    Now Li Mo Ying was even boldly grabbing that guy''s hand.


    Who exactly is this guy?


    Could he be Li Mo Ying''s boyfriend?


    But no one had heard that Li Mo Ying had a boyfriend.


    ...


    "Please, Master?" Li Mo Ying''s tone carried a hint of coquetry.


    Qin Hao, somewhat overwhelmed, quickly responded, "Alright!"


    Only then did Li Mo Ying let go of his hand and stood up from her seat.


    The two of them walked together towards the outside.


    But they hadn''t got far when they were blocked by someone.


    "Yeah, Hao, I''m off to play basketball. After the sports meeting, it''s the basketball tournament, and I definitely need to win a championship for our class," Zhao De said firmly.


    Having said that, he grabbed a basketball and left.


    Fatty was sitting in front of the computer, intently staring at the screen.


    Qin Hao didn''t disturb him, and opened his computer to check the financial system.


    The performance from the day before was already there; combining several stores, the turnover had reached over 1.63 million.


    The profit for just one day had already reached over a million!


    The system''s main mission was monthly profits of fifty million.


    Continue reading on empire


    He still had seventy thousand three hundred achievement points.


    Qin Hao checked the store, where many high-tech products were available for exchange.


    But those items were all high-end, and even if he exchanged them now, they wouldn''t be of much use.


    It would be nice if there were life potions and spirit potions for sale in the store.


    Both of these items could save lives.


    He idly opened the lottery system.


    A single draw now cost five hundred achievement points.


    He directly spent five thousand achievement points for a ten-consecutive draw.


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining a free attribute point."


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining a life potion."


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Special Warfare Soldier Training Manual (Basic)"


    ...


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Junior Agility Gene Potion."


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining a set of Tianli Skincare development technology."


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining Gambling Skill."


    Special Warfare Soldier Training Manual (Basic): Systematically improves the training of soldiers to make them the best of the best.


    Junior Agility Gene Potion: Permanently increases the user''s agility by five points.


    Tianli Skincare: Skincare and cosmetic products that can be used by both women and men, without any side effects, effectively caring for the skin, removing dark spots, wrinkles, blackheads, etc.


    Gambling Skill: Once learned, mastery over gambling is achieved, dominating the gambling houses, seeking only defeat.


    Apart from these, there was also a life potion and a spirit potion, the others were all free attribute points.


    "Stage side mission Legendary Tycoon I launched: Spend ten million Xuan Country Coins online, reward ten thousand achievement points."


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless seeing this side mission, what kind of mission was this? Forcing me to spend money?


    "I got it, big bro, I got it."


    Just then, Fatty''s voice suddenly rang out.

 Chapter 222 The Fat Mans Entrepreneurial Goal

    Qin Hao was startled by the hefty man''s exclamation, "What do you know?"


    The hefty man said with a smile, "Big bro, I''ve figured out what I want to do!"


    "What is it?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    The hefty man took out his phone and said, "Big bro, I''ve thought about it for a long time, and I decided to start an online media company."


    Qin Hao was somewhat astonished, "An online media company?"


    The hefty man nodded, "With the rise of the live streaming industry, there are so many people becoming streamers online, especially on the TT live streaming platform which nearly dominates ninety percent of the internet traffic, attracting an enormous audience."


    Qin Hao, not very knowledgeable about live streaming, said, "If you need funds, just ask, don''t be polite with me."


    The hefty man chuckled, "To start a small guild on the TT live streaming platform, not much is needed, roughly just a hundred thousand or so, I''ll start slowly."


    Qin Hao said, "Having a goal is good, I don''t know much about this industry."


    The hefty man continued, "In reality, many large companies have also entered the live streaming platforms. They invest a fortune in establishing online media companies, signing large-scale streamer artists, and then when there are official events, they splurge to promote their own artists.


    The income split is 5:2:3, the platform takes half of a dollar''s worth of gifts, the guild takes twenty percent, and the streamers get thirty percent. Some top streamers get a higher share."


    Qin Hao listened attentively to what he was saying, nodding slightly.


    The hefty man went on, "Big bro, some top streamers, with the help of their guilds, have started entering the entertainment industry, and their earning capacity is terrifying.


    At first, I planned to start a guild, then hire a few scouts to discover potential new talent, then grow healthily and expand gradually."


    Qin Hao recalled Wang Jian whom he had met at the airport a few days earlier and spoke up, "Be careful when recruiting streamers, don''t just take anyone, those with vulgarity or corrupted values will sooner or later be cracked down on and banned by the state."


    The hefty man nodded, "Yeah, I heard that the government is going to strictly control the live streaming industry. Some vulgar streamers will be banned, and I''m planning to set up both an online and offline media company in the future. I definitely won''t sign those vulgar streamers."


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised, "Your ambition isn''t small, an offline media company isn''t easy to manage."


    The hefty man chuckled, "Just taking it slow. Who knows what the future holds? Having a grand goal is always good."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Just let me know if you need anything, as long as it''s not too much, a million or eight hundred thousand is not a problem."


    The hefty man''s eyes widened, "Big bro, are you that rich?"


    At that moment, Chen Ping returned, carrying a few pieces of clothing, and he didn''t seem very happy when he walked in.


    The hefty man asked out of curiosity, "What''s wrong, number six? Did you get dumped?"


    "Big bro, I want to make money," Chen Ping said as he looked at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao could tell something was amiss from his demeanour and frowned slightly, "What''s the matter? That girl thinks you don''t have money?"


    "Over ten million."


    Xu Siyao said, "That expensive, my dad definitely wouldn''t be willing to buy me such a nice car."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "You don''t have much to do anyway, just going to school. What''s the use of having such a good car? Let''s go, don''t let Mr. Xu wait anxiously."


    Xu Siyao drove in front, and Qin Hao followed behind with his three cars.


    About half an hour later, they arrived inside a villa community.


    The cars stopped at the entrance; at that moment, Xu Jiekang just happened to come out of the house, accompanied by a few bodyguards.


    Seeing Qin Hao dressed in a suit and getting out of the Lamborghini, he was taken aback.


    The Qin Hao he saw now was very different from the Qin Hao he had met before.


    Now, Xu Jiekang could feel an intangible aura emanating from him, one that ordinary people could not possess.


    Even some company CEOs didn''t have this kind of presence.


    He had seen this kind of aura on certain tycoons in the business world.


    "Mr. Xu!"


    Qin Hao stood there and spoke in a calm tone.


    Xu Jiekang nodded, "It''s about time, let''s go."


    Xu Jiekang''s car was a black Mercedes, which looked solid and imposing.


    This matched his personality.


    Xu Siyao spoke up, "Dad, I''m riding with Qin Hao, I''m tired of your car."


    Xu Jiekang showed a wry smile, "As you wish."


    After getting into the car, Qin Hao and Xu Siyao sat in the back, and then the car slowly left the community.


    Six twenty-five PM.


    Their convoy stopped in the parking lot of Jinxiu Hotel in the city center.


    The parking lot was filled with luxury cars, the cheapest among them worth several million.


    As they got out of the car, Xu Jiekang came over and said, "Tonight''s attendees are all big names and seniors from the Jianghai business world, with company assets of at least tens of billions. There''s a very important person coming tonight, as a welcome ceremony."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, curious in his heart. What kind of person warranted such grand arrangements?

 Chapter 223 Yang Su

    Xu Jiekang walked in the middle, with Qin Hao and Xu Siyao by his side.


    "Mr. Xu, long time no see."


    Just a few steps in, Xu Jiekang encountered an acquaintance.


    Xu Jiekang smiled in response, "Mr. Guo, it''s been a long time. You look even younger."


    "Mr. Xu flatters me, and this must be Xiao Yao, growing more beautiful by the day," complimented Mr. Guo to Xu Siyao.


    After speaking, he noticed Qin Hao and asked curiously, "Mr. Xu, who might this be?"


    Xu Jiekang introduced, "This is Qin Hao, the chairman of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd, a rising star in Jianghai. I brought him today to broaden his horizons. Xiao Hao, this is Mr. Guo from Wo Hu Group. Almost all the modern buildings and high-rise residential complexes in Jianghai City use elevators developed by Mr. Guo''s company."


    He did not mention his relationship with Qin Hao.


    This made Guo Jie even more curious, he glanced at Xu Siyao and seemed to be thinking about something.


    Qin Hao took the initiative to greet him, his tone neither humble nor overbearing, "Mr. Guo, hello, I hope for your support in the future."


    Guo Jie replied, "Xiao Hao, you''re too polite. Of course, let''s go inside, many old friends have not been seen for a long time."


    He hadn''t heard of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Food Co., Ltd and didn''t pay it much mind.


    As they moved further in, many greeted Xu Jiekang along the way.


    Although Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group isn''t that large in scale, its background cannot be ignored, and no one dares to offend it.


    This is also why so many people took the initiative to greet him.


    Xu Jiekang''s business capacity isn''t very strong, but his background is what allowed him to reach this scale.


    No one dares to offend him, and no one will offend him!


    If it were anyone else, Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group would definitely be stronger, even dominating the southern market.


    Of course, Xu Jiekang didn''t start the company just to make money, but to search for the legendary Spiritual Medicine.


    He hadn''t found the Spiritual Medicine but had met Qin Hao; perhaps this was fate.


    Entering the Jinxiu Hotel, two lines of young women in red cheongsams stood on either side of the red carpet, smiling at the guests.


    The venue was closed off, only receiving the guests of the night.


    Xu Jiekang and his companions arrived at the elevator, where quite a few people were waiting.


    A mature and full-figured woman saw Xu Jiekang and smiled, "Mr. Xu, it''s been a long time."


    Xu Jiekang''s expression was neutral as he nodded slightly, "Mr. Yang, long time no see."


    After saying this, Xu Jiekang didn''t seem eager to continue the conversation.


    "Mr. Xu, Mr. Yang, long time no see," someone in the reception room greeted them out of their own initiative.


    Xu Jiekang, normally just nodding without speaking, now would walk over and exchange a few words because of Qin Hao''s presence, then introduce Qin Hao to them.


    By doing this, those people understood what he meant; they took note to help Qin Hao if he needed anything in the future.


    Yang Su followed all along, observing Xu Jiekang''s high regard for Qin Hao, and couldn''t help but take an extra glance at him.


    When she also saw Xu Siyao nearby, her thoughts quickly turned: could he be Si Yao''s boyfriend?


    Otherwise, why would Xu Jiekang go to such lengths for Qin Hao?


    Xu Jiekang took him around for nearly half an hour, meeting with eighty percent of the people present.


    The smile on Qin Hao''s face was almost frozen.


    After it was over, he breathed a sigh of relief and found a quiet place to sit down.


    Xu Siyao sat beside him, drinking a bottle of juice, "Just looking at you is exhausting; I really don''t know how you managed to keep it up."


    Qin Hao, "I hope this is the last time."


    Xu Siyao, seeing Yang Su standing with her father not far away, muttered, "Sly fox."


    Qin Hao couldn''t help but ask, "I think Mr. Yang is pretty nice; why do you have such a big problem with her?"


    Xu Siyao replied, "You don''t know; she''s always clinging to my dad trying to get together with him. Wouldn''t you say she''s a sly fox?"


    ...


    Qin Hao: "Does she have a husband?"


    Xu Siyao, "He died a long time ago."


    Qin Hao, realizing, "Don''t you think they''d be quite a good match?"


    "A good match? Match for what? I certainly don''t want that sly fox to be my step-mother," Xu Siyao said with conviction.


    Qin Hao: "But your dad likes her, too."


    Xu Siyao: "Likes her? How is that possible? Haven''t you seen that my dad doesn''t really pay much attention to her?"


    Qin Hao could tell that Yang Su was a decent person, and he could also sense Xu Jiekang''s fondness for her.


    The biggest obstacle between them was Xu Siyao.


    Such matters Xu Jiekang couldn''t voice, and Yang Su couldn''t possibly convince her.


    Yet, Qin Hao felt that he might have some hope in persuading her.


    While sipping his drink, he said, "I think your dad is considering your feelings. He knows you don''t like Mr. Yang, so he dares not appear too affectionate. Don''t you think your dad has been truly happy living alone all these years?


    And speaking of Mr. Yang''s character, how long has she been pursuing Mr. Xu? Have you ever seen such a sly fox?"

 Chapter 224 Shock

    Xu Siyao was taken aback by his words.


    "Do you think your dad is happy?"


    She had never considered this question, and had it not been for Qin Hao mentioning it today, she might never have asked herself this.


    There was also Yang Su. As far as Xu Siyao knew, Yang Su had had feelings for her father for seven or eight years and was still persevering!


    Her thoughts were in chaos at this moment!@@@@


    Seeing her reaction, Qin Hao spoke up, "Actually, Mr. Yang is quite a decent woman."


    Xu Siyao looked at Yang Su in the distance.


    For some reason, seeing her slender figure now made Xu Siyao''s nose slightly tingle with sadness, and she felt somewhat guilty.


    Seven or eight years of perseverance!


    Enduring countless mockeries!


    Yet, she had not given up.


    Perhaps she had already touched my father''s heart, but for my sake, he had never accepted her.


    My mother has been gone for a long time; it really is time for my father to find someone to spend the rest of his days with.


    "Qin Hao, thank you," said Xu Siyao, her eyes brimming with tears, her tone sincere.


    Qin Hao had not expected her to come around so quickly and replied with a smile, "Don''t be so formal; Mr. Xu has been very good to me. I''m just doing what I should."


    At this moment, a group of people walked in from outside.


    Qin Hao and Xu Siyao both turned their heads to look. When they saw who it was, Qin Hao''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    He recognized one of them, whom he had just met that day.


    "The one in the middle is the General Manager of Tang Group. Next to him is his son, Tang Feipeng, a renowned newcomer in the business world. The companies under Tang Feipeng now have an annual revenue exceeding one billion. He''s really impressive," Xu Siyao explained to him.


    At this moment, Tang Feipeng was dressed in formal attire with a smile on his face. He seemed modest, polite, and charming.


    "Mr. Tang, long time no see."


    "Mr. Tang, still as distinguished as ever."


    ...


    A chorus of flattering and complimentary remarks filled the air.


    Tang Group was an old and established enterprise in Jianghai City, involved in real estate, finance, entertainment, catering, export trade, and many other sectors. With over a dozen listed subsidiaries, total assets in the hundreds of billions, it was a renowned giant in the business world!


    Tang Zhongqian responded with a smile and then walked into the banquet hall.


    Afterward, Qin Hao saw Tang Feipeng come out, mingling and laughing with the heads of various companies, exuding an extraordinary presence.


    Tang Zhongqian, meanwhile, was chatting and laughing with a few old friends.


    He didn''t need to personally deal with those people, leaving it to his son was perfect; it was good training for him as well.


    Looking at Li Moying, he said, "Mo Ying, come with me to meet some uncles and seniors."


    "Why are you so annoying? Go meet them if you want, what''s that got to do with me?" Li Moying said with a disgusted expression.


    Tang Feipeng''s expression was extremely dark. He turned to Qin Hao, and enunciated each word carefully, "I gave you a chance, but you didn''t cherish it."


    "Opportunities are to be seized on one''s own, not given by someone else," Qin Hao said calmly, sipping his drink.


    "Get lost, get out of here right now, or I''ll make you crawl out," Tang Feipeng said somberly, the coldness in his voice was palpable.


    His hands pressed on the table, veins bulging!


    Upon hearing this, Xu Siyao''s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she stood up to say, "Mr. Tang, you don''t yet have the authority to order the people my dad brought."


    Not far off, Xu Jiekang, Yang Su, Li Xutian, and Tang Zhongqian all turned their attention this way.


    Because almost everyone was looking in Qin Hao''s direction, Li Xutian and Tang Zhongqian were curious about what these people were staring at!


    Seeing his daughter sitting with Qin Hao, and noting Tang Feipeng''s dark expression, it was as if he had realized something, and his brows slightly furrowed.


    Xu Jiekang and Yang Su came over.


    He glanced at Tang Feipeng, then turned to his daughter, "Siyao, what''s going on?"


    Xu Siyao reported truthfully, "Dad, he said to make Qin Hao get out, or else make him crawl out."


    Xu Jiekang looked at Qin Hao, who had no expression on his face and didn''t seem angry at all, but that calmness was chilling.


    "Slap"


    A loud, crisp slap rang out in the banquet hall.


    The entire banquet hall was silent, everyone held their breath, disbelieving what they had just witnessed.


    Tang Feipeng''s eyes widened in disbelief, a clear handprint on his right cheek.


    Qin Hao also looked at Xu Jiekang with some surprise.


    Because that slap had come from him!


    At that moment, Qin Hao felt that Xu Jiekang was too domineering, completely overturning what he had thought of him.


    Xu Jiekang''s tone was icy, "A honored guest of the Xu Family is not to be insulted."


    Surprise flashed in Yang Su''s eyes. She had not expected Xu Jiekang to strike Tang Zhongqian''s son for the sake of Qin Hao.


    And there was that statement he made, "a honored guest of the Xu Family"¡ªthe implications of those words were profound.


    Her eyes sparkled with fascination.


    Li Moying, Li Jianjun, and Li Xutian were all very shocked!


    With the Xu Family making a firm stand in such a setting, just what was Qin Hao''s relationship with them?


    Many people directed their gaze toward Xu Siyao!


    Could it be that he is the future son-in-law of the Xu Family?

 Chapter 225 The Internet Oligarchs

    Although the Tang Group has a significant influence in the Jianghai Business World, its background simply cannot compare with that of the Xu Family.


    Tang Zhongqian''s reaction was swift. With a cold face, he walked over and kicked his own son, "You bastard, aren''t you going to get lost right now, making a fool out of me here?"


    Tang Feipeng knew the Xu Family was not to be trifled with, and his father was seeking a way out.


    He bowed his head and turned to leave.


    "Wait, apologize to Mr. Xu and this young friend," Tang Zhongqian suddenly said.


    Tang Feipeng, a standout of the younger generation, knew when to yield and when to stand tall.


    He bowed and said, "Mr. Xu, Mr. Qin, I apologize for losing my composure just now."


    Though Tang Feipeng had been slapped, he still bowed his head to apologize, displaying a very humble attitude.


    If Xu Jiekang were to pursue the matter further, it would appear overly aggressive.


    Tang Zhongqian proved himself a sly old fox of the business world; every word he spoke was impeccable.


    Xu Jiekang looked at Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, you decide on this matter."


    Qin Hao stood up, smiling as he said, "Mr. Xu, since Mr. Tang has recognized his mistake, let''s just leave it at that."


    "Thank you for your generosity, now get out," he said to Tang Feipeng after expressing gratitude.


    Tang Feipeng left dejectedly.


    Tang Zhongqian still appeared very calm, jovial as if it was not his son who had just been slapped, "I apologize everyone, my young son is ignorant and caused some amusement. Please, continue."


    After finishing, he returned to his previous conversation.


    Qin Hao felt a slight surprise at his performance, without a hint of anger showing.


    The old man''s depth of strategy was chilling.


    Thinking of this, Qin Hao raised his guard. With someone like that, you never know when they might strike from the shadows, leaving you devastated.


    Li Xutian gave Qin Hao a meaningful look and then left as well.


    He had not expected Qin Hao to be so closely connected with the Xu Family.


    Fortunately, he had not done anything too outrageous previously, or it would have strained his relationship with the Xu Family.


    Li Jianjun was even more shocked; he had originally thought Qin Hao was just good at playing games, but now realized that his backing was so formidable.


    ...


    Xu Jiekang looked at Qin Hao and said, "I''m sorry, Xiao Hao."


    Qin Hao understood the implication: by tonight''s events, he had thoroughly offended the Tang Family, and from now on, they would certainly seek ways to move against him in secret.


    This was the source of Xu Jiekang''s remorse.


    Qin Hao quickly said, "Mr. Xu, it''s not your fault at all."


    Yang Su was puzzled. What exactly was his relationship with the Xu Family? It seemed that Jiekang greatly valued Qin Hao''s reactions and attitude.


    Could it be that he knew the patriarch of the Xu Family?


    Qin Hao sat in a chair, gazing at the infinite expanse of stars, feeling like with his arms outstretched, he could embrace the entire night sky.


    "Sorry Master, I didn''t mean to offend."


    Li Mo Ying apologised with some regret by his side.


    All of this had started because of her, and she felt very guilty.


    Gazing at the night sky, Qin Hao said indifferently, "What''s done is done, apologies are useless. The Tang Family may be powerful, but I fear nothing. Who can say what the future holds?"


    "Master, what''s your relationship with Miss Xu? I see that Mr. Xu cares a lot about your attitude," Li Moying asked curiously.


    Qin Hao, "We''re pretty good friends."


    At that moment, Xu Siyao also ran up and sat down beside Qin Hao and Li Moying.


    Seeing her demeanor, Qin Hao knew she must have spoken her mind. What would happen between Xu Jiekang and Yang Su was now up to fate.


    "Which big shot is coming tonight?" Qin Hao asked with curiosity.


    Li Moying replied, "The founder of Aba Net Shopping, Lv Tian, a tycoon of Xuan Country''s internet, the wealthiest man in the country."


    Qin Hao was taken aback; no wonder so many bigwigs from the Jianghai Business World had shown up tonight¡ªthey were all here to meet Lv Tian.


    He often saw Lv Tian''s name online, on television, and in the newspapers.


    His fame surpassed that of some A-list celebrities!


    Especially his quote that had become a trending phrase online: "I''ve never touched money; I have no interest in money!"


    ...


    Qin Hao didn''t return to the banquet hall; he had already achieved his purpose for attending tonight.


    Almost everyone present knew of his relationship with the Xu family, and that was enough.


    The evening came to a close around eight o''clock.


    After saying goodbye to Xu Jiekang, he headed straight back to school.


    When he got back to his dorm, it was almost nine o''clock.


    Zhao De was chatting with his Lu Lu, and Fatty was still focused on his online media company.


    Chen Ping was tapping away on his computer.


    "Big Brother is back."


    Upon seeing him return, Chen Ping and the others hurriedly greeted him.


    Qin Hao, "It''s late, don''t play on the computer anymore. It''s bad for your eyes, rest early."


    "Big Brother, take a look at the office system I modified, what do you think?" Chen Ping said to him.


    Qin Hao walked over to take a look, his eyes widened in surprise, "Did you do this yourself this afternoon? You figured out those complex codes on your own?"


    Chen Ping nodded, "Understood some of it, but there are still many parts I''m not too clear on."


    Qin Hao was astounded by his computer talent. Without any instruction, he had managed to make sense of it on his own, a truly frightening gift.


    ```

 Chapter 226 Sports Day

    Qin Hao planned to work on high-tech products in the future.


    He couldn''t handle it alone and would definitely need to recruit a team eventually.


    Chen Ping''s talent in computers was quite impressive, definitely worth developing.


    The next day, the school sports day was held as scheduled.


    The school was adorned with promotional banners, looking cheerful and festive.


    The stadium was already full of people, with each class having its own designated area, large enough to accommodate dozens of classes.


    In Class One of the Computer Science Major, He Tingting told everyone, "Let''s give it our all and aim for first place. While I''m away, Ning Yao and Qin Hao will maintain order in the class."


    "Alright, teacher," Ning Yao responded hastily.


    He Tingting glanced at Qin Hao and then left.


    Qin Hao and the chubby boy sat together, while Xu Siyao was on the other side.


    Ning Yao distributed the participant numbers, and Qin Hao had one too, which read 0168.


    The chubby boy, curious, asked, "Bro, what events did you sign up for?"


    Qin Hao replied, "The 100 meters and 200 meters dash."


    "Wow, bro, are you planning to show us a bit of ''Fast and Furious''?" the chubby boy joked.


    "Qin Hao, can you handle it?" Xu Siyao looked at his slender physique, a bit skeptical.


    Qin Hao smiled lightly and said, "It''s the participation that counts."


    Zhao De wanted to say something but held back. He had played basketball with Qin Hao once and had some idea of his speed.


    Incredibly fast, even he couldn''t guard him.


    But that was different from a 100 meters dash, so he wasn''t sure if Qin Hao could handle it.


    Their class was flanked by Class Two of the Computer Science Major on the right and the freshman class of the Physical Education Major on the left.


    "All the champions of this sports meet will undoubtedly belong to our Physical Education Major." someone on that side declared.


    "All the other classes are just nerds with no real strength, how can they compare with us?"


    Counting freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, the Physical Education Major had only three classes, not many people.


    Each year, the Physical Education Major scooped up eighty percent of the championships, as sports was their forte.


    At that moment, the vice chancellor of Jianghai University''s voice came through the loudspeaker, "Everyone, please quiet down."


    Instantly the entire stadium fell silent, many people turning their heads towards the dais.


    "The 113th Jianghai University Annual Sports Meet is held today as scheduled..."


    The vice-chancellor spoke at length, merely discussing the long history and current influence of Jianghai University.


    After that person finished, He Duozhi started to speak.


    On the dais, not only were there leaders from Jianghai University, but also officials from the Jianghai Sports Bureau and representatives from the city''s professional sports teams.


    They were here to watch Jianghai University''s sports meet and to scout for promising athletes.


    "Come on, aim for the first place in the group," someone in his class said. Find your next read at empire


    "Haha, you dream of first place with us around?" a disdainful voice from the sports major sneered nearby.


    "What do you mean?" someone from Qin Hao''s class disliked his tone.


    The person mocked lightly, "I mean your class is trash."


    "Enough, Li Bing, why are you getting serious with them?" another from the sports major said.


    Though he didn''t say much, his disdain was clear.


    At Jianghai University, many students who were admitted through regular exams looked down on the specially recruited ones.


    Similarly, those specially recruited didn''t take a liking to those students either.


    Li Bing: "I won''t stoop to argue with you trash. If you don''t like it, see you on the track and show you the real gap."


    "Acting tough, it''s not like you''ve never been beaten," a chubby guy also replied irritably.


    The people from Computer Science Class One felt a bit stifled. In terms of athletic competitions, they really couldn''t compare to Li Bing''s class.


    Being called trash, they had no words to argue.


    ...


    Ding Xue returned; he had advanced to the preliminaries as the second in his group, winning a round of applause.


    Soon, Li Jian also returned; he was eliminated with a fifth-place result in his group, looking somewhat dejected.


    The first place was a third-year student from the sports class, even faster than Wang Kai from just before.


    Li Bing from the freshman sports class couldn''t help but laugh after seeing that, "Impressive, managing to get the fifth place in the group race."


    "What the hell do you mean, looking for trouble?" Li Jian was already in a bad mood when he heard Li Bing''s mockery, and he lashed out.


    "What, you want to fight?" Li Bing was not at all afraid.


    "Screw it, who''s afraid of whom?" Li Jian charged to hit Li Bing.


    But he was held back by those around him.


    Ning Yao quickly said, "Li Jian, calm down, this is a sports meet."


    "Let me go, fuck, stop acting," Li Jian was very impulsive, and almost nobody could hold him back.


    Qin Hao stood up and walked over; after all, He Tingting had left him and Ning Yao in charge here.


    He held Li Jian and said, "Participation is more important than ranking in a sports meet. That guy just ate shit, no need to stoop to his level."


    Li Jian looked at Qin Hao. He wanted to react, but his shoulders felt like they were being pressed down by a mountain; he couldn''t move at all.


    "Consider yourself lucky," Li Jian finally backed off.


    Li Bing laughed and said, "Trash will always find excuses for failure."


    "Great, rankings don''t matter, that''s so noble, truly befitting a scholar," someone beside Li Bing alsomocked.


    "Don''t bother flaunting words here, show what you''ve got on the field," the sports class monitor also spoke up.


    Qin Hao turned to look at them, and said in an even tone, "The field? I am not targeting any one of you in particular, I just want to say that everyone present is trash."

 Chapter 227 Hundred Meter Record

    Students from the Computer Science class and the Sports class were stunned upon hearing his words.


    Holy cow!


    He actually said they were trash on the sports field right in front of the Sports class?


    Li Jian was also shocked.


    He hadn''t expected the usually quiet Qin Hao to act so boldly and fluently.


    Ning Yao, Xu Siyao, and a few others were also stunned.


    They were somewhat confused: the usually composed and calm Qin Hao was being so impulsive today?


    The captain of the Sports class, Tian Fei, laughed, "You didn''t sign up for the sports events, did you?"


    "Ha ha, no wonder he''s saying this, this guy probably didn''t even sign up."


    "Look at his frail body, he''d probably start coughing up blood after running a few steps."


    ...


    Qin Hao said, "100 meters, 200 meters sprint¡ªif you guys can win first place,


    from now on I''ll walk around you when I see you. But if I win first place, let him apologize to Li Jian."


    Tian Fei said, "Fine, we won''t bully you. If you win first place in either the 100 or 200 meters, I''ll consider it your win."


    "Will competitors 0168, 0218... please enter the field."


    Qin Hao checked his number, and it was just as he said.


    "Go for it, big bro." Zhao De shouted loudly.@@@@


    "Go Qin Hao," Xu Siyao also cheered him on.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, then turned and walked towards the field.


    At the same time, someone from the sophomore Sports class also came out, his number was 0218.


    The freshmen didn''t recognize this person, but sophomores and juniors did.


    He was the runner-up of last year''s university track meet''s 100-meter sprint, missed the first place by just a few hundredths of a second.


    You should know, during last year''s sports meet, he was just a freshman.


    A freshman who defeated countless sophomores and juniors to become the 100-meter sprint runner-up¡ªthat was terrifying.


    After a year of systematic training, his speed had become even more terrifying.


    Inside the Computer Science class.


    "This time there''s another guy from Sports, and he''s even a sophomore." someone said disheartenedly.


    Typically, if there are people from Sports, first place is always theirs, leaving no chance for others.


    "It''s over, there''s also a third-year from Sports; it''s going to be tough for Qin Hao to even make it to the top three."


    Li Bing said sarcastically, "Do you know who 0218 is? He''s the runner-up of the last university track meet''s sprint.


    He missed first place by just a few hundredths of a second, and back then he hadn''t even undergone systematic training; this year, he''s probably even stronger."


    ...


    But now, he had no choice but to give his all to defend his first-place position in the group.


    Qin Hao was also accelerating.


    "Go Qin Hao,"


    "Go Qin Hao,"


    The students of Computer Science Class 1, seeing this scene, were blood-boiling and shouted in unison to cheer him on.


    The entire playground could hear their class''s cheers.


    Was that person a freshman from Computer Science Class 1?


    In just a few seconds, Tian Liang not only failed to close the distance but fell even further behind.


    Realizing this, Tian Liang slowed down a bit and ceased to chase.


    He needed to prepare for the upcoming finals.


    At last year''s school sports event, just like Qin Hao now, he had used all his strength in the group races, which impacted his finals performance.


    If he had conserved some energy during the group races, the championship might have been his.


    Competitive sports is not just a race of speed but also a contest of mindset and intellect.


    At the finish line, Qin Hao was the first to cross, followed by Tian Liang and a senior from the third-year sports class.


    The computer class''s hefty students roared with cheers.


    First-place time: 11¡ä¡ä12.


    Second-place time: 12¡ä¡ä23


    Seeing the time, Qin Hao had little reaction; he steadied his breath and headed back to his class.


    But the nearby referee teachers were dumbfounded.


    11 seconds 12?


    He remembered clearly; the Jianghai University school sports event record for the 100 meters was 11 seconds 45.


    "Congratulations to Qin Hao, number 0168 from Computer Science Class 1, for breaking the school''s sports event 100-meter record,"


    Suddenly a voice resounded from the loudspeaker.


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao paused briefly then continued walking back.


    Not far behind him, Tian Liang watched him with a complex look in his eyes.


    He hadn''t expected Qin Hao to break the school sports event record.


    This was a formidable opponent, igniting fierce combativeness in him, ''See you at the finals!''


    When Qin Hao returned to his class, a round of cheers erupted.


    Ning Yao and Xu Siyao each handed him a bottle of water; Qin Hao took them with a smile, "Thanks."


    "Big bro is awesome, broke the school sports event sprint record right off the bat,"


    Having said that, the hefty guy looked towards Li Bing and others, "Not acting tough now, huh? Know how formidable my big bro is? A champion is nothing; he can break records any minute."


    ...

 Chapter 228 Ten Billion Investment

    ```


    Many in Computer Science class one looked at the neighboring PE class with smug expressions in their eyes.


    Upon seeing this, Tian Fei and others felt irritated, but they were unable to argue back.


    Qin Hao sat in his seat, unscrewed his water bottle, and took a sip.


    Although his physique was several times stronger than that of an ordinary person, after running the 100 meters, he too felt a bit tired.


    On the main stand,


    a short-distance running coach from a city professional sports team spoke up, "Tian Liang has shown significant improvement. If he performs well in the finals, we can recruit him into the city professional sports team."


    The people next to him nodded slightly.


    "That Qin Hao is even more terrifying. Without any training, he ran eleven seconds. With a bit of training, it shouldn''t be difficult to break ten seconds, and he even has a great chance to get into the nine-second range."


    After saying this, the short-distance running coach looked toward the nearby Director of Education, "Mr. Wang, we would like to have this student as well."


    "This Qin Hao is a tough case," Mr. Wang replied.


    Short-distance running coach: "Why? His sprinting ability is very strong. With systematic training, he definitely has the potential to compete for a world championship, which would be a great honor for our country."


    Mr. Wang: "Mr. Guo, Qin Hao is this year''s national top scholar, a genius with a perfect score on the unified exam. He is a pillar of the country''s future. Asking him to run would likely meet with opposition from our principal."


    ...


    There were no men''s 200 meter events in the morning, they were scheduled for the afternoon instead.


    After returning, Qin Hao just sat there watching the field.


    "Big Brother, I have something to discuss with you. Shall we step outside to talk?" Fatty whispered beside him.


    Qin Hao glanced at him and nodded.


    He turned to Ning Yao and said, "I have something to take care of and will be back shortly."


    Ning Yao: "Okay, come back soon."


    Qin Hao left the stadium with Fatty, and Xu Siyao followed them after watching for a moment.


    Once outside the stadium, under the shade of trees, Qin Hao said, "Out with it."


    Fatty seemed to have difficulty speaking.


    Seeing his hesitance, Qin Hao frowned slightly, "What''s wrong? This hesitation doesn''t suit you."


    Fatty: "Big Brother, I was planning to start an online media company, right?


    I just found out that if you want to open a guild on the TT Live broadcasting platform, the minimum registered capital for an online media company is one million. I didn''t expect it to be this much, so I''m short on funds.


    I haven''t even mentioned this to Xiao Cui, I know she has money, but I can''t take hers."


    Qin Hao gave a faint smile, "And here I thought it was something serious. Give me your account info, I''ll transfer the money to you. Consider it an investment from me."


    Xu Siyao''s face showed shock, "That much?"


    Qin Hao nodded. Artificial intelligence robots need a lot of chips, and just investing in one chip production line costs upwards of two billion.


    He needed to set up at least three chip production lines, and then there was the robot production line and so on.


    The ten billion investment was his minimum estimate.


    With high investment comes naturally high returns.


    Once the factory is built, the profits will be equally terrifying, unimaginable.


    After considering for a few days, Qin Hao finally decided to pull in a few people with strong backgrounds to join the partnership, and also ensure that they wouldn''t affect his management rights.


    If the Xinghai first-generation intelligent robots really were developed.


    Qin Hao didn''t dare to guarantee that those towering figures in politics and business wouldn''t be green with envy.


    At that time, with just a little manipulation from them, it would be something he couldn''t withstand; he had no background, that was his biggest vulnerability.


    That''s why he decided to pull in a few partners; their backgrounds had to be strong, and they also needed to have money.


    The Xu Family was the first candidate he considered; the Xu Family''s background was strong enough, but they might not have that much capital, and he would still need to pull in a few more people to join.


    But other than knowing Xu Siyao, there was Li Moying.


    Li Moying''s father didn''t have a good impression of him, so he probably wouldn''t agree to invest so much money in him.


    Thinking of all this, Qin Hao felt somewhat troubled.


    Seeing his expression, Xu Siyao, who didn''t look like she was joking, said, "I''ll go back and talk to my dad about it."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "How are Mr. Xu and Ms. Yang doing?"


    Xu Siyao said with a smile, "They are doing well, thank you. My dad really hasn''t had an easy time by himself, he needs someone like Ms. Yang."


    "Qin Hao, my friend."


    While they were talking, a middle-aged man suddenly walked over.


    Qin Hao and Xu Siyao turned to look. They didn''t know the man, but he wore a badge around his neck.


    Jianghai City Sports Team, coach Wang Wei.


    "Mr. Wang, may I ask what''s the matter?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Wang Wei said with a smile, "I was watching your race just now, and your explosive power and speed are very fast.


    Continue your journey with empire


    However, you''re slightly lacking in the start and professionalism. If you undergo systematic training, you definitely have the opportunity to become an outstanding sprinter in the domestic athletics.


    I wonder if you are interested in joining our Jianghai City Sports Team?"


    [Another chapter is coming, please recommend and reward!]

 Chapter 229 Special Training

    Qin Hao heard Wang Wei''s words, looked surprised for a moment, and said with a smile, "I''m sorry, Mr. Wang, but I''m not interested in pursuing a career in sports."


    "Qin Hao, you probably don''t know your own potential. With proper training, you could be the next big star in Xuan Country."


    Qin Hao: "I''m sorry, Mr. Wang, but I really don''t have that in mind."


    Seeing his firm stance, Wang Wei still wanted to persuade him.


    "Mr. Wang, you don''t need to say anymore; I''m really not interested."


    After he finished speaking, Qin Hao turned around and walked back with Xu Siyao.


    The cheers at the sports field were continuous. Everyone had already gotten into the spirit, cheering and boosting morale for their classmates.


    As the two were about to return to the sports field, a few people came out from inside.


    Huo Qiang, Song Yushu, Sun Feng, and Wu Jun, all laughing and talking, walked out.


    When these four saw Qin Hao and Xu Siyao, Sun Feng and Wu Jun flashed a look of jealousy when they saw Qin Hao.


    The exit was just that big, and Qin Hao and Xu Siyao didn''t move.


    Wu Jun walked straight toward him, without any intention of dodging.


    Huo Qiang wanted to speak out to warn him, but it was already too late; Wu Jun had already bumped into Qin Hao.


    Continue your adventure with empire


    Qin Hao looked at Wu Jun, his expression calm.


    Xu Siyao frowned, "Are you sick? Didn''t you see the people here?"


    Sun Feng, seeing Xu Siyao standing up for Qin Hao, cursed her under his breath.


    Qin Hao already had a girlfriend, yet you''re still so close to him. Why are women so cheap?


    He had now shifted from love to hate regarding Xu Siyao.


    Unaware of Qin Hao''s skills, Wu Jun, relying on having more people on his side,


    sneered, "Sorry, I indeed didn''t see anyone. There was just a dog in my way."


    "Snap snap"


    Qin Hao slapped Wu Jun across the face, first with a backhand then a forehand, very quickly.


    Wu Jun had no chance to dodge.


    "Ungrateful."


    Wu Jun, who had never been struck like this before, was instantly enraged, "Damn it, you dare hit me."


    "Bang"


    Qin Hao lifted his leg and kicked him in the stomach, knocking him down to the ground.


    "Mm, I know, Hao," Chen Ping nodded earnestly.


    ...


    After finishing talking with Chen Ping, Qin Hao thought for a moment and then made a call to Li Bao.


    "Hao," Li Bao quickly answered the call.


    Qin Hao asked, "How''s the business doing at the company?"


    Li Bao replied, "Not very ideal, ever since Dayuan Group found out that you acquired Tianquan Wine Industry, they''ve started to fully suppress our company.


    The roasted duck company isn''t much affected, no one can shake Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s position in Xuan Country''s catering industry."


    Qin Hao asked, "Are there a lot of people in the company who are idle right now?"


    Li Bao replied, "Yes, Hao, I''m also worried about this, should we disband these people?


    If we don''t send them away, we have to pay to keep them, multiple tens of people, just the salary expenses would be over a hundred thousand a month."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Do you have many people over the age of forty-five there?"


    Li Bao replied, "Not many, most of them are aged between twenty-five and forty."


    Qin Hao said, "Hmm, in the future, don''t hire anyone over forty.


    Tomorrow I''ll have Li Yang and a few others return.


    Then I''ll send you something, it''s a training manual I wrote, anyone who can pass the training will start with at least a salary of ten thousand, and the top performers will start with a monthly salary of one hundred thousand.


    Those who can''t keep up will maintain their original salary. Just train them for me, I''ll handle the money, but remember to have them sign a confidentiality agreement."


    Li Bao was stunned by Qin Hao''s words, "Hao, what are you planning to do?"


    Qin Hao said, "Just follow my instructions. Since we are in the security industry, we must aim to be the biggest and the best.


    I''ll send you five million later; if it''s not enough, let me know."


    Li Bao nodded, although he didn''t know what Qin Hao''s aim was, he felt it must be something extraordinary.


    "Okay, Hao."


    He had just hung up the phone.


    Qin Hao''s phone rang again, it was An Linxuan calling.


    An Linxuan reported the work, "Mr. Qin, everything is ready, the winery can officially open tomorrow."


    Qin Hao replied, "I won''t be able to come back tomorrow, you and Mr. Kang host it, entertain the guests well and manage the winery''s operations."


    An Linxuan replied, "Okay, Mr. Qin."


    Meanwhile, Xu Siyao returned home and found Yang Su was also there.


    "Si Yao, how come you''re home today?"


    Xu Jiekang was a bit embarrassed, although they hadn''t done anything, he still felt his cheeks were somewhat hot.

 Chapter 230 Dream Media

    Yang Su''s demeanor was much better than Xu Jiekang''s.


    She greeted with a smile, looking very cordial, "Siyao is back."


    Xu Siyao nodded, "Hello, Ms. Yang."


    Xu Jiekang and Yang Su were visibly taken aback; Yang Su had visited many times before.


    Every time, Xu Siyao was cold, but today she actually greeted her pleasantly.


    Such a significant change made them somewhat unable to accept it.


    Yang Su was the first to recover, her smile growing even brighter, "Ah, Si Yao, please take a seat. Aunty got you some clothes, come see if you like them."


    Having said that, Yang Su took out several dresses from the bags on the sofa, all of which were brand name clothes.


    There were casual outfits and dresses, and each one was very pretty. Yang Su had taken a long time choosing them.


    Xu Siyao walked over and began to look, her eyes revealing a fondness, "They''re beautiful, thank you, Ms. Yang."


    "If you like them, that''s good, that''s good."


    This was the first time Xu Siyao accepted something Yang Su had bought after countless attempts.


    Xu Jiekang, seeing this situation, wore a relieved expression on his face.


    The reason he had always avoided Yang Su was precisely for fear that Xu Siyao wouldn''t accept her.


    If she didn''t accept Yang Su, even if Xu Jiekang was with her, he would feel uneasy inside.


    Xu Siyao said, "Ms. Yang, why don''t you stay for dinner tonight? Let my dad cook, he''s really good."


    "Yes, yes, sure." Yang Su was somewhat excited.


    She hadn''t expected Xu Siyao would ask her to stay for dinner; it was something she wouldn''t even dare to think of.


    Xu Jiekang said with a smile, "Then I''ll go cook now, and you two can chat a bit."


    After speaking, he got up and walked into the kitchen.


    In the living room.


    Xu Siyao and Yang Su sat on the couch.


    Yang Su began the conversation, "Siyao, I heard your school is holding a sports meet?"


    Xu Siyao nodded her head, "It started today."


    Their conversations usually consisted of Yang Su asking questions and her responding.


    Although she had changed her attitude toward Yang Su, she really didn''t know what to talk about.


    About half an hour later, Xu Jiekang had finished cooking the meal.


    The three of them sat down at the dining chairs and started to eat.


    Xu Siyao began, "Dad, Qin Hao is planning to do a project, and he is short of funds."


    Xu Jiekang was taken aback, "What kind of project is Xiao Hao planning to do? How much is he short of?"


    ...


    Jianghai University freshman dormitory 301.


    It was nearly eight in the evening when fatty returned from outside, holding some documents in his hand.


    "Big bro, I''ve got the contracts all ready for you, just sign them and they''ll be effective," said the fatty as he handed over two contracts to Qin Hao immediately.


    The agreement on equity division was written on them.


    Qin Hao knew that if he didn''t sign, fatty wouldn''t accept his one million.


    He picked up a pen and signed his name.


    Fatty said excitedly, "Big bro, our company''s name is Dream Media, do you think the name is good?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "The name is fine."


    "Tomorrow I''ll sign the contract with TT Live officials, and then the media company can start operating online."


    After speaking, fatty rubbed his hands together with excitement.


    Qin Hao encouraged, "Work hard, and one day make Xie Cui''s parents look at you with new eyes."


    After speaking, Qin Hao sat at the table and began writing in his notebook.


    He needed to write down some of the training items and sequences from the special training manual for Li Yang and others to take away the next day.


    He also had to write down the equipment that was needed.


    ...


    The following morning.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao left the university early.


    Li Yang and several others were waiting outside for him. Seeing Qin Hao approach, they respectfully greeted, "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao said, "Mm, you guys take a car back to Jiangshan today. Give this to Mr. Li; this item is very important and must not be lost."


    Li Yang took it, "Rest assured, Mr. Qin, as long as I''m alive, I''ll definitely put it personally in Mr. Li''s hands."


    Qin Hao responded, "Mm, go on then."


    Li Yang hurriedly said, "Mr. Qin, I can go back by myself, let them stay to protect you."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "I''m sending you back with a purpose.


    The company is going to hold training, and those who pass successfully will start at a minimum monthly salary of ten thousand. The top performers in the training will start at a monthly salary of a hundred thousand. I hope you''ll train well and continue to serve as my bodyguards."


    Upon hearing his words, the expressions of Li Yang and the eight others were startled. A monthly salary of ten thousand just for passing the training?


    And that last part, starting at a hundred thousand monthly for the top performers?


    Their expressions turned excited, "Mr. Qin, you''re not kidding us, are you?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Do I look like someone who jokes? Go back and train hard. In a few months, I hope you can still stand by my side."


    [Please vote and support!]

 Chapter 231 Xinghui Winery

    Li Yang and his seven people were all somewhat excited, with a starting monthly salary of one hundred thousand, which meant an annual salary of over a million.


    They had never imagined such an opportunity before.


    For retired special forces like them, they usually served as bodyguards for various bosses, with monthly salaries of around twenty or thirty thousand.


    Those earning over a hundred thousand were almost non-existent, unless they were exceptionally skilled experts.


    Li Yang said, "Mr. Qin, you need to be careful about your own safety when we''re not around."


    Qin Hao nodded, "I know, you guys should hurry back."


    Li Yang and the other seven people drove off in two cars, leaving the Lamborghini behind.


    Qin Hao drove the car to the university parking lot.


    When he came out, he happened to run into Xu Siyao.


    Xu Siyao saw him and hurriedly called out, "Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao turned his head to look, "Just came from home?"


    Xu Siyao nodded, "Yeah, about what you mentioned yesterday, I talked to my dad, and he says if you''re free at noon, to come over to my house."


    Qin Hao replied, "Sure, I was actually planning to have a detailed discussion with Mr. Xu."


    ...


    Jiangshan.


    That morning at nine o''clock, many cars were parked outside Xinghui Winery.


    Bai Jing, Wang Guanding, Liu Jianming, and others arrived at Xinghui Winery.


    At the entrance of Xinghui Winery, stood more than ten staff members from Flying Leopard Security Company, standing ramrod straight with vigilant eyes.


    They were all there to attend the opening ceremony of Xinghui Winery.


    Many people arrived that day, not only prominent figures from the political world but also big shots from the Jiangshan Business World.


    Even if some did not come in person, they sent secretaries and assistants to attend.


    Although Dayuan Group bore a grudge against Qin Hao, his Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was thriving and was about to cover the entire Jiangshan.


    The most important factor was the connections behind Qin Hao.


    This was the reason most people were here.


    Honestly, many people didn''t have high hopes for Xinghui Winery because Dayuan Group had already gained certain renown in the market.


    Qin Hao''s Xinghui Wine had just begun production, and newly brewed wine typically needed to be stored for a year before it could be sold to ensure its taste.


    In other words, it would be a year before Qin Hao''s Xinghui Wine could compete with Da Yuan Wine.


    A year was a long time, ample for Dayuan Group to implement many countermeasures.


    ...


    But what these people didn''t know was the brewing process of Xinghui Wine; storage for a year before sale?


    That was for ordinary mass-market liquor, but Xinghui Wine didn''t require that.


    Among those present, only Kang Youyi was privy to this information.


    Today was not just the day Xinghui Winery commenced operations, but also the opening of eight Jiangshan Roasted Duck stores simultaneously.


    Now, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company had its training institution, so there were no worries about staffing.


    With seventy to eighty meters left to the finish line, many began to speed up, and the rankings changed rapidly, sending the crowd into a frenzy.


    The cheers in the stadium rose one after the other, creating an electrifying atmosphere.


    Qin Hao''s blood pumped faster, and he felt a rush of adrenaline; he slightly increased his speed to maintain his lead.


    With fifty meters to go, Zhang Ming in second place picked up the pace again.


    The ones behind, trying to catch up, were stunned, "Damn, he can still accelerate?"


    He actually had reserved energy?


    "Go Zhang Ming, go Zhang Ming."


    "Go Qin Hao, go Qin Hao."


    Zhang Ming was closing the gap on Qin Hao; if Qin Hao didn''t speed up, Zhang Ming would overtake him before reaching the finish line.


    That was Qin Hao''s estimation.


    Continue reading on empire


    Qin Hao also accelerated, his legs pushing off the ground with increasing frequency.


    The distance that had been narrowing was starting to widen again.


    At this point, the cheers from the two classes were particularly loud, everyone almost screaming themselves hoarse.


    "Whoosh,"


    "Whoosh,"


    Qin Hao was the first to cross the finish line, followed closely by Zhang Ming.


    "He''s this strong in the two hundred meters too?" Wang Wei, sitting on the main stand, widened his eyes when he saw Qin Hao burst across the finish line first.


    Qin Hao was slightly out of breath as he turned to glance at Zhang Ming.


    Zhang Ming was also looking at him with a hint of disbelief in his eyes.


    Seeing Qin Hao look at him, Zhang Ming slowly walked over, "Let''s get acquainted. My name is Zhang Ming."


    "I''m Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao reached out and shook his hand.


    "Congratulations to Qin Hao from Computer Science Class 1, who broke the men''s 200 meters school sports event record with a time of 20"54. Congratulations to Qin Hao,"


    "Wow,"


    "Another record broken? This Qin Hao is so strong."


    "So handsome, I want to be his girlfriend."


    "The freshmen this year are really impressive."


    ...


    Back in the classroom, Ning Yao handed him a new towel and a bottle of water.


    Most of his classmates looked at him with admiration.


    A girl spoke up, "Qin Hao, you were so cool. Keep it up."


    "Keep it up, Qin Hao. Try to win two championships for our class."


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Thank you, everyone."

 Chapter 232 Li Xutians View

    Returning to his seat, Qin Hao found that Li Moying had somehow ended up sitting there.


    She was talking to Xu Siyao.


    Zhao De had saved him a seat, so Qin Hao sat down.


    He looked at Li Moying and asked, "How did you get over here?"


    Experience tales at empire


    Li Moying replied, "Our class area was as silent as a memorial hall, with none of the atmosphere of a sports event."


    ...


    Memorial hall?


    You really dare to say anything!


    Just as well, Qin Hao was about to look for her, "Actually, there''s something I want to talk to you about."


    "What is it?" Li Moying asked curiously.


    Qin Hao said, "Let''s go outside to talk, it''s not convenient here. Siyao, you come with us, too."


    The three of them were ready to head out of the stadium.


    Suddenly, a voice rang out.


    "Qin Hao."@@@@


    The trio turned their heads to see several young and pretty girls looking at him.


    Qin Hao did not recognize the person.


    He asked in confusion, "May I help you?"


    "Um...could we have your contact information?" the girls mustered up their courage to ask.


    Huh?


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, unsure how to refuse.


    Li Moying next to him spoke up, "My master already has a girlfriend, and she''s a knockout. So don''t get your hopes up."


    Hearing her words, a hint of disappointment flashed in the girls'' eyes, and they no longer asked Qin Hao for his contact information.


    Qin Hao hurriedly left the stadium.


    Once outside, Qin Hao and the others headed towards the park at Jianghai University.


    As they walked, Qin Hao said, "I''m planning to start a project and need some more capital, so I was wondering if you might be interested in investing."


    "Master, what kind of project is it?" Li Moying asked curiously.


    Qin Hao replied, "A completely proprietary artificial intelligence robot."


    At those words, Li Moying''s face showed surprise, "Artificial intelligence robot?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "That''s right, I have the technology, but not enough funds."


    Xu Siyao kept silent. She had been listening all along, and she was somewhat surprised to see how readily Li Moying agreed.


    It was tens of billions, not just tens of dollars, and she just agreed like that?


    After their conversation, the three of them then went back.


    Noon.


    Li Moying drove home. She didn''t have that much capital, so she planned to ask her father for it.


    Qin Hao went to Xu Siyao''s house.


    At twelve o-five, Li Moying arrived home.


    Li Xutian and Gu Yusu were both at home.


    As soon as Li Moying entered, she began, "Dad, there''s something I need to talk to you about."


    "What is it?" Li Xutian asked curiously.


    Li Moying said, "I need about three billion in capital. Can you help me prepare it?"


    Li Xutian expressed his astonishment: "Three billion? What do you need so much money for?"


    Li Moying chuckled, "For an investment. You always tell me to learn from my brother, right? I''ve found a project with huge potential, so I want to invest."


    Li Xutian inquired, "What kind of project requires such a large investment? An internet project?


    Is this a Series D or Series E financing round? How many shares are they offering you?"


    Li Moying shook her head: "It''s a company that''s just starting up."


    "A company that hasn''t been established yet?" Li Xutian furrowed his brows.


    Gu Yusu also chimed in, "Mo Ying, is the person starting this company your friend?"


    Li Moying replied, "It''s my master. He''s starting a high-tech company."


    "Are you talking about Qin Hao?" Li Xutian''s frown deepened.


    If it had been before, he wouldn''t have given it a second thought before refusing, but ever since that banquet, he felt he had underestimated Qin Hao.


    He continued to ask, "What kind of high-tech product is Qin Hao planning to make? Is he only asking you to invest?"


    Li Moying answered, "Artificial intelligence robots. The Xu family will invest too, and I estimate they''ll put in no less than two billion.


    Qin Hao has the technology; he just lacks the capital."


    Li Xutian said, "Artificial intelligence robots are a bottomless pit of a project.


    Our family has invested in such projects before, so how did it end up? The technology hit a bottleneck.


    If you keep investing at this point, you might get a return, but there''s also the possibility that it will all sink without a trace.


    If you stop investing, all the money you''ve put in until now will have been for nothing.


    Many of the people who start these enterprises just slap a high-tech label on it and snag a round of financing money.


    Such examples are a dime a dozen."

 Chapter 233 Xu Jiekangs Method

    Mo Ying was trying to convince her dad, "Dad, there''s also the Xu family. Who would dare to swindle money from the Xu family in Xuan Country?"


    Li Xutian responded, "Dad is worried that he might set a trap and in the end, your money will be wasted.


    What if his company really falls into a technological bottleneck and still needs financial investment? Will you continue to invest?"


    "I''ll invest, even if no one else does, I will."


    Li Xutian was somewhat angry, "I think you are now charmed by Qin Hao. Do you know the future development prospects of the company?


    Do you understand his technical team? Does his technical team have that capability?"


    Mo Ying knew that no matter how she explained, it would be useless.


    She directly asked, "Dad, I just want to know if you can give me three billion in funding."


    Li Xutian replied, "The money is not the problem, but you need to give me a valid reason.


    Like future prospects of the company, potential of the company, and so on. You don''t even have a reason to convince me, how am I supposed to give it to you?"


    Mo Ying said, "If you don''t fund me, then I''ll sell a portion of my ten percent shares in Jinxiu Group."


    "You wouldn''t dare!" Li Xutian glared angrily when he heard this.


    Mo Ying calmly stated, "Why wouldn''t I dare? My name is on the stock certificate, I have the right to sell these shares."


    After that, she turned and walked out, "I''m going back to school."


    "This child... she''s really making me angry." Li Xutian was furiously upset.


    Yu Su spoke up, "You invested over a hundred billion in various companies last month. What''s wrong with your daughter investing thirty billion?


    If these thirty billion can help her see Qin Hao''s true colors, I think there''s no loss."


    Li Xutian thought for a while, then nodded his head.


    Jinxiu Group''s liquid funds have always been maintained above fifty billion, so thirty billion wasn''t much.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao arrived at Xu Siyao''s place in her car.


    Upon entering the living room, Qin Hao noticed that Yang Su was also present, and he smiled, addressing them, "Mr. Xu, Ms. Yang."


    Xu Jiekang showed a smile upon seeing him, "Xiao Hao, have a seat. Dinner is all set; we''ve been waiting just for you."


    Qin Hao said, "Thank you, Mr. Xu."


    Xu Jiekang chuckled and patted his shoulder, "No need to be so formal, just make yourself at home. Si Yao, go get the wine."


    Si Yao walked over to the wine rack, fetched a bottle of white wine, and then brought out two wine glasses.


    Explore stories at empire


    Just like when he treated his mother and Chang Jing, he never once said with certainty that he could cure them.


    Xu Jiekang could see that Qin Hao was cautious and maturely deliberate.


    If he said eighty-five to ninety percent, then it was almost as if he was nearly one hundred percent sure.


    Xu Jiekang asked, "How many people do you plan to partner with?"


    Qin Hao: "I will offer forty percent of the shares. My idea is to invite four shareholders, but I know too few people.


    So far, I have only found you, Mr. Xu, and Jinxiu Group''s Li Moying."


    Xu Jiekang knew Li Moying; he nodded slightly, "Jinxiu Group has strong capabilities, letting them invest ten billion is not a problem."


    Qin Hao: "Even if he wants to invest ten billion, I wouldn''t agree. I need someone with a background like Mr. Xu because I''m afraid of being sabotaged later."


    Xu Jiekang nodded slightly, knowing the huge potential profits involved, it was hard to guarantee that others wouldn''t be envious.


    "So, you''re saying you still need two more shareholders?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, Mr. Xu, do you have anyone to recommend?"


    Xu Jiekang thought for a moment and then said, "I do have an idea, Xiao Hao, do you want to hear it?"


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Xu, just speak directly."


    Xu Jiekang: "Chang Jing''s father, Chang Anding, runs Hongya Heavy Industry Group, which is very strong. The Chang Family is influential.


    Additionally, there is the Southern Military Industry Group under the Gu Jing Military Region, a state-owned enterprise.


    If you think that''s acceptable, I''ll talk to my father and Mr. Chen, and with their approval, there shouldn''t be any problems from Southern Military Industry Group''s side."


    Qin Hao''s eyes lit up, Xu Jiekang''s solution was very good, even better than what he initially thought.


    "Then I''ll trouble Mr. Xu," Qin Hao gratefully said.


    Xu Jiekang: "Not troublesome at all. If you really develop the smart chip, our entire country will benefit.


    From then on, we won''t have to depend on those foreign companies anymore."


    Qin Hao: "Don''t worry, Mr. Xu, one day they will be begging us to buy our products."


    ...


    The lunch Qin Hao and Xu Jiekang had that afternoon went very well.


    That afternoon, Xu Jiekang would go to contact Chang Anding and then Xu Liangguo.


    Things were going more smoothly than Qin Hao had imagined; initially when he was looking for partners, it was a headache, but now he didn''t need to worry anymore.


    [In a few days, there will be a breakout, seeking recommendation tickets, seeking rewards]

 Chapter 234 Recruiting Hosts

    Qin Hao was somewhat worried whether Chang Anding would agree or not.


    However, he thought there shouldn''t be much of a problem, first because the Chang Family still owed him a favor, and second because Xu Jiekang would lobby for him.


    Once the factory eventually produced the smart chips, they would realize how much of a bargain they had gotten initially.


    In the afternoon, it was Xu Siyao who brought him back to school.


    Because he had drunk quite a bit, Qin Hao went straight to sleep in the dorm after returning to school, not even going to the sports field.


    Chen Ping was also in the dorm; he hadn''t gone to the sports field today but had instead been studying the things Qin Hao taught him the night before.


    Qin Hao took a nap in the afternoon and by the time he woke up it was already after 7 pm.


    Zhao De and the fatty had already returned, with Zhao De chatting with his Lulu.


    The fatty was sitting in front of the computer, seemingly researching his online media company.


    Chen Ping was tapping away at the keyboard.


    Qin Hao got out of bed, picked up the water, and started drinking.


    "Second Brother, have something to eat," Chen Ping said to him.


    Fatty: "Second Brother, you''re awake. I''ve sorted out all the paperwork today, and the online guild is now established."


    Qin Hao picked up something from the table to eat and then walked over to the fatty, "What are you doing now?"


    The fatty pointed to the computer screen and explained, "Second Brother, this is our company''s main channel on the TT live streaming platform.


    New hosts uncovered by talent scouts or those who come to apply on their own must be assessed.


    Usually, the assessment takes place on the guild''s main channel. If I think they can pass the assessment, I''ll send them the electronic version of the contract.


    After signing with our guild, they can start broadcasting and making money, and they might even get a recommendation from the guild.


    The platform has a support system for newly established small guilds, with each small guild getting a few recommendations each month.


    We can allocate these to potential new hosts to increase their visibility, attracting more viewers."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "How many hosts have been recruited so far?"


    The fatty laughed awkwardly, "None yet, but I''ve hired five talent scouts to discover new hosts or those from smaller platforms who want to change companies.


    As soon as a talent scout successfully signs a host, they can get a commission of three hundred RMB."@@@@


    "Three hundred? Is it that much, Fifth Brother?" Chen Ping was shocked when he heard this and stopped programming.


    Fatty: "Sixth, have you finished the filtering software yet?"


    "Almost, Fifth Brother, don''t rush me," Chen Ping replied.


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What filtering software?"


    Upon hearing his words, Fatty''s expression darkened, and he used his admin authority to kick him out.


    "Next."


    This time, a young girl came up, of average appearance, with no talents, and her conversation lacked humor.


    In the end, Fatty tactfully rejected her as well, meanwhile pointing out her deficiencies, hoping she would improve.


    The scout named Xiao Yu couldn''t hold back and sent Fatty a private message: "President Wang, I think she''s quite good. Aren''t your standards a bit too high?"


    Fatty replied: "She''s of average appearance and has no talents at all. She won''t attract any audience. If she learns some talents in real life, you can bring her here again."


    After viewing four, Fatty was not quite satisfied.


    Soon the fifth girl came up, a woman around twenty-five or twenty-six, above average in looks and with a very nice figure.


    She was wearing a tight T-shirt and short shorts, her body prominently displaying her curves, and she was quite attractive.


    Fatty''s eyes lit up when he saw her: "Hello, Miss Qianqian, please introduce yourself first."


    Streamer Qianqian said, "Hello, President Wang. I''m Qianqian. I''ve streamed on other platforms before, and I just arrived at TT streaming platform these past few days. I''m good at dancing."


    "Please start your performance."


    Qianqian selected a popular dance track: Gentlemen!


    It was a pop dance song from the Beidou Country.


    Streamer Qianqian took a few steps back, her whole body coming into view in the video.


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    As the music started, she began to move. The song had a fast beat, and the dance moves were rather big.


    Fatty''s eyes brightened upon seeing her dance: "Not bad, Elder Brother, this is good. I''ve seen many dance streamers perform this.


    If a perfect score is a hundred, she could score at least eighty-five."


    Qin Hao also nodded: "Indeed, it''s quite good. We can sign her."


    After the dance was over.


    Fatty spoke up: "The dance was quite good. Would you like to sign a contract with Dream Media?"


    Streamer Qianqian asked, "May I inquire if your guild has any support plan for new streamers?"


    Fatty said, "Of course, we have. Although our guild has just been established today,


    our guild has substantial funds and a complete support plan for newbies,


    as long as you perform exceptionally, you will receive strong support from the guild. We have many recommendation spots.


    Unlike other medium and large guilds with too many streamers, it''s hard to get a spot on the recommendations, leaving no room for growth."


    [To all the brothers and sisters reading this book, I ask for a wave of five-star reviews. Let me see how many people are following this book.]

 Chapter 235 Seaview Villa

    "Yeah, okay, I''ll sign with you all," the anchor Qianqian pondered and agreed.


    She had actually about agreed to the hard bargain when she came here, and after being sweet-talked by the fatso, she successfully agreed to sign with Dream Media.


    The fatso and she added each other as friends on the TT live streaming platform.


    Then he sent her the electronic version of the contract, and after anchor Qianqian had signed, it still needed to be mailed back with the company''s seal affixed.


    After stamping the seal and mailing back a copy of the contract, each party holding one, this would be the complete contracting process.


    Xiao Yu, the talent scout, let out a sigh of relief when he saw a satisfactory outcome, as long as the contract was signed, he would get a reward of five hundred.


    Until midnight.


    The few talent scouts had found many anchors, but only seven or eight satisfied the fatso.


    There are many internet anchors, so this also results in a big quality gap among them.


    Some don''t have any special skills and are still live streaming!


    Some might come from ordinary backgrounds but possess extraordinary talents.


    Then there are many opportunists who, seeing the rise of the industry, also want to make a quick buck.


    They rely on vulgar live streams to get tips from viewers.


    Like tonight, Qin Hao and the fatso saw several women.@@@@


    Though they looked alright, they were all passed by the fatso because they had improper values and could have a negative impact.


    He didn''t need such low-brow anchors.


    But on the TT live streaming platform, quite a few guilds recruit such anchors.


    Speaking vulgarly, dressing provocatively, and often playing to the edge of the rules.


    This would instantly attract a group of underage visitors who lack proper judgment.


    Eighty percent of Xuan Country''s netizens are young people, of which about forty to fifty percent are minors.


    As long as it makes money, those guilds'' backroom bosses don''t care about any of this at all.


    Even if an anchor gets banned, it''s only the anchor that loses out, while the guild suffers no loss.


    The guild can still continue to recruit such anchors to rake in the cash.


    ...


    The next morning, the sky was overcast, looking like it might rain.


    The sports meeting was still held as scheduled, and Qin Hao, because he had a competition, went to the stadium, taking an umbrella with him when he left.


    Today, there was also the men''s 100 meters preliminary race, with the first place in each group advancing.


    Since the strengths of the various athletes had more or less been scoped out, during the allocation, some of the stronger competitors were separated and did not run into each other.


    "You''ll know when we get there." Qin Hao revealed a mysterious smile and then drove off from the place.


    He drove out of Bailing District and arrived at the seaside Xin Hai District.


    Xin Hai District is one of the most economically developed areas in Jianghai City.


    Here, skyscrapers stand in great numbers, with busy pedestrian streets and commercial districts attracting large crowds.


    Furthermore, there''s a seaside tourist area here, and the tourism industry is very well developed.


    Qin Hao took Du Wanrou to the famed Haoting Sea View Villa sales center in Xin Hai District.


    This is a seaside villa community developed by the famous Wanhao Real Estate Group.


    "Qin Hao, why have we come here?" Du Wanrou already had a vague idea in her mind.


    Qin Hao said, "We should also have our own home in Jianghai City by now, the scenery here is very nice. How about we buy a villa here?"


    Du Wanrou indeed liked the place, as would anyone else for that matter.


    "It''s very expensive here, and you''re about to start a new company. You should save your funds for developing the new company."


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, the new company was a project worth tens of billions, and tens of millions were practically negligible for it.


    Moreover, he didn''t need to put in any money for the new company; the contributions from four other entities were almost enough to reach ten billion.


    What he contributed was core technology, which he wouldn''t sell for even a hundred billion, let alone ten billion.


    If it weren''t for numerous considerations, he wouldn''t share an opportunity to prosper in silence with others.


    Qin Hao said, "It''s okay, the new company won''t need this money."


    After saying that, he grabbed Du Wanrou''s hand and walked towards the sales center.


    In the sales center, several young and beautiful sales ladies sat, all wearing the same uniform.


    It was reminiscent of a cheongsam, but not quite, highlighting their slender and graceful figures.


    Inside, there weren''t many people; the sales ladies were chatting among themselves.


    "Hello, welcome."


    As Qin Hao and Du Wanrou entered, one of them immediately stood up with a smile and approached them.


    Qin Hao asked, "Do you still have sea view villas available?"


    "Sir, are you looking to purchase a sea view villa?" the sales associate asked softly.


    Qin Hao nodded. Haoting Sea View Villa was very well-known throughout Jianghai.


    First for its location, and second for its price.


    The price of Haoting Sea View Villa was much higher than any other sea view villas, significantly so.


    The interior decoration of each villa was of the highest caliber, and the community amenities and security measures were extremely comprehensive, among the best in the country.

 Chapter 236 Buying a House [Extra for Wolf Brother]

    "May I ask for your surname, sir?" the sales associate asked with a professional smile.


    Qin Hao: "My surname is Qin."


    Sales Associate: "Hello, Mr. Qin, my name is Xiao Li, and I am the sales associate here.


    May I inquire what size of sea view villa you need, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao: "Any size is fine, it''s mainly about the location."


    Sales Associate Xiao Li led the two of them inside: "Mr. Qin, this is a scale model of Haoting Villa District.


    The ones marked in green have been sold, and those marked in red are still available."


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou looked over and saw that there were roughly more than forty sea view villas in the model.


    More than twenty had been sold, and there were more than ten still vacant.


    The price of the sea view villas here is very expensive, with the starting price generally in the tens of millions, and the best-located ones approaching a hundred million."


    Sales Associate Xiao Li introduced, "Currently, we have two types of sea view villas left, one is a small type of more than two hundred square meters.


    There is also a larger type of more than four hundred square meters."


    Qin Hao looked at the scale model and took an interest in a large villa.


    Its location was good, and it was also complete with an outdoor swimming pool facility.


    Qin Hao: "Girl, what do you think of this one?"


    Du Wanrou nodded slightly.


    Qin Hao to Sales Associate Xiao Li: "Can you take us to have a look?"


    "Certainly, sir."


    After speaking, Sales Associate Xiao Li led them both out of the sales hall.


    Right next to it was the entrance of the community, with four straight-bodied security guards standing at the gate.


    These people were mostly around thirty years old and had all undergone special training.


    At the entrance of the community, Qin Hao also saw personnel with black Belgian Shepherds.


    The landscaping inside the community was beautiful, and upon entering, Qin Hao and Du Wan were captivated by the beautiful environment.


    A few minutes later, the sales associate took them to the inside of the villa.


    In the villa courtyard, gardens, swimming pools, garages, and more were all included.


    Xiao Li then opened the door to the villa and went inside, where the decoration was gorgeous and magnificent.


    Especially the side facing the sea, with uniform floor-to-ceiling glass windows.


    On the first floor, there were a living room, dining room, kitchen, guest bedroom, and study.


    "You hold the keys, let''s go play by the sea," Qin Hao said to her.


    Du Wanrou, with her arm in his, had a face full of happiness.


    They arrived at the beach, where quite a few people were enjoying themselves, given that the weather was just perfect.


    Du Wanrou wore a white dress and ran barefoot on the sandy beach.


    Qin Hao looked at the majestic, boundless sea, felt the gentle breeze and cool waters, and with his love by his side¡ªwasn''t this the scene he had always dreamed of?


    "Qin Hao, will you chase me, please?" Du Wanrou turned around, smiling at him.


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao''s face: "Okay."


    As soon as he finished speaking, he chased after her. Du Wanrou let out a surprised shriek and hurried forward, her laughter ringing pleasantly in the air.


    Qin Hao deliberately slowed down, not catching up to her.


    As he chased her, he said, "Run faster, or the big bad wolf will catch you."


    "Giggle"


    "Hurry up and catch me," laughed Du Wanrou in her bell-like voice.


    Shortly after speaking, she tripped on something, screamed, and fell uncontrollably toward the beach.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao quickly sped up and caught up to her in an instant, blocking her slender waist with one hand and holding her in his arms. Find exclusive stories on empire


    "Got you, tonight you''re the big bad wolf''s meal," Qin Hao said with a mischievous smile.


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned red: "Stop it, let me go! So many people are watching."


    "So what if they''re watching? You''re my girlfriend."


    After saying that, Qin Hao carried her and ran forward quickly.


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks were flushed with shyness, and she was a bit worried she might fall, so she hugged his neck tightly.


    Not far from the beach, a group of more than a dozen people walked in a grand manner.


    Some held laptops, others had microphones and earphones.


    Wang Jian said with a smile, "Bros, see that? That''s our man Jun. Check out those ten bodyguards, isn''t that impressive?"


    Female fan: "Is that the legendary wealthy Jun? So handsome, I want to have his babies."


    "Jun, I''m from Jianghai too; wanna meet tonight? I''m good and not clingy."


    "Wow, Jun is so cool, going out with more than ten bodyguards, total boss energy."


    "Boss, did Jun arrange any fresh models or beauties for you guys tonight?"


    ...


    Suddenly, someone next to Wang Jian said, "Jian, isn''t that the guy who beat you up last time?"


    [Extra chapter added, today''s third update, thanks to Brother Wolf for the reward of ten thousand book coins.]

 Chapter 237 Encountering Wang Jian Again

    Wang Jian and Wang Jun followed his gaze.


    Not far away, a man was running with a young woman in his arms.


    The distance was a bit far, and while Wang Jian felt that the man looked familiar, he couldn''t be sure.


    "Jian, it really looks like that guy," another person also chimed in.


    Wang Jun spoke up, "Let''s go over and take a look. I want to see who dares mess with my friend in Jianghai."


    The person holding the computer even purposefully angled the camera in that direction.


    The viewers in Wang Jian''s live stream overheard their conversation.


    "Is Jianghai that small? Running into them again?"


    "Looks like the other side didn''t bring bodyguards this time, Jian. Your chance for revenge has come."


    "Beat him, touch our Jian''s heart, beat him to death."


    "Right, kill him."


    ...


    Wang Jun, Wang Jian, and their group walked towards Qin Hao.


    At first, Qin Hao didn''t notice, but he quickly sensed something was wrong.


    Because he saw Wang Jian, the same person who had tried to hit on Du Wanrou at the airport, and he had not forgotten.


    Qin Hao put down Du Wanrou and said, "Someone''s looking for trouble."


    Du Wanrou also spotted Wang Jian and his group, her eyes revealing concern, "Qin Hao, shall we just leave? There are so many people; they wouldn''t dare to do anything."


    Qin Hao shook his head, "No worries, I want to see what they''re up to."


    Wang Jian and his group quickly approached. When Wang Jun saw Du Wanrou, his eyes lit up.


    She was so beautiful.


    He had been with many beautiful women, but he had never met someone as beautiful and poised as Du Wanrou.


    "Kid, remember me?" Wang Jian said to Qin Hao with a smug look.


    If he hadn''t made connections with Wang Jun in Jianghai, he probably would have been detained for a couple of weeks.


    Seeing Wang Jun''s smug look, Qin Hao replied indifferently, "You feel that I didn''t hit you hard enough last time, is that it?"


    "Kid, why the airs now? Today, I am going to settle the score for that day," Wang Jian said and then gave a signal to someone beside him. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire


    That person shut down the computer, as broadcasting a fight would lead to severe punishment.


    Wang Jun didn''t look at Qin Hao but instead turned to Du Wanrou, "Beauty, how about making a new friend? My name is Wang Jun.


    ...


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou walked towards Haoting Villa District.


    On the way, Qin Hao''s expression wasn''t very good; he could tell that Wang Jun wouldn''t let things stand.


    Had it not been for the crowded beach, Qin Hao might have killed Wang Jun on the spot.


    Such a person must not be spared, or else there would be grave consequences later.


    Thinking this, Qin Hao frowned slightly, now feeling it wouldn''t be bad to have a group of people under him.


    There were many things inconvenient for him to settle personally, which he could delegate to them.


    "Qin Hao, are you okay?" Du Wanrou held his hand, saw his expressionless face, and asked worriedly.


    Qin Hao smiled, "I''m fine, just had my mood spoiled by these people. Be careful in the future, I don''t think Wang Jun will let this go."


    Du Wanrou nodded, "Okay, let''s go have dinner."


    The two found a nearby seafood restaurant, had some seafood, and then returned to Haoting Villa District.


    Qin Hao drove the car into the district and parked it in the villa''s courtyard.


    The villa had already been cleaned that morning, and Qin Hao sat down on the sofa upon entering.


    "There''s even soda in the fridge, and it''s all freshly stocked," Du Wanrou said, somewhat surprised as she opened the fridge.


    Qin Hao: "Is that so? The service here is really not bad."


    Du Wanrou opened two bottles of coffee drink and handed one to him.


    Just as Qin Hao took a sip, his phone in his pocket rang. It was a call from Li Bao.


    He answered the call and before he could speak, he heard Li Bao''s voice from the other end, "Hao, what is this insane training manual?"


    "What''s up?" Qin Hao asked with a smile.


    Li Bao: "Hao, your training is just too insane, Li Yang and some others are struggling to keep up.


    I tried it myself this morning, and now I''m lying in bed, sore all over whenever I move."


    Qin Hao''s lips curled into a smile, "No worries, just stick to the training. Keep up with the diet and all that. I want elites."


    Li Bao nodded, "Hao, according to your training manual, I think there won''t be many who can fully pass.


    Should we recruit some more?"


    Qin Hao: "Recruit, keep recruiting, but make it clear to them, no salary during training with food and accommodation provided.


    Starting salary of ten thousand a month after passing the training, and exceptional performers start from one hundred thousand. Just recruit as many as you can, the more the merrier, don''t worry about having too many people, money is not an issue."


    Li Bao: "Got it, Hao, I understand."

 Chapter 238 Deep Affection

    Qin Hao: "This is currently your most important task, accept company business if available, and don''t worry if there isn''t any.


    I''m not short of that bit of money. I want a group of elites, a group that obeys commands."


    Li Bao sensed something was off, but he didn''t ask further.


    He hung up the phone.


    Du Wanrou asked curiously, "Was that Li Bao''s phone? Was it the person I met at the hospital originally?"


    Qin Hao nodded, he had been injured and ended up in the hospital to protect Du Wanrou originally.


    Both Li Bao and Kang Youyi had been there, and Du Wanrou had seen them once.


    "What did he want from you?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "He has started a security company, and I invested some money in it, so it''s sort of my company too."


    Du Wanrou: "That''s good, I heard from my dad before that he was involved in the underworld."


    Qin Hao embraced her slender waist, "That was in the past, and he hasn''t done anything unforgivable, just loved to fight."


    "Oh, Qin Hao, I really hope you guys won''t get involved in those things anymore. I am really scared that one day you will suddenly leave me." Du Wanrou hugged him tightly as she spoke.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, "Don''t worry, silly girl."


    After saying that, Qin Hao suddenly picked her up, "Girl, let''s try out our new bedroom."


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks instantly turned red, "Stop it, don''t."


    ...


    The two were in the master bedroom on the second floor.


    Afterward, they both fell asleep, later Du Wanrou''s phone rang, it was a call from Feng Xiangyi.


    "Why hasn''t Wan Rou returned yet?"


    Du Wanrou quickly replied, "Auntie, Qin Hao and I are out playing, we''ll be back soon."


    Feng Xiangyi: "Out? Why do you sound like you just woke up?"@@@@


    Qin Hao woke up too, and he said, "Auntie, Wan Rou won''t be coming back tonight."


    "Oh, I see." After saying that, Feng Xiangyi hung up the phone on the other end.


    From her tone, she seemed a bit angry.


    Honestly, Feng Xiangyi was very comfortable staying at the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, without the previous restrictions.


    She could fully stretch out her limbs and demonstrate her abilities.


    But the thought of her boss sleeping with a woman while she was working hard, irritated her.


    And the worst part, the woman involved was her niece!!


    That damned capitalist, grumbled Feng Xiangyi while cooking.


    Meanwhile, Du Wanrou said with slightly red cheeks, "I want to go back tonight."


    Du Wanrou, "I can''t imagine what it''d be like to lose you one day. Just thinking about it makes it hard to breathe."


    Qin Hao, "Don''t think too much, go freshen up, then try the heart-shaped breakfast I made."


    ...


    After breakfast.


    Qin Hao drove to the Bailing District of Jianghai University East Campus.


    "I''ll walk you in," Qin Hao said, getting out of the car.


    Du Wanrou, smiling, said, "It''s okay, you should hurry to school too, or you''ll be late."


    Qin Hao, "I checked yesterday and there''s no event for me today, so it doesn''t make any difference whether I go or not."


    At this time, the entrance of the East Campus was bustling with many people coming and going.


    Seeing Du Wanrou getting out of a Lamborghini, many turned their heads to look.


    She was well-known in the East Campus because she was one of the beauties of Jianghai University.


    "Hey, isn''t that Du Wanrou? Who is that guy?" remarked one of the male students upon seeing them.


    "Bro, do you even need to ask? Just look at that car and you know, definitely a rich second generation."


    "Can''t believe my goddess is such a realistic person, why oh why."


    "I thought she was a pure and innocent beauty, turns out she''s one of those as well," a female student commented sarcastically.


    Qin Hao walked hand in hand with Du Wanrou towards the school.


    He accompanied her all the way to the sports field where, upon seeing them, almost ninety percent of the people in her class turned their gaze to him.


    Qin Hao''s expression remained calm, unchanging, "I''ll head off now."


    "Okay, take care on the road."


    After leaving the East Campus, Qin Hao drove towards the main campus.


    ...


    In a high-end residential area in Jianghai City.


    Wang Jun, with a stern face, was on the phone, "Have you checked on Qin Hao from the Computer College of Jianghai University?"


    "Mr. Wang, it''s all clear now, I''ll send you the documents and photos right away," a man''s voice came through the phone.


    "Okay, good, I''ll transfer the money to you."


    Shortly after hanging up, Wang Jun received an email in his inbox.


    He opened it to find Qin Hao''s details along with several photos of him.


    Following that were details of Du Wanrou, Du Wanrou from the Business Administration College of Jianghai University.


    Wang Jun, his eyes fiercely cold, "Dare to hit me, just you wait, and you, you stinking bitch, see how I''ll ruin you."


    Saying this, he picked up his phone, "Second Master, got a job for you."

 Chapter 239 Zhao Qian [Extra for Wolf Brother]

    "Oh, it''s you, Wang Jun. What do you need?" A middle-aged man''s voice came from the other side.


    Wang Jun: "To teach two people a lesson."


    Second Master: "Which people?"


    Wang Jun replied, "Students from Jianghai University, a male and a female, one in the main campus, and the other in the east campus."


    "Do you have their information?"


    Wang Jun: "I''ve already found out. They''re both from out of town and have no background."


    He had someone investigate Qin Hao''s family background, an ordinary family, which is why he was so reckless.


    Second Master laughed and said, "Good, send me the information later, and I''ll have someone take care of it in the next two days."


    After hanging up the phone, a cunning smile appeared on Wang Jun''s face.


    The Second Master on the phone was a well-known underworld figure in Jianghai City, whom he had met by chance.


    As long as there was enough money, anything could be done.


    Even murder could be arranged.


    ...


    Jianghai University


    Just as Qin Hao parked his car in the parking lot, his phone rang; it was a call from Feng Xiangyi.


    "Hello, what''s up, Mr. Feng?"


    Feng Xiangyi: "Mr. Qin, we have three new stores opening today. Do you want to come and host the opening ceremony?"


    Qin Hao replied as he got out of the car, "You can handle it; I just arrived at school."


    "Oh, well, alright then," Feng Xiangyi said, sounding speechless.


    Qin Hao: "How''s the establishment of the Monitoring Department going? I don''t want any violations of company policies at any of our stores."


    Feng Xiangyi: "It''s already been set up."


    "Alright, then. If there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up now."


    Just as Qin Hao was about to hang up, a red BMW sedan came around the curve ahead.


    The car was speeding and quickly approached where Qin Hao stood.


    At that moment, the driver saw Qin Hao and immediately hit the brakes.


    "Screech"


    Qin Hao reacted extremely quickly and, with a strong push of his legs, jumped up in the air.@@@@


    He landed one foot on the BMW''s front hood and performed a backflip, landing steadily on the ground.


    After landing, Qin Hao glanced at the two people inside the car, his brows furrowing slightly.


    Upon hearing her name, Qin Hao finally remembered where he had seen her.


    He had seen a list of Jianghai University campus beauties online before, and Zhao Qian was on it.


    "You''re Qin Hao?" Zhao Qian sounded surprised.


    Perfect scores on the unified exam, breaking university sports records repeatedly.


    And that Lamborghini key, is that his car?


    Isn''t he from Jiangshan? Where did he get such a nice car?


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "You''ve heard of my name, senior sister?"


    Zhao Qian replied, "Your reputation precedes you, I never imagined I''d meet you in person today."


    Qin Hao chuckled, "You flatter me, senior sister, I''m really not that famous."


    Zhao Qian asked, "Have you practiced Taekwondo before? I also like Taekwondo, I noticed you were very quick just now."


    Qin Hao replied, "What I practiced is national martial arts, not Taekwondo."


    "National martial arts?" Zhao Qian paused. Is there such a thing as national martial arts now?


    Aren''t all martial arts schools focused on various types of Taekwondo?


    While they were walking and chatting, a few people stopped them.


    Qin Hao looked up and frowned slightly, he recognized these people, they were Tang Chen Dong and others from the Taekwondo Club.


    Zhao Qian also saw Tang Chen Dong and seemed to recognize him, "Why are you blocking the way, Tang Chen Dong? Is there something you need?"


    "Why are you together? What is your relationship?" Tang Chen Dong looked displeased.


    He had been pursuing Zhao Qian for a long time, and everyone in their second year knew it.


    To pursue Zhao Qian, he even funded a Taekwondo club himself, but unfortunately, Zhao Qian was not in his Taekwondo club.


    Zhao Qian felt annoyed by Tang Chen Dong; if it weren''t for the fear of offending the Tang Group behind him, she wouldn''t bother dealing with him.


    Tang Chen Dong looked respectable, but almost every pretty girl in their class had had dealings with him.


    And many other beauties from different classes had fallen for his monetary temptations.


    ...


    Zhao Qian coldly said, "Who I''m with is none of your business. Why do you care so much?"


    Tang Chen Dong''s face darkened, and he glared at Qin Hao, "Kid, if you know what''s good for you, stay away from her, or don''t blame me for crippling you."


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently, "I think you should go to the hospital to have your brain checked."


    "You think you''re so great because you have some backing? Today, I''ll let you know who''s boss."


    Tang Chen Dong had long regarded Zhao Qian as his untouchable territory; nobody was allowed to touch her, except him, Tang Chen Dong.


    [Today is the third update, with an additional chapter thanks to Brother Wolf, who awarded ten thousand book coins.]

 Chapter 240 Kneeling Down

    As soon as the words were spoken,


    Tang Chen Dong rushed over in a few quick strides, his roundhouse kick whistling through the air.


    Zhao Qian hurriedly reacted, completely aware that this had nothing to do with Qin Hao.


    If he were to be hurt because of her, Zhao Qian would feel incredibly guilty.


    "Bang"


    Zhao Qian blocked Tang Chen Dong''s roundhouse kick with her leg.


    But Zhao Qian wasn''t unscathed, she staggered back two steps, feeling a burst of pain in her leg.


    Tang Chen Dong was a second-degree black belt, and his skills were exceptional.


    Zhao Qian was a first-degree black belt, one rank lower, and was no match for Tang Chen Dong in terms of strength.


    Seeing Zhao Qian protecting Qin Hao infuriated Tang Chen Dong even more.


    He pointed at Qin Hao and said, "If you''re a man, come out and duel me."


    Qin Hao glanced at Zhao Qian and took two steps forward.


    Zhao Qian quickly said, "Qin Hao, don''t be rash, he''s a second-degree black belt master."


    A black belt in Taekwondo is considered a very powerful master, with the rank divided into nine degrees.


    Across the whole world, the number of masters above the seventh degree in Taekwondo can be counted on one hand.


    For someone like Tang Chen Dong, with a second-degree black belt, he would be qualified to open a large Taekwondo dojo.


    Qin Hao looked puzzled, "Is a second-degree black belt that great?"


    He wasn''t familiar with Taekwondo and didn''t understand what a second-degree black belt signified.


    A second-degree black belt in Taekwondo wasn''t considered a top master; those who held a fifth or sixth-degree were considered top masters.


    But to be as young as Tang Chen Dong and have such a high rank was very, very rare.


    His talent in martial arts must be remarkable for him to have achieved such heights.


    The people around Tang Chen Dong chuckled, "Is a second-degree black belt impressive? Seems like this kid knows nothing about Taekwondo."


    "More than ten ordinary people can''t even get close to a black belt master; what do you think?"


    "Idiot, you dare to get so close to Mr. Tang''s woman, you''re asking to be crippled."


    Tang Chen Dong said, "Cut the talk. Kid, I know you have some skills. I spared you once before, but today I''ll show you just how formidable I am."


    Zhao Qian, emotionless, stepped forward to shield Qin Hao, "What exactly do you want to do, Tang Chen Dong?"


    Qin Hao pushed aside Zhao Qian''s hand and stepped forward, "Let''s do this, show me how impressive a second-degree black belt really is."


    "Whoosh"


    Tang Chen Dong lunged forward with his signature roundhouse kick once again.


    Qin Hao used both arms to block in front of him.


    "Bang bang"@@@@


    But having just met Zhao Qian, and considering she was a woman, there were many inconveniences.


    "Ah? Okay then, I''ll call my brother," Zhao Qian said after some thought.


    Qin Hao: "Your brother is in high school, right? He should be in class now. If you don''t mind, I can take you. You were injured because you protected me."


    Zhao Qian: "You don''t have a competition today, do you?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "No, the final is tomorrow."


    "Then I must trouble you, I''m really sorry," Zhao Qian said, her tone filled with profound apologies.


    Qin Hao: "I have a responsibility in this as well, let''s go."


    Zhao Qian placed one hand on his shoulder, while Qin Hao''s hand supported her arm.


    Luckily, the parking lot wasn''t far away, and within a few minutes, they arrived there.


    With his other hand, Qin Hao took out the car keys and unlocked the car.


    He pressed a button on the key, and the two front car doors automatically opened slowly.


    After placing Zhao Qian in the car, Qin Hao circled around to sit in the driver''s seat.


    He started the car and slowly drove out of the parking lot, heading towards Jianghai Ancient Hospital in Xin Hai District.


    Zhao Qian looked at the car curiously, then asked, "Is this car yours?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Hmm, why, is it strange?"


    Zhao Qian: "Of course, how does a university student drive such a luxury car? Besides, the newspapers said before that your family was ordinary."


    Qin Hao explained, "I started a business before I began university, it''s all money I earned myself."


    Zhao Qian asked curiously, "Oh, is that so? What kind of company did you start?"


    "A duck roasting company, just a small one," Qin Hao explained as he drove.


    Soon, they arrived at Jianghai Ancient Hospital. After parking the car, Qin Hao supported her into the hospital.


    Once inside the hospital lobby, Qin Hao settled her in a chair, "Wait here for a moment, I''ll ask the reception where surgery is."


    "Okay, thank you."


    "Hello, can you tell me where surgery is?" Qin Hao asked the nurse at the reception desk.


    The female nurse smiled, "Surgery is on the third floor."


    "Thank you."


    Qin Hao then helped Zhao Qian to the elevator and they went up to the third floor to surgery.


    After the doctor''s X-ray examination, it turned out that her shinbone was slightly cracked. A bit of medication and some rest should be enough for her to recover.


    After the treatment, the two of them took the elevator down, intending to leave.


    Suddenly, an emergency announcement came over the hospital''s loudspeaker, "A patient in the emergency room currently undergoing surgery has lost an excessive amount of blood.


    We urgently need RH negative blood. If any friend has RH negative blood, please come to the emergency room door on the fifth floor to donate. Thank you for your cooperation."


    The announcement echoed several times with increasing urgency.


    Zhao Qian suddenly stopped, "Wait, Qin Hao, I have RH negative blood. Take me to the fifth floor."

 Chapter 241 Blood Donation

    Qin Hao nodded and then supported Zhao Qian back to the elevator.


    Upon reaching the fifth floor, as soon as they got out of the elevator, Qin Hao and Zhao Qian heard a girl crying.


    It was the cry of utter heartbreak.


    A cry that tore at the heartstrings.


    Qin Hao and Zhao Qian walked over and saw a girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, standing at the entrance of the emergency room, sobbing uncontrollably.


    The girl''s clothes were filthy, and there were several bruises and abrasions on her body.


    Two female nurses were there, comforting her, "There, there, don''t cry. Your mom will definitely get better."


    "Hello, are you here to donate blood?" one of the nurses asked Qin Hao and Zhao Qian.


    Zhao Qian nodded, "I have Rh-negative blood."


    The nurse''s face lit up with happiness at her words, "That''s wonderful, that''s wonderful. Ma''am, please take a seat."


    Another nurse brought over the equipment and began to draw blood.


    The nurse continued to comfort, "Don''t cry, little girl. Someone''s donating blood. Your mom is going to be alright very soon."


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    "Thank you~ sister, thank you~ sister."


    The little girl''s voice was choked with sobs as she knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing to Zhao Qian.


    Zhao Qian tried to pull her up, but she couldn''t move, and she also had injuries on her legs.


    The nurses were trying to pull the little girl up but couldn''t manage it.


    Seeing this scene, Qin Hao felt a complex emotion in his heart; he went over and picked up the little girl, "Don''t cry. Your mother won''t be in danger, she will get better."


    While Zhao Qian was donating blood, a few more people arrived on the fifth floor, men and women, young and old.


    They had all come to donate blood voluntarily after hearing the announcement, making their way over.


    Some came from the wards above, and others from the hospital courtyard.


    There were many people online always cursing how the society is deteriorating, talking about the decline of public morals and the indifference of people''s hearts.


    But in Qin Hao''s eyes, there were still many compassionate people.


    It''s just that the occasional cases that appeared online were used to portray society as grim due to their amplification through the power of the internet.


    Qin Hao didn''t deny the existence of dark aspects, but affirmed they were the extreme minority.


    In Xuan Country, with over a million government officials, who could guarantee a complete absence of bad apples?


    Qin Hao asked one of the nurses, "How much do I need to pay?"


    "Fifty thousand. You can settle any differences when she''s discharged."


    Qin Hao said to Han Qiao''er, "Qiao''er, wait here with this sister. I''ll go downstairs and pay the surgery and hospitalization fees."


    "Okay, big brother."


    Qin Hao stood up and walked toward the elevator; a few minutes later, he returned with the hospitalization form and handed it to a nurse.


    The nurses were somewhat surprised by his generosity; paying fifty thousand as if it was nothing was a great fortune for the mother and daughter.


    In the morning, both Qin Hao and Zhao Qian did not leave, they waited for the surgery to end.


    Throughout the surgery, several groups of nurses went in.


    Finally, around noon, the door of the resuscitation room opened, and several nurses came out, pushing a hospital bed.


    "Mom." When Han Qiao''er saw her mother, her tears couldn''t be stopped.


    Qin Hao asked, "How is the patient?"


    A doctor spoke up, "She''s out of life-threatening danger now, but she needs to be observed in the ICU for a few days.


    The patient has severe fractures in both legs and varying degrees of internal injuries."


    The doctor''s clothes were soaked with sweat, and his cheeks were also covered in sweat.


    There were several exhausted doctors in the emergency room, slumped on the floor.


    Han Qiao''er''s mother was next door in the ICU, and Han Qiao''er could only look at her through the window.


    Qin Hao said to the nearby nurse, "Please arrange for a caregiver and a room to stay in. I''ll pay for it."


    The female nurse nodded, "Mhm, okay sir, thank you for helping them."


    Qin Hao approached Han Qiao''er and asked, "Qiao''er, do you know the bad guy who bullied your mom?


    And do you know where your mom works?"


    "I know, the bad guy is my mom''s boss," replied Han Qiao''er.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Then I will call the police uncle, and you can tell them what happened."


    Han Qiao''er said in a weak voice, "Big brother, that person said that if we dared to call the police, he would kill us."


    "Don''t worry with me around."


    After saying that, Qin Hao took out his phone and made a call. He dialed the police station directly to report the crime.


    It wasn''t long before the police arrived. They took a detailed report, and then went off to investigate and gather evidence.

 Chapter 242 Everything is Ready

    Qin Hao and Zhao Qian had lunch with Han Qiao''er at the hospital at noon, and then they left.


    Both of them really didn''t want to leave because Han Qiao''er was so pitiful.


    Before they left, they left their numbers and told Han Qiao''er to contact them if there was anything.


    On the way back, Zhao Qian sighed, "Qin Hao, could you please take me home? I''m not in a condition to go to school like this."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Okay."


    "Let''s visit them again after my leg gets better in a couple of days," Zhao Qian said, looking at him.


    "Yes, we should."


    Qin Hao took Zhao Qian home, to a high-end residential area in Xin Hai District.


    He helped Zhao Qian into her home and found that there was no one there.


    Zhao Qian explained while sitting on the sofa, "My parents are busy with their company, they usually come back in the evening."


    "Is it convenient for you to be at home alone?" Qin Hao asked.


    Zhao Qian said with a smile, "It''s okay, my leg feels much better than this morning."


    Qin Hao, "Then you get some rest early. I''ll head back to school."


    "Thank you."


    "No need to mention it."


    Qin Hao drove back to school. He didn''t go to the stadium, but returned to his dormitory instead.


    Chen Ping and Fatty were in the dorm, only Zhao De was not there.


    Upon seeing him return, Chen Ping hurriedly said, "Hao, just now someone from the Jiangshan Monitoring Department sent you a message."


    Qin Hao, "What message?"


    "A manager of a store has been taking money from an employee using his position, and that employee wanted to become the assistant manager."


    Qin Hao, "Send this to all middle and senior management of the company. Both people, immediately fire them and never hire them again."


    "Alright, Hao."


    Chen Ping used his administrator rights to send a message to all middle and senior management of the company through the office system.


    From Youyi at the top to the managers of every store at Jiangshan Company, everyone received this message.


    Within less than three minutes, both the bribing employee and the corrupt manager were fired from the company and blacklisted from future hiring.


    Qin Hao walked over to Fatty and started, "How''s the guild coming along, Fatty?"


    Hidden growth-type task: Benevolent Heart for the People, Good Deeds for the World: For every mandatory donation of 150, the system automatically awards the host an achievement point.


    Seeing this task, Qin Hao''s eyes lit up. It was an excellent task.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao fell into a drowsy sleep, but later he was woken up by his phone ringing.


    He took it and saw it was a call from Xu Jiekang. He hurriedly answered, "How is it going, Mr. Xu?"


    Xu Jiekang smiled and said, "Chang Anding and the Southern Military Industry Group have both been settled. They will begin their journey to Jianghai City in the next few days, and then we can discuss the details."


    Qin Hao was pleased, "That''s great, Mr. Xu, thank you for your efforts."


    "Why be so formal with me? Xiao Hao, Mr. Xu believes in you. Push on, this is not only about our interests, but also about the national interest," Xu Jiekang told him.


    Qin Hao: "Rest assured, Mr. Xu."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao got out of bed and saw Fatty still trying to attract viewers to his channel.


    "Where did Lao Liu go?"


    Fatty: "He seems to have gone to meet his girlfriend."


    It was now a little past five in the afternoon. Qin Hao washed up, then left the dormitory.


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    He took out his phone and called Li Mo Ying, "Mo Ying, how are things? Did your father agree?"


    Li Mo Ying: "It''s all set. Master, why didn''t you come to the sports field? It''s so boring here."


    Qin Hao: "I had something to do today. I called to let you know that I''ve found the other shareholders. In a few days, when everyone is here, we''ll gather and talk about the new company."


    Curious, Li Mo Ying asked, "That was quick. Besides the Xu Family, who else is there, Master?"


    "I can''t say yet, you''ll know when the time comes," Qin Hao said mysteriously.


    Li Mo Ying: "Fine, don''t tell me. I''ll find out eventually."


    Before he could hang up from Li Mo Ying, Feng Xiangyi''s call came through.


    Qin Hao told her, "Sorry, I have to go, another call is coming in."


    He hung up and answered Feng Xiangyi''s call, "What''s up, Auntie?"


    "Mr. Qin, it''s work hours, please address me as Mr. Feng," Feng Xiangyi said, slightly annoyed.


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, then seriously said, "Is there something you need, Mr. Feng?"


    Feng Xiangyi began, "Mr. Qin, the membership card business has already started its trial run.


    Currently, all cards are uniformly priced at five hundred, and in the four stores of Jianghai branch, over three thousand members have signed up for cards."

 Chapter 243 Wang Juns Revenge

    Over three thousand people, roughly amounts to about one hundred fifty thousand in funds.


    Feng Xiangyi, "Mr. Qin, I want to use this money to further develop the company, but I am worried that some might maliciously cancel their memberships.


    If we end up with insufficient cash flow, we will enter a debt crisis."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Okay, but every penny must be clearly accounted for and must go through the finance department.@@@@


    Don''t worry about the funds."


    Feng Xiangyi, "Alright, Mr. Qin, where will Wan Rou stay tonight?"


    Qin Hao, "She should be staying at your place."


    After hanging up the phone with Feng Xiangyi, Qin Hao walked toward the cafeteria. Before he reached the cafeteria, two people stopped him.


    They were two men in their thirties, tall and burly, with fierce expressions and tattoos on their arms.


    Qin Hao looked at the two men, "Is there something you need?"


    "Qin Hao, right? Come with us, there''s something we need to discuss with you," one of them said.


    Qin Hao''s brows furrowed slightly, these two were clearly baleful visitors.


    Could they be people sent by Tang Chen Dong, seeking revenge?


    If they really were sent by Tang Chen Dong, then there should be more people waiting outside the campus.


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, then said, "Lead the way."


    The two men did not expect him to cooperate so easily, and led him out of the school.


    Once they left the school premises, the two did not stop and took him to an alley.


    Just as Qin Hao had anticipated, there was a group of people waiting in the alley, along with two vans.


    These were the people called by the second boss to take Qin Hao away.


    Wang Jun had told the second boss that Qin Hao was no ordinary man, so they brought many people, all armed.


    Qin Hao quickly sized up the situation, about fifteen or sixteen strong men.


    His expression remained unchanged as he looked at the two men beside him and asked, "Who sent you?"


    The men nearby responded, "You don''t need to know. Just come with us quietly, or don''t blame us for being rude."


    Qin Hao, "If you won''t say, then I''ll have to beat it out of you."


    As he finished speaking, he suddenly made a move, a diagonal kick aimed at the man on his right, followed by a spinning kick to the man on his left.


    "Damn it, he dares to fight back, get him!"


    A group of men wielding clubs and steel pipes charged at him.


    Qin Hao''s reflexes were quick, making it hard for the steel pipes to hit him.


    As fight continued, one minute later, half of the men were down on the ground, and although Qin Hao had taken a hit or two, it didn''t affect him much.


    Now he, too, had a wooden club in his hand, his face wearing a cold smirk as he looked at the remaining men.


    Qin Hao''s face turned grim, and he hurriedly took out his mobile phone to call Du Wanrou, but her phone was off and unable to connect.


    Du Wanrou''s phone is normally never off!


    "Speak, where did your people take Du Wanrou?" Qin Hao''s face was fierce, and he pointed the wooden stick at the man''s head.


    If he dared to say no, his head would definitely be smashed into pieces right there.


    "That... that man surnamed Wang told us to take her to a chemical waste factory in Xuanbo District," the man said, his face pale with fright.


    Qin Hao grabbed him and then threw him onto a van inside the alley.


    He started the vehicle, and people in the alley hurriedly rolled aside.


    The white van sped out at a high speed.


    In a matter of seconds, the van reached speeds of eighty to ninety miles per hour.


    "Don''t move, or I''ll make you meet King Yan," Qin Hao said lightly.


    The man trembled with fear, sitting in the passenger seat, hardly daring to breathe.


    It was the rush hour, and the road was crowded with vehicles, but he still didn''t slow down, weaving through the traffic.


    The middle-aged man''s face turned pale with fear: "Big brother, slow down."


    "Bang"


    Qin Hao struck his stomach with the stick: "Less talking."


    Soon, sirens sounded behind Qin Hao, as he headed towards the suburbs, and the traffic thinned a bit.


    However, the police cars behind him did not decrease but instead continued to increase.


    "The vehicle ahead, listen, please stop your vehicle and submit for checking," a voice from a loudspeaker in the cars behind called out.


    Qin Hao called Xu Jiejian, and the call was quickly connected.


    Xu Jiejian had just finished accompanying his wife for a prenatal checkup, he answered the phone with a smile, asking, "What''s up, Xiao Hao?"


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Xu, my girlfriend has been kidnapped. I''m on my way to rescue her now, and there''s a bunch of traffic cops behind me, I''m in a white van."


    Upon hearing this, Xu Jiejian''s expression turned serious: "Alright, I''ll make a call. Do you need the police to assist?"


    "No need, Mr. Xu." After saying that, Qin Hao ended the call.


    In less than a minute, the police cars behind him all stopped.


    The middle-aged man sitting in the passenger seat was shocked. Who exactly was he?


    Under the guidance of this middle-aged man, Qin Hao quickly drove toward the abandoned chemical factory he had mentioned.


    Xuanbo District, a certain abandoned chemical factory.


    A white van stopped inside the factory, and six men in black were escorting Du Wanrou into the factory building.


    Inside the building, Wang Jun was sitting in a chair with two men in black standing behind him.


    Seeing Du Wanrou being brought in, a sinister smile appeared on his face.


    [Unless something special happens, there will be a mass update tomorrow.]

 Chapter 244 The Dragon Has Reverse Scales

    Du Wanrou was bound with rope, and when she saw Wang Jun, she understood what was happening.@@@@


    "Mr. Wang, we''ve brought the person," one of them said to Wang Jun.


    Wang Jun smiled and nodded, then turned to look at Du Wanrou, "Remember me?"


    Du Wanrou''s eyes were filled with fear, "What are you going to do?"


    A gloomy expression crossed Wang Jun''s face, "What? Did you think I was easy to mess with? Today''s not just about you. I''m going to cripple Qin Hao''s legs and arms too."


    "You''re breaking the law, the police will catch you," Du Wanrou said, trying to remain calm.


    Wang Jun: "Breaking the law? Haha, the police won''t be able to trace it back to me."


    After finishing speaking, he turned to someone beside him and asked, "Why hasn''t Qin Hao been brought here yet? Call that brother of yours."


    The person stepped out of the warehouse to make the call on his phone.


    Wang Jun looked at Du Wanrou with a sinister smile and said, "When Qin Hao is brought here, I want him to watch helplessly. Messing with me, Wang Jun, I''ll make his life a living hell."


    Du Wanrou''s face turned deathly pale in an instant.


    Soon, the man who went to make the call returned with a frown and said to Wang Jun, "I couldn''t get through."


    "Couldn''t get through? Could something have gone wrong?" Wang Jun''s frown deepened, a bad feeling rising within him.


    The man replied, "Shouldn''t be. They were less than twenty men, and they were all armed. They might just be on their way here."


    Wang Jun looked at Du Wanrou, a vicious gleam in his eye, "I can''t worry about that now. After I have my fun, it''ll be your turn."


    "Thank you, Mr. Wang," the others exclaimed joyfully upon hearing this.


    A beauty of Du Wanrou''s level was something they had never touched before, and the opportunity to have their way with her today excited them greatly.


    ...


    Outside the abandoned factory.


    A van pulled up to a stop, and Qin Hao glanced at the person beside him before knocking him out with a swift strike.


    At this moment, Qin Hao seemed like a completely different person, pulling out the Invisibility Cloak from his system backpack.


    He had hardly ever used this item before, but today was the day for it.


    A dragon has its reverse scale, and touching it means death!


    After putting on the Invisibility Cloak, he vanished into thin air.


    The Invisibility Cloak was a high-tech product made from special materials.


    Day or night, rain or snow, none would affect its functionality.


    Wearing the Invisibility Cloak, he ran towards the abandoned factory with extreme speed.


    He was afraid that being even one minute late could cause irreversible consequences.


    Inside the factory were two vehicles, a van and a black sedan.


    "Please... I beg you, stop."


    Du Wanrou''s pleading voice came from inside the building as Qin Hao raced inside at top speed.


    Two seconds later, he entered the warehouse to find Wang Jun tearing at Du Wanrou''s clothes.


    The sound of a knife penetrating flesh rang out, and Wang Jun and the man both stopped, disbelievingly staring at the blade.


    "Ssshhh, ssshhh, ssshhh"


    The knife was pulled out and then repeatedly stabbed back in, over and over, at least a dozen times, each stab fatal.


    Du Wanrou had already closed her eyes in fear.


    The others who were running away had reached the doorway; they turned to look back and froze.


    One of their own had stabbed Wang Jun to death?


    "It wasn''t me, really, it wasn''t me," muttered the man who had stabbed Wang Jun.


    At the same time, he felt his body being lifted into the air and quickly soaring towards the few people at the door.


    "How is he flying?" one of them trembled with fear, wanting to run but finding his legs unresponsive.


    "Run, damn it, run!" the others turned and ran away.


    Although Qin Hao was carrying someone as he ran, his speed remained incredibly fast.


    The four who hadn''t made it to the factory entrance were killed before reaching it.


    The person who had come with Qin Hao was also killed in the car.


    Then, unable to bear the immense pressure, that person collapsed, fainting.


    Since Qin Hao was wearing the Invisibility Cloak, there would be no fingerprints or footprints of his at the scene.


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    After putting away the Invisibility Cloak, he took out his phone and dialed the emergency number.


    If he didn''t call the police, he would become even more suspicious.


    ...


    After the call, Qin Hao entered the factory. This time he walked in openly and without hiding.


    Seeing the people who were already dead on the ground, his expression remained unchanged.


    Wang Jun deserved to die, so did these people, and so did that Second Master.


    Inside the factory building, Du Wanrou was still keeping her eyes tightly shut; Qin Hao went over and held her in his arms.


    "No, no..." Du Wanrou, startled, struggled fiercely.


    "Silly girl, it''s me," Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Du Wanrou opened her eyes, saw that it was truly him, and burst into tears.


    "It''s okay, girl, stop crying, I''m here," Qin Hao said as he untied the ropes bounding her and held her tight.


    Du Wanrou cried for a long time: "I was so scared, I was really so scared."


    "It''s all my fault, girl, I got here too late," Qin Hao said, feeling an immense sense of guilt upon hearing her sobs.


    "I was so afraid I''d never see you again," Du Wanrou choked out,


    Just then, the shrill sound of police sirens filled the air, and from the sound of it, more than one car had arrived.


    [First update]

 Chapter 245 Suspicion

    Du Wanrou heard the car and realized, "The police are here."


    Qin Hao nodded calmly, "Mm."


    "What about those people?" As soon as Du Wanrou finished speaking, she tried to look at Wang Jun.


    But Qin Hao stopped her, "Don''t look, or you''ll have nightmares tonight."


    "Mm." Du Wanrou didn''t look, and buried her head in his chest.


    A few minutes later, several police officers walked in, their eyebrows furrowing slightly as they surveyed the situation in the room.


    Someone immediately took out a camera and started taking pictures.


    "Who called the police?" one of the officers asked, looking at Qin Hao and her.


    Qin Hao: "I did."


    The officer looked at him, then turned to Du Wanrou: "Is this your girlfriend?"


    "That''s right."


    Officer: "You two should first come back to the police station with us. We need you to make a statement."


    When they had entered a moment ago, they had seen nine people dead¡ªa major homicide case.


    Such a serious case had not occurred in Jianghai City in recent years.


    Qin Hao, holding Du Wanrou, left the abandoned factory, got onto the police car, and then went to the Jianghai City police station.


    Upon arriving at the station, the two were separated to make their statements individually.


    "Please start from the beginning and tell us in detail what happened," a male police officer said upon seeing him.


    Qin Hao narrated the entire event from start to finish, only omitting the part after he became invisible.


    "I drove there, and just as I got out of the car, I saw someone covered in blood rush out.


    He was raving madly, saying something like ''I am a ghost, I will kill you all...''


    You know the rest¡ªhe killed that person and then came after me, but I knocked him down."


    The officer recorded everything in detail, meticulously and with utmost seriousness.


    On the other side, Du Wanrou was also making a statement, questioned by a female police officer.


    "You''re saying you saw the chair lift by itself and then smash into those people?" the female officer asked somewhat incredulously.


    Du Wanrou nodded affirmatively: "Really, I truly saw it. I was so scared that I broke out in a cold sweat, and those people were pale with fright as well."


    "What happened next?" the female officer continued to record and asked.


    Du Wanrou: "After that, those people ran away. While they were running, I heard screams.


    One of them stabbed Wang Jun with a knife."


    May I ask when will he be done? Is it possible for us to see our Chairman?"


    "Please wait a moment," the detective hurried inside.


    Before long, he came back out: "I''m sorry, ladies, Qin Hao is a suspect in this case.


    He is a suspect, and no one can have contact with him."


    "A suspect? Do you have any evidence?" Ji Xiangyi asked.


    "Not at the moment, but Qin Hao is under significant suspicion," the man replied.


    After finishing his words, the detective left.


    Du Wanrou voiced her concern, "What should we do?"


    Ji Xiangyi: "Wang Jun had a dispute with you, and Qin Hao indeed is a suspect, but if they don''t have evidence, the duration of a criminal summons cannot exceed twelve hours."


    ...


    Inside the interrogation room.


    Not long after Qin Hao had finished giving his statement, he was brought into the interrogation room.


    He knew there were loopholes in his story, and the deaths of those men were mysterious, but he was confident he had left no evidence behind.


    Outside, several people were watching the surveillance, and the screen showed Qin Hao in the interrogation room.


    At this moment, Qin Hao''s expression was calm. He sat in the interrogation chair, showing no sign of change.


    A male detective said to a female detective, "Captain, we''ve examined the crime scene. The wounds on the deceased were all inflicted by a spring knife.


    The fingerprints found on it belong to the man who was in a coma. There are no fingerprints from Qin Hao, and the only footprints found inside the abandoned factory were Qin Hao''s going in and out.


    If he killed the people, there would certainly be other footprints."


    Miao Jing shook her head slightly, "I feel like there''s more to this case than meets the eye. Who do you think really wanted Wang Jun and his men dead?"


    "Qin Hao."


    Miao Si: "Exactly, Wang Jun harassed Du Wanrou numerous times, and this time he even kidnapped her, attempting to assault her. Who do you think has the motive for murder?"


    "Qin Hao."


    Miao Si continued asking, "The identities of those men are clear, they are all Er Ye''s men, and Wang Jun hired them.


    So there''s no reason for them to kill each other, there must be some unknown factors. I want to interrogate him."


    After she spoke, Miao Si turned and walked out of the surveillance room, followed by two of her subordinates.


    Inside the interrogation room, Qin Hao sat meditating with his eyes closed when suddenly the door opened, and the lights were switched on.


    Two women and a man then walked in and sat across from Qin Hao.


    Miao Jing took the center seat. The other female detective was in charge of taking notes, and the man was the deputy interrogator.

 Chapter 246 Miao Jings Guess

    Qin Hao looked at Miao Jing and the two others and asked, "The police record is done; when can I leave?"


    Miao Si''s tone was icy as she said, "Leave? Qin Hao, you''d better honestly confess, how did you kill nine men including Wang Jun?"


    Qin Hao''s eyes narrowed slightly, his heart pounding fiercely, stay calm, stay calm, he must remain calm.


    Miao Jing''s beautiful eyes stared at him, unwavering.


    She didn''t want to miss any clue that could be utilized.


    Qin Hao suddenly let out a chuckle, "May I know the officer''s respected surname?"


    "Miao Jing, captain of the Jianghai City Criminal Police Team."


    Qin Hao: "Captain Miao, since you are convinced of my suspicion, whatever explanation I give, you probably won''t believe it.


    Let''s talk with evidence in the end," he said, planning not to say more.


    Miao Jing: "Among these people, you are the most suspicious, with the strongest motive for murder, so now I need you to go over the details of the incident again without missing any detail."


    Qin Hao nodded, "This afternoon, I took a nap in the dorm, then got up and washed up before heading out.@@@@


    Later, I received a few calls from subordinates at work; while I was on my way to the cafeteria, two men stopped me,


    asked me to step outside, and then I followed them out. In the alley, a dozen men armed with clubs threatened me.


    I fought with them, and after a few minutes, I had knocked them all to the ground and forced the name of the person behind the scenes and the fact that my girlfriend had been kidnapped."


    "Wait, you''re saying you alone knocked down several middle-aged men armed with clubs? Did you get injured?"


    Miao Jing asked, looking at him.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes. I took two hits on the back and probably also two on the legs."


    "Go check him," Miao Jing said to the male deputy investigator beside her.


    The man walked over, and Qin Hao stood up, turning his back to the three people.


    The man lifted the clothes on his back, revealing two startling bruises that ran across his entire back.


    Then on the legs, there was a bruise from a club hit on his right thigh and another on the shinbone, already swollen.


    "Do you practice martial arts?" Miao Jing asked.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Self-taught for a while."


    "Continue."


    Qin Hao: "After that, I took the man onto their van, and we drove towards the abandoned chemical plant.


    Since we were driving fast, there were many traffic police chasing us."


    "Then why weren''t the traffic police chasing you later?" Miao Jing continued to ask.


    The two policemen, knowing his relationship, also became more polite, "Mr. Qin, you can''t leave the police station now. Please cooperate with us."


    Qin Hao: "Okay, but I want to see my girlfriend; I''m worried she''s concerned."


    Qin Hao was escorted to the detectives'' office, and soon Feng Xiangyi and Du Wanrou arrived.


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    Upon seeing Qin Hao, Du Wanrou hurried over, "Qin Hao, are you okay?"


    Qin Hao lovingly stroked her hair, "What could possibly be wrong with me? Don''t worry."


    "Mr. Qin, you should first dress your wounds," said the policewoman, bringing over a first-aid kit.


    Upon hearing this, Du Wanrou had a shocked expression, "Qin Hao, are you injured? Where are you hurt?"


    "Ma''am, you may not know, but a group also went after Mr. Qin; he got some injuries during the fight."


    When Du Wanrou saw the startling wounds on Qin Hao''s back and the bruises on his legs, her tears couldn''t stop flowing.


    Feng Xiangyi glanced at Qin Hao, her nose tingling slightly.


    One could ask for no greater love in life.


    With tears, Du Wanrou applied medicine to his wounds and then wrapped his leg with gauze.


    By then, Xu Jiejian had arrived, accompanied by a middle-aged man.


    "Mr. Xu, Mr. Wang," the policemen nearby respectfully greeted them upon arrival.


    Feng Xiangyi turned her head curiously to look. She had seen these two men a few times, but only on the local TV station.


    Xu Jiejian walked quickly to Qin Hao''s side, "Xiao Hao, you''re alright?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "I''m fine, Mr. Xu."


    "This is outrageous, such a blatant disregard for the law," Xu Jiejian said with an ashen face.


    Seeing his expression, Wang Jiang quickly spoke up, "Mr. Xu, the investigation is clear. The mastermind is a person from Jianghai City known as ''Second Master''."


    Xu Jiejian: "Then what are we waiting for? Such criminal organizations must be thoroughly eradicated; they pose a serious threat to the safety of citizens and their property.


    Tomorrow I''ll discuss with Mr. Xie. It''s necessary to conduct another special police operation to crackdown on crime in Jianghai City."


    "Yes, Mr. Xu. I will immediately gather all the special police to carry out the arrest of Second Master and his associates."


    ...


    Elsewhere, Miao Jing took his team to the hospital.


    In the hospital room, Miao Jing and his group looked at Zhu Qiang on the bed.


    Zhu Qiang looked at them with eyes filled with terror, "Ghosts, there are ghosts. I didn''t kill them, it wasn''t me."

 Chapter 247 Doubts Abound

    Miao Jing asked the doctor beside her, "What happened here?"


    The attending physician replied, "The patient went into a coma after experiencing a considerable mental shock, or seeing something unbelievable.


    That''s why the nerves have become confused."


    Miao Jing looked at Zhu Qiang and called out, "Zhu Qiang!"


    Zhu Qiang''s body trembled, and he looked at Miao Jing.


    "What happened inside the abandoned factory?" Miao Jing asked.


    Zhu Qiang replied in horror, "There was a ghost, really a ghost. The chair floated up by itself, I didn''t kill anyone, it really wasn''t me."


    Miao Jing said, "Then who did?"


    "A ghost, it was a ghost. The ghost forced my hand to do it, I really didn''t kill them."


    ...


    Miao Jing''s brow furrowed slightly, and she asked a few more questions, but Zhu Qiang kept saying the same two sentences: There was a ghost, there was a ghost.


    After leaving the hospital room, Miao Jing received the autopsy report call which had been determined by the forensic expert.


    The wounds on the victim''s body were all caused by the knife in Zhu Qiang''s hand.


    Only Zhu Qiang''s fingerprints were found on the knife, none from anyone else.


    Miao Jing went back, but she always felt that the case was not that simple, with many suspicious points.


    The one with the most motive to kill, Qin Hao, hadn''t murdered anyone; instead, Zhu Qiang, who had no motive for murder at all, had killed those people.


    Ghosts and spirits?


    Miao Jing didn''t believe in these things at all, she thought there must be some unknown factors involved.


    Returning to the bureau was already past eight in the evening.


    Qin Hao and the others had not left; when Miao Jing came back, she saw Xu Jiejian there and greeted him with a smile, "Mr. Xu."


    Xu Jiejian nodded slightly, "Mr. Miao, is there anything else? If not, I will take Xiao Hao with me."


    Miao Jing thought for a moment and said, "That''s fine, we may need Mr. Qin and Miss Du to cooperate if any new clues emerge in the case."


    Qin Hao said, "Alright, Mr. Miao."


    The group walked out of the bureau, Xu Jiejian wanted to say something to Qin Hao but ultimately didn''t, and then he left.


    Qin Hao was also feeling a bit complicated, especially with Zhu Qiang being an unpredictable factor since he was still alive.


    If one day he mentally recovered and spoke about what had happened, the bureau might find new clues.


    In the morning, Feng Xiangyi got up early. By the time she had breakfast ready, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou had just gotten out of bed.


    "Xiao Hao, I just bought you a new toothbrush set. It''s in the bathroom," Feng Xiangyi said when she saw him coming out.


    Qin Hao: "Thanks, Auntie."


    After breakfast, Qin Hao said to Feng Xiangyi, "Auntie, why don''t you skip the company today and stay at home with Xiangyi."


    He was truly scared now, worried that Du Wanrou might be kidnapped again.


    Du Wanrou spoke up, "I''m fine. There aren''t that many bad people in the world. Don''t worry, Qin Hao."


    Feng Xiangyi knew that Qin Hao was suffering from a fear of this situation and could also objectively see Du Wanrou''s place in Qin Hao''s heart.


    "If you are really worried, let''s go buy a locator to put on Wan Rou''s phone later, so if anything happens to her, you can find out immediately." Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    A light dawned on Qin Hao''s face, but since it was somewhat an invasion of her privacy, he did not speak. Instead, he looked at Du Wanrou,


    Du Wanrou nodded with a smile, "That''s a good idea. Let''s go."


    Feng Xiangyi drove the two to the electronics market, where they bought two high-end locators and installed them on Du Wanrou''s phone.


    Qin Hao insisted on having the other one installed on his own phone.


    After doing all this, Qin Hao felt a bit more relieved.


    By the time they arrived at the university, it was nearly nine o''clock, and the stadium was quite crowded that day.


    Because today were all the finals, it could be said to be the most exciting day of the competition.


    Qin Hao arrived at the stadium and found He Tingting there as well.


    The only person from the Computer Science Class One to make it to the finals was Qin Hao.


    "Second Brother, you didn''t come home all night, what were you up to?" The chubby classmate asked with a smile.


    "Something came up," Qin Hao glanced at him.


    He Tingting also came over, "Qin Hao, right after the 100-meter final there''s going to be the 200-meter final. Do your best to win both championships."


    "I''ll do my best," Qin Hao chuckled dryly.


    Although his physique was exceptional and he had strong recovery abilities, his injuries had not fully healed yet.


    After He Tingting left, the chubby classmate whispered, "Second Brother, guess who I saw last night."


    Qin Hao asked in surprise, "You went peeping in the ladies'' room?"


    The chubby classmate, exasperated, said, "Would I do that, Second Brother? I''m talking about TT live streaming platform; you know the person."


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, "Who is it?"


    The chubby classmate said, "The belle of Jianghai University, Xia Qing from the Foreign Language College, your fellow townsman."

 Chapter 248 Pursuit

    Qin Hao looked startled, "Who are you talking about?"


    The fatty replied, "Xia Qing, didn''t you guys have dinner together on the second floor of the cafeteria before?"


    "You''re saying Xia Qing is livestreaming on the TT platform?"


    The fatty nodded, "Yes, I saw it with my own eyes last night, and today I plan to recruit her to our guild.


    If she signs with those big guilds, it will be dangerous."


    Qin Hao said curiously, "Why do you say that?"


    The fatty explained, "Brother, you don''t understand this livestreaming industry, it''s murky waters, not any less shady than the entertainment circle.


    For those big guilds'' new female streamers, if you''re a bit good-looking, you get targeted easily.


    Do you want to get ahead? Do you want the guild''s strong recommendation? If so, you have to curry favor with the president of those big guilds.


    And a lot of the second-rate or higher female streamers, nine out of ten have been with rich sponsors or guild executives.


    If Xia Qing signs with those big guilds and doesn''t get promoted, getting sidelined, you can imagine the outcome.


    Either leave the livestreaming world, or choose to submit."


    With an even tone, Qin Hao said, "Then you sign her, and if you can''t, there''s no need to keep your media company running."


    "Brother, do you have to be so ruthless?" the fatty looked at him, feeling wronged.


    Qin Hao, "I''m not joking with you, you must sign her."@@@@


    "Okay, brother," the fatty replied earnestly.


    "We are about to start the men''s 100-meter sprint finals, can all the athletes come to the field to prepare."


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao got up and walked outside.


    "Go Qin Hao," Ning Yao shouted.


    "Go Qin Hao," many classmates were also cheering for him.


    He Tingting followed him to the sports field, saying as they walked, "I''ll wait for you at the finish line, with your strength, first place shouldn''t be a problem."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and jogged to the starting line, testing his calf, not feeling any pain.


    At the starting line, a dozen people stood in their own lanes ready to start.


    "On your marks."


    "Bang"


    With the sound of the gunshot, everyone dashed out instantly.


    Qin Hao was not holding back at this moment, exploding with his fastest speed. He had added two agility points yesterday, so he was even faster than before.


    After thirty meters.


    Qin Hao was already four or five meters ahead of the second-place runner, and the distance was still increasing.


    All the athletes were giving it their all, the frequency of their leg movements extremely fast.


    "Qin Hao!"


    "Keep it up!"


    "Wang Kai!"


    "Keep it up!"


    ...


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "I want to make my country, Xuan Country, the number one superpower in the world.


    I want to use my efforts to improve the living standards of the entire nation.


    I want all the descendants of Yan Huang to take pride in Xuan Country."


    "Next up is the men''s 200 meters final. Athletes, please get ready on the track."


    Huh?


    He Tingting stood there, dazed, while Qin Hao was already heading toward the starting line.


    Watching Qin Hao''s figure, she felt she couldn''t quite understand him. Just what kind of person was he?


    Every single thing he mentioned was nearly impossible to achieve.


    It couldn''t be done by a single person; it would require the collective effort of the whole nation.


    Was he really planning to change all this by himself?


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    "On your marks"


    "Bang!"


    The men''s 200-meter dash started, and with the sound of the whistle, Qin Hao burst forward once more.


    Although his stamina had dropped after the 100-meter race, his robust physique kept him in the lead.


    Close behind him was Zhang Ming, who, this time, wasn''t trailing at the end but was using all his strength.


    The gap between the two wasn''t very large.


    At the 100-meter mark, Tian Liang started to speed up, closing the distance with Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao didn''t accelerate, maintaining his pace.


    The cheering from his class rang out again.


    Zhang Ming was closing in on Qin Hao rapidly, soon catching up and then overtaking him.


    Qin Hao didn''t panic; the 100-meter final just now had taken a lot of his energy, and there was also the injury on his lower leg.


    Although it was almost healed, it still had some impact on his performance.


    He was conserving his strength, waiting for the final burst.


    "It''s over, this time the champion must be Zhang Ming," someone in the stadium said.


    "After all, Qin Hao just ran the 100 meters, and without any rest, he went for the 200 meters. Even the World''s Fastest Man couldn''t do that, right?"


    "Look at those who just finished the 100 meters; they''ve collapsed in their seats, unable to get up."


    "Go Qin Hao!"


    "Go Qin Hao!"


    Initially, it was just his class cheering for him, but later, students from other classes also rooted for him.


    Not for anyone else, but because his spirit of hard work and struggle had touched everyone.


    With fifty meters left to the finish line, Luo Hao began to speed up, trailing six or seven meters behind Zhang Ming.


    Zhang Ming was also accelerating, very fast indeed.


    But the speed Qin Hao unleashed in an instant was even more terrifying, with the gap between them quickly shrinking.


    [Fifth release, vote and reward!]

 Chapter 249 Seven Minutes

    As they neared the finish line, Qin Hao overtook Zhang Ming.


    He was the first to dash past the finish line, followed by Zhang Liang running past it too.


    After stopping, Qin Hao sat on the ground, rubbing his calves. During the sudden acceleration, his calf injury had worsened.


    It was almost healed, but the intense exercise made it more severe.


    He Tingting quickly ran over and, seeing him, asked, "What''s wrong, are you okay?"


    "My leg injury has flared up again," Qin Hao said with a wry smile.


    "I''ll take you to the medical room," He Tingting hurriedly helped him up and walked him out of the stadium.


    Fatty, Chen Ping, and Xu Siyao, seeing this, showed worried expressions. "What happened to Second Brother?"


    Xu Siyao stood up and walked out, noticing that Qin Hao''s foot seemed injured.


    Together with He Tingting, the two supported Qin Hao out of the stadium. Many male students, seeing this, were filled with envy, wishing they were the injured Qin Hao.@@@@


    Inside the medical room.


    "It''s nothing serious, just apply some medicinal solution and it''ll be fine in a few days," the doctor said after checking.


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. He, Si Yao, I''m not seriously hurt, you can go back first."


    Xu Siyao spoke up, "Mr. He, you still have many things to attend to, I''ll stay here and take care of Qin Hao."


    "Hmm, that''s fine, call me if you need anything."


    "Alright, teacher."


    He Tingting left, being the class tutor, she had many duties to handle.


    "How did you injure your leg?" Xu Siyao curiously asked.


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh, "Got it from fighting with someone."


    Xu Siyao was somewhat speechless, "What? Who were you fighting with? You are grown up and still fighting."


    Qin Hao awkwardly smiled, not elaborating on the topic. "Let''s go for a walk outside."


    Xu Siyao asked, "Is your leg okay?"


    Qin Hao replied, "It''s fine, feels much better now."


    The two walked out of the medical room, chatting under the campus''s greenery.


    Xu Siyao asked with a smile, "Did you know that Chang Jing is coming to Jianghai City?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, that serene and elegant woman had left a deep impression on him.


    "Didn''t my dad tell you? Chang Jing is coming with her father to discuss new business with you."


    Qin Hao said, "I knew about Uncle Chang coming, by the way, how are Aunt Yang and Mr. Xu?"


    ...


    She suddenly turned her head towards someone nearby: "Were the brake marks from that van yesterday recorded?"


    "They were recorded."


    Miao Jing spoke sternly, "Immediately check all nearby surveillance footage for this van, and instruct the people at the city bureau to calculate the van''s speed before it braked for me."


    A few people looked at her, puzzled, "Why check the van?"


    Miao Jing ignored them and continued, "Check Qin Hao''s time of calling the police yesterday for me.


    See if the time he drove here matches the time he called the police."


    After speaking, she felt slightly agitated, sensing she was getting closer to the truth.


    Three o''clock in the afternoon.


    A data sheet was placed on Miao Jing''s desk.


    She opened it and saw, according to the nearest surveillance camera,


    The white van driven by Qin Hao passed this surveillance point at 6:03:47 PM.


    The speed was 127 km/h!


    Based on the brake marks in front of the abandoned factory, the speed of the white van was calculated to be 125 km/h.


    From that surveillance point to the factory''s entrance at this speed,


    Qin Hao would have arrived at the abandoned factory at approximately 6:11 PM.


    However, Qin Hao''s emergency call was made at 6:18:25 PM, leaving a seven-minute gap.


    What did he do during those seven minutes?


    Miao Jing was now fairly certain that the people inside the factory were killed by Qin Hao, but how he did it, Miao Jing was still unsure.


    Although she had found some clues, she still lacked strong evidence.


    ...


    Night at Jianghai University''s freshman dormitory.


    "Brother, come look, isn''t this Xia Qing?" the chubby one hurriedly called out to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao got up from the bed and walked over; the person on the fat guy''s computer was indeed Xia Qing.


    She was wearing a tight T-shirt, and the video only showed her upper body as she chatted with fans in the live stream.


    There were seventy to eighty people in the live room, almost all mesmerized by her looks.


    Her online name was Qingtian!


    The chubby guy sent her a private message: "Are you interested in signing with a guild?"


    [Sixth update, more updates after 8 PM tonight, votes and rewards requested. Today is the first day on the shelf, stats are crucial, almost half a year of free period is finally up, I won''t play the sympathy card, I''ve said too much before, please support as always, updates will speed up in the future.]

 Chapter 250 Its a Pity We Met Late

    Xia Qing saw his message and replied, "Who are you?"


    "I''m the president, OW, of Dream Guild. I started to follow you yesterday. Both your looks and talents are quite impressive.


    I think you have great potential on the live streaming platform, so I want to sign you," the fat man replied.


    Xia Qing was in her rented apartment now, with the background in the video being a backdrop she bought.


    When she saw the fat man''s reply, she hesitated for a moment: Dream Guild? She hadn''t heard of it.


    Before deciding to become a host, she had looked into the large and medium-sized guilds on the TT live streaming platform in detail.


    Her goal was clear, to sign with a large guild where she could enjoy the shade of a big tree, and if she caught their attention for promotion, her development was certain to be much better than in a small guild.


    Her family was struggling at home, with both parents out of work.


    She needed to earn money to support her family and repay debts; the three million given to her by Qin Hao, she would return it with her own efforts.


    "Many guilds have approached me, I am considering," Xia Qing replied to him.


    During her few days of live streaming, indeed, many scouts and guilds had come to her with offers, but she had not signed with any.


    Because these were all small guilds, not the medium to large-sized ones that she had in mind.


    Seeing her reply, the fat man''s heart sank a bit, sensing from her tone that she might already have a target in mind.


    "What should we do, Second Brother?" the fat man turned and asked Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao: "How should I know what to do? You''re in charge of this."


    After some thought, the fat man replied to Xia Qing: "Are you planning to sign with a large guild?"


    "Exactly, large guilds have strong financial backing, more recommendations, and more popular hosts. I think my prospects for development there would be better."


    The fat man: "You''ve just started with the TT live streaming platform, right? If you want to sign with a large guild, are you prepared to make sacrifices?"


    "What do you mean by that?" Xia Qing sent back a reply.


    The fat man spoke earnestly, "I''ve been around the TT live streaming platform for six or seven years, and I know very well how murky things are here.


    Large guilds have strong financial resources and lots of promotional opportunities, and there are many popular hosts, but they won''t give you these things for nothing.


    Have you heard of the host Milk Tea from Starlight Guild?"


    Xia Qing: "I have, a very popular female host on the TT live streaming platform."


    The fat man: "When she first signed with Starlight Guild, she was shelved for half a year.


    Do you know how she got popular later? She became the mistress of one of the senior executives in Starlight Guild and then got various promotional resources and opportunities to co-host with big names.


    Everything I''m telling you can be checked, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.


    Your beauty stands out. If you go to those large guilds, there''s a ninety-nine percent chance you''ll be preyed upon.


    Banners of gifts floated up in Xia Qing''s live streaming room in an instant:


    Dream Guild OW Little Fatty: Recruiting anchors, once sent Qingtian 1314 handshakes X1


    Dream Guild OW Little Fatty: Recruiting anchors, once sent Qingtian 1314 handshakes X2


    ...


    A set of 1314 handshakes equalled 131.4 yuan, and Fatty tipped a hundred sets, which made it 13,140 yuan.


    As he reached the 88th set, a broadcast banner appeared at the top of various live streaming rooms:


    Dream Guild OW Little Fatty: Recruiting anchors, lavishly sent Qingtian 1314 handshakes X88 sets, shocking the audience.


    Although this server-wide banner lasted only a brief two or three seconds, it drew quite a number of people, bringing several hundred viewers to Xia Qing.


    "Thank you for the tip, Little Fatty, thank you, really thank you."


    Xia Qing was excited as it was the first time she had received so many tips.


    Before Fatty tipped, the contribution leaderboard in her room only totalled three hundred yuan, all small amounts given by her followers.


    After thanking him in the live streaming room, she sent Fatty a private message: "Thank you."


    Fatty: "No need to be polite, whether you sign with our guild or not, I''ll bear no grudge, even if it''s just making a friend.


    I believe you have great potential and a limitless future. Just don''t forget me, alright? Really, if you make it big, look out for me."


    Xia Qing: "I''ll take your kind words, thank you."


    Visitors in the streaming room were also stunned: "Wow, the plane is taking off."


    "Boss is so generous, thanks for rewarding our Qingtian Goddess."


    "Is Qingtian Goddess going to sign with Dream Guild? This guild seems to have some strength by the looks of it."


    ...


    In the streaming room, Xia Qing began to speak, "I''ve been live streaming for several days, constantly adjusting my computer and equipment.


    Finally got everything tuned today, so I''ll sing a song for Little Fatty, brother, and all the fans in the streaming room."


    "Wow, the goddess can sing too? I want to listen."


    "How about 9277?"


    "I want to hear a lovely love song."


    Fatty, hearing Xia Qing calling him Little Fatty, brother, couldn''t help but giggle in front of his computer.


    "Smack"


    Qin Hao slapped him impatiently: "Laugh again and I''ll kill you."

 Chapter 251 Ruining the Equipment

    The chubby guy hurriedly hid his smile, showing a look of aggrievement.


    Was Big Brother getting jealous?


    Cough cough, he dared not ask that.


    Xia Qing''s face lit up with a smile, revealing two charming dimples, "A classic old song ''It''s a Pity We Met Late'' for everyone."


    The melody of the music began to play.


    Her expression turned serious and focused, her smile fading to reveal a touch of sadness and sorrow.


    She softly began to sing:


    You have a face that seems so new to me


    Only visible today


    A faint heartache between us


    Such a fleeting affair


    ...


    You said it''s a pity we met so late


    I said I wasn''t brave enough for love


    I don''t dream of forever


    Forever is too far away


    Yet trapped in the depths of love


    You said it''s a pity we met so late@@@@


    I said I wasn''t brave enough for love


    Moving back and forth between love and not love countless times


    Even though already covered in scars


    I don''t care


    ...


    Xia Qing sang very seriously and earnestly, tears swirling in her eyes before sliding down.


    The melancholic melody and heart-piercing song infected many in the live streaming room.


    Those who had just entered were planning to leave, as they initially thought Xia Qing was just a pretty face.


    But before they could exit the streaming room, they were captivated by her singing.


    Her voice was beautiful, and it touched the heart deeply, resonating with great emotional impact.


    Many people brushed gifts to show their support, although not much, but a few dollars from one person, ten from another, together amounted to a few hundred.


    "I think this is the best song I''ve heard, instant fan."


    "It sounds so good, goddess keep it up, I will always be with you."


    "I thought she was just an ornament, turns out she''s a powerhouse vocalist, totally fan-struck now."


    "She could easily thrive on her looks, yet she insists on showcasing her talent."


    "Why is Qingtian crying, has some jerk upset you? Tell me, I''ll take him down."


    Having said that, Qin Hao lay on the table and started to sleep, as he hadn''t slept well last night, dreaming several times of Xia Qing crying and singing.


    He Tingting had been lecturing for a while when she noticed Qin Hao asleep on the table.


    Although it was already a common occurrence, she still felt a bit annoyed.


    Don''t you see the other students staring at me and listening attentively?


    Even though their gazes sometimes wandered off, at least they weren''t sleeping.


    ...


    At the end of the class, just before it was over, He Tingting walked over to Qin Hao.


    With a cold expression, she woke Qin Hao: "Qin Hao, wake up."


    Groggily, Qin Hao opened his eyes and seeing He Tingting standing in front of him, he raised his head and asked, "What''s wrong, Mr. He?"


    "Come to my office." After speaking, He Tingting turned and walked out of the classroom.


    Qin Hao, puzzled, thought, Why is she asking me to her office? Is she going to scold me again?


    He followed He Tingting out of the teaching building and into her office.


    He Tingting turned to him and asked, "Qin Hao, are you interested in joining our school''s artificial intelligence research lab?"


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment: "Artificial intelligence research lab?"


    He Tingting nodded, "Jianghai University''s artificial intelligence research lab is very famous nationwide.


    Even some internet giants send teams here to learn and exchange ideas. I think you have a natural talent for programming.


    So, I wanted to invite you to join, knowing that the minimum requirement here is a PhD."


    This was the first Qin Hao heard of such a research lab in the school.


    Curiously, he asked, "What stage of artificial intelligence research has this lab reached?"


    "I knew you''d ask. Come take a look." He Tingting sat in her chair and turned on the computer.


    Qin Hao leaned in to see; she had opened a video.


    The video showed a science lab similar to those in movies, where people in white lab coats were working with various precise instruments.


    Inside, there were small unmanned flying machines, steel-bodied spiders crawling, and human-sized robots moving mechanically...


    After the video ended, He Tingting turned to him and asked, "What do you think? Isn''t this your first time seeing such a high-tech lab?


    You have a real talent for smart programming, are you interested in joining our lab?"


    Qin Hao shook his head; these people were still at the preliminary stages, while he had fully mastered the development technology.


    Joining this lab would be of no help to him at all.


    Seeing his reaction, He Tingting asked, perplexed, "What does your head shake mean?"


    Qin Hao: "It''s a pity for those precision instruments."


    "What do you mean?" He Tingting''s eyes filled with a murderous look as she stared at him.


    "I mean no offense, just that they seem to be squandering those instruments."


    ...


    Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire


    [Eighth update, seeking recommendation and monthly tickets!]

 Chapter 252 Luo Ze

    No other meaning?


    Just that they are wasting the equipment?


    Your grandpa, how is that no other meaning?


    He Tingting''s face flushed with embarrassment, "What do you mean? You look down on these people? Do you know how much they have contributed?


    Do you know how much of their precious time they have sacrificed?"


    She became more agitated as she spoke, her breathing grew heavy and her chest heaved.


    Qin Hao, because he was standing next to her, looked down and could not help but notice the heaving peaks.


    Although he didn''t see much, he still felt a bit embarrassed, his cheeks flushed red, and he stepped back two steps.


    He started to explain, "Mr He, I didn''t mean that."


    He Tingting: "Then what do you mean? Are you praising us? Don''t think you can look down on others just because you have a bit of talent."


    Qin Hao gave an embarrassed smile, "Mr He, I really didn''t mean that."


    He Tingting''s tone softened a bit: "Qin Hao, you are very young and talented.


    If you join our artificial intelligence research lab, it would be a great help to you.


    Similarly, your intelligent program would be of great help to the lab''s research."


    Qin Hao asked, "Mr He, I have already raised enough capital and plan to open an artificial intelligence robot manufacturing plant.


    I wonder if you and those senior professors in the lab would be interested in joining?"


    "An artificial intelligence robot manufacturing plant? How large is it going to be?" He Tingting''s expression froze for a moment.


    Qin Hao: "I''ve gathered around ten billion in funds. I want to build an artificial intelligence robot that is completely independently produced by Xuan Country.


    Including the intelligent chips, circuits, intelligent sensors, alloys and so on."


    He Tingting looked at him in surprise: "Ten billion? Are you sure you''re not joking? Isn''t your company selling roast duck?" Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao explained, "Mr He, I''m not joking, I have the research and development technology."


    He Tingting: "You''re saying you have the research technology for intelligent chips?"@@@@


    Qin Hao nodded, "Exactly, to reach what people refer to as artificial intelligence, intelligent chips are indispensable.


    If you can''t even research intelligent chips, then no matter what, you can''t achieve real artificial intelligence.


    If you''re willing to join my company, once the contract is signed, I can show you what real artificial intelligence is, and if you want to learn, that''s also no problem."


    He Tingting eyed him up and down: "Your reasons still can''t convince me or those people."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and nodded: "Fine, but you can''t do anything excessive to me."


    "Get lost, go drop dead¡ªdo you think this Miss would take advantage of you?" He Tingting lashed out with a kick.


    Together, they left the office building and headed to the parking lot behind it.


    After getting into Qin Hao''s Lamborghini, He Tingting looked around curiously: "Nice car."


    Qin Hao: "Mr. He, what should I say when we run into him later?"


    He Tingting: "Haven''t you ever chased a girl before? Do I really need to teach you that?"


    Qin Hao nodded thoughtfully as if he understood, then started the car and drove out of the parking lot.


    Upon arriving at the front entrance, a man in a suit was standing beside a Mercedes SUV, peering inside.


    He Tingting said: "That''s him, his name is Luo Ze. He was my college classmate, comes from a wealthy family, and is currently a senior manager at a foreign-owned company."


    Qin Hao drove over, and Luo Ze looked at the Lamborghini coupe.


    The car window rolled down, Luo Ze saw Qin Hao and He Tingting inside, and his expression changed slightly.


    Qin Hao also gauged him: "You must be Luo Ze, right?"


    Luo Ze, a handsome man, was even more distinguished in his branded suit.


    Luo Ze squinted at Qin Hao, a flicker of sharpness passing quickly: "That''s right. And who might you be?"


    Qin Hao: "It doesn''t matter who I am. From now on, do well to keep away from Tingting. Got it?"


    In truth, Qin Hao didn''t quite know what to say, but he remembered that''s how others used to talk in the past.


    Luo Ze''s face revealed a sardonic smile: "I haven''t been back to Jianghai City for years, and now someone dares to talk to me like this. Kid, you''re the first."


    Qin Hao just laughed: "You think I''m easily scared? Right now, I''m taking Tingting to lunch. Goodbye."


    He rolled up the car window and floored the gas pedal, and the car shot forward by dozens of meters in an instant.


    Luo Ze watched and followed suit in his car.


    "Mr. He, how did I do with my acting just now?" Qin Hao inquired.


    He Tingting: "Barely passable."


    Qin Hao looked in the rearview mirror and said: "He''s following us, where should we go?"


    He Tingting, feeling annoyed at being tailed, responded: "Annoying as a lingering spirit. Let''s find a restaurant for lunch, then."


    Jinxiu Hotel


    Qin Hao and He Tingting stepped out of the car, and then saw Luo Ze also driving in.


    Feeling irritated, He Tingting hooked her arms around Qin Hao''s and walked towards the hotel.

 Chapter 253 Human Shield [Thanks to Overlord Wolf Brother]

    "Teacher, didn''t we agree not to do anything extreme?" Qin Hao was a bit embarrassed, his cheeks flushed slightly.


    He Tingting found his shy expression amusing, "Who would have thought he''d be so persistent? Sorry for the inconvenience."


    Luo Ze, witnessing the scene, suddenly felt a surge of rage.


    With a grim face, he took out his phone and made a call, "Some of you come here, I need help teaching someone a lesson, at Jinxiu Hotel in Bailing District."


    After hanging up, he walked into the hotel.


    Qin Hao and He Tingting went up to the second floor and found a seat to sit down.


    "Hello, sir, ma''am, what would you like to order?" The waitress handed them the menu.


    Qin Hao ordered four dishes, then handed the menu to He Tingting, "Uh... Tingting, what would you like to eat?"


    He Tingting didn''t order more, "Four dishes are enough."


    Luo Ze also came up soon after and took a seat next to them.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless. Why was this guy sticking around like a plaster? It was getting endless.


    Knowing full well that she had a boyfriend, yet shamelessly clinging on, he was asking for a beating.


    The food arrived quickly, and He Tingting picked up her chopsticks to serve Qin Hao some dishes, "Eat this, it''s good for your health."


    "And this, it''s good for the kidneys."


    ...


    Luo Ze, listening from the side, clenched his teeth so hard they made a grating sound, wishing he could kill Qin Hao.


    Just as the two had started eating, five people entered the hall, glanced around, and then headed towards Luo Ze.


    Qin Hao saw them as well. No wonder he had been sitting here, he was waiting for his backup.


    From their attire and demeanor, these five men were not mere thugs but rich second generation kids.


    "Mr. Luo, who''s the kid that''s crossed you?" The five men approached Luo Ze and asked with a smile.


    Luo Ze didn''t speak but looked towards Qin Hao.


    The group turned their gaze to Qin Hao, their faces revealing malicious smiles.


    He Tingting furrowed her brows, "Luo Ze, what are you guys doing?"


    Luo Ze''s face showed a scornful smile, "Seems like the guy at your side is pretty bold. He''s not from Jianghai, huh?"


    Qin Hao, "So what if I''m not a local?"


    Luo Ze, pointing at him, said, "Jianghai isn''t a place where you can act tough just because you''re wealthy.


    Everyone quickly made way and started calling out, "Mr. Li, Mr. Li."


    Seeing Li Jianjun, a look of relief appeared on Luo Ze''s face as he hurriedly called out, "Jianjun."


    Li Jianjun was taken aback when he saw Luo Ze, "Luo Ze, what are you doing here?"


    Luo Ze pointed at Qin Hao and said, "It''s this guy, he''s too damn arrogant, even wanted to hit me right here."


    Li Jianjun looked up, "Qin Hao? He Tingting?"


    Qin Hao chuckled, "Mr. Li, long time no see."


    He Tingting also recognized Li Jianjun and nodded with a smile.


    Luo Ze knew that He Tingting knew Li Jianjun, but he hadn''t expected that Li Jianjun would also know Qin Hao.


    Li Jianjun took one look and understood why they were fighting.


    He laughed dryly, "Let''s all give me some face, and let''s forget about this incident today."


    Luo Ze said, "Jianjun, for your sake, I''ll let this go for now."


    Qin Hao chuckled, "Brother Luo Ze, no wonder Tingting doesn''t fancy you, you really are a bit too shameless."


    Since Li Jianjun was there, Luo Ze wasn''t as afraid, "Don''t push me too far, Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao said, "Harassing my girlfriend and hiring people to teach me a lesson, if Mr. Li wasn''t here today, I''d break your legs."


    Upon hearing this, Li Jianjun''s eyes widened as he looked toward He Tingting, girlfriend?


    He Tingting put on a forced smile, wanting to explain but couldn''t, thinking she was completely ruined by this scoundrel now.


    What would happen if her dad found out?


    "Let''s leave it, Qin Hao, let''s go," He Tingting said hurriedly, pulling his hand to leave.


    She couldn''t let Qin Hao keep talking; if her father heard about this, she couldn''t imagine the consequences.


    After Qin Hao and He Tingting left, Luo Ze''s face was awful, "Jianjun, I''ll be going now."


    Li Jianjun nodded, "Mm-hmm, alright."


    Once everyone had left, Li Jianjun quickly took out his phone and called his father, Li Xutian, "Dad, Mr. He''s daughter, He Tingting and Qin Hao are dating. Does Mr. He know about this?"


    Li Xutian, "You''re saying Tingting and Qin Hao are dating? How is that possible? Tingting is his teacher and she really dislikes him."


    Originally, Li Xutian had gotten information about Qin Hao from He Tingting, and at that time, he could tell that He Tingting was very averse to Qin Hao.


    "Really, dad, I saw it with my own eyes. They were eating at our hotel this noon,


    and He Tingting even took the initiative to pull his hand and leave," Li Jianjun stated with certainty.


    Li Xutian: "Then I''ll ask Mr. He."

 Chapter 254 Wu Roasted Duck

    Li Xutian hung up the phone and immediately called He Qizhi.


    "He, what are you busy with?"


    He Qizhi: "Just keeping busy, but not as busy as you, boss."


    Li Xutian tentatively asked, "So, Tingting is seeing someone, is she?"


    At this question, He Qizhi sighed, "If only this child were seeing someone, that would be great.


    Just the other day, the Luo family''s kid came back, and I arranged for them to meet, but Tingting didn''t go."


    Li Xutian: "Today, Jianjun saw Tingting dining at Jinxiu Hotel with a guy, holding hands and looking very intimate."


    "Really? Is Tingting seeing someone?" He Qizhi was somewhat incredulous.


    Li Xutian: "He, do you think I would lie to you? Jianjun saw it with his own eyes, and they even admitted themselves that they are in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship."


    He Qizhi was somewhat happy because he was always concerned about his daughter''s lifelong matters.@@@@


    He didn''t care whether the other party was from a wealthy family, as long as the two truly loved each other.


    He said with a smile, "Why didn''t Tingting tell me about this? I''m definitely not as conservative as some people. By the way, what''s the guy like?"


    Knowing he was being mocked, Li Xutian said with a laugh, "The guy is pretty good. You might have heard his name, his name is Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao?


    "Pfft"


    Just as He Qizhi was happily sipping his tea, he spat it out immediately: "What did you say? What''s his name?"


    Li Xutian chuckled and said, "He, you heard right, his name is Qin Hao, your student, and also Tingting''s."


    He Qizhi was furious: "Preposterous, absolutely preposterous, I could never agree to this."


    Just moments ago, he was happy to hear his daughter was seeing someone, but now he couldn''t feel happy at all.


    Li Xutian: "He, please don''t say I told you this, or else Tingting will blame me again."


    ...


    Jinxiu Hotel parking lot


    As the two got into the car, Tingting said irritably, "Who told you to call me your girlfriend?"


    Qin Hao: "Teacher, how can you flip faster than flipping a book? Wasn''t it you who asked me for help?


    I get it now, teacher, you''re just using me till the job''s done, then casting me aside."


    Tingting was distressed: "I don''t even know how to say it to you."


    This would not only bring significant profits but also greatly impact real life, driving societal progress.


    In the end, Qin Hao agreed, "Okay, Teacher, that''s settled then."


    He Tingting nodded: "Then please drop me back, I still have to go to the laboratory this afternoon."


    He had just driven to the school gate when he received a call from Feng Xiangyi.


    "Mr. Qin, please come to the company, there''s something going on."


    Qin Hao: "Alright, I''m aware."


    After hanging up, he told He Tingting, "Teacher, there''s something at the company, I have to go."


    "Okay, then you go ahead, I can go in by myself." After saying this, He Tingting got out of the car and walked into the school.


    Qin Hao drove towards Dingfeng Building, and arrived at the company half an hour later.


    "Mr. Qin." The two receptionists at the entrance greeted him with a smile.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and walked in; Nie Si was already waiting inside for him.


    Seeing him come in, she quickly stood up and walked over: "Mr. Qin, there are some people from Wu Roasted Duck Group in the guest room."


    Qin Hao knew about Wu Roasted Duck Group, a company specializing in duck roasting with a franchising business model.


    Wu Roasted Duck franchises were spread across the country and were beloved by the masses for their affordable prices.


    Their influence in Jianghai was not to be underestimated.


    Qin Hao entered the guest room, where Feng Xiangyi and a few executives were conversing with people from Wu Roasted Duck Group.


    Seeing Qin Hao enter, Feng Xiangyi stood up and said, "Mr. Qin."


    There were five people from Wu Roasted Duck Group, both men and women, who also stood up.


    The group''s leader, Wu Fuwei, smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, I''ve heard much about you. I am Wu Fuwei, the vice president of Wu Roasted Duck."


    "Hello, Mr. Wu, please have a seat," Qin Hao said as they shook hands.


    Once both parties were seated, Wu Fuwei smiled and said, "We came to your esteemed company today to discuss a possible acquisition with Mr. Qin.


    We believe Jiangshan Roasted Duck, in terms of flavor, appearance, and taste, is very unique and has great development potential.


    We plan to invest one hundred and fifty million to acquire Mr. Qin''s Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company."


    One hundred and fifty million?


    Qin Hao smiled: "Mr. Wu, do you know how many direct stores my Jiangshan Roasted Duck currently has?


    Over fifty, and each month this number grows at a crazy pace. One hundred and fifty million to acquire it? Mr. Wu, it seems you''re still dreaming."

 Chapter 255 Vigilance

    Wu Fuwei did not seem the least bit angry, still smiling as he said, "Mr. Qin, you''ve only started Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company a few months ago, and $150 million is not a small amount."


    A hint of annoyance flashed across Qin Hao''s face. Clearly, Wu Fuwei was not here to sincerely buy out his company.


    The current market value of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was at least over $500 million.


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Wu, I have no intention of selling the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company. I believe it can go much farther."


    Wu Fuwei smiled as he spoke, "Mr. Qin, you should really think it over, otherwise in a few days, Jiangshan Roasted Duck won''t be worth that much."


    The threat in his tone was very clear.


    Qin Hao''s face turned cold. "Show the guests out."


    Feng Xiangyi and Nie Si, expressionless, stood up and said, "Mr. Wu, please." Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    With his people, Wu Fuwei left, and in the reception room, Qin Hao asked, "How has our roast duck store been performing these past few days?"


    Feng Xiangyi said, "Right now, our daily turnover stays around $100,000, but Mr. Qin, I think there''s something not quite right."


    "What is it?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "There are shops around our roast duck store that are being renovated, and I had someone inquire about them. They belong to Wu Roasted Duck."


    Qin Hao sneered, "So he''s giving me a show of politeness followed by a threat. He doesn''t see what he''s up against."


    Feng Xiangyi said softly, "Mr. Qin, we can''t ignore this. We have to prepare countermeasures.


    Although Wu Roasted Duck''s taste is far from ours, the Wu Group has connections and influence in Jianghai''s roast duck industry.


    The market here is already saturated. Our expansion and development of Jiangshan Roasted Duck here are like cutting into their flesh.


    Mr. Qin, do you think they would just sit back and watch you take their profits?"


    She thought far ahead and spoke very clearly; developing Jiangshan Roasted Duck in Jianghai City wouldn''t be easy.


    Jiangshan, being a third-tier city without strong competitors, expanded rapidly.


    But Jianghai is different from Jiangshan; it has various roast duck companies.


    From large nationwide franchises to small, simple roast duck workshops.


    The market share here has already been cleanly divided among various roast duck businesses.@@@@


    Now Jiangshan Roasted Duck entering is like a hungry wolf, directly seizing many others'' interests.


    If those people are not fools, they can certainly see how great a threat Jiangshan Roasted Duck poses.


    That''s just the basic prerequisite. What''s most important is the company''s operation."


    Back in his office, Qin Hao sat in his office chai, frowning and contemplating something.


    Nie Si poured him a cup of tea, then sat there processing documents.


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao took out his phone, intending to make a call. He glanced at Nie Si, then got up and walked out of the office.


    He went outside the company and called Li Moying on his cell phone.


    Calling Li Moying was a decision he had pondered over repeatedly. He had also considered Xu Siyao,


    but his medicinal materials came from Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group. If Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical was to acquire duck farms, it would be too conspicuous.


    Those people probably also knew about his relationship with Xu Jiekang, so Xu Jiekang''s side was not very safe either.


    However, not many people knew about his relationship with Li Moying.


    The call connected quickly, and Li Moying laughed, "Master, are you calling me because there''s something you need?"


    Qin Hao, somewhat embarrassed, "Indeed, there''s a matter for which I need your help."


    Li Moying, "Say no more, I''ll definitely help you if it''s something I can handle."


    Qin Hao, "Where are you now? Is it convenient to talk?"


    Li Moying, "I''m at home sleeping, go ahead, Master."


    Qin Hao, "I want to acquire a few duck farms but I can''t show up publicly, so I need you to handle the acquisitions."


    "Acquire duck farms? Sure, Master, how many do you want to acquire?" Li Moying was astute and understood his deeper implications.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "However many you can handle, I''m not worried about being unable to manage them, just worried that you might not be able to negotiate successfully."


    Li Moying snorted, "Master, are you looking down on me? If I manage to negotiate successfully for you, what should you owe me?"


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "I don''t know, you tell me what you want me to do, as long as I can do it."


    Li Moying, "I can''t think of anything right now, I''ll tell you when I do. Just make sure you don''t forget."


    Qin Hao smiled, "Mmm, I won''t forget."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao breathed a sigh of relief. With Li Moying stepping in, this matter should be doable.


    But he couldn''t place all his hopes solely on Li Moying.


    Back inside the company, he called Kangyou Yee at the headquarters, asking him to expand the scale of the duck farms,


    Jiangshan was their stronghold. If Li Moying''s efforts were to fail, Qin Hao could still rely on their main base there, although it would incur higher transportation costs.

 Chapter 256 Supervisor Lv Rong

    In the afternoon, Qin Hao stayed in the company, pondering the future development of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    After Nie Si finished processing some documents, she had nothing else to do.


    She sat in front of the computer and occasionally turned her head to look at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao noticed her several times and couldn''t help but ask, "What''s the matter, Nie Si?"


    Nie Si''s cheeks turned slightly red, and she felt somewhat embarrassed.


    She spoke up, "Mr. Qin, I have a suggestion, but I''m not sure if I should voice it."


    Qin Hao smiled, "You''re part of the company. Just speak up if you have a suggestion; there''s no need to hesitate. If it''s good, you''ll be rewarded."@@@@


    Nie Si said, "Mr. Qin, what do you think about building a large-scale duck farm here?"


    After she spoke, she took out a map of Xuan Country and pointed at the border between Nan''e Province and Nanxiang Province.


    This place was almost at the center of the south, radiating in all directions.


    If a large-scale duck farm were constructed here, it could completely cover more than ten southern provinces and hundreds of cities.


    "Which city is this?" Qin Hao asked as she pointed to the location.


    "Yangyue City, under the jurisdiction of Nanxiang Province, but near the border of the two provinces, close to the Jiutian River; both road and water transportation are very convenient,"


    Qin Hao looked at her with some surprise, "Nie Si, today you''ve truly surprised me. Your bonus for this month will be doubled."


    Nie Si''s face lit up with joy; her bonus for a month was over two thousand, and doubled, that would be four to five thousand.


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin."


    Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao said, "No need for thanks. Going forward, we''ll add this to the company''s policy: whoever puts forth suggestions beneficial to the company''s development will receive varying rewards based on their contribution."


    Nie Si nodded, "Understood, Mr. Qin!"


    Before the troops move, the provisions must be prepared.


    This not only applies to the battlefield but also to the marketplace.


    Although investing in a large-scale duck farm would consume a significant amount of funds, it would all be worth it.


    Sooner or later, Jiangshan Roasted Duck would enter these southern provinces. Preparing a large-scale duck farm now would be perfect!


    At the very least, they wouldn''t have to worry about others joining forces to blockade them in the future.


    Moreover, having their own duck farm would also maximize company profits.


    Qin Hao asked, "Who is familiar with this place?"


    If the cooked duck industry does not innovate in flavors, then the market will continue to shrink, and market contraction will directly affect the duck farms.


    In the first half of this year, a good number of duck farms have closed down in Nan''e Province and Nanxiang Province.


    I''ve had friends and relatives inquire, and there are several duck farms in Yangyue City planning to sell, because the industry is not that easy to work in anymore.


    As long as the price is reasonable, I am eighty percent certain that we can successfully acquire those duck farms."


    From her analysis and understanding of the entire market, Qin Hao could see that she had put a great deal of effort into it.


    Moreover, her vision was far-sighted, and her strategy was equally far-reaching; she truly was a rare talent.


    Qin Hao felt somewhat pleased and, with a smile, asked, "Mr. Lv, what industry were you involved in previously?"


    Lv Rong said, "I used to be in product promotion, just at a very ordinary company with no prospects for development.


    Coming to our company was also on my own initiative, as I saw great prospects for development here. With proper management, the future is boundless."


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Lv, I will leave the acquisition of the duck farms in Yangyue City to you. Strive to acquire them all.


    Once completed, come back and I''ll promote you to deputy director of the company''s marketing department."


    Lv Rong''s heart raced, excited, yet she kept a calm demeanor and nodded, "Mr. Qin, I will do my utmost."


    There was no director position at the Jianghai branch; the highest position was the manager held by Song Zhu.


    The deputy director position that Qin Hao mentioned was for the entire company''s marketing department.


    It was past five in the afternoon.


    Feng Xiangyi walked into his office, "Mr. Qin, it''s time to leave."


    Only then did Qin Hao react; the two left the office together and headed to the underground parking lot.


    "Auntie, please ride with me. Let''s go find Wan Rou first."


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "All right."


    Qin Hao drove towards the Jianghai University East Campus in Bailing District.


    As they neared the university, he made a call to Du Wanrou.


    Both waited at the school gate for a while before seeing Du Wanrou drive out in her red Ferrari.


    The three of them, in two cars, drove towards the seaside. The scenery there was beautiful and although they had been there once before, they hadn''t fully enjoyed themselves.


    After over half an hour, they arrived at the Haoting Sea View Villa District and parked their cars in the yard.


    With a smile, Du Wanrou suggested, "Let''s go play by the sea, and catch some seafood tonight."


    "Wan Rou, whose house is this?" Feng Xiangyi asked, looking at the luxurious sea view villa in front of her.

 Chapter 257 Sudden Interrogation

    Du Wanrou: "Auntie, this is what Qin Hao bought a few days ago."


    Feng Xiangyi said with some surprise, "How much did this cost?"


    Qin Hao replied, "All in, over sixty million."


    Feng Xiangyi gasped, over sixty million, where did Qin Hao get so much money?


    The revenues of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company were all reinvested in development, and Qin Hao hadn''t received a penny from it.


    So where did this money come from?


    Could it be that he had other companies? Or some other way to make money, otherwise where would he get so much money?


    Feng Xiangyi didn''t ask; after all, it wasn''t her place to pry into such private matters.


    The three of them went to the seaside.


    They had a blast catching crabs, digging for clams, and fishing.


    Qin Hao held a plastic bucket, filled with the spoils of war gathered by Du Wanrou and Feng Xiangyi.


    "Haha, Qin Hao come quickly, I caught a big one!" Du Wanrou called from not far away, her face beaming with joy.


    Qin Hao hurried over and saw Du Wanrou holding a crab the size of a palm.


    "Be careful not to let it clamp you with its big pincers."


    Du Wanrou chuckled, "No problem, I know where to grab it, we can have a feast tonight."@@@@


    After about two hours of fun, the women caught plenty of crabs, clams, and fish and were very happy. Even with their skirts soaked on the way back, it did not dampen their spirits one bit.


    Back at the villa, Du Wanrou gave Feng Xiangyi a set of her own clothes to change into.


    Qin Hao went into the kitchen to clean the crab, clams, and fish.


    Although he had never done this before, it did not stop him from learning online.


    How to cook various dishes, what to pay attention to, and what seasoning to use¡ªall were clearly described on the internet.


    By now, they had bought everything needed for living in the villa.


    Feng Xiangyi and Du Wanrou, having changed their clothes, came in to help.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "You two just go watch TV in the living room, I got this."


    Yet she was disappointed, for Qin Hao''s face revealed nothing, adorned instead with a faint smile.


    "Take these two to the interrogation room," Miao Jing instructed someone by her side. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou were led to the interrogation room¡ªand they were put in the same one.


    Feng Xiangyi asked, puzzled, "Officer Miao, what does this mean? Weren''t the statements completed?"


    Miao Jing spoke indifferently, "Mr. Feng, there''s been a new finding in the case. Qin Hao is highly likely the murderer who killed Wang Jun and his nine men."


    Feng Xiangyi coldly retorted, "Qin Hao killed Wang Jun''s nine men? Officer Miao, you should have evidence before you speak, or don''t blame us for suing you for defamation.


    Our company''s legal department will be here shortly."


    Miao Jing ignored her and entered the interrogation room.


    Miao Jing had been collecting evidence these past few days but had found nothing conclusive.


    So she decided to take a risk, as time was running short.


    The nine-man homicide case had reached the city leadership''s ears, and an expedient resolution was demanded¡ªthe deadline had already been set.


    Miao Jing had no choice but to make a move today.


    Inside the interrogation room.


    Miao Jing looked at Qin Hao and said, "Qin Hao, you murdered Wang Jun and his nine men and framed Zhu Qiang. Do you plead guilty?"


    Du Wanrou''s face stiffened in shock. "Officer Miao, are you mistaken? I saw with my own eyes another man killing Wang Jun."


    Qin Hao chuckled. "Officer Miao, you haven''t rested in days and seem somewhat delusional.


    You should rest now, rather than talking nonsense here."


    Miao Jing sneered, "I''m talking nonsense? Why then does Wang Jun have over a dozen fatal knife wounds.


    While the others have only one?


    Qin Hao tensed inwardly but responded coolly, "You should be asking the murderer that, not me, Officer Miao."


    Miao Jing pressed on, "Because you witnessed Wang Jun trying to assault your girlfriend.


    You killed him in a fit of anger. How else can you explain the numerous fatal stabs? One was enough to kill; why stab him over a dozen times?


    This indicates profound hatred between the two, and upon investigation, Zhu Qiang had no quarrel with Wang Jun."


    [Two more chapters tonight.]

 Chapter 258 Joint Blockade

    Qin Hao still had that calm expression, "Officer Miao, your imagination is splendid, it''s a waste you don''t write detective novels."


    Miao Jing glanced at Qin Hao and then turned to Du Wanrou, "If I''m not mistaken, Miss Du''s statement is also fabricated, isn''t it?


    The purpose is to exonerate Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao laughed, "Officer Miao, why don''t you take a break?"


    Du Wanrou also felt somewhat speechless, "Officer Miao, I can swear that my statement does not contain a single lie."


    Miao Jing, "Miss Du, if Zhu Qiang is the murderer, why did everyone else die, and you did not?


    You claimed in your statement that you had your eyes closed afterwards. I think this is an excuse to absolve Qin Hao."


    She had read Du Wanrou''s statement many times, looking for loopholes in it.


    Miao Jing believed that Du Wanrou likely knew the true culprit was Qin Hao, hence she made such a statement.


    All the talking about chairs flying on their own and ghosts were just to divert and dilute the police''s attention.


    Du Wanrou felt Miao Jing was being unreasonable, "Officer Miao, I''m a victim, not a suspect. Please mind your language."


    Qin Hao, "Officer Miao, is there anything else you want to ask? If not, we''ll be leaving."


    Miao Jing, "There''s one thing I need Mr. Qin to explain."


    "Please speak, Officer Miao."


    Miao Jing, "On the day of the incident at 6:03 PM, you were driving the van appearing at the closest surveillance point to the abandoned factory, then traveling at a speed of 127 km per hour.


    Our experts have calculated the brake marks at the abandoned factory, and the speed was roughly 125 km per hour at that time.


    Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    You traveled more than thirty miles on that route, and based on this speed, you would have arrived at the abandoned factory by 6:11 PM.


    However, you reported the case at 6:18 PM, leaving a seven-minute gap.


    Wang Jun was the first to die, and the last one to die was the person in the van, with a time span of not more than six minutes between the deaths.


    This was enough time for you to kill these people and then call the police, am I right, Mr. Qin?"


    Without waiting for Qin Hao''s response, Miao Jing continued, "The numerous fatal stab wounds on Wang Jun, Du Wanrou''s survival, a seven-minute gap. Mr. Qin, can you explain this to me?"


    Qin Hao, "Officer Miao, I think you are a bit obsessed. We live in a society governed by law, where evidence is crucial, and even judges rely solely on evidence."


    "Although I don''t have the evidence now, I will definitely find it in the future," Miao Jing said earnestly.


    Qin Hao, "Officer Miao, feel free to investigate. I, Qin Hao, am not afraid of any investigation for things I haven''t done."


    Just then, Wang Jiang walked in. Seeing the situation inside, he frowned, "Mr. Miao, what is going on here?"


    There were about seven or eight people in the room, other than Li Jianjun and Luo Ze, he didn''t recognize the others.


    Li Jianjun pulled Qin Hao to sit on the sofa, then addressed the others around him, "This is Qin Hao, Mr. Qin from Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company."


    "Hello, Mr. Qin."


    Several people greeted him in turn; having such a good relationship with Li Jianjun, their statuses were obviously not simple.


    These were the sons of some big corporation bosses or descendants of high-ranking officials, all of distinguished statuses.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, acknowledging them.


    Li Jianjun looked towards Luo Ze, whom he learned about Qin Hao''s background from later on.


    The Xu family, he was not someone they could afford to offend.


    Luo Ze picked up a bottle of wine and said, "Mr. Qin, there seems to have been a misunderstanding between us, and I''d like to take this opportunity to apologize."


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, "Just stop bothering Tingting in the future, I''m not one to hold grudges."


    Luo Ze''s expression stiffened, but he still nodded: "You''re right, Mr. Qin, I''ll drink to that first."


    After saying that, he drank the wine down.


    Qin Hao: "I accept Mr. Luo''s apology. If there''s nothing else, I''ll be leaving first."


    Li Jianjun was taken aback: "Qin, you just got here and leaving so soon doesn''t give me much face."


    Qin Hao explained: "I don''t really like places like this. You guys have fun, I''m heading out."


    After saying that, he turned and walked out of the room; Li Jianjun, seeing this, quickly said to everyone in the room, "You guys enjoy yourselves."


    As soon as Qin Hao left, Li Jianjun followed him: "Qin, I''m not very fond of these places either. Let''s go somewhere quiet."


    Qin Hao turned and looked at him: "Mr. Li must have something he wants to say."


    Li Jianjun laughed dryly: "Qin, your company is facing a difficult situation.


    Companies in the Jianghai cooked duck industry have been secretly united with the sole purpose of driving your company out of Jianghai City."


    Qin Hao turned to him: "You''re talking about the Tang Group, aren''t you?"


    "You know?" Li Jianjun''s eyes widened.


    Qin Hao: "The Tang Group is involved in various industries and has many subsidiaries in the food and catering sector.


    The cooked duck industry''s Delicious Duck Neck Group is the leading company in Jianghai, and the only one capable of integrating the entire Jianghai cooked duck industry is the Tang Group."


    Li Jianjun: "Today, they have already blocked your channels for buying ducks, and it''s very difficult for you to get live ducks in Jianghai now."


    Qin Hao''s eyes narrowed slightly, Li Jianjun had no reason to lie to him. Were these people moving so fast?

 Chapter 259 News of Xu Jiekang

    Li Jianjun said these things, and Qin Hao could probably guess what he was thinking.


    He said with a smile, "Mr. Li wants to invest in Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company?"


    Li Jianjun, "Exactly. According to a ten-billion valuation, I will pay every penny, I''ll invest two billion for twenty percent of the shares.


    Moreover, I will also help Brother Qin''s company through its difficult times."


    The price he offered was pretty fair, and he didn''t mean to take advantage of the situation.


    Li Jianjun had never seen a company that could provoke an entire industry to resist.


    From a side, it also reflected the endless potential of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    According to his estimates, the future market value of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company could perhaps exceed fifty billion.


    If he held twenty percent of the shares, once the market value hit fifty billion, his shares would be worth ten billion!


    That''s a several dozen times increase! Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    If it weren''t for the Tang Group''s difficulties, he wouldn''t have had this great opportunity.


    Moreover, Li Jianjun was seventy to eighty percent confident that he could persuade Qin Hao because if Qin Hao did not cooperate with him, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company would find it very difficult to gain a foothold in Jianghai.


    If Qin Hao let Jiangshan Base provide the raw ducks, the transportation cost would increase, reducing the profits.


    The most important thing was that it wouldn''t solve the problem at its root and would severely hinder Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s development in Jianghai.


    Expanding the business was almost impossible.


    Only cooperation with him was the best way out for Jiangshan Roasted Duck at present.


    This was Li Jianjun''s confidence; he believed that if Qin Hao were smart, he would agree.


    From his words, Qin Hao could tell that he had a way to resolve the crisis of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    Qin Hao shook his head and said, "Sorry, Mr. Li, I have no plans to raise funds."


    Li Jianjun was puzzled, "Brother Qin, this is a mutually beneficial opportunity, why are you so obstinate?


    Without my cooperation, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company will hardly be able to move an inch in Jianghai.


    You''ve already carved out a path in Jianghai. If you quit now, it will be difficult to reenter later on.


    And even expanding into other provinces will be difficult, ultimately relegating you to a corner."


    Qin Hao, "Sorry, Mr. Li, if it really comes to that, I''ll seek a partnership with you."


    Having said that, Qin Hao drove off.


    Li Jianjun was somewhat speechless; did he really think that Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company could still hold out?


    ...


    It might even cause our loyal customers to lose faith in our stores."


    The others nodded slightly, feeling that Li Jing''s comment was valid.


    The company''s biggest problem now was the lack of channels to procure live ducks.


    Qin Hao: "Manager Li is right. The procurement department should continue to look for new procurement channels. Mr. Zhao, you should go now. It''s urgent."


    "Okay, Mr. Qin." Zhao Peng left the conference room.


    Qin Hao continued to address the others: "Regarding Delicious Duck Neck, does anyone have any suggestions?"


    Li Jing: "Mr. Qin, Delicious Roasted Duck has significant influence, and I think we must respond.


    Otherwise, it could seriously impact our performance."


    The marketing manager, Song Zhu, said: "Mr. Qin, I believe we need not worry about Delicious Duck Neck right now. They sell duck necks, which do not conflict much with our roasted duck. The impact won''t be that great.


    Our main issue to solve right now is the procurement channel."


    Assistant Manager Li Jing disagreed with her, and the two argued for a while.


    Qin Hao could see that the two did not get along well. He remained silent and gave Feng Xiangyi a look.


    Feng Xiangyi spoke up: "Alright, let''s discuss Delicious Duck Neck another time. Let''s end today''s meeting here."


    One by one, everyone left, leaving only Qin Hao, Feng Xiangyi, and Du Wanrou in the conference room.


    Qin Hao took out his phone and called Kang Youyi: "Mr. Kang, I need fifty thousand ducks delivered to Jianghai City today."


    Kang Youyi was taken aback: "Brother Hao, can''t you get any over there?"


    Qin Hao replied: "The market for live ducks has been blockaded by our rivals. We can''t buy any."


    "Alright, I''ll arrange for transportation right away," Kang Youyi responded hastily.


    Qin Hao: "How large is the duck farm now?"


    Kang Youyi replied: "We have about two hundred thousand ducks, with tens of thousands hatching every day."


    Qin Hao: "Acquire all the duck farms in Jiangshan for me. I want to build a large-scale duck farming base in Jiangshan.


    Also, regarding Yangyue City, I''ve already sent people to scout the area. We need to build a large-scale duck farming base there as well."


    Kang Youyi: "Okay, Brother Hao. The head office has enough cash on hand to develop the duck farming bases."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao considered calling Li Moying but decided against it.


    Soon his phone rang; it was Xu Jiekang calling.


    "Mr. Xu," Qin Hao answered the phone with a smile.


    Xu Jiekang: "Xiao Hao, tomorrow morning Chang Anding and the deputy head of the Southern Military Industry Group will come to Jianghai. Find a place and gather the shareholders; we need to discuss the new company''s business."

 Chapter 260 Anger

    Qin Hao felt a surge of happiness, "Okay, Mr. Xu, then I''ll find a place tomorrow."


    Xu Jiekang said, "You can make a reservation today, tell me once you have booked it, and I will pick up Chang Anding and the others tomorrow."


    Qin Hao replied, "Alright, Mr. Xu."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao thought for a moment and then called Li Moying.


    Li Moying was talking to Li Jianjun when suddenly her phone rang in her pocket.


    She took it out, glanced at the caller ID, and then answered the call, "Master, I know your company is in trouble. I''m persuading my brother; don''t panic."


    Qin Hao said, "It''s not about that. Tomorrow, the heads of Hongya Heavy Industry, Southern Military Industry Group, and Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group will come to Jianghai.


    I need you to book a high-end room for me at Jinjiang Hotel, we will be discussing the new company''s matters starting tomorrow."


    Li Moying was taken aback for a moment, "So soon? Okay, Master, it''s no big deal."


    "Alright, I''m hanging up now."


    Qin Hao ended the call and glanced at Du Wanrou.


    Du Wanrou, smiling, said, "Was that Miss Li? She''s quite nice."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mo Ying is a good person, she always helps me out fully. Some day, let''s invite her to dinner."


    "Sure," Du Wanrou responded with a smile.


    Feng Xiangyi curiously asked, "Mr. Qin, Hongya Heavy Industry and Southern Military Industry are both top-tier heavy industry groups in the country.


    Moreover, Southern Military Industry is also a super state-owned enterprise under the banner of Gu Jing Military Region. Are you starting a new company?"


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "We are starting a high-tech company, but keep this matter confidential. It''s enough that just the two of you know."


    Feng Xiangyi felt a shock inside; Hongya Heavy Industry and Southern Military Industry were both conglomerates with market values in the hundreds of billions.


    What kind of new company were they planning to form?


    ...


    On the other side.


    Li Moying said to her brother at home, "Sell me your large duck farm for fifteen million."


    Li Jianjun started to understand, "So that''s why Qin Hao wouldn''t agree to let me invest. He had already asked you for help early on.


    I thought the guy was honest, but didn''t expect him to be so cunning."


    Li Moying, with a stern face, said, "Fifteen million, is it okay? I''m asking you for the last time."


    Li Jianjun replied, "Really, it''s not okay."


    ...


    At lunchtime, Qin Hao received a call from Zhao Qian.


    Zhao Qian: "Qin Hao, where are you? Are you free this afternoon?"


    Qin Hao: "I''m free. Going to the hospital?"


    Zhao Qian said, "Yes, let''s go see Qiao''er."


    "Okay, see you at the hospital this afternoon."


    After lunch, Feng Xiangyi and Du Wanrou went back to rest, and Qin Hao drove to the hospital.


    By the time he arrived, Zhao Qian was already there waiting for him at the entrance of the parking lot.


    After parking the car, Qin Hao got out and asked Zhao Qian, "Has your leg healed?"


    Zhao Qian smiled: "Yeah, it''s almost better now, let''s go upstairs."


    The two walked together into the hospital building and took the elevator to the fifth floor.


    Just getting off the elevator, Qin Hao heard Han Qiao''er''s crying, along with a man''s cursing voice.


    "Damn it, who let you call the cops? Believe it or not, I''ll kill you and your mother."


    "Sob, sob."


    "Bang!"


    Sun Gang lifted his leg and kicked Han Qiao''er, sending her tumbling over with the blow.


    He cursed: "Just like your mother, a slut."


    Hearing Han Qiao''er''s crying, Qin Hao''s expression changed, the cries coming from the stairwell next to them.


    He quickly walked over and saw five men surrounding her, one of them just retracting his foot.


    Seeing this scene, Qin Hao couldn''t hold back his rage: "Damn it, you beasts!"


    Qin Hao directly grabbed two men from behind, lifted them up, and with a forceful clash, the two screamed.


    Then he threw them right onto the stairs.


    At this moment, Sun Gang and the two others reacted, turned their heads, and were just about to speak.


    Qin Hao''s right foot kicked straight into Sun Gang''s chest while his arms swung left and right, kicking the other two to the ground as well.


    "Qiao''er, it''s okay now, everything''s okay." Qin Hao quickly picked up Han Qiao''er and comforted her.


    There were slight swellings on Han Qiao''er''s cheeks with several handprints, and her body had many footprints.


    [First update, should still be four updates today!]

 Chapter 261 Stunning Beauty

    When Han Qiao''er saw Qin Hao, she hugged him tightly and started crying.


    At that moment, Zhao Qian entered the stairwell and saw the footprints on Han Qiao''er''s body.


    Her face turned awkward as she viciously stomped on a few people on the ground.


    "You bastards, how could you lay hands on such a young child?"


    When Qin Hao saw Sun Gang trying to get up, he kicked him in the leg, forcing him back to the ground.


    He looked at Sun Gang and his group and said, "Everyone stay down and come out, or I will beat you to death."


    Sun Gang hesitated for a moment and wanted to speak, asking about Qin Hao''s background.


    "Bang"


    Qin Hao didn''t give him the chance, stepping on his head and making him have intimate contact with the ground.


    "Didn''t understand what I said?" Qin Hao''s tone was chilling as he put more force on his foot.


    "Heard it, heard it, big brother, go easy," Sun Gang hastily said.


    Five people crawled out from the stairwell and then walked towards the nurse''s station ahead.


    Qin Hao, holding Han Qiao''er, arrived at the nurse''s station, where there were four female nurses.


    When they saw Qin Hao, their expressions slightly changed: "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao''s expression wasn''t good as he did not believe these nurses were unaware of Han Qiao''er being bullied.


    But these people turned a blind eye, which angered him.


    One of the nurses quietly explained, "Mr. Qin, they threatened us, and we didn''t dare to offend them."


    After all, they were vulnerable women. Those people wouldn''t dare to mess around in the hospital, but what about after work?


    They had to consider their own safety, such is human nature.


    Qin Hao didn''t say anything and picked up their phone to make a police call: "Hello, this is Jianghai City, Xin Hai District call center, how may I assist you?"


    "Get Mr. Liu on the phone, tell him it''s Qin Hao."


    The other side hesitated for a moment, and after a minute, Liu Haiping picked up the call.


    Qin Hao hadn''t forgotten; this was Mr. Xu''s man, he didn''t dare to neglect him.


    "Mr. Qin, what can I do for you?" Liu Haiping asked cautiously.


    Qin Hao: "I reported a case a few days ago, why is the criminal still out there committing crimes?


    The nearby nurses watched, horrified.


    Qin Hao said, "Qiao''er, if someone bullies you in the future, hit them like this. If you can''t beat them, call Brother."


    Han Qiao''er stopped her kicking, her forehead already covered in sweat, "Hmm."


    Qin Hao said, "If you get tired, rest a bit before hitting again."


    Upon hearing this, Sun Gang''s eyes rolled back, and he fainted.


    The police arrived quickly. They spoke a few words with Qin Hao, then took Sun Gang and four others back to the station.


    Han Qiao''er, holding Qin Hao''s hand, said, "Big Brother, Big Sister, my mom has woken up. Can I take you to see her?"


    Qin Hao and Zhao Qian smiled, "Sure, let''s go."


    They went to a superior hospital room on the fifth floor, which housed a special nurse taking care of Han Qiao''er''s mother.


    Although he was angry at what those nurses had done earlier, the arrangements for Han Qiao''er and her mother were quite good.


    The hospital room had two beds, with the one on the side being used by Han Qiao''er for sleeping at night.


    The room also had some fruits and nutritional supplements, bought by some nurses and doctors who felt sorry for the mother and daughter.


    "Mom, you''re awake." Han Qiao''er walked into the room, saw her mother with open eyes, and smiled.


    Han Meng, seeing the palm prints on her daughter''s face, her eyes immediately reddened, "Qiao''er, what happened to your face? Who did this?"


    Han Qiao''er smiled and said, "It was the bad person who bullied you, but just now I hit him too, and now the police uncle has taken him away."


    "Does it hurt, Qiao''er?" Han Meng wanted to touch her daughter''s face, but her arm was broken, and she couldn''t move it.


    Han Qiao''er smiled and said, "It''s okay, Mom, it doesn''t hurt at all."


    Hearing her daughter''s words, tears fell down Han Meng''s face.


    Han Qiao''er quickly introduced, "Mom, these are the Big Brother and Big Sister who helped us. It was also Big Brother who fought off those bad people just now."


    Han Meng looked towards Qin Hao and Zhao Qian, her eyes filled with gratitude, "Thank you, thank you."


    Qin Hao opened his mouth to call her aunt, but Han Meng looked so young and beautiful, elegant and with sparkling eyes, evoking a strong desire to protect her.


    Today he learned what is meant by the beauty that could "sink fish and fell geese, and make the moon shy and flowers blush." She looked no less charming than Zhao Qian or Li Moying, her delicateness especially moving.


    Zhao Qian, too, was stunned by her looks, but quickly recovered, "Big Sister, don''t be polite. Just focus on healing now, don''t worry about anything else, the bad people have been caught."


    Qin Hao said, "Right, and don''t worry about the money, I''ve taken care of it."


    [Chapter two update, two more chapters to follow.]

 Chapter 262 Han Mengs Thoughts

    Han Meng was not articulate and kept thanking the two of them incessantly, "I really appreciate it a lot."


    "Big brother, big sister, please have a seat," Han Qiaoer brought them stools.


    Qin Hao patted her head and said, "Very good."@@@@


    Curious, Han Qiaoer asked, "Big brother, what do you do? You are so awesome."


    Qin Hao,"Big brother is in university and owns a company, you also need to study hard, and when you grow up, be like big brother."


    "Yes, I''ll listen to big brother," Han Qiaoer responded.


    Han Meng watched them chatting, a look of relief on her face, but a hint of sadness flickered deep in her eyes.


    They conversed for a while, and aside from thanking them, Han Meng didn''t know what else to say, so she just listened to her daughter and Qin Hao talking.


    After a while, the special care staff, noticing that Han Meng had fallen asleep, spoke up, "The patient is still very weak and needs to rest."


    Qin Hao said apologetically with a smile, "Qiao''er, we''ll leave for today then, not to disturb your mom''s rest."


    Grabbing his hand, Han Qiaoer pleaded, "Big brother, could you stay and talk with me a little longer? Can we talk outside?"


    Seeing her pleading eyes, Qin Hao nodded, "Okay, but let''s keep our voices down so we don''t wake your mom."


    They left the ward and sat on chairs not far down the hallway.


    Han Qiaoer hesitated then asked, "Big brother, can I work at your company?"


    Qin Hao and Zhao Qian looked startled, exchanging glances.


    In haste, Han Qiaoer said, "Big brother, I can clean, cook, and even do laundry. I want to earn money."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Didn''t big brother tell you? Don''t worry about money. After you grow up and graduate, then you can earn money and pay big brother back."


    Han Qiaoer bowed her head and said nothing.


    Qin Hao took out some money, about a few thousand yuan, "Take this money and spend it. If it''s not enough, just tell big brother."


    Han Qiaoer, "Big brother, I don''t want it, I already owe you so much."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "It''s okay, take it. When mom gets better, you both can earn money and pay big brother back.


    Today big brother didn''t buy anything for you, I see there''s a mall below, let''s go have a look."


    Qin Hao remembered that the first time he saw Han Qiaoer, she was wearing the same clothes.


    He planned to buy her some clothes and shoes.


    The two took Han Qiaoer to a large shopping mall next to the hospital.


    Han Meng shook her head, "Mr. Qin, the doctor has said my legs are very unlikely to recover. I''ll have to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair.


    My biggest concern is Qiao''er. I beg you, could you please take care of Qiao''er for me? In my next life, I would repay your great kindness, even if it means I have to be a labourer or a beast of burden."


    Upon hearing her words, Qin Hao''s expression froze, and he instantly understood what Han Meng meant.


    She was entrusting her child to him.


    She and her daughter were alone and helpless in Jianghai, without a home or income, and now she was paralyzed, unable to take care of Qiao''er.


    Han Meng had made this decision out of sheer necessity, forced by her dire circumstances.


    Seeing that Qin Hao remained silent, she pleaded with a sorrowful voice, "Mr. Qin, I beg you, I know this is a lot to ask, but I really have no other choice. Please pity Qiao''er and take her in."


    Qin Hao replied sternly, "By abandoning Qiao''er like this, do you think it''s fair to her?


    What if she wants to find her mother later? What if she finds out you committed suicide for her sake? Do you think she would live a happy life? She would probably live with guilt all her life.


    I''ll figure out a way for your legs, guaranteed to get you fully healed, so don''t ever speak of this again."


    Han Meng, slightly intimidated by his stern tone, murmured a soft "Okay."


    Qin Hao continued, "Your legs are not a big issue, I am sure I can cure you, so don''t worry about it.


    Just focus on getting better for now. Qiao''er needs you, and she can''t be without you."


    Hearing about Qiao''er, Han Meng''s eyes immediately reddened, tears swirling in her eyes, "Okay."


    Qin Hao, seeing her tear up so often, felt a complex emotion stirring within him.


    Fortunately, at that moment, Han Qiaoer came back. She handed Qin Hao a big red fruit, "Big Brother, have a red fruit."


    Qin Hao took a bite, "You have one too, they''re quite tasty."


    Han Qiaoer also ate one, while Han Meng, still unwell, couldn''t eat these things.


    After finishing the red fruits, Qin Hao said, "Qiao''er, Big Brother has to leave today, but I''ll come to see you again soon. If you need anything, remember to give me a call."


    "Okay, take care, Big Brother," Han Qiaoer said as she walked him to the elevator, her eyes a bit reluctant to let him go.


    Qin Hao said, "Go back, take good care of your mom."


    It was only after the elevator doors closed that Han Qiaoer turned back.


    Leaving the elevator, Qin Hao walked toward the exit of the hospital building.


    Before he could leave, he saw Zhao Qian supporting Zhao Han, who was clutching his head, his clothes stained red with blood.


    [Third update, one more to go]

 Chapter 263 Xia Qing Live Broadcast

    Qin Hao walked over, curious, and asked, "What happened?"@@@@


    Zhao Qian''s face was filled with worry: "Had a fight, the youngsters nowadays are not learning good things."


    Zhao Han said with a smile, "Sis, the person I fought is in worse shape, probably has to stay in the hospital for half a month."


    "You still have the nerve to say that, don''t go out to play anymore on weekends," Zhao Qian''s face stiffened.


    Qin Hao accompanied Zhao Qian to see the doctor for her brother. It wasn''t anything serious, just a scrape on his head that was bandaged and he was fine.


    After about ten minutes, the three of them left.


    Zhao Qian: "I''m sorry, Qin Hao, for troubling you."


    Qin Hao laughed and said, "It''s nothing, I didn''t help much anyway."


    When they got to the parking lot, Qin Hao got into his own car. Zhao Han''s eyes widened when he saw it: "Damn, Sis, this is his car? So cool."


    Zhao Qian said irritably, "Stop talking nonsense, get in the car quickly. When we get back and our parents see the wound on your head, let''s see how they''ll deal with you."


    Qin Hao drove to school, and by the time he got back, it was already six in the evening.


    In the dormitory, Zhao De, Fatty, and Chen Ping were all there.


    Seeing him return, Zhao De quickly said, "Hao, I signed you up for the basketball game yesterday afternoon when you weren''t here."


    Qin Hao: "I have been a bit busy these days and might not have time to participate."


    Zhao De said with a smile, "You don''t have to worry about the first few rounds, Hao. The big battles are later on."


    "Hmm, I''ll join in if I have time," Qin Hao said, sitting on the chair.


    Chen Ping: "Hao, I just finished designing our company''s official website, have a look."


    The scale of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was growing bigger and definitely needed its own official website by now.


    After all, it''s the internet era now. Having their own official website means people can learn more about Jiangshan Roasted Duck in detail.


    It also makes it convenient to receive customer complaints, suggestions, etc.


    Qin Hao went over to have a look. The web page design was quite good, clear at a glance, simple and tidy, yet it maintained an air of sophistication.


    "Not bad, did you design this?"


    Chen Ping grinned and nodded: "If you''re happy with it, Hao, that''s great. I was afraid you wouldn''t like it."


    Qin Hao: "You should have confidence in yourself, Six. Deep down you lack self-confidence and have an inferiority complex.


    Qin Hao: "Go ahead, enjoy yourself."


    ...


    Once Chen Ping also left, Qin Hao looked at the Fatty and asked, "How are things between you and Xie Cui now?"


    Fatty was stunned for a moment before replying, "Don''t even mention it, we''re close to breaking up."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What happened?"


    Fatty sighed, "Her family doesn''t agree with our relationship. We''ve been in touch less and less, and I can feel that she''s intentionally distancing herself from me."


    Qin Hao patted his shoulder, "Maybe there''s an even better girl waiting for you out there."


    Fatty: "You''re right, I might give up on one tree, but ahead lies a whole forest. Once I become a big boss, there''ll be plenty of beauties wanting to be with me."


    Qin Hao settled back in his seat and asked, "What time does Xia Qing stream?"


    Fatty: "Nowadays she usually streams from seven to ten in the evening. The stream room ID is 625819."


    Qin Hao booted up his computer, downloaded and installed the TT live streaming software, and logged into his previously registered account on the phone.


    After logging in, he typed Xia Qing''s live stream ID 625819 into the search bar and hit the Enter key.


    The screen shifted, and he entered Xia Qing''s live stream room.


    At that moment, Xia Qing was in the middle of her stream, with over two hundred people in her room, which was a significant improvement from the previous day.


    The monthly contribution ranking showed a total of 14,523, with the top contributor being Fatty''s guild account: 13,140.


    The second place was number 122, a fan named Silver Fox, while the rest were mostly a few dozen yuan.


    Although not much, excluding the money Fatty spent, she managed to earn over thirteen hundred yuan on her own.


    She would likely receive about four hundred of that, and considering she had only been streaming for a few days, such earnings were quite impressive.


    For a new streamer like her, some didn''t even make this much in a month.


    The main issue was the sheer number of streamers now, and without a guild''s operation and promotion, it was hard for streamers to get noticed by visitors and fans.


    Inside the stream room, Xia Qing was chatting with fans, smiling as she said, "How about we play a match?"


    TT''s live streaming platform has a great interactive feature, random matching!


    Random matching, as the name implies, is when the host clicks on random match and is paired with another host who has also clicked on random match for a split-screen live chat.


    Random matching is usually played by smaller hosts, as it can increase their exposure.


    If they match with a big-name host, then it''s a jackpot for the smaller ones, as their popularity can instantly skyrocket.

 Chapter 264 The Sharpness of the Sword Comes from Sharpening

    "Yeah, sure, let''s play matching and sing to attract followers," a supporter suggested. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    "Once the match starts, everyone should send some gifts. It''d be really awkward if we didn''t have any health bar progress on our side."


    "Right, let''s support Qingtian, go for it!"


    Xia Qing opened the interactive mode, which included both friend matching and random matching.


    She didn''t have any anchor friends in her list, so even if she wanted to do friend matching, there was no one to match with; she clicked on random matching.


    Xia Qing only knew about this function because Xiang had told her about it.


    During the video search, a few seconds later, the screen split, dividing the video in two, with Xia Qing on the left and another host on the right.


    The host opposite was a female who had just over ten thousand followers, also a new host.


    However, she was much stronger than Xia Qing, who only had a few hundred followers.


    "Hello, my name is Zhenzhen, and I''m a dance host," said the host across, smiling.


    Xia Qing: "Hello, I''m Qingtian, and I''m a singing host."


    Zhenzhen: "We each have half the time. Should I go first, or would you like to?"


    This was Xia Qing''s first time playing, and she wasn''t very good at it, so she said, "You go first."


    Random matching had a 500-second duration, with each person having 250 seconds to showcase their talent.


    During this period, both parties had a health bar. The side that received more gifts and votes had a longer health bar, with one cent counting as one vote.


    When the time ended, the host with the higher score won, and the victor could punish the loser for 150 seconds.


    The host opposite started a dance track and adjusted the camera, stepping back to reveal her full figure.


    She was dressed very fashionably and sexily, because that''s generally what fans prefer to see.


    As the dance track played, she said, "Those who have votes, cast your votes now."


    After saying this, Zhenzhen began to dance, though apart from shaking her hips and jiggling around, there wasn''t much appealing about her moves.


    Even so, there were quite a few people watching her, and by the end of her dance, her votes had reached over 1500.


    Then it was Xia Qing''s turn to perform.


    "Let''s have ''It''s a Pity We Met Late'' again, it sounds great, I want to hear it again."


    "It''s a Pity We Met Late."


    Many people in the live room were asking her to sing ''It''s a Pity We Met Late''.


    Xia Qing originally didn''t plan to sing this song, but seeing the fans'' enthusiasm, she chose it.


    "A classic old song for everyone: ''It''s a Pity We Met Late.''"


    The familiar melancholic melody resounded, and Xia Qing started to sing.


    Qin Hao sat in front of his computer, listening quietly, the song felt like Xia Qing''s personal confession.


    ...


    Her tone was a bit upset, "Why did you stop? You haven''t even done one."


    Xia Qing''s voice was somewhat pleading, "Can we change the punishment?"


    "Losing and still not accepting the punishment? If you can''t play the game then don''t, it''s really disappointing to meet someone pretending to be pure again." After saying that, the person on the other end turned off the match.


    The atmosphere in the live stream became a bit awkward. Xia Qing''s expression was not very good, her eyes conveyed anger, confusion, grievance, embarrassment...


    She managed to squeeze a slight smile on her face, but didn''t know what to say.


    Qin Hao saw her complicated eyes and felt very uncomfortable.


    Being a host wasn''t as simple as one might imagine. Some people saw only the glamorous side of the hosts.


    But nobody knew how much suffering and humiliation they endured.


    Like any other profession, only those who endure hardship excel.


    Of course, Qin Hao''s words were aimed at those hosts who diligently strived in their live streams.


    Not those who appealed to vulgarity and attracted fans by flaunting themselves.


    Still, there were quite a few people in the live room supporting her, "Qingtian goddess, don''t bother with that kind of flirtatious tramp, she''s just jealous of your beauty."


    "That showy and cheap type, she just can''t stand it that you''re better than her."


    ...


    Qin Hao also typed a line to support her, advising her: The sharpest sword is forged in the hardest fire, the sweetest plum scent comes from the bitterest cold.


    Seeing the words on the public screen, Xia Qing felt very touched, at least she still had these people supporting her.


    "The sharpest sword is forged in the hardest fire, the sweetest plum scent comes from the bitterest cold, thank you for these words, Spade A, I''m going to use them as my personal signature," she said, understanding the deeper meaning of Qin Hao''s words and smiling as she spoke.


    Soon, her signature was updated with this phrase.


    Her mood had mostly recovered, and she smiled and said, "Let''s continue matching."


    For popularity, to become famous, she clicked on the random match again.


    A few seconds later, the video split into two, and this time, she matched with a male host named Xiang, in his twenties, fairly good-looking.


    A fan checked the opposing host''s profile, "Wow, that guy is a big host, he has over six hundred thousand followers."


    The people in Xiang''s live room were similarly surprised when they saw Xia Qing, "Wow, such a beauty."


    "And she''s got charming dimples too, so cute."


    "I''m in love again, Xiang, ask if she has a boyfriend."


    A wealthy guy in Xiang''s live room said, "Get her contact info, ask where she''s from."


    ...


    Xiang also had a flash of amazement in his eyes, "Hello, beautiful, hello."


    Xia Qing smiled back, "Hello."


    Xiang looked at her beaming and asked, "How old are you? Do you have a boyfriend?"

 Chapter 265 Owes Her Too Much

    Xia Qing smiled and replied, "Can I choose not to answer that question?"


    Xiang said, "I think not only do I want to know, but fans in both of our live streaming rooms probably want to know too."


    Indeed, many fans in Xia Qing''s live streaming room were curious about her situation.


    After thinking for a moment, Xia Qing responded, "I''m 19 years old this year and I don''t have a boyfriend yet."


    Xiang said, "I won''t perform a talent, just chatting is fine. Brothers and sisters, cast your votes, give a little attention to the broadcaster on the other side. Are you a full-time live streamer?"


    Xia Qing''s followers quickly increased from a few hundred to over a thousand.


    She smiled and said, "Thank you all for your support, I go to school during the day and live stream at night."


    "School? Which university do you go to?" Xiang asked curiously.


    Xia Qing replied, "Jianghai. I''d rather not say which university exactly."


    "There are still three hundred seconds left, time for you to drum up some votes, beauty. There''s a penalty for losing," Xiang said with a smile.


    Xia Qing nodded, "If anyone has votes, please cast them. I''m not good at soliciting votes, so I''ll sing a song for everyone."


    In Xiang''s live streaming room, he said to the big spender Ye in his room, "Ye, when she loses, we''ll get her contact information. Then you can go to her live streaming room and splurge a bit. She''ll definitely make sure you''re well taken care of."


    Ye immediately spent over three thousand yuan, and together with the votes from other fans, his vote count reached over forty thousand.


    It completely depleted Xia Qing''s health bar, who had only a measly few hundred votes.


    Xia Qing knew she had few people on her side and winning against them was utterly impossible, yet she felt no discouragement.


    She reminded herself to perform the song well. The other side was very popular and a good performance would definitely attract more people.


    "I''ll dedicate the classic old song ''Rain Butterfly'' to everyone."


    Qin Hao had heard this song before. It was a classic TV drama ending theme, and the song itself was also a classic that influenced a generation.


    Loved till the heart shattered,


    Blame no one,


    Simply because the encounter was too beautiful.


    Even if tears ran dry,


    Hurt to the core,


    Heart turned to ash,


    It wouldn''t matter.


    I break out of my chrysalis to become a butterfly,


    Wishing to spread wings and fly with you.


    ...


    From the moment she began to sing, the audiences in both live streaming rooms were stunned by Xia Qing''s voice.


    Her singing was powerful and emotionally resonant.


    Qin Hao decided to send her a gift but saw that his balance was insufficient. He clicked on the top-up link and recharged one million into his account.


    Then he chose a gift. Among the dozens of gifts, the one-cent handshake gift showed Xia Qing ranked over three hundred.


    A few days ago, Fatty had spent over ten thousand yuan on the handshake gift for her. Currently, she had just over one hundred thirty thousand of such gifts, ranking three hundred sixty-first for the week.


    At the same time, many people flooded into Xia Qing''s live stream.


    Because when Qin Hao sent 88 sets and 188 sets of 1314 gifts, there was a three-second broadcast across the server,


    Don''t underestimate these two three-second broadcasts, they had high visibility, and now the number of people in her live stream had already surpassed a thousand.


    Some of them were from Xiang''s live stream, just curious to see which tycoon had spent so much money.


    This time, Xiang''s tone when speaking to Xia Qing was not as casual as before.


    Having a tycoon''s support in the live streaming world is like having a powerful backer in real life¡ªusually, nobody wants to provoke them.


    He smiled and said, "Big Bro, come hang out in your bro''s live stream when you have time. I''m kind of in need."


    Qin Hao heard it but ignored him.


    Xia Qing spoke up, "You lost, can I punish you?"


    Xiang: "Sure, tell me how you want to punish me."


    Xia Qing thought for a bit and said, "Then draw a little turtle on your forehead."


    It was a very common punishment, and without any objection, Xiang took a pen and drew a small turtle on his forehead.


    The PK ended, and only Xia Qing was left in the video.


    She said somewhat embarrassedly, "Thank you for the support, Ace of Spades Big Bro. Would you mind adding me as a friend?"


    These were also the things Fatty had taught her¡ªto add Big Bros as friends to chat and keep them around.


    "Okay, I''ll send you the friend request," Qin Hao said in the public chat, and then privately messaged her his friend request.


    Xia Qing added him quickly and sent him a smiling emoji.


    Seeing it, Qin Hao''s mind conjured up Xia Qing''s singing voice and her smiling face.


    He replied, "You sing very well. I hope you continue to strive, and I will always support you."


    "Thank you, Ace of Spades Bro."


    "Ye, what are you up to?" Fatty asked, having come up beside him at some point.


    Qin Hao: "I want her to become famous on the TT live broadcasting platform, to become the top host in the shortest amount of time."


    Fatty said, "Ye, do you know how much money it takes to make her the top host in the shortest time?"


    Qin Hao replied calmly, "Would ten billion be enough?"


    Fatty swallowed hard: "Ye, how much did you say? Ten billion? Holy crap, have you gone mad?


    Why are you doing this?"


    Qin Hao: "Because I owe her too much."


    ...


    Owe her too much? What kind of debt could be worth ten billion?


    Fatty thought he was crazy, and at the same time, he was shocked by Qin Hao''s net worth¡ªjust how much money did Ye have? Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao asked, "You know more about this stuff; got any good ideas?"


    Fatty asked uncertainly, "Ye, you''re not joking, right?"


    Qin Hao: "Do I look like I''m joking? Just tell me if you have any ideas."


    Fatty: "Sure, but it needs a massive amount of funds."

 Chapter 266 Fattys Plan

    Qin Hao: "Sit down and tell me your plan."


    The fatty pulled a stool over and sat beside him: "Second bro, let me organize my thoughts."


    A few minutes later, the fatty picked up his mouse and said, "Second bro, you must know about the several dozen gifts inside here, right?"


    Qin Hao said irritably, "Of course, I''m not an idiot!"


    The fatty chuckled: "Hear me out, second bro. Among these gifts, seven are weekly star gifts.


    Whoever receives the most gifts in a week ranks first.


    The first place not only gets a reward of a short ID for their streaming room but also promotional rewards next week, as well as significant exposure.


    Another important point, the hosts who can compete for the weekly star ranking are all popular hosts or super hosts on the platform.


    Suppressing them would create a huge buzz, although it might bring Xia Qing some temporary haters, it would help rapidly boost his popularity."


    Competing for the weekly star is just the first step, once his popularity rises, we must build Xia Qing''s loyal fanbase.


    There''s a saying on the platform: ''The tycoon is as transient as the stream; the army is as solid as iron.''


    Tycoons might run out of money to spend, but the fan army is always there. As long as the loyal fan army supports him, it would be hard for him to fall once he rises."


    Qin Hao: "So you mean we first aim for the weekly star first?"


    The fatty nodded: "Yes, and another important point is the networking circle.


    Relationships are important in the real world, and they are equally important on a live streaming platform. Befriending some people can help you at certain times."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, feeling that the fatty was making some good points.


    The fatty: "Second bro, I know a top-level host with extremely high popularity. Every time he streams, it attracts hundreds of thousands of people.


    If we can take Xia Qing there for a joint stream, it would be a great help for her."


    Qin Hao: "If you know such an impressive host, why haven''t you taken Xia Qing there sooner?"


    The fatty laughed awkwardly: "I know him, but he doesn''t know me. I mean, he is a really good person.


    He has a great reputation on the platform and rarely has any negative news. It''s good to befriend him and arrange a joint stream, although the fee for joining is quite expensive."


    Qin Hao asked, "How much?"


    The fatty: "Normally, thirty thousand for a single session, around five minutes, which is pretty good considering he is a top popularity host."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, thirty thousand wasn''t much since it''s not easy for someone to become a top host and charging for joint streaming wasn''t excessive.


    He asked, "What''s the host''s name? What''s the ID of his streaming room? Is he streaming right now?"


    The fatty looked at the time and said, "He should be streaming now. His name is Da, a top host under the Qingyi Guild, one of the top five guilds, streaming from eight to ten at night, his streaming ID is 9793!"


    The chubby guy replied, "Don''t worry, Second Brother, there are many low-key tycoons here who don''t buy any title; they just splurge magnanimously."


    While they were talking, Ruomeng''s votes had already reached over a million, and around a hundred thousand bucks had been spent on her side.


    Da''s live room had a large fan base, and lots of people were giving gifts. Although the money spent was less, he still amassed over two hundred thousand votes.


    And it wasn''t even his time to solicit votes yet.


    After Ruomeng finished singing, her votes had reached over one and a half million, while Da had less than three hundred thousand.


    "It''s all up to you, Da. Remember, there''s a penalty if you lose," said Ruomeng, her demeanor exuding an adorable charm.


    As a top-tier popular host like Ruomeng, there were unique aspects and charms that contributed to their popularity.


    Da spoke up, "Brothers and sisters, step up the voting, the two big brothers on the other side are too fierce."


    With over two hundred seconds still on the clock, the opposing side''s votes kept increasing¡ªit seemed they intended to crush him with an absolute advantage.


    The chubby guy remarked, "Second Brother, his side also has a few big brothers, but they seem off-line today; otherwise, he wouldn''t be taking such a beating."


    Qin Hao selected one of the most expensive gifts: a cruise ship, which could be gifted up to ten times at once.


    Ten of them would cost 9,999 bucks, equivalent to 99,999 votes.


    Sending ten cruise ships at once would also trigger a full-banner announcement on the entertainment channel.


    A banner appeared at the top middle of all the smaller and larger live stream rooms in the entertainment channel:


    "Spade A generously gifts Da of Qingyi Guild 10 cruise ships X1"


    "Spade A generously gifts Da of Qingyi Guild 10 cruise ships X2"


    ...


    "Spade A generously gifts Da of Qingyi Guild 10 cruise ships X20"


    One banner after another was displayed across all the major live stream rooms.


    Xia Qing saw this and, honestly, felt a twinge of disappointment seeing these banners.


    In just a few seconds, Qin Hao had clicked the left mouse button 20 times, catapulting Da''s votes to over two million. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Seeing this, Da got a bit excited, "Thanks to Spade A for the gifts, managers, quickly bring him up here."


    The public screen was now full of: 666666666


    "Holy shit!"


    "Sick!"


    "Just splashed two hundred grand instantly, such an extravagant tyrant."


    "Spade A? Never heard of such a tycoon. Could it be a secondary account of some big brother?"

 Chapter 267 Secretly Helping Xia Qing

    Ruomeng hadn''t expected Da to suddenly have a tycoon appear on his side.


    Her votes were at 1.8 million, while Da''s were at 2.4 million.


    "Bro, we''ve been hit, they also have a tycoon bro supporting them," Ruomeng said with a pained expression.


    Seeing this, Xing Mo and Ming Yue, the two emperors from her livestream, felt they couldn''t lose face and once again made their move.


    "Swoosh swoosh swoosh"


    For a moment, rockets shot across Ruomeng''s livestream, and the entertainment channel''s server-wide banners once again appeared across various small and large livestream rooms.


    They caught up with the votes fairly quickly.


    Ruomeng''s votes reached 2.8 million, while Da''s were at 2.55 million.


    After a match that churned out over five hundred thousand, such numbers were rarely seen on the platform, though, of course, it still happened.


    Since Qin Hao had already started splurging, naturally he intended to help Da win, his fingers once again tapping away.


    "Spade A generously sends [Qingyi] Da 10 cruise ships X1"


    This time he tapped twenty times, spending two hundred thousand dollars.


    Ruomeng didn''t continue to chase, and in the end, Da won with an advantage of two million votes.


    Da made Ruomeng dance as a punishment, and then their match ended.


    Qin Hao was now brought to the second mic, and his followers increased by several tens of thousands in just a few minutes.


    "Wow, look at Spade A bro''s followers, over three hundred thousand, that''s so many?"


    "Really, Spade A bro has so many followers? Among the wealthy tycoons, there aren''t many with that much."


    The chubby guy curiously took a look and was startled for a moment, "Second bro, how come you have so many followers?"


    "I used to play before," Qin Hao remembered using this account to enter the game channel of Li Moying''s livestream room,


    Da clasped his hands together and said, "Thank you for the gifts, Spade A bro. Bro, is it possible to add you as a friend?


    You can just hold the mic to speak, others need to pay for holding the mic, but you, bro, can hold it anytime."


    Qin Hao, using a voice changer, said, "Sure!"


    He didn''t want to reveal his identity, at least not letting Xia Qing find out who he was.


    Da: "Bro, I''ve sent you my friend request privately, take a look and add me."


    Qin Hao saw the message he sent and added him.


    "Bro, hello, thank you for your support."


    Qin Hao: "No problem, can I join you on the mic?"


    Da replied, "For you, bro, this is a small matter. Just call over the person, give me the account, and I''ll let them announce it."


    Qin Hao sent a message to Xia Qing: "Qingtian, come to channel 9793 for a bit."


    Since you''ve left,


    Gone is all the gentleness.


    The wait on this snowy mountain path is long,


    Listening to the howling cold wind, still going strong.


    ...


    I still remember you promised me,


    That I would never lose sight of you.


    But you followed the migratory birds southward, flying so far away,


    Love is like a kite that''s lost its string,


    I can''t hold onto the promises you made.


    ...


    The moment she started singing, many were captivated by her voice.


    Although it''s a song originally sung by a man, she lowered her voice, giving it a unique touch and offering a refreshing feeling.


    After finishing the song, her follower count had increased by another seventy to eighty thousand, showing that her performance was indeed very impressive.


    After she finished singing, Da gave her a thumbs up: "Impressive, Qingtian girl, your voice is beyond my expectations.


    But you still fall a bit short compared to me, now let me sing for you."


    After saying that, he began to sing, but deliberately sang off-key, nowhere near as good as Xia Qing.


    Qin Hao could tell that this Da was a clever person, both in the way he spoke and handled things.


    Afterward, he stayed connected with Xia Qing for nearly half an hour, letting her sing several songs. After the stream, her follower count was close to two hundred thousand, which was quite astonishing.


    When Xia Qing returned to her own stream, the number of viewers quickly surpassed a thousand, then kept rising rapidly, eventually settling at over five thousand.


    Latter, the number dropped a bit, and by the time Qin Hao logged off, there were about four thousand people in her stream.


    When logging off, Qin Hao sent Xia Qing a message: "I''m off to rest, you should rest early too."


    "Okay, good night, Ace of Spades big brother."


    Qin Hao: "Good night, if anyone dares to bully you, just let me know."


    Xia Qing was quite moved inside. Having known each other for less than a day, Qin Hao was so kind to her: "Why are you so kind to me, Ace of Spades big brother?"


    "Because you''re very likable and you sing well; you''re my type," Qin Hao said, finding a reasonable excuse as he couldn''t reveal his real identity.


    Xia Qing didn''t know how to respond to his words.


    After thinking for a while, she said, "You should rest early too, Ace of Spades big brother."


    Qin Hao saw the message and smiled faintly before shutting down the computer. He had important things to do tomorrow, so he needed to go to bed early.

 Chapter 268 All Have Arrived

    It was just past six in the morning on the second day.


    Qin Hao got up and finished his morning routine. Seeing that the fatty was still asleep, he recalled that the fatty had not gone to bed when he himself did last night.


    The poor guy must have been stimulated by Xie Cui and was putting in the effort to fight on.


    Although he seemed calm yesterday, Qin Hao could tell that deep down, he harbored affection and reluctance to part with Xie Cui.


    He was not a playboy who could walk away so nonchalantly when it came to farewells.


    Qin Hao didn''t wake him up; he went to the cafeteria for breakfast and then bought some steamed buns and millet porridge on his way back, placing them on the fatty''s desk.


    After leaving the dormitory, he arrived at the parking lot and drove out of the school.


    On the road, he called Li Moying and found out that the room had already been booked ¨C a business presidential suite at the Jinxiu Hotel.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao drove straight there, and half an hour later, he arrived outside the Jinxiu Hotel.


    Li Moying had told him that she would wait for him in the lobby on the first floor.


    The lobby of the Jinxiu Hotel had many sofas for guests to sit on.


    Upon entering, he saw Li Moying chatting with Li Jianjun.


    Seeing Qin Hao arrive, Li Jianjun greeted him with a smile, "Qin."@@@@


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and sat opposite the two.


    Li Moying said to him, "Master, the duck farm situation has been settled. My brother owns a large-scale duck farm valued at fifteen million in the market."


    Li Jianjun''s expression was a bit awkward; he hadn''t told Li Moying about what he''d said to Qin Hao the day before.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Thank you, Mr. Li, for parting with it despite the pain it must cause."


    Li Jianjun replied, "You''re overstating it, Qin. I''ve wanted to get rid of that duck farm for a while now; it''s of little use to me."


    Li Moying took out a share transfer agreement, which already bore Li Jianjun''s signature, "Master, this is the equity transfer contract."


    Qin Hao took the contract and looked it over. Li Jianjun had full control of the duck farm and was now selling it to him for fifteen million.


    After reviewing the contract, Qin Hao signed his name and then transferred the money to Li Jianjun.


    With the acquisition of the large-scale duck farm, the predicament faced by Jiangshan Roasted Duck in Jianghai had been solved with one fell swoop.


    The united blockade of those people had fallen apart of its own accord.


    Qin Hao''s lips curled into a slight smile; now it was time for them to bear the brunt of his counterattack.


    Seeing his smile, Li Moying had a bad feeling.


    Qin Hao walked over to greet them, smiling, "Mr. Xu, Mr. Chang, Mr. Zhang."


    The three of them nodded slightly, and Chang Jing looked at him with her pair of bright and profound eyes, "Mr. Qin, long time no see."


    Qin Hao felt a bit awkward when he saw Chang Jing, "Miss Chang''s eyes are the most beautiful I have ever seen among everyone."


    His words were not meant as flattery, but as an honest statement.


    Chang Jing''s eyes were bright and profound, and looking into them gave one the feeling of being seen through.


    Indeed, some people lacked the confidence to make eye contact with Chang Jing.


    Chang Anding laughed heartily, "This is all thanks to you, Xiao Hao."


    Li Xutian extended his hand in greeting, "Mr. Xu, Mr. Chang, Mr. Zhang, good to see you."


    "Mr. Li, good to see you, I''ve long heard of your reputation." Chang Anding and the others each shook hands with him.


    Qin Hao said, "Let''s go inside to talk, we shouldn''t stand out here."


    The group entered the Jinxiu Hotel, where a private elevator awaited them.


    Several people took the elevator up to a high floor of the Jinxiu Hotel, into a business presidential suite.


    There was a large conference room inside, capable of accommodating nearly twenty people.


    The walls of the conference room were equipped with the latest projectors, suitable for PowerPoint presentations or speeches.


    All of them took seats inside the conference room. Though young, Qin Hao was the organizer and therefore sat in the main seat.


    Qin Hao turned on the computer in front of him and began, "Today I''m very pleased that all the uncles and elders could come. Now let me give you a rough explanation of our company''s future development plans."


    Everyone''s gaze turned to him, curious to see what he would say.


    Qin Hao organized his thoughts before speaking, "We are now in the age of the internet, which has developed rapidly over the years.


    I''m sure you''ve all witnessed how fast the internet three giants have risen, the rapid evolution of the web, and the changes in people''s standard of living.


    All are declaring to the world that the internet age has arrived, and the high-speed internet shows no signs of slowing down.


    Now, many industry giants and car manufacturers are collaborating to research intelligent driving.


    Some are working with the electrical appliance industry to study smart appliances.


    We can foresee that the future of the internet will belong to artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.


    Autonomous driving, intelligent appliances, and the smartification of various industries¡ªall of this can be achieved.


    But the prerequisite is that we must develop high-level intelligent processing chips, advanced storage chips, various voice control chipsets, and so on." Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 269 When Favors Run Out

    ```


    The few people in the meeting room listened to his words.


    Chang Jing asked curiously, "Mr. Qin, aren''t you going to make intelligent robots?"


    Qin Hao nodded. "That''s right, our artificial intelligence robots will be produced entirely autonomously, including all sorts of chips, circuits, etc.


    I can assure everyone with certainty that I can develop the technology for manufacturing intelligent chips.


    Xuan Country will have its own high-grade intelligent chips, and even the top foreign companies will have to come to us for imports.


    Similarly, our intelligent chips can also be sold to companies in various industries. The profits from that, needless to say, everyone can understand.


    Also, once the artificial intelligence robots are developed, they can completely replace human labor, suitable for secret positions, assembly line work, and so on."


    When he said this, his tone was filled with confidence and determination.


    To be honest, Li Xutian didn''t think highly of his claims; these are all high-tech things that aren''t so simple to create.


    If chips were that easy to make, Huaxing wouldn''t be on the verge of bankruptcy right now.


    Nor would the country be so passive in this area!


    Xu Jiekang, Chang Anding, and Zhang Yifei said nothing; even if Qin Hao said nothing, they would still invest.


    Qin Hao said this also to reassure them.


    Although he knew that whether he said anything or not, they would invest their money, it made him feel a little more comfortable.


    Xu Jiekang spoke up, "Alright, Xiao Hao, let''s now talk about the capital and shares."


    Qin Hao sat down and said, "My initial target for capital is to raise ten billion in funds, and I am offering forty percent of the shares.


    If additional funds are needed later, they must be topped up."


    Li Xutian frowned slightly; ten billion in funds, yet you are only offering forty percent of the shares.


    To talk your way into taking ten billion just by sweet-talking? Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    Even a scheemer can''t be more ruthless than you!


    Zhang Yifei from the Southern Military Industry Group was also somewhat speechless inside; only forty percent of the shares?


    If it was split among each, it would be about ten percent of the shares per company!


    But since Xu Jiekang hadn''t spoken, he dared not speak out.


    He had received orders before coming here, to follow Xu Jiekang''s arrangements.


    Chang Anding also felt it was a bit low, but he didn''t voice any opposition because the Chang Family still owed him a favor.


    This was also considered repayment.


    If he encountered difficulties in the future, the Chang Family may not help him again, whereas the Xu family seemed more reliable.


    If there were troubles, the Xu family might help, but if it was a serious matter, they might not.


    Not to mention the Jinxiu Group, as Li Xutian was already not fond of him.


    Everything had to rely on himself. He was confident that once the artificial intelligence robots were introduced to the market, everyone would have to look up to him.


    Even if you were a business tycoon or an industry leader, you would have to beg me to sell to you!


    ...


    Qin Hao walked out of the Jinxiu Hotel together with Xu Jiekang and Xu Siyao.


    Xu Jiekang said to Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, come to our house for a visit. Mr. Xu has some words for you."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Okay, Mr. Xu."


    He drove his car and followed Xu Jiekang to the villa complex where he lived.


    As they entered the living room, they saw Yang Su watching TV at home.


    Yang Su got up hurriedly when they arrived, "You''re back. How did the negotiations go?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Ms. Yang, the negotiations went quite smoothly."


    They sat down, and Xu Jiekang asked Qin Hao, "Have you found a location for the company and a construction company?"


    Qin Hao responded, "I''ve already targeted a location for the company, but I haven''t found a construction company yet. Ms. Yang''s company handles construction, so we can just have Ms. Yang take care of it."


    Yang Su said with a smile, "A multi-billion-dollar investment in a company involves a massive project, doesn''t it?"


    Qin Hao answered, "It''s not really a huge project. Just office buildings, workshops, dormitory areas, and the like."


    What he needed was a factory, not the kind of dense residential community. The construction was not that massive.


    Xu Jiekang broke in, "Xiao Hao, there''s something we should discuss in the study."


    Qin Hao was momentarily puzzled, lost in his thoughts. What did he have to say to me?


    He followed Xu Jiekang to the upstairs study.


    Yang Su sat next to Xu Siyao, "Your dad is probably talking about your matter."


    "Our matter?" Xu Siyao asked in surprise.


    Yang Su nodded with a smile, "You like him, and both your dad and I have noticed."


    Xu Siyao''s cheeks turned slightly red as she said, looking down, "He already has a girlfriend."


    Yang Su spoke with a laugh, "Nowadays, many young couples break up. It''s not unusual. His girlfriend doesn''t have any advantages.


    Her family owns a small company with no significant achievements. Qin Hao has endless potential for the future, and she will only be a burden to him.


    I think Qin Hao is a smart man; he should know who is most important to him and who provides him with the greatest help."

 Chapter 270 Chang Jing

    Inside the study on the second floor.


    Xu Jiekang sat on the chair and said, "Xiao Hao, please sit."


    Qin Hao sat opposite him, his gaze curious as he looked at him, "Mr. Xu, what''s the matter that''s so secretive?"


    Xu Jiekang, "It''s about Xiao Yao''s matter."


    Qin Hao''s heart "clenched" suddenly, a bad premonition arising.


    Xu Jiekang continued, "I can tell that Xiao Yao really likes you, so I took the initiative today to talk about you two.


    You are very outstanding. I don''t know what you think of Si Yao."


    Qin Hao, "Si Yao is a good girl, but I already have a girlfriend."


    Xu Jiekang, "I know about that. You think about it carefully, after all, this is a major lifelong matter."


    Qin Hao frowned slightly. Although Xu Jiekang did not state it directly, he had already conveyed his intentions.


    He wanted Qin Hao to break up with Du Wanrou and then be together with Xu Siyao.


    "Mr. Xu, I will consider it. I have some other things to attend to, so I''ll be leaving now." After saying this, he walked out of Xu Jiekang''s study.


    Descending the stairs, Yang Su and another person looked at him. Qin Hao forced a small smile, "Ms. Yang, Si Yao, I''m heading back first."


    Xu Siyao stood up to see him off, "Hmm, take care on the road."


    "Head back." Qin Hao drove away.


    Xu Siyao returned inside the villa, and at that moment, Xu Jiekang also came downstairs.


    "Dad, what did you say to Qin Hao?" Xu Siyao asked, frowning.


    She could sense that Qin Hao seemed a bit angry when he left.


    Xu Jiekang looked at his daughter with a doting gaze, "What can I say, of course it was about the two of you."


    Xu Siyao pressed further, "Then what did you say exactly?"


    Xu Jiekang, "I asked Xiao Hao to think it over."


    Xu Siyao grew angry, "Isn''t that just using your power to pressure him? Asking him to think it over is just trying to force him to leave his girlfriend, right? How can you do this?"


    Yang Su quickly intervened, "Si Yao, your dad is just looking out for your best interest."


    Xu Siyao, "Dad, I don''t care about what you all do, and I hope you won''t meddle in my affairs either." With that, she turned around and left the villa. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Yang Su attempted to stop her but failed.


    After hanging up, Chang Jing''s face carried a trace of a smile.


    Chang Anding, seeing this, asked in confusion, "Xiao Jing, why would you take up a vice presidency there? It doesn''t seem to have much of a future."


    Chang Jing, "Dad, why would you think that?"


    Chang Anding, frustrated, said, "How do you expect me to think? To ask abruptly for 2.5 billion, he truly has the nerve to ask for such a big amount.


    If it weren''t for Xu Jiekang broaching it, I wouldn''t put forth this money. But, having done so, at least the Chang Family no longer owes him any favors."


    Chang Jing calmly said, "Dad, do you think he was just spouting nonsense this morning?"


    Chang Anding, "Otherwise? You think he can actually create intelligent chips and AI robots?


    Those engaged in this research are either huge corporations or government enterprises funded by the nation, all possessing top-tier talent.


    Do you believe that a nineteen-year-old can create intelligent chips? I think he just wants to earn what''s needed to treat you."


    Chang Jing shook her head; she did not agree with her father''s view, "Dad, I believe his words."


    Chang Anding, puzzled, "You believe? Why?"


    Chang Jing, "Instinct! Dad, I''ve already decided to take a position at his company, and I won''t be coming back with you."


    Chang Anding hesitated. Although his daughter was blind from an early age, she exhibited astounding capabilities in certain aspects.


    Some have photographic memories, she has an audio-graphic memory!


    When Chang Jing was young, her mother used to read articles to her daily.


    Latter on, Chang Jing told her mother there was no need for a second reading; she had already memorized them.


    Whether it was a few hundred words of prose or short stories spanning tens of thousands of words, she could remember them after just one hearing.


    Later, this extended to textbooks on business management, economics, finance, sociology, and so forth.


    As a father, he was fully aware of just how formidable his daughter was.


    In corporate management and operations, Chang Jing also exhibited an extraordinary talent.


    The current market value of Hongya Heavy Industry, which amounted to hundreds of billions, could not have been achieved without Chang Jing''s strategic planning behind the scenes.


    Although she could not see, having listened to the descriptions from her father and mother, she could visualize a picture in her mind.


    She then offered the best solutions.


    So, upon hearing his daughter''s declaration, he did not object, as he knew it would be futile.


    His daughter always had her own opinions, and apart from the elderly grandfather occasionally being able to persuade her, no one else could.

 Chapter 271 The Contest of the Painting Club

    Qin Hao returned to school and had just gotten out of the car when he saw Xu Siyao driving into the parking lot.


    After she got out of the car, she walked over to Qin Hao. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao looked at her and smiled, "Why aren''t you staying at home?"@@@@


    Xu Siyao with an apologetic face, "I''m sorry, Qin Hao, I didn''t know my dad would say those things to you."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "It''s okay. I was a bit angry at first, but I understand Mr. Xu''s intentions, so you don''t need to blame yourself too much.


    Being as gentle and beautiful as you are, and the fact that Mr. Xu thinks highly of me, I''m quite happy about it."


    Xu Siyao, upon hearing him say that, blushed slightly and felt a bit happy inside, "Do you really think so?"


    Qin Hao nodded his head, "A man, after all, always dreams of having a harem."


    "Do you often dream about it too?" Xu Siyao was more relaxed than before and asked with a smile.


    Qin Hao gave an embarrassed smile, "Occasionally."


    Xu Siyao, "There''s an activity in the painting club today, let''s go together. You''ve joined the club but haven''t really been there much, the president even wants to kick you out."


    Qin Hao, "Okay, sure, I''ve been quite busy lately and haven''t had time to go."


    Xu Siyao nodded her head, "I know you''ve been busy, so I spoke to the president about it, that''s why he hasn''t kicked you out yet."


    Qin Hao, "I think it might be better to just kick me out, I don''t have much time to go anyway."


    "I was the one who introduced you to the club, it would be really embarrassing for me if you got kicked out."


    As they talked, they arrived at the school''s club office building.


    This building was almost entirely occupied by various clubs as well as the offices of the student council and the Communist Youth League members.


    Even though it was the weekend, there were still many people around. Weekends are generally when all the clubs hold their events, so it was crowded.


    As they entered the building, they could see quite a few guys standing in the hallway looking into a classroom.


    Xu Siyao explained, "That classroom is for a dance club; they''re all tall and beautiful women."


    Qin Hao nodded his head, no wonder there were so many guys gathered to watch; they were admiring the beauties.


    They went up the stairs to the fourth floor, which housed several painting clubs and other types of clubs.


    Qin Hao had been here once when he first joined the club.


    Entering the classroom, it was crowded with many people.


    These people were clearly divided into two groups, on one side were members of the Seven-colored Painting Club, and on the other side were members of the Skillful Hands Club.


    Today, the two painting clubs had an exchange activity, and a few teachers from the art department were there as judges.


    "Mr. Fan, if your overall score is lower, you''ll have to merge into our club," Wang Anshi said with a smile.


    Fan Ruobing ignored him; they had already established the rules earlier when Qin Hao had not yet arrived.


    The contest was three rounds, and the side with the highest total score from the three rounds would win.


    Xu Siyao bravely stepped forward and, following the same procedure, drew lots: the theme was to be a landscape.


    Landscape painting is considered one of the more difficult genres in Chinese painting, especially challenging to capture the artistic conception.


    Xu Siyao''s painting skills weren''t very good, but she could manage and quickly started painting.


    The man on the opposite side hadn''t expected Xu Siyao to draw the landscape theme, and his brow furrowed; he was confident in widening the score gap with any other theme.


    But landscape painting was not easy for him, and he wasn''t very sure he could create a large margin.


    Luckily, they were given plenty of time, a full hour!


    After more than half an hour, Xu Siyao had finished her painting. It wasn''t that her painting skills were strong, but rather that was the extent of her capability.


    The man quickly finished his painting as well.


    After the judges scored, Xu Siyao ended up with fifty-four points, and the man on the opposite side scored sixty-eight points.


    Now, the Skillful Hands Painting Club had a lead of thirteen points over the Seven-Colored Club!


    After her competition, several people from Qin Hao''s side were giving him meaningful looks, including Fan Ruobing, who glanced at him a few times.


    Their intention was for him to leave quickly.


    In their view, Qin Hao was probably even less capable than Xu Siyao, so they wanted him to leave first.


    If someone from the Skillful Hands Club chose him, it would be over.


    Qin Hao was actually planning to leave anyway. Seeing the looks from Fan Ruobing and the others, he turned around intending to walk away.


    Before he could take a step, someone from the opposite side called out, "Hold on, big brother, where are you off to? You''re not scared, are you?"


    The hearts of the Seven-colored Painting Club members lifted, wondering if they would shamelessly choose Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao turned around with a smile and said, "I have something else to take care of, so I won''t disturb your competition."


    Liu Baoliang mocked, "That''s a pretty lame excuse. If you''re scared, just say it. After all, no matter who you compete with over there, you''re going to lose in the end."


    Xu Siyao, once a fierce young girl, couldn''t hold back and retorted, "Who says we''re scared?


    You think you''ve won before the match is even over? Which event in the past have you ever won against us?"


    Liu Baoliang was left speechless by her rebuttal, pointing at Qin Hao he said, "Fine then, let him come out and compete with me. We''ll see who loses and who wins."


    [It''s 11:30 p.m., finally finished the fourth update, see you tomorrow!]

 Chapter 272 President Fan Ruobing

    "Shameless."


    The members of the Seven-Colored Painting Club''s faces slightly changed upon hearing Liu Baoliang''s words.


    Liu Baoliang was also a minor celebrity and master of ink painting within the Skillful Hands Painting Club.


    Since Qin Hao had never painted even one painting, they thought Qin Hao must be a novice.


    If competing against Liu Baoliang, there was a 99.9% chance of losing.


    If the Seven-Colored Painting Club lost, the two clubs would have to merge, which wasn''t an outcome the Seven-Colored Painting Club wanted to see. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    "Why aren''t you coming out? No worries, we can switch people too, giving you a chance." Liu Baoliang looked at Qin Hao and sneered lightly.


    Qin Hao stepped forward. "I''ll compete with you, but don''t regret it later."


    Liu Baoliang scoffed. "I think it''ll be you who regrets it. "


    This time, it was their turn to draw lots. Liu Baoliang casually drew one¡ªit was to paint a flower within a thirty-minute time limit.


    Liu Baoliang''s mouth curled up when he saw it; he was quite skilled at painting flowers.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and then started painting with his brush.


    The people from Ruobing''s side couldn''t bear to watch, thinking they were surely going to lose this time.


    They never expected Xu Siyao and Qin Hao to arrive at such a crucial time.


    Fifteen minutes later.


    Qin Hao put down his brush. "I''ve finished."


    The bystanders were taken aback, and Liu Baoliang didn''t expect him to finish so quickly. He turned his head to look and then was stunned.


    He gaped, disbelievingly staring at the painting Qin Hao had done, not even noticing the ink dripping onto the rice paper.


    "Baoliang."


    Wang Baishi of the Skillful Hands Painting Club saw Liu Baoliang standing there, dumbfounded, and frowned slightly.


    Liu Baoliang came to his senses, but upon seeing the inkwork on the paper, he no longer had the mood to continue painting.


    "I concede."


    "What?"


    Both parties could hardly believe it. Concede? Wasn''t he just full of bluster a moment ago? Why concede now?


    The four judges approached to take a look, and when they saw Qin Hao''s work, they quickly gathered around.


    "It''s beautiful, truly a master''s brushwork; this is definitely master-level skill."


    The four judges were astonished, carefully admiring the painting Qin Hao had made.


    Qin Hao had painted several mountain peaks surrounded by mist, with a plum tree standing resiliently on top, strong as iron and defiant against the frost.


    Ruobing replied coldly, "No."


    The judges looked somewhat embarrassed and also disappointed, missing such a painting was a great pity.


    Knowing Ruobing''s personality and background, they dared not offend her and did not ask further, leaving reluctantly.


    When everyone had left, only the members of the Seven-Colored Painting Club remained in the society room. They admired the painting for a while before going about their own business.


    Ruobing had been looking at Qin Hao''s painting all along, not just the painting, but also the line of text on it.


    Perfectly natural, vigorous and powerful, impressive in spirit; just this calligraphy alone set it apart, establishing its unique style.


    Xu Siyao asked puzzledly, "Ruobing, why do you keep staring at it? Is it that beautiful?"


    Ruobing said, "Si Yao, you don''t understand paintings, so you can''t see it. Is Qin Hao the one you introduced?"


    Xu Siyao laughed, "Ruobing, you must have heard his name, Qin Hao, the national unified exam''s top scorer."


    Ruobing was somewhat surprised, "He is that Qin Hao?"


    When the unified exam results were announced, many people indeed heard Qin Hao''s name.


    But as time passed, many had long forgotten him.


    After all, he was not frequently featured in the news or newspapers.


    Even today''s popular celebrities, if they don''t appear in the public eye for a long time, will gradually be forgotten.


    Xu Siyao said, "Yeah, Ruobing, he''s also an entrepreneur, he started his own company."


    ...


    After leaving the society office building, Qin Hao returned to his dormitory.


    In the dorm, Zhao De, Chen Ping, and Fatty were all there, with Fatty still managing his guild.


    Seeing him return, Fatty spoke up, "Second brother is back. There''s something I want to discuss with you."


    "What is it?"


    Fatty said, "The guild now has more and more broadcasters, and I can''t manage them all by myself.


    I plan to rent a smaller place to use as an office and hire a few more people to help run it."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Hmm, just decide it by yourself; do you have enough money?"


    Fatty replied, "Enough, second brother."


    Qin Hao nodded, and went back to his computer to log into the Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s office and financial systems to check the company''s revenue for the month.


    Today was October 21st; Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s revenue had already reached over thirty million, with profits around ten million.


    With stores numbering fifty-three, it was quite fearsome.


    He thought to himself: Time to launch a new product, Delicious Duck Neck, Wu Roasted Duck, all just trifles!

 Chapter 273 Snatch a Weeks Star

    Jiangshan Roasted Duck now fully dominates the Jiangshan market, reaching even the surrounding counties with its branches.


    The next step is to expand to other cities in Shuinan Province.


    Jiangshan is located in the southwestern part of Shuinan Province, very close to Nangong Country.@@@@


    However, Jiangshan Roasted Duck is not convenient to expand into Nangong Country right now because there are still large domestic markets that have not been tapped into.


    Qin Hao took out his phone and stepped out of the dormitory, dialing Kang Youyi''s number.


    The call connected quickly.


    Kang Youyi: "Hao, I was just about to call you. The factory has already produced a batch of Xinghui Wine."


    Qin Hao: "That was fast. The wine bottles and packaging are all made according to my requirements, right?"


    Kang Youyi replied: "Yes, the marketing department is advertising it, but the effect isn''t particularly good.


    After all, the market here is already occupied by major brands, and it''s hard to break through."


    Some time later, there will be a new wine conference in Nangui Province, and Mr. An plans to take Xinghui Wine there to give it a try."


    Qin Hao: "Let him give it a shot. You can also put Xinghui Wine on the shelves in Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant for now. That should be able to sell some."


    Kang Youyi nodded: "Yes, that''s what the marketing department thinks too. After all, our Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant has a lot of traffic. Having Xinghui Wine there will aid in selling it."


    Qin Hao: "Alright, I''ll send you the secret recipe for duck necks and wings in a while. Keep the recipe and auxiliary ingredients confidential, and airfreight the materials for the duck necks and wings to Jianghai by tomorrow. We need them here."


    Kang Youyi was a bit excited: "Don''t worry, Hao. Our company has already established a separate auxiliary ingredient processing plant. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    No one besides me can access the secret recipe, and we''ve already made plans. Next month, we''ll be entering DL city."


    The two chatted for a while, then ended the call.


    Qin Hao returned to the dormitory and sent the secret recipe for duck necks and wings to Kang Youyi through the office system.


    After receiving the message, Kang Youyi jotted down the secret recipe and then deleted the chat history.


    He immediately arranged for people to start mixing the auxiliary ingredients for the duck necks and wings.


    ...


    "What are you up to, Qin Hao?" Du Wanrou sent him a message online.


    Qin Hao: "I was discussing the new company today. Just got back to the dorm, what''s up?"


    Du Wanrou said: "Nothing much, just missing you a little. I heard Xia Qing''s family ran into trouble."


    Qin Hao was stunned: "How did you know?"


    Du Wanrou: "Chen Shuna told me, you knew already, didn''t you?"


    Qin Hao, a bit embarrassed: "Uh! I also found out a few days ago."


    Suddenly, Du Wanrou asked, "Do you regret it?"


    "Regret what?"


    Du Wanrou: "Regret letting her go, choosing me."


    "I don''t regret it."


    Du Wanrou continued to press: "Then do you like her? I''m not into empty sweet talk, I want the truth."


    Hard to forget the first time I saw you


    Those charming eyes


    In my mind


    Your silhouette


    Is indelible


    ...


    Her singing was very sweet, with a clear and pleasant voice; in terms of singing talent alone, she wasn''t inferior to any of the broadcasters up there.


    But when it came to chatting and banter, she needed to learn and improve a bit more.


    Qin Hao kept clicking his mouse, and soon one banner after another appeared across the live broadcast rooms in the entertainment channel, both large and small.


    "Ace of Spades gifts [Dream] Qingtian 1314 beers X288 sets."


    A rush of people quickly filled Xia Qing''s live broadcast room, and the numbers were growing fast.


    A few minutes later, Xia Qing finished her song and thanked Qin Hao again.


    As she started singing, the entire chat room burst into a chorus of: 666666


    "A beauty with an even more beautiful voice"


    "So pleasant to listen to, can''t get enough."


    "From far and wide, Qingtian is the prettiest."


    "From far and wide, Qingtian is the loveliest."


    ...


    The latter comment was quickly spammed across the screen.


    "Is the Ace of Spades done yet?"


    "No, damn, he''s still going. What''s he trying to do?"


    "Is he trying to snatch the beer weekly star?"


    "That intense?"


    Ten minutes later, Qin Hao stopped; he had run out of balance. By then, Xia Qing''s beer tally had nearly reached six hundred thousand.


    She shot up in the rankings, landing at twenty-second place for the beer weekly star.


    Many broadcasters logged into their alt accounts to enter Xia Qing''s live broadcast room; they wanted to see what was going on here!


    Xia Qing was also stunned by the money Qin Hao had gifted. In just the last few minutes, Qin Hao had spent over five hundred thousand yuan.


    "Ace of Spades, what''s going on?" she quickly messaged Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao replied, "Just helping you snatch a weekly star to boost your popularity."


    Seeing Qin Hao''s response, Xia Qing was conflicted, thinking that he must have some intentions after spending so much money on her.


    What if he wants me to go out and hang with him? What should I do?


    After grappling with herself, Xia Qing responded, "Ace of Spades, I''m not that kind of person. If you''re tipping just to sleep with me, I won''t agree to it."


    [Second update, two more to go, recommending two books to everyone ''The Exquisite President is a God-level Expert'' and ''The Supreme Devourer of the City'']

 Chapter 274 I am a Prodigal Son

    Qin Hao saw her reply and couldn''t help laughing; the girl was still as adorable as ever.


    Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    He thought for a moment and replied, "You are indeed beautiful, and I do like you, but isn''t it a bit premature to talk about sleeping together?


    Or are you trying to hint at something, hoping I''ll ask you out?"


    Upon seeing this, Xia Qing''s cheeks flushed red: "Bah, I didn''t think that at all."


    Qin Hao: "That''s good, if you did, you''d better squash it right away, as I''m not that easy."


    Xia Qing, curious, asked, "Uncle? How old are you, anyway?"


    Qin Hao: "Why are you so concerned about my age? You don''t really have a thing for me, do you?"


    Xia Qing rolled her eyes: "Conceited!"


    Qin Hao''s lips curved upward in a smile, his tone now completely different from usual.


    Xia Qing would probably never guess his true identity, and that was enough.


    Xia Qing, worried that her words had angered the boss, added, "I''m just curious why you''re so nice to me; sometimes, I feel very lucky."


    Qin Hao countered, "Is this your indirect way of confessing to me?"


    ...


    Qin Hao checked the rankings for beer gifts, with the top streamer named Yu Mi having received over one hundred thirty thousand.


    He deposited two million into his account, believing that should be enough to take the lead.


    At this moment, a King-level noble named Fairy Tale [Positioning Yu Mi] entered Xia Qing''s broadcast room.


    Although Xia Qing''s room now had over ten thousand viewers, the highest in the VIP seats was a Duke noble.


    "Welcome, Brother Fairy Tale," Xia Qing greeted the King noble.


    Fairy Tale typed a line: "Damn, thought you were grabbing weekly stars, just heating up fame, pretending to be badass without any real power."


    As he was a King noble, his typed message appeared in the noble''s exclusive typing area, very prominently displayed.


    He brought quite a few of Yu Mi''s fans, who also said on the platform, "This is heating up our boss''s fame."


    "Shameless, scheming bitch."


    "Heating up our boss''s fame."


    Upon hearing the King''s words, Xia Qing''s expression froze; what did he mean by that? I don''t think I''ve offended him.


    Seeing the words below in the broadcast, she checked the beer leaderboard; these people were almost all fans of the streamer Yu Mi.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao''s expression turned cold: "Who the hell do you think you are, acting badass here?"


    In an instant, beer gifts flew across his stream room as his fans and wealthy supporters all swung into action.


    The number of beers quickly overtook those in Xia Qing''s room, and they continued to soar rapidly.


    ...


    The audience in Xia Qing''s stream room had now reached fifty thousand, mostly spectators there for the excitement.


    They were eager to see who would ultimately be more impressive, Qingtian or the people on Yu Mi''s side.


    In the chat someone said, "Big bro, their side has so many kings and emperors, all donating."


    "Big bro, make your move. Today will be the legendary battle for Qingtian."


    "Support Qingtian, support Brother Ace."


    "Everyone with money, donate some, and support Qingtian."


    "Go screw yourselves, a bunch of trash, still trying to beat our boss to first place."


    "You bunch of losers, better give up now."


    There were quite a few nasty fans of Yu Mi in the stream room, and they started trash-talking as soon as they arrived.


    Xia Qing''s moderators were constantly muting, but there were too many from the other side, and they simply couldn''t mute them all.


    Qin Hao sent Xia Qing a message, "Fame breeds strife, just sing well and forget those slanderers; this week''s star is ours."


    Xia Qing logged into an alternate account to check the opposing side, and the list of noble titles in the VIP seats was frightening, further boosted by the presence of dozens of streamers.


    She hesitated, "Maybe we should just let it go, they have a lot of people on their side."


    Qin Hao''s tone was dominant, "They''re just a bunch of clowns, uncle will protect you, don''t worry."


    "An emperor, seven kings, and dozens of ducal nobles, and you call them clowns?"


    Xia Qing, "I don''t want your real life to be affected by spending money here; I stream to make money, but I am not after just any kind of money."


    Qin Hao, "Oh dear, you''re making uncle like you even more, this amount of money won''t affect my real life."


    "Kid, poverty limits your imagination. For a spendthrift like me, my monthly allowance is tens of millions."


    Xia Qing, exasperated, "Forget I said anything."


    ...


    Qin Hao didn''t immediately start donating, but instead coded a small program: a mouse autoclicker.


    This meant he didn''t have to click manually, and the autoclicker was very fast.


    After testing it a few times, in less than a minute, he had donated almost eight to nine hundred thousand from his account.


    Now, Xia Qing was in first place with 2,670,000 votes, followed by Starlight Guild''s Yu Mi with over 2,400,000 votes. The gap wasn''t large.

 Chapter 275 I Havent Finished Brushing Yet

    Inside Yu Mi''s streaming room, nearly all the gifts now are from some rich big brothers.


    The fans had reached their limit and had given all they could.


    At this point, dozens of streamers who were supporting the event began to chip in, each prepared around ten thousand or so, some even prepared three ten thousands.


    This act was essentially a display of loyalty, hoping to attract some of Yu Mi''s fans.


    They were also hoping that Yu Mi might help them out in the future.


    With more than thirty streamers giving gifts, the number of beers quickly surpassed those in Xia Qing''s room.


    When it reached three million, Yu Mi''s side stopped since Xia Qing''s side had already ceased.


    Xia Qing had inched close to 2.6 million whereas Yu Mi reached 3 million, a difference of nearly four hundred thousand.


    Yu Mi''s face lit up with a smile, "Thank you big brothers for your support. They''ve already stopped over there, seems like they''ve given up.


    This wave of action was nicely done; I give her a hundred thumbs up."


    His fans said, "The other side just plays mind games."


    "The other streamer''s followers increased by several hundred thousands, and the popularity of their room is about to break a hundred thousand."


    "Exactly, just playing mind games, probably just wants to attract a wave of followers."


    ...


    Yu Mi said with a smile, "Alright everyone, let''s not curse anymore. Even though they are playing mind games, there''s no need to say it out loud."


    Xia Qing''s alternate account was here too, naturally heard his words, and she looked none too pleased before leaving the room.


    Now, the numbers in Xia Qing''s streaming room were nearing a hundred thousand.


    Many people in her room blasted her, "Mind games player, really knows how to hype.@@@@


    "Mind games player, just leave, why bother staying and streaming."


    "Trying to compete with our boss Yu Mi, you''re just asking for trouble."


    "Where''s that Spade Ace? Why did they stop giving? Losing courage?"


    "Wasn''t it all tough just a while ago? Why lose nerve now?"


    ...


    There were many cursing at Xia Qing and Qin Hao, but also many supporting them.


    Qin Hao said to Xia Qing, "Why don''t you sing? You sing beautifully, your talent attracted them, that''s why they stayed."


    "Okay sure."


    Xia Qing started singing in the streaming room, and then instantly, it was all cheers and ''666666''.


    The curses were completely drowned out; they couldn''t be seen at all.


    "Wow, her voice is too good," a newcomer who just tuned in was instantly captivated.


    Qin Hao checked the system''s side task for network tycoons, still lacking seven million; the first stage of the mission would then be completed.


    After all, this event had happened suddenly and didn''t give them time to prepare.


    Li Tianpeng sent a message to his female VP: "Fang, how much money do you still have in your account?"


    Fang replied: "I still have 300,000."


    Li Tianpeng pleaded, "Baby, can you help recharge some more? I really can''t afford to lose this time, okay? If nothing else, next time I''m at your disposal."


    He had met the wealthy Fang in real life, and they had been involved.


    Even though Fang wasn''t very attractive, she was rich.


    "Then I''ll add another million, but that''s really all I have left."


    Li Tianpeng''s face brightened: "Yeah, that''s great, baby, love you mwa."


    He then spoke to another wealthy woman named Da Mei, "Baby Mei, Fang still has 1.5 million, how much do you have?"


    Da Mei: "I''ve almost run out in my account."


    Li Tianpeng: "Baby, can you add some more? Once it''s past midnight, I''ll come to see you, since we''re in the same city anyway."


    "Alright, I can add up to a million at most."


    ...


    Both sides reactivated the extravagant spending mode, and the number of gifts continued to skyrocket.


    After about fifteen minutes, many people on Li Tianpeng''s side stopped, except for King Fang and King Dimei who continued.


    Five minutes later, the beer gift count in Xia Qing''s room reached 6.5 million and was still increasing.


    The beer gift count in Li Tianpeng''s room reached 5.1 million, but then stopped.


    Nearly everyone tonight was captivated by this battle; the viewership in Li Tianpeng''s live streaming room was very high, reaching nearly 500,000.


    But the atmosphere was awkward, and Li Tianpeng''s expression was equally poor.


    Because his side was completely out of funds, while the other side continued to spend. Where did this god-like wealthy person come from?


    Do they not consider money as money?


    Li Tianpeng''s face was grim, and without saying a word, he shut off the live stream.


    His mindset had collapsed, and he couldn''t continue streaming.


    Xia Qing''s live stream


    "Big Brother is so cool."


    "You''ve already knocked that fool off the air."


    "The power of the Ace of Spades Big Brother is terrifying, he''s already spent seven million!"


    "Big brother, you can stop now, we''ve won."


    Qin Hao: "I''m not done yet, everyone just wait a bit more."


    ...

 Chapter 276 Student Council

    Everyone had a look of disbelief; Brother Ace of Spades sure had a sense of humor.


    When Xia Qing''s beer count reached eight million five hundred thousand, Qin Hao stopped.


    He left around one million; since Cui Mingwen and the others had tipped quite a bit, he planned to return the favor for Xia Qing.


    Gifts are to be reciprocated, and that''s how relationships grow closer.


    He hoped that the day he had to leave, Xia Qing would have many friends by her side.


    Even if he had to leave, others could still lend her a hand.


    Later, Xia Qing and Cui Mingwen connected their mics, she thanked him, and after chatting for a bit, Cui Mingwen went off to start his own live stream.


    After everyone had left, there were still more than a hundred thousand people in the live room, though the number was slowly decreasing.


    Xia Qing knew opportunities like this were hard to come by, so she sang earnestly, hoping to retain more viewers.


    Qin Hao and a few others were busy managing.


    "The Qingtian Goddess fan group has been created; all fans of Goddess Qingtian, please join."


    Soon, the group with a capacity of ten thousand was full, and then came the second group, third group, and so on.


    "Qingtian Nobility Team is actively recruiting members. Anyone with a title can join, please follow the uniform name format," the chubby guy was also helping to manage in Qingtian''s live room.


    The main issue was now the excessive number of fans; the managers simply couldn''t keep up.


    Even Qin Hao was busy posting group links: Qingtian Iron Core Guardian Team is recruiting; I''m the team leader, if you''re interested, feel free to join the group.


    ...


    After being busy for more than half an hour, they finally finished, then Xia Qing started recruiting managers for her live room.


    After all, there were too many people, and a few managers simply couldn''t handle them all.


    Xia Qing was also very tired tonight, having sung for a long time, her voice was a bit hoarse.


    When Qin Hao was done, his first stop was Cui Mingwen''s live stream, where he tipped some gifts.


    Afterward, he visited the live rooms of his disciples, tipping about fifty thousand in each.


    After depleting the money in his account.


    A system voice echoed in Qin Hao''s mind: "Congratulations to the host for completing the periodic sub-quest, awarding ten thousand achievement points, two random attribute points."


    "Periodic sub-quest opened: Online Spending Tycoon, tip fifty million online, reward fifty thousand achievement points, random reward points."


    Qin Hao added the attribute points to his strength and intelligence attributes.


    His achievement points had now reached over seventy thousand. He did not gamble for more because these could be exchanged for high-tech products in the system store.


    There was no point in exchanging them now as he didn''t have the energy to develop them; he just had to save the achievement points.


    At nine-thirty.


    Qin Hao said to Xia Qing, "I''m going to sleep, you should rest early too."


    "Alright, good night."@@@@


    You are very beautiful, and if you follow me, I will take good care of you."


    Ning Yao tactfully refused, "I''m sorry, Mr. Liu, but we are not suitable."


    Liu Shengzhi, "I think we are very suitable."


    Just as he finished speaking, his body was suddenly twisted around.


    Liu Shengzhi was about to curse when Qin Hao punched him, "How can the school tolerate scum like you?"


    "Bang"


    The punch landed on Liu Shengzhi''s eye socket, and he immediately covered his eyes.


    Qin Hao kicked him in the stomach, knocking him to the ground.


    By the time Ning Yao reacted, Liu Shengzhi was already lying on the ground.


    She hurriedly said, "Qin Hao, stop it, he''s from the student council."


    Qin Hao, "So what if he''s from the student council? Does that mean they can take advantage of people as they please?


    When he touched you just now, you should have slapped him. Otherwise, it only encourages people like him."


    Ning Yao didn''t speak; she felt Qin Hao made sense, but she couldn''t do it herself.


    Qin Hao, "Let''s go back; this broken student council isn''t worth joining."


    If it were someone else, Qin Hao wouldn''t have intervened, but Ning Yao was his fellow villager and a classmate.


    Seeing her being bullied, and since he witnessed it, he couldn''t just stand by and do nothing.


    Ning Yao realized that Qin Hao was somewhat angry and didn''t dare to speak, following him to the classroom.


    As they neared the classroom, Qin Hao turned to look at Ning Yao behind him, "Do you really want to join the student council? What''s so good about it?"


    Ning Yao, "I want to challenge myself and possibly secure a better job in the future."


    Qin Hao, "Then I''ll ask around for you."


    Ning Yao looked at him, "Thank you, Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao, "But don''t get your hopes up too high; I don''t know anyone from the student council."


    They arrived at the classroom.


    Xu Siyao waved at him, and Qin Hao walked over, "What''s up?"


    "Sit down and we''ll talk."


    Once Qin Hao sat down, Xu Siyao started, "I have something to discuss with you."


    "What is it?" Qin Hao curiously looked at her.


    Xu Siyao, "Ruobing wants you to teach her how to paint."


    Qin Hao was a bit speechless, "I don''t have time to teach her painting, let her find someone else. Do you know anyone from the student council?"


    Xu Siyao, "Ruobing is from the student council, and she''s even the vice-chair."


    [This is the fifth update of the day, at 11:51 PM. I ask for your votes and support!]

 Chapter 277 The Foundation of the Business Empire

    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, "She''s the vice president of the student council?"


    Xu Siyao asked curiously, "What''s wrong? Do you want to join the student council?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "I''m not interested, just asking for Ning Yao. She''s planning to join the student council, but that Liu, the director of the publicity department, wants to take advantage of her."


    Xu Siyao: "Oh, then just tell Ruo Bing about it. Ning Yao is a good student and also a class leader, so it should be easy for her to get in."


    Qin Hao asked, "Okay, where can I usually find her?"


    "The community art studio. Ruobing is a junior, she doesn''t have many classes."


    After finishing the first class, Qin Hao left the classroom, intending to find Fan Ruobing.


    Fan Ruobing had just received his message, asking her for a favor. She probably wouldn''t refuse.


    Just as he walked out of the classroom, he saw He Tingting heading this way.


    "Qin Hao, come with me," He Tingting said urgently upon seeing him.


    When Qin Hao arrived at her office, he asked curiously, "Is something wrong, teacher?"


    He Tingting: "My dad wants to see you."


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "What? Your dad is too hasty, isn''t he? Is he that eager to marry you off?"


    He Tingting rolled her eyes, "What are you thinking about? My dad doesn''t approve of us, so he wants to meet you."


    Qin Hao sighed with relief, it was better he didn''t approve. He was actually worried that He Tingting''s dad might agree, "Where is your dad?"


    "My dad is at the school, he works here too. When you meet him, you have to stay calm and not give anything away."


    He Tingting thought about it but decided not to reveal her dad''s position. She was afraid Qin Hao would be too scared to go if he knew.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Don''t worry, I am a company CEO after all. I''ve met all sorts of important figures."


    He Tingting: "I hope so."


    Qin Hao said, "Let''s go, I have things to do later."


    He Tingting led him out of that office building, and they headed to another one at the back.


    On the way, Qin Hao started, "Teacher, my company is already in the application process, and it will probably take a little over a month to set up the factory.


    Since you have been researching artificial intelligence all this time, would you be interested in coming to work as our company''s chief engineer for AI research?"


    He Tingting was startled, "Me? I''m afraid my expertise in this area might not be as good as yours."


    Qin Hao: "Ten billion, just now... Tingting mentioned it."


    He Qizhi''s expression darkened: "Young man, bragging is not a good habit."


    Just then, Qin Hao''s phone rang. It was a call from Chang Jing.


    He spoke apologetically, "I need to take this call."


    Chang Jing: "Mr. Qin, the company registration has been approved, and funds from all parties have been credited. I''m currently on my way to the Land Bureau."


    Qin Hao replied, "I''ve been troubling you with these matters recently, Mr. Chang. The sooner we secure the land, the better. Then contact Rutong Engineering Group and ask them to start work at the fastest pace."


    He was getting somewhat impatient because, once the research on artificial intelligence robots was complete,


    he wouldn''t have to worry about lacking high-end technology talent, as intelligent robots could completely take their place.


    Just input specific programs, and they could perform precision work.


    For the air energy cars of the future, he could rely entirely on these robots for production and manufacturing.


    And for the many high-tech products in the system store, there would be no worries about production as long as he had artificial intelligence robots.


    He could use this to build his own business empire.


    Artificial intelligence robots were the foundation of his business empire and the most important thing at the current stage.


    ...


    He Tingting nudged Qin Hao, and he came back to the conversation: "Mr. He, the call just now was from the vice president of my company.


    Xinghai High-tech Co., Ltd has been registered, and you can look up the registered capital."


    He Qizhi opened his browser, searched for Xinghai High-tech Co., Ltd, and found that it was established today with a registered capital of ten billion Xuan Country Coins.


    He was somewhat shocked inside¡ª it really was ten billion!


    He knew Qin Hao''s family background very well: a normal family from Jiangshan, not some wealthy tycoon.


    He Qizhi suddenly realized, I didn''t bring him here to talk about this!


    He said to Qin Hao sternly, "The reason I asked you to come today is to tell you: you and my daughter are not suitable for each other, and I will not approve of this."


    He Tingting retorted, "Why isn''t free love suitable? Love has no boundaries, no status."


    "It is absolutely not possible, unless one of you leaves the school," said He Qizhi, worried about the impact.


    A teacher-student relationship sounds romantic, but it could have a bad impact when word gets out.

 Chapter 278 on Xinghui Wine

    Qin Hao opened his mouth and said, "Mr. He, how about we discuss this matter some other day? Let everyone calm down and have a good talk."


    He Qizhi hesitated for a moment after seeing his daughter''s expression, "Alright, but you two must keep your distance. I don''t want the word to get out about this."


    Qin Hao: "Don''t worry, Mr. He, this won''t get out."


    The two of them hadn''t actually done anything, so there really wasn''t anything to worry about.


    After leaving the principal''s office, Qin Hao and He Tingting took a long breath of relief.


    Once they were a good distance away, Qin Hao said to He Tingting, "Mr. He, this situation isn''t going to work. You better find a boyfriend soon."


    He Tingting replied irritably, "Do you think finding a boyfriend is that easy? Don''t you think I want to? The problem is there''s no suitable one."


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, "Teacher, don''t be so picky, someone decent will do."


    He Tingting: "This is a matter of a lifetime, how can I settle for just decent? Our views on marriage are different."


    Qin Hao: "Alright then, you better hurry up. I don''t know when it''ll all come out."


    "Got it." He Tingting was somewhat annoyed.


    As soon as they left the office building, the two split up; Qin Hao headed towards the club office building, and He Tingting went to the laboratory.


    Club Office Building.


    Qin Hao arrived at the Seven-colored Painting Club''s studio, where four or five girls were chatting and painting.


    Seeing Qin Hao come in, the girls paused and then hurriedly got up and came over, "Qin Hao, could you draw a painting for me too?"


    "Yes, I want one too."


    "Draw one for me as well."


    The five girls surrounded him, their fragrance overwhelming, and he even felt several hands roaming over his body.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, wondering what this was all about¡ªit felt like he had entered an ancient brothel.


    "Ahem, alright, go back to what you were doing."


    Fan Ruobing, unable to watch anymore, coughed lightly.


    The girls then dispersed; after knowing the price Qin Hao charged for his paintings since yesterday, they all wanted one.


    Qin Hao breathed a sigh of relief and approached Fan Ruobing: "President, I need a favor from you."


    "Let''s talk inside," Fan Ruobing walked into an interior room.


    This room was her private studio, as it sometimes got too noisy outside, which would affect her.


    The studio was not too small, at about twenty to thirty square meters.


    Fan Ruobing, with delicate features and a tall figure, was approximately one meter sixty-eight, with long, straight thighs.


    He would just find an excuse not to show up when the time comes, Qin Hao thought to himself.


    After leaving the painting club, Qin Hao received a phone call from Kang Youyi.


    Kang Youyi said, "Hao, the auxiliary formulas for the duck neck and duck wings have been signed for and received in Jianghai City."


    Qin Hao replied, "I know, have you guys begun selling them onsite?"


    Kang Youyi replied, "They started going on sale at ten stores this noon, Jiangshan Duck Neck and Jiangshan Duck Wings; we are now branding under Jiangshan."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "How much wine can the distillery produce in a month now?"


    Kang Youyi said, "Tens of thousands of bottles, I''m not sure about the exact figure. Hao, do you want the distillery to slow down production?


    Right now, grains and various auxiliary materials are a huge expense, not to mention labor costs, packaging fees, machine wear and tear, and so on."


    Qin Hao said, "No, if Mr. An''s side lacks funds, transfer some from your end to his.


    We absolutely cannot delay the production. How many bottles have been produced in the factory now?"


    Kang Youyi nodded, "There are more than five thousand bottles, each holding 250 milliliters."


    Qin Hao asked, "How long will Mr. An''s new wine tasting session last?"


    "About three days."


    Qin Hao said, "After the wine tasting session is over, start stocking them at various roasted duck stores, and have the salespeople promote our wine as well. Include this in their performance."


    Fatty said, "Hao, is the unit price still 45? I''ve tasted our wine and it can match Dayuan Group''s high-end wine that costs hundreds per bottle.


    The most important thing is that our wine has the effects of strengthening the body, loosening the muscles, and nourishing the body.


    This is no longer just wine; it''s a health supplement."


    Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao said, "This isn''t a health product, I think this should be called real wine.


    Those that deplete the body and cause diseases aren''t wine; they are slow poisons produced by capitalists to make huge profits."


    He said this because his grandfather had died of liver cirrhosis.


    Qin Hao''s grandfather liked to drink, and he usually drank relatively cheap liquor.


    His grandfather wasn''t a heavy drinker; he just drank a little each day to relieve fatigue, little knowing this was like quenching thirst with poison!


    As chronic exposure built up over time, it developed into a serious illness and finally exploded.


    Qin Hao was not saying there were no good domestic spirits; many big brands had excellent high-end liquors.


    It''s just that good, affordable liquors accessible to the average consumer were few and far between.


    What he now wanted to do was make Xinghui Wine well-known, so everyone could drink healthy liquor.

 Chapter 279 Duck Farm

    Qin Hao had another goal, that was to undermine the Dayuan Group.


    This time, An Linxuan took wine to Nangui Province to attend a new wine tasting event. Barring any surprises, Xinghui Wine should secure a favorable ranking.


    Though it was just a lower-end product of Xinghui Wine, it was still not comparable to those ordinary spirits.


    After chatting with Kang Youyi for a while, a call from Feng Xiangyi came through.


    He hung up on the chubby man''s call and answered Feng Xiangyi''s call, "Mr. Qin, there''s news from Lv Rong."


    Qin Hao asked, "How did it go?"


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "It was successful, and the price was settled at a bit lower than the market rate."


    Qin Hao stated, "I''ll head over in a bit, we''ll talk when I get there."


    He hung up the phone.


    Qin Hao then went to the school''s parking lot, drove straight to Dingfeng Building.


    Just as Qin Hao parked his car and was about to get out, he saw a man and a woman.


    He recognized the woman as Li Jing, the Deputy Manager of the Marketing Department at his company; he didn''t recognize the man.


    But judging from his attire and demeanor, the man appeared to be a wealthy second-generation.


    They seemed to be discussing something, but Qin Hao was too far away to hear.


    Latter, the man left in a BMW sports car, while Li Jing took the elevator back to the company.


    Qin Hao glanced at the departing BMW sports car, got out of his vehicle, and headed towards the elevator.


    Upon arriving at the office, Li Jing was already seated and working at her desk. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao went straight into the office; Nie Si was not there.


    He then came out and entered Feng Xiangyi''s office. Nie Si was talking to her about something, and when they saw Qin Hao, they turned their heads.


    "Mr. Qin," Nie Si quickly called out.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Have the auxiliary materials sent from the head office been received?"


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "They''ve been received; they will be crafted into products at various outlets this afternoon. Mr. Qin, do our duck necks and wings taste alright?"


    Qin Hao, "Good or not, we''ll know after trying this afternoon. What''s going on with Lv Rong?"


    Nie Si started, "Mr. Lv has already signed a contract with the other party, and all the duck farms have been secured.


    The total capital is about 12 million yuan; the finance department has already transferred the money to them. Now, Mr. Lv is managing the duck farms there and will likely return in a few days."@@@@


    Qin Hao commented, "I have purchased the Heshun Duck Farm in Jianghai City; I''ll go over there later to check it out."


    Feng Xiangyi was somewhat surprised, then she remembered the call Qin Hao had made earlier; it must have been Mo Ying who helped him.


    Fortunately, he came today, otherwise, the duck farm would have been a waste of money.


    "Nonsense, who said I was going to cut wages?" Qin Hao''s voice boomed as he walked toward the crowd.


    Everyone turned to look at him, a young man and two young women among them.


    Liu Xiaofeng looked at Qin Hao, his expression stunned. Could he be the new boss?


    "Who are you?" someone asked.


    Qin Hao: "I am your new boss, Qin Hao, the owner of the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company. I just heard someone saying that I was going to cut your wages?


    I don''t even know about this myself, how could he know? Who said that just now? Dare to step forward?"


    Many people turned to look at Liu Xiaofeng.


    Qin Hao turned to him and asked, "May I know who you are?"


    "I am Liu Xiaofeng, the manager of the duck farm," Liu Xiaofeng replied.


    Qin Hao chuckled: "You said I was going to cut wages; may I ask who told you? We haven''t even had a phone call, have we?


    Or did someone from another department tell you? Name the person. If anyone dares to say this, I''ll have him pack up and leave immediately.


    At Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, there''s never talk of cutting wages,


    my parents are ordinary workers, and I know how hard it is for workers at the bottom. I, Qin Hao, am not one of those heartless bosses.


    In my company, wages only increase, there''s never a possibility of a reduction.


    If you don''t believe it, you can ask around, inquire about the wages of the employees at Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    They are now paid based on the performance of the store, and each store in Jianghai typically generates sales of over one hundred thousand a day.


    The monthly turnover is several million, and the salary of the most ordinary employees is over eight thousand, far exceeding the wages of employees in the same industry."


    Liu Xiaofeng was immediately at a loss for words, unsure of what to say. He had not expected Qin Hao to arrive so coincidentally.


    Qin Hao looked at Liu Xiaofeng and said, "It seems that you have been bought by a competitor of my company, right?


    Tell them to spend their time thinking about how to make tastier roasted duck instead of resorting to underhanded tactics."


    Having said that, Qin Hao looked at the ordinary workers: "I want to ask everyone, how much were you earning per month before?"


    "Just over three thousand." Someone replied.


    Qin Hao: "Now, I make you all a promise, as long as you work hard and focus on the development of the duck farm.


    Your salary will never be less than five thousand a month."


    "Great!" Cheers erupted from the crowd.


    Qin Hao looked at two people in the crowd and said, "You two who just cooperated pretty well, leave with him."

 Chapter 280 This is the Boys Dormitory

    Those two people had some regrets and hastily said, "Mr. Qin, give us another chance, we were also deceived by him."


    Qin Hao curiously asked, "How did he deceive you?"


    "He said he''d give us five hundred yuan as a reward, then take us to a new place for a good job position. We really know we were wrong, Mr. Qin, please give us one more chance."


    Qin Hao looked at the two of them and nodded slightly, "You''re both in your thirties or forties, raising a family is not easy, I''ll give you one chance, but whether you can seize it depends on yourselves."


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin, thank you, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao: "This is Mr. Feng, the vice president of the company, and Nie Si, you two, where is your deputy factory manager?"


    Someone replied, "The deputy factory manager went on a business trip a while ago, to visit some more advanced duck farms for study and inspection."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Who is the director?"


    "Mr. Qin, I am the one, my name is Luo Cheng." The person who had just spoken, said.


    Qin Hao: "The main purpose of our visit today is to take a look at the condition of the duck farm and then see how everyone is working."


    If you encounter any difficulties during your work, you can report them to higher management.


    Tomorrow, we will install the company''s office system on your computers here, which will make it easier for everyone to report any issues, and you can also anonymously report any leaders who are not doing their jobs.


    Everyone who should be working, please go ahead with your work now. Mr. Luo, please show us around the duck farm."


    Luo Cheng led the three of them into the first large factory building, and before they even entered, a foul smell hit them in the face.


    Nie Si and Feng Xiangyi frowned.


    Luo Cheng said, "Mr. Qin, the smell inside here is quite strong, why don''t we go to another building to take a look?"@@@@


    Qin Hao, with a stern face, said, "If the workers can stand this smell, why can''t I? Don''t say things like that in the future."


    Luo Cheng was not lightly scared, he hurriedly nodded in agreement, and then led Qin Hao and the other two into the factory building.


    Inside were layers of metal cages filled with ducks, stretching almost out of sight.


    Underneath the ducks, there was an automated manure belt responsible for transporting the duck manure out of the building.


    Workers were picking up duck eggs nearby and then taking them to a back building to be incubated in hatchers. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Mr. Qin, this is our duck raising factory building. There are roughly fifty to sixty thousand ducks in this building, and we have three buildings like this.


    We also have a specific building for incubating duck eggs, and another for raising ducklings."


    Qin Hao and his group followed Luo Cheng around the entire duck farm; most of it was equipped with automated machinery.


    However, certain tasks still needed to be done manually.


    Qin Hao, "Give me a pound of each."


    After purchasing the duck necks and wings, he walked out, where Feng Xiangyi and Nie Si were waiting for him.


    He took out a piece of duck neck to eat and then exclaimed loudly, "Damn, this is so delicious?"


    Several bystanders turned their heads to look. Qin Hao chuckled awkwardly, "Sorry about that, but Jiangshan Duck Neck is just too tasty. I got carried away."


    Originally, a few people were planning to buy Jiujiu Duck Neck, but upon hearing his words, they entered Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant instead.


    Feng Xiangyi and Nie Si were somewhat speechless. Aren''t you worried about being recognized, acting this way as a CEO?


    "Try some, it''s really good," Qin Hao offered the food to the two of them.


    After taking a bite, their eyes lit up, "It really is delicious, especially the mild spiciness. It makes you want more."


    On the way back, Qin Hao asked, "Which company is behind the Delicious Duck Neck store?"


    "Tang Group. The Tang Group owns fifteen percent of Meiwei Group, and these stores are probably acting under the Tang Group''s direction."


    After dropping the two off at the company, Qin Hao drove back to the university.


    Back in the dorm, Zhao De and the other two were there. They had won their basketball game in the afternoon, and it was an easy victory.


    Qin Hao had been out all afternoon, and to say he wasn''t tired would be a lie. When he got back to the dorm, he lay down on his bed.


    But he had not been lying down for long when a knock at the door sounded.


    Zhao De went to open the door, and then there was a cry of surprise. He hurried back in.


    The fat guy, Chen Ping, turned his head curiously, only to see a woman with a cool demeanor walking in.


    It was none other than Fan Ruobing. She swept the room with her gaze, and though Zhao De was shirtless, her expression didn''t change at all, as if she hadn''t seen anything.


    "Qin Hao."


    Hearing a woman''s voice, Qin Hao sat up in bed. When he saw Fan Ruobing, he was stunned.


    He stuttered, "Big... Big sister, this is the men''s dorm."


    Fan Ruobing said, "You promised to come at six, and now it''s already six-ten."


    Qin Hao said awkwardly, "Sorry, President, I really got a bit tired today. How about we talk about it tomorrow?"


    Fan Ruobing didn''t speak but stared at him with her beautiful eyes.


    After a dozen seconds, Qin Hao gave in, "Fine, I''ll go, okay?"


    ...

 Chapter 281 Basketball Game

    Qin Hao had a feeling that if he did not go, Fan Ruobing could sit there watching him all night long.


    She was a strange person, a very strange person indeed.


    The fatty, Zhao De, and Chen Ping were dumbfounded. Damn, was the second brother''s luck with the ladies too freaking strong?


    Qin Hao got dressed and walked out with Fan Ruobing. Along the way, many male students looked at them with disbelieving expressions.


    How could such a beautiful woman run into the men''s dorm?


    On the way, Fan Ruobing didn''t speak, and Qin Hao didn''t know what to say either. The two walked silently to the society office building.


    Arriving at the studio, it was already empty.


    Fan Ruobing fetched paper, ink, and brushes, and said, "Paint."


    Qin Hao asked in surprise, "Paint what?"


    Fan Ruobing: "The one you painted that day, I really like that painting."


    Qin Hao stood there and began to paint, while she watched closely by his side.


    ...


    The tides of time are easy to wane, a bit of heat hard to retain.


    In the blink of an eye, it was the end of October. The weather grew cooler, and autumn was in full swing.


    In recent days, eight more Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurants appeared in Jianghai City. Their rapid expansion caught the attention of many in Jianghai.


    The downfall of Delicious Duck Neck in Jianghai City demonstrated Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s strength and potential.


    At the Jiangshan Base, Kang Youyi and others had already renovated fifteen storefronts in DL City, Shuinan Province.


    At the same time, promotional activities had been underway for three to four days, and on the first of November, all fifteen storefronts would open for business simultaneously.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant now sold not only roasted duck but also duck necks, duck wings, and Xinghui Wine from the Jiangshan Company''s range.


    Xinghui Wine won first place at the new wine tasting event, beating all major wine companies'' new products in taste, price, and health benefits.


    The victory of Xinghui Wine brought a lot of liquor distributors to Xinghui Winery.


    Although the quantity required for the first order was not large, it opened up a bit of the market.


    In the beginning, Xinghui Wine sold quite a lot, especially due to the brand effect of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    Whether it was roasted duck, duck necks, or duck wings, all were loved by customers, who tended to trust new products introduced by Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    Sometimes, this kind of intangible reputation is very important.


    In just a few days, Xinghui Wine had taken up nearly half of the liquor market for Jiangshan.


    Xia Qing''s live streaming popularity had stabilized at eighty or ninety thousand viewers, occasionally breaking a hundred thousand.


    Even without Qin Hao spending money, her daily income was already over fifty thousand, plus Qin Hao''s lavish spending of several tens of millions.


    This month, her income was close to ten million¡ªa truly terrifying figure.


    ...


    Today, just after nine in the morning, there was a semi-final basketball game at the indoor basketball court of Jianghai University.


    Qin Hao''s classmates had all come here, and Zhao De and the others who were about to compete were warming up.


    Their opponents were Class 2 of the Sports Academy, known for their strong basketball skills and undefeated record.


    Qin Hao''s class had also never lost, mainly thanks to Zhao De''s strong prowess.


    There were many who came to watch the game, lovers of basketball, both male and female.


    "Qin Hao, the substitute player, finally showed up today," Ning Yao said, sitting next to him.


    Qin Hao, "Just dropping by to sit for a while."


    Xu Siyao, sitting beside them, said with a smile, "Qin Hao, why don''t you play for a bit later? We''ll cheer for you."


    "No need. I''m just here for the excitement."


    "Don''t let him go on the court. It would be an embarrassment for our class. Don''t worry, with me here, we can''t lose. Class 2 of the Sports Academy isn''t that strong," Zhao De said, confident in himself.


    Clad in a red jersey, Huo Qiang walked out from behind. Seeing Qin Hao made him feel uncomfortable.


    He knew Qin Hao was skilled, but surely you can''t hit me just for speaking a bit of truth, can he? So he felt somewhat fearless.


    "Huo Qiang, the important thing about the competition is to take part, it''s not about losing face," Ning Yao chastised him.


    Huo Qiang chuckled with a hint of sarcasm, "The class president is right, it''s not shameful."


    Qin Hao gave him a nonchalant glance, scaring Huo Qiang into hurrying onto the basketball court, no longer daring to speak here.


    The match began shortly, and from the start, it was close, with the score fluctuating between both sides.


    But by the third quarter, the Sports Academy started to exert their strength, and the gap between the teams began to show, with the score gradually pulling apart.


    The athletes from the Sports Academy had superior physical fitness and skill level. Aside from Zhao De, who was still doing alright, Huo Qiang and the others were simply being outplayed.


    At that moment, a player from Class 2 of the Sports Academy, holding the ball beyond the three-point line, faced Huo Qiang''s sweaty defense. With a feint maneuver, he left Huo Qiang sprawling on the ground, then with a look of disdain, he easily scored a three-pointer.


    The score now stood at 81:101, Qin Hao''s class trailing by a full twenty points.


    Laughter came from the Sports Academy''s Class 2. Huo Qiang became visibly frustrated and cursed, "Laughing at what? Idiots."


    "M*therf*cker, playing so trash and still cursing," retorted a player from Class 2 of the Sports Academy.


    "How can you still have the face to play with such terrible skills? Worthless trash."

 Chapter 282 Fierce

    "Loser, you''re already behind by twenty points. Can''t afford to lose, huh?"


    At that moment, many people from Class 2 were cursing him from the outside.


    The game on the court was stopped, with a little over a minute left in the third quarter.


    A basketball game consists of four quarters, each lasting ten minutes.


    Zhao De frowned slightly, thinking Huo Qiang had no real skill yet liked to show off unnecessarily.


    He walked over and said, "Come on, the game''s still on."


    Huo Qiang, "I''m not playing with you, I quit, whoever the hell wants to play, plays."


    Zhao De''s face turned awkward. Huo Qiang''s voice was loud, and everyone around heard him. If he responded, it would show discord in the class, but if he didn''t, he would completely lose face.


    "Bang"


    A basketball flew in from outside the court and hit Huo Qiang on the head with a "bang."


    His eyes rolled up as he passed out, and the crowd followed the path of the ball, only to see a person standing up from his seat.


    It was Qin Hao.


    Initially, he didn''t plan to intervene, but Huo Qiang was going too far later.


    Qin Hao walked over to Huo Qiang, then turned to the bystanders, a plump guy and Chen Ping, saying, "Just drag him aside, no need for the infirmary, he''ll wake up on his own in a while."


    The crowd exchanged glances, thinking, holy crap, this guy is too tough.


    Qin Hao told the referee, "Sir, we can continue now."


    The referee glanced at Huo Qiang lying outside the court, hesitated for a moment, but blew the whistle to resume the game.


    The ball was with their team. The inbounder passed the ball to Zhao De, who began advancing it.


    Just as he crossed mid-court, two players came to trap him.


    They knew Zhao De''s skills well; he was incredibly good. As long as they focused on him, Class 1 of Computer Science could not win.


    Zhao De was initially worried about this tactic, but now with Qin Hao on the court, he smiled.


    Guarding me? Soon you''ll see how ridiculously wrong you are.


    He passed the ball mid-air to Qin Hao, who, standing outside the three-point line, didn''t wait for the defenders to reach him and shot directly.


    "Swoosh"


    The basketball traced a beautiful arc in the air and fell into the hoop.


    Three points!


    Class 1 of Computer Science erupted in cheers; the shot was too cool.


    Qin Hao and Zhao De were among the five players who took the field. The sports class team had the ball, and they were much more cautious this time.


    Each player marked a man, and Qin Hao was responsible for guarding the opposing team''s best player, who was strong at dribbling and breaking through defenses.


    Under Qin Hao''s tight defense, his opponent couldn''t break through, which frustrated him.


    Ultimately, he had no choice but to pass the ball to someone else.


    The other player shot from beyond the three-point line, the basketball hit the rim, bounced into the air, and then fell.


    Zhao De jumped up and grabbed the ball; his height and jumping ability were impressive.


    On the court, he not only played as a forward but also as a center and had to score as well, which was exhausting.


    Now with Qin Hao, he was much more relaxed. After grabbing the rebound, he vigorously passed the ball to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao caught the ball, dribbled past midcourt with his right hand, while the opposing small forward closely guarded him, wary of him shooting a three-pointer.


    The others were quickly getting back in defense.


    Qin Hao suddenly stepped forward with his right foot, and his body swayed slightly to the right.


    At the same time, the basketball moved from under his crotch to his left hand.


    The player, anticipating a breakthrough by Qin Hao, quickly shifted to his right.


    But at that moment, Qin Hao dribbled with his left hand and rushed past him from the other side, scoring an easy two points with a layup.


    The feint was simple yet required speed.


    The teams went back and forth, and the score gradually closed. With two minutes left in the game, the teams were tied.


    Now with the ball, Qin Hao had entered the game zone.


    The opposing team had initially focused on defending Zhao De, but now they had switched to guarding Qin Hao tightly.


    As two players approached him, Qin Hao had no intention of passing, dribbling straight toward them.


    Just before the collision, he spun around, eluding one, but another defender was still behind him.


    Qin Hao''s body swayed left and right, adjusting his steps.


    The defending player only lasted a second or two before stumbling to the ground, and Qin Hao shot another three-pointer, hitting it again.


    "Damn, was that the Butterfly Step?" spectators exclaimed as they watched Qin Hao''s mesmerizing footwork, their eyes wide.


    "What''s a Butterfly Step? It looked so cool," a curious girl asked.


    The recent display by Qin Hao dazzled the crowd, essentially a visual feast.


    "A signature move by a legendary superstar in NBA history."


    [Vote please!]

 Chapter 283 Han Meng Discharged from Hospital

    In the end, the basketball game was won by Computer Science Class 1 with an eight-point lead over Physical Education Class 2.


    Ning Yao and the others cheered, and many girls looked at Qin Hao with an admiring gaze.


    Qin Hao''s performance on the court was dazzling, his movements graceful and fluid, captivating and elegant.


    After leaving the indoor basketball court, Qin Hao received a call from Zhao Qian, "Qin Hao, have you guys finished the game? Shall we go to the hospital to see Qiao''er and the others?"


    Qin Hao said, "Yeah, it''s about time for their discharge, I''ll wait for you in the parking lot."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao went to the parking lot and soon enough, Zhao Qian arrived.


    Today she was wearing tight leggings with a loose long-sleeved top that covered her hips, making it look like a short skirt.


    "You didn''t have to wait too long, did you?" Zhao Qian said apologetically as she approached.


    Qin Hao shook his head, "Get in the car, we haven''t seen Qiao''er and the others for several days."


    On the way, Zhao Qian initiated a conversation, "Your company is called Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, right?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Yes, you know about it?" Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire


    Zhao Qian said with a smile, "I heard from a friend. I''ve tried the roasted duck, duck neck, and duck wings from your company; they''re super delicious."


    Qin Hao joked, "I didn''t expect you to be my customer, quite an honor."


    As they talked, the two arrived at the hospital.


    After parking the car, they took the elevator together to the fifth floor outside Han Meng''s ward.


    Qin Hao knocked on the door, and Han Qiaoer quickly opened it to see Qin Hao and Zhao Qian at the door.


    Her face lit up with surprise, "Big Brother, Big Sister, you''re here."


    Qin Hao walked in and patted her head, "Did you miss us?"


    Han Qiaoer nodded, "I did, I think about you every day."


    Zhao Qian placed some snacks she had just bought on the side table, "Qiao''er, you''re so adorable. Tell me, who do you miss more? Big Brother or Big Sister?"


    Qiao''er hesitated before saying, "Both, a lot."


    With a smile on her face, Han Meng said, "Qiao''er, haven''t I told you? From now on, you should call them uncle and auntie."


    Since Qin Hao and Zhao Qian called her big sister, Qiao''er calling them big brother and big sister was a bit off in terms of seniority.


    ...


    At that moment, a doctor walked in, "May I ask which one of you is Mr. Qin?"


    Han Meng''s cheeks instantly turned red, and she gave a mosquito-like "Mhm" in response.


    Feeling the warmth of Qin Hao''s large hands, Han Meng''s cheeks grew even redder, and she kept her head down, too embarrassed to look at anyone.


    Qin Hao placed her in the passenger seat. The front seat could recline to prevent bumping her legs, as the space in the back was too small.


    Han Qiao''er sat in the back seat, which was already full of food and clothing, leaving no room for another person.


    Seeing this, Zhao Qian said with a smile, "I''ll head back first. I''ll come visit you another day."


    "Mhm, Auntie, remember to come find us," Han Qiao''er said.


    Qin Hao drove slowly out of the hospital, thinking it over before deciding to settle Han Meng and her daughter into his villa.


    Renting an apartment for the two would be impractical, as Han Meng had disabled legs and Han Qiao''er was too young to take care of her mother on her own.


    Along the way, Han Meng still had a blush on her cheeks, her head hung low, not daring to look at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao, seeing how easily embarrassed she was, was somewhat speechless. What had he done, really? He simply lifted her into the car, was that not a bit much?


    Han Qiao''er was somewhat excited and asked curiously, "Uncle, where is your place?"


    Qin Hao replied, "By the sea. Later, Uncle will take you to experience the vastness of the ocean."


    Han Qiao''er''s eyes lit up with anticipation, "Wow, really? I''ve never seen the sea before."


    He didn''t drive very fast, mainly because he was afraid that braking too abruptly might injure Han Meng again.


    After about half an hour, they finally arrived at Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    By then, it was nearly twelve o''clock at noon.


    After parking the car in the villa''s yard, he and Han Qiao''er got out.


    Looking at his residence, Han Qiao''er was stunned, "It''s so beautiful! Uncle, is this where you live?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Qiao''er, from now on, this is your home too."


    He then took out a wheelchair and moved Han Meng from the car to the wheelchair.


    Han Meng''s cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, and she couldn''t bring herself to look at him.


    Qin Hao pushed her into the house where Han Meng and Han Qiao''er were dumbfounded by the magnificent decor.


    Qin Hao said, "Qiao''er, come with me to fetch our things."


    Together, they brought everything from the car and then Qin Hao cleared a bedroom on the first floor.


    Qin Hao said, "You both can stay in this room from now on."

 Chapter 284 Exchange Student

    Han Qiao''er wheeled her mother into the room, and both were pleased by the decor and the large bed.


    Speaking softly, Han Meng said, "Mr. Qin, I still haven''t repaid you for the medical expenses, and now you''re providing a place for me and my daughter to stay. I don''t know how to thank you enough."


    Qin Hao replied, "Meng, I really like Qiao''er, and it''s fate that we met. It doesn''t matter whether you repay the money or not. Don''t call me Mr. Qin; I''m a few years younger than you. Just call me Xiao Hao."


    "Uncle, you''re so kind," Han Qiao''er said, lifting her delicate, pretty face to look at him.


    Han Qiao''er resembled Han Meng quite a lot. Although she was only twelve or thirteen, the semblance to her mother''s beauty was already apparent¡ªa true little beauty.


    Qin Hao said, "Meng, you shouldn''t sit in your wheelchair for too long. Should I place you on the bed?"


    "That would be a trouble for you, Xiao Hao," replied Han Meng, her face flushing instantly.


    Seeing her reaction, Qin Hao smiled wordlessly, then lifted her and laid her on the bed.


    After placing Han Meng down, he couldn''t help but ask, "Meng, how old are you?"


    "I''m 28," she replied.


    "And what about Qiao''er?"


    "Qiao''er is ten, according to the traditional count."


    Qin Hao glanced at Han Qiao''er; he had initially thought she was twelve or thirteen years old.


    Perhaps due to her family circumstances, she seemed more mature than her peers.


    "Qiao''er, come turn on the TV and watch it with your mom for a while. I''ll go cook," Qin Hao said.


    There was a 32-inch TV in their bedroom¡ªperfect for watching inside the room.


    Han Qiao''er turned on the TV and sat by the bed, engrossed in it.


    They had hardly ever watched television, only occasionally seeing advertisements on the big screens in the square.


    Han Meng came from the impoverished mountainous region of Nangui Province. When she first left her village, it had only just gotten electricity, and only one or two households possessed a television set, which was in black and white.


    When she first arrived in Jianghai City, she was astounded by its prosperity¡ªat stark contrast to her hometown, it seemed like heaven on Earth.


    Nangui Province was the poorest among all of Xuan Country''s provinces, with the lowest GDP per capita.


    Mountainous areas were scattered throughout, and for some people, getting to the county town involved a seven- or eight-hour trek through the mountains¡ªsome paths were steep and treacherous, with immense dangers.


    About half an hour later, Qin Hao finished preparing lunch.


    "Qiao''er, come and eat," he called out.@@@@


    "Okay," replied Han Qiao''er promptly, and after washing her hands, she sat at the dining chair.


    She spoke up, "Uncle, that TV show was really interesting."


    Taken aback, Qin Hao asked, "You''ve never watched TV before?"


    Qin Hao said, "Meng, drink this cup of water. It has medicine I mixed in it, and it should cure your fracture."


    Han Meng paused, "Really?"


    Qin Hao affirmed, "Mm, drink it, Meng."


    Han Meng drank all the water in the cup.


    At that moment, Qin Hao''s phone rang; it was Du Wanrou''s call.


    He walked to the living room with his phone, "What''s the matter, Wanrou?"


    Du Wanrou said, "Qin Hao, there''s something I want to talk to you about."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What''s the matter? What is it?"


    Du Wanrou explained, "Our school has a few exchange student spots, and the teacher asked me about it. I want to go."


    Qin Hao asked in confusion, "Exchange student? Where to?"


    Du Wanrou replied, "To Haji University in the Federation, for half a semester. I can come back by the end of the year."


    "If you want to go, then go, I respect your decision," Qin Hao said.


    Actually, Qin Hao didn''t want her to go, but Du Wanrou wasn''t his puppet; she had her own thoughts and aspirations.


    Du Wanrou''s decision to go was also multi-faceted; she wanted to be able to help Qin Hao in business in the future, not just be a decorative vase.


    Qin Hao''s company was growing day by day, and although she never showed it, she had her own inner worries.


    She feared one day Qin Hao might leave her because she was incompetent.


    She feared one day Qin Hao would choose a woman who could help him more in business.


    To make herself better, to be able to share Qin Hao''s troubles and solve them, she decided to go to Haji as an exchange student.


    Feng Xiangyi also supported her going, saying: "While Qin Hao''s affection for you is still strong, make yourself better, make him unable to leave you."


    Du Wanrou stated, "Mm, I''m leaving the day after tomorrow."


    "That soon?" Qin Hao frowned slightly.


    Du Wanrou explained, "It''s the school''s requirement, and there are over a dozen others going with me."


    Qin Hao asked, "Where are you now? I''ll come to see you."


    In a soft voice, Du Wanrou replied, "Mm, I''m at my aunt''s place."


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    [Fourth update, please vote for me seeing as I work so hard every day! Just had a big storm and a power outage, uploaded the chapter using mobile hotspot.]


    ```

 Chapter 285 A Bit Embarrassing

    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao told Qiao''er and Han Meng to take care at home, then he left the house.


    He drove to the residential area where Du Wanrou lived.


    Du Wanrou was at home alone, sorting out her clothes and belongings.


    When Qin Hao entered, he looked at her, and Du Wanrou walked over and gently hugged him.


    "Girl, why are you suddenly going to be an exchange student?" Qin Hao hugged her, asking somewhat reluctantly.


    Du Wanrou: "There, I can learn more advanced management concepts, so I can help you when your company grows."


    Qin Hao felt touched: "It''s unfamiliar territory over there, you have to take care of yourself."


    Du Wanrou: "Mhm, you also need to take care of yourself when I''m not here."


    Qin Hao carried her into the bedroom.


    "Today, you have to make up for the many months ahead."


    Du Wanrou''s cheeks turned red with shyness, her eyes dreamy as she looked at him.


    Qin Hao could tell that she was also reluctant, she didn''t want to go to the faraway Federation either.


    ...


    Around five o''clock, Feng Xiangyi came back, entered her room, and saw a man''s shoes on the shoe rack, pausing for a moment.


    Then she looked towards Du Wanrou''s bedroom door.


    Just then, she heard sounds that made her face burn with embarrassment, and she blushed instantly.


    She took a deep breath and hurried back to her own room.


    Their bedrooms adjoined each other, and sitting on the bed, Feng Xiangyi could still vaguely hear some sounds, which made her feel uncomfortable.


    Thankfully, the sounds didn''t last long before disappearing.


    Inside Du Wanrou''s bedroom.


    Du Wanrou whispered, "I just heard the sound of a door opening. Is it Auntie coming back?"


    Qin Hao looked at the clock, it was almost half-past five: "Let me go check."


    He got dressed and stepped out of the room, seeing Feng Xiangyi''s slippers still there; she must not be back.


    Qin Hao then looked towards the kitchen and the living room, with no sign of Feng Xiangyi.


    "Mhm, be careful on your way."


    ...


    Seeing Qin Hao leave, Feng Xiangyi felt relieved; being caught during such a moment was certainly awkward.


    She maintained an outward calm, but inwardly she felt embarrassed.


    Especially since the two of them were in a superior-subordinate relationship; without maintaining some composure, how would they face each other in the future!


    Qin Hao went downstairs and drove towards the school; he was due at the studio at six o''clock to teach Fan Ruobing how to paint.


    Although he had taught her for many days, progress was not very noticeable.


    Such things couldn''t be learned in a few days; they required years of diligent practice.


    Even though they spent a lot of time together, their relationship hadn''t progressed emotionally.


    Over all these days, their conversations could be counted on one hand, and it was difficult to define their relationship - it wasn''t exactly friendship, but it also wasn''t entirely unlike it.


    Fan Ruobing''s personality baffled him; she exuded strangeness from every angle.


    He parked the car outside the school and then bought a rolled pancake and porridge nearby.


    "Qin Hao?" A voice called out from not too far away.


    He turned to look, and Su Jia, Feng Ying, and a few others were buying food; they were Ning Yao''s roommates and Qin Hao''s classmates.


    The group widened their eyes as they watched him, then glanced at the Lamborghini sports car beside him.


    When the car arrived, it had already attracted a lot of attention. Seeing Qin Hao coming down from it, Su Jia and the others were dumbfounded and in disbelief.


    Qin Hao was driving such a nice car? What did he do for a living?


    Qin Hao looked at them, smiled faintly, and nodded as an acknowledgment.


    He bought two portions of rolled pancakes and millet porridge, which he had been doing for these days.


    He wasn''t buying such food for Fan Ruobing because he liked her or wanted to pursue her.


    It was because it felt embarrassing to eat alone while Fan Ruobing just watched.


    Fan Ruobing had never thanked him either. The first time Qin Hao offered it to her, she hesitated for a moment before accepting it, and it later became a routine.


    "Wow, that''s a Lamborghini, Qin Hao actually drives such a good car?" Su Jia watched Qin Hao''s retreating figure, her eyes filled with complex emotions.


    Feng Ying: "He''s been so low-key, not showing off in class, who would have thought he''s a hidden tycoon."


    Han Jing: "Let''s go and find out what his family does later."

 Chapter 286 Not So Good

    Six or seven minutes later.


    Qin Hao arrived at the art studio, where Fan Ruobing was seated, looking at the painting from the previous day, waiting for him.


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    Fan Ruobing, "You are five minutes late again today."


    Qin Hao was a bit embarrassed; he was never this punctual for class, "I got held up with something. Haven''t finished dinner yet, have you? Let''s talk after you eat."


    He placed the rolled pancakes and rice porridge beside her.


    Fan Ruobing took a bite and then looked at him, "I don''t like cilantro."


    Qin Hao, "Picky even when someone buys you food. Be content, big sister, and besides, cilantro has medicinal benefits: indigestion, loss of appetite, and more. It''s good stuff."


    Fan Ruobing hesitated for a moment and then continued to eat.


    Five minutes later, after finishing their meal, Qin Hao said to her, "Start painting, let me see if you''ve made any progress."


    Fan Ruobing began to paint, and Qin Hao sat down and started playing with his phone.


    A few minutes later, Fan Ruobing set down her brush and looked at him, "I still can''t capture the feeling of your painting. Teach me again."


    Qin Hao walked over to look at her painting, a plum blossom tree, mediocre at best.


    He said, "Practice makes perfect. Just keep painting."


    Fan Ruobing, "Teach me your technique for painting plum blossoms. It''s not just about painting more; there''s a knack to it."


    Qin Hao, "What technique? I just got good because I painted a lot."


    Fan Ruobing, looking at him, "Hold my hand as you paint, so once I''ve learned, you won''t have to come teach me every day."


    Qin Hao, surprised, "Hold your hand? How can I teach that way?"


    Fan Ruobing, "By holding my hand as you paint. That way, I can clearly see your movements and techniques."


    Qin Hao looked at her fair and slender fingers, "Is this okay?"@@@@


    "Why not? Hurry up; don''t waste time," Fan Ruobing said as she changed the paper.


    Having said that, Fan Ruobing bent down beside the desk.


    Qin Hao walked over, stood behind her, and then leaned forward slightly, gently grasping her fair, delicate hand.


    Fan Ruobing, at another desk with a brush in hand, focused and serious.


    Qin Hao felt a bit embarrassed; fortunately, he hadn''t been discovered, or he truly didn''t know how Fan Ruobing would react.


    Scream? Get physical?


    A few minutes later, Fan Ruobing turned to him, a glint of happiness in her eyes, "It really works. I feel like I''ve made a lot of progress."


    Qin Hao offered a dry laugh, "That''s good, it wasn''t in vain that I put in so much effort."


    Fan Ruobing, in a tone of no debate, said, "Continue teaching me like this tomorrow."


    *Thud*


    Qin Hao nearly fell to the floor, pleading, "Club President, isn''t once enough?"


    Fan Ruobing looked at him with her beautiful eyes, unsmiling, but Qin Hao felt the temperature in the studio drop several degrees.


    Her lips parted lightly, "Are you unwilling to teach me?"


    Qin Hao explained, "It''s not that I''m unwilling, Club President, but men and women should keep their distance. It''s too intimate when I teach you. If others see this, it could tarnish your reputation, and of course, it might affect me a little too."


    After speaking, Qin Hao mentally gave himself a pat on the back for his quick thinking.


    Fan Ruobing paused and then said, "I don''t mind. What about you?"


    Ah?


    Qin Hao didn''t know how to respond. Fan Ruobing herself had said it didn''t matter; how should he reply?


    "Club President, I still feel it''s not quite right."


    Fan Ruobing, "Say what''s not right directly."


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment and finally confessed, "I''m a normal man, and you''re so beautiful.


    I''m afraid I''ll react in a way that will make us both uncomfortable."


    A physiological reaction?


    Fan Ruobing spoke without giving it another thought, "That''s fine, as long as it''s not deliberate."


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; she could accept even that?


    He couldn''t quite fathom what was going on in Fan Ruobing''s mind!


    Fan Ruobing said to him, "Come and see my painting. Have I improved since just now?"

 Chapter 287 The Buddha Speaks

    Qin Hao looked over and nodded, "Not bad, there''s indeed improvement."


    Fan Ruobing''s eyes lit up with joy, and a rare smile appeared on the corners of her mouth as she continued to paint.


    Soon, it was seven o''clock.


    Qin Hao spoke, "Time''s up, shall we go together?"


    Fan Ruobing nodded slightly, and they both turned off the lights in the studio and then walked outside together.


    Leaving the office building, they walked towards the campus exit together.


    Fan Ruobing was stunned for a moment, "Aren''t you going back to the dorm?"


    Qin Hao, "I have some things to do, I won''t be staying in the dorm these days."


    Fan Ruobing didn''t speak again, and they continued towards the campus exit side by side, looking like strangers despite walking together.


    Before they reached the school gate, a Mercedes-Benz sports car slowly drove past them.


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    Yet neither of them turned to look, as it wasn''t enough to arouse their interest.


    The window of the sports car slowly rolled down, and Xu Siyao called out, "Qin Hao, Ruobing."


    Turning their heads to look, Fan Ruobing nodded slightly without speaking.


    Qin Hao looked at her car and smiled, "When did you switch to this car?"


    Xu Siyao gave an awkward smile, "My dad bought it during high school. How come you two are together?"


    In the past, she was a well-known rebellious girl in Jianghai City, frequently seen speeding and in bars.


    It was only after a serious illness that her personality had changed dramatically.


    Qin Hao, "We were painting in the studio just now."


    Xu Siyao seemed thoughtful; she remembered that Qin Hao initially didn''t want to go, so why did he start teaching again?


    She spoke, "Qin Hao, my dad said you should come over for lunch the day after tomorrow. Ms. Yang will be there too."


    Remembering what Xu Jiekang had told him previously, he felt somewhat reluctant, but it wouldn''t be good not to go.


    He nodded, "Hmm, okay."


    "Then I''ll go first."


    "Drive safely."


    "Got it."


    ...


    After leaving the school, Qin Hao and Fan Ruobing boarded their cars and drove away.


    Many fans were very understanding.


    Xia Qing opened random matching, and a few minutes later the screen split in two, stunning both parties because they were matched with a broadcaster named Yu Mi.


    Qin Hao was also stunned because the person they matched with was Li Tianpeng.


    Xia Qing felt a little awkward; she hadn''t expected to be matched with Li Tianpeng.


    The fans also expressed speechless emotions, saying this coincidence was too much.


    Li Tianpeng, who watched Xia Qing every day with a minor account, knowing that Spade A wasn''t around, spoke up, "Brothers, cast your votes, let some people see the strength of our Yu Mi army."


    Xia Qing pretended not to see the other party, campaigning for votes in her live streaming room. Losing would be embarrassing and might lead to losing fans.


    Li Tianpeng''s votes were rising quickly; he was seeking revenge for a past grudge.


    Apart from Spade A, Xia Qing''s side had almost no big supporters.


    Because on this platform, rich patrons donating money to female broadcasters often did so with ulterior motives.


    In recent days, Qin Hao had been very aggressive on this platform, having already donated over forty million, and last week alone, he had secured four weekly top positions for Xia Qing.


    The other rich patrons knew they couldn''t compete with Qin Hao, so almost none came forward.


    At this moment, Li Tianpeng spoke up, "A brother mentioned he saw this female broadcaster in a Beihai Country action movie. Is that true? Oops, that can''t be."


    This blatant sarcasm made Xia Qing visibly uncomfortable and angered her fans as well.


    Many people rushed to the opposite live streaming room to curse Li Tianpeng relentlessly.


    Li Tianpeng didn''t care, continuing, "A brother said this female broadcaster escaped from Wan City.


    Buddy, you''re really funny, but I think you''re right. She does look like a high-priced girl from Wan City."


    Xia Qing wasn''t very good at insulting people, and in front of hundreds of thousands of live viewers, she did not want to lose her composure by cursing.


    She smiled and said, "I remember an ancient master once said,


    ''When people deceive me, insult me, slander me, curse me, laugh at me, cheat me, how should I deal with it?


    Just endure them, let them, be patient with them, ignore them; in a few more years, you''ll see what becomes of me without them."


    "666666, worthy of being a college student, that''s some high-level talk."


    "Awesome, is the goddess also a top student?"


    ...


    Although Li Tianpeng didn''t quite understand what she meant, he could guess, and he did not look very pleased.


    He wasn''t just anyone; he started changing the subject, "Some people try so hard to act cool without the capability. Ah, I''ve already got seven hundred thousand votes, how come she only has two hundred thousand?"


    "Damn, Yu Mi is becoming more and more disgusting."


    "It''s just because our big brother isn''t here, you think you''re something!"

 Chapter 288 Forget About Him

    Qin Hao''s eyes narrowed slightly when he heard Li Tianpeng''s veiled insults.


    He still had several million in his account, which he began to use on his phone.


    Xia Qing''s votes skyrocketed in just a few seconds, catching up to Li Tianpeng''s numbers.


    "Holy crap, Ace A is actually here."


    "Big Bro, that guy on the other side is showing off, take him down."


    "Bro, let''s follow Big Bro''s lead and give it a push together."


    Instantly, gifts flew across Xia Qing''s live broadcast, and her votes increased at an alarming speed.


    Although Li Tianpeng was also spending, he couldn''t keep up with Qin Hao''s pace.@@@@


    He was spending on yachts at 999 each, ten at a time. That''s almost a hundred thousand votes with each purchase.


    Qin Hao didn''t stop until the PK time ended.


    The moment the server-wide broadcast sounded, tens of thousands of viewers flooded into Xia Qing''s live room.


    Li Tianpeng''s face was an embarrassing shade of iron blue¡ªhe had clearly seen that Qin Hao wasn''t around, only to find out that he had been invisible.


    After being outbid the last time for a Weekly Star rating, Li Tianpeng lost some fans, and today, his lost composure disappointed many more.


    The punishment time ended along with the match, and throughout it all, Xia Qing did not pay Li Tianpeng any attention.


    She messaged Qin Hao, "Ace A, why were you invisible today?"


    Qin Hao replied, "It''s inconvenient for me to go online with my phone, so I went invisible."


    Xia Qing: "Ace A, thank you for always supporting and accompanying me in silence. I''m very touched. You''re the first person to be so kind to me."


    Qin Hao revealed a smile upon reading her message, "Are you thinking about how to confess to me?"


    Xia Qing: "Ace A, you''d be perfect if you weren''t so narcissistic."


    She chatted with Qin Hao while also talking to her fans in the live broadcast.


    After a moment of thought, Qin Hao asked her, "Do you have someone you like?"


    Xia Qing replied, "Yes!"


    Qin Hao joked, "It''s not me, is it?"


    Xia Qing: "No, it''s a high school classmate of mine."


    Qin Hao: "Oh? Can you tell me more about it?"


    ...


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    Qin Hao was taken aback; she hadn''t been to the restroom since this morning, had she?


    That hadn''t crossed his mind.


    "Meng, I''ll carry you there. You can''t hold it, it could cause problems." After saying this, he gently lifted Han Meng and carried her into the bathroom.


    Han Meng was wearing just her hospital gown, with nothing underneath.


    "Meng, shall I help you take it off?" Qin Hao couldn''t afford to think too much now.


    Urination is a normal physiological elimination process, a way of detoxifying, and holding it in is bad for the bladder and kidneys.


    It could lead to a buildup of toxins and trigger a range of illnesses.


    He struggled quite a bit to get Han Meng out of her hospital gown.


    Han Meng''s cheeks were burning hot, and even her neck and ears were red.


    After a quick wipe, he redressed Han Meng in her gown and carried her back to bed.


    He tucked her in and said to Han Meng and Han Qiao''er, "Go to sleep early, and call me if you need anything."


    "Mm, good night, Uncle."


    Quitting Han Meng''s bedroom, Qin Hao took a deep breath and lay down to sleep when he got back to his room.


    The next morning, he awoke early.


    Coming downstairs from the upper floor, he freshened up first and then knocked on Han Meng''s bedroom door before entering.


    Han Qiao''er and Han Meng were both awake. Han Qiao''er greeted him with a smile, "Uncle."


    Han Meng''s cheeks were slightly red, avoiding Qin Hao''s gaze.


    "Meng, do you need to go to the restroom?"


    With her cheeks flushing red, Han Meng felt too embarrassed to speak.


    Han Qiao''er chimed in, "Mom, Uncle is asking you something, why are you blushing?"


    Her daughter''s words made her even more embarrassed.


    Qin Hao, feeling speechless, lifted Han Meng and took her to the bathroom, just like the night before. He quickly carried her back out afterward.


    Seeing this, Han Qiao''er said enviously, "Uncle, I want a hug too."


    Qin Hao teased her, "Go and wash up quickly. If you don''t listen, Uncle won''t hug you."

 Chapter 289 Visitors from the Three Major Companies

    Qin Hao placed Han Meng on the bed and asked, "Meng, do you feel any better now?"


    "It doesn''t seem to hurt that much anymore," Han Meng replied softly, her cheeks flushed.


    Qin Hao said, "After we eat, I''ll help you remove the bandage to check. It should be fine now."


    "Mmm, thank you, Xiao Hao."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Everyone faces difficulties sometimes. Helping others is helping oneself. Meng, I''ll go get some water to wash your face for you."


    Han Meng''s cheeks turned even redder at his words, and Qin Hao was already accustomed to her blushing at the drop of a hat.


    He brought over a basin of warm water and a new towel and wiped Han Meng''s face and hands.


    After wiping her down, Qin Hao went to make breakfast.


    He simply cooked some millet porridge and fried a few eggs.


    After the meal, Han Qiaoer took the initiative to wash the dishes in the kitchen, while Qin Hao was having some trouble in the bedroom.


    It was because Han Meng was wrapped in bandages in many places: her legs, lumbar spine, ribs, arms, and so on.


    To remove the bandages, it was obvious that the patient gown would have to come off.


    ...


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Meng, shall I remove it for you?"


    Han Meng closed her eyes upon hearing that. Although it made little difference to covering her ears while stealing a bell, she felt it was somewhat more bearable.


    Qin Hao gradually removed the bandages from her waist and ribs since the bandages were wrapped around and around her body.


    Therefore, he had to gently lift Han Meng''s body to get them off.


    Han Qiaoer, having finished the dishes, stood by and watched without saying anything.


    Soon the bandages around Han Meng''s waist and ribs were removed.


    The scars and cuts had completely healed, with not even a trace visible.


    Gently pinching the bones at her lower back, Qin Hao asked, "Meng, does it hurt?"


    Han Meng pursed her lips and clenched her teeth, shaking her head to indicate it didn''t hurt.


    Qin Hao increased the pressure slightly and asked again. Han Meng still shook her head.


    "I heard there are crabs by the sea; I''m going to catch some," Han Qiaoer said giggling as she ran off.


    Seeing her daughter so happy, a smile appeared on Han Meng''s face.


    The scenery by the sea was beautiful, and not far away was a little harbor with yachts, jet skis, and beautiful buildings.


    All these were developed by the luxury residential area, aimed at providing residents with top-notch service and environment.


    After playing for more than half an hour, Qin Hao''s phone rang¡ªit was a call from Feng Xiangyi.


    Feng Xiangyi said, "Mr. Qin, could you come to the company? "


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    Qin Hao knew that if she said this, it must be something important, "Okay, I''ll be there in a bit."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao said to Han Qiaoer, "Qiao''er, let''s go home, uncle has some work at the company."


    Although Han Qiaoer hadn''t had enough fun yet, she obediently ran back.


    Qin Hao said to her, "We''ll come again when I''m free, it''s not too far anyway."


    "Yeah, uncle, I''ll push mom." Han Qiaoer took over pushing the wheelchair.


    Back in the villa, Qin Hao said to them, "I''ll try to come back by noon, just wait for me at home."


    Han Qiaoer: "Uh-huh, drive safe, uncle."


    "Uncle knows, take good care of mom at home."


    ...


    About half an hour later, Qin Hao arrived at the company.


    Walking into the company meeting room and seeing the people inside, his expression was one of mild surprise as he said indifferently, "Well, if it isn''t Mr. Wu!"


    This was none other than Wu Fuwei, the man who had previously proposed to buy Qin Hao''s company for 150 million.


    Wu Fuwei wasn''t alone; there were two middle-aged men with him, and it seemed like he was just accompanying them.


    The other two were meeting Qin Hao for the first time and were somewhat surprised to see how young he was.


    Is this the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, Qin Hao?


    One of the middle-aged men wearing glasses stood up and said: "Hello Mr. Qin, I am Lin Helai, the general manager of Jianghai branch of Meiwei Group.


    This is Chen Xiaofeng, Mr. Chen from Meiwei Roasted Duck Company, Mr. Wu you already know, so I won''t introduce him."

 Chapter 290 Despicable

    Qin Hao''s expression was indifferent as he casually took the seat of honor: "Is there something you gentlemen need from me?"


    "Or perhaps you''re planning to offer one hundred and fifty million to acquire my company?"


    His blatant sarcasm made Wu Fuwei feel both embarrassed and angry, but he dared not show it.


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    The Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was no longer the newcomer just entering Jianghai.


    They had their own duck farms in Jianghai, capable of supplying the city''s needs, and it was rumored that these farms were still expanding.


    The ambition of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was gradually revealing itself: the expansion of the duck farms was nothing less than a declaration to everyone that Jiangshan Roasted Duck intended to continue its frenzied expansion.


    It was precisely because of this that individuals like Lin Helai, Chen Xiaofeng, and Wu Fuwei had joined forces to come here.


    If they allowed Jiangshan Roasted Duck to continue developing, their interests would suffer immense losses.


    They might even face the danger of bankruptcy and closure.


    Lin Helai said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, you must be joking. Some venture capital firms offered fifteen billion valuation not long ago, and you didn''t even bother with them¡ªone hundred and fifty million is indeed a joke."


    Qin Hao couldn''t be bothered with these people. Now that they saw Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s rising prominence and became afraid, what were they doing earlier?


    When they united to blockade us back then, did they ever consider that a day like today might come?


    He went straight to the point and asked, "Gentlemen, please state your purpose. I don''t have much time to play with you."


    Lin Helai continued smiling, "Today, we came to invite Mr. Qin to join us at a banquet this evening. All the owners from Jianghai''s catering and prepared food industry will be present, and we plan to discuss the future development of Jianghai City''s industry."


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment as he looked at Lin Helai; this seemed like it could be a setup.


    Nonetheless, Qin Hao agreed readily, "Alright then, I''ll see you in the evening."


    What of a banquet that might be a trap? He was actually curious to see what tricks these people could conjure up.


    After Lin Helai and the others left, Chen Xiaofeng, the CEO of Delicious Duck Company, gave Qin Hao a smile on his way out.


    Wu Fuwei and Lin Helai in the front hadn''t noticed it.


    Qin Hao felt that his smile contained many implications, so he responded with a smile in kind.


    Once these people had left, Feng Xiangyi said to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, do you really intend to go tonight?"


    When Qin Hao heard Feng Xiangyi''s voice, he couldn''t help but recall the incident from yesterday, feeling somewhat embarrassed and unable to look at Feng Xiangyi: "Why wouldn''t I go for a free meal?"


    Seeing his reaction, Feng Xiangyi knew he was still embarrassed about yesterday''s events.


    Her cheeks turned slightly red as she started, "Mr. Qin, that Li Jing you asked me to keep an eye on does seem to have a problem."


    In the conference room, Qin Hao and two others watched as Li Jing cried.


    A few minutes later, while still crying, Li Jing said, "Mr. Qin, I''ll tell everything, everything."


    "One night, half a month ago, after work, a girl who was a close university friend invited me out to have fun, and we went to a bar.


    After having a few drinks, I distinctly remember not drinking much, but later I lost consciousness.


    When I woke up again, I found myself naked on a bed in a hotel, and I was raped.


    Standing next to me was Wu Caida; he had videotaped the rape and used it to blackmail me into stealing the secret recipe of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    If I didn''t agree, he threatened to send those videos to my university''s forum and to my family''s phones.


    Mr. Qin, it wasn''t intentional, I''m sorry for you and the company, I''m so sorry... sorry... sorry..."


    Li Jing collapsed onto the floor in agony after speaking, not having revealed to anyone the pressure she had been under all these days.


    She had even considered suicide on numerous occasions, but the thought of her parents and her younger brother, who was still in school back home, kept her from having the courage to carry through the act.


    Feng Xiangyi and Nie Si, after listening, felt a tightness in their throat, deeply distressed.


    Feng Xiangyi couldn''t help but curse, "Scum, bastard."


    She and Nie Si helped Li Jing to her feet and seated her on the sofa.


    Qin Hao''s face showed great difficulty; he felt both rage and some guilt.


    His anger was directed at Wu Caida''s vile tactics, doing something so despicable just for the sake of business competition.


    The guilt was for Li Jing; if she hadn''t been working at Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, none of this would have happened!


    Qin Hao took a deep breath to suppress the anger inside. Looking at Li Jing, he said, "You now have two choices.


    One: Have the courage to face everything, report Wu Caida to the police, and let this scum receive the punishment he deserves.


    Rest assured that even though the Wu Group is powerful, I, Qin Hao, am not a pushover.


    Whoever dares to protect him, I''ll deal with them.


    Two: Continue acting this way, but you won''t be able to get the secret recipe, and maybe you''ll live under his threats for the rest of your life.


    Choose one of these paths!"


    Li Jing''s eyes were red with determination as she said, "Mr. Qin, I choose the first one; even if it ruins my reputation, I want to expose him."


    In the past, she had entertained this thought, but she was alone in Jianghai City.


    The Wu Roasted Duck Group, with its large business and extensive network, made her fear that reporting them would lead to nothing, with no result to her plea.

 Chapter 291 The Son of Wu Fuwei

    ```


    Qin Hao saw her choice and nodded slightly, "I have an idea for you now.


    Collect yourself, and then give Wu Caida a call. Tell him you''ve got the secret recipe and ask him to come get it.


    By that time, I will have helped you retrieve the video. It''s the evidence to charge him, and you can just destroy it afterward."


    Li Jing was moved by his words, "Thank you, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao''s relationship with her was merely that of a superior and subordinate. If it had been any other boss she had worked for before, she probably would have been fired by now.


    Not to mention offering help and ideas.


    A few minutes later, Li Jing composed herself and took out her cellphone to call Wu Caida.


    The phone was answered after a few seconds, and Li Jing spoke, "I''ve got a secret recipe and have already taken pictures of it with my phone. Come over and pick it up. Remember to bring that video."


    Wu Caida''s voice came through the phone, "Not bad, little baby. Are you hoping for me to grace you with my presence again? I''ll be over in a while."


    "I''ll be waiting for you in the underground parking lot."@@@@


    After hanging up, Li Jing''s face turned awkward. Wu Caida had used that video to threaten her more than once.


    They had already been intimate several times by now.


    Qin Hao''s expression darkened, "Did he threaten to have relations with you?"


    Tears as big as beans fell from Li Jing''s eyes as she nodded in humiliation.


    "Bastard, I really want to kill him," Feng Xiangyi said angrily, her chest heaving with anger.


    "Let''s go and wait for him downstairs," Qin Hao said expressionlessly.


    They arrived at the underground parking lot, with Qin Hao and the other two sitting in Feng Xiangyi''s car, while Li Jing stood outside waiting for Wu Caida.


    About ten minutes later, a sports car drove into the parking lot and eventually stopped next to Li Jing.


    Wu Caida got out and asked, "Where''s the secret recipe?"


    "Where''s the video?" Li Jing countered.


    Wu Caida smiled, "I need to take it for authentication to see if it''s a genuine formula. What if you gave me a fake one? Once it''s validated, I''ll give you the video."


    Li Jing, "You''re just a swindler. How can I trust you?"


    "Little baby, how about I take you to a five-star hotel tonight and treat you tenderly?" As he finished speaking, Wu Caida''s hand moved to touch Li Jing.


    At that moment, Qin Hao opened the car door and stepped out.


    Upon hearing the noise, Wu Caida turned his head. He didn''t recognize Qin Hao and quickly looked away after a glance.


    Even Wu Fuwei was unaware of his doings. Always scolded by his father for being a wastrel who only knew how to enjoy himself, Wu Caida was now proving to his father that he was useful.


    "Crack."


    The scream resonated once more.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Are you going to talk or not?"


    "There really isn''t one anymore, Mr. Qin, please spare me," Wu Caida had not expected Qin Hao to be so cruel.


    This was no ordinary company CEO; he was more brutal than a desperate outlaw.


    "Crack."


    His fifth finger was also broken.


    "It''s in my email," Wu Caida said, his eyes dimming.


    "That''s more like it."


    After speaking, Qin Hao proceeded to reset his fingers one by one, eliciting from Wu Caida screams like those of a pig being slaughtered.


    "Please, I''ve told you everything, just spare me."


    Qin Hao took out his phone, logged into Wu Caida''s email and saw the video file in the drafts box as mentioned.


    He then deleted the video without asking Wu Caida any further questions.


    He turned to Li Jing and asked, "Do any of you want a turn? If not, this is your last chance."


    The three hesitated for a moment, but then Li Jing and Feng Xiangyi walked over.


    Approaching Wu Caida, they kicked him repeatedly, their high heels greatly amplifying the destructive force.


    Wu Caida''s screams burst forth, powerless to fight back.


    Later, feeling unsatisfied, Feng Xiangyi gave him another kick.


    "Ah."


    Wu Caida let out a sudden wail of pain. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Upon seeing this, Qin Hao felt a shiver down his spine; damn, that was savage.


    After kicking, Feng Xiangyi returned and gave Qin Hao an embarrassed smile.


    In fright, Qin Hao stepped back, provoking a giggle from Nie Si.


    Feng Xiangyi cast a coquettish glance at him, slightly displeased.


    After Li Jing finished, she took out her phone and immediately called the police.


    This was now a criminal case, so the responding officers were from the city police bureau''s criminal investigation squad.


    The person who arrived was an old acquaintance of Qin Hao: Miao Jing.


    Seeing Qin Hao, Miao Jing didn''t look too pleased, and she asked Li Jing and the others, "Who is the victim?"

 Chapter 292 Begging for Mercy

    Li Jing spoke up, "It was me, I called the police."


    "What''s the matter with this person?" Miao Jing asked, looking at Wu Caida lying on the ground.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "He is the one who violated my subordinate, the son of Wu Fuwei from the Wu Group, Wu Caida.


    He had asked Li Jing to steal company secrets. Li Jing did not agree; instead, she confessed to me. Then she drew him out and took back the evidence."


    Miao Jing said, "You all should come with us to make a statement."


    Several people went to the police station to make their statements, mainly Li Jing''s statement.


    After reviewing the evidence, Miao Jing''s face was uncomfortable, scum!


    Subsequently, Miao Jing and others interrogated Wu Caida. The evidence was overwhelming; his attempts to defend himself were futile.


    After coming out of the interrogation room, Miao Jing told Li Jing, "I have already investigated the matter thoroughly. You all can go back now and just wait for our notification."


    Li Jing nodded, her expression somewhat miserable, as it was not easy to walk out of that shadow.


    Qin Hao said to Feng Xiangyi and two others, "You go ahead and return. I have a few words to say to Officer Miao."


    Once Li Jing and the others had left, Qin Hao said to Miao Jing, "Captain Miao, I hope you can handle this matter discreetly, as it''s not good for her reputation."


    Miao Jing said, "I know, we don''t need Mr. Qin to teach us how to do our jobs."


    Qin Hao said, "Officer Miao, you should change that temper of yours, it''s too big and could lead to hormonal imbalances."


    Miao Jing, with a stern face, said, "If there''s nothing else, Mr. Qin, please leave immediately."


    Qin Hao was somewhat disinterested, noticing Miao Jing had quite an opinion about him.


    It was only after Qin Hao had left that Miao Jing''s expression softened a bit. Honestly, her impression of Qin Hao had changed this time.


    It was rare for a boss to do this much for an employee.


    Qin Hao returned to the company after 10 p.m. and sat in his office. He took out his mobile phone and called Du Wanrou.


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    The call connected quickly, and Qin Hao asked, "Girl, have your uncle and aunt arrived?"


    Du Wanrou replied, "I just picked them up from the airport."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Invite your aunt, and let''s go out for lunch together at noon?"


    Li Jing was very touched but she did not accept it, "Mr. Qin, this has nothing to do with you. It''s because of my own poor judgment in choosing friends.


    You have already helped me so much, and you even gave me the opportunity to stay. How can I still take your money?"


    Qin Hao, "Take it, go play in Jianghai City''s seaside park, then treat yourself to a nice meal and buy some clothes."


    Li Jing insisted on not taking it, but Qin Hao forcefully gave it to her.


    Li Jing was overcome with tears, she had never thought she would meet such a boss, "Thank you, Mr. Qin."


    Just then, Qin Hao''s phone suddenly rang. He took it out and saw it was a strange number.


    He thought for a moment and then answered the call, "Hello, who is this?"


    The voice of Wu Fuwei came from the phone, "Mr. Qin, it was you who did this to my son, wasn''t it?"


    Qin Hao, annoyed by his tone, "Mr. Wu, are you aware of the wonderful things your son has done?"


    Wu Fuwei, "Mr. Qin, name your price. How much money will it take for your subordinate to not pursue this further?"


    Qin Hao, "Mr. Wu, do you think this is something that money can solve? Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you have money?


    And you''re asking me for a price? I provide you with a billion, can it buy your son''s three legs?"


    Wu Fuwei was choked with rage, but after a few seconds, he adjusted his tone, "I''m sorry, Mr. Qin. I was too anxious just now.


    He is my only son. I hope you can show some mercy. I can apologize to the girl, as long as she agrees to drop the charges."


    Qin Hao, "Mr. Wu, if apologies were sufficient, what would be the need for laws? Since your son has violated the law,


    he should receive the appropriate punishment. When he was committing the wrongdoing, did he ever consider the victim''s feelings?


    The matter of compensation you mentioned will definitely need to be settled, and that is also a legal procedure."


    Wu Fuwei''s tone turned darker, "Mr. Qin, leave some leeway, so we can meet without hard feelings in the future."


    Qin Hao scoffed, "Mr. Wu, are you threatening me? You might as well inquire about who I am ¨C Qin Hao.


    Dare to threaten me? Then come at me, and let''s see who dies first."


    Wu Fuwei hung up the phone directly. With Qin Hao backed by the Xu Family, on the surface, he really dared not to provoke Qin Hao, but what happened behind the scenes was unknown.


    If his son were to be sentenced for the severe crime he committed, he would face at least ten years in prison.


    Qin Hao, it is you who have forced my hand; if you will be ruthless, then don''t blame me for being merciless!

 Chapter 293 Du Hongfengs Words

    Li Jing looked at Qin Hao with a somewhat worried expression, "Mr. Qin, are you alright?"


    Qin Hao spoke with disdain, "What can possibly happen? I''m already burying half of my body into the ground, what can they use to fight against me?


    "Just go and have fun. As long as Wu Fuwei isn''t stupid, he won''t touch you."


    After Li Jing left, Qin Hao sat in his chair, his eyes revealing contemplative thoughts. Although he had spoken lightly just now, he didn''t dare to be careless.


    Wu Fuwei had been powerful in Jianghai for so many years, not to be underestimated, and he must be more careful in the future.


    The training at Flying Leopard Security Company would require at least three months of intense training, and they couldn''t spare anyone for the time being.


    It was past eleven o''clock when Qin Hao arrived at Feng Xiangyi''s office.


    Qin Hao said with an awkward smile, "Mr. Feng, how about we go have lunch with Wan Rou''s parents today?"


    Feng Xiangyi''s face was calm, showing no sign of embarrassment, and she nodded slightly, "Hmm, okay."


    She packed up her things, then left the company with Qin Hao.


    The two took the elevator down to the underground parking garage, and Qin Hao didn''t know what to say, feeling a bit awkward.


    Feng Xiangyi began to speak, easing the awkwardness, "Mr. Qin, tomorrow, we have five stores opening in Jianghai and several more across DL city in Shuinan Province."


    Qin Hao nodded, "I''m aware of the situation in Shuinan Province. They''ve already invested most of their funds into expansion. With this pace, it won''t be long before the whole DL city is dominated by Jiangshan Roasted Duck."


    The training base of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was now complete and could continuously supply talent to the company.


    Everyone from employees to store managers needed to undergo training at the training base.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company had now moved past its most difficult stage, and it was currently in a phase of rapid development.


    Development required funds, and Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company''s capital chain should have tens of millions, enough for rapid growth.


    If that were not enough, Qin Hao himself still had over two billion yuan. Although he had spent nearly fifty million for Xia Qing, this was but a drop in the bucket for him.


    Feng Xiangyi said, "Mr. Qin, I think we should also speed up on our end. Expanding on both fronts will encircle the entire southern region."


    "We have a large duck farm in Yangyue City to supply the central region. It''s time for us to stride forward."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Mr. Feng, do you already have a plan?"


    Feng Xiangyi nodded, "I plan to have Jiangshan Roasted Duck outlets all over Jianghai City within half a month."


    On the way, Du Hongfeng asked, "Xiao Hao, how is the company doing in Jianghai? Is the competition fierce here?"


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "It''s okay. The competition is definitely greater than in Jiangshan, but in terms of taste, no other roasted duck can compare."


    Du Hongfeng said, "That''s your company''s biggest advantage. Before other companies come up with better products, you should try to capture the market as much as possible. Even if some company manages to figure out a product with a similar taste, they will have lost the first-mover advantage."


    Qin Hao said, "You''re right, Uncle Du. Starting this month, Jiangshan Roasted Duck will expand at the fastest pace."


    "Speaking of Wanrou, she insists on being an exchange student. What''s so good about being an exchange student? You can''t see her for months," Du Hongfeng said with a sigh.


    He was mainly worried about Qin Hao and his daughter''s relationship. With Qin Hao''s business booming, now was not the time to be leaving.


    What if someone took advantage of his absence?


    He didn''t believe that a man as outstanding as Qin Hao wouldn''t have suitors.


    As a man himself, he knew how difficult it was for a man to restrain himself after tasting those pleasures.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Uncle Du, Wanrou has her own aspirations. If she wants to go, let her go. I''m just worried that she''ll be unfamiliar with her surroundings there, and it would be troublesome if something happened."


    Du Hongfeng nodded, "Xiao Hao, I''m also a man, I understand a man''s hardship. If you really can''t hold back, just spend some money to resolve your physical needs at a high-end place, I can understand."


    "Screeeech"


    An ear-piercing sound of brakes rang out. If Du Wanrou hadn''t reacted quickly, they would have rear-ended the car.


    "What is Qin Hao doing?" Du Wanrou frowned.


    Qin Hao looked at Du Hongfeng with a face full of disbelief. Damn, was this something my future father-in-law should say?


    He actually told me to spend money on prostitutes!!!


    Du Hongfeng smiled awkwardly, "I''m a man, Uncle can understand you. It''s all about solving physical needs, just don''t talk about love and bring anyone home."


    Qin Hao hastily said, "Uncle Du, please don''t say that. I wouldn''t spend money on that."


    At noon, they ate at a high-end restaurant, and then Du Wanrou and her people went home to rest.


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    Qin Hao and Feng Xiangyi drove to the company.


    Meanwhile, on the forum of Jianghai University, a post exploded across the entire forum.


    "Jianghai University freshman entrepreneur, a few months into the business, worth two billion!"

 Chapter 294 Campus Celebrity

    As soon as this post was published, it exploded on the Jianghai University forum.


    The forum was not only frequented by current students but also by alumni, some of whom were business elites.


    Some had entered politics, others were company CEOs, and there were many elites on the forum.


    Many people clicked on this post, and the first thing they saw was a photograph.


    It captured the moment a man was opening the car door.


    Any discerning person could tell at a glance that it was the latest model of Lamborghini, with a domestic sales price of fifteen million.


    There was also information about this person below.


    Name: Qin Hao


    Gender: Male


    Age: 19


    Major: Class One, Year One, Computer College.


    A native of Jiangshan City, Shuinan Province, he scored full marks in the unified examination and was the top scholar nationally in the unified examination, breaking the historical record.


    He was the first student in history to score full marks in the unified examination without any additional points, a once-in-a-century genius.


    Some might not recognize this car; you can search online: the latest Lamborghini model, priced around fifteen million.


    Now, let''s talk about his company: Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    You might be unfamiliar with this company, so let me introduce it in detail below.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was established at the end of May in Jiangshan City, Shuinan Province.


    In five months, Jiangshan Roasted Duck has expanded rapidly in Jiangshan, occupying the entire Jiangshan market in just a few months.


    It has now invaded DL City in Shuinan Province, and given the current pace of Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s expansion,


    I estimate that Jiangshan Roasted Duck will spread throughout DL City within ten days and will definitely dominate the market in Shuinan Province within two months.


    Not only that, in Jianghai City alone, there are already seventeen Jiangshan Roasted Duck stores, all doing booming business.


    I have observed that each store''s daily turnover is above one hundred thousand.


    In prime locations with high traffic, the daily turnover exceeds one hundred and fifty thousand.


    Which means that Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s branches in Jianghai are making millions a day, translating to tens of millions a month; it''s absolutely terrifying.


    Since Jiangshan Roasted Duck entered Jianghai City, countless similar businesses have been severely impacted, their customer traffic and daily earnings decreasing each day.


    He Qizhi saw it too. As the president, he had always been concerned about the students'' affairs, and he couldn''t possibly be unaware of such a major incident on the forum.


    Seeing the photo and name, He Qizhi was stunned at first, and the more he read, the more shocked he became.


    Talking about a fortune worth billions at 19 made him speechless, recalling he was still studying at that age.


    He also felt somewhat responsible, as he was initially completely against Qin Hao''s involvement with his daughter.


    But now, seeing how outstanding Qin Hao was, he was somewhat swayed.


    He felt the two of them actually quite suited each other, despite the teacher-student relationship, because love knows no bounds, right?


    The old saying makes a lot of sense: Better to destroy ten temples than to break up one marriage.


    ...


    Qin Hao, oblivious to these matters, was sitting in his office reviewing the financial report from the previous month.


    Jianghai''s performance had already been sorted, with the last month''s turnover being a little over twenty million, subtracting various costs and staff wages, the profit just barely reached ten million.


    Last month, salaries for staff at Jianghai''s stores were over eight thousand at the lowest, with many earning over ten thousand.


    With nearly two hundred employees, the pay expenditure alone reached several million.


    Due to the larger number of stores in Jiangshan, calculations were still ongoing and were expected to be completed by this afternoon.


    At three in the afternoon, Yu Jie sent him the financial statements for October.


    The company''s total profit for October was just over thirty-nine million, which did not meet the system''s main task requirement of fifty million in profit.


    Although Xinghui Wine Industry sold some wine by the end of October, it was still operating at a loss, as was Flying Leopard Security.


    However, in November, Xinghui Wine should be able to break even.


    Once the accounts were clear, the wages would be paid the day after tomorrow.


    As Qin Hao was sitting in his office, nearly falling asleep, his phone rang.


    He answered, "Hello, who is this?"


    He Tingting asked, "Qin Hao, have you seen the university forum?"


    Qin Hao responded, "What university forum? I don''t have time for that."


    He Tingting said irritably, "You''re now a celebrity across the whole school; all the teachers and students know you, even Mr. Jiang of Zhongjia Mobile has praised you. Now my dad wants to see you, hurry over here."


    Qin Hao confusedly asked, "What do you mean by celebrity across the whole school? Mr. He, what are you talking about?"


    He Tingting replied, "Just look at the school forum and you''ll know. Hurry to the school now."


    [Please vote]

 Chapter 295 People Fear Fame

    ```


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao logged onto the school forum on his computer.


    Then a prominent featured post caught his eye, and it had even been pinned to the top.


    He opened it and nearly spat blood. The post detailed everything and even had photos, exposing him completely.


    Fortunately, some personal privacy details were not mentioned, showing that the poster still knew boundaries.


    Even so, Qin Hao was somewhat angry. He didn''t like being the center of attention.


    He preferred to keep a low profile and make a fortune quietly, earning money behind the scenes.


    After closing his computer, he left the company and drove to school.


    As he drove into the school, many students inside stared at his car.


    Now, more than ninety percent of people knew this car belonged to Qin Hao.


    Coming out of the parking lot, Qin Hao walked toward the office building.


    Almost everyone turned to look at him, discussing something, some with envy in their eyes, some with jealousy.


    Qin Hao found this feeling very annoying; he felt like a monkey on display at the zoo.


    Damn it, better not let me find out who leaked this, otherwise I''ll give you a beating.


    It was too late to say anything now, even if he hacked the leak''s computer at night, the news couldn''t be undone.@@@@


    As he was about to reach the office building, two girls ran over to him.


    Even though it was already autumn, they were still wearing very short shorts, with a rather loose long-sleeved top that just covered the shorts.


    So it looked as if they weren''t wearing anything below!


    "Qin Hao, can we add you as a friend on TT?" the two girls ran over and asked with a smile, their eyes full of hope.


    Seeing their appearance, Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Of course, but please try not to leak it out. I don''t like receiving harassing messages."


    "Thank you, Qin Hao. We are about to start our internships, and we would like to intern at your company," the two girls said with a hint of excitement.


    Qin Hao, "The honor is mine, and I will definitely welcome you both with open arms when the time comes."


    As Qin Hao was giving them his contact information, four or five more female students approached.


    "Junior, we want it too," they said, chuckling. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao felt a bit embarrassed, "I have something to do right now, let''s talk about it some other time."


    After that, he attempted to leave, but his hand and clothes were grabbed by the girls.


    "Don''t go, junior, why did you give it to them and not us?" the girls said coquettishly.


    He Tingting, "What can we do? Just act as we should."


    "Oh," Qin Hao nodded lightly.


    The two arrived outside He Qizhi''s office. He Tingting knocked on the door, and then they both walked in.


    He Qizhi was on his computer checking information about Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine. When he saw Qin Hao and the others come in, he closed the browser.


    He stood up and said, "Take a seat."


    Qin Hao and He Tingting exchanged glances. Something seemed off about his attitude; Mr. He hadn''t spoken like this the last time.


    After hesitating for a moment, Qin Hao and He Tingting sat down on the couch, close together.


    He Qizhi sat opposite them, watching the two of them.


    Qin Hao didn''t know what He Qizhi was getting at, and he didn''t know what to say, so he just sat there looking at He Qizhi.


    He Qizhi said with a smile, "Just got back from the company?"


    Qin Hao was startled inside. Could he have also seen the post on the forum?


    "Yes. Tingting told me Mr. He wanted to see me, so I came over," Qin Hao responded.


    He Qizhi, "No need for formalities in private, just call me Uncle He."


    He Tingting and Qin Hao were stunned for a moment. What did this mean? Was he no longer opposed?


    Qin Hao quickly caught on and called out, "Uncle He."


    He Qizhi smiled faintly, "How''s the company doing? How much did you make last month?"


    Qin Hao replied softly, "It''s doing pretty well, everything at the company is developing normally, we made almost eighty million in October."


    He Qizhi was surprised, "That much? Then, how much was the profit approximately?"


    The Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company wasn''t a publicly-listed company, so they didn''t need to make their financial reports public.


    The outside world and the company itself didn''t know the exact profit figures of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    If they did, that two billion valuation might change.


    Qin Hao, "We barely reached forty million."


    "That much?" He Qizhi and He Tingting were both quite shocked.


    Forty million a month, and what about a year? That''s almost five hundred million.


    Let''s not forget that Jiangshan Roasted Duck will continue to expand, with even higher revenues!


    Qin Hao explained, "We now have our own duck farms. We''ve saved a lot in the middle, so the profits are a bit higher."


    [Third update]

 Chapter 296 Crazy Woman

    He Qizhi began, "I heard your company pays its employees very well, even the ordinary employees get at least eight thousand and above."


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "Mr. He, how do you know so much?"


    He Qizhi smiled and said, "I saw it online, it must be your own employees who said this.


    The salary is almost double that of the same industry, employees at Delicious Duck Neck Company only get about four thousand."


    Qin Hao said, "Now, as housing and prices rise, the salaries of lower-level employees have not increased.


    I can''t manage other companies not giving raises, but in my company, I call the shots, and I choose to give them higher salaries.


    Other companies in our industry either have to raise wages, or just wait for their employees to all run over to my side."


    He Qizhi and He Tingting looked at him with some surprise in their eyes.


    By paying his employees such high salaries, Qin Hao could be said to have offended the entire domestic roasted duck prepared food industry.


    This was tantamount to indirectly threatening other companies in the industry to raise salaries.


    Because if you don''t raise salaries, the employees will leave.


    If salaries are increased, company profits will decrease, and those people will definitely feel the pain.


    He continued, "I created Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company to change my life.


    And secondly, to change the lives of the people at the bottom. Although the company still has few employees now,


    I believe that in the future, the number of employees at Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company will be many, and many people''s lives will change by joining Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company."


    He Qizhi slightly nodded, "Xiao Hao, your ideas are good. I hope you can stick to them.


    Today, I called you here to say: I won''t obstruct your affairs, but I hope you also won''t publicize your matters, as the impact isn''t very good."


    Upon hearing this, He Tingting''s face lit up with joy; He Qizhi''s words were exactly what she wanted.


    They were pretending anyway, so they definitely didn''t want to go public.


    Qin Hao also showed joy, "Thanks, Mr. He, for understanding."


    He Qizhi said, "Hmm, just be good."


    Qin Hao was now feeling the benefits of having strength. Initially, Du Wanrou''s family also disapproved of his relationship with Du Wanrou.


    Now? Du Hongfeng is worried that Qin Hao and Du Wanrou might break up.


    He Qizhi was against him and He Tingting for a while, but now he has agreed.


    It is simply because he has learned about the strength of Qin Hao and his company.


    Even though He Qizhi knew about Qin Hao raising ten billion in funds to start a new company,


    that was just a pipe dream and no tangible benefits were seen; everything was just talk.@@@@


    Although Qin Hao was surrounded by women, he did not feel a bit of joy. He was somewhat overwhelmed.


    To these people, seeing him was like starved wolves spotting their prey; they all crowded around him.


    He forcefully pushed through the crowd, trying to break free, but they clung to him like snakes.


    "Enough," Fan Ruobing snapped coldly, her face stern.


    The crowd instantly quieted down, and Qin Hao seized the opportunity to break away.


    He spoke up, "Everyone, calm down. Feel free to add each other.


    But don''t send messages for no reason, or I''ll block you. I don''t have time for painting," he continued.


    After leaving his contact information, Qin Hao hurried over to Fan Ruobing''s side, now appreciating her straightforward personality.


    If everyone were like her, he wouldn''t have to deal with this.


    Fan Ruobing looked at him and asked, "Did you come to see me for something?"


    Qin Hao, "I have a banquet tonight and won''t be able to make it."


    Fan Ruobing: "Oh."


    Qin Hao waited for her to say more but when she didn''t, he was shocked for a moment, Oh my, is that it?


    He spoke up again, "Then I''ll be going."


    Fan Ruobing: "Do you have time right now?"


    Qin Hao: "It''s four-fifteen now, and I need to be at the banquet by six."


    "Let''s do it now then."


    Qin Hao said in surprise, "Here? That''s not very suitable."


    "Let''s go to the inner studio," she said and walked into the smaller studio inside.


    Qin Hao glanced at the others, who were all watching her. He felt a bit awkward but still followed her in.


    "Could Qin Hao be dating our club president?" someone whispered.


    "I don''t think so, they don''t look like they''re dating."


    "Even if they aren''t, I think it will happen soon. Our president is beautiful, and Qin Hao is rich and handsome, a perfect Prince Charming in my eyes."


    "Our president might be cold, but she''s kind at heart. We''ve all been helped by her, it''s just that she''s not good at expressing herself."


    "Let''s leave and not disturb the two of them."


    The ten or so people quietly left the studio, making sure to close the door behind them.


    [Fourth update today, we''ve been updating four times a day for several days now, including one day with eight updates, another day with five. Vote for us!]

 Chapter 297 Industry Banquet

    In the small art studio.


    Fan Ruobing tidied up and, while doing so, she said to Qin Hao, "They are actually quite nice, not as terrifying as you think."


    Qin Hao awkwardly smiled. Nice? They were like starving wolves¡ªhow was that nice?


    He wouldn''t dare to come when there were so many people anymore; he was afraid he wouldn''t be able to get out.


    It seemed like Fan Ruobing knew what he was thinking and said, "Don''t worry, they won''t act like that anymore."


    Qin Hao nodded, feeling a bit itchy in his teeth out of spite, "I don''t know which bastard exposed me."


    Fan Ruobing bent over in front of the table and said, "We can start now."


    ...


    He took a deep breath, walked over, and began to draw, holding Fan Ruobing''s hand.


    After finishing the painting, he quickly sat down beside her to calm himself down.


    After pondering for a while, Fan Ruobing began to paint on her own.@@@@


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao also returned to normal and went over to look at what Fan Ruobing had painted, sensing a faint charm in it.


    "Let''s try it one more time," Fan Ruobing said to him after she had finished her painting.


    Qin Hao felt a bit troubled, "President, let''s just call it a day."


    Fan Ruobing frowned, "I don''t mind, what''s a big man like you acting all coy for?"


    Hearing her say that, Qin Hao didn''t hesitate anymore and once again stood behind Fan Ruobing to guide her.


    As he drew, he shared his thoughts, which should help Fan Ruobing learn faster.


    He could hardly bear this kind of torment, so he planned to teach Fan Ruobing as soon as possible.


    At half-past five in the afternoon, Qin Hao left the school,


    He drove back to the company, planning to take Feng Xiangyi with him to the banquet in the evening.


    Qin Hao arrived at Feng Xiangyi''s office and said, "Mr. Feng, get ready. There''s a banquet at six o''clock that we''ll attend together."


    An invisible power struggle was taking place.


    Those close to Qin Hao felt it hard to breathe.


    Although Qin Hao was silent, the aura he inadvertently emitted made others feel repressed and uncomfortable.


    Chen Xiaofeng from Delicious Duck Company, seeing the reaction of the crowd, sighed internally. He doubted these people could pull off something big.


    Young though he was, Qin Hao''s Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was like an unsheathed sword, sharp and unstoppable.


    He could also see the disdain for everyone present and the arrogance at the bottom of Qin Hao''s eyes¡ªnot feigned, but born from extreme self-confidence.


    In his view, such a person would either soar to great heights in the business world or crash disastrously, losing everything.


    At this point, Delicious Duck Company had no other choice; it would either have to join forces with these people to resist Jiangshan Roasted Duck or submit to its embrace.


    Initially, he thought blocking Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s purchase of live ducks might curb its growth.


    But now that Jiangshan Roasted Duck had its own duck farm supply, banding together in resistance was futile.


    Chen Xiaofeng had a clear vision and his own plans.


    Inside the suite, Lin Helai eventually couldn''t help but speak first, "Mr. Qin, gathered here are all the duck roasting and cooked food industry leaders in Jianghai.


    Today, I plan to unite the strengths of everyone to establish a Roasted Duck and Cooked Food Industry Association.


    In the future, we can develop together, seek progress together, and achieve mutual benefits."


    Many people nodded in agreement; they had already received the news and thought it was a good idea.


    As long as Jiangshan Roasted Duck joined the association, everyone would be on the same side. Surely you would not attack your own people then, right?


    If they did attack, it would not only make others in the industry disgusted, but it would also lead to ostracism of Jiangshan Roasted Duck by other industries.


    This would become a major impediment to the future development of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    Qin Hao replied with a light smile and said nothing, wanting to see what else Lin Helai had to say.


    Lin Helai continued, "Before that, we need to settle some internal disputes, we can''t be fighting amongst ourselves.


    I''ve heard there''s been some misunderstanding between Mr. Qin and Mr. Wu. Why don''t we use this opportunity to resolve it, with everyone here as witnesses? How does that sound to Mr. Qin?"

 Chapter 298 Conflict

    Qin Hao curiously asked, "Mr. Lin, what do you mean by that? My relationship with Mr. Wu is very good, where is there any conflict?"


    Lin Helai was startled for a moment and then smiled awkwardly, "Mr. Qin, don''t you know about Mr. Wu''s son''s situation?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "I know him, but what does that have to do with anything?"


    Lin Helai, "After all, we are all in the same industry, not seeing eye to eye one moment can lead to seeing each other quite often the next. Mr. Qin, please show some leniency and let Mr. Wu off the hook."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Mr. Lin, you''re such a grown man, how can you be so confused? You''re well aware of the reason why Wu Caida was arrested, right?"


    Lin Helai nodded, he was very clear about this matter.


    Qin Hao''s expression turned serious, "Mr. Lin, since you know why he was arrested, why come to me? You should go to the police."


    Lin Helai, "Mr. Qin, the victim is an employee of your company, just have a good talk with your employee, and this matter can be resolved." Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao, expressionless, "Mr. Lin, you''re a college graduate, how can you even say such a thing? There''s not much difference between that and being an idiot.


    He violated the law and should receive the punishment he deserves. If he doesn''t receive the punishment he deserves, then someone is trampling on the dignity of the law, and I, Qin Hao, will not let it go easily."


    He had now made his stance clear; whoever wasn''t afraid to play with fire was welcome to pull any strings they wanted.


    Let''s see in the end whose connections are stronger!


    The faces of Lin Helai and Wu Fuwei were very awkward, especially Lin Helai, who was alternating between pale and flushed.


    Qin Hao had actually called him an idiot in front of so many people, which was nothing short of a slap to his face.


    After all, he was the general manager of the Meiwei Group''s Jianghai branch, a man of high status ¡ª who would dare to speak to him like that?


    The others felt a chill in their hearts. Was Qin Hao really set on burning bridges with everyone?


    Lin Helai, with a dark face, said, "Mr. Qin, please mind your words."


    Qin Hao chuckled, "What''s wrong with my words? Mr. Lin, do you think a normal person could say what you said? What you''re proposing is a complete disregard for the rule of law, no different from an idiot."


    "Bang"


    Lin Helai slammed his hand on the table, glaring at Qin Hao, "Qin Hao, don''t push people too far."


    The sudden slap startled everyone.


    Qin Hao, unfazed, sat there with a calm expression, "Mr. Lin, even if I am bullying you, what can you do about it?"


    Wu Fuwei also stood up, "Qin Hao, don''t get too cocky. This isn''t a place for you to run wild."


    "Oh? Is that so? Are you planning to kill me with that attitude?"


    Feng Xiangyi''s eyes showed worry, as these were six strong bodyguards. If Wu Fuwei really wanted to keep them there, they would have no chance to leave.


    Wu Fuwei stated, "If Mr. Qin doesn''t give me an explanation, you can forget about leaving here today."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "And what if I insist on leaving?"


    "Then don''t blame me for being impolite."


    Qin Hao snorted coldly and stepped forward, while Feng Xiangyi pulled at him from behind, signaling him not to be impulsive.


    It was very possible that Wu Fuwei would become violent, and she didn''t want Qin Hao to end up bloody and bruised.


    Qin Hao turned and gave her a reassuring smile, then continued walking.


    Seeing that Qin Hao really dared to continue, a fierce look flashed in Wu Fuwei''s eyes, "Beat him."


    The six bodyguards acted instantly, with two of them reaching directly for him. In their view, Qin Hao was just a weakling.


    But when Qin Hao made his move, the expressions of those two men drastically changed.


    Their wrists were seized, impossible to break free, and as they shouted out, their other hands formed fists aiming at Qin Hao.


    "Bang, bang"


    Qin Hao kicked out rapidly, striking twice like lightning, and the two men lay on the ground clutching their stomachs.


    After knocking down two individuals, he didn''t stop, taking down another with a swift leg whip.


    The remaining three men''s expressions shifted and charged at him together.


    But they lasted only three seconds in Qin Hao''s hands before they collapsed, losing their fighting capability.


    The people in the room were shocked, looking at Qin Hao in disbelief.


    He knew martial arts? A company CEO with such formidable skills?


    Feng Xiangyi was also shocked, her mouth agape as she stared at Qin Hao''s silhouette.


    Qin Hao turned back to face Wu Fuwei with a smile on his face, but it was a smile that seemed chilling.


    He picked up a chair nearby and walked towards Wu Fuwei.


    Wu Fuwei''s face turned pale, "Qin Hao, what are you planning to do?"


    As he walked and smiled, Qin Hao said, "Mr. Wu, I''m someone who repays eye for eye. Since you wanted someone to hit me just now, I will return the favor."


    Having said that, Qin Hao reached him, lifted him with his left hand, threw him on the ground, and then smashed the chair down with his right hand.

 Chapter 299 Chen Xiaofengs Idea

    "Crack"


    A cry of agony echoed inside the room.


    The solid wood chair in Qin Hao''s hands had also fallen apart, and he threw it to the ground.


    Wu Fuwei lay on the ground clutching his right leg, his face deathly pale, as large beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.


    Lin Helai and the others'' hearts quivered, and they sharply inhaled a breath of cold air.


    Qin Hao now seemed anything but a company president¡ªhe was even more terrifying than gangsters.


    Qin Hao looked towards Lin Helai and the others, "Does anyone else wish to detain me?"


    The crowd forced a smile on their faces and hurriedly said, "Mr. Qin is joking, we have no such thoughts."


    "Good if you don''t. I advise you all, either sell your stores early or wait to be brought down by Jiangshan Roasted Duck. If anyone dares to play dirty with me, we''ll just wait and see."


    Having finished, Qin Hao left with Feng Xiangyi without so much as glancing at Wu Fuwei on the ground.


    Qin Hao had given him a chance, and he didn''t have the guts to call the police, so there was no need to worry.


    Upon leaving Langjiang Hotel, Feng Xiangyi said with some surprise, "Qin Hao, you know kung fu?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Surprised?"


    "The moves you pulled off just now were so cool, teach me sometime," Feng Xiangyi said, laughing.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mm, okay, I''ll take you home first."


    They got into the car, and just as they drove out of Langjiang Hotel, Feng Xiangyi''s phone rang.


    She answered the call, "Hello, who is this?"


    Chen Xiaofeng''s voice came from the phone, "Mr. Feng? This is Chen Xiaofeng, I''d like to talk with you and Mr. Qin.


    There''s a Mingxiang Pavilion Tea House not far from Langshan Hotel, shall we meet there?"


    Feng Xiangyi turned her head to look at Qin Hao, who nodded, before she replied, "Mm, okay, we''ll wait for you there, Mr. Chen."


    The two of them checked online and saw that Mingxiang Pavilion Tea House wasn''t far from their location.


    Three minutes later, Qin Hao and Feng Xiangyi arrived at Mingxiang Pavilion Tea House.


    They booked a private room and waited there for Chen Xiaofeng.


    Soon, Chen Xiaofeng arrived, and smilingly said to Qin Hao and Feng Xiangyi, "Mr. Qin, Ms. Feng."@@@@


    Qin Hao nodded, "Please have a seat, Mr. Chen."


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Mr. Chen, Jiangshan Roasted Duck only has one person with shares, that is the brother who started the business with me.


    No one else has any, and if you want shares, it''s simply not possible.


    At the end of the year, I will conduct evaluations. For employees who have made significant contributions to the company, I will grant share rewards. Mr. Chen, if you''re willing, you can join our Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company."


    Feng Xiangyi and Chen Xiaofeng both froze upon hearing this, share rewards? Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire


    A flicker of excitement passed through Feng Xiangyi''s heart, as the deputy director of Jianghai District, it was quite possible that she would receive shares at the end of the year.


    Now Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was thriving day by day, and the shares would definitely become even more valuable in the future.


    Qin Hao continued, "Mr. Chen, I''ve said all I have to say, if you''re thinking of selling your stores, please discuss the details with Mr. Feng.


    I hope you can make a decision quickly. Our Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s expansion will not stop. When the time comes, if there is a conflict between our stores, even if you wanted to, we wouldn''t take them."


    ...


    Qin Hao first dropped Feng Xiangyi off at the foot of her residential building.


    "Aren''t you coming up?" Feng Xiangyi asked him.


    Qin Hao, "It''s so late, and my aunt and uncle are there too, so I won''t go up. What time is Wan Rou''s flight in the morning?"


    Feng Xiangyi, "It''s a 6:30 AM flight."


    Qin Hao, "Alright, I''ll come over in the morning."


    Feng Xiangyi looked at him and asked, "You didn''t tell Wan Rou about what you saw, did you?"


    Qin Hao felt a bit awkward when she brought up that incident, "No."


    Feng Xiangyi sighed with relief, "That''s good, no one other than you can know about this matter."


    Qin Hao hesitated slightly before saying, "Auntie, I think you should find a boyfriend."


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "But I can''t just find anyone, right? What if they just play with me and then dump me afterwards?


    Besides, I haven''t met anyone who satisfies me, except you."


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "Auntie, what do you mean?"


    Feng Xiangyi leaned toward Qin Hao''s side and quickly gave him a peck.


    With a smile on her face, she said, "Auntie says she likes you, how do you feel, are you moved?"


    Qin Hao swallowed and said, "Auntie, this isn''t right."


    Feng Xiangyi''s expression turned serious, "Nonsense, of course it''s not right. I''m just testing your loyalty for Wan Rou. To see if you would be seduced by other women, your performance was mediocre. Remember, next time when you encounter such a situation, push that woman away immediately."

 Chapter 300 Tang Qi

    Feng Xiangyi finished speaking and then opened the car door to step out, leaving a confused Qin Hao behind.


    Qin Hao revealed a helpless smile and then drove off from the place.


    Langjiang Hotel.


    After the banquet ended in discord, Lin Helai went to a luxurious private room upstairs.


    He knocked on the door and only entered after hearing someone inside say "come in."


    Three young men were sitting in the room, two of whom Qin Hao knew well: Tang Feipeng and Tang Chen Dong.


    The other one looked to be in his early twenties with a sly smile on his face, appearing somewhat sinister.


    Tang Feipeng looked at Lin Helai and asked, "How did you handle the matter?"


    Lin Helai recounted everything that had just happened in full detail to Tang Feipeng.


    Tang Feipeng''s brow furrowed slightly, a thoughtful expression in his eyes, "Alright, I''ve got it. You can go now."


    After Lin Helai left, Tang Chen Dong spoke up, "What do we do now, Feipeng? I''m afraid no one can stop Qin Hao''s Jiangshan Roasted Duck."


    Tang Feipeng frowned, aware that Jiangshan Roasted Duck was already a dominant force and it was impossible to thwart it. He couldn''t think of a good way to counter Qin Hao.@@@@


    The person beside them sneered, "Why so tangled? The one you want to deal with is Qin Hao, not Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    Just let him disappear from this world, and everything will naturally be resolved. Once he dies, Jiangshan Roasted Duck will disperse too."


    Tang Feipeng turned to his younger brother, Tang Qi, "Xiao Qi, this is China, not abroad. You can''t just talk about killing people on a whim."


    A dagger appeared in Tang Qi''s hands out of nowhere.


    He casually pared his nails while speaking with a faint smile, "Brother, does it make a difference? Do you want him dead or not? Just say the word.


    He won''t see tomorrow''s sun."


    Tang Feipeng indeed wanted Qin Hao dead, for he had never suffered such humiliation from childhood till now.


    But he didn''t want his own brother to take action because this matter didn''t require Tang Qi''s intervention. He wanted to deal with Qin Hao himself.


    He was all too aware of his brother''s capabilities¡ªa top-tier assassin ranked in the top ten of the international Blood Kill List.


    As a child, Tang Qi had been sent abroad by Tang Zhongqian, and by chance, he got involved with a mercenary group.


    Afterwards, he joined a powerful mercenary organization.


    Having undergone over a decade of training, he had now become a top-tier assassin who struck terror into people''s hearts.


    But very few knew his true identity, and even Tang Chen Dong beside him was oblivious.


    Qin Hao said, "Meng, sit down and eat with us. From now on, just consider this as your own home, and think of me as your brother."


    Han Meng nodded her head and then sat down opposite him.


    Qin Hao put a piece of meat on Qiao''er''s plate, "Qiao''er, eat some meat, you''re growing right now, you should eat more good food."


    "Thank you, Uncle," Han Qiao''er said obediently.


    While eating, Qin Hao said, "Qiao''er, tomorrow Uncle will take you to the nearby school, what do you think about continuing your studies there?"


    Han Qiao''er nodded, "Mhm, when Qiao''er grows up, I will earn money to spend on Uncle."


    Qin Hao''s face lit up with a smile, "What a good girl, eat up."


    Looking at Qin Hao, Han Meng said softly, "Xiao Hao, I''m feeling better now, I''m planning to go out to look for a job tomorrow. I still owe you so much money..."


    Qin Hao paused for a moment before responding, "Meng, why go out to look for a job? If you don''t mind, you can work for me.


    Just do some cleaning, cook meals, and I''ll pay you ten thousand a month, how about that?


    If you disagree, I''ll have to hire a nanny. A high-grade nanny would probably cost two to three times that amount per month."


    "I''ve never been a nanny before, I don''t know if I can do a good job," Han Meng said softly.


    Qin Hao replied, "Being a nanny is nothing special, just cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, and we have a washing machine for clothes.


    Meng, don''t go out looking for a job. You can rest assured I will definitely not short-change you on your salary."


    Han Meng quickly explained, "Xiao Hao, that''s not what I meant. I just think the salary might be too high?"


    "It''s not high, it''s quite average. Meng, eat up," Qin Hao reassured her.


    Ten minutes later, after finishing the meal, Han Meng cleaned up the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash them.


    Qin Hao and Han Qiao''er sat on the couch watching TV.


    Han Qiao''er sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, "Uncle, where is your girlfriend? Why doesn''t she live with you?"


    Qin Hao answered, "She''s going abroad to study tomorrow, she will be back after a while."


    Han Qiao''er asked, "Uncle, when your girlfriend comes back, will she drive Mom and me out? I don''t want to leave you."


    Qin Hao reassured her, "Of course not, she''s a very nice person, even better than your uncle."


    After washing the dishes, Han Meng came out from the kitchen and saw her daughter sitting on Qin Hao''s lap. She gave her a stern look, "You''ve had a busy day and must be tired, why are you still holding her, Uncle?"


    Smiling, Qin Hao said, "It''s okay, Meng, Qiao''er is still just a child, after all."


    Han Qiao''er whispered, "I like being held by Uncle, it feels warm and safe."

 Chapter 301 Lottery Draw

    Qin Hao glanced at Han Meng, who was still wearing the dress he had picked out for her.


    Her figure was superb, perfectly showcasing the dress''s charm, curvy, exuding allure.


    Qin Hao checked his watch, it wasn''t even eight o''clock yet. He said, "Meng, let''s go out for a walk and get familiar with this area."


    Han Meng nodded gently, true to her nature. Qin Hao would say something, and she would nod, never refusing.


    Qin Hao knew her temperament well. He picked up Han Qiaoer and stood up, saying, "Let''s go out and have some fun."


    "Yeah, yeah," Han Qiaoer was quite excited.


    The three of them left the villa and walked towards the outside of the community. Once outside, Han Meng said, "Xiao Hao, put Qiao''er down, it must be tiring."


    "Uncle, put me down, please."


    Qin Hao set her down, and she walked between the two, holding Qin Hao''s hand on one side and Han Meng''s on the other.


    This made Han Meng''s cheeks flush with redness because she felt it resembled a family of three.


    Thankfully, it wasn''t very clear in the evening.


    After leaving the community, to the right of the community was a Wanhao Square, with department stores and all sorts of items being sold.


    Developed by the Wan Hao Real Estate Group, it was very convenient for the residential communities around.


    The three of them arrived at Wanhao Square, where there were many people, predominantly from the surrounding residential communities.


    In the middle of the square, there was a colorful light fountain, looking very beautiful.@@@@


    Seeing it, Han Qiaoer''s eyes widened, "Uncle, that fountain is so beautiful."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "If you like watching it, we can come to see it every evening. For now, let''s go to the mall and buy some things."


    They entered the mall, which was quite crowded.


    The first floor was a big supermarket, mainly selling snacks, food, vegetables, and meats, among other things.


    Qin Hao led them to the second floor, which mostly sold shoes and women''s bags.


    "Qiao''er, which shoes do you like?" Qin Hao walked into a branded shoe store.


    Qiao''er said softly, "Uncle, Qiao''er has shoes."


    She didn''t really have many shoes, still wearing the same pair as always.


    Qin Hao picked out two pairs of shoes, "Qiao''er, what do you think of these two?"


    Han Qiaoer nodded. Both pairs of shoes looked nice, but the price tag on them, over four hundred for a pair, made her a bit fearful.


    These were still mid to low-end brand shoes chosen by Qin Hao, not the expensive ones.


    Seeing this, Han Meng felt a warmth in her heart, as Qin Hao treated Qiao''er as if she were his own child.


    After buying shoes for Qiao''er, Qin Hao also picked out two pairs for Han Meng, making her cheeks flush with shyness.


    Han Meng''s face instantly blushed bright red, "Nonsense, hurry back to your room to sleep."


    Qin Hao laughed and said, "Qiaoer, that won''t do. Men and women are different, uncle can''t sleep in the same room with you."


    Han Qiaoer replied, "Shouldn''t family sleep together?"


    Unable to bear it, Han Meng sent her back to her room, "Xiao Hao, Qiaoer is still young and doesn''t understand these things, please don''t mind."


    Qin Hao replied, "It''s fine, Meng. You all rest early. I''ll also rest, as I need to get up early tomorrow morning for a trip."


    Han Meng nodded lightly, "Hmm."


    Returning to his room, Qin Hao lay on the bed and logged onto the TT live streaming platform on his phone.


    Xia Qing was still streaming, usually continuing until after ten o''clock at night.


    Qin Hao watched for a while, then spent all the remaining money in his account on her.


    "Congratulations host for completing the phase side mission: Online Spending Tycoon, rewarded with fifty thousand achievement points, four free attribute points."


    Qin Hao distributed the four attribute points equally among his attributes, not focusing on any single one.


    Because in his view, being all-rounded was the strongest.


    While focusing on one would definitely strengthen it, the weaknesses would also be very apparent.


    His current achievement points had reached one hundred twenty-five thousand three hundred.


    The mall featured some high-tech product development technologies which he currently found useless, so he opened the lottery interface.


    He hoped to draw some useful items.


    "Draw ten times."


    The lottery system started spinning, the silver treasure chests turning before his eyes, and after a few seconds, ten silver treasure chests stopped in front of him.


    "Open."


    "Congratulations host, you''ve obtained a Strength Gene Potion {Permanently increases strength attribute by five points}."


    "Congratulations host, you''ve obtained piano skills."


    "Congratulations host, you''ve obtained an Intelligence Gene Potion."


    "Congratulations host, you''ve obtained a big experience book."


    "Congratulations host, you''ve obtained a bottle of Life Potion."


    ...


    "Congratulations host, you''ve obtained a bottle of Spirit Potion."


    "Congratulations host, you''ve obtained a Constitution Gene Potion."


    "Congratulations host, you''ve obtained a Laser Pistol."

 Chapter 302 Laser Pistol

    Qin Hao''s eyes gleamed at the sight of the reward.


    He had previously drawn a Genetic Potion with an agility attribute that permanently increased it by five points, which was truly a treasure.


    He had also drawn a Basic Strength Potion, which was temporary, and in his opinion, it couldn''t hold a candle to the Genetic Potion.@@@@


    Without a second thought, he drank all four bottles of the Genetic Potion, with each attribute gaining five points¡ªa truly terrifying boost.


    This was a one-time use Genetic Potion, and it wouldn''t work again even if he drew it another time.


    He also drew two intrinsic attribute points, which he decided to add to his constitution.


    As for the Piano Skill and Wilderness Survival Skill he drew, they were useless to him.


    He had no intention of venturing into the piano world or playing survival in the primeval forest, so these two skills were as good as chicken ribs to him.


    The Life Potion and Spirit Potion, on the other hand, were quite nice¡ªthe kind that could cure diseases and save lives.


    What interested Qin Hao the most, however, was the Laser Pistol.


    Now, every country was researching laser weapons, but they were still in the exploratory and practice stage, with many uncertainties.


    These weapons had yet to be applied in real combat, and many technologies were still immature.


    Laser Pistol: Extremely powerful, strong penetration, effective range of three thousand meters, no recoil, no pollution.


    It can fire fifty laser beams, and recharging takes only ten seconds.


    Upon seeing this, Qin Hao was dumbfounded. Damn, isn''t that power a bit too strong? It''s downright terrifying.


    No wonder it''s a high-tech weapon of the future¡ªif such weaponry becomes widespread in the future, fuck, who could stop it?


    He took the Laser Pistol out of the system backpack, and it felt just right in his hand, very comfortable, and it looked full of technological sense.


    The entire Laser Pistol shimmered silver, with seamless connection technology so advanced it seemed like a single piece even upon close inspection.


    There was also a red dot sight on top of the pistol, so there was no need to worry about accuracy even at long distances.


    Qin Hao was somewhat reluctant to put it down and admired it for a while before storing it back in the system backpack.


    At the same time, he opened his character attribute panel to take a look:


    Name: Qin Hao


    Age: 19


    Gender: Male


    Realm: Ordinary person


    Strength: 37


    Agility: 25


    Upon hearing the notification, Qin Hao replied, "I''ll watch for a little while longer, then sleep."


    Xia Qing: "Brother A, thank you for your support. I''m really touched. Without you, there wouldn''t be the me of today.


    My parents were recently scammed out of a lot of money in a construction project, and our family incurred a lot of debt.


    Last month, I earned over ten million, which is enough to pay off all our debts and also to provide a better life for my parents. Thank you, Brother A."


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "Don''t mention it. How could I resist being attracted to you?"


    Xia Qing: "Hehe, if Brother A likes me, just say it. I don''t have a boyfriend right now; you have a chance."


    She had made up her mind now; once she received her income on the tenth, she would repay Qin Hao and then wish him and Du Wanrou happiness.


    Afterward, she wanted to try and get to know Brother A. She felt that Spade A was a good person, but she wasn''t sure if he''d be interested in her.


    From that first sentence: "The finest sword is forged in the strongest fire; the scent of plum blossoms comes from the bitterness of winter."


    To the silent companionship and generous support in her live streams every night, she was touched whenever she thought about it.


    Although Spade A rarely initiated conversations with her, she believed that his daily presence in her live stream room meant he must have some interest in her.


    Silent companionship is the most enduring declaration of love.


    ...


    After chatting for a while, Qin Hao went to sleep.


    After ending the live stream, Xia Qing lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep as all sorts of thoughts jumped around in her mind.


    For instance: What if Brother Spade A is an old man? Could he be a playboy? What kind of person is he, really?


    It was a clear case of anxiety syndrome at the prospect of meeting an online friend.


    Engulfed in her bewildering thoughts, she eventually fell asleep.


    Qin Hao had a dream that night; he dreamt of Xia Qing, and even dreamt they did that kind of thing!


    At five-thirty in the morning, his phone alarm went off.


    He went downstairs to find Han Meng already up, standing in front of the ground floor''s floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the nearby sea.


    As she heard the sound of footsteps, she turned, her face breaking into a shy smile: "Xiao Hao, you''re awake."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Meng Jie, why are you up so early?"


    Han Meng: "I just finished cooking; go wash up and eat something."


    "You don''t have to get up so early, Meng Jie, I could eat when I get back," Qin Hao felt a warmth in his heart.


    Han Meng: "How can you leave the house in the morning without eating? Come on; eat now, or you''ll be late."


    [Second update]

 Chapter 303 Leaving

    Qin Hao finished washing up and had breakfast around five fifty a.m.


    He drove out of the residential area, and there weren''t many cars on the streets in the morning, so it took him just ten minutes to reach the apartment building where Feng Xiangyi lived.


    Du Wanrou had already packed her things and, seeing Qin Hao arrive, they walked down from upstairs.


    "Get in my car," Qin Hao told Du Wanrou.


    Du Wanrou nodded, put her suitcase in the car, and sat in his car.


    Feng Xiangyi drove Du Hongfeng and his wife in Du Wanrou''s Ferrari.


    On the way to the airport, Du Wanrou looked somewhat downcast, "Qin Hao, do you think I made the wrong decision?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Why do you think you made a mistake? You''re going to be an exchange student, not leaving forever."


    "But my parents don''t want me to go."


    Qin Hao said, "You''re an adult now, you have your own ideas, and naturally, you should go and realize them. I just transferred ten million to your account; things are different abroad, buy what you need."


    Du Wanrou: "Okay, I understand."


    After speaking, she tightly gripped Qin Hao''s hand, "You must wait for me to come back."


    Qin Hao, with a serious face, nodded, "Don''t worry, girl, I''ll wait for you."


    Less than twenty minutes later, they arrived at the airport.


    Students from the Business Administration College were already there, led by a teacher over fifty years old.


    They watched enviously as Du Wanrou alighted from a luxury car.


    The team leader teacher was also surprised but recognized Qin Hao as he and Du Wanrou approached.


    "Aren''t you Qin Hao from the Computer College?"


    Qin Hao gave an embarrassed smile, "Teacher, you know me?"


    The team leader teacher laughed and said, "You are quite a celebrity around campus, everyone knows you. Impressive young man, are you two a couple?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "I''m Wan Rou''s boyfriend. I hope the teacher can take good care of her when she gets to the Federation."


    Team leader teacher: "They are all my students; I will definitely take good care of them."


    Du Hongfeng and the others also came over, and after talking for a while, they entered the airport hall to wait for their tickets to be checked.


    The parents of the ten or so students also followed them inside, their eyes filled with reluctance.


    Standing at the ticket check-in entrance, Du Wanrou looked at Qin Hao, her eyes slightly red, and her strong reluctance was obvious.


    Qin Hao was startled, "Is an appointment necessary?"


    The security guard explained, "Of course, otherwise everyone would want to see our principal, and our principal would be too busy to handle it all."


    Qin Hao nodded in understanding, then he made a call to Xu Jiejian, knowing that in such matters, connections were important.


    Without connections, it would be impossible for Han Qiaoer to get into this school.


    When Xu Jiejian received his call, he was all smiles, "What''s up, Xiao Hao? Facing some difficulties?"


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Xu, the child wants to attend school. She''s from out of town and doesn''t have a school registration."


    Xu Jiejian laughed and said, "It''s a small matter. I''ll pass the phone to Xiao Fang. You can talk to her directly; she''s the head of the education department."


    Once Sun Fang received the call, she said with a smile, "Where are you all at, Xiao Hao?"


    "At the gate of Yaoyang Primary School in Xin Hai District."


    Sun Fang said, "Okay, I''ll call the principal there right now."


    Qin Hao said, "Thank you, Ms. Xu. You''re pregnant now, don''t overwork yourself. Make sure to rest early and take care of various things."


    Sun Fang replied with a smile, "Mm, I just went for a check-up at the hospital today. The doctor said the baby is doing well."


    Qin Hao replied, "That''s good to hear. I''ll prepare a prescription for prenatal care for you in a couple of days. Since you''re a bit older, childbirth could potentially have complications."


    Sun Fang said, "I heard you were at Si Yao''s place today, right? We''ll also go there, and we can talk more then."


    Call ended.


    Qin Hao turned to Han Meng and said, "Meng, it should be sorted soon, I''ve already made a call."


    Han Meng knew the difficulty of getting into the school and said softly, "Xiao Hao, maybe we should just forget about it. Qiaoer could study at home."


    Qin Hao said, "Qiaoer is still young. If she stays at home every day, she''ll miss out on a lot of fun that children her age should have. Just go along with my plan."


    Han Meng nodded gently, feeling very grateful.


    About three minutes later, the phone in the security booth rang. After the security guard answered it, he looked at Qin Hao with a somewhat surprised expression.


    He spoke up, "Principal Li invites you in. His office is on the second floor of the administration building."


    Qin Hao led them both into the school.


    Han Meng seemed a bit shy, unaccustomed to dealing with such influential figures, and felt a bit nervous.


    "Meng, why are you keeping your head down?" Qin Hao said somewhat exasperatedly.


    Han Meng whispered, "Xiao Hao, maybe you should take Qiaoer inside later. I''m afraid I might embarrass you and Qiaoer."


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 304 Olive Branch

    Qin Hao frowned, "Meng, you don''t owe him anything, why be afraid? Qiao''er is your daughter, you need to set an example. You surely don''t want Qiao''er to be timid like you in the future, do you?"


    Han Qiao''er also spoke up, "Yes, Mom, everyone is equal, why should you be afraid of him?"


    Han Meng knew this principle well, it was her deep-seated inferiority and timidity shaped by long-standing habits and her surrounding environment.


    Qin Hao reached out his hand, "Meng, why don''t you hold my hand? Would that make you feel better?"


    Han Meng''s cheeks turned slightly red, and she hesitated without mustering up the courage to reach out her hand.


    Qin Hao grabbed her hand, "Meng, this personality won''t do. If you encounter unreasonable people, they could easily bully you to death. Just follow me, and you just need to watch."


    Han Meng nodded, her heart pounding as Qin Hao held her hand.


    Feeling the warmth from Qin Hao''s palm, she indeed wasn''t so afraid anymore, her feelings turning to shyness.


    When they arrived at the second floor of the office building, Qin Hao knocked on the door.


    "Come in."


    He opened the door and went in. Inside, a middle-aged man wearing glasses was sitting there, looking at the computer.


    Seeing Qin Hao and the two others enter, Li Wenbin quickly stood up and said, "You must be Mr. Qin? Please take a seat. My name is Li Wenbin, and I am the principal of Yaoyang Primary School."


    The three of them sat down on the sofa nearby.


    He started, "Mr. Li, you should already understand the situation, right? When can it be handled?"


    Li Wenbin replied, "It can be settled today. Mr. Qin, I need your child''s documents. When would you like your child to start school?"


    Qin Hao said, "We don''t have a National Identity Card, and the Household Registration Book is back in our hometown."


    Li Wenbin paused briefly then hurriedly said, "Although it''s a bit troublesome, it''s not a problem. Education is crucial for a child."


    Qin Hao had only stayed for a few minutes before leaving.


    Upon leaving Li Wenbin''s office, Qin Hao let go of Han Meng''s hand, which was already covered in sweat, making Qin Hao''s hand somewhat wet.


    Qin Hao said to Han Meng, "You see, Meng, you really don''t need to be afraid."


    ...


    On the way back, Qin Hao bought a school bag and study supplies for Qiao''er.


    It was already past ten when they got home.


    Qin Hao told Han Meng, "Meng, I won''t come home for lunch today, don''t wait up for me."


    "Okay," Han Meng nodded.


    They chatted for a while, and then Yang Su and Xu Siyao went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.


    Xu Jiejian: "On the way here, I specifically bought a Jiangshan Roasted Duck and two bottles of Xinghui Wine, Jie Kang, you should try them later." Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    Jie Kang laughed and replied, "I''ve tried Jiangshan Roasted Duck before, and it''s really good. But I haven''t tried this wine yet."


    Qin Hao explained, "Mr. Xu, Xinghui Wine is currently only producing low-end products and has not started making mid-to-high-end brands of Xinghui Wine yet.


    The taste might not be what you''re used to, but it''s still very beneficial for the body."


    Xu Jiejian''s expression turned serious as he looked at Qin Hao and said, "Xiao Hao, are you interested in joining the military for some training?"


    Finishing, all three turned their gaze to him.


    The real topic had finally begun.


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, "Mr. Xu, are you suggesting I join the military for training?"


    Xu Jiejian spoke softly, "Yes, with your unified exam scores, you could be specially recruited into Gu Jing Military Academy.


    After graduating from the military academy, you can take a position within the Gu Jing Military Region, and your future prospects would be limitless."


    This was the olive branch the Xu family was extending to him.


    The overtures were clear; as long as he joined the military region, with his capabilities along with the Xu family''s power, his future would be bright.


    Qin Hao sat there with a contemplative look in his eyes.


    Xu Jiejian continued, "Xiao Hao, this is what the old man thinks. He just asked me to tell you.


    The old man said it''s fine whether you agree or not, just think it over."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mr. Xu, please thank Mr. Xu for me. I''ll consider it carefully."


    During that lunch, Qin Hao ate distractedly, and everyone noticed, but no one mentioned it.


    After the meal, he made an excuse to leave, and Xu Siyao walked him outside.


    Just before getting into the car, Qin Hao told her, "Go back, Si Yao."


    Xu Siyao said worriedly, "You''ve been drinking, can you drive? Let me take you back, then I can take a taxi home."


    Qin Hao: "It''s okay, I''m going straight to the office. Go back, Si Yao."


    Xu Siyao said as she looked at him, "Then be careful on the road, and let me know when you reach the office."


    "Alright." Qin Hao''s mind was a mess right now; he needed some time alone to sort through his thoughts.


    [Chapter Four]

 Chapter 305 Donation

    Qin Hao drove to the company, and once inside his office, he said to Nie Si, "Assistant Nie, please step out for a moment. I need some peace to think, and I don''t want to be disturbed by anyone."


    "Yes, Mr. Qin." Nie Si, carrying a stack of documents, walked out.


    Sitting in his office, the words spoken by Xu Jiejian echoed in Qin Hao''s mind.


    The significance behind his words was profound.


    Moreover, these words were relayed to him by Xu Jiejian on behalf of Xu Liangguo.


    He believed that if he really went to the military district to gain experience, Xu Liangguo would strongly support him, and with his unparalleled capabilities, it was highly likely that Xu Liangguo''s position might be his in the future.


    He might even go farther, potentially becoming the leader of the nation.


    But if he agreed, then his relationship with Xu Siyao would also need to be secured; otherwise, the Xu Family would not support him like this.


    Although Xu Jiejian didn''t explicitly state it, he knew that Qin Hao was intelligent enough to understand the implied relation.


    The Xu Family had made a significant investment this time, and as long as Qin Hao agreed, they would definitely focus on cultivating him.


    Qin Hao was actually moved by Xu Liangguo''s esteem for him, but he would have felt even more touched if Xu Siyao wasn''t being used as leverage.


    Xu Siyao is not an object, and using her as a bargaining chip is disrespectful to her.


    The troublesome issue for Qin Hao now was not whether to agree, but how to refuse.


    He absolutely would not forsake the person he liked for a transactional benefit, tempting though the Xu Family''s offer was.


    But these were Xu Liangguo''s words; if he directly refused, what would their future relationship be like?


    He needed to think of a good reason.


    After more than half an hour, he took out his phone and called Xu Liangguo.


    The call was quickly connected, and Xu Liangguo, smiling, said, "No need to speak, I already know your answer. I want to hear your reason."


    Qin Hao forced a laugh, "Mr. Xu, Siyao is not an object, not a chip for trading. I refuse out of respect for her.


    Also, I don''t want to enter the military district this way. If possible, one day I''ll enter on my own strength."@@@@


    Xu Liangguo gave a faint smile, "Let me ask you one thing, do you like Siyao?"


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "Mr. Xu, I can''t really say."


    "Hmm, I understand. It''s fine, I''ll hang up now, Xiao Hao."


    ...


    He hung up the call.


    The representatives of the three major charity organizations were stunned for a moment when they heard his words.


    "Mr. Qin, you... what did you say?" Li Ze from the Charity General Association stood up from his chair, doubting whether he had heard correctly.


    Thirty million?


    Damn!


    During a severe earthquake in Xuan Country a few years ago, there were few who donated more than thirty million.


    And he had said thirty million for each, totaling ninety million, a figure that nearly matched the top three donations of that year.


    Feng Xiangyi had thought that Qin Hao would donate just a few million to enhance the reputation of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    To think he intended to donate so much.


    She had the urge to kick Qin Hao off his chair.


    Such a waste, damn it!


    Ninety million could be used for so many other things, yet you chose to donate it all.


    Are you out of your mind?


    Qin Hao calmly repeated, "Thirty million for each organization, totaling ninety million. I want to make it clear upfront.


    Anyone who dares to misuse this money should not blame me, Qin Hao, for being ruthless."


    Li Ze and the other two exchanged glances, their emotions clearly overflowing, thirty million was indeed significant, capable of accomplishing so much.


    Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    "Mr. Qin, on behalf of all people with disabilities nationwide, I thank you for your generous donation." Gao Panmei, the head of the Disability Federation, her eyes slightly red, stood up and bowed deeply to him.


    Li Ze and Fang Chengyun, the head of the Congenital Disease Children Foundation, also bowed together.


    Their gratitude and emotion were genuine, with no pretense.


    They had visited many impoverished areas and seen too many unbearable hardships.


    The reason they had persevered through it all was the hopeful and expectant gazes of those troubled people.


    Seeing their reaction, Qin Hao sighed internally, "In a while, I''ll transfer the money to your charity accounts, and later on, I will send someone to monitor how the funds are used."


    Li Ze asked, "Mr. Qin, would you like to make the donation public? We can get some authoritative newspapers and television stations in Jianghai to cover it."


    Feng Xiangyi''s eyes lit up, the influence of these three organizations was not small, and making the news public would greatly benefit Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    "No need to make it public." Qin Hao thought for a moment and refused, having planned to space out his donations to avoid drawing too much attention.


    He intended to donate nearly one billion, and if it were made public, he worried he might become a national celebrity.

 Chapter 306 Xia Qings Phone Call

    Feng Xiangyi nearly spat blood upon hearing his response.


    Not public?


    Has your brain really gone haywire today?


    Donating so much money and yet keeping it secret, what''s the point?


    Li Ze and his two companions were also taken aback and didn''t quite understand his approach, but since Qin Hao had said so, they refrained from asking further questions.


    After Qin Hao transferred the money, the three charities issued him a certificate of donation.


    It signified that Qin Hao had made a donation. The information would indeed be recorded in the charity''s internal system, but it wouldn''t be made public.


    Once Li Ze and the others had left, Feng Xiangyi fixed her gaze on Qin Hao, blinking not even once.


    Qin Hao felt somewhat uncomfortable under her scrutiny, "Mr. Feng, why are you staring at me like that?"


    "I''m checking to see if your brain has been squashed by a door," Feng Xiangyi said.


    Qin Hao, his head full of black lines, "Are you talking about the donation just now?"


    "No kidding, ninety million, big brother, if you really were my biological brother, that''s ninety million in cold, hard cash.


    Donating it instead of putting it into the company for development¡ªwe''d already negotiated with Delicious Duck Neck and had enough capital for the acquisition.


    But for the subsequent store renovations and other expenses, the funds are simply not enough."


    "How much do you fall short? I''ll transfer it to the company finance," Qin Hao said.


    "How much do you have?" Feng Xiangyi asked with a smile, thinking it would be better to put it all into the company''s development rather than donating it.


    Qin Hao replied, "I still have about 1.9 billion."


    Feng Xiangyi almost fell over upon hearing this, her eyes widening as she looked at him, "How much? 1.9 billion? Brother, did you rob a bank or what?"


    "I have a use for that money. How much does the company need?" Qin Hao asked.


    "Fifty million should be just about enough," Feng Xiangyi said, still immersed in shock.


    Qin Hao transferred the money into the company account and then said, "In a couple of days, I''ll look for a few more charities."


    Feng Xiangyi was taken aback, "Huh? Mr. Qin, are you planning to donate more?"


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    "Mhm, I have my own plans. Aunt, don''t worry, I''m sure my head wasn''t squashed by a door."


    ...


    Time flies, swift as a white colt flashing past a crack.


    Mr. Li asked, "Who''s this?"


    Qin Hao began, "Mr. Li, it''s Qin Hao."


    Surprised, Mr. Li said, "Oh, it''s Mr. Qin. Congratulations on the flourishing success of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company. I haven''t had the chance to thank you separately for the charity gala last time."


    Qin Hao responded, "You''re too kind, Mr. Li. It was my duty. I am contacting you today because there''s something I would like to ask you about."


    Mr. Li, presuming Qin Hao needed a favor, replied cheerfully, "What''s up? Tell me."


    Qin Hao stated, "I plan to donate three billion yuan to the impoverished mountainous areas of Jiangshan to build schools, repair roads, and help poor families."


    There was more than a minute of silence on the other end.


    Confused, Qin Hao inquired, "Hello, Mr. Li? Are you there?"


    "Mr. Qin, have you just had a drink?"


    ...


    Qin Hao was at his wits'' end, "Mr. Li, do I sound like I''ve been drinking?"


    Mr. Li thought Qin Hao was making fun of him. With no major disaster having occurred, who would donate so much money?


    Even in the event of a major disaster, almost no one would donate that much.


    Only the state would allocate such a hefty sum for poverty alleviation.


    Knowing that Mr. Li didn''t believe him, Qin Hao, who knew that anyone in his place would feel the same, said, "Just give me the charity account number, Mr. Li, and I''ll transfer the money right away."


    Mr. Li, still skeptical, sent him the official charity account number.


    One minute later, he received a report from his subordinate that the account indeed had an additional three billion yuan.


    He was dumbfounded and disbelieving, yet also excited; such an amount was a significant political achievement, enough to help him climb into the provincial government.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Mr. Li, you''ve received the money, right? I''ll have someone monitor every outgoing payment."


    After ending the call with Mr. Li, he then made a call to Chang An Country, as Shuinan Province was his hometown after all.


    Of course, he wanted his homeland to develop better, and Chang An Country had once helped him; thus, this was his way of repaying the favor.


    In a blink of an eye, he had donated six billion yuan, and his achievement points had increased to over 420,000, which should be nearly enough to upgrade all his skills to level five.


    While he was pondering, his phone rang with a call from an unfamiliar number.


    He answered, "Hello, who''s this?"


    "Do you have time now?" Xia Qing''s voice came through the phone.


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, "Yes, what''s up?"


    Xia Qing said, "Do you know the cafe not far from the school? I''m waiting for you there."

 Chapter 307 Spokesperson

    Qin Hao: "Okay."


    He hung up the phone.


    Qin Hao left the company and drove towards Jianghai University Main Campus.


    That morning, the same news spread throughout the business circles of Jianghai City:


    "Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company spent millions to acquire Delicious Duck Company."


    This news was significant and attracted a lot of attention; Delicious Duck Company was an established business in Jianghai.


    Now that it had been acquired, who in Jianghai''s roasted and cooked duck industry could stop Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company''s progress?


    Their secrecy in the initial stages was very well-maintained. When other companies in the same industry heard this news, their expressions changed instantly.


    The acquisition of Delicious Duck was tantamount to declaring to everyone that there was about to be a new leader in Jianghai''s roasted and cooked duck industry.


    In the past, Delicious Duck Neck and Liu Hei Ya were the dominant players.


    But now, with their sales sharply decreasing, once Jiangshan Roasted Duck fully integrated the Delicious Duck stores,


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck would undoubtedly become the leader in Jianghai''s roasted and cooked duck industry.


    The person in charge of Liu Hei Ya Company hadn''t joined Lin Helai and others in opposing Jiangshan Roasted Duck initially.


    As for what they were thinking, no one knew.


    ...


    About ten minutes later, Qin Hao arrived at the cafe Xia Qing had mentioned.


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    He parked the car next to the shop, then walked into the cafe.


    Xia Qing was sitting in a corner of the cafe, stirring her coffee spoon as if pondering something.


    Qin Hao saw her and paused, his gaze fixed. Although he saw Xia Qing every night in videos, seeing her in person always felt different than on video.


    He walked over to Xia Qing''s table.


    Xia Qing felt someone approaching and looked up to see Qin Hao, her eyes filled with complex emotions.


    "You''re here, have a seat."


    Then she called the waiter over and ordered a cappuccino for Qin Hao.


    Soon, the coffee was served, but Qin Hao didn''t touch it.


    Xia Qing was still stirring her coffee with the spoon in her hand.@@@@


    The couples around him, seeing his action, nearly burst out laughing.


    Drinking a cup of coffee in one gulp, this brother must have been deeply shocked.


    ...


    After leaving the cafe?, Qin Hao drove back to the company.


    He hadn''t been to the university for several days, but Chen Ping frequently contacted him to report some information.


    The development on the fatty''s side was going well; the office location had already moved to a large office building, and they now had several dozen employees.


    Back at the company, Qin Hao gathered Feng Xiangyi and several others into the meeting room.


    Feng Xiangyi, Nie Si, the deputy director of the marketing department Lv Rong, manager Song Zhu, and deputy manager Li Jing.


    Qin Hao addressed them, "I plan to find a celebrity to endorse our company, I''ve called you here to discuss this."


    An endorsement?


    Feng Xiangyi''s eyes lit up; she had long wanted Qin Hao to hire a celebrity for endorsement as it could greatly enhance the popularity of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    Lv Rong asked, "Mr. Qin, what is your budget? Also, which TV channel do you plan to use, and what timing for the advertisement? Prime time slots are very expensive."


    Qin Hao said, "Don''t worry about the money. Just discuss the matter of the spokesperson; the more popular, the better, and their character and reputation should also be top-notch."


    Li Jing spoke, "Mr. Qin, I think Zhao Yuying is quite suitable, but I''m not sure about her schedule."


    Song Zhu nodded, "That''s right, Zhao Yuying is currently a popular star in Xuan Country, highly popular, and she has a good character and reputation without any scandals. She''d be quite appropriate."


    Lv Rong added, "Zhao Yuying indeed is a good choice. Jiang Feifei, Yang Wenhao, Li Wenjun, and other popular stars could also be considered."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Let''s not consider male candidates for now."


    Feng Xiangyi suggested, "Mr. Qin, we can contact Zhao Yuying first. If she is not available, we can then consider a second choice."


    The others nodded slightly in agreement with Feng Xiangyi''s proposal.


    Qin Hao said, "Discuss the budget, and also the cost for prime time ad spots on CCTV-1."


    Feng Xiangyi responded, "Zhao Yuying''s endorsement fee is approximately between twenty to thirty million per year, which needs to be negotiated.


    As for prime time advertising costs on CCTV-1, it should be very high. We need to inquire about the exact price, and it''s not even certain we can secure a spot."


    Qin Hao concluded, "You handle it. Also purchase prime time ad spots on Jianghai TV and Shuinan TV Channel when the time comes."


    After the discussion, Feng Xiangyi''s team contacted Zhao Yuying''s Studio.


    Zhao Yuying''s studio was in Jianghai City, and Feng Xiangyi soon made contact. She then informed them that if possible, the two parties could engage in specific negotiations.


    The response from the other side was simple: We have submitted the request; please wait patiently.

 Chapter 308 New Neighbor

    Because their studio was also located in Jiangshan, and they had even enjoyed Jiangshan Roasted Duck. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    So they didn''t directly reject Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s request, but submitted it.


    If Zhao Yuying''s studio had been in Jinchen City, a place they had never even heard of, they would have refused straight away.


    Even when big brands and well-known companies approached, in the end, it was up to Zhao Yuying herself to decide whether to agree to the endorsement.


    For a top-popularity star like Zhao Yuying, it wasn''t a simple matter of having money to get her endorsement.


    They considered more the impact on their own future development.


    Generally, they would choose to endorse well-known major brands, because such large companies were unlikely to have any mishaps and were very famous nationwide, which also helped their own popularity.


    Of course, they preferred to accept endorsements from world-famous companies.


    If they could establish a good relationship with such international corporations, it would facilitate their entry into the international entertainment industry in the future.


    A little after eleven, Qin Hao drove back to the villa complex.


    He parked the car at the entrance of his villa''s courtyard.


    At the entrance of a villa next to his, a moving company''s truck was parked, and a couple in their fifties were directing the movers.


    The sight of a Lamborghini parked nearby inevitably caught their attention, prompting them to take a second look.


    Qin Hao got out of his car, glanced over, and intended to head into his villa.


    The middle-aged man suddenly spoke up, "Young man, do you live next door?"


    Qin Hao turned to look at him and smiled, "Yes, uncle."


    Zhao Xingbo was a very sociable man, "We''ll be neighbors from now on, so we should visit each other more often."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than his wife forcefully jabbed his hand, signaling him to talk less.


    Qin Hao, naturally noticing this, smiled and nodded, "Sure, okay."


    After that, he walked into his own villa complex.


    Once Qin Hao had left, Wang Zhi berated in annoyance, "Why bother greeting someone you don''t even know? Do you know who he is?"


    Zhao Xingbo responded, "As the saying goes, a close neighbor is better than a distant relative, we''re going to be neighbors and of course, we should get along well, what do you know."


    Wang Zhi replied, "What do I know? I know more than you do, would our daughter be this outstanding without me?"


    ...


    After saying this, he turned to Han Meng, "Meng, go change your clothes. Put on that floral dress; it looks good on you."


    With cheeks tinged pink, Han Meng nodded and walked into her room.


    Minutes later, she emerged wearing the floral dress, which accentuated her figure, making it appear even more shapely and appealing.


    The style and pattern of the dress suited Han Meng very well, giving her a more mature and charming appearance.


    Noticing Qin Hao''s gaze, her cheeks flushed even more, and she lowered her head, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.


    With laughter, Han Qiaoer commented, "Mommy looks so pretty."


    "Let''s go, let''s have some fun on the beach for a while."


    The three of them arrived at the beach, where Han Qiaoer piled sand and caught crabs, thoroughly enjoying herself.


    Later, Qiao''er pulled Qin Hao and Han Meng into the sea to catch crabs together.


    Not far away, Zhao Xingbo and his wife stood on the beach, looking at the scene before them, affection evident in their eyes.


    They loved the environment here; it was so beautiful.


    "Isn''t that our neighbor? They''re already married with a child?" Zhao Xingbo was surprised to see the trio by the seaside.


    Wang Zhi said, "You better not mingle with them too much; who knows what kind of people they are."


    "Don''t talk if you don''t understand. We are neighbors. It''s good to have a cordial relationship for mutual support in the future."


    Having said that, he took a few steps forward and shouted to Qin Hao by the seaside, "Hey, young man."


    Qin Hao turned his head to see the older man who had spoken to him at noon. He smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.


    Wang Zhi laughed on the side and said, "See, they don''t even want to deal with you."


    Zhao Xingbo retorted, "Keep your mouth shut; no one will think you''re mute. And lose that haughty look.


    Anyone who can afford to live in this community is no simple figure. It''s good for us to have a good relationship, and it might even help if our daughter ever needs assistance."


    Wang Zhi dismissively said, "What could possibly happen to our daughter? She''s a top domestic superstar right now.


    All the big companies are dying to have her endorse their products."


    Zhao Xingbo, somewhat speechless, responded, "It''s about being prepared for the future, don''t you understand? How did I ever end up marrying you? You lack any foresight."


    Wang Zhi snapped back, "Nonsense, Zhao Xingbo, are you looking down on me now? Who was the one who cried and begged to marry me back in the day?


    Who was it that said, ''Zhizhi, I will love you for a lifetime''? And now what? You find fault with this and that. Isn''t our daughter so outstanding because of me?"


    As Qin Hao and Han Meng came from the seaside, they heard the couple arguing ¨C mainly because Wang Zhi had a very loud voice.

 Chapter 309 Zhao Yuying

    Mr. Zhao''s face turned red with embarrassment: "Alright, alright, stop it, everyone is watching."


    Wang Zhi also noticed Qin Hao not far away and gave an awkward smile: "You caught me scolding my old man."


    Qin Hao gave a slight smile: "It''s okay, Auntie, carry on."


    Zhao Xingbo said awkwardly: "You''re not stepping in to break it up, but encouraging us to continue, you should discipline your husband properly, he needs to learn from me."


    Han Meng''s cheeks instantly turned red, and she hurriedly explained: "We''re not husband and wife."


    Zhao Xingbo looked somewhat embarrassed: "Sorry, my mistake, I misspoke."


    Qin Hao said with a smile: "It''s fine, Uncle. Meng came from her hometown to help take care of me, this is her daughter, Qiao''er."


    Zhao Xingbo saw Han Qiaoer and started to praise her: "What a spirited little girl, so beautiful."


    "Qiao''er, Granny has some candy here, have a piece of candy," Wang Zhi took out a piece of imported candy from her pocket.


    It was bought for her by her daughter, as she has a problem with low blood sugar and always carries candy with her.


    Han Qiaoer didn''t reach out to take it, she looked at Qin Hao and her mother first.


    Qin Hao said with a smile: "Take it if Granny gives it to you, she''s not a bad person."


    Han Qiaoer nodded and took the candy: "Thank you, Granny."


    Wang Zhi had an amiable smile on her face: "Good child, my daughter was just as intelligent and adorable as you when she was little.


    If only she had married earlier, I''d have a grown-up granddaughter by now."


    Zhao Xingbo and Qin Hao started chatting, and Zhao Xingbo was a gregarious, sociable middle-aged man.


    From his words and actions, Qin Hao could tell he was pretty honest and not someone who speaks with a forked tongue.


    Through conversation, Qin Hao learned that he hailed from an ordinary rural area in Beiji Province.


    They were ordinary farmers, his daughter worked hard in Jianghai and achieved not a little success; otherwise, it wouldn''t have been possible for her to buy a seaside villa here.


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    The price here was indeed over fifty million, something common folks could hardly afford.


    Qin Hao didn''t ask what his daughter did, because it wasn''t relevant to him.


    Suddenly, Qin Hao''s phone rang. He took it out and saw it was Chang Jing, he quickly answered the call: "What''s up, Mr. Chang?"


    Chang Jing: "What''s up? You''ve not visited the base since it started operating for so long, are you too comfortable being a hands-off manager?"


    Qin Hao said with an awkward smile, "Mr. Chang, you''re not constantly overseeing the base''s operation either; an occasional visit should suffice."


    Qin Hao nodded understandingly and said with a smile, "It''s fine, Mr. Zhao, as long as they are obedient and don''t bite, make sure to use a leash when walking them outside."


    At Zhao Xingbo''s age, he would likely have been subject to the family planning policy at the time.


    With only one child and that child often away from home, it must indeed be lonely for the elderly couple.


    "Of course," Zhao Xingbo sighed in relief internally.


    Later, Qin Hao returned to his villa, and Han Qiaoer began playing with Zhao Xingbo and his wife.


    Around five in the afternoon, a black Mercedes-Benz van parked in front of Zhao Xingbo''s house.


    Zhao Yuying got off the van and saw her dad and mom playing with a little girl in the yard.


    Curiously, she came in and asked, "Mom and Dad, whose child is this?"


    Zhao Xingbo replied with a smile, "Our neighbor''s, they are quite nice people."


    "Auntie, hello," Han Qiaoer greeted Zhao Yuying upon seeing her.


    Zhao Yuying was naturally pretty and cute, with bright, enchanting eyes, accompanied by a delicate nose and cherry lips, she looked beautiful yet adorable.


    Zhao Yuying smiled and asked, "Hello, little girl, what''s your name?"


    "I''m Qiao''er."


    ...


    Inside Qin Hao''s villa, Han Meng stood in front of the ground-to-ceiling window, occasionally glancing over at the neighboring villa.


    "Meng, if you''re worried, you can go outside and watch over Qiao''er."


    Han Meng''s cheeks turned slightly red; it wasn''t that she thought Zhao Xingbo and his wife were bad people, but she felt uneasy not being able to see her daughter.


    Qin Hao said, "It''s okay, go ahead, I have to go out for a bit too."


    The two of them left the villa together, Qin Hao drove to the school, and Han Meng went to check on Qiao''er.


    Arriving at the school''s club art studio.


    Fan Ruobing was waiting for him inside, and everyone else had already left knowing when Qin Hao was due to arrive.


    "Here, eat this before you continue painting," Qin Hao handed over the food he had bought.


    Fan Ruobing looked at him, "What about yours?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I will eat when I get back home."


    Fan Ruobing didn''t say anything and began eating.

 Chapter 310 Wang Shudans Shock

    Ruobing ate her meal gracefully, not at all like him, who ate very quickly.


    A few days ago, Qin Hao had found out from Xu Siyao that Ruobing''s parents had divorced when she was just a child.


    This might have been the reason for her current personality.


    If Xu Siyao hadn''t told him this, he would never have imagined that Ruobing had such a background.


    Behind every person who seems distinguished, there perhaps lies a story little known to others.


    A few minutes later, Ruobing finished her meal, and she looked at Qin Hao and said, "Let''s start."


    Qin Hao then began another agonizing moment.@@@@


    After Qin Hao had finished painting, Ruobing expressed her surprise, "Why do I feel like you''ve painted much better than before?"


    The more she looked at it, the more she liked it. She felt this painting was tens of times better than the first one Qin Hao had painted, very atmospheric.


    Qin Hao''s painting skills had been at a beginner level initially, but now they were expert, so naturally there was no comparison.


    "Perhaps I''ve also improved," said Qin Hao awkwardly.


    ...


    Just then, the door of the studio was opened from outside.


    A mature middle-aged woman entered, and upon seeing the scene inside, she widened her eyes in disbelief.


    Hearing the door open, Qin Hao and Ruobing turned to look, and seeing the woman, Qin Hao immediately calmed down.


    Wang Shudan exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing?"


    Qin Hao quickly moved away from Ruobing. The middle-aged woman looked somewhat like Ruobing, very beautiful, exuding a mature aura all around.


    She must be Ruobing''s mother, right?


    Ruobing looked at her mother who had come, her expression still very calm, "Painting, what''s wrong?"


    Wang Shudan frowned, "You refused mom''s invitation just to paint with him?"


    Qin Hao felt awkward, being caught by her mother like this was a big slip.


    Ruobing spoke in a somewhat icy tone, "Is it any of your business?"


    Wang Shudan sighed, "Bingbing, I know I haven''t cared enough for you over the years, but I hope you understand mom,"


    Ruobing said, "I understand."


    Seeing the situation, Qin Hao spoke, "Auntie, Chairman, you guys talk, I''ll come another day to teach her."


    With that, he quickly left the studio.


    As Qin Hao left, Wang Shudan looked at Ruobing and asked, "You''ve never been this close to a man before.


    "He is not the kind of person who covets money," Fan Ruobing said as she carefully packed up the painting.


    Wang Shudan was somewhat baffled by her words. That doesn''t seem to have anything to do with coveting money, does it?


    She didn''t press further but cautiously asked, "Ruobing, can you gift this painting to mom?"


    Fan Ruobing, "No."


    Wang Shudan, "Mom definitely wouldn''t sell it, I want to use it as a treasure of the store."


    Fan Ruobing replied, "If you want it, come back tomorrow. He comes back every day to teach me painting."


    Wang Shudan paused, "Ah? Don''t such exceptional paintings require inspiration?"


    "Others might, but he doesn''t." After saying this, Fan Ruobing placed the painting into the tube.


    ...


    Qin Hao was unaware of the profound shock his painting had caused Wang Shudan.


    Now he still felt embarrassed, having been seen by someone''s mother like that with Fan Ruobing; it was a relief she hadn''t hit him.


    Back home, Han Meng was chopping vegetables, preparing dinner.


    Qin Hao didn''t see Qiao''er and curiously asked, "Hasn''t Qiao''er come back yet?"


    Han Meng replied, "Uh-huh, she''s still out playing."


    "Then I''ll go see her." Saying this, Qin Hao got up and left.


    He arrived at the neighboring villa of Zhao Xingbo, hearing a Mercedes-Benz van in the yard.


    Approaching the door, he knocked, and soon, it swung open. A pure and lovely young woman stood in the doorway.


    Both paused for a moment as their gazes met.


    Zhao Yuying curiously asked, "May I ask who you''re looking for?"


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, "Is Qiao''er here?"


    Zhao Yuying realized, "You''re from next door? Qiao''er is inside, please come in."


    At the same time, she wondered, Does he really not recognize me? Or is he pretending?


    Qin Hao followed her into the living room, where Qiao''er sat on the couch playing with a Husky, her laughter ringing like bells.


    Zhao Xingbo and Wang Zhi, upon hearing her delightful laughter, also smiled affectionately.


    They too yearned to hold a granddaughter or grandson, but their daughter had no plans of dating.


    She claimed her youth and appearance were priorities, and having a boyfriend might affect her image.


    Her current plan was to earn more money, ensuring no worries, before considering a boyfriend.

 Chapter 311 Honorary Granddaughter

    Zhao Xingbo saw Qin Hao come in, smiled, and said, "Xiao Hao is here. Qiao''er, this little girl, is too adorable and likeable."


    "Uncle, you''re back." Han Qiaoer looked at Qin Hao as he held her in his arms.


    Qin Hao affectionately held her, and he too felt that Qiao''er was clever, adorable, and so sensible¡ªextremely endearing.


    Wang Zhi also chimed in, "Yeah, Xiao Hao, can I discuss something with you?"


    Qin Hao looked at her curiously, "What is it?"


    Wang Zhi looked towards Zhao Xingbo, who said somewhat embarrassedly, "We would like to consider Qiao''er as our god-granddaughter, what do you think?"


    Zhao Yuying stood by watching Qin Hao; Zhao Xingbo had talked to her about this in the afternoon.


    She thought it was a good idea; with her not home, her parents could play with Qiao''er.


    Similarly, she also liked the girl very much; she was smart, lively, cute, and charming.


    Qin Hao was startled by the suggestion for a moment, "I''m not Qiao''er''s relative either; Meng should make this decision."


    Zhao Xingbo quickly said, "We have already asked Xiao Meng, and she said it was up to you."


    Qin Hao looked at Qiao''er in his arms, "Qiao''er, what do you think?"


    Han Qiaoer, "I''ll listen to Uncle."


    In an instant, Zhao Xingbo and his wife''s gaze shifted from Qiao''er to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment, and finally agreed.


    He considered a lot; he might seldom be home if the company got busier, and if Qiao''er became their god-granddaughter, she would have someone to look after her in the future.


    Zhao Xingbo and his wife were both honest farmers, decent people without malice, and genuinely fond of children.


    Seeing his response, Zhao Xingbo and Wang Zhi smiled, "Great, later on, call Xiao Meng over too. Tonight we''ll eat here. Old partner, Yu Ying, go and start cooking."


    Qin Hao, "Mr. Zhao, there''s no need for trouble; Meng is already making dinner. Let''s all go there, and I''ll ask her to make some more."


    Han Qiaoer said with a smile, "Yes, grandpa and grandma, come to our house to eat."


    At Qin Hao''s invitation, Zhao Xingbo and his wife, along with Zhao Yuying, came to Qin Hao''s villa.


    Qin Hao said to Han Meng in the kitchen, "Meng, stir-fry a few more dishes; Mr. Zhao and the others will eat here too."


    Wang Zhi spoke up, "Yu Ying, let''s go help Xiao Meng."


    Zhao Yuying nodded, "Yeah okay, Mom."


    About half an hour later, the dinner was ready. Han Meng and the other two had prepared about ten dishes.


    Qin Hao brought out two bottles of Xinghui Wine, a mid-range product just produced by the winery, and several cases had been sent to Qin Hao as soon as they were made.


    You couldn''t buy it in the market at all because it wasn''t yet available for sale.@@@@


    Zhao Xingbo took a sip and his eyes lit up, "This wine is good, Xiao Hao, where did you buy it?"


    He frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then called Fan Ruobing. They knew each other. Maybe she had some information.


    When the call connected, Qin Hao asked, "Hello, club president, do you know the places where Si Yao often hangs out?"


    "Did she have another fight with her family?" Fan Ruobing asked in return.


    Qin Hao: "Another? Does she often have fights with her family?"


    Fan Ruobing: "She used to go out a lot after fighting, but it seems less frequent now. She generally goes to two places¡ªthe Night Charm Bar or the Flat Peak Mountain racetrack in the suburbs."


    "Where is the Night Charm Bar?" Qin Hao asked with a slight frown.


    Fan Ruobing: "Xushan District. You can find it on the internet."


    Qin Hao: "Alright, thanks."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao said to Zhao Xingbo and the others, "Mr. Zhao, I need to step out for a bit."


    Zhao Xingbo: "Alright, then drive carefully."


    He hurriedly left the villa, and in an instant, his car darted out of the villa complex.


    ...


    After leaving the neighborhood, he opened his mobile phone, searched for the Night Charm Bar, and then drove there at a very high speed.


    It was now after eight-thirty in the evening, and there weren''t many cars on the road.


    His car''s speed was around a hundred kilometers per hour, and when he entered Xushan District, he encountered a police checkpoint for DUI testing.


    Qin Hao didn''t stop at all and drove straight past it.


    The officer on the roadside was about to get in the car to pursue when a senior officer stopped him: "Where are you going?"


    The newly appointed officer spoke up, "Brother Wang, aren''t we going after that car?"


    "Don''t bother with the cars that begin with ''Hai V'' from Jianghai. You won''t have a job if you do,"


    The man was stunned, "Why not?"


    "How can you be so naive? Because anyone who can get that kind of plate isn''t someone we can afford to offend. Better go check the car that just arrived."


    ...


    Night Charm Bar in Xushan District


    Xu Siyao sat alone at the bar drinking, with several empty bottles in front of her.


    The Night Charm Bar was famous in Xushan District because those who frequented it were high-income white-collar workers earning tens of thousands a month.


    Among them were also wealthy second-generation and official second-generation kids who came here to have fun.


    The women here were of higher taste, making it feel unique and flavorful to find a woman to play with.


    Not only people from Xuan Country were present, but there were also many foreigners, both men and women.

 Chapter 312 Night Charm Bar

    In the Night Charm Bar, two suit-clad men from Beihai Country took notice of Xu Siyao not far away.


    "Mr. Shentian, what do you think about that beauty?" Yoshino Yu pointed at Xu Siyao and leered.


    A lustful flash crossed Shentian Yilang''s eyes, "Not bad, Xuan Country indeed has many beauties."


    Yoshino Yu, "Mr. Shentian, it''s your first time in Xuan Country, you don''t know how great it is here, it''s simply a paradise on earth.


    In Xuan Country, as long as you have money, beautiful women will climb into your bed on their own, ready for you to have your way with them."


    "Good deal," Shentian Yilang nodded in satisfaction.


    The two started walking towards Xu Siyao, but before they could reach her, someone else got there first.


    That was a pair of foreigners.


    Yoshino Yu frowned when he saw this, he couldn''t lose face in front of Mr. Shentian.


    Shentian Yilang was an executive of the head office; only by hosting him well could Yoshino secure his position as general manager of several electronic factories in Jianghai.


    "Hello, beauty, care for a drink?" one of the tall foreign men asked Xu Siyao.


    Xu Siyao turned her head, looked at him and snapped, "Get lost, don''t bother me."


    The two foreigners blushed at her words.


    Usually, when they hit on women from Xuan Country in bars, they were very successful, just chat for a while, and those women from Xuan Country would let them take them to hotels for fun.


    They had never met someone like Xu Siyao before.


    "Just a little chat, beauty, no need to curse, right?" Patrick said in fluent Chinese.


    Xu Siyao turned her head and looked at him impatiently, "I told you to get lost, didn''t you hear me?"


    While she turned to speak, the other foreigner quickly slipped something into her drink from the other side.


    Apart from Yoshino Yu and his companion who were watching, no one else noticed.


    Yoshino Yu chuckled, "Mr. Shentian, it''s like the mantis stalking the cicada unaware of the oriole behind; let''s wait a little longer."


    Shentian Yilang laughed, "Yoshino, you haven''t stayed in Xuan Country for nothing; you can even use Xuan idioms now."


    "You flatter me, Mr. Shentian."


    ...


    The two foreigners didn''t speak to Xu Siyao anymore and stood to one side, pretending to chat while occasionally glancing towards her.


    Xu Siyao, seeing that no one was bothering her anymore, continued to drink her wine, oblivious to the fact that it had been spiked.


    After about three or four minutes, Xu Siyao started feeling dry-mouthed, feverish, and dizzy.


    Seeing this, the two foreigners'' faces brightened; this was a new aphrodisiac they had obtained that caused women to react.


    After knocking down one, another one charged at him, aiming a punch at his head.


    Qin Hao tilted his head just slightly, dodging the man''s fist.


    At the same time, he moved swiftly, grabbing the bouncer by the collar and flinging him to the side.


    The direction of the throw was right towards Yoshino Yu and his group; Qin Hao turned and was about to move forward.


    He had barely taken a step when he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Yoshino Yu and his group.


    Yoshino Yu and the others trembled inside as Qin Hao turned his gaze toward them.


    They had just witnessed Qin Hao''s terrifying combat prowess firsthand.


    They had no idea why Qin Hao was looking in their direction.


    Yoshino Yu and Shentian Yilang hadn''t fully shoved Xu Siyao into the car; half of her body was still outside.


    Qin Hao had glanced over inadvertently and seen half of Xu Siyao''s body.


    At first, he hadn''t paid it any mind, but now he realized the clothes and shoes were ones Xu Siyao had worn before.


    He had confidence in his memory.


    As Qin Hao approached, Yoshino Yu and his group couldn''t help but step back.


    When he got closer and saw it was indeed Xu Siyao, his eyes grew cold as he looked at the four men.


    "Big brother, if you like her, she''s yours," Yoshino Yu said, visibly shaken upon seeing his expression.


    Hearing his tone, Qin Hao''s eyes grew colder, filled with a lethal intent, "Dongying people?"


    The four men felt the temperature around them drop in an instant; it was a chill of killing intent, the kind one has only after having killed before.


    They didn''t know what this meant, only that the man in front of them was terrifying.


    "Bang"


    Qin Hao delivered a kick to Yoshino Yu''s groin, then punched him in the neck.


    Shentian Yilang, who tried to run, was flipped onto the ground by Qin Hao, landing face-first, flattening his nose.


    Patrick and his partner didn''t escape either; Qin Hao knocked them to the ground, and then broke one hand of each man.


    After doing this, he quickly picked Xu Siyao up from the car.


    "So hot... so hot..."


    Xu Siyao mumbled incoherently, tearing at her clothes.


    At this moment, a crowd of people ran out from Night Charm Bar, all bouncers wearing black suits.


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 313 Sleepless Night

    The group emerged and formed two lines, and a young man walked out flanked by two women.


    To his left was a blonde foreign beauty, and to his right, a Xuan Country beauty with long black hair.


    Meanwhile, many onlookers came out of the bar, curious to see who had the audacity to make trouble here.


    Are they unaware of the force behind Night Charm Bar?


    There had been people in the past who caused trouble here and ended up beaten to the point where they couldn''t care for themselves, and they still dared not speak out.


    Xiao Liang looked at the two men on the ground and said, "Who the hell dares to mess with my rules on my turf?"


    The two bouncers on the ground hastily pointed at Qin Hao, "Mr. Xiao, it was him. He wouldn''t drive the car away and even attacked us."


    Qin Hao, holding Xu Siyao, walked up to the car, opened the door, and put her inside.


    Xiao Liang looked at Qin Hao and said, "Kid, feeling bold, are you?"


    Qin Hao turned to look at him, "What do you plan on doing?"


    Xiao Liang said calmly, "Smash the car, leave a leg."


    Qin Hao''s eyes turned cold; he could tell from Xiao Liang''s tone.


    Xiao Liang was always arrogant, and his backing must be strong.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t act this way; Qin Hao was driving a car worth millions, yet it meant nothing to him.


    Qin Hao, hearing Xiao Liang''s tone, knew today''s trouble wouldn''t end well.


    Xu Siyao was drugged, and he didn''t have time to waste.


    Qin Hao immediately took action and charged at Xiao Liang, but the distance was too great.


    Although he was fast, he was still blocked by others.


    "Bang bang bang"


    Both sides scuffled, and to any observant person, it was clear that Xiao Liang''s elite bouncers were no match for Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao gave it his all, with fifth-level national martial prowess, he was simply thrashing them.


    Fifteen or sixteen men couldn''t last a minute under Qin Hao''s hands.


    Xiao Liang, along with the onlookers, watched dumbfounded, wearing expressions of disbelief.


    Is... is this guy even human?


    Not even the top soldiers in the army are this badass, right?


    In Qin Hao''s hand was a steel pipe, which he had snatched from one of them.


    About five minutes later, Qin Hao removed all the silver needles one by one.


    Shortly after, Xu Siyao slowly opened her eyes, looked around, and then saw Qin Hao sitting by the bed.


    Her face lit up with joy: "Qin Hao? Am I dreaming?"


    Qin Hao kept a stern face: "Had I not arrived in time, those people would have taken advantage of you by now."


    Only then did Xu Siyao notice her own state, with her clothes in disarray and much of her skin exposed.


    Although she was covered with a quilt, it didn''t prevent her from feeling her own body.


    Her brow furrowed slightly, trying to recall what had happened, but she didn''t remember anyone drugging her.


    Qin Hao: "You must have been drugged. I''ve just helped you eliminate the drug''s effects."


    Xu Siyao, with her eyes slightly red, looked at him: "Why did you come looking for me?


    Why wouldn''t you be with me even when I was in that state?


    Do you really dislike me that much?


    If there''s something wrong with me, I can change, really Qin Hao, as long as you tell me, I will change.


    I know you have a girlfriend, but I don''t care, I really don''t care, I just want you to love me.


    I like you, I really like you so much."


    As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks; she cried heartbrokenly.


    Qin Hao looked at her, slowly stretching out his arms and embracing her.


    Xu Siyao lay on his chest, crying loudly, soon soaking his clothes through, but he was oblivious.


    His feelings were very complex at the moment, he could tangibly feel the depth of Xu Siyao''s love for him from the tone of her voice.


    There''s a saying: "Love deep as marrow"; another goes: "Pain piercing the heart."


    Qin Hao didn''t know what about him attracted her, nor had he ever expected Xu Siyao to love him so deeply.


    A few minutes later, Xu Siyao stopped sobbing, with tearful eyes, she looked up at him.


    Qin Hao also looked down at her, "Go back... please... "


    He hadn''t finished speaking when Xu Siyao leaned in and kissed him, her arms tightly wrapped around him, with great strength.


    It was a night of madness.


    Later, the phone rang, Qin Hao didn''t hear it, nor did he bother with it.


    For many, it was destined to be a sleepless night.

 Chapter 314 Ambition

    Xu Jiekang and Yang Su barely slept that night, and later, they couldn''t get through to Qin Hao when they tried to call him.


    After Xiao Liang''s leg was broken, he was immediately taken to the hospital, while the Xiao Family also started searching for Qin Hao.


    In Jianghai, no one dared to touch the Xiao Family''s people!


    The Xiao Family''s network of connections was vast, and by the wee hours, they had gathered detailed information about Qin Hao.


    When Xiao Zhi saw the Xu Family behind Qina, he furrowed his brows.


    "Dad, what should we do?" Xiao Quanwu also felt that the situation was tricky.


    Xiao Zhi said, "Don''t rush, I need to report this matter to the old man first."


    ...


    The next morning, inside a certain hotel.


    Xu Siyao opened her eyes and, upon seeing the man beside her, a blissful smile appeared on her face.


    Like a little kitten, she snuggled into Qin Hao''s embrace, savoring the warmth of the moment.


    Qin Hao was awake. In fact, he had been awake for a while, but he didn''t know how to face Xu Siyao.


    But he knew that he would eventually have to confront this moment.


    He opened his eyes and looked at Xu Siyao in his arms, "Why are you so foolish? Knowing that you can''t have it all, why do you still do this?"


    Xu Siyao, eyes still closed, said with a smile, "Having you is enough for me."


    Qin Hao held her and sighed, "Mr. Xu and Mr. Xu Senior won''t approve of you doing this."


    The Xu Family held such a position, Xu Liangguo held such a status.


    If Xu Siyao became Qin Hao''s mistress, where would the Xu Family''s face be? Where could Xu Liangguo place his old face?


    By that time, Xu Liangguo might very well wish to kill Qin Hao.


    Their affair must not be known to the Xu Family, must not be known to anyone.


    Xu Siyao hadn''t thought about these things last night. Remembering her father and grandfather, she became anxious, "Qin Hao, what should we do?" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao gave a wry smile, "If your grandfather knew, he''d probably want to kill me."


    Xu Siyao''s heart jolted at his words, she quickly spoke, "Then let''s not tell anyone, don''t let my dad or my grandfather know."


    She had never thought about her own status or whether she would be wronged.


    Her entire heart was concerned with Qin Hao.


    At this moment, Qin Hao felt an urgency he had never known before, he wanted to become stronger.


    Only with personal strength would be the root of solving problems.


    "Let''s talk when you get back, Xiao Hao."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao parked the car by the roadside and took out several silver needles: "Sorry for the discomfort, Si Yao."


    "What are you going to do? I''m really scared of needles," Xu Siyao said with a hint of fear in her eyes.


    Qin Hao said, "I''ll need you to be weak for a couple of days, otherwise Mr. Xu will be suspicious. Just close your eyes, it won''t hurt."


    As soon as Xu Siyao closed her eyes, Qin Hao swiftly inserted the silver needles into a few of Xu Siyao''s acupoints.


    Xu Siyao could clearly feel her strength draining away, like air escaping from a deflating balloon.


    Soon her complexion turned pale, and she felt weak all over.


    She looked at Qin Hao incredulously: "How did you do that? It''s like magic!"


    Qin Hao smiled slightly: "When one''s medical skills are highly advanced, such things are possible. Would you like to learn?"


    Xu Siyao chuckled: "No, it''s enough that you know how."


    Around seven in the morning.


    Qin Hao arrived at Xu Jiekang''s villa complex and parked the car in the yard.


    Xu Jiekang and Ms. Yang, hearing the noise, hurried outside.


    Qin Hao opened the car door and helped Xu Siyao get out of the car.


    Seeing his daughter''s pallid complexion and her weak state,


    Xu Jiekang quickly approached: "Si Yao, are you okay?"


    Feeling a bit guilty as she saw the redness in her father''s eyes, Xu Siyao said weakly, "Dad, I''m fine."


    Ms. Yang spoke with remorse: "Si Yao, it''s all Auntie''s fault, I''m so sorry."


    "It''s okay, Ms. Yang, I don''t blame you."


    If it weren''t for Ms. Yang saying those things to her, she wouldn''t have gone out yesterday, and if she hadn''t gone out, perhaps she and Qin Hao might never have had that night together.


    To be honest, she felt somewhat grateful to Ms. Yang.


    Qin Hao reminded, "Mr. Xu, let''s go inside to talk. Si Yao needs to rest."


    Snapping back to reality, Xu Jiekang hurriedly supported Xu Siyao inside the house.


    Then Ms. Yang helped Xu Siyao back to her room.


    In a soft voice, Ms. Yang said, "Si Yao, you rest well. I''ll go make breakfast, and after you eat, you can go back to sleep."


    "Mm, thank you, Ms. Yang."


    Downstairs, Qin Hao and Xu Jiekang sat on the sofa, discussing the Xiao Family''s affairs.

 Chapter 315 System Upgrade

    Xu Jiekang frowned and said, "The Xiao Liang you hit is the youngest son of Xiao Zhi."


    Huaqing Energy Group is the company operated by Xiao Zhi, involving the energy industry. You should be able to imagine the power behind Xiao Zhi."


    Qin Hao had never heard of this group, but Xu Jiekang''s solemnity was sufficient to illustrate the Xiao Family''s strength.


    Xu Jiekang continued, "Xiao Zhi''s father, Xiao Xionghai, had retired from that place."


    After that, he pointed north.


    Qin Hao felt somewhat surprised; he understood what Xu Jiekang meant, but hadn''t expected such a significant background.


    Who could it be but someone extraordinary who had retired from the center of power?


    Xu Jiekang said, "The current top leader in Jianghai and the top leader in Nanyue Province are Xiao Zhi''s brothers.


    I will talk to the family head about this. Xiao Hao, you must be mentally prepared; after all, the Xu Family does not have the same management as the Xiao Family.


    So, we might be at a disadvantage in this regard, but rest assured, the family head will think of something."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Mr. Xu, you should rest early; I''ll be going now."


    Xu Jiekang nodded, "Thank you, Xiao Hao."


    Qin Hao drove back, heading directly to the villa complex.


    When he got home, Qin Hao saw Han Meng and Han Qiaoer asleep on the sofa.


    He frowned; hadn''t Qiao''er and Meng slept all night?


    Seeing that they were sleeping soundly, Qin Hao didn''t wake them; he picked up Qiao''er and carried her to the bedroom.


    Then he came back and carried Han Meng to the bedroom as well.@@@@


    After doing all this, Qin Hao lay in bed and started to think.


    From what Xu Jiekang implied, if the Xiao Family really made a move against him, the Xu Family''s help might not be very effective.


    After all, the Xu Family''s network is in the military, not the political arena.


    Although the Xu Family also has connections in the political realm, they aren''t as strong; asking them to offend the Xiao Family would be difficult!


    Qin Hao opened the system and upgraded the skills of basketball, calligraphy, singing, gaming, driving, Go, and piano¡ªall to level five.


    When upgrading the last skill, wilderness survival, he ran out of skill points.


    He checked and found he was short by sixty-three thousand achievement points to fully upgrade the last skill.


    Qin Hao took out his phone and called Feng Xiangyi.


    Feng Xiangyi: "Hello, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao stretched his body and then approached the kitchen doorway, "Meng, did you guys stay up all night?"


    With her back to him, Han Meng''s cheeks flushed slightly as she nodded gently.


    Qin Hao said, "Meng, why be so silly? If I''m not back, you should just take Qiao''er to bed. Why wait up for me?"


    Han Meng said softly, "It''s... it''s fine!"


    Qin Hao pulled out his trump card, "If it happens again, I might get mad."


    Hearing Qin Hao''s words, Han Meng quickly nodded. Although she had never seen Qin Hao angry, she was afraid of him getting angry more than anything.


    Seeing how Han Meng was, Qin Hao felt she needed some proper guidance.


    Uncle, you''re back. What were you doing last night?" Han Qiao''er, her eyes still heavy with sleep, walked out of the bedroom. Seeing Qin Hao, she happily ran over.


    Qin Hao squatted down and lifted her into his arms, "Last night uncle had something to take care of with a friend, so I couldn''t come out."


    Han Qiao''er asked, "Oh, so is your friend okay now?"


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, "Everything''s fine now. Go brush your teeth and wash your face, you little wild girl."


    Han Qiao''er giggled, slid down from his embrace, and ran into the bathroom.


    Qin Hao sat on the couch and turned on his system, the upgrade had been completed.


    He opened the system store and then was taken aback; now inside there were a dazzling array of items available.


    The system store had almost every category imaginable, covering food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and more.


    He opened the military category and the first thing that caught his eye was: Stealth Falcon fighter jet research technology (Exchange Achievement Points: 100,000).


    Killers battle robots (Exchange Achievement Points: 100,000); Particle Beam Energy Cannon (Exchange Achievement Points: 100,000).


    Neutron Beam Cannon (Exchange Achievement Points: 100,000); Charge Cannon (Exchange Achievement Points: 50,000); Nano Reconnaissance Technology, Nano Bombs, and so on.


    In addition to these high-tech weapons, there were also smaller weapons: Devourer Rotary Laser Beam Machine Gun; Destroyer Bomb, Laser Pistol, and more.


    Seeing these, a hint of pleasure crossed Qin Hao''s face. The anxiety that had been unsettling him was now replaced by excitement.


    However, he quickly calmed himself down. Though these items were good, they weren''t needed for now.


    They might be needed in the future, and these were key to strengthening himself.


    He browsed for a long while and, in the system store''s medical technology category, he found something.


    Anti-Cancer Drug Research Technology: Utilizes a combination of various Chinese and Western medications, capable of treating various types of cancer patients and preventing the occurrence of cancer. Redemption requires 30,000 Achievement Points!


    [You have such a ruthless heart, can''t you give some votes?]


    ```

 Chapter 316 Cancer Drug Synthesis Technology

    Qin Hao spent thirty thousand achievement points to directly exchange for the cancer research technology.


    Afterward, an additional item appeared in his backpack.


    When he opened the backpack, the system prompt sounded: As the system has been upgraded, the storage functionality of the system backpack is now available.


    Qin Hao asked in astonishment, "What is the storage functionality of the Xiao Ying system backpack?"


    Xiao Ying replied, "The storage functionality allows the host to place real-world items into the system backpack."


    Qin Hao was somewhat shocked inside, "Is that even possible?"


    "Because the system level is still low, the system space can currently only hold items under two hundred kilograms, and living items cannot be placed."


    This functionality is great, very practical indeed.


    The voice of Han Meng sounded, "Xiao Hao, it''s time to eat."


    "Okay, Meng," he replied.


    Turning off the system, Qin Hao washed his hands and started eating lunch.


    While dining, Han Qiao''er commented, "Uncle, Yu Ying Auntie is an actress. I even watched the TV drama she starred in yesterday; it was very good."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Really? Your Auntie Yu Ying is quite impressive then."


    Han Qiao''er responded, "Hehe, I want to be as awesome as Auntie Yu Ying when I grow up."


    Qin Hao encouraged, "You definitely will be, and by then, you''ll be even more amazing than your Auntie Yu Ying."


    After lunch,


    Qin Hao told Han Meng, "Meng, I have something to do this afternoon, don''t let anyone disturb me in the study."


    Han Meng nodded, "Okay."


    Qin Hao then said to Han Qiao''er, "Qiao''er, go and play with Grandpa and Grandma, Uncle has to get busy."


    Han Qiao''er obediently nodded, "Okay, Uncle, don''t work too hard."@@@@


    Entering the study.


    Qin Hao opened the system backpack and learned the cancer medication research technology, a vast amount of knowledge flooding into his mind.


    It took him five to six minutes to fully assimilate the massive amount of information.


    He took a notebook from the bookshelf and began writing with a fountain pen.


    Qin Hao wrote quickly, yet without compromising the aesthetics of his handwriting.


    His calligraphy level had reached level five; the characters he wrote vaguely possessed an unstoppable vigour and sharpness.


    He spent the entire afternoon in the study.


    He wrote nearly a third of a several-centimeters-thick notebook, detailing the cancer medication research technology.


    He wrote down every required medication and the reaction principles in great detail.


    Xu Jiekang asked, "What''s wrong with Xiao Hao?"


    Qin Hao began, "Mr. Xu, I want to see Mr. Xu. I''m on my way over, and I''ll be there soon."


    Xu Jiekang knew he was worried about the Xiao Family''s matter, "Okay, I''m at home waiting for you."


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao arrived at Xu Jiekang''s house.


    In the living room, Xu Jiekang, Yang Su, and Xu Siyao were all present.


    Seeing Xu Siyao''s somewhat pale face, Qin Hao said, "Si Yao, why aren''t you resting?"


    Yang Su said with a wry smile, "This girl heard you were coming and insisted on coming down." Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Jiekang looked at Qin Hao and asked, "Xiao Hao, are you looking for dad because of the Xiao Family''s matter? You didn''t have to, I''ve already spoken to the old man."


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Xu, I have something to give to Mr. Xu."


    Xu Jiekang curiously asked, "What is it?"


    Qin Hao said, "It is something I wrote, I need Mr. Xu to help me submit it. There''s no time to waste, Mr. Xu, shall we go now?"


    Xu Jiekang replied, "Okay, let''s go! Xiao Su, take good care of Si Yao at home, I''ll go with Qin Hao."


    Xu Siyao hurriedly said, "I want to come too."


    Xu Jiekang quickly said, "Why would you come? You''re not well yet, stay home and rest."


    Xu Siyao insisted, "No, I''m going, if you don''t let me, I''ll walk there."


    She was afraid that something real might happen to Qin Hao, so she wanted to stay at her grandfather''s side for a few days; she couldn''t allow anything to happen to Qin Hao no matter what.


    In the end, Xu Jiekang had no choice but to let her come along, and Yang Su also decided to join.


    The four of them got into Qin Hao''s car and quickly drove toward the highway on the outskirts of the city.


    On the road to Gujing City.


    Xu Jiekang asked, "Xiao Hao, what do you plan to write?"


    Qin Hao replied, "It''s in that black notebook, Mr. Xu, you can take a look."


    Xu Jiekang took it, opened it and glanced at it, "You have beautiful handwriting."


    ...


    Xu Siyao and Yang Su leaned in curiously to look; what attracted them was not the content on the notebook but the elegant and flowing handwriting.


    After a long look, the three of them couldn''t understand what he had written about.


    Xu Jiekang curiously asked, "Xiao Hao, what have you written here? Why are there so many names of drugs?"


    As he was involved in the wholesale and retail of pharmaceuticals, he recognized some of the drug names.


    Qin Hao replied, "Mr. Xu, this is about anticancer drug synthesis technology."


    Anticancer drug synthesis technology?


    The three were stunned, not quite understanding what that meant, "Xiao Hao, can you explain that in more detail?"

 Chapter 317 Of Great Importance

    Qin Hao spoke while driving, "This is the anti-cancer drug synthesis technology I''ve developed. Simply put, it can cure cancer and prevent its occurrence."


    Xu Jiekang and the other two were taken aback upon hearing this, their eyes widened in shock.


    Anti-cancer drug synthesis technology?


    "Is this... Xiao Hao, are you serious?" Xu Jiekang''s breathing became rapid.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mr. Xu, do you still doubt my medical skills?"


    Xu Jiekang knew Qin Hao''s medical skills were impressive, terrifying even, but if this anti-cancer drug synthesis technology were real, the shock it would cause could be immense.


    According to incomplete statistics, Xuan Country has fifteen million cancer patients, a number that is increasing rapidly.


    Every day, nearly ten thousand people are diagnosed with cancer.


    The incidence of cancer is now very high, as is the mortality rate, which is exceedingly alarming.


    Xuan Country allocates tens of billions annually to the Xuan Country Cancer Drug Research Institute for research funding.


    They have always been researching ways to conquer cancer, hoping to one day find a cure, but the results have been minimal.


    Now, Qin Hao claimed he had made a breakthrough, making it impossible for them not to be astounded.


    The significance of this was hard for Xu Jiekang to imagine!


    If what Qin Hao said was true, it might even alarm the highest leadership!


    Because this relates not only to public welfare but also to major interests.


    Who is most concerned about public welfare? None other than the top leader.


    If he, during his tenure, resolves the cancer issue for the people, his prestige could almost match that of several past great figures.


    Then there''s the matter of interests; not only are the people of Xuan Country troubled by cancer, but there are also many cancer patients abroad.


    Nowadays, the number of cancer patients has completely surpassed that of heart disease patients, becoming the disease with the highest morbidity rate in the world.


    Just in Xuan Country alone, the money spent in hospitals by cancer patients before they pass is up to hundreds of billions annually.


    This is truly terrifying.


    ...


    Xu Jiekang understood very clearly that by presenting this dossier, Qin Hao was seeking protection from the higher-ups.


    If what Qin Hao had given was real, to say nothing of protection, in the future, whoever wanted to touch him would have to think twice.


    Yang Su looked at Qin Hao in shock; she now felt that she understood him less and less.


    Anti-cancer drug synthesis technology¡ªit was something that hundreds of experts at the drug research institute could not figure out, yet he did it alone?


    Xu Siyao gazed at Qin Hao, who was driving, with adoration in her eyes, her lips slightly pursed, revealing a proud smile.


    This outstanding man was hers.


    The car sped along the highway, and it was very quiet inside, with no one speaking.


    During the meal, Xu Liangguo looked at Qin Hao and smilingly asked, "Why has Xiao Hao come as well?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Mr. Xu, there''s something I need your help with."


    "What? Is it something to do with the Xiao Family?" Xu Liangguo asked.


    Qin Hao: "No, there''s an item that needs your help to be delivered."


    Xu Liangguo asked curiously, "What item?"


    Qin Hao: "The complete research and synthesis technology for a cancer drug."


    Upon hearing this, Xu Liangguo put down his chopsticks and looked at him, "Tell me more."


    Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire


    Qin Hao: "The cancer drug''s research and synthesis technology can effectively treat and prevent cancer."


    Xu Liangguo''s expression turned serious, "A drug that can treat cancer?"


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Yes, the specific synthesis technology and the necessary chemicals are all written down in this notebook. Just help me to pass it up."


    The meaning of sending it up was clear to Xu Liangguo; Qin Hao probably wanted to use him to get it to the top leader.


    Issues with the Xiao Family might have caused him anxiety, and he was seeking protection.


    Xu Liangguo had already been making arrangements on behalf of Qin Hao, but the effects were marginal at best, only buying a few days.


    Qin Hao probably realized this, which led to today''s actions.


    The cancer drug''s research and synthesis technology?


    Recalling Qin Hao''s impressive medical skills, Xu Liangguo felt half-convinced, half-doubtful.


    However, such a matter was of great significance and could not be taken lightly.


    He took the notebook and began to read; it was filled mostly with medical jargon, and he could hardly understand anything after a few pages.


    He believed Qin Hao was a wise man and would not dare to employ a fake technology to deceive him and the top leader.


    That could lead to consequences he could not afford.


    At that time, not only would the Xiao Family not let it pass, but Xu Liangguo would not either, because no one dared to play him.


    "Liu, come here," Xu Liangguo called out to the outside.


    Soon a guard ran in: "Leader."


    Xu Liangguo: "Arrange a plane for me at the military district, I need to go to Jinchen."


    "Yes, Leader."


    After the guard ran out, Xu Jiekang looked at his father, concerned about his health, "Dad, you''re going to Jinchen this late?"


    Xu Liangguo was resolute, "The cancer drug affects the lives of millions; if it''s real, the sooner we develop it, the better. You guys continue eating, I''ll make a trip to Gujing City, and Xiao Hao, you stay here tonight."


    Hearing his words, no one tried to persuade him further, because they knew Xu Liangguo''s character well.

 Chapter 318 Academy of Sciences

    Xu Liangguo left before finishing his meal.


    However, this did not affect the dining atmosphere, Wang Ping said with a kind smile on her face, "Xiao Hao, if this technology you mentioned is real, it would be wonderful news for the people of Xuan Country."


    Qin Hao smiled in response, "Ms. Xu shouldn''t have any problems, and the cost isn''t very expensive, so ordinary people can afford it."


    That was the precious aspect of the cancer drug synthesis technology.


    Initially, he had looked up the prices of various drugs online and estimated that a dose of cancer medicine would cost just over a thousand.


    Those with mild symptoms would be cured with two or three doses, while late-stage patients might need six or seven doses.@@@@


    If the production cost was very high, it would defeat the purpose of the cancer drug synthesis technology.


    High production costs meant high retail prices, making it still unaffordable for ordinary people, so what was the use?


    Xu Jiekang, curious, asked, "Xiao Hao, how much does it cost approximately?"


    He knew he shouldn''t ask this question, but he was still very curious.


    Wang Ping, Yang Su, and Xu Siyao all looked at him; they too were curious about the price.


    Qin Hao replied, "A little over a thousand."


    "That cheap?" Xu Jiekang was somewhat shocked.


    If you include research and labor costs, it could be up to two thousand at most, and that''s an overestimate.


    This type of cancer treatment, if sold, could be priced at tens of thousands per dose and would still be frantically sought after.


    The potential profits were beyond imagination.


    If the state developed it, Xu Jiekang knew the price would definitely not be high.


    In that case, whether wealthy or average, everyone could afford it, which would truly benefit the masses.


    Of course, if it were exported abroad, the price wouldn''t necessarily be the same, and you might not be able to buy it even if you had the money.


    The moment the news was released, the global medical community would likely be shocked.


    Similarly, Xuan Country''s reputation globally would greatly improve.


    Because even Western developed countries hadn''t developed such a medication, and Xuan Country had.


    The significance was not small!


    After dinner, Yang Su went to tidy up the guest room for Qin Hao to stay in.


    Wang Ping, being elderly, talked with a few people for a while and then went back to her room to rest.


    Qin Hao also went back to his room to rest, and once there, he called home on the landline.


    He was worried that Han Meng and the others might not go to sleep.


    The phone was quickly answered, and indeed Han Meng was still awake.


    "Meng, I''m currently in Gujing City, I won''t be able to come back tonight. You guys should rest early, Qiao''er has school tomorrow."


    Qin Hao saw Chen Shengjun make his move, a smile appeared on his face, and then he placed another black stone down.


    Chen Shengjun''s expression suddenly stiffened, staring at the board in disbelief.


    Xu Jiekang was also stunned. Chen Shengjun had lost!


    Chen Shengjun often sparred in Go with his grandfather. Although he had never competed professionally, his skills could definitely rival those of professional players.


    Seeing Qin Hao win, Xu Siyao said with a smile: "Mr. Chen, isn''t your skill in Go quite high?"


    Chen Shengjun, with a face full of disbelief, replied, "Old man me was letting him win. Again! This time I won''t go easy on you!"


    Qin Hao just smiled slightly, without saying much!


    His Go skills were at level five, even the world''s top players might not be his match.


    This time Chen Shengjun played more slowly.


    Qin Hao was also holding back; if he finished him off within a few minutes, he worried Chen Shengjun might get really annoyed with him.


    "Xiao Hao, I''ve spoken to the Chang Family for you, but Mr. Chang is just too rigid," sighed Chen Shengjun.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: "Thanks a lot, Mr. Chen."


    The Chang Family probably thought they had already repaid Qin Hao''s favor, so they did not want to offend the Xiao Family for him.


    After all, offending the Xiao Family would result in substantial losses for the Chang Family, an unprofitable move.


    If the Chang Family really had helped, Qin Hao might not have had to worry as he was doing now.


    Whether the Chang Family helped or not didn''t matter to him anymore.


    As long as the items he submitted were valued, he could be sure that he wouldn''t be in trouble.


    Now he just needed to wait for news from Xu Liangguo.


    In the second game, Chen Shengjun lost again!


    Not willing to accept defeat, he glared at Qin Hao: "No way, one more time, I refuse to believe I can''t beat you, you rascal."


    The two played game after game, and Chen Shengjun didn''t win a single match.


    After losing once more, Chen Shengjun spoke up: "No more, it''s no fun, I''m just not in the right state today."


    ...


    Xu Siyao covered her mouth and giggled, not saying anything.


    Xu Jiekang looked at Chen Shengjun with a sympathetic gaze.


    Pitiful, he lost terribly; he admired Chen Shengjun for still having the courage to play so many games!


    Chen Shengjun reminded Qin Hao: "Xiao Hao, you better not teach your Go skills to Mr. Xu, otherwise there''ll be no playing with him, he''ll absolutely demolish me!"


    Qin Hao chuckled and nodded.


    In the afternoon, Xu Liangguo came back with a calm expression, showing no sign of emotion!

 Chapter 319 Qiaoer Has a Fever

    Qin Hao was called into the study by Xu Liangguo.


    The two of them stayed inside for a long time and talked for a long time, but nobody knew what they were discussing.


    However, when Qin Hao came out, he had a smile on his face.


    Seeing this, Xu Jiekang and Xu Siyao breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the issue must have been resolved.


    In the living room, Qin Hao said to Xu Liangguo and Wang Ping, "Mr. Xu, Ms. Xu, thank you for your trouble these past few days. I''m heading back now."


    "Hmm!" Xu Liangguo nodded slightly.


    Xu Jiekang and his family also said their farewells and left.


    Around five in the afternoon, Qin Hao drove back to Jianghai City. He first dropped off Xu Jiekang and his family at their home, then he went home himself.


    Han Meng was sitting in the courtyard, chatting with Zhao Xingbo and his wife.


    "Xiao Hao is back!" Zhao Xingbo said with a smile.@@@@


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "I went to Gujing City to handle some matters, and it''s all settled now."


    Zhao Xingbo smiled and said, "It''s good that it''s settled. You business folks are really busy, never at home.


    Yu Ying is the same, busy all day, only manages to come home at night."


    Listening to his chatter, Qin Hao couldn''t help but think of his own parents.


    "You guys keep chatting, I''m going to make a phone call." After saying that, he went inside the villa, took out his mobile phone, and called his dad.


    Qin Youguo asked with a smile, "Hello, what''s up, son?"


    Qin Hao: "Nothing much Dad, just missing you a bit. What are you busy with? And mom?"


    Qin Youguo: "The car factory has closed down. I spend my time downstairs playing chess with them. Your mom should be upstairs."


    Qin Hao: "Dad, I bought a house here in Jianghai. Whenever you have time, come and visit, and maybe stay here afterward."


    Qin Youguo immediately refused without a second thought, "No, no. Going there where we know nobody, and there''s nobody to play chess with, I won''t go."


    Qin Hao: "Dad, there are neighbors here, and if you want to play chess, there are people to play with. Discuss it with Mom; come over in the next few days. Just say that I miss you guys."


    "Alright, I''ll talk to your mom about it when I get home."


    ...


    After hanging up, Qin Hao took out an ID from his pocket with several big characters written on it.


    Xuan Country Academy of Sciences Fellow Certificate!


    Qiao''er slightly opened her eyes, "Hmm."


    Qin Hao started massaging from her head, using a set of massage techniques that targeted many acupoints and could reduce fever.


    After washing the dishes and utensils, Han Meng came in from outside and saw Qin Hao massaging. She sat on the bed and did not disturb them.


    After massaging a few times, Qiao''er felt much better, and her head wasn''t as dizzy.


    "Uncle, you''re so amazing. I feel much better," Qiao''er said with a smile on her face.


    Hearing her daughter''s words, Han Meng sighed with relief and looked at Qin Hao with gratitude.


    Qin Hao said, "You''re not all better yet. I''ll give you acupuncture in a bit, and that should do it."


    "Hmm." Qiao''er closed her eyes slightly, enjoying the comfort brought by Qin Hao''s massage.


    About ten minutes later, Qin Hao took out the ''nine-nine'' silver needles and inserted a few into Qiao''er''s head and body.


    The silver needles stayed in for five minutes before Qin Hao removed them. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    He asked, "Qiao''er, how do you feel now?"


    Qiao''er, lying on the bed, said, "Much better."


    "Good, you''ll feel completely better after some sleep. Go to sleep," Qin Hao tucked her in.


    Qiao''er grabbed his hand, looking pitiful, and said, "Uncle, I want you to stay with me."


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, glanced at Han Meng, whose cheeks were flushed, as she looked down, too shy to meet Qin Hao''s gaze.


    "That''s not appropriate, Qiao''er," he said.


    Qiao''er insisted, "No, I want uncle to stay with me, or I won''t be able to sleep."


    Qin Hao tried to leave, but Qiao''er held his hand tightly.


    "Alright, uncle will stay here with you, okay? Now, go to sleep," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed.


    Qiao''er moved to the middle of the bed and said with a smile, "Uncle, you sleep on my right side, and Mom sleeps on the left, okay?"


    Qin Hao looked helplessly at Han Meng, then nodded, "Okay, but you need to go to sleep quickly."


    After that, Qin Hao lay down on Qiao''er''s right side, planning to leave after she fell asleep.


    Han Meng''s cheeks were crimson as she sat on the edge of the bed, unsure whether to sleep or stay awake.


    Qiao''er said, "Mom, turn off the light and go to sleep."


    "Oh, okay." Han Meng quickly turned off the light and carefully lay down on the bed, trying not to move a muscle.

 Chapter 320 Hot Discussion

    The bedroom was pitch dark.


    Han Qiao''er held Qin Hao in one hand and Han Meng in the other, her face beaming with a smile as she closed her eyes.


    Qin Hao slightly closed his eyes, pondering over the words Xu Liangguo had said to him in the study.


    "Xiao Hao, the technology you developed has already led to a successful prototype trial."


    "Remember to watch the news tomorrow."


    "You''ve done very well, I, Xu Liangguo, haven''t misjudged you. Although it was a bit impulsive, it''s forgivable."


    With these thoughts, the anxiety he had been carrying finally subsided, and the tension in his mind relaxed.


    This was when he was most vulnerable, without any status or influence.


    If the Xiao Family really made a move against him, then everything would be over.


    Without him, Xinghai High-tech Co., Ltd wouldn''t be able to develop artificial intelligence robots at all.


    Fortunately, he had submitted something useful.


    That academician certificate from HX was like a talisman for him.


    Mulling over these thoughts, Qin Hao drifted into sleep before he knew it, his mind having been on edge these past few days.


    Although he never showed it, the anxiety and unease deep in his heart were known only to him.


    ...


    Early the next morning.


    Qin Hao slowly opened his eyes, instantaneously widening them as he became fully awake.


    He didn''t know how he had ended up in the middle of the bed.


    Probably around six in the morning, Han Meng woke up as usual.


    With her face flushed, Han Meng got out of bed and tiptoed out of the room.


    Qin Hao let out a sigh of relief as she left. He opened his eyes and realized Han Qiao''er was watching him with a big grin. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    "You little brat, how did I end up over there?" Qin Hao asked grumpily.


    Han Qiao''er put on an innocent face, "Uncle, I don''t know, you went there by yourself."


    ...


    "Ms. Ying," Han Qiao''er said cheerfully.


    A smile appeared on Zhao Yuying''s face, "Qiao''er, off to school?"


    "Yep, bye Ms. Ying."


    Zhao Yuying waved, "Goodbye."


    The two walked to the school, arriving at the school gates after about fifteen minutes.


    After sending Qiao''er off, Qin Hao returned to the villa. Today he saw that Zhao Yuying wasn''t leaving the house; instead, she was talking with her parents and playing with the dog in the yard.


    Back inside the villa, Qin Hao checked the time¡ªit was just past seven. He turned on the TV to the news channel.


    They were broadcasting the morning news, and half way through, he finally saw the news he was waiting for.


    "HX Research Institute has recently developed a new type of drug.


    Clinical trials have proven it can completely kill cancer cells, effectively curing all types of cancer.


    Several large national pharmaceutical factories have already begun production, and the drug will be available in major tertiary hospitals in a few days. The provisional price is set at two thousand three hundred per dose."


    ...


    This news also headlined the morning broadcasts in countries around the world.


    Regardless of the veracity of the information, many countries'' attention turned towards HX.


    They were waiting for follow-up news.


    ...


    Meanwhile, the topic had already gone viral online that morning.


    Especially on the internet, discussions about the cancer drug quickly topped the hot topics list.


    "Is this true? Is there hope for my father''s cancer?" Some were tearful with emotion.


    "The news already said it, it must be true."


    "Amazing."


    Many cancer patients and their families, upon seeing this news, were overjoyed.


    Because they saw hope for a chance to live.


    [Fourth update, time to sleep. See you tomorrow.]

 Chapter 321 The Background of Fan Ruobing

    Qin Hao opened his computer to check and saw that forums and the internet were almost going crazy, all discussing this topic.


    From the reaction of the public, one could understand the importance of cancer drug research and advancement in technology.


    For those who hadn''t contracted cancer, it was one of their greatest concerns since the incidence of cancer was very high, and no one could guarantee they wouldn''t get cancer in the future.


    Now, cancer was no longer a terminal disease, and whether people had it or not, they were all very happy.


    Because they no longer needed to live in constant fear.


    Qin Hao turned off the computer and went out to the yard, then his phone rang, it was his mom calling.


    Mrs. Qin started, "Xiao Hao, your dad and I have discussed, and we''re planning to visit you in Jianghai City in a couple of days."


    Qin Hao''s face lit up, "Okay mom, just let me know when, and I''ll come pick you up."


    Mrs. Qin: "Mm, your cousin Xiao Man will also come with us, she wants to work in Jianghai, help her find a good job when the time comes."


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, then nodded, "Got it, mom."


    Qin Man was his cousin, the child of his uncle Qin Youmin.


    Since Qin Hao''s parents had married late, Qin Hao was two years younger than Qin Man.


    Qin Youmin''s family had always lived in the rural hometown, and with the elderly having passed away and Youguo being busy with work, he rarely visited the hometown.


    In the past, every New Year, Youguo would bring Qin Hao and others to the hometown, only about two or three times a year.


    Qin Hao had a good impression of his uncle ¨C a simple and honest villager who was very hospitable.


    As for Qin Man, Qin Hao remembered that when he was a child visiting the hometown, he was often bullied by Qin Man; she was considered a big sister in the village, with all peers following her lead.


    Of course, Qin Man bullying him didn''t mean getting a group of people to beat him, but that she liked teasing him.


    After hanging up the phone, Zhao Xingbo came over from next door, smiling, "Xiao Hao, did you watch the news just now?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "I did."


    Zhao Xingbo: "That''s great, the nation has developed a cancer drug, it can cure cancer, this news is so uplifting."


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Zhao, technology will continue to advance in the future, and the standard of living for people will definitely get higher and higher."


    Zhao Xingbo, with a smile, "I hope so, wages in many rural areas are still not very high."


    That day, more than twenty branches of Delicious Duck Store, acquired by Jiangshan Roasted Duck, began operations.


    Inside the painting studio, many people were painting. When they saw Qin Hao arrive, they weren''t as excited as the first time, but all eyes were still on him.


    Qin Hao approached Ruobing, who was painting.


    Ruobing saw him and asked, "Is the matter resolved?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "President, what is your relationship with Academician Fan Chengye?"


    Xu Liangguo had once asked him in his study about the deputy dean of the Life Sciences and Medicine Department at the Xuan Country Academy of Sciences, Fan Chengye, who had spoken on his behalf.


    Although Fan Chengye held no official position, as a deputy dean at the Academy of Sciences, his influence was considered more significant than some provincial officials by the top leadership.


    Because a provincial official could be replaced by someone else.


    But losing a top scientist like Fan Chengye represented a significant loss to the nation.


    Qin Hao had been stunned when Xu Liangguo told him this because he didn''t know Fan Chengye, and had thought about it for a long time.


    The only person he knew with the surname Fan was Ruobing; that person must be related to her, which is why he had just asked her that.


    Ruobing said in a nonchalant tone, "He''s my dad!"


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, somewhat incredulous, My god, Ruobing''s father is the deputy dean at the Xuan Country Academy of Sciences?


    That''s quite a powerful figure.


    "Thank you, President," Qin Hao felt somewhat moved inside.


    Ruobing, "You''ve taught me to paint for so long; it''s only right that I return the favor."


    Ruobing was a person with a cool exterior but a warm heart, and she was quite a commendable person.


    In Qin Hao''s most difficult times, she had disregarded the massive influence of the Xiao Family and still sought her father''s help for Qin Hao, a favor he remembered.


    After Qin Hao arrived, people in the studio gradually began to leave, and after a few minutes, they had all gone.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, "Why did they all leave?"


    Ruobing, "Maybe they thought we were discussing personal matters and didn''t want to be the third wheel. By the way, my mom wants a painting; could you draw one?"


    Qin Hao, "That''s no big deal; what theme does your aunt desire?"


    "She didn''t specify; just paint anything."


    Qin Hao nodded, then took out the brushes and ink from the table next to him and began to paint.


    He painted a landscape with a rural home, a composition with a higher level of difficulty involving mountains, water, trees, houses, and people.

 Chapter 322 Birthday Banquet (Part 1)

    Qin Hao spent over half an hour before finishing the painting.


    Fan Ruobing admired the painting¡ªthe majestic mountains, the waterfall that resembled misty smoke, the quaint and unique thatched hut nestled in the mountains, and the elderly couple walking on the mountain path.


    The focus of it all was on the elderly man and woman.


    All the scenery served as a backdrop to the old couple who, though hunched over, walked hand in hand.


    This was also the spirit of the painting.


    As Fan Ruobing looked at it, she couldn''t help but think of her own parents, wishing they hadn''t divorced.


    Giving her mother such a painting, it must carry a deeper meaning, right?


    "Thank you, my mom should really like this," Fan Ruobing said to him.


    Upon hearing his words, an idea flashed through Qin Hao''s mind: why not give Li Moying a painting for her birthday?


    His own painting skills were decent, presentable in public, and certainly better than giving some trite gift.@@@@


    Li Moying came from a wealthy family that lacked for nothing, be it jewelry or cars.


    Qin Hao picked up his brush and began to paint again, this time a common landscape painting.


    Ranges of mountains stretched unbroken, enveloped in clouds and mist, with water flowing down from the high peaks in a steaming cascade.


    Later, Qin Hao used colored pencils to add red maple trees to each mountaintop, transforming the mountains into a spectacular sea of red.


    This painting, grandiose and full of vigor, with auspicious symbolism, represented Qin Hao''s profound blessings.


    In the blank space at the bottom, Qin Hao used the seal script to add a few lines of text.


    Upon seeing this, Fan Ruobing asked, "Are you going to give this to Li Moying?"


    She noticed the inscription dedicated to Li Moying.


    Qin Hao nodded, "It''s her birthday tomorrow. Just now, when you spoke, I thought giving her a painting would be quite nice."


    Fan Ruobing nodded slightly, "You''re free this afternoon, right? Can you teach me a little longer today?"


    Qin Hao: "Sure, I''m not busy anyway."


    Starting around three o''clock, Qin Hao taught her how to paint, and they quickly finished four paintings, each depicting a different scenery.


    As they were working on the fifth painting, the door to the studio opened, and Wang Shudan came in again.


    Qin Hao felt a bit embarrassed, "Auntie."


    Wang Shudan said with a smile, "It''s alright, Xiao Hao, continue painting."


    If she thought Jiangshan Roasted Duck was suitable, she would definitely do the endorsement.


    Feng Xiangyi: "Mr. Qin, today Delicious Duck will have more than a dozen stores opening, and within three days,


    all Delicious Duck stores will be rebranded with Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s signage. The dozen or so stores that opened yesterday each had daily sales above one hundred thousand, totaling nearly two million."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "What about Mr. Chen?"


    Feng Xiangyi: "I''ve sent Mr. Chen to develop the market in Nanzhe Province."


    Chen Xiaofeng''s success in expanding Delicious Duck demonstrated his capability and strength.


    Qin Hao asked, "Are there any moves from the other companies?"


    Feng Xiangyi shook her head, "No. Some smaller companies have approached us with offers to sell their storefronts.


    We acquired a few with good locations."


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck has considerable working capital because it operates differently from other companies.


    Customers pay in cash; there is no credit or debt issue, resulting in a significant daily cash flow.


    Qin Hao and Feng Xiangyi discussed the development plans for the coming days. Given the current pace, Jiangshan Roasted Duck will become the dominant force in Jianghai''s roasted meat industry in at most half a month.


    In Jiangshan, the development was also in full swing, now holding the market in three cities. Shuinan Province has eight prefecture-level cities and eight autonomous prefectures, totaling sixteen areas.


    It would take some time to reach the entire Shuinan Province.


    Xinghui Wine had very good reviews, and there were many returning customers, which meant that the daily sales volume was constantly increasing.


    Given this snowballing pace, this month Xinghui Wine was also likely to realize profits in the millions.


    Currently, only Feibao Security Company from Qin Hao''s companies was still incurring losses.


    Qin Hao spent the entire day within the company.


    Just past five-thirty in the afternoon, Qin Hao drove to Jinxiu Hotel in Bailing District.


    Jinxiu Hotel was not open to the public today because it was their chairman''s daughter''s birthday party, exclusively for invited guests.


    When Qin Hao arrived, the parking lot was already filled with cars; not a single one was valued under one million.


    A sea of luxury vehicles, easily numbering in the hundreds.


    Those attending Li Moying''s birthday celebration today included not just her invited friends and classmates,


    but also many company CEOs and business tycoons, some coming to curry favor with Jinxiu Group, others for friendly relations.


    In any case, the place was teeming with countless guests.


    Qin Hao drove a distance into the parking lot before finding a space; carrying a roll of painting, he got out of the car.

 Chapter 323 Birthday Banquet (Part 2)

    Qin Hao glanced around, then headed towards the entrance of Jinxiu Hotel.


    At the hotel entrance, there was a dragon and phoenix archway, emblazoned with the message celebrating Li Moying''s 19th birthday.


    Two rows of attendants in cheongsams stood at the entrance of the hotel.


    Each attendant was tall and well-proportioned, incredibly beautiful.


    Many people were entering the hotel in pairs, and as they did, they presented a red invitation.


    When Qin Hao reached the entrance, a beautiful attendant greeted him with a smile, "Sir, please show your invitation."


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "They didn''t give me an invitation."


    Many people nearby looked over, some with a sneer, others with a scornful smile.


    "Dressed up and still trying to sneak into Miss Li''s birthday banquet?" said someone nearby.


    Qin Hao''s brow furrowed as he turned to look. Opposite him were six people, three men and three women.


    The one who had spoken was a young man, appearing to be in his late teens or early twenties.


    Seeing Qin Hao looking over, Li Yushi frowned, "Mingguan, could you die from talking less?"


    After she spoke, she turned to Qin Hao, "I''m sorry, sir, my brother is just like that. Please don''t take it personally."


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently, "I''ll let it go this time. Next time, I''ll smash his mouth."


    Li Mingguan was just about to get angry upon hearing this.


    At that moment, the female attendant spoke up, "Please, gentlemen, calm down. This is Miss Li''s birthday banquet."


    Qin Hao looked at the attendant and asked, "I can''t enter without an invitation, right?"


    The attendant took out a list, "Just a moment, sir. May I have your name, please?"


    There was a list of people''s names, those who didn''t need an invitation to enter directly.


    "Qin Hao!"


    The attendant quickly looked down, her expression turning to one of shock, and she hurriedly said with respect, "It turns out to be Mr. Qin. Xiao Yue, please take Mr. Qin inside."


    A pretty and mature attendant stepped forward with a smile, "Mr. Qin, please follow me."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and followed her into the hotel.


    Li Mingguan and his group were caught off guard. He actually had someone to lead him in personally?


    Li Yushi glanced at her brother, "Mingguan, what did dad say when you came out? This isn''t Beisu Province, you can easily offend people like this."


    Li Mingguan also realized he had been impulsive and said no more.


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Yongjun''s expression changed slightly, and the people next to him looked at Zhao Yongjun and Xie Cui with somewhat strange expressions.


    Though they didn''t say anything, it was clear that Zhao Yongjun was embarrassed.


    Xie Cui was also somewhat angry inside. It was obvious that Qin Hao was insulting her and Zhao Yongjun''s dignity.


    She hurriedly said, "I hope you won''t talk nonsense, Qin Hao. It was your roommate who shamelessly pursued me, and I simply never agreed."


    Qin Hao smiled thinly and didn''t say much, continuing to eat his pastries, head down.


    Xie Cui said to Zhao Yongjun, "Let''s go, Yongjun. Don''t bother with these types of people. Who knows how he even got in here."


    Since Qin Hao was sitting here alone, it was clear to these people that he probably didn''t have many friends around, implying he lacked a social circle.


    Another thing, his status here wasn''t high, or else he wouldn''t be sitting at an empty spot like this.


    Zhao Yongjun gave a slight nod and before leaving, he didn''t forget to say to Qin Hao, "You must be here to see Miss Li, right? Do you want me to take you to meet her?"


    His sarcasm was clear, and the contempt and disdain toward Qin Hao was evident in the eyes of the people around him.


    "Qin Hao."


    Just then, the voice of Xu Siyao sounded, carrying a tinge of excitement.


    Everyone turned their heads to look, only to see Xu Siyao quickly approaching and sitting down next to Qin Hao.


    Xu Siyao gazed at Zhao Yongjun and his group, then asked curiously, "Your friends?"


    Qin Hao sneered, "No, just some cats and dogs."


    Upon hearing Qin Hao''s reply, Xu Siyao knew the relationship between them, her brows slightly furrowing as she looked at them.


    Zhao Yongjun and his group were taken aback when they saw Xu Siyao approaching.


    All grew up locally in Jianghai, and Xu Siyao used to be the well-known boss Taiming of Jianghai.


    They were all too aware of her identity and background!!


    Xu Siyao actually knew Qin Hao?


    And their relationship seemed very close.


    Just as they were about to slink away, another voice called out.


    "Master, what are you doing here?"


    As soon as the words were out, Li Moying came trotting over.


    Today she was dressed in a white dress with her hair hanging down her back, looking very beautiful.


    Zhao Yongjun and his companions widened their eyes in disbelief when they saw Li Moying running over on her own initiative.


    Who on earth was he? Even the guest of honor, Li Moying, had taken the initiative to come over?

 Chapter 324 Birthday Banquet (Part 2)

    Li Moying ran over and grabbed his hand, exclaiming, "Master, what are you doing here? Come with me inside."


    Xu Siyao felt somewhat displeased upon seeing this, but she didn''t show it.


    Qin Hao quickly withdrew his hand and said, "There are so many people. If you pull me like this and your dad sees, he''ll kill me."


    Li Moying: "He wouldn''t dare, he can''t even bring himself to break Xiao Liang''s legs."


    Qin Hao was exasperated, and Xu Siyao, standing by, couldn''t help but chuckle upon hearing this.


    Zhao Yongjun and his group looked at each other in confusion, while Xie Cui looked at Qin Hao''s retreating figure with some disbelief.


    Wait, something had struck her, recalling that Qin Hao had said he ran a roasted duck company, seemingly called Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    Could it be that the Jiangshan Roasted Duck that was all the rage in Jianghai City was his?


    Xie Cui knew the name Jiangshan Roasted Duck, but she hadn''t made the connection between Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Qin Hao.


    Because she thought it impossible for a university freshman like Qin Hao to be so successful.


    She hadn''t been to school these days, so she was unaware of the events on the school forum.


    Before Qin Hao and his party reached the banquet hall, they heard a burst of exclamations ahead.@@@@


    Li Moying led Qin Hao and Xu Siyao to the main table in the banquet hall.


    A few people, both men and women, were seated there, each exuding an extraordinary presence and an air of authority.


    Li Jianjun, upon seeing Qin Hao and Xu Siyao, smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, Miss Xu, please have a seat."


    The other few looked towards the two, with most gazes lingering on Qin Hao.


    Is this the Qin Hao who broke Xiao Liang''s legs?


    Qin Hao and Xu Siyao sat down, and the banquet hall was essentially divided into two groups: the older generation and the younger generation.


    On the side of the older generation, Li Xutian was accompanying them, while this side was mainly Li Jianjun''s domain.


    In front of this table was a small stage where Zhao Yuying, dressed in ancient attire, was performing a classical dance.


    By now, the space behind Qin Hao was packed with people watching Zhao Yuying on the stage.


    It wasn''t just because she was famous, but also because she was many people''s idol.


    Jinxiu Group was a behemoth with hundred-billion-dollar assets, which also invested heavily in the entertainment sector


    For instance, the media company where Zhao Yuying is signed, Jinxiu Group holds more than thirty percent of the shares.


    This was primarily why Jinxiu Group could invite her here.


    Zhao Yuying actually detested such occasions. She didn''t want to come, but some things were hard to resist.


    After she finished her performance, applause broke out.


    Big brother, what did you come here for today?


    Li Moying nodded, "Sure, master. It''s someone''s birthday, what gift did you bring for them?"


    Zhao Yuying, seeing the way Li Moying spoke to Qin Hao, felt a bit surprised; it seemed that Qin Hao had a very good relationship with Jinxiu Group.


    Qin Hao, "A painting, one that I painted."


    Li Moying chuckled, "Master, you can paint too?"


    Qin Hao nodded slightly without further explanation.


    During the meal, Zhao Yuying continually observed, noticing something: Li Moying spoke almost only with Qin Hao.


    And Qin Hao''s expression was very calm, only answering when someone spoke to him.


    Even when Li Jianjun spoke, Qin Hao would only respond after being asked a question.


    Qin Hao''s status seemed very high, even higher than Li Jianjun''s from Jinxiu Group; he must have a significant background, right?


    Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    When everyone had nearly finished eating and drinking, some people started to walk over to this side.


    "Mo Ying, happy birthday, as your brother, I''ll drink first," Li Mingzhe was the first to say to Li Moying.


    Li Moying nodded slightly, "Thank you, Mingzhe brother."


    Li Mingzhe and five or six others then conveyed their birthday wishes to Li Moying.


    These were the people Qin Hao had encountered at the hotel entrance before.


    At this moment, they were also sizing up Qin Hao, thinking that he must be someone important to be sitting with Li Moying and the others.


    Li Mingzhe looked at Qin Hao with a smile and asked, "Mo Ying, who is this gentleman?"


    Li Moying introduced, "This is Qin Hao, the CEO of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company."


    Upon hearing this, Li Mingzhe''s eyes briefly glinted, then he smiled and said to Qin Hao, "At the entrance earlier, my brother was rude to Mr. Qin. On his behalf, I apologize and I hope you don''t take it to heart."


    Li Moying was taken aback, then looked at Qin Hao; she was unaware of this incident.


    Qin Hao, "Be more careful in the future, others might not be as good-tempered as I am."


    ...


    The people at the table were somewhat speechless, you''re good-tempered? How did Xiao Liang''s leg get broken?


    Probably nobody at this table has a worse temper than you.


    Li Mingzhe nodded, then he turned to Zhao Yuying beside him, "Miss Zhao, I''ve admired you for a long time but never had the opportunity to meet you. May I have the honor of having a drink with you?"


    Zhao Yuying politely responded, "I''m sorry, sir, I don''t drink."

 Chapter 325 Discuss Cooperation!

    Li Mingzhe: "Well then, is Miss Zhao free to hang out tonight?"


    Zhao Yuying flatly refused, "Sorry, I don''t have time."


    Li Mingzhe felt a flicker of anger in his heart. Just an actress, and yet she dared to reject me time and again.


    I invited you because I thought highly of you.


    However, he didn''t show it on his face and still maintained a smile like a gentle spring breeze.


    He exchanged a few words with Li Jianjun before returning to his original seat.


    Qin Hao asked Li Moying next to him, "What''s the background of this Li Mingzhe?"


    Li Moying answered, "Beisu the Li Family, Master, have you heard of them? We all come from Beisu the Li Family.


    We belong to the main compound of the Li surname, but our branches are different.


    Their branch and ours have common ancestors who were brothers, so the relationship isn''t very close, which is why we keep more contact."


    A young man at the table, curious, asked, "Which branch of Beisu the Li Family are they from?"


    Everyone at the table turned to look at Li Moying. They had heard of Beisu the Li Family, who generation after generation engaged in business and was wealthy enough to rival nations.


    Li Moying: "They are the direct grandchildren of Li Mingwang."


    "Li Mingwang?" Their expressions changed slightly upon hearing this.


    The previously inquiring Qian Zhengbai spoke with a solemn face, "So he''s the grandson of Mr. Li, the elder and president of the Su Business Chamber of Commerce."


    Li Jianjun, smiling, said, "Mr. Qian, your Golden Phoenix Building is spread across the country, and you have quite a lot of business cooperation with Mingzhe."


    "You guys go ahead and talk; I''ll have a chat with Mingzhe." After saying this, he carried a glass of wine over.


    Zhao Yuying was somewhat surprised internally. This person is the son of Golden Phoenix Building?


    Golden Phoenix Building, a reputable national heritage brand of jewelry stores, had outlets all over the country.


    Almost in every city or town above the county level, one could find a Golden Phoenix Building outlet, some stand-alone, some in collaboration with large shopping centers.


    Another person stood up and said, "I heard that Mr. Li, the elder, is fond of antiques and curio toys. I''m also going to chat with Mingzhe about that."


    Li Jianjun nodded slighty, "Mr. Zheng, are you perhaps planning to sell some of your family''s antique calligraphy and paintings?"


    Zheng Jianming laughed sheepishly, "Li, it''s just that I sold you a piece of calligraphy and painting, there''s no need to keep bringing that up, right?"@@@@


    Li Jianjun was exasperated, "Damn, you still have the face to say that, what you sold me was a counterfeit."


    Zheng Jianming: "Li, it was just ancient mimicry, still antique calligraphy and painting. I never claimed it was the authentic work of the original artists."


    Qin Hao asked, "What''s it about?" Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Business matters."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, while Zhao Yuying was somewhat curious inside¡ªJinxiu Group wanted to cooperate with him? On what matter?


    About half an hour later, the banquet was winding down, with people gradually leaving.


    Li Moying said to Qin Hao, "Master, my dad is waiting for you. Go and see him; I''m going to check out the gift you sent me."


    Qin Hao said to Zhao Yuying, "Miss Zhao, please wait for a moment."


    Zhao Yuying replied, "Sure, I''ll wait here for you."


    Qin Hao walked over to where Li Xutian was seated, not just with him, but several business magnates as well.


    Li Xutian saw him and greeted with a smile, "Mr. Qin, please take a seat."


    He was now somewhat regretting going to the school to find Qin Hao; otherwise, they might have a closer relationship now.


    Qian Ruisheng and Zheng Wenshan at the table sized up Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao sat down, and Li Xutian began to introduce, "This is the general manager of Golden Phoenix Building, Qian Ruisheng, and this is Zheng Wenshan from Rui Xiang Pavilion."


    "Nice to meet you, Mr. Qin."


    Although Qin Hao was young, he had demonstrated significant abilities, which is why they addressed him as Mr. Qin.


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Qian, Mr. Zheng, did Mr. Li invite me to discuss cooperation?"


    Li Xutian nodded slightly, "I want to introduce Jiangshan Roasted Duck, duck neck, duck wings, duck head, and duck intestines to all Jinxiu Hotels nationwide, so I wanted to talk with Mr. Qin about it."


    Li Xutian had done detailed research on the sales of these Jiangshan Roasted Duck and related products, and it was quite astonishing.


    They completely overshadowed the established roast duck products of Meiwei Group.


    If Jinxiu Hotel could introduce these dishes, it would absolutely attract a lot of customers and also put significant pressure on their competitors.


    Qin Hao''s mind spun quickly, assessing the pros and cons, then he nodded, "We can talk."


    Li Xutian was delighted inside; he feared Qin Hao would reject him due to that past incident.


    He said, "I will send someone to Mr. Qin''s company to discuss the details in the next couple of days."


    Just then, exclamations erupted from a table nearby, loud enough to attract attention.


    Li Moying, Li Jianjun, Zhao Yuying, Qian Zhengbai, and Zheng Jianming were gathered around the table, looking at a painting.


    The exclamation had come from the mouth of Zheng Jianming.


    Zheng Wenshan remarked with annoyance, "How old are you? Can''t you remain calm in such situations? If this child had even one-tenth of Mr. Qin''s composure, I''d be more than satisfied."

 Chapter 326 The Value of a Painting

    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Mr. Zheng is adept at socializing, seemingly carefree but in reality, he''s astute and competent with his own ideas. Mr. Zheng, you flatter me too much."


    Upon hearing the praise for his son, Zheng Wenshan''s face was full of smiles: "Mr. Qin is only nineteen and already worth billions; Jianming has much to learn."


    No sooner had he spoken than Zheng Jianming''s voice came, somewhat excitedly: "Dad, come over here and take a look."


    Dark lines formed on Zheng Wenshan''s forehead. He had just complimented him, and there he was, making a commotion.


    Zheng Jianming continued to shout: "Dad, hurry over here and look at this painting."


    Li Xutian felt curious as well and a smile appeared on his face: "Let''s go have a look together, Mr. Zheng. It seems Jianming has something important."


    "Let''s go and see," Qian Ruisheng also said.


    A few people got up and went over. Li Moying and others were looking at a painting on the table.


    The dishes on the table had already been cleared away, replaced with pastries and tea.


    When Zheng Wenshan came over, ready to scold his son, he paused upon seeing the painting on the table.


    He was involved in antique calligraphy and painting, very knowledgeable in the field, and was once a renowned master of antique calligraphy and painting appraisal in Jianghai.


    "Whose painting is this?" Zheng Wenshan asked, his eyes glued to the painting the moment he saw it.


    Li Moying spoke up: "It was a gift from my master."


    Zheng Wenshan looked at Li Moying: "Who is your master, a painting master?"


    Li Moying: "My master is Qin Hao, not a painting master."


    Zheng Wenshan turned to look at Qin Hao, his expression one of shock: "Mr. Qin, you painted this?"


    Qin Hao nodded: "I did paint it, as a birthday present for Mo Ying."


    Zheng Wenshan: "I never expected Mr. Qin to also be a master painter. The technique and depth of this painting are among the best I''ve ever seen, incomparable even to rare masterpieces passed down from ancient times."


    The people around were astounded by Zheng Wenshan''s comments, wondering if they were as impressive as he claimed.


    Li Xutian and Qian Ruisheng, knowing Zheng Wenshan''s former reputation as a master of calligraphy and painting appraisal, were more inclined to believe his words.


    Zheng Wenshan, looking eagerly at Qin Hao, said: "Would you be willing to paint one for me? I am willing to pay 1.5 billion for one of your paintings."


    ...


    The crowd was dumbfounded. Did they hear that right? 1.5 billion?


    Li Xutian also found it hard to believe: "Mr. Zheng, how much did you say?"


    Zhao Yuying and others had their mouths slightly agape in shock; it completely overturned their understanding.


    Zheng Wenshan affirmed: "1.5 billion. Mr. Qin''s painting is definitely worth that much."


    Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying entered the elevator, with Zhao Yuying still donned in an ancient costume, which gave her an extraordinary charm.


    She couldn''t help but ask Qin Hao, "Are you the owner of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company?"


    Qin Hao nodded slightly in response.


    Zhao Yuying asked, "Has your company chosen a spokesperson?"


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "I don''t think so yet."


    Zhao Yuying said, "Could that be me? I haven''t been in the best of moods these last few days because of the banquet, so I didn''t handle the endorsement matter."


    Qin Hao responded, "Of course, you''re our first choice for our company."


    Zhao Yuying took out her phone and sent a simple message to her studio manager, agreeing to the endorsement for Jiangshan Roasted Duck. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    The elevator quickly reached the lobby downstairs, and the two walked out of Jinjiang Hotel.


    She followed Qin Hao to the parking lot, but before they could reach the car, Li Mingzhe and his group blocked Qin Hao and her.


    To be precise, Li Mingzhe was there for Zhao Yuying.


    In the crowd, Qin Hao did not see the girls who had come with them, only three men.


    Li Mingzhe said indifferently to Zhao Yuying, "Miss Zhao, do me the honor of joining me for a meal."


    Zhao Yuying declined, "Mr. Li, it''s getting late, and my parents are waiting for me to return home."


    After learning the identities of Li Mingzhe''s group from Li Moying, she dared not show too much aversion, as offending these people would not benefit her.


    The influence of the Beisu Li Family in the entertainment industry was not insignificant.


    Li Mingzhe insisted, "No problem, I''ll take Miss Zhao home afterward."


    He was determined to have Zhao Yuying accompany him tonight, having seen her on television more than once.


    Qin Hao''s brow furrowed, "Get lost, don''t block my way."


    Li Mingzhe''s face subtly changed, "Qin Hao, you''d better not get involved today, otherwise, you''ll regret it in the future."


    Qin Hao retorted, "Regret? I, Qin Hao, have never done anything I regret. I''ll ask you one last time, are you going to move or not?"


    Li Mingzhe did not budge, and seeing that their eldest brother hadn''t moved, Li Minglei and Li Mingguan behind him stayed put as well.


    "Bang"


    Qin Hao kicked Li Mingzhe in the stomach, who immediately doubled over on the ground, hands clutching his belly, his complexion pale.


    Qin Hao spoke in a cold tone, "I let it go the first time out of consideration for Mo Ying, but this time no one can help you."


    Li Mingzhe, curled up on the ground, glared at him with a venomous look, "You and your mother will never step foot in the Li Family''s house again."

 Chapter 327: 329: The Origins of Li Shujie

    Chapter 327: Chapter 329: The Origins of Li Shujie


    When he first heard Li Moying introduce Qin Hao, he had guessed that Qin Hao must be his aunt¡¯s child.


    He had also heard some secrets from his father.


    He had an aunt who married a commoner named Qin Youguo and had been living in Jiangshan City.


    The couple had a child named Qin Hao who had visited a couple of times when he was very young but had not come again after those visits.


    These things were all pried out from his father by Li Mingzhe, and he was the only one of the grandchildren who knew.


    His own brother Li Minglei and his cousin Li Mingguan had no knowledge of this.


    When he said this, Qin Hao was stunned, and Li Minglei and Li Mingguan behind Li Mingzhe were also taken aback.


    Zhao Yuying also felt completely puzzled by this statement. What was he implying?


    Could it be that Qin Hao¡¯s mother was from the Li Family?


    Qin Hao was the first to recover. He looked at Li Mingzhe and asked, ¡°What do you know?¡±


    Li Mingzhe said, ¡°Everything you don¡¯t know, I am aware of. You dare to hit me, if your mother wants to enter the Li Family home, she¡¯ll have to kneel outside and apologize.¡±


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t hesitate to slap him across the face, stating coolly, ¡°You think too highly of your Li Family and yourself.


    No one has the right to make my mom kneel and apologize, not even your Li Family.¡±


    After saying this, he walked ahead with Zhao Yuying, and Li Minglei and Li Mingguan didn¡¯t dare to block their way.


    Only after Qin Hao left did Li Minglei and Li Mingguan hastily help him up. ¡°Big brother, what did you mean by what you said?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it when we get back,¡± Li Mingzhe said with a grim expression.


    Zhao Yuying said somewhat apologetically to Qin Hao after they boarded, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Qin, for the trouble.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°We are neighbors after all, and I ought to help you for Mr. Zhao¡¯s sake.¡±@@@@


    After saying this, he started the car and left the Jinjiang Hotel parking lot.


    At 8:45 PM.


    Qin Hao drove home, got out of the car, and took out two boxes of pastries for Zhao Yuying. ¡°Give these to Mr. Zhao and Ms Zhao to try. The rest should be sufficient for Meng and Qiao¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± said Zhao Yuying with a slight smile, her elegance radiant.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, then went back inside the villa, where Han Meng and Qiao¡¯er were watching TV.


    ¡°Uncle!¡± Han Qiaoer ran over from the sofa as she saw Qin Hao come in.


    Qin Hao lifted her with one arm. ¡°Qiao¡¯er, look what uncle has brought you to eat.¡±


    Li Xutian¡¯s expression became serious, ¡°How does he know that?¡±


    Li Moying: ¡°Yes, my dad says it is.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Hmm, I understand now, thanks, Moying.¡±


    Li Moying: ¡°Master, you are too polite.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I need to hang up now.¡±


    ...


    After hanging up, Li Xutian looked at Li Moying and asked, ¡°How does Qin Hao know Shujie¡¯s name?¡±


    Li Moying shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know, the Master just asked if her name was Li Shujie.¡±


    Li Xutian frowned deeply, immersed in thought. Why was Qin Hao suddenly asking this question? And how could he know the name Li Shujie?


    Even Li Mingwang¡¯s grandchildren hardly knew, let alone outsiders.


    Li Xutian hastily said, ¡°Jianjun, go get Qin Hao¡¯s file for me to see, hurry!¡±


    Li Jianjun: ¡°Dad, I haven¡¯t finished admiring it yet, you go get it.¡±


    ¡°Smack¡±


    Li Xutian slapped him on the head, annoyed, ¡°Am I unable to order you around now? Hurry up and get it from my study.¡±


    Li Jianjun rubbed his head, feeling aggrieved, and went upstairs to the study.


    Seeing Li Xutian¡¯s actions, Gu Yusu asked curiously, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Li Xutian: ¡°Yu Su, do you still remember Shujie?¡±


    Gu Yusu had some recollection, ¡°Are you talking about the Li Shujie we went to pick up when we got married?¡±


    Li Xutian nodded.


    Gu Yusu: ¡°Didn¡¯t she elope with someone?¡±


    Li Moying listened curiously to the side, Li Shujie? Elope?


    Li Xutian: ¡°Shujie was a year older than me, we grew up together, and she always looked after me, sharing whatever she bought with me.


    Although our family branches are distant, our relationship was very close, but unfortunately, after that incident, we never heard from her again.¡±


    After speaking, Li Xutian sighed, his expression saddening as he remembered the past.


    Just then, Li Jianjun ran down from upstairs, holding a stack of files in his hand.


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 Chapter 328: 330: Breaking Your Legs

    Chapter 328: Chapter 330: Breaking Your Legs


    Li Jianjun went downstairs and handed the materials to Li Xutian, then continued browsing through the things on the coffee table.


    ¡°1.5 billion, that¡¯s 1.5 billion! The money I earned is barely worth two of his paintings.¡± The more Li Jianjun looked, the more frustrated he felt.


    He even felt the urge to start learning how to paint!


    Li Xutian took the materials, opened them, and examined them carefully. When he saw the name of Qin Hao¡¯s mother, his body jolted.


    ¡°Just as I suspected, just as I suspected!¡±


    His expression turned blank, as he stared at the materials, deep in thought.


    Gu Yusu and Li Moying peered over curiously, and when they saw the name of Qin Hao¡¯s mother, Li Shujie, they were stunned.


    Li Xutian had glanced through Qin Hao¡¯s information before, but he didn¡¯t think too much of it.


    After all, Li is a common family name nationwide, and there must be at least tens of thousands of people with the name Li Shujie.


    Seeing the expressions of the trio, Li Jianjun curiously looked over: ¡°What are you guys looking at?¡±


    ¡°His mother also has the surname Li, what a coincidence,¡± Li Jianjun remarked when he saw the names of Qin Hao¡¯s parents.


    Li Xutian glared at him, ¡°Coincidence my ass, this is your aunt.¡±


    Li Jianjun was dumbfounded: ¡°What? My grandfather had an illegitimate daughter? Does my grandmother know about this?¡±


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Li Xutian kicked him out of the room: ¡°Stop spouting nonsense, she is your grandfather Ming Wang¡¯s daughter.¡±


    Li Jianjun got up from the floor, his eyes full of grievance: ¡°It¡¯s because you weren¡¯t clear, Dad.¡±


    Li Xutian: ¡°Bullshit, I¡¯ve always been crystal clear when I talk.¡±


    Li Jianjun chuckled, quickly changing the subject: ¡°Dad, are you saying Qin Hao¡¯s mother is grandfather Ming Wang¡¯s daughter? I don¡¯t remember him having a daughter.¡±


    Li Xutian: ¡°You weren¡¯t born at the time. Your grandfather Ming Wang had arranged a marriage for her to an influential family from Jinchen.


    Everyone was optimistic about this match, and it was considered beneficial for the Li Family of Beisu.


    Unfortunately, life is unpredictable. Your aunt Shujie already had someone she loved. She vehemently refused the arranged marriage and finally eloped with that man, leaving everything behind. That man is Qin Hao¡¯s father, Qin Youguo.¡±


    Li Jianjun and Li Moying were dumbfounded; this revelation was a lot for them to take in.


    Li Jianjun: ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean Qin Hao is also a distant relative to us?¡±@@@@


    Li Xutian nodded: ¡°You could say that.¡±


    Li Jianjun said with a smile: ¡°Then can I also ask him for a painting? That would save me from having to earn money for a whole year.¡±


    Zhao Yuying walked over slowly, ¡°I don¡¯t fight or grab, I just want to earn some more money to give my parents a better life. Why is that so difficult?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Have you encountered any difficulties? Can I help?¡±


    Zhao Yuying said, ¡°The president of the company I just signed with called me and asked if I had offended anyone. He told me to apologize, or else I would have to face the consequences.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Give me your phone.¡±


    Zhao Yuying paused, ¡°What are you going to do?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want me to help you? Hand it over.¡±


    Zhao Yuying indeed wanted Qin Hao¡¯s help; she did not want to be put on ice or taken advantage of.


    Out of all the people she knew, only Qin Hao had the capability. She had come out specifically to look for Qin Hao, but she was afraid that he might refuse.


    After a moment of thought, she handed over her phone to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao took her phone, opened the call log, and the most recent call was from Mr. Han.


    He asked, ¡°Is it this person?¡±


    Zhao Yuying nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him. His name is Han Ye.¡±


    Qin Hao pressed the number, and after a few seconds, the call was connected.


    Han Ye spoke with a smile, ¡°Yu Ying, what do you think? After all, the entertainment industry is your lifelong career. Why make things difficult for your future, right or wrong?¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Is this Mr. Han?¡±


    Han Ye, hearing a man¡¯s voice, was startled, ¡°Who are you? How did you end up with her phone?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°My name is Qin Hao. Zhao Yuying is my friend. I heard you want her to accompany someone, right?¡±


    Qin Hao?


    Han Ye¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, why did that name sound so familiar?


    He could not recall who it was. His tone turned slightly cold, ¡°She is an artist at my company. It¡¯s up to her whether she goes or not, the company decides her future.¡±


    Han Ye¡¯s meaning was clear; if Zhao Yuying refused to go, she might very well be sidelined by the company.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Han is correct. It¡¯s her own decision whether to go, and the company decides her future. There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to say to Mr. Han too:


    ¡°If Miss Yu Ying receives different treatment from before, I¡¯ll come to your company and break your legs. If you don¡¯t believe me, feel free to try.¡±


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 Chapter 329: 331 Distress

    Chapter 329: Chapter 331 Distress


    It was the first time Han Ye had been threatened like this. Just as he was about to retort with curses, a busy tone came from his phone.


    Break my legs?


    F*ck, who in Jianghai would dare to mess with me?


    Suddenly, it was as if Han Ye thought of something, and his face slightly changed. Qin Hao? Qin Hao?


    Could it be the Qin Hao who broke Xiao Liang¡¯s legs?


    No wonder the name sounded familiar. Could it really be him?


    Han Ye was very clear about the strength of the Xiao Family. Currently, the top hand in Jianghai was Xiao Liang¡¯s own uncle, Xiao Tianwei.


    If Qin Hao broke Xiao Liang¡¯s legs, it was impossible for Xiao Tianwei not to know about it.


    And the fact that Qin Hao was still living well implied that his background was even more significant.


    Bigger than the top hand in Jianghai, who could that be? Probably a big shot from Jinchen City.


    Having thought this far, Han Ye¡¯s forehead was already covered with cold sweat.


    If someone else had said those words, he might not have been scared, but this person, Qin Hao, he had even dared to break Xiao Liang¡¯s legs, let alone touch Han Ye himself.


    Thinking this, Han Ye felt somewhat panicked, and he quickly called Li Xutian.


    Li Xutian¡¯s Jinxiu Group owned more than thirty percent of the shares and was the largest shareholder of Star Entertainment Media Company.


    The phone was quickly answered. Li Xutian asked, puzzled, ¡°Mr. Han, you¡¯re looking for me? Is there something wrong?¡±


    Han Ye asked cautiously, ¡°Mr. Li, do you know Qin Hao?¡±


    Li Xutian: ¡°Yes, I know him. What about it?¡±


    Han Ye: ¡°Just now, your nephew Li Mingzhe called me and asked for our company¡¯s artist Zhao Yuying to accompany him.


    Out of respect for you, I agreed. But Zhao Yuying knows Qin Hao, and after he found out about this, he said he would break my legs.


    Could you please speak on my behalf? I was forced into this.¡±


    Li Xutian frowned: ¡°Next time something like this happens, report to me in advance, don¡¯t act on your own, understand?¡±@@@@


    ¡°I understand, Mr. Li,¡± Han Ye hurriedly replied.


    Li Xutian: ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Xiao Hao about this, and from now on, treat this Miss Zhao like a grandmother.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, Chairman,¡± Han Ye responded.


    ...


    On the other side, Qin Hao hung up the call and handed the phone to Zhao Yuying.


    Zhao Yuying looked at him dumbfounded. So this is your idea of helping? Is this how you help, brother?


    ¡°Some people just don¡¯t want to talk, and there¡¯s nothing I can do about it. How are you over there?¡± Qin Hao changed the subject.


    Du Wanrou said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m pretty good. At first, I was a bit worried that people here might be unfriendly, but it turns out I was overthinking it. They are quite nice to us.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°That¡¯s good. Wan Rou, once everything is settled here, I¡¯ll come to the Federation to see you.¡±


    ¡°Really? You¡¯re not just trying to make me happy, are you?¡± Du Wanrou was somewhat excited.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Why would I lie to you.¡±


    Du Wanrou said, ¡°Okay, remember to call me when you come. I can¡¯t talk anymore, I need to go to class.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao sighed. Thinking of Du Wanrou and Xu Siyao, he felt completely flustered.


    He had no idea how to deal with the situation and dared not tell Du Wanrou.


    He would keep it a secret for as long as possible until he found a good opportunity to tell her.


    After finishing his thoughts, he looked at his phone and couldn¡¯t help but open the TT Live app and enter Xia Qing¡¯s live broadcast room.


    She was singing. Every evening, Xia Qing would sing and chat with everyone during her live streams, often practicing new songs.


    Even without Qin Hao gifting her, she could still earn over a hundred thousand in tips each day, pocketing tens of thousands for herself.


    Once Qin Hao came online, he saw many private messages; all were from Xia Qing.


    ¡°I was busy these last few days and didn¡¯t come online. Did anyone bully you?¡± Qin Hao replied.


    After finishing her song, Xia Qing saw his message and promptly replied, ¡°No, I heard you guys are about to compete in the world tournament, are you busy with training?¡±


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re pretty well-informed,¡± Qin Hao was somewhat surprised.


    Xia Qing replied with a smiley face but didn¡¯t elaborate.


    Qin Hao topped up one million into his account and then opened an Emperor Level privilege for her.


    Suddenly, a server-wide banner appeared in all the live broadcast rooms:


    Congratulations to Spade A for obtaining the Emperor Level privilege in [Dream]Qingtian¡¯s live room, showing off his magnificent generosity!


    ¡°Wow, Spade A bro is online and invisible?¡±


    ¡°Emperor Level privilege, so cool.¡±


    ¡°6666666¡±


    Xia Qing¡¯s face revealed a smile, ¡°Thank you, Spade A bro, for the Emperor Level privilege.¡±


    After thanking him in the live room, she sent Qin Hao a private message, ¡°Spade A bro, I know where your club is. I¡¯ll come to see you in a couple of days. Thanks for supporting me these days.¡±


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 Chapter 330: 332 Accident

    Chapter 330: Chapter 332 Accident


    Qin Hao was stunned when he saw her message, ¡°Don¡¯t, our club has been really busy these days, and I generally don¡¯t go to the club.¡±


    Xia Qing: ¡°Brother A, I won¡¯t take up much of your time, it¡¯s just a meal.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Really, it¡¯s not necessary, I don¡¯t like eating out, I¡¯m going to sleep now, you should rest early too.¡±


    After he finished speaking, he turned off his phone and lay down on the bed to sleep.


    Xia Qing saw Qin Hao¡¯s reply, but once she had made up her mind, she would go through with it.


    Even if the Ace of Spades didn¡¯t meet her, she would still go.


    There had been two men who had entered her heart in her life, one was Qin Hao and the other was the Ace of Spades.@@@@


    She wanted to find the Ace of Spades to see what kind of person he was in reality, and what he was like!


    The next morning.


    After eating breakfast, Qin Hao drove to the construction site of the new company.


    This was his first visit, and upon arriving at the site, the construction was already underway with the sound of machinery roaring from within.


    Qin Hao parked his car by the roadside and then walked more than a hundred meters to enter the construction site.


    Several cars were parked by the construction site, belonging to the supervisors and leaders of the engineering team; they needed to personally oversee the project.


    Inside the construction site, machinery and workers were busy at work everywhere.


    Yang Su¡¯s Rutong Engineering Group had invested all their manpower and resources to complete the construction of the factory in the shortest possible time.


    Some people noticed Qin Hao, but after a glance, they continued with their work.


    Qin Hao frowned slightly and kept walking further inside; the industrial park was very large.


    After walking for four or five minutes, he still hadn¡¯t reached the center of the factory. The foundations had already been laid, and a high-tech factory building five stories tall was rapidly rising, with more than four stories already covered; the progress of the construction was very fast.


    According to Qin Hao¡¯s estimate, the factory buildings and other structures could be completed in the short term, but the interior still needed to be fitted out, which would take a considerable amount of time.


    As he continued walking for a while, he saw a line of people walking out from the inside, all wearing safety helmets, among them was Chang Jing.


    When those people saw Qin Hao strolling around, someone immediately ran over to him: ¡°Young man, this is a construction site, you can¡¯t just wander around here, get out quickly, it¡¯s dangerous.¡±


    Chang Jing hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Wang, this is our Mr. Qin.¡±


    The Mr. Wang who had spoken earlier was taken aback: ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m sorry, I haven¡¯t met you before.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile: ¡°No worries, It¡¯s my first time here, it¡¯s normal that we don¡¯t recognize each other yet.¡±


    Sweat was already forming on Qin Hao¡¯s forehead. He had reached the limit of his strength, and lifting it any higher was nearly impossible.


    Then he suddenly remembered he had a bottle of beginner¡¯s strength potion in his system backpack. Without thinking, he used it.


    Instantly, Qin Hao felt his body surge with power.


    ¡°Shi!¡±


    With another loud shout from Qin Hao, the several-thousand-pound floor slab was slowly lifted. He reached his limit halfway, but it was enough to rescue the person.


    He saw that those around him were still standing there dumbly and said irritably, ¡°What are you looking at? Hurry up and rescue him.¡±


    The people snapped out of it and quickly dragged the injured man out from under the slab.


    The man¡¯s lower legs were a bloody mess, far from their original state. Someone took off his work clothes and quickly covered the injured man with them.


    By this time, Chang Jing and others had also run over. Seeing Qin Hao lifting the heavy slab by himself, their eyes revealed profound shock.


    Everyone spoke in an astonished tone, ¡°This... this... Mr. Qin¡¯s strength is just too incredible, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Once Qin Hao saw the man was rescued, he released the slab.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Dust flew up, and a dull thud reverberated through the ground, sending a tremor through everyone¡¯s hearts.


    Qin Hao hurried to the injured man and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your legs will be healed.¡±


    As he spoke, several silver needles appeared in Qin Hao¡¯s hand and he swiftly inserted them into the man¡¯s leg, stopping the blood flow and temporarily blocking the pain signals.


    Qin Hao then took out a bottle of life potion and poured it directly into the man¡¯s mouth.


    He could now directly exchange achievement points for life potions in the marketplace, so he wasn¡¯t worried about running out. The potions weren¡¯t expensive either, costing only four thousand achievement points.


    His actions were swift, and the onlookers only saw Qin Hao¡¯s hand pause near the man¡¯s mouth before pulling away.


    ¡°Please, save my legs. My daughter is still in university, and my son is in middle school. I can¡¯t be without my legs, please save me,¡± the man pleaded as he lay on the ground, crying loudly. He was the breadwinner of the family, with elderly parents, a wife, and children relying on him. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose his legs.


    If he lost his ability to work, his family would crumble.


    A middle-aged man crying before you¡ªunless you have experienced similar tragedy, it¡¯s hard to comprehend that feeling.


    It¡¯s an unsettling sensation, making one¡¯s nose slightly tingle and eyes redden.


    [I write and post in real-time. Many people have asked me to post ten chapters at once, and honestly, I¡¯d like to post that many or even more. Writing one chapter takes me about two to three hours, and if I hit a block, it can take even longer. I know many of you have never written before and don¡¯t understand, thinking an author can write a chapter in minutes.]


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 Chapter 331: 333 Signing the Contract

    Chapter 331: Chapter 333 Signing the Contract


    Qin Hao comforted the man, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your leg will heal, no need to worry.


    If it doesn¡¯t heal, I will give you ten thousand yuan per month as compensation. I am Qin Hao, the owner of this factory, and I definitely won¡¯t deceive you.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, the man looked at him, ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°This is Mr. Qin from Xinghai High-tech Company, you can trust what he says.


    If your leg doesn¡¯t heal, the compensation and the monthly compensation will be provided to you at the highest standard. Right now, you just need to focus on healing. The hospital fees and your salary won¡¯t be reduced.¡±


    Soon, the ambulance arrived and took the injured man away.


    Qin Hao had Mr. Wang go with them, since nobody was there to take care, and there were many things to handle at the hospital.


    After handling the situation, Qin Hao said to the construction site manager, ¡°You must ensure everyone is careful. I don¡¯t want this kind of thing to happen again.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin, I will instruct them,¡± the site manager quickly replied.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Make sure to prioritize the workers¡¯ safety.¡±


    Latter, Qin Hao and Chang Jing left the construction site, and Chang Jing said to him, ¡°Qin Hao, you¡¯re incredibly strong, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled, ¡°I was born this way.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Ancient texts often say Xiang Yu was immensely strong and could lift thousands of jin of a bronze tripod. I never believed it before, thinking it was an exaggeration, but now I believe it.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Chang, could we talk about the company? Have you connected with the buyers for the production line equipment?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Everything else is manageable, but the photolithography machines for manufacturing chips are hard to get. I have already used my connections to reach out to major foreign manufacturers.


    But it¡¯s not looking promising; many companies are banned from selling high-end technological products to Xuan Country.¡±


    Qin Hao slightly nodded, ¡°Then, do we have photolithography machines¡¯ production lines domestically?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Then let¡¯s buy a photolithography machine production line, and produce our own photolithography machines.¡±


    Chang Jing said, ¡°The production line is good, but we lack key technical talents.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°I understand, I¡¯ll take care of that when the time comes, and those manufacturers who don¡¯t sell us the photolithography machines, remember them, when the time comes, they won¡¯t be able to buy my products either.¡±


    Around two in the afternoon, Zhao Yuying, accompanied by her studio team, arrived at Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    Wearing a duckbill hat and sunglasses, she caused quite a stir as she entered the company.


    Upon hearing the commotion, Qin Hao stepped out of his office. As soon as the employees saw him, they quieted down, but their eyes still couldn¡¯t stop looking towards Zhao Yuying.


    The group walked in, and Zhao Yuying approached Qin Hao, smiling and extending her hand, ¡°Mr. Qin, hello.¡±


    Qin Hao reached out and gently shook her hand, ¡°Miss Zhao, hello, please come in.¡±


    Zhao Yuying and three others entered the reception room, followed by Qin Hao, Feng Xiangyi, and the marketing and legal departments.


    The negotiations went smoothly, with Qin Hao offering reasonable prices, and Zhao Yuying having no excessive demands.


    About ten minutes later, both parties signed the contract.


    Qin Hao smiled at Zhao Yuying, ¡°Miss Zhao, we¡¯ll have to trouble you to sign some autographs for our employees later. I see many fans of yours in our company.¡±


    Zhao Yuying smiled faintly, ¡°It would be my pleasure.¡±


    Then Feng Xiangyi went outside to notify the employees, and everyone lined up and came in.


    Zhao Yuying signed nearly two hundred autographs, eventually feeling some soreness in her wrist.


    For the advertisement shoot, they still needed to choose a location and hire a senior photography team.


    After signing autographs, Zhao Yuying exhaled deeply, ¡°Mr. Qin, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve found a suitable photography team?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Not yet, Miss Zhao, being in the industry, you might know some top teams, right? Perhaps you could introduce one to us.¡±


    Zhao Yuying had just that in mind, ¡°I know a team whose photography, production, and post-editing are all excellent, and their prices are reasonable.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Then please contact them for us. We¡¯ll get in touch with some top advertising planning companies, and then we can proceed with the shoot.¡±


    Zhao Yuying nodded slightly, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯ll be in touch by phone from now on.¡±


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang. He took it out, saw it was a call from Zhao Qian, and looked apologetically at Zhao Yuying before answering, ¡°Hello, Zhao Qian, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Zhao Qian¡¯s voice came through the phone, ¡°Where are you? How are Qiao¡¯er and her mother doing? I¡¯m planning to visit them.¡±


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 Chapter 332: 334 Classmate Zhao Han

    Chapter 332: Chapter 334 Classmate Zhao Han


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Pretty good, are you at school? I¡¯m at the company right now, I¡¯ll head over in a bit.¡±


    ¡°Okay then, you go ahead with your work.¡±


    After Qin Hao hung up the phone, Zhao Yuying spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, if you¡¯re not busy, we¡¯ll take our leave. I¡¯ll have someone contact Mr. Feng later.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll walk you out, Miss Zhao, since I plan to leave as well.¡±


    The two walked out of the company side by side, with her studio staff consciously trailing behind.


    When entering the elevator, Zhao Yuying told the others, ¡°You take another elevator.¡±


    Only Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying were in the elevator.


    Zhao Yuying said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, my parents said they would like you to come over for dinner with Meng and Qiao¡¯er tonight. They have prepared a lot of delicious food, including large lobsters, giant crabs, and many other dishes.¡±


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face, and he nodded, ¡°Okay, please tell Mr. Zhao not to go to so much trouble next time.¡±


    Zhao Yuying: ¡°It¡¯s no bother at all, they have nothing much to do at home anyway. I¡¯ll go back later and help them out.¡±


    The elevator soon reached the underground parking lot, and both of them stepped out. After a short while, the staff from Zhao Yuying¡¯s Studio also arrived.


    Zhao Yuying waived her hand towards him, ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye, Miss Zhao,¡± Qin Hao nodded slightly in response.


    Zhao Yuying got into her Mercedes and then left the place.


    Qin Hao drove his Lamborghini to the school.


    That afternoon, Jinxiu Group released a message to the public: Jinxiu Group has reached an exclusive strategic cooperation with Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    Jinxiu Group invested nearly 1.4 billion to acquire the hotel management rights of Jiangshan Roasted Duck products.


    This news caused quite a stir in the industry: 1.4 billion, has Jiangshan Roasted Duck become this formidable?


    ...


    The moment Qin Hao¡¯s car entered the school, it attracted a lot of attention.


    ¡°Wow, that seems to be Qin Hao¡¯s car, right? He¡¯s at school today.¡± Someone recognized his car at a glance.


    ¡°That car is so cool, I wish I had a rich boyfriend like that,¡± a girl said, her eyes filled with admiration as she looked at Qin Hao¡¯s car.


    ¡°What¡¯s so great about being rich,¡± someone jealously muttered disdainfully.


    ¡°I got his contact information last time, should we ask for it as well? I heard he¡¯s easy to talk to.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao parked his car in the school¡¯s parking lot, then called Zhao Qian.


    Zhao Qian frowned, ¡°Tang Chen Dong, you might as well give up on that thought. You¡¯re just becoming more and more disgusting.¡±


    ¡°Fine, just you wait,¡± Tang Chen Dong said before he got into his car and drove off quickly.


    As they walked, Qin Hao said, ¡°If you have any troubles, you can ask me for help.¡±


    Zhao Qian nodded, ¡°Okay, thank you.¡±


    The two arrived at the parking lot. Zhao Qian started her car and followed him out of the school.


    Around four in the afternoon, Zhao Qian followed Qin Hao to the Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    Getting out of the car, Zhao Qian¡¯s eyes flashed with shock. He actually lived in this kind of place.


    The sea view villas here start at no less than forty or fifty million.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Come in. Meng should be at home.¡±


    Zhao Qian followed him into the villa¡¯s living room. Han Meng was cleaning the house. Seeing Qin Hao and Zhao Qian come in, she paused, ¡°Miss Zhao, you¡¯ve arrived.¡±


    Zhao Qian caught a glimpse of Han Meng and was momentarily dazzled.


    Because Han Meng was wearing the clothes Qin Hao had bought for her, she looked very pretty.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have class today, so I came to see you and Qiao¡¯er. Is Qiao¡¯er around?¡±


    Han Meng quickly poured a glass of water, ¡°Qiao¡¯er hasn¡¯t got out of school yet, but she will be back soon, around five.¡±


    Zhao Qian and Han Meng chatted for a while, and around five-fifteen, Qiao¡¯er returned, hopping and skipping with a smile on her face.


    ¡°Uncle, Auntie Zhao Qian is here too!¡± she said as she ran over.


    Zhao Qian watched her with a smile, ¡°Qiao¡¯er, you are getting prettier and prettier.¡±


    ¡°Auntie Zhao Qian, you¡¯re getting prettier too, and your figure is even better than before,¡± Qiao¡¯er said sweetly.


    Instantly, both Zhao Qian and Han Meng blushed, and Qin Hao felt a bit awkward, ¡°Ahem, Qiao¡¯er, don¡¯t talk nonsense, what do you know, you little girl.¡±


    Blushing, Han Meng shooed her away, ¡°You little rascal, go do your homework. Mr. Zhao is taking you out for dinner tonight.¡±


    Just then, Zhao Qian¡¯s phone rang, cutting through some of the awkwardness.


    She glanced at the caller ID; it was her brother¡¯s number. She answered, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    A voice of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy came through, ¡°You are Zhao Han¡¯s sister, right? Your brother is in my hands. If you want to save him, come to Haomen KTV, room 3101. We¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡±


    Zhao Qian recognized the voice; it was Zhao Han¡¯s classmate, the same one he had gotten into a fight with.


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 Chapter 333: 335: Mischief

    Chapter 333: Chapter 335: Mischief


    Zhao Qian¡¯s expression changed slightly, and she hurriedly stood up and said, ¡°Meng, my brother Qin Hao is in some trouble, I need to go check on him.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han Meng also became somewhat flustered. ¡°Then you should go quickly, hope nothing serious happens.¡±


    Qin Hao, having heard the content on the phone, spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you, maybe I can help.¡±


    Zhao Qian nodded, and the two of them left the villa and drove quickly out of the neighborhood.


    Haomen KTV was located on a bustling street in Xin Hai District, and this KTV was very well-known throughout Jianghai.


    Not only was the level of spending here extraordinarily high, but another feature of Haomen KTV was the beautiful women¡ªevery type of beauty was available.@@@@


    In less than twenty minutes, Zhao Qian and Qin Hao drove up to Haomen KTV.


    They walked straight in and headed directly to room 3101 upstairs.


    Arriving at the door of room 3101, Zhao Qian pushed the door open and walked straight in.


    ¡°Splash¡±


    A basin of water fell from above, drenching Zhao Qian completely.


    Zhao Qian stood there stunned, Qin Hao was also stunned. Was this a child¡¯s prank? Still playing such tricks?


    Zhao Qian was also desperate to protect her brother; had she noticed the basin above the door, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up soaked like this.


    Laughter erupted from inside the room.


    Zhao Qian looked up, Zhao Han didn¡¯t look like he was in a fight at all, instead, he was sitting there drinking with five or six others on the sofa.


    In an instant, Zhao Qian understood what was happening, her own brother was actually playing her.


    ¡°Zhao Han, you are so dead today,¡± Zhao Qian yelled as she walked over and started beating Zhao Han mercilessly.


    Qin Hao walked in and looked at Zhao Han helplessly; that guy really deserved a beating.


    Seeing Zhao Qian being so fierce, Zhao Han¡¯s classmates exchanged glances¡ªwasn¡¯t she a bit too fierce?


    Li Minghai hurriedly said, ¡°Sister, don¡¯t hit him anymore. Zhao Han invited you here to give you something.¡±


    Zhao Qian paused upon hearing this, and Zhao Han quickly added, ¡°Sis, I know you liked that Chanel outfit.


    Today, a few of us chipped in to buy that outfit for you, you forgot today is your birthday.¡±


    After speaking, he freed himself from Zhao Qian¡¯s grasp and picked up a Chanel-branded garment bag from the sofa.


    Zhao Qian paused, inside was indeed the outfit she liked, only it was very expensive, costing tens of thousands.


    She felt touched, but puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s going on with you two? Weren¡¯t you fighting before?¡±


    Li Minghai and Zhao Han, arm in arm, said, ¡°We are now good friends, his sister is my sister, and my sister is his sister.¡±


    After saying that, he got up and walked outside, followed by Zhao Han and others.


    In the hallway, there stood more than a dozen shirtless men, bodies adorned with various tattoos, currently surrounding the door to the women¡¯s restroom.


    ¡°That bitch dared to hit me. Fucking open the door,¡± one of them said while banging fiercely on the bathroom door.


    Zhao Qian must be changing clothes in the restroom, Qin Hao said to Zhao Han and the others, ¡°Wait here, I¡¯ll go check it out.¡±


    He walked over, but those men were blocking his way completely.


    ¡°Make way,¡± Qin Hao spoke up.


    ¡°Make way my ass, get the hell out of here,¡± one of them turned around and cursed.


    He deeply disliked people who swore, and promptly grabbed the man by the neck.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    The shirtless man¡¯s head made intimate contact with the wall and he slumped to the ground, limp.


    The others, seeing this, turned and cursed, ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, anyone else want to start something? Come at me, brothers.¡±


    ¡°Bang¡±


    As soon as the man had spoken, Qin Hao kicked him flying with one massive kick, knocking down five or six people behind him.


    Roundhouse kick, whip kick, aerial strikes...


    In a matter of seconds, those men were knocked down to the ground, leaving the onlookers in utter shock.


    Zhao Han, Li Minghai, and the others dropped their jaws, and after a long while, Zhao Han blurted out, ¡°Holy shit, is he even human?¡±


    Li Minghai and others¡¯ eyes sparkled, ¡°That was so cool. His moves are freaking epic. Look at those admiring looks from the girls nearby, I¡¯ve got to become his disciple.¡±


    At this time, at the entrance to the women¡¯s restroom, there was still one person standing there, the guy who had been kicking the door.


    The man was scared pale, ¡°Bro, we had no quarrel in the past, and no feud recently, what are you doing?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned cold, ¡°Get down.¡±


    ¡°Brother...¡± the man was trying to say something else.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Qin Hao kicked him in the chin, his eyes rolled back, and he fell to the ground.


    He called out, ¡°Zhao Qian, are you in there?¡±


    The restroom door opened, and Zhao Qian walked out wearing new clothes.


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 Chapter 334: 336 Jun

    Chapter 334: Chapter 336 Jun


    Zhao Han, Li Minghai, and others ran over, their eyes shining as they looked at him, ¡°Hao, you are freaking awesome.¡±


    Qin Hao asked Zhao Qian, ¡°What¡¯s going on with these people?¡±


    Zhao Qian, recalling the events, got angry and pointed at the man Qin Hao had just beaten down, ¡°I came out to change clothes just now, and this guy tried to take advantage of me, but I beat him up.¡±


    ¡°What? He dared to take advantage of my sister? Damn his ancestors, I¡¯ll kill the motherfucker.¡±


    Zhao Han started fiercely kicking the man, and soon Li Minghai and a few others joined the fight, kicking the man awake from his unconscious state.


    Soon, another group of about seven or eight people came down from the KTV upstairs.


    ¡°Daring to cause trouble on Jun¡¯s turf? Do you want to die?¡± One of them frowned as they looked at Qin Hao and the others.


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°Oh, how mighty, threatening people¡¯s lives at the drop of a hat, who do you think you are?¡±


    ¡°Kid, you¡¯re asking for it.¡± The man shook his clothes, revealing a knife at his waist.


    Zhao Qian, seeing that the seven or eight people were not to be trifled with, whispered, ¡°Let it go, Qin Hao.¡±


    Qin Hao walked over, ¡°I want to see how you¡¯re going to kill me.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, finish him off.¡± Unable to hold back any longer, the man pulled out his knife and charged at Qin Hao.


    Before he could reach Qin Hao, his wrist was kicked by Qin Hao, the knife flying out of his hand, followed by a kick to the chest, sending the man flying.


    Two others who couldn¡¯t dodge in time were knocked down to the ground.


    The remaining few, undeterred and ferocious, charged forward, clearly no ordinary thugs.


    Qin Hao tensed up, his body swiftly dodging their blades while striking back.


    Zhao Qian and the others watched, their hearts pounding, fearing Qin Hao might get hurt.


    Seconds later, those few were knocked down by Qin Hao, fists alone, losing their ability to fight.


    Qin Hao grabbed the leader, ¡°Your Jun is something special? Take me to see him.¡±


    He then dragged the man upstairs.


    This matter wouldn¡¯t be settled until Jun was dealt with, otherwise it would only leave future troubles.


    Zhao Qian and the others saw Qin Hao taking the man upstairs, worried about his safety, and quickly followed.


    On the fourth floor, Qin Hao asked the man in his grip, ¡°Which floor is your Jun on?¡±


    The man kept his mouth shut, as Qin Hao barging in could ruin Jun¡¯s big plans.


    ¡°Bam, bam, bam¡±


    Wang Jun nodded, glanced at Xiao Fei on the floor, his brow furrowing deeply. ¡°Brother, what does this mean?¡±


    At this moment, Qin Hao acted very much like a gangster, toying with Fei¡¯s dagger, his demeanor careless and irreverent.


    ¡°Your man tried to take advantage of my friend. What do you think should be done about it?¡±


    The bodyguards with bushy beards, upon hearing this, slowly reached down to their waists. As long as it wasn¡¯t the police, everything was negotiable.


    Wang Jun looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°What do you want to do?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°It¡¯s simple. Disable his hands, and you apologize to my friend in person.¡±


    The two bodyguards behind Wang Jun drew long knives from their waists: ¡°Shut your damn mouth, get lost, or we¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    Qin Hao immediately acted, charging forward with a swiftness of lightning.


    The man hardly had a chance to react before his knife was seized by Qin Hao and held against his neck.


    The crowd was shocked because they had only seen a blur before the knife was in Qin Hao¡¯s possession.


    Miao Jing, witnessing his skills, felt her heart stir with tremendous awe; his abilities were frightening.


    ¡°Kneel down!¡±


    Qin Hao looked at the man before him and coldly said.


    The man¡¯s face slightly changed, but his body didn¡¯t move. If he knelt just because Qin Hao said so, wouldn¡¯t that be a loss of face?


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face, the knife inching closer to the man¡¯s throat, slowly applying pressure.


    Blood began to flow. The man, feeling pain, began to tremble slightly, but Qin Hao didn¡¯t stop; he kept pushing.


    ¡°Thud¡±


    Unable to bear the pressure, the man finally knelt down.


    At the doorway, Zhao Qian and others internally gasped at Qin Hao¡¯s ruthlessness and dominance.


    Only then did Qin Hao retract the knife. ¡°Had you done this earlier, why suffer the pain of flesh and blood?¡±


    The man with the bushy beard spoke up, ¡°Wang Jun, you handle your issues. I¡¯m leaving first.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Miao Jing nearly exploded with impatience at Qin Hao; she had been undercover for many days, and had finally found such an opportunity today, only for Qin Hao to spoil it.


    This man, always more of a hindrance than a help!


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 Chapter 335: 337: Chance Encounter

    Chapter 335: Chapter 337: Chance Encounter


    Miao Jing ultimately couldn¡¯t hold back and suddenly stood up, drawing a handgun from her lower back.


    ¡°Nobody move, police.¡±


    On hearing her, the bearded men¡¯s faces changed drastically, and they instantaneously drew imitation weapons from their waists.


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    ¡°Bang bang¡±


    The first thing to fly out was a dagger, which plunged directly into the wrist of the bearded man, who screamed in pain, dropping the weapon on the ground.


    Miao Jing then fired a shot, disarming one of the men, while another fired at the same time.


    After throwing the dagger, Qin Hao lunged at her, just as she finished firing, and Qin Hao landed on top of her.


    The other man¡¯s bullet hit Qin Hao in the back.


    Miao Jing¡¯s face changed, she quickly turned the muzzle towards that man, and without waiting for him to fire a second time, she shot him in the arm.


    Zhao Qian and others, upon hearing the gunfire, were startled but still rushed in.


    By then, Qin Hao had released Miao Jing, kicking over Wang Jun who was trying to escape, and another bodyguard was laid out by him as well.


    The bearded trio, now weaponless, were no match for Zhao Qian, who happened to be a black belt in Taekwondo.


    Moreover, with the help of Zhao Han and Li Minghai, they quickly subdued the bearded trio.


    Qin Hao looked at Miao Jing, ¡°Sis, weren¡¯t you a bit too reckless? If it weren¡¯t for me, you¡¯d have been in serious trouble.¡±


    Miao Jing hadn¡¯t expected the opposition to have so many weapons, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Qin Hao took out the knife, which had a dent in it, ¡°Not bad quality.¡±


    The bullet had hit the blade and not Qin Hao himself.


    Miao Jing breathed a sigh of relief, while also shocked by his reaction speed, which was almost superhuman.


    Qin Hao saw her open the briefcase and take a look at the contents, then he said, ¡°Officer Miao, you take care of the rest. We¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    After saying that, he said to Zhao Qian and the others, ¡°Let¡¯s go, the police will be here any minute.¡±


    Miao Jing wanted to say something else but held back.


    After leaving Haomen KTV, Zhao Qian said to Qin Hao, ¡°Qin Hao, thank you. I¡¯ll go see Meng and Qiao¡¯er another day, it¡¯s too late tonight.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Yeah, I should get going too.¡±


    ¡°Hao, Hao, leave your phone number.¡± Zhao Han and Li Minghai hastily said.


    Qin Hao was startled for a moment, then he gave them his mobile number and TT account.


    The officers quickly snapped out of it, lowered their heads, and dared not look at her anymore as they led those people away.


    When Qin Hao returned home, it was already past six, and Zhao Yuying was playing in the yard with Qiao¡¯er.


    There were also three dogs keeping them company.


    Seeing him return, Zhao Yuying walked out of the yard with Qiao¡¯er.


    ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re back,¡± said Qiao¡¯er, running over with a beaming smile on her face.


    Zhao Yuying said, ¡°Mr. Qin, my parents and Sister Meng are still getting ready; it¡¯s almost done.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, and then he picked up Qiao¡¯er to play with them in the yard for a while.


    Zhao Yuying, not knowing what to say, searched for a topic, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve made contact with the advertising photography company and sent the information to Mr. Feng.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Miss Zhao, it¡¯s better not to talk about work during your rest time; it¡¯s quite tiring.¡±


    Zhao Yuying chuckled and nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s talk about dreams, shall we?¡±


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang. He took it out and saw it was from his mother and quickly answered, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Li Shujie said, ¡°Tomorrow your father, your cousin, and I will take the high-speed rail to Jianghai City; we should arrive by the afternoon.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Okay, Mom, I¡¯ll come to pick you up then.¡±


    After hanging up, Zhao Yuying wore a sweet smile, ¡°Was that a call from Auntie?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, tomorrow my parents and cousin are coming. We were just talking about dreams, weren¡¯t we? What was your childhood dream?¡±


    Sitting on a wooden chair in the courtyard, Zhao Yuying¡¯s gaze turned reflective, ¡°Back when I was in school,


    I hoped I could get a good job after graduation to earn more money and lessen my parents¡¯ hardships.


    Luckily, I participated in a talent show organized by a company and step by step, reached where I am today.


    Now my dream is to make more money so that my parents can live a good life,


    eat what they want to eat, live where they want to live, without having to worry about money anymore. What about you?¡±


    Holding Qiao¡¯er, Qin Hao also sat down on a wooden chair, though he kept a respectful distance from Zhao Yuying.


    He smiled and said, ¡°Originally, I thought much like you; I just wanted to earn more money to give my parents an easier life.


    But after seeing too many people in distress, my dream has become to make sure everyone in Xuan Country has a good life.


    I also want, through my efforts, to make our country the world¡¯s leading technology powerhouse, independent of others¡¯ influences.¡±


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 Chapter 336: 338 Drinking Wine

    Chapter 336: Chapter 338 Drinking Wine


    Zhao Yuying paused when she heard his dream, but still smiled and said, ¡°As long as you work hard, there will always be hope.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded in agreement; Zhao Yuying¡¯s response was quite good.


    Effort may not guarantee success, but it always brings hope.


    Zhao Xingbo came out of the villa, smiling as he said, ¡°Yu Ying, Xiao Hao, dinner¡¯s ready, come inside and eat.¡±@@@@


    ¡°Got it, Dad.¡± Zhao Yuying stood up and replied.


    Then she turned to Qin Hao and said, ¡°Please come in for dinner, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Carrying Qiao¡¯er, Qin Hao followed Zhao Yuying into the villa, where the dining table was laden with a seafood feast, along with some stir-fried dishes.


    ¡°Wow, so many yummy things.¡± Han Qiaoer¡¯s eyes sparkled with delight upon seeing the spread.


    Zhao Xingbo brought out several bottles of wine and glasses, setting them on the table: ¡°Xiao Hao, Qiao¡¯er, come and sit down.¡±


    Qin Hao put down Qiao¡¯er and said, ¡°Go wash your hands first.¡±


    After washing their hands, Qin Hao and Qiao¡¯er took their seats at the table, with Qin Hao next to Zhao Xingbo, and Han Meng beside him.


    On the other side of Han Meng was Qiao¡¯er, with Zhao Yuying and Wang Zhi sitting across.


    Zhao Xingbo spoke up, ¡°Ever since my daughter started earning money, your aunt and I haven¡¯t worked a day, spending our time exploring culinary delights instead. Try the crab and lobster, Xiao Hao, let¡¯s see if they¡¯re to your taste.¡±


    He even served Qin Hao a big crab, while Wang Zhi did the same for Qiao¡¯er.


    Wang Zhi said to Han Meng, ¡°Xiao Meng, don¡¯t be shy, consider this your own home and eat your fill.¡±


    Zhao Xingbo handed out a wine glass to everyone: ¡°Since our homes are so close, everyone should have a drink, let¡¯s be merry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never drunk alcohol before.¡± Han Meng¡¯s cheeks flushed as she saw Zhao Xingbo pour her a drink.


    Zhao Xingbo chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s fine, this is wine brewed by Xiao Hao himself, it won¡¯t go to your head, at worst you¡¯ll just sleep a bit longer.¡±


    After speaking, he poured for Zhao Yuying and Wang Zhi as well.


    Han Qiao¡¯er asked, ¡°Grandpa, why don¡¯t I have any?¡±


    Zhao Xingbo slapped his forehead, ¡°Look at my memory. Wait a moment, Qiao¡¯er, I¡¯ll get you a beverage. You¡¯re too young for alcohol.¡±


    Once he brought a drink for Qiao¡¯er, Zhao Xingbo raised his glass and said, ¡°We¡¯re practically family now. I treat Qiao¡¯er as if she were my own granddaughter. Come, Xiao Hao, let¡¯s drink to that.¡±


    Everyone raised their glasses, then took a sip.


    Wang Zhi said with a smile, ¡°This wine is really good.¡±


    Soon Zhao Yuying came out, and because she had been drinking, her face was already red, so her bashfulness wasn¡¯t apparent.


    When Qin Hao came out, he noticed Zhao Yuying still standing there.


    Out of curiosity, he asked, ¡°Miss Zhao, why haven¡¯t you gone to rest yet?¡±


    Zhao Yuying hesitantly replied, ¡°I¡¯m a few years older than you; if you don¡¯t mind, you can call me Ying from now on.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Sure, Ying, you should go rest now.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you too, get some rest soon,¡± Zhao Yuying said with a smile as she walked away.


    Qin Hao saw her to the door, locked up the villa, then went back to his room to sleep.


    The next morning, after eight, Qin Hao got up. Once out of bed, he felt refreshed and comfortable.


    Those were the characteristics and benefits of Xinghui Wine.


    He changed his clothes and went downstairs, where Han Meng had long been awake and Qiao¡¯er had already gone to school.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, you¡¯re awake,¡± Han Meng said softly when she saw him come down.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Meng, is there anything to eat?¡±


    Han Meng, like a tender and virtuous wife, smiled and said, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s being kept warm.¡±


    After washing up, Qin Hao sat down and had breakfast with Han Meng.


    While eating, he said to her, ¡°Meng, my parents and cousin will be coming over this afternoon. Could you clear out two rooms later?¡±


    Han Meng nodded, ¡°Sure, do we need to buy some more things?¡±


    ¡°Buy, slippers, pajamas, and stuff like that,¡± Qin Hao finished, pulling out five or six thousand in cash and giving it to Han Meng.


    ¡°Meng, if there¡¯s anything we need at home, just buy it; if the money isn¡¯t enough, let me know.¡±


    Han Meng nodded, ¡°Okay, Xiao Hao.¡±


    Near the end of breakfast, he received a call from He Tingting.


    He Tingting said, ¡°There¡¯s been an incident.¡±


    Hearing her words, Qin Hao had a bad feeling, ¡°Mr. He, what happened?¡±


    He Tingting replied, ¡°My mother wants to see you, at my house today at noon. And she also said that since we¡¯re talking about dating, you should buy me some things. Let¡¯s go shopping before we head to my house.¡±


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 Chapter 337: 339: The Parents of He Tingting

    Chapter 337: Chapter 339: The Parents of He Tingting


    Qin Hao winced at the words, ¡°Mr. He, haven¡¯t you found a boyfriend yet?¡±


    He Tingting replied irritably, ¡°Do you think finding a boyfriend is that simple? Didn¡¯t we agree that I would accept your offer to be a software development engineer at your company, and you¡¯d help me fend off some of the pressure?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Mr. He, there has to be a deadline for this, right? I can¡¯t always be your shield.¡±


    He Tingting responded, ¡°There are people who want to be my shield, and I¡¯m not even pleased about it. Don¡¯t act all coy now that it¡¯s convenient for you.¡±


    After discussing the location, Qin Hao hung up the phone.


    After eating, Qin Hao left the villa to find Zhao Yuying walking her dog outside. She greeted him with a smile, ¡°Morning, Xiao Hao.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Morning, Ying, no schedule for today?¡±


    Zhao Yuying said, ¡°Just finished a TV series and now just waiting for your company¡¯s advertisement. After that, we need to go to Shuinan Province and Nangui Province to shoot the next TV series.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°It¡¯s like you¡¯re on a tour, that¡¯s nice.¡±


    Zhao Yuying pursed her lips, ¡°What¡¯s nice about constantly traveling?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯ve got to go, if you¡¯re free go chat with Meng.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, sure,¡± Zhao Yuying nodded.


    Qin Hao drove to Wanhao Square as He Tingting had mentioned, one of the largest squares in Jianghai City.


    The developers behind it were also the developers of Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    Qin Hao parked his car and went to the south entrance of the mall, where he saw He Tingting standing.


    He approached He Tingting and asked apprehensively, ¡°Mr. He, we won¡¯t be seen, right?¡±@@@@


    He Tingting assured, ¡°Just act natural and not too intimate; even if someone sees us, you can just say I¡¯m your adopted sister, and you¡¯re my adopted brother.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Qin Hao nodded and then entered the mall with He Tingting.


    He Tingting first went to the clothing section, picked out a few garments for herself, and then selected two outfits for Qin Hao as well.


    In the end, Qin Hao tried on the clothes and, feeling somewhat embarrassed, paid for them.


    Later, He Tingting bought some jewelry, and Qin Hao paid for those as well.


    He Tingting said, ¡°I can handle it myself.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed, ¡°No problem, we can deduct it from your salary later.¡±


    Upon hearing this, He Tingting rolled her eyes, thinking, ¡°A billionaire boss and yet so miserly?¡±


    Ding Man nodded with a smile, her first impression of Qin Hao was quite favorable.


    However, he did seem a bit young, and the age gap between them was somewhat large.


    After all, He Tingting was already twenty-seven, while Qin Hao was only nineteen.


    Even though He Tingting looked somewhat young, the age difference was still evident.


    He Tingting¡¯s Aunt Tan Jing asked curiously, ¡°Xiao Hao, you¡¯re so young and already running a company as the CEO? What kind of company is it?¡±


    ¡°Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company,¡± Qin Hao replied with a smile.


    Ding Shanshan exclaimed in surprise, ¡°You own Jiangshan Roasted Duck? I¡¯ve tried the roasted duck, duck neck, duck wings, duck heads, and even the duck intestines at your place, and they are really delicious. Can I get some for free next time if I mention your name?¡±


    Now, the Jiangshan Roasted Duck outlets were almost ubiquitous throughout half of Jianghai City, with a very high level of recognition.


    ...


    Tan Jing gave her own daughter a stern look, ¡°Would it kill you to talk less?¡±


    Qin Hao laughed and responded, ¡°Mentioning my name probably won¡¯t work, as many people know that I own Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    If everyone used my name to eat for free, the company would be ruined. However, what you said has given me an idea. The company could create some VIP cards. I¡¯ll give you an exclusive free VIP card when they¡¯re ready.¡±


    Though he was young, he was very adept at handling situations, and his response satisfied Ding Man.


    Ding Man continued to ask, ¡°Who else is in your family, Xiao Hao? Are your parents in Jianghai City?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°It¡¯s just me at home. My parents are in Jiangshan City, but I plan to have them move over here in a few days.¡±


    He didn¡¯t dare to mention that his parents were coming over that afternoon. What if He Tingting¡¯s parents wanted to meet his own? Wouldn¡¯t that be counterproductive?


    He Tingting¡¯s mother asked him many questions, as this was concerning her daughter¡¯s lifelong happiness, which couldn¡¯t be taken lightly.


    As an aunt, Tan Jing listened and occasionally asked a question or two.


    Ding Shanshan¡¯s eyes had been fixed on Qin Hao the whole time, making him feel a bit uncomfortable.


    Could it be she¡¯s never seen someone as handsome as me?


    Latter, He Tingting¡¯s mother and aunt went to the kitchen to prepare the meal, while He Qizhi went out to buy some things.


    In the living room, Qin Hao, He Tingting, and Ding Shanshan remained seated there.


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 Chapter 338: 340: He Tingtings Cousin

    Chapter 338: Chapter 340: He Tingting¡¯s Cousin


    He Tingting saw Ding Shanshan staring at Qin Hao and said, exasperated, ¡°Why are you always looking at my Xiao Hao?¡±


    Ding Shanshan mocked, ¡°Oh, your Xiao Hao? Did you get yourself a boyfriend or a son? Aren¡¯t you almost a whole generation older than him?¡±


    Qin Hao was just sipping his tea when he heard Ding Shanshan¡¯s comment and almost spat it all out.


    What the heck does she mean by ¡®got a son¡¯?


    He Tingting¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, and she fiercely grabbed Ding Shanshan¡¯s waist with both hands.


    Ding Shanshan was really ticklish, something He Tingting knew well.


    Laughter and playful sounds quickly filled the living room, and soon Ding Shanshan was begging for mercy.


    When He Tingting let go, Ding Shanshan broke free and then sat down beside Qin Hao. ¡°Brother-in-law, can your frail body handle my sister like this?¡±


    Qin Hao was speechless. He Tingting¡¯s cousin was really bold, saying whatever came to mind.


    He Tingting¡¯s cheeks reddened, ¡°Ding Shanshan, I¡¯m not through with you.¡±


    With that, she charged over, intending to thrash Ding Shanshan.


    Ding Shanshan quickly grabbed Qin Hao¡¯s arm, ¡°Brother-in-law, save me!¡±


    Qin Hao had no idea how to save her, just sat there as steady as an old dog, completely unmoving.


    But soon he couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. He Tingting was ticking Ding Shanshan, who was laughing so hard she could hardly breathe and leaning towards Qin Hao.


    ...


    Later, He Qizhi came back, and the two stopped messing around and sat seriously on the sofa watching TV.


    It was as if they were completely different people from just before.


    Ding Shanshan asked, ¡°Brother-in-law, is your company still planning to expand its stores?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her current docile appearance and was speechless. Could this person have a dual personality?


    ¡°Yes, the company has never stopped expanding.¡±


    Ding Shanshan giggled, ¡°My family runs a lighting business, we have all kinds of lamps, and you¡¯ll definitely need lamps for store decoration.


    ...


    After lunch, Qin Hao made some conversation and then said his goodbyes before leaving.


    He Qizhi knew he had things to take care of, so he only held him up briefly before seeing him to the door.


    He Tingting told her parents and aunt, ¡°I¡¯ll go send off Xiao Hao, you guys head back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go too,¡± Ding Shanshan suddenly dashed out saying.


    He Tingting, ¡°Just stay home, I can go send him off.¡±


    Ding Shanshan grinned, ¡°It¡¯s fine, brother-in-law just gave me a big business deal, so I should at least see him off.¡±


    In the elevator, He Tingting felt a bit helpless. She had intended to speak some private words with Qin Hao, but with her cousin following, it really wasn¡¯t convenient.


    Ding Shanshan chuckled, ¡°Mr. Tingting, if you want to kiss brother-in-law, just pretend I¡¯m not here, no need to be shy.¡±


    He Tingting¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, and she gave her a frustrated glance.


    In the elevator, Ding Shanshan said, ¡°Brother-in-law, feel free to visit often, and you can come over to my place too¡ªdon¡¯t worry, I definitely won¡¯t eat you up.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded awkwardly, feeling that Ding Shanshan¡¯s mind worked a bit differently from normal people.


    Reaching the ground floor, Qin Hao turned to He Tingting, ¡°Tingting, you guys head back. I need to leave now.¡±


    As he was about to get into his car, He Tingting held him back, patiently straightening his clothes.


    Then, like a dragonfly skimming the water, she kissed his cheek. ¡°You did well today. Drive carefully on your way back,¡± she said.


    ¡°Oh my, there¡¯s someone else here. Sister, you¡¯re too naughty,¡± Ding Shanshan quickly covered her eyes while peeking through her fingers.


    Qin Hao was startled and looked at He Tingting. She winked at him, hinting that with the cousin around, they had to act a bit more like a couple.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off now,¡± Qin Hao said, and then quickly drove away.


    Once Qin Hao had left, Ding Shanshan approached Feng Xiangyi and said, ¡°Brother-in-law¡¯s car is so cool. Sister, did you guys, you know, do ¡®that¡¯ kind of stuff?¡±


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 Chapter 339: 341 Parents Arrive

    Chapter 339: Chapter 341 Parents Arrive


    He Tingting¡¯s cheeks instantly reddened when she heard her words, ¡°Stop talking nonsense. Are you just lonely because you don¡¯t have a boyfriend?¡±


    Ding Shanshan: ¡°Exactly, why don¡¯t you just give me your brother-in-law? He¡¯s rich and also a good guy. Where else could I find a boyfriend like that?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re never serious. Get back here,¡± He Tingting said, feeling a bit annoyed.


    After leaving He Tingting¡¯s neighborhood, Qin Hao parked his car by the roadside, touched the cheek that had just been kissed by He Tingting, and spaced out a bit.


    Indeed it was quite comfortable, as long as I don¡¯t have to take responsibility!!!


    Now that he had Xu Siyao, he was already troubled enough.


    Thankfully, the two of them were just pretending. If it were for real, Qin Hao felt he might even develop a split personality.


    He glanced at his watch, took out his phone, and called his mom. The phone was quickly answered, ¡°Mom, are you guys almost here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be a bit more than half an hour,¡± Li Shujie replied.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll head to the high-speed train station now to wait for you.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao drove to the high-speed train station, which would take about half an hour to reach.


    Jianghai City, Xuanbo District, Jianghai South High-Speed Railway Station.


    This was one of the busiest high-speed train stations in Jianghai City. Qin Hao searched for a while before he found a parking spot, which was several hundred meters away from the station.


    After getting out of the car, he walked toward the station and then stood at the exit, waiting for his parents and cousin to come out.


    There were many people at the exit, some there to pick up travelers, others trying to drum up business.


    Whenever someone came out, people would start calling out, ¡°Handsome, where to? Need a taxi?¡±


    About fifteen minutes later, Qin Youguo, Li Shujie, and a young girl walked out.


    ¡°Dad, Mom, Man,¡± Qin Hao called out when he saw them.


    Seeing him, Qin Youguo and his party came over, ¡°Son, how long have you been waiting?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I just arrived a little while ago, let¡¯s head home and talk there.¡±


    Qin Man sized up Qin Hao and said, ¡°Xiao Hao, I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯ve gotten handsomer than before. As a kid, you were such a crybaby with a runny nose all the time.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned awkward, ¡°Man, let¡¯s not dredge up the ancient past. You must be tired from the day¡¯s journey, let¡¯s talk at home.¡±


    After saying this, Qin Hao took Qin Man¡¯s luggage. His parents hadn¡¯t brought much, just two bags.


    They didn¡¯t plan on living there for long and would return home after a few days.


    Qin Man was shocked. Her cousin had become so impressive? Driving a car worth tens of millions, was his company really that incredible?


    Soon, they arrived at the Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    Entering the district, the three members of the Qin family were awed by the neighborhood. It was like a paradise on earth, with utterly beautiful scenery.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, do you live here?¡± Li Shujie asked.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Isn¡¯t the view lovely, Mom? You and Dad can live here in the future. The neighbors are very nice as well; we often eat together.¡±


    Li Shujie: ¡°We¡¯ll see. We plan to stay here for a few days and then go back. After all, we¡¯ve lived there for decades.¡±


    Qin Hao parked the car in front of the villa, where Zhao Yuying¡¯s family was chatting with Han Meng.


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s car return, they all turned their heads to look.


    Getting out of the car, Qin Hao took out the suitcase and said, ¡°Mom, Dad, Man, come on in.¡±


    Zhao Xingbo saw this scene, stood up, and warmly said, ¡°Xiao Hao, are these your parents?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Mr. Zhao, this is my dad and my mom, and this is my cousin Qin Man.¡±


    Zhao Xingbo greeted them enthusiastically, ¡°Mr. Qin, it¡¯s nice to meet you. My name is Zhao Xingbo. This is my wife, and this is my daughter. We live next door.¡±


    Qin Youguo also smiled and said, ¡°Hello, Zhao, let¡¯s go inside and talk.¡±


    Zhao Xingbo: ¡°No need, you¡¯ve been driving all day. Take a good rest, and if you don¡¯t mind, let¡¯s have a drink tonight.¡±


    ¡°Sure, that sounds good,¡± Qin Youguo smiled and nodded in agreement.


    Li Shujie¡¯s and Qin Man¡¯s gazes were fixated on Zhao Yuying.


    Li Shujie couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Aren¡¯t you Zhao Yuying?¡±


    Zhao Yuying smiled and nodded, ¡°Hello, Auntie. I am Zhao Yuying.¡±


    ¡°It really is Zhao Yuying! I am such a fan. Can we take a picture together?¡± An excited Qin Man ran over and said.


    Zhao Yuying: ¡°Of course, we can.¡±


    Qin Man took out her phone and ¡°snap, snap, snap,¡± she took several photos. Posting them on social media that evening would probably make her classmates green with envy.


    Upon entering the living room, Mr. Qin and the others slipped into the slippers prepared by Han Meng.


    ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful. I¡¯ve always dreamed of living in a place like this,¡± Qin Man was stunned by the luxurious interior of the living room.


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 Chapter 340: 342 You Are the Dearest to Me

    Chapter 340: Chapter 342 You Are the Dearest to Me


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Man, you can stay as long as you like, we have plenty of rooms anyway.¡±


    At that moment, Han Meng brewed a pot of tea and poured a cup for each person, including Qin Youguo.


    Seeing this, Qin Youguo hurriedly said, ¡°Miss, you don¡¯t have to do that, I can pour it myself.¡±


    After speaking, he turned to Qin Hao and asked, ¡°Xiao Hao, who is this?¡±


    Qin Man and Li Shujie both looked at him with curiosity in their eyes. Han Meng was very beautiful, and they suspected Qin Hao was hiding a love interest.


    Qin Hao said to Han Meng, ¡°Meng, take a seat and relax, my parents are very easygoing.¡±


    Han Meng sat down cautiously on the sofa next to them.


    Qin Hao briefly explained Han Meng¡¯s situation to his parents and his cousin.


    After hearing the story, Li Shujie and Qin Man¡¯s eyes turned slightly red.


    Mr. Qin, gritting his teeth with rage, said, ¡°Such scum should be shot.¡±


    Mrs. Qin sat beside Han Meng, took her hand, and said, ¡°From now on, treat this like your own home, Xiao Meng, and don¡¯t see me and your Mr. Qin as outsiders, we¡¯re all family now.¡±


    Han Meng nodded gently, her tears falling uncontrollably as she said, ¡°Thank you, Auntie.¡±


    When she first heard that Qin Hao¡¯s parents were coming, she felt very nervous, afraid that she might not meet their expectations in some way.


    After hearing the stories about the past from Qin Hao and Mrs. Qin¡¯s words, she felt both wronged and touched.


    They talked for a while and then went to their rooms to rest, feeling a bit tired from traveling all day.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao and Han Meng went shopping and bought some groceries and meat, planning to make a delicious dinner in the evening.


    Qin Hao also bought Han Meng a mobile phone, as it would be inconvenient to stay in touch without one while out.


    After returning, the two began preparing dinner, since there were a lot of dishes to cook and Han Meng couldn¡¯t handle it all by herself.


    Around five o¡¯clock, Li Shujie and Qin Man woke up, freshened up, and came to the kitchen to help.


    Seeing his mother, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Mom, has Dad not woken up yet?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Li Shujie replied without turning her head.


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Mom, there¡¯s something I want to tell you about.¡±


    Li Shujie replied, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Would you come out for a second so I can tell you?¡±


    Li Shujie, curious about her son¡¯s expression, washed her hands and then followed him out.


    ¡°What is so secretive? Come on, tell me, we¡¯ve got so much food to prepare,¡± Li Shujie said as they walked into the yard.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao said to his parents, ¡°Mom and Dad, I¡¯ll take Man first to the company, then I¡¯ll come back and take you out.¡±


    ¡°Change cars when you come back, this one isn¡¯t comfortable to ride in,¡± said Mr. Qin.


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, ¡°Uh, okay!¡±


    At around nine in the morning, Qin Hao arrived at the company with Qin Man.


    The receptionist at the front desk greeted him as Mr. Qin and was curious about Qin Man beside him.


    Qin Man was surprised to see hundreds of people sitting in the office area, realizing the scale of his company.


    She knew Jiangshan Roasted Duck was strong in Shuinan Province, but she had not expected it to be so impressive in Jianghai as well.


    This is the pricey Jianghai City!


    Qin Hao took her to his office, and Nie Si was already there.


    Qin Hao said to Nie Si, ¡°Nie Assistant, this is my secretary Qin Man. You¡¯ll be responsible for getting her familiar with the work.¡±


    Nie Si, with light makeup and an indifferent expression, nodded, ¡°Okay, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Nie Si, hearing the name Qin Man, knew she must be related to Mr. Qin in a significant way.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Man, this is Nie Assistant. Follow her and learn for a bit.¡±


    Qin Man nodded, ¡°Hmm okay, call me Secretary Qin in the company, don¡¯t call me sister.¡±


    Qin Hao with an awkward smile, ¡°Okay, Secretary Qin.¡±


    Nie Si was seeing for the first time someone who dared to talk to Qin Hao like this. Even Mr. Feng wouldn¡¯t dare to speak to Mr. Qin in such a manner, right?


    Qin Hao, ¡°Secretary Qin, I¡¯m heading back now.¡±


    After leaving the company, Qin Hao took his parents around Jianghai City for a good tour.


    ...


    Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin stayed for about a week before returning to Jiangshan.


    During that time, Qin Hao didn¡¯t go to school or to the company; he spent the entire week with his parents described by the phrase ¡®eating, drinking, and merry-making¡¯.


    While they were out buying water, Qin Hao sneakily added a bottle of ¡°Life Water¡± into the mineral water.


    The health of his parents was what he wished for the most.


    Qin Man also moved out of his villa. First, because it was inconvenient for going to work, and second, she didn¡¯t want to affect her younger brother¡¯s private life.


    His villa returned to its usual tranquility.


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 Chapter 341: 343 Fan Zhiweis Invitation

    Chapter 341: Chapter 343 Fan Zhiwei¡¯s Invitation


    The main structure of the new company¡¯s factory is already complete, and now the interior decoration is taking place.


    It¡¯s expected that by the end of this month, the work will be thoroughly finished.


    Today is November the twentieth, so there are around ten days left.


    This morning, Qin Hao had breakfast and decided to check on the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    In just one week, the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company had not only completely absorbed the storefronts of Delicious Duck Neck,


    but also acquired several small roasted duck and cooked food companies, increasing its number of stores by more than a hundred¡ªits expansion could almost be described as terrifying.


    Now Jiangshan Roasted Duck has seized more than half of Jianghai City¡¯s market, with only Delicious Duck Neck and Liu Hei Ya still struggling to hold on.


    The storefronts of these two companies are now being encircled by Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    As soon as Jiangshan Roasted Duck moves into their area, it will certainly sweep away the storefronts of the two companies with an overwhelming force.


    However, Feng Xiangyi had not taken such action; she had already sent people to make contact with the heads of these two branches.


    If they sell, she would acquire them at a low price, and if not, Feng Xiangyi would launch the final attack.


    He was planning to visit the company when his phone suddenly rang¡ªit was Fan Ruobing calling.


    He hadn¡¯t been to the school these days, and naturally, he hadn¡¯t been giving Fan Ruobing drawing lessons either. Could it be that she was looking for him to go draw?


    He answered the phone and said, ¡°Hello, what¡¯s up, club president?¡±


    Fan Ruobing, ¡°My dad wants to see you; he has something to talk to you about. Are you free today?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Fan wants to see me? What¡¯s it about?¡±


    Fan Ruobing, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Fan Zhiwei owed him a favor, and the man was also the vice director of the life science and medical department at the Xuan Country Academy of Sciences.


    Regardless of whether there was something specific or not, he had to go.


    He asked, ¡°I¡¯ll head over now. Where¡¯s Mr. Fan?¡±


    ¡°At home, Lijing District, Building 12, Unit 1, Apartment 501.¡± Fan Ruobing gave him the address.


    Qin Hao, ¡°I¡¯ll head over right now.¡±


    He hung up the phone.


    Qin Hao drove out of the district in a Mercedes-Benz SUV, a vehicle he had bought some days earlier.


    Mr. Qin didn¡¯t find the Lamborghini comfortable, so Qin Hao switched to this car, costing over five million¡ªindeed, it was very comfortable to sit in.


    Their generic drugs are exported in large quantities to the Northern Federation and Western developed countries. In Stan Country, drugs are very cheap.


    Generic drugs are not fake drugs; they are high-quality replicas, having the same medical properties and effects, but their prices are nearly a tenth of the brand-name ones.¡±


    This was the first time Qin Hao had heard about generic drugs, and he listened quietly, knowing that Fan Zhiwei didn¡¯t invite him over just for a casual chat.


    Fan Zhiwei: ¡°Right now, our country is in talks with pharmaceutical giants in Stan Country about cooperation. The state plans to introduce generic drugs from Stan Country.


    By doing so, we aim to use Stan Country¡¯s generics to compete with international pharmaceutical giants, thereby reducing the cost of drugs.


    Currently, Xuan Country is in the midst of an economic transition and upgrade, troubled by three significant barriers:


    First is the housing issue, second is healthcare, and third is education.


    These three mountains are taking up a large amount of capital, preventing ordinary people from spending in other market areas.


    So, to ignite the next surge of economic growth, these three issues must be thoroughly addressed.


    And our medical department at the Xuan Science Academy has been responsible for tackling healthcare and medicine-related problems.


    Although introducing Stan Country¡¯s generic drugs can lower drug prices, it¡¯s not a solution to have the technology in the hands of others.


    So, today, I wanted to invite you to the Xuan Science Academy to research other types of drugs.¡±


    Qin Hao was genuinely surprised to hear about Stan Country¡¯s prowess in pharmaceuticals.


    He was quite aware of the high cost of healthcare in his own country.


    A common farmer getting seriously ill could mean the loss of all their possessions, and some may even end up in significant debt.


    This is indeed a major issue, a livelihood problem that must be resolved.


    There¡¯s no need to mention the housing problem; nowadays, an ordinary person could work their whole life and probably still not afford a house.


    The issue of education is also a heavy burden, especially attending high school or university, which can cost tens of thousands for a single university student each year.


    And that¡¯s just for one university student. If a family has two, the financial pressure is undoubtedly enormous.


    But the idea of going to the Xuan Science Academy to do research was something Qin Hao couldn¡¯t commit to; he felt he would go mad in that dry, monotonous research environment.


    Moreover, he had many other important matters to attend to.


    Qin Hao tactfully declined, ¡°Mr. Fan, I don¡¯t really like that kind of environment. A relaxed, free atmosphere is more beneficial to me.


    The technology for the cancer drug development¡ªI came up with that in a moment of inspiration.¡±


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 Chapter 342: 344 Conversation

    Chapter 342: Chapter 344 Conversation


    Mr. Fan Zhiwei, upon hearing his tactful refusal, explained, ¡°The Xuan Science Academy possesses the most cutting-edge instruments and various pharmaceuticals, which would be more beneficial for your experiments.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Minister Fan, I am inclined toward the theoretical rather than the experimental. I will also research other pharmaceuticals subsequently.


    If I really need to experiment, I will go to the medical laboratory at Jianghai University. I still have many matters to attend to in Jianghai, so I truly cannot work at the Xuan Science Academy.¡±@@@@


    Mr. Fan Zhiwei did not press further, knowing that many academicians at the Xuan Science Academy had nominal positions there while conducting research in their own labs.


    He smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s fine, as long as it doesn¡¯t affect your research.


    The country has already announced the list for deep reforms; this time, the extent of the opening up is unprecedented.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression slightly changed, ¡°The list for deep reforms?¡±


    Mr. Fan Zhiwei, ¡°That¡¯s right, the reforms decades ago only opened up a portion of industries; significant industries were not opened.


    The important industries are still controlled by the state, such as agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fisheries, especially in the field of agricultural seeds. This has always been dominated by domestic enterprises and the state, but it will be completely opened up after a while, allowing foreign seed companies to enter Xuan Country.


    For instance, foreign wheat and maize seeds have high yields and low prices; bringing them in is a good thing for farmers, but there are also drawbacks.


    When the lifeline of a nation¡¯s grain is in the hands of foreign enterprises, controlling your grain and seeds means they can cause a famine throughout your country if you don¡¯t listen to them, of course, the state will manage this officially.


    Although there will be official management, risks still exist, and it¡¯s not just the deep opening up of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and livestock but also the mining, manufacturing;


    electricity, heat, gas supply, wholesale and retail, transport and storage, postal services, information transmission, IT service industries, financial industry, and so on will all be deeply opened up.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Minister Fan, this isn¡¯t confidential, is it?¡±


    Mr. Fan Zhiwei, ¡°No, the list has been announced. The deep reforms are meant to resolve the current three major barriers.


    In the process, we must be vigilant of three key industries.


    First is agriculture, second is the financial industry, and the third is the pharmaceutical industry, which is a highly profitable sector, quite terrifying.


    The combined profits of the world¡¯s several largest pharmaceutical groups exceed the total profit of all listed companies worldwide.


    The profits are astoundingly high.


    And there¡¯s the financial industry; a financial war is a battle without smoke, which can have a significant impact on a country¡¯s economy.


    The main purpose of calling you here today was to invite you to the Xuan Science Academy to research new pharmaceuticals, but it seems there¡¯s not much hope for that.¡±


    Qin Hao took a look. These were the written reports sent by Chen Xiaofeng, giving a brief overview of the developments in Nancha Province.


    Currently, the provincial capital of Nancha Province, Hang City, already had thirty-seven Jiangshan Roasted Duck stores, and the report briefly discussed the development of these stores.


    The daily turnover was increasing steadily since initially there was no reputation to speak of, and the subsequent revenue rise was entirely due to word of mouth.


    Later on, the main point from Chen Xiaofeng was about setting up a Jiangshan Roasted Duck distribution network in Nancha Province, similar to the Jianghai division.


    If a branch were to be established, then in terms of status, Chen Xiaofeng would be on equal footing with Feng Xiangyi.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly: ¡°Mr. Chen is too eager.¡±


    ¡°How do you plan to reply, Mr. Qin?¡± asked Qin Man.


    Qin Hao: ¡°No need to reply.¡±


    Chen Xiaofeng was a smart man, and Qin Hao believed he would understand his intention.


    Not replying meant neither agreement nor refusal, but Qin Hao¡¯s deeper message was to discuss these matters after presenting impressive results.


    Chen Xiaofeng actually knew that Qin Hao would disagree, as it was practically impossible for him, having just arrived, to be considered equal to Feng Xiangyi.


    He was also testing the waters, probing Qin Hao¡¯s thoughts.


    Qin Hao spent the whole day at the company, and in the afternoon, Feng Xiangyi dispatched a negotiation team for the final talks with Liu Hei Ya and Delicious Duck Neck.


    If there was no result by tomorrow, Jiangshan Roasted Duck would launch a full-scale encirclement against the two competing groups.


    A little after five in the afternoon, Qin Hao drove back to Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    Qiao¡¯er had already returned from school. Seeing Qiao¡¯er after coming home made Qin Hao forget all his troubles.


    Zhao Yuying had gone away to shoot a new TV series, leaving only Zhao Xingbo and his wife at home.


    Now, they would almost always come to Qin Hao¡¯s home to chat with Han Meng and see Qiao¡¯er when they had nothing else to do.


    After dinner, Zhao Xingbo said with a smile, ¡°Xiao Hao, Yu Ying mentioned that your company¡¯s advertisement is going to be aired on TV tonight?¡±


    Qin Hao turned on the TV and sat down on the sofa: ¡°Mr. Zhao, it¡¯s almost seven o¡¯clock, let¡¯s watch it together.¡±


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 Chapter 343: 345 Advertising Promotion

    Chapter 343: Chapter 345 Advertising Promotion


    A few people were all sitting on the sofa, watching TV.


    It was now 6:55 PM, and what was broadcast on TV was Satellite Channel One.


    At around 6:59:55 PM, the commercials for Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine aired.


    The commercial showed a round table, on it sat a golden-brown Jiangshan Roasted Duck, still steaming, alongside a bottle of Xinghui Wine and a wine glass.


    Zhao Yuying sat at the round table, tearing off a duck leg to eat, then elegantly sipping a small mouthful of Xinghui Wine.


    ¡°Eating Jiangshan Roasted Duck, how could one not drink Xinghui Wine?¡±


    After Zhao Yuying finished speaking, the scene switched to a group of elderly couples, who in unison declared, ¡°Eat Jiangshan Roasted Duck, drink Xinghui Wine.¡±


    In the end, a synthesized male voice boomed powerfully, ¡°Eat Jiangshan Roasted Duck, drink Xinghui Wine!¡±


    The commercial was only fifteen seconds long, quite brief, but it was quite good.


    Qin Hao nodded in satisfaction, it met his expectations.


    Zhao Xingbo said with a smile, ¡°Not bad, this commercial is pretty good. Eat Jiangshan Roasted Duck, drink Xinghui Wine.¡±


    At this time, the number of people seeing this news was at least in the tens of millions.


    Zhao Yuying¡¯s official website also updated a message at the same time, the content being about her endorsing Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine.


    In the end, Zhao Yuying also tagged the official websites of Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine.


    She had over seventy million followers online, a truly horrifying number.


    The moment she posted, tens of thousands of people liked, commented on, and shared the post.


    Meanwhile, the official pages for Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine saw a crazy increase in followers, quickly surpassing fifty thousand.


    Originally, the official Jiangshan Roasted Duck page had tens of thousands of followers, but with the promotion from Zhao Yuying, it might break one hundred thousand tonight.


    The commercial ended and the news broadcast began.


    The seven o¡¯clock Satellite Channel One news broadcast was a must-watch program for many people.


    Because the seven o¡¯clock news segment is known as the ¡°national spokesperson,¡± the ¡°compass of public opinion.¡±


    It is the most authoritative and credible mainstream media.


    Issues regarding politics, people¡¯s livelihood, and world news were the focus of many people¡¯s attention.


    Government officials and corporate executives would watch this news broadcast, as it served as a weather vane for future policies.


    The news broadcast also highlighted the new cancer medication, with the government and pharmaceutical factories now producing it at full capacity.


    The next day, the number of patrons at each Jiangshan Roasted Duck restaurant had significantly increased compared to before.


    The sales of Xinghui Wine spiked even higher, far exceeding Qin Hao¡¯s estimates, and at the factory, a large number of main distributors had already gathered.


    They wanted to place large orders and had already signed the contracts.


    These main distributors got the goods at a slightly cheaper price; the market price was all set by Qin Hao.


    These main distributors could also make a profit, so that there wouldn¡¯t be price chaos, which could negatively affect Xinghui Wine.


    An Linxuan conveyed the news from the factory over the phone to Qin Hao, and Qin Hao approved his hiring expansion plan.


    With Jiangshan Roasted Duck expanding every day, the time had come for the factory to expand its workforce; otherwise, it would be impossible to keep up with the pace.


    Having just hung up with An Linxuan, Qin Hao received a call from Fatso, who was inevitably talking about the business at the roasted duck restaurants.


    Today, business was booming not only in the Jianghai City stores but also in several other cities in Shuinan Province.


    Qin Hao anticipated that today¡¯s turnover would be quite high.


    He received many calls today, most of which were to offer congratulations.


    There were many names he couldn¡¯t even recall, including people from the Jiangshan business world and also many from the Jianghai business world.


    He had been to a few banquets and exchanged numerous business cards, but he had never taken the initiative to contact those people.


    As soon as he hung up one call, another rang through, also from an unfamiliar number.


    It was likely from another CEO.


    He answered, saying, ¡°Hello, this is Qin Hao.¡±


    Ding Shanshan¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Brother-in-law, I saw your company¡¯s advertisement yesterday; you even got Zhao Yuying as the spokesperson, that¡¯s so impressive.¡±


    It was fortunate that nobody was in the office. If Feng Xiangyi had heard that, Qin Hao would have had a hard time clearing himself even if he jumped into the Zhuo River.


    He exchanged a few words with Ding Shanshan and then hung up the phone.


    Later, he also received calls from Zhao Han and Li Minghai, who asked when he would have time to teach them martial arts, but Qin Hao deftly excused himself.


    After ending the call with them, he received a call from He Tingting.


    He Tingting said, ¡°Qin Hao, in a half-month, Jianghai University will have its 118th anniversary celebration. The school wants to invite you as a guest, what do you think?¡±


    The anniversary celebration is a big event for the school, and at that time, alumni, especially those who have achieved success, are likely to attend.


    Qin Hao being invited as an honored guest reflected the school¡¯s high regard for him; not just anybody could be invited as a guest.


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 Chapter 344: 346 Daily Turnover

    Chapter 344: Chapter 346 Daily Turnover


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Yes, I will definitely go.¡±


    He Tingting said, ¡°I saw your company¡¯s advertisement. Are you planning to start rapid expansion?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, pretty much,¡± Qin Hao indeed had that plan.@@@@


    He Tingting asked, ¡°What about your new company?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°It should be ready in about ten more days. Various equipment will also be delivered successively, and I will take you there then.¡±


    This software engineer, He Tingting, was well-suited for it.


    She was a teacher at Jianghai University, always dedicated to researching artificial intelligence, and was quite authoritative.


    After hanging up the phone, Feng Xiangyi walked in, smiling as she said, ¡°Mr. Qin, Liu Hei Ya has already jumped ship, and Meiwei Group is being tough; they completely disagree with the acquisition.¡±


    Qin Hao said indifferently, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, then let¡¯s start taking action.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi nodded slightly, ¡°Here are two development plans, Mr. Qin, please have a look.¡±


    After saying that, she handed Qin Hao two proposals, one was a development plan for Beijiang Province, and the other was for Nanwan Province.


    Qin Hao glanced at the Beijiang Province development plan and closed the plan book a minute later.


    ¡°Follow this plan and start with Beijiang Province first.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi nodded, ¡°Mr. Qin, who do you think should be sent to Beijiang Province to handle this?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her and asked, ¡°Do you have any suitable candidates?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi thought for a moment and said, ¡°I think Mr. Lv and Mr. Li could be responsible.¡±


    Qin Hao pondered for a moment and nodded slightly, ¡°That works.¡±


    The company had received billions in collaboration funds from Jinxiu Group, so it was enough for the current stage of development.


    Moreover, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company received a massive amount of funds daily, which other companies couldn¡¯t match. They could use it anytime for investment and development.


    The benefits of the cooperation between Jinxiu Hotel and Jiangshan Roasted Duck were obvious, as their customer flow was significantly higher than before.


    Because Jiangshan Roasted Duck was available at Jinxiu Hotel, while other hotels didn¡¯t have it. If you wanted to eat it, you had to buy it yourself.


    If there was a store nearby, it was fine, but without one, it was unavailable.


    Now many hotels wanted to cooperate with Jiangshan Roasted Duck, but it was too late; Jinxiu Group and Jiangshan Roasted Duck had signed an exclusive cooperation agreement.


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao drove away from there and then arrived at Xinghai High-tech Co., Ltd.¡¯s factory base.


    After getting out of the car, Xu Siyao¡¯s legs were a bit wobbly.


    Qin Hao asked with a smile, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault.¡± Xu Siyao glared at him.


    The two walked into the factory where workers were already decorating both the interior and exterior walls and floors.


    They were using high-composite materials which were less hazardous and dried quickly.


    Although it was more expensive, it didn¡¯t require such a long drying time.


    Today Chang Jing was not here; seeing Qin Hao, the person responsible for the project rushed over, knowing that he was the real big boss.


    Qin Hao spoke to the man, ¡°This is Mr. Xu, one of our company¡¯s shareholders.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Xu,¡± the project manager greeted hastily.


    Xu Siyao¡¯s expression was indifferent as she nodded slightly.


    Qin Hao and others toured the factory. The factory¡¯s roadway was also being worked on and was expected to be completed around the same time as the interior decorations.


    After the tour, Qin Hao drove Xu Siyao back to the school, and then he also returned home.


    In the afternoon, a piece of news spread across Jianghai Business World: Jiangshan Roasted Duck had acquired Liu Hei Ya¡¯s Jianghai branch store.


    Now only Meiwei Group¡¯s Jianghai branch was still struggling, but the dozens of stores wouldn¡¯t last long.


    Brunning a day meant losing a large sum of money, something the Meiwei headquarters definitely did not wish to see continue.


    Even though Tang Group held their shares, they would not agree to knowingly engage in money-losing deals.


    That evening, Qin Hao logged into the financial system on his home computer to check the day¡¯s sales revenue of the Jiangshan Roasted Duck outlets.


    The daily revenue astonishingly reached over fifty million, which was the combined revenue of all the outlets, extremely impressive.


    The effects of Zhao Yuying¡¯s endorsements and advertising were clearly visible.


    Although they spent tens of millions on endorsement fees and a lot of advertising expenses, the returns were clearly significant.


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 Chapter 345: 347: Qiaoers Dad

    Chapter 345: Chapter 347: Qiao¡¯er¡¯s Dad


    With this kind of development, various expenses could soon be earned back.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck now had strong profitability, and its subsequent development could entirely rely on the funds earned.


    What surprised Qin Hao the most was the sales of Xinghui Wine.


    That day, the orders had exceeded five hundred thousand bottles, not including the Xinghui Wine sold inside the roasted duck restaurant.


    On the financial system, Xinghui Wine showed that nearly a hundred thousand bottles had been sold that day, with many outlets selling out of Xinghui Wine directly.


    This included mid-range and low-end Xinghui Wine, whose sales also reached over forty million.


    After all, Xinghui Wine had no regional restrictions, whereas Jiangshan Roasted Duck could only be sold in locations with a restaurant.


    For those general distributors picking up goods, the company had set regulations, different quantities meant different prices.


    The more stock taken in one go, the more favorable the price.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, it¡¯s time to eat.¡± Han Meng called out from the entrance of the upstairs study.


    Qin Hao shut down the computer and stood up to leave, ¡°Has Qiao¡¯er come back?¡±


    Han Meng nodded, her expression somewhat unnatural, ¡°Qiao¡¯er has been in her room this whole time without coming out.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Han Meng, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, she¡¯s locked herself in there.¡±


    ¡°Meng, why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? What if something happens to Qiao¡¯er?¡± After saying this, he hurriedly ran downstairs.


    He reached the bedroom door and knocked, ¡°Qiao¡¯er, are you in there? Can you open the door for uncle?¡±


    The door soon opened, and Han Qiao¡¯er stood there with slightly reddened eyes.


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao quickly picked her up, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Qiao¡¯er? Did someone bully you at school?¡±


    Han Qiao¡¯er shook her head without speaking.


    Qin Hao, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Can you tell uncle?¡±


    Han Qiao¡¯er pouted and said, ¡°They said I have no dad and that I am a wild child.¡±


    Hearing this, Han Meng¡¯s eyes dimmed, wanting to comfort Qiao¡¯er but not knowing what to say.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Who said that? I¡¯ll go to school tomorrow and find them.¡±


    ¡°They are not wrong, I really don¡¯t have a dad.¡± Qiao¡¯er said with her head down.


    These were all children, and because they were children, they did not understand the consequences of the words they said and the actions they took.


    Qin Hao walked into the classroom and stood on the podium, saying, ¡°Hello everyone, I am Qiao¡¯er¡¯s dad. I heard you were talking about me?¡±


    No student spoke up below; they were all looking at him.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°Casually talking about someone else¡¯s parents is not a nice thing to do. For instance, you have parents.


    If someone said you didn¡¯t have parents, would you be upset? So, I hope you will not talk about Qiao¡¯er in the future. We are all classmates and should support and love each other.¡±


    ¡°Uncle is right, classmates should support and love each other. From now on, if anyone talks about Qiao¡¯er, I¡¯m going to tell the teacher,¡± a little girl stood up and said.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°Well said, uncle plans to donate fifteen million to the school.


    So the school can build some recreational facilities, and everyone can play during break time. I won¡¯t keep you from your class any longer.¡±


    After speaking, he walked out of the classroom, then said to Qiao¡¯er, ¡°Go to class, Qiao¡¯er. Tomorrow¡¯s a holiday, and dad will take you to the aquarium.¡±


    ¡°Okay, dad,¡± Qiao¡¯er said and walked into the classroom.


    Qin Hao said to Mr. Li, ¡°I meant what I said earlier, I will transfer fifteen million to the school account shortly.


    This is for the creation of recreational facilities at the school. If issues with Qiao¡¯er happen again, I think it might be time for you to retire as principal.¡±


    Mr. Li quickly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, rest assured, I will definitely handle this matter well.¡±


    As Qin Hao was leaving, he transferred the money to the school¡¯s public fund account and also instructed Mr. Li to inform him immediately about its disbursement.


    On the way back, Zhao Xingbo spoke up, ¡°Xiao Hao, did you really donate fifteen million?¡±


    ¡°Children are the future of the nation, fifteen million is not too much,¡± Qin Hao said while driving.


    Zhao Xingbo and his wife said nothing more, only marveled internally at Qin Hao¡¯s generosity, dispensing fifteen million just like that.


    Little did they know that after Qin Hao donated that fifteen million, he earned an additional ten thousand achievement points.


    Han Meng didn¡¯t say anything; she didn¡¯t know how to repay Qin Hao for his tremendous help to Qiao¡¯er.


    All she thought about now was taking very good care of Qin Hao¡¯s daily life as a way to repay him, since she knew no other way.


    Afterward, Qin Hao went to the office, and that afternoon, Meiwei Group¡¯s Jianghai branch contacted Feng Xiangyi.


    After a decision by the board, they planned to dispose of dozens of stores in Jianghai.


    Qin Hao had given them a chance before, but now it was too late for regrets. Dozens of Jiangshan Roasted Duck stores would open tomorrow, directly challenging Delicious Duck Neck¡¯s stores.


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 Chapter 346: 348 Embarrassment

    Chapter 346: Chapter 348 Embarrassment


    Upon hearing this news, Meiwei Group was furious.


    Tens of stores faced direct losses amounting to millions, and they had also heard that many grassroots employees had all run off to the new stores of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    Although leaving Delicious Duck Neck directly would cost them half a month¡¯s wages,


    working at Jiangshan Roasted Duck for one month could make up for it, which was why so many people chose to jump ship.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t get home until after five o¡¯clock in the afternoon after spending a day at the company.


    Qiao¡¯er was already back, doing her weekend homework in the room.


    Qin Hao walked into the room and asked, ¡°Qiao¡¯er, did anyone talk about you today?¡±


    ¡°No, they all apologized to me, and I have forgiven them,¡± Qiao¡¯er said with a giggle.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°That¡¯s good. Classmates should help each other, and you shouldn¡¯t take what they said to heart.¡±


    ¡°Mm, I know, Daddy,¡± Han Qiao¡¯er giggled.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Do your homework well. Daddy will take you to Sea World tomorrow.¡±


    Han Qiao¡¯er nodded, ¡°Mm, okay, Daddy.¡±


    After leaving the bedroom, Qin Hao gave a wry smile. He wasn¡¯t quite used to being called Daddy at his age.


    But for Qiao¡¯er¡¯s normal growth, this was pretty good, and he should get used to it eventually.


    After dinner, Qin Hao, Qiao¡¯er, and Han Meng sat on the couch watching TV.


    The TV series starred Zhao Yuying, a spy drama, quite exciting.


    ¡°Yu Ying is so cool,¡± Han Qiao¡¯er remarked as she watched Zhao Yuying in the TV series.


    Qin Hao nodded, Zhao Yuying in the TV series indeed had a unique charisma that attracted viewers in front of the TV.


    After saying that, she ran out and soon came back with a pair of pajamas.


    Qin Hao usually didn¡¯t wear any pajamas; he just wore briefs when sleeping upstairs.


    But sleeping here, he clearly couldn¡¯t do as usual.


    Han Qiao¡¯er handed him the pajamas, ¡°Put these on, Daddy, let¡¯s hurry up and sleep. We¡¯ve got to go out and play tomorrow.¡±


    Qin Hao felt a bit embarrassed and glanced at Han Meng; she had turned her back to them to avoid any awkwardness.


    ...


    The next morning, around six o¡¯clock.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go make breakfast,¡± Han Meng said softly as she got up.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Mm.¡±


    When Han Meng left, Qin Hao also put on his clothes and went out, ¡°Meng, I¡¯ll go for a run outside; I¡¯ll be back in a bit.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Han Meng replied softly, her face still red.


    Qin Hao left the villa and ran to the seaside where many people were also running, breathing in the wonderful fresh air.


    Zhao Xingbo and Wang Zhi were also running by the sea; he greeted them and continued his run.


    After running for a while, Qin Hao returned. Qiao¡¯er was already awake, and after washing up, they started having breakfast.


    After breakfast, just as Qin Hao was planning to take Qiao¡¯er out to play, his phone suddenly rang.


    He answered the call, and Kang Youyi¡¯s frantic voice came through, ¡°Hao, Hao, it¡¯s terrible! Uncle got hit by a car during his morning exercise; he¡¯s in the hospital receiving emergency treatment now.¡±


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 Chapter 347: 349 Trouble

    Chapter 347: Chapter 349 Trouble


    Qin Hao¡¯s face changed dramatically upon hearing this, ¡°What? What happened to my dad?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s still in the resuscitation room, the doctors say it¡¯s very serious, he has a brain hemorrhage,¡± Kang Youyi said with a somber tone.


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way back right now.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao said to Han Meng and Han Qiaoer, ¡°My dad had a car accident, I need to go back. You both stay at home and take care.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, he hurried out. Han Qiaoer ran out and got into the car with him, ¡°Dad, I want to go with you to see Grandpa.¡±


    Qin Hao had no time to waste. Seeing that she wanted to go, he didn¡¯t say anything and quickly drove out of the neighborhood.


    He was driving the Lamborghini, which could go faster, and its license plate was special, so there were no worries about being stopped by traffic police.


    It only took him twenty minutes to drive from Haoting Sea View Villa District to Jianghai International Airport.


    Using his status as an academician, he bought two tickets to Jiangli City in Shuinan Province at a special service counter.


    Jiangli City is very close to Jiangshan. Although Jiangshan is currently building an airport, it still needs a few more months to be completed.


    On the way, Qiao¡¯er was well-behaved and didn¡¯t speak or cause trouble, clutching tightly to Qin Hao¡¯s hand the whole time.


    The flight landed in Jiangli City about two and a half hours later.


    After leaving the airport, Qin Hao took a taxi, handing the driver a stack of money, well over ten thousand yuan.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Master, go to Jiangshan First Hospital as fast as possible.¡±


    ¡°Alright, leave it to me. I¡¯ve been driving for decades, you can rest assured,¡± the driver said without hesitation as he started the car and drove off.


    He was familiar with the roads here, knew where to enter, and he immediately took the highway from Jiangli City¡¯s outer ring road, rushing to Jiangshan First Hospital at top speed.


    On the road, Qin Hao took out his mobile phone and called Kang Youyi; the call connected quickly.


    ¡°How¡¯s my dad?¡± Qin Hao asked as soon as he called.


    Kang Youyi replied, ¡°It¡¯s critical. We¡¯ve already signed the notice of critical illness; Auntie fainted from crying.¡±


    ¡°Tell the doctors to hold on for two hours no matter what, I¡¯ll be there soon,¡± Qin Hao said in a low voice.


    He calmed his emotions and continued, ¡°Did they catch the driver?¡±@@@@


    ¡°No, he¡¯s run off. The police are in pursuit,¡± Kang Youyi said.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed, a fleeting cold killing intent apparent, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about everything when I get back.¡±


    He sat in the back seat and reclined slightly, closing his eyes as his mind raced.


    This was very likely not an ordinary hit-and-run case, there was a high chance someone was plotting behind the scenes.


    Upon this realization, Qin Hao opened his eyes, a frightening gleam flashing within, whoever was behind this, as long as he found out, they were dead!


    Qiao¡¯er, standing beside her, grasped her hand, her eyes also reddening.


    Qin Hao hastily said, ¡°Mom, Dad is fine now.¡±


    Li Shujie¡¯s sobbing ceased abruptly; she hurried over to check, and saw his chest rising and falling normally with each breath.


    ¡°As long as he¡¯s okay, that¡¯s all that matters,¡± Li Shujie said amidst tears of joy, tears falling to the ground.


    After moving his father into the ward, Qin Hao said to his mother, ¡°Mom, I need to head to the police station. You stay here with Dad; he should be able to leave the hospital in a couple of days.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Hao, you¡¯re not lying to your mom, are you? He can leave the hospital in two days?¡± Li Shujie said with disbelief.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mom, why would I lie to you? Just wait here for me; I¡¯m going to the police station first.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Li Shujie and Qiao¡¯er nodded.


    Once out of the ward, Qin Hao¡¯s expression changed instantly.


    Kang Youyi and Li Bao stood outside; they hadn¡¯t entered for fear of disturbing Mr. Qin.


    ¡°Leave a few people to watch here, the rest of you come with me to the police station,¡± Qin Hao told Li Bao and the others.


    Li Bao nodded, instructed four men to stay and guard the area, and then followed Qin Hao out of the hospital.


    Qin Hao arrived at the police station and, after giving his name, went to the Criminal Investigation Department, where Tie Gaoming and others were in charge of the case.


    Seeing Tie Gaoming and his team handling the case, Qin Hao had already guessed that this was no ordinary hit-and-run.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, good afternoon,¡± said Tie Gaoming, his eyes reflecting a complex mixture of emotions.


    His gastric cancer had almost healed, and he owed his life to Qin Hao.


    So facing Qin Hao again filled him with a multitude of conflicting emotions.


    Qin Hao spoke in a cold tone, ¡°Captain Tie, go over the specifics.¡±


    Tie Gaoming nodded: ¡°The place where Qin Youguo was hit is along Changshan Street, when he was doing his morning exercise.


    The perpetrator was driving a black van and deliberately struck Qin Youguo.


    There were many people exercising in the morning, but he targeted the victim specifically, indicating this was a premeditated murder.


    The perpetrator then abandoned the vehicle and escaped. At the first instance, we sealed off the city exits, but so far, there is no news of the perpetrator.


    The city bureau is highly concerned and has demanded a quick resolution to the case.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Get to the point.¡±


    Tie Gaoming, with a grave expression, said, ¡°After reviewing the surveillance footage, we suspect the perpetrator has fled into the mountains of the Hengduan Mountain Range.¡±


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 Chapter 348: 350 Leng Xuan

    Chapter 348: Chapter 350 Leng Xuan


    Hengduan Mountain Range?


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. The Hengduan Mountain Range stretches north to south, bordering Nangong Country to the south, Tibet Province to the west, and Nanyan Province to the north.@@@@


    The Hengduan Mountain Range is vast and desolate, teeming with wild beasts and venomous insects. If someone inexperienced were to venture in, they likely wouldn¡¯t survive for long.


    Searching for one person in the vast mountains is like finding a needle in a haystack, the difficulty of which is self-evident.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Have we gathered any information on the killer?¡±


    Tie Gaoming nodded his head, ¡°After investigation, the suspect is very likely to be Ding Gaorui, who was recently released from prison and lives just outside the mountains.


    He had previously been arrested for robbery and is now released after serving his sentence. He has had no interaction with you whatsoever.


    The likelihood of hiring a hitman is high. Mr. Qin, can you mention anyone in the business world who might be your enemy?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Dayuan Group, Meiwei Group from Nanxiang Province, Tang Group from Jianghai City... these are the ones I can think of.¡±


    Tie Gaoming frowned slightly, ¡°Dealing with people across provinces requires communication with higher authorities and those regions, but we will focus on these individuals.


    At the same time, we will dispatch a large police force to search the mountains, but Mr. Qin, don¡¯t get your hopes up too high.¡±


    After all, the Hengduan Mountain Range is too vast, and finding one person here is as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.


    Qin Hao knew the difficulty and nodded slightly, ¡°Captain Tie, just do your best. Remember to send the detailed case information and the killer¡¯s photo to my phone. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±


    Feng Xue and Liu Bo had been watching Qin Hao all this time; he was no longer the same Qin Hao from before.


    He had risen from the owner of a small roast duck shop to become a formidable boss.


    The two vaguely remembered the first time they saw Qin Hao, who back then still looked somewhat youthful and tender.


    Now, Qin Hao was calm and mature, exuding a quietly commanding presence.


    ¡°You two, escort Mr. Qin,¡± Tie Gaoming said to Feng Xue and Liu Bo.


    It was Qin Hao who had previously provided them with a medical prescription, and it was thanks to that Tie Gaoming¡¯s illness had been cured.


    Realizing the intent, Feng Xue and Liu Bo hurried out to escort Qin Hao.


    Seeing them, Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but recall the past and said with a smile, ¡°You two are still junior officers, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Feng Xue and Liu Bo felt a bit awkward. Did they think everyone was as unusual as him?


    In just a few months, he went from the owner of a small roast duck shop to a billionaire corporate president!


    Feng Xue said, ¡°Mr. Qin, Captain Tie has always wanted to thank you. But you know his personality, as stubborn as a mule. Let me say thanks on his behalf today.¡±


    Hearing her words, Qin Hao responded indifferently, ¡°Captain Tie is a good cop, one who sincerely works for the people.


    The devilish training methods had made everyone remember the name Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao handed his phone to Li Bao and said, ¡°Go and print these out, along with the photo of the perpetrator, one copy per person.¡±


    Li Bao and Kang Youyi quickly took his phone and went into the office building.


    Qin Hao looked over the people, his gaze sweeping over each one, and then it landed on one person.


    This man was about one meter seventy-six tall, with sharp eyes and a resolute expression, radiating an intense murderous aura.


    ¡°You, come out. What¡¯s your name?¡± Qin Hao called out to the man.


    Leng Xuan stepped forward, ¡°Reporting to the leader, my name is Leng Xuan.¡±


    So this was the Leng Xuan that Li Bao had mentioned?


    Qin Hao opened the system to check his attributes.


    Name: Leng Xuan


    Gender: Male


    Age: 26


    Strength: 31


    Agility: 25


    Intelligence: 17


    Stamina: 25


    Description: Superior combat skills, excellent marksmanship, all-rounder warrior, great potential, Grade 2 heart damage.


    Seeing Leng Xuan¡¯s attributes, Qin Hao gasped; a regular person¡¯s attributes breaking ten was already considered good.


    His attributes had three categories breaking twenty, and one even over thirty, truly terrifying.


    Qin Hao hadn¡¯t expected someone could train to such a level.


    He looked at the other people¡¯s attributes, most of which were around twenty. The special forces training Qin Hao offered was no joke.


    As long as one persisted in training, they would undergo huge changes.


    But what was with that Grade 2 heart damage? Had he been injured before?


    At that moment, Li Bao and Kang Youyi ran back, holding a thick stack of papers in their hands.


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 Chapter 349: 351 Ten Million

    Chapter 349: Chapter 351 Ten Million


    Qin Hao said to Li Bao, ¡°Pass it down, one copy a day.¡±


    Li Bao handed it to one person, then each person passed it to the next, and soon everyone had a copy of the information in their hands.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s written in detail up there, it¡¯s a simple task¡ªto enter the Hengduan Mountain Range and capture the criminal suspect.


    If anyone can catch the suspect alive, I will reward him with ten million exclusively.¡±


    Upon hearing this, everyone¡¯s eyes lit up. Why had they come to Flying Leopard Security Company? It was all for money, to support families, to live their lives.@@@@


    Ten million was something they could hardly earn in a lifetime of working.


    Li Bao and Kang Youyi, upon hearing his reward, were also stunned; even they now wanted to enter the Hengduan Mountain Range and capture that murderer.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Once everyone has read it, you can start taking action. Everyone must wear a communication device on their person.


    If any news needs to be sent back, it would be convenient for me to call everyone back. Now, if anyone needs any equipment, they can speak up.


    If not, then you may depart. I¡¯m giving everyone a deadline of half a month. If there¡¯s still no news by then, you may return.¡±


    Now, everyone had a communication device on them, and all of them were top-notch.


    Even deep in the rugged wilderness, they could still communicate with the outside world.


    Some left directly while others took some things before they left.


    Leng Xuan also planned to leave immediately, but Qin Hao stopped him.


    Leng Xuan turned his head and asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you have any other instructions?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to go.¡±


    Leng Xuan frowned, ¡°Mr. Qin, what do you mean?¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°Your body isn¡¯t suitable for this, and I don¡¯t want to have to send someone into the mountains to find your body later.¡±


    Leng Xuan said, ¡°Mr. Qin, my body is in excellent condition. I¡¯m the top performer in every training competition, and I need this money.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him, and he looked back at Qin Hao, his determined eyes hiding a trace of pleading.


    He couldn¡¯t understand what made Leng Xuan risk the danger of sudden illness to join the Flying Leopard Team¡¯s training.


    There must be something he didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°Go then, good luck,¡± Qin Hao finally said after a long look.


    Leng Xuan left, and three hundred sixty-seven people entered the Hengduan Mountain Range to search for the murderer, Ding Gaorui.


    Only by finding him could the mastermind behind the crimes be uncovered.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°The police are looking for them. I believe there will be results soon. Mom, Qiao¡¯er, have something to eat.¡±


    Li Shujie shook her head, ¡°I can¡¯t eat, let Qiao¡¯er eat.¡±


    ¡°If grandma isn¡¯t eating, I won¡¯t eat either,¡± Han Qiao¡¯er said.


    Qin Hao urged, ¡°Mom, please eat something. Dad should wake up by this afternoon, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Grandma, please have a bite,¡± Han Qiao¡¯er compassionately urged.


    Unable to refuse any longer, Li Shujie ate a few meat buns.


    Qiao¡¯er handed Qin Hao and Li Bao a bun each, ¡°Dad, uncle, you eat too.¡±


    Li Bao, hearing Han Qiao¡¯er address Qin Hao, was taken aback, ¡°Hao, you got married?¡±


    ¡°No, she¡¯s my goddaughter, adorable, isn¡¯t she?¡± Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Li Bao nodded, ¡°Qiao¡¯er, right? Really cute. I am your dad¡¯s good brother. I didn¡¯t prepare anything for our first meeting, take this money to buy some snacks.¡±


    After speaking, he took a small stack of hundred-yuan notes out of his pocket and handed them to Qiao¡¯er.


    Han Qiao¡¯er hesitated to take it, but Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Take it, it¡¯s from Uncle Li Bao.¡±


    Although Li Shujie initially wanted to refuse, hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words she remained silent.


    After lunch, Tie Gaoming brought some fruits and nutritional products, spoke a few words with Qin Hao, and then left.


    He was just passing by, as he had to head to the Hengduan Mountain Range to search for the criminal.


    Later, leaders from the city gradually came to visit, and Li Feiyue also arrived and spoke with Qin Hao for a long time before leaving.


    Qin Hao was a well-known entrepreneur in Jiangshan City, and his contributions to the city were evident.


    The city government took this matter very seriously and had set up a special investigation team.


    Not long after Li Feiyue and others had left, Mr. Qin woke up.


    Seeing Li Shujie by the bed, he said with a smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be so lucky.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re awake, how do you feel? Any discomfort?¡± Mrs. Qin, seeing him awake, hurriedly asked.


    Mr. Qin said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, I feel very good, no pain at all.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re fine, you scared me to death. If you had gone, what would I have done?¡± As she spoke, Li Shujie began to cry again.


    Han Qiao¡¯er quickly said, ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t cry, Qiao¡¯er will always be with you.¡±


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 Chapter 350: 352 Flying Leopard Team

    Chapter 350: Chapter 352 Flying Leopard Team


    Qin Youguo saw Qiao¡¯er smiling and asked, ¡°Qiao¡¯er, what brings you here?¡±


    ¡°Dad said Grandpa was injured, and I¡¯m worried about Grandpa,¡± Han Qiaoer replied.


    Qin Youguo was taken aback, ¡°Dad?¡± He then looked towards Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°I¡¯ve taken Qiao¡¯er as my goddaughter.¡±


    Mr. Qin said with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s nice, Qiao¡¯er is so well-behaved and cute.¡±


    At that moment, Li Bao¡¯s phone rang. He stepped out with the phone and returned after a few minutes.


    ¡°Hao, the information on Leng Xuan has been found,¡± Li Bao handed the phone with the data to him.


    Qin Hao took a look. Leng Xuan had a family of four, his parents were ordinary workers, and he had a younger sister who was diagnosed with a congenital heart disease two months ago.


    The family had emptied their savings for his sister¡¯s medical treatment and had also incurred a lot of debt.


    Leng Xuan had tried borrowing money from relatives, but they avoided him like the plague, not even letting him through their doors.


    Now, Leng Xuan¡¯s sister, Leng Yue, was recuperating at home because the family had no more money.


    After looking through the phone, Qin Hao handed it back to Li Bao and then said to his father, ¡°Dad, I have some business to take care of and will step out for a bit.¡±


    ¡°Go on, no need to hover over me, I¡¯m already fine,¡± Qin Youguo said with evident strength in his voice.


    Qin Hao nodded, then he and Li Bao left the patient room and headed outside the hospital.


    As they walked, Li Bao inquired, ¡°Hao, are you planning to visit Leng Xuan¡¯s home?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Leng Xuan has great potential, a promising talent that shouldn¡¯t be missed.¡±


    He intended to go to Leng Xuan¡¯s house and cure his sister. As for Leng Xuan¡¯s final decision, that would be up to him.


    Even if Leng Xuan eventually didn¡¯t pledge loyalty to him, he wouldn¡¯t regret saving his sister.


    The two got into a car and drove to Leng Xuan¡¯s residence using the address from the phone.


    Leng Xuan lived in a poor area, where the houses were small bungalows with very little space and almost no courtyards.


    The roads were uneven and difficult to navigate.


    There had been talks of developing this area a few years back, but nothing came of it afterward.


    Arriving at Leng Xuan¡¯s front door, they saw many children playing in the streets.


    Three Audi sedans drew glances from the children; such luxury cars rarely appeared in the poor district.


    Qin Hao knocked on the door.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s okay, Auntie.¡±


    He took Leng Yue¡¯s hand to feel her pulse; Leng Yue didn¡¯t move, allowing him to do so.


    Qin Hao soon released her hand and then reached into his pocket, spending four thousand achievement points in the system store to exchange for a bottle of life potion.


    When his hand came out of his pocket, Liu Qin saw a bottle of pale red liquid.


    ¡°Drink half of this, and your sickness will be cured; give the other half to your brother,¡± Qin Hao said to her.


    Upon hearing his words, Leng Yue turned her head to look, the life potion was beautiful, like something out of a fantasy.


    She finally spoke: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my brother?¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Does he sometimes experience unbearable heart pain at home? His heart has been injured, and only this can save him.¡±


    Liu Qin: ¡°No, not at all.¡±


    Leng Yue¡¯s expression changed slightly, she remembered her brother suddenly turning pale and clutching his chest before stepping out, but then he returned minutes later as if nothing had happened.


    She looked at Qin Hao with a shocked expression, could what he said be true?


    Qin Hao: ¡°Drink it, this thing is very precious, and money can¡¯t buy it.¡±


    Leng Yue gazed at the red life potion, hesitated for a moment, and then drank half of it.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be leaving now, Auntie,¡± said Qin Hao, and he and Li Bao left.


    Liu Qin escorted them to the door, watched as Qin Hao and his companion drove away, and then went back inside.


    ...


    On the way back, Li Bao said to Qin Hao, ¡°Hao, I plan to establish a tiered system for the company.¡±


    ¡°How will you divide it?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Li Bao: ¡°Those who pass the training will be classified into the Flying Leopard Team, the elite of the elite in our company.


    The salary and benefits for them will naturally be the best. Those who can persist in training for more than a month and a half will join Flying Leopard Security, considered as junior elites, with second-tier benefits.


    As for those who don¡¯t pass the training, just eliminate them.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°A good idea, we can implement that. I¡¯ll transfer fifty million to the company account in a while.


    Don¡¯t stop recruiting personnel, nor halt the training; acquiring various high-tech equipment is most important.


    We also need to establish a business intelligence department to get a hold of information on domestic and even international conglomerates.¡±


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 Chapter 351: 353: The Story of Leng Xuan

    Chapter 351: Chapter 353: The Story of Leng Xuan


    Li Bao nodded slightly upon hearing this, from which he could discern Qin Hao¡¯s ambition.


    Needing information from both domestic and international companies said it all.


    The business intelligence department was crucial to Qin Hao, serving as his eyes and ears, occasionally playing a vital role.


    ¡°Hao, I¡¯ll have someone send over the share certificate later. How many shares would be appropriate for me to hold?¡± Li Bao asked cautiously.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Twenty percent. I¡¯m definitely going to invest more money later, possibly hundreds of millions.


    You holding twenty percent of the shares won¡¯t go any lower.¡±


    Li Bao smiled and nodded, the lowest twenty percent of the shares.


    That is, with an investment of one billion, he would have two hundred million. Two hundred million¡ªhe had never dared to dream of such an amount before.


    After taking Qin Hao to the hospital, Li Bao left, leaving behind two cars and a few bodyguards.


    In the hospital room, Qin Hao was chatting with Qiao¡¯er and his parents.


    That evening, he received a phone call from Zhao Xingbo: ¡°Hello Xiao Hao, how is Qin doing?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing to worry about, Mr. Zhao, I¡¯ll be discharged in a couple of days.¡±


    Zhao Xingbo breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear, your aunt and I will come over to visit tomorrow.¡±


    Qin Hao hurriedly said, ¡°There¡¯s no need, Mr. Zhao, it¡¯s too far.¡±


    Zhao Xingbo responded, ¡°Nowadays, transportation is so convenient, it¡¯s no issue. A flight and we¡¯ll be there in no time. Alright, Xiao Hao, if you¡¯re okay, I¡¯ll hang up now.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Youguo asked, ¡°Was that Mr. Zhao?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Mr. Zhao said he¡¯s coming over tomorrow to see you.¡±


    Qin Youguo hurriedly said, ¡°Oh no, why come all this way for a visit? Tell him not to come.¡±


    Qin Hao replied helplessly, ¡°I told him, but Mr. Zhao insists on coming.¡±


    ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s get some rest early,¡± Mr. Qin said as he noticed Qiao¡¯er getting a bit sleepy.


    Several beds were available in the hospital room for family members to rest.


    That night, Qiao¡¯er slept with Li Shujie.


    The next morning.


    The doctor conducted a full-body examination on Mr. Qin, and all the indices were very normal, even healthier than the average person.


    The wound stitched up yesterday had completely healed, and there wasn¡¯t even a scar visible, which amazed Chen Deshi.


    After the examination, Qin Youguo asked Chen Deshi, ¡°Doctor, when can I be discharged?¡±


    Zhao Yuying: ¡°It¡¯s good that your uncle is okay. Take this as a warning and assign more people to protect your uncle and aunt.¡±


    A warning?


    If Qin Haoruo had arrived a few hours later, his father might have truly been gone.


    Others, seeing Mr. Qin recover so quickly, might think he wasn¡¯t seriously injured.


    The severity of his father¡¯s injuries was something his mother and the doctors knew very well.


    Thinking about this, he couldn¡¯t contain the murderous intent in his heart. No matter who it was, no matter their status, they had to die!


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right, Ying. How¡¯s the filming? Is it going smoothly?¡±


    Zhao Yuying nodded slightly, ¡°It¡¯s going pretty well. Now that I¡¯m not just a minor star anymore, no one dares to bully me.¡±


    The two of them bought some vegetables and meat in the market. Although there were many people, no one recognized her.


    After having lunch in the afternoon, Zhao Xingbo and his family, along with Zhao Yuying, left Qin Hao¡¯s home.


    Qin Hao stayed in Jiangshan the whole time, and five days later, it began to drizzle lightly.


    The interior and exterior renovations at Xinghai High-tech Co., Ltd. were nearing completion, ready to be finished in the next couple of days.


    That morning, Qin Hao received a call from Chang Jing: ¡°Mr. Qin, where are you? The company is almost finished with the renovations, and the photolithography machine production line equipment will arrive in a few days.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m in Jiangshan, dealing with some matters.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Hmm, then hurry up and handle them.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao received a call from Li Bao.


    His spirits lifted, he quickly answered, ¡°Is there any news?¡±


    Li Bao sounded excited, ¡°Ding Gaorui has been captured. Leng Xuan sent back the information. Ding Gaorui confessed to someone named Duan Qiang. I¡¯m having it checked out.¡±


    Qin Hao, visibly excited, replied, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll be right over.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao told his parents, ¡°Mom and Dad, I need to step out for a bit.¡±


    ¡°Why go out in the rain?¡± Mrs. Qin asked.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I need to take care of something. Don¡¯t wait for me for lunch, Mom.¡±


    After saying that, Qin Hao left. Downstairs, an Audi car was waiting. Seeing Qin Hao come down, someone immediately got out of the car and came over with an umbrella.


    About twenty minutes later, Qin Hao arrived at the Feibao Security Company.


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 Chapter 352: 354: Committing Suicide Out of Fear of Punishment

    Chapter 352: Chapter 354: Committing Suicide Out of Fear of Punishment


    Li Bao hurriedly gave the information he had investigated to Qin Hao.


    Duan Qiang was a well-known figure in the Jiangshan underworld, and he had been investigated by the police many times, but there was never any evidence.


    ¡°Where is he now?¡± Qin Hao asked after reading the information.


    Li Bao: ¡°He is currently at Golden Light KTV, and I¡¯ve already sent someone to keep watch there.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned cold: ¡°Let¡¯s go, bring your men and find him.¡±


    Six black sedans drove out of Feibao Security Company, heading straight for Golden Light KTV.


    Inside a private room at Golden Light KTV.


    Three men and about six or seven women were seated inside.


    Duan Qiang, flanked by women on either side, had his phone suddenly ring, and his face changed slightly when he saw the caller ID.


    He stood up and walked out: ¡°Hello, didn¡¯t Mr. Ma say not to call me anymore?¡±


    Ma Bing: ¡°I¡¯m just a bit worried, are you sure that person won¡¯t get caught?¡±


    Duan Qiang: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Hengduan Mountain Range is so vast, even deploying an army might not guarantee finding him.¡±


    ¡°Okay then, I¡¯ll be at ease if you say so.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Duan Qiang snorted coldly and walked back into the private room, having turned over five million this time.


    Although he had given Ding Gaorui five hundred thousand, that was just a drop in the bucket.


    He entered the room and started kissing the blonde on the couch.


    Five minutes later, a group of Feibao Security personnel dressed in black stormed into the KTV, causing considerable commotion.


    Duan Qiang¡¯s underlings tried to stop them, only to be kicked aside.


    Qin Hao and Li Bao led their men to the fourth floor, with Li Bao saying, ¡°He¡¯s in private room 401, Duan Qiang¡¯s designated room.¡±


    At the entrance of the room, one of the men beside them kicked the door open and entered.


    Upon seeing the situation inside, Qin Hao frowned slightly.


    Qin Hao said to Li Bao, ¡°You have three minutes to take care of it.¡±


    After he spoke, he stepped out of the room and stood by the doorway, where several other members from Flying Leopard Security were also posted.


    Some of these men were Li Bao¡¯s former underlings, and some were new recruits to the company.


    ¡°I¡¯m going home to accompany my parents,¡± Qin Hao said and then left Feibao Security Company.


    ...


    Around eight o¡¯clock in the evening, the police, armed with conclusive evidence, suddenly arrested Ma Bing.


    But when the police entered Ma Bing¡¯s home, they were stunned to find that Ma Bing and his family of three had all committed suicide by hanging.


    Although the police did not announce the news the next day, Jiangshan¡¯s high society had already received word of it.


    The entire family of Ma Bing committing suicide out of fear for their crimes? Many people found it hard to believe.


    Without a leader, the Dayuan Group fell into chaos, with all the major stockholders looking out for their interests.


    At ten o¡¯clock in the morning, an emergency stockholders meeting was convened.


    When all the stockholders of the Dayuan Group saw Qin Hao and An Linxuan walk in, their expressions froze.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, this is the stockholders meeting for Dayuan Group. Please leave,¡± said a major stockholder with a cold face.


    Qin Hao found a seat and sat down casually, chuckling, ¡°Sorry, but I am also a shareholder of Zheng Yuan Group, albeit a small one. You have no right to kick me out.¡±


    After finding out that Ma Bing was the mastermind behind the scenes, Qin Hao had been plotting this.


    He had bought some shares from a few minor stockholders, specifically to attend Zheng Yuan Group¡¯s stockholder meeting.


    Upon hearing his words, the faces of the crowd changed drastically. Could it be that he knew Dayuan Group would end up like this?


    Could he have known that Ma Bing would meet his death?


    Some questions, when pondered deeply, were terrifying and made one shudder.


    Qin Hao looked at everyone¡¯s expressions and said calmly with a smile, ¡°Today, I¡¯m here to give you a piece of advice: Dayuan Group won¡¯t last long; while your shares are still worth something, sell them quickly. Don¡¯t wait until they become worthless and regret it.¡±


    After finishing his speech, Qin Hao stood up and left, with the crowd left with varying expressions, thinking about their own way out.


    The few wineries that Dayuan Group owned were large and quite nice. Xinghui Wine was developing rapidly, with orders exceeding supply.


    So if Xinghui Wine Industry could acquire Dayuan Group, it would be of great help and would also enhance Xinghui Wine Industry¡¯s influence.


    In the past, acquiring Dayuan Group might have required billions, but now Qin Hao was only offering tens of millions.


    Sell if you want to sell, otherwise wait until your shares are worth nothing.


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 Chapter 353: 355: The Past of Leng Xuan

    Chapter 353: Chapter 355: The Past of Leng Xuan


    Qin Hao said to An Linxuan next to him, ¡°I¡¯ll leave the matters behind to you, Mr. An.¡±


    An Linxuan, somewhat excited, nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Qin, I will handle it well.¡±@@@@


    He had long wanted to avenge his father for the arrow of the past, with Ma Bing¡¯s family dead and Dayuan Group in chaos.


    He was very confident of taking down Dayuan Group.


    Qin Hao returned home. Tomorrow, he planned to go back to Jianghai City; he had already stayed in Jiangshan for seven days.


    The construction at Xinghai Factory was completed. As soon as the equipment for producing photolithography machines arrived, they would start production.


    The anniversary of Jianghai University was also approaching¡ªDecember 5th, just eight days away.


    Qin Hao drove back to his residential area and saw Leng Xuan standing downstairs as he got out of the car.


    ¡°Are you better now?¡± Qin Hao asked with a smile, looking at Leng Xuan.


    Leng Xuan replied, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    He was not a man of many words; those two words contained a lot.


    He loved his sister dearly, even risking his life to join Feibao Company¡¯s intense training to raise money for her treatment.


    The special training manual that Qin Hao provided was no ordinary manual; the training volume was huge, even more terrifying than military special forces training.


    A slight misstep could have been fatal for him.


    Not only did Qin Hao cure his sister¡¯s illness, but he also cured his own; such a debt of gratitude could not be measured in money.


    He knew what Qin Hao needed, and today, he came to make his stance clear.


    When Qin Hao heard his two words, he roughly knew his attitude: ¡°Let¡¯s walk together.¡±


    He did not invite Leng Xuan into his home because his parents and Qiao¡¯er were there, and some topics were not suitable for discussion.


    After walking some distance, Qin Hao started asking, ¡°Could you tell me about what you did before?¡±


    Leng Xuan replied, ¡°I was a soldier for two years. You know the situation in the forces, it¡¯s almost impossible to stay without connections.


    Although I performed excellently, I never encountered special forces recruitment, which was unlike what I had seen on TV.


    After I discharged, I fled abroad and joined a mercenary organization, going through various trainings and selections.


    I became a mercenary assassin, codenamed Wolf.¡±


    If someone from the assassin community heard his codename, they would probably turn and run immediately.


    Friends?


    Leng Xuan was startled for a moment. He did not dare to think like that. Qin Hao was his boss; he was the subordinate.


    Qin Hao then asked, ¡°Do you want to come up and sit for a while?¡±


    Leng Xuan: ¡°No, I¡¯m moving into a new house today and my parents are waiting for me to come back for dinner.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded: ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head back then.¡±


    When he got home, Qiao¡¯er was watching TV with Li Shujie.


    Qin Hao sat on the couch and asked Qiao¡¯er, ¡°Do you miss Mom?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Qiao¡¯er nodded slightly.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Well, let¡¯s go back tomorrow. Mom, Dad, you guys come with me.¡±


    Li Shujie: ¡°No, your father and I have lived here for decades. We can¡¯t leave this place.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mom, should I buy you a house in Jiangshan then?¡±


    Shaking her head, Li Shujie said, ¡°No need to buy one; your father and I are fine living in this house. It¡¯s not dangerous, just a bit old.¡±


    Qin Hao took out a card and handed it to his mother: ¡°Mom, there¡¯s ten million in this card. Buy whatever you want, don¡¯t worry about saving money for me.¡±


    Mrs. Qin did not refuse; she accepted the money. Her son was not good at saving, so she, as a mother, had to save for him.


    Should the day come when his company failed, they would have something to fall back on.


    He spent the day at home with his parents. That evening, he exchanged two bottles of life elixir in the system market for his parents.


    After explaining to them how to use it, he felt somewhat relieved.


    The next morning, after breakfast, Qin Hao and Qiao¡¯er drove to Jiangli City.


    Today, besides him, a hundred members of the Flying Leopard Security Team were heading to Jianghai City.


    The security measures for the new factory were their responsibility, naturally funded by the new company.


    The new company had five shareholders, and those people also had to contribute money.


    Just after ten in the morning, Qin Hao and Qiao¡¯er boarded a plane to Jianghai City.


    [First update, the title of Chapter 353 was incorrect, but the content is correct and can¡¯t be changed!]


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 Chapter 354: 356: Is It So Hard to Apologize?

    Chapter 354: Chapter 356: Is It So Hard to Apologize?


    At one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Jianghai International Airport.


    Qin Hao and Qiao¡¯er got off the plane, Qiao¡¯er said cheerfully, ¡°I really miss mom.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Are you still going to come with me in the future? You¡¯ve missed quite a few days of school.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can catch up,¡± Qiao¡¯er said with a smile.


    The two took an escalator and soon arrived at the airport lobby.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Qiao¡¯er, do you need to use the restroom?¡±


    Qiao¡¯er shook her head, ¡°Dad, you go ahead, I¡¯ll wait here for you.¡±


    Qin Hao looked around; there were many cameras, ¡°Then don¡¯t wander off, wait here for dad.¡±


    ¡°Okay, dad, hurry up,¡± Qiao¡¯er said with a smile.


    The restroom was about sixty to seventy meters away and visible at a glance.


    About two or three minutes later, Qin Hao came out of the restroom.


    Qiao¡¯er had been watching Qin Hao¡¯s direction the whole time; the airport was crowded, and her height meant she was often blocked by people.


    A few seconds after Qin Hao emerged, she finally saw him, her face breaking into a smile.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Just then, Qiao¡¯er was shoved hard by someone and fell to one side, her knee scraping against the ground.


    A look of pain crossed her face, and she cried out, mainly startled by the sudden push.@@@@


    A crowd of both men and women passed by her, forming several circles.


    Almost all of them were holding cameras and phones, taking pictures, and shouting Jie Kun, Jie Kun!


    Qin Hao saw the whole thing; after coming out, he had been watching Qiao¡¯er and saw her get pushed. He quickly ran over to her.


    He quickly made his way through the crowd to Qiao¡¯er¡¯s side, ¡°Are you okay, Qiao¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, dad, it¡¯s just a scraped layer of skin,¡± Qiao¡¯er managed a smile through the pain.


    She was a sensible child, a bit hurt but didn¡¯t want to worry her dad.


    There was quite a bit of blood on her knee, and Qin Hao quickly took out a tissue to wipe it for her.


    Qin Hao looked up at the group of people ahead and walked briskly up to them with Qiao¡¯er in his arms.


    The crowd wasn¡¯t moving fast because they were surrounded by fans.


    Just as they were about to leave the airport lobby, Qin Hao ran in front of them and blocked their way.


    Qiao¡¯er, terrified, clung tightly to Qin Hao¡¯s neck, ¡°Daddy, don¡¯t fight, fighting is bad.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s okay, daddy is teaching him how to be a good person, doing a good deed.¡±


    ...


    The surrounding fans of Peng Jiekun, after hearing his words, wore expressions of speechlessness. Doing a good deed?


    Qin Hao walked up to Peng Jiekun, looking down at him with disdain, ¡°Your dignity is very important to you, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°What do you want to do? I¡¯m Peng Jiekun.¡±


    ¡°Slap¡±


    A resounding slap echoed.


    The onlookers were as if petrified, staring at Qin Hao.


    He actually slapped Peng Jiekun? He really dared to slap Peng Jiekun!!


    Peng Jiekun¡¯s left cheek swelled up instantly, and his face turned an ashen blue with anger as he stared at Qin Hao in disbelief.


    He had not expected Qin Hao to have the audacity to strike him, and to strike him on the face at that.


    In front of so many people, Qin Hao clearly trampled on his dignity not once but twice.


    ¡°We¡¯re even now, you don¡¯t have to apologize to my daughter anymore.¡± Having said that, Qin Hao turned and walked towards the airport lobby exit.


    By this time, a crowd had gathered, many of whom recognized Peng Jiekun but were not his fans.


    Seeing Qin Hao hit Peng Jiekun and then stride away, these people were somewhat surprised and quickly took out their phones to start filming.


    Peng Jiekun, now completely void of any dignity to stay there, had his bodyguards help him up and hurriedly left the scene.


    Qin Hao exited the lobby of the airport and drove towards the Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    Striking Peng Jiekun was to seek justice for Qiao¡¯er; had he slapped him repeatedly, it would have been somewhat humiliating.


    After all, Qin Hao was a company CEO and still needed to maintain some kind of image.


    If others knew what he was thinking, they would probably be spitting blood.


    You already slap someone and you¡¯re still concerned about your image?


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao returned to the Haoting Sea View Villa. Han Meng was in the yard watering the flowers, looking rather distracted.


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s car return, a joyful look appeared on her face, and she hastily put down the watering can and ran over.


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 Chapter 355: 357 Things Got Big

    Chapter 355: Chapter 357 Things Got Big


    Qin Hao and Qiao¡¯er got out of the car, and upon seeing Qiao¡¯er, Han Meng hurriedly embraced her.


    The mother and daughter had never been apart for such a long time before, so one could only imagine how much Han Meng missed her.


    ¡°What happened to your leg, Qiao¡¯er?¡± After they separated, Han Meng saw her leg and a look of pain flashed in her eyes.


    Han Qiao¡¯er quickly replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Mom, I just had a little fall.¡±


    Han Meng said worriedly, ¡°How could you be so careless? Is Grandpa okay now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine now, he¡¯s all better,¡± Qiao¡¯er said as she walked into the villa.


    Qin Hao entered the villa and spoke, ¡°I¡¯m going to rest for a bit. Qiao¡¯er, do you want to sleep for a while?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I want to sleep with Dad,¡± Qiao¡¯er hurriedly said.


    Qin Hao had originally planned to go back upstairs to sleep, but in the end, he could only join Qiao¡¯er in Han Meng¡¯s bedroom to sleep.


    These past few days, it seemed Qin Hao hadn¡¯t done much at home in Jiangshan, but he was under tremendous mental pressure and very tense.


    Lying in Han Meng¡¯s bed, Qin Hao smelled a faint fragrance.


    Han Meng didn¡¯t spray any perfume or anything; this was a natural scent emanating from his body.


    Not long after lying down, Qin Hao fell asleep, and he slept soundly.


    Qiao¡¯er looked at him, then cuddled up to his arm and also sweetly fell asleep.


    Online.


    In the afternoon, around two o¡¯clock, someone posted a video of Peng Jiekun being slapped at the airport on the internet.@@@@


    Net content: This afternoon, Peng Jiekun was slapped at Jianghai International Airport, there¡¯s video proof.


    The video was very complete, starting from the conflict between Qin Hao and the bodyguards to their departure.


    At first, no one believed it, thinking that the blogger was just seeking attention and riding on Peng Jiekun¡¯s popularity.


    But when they watched the video, they were astonished!!!


    Because the video was real, very clear, and the appearances of Qin Hao and Peng Jiekun were captured perfectly.


    In just five minutes, the video¡¯s share count had reached over five thousand, with thousands of comments.


    Peng Jiekun¡¯s fans became enraged after seeing it: Who is this guy, being so arrogant? Beating up my idol at the airport?


    ¡°My idol was slapped and he didn¡¯t even fight back, what a big heart he has.¡±


    Someone replied to them: ¡°Big heart my ass, didn¡¯t you see how scared he was to even move?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense, my idol has a big heart and doesn¡¯t bother with him, he knows he¡¯s a public figure and that it¡¯s not good to hit people.¡±


    Qin Hao was planning to go back to sleep when his phone rang again. He saw it was Zhao Yuying calling.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, Ying?¡± Qin Hao answered the call.


    Zhao Yuying asked, ¡°Did you hit Peng Jiekun?¡±


    Qin Hao admitted, ¡°Yeah, that guy was asking for it.¡±


    Zhao Yuying said softly, ¡°Peng Jiekun has wide connections in the industry, and he¡¯s backed by capital. You should reach out to his people and handle this matter discreetly; otherwise, it¡¯s not going to look good for you.¡±


    This was the second person to say this, and Qin Hao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°Alright, I know.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao started to get out of bed, waking up Han Qiaoer, who was still half asleep.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Sleep a little longer, Qiao¡¯er, your uncle has something to deal with.¡±


    After getting up, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang again, this time from Kang Youyi of Jiangshan Headquarters.


    Then calls from Li Moying, Xu Siyao, Fan Ruobing, Zhao Qian, Zhao Han, Ding Shanshan, and others followed.


    After speaking with each of them, Qin Hao went to the study, booted up his computer, and logged onto the internet.


    The hot topic on the web was ¡°Peng Jiekun attacked at the airport¡±, ranking number one.


    Tens of millions of views and nearly a million people discussing, and all this just a few hours into the incident.


    Qin Hao clicked in to see, and the top piece of content was a video from the airport at the time of the incident.


    The video started when Qin Hao began to take action, up until his departure. The part where Qiao¡¯er was pushed hadn¡¯t been mentioned by anyone.


    The second post was from Peng Jiekun, content condemning Qin Hao¡¯s violent behavior, calling it arrogant and presumptuous.


    It painted Qin Hao in a bad light, typifying him as the classic villain.


    Comments on this post peaked in the hundreds of thousands, almost unanimously denouncing Qin Hao, with calls for a human-flesh search for him.


    Below that was a statement from Tianhai Entertainment Media Company, stating that Peng Jiekun was their contracted artist.


    The image of their artist being assaulted was a matter that could not be mishandled ¡ª they had spent a hefty sum to elevate Peng Jiekun to his current status.


    Looking further, the majority were cursing Qin Hao, with some rational individuals hoping that the full story would be released before passing judgment.


    A very small number were cussing Peng Jiekun, saying he had it coming, but the comments below were too harsh to look at, as Peng Jiekun¡¯s multitude of fans verbally attacked making the brother afraid to speak out.


    [Requesting a wave of tickets!]


    ¡°`


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 Chapter 356: 358: Ruin His Reputation

    Chapter 356: Chapter 358: Ruin His Reputation


    While Qin Hao was watching, Feng Xiangyi¡¯s call came through again, ¡°Mr. Qin, have you seen everything?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I saw it.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we need to come up with a plan right now, otherwise, once your identity is exposed, it will be a devastating blow to the company.¡±


    Curiously, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Mr. Feng, what do you suggest we do?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi said, ¡°Contact Tianhai Media and Peng Jiekun himself to resolve this matter privately.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°How can we resolve it? Should I go and apologize?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi said, ¡°If necessary, an apology is the only option.¡±


    ¡°Impossible. I don¡¯t want to hear that again,¡± Qin Hao said, then added, ¡°Mr. Feng, if there¡¯s nothing else, you should rest early.¡± After which he hung up the call.


    To apologize to Peng Jiekun?


    That would be a joke.


    When Feng Xiangyi heard the dial tone, feeling somewhat helpless, she recognized Qin Hao¡¯s capabilities, but in her eyes, he also had faults.


    Youthful impulsiveness and reckless actions, these could very likely ruin him and even the company.


    Feng Xiangyi did not want to see the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company destroyed, as she had put too much effort into making it what it was today.


    But, as the CEO, Qin Hao¡¯s words were not to be disregarded by others.


    Thinking of this, Feng Xiangyi let out a long sigh.


    After hanging up the call, Qin Hao continued browsing the net, and soon, Tianhai Entertainment Media Company released the specific details of the event.


    After reading it once, Qin Hao sneered coldly, essentially they were just painting a picture of him causing trouble and deliberately provoking conflicts.


    Qin Hao downloaded a programming tool, then wrote a few programs and tools himself.


    He quietly breached the Jianghai International Airport¡¯s surveillance system, eventually gaining administrative privileges.


    Suddenly, his computer screen was transformed into small squares, each displaying a different surveillance area.


    His computer now resembled a monitor in the airport¡¯s surveillance room.


    It took Qin Hao a while to locate the few cameras in the airport hall. He adjusted the time to just after one o¡¯clock p.m.


    Then he began searching for the video from that time and soon found the footage of the incident occurring.


    Han Qiaoer was pushed, and the people didn¡¯t pause but walked straight past, while Qin Hao ran over, holding his daughter, and went to confront Peng Jiekun.


    The video of the conflict between Qin Hao and Peng Jiekun was captured on another camera.


    The current discussion isn¡¯t heating up enough, we need to fuel the fire, stir up public outrage. The bigger the fire, the more beneficial it is for Peng Jiekun.¡±


    A middle-aged man spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve had someone check on the identity of that person; it seems to be related to the Xu family. Mr. Ren, could there be any trouble?¡±


    Ren Dehui: ¡°Just don¡¯t mention the Xu family and it will be fine, some people above want him to fall from grace.¡±


    Under the immense pressure of public opinion, Qin Hao¡¯s strong background would be of no use.


    The group hesitated slightly upon hearing this, fall from grace? That harsh?


    The meaning of falling from grace was simple: to ruin your reputation so that when you went out shopping, you would become the subject of people¡¯s gossip.


    You would receive a lot of scorn when traveling by train or plane.


    As long as you didn¡¯t withdraw from society, you would face various pressures from both reality and the internet.


    Not only you but also your family and relatives would be pressured, eventually being forced to sever ties with you.


    Friends would also distance themselves from you, and eventually, you would find yourself abandoned by the entire world.


    For many, suicide becomes an option, and for those disgraced, it also becomes a form of relief.


    Of course, even if you committed suicide, no one would pity you, they might even curse that you deserved it, that you should have died long ago.


    This is the terrifying aspect of intangible public opinion pressure.


    Around eight o¡¯clock in the evening, an even more sensational news broke on the internet.


    The identity of the Jianghai Airport assailant was revealed, suspected to be the CEO of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, CEO of Xinghui Employment, and a freshman at Jianghai University.


    Not only that, his photo was plastered online, including his luxury car, luxurious house, information about his parents, and residential address, among others.


    The article also harshly criticized Qin Hao, stating he bullied others relying on his powerful background and openly attacked Peng Jie.


    Calling him a capitalist leeching off the people, earning tens of millions each month from Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    Saying he only profited from the sweat of the common people and was the epitome of evil capitalistic greed.


    Yesterday, Jie Kun attended a charity event in Haizhou City of Nanhao Province, donating several hundreds of thousands to the impoverished mountain folk.


    And you? Earning tens of millions every month yet living a life of decadence; owning a sports car worth nearly twenty million and a seaside villa worth seventy to eighty million!


    Once this message was out, it instantly ignited the entire internet, and Qin Hao was thrust into the eye of the storm.


    [Fourth update, and that¡¯s it for today!]


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 Chapter 357: 359: The Crazy Fans

    Chapter 357: Chapter 359: The Crazy Fans


    Qin Hao finished dinner and opened his computer to check online, where he saw the post.


    These people had even exposed his home address and his parents¡¯ address, clearly intending to corner him till he was desperate.


    It wasn¡¯t something Peng Jiekun or Tianhai Media could achieve alone, there must be a more formidable opponent behind this.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t make a sound or move, and now the internet was about to explode with comments about Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Employment.


    Countless people were cursing Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine Industry in the comments.


    Qin Hao decided not to let his company respond for the time being and went to bed after reading the post.


    He was still called to Han Meng¡¯s bedroom by Han Qiaoer, making both Han Meng and Qin Hao somewhat embarrassed.


    Fortunately, this time she didn¡¯t ask Qin Hao to sleep in the middle.


    The next morning, Han Meng got up early to cook, and Qin Hao slept in until past seven.


    During breakfast, Qin Hao received a call from Zhao Yuying, ¡°Hello, Yu Ying, what¡¯s happened?¡±


    Zhao Yuying, ¡°Xiao Hao, I got news from a friend that someone is targeting you; you¡¯re in trouble this time.¡±


    Qin Hao asked curiously, ¡°Targeting me? How are they targeting me?¡±


    Zhao Yuying, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the specifics, but my friend said it¡¯s terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Yu Ying. Don¡¯t worry about me; just focus on your filming,¡± Qin Hao said with a smile.@@@@


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Zhao Yuying said, sounding worried.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao said to Qiao¡¯er, ¡°Qiao¡¯er, you shouldn¡¯t go to school for the next few days. Stay at home, study, and keep mom company.¡±


    He was worried about Qiao¡¯er being bullied, either on the way to school or while at school.


    Qiao¡¯er nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to dad.¡±


    After breakfast, Qin Hao went to his study and turned on his computer; the internet had already turned upside down.


    Early at seven, the other four members of the PEL boy band, Jiang Yunfeng, Wang Haonan, Huang Gaoyang, and Zhu Jianzheng, all retweeted support for Peng Jiekun.


    The PEL boy band had five members, each with very high popularity, from five to six million at least, up to tens of millions, which was quite terrifying.


    Previously, Qin Hao still found some sensible people, but later almost everyone was cursing him.


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t understand; were these people really brainless?


    They didn¡¯t even know the cause and effect of the situation, yet they came to curse him right away? Was the fan effect that terrifying?


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t dislike celebrities because every profession required immense effort and commitment to succeed.


    However, that doesn¡¯t justify trampling on others¡¯ dignity, regardless of whether you are in a high position, a business tycoon, or just an ordinary person; basic respect should never be lost.


    There are such people in society who look down on the common folks once they achieve success or high positions, forgetting that they themselves came from the bottom.


    Qin Hao saw the comment and couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud, acting as if he were the one attacked.


    This person¡¯s username was Jianghu Renwo Xiao, and Qin Hao remembered him.


    Eventually, that person also shared it, and in less than a minute, Qin Hao¡¯s post had over a million comments, shares, and likes.


    The number of followers crazily increased as well, although these people were not true fans but rather came to scold him.


    Following him made it easier to scold him later on.


    ...


    ¡°Dare to hit our Jie Kun, I curse your dad.¡±


    ¡°And posting this kind of poem, did you even graduate from kindergarten?¡±


    ¡°Moronic child.¡±


    ¡°Scumbag¡±


    ¡°Idiot.¡±


    ¡°So what if you have connections?¡±


    ¡°May your whole family die.¡±


    The comments under Qin Hao¡¯s post were unanimously scolding him, and most of them, especially the girls, were quite harsh.


    Qin Hao glanced at the comments just once, then looked no more, unable to bear them.


    Lately, over ten fairly famous celebrities in the entertainment circle also shared in support of Peng Jiekun, and incidentally they tagged Qin Hao as well.


    Loads of smaller celebrities, countless, as well as some marketing accounts and big V accounts, all supported Peng Jiekun.


    More and more people joined the battle, and Tianhai Media Company also employed a large number of paid followers.


    By the morning, Qin Hao¡¯s follower count had broken two million, a genuine two million people, not bots or inactive followers.


    But most of these people were there to scold him; his post had been shared over a million times, commented over a million times, liked over a million times.


    Out of these one million comments, at least 999,900 were scolding him; the rest were just watching the drama.


    After having lunch, Qin Hao received a call from Feng Xiangyi: ¡°Mr. Qin, could you come to the office?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Feng Xiangyi: ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen the financial system? Today¡¯s noon revenue at all Jiangshan Roasted Duck restaurants was almost half less than usual.


    If this continues, our company might go bankrupt this afternoon.¡±


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 Chapter 358: 360: Trap

    Chapter 358: Chapter 360: Trap


    Qin Hao¡¯s complexion changed slightly upon hearing the words, ¡°I understand, I¡¯m on my way over.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t expected the online public opinion to have such a significant impact on the actual company.


    He had somewhat underestimated the fan effect.


    After leaving the study, he informed Han Meng and then drove towards the company.


    As he was exiting the residential complex, Qin Hao saw many cars parked beside the entrance. As his car came out, many individuals ¡°click-clicked¡± their cameras and snapped pictures.


    If it weren¡¯t for the complex¡¯s restrictions against casual entry, these people might have been blocking the doorstep of Qin Hao¡¯s home.


    Qin Hao frowned at the scene and took out his phone to call Li Bao while on the road, ¡°After Leng Xuan and the others go back to work, have him bring some people over to Jianghai City.¡±


    Li Bao: ¡°Alright, Hao, I saw what¡¯s happening online. If it really comes down to it, just leave it to me.¡±


    ¡°Leave it to you? Do you have a solution?¡± Qin Hao asked in surprise.


    Li Bao: ¡°I¡¯ll take care of all of them!¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Nonsense, just make sure my parents are protected. The online issue has had no small impact, and I will handle it.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao drove to the underground parking lot of Dingfeng Building.


    Taking the elevator up, he entered the company where many people were looking at him.


    Qin Hao stopped and said in an even tone to those people, ¡°If anyone wishes to resign, I can approve it immediately.


    But remember, anyone who leaves Jiangshan Roasted Duck on their own will never be rehired. You all should know this policy.¡±


    After finishing, he went into the meeting room, where Feng Xiangyi and the company¡¯s senior management were all sitting with furrowed brows.


    Qin Hao took his seat at the head of the table and Feng Xiangyi spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, we must take immediate action.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Feng, do you have a good course of action?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi: ¡°Contact Tianhai Media and Peng Jiekun himself to discuss terms for a resolution.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Feng, you¡¯ve seen the situation online. Even contacting them now is useless.


    They never wanted to resolve this issue from the beginning. This public opinion battle only has two possible outcomes.


    Either I fall or they do, understand? Don¡¯t bring up negotiations again, and don¡¯t worry about the stuff online.


    You just manage the company properly, I can solve the online issues.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi could also see that the online public opinion was clearly pushed by paid posters.


    And with stars and internet celebrities coming to help, it was obvious someone had bought them off.


    I believe that society will bring justice for Jie Kun, and justice for everyone!


    Who is Jiang Feifei?


    A top star in the entertainment industry, she became famous early and has remained popular. Even now, her influence in the industry is still significant.


    Even compared to Zhao Yuying, she is slightly ahead; they may be on par in terms of popularity, but when it comes to connections and depth, there¡¯s a significant difference.


    Her social media has over seventy million followers, and though this post seems mild, it¡¯s filled with deadly intent.


    With the psychology of wealth envy, the moral high ground, and the last sentence that implicated everyone.


    Qin Hao, upon seeing this, inwardly remarked on its sharpness¡ªvery incisive language.


    It was obviously a prepared speech, just to strike a deadly blow to Qin Hao.


    Justice, you all want justice?


    Qin Hao¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, I¡¯ll give justice to you all!¡±


    I want to see how many more people are going to jump out.


    If you jump out today, you won¡¯t think of jumping back in later.


    After Jiang Feifei made her post, many big-name celebrities who were friendly with her forwarded it and supported her.


    Anyone who knows Jiang Feifei has very high popularity.


    And some with lower popularity, wanting to leave an impression in her heart, also forwarded and supported her.


    That afternoon, it could be said that nearly half the entertainment industry was in battle against Qin Hao.


    This was a lopsided fight, with millions of fans bombarding Qin Hao single-handedly.


    Later, Zhao Yuying couldn¡¯t help but post: The truth of the matter hasn¡¯t come to light yet, I hope everyone can stay calm and not be used by people with ulterior motives.


    ¡°Can¡¯t stop yourself from supporting Qin Hao now, huh? You two must have some dirty dealings in secret, right?¡±


    ¡°Being the spokeswoman for Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine Industry, she must¡¯ve already slept with Qin Hao.¡±


    ¡°So she¡¯s a kept woman, that¡¯s ****ing disgusting.¡±


    It seemed like people knew she was going to post her support for Qin Hao; instantly a large army of online trolls swarmed in, raining curses upon her.


    Zhao Yuying was stunned, and so were her fans, because the opposition acted too swiftly.


    Zhao Yuying wasn¡¯t dumb; she instantly realized that she might have walked right into their trap.


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 Chapter 359: 361 Influence

    Chapter 359: Chapter 361 Influence


    Zhao Yuying was right, people who knew about her good relationship with Qin Hao had set their sights on her long before.


    As soon as she dared to help out, countless internet trolls would launch a frenzied attack on her.


    After Zhao Yuying¡¯s fans realized what was happening, they quickly started to protect their goddess.


    ¡°Where did these trolls come from? Our goddess merely makes a rational comment, and you idiots all start to bash her?¡±


    ¡°This is an organized, premeditated wave of trolls, they must have been waiting for our goddess to step in.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, it must be Jiang Feifei who hired them, she¡¯s been suppressing our goddess for a long time.¡±


    Jiang Feifei and Zhao Yuying had some grudges, as Jiang Feifei, taking advantage of her status as a veteran actress, had bullied Zhao Yuying before she became famous.


    ¡°I think the attack on Qin Hao is also premeditated and organized, someone is playing a big game.¡±


    There were plenty of capable people online, and they had been watching the war between Peng Jiekun¡¯s group and Qin Hao.


    Anyone with even a modest understanding of the entertainment industry and the internet could see the massive number of trolls stirring up trouble, manipulating some fans to their advantage.


    But when you¡¯re involved in the situation, it¡¯s hard to see clearly, and there are very few who can.


    Then someone leaked Zhao Yuying¡¯s current address, right next to Qin Hao¡¯s, and also exposed many photos of the two together.


    They smeared Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying, claiming they had some kind of financial relationship.


    Many of Zhao Yuying¡¯s fans, after seeing this, began to question her, and some even went directly to cuss out Qin Hao.


    The situation had spiraled beyond Zhao Yuying¡¯s control; she hadn¡¯t anticipated such a thorough plan from the opposition.


    Qin Hao received a call from Zhao Yuying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Qin Hao, I didn¡¯t expect things to turn out like this.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Sister Ying, I should be the one thanking you. You just need not to make any more statements. I have ways to deal with them.¡±


    This afternoon, the news about Qin Hao had gone viral online, even reaching people¡¯s social circles.


    Li Moying also saw it, but he was helpless to do anything.


    ¡°Dad, do you have any solutions?¡± Li Moying asked Li Xutian.


    Li Xutian shook his head, ¡°I really want to help him, but this is deep water, and I can¡¯t get involved.¡±


    From his observations, it wasn¡¯t just Tang Group and the Xiao Family plotting behind the scenes; there were also several other forces involved.


    He was somewhat surprised, just how many people had Qin Hao managed to offend?@@@@


    Li Moying, ¡°Dad, is there really no solution? If this keeps up, Qin Hao is finished.¡±


    Li Xutian frowned deeply, ¡°Solution? Unless someone from above steps in to suppress it, but that¡¯s highly unlikely. Many netizens have already been swayed, and they need a reasonable explanation.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao realized these people had already planned this, using the incident of Peng Jiekun being beaten as a fuse.


    They gradually centralized all the attention on Qin Hao, then shifted it to his company.


    They were intent on completely destroying him.


    Now, Jiangshan Roasted Duck was already in a state of loss.


    If this continued, within three days the company¡¯s employees would become anxious, and mass resignations could even start happening.


    Because their wages were tied to sales turnover, and with stores not making any, the salaries were left to the imagination.


    A glint of determination flashed through Qin Hao¡¯s eyes as he checked Peng Jiekun¡¯s online account and found it to be active.


    Using software, he penetrated into Peng Jiekun¡¯s computer, which contained only a few TT account details.


    Qin Hao quickly traced his bound mobile number through the TT account, then used location software to find his whereabouts.


    He infiltrated Peng Jiekun¡¯s phone, which was a bit more challenging than hacking into a computer.


    Now, Qin Hao¡¯s computer screen showed a mobile phone interface¡ªit was Peng Jiekun¡¯s.


    Using a mirroring tool, Qin Hao displayed the contents of Peng¡¯s phone on his own computer.


    He opened his photo and video library and found about a dozen videos, seven or eight of which depicted him having sex with women.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t have time to watch them because if Peng Jiekun disconnected from the network, or the phone ran out of battery and shut off, it would all be for naught.


    He immediately copied those videos to his computer.


    Afterward, Qin Hao used the same method to hack into Jiang Feifei¡¯s computer and phone as well.


    Having gathered the materials, Qin Hao reviewed them, and his blood boiled.


    A smile spread across his face, thinking to destroy me? Let¡¯s see who goes down first.


    A top-tier star getting involved in such affairs would surely create an explosive sensation if leaked!


    Before shutting down the computer, Qin Hao posted another message online: Goodnight, a grand show will unfold tomorrow.


    He didn¡¯t care about the many people cursing at him; he sent the message and went to bed.


    Right after he posted, a deluge of people flooded in, showering him with insults!


    The first comment was still from Jianghu Renwo Xiao: ¡°Goodnight my ass, are you looking forward to watching the grand show of your company¡¯s collapse?¡±


    [Third installment, two chapters released almost simultaneously!]


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 Chapter 360: 362 Selling Misery

    Chapter 360: Chapter 362 Selling Misery


    Upon stepping out of the study, Qin Hao happened to see Qiao¡¯er walking toward him.


    Seeing him, Qiao¡¯er spoke, ¡°Daddy, it¡¯s already very late. Go to bed early.¡±


    Picking her up, Qin Hao chuckled and said, ¡°Yeah, okay, Daddy is going to sleep now.¡±


    He carried Qiao¡¯er back to the bedroom, where Han Meng had already tucked herself in.


    He placed Qiao¡¯er in the middle and then turned off the lights to sleep.


    The next morning, the uproar online grew even more intense, as many more joined the ranks of those condemning Qin Hao.


    Many also spread rumors about quality issues with Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine.


    That morning, the national Food and Drug Administration¡¯s official website posted an announcement, ¡°In view of the numerous reports from netizens about Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine,


    our department has received them, and this morning an investigative team has been established to inspect the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant and Xinghui Wine facilities.¡±


    The inspection results will be announced online this afternoon; if the issues are found to be true, we will ban Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine.


    If there¡¯s any false accusation or rumor-mongering, those responsible will face legal sanctions. We hope the general public will take this as a warning.


    As the official website released the news, a lot of people saw it.


    They supported the Food and Drug Administration¡¯s investigation of Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine.


    That morning, Qin Hao was at home, strategizing. He pondered how to counterattack, so that he could make the most of what was in his hands.


    Later, Qin Hao made a phone call to Feng Xiangyi, asking to contact those more than ten charitable organizations in Jianghai City.


    He wanted a detailed report of his donation distributions.


    It was time for them to come out and testify.


    Qin Hao saw this as an opportunity to boost the reputation of Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine.


    This was a good chance, and if managed well, the impact could be even stronger than satellite TV advertisements.


    Now, the number of followers on Qin Hao¡¯s social media had already surpassed ten million, all genuine living people from all over the country.


    At least several million were actively keeping tabs on him, and he intended to use these people to wage a comeback battle.


    Late that morning, he posted a new message:


    A life taken at every step, no trace left over thousands of miles.


    Having done the deed, I depart with a sweep of my sleeve, burying my identity and name deep.


    ¡°Damn, is this idiot planning to commit murder? Won¡¯t the police do something?¡± Jianghu Renwo Xiao was the first to comment, as usual.


    Now, other than eating, he was glued to his phone, endlessly scrolling through social media, keeping an eye on Qin Hao.


    He wanted to get back at his idol¡¯s critics, to ridicule Qin Hao until he questioned his own existence.@@@@


    His post instantly attracted countless insults, with comments soaring into the hundreds of thousands within minutes, trending towards a million.


    Some social media heavyweights shared his post: ¡°Do you even deserve to use a poem that praises honorable warriors? You¡¯re insulting them.¡±


    Why had I become so crazy? It was just a slap in the face, hardly a major issue.


    But most people were still cursing in the comments: You realize your mistake only now? It¡¯s too late, where was this humility when you were being arrogant and domineering?


    There were many people following Qin Hao, not only relatives and friends but also competitors.


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s post, they smiled¡ªit seemed Qin Hao really couldn¡¯t stand the pressure anymore.


    All of the hundreds of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant outlets across the nation had started to lose money. In this state, Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t last many days.


    This was exactly what those behind-the-scenes people wanted to see, then they would buy Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine at a low price, completing their entire plan.


    As for the truth Qin Hao wanted to tell, they saw it simply as an attempt to exonerate himself.


    The post had barely gone up when Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang¡ª it was Feng Xiangyi calling: ¡°Mr. Qin, are you okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Qin Hao responded.


    Feng Xiangyi didn¡¯t mention anything about the online situation and gently said, ¡°Then rest well for a couple of days, don¡¯t worry about the company¡¯s affairs.¡±


    After hanging up, Li Moying called: ¡°Master, are you okay?¡±


    Qin Hao replied calmly, ¡°I want to be left alone.¡±


    Fan Ruobing: ¡°I¡¯ve got everything under control.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ...


    At the Xu Family, Xu Siyao saw Qin Hao¡¯s post and felt somewhat nervous.


    She wasn¡¯t the center of the media storm but could still sense its terrifying power¡ªhow much more so Qin Hao who was right in the middle of it?


    Could it be that he really couldn¡¯t hold on any longer?


    ¡°Dad, Qin Hao is okay, right?¡± Xu Siyao asked her father.


    Xu Jiekang had also seen Qin Hao¡¯s post and was speechless¡ªthis guy was certainly plotting something.


    Responding to his daughter¡¯s question, he said, ¡°In trouble? He¡¯s probably the last person who would be in trouble.¡±


    To Qin Hao¡¯s surprise, he even received a call from Xia Qing.


    After the call connected, Xia Qing hesitated for a few seconds before saying, ¡°Everything will pass, stay strong.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Thank you!¡±


    Xia Qing sighed and without saying more, hung up.


    At two in the afternoon, the Food and Drug Administration released a public announcement across the web.


    ¡°Investigation Report on Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine¡±


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 Chapter 361: 363: Stem the Tide

    Chapter 361: Chapter 363: Stem the Tide


    The report had just been released and it immediately attracted many people to watch, as they wanted to see the official appraisal report.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck appraisal report: upon examination, the Jiangshan Roasted Duck contains dragon teeth, Guangzao, and 81 types of herbs.


    It has the effects of strengthening the body, replenishing vital energy, and enhancing the body¡¯s resistance.


    Xinghui Wine low-end wine appraisal report: the raw materials are entirely grains, brewed using an exclusive process, mixed with nineteen types of herbs that strengthen the body, soothe the nerves, and replenish vital energy.


    Xinghui Wine mid-range wine: the materials are the same, but it is mixed with thirty-six types of herbs, with effects such as strengthening the body, limbering up muscles and bones, and nourishing the mind and replenishing vital energy.


    Upon seeing the food and drug authority reports, these people were stunned for a moment.


    What the heck, is this food or health products? It¡¯s that good for the body?


    No one doubted the authority of the food and drug department, because they are a national department, representing the state.


    After the food and drug department announced the release, Qin Hao also posted one.@@@@


    ¡°Incident at the airport, with the complete video at the time.¡±


    He narrated the events that had taken place in detail, and there was also sound in the video, which these people could hear.


    Just after they finished watching the food and drug department¡¯s site, they saw that Qin Hao had posted another, and they quickly ran over to start watching.


    They read through the text content, and then clicked on the video.


    The video started with Qiao¡¯er waiting for Qin Hao in the airport lobby.


    Then a group of people walked up, and Peng Jiekun¡¯s bodyguard directly shoved Qiao¡¯er to the side without a glance and passed by.


    ¡°Damn, they shoved the kid and didn¡¯t even go to check on her?¡±


    ¡°Fuck, didn¡¯t they see the child?¡±


    ¡°These people look like Peng Jiekun and his bodyguards, right?¡±


    ...


    The crowd looked at each other, then continued watching.


    Qiao¡¯er fell to the ground, scraping her knee, then Qin Hao ran over, covering her wound with tissue paper.


    Qin Hao carried Qiao¡¯er and stopped Peng Jiekun and his party upfront, and their conversation could be heard when the volume was turned up a bit.


    After watching it, many people were stunned.


    A third of the people cursing Qin Hao were fans of various celebrities, with even more being spectators who were drawn in.


    ¡°Damn you M, thinking you can fool me like I¡¯m some kind of idiot? Get the hell out here.¡±


    ¡°What a grand scheme, deceiving everyone.¡±


    ¡°The thought is terrifying, just how huge must the capital forces controlling this from behind be?¡±


    ¡°We almost wronged a good person, roll out of the entertainment industry, get out of Xuan Country.¡±


    ¡°Peng Jiekun, Jiang Feifei, Tianhai Media, and all those involved in fanning the flames, I¡¯ve got you on my blacklist now, just wait.¡±


    The fans of numerous A-list stars were at a loss; they had initially come to bombard Qin Hao led by their idols.


    But now, with Qin Hao being completely innocent, what should they do? Continue to attack?


    Now the comments on Qin Hao¡¯s online platforms have improved significantly, many people are admitting their mistakes, hoping for forgiveness.


    Qin Hao immediately followed up with another post: I¡¯ve seen everyone¡¯s apologies, and I know you were all deceived.


    So, I don¡¯t blame you all, I just hope that in the future everyone can be a bit more rational and improve their judgment.


    Let¡¯s not let online bullying happen, let¡¯s eradicate cyberbullying and restore a healthy internet environment to Xuan Country.


    Some have said I¡¯m a capitalist who drains the blood of the people. Below are some photos for everyone to see. I support anyone who wishes to investigate these transactions to see if they are fake.


    ¡°On October 28, 2018, Xuan Country Charity General Association received an anonymous donation of 30 million from Mr. Qin Hao.


    The funds were used to assist 32,427 teachers in mountainous areas, below is the financial statement.¡±


    ¡°On October 28, 2018, Xuan Country¡¯s Disabled People¡¯s Federation received an anonymous donation of 30 million from Mr. Qin Hao.


    Over 80,000 disabled individuals benefited as a result, below is a list of those who benefited.¡±


    ¡°Congenital Disease Children Foundation received an anonymous donation of 30 million from Mr. Qin Hao on October 28, 2018.


    Thousands of children suffering from congenital diseases were cured, freeing them from their afflictions, below is the list of these children.¡±


    ¡°The Orphanage Foundation received an anonymous donation of 30 million from Mr. Qin Hao on November 2, 2018.


    Hundreds of orphanages received financial support, benefiting tens of thousands of orphans, below is a list of the benefiting orphanages.¡±


    ¡°The Dream Fund received an anonymous donation of 30 million from Mr. Qin Hao on November 2, 2018.


    Nearly ten thousand impoverished college students received financial assistance so they could continue their educations.¡±


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 Chapter 362: 364: Sudden Change of Wind Direction

    Chapter 362: Chapter 364: Sudden Change of Wind Direction


    ¡°On November 2, 2018, the Hope Fund received an anonymous donation of thirty million from Mr. Qin Hao.


    Hundreds of Hope Primary Schools were successfully established, enabling tens of thousands of children to attend school.¡±


    ¡°On November 4, 2018, the Medical Assistance Association received an anonymous donation of thirty million from Mr. Qin Hao.


    Thousands of patients were cured as a result, and the image includes a list of the benefiting patients.¡±


    ...


    Looking through the images, these people were utterly shocked.@@@@


    After some calculation, it turned out that Mr. Qin had donated approximately seven hundred million to various charitable organizations.


    Seven hundred million in cash, what concept is that?


    The current market value of Jiangshan Roasted Duck is only about three billion, and that¡¯s just the market value.


    Had he quietly donated seven hundred million more than half a month ago?


    There were no reports in newspapers or online, as this was an anonymous donation at Mr. Qin¡¯s request.


    His donation of such a large sum, requesting anonymity, sufficiently demonstrated that he was not seeking fame or profit.


    Why would a person donate seven hundred million and not seek fame?


    Some remembered his previous Wei Yan post: ¡°Having done the deed, I retreat and deeply hide myself and my name.¡±


    Seeing their own comments from back then, many were embarrassed, blushing and feeling awkward.


    Insult this poem?


    It might be an insult when others use it, but he was fully worthy of these lines.


    Many spectators were present during the great battle, and upon seeing Mr. Qin Hao¡¯s donation records, they were all dumbfounded and in disbelief.


    Seven hundred million, he actually donated seven hundred million!


    They had never seen anyone donate so much money, even among the famous tycoons of Xuan Country.


    After Mr. Qin Hao revealed his donation records, online public opinion erupted again, with countless people flooding the social media pages of Jiang Feifei, Peng Jiekun, PEL boy band members, and Tianhai Media.


    Mr. Qin Hao let them experience what it was like to be bombarded by countless netizens.


    The opposing side was already in disarray; Mr. Qin¡¯s retaliation was sharp, especially with the donor records, which were truly a trump card.


    Mr. Qin Hao stayed in front of the computer all afternoon, smiling as he watched.


    Those people were severely criticized, and some, unable to bear it, turned off the comment function on their Wei Yan pages.


    But for Mr. Qin, that wasn¡¯t nearly enough; he posted another Wei Yan: ¡°Is this your idol?¡±


    It was accompanied by eight edited videos.


    The main character in the videos was Peng Jiekun; Mr. Qin didn¡¯t recognize the women, but that wasn¡¯t a problem for the omnipotent netizens.


    Tang Group, Huaqing Group, Ruixing Group, Su Yi Group, and Jifeng Group.


    Qin Hao, after seeing this list, narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew Tang Group and Huaqing Group, but the other three groups were new to him.


    The reputation of Jifeng Group is known throughout Xuan Country, as one of the top five private automotive factories, with a very strong standing.


    Qin Hao took note of the names of those groups, and planned to have someone investigate them later that evening.


    At this moment, the official Wei Yan of the Jiangshan Government also posted a message in support of Qin Hao:


    In early October, the Jiangshan Government received a donation of twenty million Xuan Country Coin from Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Mr. Qin.


    Later, Mr. Qin donated three hundred million Xuan Country Coin, which were all used in poverty alleviation efforts, and I on behalf of the Jiangshan Government, would like to express our gratitude.


    Such unsung heroes should not be smeared by those with ulterior motives; our society and our country need people like Mr. Qin.


    Meanwhile, the official Wei Yan of Shuinan Province government also released a statement:


    In early November, the Poverty Alleviation Office of Shuinan Province Government received a donation of three hundred million Xuan Country Coin from Qin Hao.


    The funds have been used in impoverished areas, and the official website has it listed, where everyone can verify.


    Another six hundred million?


    Damn, bro, how much have you donated in total?


    It must be over 1.3 billion by now, right?


    Are you trying to become the number one philanthropist in Xuan Country?


    With the government¡¯s official Wei Yan also coming out to support Qin Hao, it further convinced the public.


    While they were bombarding Jiang Feifei and others, they also targeted those major groups.


    This event couldn¡¯t have been staged by just Peng Jiekun alone.


    Without orders from the capital backers, those four major media companies couldn¡¯t have united to have their artists attack Qin Hao.


    The five major groups were bombarded by numerous netizens, and at that time, the PR departments of the big groups showed their ability.


    They used various reasons to distance themselves from the four major media companies.


    ¡°We only hold shares; we do not have managerial control. The managerial authority is entirely in the hands of the general manager.


    We are also outraged by this incident and will definitely give everyone, including Mr. Qin, an explanation.¡±


    This PR level was high, as their statements were flawless; they were so proactive in admitting fault that people no longer felt motivated to continue the bombardment.


    Qin Hao had just received detailed information about the five major groups from Li Moying.


    After reviewing it, a fierce look flashed in his eyes, about to show them what he¡¯s really made of.


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 Chapter 363: 365 Ends

    Chapter 363: Chapter 365 Ends


    The chairman of Ruixing Group is named Luo Feng, a person he does not recognize.


    However, Luo Feng has a son named Luo Ze, someone Qin Hao vaguely remembers as the one who had studied abroad.


    One of He Tingting¡¯s suitors.


    Su Yi Group made Qin Hao¡¯s expression even colder because the CEO of Su Yi Group is Li Pingrong, his mother¡¯s elder brother!


    As for Jifeng Group, Qin Hao learned from Li Moying that the current CEO of Jifeng Group had once been engaged to Li Shujie.


    The marriage was arranged by Li Mingwang, but later Li Shujie eloped with Mr. Qin.


    This caused great embarrassment for both the Li Family and the Shen Family.


    The CEO of Jifeng Group, Shen Mingwang, must have learned of Qin Hao¡¯s identity; otherwise, why would he manipulate things behind the scenes?


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, it was time to reveal his true ace.


    About five minutes later, Qin Hao¡¯s Wei Yan was updated again.


    His update on Wei Yan touched countless hearts, and seeing him update again, many were anxious,


    fearing that he would turn his accusation against them, unable to withstand the fury of so many netizens.


    Qin Hao¡¯s post on Wei Yan was simple, directly targeting the five major groups:


    Not daring to compete with my company¡¯s products fairly, only capable of resorting to schemes. You five groups are very impressive.


    But I, Qin Hao, am not easily bullied. You nearly drove my company to the brink, and I even thought about committing suicide by jumping off a building.


    You must give me an explanation for this, I have devoted myself to the country and the people.


    Below, Qin Hao attached two images; the content of the first was an ID card, which bore the Xuan Country Academy of Sciences academician certificate.


    The second image was content inside the ID:


    Comrade Qin Hao has made outstanding contributions in the field of cancer drug research and synthesis technology, and is hereby awarded the title of Academician of Xuan Science Academy.


    This post shocked everyone.


    Whether foes or friends of Qin Hao, all were stunned by this news.


    He was an Academician of the Xuan Science Academy?


    The cancer drug was produced by him?


    Everyone who saw this post on Wei Yan was taken aback.


    The title of Academician of the Xuan Science Academy was almost the highest academic title in Xuan Country.


    What university professors and experts; they are far behind an academician.


    The report from the Food and Drug Supervision Department was very significant. Their food efficacy was better than some health products, which is rare.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao received a call from Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Qin, the photolithography machine production line equipment will arrive this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll come over in a while.¡± Qin Hao responded.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao said to Nie Si and Qin Man, ¡°Assistant Nie, Secretary Qin, I might not be able to come to the office these next few days. Call me if anything comes up.¡±


    The two nodded, ¡°Okay, Mr. Qin.¡±


    After leaving the company, Qin Hao drove to the Xinghai High-tech Factory.


    The factory had been fully completed a few days earlier, and next to the factory entrance was a sign reading ¡®Xinghai High-tech Factory.¡¯


    At the entrance booth, two personnel from Flying Leopard Security in black uniforms stood vigil.


    They stood upright with an alert demeanor, presenting a very formal and rigorous image.


    Two more personnel were inside the guardroom, monitoring the surveillance.


    As Qin Hao¡¯s car approached the entrance, the security personnel quickly recognized him and hurriedly opened the factory gate.


    Upon entering the factory, he parked his car in the factory parking lot and walked around inside the factory, noticing patrol teams of five, one of whom even had a dog on a leash.


    The security measures were quite comprehensive.


    He then went to the office building and proceeded to the Deputy Director¡¯s office on the second floor.


    The office had been equipped with desks, sofas, tea tables, and some plants and flowers.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, this is my assistant Zhao Ling,¡± Chang Jing introduced the young woman standing beside her.


    Zhao Ling, having long heard of Qin Hao¡¯s reputation, quickly said, ¡°Hello, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°When will the photolithography production equipment arrive?¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°It should be arriving soon. Mr. Qin, do you want to check on the work situation in the various departments?¡±


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised, ¡°Have all the staff been hired already?¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°As soon as the factory was completed, I posted recruitment notices online. Although there aren¡¯t many, each department is staffed, completely organized.¡±


    He followed Chang Jing to take a look, finding that she managed the company in a very orderly manner, which was impressive.


    At 2:15 p.m., the equipment for the photolithography production line arrived, and workers moved the production equipment into the photolithography workshop.


    It took nearly an hour to install, and the photolithography production line was finally set up.


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 Chapter 364: 366 Chang Jings Treatment

    Chapter 364: Chapter 366 Chang Jing¡¯s Treatment


    The photolithography machine production line was installed, and after Qin Hao and Chang Jing looked it over for a while, Qin Hao returned to the office building.@@@@


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Mr. Chang, where¡¯s my office?¡±


    Chang Jing answered with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s just next door.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I¡¯m going to write something, don¡¯t let anyone disturb me.¡±


    After saying that, he walked to the door of his office, which was labeled Chairman¡¯s Office.


    Upon pushing the door open and entering, he found various decorations and many plants inside, a decor style designed by Chang Jing.


    He located some paper and a pen and sat down in the office chair to write, detailing the raw materials needed for the photolithography machine production line and the operational procedures.


    He also described how to execute each specific step.


    The real core technology, however, he would never write down; in the end, he himself had to assemble and calibrate the machine.


    If not for his assembly and calibration, the chips produced by the photolithography machine would be just ordinary chips available on the market.


    What he intended to produce was a particle beam lithography machine, a very high-end kind of photolithography machine.


    At half-past five in the afternoon, Qin Hao walked out of his office and went to Chang Jing¡¯s office to hand over the documents he had written.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°These are the operational standards and materials required. Be sure to strictly follow the procedures, certain things must not be even slightly off.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°Understood, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Tonight, I will discuss your compensation with the other shareholders. Can work start tomorrow?¡± Qin Hao was somewhat anxious.


    The Tang Group, Huaqing Group, Ruixing Group, Su Yi Group, and Jifeng Group, they are all very strong.


    Even the weakest, Ruixing Group, has a market value of over fifty billion, which is quite terrifying.


    Ruixing Group owns several large textile mills, garment factories, and shoe factories.


    Their apparel and shoes are not only bestsellers domestically but are also exported to Beihai Country and various nations on the Southeast Continent.


    According to Qin Hao¡¯s understanding, Ruixing Group has dealings with the Xiao Family¡¯s Huaqing Group.


    The fact that Ruixing Group can export its products to other countries is entirely due to the boost from Huaqing Group.


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a problem, we should be able to start work.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°The sooner the better. I¡¯ll head back now, call me if there¡¯s anything.¡±


    After Qin Hao left, Chang Jing picked up what he had written and looked through it; it included process requirements, material specifications, and operational procedures.


    Qin Hao felt somewhat embarrassed after reading it; they were practically singing his praises to the skies.


    He can¡¯t keep reading this; it¡¯s easy to lose oneself in flattery.


    He shut down the computer and walked out of the study. Downstairs in the living room, the Zhao Xingbo couple had somehow already arrived and were playing with Qiao¡¯er.


    Han Meng had already made lunch and was sitting on the sofa waiting for Qin Hao to come down.


    If Qin Hao didn¡¯t come down, she would just keep waiting like that, and she would not disturb him.


    Seeing Qin Hao come down, Zhao Xingbo smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Hao, you¡¯ve done great, becoming an Academician of the Xuan Science Academy.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a title; it¡¯s not very useful. When is Ying coming back? She really helped me out a lot.¡± Qin Hao changed the subject.


    Zhao Xingbo: ¡°Ying can barely protect herself; she didn¡¯t really help you. She¡¯ll be back in a few days.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°When Ying gets back, I¡¯ll thank her then. Mr. Zhao, how about a drink tonight?¡±


    Zhao Xingbo: ¡°Alright, a little drinking is fine.¡±


    The two of them drank more than three bottles of Xinghui Wine, among which Zhao Xingbo barely managed one bottle, while Qin Hao had more than two.


    When Zhao Xingbo left, he was dragged away by Wang Zhi. Luckily, Xinghui Wine is not harmful to the body; otherwise, Wang Zhi definitely would not have let him drink so much.


    The next morning, Qin Hao opened his eyes feeling completely refreshed.


    A few minutes later, Han Meng got up, dressed quickly, and hurried out.


    Qin Hao also got up, and after washing up, he went to the kitchen doorway.


    Han Meng, with her back to him, heard him approaching and stood there, not daring to move.


    ¡°Meng, I really don¡¯t know what happened; I didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Qin Hao felt that it was necessary to explain last night¡¯s incident since he had drunk a bit too much and couldn¡¯t remember clearly.


    Han Meng: ¡°I know, I don¡¯t blame you.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯ll sleep in my room from now on in the evenings.¡±


    Han Meng quickly said: ¡°Qiao¡¯er would be sad. I¡¯m okay with it; I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    Her voice was very soft at the end, her cheeks flushed red, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at Qin Hao.


    She owed Qin Hao too much, especially for his meticulous care for Qiao¡¯er, which was even more attentive than hers as a mother.


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 Chapter 365: 367 Auction (Part 1)

    Chapter 365: Chapter 367 Auction (Part 1)


    Qin Hao had keen ears and sharp eyes, and although Han Meng¡¯s voice was very soft, he heard it.


    His expression froze for a moment. Although Han Meng said she didn¡¯t mind, Qin Hao couldn¡¯t just let it be.


    As long as she wasn¡¯t angry, that was good enough.


    He went out for some exercise and ran into Zhao Xingbo on the way.


    He was full of energy and, seeing Qin Hao, he smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Hao, this Xinghui Wine is really good. I drank too much last night, but woke up feeling refreshed, as if I were several years younger.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°It¡¯s when you¡¯re drunk and asleep that the effects of the Xinghui Wine really start to kick in.¡±


    Zhao Xingbo whispered to him, ¡°Xiao Hao, let me ask you, does this wine also have any... you know, aphrodisiac effects?¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, then thought for a second before replying, ¡°It should, I guess. It strengthens the foundation and nourishes the origin, so it does have a bit of that effect.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao ran to the beach and received a call from Li Bao on the phone in his pocket.


    Li Bao, ¡°Hao, I¡¯ve arranged for Leng Xuan to select a few people to go to Jianghai to protect you. Give me your address.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Xin Hai District, Haoting Sea View Villa District. Li Bao, you should bring people to Jianghai and open a branch office, Jiangshan is too remote.


    ¡°For a company like ours that trains elite security personnel, there¡¯s bigger business to be had in a major city like Jianghai.¡±


    Li Bao nodded, ¡°Alright, Hao. I¡¯ll make arrangements and come over to check it out in a few days.¡±


    At that moment, Fan Ruobing¡¯s call came through, and after Qin Hao finished speaking with Li Bao, he answered Fan Ruobing¡¯s call.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°President Fan, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Fan Ruobing replied, ¡°Now that you¡¯re an academician of the Xuan Science Academy, just call me Ruobing.¡±


    Qin Hao inquired, ¡°Ruobing, you¡¯re looking for me. Is there something you need?¡±


    Fan Ruobing said, ¡°This morning at ten o¡¯clock, my mother¡¯s company¡¯s auction house is holding an auction.


    ¡°I¡¯ve put a painting of yours up for auction. Shall we go have a look together?¡±


    Qin Hao answered, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll come over after I eat. Are you at school or at home?¡±


    Fan Ruobing replied, ¡°At home, in the same district you visited last time.¡±@@@@


    Qin Hao confirmed, ¡°Okay, see you in a bit.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao ran for a while longer before heading back home.


    Qiao¡¯er had already woken up and was washing up, while Han Meng was braiding her hair.


    Wei Jiaxing nodded and then left the office.


    Wang Shudan asked Qin Hao, ¡°Xiao Hao, what tea would you like to drink?¡±


    She had a variety of teas available, all of them famous, and hard to find on the market.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Auntie, any kind is fine, I¡¯m not too familiar with these things.¡±


    Wang Shudan took out some Da Hong Pao and brewed a pot of tea for the two of them.


    Wang Shudan smiled at him and said, ¡°Xiao Hao, I didn¡¯t expect you to be an academician; you¡¯ve really surprised your aunt.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Fan has contributed even more than I have, he¡¯s done a lot for the country, but few people know about it.¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Hao mention Fan Zhiwei, Wang Shudan¡¯s expression turned a bit unnatural; if it were someone else, she would have turned hostile and lashed out.


    But that was not the case with Qin Hao, firstly because of his status and capability, and secondly because of his relationship with Ruobing.


    ¡°But he is not a competent husband and father,¡± Wang Shudan replied.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t know about the conflict between Wang Shudan and Fan Zhiwei, so he didn¡¯t continue on the topic.


    As the three were talking, a knock came at the door.


    A female sales associate entered: ¡°Wang Guanding, there is someone outside insisting on buying that painting. We told him it was not for sale, but he insists on seeing you.¡±


    The painting the sales associate referred to was the landscape and family painting that Qin Hao had originally given to her.


    Wang Shudan stepped out, and Qin Hao and Fan Ruobing followed suit.


    In the gallery on the third floor, a middle-aged man was examining the landscape and family painting.


    Seeing Wang Shudan approaching with the sales associate, Jiang Shengjie asked, ¡°Are you the boss here?¡±


    Wang Shudan, seeing Jiang Shengjie, smiled and said, ¡°Hello, sir.¡±


    Jiang Shengjie nodded slightly and pointed to the painting in the exhibition area, asking, ¡°How much for this painting?¡±


    Wang Shudan replied regretfully, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, this was a gift from a friend. I¡¯m very fond of it, therefore it¡¯s not for sale.¡±


    Jiang Shengjie frowned slightly, ¡°One billion and five hundred million, the mood and craftsmanship of this painting are worth that price, it¡¯s just a pity it¡¯s not signed.¡±


    Wang Shudan: ¡°Sir, if you like this master¡¯s work, you might want to wait.


    In about fifteen minutes, we¡¯re going to have an auction. There will be another work by this master on offer then.¡±


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 Chapter 366: 368 Auction (Part 2)

    Chapter 366: Chapter 368 Auction (Part 2)


    Jiang Shengjie nodded slightly, figuring that the paintings should be quite similar since they were done by the same person.


    At 9:50 AM, the underground parking lot of Fenghua Art City was filled with dozens of luxury cars, and some of Jianghai City¡¯s well-known bosses rode the elevator up to the third floor.


    The auction venue was located in the grand hall on the third floor.


    The decoration style inside the central hall was very retro, with tables, chairs, lamps, walls, and so on all designed in an ancient style.


    Stepping into this area gave one the feeling of being transported back to ancient times. Qin Hao and Fan Ruobing did not show their faces; they were watching from inside a room.


    By nearly ten o¡¯clock, almost everyone had arrived, close to a hundred people, most of whom were prominent figures from Jianghai City.


    Among them, some were collectors and another part were peers in the industry.


    Qin Hao only recognized Zheng Wenshan and Zheng Jianming; there were a few others he found familiar but whose names he couldn¡¯t recall.


    The auction started punctually at ten; Wang Shudan first had a few small items auctioned off, ranging in value from several hundred thousand to a million.


    Inside the private room, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Is that painting really worth that much?¡±


    Fan Ruobing replied, ¡°Do you know how much a painting by the world¡¯s top masters is worth?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head. He really didn¡¯t understand this industry, not even knowing the names of the world¡¯s top painters.


    Fan Ruobing continued, ¡°The works of the world¡¯s top painters, like Picasso, Van Gogh, Reano, and others, are worth at least several hundred million Xuan Country Coins.


    Some even reach over ten billion or twenty billion. Although theirs are oil paintings and yours are ink paintings, making them incomparable,


    but in terms of painting skills and the artistic conception conveyed, you are stronger than them.¡±


    ¡°I can also paint oil paintings.¡± Qin Hao¡¯s painting skills were level five; he could paint anything that fell under the category of painting, and at that standard too.


    Fan Ruobing stated, ¡°I¡¯m not too fond of Western paintings.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at the people outside, his eyes reflecting deep thought.


    Was he crazy not to have considered selling his paintings for money? That was tens of billions.


    Anyway, those who could afford it were wealthy; it wouldn¡¯t scam the common people.


    There was definitely a proportion of those people earning money off the sweat of others. Taking their money and donating it to the public,


    he would gain reputation and a large amount of achievement points too. Wouldn¡¯t that be killing two birds with one stone?


    At the thought, a smile appeared on his face. He now had less than eight billion in his account, which was not much anymore.


    The development of Jiangshan Roasted Duck could temporarily sustain itself, but if he decided to take over Dayuan Group for Xinghui Wine Industry, it would likely need several billion.


    Then there was the expansion of Feibao Security Company in Jianghai City, setting up another branch and establishing a comprehensive business intelligence system.


    That would require an investment of several billion at the least, and the business intelligence department was a sector that only consumed without generating profit, making it almost impossible for it to be profitable.


    Wang Shudan continued with a smile, ¡°This is the first time Qin Hao has publicly auctioned his work. You have all seen his painting skills.


    As for his reputation, I believe you are all well aware. The opening bid is 100 million Xuan Country Coins, and each increase in bid must not be less than 10 million.¡±


    Someone called out a bid: ¡°110 million!¡±


    ¡°150 million.¡±


    ¡°170 million.¡±


    ...


    ¡°200 million,¡± said Jiang Shengjie, determined to win the painting.


    Many people desired this painting, and the price was skyrocketing.


    It quickly broke through the 1 billion mark, and after the price surpassed 1 billion, the number of bidders decreased somewhat.


    Because the price was too high, it had exceeded their expectations.


    Although the number of bidders had decreased, the rise in price did not stop.


    When the price reached 1.4 billion, another group of people dropped out.


    Beyond that price, if they resold it, the profit would be slim; their estimated value was around 1.5 billion.


    There would be a significant risk if it were bought for 1.4 billion.


    ¡°1.5 billion!¡± Zheng Wenshan called out.


    ¡°1.6 billion.¡±


    Qin Hao and Fan Ruobing turned to look at the person who had just bid, and a flicker of surprise crossed Qin Hao¡¯s eyes.


    He recognized the man, Zhu Huasheng, the Chairman of Shenglong Group.


    The one who had bought his Emperor Green and Dragon Stone jade.


    After processing those two pieces of jade, Zhu Huasheng turned them over for more than 50 billion.


    Most were bought by foreign business magnates who weren¡¯t short of money and coveted such rare items.


    ¡°2 billion,¡± Jiang Shengjie called out directly.


    Instantly, the crowd in the venue paused, turning their gaze towards him. He was not from Jianghai, so many did not recognize him.


    Zheng Wenshan hesitated for a moment: ¡°2.1 billion.¡±


    The price had already somewhat exceeded his expectations.


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 Chapter 367: 369: Three Billion

    Chapter 367: Chapter 369: Three Billion


    Zhu Huasheng raised the price again, ¡°Two billion and two hundred million!¡±


    ¡°Two billion and five hundred million!¡±@@@@


    Jiang Shengjie¡¯s increase was somewhat terrifying, also revealing his substantial financial power from another angle.


    Zhu Huasheng glanced at Jiang Shengjie and said with a smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Jiang to be in Jianghai City too. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t respect you, Mr. Jiang, I truly love this painting.¡±


    ¡°Three billion.¡±


    Zhu Huasheng called out his highest bid, ready to accept it if Jiang Shengjie went higher.


    In an auction, it¡¯s about financial power, about your idle funds. It¡¯s also about your valuation and passion for the item up for auction.


    If two people really love something, then whoever offers more money takes it home; psychological warfare is useless at that point.


    The psychological warfare of an auction is based on having equal financial resources,


    Jiang Shengjie hesitated for a moment, then spoke, ¡°Three billion and ten million.¡±


    Zhu Huasheng, ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Jiang.¡±


    Jiang Shengjie said indifferently, ¡°Mr. Zhu, you¡¯re too kind.¡±


    Once this painting was auctioned off, the auction ended, with the painting selling for the staggering price of three billion.


    If this were to get out, I¡¯m afraid no one would believe it.


    The painting was indeed worth the price. Though high, its artistic conception and craftsmanship were there for all to see.


    Moreover, with Qin Hao¡¯s reputation, if it were kept as a collection, it would certainly increase in value over the decades, even centuries.


    After the auction ended and everyone had left, Qin Hao and Fan Ruobing came out from the room.


    Wang Shudan said with a smile, ¡°Congratulations, Xiao Hao, three billion. This has already broken the domestic record for calligraphy and painting auctions.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a bit beyond my expectations.¡±


    Wang Shudan handed a bank card to Qin Hao, ¡°There are three billion on it, the password is six sixes, Xiao Hao, keep it safe.¡±


    Three billion, she had indeed been tempted, but that thought was extinguished as soon as it arose.


    She had toiled for over a decade, and her company¡¯s total assets were only tens of billions. Qin Hao¡¯s single painting was worth three billion; the gap was simply too big.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t accept it since he had already given the painting to Fan Ruobing, ¡°Ms. Wang, you should give it to Ruobing instead, as I¡¯ve given the painting to her.¡±


    ¡°How could I feel comfortable holding onto so much money? Besides, I don¡¯t need the money. You take it,¡± Fan Ruobing said, pushing the card into his hand.


    To her, three billion was just a number. She had enough money to spend, having so much was useless.


    What does this have to do with being physically fit?


    Qin Hao sat beside him and said, ¡°The company has set up a web department, you should know that, right?¡±


    Chen Ping nodded: ¡°I¡¯m aware, and I¡¯m also part of the web department now.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Come with me to the company later to meet some colleagues. They may not be very skilled, but they have experience and things you can learn from. Continuous learning is the only way to improve.¡±


    Chen Ping: ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right, big bro. Shall we go now?¡±


    He had already recovered from the blow of a failed relationship, for only the weak are defeated by hardships and setbacks.


    He didn¡¯t want to be weak; he wanted to be strong.


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go.¡±


    The two left the dormitory building. They encountered quite a few people on the road, but no one paid them any attention.


    Qin Hao drove Chen Ping to the Dingfeng Building.


    Once at the company, Qin Hao first took Chen Ping to Feng Xiangyi¡¯s office.


    Qin Hao introduced: ¡°This is Chen Ping from the web department; this is Mr. Feng, who generally manages the company¡¯s affairs.¡±


    Chen Ping said somewhat shyly: ¡°Mr. Feng, hello.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi glanced at Qin Hao and smiled as she said, ¡°Hello Chen Ping, I have looked at the website, and the design is quite good.


    However, the descriptions of our product features are not specific enough, and the product images and the like need to be refined.¡±


    Chen Ping quickly nodded, not daring to look at Feng Xiangyi: ¡°Sure, Mr. Feng.¡±


    In the office, Qin Man and Nie Si were also present, and seeing Chen Ping so timid, they curiously sized him up.


    Seeing Chen Ping like this, Qin Hao said: ¡°Chen Ping, come with me to see the web department.¡±


    After speaking, he led him out of Feng Xiangyi¡¯s office and into the company¡¯s web department.


    There were currently five people in the web department. Their skills weren¡¯t very high, but they could maintain a website without any issues.


    Qin Hao said to Chen Ping: ¡°If you have no classes at school, come to the company. It will be good for your future interactions with people.¡±


    Chen Ping nodded: ¡°Okay, big bro.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Take this time to learn from others¡¯ strengths. There will be more important tasks waiting for you in the future.¡±


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 Chapter 368: 370: The Seven Regions

    Chapter 368: Chapter 370: The Seven Regions


    The Xinghai High-tech Factory was already operational, and lithography machines would be produced soon.


    Qin Hao was going to start producing smart chips, which, once manufactured, would require programmers to input smart programs.


    After giving a few instructions to Chen Ping, Qin Hao returned to Feng Xiangyi¡¯s office.


    By then, everyone had already started ordering lunch.


    Feng Xiangyi asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, would you like me to order a meal for you?¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at his phone and nodded, ¡°Yes, please.¡±


    He was reviewing detailed information about the five major groups, thinking about how to bring them down.


    The Tang Group and the Ruixing Group were the weakest and had less solid backing, so he planned to start with them.


    But bringing them down was no simple task.


    Having superior products alone was not enough since a newly established company could not compete with these large groups.


    Various raw materials, various basic factories, and so forth.


    Even if Qin Hao was inclined to establish a new company, he didn¡¯t have the energy for it.


    His energy was limited as Xinghai High-tech was just getting started.


    Once the production of artificial intelligence robots was underway, he would immediately begin researching the production of air energy cars.


    However, without bringing down these competitors, he felt uneasy. Currently, the best strategy was to acquire shares in companies within the same industry to use them to suppress these rivals.


    This was also a common tactic used by other business magnates.


    Their suppression tactics involved price wars, cash burn wars, but Qin Hao used superior products instead.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, it¡¯s time to eat,¡± Feng Xiangyi said as she entered from outside.


    She placed the food on the coffee table and then sat on the sofa.


    Qin Hao set down his phone and picked up his chopsticks, asking, ¡°How¡¯s the company¡¯s turnover?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi replied, ¡°Because of the recent network incident, the company¡¯s visibility has increased a lot, and sales are up by twenty to thirty percent compared to before. According to feedback from the official website, most customers are attracted by the effectiveness of our products.¡±


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from An Linxuan: ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve already negotiated the deal. Acquiring Dayuan Group will require 480 million.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard.¡±


    Nie Si placed a folder on the coffee table, ¡°These are documents sent by Mr. Lv and manager Li Jing from Beijiang Province.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°I¡¯ll look at them after I finish eating. You can take a break for now.¡±


    Nie Si left, and Qin Hao reviewed the documents after finishing his meal. Mr. Lv and Li Jing had performed well in Beijiang, having secured a market in one city.


    After reviewing the documents, Qin Hao turned to Feng Xiangyi, ¡°Auntie, I think it¡¯s time we established regional management.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi looked at him curiously, ¡°What kind of regional management?¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°Set up the Southwest Region at the Jiangshan Headquarters, centered in Shuinan Province, mainly responsible for the development of Shuinan Province, Nanyan Province, Nangui Province, Zhu Province, and Nan Ba City. Establish the Xuandong Region here in Jianghai, centered in Jianghai City, radiating out to Nancha Province, Beijiang Province, Nanhui Province, and Beiya Province. Kang Youyi will be the general manager for the Southwest Region, and you will be the general manager for the Xuandong Region.¡±


    After explaining, Qin Hao pulled up a map of Xuan Country on his phone.


    He continued, ¡°I plan to divide Jiangshan Roasted Duck into seven major regions for development¡ªXuanbei, Southwest, Xuan North, Xuanzhong, Xuan Nan, Xuandong, and the Northeast.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi regarded him thoughtfully. To tell the truth, this division was very advantageous for her. Previously, Jiangshan was the headquarters, but with this new division, it was not yet decided where the headquarters would eventually be.


    This arrangement placed her and Kang Youyi on equal footing, and it provided more positions to distribute among her subordinates.


    Previously, because there were these positions at Jiangshan, she couldn¡¯t promote anyone else on her side, which was a significant disadvantage.


    However, this new division made things much fairer.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Auntie, what do you think?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi replied, ¡°It¡¯s feasible, but are there any issues with Jiangshan?¡±


    ¡°Anyone with a problem can pack up and leave,¡± Qin Hao snorted coldly.


    This was his company, and if anyone harbored second thoughts, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to make an example of them.


    Feng Xiangyi responded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll prepare this afternoon.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone redo the office and financial systems. From now on, every region¡¯s system will be independent, and only I will have access to each region¡¯s office and financial systems.¡±


    [Explosion tomorrow, that is, after midnight tonight]


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 Chapter 369: 371 May I ask which country you are from?

    Chapter 369: Chapter 371 May I ask which country you are from?


    The two discussed the specific details.


    The awkward atmosphere just now had already dissipated, and Feng Xiangyi spoke with excitement.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Auntie, just follow your plan, and I¡¯ll have Nie Si notify Jiangshan shortly.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi smiled and nodded. The biggest beneficiary of this company reform was Jianghai branch.


    Not only did Jiangshan Headquarters not benefit from it, but the powers of some people there were even reduced.


    Feng Xiangyi asked somewhat worriedly, ¡°Won¡¯t this provoke a backlash over there?¡±@@@@


    Qin Hao said indifferently, ¡°Let¡¯s see who dares.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Feng Xiangyi laughed and said, ¡°You¡¯re not big, but you¡¯re pretty domineering. Do you want to know what Wan Rou said to me last night?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Qin Hao looked at her with curiosity.


    A sly glint flashed in Feng Xiangyi¡¯s eyes, ¡°Wan Rou asked me if you could resist the temptation to seek other women.¡±


    Qin Hao felt slightly embarrassed, ¡°Really?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi nodded, ¡°I told her that a man¡¯s resistance weakens after he has done that kind of thing, and he can barely resist the seduction of a beautiful woman.¡±


    ¡°Auntie, it seems you¡¯ve forgotten about yourself,¡± Qin Hao quipped.


    Feng Xiangyi came up and grabbed his neck, ¡°Dare to talk back, huh? If it hadn¡¯t been for you two being so loud that day,


    could I have reacted like that? Being single for so many years, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t understand the affairs of men and women. Isn¡¯t it normal to have some reactions?


    If I didn¡¯t have any reaction, would I still be a normal woman?¡±


    She didn¡¯t squeeze Qin Hao too hard, just purely wanting to vent a little.


    ...


    Damn it, why is my resistance so weak?


    Could it be true, like Feng Xiangyi said, that after doing that kind of thing, one is easily tempted?


    Xiao Ying, ¡°It¡¯s the desires from deep within you that drive you, you want her, and you enjoy the sense of achievement and vanity that comes with it.¡±


    This was a pharmaceutical enterprise from Beihai Country, with products including chemical drugs, biologics, vaccines, health medications, and more, renowned worldwide for their research and production capabilities.


    Luxing Pharmaceutical Company¡¯s antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs were bestsellers in Xuan Country, along with anti-tumor and anti-infection medications.


    After reading the information, Qin Hao stood up and went out. Nie Si followed him, entering the meeting room together.


    There were five people sitting in the meeting room. When they saw Qin Hao come in, all five turned to look, and one of them stood up and said, ¡°Hello Mr. Qin Hao.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and sat in the main seat, asking directly, ¡°What is the matter you wish to discuss with me?¡±


    The person who had spoken introduced, ¡°Mr. Qin, let me introduce to you, this is Yasuhara Jiro, Vice President of Luxing Pharmaceutical Company¡¯s Xuan Country District, and I am Wang Changrui, also a Vice President.¡±


    After introducing himself, Wang Changrui continued, ¡°Today, we are here to invite you, Mr. Qin, to become our company¡¯s technical consultant.¡±


    They were aware of Qin Hao¡¯s status as a scholar at Xuan Science Academy and his level of expertise in the medical field, and that¡¯s why they approached Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao looked at him and said flatly, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m short of money?¡±


    Wang Changrui gave a dry laugh, ¡°We know your company¡¯s profit-making capability is strong, but no one thinks they have too much money, right?


    Our company plans to pay you a consultation fee of ten billion a year. You won¡¯t need to go to work at our company every day.


    You just need to develop one or two new drugs within a year.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Who will own the patent for the new drugs developed?¡±


    Wang Changrui, ¡°The honor will naturally be yours, Mr. Qin, but the usage rights and patent ownership will belong to Luxing Pharmaceutical.


    After all, we have provided you with raw materials, drugs, equipment, and a considerable amount of money.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Mr. Wang, may I ask you a personal question?¡±


    Wang Changrui was taken aback, ¡°Please do, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°What nationality are you?¡±


    A hint of superiority flashed in Wang Changrui¡¯s eyes, ¡°With the help of the company in the last few years, I have successfully become a citizen of Beihai Country.¡±


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 Chapter 370: 372: Investing in Huafei

    Chapter 370: Chapter 372: Investing in Huafei


    Qin Hao¡¯s mouth curled into a faint smile, his sarcasm extreme, ¡°No wonder Mr. Wang would collude with Beihai Country to scam Xuan Country¡¯s people of their money.¡±


    Wang Changrui could tell the mockery in his tone, but his expression remained unchanged, ¡°Mr. Qin, you are also in business and yet you say such a laughable thing.


    Which company isn¡¯t aiming for profit? If not for profit, then what¡¯s the point of running a company?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Profit should have its limits. Do your twelve pills of anti-inflammatory drugs even cost two yuan to produce?


    Don¡¯t tell me the cost is high. You might fool those who don¡¯t know any better, but I¡¯m not ignorant.


    How much do you sell them for? If I remember correctly, pharmacies charge forty-five, and your factory price must be at least thirty, right?¡±


    Wang Changrui¡¯s face slightly changed, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m not here to discuss this with you today. And the prices of drugs are not something our company alone can decide; the big market dictates that, and no one can change it.¡±


    Qin Hao snorted coldly, ¡°What big market dictates that, if not for the foreign pharmaceutical companies controlling the drug manufacturing technology.


    Xuan Country hospitals need these drugs, and that¡¯s all there is to it. Spare me the big market spiel.


    I never understood what being a ¡®running dog¡¯ meant until today, upon meeting Mr. Wang, and now I truly comprehend.¡±


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Wang Changrui slapped the table hard, ¡°Qin Hao, don¡¯t go too far, you are insulting me.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Indeed, I am insulting you.¡±@@@@


    Wang Changrui¡¯s face turned ashen with rage, glaring at Qin Hao, feeling the urge to strike him.


    At this moment, Yasuhara Jiro spoke in Chinese, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Qin to be so conservative. Changing nationalities is a very normal thing.


    If changing nationalities means a better future and opportunities, why not? Besides, you can¡¯t impose the mistakes of the ancestors on us, the descendants.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Yasuhara Jiro, ¡°National humiliation is unforgettable. Since you know the ancestors made mistakes, then why doesn¡¯t your government acknowledge them?


    Why do you still partake in the collective worship at the Beihai Shrine? You¡¯re just paying lip service, aren¡¯t you here just to make a huge profit in Xuan Country?¡±


    Yasuhara Jiro¡¯s expression turned cold after hearing his words, ¡°Mr. Qin, I did not come here to discuss this issue with you today.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I had no intention of discussing this matter either; it was you who came to me.¡±


    Yasuhara Jiro suddenly smiled again, ¡°Mr. Qin, harmony brings wealth. If you are not satisfied with the price, we can discuss it further.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°No need, I have no interest in your company whatsoever.¡±


    If Ma Bing could do such a thing, what about these pharmaceutical giants!


    But there were some things he had to do, just like what his father once said to him, ¡°When the nation¡¯s life and death are at stake, one must not evade misfortune or seek fortune.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s initially wavering heart firmed up when he remembered his father¡¯s words, a glint of determination in his eyes.


    At this moment, his phone suddenly rang. It was Zhao Qian¡¯s call, ¡°Hello, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Zhao Qian spoke somewhat embarrassed, ¡°Qin Hao, are you busy right now? Do you have time to come out?¡±


    Qin Hao could tell something was off in her tone, ¡°Is something the matter?¡±


    Zhao Qian, ¡°There¡¯s something I need to trouble you with.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll come to find you.¡±


    Zhao Qian replied, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you at Qingfeng Tea House.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao left the company and drove to the Qingfeng Tea House Zhao Qian mentioned.


    He entered the private room Zhao Qian had mentioned, where she sat inside waiting for him.


    Seeing Qin Hao arrive, she quickly stood up, ¡°I hope I haven¡¯t delayed you?¡±


    Qin Hao sat down and said with a smile, ¡°We¡¯re friends, aren¡¯t we? There¡¯s no need to be so formal. Are you facing some difficulties?¡±


    Zhao Qian¡¯s brows were furrowed with a touch of distress, and she said somewhat embarrassedly, ¡°My family¡¯s company has had a break in the capital chain, and I wanted to ask you for a loan.¡±


    Qin Hao asked curiously, ¡°What kind of business does your family do?¡±


    Zhao Qian answered, ¡°We mainly deal in clothing, owning a spinning mill and a garment factory.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°How much are you short on?¡±


    ¡°About forty million.¡±


    Qin Hao asked curiously, ¡°May I ask what happened?¡±


    Zhao Qian, ¡°My father¡¯s partner had always been in charge of raw material procurement. This time he purchased a batch of poor-quality fabric.


    The clothes produced were of such bad quality they couldn¡¯t be sold at all. When my dad talked to him about it, he just cashed out and left.¡±


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 Chapter 371: 373 Investing in Huafei (Part 2)

    Chapter 371: Chapter 373 Investing in Huafei (Part 2)


    Qin Hao asked in surprise, ¡°Could it be that your dad was scammed?¡±


    Zhao Qian nodded, ¡°I think so too. Everything was fine before, and then suddenly, this happened.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Where is your dad now? Is it convenient for him to come out?¡±


    Zhao Qian asked curiously, ¡°You want to meet my dad?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I¡¯d like to discuss some cooperation with your uncle. I¡¯m quite interested in the clothing industry.¡±


    He remembered that Ruixing Group was in the clothing industry. If they were plotting against me secretly, then they can¡¯t blame me for being ruthless.


    Zhao Qian took out her cell phone and called her father, ¡°Dad, do you have time right now?¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang was currently in his office. He¡¯d just made calls to many people, asking about those who had previously wanted to invest in Huafei Clothing.


    But all of them had refused. He had a premonition that his company seemed to be targeted.


    Now, it wasn¡¯t just about borrowing money; he couldn¡¯t even find someone who wanted to invest.


    If this continued, his company wouldn¡¯t last long. The clothes couldn¡¯t be sold, tying up a lot of working capital.


    The workers¡¯ wages hadn¡¯t been paid, and there was no capital to purchase new raw materials. This was a deadlock.


    Unless a large amount of capital was injected into the company, there were no other solutions.


    Upon receiving his daughter¡¯s call, Zhao Dongqiang forced a relaxed smile, ¡°What¡¯s up, daughter?¡±


    When Zhao Qian heard her father¡¯s feigned ease, her eyes reddened slightly, ¡°Dad, I know about the company¡¯s situation. Mom told me everything.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to your mom¡¯s nonsense. Dad has almost found an investor. Everything will be fine soon.¡±


    Zhao Qian, ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve found a friend who is interested in investing. He wants to talk to you personally.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang was startled for a moment, ¡°Your friend? What friend?¡±


    He didn¡¯t remember his daughter having any powerful friends.


    Zhao Qian, ¡°You¡¯ll know when you get there. I¡¯m at Qingfeng Tea House.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Having said that, Zhao Dongqiang hung up the phone.


    Before Zhao Qian could put down her phone, it rang again. It was an unfamiliar number. She answered with confusion, ¡°Hello? Who are you looking for?¡±


    The voice of Tang Chen Dong came through, ¡°Zhao Qian, if you want funds to save your dad¡¯s company, come to Night Charm Hotel tonight. Otherwise, just wait for your dad to go bankrupt and jump off a building.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°This question should be for Mr. Zhao. I have both capital and technology, and I could fully proceed without Mr. Zhao.


    But since Qianqian is my friend and she asked for help, I cannot ignore her request.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke with ease, knowing that if he really were to acquire it, it would certainly require a lot of effort and time, and he did not want to waste so much.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang fell into deep thought, contemplating how many shares to offer Qin Hao.


    Three hundred million in funds, plus a new type of fabric technology.


    Just with three hundred million in funds, Qin Hao could claim around forty percent of the shares.


    After a while, Zhao Dongqiang said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I can offer you up to sixty-five percent of the shares.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°That¡¯s acceptable, but I have one more condition.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang and Zhao Qian looked at him curiously, ¡°Mr. Qin, you can just state any other condition directly.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Once the new line of clothes is produced, it must be sold first in Ruixing Clothing Trading Group¡¯s sales area.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang and Zhao Qian looked taken aback, with Zhao Dongqiang being the first to realize Qin Hao intended to target the Ruixing Group.


    Following the recent online public opinion battle, the Ruixing Group had also been involved, and Qin Hao was planning his counterattack.


    However, given that the Ruixing Clothing Trading Group was one of the top five giants in the Jianghai apparel industry, if a real fight were to start, it could very well turn into a price war, a war of attrition.


    Zhao Dongqiang said, ¡°Mr. Qin, if you truly intend to compete with the Ruixing Group in the market, you first need to prepare sufficient funds.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Zhao, rest assured, money is not an issue. Besides, I don¡¯t think Ruixing Clothing is in a position to engage in a price war with us.¡±


    The two sides signed the share transfer contract in this inconspicuous tea house.


    Zhao Dongqiang and Zhao Qian could not imagine that a future global clothing giant was being born.


    Years later, reflecting on today¡¯s decision, they would feel very fortunate.


    After signing the share transfer contract, Qin Hao transferred the money, ¡°As for the new fabric technology, I will provide it to Mr. Zhao within five days.


    Also, I hope Mr. Zhao can keep the matter of my investing in Huafei Clothing a secret.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang nodded his head and looking at Zhao Qian said, ¡°I need to go back first to reassure the staff. Qianqian, please keep Mr. Qin company for me.¡±


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 Chapter 372: 374 Li Bao Arrives in Jianghai City

    Chapter 372: Chapter 374 Li Bao Arrives in Jianghai City


    In Zhao Dongqiang¡¯s eyes, he was very impressive, with limitless potential, and the two were still friends.


    If his daughter and Qin Hao developed into boyfriend and girlfriend, it would be good for both his daughter and his company.


    Online, there was no mention of Qin Hao having a girlfriend, and he was confident in his own daughter.


    Zhao Qian caught the hint in her dad¡¯s words, her cheeks flushed red, and she sneaked a glance at Qin Hao, feeling embarrassed.


    Qin Hao was smiling, exuding a unique charisma.


    After Zhao Dongqiang left, Zhao Qian said, ¡°Qin Hao, thank you.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, I was actually planning to look for a clothing brand to collaborate with.¡±


    Huafei Clothing brand in Jianghai City was not considered big, only medium to upper scale, but it had solid foundations.


    Zhao Qian started a conversation, ¡°Meng and Qiao¡¯er are doing well, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Both are doing well, Qiao¡¯er even mentions you often.¡±


    Zhao Qian, remembering Qiao¡¯er, smiled and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll visit them when I have time, I miss Qiao¡¯er too.¡±


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang suddenly; it was Li Bao calling.


    Li Bao: ¡°Hao, we¡¯ve arrived at Jianghai Railway Station and are taking a taxi to Haoting Sea View Villa District.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll head back soon.¡±


    After Qin Hao hung up, Zhao Qian said with a smile, ¡°Since you¡¯ve got matters to attend to, you should head back first.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll chat another day.¡±


    After leaving Qingfeng Tea House, Qin Hao drove back to Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    Zhao Qian drove straight home, where her mother and younger brother were sitting on the couch.


    Meng Wan asked as soon as she saw her daughter return, ¡°Qianqian, I heard from your dad that you found an investor for him?¡±


    Zhao Han also quickly asked, ¡°Sis, who did you find?¡±


    Zhao Qian: ¡°Qin Hao.¡±


    Zhao Han said with a laugh, ¡°I knew it was Hao. What about your other friends? When you were in trouble, who paid attention to you? Only Hao is really decent.¡±


    After finishing, Zhao Han suddenly asked, ¡°Sis, do you have a crush on Hao?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Qian¡¯s face turned red, and she scolded, ¡°Stop talking nonsense, button your lip.¡±


    Zhao Han, seeing her reaction, laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s normal to like someone as outstanding as Hao. If I were a girl, I¡¯d like him too and would hurry before someone else snatches him away.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re asking for a beating again,¡± Zhao Qian said as she grabbed his ear and twisted it hard.


    After seeing off Li Bao, Leng Xuan said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, we need two cars and some equipment.¡±


    Qin Hao transferred ten million to Leng Xuan¡¯s account, ¡°Buy whatever you lack, safety is most important. The middle-aged couple next door are good friends of mine; keep an eye on them too.¡±


    Leng Xuan nodded, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Leng Xuan took two people to go shopping, leaving three behind to watch over the place.


    Mr. and Mrs. Zhao Xingbo came out and, seeing the bodyguards at the door, curiously asked, ¡°Xiao Hao, are these your newly hired bodyguards?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°They are bodyguards from our own company, each one an elite.¡±


    Zhao Xingbo nodded slightly, ¡°Not bad, they indeed look elite, full of energy and spirit.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zhao, I have to go now,¡± said Qin Hao as he checked his watch.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Zhao Xingbo nodded.


    Qin Hao drove to the school, arriving around four in the afternoon.


    Wearing a cap, he pretended to play with his phone as he made his way to the studio.


    The people inside the studio were no longer surprised to see him, and seeing him, they conscientiously left.


    Fan Ruobing turned to see him wearing a cap and was momentarily taken aback, ¡°Isn¡¯t that hot?¡±


    Qin Hao took off his hat and approached to look at Fan Ruobing¡¯s work, ¡°You¡¯ve improved a lot.¡±


    ¡°Still far from you,¡± Fan Ruobing said blandly.


    Qin Hao, ¡°How about we paint something different today?¡±


    Fan Ruobing looked at him curiously, ¡°Paint what?¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°How about a dragon? Is there a market for that?¡±


    Fan Ruobing puzzled, ¡°Your talent in landscape painting is strong, why would you focus on your weaknesses by painting animals, which you¡¯re not good at? Do you think something unattractive could be valuable?¡±


    Qin Hao curled his lip, ¡°Who says my paintings aren¡¯t beautiful? My animal paintings are no worse than my landscapes.¡±


    Fan Ruobing looked at him, ¡°That¡¯s a layman¡¯s talk. Ink painting is very complex.


    Like a master of landscape painting, he might be able to paint animals, but the skill level won¡¯t match his landscapes.


    That¡¯s why some are called masters of landscape painting, others masters of lotus painting, bamboo painting, dragon painting, etc.¡±


    [Fourth Update]


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 Chapter 373: 375: The Chamber of Commerce Invitation

    Chapter 373: Chapter 375: The Chamber of Commerce Invitation


    Qin Hao, not knowledgeable in this area, responded after hearing her words, ¡°Then I must be an all-around master.¡±


    Fan Ruobing eyed him skeptically, since the profundity of ink painting is boundless. Some can capture the essence of landscape painting, yet fail to bring to life an animal¡¯s spirit.


    Some people specialize in one genre and can become masters.


    Others bite off more than they can chew, achieving nothing.@@@@


    Qin Hao pushed two tables together, ensuring a flat surface by placing a drawing board on top, and took out a larger piece of drawing paper.


    He picked up a brush and began to paint. He planned to paint a dragon.


    Fan Ruobing watched from the side, and after roughly half an hour, Qin Hao finished his painting¡ªa five-clawed dragon soaring through the heavens.


    The scales of the dragon displayed a strong sense of layering, especially the finishing stroke of the eyes, which gave the dragon a sense of coming alive.


    Fan Ruobing looked at him in slight disbelief, ¡°You can even paint animals this well?¡±


    What surprised her most was Qin Hao¡¯s speed of painting. Such a dragon would take at least several hours for others to paint.


    Yet he took just over half an hour and still outperformed other masters who painted animals.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°The dragon is a symbol of good fortune, the totem of Xuan Country. Surely someone will want it.¡±


    Qin Hao gave an awkward smile, unsure which aspect she was referring to in her comment¡ªmaking money off foreigners or something else?


    Fan Ruobing suggested, ¡°If you¡¯re feeling uncomfortable, go solve it in the small studio over there.¡± With that, she headed towards it.


    Qin Hao paused for a second, hesitated for a few more, but then followed her in.


    ...


    More than twenty minutes later.


    When she returned, her face showed no particular reaction. She said to Qin Hao, ¡°Continue painting.¡±


    Qin Hao painted for almost an hour before finishing, and a vividly lifelike folk-life painting came into view.


    Teaching buildings, laboratories, offices, dormitories, sports fields, as well as students walking along the roads, each with distinctive postures and expressions.


    At that moment, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang¡ªit was a call from Feng Xiangyi.


    Feng Xiangyi: ¡°Mr. Qin, the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce just sent an invitation. There¡¯s a banquet tonight at eight at the Innsil Hotel, and they¡¯ve invited you to attend.¡±


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 Chapter 374: 376 Innsil Hotel

    Chapter 374: Chapter 376 Innsil Hotel


    Shuinan Chamber of Commerce?


    Qin Hao was momentarily stunned, ¡°Okay, I got it.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi, ¡°Mr. Qin, I think it¡¯s necessary for you to attend. The Merchants in the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce are all from Shuinan Province and have a very strong local nature.


    Like the merchants from Nancha Province, Beijiang Province, and Jianghai City, they are very famous nationwide.


    This kind of chamber of commerce has a strong exclusivity; if you aren¡¯t a local, you can¡¯t even get in.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Hmm, send me the exact location, I¡¯ll go and check it out tonight.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi, ¡°Mr. Qin, please check your phone.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Feng Xiangyi told him the location on the invitation.


    Qin Hao said to Fan Ruobing, ¡°Ruobing, once the painting has dried, help me mount it on a scroll. I plan to donate it to the university during the anniversary celebration.¡±


    Fan Ruobing nodded slightly, ¡°Hmm, got it,¡±


    After Fan Ruobing had helped Qin Hao with that kind of thing with her hands, although there wasn¡¯t much reaction, Qin Hao could feel a subtle shift in their relationship.


    Qin Hao drove away from the university and returned home.


    When he arrived at the villa, Leng Xuan and two others had already returned. They had bought two cars, a pair of black Mercedes worth more than one million each.


    They also acquired some equipment. Now, two of them were standing at the villa entrance and courtyard gate, and another two were patrolling the surroundings.


    After returning, Qin Hao entered the villa. Qiao¡¯er had already come back and was doing her homework, while Han Meng was preparing dinner.


    It was a little past seven after dinner when Qin Hao spoke to Han Meng and Qiao¡¯er, ¡°Meng, Qiao¡¯er, I have to attend a business event tonight, and I don¡¯t know what time I¡¯ll be back, so don¡¯t wait up for me. Get some rest early.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Han Meng nodded.


    Qiao¡¯er spoke, ¡°Daddy, come back early.¡±@@@@


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, then walked out of the villa. Outside, Leng Xuan saw him and asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you going out?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Hmm, I am going to attend a business banquet.¡±


    Leng Xuan called one person, then they got into Qin Hao¡¯s car.


    Qin Hao sat in the back, Leng Xuan in the passenger seat, and the other person drove.


    ¡°To the Innsil Hotel in the city center.¡±


    The driver headed toward the Innsil five-star hotel. The Innsil Hotel is a world-renowned chain of five-star hotels.


    ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this the famous Mr. Qin?¡± Luo Ze¡¯s voice was loud, his tone obviously mocking.


    Many people turned to look at Qin Hao, and Luo Feng also looked towards him.


    Luo Feng was not very familiar with the online incident; it had been Luo Ze¡¯s doing.


    He would definitely stand by his son. The online incident had slightly affected Ruixing Clothing, but luckily, due to its solid foundation, nothing significant lingered.


    Qin Hao turned his head and disdainfully said, ¡°May I ask who you are? Do we know each other?¡±


    Luo Ze¡¯s face slightly changed upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s retort.


    The onlookers were astonished, as neither of these men was simple. At just 19, Qin Hao had amassed a fortune amounting to several billion, which was incredibly formidable.


    But his status was even more important, being an academician at the Xuan Science Academy. Academically, these people had to look up to him.


    Although some people here had graduated from Chen University and Jinhua, that was nothing compared to being an academician.


    Luo Ze was an elite who had studied abroad and served in foreign corporate conglomerates, and he was also the heir to Ruixing Group¡¯s multi-billion dollar businesses, equally formidable.


    At the moment, Luo Ze appeared stronger than Qin Hao; Ruixing Group alone was something Qin Hao couldn¡¯t match.


    Although Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine had boundless potential, those were just potentials, yet to be realized.


    Luo Ze continued, ¡°What a figure Mr. Qin is; not knowing me is normal. But the bodyguards Mr. Qin has brought are a bit too unpolished, right?


    Flying Leopard Team? Hah, where did you find this trashy security company? Do you want me to introduce you to a couple of top-notch security companies?¡±


    Leng Xuan looked at him coldly, ¡°Sir, you are insulting our company¡¯s reputation. Please retract your statement, or I will show you the strength of the Flying Leopard Team.¡±


    The people around were taken aback by Leng Xuan¡¯s words¡ªhow could a bodyguard speak before his employer did?


    Wasn¡¯t he aware of the protocol?


    From his words, it sounded like they belonged to some security company. Which security company was the Flying Leopard Team part of?


    Luo Ze sneered repeatedly, ¡°Mr. Qin, is this who you hire as bodyguards? Don¡¯t they know any manners?¡±


    Luo Feng and many others around looked at Qin Hao, thinking that Leng Xuan really lacked manners.


    Qin Hao said in a calm tone, ¡°You insulted their company first; are they not allowed to speak? To put it bluntly, this shows a lack of upbringing. I wonder who your parents are? How did they raise such a person?¡±


    [Sixth update, I¡¯ve been thinking about the upcoming plot these past two days, and have figured it out. The excitement continues. Thanks to Y Bro for the 50,000 in rewards, adding the first of the overdue updates¡ªfour more to go! More updates to come today, aiming for ten to settle the backlog.]


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 Chapter 375: 377 Conflict

    Chapter 375: Chapter 377 Conflict


    The people around gasped in shock, Qin Hao was giving no face to Ruixing Group at all.


    Luo Feng was just beside them, and Qin Hao¡¯s words disparaged him too.


    Luo Feng looked at Qin Hao expressionlessly. Such an arrogant upstart, completely disregarding an old-timer like him.


    Luo Ze¡¯s face turned embarrassing, ¡°Qin Hao, don¡¯t be too arrogant.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him disdainfully, ¡°You better resolve the issue with my bodyguard first.¡±


    Leng Xuan took a step forward, ¡°Apologize to my company.¡±


    They not only needed various skills but also courses on corporate politics, loyalty to the company, and loyalty to Qin Hao.


    Corporate honor was paramount, and everyone had to defend the company¡¯s honor and dignity.


    The bodyguards behind Luo Ze stepped forward, each of them over six feet tall, looking majestic and extraordinary.


    ¡°Look at how thin you are, you want to fight, do you? Come on.¡± Luo Ze disdainfully said to Leng Xuan.


    He was very confident in his bodyguards because he had hired them from Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company.


    Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company was a top bodyguard company in Jianghai, with each member highly skilled.


    ¡°Number Two, take care of these people,¡± Leng Xuan said to another bodyguard behind him.


    The man charged out, heading straight for the eight bodyguards from Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company near Luo Ze.


    ¡°Bang bang¡±


    He alone began fighting against the eight men opposite him.


    The crowd was invigorated, damn, this kind of big scene was their first time witnessing.


    No matter who won or lost this time, it would be a major sensation shaking the Jianghai Business World once it got out.


    Of course, whoever lost would have their reputation swept away.


    In their view, Qin Hao was a bit too arrogant today; Luo Feng¡¯s bodyguards were all elite from the Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company, incredibly formidable.


    Qin Hao was very confident in the people trained by his company even if the special training manual he produced was only elementary.


    But it was still unsurpassable compared to special forces training, and the manual included sophisticated uses of specialized Fighting Skill.


    It was a compilation of fighting expertise from another universe¡¯s special warfare troops.


    Their technology was far more advanced, leading the Federation by millions of times, which perfected the specialized Fighting Skill significantly.


    The world¡¯s first special forces appeared during World War II by the Allies, not even a century ago.


    After five seconds, Luo Ze didn¡¯t apologize. He couldn¡¯t possibly apologize.


    He was representing Ruixing Group today, upholding his father¡¯s honor¡ªhow could he apologize?


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Leng Xuan delivered a cool and detached spinning kick straight to Luo Ze¡¯s head, knocking him to the ground, then turned and returned to Qin Hao¡¯s side without any change in his expression.


    The kick left Luo Ze dazed, stars swirling before his eyes, his head buzzing loudly.


    Luo Feng trembled with rage, his hawk-like eyes intensely fixed on Qin Hao, as if he wanted to tear him apart.


    Qin Hao looked at Luo Ze on the ground, taunted, ¡°Why bother? You¡¯re only making it harder on yourself by trying to save face.¡±


    After saying that, he walked to the elevator entrance, ¡°Is anyone getting on the elevator?¡±


    The people hurriedly made way for him.


    They had heard of Qin Hao before, but this was their first time seeing him in person.


    Despite his youth, he was impressively ruthless, daring to have his subordinate hit Luo Feng¡¯s son at the Innsil Hotel.


    Qin Hao entered the elevator with his bodyguards, and nobody followed them in.


    He pressed the button for the 20th floor and then closed the door. The elevator stopped at the first floor of the Innsil Hotel.


    Many people were waiting on the first floor; seeing that there was still room inside, they walked in.


    These people glanced at Qin Hao; some showed a flicker of surprise, while others turned their heads away, not recognizing him.


    The elevator quickly reached the 20th floor, and those people exited.


    Innsil Hotel¡¯s 20th floor was vast, housing several banquet halls; upon exiting the elevator, the attendees headed to their respective conference halls.


    Qin Hao found Banquet Hall No. 9 according to the address.


    Two attendants stood at the entrance of the banquet hall. Upon seeing someone approaching, they pushed open the door.


    Qin Hao and his company entered; many people had already arrived in the hall.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao come in, many turned their heads.


    ¡°Mr. Qin is here, please come in,¡± someone upon seeing him quickly said with a smile.


    Qin Hao did not recognize him, but nodded with a smile and followed him inside.


    Along the way, many people watched him, as residents of Shuinan, who had long heard the renowned name of Qin Hao in Jianghai.


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 Chapter 376: 378: The Major Chambers of Commerce

    Chapter 376: Chapter 378: The Major Chambers of Commerce


    The person quickly led Qin Hao into the banquet hall.


    Inside, several bigwigs from Shuinan Province were chatting, including Zhu Huasheng.


    ¡°Mr. Zhu, Mr. Qin has arrived,¡± the person said to Zhu Huasheng.


    Zhu Huasheng turned his head to look, smiled, and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we meet again.¡±


    The people around, upon hearing his words, became curious. Did Zhu Huasheng know Qin Hao before?


    Qin Hao reached out and shook his hand: ¡°Mr. Zhu, you still look as impressive as ever.¡±


    ¡°Compared to you young fellows, I¡¯m already old,¡± Zhu Huasheng said with a sigh and a smile.


    Then he turned to the people present and said, ¡°Everyone, please, quiet down.¡±


    There were roughly a hundred people in the banquet hall. Hearing Zhu Huasheng¡¯s voice, all of them fell silent and turned to look.


    Zhu Huasheng spoke up, ¡°This is Mr. Qin Hao from Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company and Xinghui Wine Company.


    He¡¯s from Jiangshan in Shuinan Province. Today is the monthly business gathering, and I took this opportunity to invite Mr. Qin to come and join our Shuinan Chamber of Commerce.¡±


    There was a round of applause from the crowd. They had already heard about Qin Hao¡¯s great reputation. If he joined the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce, it would greatly enhance the strength of the chamber.


    Many companies would also have the chance to find Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    Zhu Huasheng turned to Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, on behalf of the entire chamber, I invite you to join the Jianghai City Shuinan Chamber of Commerce, would you be willing?¡±


    He was the founder of the Jianghai City Shuinan Chamber of Commerce and also the chairman.


    He initially created this chamber to resist the pressure brought by other chambers of commerce and to integrate resources for mutual benefit and joint development.


    There are currently over one hundred and sixty members in the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce, all from Shuinan Province.


    Some have branch companies here, some started directly here, and they have assets ranging from several million to several billion.


    Shenglong Group is the largest corporate group within the chamber, and Zhu Huasheng is also one of the older generation.


    Not only in Jianghai City does he have great prestige, but also in Shuinan Province he is one of the bigwigs.


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, ¡°Of course I¡¯m willing. I¡¯ve always been unaware of such an organization. Had I known, I would have joined much earlier.¡±


    A person next to him said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, please do take care of us fellow townspeople in the future.¡±


    It¡¯s not easy for outsiders to do business in Jianghai City, as they often face suppression from Sea Merchant, Zhe Business, and Su Business.


    Made from highland barley and following ancient brewing techniques, its unique blend of sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy flavors had attracted many.


    Many people felt that drinking this wine was like savoring life itself.


    All these represented the future competition for Xinghui Wine, and Qin Hao had briefly acquainted himself with them.


    Compared to these titans of white spirits, Xinghui Wine still seemed rather green.


    He poured himself some Gui Mao Wine, but no sooner had he finished than someone approached him for a conversation.


    Just then, the banquet hall¡¯s doors were pushed open from outside, and people from the Sea Merchant Chamber of Commerce entered.


    Leading them was the head of Huaqing Group, Tang Group, and Ruixing Clothing Trading Group.


    Following them were a large number of Sea Merchant Chamber of Commerce members, easily four or five hundred, and this was just a portion of them.


    The Sea Merchant Chamber of Commerce was the largest in Jianghai City, with members numbering in the thousands.


    Within the chamber, there were many factions, and these people were of the faction aligned with Huaqing Group and Tang Group.


    Many among them had come to watch the developments.


    Seeing this, the members of the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce were taken aback. What was the Sea Merchant Chamber of Commerce doing?


    Mr. Zhu Huasheng saw the aggressive posture of the Sea Merchant contingent and was momentarily stunned, then he went over to confront them.


    His expression darkened as he said, ¡°Mr. Xiao, what is the meaning of this? This is our Shuinan Chamber of Commerce¡¯s banquet hall, not your Sea Merchant¡¯s venue.¡±


    Xiao Zhi didn¡¯t respond but looked toward Luo Feng, as they had primarily come to stand in solidarity with him.


    Many from other chambers of commerce had seen Qin Hao hit the head of the Sea Merchant¡¯s Ruixing Group, and if they did not help Luo Feng save face, the reputation of the Sea Merchant Chamber of Commerce would be at stake, becoming the laughingstock of other chambers.


    Luo Feng spoke up, ¡°Mr. Zhu, today¡¯s matter does not concern you, I¡¯m here for Qin Hao.¡±


    Mr. Zhu Huasheng firmly retorted, ¡°Qin Hao is a member of our Shuinan Chamber of Commerce. His affairs are the affairs of the chamber. You say it doesn¡¯t concern us?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, Mr. Qin is one of us at the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce. His affairs are the chamber¡¯s affairs.¡± Many within the Shuinan Chamber began to echo these sentiments.


    They had long been unhappy with the Sea Merchant Chamber¡¯s suppression and now seized the opportunity to express their discontent.


    Qin Hao stepped forward, facing Luo Feng and the others with an unflustered expression, ¡°Mr. Luo, what brings you to me?¡±


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 Chapter 377: 379: The Gathering of the Big Shots

    Chapter 377: Chapter 379: The Gathering of the Big Shots


    Luo Feng saw his nonchalant demeanor and was quite angered, ¡°Mr. Qin, don¡¯t you think you owe an explanation for having your bodyguard hit my son?¡±


    ¡°Oh, what a lively scene, what is everyone doing here? How come members of the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce have come to this place?¡±


    A voice rang out, and a group of people walked in. The one leading them was Li Xutian.


    He was the president of the Su Business Chamber of Commerce in Jianghai City. Not only was the Jinxiu Group extremely powerful, but the prestige of the Beijiang the Li Family was also very high.


    The Su Business Chamber of Commerce in Beijiang Province was the true stronghold of the Su merchants, and the Jianghai City¡¯s Su Business Chamber of Commerce was almost the same as its affiliate.


    But it did not come under the jurisdiction of the Su Business Chamber of Commerce in Beijiang Province.


    Accompanied by Li Xutian were Li Jianjun and Li Moying. Seeing Qin Hao, Li Moying ran over, ¡°Master.¡±


    The onlookers were somewhat surprised to see Li Xutian¡¯s daughter and Qin Hao so close to each other.


    Li Xutian was at his wit¡¯s end, never seeing her being so affectionate when calling him dad.


    ¡°Mr. Luo, what happened to your son? How did he get that big bump on his head?¡± Li Xutian asked, seeing Luo Ze¡¯s condition with surprise.


    Luo Feng¡¯s face turned ashen, ¡°Mr. Li, you don¡¯t need to worry about this. It concerns my reputation and the honor of the Jianghai Chamber of Commerce. Today, Qin Tian must give me an explanation.¡±


    His tone was very firm, but he didn¡¯t dare to lose his temper at Li Xutian.


    Not only was Li Xutian¡¯s Jinxiu Group powerful, but behind it stood the formidable Su Business Chamber of Commerce as well as the Beijiang the Li Family.


    At this moment, another group entered from outside. These were businessmen from the Cha Province Chamber of Commerce, who had heard that there was a spectacle to behold and came over.


    The banquet hall of the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce was now filled with people, forming a circle. However, the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce and Jianghai Chamber of Commerce were clearly divided.


    Inside a super luxurious suite on the top floor of the Innsil Hotel.


    A young blonde, blue-eyed woman sat on the sofa, looking at the monitor in front of her.


    The content on the monitor was showing the banquet hall of the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce.


    As soon as the people from the Jianghai Chamber of Commerce went to the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce, the general manager of the Innsil Hotel was informed.


    ¡°Miss, should we send someone to intervene?¡± asked a middle-aged foreign man standing beside her.


    The blonde woman spoke, ¡°No need to stop them. Don¡¯t they understand the rules? Let¡¯s go down together and have a look. It¡¯s not often we see something like this.¡±


    After speaking, the blonde woman stood up and headed outside, followed by four bodyguards.


    Geman Clate, seeing this, quickly stood up and followed. If anything happened to this young lady in Xuan Country, he might as well wish for death.


    Inside the banquet hall of the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce, Qin Hao and Luo Feng locked eyes, a pulse of invisible sparks rippling between them.


    Since the initial online public opinion incident, the two had already become enemies.


    How dare a mere bodyguard speak to him like that? This must be Qin Hao¡¯s doing.


    He looked toward Qin Hao, who was still leisurely savoring his wine, not worried at all.


    Seeing this, Yuan Feng trembled slightly in anger, it was clear that Qin Hao scorned him.


    Yuan Feng, ¡°Mr. Qin, since your bodyguard insists, don¡¯t blame me, Yuan, if he gets his limbs broken later.¡±


    Qin Hao swirled the wine in his glass, smiling, ¡°No problem, if you break them, it shows your ability.¡±


    Damn, what kind of attitude was this?


    Completely unconcerned about his bodyguard¡¯s life and limb? Or did he have full confidence in his bodyguard?


    Yuan Feng clenched his teeth and commanded, ¡°Everyone, attack.¡±


    The seventeen people behind him all stepped forward, each one tall and muscular, undoubtedly the elites of the elites.


    The crowd stepped back to give them enough space.


    ¡°Attack.¡±


    One of the members of Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company spoke.


    In an instant, eighteen people charged forward, surrounding Leng Xuan in the center where nine directly assailed him with punches and kicks.


    Their coordination was impeccable, and the onlookers felt Leng Xuan had no chance.


    Even if he were very strong, could he really defeat eighteen top bodyguards?


    Leng Xuan sprang into action too. He powerfully pushed off the ground, leaping four to five meters into the air.


    With a 360-degree aerial spin kick, four people failed to dodge in time and were directly struck on the head, losing consciousness on the spot.


    Thanks to those four, the others had time to react and managed to dodge.


    Upon landing, Leng Xuan did not pause; he tensed his muscles and shot out like a cannonball.


    Like a tiger among wolves, elite bodyguards or not, in his eyes, they were but lambs to the slaughter.


    The members of Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company put up a fierce resistance.


    Punches and kicks landed on Leng Xuan, but he was unmoved, as if the blows were landing on someone else.


    His physical attributes were terrifying. He had long transcended the realm of normal humans, with incredible strength, speed, and combat endurance.


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 Chapter 378: 380: Instant Kill

    Chapter 378: Chapter 380: Instant Kill


    Leng Xuan¡¯s hits landed on them, and they simply couldn¡¯t withstand it.


    But when they struck Leng Xuan, he could resist them.


    No one thought to grab Leng Xuan to bind him, because experts have countless ways to break free, which might still work on commoners.


    As Yuan Feng watched the scene unfold, his face grew darker and a storm brewed in his heart.


    This Leng Xuan was too powerful, and even if Yuan Feng intervened personally, he was not confident he could win.


    The various bigwigs around him were equally shocked; Leng Xuan¡¯s performance was just like that of a legendary martial arts master.


    A leap four meters high, this incredible jumping ability, was just like qinggong in TV dramas.


    Seven minutes later, the eighteen elite bodyguards Yuan Feng took pride in were all knocked down by Leng Xuan alone.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes widened, unable to believe the scene before them.


    Too strong, Mr. Qin¡¯s bodyguard was too strong, where did he find him?


    And which security company does the Flying Leopard Team belong to?


    After dealing with those eighteen, Leng Xuan didn¡¯t say a word and walked back to Qin Hao¡¯s side.


    Qin Hao drained the red wine in his glass and said to Yuan Feng with a smile, ¡°Mr. Yuan, as I just said, your people are not even worth calling trash. Do you believe me now?¡±


    Yuan Feng¡¯s face turned red as he felt a burning pain on his cheek.


    Almost all the big names from various industries in Jianghai were around, and tonight, he had been humiliated to the extreme.


    Without a doubt, his business prospects would plummet from now on.


    The stellar reputation of the Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company, with its eighteen top elites, was now in tatters.


    Who would hire bodyguards from his company now? That would be like inviting public disgrace.


    Qin Hao looked around the room, laughing as he introduced, ¡°Let me introduce these two bodyguards by my side.


    They are bodyguards from the Jiangshan Feibao Security Company, belonging to the Flying Leopard Team, and will be opening a branch here in Jianghai in the next few days.


    With combat capabilities like these, our company has several hundred bodyguards.


    And we also have mid to low-end bodyguards, whether it¡¯s for event security or hiring personal bodyguards.


    We offer the most top-notch services, catering to high, mid, and low-end needs. We welcome your inquiries.¡±


    The audience watched him speechlessly. Are you really making an advertisement right now?


    Your timing is just damn perfect.


    Li Moying next to him also looked at him somewhat speechlessly, feeling that Qin Hao¡¯s skin hadn¡¯t been this thick before.


    For Yuan Feng, this was outright humiliation.


    Tonight, the honor of Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company was completely shattered, and Yuan Feng could no longer care about that.


    He looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Qin Hao, our statuses are not much different, do you dare to compete with me?¡±


    Everyone was stunned; even Luo Feng, Tang Zhongqian, and Xiao Zhi were taken aback.


    Yuan Feng had lost his reason in anger; under normal circumstances, he would never have said something like that.


    Everyone thought Qin Hao had lost his mind, to actually stake his own company as a bet.


    They all turned their eyes to Yuan Feng, hoping he would agree.


    Usually, the onlookers in a commotion anticipate a great show.


    The blond blue-eyed girl, upon hearing this, flashed a hint of surprise in her eyes.


    Xuan Country is really interesting, with such unusual antics.


    Yuan Feng turned his head to look at Luo Feng and others; his stepping forward was first to save the company¡¯s face, and second, to vent for Luo Feng and his friends.


    But now he was cornered and didn¡¯t know what to do.


    Xiao Zhi, Tang Zhongqian, and Luo Feng nodded at him, suggesting that he should agree to Qin Hao.


    Yuan Feng looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Okay, I agree to your terms.¡±


    Qin Hao, with a smile on his face, said, ¡°Good, get some paper and a pen to draw up a written agreement, and find a few witnesses.¡±


    Soon someone brought paper and pen, and both Qin Hao and Yuan Feng wrote their names on it.


    Li Xutian, Zhu Huasheng, as well as Xiao Zhi and Tang Zhongqian became witnesses, and they each signed their names.


    Once the signatures were complete, Qin Hao and Yuan Feng stood opposite each other.


    ¡°Begin.¡±


    Xiao Zhi announced the start straightforwardly.


    Yuan Feng adopted a stance, his gaze focused, utterly serious.


    Qin Hao stood there casually, a faint smile on his lips.


    ¡°Aah.¡±


    Yuan Feng bellowed, his form surged forth, rushing toward Qin Hao.


    He pushed his speed to the limit, his feet pounding the ground, covering the ten-meter distance instantly to arrive in front of Qin Hao.


    Lifting his leg, he aimed a kick at Qin Hao¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Bang.¡±


    Qin Hao performed a stationary roundhouse kick, landing it directly on Yuan Feng¡¯s neck.


    The timing was impeccably precise, the speed of the kick incredibly fast, and the strength behind it substantial.


    Yuan Feng¡¯s foot was only a few centimeters from Qin Hao¡¯s chest when he was swept away by Qin Hao¡¯s kick.


    His body flew five or six meters, crashing into a table and utterly smashing it to pieces.


    Yuan Feng struggled to stand up, but after several attempts, he failed to rise.


    Those around gaped in disbelief at the scene before them.


    Defeated, Yuan Feng had lost without even withstanding a single move from Qin Hao!!


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 Chapter 379: 381 Deadly Enemy

    Chapter 379: Chapter 381 Deadly Enemy


    Everyone stared dumbfounded, unable to believe what they were seeing in Qin Hao.


    The speed of Qin Hao¡¯s reaction, as well as his formidable strength, shocked them.


    Yuan Feng, who weighed nearly 180 pounds, had been swept away six or seven meters by one kick from Qin Hao.


    What kind of strength was this?


    How could his frail body contain such terrifying power?


    Qin Hao looked at Yuan Feng with a smile on his face, ¡°Mr. Yuan, you¡¯ve lost. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll have someone take over your company.¡±


    ¡°Pu¡±


    Rage overwhelmed Yuan Feng, causing him to spit out a mouthful of fresh blood before fainting.


    Seeing this, his subordinates quickly carried him off to the hospital.


    Qin Hao took the written agreement with a smile and put it away.


    He turned to Luo Feng, ¡°Mr. Luo, did you say you came to seek justice for me just now?¡±


    Luo Feng¡¯s face was a bit embarrassed. Seek justice? If he had known Qin Hao had such fearsome combat ability, he wouldn¡¯t have come.


    Now he was in a difficult position, and any response would be less than ideal for him.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I won¡¯t just let it go that you allowed your bodyguard to hit my son. We shall see,¡± said Luo Feng as he turned and walked outside.


    Tang Zhongqian, Xiao Zhi, and others also turned and left; staying any longer would only bring them shame.


    They had arrived with great momentum but left in disgrace; the difference was stark, much to the delight of those from the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce.@@@@


    Tonight, Qin Hao had also made his stance clear to everyone.


    There was no possibility of reconciliation with the Ruixing Group, Tang Group, and Huaqing Group. From tonight onwards, they were sworn enemies.


    As members of other chambers of commerce saw the Jianghai Chamber of Commerce leave, they left while laughing and talking.


    The events of this evening would surely spread throughout the entire business community of Jianghai City by tomorrow.


    Li Xutian did not leave. He came over to Qin Hao and said, ¡°You were a bit too impulsive.¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Qin Hao responded lightly.


    Although they had been enemies before, it had not been out in the open.


    After tonight, their faces were torn, and these three major groups were formidable in Jianghai City. It was not a good thing for Qin Hao to wage war against them.


    Li Xutian asked, ¡°Is your mother doing well?¡±


    Zhu Huasheng, aware of everyone¡¯s curiosity, began to explain, ¡°Mr. Qin is the most impressive gemstone gambling master I have ever seen.


    Originally, I had offered him several hundred million to hire him, but Mr. Qin declined.¡±


    The crowd was shocked, it was the first time they had seen Zhu Huasheng praise someone so highly.


    He specialized in jewelry and jade, had seen countless gemstone masters, and currently had several top masters in his group.


    To declare that Qin Hao was the most impressive gemstone master he had ever encountered meant he might indeed be the top gemstone master in the country.


    ¡°There¡¯s also something others might not know. A few days ago, Mr. Qin auctioned a painting of his own, which eventually sold for 3.01 billion.¡±


    The banquet room erupted into murmurs, a painting selling for three billion?


    Could that be true?


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; this was almost revealing all his secrets.


    Sophie Inshill extended her fair, smooth hand and said, ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Qin. I tried your company¡¯s roast duck the other day. It was delicious, the best roast duck I¡¯ve ever had.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the compliment.¡± Qin Hao reached out and lightly shook her hand.


    Li Moying was sizing up Sophie Inshill, indeed very beautiful.


    Her unique blond hair and blue eyes added a special charm, probably what ¡®exotic allure¡¯ referred to.


    Su Fei asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, you looked very impressive just now. Was that Xuan Country kung fu?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, Miss Su Fei, are you interested in Xuan Country kung fu?¡±


    Su Fei, ¡°I am very interested in everything about Xuan Country. Its history is long, and its culture profound.


    I was curious about Xuan Country and recently visited Jinchen City. The ancient palace was truly beautiful and breathtaking.


    It¡¯s just that the air quality in Jinchen City isn¡¯t good, and you can¡¯t see the blue sky and white clouds.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I believe that as technology advances, the environment will improve.¡±


    Su Fei nodded slightly, ¡°I won¡¯t disturb your banquet any longer, goodbye Mr. Zhu, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye, Miss Su Fei.¡±


    After Su Fei and a few others left, Qin Hao and the others continued with their banquet.


    The content of the banquet was actually nothing special, just everyone interacting with each other to foster relationships.


    If there was business to be done, they would take care of their own first.


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 Chapter 380: 382: Prop Reward

    Chapter 380: Chapter 382: Prop Reward


    Zhu Huasheng later also mentioned the development of the member companies of the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce in November.


    In the end, he encouraged everyone to continue working hard and strive for greater achievements.


    By around ten o¡¯clock in the evening, the banquet was almost over.


    Qin Hao saw Li Moying by his side, half asleep, and said speechlessly, ¡°Why are you attending the banquet instead of sleeping at home?¡±


    Li Moying replied listlessly, ¡°My dad insisted I come, saying that I have to enter the business world eventually.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the relationship between your dad and my mom?¡± Qin Hao asked her.


    Li Moying: ¡°They both come from the Li family courtyard but from different branches.


    My aunt¡¯s branch is quite distant from my dad¡¯s branch, but because they are contemporaries, they often played together when they were young and have a good relationship.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°The banquet is over, let me take you to find your dad.¡±


    Li Moying nodded her head. After Qin Hao, Zhu Huasheng, and others said their goodbyes, they left the banquet hall.


    Once out of the banquet hall, Li Moying asked him, ¡°Master, how is the new company doing?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°The photolithography machine is already in production now. I¡¯ll go check it out during the assembly and calibration phase. With Mr. Chang there, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems.¡±


    Li Moying pouted and said, ¡°That Chang Jing invested not a penny and took five percent of the shares, while I only have nine percent, Master, this isn¡¯t fair, you are not good to me at all.¡±


    Qin Hao was embarrassed and explained, ¡°Chang Jing is a very capable person, a rare talent. I don¡¯t need to be at the company, and she can manage everything smoothly and orderly.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, Master, you just don¡¯t treat me well,¡± Li Moying complained.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Stop making a fuss, okay? When there¡¯s another investment project, I¡¯ll involve you, is that okay?¡±@@@@


    Li Moying chuckled and said, ¡°Sure, just the two of us, no one else can come in, you handle the major parts, and I¡¯ll handle the minor ones.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Alright, go find your dad now, I¡¯m going back.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye, Master, mwah,¡± Li Moying said bashfully with a smile, then walked into the Su Business Chamber of Commerce¡¯s banquet hall.


    Qin Hao smiled and shook his head, then left with Leng Xuan.


    When he got home, it was almost eleven at night, and Han Meng and Qiao¡¯er were already asleep.


    Qin Hao went to his bedroom and lay down to sleep.


    The next morning at seven, Qin Hao woke up, got dressed, and drew open the curtains.


    He stood in front of the bedroom¡¯s floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the distant sea blending into the sky and land, a comforting feeling enveloped him.


    Qin Hao felt sticky, and he quickly ran into the bathroom, took a shower, and changed into a new set of clothes.


    He looked at himself, his skin seemed a bit whiter, but other than that, he saw no changes.


    He went downstairs and put his clothes in the washing machine.


    When Han Meng saw him, she hurriedly said, ¡°Xiao Hao, I can wash it for you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Meng, I have nothing else to do now, just leave it in there,¡± Qin Hao added some laundry detergent and then went to wash up.


    Qiao¡¯er was also washing up in the bathroom, and seeing Qin Hao, she said with a smile, ¡°Dad, good morning!¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, ¡°Good morning, Qiao¡¯er.¡±


    After breakfast, Han Meng took Qiao¡¯er to school, and Leng Xuan sent two bodyguards to follow and protect them.


    The fifth is the anniversary celebration of Jianghai University, and there are four days left.


    If He Qizhi hadn¡¯t asked Tingting to invite him, he wouldn¡¯t have wanted to go.


    After Han Meng left, Qin Hao sat on the sofa and opened the system mall. He clicked on the apparel category, selected the simplest fabric research technology at the bottom, and spent five thousand achievement points.


    After learning, he walked into the study. He needed to write it down on paper and then deliver it to Zhao Dongqiang, father of Zhao Qian.


    Zhao Dongqiang is smart, he knows how important a new fabric research technology can be, probably even more than Qin Hao thinks.


    Qin Hao is not worried at all that Zhao Dongqiang will leak it because it wouldn¡¯t benefit him at all.


    Even if it were leaked, he still has dozens of more advanced fabric technologies.


    One step to heaven, one step to hell, how to walk depends entirely on oneself.


    Just as Qin Hao was about to finish writing, he received a call from Li Jianjun, ¡°Hello, what¡¯s up, Mr. Li.¡±


    Li Jianjun chuckled, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯re all family here, if you don¡¯t mind, just call me Jun.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°What if I mind?¡±


    Li Jianjun laughed awkwardly, ¡°Then call me Mr. Li, it sounds more comfortable than Mr. Li.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°What did you need?¡±


    Li Jianjun quickly replied, ¡°It¡¯s about the team competition, we need to go to the Northern Federation on the 15th this month to participate in the WWG preliminary rounds.¡±


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 Chapter 381: 383: The Gift

    Chapter 381: Chapter 383: The Gift


    Qin Hao hesitated upon hearing his words, the Northern Federation? He could take this opportunity to visit Wan Rou.


    Li Jianjun hurriedly said, ¡°Competing in this match with your current status will be a bit demeaning, so I think you¡¯d better not go.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°No problem, just get the visa ready for me. Make it for a longer period; I have some other business to attend to over there.¡±


    Li Jianjun said, ¡°You¡¯re still going? You¡¯re a scholar from Xuan Science Academy. If people in our country find out, I think my King Club is going to be doomed.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Going doesn¡¯t necessarily mean I will compete. I have other matters to attend to. Which city is hosting the event?¡±


    ¡°Fei City.¡±


    Qin Hao opened the map and looked. Du Wanrou¡¯s school was in Boston, and Fei City in the Northern Federation wasn¡¯t far from Boston.


    Li Jianjun said, ¡°Then when you have time, drop by the club. I have something to discuss with you that¡¯s not convenient to talk about over the phone.¡±


    A curious light shone in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes, what could he want with me? ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Li Jianjun walked out of the club¡¯s office. Xia Qing was sitting in the club¡¯s lobby.


    Li Jianjun said with a smile, ¡°Qingtian has already been taken care of, and Gun Master will be here shortly. Tell me, do you know Gun Master¡¯s real identity?¡±


    Xia Qing replied somewhat shyly, ¡°Not sure. I¡¯ve never met him before; today is the first time.¡±


    ¡°Gun Master has tipped you so much money; he¡¯s never asked you out?¡± Li Jianjun knew about Xia Qing¡¯s online popularity.


    And because of her, Dream Guild, which she signed with, also became popular.


    Currently, Dream Guild¡¯s monthly income reached millions, which was quite rare among new guilds.


    Xia Qing shook her head, ¡°He¡¯s a good brother, tipping me without any ulterior motives.¡±


    Li Jianjun also believed that Qin Hao didn¡¯t need to go to such lengths just to flirt, as with his reputation, a simple call would have hoards of beautiful women flocking to him.


    There must be something he didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised when Gun Master arrives,¡± Li Jianjun warned Xia Qing.


    Xia Qing smiled slightly, ¡°How could I be? I have already prepared myself mentally.¡±


    Even if Gun Master were terribly ugly, she couldn¡¯t snub the big brother who had given her all-out support in the past.


    Around 9:30 in the morning.@@@@


    Qin Hao arrived at the entrance of King Club, followed by four bodyguards from Leng Xuan.


    He sized up the outside of the club before stepping inside, where two people were sitting in the lobby.


    One was Li Jianjun, and surprisingly, the other was Xia Qing, chatting and laughing together, seemingly having a good relationship.


    Why is she here?


    Could she be with Li Jianjun now?


    She had regained her composure and while walking, she asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me when I repaid you the money?¡±


    ¡°If I had told you, would you have accepted my help?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    ¡°No,¡± she replied with certainty.


    ¡°Your uncle and aunt, they are doing well, aren¡¯t they?¡± Qin Hao inquired.


    Xia Qing nodded, ¡°They are doing well, they¡¯ve opened a few fruit shops in Jiangshan.¡±


    As they walked and talked, Qin Hao felt as if he was being brought back to his high school days.


    Walking home from school under the shade of the trees by the road, talking and laughing together.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost half a year since then, we were walking under the shade just like now,¡± Qin Hao exclaimed.


    Hearing him reminisce, a smile spread across Xia Qing¡¯s face, ¡°That road, that person, that time, they are my most cherished memories.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face held a smile, his tone even as he said, ¡°When did you start liking me?¡±


    Xia Qing pondered before replying, ¡°I fell for you when it was the right time to. When did you start liking me?¡±


    ¡°I started liking you when I wasn¡¯t supposed to.¡±


    Xia Qing¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile, revealing two charming dimples.


    She lowered her gaze to her shoes and continued to walk step by step.


    After taking a dozen steps or so, Xia Qing suddenly spoke up, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve always had a gift for you, but I never had the chance to give it to you. Can I give it to you today?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her curiously, wondering what gift she had for him.


    A ring? A necklace? Or something else?


    ¡°Yes,¡± Qin Hao answered with a nod.


    Xia Qing smiled faintly, her expression reserved and elegant, ¡°You¡¯ve given me a gift before, but I never gave you one in return.


    This is a gift I¡¯ve prepared for a long time, I thought I could give it to you much earlier, but it ended up being now.¡±


    Qin Hao felt a bit embarrassed. The gift Xia Qing mentioned was probably the two little outfits he had given her back then?


    ¡°Close your eyes,¡± Xia Qing told him.


    Qin Hao closed his eyes.


    Xia Qing looked at him and placed her hands around his neck.


    Then, standing on tiptoe, she moved closer...


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 Chapter 382: 384: Bidding Slots

    Chapter 382: Chapter 384: Bidding Slots


    Qin Hao was stunned, his eyes wide open as he looked at Xia Qing, who was only inches away.


    Without waiting for Qin Hao to respond, she instantly stepped away from him, her pretty face turning bright red.


    She had walked over a dozen steps before she made up her mind.


    Xia Qing said shyly, ¡°This is the gift I¡¯ve been preparing for a long time.¡±


    Qin Hao stared at her, dumbfounded; he had not expected Xia Qing¡¯s gift to be this.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re busy, so I won¡¯t take up more of your time. I¡¯m going back,¡± Xia Qing turned and left after speaking.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Let me walk you out.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Xia Qing now felt her cheeks burning.


    If she stayed any longer with Qin Hao, she wouldn¡¯t know what to say.


    After Xia Qing left, Qin Hao stood there, watching her figure until she was long gone, yet he still did not move.


    After a long while, Qin Hao left; he drove to the Qingfeng Tea House and then made a phone call to Zhao Qian.


    Because he had not kept Zhao Dongqiang¡¯s mobile number.


    Zhao Qian lived nearby, so she came over directly, accompanied by Zhao Han.


    Inside the private room, Zhao Han eagerly called out, ¡°Hao, are you free today? Can you teach me martial arts?¡±


    ¡°Go away, don¡¯t bother Qin Hao,¡± Zhao Qian said irritably.


    After speaking, she said to Qin Hao, ¡°I¡¯ve already called my dad, and he will be here soon.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Hmm, okay.¡±


    ¡°Hao, please teach me martial arts; I really want to learn,¡± Zhao Han pleaded with him.


    Qin Hao: ¡°If you really want to learn, then go train at Jiangshan Feibao Security Company during your winter break.


    If you can pass the training and stick with it, I might consider teaching you.¡±


    Zhao Han asked curiously, ¡°Where is Jiangshan Feibao Security Company?¡±@@@@


    Qin Hao: ¡°This afternoon, after I take over Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company, it will become Jiangshan Feibao Security Company.¡±


    Zhao Han said, ¡°Hao, that¡¯s a deal then¡ªif I pass the training, you¡¯ll teach me martial arts.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°I always keep my word.¡±


    In the roasted duck and ready-to-eat food industry, they were not competitors for Jiangshan Roasted Duck at all; even combined, they would be of no use


    unless they could develop tastier food to impact Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    After hanging up Feng Xiangyi¡¯s phone, Qin Hao said to Zhao Qian and Zhao Han, ¡°I have some other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    Zhao Qian nodded, ¡°Yeah, go ahead.¡±


    Once Qin Hao left, Zhao Han looked at Zhao Qian, ¡°Sis, did you hear that? Hao just said he¡¯s taking over Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company.


    ¡°He¡¯s not going to buy out Divine Eagle, is he? That¡¯s almost a billion yuan valued top-level bodyguard company in Jianghai.¡±


    ¡°Does it concern you?¡± Zhao Qian said dismissively.


    Zhao Han chuckled, ¡°It will concern me once he becomes my brother-in-law.¡±


    After saying that, he ran out, and Zhao Qian, cheeks flushing, chased after him.


    Qin Hao drove to Xu Jiekang¡¯s house; nominating Huafei Clothing for the bid wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    He had another matter to discuss with Xu Jiekang, which was his plan to invest in Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group.


    He wanted to start laying out his business empire, a business empire that involved various industries.


    Investing in Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group, so that the pharmaceutical technology he exchanged from the system mall could be mass-produced as quickly as possible and benefit the public.


    Upon arriving outside Xu Jiekang¡¯s villa, Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan and the others, ¡°Just wait for me in the car.¡±


    After saying that, he walked in and knocked on the villa door.


    The door quickly opened, and it was Xu Siyao who opened it. She was startled to see Qin Hao, then threw herself into his arms, ¡°What brings you here? Did you miss me?¡±


    Qin Hao closed the door, looked inside, and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t Uncle Xu and Aunt Yang at home?¡±


    ¡°They went to the company, they won¡¯t be back until the afternoon. Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no one home.¡± After saying that, Xu Siyao playfully kissed him a few times.


    Her longing was evident from the strength of her embrace.


    Qin Hao, teased by her, was somewhat overwhelmed, ¡°I came to talk to Uncle Xu about something. I¡¯ll give him a call.¡±


    Xu Siyao snatched his phone away, declared assertively, ¡°Let¡¯s take care of our business first, then you can call.¡±


    Then she pulled Qin Hao up to her room upstairs.


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 Chapter 383: 385: Seeing Xu Jiekang Again

    Chapter 383: Chapter 385: Seeing Xu Jiekang Again


    ¡°Still developing?¡± Xu Siyao was somewhat surprised.


    She was almost overwhelmed by now, and if it were still developing, wouldn¡¯t that be terrifying?


    Qin Hao took out his phone and said, ¡°I¡¯ll call Mr. Xu, there¡¯s really something we need to discuss.¡±


    ¡°Sure, you go ahead, I won¡¯t say anything,¡± Xu Siyao said with a smile, hugging him.


    Qin Hao called Xu Jiekang: ¡°Mr. Xu, where are you?¡±


    Xu Jiekang: ¡°I¡¯m at the office, what¡¯s up, Xiao Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Xu, I¡¯m at your house, and there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to discuss with you.¡±


    Xu Jiekang: ¡°I¡¯m at the office, but Ms. Yang and I will come back later. Don¡¯t leave at noon; it¡¯s just right, Mr. Xu also needs to talk to you.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll wait for you guys.¡± After hanging up, Qin Hao and Xu Siyao had a tender moment, then he got up.


    Around eleven or so, Xu Jiekang and Yang Su returned together, and Qin Hao and Xu Siyao were sitting on the couch, watching TV.


    Seeing him, Xu Jiekang smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Hao, you¡¯ve been waiting for a while, haven¡¯t you? Si Yao, go help your Ms. Yang with lunch.¡±


    Yang Su, holding some vegetables and meat, smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can cook by myself.¡±


    Xu Siyao got up, smiling, ¡°Ms. Yang, let me help you.¡±@@@@


    The two went into the kitchen. Seeing this scene, Xu Jiekang¡¯s face broke into a smile; he was most satisfied when the two of them got along well.


    Xu Jiekang asked: ¡°Xiao Hao, what do you think about Ms. Yang and I having another child?¡±


    Huh?


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment before replying, ¡°That would be great.¡±


    Xu Jiekang: ¡°I mean, can Ms. Yang¡¯s body handle it? Let¡¯s not have any accidents.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, I can write a prescription for Ms. Yang. Mr. Xu, do you prefer a boy or a girl?¡±


    Xu Jiekang smiled sheepishly: ¡°Could we have twins?¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao, laughing, replied: ¡°Of course, that¡¯s not a problem at all, Mr. Xu. Does Si Yao know?¡±


    Xu Jiekang: ¡°I¡¯ve talked to her already, she said it¡¯s fine and told me not to meddle in her affairs.¡± After saying this, he glanced at Qin Hao.


    His daughter talking like this probably meant she hadn¡¯t given up on Qin Hao; she might still be attempting to pursue Qin Hao, to win him over.


    Seeing Mr. Xu look at him that way, Qin Hao felt a bit guilty: ¡°It¡¯s good that Si Yao agrees; I was worried about you guys having conflicts.¡±


    It was undoubtedly their strategy to use others to eliminate him; they wanted to provoke the major pharmaceutical companies¡¯ animosity toward Qin Hao.


    If Qin Hao really developed new drugs and released them to the market at extremely low prices, it would damage the interests of many major pharmaceutical companies.


    This was a situation that none of them wanted to see.


    If one day in the future Qin Hao indeed dared to break today¡¯s drug market in Xuan Country, they would not hesitate to take him down.


    The more he thought about it, the colder Qin Hao felt inside; Luxing Pharmaceutical Company intended to corner him to death.


    Xu Jiekang: ¡°Xiao Hao, what are you thinking? In a few days, major pharmaceutical companies will definitely approach you.¡±


    Qin Hao began, ¡°Mr. Xu, I¡¯ve already made up my mind, I want to invest in Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group.¡±


    Xu Jiekang was taken aback: ¡°Invest in my company? Xiao Hao, my company doesn¡¯t make much profit,


    the drugs produced by our own factories are sold at the lowest prices, and the buying and selling prices of the drugs in the pharmacies are almost the same.


    Due to the national shares and my family¡¯s reasons, the company¡¯s profits are not as terrifying as those of foreign pharmaceutical companies.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Yes, you should be very aware of my research in the medical field, I am currently researching several commonly used drugs.


    Such as anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing, and cold medicines, which are the most common types of drugs with low cost, fast effectiveness, and no side effects.


    Therefore, I want to invest in Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group through research and development technology. In the first year, I can guarantee at least ten new drugs, and I want twenty percent of the shares.¡±


    The shares of Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical meant little to him, probably less valuable than Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    His ultimate goal was to break the high drug prices in Xuan Country.


    Xu Jiekang nodded: ¡°I can¡¯t decide on this matter by myself, I¡¯ll give you an answer in a few days.¡±


    After lunch, Qin Hao left. Once out of Xu Jiekang¡¯s villa area, Qin Hao made a call to Li Bao: ¡°Where are you?¡±


    Li Bao: ¡°In the hotel, Hao. I checked out two places in the morning, planning to negotiate more this afternoon.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°No more negotiations, take people to Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company, we¡¯re taking over there.


    From now on, it will be Flying Leopard Security¡¯s location, call those from the Flying Leopard Team, and have them come to Jianghai City.¡±


    Li Bao knew of this competitor in Jianghai; they were very strong: ¡°Hao, did you acquire the Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It was given for free, didn¡¯t cost a penny.¡±


    ...


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 Chapter 384: 386: Taking Over Shenying Special Company

    Chapter 384: Chapter 386: Taking Over Shenying Special Company


    2:30 PM.


    Qin Hao arrived at the entrance of Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company with two cars.


    After getting out of the car, Qin Hao sized up the entrance, where a few bodyguards stood, dressed in uniform attire and wearing uniform helmets.


    In terms of attire and discipline, they were not inferior to Feibao Security Company.


    Not far ahead inside the gate, there was a circular pool with a large rock in the center.


    Carved on the rock was a huge, fierce, and powerful eagle.


    The people at the entrance saw Qin Hao and others, their eyes revealing a puzzled look, ¡°Sir, this is the entrance to Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company, non-company vehicles are not allowed to park here.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I am your new boss now, Mr. Yuan is no longer from today, got it?¡±


    At this moment, Li Bao also arrived in two cars and parked beside them, with him and four bodyguards getting out of the cars.


    ¡°Hao, who gave this to you?¡± asked Li Bao as he got out of the car.


    Qin Hao, ¡°You¡¯ll know in a bit, come in with me.¡±


    The security guard stopped them, ¡°Sir, Mr. Yuan said today nobody can enter.¡±@@@@


    Qin Hao, ¡°Don¡¯t call him Mr. Yuan anymore. From today onward, Yuan Feng is no longer the boss of Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company.


    Do you recognize me? You should know who I am, right?¡±


    The security guard hesitated and nodded. He recognized Qin Hao; he had participated in that incident online.


    In the beginning, he cursed Qin Hao, but later switched to cursing Jiang Feifei, Peng Jiekun, and others.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Since you recognize me, you should know my status. If you don¡¯t want to lose your job in the future, open the door now.¡±


    The several people hesitated for a moment. There had been rumors since the morning in the company that the boss was going to be changed.


    Thinking back to what Qin Hao had just said, could it be that the new boss was Qin Hao?


    They hesitated for another moment and then opened the gate.


    ¡°Is Mr. Yuan in?¡± Qin Hao asked as he walked inside.


    The person replied, ¡°Yes, he should be in the office.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Take me there.¡±


    Yuan Feng had indeed promised them benefits just now, but he was no longer the boss of Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company.


    The benefits he mentioned were all illusions and fantasies.


    Most people stepped back two steps, and in the end, only about a dozen people remained standing still.


    ¡°Go take care of them,¡± Qin Hao told Leng Xuan and the others.


    Leng Xuan and four others moved forward and started to take action against those dozen or so people; in less than a minute, they were lying on the ground.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Carry those dozen or so people out and dump them outside the company¡¯s entrance.¡±


    Some quick-witted individuals from Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company rushed out and carried away their former colleagues.


    Those who came down from the office building saw this and their expressions shifted slightly. Was Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company really going to change hands?


    Qin Hao looked at Yuan Feng and said, ¡°Yuan Feng, I¡¯ll remind you one last time. Either scram now, or I¡¯ll break your legs and have you carried out.¡±


    Yuan Feng¡¯s expression dramatically changed, and a few seconds later, he pleaded, ¡°Mr. Qin, this company is my life¡¯s work. I can¡¯t be without it. Can I give you money to resolve this?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°A real man, when he places a bet, must be able to afford the loss. I¡¯ll give you a chance. Your company is worth nine billion. If you can come up with that, I¡¯ll leave.¡±


    Yuan Feng hurriedly pulled out his mobile phone and called Luo Feng. Once the call connected, he hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Luo, I stood up for you yesterday. Now Qin Hao wants to take over my company. Lend me three billion. I can¡¯t be without this company.¡±


    Luo Feng¡¯s tone was indifferent, ¡°Mr. Yuan, you were the one who decided to gamble, and you are the one who lost. Why should I lend you money?¡±


    After saying that, he hung up the phone. Yuan Feng¡¯s face became extremely awkward. He then called Tang Zhongqian and Xiao Zhi.


    But both of their phones went straight to voicemail. He had been put on their blacklist.


    Yuan Feng¡¯s complexion turned ashen, and veins bulged on his forearms. Everything was over.


    Had it not been for their nodding agreement last night, he wouldn¡¯t have consented.


    Seeing him like this, Qin Hao felt a twinge of sorrow; he too had been used by those three men.


    That flicker of sympathy was quickly extinguished by Qin Hao. In the business world, which is like a battlefield, Yuan Feng was now the wall that had fallen and was being pushed by everyone.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving!¡± Yuan Feng turned and walked towards the exit of the company, his figure desolate.


    Watching his figure, a flicker of concern flashed through Qin Hao¡¯s eyes. He quietly said to Leng Xuan, ¡°Have someone follow him.¡±


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 Chapter 385: 387: The Three Major Groups Strike Back

    Chapter 385: Chapter 387: The Three Major Groups Strike Back


    Leng Xuan: ¡°Number Three and Number Four, follow him and be careful.¡±


    Yuan Feng¡¯s strength is quite formidable. We must remain vigilant.


    Afterward, Qin Hao led his team back to the office building and had someone notify all department heads and higher-ranking staff to go to the meeting room for a conference.


    In the meeting room, Qin Hao and Li Bao sat in the main and deputy seats, respectively, with the original deputy directors, directors, department managers, and heads seated below them, totaling more than twenty people.


    All these individuals were looking at Qin Hao with varied expressions, some worried, some bewildered, and some extremely nervous.


    Qin Hao turned to his secretary and asked, ¡°Has everyone arrived?¡±


    Cao Xue: ¡°Mr. Qin, all the management staff above the head level are here.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at the crowd and said, ¡°Today, Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company will officially be renamed Flying Leopard Security Company.


    All departments will for the time being keep their personnel unchanged; everyone will maintain their current positions. Does anyone have anything they wish to say?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, will there be any changes to our salary and benefits?¡± asked the former deputy director of Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company.


    Qin Hao: ¡°It will remain the same for now; I will observe for a period. If the performance is acceptable,


    then we will apply the salary system of Flying Leopard Security Company, which offers a salary significantly higher than what you¡¯re currently earning.


    When I¡¯m not here, Mr. Li, Li Bao, will take charge of all major and minor matters in the company, and he has the full authority to dismiss anyone.¡±


    Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company¡¯s various departments weren¡¯t very large, but there were many special security personnel, with four to five hundred people employed.


    After the meeting, Qin Hao had the finance department staff stay behind, and they checked the finance department¡¯s bills.@@pany didn¡¯t have any debt, but it also lacked liquid capital. Last night, Yuan Feng had already arranged everything, taking away all the liquid funds, approximately tens of millions.


    Definitely unable to continue using the original staff for this crucial finance department, Li Bao intended to transfer a few individuals from Jiangshan.


    Of course, these people wouldn¡¯t be dismissed; however, they just needed to be observed, as the company¡¯s financial statements had to be handed over to our own people.


    Having dealt with everything, Qin Hao left, and Li Bao escorted him on the way.


    ¡°Have Li Yang and his people come over yet?¡± Qin Hao asked as they walked.


    Li Bao: ¡°They¡¯ve been notified already; they should arrive by tonight.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Li Yang is a quite stable person. In the future, let him take charge of the training here; also, arrange a few more bodyguards. Leng Xuan and his crew aren¡¯t enough.¡±


    Seeing the intensity of Tang¡¯s Skincare¡¯s promotional activities, it didn¡¯t seem like they would end anytime soon.


    Not just Huamei Skincare, but Zhu Huasheng¡¯s Shenglong Jewelry was also targeted.


    The three major groups joined hands with a veteran jewelry company to launch promotional activities and wage a price war.


    The transaction volume of Shenglong Jewelry¡¯s mid-and low-end products plummeted drastically.


    Later on, Shenglong Jewelry and Huamei Skincare responded by launching their sales promotions at the first opportunity.


    Although it would mean losses, if they did not retaliate, the market share stolen away would be very hard to regain later.


    Without a market share, the products would not sell, and bankruptcy would not be far behind.


    However, if promotional activities continued indefinitely, companies with limited liquid funds could equally be dragged down.


    The situation was not favorable for Huamei Skincare. Shenglong Group, with its large scale and ample funds, wasn¡¯t concerned about such promotional activities.


    The main issue was that Huamei Skincare, having just been targeted by the Tang Group, was now facing the combined forces of the three major groups.


    It wouldn¡¯t be easy for Su Mingzhi to hold on, in fact, it was very difficult.


    Shenglong Group and Huamei Skincare were flagship enterprises of Jianghai City Shuinan Commerce.


    If they fall, Jianghai City Shuinan Commerce would exist in name only.


    It was clear that the Tang Group, Ruixing Group, and Huaqing Group were targeting Shuinan Commerce.


    They also wanted to deal with Qin Hao¡¯s companies but found no way to do so, as Jiangshan Roasted Duck already had a dominant position that they simply couldn¡¯t block.


    Unless there were better-tasting cooked food products introduced, could there be anything tastier than Jiangshan Roasted Duck? Almost impossible to find.


    There was also Xinghui Wine, where the mid-and low-end brands were very low-priced, especially the low-end wines at about thirty yuan a bottle.


    It was now almost the most popular low-end wine, and no other wine¡¯s promotional activities could help because the quality of the wine simply wasn¡¯t up to par.


    Upon hearing this news, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes flickered with sharp light; he still had a set of skincare development technology in his system¡¯s inventory.


    He could use this to help Huamei Skincare escape the crisis, and even use it to counterstrike.


    But he wouldn¡¯t just give it away to Su Mingzhi; he wanted to take control of Huamei Cosmetics Company.


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 Chapter 386: 388 The Effect of the New Fabric

    Chapter 386: Chapter 388 The Effect of the New Fabric


    Although this might seem like taking advantage of someone when they¡¯re down, if Su Mingzhi agrees, he will definitely get more in the future than he has now.


    Since Qin Hao has invested in Hua Mei Skincare, he naturally will do his best to enhance it.


    Han Meng said to him, ¡°Xiao Hao, I¡¯m going to take Qiao¡¯er to school.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Okay, take care, Meng.¡±


    Han Meng took Qiao¡¯er out of the villa, and someone immediately opened the door of a black Mercedes-Benz sedan outside.


    ¡°Meng, Qiao¡¯er, get in the car, let them take you,¡± Leng Xuan said.


    Han Meng quickly responded, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I can walk Qiao¡¯er to school.¡±


    Leng Xuan said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have two people follow you.¡±


    He called two bodyguards to follow Han Meng and Qiao¡¯er to the nearby primary school.


    Now, there were more than a dozen elites from the Flying Leopard Team outside Qin Hao¡¯s villa, and when he went out, there were probably six people protecting him.


    He asked Li Bao for so many people mainly because he was worried that there would be hardly anyone left beside him if he had to send people out later.


    Not long after Han Meng left, Leng Xuan came in, ¡°Hao, Yuan Feng has lost the trail. Going to school this morning, number three and four found that the person in the car was not Yuan Feng. It¡¯s very likely that he was lost as of yesterday.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°Where did he go?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know yet.¡±


    When Yuan Feng left the Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company, Qin Hao had some concerns in his heart.


    He must surely hate Qin Hao and the other two, Luo Feng. If Qin Hao were in his shoes, he might very well launch a retaliatory action.


    Now that Yuan Feng was lost, Qin Hao was worried that he would retaliate against people close to him.


    Qin Hao said urgently, ¡°There are people following Meng and Qiao¡¯er, right? Tell them to be on high alert, and also, tighten the security around my parents at Jiangshan.¡±


    Leng Xuan nodded and promptly notified others; he felt that Yuan Feng would not let things go easily.


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang; it was a call from Zhao Dongqiang.


    Once the call connected, Zhao Dongqiang spoke excitedly, ¡°Mr. Qin, the new fabric has been made. We¡¯ve produced a few finished products. Would you like to come and take a look?¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Where are you, Mr. Zhao? I¡¯ll come and see.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve taken a few finished products back home. Only a few people in the company know about it.¡± After speaking, Zhao Dongqiang gave Qin Hao the address.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯ll come over and take a look now.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang nodded vigorously, now seeing hope for the rise of Huafei Clothing.


    All this had been brought about by Qin Hao.


    After Zhao Dongqiang left, Zhao Qian¡¯s mother, Meng Wan, spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, please take a seat, I¡¯ll pour you some tea.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Ms. Zhao, there¡¯s no need for such formality, I¡¯ll be leaving in a little while.¡±


    Zhao Qian brought a fruit platter to the coffee table, ¡°It¡¯s your first visit to our house, at the very least, you should stay a bit longer, have some fruit.¡±


    After she finished, she handed him a piece of apple, and Qin Hao took it, saying, ¡°I can get it myself.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, thank you so much this time, if it weren¡¯t for you, my family would¡¯ve been done for,¡± Meng Wan spoke sincerely as she poured him a glass of water.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Ms. Zhao, I was also looking to get into the garment industry, it¡¯s a win-win situation, no need to be so formal.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang calling him Mr. Qin was acceptable, but it felt a bit awkward when Meng Wan did.


    After staying at Zhao Qian¡¯s house for a while, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang; it was a call from Nie Si.


    Qin Hao answered the phone and asked, ¡°What is it, Nie Si?¡±


    Nie Si, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Feng hasn¡¯t shown up for work yet, I just called her and her phone is off, do you know where Mr. Feng might have gone?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression changed upon hearing this, ¡°You¡¯re saying Mr. Feng hasn¡¯t gone to work yet? I will go look for Mr. Feng, you handle the company matters for now.¡±


    He glanced at his watch; it was about 9:20 now.


    Where could Feng Xiangyi have gone without going to work?


    He made a phone call to Feng Xiangyi, which returned an automated message that the number was switched off.


    Thinking of Yuan Feng, his heart sank, ¡°Ms. Zhao, I have an urgent matter and must leave, please don¡¯t see me off.¡±


    Having heard Nie Si¡¯s words and realizing something was amiss, Zhao Qian and Meng Wan quickly got up to see him off.


    Once out of Zhao Qian¡¯s house, Qin Hao urgently said to Leng Xuan, ¡°To Mr. Feng¡¯s house.¡±


    Leng Xuan quickly drove towards the residential area of Feng Xiangyi¡¯s home, speeding along.


    Arriving downstairs, Qin Hao saw Feng Xiangyi¡¯s car and Du Wanrou¡¯s Ferrari were both there.


    ¡°Wait for me downstairs.¡± After saying this, Qin Hao ran upstairs; on the way he put on his invisible x-ray glasses.


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 Chapter 387: 389 Make Him Disappear

    Chapter 387: Chapter 389 Make Him Disappear


    When Qin Hao arrived at Feng Xiangyi¡¯s doorstep, he faintly heard Feng Xiangyi¡¯s cries for help.


    If it had been an ordinary person, they might not have heard Feng Xiangyi¡¯s voice.


    Qin Hao looked inside through his X-ray glasses and quickly saw the scene inside.


    Feng Xiangyi was hiding in the bedroom, with the door locked from the inside. She had even dragged the dressing table to the doorway to block it.


    She was also pushing the dressing table with all her might to prevent the two people outside from kicking the door open.


    Feng Xiangyi¡¯s cell phone and telephone were outside, so it was impossible for her to call for help.


    All she could do was block the door from inside and cry for help at the same time.


    But the window was not looked at, and the room¡¯s soundproofing was good, so her voice couldn¡¯t get out at all.


    In the living room stood two men, taking turns kicking at the door of Feng Xiangyi¡¯s bedroom.


    The door was of excellent quality; although it had been kicked into a large hole, it was still locked and hadn¡¯t opened.


    Qin Hao turned off his X-ray glasses, stepped back two steps, then charged forward.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A loud noise emitted, startling the three people inside.


    The door was violently kicked open, and a young man walked in from outside.


    The two men kicking the door were stunned. They looked at each other, and one of them asked Qin Hao, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Could this man be doing the same thing as them?


    Qin Hao took a step forward and knocked the two men down with two punches.


    Then he said to Feng Xiangyi in the bedroom, ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s okay now, I¡¯m Xiao Hao.¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s voice, Feng Xiangyi breathed a sigh of relief. She moved the vanity mirror aside and opened the bedroom door.


    Qin Hao saw her and asked, ¡°Auntie, are you alright?¡±


    It was false to say Feng Xiangyi wasn¡¯t scared. She looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°Can I borrow your shoulder for a moment?¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment and then nodded; Feng Xiangyi rushed into his arms and started crying.


    At that moment, Leng Xuan and others ran up, having heard the commotion, they had come up.


    Seeing the scene inside, Leng Xuan and the others ignored Qin Hao and Feng Xiangyi and took the two men downstairs.


    About five or six minutes later, Feng Xiangyi left his chest, her eyes somewhat swollen.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s okay now. From today onwards, I¡¯ll arrange for four bodyguards for you, to protect you 24 hours a day.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Wu Fuwei, the vice president of Wu Roast Duck.¡±


    ¡°It was him?¡± Feng Xiangyi was somewhat surprised.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Some people would do anything for profit. Some time ago, my father was almost killed in a car accident.¡±


    Anxiously, Feng Xiangyi asked, ¡°Is uncle alright?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°He¡¯s okay now. There are things I don¡¯t want to do, but people always force you into doing them.¡±


    Hearing his words, Feng Xiangyi looked at him, wanting to say something, but she didn¡¯t know how to put it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡±


    Qin Hao sat at the dining table, and Feng Xiangyi served him a bowl of rice.


    Qin Hao began, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about this morning¡¯s incident, Auntie.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi nodded, ¡°I understand. I hear that tomorrow your school is hosting an anniversary celebration.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Yes, I have to attend as well.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi asked, ¡°They probably expect donations too. Jianghai University has produced many business magnates. How much do you plan to donate?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°It depends on the situation.¡±


    After finishing the meal, Feng Xiangyi washed the dishes and went into the bathroom. The struggle that morning had left her drenched in sweat.


    She¡¯d then handled the moving procedures, and by the time it was all done, it was already noon, leaving her no time to shower.


    Emerging from the bathroom, Feng Xiangyi was wrapped in a towel, holding another towel in her hands and drying her hair.


    She sat on the sofa watching TV, a fresh scent filling Qin Hao¡¯s nostrils.


    Qin Hao glanced at Feng Xiangyi and then looked away.


    Her skin was fair and smooth, her figure striking, and Qin Hao dared not look too long for fear of reaction.


    As Feng Xiangyi dried her hair and watched TV, she suddenly remembered something and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, your cousin seems to be interested in your classmate.¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Smiling, Feng Xiangyi said, ¡°Isn¡¯t Qin Man your cousin? She seems to be interested in that Chen Ping you brought here. She visits him often.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned strange, ¡°No way? If the two of them got together, would I then have to call Chen Ping brother-in-law?¡±


    ¡°Auntie, you¡¯re not kidding, right? There¡¯s a big age difference between them.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi, ¡°It¡¯s not that many years. If you don¡¯t believe me, just ask your sister to find out.¡±


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 Chapter 388: 390: Wu Fuwei Commits Suicide

    Chapter 388: Chapter 390: Wu Fuwei Commits Suicide


    Qin Hao pulled out his phone, wanting to call his cousin Qin Man, but hesitated and decided not to.


    If there really were signs that they were developing in that direction, he didn¡¯t want to ruin it on account of his own interference.


    Let them develop. Chen Ping¡¯s future wouldn¡¯t only be with Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    His talent in computer science was high, and he would surely enter Qin Hao¡¯s Xinghai High-tech Company in the future.


    If his older sister could be together with Chen Ping, that would actually be a pretty good thing.


    But that future title would make him speechless¡ªwould he really have to call Chen Ping his brother-in-law?


    Feng Xiangyi seemed to know what he was struggling with and laughed while drying her hair.


    Qin Hao looked at her unamused: ¡°Is it that funny, Auntie?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi: ¡°I find it quite funny. That Chen Ping¡ªhe¡¯s younger than you, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Auntie, you must be twenty-six or twenty-seven, right? No boyfriend yet, and you laugh at others. Just wait another couple of years and you¡¯ll be a leftover woman.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi¡¯s smile disappeared upon hearing his words¡ªthat comment hit home.@@@@


    ¡°Are you taking a nap? I¡¯m going to nap.¡± After saying that, Feng Xiangyi got up and walked toward the master bedroom.


    Perhaps because she was upset, she walked a bit hastily, and just as she was about to reach the bedroom door,


    she suddenly cried out and with a thud, she slid feet up in the air and landed on her back on the floor.


    There was a ¡°bang.¡±


    Her rear end hit the floor first, crashing down hard.


    Witnessing the scene, Qin Hao couldn¡¯t hold back his laughter: ¡°Haha, Auntie, isn¡¯t this karma?¡±


    ¡°Ah, ouch! It hurts so much, and you¡¯re laughing there,¡± Feng Xiangyi frowned deeply in pain.


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao quickly walked over, trying to suppress his laughter: ¡°Are you okay, Auntie?¡±


    ¡°It hurts. It feels like I¡¯ve hurt my tailbone,¡± Feng Xiangyi inhaled sharply.


    Qin Hao took her smooth, white arm and helped her up, but she was reluctant to walk.


    Just after arriving at the school, Qin Hao received a phone call from Leng Xuan: ¡°Mr. Qin, the matter has been taken care of.¡±


    ¡°Okay, good.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao got out of the car and headed towards the student society building. On his way, he saw the campus festooned with lights.


    Banners hung on both sides of the road, and many members of the student union were still busy setting things up.


    No one on the road noticed Qin Hao, and he hadn¡¯t asked his bodyguards to follow him.


    Arriving at the society building, Qin Hao saw many club members rehearsing nervously, as various clubs were set to perform during the school celebration.


    If one looked carefully, they could see that the parking lot of the hotels surrounding the school was now filled with luxury cars.


    Many an elite had graduated from Jianghai University, prominent in politics, business, and various other fields.


    When Qin Hao got to the art studio, Fan Ruobing was not there.


    He asked: ¡°Where did Ruobing go?¡±


    A girl responded: ¡°The president led people to set up the venue, they should be at the auditorium where the school celebration is taking place.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the auditorium?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s right next to the library over there.¡±


    ¡°Thanks a lot,¡± Qin Hao turned and left the studio.


    On the other hand, not long after arriving at the company, Feng Xiangyi heard some news from Nie Si.


    ¡°The heads of Wu Roast Duck Company, Wu Fumin, and Wu Fuwei, unable to bear the pressure of the company¡¯s bankruptcy, have both jumped to their deaths.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi was stunned by the news. Wu Fuwei had killed himself due to bankruptcy pressure? How could it be such a coincidence that he had sent people after me in the morning, and then killed himself in the afternoon?


    Feng Xiangyi naturally thought of Qin Hao, and the words he had said: There are things I don¡¯t want to do, but there will always be someone who forces me to do them.


    Did he kill people just for me?


    [Third update, one more to come!]


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 Chapter 389: 391 Jiang University Anniversary

    Chapter 389: Chapter 391 Jiang University Anniversary


    Feng Xiangyi felt somewhat uneasy; she was afraid Qin Hao might get arrested because of this.


    She spent the entire afternoon in the office while having Nie Si closely monitor the situation regarding Wu Fuwei and Wu Fumin¡¯s suicides.


    Latter, the official announcement came out stating that Wu Fumin and Wu Fuwei had been confirmed to have committed suicide, ruling out the possibility of homicide.


    Upon hearing this news, Feng Xiangyi breathed a sigh of relief, though the official report had stated as much.


    But she felt that this matter couldn¡¯t be completely disconnected from Qin Hao; it was just done flawlessly.


    ...


    Elsewhere, Qin Hao arrived at the auditorium of Jianghai University, where a crowd was busy arranging things inside.


    Inside, Qin Hao saw Fan Ruobing standing on a platform directing everyone.


    When Fan Ruobing spotted him, she walked down from the platform, ¡°I¡¯ve put the painting in the car.¡±


    Many of those setting up the venue turned to look their way.


    Damn, Qin Hao?


    They actually know each other?


    It¡¯s great being rich; even when they want to say something to Fan Ruobing, she barely acknowledges them.


    Before Qin Hao could speak, Fan Ruobing had already approached him proactively¡ªdamn, someday I got to be a rich person like Qin Hao.


    Seeing the envious looks from people around, Qin Hao felt a bit uncomfortable.


    If these people knew the ice queen Fan Ruobing had once helped him out with her hands, some of them would probably want to stab him.


    ¡°Are you busy right now? Shall we step outside and talk?¡± Qin Hao finally spoke up.


    Fan Ruobing nodded her head and followed Qin Hao out of the auditorium.


    As they walked towards the parking lot, Fan Ruobing started speaking, ¡°Mid-month, my mother intends to hold another auction.


    But this time, she¡¯s planning to cooperate with Shenglong Group, and Zhu Huasheng is from your Shuinan Chamber of Commerce; you probably know him, right?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°I know him.¡±


    Fan Ruobing continued, ¡°The Shenglong Group¡¯s business is extensive, spreading both domestically and internationally. The oil painting you did a few days ago, my mother also had him take it abroad to auction.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°Keep the money; I still owe you so much.¡±


    Fan Ruobing replied, ¡°Do we still need to talk about these things between us?¡±


    With an awkward smile, Qin Hao dropped the subject. When they reached the parking lot, Fan Ruobing handed him the painting.


    At that moment, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang, and he answered the call, ¡°Hello, Mr. Xu.¡±


    In the future, if they want to survive in Xuan Country, their only option is to make slim profits with high turnover; making exorbitant profits will be nearly impossible.


    He¡¯s also laying the groundwork for his future. Only when the people are truly wealthy will commerce thrive even more.


    It¡¯s a virtuous economic cycle.


    When Qin Hao left, he held a contract for twenty percent of the shares of Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group.


    He hadn¡¯t paid a cent, yet he acquired twenty percent of the shares in Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group.


    Twenty percent of the shares amounted to assets of more than two billion yuan.


    Back home, Qin Hao exchanged points in the system mall for special-effect antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and cold medicines.


    It cost him nine thousand achievement points, and these medicines were the lowest-grade pharmaceutical technologies in the mall.


    If these medicines were truly produced, they would not only affect the interests of foreign pharmaceutical companies but also impact some domestic pharmaceutical companies.


    After exchanging the technology, Qin Hao wrote it down in his notebook, planning to hand it over to Xu Jiekang in a couple of days.


    The next morning.


    Zhao Dongqiang took the newly produced clothes to the bidding meeting.


    Qin Hao also went to the university, but his car was blocked outside because there were too many people and vehicles.


    It was even more crowded than at the start of the academic year.


    Qin Hao had no choice but to get out of the car and walk to the university. Today, not only elites from within the university were participating.


    There were also representatives from major corporations that have partnerships with Jianghai University. They were all invited guests.


    The entrance to the campus was decorated with banners warmly celebrating the university anniversary, and members of the student council were there to receive guests.


    Qin Hao entered with several bodyguards, drawing much attention.


    ¡°Qin Hao is here too, I heard he¡¯s an invited guest.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not just an ordinary first-year student; he¡¯s also an academician at the Xuan Science Academy. No one in Jianghai University surpasses him in academic titles.¡±


    ¡°Do you know how much Xinghui Wine is valued at now? Venture capital firms have estimated it at twenty billion yuan, even higher than Jiangshan Roasted Duck.¡±


    ¡°Look, look, Mr. Jiang from Zhongjia Mobile has arrived.¡±


    ¡°With him are Mr. Liu, Mr. Li, and Wang Guanding, right? These are all big shots from internet companies. I never expected to see them all today.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Mr. Zhang from Huatian Real Estate over there? Damn, that guy¡¯s a major tycoon in Xuan Country¡¯s real estate industry.¡±


    ...


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 Chapter 390: 392 Various Characters

    Chapter 390: Chapter 392 Various Characters


    Many people had come to attend Jianghai University¡¯s anniversary, but not all of them were big-shots famous throughout the entire country.


    Compared to them, Qin Hao could only be considered a newcomer in the business world, and the gap was still quite significant.


    However, in terms of fame, Qin Hao was quite well-known, possessing tens of millions of fans at Wei Yan.


    Not long after entering the school, Qin Hao received a call from He Tingting.


    He Tingting, ¡°Where are you? Have you arrived at the school yet?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I¡¯m already at the school, walking inside. Where should I go?¡±


    He Tingting, ¡°Just come to the backstage of the auditorium. Someone will arrange a seat for you in a while.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± after hanging up the phone, Qin Hao walked towards the auditorium.


    On the way, Qin Hao also saw the congratulatory groups from Jinchen University and Jinhua University, about dozens of people, including teachers and students.


    Besides these two universities, Qin Hao also saw many other university congratulatory groups.


    ¡°I heard Jianghai University has ten campus beauties,¡± said a young man in the Beijiang University group.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, reportedly each one is like a Heavenly Immortal. Mr. Ye, if you¡¯re interested, you might as well directly ask two of them out tonight.¡±


    Ye Yingda¡¯s lips curled into a sly smile, ¡°Tonight, then I will see what the difference is between the campus beauties of Jianghai University and those of Beijiang University.¡±


    Upon arriving backstage at the auditorium, the staff there quickly ushered him in, while Leng Xuan¡¯s several bodyguards stood outside.


    Qin Hao, led by the staff, found a place and sat down backstage.


    Quite a few people had arrived backstage, but Qin Hao did not recognize any of them.


    When those people saw Qin Hao, many of them showed curiosity; they had heard of Qin Hao¡¯s reputation, but it was their first time seeing him.


    Someone came over to greet him, ¡°Mr. Qin, let¡¯s get acquainted. Li Wenjun, head of Jianghai District for Chenguang Venture Capital Company.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Li, nice to meet you,¡± Qin Hao said with a smile, shaking his hand.


    Chenguang Venture Capital is a well-known venture capital company in Xuan Country, having invested in several hundred companies.


    Dozens of those companies are listed, and the company¡¯s liquid assets are calculated to be in the tens of billions, especially with major shareholders who are top domestic tycoons.


    The two exchanged business cards, and subsequently, more people came over to talk to Qin Hao.


    These people were all elites who had graduated from Jianghai University, and they were all invited to the anniversary celebration.


    While they were speaking, another group of people walked in, and those present at the backstage went over to greet them.


    At this moment, Jiang Tao, Cheng Siyuan, and Cheng Sisheng walked in, and they noticed Qin Hao and Li Wenjun beside them.


    The trio glanced at Qin Hao and then turned their heads, continuing towards the interior.


    Everyone there was adept at reading the room and seeing Jiang Tao and his group¡¯s demeanor, they understood the trio¡¯s intent.


    No one went over to greet Qin Hao; they all followed Jiang Tao and his party instead.


    Later, Zhang Zhi, the CEO of Huatian Real Estate, came over and greeted Qin Hao: ¡°Qin, the younger generation is quite formidable.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Zhang flatters me; compared to veterans like yourselves, I still have a long way to go.¡±


    Zhang Zhi smiled slightly: ¡°I hope we¡¯ll have the opportunity to collaborate in the future; I truly admire Mr. Qin¡¯s capabilities.¡±


    ¡°I, too, look forward to the chance to collaborate with Mr. Zhang.¡±


    After exchanging a few words, Zhang Zhi left, entering the auditorium from the backstage.


    Li Wenjun spoke up, ¡°Mr. Zhang from Huatian Real Estate has had some competition with the Li Family from Beijiang in the real estate business and took some losses afterward.¡±


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised: ¡°You¡¯re quite well-informed.¡±


    Li Wenjun: ¡°As a venture capitalist, not only do we need to thoroughly investigate a company, but it¡¯s also important to understand the people around them¡ªtheir friends and associates.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Li, it¡¯s time to enter the hall,¡± a staff member reminded the two of them.


    Qin Hao and Li Wenjun walked backstage into the auditorium, where there were two rows of seats with names on them around the stage.


    Qin Hao found his spot and sat down; Li Wenjun¡¯s seat was right next to him.


    Their seats weren¡¯t very prominent, as there were many more significant figures present.


    At nine o¡¯clock, Jianghai University¡¯s anniversary celebration officially commenced, starting with speeches from the school leaders.


    Following that, Xiao Zhi, the top leader of Jianghai City, gave his speech.


    Furthermore, Jiang Tao, as the representative of the alumni of previous years, also stepped up to deliver a speech.


    The content of their speeches was nearly identical, first praising the long history of Jianghai University, and then encouraging current students to study hard and delve deep into their research.


    Qin Hao nearly dozed off listening, thinking that had he known it would be this dull, he would have found an excuse not to come.


    The auditorium was filled with professors, tutors, and students from Jianghai University and other major universities, amounting to several thousand people.


    He Tingting, seeing Qin Hao¡¯s expression, wished she could go up and kick him. It was the time of the university anniversary celebration; could he not take it a little more seriously?


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 Chapter 391: 393: Winning the Bid

    Chapter 391: Chapter 393: Winning the Bid


    Not only were the teachers and students of this school watching, but those from other schools were watching as well. If you truly fell asleep, it would have been utterly embarrassing.@@@@


    At a bidding conference for military clothing on the other side.


    The person in charge of the Gu Jing Military Region¡¯s logistics department had collected samples from dozens of clothing enterprises.


    Seated in an inconspicuous place at the back, Zhao Dongqiang felt a bit nervous after the samples were collected.


    Although he was confident in his new fabric, he still felt uneasy since the results were not yet out.


    If those large clothing companies were to secretly offer bribes, it would be difficult for Huafei Clothing¡¯s superior materials to win the bid.


    This was an autumn clothing bidding conference, including underwear, autumn coats with long sleeves, and long pants, with a total quantity of nearly five million items of clothing.


    If Huafei Clothing could win the bid, it would not only make a big splash but also gain a certain profit.


    There would also be a winter clothing bidding conference in half a month, as the production speed of winter clothing factories was slower, so they would bid earlier.


    Sitting at the front of the bidding conference were Ruixing Clothing and other major clothing companies.


    Almost every company at the front was a well-known domestic clothing brand, visible in shopping malls everywhere.


    This year¡¯s spring and summer clothes had been secured by Ruixing Clothing, and this time they were determined to win again.


    The two key points for clothing bidding were quality and price.


    After waiting for about an hour, the military uniform logistics officer walked in from backstage.


    He looked at the assembled crowd and announced, ¡°Below, I will announce the winning companies.


    Autumn military hats winning company: Xishan Hat Clothing Company.


    Military underwear winning company: Huafei Clothing Co., Ltd.


    Autumn camouflage coats, long sleeves, and pants winning company: Huafei Clothing Co., Ltd.¡±


    As soon as this statement was made, there was a stir at the bidding conference, and they knew about Xishan Hat Clothing Company.


    But what on earth was Huafei Clothing?


    Many were hearing the name Huafei Clothing for the first time, as everyone seated here was an industry tycoon.


    Huafei Clothing was far behind them in every aspect, not even in the same league.


    Yet, this company had won the bid at this autumn clothing tender.


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Dongqiang almost jumped up in excitement; Huafei Clothing had secured the most important two types of clothing in one fell swoop.


    ...


    ...


    Around eleven, the morning performances for the anniversary celebration ended, with more performances and business magnates sharing entrepreneurial experiences scheduled for the afternoon.


    Everyone gradually exited the auditorium, and the guests also began to rise and head backstage.


    Qin Hao hadn¡¯t gotten up yet when his phone rang in his pocket; it was Zhao Dongqiang calling.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, we won the tender, we¡¯ve won it,¡± Zhao Dongqiang said excitedly.


    Qin Hao asked with a smile, ¡°How large is the volume required?¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang, ¡°About 1.3 million pieces each for underwear, jackets, long sleeves, and pants.


    That totals up to 5.2 million pieces. They have already sent me the sizes.


    I¡¯m on my way back now, we¡¯ll start overtime production as soon as I return.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°What¡¯s the deadline?¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang, ¡°Delivery by the end of the month, they¡¯ve already transferred the deposit.¡±


    Qin Hao asked curiously, ¡°Can we handle over five million pieces?¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang, ¡°Yes, autumn clothes aren¡¯t that hard to produce. Mr. Qin, I think we should expand our scale, acquire a few clothing and textile factories.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°With our new fabric, Mr. Zhao should be very clear about the future prospects. Expanding our scale is imperative, the sooner the better.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang nodded, ¡°Alright Mr. Qin, there¡¯s also a winter clothing tender at the military region mid-month. We could bid for the personal clothing as well.¡±


    Winter clothing tender?


    A smile crossed Qin Hao¡¯s lips, ¡°Ruixing Group, from now on, don¡¯t even dream of winning a tender again.¡±


    Ending the call, Zhao Dongqiang was quite excited. 5.3 million pieces, nearly four billion in sales volume.


    This was double what Huafei Clothing Company made in two years, something Zhao Dongqiang could not have dreamed of before.


    Thinking about now having only given Qin Hao 65% of the shares, he felt a bit embarrassed.


    After ending the call, Qin Hao was about to walk out from backstage when Fan Ruobing called out to him.


    Qin Hao turned around and saw three men surrounding her, their faces grinning lecherously as they eyed every part of Fan Ruobing¡¯s body.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned cold, and he jumped down from the stage.


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 Chapter 392: 394 Beisus Richest Man

    Chapter 392: Chapter 394 Beisu¡¯s Richest Man


    Qin Hao walked up to Fan Ruobing, grabbing one of the people beside her.


    Diao Xinrong turned his head and cursed, ¡°Damn it, let go of me right now.¡±


    ¡°Swoosh¡±


    Qin Hao threw him two or three meters away, directly smashing him to the ground.


    Liu Cheng¡¯an¡¯s expression slightly changed as he looked at his boss, Ye Yingda, since this was not their home turf.


    If this had been at Beijiang University, he would have called dozens of people to beat up Qin Hao by now.


    ¡°Are you alright, Ruobing?¡± Qin Hao asked Fan Ruobing.


    Fan Ruobing stood up next to him, her eyes cold and disdainful as she stared at Ye Yingda and his companion.


    Qin Hao walked over to Ye Yingda, discerning from Liu Cheng¡¯an¡¯s expression that this man was indeed their leader.


    ¡°Smack¡±


    Qin Hao slapped him across the face, not even asking anything before delivering a brisk slap.


    Ye Yingda was stunned, Liu Cheng¡¯an was stunned too, and those who hadn¡¯t left yet turned their heads to look.


    ¡°You dare hit Mr. Ye? I¡¯ll fight you right here,¡± Liu Cheng¡¯an said, following Ye Yingda had sharpened his cunning and scheming.


    He charged at Qin Hao, fully aware of the consequences but doing it anyway, simply to impress Ye Yingda.


    ¡°Smack¡±


    ¡°Bang¡±


    A slap and a kick, and Liu Cheng¡¯an was down on the ground.


    ¡°What right do you have to hit a student from my school?¡± a middle-aged man rushed over, followed by students from Beijiang University.


    Qin Hao turned and sneered at him, ¡°Publicly harassing my friend in broad daylight, is this how your school trains its students?¡±


    The middle-aged man¡¯s face faltered, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have hit him either, hitting someone means you are in the wrong no matter what.¡±


    The middle-aged man was well aware of the identities of Ye Yingda and his group, important to take care of, not allowed to get into any trouble.


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°Did your wife come by? How about I find an old man to harass her a bit, and see what your reaction would be?¡±


    ¡°You...¡± the middle-aged man said, his face turning livid, his hand trembling as he pointed at him.


    Qin Hao brushed his hand aside, ¡°Stop pointing at me with that righteous tone, aren¡¯t you just trying to shelter your student? Get lost.¡±


    A professor from Beijiang University, when had he ever been insulted like this?


    He pointed at Qin Hao and said, ¡°You wait, I will definitely report this to your school¡¯s dean.¡±


    Xia Qing nodded slightly and said nothing more; the three of them went to the second floor of the cafeteria.


    Important people were all arranged on the third floor, and though Qin Hao also qualified to go there, he did not.


    The three sat at a table and ordered some food casually.


    Xia Qing spoke up, ¡°Qin Hao, I don¡¯t think those guys will let this go; they¡¯ve probably gone to find someone.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    ...


    As Ye Yingda was leaving the school, he took out his phone and made a call, which was quickly answered.


    ¡°Yingda, what¡¯s up?¡± Ye Lanxin was curious as she received her brother¡¯s call.


    Her brother had been spoilt since he was young, and although she often scolded him, Ye Yingda barely paid attention to his older sister.


    Ye Yingda: ¡°Sis, aren¡¯t you doing well in Jianghai? I was hit by someone here in Jianghai.¡±


    ¡°What happened? Did you stir up trouble in Jianghai again?¡± Ye Lanxin frowned.


    Ye Yingda: ¡°What do you mean I stirred up trouble? They started it this time, they slapped me, and no one has ever slapped my face from childhood.¡±


    Ye Lanxin¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°Who hit you? Where are you now?¡±


    Ye Yingda: ¡°That guy is called Qin Hao, at Jianghai University.¡±


    When Ye Lanxin heard the name, her face stiffened, ¡°Qin Hao? How did you provoke him?¡±


    ¡°Do you know him, big sis?¡± Ye Yingda was startled.


    Ye Lanxin: ¡°This guy is no ordinary person, how did you mess with him?¡±


    Ye Yingda: ¡°How powerful is he? Can he be more influential than our dad? Our dad is the richest man in Beijiang Province, and everyone gives him respect.¡±


    Yelan Xin: ¡°In terms of reputation, he¡¯s not inferior to our dad, and in terms of status, our dad can¡¯t compare to him; now do you realize whom you¡¯ve provoked?¡±


    Ye Yingda was somewhat incredulous, ¡°He looks just like me, how could he be that impressive? You must be scaring me, Sis. You could find a better excuse.¡±


    Ye Lanxin: ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, look him up online yourself. He¡¯s an academician at the Xuan Science Academy, and the founder of the cancer drug synthesis technology.


    Beijiang might find another richest man if our dad wasn¡¯t around, but if the country lost him, it would lose a leading talent.


    Stay where you are, I¡¯m coming over now. Do you know about the Xiao Family? A powerful family in both political and business circles.


    Their direct descendant, Xiao Liang, had his legs broken by him, and he was unharmed. Think about it, are you more capable than Xiao Liang?¡±


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 Chapter 393: 395: Dampen Qin Haos Spirit

    Chapter 393: Chapter 395: Dampen Qin Hao¡¯s Spirit


    Ye Yingda was stunned when he heard his sister¡¯s words. He knew about the Xiao Family, formidable both in politics and business.


    Especially since the old man of the Xiao Family had retired from Jinchen.


    Was Qin Hao so capable to this extent?


    After hanging up the phone, Ye Yingda pulled out his mobile phone and looked up Qin Hao on the internet.


    When he saw that Qin Hao was truly an academician of the Xuan Science Academy and had developed the latest anti-cancer drug, he was stunned.


    Chairman of Jiangshan Roasted Duck, Chairman of Xinghui Wine Company, Chairman of Feibao Security Company, and so forth.


    Liu Cheng¡¯an and Diao Xinrong, seeing Ye Yingda stunned there, asked quietly, ¡°Mr. Ye, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Ye Yingda said, ¡°Wait a bit, my sister will be here soon.¡±


    About fifteen minutes later, Ye Lanxin arrived at the entrance of Jianghai University, accompanied by eight bodyguards.


    Seeing Ye Yingda with Liu Cheng¡¯an and Diao Xinrong, Ye Lanxin¡¯s expression turned slightly cold, ¡°Are you two Liu Cheng¡¯an and Diao Xinrong?¡±


    ¡°Hello, Sister Lanxin,¡± Liu Cheng¡¯an and Diao Xinrong hurriedly greeted.


    Ye Lanxin¡¯s expression remained cool, ¡°Take these two away and break their legs. If I ever see you around Yingda again, watch out for your lives.¡±


    Liu Cheng¡¯an and Diao Xinrong¡¯s faces changed drastically, they quickly looked to Ye Yingda, ¡°Mr. Ye, save us! We have been loyally devoted to you.¡±@@@@


    ¡°What are you standing there for? Hurry up and drag them away,¡± Ye Lanxin said, seeing the bodyguards behind her not moving and getting somewhat angry.


    People say that the bodyguards from the Flying Leopard Team are obedient and tough. It seems I need to hire some from there someday.


    Ye Yingda hurriedly said, ¡°Big sister, what did they do? They didn¡¯t provoke you, did they?¡±


    ¡°The two of them have done many bad things behind your back using your name. Do you know you are bringing discredit to our father?¡± Ye Lanxin remained unmoved.


    A few bodyguards dragged Liu Cheng¡¯an and Diao Xinrong away.


    Ye Yingda wanted to say something else, but seeing Ye Lanxin with a stern face, he dared not say more.


    Big sister does what she says, she could do anything when provoked.


    Ye Lanxin said, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know about the things you have done in Beijiang Province. Thankfully, those people consented, or else you would be the one to suffer, and no one could save you.¡±


    Seeing them come down the stairs, Qin Hao knew what they were up to; they were clearly here to intimidate him.


    He had no intention of making enemies, but these people were set on making trouble for him.


    He Qizhi felt a bit upset seeing Qin Hao dining with two beautiful women.


    ¡°You¡¯re dining with two beauties, does Tingting know about this?¡±


    Jiang Tao, holding the most authority, looked at the dining Qin Hao and asked, ¡°Qin, did you hit a student from Beijiang University and also insult Mr. Li? He is a venerable professor there.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Jiang, some matters don¡¯t concern you. You better not meddle too much,¡± Qin¡¯s response was loaded with deeper implications.


    Jiang Tao spoke indifferently, ¡°Qin, as a student of Jianghai University and the CEO of a company, future pillar of the nation,


    how could you resort to violence? Not to mention insulting a respected and revered professor like Mr. Li?


    I know you feel uncomfortable with what I am saying, but harsh truths are beneficial in the long run, and I am only saying this for your future benefit.


    If you are going to persist in your arrogance and conceit, you might very well ruin yourself.¡±


    Jiang Tao proved himself a wily old fox of the business world, claiming the moral high ground with his ambiguous language.


    He was not only speaking about the incident with Mr. Li, but also hinting at Qin Hao¡¯s arrogance in his business dealings.


    His voice was not soft, and many surrounding students heard him. They felt that Jiang Tao was very much in the right.


    Seeing the two goddess-like women dining with Qin Hao, they had already been feeling uncomfortable.


    Qin Hao placed his chopsticks down and looked at Jiang Tao with a graceful tone, ¡°Mr. Jiang, what do you think I should do?¡±


    Jiang Tao responded, ¡°Apologize to the person who was hit, and also to Mr. Li. It is not shameful to make mistakes, but it is to not correct them.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke evenly, ¡°I would like to ask Mr. Jiang, are you fully informed about the whole story here?¡±


    Jiang Tao replied, ¡°I am informed. Mr. Li has told me. It started when their student wanted the contact of a Jianghai University student for future academic exchanges, and then you beat him up.¡±


    Qin Hao rebutted, ¡°Those three were actually trying to harass Ms. Fan Ruobing which I stopped, and Mr. Jiang, you¡¯re talking about academic exchanges.


    May I also have a deep exchange with your daughter then?¡±


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 Chapter 394: 396 Ye Lanxin

    Chapter 394: Chapter 396 Ye Lanxin


    Everyone gasped when they heard Qin Hao¡¯s words.


    How dare Qin Hao speak to Jiang Tao like that? He was a highly respected elder, a contemporary of Chancellor He Qizhi.


    Wasn¡¯t Qin Hao being too arrogant?


    Even though his current achievements were high, shouldn¡¯t he still maintain the proper respect for his elders?


    Jiang Tao¡¯s face changed several times upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words; Qin Hao hadn¡¯t left him any face.


    Similarly, Qin Hao didn¡¯t consider whether what he said was appropriate. Young people were just young people.


    Jiang Tao maintained a poker face, but he wasn¡¯t about to explode. Qin Hao¡¯s actions had undoubtedly left an impression of arrogance with everyone.


    This kind of impression, though invisible and intangible, was sure to affect Qin Hao and his company.


    After all, the crowd here included students from various schools, hailing from the top institutions of Xuan Country.


    Students from this school were highly sought after by major companies when they graduated.@@@@


    If Qin Hao was flawed in moral terms, these students would bypass his company first when choosing their employers.


    Cheng Siyuan started to reproach, ¡°Mr. Qin, you are indeed too arrogant. Mr. Jiang is an elder, not someone you, a junior, can insult.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at Cheng Siyuan, ¡°Did you see me insulting Mr. Jiang? I merely suggested deepening our conversation with his daughter.


    What¡¯s wrong with that? As an academician of the Xuan Science Academy, I¡¯ll speak the truth: I have more knowledge in my head than you¡¯ve had rice to eat.¡±


    Quite a few students nearly spat out the rice they had just eaten.


    Wow, was he calling Cheng Siyuan an idiot?


    True to Qin Hao¡¯s form, his words were indeed sharp.


    Cheng Siyuan, who didn¡¯t have the same depth as Jiang Tao, turned an iron shade of blue: ¡°Qin Hao, you show no respect for your superiors, your character is beneath contempt.


    How could Jianghai University produce someone like you? I am truly ashamed for our alma mater.¡±


    Their goal today was to put a big hat on Qin Hao and damage his reputation.


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°Mr. Cheng, why dress it up so loftily? You¡¯re just jealous of my Xinghui Wine Industry.


    If you can¡¯t acquire it, you start attacking me? If you want to stand on the moral high ground to attack me, I suggest you make a few billion in donations first.


    Otherwise, you really don¡¯t have the standing to say such things.¡±


    Cheng Sisheng then interjected, ¡°Mr. Qin, how much money you donate doesn¡¯t relate to a person¡¯s character, and using that to judge someone¡¯s character is quite substandard.¡±


    Suddenly, a voice chimed in, ¡°While it can¡¯t judge a person¡¯s character, it¡¯s certainly one of the important factors in assessing their integrity. It seems rather graceless for the three seniors to be so aggressive towards a junior, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    This is my younger brother Ye Yingda. I heard that he has offended Mr. Qin, so I came to offer an apology on his behalf.¡±


    The expressions of Jiang Tao, Cheng Siyuan, and Cheng Sisheng shifted slightly upon hearing this.


    Ye Lanxin?


    The reputation of Ye Lanxin might not be significant, and Blueberry Mobile Communications could only be considered as starting to make its mark.


    What was shocking was not Ye Lanxin¡¯s company, but the man behind her, Ye Wentian, the wealthiest person in Beijiang Province.


    Qin Hao asked her, ¡°Does Mr. Ye know the whole story behind this incident?¡±


    Ye Lanxin nodded. She had already asked Ye Yingda about the details on the way over.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Then have your brother apologize to my friend.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s spirits lifted, and they turned their heads to Ye Lanxin and Ye Yingda. Was the main character showing up?


    With so many eyes on him, Ye Yingda felt unable to save face. The son of Beijiang¡¯s richest man, when had he ever apologized to anyone?


    But recalling Qin Hao¡¯s formidable presence, he lowered his head towards Fan Ruobing and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Ye Lanxin looked at Qin Hao, Qin Hao looked at Fan Ruobing, and although Fan Ruobing didn¡¯t speak, Qin Hao understood the look in her eyes.


    ¡°Forget about it,¡± Qin Hao said, looking at Ye Lanxin for her sake, ¡°Go back and properly teach your brother some lessons. If not, he could bring disaster upon you in the future.¡± Qin Hao gave a warning in light of Ye Lanxin¡¯s goodwill.


    Ye Lanxin nodded with a smile: ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin. I¡¯ll host a meal for you soon and I hope Mr. Qin will honor us with your presence.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Hmm, okay, I¡¯ll definitely come if I have time.¡±


    Ye Lanxin and Ye Yingda left, and the expressions on the faces of the professors from Beijiang University as well as Jiang Tao¡¯s group changed various times.


    Now that even the involved party had come forward to apologize, the remarks they made earlier were no different from nonsense, completely meaningless.


    Qin Hao retaliated against Jiang Tao: ¡°Mr. Jiang, as a company executive, you didn¡¯t even understand the whole story,


    yet you were quick to pass judgment, standing on your moral high ground to attack me. It¡¯s just business competition; there¡¯s no need for such despicable tactics, right?¡±


    ¡°Alright, Qin Hao,¡± He Qizhi intervened with perfect timing, ¡°perhaps Mr. Jiang was misled. Let¡¯s not be too harsh.¡±


    Now that Qin Hao had spoken, there was no way for Jiang Tao and his people to rebut.


    They hadn¡¯t been in favor of coming down here, but Jiang Tao and the others had been adamant about doing so, even bringing quite a few people with them.


    Now they were getting their comeuppance, weren¡¯t they? Served them right!


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 Chapter 395: 397 Exposure

    Chapter 395: Chapter 397 Exposure


    ¡°`


    With He Qizhi having spoken, Qin Hao felt it was not appropriate to say any more.


    Jiang Tao and the others had even less to say. Since He Qizhi had provided them with a way out, they could only take it.


    They came with imposing fury, but left with heads hanging and faces smeared, their dignity lost completely.


    Initially, their intention was to make Qin Hao lose face, but it ended up backfiring on them.


    After everyone left, Qin Hao turned to Li Jing and Li Yushi and said, ¡°Come and sit.¡±


    Li Jin looked to her cousin, and after hesitating, Li Yushi still walked over.


    The bodyguard behind Qin Hao hurriedly carried over two stools and placed them beside them.


    Li Yushi and Li Jin sat down.


    Qin Hao, looking at the two of them, said, ¡°How about introducing yourselves?¡±


    Li Yushi: ¡°My name is Li Yushi. I¡¯m twenty-two this year. According to age, you should call me your cousin.


    She is Li Jin, the eldest daughter of my Third Uncle¡¯s family. She¡¯s nineteen this year, with her birthday in October, younger than you, so she¡¯s your cousin.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Li Jin with interest. He hadn¡¯t expected her to stand up and speak for him just now.


    ¡°Hello, Cousin Li Jin,¡± Qin Hao said to her.


    Li Jin, hearing him directly call her cousin, felt a bit embarrassed: ¡°Hello.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve heard from my mother that Third Uncle and she have always had a good relationship. How¡¯s my Uncle doing?¡±


    Li Jin nodded: ¡°He¡¯s doing quite well. How about Auntie?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°She¡¯s doing well.¡±


    Xia Qing and Fan Ruobing listened to their conversation with curiosity. These two are his cousins?


    Why did this relationship seem a bit awkward? It looked as though they were meeting for the first time.


    Qin Hao looked at Li Yushi and asked, ¡°Are you from Second Uncle¡¯s family?¡±


    Li Yushi nodded slightly: ¡°The one at the hotel entrance last time, that was my brother Li Mingguan.¡±


    ¡°And the other two are from the eldest¡¯s family?¡± Qin Hao did not refer to Li Pingrong as Elder Uncle, because he did not deserve it.


    Li Yushi: ¡°Their names are Li Mingzhe and Li Minglei, from my eldest uncle¡¯s family.¡±


    Li Pingchang and Li Pingsheng¡¯s families were closer to each other, while not as close to the eldest, Li Pingrong¡¯s family.


    Especially Li Mingzhe and Li Minglei, they always bullied them, and looked down upon them.


    The main reason was that Li Pingrong¡¯s Su Yi Group was developing very well, far surpassing the second and third families.


    ¡°Here¡¯s my cellphone number. If there is anything you need in Jianghai, you can directly call this number,¡± Qin Hao gave them his number.


    The crowd was astounded. Whether it was the students from various schools or the business magnates of the next day, everyone was stunned.


    He actually donated three hundred million? Truly, the charity angel of Xuan Country. Hasn¡¯t he already donated around twenty billion in total?


    The applause below was loud and continued for over a minute.


    Upon hearing his donation amount, He Qizhi¡¯s face showed a smile.


    The celebration at Jianghai University ended around five in the afternoon.


    Everyone gradually left, and so did the business magnates. As company heads, they had a lot to attend to.


    They generally wouldn¡¯t visit if it weren¡¯t for the alma mater¡¯s celebration.


    The congratulatory delegations from various schools did not leave; they would stay for a few days to visit and exchange academic ideas with Jianghai University.


    After the celebration ended, Qin Hao left the university and headed home.


    By dusk that afternoon, news spread throughout Jianghai City:


    ¡°Jianghai¡¯s leading apparel enterprise Ruixing Group faces defeat while Huafei Clothing Company rises unexpectedly, taking up the military apparel banner¡±


    ¡°Ruixing Group loses billions due to a setback at the military apparel bidding¡±


    ¡°Stock ownership change at Huafei Clothing Company a few days ago ¨C Qin Hao now the largest shareholder.¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao silently becomes the major shareholder of Huafei Clothing Company, overpowering Ruixing Clothing at the military apparel bidding.¡±


    This news spread through major newspapers and online platforms in Jianghai.


    As soon as it was released, it caused a sensation. When did Qin Hao invest in Huafei Clothing Company?


    Qin Hao quietly entered the apparel industry?


    That retaliation was too swift, wasn¡¯t it?


    Ruixing Clothing Trading Group must be regretting it now ¨C the military apparel contract was a significant source of profit.


    Without winning the autumn military apparel bid, they lost at least several billion.


    When Luo Feng saw this news, he was truly flabbergasted ¨C Qin Hao had entered the apparel industry?


    Was he intending to suppress my company?


    You might be formidable in the roasted duck and cooked food industry, but apparel is not the same, and in this sector, you have to listen to me, Lu Fugeng!


    ¡°Have someone investigate why Huafei Clothing won the bid,¡± he ordered.


    He suspected that Huafei Clothing winning the bid could likely be related to Qin Hao¡¯s and the Xu Family¡¯s influence.


    Otherwise, there was no way Huafei Clothing could compete with Ruixing Clothing.


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 Chapter 396: 398 Zhao Yuyings Troubles

    Chapter 396: Chapter 398 Zhao Yuying¡¯s Troubles


    In the area of clothing materials, Luo Feng was confident that his company surpassed most of the clothing companies in Jianghai.


    The cost aspect was what he was most proud of; the reason he always won the military uniform supply bids was that his offer was low, but the quality was also acceptable.


    Many corporate magnates in Jianghai were shocked by this news.


    Why was he meddling with clothing instead of focusing on his roast duck business?


    Without the Xu Family¡¯s connections, could he have gotten the autumn military uniform supply?


    Nearly everyone believed that Qin Hao relied on the Xu Family¡¯s connections.


    After all, Mr. Xu¡¯s word was law; if he chose Huafei Clothing, who would dare to disobey his orders?


    Only Xu Jiekang knew that Qin Hao hadn¡¯t relied on the Xu Family; Huafei Clothing¡¯s success in securing the autumn military uniform contract was purely on its own strength.


    After the bidding results came out, Mr. Xu specifically inquired about it.


    He was concerned that his subordinates knew of his relationship with Qin Hao and might have given Qin Hao an unfair advantage.


    But after seeing the materials from Huafei Clothing, Mr. Xu said no more.


    Soldiers undergo a great deal of physical training every day, and the quality of their uniforms is a very important factor.


    With poor-quality materials, soldiers feel uncomfortable, which can impact their training.


    Conversely, if the clothes are comfortable, they feel much better during training, which can indirectly improve training efficiency.


    Amid widespread discussion,


    Huafei Clothing Company announced to the outside world: the company had developed the latest fabric, and the new clothing line would soon be launched.


    ...


    Qin Hao returned to the Haoting Sea View Villa and asked Leng Xuan, ¡°Has Yuan Feng been found?¡±


    Leng Xuan: ¡°Not yet, still searching.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Be sure to stay vigilant and strengthen defenses.¡±


    Back at the villa, Qin Hao sat on the sofa and called Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Chang, is the photolithography machine about to be produced?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Almost, it should take about three more days.¡±


    After chatting with Chang Jing for a while, Qin Hao hung up the phone and turned on the TV to watch.


    Qiao¡¯er finished her homework in the bedroom and then came out, sitting on the couch watching TV with Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao was watching the news channel, which was broadcasting domestic news.


    ¡°Today is the anniversary of the 125 Beiya earthquake; the leaders of Beiya Province went to commemorate the more than ten thousand victims of that year.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, okay,¡± Qiao¡¯er giggled.


    After dinner, Qin Hao took Qiao¡¯er to Zhao Xingbo¡¯s house.


    Zhao Xingbo and his wife were cleaning up after dinner, but Qin Hao did not see Zhao Yuying.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Ying back?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Zhao Xingbo said with a smile, ¡°Yu Ying is sleeping. She was a bit tired after catching a flight back, but she should be awake by now because I called her earlier.¡±


    As his words fell, Zhao Yuying came out of the bedroom,


    wearing a pink silk nightgown, exposing her fair arms and thighs, with her hair loose and a bit messy.


    Seeing Qin Hao in the living room, her cheeks turned slightly red, ¡°Xiao Hao, Qiao¡¯er is here.¡±


    ¡°Aunt Yu Ying, are you very tired?¡± Qiao¡¯er asked.


    Zhao Yuying replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already rested, I¡¯m fine now. Auntie has bought some treats for you.¡±


    After finishing, Zhao Yuying took out the snacks she brought back and opened them for Qiao¡¯er.


    Qiao¡¯er quickly said, ¡°Aunt Yu Ying, I just ate, I can¡¯t have snacks.¡±


    ¡°Then wait until later tonight to eat them. Auntie is going to have dinner now. After dinner, I¡¯ll play with you.¡± Smiling, Zhao Yuying glanced at Qin Hao and then walked over to the dining table.


    In her eyes, Qin Hao saw a deep fatigue.


    This wasn¡¯t the tiredness that comes from physical labor, but a kind of mental exhaustion.


    Qin Hao sat on the couch watching TV with Qiao¡¯er, pondering that Zhao Yuying might have encountered some kind of trouble.


    Her state wasn¡¯t very good, and if such strain built up over time, she could potentially develop depression and eventually resort to suicide.


    Later on, Han Meng joined them, sitting beside Qiao¡¯er.


    After finishing dinner, Zhao Yuying sat down on the sofa, next to Qin Hao.


    She patted her stomach and said adorably, ¡°I¡¯m so full, nothing beats eating at home.¡±


    ¡°Did Ying finish filming?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Zhao Yuying nodded, ¡°The TV series is done. I¡¯ve pushed back all my other schedules to have some time to rest at home.¡±


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Did Ying encounter any difficulties outside?¡±


    Zhao Yuying sighed, ¡°Difficulties? What kind of difficulties could there be? It¡¯s just that it¡¯s easy to run into some irritating issues, just thinking about them gives me a headache.¡±


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 Chapter 397: 399 Grievance

    Chapter 397: Chapter 399 Grievance


    Seeing her parents approaching, Zhao Yuying quickly stopped talking, as there were things she didn¡¯t want her parents to know.


    Because they couldn¡¯t help much, they would only worry uselessly which would upset them too.


    Zhao Xingbo walked over and said with a smile, ¡°Xiao Hao, I read in the newspaper that you¡¯ve entered the clothing industry?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°Yes, the clothing industry still has great developmental prospects.¡±


    He would never say he had entered the clothing industry to get back at Ruixing Group.


    Even if he did, they wouldn¡¯t understand, the cross-industry battle had just begun.


    The military clothing autumn tender was just a beginning, Huafei Clothing would launch a series of offensives against Ruixing Group afterward.


    Zhao Xingbo said with a smile, ¡°Xiao Hao truly has a business mind. When you become the richest man in Xuan Country, Mr. Zhao can boast a bit too, saying the richest man in Xuan Country is my neighbor.¡±


    After chatting for a bit, Zhao Yuying said, ¡°Mom, Dad, I¡¯m going out for a walk, to breathe in some air from home. Xiao Hao, come with me for a walk.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, and the two of them walked side by side out of the villa.


    Seeing this, Zhao Xingbo and Wang Zhi exchanged glances.


    Was their daughter falling for Qin Hao?


    Qin Hao was so young yet his assets had already reached billions; if he kept developing, reaching hundreds of billions in a few years wasn¡¯t impossible.


    He was a potential goldmine.


    They felt it was normal for their daughter to fall for such an outstanding man like Qin Hao, but they were a bit worried that Qin Hao might not feel the same about their daughter.


    However, they were still very confident in their daughter¡¯s qualities. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also gentle and virtuous.


    The age gap with Qin Hao was a bit large¡ªeight years¡ªbut they didn¡¯t see it as a big issue.


    In the countryside, there¡¯s a saying: ¡°A woman eight years older is sure to prosper!¡±


    Once out of the villa, the two walked down the trail that led to a small garden behind their neighborhood.


    The surrounding environment was serene, encircled by green trees, and relaxing in the shade here during summer was truly enjoyable.


    Zhao Yuying didn¡¯t speak as they walked; she was just looking at how she dressed and felt a bit shy about it.


    The nightgown was a bit short, and there was a risk of exposure with a bit of autumn breeze.


    Had she known it would be like this, she would have changed her clothes, but now it was awkward to mention going back to change.


    The two walked over the cobblestone path and arrived inside the small garden.


    Seeing her shoulders trembling slightly, Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, but still reached out to embrace her shoulders, allowing her to lean on him.


    He had no improper thoughts at that moment.


    He simply wanted to comfort Zhao Yuying.


    Her current mental state, if not stabilized, could be very dangerous.


    Zhao Yuying leaned on his shoulder, sobbing softly, ¡°The day before yesterday while filming in Nanchu Province, a few of us from the crew received an invitation.


    To attend a gala dinner hosted by Chu Jian, the young master of the Nanmao Wine Group.¡±


    Nanmao Wine Group was originally named Gui Mao Wine, as it¡¯s based in Nanchu Province, so many people like to call it Gui Mao Wine.


    She paused then continued, ¡°There were many famous figures from the business world in Nanchu Province at the wine feast, as well as many rich second generations.


    After the party ended, they wanted us to stay, and although a few of us from the crew wanted to leave, they wouldn¡¯t let us.


    Later, when I insisted on leaving, Chu Jian couldn¡¯t save face and, in front of numerous people, cursed me as a bitch.


    At that moment I wanted to hit him, but I didn¡¯t have the power; he¡¯s the son of the head of the Nanmao Wine Group.


    His father holds a very high position in Nanchu Province; even local officials have to be very polite to his dad.


    I could only endure it, letting him curse me. Later, he got others to insult me too, telling me to sit on the chair and not move. If I dared, Chu Jian said he¡¯d break my legs and make me crawl out of Nanchu Province.


    If it weren¡¯t for the people from the company, I don¡¯t know if I could have made it back.¡±


    By the end of her story, Zhao Yuying¡¯s cries had grown louder, her ordeals that night were imaginable.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes chilled, ¡°Ying, don¡¯t be sad, it¡¯s over, and tomorrow I¡¯ll arrange a few bodyguards for you.


    Their skills are very strong; if something like this happens again, just see them off, and I¡¯ll take care of everything.¡±


    Zhao Yuying¡¯s voice choked up, ¡°I want to get out, but I still have five years left on my contract; I must continue.


    Otherwise, I can¡¯t afford the breach of contract fees, and I also don¡¯t know what else to do without this. I know nothing else.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Ying, don¡¯t worry about the contract issue; I¡¯ll take care of it. Actually, you could transition and start a company.


    Occasionally take on a good movie or appear on variety shows, and as for those banquets, you don¡¯t need to attend them anymore.


    If anyone dares to threaten you into attending, just call me, and I¡¯ll attend their banquet instead.¡±


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 Chapter 398: 400: Starting a Media Company

    Chapter 398: Chapter 400: Starting a Media Company


    Qin Hao dared to speak like that because he had his own confidence.


    With his status as an academician, no one dared to touch him, let alone the fact that he was not someone who could be easily manipulated.


    Now he was still strategizing his business empire, and entering the clothing industry was just a small part of it.


    He also wanted to enter the cosmetics industry, precisely when everyone was fully attentive to his cross-industry battle.


    He quietly established the blueprint for his own business empire.


    Zhao Yuying felt somewhat moved and stood up to say, ¡°Xiao Hao, you have a talent for business. What kind of company should I start?¡±


    Qin Hao pondered before saying, ¡°A media company; this way, you can also make your own efforts to improve the entertainment industry.


    It just so happens I also have the idea to enter the entertainment industry. Ying, you wouldn¡¯t mind if I took a larger share, would you?¡±


    Zhao Yuying laughed through her tears, ¡°How could I? I only feel reassured with you joining. Otherwise, I really wouldn¡¯t have the confidence.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°This is actually quite simple because you have fame, status, and connections in the entertainment industry; it¡¯s easy to sign artists.


    Because you have connections, it¡¯s easier for the artists under you to become famous. The company can completely find a professional manager to run it.¡±


    Zhao Yuying nodded: ¡°Hmm okay, then I¡¯ll have someone register a media company tomorrow. How much should we invest initially?¡±


    ¡°Ying, how much capital do you have?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Zhao Yuying: ¡°I have about fifty million left; that¡¯s all my capital.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯ll put in four hundred and fifty million, a registered capital of five hundred million should be about right. You should know some film production teams, right? We could poach a team, or if not, just form our own.¡±


    Zhao Yuying was stunned for a moment: ¡°Film production team? Are we going to make movies in the future?¡±@@@@


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face: ¡°Yes, making movies is the most profitable. Look at the box office of foreign films; they easily earn billions.¡±


    Zhao Yuying: ¡°But our movie technology isn¡¯t as advanced as theirs, and in Xuan Country, few movies make money.


    You either need a good director or a good script, but those costs are very high.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯ll handle the movie technology issues. Who says Xuan Country doesn¡¯t have top-level movie special effects technology?¡±


    ¡°You know about this?¡± Zhao Yuying widened her eyes, curiously looking at him.


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°My major was in computer science. Although it¡¯s not exactly the same as film production, there are some overlapping areas.¡±


    The two had a long conversation in the small garden, and Zhao Yuying had already forgotten her past unhappiness, enthusiastically discussing future business affairs with Qin Hao.


    This was not good news for him.


    Though the Human Body Transformation Gene Potion had obvious benefits, it also had significant drawbacks: his resistance to beautiful women had become increasingly weak.


    After getting up, Qin Hao only then noticed that it had started to rain outside.


    With the autumn rain came the cold; it might get colder in the future.


    After breakfast, Zhao Yuying came to find him. Qin Hao transferred the money to her; he still had two billion, two hundred million left.


    He had to save part of these funds. Huamei Cosmetics Company surely wouldn¡¯t withstand the onslaught from the three big groups of the Tang Group.


    In the end, even if Su Mingzhi borrowed money to resist, it would merely delay the company¡¯s bankruptcy.


    Only Qin Hao had the power to save Su Mingzhi¡¯s company.


    In the morning, Qin Hao went to Xu Jiekang¡¯s house, where his whole family was at home.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Xu, these are the new types of cold medicine, fever reducer, and anti-inflammatory drugs I¡¯ve developed.¡±


    Xu Jiekang was stunned for a moment, took the notebook, and looked at it; it was filled with many technical terms.


    Qin Hao: ¡°The biggest features of these three new drugs are: fast acting, low cost, no side effects, and they also won¡¯t create drug-resistant bodies.¡±


    Xu Jiekang was a bit excited: ¡°Just in time, I was planning to go to the company. I¡¯ll have the lab people work it out today.¡±


    After Xu Jiekang left, only Qin Hao, Yang Su, and Xu Siyao were left in the house.


    Yang Su looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Xiao Hao, I heard you invested in Huafei Clothing Company?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Ms. Yang, you know about it too?¡±


    Yang Su: ¡°Now almost everyone in the Jianghai Business World knows about it. Are you aiming to hit Ruixing Group?¡±


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Qin Hao admitted.


    Yang Su looked at him but said nothing else: ¡°I have things to tend to at my company, I¡¯ll leave first. You and Si Yao can chat for a while.¡±


    After making sure Yang Su drove away, Qin Hao walked over, picked up Xu Siyao, and headed upstairs.


    ¡°You bad boy, always bullying people,¡± Xu Siyao coyly complained.


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 Chapter 399: 401 Chen Shunas Invitation

    Chapter 399: Chapter 401 Chen Shuna¡¯s Invitation@@@@


    Around ten in the morning.


    Xu Siyao lay exhausted on the bed, lacking even the strength to move her arm.


    Qin Hao lay beside her, staring at the ceiling.


    He was pondering a question, certain functions of his body had become very strong, unimaginably strong.


    ...


    At that moment, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang, he picked it up, hesitated for a moment, and then answered the call, ¡°Hello, what¡¯s up with Xia Qing?¡±


    Xia Qing¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Chen Shuna and the others want to invite you, the big boss, out for lunch, are you free at noon?¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Xia Qing, ¡°It¡¯s not decided yet, they are at Jianghai Normal University.¡±


    ¡°Okay, send me your address, and I¡¯ll come over to find you soon,¡± Qin Hao said.


    After Xia Qing gave him her address, Qin Hao hung up the phone.


    Xu Siyao asked, ¡°Was that Xia Qing on the phone? The ¡®campus belle¡¯ from the Foreign Language College?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°You know her too?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s on the same beauty list as I am, I¡¯ve heard of her, she¡¯s really pretty. Do you like her?¡± Xu Siyao asked.


    Qin Hao gave an awkward smile, ¡°A little bit.¡±


    Xu Siyao snorted coldly, ¡°What do you mean by a little bit, liking is liking, I have no right to get angry.


    The one who should be angry is your wife, if she doesn¡¯t care, I have no right to, as long as I¡¯m always in your heart, that¡¯s enough for me.¡±


    She had already made up her mind long ago when they first became involved.


    In this life, she might only be able to be with Qin Hao secretly, possibly never gaining any official status.


    What she wanted wasn¡¯t status, she just needed Qin Hao to always be by her side, that was enough.


    Instead of marrying someone she didn¡¯t love, she¡¯d rather be with Qin Hao like this for a lifetime.


    Hearing her words, Qin Hao felt guilty, he embraced Xu Siyao¡¯s shoulders, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Si Yao.¡±


    Xu Siyao said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t apologize to me, this is my choice, and I can feel that you love me.¡±


    Qin Hao and she were affectionate for a while, then he got out of bed.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t interrupt anything between you two, did I?¡± Chen Shuna asked cautiously.


    Xia Qing¡¯s cheeks instantly turned red, ¡°Hang up, we¡¯ll come over in a while.¡±


    After hanging up, she looked at Qin Hao, her face still flushed, ¡°Shu Na always likes to joke.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°What did she say? I didn¡¯t hear.¡±


    Xia Qing stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to put on some makeup, and then we can go, it won¡¯t take long.¡±


    She walked into the bedroom, picked up the cosmetics from the table, and began to apply them.


    Qin Hao stood at the door of her bedroom, which was decorated very tenderly, and filled with a faint fragrance.


    ¡°You look beautiful without makeup, you really don¡¯t need to apply it,¡± Qin Hao said from the doorway.


    Xia Qing, ¡°I¡¯m not applying makeup, but I do need to use some skincare products, otherwise my skin will age fast. I¡¯m just applying light makeup; it adds to the charm.¡±


    About seven or eight minutes later, she had finished her makeup, turned her head, and looked at Qin Hao with a cheerful smile, ¡°How does it look? Pretty?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yeah, you look lovely, indeed a bit more charming than without makeup.¡±


    Hearing his compliment, Xia Qing¡¯s smile grew even brighter; she picked up her small purse and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The two of them went downstairs together and saw three black Mercedes SUVs parked below; she was slightly startled.


    When Qin Hao came down, a bodyguard opened the car door.


    Xia Qing somewhat dazedly said, ¡°Are these all your cars?¡±


    ¡°Sort of, the one in the middle is mine, the others are for the bodyguards,¡± Qin Hao said as he led her into the car.


    ¡°Drive to the West Campus of Jianghai Normal University,¡± Qin Hao told the driver after getting into the car.


    Chen Shuna and the others were at the West Campus of Jianghai Normal University.


    Leng Xuan and the others drove toward the teacher¡¯s college in Hangdong District of Jianghai City.


    In the middle car, Qin Hao and Xia Qing sat together in the back.


    Xia Qing was astonished; just how rich was he now? Even his bodyguards drove these kinds of cars.


    They chatted for a while, and in less than half an hour, they arrived next to the gate of Jianghai Normal University¡¯s West Campus.


    Getting out of the car, Xia Qing called Chen Shuna, ¡°Hello, Shu Na, we¡¯re already at the school gate, come out.¡±


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 Chapter 400: 402 Haomen KTV

    Chapter 400: Chapter 402 Haomen KTV


    Chen Shuna: ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll head out now.¡±


    Inside a dorm at the teacher¡¯s college west campus, Chen Shuna spoke up, ¡°Wang Juan, Zhao Man, let¡¯s go. Xia Qing and Qin Hao are here.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re really here?¡± Wang Juan and Zhao Man were somewhat surprised.


    Qin Hao now was not the same Qin Hao from before, his coming proved he hadn¡¯t forgotten about the camaraderie with his high school classmates.


    The three of them felt somewhat fortunate that their relationship with Qin Hao had been relatively good back in high school.@@@@


    Not like those people who either bullied him, ridiculed him, or even there were quite a few who loathed speaking to Qin Hao.


    And now? Qin Hao had leaped through the dragon¡¯s gate and turned into a dragon, high above the rest.


    Those people now didn¡¯t even have the qualifications to carry his shoes.


    Qin Hao and Xia Qing stood at the school gate waiting for them to come out.


    Here, Qin Hao noticed that there were a lot of people coming in and out, and more than ninety percent of them were women.


    ¡°How is it, aren¡¯t there a lot of beauties?¡± Xia Qing asked, noticing his gaze.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Indeed, there are more than at Jianghai University.¡±


    Xia Qing smiled and said, ¡°This is the teacher¡¯s college, there are a lot of women. The male to female ratio is 1:12, on average one man for every twelve women.¡±


    About fifteen minutes later, Chen Shuna, Wang Juan, and Zhao Man came out.


    They were stunned to see Qin Hao standing at the door, who had completely changed since high school.


    He exuded a subtle aura that they had seen on some business tycoons.


    ¡°Wow, Qin Hao, it¡¯s been a few months, and you¡¯ve become even more charming,¡± Chen Shuna exclaimed.


    Qin Hao was a bit embarrassed by her comment, ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the car, it¡¯s almost noon.¡±


    When they came to the parking spot, Chen Shuna and the others were indeed shocked¡ªthree Mercedes-Benz, each priced no lower than a million. Qin Hao had truly become wealthy.


    Qin Hao had the bodyguards move to the other cars, he drove, with Xia Qing in the passenger seat, and Chen Shuna and the others in the back.


    ¡°I¡¯m not very familiar with Hangdong District, you choose where we should go for lunch,¡± Qin Hao said as he slowly started the car.


    ¡°How about we go to a high-end hotel?¡± Chen Shuna suggested with a smile.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°You don¡¯t need to save money for me, I¡¯m not lacking money now.¡±


    Chen Shuna: ¡°Since you put it that way, let¡¯s go to Biyuan Hotel, it¡¯s the best five-star hotel near our school.¡±


    Biyuan Hotel wasn¡¯t far from there, and within five minutes, they arrived.


    Chen Shuna and the others ordered a few dishes that were neither too expensive nor too cheap; they didn¡¯t have the nerve to order the pricier dishes.


    Lunch was over by around one o¡¯clock.


    ¡°You really don¡¯t know?¡± Xia Qing asked with a hint of embarrassment.


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s my first time at a place like this.¡±


    With cheeks slightly flushed, Xia Qing explained, ¡°It¡¯s those kind of men and those kind of women.¡±


    Seeing her reaction and explanation, Qin Hao pretty much understood the meaning, which made him feel a bit awkward.


    Fortunately, Chen Shuna spoke up to ease his embarrassment, ¡°Qin Hao, sing a song for us, we haven¡¯t heard you sing yet.¡±


    Wang Juan and Zhao Man eagerly chimed in, ¡°Yes, yes, Qin Hao, sing a song,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d better not, I don¡¯t sing well,¡± Qin Hao shook his head.


    Xia Qing joined in the excitement, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, there are no strangers here today, just sing.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t really listened to songs much, but I really liked ¡®West Sea Love Song¡¯ that Xia Qing sang on her live stream before.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s sing that one,¡± all four people became a bit excited and hastily agreed.


    Chen Shuna quickly found the karaoke track for him.


    Microphone in hand, Qin Hao began to sing:


    Ever since you left


    Gentleness became something of the past


    ...


    As soon as he started singing, Xia Qing and Chen Shuna were stunned, their eyes wide open in disbelief.


    The first thing they did was to rush to the song selection system to see if the original singer had been accidentally played.


    Once sure it was just the instrumental, the four looked at Qin Hao in disbelief.


    Chen Shuna hurriedly took out her phone and began recording.


    ¡°You once promised me you would never disappear and become untraceable,¡±


    ¡°Yet you followed the migrating birds southward, flying so far away,¡±


    ¡°Love is like a kite with a broken string, unable to hold on to the promises you made,¡±


    ...


    After finishing the song, Qin Hao looked towards Xia Qing and Chen Shuna, whose eyes were red-rimmed, tears streaming down their cheeks.


    He curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you guys?¡±


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 Chapter 401: 403: Encounter with Liu Yun Again

    Chapter 401: Chapter 403: Encounter with Liu Yun Again


    ¡°Damn, Qin Hao, you sing so freakishly? You made us all cry.¡±


    Chen Shuna put away her phone, speaking in utter shock.


    Xia Qing also couldn¡¯t believe it as she looked at Qin Hao, realizing he sang so well?


    Qin Hao had completely brought out the essence of the song.


    In their view, it was even more impactful than the original singer.


    What shocked them the most was the infectious power of Qin Hao¡¯s voice.


    Just now, when they heard his singing, the four of them felt as if they had become the female protagonist in the song.


    Learning that their lover had frozen to death on the road, all the emotions in their hearts burst forth¡ªsorrow, grief, despair...


    ¡°Sing another one,¡± Chen Shuna hurriedly said.


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s your turn now, I can¡¯t be the only one singing.¡±


    Late on, Xia Qing, Chen Shuna, and a few others also sang a few songs, and the group had fun for about two hours.


    ¡°I had such a great time today, let¡¯s go out again sometime,¡± Chen Shuna said as she packed up.


    Five people walked out of the private room, and at the door stood Leng Xuan and four others, with two more outside watching the cars.


    As Qin Hao and his group came out, the door of the opposite private room suddenly opened.


    A woman dressed in a Haomen TKV professional miniskirt suit ran out, but before she could leave the room, someone grabbed her from behind and dragged her back inside.


    ¡°Help me, help me!¡± The girl struggled in panic, her hair disheveled, as she spoke to Qin Hao and his group.


    But she was quickly pulled back into the private room, and a nearby waiter saw this but remained indifferent.


    These kinds of incidents were not uncommon here; they often involved first-time visiting female college students.


    Turning their heads, Xia Qing and the others looked at Qin Hao, who was frowning in thought. In that moment, he had seen the girl¡¯s face.


    He felt it looked familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before, he was pondering.


    Suddenly, as if remembering something, he pushed open the door of the opposite private room and walked in.


    Music was playing in the private room, and two somewhat plump men were tearing at the girl¡¯s clothes.


    Since she was already wearing little, her miniskirt had been torn off, and she was being pinned down on the sofa, struggling.


    Leng Xuan and his group reacted swiftly, rushing over and pulling the two men aside.


    The moment Qin Hao entered, it was clear he was there to save the woman.


    The two men, stunned by Qin Hao and his group, blurted out, ¡°Damn, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Sir, Haomen¡¯s rules cannot be violated: men are thrown out, women are spared,¡± ordered the shirtless man.


    Leng Xuan and his three comrades were the first to act, and in less than ten seconds, the shirtless man¡¯s seven or eight men were down on the ground.


    Xia Qing and the others were dumbfounded, impressed by the prowess of the bodyguards.


    The shirtless man was stunned; he hadn¡¯t expected Qin Hao¡¯s four bodyguards to be so formidable.


    ¡°Can you take us now?¡± Qin Hao looked at the shirtless man.


    If it weren¡¯t for his earlier remark about not hitting women, he too would have been lying on the ground by now.


    These people strictly adhered to rules, clearly indicating that Haomen KTV had very strict policies.


    The shirtless man had also kindly reminded him several times, showing that Haomen KTV didn¡¯t want to offend any potential clients.


    The shirtless man had no choice; if he didn¡¯t lead them, Qin Hao would surely have his men make him willing.


    Qin Hao and his group walked out of the private room, the shirtless man leading them to the fifth floor of KTV.


    Upon reaching the landing of the fifth floor, two men in black, seeing Qin Hao and his group, paused briefly.


    ¡°Li, who are these people?¡±


    The shirtless man, ¡°They want to see Mr. Yan.¡±


    Leng Xuan took action immediately, knocking the two men down, then proceeded up the stairs to the fifth floor.


    ¡°Where?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    The shirtless man led them to the door of the general manager¡¯s office.


    He knocked on the door, and a woman¡¯s voice from inside said, ¡°Come in.¡±


    The shirtless man pushed the door and entered, followed by Qin Hao and the others.


    Yan Huayue, sitting in the office chair, frowned upon seeing so many people, ¡°Li Bing, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Li Bing, ¡°Mr. Yan, this is a newcomer. Her friend is here, and she wanted to see you about her friend¡¯s situation.¡±


    From Li Bing¡¯s look, Yan Huayue gleaned much information.


    She raised an eyebrow, looking at Qin Hao and his group, ¡°Sir, are you trying to break Haomen¡¯s rules?¡±


    ¡°Rules? My friend was tricked into coming here, into doing this sort of work, and you talk to me about rules? Who set these rules?¡±


    Qin Hao observed Yan Huayue, a woman in her thirties, a true beauty in terms of looks and figure.


    Her attire was mature, exuding an air of a sophisticated young woman.


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 Chapter 402: 404 Li Wenjun

    Chapter 402: Chapter 404 Li Wenjun@@@@


    Yan Huayue¡¯s expression turned cold, ¡°Once you enter Haomen KTV, you must follow the rules set by Haomen, and I, Yan Huayue, established them.¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve never heard of Yan Huayue. Are you supposed to be famous or something?¡±


    In the high society of Jianghai, there was hardly anyone who didn¡¯t know her, and now someone was saying they hadn¡¯t heard of her?


    ¡°Then you must know Du Yingqiang, right?¡± Yan Huayue spoke again.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Sorry, never heard of him either. Can we talk about my friend¡¯s issue now?¡±


    Yan Huayue¡¯s expression slightly changed. He hadn¡¯t heard of Du Yingqiang? ¡°May I ask your esteemed surname, sir?¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao.¡±


    Hearing the name, Yan Huayue¡¯s expression froze, and she sized up Qin Hao, ¡°You are Qin Hao?¡±


    Li Bing was taken aback. Qin Hao? Which Qin Hao?


    Is there a big shot named Qin Hao in Jianghai?


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about my friend¡¯s issue,¡± Qin Hao said.


    Yan Huayue turned to Liu Yun and asked, ¡°Who referred you here? How did you end up at Haomen KTV?¡±


    Liu Yun, ¡°I owe a small loan company tens of thousands of yuan, and I couldn¡¯t pay it back, so they asked me to work part-time to repay the debt.¡±


    ¡°I thought it was a normal job. I didn¡¯t know it was this kind of job.¡±


    Yan Huayue replied, ¡°Then you only have those people to blame for not clarifying. It has nothing to do with us.¡±


    ¡°Today, I¡¯ll give Mr. Qin some face. You may leave here, and as for the debts we helped you pay, you don¡¯t have to repay me.¡±


    Li Bing¡¯s eyes flickered in surprise at the tone of Yan Huayue.


    Yan Huayue was Du Yingqiang¡¯s subordinate, and who was Du Yingqiang? The son of Jianghai¡¯s richest man, Du Jinglong.


    When had Yan Huayue ever spoken like this to anyone?


    In the past, wealthy second-generation youths who dared to cause trouble here, no matter how significant their background, were all thrown out, and afterward, no one dared to come looking for trouble.


    Qin Hao could tell that Yan Huayue had given him some face, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Yan. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my friend and leave now.¡±


    ¡°Please, Mr. Qin,¡± Yan Huayue nodded slightly.


    The situation hadn¡¯t escalated into a conflict as Qin Hao had imagined. Less trouble is better than more, and Qin Hao preferred this outcome.


    After leaving Haomen KTV, Qin Hao looked at Liu Yun and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the deal with the money?¡±


    ¡°My dad fell ill recently, so I borrowed some money,¡± Liu Yun replied softly.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Your conditions.¡±


    Li Wenjun countered, ¡°I¡¯d like to know if Mr. Qin has plans to set up a business intelligence information company in the future.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded; how could his business empire lack a business intelligence information company?


    Li Wenjun said, ¡°A monthly salary of one million plus twenty percent of the stocks in the intelligence company. I¡¯ll bring a few people into the company, all of whom are elites in the business intelligence industry.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Ten percent.¡±


    Li Wenjun didn¡¯t immediately answer; he pondered and hesitated. After a few minutes, he looked at Qin Hao and nodded, ¡°Okay!¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Bring your people to Flying Leopard Security Company tomorrow, and you¡¯d better minimize digging into my business, you should understand the consequences.¡±


    Li Wenjun shivered, recalling the deaths of Ma Bing¡¯s family from Dayuan Group, and Wu Fuwei and Wu Fumin from Wu Roasted Duck Group.


    Although these people had all supposedly committed suicide, Li Wenjun absolutely did not believe it was that simple.


    Qin Hao looked to be only nineteen, very young, but definitely not a soft-hearted person.


    After finishing the discussion with Li Wenjun, Qin Hao left.


    On the way home, he received a call from Zhao Dongqiang, ¡°Mr. Qin, the day after tomorrow, Saturday, five major shopping malls in Jianghai City will start selling our clothes, right next to Ruixing Clothing.¡±


    Qin Hao surprised, asked, ¡°So soon? Can the military uniforms still be made?¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang replied, ¡°Yes, today the company acquired three garment factories and a textile factory, making them is not an issue.


    Even if it cannot be produced in time, we can find garment factories to do OEM, they would make some OEM fees, but the major profits would still be ours.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Mr. Zhao, you take care of everything, our primary goal is to crush Ruixing Clothing.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang confidently responded, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zhao, what do you think about hiring a celebrity to endorse our clothes?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Zhao Dongqiang replied, ¡°It¡¯s possible, but the cost would indeed increase, affecting the selling price.¡±


    ¡°How much higher?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Zhao Dongqiang said, ¡°If it¡¯s a top star, the endorsement fee would be around twenty million, and if the sales are booming.


    Even if we don¡¯t increase the price, it wouldn¡¯t matter, but the fear is that after advertising, the sales might still not improve.¡±


    Qin Hao stated, ¡°Mr. Zhao, you have to have confidence in our product. Don¡¯t raise the price, I¡¯ll talk to Zhao Yuying about the endorsement, she shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang replied, ¡°Of course not, Miss Zhao¡¯s figure, demeanor, and popularity completely meet our standards.¡±


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 Chapter 403: 405: Food Processing Plant

    Chapter 403: Chapter 405: Food Processing Plant


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯ll handle the endorsement matter, I will discuss it with Miss Zhao. There should not be any big issues.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, a cold smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face, ¡°Ruixing Group, your days are numbered.¡±


    When he got home, Zhao Yuying was chatting with Qiao¡¯er and Han Meng in his house.


    Seeing Qin Hao return, Zhao Yuying smiled and said, ¡°Qin Hao¡¯s company registration has come through, here are your share certificates.¡±


    Qin Hao took them and looked over, ¡°Eighty percent of the shares, that¡¯s a bit much. Being able to sign so many artists was entirely due to your reputation and status in the entertainment industry. A seventy-thirty split would be more reasonable.¡±


    Zhao Yuying smiled slightly, ¡°I think this is quite fair. You will also be bringing in high-end movie production technology.¡±


    Qin Hao did not care about this share difference, there wasn¡¯t much difference between seventy and eighty percent, as the decision-making power was still in his hands.


    ¡°Ying, how about we discuss a matter?¡± Qin Hao began.


    Zhao Yuying looked at him curiously, ¡°What matter?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°About the endorsement, endorsing Huafei Clothing.¡±


    Zhao Yuying agreed without hesitation, ¡°Sure, I¡¯m free these days. Just contact me anytime.


    And I even brought over a photography and production studio today, so we won¡¯t need to look for another studio.¡±


    Qin Hao suddenly remembered something, ¡°I forgot about your contract today, let me make a call.¡±


    Zhao Yuying was no ordinary celebrity, and Qin Hao¡¯s relationship with Li Xutian was also not that great.


    Getting Zhao Yuying released from Starlight Entertainment Media would not be simple.


    Qin Hao took out his phone and called Li Xutian. He held more than thirty percent of the shares in Starlight Entertainment Media, giving him significant influence.


    The call was quickly connected, and Li Xutian asked curiously, ¡°Xiao Hao, did you dial the wrong number? Looking for Mo Ying?¡±


    Ahem.


    Qin Hao awkwardly said, ¡°Mr. Li, I need to discuss something with you.¡±


    Ever since knowing the relationship between Li Xutian and his mother, he felt it was inappropriate to keep calling him Mr. Li.


    When Li Xutian heard how he addressed him, he smiled, ¡°What is it? If Mr. Li can do it, I definitely will help.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°You know Zhao Yuying from Starlight Entertainment Media, right? I want to sort out her contract. I am willing to pay any amount.¡±


    The interests involved in pharmaceuticals are too many, ranging from large pharmaceutical companies to small hospital doctors.


    If hospitals were to use Qin Hao¡¯s low-priced drugs, unable to receive high kickbacks and profits, would they use them?


    If they were to use high-priced drugs, continuously receiving high kickbacks, what would their choice be?


    If there isn¡¯t strong national support in the future, it will be difficult for these drugs to enter hospitals.


    Xu Jiekang spoke veiledly, but Qin Hao could discern the deeper meaning.


    If the drugs were launched, Qin Hao would become enemies with a large part of the pharmaceutical industry.


    Because he was encroaching on their profits.


    This was a multi-trillion-dollar pie, and disturbing it would bode ill for anyone involved.


    Qin Hao would not back down, though he would offend many people; he would also gain a lot.


    Such as the support of thousands of people and a good reputation, which would greatly help the development of his various companies in the future.


    In Qin Hao¡¯s view, these intangible benefits were much stronger than those ruthless capitalists.


    Just after hanging up the call with Xu Jiekang, Kang Youyi¡¯s call came through, ¡°Hao, there¡¯s something I need your approval for.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Kang Youyi said, ¡°Mr. Meng has proposed an idea to start a food processing plant.


    To sell packaged Jiangshan Roasted Duck, duck necks, duck wings, etc., to various major malls.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Not bad, it¡¯s a good idea. Proceed with Mr. Meng¡¯s plan and get Jianghai on it as soon as possible.


    I will send you a few new recipes through the company¡¯s office system in a while. You can launch them locally in Jiangshan first to see how it goes, and progress gradually.¡±


    ¡°Sure, Hao!¡± Kang Youyi responded excitedly.


    A company needs to innovate and keep introducing new things to stand firm, which is why many companies establish research and development departments.


    Because only the R&D department has the opportunity and capability to develop new products.


    It is a department that consumes a lot of money, but Jiangshan Roasted Duck doesn¡¯t need one because having Qin Hao is enough; he does not need an R&D department.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao said to Zhao Yuying, ¡°Ying, I have some more work to do. You hang out with Qiao¡¯er and Meng.¡±


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 Chapter 404: 406 The Quarrel Reignites

    Chapter 404: Chapter 406 The Quarrel Reignites


    Zhao Yuying nodded with understanding, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Qin Hao went to the study and opened the system¡¯s shopping mall, where he found many secret recipes for ready-to-eat foods.


    There were all kinds of dishes, such as delicious rabbit meat, pigeon meat, pork, beef, and so on.


    Qin Hao sorted through them because he required ordinary ready-to-eat secret recipes¡ªthe more obscure ones that could not be promoted nationwide, he did not need.


    In the end, he chose the pork series secret recipes including delicious pork trotters, intestines, and head meat.


    There were also recipes for delicious roasted chicken and beef.


    Altogether, these cost him forty thousand achievement points, leaving him with four hundred and sixty-three thousand five hundred achievement points remaining.


    Qin Hao first sent the secret recipes for roasted chicken and delicious beef to Kang Youyi.


    As for the pork series recipes, they would have to wait a few days. Suddenly releasing so many recipes, the company did not have the funds to develop them all at once.


    Equipment for production and raw material procurement were all significant expenses.


    He only shared the secret recipes with Kang Youyi, and he was the only person in the entire company who knew the product recipes.


    Since the incident with Feng Xiangyi, he now had members of the Flying Leopard Team protecting him daily. He could not help but give more attention to the security of his senior management team.


    Half an hour later, he emerged from the study room. Han Meng had already gone to make dinner.


    Zhao Yuying had already left, and Qiao¡¯er was sitting alone on the sofa, watching the news from the local Jianghai satellite channel.


    ¡°Breaking news, the daughter of Luo Feng, the chairman of Ruixing Group, Luo Silin, has been kidnapped.


    The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of five hundred million or they will kill the hostage. The police have already started their investigation.¡±


    Qin Hao paused for a moment when he saw this news¡ªLuo Feng¡¯s daughter?


    He called Leng Xuan in, ¡°Any news about Yuan Feng?¡±


    Leng Xuan shook his head, ¡°No. Jianghai City is too vast, and he knows this area very well. It¡¯s not going to be easy to find him.¡±


    Qin Hao pointed to the TV, ¡°Luo Feng¡¯s daughter from Ruixing Group has been kidnapped, and it¡¯s very likely that Yuan Feng is behind it.


    Get in touch with someone for me. His name is Li Wenjun. Ask him to investigate Yuan Feng¡¯s social networks in Jianghai and the places he¡¯s most likely to visit.¡±


    Leng Xuan wrote down Li Wenjun¡¯s phone number and left.


    Qin Hao watched the news report on the TV, his brow slightly furrowed; nine times out of ten, it was Yuan Feng.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at Luo Feng¡¯s home,


    Luo Feng¡¯s wife had cried herself into a mess, while Luo Feng and Luo Ze were deeply furrowed in worry, anxious as if on hot coals.


    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s so freaking beautiful, like the sound of nature.¡±


    ...


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao¡¯s Weibo was also boiling over: Did you go to KTV and sing today?


    ¡°God of song, Qin Hao.¡±


    ¡°Is the person in that video really you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good you didn¡¯t go into the entertainment industry, otherwise, those people would have no rice to eat.¡±


    Many music critics shared this Weibo post: The most beautiful song I¡¯ve ever heard in my life, bar none.


    Another music critic: ¡°Big praise, his singing voice is like a soul coming to life, touching and shocking to the heart.¡±


    ¡°Direct to the heart and soul, creating resonance, such singing talent is probably unrivaled in the country.¡±


    ¡°World-class singing talent.¡±


    Many singers seeing the abundant praise for Qin Hao¡¯s song felt jealousy and discontent:


    ¡°I think it¡¯s just so-so, not as good as they say.¡±


    Famous singer Liu Jian: ¡°That counts as peak singing talent? Many parts weren¡¯t even on key.¡±


    First-class singer Wang Hua: ¡°All these people don¡¯t understand music or art; any song I casually sing is better than that.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just these singers; many others jumped out to say that Qin Hao wasn¡¯t much to look at.


    ...


    These singers had many fans. Seeing their idols¡¯ comments, they pressed like in support:


    ¡°Exactly, the singing ain¡¯t all that, Liu Jian is the true god of song in my heart.¡±


    ¡°He hasn¡¯t even released a single album, and people are calling him peak singing talent, what a joke.¡±


    ¡°This Qin Hao must have hired a click farm, right? Trying to hype himself up?¡±


    Many of Qin Hao¡¯s fans and bystanders seeing this began to fight back: Stop talking crap, how is this just so-so?


    If you can make me cry for more than ten days straight, I¡¯ll eat shit.


    ¡°Trash Liu Jian, can¡¯t stand anyone being better than you, utterly disgusting.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t understand art? So a song that nobody understands, that¡¯s what you call music? That¡¯s what you call art? Detached from the public, that¡¯s crap, not art.¡±


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 Chapter 405: 407 Im Different from Them

    Chapter 405: Chapter 407 I¡¯m Different from Them


    Qin Hao was eating, completely unaware that another round of online bashing had erupted because of him.


    After dinner, Qin Hao went out for a walk and soon saw Zhao Yuying coming out of her house too.


    She walked over with a smile and gently tapped Qin Hao on the shoulder, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to sing so well.¡±


    ¡°Sing? What song?¡± Qin Hao was startled and didn¡¯t catch on right away.


    Zhao Yuying, ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to karaoke today?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Yes, with a few high school friends.¡±


    ¡°Did you by any chance sing ¡®West Sea Love Song¡¯?¡± Zhao Yuying asked.


    Qin Hao nodded, remembering that Chen Shuna seemed to have filmed him with her phone for a while.


    Could she have recorded it and posted it online?


    Zhao Yuying, ¡°It¡¯s chaos online now, your huge fanbase, tourists, and half of the music circle are all lashing out.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback, ¡°Huh? How could that also lead to a fight?¡±


    Zhao Yuying saw his reaction and covered her mouth to giggle, ¡°The fans and tourists praise your singing, and some people get jealous.


    Then they made a few negative comments, and it spiraled from there.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Is this like riding on my coattails?¡±


    Zhao Yuying laughed dryly, ¡°It could be said so, you now have over forty million followers on Wei Yan, and they are all real people, which is quite terrifying.¡±


    Qin Hao took out his phone and logged into Wei Yan to check.


    He saw the video too, the one Chen Shuna had recorded of him singing during the day.


    As he walked, he quickly grasped the situation; although many people from the music circle had spoken out,


    in terms of follower count, Qin Hao completely dominated, the critics almost dared not post on Wei Yan anymore.


    Unnoticed, the two had walked to the small garden at the back, where Qin Hao sat down on a wooden bench.


    Zhao Yuying sat next to him, looking at the phone in his hand.


    Qin Hao was posting on Wei Yan: The person in the video is me, the singer is also me, and the videographer is my high school classmate.


    Today, I had lunch with a few high school friends and then hung out at karaoke for a while.


    As for those who are jealous of me, I just want to say one thing to you: you are all just a pile of shit to me.


    After writing, Qin Hao¡¯s face broke into a smile as he sent the post.


    Zhao Yuying was exasperated, you¡¯re a business magnate and a Xuan Science Academy scholar, can¡¯t you mind your public image a bit?


    In less than a minute, his post on Wei Yan was commented on and forwarded over ten thousand times, mainly because he had so many followers.


    ¡°Buying Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine regularly, my parents felt much better after eating them.¡±


    ¡°The names you come up with for these medicines are so tacky, but I like them.¡±


    In just a few minutes, retweets and comments reached hundreds of thousands; nearly everyone on Wei Yan saw it.


    Especially those big foreign pharmaceutical companies felt a foreboding sense.


    Their most profitable items were these common drugs; that¡¯s where they made most of their money.


    The expensive drugs had a very low usage rate, because not many people suffer from those diseases.


    Suddenly, numerous large foreign pharmaceutical companies were alarmed, searching through various connections to verify the situation.


    Zhao Yuying, standing beside him, saw what he wrote.


    To her, it wasn¡¯t the last sentence but the third to last that was most important¡ªmany pharmaceutical enterprises would hate him to death.


    He sounded casual about it, but who knew about the terrifying power of those foreign pharmaceutical companies?


    Zhao Yuying, one of the top figures in the entertainment industry and somewhat a part of the upper class,


    had encountered those business magnates before and knew well the terrifying nature of capitalists¡ªthey have the power to make people disappear without a trace.


    No matter how high your status, if you threatened their interests, they would ruthlessly eliminate you.


    Qin Hao had already touched the interests of those capital heavyweights, and she was somewhat worried for him.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, why must you do this?¡± Zhao Yuying looked at him, puzzled.


    With Qin Hao¡¯s abilities, he could completely choose to collaborate with these capitalist heavyweights.


    Then, he could earn massive profits and even become a new tycoon in the pharmaceutical industry, but he chose not to.


    Qin Hao looked at Zhao Yuying, ¡°Ying, I¡¯m different from them. I won¡¯t resort to unscrupulous methods for profit; I only earn the money I should.¡±


    Zhao Yuying, somewhat understanding but not quite, looked at him more intently, finding Qin Hao increasingly mysterious and also radiating a unique charm.


    Qin Hao looked up at the vast starry sky and asked, ¡°Ying, do you think there are other life-bearing planets in the universe?¡±


    Zhao Yuying also looked up at the stars, thought for a moment, and replied, ¡°There should be. It¡¯s just that our technology is still too primitive. We can barely reach the nearby planets.¡±


    In Qin Hao¡¯s eyes shone the light of yearning, ¡°I think so too. One day, I¡¯ll travel across the universe, see all its sights, and experience exotic cultures.¡±


    Zhao Yuying, smiling, said, ¡°Then take me with you when that happens. I want to go too.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, and after a while said, ¡°Ying, it¡¯s getting late, you should head back.¡±


    Starting tomorrow, Qin Hao¡¯s life was likely to be anything but calm.


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 Chapter 406: 408 The Crazy Yuan Feng

    Chapter 406: Chapter 408 The Crazy Yuan Feng


    The next morning.


    When Qin Hao opened his eyes, it was already half-past six, and Qiao¡¯er was already awake, watching him with a smile.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you getting up?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Qiao¡¯er said, ¡°Waiting for Daddy to get up together.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Then hurry up and get up. Daddy will take you to the seaside for a stroll.¡±


    ¡°Cough, hurry up and get out of bed,¡± Qin Hao said with a bit of embarrassment.


    After getting up, the two of them washed up and took a turn by the seaside before coming back for breakfast.


    After breakfast, Han Meng took Qiao¡¯er to school, and Qin Hao turned on the TV to check the local news of Jianghai.


    The female reporter said, ¡°After a night of investigation and search, the police have locked down the suspect, Yuan Feng.


    Yuan Feng was originally the president of Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company but was later acquired by Feibao Security Company due to some changes.


    As to why he kidnapped Luo Feng¡¯s daughter, the police are still conducting further investigations, and at the same time, the police are also searching for Yuan Feng throughout the city.¡±


    Qin Hao called Leng Xuan in and asked, ¡°Any news on Yuan Feng?¡±


    Leng Xuan said, ¡°It¡¯s hard to find him. There¡¯s no news yet, but this morning Luo Feng went to the old harbor with cash.¡±


    ¡°To make the trade?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Leng Xuan nodded, ¡°But I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much hope, Yuan Feng isn¡¯t that foolish.¡±


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, take a trip to Flying Leopard Security Company.¡±


    Meanwhile, at the old harbor of Jianghai City.


    Luo Feng came here alone with the cash and took out his phone to make a call.


    The call was quickly connected: ¡°I¡¯m here now. I want to hear my daughter speak. I need to ensure her personal safety.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Luo, do you still remember me?¡± Yuan Feng¡¯s voice came through.


    Luo Feng¡¯s face suddenly changed. It was indeed him: ¡°Mr. Yuan, you and I have no grudges, why are you doing this?¡±


    Yuan Feng said, ¡°No grudges? If not for the three of you, could my company have lost to Qin Hao? I called you for help afterward.


    And how did you treat me? Luo Feng, I am going to make you regret it.¡±


    Luo Feng said, ¡°What exactly do you want? I can give you the money, as long as you ensure my daughter¡¯s safety.¡±


    Yuan Feng said, ¡°Rest assured, your daughter is very safe. Now take the money to the abandoned Huayuan Shipyard in Xin Hai District.


    He had another target in mind. Based on his estimates, it wouldn¡¯t be until noon that the Xiao Family would notice Gong Huihe¡¯s disappearance.


    Since Gong Huihe typically stayed at the beauty salon for two or three hours and wouldn¡¯t use her phone during that time.


    He had two or three hours to make his move against Tang Zhongqian¡¯s wife.


    He didn¡¯t choose Qin Hao because Qin Hao¡¯s parents were in Jiangshan, too far away.


    Besides, there were people from the Flying Leopard Team protecting him, making it tough to get to him.


    Also, after his investigation, it seemed Qin Hao didn¡¯t have a girlfriend, and he himself didn¡¯t have the guts to confront Qin Hao ¨C the impression left by that kick back then was too deep.


    Unless he had firearms, he was no match for Qin Hao.


    That was one of the reasons why he chose to target people like Luo Feng and Xiao Zhi.


    Although they had bodyguards, their relatives didn¡¯t, which provided his opportunity.


    Now, Mr. Feng was nearly insane with the desire for revenge against these individuals.


    He wanted Luo Feng and the others to experience the same pain and despair.


    About ten minutes later, Mr. Feng arrived at the entrance of Longhu Villa District where he was stopped by the security guards.


    Mr. Feng remained composed, wound down the window, and showed a residential access card. After seeing it, the security let him in.


    He went straight to villa number 27, then walked into the courtyard and pressed the doorbell.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± The voice of the villa¡¯s housekeeper sounded.


    Mr. Feng spoke up, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m from the housing estate management, here to check your kitchen¡¯s gas supply.¡±


    The housekeeper opened the door, her eyebrows furrowing at the sight of Mr. Feng, ¡°You are from the housing estate management? How come I¡¯ve never seen you before?¡±


    Mr. Feng had changed his appearance, and despite being wanted city-wide, the housekeeper didn¡¯t recognize him.


    Before the housekeeper could ask anything, Mr. Feng walked straight in, grabbed her by the neck, and with a ¡°snap,¡± twisted it, breaking it.


    He went inside, and Ma Qiaoqing¡¯s voice came from the living room, ¡°Ms. Liu, who is it?¡±


    Mr. Feng rushed over, and Ma Qiaoqing, stunned upon seeing him, asked, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Ma Qiaoqing was knocked unconscious by him and fell to the floor. He then loaded Ma Qiaoqing into the car and sped away.


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 Chapter 407: 409 Shock

    Chapter 407: Chapter 409 Shock


    9:30 AM.


    Luo Feng arrived at the Hua Yuan Abandoned Shipyard Yuan Feng had told him about.


    He had a wiretap and a transmitter on him set up by the police, and a group of police officers was hiding nearby, ready to intervene at any moment.


    He hadn¡¯t been there long when a phone call came in.


    ¡°Has Mr. Luo arrived? Throw the money into the sea,¡± said a voice on the phone, not Yuan Feng¡¯s but one of his underlings.


    Luo Feng was stunned for a moment by the request to throw it into the sea.


    Could it be they had someone waiting to collect it underwater?


    ¡°You have only two minutes, Mr. Luo. If you haven¡¯t thrown it all into the sea, don¡¯t blame me for what I do to your daughter.¡±


    Luo Feng: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll throw it.¡±


    He opened the trunk and threw all the large boxes into the sea, where the waves surged in and swept them off, disappearing without a trace.


    After he finished throwing them, the person on the other end laughed and said, ¡°Mr. Luo, you¡¯re very disobedient. Mr. Feng told you not to bring the police, but you didn¡¯t listen.


    Now I¡¯ll send you a video for your enjoyment.¡±


    Soon a video was sent to his phone, and upon seeing it, Luo Feng¡¯s rage hit the boiling point.


    ¡°Yuan Feng, I¡¯m going to kill you, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡±


    Luo Feng roared in fury and ultimately spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood, collapsing to the ground.


    The police, seeing this, changed color and rushed over in a panic.


    At 10:00 AM, the police received reports from Xiao Zhi and Tang Zhongqian that their wives were missing.


    High society in Jianghai City was shaken, vividly remembering what had happened at the Innsil Hotel.


    Yuan Feng was exacting revenge on Luo Feng and the others; it wasn¡¯t for the money at all but to plunge them into grief and despair.


    The news of Luo Silin being humiliated by Yuan Feng and his people also spread throughout the upper echelons of society.


    If it weren¡¯t for the police and various bosses keeping a lid on it, the journalists would have broadcast the incident already.


    ...@@@@


    By this time, Qin Hao had already arrived at Flying Leopard Security Company.


    Li Wenjun had already come to work, and they were in a separate floor secured inside and out by the Flying Leopard Team.


    Memebers of the Xiao Family, the Tang Family, and the Luo Family, upon hearing the news, hurriedly followed the police to the scene.


    Yuan Feng and his group¡¯s location was found, surrounded in a warehouse at a small dock.


    It belonged to one of his underlings. The police arrived so quickly and suddenly that Yuan Feng had not anticipated their rapid response.


    He believed he had hidden well and left no trails, so how did they find him?


    The police shouted, ¡°Those inside, listen up! You are surrounded. Drop your weapons and surrender to receive leniency.¡±


    Tang Zhongqian, Xiao Zhi, and Luo Feng were anxious. Yuan Feng wasn¡¯t after money¡ªhe sought revenge.


    The police charged in. The inside of the warehouse was vast, but the scene inside was both shocking and infuriating.


    ¡°Yuan Feng, I swear I¡¯ll tear you into a thousand pieces!¡± Xiao Zhi¡¯s eyes were nearly exploding with rage, trembling with anger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer, or I¡¯ll kill them,¡± Yuan Feng¡¯s face twisted viciously.


    Luo Feng saw his daughter, lying on a patch of grass, her body covered in bruises.


    His teeth ground together audibly, wishing he could devour Yuan Feng alive.


    Tang Zhongqian almost fainted from rage upon seeing the scene.


    Gong Huihe and Ma Qiaoqing were now so weak they couldn¡¯t even speak, having been violated by Yuan Feng and his men since being brought there.


    ¡°Not feeling very good, are you, Luo Feng, Tang Zhongqian, and Xiao Zhi? Ha-ha, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going to kill them. I want them to live.


    So every time you see them, you¡¯ll remember me, ha-ha,¡± Yuan Feng laughed maniacally.


    After speaking, Yuan Feng plunged the knife in his hand into his own chest, and he died.


    Yuan Feng committed suicide, and his accomplices were apprehended.


    Within 24 hours, the police cracked the major kidnapping case.


    There are no secrets that cannot be revealed, and the news here soon spread, causing shock and uproar among Jianghai¡¯s high society.


    That day, the business orders for Jianghai City¡¯s top bodyguard companies skyrocketed.


    Especially for the Flying Leopard Security Team, whose strength was evident to all¡ªtheir members were employed in droves, over two hundred in just one day.


    Each of their monthly salaries was five hundred thousand. Although high, it was absolutely worth it.


    The monthly salaries for over two hundred people amounted to over one hundred million¡ªa glimpse into the potential of the high-end security market.


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 Chapter 408: 410 Melancholy Strikes the Heart

    Chapter 408: Chapter 410 Melancholy Strikes the Heart


    Qin Hao had not expected Feibao Security Company to benefit so greatly.


    In Jianghai City, there was no shortage of wealthy individuals, and today, more than two hundred members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion were employed.


    Many from the Flying Leopard Security Team were also hired, with their monthly salaries set by the company at one hundred thousand.


    These individuals could not compare to those of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion, but they were not far behind.


    Their capabilities were roughly on par with the elites from the Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company of the past.


    Now, personnel from the Flying Leopard Security Team could choose to continue their training to potentially join the ranks of the Flying Leopard Team.


    After all, the welfare and treatment in the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion were incomparable to those in the Security Team.


    The company was increasingly moving toward formalization; the Flying Leopard Team had been renamed the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion, serving those business tycoons.


    The Flying Leopard Security Team catered to the middle and lower-tier wealthy, also taking on concerts, event venues, and urban co-defense jobs.


    Qin Hao sat in Li Bao¡¯s office, currently on a phone call, his face all smiles.


    ¡°Hao, it¡¯s Li Xutian from Jinxiu Group on the phone, he wants to hire ten members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion.¡± Li Bao was all smiles.


    Li Xutian had personal bodyguards who were quite formidable, but his family members did not.


    Since the incident, the wealthy in Jianghai had all started to strengthen the security around their families.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Send fifteen people over, and let¡¯s not charge them.¡±


    After all, he still needed Li Xutian¡¯s help.


    Li Bao: ¡°Ah? Not charging? Brother Hao, he wants to hire them for a year, that¡¯s almost seventy-five million for fifteen people a year.¡±


    ¡°I still need him for something else,¡± Qin Hao said.


    Li Bao nodded, ¡°I understand, Brother Hao. Right now, our Flying Leopard Guard Battalion is clearly short on reserve forces.


    I plan to continue recruiting, and the intelligence department also needs to train special talents, in which Li Yang is also skilled.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Right, just manage it as you see fit.¡±


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang; it was Xu Jiekang calling.


    Qin Hao answered the call: ¡°Hello, Mr. Xu.¡±


    There was silence from Xu Jiekang¡¯s side for a few seconds before he spoke: ¡°Xiao Hao, the medicine has still not passed the inspection; it will take more time.¡±


    Qin Hao was briefly stunned, a sense of helplessness rising in his heart: ¡°I understand, Mr. Xu.¡±


    After hanging up the call, Qin Hao sat on the couch and sighed deeply.


    Leng Xuan¡¯s expression changed, and he hurried inside. By then, Han Meng had already burst into tears, holding Qin Hao¡¯s head.


    Although Leng Xuan was not very skilled in medicine, having been a mercenary in the past, he knew a bit.


    He took Qin Hao¡¯s pulse, and a minute later he said, ¡°Mr. Qin is suffering from emotional distress; it¡¯s nothing serious, but he needs to rest. Quickly, take Mr. Qin to bed.¡±


    Han Meng and Zhao Yuying carried Qin Hao to Han Meng¡¯s bedroom.


    Zhao Yuying didn¡¯t think much, after all, it was convenient for someone to look after him in Han Meng¡¯s bedroom.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why would Xiao Hao suffer from emotional distress?¡± Han Meng¡¯s eyes reddened as she looked at Qin Hao on the bed.


    Zhao Yuying was also puzzled. Qin Hao was fine last night. How could this be today?


    Could something have happened?


    At a little past two in the afternoon, Qin Hao opened his eyes.


    Zhao Yuying and Han Meng were sitting by the bed, watching him. Seeing him wake up, their faces brightened.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, how do you feel? Are you all right?¡± they asked in unison.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°I¡¯m fine now, much better.¡±


    ¡°You scared me and Meng to death. What happened?¡± Zhao Yuying still felt uneasy.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I encountered some issues.¡±


    After saying this, he attempted to get out of bed, but he realized his shirt had been taken off.


    Although he didn¡¯t have robust muscles, his clearly defined lines exuded a sense of beauty.


    Zhao Yuying: ¡°I washed your clothes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go get your clothes.¡± After saying this, Han Meng went upstairs to fetch clothes for Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao looked at Zhao Yuying somewhat awkwardly as she said with a laugh, ¡°What? Are you afraid Ying is taking advantage of you?¡±


    Qin Hao quickly shook his head: ¡°No, no, Ying, I didn¡¯t think too much.¡±


    Zhao Yuying expressed her concern: ¡°Are you really okay? Leng Xuan said you need to rest.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It¡¯s okay. I have a good constitution and recover quickly.¡±


    Zhao Yuying looked at him and asked, ¡°What exactly happened, Xiao Hao? You shouldn¡¯t keep things bottled up inside.


    It can wear you out. It¡¯s better to talk about it. I¡¯m willing to listen, and I promise not to tell anyone else.¡±


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 Chapter 409: 411: Ye Lanxins Invitation

    Chapter 409: Chapter 411: Ye Lanxin¡¯s Invitation


    Zhao Yuying was older than him, gentle, considerate, and more caring.


    Moreover, she understood more than Li Bao and Han Meng, and could share and advise when spoken to.


    Just like when Li Bao asked him, he didn¡¯t say anything because it was pointless to tell Li Bao, it would only make him worry needlessly.


    Han Meng quickly brought the clothes, and after Qin Hao got dressed, he and Zhao Yuying went out.


    Seeing Qin Hao leave, Han Meng only had concern in her eyes, without a trace of jealousy.@@@@


    At noon, when she saw Qin Hao spit blood and faint, Han Meng was terrified. If something truly happened to Qin Hao, it would be like the sky falling down for her and Qiao¡¯er.


    She knew she wasn¡¯t well-educated and couldn¡¯t help Qin Hao in many areas, but what she could do was to take care of the home and Qin Hao.


    Upon leaving the villa, Leng Xuan saw Qin Hao coming out and quickly asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, no need to worry,¡± Qin Hao replied with a smile.


    The two walked to the small garden at the back, where the air was fresh and the breeze was comfortable.


    When they reached a wooden bench in the garden, Zhao Yuying sat down and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What exactly happened?¡±


    Qin Hao sat down and replied, ¡°It¡¯s about the pharmaceuticals.¡±


    Zhao Yuying: ¡°Pharmaceuticals? What about them, is there a problem?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head: ¡°They haven¡¯t been approved yet.¡±


    Zhao Yuying almost understood what was happening and said with a smile, ¡°Do your best and let fate do the rest. You¡¯ve already made an effort.


    At the very least, you can be true to your conscience, and I believe that the state will strongly support such beneficial endeavors.


    The reason it hasn¡¯t been approved yet may be that it¡¯s still under detailed planning considerations. As long as you wait, there will surely be good news.¡±


    Looking at her, Qin Hao¡¯s face revealed his usual smile. He had been too fixated that morning.


    The high cost of medical care has always been an issue the nation wants to solve, and there¡¯s no reason for the state not to approve it.


    The fact that it hasn¡¯t been approved yet definitely indicates that some matters are still being planned.


    Zhao Yuying¡¯s words made him feel like the clouds had parted to reveal the sun.


    In Xuan Country, the interests of the people surpass all else, and the national policies and guidelines have always been implemented in this spirit.


    Qin Hao had sensed the rapid development of modern society from a young age until now.


    For instance, cars, which in Qin Hao¡¯s childhood seemed like something only the wealthy could afford, are now owned by nearly every family in the cities and the countryside.


    Although housing and commodity prices have risen quickly, there is no doubt that people¡¯s standard of living has improved many times over compared to before.


    This is a fact that everyone must acknowledge.


    ¡°Thought it through?¡± Zhao Yuying saw the smile on his face and asked with a laugh.


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Thanks to you, Ying. I was being obdurate.¡±


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang¡ªit was an unfamiliar number. He answered the call: ¡°Hello, may I ask who¡¯s speaking?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, have you forgotten me so soon?¡± Ye Lanxin¡¯s voice came through.


    Qin Hao replied with an embarrassed smile, ¡°Mr. Du, I¡¯ve never played golf.¡±


    Without issue, Du Yingqiang, along with Li Jianjun and two others, said, ¡°No worries, it¡¯s very simple. Jianjun, Lanxin, let¡¯s the four of us play together.¡±


    Li Jianjun and Ye Lanxin stood up together, and the group made their way to the outdoor golf course.


    On the way, Du Yingqiang briefly explained the rules to Qin Hao: the course had eighteen holes, starting from the first one.


    Whoever gets the ball into the hole first wins, and then they start the competition at the second hole.


    Qin Hao weighed the ball in his hand, trying out its heft, then swung the club a few times.


    ¡°Ahem, Master, have you really never played before? Going up like that is just asking to be thrashed,¡± Li Moying said upon seeing his posture, clearly that of a novice.


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°Mo Ying, there are two words in the dictionary called ¡®talent¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll go first to show you how it¡¯s done,¡± said Du Yingqiang as he swung his club and hit the ball.


    The ball landed near the hole, and with his skills, he was sure to sink it on the second strike.


    Next were Li Jianjun and Ye Lanxin, with abilities nearly matching, all landing close to the hole.


    Finally, it was Qin Hao¡¯s turn. After estimating the distance, he swung his club and struck.


    However, the ball didn¡¯t take off; he had swung at air.


    ¡°Ahem, go ahead, Mr. Qin,¡± Du Yingqiang and the others barely held back their laughter.


    Qin Hao felt a little embarrassed; he swung again and hit the ball.


    ¡°Whoosh!¡±


    The golf ball traced a beautiful arc in the sky and then ¡°plonk¡± dropped right into the first hole.


    Du Yingqiang and the others were dumbfounded¡ªdamn, it went in? Just by chance?


    Li Moying, Yan Huayue, Li Qingya, and Li Qingyun all showed surprise on their faces¡ªit went in just like that?


    Qin Hao: ¡°It¡¯s not that hard.¡±


    At the second hole, Qin Hao went first and, once again, the ball went in.


    Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, and the others stared in disbelief. The first one might be luck, but what about the second?


    Had he not said he had never played golf before?


    This was simply a prodigy; playing for the first time and already so terrifying?


    The more he played, the more effortlessly he did it, sinking ball after ball, five in a row.


    The others watched him as though he were a monster¡ªgolf wasn¡¯t that simple.


    First, you had to estimate the distance between the ball and the hole, calculate the trajectory of the parabolic flight, control the strength of your swing, and the point of impact between the club and the ball.


    Du Yingqiang: ¡°Ahem, let¡¯s talk about business instead.¡±


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 Chapter 410: 412 Cooperation

    Chapter 410: Chapter 412 Cooperation


    Now the way Ye Lanxin and the others looked at Qin Hao had obviously changed.


    Meeting him in person was even more impressive than his reputation.


    Qin Hao¡¯s learning ability was simply monstrous; he truly lived up to being the examination genius who scored full marks. Such people were too frightening.


    Qin Hao and several others arrived in a conference room on the first floor.


    Ye Yingda and Li Minghai were left outside.


    The conference room contained a large round table, with everyone seated around it.


    Li Qingya spoke up, ¡°Mr. Du, are you holding a round table conference?¡±


    A round table conference has no head nor foot, signifying the equality of all participants.


    Looking embarrassed, Du Yingqiang coughed, ¡°Cough cough, are you Qingya or Qingyun?¡±


    Li Qingya and Li Qingyun were twins, with the same hairstyle, height, and identical figures, even wearing the same clothes.


    Li Qingya turned to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you know which one I am?¡±


    ¡°Qingya, I guess,¡± replied Qin Hao.


    Everyone looked at Li Qingya, and she nodded, ¡°Mr. Qin is really impressive. Can you tell us how you figured it out?¡±


    Qin Hao felt awkward, ¡°Do I really need to say it?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t keep us in suspense, Mr. Qin, just tell us,¡± urged Du Yingqiang and Li Jianjun.


    Qin Hao glanced at Li Qingya, who gave a slight nod, indicating that he could reveal it.


    Qin Hao cleared his throat, ¡°Well, I am a doctor, and when Miss Ye introduced us just now, I noticed that Miss Qingya had her period, while Miss Qingyun did not.¡±


    ¡°Pfft,¡±


    Du Yingqiang spat out the tea that he had just sipped.


    How the hell could you tell if a woman has her period or not? That¡¯s seriously terrifying for a doctor.


    Ye Lanxin, Li Moying, and others were full of disbelief, turning to Li Qingya. That couldn¡¯t possibly be true, could it?


    With a slight flush on her cheeks, Li Qingya said, ¡°I¡¯ve long heard that Mr. Qin¡¯s medical skills are miraculous, and it seems that the reputation is well-deserved.¡±@@@@


    ¡°Miss Li is too kind,¡± he replied.


    Qin Hao was startled internally, how did Li Qingya know of my miraculous medical skills?


    Opening the discussion, Du Yingqiang said, ¡°Let¡¯s get down to business. Next month, comprehensive deep reforms and opening-up policies will be fully implemented.


    We¡¯ve gathered everyone here today with the intent to establish a business alliance to withstand the impact of foreign corporate competition.¡±


    The Du Group began with shipbuilding and later branched into various fields.


    ¡°A small matter, who is the friend?¡± Du Yingqiang asked.


    ¡°Zhao Yuying.¡±


    Du Yingqiang was startled for a moment, then looked at him with a smile.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°How much is the termination fee? Mr. Du, please name your price.¡±


    Du Yingqiang said with a smile, ¡°For Mr. Qin to bring up money would be too formal. A contract termination is a trivial matter, and it is only right to help each other now.¡±


    He had called Qin Hao over because he saw him as having great potential and wanted to establish a good relationship with him.


    Later, Qin Hao and the others discussed the details of their cooperation.


    Around five in the afternoon, Qin Hao left the golf club.


    He had Leng Xuan and others make a trip to Starlight Entertainment Media Company first while he called Zhao Dongqiang on the way.


    ¡°Mr. Zhao, are the new clothes going on sale tomorrow?¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang, ¡°That¡¯s correct, Mr. Qin. We¡¯ve tentatively set it for three malls, mainly because the other malls don¡¯t agree to place our clothes right next to Ruixing Clothing, preferring to follow their own layout plans.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I¡¯ve already made arrangements with the malls owned by the Du Group and Ye Group.


    Tomorrow you can just contact their mall managers. A portion of Ruixing Group¡¯s income comes from those exclusive stores.


    Once Zhao Yuying¡¯s endorsement is done, you should also start recruiting franchise stores nationwide, aiming to oust all Ruixing Clothing Stores in the shortest possible time.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin,¡± Zhao Dongqiang replied eagerly.


    Clothing franchising is different from duck roasting franchising. Clothing franchise stores need to purchase clothes from you.


    Whereas duck roasting franchise stores require you to teach them the technique, and they buy their raw materials locally, resulting in no further income for you.


    But with clothing franchise stores, it¡¯s different; you not only collect a franchising fee upfront.


    In the future, as they sell clothes, they will need to source their supplies from here, providing a continuous stream of profits.


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao quickly arrived at Starlight Entertainment Media, and Han Ye was already waiting for him.


    When Qin Hao arrived, he directly took Zhao Yuying¡¯s contract away.


    When he got home, Zhao Yuying was still at his place, so Qin Hao handed her the contract, ¡°Ying, it¡¯s settled.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhao Yuying quickly took the contract to check it, her face showing excitement.


    ¡°That¡¯s great, I can¡¯t thank you enough, Xiao Hao,¡± Zhao Yuying said excitedly, hugging him.


    For her, it was like shedding a layer of shackles from her body, making her feel much lighter and freer.


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 Chapter 411: 413 Rankings

    Chapter 411: Chapter 413 Rankings


    The two parted ways, Qin Hao saw that Zhao Yuying¡¯s eyes were slightly red with tears of joy.


    Terminating the contract didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t mix in the entertainment industry anymore, but that she could now do so with greater freedom.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Ying, please take care of the Huafei Clothing endorsement these next few days.¡±


    Zhao Yuying: ¡°Alright, sure.¡±


    Zhao Yuying had dinner here in the evening; she was alone at home and didn¡¯t want to go back.@@@@


    After dinner, Zhao Yuying smiled at Qiao¡¯er and said, ¡°Qiao¡¯er, is it alright if Auntie sleeps with you tonight?¡±


    Qiao¡¯er nodded, ¡°But where will Daddy sleep?¡±


    Han Meng¡¯s cheeks flushed when she heard Qiao¡¯er¡¯s words, not knowing how to explain.


    Zhao Yuying was momentarily stunned, ¡°Xiao Hao sleeps with you guys?¡±


    Han Qiao¡¯er nodded, ¡°Mhm, Daddy is so good to me.¡±


    Han Meng explained somewhat awkwardly, ¡°Yu Ying, it¡¯s not what you think. There¡¯s nothing between Xiao Hao and me.¡±


    At this moment, Qin Hao came out of the bathroom and, seeing the three of them, asked with a smile, ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Zhao Yuying quickly said, ¡°Nothing, I just plan to sleep here tonight.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Sure, you can sleep in any room you like.¡±


    The group watched TV for a while, and then Qin Hao went up to his room to sleep.


    The next day, after breakfast,


    Qin Hao drove Zhao Yuying to Huafei Clothing Company and on the way, she also called the people from the photography and production studio.


    They planned to shoot the endorsement advertisement today.


    At the same time, three major malls had Huafei Clothing on the shelves this morning, right next to Ruixing Clothing.


    There was a high flow of people in the big malls, and soon after the doors opened in the morning, many people entered.


    Moreover, since today was Saturday, the customer flow was even higher than usual.


    Shoppers typically take their time browsing through the mall, walking through every area.


    When someone came to the Huafei Clothing brand counter, a salesperson greeted them with a smile, ¡°Welcome to Huafei Clothing brand store. Please take a look, sir, madam, the fabric here is definitely top-notch and very comfortable to wear.¡±


    ¡°Top-notch? That¡¯s quite a bold claim. I¡¯ve never even heard of Huafei Clothing,¡± the woman responded.


    Now I think it should be called Jiangshan Delicatessen,¡± Kang Youyi suggested.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Mhm, that¡¯s possible. Discuss it with Mr. Feng.¡±


    Li Bao, ¡°Okay, Mr. Qin. I¡¯ll discuss with Mr. Feng over the next few days and we will step up our marketing efforts.


    All satellite TV channels and online platforms will see increased ad placements. The market in Shuinan Province is now saturated, so we¡¯re expanding into Nanyan Province and Nanchu Province along two fronts.¡±


    Huafei Clothing Company has now established the Xuandong and Southwest Regions. Both regions are covertly competing to see who can develop better and faster.


    For the moment, due to Jiangshan¡¯s earlier start, their total sales outpace the Xuandong Region.


    But the economy in the Xuandong Region is booming, and it¡¯s only a matter of time before they surpass Kang Youyi¡¯s Southwest Region.


    In fact, Kang Youyi has his sights set on the Xuannan District, which includes the four coastal provinces of Nanhao, Nangui, Nanmin, and Nanhai.


    Their economic prosperity is no less than that of the other regions, if not better.


    Kang Youyi¡¯s goal is to rapidly expand in the Southwest Region, and after securing the entire Southwest market, to then march into the Xuannan Region.


    Now, no matter where Jiangshan Roasted Duck develops, it will spur local economic growth.


    For instance, many local farms are thriving, and with high store sales, they also pay a significant amount of taxes to the local government.


    Money must circulate for the market to flourish. If everyone stops spending, it¡¯s difficult for the market to progress.


    That¡¯s why the government implements numerous policies, such as interest rate cuts by banks, etc. It¡¯s all to stimulate consumption, boost market prosperity, and create a positive cycle.


    Now, Jiangshan Roasted Duck doesn¡¯t require Qin Hao¡¯s worries anymore. If they continue at the current pace, dominating the national market is just a matter of time.


    Moreover, Qin Hao has launched a new product, and it seems the cooked food industry in Xuan Country might soon be monopolized by him.


    After Qin Hao hung up the phone, Zhao Yuying suddenly spoke, ¡°Qin Hao, take a look, your company made the list.¡±


    Curious, Qin Hao turned his head to see her phone displaying the ¡°Xuan Country Unicorn Company Ranking,¡± with the list cutting off on November 30, 2018.


    ¡°This ranking is one of the most authoritative in Xuan Country. To make it into the unicorn ranking, a company must meet two criteria:


    The company must be newly established with a valuation over 1 billion Federation currency.


    The company valuation comes from a consensus among dozens of large investment firms, so there¡¯s no doubt about its authority. Plainly speaking, it¡¯s a ranking of new company valuations.¡±


    ¡°`


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 Chapter 412: 414 Valued at Thirty Billion

    Chapter 412: Chapter 414 Valued at Thirty Billion


    ¡°`


    Qin Hao glanced at the rankings and saw that the top company was named Huafeng Finance, valued at sixty billion.


    Zhao Yuying spoke up, ¡°Huafeng Finance is a subsidiary of Aba Net Shopping Group, specializing in finance.


    Just a few months ago, it was valued at only over thirty billion, and now it has reached sixty billion, which is quite terrifying.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, as these thirty billion were Federation Coins, not Xuan Country Coins.


    In terms of Xuan Country, that would be a top-tier major company with a market cap of hundreds of billions, comparable to Jinxiu Group, Du Group, and the like.


    Moreover, this is just one of their subsidiaries. Although its shares are held by various business giants, Lv Tian also owns a significant share, and his net worth is likely to increase further.


    Ranked second is Happy Travel, an online ride-hailing app that has taken the nation by storm, with a market cap of over fifty billion Federation Coins.


    Third place goes to Zhongjia Mobile, which is Jiang Tao¡¯s company, with a market cap of thirty billion and five hundred million Federation Coins.


    Further down, Qin Hao found his company, but he was somewhat surprised because the first he saw was Xinghui Wine Industry, ranked 99th.


    Xinghui Wine Company, Chairman Qin Hao, with a market value of twenty-eight billion Federation Coins, which is approximately one hundred and thirty billion Xuan Country Coins.


    Is the market value this high already?


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised; he didn¡¯t understand the investment industry. This valuation was given by various investment firms, combining various factors and the company¡¯s potential.


    Next, Xinghui Wine will surely compete with some of the well-known domestic wine groups.


    They received definitive news that Old Cellar Wine and Lang Wine would launch an encirclement against Xinghui Wine.


    If Xinghui Wine can break through the siege of the two major wine industry groups, its market value could multiply several times.


    To tell the truth, those investment giants have a positive outlook on Xinghui Wine. Although Old Cellar Wine and Nanlang Wine became famous quite early,


    they are not as good as Xinghui Wine in terms of the quality of their products; defeating Xinghui Wine is almost impossible.


    But in business competition, anything can happen, such as unexpected deaths of senior management, leak of secret recipes, adulteration of products, etc., all of which can have a significant impact on the company and affect its valuation.


    The one hundredth rank is Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, with a market value of twenty-seven billion Federation Coins.


    This valuation is targeted at Jiangshan Roasted Duck; if they knew that many more products would be launched subsequently, this valuation would likely be even higher.


    Zhao Yuying said with some surprise, ¡°That¡¯s a total valuation of fifty-five billion Federation Coins. Your company¡¯s overall valuation has reached over thirty billion Xuan Country Coins, which is quite impressive.¡±


    The most important point is that Qin Hao holds over ninety percent of the shares in these two companies.


    Yan Huayue took them out for a look, ¡°This fabric feels very comfortable. I¡¯ll go try them on.¡±


    Du Yingqiang, ¡°You can try them on here. No one will come.¡±


    With slightly blushing cheeks, Yan Huayue nodded, and after changing into Qin Hao¡¯s clothes, she was somewhat astonished, ¡°These clothes feel so comfortable on. They¡¯re produced by Qin Hao¡¯s company?¡±


    Du Yingqiang nodded, ¡°From Jiangshan Roasted Duck to pharmaceutical research, and now to new types of fabrics. This Qin Hao is quite mysterious.


    The reason I called him over yesterday was that I value his potential, I believe this man will soar to great heights.


    Helping him now is like helping our future selves. It¡¯s best to join his war chariot before he rises.¡±


    ...


    Li Xutian, the Xu Family, the sisters of Kangmei Group, and many others had all noticed Qin Hao¡¯s two companies.


    After leaving Huafei Clothing Company, Qin Hao followed Zhao Yuying to her newly established company.


    Zhao Yuying¡¯s registered company was named Yuhao Media Company and was located at the Jianghai Film and Television Base.


    This place gathered various media companies, and setting up a media company wasn¡¯t that easy.


    Zhao Yuying told him, ¡°The place I rented was previously occupied by another media company. They¡¯ve now moved to Jinchen City.¡±


    Typical media companies sign up supermodels, models, singers, artists, actors, agents, and so on.


    Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying came here to take a look. The interior was being redesigned, supervised by people from Zhao Yuying¡¯s Studio.


    ¡°Mr. Zhao, you¡¯re here,¡± someone from the studio said eagerly upon seeing Zhao Yuying.


    Zhao Yuying, ¡°This is Qin Hao, Mr. Qin, the chairman of the company.¡±


    The person hurriedly said respectfully, ¡°Mr. Qin, hello. My name is Wang Yan, and I was Miss Zhao¡¯s agent.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Miss Wang, hello. How many days will the renovation take?¡±


    Wang Yan, ¡°About five or six days. Then we can start hiring. With Yu Ying¡¯s fame, many artists and newcomers will definitely choose to join us.¡±


    After a tour, Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying left. The outside had a pleasant green environment with an artistic atmosphere.


    ¡°Oh my, isn¡¯t that Miss Zhao? Long time no see,¡± the voice of a middle-aged man sounded.


    Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying turned to look. A middle-aged man in a suit approached with a smile beaming on his face.


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 Chapter 413: 415 Accident

    Chapter 413: Chapter 415 Accident


    ¡°So it¡¯s Mr. Ma. Long time no see,¡± Zhao Yuying replied with a smile.


    Ma Peng walked over and glanced at Qin Hao beside her, his expression momentarily startled. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Mr. Qin? I¡¯ve heard so much about you.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded. ¡°Hello, Mr. Ma.¡±


    Zhao Yuying introduced with a smile: ¡°Mr. Ma is the head of Rainbow Special Effects Company, which is famous nationwide. The TV dramas I¡¯ve starred in before were all collaborations with Mr. Ma.¡±


    Ma Peng quickly said, ¡°Miss Zhao is too kind, or should I say, it should be Mr. Zhao now.¡±


    In the film and television industry base, whether a company arrives or departs, everyone here will know about it.


    Zhao Yuying had opened a company here, and it had long been talked about throughout the film and television industry base.


    With a registered capital of five hundred million, most of that money was likely Qin Hao¡¯s.


    Zhao Yuying: ¡°Mr. Ma, we will have a lot of collaborations in the future. I hope you will take good care of us.¡±


    Ma Peng: ¡°We should take care of each other. I won¡¯t disturb Mr. Zhao and Mr. Qin any longer. Let¡¯s chat when we¡¯re free.¡±


    Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying strolled through the film and television industry base, and Ma Peng occasionally turned his head to look at them.


    He was sure that Zhao Yuying and Qin Hao must have some kind of relationship.


    Otherwise, why would Qin Hao put so much money into a company with her?


    It was a pity for Zhao Yuying. He had once thought of spending the night with her, even keeping her, but now it seemed there was no chance.


    Who in Jianghai City would dare to touch a person connected to Qin Hao?


    The two made a round and then headed outside: ¡°How many special effects companies are there here?¡±


    Zhao Yuying: ¡°Three. Ma Peng¡¯s Rainbow Special Effects is considered the strongest one.


    Their special effects team has more than a hundred professionals, and the other two special effects teams are not small either.


    But in terms of special effects technology, they are a slight notch below Rainbow.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°We must have our own special effects company. Once our company is up and running, let¡¯s see if we can acquire one of them.¡±


    Zhao Yuying nodded: ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll discuss these matters after the company is operating normally.¡±


    The two left the film and television base and drove toward Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    On the road, Qin Hao was pondering the future layout. He made a call to Li Wenjun.


    Li Wenjun was now his chief of intelligence.


    ¡°Wen Jun, look into how long Huamei Cosmetics Company can hold out,¡± Qin Hao said.


    Li Wenjun: ¡°Got it, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Leng Xuan unfastened his seat belt, crawled over to the co-driver¡¯s seat, opened the door, and climbed out.


    As soon as he got out, Leng Xuan¡¯s face went pale again because another van was speeding toward Qin Hao¡¯s car from behind.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, get out quick, there¡¯s another car coming from the rear beam!¡± Leng Xuan said anxiously.


    Given the speed of that car, stopping it was impossible.


    But the door had been deformed and was jammed; he couldn¡¯t open it at all.


    Hearing his words, Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying¡¯s faces went white, and they looked back through the rear window,


    In haste, Qin Hao handed Zhao Yuying out of the window to Leng Xuan, his tone urgent, ¡°Quick, take Ying away.¡±


    Holding Zhao Yuying, Leng Xuan watched the van rushing toward them with red eyes, ¡°Mr. Qin, come out quickly, please.¡±


    It was too late; at that moment, there was no time for him to get out anymore.


    If he had just come out and left Zhao Yuying inside, he definitely would have had a chance to escape.


    But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do such a thing.


    ¡°Take Ying down now, that¡¯s an order!¡± Qin Hao roared.


    Leng Xuan knew that if he didn¡¯t go down this time, all three of them might die.


    Biting his lip, he leaped down as tears slipped from his eyes.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    The van hit Qin Hao¡¯s car in an instant, just as Leng Xuan had jumped down.


    Qin Hao¡¯s car was already close to the edge of the overpass, and the impact sent it toppling off.


    The van, moving too fast, also tumbled down.


    Seconds later, two loud crashes came from below.


    Zhao Yuying stared blankly at the broken edge of the overpass, motionless.


    The others were stunned too; nobody had expected a second car to follow.


    Leng Xuan hurriedly got to his feet, his eyes blazing with anger at the men, ¡°What the hell are you waiting for? If anything happens to Mr. Qin, you¡¯re all dead.¡±


    Realizing the gravity of the situation, the men quickly drove towards the overpass below.


    Many passersby witnessed the scene, and it was clear this was no ordinary accident, but a premeditated murder.


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 Chapter 414: 416: Dead?

    Chapter 414: Chapter 416: Dead?


    Someone had called the police, and in less than ten minutes, officers and ambulances had arrived at the scene, along with some reporters.


    At this time, Li Xutian¡¯s family was watching television.


    On the local Jianghai channel, the screen switched, and suddenly a news flash came in.


    ¡°Breaking news, near the East Fourth Ring elevated bridge in Jianghai, a traffic accident has just occurred.


    Let¡¯s hear from an eyewitness who passed by for a detailed account of what happened.¡±


    The screen switched to show a middle-aged man on television.


    The female reporter began, ¡°Could you tell us what happened at that time?¡±


    The witness replied, ¡°I was driving behind three cars on the overpass when I saw a van rush past me,


    directly colliding with the car in the middle; afterward, both vehicles flipped on their sides. There should have been three people inside the car,


    but only two got out because another van then rushed over at a very high speed.


    The person inside didn¡¯t make it out, as both the individual and the car were knocked off the bridge¡ªit¡¯s a fall of several dozen meters. I fear there¡¯s little hope for that person in the car¡¯s survival.


    That van which hit them also fell.¡±


    The screen cut back to the reporter: ¡°Thank you, big brother, for describing the scene of the accident to us.


    According to the information we¡¯ve received, the owner of the car that was hit is the chairman of the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, Qin Hao,


    also known as Mr. Qin, the founder of the anti-cancer drug synthesis technology. Currently, Mr. Qin has been taken to the First Hospital.


    The police are currently investigating the specific circumstances.¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be, it can¡¯t be the master,¡± Li Moying¡¯s eyes instantly reddened, and she quickly took out her phone to call Qin Hao.


    But the phone wouldn¡¯t connect at all, and her tears spilled over.


    Li Xutian couldn¡¯t believe it, Li Jianjun and Gu Yusu were also somewhat in shock.


    ¡°I have to go find the master, I have to go find the master,¡± Li Moying got up and ran towards the door.


    Li Xutian and Li Jianjun quickly got to their feet and followed her out.


    ...


    The Xu Family


    Xu Jiekang and Xu Siyao were also watching TV, while Yang Su was sitting in the kitchen having dinner.


    Watching this sudden news report, Xu Siyao froze on the spot, dead?


    She immediately stood up and ran outside, and her tears fell like broken pearls along the way.


    ¡°Si Yao, don¡¯t be impulsive,¡± Xu Jiekang quickly followed her out.


    This news had reached many in the Jianghai Business World, and in less than ten minutes, it had spread throughout the entire business community.


    The doctor walked out, and Li Bao glanced at Qin Hao lying on the bed, a flicker of murderous intent passing through his eyes as he stepped out.


    Once outside the hospital room, he asked Leng Xuan, ¡°Where is that person?¡±


    Leng Xuan¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°In that room, under police watch.¡±


    The first van driver, the one who initiated the attack, hadn¡¯t died, but the second one fell from the overpass and was dead.


    ¡°Find out who sent them,¡± Li Bao said with icy determination.


    After speaking, Li Bao walked to the door of that hospital room, ¡°Guys, don¡¯t you need to use the restroom?¡±


    The two police officers were stunned for a moment, exchanged glances, and then walked away.


    Leng Xuan entered, well practiced in the art of interrogation under duress.


    ...


    Li Bao didn¡¯t go in. At that moment, a group of people rushed up, including Li Xutian, Li Moying, Li Jianjun, and others.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Xiao Hao?¡± Li Xutian urgently asked.


    Li Bao looked at them, tried to speak but his throat felt as if something was stuck, preventing any words.


    A sense of foreboding rose in Li Xutian¡¯s heart.


    Li Moying hurried into Qin Hao¡¯s hospital room, and when she saw Qin Hao covered with a cloth on the bed, she was petrified.


    ¡°Master?¡± Li Moying called out to Qin Hao.


    But there was no response; she cautiously stepped forward to the side of the bed.


    Then Xu Siyao ran in, saw Li Moying and Zhao Yuying inside the room, but her gaze finally settled on the bed.


    ¡°Qin Hao, Qin Hao,¡± Xu Siyao panicked, rushing over.


    When she saw Li Moying gently lift the white sheet, Xu Siyao couldn¡¯t hold back and burst into loud sobbing.


    Many people swarmed into the room, Li Xutian, Li Jianjun, Xu Jiekang, Yang Su.


    Later, He Tingting and He Qizhi also arrived; He Tingting was Qin Hao¡¯s mentor, and He Qizhi was the dean, which didn¡¯t seem out of place to anyone.


    Seeing the motionless Qin Hao, He Tingting felt a complex sorrow; although they were not a real couple.


    But after such a long time together, they had developed a sort of friendship.


    Wang Shudan and Fan Ruobing arrived as well.


    Fan Ruobing¡¯s face was calm, but her moist eyes betrayed her inner turmoil.


    She belonged to the kind of person who experiences great love silently, great grief without words.


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 Chapter 415: 417: Overturning Cognition

    Chapter 415: Chapter 417: Overturning Cognition


    Zhao Dongqiang and Zhao Qian also came after hearing about Qin Hao¡¯s accident, they rushed over as soon as possible.


    Feng Xiangyi, Chang Jing, and others came after receiving calls from other people.


    Xia Qing came too, but the room was already full, and she could only stand outside the window looking in.


    Hearing the crying inside, Xia Qing¡¯s eyes reddened slightly.


    Later, many more people arrived, but few were qualified to enter.


    Inside the ward, only Xu Siyao was seizing one of Qin Hao¡¯s hands and grieving.


    Xu Jiekang wanted to stop her when he saw this but felt it was inappropriate to speak up; after all, you two have no relationship, what will others think with you crying so heartbroken?


    However, a sharp light flickered through Yang Su¡¯s eyes.


    Suddenly, Xu Siyao¡¯s crying halted, she widened her eyes and hurriedly said, ¡°Just now, Qin Hao¡¯s hand moved.¡±@@@@


    Everyone was stunned, and Xu Jiekang sighed in his heart, saying, ¡°Si Yao, Qin Hao is gone, don¡¯t be too sad.¡±


    ¡°I really felt it move just now.¡± Xu Siyao uncovered the bedsheet, holding Qin Hao¡¯s hand.


    All eyes turned to Qin Hao¡¯s hand, covered in blood.


    After a dozen seconds without any response, everyone thought Xu Siyao was suffering from an illusion due to her excessive grief.


    Even Xu Siyao herself started to doubt


    Just as they were about to look away, Qin Hao¡¯s ring finger suddenly moved.


    Xu Siyao¡¯s complexion lit up with surprise, ¡°It really moved, it really did, I didn¡¯t feel it wrong.¡±


    The onlookers were equally startled. Wasn¡¯t it clear that Qin Hao had no breath left? How could his finger still move?


    Back when Qin Hao fell from the overpass, he took out two bottles of life-saving water and spirit water.


    Because the front of the car was heavy with the engine, it made contact with the ground first. If the rear had hit the ground first, Qin Hao would probably be mincemeat by now.


    Even so, his internal organs and bones were seriously damaged.


    If his body hadn¡¯t been modified, he would probably have died on the spot.


    After hitting the ground, Qin Hao swallowed the life-saving water and spirit water in his mouth.


    Because of his severe injuries, his body entered a self-protective hibernation, which is a kind of feigned death state.


    This was also the reason why the doctors couldn¡¯t detect his heartbeat.


    Body hibernation reduces the consumption of all bodily functions, thus prolonging life to a degree.


    If effective treatment is not received at this time, the person will still die.


    However, Qin Hao had already drunk the life-saving water and spirit water, and his body was repairing rapidly.


    At that moment, the damaged areas inside Qin Hao¡¯s body were visibly healing at a rapid pace.


    If the doctor had looked through an X-ray, he might have been struck dumb with astonishment.


    About three minutes later, Qin Hao suddenly opened his eyes, and the doctor, observing him, screamed and fell to the ground in fright when he saw Qin Hao¡¯s eyes open.


    ¡°He¡¯s opened his eyes, he¡¯s opened his eyes, there¡¯s a ghost,¡± the doctor exclaimed in terror, crawling backward on the ground.


    Shock reverberated throughout the ward as everyone turned to look at Qin Hao, who indeed had his eyes open at that moment.


    ¡°And you call yourself a doctor?¡± Qin Hao¡¯s lips parted slightly as he uttered this sentence.


    Hearing his familiar voice, everyone breathed a sigh of relief; many had just broken into a cold sweat, having thought they really were seeing a ghost.


    ¡°Qin Hao, are you awake, are you alright?¡± Xu Siyao asked, her face full of surprise, but tears streamed down uncontrollably.


    Qin Hao looked at her, then turned to everyone in the ward.


    He spoke, ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you all; let Leng Xuan take me back.¡±


    Soon, Leng Xuan and a few others came in, and seeing Qin Hao alive, he was somewhat incredulous.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°What are you standing around for? Take me back.¡±


    Leng Xuan and the others snapped to attention and hurriedly pushed the bed outside.


    Xu Siyao and Li Moying wanted to follow, but their father held them back.


    Knowing that Qin Hao was alright was enough; if Qin Hao had died, it might have caused quite a stir.


    Zhao Yuying ran out after them, with Qin Hao¡¯s security detail now extremely tight, being protected by six or seven dozen people front and back.


    Once outside the hospital building, Qin Hao got into a brand-new car, and then about a dozen cars escorted him away.


    ...


    Back at the Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    Leng Xuan and the others carried Qin Hao on a stretcher into the house.


    Han Meng and Qiao¡¯er¡¯s faces changed drastically upon seeing him, but fortunately, Qin Hao was covered; otherwise, the mother and daughter might have fainted from shock.


    ¡°What happened? What¡¯s happened to Xiao Hao?¡± Han Meng ran over in a panic.


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Meng, it¡¯s nothing serious, just some injuries.¡±


    ¡°Meng, which room should we put Mr. Qin in?¡± asked Leng Xuan.


    Han Meng quickly replied, ¡°Put him in my bedroom, it¡¯s easier to take care of him there.¡±


    [Two chapters released in succession, two more to come! Currently, the guaranteed minimum is four chapters a day.]


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 Chapter 416: 418 Recovery

    Chapter 416: Chapter 418 Recovery


    Qin Hao was placed in Han Meng¡¯s bedroom, and then Leng Xuan and the others left.


    Inside the bedroom, Zhao Yuying, Han Meng, and Qiao¡¯er watched over Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Meng, Ying, I¡¯ll rest for a bit.¡±


    The three women, Zhao Yuying included, walked out, and Qin Hao lay on the bed with his eyes closed.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Yu Ying? What happened to Xiao Hao?¡± As she spoke, Han Meng¡¯s tears couldn¡¯t stop falling.


    Zhao Yuying briefly recounted the situation at that time.


    Listening to her, Han Meng was horrified, her palms sweaty, ¡°Xiao Hao is such a good person, he will definitely live a long life.¡±


    Qiao¡¯er¡¯s eyes were red; she had cried several times already.


    Inside the room, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes were slightly closed, his brain rapidly spinning.


    Who could it be? Who exactly is trying to kill me?


    Ruixing Group? Tang Group? Or Xiao Group? Or could it be a joint effort by all three?


    Or those pharmaceutical interest groups?


    All these parties are possible, especially the pharmaceutical industry. His new drug had already been developed, just awaiting approval.


    The likelihood of those pharmaceutical giants taking action was high.


    Only with Qin Hao¡¯s death would the threat to the pharmaceutical industry be eliminated.


    The possibility of the three major groups could not be underestimated either, as Luo Feng¡¯s daughter, Tang Zhongqian, and Xiao Zhi¡¯s wives had been insulted.


    In Jianghai City, they were all influential figures; one could imagine their hatred for Qin Hao after such incidents.@@@@


    Who could it be?


    ...


    At noon, Zhao Yuying and the others quickly had some food, then went to check on Qin Hao in his room.


    Qin Hao opened his eyes and looked toward the door. Seeing him awake, Zhao Yuying walked in, ¡°Xiao Hao, do you need to take any medicine?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°No need, Ying, I have my own medicine that I developed. I¡¯ll recover quickly.¡±


    Zhao Yuying sat by the bed and softly said, ¡°Xiao Hao, why did you save me? Your life is more important than mine.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Ying, everyone¡¯s life is important, no one is more important than another, to their own loved ones.


    The atmosphere became somewhat awkward upon entering the bathroom. Zhao Yuying and Han Meng exchanged glances, their cheeks turning red.


    Summoning her courage, Zhao Yuying said, ¡°Meng, let me wash Xiao Hao. He was injured because of me; it¡¯s only right that I do this.¡±


    With a blush, Han Meng nodded and walked out of the bathroom.


    Inside the bathroom, Qin Hao awkwardly said, ¡°Ying, having one person from outside come in is enough.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no big deal, Xiao Hao. Think of me as your sister; I consider you as my little brother, and it¡¯s only right for a sister to bathe her brother.¡±


    ...


    Zhao Yuying noticed something strange: ¡°Xiao Hao, how come you don¡¯t have any wounds on your body?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Ying, I have special medicines for healing wounds, they don¡¯t leave scars.¡±


    Zhao Yuying paused, ¡°No scars?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Actually, certain herbs can be completely applied to skincare products, and I am researching a few skincare items.¡±


    Zhao Yuying looked surprised, ¡°You¡¯re thinking of entering the skincare industry?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve had that idea for a while now, and as soon as I recover, I¡¯m going to start.¡±


    His initial plan was to wait until Su Mingzhi¡¯s company couldn¡¯t hold on any longer because, in that way, he could reap more benefits.


    But now, he didn¡¯t want to wait, even if it meant losing some benefits.


    ¡°At a time like this, you¡¯re still thinking about making money; I don¡¯t know what to say about you.¡±


    Zhao Yuying watched him speechlessly, continuing to help Qin Hao wash as she spoke.


    ...


    About half an hour later, Zhao Yuying came out of the bathroom. She had helped Qin Hao get dressed, and together with Han Meng, they supported Qin Hao back to his room.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, are you hungry? I¡¯ve kept some food warm for you in the kitchen,¡± Han Meng asked.


    Qin Hao nodded, he indeed felt a bit hungry.


    Han Meng brought over the food, and Zhao Yuying took over to feed him.


    Around four in the afternoon, Leng Xuan returned; as soon as he came back, he entered the villa.


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 Chapter 417: 419 Assassination

    Chapter 417: Chapter 419 Assassination


    Han Meng¡¯s bedroom door.


    Leng Xuan knocked on the door, and Han Meng opened it, ¡°Are you looking for Xiao Hao?¡±


    ¡°Um, has Mr. Qin gone to bed?¡± Leng Xuan asked.


    Han Meng replied, ¡°No, he hasn¡¯t. Come in.¡±


    Inside the room, Zhao Yuying, Han Meng, and Qiao¡¯er were at the bedside, keeping vigil over Qin Hao.


    When Qin Hao saw Leng Xuan enter, he said to Zhao Yuying and Han Meng, ¡°Yu Ying, Meng, why don¡¯t you and Qiao¡¯er go out first? I need to talk to Leng Xuan about something.¡±


    Once the three of them had left, Leng Xuan began, ¡°Hao, we¡¯ve found out who it was.¡±


    A flash of surprise crossed Qin Hao¡¯s eyes, ¡°That quick? Who did it?¡±


    Leng Xuan stated, ¡°According to Li Wenjun¡¯s investigation, one of the dead drivers had contact with Luo Feng of Ruixing Group¡¯s butler before his death.


    Moreover, the one captured alive was a bodyguard of Xiao Liang¡¯s. He admitted it was Xiao Liang who sent him, but I think it was Xiao Zhi¡¯s idea.


    Before the incident, Luo Feng, Tang Zhongqian, and Xiao Zhi had met once, and no one knows what they discussed.¡±


    A startling glint appeared in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes; after a long pause, he calmly said, ¡°I understand.¡±


    Leng Xuan hesitated before adding, ¡°Hao, I¡¯m confident that I can make them disappear from this world.¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°These three are well-known figures in Jianghai City. If the three of them died,


    it would cause a massive upheaval, especially the Xiao Family. Although the old man of the Xiao Family has stepped back,


    if he truly got angry and used his connections, he could even alert the higher-ups. Even if there¡¯s no evidence,


    it won¡¯t be easy for me. Especially those figures at the top, they are very sensitive about this kind of malicious business competition.


    If we cause their discontent, they will not care about me. Even with great ability, I would be finished.


    Now, the best choice is not to act, because the higher authorities will investigate this matter, and it¡¯s very likely it will end up leading nowhere.


    But everyone will be well aware of the outcome and those people will certainly gain the higher-ups¡¯ disfavor, constantly under scrutiny.


    Dealing with them later will be much easier. We cannot be hasty now, do you understand? At least, we can¡¯t resolve this using such means.¡±


    Leng Xuan didn¡¯t understand much of what he said, but what he did understand was that they weren¡¯t to act at the moment.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Tell Li Bao not to be rash, listen to my orders.¡±


    Leng Xuan nodded, ¡°Understood, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ...


    At Luo Feng¡¯s home.


    ¡°They are just a bunch of nobodies.¡±


    ...


    Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao received calls from Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, and the sisters Li Qingya.


    Hearing Qin Hao¡¯s robust replies, they all breathed a sigh of relief.


    Having just started a preliminary cooperative relationship, it would have been bad news for them if something had happened to Qin Hao.


    He also received many calls from Jiangshan, with Kang Youyi, An Linxuan, and others calling to ask after him.


    That day, Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine increased their advertising efforts, covering various TV channels and online platforms.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck had already spread to six or seven provinces and cities, its influence growing.


    Strong promotional efforts benefited the expansion of Jiangshan Roasted Duck into various provinces and cities and greatly enhanced the reputation of Xinghui Wine.


    By evening, Qin Hao was barely able to walk; his recovery speed was astonishing.


    ¡°Injuries to muscles and bones take a hundred days to heal,¡± especially with such serious injuries.


    To outsiders, Qin Hao would need at least four or five months of rest; who would have thought he could walk the same night?


    Han Meng knew Qin Hao¡¯s abilities, so she wasn¡¯t very shocked, but Zhao Yuying was different. Seeing him slowly coming out made her eyes widen.


    She hurriedly got up and went to support Qin Hao, ¡°Xiao Hao, why have you come out?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Ying, don¡¯t worry, I can already move around with some difficulty.¡±


    Night was falling.


    After dinner, Qin Hao returned to his second-floor bedroom; he was almost fine and would fully recover after another night¡¯s sleep.


    Not far away, in another villa, Tang Qi was watching Qin Hao¡¯s place through binoculars.


    Seeing Qin Hao go up to the second-floor bedroom, a cold smile crossed his lips as he moved out from the dark villa.


    He was wearing the black uniform of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion.


    He arrived at the small garden behind Qin Hao¡¯s villa, where he had observed for a long time and had already figured out some patterns.


    Although there were many guards outside Qin Hao¡¯s villa, the arrangement was chaotic and disorderly, making it easy for someone to infiltrate.


    [Fourth update, that¡¯s all for today!]


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 Chapter 418: 420: The Laser Pistol Shows Its Power

    Chapter 418: Chapter 420: The Laser Pistol Shows Its Power


    Tang Qi also discovered one thing, the members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion were arranged inside as the core guards.


    The security detail was just patrolling outside.


    The little garden was right next to the back of Qin Hao¡¯s villa, and there were people from the security detail standing at the place adjacent to the garden and the villa.


    Walking over, Tang Qi spoke, ¡°You go patrol inside the garden and around the outside. Leave this spot to me.¡±


    Those few men were startled for a moment, then headed into the dark backyard garden.


    The word of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion carried much weight within the company.


    It could be said that each member of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion was a superior to anyone in the security detail.


    The little garden only had street lamps over the narrow path, while the other areas remained dark.


    The trees within the garden were not small, almost as tall as the villa itself.


    After the men left, Tang Qi took out a suction-cup gun, securing its suction firmly to the wall, and he climbed up along the rope.


    Agile and swift, Tang Qi quickly entered the villa through a window in a matter of seconds.


    This was the secondary bedroom on the second floor, with Qin Hao¡¯s own bedroom right next door.


    He walked to the door, then stepped out.


    Arriving at the entrance to Qin Hao¡¯s bedroom, he pushed the door open and entered, his expression calm as if he were not an assassin but the master of the place.


    He exuded a powerful self-confidence.


    Because he was the Left Hand of God, he was a top-ranked assassin within the Blood Kill List¡¯s top ten.


    Although he appeared relaxed and at ease, the vigilance and caution of an assassin had not been discarded.@@@@


    His nerves were always taut, ready to handle any sudden situation.


    The lights were on in the room, and as Tang Qi entered, he collided gazes with Qin Hao.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t kept me waiting long,¡± Qin Hao said, leaning against the headboard with a faint smile on his face.


    Tang Qi had intended to make his move, but on hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, his eyes flickered slightly.


    His gaze instantly swept across the entire room, finding no one else, only the two of them.


    Qin Hao had heard the noise the moment Tang Qi climbed up, his senses far sharper than anyone else¡¯s.


    But he didn¡¯t call for anyone, because it was already too late.


    Tang Qi was curious about Qin Hao¡¯s reaction, how could he be so composed?


    Did he truly have a trump card, or was it just a bluff?


    Tang Qi said, ¡°I¡¯ve seen many who feign composure before death, but they all died by my hand.¡±


    Qin Hao put away the laser pistol, pulled out the flying dagger, gasping as pain shot through him, and pressed a cloth against the wound.


    The effects of a life-saving potion were still working in his body, and it would heal in a while; then he looked down at Tang Qi on the ground.


    Tang Qi was already dead, with no bleeding from his wound, because the high-energy beam had charred it on impact.


    Qin Hao took out his phone and called Leng Xuan, ¡°Come up here.¡±


    Leng Xuan paused upon hearing his words, then walked up quietly, and upon entering the room and seeing the person on the ground, his expression changed slightly.


    When did this person get in?


    And why was he wearing the uniform of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion?


    ¡°He¡¯s an assassin, check his body,¡± Mr. Qin instructed.


    Leng Xuan saw the wound on Qin Hao¡¯s left shoulder and his expression darkened. This person had sneaked in without any sound, which was a slap in his face.


    It was also a warning to him that, although the guards seemed numerous, they were virtually ineffective against a true master, full of loopholes.


    Leng Xuan conducted a search but found nothing; aside from his clothes, the person carried nothing else.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s nothing on him, very professional,¡± Leng Xuan reported.


    ¡°Check his sleeve, there should be weapons, they¡¯re poisoned,¡± Qin Hao reminded him.


    Leng Xuan checked Tang Qi¡¯s sleeves and indeed found nine small, exquisitely made flying daggers.


    Seeing the flying daggers, Leng Xuan¡¯s expression shifted subtly, ¡°God¡¯s Left Hand?¡±


    Curious, Qin Hao inquired, ¡°God¡¯s Left Hand? What¡¯s that?¡±


    Leng Xuan: ¡°A top assassin ranked in the top ten on the Blood Kill List, a gold-medal freelance killer from the Blood Killing Organization.


    The Blood Kill List is promoted by the Blood Killing Organization, and God¡¯s Left Hand is his moniker.


    It is said that his left-handed throwing daggers are faster than bullets, earning him the nickname God¡¯s Left Hand, highlighting the terror of his left-handed daggers.


    Why is he here? Could he have been hired by the three major corporate groups? That shouldn¡¯t be.¡±


    Logically, Qin Hao wasn¡¯t famous enough for the Blood Killing Organization to send such a top assassin after him.


    Looking at Tang Qi on the ground, Qin Hao spoke to Leng Xuan, ¡°Don¡¯t you think he resembles someone?¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Leng Xuan was taken aback.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Tang Zhongqian, the chairman of the Tang Group.¡±


    Leng Xuan¡¯s expression became strained, ¡°Tang Zhongqian? Could there be some connection between them?¡±


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 Chapter 419: 421 Extreme Fans

    Chapter 419: Chapter 421 Extreme Fans


    Qin Hao instructed, ¡°Dispose of this person without letting anyone know, and have Wen Jun investigate Tang Zhongqian.¡±


    Although Tang Qi had no identity information, if discovered, his wounds would expose Qin Hao¡¯s laser pistol.


    Leng Xuan nodded, ¡°I understand, Hao.¡±


    Afterward, Leng Xuan drove a car to the front, carried Tang Qi¡¯s body down, and drove away from there.


    Handling bodies was something Leng Xuan was very good at.


    The next morning, Qin Hao¡¯s injuries had almost healed, and the wound on his left shoulder had also healed without leaving any trace.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao sat on the sofa watching TV, with Zhao Yuying and Qiao¡¯er also beside him.


    Jianghai local channel.


    Around eight in the morning, the Jianghai Police held a press conference about the causes and consequences of Qin Hao¡¯s car accident.


    ¡°According to the criminals, they are Zhao Yuying¡¯s fans, having seen Qin Hao frequently with Zhao Yuying.


    They believed Qin Hao had sullied their goddess, which led to their frantic retaliation. These are two extremely fanatical fans.


    The police, having investigated, found no evidence of any behind-the-scenes manipulation. Furthermore, as the criminals admitted to their crimes, the police have closed the case and will subsequently take the suspects to court.¡±


    Zhao Yuying¡¯s face slightly changed; her own fans? She felt immensely guilty within.


    Such extreme fans were not unheard of; other celebrities had previously encountered even more extreme incidents.


    During concerts, fans threw sulfuric acid at their idolized celebrities!


    Qin Hao¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile, finding it a quite convenient excuse.


    ¡°Ying, Meng, I¡¯m going out for a bit,¡± Qin Hao said as he stood up.


    Zhao Yuying hurriedly said, ¡°Xiao Hao, I¡¯m sorry, I... I...¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Ying; this isn¡¯t your fault. Don¡¯t blame yourself, besides, this might just be their pretext, not wanting to reveal the mastermind.¡±


    After leaving the villa, Qin Hao got into a new car, a newly purchased bulletproof vehicle shielded with special steel plates.


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°To the Xinghai High-tech Factory base.¡±


    Five cars drove out, with only Qin Hao and Leng Xuan in Qin Hao¡¯s car.


    ¡°Did you take care of it cleanly?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Leng Xuan nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Hao; there won¡¯t be any problems, it¡¯s completely vanished.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°How did you interrogate that man yesterday?¡±


    Especially if Xinghai High-tech Factory actually developed intelligent robots.


    As the commissioned factory, the Kangmei Group would definitely reap huge profits, and she did not want to arouse any suspicion from Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I will notify them about this matter, and then, Mr. Chang, you can talk to them.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded slightly, ¡°Mr. Qin, why not call them right now?¡±


    Qin Hao took out his phone and called Li Qingya, as they had all exchanged phone numbers previously.


    The call was quickly connected.


    Li Qingya asked with a smile, ¡°Is Mr. Qin feeling better?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine now, thanks for your concern, Miss Li. I called today because I have a business matter to discuss with you.¡±


    ¡°What business matter?¡± Li Qingya asked curiously.


    The businesses of Qin Hao¡¯s company and her family¡¯s company didn¡¯t overlap, and there was really no area where they could collaborate.


    Qin Hao elaborated, ¡°Precision molding and injection molding.¡±


    Li Qingya paused for a moment, ¡°What product does Mr. Qin want to mold and shape?¡±


    Qin Hao answered, ¡°Robot appearance molding and shaping.¡±


    Curiosity grew in Li Qingya, what did he need these for? ¡°Mr. Qin, may I boldly ask what you are planning to do with them?¡±


    Qin Hao dropped, ¡°You know Chang Jing, right? Our company is making robots.¡±


    She knew Chang Jing and their relationship was good.


    Chang Jing was now working in Jianghai, which she was aware of, but she hadn¡¯t expected Chang Jing and Qin Hao to start a company.


    Li Qingya smiled and responded, ¡°I¡¯m in charge of the precision molding and injection molding factory. Mr. Qin, just let us know your process requirements, materials, and so forth, and we¡¯ll give you the best price.¡±


    Qin Hao acknowledged, ¡°Thank you, Miss Li. Let¡¯s discuss the specifics when we meet later.¡±


    That day, Qin Hao stayed at Xinghai High-tech Factory, and later, Qin Hao assembled some precision components.


    After assembly, several people wheeled the photolithography machine into the chip production workshop.


    The interior design of the workshop conveyed a high-tech base vibe.


    After setting up the photolithography machine, Qin Hao began to adjust it, tapping on the keyboard and feeding a large volume of operating codes into the machine.


    [Second update request for votes. The afternoon update will be delayed as I have to go out]


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 Chapter 420: 422 Dad?

    Chapter 420: Chapter 422 Dad?


    Qin Hao entered three kinds of operational program codes because there were many types of chips.


    This lithography machine needed to produce several kinds of chips, approximately three types for a single intelligent robot: a processing chip, a storage chip, and a memory chip.


    These three types were further divided into dozens of categories, such as video processing chips, audio processing chips, image processing chips, and so on, totaling seven or eight varieties.


    A high-tech intelligent robot required dozens of chips, as well as many sensors.


    After Qin Hao finished debugging the machine, he later handed over the operating methods to Chang Jing, asking her to teach the employees who would operate the machine in the future.


    These tasks did not require high-tech talents, as long as they strictly followed the operating procedures.


    However, later inputting intelligent programs into various smart chips would require computer experts.


    Since a vast amount of program input was needed, those who did not understand computer programming definitely would not suffice.


    At that time, they would need He Tingting¡¯s help because she was a member of the artificial intelligence research lab at Jianghai University.


    Qin Hao entrusted Chang Jing with many tasks, such as robot craftsmanship and material requirements, which he briefly explained to her.


    After leaving the factory base, Qin Hao received a call from Li Jianjun.


    Li Jianjun, ¡°Mr. Qin, we are set to depart for the Federation tomorrow, are you still going?¡±@@@@


    Qin Hao, ¡°Yes, have the visas for Leng Xuan and a few others been processed?¡±


    Li Jianjun, ¡°They¡¯ve all been processed. The flight is at 8:30 AM tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I understand.¡±


    If Qin Hao was definitely going to the Federation, matters regarding Hua Mei Skincare had to be postponed.


    ¡°Go to Mr. Zhao Dongqiang¡¯s house.¡± Having said that, Qin Hao took out a notebook and pen and started writing.


    He exchanged 5,000 achievement points for a type of winter fabric at a mall.


    The fabric¡¯s features included: cold protection and warmth, extremely lightweight, even lighter and thinner than down jackets, and did not require any down.


    The production cost was even lower, it looked similar to regular spring and autumn wear, but the fabric provided excellent wind and cold resistance and warmth.


    As long as Huafei Group secured the military winter clothing bid, Huafei Company¡¯s reputation was sure to spread.


    Similarly, the past apparel giant Ruixing Group would face a severe blow.


    Arriving at the residential area where Zhao Dongqiang lived, Qin Hao got out of the car, went upstairs, and pressed the doorbell.


    Soon, Zhao Han opened the door and, seeing Qin Hao, his face broke into a smile, ¡°Hao is here, come in quickly.¡±


    Zhao Qian and Zhao Dongqiang were at home, sitting on the couch watching TV.


    Seeing Qin Hao, Zhao Qian and Zhao Dongqiang were somewhat surprised.


    As her father, he was earning Qin Hao¡¯s deeper respect for his daughter.


    ...


    Qin Hao left Zhao Dongqiang¡¯s house and then headed home. On his way back, he made a phone call to Feng Xiangyi.


    ¡°Has Auntie come home yet?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Feng Xiangyi, ¡°I¡¯m almost at your doorstep.¡±


    ¡°Ah? What happened, Auntie?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi, ¡°Just checking in on you, seeing how you sound, it seems like you¡¯re okay, right?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I¡¯m on my way back home, wait for me at home for a bit.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Feng Xiangyi hung up the phone, and soon she arrived at the entrance of the Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    However, without a pass, the gatekeeper wouldn¡¯t let her in.


    Fortunately, Qin Hao soon returned, leading her to the outside of the villa.


    The guards outside the villa were not as numerous as the day before, but the defense seemed more organized.


    Seeing Qin Hao get down from the car, Feng Xiangyi sized him up, ¡°You can walk now?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°What? Auntie, were you hoping I¡¯d stay in a wheelchair for a few months?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi rolled her eyes at him, ¡°Nonsense.¡±


    The two walked into the villa, and upon seeing Qin Hao, Qiao¡¯er hurriedly said, ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re back.¡±


    After saying that, Qiao¡¯er shouted upstairs, ¡°Mommy, Daddy¡¯s back.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi was dumbfounded, ¡°Daddy? Mommy? Where did you get a daughter? What have you done?¡±


    Qin Hao quickly explained, ¡°She¡¯s my goddaughter.¡±


    Goddaughter?


    Feng Xiangyi glanced at Qiao¡¯er, this young girl must be over ten years old, clearly not Qin Hao¡¯s biological child.


    But that earlier reference made it easy for others to misconstrue, Daddy, Mommy?


    Those unaware might think they were a married couple.


    [Third release, I came back late this afternoon, still writing the fourth release.]


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 Chapter 421: 423 Farewell

    Chapter 421: Chapter 423 Farewell


    Zhao Yuying was also here. He saw Feng Xiangyi and smiled, saying, ¡°Mr. Feng is here.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi smiled and nodded, curiously asking, ¡°Why is Miss Zhao here too?¡±


    Zhao Yuying smiled back, ¡°I live next door. My parents went back to their hometown, so I came here to mooch some food.¡±


    ¡°Auntie, please take a seat,¡± Qin Hao said to Feng Xiangyi, then he went to the fridge and took out a few bottles of drinks.


    Soon after, Feng Xiangyi saw a beautiful young woman, charming and alluring, come down from upstairs.


    ¡°Mom,¡± Qiao¡¯er called out.


    Feng Xiangyi looked at Han Meng with a trace of wariness in her eyes. She¡¯s so beautiful, could Xiao Hao have something to do with her?


    Zhao Yuying saw the expression in Feng Xiangyi¡¯s eyes and spoke up, ¡°Meng and her daughter have had it tough.


    It was Qin Hao who helped them. Now, Meng usually takes care of cleaning the house and looking after Xiao Hao¡¯s daily needs.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi asked, ¡°Can you tell me more about it?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Auntie, have some drinks.¡±


    Hearing Feng Xiangyi¡¯s question, he didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Zhao Yuying briefly explained the situation of Han Meng and her daughter from before.


    After listening, Feng Xiangyi turned to Han Meng and her daughter, ¡°Hello Meng, my name is Feng Xiangyi, I¡¯m Xiao Hao¡¯s girlfriend¡¯s aunt.¡±


    Han Meng nodded, ¡°Hello Miss Feng.¡±


    Zhao Yuying looked at Feng Xiangyi somewhat surprisingly, she is Xiao Hao¡¯s girlfriend¡¯s aunt?


    No wonder she was so concerned about Han Meng and her daughter just now.


    Feng Xiangyi didn¡¯t have much business here, she just came to check on Qin Hao¡¯s health, and seeing that he was fine, she felt relieved.


    She stayed for a while and then left.


    At the door, Qin Hao said to Feng Xiangyi, ¡°Auntie, I have to go abroad tomorrow, and I might not be back for several days.¡±


    ¡°Going abroad? Where to?¡± Feng Xiangyi¡¯s eyes momentarily revealed confusion.


    Qin Hao: ¡°To the Federation to find Wan Rou, but I haven¡¯t told her. I want to give her a surprise.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi looked at him with a smile, ¡°Can¡¯t you hold back anymore?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her speechlessly, ¡°Auntie, you should be more concerned about yourself. Using your hand all the time is not good for your health.¡±


    ¡°Get lost, drop dead,¡± said Feng Xiangyi with a flushed cheek, not in a good mood.


    Blushing, she drove away.


    The reason why Feng Xiangyi embarked on this path was that when she was in college, she watched a few bad movies.@@@@


    She also had boyfriends in college, but she knew what was most important for a woman.


    He posted a Wei Yan post: ¡°Thank you for your concern, I am fine. I just sustained some injuries.


    Please respect the official investigation results, and don¡¯t indulge in conspiracy theories.


    Last but not least, an important announcement: Huafei Clothing will be launching in major Jianghai stores in the next few days.


    Franchisees nationwide are also welcome, but the number of regional franchisees is limited to prevent malicious competition.


    This is an opportunity to make money; take it seriously.¡±


    His fans saw Qin Hao¡¯s Wei Yan update and immediately came to check it out.


    ¡°Damn, another freaking plot twist?¡±


    ¡°Huafei Clothing? Has Mr. Qin started researching clothes now? What about your pharmaceuticals?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, your duck is really tasty. You should focus on the food business.¡±


    ¡°I want to join the franchise, just based on the things Mr. Qin has done, he wouldn¡¯t swindle our hard-earned money.¡±


    In just ten minutes, Qin Hao¡¯s Wei Yan comments exceeded a million.


    Right after Qin Hao made his Wei Yan post, Zhao Yuying¡¯s phone rang because she had marked Qin Hao with special attention.


    Then Zhao Yuying commented on Qin Hao¡¯s post: The clothing from Huafei Company is really comfortable to wear. I have tried it myself. I welcome everyone to make their purchase. Coming from Mr. Qin, it must be a quality product.


    Afterwards, Zhao Yuying also advertised Huafei Clothing on her own Wei Yan.


    ...


    The Tang Family


    After a day and a night, Tang Qi had not returned, and having seen Qin Hao was still alive, he knew his son Tang Qi was probably dead.


    He spent the entire day in his study and only came out in the evening, and no one knew what he was thinking.


    When Tang Feipeng and Tang Yue saw him come out, they hurriedly asked, ¡°Dad, are you okay?¡±


    Tang Zhongqian: ¡°Tang Yue, return to Yu Country tomorrow, and Feipeng, you accompany her. I will give you some funds.¡±


    Tang Feipeng looked at his father, and Tang Zhongqian was looking right back at him.


    He understood what his father meant. He was preparing for the future. If a sly rabbit has three burrows, then all the more for Tang Zhongqian.


    After the death of Tang Qi, a sense of crisis had arisen in Tang Zhongqian¡¯s heart.


    But Tang Zhongqian was not going to let it go just like that. Tang Qi was a gold-medal assassin for the Blood Killing Organization and received substantial financial support from the Tang Group every year.


    Now it was time for the Blood Killing Organization to exert its strength.


    [Fourth update, that¡¯s all for today. See you tomorrow.]


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 Chapter 422: 424 Going Abroad

    Chapter 422: Chapter 424 Going Abroad


    Early in the morning, just after six o¡¯clock.


    Qin Hao came downstairs from upstairs, Han Meng and Zhao Yuying had already gotten up.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, have something to eat,¡± said Han Meng.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, freshened up a bit, ate some breakfast, and then got into the car under the watchful eyes of Han Meng and Zhao Yuying.


    Five cars headed towards Jianghai International Airport.


    By around seven thirty, Qin Hao and his group arrived at the airport, where Li Jianjun and a few others were waiting for them.


    Upon seeing him arrive, Li Jianjun handed him a few plane tickets, ¡°These are for a flight to the Federation¡¯s New City. From there, we need to take another vehicle to go to Fei City. Are you coming with us?¡±


    ¡°Do you have confidence in winning?¡± Qin Hao glanced at the map; Fei City was to the southwest of New City.


    Meanwhile, Boston, where Du Wanrou was located, lay to the northeast of New City.


    Li Jianjun admitted awkwardly, ¡°Not really confident since it¡¯s a world-class event. Although passing the preliminaries shouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    During the preliminaries, we¡¯ll have three matches a day, and the top ten scorers will advance. But for the finals, our chances aren¡¯t great.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°How many days will the matches last?¡±


    Li Jianjun replied, ¡°Ten to fifteen days, I guess. After ten days, the finalists will probably be decided.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Alright, when we get to New City, I¡¯ll first go to Boston. I¡¯ll come over for the finals.¡±


    Li Jianjun¡¯s face lit up, ¡°Okay.¡±


    If King¡¯s team could win the championship at this world competition, the entire team¡¯s value would increase several times over.


    By then, there would be many sponsors eager to endorse their club, and he, Li Jianjun, would stand to make a fortune.


    The group waited in the terminal for a bit, and then it was time to have their tickets checked.


    After the ticket check, Qin Hao and the others entered the first-class cabin of the plane.


    The first-class cabin resembled a luxury hotel suite, with leather sofas that could be laid flat to serve as beds.


    Qin Hao found a spot to sit down, and Leng Xuan along with six others stood by his side.


    There were several people from the King¡¯s club, in addition to the players, there were two men and a woman, who sat on the other side.


    Li Jianjun sat next to Qin Hao and with a smile asked, ¡°How¡¯s your factory doing?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°It¡¯s operating normally, almost ready for production.¡±


    ¡°Are you heading to the Federation to see your girlfriend?¡± asked Li Jianjun curiously.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Nothing serious, just going out to have some fun and relax.¡±


    Not many people knew his girlfriend was abroad, and he didn¡¯t want to make a big deal out of it.


    If someone went to the Federation to kidnap Du Wanrou, that would be the last thing he¡¯d want to happen.


    After chatting for a bit, Qin Hao reclined his seat and began to rest and sleep.


    Sophie was also resting, and behind both of them stood several bodyguards, providing top-tier protection.


    After Li Jianjun got cozy with the stewardess, he took her to the restroom, so as not to disturb Qin Hao and the others.


    More than half an hour later, the stewardess came out first, straightening her clothes as she left.


    When Li Jianjun returned, he found a sofa to lie down on and sleep. It would take roughly fifteen hours to travel from Jianghai City to New City in the Federation.


    The Federation and Xuan Country also had more than a dozen hours of time difference.


    The first-class cabin was very quiet, most people were sleeping, only Leng Xuan and a few others were standing still, wearing sunglasses.


    Behind Sophie, two of the four bodyguards exchanged glances.


    Suddenly, one of them attacked, grabbing Sophie who was resting, while the other covered him by blocking the other two.


    Leng Xuan and his colleagues were taken aback, immediately shielding Qin Hao and looking bewilderedly at Sophie and her group.


    Qin Hao, Sophie, Li Jianjun, and the rest were all startled awake, surprised by the scene before them.


    What¡¯s happening?


    Why were Sophie¡¯s bodyguards turning on her?


    ¡°Nobody move, or I¡¯ll kill her,¡± one of the African bodyguards, using the language of the Federation, said.


    Sophie¡¯s other two bodyguards were outraged but dared not act rashly.


    With Sophie in their grasp, a slight squeeze could break her neck.


    The other was still blocking the front, making any immediate rescue of Sophie very difficult. Those two bodyguards simply couldn¡¯t manage it.


    Sophie was also stunned, but she remained calm, ¡°Who has bought you off?¡±


    ¡°Miss Sophie, what¡¯s the password?¡± the bodyguard asked.


    Sophie: ¡°Want the password? I¡¯m not going to tell you.¡±


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 Chapter 423: 425 Saving Su Fei Innsil

    Chapter 423: Chapter 425 Saving Su Fei Innsil


    The bodyguard gripped her neck and hoisted her into the air, ¡°Miss Su Fei, if you don¡¯t speak up, don¡¯t blame me for being rude.¡±


    Because of her difficulty breathing, Su Fei¡¯s face turned beet red, ¡°Even if you kill me, I won¡¯t tell.¡±


    Before Su Fei gave up the password, he couldn¡¯t possibly kill her.


    Su Fei knew this as well, so she resolutely kept silent.


    The bodyguard put her down, then suddenly grabbed her finger.


    With a ¡°crack,¡±


    Su Fei let out a scream, her face instantly turning deathly pale as large beads of sweat fell from her forehead.


    Li Jianjun¡¯s heart skipped a beat; this man was too cruel, to do such a thing to a striking beauty.


    Was her body not more alluring than her fingers?


    Like the others from the King club, none had seen such a sight, their faces drained of color.


    The Black bodyguard continued, ¡°Miss Su Fei, I advise you not to make things difficult for yourself.


    Otherwise, I will snap your fingers one by one. If you still won¡¯t speak up, then don¡¯t blame me for not being gentle. I¡¯ve long admired your body, Miss Su Fei.¡±@@@@


    After speaking, his dark palm rested on Su Fei¡¯s chin, his face revealing a lecherous smirk.


    Su Fei¡¯s complexion changed slightly as she looked at Qin Hao and the others with pleading eyes.


    Although she knew Qin Hao might not help, her will to survive forced her to try.


    He also knew that even if Qin Hao took action, he might not be able to save her, since her bodyguards were all top-notch.


    In terms of fighting skills, they were no less than the bodyguards by Qin Hao¡¯s side.


    The Black bodyguard turned to Qin Hao and the rest, speaking in Xuan Country¡¯s language, ¡°This doesn¡¯t concern you, I advise you not to meddle in other people¡¯s business, some people you just can¡¯t afford to provoke.¡±


    His words were very clear; the one who could send someone to kill Su Fei Inshill was no ordinary person.


    Either a rival industry giant or a cross-industry powerhouse.


    All of them were world business magnates, and Qin Hao and his group were simply not on the same level.


    Qin Hao exchanged a glance with Leng Xuan, then turned to look at the Black-bodied bodyguard.


    ¡°You just go about your business, it¡¯s none of our concern.¡± Qin Hao said with a smile.


    After speaking, he turned to continue sleeping.


    Su Fei felt somewhat disappointed hearing his words, but Qin Hao had no real connection to her, so it was not unreasonable for him not to care.


    Next to Qin Hao stood Leng Xuan. Su Fei glanced at Leng Xuan and said, ¡°I have something to discuss with Mr. Qin. Could you please leave us?¡±


    Leng Xuan turned to look at Qin Hao, who opened his eyes and nodded slightly.


    Only then did Leng Xuan walk away. Qin Hao was lying in bed, but his side of the bed was raised, so it was almost like he was half-sitting, which was quite comfortable.


    Su Fei sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Qin Hao: ¡°Are you ¡®God¡¯s Left Hand¡¯?¡±


    After she spoke, she took out the throwing knife that Qin Hao had just used. It was the signature weapon of ¡®God¡¯s Left Hand¡¯.


    Every person that ¡®God¡¯s Left Hand¡¯ killed would have one of these throwing knives on them.


    Qin Hao: ¡°No, but I killed him a couple of days ago.¡±


    Su Fei¡¯s eyes widened in surprise: ¡°Are you saying you killed ¡®God¡¯s Left Hand¡¯?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Surprised? Is he not supposed to be killed by someone?¡±


    Su Fei: ¡°No, he was the Blood Killing Organization¡¯s top assassin. You were actually able to kill him.¡±


    Thinking of Qin Hao¡¯s knife-throwing action just now was enough to prove his incredible strength.


    If he said he killed ¡®God¡¯s Left Hand,¡¯ it was probably true. Su Fei could tell that Qin Hao wasn¡¯t the kind to boast.


    When they arrived at the Federation, she could check. If ¡®God¡¯s Left Hand¡¯ was really dead, it would be easy to find out.


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently: ¡°There¡¯s always someone stronger; ¡®God¡¯s Left Hand¡¯ wasn¡¯t the most powerful person out there. It¡¯s normal for him to die.¡±


    Su Fei smiled faintly: ¡°Mr. Qin, thank you for saving me today. If not for you, I would have died.


    This is the Innsil Family crest. I¡¯m giving it to you as a symbol of an esteemed guest of the Innsil Family.


    With it, you can go to any Innsil Group hotel or property, and it will all be free of charge.


    If you encounter any difficulties, you can also contact the person in charge at the time, and they will reach out to me immediately.¡±


    Having said that, she took out a golden circular shield badge with intricate patterns and designs carved into it.


    Qin Hao glanced at it and said, ¡°No need. I didn¡¯t help Miss Su Fei to get a reward.


    I just couldn¡¯t stand by and watch a woman being humiliated and killed in front of me without feeling a sense of guilt.¡±


    Su Fei¡¯s expression became serious. She took Qin Hao¡¯s hand and placed the family crest in it: ¡°Please take it, Mr. Qin.


    I will feel better this way. This is my contact information. If you have any trouble in the Federation, you can call me any time.¡±


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 Chapter 424: 426 What Is Seen on the Playground

    Chapter 424: Chapter 426 What Is Seen on the Playground


    Qin Hao glanced at her, hesitated for a moment, then accepted the family crest.


    If he ever encountered any trouble in the Northern Federation in the future, he could still ask her for help.


    After all, Qin Hao had no connections or influence in the Northern Federation; if something were to really happen, he might indeed need her assistance.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Miss Su Fei, you just had a scare, you should rest for a while.¡±


    Su Fei smiled and nodded, ¡°Mr. Qin, if you don¡¯t mind, just calling me Su Fei is fine. I think we can become friends.¡±


    ¡°Su Fei?¡± Qin Hao¡¯s face turned a bit awkward.


    She looked at Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, my full name is Sophie Inshill.¡±


    ******


    Around eleven in the morning, Northern Federation time.


    The plane from Jianghai City to New City in the Northern Federation slowly descended and finally landed outside the airport.


    Not far from the plane, about a dozen cars were parked with dozens of black-clothed bodyguards standing by them.


    After the plane stopped, a group of people made directly for the first-class exit and walked in as the cabin door opened.


    Someone was carrying something out since it was covered, the others could not see what it was, and another person was escorted out.


    Qin Hao, Su Fei, and Li Jianjun walked out of the plane together.


    In a little while, Li Jianjun and his party were going to take a plane to Fei City, while Qin Hao was headed to Boston.


    On the way, Su Fei said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, where will you be going later? How about we have lunch together?¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at the bodyguards beside Su Fei, their waists bulging, all carrying guns.@@@@


    The Northern Federation was different from home; here, private security companies or individuals could carry guns, but they had to have a gun permit.


    It was also easy to get guns here, and as long as one had money, any kind of gun was available, unlike the strict controls at home.


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°No need, Miss Su Fei, I will be taking a plane to Boston shortly.¡±


    Su Fei, ¡°Alright then, Mr. Qin, if there¡¯s anything, you can call me directly.¡±


    While Qin Hao was talking to Du Wanrou, he finally found the sports field here.


    The field was filled with people; the climate was comfortable, neither cold nor hot, with many people strolling about.


    The various facilities and greenery on the sports field were very well maintained, giving a very comfortable impression to anyone who saw it.


    To be honest, the environment in the Northern Federation was much better than back home, but Qin Hao didn¡¯t have any fondness for the Northern Federation.


    Qin Hao scanned around and quickly spotted Du Wanrou; his gaze momentarily paused.


    There were three people with Du Wanrou, two men and one woman. One man was black and the other white, with the white-skinned man following closely beside Du Wanrou.


    The black man walked alongside another blond-haired, blue-eyed beauty.


    At a glance, they seemed to be two couples.


    The white-skinned man had blond hair and blue eyes and stood about one hundred and eighty centimeters tall, tall and handsome.


    Dressed in branded clothes and emanating a noble and refined aura, he was the epitome of a wealthy and attractive gentleman from the Northern Federation.


    He and Du Wanrou walked side by side, with a smile on his face, seeming humble and courteous.


    Qin Hao¡¯s heart shuddered, his eyes narrowed slightly as he observed the group of four around Du Wanrou, his expression uncertain.


    He hesitated for a moment and then walked towards them; he didn¡¯t hang up the phone and continued to chat with Du Wanrou.


    Du Wanrou, ¡°Qin Hao, isn¡¯t it past two or three in the morning for you? You should rest soon; you have to deal with company matters during the day.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go to sleep in a bit. You¡¯re out walking with a few classmates?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Du Wanrou, ¡°Four of us, just strolling around the sports field after a full meal, planning to go shopping in the afternoon.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Men or women?¡±


    Du Wanrou didn¡¯t notice the change in his tone and cheerfully said, ¡°Of course, they¡¯re girls. Are you still worried about me?¡±


    [Third update]


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 Chapter 425: 427 Decisively

    Chapter 425: Chapter 427 Decisively


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mmm okay, I¡¯m going to sleep now.¡±


    Du Wanrou: ¡°Mmm, good night.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao looked at the figures of Du Wanrou and her three companions, his gaze hesitant and complex.


    The blond, blue-eyed young beauty Evelyn George smiled at Du Wanrou and asked, ¡°Your boyfriend in Xuan Country?¡±


    Du Wanrou nodded and said nothing more.


    The fair-skinned Bell Nelson smiled and said, ¡°Wan Rou, why doesn¡¯t your boyfriend come to the Federation to find you?¡±


    Du Wanrou: ¡°He¡¯s pretty busy with his company, and he also has to study.¡±


    Evelyn curiously asked, ¡°How big is his company? What¡¯s the valuation?¡±


    Du Wanrou rarely talked about her boyfriend in front of them, and she was indifferent to other men.


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty big, but I don¡¯t know the specific valuation,¡± responded Du Wanrou.


    Evelyn smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go shopping.¡±


    Du Wanrou nodded: ¡°Mmm okay.¡±


    Bell said modestly with a smile, ¡°We were planning to go shopping too, let¡¯s go together.¡±


    Du Wanrou frowned slightly, ¡°Bell, I have a boyfriend, and it¡¯s not possible between us, I really like my boyfriend.¡±


    Bell laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    He knew that Du Wanrou wouldn¡¯t stay here for long, nor did he truly want to be with her.


    He just wanted to taste an Eastern beauty, and he believed that with his conditions and looks, this Eastern woman would be tempted.


    Being apart from her boyfriend for several months, not many can endure the loneliness and resist the temptations of others.


    This is a woman¡¯s physical need, and once they have experienced it, they become addicted as if bewitched.


    While there are quite a few who can endure loneliness, not many can withstand temptation from others.


    He was very patient; for a woman like Du Wanrou, it was useless to rush. He could only gradually breach her psychological defenses.


    And then cause Du Wanrou to fall completely.


    Of course, there were uncertainties; if Du Wanrou¡¯s boyfriend came even once, his plan would fail.


    Because if her boyfriend came once, the couple would be intimate for a few days; satisfied, all his previous efforts would be wasted.


    However, Bell had just heard from Du Wanrou that her boyfriend was very busy and probably didn¡¯t have time to come. When she spoke of her boyfriend being busy, a flash of dimness crossed her eyes, which Bell clearly captured.


    Under Qin Hao¡¯s gaze, Du Wanrou, Evelyn, Bell, and Mund left the sports field and headed towards the school¡¯s entrance.


    Feng Xiangyi: ¡°It¡¯s almost evening over there, right?¡±


    Du Wanrou: ¡°Yes, I went shopping this afternoon and bought some stuff.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi expressed surprise, ¡°Isn¡¯t Qin Hao with you?¡±


    Du Wanrou was taken aback, ¡°How could he be with me? Isn¡¯t he in Xuan Country?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi: ¡°He took a plane to the Federation yesterday morning to find you. He should have arrived there by noon.¡±


    Du Wanrou¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°Noon? Auntie, I need to hang up now, I¡¯ll talk to you later.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Du Wanrou remembered the call Qin Hao had made to her at one o¡¯clock.


    Could it be that he was already in Boston at that time?


    But why didn¡¯t he come see me?


    Suddenly, Du Wanrou¡¯s expression changed. Could it be that he saw me on the field?


    Du Wanrou felt panicky as she walked off-campus and took out her cell phone to call Qin Hao.


    The call connected, but no one answered.


    Qin Hao, answer the phone, answer the phone.


    She kept calling over and over again, and Qin Hao in the hotel saw the call.


    After an unknown number of rings, Qin Hao picked up the call. Before he could speak, Du Wanrou¡¯s crying voice came through, ¡°Where are you? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    Qin Hao, hearing her crying, felt a wrenching pain in his heart, but he tried to keep his tone calm, ¡°I saw everything today.


    You don¡¯t have to lie to me; just tell me straight. I won¡¯t cling to you. I understand, and I wish you happiness in the end.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Du Wanrou was already beyond tears, and the people coming and going at the college entrance turned their heads to look at her.


    Crying, she said, ¡°Qin Hao, it¡¯s not what you think. Can you listen to my explanation, please?¡±


    Qin Hao asked indifferently, ¡°Explain what?¡±


    From his tone, Du Wanrou sensed a measure of finality, and in her panic, the tears dropped incessantly, ¡°Did you see us on the field? That woman¡¯s name is Evelyn, she¡¯s my friend, and the other two are classmates.


    One is called Bell, and the other is Mund. Bell has been pursuing me, but I haven¡¯t agreed to anything. Nothing happened between us.


    I lied to you because I was afraid you¡¯d get angry. Qin Hao, do you believe me? I really haven¡¯t done anything to wrong you. Where are you? Can you tell me, please?¡±


    [Fourth update, that¡¯s all!]


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 Chapter 426: 428 Hard to Let Go

    Chapter 426: Chapter 428 Hard to Let Go


    Qin Hao was silent for a few seconds. From Du Wanrou¡¯s tone and words, he could tell that she probably wasn¡¯t lying to him.


    However, Du Wanrou¡¯s words, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything to betray you,¡± left Qin Hao with mixed feelings.


    Is this really fair to Du Wanrou?


    Hearing Qin Hao¡¯s silence, Du Wanrou cried and pleaded, ¡°Qin Hao, where are you? Can we meet?¡±


    Qin Hao took a deep breath and said, ¡°I¡¯m at Keldun Hotel, room 1803, near your school. I¡¯ll wait for you there.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi¡¯s face lit up with happiness, and she hurriedly said, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out at the scenery.


    His heart slowly calmed down as he thought about how he would face Du Wanrou.


    About seven or eight minutes later, the doorbell rang in the room.


    Qin Hao opened the door, and there stood Du Wanrou, still carrying the things she had bought.


    Her eyes were red, and two clear trails of tears were visible on her face.


    Seeing Qin Hao, her tears couldn¡¯t be held back any longer. The items in her hand fell to the floor as she rushed forward and held Qin Hao tightly.


    ¡°Things aren¡¯t like you imagine. I didn¡¯t mean to deceive you. I won¡¯t dare to do it again; I was wrong,¡± she said.


    Seeing her cry so sadly, Qin Hao also felt upset.


    But he didn¡¯t wrap his arms around Du Wanrou, and she could feel it, which made her heart panic even more, clinging to him and crying.


    After a while, Qin Hao gently pushed her away, picked up the things from the floor, and closed the room¡¯s door.


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s calm gaze that made her heart tremble, Du Wanrou¡¯s heartbeat slowed, and she stared straight at Qin Hao.


    Closing the door, Qin Hao said to her, ¡°Sit down, Wan Rou.¡±


    She sat down on the armchair, and Qin Hao sat on the edge of the bed looking at her. Seeing Du Wanrou¡¯s tearful expression, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say what he had intended.


    Du Wanrou looked at him and asked, ¡°Did you come to the Federation to see me?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded.


    Du Wanrou turned to look at him and thoughtfully said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. When you didn¡¯t answer my calls just now, I found it hard even to breathe.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, girl.¡±


    Snuggled up in his arms, Du Wanrou asked gently, ¡°Will you marry me in the future?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Yes. When do you want to marry me?¡±


    Laughing softly, Du Wanrou said, ¡°I want to marry you right now.¡±


    Qin Hao teased her by pinching her petite nose, ¡°You haven¡¯t even met my parents, and you already want to marry me? What if they don¡¯t agree?¡±


    Du Wanrou¡¯s heart suddenly lifted, ¡°Do Uncle and Aunt know about us?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Of course they do, but they haven¡¯t met you yet, and they are unsure.¡±


    Du Wanrou: ¡°Then, do Uncle and Aunt agree to us being together?¡±


    Laughing, Qin Hao said, ¡°They seem to disagree.¡±


    Du Wanrou: ¡°Ah? What should we do then?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Once they meet you, they should agree. Where else could they find such a gentle, virtuous, and properly beautiful daughter-in-law?¡±


    With a blush on her cheeks, Du Wanrou said, ¡°Stop it, you¡¯re just trying to scare me. When I return home, can you take me to meet Uncle and Aunt?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Mm, sure. They¡¯ve been wanting to meet you for a long time.¡±


    Du Wanrou: ¡°I should be able to return by the end of January. Oh, Qin Hao, what do you think about opening a roast duck restaurant here?


    I¡¯ve surveyed the market here, and their roast duck is not as good as ours. I want to open our own roast duck restaurant. What do you think?¡±


    Smiling, Qin Hao said, ¡°Why not? People in the Federation have a high standard of living, high per capita income,


    and while there are not as many people as in Xuan Country, they have more money. We can set a higher price as long as it¡¯s delicious and there are no quality issues. It shouldn¡¯t be difficult to become popular here.¡±


    [I have to attend my cousin¡¯s child¡¯s twelve-day celebration. Everyone has already gone, and I hurried to write this chapter for fear of being scolded for being slow to update. I¡¯m leaving now, and the second update might have to wait until the afternoon around three or four o¡¯clock. There¡¯ll still be four updates today, just maybe later. I hope you can understand.]


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 Chapter 427: 429 Classmate

    Chapter 427: Chapter 429 Classmate


    Du Wanrou spoke up, ¡°I plan to open a few roasted duck restaurants here, what do you think?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, the market here is huge, and Jiangshan Roasted Duck hasn¡¯t even seized the domestic market yet.@@@@


    Therefore, they don¡¯t have the energy to tap into the foreign market. If you¡¯re interested, of course you can do it, and you¡¯ll be the president of the Americas.¡±


    Du Wanrou chuckled softly and fell asleep in his arms.


    The next morning, Qin Hao woke up early. He didn¡¯t disturb Du Wanrou¡¯s sleep and just quietly watched her.


    Later, when Du Wanrou awoke and saw Qin Hao staring at her, her cheeks flushed slightly, ¡°You¡¯ve been awake for a while?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded with a mischievous smile, ¡°Still wearing those clothes?¡±


    Du Wanrou nodded, because they were comfortable to wear, and she could clearly feel the changes in her body, curvy and graceful, very tempting.


    ...


    It was after eight in the morning, Federation time, when they got out of bed and walked out of the room.


    Du Wanrou¡¯s hands were linked with his as they walked, her cheeks slightly red, her smile one of happiness.


    Upon leaving the room, Leng Xuan and the rest of his team were already standing at the door waiting.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°This is Leng Xuan, they are all my bodyguards. Later, I¡¯ll leave four people to protect you.¡±


    Du Wanrou: ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much to worry about at school, no danger.¡±


    ¡°Trust me and let them stay,¡± Qin Hao insisted.


    The reason Du Wanrou hadn¡¯t encountered any trouble was that his rivals hadn¡¯t taken notice of Du Wanrou yet.


    Seeing his insistence, Du Wanrou obediently nodded, ¡°Who knows, they might come in handy when opening the store.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°They are there to protect you. Leave the running around to someone else. Let¡¯s go have breakfast.¡±


    They arrived on the second floor of Keldun Hotel where they sat down for breakfast. During the meal, Du Wanrou received a call from Evelyn.


    ¡°Wan Rou, you didn¡¯t come back last night? Where did you go?¡± Evelyn asked curiously.


    Du Wanrou: ¡°My boyfriend came, I¡¯m with him now.¡±


    Evelyn was taken aback, ¡°Your boyfriend? The one from Xuan Country? Didn¡¯t you say he was very busy?¡±


    A smile crossed Du Wanrou¡¯s face, ¡°I had no idea, he came suddenly, and gave me a surprise.¡±


    Evelyn: ¡°Once you finish breakfast, bring your boyfriend for me to see. I want to see just how outstanding your boyfriend is.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see, we might go somewhere else,¡± replied Du Wanrou, worried Qin Hao might not be pleased.


    Du Wanrou looked at Qin Hao, somewhat puzzled.


    A gleam flashed in Bell¡¯s eyes, and he decided to follow along.


    Evelyn¡¯s car was a Cadillac, an American brand, moderately priced.


    Bell¡¯s car was a basic, low-end Audi, priced about the same as Evelyn¡¯s Cadillac.


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou got into Evelyn¡¯s car, while Leng Xuan and others followed in a taxi.


    ¡°Where to?¡± Evelyn asked.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Take us to a car dealership first, I¡¯m planning to buy a few cars.¡±


    Evelyn was taken aback, ¡°What kind of car are you looking to buy?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Let¡¯s start with the Mercedes dealership.¡±


    Their conversation was in Federation language, which wasn¡¯t challenging for Qin Hao; to him, it was merely a piece of cake.


    Evelyn led the way, with Bell and Mund following behind, and Leng Xuan and the group trailing in taxis.


    The traffic in Bo City wasn¡¯t as heavy as in Jianghai City; the roads were wide and not crowded at all.


    Twenty minutes later, Evelyn drove them to the automotive city of Bo City.


    This place was like a village within the city, filled with car 4S shops. You could find any car here.


    The kind of cars one couldn¡¯t buy in Xuan Country were available here, with a complete range of models.


    After getting out of the car, Evelyn looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°Are you planning to buy a car for Wan Rou?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, is the paperwork easy to handle?¡±


    Evelyn replied, ¡°As long as you have the money, everything can be solved.¡±


    Hearing her response, Qin Hao was relieved.


    Bell, upon learning that Qin Hao intended to buy a car for Du Wanrou, said, ¡°I heard that Mercedes cars are very expensive in Xuan Country?


    Here, they¡¯re just average. Cars that cost six or seven hundred thousand in your country only go for two or three hundred thousand here.


    Almost every family can afford one. In the Federation, the truly wealthy wouldn¡¯t buy such cars; they¡¯re too common.¡±


    He was clearly mocking Qin Hao for being a pretender, someone with no taste, only buying such commonplace goods.


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 Chapter 428: 430 Bought Both Cars

    Chapter 428: Chapter 430 Bought Both Cars


    Qin Hao sneered at him and without so much as acknowledging his presence, he began to walk inside with Du Wanrou.


    Evelyn glanced at Bell and felt that he seemed markedly different from before.


    Qin Hao¡¯s sudden appearance had probably unsettled him.


    After all, Bell had been pursuing Du Wanrou for quite some time, and now that Qin Hao had appeared out of the blue, all of Bell¡¯s previous efforts were in vain.


    Qin Hao and his group entered the 4S store, where a young, beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes approached them, ¡°Hello and welcome.¡±


    ¡°Hello, do you have any bulletproof cars?¡± Qin Hao immediately asked.


    The female sales representative was momentarily taken aback before she replied with a smile, ¡°Yes, sir, please follow me.¡±


    Bulletproof cars were not cheap, especially the Mercedes-Benz Series, which could cost over a million even in the Beidou Federation, and that was in Federation currency.


    Guided by the sales representative, they arrived beside several cars, among them sedans, SUVs, and off-roaders.


    Due to the widespread availability of firearms in the Beidou Federation, bulletproof car sales were high, but not many could afford them.


    ¡°This Mercedes-Benz Z series sedan is the latest model produced by Mercedes-Benz, priced at one million six hundred thousand.


    The SUV and the off-roader are priced at two million seven hundred thousand and three million respectively. Which one would you like, sir?¡± the sales representative asked with a smile.


    The prices mentioned by the sales representative were in Federation currency, which would equate to around ten million or more in Xuan Country Coins.


    Qin Hao¡¯s money was in a Swiss Bank account, allowing him to spend without any issues in any country.


    If he were to make a purchase in the Beidou Federation, the Swiss Bank would automatically convert the money to Federation currency using the current exchange rate.


    Qin Hao pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go with the SUV model.¡±


    Bell¡¯s expression turned unnatural. Was he really going to buy such a luxury car for Du Wanrou?


    Did he have that kind of money? If converted to Xuan Country Coins, that would be at least fourteen million.


    Did he make so much money from his high school business in less than a year?


    Bell didn¡¯t believe it, and neither did Evelyn or Mund.


    It seemed likely that Qin Hao was just showing off in front of them, possibly even pretending to be wealthier than he was.


    The sales representative¡¯s eyes lit up as she asked, ¡°Sir, are you interested in this bulletproof SUV?¡±


    ¡°Yes, do you have two in stock?¡± Qin Hao inquired.


    Two?


    Du Wanrou, Evelyn, Bell, and the others were taken aback.


    However, Du Wanrou remained silent, supporting whatever Qin Hao said and did at the moment.


    The sales representative herself was surprised; two vehicles amounted to five hundred forty million Federation currency, which meant she could earn a commission over ten thousand.


    Even their fathers couldn¡¯t afford such cars.


    Qin Hao turned to Du Wanrou and asked, ¡°Which one do you like?¡±


    Du Wanrou replied, ¡°I won¡¯t be here for long, so I don¡¯t need a car.¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s question, Bell felt speechless; the guy had such thick skin. Could he really afford such cars?


    Yet he had the audacity to pretend he was going to buy one and inquired about Du Wanrou¡¯s preference.


    Evelyn also thought Qin Hao was putting on an act; he was really good at pretending.


    They could guess Qin Hao¡¯s next line without him having to say it: ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then forget it.¡±


    But Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Since that¡¯s so, let¡¯s buy both of them.¡±


    Bell¡¯s face showed a disdainful smile upon hearing his words, but it instantly froze.


    What did he say?


    Buy both?


    Evelyn and Mund were petrified as they looked at Qin Hao.


    The female salesperson was also stunned, ¡°Sir, what did you say?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I said we¡¯ll buy both¡ªwill you sell them or not?¡±


    ¡°Sell, of course, but one car costs twenty million Federation Coins,¡± the saleswoman emphasized, underlining the Federation Coins.


    Qin Hao, with his black hair and black eyes, was clearly Eastern, where their money had significant differences compared to Federation Coins.


    Even the exchange rate between Xuan Country Coins and Federation Coins had a huge gap of about six to seven times.


    Not to mention the currencies of Beihai Country and Beidou Country, which had an even wider gap.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Swipe the card. How much are all the procedures? The car owner¡¯s name is to be written as my girlfriend¡¯s.¡±


    Buying both cars cost Qin Hao over forty-three million Federation Coins, which amounted to over four hundred million Xuan Country Coins; the more expensive the car, the higher the tax.


    The dealership offered a comprehensive long-term service, which Qin Hao greatly appreciated.


    The bodies and windows of both cars were made of the most advanced bulletproof materials available.


    Du Wanrou had been clinging tightly to his arm the whole time; over four hundred million Xuan Country Coins, all spent for her.


    Although a man spending money on a woman couldn¡¯t represent everything, spending so much clearly meant a lot.


    [Third update, one more to come, thank you all for your understanding]


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 Chapter 429: 431 A World of Difference

    Chapter 429: Chapter 431 A World of Difference


    Evelyn, Bell, and Mund were petrified throughout.


    Forty-three million Federation dollars, he was actually this wealthy?


    Bell felt a deep sense of defeat, and he also felt the gap between himself and Qin Hao.


    This gap made him feel a sense of powerlessness deep inside.


    Qin Hao saw their reactions and sneered inwardly, now you realize the difference?


    When they came out of the exclusive store, Du Wanrou was driving a pure white Bentley, a smile on her face.


    Qin Hao sat in the passenger seat, while another car was driven by Leng Xuan.


    ¡°Where shall we go next?¡± Du Wanrou felt she was almost melted by Qin Hao¡¯s tenderness.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Ask your classmates.¡±


    Du Wanrou playfully glared at him with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re really naughty.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, got out of the car, and said to Bell and the others who had just come out, ¡°Is there a shopping district here? I want to buy some clothes for Wan Rou.¡±


    The three of them had already recovered.


    Evelyn said with a smile, ¡°I know there¡¯s a shopping district here; the clothes are beautiful and very suitable for Wan Rou.¡±


    If she had known Du Wanrou had such a wealthy boyfriend, she would have deepened their relationship no matter what.


    Bell was very displeased, but still maintained a smile on his face, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you think the Northern Federation is better than Xuan Country?


    Here the car prices are not as high as in your place, and there¡¯s a full variety, the prices of goods and housing are also very reasonable.


    I heard that housing prices in Xuan Country are so expensive that citizens of Xuan Country can¡¯t afford a house in a first-tier city even if they work hard all their lives.


    Our citizens of the Northern Federation don¡¯t have to worry about these things, we have high salaries and low prices of goods.


    People live very happily; I truly feel it¡¯s unfair for the citizens over in your place.


    Such high tariffs make citizens bear high car and goods prices; the government¡¯s policies, yet citizens have to pay.¡±


    When he said this, he exuded a sense of superiority, his tone slightly dismissive of Xuan Country.


    Qin Hao turned to look at him, his expression slightly cold, ¡°Mr. Bell, it¡¯s really idiotic of you to say that.


    Do you think you¡¯re the smartest one around? If tariffs aren¡¯t raised and foreign enterprises are allowed to impact a developing market,


    local businesses will be devastated, and eventually, every sector of the country will be controlled by foreign enterprises.


    Everything would depend on the capitalists¡¯ whims, and people¡¯s assets would not be safeguarded at all; foreign companies would set whatever prices they want.


    With cheeks blushing shyly, Wan Rou repeated softly, ¡°Husband.¡±


    Qin Hao turned over, pinning her beneath him, and a mischievous sound filled the room.


    As the sun set, peace returned to the room.


    ...


    That evening, the waiter brought dinner to their room, and the two of them ate while watching TV in bed.


    ¡°Qin Hao, how many days will you stay in the Federation?¡± Du Wanrou asked.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Probably about ten days, but I might need to go to Fei City after ten days.¡±


    Hearing it was for so many days, Wan Rou¡¯s face brightened, ¡°Mm, okay.¡±


    As for domestic affairs, Qin Hao didn¡¯t interfere; the companies had their recent development plans, and his presence made no difference.


    Since he came out to accompany Du Wanrou, he naturally wanted to spend quality time with her.


    The next morning, after breakfast, they went out to enjoy the day again.


    Xuan Country Jianghai City


    Today was the Gu Jing Military Region¡¯s winter clothing bidding meeting. At nine in the morning, all companies had submitted their sample materials.


    Zhao Dongqiang was already seated near the front. Though not in the first row, his seat was much better than before.


    Within an hour, someone began to announce the results.


    ¡°I declare that this winter¡¯s clothing for the Gu Jing Military Region will be made by Huafei Clothing Company.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang was overjoyed at the result, while the other clothing companies¡¯ representatives showed subtle changes in their expressions.


    Especially the people from Ruixing Group, who usually won the bids, but today Huafei Clothing Company had taken it.


    Huafei Company again? Is their fabric really that outstanding?


    In the past few days, many people had heard about the great reputation of Huafei Clothing Company.


    Because Huafei Clothing Group had made its name across major shopping malls and advertised on various TV channels with Zhao Yuying as their endorser.


    Suddenly, Huafei Clothing Group became famous nationwide, particularly among agents from all over the country.


    Many agents nationwide wanted to represent the Huafei clothing brand.


    [The fourth update is gone, going to sleep, very sleepy.]


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 Chapter 430: 432 Su Feis Invitation

    Chapter 430: Chapter 432 Su Fei¡¯s Invitation


    About the franchise agency for Huafei Clothing, Zhao Dongqiang had already formulated a practical and feasible plan.


    The franchise fees vary depending on the city and region.


    For first-tier cities, the franchise fees are higher, followed by second and third-tier cities, with county-level cities being the lowest.


    In first-tier cities, the highest franchise fee is between two hundred and three hundred thousand, while in county-level cities it¡¯s around seventy to one hundred thousand.


    Furthermore, Zhao Dongqiang also established a contract to prohibit vicious competition, which all franchisees had to sign in order to join.


    This was also to ensure the interests of the franchisees, with fixed rules stating that only three franchisees are allowed in an ordinary county.


    The distance between them cannot be too close, the prices must be unified, and if anyone violates the agreement, their franchise fee will be forfeited and clothing supply prohibited.


    A good franchise condition reassures many franchisees.


    In the past few days, there have been many people coming to Jianghai City looking for Huafei Clothing, coming from all over the country.


    Some were attracted by the TV commercials, while many others were drawn by Qin Hao¡¯s Wei Yan.


    ...


    The new products launched by Jiangshan Roasted Duck were being rolled out, currently available only in Jiangshan and Jianghai City.


    Many parts of the accompanying supply chain hadn¡¯t picked up yet, such as pork, beef, and poultry farms, which the Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company did not own.


    However, many manufacturers were now seeking collaboration with Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company.


    They fully recognized the strength of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, had tasted the new products of Jiangshan Roasted Duck, found them extremely delicious, and acknowledged their potential to boom nationwide.


    Jiangshan Roasted Duck also wanted to cooperate with them, but Qin Hao had once said that the original procurement channels must not be controlled by others.


    If the other party were to cut off the supply of raw materials, it would be a severe blow to Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    Therefore, these manufacturers eager to cooperate with Jiangshan Roasted Duck needed to sell most of their shares.


    In the past few days, Old Cellar Wine and Nanlang Wine from Nanyan Province joined forces in a sales battle against mid and low-end Xinghui Wine.


    Buying a bottle of each, Old Cellar Wine and Nanlang Wine, would come with a thirty percent discount.


    The magnitude of the discount was unprecedented; it was a usual tactic employed by the brothers Cheng Siyuan and Cheng Sisheng.


    When they were just starting out, they used this method to defeat one competitor after another.


    The Jiangshan Government placed high hopes on Xinghui Wine.


    Qin Hao was unaware that his company was slowly changing many people¡¯s living conditions and transforming the city of Jiangshan.


    Huafei Clothing was also expanding, acquiring garment and spinning mills, and initiating in-depth cooperation with other clothing manufacturers.


    The quantity of winter military uniforms for the military district was very large, and now they had to supply various shopping malls as well as a substantial number of franchisees.


    The current Huafei Clothing Factory did not have such a large production capacity, so they needed to find partners.


    Having worked in the clothing industry for over a decade, he knew which companies to partner with and which to avoid.


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, five days had passed since Qin Hao left Xuan Country.


    Federation of the North, Bo City.


    Qin Hao had been in Bo City for five days already, and they had toured the entire city.


    They visited Ha University, the Science Museum, parks, Freedom Road, Boston Harbor Cruise, the aquarium, and more.


    During the day, the two of them went shopping and enjoyed their outings, while at night, they would share intimate moments.


    That afternoon, around three, they returned to their hotel as there wasn¡¯t much left to see in Bo City.


    Back in the room, Du Wanrou saw the mischievous smile on Qin Hao¡¯s face and blushed, ¡°Naughty, always thinking about naughty things.¡±


    Even though she said that, she still took the initiative to approach and start undressing Qin Hao.


    Around six in the evening, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou were woken from their sleep by a ringing cell phone.


    Qin Hao opened his eyes, took a look at the phone, and saw it was a call from Su Fei Inshill.


    He answered the call and asked, ¡°Do you need something, Miss Su Fei?¡±


    Du Wanrou, hearing that it was a woman on the phone, leaned in a bit closer to listen to the voice on the other end.


    Su Fei Inshill: ¡°Mr. Qin, are you still in Bo City? I arrived in Bo City today and hosted a private business banquet. I would like to invite you to attend.¡±


    [First update]


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 Chapter 431: 433 Private Banquet

    Chapter 431: Chapter 433 Private Banquet


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment before replying, ¡°Alright, what time is the banquet?¡±


    Miss Sophie Inshill smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s at the Innsil Hotel in downtown Bo City, starting at half-past seven in the evening.


    Are you with your girlfriend? I hope I didn¡¯t interrupt you guys.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Du Wanrou¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, as Qin Hao said with exasperation, ¡°You did interrupt, how do you plan to make up for it?¡±


    Sophie chuckled mischievously, ¡°Tonight I¡¯ll reserve a presidential suite for you two to continue.¡±@@@@


    He hung up the phone.


    ...


    Full of curiosity, Du Wanrou asked, ¡°Who is that person? Do you have foreign friends?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Someone from the headquarters of the Innsil Hotel Group. I met her while in Jianghai City, and we ran into each other on the plane again when coming to the Federation.¡±


    Wan Rou nodded in understanding, ¡°Oh, is she pretty?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s alright,¡± Qin Hao said awkwardly.


    Pouting her cherry lips, Du Wanrou inquired, ¡°Who¡¯s prettier, me or her?¡±


    ¡°Of course, you¡¯re prettier, you silly girl. Now get up and get ready,¡± said Qin Hao. The reason he agreed to attend the banquet


    was to help Du Wanrou carve out a better future for herself here. Sophie owed her a big favor,


    so having her corporations in Bo City take care of Wan Rou shouldn¡¯t be an issue.


    Du Wanrou took out all the clothes she had bought the other day, selecting a few that she thought looked the best for Qin Hao to choose from.


    Qin Hao picked a long dress; thanks to the seaside climate, Bo City was neither too cold nor too hot, enjoying springlike weather all year round.


    After changing into the dress, Du Wanrou also applied some simple makeup.


    Then, Leng Xuan and others drove ahead and behind, with Wan Rou this time driving the limited edition red Maserati.


    Since it was a business evening event, this car could add a touch of nobility and elegance.


    Qin Hao sat in the passenger seat, smiling happily as he watched Du Wanrou, finding her even more attractive when she drove.


    Noticing his teasing smile, Wan Rou¡¯s cheeks turned pink: ¡°Stop it, why are you staring at me like that?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°A stunning car with a beautiful woman, you bring out the car¡¯s elegance so well, it¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    Wan Rou giggled, feeling sweet inside.


    Around ten past seven, Qin Hao and the others arrived at the Innsil Hotel in downtown Bo City.


    If they were lucky enough to strike up a conversation with Miss Sophie, it would be fantastic.


    The Inshill family was renowned throughout the Northern Federation, and Sophie was hailed as the family¡¯s little princess.


    Guided by the hostess, Qin Hao and his group arrived at the top floor, the 30th floor of the Innsil Hotel.


    The waitress led them to the door of a room guarded by two African guards.


    After knocking and hearing a response, the waitress ushered Qin Hao and another person in, leaving Leng Xuan and a few others outside.


    The room was a luxurious suite that contained Sophie, an elderly man, a middle-aged man in his fifties, and four bodyguards, aside from Sophie.


    Sophie, who was eating, looked up with a smile upon seeing Qin Hao and Du Wanrou enter, and said, ¡°Please take a seat, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao sat opposite her with Du Wanrou.


    Sophie, appraising Du Wanrou, smiled and asked, ¡°Is this your girlfriend? She¡¯s very pretty.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°This is my girlfriend, Du Wanrou. Wan Rou, this is Miss Sophie Inshill I¡¯ve mentioned to you.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Miss Du, you¡¯re very beautiful,¡± Sophie said to her.


    Du Wanrou returned the compliment with a smile, ¡°Miss Sophie is the most beautiful Western lady I¡¯ve ever met.¡±


    Sophie was indeed strikingly beautiful, with lightly curled blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, delicate features, and flawless porcelain skin, resembling a pure and noble princess.


    Her face bore a smile, revealing an even set of pearly whites, ¡°You haven¡¯t had dinner yet, right? Have something to eat. It will be uncomfortable if you get hungry later.¡±


    Three sets of cutlery were laid out on the table, clearly prepared for Qin Hao and his companion.


    Qin Hao did not hesitate and began to eat, with Du Wanrou following suit after seeing him do so.


    The few people standing by didn¡¯t utter a word and just stood watching the three of them.


    About seven or eight minutes later, having nearly finished their meal, Sophie glanced at her watch and said, ¡°It¡¯s almost time. Shall we go to the ball together, Mr. Qin, Miss Du?¡±


    They took the elevator down to the banquet hall on the 26th floor,


    At that moment, the hall had nearly a hundred guests chatting, exchanging business cards.


    Business gatherings were an opportunity for many firms, a chance to expand one¡¯s network of connections; the broader the network, the farther the company could go.


    Here you could find commercial partners, secure investments, all depending on your personal skills.


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 Chapter 432: 434 Opening a Store in Western Mi Country

    Chapter 432: Chapter 434 Opening a Store in Western Mi Country


    When Su Fei entered, the banquet hall immediately quieted down, and almost all eyes turned toward her.


    She was the little princess of the Innsil family and also the protagonist of this banquet.


    Su Fei was dressed in a white gown, and her entire being exuded a noble aura.


    Every frown and smile, every gesture she made, conveyed a sense of nobility.


    Such an aura was nurtured from her upbringing and noble education since childhood.


    This type of demeanor cannot be cultivated simply by having wealth.


    ...


    The Innsil family belonged to the nobility in Xiyu Country and received various forms of noble education from a young age.


    Su Fei¡¯s graceful elegance was natural and effortless, as if it were ingrained in her bones.


    Du Wanrou, on the other hand, could not compare to Su Fei in terms of background and education; her nobility paled in comparison.


    Walking into the banquet hall, Su Fei smiled and said to those present, ¡°Welcome to my private party.


    I am honored to discuss business issues with everyone and hope you all have a pleasant chat.


    The two individuals by my side are my friends from Xuan Country, Qin Hao and Miss Du Wanrou. Please give them a warm welcome with your applause.¡±


    Below, Evelyn and Bell¡¯s expressions changed slightly when they heard Su Fei¡¯s words; he actually knew Miss Su Fei.


    What exactly does this guy do?


    Start a business less than a year ago and know the little princess of the Innsil family?


    The people present couldn¡¯t help but take another look at Qin Hao and Du Wanrou, contemplating that if Su Fei introduced them with such formality, they must be someone special.@@@@


    Anyone who could associate with Su Fei must also be a mogul in a certain field.


    Could Qin Hao¡¯s family be very powerful in Xuan Country?


    Because Qin Hao appeared very young, younger even than Su Fei looked, they did not believe such a young man could have achieved much.


    If Miss Su Fei introduced him like this, it was very likely his family was influential.


    Once the banquet began, Su Fei said to the two, ¡°Mr. Qin, you wouldn¡¯t mind meeting some of Bo City¡¯s business elites with me, would you?¡±


    Those who had the opportunity to meet and converse personally with Su Fei were very famous in Bo City.


    Qin Hao brought Du Wanrou with him; he wanted to help Du Wanrou prosper in this circle.


    Qin Hao¡¯s smile grew brighter. This guy really knew how to butter someone up.


    Su Fei could tell by Bell¡¯s actions and words what kind of person he was.


    Although she was a bit annoyed, she still had to be polite: ¡°Thank you for your compliments, Mr. Bell.¡±


    Using the moment as an excuse, Evelyn and Bell shamelessly sat down. Su Fei was rendered speechless.


    I didn¡¯t invite you to sit down, did I? If it weren¡¯t for Du Wanrou¡¯s sake, these two would have been chased away.


    The four bodyguards behind Su Fei were not to be trifled with.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t interact with them and just sat there eating.


    Evelyn and Bell did not speak to Du Wanrou or Qin Hao; they focused all their attention on Su Fei.


    They had initially used Du Wanrou¡¯s name just to strike up a conversation with Su Fei.


    Now that they had started a conversation, Du Wanrou was of no use to them anymore.


    Evelyn acted like a lady of high breeding, gentle and generous, while Bell maintained a light smile, humble and courteous, resembling a gentleman.


    Su Fei responded intermittently, feeling quite speechless about the two.


    After the banquet ended, everyone left. After Evelyn and Bell had left, Su Fei let out a long sigh of relief.


    Qin Hao said to Su Fei, ¡°Miss Su, we will also leave now. See you another day.¡±


    Su Fei spoke up, ¡°Leave? I¡¯ve prepared rooms for you, top suites, as compensation for disturbing you this afternoon.¡±


    Du Wanrou blushed slightly: ¡°No need for the trouble, Miss Su.¡±


    Su Fei: ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. Everything here belongs to us. Take Mr. Qin and Miss Du upstairs.¡±


    A waitress came over and said to them, ¡°Sir, Miss, please follow me.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, and he and Du Wanrou followed the waitress out.


    Upon arriving at the luxurious suite on the top floor, Qin Hao nodded slightly, indeed much better than the Keldun Hotel.


    Leng Xuan had already sent someone to the hotel to fetch their belongings; there were still quite a few clothes there.


    Sitting on the sofa, Du Wanrou said to him, ¡°Since Qin Hao has nothing else planned, why don¡¯t we go scout for store locations tomorrow and prepare the roasted duck store?¡±


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 Chapter 433: 435 Terrifying Turnover

    Chapter 433: Chapter 435 Terrifying Turnover


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll give my aunt a call and have her send over the secret recipe.¡±


    Du Wanrou said, ¡°Mm, once the secret recipe arrives, our shopfront will also be nearly ready. I want to spread Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant throughout the whole of Bo City and Massachusetts.¡±


    Seeing the determination in her eyes, Qin Hao said, ¡°Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself, just treat it as if you are playing.¡±


    Du Wanrou gave him a glare, ¡°How can I just treat it like playing? I¡¯m very serious about this, I want to show you what I¡¯m capable of.¡±


    Qin Hao grinned, ¡°Alright then, let the husband see what you¡¯re capable of, shall we?¡±


    ...


    ...


    The next day, just after seven in the morning.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao and the others left the hotel, and Sophie Inshill was with them, having met during breakfast.


    Su Fei looked at Qin Hao and Du Wanrou and said, ¡°Keep it down at night, I¡¯m in the room next to yours.¡±


    On hearing this, Du Wanrou¡¯s face instantly turned red and she glared fiercely at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°It¡¯s the hotel¡¯s soundproofing that¡¯s not good, not our fault for being loud, is it?¡±


    ¡°Our hotel¡¯s soundproofing is the best, but it can¡¯t withstand the heart-wrenching noises you two make.¡±


    Last night, Su Fei indeed heard Du Wanrou¡¯s voice; it wasn¡¯t very loud, and one wouldn¡¯t hear it without listening closely.


    Qin Hao coughed lightly, ¡°Miss Su Fei, are you heading out?¡±


    Su Fei replied, ¡°Yeah, I have a few investment projects to discuss. Are you going out to have fun?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°We¡¯re going to look at a shopfront, planning to open a store here.¡±


    As they talked, they arrived at the parking lot and saw Qin Hao and Du Wanrou¡¯s car.


    Su Fei looked at him and asked, ¡°So you¡¯re the one who bought the cars? You bought both of them.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡±


    Su Fei said to him, ¡°Damn it, I was planning to come back to buy one, but someone beat me to it and the others have sold out everywhere else; there are none left.¡±


    Du Wanrou said with a smile, ¡°Which one do you like, Miss Su Fei, the white one or the red one? I¡¯ll give you one.¡±


    Su Fei was momentarily taken aback; she hadn¡¯t expected Du Wanrou to be so generous. To give away a luxury car worth over a hundred million just like that?


    Even Qin Hao was startled for a moment, shocked by her words.


    ¡°Well, I won¡¯t be polite then, I like this white one,¡± Su Fei laughed.


    Du Wanrou took out the car keys and handed them to her, ¡°From now on, this one¡¯s yours, Miss Su Fei.¡±


    She had her own reasons for doing this; she was looking to build her network of connections.


    Qin Hao noticed her nervousness and anxiety and comforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t be so nervous; Kester Square has a large flow of people.


    It is one of the squares in Bo City with the highest pedestrian traffic. The performance should be good.¡±


    Although Du Wanrou was aware of these facts, she still felt insecure inside.


    Then Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from Li Jianjun.


    He asked cautiously, ¡°Mr. Qin, have you had enough fun? The final rounds start tomorrow, and this time, the competitors are quite strong.¡±


    Ever since witnessing Qin Hao¡¯s skill on the airplane and his indifferent demeanor after killing someone, Li Jianjun had developed a deeper reverence for him.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°What time is the competition tomorrow?¡±


    Li Jianjun replied, ¡°It starts at two in the afternoon. Three matches tomorrow, and three more the day after tomorrow. The one with the highest score will be declared the winner.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯ll come over in the morning then. Send me the location.¡±


    After giving Qin Hao the address, Li Jianjun hung up the phone.


    Du Wanrou looked at Qin Hao with a reluctant gaze, saying, ¡°Are you leaving tomorrow?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°I need to go to Fei City for a gaming competition I promised to attend.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Du Wanrou slowly walked over and embraced him, resting her head on Qin Hao¡¯s chest.


    Having Qin Hao around for nearly ten days, Du Wanrou felt very content.


    Around three in the afternoon, the store¡¯s revenue was calculated, reaching over 53,000 Federation Coins.


    This was a significant sum, as in Xuan Country Coins, that amounted to over 300,000, with the high revenue partly due to the pricing.


    The various products in the store were generally priced between twenty to forty Federation Coins, four to five times the price in Xuan Country.


    True to the Northern Federation, its citizens really were well-off.


    It was reported that the average wealth in the Northern Federation was over 500,000 Federation Coins, ranking fourth in the world.


    West Rhine Country ranked first, with an average wealth of over 600,000.


    However, West Rhine Country was tiny compared to the Northern Federation in terms of population.


    Seeing these figures stunned Qin Hao, as they were incredibly high.


    He was struck by the idea that he must not only continue his business in the Northern Federation but also expand it on a large scale.


    [This is the fourth and final update for today!]


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 Chapter 434: 436 Mockery

    Chapter 434: Chapter 436 Mockery


    ¡°`


    If Qin Hao had known earlier about the powerful purchasing power of Northern Federation citizens, he would have sent people here much sooner.


    Opening a single store here makes as much money as opening six or seven in Xuan Country.


    The sales figures for the evening came out later, and because of returning customers and even more people in the square in the afternoon,


    the evening¡¯s turnover was more than double that, reaching over a hundred thousand Federation coins.


    The day¡¯s turnover was about one hundred and sixty thousand Federation coins, which is roughly one million one hundred thousand Xuan Country coins.


    ...


    The current exchange rate between Federation coins and Xuan Country coins is about 1:7, meaning one Federation coin is equivalent to seven Xuan Country coins.


    With a turnover exceeding a million, deducting costs such as meat, secret ingredients, and expensive labor costs, among others,


    Du Wanrou calculated that the day¡¯s net profit was roughly a hundred thousand Federation coins.


    The cost of meat is quite high, as are labor fees, with the average salary for ordinary office workers in the Northern Federation starting at over three thousand Federation coins.


    With high wages and low prices, Northern Federation citizens have a lot of disposable income, so they tend to buy the things they like.


    They don¡¯t worry about buying cars or houses, as the prices are very low, and they can afford them after working just two or three years.


    Their stress is not as great as that of Xuan Country citizens, a feeling Qin Hao had come to understand after spending many days here.


    To be honest, the Northern Federation has developed very well, and this kind of life is exactly what he desires.


    Qin Hao believes that Xuan Country will certainly become stronger and its people wealthier.


    Now he can fully earn Northern Federation money and then use the profits to develop the domestic economy.


    In the hotel suite, Du Wanrou chuckled, ¡°We¡¯ve just opened the store, and we haven¡¯t built a reputation yet. I think the future turnover will be even higher.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded. After all, they hadn¡¯t advertised at all and relied entirely on the foot traffic of Kester Square.


    Slowly accumulating good word of mouth will create a brand effect, and the performance of the store will get better and better.


    ¡°What time is your flight tomorrow morning?¡± Du Wanrou asked.


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s at nine in the morning, and I should arrive into Fei City around eleven or so.¡±


    Tonight was destined to be another crazy night.


    Qin Hao was able to take more than ten days off to be with her, and she felt very satisfied and content. These days had been very joyful and happy for her.


    The next day, at eight in the morning.


    Du Wanrou drove Qin Hao to the airport, and upon hearing that he was leaving, Su Fei also came along.


    ¡°You should go back,¡± Qin Hao said, stroking Du Wanrou¡¯s hair.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°I can play any position, sniper it is then.¡±


    They continued talking as they walked and arrived at the restaurant on the second floor, where many teams were dining at this time.


    Qin Hao saw quite a few Eastern faces.


    When Li Jianjun and his group came in, many people from other teams looked over.


    Some glanced and continued eating, while others showed disdain in their eyes as they watched them.


    Particularly the team from Beihai Country sitting nearby, their sneers were filled with contempt.


    Qin Hao asked Zhao Ya, ¡°What rank did you enter the finals with?¡±


    The atmosphere at the table turned awkward in an instant, and Li Jianjun coughed and said, ¡°We ranked tenth in points, barely advancing.


    It¡¯s mainly because I didn¡¯t have time to train, and I haven¡¯t regained my feel for the gun.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao said, ¡°So you advanced as the last, huh?¡±


    Zhao Ya¡¯s face also showed embarrassment; they were close to being eliminated, mainly due to Li Jianjun¡¯s underperformance.


    They were participating in the competition as Xuan Country¡¯s number one team, and not advancing to the finals would definitely lead to a barrage of criticism when they returned.


    It would also directly affect their team¡¯s reputation and the members¡¯ value.


    ¡°Xuan Country¡¯s number one strong team King is getting worse and worse. Now their skill level is not even as good as our country¡¯s women and children,¡± said a member of the Beihai Country team in the Federation language to his teammates.


    His voice was not low, and the teams from Beidou Country, West Sweden Team, and West Holland Team all heard and burst into laughter.


    Indeed, King team¡¯s performance was too poor this time, with just two more points than the eleventh-place team.


    If the eleventh-ranked team had killed two more players, they would have overtaken the King team to advance to the finals.


    A member of the Beidou Team also mocked, ¡°Killing two teammates with a car and then getting wiped out, did you come to the WGG to be a joke?¡±


    Someone echoed, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen someone kill two teammates in one go at such a world-class competition. What an impressive move.¡±


    ¡°Haha¡±


    ¡°Haha, this is killing me with laughter.¡±


    ...


    Li Jianjun and his group¡¯s faces turned red in an instant, their hands clenched into fists, veins popping.


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 Chapter 435: 437 Final Match

    Chapter 435: Chapter 437 Final Match


    Suddenly, Xinghen from the King team stood up, his face flushed with rage as he cursed, ¡°Motherf*cker, are you looking for a fight or what?¡±


    He was the one who had accidentally crashed the car, killing two of his teammates¡ªit was also a case of misoperation.


    To speak such words to his face was like rubbing salt in his wounds.


    The Beihai Team and the Beidou Team also stood up; Beidou Country had two teams entering the finals.


    In terms of numbers, King team was at a clear disadvantage here.


    Li Jianjun quickly pulled Xinghen back, fearing that a real fight would surely result in a suspension from the competition.


    ...


    The others didn¡¯t dare to truly start a fight either, but they would no longer be scared after the match had ended.


    One of the Beihai Country Team members said, ¡°Trash is trash, can¡¯t even let others speak, huh? If you¡¯re so tough, throw a punch.


    I surely won¡¯t fight back, feel free to come over and aim for the face.¡±


    Xinghen¡¯s face turned ashen with humiliation, but he didn¡¯t charge forward as it would ruin the King team, a responsibility he couldn¡¯t bear.


    ¡°Cut the crap, we¡¯ll see you at the finals,¡± Li Jianjun said to those guys.


    The Beihai Country Team member laughed arrogantly, ¡°Did I hear that right? You¡¯re saying we¡¯ll see you at the finals?


    The question is whether you¡¯ll even be alive to meet us.¡±


    Li Jianjun snorted coldly and didn¡¯t acknowledge them anymore.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he sat there eating, not getting involved in the mockery and arguments.


    The other teams didn¡¯t provoke further either, as the match was approaching and they had to prepare various strategies after their meal.


    Zhao Ya said to Qin Hao, ¡°Beihai Country Team has a new member this year, a sniper expert, and extremely formidable.


    He¡¯s almost no less than the Beidou Team¡¯s world number one sniper. Be careful if you encounter him, Qin Hao.


    And those two teams from Beidou Country, their average strength is almost the strongest, with every member¡¯s marksmanship being very sharp, as well as the West Holland Team, the West Rhine Country Team¡¯s...¡±


    Qin Hao interrupted, ¡°There¡¯s no need to introduce them, just eat more food.¡±


    Zhao Ya was slightly taken aback, ¡°You¡¯ve already studied their information?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Not at all, whether you introduce them or not, it doesn¡¯t matter, they can¡¯t beat me anyway.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡±


    Li Jianjun almost spit out the food he had just put in his mouth.


    Damn, Big Brother, aren¡¯t you underestimating these people too much?


    Zhao Ya had no objections, ¡°The global competition will be broadcast live at two in the afternoon. Over a hundred million fans from Xuan Country will be watching. I hope everyone can maintain the right mindset and strive for a good result.¡±


    Li Jianjun said, ¡°Now, the domestic gaming forums are full of criticisms about us; many are questioning where the ¡®Gun Devil¡¯ has gone.


    Mr. Qin, please don¡¯t disappoint those fans.¡±


    Qin Hao, now in the King Team uniform, said, ¡°As long as everyone follows my lead, winning the championship won¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    His tone was filled with confidence and steadfastness.


    Zhao Ya felt that as a team member, one shouldn¡¯t have such an attitude and couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°You haven¡¯t played the game for a long time.


    Can you maintain your skill? And you should pay sufficient respect to your opponents, the saying goes ¡®caution is the parent of safety.''¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Coach Zhao, are you thirsty? Drink more water and talk less.¡±


    ...


    At a quarter to two in the afternoon, the members of each team started to leave their respective rest areas in succession.


    Whether by coincidence or deliberate arrangement by the officials, the King Team¡¯s rest area was right across from the Beihai Country Team.


    Both teams came out almost simultaneously, and when the Beihai Country Team saw Qin Hao and the others, they disdainfully remarked, ¡°Weaklings.¡±


    Li Jianjun and the others¡¯ faces changed slightly; this was an insult to Qin Hao and his companions.


    Qin Hao too appeared quite embarrassed. If they had simply called Li Jianjun and the others trash, he wouldn¡¯t have cared.


    But the remark was clearly directed at the entire Xuan Country nation.


    They didn¡¯t respect Xuan Country at all; in their eyes, Xuan Country was just weak, whether in gaming or other aspects.


    They believed that Beihai Country far surpassed Xuan Country and that one day Beihai Country would reclaim its glory and completely conquer Xuan Country.


    Qin Hao retaliated, ¡°Dongying pigs, wait until we¡¯re in the game, and see how I smash your pig heads.¡±


    In a different situation, Qin Hao would have already acted, but this wasn¡¯t appropriate here, not only because there were teams from other countries but also many fans and reporters.


    If things got out of hand, it could damage the nation¡¯s reputation.


    The Beihai Country Team members stopped, glaring at Qin Hao with somber faces, ¡°Bastard.¡±


    ¡°Stupid pigs, cut the crap. I¡¯ll see you in the game,¡± said Qin Hao as he led the King Team inside.


    [Second update, seeking votes]


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 Chapter 436: 438: Jumping at the Airport

    Chapter 436: Chapter 438: Jumping at the Airport


    Qin Hao rarely cursed at people, but he made exceptions for some.


    Soon they arrived backstage, where Zhao Qian went to report the list of competing players.


    The official staff checked it, and then Zhao Qian led Qin Hao and the others into the competition room.


    There were a total of twenty-four competition rooms, each with four computers, summing up to 96 competing players.


    In the competition room, not only were officials present, but there were also 360-degree surveillance cameras with no dead angles.


    The final was structured according to the number of kills a team amassed and their rankings to allocate points.


    ...


    A total of six matches would be held, and the one ranked first would win the WGG world championship.


    Meanwhile, several channels from various countries had already started their live broadcasts.


    The official website for Xuan Country¡¯s gaming also went live.


    The hosts were a man and a woman, with two male commentators beside them.


    The male host smiled and said, ¡°Welcome everyone to the WGG world finals of ¡®Survive Against All Odds.¡¯ We are now in the preparation period.


    Teams from various countries have already entered the competition rooms, including Xuan Country¡¯s top team, King.


    During the preliminaries, King did not perform very well, but they still managed to make it to the finals with their strong abilities.


    The other two teams from Xuan Country were unfortunately eliminated, so currently, there are twenty-four teams in total, hailing from all over the world.


    Now let¡¯s take a look at the starting lineup of each team.¡±


    On one side of the video feed, some names from the Federation appeared on the video.


    The number of viewers in the official live broadcast room had already surpassed one million, and the count was still rapidly increasing.


    The female host took over and said, ¡°First up is Beidou¡¯s SK team, and their starting lineup hasn¡¯t changed.@@@@


    It¡¯s still the world¡¯s number one Sniper God FK and his three teammates, followed by Beidou¡¯s ST team.


    The starting lineup remains the world¡¯s number one assailant AJ and others.


    The twenty-third team is the Beihai Country Team, their lineup unchanged as well, featuring the new young sniper star Yokou Ryuki.


    He shone brightly in the preliminaries, even facing off against SK Team¡¯s world number one Sniper God FK without falling short.


    Finally, it¡¯s our very own Xuan Country¡¯s King team, the starting lineup remains...wait, no, the national sniper God in white has been swapped out, and entering is King¡¯s Gun Demon.¡±


    At the mention of Gun Demon, she got somewhat excited, as she was a little fan of the Gun Demon.


    She had seen every one of Qin Hao¡¯s enemy killing videos, those sharp shooting skills were absolutely mesmerizing.


    When she hadn¡¯t seen Qin Hao in the preliminaries, she thought he wouldn¡¯t be playing at all.


    Qingfeng and the others hesitated for a moment, and Zhao Ya behind them was also stunned, ¡°Damn, do you think this is a domestic match?¡±


    Daring to jump at the airport were top strong teams, especially Beidou Country¡¯s ST team, notoriously known as the airport slaughters.


    As long as there was an airport, they would jump there, and nine times out of ten, they could eliminate all other teams.


    The title of airport slaughter was not for nothing.


    Zhao Ya quickly spoke, ¡°Jumping at the airport is too dangerous. You guys should just jump near the farm to farm and develop.¡±


    The three of Qingfeng were speechless. Whose instructions should they freaking follow?


    ¡°Once in the game, I¡¯m the captain, and you all have to listen to me. Jump at the airport¡¯s C Block.¡± By then, the plane was already above the airport.


    Zhao Ya wanted to say something else, but it was too late, Qin Hao had already jumped from the plane.


    Seeing this, the three hurriedly followed suit. If they jumped down with Qin Hao, maybe the team still had a chance.


    If they didn¡¯t jump, they would surely die very quickly.


    Zhao Ya now felt an urge to strangle Qin Hao; he hadn¡¯t listened to anything she had said in the lounge.


    If he had listened, there was no way Qin Hao would still choose the airport.


    Arrogant fool, you¡¯ll definitely regret your decision.


    As Zhao Ya expected, Beidou Country¡¯s ST team also jumped at the airport, aiming for the same C Block.


    This place had the richest resources at the airport.


    Apart from these two teams, two other teams also jumped at the airport but didn¡¯t compete for the C Block.


    They went to other parts of the airport, planning to pick up weapons and then confront ST team.


    Official Xuan Country broadcast room.


    The female host said, ¡°King¡¯s team jumped at the airport, along with the ST team and two other teams.


    It seems like King¡¯s team and the ST team will fight for C Block. Are they going to settle life and death right at the start?


    Indeed, farming is not in Gun God¡¯s style. In Gun God¡¯s dictionary, there¡¯s only one word: kill.¡±


    The two commentators beside her were somewhat speechless; at the beginning, their analysis to the netizens was that King¡¯s team would likely choose to farm and develop, which would be more prudent.


    But who knew that Gun God wouldn¡¯t play by the book, starting off by jumping at the airport, coming out fighting.


    [Third update, another coming today, don¡¯t rush, and vote!]


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 Chapter 437: 439: Annihilation of ST Team

    Chapter 437: Chapter 439: Annihilation of ST Team


    Many countries were live broadcasting this international match.


    The commentators and hosts from Beidou Country saw the King team jumping towards Building C.


    One commentator said with a laugh, ¡°King team from Xuan Country actually chose Building C too, oh my, am I seeing things wrong?


    Do they actually have the guts to jump at the airport? And even choose Building C?¡±


    Another commentator also mocked, ¡°The King team from Xuan Country probably thinks they have no chance at the championship, so they want to die early and get some rest.¡±


    The male host said, ¡°ST team entered the finals ranked third in total points and is a seed team for the championship. I guess King team won¡¯t last thirty seconds.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Thirty seconds? You think too highly of King team, don¡¯t you? It¡¯d be decent if they could last twenty seconds.¡±


    ¡°I think they¡¯ll last at most fifteen seconds.¡±


    Fans in Beidou Country¡¯s broadcasting room laughed heartily, thinking the King team might only last ten seconds.


    Not just in Beidou Country, the hosts and commentators in Beihai Country¡¯s official streaming room also ridiculed the King team.


    A commentator from Beihai Country said, ¡°King team actually jumped at Building C of the airport, huh, commendable courage, indeed commendable.¡±


    The host added, ¡°Not only is their skill weak but to think the King team¡¯s tactics are also this lousy. Such a team could get into the finals, talk about divine protection.¡±


    The live broadcast of the match switched the camera to Building C at the airport.


    Seeing where the different teams jumped, only the airport was likely to ignite a fight early on, nowhere else.


    Qin Hao¡¯s timing from the jump to landing on the rooftop was incredibly precise, and his landing spot was very clever.@@@@


    At that moment, he was the first to land, with the other members of King team still mid-air. The ST team landed a bit faster than Qingfeng¡¯s trio, but still a little slower than Qin Hao.


    Landing speed is very crucial in this game, for while you¡¯re still in the air, the others have already landed and found guns. What are you going to fight with?


    Qin Hao landed on the rooftop of Building 3, quickly picked up a gun, and his movements were smooth and continuous.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    On the rooftop of Building 2, an ST team member had just landed, the parachute not yet disappeared, when a burst of bullets nailed him in the head.


    ¡°King Gunner used UZI to headshot and knock down ST tage.¡±


    ¡°Bang bang¡±


    ¡°King Gunner used UZI to headshot and kill ST tage.¡±


    After killing the man, Qin Hao searched the rooftop, finding a level-one backpack and an automatic rifle.


    Having picked up the items, he directly jumped down from the building and entered his own, where two members of the ST team were inside.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°You three, find guns and deal with that person from the ST team in Building 2, leave these two to me.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡± Reinvigorated by seeing Qin Hao take down a member of the ST team, the trio from Qingfeng responded.


    The event site also erupted with exclamations; King team¡¯s performance today was somewhat unbelievable.


    Especially this new substitute player, the Gun Demon, too formidable.


    Could this be King team¡¯s secret weapon? Pulled out only for the final showdown?


    Gunfire also rang out from building two, with Qingfeng and his two teammates not being pushovers.


    If the three of them couldn¡¯t kill the last player from ST team, they might as well quit professional gaming and go back to farming.


    King¡¯s Little Dog was knocked down, followed by the death of ST team¡¯s first assault player AJ.


    No matter how skilled he was, he couldn¡¯t withstand the encirclement of Qingfeng¡¯s trio, not to mention their marksmanship was also top-notch within the country.


    Less than thirty seconds into the game, ST team was completely wiped out, and a chorus of boos filled the air.


    The atmosphere in Beidou Country¡¯s livestream also grew somewhat heavy, as the two commentators and two hosts dared not chat recklessly anymore and quickly shifted their focus onto SK team.


    It was just in time that SK team¡¯s Sniper God FK had killed a person, otherwise even they wouldn¡¯t have known what to say.


    ...


    In ST team¡¯s gaming room, AJ angrily tossed his headset down: ¡°What the hell? How did you three get killed by one person?¡±


    ¡°That guy¡¯s shooting and movement technique were too formidable, I couldn¡¯t hit him at point-blank range with my shotgun.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I hadn¡¯t even reacted before I was headshot and killed.¡±


    After cleaning out ST team, King team began to loot building C.


    Zhao Ya, who was following behind, was completely awed by Qin Hao¡¯s skills; she felt he was much better now than he had been a few months ago.


    Does a CEO have time to play games? The answer is no.


    So how could he be better than before?


    ¡°Captain, here¡¯s a 98K,¡±


    ¡°Captain, I¡¯ve got a 4x scope here.¡±


    ¡°Captain, I¡¯ve got an 8x scope here.¡±


    After looting building C, Qin Hao was the most richly equipped in the team: level-three armor, level-two helmet, a suppressed 98K.


    In his hands, he also carried a UZI submachine gun.


    ¡°Direction 125, there¡¯s another team over there, let¡¯s go take them out,¡± Qin Hao said.


    [Fourth update, will write the fifth after dinner, plus one bonus chapter, thanks for the support everyone, asking for votes]


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 Chapter 438: 440 This Person Looks Familiar

    Chapter 438: Chapter 440 This Person Looks Familiar


    Xinghen and Little Dog, the two assaulters, ran at the forefront.


    Qingfeng also took up his best AKM and followed behind them, while Qin Hao did not stick with them.


    He ran towards a nearby overpass, the highest point at the airport, where he could overlook the entire airport.


    Soon, Qin Hao reached the overpass and his gaze swept towards the direction of 125.


    ¡°Xinghen, Little Dog, be careful, there are two people inside the blue house right in front of you,¡± Qin Hao warned.


    At this time, battles were breaking out in many places on the island.


    ...


    Therefore, the official God¡¯s Eye view was not always on the King team.


    If the strength of the King team were as strong as SK¡¯s, perhaps it would have retained the official view.


    However, the official live broadcast rooms of various countries could lock the view on their national teams to cater to their gaming fans.


    Zhao Ya was constantly watching Qin Hao¡¯s screen.


    Just then, a person ran out from inside a room through the window, intending to enter another room to loot.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    The person fell to the ground, headshot by Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao quickly withdrew back behind cover, his 98k equipped with a silencer, so it made little noise, like a ghost assassin.


    ¡°Damn, how did I die?¡± The person who was taken down was completely baffled.


    He looked around, saw no one, and no one was visible on the overpass either.


    Mainly because the distance was too great, and with cover in the way, that person did not see Qin Hao at all.


    Once sure no one was there, the person inside the house cautiously came out, intending to rescue his teammate.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    The moment his head emerged, a bullet passed through his brain.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Two people are down, you guys finish them off; I¡¯ve got your back.¡±


    Xinghen and Little Dog rushed over as the ¡°bang bang¡± of gunfire sounded. Those two people collapsed.


    Suddenly, a person on a nearby rooftop revealed their head, aiming at Xinghen and Little Dog.


    The moment he fired and before he could withdraw, Qin Hao headshotted him with another shot.


    ¡°Crap, there¡¯s a sniper on the other side, be careful not to show your heads, crawl over here and save me.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°There¡¯s another person on the rooftop, rush over and take him out.¡±


    Without Qin Hao¡¯s prompting, they charged over. With Qin Hao taking the field, they felt as if they had divine assistance.


    The three of them, like three rabid dogs, charged with utmost speed. The enemy had no time to save his teammate before trading fire with Xinghen and the others.


    Three against one, the outcome was never in doubt.


    A few minutes into the start, the King team had already harvested eight kills, currently ranking them first.


    The second was the SK team, followed by the Beihai Country Team in third.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    The guy had just started running when he fell to the ground, and the entire professional team was wiped by a single person, causing non-stop exclamations in the arena.


    The Xuan Country livestream was filled with cheers: three teams annihilated, the airport demon king lives up to his reputation.


    ¡°Are you trash scared now? Tremble in fear.¡± Someone quoted Qin Hao¡¯s famous saying from the past.


    ¡°I have to criticize you, Gun God. After all, we¡¯re fellow countrymen, leave some face, yeah? It¡¯ll be awkward when you come back.¡±


    ...


    ¡°So awesome, if I had one tenth of Gun God¡¯s shooting skill, the school beauty would be mine.¡±


    ¡°Haha, let them learn what it¡¯s like to be dominated by the fear of Gun God,¡± said one domestic professional player.


    Back when Qin Hao was playing ranked matches, in Suzhi Square, if you mentioned Gun God to people, about eighty percent would run away in fear.


    Such overwhelming fear dominated by the Gun God was truly terrifying and left shadows in many people¡¯s hearts.


    As the livestream showed Qin Hao¡¯s perspective, everyone could clearly see his operational speed and how fast he fired.


    One word: fast. Two words: very fast. Three words: extremely fast.


    Qin Hao perfectly illustrated the saying, ¡°In the world of martial arts, speed is the only unbeatable skill.¡±


    Both his reaction speed and shooting speed were shockingly fast.


    Amazing, so powerful.


    At that moment, the official camera gave Qin Hao a close-up shot, his showcased strength was worthy of such treatment by the officials.


    When the finals were over, a new top-tier God might resonate through the global esports community.


    The camera lingered on Qin Hao¡¯s face for about four or five seconds. It seemed short, but this was quite a long time.


    After all, nearly a hundred players were competing, and four or five seconds was top-tier God treatment.


    ¡°Is that the Gun God?¡±


    ¡°Holy shit, wait, why does he look so familiar?¡± But the camera didn¡¯t care for his comment and moved away promptly.


    ¡°I have that feeling too, like I¡¯ve seen him somewhere.¡±


    ¡°Wow, so handsome and charismatic, truly my Prince Charming.¡±


    ¡°So young, he looks about twenty something, I¡¯d bear his children.¡±


    ¡°My chest and butt are big, you all step aside, Gun God will definitely like someone like me.¡±


    ...


    The female host of the livestream was stunned for a moment when she saw Qin Hao.


    She said to the audience, ¡°Don¡¯t you think Gun God looks a lot like someone?¡±


    [Chapter five is out, no nap today, clear thoughts, so I wrote a bit more, thanks for everyone¡¯s recommendation tickets, I will do this more in the future]


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 Chapter 439: 441 He is a Cheat

    Chapter 439: Chapter 441 He is a Cheat


    ¡°Who does he resemble?¡± the male host asked curiously, looking at her.


    The two commentators were also curious as they looked at the female host, feeling that the face seemed familiar, but the camera hadn¡¯t lingered long enough.


    Many people in the live broadcast room were also asking her:


    ¡°Who does he look like? I didn¡¯t get a good look earlier because it was too short.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to say he looks like your husband, are you?¡±


    ¡°I also feel he looks familiar, but I can¡¯t think of who it is.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Who is the female host talking about? Hurry up and tell us, or we¡¯ll raid your live broadcast room another day.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, hurry up, don¡¯t keep us in suspense.¡±


    The female host started to say, ¡°Some people in the broadcast room mentioned earlier that the Gun Demon God looks a bit like Qin Hao.


    Chairman of Jiangshan Cooked Food Company and Xinghui Wine, if you don¡¯t know about these, you should recognize another title¡ªQin Hao, Mr. Qin, the founder of the cancer medicine research and synthesis technique, they really do bear a striking resemblance.¡±


    Qin Hao had a substantial online reputation, and upon hearing her words, people went to look for pictures of Qin Hao on the internet.


    Now that Qin Hao was a public figure, although there weren¡¯t many photos of him online, many people managed to find some.


    ¡°Damn, they really do look alike.¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao is worth billions; how could he possibly take part in a competition like this?¡±


    ¡°Could this be Qin Hao¡¯s twin brother?¡±


    ¡°He really does look like the God of Song, Qin Hao? I cry every time I hear his love song.¡±


    ¡°Wait, let¡¯s watch a bit longer, the camera shot was too brief earlier.¡±


    ...


    Inside the Northern Federation Fei City competition venue.


    As time ticked away, the safe zone shrunk further, and the number of players dwindled.


    Currently, the team with the highest number of kills was the King team, with a total of 18 kills.


    Qin Hao¡¯s kill count accounted for over eighty percent of the team¡¯s total, which was truly terrifying.


    By now, all four of their equipment was very good; Qin Hao and Qingfeng had level three helmets and level three vests, while the other two had level two helmets and level three vests.


    All four players were fully equipped with weapons as well, Qin Hao had an AWM and an M24, both fitted with silencers.


    At this point, the safe zone had reset to the central area of Y City, and Qin Hao and his teammates were quietly running through the fields towards it.


    What Qin Hao¡¯s team didn¡¯t know was that in a few houses on the edge of Y City, another team had already spotted them.


    Inside the official game broadcast room of Beidou Country:


    The male commentator said with a smile, ¡°The King team is about to encounter the SK team, but the King team hasn¡¯t spotted the SK team yet. It looks like the King team is going to be wiped out by SK this time.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, the King team is out in the open fields with very few covers, just a few large rocks.


    The SK team has the high ground and could easily pin them down; if the King team doesn¡¯t run to the city, they¡¯ll definitely die to the zone.¡±


    The male host¡¯s face showed a smile of someone holding a winning hand, ¡°This time, the King team is doomed, with the world¡¯s number one Sniper God FK aiming at them, there¡¯s no way they can escape.¡±


    ¡°Eliminate the King team and show them the strength of our Beidou Team.¡±


    ¡°Trash King team, prepare to die.¡±


    ¡°Let them taste the might of the world¡¯s strongest team,¡± the fans of Beidou Country in the broadcast room were jeering.


    Two SK team members had been knocked down, and King team¡¯s Xinghen had been killed.


    The situation seemed to favor King team, but they were at a disadvantage in terms of terrain.


    Running from the field to Y city, there was a vacuum zone with little to no cover.


    As Qin Hao came closer, the remaining two SK members couldn¡¯t help it and they showed themselves from their rooms to shoot at Qin Hao.


    At the moment of their exposure, Qin Hao¡¯s game character leaped into the air.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    At the highest point of his jump, right before he was about to fall, a gunshot rang out.


    Another SK team member hit the ground.


    ¡°Quick, take him out while he¡¯s reloading,¡± the teammate urged frantically.


    In the time it took to hit the ground from the air, Qin Hao had switched from the AWM to the M24, instantly firing upon landing.


    The interval was barely a second, giving the two sniper rifles in Qin Hao¡¯s hands the feel of an automatic rifle.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    SK team eliminated.


    The tournament venue, the Northern Federation Fei City official game streaming rooms, and the Xuan Country streaming rooms fell silent.


    Qingfeng and Little Dog, who had just rushed out after healing, were also dumbstruck.


    Inside the competition room, they turned their heads as if they were looking at some kind of freak.


    Zhao Ya was practically petrified as Qin Hao¡¯s two shots completely shattered her understanding of the game.


    Could a sniper rifle be played like that?


    Is this an automatic rifle or a sniper rifle?


    Silence returned to the Northern Federation Fei City streaming room, the Beidou team had been wiped out, and they couldn¡¯t believe it.


    This was Beidou Country¡¯s strongest team, a top-tier team worldwide, and they had been wiped out by a single person.


    It must be a sham, surely there had been cheating.


    The King team¡¯s Gun Devil must have been using hacks, how could a sniper rifle fire that fast?


    This is an insult to esports, we protest.


    Yes, protest, protest, surely the King team had bribed the officials.


    Suddenly, fans erupted in the Northern Federation Fei City streaming room, all protesting, with many taking their grievances to the international live streaming official website.


    ¡°King¡¯s Gun Devil is using hacks, they have under-the-table deals with the officials.¡±


    ¡°A sniper rifle can¡¯t fire that fast, we demand an explanation, or we won¡¯t play anymore.¡±


    ¡°Yes, without an explanation, we¡¯ll stop playing.¡±


    ¡°Trash King team, trash Xuan Country, resorting to such despicable means.¡±


    ...


    [First update]


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    SEND GIFT

 Chapter 440: 442 Empty

    Chapter 440: Chapter 442 Empty


    The game officials hadn¡¯t responded yet, while staff members were also checking the backend servers.


    It was clear whether Qin Hao was using cheats or not.


    The investigation results came out quickly, since there were fewer than a hundred people involved, making it easy to check. The results showed no cheats were used.


    The official live broadcast room of Xuan Country was seething.


    ¡°66666666¡±


    ¡°Awesome, the entire Beidou team is wiped out, the Gun God is mighty.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Once the Gun God shows up, who dares compete?¡±


    ¡°A gun in hand, transforming into a demon.¡±


    ...


    The commentator in the live broadcast room excitedly said, ¡°Those two shots were spectacular, absolutely awesome! Gun God¡¯s understanding of the sniper rifle surpasses everyone else.¡±


    The female host said, ¡°After this round is over, who else dares to claim the title of the world¡¯s number one sniper?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, the world¡¯s number one sniper has to be our Gun God.¡±


    ¡°Gun God is mighty, electronic sports in Xuan Country are mighty.¡±


    ¡°That was so satisfying, what are those Beidou people going to brag about now? Show off every day.¡±


    At this moment, two teams remained in the game, one was the King team, and the other was from Beihai Country, the YG team.


    The members of the YG team were startled upon seeing the kill record in the top right corner.


    The King team actually wiped out the Beidou Country¡¯s SK team? They must have used some cunning tactics.


    The captain of the YG team said, ¡°Everyone be careful. We can¡¯t let King surprise us. Keep an eye on our surroundings. If we wipe out the King team, we¡¯ll be the champions.¡±


    The other three members were vigilant towards the King team¡¯s side; the gunshots had just come from here, and the location was easy to judge.


    They began to look for advantageous positions, ready to lie in wait because the safe zone was very favorable to them.


    In the official Beihai Country live broadcast room, the commentator said with a smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such a strong team like SK to be defeated by a weak team like King. I¡¯m curious if the SK team was holding back?¡±


    The male host said, ¡°Perhaps the King team used some tactics to beat the SK team.¡±


    The commentator said, ¡°Looking at how this match is unfolding, it¡¯s already clear. Our YG will take first place.¡±


    The male host nodded, ¡°It¡¯s a pity they didn¡¯t encounter the SK team. Otherwise, the title of world¡¯s number one sniper would definitely belong to our Yokou Ryuki.¡±


    Since their perspective was from their own country¡¯s YG team, they were unaware of the clash on the other side.


    Lots of fans in the live broadcast room said, ¡°The glory of the world¡¯s number one sniper will definitely belong to Yokou Ryuki.¡±


    ¡°With Yokou Ryuki here, the King team is nothing to worry about.¡±


    ¡°SK is getting worse, to be defeated by the King team like that.¡±


    ¡°SK team is no good anymore, FK neither, they can¡¯t take advantage against Yokou Ryuki in sniping.¡±


    They also wanted to see the clash of peak performers.


    When they saw Qin Hao stand alone in the street and wipe out three YG team members, various live streaming rooms erupted with exclamations.


    ¡°Fuck, how can this person be so powerful?¡±


    ¡°Is that a sniper rifle in his hand? It feels more like an automatic rifle.¡±


    ¡°Why does the sniper rifle feel like a fire poker in my hands, but like a Barrett in his hands?¡±


    ¡°Are we even playing the same game? Is that kind of operation even possible?¡±


    Many international gaming fans were incredibly shocked by Qin Hao¡¯s maneuvers.


    Inside the Beihai Country broadcasting room, the atmosphere was grim; the host and commentators were frozen, unsure of how to commentate anymore.


    How the hell are they supposed to explain this?


    Can they really say that the King¡¯s gun demon was amazing, single-handedly defeating their YG¡¯s three top experts?


    The commentator hastily said, ¡°Yokou Ryuki is not dead yet, there¡¯s still hope, Yokou Ryuki, the God, has wiped out entire teams so many times before.¡±


    The host said, ¡°Exactly, from his debut until now, not a single bullet has missed, the number of people who died under his gun is countless.¡±


    Hearing this, those Beihai Country fans once again got excited, ¡°Yokou Ryuki, the God, won¡¯t let us down.¡±


    ¡°Yokou Ryuki, the God, cheer up.¡±


    ¡°Wipe out the King team, let them know the power of our Beihai Empire.¡±


    ¡°Dare to contend with our Beihai Empire with mere losers?¡±


    ...


    After killing three people, Qin Hao stood in the street without moving, his gaze observing the surrounding buildings.


    Zhao Ya stood behind Qin Hao, holding her breath, not daring to even breathe, lest she disturb him.


    By now, she had no criticisms of Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao had conquered her with his absolute power.


    ¡°You guys don¡¯t come out, let me meet this sniper god from Beihai Country,¡± Qin Hao told Qingfeng and the others.


    Yokou Ryuki was in a room, and when he saw Qin Hao standing motionless in the street, his eyes narrowed slightly.


    He took a deep breath, quickly stood up, fired a ¡°bang,¡± and swiftly withdrew back into the room, looking out at the street.


    Just as he had fired, Qin Hao¡¯s head suddenly leaned to the right, the bullet whizzed past Qin Hao¡¯s head.


    That shot missed.


    [Second update]


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 Chapter 441 - 443 Part One

    Chapter 441: Chapter 443 Part One


    The audience in the Beihai Country live streaming room flashed a trace of regret in their eyes.


    How could he miss from such a close distance? How could Yokou Ryuki, the unfailing ¡°God,¡± miss his shot?


    The commentator hurriedly explained, ¡°After all, only Yokou Ryuki is left on team YG, and the pressure he¡¯s under is imaginable.


    Everyone needs to understand Yokou Ryuki, I believe that after a little adjustment, he will definitely hit the target.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, this is the World Finals, and every player is under immense pressure, let alone in the final circle.¡±


    ¡°Bang¡±


    ...


    Yokou Ryuki fired another shot, and Qin Hao was still standing perfectly fine on the street.


    ¡°Bang¡± ¡°Boom¡± ¡°Bang¡±


    He fired five or six shots in succession, but not a single one hit; his mentality was on the verge of collapse.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t retaliate, which was a blatant humiliation to him.


    The hosts and commentators in the Beihai Country live streaming room couldn¡¯t bear to watch.


    Qin Hao was too arrogant, but it was undeniable that his strength was beyond imagination.


    Yokou Ryuki fired a few more shots afterwards, and Qin Hao, standing still, was not hit by any of them.


    It was jaw-dropping.


    This was not only a contest of marksmanship and movement technique but also a psychological battle.


    Without a doubt, Yokou Ryuki was completely defeated, especially those last few shots, which had a significant impact on him.


    After this match, he would probably question his life.


    After Yokou Ryuki fired the last bullet in his AWM, Qin Hao raised his hand and a shot exploded his head.


    The marksmanship was incredibly precise, and the action was suave and elegant.


    The big screen switched scenes, and the victory image appeared:


    Good luck, good fortune, eat chicken tonight.


    The venue erupted with applause, which was for Qin Hao.


    Because he made the match even more exciting, and his immense strength was admirable.


    Inside the Beihai Country live streaming room, there was gloom, and the hosts and commentators were at a loss for words.


    Yokou Ryuki fired a total of ten shots, not hitting a single one, especially those last ones, which were ridiculously terrible.


    With the target standing still, he couldn¡¯t hit him.


    In fact, it was nothing more than Yokou Ryuki misjudging Qin Hao¡¯s movement technique, but he clearly made a mistake, as Qin Hao didn¡¯t move.


    ¡°Holy shit, Mr. Qin is the gun wizard, the gun wizard is Mr. Qin?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re worth hundreds of billions, shouldn¡¯t you focus on your company instead of playing this? But your kills were awesome; I really liked it.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, when is your pharmaceutical product coming out? Why isn¡¯t it on the market yet?¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re the gun wizard, that freak! Darn it, you killed me so many times in the game before.¡±


    ¡°Big brother, I beg you, don¡¯t mess with cooked food, liquor, pharmaceuticals, or clothing, okay? Can¡¯t you just focus on singing?¡±


    ¡°Stop singing, for goodness¡¯ sake¡ªI¡¯ve cried my tear ducts dry.¡±


    ¡°Pfft, the guy above, damn your uncle, are you trying to make me die laughing?¡±


    ¡°Now that you mention it, I¡¯ve realized Mr. Qin really is freaking powerful, straddling across various industries, and booming in every single one.¡±


    ¡°Focus on the food business, it¡¯s freaking delicious, a heavenly delight.¡±


    ¡°Go for the liquor business; my parents love it. Their spirits have been getting better by the day. Xinghui Wine is really good for health.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to them¡ªstick with clothing. Ever since I wore Huafei Clothing, other clothes just don¡¯t feel right anymore.


    Can the Huafei Clothing Factory speed up production, please? I can never snatch up the clothes.¡±


    ¡°All of you, stop arguing; listen to me, concentrate on pharmaceuticals, benefit the country and its people, bring down the prices of medications, I¡¯ll gladly be Mr. Qin¡¯s son for life.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because you want to inherit Mr. Qin¡¯s billions in assets, you schemer.¡±


    ¡°The people above are all bosses, I admire you guys.¡±


    Within just half an hour, this newly created topic climbed to the number one spot on the hot discussion topic leaderboard.


    Tens of millions of readings, seven million people following the discussion.


    This popularity and engagement were simply terrifying.


    When celebrities in the entertainment circle saw this, they were incredibly envious. If they had Qin Hao¡¯s popularity, they would have blown up in Xuan Country long ago.


    No, this is wrong, how can someone from outside the circle be more popular than those of us inside it?


    This doesn¡¯t make sense, does it?


    ...


    In the resting area of the competition venue in the Northern Federation Fei City.


    Zhao Ya, Qingfeng, and the others were somewhat excited because they saw the hope for the championship.


    Zhao Ya spoke up, ¡°The points difference isn¡¯t very large, let¡¯s continue to push hard and strive to bring home a world championship trophy.¡±


    [Third update]


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 Chapter 442 - 444 Clues

    Chapter 442: Chapter 444 Clues


    After a rest of about twenty minutes, Qin Hao and his teammates walked out of the resting area.


    The YG Team from Beihai Country also came out around the same time.


    Now, where was their previous arrogance? They hung their heads in defeat, like cockerels that had lost a fight.


    Especially Yokou Ryuki of the YG Team, the previous match had left a deep shadow on him.


    Ten shots, not a single one hit the mark.


    It would be hard for him to step out of that shadow in a short time.


    ...


    Seeing Qin Hao and his people, resentment flashed in the eyes of the YG Team members, if it wasn¡¯t for him, they would¡¯ve been the ones claiming first place.


    Qin Hao¡¯s lips curled into a faint, cold smile, ¡°I said I¡¯d burst your pig heads, and that¡¯s just what I did. If I hit your bodies, consider it my loss.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too arrogant, it¡¯s just the beginning,¡± the captain of the YG Team said with a sullen face.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°Indeed, your nightmare is just beginning.¡±


    They arrived at their respective game rooms, and after about ten minutes of preparation, the second match began.


    In the second match, Qin Hao was still using a sniper rifle; he intended to cast a shadow over both the Beidou Country Team and the Beihai Country Team.


    In this game, the SK and ST teams were much more cautious, but Yokou Ryuki from the YG Team was in a bad state.


    Ten minutes in, and he was taken down.


    Under Qin Hao¡¯s leadership, the King Team swept through all their enemies, slaying gods and demons alike.


    Anyone who dared to confront the King Team ended up dead beneath Qin Hao¡¯s swift sniping.


    The ST Team later encountered the King Team as well; in the first match, they were taken down before they could gather resources.


    This time, they were well-equipped and sought to avenge their loss from the first match.


    But it was futile. Qingfeng and the others followed Qin Hao¡¯s instructions, staying hidden behind cover without moving.


    Qin Hao alone, with two sniper rifles, took care of them.


    The ST Team started to question their existence¡ª¡±Isn¡¯t this supposed to be a team game?


    How can you be so powerful on your own?


    And are your teammates seriously singing with area chat on? Dammit, this is a competition; you¡¯re disrespecting esports.¡±


    Inside the competition room, Zhao Ya had a head full of black lines: ¡°Qingfeng, it¡¯s competition time. Sing when you go back.¡±


    Qingfeng gave an awkward smile, ¡°Coach, I¡¯m just trying to relax a bit. The pressure of the competition is too much.¡±


    Xu Siyao curiously looked at her father: ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Dad?¡±


    Xu Jiekang: ¡°Are you dating Xiao Hao?¡±


    Xu Siyao replied awkwardly, ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±


    Xu Jiekang: ¡°Then why do you seem so happy to hear that he¡¯s coming back? And the last time Qin Hao had an accident, you cried harder than anyone.


    If you can cry that hard when I die, I¡¯d be satisfied.¡±


    Pouting, Xu Siyao said, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, Dad. You¡¯re young and nothing will happen to you. I¡¯m tired, I¡¯m going to sleep.¡±


    Xu Jiekang watched his daughter¡¯s retreating figure and sighed deeply in his heart. How could he not recognize the signs after so many years?


    He just didn¡¯t want to think in that direction.


    Back in his room, Yang Su was lying on the bed reading. Seeing Xu Jiekang frowning as he entered, she asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Xu Jiekang lay on the bed and said, ¡°I think Si Yao is getting a bit too close to Qin Hao.¡±


    Yang Su said with a smile, ¡°Let Si Yao handle her own affairs. She¡¯s grown up and knows what she¡¯s doing.¡±


    Xu Jiekang: ¡°Nonsense, how can I not care about such things? Am I supposed to let my daughter be someone else¡¯s mistress? If this gets out, the entire Xu family would lose face.¡±


    Yang Su sighed and said, ¡°You know Si Yao¡¯s personality well. Besides, Qin Hao isn¡¯t married.¡±


    Xu Jiekang insisted, ¡°Married or not, he has a girlfriend. That¡¯s unacceptable too. Think of a way for me to stop them, or to bring Qin Hao and our daughter together.¡±


    Yang Su: ¡°Although Qin Hao is young, he¡¯s very opinionated, and his strong-willed nature can be seen from certain matters.


    His companies are thriving, and he has a limitless future ahead, especially with Xinghai High-tech Company.


    If he truly develops that intelligent chip, he will become the most remarkable person in the world.


    To make him break up with Du Wanrou will be difficult, unless he wants to or Du Wanrou initiates the breakup.


    But do you think Du Wanrou would leave such an outstanding man? Unless there¡¯s a problem with their relationship, they won¡¯t break up.¡±


    Xu Jiekang: ¡°But Si Yao can¡¯t be a mistress either. I won¡¯t agree to that, and the old man wouldn¡¯t either.¡±


    Yang Su knew Xu Jiekang was right. The Xu family was no ordinary family, and their reputation was indeed very important.


    But Si Yao¡¯s stubborn nature meant she would pursue anything once she set her mind to it, no one could stop her.


    If Xu Jiekang really took a hard stance, it was hard to say what the outcome would be.


    [Fourth release, one more to come]


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 Chapter 443 - 445 Exposure

    Chapter 443: Chapter 445 Exposure


    Northern Federation Fei City.


    The next morning, Qin Hao and his team went back to the competition venue to prepare for the final three matches.


    As the fourth game began, many could sense an unusual atmosphere.


    The two teams from Beidou Country seemed to have struck some sort of agreement, joining forces from the start to decimate the other teams, leaving them in complete disarray.


    This drew the indignation of many teams; they found such tactics quite distasteful.


    However, the other teams were powerless and, after lodging a protest, received a reasonable explanation that it was merely a matter of each team¡¯s tactics.


    ...


    As for the alleged collusion, such a thing simply didn¡¯t exist¡ªit was all a question of tactics.


    Later on, the SK and ST teams targeted the King team for a co-ordinated attack.


    Their main target was also the King team, and it must be said the tactics of Beidou Country were quite loathsome.


    At this rate, it was very possible that the first and second places could be taken by them.


    Eventually, they really faced off against the King team, launching a pincer attack from front and rear.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao¡¯s face broke into a disdainful smile.


    In his hands were not sniper rifles, but two automatic rifles.


    If he had been holding sniper rifles, it might have been somewhat difficult to cope, but with automatic rifles, even another team wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    The SK and ST teams knew about Qin Hao¡¯s marksmanship, so they attacked simultaneously, shooting while on the run.


    With enemies on all sides, Qingfeng and the other three held off the SK team in the front while Qin Hao single-handedly took on the ST team.


    The four-member ST team was mowed down by his spray of bullets.


    All the spectators were taken aback, not expecting Qin Hao to be so savage with an automatic rifle.


    Although the SK and ST teams executed their strategies in the fourth game, they still couldn¡¯t match the King team.


    By the end of the morning, all three matches were over, and the King team secured the championship with an overwhelming advantage.


    The SK and ST teams, because they collaborated in the last three matches, ended up taking second and third place, respectively.


    After the match, Qin Hao went straight to the airport, skipping Li Jianjun and the others¡¯ celebration banquet and the various follow-up interviews with the team.


    After a dozen or so hours on the plane, he finally returned to Jianghai City around nine in the evening in Xuan Country.


    It was now dark, the autumn wind was chilly with a creeping cold.


    When Xu Siyao returned home, Xu Jiekang and Yang Su were sitting in the living room.


    ¡°Stop right there.¡± Xu Jiekang called out to her as she was about to go upstairs.


    Curious, Xu Siyao asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Dad?¡±


    Xu Jiekang: ¡°Where did you go last night?¡±


    ¡°I went to a classmate¡¯s house to play,¡± Xu Siyao replied without hesitation.


    Xu Jiekang: ¡°Nonsense, didn¡¯t you go to pick up Qin Hao? And then you two went to a hotel?¡±


    Xu Siyao¡¯s face changed slightly: ¡°Dad, did you have someone follow me?¡±


    Hearing his daughter¡¯s admission, Xu Jiekang¡¯s face darkened: ¡°He has a girlfriend, and you¡¯re being the other woman, do you understand that? If this gets out, where would the Xu Family¡¯s face be? Your grandparents would be furious.¡±


    Xu Siyao: ¡°Is it wrong for me to love him?¡±


    Xu Jiekang: ¡°It¡¯s not wrong, but he has a girlfriend, and if you continue like this, then you are in the wrong.¡±


    Xu Siyao: ¡°He likes me too, and I like me, I think we¡¯re not wrong. Didn¡¯t men in the past have many wives and concubines? Who would say those men were wrong?¡±


    Xu Jiekang snorted coldly: ¡°He likes you? If he likes you, why isn¡¯t he with you instead of being with Du Wanrou?¡±


    Xu Siyao: ¡°Then let me ask you, do you still have feelings for my mom? You should, since you¡¯re now with Aunt Yang. You must like Aunt Yang, too, right? Why can you like several people at once, but others can¡¯t?¡±


    Caught off guard by Xu Siyao¡¯s words, Xu Jiekang was left speechless, his face turning red.


    He was a little angry: ¡°Is this how you talk to your father? I¡¯ve spoiled you over the years to let you talk back to me like this?¡±


    Xu Siyao: ¡°Dad, I¡¯m reasoning with you, not talking back.¡±


    Xu Jiekang roared: ¡°Is this how you reason with me? You¡¯re the other woman, and you think you¡¯re justified?¡±


    These words from her father stung Xu Siyao deeply. She had already been under great pressure to make this decision.


    Now being provoked in this way by her father, she could no longer bear the pain deep inside.


    It was a loneliness that no one understood. Many might condemn her actions, but who could understand her heart?


    For the man she loved, she felt she was not wrong.


    Love is selfish.


    Even if she ended up disgraced and despised by the whole world, she didn¡¯t care, as long as Qin Hao didn¡¯t give up on her.


    [Fifth update, bonus for Y Brother¡¯s reward, all for today, asking for votes.]


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 Chapter 444 - 446: The Rapid Development of Huafei

    Chapter 444: Chapter 446: The Rapid Development of Huafei


    Yang Su said anxiously, ¡°Jie Kang, how could you say such things about Si Yao.¡±


    She too was a woman and understood very clearly what Si Yao was feeling inside.


    For a woman to make this kind of decision, she had to bear too much.


    What she needed at this time was understanding, not condemnation.


    Honestly, Yang Su deeply admired Xu Siyao; she was willing to give so much for the person she loved, even if it led to her own disgrace.


    To outsiders, it might appear that she had no sense of shame, but she wasn¡¯t becoming a mistress for money or fame.


    ...


    She was doing it for her love.


    ¡°What did I say about her? Can¡¯t her actions be discussed?¡± Xu Jiekang said, still furious.


    Yang Su frowned and clutched her stomach: ¡°Ouch, it¡¯s killing me.¡±


    Xu Jiekang¡¯s expression changed immediately and he asked hastily, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did it upset the baby? Are you alright?¡±


    Yang Su looked at him irritably, ¡°If you would just speak less, everything would be fine.¡±


    Xu Siyao glanced at Yang Su and her father, then turned and went back upstairs.


    Xu Jiekang, fearing he had upset Yang Su¡¯s pregnancy, didn¡¯t dare to speak ill of Xu Siyao anymore.


    But about ten minutes later, Xu Siyao came downstairs again, this time carrying a suitcase.


    Yang Su and Xu Jiekang looked startled, and Yang Su asked anxiously, ¡°Si Yao, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Going back to school, I won¡¯t be coming back. I wish you happiness,¡± Xu Siyao said flatly.


    After saying this, she walked outside. Xu Jiekang, face ashen, said, ¡°You better never come back then, and don¡¯t ask me for a single penny.¡±


    Xu Siyao didn¡¯t speak, she walked out of the villa, got into her red BMW, and drove away.


    This house had her mother¡¯s assets; she would take what she should and wouldn¡¯t take what she shouldn¡¯t.


    ...


    Haoting Sea View Villa.


    Qin Hao made a phone call to Zhao Dongqiang: ¡°Mr. Zhao, how¡¯s the business at Huafei Clothing?¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang said excitedly, ¡°We can¡¯t keep up with demand; Huafei Clothing has now entered various major malls in Jianghai City.


    Sales are very good; the factory is operating around the clock, we have sold over one hundred thousand pieces in just half a month.


    The total sales amount to more than twelve million. I¡¯ve restricted it to one hundred franchisees for now, otherwise, we simply can¡¯t supply enough.


    Li Bao replied, ¡°They can¡¯t hold on any longer. Su Mingzhi is planning to sell the company. If they wait any longer, it may lose even more value.


    Several foreign cosmetic companies have already contacted Su Mingzhi. The offers aren¡¯t high, and Su Minghui is still hesitating.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°I see.¡±


    Li Bao added, ¡°Hao, Li Wenjun is still having someone look into something. If it pans out, it will be a surprise for you.¡±


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Li Bao replied, ¡°He didn¡¯t tell me. He was all mysterious when he mentioned it.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°If he¡¯s not telling, then let it be. I¡¯ll wait for his good news, but if he¡¯s teasing, he¡¯ll see what¡¯s coming for him.¡±


    Just after hanging up, he received a call from Chang Jing, ¡°Hello Mr. Qin, have you had enough fun? It¡¯s time to come back.¡±


    Qin Hao answered, ¡°I¡¯m already back. Mr. Chang, have the chips been produced?¡±


    ¡°The motherboards, chips, sensors, and little components are all ready. Li Qingya has also delivered the robot parts; we¡¯re just waiting for you.¡±


    Chang Jing was somewhat impatient. She was eager to see just how the intelligent robot Qin Hao talked about turned out.


    If it really was as revolutionary as he described, it might just upend the whole world.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯ll be there tomorrow. Today, inform a few of the company¡¯s shareholders to come over tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao took a deep breath. You all didn¡¯t believe in this project, did you?


    You thought I, Qin Hao, was taking advantage of you, right?


    Everything will be revealed tomorrow, and we¡¯ll see who was taking advantage of whom.


    At noon, Zhao Yuying didn¡¯t come home; only Qin Hao and Han Meng were having lunch.


    After lunch, Qin Hao said to Han Meng, ¡°Meng, I need to step out for a bit.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, be careful on the road,¡± Han Meng reminded him.


    After leaving the villa, Leng Xuan and a few others drove out of the complex. Qin Hao took out his phone and called Su Mingzhi.


    They had exchanged contact information at a business association dinner.


    The phone was answered quickly, and a somewhat hoarse voice came from the phone, ¡°Who is this?¡±


    [First Update]


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 Chapter 445 - 447 Negotiations

    Chapter 445: Chapter 447 Negotiations


    ¡°`


    Qin Hao began, ¡°Mr. Su, this is Qin Hao.¡±


    Su Mingzhi forced a smile and asked, ¡°Do you need something from me, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like to discuss a matter with you, Mr. Su. Are you at the company?¡±


    Su Mingzhi, ¡°I am here. Mr. Qin can just come over.¡±


    He could probably guess the purpose of Qin Hao¡¯s visit¡ªit must be to acquire his company.


    ...


    After hanging up the phone, his daughter, Su Meilan, asked, ¡°Dad, was that Qin Hao on the phone?¡±


    Su Mingzhi nodded, ¡°I hope he offers a fair price.¡±


    Qin Hao had a good reputation in the business world, and he was famously kind to his employees.


    The salaries and benefits at his company were top-notch within the industry.


    Since both were members of the Shuinan Chamber of Commerce, he felt that Qin Hao should offer a higher price than other companies.


    One fifty in the afternoon.


    Qin Hao arrived at Huamei Cosmetics Company.


    It was a skyscraper office building with Huamei Cosmetics Company occupying the sixteenth floor.


    When he entered the elevator, there was a group of people inside, speaking in the language of Beihai Country and communicating with each other.


    Qin Hao glanced at them and then turned away.


    They were also going to the sixteenth floor, so he didn¡¯t need to press the button.


    Arriving at the sixteenth floor, they all exited the elevator, and the group entered the Huamei Cosmetics Company.


    ¡°Hello, we are from Meisheng Hall Company. We would like to speak to your Mr. Su,¡± said one of the Xuan Country people in the group.


    The receptionist at the front desk responded, ¡°Please wait a moment, Ma Shan has just notified Mr. Su.¡±


    The company¡¯s employees all knew the business was struggling and were in a state of unrest.


    At that moment, Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯m here to see Mr. Su. I¡¯m Qin Hao.¡±


    Another receptionist at the front desk looked at Qin Hao and smiled, ¡°Please come in, Mr. Qin. Mr. Su has already been informed.¡±


    After she spoke, she led Qin Hao inside, while the employees of Meisheng Hall Company turned to glance at him.


    As they walked together, the receptionist said, ¡°Mr. Qin, your singing is really nice. When will you sing another song?¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback, then smiled and replied, ¡°When I have time, I¡¯ll sing another one. Thank you for liking my song.¡±


    Zhao Gang translated for Su Mingzhi, saying, ¡°Mr. Su, our intention is very straightforward¡ªwe would like to acquire your company.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk numbers directly,¡± Su Mingzhi asked bluntly.


    Zhao Gang, ¡°Four hundred million, a complete acquisition of Huamei Cosmetics Company. This price should be the highest at present.


    Mr. Su, please consider this carefully. If you miss out on this opportunity, Huamei Cosmetics Company might become even less valuable.¡±


    Su Mingzhi¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, recalling that Huamei Cosmetics Company had previously been valued at more than twenty billion.


    The highest bid these companies were offering was now only four billion, which was far less than he had expected.


    In his view, his company should be worth no less than eight billion at the very least.


    The price offered by Meisheng Hall was still too low, as even after bargaining, the ceiling would be five billion at most.


    He spoke up, ¡°Your company¡¯s offer does not meet my expectation; I will not accept four billion.¡±


    Zhao Gang translated to Mr. Ishikawa Biren, who then spoke again.


    ¡°Mr. Su, four hundred and fifty million is our final offer. If that doesn¡¯t work for you, we have no other options.¡±


    Su Mingzhi, ¡°Then please do as you see fit.¡±


    People from Meisheng Hall left, leaving the three individuals in the conference room: Qin Hao, Su Mingzhi, and Su Meilan.


    Su Mingzhi looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re here to acquire my company as well, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Su Meilan turned her head to look at Qin Hao, her beautiful eyes sizing him up.


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°Something like that.¡±


    Su Mingzhi, ¡°Please state your price directly, Mr. Qin. As long as it meets my expectation, I don¡¯t mind selling to you.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I plan to invest ten billion in Mr. Su¡¯s company for eighty percent of the shares.


    Then, I will also provide a set of skincare product R&D technology, aiming to oust Tang Group from the market first and foremost.¡±


    Su Mingzhi and Su Meilan were briefly taken aback at the mention of ten billion, eighty percent of the shares, the new skincare R&D technology, and the goal to oust Tang Group.


    Qin Hao¡¯s words were frank and straightforward.


    Su Mingzhi, ¡°Mr. Qin, Tang Group isn¡¯t so easily ousted.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Does Mr. Su lack confidence in the new skincare product I¡¯ve developed? You¡¯re familiar with Huafei Clothing, right?¡±


    Su Mingzhi nodded, ¡°Meilan is wearing Huafei Clothing, and indeed, the fabric is excellent. It¡¯s no worse than those high-end world-famous brands that cost tens of thousands a piece.¡±


    [Chapter Two]


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 Chapter 446 - 448 Leukemia

    Chapter 446: Chapter 448 Leukemia


    Qin Hao: ¡°Does Mr. Su know that I gave the fabric technology to Mr. Zhao?¡±


    Su Mingzhi shook his head, as Zhao Dongqiang had not mentioned it to anyone because it was a corporate secret.


    Originally, Huafei Clothing was on the verge of bankruptcy, but after Qin Hao invested, Huafei Clothing suddenly turned around.


    Securing the military uniform contracts for the fall and winter seasons, the newly developed clothes were also a sales sensation.


    Moreover, the suppression of Ruixing Group, this series of events spoke volumes.


    He had never thought deeply about these matters before, but now, hearing what Qin Hao just said, both Su Mingzhi and Su Meilan had a moment of sudden realization.


    ...


    ¡°Mr. Su, what do you think about this collaboration?¡± Qin Hao asked with a smile.


    Su Mingzhi¡¯s price in his mind was around eight hundred million, but now Qin Hao was offering one billion, including a skincare product development formula, which was extremely generous.


    He had absolutely no reason to refuse: ¡°When can Mr. Qin sign the contract?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°We can sign it now.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Su Mingzhi asked Su Meilan to prepare the contract.


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, ¡°The Meisheng Hall that was mentioned earlier also deals in makeup and skincare products?¡±


    Curiously, Su Mingzhi asked, ¡°You don¡¯t know about Meisheng Hall?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m not very familiar with the cosmetics and skincare industry.¡±


    Su Mingzhi explained, ¡°Meisheng Hall Group is based in Beihai Country, and has been focused on the skincare industry for over a hundred years.


    Moreover, Meisheng Hall is also one of the world¡¯s top ten cosmetics and skincare groups, equally famous as Dokou Cosmetics and Yashi Lan Skincare,


    with very strong capabilities. Currently, the high-end skincare market in the domestic area is dominated by these big international brands, while the low to mid-end market is chaotic.


    Their plan is to leverage their strong brand effect to venture into the low to mid-end skincare market, since not many in Xuan Country can afford high-end skincare products, and the profits in the low-end market are much greater.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, knowing that although products in the low-end market are cheap, they have a wide audience and there are very many buyers.


    Like the current skincare low-end market, it is flourishing with all sorts of brands, which are almost all no-name brands.


    The skincare products are not only ineffective but some are even harmful to the skin.


    The reason Meisheng Hall wants to acquire Huamei Skincare is actually because of Huamei Company¡¯s reputation in the low to mid-end market.


    By acquiring Huamei, and with the strong financial support of Meisheng Hall they could definitely carve out a piece of the market share in the low to mid-end market.


    Su Mingzhi continued, ¡°Meisheng Hall is very ambitious, they are investing heavily in acquiring a large number of low to mid-end skincare companies.


    Their aim is to seize a large share of the low to mid-end market.¡±


    On the way to the university, Qin Hao took out his phone and called Fan Ruobing.


    Once the call connected, Fan Ruobing spoke first, ¡°Are you back?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Yeah, I came back today. Are you at school?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m at home, the same neighborhood you visited last time,¡± Fan Ruobing replied.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Oh, then I¡¯ll come over and see you.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao told Leng Xuan the destination. He was almost out of money now.


    He planned to ask Fan Ruobing if the paintings had been sold yet.


    The profits from Jiangshan Roasted Duck were considerable, but all were reinvested into its development.


    Xinghui Wine might make a good profit this month, but much would be reinvested, leaving little leftover.


    The profits from Huafei Clothing this month were also astounding, but they too needed to be reinvested for the acquisitions of spinning mills and garment factories, among other things.


    Not to mention Hua Mei Skincare; perhaps only Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical might give him some money.


    But this money was nowhere enough for his expenditures.


    Arriving downstairs at Fan Ruobing¡¯s apartment, Qin Hao walked up alone and rang the doorbell; Fan Ruobing quickly opened the door from inside.


    Her complexion was pale and somewhat frightening, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Seeing her face, Qin Hao asked in concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Fan Ruobing said lightly.


    Qin Hao frowned, grabbed Fan Ruobing¡¯s right hand to check it, then his expression slightly changed, ¡°Leukemia?


    How did you get such a disease? What happened?¡±


    Fan Ruobing was surprised by his medical skills, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I felt unwell a few days ago and just got diagnosed.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her, and she looked back calmly, her eyes showing no fear of death.


    Her reaction was not at all like that of a young person.


    Fan Ruobing led Qin Hao into the bedroom, then took out two bank cards.


    Fan Ruobing, ¡°One has twenty-two billion, the other has twenty-seven billion. The oil paintings were auctioned abroad in collaboration between my mother and Shenglong Group.¡±


    [Third Update]


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 Chapter 447 - 449: Headache of Luo Ze

    Chapter 447: Chapter 449: Headache of Luo Ze


    Qin Hao furrowed his brows, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about that later, you lie down on the bed first.¡±


    Fan Ruobing looked at him and slowly came over to hug him.


    ¡°Ruobing, you¡¯re not going to die. Drink this.¡± After speaking, a bottle of life potion appeared in Qin Hao¡¯s hand.


    Fan Ruobing curiously looked at the life potion in his hand, ¡°What is this?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s something that can cure your illness. Drink it and don¡¯t tell anyone.¡±


    Fan Ruobing hesitated for a moment, took it, and then drank it down.


    ...


    Qin Hao had exchanged for five bottles of life potion and five bottles of spirit potion from the system store, keeping them in his system backpack as a precaution.


    He still had three hundred and ninety thousand achievement points left.


    ¡°Take a rest, sleep and everything will be better,¡± Qin Hao told her.


    Fan Ruobing, ¡°You must be really short on cash right now, take this money.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°You keep three billion, the rest I¡¯ll take.¡±


    Fan Ruobing insisted, ¡°I don¡¯t need the money, keep it, consider it as your investment in me.¡±


    Knowing her character, Qin Hao had no choice but to take the money, ¡°Take a rest, I¡¯ll be here with you.¡±


    Fan Ruobing got into bed, burrowing into the quilt, only her head peeking out, ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep now.¡±


    She looked less cold than usual and instead seemed a bit more adorable.


    Qin Hao brought a small stool and sat by the bed, watching over her.


    ...


    Inside the Ruixing Group meeting room.


    The room was filled with shareholders of the Ruixing Group, each one of them with deeply furrowed brows, looking utterly gloom.


    Luo Ze sat in the chief seat, his headache worsening as he looked at these shareholders.


    The company¡¯s issues had already been annoying him, now these shareholders had sprung up.


    A major shareholder said, ¡°Mr. Luo, I think we must take effective measures now, otherwise our Ruixing Group won¡¯t hold up.¡±


    Another shareholder, ¡°Without performance, the salaries for the thousands of workers are a huge expense.¡±


    ¡°The finished clothing is piling up, should we still bring in raw materials? The foreign side is already urging us.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s okay, take it slow.¡±


    Then, an advertisement for Xinghui Wine appeared on the TV, still endorsed by Zhao Yuying.


    Besides Xinghui Wine, Qin Hao also saw advertisements for Jiangshan Delicatessen and Huafei Clothing.


    Late into the news segment, the report highlighted a major reform in hospital doctors¡¯ salaries,


    as it was a crucial matter related to people¡¯s livelihood.


    Late into the evening, it reported the several types of pills Qin Hao had developed,


    finally approved and even receiving praise from the national network.


    After dinner, Qin Hao received a call from Xu Siyao.


    Xu Siyao spoke up, ¡°Qin Hao, my dad knows about us now.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face slightly changed, ¡°What¡¯s going on? How did Mr. Xu find out?¡±


    Xu Siyao, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ve already returned to school, I don¡¯t want to go back there.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Si Yao.¡±


    Qin Hao knew that considering the Xu Family¡¯s status, they would never approve of Xu Siyao doing such a thing.


    Xu Siyao moving out had already shown Jie Kang¡¯s attitude.


    He would never approve of Qin Hao and Xu Siyao¡¯s involvement, as reputation was critically important to the Xu Family.


    The Xu Family, being a prominent clan in Xuan Country, wouldn¡¯t bear their princess being someone¡¯s mistress; it would be explosive news if leaked.


    However, likely no news outlet would dare to report such news about the Xu Family.


    Hearing his apology, Xu Siyao chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m alright, as long as you understand, I¡¯m content.¡±


    Qin Hao felt an immense guilt; Xu Siyao had sacrificed so much for him.


    Now, his power was still weak. Only when his strength and status reached a certain level would the Xu Family cease to oppose them.


    He believed this day was not far off, soon it would be realized.


    Tomorrow, the unveiling of intelligent robots would absolutely overturn Jie Kang and others¡¯ worldview.


    [No more updates, so sleepy!]


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 Chapter 448 - 450 Source Code

    Chapter 448: Chapter 450 Source Code


    After hanging up, Qin Hao returned to the villa.


    Zhao Yuying saw his furrowed brows and asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Xiao Hao? Did something happen?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Ying.¡±


    Zhao Yuying nodded slightly, ¡°If there¡¯s anything, just tell me, don¡¯t keep it to yourself.¡±


    Remembering the last time Qin Hao had been so frustrated he vomited blood, she was somewhat worried.


    Although Qin Hao now appeared immensely successful, with a net worth in the billions, he was dealing with more issues and enduring a lot of pressure unknown to others.


    ...


    The issues between him and Xu Siyao were not something he could discuss with outsiders.


    Only he could solve this problem, given the high status of the Xu family, things were not that simple to resolve.


    Even if his status and fame surpassed the Xu family, it wouldn¡¯t be of much use unless it far exceeded the Xu family, making them unable to compete.


    Only then might there be a glimmer of hope.


    Qin Hao told Zhao Yuying, ¡°The drug has already been approved, in a few days it should be available in large quantities in drugstores and hospitals.¡±


    Zhao Yuying had just seen a report on the news praising ¡°Qin¡¯s Cold Medicine¡±, ¡°fever-reducing drugs¡±, and ¡°anti-inflammatory drugs¡±.


    Low cost, potent effects, no side effects, these were exactly what the people needed now.


    Zhao Yuying reminded him, ¡°Then you need to be more careful from now on, those foreign pharmaceutical companies won¡¯t let this go easily.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°I know, I¡¯ll be careful, Ying.¡±


    Zhao Yuying said, ¡°Xiao Hao, the film crew at the company has basically been assembled now, only the special effects team is left. Should we send someone to talk to the Rainbow Special Effects team?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, have someone talk to the Rainbow Special Effects Company.¡±


    Zhao Yuying somewhat expectantly said, ¡°Then when will we shoot the movie? Should we go buy a script from someone?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°No need, I will write the script myself when the time comes.¡±


    Zhao Yuying exclaimed, ¡°You can write a script?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°That¡¯s a small matter.¡±


    Qiao¡¯er said from the side, ¡°Dad, I want to watch the movie you make in the future.¡±


    Qin Hao remembered something and took out his phone to call He Tingting.


    He Tingting was at home watching TV with her parents. Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s call, she got up and went to her own bedroom.


    Qin Hao forced a laugh, ¡°Ying, don¡¯t tease me. You guys watch TV; I have something to do.¡±


    With that, he got up and went into the study.


    Zhao Yuying watched as Qin Hao walked away, her eyes brimming with amusement.


    Qin Hao turned on his computer, then inserted a USB drive into it.


    He opened the market platform and then located the artificial intelligence program code section.


    A dazzling array of various smart application program source codes filled the screen.


    Qin Hao could now write intelligent program codes, but his level wasn¡¯t very high.


    He looked at the different categories of source codes in the system market: air conditioning smart application program source code, mobile phone smart application program source code,


    refrigerator smart source code, computer smart source code, and so on ¨C nearly every kind of appliance source code was available.


    These could be written into various appliances¡¯ smart chips, thereby creating smart appliances.


    Basic Intelligent Robot Operation Source Code: Enables intelligent robots to replace general workers, requiring twenty thousand achievement points for exchange.


    Qin Hao temporarily didn¡¯t consider this, as his artificial intelligence robots, if sold abroad, were very expensive.


    The lifetime salary of an ordinary worker wasn¡¯t even in the millions; those people wouldn¡¯t buy them.


    Unless one day, when the salaries of ordinary workers generally increased, those people might consider it.


    Premium Intelligent Source Code: Besides the body, it completely possesses independent thought, and the source code includes memory and learning programs.


    It will continuously progress and can work in high-end, confidential industries, strictly following the owner¡¯s commands.


    Exchange requires fifty thousand achievement points.


    After seeing this, Qin Hao chose to exchange; learning it added a vast array of program source codes into his mind.


    His fingers rapidly tapped on the keyboard. He needed to write the source code into the USB drive.


    About an hour later, when he was almost done, a knock sounded from outside.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Qin Hao said while continuing his work.


    Zhao Yuying entered, holding a coffee cup, ¡°Still not going to sleep?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Ying, why haven¡¯t you rested yet?¡±


    Zhao Yuying smiled lightly, ¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep, thought I¡¯d come over and chat with you. Are you almost done?¡±


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 Chapter 449 - 451 Meteor

    Chapter 449: Chapter 451 Meteor


    Qin Hao tapped on the keyboard as he spoke, ¡°It¡¯s almost done, no problem, Ying. You can talk, it won¡¯t affect me.¡±


    Zhao Yuying replied, ¡°Let¡¯s wait until you¡¯re finished. I heard there will be a meteor shower after 9:30 tonight. Let¡¯s watch it together later.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Qin Hao nodded.


    About seven or eight minutes later, Qin Hao finished writing the source code for the program and unplugged the USB drive, putting it in his pocket.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Ying, and see the meteors.¡±


    The two of them left the study and went out to the large, open balcony on the second floor.


    ...


    The night sky tonight was beautiful, with the bright moon hanging aloft, surrounded by twinkling stars.


    They sat in the lounge chairs on the balcony, feeling the cool autumn breeze of the night and leisurely watched the night sky.


    Qin Hao was enjoying the moment, ¡°It¡¯s quite nice to sit out here for a while every day.¡±


    Zhao Yuying chuckled, ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re so busy every day, you don¡¯t even take the time to rest.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Ying, what do you think people live for?¡±


    Zhao Yuying considered for a moment before replying, ¡°Some people live for fame and fortune, others for power, some for their families, but most probably to have a good life, I guess.¡±


    ¡°What if a guy likes two or even more girls at the same time¡ªisn¡¯t he a jerk?¡±


    Qin Hao suddenly asked this, not even knowing why he said it.


    Perhaps it was Fan Ruobing¡¯s reaction that he saw today that made him reflective.


    Originally, he had the opportunity to become intimate with Fan Ruobing, but he didn¡¯t take it, feeling conflicted within.


    Zhao Yuying¡¯s eyes flickered momentarily when she heard his question.


    She knew Qin Hao was probably talking about himself. If someone else had asked her this before, she would have responded without hesitation: scum, the worst of scum.


    But now, she felt that some things weren¡¯t as simple as they appeared on the surface.


    She thought for a while and said, ¡°There¡¯s a tycoon in the entertainment industry. He has three women, and all of them really like him.


    He¡¯s good to them too. Whether he¡¯s a jerk or not, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s about how many women he has, but how he treats them.


    Some wealthy people change beautiful women every day, just to vent and satisfy their desires, treating them like playthings.


    Such people are the real scum of the earth. Like the previous case, if it were to be made public, I think there would be a chorus of condemnation.


    Most likely, much of the criticism would stem from jealousy. If those critics were to become wealthy, they¡¯d probably be even worse.


    The women are aware he has other women and still choose to be with him. That must be personal charm.¡±


    A muffled sound, the light disappeared, and the night sky returned to calm.


    Zhao Yuying cautiously looked up at Qin Hao, now being held tightly by him, she felt a sense of safety she had never experienced before, her heart fluttering like a little deer, her cheeks slightly red.


    Qin Hao¡¯s gaze was towards the outside, near the beach, where a red glow flickered, ¡°That thing seems to have fallen on the sand.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Zhao Yuying, who was now less concerned with the outside situation, gently leaned her head on Qin Hao¡¯s warm chest.


    Feeling her lean in, Qin Hao looked down and his expression became somewhat embarrassed, ¡°Ying, shall we go check it out?¡±


    Zhao Yuying¡¯s face flushed slightly, as she quickly got up from his chest, ¡°Um, okay.¡±


    Qin Hao led her downstairs, and only when they reached the bottom did he realize he was still holding Zhao Yuying¡¯s hand.


    He quickly let go, ¡°Sorry, Ying, I wasn¡¯t paying attention.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Zhao Yuying said with a slight smile, enchanting as ever.


    Just as the two of them were about to head outside, Han Meng came out of the bedroom, ¡°Xiao Hao, what happened?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Nothing serious, a meteor just fell outside. I¡¯m going to check it out, Meng, please make sure Qiao¡¯er doesn¡¯t run around.¡±


    Han Meng nodded and went back inside to watch over Qiao¡¯er.


    Once out of the villa, Qin Hao led Leng Xuan and ten others towards the beach, leaving about a dozen people outside the villa.


    Quite a few people from the neighborhood were attracted outside, some walking towards the beach just like Qin Hao.


    By the time Qin Hao got there, there were already quite a few people at the beach.


    When they saw the object on the sand, Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying, along with others, were taken aback.


    A black object was stuck in the sand, the part that was visible was about seven to eight meters high, looking like a black iron plate.


    But it didn¡¯t seem quite right, as the object was very thick, about two to three meters thick. Could there be an iron plate that thick?


    Zhao Yuying swallowed and said, ¡°It¡¯s so hot.¡±


    The others also felt the abnormal heat, keeping tens of meters away from the object.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Leng Xuan, seal off this area, don¡¯t let anyone touch it, and call Li Bao to send more people over.¡±


    After that, he took out his phone to call Xu Liangguo, ¡°Mr. Xu, are you asleep?¡±


    Xu Liangguo replied, ¡°Just got woken up, what¡¯s up, Xiao Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Did you know about the meteor? It fell outside my neighborhood, on the beach, a really big black object.¡±


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 Chapter 450 - 452 D-Class Metal

    Chapter 450: Chapter 452 D-Class Metal


    Mr. Xu Liangguo¡¯s spirits lifted, ¡°What is that thing? How big is it?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I don¡¯t recognize it, it looks like some kind of metal, and the exposed part is about seven or eight meters; I think there¡¯s at least as much underground.¡±


    Mr. Xu Liangguo said, ¡°Good, seal off the area. I will send people over immediately, and besides the military personnel, prevent anyone from taking it away.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Then, Mr. Xu, please hurry over.¡±


    Mr. Xu Liangguo reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the team from Jianghai will get there quickly.¡±


    The Gujing Military Region is one of the seven major military regions and is in charge of military affairs in the Xuandong Region; it also has troops stationed in Jianghai City.


    ...


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao scrutinized the large black object closely, noting two piles of ashes at a distance of two or three meters from it.


    The sound of crying was coming from not far away, and upon inquiry, he learned that there was a couple here when the meteor arrived.


    The meteor arrived so quickly, and with such high heat, that the couple was directly melted into ash.


    Facing this natural disaster, Qin Hao was at a loss for words, only able to comment on the couple¡¯s unfortunate fate.


    Later, when the temperature of the black object had cooled down, Qin Hao went closer to take a look, noticing many people taking photos with their phones.


    Qin Hao also touched it but quickly withdrew his hand, as two blisters formed on his index and middle fingers.


    The black object still contained high temperatures. It was good that he retreated quickly, or else it might have roasted his hand.


    ¡°Xiao Ying, what is this thing?¡± Qin Hao asked the system Xiao Ying.


    Xiao Ying replied, ¡°It¡¯s a D-grade metal, probably fell from a warship, otherwise it wouldn¡¯t have ended up here.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°What is D-grade metal?¡±


    Xiao Ying explained, ¡°Metals are categorized into several grades based on overall hardness and toughness. The poorest quality is F-grade metal.


    F-grade metal is generally used for making F-grade interstellar warships and other weapons.


    Although it is the lowest grade metal in the universe, it is still beyond what can be currently produced on Earth.


    This requires a very high purification process and fabrication methods. F-grade metals can be refined from ordinary steel metals.


    Metals of F-grade and above require the addition of some rare interstellar metals for refinement.¡±


    Qin Hao remarked, ¡°So you¡¯re saying this is D-grade metal, isn¡¯t that rare?¡±


    Xiao Ying responded, ¡°On Earth, it¡¯s definitely considered a rare treasure, but even if obtained, with current technology, its components cannot be decomposed. Maybe it¡¯ll be useful when technology advances.¡±


    Qin Hao lost interest after a while, and about an hour later, people from the Jianghai Defense Zone arrived.


    After parking his car, Qin Hao saw Xu Jiekang¡¯s car drive in.


    Xu Jiekang also saw Qin Hao; he didn¡¯t look very pleased.


    Upon seeing Xu Jiekang alight from his car, Qin Hao called out, ¡°Mr. Xu.¡±


    Xu Jiekang responded indifferently with a ¡°hmm¡± and then walked towards the office building.


    Qin Hao knew that the matter with Xu Siyao was a bit untoward, but he had no choice.


    It seemed that Xu Liangguo was still unaware of his matter with Xu Siyao.


    He glanced at Xu Jiekang¡¯s retreating figure and walked towards the office building.


    In Chang Jing¡¯s office, Li Xutian, Li Moying, Chang Anding, Xu Jiekang, and Zhang Yifei, the Vice President of Southern Military Industry Group, were all present.


    All the shareholders of Xinghai High-tech Company had arrived.


    Besides these individuals, Li Qingya and Li Qingyun were also present. They were suppliers for the factory and wanted to see the intelligent robots Qin Hao was developing.


    The main reason was to see if the items they produced met Qin Hao¡¯s requirements.


    Seeing Qin Hao arrive, Chang Jing spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, all the shareholders are here, can we go to the plant now?¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment, a few friends haven¡¯t arrived yet.¡± After saying this, he took out his phone and called He Tingting.


    ¡°Mr. He, are you close by?¡±


    He Tingting: ¡°We just entered your factory.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll bring everyone down to meet you.¡± After hanging up, Qin Hao said to Chang Jing and the others, ¡°We can go now.¡±


    The group walked majestically out of the office building just in time to see He Tingting and five somewhat grey-haired professors approaching.


    He Tingting introduced them, ¡°Mr. Qin, these are the expert professors from our artificial intelligence lab, Professor Li, Professor Wang...¡±


    Qin Hao shook hands with each of them, ¡°Thank you, professors, for coming. You definitely won¡¯t regret this trip today.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Chang, lead us to the workshop.¡±


    Under Chang Jing¡¯s lead, the group arrived at the entrance of a workshop, guarded by the Flying Leopard Security Team.


    ¡°Please take out your phones, no filming is allowed for the upcoming event.¡± a security staff member said.


    The group hesitated for a moment, but eventually, everyone, except for Qin Hao, handed over their phones.


    [Third release]


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 Chapter 451 - 453 Number 001

    Chapter 451: Chapter 453 Number 001


    Qin Hao led the way into the workshop, with Chang Jing following beside him.


    Most of them were entering the workshop for the first time, curiously examining the interior, which lacked any workers.


    Only when the robots¡¯ appearance had no issues and Li Qingya¡¯s side could supply them would workers start working in this workshop.


    Chang Jing had already arranged everything for the company.


    Her ability was very strong; she could handle almost anything very well, which greatly satisfied Qin Hao.


    Inside the workshop, a table displayed various parts, while several boxes lay on the ground.


    ...


    Chang Jing began, ¡°These are the robots¡¯ exteriors, and the parts above are produced by our company.¡±


    Qin Hao walked over and opened a box, and following Qin Hao¡¯s request, the robots¡¯ exteriors were white, and the sheet metal painting was strictly according to automotive standards.


    ¡°I called everyone here today to let you see our company¡¯s products. Later, I will assemble the robot.¡±


    Qin Hao turned to Li Xutian, Chang Anding, and the others.


    They were all looking at him, eager to see just how intelligent the smart robot in Qin Hao¡¯s words really was.


    He Tingting and several veteran experts from the artificial intelligence laboratory were also watching him.


    Honestly, they didn¡¯t believe at all that Qin Hao could develop a real intelligent robot.


    They probably thought it would be similar to those market-available smart robots, which in their eyes, didn¡¯t qualify as intelligent robots at all.


    Chang Anding¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, you don¡¯t need to call us for this. We¡¯re very busy; just send us the results via email.¡±


    Qin Hao replied indifferently, ¡°Mr. Chang can leave, but I¡¯ll take back that nine percent of the shares.¡±


    ¡°What right do you have to take them back?¡± Chang Anding changed his expression.


    Qin Hao took out a USB drive, ¡°By this.¡±


    The crowd looked at the USB drive in his hand, their eyes filled with confusion and incomprehension. What could a USB drive do?


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain further and squatted down to arrange the robot¡¯s exterior.


    He then placed the mainboard, parts, wires, sensors, and so on, one by one, inside the robot¡¯s exterior.


    The robot¡¯s exterior was decent, but it would lose paint if bumped, needing a better type of spray paint material.


    However, better materials were more expensive, which meant Qin Hao needed to develop his own set.


    Beneath the eyes was a black crystal surface, which had nearly a hundred sensors on it.


    These would transmit the received information to the motherboard, and then the processing chips would react accordingly.


    The robot had dozens of types of sensors, each type requiring dozens, with some having as many as hundreds.


    Qin Hao opened the chest area of the robot, where there were buttons and a small LCD screen, along with a USB port.


    He inserted a USB drive into the port, then pressed the copy button.


    ¡°Copying now, please wait, current progress one percent,¡±


    a male voice sounded from the black crystal part on the robot¡¯s head.


    The voice emitted by the robot was not an electronic sound, but that of a mature man.


    The crowd was stunned for a moment, curiously watching the robot.


    This source code had an owner recognition function, with Qin Hao being the primary owner, followed by Chang Jing.


    The robot would comply with some of Chang Jing¡¯s work-related commands, but if they conflicted with Qin Hao¡¯s commands, the robot would choose not to execute them.


    About five minutes later, that mature man¡¯s voice spoke again, ¡°Copying complete, master, please remove the USB drive; it¡¯s quite uncomfortable being plugged into me.¡±


    Even with mental preparation, Qin Hao was startled and removed the USB drive.


    The robot turned to Li Xutian and others and said, ¡°Hello everyone, I am Intelligent Robot No. 001 from Xinghai High-tech Company, I¡¯m pleased to meet you all.¡±


    Li Xutian and the others were dumbstruck, disbelievingly staring at No. 001.


    He Tingting and others were also stunned. Wasn¡¯t this too intelligent?


    Robot: ¡°Don¡¯t be too amazed; it was my great master who granted me new life, I thank my master.¡±


    ¡°He... he can actually see our surprised expressions? How... how is that possible?¡±


    The professors brought by He Tingting incredulously looked at No. 001.


    [Fourth update, one more chapter might be late, everyone can go to sleep early, see it tomorrow. Vote, okay? Yeah, sure, we¡¯ll give you all the votes.]


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 Chapter 452 - 454 Shock

    Chapter 452: Chapter 454 Shock


    Chang Anding, Xu Jiekang, Zhang Yifei, and Li Xutian all had a deep shock in their eyes.


    The robot smiled and said, ¡°Why not possible? In my eyes, the master is an omnipotent God.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, master?¡± After speaking, the robot bent down and gently pounded Qin Hao¡¯s shoulders with its hands.


    ¡°Damn, this robot can actually bootlick?¡± Mo Ying ran over and carefully examined the robot.


    He Tingting and the others were also somewhat speechless, similarly feeling a storm of astonishment within.


    It was too intelligent, completely beyond their imagination.


    ...


    If this doesn¡¯t count as an intelligent robot, then what else could dare to claim intelligence?


    The robot retorted, ¡°A beauty can eat shit randomly, but words cannot be spoken carelessly.¡±


    Qin Hao was completely exasperated, what kind of robot had he actually created?


    Mo Ying raised her leg, intending to kick it, but seeing that the guy was all made of fine steel, she retracted her foot.


    Robot: ¡°Kick, why don¡¯t you kick now? My legs are so itchy, I beg to be kicked.¡±


    ¡°Master, it¡¯s bullying me,¡± Mo Ying pouted and said to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao was very speechless about this intelligent robot; wasn¡¯t its personality just too damn low?


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ¡°If the master tells me to shut up, then I¡¯ll shut up.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, and said to Chang Anding and the others, ¡°What does everyone think?¡±


    Li Xutian said somewhat embarrassingly, ¡°Initially, Mr. Li was wrong to blame you, this project is indeed very impressive.¡±


    Xu Jiekang nodded; Qin Hao¡¯s project had completely overturned his perception.


    If it were promoted, it would definitely cause a huge uproar, similar to human-like intelligence, independent thinking abilities.


    This was virtually no different from humans.


    Chang Anding also spoke, ¡°Is this robot made of intelligence chips and such components? If we just sell the chips and such parts, we could make a fortune.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Exactly, Mr. Chang is absolutely right, but the most important thing is the source code in my USB drive.


    Only with this source code does the robot have such abilities, so the most crucial thing isn¡¯t the hardware, but this.¡±


    Li Qingya and Li Qingyun were still in shock; what they had seen today had somewhat overturned their understanding.


    Kang Mei Appliances was also researching intelligent appliances; intelligence is the main direction of future development.


    Once we boost our production line capacities and start receiving orders, we can begin to turn a profit.¡±


    According to the distribution of shares, as the major shareholder, Mr. Qin naturally takes on the most.


    He said, ¡°I¡¯ll put in twenty billion, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem for each of you to contribute a little over three billion, right?¡±


    Li Xutian and a few others didn¡¯t hesitate and nodded their heads, now that they had seen the products clearly, hesitating would be foolish.


    Mr. Qin looked at Chang Anding and said, ¡°Mr. Chang, you can choose not to invest, but you might end up with a smaller share.¡±


    ¡°No problem, Hongya Heavy Industry still has plenty of funds,¡± Chang Anding knew Mr. Qin was teasing him.


    He also realized that he had misunderstood Mr. Qin before, so he didn¡¯t retaliate.


    If before it was Mr. Qin asking for their favor, now the roles had reversed, and they were hoping Mr. Qin wouldn¡¯t kick them out.


    If it weren¡¯t for Chang Jing¡¯s face and the behind-the-scenes strength of Chang Anding¡¯s family, Mr. Qin would definitely have cut him off.


    The meeting was straightforward, and everyone was cooperative.


    Zhang Yifei asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, what is our daily production capacity for chips now? Are we accepting orders yet?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Not yet, we¡¯ll need about half a month to a month.¡±


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it then, everyone can go back to your tasks,¡± Mr. Qin told them.


    After leaving the meeting room, Li Xutian and the others left, their eyes opened wide today.


    They were also looking forward to the future development of Xinghai High-tech Company.


    After sending off the shareholders, Mr. Qin returned to the office, and Chang Jing followed him in.


    Li Qingya and Li Qingyun were waiting for Mr. Qin. Seeing him enter, they smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you done?¡±


    Mr. Qin nodded: ¡°Yes, now let¡¯s talk about our matters.¡±


    Li Qingya smiled and said, ¡°Please feel free to speak, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Mr. Qin: ¡°Firstly, regarding the robot¡¯s appearance, I hope their bodies can be more flexible and their fingers more precise.


    Because in the future, they might be doing some precision work.¡±


    [Fifth update, that¡¯s all for today, thanks to ¡®Loading...¡¯ for the reward and extra update]


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 Chapter 453 - 455: Sensor

    Chapter 453: Chapter 455: Sensor


    Li Qingya nodded slightly, ¡°I understand Mr. Qin¡¯s idea. Based on the different nature of the work, we should tailor-make different robot forms.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Exactly, the form doesn¡¯t need to be limited to the human shape. We can make robots smaller and more flexible to do more delicate work.¡±


    The intelligent robot has been created, and the Air Energy Car is not far behind.


    Compared to intelligent robots, intelligent Air Energy Cars will be even more shocking because an Air Energy Car is a type of hovering vehicle.


    It doesn¡¯t have conventional tires, and the air energy engine isn¡¯t only applicable to cars.


    It can also be used in the military industry, for heavy-duty trucks, trains, planes, and so on.


    ...


    Moreover, the air energy engine greatly outperforms current engines in terms of performance and speed.


    It has many features; it requires no fuel consumption, has high safety performance, has incredible speed, and can even operate across sea, land, and air.


    Li Qingya: ¡°Mr. Qin, regarding smart appliances, I think we can collaborate. You have the advantage in artificial intelligence technology.


    We have mature appliance manufacturing technology. If we work together, it would be a mutually beneficial situation.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°How exactly can we collaborate?¡±


    Li Qingya: ¡°Kangmei Appliances plans to launch a new smart automatic washing machine.


    We would like to purchase intelligent chips and sensors from Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°That¡¯s possible. For the specific prices, you can just discuss it with Mr. Chang.¡±


    After finalizing some details, Li Qingya and her sister left.


    Chang Jing said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, another lithography machine has been produced, it just needs your assembly and calibration.¡±


    Qin Hao said to Chang Jing, ¡°Go call 001.¡±


    Upon arriving at the lithography machine workshop, there were workers on shift, still working on the production line, dressed in work uniforms.


    When they saw Chang Jing walking in with a robot, their faces showed a flicker of surprise.


    Could this be the robot produced by our company?


    Chang Jing came over to Qin Hao and said, ¡°Why call it over? Is it to assemble and calibrate the lithography machine?¡±


    001 spoke, ¡°Does Mr. Chang look down on me, 001? It seems it¡¯s time to showcase some skills.¡±


    Workers not far from Mr. Chang and the robot¡¯s conversation stood agape.


    Damn, this robot can actually have a proper conversation with people?


    Later, Qin Hao, Chang Jing, and 001 ¨C the two of them and one machine ¨C went to inspect the other workshops.


    PC motherboard production workshop, sensor production workshop, battery production workshop, and others.


    The original plan for Xinghai High-tech base was quite ambitious, with not many production lines in each workshop and not many workers.


    But this was only temporary; the number of production lines and employees in each workshop would definitely increase later on.


    After touring the workshops and returning to the office, Qin Hao suddenly remembered something.


    He went to Chang Jing¡¯s office and said, ¡°Mr. Chang, take me to the top floor to have a look.¡±


    Chang Jing was startled for a moment before she and the secretary took Qin Hao to the top floor of the office building.


    There were several large laboratories on the top floor, and Chang Jing and the secretary brought Qin Hao into one of the labs.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Remodel this, put a display as big as this whole wall up there.


    And below it, set up rows of computers.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Chang Jing was taken aback, ¡°Mr. Qin, what are you planning to do? Set up a special department?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°No, I¡¯m thinking of researching an earthquake sensor that can monitor underground activity in real time.


    Data will be fed back to the terminal computers, and through precise calculations, we will be able to predict when and how strong an earthquake will be.¡±


    ¡°An earthquake sensor? Are you serious, Mr. Qin?¡± Chang Jing looked at him with a surprised expression.


    Qin Hao nodded; he had seen on the news yesterday that an earthquake of magnitude 7 had hit Eni Country, resulting in many casualties.


    This also indirectly showed the current shortcomings and defects of earthquake sensors, which were far from being able to provide advance warnings.


    If an earthquake sensor could give warnings three to five days in advance, people could prepare sufficiently and many lives and properties could be saved.


    Chang Jing commented, ¡°Mr. Qin, our company doesn¡¯t have much capital as it is. Can this project be postponed until later?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°No, you need to handle this as quickly as possible. I will research the sensor device for the earthquake detector with 001.¡±


    Chang Jing had no choice but to nod in agreement; the equipment wouldn¡¯t cost too much.


    After instructing Chang Jing, Qin Hao went to the workshop and began assembling the super sensor device with 001.


    Qin Hao loaded the assembly program for the sensor device into 001¡¯s motherboard chip, and with that, it learned directly. It was very simple.


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 Chapter 454 - 456 Huamei Companys New Product

    Chapter 454: Chapter 456 Huamei Company¡¯s New Product


    This afternoon, Qin Hao and 001 were busy in the workshop.


    Approximately eight super sensors are needed for the seismometer, which need to be distributed across Xuan Country.


    They will detect underground activity, and then the sensors will transmit the activity to Xinghai High-tech Company through transmitters.


    Here, signal receivers will be lined up on the rooftop, and finally converted to data on the terminal computer.


    Currently, the most advanced seismometers in the world are in Beihai Country.


    Because the entire country of Beihai is located on a seismic belt, they have invested heavily in this research.


    ...


    And the seismometers of Beihai are said to predict earthquakes ten seconds in advance.


    This is already the most advanced seismometer, mainly because many countries and experts simply haven¡¯t found a pattern to seismic activity.


    Only after an earthquake occurs do the seismic departments of various countries detect it.


    At noon, Qin Hao and Chang Jing had lunch in the factory canteen, where almost all employees eat.


    The canteen¡¯s food standards are very high, and they change up the dishes every day.


    This is all at Chang Jing¡¯s insistence; she eats here every day, and if the food doesn¡¯t meet the standard, the canteen staff will have a hard time.


    Chang Jing has done well regarding food, accommodations, and wages, which Qin Hao can tell from the way the workers look at Chang Jing.


    During the meal, Chang Jing asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, why did you think of researching seismometers again?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Because the most advanced seismometers now can only predict earthquakes ten seconds ahead, which is almost useless.


    Like the South Chen University earthquake a few years ago, over 60,000 people died, more than 10,000 went missing, hundreds of thousands were injured, countless families were shattered, and the direct economic loss was nearly a trillion.


    If there was a more advanced seismometer, so many people would not have died or been injured.


    People could evacuate in advance, and much of the economic loss could have been avoided.¡±


    Chang Jing, startled by his words, asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you saying that the seismometer you are researching is different from the others?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°If it were the same as those, what use would it be if it were researched?¡±


    Chang Jing looked at him and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, I really want to crack open your head and see what you have packed inside.


    Why do you know so much, and why is everything you understand ahead of current technology?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°What can be done about being too smart? Just do the best you can.¡±


    While eating, Chang Jing inquired, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you researching this seismometer to make money, or for what?¡±


    Ever since Qin Hao took over Huafei, Huafei Clothing has risen dramatically. If someone said this had nothing to do with Qin Hao, these people would never believe it.


    Many felt pity for Ruixing Group, a behemoth with assets worth tens of billions, now being pushed to the brink by Huafei Company.


    In fact, the bigger the company with problems, the greater the impact, since the large base of operations means money is being consumed every moment.


    If Ruixing Group can¡¯t put out better products, they might indeed be finished.


    However, they¡¯ve earned quite a bit of money, enough to shift their business to other industries.


    But to grow to such a large scale again won¡¯t be so easy.


    ...


    Then there¡¯s Qin Hao, who has now invested in Huamei Cosmetics Company.


    Is he finished with Ruixing Group, only to take on Tang Group next?


    The cyber opinion war back then made the two companies sworn enemies, neither Ruixing Group nor Tang Group probably expected such a day, right?


    Qin Hao¡¯s vindictive nature has been revealed, daring to target anyone who opposes him, no matter how large the company.


    Now, many are looking forward to seeing how Qin Hao will compete with Tang Group.


    Are they going to engage in a money-burning war?


    Not long ago, the two internet giants fought over the food delivery market, leading to a series of money-burning wars.


    From initially a few hundred million in Federation currency to later tens of billions in a massive spending showdown.


    The two food delivery giants nearly divided the entire market amongst themselves.


    In the wake of that battle, many small to medium-sized food delivery services were eradicated.


    It was not only a competition between the two giants but also a means for them to suppress other forces.


    Three days later, on December 31.


    Xinghai High-tech Company has now developed ten robots, with serial numbers from 001 to 010.


    On this day, all previous products of Huamei Skincare were recalled and replaced with the new product: Tianli Skincare.


    This is also the only product currently offered by Huamei Cosmetics Company: It whitens, hydrates, and makes the skin as tender as a baby¡¯s.


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 Chapter 455 - 457 Good News

    Chapter 455: Chapter 457 Good News


    On the same day, advertisements for Tianli Cosmetics could be seen almost everywhere in Jianghai City, from bus stops to subway stations to large billboards.


    Many places throughout Jianghai City were filled with advertisements for Tianli Skincare Products.


    Qin Hao had also arranged for online promotions and television channel promotions, among other things.


    The spokesperson for Tianli Skincare Products was Zhao Yuying, with a sweet appearance and bright eyes that were very appealing.


    Of course, there was also a phrase that attracted those who saw the advertisements even more, ¡°This product is made by Mr. Qin, combining dozens of secret herbal recipes.¡±


    Now, do not underestimate the name Mr. Qin; it is almost synonymous with quality and authority.


    ...


    From high-end medicine to later cold medicine, anti-inflammatory drugs, and fever reducers.


    Qin¡¯s Cold Medicine, anti-inflammatory drugs, and fever reducers have now all hit the market.


    The pharmaceutical factory of Yuan Kang Pharmaceutical Group was very large, and the production volume was frighteningly high; even supplying the entire national market was not a problem.


    Every day, production of these three types of drugs amounted to several hundred thousand boxes.


    Many had already used these drugs and found them very effective, leaving many comments in Qin Hao¡¯s Wei Yan.


    Both Zhao Yuying¡¯s popularity and Qin Hao¡¯s reputation were very high.


    That day, Huamei Company sold a lot of skincare products.


    Around eight o¡¯clock in the morning.


    Qin Hao was about to go to his company with Zhao Yuying when he suddenly received a phone call from Li Bao.


    ¡°Hao, come over here, there¡¯s good news,¡± Li Bao said somewhat excitedly.


    Qin Hao was puzzled, ¡°What good news?¡±


    Li Bao replied, ¡°It¡¯s about the thing I mentioned to you a few days ago. You¡¯ll know when you get here, Hao. It¡¯s definitely fantastic news.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao said to Zhao Yuying, ¡°Yu Ying, shall we go to Feibao Company first?¡±


    Zhao Yuying smiled and nodded, ¡°Sure, the acquisition isn¡¯t urgent.¡±


    The two got into the car, and five vehicles left Haoting Sea View Villa District, heading straight for Feibao Security Company.


    Zhao Yuying smiled and nodded, ¡°Hello, Mr. Li.¡±


    Li Bao internally cursed Li Wenjun for being sly, as he had already started to ingratiate himself with Zhao Yuying.


    He also hurriedly said, ¡°Yu Ying, I¡¯ve been following Hao for a long time as his younger brother. My sister is a fan of yours; can we take a photo together?¡±


    ¡°Of course, that¡¯s fine. Mr. Qin has even brought you up in front of me,¡± Zhao Yuying responded with a laugh.


    Qin Hao was not oblivious to their intentions; both were trying to get in Zhao Yuying¡¯s good graces, thinking that she might become Qin Hao¡¯s woman in the future, which would make it easier to gain Qin Hao¡¯s favor later on.


    Qin Hao inquired, ¡°Li Bao, what¡¯s the good news you wanted to tell me about?¡±


    Li Bao looked at Li Wenjun, ¡°Manager Li, please go ahead.¡±


    Li Wenjun drew the curtains, then turned on a projector, and inserted a USB drive into it.


    Soon a video appeared. It was a factory with a foreign name Qin Hao did not recognize, where one could see trucks driving in.


    Subsequently, clothes that seemed to have been collected from trash heaps were unloaded in the factory.


    Li Wenjun explained, ¡°Mr. Qin, this is a fabric processing factory in a small country to the south; the fabrics are shipped from various countries.


    Most are branded clothes from trash heaps and morgues from various countries, reprocessed into new garments.


    The most crucial point for Mr. Qin is that Ruixing Clothing imports all its materials from here. This has led to good sales in our country due to the fabric¡¯s quality.


    Moreover, after an investigation, it was found that this large-scale fabric processing factory is entirely controlled by Luo Ze, and he has deceived all his shareholders.


    Using Ruixing Group¡¯s funds to purchase fabrics from this mill at high prices, the money from Ruixing Group eventually ended up in his own pocket.¡±


    A hint of surprise flashed in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes, ¡°Is this information confirmed?¡±


    Li Wenjun said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, keep watching. Here you¡¯ll find all the evidence, enough to bring down Luo Ze, even putting him behind bars for life.¡±


    [Third Update]


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 Chapter 456 - 458: A Great Upheaval

    Chapter 456: Chapter 458: A Great Upheaval


    Qin Hao continued to look downward, seeing videos that covered from the arrival of the fabric, to its processing and production, and finally to its dispatch from the factory.


    The fabric was loaded onto a ship bound for Xuan Country, which sailed for more than ten hours.


    The ship finally arrived at the port of Jianghai City, and then one could see the trucks belonging to Ruixing Group starting to load and unload the fabric.


    The fabric was brought into Ruixing Clothing Factory, and then processed into finished products.


    Li Wenjun spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, I still have the purchase records of Ruixing Group at this fabric factory, spanning from two to three years ago to now. Ruixing Group has almost exclusively sourced its fabric from this large-scale processing plant.¡±


    Zhao Yuying had a distressed look on her face. Garbage pile, morgue clothes?


    ...


    She had previously bought Huafei Clothing for her parents.


    She thought these were quality, affordable garments made by a national brand, but she had never expected they were made from this kind of material.


    Clothes from garbage piles and morgues teemed with bacteria, and some even carried deadly bacteria.


    The sight horrified Qin Hao, filling him with extreme dread.


    Ruixing Clothing was a well-known domestic brand, and countless garments were sold each year¡ªundoubtedly, many people had already been victimized.


    But who would attribute their illness to new clothes? Almost no one would consider this possibility.


    They might think they were infected by others, or that it was due to their own health issues.


    Just to make money, for profit, Luo Ze was truly capable of doing anything, Qin Hao looked visibly upset.


    This had touched his bottom line.


    Even if there were no grievances between him and Ruixing Group, he still needed to expose them.


    That Ruixing Group continued to sell so well without any problems being discovered indicated a major issue.


    This matter could involve many people, and even those he couldn¡¯t afford to offend, but what of it?


    Some matters always require someone to step up and tell the truth.


    Qin Hao¡¯s current mood was somewhat complex: joy? grief?


    If it weren¡¯t for today¡¯s information leading to the downfall of Ruixing Group, he might have felt joy.


    But now his heart felt like a bottle of mixed feelings had been knocked over.


    Who will compensate those ordinary people who suffered?


    For the sake of profit, could some people really engage in such utterly unconscionable business with a clear conscience?


    The answer is affirmative: as long as there are profits to be made, there will be people who do it.


    Even if the actions are utterly unconscionable.


    After finishing, Qin Hao didn¡¯t click ¡°post¡±. He scrolled up and opened the government¡¯s official website, sending these documents and evidence to a government email address.


    Then he clicked to post on Wei Yan.


    Zhao Yuying logged into her Wei Yan on her phone and saw Qin Hao¡¯s post. She was the first to share it.


    The first line of Qin Hao¡¯s Wei Yan was: ¡°The information below was provided anonymously, and it may be shocking and infuriating.¡±


    ¡°I hope everyone can remain rational; I believe the law will bring justice to us all.¡±


    The following content briefly described the despicable acts of the Ruixing Group.


    The video had an explanatory voice-over, intended to help viewers understand the content.


    The Wei Yan post wasn¡¯t long, nor was the video extended.


    The moment the Wei Yan was posted, hundreds of thousands of people saw it.


    After viewing, many were unable to suppress their inner outrage.


    People were shocked that Ruixing Group, a major domestic clothing brand, could do such a thing ¡ª reprocessing clothes from garbage dumps and deceased bodies into new garments?


    The first viewers frantically shared the post, and a huge uproar was rapidly brewing.


    Within half an hour, it exploded.


    Many were awakened and began to remember.


    ¡°I am a leukemia patient with no family history of the disease. I had always wondered curiously how I got sick.


    Now, seeing Mr. Qin¡¯s post, I have realized the truth. I have consistently bought from Ruixing Clothing.


    A few years ago, when Ruixing Clothing emerged prominently in the country for its quality products at low prices, I was a fan.


    Compared to other brands, Ruixing¡¯s clothes were slightly cheaper, and since then, my body¡¯s resistance has weakened.


    I often fell ill easily, but I would never have thought my new clothes could be the cause.


    But now, seeing Mr. Qin¡¯s post, if the garments contained deadly bacteria, how could a person not get sick? How could their resistance not be compromised?


    My family still has a lot of clothes from Ruixing, and I will have the relevant departments check them for high levels of bacteria.


    My name is Wang Lihai, and you can find my information. I am currently hospitalized in the First Military District Hospital of Beiya Province. I will let everyone know once the test results are out.¡±


    [Fourth Update]


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 Chapter 457 - 459 Exposed

    Chapter 457: Chapter 459 Exposed


    ¡°¡±¡±


    There are many people like Wang Lihai.


    They also only just realized that if it weren¡¯t for seeing Qin Hao¡¯s post on Wei Yan, they would probably never have known in their lifetime.


    Seeing many people expose their own health conditions, the discussion on this topic became even more heated.


    Many people had already taken their clothes to relevant laboratories for testing.


    Within just half an hour, the number of people discussing the issue surpassed ten million, becoming the top trending topic.


    ...


    The incident also caught the attention of the relevant authorities.


    Not just the authorities, but people from Ruixing Group also saw it, including Luo Ze and many shareholders who were informed.


    Upon learning of the situation, all the various shareholders of Ruixing Group rushed to the company.


    They went not to resolve the crisis but to confront Luo Ze and demand accountability.


    It turned out that the large textile processing factory was wholly owned by Luo Ze.


    To think he would purchase such cheap materials at such high prices, clearly taking the shareholders for fools.


    The money that should have belonged to the shareholders ended up in his own pocket.


    The situation online continued to escalate.


    A former grassroots employee of Ruixing Clothing Company also spoke up: I used to be a grassroots worker at Ruixing Clothing Company.


    I was involved in processing those kinds of materials and had to deal with various different types of fabrics every day.


    I worked at Ruixing Clothing Factory for three years, and then my skin started to become allergic, itchy, red, bumpy, and ulcerated.


    At first, I thought it was just an allergic reaction and took some medicine, but it didn¡¯t work very well.


    The condition didn¡¯t get worse, and since my family needed money, I continued to work at the Ruixing Clothing Factory for several more months.


    Eventually, I couldn¡¯t endure it any longer, so I went to the hospital for a checkup, and the doctor told me it was skin cancer.


    I was desperate at that moment; I didn¡¯t know why I had contracted this disease.


    I asked many doctors and experts, and they suspected it was largely related to my work.


    I once sought compensation from Ruixing Group but couldn¡¯t even get a meeting with the head of the company.


    I also reported it to the relevant departments, but there was no follow-up.


    If not for Mr. Qin¡¯s research on cancer drugs, I would probably be dead by now, thank you, Mr. Qin.


    One more thing to add: besides myself, many other workers in the factory often became ill, which is very likely due to these materials.


    Zhao Yuying¡¯s pretty face turned frosty, ¡°Please show some respect.¡±


    ¡°Heh, this must be Mr. Qin, right? I¡¯ve heard so much about you; my name is Li Fengyu,¡± the man said to Qin Hao in a nonchalant tone.


    Qin Hao looked at him, ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with her?¡±


    ¡°No relationship, just here to take her out for some fun,¡± Li Fengyu replied.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Are you leaving on your own, or shall I have someone send you off?¡±


    Li Fengyu responded, ¡°Mr. Qin, she¡¯s just a woman from your company, right? I am just taking her out for some fun, and I¡¯ll send her back when we¡¯re done.


    In the future, I¡¯ll definitely take good care of your business.¡±


    Qin Hao said impatiently, ¡°Throw him out, and if he dares to come here again, break his legs.¡±


    Leng Xuan and a few others charged up instantly, not giving Li Fengyu a chance to speak, raining down punches and kicks on him.


    They threw him out from the front desk straight to the outside of the company doors.


    After Li Fengyu got up, he didn¡¯t even dare to spit out threats, merely driving away in his Audi sports car.


    Qin Hao looked at Xie Hui, ¡°How do you know him?¡±


    Xie Hui replied, ¡°He¡¯s the owner of Nanhu Real Estate. A couple of days ago, there was a grand opening for a development by Nanhu Real Estate, and they invited a few of us models.


    I was leading the team, and then I took the group over. Afterwards, he asked for my contact information and has called me often, wanting to ask me out.¡±


    Qin Hao said to the models, ¡°I hope everyone can keep their true selves and not get lost in this materialistic city.


    I also hope you won¡¯t become playthings for the rich. Money is important, but there are things more valuable than money.¡±


    Xie Hui and the others nodded. In their industry, many turned to escort work because it made money fast and in large amounts.


    Qin Hao, regardless of what they thought, finished speaking and walked out of the company with Zhao Yuying.


    Ma Peng from Rainbow Special Effects Company had specifically requested Qin Hao to discuss an acquisition.


    That¡¯s why Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying came here today.


    Inside the conference room of Rainbow Special Effects Company, Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying sat down, with two teacups in front of them.


    Soon, Ma Peng walked in with a beaming smile, ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Zhao, Mr. Qin. As you saw, the company is a bit busy. My apologies, my apologies.¡±


    [Fifth update, no more for today, seeking votes]


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 Chapter 458 - 460: Luo Fengs Suicide

    Chapter 458: Chapter 460: Luo Feng¡¯s Suicide


    Qin Hao saw him and smiled, ¡°I heard Mr. Ma wants to talk with me? Just tell me how much, Mr. Ma.¡±


    Ma Peng, ¡°Mr. Qin, I know you are the chairman of Yuhao Media, so I¡¯m coming to you. I don¡¯t want money.¡±


    A gleam flashed in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes as he smiled faintly, ¡°Then what does Mr. Ma want?¡±


    Zhao Yuying listened by the side and stayed silent.


    Ma Peng, ¡°Rainbow Special Effects Company can merge into Yuhao Media Company, but I want shares in Yuhao Media.¡±


    ¡°How many shares does Mr. Ma want?¡± Qin Hao asked with a beaming smile.


    ...


    Ma Peng, ¡°Rainbow Special Effects Company is nationally recognized, not top-notch but easily within the top thirty. Its valuation exceeds 500 million. I want fifty-one percent of the shares.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, stood up, and said, ¡°Then there¡¯s no need for us to continue this conversation. Goodbye.¡±


    After finishing speaking, he walked outside. Zhao Yuying stood up and followed him out.


    Ma Peng was stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected Qin Hao to leave without even negotiating the price.


    But he wasn¡¯t worried at all because, at Jianghai Film and Television Base, Rainbow Special Effects could claim to be second, and no other company would dare to claim first.


    If Yuhao Media Company genuinely wanted to venture into the film industry and produce quality dramas and films, they could only come to them.


    Having left Rainbow Special Effects Company, Zhao Yuying spoke up, ¡°Xiao Hao might not really want that many shares, perhaps he just wanted to bargain with you.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I know. I couldn¡¯t possibly give him the company shares. Ying, didn¡¯t you say there are two more special effects companies here?¡±


    Zhao Yuying, ¡°Yes, there are two others, but both are suppressed by Rainbow Special Effects. One is even close to bankruptcy.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°No problem, take me to the one that¡¯s about to go bankrupt.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t after the companies¡¯ special effects production technology; he wanted their special effects production team.


    He didn¡¯t need the technology because he already had it.


    He initially planned to acquire Rainbow Special Effects because of its strong reputation. Acquiring it would significantly enhance Yuhao Media¡¯s reputation and would also bring in some business.


    But Ma Peng¡¯s ambition was too great; he wanted shares in Yuhao Media.


    And it seemed he wanted about forty percent.


    Zhao Yuying was startled, ¡°Go to the worst one? Their technology isn¡¯t good. Acquiring them would be a burden for our company.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°No problem, I want their team. I have the movie and television special effects production technology.¡±


    Zhao Yuying looked at him with a puzzled expression, ¡°You also understand movie special effects production technology?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Movie special effects production technology just involves using computer software; it¡¯s not complicated.¡±


    ¡°Does Mr. Qin really plan to buy our company?¡± Deng Wei asked uncertainly.


    The other two companies within the film and television base were stronger than hers; why would Qin Hao buy her company?


    This was clearly a losing deal.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, but Mr. Deng must ensure that the special effects team remains intact. I am buying the people.¡±


    Deng Wei, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Qin, these people have been with me for many years.


    Many of them are also fans of Mr. Zhao. Given the chance, they would definitely like to work for Mr. Qin and Mr. Zhao¡¯s company.¡±


    Deng Wei was indeed looking to sell her company; she had tried to find a buyer recently, but no one was interested.


    Now that Qin Hao was initiating the purchase, she would definitely sell if the price was right.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Deng, please state your price. If it¡¯s suitable, I¡¯ll take it, otherwise forget it.¡±


    Deng Wei hesitated for a moment. She dared not ask for too much, fearing that Qin Hao might just walk away.


    Otherwise, she might not be able to sell the company at all.


    She had no leverage to negotiate.


    About a minute later, Deng Wei looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, the lowest I can go is thirteen million.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°That¡¯s acceptable, but I have one condition: I hope Mr. Deng will continue to lead them.¡±


    Deng Wei¡¯s face brightened, ¡°Good, I was planning to suggest that too. I¡¯m their senior; they have been following me since graduation.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s sign the contract.¡±


    Things went smoothly, and Yuhao Media Company acquired Blue Shadow Special Effects Company for thirteen million.


    Deng Wei gathered all the employees to announce this, and then she did something that surprised both Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying.


    She transferred fifty thousand yuan to each employee, saying she owed her younger brothers and sisters too much.


    This was what they deserved.


    Deng Wei still owed a lot of money to relatives and friends, but the remaining money was just about enough to pay off her debts.


    As they left the Blue Shadow Special Effects Company, Qin Hao received a call from Li Wenjun, ¡°Mr. Qin, Luo Feng has jumped off a building and committed suicide.¡±


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 Chapter 459 - 461 Chen Ping and Qin Man

    Chapter 459: Chapter 461 Chen Ping and Qin Man


    Qin Hao said indifferently, ¡°I know.¡±


    This news was within his expectations; the scandal that erupted from the Ruixing Group meant that he could not escape the consequences.


    This matter would not end with his death, it would even intensify.


    ¡°Luo Feng committed suicide,¡± Qin Hao told Zhao Yuying.


    Zhao Yuying was stunned and said, ¡°He died easily, but what about the victims?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there will definitely be a resolution to this matter.¡±


    ...


    Upon returning to the Yuhao Media Company, Qin Hao logged onto Wei Yan on his computer.


    Currently, almost all the online discussions were about the Ruixing Group, and the issue had a tremendous impact.


    Because Ruixing Group¡¯s clothing was sold nationwide, with Jianghai City and the surrounding provinces and cities being the biggest sales areas.


    Qin Hao even saw many people who had put up banners outside the Ruixing Group demanding compensation.


    The official investigation team had already entered the Ruixing Group for investigations and, after preliminary inquiries, what Qin Hao had exposed was entirely true.


    Aside from Luo Feng, who had already died, all the other shareholders of the Ruixing Group were taken into police custody.


    The group¡¯s accounts were also urgently frozen by the police, and Luo Feng¡¯s family was likewise detained.


    The police are currently registering and investigating the victims involved in this matter.


    The towering edifice of the Ruixing Group, with total assets worth several tens of billions, collapsed in an instant.


    Companies closely related to the Ruixing Group, such as the Tang Group and Huaqing Energy Group, immediately denounced the misconduct of the Ruixing Group and quickly distanced themselves.


    That revealed a truth to many, ¡°When the wall falls, everyone pushes; when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.¡±


    Similarly, today several garment factories were subjected to surprise inspections, and over a dozen non-compliant garment factories were ordered to close.


    Huafei Clothing also received a surprise inspection but had no issues.


    The officials also issued a notice with the aim of showing the public their enforcement strength.


    However, online criticism remained abundant: Why weren¡¯t these issues discovered earlier?


    Now that Mr. Qin has exposed them, you start inspecting¡ªwhat were you doing earlier?


    The followers of Qin Hao¡¯s Wei Yan platform surged again, with many people thanking him in the comments for his righteous speaking out and exposing the matter.


    There were also conspiracy theorists who said Qin Hao did this to make room for Huafei Clothing.


    But not many agreed with such people.


    Qin Hao posted another Wei Yan update to clarify: ¡°In terms of product competitiveness, Ruixing Group was no match for Huafei.¡±


    Qin Man replied without missing a beat, ¡°I was discussing some work-related matters with Chen Ping.¡±


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; his cousin really knew how to spin a tale, ¡°Chen Ping, come with me for a moment.¡±


    After saying this, he turned and walked away. Chen Ping glanced at Qin Man, hesitated for a moment, then with a look of resolve, followed him.


    In Qin Hao¡¯s office, Nie Si had already left.


    Before Qin Hao could speak, Chen Ping took a deep breath and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve fallen for your cousin.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback, ¡°Damn, when did you become so straightforward? Don¡¯t call me Mr. Qin, just call me Big Brother.¡±


    Chen Ping, looking embarrassed, said, ¡°Big Brother, I hope you can give us your blessing.¡±


    Qin Hao, somewhat annoyed, said, ¡°Give you my blessing? Then what should I call you afterwards?¡±


    ¡°Big Brother, no matter what, you will always be my big brother. I¡¯ll have Xiao Man also call you Big Brother.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡±


    Qin Hao almost spit out the water he had just sipped.


    He looked at Chen Ping, completely taken aback, ¡°Damn, by the sound of it, you¡¯ve already won over my cousin? She listens to whatever you say?


    Old Six, I never saw it coming. You actually have such skills. Impressive.¡±


    Chen Ping¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, ¡°Big Brother, it¡¯s not... I...¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Enough, no need to explain. Get ready for tomorrow and come work at the new company with me.¡±


    ¡°New company?¡± Chen Ping was taken aback.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°How much money can you earn working here? Don¡¯t you want to buy a house here with my sister someday?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Ping nodded.


    Qin Hao, ¡°I¡¯ve started an artificial intelligence company and will set up an artificial intelligence research lab.


    There, you can learn a lot more. I hope you can develop more things beneficial to the country and the people.¡±


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Just then, the office door was flung open from outside, and Qin Man stormed in, furious.


    [Second update, today is my daughter¡¯s first birthday; had a bit of drink at noon, so please forgive me! Still writing the update, please wait a bit and bear with me]


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 Chapter 460 - 462: In Demand

    Chapter 460: Chapter 462: In Demand


    Qin Man looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Qin Hao, what do you mean? Are you trying to break us up?¡±


    She had just arrived and heard that Qin Hao was planning to transfer Chen Ping away.


    Naturally, she was unwilling.


    Chen Ping explained, ¡°Xiao Hao isn¡¯t what you think, big brother wants me to work at his new company, earn money to buy a house and a car.¡±


    Qin Man said irritably, ¡°What big brother? Don¡¯t you know I¡¯m her cousin? He should call you brother-in-law in the future.¡±


    Chen Ping said, ¡°Xiao Man, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d listen to me in the future? He¡¯s my big brother, and you should call him big brother too.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao: ¡°No... no, cough, let¡¯s talk about the titles later, cousin, I really don¡¯t want to break you two up.


    It¡¯s just that my new company really needs computer talents like Chen Ping, where in that company, the annual salary starts at a minimum of one million.


    If you don¡¯t want to be separated from him, it just so happens I need a secretary on my side. You could work there too.¡±


    Qin Man said with a smile, ¡°I knew my cousin wasn¡¯t that kind of person, great, I¡¯ll go with Chen Ping.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her speechlessly. She had been acting like a tiger mom just now, and he was very puzzled about what Chen Ping saw in his cousin.


    Cough, cough, of course, such questions can¡¯t be asked, otherwise it would be a dire situation.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Chen Ping, here¡¯s the address. You two can go straight there tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Yes, okay, big brother,¡± Chen Ping took the address.


    Qin Hao: ¡°You are adults now, make up your minds and go for it. I won¡¯t stop you, but will support you fully instead.¡±


    Chen Ping was moved: ¡°Thank you, big brother.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Alright, get busy, just remember to go tomorrow.¡±


    After Chen Ping and Qin Man left, Qin Hao opened his computer and started looking at the situation with Ruixing Group for a while.


    In the morning at Jianghai Film and Television Base, the news about Yuhao Media Company¡¯s acquisition of Blue Shadow Special Effects Company spread quickly.


    Ma Peng was stunned for a few seconds upon hearing the news. Qin Hao¡¯s group had actually acquired that garbage company, Blue Shadow Special Effects?


    Did they make a mistake? What¡¯s the use in acquiring such a garbage company?


    Everyone said Qin Hao was wealthy and influential, and the rumors were indeed true; he actually spent over ten million to buy this kind of garbage company.


    It really was money to burn.


    Around eleven o¡¯clock, Qin Hao received a call from Du Yingqiang: ¡°Mr. Qin, are you free at noon?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°I am. Mr. Du looking for me, how could I not have time?¡±


    They had never expected that Qin Hao could research and develop them, and they didn¡¯t even know that he was working on it.


    There¡¯s no need to even mention intelligent chips¡ªthe market potential is immense. Apart from a few large companies abroad, no company, including Xuan Country at present, can develop high-end chips.


    Then there¡¯s artificial intelligence, which many countries, laboratories, and companies around the world are researching.


    But they are all still in the exploratory phase, while Qin Hao has already developed it.


    What does this imply?


    It implies that Qin Hao¡¯s company is the only one in the world that has truly developed artificial intelligence.


    The word ¡°only¡± explains everything.


    If before they might have felt a bit superior, now they felt none at all.


    When Xinghai High-tech Company was first introduced, it was underrated even with an estimated value of hundreds of billions.


    Artificial intelligence is the most powerful aspect, and Xinghai High-tech is completely in a monopolistic position.


    The market potential is beyond imagination; nearly every industry is now moving toward intelligent development.


    Everyone dispersed after lunch.


    Upon returning, Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, and others immediately alerted the managers of their respective shopping malls to give full support to Qin Hao¡¯s products.


    As for the products of Tang Group, they were temporarily suspended from sale under the pretext of restructuring the stores.


    Du Group and Ye Group¡¯s shopping malls are spread across the nation, with the two groups together owning over a thousand large malls.


    They occupy about one-fourth of the national large shopping mall market.


    Tang Group¡¯s primary business is cosmetics, but they also venture into real estate and malls, though the scale of Tang Group¡¯s malls is not significant.


    Since the market for large malls is already saturated, Tang Group mainly operates in lower-tier town markets.


    Now, with rapid development in these lower-tier towns and increased income among the people, there are many shoppers, and the profits are substantial.


    The largest shopping mall group in the country is Beijiang Li Family¡¯s Su Yi Group.


    Su Yi Group is also a manufacturer of various snacks and beverages, forming a highly powerful integrated ecological chain.


    [Third update, still one more to go, writing now, looking good for four updates]


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 Chapter 461 - 463: Meeting Xu Liangguo

    Chapter 461: Chapter 463: Meeting Xu Liangguo


    Qin Hao and his team also discussed the matter of deep collaboration.


    On January 1, many sectors in Xuan Country will be fully opened, and many large foreign companies will enter the Xuan Country market.


    At that time, they¡¯ll be even more reliant on Qin Hao¡¯s high-end chips and artificial intelligence technology.


    Otherwise, they simply won¡¯t be able to withstand the onslaught of those top foreign companies.


    Previously, they didn¡¯t have a good solution, but now with Qin Hao¡¯s high-end chips and artificial intelligence, it¡¯s a different story.


    In the afternoon, after leaving the Innsil Hotel, Qin Hao received a call from Xu Siyao.


    ...


    Xu Siyao: ¡°My grandfather has come to Jianghai City, and he knows about us.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face changed slightly, ¡°Why has Mr. Xu come to Jianghai City?¡±


    Xu Siyao: ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the details. He now wants you and me to go to our house. Are you going?¡±


    Qin Hao sighed in his heart. Could he really not go? It¡¯s impossible for him to let Xu Siyao face it alone.


    ¡°How could I not go? Where are you? I¡¯ll come find you,¡± Qin Hao said, taking a deep breath.


    Xu Siyao: ¡°I¡¯m at the university.¡±


    ¡°Then wait for me at the school gate, I¡¯ll be right there,¡± Qin Hao directed Leng Xuan to drive towards Jianghai University.


    On the road, Qin Hao was wondering what to do when the time comes?


    Xu Liangguo¡¯s identity was no small matter. Would he get so frustrated that he would hit him?


    Cough, with such a prestigious status, he surely wouldn¡¯t resort to hitting someone, right?


    To tell the truth, his heart was still somewhat uneasy. This uneasiness stemmed from not understanding unknown situations.


    If he could predict the development of events, he wouldn¡¯t feel uneasy.


    When they arrived at the entrance of Jianghai University, Xu Siyao was already waiting for him. Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s car, she walked over.


    She looked somewhat haggard, and Qin Hao felt guilty seeing her like this.


    If it weren¡¯t for him, Xu Siyao wouldn¡¯t have fallen out with her family and ended up like this.


    Qin Hao wrapped an arm around her, letting her lean on his shoulder: ¡°Let¡¯s go to Mr. Xu¡¯s house.¡±


    Xu Siyao let out a small laugh.


    Seeing her laugh, Qin Hao spoke in annoyance, ¡°You still have the mood to laugh?¡±


    Xu Siyao spoke up, ¡°I feel so relaxed now, no longer having to be on tenterhooks and hide, worrying about the day it gets discovered.


    Anyway, I won¡¯t leave you. What can they do about it?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°No matter what they say, I won¡¯t give up on you.¡±


    With his words, Xu Siyao felt that all her sacrifices were worth it.


    Xu Liangguo shot Yang Su an angry glance but ultimately stayed silent.


    He had originally come to Jianghai City to find Qin Hao but hadn¡¯t expected to encounter this situation.


    If he hadn¡¯t pressed Xu Jiekang for answers, he might still be in the dark.


    ¡°Do you know why I called you here today?¡± Xu Liangguo¡¯s old face looked particularly drawn and lengthy.


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh, ¡°Mr. Xu, did you want to see me about the Xinghai Company matter?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, what¡¯s the deal with Si Yao? How far have you two developed?¡± Xu Liangguo¡¯s face turned ashen.


    Qin Hao felt somewhat embarrassed; how could he explain this? Could he just say they¡¯d already slept together?


    ¡°Aside from marriage, we¡¯ve done everything,¡± Xu Siyao answered directly.


    Xu Liangguo, hearing her words, nearly passed out from anger, trembling slightly.


    ¡°Dad, don¡¯t be upset, let¡¯s talk this over calmly,¡± Yang Su hastily interjected.


    Xu Liangguo took a deep breath and looked at Qin Hao, ¡°How do you plan to resolve this?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I will marry Si Yao.¡±


    Xu Liangguo, Xu Jiekang, and Yang Su were all taken aback for a moment.


    If Qin Hao could indeed marry Xu Siyao, naturally, everyone would be delighted; it was the outcome they all hoped for.


    Qin Hao not only had developed high-end chips but also even more advanced artificial intelligence; his future was boundless.


    The nation needed such a versatile talent as well.


    Xu Liangguo looked at him and asked, ¡°What about your current girlfriend? Have you two broken up?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°No, they are both my loved ones, and I cannot abandon either of them.¡±


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    Xu Liangguo stood up and lifted his leg to kick him.


    Damn it, he had thought Qin Hao understood the stakes and had broken up with his previous girlfriend.


    But the last thing he expected was for Qin Hao to offer such a reply, almost making his lungs explode with rage.


    Fortunately, Qin Hao dodged swiftly.


    Xu Jiekang and Yang Su quickly grabbed Xu Liangguo: ¡°Dad, don¡¯t be in a hurry, let¡¯s talk this through calmly.¡±


    ¡°Talk calmly, my ass, he¡¯s asking for a beating. Once I give him a good thrashing, he¡¯ll know he¡¯s in the wrong,¡± Xu Liangguo cursed, burning with anger.


    [Fourth update, that¡¯s all for today]


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 Chapter 462 - 464 Decision

    Chapter 462: Chapter 464 Decision


    ¡°`


    Yang Su gave Qin Hao an annoyed look, almost laughing at his blunt honesty.


    ¡°At a time like this, can¡¯t you be a little more diplomatic in your speech?¡±


    ¡°Do you seriously think the old man wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything to you?¡±


    The bodyguards around the old man are all armed with weapons; if he really wanted to kill you, it could be done in minutes, and there wouldn¡¯t be any consequences.


    Because Xu Liangguo¡¯s status gives him that kind of power.


    ...


    A few minutes later, Xu Liangguo settled down and sat on the sofa, at that moment he seemed even more terrifying to Qin Hao.


    Xu Liangguo looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Does your girlfriend know about this?¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Qin Hao replied truthfully.


    Xu Liangguo asked, ¡°If she knew, do you think she would break up with you?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Xu Liangguo said, ¡°My granddaughter will absolutely not be anyone¡¯s mistress. If anyone¡¯s going to be that, it will be the other person. That¡¯s my bottom line. Can you do that?¡±


    His intention was clear: he didn¡¯t care how many women Qin Hao had, but his granddaughter had to be the legitimate one.


    Xu Liangguo was making a very significant concession.


    If Qin Hao didn¡¯t agree now, Xu Liangguo would use his methods.


    With his power, he could absolutely force Du Hongfeng¡¯s whole family to capitulate.


    No matter what, Qin Hao had to make a decision now. If he didn¡¯t, Xu Liangguo might actually do something unpredictable.


    Xu Jiekang, Yang Su, and Xu Siyao all looked toward Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao frowned in deep thought, and no one disturbed him. Given his personality, it really was uncertain what kind of answer he would give.


    After struggling internally and pondering for three to four minutes, Qin Hao nodded with difficulty.


    Xu Jiekang and the others breathed a sigh of relief.


    Xu Liangguo looked at him and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care how you handle it, nor will I interfere. You solve your own problems.


    Now let¡¯s talk about the serious matter, concerning Xinghai High-tech Company.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Mr. Xu, please go ahead.¡±


    Xu Liangguo continued, ¡°The state is already aware of this matter. Tomorrow I¡¯ll bring a group of experts to tour your factory.


    They are all sent by the state, several of them are academicians from the Xuan Science Academy, your future colleagues.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have people prepare for it tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Hao, have some fruit.¡±


    Qin Hao opened his eyes, ¡°Meng, make yourself comfortable, come and talk with me.¡±


    Han Meng nodded and sat down on the adjacent lounge chair.


    She seemed to be using the lounge chair for the first time and was somewhat uneasy.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Meng, do you find life tiring?¡±


    Han Meng shook her head, ¡°Not at all; compared to before, my current life is like living in paradise.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her. She was simple-hearted, kind, and adorable, incapable of telling lies.


    Han Meng¡¯s thoughts were straightforward and easily contented; she harbored no ambitions.


    Han Meng said, ¡°Xiao Hao, don¡¯t think too much. You¡¯re already excellent. There¡¯s no need to tire yourself out.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly without saying much. Han Meng wouldn¡¯t understand; many things were too complicated to explain to her.


    But he really appreciated Han Meng¡¯s nature, uncorrupted by worldly ways ¡ª pure, pristine, free of deceit and manipulation.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, let me give you a massage. I¡¯ve just learned how,¡± Han Meng said as she stood up.


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, ¡°Where did you learn that from?¡±


    Han Meng replied, ¡°Yu Ying downloaded an app for me on my phone. It teaches stuff like this.¡±


    After she spoke, she walked behind Qin Hao, placed her hands on his back, and began to massage him.


    Surprisingly, it was really comfortable. Qin Hao said with a laugh, ¡°Meng, you¡¯ve learned quite well. It truly feels great.¡±


    Han Meng¡¯s face lit up with joy; as long as Qin Hao found it helpful, that was all that mattered.


    Before he realized it, Qin Hao had fallen asleep. When Han Meng noticed, she stopped and went to the bedroom to fetch a blanket to cover him.


    Han Meng sat beside him, watching over him.


    Around five in the afternoon, Zhao Yuying came back. She saw that Qin Hao was sleeping and didn¡¯t disturb him; she and Han Meng left to fetch Qiao¡¯er.


    Qin Hao was later woken by the ringing of his phone.


    He heard the cellphone ringtone, opened his eyes, and picked up the phone¡ªit was a call from Du Wanrou.


    Could it be that she already knew about the situation?


    He hesitated for a moment, then answered the call.


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 Chapter 463 - 465 Anxiety

    Chapter 463: Chapter 465 Anxiety


    Qin Hao answered the phone and said, ¡°Wan Rou, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Du Wanrou smiled and said, ¡°I already know, Xu Siyao has told me everything.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Wan Rou.¡±


    Du Wanrou had not expected this day to come so soon, the first lesson in nobility taught to her by Sophie Inshill was: Woman.


    As for men like Qin Hao, Sophie had made it clear to her: he¡¯s very charming and will attract many beautiful women.


    You must be mentally prepared.


    ...


    Just a few days had passed, and there was already an incident with Xu Siyao.


    Hearing Qin Hao¡¯s voice, she could detect that kind of heartfelt guilt and torment.


    Du Wanrou had countless thoughts in her mind, and she had thought about leaving Qin Hao.


    But the idea of leaving Qin Hao gave her a feeling of suffocation.


    She smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have to blame yourself too much, no matter what I won¡¯t leave you.¡±


    This was the best solution at the moment, although she was very uncomfortable, she had to accept this fact.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t know what to say, he felt he owed Du Wanrou too much to express in words.


    Originally the official girlfriend, now she had become the other woman instead.


    The grievance could be imagined.


    Du Wanrou said with a smile, ¡°Si Yao is pretty nice; she said she won¡¯t compete with me, at home I¡¯m still the boss.¡±


    Qin Hao said awkwardly, ¡°She¡¯s not ill-intentioned.¡±


    Du Wanrou: ¡°Mm, don¡¯t feel guilty about this anymore. Cheer up, I like to see you strong and confident.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mm, thank you, Wan Rou, when will you come back?¡±


    Du Wanrou replied, ¡°Mid-month I guess, but the roasted duck restaurant here is doing so well, I¡¯m a bit reluctant to leave.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Leave the roasted duck restaurant to a professional manager, and when you come back, I¡¯ll take you to meet my parents.¡±


    Du Wanrou nodded with a smile: ¡°Mm, okay.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao stood up and took a deep breath, looking at many people playing on the beach.


    Many had already forgotten the incident from a few days ago; for many, it might just be an amusing story.


    But deep down, Qin Hao had a trace of worry.


    Where did that black D-grade metal come from?


    As for cases like mine, all sorts of programs want to invite me, and they even offer me a high appearance fee.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, no wonder so many people sign with media companies.


    They don¡¯t have the funds to promote themselves and have to rely on their company¡¯s operations.


    After dinner, they took a walk on the beach outside and then returned to watch television.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost eight, turn on Nancha TV quickly,¡± Zhao Yuying urged.


    Turning on Nancha TV, it was still showing commercials.


    There were ads for Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine, endorsed by Zhao Yuying, followed by Huafei Clothing and Tianli Cosmetics.


    About a few minutes later, ¡®The Voice of Xuan Country¡¯ started to air.


    It¡¯s the December monthly contest now, with a total of fifteen contestants remaining. Tonight, the champion, runner-up, and second runner-up for December will be decided.


    Among these fifteen contestants, three are from Yuhao Media Company, and most of the others are signed with different media companies.


    There are simply no individuals participating in this period on their own. Without signing with a company, it¡¯s quite difficult to continue.


    Some media companies, upon seeing promising singers during preliminaries, approach them to sign contracts.


    Contestants generally evaluate a company¡¯s strength before deciding whether to sign.


    After all, signing with a good media company offers more room for future growth.


    The bigger the signing company, the greater its influence in the industry, and the wider its network.


    A company can completely use its influence and network to subtly alter rankings, making it easier for their own artists to win.


    The hostess of Nancha TV¡¯s ¡®The Voice of Xuan Country¡¯ was the first to appear.


    She first gave a shout-out to the show¡¯s title sponsor, then introduced the four judges.


    ¡°The first judge is Mr. Guo Zhengping, who is known as the country¡¯s foremost tenor.¡±


    Applause erupted below, as Guo Zhengping had a significant reputation in the music circle.


    ¡°The second is Mr. Fang Kai, then Mr. Zheng Fang as the third, and the fourth is Mr. Yang Xingwei.¡±


    After the introduction of the four mentor judges, applause continued nonstop. These individuals had a very high profile in the music industry and were top-tier singers.


    Then the first contestant was invited up, gave a brief self-introduction, and commenced their performance.


    [Second update]


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 Chapter 464 - 466: Being Targeted

    Chapter 464: Chapter 466: Being Targeted


    After one contestant finished singing, the judges scored them, but the scores were not disclosed at that moment.


    However, the scores were handed over to the host, who would announce them after all contestants had performed.


    The host would then reveal the scores one by one, determining which contestants would stay or leave.


    The second performer was a young man, and Zhao Yuying spoke up, ¡°He is from our company.¡±


    The young man was decent looking, and his fans and support group could be seen in the audience.


    His singing was barely passable, and Qin Hao could tell he was a bit nervous.


    ...


    After he finished, the four judges conferred briefly, then entered their scores.


    The host glanced at his scoring device, then invited the next singer to perform.


    After the fifth performer finished, there was a few minutes of commercials, and the competition continued.


    The tenth performer was also a singer signed with Yuhao Media Company, and he performed very well, having chosen a great song.


    The last performer was also a singer signed with Yuhao Media Company, a very attractive and sweet-looking young girl.


    As she appeared, cheers erupted from the audience, marking her as the most supported contestant of the event.


    Zhao Yuying introduced her, ¡°Her name is Yu Tiantian, another one of our signed artists who joined us because of my reputation.


    Her singing and looks are both excellent¡ªshe¡¯s a newcomer with great potential to be shaped.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°True to her name, she is indeed very fetching.¡±


    As soon as Yu Tiantian began to sing, cheers broke out from the audience. Upon hearing this, Guo Zhengping remained impassive.


    Fang Kai, Zheng Fang, and Yang Xingwei, sitting next to him, turned to look at Guo Zhengping.


    The few of them were friends from the music industry. When they arrived, Guo Zhengping had spoken to them,


    The people from Yuhao Media were absolutely not to win the monthly competition nor enter the annual finals.


    Back when Qin Hao¡¯s song became a hit online, Guo Zhengping had snapped at him, and after Qin Hao retorted, he never bothered with him again.


    That had always left Guo Zhengping feeling frustrated.


    Now, knowing that Yuhao Media was a company started by Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying, he had thought about his revenge.


    With him around, several contestants from Yuhao Media wouldn¡¯t even dream of winning the monthly contest or making it to the annual finals.


    After Yu Tiantian finished her song, thunderous applause resonated throughout the venue.


    Upon entering his score, the other three judges hesitated before doing the same.


    Zhao Yuying, an old-timer in the entertainment industry, could tell he was making excuses.


    ¡°Does this guy have a grudge against our company?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Zhao Yuying thought for a moment and said, ¡°Not that I know of. I have decent relationships in the entertainment industry and have never badmouthed anyone behind their backs.¡±


    After a few seconds, Zhao Yuying suddenly realized, ¡°I remember now, weren¡¯t you criticizing some people in the music industry a while ago?¡±


    ¡°Really? That can¡¯t be it, can it?¡± Qin Hao was puzzled.


    He hadn¡¯t even remembered that incident, and it had just been a small exchange of words, could they really be that petty?


    Zhao Yuying checked Guo Zhengping¡¯s Wei Yan, and indeed, found his comment on Qin Hao¡¯s song there.


    ¡°What is this singing? Completely incomprehensible, too pretentious,¡± was Guo Zhengping¡¯s comment at the time.


    Underneath, many of Qin Hao¡¯s fans had fiercely insulted: You¡¯re such an idiot, what do you know?


    ¡°Clearly just jealous. You¡¯ll never be able to sing such a good song in your life.¡±


    ¡°Jumping on Mr. Qin¡¯s popularity, are you? Sorry you failed. Unfollowed, bye.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Look,¡± Zhao Yuying showed Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao took a look and was somewhat at a loss for words; he hadn¡¯t paid any attention to Guo Zhengping initially.


    Seeing that so many people were cursing him, Guo Zhengping later posted a video. It was a video of him singing a high-pitched song.


    In it, he sang quite well, and he received considerable support.


    ¡°I¡¯ll investigate this,¡± Qin Hao stood up and went to his study.


    This matter was related to him; Yu Tiantian was just a collateral victim.


    Furthermore, this incident had deeper implications. If Qin Hao did not retaliate, it would be harder for the artists under Yuhao Media to make progress in the future, ultimately affecting the company¡¯s development.


    Now looking at Xuan Country, many good-song media companies could see right through Guo Zhengping¡¯s excuses.


    It was clear from the last and second-to-last ranks that he was targeting Qin Hao¡¯s Yuhao Media Company.


    [Chapter Three]


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 Chapter 465 - 467: The Hot Topic Maker

    Chapter 465: Chapter 467: The Hot Topic Maker


    Qin Hao and Yuhao Media Company had to retaliate.


    Zhao Yuying followed Qin Hao into his study, where he turned on his computer and then used hacking techniques to break into Guo Zhengping¡¯s computer.


    However, there was no response; his computer must have been turned off, not connected to the internet.


    Then he attacked Guo Zhengping¡¯s mobile phone, refusing to believe that Guo Zhengping¡¯s phone was also off.


    Zhao Yuying watched from the side, but could not understand anything. Soon, a mobile phone interface appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s computer screen.


    Qin Hao opened the call log to check, but there was no useful information.


    ...


    ¡°What is this, Xiao Hao?¡± Zhao Yuying asked curiously.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Guo Zhengping¡¯s mobile phone.¡±


    Zhao Yuying was stunned for a moment, ¡°His phone? How did you ...¡±


    Before she could finish, Zhao Yuying instantly realized that Qin Hao was a hacker.


    Qin Hao, having accessed the mobile phone¡¯s highest administrative rights through the backend, opened his chat software; there he saw names of recent contacts, including Fang Kai, Zheng Fang, and Yang Xingwei.


    But the chat history was blank, probably deleted by Guo Zhengping.


    Qin Hao searched for a long time but couldn¡¯t find any useful information; however, he discovered a secondary account used by Guo Zhengping.


    He logged into it and saw only one contact, saved under the name: ¡°Little Baby.¡±


    Qin Hao opened the chat history and had only looked for a few seconds when he was stunned.


    Zhao Yuying¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment because the conversation was too explicit and shameless.


    There were also several videos that depicted Guo Zhengping and a young woman engaged in sexual acts, which were indecent to watch.


    ¡°Guo Zhengping is already in his forties and married, yet he¡¯s still fooling around with a twenty-something-year-old girl.


    He even threatened the girl, saying he¡¯d make it impossible for her to get ahead in the music industry if she didn¡¯t comply. Do you know this woman?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    With her face flushed, Zhao Yuying said, ¡°She seems to be the champion of June¡¯s monthly contest; her name should be Chen Hong.¡±


    Qin Hao used editing software to clip the videos. There were several videos in the chat records, some of which were particularly explicit.


    This wasn¡¯t the evidence Qin Hao was looking for. He then hacked into the mobile phones of Fang Wei and several others again.


    Their chat history had not been deleted because they had their own motives and wanted to keep the evidence.


    If anything happened later, they could also get help from Guo Zhengping.


    Qin Hao saved all these chat records, then searched a bit more before exiting the hacking software.


    Zhao Yuying watched the series of operations in shock, recalling the massive online public opinion war that had happened initially.


    Qin Hao must have cracked it using the same method, right?


    Zhao Yuying felt a bit delighted; Qin Hao not doing this behind her back showed he completely trusted her.


    Unexpectedly, some elders in the music industry would do such things, shameful despite becoming famous from a competition.


    Our company strongly condemns this misconduct and has already reported it to the relevant authorities.


    Qin Hao posted another Wei Yan: Let everyone see the true face of Judge Guo. He said that as long as she complied, he could push her to the finals and even secure her championship.


    The attached was a processed video of Guo Zhengping with the June champion, Chen Hong.


    As soon as this video was released, the internet went into an uproar again.


    ¡°Damn, isn¡¯t that June¡¯s champion, Chen Hong? She was actually involved with Guo Zhengping?¡±


    ¡°Damn, didn¡¯t expect my idol to do such disgusting things.¡±


    ¡°Guo Zhengping, what do you have to say for yourself now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s unbearable to watch, Guo Zhengping¡¯s wife and children must be dying inside.¡±


    Afterward, Qin Hao leaked many chat logs involving Fang Wei, Zheng Fang, and Yang Xingwei.


    Some involved threatening female newcomers to do unspeakable things, while others involved suppressing newcomers they disliked...


    After seeing that video, Guo Zhengping spat out a mouthful of blood and then fainted.


    The others¡¯ faces didn¡¯t fare much better, breaking out in cold sweat.


    It¡¯s over. Everything is over. With this ironclad evidence exposed, they might have to say goodbye to the entertainment industry forever.


    Finally, Qin Hao posted one more Wei Yan:


    One more important piece of news to share: @Yu Tiantian¡¯s singing is indeed great, go check her out.


    ...


    ¡°Damn, I thought there was going to be more shocking news, but it turns out to be a twist.¡±


    ¡°Just found out the full story and just listened to the song, Tiantian is undoubtedly the rightful champion.¡±


    ¡°Support Mr. Qin, support Tiantian, Tiantian go for it.¡±


    ¡°Anonymous netizens are formidable, having gathered so much information, from the last public opinion battle, then the Ruixing Group issue, and now this.¡±


    In just over half an hour, this topic became the second hottest topic of discussion.


    The first is still the issue with Ruixing Group.


    Qin Hao was acclaimed by many fans as a hot topic maker.


    [Fourth update, more to come, please wait]


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 Chapter 466 - 468 Inspection

    Chapter 466: Chapter 468 Inspection


    ¡°`


    Nancha TV had no knowledge of this matter.


    They quickly responded to the judge issue and issued an apology statement, stating that a reselection of the December champion would take place.


    All contestants would undergo another reselection via an online voting system.


    Whoever got the most votes would be the champion, ensuring fairness and justice.


    This move by Nancha TV garnered a lot of praise, as the attention to their ¡°Good Voice¡± program surged instantly.


    ...


    Yu Tiantian also released a statement on Wei Yan thanking Mr. Qin and Mr. Zhao for their support and said she would cherish this opportunity, continue to work hard, and sing beautiful songs for everyone.


    Her Wei Yan followers had been around twenty thousand, but thanks to Qin Hao¡¯s uproar and promotion, they had already surpassed one million.


    Qin Hao¡¯s ability to drive traffic amazed many people; it was simply terrifying.


    Just a few words, and Yu Tiantian gained so many followers, comparable to a third-tier celebrity now.


    After participating in the competition, she might even have a chance to break into the second tier.


    After shutting down the computer, Qin Hao stretched and said with a smile, ¡°Yu Tiantian¡¯s followers have risen to more than one hundred and thirty thousand.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°She is pretty and has a sweet voice, possessing the potential to be popular. It¡¯s only right to promote artists from our own company.¡±


    Zhao Yuying chuckled, ¡°Now you have more active followers than I do. Even though I have a lot of followers, many of them are bots.¡±


    The two chatted for a while before heading to their rooms to rest.


    Next morning.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao drove to Xinghai High-tech Factory.


    He arrived a bit early as Xu Liangguo and some experts from Xuan Science Academy were visiting.


    Around eight in the morning, Qin Hao arrived at the factory.


    At the factory gates, he ran into Chen Ping and Qin Man.


    Chen Ping, ¡°Brother, you¡¯re here today too.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Some higher-ups are coming to inspect the factory today, so I came to check things out. Come on, I¡¯ll take you inside.¡±


    Just as he was about to take them inside, several vans stopped at the factory gate, accompanied by a few black sedans in front.


    He Tingting and some gray-haired professors got out of the cars.


    There were also a few minibuses behind, and a group of people got off, looking around curiously¡ªabout forty to fifty of them.


    Two security personnel escorted Qin Hao to the gate where Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, Li Jianjun, and Li Qingya, among others, had all arrived.


    After parking the car in the parking lot, Du Yingqiang said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, your factory compound is quite large.¡±


    ¡°Master,¡± Li Moying ran over grinning beside him.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Qin,¡± Ye Lanxin, Li Qingya, Li Qingyun, and others began to call out.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°Brother Du, Miss Ye, Miss Li, please wait a moment. More people are coming to visit and inspect the site soon; you can all tour together later.¡±


    ¡°More people? Who?¡± Du Yingqiang asked curiously.


    Qin Hao, ¡°People from above.¡±


    The expressions of Du Yingqiang and the others froze; people from the government?


    Around 9:20 a.m., seven or eight cars stopped outside the gate of Xinghai High-tech Factory.


    Xu Liangguo, along with some academicians from Xuan Science Academy, stepped out of the cars. In total, there were about a dozen people, or more than thirty if security personnel were included.


    Qin Hao quickly had the gates opened, with Du Yingqiang and the others following him.


    When they saw the newcomers, a flash of surprise crossed the faces of Du Yingqiang and his group. Xu Liangguo? He actually came.


    And those with him, all academicians from Xuan Science Academy, were renowned scientists and experts from the country.


    ¡°Welcome, Mr. Xu,¡± Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Xu Liangguo nodded slightly, ¡°These several individuals beside me are all academicians from the computer and artificial intelligence departments of Xuan Science Academy, pillars of our nation.¡±


    One of the older academicians in his sixties said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯re colleagues in a sense. I¡¯ve long admired your reputation, the youngest academician, it¡¯s remarkable.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t dare accept such praise, please come in,¡± Qin Hao responded humbly.


    Qin Hao and Xu Liangguo walked shoulder to shoulder, while Du Yingqiang and the others knew that Xu Liangguo and his group were not ordinary figures and followed respectfully behind.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Would everyone like to rest in the office building for a bit? After such a long car ride, you must be tired, right?¡±


    Xu Liangguo, ¡°No need, take us directly for a tour first. We can talk about resting later.¡±


    These individuals were eager to find out just how far Xinghai High-tech¡¯s artificial intelligence had advanced.


    [Fifth update, that¡¯s all for today, an extra update for Brother Y¡¯s generous tip.]


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 Chapter 467 - 469 Singing

    Chapter 467: Chapter 469 Singing


    Qin Hao led Xu Liangguo and others to the photolithography machine production workshop first.


    Currently, there are two photolithography machine production lines, employing just under a hundred staff.


    The workshop is clean, tidy, and operates quietly in an orderly fashion, with all employees working diligently.


    Seeing Qin Hao and his group enter, the staff cast curious glances before lowering their heads to continue their work.


    Chang Jing¡¯s management of the company is excellent, highly organized, and her capabilities are very strong.


    As he walked, Qin Hao said, ¡°This is the photolithography machine production line. At present, there are only two lines, which produce about two high-end particle beam lithography machines every half month.¡±


    ...


    Mr. Zhou from the Xuan Science Academy¡¯s computer department asked, ¡°Your factory can actually produce high-end particle beam lithography machines?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Without these independently produced lithography machines, it would be impossible to manufacture high-end chips.¡±


    ¡°Is it possible for Xuan Science Academy to pre-order one? How much would it cost?¡± Zhou Jie asked.


    There are currently no high-end lithography machines produced domestically; the technology for high-end lithography machines is completely monopolized by foreign countries.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Of course, you can. But as you see, Mr. Zhou, our company is still developing, so we definitely can¡¯t provide it free of charge.¡±


    Zhou Jie nodded, ¡°That¡¯s natural, but it can¡¯t be too expensive either, as our budget isn¡¯t very large.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Generally, they are around one billion Federation coins abroad, and those can¡¯t even compare with this high-end lithography machine of mine,


    I did my research for the development of the country, so let¡¯s say five hundred million Federation coins, and it can¡¯t be any less.¡±


    Five hundred million Federation coins are approximately thirty-five billion Xuan Country Coins. The cost and labor expenses are not much; it is mainly the technology that is costly.


    If he were to sell it for five hundred million Federation coins, he would earn at least thirty billion, thinking about those selling for one billion Federation coins, it was simply terrifying.


    Du Yingqiang and others watched Qin Hao talk prices casually with the bigwigs from Xuan Science Academy, and they couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp breath.


    A single unit for five hundred million Federation coins? That expensive?


    Xu Liangguo didn¡¯t say anything, since the purchase by Xuan Science Academy had nothing to do with him, but he was somewhat surprised at the price.


    Five hundred million Federation coins are considered a friendly price?


    The more than ten academicians from the Xuan Science Academy carefully inspected the lithography machine production line, and then Qin Hao led them out.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°This is the chip production workshop.¡±


    Entering the chip production workshop, there were also two production lines inside, currently producing various chips.


    Were you also invited by Mr. Qin? Why didn¡¯t we see you earlier?¡±


    Wang Bo said with a smile, ¡°We¡¯re now part of Qin Company¡¯s laboratory.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see, in that case, I must congratulate you, Mr. Wang.¡±


    After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xu Liangguo, Zhou Jie, Wei Guoxing, and others moved to the front.


    More than ten robots were working there, orderly and with very high efficiency.


    Zhou Jie, Wei Guoxing, and the other academics from the Xuan Science Academy were stunned upon seeing this; these were no mere robots, but almost indistinguishable from humans.


    Ten robots were assembling the signal receivers for seismographs, which looked like oversized pots.


    Some were assembling small parts, others were using tools to screw in bolts, and each robot had a clear division of labor without the slightest confusion, working highly efficiently.


    ¡°These are the artificial intelligence robots our company has developed,¡± said Qin Hao with a smile.


    For Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, and Li Jianjun, it was their first time seeing this, and their eyes were wide open, mouths slightly ajar, their shock evident.


    ¡°Number 001, come here,¡± Qin Hao called out to one of the robots that was working.


    Number 001 scurried over: ¡°Master, the receiver assembly will be completed by the morning.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Chang, and all the leaders, good day, I¡¯m 001, a robot from Xinghai High-tech Company, and I¡¯m very pleased to meet everyone.¡±


    Listening to 001¡¯s mature male voice, if one closed their eyes, they would be unable to imagine that these words were spoken by a robot.


    Xu Liangguo looked at number 001 with a similarly shocked expression, examining it from top to bottom.


    He wondered if there was a person hidden inside the robot¡¯s exterior?


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that expression, how about I sing a song for you all? This is our self-written ¡®Robot¡¯s Song¡¯.¡±


    With that, the fellow started to sing without any hesitation.


    And once he started, it was indeed very pleasant to the ear, the voice instantly became magnetic.


    It was mainly due to the sound card chip and the equipment; the high-performance characteristics were immediately revealed, the voice comparable to top singers.


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 Chapter 468 - 470 The Price of Family Ties

    Chapter 468: Chapter 470 The Price of Family Ties


    We are robots


    We never complain and aren¡¯t afraid of toil


    We are robots


    We are loyal, reliable, and unafraid of death


    ...


    Xu Liangguo, the distinguished fellows from the Xuan Science Academy, He Tingting, Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, and others were all stunned.


    ...


    What the hell, can this robot actually sing? And it sounds so pleasant and articulate.


    Is this thing aiming for the heavens or what?


    If robots can sing this beautifully, how are those in the music industry supposed to live?


    ¡°Stop, don¡¯t sing anymore,¡± Qin Hao was still very satisfied with 001¡¯s performance and response.


    This fully showcased the advantages of intelligent robots.


    Qin Hao: ¡°All of you, come over here.¡±


    The nine robots also ran over and lined up in a row.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Minister Zhou, Minister Wei, you can take a closer look. We are only at the initial development stage right now.


    Therefore, there are still many aspects of the robots that need to be perfected. In our subsequent research and development, we will perfect these aspects, such as enabling robots to connect to computers via the internet and so forth.¡±


    Zhou Jie, Wei Guoxing, and others walked over to look at the robots.


    Xu Liangguo asked Qin Hao, standing next to him, ¡°These things won¡¯t rebel, will they?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head: ¡°Impossible, those science fiction movies where robots rule the world,


    those are just extreme flights of fancy created by some people.


    Robots are controlled by humans. For example, I am currently their highest-ranking master, but if I were to die unexpectedly,


    they would follow the commands of the second master. If there is no second master, they will initiate the self-destruction protocol.


    This would only happen unless someone deliberately manipulates the robots to cause chaos in the world.¡±


    Xu Liangguo nodded slightly: ¡°Do you think these could be applied in warfare?¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment: ¡°They could, but the requirements for their appearance would need to be much more precise, especially the sensory equipment on their heads.


    They absolutely cannot become paralyzed by ordinary bullets, so we would need to use more advanced bulletproof materials.


    If they were also equipped with thermal imaging systems, they could handle human soldiers without any problem, but if faced with more powerful weapons,


    the robots likely wouldn¡¯t stand a chance, so we would also need advanced radar countermeasures to prevent them from being locked on and destroyed.¡±


    Qin Hao replied awkwardly, ¡°Mr. Zhou, you¡¯re joking. I might just be a bit smarter than everyone.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, how do you plan to sell your intelligent robot? And for how much?¡± Zhou Jie asked.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°The price hasn¡¯t been set yet, but if Mr. Zhou wants one, I¡¯ll give you the cost price, three million Federation Coins.¡±


    Chang Jing nearly spat out blood, cost price? Three million Federation Coins?


    You really dare ask for that much from a minister of the Xuan Science Academy?


    Zhou Jie¡¯s head was covered in black lines, ¡°Over twenty million Xuan Country Coins? Mr. Qin, have you made a mistake?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled, ¡°No mistake, I plan on setting the selling price at five million Federation Coins in a couple of days.¡±


    Qin Hao knew that Zhou Jie and the others received a lot of research funding every year, and he felt that money would be better spent on himself.


    Giving it to Zhou Jie and the others was a waste, but given to himself, he would use it effectively.


    Therefore, asking for three million Federation Coins didn¡¯t seem too expensive to him.


    It¡¯s better I utilize it than you waste it.


    Zhou Jie spoke with displeasure, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that the research cost of the chip is the same as the market cost for ordinary chips?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Ahem, Mr. Zhou, it¡¯s the intelligent programming that¡¯s the most valuable.¡±


    Bullshit, of all those things, it¡¯s the programming that¡¯s worth the least.


    Of course, to those who know how, it¡¯s worthless, but to those who don¡¯t, it¡¯s worth a fortune.


    It was clear that Qin Hao just wanted to make a fortune off them.


    Zhou Jie looked towards Xu Liangguo, thinking that Xu Liangguo should have some say in the matter.


    Xu Liangguo was somewhat speechless. Why the hell are you looking at me? The Xu Family has shares in this too.


    You get so much research funding every year; a few million isn¡¯t much.


    He chose to completely ignore Zhou Jie.


    Wei Guoxing spoke up, ¡°Three million then. Mr. Qin, the factory does indeed need funds for development.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Wei is understanding and reasonable,¡± Qin Hao said with a chuckle.


    After the tour of the Xinghai High-tech Factory, Xu Liangguo and the others started to leave.


    On the way out, Xu Liangguo said to Qin Hao, ¡°Prepare for the third International High-tech Expo. I believe that day will be spectacular.¡±


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 Chapter 469 - 471 Jiangshan Group

    Chapter 469: Chapter 471 Jiangshan Group


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Mr. Xu, rest assured, they will certainly be in for a big surprise when the time comes.¡±


    Xu Liangguo nodded, ¡°There will be journalists from domestic Wei Country channels interviewing you, so be prepared.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Mm, Mr. Xu, could you arrange for a group of domestic earthquake scientists to come over?¡±


    Xu Liangguo, ¡°What for?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°The seismometer I¡¯m researching covers almost the entire Dongzhou, and it will be ready in about two days.


    However, there¡¯s still no one to manage it, and I¡¯m providing it to the country for free. I hope the country can send some experts over.¡±


    ...


    Xu Liangguo nodded, ¡°Jianghai University should have earthquake scientists. I will give the orders when the time comes.¡±


    After leaving the factory, Qin Hao said to Zhou Jie and Wei Guoxing, ¡°Mr. Zhou, Mr. Wei, do come by more often if there¡¯s a chance.¡±


    Zhou Jie felt somewhat uneasy about him, ¡°I wish Mr. Qin ever-flowing wealth in the future.¡±


    Wei Guoxing replied with a faint smile, ¡°Mm, alright, you should head back, Mr. Qin.¡±


    After seeing off Xu Liangguo and the others, Qin Hao took a long breath and turned to Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, and others, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and talk.¡±


    He and everyone else entered the factory¡¯s office building.


    Inside Qin Hao¡¯s office, Qin Man poured water for everyone and then stood aside, with Chang Jing also present.


    Qin Hao said to her, ¡°Mr. Chang, one photolithography machine, one robot, were purchased from Xuan Science Academy, totaling 530 million Federation coins.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded slightly. 530 million Federation coins equaled 35.2 billion Xuan Country coins, netting a profit of 30 billion.


    This showed just how expensive technology was in the world.


    This was the so-called ¡°family price¡± offered by Qin Hao, selling to outsiders would not be at these rates.


    Li Qingya spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, shall we discuss our matter now?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Mm, alright.¡±


    Li Qingya, ¡°After going back the other day, I discussed with my dad, and we plan to start with an order of ten thousand smart mainboards.


    These mainboards will be used in fully automatic smart washing machines, with the chips also provided by Mr. Qin, most importantly the smart program.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°A single mainboard will cost one thousand six hundred, can¡¯t go any lower.¡±


    Li Qingyun smiled and nodded. The ordinary mainboards they used to make would even cost one thousand four hundred and fifty, so one thousand six hundred was not expensive.


    Li Qingya spoke, ¡°On the third day, Mr. Qin will apparently be attending the International High-tech Exhibition. By then, Xinghai High-tech Company is likely to become world-renowned. How much valuation do you think those investment giants will give?¡±


    ¡°At least a hundred billion Federation coins, I guess,¡± Du Yingqiang said after some thought.


    The others were stunned¡ªA hundred billion Federation coins?


    There aren¡¯t many listed companies in the country with a market value that has broken through a hundred billion Federation coins.


    Is the valuation of Qin Hao¡¯s company going to exceed a hundred billion Federation coins as soon as it enters the market?


    And if it develops further, what will the valuation be?


    Inside Qin Hao¡¯s office, Li Moying giggled and asked, ¡°Master, how much money did you make today?¡±


    ¡°About thirty-five billion,¡± Qin Hao replied with a smile.


    Next to him, Qin Man¡¯s heart was roiling with towering waves, especially given Qin Hao¡¯s indifferent expression. He exhibited not the slightest sign of excitement.


    Was this really the snotty kid who used to follow her around?


    Li Moying said, ¡°Thirty-five billion? So, my share for the day is over three billion? Master, you¡¯re so amazing, muah.¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°This is just the beginning; there will be much more later on.¡±


    Chang Jing said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll go get busy. I won¡¯t disturb you anymore.¡±


    ...


    On this day, Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company and Xinghui Wine announced the formation of Jiangshan Group.


    Jiangshan Cooked Food Company and Xinghui Wine are its wholly-owned subsidiaries.


    This news sparked considerable debate, with industry companies within the investment community giving an evaluation of eighty-nine billion Federation coins.


    Xinghui Wine had been performing powerfully these days, due to its unique taste and health benefits, placing it ahead of Nanlang Wine and Old Cellar Wine.


    Now the sales of Nanlang Wine and Old Cellar Wine have seen an avalanche-like slide.


    Every mid- and low-end brand of wine has been greatly impacted, and Nanlang Wine and Old Cellar Wine have drawn particular attention because of their previously large market shares in the mid- and low-end markets.


    [Third Update]


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 Chapter 470 - 472 Advanced Surveillance Technology

    Chapter 470: Chapter 472 Advanced Surveillance Technology


    Now, the majority of the low-to-mid-end market share has almost all been grabbed by Xinghui Wine.


    Based on the current development trend, if Old Cellar Wine and Nanlang Wine do not launch new products, they will be eliminated from the market.


    This is also why Jiangshan Group¡¯s valuation suddenly soared so high.


    Previously, the combined total valuation of the two companies was just forty billion Federation currency, now it has more than doubled.


    On the other hand, Jiangshan Delicatessen has launched many new products, and Jiangshan Cooked Food Company now completely dominates the Southwest Region.


    Jiangshan is currently expanding into the bustling Xuannan Region.


    ...


    In the Xuandong Region, only a small part of Nanhui Province and Beiya Province is left.


    It is expected that in another six to seven days, Jiangshan Delicatessen will push into the Xuanzhong Region, by then Jiangshan Cooked Food will occupy most of the domestic market, the speed of development is astonishing.


    Of course, the reason Jiangshan Delicatessen could develop so quickly is mainly that all the profits were reinvested into development.


    Qin Hao did not take a single penny from it; all profits were wholly reinvested into the company¡¯s expansion.


    That morning, Jianghai Official announced: Ruixing Group has been completely shut down, and all company funds have been frozen.


    All of Luo Feng¡¯s properties, cars, etc., have been seized, and tomorrow all of Ruixing Group¡¯s assets will be auctioned publicly.


    All victims have been accounted for; they will use Ruixing Group¡¯s funds and the proceeds from the auction to compensate the victims.


    The government also released an apology statement due to inadequate supervision that led to this incident.


    The government will also provide the victims with the greatest policy benefits.


    The incident involving Guo Zhengping and three others was also addressed by the relevant departments this morning: they are permanently banned.


    Regarding the legal issues triggered by the four individuals, these will be handed over to the judiciary.


    The winner of the December edition of ¡°Good Voice¡± was determined through online voting; Yu Tiantian came in first.


    The top three remained largely the same, and one contestant was eliminated, who indeed deserved to be ousted.


    The online voting by netizens is relatively fair and just.


    Moreover, there are now anti-ballot stuffing software, so there¡¯s no need to worry about people fraudulent voting.


    The consequences of ballot stuffing are severe; discovery will result in disqualification from the competition.


    Given this incident, Nancha TV declared that during the annual finals, online voting will be enabled.


    Online voting combined with judges¡¯ scores will ultimately determine the yearly champion, runner-up, and second runner-up.


    ...


    While Qin Hao and Li Moying were chatting in the office, he received a call from Zhao Dongqiang.


    Qin Hao chose to exchange; he still had twenty-one thousand achievement points left.


    That wasn¡¯t enough, he was still looking for something: advanced intelligent surveillance R&D technology, requiring sixty thousand achievement points.


    Qin Hao chose to exchange, then he started typing on the keyboard again.


    He wrote down the advanced intelligent surveillance R&D technology and placed them into different USB drives.


    He stood up and said to Li Moying, ¡°I need to go to the lab.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go too.¡± Li Moying followed him.


    In the lab.


    He Tingting, Wang Bo, and others were arranging things. Seeing Qin Hao come in, He Tingting curiously looked at him, ¡°Mr. Qin, what brings you here?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something for you to research,¡± Qin Hao replied with a glint in his eye as he scanned the room.


    The laboratory had many CCTV cameras; Chang Jing had already considered what Qin Hao was thinking.


    Moreover, everyone in the lab was not allowed to bring cell phones, there was an 001 check at the entrance, and also a security gate.


    The defense of the lab was almost the highest level within the company.


    There were also security guards from the protection team checking outside.


    Qin Hao approached a computer, then inserted the USB drive into it, and opened the software, ¡°This is advanced surveillance R&D technology; research it as soon as you can, and if you need anything, have 001 and his team fetch it.¡±


    He Tingting nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Mr. He, I¡¯m leaving this in your care; make sure it doesn¡¯t leak. I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡±


    After giving instructions, Qin Hao left.


    At noon, Qin Hao and Li Moying had lunch together. In the afternoon, Li Moying went back.


    Qin Hao had nothing else to do, so he went back too. On his way back, he called Su Mingzhi, ¡°Mr. Su, how¡¯s the cosmetic sales situation? How about the Tang Group?¡±


    Su Mingzhi replied with a laugh, ¡°Mr. Qin, the sales are very good; Tianli Cosmetics is getting a positive response, customers really like it.


    The sales at Tang Group have severely declined these last few days, but downing Tang Group won¡¯t be that easy.


    They have many types of cosmetics under them; it¡¯s just that their profits are a bit lower now, not enough to severely damage Tang Group.¡±


    [Fourth update, no more today]


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 Chapter 471 - 473: Chance Encounter at the Airport

    Chapter 471: Chapter 473: Chance Encounter at the Airport


    Tang Group had been in the cosmetics and skincare industry for many years, and their product lines were extensive.


    However, Hua Mei Skincare currently had only the Tianli set, although effective, the product range was too limited.


    Tang Group could easily sell other types of cosmetics to earn the profits back.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I will research new products in the next few days.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao rubbed his head, realizing that bringing down a huge corporate group like Tang Group was not going to be easy.


    If Ruixing Group hadn¡¯t exposed such significant issues, Huafei Clothing wouldn¡¯t have been able to completely take them down.


    ...


    Luo Feng could easily pull out of the clothing market and use a substantial amount of money to do other things.


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but think of Li Wenjun and then made a call, ¡°Wen Jun, any news from Tang Group?¡±


    Li Wenjun: ¡°I¡¯ve been having people investigate, but there haven¡¯t been any major findings.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Keep investigating and remember to inform me if there¡¯s any news.¡±


    Back at home, Qin Hao was surprised to see Han Meng dancing; yes, she was learning to dance right in the living room.


    She was wearing a fall dress, her figure slender and curvaceous, making her dance appear even more mature and captivating.


    Qin Hao paused at the door as Han Meng was deeply engrossed in her dance, and the phone¡¯s volume was quite loud, so she didn¡¯t hear the noise at the door.


    It wasn¡¯t until she finished a dance that she saw Qin Hao standing at the doorway.


    Her face instantly turned red, and she asked softly, ¡°Xiao Hao, you¡¯re back.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Meng, your dance was quite good, very beautiful.¡±


    Han Meng blushed even more: ¡°I just started learning, it¡¯s not very good yet.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already very good, really Meng, I¡¯m not just flattering you,¡± Qin Hao said, sitting on the sofa.


    Han Meng blushed and nodded her head, then walked over to stand behind the sofa and began to gently massage him, ¡°Xiao Hao, why did you come back so early today?¡±


    ¡°There was nothing urgent at the office so I came back. Tonight my parents will come over, and Meng, you came back with the groceries this afternoon.¡±


    Han Meng: ¡°Okay.¡±


    Qin Hao stood up from the sofa and said, ¡°Meng, I¡¯ll go upstairs to rest for a bit. Remember to call me at 4:30.¡±


    ¡°I learned a massage technique that helps with sleep. Shall I try it on you?¡± Han Meng said softly.


    Qin Hao found it very comfortable and said with a smile, ¡°Then thank you, Meng.¡±


    Han Meng: ¡°No need to thank me, it¡¯s something I should do.¡±


    ...


    That day Qin Hao was a bit tired and soon fell asleep unknowingly.


    Qin, let¡¯s get together another day, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal then.¡±


    ¡°Alright then.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mom and Dad, please get in the car.¡±


    Having boarded the cars, Qin Hao¡¯s fleet grandly left Jianghai Airport.


    In Miao Jing¡¯s car, Zhao Chunmei expressed her surprise, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect their son to be Qin Hao.¡±


    Miao Jianyun also felt a bit sentimental, ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell, Qin¡¯s parents are so modestly dressed, yet they have such an impressive son.¡±


    ¡°Dad, where to?¡± Miao Jing asked.


    Miao Jianyun replied, ¡°Let¡¯s go to our place at Haoting Sea View Villa, the scenery there is nice.¡±


    ...


    Along the way, the driver Leng Xuan spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, that car from the airport is following us.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Miao Jing¡¯s car?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Qin Hao remarked, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just coincidentally the same way.¡±


    At the entrance of Haoting Sea View Villa, Miao Jianyun saw Qin Hao¡¯s fleet and was taken aback, ¡°Do they live here too?¡±


    Miao Jing responded, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but it looks like they might.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s fleet entered the district and then stopped in front of a yard guarded by several security personnel.


    Miao Jing and Miao Jianyun glanced over, then drove into the district.


    After getting out of the car, Qin Hao carried the luggage and led his parents inside.


    Seeing the guards around his villa, Qin Youguo asked, ¡°Why are there so many guards?¡±


    ¡°There was a bit of trouble a while back,¡± Qin Hao casually replied.


    Li Shujie felt a tightness in her heart, ¡°What happened, son? Were you hurt somewhere?¡±


    Qin Hao reassured her, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mom, everything¡¯s fine now.¡±


    Inside the villa, Zhao Yuying and Han Meng were not back yet.


    Qin Youguo asked, ¡°Is Mr. Zhao at home? I¡¯ll go find him for a couple of chess games.¡±


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 Chapter 472 - 474 Hurry Up and Have Children

    Chapter 472: Chapter 474 Hurry Up and Have Children


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Zhao and his wife have gone back to their hometown; someone in Mr. Zhao¡¯s family fell ill.¡±


    ¡°Oh, is it serious?¡± Qin Youguo asked.


    Qin Hao nodded. ¡°They¡¯ve been back almost a month now.¡±


    Soon after, Han Meng, Zhao Yuying, and Qiao¡¯er came back.


    Upon seeing Qin Youguo and his wife, Qiao¡¯er ran over: ¡°Grandpa, Grandma.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Qiao¡¯er, did you miss Grandpa?¡± Qin Youguo hugged her and asked with a smile.


    ...


    Qiao¡¯er: ¡°I did, we¡¯re about to have winter break, and then Qiao¡¯er will come and stay with you.¡±


    ¡°Such a sensible granddaughter, Grandpa wants to give you a kiss.¡± Qin Youguo¡¯s eyes filled with adoration.


    Qin Hao had no children, and coupled with Qiao¡¯er being smart and sensible, both Qin Youguo and Li Shujie really liked her.


    Zhao Yuying also said with a smile, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, are you both well?¡±


    Li Shujie: ¡°We¡¯re fine. Yuying, you¡¯re getting more and more beautiful. Do you have a boyfriend yet?¡±


    Zhao Yuying replied somewhat shyly: ¡°Not yet, Auntie.¡±


    Han Meng poured everyone a glass of water: ¡°Uncle, Auntie, have some water.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Meng, don¡¯t be so formal, let Xiao Hao do it,¡± Qin Youguo said.


    Han Meng: ¡°It¡¯s fine, Auntie.¡±


    After she finished speaking, she went into the kitchen, started washing things, and began cooking; Zhao Yuying also went in to help.


    Li Shujie initially wanted to help too, but Zhao Yuying and Han Meng pushed her out, insisting that after a whole afternoon on the plane, she should just sit and rest.


    Qin Youguo and his wife sat on the sofa with Qiao¡¯er, watching TV together.


    Soon, the doorbell rang.


    Qin Hao got up and opened the door. Li Xutian, Gu Yusu, Li Jianjun, and Li Moying, four people stood at the doorway, holding things in their hands.


    ¡°Mr. Li, Auntie, please come in.¡± Qin Hao hadn¡¯t expected the whole family to come.


    As the Li family entered, Qin Youguo and Li Shujie stood up.


    Qin Youguo asked with a smile, ¡°Xiao Hao, Mo Ying¡¯s family?¡±


    Among these people, he knew Li Moying, who had stayed at their house for a few days during the National Day holiday in October.


    The two had even once thought that Li Moying and Qin Hao were in that kind of relationship.


    Li Shujie saw Li Xutian and felt he looked familiar but wasn¡¯t sure.


    Qin Hao nodded. ¡°Yes, Dad.¡±


    Li Xutian looked at Li Shujie: ¡°Ms. Qin, do you remember me?¡±


    Dinner lasted for nearly an hour, after which Li Xutian and his family went back home.


    In the dining room, Zhao Yuying and Han Meng were cleaning up, Mr. Qin had drunk quite a bit and had already gone back to his room to rest.


    Mrs. Qin was about to help clean up, but Qin Hao stopped her, ¡°Mom, I have something to tell you.¡±


    Li Shujie looked at him, ¡°What is it? Tell me.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°My girlfriend¡¯s family wants to meet you and have dinner together.¡±


    Li Shujie¡¯s face brightened, ¡°That¡¯s great news! Are Wan Rou¡¯s parents in Jianghai City?¡±


    Qin Hao awkwardly said, ¡°It¡¯s not Wan Rou¡¯s parents, it¡¯s someone else¡¯s.¡±


    Li Shujie was stunned for a moment, then her expression became serious, ¡°What do you mean? Explain it to me, what about Wan Rou? Have you two broken up?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°No, we are still together.¡±


    Li Shujie said irritably, ¡°Does Wan Rou know about this? You better clarify it to the girl, what are you playing at?¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°I¡¯ve made it clear, both of them know.¡±


    Li Shujie exclaimed, ¡°And they¡¯re both still with you?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded awkwardly.


    ¡°They both know and still choose to be with you?¡± Li Shujie looked at her son with an odd expression.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Yes!¡±


    Li Shujie sighed, ¡°Well, you¡¯re grown up now, I can¡¯t control you, but let me give you a piece of advice: don¡¯t take those girls for granted, always act with your conscience.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded earnestly, ¡°I understand, Mom.¡±


    ...


    The next morning.


    Mr. Qin took Qin Hao out for a morning walk and exercise.


    Outside the villa, Qin Youguo asked him, ¡°Your mom told me about your situation, I just want to say one thing: hurry up and have kids, I want to hold my grandchild.¡±


    Qin Hao was momentarily stunned, ¡°Uh, got it, Dad.¡±


    After exercising and having breakfast, Qin Hao drove out. He had to attend an auction with Zhao Dongqiang that morning.


    The auction was held at a venue owned by Shenglong Group, and by the time Qin Hao and Zhao Dongqiang arrived, many people were already there.


    [Second Update]


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 Chapter 473 - 475: Fifty Million

    Chapter 473: Chapter 475: Fifty Million


    ¡°Mr. Qin, long time no see.¡± Zhu Huasheng hurriedly greeted him upon seeing Qin Hao¡¯s arrival.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°Mr. Zhu, I apologize, something came up last night, and I couldn¡¯t attend the Chamber of Commerce dinner.¡±


    Zhu Huasheng said with a smile, ¡°No worries. Is this Mr. Zhao from Huafei Clothing? Mr. Zhao, hello. I¡¯ve long admired your reputation.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang replied, ¡°Mr. Zhu, you flatter me. It¡¯s all thanks to Mr. Qin.¡±


    Although Zhao Dongqiang owned only twenty percent of the shares in Huafei Clothing, his status had been climbing steadily.


    He was a well-known figure in the upper echelons of Jianghai City.


    ...


    Huafei Clothing had been developing rapidly, and they had made big moves lately by acquiring many textile and clothing factories.


    Given the current market potential, it was only a matter of time before Huafei Clothing became a domestic industry giant.


    Zhu Huasheng noticed Zhao Qian standing next to Qin Hao and curiously asked, ¡°Who might this be?¡±


    ¡°This is my daughter Zhao Qian. Xiao Qian, this is Mr. Zhu from Shenglong Group,¡± Zhao Dongqiang told Zhao Qian.


    Zhu Huasheng sneered inwardly. Your daughter isn¡¯t standing next to you; why is she standing next to Qin Hao?


    Zhu Huasheng was perceptive and noticed many things at a glance.


    Qin Hao hadn¡¯t expected Zhao Qian to come either, and it made no difference to him whether she came or not.


    But for Zhao Dongqiang, it was different.


    One, he wanted his daughter to further her relationship with Qin Hao, and two, he also wanted to cultivate her business acumen.


    ...


    ¡°Mr. Qin, long time no see. You¡¯re growing more charming by the day.¡±


    As Qin Hao stepped into the auction, he encountered an acquaintance, Yang Mei.


    Qin Hao¡¯s first location in Jianghai City was at Xinshang Square.


    Standing next to Yang Mei was a man in his fifties, named Yang An, the chairman of Xinshang Real Estate.


    Yang An greeted Qin Hao with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, hello.¡±


    Qin Hao shook hands with him, ¡°Mr. Yang, hello.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, long time no see,¡± another middle-aged man came over to greet him.


    Qin Hao had some recollection of him. Xu Jiekang had brought him to a business gala before and introduced many people.


    This person was Guo Jie, the owner of an elevator company, whom Xu Jiekang had introduced before.


    ¡°Mr. Guo, long time no see.¡±


    Seeing Qin Hao remember him, Guo Jie¡¯s smile widened.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and did not say much.


    Zhao Qian whispered, ¡°Are those people over there from Beihai Country, Qin Hao?¡±


    Her gaze turned to a man not far away with a small mustache, looking quite like the villains in TV dramas.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Most likely, they haven¡¯t made a move, and it seems they are also here for the clothing factory.¡±


    ¡°Three billion,¡± a foreign man with a high nose bridge shouted.


    The entire room fell silent, just now it was twenty-one billion, and this person suddenly raised it by nine billion.


    The auctioneer began the countdown, and ultimately no one else bid; the Ruixing Group¡¯s office building was auctioned off by this foreigner.


    ¡°Congratulations to the Xian Da Agricultural Group from West Rhine Country for acquiring the former Ruixing Group office building for three billion.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang¡¯s face showed shock: ¡°Xian Da Group? They move so fast.¡±


    Qin Hao frowned, ¡°An agricultural company?¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang responded, ¡°Yes, the top agricultural company of West Rhine Country, a giant in the agricultural sector. Fourth in the world ranking, specializing in corn, cotton, soybeans seeds, and so on, and they have just opened up today, already advancing into Xuan Country.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Which is the largest agricultural company domestically currently?¡±


    ¡°Have you heard of Du Feng, Mr. Qin? The domestic company with the highest sales and production of corn seeds, a joint venture with a company from the Federation.¡±


    By now, the host had already started introducing the first clothing factory, fully equipped with various machines and thoroughly disinfected.


    As long as there were workers, it could start production at any time.


    ¡°The starting bid is twenty million, and each bid must be no less than five million.¡±


    Qin Hao immediately bid, ¡°Thirty million.¡±


    Many people in the auction turned their heads to look, it was clear today that Qin Hao was here for Huafei Clothing, he seemed determined to win Ruixing Group¡¯s clothing factory.


    In a short while, no one bid, many didn¡¯t want to offend this new tycoon in the business world.


    Since there were five more clothing factories, not vying for the first one was giving you face, the second would depend on each¡¯s own strength.


    Seeing this scene, people from Beihai Guoliang Clothing Company were stunned for a moment. Was no one going to bid for thirty million?


    Even flipping it could make fifty million, couldn¡¯t it?


    ¡°Mr. Yanagikou, this person is Qin Hao, the chairman behind Huafei Clothing,¡± someone next to him said.


    Yankou Dazhuang nodded, turned his head, and glanced at Qin Hao with narrowed eyes.


    ¡°Fifty million,¡± a voice suddenly rang out.


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 Chapter 474 - 476 Qian Du Company

    Chapter 474: Chapter 476 Qian Du Company


    People turned their heads one after another, and the bidder was a young man whose appearance was a bit hard to look at.


    To put it delicately, his features were not harmonious, but more bluntly, it was quite hideous.


    Qin Hao narrowed his eyes slightly when he saw the young man, because he recognized him, the person who had caused trouble at Yuhao Media last time.


    Qin Hao had not expected to encounter him here.


    Many people turned to look at Qin Hao to see what expression he had.


    Li Fengyu was also looking at Qin Hao, his face carrying a provocative expression.


    ...


    Many of those present knew Li Fengyu, not because his Nanhu Real Estate Company was famous, but rather because of the person beside him.


    Li Qiandu, the founder of Qian Du Company, one of the three internet giants of Xuan Country.


    Although Qian Du Company had fallen a bit behind the other two internet giants recently,


    it remained one of the top three giants among internet companies and still held the top spot in search engine rankings in Xuan Country.


    ¡°Sixty million,¡±


    Qin Hao once again called a bid.


    ¡°Sixty-five million,¡± Li Fengyu, unwilling to yield, raised the price again.


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°Seventy million.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Qin.¡± Li Fengyu did not call another bid, fearing that if he continued, Qin Hao might drop out.


    Then he would be stuck with it, as the market value of this large clothing factory was around fifty million. Making Qin Hao pay an extra twenty million also pleased him.


    Qin Hao sat there impassively, his expression unchanged.


    Zhao Qian was a bit angry, ¡°Who is this guy? Is he sick?¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang hurriedly said, ¡°Xiao Qian, don¡¯t talk nonsense, this man is the son of the Qian Du Company¡¯s CEO.¡±


    His words were actually meant for Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao narrowed his eyes slightly, Qian Du Company? Just a declining internet company, not at all comparable to Longteng Group and Amao Net Shopping.


    Tenglong Group held the biggest social chat software in Xuan Country and was also involved in games, film, entertainment, and various other industries.


    They were the real juggernaut of the Xuan Country internet, with Amao Net Shopping as the top e-commerce platform in Xuan Country with over a hundred million in traffic, and annual transactions over a trillion, which was quite terrifying.


    Moreover, Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping Group each held one of the two major mobile payment applications.


    Now, many people had already excluded Qian Du Company from the top three of Xuan Country¡¯s internet giants, with more people preferring to call it the two giants of the internet.


    Because Qian Du Company had not kept up with the mobile internet era.


    The mobile internet era is the era of widespread smartphones, where everyone can access the internet via their smartphones.


    Tenglong Group¡¯s app had hundred-million level chat and dating software users, as well as a hundred-million level mobile game users.


    Everyone realized that Li Fengyu was specifically targeting Qin Hao.


    ¡°Eighty million,¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned slightly cold as he looked at Li Fengyu.


    Li Fengyu did not raise his bid again; he was just trying to annoy Qin Hao.


    Afterward, Qin Hao successfully bought the four major garment factories, with the lowest price being seventy million, and a few reaching eighty million.


    Acquiring these garment factories cost Qin Hao approximately four hundred and forty million in total.


    The prices were somewhat high, but Qin Hao did not care.


    Although the money could have been used to build several large garment factories, that would have taken several months.


    Even though more money was spent now, Huafei Clothing could completely make up for the extra expenditure in a few months, and even make more.


    Therefore, Qin Hao did not mind spending a bit more, but being targeted like this made him quite uncomfortable.


    The competition for the spinning mills was not intense, involving only Liang Yiku, Qin Hao, and the troublemaker Li Fengyu.


    Li Qiandu did not stop his son, feeling quite displeased after knowing Qin Hao hit his son.


    Although Qian Du Company was currently on a downward trend, his son was not someone to be bullied by just anyone.


    Qin Hao bought the four spinning mills, spending nearly four hundred million, adding up to nearly nine hundred million in total transactions.


    Due to Li Fengyu¡¯s troublemaking, Qin Hao ended up spending at least two hundred million more.


    While everyone was amazed at Qin Hao¡¯s financial strength, they also looked at the expressions of Li Fengyu and Li Qiandu.


    The two parties definitely made enemies this time.


    Offending this kind of internet company was of no benefit to Qin Hao.


    Because Qian Du Company could sanction you, while Qin Hao¡¯s company couldn¡¯t sanction Qian Du Company.


    Qian Du Company is a search engine company, essentially located at the gateway where all citizens access the internet.


    Only with the approval of Qian Du Company can one enter this gateway, allowing citizens to search multiple websites!


    Moreover, Qian Du Company holds over seventy percent of the market share in Xuan Country¡¯s internet search engine market.


    The rest of the market share is divided among subsidiaries of Longteng Group and Amao Net Shopping.


    Seventy percent market share means clearly: out of a hundred people accessing the internet, over seventy use Qian Du Company¡¯s search engine.


    [End of the fourth update, no more for today]


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 Chapter 475 - 477 Auction

    Chapter 475: Chapter 477 Auction


    The market share was colossal enough to prove the terrifying nature of Qian Du Company.


    In its heyday, Qian Du Company once held over ninety percent of the search engine market.


    There are about eight hundred million Internet users in Xuan Country now, which is quite formidable.


    The internet had effectively become humanity¡¯s second world.


    And the internet was also influencing reality, much like the last public opinion battle¡ªif Qin Hao hadn¡¯t launched a powerful counterattack.


    Then he and his company might have been completely ruined. Such was the terror of the internet now.


    ...


    Since Qian Du Company controlled the gateway for netizens, if it decided to block all information about Jiangshan Group, Xinghui Wine, and Qin Hao.


    Then Jiangshan Group, Xinghui Wine, and Qin Hao would thoroughly vanish from the internet.


    Even if people searched, they would find no results whatsoever.


    Qian Du Company had done such things in the past, and it wasn¡¯t long before those companies completely collapsed.


    It was akin to an artist being blacklisted.


    However, Qian Du Company generally refrained from doing this since it also entailed a certain loss for the company.


    Qin Hao was not very worried, as his company was a brick-and-mortar business, not an internet company.


    Even if it were blocked by Qian Du Company from rising up, it wouldn¡¯t affect his business in the real world too much.


    But information about the company, introductions, explanations, and website links, etc. would disappear from Qian Du searches, which would have a certain impact.


    After the clothing factory and spinning mill auctions ended, the auction was not over yet,


    There were still two plots of land under Ruixing Group that were more significant than the previous ones; they were the main targets of so many people present.


    These two plots of land were not within Jianghai¡¯s fifth ring road, but outside of it.


    That area was the next focus of government development, rumored to become a new high-tech zone.


    Therefore, the prices of these lands soared extremely high, with many high-tech companies already starting to select sites for new research bases.


    ¡°The first plot covers more than three hundred acres, with a starting bid of two hundred million. This price is based on the original purchasing price of Ruixing Group.¡±


    The current valuation of this land exceeded twenty billion, with a location even better than that of Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Qin Hao had spent nearly twenty billion on that land initially.


    Once the auctioneer announced the start, many people joined in the bidding.


    The price climbed higher and higher. Li Fengyu also kept bidding; Li Qiandu came here for one of the plots.


    He planned to build an artificial intelligence research base in Jianghai City. Though the investment had been secured, only the land was missing.


    Raise cattle?


    Out of money?


    My dad had just secured investment worth several tens of billions of Federation dollars, would we be out of money?


    Qin Hao was clearly counterattacking; Li Fengyu had disrupted his plans, and there was no way Qin Hao was going to let that go.


    Li Fengyu turned to look at his father. Mr. Li¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t great, even Huatian Real Estate Group had given him face.


    Yet this newcomer was showing him none whatsoever.


    Li Fengyu said disdainfully, ¡°Twenty-three billion, keep going if you dare.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Twenty-five billion.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s spirits lifted as it seemed the two parties were gearing up for a clash¡ªholy smokes, this was getting exciting!


    ¡°Thirty billion,¡± Mr. Li suddenly said.


    He and Qian Du Company had been silent for too long, to the point where many had forgotten about him, forgotten about the former internet colossus, forgotten about the records broken on the day Qian Du Company went public.


    Starting today, Qian Du Company would rise again, waiting for when artificial intelligence technology was fully developed.


    Once it was, Qian Du Company¡¯s market value would skyrocket, surpassing Longteng and Amao Net Shopping to become Xuan Country¡¯s number one internet behemoth once more, and perhaps even an international internet titan.


    People¡¯s mouths fell open as they looked at Mr. Li¡ªholy cow, he had just added five billion in one go.


    It was said that Mr. Li valued his reputation and was extremely competitive; the rumors clearly weren¡¯t unfounded.


    Qin Hao grinned slightly, ¡°Congratulations to Mr. Li for securing this piece of land; I¡¯ll leave this cattle farm to you.¡±


    Li Fengyu¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Are you kidding me?¡±


    Mr. Li: ¡°Sit down.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Li, you should really discipline your son better. With that quality, that demeanor, that appearance, why let him out at all? It¡¯d be better to keep him tied up at home with a rope.¡±


    Mr. Li¡¯s face turned ashen as he looked at Qin Hao. Qin Hao had just insulted his son as a dog in front of everyone¡ªwhat did that make Mr. Li himself?


    ¡°Everyone, please be quiet; this is an auction hall,¡± Zhu Huasheng walked out at the right time to intervene.


    Mr. Li glanced fiercely at Qin Hao but said nothing else.


    The second plot of land began the auctioning process again; this time, it was taken by Huatian Real Estate Group for twenty-one billion.


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 Chapter 476 - 478 Meeting Both Parties

    Chapter 476: Chapter 478 Meeting Both Parties


    The auction concluded, and Qin Hao, Zhao Dongqiang, and Zhao Qian left the auction hall.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Zhao, you take over those clothing factories and spinning mills. I have to head back as I have some matters to deal with.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang nodded: ¡°Okay, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Now, with these ten factories, Huafei Clothing¡¯s scale had expanded nearly four to five times.


    Though Huafei Clothing had also acquired several clothing and spinning mills, they were small-scale and could not compare to these ones.


    On his way home, Qin Hao received a call from Xu Siyao: ¡°Hello, Si Yao.¡±


    ...


    Xu Siyao asked, ¡°When are you and your uncle and aunt coming?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m on my way home now. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao glanced at his watch. It was almost 10 o¡¯clock. When he arrived home, Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin were already ready.


    They immediately got in the car, which headed towards Xu Jiekang¡¯s villa.


    On the way, Qin Hao somewhat explained Xu Siyao¡¯s family situation to his parents.


    Qin Youguo was somewhat surprised after hearing this: ¡°You¡¯re saying Si Yao¡¯s grandfather is the head of the Gu Jing Military Region?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, and Li Shujie naturally knew of the Xu Family from Gujing City.


    As their Li Family was in Gujing City, Beijiang Province, how could Li Shujie not know of the Xu Family, the foremost influential family in Beijiang Province?


    ¡°You¡¯re together with Mr. Xu¡¯s granddaughter?¡± Li Shujie expressed profound surprise, hardly believing it.


    What kind of status did the Xu Family hold, and how could her son be involved with Mr. Xu¡¯s granddaughter?


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°We were classmates in university. Mom, do you know Mr. Xu?¡±


    Li Shujie: ¡°Your grandfather took me to visit him once. I also know his sons, Xu Jiejian and Xu Jiekang; we¡¯re contemporaries.¡±


    Qin Hao paused a moment: ¡°So, when we meet now, would you still recognize each other?¡±


    Li Shujie: ¡°Decades have passed; they¡¯ve probably forgotten by now.¡±


    At half-past ten in the morning, the Qin family arrived at the outside of Xu Jiekang¡¯s villa, where several cars were already parked.


    Included among them was one belonging to Xu Jiejian which meant that likely the whole Xu family was present.


    Getting out of the car, Qin Youguo took a deep breath and walked towards the villa.


    Reaching the villa¡¯s door, Qin Hao pressed the doorbell, and soon after, Xu Siyao opened the door from inside.


    Xu Jiejian and Xu Jiekang, unaware of the details, asked curiously, ¡°Why don¡¯t I have a strong impression of this?¡±


    ¡°My father had arranged a marriage for me with someone from the Shen family in the north, but I did not agree, and instead, Youguo and I eloped,¡± Li Shujie said straightforwardly without any reservation.


    But who knew the hardships and difficulties she endured?


    As the precious princess of the Li Family, she had grown accustomed to luxury from a young age.


    For the man she loved, she gave up everything and lived an ordinary life.


    Her once delicate and fair hands had now become rough and calloused.


    Once lofty and noble, she now had to work under the orders of others, facing criticism and ridicule if she performed poorly.


    The hardships she faced over these decades were unknown to anyone.


    Even Youguo did not know, for she didn¡¯t speak of them, not to anyone.


    Yang Su, Sun Fang, and Xu Siyao¡¯s eyes reddened slightly, as they could imagine the hardships and disdain Li Shujie had endured over the years.


    If it were any of them, could they have done the same?


    Qin Hao also knew of his mother¡¯s difficulties, and he secretly vowed that this year he would ensure his mother returned to the Li family in glory.


    He would show everyone who had mocked and scorned his mother that she was beyond their reach for a lifetime.


    They would pay the price for everything they had said and done in the past.


    Sun Fang felt the atmosphere turning a bit heavy and smiled, saying, ¡°Sister Shujie, you are truly great, and you also have a wonderful son.¡±


    Xu Jiekang agreed, ¡°Indeed, in just a few months, Xiao Hao¡¯s company has nearly reached a valuation of a hundred billion Federation dollars.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Hao is indeed remarkable. You have a good son,¡± Xu Liangguo also admitted.


    After their inspection of the Xinghai High-tech Factory, the fellows from the Xuan Science Academy went back to report their work.


    The nation was very excited upon hearing this news.


    Currently, discussions are already underway regarding the Xinghai High-tech Company.


    This is Xuan Country¡¯s first company capable of producing high-end chips and the first to develop artificial intelligence, leading global AI technology.


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 Chapter 477 - 479: Engagement

    Chapter 477: Chapter 479: Engagement


    The whole family had lunch together at noon.


    Mr. Xu began by asking Mr. and Mrs. Qin, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s too early to talk about engagement now?¡±


    Qin Hao and Xu Siyao were startled, engagement?


    Wow, so soon?


    Qin Youguo and Li Shujie were also taken aback, but Li Shujie said with a smile, ¡°We have no objections.¡±


    Mr. Xu, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. We¡¯ll pick a good day and then we¡¯ll decide on the children¡¯s engagement.¡±


    ...


    With Qin Hao¡¯s limitless potential, and since Xu Siyao was wholeheartedly devoted to him, Mr. Xu felt it would be best to settle things sooner rather than later.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t say much; things had reached this point so he just had to go along with it.


    Xu Siyao¡¯s cheeks were slightly flushed, and she was actually very happy, keeping her head down, not daring to look at Qin Hao.


    She could hardly believe that she was engaged to Qin Hao, that she was now his fiance?e.


    In the afternoon, just after two, Qin Hao¡¯s family left Xu Jiekang¡¯s home.


    Mr. Xu¡¯s family saw them to the door, as they were now relatives through marriage.


    Qin Youguo had drunk quite a bit, his cheeks rosy with alcohol, ¡°Mr. Xu, you go back first; I¡¯ll pick a good day, and then we¡¯ll arrange the engagement.¡±


    ¡°Alright, take it easy on the road,¡± Mr. Xu nodded slightly.


    Qin Hao¡¯s motorcade left, and Mr. Xu turned to look at his granddaughter, Xu Siyao¡¯s face red and shy, adorable, ¡°Thank you, Grandpa.¡±


    Mr. Xu sighed, ¡°What should I say about you, ah, you¡¯re really worrying me.¡±


    ...


    When Qin Hao¡¯s family got home, Mr. and Mrs. Qin began to select an auspicious date to prepare for the engagement.


    Upon seeing Mr. and Mrs. Qin flipping through the old lunar calendar, Han Meng asked curiously, ¡°Uncle, Aunt, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Looking for a good day to set the engagement for Xiao Hao,¡± Mr. Qin said with a smile.


    He was very pleased with Xu Siyao as a daughter-in-law; she was beautiful, virtuous, came from a well-connected family, and would be a help to Qin Hao.


    She was simply the perfect match tailored for Qin Hao.


    Han Meng was surprised and then said with a smile, ¡°Really? What needs to be prepared? I¡¯ll go buy it.¡±


    Qin Youguo, ¡°No need for now, your aunt and I will first look at the dates,¡±


    Li Shujie remembered a matter and asked, ¡°Are we following the traditions of our hometown or the customs of Gujing City for the engagement?¡±


    ¡°Congratulations to the host for completing the main task, awarding five hundred thousand achievement points and one random item.¡±


    ¡°Drawing random item now...¡±


    ¡°Congratulations to the host on obtaining ten free attribute points.¡±


    ¡°Stage main task initiated, the company¡¯s monthly profit to reach ten billion, reward one million achievement points, random item.¡±


    Qin Hao felt somewhat deflated, for he thought he might draw some game-changing black tech, but it turned out to be just attribute points.


    Last time he had drawn a Laser Pistol, whose power was truly formidable; Tang Qi died under the blast of his Laser Pistol.


    After distributing the attribute points, he stood up and left the study. Then, he informed his parents in the living room before he left.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading to Huamei Cosmetics,¡± Qin Hao said.


    On the way, he took out his mobile phone and called Zhao Dongqiang, ¡°Mr. Zhao, prepare yourselves, I am planning to merge Huafei Company into Jiangshan Group.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang paused, ¡°Mr. Qin, how do we proceed with this merger?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°To be a subsidiary under Jiangshan Group, but nothing else will change for now.¡±


    His intention was to enhance the influence of both Jiangshan Group and himself.


    At four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Qin Hao arrived at Huamei Cosmetics Company.


    Both Su Mingzhi and Su Meilan were in the office; Su Meilan had been learning management under her father for some time and was quite skilled now.


    ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± Su Mingzhi was startled to see him enter.


    Su Meilan quickly poured Qin Hao a cup of tea, ¡°Mr. Qin, please have some water.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Miss Su, no need to be so polite. Mr. Su, this is the new product development technology.


    Another matter is about merging Huamei Company into Jiangshan Group; we must finalize the process as quickly as possible.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Mr. Qin,¡± Su Mingzhi took the USB drive and nodded.


    At that moment, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang; it was a call from He Tingting, ¡°Mr. Qin, the research has yielded results, come over and have a look.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± After hanging up, Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°Mr. Su, Miss Su, please continue with your work, I have to leave for another matter.¡±


    [Third Update]


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 Chapter 478 - 480 Wanted Order

    Chapter 478: Chapter 480 Wanted Order


    Su Mingzhi hurriedly said, ¡°Su Meilan, see Mr. Qin off.¡±


    ¡°No need, Mr. Su,¡± Qin Hao said as he walked.


    Nonetheless, Su Meilan escorted him to the ground floor, and only after Qin Hao had gotten into his car and left did she turn to go back.


    Qin Hao arrived at the laboratory of the Xinghai High-tech Factory.


    Chang Jing, He Tingting, Wang Bo, and others were there, and on the experimental table was a high-level smart surveillance device.


    This was exactly what Qin Hao needed.


    ...


    When Chang Jing and the others saw him, they hurriedly called out, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Have you already researched it?¡±


    He Tingting: ¡°We just tested it, and there were no problems whatsoever. The video quality is ultra-clear, and even very low sounds can be detected and transmitted to the surveillance room.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Chang, let the production line start making it. Replace everything inside the factory first, and leave no blind spots.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao handed over the smart source codes for washing machines and mobile phones to He Tingting: ¡°This is the smart source code for washing machines and mobile phones.


    You can take these for reference and study, hoping you will seize this opportunity to research and apply more intelligent programs across various industries.¡±


    Upon hearing this, He Tingting and the others were visibly invigorated; excitement flashed in their eyes. They had come here for the intelligent programs.


    Qin Hao: ¡°For safety, the laboratory will be equipped with the latest signal jamming devices, and everyone must strictly adhere to company policies.


    If anyone is found leaking company secrets, they might as well spend their lifetime inside, as anything can happen there. I hope everyone is mentally prepared before committing any wrongdoing.¡±


    Wang Bo spoke up, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Qin, these are all trustworthy people; there won¡¯t be any issues.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I believe everyone,¡± Qin Hao nodded slightly.


    As he left the laboratory, He Tingting hurriedly inserted a USB drive into a high-end computer.


    This was also an anti-leak computer, able to receive data but secured against copy-outs from anyone.


    If any incorrect operation occurred, the computer¡¯s alarm system would sound an alert.


    Their laboratory had similarly been working on anti-leak measures initially.


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing exited the laboratory. Qin Hao said to Chang Jing: ¡°Install the most advanced location tracking and eavesdropping software on the mobile phones of these people. If they go out, have someone watch them around the clock. Just send people to Li Bao for personnel.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, she too had thought of this, as it related to the company¡¯s secrets.


    Now that Qin Hao claimed his researched seismometer could predict in advance, how could he believe it?


    Qin Hao: ¡°I saw you recorded a lot of data, many earthquakes must have been predicted for tomorrow, so we should know the results by then, right?¡±


    Han Le¡¯an nodded: ¡°I also hope such a seismometer is real because it could save many lives.


    But I think you should not get your hopes too high, Mr. Qin, because even those countries with advanced technologies haven¡¯t developed it.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Professor Han, I disagree with that. Just because they haven¡¯t figured it out doesn¡¯t mean Xuan Country can¡¯t.


    Must we always follow behind them, only inventing what they¡¯ve left unexplored?¡±


    Han Le¡¯an felt his earlier comment was inappropriate.


    He explained: ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, Mr. Qin. Our country¡¯s technological capabilities are still weaker compared to those countries; it¡¯s very difficult to develop such sophisticated technology.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile: ¡°Professor Han, you might change your view in the future. Xuan Country¡¯s high-tech capabilities won¡¯t necessarily be inferior to theirs, and could even surpass theirs.¡±


    Han Le¡¯an stared at him, taken aback, not sure where Qin Hao¡¯s confidence came from.


    Although as a compatriot he also did not want to admit it, that was the truth. Only by facing the truth seriously and correctly could they gradually progress and catch up with them.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t stay much longer, leaving after a brief visit.


    As for those skeptical about the seismic instrument, they would receive their answer tomorrow.


    It was seven in the evening Xuan Country time, which was seven in the morning in Hudun City, the capital of the Federation.


    The person from the foreign department of Black Palace made a major announcement:


    EBI Warrant: Top Xuan Country hacker Qin Hao, codenamed Black Night, hacked into the Black Blade Network and the Federation¡¯s Black Palace Server.


    This severely compromised the Federation¡¯s national defense security, causing significant losses.


    Xuan Country is requested to hand over the hacker Qin Hao to the Federation¡¯s Supreme Court for judgment.


    The arrest warrant also listed Qin Hao¡¯s detailed information: name, gender, age, birth date, school, company he founded, and even his residential address.


    The Federation¡¯s EBI department is the largest intelligence agency, and also one of the most formidable in the world.


    [This is the fourth release today, no more, my wife and daughter are both running a fever, could have done five, alas, another day.]


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 Chapter 479 - 481 Response

    Chapter 479: Chapter 481 Response


    The news was first received by the staff at the embassy and then forwarded to the relevant domestic departments.


    Upon receiving the news, Xuan Country¡¯s relevant departments began passing it up the chain one level at a time.


    Qin Hao was no ordinary person, and such matters had to be decided upon by those above.


    The Federation¡¯s Black Palace then issued this arrest warrant news; the Federation is the world¡¯s superpower.


    Every word and action of theirs is watched by hundreds of countries.


    As soon as this news broke, it spread instantaneously to every country.


    ...


    Xuan Country¡¯s major official evening newspapers did not report on the incident because of its significance; they had to wait for directions from above.


    Moreover, they were not at liberty to report on such matters as they pleased.


    But the news did begin to circulate online: ¡°Mr. Qin, academician of Xuan Country, wanted by the Federation on suspicion of being a world-class hacker, alleged to have breached Black Palace Server.¡±


    Beidou Country: ¡°Xuan Country¡¯s top hacker Qin Hao wanted by Federation¡¯s EBI, suspected of intruding the Black Palace Server.¡±


    Beihai Country: ¡°Xuan Country¡¯s hacker is an official personnel, wanted by the Federation, suspected of invading the Federation¡¯s Black Palace Server.¡±


    Xiyu Country: ¡°Top hacker suspected of breaching Black Palace Server, now globally sought after by EBI.¡±


    West Germany: ¡°Super hacker actually broke into the Federation¡¯s Black Palace system, Xuan Country¡¯s top hacker is terrifyingly formidable.¡±


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0


    ...


    Many countries were reporting on the matter, and Qin Hao even appeared on national news broadcasts in numerous countries.


    Similarly, a headshot of Qin Hao was aired on television, making him look like a criminal.


    At this time, Xuan Country¡¯s online community Wei Yan was in an uproar.


    ¡°The Federation actually claims that Mr. Qin is a top hacker who has breached the Black Palace system? Is this for real?¡±


    ¡°This kind of news is generally not false. Who still remembers the hacker war that happened a while back?¡±


    ¡°The Federation¡¯s hackers once intruded our Xuan Country¡¯s websites, why is no one talking about that? Now that we¡¯ve hacked them and they can¡¯t fight back, they issue an arrest warrant? Ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin actually managed to cripple the Federation¡¯s Black Palace system, that¡¯s way too terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin excels in everything, he¡¯s incredibly formidable, a true all-rounder.¡±


    ¡°From pharmaceuticals to food and drink, to clothes and cosmetics, singing, gaming, hacking skills... Has Mr. Qin been learning since he was in the womb?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin has done what I¡¯ve dreamt of doing my whole life, I bow to my idol.¡±


    ¡°Support Mr. Qin, no, from now on, I¡¯ll call you Mr. Qin. You truly are our big boss, so freaking awesome.¡±


    ¡°Awesome, Mr. Qin is so dominant, beautifully done.¡±


    Xu Liangguo: ¡°Serious my ass, no matter how powerful the Federation is, could they possibly come to Xuan Country to arrest people?


    Our country won¡¯t agree, and without that, no one can do anything. Relax and go about your business, but be careful of assassination attempts.¡±


    Given Qin Hao¡¯s current contributions, the country would never hand him over. He was a top-tier talent that Xuan Country desperately needed.


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Xu.¡± Qin Hao nodded, indirectly admitting that he was indeed the super hacker.


    Xu Liangguo, sounding irritated, said: ¡°I heard you¡¯ve gotten into a tangle with Li Qiandu of Qian Du Company again? Try to stay out of trouble.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It¡¯s not me looking for trouble, Mr. Xu. They were bullying me, and if I didn¡¯t fight back, what would others think of me?¡±


    Hearing his response, Xu Liangguo felt a headache coming on: ¡°Try to avoid trouble. A step back may bring a wider view.¡±


    The call ended.


    Qin Hao soon took a car back home, where Mr. and Mrs. Qin were still busy.


    He went straight to his study, turned on the computer, and saw that the internet was in an uproar.


    His followers had surprisingly risen to seventy million and were still rapidly increasing.


    The comments under his Wei Yan were almost exploding, with many supporting him.


    But there were a few people cursing him online: Truly a disgrace to Xuan Country, worthless trash, I support the Federation¡¯s decision.


    These individuals were viciously insulted and even doxxed by hackers, having their personal information exposed.


    Qin Hao paid no mind to these people. To him, they were no different from traitors to the country.


    Soon, an announcement was released: Response to the Federation¡¯s Warrant for the Arrest of Mr. Qin.


    The Federation¡¯s warrant for Mr. Qin¡¯s arrest is groundless and immoral.


    Mr. Qin, as a member of the Xuan Science Academy, has always been committed to pharmaceutical research. Allegations of being a top hacker are utterly baseless.


    We hope the Federation will retract their warrant and clear Mr. Qin¡¯s name.


    ...


    After seeing the official announcement, Qin Hao also posted a Wei Yan; such matters could never be admitted openly.


    ¡°Regarding the Federation¡¯s insults and defamation alleging I am a top hacker, I hope they will seriously and thoroughly investigate again.


    I don¡¯t understand any hacker techniques, and this matter has greatly impacted my life and well-being. I reserve the right to pursue legal responsibilities.¡±


    [First update]


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 Chapter 480 - 482 Concern

    Chapter 480: Chapter 482 Concern


    ¡°Pfft¡±


    The netizens on Wei Yan burst into laughter when they saw Qin Hao¡¯s message.


    Especially the last sentence about pursuing legal action.


    Dude, that¡¯s the Northern Federation, not just some individual.


    In the world, the Northern Federation is the boss. Where the heck are you going to sue? You must be joking.


    But that¡¯s exactly what Qin Hao said, and everyone started commenting: Haha, can¡¯t wait for Mr. Qin to sue the Northern Federation.


    ...


    ¡°Mr. Qin, can you not be so hilarious? I was quite worried, but now I feel like laughing.¡±


    ¡°Northern Federation, are you scared? Mr. Qin is going to sue you guys.¡±


    ¡°Props to the Foreign Affairs statement, without evidence it¡¯s all bullshit, you¡¯re saying Mr. Qin is a hacker just because you say so?¡±


    ...


    That day, many foreign companies set up shop in Xuan Country, and there were companies from all industries.


    Some with great fanfare, some stealthily, some had already negotiated cooperation with domestic companies to establish joint ventures.


    It was not only top-tier companies entering the Xuan Country market, but also numerous ordinary businessmen seeking opportunities.


    The next day, people might discover that many companies sprang up like mushrooms after rain.


    Especially in coastal cities like Jianghai, on just this one day, nearly a hundred foreign-funded enterprises registered their branches in Xuan Country.


    That evening, Qin Hao received numerous phone calls from Du Wanrou, Feng Xiangyi, Kang Youyi, An Linxuan, Zhao Dongqiang, and others.


    Everyone from his companies called him, as well as many bosses and friends from the business world.


    Li Qingya also called Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin no wonder you¡¯re so competent with smart programs, turns out you¡¯re a top hacker too.¡±


    Qin Hao said awkwardly, ¡°Cough cough, Miss Li what are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Li Qingya giggled, ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re quite cautious. But it looks like you won¡¯t have any problems, so I won¡¯t bother you further.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you Miss Li.¡±


    ¡°Hold on, I haven¡¯t got to speak to Mr. Qin yet.¡± The voice of Li Qingyun rang out.


    Li Qingyun hastily said, ¡°Big brother Qin Hao, I am your sister Qingyun.¡±


    ¡°Uh, hi there sister Qingyun.¡± After saying that, Qin Hao muttered internally, Aren¡¯t I actually younger than you?


    ¡°Big brother Qin Hao, can you also teach me hacking skills someday? I also want to cripple the Black Palace Server of the Northern Federation.¡±


    Qin Hao was covered in black lines, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this topic some other time, Qingyun. I¡¯ve got another call coming, I need to take it.¡±


    Truth be told, he was still a bit worried about the travel restrictions.


    His future couldn¡¯t possibly be limited to Xuan Country; he was certainly going to plan for the whole world.


    The upcoming high-tech exhibition the day after tomorrow was an opportunity¨Cadvanced intelligent chips, artificial intelligence technology, and highly functional seismographs.


    As long as the Northern Federation needed any of these, they would be a bargaining chip in Qin Hao¡¯s negotiations, so he wasn¡¯t too worried.


    The next morning.


    Mr. and Mrs. Qin got up early. After having breakfast, they left to prepare things for tomorrow.


    Leng Xuan had sent four bodyguards to accompany Mr. and Mrs. Qin.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao took Qiao¡¯er to the beach to play. It was the weekend, and he had hardly ever taken Qiao¡¯er out.


    That morning, Huafei Clothing Company and Huamei Cosmetics Company announced their merger into the Jiangshan Group.


    This news caused quite a stir in Jianghai. Was Qin Hao expanding the strength of Jiangshan Group to concentrate resources to take on Tang Group?


    Huamei Company and Tang Group were currently locked in fierce competition.


    Although Tianli Cosmetics were effective, Huamei¡¯s product line was too limited to compare with the diverse range from Tang.


    Being surpassed in one product line didn¡¯t impact Tang Group too much.


    Now that Huamei was merging into Jiangshan Group, it was very likely that Qin Hao planned to strongly support Huamei.


    With Huafei and Huamei merging into Jiangshan Group, it had greatly increased the group¡¯s strength and influence.


    Just with the addition of Huafei, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem for Jiangshan Group¡¯s valuation to break ten billion Federation dollars.


    Many people were speculating about the deeper meaning behind Qin Hao¡¯s establishment of Jiangshan Group.


    Could it be that he wanted to take Jiangshan Group public?


    If this were true, the market value of Jiangshan Group could be even higher.


    Because Jiangshan Group¡¯s operations were developing well, it was in a beneficial cycle, with very substantial monthly profits.


    A third-party company had once secretly compiled statistics on Jiangshan Cooked Food¡¯s revenue and profits for November.


    The revenue was around seven or eight billion, with profits at about two billion, which is a very high margin of nearly twenty-five percent.


    [Second update]


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 Chapter 481 - 483 High-Tech Exhibition

    Chapter 481: Chapter 483 High-Tech Exhibition


    ¡°`


    After these figures were leaked, many companies were absolutely shocked. How could profits be so high?


    Damn it, even my own real estate business doesn¡¯t make as much profit as this.


    As for the sales and net profit of Star Lake Wine, a third-party company also conducted statistics, indicating that the turnover should be even higher than that of Jiangshan Delicatessen.


    Everyone was incredibly shocked; these companies had been established for a very short time.


    In just a few months, they had grown into behemoths with profits exceeding a hundred million. The speed of growth was terrifying.


    ...


    If Jiangshan Delicatessen and Xinghui Wine were given a few more months, what would happen then?


    There was also Huafei Clothing, which was rising rapidly. It had acquired large garment and spinning mills from Ruixing Group and was now focused on vigorous development.


    Although Hua Mei Skincare had a limited product line, its sales were quite good, and it possessed significant potential.


    ...


    ¡°Qiao¡¯er, how about Daddy takes you to the amusement park?¡± said Qin Hao, holding Qiao¡¯er¡¯s small hand.


    Qiao¡¯er nodded, ¡°Mhm, thank you, Daddy.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Leng Xuan; several people who were with Leng Xuan returned to the residential area and soon came out driving.


    ¡°Get in the car, Meng, Ying, Qiao¡¯er. Let¡¯s go to the amusement park and have some fun,¡± said Qin Hao.


    Zhao Yuying, Han Meng, and Qiao¡¯er sat in the back seat, while Qin Hao took the passenger seat.


    They went to the amusement park in Qingzhai District, Jianghai City.


    It was the largest amusement park in Jianghai City, and since today was Saturday, it was very crowded.


    Nearby, Qin Hao also saw a Jiangshan Delicatessen, bustling with lots of people and thriving business.


    Because Zhao Yuying¡¯s identity was somewhat special, she wore a hat and glasses, making it hard to recognize her without looking closely.


    Qin Hao spent the whole day with Qiao¡¯er at play, also taking the time to relax himself.


    That evening, a video of him playing with a little girl in the amusement park was uploaded online.


    Many people commented on how pretty and adorable Qiao¡¯er was, saying she was a little beauty in the making.


    Others were curious about who the girl was and what her relationship with Qin Hao was.


    Some speculated that Qin Hao might be working on a ¡°Lolita grooming plan.¡±


    Even more preposterous were suggestions that Qin Hao was a pervert with a predilection for children.


    Qin Hao felt compelled to clarify on Wei Yan: This is my goddaughter, don¡¯t speculate wildly. If you¡¯ve got time for that, you should study hard and serve the country in the future.


    ¡°Mr. Qin is right, I¡¯ve learned my lesson,¡± replied a student.


    ¡°When will Huafei Clothing recruit new franchise agents again? I want to join, aaahhh!¡±


    Only capable domestic and international companies were able to participate in the exhibition.


    Most importantly, the visitors to the exhibition were all big names from various industries or business tycoons.


    There were also major authoritative news organizations, both domestic and international ¨C it was a great opportunity to boost one¡¯s influence.


    The ultimate goal of this exhibition was to market products.


    Only if you have good products will people want to purchase them, and will companies be willing to cooperate with you.


    At 8:20 a.m., Qin Hao arrived at the High-tech Products Exhibition Hall located in the city center.


    By then, the outdoor parking lot of the exhibition hall was filled with hundreds of luxury cars, and more were continuously arriving.


    Qin Hao got out of his car and walked towards the entrance of the High-tech Exhibition Hall.


    There were security inspection personnel there, and surprisingly the security staff were from the Feibao Company.


    The inspection here was very strict; ordinary people would not be able to get in.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao and his group, the six security inspectors hurriedly called out, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Check everything thoroughly, don¡¯t miss anything.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin,¡± the several people replied in unison.


    Many onlookers around cast their eyes towards Qin Hao, their expressions varied.


    Why is he here too?


    Walking into the exhibition hall, the interior was vast, extending beyond immediate sight, already divided into individual booths.


    Each booth had the company¡¯s name upfront,


    and by this time, all the companies participating in the exhibition had already arrived, with their products all laid out.


    At a glance, there was almost everything: 9DVR equipment, new LED displays, the latest cameras, computers, cell phones.


    Almost every kind of household appliance could be seen, along with various furniture products, even paper and pens, and cars, all representing high-tech products.


    Closely related to everyday life, here one could find everything¡ªan exhibition like this naturally included the robots of various countries.


    The robot exhibition area was very conspicuous, located right at the center of the entire exhibition hall.


    Qin Hao spotted the booth of Xinghai High-tech Company at a glance.


    Because Xinghai High-tech was situated in the most prominent central position of the exhibition hall.


    [Third Update]


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 Chapter 482 - 484 Artificial Intelligence

    Chapter 482: Chapter 484 Artificial Intelligence


    In the robotics exhibition area, Xinghai High-tech Company¡¯s spot was considered the best.


    Qin Hao walked around and saw that there were dozens of booths in the robot display section, most of which were foreign brands.


    That¡¯s because their technology was indeed more advanced than that of Xuan Country.


    But that was in the past, starting today Xuan Country would surpass all other national high-tech companies in the field of intelligent robots.


    Eventually, Qin Hao entered his own display area, where four intelligent robots stood motionless.


    They had changed into new gear, all glacier white, and the eyes¡¯ glass was made from the latest high-tech materials.


    ...


    The black crystals on their faces were also made from the newest high-tech particles, which even a hammer couldn¡¯t shatter.


    Inside the exhibition area was also a large monitor hanging, but it wasn¡¯t turned on at the moment.


    Qin Hao sat down in a chair and asked Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Chang, when does it start?¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°Nine o¡¯clock. The top leader from Jianghai and some other officials will also come. After all, this is a high-tech exhibition.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°What about the guy from the Xie Family?¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°Because of the matters with the Ruixing Group, that person from the Xie Family has been transferred out. Now it¡¯s the person from the Xu Family in charge.¡±


    Qin Hao paused for a second, ¡°Xu Jiejian?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know? Aren¡¯t you pretty close with the Xu Family?¡± Chang Jing said in disbelief.


    Qin Hao chuckled, ¡°I don¡¯t care about these things. It has nothing to do with my making money. What are your codes?¡±


    ¡°Master, you don¡¯t recognize me just because I changed my clothes?¡±


    Hearing its tone and voice, Qin Hao knew who it was. No other robot but Number 001 had this cheeky attitude.


    ¡°Master, I am Number 002.¡±


    ¡°I am Number 003.¡±


    ¡°I am Number 004.¡±


    ¡°Master, I am Number 1, I am their boss.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao glared at it, ¡°You¡¯re the boss? Fine then, after the exhibition starts at nine,


    you find a way to attract everyone to me, reporters, business tycoons, government officials¡ªif one is missing, I¡¯ll tear you apart when we get back.¡±


    Number 001 straightened up and gave Qin Hao a military salute with a ¡°snap.¡±


    ¡°A piece of cake, mission guaranteed to be accomplished.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡±


    Li Qingya responded, ¡°Yes, considering the customer experience, we currently set it to an electronic tone, but it can also be adjusted to a male or female voice.


    And it¡¯s indeed very intelligent. Let me show you.¡±


    After saying that, she took out a piece of clothing and said to the washing machine, ¡°Open the door.¡±


    The door of the washing machine automatically opened, and Li Qingya placed the clothing inside.


    ¡°Close it, please.¡±


    The door of the washing machine then closed again¡ªthe door didn¡¯t understand her words.


    Rather, the voice sensor transmitted the commands to the smart motherboard, which then had the smart processing chip issue the commands.


    ¡°Start washing the clothes, please.¡±


    ¡°Buzz¡±


    The washing machine trembled slightly, began to fill with water, and then started spinning.


    After the clothes were washed, the machine automatically performed the spin-dry operation, and then the electronic voice announced, ¡°Your clothes are clean now.¡±


    This time Li Qingya didn¡¯t say anything. She reached for the door of the washing machine, and then the door opened automatically and slowly.


    The front of the washing machine had several sensors that could sense the actions of the owner.


    They could then make a judgment and autonomously perform intelligent actions, just like now when it knew Li Qingya wanted to open the door and did so automatically.


    Admiring the machine, Qin Hao found it quite impressive, ¡°How much are you pricing it at?¡±


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be too expensive; the price isn¡¯t set yet,¡± Li Qingyun replied.


    Qin Hao warned, ¡°If you set it too high, I might have to raise my prices here. Such a good product should be popularized so everyone can use it, not just targeted at the high-end market.¡±


    Li Qingyun chuckled and said, ¡°Sure, I will pass on Brother Hao¡¯s opinion to my dad. He will definitely listen.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Alright, you two carry on, Mr. Chang and I are going to browse some more and see if there are any other good finds.¡±


    They visited many more places and later also saw Ye Lanxin and others; Blueberry Phone had likewise released a truly intelligent phone.


    Qin Hao also came across the booth of the Qian Du Company, whose selling point was their artificial intelligence program.


    Indeed, the companies that could attend this exhibition had strength, and many products were truly remarkable.


    Around nine o¡¯clock, Qin Hao and Chang Jing returned to their own exhibition area.


    [Fourth update, no more for today]


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 Chapter 483 - 485: The Exhibition Begins

    Chapter 483: Chapter 485: The Exhibition Begins


    Both returned to the exhibition area, where number three and four were now seated on two chairs, operating two computers.


    The large liquid crystal LED display in the exhibition area had been turned on as well.


    The display showed video footage from inside Xinghai High-tech Company Earthquake Monitoring Room, with many red circles rippling across the screen.


    Numbers 003 and 004 were tapping at the keyboards, staring at the screens on their computers.


    Numbers 001 and 002 looked around, as if searching for something.


    At nine o¡¯clock, the entrance to the High-tech Exhibition Hall opened on time, and journalists from around the world entered through a passageway.


    ...


    Many big shots from Xuan Country¡¯s business world and experts from various domestic industries came in through another passageway.


    Upon entering, they began heading towards their target exhibition areas.


    Like most companies at the exhibit hall, they had held a new product launch before the exhibition to attract attention.


    There were many people in each exhibition area, but not many were heading to the robot exhibition area.


    That¡¯s because there usually wasn¡¯t much to report on at the robot exhibition area, just some old stuff with new exteriors.


    The journalists knew this very well, having reported on it many times.


    What they wanted was news with enough pull.


    Once most people had entered, Qin Hao looked towards number 001.


    001 spoke to 002, ¡°You go borrow a chair, I¡¯ll find a speaker.¡±


    Having said that, the two ¡°clattered¡± out of the exhibition area.


    002 wasn¡¯t gone long before people around noticed: ¡°Damn, whose robot got loose?


    Those steps, and the way it turns its head, it¡¯s too lifelike! Is it looking for something?¡±


    Quite a few people followed 002, who quickly found a high-tech chair display counter.


    Four or five journalists were interviewing there while the person behind the counter smiled eagerly, pitching their company¡¯s product.


    002 found a gap and squeezed in, walking straight behind the counter: ¡°I¡¯ll borrow your company¡¯s chairs for a bit.¡±


    Then, without waiting for an agreement, it picked up two of the newest high-tech chairs and left.


    Journalists and staff from the chair company were stunned, taking a few seconds to react.


    ¡°Hey, those are our chairs, give them back!¡± an employee from the company called out as he hurriedly chased after it.


    The five or six journalists also snapped to and chased along, ¡°whoosh¡±.


    The robot indeed shocked them, and their keen professional instincts told them, this was definitely going to be big news.


    ¡°Damn it, which company produced this ruffian robot?¡±


    More and more people joined the chase, some provoked by 001, many more drawn in by the excitement.


    001 was very fast, and later it stopped running. Wheels appeared under its feet, like a skateboard, making it even faster.


    ...


    Xinghai High-tech Company Exhibition Area.


    Chang Jing, seeing that 001 and 002 had not returned, said worriedly, ¡°What are they doing? I hope nothing¡¯s gone wrong.¡±


    ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be any problem, right? What could possibly happen?¡± Qin Hao replied, sounding unsure, remembering 001¡¯s character.


    Meanwhile, outside the exhibition hall, several cars stopped.


    Xu Jiejian and some official leaders stepped down from them.


    Following them were several of the most influential news organizations, both domestic and international.


    Only top-tier media could follow Xu Jiejian and his entourage for interviews.


    Xu Jiejian was here with a purpose; he had been tasked by his superiors, and his first target upon entering was the Xinghai High-tech exhibition area.


    The reporter from Xuan Country TV adjusted her clothes and her demeanor before saying, ¡°Okay, we can start the live broadcast now.¡±


    The cameraman turned on the camera.


    At this moment, the satellite TV channel, the Wei Yan network, and other platforms all started their live broadcasts.


    Xuan Country TV news, whether on its TV channels or online platforms, attracted a very high viewership.


    This was because it was the most authoritative news organization in the country, a weathervane of public opinion, a broadcaster of policies.


    The female reporter spoke with a smile, ¡°Hello everyone, I am Jiang Xue from Xuan Country TV. We are currently outside the High-tech Exhibition Hall in Jianghai City.¡±


    The camera then panned to the High-tech Exhibition Hall and then to Xu Jiejian and the others.


    Her voice continued from the camera,


    ¡°The newly appointed leadership team of Jianghai City has just arrived here, headed by Mr. Xu.


    Let¡¯s follow Mr. Xu¡¯s steps into the exhibition hall to check out the high-tech products of the new era, all of which are closely related to the nation and the livelihood of the people.¡±


    [First update, today I¡¯m aiming for five updates, tossing in an extra chapter for everyone, please vote, and support!]


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 Chapter 484 - 486: Is This a Damn Exhibition?

    Chapter 484: Chapter 486: Is This a Damn Exhibition?


    Xu Jiejian led a crowd into the High-tech Exhibition Hall.


    Many cameras focused on Xu Jiejian and his group, and once inside, numerous cameras turned towards the interior.


    The number of viewers in the satellite live streaming rooms on online platforms quickly soared to hundreds of thousands and kept increasing.


    Since it was the weekend, most people were off work and resting, and many were watching TV.


    Moreover, this high-tech exhibition was broadcast live on all satellite channels, no matter which satellite platform you turned on, this live broadcast was playing.


    As Xu Jiejian walked, he talked to the people beside him, knowing the exhibition area of Xinghai High-tech Company, so he headed straight there.


    ...


    Just as their group reached halfway, a robot with two chairs in tow sprinted past on their right hand side.


    A mass of people followed, including reporters, company staff, and some business tycoons.


    ¡°Stop, don¡¯t run, give us back our chairs,¡± panted the people behind, drenched in sweat.


    Xu Jiejian and the reporters from major news organizations were stunned, and the cameras were focusing on that group.


    What the heck is going on?


    The people in front of the TVs and in the online live streaming rooms were shocked.


    ¡°Wow, what is that running up front? A robot?¡±


    ¡°It does seem like a robot, but why are those people chasing it?¡±


    The female reporter quickly said, ¡°It looks like there¡¯s a sudden situation on site, please hold on, Mr. Xu and others are checking it out.¡±


    Just then, another robot ran out from the other side.


    This robot was laughing out loud, ¡°Come chase me, if you catch me, I¡¯ll touch you back.¡±


    ...


    Following this robot were blonde, blue-eyed foreign journalists and female journalists from Xuan Country, all flushed and red-eared.


    It was unclear whether it was from running too hard or something else.


    The online live streaming rooms and TV audiences were flabbergasted; was this really a high-tech exhibition?


    Eventually, the two robots stopped in front of the Xinghai High-tech exhibition area.


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing saw the people behind them and were dumbfounded, ¡°Damn, what did you two do? Why did everyone chase you here?¡±


    001: ¡°Master, didn¡¯t you ask me to find a way to draw everyone here? Now almost everyone has come.¡±


    ¡°Which company produces these hooligan robots? They even took advantage of me,¡± a Xuan Country female reporter said, red-eared.


    ¡°They took advantage of me too, we must have an explanation.¡±


    ¡°So what was with you touching that area of ours? You do realize that¡¯s sexual harassment, right?¡± a foreign female journalist blurted out in Federation language in her urgency.


    Robot 001 replied in very fluent, standard Federation language, ¡°It was just a perfect misunderstanding, beautiful lady, please don¡¯t blame me.¡±


    After saying that, it turned on the speaker and then stood on the chair brought over by Robot 002.


    Holding a microphone, it said, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, hello everyone.


    Let me introduce myself; I am an artificial intelligence robot from Xuan Country Xinghai High-tech Company, code name 001.


    This dull-witted fellow beside me is my partner, code name 002, and sitting behind me playing on the computer are 003 and 004.


    I deeply apologize for the earlier incident, there was no helping it, as I was compelled by my boss.


    I¡¯m just a worker; if I don¡¯t complete the tasks, I might face severe gossip when I return.


    I hope everyone can understand me and forgive my reckless actions just now. Here, I sincerely apologize to everyone.


    To make up for the distress caused to the few ladies earlier, I have personally decided to accept a ten-minute exclusive interview with you later.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao heard this and was dumbfounded, cursing internally, this guy knows how to shift responsibility?


    He actually even knows how to shift responsibility?


    What¡¯s most important was that last part about a ten-minute exclusive interview.


    Damn, if you were a man, how many beautiful women would you have deceived?


    Everyone at the venue, watching the live stream, and in front of TVs was stunned by its intelligence.


    What¡¯s an intelligent robot?


    This is what you call an intelligent robot, alright?


    A message to the countries and companies researching intelligent robots abroad, open your eyes wide and look. This is what you call intelligence.


    ¡°To express my apology, let me sing a song for everyone, ¡®Glory Days,¡¯ dedicated to you all.¡±


    Unable to hold back, Qin Hao stepped forward and kicked it off the chair.


    Robot 001 reacted swiftly, rolled on the ground, and stood up again.


    Qin Hao said irritably, ¡°Dammit, this is the Jianghai High-tech Exhibition Hall, not your personal concert.¡±


    [Second update, feeling good? Well, I am!]


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 Chapter 485 - 487 Uplifting

    Chapter 485: Chapter 487 Uplifting


    Many people felt a bit regretful, wondering what a robot singing would sound like.


    But seeing the person who walked out, the audience, the live stream viewers, and the people in front of their TVs were stunned.


    Wasn¡¯t that Mr. Qin, Qin Hao?


    Why was he here?


    Could it be that he had a connection with this company? Since he had just come out from this exhibition area.


    As Qin Hao walked out, a young and beautiful woman also emerged.


    ...


    Qin Hao took the microphone and said awkwardly, ¡°Sorry everyone, this guy is a bit mischievous, I hope you won¡¯t mind.¡±


    At this moment, nearly twenty security personnel from Feibao Company entered, having been alerted to turmoil inside.


    Seeing the situation now, they stood by, ready to maintain order.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, may I ask what your relationship is with Xinghai High-tech Company?¡± a group of reporters quickly asked.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I am the chairman of Xinghai High-tech Company, and this artificial intelligence robot is my creation.


    The lady beside me is Mr. Chang, the vice president of Xinghai High-tech Company.¡±


    ¡°Wow¡±


    The scene burst into a mixture of astonishment and shock.


    He was the chairman of Xinghai High-tech, and he had developed the intelligent robot.


    This was a lot of information to take in.


    Foreign reporters at the scene also recognized Qin Hao, for he had just been put on the wanted list by the EBI of the Beihai Federation.


    His photo was posted up, and some had even shared news about him; naturally, they recognized Qin Hao.


    ¡°May I ask if this intelligent robot was independently developed by your factory?¡± a reporter from Beihai Country hurriedly inquired.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Of course, our Xinghai High-tech Company can now mass-produce various advanced intelligent chips with different functions.


    In addition, our company has also developed advanced lithography machines, specifically used for producing all kinds of chips.


    Besides chips, there are various sensors. Unit 001 can sense changes in a person¡¯s expression through sensors, and voice sensors can distinguish sounds, among other things.


    These are not the most crucial; the core technology is the artificial intelligence source code, which is confidential, so I won¡¯t go into detail.


    We are currently signing cooperation agreements with the government and military, and we will provide the country with lithography machines for producing intelligent chips, as well as intelligent robots.¡±


    Guy: ¡°Fine, let¡¯s break up then.¡±


    The girl started to panic when her boyfriend didn¡¯t reply for a long time; she was shopping at Huafei Clothing Store and quickly said to the clerk, ¡°Can you turn on the TV?¡±


    A few minutes later, she hurriedly texted her boyfriend, ¡°Husband, I¡¯m watching now, Mr. Qin is so amazing, he¡¯s actually developed artificial intelligence,¡±


    ...


    Jianghai High-tech Exhibition Hall.


    Jiang Xue also had an excited expression on her face: ¡°I believe this is news that excites all the citizens of our country.


    Here, I¡¯d like to express my personal gratitude to Mr. Qin on behalf of myself. Thank you for your efforts.¡±


    After speaking, she even bowed to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao quickly supported her: ¡°Mr. Jiang, it¡¯s not that serious.¡±


    Look at the sentiment and level of other satellite channel reporters, all of you learn something, especially those from Beihai Country.¡±


    Jiang Xue continued to ask, ¡°Mr. Qin, what exactly is the source code about?¡±


    Qin Hao explained simply, ¡°Computers and phones, as you all know, will react when we issue commands to them. The source code is like the operating system of a robot, which we call an intelligent system.¡±


    An intelligent system, that is a new term.


    As everyone knows, there are currently two major computer systems in the world, one from AP Company called the AP computer system, and one from Weiying Company called the Wds system.


    Both companies are from the Federation.


    There are also two major mobile operating systems, one from AP Company called the AP phone system, and one from the world¡¯s largest search engine company, Mige Company, called the ad system, again both from the Federation.


    In Xuan Country, many mobile manufacturers cooperate with Mige Company, as their ad system is provided for free.¡±


    Jiang Xue: ¡°Mr. Qin, was this operating system also developed solely by your company?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, every single part above was independently developed by our company.


    The national patent certificates have already come through, and just for the smart robot alone, there are dozens of patents, because it contains many innovative components.¡±


    [Third Update]


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 Chapter 486 - 488 Questioning

    Chapter 486: Chapter 488 Questioning


    Jiang Xue smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, may I interview the 001 intelligent robot alone?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, we would also like to conduct interviews.¡± Many reporters below spoke up.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t rush, there¡¯s plenty of time left. All who wish to interview can do so, just take it easy.¡±


    After finishing his words, he called over 001 and 002 to be interviewed by reporters from all around the world.


    Of course, the first to interview was Jiang Xue, because she was a satellite TV reporter.


    As Jiang Xue went to interview the robot, Qin Hao was just about to take a break when suddenly, the reporter from Beihai Country asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, regarding the incident where you hacked into the Heigong system, how do you feel about being wanted by the Northern Federation?¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you should be a Beihai Country AV actress, right?¡±


    The female reporter from Beihai Country¡¯s face changed: ¡°Mr. Qin, please maintain respect for others.¡±


    Qin Hao said indifferently, ¡°Your current mood is very much like mine when I first heard that news.¡±


    People in the online broadcast and in front of their TVs were cheering; damn, this reporter from Beihai Country was really looking for trouble.


    Xu Jiejian watched Qin Hao with a smile on his face, he had intended to draw some reporters over to help Qin Hao, but now it seemed completely unnecessary.


    He had managed to do it himself and had almost attracted everyone¡¯s attention.


    At this moment, other exhibition areas were desolate: ¡°Damn, wasn¡¯t the exhibition supposed to start at nine? Where is everyone?¡±


    ¡°There were so many people just a moment ago, where the hell did they all run off to?¡±


    ¡°Damn it, are there ghosts here? Where are the people?¡±


    ¡°Quickly, go find out what¡¯s going on.¡±


    A number of people came out of numerous booths to check the situation.


    Li Qingya and Li Qingyun from Kangmei Group didn¡¯t send anyone to find out; they probably already guessed what was happening.


    The crowd must have been attracted by Qin Hao¡¯s inventions; things should be fine once the other side¡¯s interview was over.


    Ye Lanxin knew the situation as well, so she was not in a hurry, sitting inside the exhibition booth and waiting.


    About half an hour later, important news agencies from various countries had more or less completed their interviews.


    Many reporters were ecstatic, this was definitely big news, and it was sure to attract a lot of attention; they too would receive commendations.


    As everyone who had interviewed was preparing to leave,


    Have you had professional institutions verify this alongside you? Just because you say it¡¯s one hundred percent, doesn¡¯t make it so. It needs validation and evaluation by the state or even by major institutions.¡±


    Qin Hao had developed high-end intelligent chips and AI robots, shattering the superiority complex these foreign journalists had.


    Now hearing Qin Hao claim his seismometer was so powerful, it was hard for anyone to believe.


    Just then, the monitor suddenly started flashing, the red lights around it blinking as if it were a scene from a game where health is being depleted.


    An auburn circle began to flicker.


    An alarm sounded inside Xinghai High-tech Company¡¯s seismic monitoring room.


    In the seismic monitoring room, there were not only people like Han Le¡¯an but also a group of experts and professors from the Xuan Country Earthquake Bureau.


    Hearing the alarm, those people were confounded and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Han Le¡¯an hastily asked someone to pinpoint the flickering auburn circle.


    In less than a minute, someone urgently reported, ¡°Professor Han has located it; the earthquake is thirty sea miles east of Gong County in Beihai Country, occurring at two o¡¯ five in the morning on January 6th, magnitude¡ªeight... eight point nine.¡±


    Han Le¡¯an and all the members of the Earthquake Bureau were stunned. Eight point nine magnitude?


    ...


    Inside Jianghai City¡¯s High-tech Exhibition Hall.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, what¡¯s going on here? Is there a problem with the monitor?¡± Xu Jiekang spoke up to alleviate the awkward tension.


    Journalists from Beihai Country and the others showed mocking smiles, thinking they couldn¡¯t even get their equipment right, and yet they claim to have the most advanced seismometers.


    Qin Hao turned to look and said, ¡°Mr. Xu, it¡¯s not a problem with the monitor; there is a major earthquake coming.¡±


    Operators 003 and 004 tapped rapidly on their keyboards, swiftly analyzing the data.


    ¡°The earthquake is located thirty sea miles east of Beihai Country, occurring at two o¡¯ five in the morning on January 6th, magnitude eight point nine,¡± Qin Hao read out the data slowly.


    The journalist from Beihai Country paused when he heard this, then said with a laugh, ¡°I just pointed out a flaw in Mr. Qin¡¯s seismometer, and now you say our country is about to experience an earthquake. Are you trying to scare me, Mr. Qin?¡±


    [Fourth update, vote for us! Also, a small tip is appreciated, just one dollar or 100 book coins to fill the screen with support.]


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 Chapter 487 - 489 Getting Something for Nothing?

    Chapter 487: Chapter 489 Getting Something for Nothing?


    Qin Hao gave a faint smile, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, then forget it.¡±


    Many journalists left one after another because Qin Hao¡¯s seismograph wasn¡¯t considered credible.


    Seeing that there was nothing of interest, other attendees also dispersed, though some remained to observe the intelligent robots.


    Most of the journalists went to the Kangmei Appliances and Blueberry Phone booths.


    They wanted to see what effects the application of intelligent chips to appliances and phones would have.


    This was what everyone was most concerned about at the moment.


    ...


    Xu Jiekang said a few encouraging words to Qin Hao, then led his group to other places.


    Soon, the exhibition hall returned to its usual state, and Qin Hao¡¯s objective had been achieved.


    Tomorrow, the name of Xinghai High-tech Company would resonate across the entire world, and Qin Hao would become the center of attention.


    Those in the internet high-tech field seeking development would all need Qin Hao.


    Whether or not to sell them intelligent chips would depend on Qin Hao¡¯s mood.


    ...


    Qin Hao sat in his chair and took a sip of water as he had spoken quite a bit earlier.


    Chang Jing took out her phone, searched for a moment, then showed Qin Hao: ¡°Thirty nautical miles is about fifty kilometers.


    An 8.9 magnitude earthquake would most likely result in intense tremors that could turn the coastal cities of Gong County and its surrounding counties into ruins.¡±


    In Beihai Country, the county-level administrative units are similar to provincial-level units in Xuan Country, and counties in Beihai Country are larger than cities.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°An 8.9 magnitude earthquake will be felt throughout Beihai Country, it¡¯s just that the farther the distance, the smaller the amplitude.


    Gong County and nearby Yan County and Fu County would be the hardest hit areas. What¡¯s more terrifying are the tsunamis that follow the earthquake.¡±


    Chang Jing looked at him and asked, ¡°Are you really not going to inform Beihai Country? If you tell them, perhaps many people could be spared from suffering.¡±


    Qin Hao scoffed coldly, ¡°I¡¯ve told them, but they didn¡¯t believe it. What can be done? Let them learn their lesson the hard way.


    They should realize their mistakes after treating everything with disdain. By then, it will be too late to regret,¡±


    Chang Jing didn¡¯t say much. He also had no fond feelings for Beihai Country. As a citizen of Xuan Country, he could not forget the national humiliation.


    Moreover, a large number of people from Beihai Country had recently visited the Beihai Shrine, which had made the news at the time.


    Every day, many citizens visit the Beihai Shrine, which is an insult to the deceased soldiers and civilians of Xuan Country.


    He traveled by car to the offices of Xinghai Company.


    Inside the earthquake monitoring room, a group of experts were discussing the impending earthquake in Beihai Country.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao enter, Han Le¡¯an introduced him to the Earthquake Bureau¡¯s experts nearby, ¡°This is Mr. Qin, the developer of the Xinghai Seismograph.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, hello, Mr. Qin, hello,¡± greeted the Earthquake Bureau¡¯s experts one after another.


    Even though they were experts, in terms of status, Qin Hao was still a member of the Xuan Science Academy.


    Although he was a member in name only, his status was not something ordinary academic experts could compare to.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°Hello, experts.¡±


    Han Le¡¯an spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, we are discussing whether to report the news of the earthquake through national channels to Beihai Country.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I have already informed the journalists from Beihai Country; whether they believe it or not is up to them.¡±


    The others hesitated for a moment and then nodded slightly.


    One of the Earthquake Bureau¡¯s experts spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, actually we¡¯ve called you back for another matter.


    We want to move the earthquake monitoring to the Earthquake Bureau, where there are more experts and more advanced equipment. It makes it easier to calculate various data and predict future major earthquakes, which would benefit the public. We hope Mr. Qin would agree.¡±


    After the Earthquake Bureau¡¯s experts and Han Le¡¯an finished speaking, they all looked towards Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao was taken aback, thinking, what the heck, you¡¯re trying to pull a fast one, and you¡¯re pinning such a darn huge label on me.


    By not giving it to you, am I endangering the safety of the people¡¯s wealth?


    Without you, my seismograph would still operate just fine and predict earthquakes for Xuan Country all the same.


    You¡¯re not satisfied with using it for free, and now you freaking want to claim it as your own?


    He smiled and said, ¡°Of course, I have no objections, but I have spent quite a bit of cost and effort in researching this thing.


    My planned retail price is one hundred billion Federation coins, but you can just give me the cost price, thirty billion Federation coins.¡±


    Han Le¡¯an and the others from the Earthquake Bureau¡¯s faces changed slightly, the cost price, thirty billion Federation coins? Two hundred and ten billion Xuan Country Coins?


    Why don¡¯t you just rob the International Bank?


    [Fifth release, that¡¯s all for today]


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 Chapter 488 - 490 Roll Out

    Chapter 488: Chapter 490 Roll Out


    ¡°`


    ¡°You must be crazed with the desire for money,¡± a middle-aged man snorted coldly.


    Qin Hao looked at the middle-aged man, ¡°And you are?¡±


    Zhang Xiuji spoke up, ¡°I¡¯m the office director of the Earthquake Bureau, Zhang Xiuji.¡±


    Qin Hao scoffed, ¡°So, Mr. Zhang, how much do you plan to pay, and how much do you think it¡¯s worth?¡±


    Zhang Xiuji: ¡°This isn¡¯t something that can be measured in money. This is a tremendous benefit for all the people of Xuan Country.


    ...


    Mr. Qin, do you think you should be charging money for such a thing? Do you really want to make money even from your own compatriots?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re scheming in your heart, Mr. Zhang. Isn¡¯t it just to take it back and claim it as your own?


    And you¡¯re also planning to take away the research technology of the seismograph, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Zhang Xiuji: ¡°This technology, which benefits all of humanity, I think Mr. Qin should hand it over.


    We will dedicate ourselves to the research of the seismograph, after all, we are the experts, and perhaps we could improve on your technology.


    Mr. Qin, rest assured, we will definitely announce to the public that this technology was researched and developed by you, we are just refining the study.¡±


    Han Le¡¯an felt somewhat repulsed by Zhang Xiuji on the side; he was being too shameless, and these people were not that familiar to him.


    Reporting to the higher-ups at the beginning was to let them be aware of the matter.


    But Han Le¡¯an hadn¡¯t expected Zhang Xiuji and the others to have such intentions.


    Zhang Xiuji and his people also had their own concerns. If Qin Hao¡¯s seismograph was that accurate, what use would they be?


    If they weren¡¯t even slightly useful, would they still be necessary? Would the country still allocate research funds to them?


    The most important was that Zhang Xiuji and others saw the huge profits of the Xinghai Seismograph.


    Just as Qin Hao had said earlier, if they researched and sold it to other countries, they could ask for any amount of money they wanted.


    So, no matter what, Zhang Xiuji had to take the Xinghai Seismograph and the development technology.


    Even if it meant calling in favors, he had to take those two things.


    Qin Hao laughed out of sheer anger, ¡°Mr. Zhang, if you¡¯re so professional, why didn¡¯t you develop such a seismograph? What a joke.


    And one more thing for you to understand, the Xinghai Seismograph will be free for all the people of Xuan Country to use, to prevent the occurrence of earthquakes.


    Fan Chengye warned, ¡°Some people in the Earthquake Bureau have quite a bit of clout, don¡¯t take them lightly.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Fan, I¡¯m aware.¡±


    Fan Chengye continued, ¡°Nothing much, I just watched the live broadcast on TV. Is your seismograph really that accurate?¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°For now, no matter what we say, not many people believe it. Let¡¯s wait for the results in the early morning of the 6th.¡±


    The call ended.


    A flicker of sharpness passed through Qin Hao¡¯s eyes. Even if those people from the Earthquake Bureau had great power, could they outright steal from him?


    At most, they might seek various connections to pressure him.


    This noon, the Xinghai Earthquake Monitoring Room posted an announcement online, stating that they detected an 8.9 magnitude earthquake would occur thirty nautical miles east of Gong County in Beihai Country.


    The exact time, location, and magnitude of the earthquake were mentioned, but few believed it.


    For many internet users, only the announcement from the Xuan Country Earthquake Bureau held any authority.


    Qin Hao made a phone call to Xu Liangguo, ¡°Mr. Xu, there¡¯s something I want to ask you.¡±


    Xu Liangguo responded irritably, ¡°You kid are nothing but trouble. I heard you offended people at the Earthquake Bureau again?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled nervously, ¡°They wanted to take away my research and even threatened me. How could I endure that? If I did, wouldn¡¯t that embarrass you, Mr. Xu?¡±


    Xu Liangguo replied, ¡°That¡¯s also true. They receive so much funding every year and can¡¯t even research a fart.¡±


    Qin Hao broke into a cold sweat; only Xu Liangguo would dare say such things. ¡°Mr. Xu, the earthquake matter is absolutely true.


    If there are any of our Xuan Country compatriots over there, please try to get the state to bring them back using official means.¡±


    Xu Liangguo pondered for a moment, ¡°If there¡¯s no earthquake, my old face will be thoroughly embarrassed.¡±


    Qin Hao grinned, ¡°Mr. Xu, we¡¯re family, how could I let you be embarrassed?¡±


    Xu Liangguo cursed, not in any good mood, ¡°Cut the bullshit, you¡¯re already embarrassing enough for me.¡±


    If not for his intervention in Xu Siyao¡¯s matter, the gossip could have had him laughed to death.


    [First update]


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 Chapter 489 - 491: A Stone Stirs up a Thousand Ripples

    Chapter 489: Chapter 491: A Stone Stirs up a Thousand Ripples


    ¡°`


    Cough cough.


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    Qin Hao said with an awkward smile, ¡°Mr. Xu, I¡¯ll have to trouble you with this matter, after all, it concerns the lives of many of our compatriots.¡±


    ¡°`


    ...


    ¡°`


    After hanging up the phone, Xu Liangguo still made a call to his superiors.


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    At this time of the year, there were not a few people traveling to Beihai Country.


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    To be honest, as a soldier, Xu Liangguo had a strong dislike for Beihai Country. In the war back then, tens of millions from Xuan Country were killed or injured, including his father who fell at the hands of the enemy.


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    But now, in times of peace and looking at it from the country¡¯s perspective, he must go along with the general trend; the two countries have to at least appear amicable on the surface.


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    As someone who remembers history, Xu Liangguo felt that it was best to avoid travel to that country.


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    Traveling there means increasing Beihai Country¡¯s GDP. There are so many places to visit within Xuan Country, why insist on going to Beihai Country?


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    ...


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    Six o¡¯clock in the afternoon.


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    Xinghai High-tech Company, artificial intelligence robots, Qin Hao, made headlines across national newspapers and online media platforms.


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    Like a bomb, this news exploded throughout Xuan Country.


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    After all, there weren¡¯t many people watching TV or browsing the internet in the morning, but now that most have returned home, this was when the number of people was at its peak.


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    ¡°Breaking News: Xuan Country Xinghai High-tech Company develops artificial intelligence robot.¡±


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    ¡°Xuan Country breaks foreign chip monopoly, technology far ahead of foreign chip companies.¡±


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    ¡°Xinghai High-tech Company¡¯s artificial intelligence robot capable of normal communication with humans boasts an extremely high IQ.¡±


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    ¡°The artificial intelligence robots seen in science fiction movies have actually been developed.¡±


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    The name of Xinghai High-tech Company and Qin Hao went viral around the globe.


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    The Federation was shaken, countries in West Continent were shaken, and industry magnates from all sectors of the world were shaken!!


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    Intelligent chips, artificial intelligence technology, the impact was too great, even capable of altering the current oligarchic structure of the business world.


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    Is another business tycoon about to rise?


    On the evening of the 3rd, many business magnates of the Northern Federation held an emergency roundtable meeting.


    It wasn¡¯t just in the Northern Federation; business magnates and financial groups from Beihai Country, Beidou Country, and various countries in the West Continent also urgently convened.


    Besides these business titans, government departments from various countries also held emergency meetings.


    The news was too sudden and shocking.


    That evening, Qin Hao received calls, people he knew and didn¡¯t know all tried to connect with him.


    After answering a few calls from friends, Qin Hao set his phone to silent mode.


    In the Northern Federation, Su Fei also saw the news about Qin Hao and Xinghai High-tech Company. After reading the news, she was shockingly pale and motionless.


    No wonder he had never worried about the Federation¡¯s warrant for his arrest.


    Intelligent chips, artificial intelligence technology; such high-tech could not possibly be shut out by the Federation.


    But if the Federation did not revoke the warrant, given Qin Hao¡¯s personality, they probably wouldn¡¯t let the intelligent technology enter the Federation market.


    Even if the warrant were revoked, Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t likely agree so easily.


    This time, the Northern Federation would probably suffer a harsh blow.


    Although Su Fei hadn¡¯t known Qin Hao for long, she could make out a thing or two about his character.


    Luckily, she now had a good relationship with Du Wanrou. With Du as a connection, cooperating with Qin Hao in the future wouldn¡¯t be so difficult.


    She might even be able to use Qin Hao¡¯s power to defeat her competitors within her clan.


    ...


    After dinner, Qin Hao and his family were sitting on the sofa watching the news.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, will you appear on the news later?¡± Mrs. Qin asked.


    They had gone to Xu Jiekang¡¯s house during the day to finalize the wedding matters and had no time to watch TV.


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°I should be, but I¡¯m not exactly sure.¡±


    The 7 p.m. news on the satellite TV channel was a national simultaneous broadcast, a mandatory practice that all satellite channels were required to follow.


    Both Han Meng and Zhao Yuying looked at Qin Hao with eyes full of admiration.


    Because those who could appear in this news segment were all very formidable people.


    Sure enough, not long after, a report about Xinghai High-tech Company and Qin Hao came on, featuring edited interview footage of Jiang Xue and the interview with a robot.


    Qin Youguo and Li Shujie saw their son¡¯s face on the screen and smiled excitedly.


    This was the national broadcast on the satellite TV evening news.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Mom, Dad, what¡¯s there to be excited about? In the future, your son will be a leading figure in the intelligence era.¡±


    Mr. Qin said with a full smile, ¡°Impressive, my son, I always said you took after me.¡±


    Li Shujie gave him a look and said, ¡°Shameless, our son clearly inherited my excellent genes.¡±


    ...


    Zhao Yuying smiled when she saw this, finding Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin amusing, and their interaction enviable.


    ¡°Mom, Dad, I¡¯m going to the study. You guys keep watching,¡± Qin Hao said as he stood up and headed for the study.


    Zhao Yuying excused herself to Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin and followed Qin Hao into the study.


    After Zhao Yuying left, Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin exchanged glances.


    Mrs. Qin asked softly, ¡°Could Yu Ying have also taken a liking to Xiao Hao?¡±


    Mr. Qin said proudly, ¡°Our son is so outstanding, it¡¯s very normal for him to be liked by many. Back in the day, the girls who pursued me could line up from one end of Jiangshan to the other. The boy got that from me.¡±


    [Second update, thank you for your recommendation votes and rewards, barring any surprises, I will update one more chapter today to thank everyone for their support]


    ¡°`


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 Chapter 490 - 492: Explosive

    Chapter 490: Chapter 492: Explosive


    Li Shujie gave him a disdainful look: ¡°Now that our son is so impressive, I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯ve gotten a bit full of yourself, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Qin Youguo chuckled: ¡°Not at all, wife. You¡¯ve suffered alongside me all these years. Now that our son has made it, let¡¯s see if those people still dare to look down on you and scoff.¡±


    In the study, Qin Hao turned on his computer and logged onto Wei Yan, and Zhao Yuying brought a chair to sit across from him.


    ¡°Is there something you need, Ying?¡± Qin Hao asked, curious.


    Zhao Yuying said, ¡°What about the special effects company? They hardly have any business, and paying the wages of over a hundred people every day is a huge amount.¡±


    Qin Hao had actually forgotten about this: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ying, I¡¯ll sort it out in the next few days, and then make a movie to boost their reputation.¡±


    ...


    Zhao Yuying nodded slightly, she took out her phone and logged onto Wei Yan: ¡°Let¡¯s see how many people are discussing it on Wei Yan.¡±


    ¡°Wow, the discussion count has broken a hundred million. Your Wei Yan followers have also broken a hundred million, reaching a hundred and three million now.¡±


    Qin Hao opened Wei Yan to check and saw that artificial intelligence, Xinghai High-tech Company, and Qin Hao were all hot topics of discussion.


    Plus, the discussion from the previous days about Ruixing Group and the Good Voice incident had not yet cooled off.


    Now, nearly all the hot topics on the discussion board were created by Qin Hao.


    Under Qin Hao¡¯s Wei Yan comments, it was uniformly supportive: glorifying the country, Mr. Qin is awesome.


    In the tenth spot on the hot topics ranking, Qin Hao saw the topic about Xinghai High-tech¡¯s earthquake prediction.


    He clicked in to take a closer look and saw all kinds of comments.


    Some supported him, and others opposed him.


    ¡°Mr. Qin has even researched artificial intelligence, so why doubt him about developing an advanced seismometer?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, I believe in Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t have published the statement. It would be better if Beihai Country were devastated by an earthquake.¡±


    ¡°Even the national seismic agency hasn¡¯t released a statement, so this must be fake.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I think it¡¯s fake too, though I like Mr. Qin. I¡¯m a rational fan, not a foolish one.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao remained calm after seeing this. If so many people in his own country didn¡¯t believe it, there was even less hope for Beihai Country.


    They were probably getting a barrage of angry comments from netizens over there at Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Now in the age of the internet, information spreads very fast, and there were netizens from Beihai Country on Wei Yan.


    Chang Jing¡¯s assurance was that within half a month, all the motherboards needed by Kangmei Appliances and Blueberry Mobile Phone Company would be completed.


    In less than a minute, the pre-order quantity on the official Kangmei Appliances website was snapped up.


    ¡°Damn, can you increase the pre-order number a bit? Just fifty thousand, what¡¯s that good for?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, hurry up and increase the number, we¡¯re not short of money.¡±


    ¡°Are you Kangmei Appliances trying to tease us? Can we even play for fun anymore?¡±


    The same scene was unfolding on the Blueberry Mobile¡¯s official website, where a hundred thousand phones were bought up in an instant.


    Everyone at Blueberry Mobile was dumbfounded. Holy crap, that was fast?


    They had thought it would take at least a day or two.


    The pre-sale price of the Blueberry mobile was 8888 yuan; with a hundred thousand units, that amounted to eight hundred eighty-eight million, eight hundred eighty thousand yuan in revenue.


    What concept is that for revenue in a minute?


    That could only be described as terrifying.


    The potential unleashed by the smart market left all competing companies dumbstruck.


    Suddenly, many people got excited; domestic internet moguls and electronics industry giants all swarmed towards Jianghai City, they had to partner with Xinghai High-tech Company, they absolutely had to cooperate, even if it meant operating at a loss.


    This was too terrifying.


    Originally, the Federation had planned to press down on Qin Hao¡¯s case, as issuing an arrest warrant and then withdrawing it would reflect poorly on them.


    But after the explosive pre-orders from Kangmei Appliances and Blueberry Mobile, many business oligarchs in the Federation couldn¡¯t sit still anymore.


    If they didn¡¯t go now, there would be no opportunity left.


    Many business oligarchs teamed up, leveraging their relationships to start pressuring the official Federation¡¯s government.


    The Federation differed from Xuan Country; almost all its parliament members were controlled by business magnates and tycoons.


    They were known as the Business Empire Faction, with substantial influence. Even the top leader of the Federation had to act according to their favor.


    [Third release, requesting votes]


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 Chapter 491 - 493 The Li Family Sends Someone

    Chapter 491: Chapter 493 The Li Family Sends Someone


    It was around nine o¡¯clock in the morning in Xuan Country.


    The Federation had released a message: Tomorrow, a delegation would be dispatched to visit Xuan Country to discuss some trade issues.


    When Qin Hao saw the news, he knew someone from the Federation must have grown restless.


    However, he wasn¡¯t too pleased because the matter was still unresolved, and the business tycoons of the Federation were no fools.


    He would have to deal very carefully with those cunning old foxes.


    That morning, Huamei Company issued a public announcement: The Tianmei series set had gone on sale, with skincare products covering children, middle-aged and elderly people, and young men and women.


    ...


    The product, also developed by Mr. Qin, was undoubtedly effective.


    Zhao Yuying remained the spokesperson, and the advertisement campaigns spread across buses, subways, billboards, and large screens in squares.


    If before, people thought that it might be very difficult for Huamei Company to outcompete Tang Group,


    now they no longer felt this way, even feeling somewhat sorry for Tang Group.


    New products were being released continuously, and what was most important was Qin Hao¡¯s current strength.


    Although Xinghai High-tech Company hadn¡¯t yet exerted its influence, but once it grew, who in the whole world could rival it, let alone domestically?


    After reading the news, Qin Hao walked out of the study. His mother was sitting on the sofa, chatting with Han Meng, who was giving her a massage.


    Li Shujie, seeing him, hurriedly said, ¡°Xiao Hao, come and talk some sense into Xiao Meng, I already told her she doesn¡¯t need to massage me, but this girl insists. I keep telling her, and she almost cried.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mom. Meng gives very comfortable massages, and they are good for the body.¡±


    After that, he said to Han Meng, ¡°Thanks, Meng. If you¡¯re tired, take a rest.¡±


    ¡°Comfortable? Has Xiao Meng massaged you too?¡± Li Shujie¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing this.


    Han Meng¡¯s cheeks instantly turned red and felt hot.


    Qin Hao became embarrassed, uncertain how to explain.


    Li Shujie said, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re all that now? You¡¯re treating Xiao Meng like a maid, aren¡¯t you? From now on, Xiao Meng, don¡¯t massage him. If he dares to order you around, you tell me, and I¡¯ll give him a good beating.¡±


    Han Meng¡¯s cheeks still flush, said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Aunty. Xiao Hao is really tired after a whole day¡¯s work, a massage can help him relax.¡±


    Li Shujie said, ¡°Tired my foot, don¡¯t I know him? He¡¯s been incredibly lazy since he was young, you see he doesn¡¯t even go to the company, leaving everything to others to manage. I really worry that the people in his company might get overworked.¡±


    Qin Hao responded with exasperation, ¡°Mom, that¡¯s too much, I¡¯m your son, after all.¡±


    Li Shujie: ¡°Nonsense, if you¡¯re not my son, whose son are you?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Dad?¡± Qin Hao quickly changed the subject.


    Li Shujie: ¡°Do you see that, Xiao Meng? He deflects the topic when he has no excuses. Your dad went out for a walk.¡±


    At that moment, a knock on the door was heard. Qin Hao thought it was his dad returning and opened the door.


    He was momentarily stunned to see the two people at the door.


    Li Yushi and Li Jin were looking at him as well, with Li Jin saying with a smile, ¡°Cousin, what¡¯s with that expression?¡±


    ¡°A bit surprised. Come in. It¡¯s perfect timing; my mom is here too,¡± Qin Hao invited the two in.


    ¡°Who is it, Xiao Hao? Is it your dad?¡± Mrs. Qin¡¯s voice came from the living room.


    Qin Hao led Li Yushi and Li Jin into the living room, where they placed the fruits and health products they had bought on the side table.


    Seeing Qin Hao bring in two young and beautiful women, Li Shujie was slightly taken aback.


    ¡°Who are these two beauties? Your friends?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t recognize them?¡±


    Li Yushi and Li Jin, looking at Mrs. Qin, hastily said, ¡°Aunty, I¡¯m Li Yushi, I¡¯m Li Jin.¡±


    Li Shujie paused, as if something had dawned on her.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Li Yushi is Li Pingchang¡¯s eldest daughter, and Li Jin is Li Pingsheng¡¯s daughter.¡±


    ¡°`


    ¡°You think you can call him by name? Next time, remember to call him Second Uncle and Third Uncle,¡± Mrs. Qin gave him a stern glance.


    Second Uncle and Third Uncle were quite good to him, especially Qin Hao¡¯s Third Uncle, Li Pingsheng.


    Initially, Li Pingsheng also disapproved of her marrying into Jinchen City, and at that time, he wasn¡¯t married yet and even got beaten up for it.


    ¡°Come sit, sit by your aunt,¡± Li Shujie said excitedly, hurrying him.


    Li Yushi and Li Jin sat down next to Li Shujie, and Han Meng brewed a pot of tea, then poured it for everyone.


    ¡°How come you two are here?¡± Li Shujie asked, holding onto them and starting a conversation.


    Li Jin, lively and cute, said with a smile, ¡°Last time Qin Hao took us out to eat at school, I told him that when you and Uncle came, we would come to visit.¡±


    ¡°How are Second Brother and Pingsheng doing?¡± Li Shujie was the third in line at home, with Li Pingsheng being the youngest.


    ¡°They¡¯re all quite well,¡± Li Yushi and Li Jing replied.


    Both were very friendly, and Li was clever and sensible.


    Especially Li Jin, who was lively and cute, greatly endeared herself to Mrs. Qin.


    Soon Mr. Qin returned home, and seeing Li Yushi and Li Jin next to Mrs. Qin, he curiously asked, ¡°Who are these two, honey?¡±


    ¡°This is Yushi from my Second Brother¡¯s family, and this is Jin from my Pingsheng¡¯s family,¡± Mrs. Qin introduced them warmly.


    Mr. Qin paused for a moment, then smiled, ¡°So it¡¯s Yushi and little Jin, you¡¯ve both grown up so much, truly beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Uncle,¡± Li Jin called out with a smile.


    ¡°Hello, Uncle,¡± Li Yushi also hurriedly greeted.


    Mr. Qin quickly nodded with a smile, ¡°Ah, you chat first, I¡¯ll go buy something.¡±


    ¡°Let me go, Mr. Qin,¡± Han Meng quickly offered.


    ¡°Right, Meng and I will go, you stay at home, Dad,¡± Qin Hao said.


    After saying that, he and Han Meng hurried out, walking towards the outside of the residential area. Qin Hao was thinking about the situation with Li Yushi and Li Jin.


    Their timing was too coincidental, it was very likely directed by the Li Family.


    Xinghai High-tech Company had just made headlines around the world yesterday, and today, representatives from Beijiang the Li Family had arrived; the intention was clear.


    Li Yushi and Li Jin were sent by the Li Family, probably to gauge the attitude of Qin Hao¡¯s family.


    As for how to deal with the Li Family, this matter would mainly depend on Mrs. Qin¡¯s attitude.


    Among their family of three, Mrs. Qin had sacrificed too much; Qin Hao would listen to his mother¡¯s wishes in this matter.


    He and Han Meng quickly reached the large shopping mall. There were many people around, and upon entering, he immediately attracted a lot of attention.


    ¡°Wow, isn¡¯t that Mr. Qin?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Qin, let¡¯s take a photo together,¡± several girls ran towards Qin Hao.


    Leng Xuan and others quickly blocked them, and as the crowd grew larger, onlookers turned their heads to look.


    ¡°Oh dear, I think that really is Mr. Qin,¡± an elderly couple also approached after seeing Qin Hao.


    Whether they were young men and women or older people, almost everyone recognized Qin Hao.


    They all came over, and soon Qin Hao and Han Meng were surrounded by people.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m a fan of yours; I joined Wei Yan just to follow you,¡± said an elderly person who had to be at least sixty or seventy years old.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯re all fans of yours; could you sign an autograph for us?¡±


    ¡°Could you take a picture with us?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re so handsome, we love you.¡±


    Qin Hao was at his wits¡¯ end, especially since the one who said that was a burly man...


    [Fourth update]


    ¡°`


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 Chapter 492 - 494 Calligraphy Grandmaster

    Chapter 492: Chapter 494 Calligraphy Grandmaster


    This fan wanted to express his admiration for Qin Hao, but because he was so excited, he blurted out such a sentence.


    Qin Hao saw so many people, and the number was still increasing.


    He hurriedly said, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t get too excited. I¡¯m just out to buy something. If you carry on like this, I won¡¯t dare to come out anymore.


    Those who want a photo or an autograph can have one, just take your time, keep the order. There¡¯s an old man here, let¡¯s not push and hurt him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mr. Qin. I¡¯m still pretty strong,¡± the old man said with a smile.


    The crowd calmed down and found an open space. Those who wanted photos got their photos, and dozens of people were quickly done.


    ...


    There were also requests for autographs, and Qin Hao awkwardly said, ¡°How about the autographs some other time? I didn¡¯t bring a pen.¡±


    The man who had just professed his love for Qin Hao timidly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, would a brush pen do?¡±


    The man walked up, holding in his hands a brush pen, ink, and rice paper that he had just purchased.


    He was fond of calligraphy and had run out at home, so he planned to buy some.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°It¡¯s all good, I¡¯ll also borrow your rice paper.¡±


    They found a counter, and the young female sales associate, who was a little fan of Qin Hao, agreed to let him use the counter.


    Qin Hao held the rice paper down with some objects, dipped the brush in ink, and started writing. His movements were fluid, elegant, and unrestrained.


    The two large characters of Qin Hao¡¯s name instantly appeared on the paper.


    The onlookers let out a gasp of amazement, ¡°Wow, it¡¯s so beautiful.¡±


    ¡°The script is vigorous and powerful, just like a peerless divine weapon, its sharpness awe-inspiring. Mr. Qin, do you also dabble in calligraphy?¡± the elderly man in his sixties or seventies asked.


    Qin Hao gave an embarrassed smile, ¡°Just a hobby.¡±


    ¡°I want one too, I want an autograph!¡± the people around hurriedly said.


    Qin Hao wrote dozens of autographs, and when it was that man¡¯s turn, he pulled out a longer piece of paper, ¡°Mr. Qin, I like a verse of poetry, could you write it down with your signature for me?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Sure, consider it a thank you for providing all this stuff. Tell me, which verse?¡±


    ¡°The road ahead is long and has no end, yet high and low I¡¯ll search with my will unbent.¡±


    Qin Hao started writing on the long piece of rice paper, finishing quickly, and then signed his name in small seal script.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, I¡¯ve already been delayed for quite a while. I need to hurry and get groceries, I¡¯ll see you all another time,¡± Qin Hao said before he and Han Meng quickly entered the supermarket.


    After buying some vegetables and meat, Qin Hao, Han Meng, and the others left.


    On Wei Yan.


    A young woman posted on Wei Yan, ¡°Today at Wanhao Mall I bumped into Mr. Qin, he¡¯s really handsome in person and has a domineering CEO¡¯s aura about him, but what¡¯s most important is he¡¯s so approachable and kind, big love for Mr. Qin.¡±


    Below the Wei Yan post was a photo, a selfie with Qin Hao.


    This post on Wei Yan attracted quite a few people, with many commenting below: Which Wanhao Square? I¡¯m so jealous of you guys.


    ¡°Damn, how come I never meet Mr. Qin, next time I want a photo too.¡±


    Later, a fan also showed off Qin Hao¡¯s autograph, ¡°Check out how beautiful Mr. Qin¡¯s autograph is. I had a friend look at it.


    He said it¡¯s the work of a calligraphy master, worth a fortune. Is it really that valuable? Mr. Qin signed dozens of autographs, you know.¡±


    This Wei Yan post also came with a photo, showing Qin Hao¡¯s name written on the rice paper.


    ¡°The writing is indeed beautiful, as to how extraordinary it is, that¡¯s for a calligraphy expert to judge.¡±


    ¡°Your friend isn¡¯t wrong; I also work with calligraphy and painting. This is one of the most beautiful characters I¡¯ve ever seen, worth a thousand gold for a single character. Are you selling it? I¡¯m willing to pay one hundred thousand for it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay two hundred thousand.¡±


    ¡°Damn, are you two on the floor above playing a joke on us? Two characters worth two hundred thousand?¡±


    ...


    On Wei Yan, many people were also showing off Qin Hao¡¯s autographs. A renowned figure in calligraphy saw this and shared it, with a few words of praise, ¡°The calligraphy is really not bad. If it¡¯s really worth two hundred thousand, I¡¯d take as many as you have.¡±


    The Wei Yan calligraphy big names have spoken, and now there are fewer skeptics.


    So, according to this big shot, 200,000 is actually an understatement?


    Those who got an autograph became excited: ¡°Damn, is the signature Mr. Qin casually gave us really worth over 200k?¡±


    Because the discussion on this topic surpassed hundreds of people, a new topic was generated: ¡°Calligraphy Grandmaster: Mr. Qin Hao¡¯s Words Are Worth Thousands.¡±


    Since the topic bore Qin Hao¡¯s name, his fans would click into it out of curiosity.


    The topic¡¯s ranking rose rapidly due to the sheer number of Qin Hao¡¯s fans.


    More than half of Wei Yan¡¯s active users are his fans, and the traffic he currently attracts is comparable to half of Wei Yan itself.


    If Qin Hao were to leave Wei Yan now and move elsewhere, it¡¯s feared that over half of these fans would follow, dealing a significant blow to Wei Yan.


    For platforms like theirs, traffic is paramount; more traffic means stronger monetization capabilities.


    Suddenly, the topic climbed to tenth place on the trending list, with the artificial intelligence topic still holding the number one spot.


    Later, the person who received the autographed poem also showed off a little online.


    Wei Yan isn¡¯t short of talented individuals, who upon seeing it were astounded: ¡°Mr. Qin is also a master calligrapher? Those characters are awesome.¡±


    ¡°Compared to Mr. Qin¡¯s characters, those of the domestic master calligraphers pale in comparison; Mr. Qin¡¯s calligraphy has surpassed theirs.¡±


    ¡°I never expected Mr. Qin to be knowledgeable in calligraphy as well, too cool.¡±


    ¡°Bro, will you sell it for a million? I¡¯ll take it,¡± someone asked outright.


    A million? People thought they read it wrong, rubbed their eyes, and looked again¡ªit really was a million.


    Is Mr. Qin¡¯s word really worth that much?


    The person replied: ¡°Not for sale, my family isn¡¯t short on money.¡±


    ¡°Dang, I¡¯m quitting my job, I¡¯m going to stake out Mr. Qin. If he writes me a poem, I won¡¯t have to work for the rest of my life.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve attended the same schools, why the hell are you so talented?¡± responded someone from up above.


    ¡°What a great idea! It¡¯s been reported where Mr. Qin lives online, I¡¯ll go look it up, and we can group up and head over tomorrow.¡±


    ...


    ¡°This is considered grandmaster level calligraphy? It looks like dogshit, and a bunch of ignorant people are making blind comments, do you even know what calligraphy is?¡±


    A Wei Yan user named Dai Kun commented.


    He had several hundred thousand followers, and many supported him in the comments: ¡°Mr. Dai is right, a million for that, classic case of a fool and his money soon parted.¡±


    ¡°Alas, there aren¡¯t many people like Mr. Dai who understand the art of calligraphy and painting anymore.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Dai, show them a thing or two, let them see what a real master of calligraphy is like.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s fans were annoyed when they saw this, and after checking his profile: renowned calligrapher from Beijin Province, Honorary Vice-Chairman of the Calligraphy and Painting Association.


    Below his Wei Yan profile were also quite a few of his own calligraphy and painting works, but compared to those, his fans felt they couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Qin Hao¡¯s.


    ¡°To be honest, what you wrote isn¡¯t even as good as dogshit, how can you have the audacity to spout nonsense here? Can¡¯t you see what a crapshot your own writing is?¡±


    ¡°And here you are, the ¡®Honorary Vice-Chairman,¡¯ I think it¡¯s just jealousy of Mr. Qin¡¯s talent, right?¡±


    ¡°Big idiot, are you trying to leech off Mr. Qin¡¯s popularity?¡±


    ¡°So, because I don¡¯t understand calligraphy, that means you do? Aren¡¯t your pieces there for everyone to see? I think what Mr. Qin wrote looks better.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not bother with this moron anymore, he¡¯s just jealous because Mr. Qin¡¯s writing is better than his.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s normal for Mr. Qin to be envied for being so outstanding,¡±


    With an abundant number of fans Qin Hao had, within half an hour, tens of thousands of people censured Dai Kun, their words too vulgar to behold, aggravating him to the point of nearly vomiting blood.


    [Fifth update, an extra one for everyone]


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 Chapter 493 - 495 Investigation

    Chapter 493: Chapter 495 Investigation


    Mr. Dai had many disciples and friends in the calligraphy and painting circles.


    They posted in support of Mr. Dai, ¡°Mr. Dai, being the vice president of the Calligraphy and Painting Association, has an understanding of calligraphy that you can¡¯t compare with. If Mr. Dai says it¡¯s trash, then it must be trash.¡±


    ¡°A bunch of NC fans, you don¡¯t understand anything and just rant against Mr. Dai.¡±


    ¡°One of Mr. Dai¡¯s calligraphy works goes for millions; do you think Mr. Dai would be jealous of him? Ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°Just a bunch of ignorant rubbish. With fans like that, I can see that Qin Hao isn¡¯t any good either.¡±


    The words of these people made Qin Hao¡¯s fans even angrier, and they began to spread the news amongst themselves.


    ...


    In many fan club groups supporting Qin Hao: ¡°Everyone come quick, someone freaking insulted Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Who the hell dares to insult Mr. Qin? I¡¯m on it.¡±


    ¡°What the hell, brothers, charge!¡±


    In an instant, many of Qin Hao¡¯s fans came online to understand the ins and outs of the issue, and they started to fiercely attack Mr. Dai and his group.


    Later, someone revealed, ¡°Someone called Mr. Qin¡¯s work trash? This painting was done by Mr. Qin, auctioned at my Shenghua Auction, and the final bid was over two billion.¡±


    ¡°This is a foreign calligraphy and painting auction item. One of Mr. Qin¡¯s oil paintings was auctioned for over four hundred million Federation dollars.¡±


    There were photos below, as well as the final auction price and photos.


    When Mr. Dai and the others saw these messages, they couldn¡¯t help but let out a snort of laughter. A painting worth tens of billions?


    The level of these internet shills is really too low, huh? Why don¡¯t you freaking say hundreds of billions?


    But when they saw the information of the person who posted it, they were stunned; it was Zhu Huasheng, the Chairman of Shenglong Group.


    Qin Hao¡¯s fans also found it hard to believe, but among the paintings Zhu Huasheng brought out, there was also a nomination from Qin Hao.


    It was the same seal script used for his name, identical to the nomination Qin Hao wrote on that line of poetry.


    Many of the business tycoons who had attended the auction also came forward to confirm the news.


    Qin Hao was rising to great heights at the moment, and many people were looking for an opportunity to get close to him, but had no way of doing so.


    Dozens of well-known business magnates stepped forward to confirm the incident, and no one doubted that the event was fabricated any longer.


    ¡°Even though it¡¯s just a photo, the artistic conception of the painting is indeed very strong.¡±


    ¡°A painting worth tens of billions? My god, poverty limits my imagination.¡±


    ¡°Worthy of Mr. Qin, so freaking awesome!!¡±


    ¡°Mr. Dai, why aren¡¯t you talking now? Aren¡¯t your paintings worth millions? You really scared me.¡±


    ...


    Throughout this entire event, Qin Hao never made an appearance, and then Mr. Dai and his group fell silent, utterly defeated.


    Some people thought Qin Hao couldn¡¯t be bothered to come forward, but it wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t be bothered; he just didn¡¯t know about it.


    He was at home washing vegetables with Han Meng, preparing to make lunch.


    After lunch, Li Yushi and Li Jin left; Qin Hao could tell that his mother was much happier than before.


    She understood the purpose behind Li Yushi and Li Jin¡¯s visit; the Li Family was extending an olive branch and also testing the waters.


    After being away from the Li Family for so many years, Li Shujie, to be honest, had dreamt about being forgiven by her parents.


    Now that things were moving in the direction she had hoped for, how could she not be happy?


    Seeing his wife happy made Mr. Qin happy too; he owed Li Shujie a lot over the years, and fortunately, their son had made them proud.


    That afternoon, many company executives visited Jianghai High-tech Company.


    Initially, all were turned away at the door, but as the number of people grew, Chang Jing eventually let everyone in to explain the company¡¯s situation.


    Currently, the company¡¯s production capacity was insufficient to supply everyone, and Xuan Country¡¯s military had also signed a strategic contract with Xinghai Company.


    In the next two months, it would be difficult to supply everyone; only after two months, when the production line increases output, would they choose suitable companies for collaboration.


    ...


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao received a call from Fan Ruobing.


    Fan Ruobing, ¡°Are you done with your work? Do you have time this afternoon? Come and teach me how to paint.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s your illness? Are you better?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Fan Ruobing, ¡°I¡¯m already better.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°It just so happens that I¡¯m free these days; I¡¯ll come over in a bit.¡±


    ¡°Mm, I¡¯ll be waiting for you at home.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao informed his parents, and then he left.


    He took a car towards the neighborhood where Fan Ruobing lived. On the way, he called Li Wenjun, ¡°Wen Jun, can you find out who exactly is coming to Xuan Country tomorrow?¡±


    Li Wenjun, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you talking about the people in the visiting delegation?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°That¡¯s right, don¡¯t bother with the official personnel. What I need are the business tycoons who are coming with them.¡±


    Li Wenjun replied, ¡°I can find that out. However, we don¡¯t have anyone over there; we can only buy the information from the Federation.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Then buy it, I want detailed information.¡±


    Li Wenjun, ¡°Okay, Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll get you the news by tonight.¡±


    Only by knowing the enemy and knowing yourself can you win every battle.


    How could Qin Hao negotiate with them without understanding those people?


    A little after two-thirty in the afternoon, Qin Hao arrived at Fan Ruobing¡¯s front door. He rang the doorbell a few times, and Fan Ruobing quickly opened the door from inside.


    Her complexion had already returned to normal; the illness had long been completely cured.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Fan Ruobing said with a hint of excitement in her heart, but her expression remained cool.


    Qin Hao walked in and looked around before asking, ¡°Your aunt isn¡¯t here?¡±


    Fan Ruobing, ¡°She came yesterday and took a painting with her; she¡¯s probably preparing for another auction.¡±


    She led Qin Hao into the studio, which used to be a study room before she converted it into her own painting studio.


    Many paintings hung on the walls, nearly all of them Qin Hao¡¯s works.


    ¡°What do you think of my painting?¡± Fan Ruobing pointed to one of the paintings and asked.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°It¡¯s pretty good, you¡¯ve improved quickly.¡±


    Her painting skills had nearly caught up to Qin Hao¡¯s level when he first started painting.


    Fan Ruobing said to him, ¡°I also want to learn how to paint animals. Teach me how to paint animals today.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Mm, sure.¡±


    Fan Ruobing was wearing a casual suit from the Huafei brand, loose and comfortable, showing off a graceful figure.


    After thirty minutes or so, a divine beast, a white tiger, vividly appeared on paper. Its body was massive, with white tiger stripes covering it. Its gaze was like that of copper bells, fierce and ferocious, its fangs protruding, and the aura of killing was very intense.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao¡¯s face showed a look of satisfaction.


    A hint of surprise flashed in Fan Ruobing¡¯s eyes, and her cheeks became a little red because this was a white tiger.


    Her beautiful eyes looked at Qin Hao with tender affection.


    ...


    More than ten minutes later, Fan Ruobing froze for a moment, then hurriedly got up and ran into the washroom.


    At that moment, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang; it was a call from Xia Qing. He quickly answered.


    Xia Qing¡¯s voice came through the phone somewhat panicked, ¡°Qin Hao, where are you? There are several people downstairs and at the entrance. They are blocking me, and I¡¯m too scared to go out.¡±


    [First update, on this Qixi Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day, bringing you some dog food. I wonder how many beauties will be spoiled today...]


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    SEND GIFT

 Chapter 494 - 496 Xia Qing

    Chapter 494: Chapter 496 Xia Qing


    Qin Hao frowned, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    Stepping out of the studio, Qin Hao saw Fan Ruobing still gargling, and he walked over and gently embraced her.


    Fan Ruobing¡¯s head lightly nestled in his chest.


    Qin Hao was about to say something when Fan Ruobing¡¯s cool, jade hand covered his mouth, ¡°Don¡¯t say anything, I don¡¯t want to hear it. No matter when, I will always be behind you.¡±


    Qin Hao gently kissed her forehead, feeling a cool sensation, ¡°I have something else to attend to and need to leave now.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Fan Ruobing said in an indifferent tone.


    ...


    She escorted Qin Hao to the door; Qin Hao then descended the stairs as Leng Xuan drove towards a neighborhood near Jianghai University.


    About half an hour later, Qin Hao¡¯s motorcade arrived downstairs at Xia Qing¡¯s apartment. Next to them was parked a white van with its doors open and four thug-like individuals either standing or sitting around.


    These few took a glance at the motorcade and then turned their heads away.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Catch those guys and find out who sent them.¡±


    Leng Xuan passed on the instructions via walkie-talkie to the others in the vehicles, and four members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion got out and headed straight for the group.


    The four thugs were caught off guard and before they could react, they were apprehended by the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion.


    ¡°There are two more upstairs. Take some men up there.¡± Qin Hao got out of the car and led Leng Xuan and a few others inside the building.


    Taking the elevator, they arrived at Xia Qing¡¯s door to find, as expected, two men sitting at the stairwell, waiting.


    Xia Qing would certainly come out, and the moment she did, they had a way to ¡°invite¡± her to leave.


    ¡°Take them away,¡± commanded Qin Hao to Leng Xuan and the others.


    Leng Xuan and his men grabbed the two individuals and took them back to the elevator, heading downstairs.


    Qin Hao knocked on Xia Qing¡¯s door, ¡°Xiaoqing, it¡¯s me. Everything¡¯s safe now.¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s voice, Xia Qing quickly opened the door. Her eyes were slightly red as she saw Qin Hao and immediately embraced him.


    She had planned to go out that afternoon, but just as she opened the door, she saw two men sitting on the stairs.


    When those two saw her come out, they stood up and approached her, and if it weren¡¯t for Xia Qing¡¯s quick reaction to retreat and close the door, she didn¡¯t know what might have happened to her.


    Qin Hao patted her back to comfort her, ¡°It¡¯s alright now, I¡¯ve already sent people to investigate.¡±


    Xia Qing let go of him, her cheeks flushed, ¡°Come in and sit down.¡±


    Walking into the room, Xia Qing closed the door and poured Qin Hao a cup of water, ¡°Have some water.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m not thirsty. Don¡¯t bother,¡± Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Xia Qing nodded and sat down beside him. Her heart was in turmoil; she didn¡¯t know what to say to Qin Hao or what to do.


    These days she frequently saw Qin Hao¡¯s figure in newspapers, on television, and online.


    The Qin Hao of now was no longer the naive youth he once was; he had become a magnate of the business world.


    In the future, he might even surpass the two top Internet companies of Xuan Country, Amao Net Shopping Group and Tenglong Group, to become a monopoly in the world of business, standing at the pinnacle of the pyramid.


    Xia Qing felt a sense of nostalgia for their high school days, when they went to school together, went home together, and didn¡¯t have to think about so many troubling matters.


    Now, she could feel the distance between her and Qin Hao growing wider.


    She faced two choices: either choose Qin Hao and walk this road with him, a path that might be full of hardships and trials,


    Or let go completely, but could she truly let go and let him walk away?


    ...


    Qin Hao saw Xia Qing sitting there in silence and spoke, ¡°Xiaoqing, don¡¯t worry anymore, everything is alright now.¡±


    Xia Qing turned her head and looked at him, her beautiful eyes bright and captivating, her white cheeks flawless.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Hao asked softly as she stared at him like that.


    Xia Qing¡¯s cheeks blushed as she hesitated, then shuffled a little closer to Qin Hao, snuggling up nearer to him.


    She looked at Qin Hao, her cheeks burning, her heart thumping wildly, ¡°Qin Hao, I... I don¡¯t want to leave you.¡±


    Xia Qing was very clear in her heart that if she didn¡¯t seize the opportunity today, they might end up belonging to two different worlds.


    She didn¡¯t want to become someone from a different world than Qin Hao; she didn¡¯t want to leave him.


    The room was filled with a romantic and warm atmosphere...


    Almost an hour later, the room returned to peace as they embraced each other tightly.


    Xia Qing¡¯s eyes were slightly red as she spoke softly, ¡°I¡¯m finally your woman, you have to be good to me from now on.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xiaoqing, I will.¡±


    Xia Qing was a bit worried, ¡°What if Du Wanrou finds out?¡±


    Qin Hao sighed and explained the situation with Du Wanrou and Xu Siyao to her, without hiding anything.


    Xia Qing was stunned for a moment. From what Qin Hao said, was Du Wanrou in the same position as a mistress, just like her?


    She was also somewhat shocked by how much Du Wanrou cared about Qin Hao; Du Wanrou had even agreed to his engagement with Xu Siyao for his sake.


    If it were her, could she do the same?


    Du Wanrou and she were different; Du Wanrou had been with Qin Hao first. Considering the decision she made, one could only imagine how much she had endured.


    ¡°Turns out you¡¯re a real Casanova. Why didn¡¯t I see it when we were in high school? If I had noticed back then, I wouldn¡¯t have fallen for you,¡± Xia Qing pouted with her little red lips, expressing her dissatisfaction.


    ...


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s phone beeped with a text message. He picked it up and saw a transfer notice for just under three million from Dream Media Company.


    That was the company set up by the plump Wang Yanghua. Based on the equity share, his company made a profit of roughly three million a month, which was pretty good.


    He took out his phone and called the plump one, ¡°Hey, Fatty, the company is doing quite well now, huh?¡±


    ¡°Hao, you finally remember me. I thought you had forgotten all about me,¡± Fatty said with a crying tone.


    Qin Hao, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t transferred the money, I really would have almost forgotten about you.¡±


    Fatty laughed, ¡°Hao, are you free tonight? It¡¯s been a long time since we all got together. We¡¯ll be on winter break after the 15th, and won¡¯t meet again until the new year. I¡¯ll treat you tonight, let¡¯s have a meal together.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Alright, where do you want to meet?¡±


    Fatty, ¡°There¡¯s a Garden Restaurant on Huayuan Road, it¡¯s a nice place. Let¡¯s meet there tonight.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Xia Qing asked curiously, ¡°Is that the same plump guy that¡¯s always with you?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°He¡¯s the General Manager of Dream Media Company, the guild you signed up with at the start.¡±


    Xia Qing, ¡°No wonder. Was that guild also established with your financial help?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded and transferred thirty million to Xia Qing¡¯s account from his phone, ¡°Take this money and spend it on whatever you like, and buy something for your uncle and aunt too.¡±


    ¡°No need, I have money,¡± Xu Siyao declined.


    [Second update, the Valentine¡¯s Day treat continues]


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    SEND GIFT

 Chapter 495 - 497: The Taste Changed

    Chapter 495: Chapter 497: The Taste Changed


    Qin Hao still transferred the money to her, ¡°Take it, what¡¯s mine is yours. You don¡¯t feel comfortable spending it?¡±


    Xia Qing quickly explained, ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking. I¡¯m not giving you this money for that reason. I just want you to have a better life, eat what you want to eat, and buy what you want to buy.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Xia Qing nodded lightly.


    At that moment, Leng Xuan¡¯s phone call came through; the investigation had been cleared up.


    Those people were instigated by someone, and the instigator was Zhang Feng, a well-known figure in the Jianghai underworld.


    ...


    Zhang Feng was a fan of Xia Qing. Xia Qing¡¯s beautiful facial features and attractive figure greatly appealed to him, so he wanted to use some tactics to win her over.


    Qin Hao had Leng Xuan take care of the matter, and Zhang Feng ended up spending his future in a wheelchair.


    Qin Hao and Xia Qing fell asleep in each other¡¯s arms.


    At six o¡¯clock in the evening, Xia Qing woke up first and saw Qin Hao still deep in sleep. She lay on her side quietly watching him.


    After a while, seeing no signs of Qin Hao waking up, she spoke up, ¡°Wake up, it¡¯s already dark.¡±


    Qin Hao opened his eyes groggily, ¡°What time is it?¡±


    Xia Qing replied, ¡°It¡¯s after six, don¡¯t you have a gathering? Get up quickly, otherwise you¡¯ll be late.¡±


    Qin Hao got out of bed and washed up. Upon returning, he saw Xia Qing still lying in bed and paused, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you getting up?¡±


    Xia Qing said, ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡±


    Now, Qin Hao was a public figure, a top celebrity with over a hundred million fans at Wei Yan. She feared that going out with Qin Hao might bring him unnecessary trouble.


    Qin Hao could guess what she was thinking, walked over to the bed, and gave her a kiss, ¡°Xiao Qing, you¡¯re not some mistress or anything like that in my heart.


    You are my girlfriend. Going out shopping and eating together are rights you deserve. Get up quickly, or hubby might spank your bum.¡±


    Seeing Xia Qing not moving, Qin Hao lifted the blanket and then playfully spanked her.


    ¡°Stop hitting, I¡¯m getting up.¡±


    ¡°Annoying, bad guy, you¡¯re bullying me.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Not at all, I¡¯m not even using any strength. Hurry up, I¡¯ll make a call to my parents.¡±


    He stepped out of the room and called his dad to say he wouldn¡¯t be able to return home that night as he had some matters to attend to.


    Mr. Qin didn¡¯t ask many questions. His son was all grown up and had his own opinions and ideas.


    After hanging up, Qin Youguo told his family and Miao Jianyun at home, ¡°The kid said he¡¯s not coming back tonight.¡±


    Miao Jianyun felt a bit of regret; he would be leaving tomorrow.


    He said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s okay, we live so close. When I have time, I¡¯ll have Xiao Jing come over often.¡±


    ...


    About half an hour later, Xia Qing got ready, dressing in a long dress with flesh-colored stockings underneath.


    Now in January, the highest temperature in Jianghai was only in the teens, and at night it generally dropped to around six or seven degrees.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you cold dressed like that?¡± Qin Hao asked her.


    ¡°Not cold, I have stockings on,¡± Xia Qing said with a smile.


    After getting ready, the two left the house. The elevator was out of service and being repaired. Xia Qing was somewhat speechless, ¡°This complex just doesn¡¯t work; it¡¯s broken down several times already.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed it off, ¡°No worries, I¡¯ll carry you down.¡±


    Xia Qing said, ¡°No need, it¡¯s too high, it will be very tiring for you.¡±


    Qin Hao crouched in front of her, ¡°It¡¯s okay, hubby is strong, come on up.¡±


    Xia Qing couldn¡¯t refuse him, and deep down, she was also a bit moved, then slowly climbed onto Qin Hao¡¯s back.


    Qin Hao carried her downstairs, walking effortlessly, and they reached the lobby in no time.


    Downstairs, Leng Xuan saw Qin Hao coming and hurriedly opened the car door.


    Xia Qing¡¯s cheeks were flushed and she felt sweet inside, her head resting on Qin Hao¡¯s back, not daring to look at Leng Xuan and the others.


    After getting into the car, Qin Hao and Xia Qing sat in the back. Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, ¡°Go to the Garden Restaurant on Huayuan Road.¡±


    As they were almost there, Fatso called, ¡°Has Brother arrived yet?¡±


    ¡°We are almost there,¡± Qin Hao replied.


    A few minutes later, after hanging up the phone, their convoy arrived outside the Garden Restaurant; getting out, Qin Hao glanced at Xia Qing and took her hand as they walked into the restaurant.


    Fatso had reserved a private room on the third floor, Room 301.


    Inside the room sat four people, Fatso and Zhao De, each with a young beauty beside them.


    The beauty next to Zhao De was no longer Xu Lu; this woman was equally beautiful, no less than Xu Lu.


    ¡°Brother has arrived,¡± Fatso and the others quickly stood up.


    ¡°Is this Sister-in-law?¡± Fatso, seeing Qin Hao holding Xia Qing¡¯s hand, was stunned.


    Qin Hao nodded and took a seat with Xia Qing: ¡°Looks like you two are doing quite well, eh? Why isn¡¯t Chen Ping here?¡±


    Fatso said, ¡°Brother, you should mention it, Chen Ping is still at your company working on something. He said he couldn¡¯t make it, now he¡¯s just a workaholic.¡±


    Qin Hao gave a wry smile, ¡°This guy, always working overtime, how is that going to work?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s going to take care of his cousin!¡±


    Fatso quickly said, ¡°Brother, this is my girlfriend, Da Mei, isn¡¯t she beautiful?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, hello,¡± Da Mei said respectfully.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°No need to be so formal, just call me Brother like Fatso does.¡±


    Zhao De also introduced, ¡°Brother, this is my girlfriend Xiao Yun, she¡¯s an assistant for our city¡¯s basketball team.¡±


    Xiao Yun didn¡¯t initiate a conversation with Qin Hao but acted aloof, thinking it would make her more appealing to him.


    Zhao De, seeing that she didn¡¯t greet him, felt a bit embarrassed but didn¡¯t dare say anything.


    Since in the city basketball team, his girlfriend held a significant position.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t say anything, and didn¡¯t even glance at Xiao Yun, too pretentious.


    Soon the dishes were served, and the meal tasted different to Qin Hao, lacking the feeling it had in the beginning.


    Although everyone was talking and laughing, appearing harmonious, Zhao De¡¯s smile had changed a lot, and so had the aloofness of Xiao Yun beside him, trying to capture his attention, such a woman might not be anything good.


    Moreover, he also noticed that Fatso and Zhao De seemed to have some misgivings; the two barely spoke.


    After the meal, everyone left.


    As Qin Hao sat in the car and watched Zhao De get into Xiao Yun¡¯s black Volkswagen sedan, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    On the road, he called Fatso, ¡°How did Zhao De and his former girlfriend Xu Lu break up?¡±


    Fatso said, ¡°Hao, it¡¯s a long story. After Zhao De joined the city basketball team, he met Xiao Yun, who has a lot of pull on the team.


    They started seeing each other, and he abandoned Xu Lu. Later, Xu Lu found out she was pregnant. I also heard this from Xu Lu, it¡¯s roughly like this.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I understand,¡± Qin Hao hung up the phone, feeling that Fatso hadn¡¯t told him the whole truth, there was something he didn¡¯t know about.


    [Third update]


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    SEND GIFT

 Chapter 496 - 498 Arrival

    Chapter 496: Chapter 498 Arrival


    On the way back, Qin Hao received a call from Li Wenjun.


    Li Wenjun, ¡°Mr. Qin, the investigation is complete. There are four core individuals, Morse Mosi, Sol Robert, Lambert Onassis, and Silin Ross. These four are representatives sent by those business oligarchs.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Is there a detailed file?¡±


    Li Wenjun, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin, I have sent it to your email. Just have a look.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Also, help me investigate something else. Wang Yanghua, Zhao De, and Xu Lu from Jianghai University. I need a response as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Certainly, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ...


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao opened his mobile email and saw detailed information on those four individuals.


    Morse Mosi, a member of the Mosi family from the Federation, is involved in finance, banking, electrical industries, and is one of the shareholders of the Mlian Reserve.


    Sol Robert, from the Robert family, involved in global internet, automotive, banking sectors, and also a shareholder of the Mlian Reserve.


    Lambert Onassis, from the Onassis family, the biggest arms and warships manufacturer in the Federation, and a bank shareholder of the Mlian Reserve.


    Silin Ross, from the Ross family, a giant in finance, banking, investment, and insurance, and one of the shareholders of the Mlian Reserve.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao took a sharp breath. Indeed, they were delegates sent by the world¡¯s top magnate families.


    The Mlian Reserve is the national bank of the Federation, but secretly controlled by those top-ranking business magnate families.


    Qin Hao examined the industries involved by these families in detail, his mind spinning rapidly as he considered how to negotiate the next day.


    Xia Qing saw him pondering and quietly sat there without saying a word.


    Soon, Qin Hao finished thinking. The car had arrived downstairs at Xia Qing¡¯s home, and by now, the sky was pitch black with stars twinkling.


    After getting out of the car, Xia Qing said to Qin Hao, ¡°Go back, no need to walk me further.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Who said I was leaving? Are you trying to rush me away?¡±


    At these words, a hint of surprise flashed through Xia Qing¡¯s eyes, and her cheeks instantly turned crimson. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡±


    Qin Hao took her hand and they walked in. The elevator was still out of order.


    ¡°Come up,¡± Qin Hao told her.


    Xia Qing giggled, a charming dimple appearing on her face, as she leaned on Qin Hao.


    He carried Xia Qing on his back up to the tenth floor.


    Arriving at Xia Qing¡¯s doorway, he wasn¡¯t even out of breath as he carefully set her down.


    Blushing, Xia Qing opened the door, and after entering, they sat together and watched TV for a while.


    Xia Qing enjoyed the moment, resting her head on Qin Hao¡¯s shoulder, eating fruit, and feeding Qin Hao.


    Later, she simply lay on Qin Hao¡¯s legs.


    After watching for over an hour, Xia Qing grew sleepy. She yawned and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower and go to sleep.¡±


    ...


    The next morning around seven, the two of them woke up. Qin Hao kissed her forehead and said, ¡°I¡¯ll make breakfast.¡±


    After freshening up, Qin Hao went to prepare breakfast. Meanwhile, he received another call from Li Wenjun.


    Li Wenjun, ¡°Mr. Qin, the investigation is clear now. Xu Lu and Zhao De were previously boyfriend and girlfriend, but later Zhao De joined the basketball team.


    He got involved with another girl, then broke up with Xu Lu. Afterwards, it seems Wang Yanghua comforted Xu Lu, and they had a relationship.


    Xu Lu later became pregnant, and it is highly likely that Wang Yanghua is the father.¡±


    Qin Hao was momentarily stunned after hearing this, no wonder the two of them hardly spoke; it seemed Xia Qing had told Zhao De everything about her and the fatty!


    ...


    Around seven in the morning.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao said to Xia Qing, ¡°Xiaoqing, I still have some matters to attend to today, so I¡¯ll have to leave first.¡±


    Xia Qing nodded obediently, ¡°Mhm, take it slow.¡±


    The elevator was fixed, and Qin Hao rode it down to his car where he told Leng Xuan, ¡°To Xinghai Company.¡±


    On the way to the company, Qin Hao received a call from Xu Liangguo.


    Xu Liangguo had said, ¡°This morning, the delegation from the Federation arrived, and some of them have already gone to Jianghai City.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°That fast? It seems they are quite anxious.¡±


    Xu Liangguo, with a serious tone, reminded him, ¡°This matter is of great importance, no fooling around. Try to meet their demands, but the technology must not be leaked.¡±


    Qin Hao frowned slightly, ¡°Try to meet their demands?¡±


    Xu Liangguo continued, ¡°These four powers have a significant influence; they nearly determine the financial economy¡¯s lifeline in many places.


    You know about the major economic crisis of Beihai Country decades ago, right? Back then, Beihai Country¡¯s economy nearly surpassed the West, their economic strength unimaginable.


    Later, when the economy seriously collapsed, the financial markets crashed, plunging the entire Beihai Country into a severe economic crisis, struggling to recover for twenty years, only now slowly regaining strength.


    Behind the collapse of the financial sector in Beihai Country, these families had a hand.


    The bottom line for this conversation is not to completely offend these four families. Keep a good balance as our country is in a stage of rapid development right now.


    Offending them is detrimental to everyone. Although it might not collapse the financial market, it would certainly severely restrict our economic development.. ¡±


    Qin Hao had come across this topic in history class, a matter from twenty-plus years ago, before he was even born.


    ¡°I understand, Mr. Xu,¡± Qin Hao responded.


    He hadn¡¯t planned to thoroughly offend these people since he still needed to make money from them to arm himself.


    Only by earning more money would he have the chance to use new technology to completely surpass and even crush them.


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao arrived at Xinghai High-tech Company, which now had more guards than before.


    Chang Jing had even brought in a team from the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion.


    Around the clock, there were patrol cars patrolling the factory,


    Getting out of the car, Qin Hao headed to Chang Jing¡¯s office in the office building where she was sorting out some company documents.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Mr. Chang, there might be guests arriving later; tidy up where it¡¯s needed.¡±


    A gleam flashed in Chang Jing¡¯s eyes, ¡°People from the Federation¡¯s business group are coming?¡±


    Qin Hao joked, ¡°Exactly, and they are all sent by world-famous giant families. Mr. Chang, just try to stay calm later.¡±


    Chang Jing just smiled faintly. Would she be nervous? ¡°Mr. Qin, maybe consider your own situation. Are you going to wear this casual outfit?¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with casual wear? Does it have to be a suit? They can take it or leave it¡ªif not, they can go back to their Federation.¡±


    You¡¯re being too casual.¡± Chang Jing quirked her lip.


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, saying nothing more.


    [Fourth release]


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    SEND GIFT

 Chapter 497 - 499: If You Dont Eat, You Can Leave

    Chapter 497: Chapter 499: If You Don¡¯t Eat, You Can Leave


    At 11:08 a.m., a plane from Jinchen landed at Jianghai International Airport.


    A luxury convoy was waiting there for Morse Morse and others, who got into the cars as soon as they disembarked from the plane and headed straight to Xinghai High-tech Company.


    The people leading them also had a dedicated car to pick them up, and they led the way in front.


    Around 11:45 a.m., the convoy arrived outside Xinghai High-tech Company.


    The four individuals got out of the cars, followed by a group of more than twenty people.


    The officials also got down from the cars, and they were sizing up Xinghai High-tech Company.


    ...


    At the entrance were two guardhouses, where members of the Flying Leopard Security Team stood rigid and motionless.


    The officials showed a look of satisfaction upon seeing them, the demeanor and appearance of the security giving off a very good impression.


    They approached the guards and said, ¡°Notify Mr. Qin, tell him that the distinguished guests from the Federation have arrived.¡±


    The security personnel inside the guardhouse hurriedly notified the general manager¡¯s office, ¡°Mr. Chang, the distinguished guests from the Federation have arrived.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, good, we¡¯ll head down right away,¡± Chang Jing hung up the phone.


    She said to Qin Hao, ¡°They¡¯re here, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Qin Hao stood up and walked out with Chang Jing, coming to the entrance where they saw a large group of people standing outside.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I am Li Tai, the director of the reception office,¡± said the official, greeting Qin Hao first.


    The foreigners were also examining Qin Hao, a flicker of enlightenment in their eyes¡ªwas this Qin Hao? So young?


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Director Li, hello.¡±


    Li Tao, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve brought the people, and with that, my task is accomplished. The rest I leave to you, I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡±


    Qin Hao invited him to stay, ¡°It¡¯s already noon, Director Li, why not stay for lunch before you go?¡±


    ¡°No need, I have to go back and report on the task,¡± Li Tai declined and left, driving away with his team.


    Qin Hao looked towards Morse and his group, walking over with a smile. He had seen pictures of them before and naturally recognized them.


    Sol Robert greeted Qin Hao first, ¡°Mr. Qin, hello!¡±


    Qin Hao paused and asked, ¡°Can you speak Xuan Country¡¯s language? I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Sol¡¯s face changed slightly; they had thoroughly investigated Qin Hao¡¯s information before, and he was known to be academically brilliant. Could he really not understand Federation language? It was clear that Qin Hao was doing it on purpose.


    He was used to speaking in Federation language, and after all, it was just a greeting; most people in Xuan Country could understand it.


    The atmosphere was a bit awkward from the start, and Chang Jing was somewhat speechless¡ªdo you really know how to play, if things go wrong, let¡¯s see how those above will deal with you.


    Lambert Onassis from the Onassis Family hurriedly said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, don¡¯t mind, Morse is just used to the greeting in Federation language, and he didn¡¯t realize you couldn¡¯t understand it.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°I see, it seems I misunderstood him. Let me introduce myself; my name is Qin Hao, the chairman of Xinghai High-tech Company. This is Chang Jing, our general manager who is responsible for all the company¡¯s big and small matters.¡±


    ¡°Hello Mr. Qin, my name is Lambert Onassis.¡±


    ¡°Morse Morse¡±


    ¡°Sol Robert.¡±


    ¡°Silin Ross.¡±


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but take a second glance at Silin Ross, a typical Western beauty representative with blonde hair and blue eyes, tall and slender, captivating like Su Fei, both belonging to the top echelons of Western beauty.


    He said with a smile, ¡°Please, come in.¡±


    A group of people entered the Xinghai High-tech Company, looking around at the Xinghai High-tech Factory.


    From time to time, they could see a patrol team walking by with a dog, some patrolling in their vehicles.


    When they reached the entrance of each workshop, Qin Hao also said to them, ¡°This is our photolithography machine production workshop, this is the intelligent chip production workshop, and this is the PC motherboard production workshop...¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, could we go inside for a visit?¡± Sol Robert asked.


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s already noon now, are you guys hungry? I¡¯m hungry, how about we talk about other things after lunch? It¡¯s on me.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll trouble Mr. Qin.¡± Lambert Onassis replied.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°No trouble at all, I told the cafeteria to prepare extra food today since we have distinguished guests.¡±


    Silin Ross and the others were taken aback, Cafeteria? Are you serious about taking us to the cafeteria?


    Do you know how much we are worth? Do you know who we are?


    You are, after all, the boss of Xinghai High-tech, how can you have the nerve to invite us to eat in the cafeteria?


    Soon, Qin Hao took them to the cafeteria of Xinghai High-tech Company.


    At this moment, the cafeteria was bustling with noise, as most of the employees were eating there, since it was lunchtime.


    Qin Hao said to them, ¡°Everyone just find a place to sit.¡±


    Sol Robert¡¯s face didn¡¯t look very good, Is this how you treat your VIP guests?


    The cafeteria is fine, but couldn¡¯t you at least get us a private room? This chaos isn¡¯t fit for eating.


    What annoyed Sol the most was Qin Hao¡¯s tone, find our own spot to sit, are we really your esteemed guests or what?


    Qin Hao soon came back with Chang Jing, carrying their food.


    Seeing Sol Robert and the others sitting at the dining table without moving, Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? If you are, go and get some food.


    Otherwise, I¡¯m afraid you might not last the afternoon. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve told the chefs that your meals are on the house.¡±


    Sol Robert¡¯s face darkened in an instant, ¡°What do you mean by this, Mr. Qin? Is this supposed to be your hospitality?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, ¡°Is there something Mr. Sol is dissatisfied with?¡±


    Sol Robert, ¡°Eating in the cafeteria is one thing, and I¡¯ve even endured the lack of a private room, but you actually expect us to get our own food. What are you trying to say, Mr. Qin, are you playing with us?¡±


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°I always get my own food. What, do you want to be waited on? Don¡¯t you have hands and feet?


    Mr. Sol should learn to be self-reliant, to provide for oneself. Right now, you might be high and mighty, or even rich and powerful.


    But if one day you have nothing at all and you don¡¯t even know how to provide for your basic needs, death will be your only way out aside from living.


    This is my way of hospitality, Mr. Qin¡¯s way. If you have a problem with it or can¡¯t stand it, feel free to turn around and leave with your people right now.


    Rest assured, I won¡¯t stop you. The food in my cafeteria still costs money even in Xuan Country. If you don¡¯t eat, I actually save some.¡±


    Sol Robert looked at him, his face turning the color of iron. He really wanted to turn around and leave, but if he did, would those three follow him?


    If they didn¡¯t follow him, then wouldn¡¯t all the benefits fall into their hands?


    Silin Ross said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin makes a good point.¡± After that, she went to get her own food from the cafeteria.


    Morse and Lambert hesitated for a moment, but then followed her. Taking a deep breath, Sol did the same.


    Qin Hao sat there, enjoying his lunch with great relish. In this initial clash, he had already taken complete control.


    [Fifth update, added a chapter for votes, it¡¯s 11:33 PM, started writing at 8 AM, been sitting till now, my back and neck are sore, can I get some votes for comfort, please?]


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 Chapter 498 - 500 We Just Want to Make Money

    Chapter 498: Chapter 500 We Just Want to Make Money


    Chang Jing sat beside him, watching him, her heart constantly lifted in concern for him. She genuinely worried that these people might be driven away by Qin Hao¡¯s words.


    If that were to happen, it would be a big problem, but luckily, those people had their reservations. They too wanted to cooperate with Qin Hao.


    Silin Ross and the three others quickly returned with their meals and sat opposite Qin Hao, with their companions following suit.


    Most of the people they brought were experts in high-tech industries, along with bodyguards of extraordinary strength.


    Qin Hao smiled at the four and said, ¡°Mr. Sol, how do you find the meals in our company¡¯s cafeteria?¡±


    Silin Ross replied with a smile, ¡°Quite nice. I haven¡¯t had this kind of meal in a long time, and it¡¯s somewhat nostalgic.¡±


    ...


    Morse Morse looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°I wonder, Mr. Qin, what¡¯s your view on the current global business landscape?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Mr. Morse, you¡¯re speaking too profoundly for me. I don¡¯t even understand the business landscape of Xuan Country. How could I have the mind to understand the world? As long as I can make money, that¡¯s the main thing for me.¡±


    When the four heard his response, their thoughts quickly shifted. If Qin Hao really was in it just for the money, then everything would be easy to handle.


    They had plenty of money; as long as Qin Hao worked with them, there would be an endless amount to earn.


    In this way, they could secure the status of their families. If Qin Hao cooperated with other families of the Northern Federation, their families could very well be surpassed¡ªthe potential market for intelligent chips was indeed terrifying, and that wasn¡¯t what they wanted to see.


    If Qin Hao was in it for the money, then things would be easy to discuss. All could be negotiated, and they wouldn¡¯t mind having another high-tech tycoon in Xuan Country.


    Because they couldn¡¯t stop Qin Hao¡¯s development even if they wanted to.


    If they didn¡¯t cooperate with Qin Hao, the financial tycoons from the various countries of West Continent and Beihai Country would come seeking him. There were plenty who wanted to work with him.


    Their greatest advantage was using the Northern Federation¡¯s officials to influence Qin Hao to prioritize cooperating with them.


    That was something other financial tycoons couldn¡¯t manage, and now they had gotten ahead of them.


    After lunch, Qin Hao said to Silin Ross, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, shall we go straight to discussing cooperation, or would you like to take a tour of the workshop first?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at the workshop,¡± Lambert Onassis said.


    Qin Hao nodded and led them out of the cafeteria. As the intelligent robot workshop was nearest, he took them there first.


    Inside the workshop, ten intelligent robots were at work, assembling new intelligent robots with agile movements.


    When 001 saw Qin Hao and his group coming over, it stopped working and came forward, ¡°Master, today we will have twenty more brethren.¡±


    Lambert Onassis, Silin Ross, and others looked closely at 001 and the other robots working beside it.


    The experts they had brought could not resist walking up front to take a closer look at the intelligent robots.


    ¡°Hello, beautiful foreign lady. Do you have a boyfriend? Would you mind if I were your boyfriend? I am filled with strength,¡± 001 said to Silin Ross in Federation language, its tone sounding a bit cheeky.


    Silin Ross was taken aback. Damn, was I just hit on by a robot?


    ¡°OMG, it speaks Federation language so perfectly?¡± one foreign expert exclaimed in shock.


    Qin Hao explained with a smile, ¡°They all have specific programs. They can speak any language on Earth.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t say anything, does that mean you agree?¡± 001 chuckled.


    Silin Ross¡¯s bodyguard couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°How dare you! I¡¯ll see just how tough you really are.¡±


    The bodyguard charged at 001, aiming a kick at 001¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Before his foot could touch 001, he was kicked by 001 and flew six or seven meters, landing heavily on the ground where he let out a breath of air and didn¡¯t get up for quite a while.


    ¡°You think you¡ªa mere crawler¡ªcan compete with me, the intelligent and brave 001?¡±


    ...


    Everyone wore a speechless expression, and Qin Hao had a grimace on his face. Who the hell did 001 learn these words from?


    Lambert Onassis¡¯s eyes flashed with a sharp light upon seeing this. Is it that powerful?


    Qin Hao did not even glance at that person and said, ¡°Although they are not combat robots, their combat abilities should not be underestimated. 001, apologize to this lady.¡±


    001: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, beauty, I was just joking with you, don¡¯t be angry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mr. Qin, could you please give a detailed introduction of these intelligent robots¡¯ functions and capabilities?¡± Silin Ross replied.


    Mr. Qin: ¡°There¡¯s not much to introduce; anything humans can do, they can too. If they haven¡¯t done something before, just teach them once, and they will be able to do it.


    Moreover, they have an owner-recognition function, once they recognize their owner they will be undyingly loyal; their loyalty is beyond doubt.¡±


    Lambert Onassis curiously asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, how do you sell these robots?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Pretty cheap, five million Federation Coins, and we have already signed a cooperation agreement with the military.¡±


    This statement meant a lot. Military cooperation? It seemed that the Xuan Country military also wanted to develop combat robots.


    This price left Lambert speechless. Five million Federation Coins? Convert that to Xuan Country Coins; that¡¯s almost thirty-five million, a little expensive.


    But this is the only company in the world with such a monopoly. If you want it, you have to buy it.


    Just like how people from Xuan Country buy life-saving medicine from foreign companies; if you want to save your life, you must buy it, no matter how expensive it is.


    Damn it, the money you made from our people of Xuan Country back then, now it¡¯s time for you to pay it back double.


    Just as Qin Hao and a few others were about to leave, Wang Bo and He Tingting, two people from the lab, came out excitedly.


    He was startled to see so many people outside; he did not recognize a single one.


    Seeing Qin Hao and Chang Jing, he excitedly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, we have developed an improved intelligent photolithography machine; its performance can be tripled or more.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback: ¡°Mr. Wang, Mr. He, haven¡¯t you eaten yet?¡±


    Wang Bo said somewhat excitedly, ¡°What¡¯s the rush to eat, research is the big deal, and this time we owe a lot to Chen Ping; he really has a talent for intelligent programming.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Wang, I understand. If the intelligent photolithography machine really works as you say after the test, everyone in the lab will be rewarded with a hundred thousand, and the key personnel will be rewarded with half a million; keep up the good work.¡±


    To tell the truth, Qin Hao wasn¡¯t as excited as they were; he was more relieved and happy. If they couldn¡¯t even make this happen, it would have been very disappointing to him.


    Afterward, Qin Hao took Silin Ross and others to other workshops: the battery workshop, PC motherboard workshop, chip workshop, and so on.


    Finally, they reached the conference room in the office building, with Mr. Qin, Chang Jing, and the four, including Silin Ross.


    Sol Robert began, ¡°Mr. Qin, we can get the Federation to cancel your international pursuit, but you also have to agree to one condition from us.¡±


    The real show was finally starting.


    Qin Hao sat there looking at him, ¡°Mr. Sol, what¡¯s your condition?¡±


    Sol: ¡°Mr. Qin should be clear about the extent of your international pursuit from the Northern Federation, and if the Federation really gets tough,


    many countries will follow suit with their own warrants, and Mr. Qin, you might never leave Xuan Country for the rest of your life.


    But if you cooperate with us, we can operate on your behalf, exert pressure on the officials, and get them to cancel the pursuit.


    We¡¯ve valued Qin Company at one hundred billion Federation Coins, and we aren¡¯t asking for a large stake; each of the four of us will invest ten billion Federation Coins into Xinghai Company, and Mr. Qin will still hold the decision-making power of Xinghai Company. We just want to make money, nothing more.¡±


    [First update]


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 Chapter 499 - 501 Negotiating Cooperation

    Chapter 499: Chapter 501 Negotiating Cooperation


    Solth-Mos continued, ¡°Sol is right, lifting the warrant isn¡¯t an easy task.


    Apart from a few of us putting in effort together, no one else can manage it.¡±


    Lambert Onassis said, ¡°Mr. Qin should understand the strength and influence of our families behind us. Our companies are involved in various industries and our channels are spread across the globe.


    Cooperating with us is the best choice for Qin Hao, mutually beneficial and win-win, why would Mr. Qin not be willing?¡±


    Silin Ross added, ¡°Exactly, with our protection, even if someone wants to block it, they won¡¯t be able to.


    Mr. Qin should be aware that there is currently some economic friction between Xuan Country and the Beihai Federation. If the friction intensifies, it wouldn¡¯t be good for the people of Xuan Country, don¡¯t you think, Mr. Qin?¡±


    ...


    Each of the four spoke in turn, employing their strategy quite adeptly, and the implications of Silin Ross¡¯s words were very clear.


    They could control whether the friction expanded or contracted, and it all depended on them.


    About Xinghai High-tech Company, the four of them had reached a consensus on their way here, and they would present a united front on this matter.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression was placid, with no trace of a smile, ¡°You should know how many shares I still hold.¡±


    ¡°To ensure absolute decision-making power in the company, I won¡¯t be selling any more of my shares. If you want them, you can talk to the other shareholders. Whether they sell or not is none of my concern.¡±


    Silin Roy continued, ¡°We know the shareholders of Xinghai Company, Mr. Qin holds fifty-nine percent. Even if he were to give up forty percent, Mr. Qin would still be the majority shareholder.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss this topic further. I¡¯m not selling the shares.¡±


    Silin Ross continued, ¡°Mr. Qin, we could ask for fewer shares, maybe just five percent each.¡±


    Qin Hao still shook his head, ¡°If you are here for the shares, Miss Silin, I think there¡¯s no point in continuing this discussion.¡±


    Silin Roy¡¯s piercing blue eyes watched Qin Hao; her beautiful eyes seemed to have the power to see right through someone.


    The atmosphere in the conference room grew tense, and no one spoke.


    About ten seconds later, Silin spoke, ¡°So what does Mr. Qin propose for our cooperation? What¡¯s your sincerity?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I hadn¡¯t even considered cooperating with you.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the expressions of the four slightly changed. Qin Hao continued, ¡°After all, Xinghai Company has just been established and its production levels can¡¯t even meet the demands of a domestic phone company, discussing this now is too early.¡±


    Sol Robert suggested, ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, we can purchase your technology patents and then invest in building factories.¡±


    ¡°Purchase technology patents? What does that mean?¡± Qin Hao was momentarily perplexed.


    Silin clarified, ¡°Mr. Qin, aren¡¯t you aware of purchasing technology patents? Simply put, we give you money to buy your patents, which are time-bound. After the period expires, like one or two years, they can no longer be used.¡±


    ¡°That sounds quite good,¡± Qin Hao remarked.


    Chang Jing, feeling anxious, thought to herself that agreeing to this would be like handing over the technology to them.


    A year later, though they would officially stop using it, they could still produce it secretly. International patent law is almost useless against these powerful families.


    Faced with huge profits, they wouldn¡¯t care about such laws.


    Sol and others were internally pleased but did not show it, ¡°Mr. Qin, please consider it carefully. We will also prepare a detailed proposal.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°When can the warrant be lifted?¡±


    Silin Ross replied, ¡°Once Mr. Qin and we finalize our cooperation, we will help facilitate this when we return.¡±


    Qin Hao concluded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s leave it at that for today. You all go back and prepare a good proposal. If it works out, we¡¯ll cooperate.¡±


    The four of them stood up, shook hands with Qin Hao, and then left.


    Qin Hao escorted them to the factory entrance. Silin Ross smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I hope our cooperation will be very pleasant.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Qin,¡± smiled Lambert Onassis.


    The other two also greeted him and then drove away.


    The negotiation was far from over, it had just begun. Such large-scale cooperation involved many aspects, and it wouldn¡¯t be possible to negotiate everything in just a day or two.


    It could only be said that it started well, but what happens next remains to be seen.


    ¡°Interesting, isn¡¯t it?¡± Qin Hao, with a smile on his face, looked at two cards in his hand.


    These two cards had been slipped into his hand by Lambert Onassis and Silin Ross during the handshake, unknown to the others.


    Chang Jing, startled, asked, ¡°Are you really planning to sell the technology patents to them?¡±


    Qin Hao clarified, ¡°Not sell, cooperate. If they produce smart chips, they can only buy lithography machines from us.


    Smart mainboards need smart programs, and they can only come to us for those. We could send some robots there to help input the programs, so there¡¯s no need to worry about the core technology being stolen.¡±


    Chang Jing¡¯s eyes lit up; she hadn¡¯t thought of this initially.


    Qin Hao memorized the numbers on the cards and then tossed them into the trash.


    ¡°Today is the fifth, right?¡± Qin Hao asked as he walked.


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°Yes, the earthquake in Beihai Country will occur after midnight on the sixth. There was also an earthquake there years ago, and it was magnitude nine, but it was far away. This time it¡¯s close.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°After this earthquake, our seismographs should sell well.¡±


    Qin Hao stayed at Xinghai High-tech Company for the afternoon, contemplating his next move.


    The recent Federation warrant had been a good lesson for him. He planned to venture into the internet industry, first by establishing a new worldwide network, free from the Federation¡¯s influence.


    The most important point was also to lay the groundwork for smart robots and air energy cars.


    Smart robots can connect to the internet. He didn¡¯t trust other people¡¯s networks, which was why they hadn¡¯t been connected so far.


    Those people could capture data through backend servers. If they manipulated the smart robots through the network, it wasn¡¯t safe; they could potentially be remotely controlled by others.


    As future high-tech vehicles, air energy cars required networking capabilities in many areas.


    Using the opponent¡¯s network would be like handing over control to them. If they cut off your network, you¡¯d be stuck.¡±


    Even today, the discussion about tomorrow¡¯s earthquake in Beihai Country was rampant online, but 80-90% of people simply didn¡¯t believe it.


    In many people¡¯s view, only announcements from Xuan Country¡¯s earthquake department carried authority and credibility. Even many people in Xuan Country didn¡¯t believe it, let alone those in Beihai Country.


    They went about their activities as usual, their lives unchanged, and the officials had taken no measures.


    [Second Update]


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 Chapter 500 - 502 The Ambition of the Ross Family

    Chapter 500: Chapter 502 The Ambition of the Ross Family


    After an afternoon of contemplation, Qin Hao¡¯s mind had roughly formed a plan.


    The internet was definitely a field to break into, as even in the upcoming era of intelligence, the internet would still occupy the most crucial link.


    Among those four, Sol Robert¡¯s family was a titan of the internet industry, undisputed global leaders in areas like mobile communications and satellite phones.


    Moreover, the Robert family also owned the top automobile manufacturing company in the Northern Federation.


    Many of Qin Hao¡¯s future development strategies would overlap with theirs, inevitably turning them into competitors, so he had already added this power to his blacklist.


    But business was still business, and money that had to be made should be made. Even if he sold chips and smart programs to the Robert family, they still couldn¡¯t compete with Qin Hao.


    ...


    When they ended up spending a lot of money on chips and smart applications only for their products to flop spectacularly, the Robert family might well wish Qin Hao were dead.


    ...


    Around six o¡¯clock, Qin Hao left Xinghai Company and had Leng Xuan head towards Innsil Hotel.


    He made a call to Lambert Onassis, ¡°Mr. Lambert, you left me your number, is there something you need?¡±


    Lambert Onassis replied, ¡°Mr. Qin, indeed, there are some matters for which I need you. Are you available now?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°How could I not be available when Mr. Lambert needs me? I¡¯ve already reserved a private room at Innsil Hotel, Room 1 at the police station-themed venue. I await Mr. Lambert¡¯s esteemed arrival.¡±


    Lambert replied, ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Mr. Qin.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao called Silin Ross, ¡°Miss Silin, have you had dinner yet?¡±


    Silin answered with a laugh, ¡°Not yet, I¡¯m waiting for Mr. Qin to invite me to dinner.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°The Room 1 private box at Innsil Hotel is convenient; I¡¯ll wait for you there, Miss Silin.¡±


    After speaking, Qin Hao felt that his words might have carried an ambiguity.


    Silin responded, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao was the first to arrive at Innsil Hotel, and it wasn¡¯t long before Silin joined him in the private room.


    Seeing Qin Hao seated inside, Silin greeted him with a smile on her face, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao returned a slight smile, ¡°Please take a seat, Miss Silin.¡±


    Silin sat opposite Qin Hao; they were at a round table adorned with snacks and tea.


    Her demeanor was entirely different from during the day, as she looked at Qin Hao with an expression brimming with smiles, ¡°Is Mr. Qin really just nineteen today?¡±


    Qin Hao confirmed, ¡°Yes, Miss Silin isn¡¯t much older, right?¡±


    Silin asked with a laugh, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-four this year. Do you have a girlfriend, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao admitted, ¡°I do, and not just one.¡±


    Silin was taken aback by his straightforwardness but still managed to say with a smile, ¡°Then Mr. Qin must be quite impressive.¡±


    Fuck, these foreign women are something else, not shy about saying anything.


    Qin Hao felt a bit awkward, ¡°I guess so.¡±


    Silin didn¡¯t miss any nuance of his reaction. Finding his slight shyness and awkwardness amusing, she said cheerfully, ¡°Mr. Qin is so outstanding that even I¡¯m a bit tempted. I wonder if Mr. Qin is free tonight?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Miss Silin, don¡¯t make fun of me. I have weak willpower, and I¡¯m afraid you might not be able to handle it.¡±


    Damn, they really think I¡¯m easy to bully.


    Silin chuckled softly. Although her speech was somewhat open, every frown and gesture exuded a noble quality, reminiscent of a refined and sanctified princess from ancient times.


    It was a demeanor forged through innumerable aristocratic educations and influences, stirring a strong desire to conquer in those who beheld her.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re quite amusing. Can we get down to business first? After we¡¯ve discussed the formalities, we can talk about that other topic,¡± Silin felt it was time to strike.


    If she had started with negotiations right away, the effect definitely wouldn¡¯t have been as good as it was now. This was a tactic in bargaining, capable of influencing even the slightest change in the counterpart¡¯s emotions, and that was enough.


    At times, a slight shift in emotion could determine the outcome of a negotiation.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Miss Silin, don¡¯t rush. There¡¯s still someone we¡¯re waiting for.¡±


    Silin¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but no change showed on her face, ¡°Another person? Mr. Qin is expecting someone else?¡±


    Just as she finished speaking, Lambert Onassis walked in, a flicker of surprise crossing his face as he caught sight of Silin in the room.


    He apologized with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Mr. Qin, I was held up by that guy, Sol Robert, and it took me a while to shake him off.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°No matter, Mr. Lambert, please take a seat.¡±


    Lambert sat down, and Silin by his side resumed her composure, maintaining a calm demeanor without any frivolous laughter.


    Qin Hao looked at the two of them and said, ¡°Both of you have left your cards with me, so I assume you have things you wish to discuss? Ladies first, Miss Silin, please go ahead.¡±


    Silin Ross began, ¡°I¡¯m here to talk to Mr. Qin about a potential collaboration.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°A collaboration? Didn¡¯t we already conclude the terms of our collaboration during the day? You¡¯re supposed to come up with specific plans.¡±


    Silin stated, ¡°Building a factory in the Northern Federation was the official proposition. What I want to discuss is a private cooperation between the Ross family and Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her with interest, ¡°What kind of ¡®private cooperation¡¯ are you proposing, Miss Silin?¡±


    Silin explained, ¡°The industries under the Ross family span across various sectors, including finance, banking, investments, insurance, aviation, electronics, and more. Our Bo Air jets are sold worldwide in the aviation industry.


    Moreover, we are also involved in electronics, mobile phones, and other industries. We want to engage in deep collaboration with Mr. Qin across a variety of fields.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lambert Onassis felt a jolt of surprise. The Ross family¡¯s ambitions were massive; were they aiming to squeeze out the Mosi Family?


    After all, the main business of the Mosi family was electronics, mobile phones, and computers. Their subsidiary, the AP Group, led global sales in mobile phones and computers, boasting a market value exceeding a trillion Federation dollars, the company¡¯s crowning pride.


    Silin was aware that Lambert¡¯s family did not have a good relationship with the Mosi family, so she had no reservations.


    Moreover, to take down the Mosi family, the Ross family alone was not enough. If the Onassis family were to join in as well, the chances of success would be greatly amplified.


    Having said her piece, Silin turned to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, what do you think?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Silin and said with a smile, ¡°To be honest, I like the idea. I started this company and developed these products to make money. Collaborating with Miss Silin is essentially having you bring money to me; I have no reason to refuse.


    But what if the Mosi family also approached me for a collaboration? I wouldn¡¯t want to offend the Mosi family.¡±


    Silin said with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s easy to manage. I have several proposals, and Mr. Qin might want to hear them out.


    First, sign an exclusive strategic collaboration agreement with us. That is, in certain industries, Mr. Qin would only collaborate with the Ross family.


    Of course, we won¡¯t shortchange Mr. Qin; we will provide a substantial sum for the exclusive collaboration fees.


    The second option is to delay. Since the Mosi family is a latecomer, delaying the supply by a few months would suffice.


    As for purchase prices, Mr. Qin could quote a bit higher. The Mosi family, being rich and powerful, won¡¯t care about the extra cost.


    No matter which option you choose, Mr. Qin, you will become a valued guest of the Ross family, and should you encounter any trouble in the Northern Federation in the future, our family could also exert certain influences to take care of anything for Mr. Qin.¡±


    [Third update. I¡¯ve been too exhausted these past few days, and I accidentally fell asleep this afternoon, how embarrassing.]


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 Chapter 501 503: Its Not About the Money

    Qin Hao thought for a moment and asked, "Miss Silin, which option would maximize my benefits?"


    Lambert was somewhat speechless. Were you pondering this question after all that thinking? I thought you were considering how to deal with the Mosi family.


    And you''re asking her this?


    Silin smiled and said, "I think the first option is best. Mr. Qin is in it to make money after all, and our demand is very high."


    Qin Hao said, "I have several partners in the country; I can''t sell exclusively to you."


    Silin replied, "That''s fine. Our current market focus is America and the Western Continent."


    Qin Hao said, "Then let''s go with the first option. Miss Silin, once you prepare a detailed contract, we can discuss this further."


    Silin was pleased inside, but her expression remained calm; it wasn''t the time to celebrate yet.


    Lambert said, "Mr. Qin, let''s talk about our collaboration now. I want to buy your intelligent robots and smart motherboards for use in cars and cruise ships."


    Qin Hao began, "Buying intelligent robots is no problem, but we haven''t yet developed smart motherboards for use in vehicles and ships. Chips and motherboards are feasible, but the intelligent program source code is not so simple; it will take some time."


    Lambert replied, "That''s okay. Just make sure to collaborate with us first once you have developed it. We will pay some funds in advance."


    Many companies out there wanting to collaborate with Xinghai High-tech Company didn''t even get the chance. Being the industry''s first collaboration partner is very important, and many are willing to pay a large sum upfront.


    Qin Hao said cheerfully, "Sure, Mr. Lambert, rest assured, you''ll be the first ones we collaborate with. I won''t say no to making money. I hope we can have more collaborations in the future."


    Both Silin and Lambert smiled. Lambert said, "Mr. Qin, can the price of the robots be lower? Five million Federation coins is a bit high."


    Qin Hao replied, "Now that we are partners, it''s only right to give you a discount. How about four million Federation coins each, Mr. Lambert? How many do you want?"


    Lambert said, "For now, let''s start with ten."


    "Sure."


    Ten robots, that would be forty million Federation coins, which is nearly three hundred million in Xuan Country Coin.


    Qin Hao had a premonition that he was about to get rich in the coming days.


    After discussing, Silin and Lambert left; they hadn''t expected things to go so smoothly.


    Once they left, Qin Hao thought for a moment and then made a call to Morse Mosi.


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Morse, are you asleep? If not, could you come to room 1 at the Innsil Hotel police station?"


    Morse, hearing Qin Hao''s invitation, was caught off guard; he had been trying to think of ways to invite Qin Hao himself, and here Qin Hao was inviting him first.


    He quickly arrived at room 1 of the police station at the Innsil Hotel.


    Seeing him arrive, Qin Hao smiled and said, "Mr. Morse, please have a seat."


    Morse, smiling, said, "Mr. Qin, I was just wondering how to invite you, and here you have already asked me to come."


    Among the people sent by these four families, Qin Hao thought Silin-Ross was the smartest and best at dealing with people, of course, her being beautiful could have something to do with that.


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Morse, Miss Silin and Mr. Lambert have already approached me, discussing collaboration."


    Morse''s expression changed slightly. The Ross family''s Silin had already approached him? That girl from the Ross family acted so quickly?


    He looked at Qin Hao and asked, "Mr. Qin, what did they talk about with you?"


    Qin Hao replied lightly, "It''s not exactly a business secret¡ªjust various industry collaborations, like exclusive strategic partnerships in electronics and mobile phones."


    Morse''s expression became even more awkward. "Then, Mr. Qin, did you agree?"


    Qin Hao, smiling, said, "Mr. Morse, who can say no to a money-making business? Of course, I agreed."


    Mr. Morse was somewhat anxious, "Then... Mr. Qin, our Mosi family can offer you more benefits."


    Qin Hao was now a highly sought-after commodity, with countless people vying to partner with him.


    Qin Hao sighed, "Mr. Morse, I have already agreed with Miss Silin, and there''s no way to change that."


    Being chosen to represent the Mosi family, although Morse wasn''t as shrewd as Silin, he wasn''t foolish either.


    If there was no way forward, why did Qin Hao call him out?


    Morse quickly thought of something, "Mr. Qin, the strategic partnership you signed with the Ross family is exclusive to the Federation, right?"


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded. Morse wasn''t too foolish, "Exactly."


    Morse, "Then the Western Continent has nothing to do with them, right?"


    The Mosi family could completely use a shell company in the Western Continent to buy chips and then resell them to companies under the Mosi family.


    "Mr. Qin, the Ross family can offer you what we in the Mosi family can as well, even more. We will use a shell company in Xiyu Country to deal with you, Mr. Qin, what do you think?"


    Qin Hao, "Mr. Morse, this is not easy to handle?"


    Morse, seeing his continued pretense, almost spat blood, You called me out here just for this, didn''t you?


    It''s truly like acting as a prostitute but still wanting to erect a monument of chastity, damn it, it''s all about money.


    Morse, "We will take the exclusive agency rights in Xiyu Country, regardless of how much the Ross family is offering you in exclusive partnership fees, our Mosi family will offer you ten billion more Federation Coins."


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh, "Mr. Morse, it''s not about the money."


    "Twenty billion."


    "This really isn''t about money."


    Morse nearly gritted his teeth, "Thirty billion Federation Coins, Mr. Qin, this is my limit."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Mr. Morse, considering how sincere you are, let''s agree to that."


    Morse sighed with relief internally. Securing this would be sufficient, as the AP Group under the Mosi family makes profits of over a hundred billion Federation Coins each year.


    If they were defeated by the Ross family, it would be a huge blow to the Mosi family.


    At the same time, Morse harbored some resentment towards Silin and the Ross family, as the two families have been openly and covertly competing for many years.


    But neither could overtake the other. Now, with the advent of smart chips and artificial intelligence, it was an opportunity significant enough to devastate the other.


    If one got it and the other didn''t, the consequences were obvious.


    After talking with Morse, Qin Hao left the Innsil Hotel, ignoring Sol from the Robert family.


    The money offered by these people, along with the Federation''s official purchase of several years of technology patents, was enough for him to become very powerful.


    In the evening, when he came home, his parents, Zhao Yuying, and Han Meng were watching TV; Qiao''er had already gone to sleep.


    "Is the company keeping you busy? It''s been several days since you''ve been home," Mr. Qin asked.


    Qin Hao, "Some people from the Federation came to discuss a partnership; I still have to talk in these coming days."


    "Deal with the partnership, but don''t work too hard, health is more important," Mrs. Qin said concernedly.


    Qin Hao nodded, "I know, Mom. You guys chat, I''m going upstairs."


    "Xiao Hao, I have something to talk to you about, let''s go upstairs," Zhao Yuying followed him up and said.


    [Fourth update, there should still be a fifth one, it might be very late, everyone should rest early, it''s okay to read tomorrow]

 Chapter 502 504 Earthquake

    Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying arrived on the second floor, and Qin Hao said to her, "Ying, wait a moment for me, I''m going to take a shower."


    He quickly showered and soon came out to find Zhao Yuying sitting on a lounge chair on the balcony.


    Qin Hao sat next to her and asked, "What''s the matter, Ying?"


    Zhao Yuying spoke with some embarrassment, "Xiao Hao, I''m thinking about acquiring a physical cinema company, what do you think?"


    Qin Hao: "That''s fine, since we''re going to make movies in the future, having our own offline cinemas is definitely a good thing. How big is the cinema company?"


    Zhao Yuying: "The physical cinemas amount to approximately two hundred and seventy movie theaters. The company is called Zhongxing Cinema, they are facing financial issues, so they''re looking to sell. Quite a few people have already contacted them, and I want to buy it too."


    "How much?" Qin Hao asked.


    Zhao Yuying: "It will probably need between one and one and a half billion."


    "I''ll transfer the money to you, Ying. You go and negotiate with them. I''m a bit busy these days." After saying this, Qin Hao transferred one and a half billion.


    He still had one billion one hundred and fifty million left. In a few days, after he concluded the talks with the people from the Northern Federation, he would receive another large sum.


    "Xiao Hao, do you still have enough money? If not, then forget about it." Zhao Yuying was somewhat concerned that it might affect the operation of Qin Hao''s company.


    Qin Hao: "It''s fine, Ying, don''t worry about the money."


    Zhao Yuying nodded, "Xiao Hao, do you think there will really be an earthquake in Beihai Country tonight?"


    Qin Hao: "The seismograph should not make a mistake. Beihai Country''s officials will pay a heavy price for their arrogance."


    ...


    Around two o''clock in the morning.


    Many people on Xuan Country''s online forum, Wei Yan, hadn''t gone to sleep yet.


    "Waiting for the earthquake."


    "It''s almost time, truth will out."


    In Beihai Country''s Gong County, people had already fallen into deep sleep, the earth was tranquil, with only the sounds of insects breaking the silence.


    Gong County had roughly two million six hundred thousand inhabitants. From the sky, the county was pitch-dark, with occasional flickers of light.


    Even Taixian City, the capital of Gong County, had quieted down, with only dim lights on, making it look like a deserted city.


    The time was now two o''clock and two minutes in the morning.


    Inside Xinghai Company''s earthquake monitoring room, Han Le''an and others were not asleep, they were staring at the screen, waiting.


    Someone beside him reminded, "Mr. Han, it''s already two o'' three."


    Time ticked away, and when the clock reached two o'' five, Han Le''an and others looked at the earthquake monitoring screen.


    There were no disturbances in the Pacific Ocean east of Beihai Country.


    Did the seismograph err?


    Han Le''an frowned; the data from these past days had been consistently cross-checked with other Earthquake Bureaus, and none had been wrong. How could it be wrong this time?


    They had made a statement online declaring that if an earthquake didn''t happen, they would lose credibility and no one would believe them anymore, which would be a huge blow to their reputation.


    Xinghai Company would be implicated as well, and even though the impact might not be significant, it was not what Han Le''an wanted to see.


    This was of great importance. If the earthquake in Beihai Country truly occurred, it would prove that the seismograph had no problems, and any future earthquakes in Xuan Country could completely avoid casualties.


    Now, Han Le''an really hoped for an earthquake in Beihai Country. He hoped the seismograph wouldn''t have any errors.


    As long as the earthquake didn''t occur in Xuan Country, he didn''t care.


    ...


    Two o''clock five minutes and fifty-eight seconds in the morning.


    An earthquake monitoring screen suddenly began to flash, signaling the occurrence of an earthquake.


    Han Le''an and others hurried to look, and the location was 30 sea miles east of Gong County in Beihai Country, with the earthquake magnitude still being calculated.


    At this moment, the closest counties to the epicenter, Gong, Yan, and Fu, were shaking violently.


    Taixian City, being the closest, experienced very strong tremors. Many tall buildings could not withstand even ten seconds before collapsing instantly.


    Countless people woke up from their sleep in shock, and before they could react, high-rise residential buildings collapsed with a thunderous crash.


    Within half a minute, Taixian City turned into ruins, with nearly every building collapsed.


    All over Beihai Country, people felt the tremors and were thrown into panic, running out of their homes to open spaces.


    Around 2:10 a.m.


    The earthquake department of Xuan Country issued a notice: A strong earthquake occurred in Beihai Country at approximately 2:05:58 a.m., with the epicenter located about 30 sea miles east of Gong County in Beihai Country, and the earthquake magnitude is still being assessed.


    The Earthquake Bureau of the Federation announced: At 2:05:58 a.m., a strong earthquake occurred 30 sea miles east of Gong County in Beihai Country, with a preliminary estimated magnitude of 9!!!


    The Earthquake Bureau of Beihai Country announced: At 2:05:58 a.m., a major earthquake occurred 30 sea miles east of Gong County in Beihai Country, rated at 8.9 magnitude.


    The Earthquake Bureau of Beidou Country also released an earthquake notice for Beihai Country, and the cities of Beidou Country felt a slight tremor as well.


    Earthquake monitoring departments in various countries of the West Continent detected the quake and issued their statements.


    After hearing the news, the head officials of Beihai Country hurriedly got out of bed. An 8.9 magnitude earthquake had caused severe damage to Gong, Yan, and Fu counties!


    What worried these people the most was the tsunami that followed; it was the most terrifying, with a destructive power even greater than the earthquake.


    About twenty minutes later, before the government of Beihai Country could decide on their next steps, a nearly thirty-meter-high tsunami swarmed in.


    Most of Gong and Fu counties were submerged by the sea, countless people drowned or were washed away!!


    ...


    By this time, Qin Hao had already entered into the world of dreams; he didn''t wait until 2 a.m. because there was no need, as the seismometer was a high-tech product that was almost impossible to err.


    The next morning, Qin Hao learned about the great earthquake in Beihai Country from the news.


    World charity organizations had already entered Beihai Country to help with rescue and disaster relief.


    Because it happened at 2 a.m., when almost everyone was asleep, the extent of the damage from the earthquake was difficult to measure and was huge.


    This also had a huge impact on the economy of Beihai Country.


    Not only the networks of Xuan Country but also those of Beihai Country, Beidou Country, and the Federation were all boiling with activity.


    One reason was that they were discussing the great earthquake in Beihai Country, and the other was that they were reviewing the earthquake statement by Han Le''an published a few days ago.


    The seismometer from Xinghai High-tech Company had actually predicted this, could their device be that advanced?


    "I told you Mr. Qin''s invention wouldn''t be wrong, look, there really was a huge earthquake, haha."


    "This is a great invention, truly a beneficial creation for all of humanity."


    "A merit for the state, a benefit for eternity, Mr. Qin is bound to leave his name in history. He''s amazing."


    "Now we don''t have to worry about being killed by a sudden earthquake anymore, haha, I can sleep peacefully."


    "Mr. Qin, you''re incredible, thank you for inventing such a wonderful thing."


    "Mr. Qin surely didn''t disappoint us, the leading figure of the new era is none other than Mr. Qin himself."


    "People from all over the country are sending letters of thanks."


    "Those skeptics didn''t believe it, did they? I really want to see if their faces are swollen now."


    [Fifth update, it''s 12:30 a.m., I''m still typing at this late hour, give me a vote please.]

 Chapter 503 505: Finalizing the Cooperation

    The internet from Beihai Country was bleak, with no mention of Xinghai High-tech Company.


    If they brought up the matter again, wouldn''t it be like slapping their own face?


    But there were always a few who said, "Xinghai Company of Xuan Country has already issued a warning, so why did the officials ignore it? Why didn''t the citizens of Beihai Country believe it? A natural disaster that could have been avoided happened because of your arrogance, resulting in the casualties of tens of thousands of people. Who will bear the responsibility?"


    I am a citizen from Taixian City in Gong County, a coastal city, and seeing Taixian City reduced to ruins and submerged by sea water, my heart was seized with panic. If I hadn''t left Taixian City, I probably would have become one of the victims listed among the dead.


    As these words were spoken, many people joined in the discussion.


    Right at the outset, the Beihai Country Government sent a delegation to Xuan Country Jianghai City.


    Their country suffered from frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and there might be the possibility of a major earthquake occurring again in the future. They must obtain the advanced seismic equipment from Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Doing so could prevent tremendous loss, avoid casualties, and the earthquake in Gong County had claimed the lives of many prominent figures, bringing immeasurable indirect economic losses.


    According to current estimates, the direct economic losses for Beihai Country range between 150 and 230 billion Federation currency, about 4 percent of the national GDP.


    It is worth noting that Beihai Country''s GDP ranking is third in the world, only after the Northern Federation and Xuan Country.


    Not just Beihai Country, but also the Northern Federation, which is another earthquake-prone region, and many countries in West Continent and Southeast Continent have been contacting the government of Xuan Country, hoping to purchase the most advanced seismic equipment from Xinghai High-tech Company.


    For a moment, Xinghai High-tech Company once again became the focus of worldwide attention.


    This morning, Qin Hao went to the company, where there are already dozens of robots, and Qin Hao had some of them continue researching the sensor transmission devices for the seismic equipment.


    Because he knew there would soon be many coming to seek him out.


    He also instructed Chang Jing to increase the production line for the lithography machines to at least ten, starting now, the lithography machines being produced would be intelligent ones, with efficiency more than triple that of before.


    With the current model being equivalent to more than three of the previous models, this was already quite impressive.


    Simultaneously, this morning, the installation of intelligent surveillance cameras began, and the intelligent monitoring room was set up in one of the office building''s rooms, ensuring there would be no need for anyone to constantly watch the monitors anymore.


    Any abnormal situation would trigger an alarm from the Artificial Intelligence in the monitoring room, which would also automatically call for help in serious situations.


    There was a small server in the monitoring room, created by He Tingting and others, composed of various intelligent chips.


    Now all that was missing was for Qin Hao to input the Artificial Intelligence monitoring program.


    About three hours later, all the intelligent surveillance cameras were successfully installed, and the advanced intelligent surveillance also featured fire sensors and other functions.


    If there was a fire in a workshop, the Artificial Intelligence would sound the fire alarm, while controlling the hundreds of sprinkler heads in the workshop to extinguish the fire.


    After Qin Hao had uploaded the intelligent program into the monitoring server, Silin Ross and others arrived.


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing along with a group of people went to the factory entrance, where Silin Ross and her party were waiting for Qin Hao.


    Without Qin Hao''s orders, Silin Ross and the others couldn''t enter.


    Today, there were not as many people with Silin as there were yesterday; the experts and such did not come, only a few bodyguards and negotiators.


    "I made you all wait for a long time, please come in," Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Silin and her party followed Qin Hao into the factory, and just as they entered, suddenly an alarm sounded.


    "Alert, alert, nine individuals have entered the factory with handguns, the guns are Mi''s M18 Series, with a magazine capacity of 14 rounds, eighteen knives detected, their blades treated with VX nerve agent, capable of causing death within three seconds."


    ...


    In an instant, everyone was stunned, and the Flying Leopard Security Team rushed forward to surround these people.


    Leng Xuan and the others also stood in front of Qin Hao and Chang Jing, watching Silin and her entourage with caution.


    Chang Jing also looked at Qin Hao with some astonishment, "Is this the new advanced intelligent surveillance camera we''ve developed?"


    "Pistols and daggers can be scanned from such a distance, even through clothing?"


    The most terrifying thing was that the advanced intelligent surveillance probe could even distinguish the toxins on the dagger, wasn''t that defying the heavens?


    The bodyguards behind Silin immediately reacted, positioning themselves in front of their respective principles.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Step back, these are their bodyguards, not assassins."


    Silin and the others also called their bodyguards back as they were here to negotiate and make money, not to kill Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao explained with a smile, "Sorry everyone, this is our company''s newly developed advanced intelligent surveillance probe and Artificial Intelligence monitoring system, capable of detecting potential dangers."


    Silin and the others were truly astonished, had the technology from movies actually appeared in reality?


    This Qin Hao was only nineteen years old, wasn''t that too terrifying? If banks, financial institutions, and private residences were equipped with this technology, what was there left to worry about? Who could deceive such Artificial Intelligence?


    "Artificial Intelligence monitoring system? Mr. Qin, did you also develop this?" Silin looked at him with a shocked expression.


    Qin Hao nodded, "I saw this technology in movies and found it quite nice, so I did some research. It''s still not perfect.


    We can continue to modify it, for instance, if we detect a dangerous person entering, it can automatically launch tranquilizer darts, bullets, and such. That would be perfect, but right now it has no offensive capability."


    Damn, are you even human?


    The four of them looked at him with incredibly shocked expressions, smart chips, Artificial Intelligence, seismographs, and now, what the hell, an Artificial Intelligence monitoring system.


    They began to doubt whether Qin Hao was really from Earth, did he feed on inventions?


    This sort of technology could completely be applied to various office buildings, banks, financial institutions, and even military bases!!!


    Thinking of these, the four people from Silin''s group were somewhat excited.


    Knowing what they were thinking, Qin Hao said, "Considering the safety of the company''s staff, would you please have your bodyguards wait outside?"


    Silin and the others nodded, "Wait for us outside."


    They arrived at the conference room within the office building, and Silin''s group handed the proposal to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, this is the plan we have formulated, please take a look."


    Qin Hao took it and examined it with Chang Jing. The Northern Federation was going to spend fifteen billion Federation dollars to buy three years'' worth of technical patents,


    and they also had demands, requiring chip production to reach over a million units per day.


    After reading it, Qin Hao began, "The daily production requirement is too high, and the buyout fee is a bit low, too."


    "How much do you think would be appropriate, Mr. Qin?" Silin Ross asked.


    Qin Hao, "One-year buyout rights, with a daily chip production requirement of five hundred thousand, I think that would be about right."


    "That''s too little, Mr. Qin. In one year, we would barely make back the buyout fee, with virtually no profit. Mr. Qin, we are also here to make money; you can''t be too harsh. At least let us earn something," Silin said with a charming laugh.


    The others also nodded in agreement; once the factory was built, their four families would all be shareholders, and of course, the Northern Federation government would also take some stakes.


    After nearly an hour of negotiation, the final price was settled at: eighteen billion Federation dollars, a two-year buyout, with a daily production meeting at least eight hundred thousand units.


    [First update]

 Chapter 504 506 Dividends

    The two parties resumed negotiations on the matter of smart programs.


    After all, it related to company secrets. While they were negotiating, a knock on the door of the meeting room sounded¡ªit was He Tingting.


    Qin Hao stepped out and looked at He Tingting, asking, "Mr. He, what''s happened? Is there something you need?"


    He Tingting told him, "After our experiments last night, we found that the smart photolithography machine not only increases production but can also directly input programs into chips.


    It eliminates the step of using robots to input smart programs. The code inside the photolithography machine cannot be copied, and there''s also a self-destruct system. If someone tries to steal the smart program from the photolithography machine, the self-destruct system will activate. There''s no need to worry about any leaks."


    Qin Hao''s face brightened, "Can it input smart programs for both cell phones and washing machines?"


    "Yes, there are no problems at all."


    Qin Hao, "Who thought of this?"


    He Tingting, "Me."


    Qin Hao, "It seems I didn''t make a mistake hiring Mr. He. Go back to your work, I''ll speak to Mr. Chang about your bonus."


    He Tingting, "Do you have time tonight?"


    "What''s the matter?"


    He Tingting, "There''s something I need to discuss, my dad wants to invite you for a meal. If you don''t have time, we can reschedule for another day."


    Qin Hao, "I can make it. Mr. He, have you come clean to Mr. He about our situation?"


    He Tingting shook her head, "No, not yet. Do you suddenly feel like you''re too good for this, don''t want to continue?"


    Qin Hao, "Mr. He, that''s not what I meant. I just feel that it''s not very good to keep on like this."


    He Tingting, "I haven''t said anything, what''s a man like you afraid of? I''ll call you tonight."


    Returning to the meeting room, Qin Hao took his seat and said, "No need for further discussion, the upcoming smart photolithography machines will include smart programs for cell phones and washing machines."


    "How much is the smart photolithography machine selling for?" Silin and others asked curiously.


    Qin Hao, "The normal selling price is set at 1.5 billion Federation Coins, but for you, I''ll give you a friendship price of 1.4 billion Federation Coins."


    This price was not considered expensive by market standards.


    Qin Hao knew that their plan to buy out his technology patents wasn''t just to produce cell phone and washing machine chips, they would surely also produce other industry chips, and then through various research experiments, apply the chips across different sectors.


    With the advanced technology of the Federation, it was entirely possible they could develop smart programs, but that would definitely take a long time.


    By that time, everything would be too late. Qin Hao wouldn''t stop progressing, he would definitely continue to advance.


    After the discussions were complete, Qin Hao and the others signed the agreement, truly establishing their cooperation.


    The sum of 18 billion Federation Coins subsequently arrived in Xinghai High-tech Company''s account. That was equivalent to more than a hundred billion Xuan Country Coins¡ªshockingly immense.


    With the matter settled, Silin Ross spoke up, "Mr. Qin, there''s another piece of good news for you. The Federation officials have asked us to procure your earthquake detectors. It looks like Mr. Qin is going to make another fortune."


    "Really?" A smile appeared on Qin Hao''s face. The Federation was also a region prone to frequent earthquakes, so they surely needed to purchase the equipment.


    Knowing Qin Hao''s character, Silin said, "Mr. Qin, why don''t you give us a price? But don''t be too greedy. If it''s too high, they won''t buy. If it''s not too high, the four of us can completely agree on their behalf."


    Qin Hao, smiling, said, "You''re aware of the recent major earthquake in Beihai Country, right? The direct economic loss has already exceeded a hundred billion Federation Coins. If all the losses are calculated, it probably has surpassed two hundred billion Federation Coins."


    Silin and the others nodded, the earthquake was strong and close, Qin Hao''s estimate of the damage was almost the same as the official statistics from Beihai Country.


    Qin Hao continued, "Originally, I had planned to sell it for a hundred billion Federation coins." After saying that, he looked toward Silin and the others.


    "Pfft"


    Silin spat the water she''d just drunk out of her mouth, a hundred billion Federation coins, holy cow, you really dare to ask for that much.


    "Sorry Mr. Qin, I''m not very used to this tea," Silin explained awkwardly.


    Lambert and the others exchanged looks, it wasn''t about the tea being unsuitable, a hundred billion Federation coins, heck, sell a few dozen, and that would amount to hundreds of years of assets for our four major families, how on earth do you come up with such figures.


    At the same time, all four of them also saw the terrifying potential in Qin Hao, he should have a place as a future business oligarch.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "How about fifty billion Federation coins?"


    The potential of the seismometer wasn''t as great as smart chips and artificial intelligence technology, but its practicality made it very important to earthquake-prone countries.


    Silin shook her head, "That''s too high, the officials from the Northern Federation quoted us ten billion Federation coins."


    Qin Hao shook his head, "Ten billion is impossible, fifty billion is already half price."


    Half price my foot, you''re the only one who has the product, of course, you can charge whatever you want.


    After another half hour of negotiation, the final price was set at thirty billion Federation coins.


    Qin Hao would manufacture a seismometer capable of detecting an area proportionate to the size of the Northern Federation.


    The seas surrounding the Northern Federation also needed to be included; otherwise, tsunamis caused by marine earthquakes could also result in significant casualties.


    After signing the contract, Silin and others left. They wouldn''t leave Jianghai City just yet because they hadn''t signed a contract for their private collaboration with Qin Hao.


    That afternoon, Silin and Lambert called Qin Hao out to discuss the cooperation.


    The Ross family would provide Qin Hao with a strategic collaboration fee of five billion Federation coins, starting next month, Qin Hao was to supply them with at least two hundred thousand smartphone motherboards and smart washing machine motherboards, totaling four hundred thousand motherboards.


    The Ross family had to pay separately for these motherboards; the five billion was purely a strategic exclusive collaboration fee.


    The Onassis Family bought ten robots, and likewise, a strategic exclusive partnership contract was signed, also amounting to fifty billion Federation coins.


    Subsequently, Qin Hao called out Morse from the Mosi Family, who paid eighty billion Federation coins, and an exclusive strategic partnership with Xiyu Country was also signed.


    In just a few days, Qin Hao credited thirty billion Federation coins, and the company credited three hundred sixty billion and four million Federation coins.


    Qin Hao didn''t put the seismometer transaction through the company account since it was money he earned personally.


    Since he provided the technology and nobody else contributed anything, he naturally wouldn''t share the money with those people.


    Qin Hao let Chang Jing keep a hundred sixty billion and four million for company development, and the other two hundred billion was distributed among all shareholders.


    Chang Jing received ten billion Federation coins, Xu Siyao, Li Moying, Chang Anding, and the Southern Military Industry Group each received eighteen billion Federation coins, which was over a hundred and twenty billion Xuan Country Coins.


    Qin Hao received a hundred and eighteen billion Federation coins for himself, holding fifty-nine percent of the shares, he naturally got the most.


    Li Moying was at home talking with Li Jianjun and her parents when her phone chimed.


    "At 5:35 PM, Xinghai High-tech Company transferred a hundred and eighteen billion Xuan Country Coins to your bank account."


    [Second Update]

 Chapter 505 507: Seeing Jiang Tao Again

    Li Moying was stunned for a moment, her mouth forming an O shape, somewhat incredulous.


    Li Xutian, upon seeing this, curiously asked, "What''s wrong? What are you looking at?"


    Li Moying put the phone in front of her dad, and when Li Xutian saw the amount of the message, he was stunned, "That much? Could this be the dividend money?"


    "What is it?" Gu Yusu and Li Jianjun came over to look.


    "One hundred and eighteen billion Xuan Country Coin?" Li Jianjun''s eyes widened. He had been investing in his own startup for many years and had only made a few billion. His sister suddenly had more than a hundred billion?


    Gu Yusu was also surprised, "How come it''s so much money?"


    Li Xutian spoke up, "If it''s dividend money, then it''s too terrifying. Xiao Ying only holds a nine percent share and got more than a hundred billion, wouldn''t Xiao Hao have received seven to eight hundred billion?"


    Speaking of this, he himself could hardly believe it. The Xinghai Company was established for less than two months, and the profit was this terrifying?


    With their output, they shouldn''t have made this much money, so it''s very likely from some sort of strategic partnership.


    Even so, it was already terrifying. His Jinxiu Group was only worth a few hundred billion after all.


    Li Moying: "I don''t know either, I''ll ask Master."


    Soon, the phone was answered, and Li Moying asked, "Master, what was that money just now?"


    Qin Hao: "Shareholder dividends. We only distributed two hundred billion Federation Coin; the company retained one hundred and sixty billion for development."


    Li Moying said excitedly, "Wow, it really is dividends! Master, you are incredible. I am now a billionaire too."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "You''ll earn even more in the future."


    Li Moying chuckled, "Master, do you have time tonight? I want to treat you to dinner."


    Qin Hao: "I have some things to do tonight, I''ll treat you another day."


    "Okay, go ahead with your busy schedule, Master."


    After hanging up, Chang Jing entered his office, "Mr. Qin, the delegation from Beihai Country is here, probably for the seismograph matter."


    Qin Hao: "There should be quite a few buyers these few days. Mr. Chang, you can handle it. Remember, don''t sell to Beihai Country for less than a hundred billion; other countries can go as low as thirty billion."


    Beihai Country might be small but its GDP is indeed the third in the world. This tiny place with so much money is prone to inflation, and Qin Hao intends to fleece them good.


    The Federation is now too powerful. If they demand a hundred billion Federation Coin from them, Qin Hao is also afraid that it might make them desperate and affect the diplomacy between the two countries.


    If an economic war really breaks out, Xuan Country currently has no advantage whatsoever, and his Xinghai High-tech Company would not be involved in any way.


    The current plan is to buy time. Within three years, Qin Hao felt confident that he could make the Xinghai High-tech Company into a behemoth.


    He felt confident that he could lead Xuan Country''s high-tech technology to surpass the Federation, and even make Xuan Country the center of the world economy and finance.


    At five thirty in the afternoon, He Tingting came out of the laboratory and called Qin Hao.


    The two met in the parking lot, and Qin Hao said, "Get in my car."


    He Tingting nodded and got into his car, "To Qingshan Hotel."


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "Why are we going to a hotel?"


    "My dad said so, I don''t know either," replied He Tingting.


    The motorcade headed towards Qingshan Hotel in Jianghai City, which is also a nationwide chain of five-star hotels.


    Just past six o''clock, Qin Hao''s convoy arrived outside the Qingshan Hotel.


    Getting out of the car, He Tingting linked her arm with his, and they walked inside.


    The group took the elevator to a luxurious private room on the twenty-sixth floor.


    Upon opening the door and entering, two people were sitting inside, one was He Qizhi, and the other was actually Jiang Tao from Zhongjia Group.


    Seeing Jiang Tao, Qin Hao almost understood what He Qizhi meant; it was likely Jiang Tao had sought help from He Qizhi.


    When He Qizhi saw Qin Hao and his daughter walk in close, a smile appeared on his face, "Xiao Hao is here, please take a seat."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and sat down with He Tingting in two vacant seats.


    "Mr. Qin." Jiang Tao''s face was also full of fawning smiles.


    Qin Hao glanced at Jiang Tao, "Isn''t this Mr. Jiang? I thought Mr. Jiang was partnering with Jifeng Automobile Group. How do you have the time to come out?"


    Such sarcastic and mocking words¡ªhow could Jiang Tao not understand? He now regretted causing trouble for Qin Hao at the celebration.


    Although uncomfortable, Jiang Tao didn''t dare to snap. He could only smile and say, "Mr. Qin, I''ve been in Jianghai for several days now."


    He Qizhi was aware of the matter between the two men and said, "Alright, alright, let''s save any discussion for dinner. Waiter, serve the dishes."


    If not for He Tingting and He Qizhi''s sake, Qin Hao would definitely have turned around and left.


    The dishes were served quickly, and Jiang Tao poured himself a full glass of wine, "I was wrong about the past, Mr. Qin. I''ll punish myself with three drinks."


    After speaking, he tilted his head back and drank the liquor, then poured himself another glass and drank again, consuming three glasses in succession.


    Qin Hao sneered internally; three glasses of wine and he thought it would be settled¡ªyou''re making it too simple.


    If you knew this would happen, why do it in the first place.


    After three glasses, Jiang Tao''s face was already flushed. To get Qin Hao''s chips and to make money, he was told to drink three glasses¡ªheck, he''d dare to drink three bottles if necessary.


    Seeing him like this, He Qizhi said, "Don''t do this, Mr. Jiang; you''re not young anymore, and drinking like this is bad for your health."


    Jiang Tao waved his hand, "It''s fine, this is what I deserve."


    After finishing, he poured himself another glass, "Mr. Qin, I drink this one to you."


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, "No need, Mr. Jiang, I really can''t accept it. Just speak your mind."


    Upon hearing this, Jiang Tao''s heart sank. He said, "Mr. Qin, I would like to partner with you. Zhongjia Group can offer something no other company can¡ªI can give you thirty percent of the profits from each phone sold."


    Qin Hao, "Sorry, Mr. Jiang, but I''m really not interested in your offer."


    He Qizhi quickly said, "Xiao Hao, doing business is all about mutual benefit and cooperation."


    Qin Hao, "Mr. He, no need to say more, I understand."


    Jiang Tao, expressionless, looked at Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, one should always leave room for maneuver; why push me to a dead end?"


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, "Mr. Jiang, it''s not that I''m pushing you to a dead end, you walked there yourself¡ªcan''t blame anyone else."


    "Fine, you''re ruthless. We''ll see," Jiang Tao huffed coldly and got up to leave.


    Leng Xuan and a few others blocked Jiang Tao, who turned his head to look at Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, what does this mean?"


    "Let him go."


    Once Jiang Tao had left, He Qizhi sighed and seemed at a loss for words.


    Qin Hao got up and said, "Mr. He, please continue eating, I have to go now."


    After finishing, he turned and headed outside. He Tingting froze for a moment then hurriedly followed him.


    Catching up to Qin Hao, He Tingting quickly said, "I''m sorry."


    Qin Hao looked at her, smiling as he spoke, "It''s already over..."


    He Tingting knew he was a bit angry with her dad; she felt her dad had gone too far.


    Why would he bother helping Jiang Tao knowing what had happened between Jiang Tao and Qin Hao? "I will talk to my dad."


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 506 506: After Becoming Rich Overnight

    He Tingting and Qin Hao arrived outside the Qingshan Hotel.


    Qin Hao looked at her and asked, "Should I take you home, or are you going back with your dad?"


    At that moment, He Qizhi came out of the hotel.


    He Tingting smiled and said, "I''ll go back with my dad. Let me know when you get home."


    After she spoke, she helped Qin Hao straighten his clothes and gently kissed him on the cheek.


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment. He Tingting was dressed very sexily today, her fiery figure displayed without restraint, complemented by her delicate features, mature and seductive, charming and alluring.


    When it came to figure, among the people Qin Hao knew, only Miao Jing at the police station could compare with her.


    "Xiao Hao, wait a moment." He Qizhi had just seen this scene, and he felt relieved, hurrying over.


    He had been worried that Qin Hao and He Tingting might have some friction because of him. Seeing the scene just now, he felt a relief.


    Qin Hao looked at He Qizhi. "What''s up, Mr. He?"


    "Jiang Tao that son of a gun didn''t settle the bill, and I didn''t bring any money," He Qizhi said awkwardly.


    He Tingting was somewhat speechless. Qin Hao took out a bank card and gave it to He Tingting. "Tingting, go settle the bill. Use the rest of the money to buy something for your aunt so she won''t be upset I haven''t visited these days. Mr. He, I''m leaving now."


    He Qizhi, "Okay, your aunt won''t blame you. She knows your company is busy."


    Qin Hao got into his car and left. He Tingting and her father went back inside the hotel. "How much is the total?"


    "Sixty-six thousand," the waitress said with a smile.


    That expensive?


    He Tingting was somewhat speechless. Jiang Tao had ordered such expensive dishes and hadn''t paid. "Charge it."


    The waitress swiped the card and said, "Your total spending is sixty-six thousand, and there''s a balance of nine million nine hundred thirty-four thousand in the account."


    He Tingting and He Qizhi were stunned. So much money? The rest for buying something for my mom? Are you asking me to buy out the entire mall?


    "Xiao Hao is really splurging now that he''s making money," He Qizhi said with a laugh.


    ...


    When Qin Hao got home, he received a call from Chang Jing. They had secured a deal for one hundred billion Federation coins.


    Beihai Country had no choice but to accept, unless they chose to decline. But if another earthquake like that occurred, they couldn''t withstand it.


    Dozens of robots were working around the clock on seismographs. Beihai Country''s region was very small; one underground sensor was enough, and the cost was very low.


    One hundred billion Federation coins, which was almost seven hundred billion Xuan Country coins. Now that he was the second richest in the country, who would dare claim the first?


    Qin Hao was a bit excited. He hadn''t expected to become the richest person in the country so quickly.


    But he couldn''t get his money moving. Companies like Aba Net Shopping and Tenglong Group had market values of several hundred billion Federation coins.


    Their company''s capital was liquid, generating more and more money.


    However, Qin Hao''s money was still in fixed assets, unable to be mobilized.


    But he had targets and ideas. Although he had a lot of money, it still might not be enough for his needs.


    Over five or six days, representatives from more than twenty countries had purchased earthquake indicators from Xinghai Company, and Qin Hao had received a total of six hundred and thirty billion Federation coins.


    The world''s top business tycoons were incredibly shaken.


    Qin Hao''s total assets were nearing a trillion Federation Coins, already almost catching up to those top tycoons of the world.


    Not to mention those oligarchs, even Qin Hao himself felt somewhat fearful, innocent or not, possession itself can be a crime.


    This was over seven hundred billion Federation Coins, nearly five trillion Xuan Country Coins.


    ...


    "What''s wrong?" Zhao Yuying came up from downstairs and curiously asked when she saw Qin Hao sitting there lost in thought.


    Qin Hao gave a wry smile and said, "You worry about money when you don''t have it, and damn it, you worry when you do have it."


    Zhao Yuying laughed and said, "Xinghai High-tech Company is valued at four hundred billion Federation Coins. Only Aba Net Shopping and Tenglong Group have a market value that surpasses yours in Xuan Country, but you''ve just started. In another year or two, your company will definitely be number one in Xuan Country."


    The valuation of Xinghai High-tech Company had already been leaked by foreign investment giants online, a valuation of four hundred billion Federation Coins, which shocked the entire network. Many people were still discussing it.


    The arrest warrant from North Federation was also retracted, with an external statement saying: "It was a mistake," and an apology was issued as well.


    Qin Hao knew Zhao Yuying had misunderstood him and said with a bitter smile, "Ying, what would you do if you had a lot of money?"


    Zhao Yuying: "When I had no money, I just wanted to earn more to give my family a better life. If I were as wealthy as you, I would probably do things that benefit the people and the country. There''s a saying, ''Be virtuous alone when poor, help the world when rich.''"


    "Be virtuous alone when poor, help the world when rich."


    Qin Hao repeated it; he knew this principle but hadn''t thought of a good way to spend the money.


    Directly giving money to the people of Xuan Country would be pointless, and each person wouldn''t receive much anyway.


    With over a billion people, five trillion Xuan Country Coins wouldn''t even amount to five thousand per person¡ªutterly ineffective.


    Zhao Yuying: "What you''re doing, like Amao Net Shopping with its desert reforestation fund, Tenglong Group''s various disease funds, and supporting impoverished university students, is all very good."


    A spark lit in Qin Hao''s eyes; he thought of a way¡ªsupporting impoverished university students.


    A student spends quite a bit in a year at university: tuition is about six thousand, living expenses at a minimum of six hundred a month amount to six thousand for a year, plus two months vacation, and accommodation fees of a thousand a year, making it thirteen thousand.


    A university student spends over thirteen thousand in a year, while the annual net income of a typical rural family is about twenty thousand.


    With thirteen thousand spent on a child''s university education, family expenses of five thousand, that''s only about two thousand left a year.


    If there are two children, the family could be drowning in debt; ordinary rural folk simply don''t have the spare cash to buy anything.


    This is one of the three major obstacles in the economic development of Xuan Country.


    If the farmers don''t have spare money to spend, how can the economic market prosper? Only when money circulates like water can the market thrive.


    The farmer''s money goes to the street vendors, who need to purchase goods and give money to distributors; distributors need to get goods and pay the factories; factories need to produce and pay wages to employees; employees then go and buy things from vendors, who need to go to distributors,


    Only through this virtuous cycle can the market become increasingly prosperous.


    If ordinary workers'' money gets tied down in education, healthcare, and housing, then how can the economic market flourish?


    ...


    Qin Hao planned to cooperate with the state to invest money in education, ideally waiving tuition and accommodation fees for college students, making compulsory education twelve years, into sixteen years.


    He couldn''t do such a thing alone without state cooperation, and he didn''t dare to do it on his own.


    If he did such a thing by himself, both his and Xinghai Company''s reputation would become extremely high, making them easy targets for suspicion.


    In ancient times, he likely would have been beheaded, "Your fame is so great, are you planning a rebellion?"


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 507 509 Strong

    At that moment, footsteps echoed from the staircase, and Han Meng came up with Xu Siyao.


    Qin Hao''s parents had just left yesterday, and Xu Siyao came over today after hearing the news. She felt uneasy coming while Mr. and Mrs. Qin were around, fearing they might think she was that kind of woman.


    Upon arriving, Xu Siyao saw Qin Hao and ran over to him with a smile on her face, "Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao looked at her with a smile and gently stroked her hair, "How did you come? Does Mr. Xu know?"


    Xu Siyao giggled, "He isn''t home, but Ms. Yang is."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Let me introduce you. This is Ying, Zhao Yuying, and this is Han Mengmeng."


    "Hello, Ying, Meng," said Xu Siyao politely.


    Zhao Yuying smiled, "Miss Xu, you''re too polite. Go ahead and talk, Meng and I won''t disturb you."


    After saying that, she and Han Meng went downstairs.


    Xu Siyao giggled and looked at Qin Hao, then hugged him tightly, "I missed you so much."


    ...


    Around three in the afternoon, the two came down from upstairs. Xu Siyao''s face was flushed, and she clung to Qin Hao''s arm, not daring to look at Zhao Yuying and the others in the living room.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Ying, Meng, Siyao and I are heading to the company."


    "Okay, sure," Zhao Yuying and Han Meng nodded.


    Qin Hao and Xu Siyao left the villa. Just then, Qin Hao had received a call from Chang Jing. The Zhou Island delegation wanted to buy an earthquake device.


    Chang Jing wasn''t in a position to decide, so she called Qin Hao.


    Usually, only countries bought earthquake devices. Now that Zhou Island wanted to buy one, she didn''t dare sell it; the situation was too significant.


    Upon arriving at the office, Qin Hao and Xu Siyao entered the conference room in the building.


    The Zhou Island delegation consisted of eight people, who were sitting inside waiting for Qin Hao''s arrival.


    Seeing Qin Hao and Xu Siyao enter, Chang Jing smiled and said, "Gentlemen, this is our Mr. Qin, and next to him is Mr. Xu, one of the company shareholders."


    Xinghai High-tech Company was incredibly successful, not only making Qin Hao a hot topic but also Xu Siyao, Li Moying, Chang Anding, and others as well-known figures.


    The company''s market value was 400 billion Federation dollars, with Xu Siyao holding nine percent, which was about 36 billion Federation dollars.


    She instantly became one of the top ten richest people in the country.


    As for Qin Hao, with a net worth of 236 billion Federation dollars, he was ranked first on the global rich list, becoming the new wealthiest man in the world and Xuan Country.


    The second on the list from Xuan Country was Ren Huachen of Tenglong Group, with an estimated wealth of over 40 billion Federation dollars.


    As for such rich lists, they were more of an overview as the credibility wasn''t very high; many of the top business magnates abroad and even many wealthy families domestically preferred to keep a low profile.


    "Hello, Mr. Qin," people from the Zhou Island delegation hurriedly got up and shook hands with Qin Hao.


    "Hello, Mr. Xu," they also wanted to shake hands with Xu Siyao, but she nodded and didn''t extend her hand.


    This made them a bit embarrassed, but they didn''t say anything.


    After sitting down, Qin Hao looked at the people from Zhou Island delegation and said, "You''re here for the earthquake device?"


    The person nodded, "Exactly, Mr. Qin. As you might know, Zhou Island is located on a seismic belt, and earthquakes frequently occur causing substantial loss to the people of Zhou Island."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "You all don''t need to worry about this point, our seismometers are freely serving the people of Xuan Country."


    Zhou Island is a part of my Xuan Country, so naturally our seismometers will also monitor the seismic activity in the Zhou Island area and its waters."


    "If there is any situation, the national government will issue an announcement to allow the people of Zhou Island to avoid disasters."


    The people from the Zhou Island Delegation stiffened upon hearing this, managing a forced smile and said, "Mr. Qin, this issue isn''t suitable for us to discuss, nor can we manage it, let''s talk about the price of the seismometers instead."


    Qin Hao: "Then we don''t need to talk, there is no reason to sell seismometers to our own countrymen."


    "Mr. Qin, we can buy them at a high price." The people from the Zhou Island Delegation were still somewhat hopeful.


    Qin Hao, smiling, said, "How high is high? Higher than the Federation''s one hundred billion from Beihai Country? Don''t mention one hundred billion¡ªeven if it''s one trillion, I wouldn''t sell it."


    That person still wanted to persuade Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, why bother? Isn''t doing business all about making money?"


    Qin Hao indifferently said, "Indeed, doing business is about making money, but some money can be made, and some can''t. I sold it to Beihai Country for one hundred billion, and I already feel it''s a bit cheap, those bastards¡ªselling it to them for a trillion wouldn''t compensate for the blood debts of the past."


    A wave of nervous sweat swept through those in the meeting room, and Chang Jing was somewhat speechless. Could you at least mind your image since you''re the richest person here?


    If these people spread your words about cursing Beihai Country as bastards, it could easily cause trouble.


    "Mr. Qin, don''t be agitated, making a deal or not, kindness remains." An middle-aged man from the delegation hurriedly said.


    Qin Hao: "I''m not agitated, I''m just stating a fact."


    Li Xing: "Mr. Qin, my name is Li Xing, I am a director of Baodian Group from Zhou Island, and I''ve come to discuss cooperation with you."


    Baodian Group, Qin Hao knew, was a very capable group with significant influence in Zhou Island.


    "Hello Mr. Qin, my name is Wang Xing, I am a director of Baokang Group." Another person also introduced himself.


    The matter of the seismometer was an official matter and had nothing to do with them; they were here for chips and artificial intelligence technology, desiring to cooperate with Qin Hao.


    "Are all of you here to discuss cooperation with me?" Qin Hao asked, looking at Li Xing and Wang Xing.


    These two were the main figures of the delegation; the previous person was just a Zhou Island official.


    Wang Xing and Li Xing nodded, they had come to cooperate with Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao: "Zhou Island has always been an inseparable part of Xuan Country, but there are always some who wish to separate it.


    The government and people of Xuan Country wouldn''t agree to this, and neither would I, Qin Hao, before this issue is unanimously resolved.


    Xinghai High-tech Company will cease any cooperation with companies from Zhou Island, and I will even utilize global partners.


    If anyone dares to cooperate with groups from Zhou Island, Xinghai High-tech Company will immediately terminate the cooperation with them."


    Li Xing and Wang Xing''s expressions changed, "Mr. Qin, this matter has nothing to do with us; it''s a matter for those above us."


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, "That''s none of my concern, if you relocate your headquarters to the mainland, maybe then we can talk about deep cooperation, including letting you OEM produce chips and motherboards."


    Upon hearing this, the faces of the Zhou Island Delegation varied, especially the governmental official, whose expression was very grim.


    If the major groups from Zhou Island were to move away, he couldn''t imagine the consequences, but it certainly wouldn''t be less than a magnitude ten earthquake.


    Why the hell should a businessman worry about these issues instead of making money?


    "Please leave." Qin Hao''s stance on the topic was so firm that there was no possibility of discussion.


    People from the Zhou Island Delegation left, Qin Hao had been very assertive in this discussion, leaving no room for negotiation.

 Chapter 508 510 Conclusive Evidence

    Qin Hao and his two companions exited the conference room, and Chang Jing spoke, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Ye, and Mr. Li''s main boards have all been supplied, and they have placed an order for another five hundred thousand."


    "What is our chip production capacity per day now?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Chang Jing replied, "Currently, with four chip production lines, each line produces about thirty thousand chips, so about one hundred twenty thousand per day."


    Chang Jing had invested six billion into the photolithography production line, increasing it to ten lines.


    Currently, the PC mainboard workshop only produces mainboards for intelligent robots.


    The mobile phone and washing machine mainboards were handed over to the Blueberry Group and the Kangmei Group.


    Since the chip production now comes with an intelligent program, by then, they only need to install the chips onto the mainboards.


    The main issue is that producing mainboards offers low profits, and it also consumes a lot of manpower and material resources, so it would be better to expand into chip production lines in the future.


    Qin Hao and Xu Siyao looked around the company and then left.


    Qin Hao said while sitting in the car, "Shall I take you home?"


    Xu Siyao nodded reluctantly, "Mhm."


    It was a little past four-thirty in the afternoon when Qin Hao dropped Xu Siyao off at her home; Yang Su''s belly was growing bigger day by day, and after a brief conversation, he left.


    On his way back, Qin Hao made a call to Xu Liangguo.


    Xu Liangguo mocked, "You still have time to call me? Not busy counting your money?"


    Qin Hao deduced a lot of information from his comment, and figured that many people above must be envious of him.


    Almost a trillion Federation coins, how could some people not be envious?


    If it were not for his relationship with the Xu Family, many accusations might have already been thrown at Qin Hao by now.


    Qin Hao asked, "Mr. Xu, are some people not happy with me up there?"


    Xu Liangguo replied, "It''s good that you''re aware. There are too many people with jealousy; what do you plan to do with the money?"


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Xu, the reason I called you was to discuss this matter. I plan to cooperate with the nation on the education issue."


    "How do you plan to cooperate?" Xu Liangguo asked curiously.


    Qin Hao replied, "I plan to allocate five hundred billion Federation coins, which is three hundred fifty billion Xuan Country Coins, into university compulsory education.


    I''ve had someone crunch the numbers, and there are about thirty million university students nationwide. Each student costs roughly six to seven thousand a year for tuition and accommodation fees. At seven thousand each, it comes to around two hundred ten billion for thirty million students. The three hundred fifty billion should suffice for more than ten years.


    As compulsory education will likely increase the number of university students, this amount should still sustain it for more than nine years.


    I believe that in nine years'' time, Xuan Country will see a surge in talents and substantial growth in economic strength.


    And I truly believe that after so many years of development, Xinghai High-tech Company will have made enough money to support the future expenses of university compulsory education."


    Xu Liangguo initially thought of advising Qin Hao to donate one hundred billion to the nation to demonstrate loyalty and silence the critics.


    But to his surprise, Qin Hao decided to contribute as much as three hundred fifty billion Xuan Country Coins in one go.


    Uncertain, he asked, "Xiao Hao, you''re not joking, are you?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Mr. Xu, I established this company to ensure a good life for my family and to make our Xuan Country more prosperous and powerful, surpassing the Northern Federation and becoming the world''s leader.


    With the spread of compulsory university education, more people will be able to attend university, and Xuan Country will be able to cultivate more talents, which are crucial for national development."


    Qin Hao knew very well the importance of compulsory education, as he had caught the implementation of twelve years of compulsory education when he was in high school.


    Many children from rural areas around Jiangshan attended his school. Before the policy, they had to pay nearly ten thousand in tuition fees each year.


    For ordinary rural families, that was a substantial burden.


    Furthermore, the expenses for attending university would only increase, not decrease.


    A gratified smile appeared on Xu Liangguo''s face. Although Qin Hao had some flaws in his personal relationships, he had no issues when it came to major moral judgments.


    He said with a smile, "Not bad, Xiao Hao; your awareness is commendable. I was even planning to give you a lesson in politics."


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Xu, could you please help me contact the upper level? I''ll stay out of the negotiations this time, you decide, the money can be transferred at any time."


    Xu Liangguo responded forcefully, "Okay, I''m heading to Jinchen City today!"


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if an invisible pressure had lifted.


    Having a lot of money is not necessarily a good thing; he had been feeling somewhat uneasy these past few days.


    Upon returning home, Zhao Yuying and Han Meng were there. Seeing him come back, Zhao Yuying stared at him unblinkingly with her beautiful eyes.


    Curiously, Qin Hao asked, "What''s wrong, Ying?"


    Zhao Yuying: "I now understand what you meant when you said, ''Having money also brings worries.''


    "What do you mean, Ying?" Qin Hao did not understand her point.


    Zhao Yuying: "Don''t you know yet? Someone just leaked it online, saying you made 771.8 billion Federation coins just from selling seismographs alone. Xiao Hao, is this true?"


    Qin Hao''s expression changed slightly: "Online?"


    Zhao Yuying nodded slightly: "Yes, just three minutes ago. It''s a hot topic online right now, and it seems they are also discussing something about Zhou Island."


    Qin Hao hurried into the study and turned on his computer. The forums and Wei Yan were almost all discussing this issue.


    The person who leaked this news used a fake account. The transaction amount between Xinghai High-tech Company and every country was clearly stated. Just from the seismograph sales, the revenue had reached nearly eight hundred billion Federation coins.


    This, which was supposedly for the benefit of all humanity, had become a means for Qin Hao to amass wealth. In order to make money, he had seemingly stopped at nothing.


    Today, the Zhou Island Delegation also sent people to Xinghai Company to purchase the seismographs.


    The buyers of the seismographs were various national delegations. Since Zhou Island is part of Xuan Country anyway, why did Qin Hao need to meet with them?


    Does Qin Hao not regard Zhou Island as part of Xuan Country?


    In order to make money, some people have already lost their nature.


    ...


    This article was fraught with veiled threats; a slight misstep and Qin Hao could easily be accused of being a traitor.


    Even with his formidable capabilities and influence, if he were saddled with such an accusation, his career could be over.


    "Over seven hundred billion Federation coins, over five trillion Xuan Country coins? Holy crap, that''s terrifying, isn''t it?"


    "This article reeks of jealousy. The money was earned by Mr. Qin''s own hard work. If you''re capable, why don''t you invent something yourself too? And regarding the later remarks, it looks like you''re just trying to smear Mr. Qin out of jealousy."


    "Exactly, Mr. Qin is not the kind of person you describe. It''s purely a smear campaign."


    "Sour grapes. If someone had developed this thing, they probably wouldn''t talk like this."


    "Who is this newcomer? Everything Mr. Qin does, we have seen clearly. Mr. Qin earns his money fair and square, and we are fully convinced."


    Qin Hao indeed had many fans online, and even though this person mentioned the Zhou Island Delegation, most people didn''t believe it.


    Of course, there was a small fraction of people, possibly fake accounts, who were frantically spamming and directly insulting Qin Hao as a traitor.


    Just then, the fake account posted another message: "Heh, didn''t expect so many people to be fooled by his appearance."


    This is a video of the Zhou Island Delegation arriving at Xinghai Company, the meeting conducted by their company''s vice president, a video of Qin Hao rushing over, and a video of the Zhou Island Delegation leaving half an hour later.


    The crux comes at last, half an hour earlier, the head of the Zhou Island Delegation, Zheng Li posted this on Wei Yan. The authenticity can be verified by everyone.


    Content of Zheng Li''s Wei Yan post: "The negotiation with Xinghai High-tech Company went smoothly, and we''re almost there. Mr. Qin is very friendly towards us; he once mentioned that he thought about migrating to Zhou Island as it''s more affluent."


    Wei Yan post of a delegation member, director of Baodian Group, Li Xing: "Mr. Qin is a great guy. Five hundred billion Federation coins should be about right even though it''s pricey, but for the people of Zhou Island, it''s worth it."


    Another member, director of Baokang Group, Wang Xing: "It''s clear monopoly does indeed breed arrogance ¨C asking five hundred billion just like that, haha!"


    With this message out, it was like a bomb lit at the fuse, exploding instantly.


    [Update two]

 Chapter 509 511 Bet

    ```


    Countless people went to confirm the news, and the leaked information was indeed true; those three people had indeed posted that Wei Yan.


    Originally, many people had great faith in Qin Hao, but upon seeing the undeniable evidence, indignation surged to their heads, unleashing uncontrollable rage within their hearts.


    A traitor to Pan Country?


    A capitalist who disregards national interests for personal gain?


    They felt a deep anger stemming from a sense of betrayal.


    This fury was even more intense than that of those who saw the news at the outset, akin to being deceived and used by a trusted friend, who ultimately committed an outrageous act.


    The onlookers were angry at the outrageous act, while Qin Hao''s fans also endued the feeling of being deceived and used, which incited even greater rage within them.


    Upon seeing this news, Qin Hao''s back broke out in a cold sweat; this was a trap.


    Ever since the Zhou Island Delegation arrived, it was a trap meticulously prepared for him¡ªthe moment he met with those individuals, he was caught in someone''s scheme.


    This was a conspiracy potent enough to doom him irreversibly.


    The accusation of being a traitor to Pan Country is an unbearable burden for anyone, no matter their abilities.


    Zhao Yuying also saw the news, her face pale with worry evident in her eyes.


    Qin Hao sat in his chair, his mind racing as he pondered who might be manipulating the situation from behind the scenes?


    Did the orchestrator have any other trump cards? The person behind the scenes must be no ordinary individual to make those three speak such words.


    Was it someone from Zhou Island enraged and seeking revenge, or was it someone from the mainland, envious and looking to take him down?


    If it was someone from Xuan Country, then this person''s power was significant, undoubtedly of a national magnate''s standing.


    Qin Hao immediately took out his mobile phone and called Li Wenjun, "Where is the Zhou Island Delegation now?"


    Li Wenjun replied, "Jinxiu Hotel, it looks like they have no intention of leaving."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao called Leng Xuan, "Keep an eye on the members of the Zhou Island Delegation for me."


    Inside Jinxiu Hotel, Zheng Li, Wang Xing, and Li Xing of the Zhou Island Delegation were in a room.


    Zheng Li took a call, and a deep male voice came from the phone, "Be cautious not to be captured by Qin Hao''s men and forced to confess under severe torture. Have you disposed of the infrared surveillance jammer?"


    Zheng Li: "It''s all been taken care of."


    "Good."


    ...


    At this time, many people were trying to call Qin Hao, but he didn''t pick up; he wasn''t in the mood for idle chatter.


    He still hadn''t fully thought through the situation; there were many loopholes, but most importantly, he didn''t know who the person behind the scenes was.


    He felt somewhat relieved, fortunate that he had spoken to Xu Liangguo about that matter before this incident.


    If it had been after, the significance would have been different, almost as if he was seeking atonement, akin to an implicit admission of guilt.


    Zhao Yuying sat beside him, silent, knowing that what Qin Hao needed now was peace to think.


    Qin Hao made contact with the Artificial Intelligence of the Xinghai Company''s monitoring system online.


    "Master." The Artificial Intelligence sent a message.


    Qin Hao: "From the start of the meeting in the conference room with Mr. Chang welcoming those individuals to the end, send me the complete video."


    He couldn''t understand what those people were relying on?


    Did the members of the Zhou Island Delegation not know there were surveillance cameras in the conference room?


    If there were surveillance cameras, why would they still carry out such futile actions?


    ```


    The video was sent over quickly, and upon opening it, Qin Hao sensed something was off: Zheng Li''s chest area was somewhat blurry.


    Yet every other area was normal, the video image was clear, and the conversations were very audible.


    Zhao Yuying also noticed and asked curiously, "What''s going on here?"


    Qin Hao shook his head and initiated a video call with the Artificial Intelligence of Xinghai Company, which showed an empty monitoring room.


    Then Zhao Yuying''s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the scene on the computer.


    A little girl slowly appeared in the video; yes, she materialized out of thin air, from top to bottom.


    "Xiao Hao, what''s happening here? Is it haunted?" Zhao Yuying sounded a bit frightened.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Ying, this isn''t a ghost, but our company''s monitoring system''s Artificial Intelligence surveillance, this is a network imaging system.


    In reality, people can''t see this person, but once technology advances, and virtual imaging technology matures, they will become visible in reality too."


    Zhao Yuying nodded as if she sort of understood, "That''s amazing."


    "Master, what do you need me for?" The little girl''s mouth was still moving.


    Qin Hao asked, "Why is the person''s chest in the video a bit blurry?"


    The little girl replied, "Master, that person has an infrared shielding device on their body, but it''s quite rudimentary.


    It can shield against ordinary commercial infrared cameras to some extent, but it can''t fully disable our surveillance probes, though it does have some impact."


    Qin Hao suddenly realized why those people were so confident¡ªit was because they had a surveillance shielding device. They had planned thoroughly indeed.


    If it weren''t for Qin Hao''s company upgrading to advanced intelligent surveillance, he might have really capsized in the "yin"¡ª¡ª¡ªgutter.


    Without the video as evidence, no matter how he explained, it would have been futile.


    The Zhou Island Delegation hadn''t mentioned finalizing the contract, only that the talks went smoothly. If they claimed they had signed a contract but couldn''t produce it, that would be the biggest loophole.


    The Zhou Island Delegation didn''t start off with hopes of signing.


    Only he and Chang Jing were in the meeting room, there were no other witnesses, and even if someone did come forward to testify for Qin Hao, they would likely be dismissed as having been bribed by him.


    These people had made some very deep calculations, a glint of sharpness flashed across Qin Hao''s eyes.


    He began to type on the keyboard, then hacked into the computer linked to that Wei Yan account, only to find, to his surprise, "This is also a hacker."


    Moreover, the login address for this account was in Xiyu Country.


    After scanning through but finding no useful clues, Qin Hao logged out.


    Who exactly wants to ruin me? Someone capable of exerting such power must be extraordinary.


    The likelihood of Tang Group being involved was small, but Tang Zhongqian''s son had died at his hands, and that was a member of the Blood Killing Organization; perhaps there was a shadow of the Blood Killing Organization involved.


    The Xiao Family was also a likely candidate, given their powerful red background.


    Jiang Tao from the Zhongjia Group was possible, as were Qiandu Network Company and Jifeng Group, and perhaps those who were envious of him too.


    Qin Hao thought about it and decided not to release the video to clear things up. If he cleared his name now, the incident would at most end up as a rumor, and the mastermind behind it would be unaffected.


    A trace of ruthlessness flickered in his eyes. To draw out those people, he would have to bet on himself.


    When they thought he was almost done for, someone would surely jump out.


    Although it was very dangerous and could impact his companies, such a loss was insignificant. If he could expose the mastermind, any loss would be worth it.


    He didn''t check Wei Yan, because there was no need; by now, he was definitely being trashed on there.


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 510 512: Turn the Tables

    Zhao Yuying spoke up, "Xiao Hao, aren''t you going to explain yourself?"


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, a smile spreading across his face, "Ms. Ying, you''re really clever, I had almost forgotten to do that."


    By normal logical thinking, after such a big incident, an explanation would be expected, especially in the absence of evidence.


    He opened Wei Yan and saw that it was full of insults, many of which came from paid trolls, and quite a few people were egging them on.


    After thinking for a bit, Qin Hao wrote a few sentences: Since I, Qin Hao, founded Jiangshan Roasted Duck Restaurant, I have never done anything to betray my conscience. As for the things being spread online, all I can say is that someone is deliberately distorting the truth.


    The Zhou Island Delegation indeed wanted to purchase seismographs, but Zhou Island is a part of Xuan Country, and Xuan Country''s seismographs will monitor the earthquakes in Zhou Island.


    In matters of territorial sovereignty, I, Qin Hao, have never been ambiguous.


    Perhaps some people are jealous of my company, some are envious of the money I''ve earned. I''ll leave them with a saying: "A rumor ends with the wise."


    His words could be considered an attempt at clearing his name, a standard tactic.


    Of course, many fans believed him, for everything from the health-beneficial Jiangshan Roasted Duck to Xinghui Wine and cancer-fighting drugs, etc.


    The products sold by Qin Hao''s company were all made with conscience and were also reasonably priced.


    How could he possibly be a traitor to Xuan Country? It must be that Qin Hao''s prominence was too great, and someone wanted to deal with him.


    Still, quite a few people believed in him.


    But not long after, Zheng Li from the Zhou Island Delegation replied: Are all the netizens of Xuan Country raised on crap?


    Mr. Qin, how did dealing with us constitute treason? We had everything agreed upon, Mr. Qin, how could you go back on your word?


    You said you didn''t promise us? Then bring out the surveillance footage from that time; we have videos and recordings, the price was already set, and I had even secured approval from the higher-ups.


    A single statement led to a thousand ripples.


    Zheng Li''s words caused quite a stir: "Right, there should be surveillance in the meeting room. Mr. Qin just needs to show that for his innocence."


    "Yeah, if you''re innocent, show the surveillance footage to prove it."


    Many fans hoped he could produce the video, as the situation was developing as the person behind the scenes had envisioned.


    Because the person behind the scenes knew that Qin Hao had no video at all, and if Qin Hao couldn''t produce the video, it would only make people more suspicious.


    Qin Hao replied on Wei Yan: There was a slight issue with this afternoon''s surveillance, so the video everyone is asking for isn''t available.


    "Heh, after all this time you don''t have any strong evidence?"


    "How could it be such a coincidence? Just the footage from this afternoon is missing?"


    "Exactly, things are too coincidental, there are no such coincidences in the world."


    "I was somewhat inclined to believe you, but now your company''s own video surveillance isn''t available, who are you trying to fool?"


    "Heh, traitor, stop making excuses."


    Suddenly, the insults flared up again. Qin Hao did not reply anymore, as the person behind the scenes had likely achieved the desired effect, as had he.


    ...


    Inside the study, Zhao Yuying looked at him with confusion, "Xiao Hao, why didn''t you release the video?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Ms. Ying, it''s better if this matter remains between you and me, don''t tell a third person. I have a plan."


    Zhao Yuying felt a touch of emotion and nodded, "Mm, I understand Xiao Hao."


    After stepping out of the study, Qin Hao finally had the chance to take those people''s calls.


    Xu Siyao said, "Xiao Hao, I''ve already called my grandfather and told him the ins and outs of the situation."


    Qin Hao responded, "It''s okay Si Yao, I can handle it."


    Even if Xu Liangguo knew about the incident, without evidence to dispel the rumors for Qin Hao, it wouldn''t be of much use.


    The calls he received were all from his own people; outsiders no longer dared to call Qin Hao now, as they did not want to be tainted by that accusation.


    In the evening, Xu Liangguo arrived in Jinchen City and made a phone call to Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, do you have a solution?"


    Qin Hao, "Mr. Xu, I''ll send you a video..."


    He transferred a surveillance video from the conference room to Xu Liangguo. After seeing it, Xu Liangguo''s face lit up with joy, knowing that Qin Hao wouldn''t be taken down so easily.


    Although Qin Hao was young, he was extremely cautious in his actions.


    Xu Liangguo watched the video on his phone and sneered to himself, No matter who you are this time, I''ll have to drag you out.


    To beat a dog, one must look at its master, let alone when it''s my son-in-law.


    Sitting on the sofa, Qin Hao watched the television while Han Meng massaged his shoulders, which felt very comfortable.


    Zhao Yuying was beside him, and suddenly, Qin Hao''s phone rang. He picked it up, glanced at it, and answered, "Miss Silin, what made you think to call me?"


    Smiling, Silin Ross said, "Mr. Qin, I''ve heard about your situation. Have you considered developing in the Northern Federation? If you want, I could arrange for you to come over tonight."


    Qin Hao, "No need, Miss Silin. I''m doing quite well in my own country."


    Silin Ross, "In the eyes of our Ross family, what''s more important is the family, not the country."


    Qin Hao, "Different upbringing, different thoughts."


    Silin, "Well then, Mr. Qin, I hope you get through this difficult time without affecting our cooperation."


    "That last point must be the main thing, right?" replied Qin Hao with a faint smile.


    Laughing, Silin said, "True, after all, we''ve invested so much money, and my concern is sincere."


    "Then thank you, Miss Silin."


    "You''re welcome, good luck."


    At this moment, Qiao''er walked out of the bedroom. She ran over with a smile and said, "Dad, are you bothered by something?"


    "Not at all," Qin Hao replied, a bit taken aback.


    Qiao''er, "Liar, I can tell. Dad didn''t smile at all today."


    Qin Hao looked startled; he did feel rather vexed, but he hadn''t expected even Qiao''er to notice it.


    Qiao''er said with a smile, "Dad, my teacher said that happy or not, the day goes on, so why not spend it happily?"


    "Mmhmm, Dad''s fine now," Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Qiao''er, "Then, can Dad sleep with me tonight? It''s been so long since you slept with Qiao''er."


    Han Meng''s cheeks turned red in an instant, and she lowered her head to massage without daring to look at Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying.


    Qin Hao, "That won''t do, Qiao''er. You''re already grown up, so how can you still sleep with Dad?"


    Pouting, Qiao''er said, "But I want to sleep with Dad."


    Smiling, Zhao Yuying said, "Qiao''er, how about Aunt Ying sleeps with you? Dad is quite busy and still has things to do."


    "Well, okay then."


    After watching TV for a while, Qin Hao went upstairs. He lay on the lounge chair on the balcony and sighed deeply.


    To be honest, he was somewhat repulsed by the scheming and use of dark conspiracies; a sense of barely concealed weariness lay deep in his eyes.


    Why is it so hard to do a good deed?


    Had it not been for the switch to smart surveillance, I''m afraid the outcome would have been entirely different.


    A tarnished reputation, lifelong imprisonment.


    With his capabilities, the country would never let him leave. Thinking of all this, he sighed deeply once more.


    "If you''re feeling tired, just take a good rest," Zhao Yuying said from behind him, her voice soft.


    [Fourth update, that''s all, off to sleep]

 Chapter 511 513: Starry Universe

    Qin Hao rose, his gaze becoming deep and bright as he looked up into the limitless starry sky, his eyes as if stars themselves.


    Zhao Yuying walked up to him, glanced at him and also looked up at the starry sky.


    Qin Hao seemed to think of something and smiled, "Roaming the universe, soaring through the starry sky should be a wonderful thing."


    In Zhao Yuying''s eyes too, a look of yearning appeared, "The mysterious and vast, brilliantly colored starry sky should be everyone''s desire, and countless scientists are researching it. The invention of various spacecraft is to explore this vast universe."


    A smile gradually spread across Qin Hao''s face as he looked at Zhao Yuying, "Ying, do you want to travel the starry sky?"


    "I do, but I''m afraid I won''t live to see that day," Zhao Yuying said with a smile.


    With the current technology, it might be a few hundred years before it becomes widespread.


    Qin Hao said, "How can that be, I think it won''t take many years at all."


    "Really?" Zhao Yuying asked curiously.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, "Really, because you have me."


    Zhao Yuying was stunned for a moment. His words were very casual, but they revealed a strong confidence.


    At this moment, Qin Hao had a special temperament and charm,


    Zhao Yuying couldn''t help but move closer to him, gently opened her arms to embrace him, pressing her pretty face against his chest and softly said, "I believe in you."


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "Ying, you know I have so many girlfriends, why are you doing this, what are you after?"


    Zhao Yuying: "Having met such an outstanding person like you, how can I fall for anyone else?"


    She had encountered many rich first-generation and second-generation individuals, but there were hardly any as young and outstanding as Qin Hao. Those people looked at her as if she were a plaything.


    Qin Hao looked down at her. Outstanding? He hadn''t felt he was outstanding in any way.


    Zhao Yuying looked up when she saw him lower his head, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him.


    ...


    As the two were lost in their passionate kiss, Han Meng walked up. When she saw the two on the balcony, she was stunned and hastily turned around and walked back down.


    The "clack clack" of footsteps instantly awoke Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying.


    Qin Hao awkwardly withdrew his hand from somewhere, "It seemed to be Meng."


    Zhao Yuying''s cheeks flushed, "Did you do this kind of thing with Meng too?"


    "No, how could I?" Qin Hao said awkwardly.


    Zhao Yuying looked at him with a smile, "Really? Qiao''er mentioned that you used to sleep with them often, didn''t you do anything?"


    Qin Hao said, "How could I?"


    Zhao Yuying softly told him, "Rest early, don''t think too much, I''ll go check on Meng."


    She went down to Han Meng''s bedroom, and when Han Meng saw Zhao Yuying''s flushed cheeks, it was as if it wasn''t Zhao Yuying and Qin Hao sitting there just now, but her doing those things with Qin Hao.


    "Meng, I like Xiao Hao," Zhao Yuying said, sitting on the edge of the bed.


    Han Meng nodded, "Hmm, I know."


    Although her educational level was low, it didn''t mean she was oblivious. She had seen enough of the way Zhao Yuying and Qin Hao were around each other; she just hadn''t said anything.


    Zhao Yuying sat next to Han Meng and asked with a grin, "Meng, do you like Xiao Hao too?"


    This question made Han Meng''s cheeks turn red, and she quickly shook her head, "No, I don''t."


    As a divorced woman with no abilities whatsoever, what right did she have to like Qin Hao?


    She only wished to take good care of Qin Hao, to repay him!


    Zhao Yuying saw her like this and didn''t pursue the topic further, "Meng, how do you take care of your skin? And your figure, mine isn''t as good as yours."


    Han Meng blushed with embarrassment; the question was too intimate.


    ...


    Upstairs, Qin Hao lay in bed, pondering his situation. Although his abilities were outstanding, to some high-level figures, he could be crushed effortlessly because in Xuan Country, power always trumped money.


    If it weren''t for his close relationship with the Xu Family, he didn''t know how many people would want him dead.


    Ensuring his own safety was quite simple: he could enter either the military or political circles.


    But Qin Hao neither wanted to enter nor dared to - the deceit and treachery there were even more intense than in the business world, and what was more important was the background.


    His biggest worry was that once he became part of the system, he could no longer engage in business.


    The high-tech technologies in the system store would also not be fully utilized.


    Doing so would also disrupt his future plans; all the endeavors he was currently undertaking were to pave the way for his future arms business.


    As private arms dealing was not allowed domestically, he would have to go overseas; being part of the system, he couldn''t even begin to consider it.


    Although he deeply loved his motherland, there were those in high places who were blinded by greed,


    He only wanted to keep such critical technology in his own hands, ready to assist the nation in times of need.


    ...


    The next morning, the online incident escalated dramatically. Unlike the previous public opinion battle, which involved an inconsequential celebrity,


    this time it was different. This matter concerned the nation''s backbone, an issue universally condemned involving the Federation.


    That day, all businesses under the Jiangshan Group suffered a significant impact, with a sharp decrease in sales.


    Jiangshan Delicatessen, Xinghui Wine, Huafei Clothing, Tianli, Tianmei Skincare, and others.


    Nanlang Wine and Old Cellar Wine Company finally got a chance to catch their breath; Cheng Siyuan and Cheng Sisheng were thrilled beyond measure.


    If Qin Hao''s alleged crime were proven true, Xinghui Wine would be finished.


    The two brothers from these major liquor companies also began spending money to hire internet trolls, stirring the pot online with the hope of further escalating the incident.


    Tang Group had been retreating in the cosmetics and skincare sector, but with this news, they managed to halt their decline.


    Currently, several deputy general managers served under Jiangshan Group: Kang Youyi, Feng Xiangyi, An Linxuan, Zhao Dongqiang, and Su Mingzhi.


    He called these individuals, telling them not to worry, to simply continue business as usual.


    At the same time, Qin Hao received a call from Chang Jing; Han Le''an and others weren''t coming to work.


    Qin Hao didn''t say much, instructing her to deliver a set of earthquake signal receiving main instruments to the earthquake department.


    Since they were almost all sold, such matters of detecting earthquakes were best left to them.


    This was the signal receiving main instrument, capable of receiving signals from all seismic device transmitters around the globe.


    Even the seismic device transmitters of the distant Federation could be detected here in Xuan Country. Qin Hao hadn''t shared this information with those countries; after all, one must always keep something in reserve.


    The employees of Jiangshan Group and Xinghai Company had nothing to worry about, as the company treated them well and they were well-compensated.


    If they were to lose these jobs, how would they support their families?


    ...


    Today, there was still no word from above. Xu Liangguo must have already shown the video to the higher-ups; they were probably waiting for those people to make a move.


    [First Update]

 Chapter 512 514: Captured

    "As long as the company''s employees are safe, nothing else is a problem."


    "Even if something happens, when the truth comes out one day, those people will come back, and the real impact won''t be significant."


    "Without that video as strong evidence, if those people left without returning, then it would be a severe blow to the company''s vitality."


    "Although there will be some financial loss over the next few days, I don''t care, as long as I can drag out the person behind this."


    Qin Hao didn''t send Qiao''er to school these past two days, as he was also worried she might be affected, considering many students and teachers knew of the relationship between Qin Hao and Qiao''er.


    Zhao Yuying and Han Meng both stayed home, and the defenses at Mr. Qin''s villa were significantly reinforced, as Li Bao was worried someone might harm Qin Hao.


    As the days went by, because of Qin Hao''s silence and lack of response, more and more people began to doubt him.


    On the fourth day, Qin Hao received a call from Feng Xiangyi, who told him that several Jiangshan Delicatessen branches in Jianghai had been vandalized, and the staff had been injured to varying degrees.


    The police had been notified and had already arrested three perpetrators who, after investigation, were found to have vandalized the store in anger over Qin Hao''s actions concerning national sovereignty.


    "Handle this matter as it should be handled, according to the law," Qin Hao said indifferently.


    After hanging up with Feng Xiangyi, Qin Hao received a call from Xu Liangguo.


    Xu Liangguo: "Xiao Hao, you''ll have to endure some hardship. Those people are well-hidden, and if this continues, it will cause significant damage to you and your company."


    "What kind of hardship?" Qin Hao''s mind had already figured it out.


    Xu Liangguo: "Cooperate with the police investigation, and then you may have to spend a few days in custody. That will probably draw those people out."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: "Okay, Mr. Xu."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao took a deep breath, and his face turned solemn.


    Zhao Yuying looked at him and asked, "What''s wrong, Xiao Hao?"


    Qin Hao: "I might have to go in for a few days. You all stay home and wait for me to come back."


    "Go where for a few days?" Zhao Yuying and Han Meng asked in surprise.


    Qin Hao: "Probably to the detention center; before a sentence is passed, that''s where they keep you."


    Han Meng''s complexion changed slightly: "What''s wrong, Xiao Hao? What''s happened to you?"


    "It''s nothing, Meng. I''ll be fine in a few days," Qin Hao said casually.


    Although Zhao Yuying knew Qin Hao had an ace up his sleeve, she was still worried; after all, that place was no paradise.


    About half an hour later, seven or eight police cars drove into the Haoting Sea View Villa District and stopped in front of Mr. Qin''s house.


    A squad of armed police officers, SWAT, and detectives got out of the cars.


    Leng Xuan and others were stunned for a moment; at this time, Qin Hao came out from inside, expressionless, his face drawn and pale with fatigue.


    Of course, this was all an act because he couldn''t be sure if any of those officers might be spies for others.


    The person leading the team was Miao Jing, who looked at Qin Hao with complicated eyes, "Mr. Qin, please come with us."


    "What have I done wrong?" Qin Hao asked, looking at Miao Jing.


    Miao Jing spoke indifferently: "You are suspected of issues involving national territorial sovereignty and need to assist with the investigation. Take him away."


    Two police officers came up and cuffed him, then roughly pushed him into the car.


    Zhao Yuying, Han Meng, and Qiao''er didn''t come out; Qin Hao hadn''t let them.


    Just as Qin Hao had been arrested and before he had been taken back to the police station, the news was leaked online.


    "Big news, big news, Qin Hao was taken away by the police. It is said he looked haggard and his face was pale,"


    "What? He was actually arrested?"


    There had been that small part of people who harbored fantasies about Qin Hao, but as he was taken away by the police, their illusions shattered completely, and they joined the ranks of those denouncing Qin Hao.


    "The police have finally stepped in, such a person must be arrested, a traitor to the nation, he got what he deserved."


    "Good riddance, he should be executed by firing squad and his money distributed among everyone."


    "He deserves it, a treacherous traitor, I hope the state executes him by firing squad."


    ...


    Now the internet was completely one-sided in the battle, almost everyone was cursing him, and after Qin Hao''s arrest, several Jiangshan Delicatessen stores were smashed, causing a terribly bad influence.


    The police arrested these people according to the law as well because no one is above the law.


    After Qin Hao was taken to the police station, Miao Jing personally interrogated him, and naturally, Qin Hao would not admit to those things.


    Miao Jing looked at him and said, "Mr. Qin, now your only option is to confess and ask for leniency. Strive for a more generous treatment, or else it will not be good for you."


    The order to arrest Qin Hao was not given by the chief, but came down from above, it was obvious this time he was truly finished.


    The Xu Family couldn''t help him, and for his kind of crime, he wouldn''t get the death penalty; by confessing and sincerely apologizing, perhaps he could reduce his time inside by a few years.


    To be honest, Miao Jing felt very conflicted; a youth with the brilliance of a comet streaking across the sky, destined to disappear in an instant.


    His chances for the next generation were probably ruined, even if he had achieved countless glories, but in the end, they couldn''t outweigh a single mistake.


    Miao Jing thought it was too cruel. Not to mention anything else, but wasn''t the invention of the anti-cancer drug enough to outweigh his mistakes?


    She looked at Qin Hao with rare sympathy and pity in her eyes.


    Qin Hao saw Miao Jing''s eyes and said with a faint smile, "Officer Miao, I have already explained everything that needed to be explained, there''s nothing left to say."


    Miao Jing: "Mr. Qin, do you think I''m trying to harm you? This is your last chance."


    Qin Hao closed his eyes: "Officer Miao, you might as well save your breath, how can I admit to something that''s not true?"


    Miao Jing clenched her teeth with frustration upon seeing his demeanor; how could this guy not distinguish between good and bad advice?


    At that moment, a police officer outside called Miao Jing out, and after about four or five minutes, Miao Jing walked back in emotionlessly.


    Two criminal police officers followed behind her, and Miao Jing said in a flat tone, "Take him away."


    Qin Hao was led out of the interrogation room, then placed in a vehicle heading towards the Jianghai First Detention Center on the outskirts of Jianghai City.


    That was the largest and most secure detention center in Jianghai, housing almost every kind of criminal.


    Fighters, thieves, embezzlers, robbers, murderers, rapists, gang members, and so on.


    All criminals who had not been sentenced would stay in the detention center, and only after the court announced the sentence would they be transferred to a designated prison to serve their time.


    On the way to the detention center, Miao Jing and Qin Hao sat in the back. Originally, there were two police officers in the back watching over Qin Hao, but Miao Jing had them move to the front vehicle.


    "Officer Miao, did you want to talk?" Qin Hao asked with his eyes half-closed.


    Miao Jing didn''t know what to say; she felt a bit complex inside. After all, Qin Hao had helped her once, and she had always remembered that favor.


    But now, she couldn''t help Qin Hao with the trouble he was in.


    Eventually, she said, "Behave and reform yourself inside. With your abilities, you won''t do too badly once you''re out."


    Qin Hao: "Thank you, Officer Miao."


    [Second Update]

 Chapter 513 515: The Long Number

    Miao Jing saw his reaction and the tone of his speech, feeling indignant inside. Was he implying that I''m being a busybody?


    Forget it, Miao Jing didn''t argue with him because if she''d been in a similar situation, she probably wouldn''t be feeling great either.


    One moment he was the object of universal adoration, the next he was scorned by everyone. It was like falling from heaven into hell.


    Such a huge disparity is something most people simply can''t handle.


    Given Qin Hao''s state, she thought he was doing quite well, showing no signs of suicide or madness.


    At the entrance of Jianghai First Detention Center.


    There stood a large gray iron gate, looking very heavy and sturdy, eliciting a suffocating feeling as one approached it.


    All around it were walls seven or eight meters high, built out of green bricks.


    Six or seven meters away from these walls, towering trees stood tall with no buildings in the vicinity, giving the detention center an ominous and terrifying vibe.


    Qin Hao stepped out of his car at the entrance and looked at the large iron gate, flanked by two policemen.


    Miao Jing got out of the car and went to speak with the guards at the gate.


    After waiting for about six or seven minutes, a man in his thirties or forties, a bit on the plump side, emerged from a smaller door within the large gate.


    He was dressed in a police uniform that could barely contain his belly, looking like it was about to burst open.


    Several prison guards followed him: "Mr. Miao, long time no see, I sure have missed you."


    The portly man''s eyes glittered with a covetous gleam as he saw Miao Jing and reached out to shake her hand.


    Miao Jing extended her hand briefly in return. Wu Kun was the head of the detention center. Despite the seemingly modest title, he was a kingpin here, wielding significant power.


    "Mr. Wu, the person has been brought here. The chief must have informed you, right?" Miao Jing said forcefully as she withdrew her hand.


    Wu Kun, reluctant to let go, retracted his hand and said with a smile, "Yes, I got the message from the chief."


    Miao Jing said, "Well, here he is. Take him in now."


    Wang Kun said with a chuckle, "Mr. Miao, won''t you come in for a while? Have a little talk?"


    Miao Jing declined, "No need, I''ve got work to do."


    After completing a transfer record, Qin Hao was handed over to the officials of the detention center,


    Miao Jing sighed at Qin Hao, "Do your best to reform."


    After finishing her sentence, she got into the car and left. Wu Kun waited until her car was out of sight to turn around; he looked over Qin Hao, "Oh, if it isn''t Mr. Qin. How have you fallen so low?"


    Qin Hao gave him a glance before turning away, his disdain plain to see.


    Wu Kun''s expression darkened, "Take him inside."


    A group escorted Qin Hao into the prison. After some paperwork, they collected everything he had on him, including his personal clothing, with the provision that they''d be returned upon his departure.


    Now dressed in the detention center''s red uniform, with his hair shaved into baldness, Qin Hao was issued a basin, a towel, and toiletry items.


    Later, a prison guard gave him about seven or eight squares of toilet paper, saying, "This is your paper for the month."


    Qin Hao stared at those few squares of paper, stunned: A month?


    "What are you looking at? If you want more, have your family send money so you can buy it yourself; they sell a roll for three hundred in the prison."


    From this particular guard, Qin Hao could tell that it wasn''t just him being targeted; it was just the way things were there.


    Without a word, he took the paper and then followed the prison guard out.


    The detention center was large, with very tight security. He passed through three large iron doors, each one clanging shut loudly as he moved through them.


    It was as though shackles were locking onto every inmate who entered this place.


    Escaping from here was harder than reaching the heavens, and even if Qin Hao truly wanted to flee, he wasn''t confident at all in his odds.


    On the way, Qin Hao saw the sign for the women''s prison area, which has escape-proof iron bars at the entrance, with a blue sign hanging above.


    The prison guard opened the door to the men''s prison area, locked it immediately upon entering, and took him upstairs.


    Inside the building was dimly lit, yet the white floors and walls reflected light; the sanitation here was surprisingly good.


    Qin Hao had never seen such clean, bright floors, not even in five-star hotels; it was as if they were polished to a mirror-like sheen.


    Upon reaching the third floor, Qin Hao saw two prisoners in blue uniforms holding rags and mopping the floor.


    Four prison guards were standing by, smoking and chatting.


    When the four saw Qin Hao with the guard, they quickly smiled and said, "Liu''s brought a new guy."


    Liu: "Wang, you''re in charge of the third floor. Is there still an empty spot in cell 3? Put him in cell number three."


    The four looked at Qin Hao and their expressions froze for a moment when they saw him clearly.


    They looked at Liu, who smiled and said, "Once you''re here, you''re a prisoner and you''ve got to follow the rules. Moreover, for a traitor to his country, keep a close eye on him, Wang. This is someone the higher-ups want, don''t let anything serious happen."


    Wang was a veteran here and understood Liu''s implication immediately.


    "Keep a close eye on him" meant to give the guy a good ''welcome''.


    "Don''t let anything serious happen" meant no breaking arms or legs; anything less was fair game.


    Wang looked at Qin Hao and said, "Let''s go, Qin the tycoon."


    He led Qin Hao into a corridor with another iron barred gate at its entrance.


    At the entrance of cell number 3.


    He unlocked the iron gate outside while the inner door was already open; Qin Hao stood at the entrance and looked inside to see two rows of large bunk beds.


    There were prisoners wearing red and those in blue, thirteen in total.


    The sound of the door opening provoked everyone inside to turn their heads and look over, ultimately resting their gaze on Qin Hao.


    Wang opened the door and said to Qin Hao, "Go in."


    Then he addressed one of the inmates, "Li Yong, this is the new guy. Take good care of him, no trouble!"


    "Got it, Wang," Li Yong quickly replied.


    "Clang"


    The iron door was locked again, and then only the fading sound of footsteps was heard.


    Qin Hao surveyed the room; it was his first time here. The room was high and had two small windows on the other side, with sunlight streaming in through them.


    In a corner were the toilet facilities, where they dealt with all their needs, and there was also a track for placing wash basins.


    As these people sized up Qin Hao, Li Yong called out, "Kid, stand against the wall and introduce yourself."


    Qin Hao glanced at him, then turned and walked to the cupboard, where he placed his wash basin and other items inside.


    "F**k you, little bastard, the cell leader is talking to you, didn''t you hear?" A burly middle-aged man next to Li Yong scowled at Qin Hao.


    Cell leader? Qin Hao looked toward Li Yong.


    In the detention center, where many referred to it as "squatting on numbers," each cell had a leader appointed by the prison guards, known as the cell leader. Aside from the guards, he held the most power, and everyone needed to curry favor with him.


    Typically, cell leaders either had money, connections, or were genuinely tough characters.


    [Chapter Three, Vote Request]

 Chapter 514 516 Chang Anding

    Qin Hao''s gaze was slightly cold as he looked at the middle-aged man who had spoken, lifting his leg and intending to walk over.


    A skinny young man suddenly ran up to Li Yong''s side, "Yong, I remember who he is now."


    Li Yong slapped the young man on the head, "Spit it out quickly, stop your damn stuttering."


    The skinny young man had just been brought in yesterday. He was a thief named Luo Yunyang.


    Li Yong and his people had been locked up for four or five months already, naturally unaware of Qin Hao''s name.


    Although Luo Yunyang''s face still bore a smile after the slap, Qin Hao could clearly see a flash of anger in his eyes.


    In such a place, Luo Yunyang had no choice but to endure. If he dared show any dissatisfaction, he would be welcoming a beating.


    Luo Yunyang quickly said, "His name is Qin Hao. He is the boss of Jiangshan Group and Xinghai Company, the richest man in the world, but he is a traitor."


    Li Yong said, "Richest man in the world? You think I''m an idiot, don''t you? If he''s the richest man in the world, then I must be the Secretary-General of the Federation. It seems you''re still not being honest, take him away and beat him up."


    Four men stood up, grabbing Luo Yunyang and headed toward the corner toilet, including the man who had just cursed Qin Hao.


    Luo Yunyang''s face drastically changed, but he dared not shout out loud. Although shouting would bring the guards, once the guards left, his mouth would be sealed and he would face an even harsher beating.


    This was his second time here. The first time, in another cell, he had seen such scenes.


    The person was beaten until he was barely alive and later sent to the hospital where his family had to pay for his treatment; the others got off without any consequences.


    Luo Yunyang pleaded urgently, "Yong, Yong, I was wrong, I was wrong, please spare me this time."


    Qin Hao intercepted the man, "Enjoyed cursing just now, did you?"


    Li Yong spoke up, "Beat him up too, everyone get on it."


    In an instant, everyone else stood up and Qin Hao likewise took action immediately, landing a kick on the man who had cursed him.


    The immense force sent him flying backwards, knocking down four or five people behind him.


    Qin Hao fought with both fists and feet, and within ten seconds, all eleven men were down on the ground, incapacitated.


    Li Yong''s mouth gaped open in shock, and he had stood up, stunned in place.


    "Bang"


    Qin Hao kicked him into the air; his back hit the wall and he sat down hard on the floor.


    He had just raised his head when another large foot came hurtling toward him, barely brushing his cheek and ear before it hit the wall.


    "Bang", a muffled sound resonated.


    Everyone felt as if the entire room trembled for a moment.


    Li Yong, petrified, looked pale while Qin Hao''s expression was cold and his voice icy, "Don''t provoke me; next time you won''t be so lucky."


    Qin Hao withdrew his foot and then approached the man who had cursed him.


    "Slap slap slap slap"


    A series of slaps landed on the man''s face, his cheeks swelling up instantly.


    Luo Yunyang stood there stunned, his eyes filled with shock as he watched Qin Hao.


    After about ten minutes, the cell fell silent again, Qin Hao lay there with his eyes open, thinking about his own matters.


    Li Yong and his men sat on the other side, keeping their distance from Qin Hao. They looked at the deep footprint on the nearby wall, their eyelids twitching.


    The combat strength Qin Hao displayed was terrifying. Was that really the power a single person could unleash?


    Even using a hammer and chisel, such a deep mark wouldn''t have been left, would it?


    If that kick had landed on a head, it would probably have exploded, right? Thinking this, Li Yong''s back broke out in a cold sweat.


    ...


    At precisely twelve o''clock, a guard arrived with food pails at the door, "Time for lunch."


    These men had already placed their bowls at the door; the guard filled each one, then everyone picked up their bowl.


    Li Yong''s meal was a bit more generous, consisting not just of a dish but also several buns, which made others swallow their saliva upon seeing it.


    Normal prisoners only got one bun and a bowl of watery porridge, with few grains of rice to count.


    "Hao, have some food," Li Yong quickly passed his own food to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao didn''t stand on ceremony, took it, and began to eat, while Li Yong ate the porridge and bun originally meant for Qin Hao.


    After he finished, Luo Yunyang hurried over, "Hao, let me wash that for you."


    "Hao, have a cigarette," Li Yong quickly handed him one.


    Qin Hao glanced at him, took the cigarette, and Li Yong hastily lit it for him.


    ...


    Outside, Qin Hao''s friends and partners panicked upon learning of his arrest.


    Was Qin Hao really finished?


    Zhao Yuying had called Qin Hao''s parents in advance. Although she didn''t spell it out, she reassured them.


    At two in the afternoon, Nanlang Wine and Old Cellar Wine filed a lawsuit against Xinghui Wine under Jiangshan Group.


    Xinghui Wine had claimed to enhance physical fitness, boost immunity, stimulate muscles and bones, and nourish the body, but some customers did not experience any improvement in immunity and still fell ill.


    Nanlang Wine and Old Cellar Wine believed that Xinghui Wine was engaged in false advertising and unfair competition, alleging losses near ten billion; they demanded compensation for their losses.


    Meanwhile, Meiwei Group and Liu Heiya Group also filed lawsuits against Jiangshan Cooked Food Company under Jiangshan Group.


    They claimed that Jiangshan Cooked Food engaged in false advertising and unfair competition, causing great losses to the two big cooked food companies, nearly ten billion, and demanded Jiangshan Group to shut down for rectification and compensate for the losses.


    Suddenly, Jiangshan Group found itself in the eye of the storm,


    If the court indeed ruled in their favor, Xinghui Wine and Jiangshan Cooked Food Company might be doomed.


    Although the valuations of these two companies were high in the past, valuations are intangible, fluctuating with company operations.


    Good management could raise valuations, while poor management naturally led to their decline.


    After that incident was exposed online, the valuation of Jiangshan Group plummeted.


    After Qin Hao was arrested, many people became restless, planning to start dividing up his companies.


    Nanlang Wine, Old Cellar Wine, Meiwei Group, and Liu Heiya suddenly taking a stand caught the masterminds behind the scenes off guard.


    Their aim in taking down Qin Hao was to divide up his Jiangshan Group and Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Now, seeing their target about to be snatched away, how could they remain seated?


    Finally, the people behind the scenes started making their moves, unable to sit still any longer. If they didn''t act soon, Qin Hao''s companies would be completely divided up.


    A notice calling for a stakeholders'' meeting at Xinghai High-tech Company was sent to every stakeholder of Xinghai Company.


    Li Moying, Xu Siyao, Southern Military Industry Group, and Chang Jing all received it, initiated by Chang Anding.


    After Qin Hao''s incident, the valuation of Xinghai High-tech Company also took a significant hit; even the Robert family and the Ross family from the Federation demanded compensation from Xinghai High-tech Company.


    This compensation amounted to ten times the transaction value.


    As a stakeholder, Chang Anding had the right to call a stakeholders'' meeting when the company faced serious losses.


    Inside the meeting room of Xinghai Company, Chang Anding, Chang Jing, Xu Siyao, Li Moying, and a representative from Southern Military Industry Group were seated.


    Xu Siyao and Li Moying looked grim, not expecting Chang Anding to suddenly emerge at the end.


    Chang Jing''s brow was furrowed, her expression not looking good either; she was completely unaware of this development.


    Indeed, people could do anything for profit.


    Li Moying and Xu Siyao believed Chang Anding was definitely not the mastermind behind this, there had to be someone else behind him.


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 515 03-25 - 517 The Puppet Master

    Chapter 515: Chapter 517 The Puppet Master


    Xuan Country¡¯s law has specific provisions, stating that if the chairman of a company cannot perform or fails to perform their duties, the vice chairman will take over.


    Since Xinghai Company does not have a vice chairman, according to the regulations, numerous shareholders will elect a new representative to make decisions on behalf of the chairman.


    In addition to the few of them, there were also people from the notary office in the room.


    Chang Anding looked at everyone and said, ¡°Now, everyone should be clear about the situation of the company. The two major families from the Northern Federation have already proposed compensation terms, asking us to compensate ten times the contract price or offer shares as compensation.


    Xiao Jing should be aware that there are two major families also cooperating with our company, who haven¡¯t yet made a statement.


    If they also make a statement, it won¡¯t be enough even if a few of us compensate with everything we own, so now someone must make a decision for the development of the company.


    ...


    Since the chairman is in the detention center and cannot make judgements for the company, it¡¯s necessary to elect a representative to exercise the company¡¯s rights. All of you are too young; I have decades of experience managing Hongya Heavy Industry and think I am competent to be this representative.


    I can definitely lead the company to new heights. What do all the shareholders think?¡±


    Li Mo Ying scoffed, ¡°Mr. Chang, you¡¯ve kept yourself well-hidden; truly unfathomable. And you, Mr. Chang, to think Mr. Qin trusted you so much. You and your daughter have really played a good game.¡±


    Chang Jing sat there without speaking, her head bowed in thought.


    ¡°Dream on; Qin Hao won¡¯t have any trouble,¡± retorted Xu Si Yao indignantly.


    Chang Anding chuckled, ¡°At this point, what good does talking tough do? Since everyone is saying this, let¡¯s start the voting. As long as it¡¯s over half, it will take effect, your disagreement is futile; I vote for myself.¡±


    ¡°I also vote for Mr. Chang,¡± the person from Southern Military Industry Group suddenly spoke.


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï


    Xu Si Yao¡¯s expression changed, and she looked at the representative from Southern Military Industry Group, Zhang Yifei: ¡°You traitor, just wait, I will tell my grandfather about this.¡±


    Zhang Yifei¡¯s face bore a bitter smile, as if to say that Lady, this isn¡¯t something I can decide on my own.


    Xu Si Yao seemed to guess who it was; apart from her grandfather, it could only be Chen Shengjun.


    It was over, Li Mo Ying and Xu Si Yao felt their hearts sink. If they added Chang Jing¡¯s vote, Chang Anding would be certain to win.


    Once he became the director representative, without a chairman, he could completely make all decisions for the company.


    ¡°Xiao Jing, cast your vote,¡± Chang Anding said to Chang Jing with a smile.


    Chang Jing looked at her father and said, ¡°I abstain.¡±


    ¡°Swoosh¡±


    Everyone in the meeting room was stunned. Chang Jing abstains?


    Xu Si Yao and Li Mo Ying also couldn¡¯t quite believe it. Did I hear wrong? She actually didn¡¯t support her father?


    Chang Jing made this decision after careful consideration, believing it wouldn¡¯t be wrong.


    Qin Hao was unfathomable, she couldn¡¯t see through him at all, feeling that her father and family were a bit too impulsive.


    This important matter, and they didn¡¯t even consult her.


    Xu Si Yao and Li Mo Ying saw the look on Chang Anding¡¯s face as if he had eaten shit and burst into laughter.


    Chang Anding pointed at Chang Jing, his hand trembling slightly with anger. He had calculated everything but had not expected his daughter to abstain.


    Initially, when this all started, the Xiao Family had approached him, promising benefits and agreeing to give the Chang Family a fifteen percent stake.


    The Xiao Family, having put in a lot of effort in this matter, would take twenty percent, while the remaining twenty-nine percent was to be divided between the Robert and Mosi families.


    The ability of the Zhou Island Delegation to bring a jamming device and speak out at Wei Yan was entirely due to the influence of these two major families.


    The Mosi and Robert families were involved in many industries across Zhou Island and the mainland, wielding significant influence.


    The representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, Qiangsheng Pharmaceutical and Jide Pharmaceuticals, belonged to these two major family groups.


    These two pharmaceutical companies had a great reputation domestically because the country relied on many of their medicines.


    They were also one of the main orchestrators of this incident.


    The situation developed to this point mainly because of their collaboration with the Xiao Family.


    This game of chess was a great one, but it was worth it.


    The profits of Xinghai Company were too tempting, and the market potential too enormous. Anyone would be moved by it.


    Do you know how much the Chang Family struggled just to acquire a portion of Xinghai Company¡¯s shares, even involving Chen Shengjun? Do you know how much we¡¯ve paid? How great the risks we¡¯ve taken?


    In the end, to be defeated by one¡¯s own daughter is undeniably a great irony.


    ¡°Pfft¡±


    Chang Anding spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.


    The meeting ended in disarray, and news reached the Xiao Family immediately.


    ¡°Trash, trash, this Chang Anding is nothing but trash, to be undone by his own daughter!¡± Xiao Zhi was so angry upon hearing the news that he almost spat out blood.


    Xiao Zhi made a phone call to Qiangsheng Pharmaceutical and Jide Pharmaceuticals: ¡°Continue to put pressure from your headquarters; the other shareholders are a bit tricky to handle.¡±


    The Robert family and the Ross family demanded compensation from the Xinghai Company not as a goal but to pressure Xinghai Company¡¯s shareholders, allowing Chang Anding to gain the upper hand.


    As long as Chang Anding gained the upper hand, he would win.


    It was at that moment, Xiao Zhi¡¯s cell phone rang, and his face turned pale when he picked up the call.


    His father, Xiao Xionghai, had been arrested, and it was the Security Department that took him away, sweat began to bead on his forehead.


    At that time, a group of people in black suits burst into his office. One of them showed a badge: ¡°We are from the Security Bureau, you¡¯re coming with us.¡±


    The Security Bureau was a little-known department, but it existed in reality. They conducted their operations discreetly, comprised of elites, responsible for the security defense of significant national affairs.


    It had seventeen divisions, including the First Bureau, which specialized in cryptography communications and its related management.


    The Second Bureau was responsible for international strategic intelligence, whereas others were in charge of international political and economic intelligence, Zhou Island regional intelligence, and so on.


    There were also specific departments for intelligence analysis, counter-espionage intelligence bureau, internal security, external security, and more.


    The quick identification of the masterminds behind the scenes relied entirely on the strong capabilities of certain departments within the Security Bureau.


    The information they held was not something police departments could compare with.


    Similar scenes unfolded in many places. The Xuan Country branch offices of Qiangsheng Pharmaceutical and Jide Pharmaceuticals, the Jinxiu Hotel where the Zhou Island Delegation was staying¡ªall related individuals were arrested.


    At the same time, major newspapers and online media received notifications to publish the latest news.


    ¡°Treason? Please do not let people with ill-intentions exploit your goodwill; the Qin Hao incident has been investigated, and the criminals have been apprehended.¡±


    ¡°The Qin Hao incident has been investigated, complete with the original meeting room video.¡±


    ¡°Latest news from the police department: Qin Hao did not commit treason, some people deliberately distorted the facts.¡±


    ¡°The members of the Zhou Island Delegation have all been arrested, suspected of distorting facts, slandering Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°This was a premeditated and planned attack on the Qin Hao incident; the thorough investigation has revealed the details.¡±


    ¡°Misunderstood patriot, Mr. Qin, please forgive us.¡±


    Many online users were stunned as they saw these messages.


    Not treason?


    There is a complete video?


    Someone deliberately targeted Mr. Qin?


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 Chapter 516 03-25 - 518: The Truth Revealed

    Chapter 516: Chapter 518: The Truth Revealed


    All sorts of news media, big and small, were almost all reporting on this matter.


    They too had received orders from above, along with a video released by the higher-ups.


    The video was lengthy, starting with Xinghai Company¡¯s vice president Chang Jing receiving the delegates from Zhou Island.


    In the video, Chang Jing spoke indifferently, ¡°Please wait a moment. I¡¯m not authorized to make a decision on this matter; it requires Mr. Qin¡¯s approval.¡±


    Afterwards, she stepped out of the conference room to make a phone call.


    What followed was a long wait, with many people hitting the fast-forward button.


    ...


    Soon, Qin Hao appeared in the video, bringing in a woman from outside ¨C an introduction revealed she was also a shareholder of the company.


    Both parties began by introducing themselves, then got straight to the point.


    The Zhou Island delegation opened up, expressing their concern about earthquake issues on Zhou Island, hence their wish to purchase earthquake monitors.


    Qin Hao¡¯s response, listened to intently by the audience, was: ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this. Our earthquake monitors serve the people of Xuan Country for free.


    Zhou Island is a part of my Xuan Country, and our monitors will naturally track earthquake activity both on Zhou Island and in the surrounding sea areas.


    If there is any situation, the country will issue a notice, allowing the people of Zhou Island Province to avoid disaster.¡±


    The delegates¡¯ faces stiffened, and they managed a strained smile, saying, ¡°Mr. Qin, such issues are not for us to discuss, nor can we handle them. Let¡¯s just talk about the price of the earthquake monitors, shall we?¡±


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï


    Qin Hao: ¡°Then there¡¯s no need to discuss further as there¡¯s no reason to sell earthquake monitors to our own compatriots.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, we can buy them at a high price,¡± the people from the Zhou Island delegation still wouldn¡¯t give up.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°How high is a high price? Even higher than the one hundred billion Federation currency offered by Beihai Country? Let¡¯s not talk about one hundred billion; even ten trillion wouldn¡¯t persuade me to sell.¡±


    That person still tried to convince Qin Hao, ¡°Why bother, Mr. Qin? Isn¡¯t doing business all about making money?¡±


    Qin Hao responded lightly, ¡°Indeed, doing business is about making money, but some money can be made, and some can¡¯t. Even selling to Beihai Country for one hundred billion feels cheap to me; those bastards don¡¯t compensate enough for past blood debts even with a trillion.¡±


    After watching this part of the video, everyone online was silent. Is this the so-called traitor we¡¯ve been talking about?


    Is this the man we¡¯ve been cursing for days?


    Countless people felt deep shame and remorse.


    They continued to watch as Wang Xing and Li Xing later came out to speak, expressing their want to cooperate with Qin Hao¡¯s company.


    Qin Hao¡¯s response was as follows: ¡°Zhou Island has always been an inseparable part of Xuan Country, but there are always some people who want to break it away.


    The government and people of Xuan Country will not agree to this, and neither will I, Qin Hao. Before there is consensus on this issue,


    Xinghai High-tech Company will stop any cooperation with companies from Zhou Island, and furthermore, I will involve our partners around the world.


    If anyone dares to cooperate with companies from Zhou Island, Xinghai High-tech will immediately terminate our collaboration with them.¡±


    ¡°If you guys were to move your headquarters to the mainland, perhaps we can talk about a deeper cooperation, and it wouldn¡¯t be impossible to have you manufacture chips and motherboards for us.¡±


    By this point in the video, it was nearly over, and countless netizens were silent.


    He wasn¡¯t a traitor as people said; on the contrary, he was exerting all his efforts for the country¡¯s territorial integrity.


    Is such a man a traitor?


    He endured verbal abuse from countless netizens for several days, subjected to all kinds of indecent remarks.


    The man who should have been praised was vilified so terribly.


    Remembering the haggard and pale Qin Hao being led away by the police, many netizens were filled with regret.


    He had borne too much for someone of his age!


    Many netizens had teary eyes, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯re sorry, we misunderstood you.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯re sorry, please forgive us.¡±


    ¡°Wuuu, at the same age of nineteen, Mr. Qin, why are you so outstanding?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, we were wrong. Please come back.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Wait, this is clearly a video from the Xinghai Company¡¯s conference room. Didn¡¯t Mr. Qin say it was gone?¡±


    ¡°Damn, we¡¯ve been tricked; Mr. Qin kept us in the dark too. And here I actually shed two tears.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin must have done this to draw out the snake. Crap, Mr. Qin, you¡¯re too sly.¡±


    ¡°What the hell, deceiving us of our tears. Oh well, I forgive you this time.¡±


    The tone online suddenly changed, from ¡®we were wrong¡¯ to ¡®we forgive you!!¡¯


    At five in the afternoon, inside the Jianghai First Detention Center.


    Qin Hao was lying in Cell No. 3 when suddenly a burst of footsteps sounded outside, and a group of prison guards hurried to the cell and opened the door.


    Wu Kun rushed in and, with a big smile on his face, said, ¡°Mr. Qin, you can leave now.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Qin Hao guessed that the people behind the scenes must have been caught.


    He got up and walked out, with Wang Kun and a few others quickly following.


    After changing his clothes, Qin Hao left the detention center led by Wu Kun and a few other prison guards.


    Outside the detention center, dozens of luxury cars were parked, and outside each car stood four security personnel in black suits.


    Seeing this, Wu Kun and the others¡¯ expressions changed slightly. Wasn¡¯t this arrangement a bit too grand?


    ¡°Hao, get in the car,¡± Li Bao said, hurrying over.


    Not far away, Qin Hao saw a police car, with Miao Jing standing beside it, watching him.


    Qin Hao walked over, ¡°Officer Miao, did you come for me?¡±


    Miao Jing looked at him without speaking and, after a few seconds, couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter.


    Qin Hao was taken aback, ¡°Officer Miao, what¡¯s so funny?¡±


    Unable to contain her amusement, Miao Jing said, ¡°I think this hairstyle suits you.¡±


    Qin Hao touched his bald head and indeed felt a cool breeze, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, Officer Miao, I¡¯ll be going now.¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Miao Jing nodded.


    Qin Hao got into Li Bao¡¯s car, and the fleet slowly started and left the detention center.


    On the way, Li Bao took out a stack of documents: ¡°Hao, this is what Li Wenjun found out. This afternoon, Nanlang Wine and Old Cellar Wine took Xinghui Wine to court, and Meiwei Group and Liu Hei Ya took Jiangshan Delicatessen to court.


    There¡¯s also the cyberspace public opinion navy, involving many company groups behind them. Most of these people are muddying the waters.


    The ones with significant influence include Jiang Tao¡¯s Zhongjia Group, Qiandu Network Company, Tenglong Group, Amao Net Shopping Group, and many pharmaceutical businesses that have all tried to muddy the waters with their paid trolls.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s behind all this?¡± Qin Hao asked while flipping through the documents.


    Li Bao: ¡°Li Wenjun hasn¡¯t found out yet, but the state probably has some news.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It¡¯s already good that he found out so much. Here¡¯s a card with eleven billion in it. Take out one billion to reward them, and invest the rest in the development of business intelligence.¡±


    ¡°Got it, Hao,¡± Li Bao took the bank card.


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao received a call from Xu Liangguo: ¡°Xiao Hao, everyone has been arrested, and the Xiao Family is done this time.


    In addition to the Xiao Family, watch out for two groups, Jide Pharmaceutical Group and Qiangsheng Pharmaceutical Group, both from the Northern Federation backed by the Robert family and the Mosi Family.


    [Second update, ever since the serialisation kicked off on June 19, the average has been more than four chapters every day, and it¡¯s been two months and three days. The hardest part of any endeavor is persistence, and I hope to continue this. Haha, no more nagging for updates, I, too, want to write more and earn money.]¡±


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 Chapter 517 03-25 - 519: Bringing You Down

    Chapter 517: Chapter 519: Bringing You Down


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly¡ªthe Robert and Ross families?


    No wonder the Zhou Island Delegation behaved that way; it turns out they were influenced by these two giants of the business world.


    These two families hold significant clout not just in the Northern Federation, but also in the Zhou Island region.


    They are involved in various sectors including banking, finance, electronics, pharmaceuticals, oil, chemical, steel, catering, and entertainment.


    For example, Baokang Group and Baodian Group from Zhou Island both have shares owned by these two families.


    Because of the close relationship between the Zhou Island region and the Northern Federation, to gain support from the Federation in various aspects, their markets are completely open to the Northern Federation, leading to many important industries being controlled by the business oligarchs of the Northern Federation.


    ...


    This was also the reason why Xuan Country was reluctant to open up more deeply in the past, as having these industries controlled by them could severely impact the domestic economic lifelines.


    If they wished, they could send Xuan Country¡¯s economy into a significant recession and leave everyone unemployed at any time.


    It¡¯s not even about everyone being unemployed; an unemployment rate above twenty or thirty percent could easily lead to riots.


    This incident made Qin Hao realize just how terrifying the strength of the Robert and Mosi families was.


    In the past, he had only heard of these families as business tycoons, not fully aware of the extent of their influence, but now he had truly felt it.


    In the eyes of such business oligarchs, there were no friends, only interests.


    Li Bao¡¯s motorcade brought Qin Hao back to the Haoting Sea View Villa District, and both Zhao Yuying and Han Meng breathed a sigh of relief to see him return.


    Source: , updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s hairstyle, Zhao Yuying couldn¡¯t help but laugh; it was indeed somewhat comical.


    Not long after his return, he received a call from his parents: ¡°Has Xiao Hao come back?¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°Mom, everything¡¯s fine now, I¡¯m back.¡±


    Mrs. Qin, clearly displeased, said, ¡°Can¡¯t you be more careful with your actions in the future and not worry me so much? I was nearly scared to death.¡±


    Qin Hao felt a bit guilty, ¡°It¡¯s all right, Mom, it won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    Mrs. Qin spoke earnestly, ¡°As long as you¡¯re safe. Child, I saw the news online; having too much money isn¡¯t necessarily a good thing.¡±


    She was the beloved princess of the Li Family and had been exposed to much in her youth.


    In Xuan Country, having a lot of money really wasn¡¯t always a good thing.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mom, I know. Don¡¯t worry about these things.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao soon received calls from Xu Siyao and Li Moying, who updated him on Chang Anding¡¯s situation.


    Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes; it seemed necessary to do some cleaning up.


    Also, the shares of the Southern Military Industry Group¡ªhe didn¡¯t plan to keep them either. If there was a first time, there would be a second; a cleanup was essential.


    You had the chance to make money, but you didn¡¯t seize it, and instead, you want to stab me in the back? Very well.


    After dinner, Qin Hao sat on the sofa watching TV, and Han Meng came over to massage his shoulders after tidying up.


    ¡°Meng, no need to massage anymore. Have a seat and rest a while, watch TV for a bit,¡± Qin Hao told her.


    Zhao Yuying: ¡°Yeah, Meng, take a break.¡±


    As Han Meng sat down on the sofa, Qiao¡¯er sat next to Qin Hao, hugging his arm and watching TV.


    It was the seven o¡¯clock news time, and they briefly reported on Qin Hao¡¯s incident. Jide Pharmaceuticals and Qiangsheng Pharmaceutical, accused of defamation, slander, and offenses against national sovereignty, had been arrested.


    Both pharmaceutical companies had also been sealed off, with their company funds frozen.


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao also noticed another piece of news: a scientist from the Xuan Country Academy of Sciences¡¯ Medical Department had developed a new type of drug that could treat leukemia. It was low-cost and highly effective.


    This drug was researched and developed from anti-cancer drug technology at Xuan Science Academy.


    The anti-cancer drug technology that Qin Hao produced was no ordinary technology; it included the combined effects of various types of drugs.


    For those in the medical department, a whole new world had opened up. They were fully capable of using that legal method, applying it to other drug research.


    ...


    The people at the Xuan Science Academy¡¯s medical department were the top talents in the country, and they had everything they needed, be it personnel or resources.


    Once they mastered the method, the speed of their research and development would be extremely terrifying.


    After seeing this news, Qin Hao decided to lend a hand. Wasn¡¯t this incident just about those pharmaceutical companies? If you want to mess with me, don¡¯t blame me for taking you all down.


    He began browsing the system¡¯s marketplace and found the pharmaceutical category, which was filled with all kinds of common drug research technologies.


    Common drug research technology manual, exchange required: 900,000 achievement points.


    This was the manual for research technologies of various drugs within the pharmaceutical industry, not for a single drug¡¯s research technology, but rather it taught you the research methods for all drugs.


    Qin Hao had seen it before but it was too expensive, and he had limited funds.


    Now that he was not short on money, he made a phone call to Chang Jing, ¡°Donate six hundred million under my name to the Xuan Country Charity General Association.¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Qin, is that in Federation currency or Xuan Country Coin?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Xuan Country Coin. Notify all board members to convene a shareholders¡¯ meeting tomorrow; those who do not attend will bear the consequences.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Less than five minutes after hanging up the phone, Qin Hao¡¯s long-term points increased by four hundred thousand achievement points.


    For every 1500 donated, you get an achievement point, and six hundred million was exactly four hundred thousand achievement points.


    He initially had six hundred and thirty thousand achievement points, and with these four hundred thousand, it summed up to one million and thirty thousand.


    Qin Hao chose to exchange, and his system inventory gained a new book: Common Drug Research Technology Manual.


    After he chose to learn, he just felt a surge of vast information flooding in, causing his brain to momentarily pause.


    As the capacity of a human brain is limited, if it weren¡¯t for his slightly high intelligence attribute, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to learn so much information.


    It looks like I¡¯ll need to invest more in intelligence in the future, he thought, having digested the knowledge.


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to the study. If you¡¯re tired, go to sleep early.¡±


    Arriving at the study, Qin Hao turned on his computer and started a new document to write down the knowledge from his mind.


    Since he didn¡¯t need to think, he typed very quickly, much like transcribing, without the need to ponder over anything else.


    Around eleven at night, Zhao Yuying came in with a cup of hot coffee, ¡°Are you almost done with your writing?¡±


    ¡°Almost, I¡¯ll be done soon. Why aren¡¯t you asleep yet, Ying?¡± Qin Hao asked while continuing to type.


    Zhao Yuying placed the coffee in front of him, ¡°I can¡¯t sleep.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Meng and Qiao¡¯er are asleep, right?¡±


    Zhao Yuying sat down beside him, ¡°Qiao¡¯er went to bed early, Meng just fell asleep.¡±


    Ten minutes later, Qin Hao had almost finished writing. He took a sip of the coffee from the table. It was bitter with a touch of sweetness, a very nice flavor.


    Zhao Yuying asked with a smile, ¡°Do you like it? I bought this coffee from a coffee shop.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Silky smooth, rich and full-bodied, with a light sweetness amidst the bitterness, the taste is very good.¡±


    ¡°Is it really as good as you say? I didn¡¯t taste all that,¡± she said, picking up the cup and taking a gentle sip.


    [Third update]


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 Chapter 518 03-25 - 520 Compulsory Education

    Chapter 518: Chapter 520 Compulsory Education


    Zhao Yuying finished her drink and smacked her lips, ¡°It seems there¡¯s a bit of the taste you mentioned.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly and took another sip.


    Zhao Yuying got up and walked behind him, ¡°You¡¯ve been looking at the computer for such a long time, you must be tired. Let me give you a massage. I learned a few tricks from Meng, let¡¯s see how they work.¡±


    After she finished speaking, her hands rested on Qin Hao¡¯s shoulders and she gently began to massage him.


    She was proactive and bold in her approach to feelings; how could Qin Hao not understand her intentions.


    Qin Hao stood up and his bright eyes looked at Zhao Yuying, ¡°Ying.¡±


    ...


    Zhao Yuying looked up at him, and although she was about one meter sixty-seven, she still had to tilt her face up to look at Qin Hao.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, I... I love you.¡±


    Having said that, her cheeks turned hot and instantly reddened, her big, sparkling eyes looking seriously at him.


    ...


    More than half an hour later, the room returned to calm.


    This was Zhao Yuying¡¯s first time.


    In recent years, Zhao Yuying was at the peak of her career, so she hadn¡¯t planned on finding a boyfriend.


    Source: , updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    If she were to get a boyfriend, it might greatly affect her popularity, and most importantly, she hadn¡¯t encountered someone she liked and who was suitable.


    Zhao Yuying snuggled tightly in his embrace, ¡°Xiao Hao, will you still like me when I¡¯m old and no longer attractive?¡±


    This was the question she worried about the most, for she was already twenty-seven years old, while Qin Hao was just nineteen.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°If I don¡¯t like you anymore, I¡¯ll just find another beauty then.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re awful, I¡¯ll beat you up.¡± Zhao Yuying¡¯s delicate little fists pummeled him.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Ying won¡¯t age. You¡¯ll stay forever young and always be this young and beautiful.¡±


    Zhao Yuying, ¡°That¡¯s nonsense, everyone ages.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Technology will progress, and one day I¡¯ll take you to experience the splendid universe and starry skies.¡±


    Zhao Yuying¡¯s eyes shone with longing, ¡°You said it, pinky promise.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed and extended his hand, hooking his pinky with hers.


    ...


    The next morning, just past six o¡¯clock, Qin Hao woke up while Zhao Yuying was still sound asleep.


    After getting up, Qin Hao didn¡¯t wake her, but he washed up and went out for morning exercises.


    Shortly after Qin Hao had gotten up, Zhao Yuying also woke up and saw that he wasn¡¯t there, so she hurriedly got out of bed.


    She quickly stripped the bedsheet after getting up.


    Going downstairs, she placed the bedsheet in the washing machine. She planned to wash it quickly and then put it away, as it was a very important item for a woman.


    Meng saw her and said with a smile, ¡°Yu Ying, you¡¯re awake.¡±


    With slightly reddened cheeks, Zhao Yuying asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Xiao Hao, Meng?¡±


    Han Meng, ¡°Xiao Hao went out for morning exercises. He should be back soon.¡±


    Before long, Qin Hao returned and during breakfast, he said to Zhao Yuying, ¡°Ying, you don¡¯t have to go to the company today. Take a rest at home.¡±


    Her cheeks blushing, Zhao Yuying nodded, ¡°Mm.¡±


    After breakfast, Qin Hao went to Xinghai Company.


    Meanwhile, at eight in the morning, a news bulletin was posted on Wei Yan online:


    Qin Hao, Chairman of Xinghai High-tech Co., Ltd, intends to donate five hundred billion Federation dollars to support sixteen years of compulsory education.


    The authorities are currently planning the details, and it is expected to be officially implemented after the university winter break next year. All students with domestic citizenship will be exempt from tuition, book fees, accommodation fees, and other costs.


    This initiative will significantly reduce the financial burden on countless university students¡¯ families, making higher education accessible to everyone.


    This also represents an advancement in our country¡¯s educational standards; only through widespread education can more scientific research talents emerge.


    The XX expressed its utmost gratitude to Qin Hao for this initiative, hoping that people from all walks of life can learn from Qin Hao and become responsible entrepreneurs with a strong sense of social responsibility.


    The news also gave examples of researchers from West Continent and Ximi Region, explaining why many famous scientists originated there?


    Because their educational outreach began earlier than in Xuan Country. However, the domestic compulsory education is now set to surpass all countries.


    Because they will be the first in the world to implement compulsory university education.


    Compulsory university education is not mandatory; those who don¡¯t wish to attend can opt out. The main purpose is to alleviate the financial burden of attending university for students.


    The moment this news was released, it instantly exploded across the entire network. University education to become compulsory?


    ¡°That¡¯s great, that¡¯s fantastic, this will surely be recorded in history.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin is so generous, contributing five hundred billion Federation dollars for the development of the nation¡¯s educational cause; that¡¯s truly generous. From now on, if anyone dares to insult Mr. Qin again, I¡¯ll curse them out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a fan of Mr. Qin now. I used to only hear about him and thought all his ventures were just for making money. Now, I know I was wrong; Mr. Qin doesn¡¯t care about the money at all.¡±


    ¡°Hubby, you¡¯re so cool, love you, muah.¡±


    ¡°Shameless, up there. Why didn¡¯t you dare to call him hubby when Mr. Qin was getting slandered a few days ago?¡±


    ...


    This news spread through the internet like a storm,


    Many foreign media outlets also reported on the matter.


    [End of the fourth chapter, see you tomorrow]


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 Chapter 519 03-25 - 521: What Do You Think I Will Do?

    Chapter 519: Chapter 521: What Do You Think I Will Do?


    Many countries were also actively discussing the issue, as making university education universally compulsory is no small matter.


    It was a little past eight in the morning when Qin Hao arrived at the Xinghai High-tech Company.


    He went directly to Chang Jing¡¯s office and said to her secretary, ¡°Please step out for a moment.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin.¡± The secretary quickly got up and left, then closed the door behind her.


    Chang Jing sat in her office chair, looking up at him with bright eyes that held no trace of fluctuation, her expression serene.


    Qin Hao walked over and smiled at her, saying, ¡°Mr. Chang, your decision was very smart.¡±


    ...


    Chang Jing looked at him and said, ¡°Whatever decision I make doesn¡¯t affect you, and they can¡¯t drive you out of the company.¡±


    She was right, no matter what decision was made that day, the country would never allow Chang Anding to succeed, so it was all in vain.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Did Mr. Chang tell you how I should deal with you?¡±


    Chang Jing replied indifferently, ¡°Naturally, that is for Mr. Qin to decide.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Chang Jing; she must have guessed what he was thinking.


    Chang Jing hadn¡¯t betrayed him or the company, and her abilities could not be replaced by anyone else.


    If either Xu Siyao or Li Moying had half of her business management talents, Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t have kept Chang Jing around.


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0


    Because of this incident, Chang Jing had also fallen out with her family, having taken advantage of her own father, Chang Anding¡ªit was fortunate he wasn¡¯t driven to his death by rage.


    It was less that she had tricked the Chang Family and more that she had seen farther and was more cautious.


    If Chang Jing were completely certain, she would have acted against Xinghai Company without consulting the Chang Family at all.


    This was a capable and dangerous individual.


    For Qin Hao, controlling her wasn¡¯t that difficult, as long as she stayed away from the core technologies and didn¡¯t fully understand him, she would never be completely sure.


    Any technology Qin Hao came up with on the fly was enough to astonish her.


    Even if she took control of Xinghai Company, Chang Jing had no guarantee of beating Qin Hao in the future, because no one knew whether he would create an even more advanced product.


    Chang Jing was smart; she understood all of this, and so the chances of her betrayal were close to zero.


    Qin Hao looked at Chang Jing and asked, ¡°Mr. Chang, may I ask why you chose to work for my company?¡±


    Chang Jing responded, ¡°Mr. Qin is so smart, maybe you can guess.¡±


    For the money?


    Hongya Heavy Industry¡¯s assets were high, and their annual profits were substantial. The likelihood of it being for the money was not great, but possible, considering that Hongya Heavy Industry was not a giant in the international business world.


    Perhaps she had a dream of becoming a world oligarch. By following in the footsteps of Xinghai Company, Chang Jing could one day join the ranks of world oligarchs because she managed Xinghai Company.


    Her influence was no less than that of shareholders like Xu Siyao or Li Moying, perhaps even higher.


    With this thought, Qin Hao looked at Chang Jing, who allowed a slight smile to curl the corners of her lips.


    Qin Hao felt like he was being toyed with; no matter how smart a person is, it¡¯s impossible to see through what someone else is truly thinking deep inside.


    The world is simple, but the human heart is the most complex.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Can Mr. Chang guess what I¡¯m about to do next?¡±


    Although Chang Jing¡¯s face showed no change, Qin Hao could clearly sense that her heartbeat had quickened from its usual pace.


    It indicated that she was also somewhat nervous, although it wasn¡¯t apparent on the surface.


    Chang Jing said with a muted tone, ¡°Mr. Qin, there are cameras here.¡±


    Qin Hao turned his head toward the camera in the corner, ¡°Turn off Mr. Chang¡¯s office camera, and delete the video from just now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Then the camera light dimmed and turned off.


    A shade of shock flickered in Chang Jing¡¯s eyes, Is that even possible?? She knew the company¡¯s AI monitoring system was smart but didn¡¯t realize it could be THIS smart.


    ¡°Mr. Chang is not here now, take a guess what I am going to do next?¡± Qin Hao¡¯s hand moved slightly, caressing her smooth chin with a smile on his face.


    A smile appeared on Chang Jing¡¯s face, ¡°How would I know Mr. Qin¡¯s thoughts.¡±


    Her smile seemed somewhat mocking to Qin Hao, and based on what she knew about him, she believed Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t dare.


    Qin Hao wanted to teach Chang Jing a lesson, but he really couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it.


    He slowly withdrew his hand, and the smile on Chang Jing¡¯s face deepened.


    Qin Hao felt frustrated, How can a man be so manipulated by a woman...


    ...


    Chang Jing¡¯s expression froze, her body tensed, her eyes incredulously fixed on Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao feigned calm as he said, ¡°What time did you schedule Mr. Chang¡¯s board meeting for?¡±


    Chang Jing looked at him expressionlessly, ¡°Nine o¡¯clock.¡±


    Qin Hao felt a bit guilty under her gaze, ¡°You go prepare for the meeting, I need to go back to my office.¡±


    Once Qin Hao left, Chang Jing looked down at her chest, where the fabric was a bit wrinkled, and she smoothed it out.


    At that moment, the office surveillance came back on.


    After returning to his office, Qin Hao took a deep breath to regain his composure, and then opened his computer before receiving a call from Fan Chengye.


    Fan Chengye laughed upon answering Qin Hao¡¯s call, ¡°Xiao Hao is impressive, five hundred billion Federation dollars! I¡¯ve seen the news; many senior academicians at Xuan Science Academy have great respect for you.¡±


    Qin Hao said awkwardly, ¡°Mr. Fan, as a citizen of Xuan Country, it¡¯s my duty, but it¡¯s you guys who are truly admirable.¡±


    ¡°Did you see yesterday¡¯s news? I¡¯ve developed a new type of drug based on your cancer medication research, which can effectively treat leukemia and is also low-cost,¡± Fan Chengye said somewhat excitedly.


    Qin Hao, ¡°I saw it, Mr. Fan, you all are very impressive.¡±


    Fan Chengye asked, ¡°Xiao Hao, there must be a reason for your call, right?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°These past few days I¡¯ve organized my thoughts and insights on the medications, which should be of some help to you. I plan to send it to you.¡±


    Fan Chengye, ¡°We are all well aware of your medical expertise and understanding of medicinal properties, your insights are invaluable, send them to me quickly.¡±


    Qin Hao plugged in the USB drive and sent what he had written the night before as an encrypted file to him, then he gave him the password over the phone.


    As he was doing this, Chang Jing walked in, staring at him expressionlessly, ¡°Mr. Qin, the board members have all arrived.¡±


    Just after she finished speaking, Xu Siyao and Li Moying walked in.


    ¡°Master Qin (Master),¡± the two of them called out.


    ¡°Master, your hairstyle is so cool,¡± said Li Moying as she looked at his bare head and laughed.


    Xu Siyao ran over and couldn¡¯t resist touching his head, laughing, ¡°You do look more spirited than before.¡±


    Seeing Xu Siyao¡¯s action, Li Moying also ran over and touched his head, ¡°The baldness is really fun.¡±


    Qin Hao was at his wit¡¯s end, hastily breaking free, ¡°My head is not a toy, both of you, be serious.¡±


    [First update]


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 Chapter 520 03-25 - 522: Internet Communications Industry

    Chapter 520: Chapter 522: Internet Communications Industry


    Xu Siyao and Li Moying chuckled, no longer ruffling his hair.


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the meeting.¡±


    They all arrived at the conference room together, where Chang Anding and Zhang Yifei from the Southern Military Industry Group were already present.


    Once Qin Hao and his group were seated, he began, ¡°There¡¯s no need for me to say much. Are you two leaving on your own, or shall I force you out?¡±


    Zhang Yifei¡¯s expression changed slightly, ¡°Mr. Qin, this matter has nothing to do with our Southern Military Industry Group.¡±


    Qin Hao snorted, ¡°Nothing to do with it? What about the voting yesterday? Did that have something to do with it?¡±


    ...


    Zhang Yifei suddenly found himself at a loss for words, unsure of what to say.


    When the contract was originally signed, it explicitly stated that Qin Hao could buy back the shares at the market price prevailing at that time.


    If the market price was lower than the initial investment price, the purchase would be made at the initial investment price.


    The current valuation of Xinghai Company was 400 billion Federation currency, so nine percent of the shares amounted to 36 billion Federation currency.


    Chang Anding spoke, ¡°Give me 36 billion Federation currency, and I¡¯ll exit Xinghai Company.¡±


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°You really dare to ask for that? Mr. Chang, there¡¯s another clause in the contract you might not have read carefully. It states that I have the right to decide on a directed capital increase.¡±


    Chang Anding¡¯s face paled slightly. He genuinely did not know this; when he took the money, he thought Qin Hao was indirectly asking for a favor, so he didn¡¯t bother reading the contract and just tossed it aside.


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï


    A directed capital increase meant that Qin Hao had the right to decide which shareholders could contribute additional funds to the company, diluting those who did not contribute, until their shares were completely watered down.


    Chang Anding looked very upset; he thought he could still get 36 billion Federation currency, but now he would not get anything.


    ¡°Qin Hao, you¡¯re ruthless,¡± Chang Anding said before turning to Chang Jing, ¡°Are you choosing Chang Jing, or are you choosing him?¡±


    Chang Jing replied indifferently, ¡°I choose my job.¡±


    Chang Anding¡¯s face turned ashen as he said word by word, ¡°I never expected that after so many years, I¡¯ve raised an ingrate. If you dare step foot in the Chang Family¡¯s door again, I¡¯ll break your legs.¡±


    Chang Jing remained unmoved, sitting there with no change in her expression.


    Xu Siyao and Li Moying looked at Chang Jing with shock and confusion in their eyes, unable to understand why she would make such a decision.


    Qin Hao¡¯s face remained calm; Chang Anding wasn¡¯t completely foolish. All this was probably done to clear his daughter of Qin Hao¡¯s suspicions, so she could stay here in peace.


    Chang Jing understood, and so did Qin Hao.


    It was just that others didn¡¯t understand.


    Qin Hao divided that eighteen percent of shares between Xu Siyao and Li Moying, each receiving six percent, while he took six percent.


    Currently, he held sixty-five percent of the shares, with Li Moying and Xu Siyao each holding fifteen percent. Chang Jing still had the five percent in management shares.


    Qin Hao said to Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Chang, we need to increase production on all lines, especially the robotics line, got it? We can buy a few steel processing plants and make our own robot molds. The exterior design can be handled by Mr. Wang and his team.


    ¡°They are more professional. Go and ask Li Qingya if they are willing to sell that factory.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°I understand, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°How many robots do we have now?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°Yesterday we just delivered ten to the Onassis Family in the Northern Federation, leaving us with fifty.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Hmm, produce more, aim for a thousand in the initial phase.¡±


    Exiting the conference room, Qin Hao saw Zhang Yifei still by the door, ¡°Mr. Zhang, is there anything else?¡±


    Zhang Yifei said awkwardly, ¡°Mr. Qin, regarding cooperation, our group intends, as per instructions from above, to work with you on AI aircraft research.¡±


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°Fine.¡±


    Zhang Yifei announced, ¡°The research site has been chosen, within a drone production factory of the Southern Military Industry Group.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Mm, discuss the specifics of the collaboration with Mr. Chang.¡±


    Zhang Yifei sighed with relief in his heart. He was glad Qin Hao had agreed; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t know how to report back.


    Inside Qin Hao¡¯s office, Li Moying and Xu Siyao were sitting.


    He said, ¡°I¡¯ve still got something to take care of. If you have things to do, then go ahead.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, we¡¯re not busy,¡± Xu Siyao and Li Moying said in unison.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, and he stepped out of the office into Chang Jing¡¯s where the two were discussing the details of the cooperation.


    Artificial intelligence drones were nothing like the current ones.


    The current drones required radio control equipment for operation, but with smart drones, it was unknown; you just needed to tell them the mission¡¯s objective, and they could independently complete it. They were more flexible and convenient, not at all comparable to the current drones.


    Even artificial intelligence technology could be applied to reconnaissance planes, fighter jets, bombers, and other various types of aircraft.


    Future wars would be a showdown of aerial power. If Xuan Country could possess smart fighter jets, its combat power would undoubtedly increase significantly, and personnel casualties could be reduced, eventually making the role of a pilot obsolete.


    Qin Hao did not disturb them, waiting until they had finished their discussion and Zhang Yifei had left before he approached Chang Jing¡¯s desk.


    Chang Jing looked up at him, the scene somewhat reminiscent of the previous one.


    Qin Hao cleared his throat and said, ¡°Mr. Chang, set up an internet communications company in the next few days.¡±


    Chang Jing¡¯s eyes flickered with confusion, ¡°Mr. Qin is planning to start an internet company?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Exactly. The future belongs to the internet, and smart chips are just the foundation.¡±


    Chang Jing looked at him and said, ¡°Getting into the internet now seems a bit late, the market was carved up clean years ago.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°If the market is saturated, we can completely overturn it and rebuild a new one. I¡¯ll transfer fifty billion to you later as initial funding. You¡¯ll be the general manager of the new company, and later on, I¡¯ll give you five percent of the shares of the new company.¡±


    Chang Jing was very curious about what he would do in the internet sector, was he planning to compete with others with the smart chip?


    This was indeed a good strategy; Qin Hao could totally use Xinghai Company¡¯s smart chips to carve out a place for himself on the internet.


    After transferring the money to Chang Jing, Qin Hao returned to his own office.


    Xu Siyao and Li Moying each turned their heads away, ignoring each other.


    Seeing Qin Hao enter, Li Moying got up and ran over, grabbing his arm and saying, ¡°Master, she bullied me.¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao, she¡¯s bullying me,¡± Xu Siyao also complained.


    Qin Hao felt a headache coming on, ¡°Ladies, please stop fighting. Can¡¯t you give me some peace?¡±


    Li Moying hugged Qin Hao¡¯s arm with both hands, ¡°Master, you don¡¯t love me anymore.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, as if Qin Hao could ever love you,¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Keep arguing, I¡¯m going home.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    The two exchanged glances and snorted coldly before they also left the place.


    [Second Update]


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 Chapter 521 523 Come Back

    In the parking lot, Xu Siyao said to Qin Hao, "Qin Hao, I''ll go with you to your house."


    Qin Hao nodded, "In my car or will you drive?"


    Xu Siyao: "I''ll drive."


    "Master, I''m coming too," Li Moying quickly said.


    Qin Hao: "Alright, go ahead, no problem."


    The group drove to Qin Hao''s house, and upon arriving at the doorstep, Qin Hao saw a red Ferrari sedan.


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, Wanrou is back? Or did Feng Xiangyi drive over?


    He hurried into the villa, where Han Meng, Qiao''er, Zhao Yuying, and Du Wanrou were sitting in the living room chatting.


    Seeing Du Wanrou, Qin Hao asked in surprise, "Wanrou, how come you''re back?""


    Du Wanrou looked at him, with a hint of reproach in her eyes: "I rushed back when I heard you were in trouble."


    Meanwhile, Xu Siyao and Li Moying walked in from outside.


    Xu Siyao: "Why do you always follow me? Look at your blonde hair, like some kind of punk."


    Li Moying: "This is called artistic individuality, you get it? And you have the nerve to talk, I don''t know who used to be called the number one punk in Jianghai."


    ...


    Qin Hao had a headache, these two really clashed in personalities.


    When Xu Siyao and Li Moying entered, they saw Du Wanrou in the living room.


    Du Wanrou sat there, looking noble and elegant with an exceptional demeanor, a significant change from before.


    Whether it was her dress or her every gesture and smile, she exuded a sanctified and noble temperament that made others feel inferior and pale in comparison.


    It was a kind of imposing aura that daunted others.


    "Wanrou," Xu Siyao said with her head bowed in a low voice, lacking her earlier arrogance and mischievousness.


    Du Wanrou smiled and nodded, "You must be Si Yao, have a seat."


    Li Moying was somewhat surprised to see how much Du Wanrou had changed from before, but she still said cheerfully, "Hello, master''s wife, you''re getting more and more elegant."


    After speaking, she ran over and sat down beside Du Wanrou.


    Xu Siyao felt a bit guilty and thus didn''t know how to talk to Du Wanrou.


    Although they got along well online, reality was different from the internet, and she was unsure.


    Qin Hao''s expression turned awkward: "You guys chat, I have some things to do in the study."


    Staying there would only make him feel awkward, so he went to the study and began browsing the system mall. A few days ago, he had promised Zhao Yuying to work on movie special effects technology, and today was the day to do it.


    Advanced Cinematic Photorealistic Special Effects Technology: Requires nine hundred thousand achievement points to exchange.


    Because the profit from movie special effects technology was incredibly high, affecting the entire film industry, the required achievement points for exchange were substantial.


    Take a foreign blockbuster sci-fi film, its profits could exceed several billion.


    Nine hundred thousand achievement points translated to a donation of one billion five hundred million Xuan Country Coins, which seemed a lot, but compared to the profits from a hit blockbuster film, it actually wasn''t that expensive.


    The most important aspect was that with advanced photorealistic special effects technology, one could attract a lot of business.


    For those large Western movie productions, just the special effects production might involve a specialized effects company, costing around one to two billion Xuan Country Coins.


    Qin Hao now only had one hundred and thirty thousand achievement points left, he thought for a moment and made a phone call to Xu Liangguo, "Mr. Xu, how is the education project planning going?"


    Xu Liangguo, "How can it be so fast, with so many universities and students across the country, it''s quite a stretch to have everything arranged in just one or two years."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Then, can I donate those five hundred billion Federation coins first?"


    Xu Liangguo was stunned for a moment. Is this kid feverish or something? Who is in such a hurry to give away money, and not just any amount but five hundred billion Federation coins?


    The interest in a single day would be too much to count.


    Xu Liangguo, "If you really want to take it out now, it''s not impossible. I''ll call the education department for the official account number. Just give me a moment."


    After saying this, Xu Liangguo used his landline to call the higher-ups, and quickly obtained the official bank account number.


    Without a second word, Qin Hao immediately transferred the money. He was not worried at all about any issues with this sum, for there were higher-ups monitoring it. Anyone who dared to touch it was simply asking for trouble.


    Policies that benefit the country and the people, money for aiding the poor and distressed, are the state''s red line¡ªcross it and you''re done.


    After donating five hundred billion Federation coins, Qin Hao heard the system''s notification, "Congratulations to the host for donating five hundred billion Federation coins and obtaining twenty-three billion three hundred and thirty-three million achievement points."


    Five hundred billion Federation coins, that''s thirty-five hundred billion Xuan Country Coins, so earning twenty-three billion achievement points from donating so much is not too many.


    Qin Hao''s face brightened with joy; he would no longer have to worry about running out of achievement points, he just needed to exchange for technology and focus on development.


    He directly spent nine hundred thousand to exchange for the movie photorealistic special effects technology.


    This was a special effects software development technology. After obtaining it, Qin Hao began to program and create the software on his computer.


    During the process, he added several anti-theft program codes. Unless someone''s hacking skills surpassed his, no one could steal the software from his computer.


    Even if someone stole the hard drive, they wouldn''t be able to crack the software.


    In such matters, Qin Hao had to be extremely cautious¡ªthe high-level special effects technology absolutely could not be leaked.


    The software was very large, and although Qin Hao had it in his mind, copying it would still take about a day''s time.


    Typically, such powerful software is developed by a programming team, and the development can take several months.


    Of course, they don''t work continuously; they need to think, look for bugs, and so on.


    Sometimes, just thinking about and optimizing the next step in the program without any clear direction can take many days.


    Qin Hao was different from them; what he was doing now was essentially transcribing it.


    Around eleven o''clock, Du Wanrou knocked on the door and came in. She looked at Qin Hao and said, "Si Yao and Mo Ying are planning to leave."


    Qin Hao stood up and walked out, Xu Siyao and Li Moying both stood up and said to him, "Master, Qin Hao, we''re heading off now."


    Qin Hao looked at his watch and said, "It''s almost noon, let''s have lunch here."


    "No, thanks. Wanrou has just come back after a long time, you should spend some quality time with Wanrou. I''ll come by another day," Xu Siyao said with a smile.


    Li Moying also smiled and said, "Yes, master, you should accompany your wife. We''ll be on our way."


    After seeing them off, Qin Hao and the others returned to the villa, Han Meng said, "Xiao Hao, I''m going to cook now."


    "I''ll go help too," Zhao Yuying followed Han Meng into the kitchen.


    Qin Hao nodded, then returned to his study, with Du Wanrou following him in.


    "What are you busy with?" Du Wanrou asked curiously as she approached the computer.


    Qin Hao, "Movie photorealistic special effects technology. Ying and I have started a media company, and once the special effects technology is ready, we plan to make a film."


    [Third update]

 Chapter 522 524: Terminate All Cooperation

    Du Wanrou''s gaze paused for a moment, "Make a movie?"


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Yes, if a movie sells well, it''s very profitable, you could say it''s explosive.


    I just checked the global box office records, and the top ten are all big productions from the Northern Federation.


    The highest global box office is around three billion Federation coins, which is about two hundred and ten billion Xuan Country coins."


    Du Wanrou placed her hand on his shoulder, gently massaging it and asked curiously, "So, what kind of movie are you planning to make?"


    Qin Hao: "Science fiction, future technology, a grand mythical world could also work; strong special effects technology means any genre is possible."


    Du Wanrou smiled lightly, "Does this mean Xuan Country will also have blockbuster movies with special effects from now on?"


    Qin Hao: "Yes, when the time comes, Xuan Country will also have an abundance of blockbuster movies and can similarly enter the international market."


    As Du Wanrou massaged, she asked, "What''s your relationship with Zhao Yuying? She is after all a national goddess."


    Qin Hao smiled awkwardly, unsure how to explain.


    Seeing his reaction, Du Wanrou already knew the answer. She leaned forward, resting her head on his shoulder, "Why didn''t I realize how fickle you were before? If I had known earlier, perhaps I wouldn''t have fallen for you."


    Qin Hao grasped her hand, "Even if you regret it now, I won''t let you go, I dare anyone to try and touch you."


    "Annoying, you''re too domineering," Du Wanrou said affectionately, embracing his neck.


    Qin Hao chuckled, stood up, and embraced her, "Have you missed me?"


    Blushing, Du Wanrou replied softly, "Yes."


    ...


    Half an hour later, Du Wanrou walked out of the study.


    Her cheeks flushed, she went upstairs to change clothes.


    Qin Hao sat there, continuing to type on the keyboard, a smile on his face.


    At noon, Zhao Yuying called him out for lunch.


    After locking his computer, he went out, where Han Meng was clearing up the meal, and Du Wanrou was washing up.


    During lunch, Qin Hao asked Du Wanrou, "Wan Rou, will you go back?"


    Du Wanrou: "I''ll decide after New Year''s; the Jiangshan Delicatessen is developing very well, nearly dominating the entire cooked food market in Massachusetts."


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised, "So fast? Haven''t you encountered any difficulties?"


    Du Wanrou smiled slightly, "There have definitely been difficulties, but they''ve all been solved. I''m staying here for a couple of days before planning to visit my parents in Shuinan Province."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "The business there can be managed by a professional manager then; you should avoid going back next year."


    Du Wanrou: "I''m not at ease, and I looked at Jiangshan Group''s products, and I think both clothing and cosmetics can be introduced there.


    Xinghui Wine might be worth a try too, but the market might not be good; Westerners don''t drink much liquor. Next year I''m planning to switch to a major in Economics and Management, which will also be useful in helping you."


    Qin Hao was momentarily startled by her lively talk, "Wan Rou, I''ve noticed you''ve changed a lot."


    "Really? Did I become prettier and more charismatic?" Du Wanrou said with a laugh.


    ...


    After lunch, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou went upstairs to rest, and Zhao Yuying and Han Meng cleaned up and also went back to their rooms to rest.


    Upstairs in the master bedroom, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou lay down on the bed...


    It was past three-thirty in the afternoon.


    Qin Hao returned to the study to continue working on the special effects software; Du Wanrou went out, she drove to meet Feng Xiangyi.


    Around five o''clock, Qin Hao received a call from Chang Jing: "Mr. Qin, what should we do about the chipset supply from the Mosi family?"


    Qin Hao: "No money, no chip supply to them."


    Though the Mosi family didn''t directly show up, Jide Pharmaceuticals is a group under the Mosi family, and without the Mosi family''s approval, such actions wouldn''t have been possible.


    After confirming with Qin Hao, Chang Jing, representing Xinghai Company, issued a public announcement: Due to the Mosi family violating the cooperation agreement, Xinghai Company will terminate all cooperation with the Mosi family.


    The statement was simple, yet immensely powerful, representing Qin Hao''s will.


    When the Mosi family in the Northern Federation received this news, they were somewhat panicked and urgently convened a family meeting.


    Without the supply of smart chips, Mosi could likely be surpassed by the Ross family in the electronics and mobile phone industries.


    Especially for AP Group, AP phones and Redfruit are sold worldwide, being the largest in global phone and computer production.


    The AP subsidiary tallied recent mobile phone sales, and since the appearance of the Blueberry Smartphone, AP''s phone sales had severely declined, affecting many other domestic brands as well.


    This situation was disadvantageous for AP Group.


    If they couldn''t produce true smartphones themselves and also couldn''t get smart chips from Xinghai Company, the Mosi family''s AP Group could be eliminated by the times.


    This was something the Mosi family did not want to see.


    Initially, they planned this matter to secure a comprehensive chip supply from Xinghai Company to maintain their dominant position in the mobile and electronics industries.


    But they hadn''t expected it to backfire completely.


    They absolutely could not allow this to happen; no matter the cost, they had to secure a supply of smart chips.


    Jianghai City entered night just past six o''clock.


    Qin Hao had stayed in the study all afternoon, and the coding for the special effects software was now two-thirds complete; he would likely finish tonight.


    While he was typing, Qin Hao''s phone rang again; he picked it up and saw it was a video call from Silin Ross.


    He pressed the answer button, and Silin appeared in the phone video, "Mr. Qin, aren''t you being too crafty?"


    Laughing, Qin Hao responded, "Miss Silin, what do you mean by that? I don''t quite understand."


    Visibly annoyed, Silin Ross said, "We had already agreed on a separate collaboration with the Ross family, and yet you went ahead and discussed cooperation with the Mosi family. Can''t you honor the contract?"


    Qin Hao explained, "Miss Silin, we discussed strategic cooperation in the Northern Federation region; the Mosi family came to me for cooperation in Xiyu Country territory, and I agreed. That shouldn''t be a problem."


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 523 525: The Strength of the Mosi Family

    Miss Silin was seething, unaware of the matter until Xinghai Company issued a statement.


    She began, "Mr. Qin, you should now see the true colors of the Mosi family, shouldn''t you?"


    Qin Hao replied with a faint smile, "If your Ross family had the chance, I''m afraid you would do the same as the Mosi family."


    Miss Silin was at a loss for words, "Mr. Qin, our Ross family values friendship the most. We would definitely not engage in such betrayal and disloyalty."


    Qin Hao doubted her words, "Miss Silin, I need to remind you about something. Due to cost reasons, if your factory wants the automated photolithography machine, you''ll need to spend two billion to buy one."


    Miss Silin was stunned, "Mr. Qin, didn''t you initially agree on 1.5 billion? That was a matter between the Robert family and the Mosi family. You can''t do this."


    Qin Hao said, "What we initially signed was just a cooperation contract. The specific price for purchasing the machines was not included. It doesn''t matter if you don''t want them; the decision is up to the five families."


    The five families Qin Hao mentioned were the Ross family, the Robert family, the Onassis family, the Mosi family, and the Federation officials.


    The factory was co-owned by these five parties. With the increase in the price of the photolithography machines, each family had to contribute an additional hundred million Federation currency.


    Miss Silin was somewhat speechless. She now understood Qin Hao a bit better; he was determined to have his revenge.


    Qin Hao was certain that they would want it. Even if the intelligent photolithography machine cost two billion each, they would still have to buy it.


    This amount of money was not a concern for the Ross family, nor for the other families.


    Miss Silin had another purpose in making the call, "Mr. Qin, do you really plan to tear up the contract with the Mosi family?"


    Qin Hao asserted, "Of course, Miss Silin can rest assured now."


    Miss Silin spoke up to remind him, "Do you know the background of the Mosi family?"


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "The Mosi family is so powerful, aren''t they the biggest background themselves? Is there an even more powerful family backing them?"


    Miss Silin said, "No, in the Federation the Mosi family is considered a top-tier family. But people from the Mosi family are Yotai."


    "Yotai people?"


    Miss Silin nodded, "Yes, Yotai people. Mr. Qin, you might not know how terrifying the Yotai people can be.


    Let me explain in detail. There are about fourteen million Yotai people worldwide, with six million in the Federation.


    Over five million are in Yinna Country, and the rest are scattered around the world. The Yotai people are the most united and are also regarded as the smartest ethnic group.


    Before World War II, there weren''t many Yotai people in the Federation; nearly all economic arteries were held by families like ours from the West Continent. But later, to counterbalance us merchants from the West Continent, the government at the time heavily supported the Yotai people."


    Now, the influence of the Yotai people in the Federation is almost as significant as ours, if not greater.


    In the Federation, Yotai people make up half of the 200 most influential people; half of the Nobel Prize winners are Yotai; one-third of the Federation''s most famous scientists are Yotai. There are more examples, but I will not go into them now.


    The Yotai people are involved in industries such as steel, chemical, oil, military, electronics, media and entertainment, dining, internet, and retail, and every one of these industry''s companies is among the world''s top-ranked.


    Their businesses are spread across the globe. You surely know of Coke, McDonald''s, KFC, and coffee shops? They were all founded by Yotai people."


    Qin Hao was hearing these things for the first time and was somewhat surprised, but he remained composed. "Miss Silin, I feel like you are lobbying for the Mosi family."


    Silin: "Me advocating for them? The oilfield people and our established families are enemies. Although there are temporary cooperations for profit, we are inherently adversaries."


    Qin Hao: "Then why are you telling me this? Do you want me to compromise with the Mosi Family and the Robert family?"


    Silin shook her head, "Mr. Qin, the reason I am sharing this with you is that I consider you a friend of the Ross family. I''m explaining the stakes involved. If you think I''m being insincere, time and prolonged cooperation will prove otherwise."


    Regarding her words, Qin Hao scoffed, as he truly did not believe Silin''s statement: "Anything else? Miss Silin, please continue, I quite enjoy listening."


    Silin took a deep breath and said, "Do you know which region is currently the most chaotic in the world?"


    Qin Hao hesitated and then said, "The triple junction of the three major states where Yinna Country is located, East Continent, West Continent, and West Lijia State, known as the Spa Island area."


    Silin: "Exactly, that place. The surrounding nations like Nina, Libi Country, Saiya Country, and Nila Country have either been weakened by the Federation or have been overthrown and dismembered. Currently, there are no major nations intact nearby that can challenge the authority of Yinna Country. You understand the implications of this, Mr. Qin, don''t you?"


    Qin Hao spoke up, "That''s indeed impressive."


    Silin: "So, as a friend, I want to remind you, Mr. Qin, to be cautious dealing with matters related to the Mosi Family and the Robert family."


    Qin Hao disdainfully said, "Miss Silin, do you think other oil tycoon families or companies would give up such huge profits for the Mosi Family? Do they have the courage to give up?"


    Silin was surprised internally: "Mr. Qin sees quite clearly; they probably don''t have the courage, and they are not united in profit-sharing either, only coming together over national interests."


    "Thank you for telling me this, Miss Silin. Anything else?" Qin Hao asked.


    Silin smiled and replied: "Nothing else, the Mosi Family should be contacting you shortly, Mr. Qin. Goodbye."


    After hanging up the phone, the smile on Silin''s face vanished; Qin Hao was cleverer than she had anticipated.


    Qin Hao, looking at his phone, revealed a slight cold smile. Silin''s call on the surface was about the formidable aspect of the Mosi Family but actually aimed to incite his competitive spirit.


    "Your Mosi Family is so strong, huh? Well, I just won''t supply you with chips. What can you do about it?"


    That was what Silin sought to provoke in him.


    Silin didn''t know that without her saying, Qin Hao would not cooperate with the Mosi Family again.


    Just as Silin anticipated, it wasn''t long before Morse from the Mosi Family called Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao answered the call and said coldly, "Does Mr. Morse need something from me?"


    Morse said with a laugh, "Is it night over there, Mr. Qin? Haven''t you gone to bed yet?"


    Qin Hao responded, "I am busy. Get to the point, what do you need from me?"


    Morse chuckled dryly, "Mr. Qin, it''s about a cooperation. Name your price, as long as we can afford it."


    Qin Hao coldly said, "Cooperation? So you can fool me again?"


    Morse explained, "Mr. Qin, that was a misunderstanding, a decision made by others in our family. I was strongly opposed at the time."


    Qin Hao impatiently said, "Save those insincere words, Mr. Morse. I am making it clear today that cooperation is not possible anymore. Moreover, I, Qin Hao, will certainly seek revenge. We shall see."


    [First update]

 Chapter 524 526: Establishing the Headquarters Building

    Mr. Morse''s expression changed upon hearing this, and he quickly said, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Qin, let''s talk this out."


    Qin Hao: "There''s nothing to talk about. Please relay to your family that I, Qin Hao, am not a pushover that can be easily manipulated. Do you want to cooperate or not? Are you playing me for a fool?"


    Mr. Morse: "Why must you do this, Mr. Qin? What about ten billion Federation dollars? We can offer you another ten billion."


    Qin Hao: "Get lost, go do whatever you need to do. Do I look like I need your money?"


    After speaking, Qin Hao hung up the phone.


    At that moment, Du Wanrou walked in from outside and curiously asked, "What happened?"


    "Ran into a rather shameless family," Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Du Wanrou nodded, "Let''s go eat; Meng has already prepared the food."


    The two then left the study together. Seeing Qin Hao, Qiao''er quickly came over: "Daddy, is this Auntie Wanrou?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, Wanrou, this is Qiao''er."


    Du Wanrou: "I know, Meng and the others already told me about her this morning."


    Zhao Yuying opened a bottle of wine: "Sister Wanrou, have some wine. Consider this your welcome party."


    Du Wanrou smiled graciously: "Yes, thank you, Sister Ying."


    During dinner, Qin Hao and the others had some Xinghui Wine, and even Han Meng drank a little, her face turning rosy.


    Seeing that Du Wanrou and Zhao Yuying seemed to be getting along well, Qin Hao breathed a sigh of relief; he had been worried that the two might give each other the cold shoulder.


    Although Du Wanrou had not acknowledged Zhao Yuying''s position, it was at least a good start.


    After dinner, Qin Hao returned to his study to continue writing his special effects software.


    Around eleven at night, Qin Hao had finished writing the software, which he then copied onto a prepared USB drive.


    He went to the master bedroom on the second floor, where Du Wanrou had not yet gone to sleep and was talking on the phone with Su Fei.


    Qin Hao took off his clothes and got into bed, lying beside her and listening to Du Wanrou chat with Su Fei.


    The two didn''t talk about much and soon hung up.


    Du Wanrou looked at Qin Hao and said, "She wants to collaborate with you."


    "Her family runs hotels, what does she want to collaborate on with me?" Qin Hao curiously asked.


    Du Wanrou: "Electronics and mobile phones. Their family''s headquarters is in Yu Country. The Innsil Group is just one of their industries. The famous Black Stone Group in the Western Continent is also part of their family business, which includes electronics, mobile phones, and the internet."


    Qin Hao slightly nodded, "You make the decision."


    Du Wanrou said with a smile, "Really? Do I have that much authority?"


    "Why not? What''s mine is yours, and what''s yours is also mine." Saying this, he flashed a mischievous smile and held Du Wanrou tight.


    ...


    The next morning.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao took Du Wanrou to Huafei Clothing Company.


    She planned to introduce Huafei Clothing and Huamei Skincare into the Northern Federation, so she wanted to check the product quality.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao arrive with a young, beautiful woman, Zhao Dongqiang from Huafei Clothing Company was startled. Could this woman be Mr. Qin''s girlfriend? What about Xiao Qian then?


    "Mr. Qin, who is this?" Zhao Dongqiang asked curiously.


    Qin Hao introduced with a smile, "This is my girlfriend, Du Wanrou. She has been studying in the Northern Federation for a while. She''s here to check out Huafei Clothing as she plans to introduce it to the Northern Federation."


    Zhao Dongqiang smiled and nodded, "Hello, Miss Du,"


    After speaking, he took Qin Hao and Du Wanrou on a tour inside the factory.


    Currently, the factory was producing winter clothing, and Du Wanrou even tried some on.


    The thermal long-sleeve shirts were lightweight, comfortable, and very warm. Paired with Huafei Clothing''s winter coats, the warmth was unparalleled. Most importantly, they were extremely easy to wear and breathe in, without the bulkiness typical of winter down jackets.


    After trying them on, Du Wanrou was a little reluctant to take them off, especially since the weather in Jianghai City was a bit chilly¡ªit was the perfect outfit.


    "These are quite nice, Mr. Zhao, leave your number please. I will call you next year when I return to the Federation."


    Qin Hao told Zhao Dongqiang, "Mr. Zhao, please ensure you meet all of Wan Rou''s requests."


    "Yes, of course, Mr. Qin." Zhao Dongqiang promptly gave his mobile number to Du Wanrou.


    After visiting Huafei Clothing, instead of going to Huamei Company, Du Wanrou and Qin Hao headed to Jiangshan Cooked Food Xuan East Branch.


    In Feng Xiangyi''s office.


    "Mr. Qin, you remember to visit us?" Feng Xiangyi said to Qin Hao, slightly annoyed.


    Qin Hao laughed awkwardly, "Auntie, I''ve been a bit busy these days."


    Feng Xiangyi said, "Busy chasing girls, right? The company has been sued, and you did not even bother to check in."


    Qin Hao gave an embarrassed smile, "Has the court made its decision yet?"


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "Not yet, but it should not be a big issue. Many netizens are supporting us. Most importantly, we have the certification from the national drug and quality supervision department. I also got internal information that there should be no issues."


    Qin Hao asked, "Are the countermeasures ready? These two groups are just floundering."


    Feng Xiangyi answered, "Currently, we have already entered the Xuanzhong market. Chen Xiaofeng is in charge of Nangan Province, while Lv Rong and Li Jing are handling Beiyu Province. We have now flanked Meiwei Group and Liu Hei Ya from both sides.


    Aside from some markets in the north, in the south, they have been completely defeated. The performance of their northern stores has been shrinking, especially after the bagged Jiangshan Roasted Duck hit the market. Now, people across the country can buy it."


    Qin Hao curiously asked, "The bagged Jiangshan Roasted Duck is on the market for sale?"


    Feng Xiangyi said, "Are you not even aware of this? Jiangshan started producing it a few days ago.


    Online sales are booming, and they are currently considering packaging other cooked foods for sale."


    Qin Hao continued, "How long can these two groups hold on?"


    Feng Xiangyi thought for a moment and replied, "If they don''t get outside help, at most a month."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, then made a call to An Linxuan, "Mr. An, how long can Nanlang Wine and Old Cellar Wine hold on? I hope you can bring them down as quickly as possible; don''t worry about the money, just focus on defeating these two first."


    An Linxuan replied, "Yes, I understand, Mr. Qin."


    After hanging up the call.


    Du Wanrou spoke, "Auntie, Qin Hao, I plan to go back to Shuinan Province this afternoon."


    "Why are you going back so soon?" Qin Hao was taken aback.


    Feng Xiangyi said, "Yeah, why don''t you stay a few more days?"


    Du Wanrou shook her head, "I haven''t seen them in a while; I want to go back and spend some time with them."


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou had lunch at the company.


    During the meal, Feng Xiangyi asked Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, even though we have established Jiangshan Group, it currently exists only in name and is no different from before. We should now establish a headquarters building for Jiangshan Group."


    [Second Update]

 Chapter 525 527: No Sight

    Qin Hao nodded slightly. He had thought about this issue a few days ago, but then something had come up.


    He began to ask, "Mr. Feng, where do you think is a good location to build the skyscraper?"


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "Undoubtedly, it must be Jianghai City, and moreover, Xinghui Wine Industry has already started to build factories around Jianghai.


    The most important thing is that Jianghai City is a top-tier city in Xuan Country, an international metropolis with natural advantages."


    Beside him, Du Wanrou nodded slightly, "The aviation and maritime trade here is convenient. Having the headquarters here will be advantageous whether developing domestically or internationally in the future."


    "Mr. Feng, have you selected a good location?" asked Qin Hao.


    Initially, his idea was to establish the headquarters in Jiangshan to boost the local economy there.


    The geographical location there was indeed somewhat remote and not conducive to the company''s development.


    Feng Xiangyi, "The location has not been chosen yet, Mr. Qin, are we buying a land to build it ourselves, or acquiring a skyscraper?"


    "Let''s build it ourselves. These next few days, you, Mr. Zhao from Huafei Company, and Mr. Su, choose the location," thought Qin Hao aloud.


    Feng Xiangyi nodded, "Alright, Mr. Qin."


    After lunch, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou left the company and went to the nearby large shopping mall where they bought some items, including several sets of Tian Mei skincare products.


    After shopping, Qin Hao took Du Wanrou to the airport, "When will you come back again?"


    Du Wanrou said with a smile, "I don''t know yet, the New Year is approaching, when are you going back?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I still have some things to deal with, probably not until just before the year ends."


    Du Wanrou straightened his clothes a bit and said, "Don''t work too hard, health is the most important."


    "Don''t worry, I''m in good health," Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Du Wanrou, holding her plane ticket, entered the check-in gate.


    Leaving the airport, Qin Hao got into the car and said to Leng Xuan, "Let''s go to Yuhao Media Company."


    On the way to Yuhao Media Company, Qin Hao received a call from Chang Jing.


    Chang Jing, "Mr. Qin, representatives from Qian Du Company, Tenglong Group, and Amao Net Shopping Company have arrived; they want to meet you."


    Qin Hao spoke in a calm tone, "What? Aren''t they satisfied with Mr. Chang? Must they see me?"


    Chang Jing, "Their intention is to meet and talk with you."


    Qin Hao, "Tell them, I''m not available."


    In the recent online public opinion incident, these three Internet industry giants had stirred up trouble behind the scenes, and now they want to collaborate?


    Chang Jing hesitated for a moment and said, "Really not meeting them, Mr. Qin? These three companies are the titans of the Internet sector, practically monopolizing the entire industry."


    "No meeting."


    After hanging up the phone, Chang Jing returned to the reception room and told the representatives from the three companies, "Sorry, gentlemen, our Mr. Qin is busy and does not have time."


    The faces of the representatives from the three companies darkened slightly, "No problem, we can wait. When will Mr. Qin have time?"


    Chang Jing, "I''m not sure, Mr. Qin has so many companies to manage, it''s quite normal to be busy, he might not have time for even half a month."


    The representatives from the three companies instantly understood what that meant¡ªQin Hao simply did not want to meet them.


    ...


    Jianghai Film and Television Base.


    Qin Hao''s convoy stopped outside Yuhao Media Company, and he got out and walked into the company.


    "Mr. Qin," a female receptionist greeted him respectfully as she saw him.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, walked into the company, and went outside Zhao Yuying''s office. He knocked and entered.


    Zhao Yuying was processing company documents. Upon seeing Qin Hao enter, she paused, "Where is little sister Wan Rou?"


    Qin Hao spoke, "She went back to Shuinan Province to visit her parents. Yu Ying, let''s head to the Blue Shadow special effects department. I have already prepared the special effects software."


    Zhao Yuying''s face lit up, "Hmm, okay."


    She stood up, taking Qin Hao and heading out to the Blue Shadow special effects production department.


    Deng Wei and the special effects team sat idle in the company, their business hadn''t improved since being acquired by Qin Hao. It was the same as before, except they didn''t have to worry about their salaries.


    "Mr. Qin, Mr. Zhao," Deng Wei swiftly stood up when she saw Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying approaching.


    Qin Hao handed a USB drive to Deng Wei, "This contains an advanced special effects software. Mr. Deng, please copy it onto everyone''s work computers."


    Deng Wei was stunned for a moment, advanced special effects software? "Mr. Qin, did you buy this from abroad?"


    Qin Hao, "No, I developed it myself. Let everyone get familiar with it first. In a few days, I will arrange for Mr. Zhao and the others to shoot a new movie. Mr. Deng, remember to tell all the staff not to get any ideas about this software.


    The software has an automatic alert system. If anyone tries to copy it, Mr. Zhao''s computer will be notified, and without my activation code, no one else can use it."


    Deng Wei naturally knew the importance of the advanced special effects software, "Hmm, okay, Mr. Qin, I will pass on the message."


    "Start copying it."


    The special effects production team had over a hundred computers. Although the computers here were high-end, copying the software alone would take quite a while.


    Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying watched for a while before they left.


    As they walked, Zhao Yuying asked, "Xiao Hao, if we''re going to shoot a movie, should we buy a script?"


    Qin Hao, "No need to buy one, I have a script. We just need to find a top director to shoot it according to the script."


    Zhao Yuying, "Does Wan Rou know about us?"


    Qin Hao nodded, and Zhao Yuying cautiously asked, "What did she say?"


    "She didn''t say anything,"


    Zhao Yuying was pleased to hear this. It must be an implicit approval, which was good news for her.


    She couldn''t help but grab Qin Hao''s hand, her face wearing a playful smile.


    As they walked, a black Mercedes car stopped next to them. The window rolled down, revealing Ma Peng.


    He saw Zhao Yuying holding the hand of a bald man, paused, took a closer look, and then was shocked. Wasn''t that Qin Hao?


    He smiled and said, "It turns out it''s Mr. Qin and Mrs. Zhao. Long time no see."


    Zhao Yuying saw Ma Peng and slightly nodded, "Mr. Ma, long time no see."


    The rear window also rolled down, revealing two familiar faces. One was Xiao Fei, and the other was Shen Lin.


    Xiao Fei spoke up, "It turns out to be Sister Yuying, long time no see."


    The two of them got out of the car, both around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, and both from the entertainment industry.


    These two were now very famous, adored by countless male and female fans. Their popularity was no less than Zhao Yuying''s.


    However, Zhao Yuying had become famous earlier and was also older than them.


    "It turns out it''s Xiao Fei. You''re now a hot star, congratulations," Zhao Yuying responded to the man who had spoken.


    Xiao Fei spotted Qin Hao next to Zhao Yuying, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.


    He looked at Qin Hao and smiled faintly, "So, Mr. Qin is here too. This hairstyle suits you quite well, Mr. Qin. It''s sharp and refreshing."


    Ma Peng and Shen Lin at his side smirked, revealing a smile.


    Zhao Yuying frowned slightly. This was clearly a dig at Qin Hao. Did Xiao Fei have a grudge against Xiao Hao?


    Back in the days when Xiao Fei had not yet become famous, Zhao Yuying had even helped him.


    [Third release, there should be five today, asking for votes]

 Chapter 526 528 Layout of the Internet

    Qin Hao glanced at Xiao Fei, then turned his head away, not even bothering to acknowledge him.


    He wrapped his arm around Zhao Yuying''s slender waist, and smiling, he asked, "Is this a friend of yours?"


    Zhao Yuying''s face turned slightly red, and she replied shyly, "No, just someone I know."


    Xiao Fei''s face darkened. His relationship with Zhao Yuying wasn''t that close, but he always remembered the help she had once given him.


    Although it had been a small favor, it made him fall for Zhao Yuying.


    Now, seeing the woman he liked in another man''s arms, he felt a murderous hatred toward Qin Hao.


    It''s just some damn money, others may fear you but I, Xiao Fei, am not scared.


    Though Xiao Fei lacked powerful connections, he didn''t have any scandals to his name and was not intimidated by Qin Hao.


    Shen Lin spoke up, giving Xiao Fei an out, "Xiao Fei, we should go check out the movie special effects at Mr. Ma''s company."


    Xiao Fei nodded, "Mr. Ma, let''s go."


    After they left, Qin Hao asked Zhao Yuying, "The woman just now, she''s the daughter of Shen Mingwang from Jifeng Automobile Group, right?"


    Zhao Yuying nodded, "She has a background, plus she''s fairly good-looking, so she''s quite popular now.


    I heard Xiao Fei and Shen Lin co-starred in a movie, and it looks like the visual effects were done by Rainbow Special Effects Company."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. He recognized Shen Lin because he had asked Li Wenjun to investigate the Shen Family''s information from the Jifeng Group.


    He was very familiar with the details of the Shen Family.


    The head of Jifeng Automobile Group was Shen Mingwang, who had a son and a daughter.


    Shen Mingwang also had a brother named Shen Wei and a sister, Shen Shuyun, who was married into the powerful Jinchen Zheng Family.


    The Shen Family patriarch, Shen Jiancai, was the current head of the household, and the Shen Family, a powerful Jinchen clan involved in both politics and business.


    The Zheng Family, linked through marriage to the Shen Family, was also involved in both political and business sectors and had a significant influence in commerce.


    ...


    The two of them returned to the Blue Shadow Special Effects Department, where a group of people were gathered around a dozen computers, watching intently.


    Someone was operating software to create special effects, and the output was so shockingly lifelike that it rivaled even the realism of foreign sci-fi blockbusters.


    Seeing Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying return, Deng Wei said excitedly, "Mr. Qin, this software is so powerful and user-friendly, the effects are incredibly realistic, and the program is very intelligent."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Everyone get familiar with it as soon as possible and aim to master it quickly."


    Deng Wei: "Don''t worry, Mr. Qin, we''ll get proficient at it as fast as we can."


    After 5 p.m., Qin Hao retrieved the USB drive, and the office computers all had the software installed. Everyone eagerly began using it as soon as it was set up.


    After everything was done, Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying returned to the nearby Yuhao Media Company.


    Qin Hao installed a piece of software on Zhao Yuying''s computer that could monitor the other computers in real-time.


    If anyone tried to steal the program, an alarm would sound from the intelligent software here.


    Having set it up, Zhao Yuying connected her phone to the computer, so it would receive an alert whenever the computer sounded an alarm.


    They got into the car and rushed home.


    Qin Hao gave Chang Jing a call, "Mr. Chang, does our company have a software development department?"


    Chang Jing: "No, but Mr. He and his engineers should understand this stuff. We''ve brought in a new group into the lab, so we''ve got plenty of hands. Does Mr. Qin want someone to develop software?"


    He Tingting and the others are all experts in computer programming; otherwise, they wouldn''t be researching more advanced artificial intelligence programs.


    Qin Hao: "Have Mr. He and his team write an instant messaging software, a browser search software, and an e-commerce software."


    Upon hearing this, Chang Jing was somewhat surprised. They had just turned down the three internet giants in China, and now he wanted to develop software, his intentions were clear¡ªhe wanted to pick a fight with these internet behemoths.


    The market for instant messaging software, e-commerce platforms, and search engines in China has long been saturated.


    These three giants established themselves early on in the internet''s infancy, firstly by seizing the initiative and secondly by excelling in their operations.


    Currently, no internet company in China can shake the status of these three internet giants.


    Even though Qian Du Company is on a downward trend, they still hold seventy to eighty percent of the market share in search engine business.


    In fact, Qian Du Company''s market value has been growing over the years, only that its growth rate can''t compare to the other two giants, making it seem as if they are on a decline.


    Qian Du Company has been researching intelligent wearable devices and autonomous driving for many years, but it was Qin Hao who took the lead and developed true artificial intelligence.


    Chang Jing saw through his plan: "Does Mr. Qin intend to obtain massive traffic by embedding the software into mobile phones?"


    Qin Hao: "Exactly, that''s our advantage. If those mobile phone manufacturers want to collaborate with us, they must pre-install our software.


    Mobile built-in software cannot be deleted. In the future, no one can compare with us in terms of software installation volume. Once installed, I will find a way to make those people use it."


    Chang Jing: "I will inform Mr. He right away. Mr. Qin, the new company has been registered, and according to your direction, it''s named Xingyu Network Communication Company."


    Qin Hao continued: "Good. Mr. Chang, hire another group of manual workers and set up a few server production lines."


    "Sure, Mr. Qin."


    After hanging up the phone, a gleam of shrewdness flashed in Qin Hao''s eyes. He massaged his temples. The three internet giants were not easy to deal with, and their shareholders were all influential figures.


    Zhao Yuying asked curiously, "Xiao Hao, are you planning to enter the internet industry?"


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "Yes, the development of future technology cannot do without the internet. This will be the main battlefield."


    Zhao Yuying seemed to understand yet not quite: "You want to create instant messaging software, an e-commerce platform, and a search engine to compete with the three internet giants for market share?"


    Qin Hao: "That''s right, but before that, there''s something else I need to do. That''s the foundation of my foray into the internet industry."


    The two of them soon returned home, where Han Meng had already prepared dinner and was waiting for them.


    Qiao''er asked curiously, "Daddy, where is Aunt Wan Rou?"


    "Aunt Wan Rou has gone home to see her parents," Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Qiao''er nodded: "Aunt Wan Rou bought me some pretty clothes last night."


    Qin Hao: "Is that so? Aunt Wan Rou is really kind to you. She didn''t buy any clothes for me."


    "Hehe."


    After dinner, Qin Hao went to his study. He checked the system store and spent one hundred thousand achievement points to exchange for the first part of a movie script called ''Mechanical Soldier''.


    He glanced over it briefly. The main plot was about an extraterrestrial civilization invading a planet. The natives discovered them and then used immature mech technology to contend with the invaders.


    This movie script was adapted from a real event in the universe where the system''s Xiao Ying resided.


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 527 529 Star Domain Network

    ```


    In that universe, the movie had grossed over fifty billion at the box office.


    The technology and living standards on that planet were higher than on Earth, and the human population was also much larger.


    If the box office there could break through fifty billion, Qin Hao would be satisfied if it reached one-tenth of that on Earth.


    After all, the living environment, living standards, and population difference were too significant.


    Having exchanged for the movie script, Qin Hao began searching for new items needed by the company.


    Star Domain Network super server research and development technology, exchange points five million.


    The amount of points required was a bit horrifying, and of all the server exchange points Qin Hao saw, this was the most expensive.


    Ordinary servers only needed hundreds of thousands, and better servers required several hundred thousand achievement points.


    This was a super network that could cover an entire planet.


    Moreover, this Star Domain Network had another significant feature, if a signal receiver and transmitter were set up in the space above the Moon, the network could reach the Moon, allowing connection to the Star Domain Network there as well.


    The five million achievement points only exchanged for the research and development technology of the Star Domain Network super server, and subsequent exchanges would be needed for the server Artificial Intelligence program to enable intelligent operation and maintenance without the need for personnel.


    Qin Hao was not short of achievement points now, so he chose to exchange for the Star Domain Network super server research and development technology.


    A single Star Domain Network super server would require tens of thousands of smart chips, which would be a very large project, possibly taking more time, but the effect would also be beyond imagination.


    By then, there would be no Internet, 4G, or 5G networks, only the Star Domain Network super network.


    Is a download speed of several dozen megabytes per second fast? Experience what a super network is like, with speeds measured in DB per second.


    From small to large, data units go KB-MB-GB-TB-PB...NB-DB.


    Units like MB and GB are currently common, while a unit like DB has never appeared before and is merely a conceptual storage unit.


    The largest hard disk currently available has a storage capacity of a few TB, and very large servers may have a few hundred TB of storage space.


    But this is nothing compared to the intelligent chips Qin Hao is now producing, with smartphones from Xinghai Company typically featuring storage chips measured in PB, with no need to worry about storage capacity.


    Qin Hao then exchanged for the Star Domain Network super server Artificial Intelligence program, spending three million achievement points.


    First, he copied down the script, which wasn''t very long, and it took him roughly an hour to complete.


    Afterward, he started writing about the Star Domain Network super server technology.


    Around ten at night, Zhao Yuying came in with a coffee, "Xiao Hao, have some coffee."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Ying, I''ve written the script. I''ll send it to your account now."


    Zhao Yuying was a bit surprised, "That fast? Send it to me quickly, I want to see it."


    Qin Hao sent the script to Zhao Yuying by email, "Ying, take a look, and then start preparing for it tomorrow."


    Zhao Yuying sat down and started reading the script on her phone with great interest.


    While Qin Hao typed away on the keyboard, Zhao Yuying was engrossed in the script.


    After absorbing the rough storyline, Zhou Yuying had a smile on her face; she thought it was pretty good. There were several female roles in it, and she felt that she was quite suited for the cool female lead.


    She thought the bald male protagonist was quite suited for the present Qin Hao.


    But this idea vanished as quickly as it appeared; how could Qin Hao possibly act in a movie, considering his status?


    ...


    The next day, Zhao Yuying went to the office to start preparing for the casting, director, and some necessary props.


    Qin Hao had also detailed what props were needed.


    The required props were not many, and there was no need for location scouting in special places because everything could be created with special effects software.


    Landmarks from various countries, for example, could all be rendered using special effects software.


    Landscape scenery, space ships, space stations, and other things could all be composed with special effects software, making everything extremely convenient.


    ```


    Qin Hao didn''t go out, he was still at home working on the research and development technology for the Star Domain Network super server.


    It wasn''t until ten o''clock the next morning that he finished.


    He came out of the study and found no one in the living room, and did not see Han Meng''s figure.


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, he looked in the kitchen and the restroom but found no one. Could she have gone out to buy groceries?


    He went outside the villa and asked Leng Xuan, "Did Meng go out to buy something?"


    Leng Xuan replied, "No."


    Qin Hao returned to the villa and came to the door of Han Meng''s bedroom. He knocked on the door, "Meng, are you in there?"


    "Mmm," Han Meng''s voice came from inside.


    He pushed the door open and went in. Han Meng was lying on the bed looking a bit pale.


    Qin Hao looked at her and asked, "What''s wrong with you, Meng?"


    Enduring the pain, Han Meng said, "My stomach hurts a little."


    Qin Hao sat down by the bed, "Let me have a look."


    He took Han Meng''s pulse and then lifted the blanket from her body, gently touching her waist and abdomen.


    Qin Hao asked, "Does it hurt here, Meng?"


    Han Meng nodded her head, "Mmm."


    "No worries, it''s appendicitis." Qin Hao took out a bottle of life potion and had her drink it.


    Previously, he wouldn''t dare to waste life potion so casually, but now a bottle only cost a couple of thousand achievement points.


    Several minutes later, Han Meng''s complexion had returned to normal, now with a hint of rosiness.


    Qin Hao asked with a smile, "How do you feel now, Meng?"


    Han Meng said, "It doesn''t hurt anymore, I feel much better. Thank you, Xiao Hao."


    Qin Hao said, "It''s nothing, Meng. Take more care of your health in the future. I''m going out now, and I won''t be back for lunch."


    "Okay, drive safely."


    After leaving the villa, Qin Hao got into the car and said to Leng Xuan, "To Xinghai Company."


    Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Qin Hao arrived at Chang Jing''s office, "Mr. Chang, have all the people been hired?"


    Chang Jing nodded her head, "Currently, those personnel are working in other workshops, and we can call them together whenever necessary."


    Qin Hao took out a USB drive and said, "This contains the production line operations and the raw materials needed. You must strictly follow the requirements. Additionally, there are the processing chips and storage chips needed for the server."


    "Understood, Mr. Qin."


    ...


    This morning there was another piece of news that caught the public''s attention: the court case involving Jiangshan Cooked Food Company and Xinghui Wine Industry was set to take place today.


    The outcome was approximately as Feng Xiangyi had said. Meiwei Group, Liu Hei Ya lost the lawsuit.


    Nanlang Wine and Old Cellar Wine also lost the case. After national authorities'' examination, Jiangshan Cooked Food and Xinghui Wine were indeed found to have health enhancing effects, and the plaintiff''s evidence was insufficient to hold up, hence it was dismissed.


    Qin Hao asked Chang Jing, "Mr. Chang, how is the steel factory acquisition going?"


    Chang Jing said, "We''ve already acquired two, and we''re still negotiating with Kangmei Group, but it should be settled soon."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "This project must be expedited, it will be very useful in the future."


    [First update, there was a small issue with the system yesterday]

 Chapter 528 530 Flaws

    Chang Jing asked curiously, "Where does Mr. Qin want to use it?"


    Qin Hao began, "You should know about the universal college compulsory education, right?"


    Chang Jing nodded, "Mr. Qin donated five hundred billion Federation Coins, shocking the whole world; it''d be hard not to know."


    Qin Hao walked over to her and said with a light smile, "Mr. Chang, you should be aware of the consequences of implementing universal higher compulsory education."


    Chang Jing was taken aback, then quickly understood, "You want to use robots to replace those low-level laborers?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Talking to Mr. Chang really saves effort. Making university education compulsory will inevitably lead to a downside, which is a sharp reduction in low-level laborers, reaching an extremely low point.


    That''s when intelligent robots come into play, to replace those low-level laborers."


    Chang Jing gave him a look and said, "You''re selling for five million Federation Coins; which domestic company do you think can afford that?"


    Qin Hao: "The five million Federation Coins was just an offhand remark, because I know those foreigners will definitely buy them to study. As for the domestic price, about two million Xuan Country Coins should be about right, and of course, if they can''t afford to buy, we can also implement a leasing model."


    To tell the truth, Chang Jing admired his brain. Leasing? How did he even think of that?


    However, it was indeed a good idea.


    While they were talking, Chang Jing''s phone rang. She answered the call, "Hello, this is the General Manager''s office."


    The security room reported, "Mr. Chang, some foreigners have arrived outside, saying they are friends of Mr. Qin and have come to discuss cooperation with him."


    Chang Jing glanced at Qin Hao, then asked, "Who are they? What are their names?"


    "Sophie Inshill."


    Seeing Qin Hao nod, Chang Jing said, "Bring them to the office building''s conference room."


    After hanging up the phone, Chang Jing looked towards Qin Hao, "You know her?"


    Qin Hao: "Yes, a direct member of the Inshill family."


    Chang Jing laughed dryly, "It seems I need to brush up on those foreign financial dynasties."


    "It''s good to look into it when you have time; it will be helpful later on." After saying that, Qin Hao and she went outside the office and into the conference room.


    Soon, Sophie Inshill and her party entered the conference room.


    There were a total of eight people in Sophie''s group, including her and a few middle-aged men in their forties and fifties.


    "Mr. Qin, long time no see. Changed your hairstyle?" Sophie reached out her hand as she saw him approaching.


    Qin Hao shook her hand, "Everyone says the new haircut looks spirited and refreshing, so I changed it."


    "Mr. Chang, good to meet you. I''ve long heard of your great reputation," Sophie also took the initiative to shake hands with Chang Jing.


    Chang Jing smiled faintly, "Miss Su Fei, hello."


    Sophie began with introductions, "Mr. Qin, let me introduce, this is the Vice President of Black Stone Group, Gilbert Inshill, my uncle."


    "Mr. Qin, hello." Gilbert''s Xuan Country language was not very fluent, but it was no problem for common communication.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Mr. Gilbert, hello, please have a seat."


    Everyone took their seats in turn, and Su Fei began speaking, "Mr. Qin, the reason I''m seeking you out this time is to collaborate with you to secure the exclusive agency rights for smartphone smart chips and washing machine smart chips."


    Qin Hao responded, "That''s a trivial matter, you''ve taken good care of Wan Rou in the Northern Federation, and cooperation is no issue at all, let''s proceed according to the market price."


    The people who came with Su Fei were momentarily stunned; they had inquired about Qin Hao many times before coming.


    Everyone said that he was difficult to deal with, with an odd personality, and he agreed before they even got into specifics?


    Gilbert Inshell spoke cautiously, "Mr. Qin, we''re hoping to obtain the exclusive agency rights for the entire Western Continent."


    Qin Hao''s expression remained unchanged as he asked, "I''d like to know which nation you belong to?"


    Su Fei-Innsil replied, "We are You Tai people."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Then you should be aware of what happened with the Mosi Family and the Robert family, right? Do you You Tai intend to join forces against me?"


    Su Fei nodded, "Mr. Qin, this is merely a matter of personal interests, and it has nothing to do with the interests of the entire You Tai Nation. Hence, others won''t intervene in this matter, and it is unrelated to us."


    Moreover, in terms of strength, the Mosi Family and the Robert family are much more powerful and ancient than the Innsil Family.


    There are many families in the Western Continent more powerful than the Innsil Family.


    This time, his acquisition of the agency rights for the Western Continent isn''t entirely for his own operation; they will also secretly ally with some powerful You Tai families, which will help them check the established local families.


    Qin Hao gave a slight nod, "The agency rights are not an issue. It seems you want to collaborate with others for the operation, given that the competition in the Western Continent is fierce, and the Innsil Family alone cannot withstand such pressure."


    Gilbert Inshell said excitedly, "Yes, Mr. Qin, we plan to ally with some You Tai families. By doing so, we will receive support from other You Tai families, which indirectly would also be assistance to you."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Miss Su Fei, I tend to trust you quite a bit. Once you draw up the detailed contract, and if there are no issues, then we can proceed with the collaboration."


    Su Fei nodded, "Alright, Mr. Qin. By tomorrow morning at the latest, we will have a detailed contract prepared."


    Qin Hao saw Su Fei and the others out and then went to the laboratory with Chang Jing.


    There were now nearly a hundred research and development staff in the laboratory, with some working on developing instant communication software following Chang Jing''s commands.


    There are many technical teams capable of developing instant communication software nowadays, but developing one without user traffic is simply a waste of resources.


    In the past, some attempted to compete with Tenglong Group for market share, but now they have all failed miserably.


    "Mr. Qin," Wang Bo was in charge of leading the development of the instant communication software.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Mr. Wang, roughly when can we expect it to be developed? And how about its various features?"


    Wang Bo said with a smile, "With so many of us working on it, at most it will take half a month, and our smart communication software will have stronger functions than theirs.


    It will also be more intelligent, with very strong market competitiveness. As long as we can open the traffic entrance and get users to try our product, it will retain a group of users."


    Qin Hao remarked, "The communication softwares that previously competed with Tenglong Group weren''t inferior either; their failure was not due to the software functionality but rather other aspects. Sociability is the most crucial element of social software."


    Wang Bo nodded in agreement, "You''re right, Mr. Qin. The ability to form a social network is indeed most vital."


    Qin Hao looked at Wang Bo and the rest, noticing they had lost weight since their arrival, mainly due to their first encounter with intelligent programs, which had them researching almost to the point of exhaustion.


    He spoke up, "Mr. Wang, you must all take care of your health. Health is the real capital. If you feel unwell at any point, let me know. You should be aware of my medical skills. I can ensure you all stay healthy and live well beyond a hundred years without any problems."


    [Second update]

 Chapter 529 531: Invitation

    Wang Bo and the others smiled slightly upon hearing this, "Mr. Qin, we''ve heard of your reputation in the medical field.


    Anti-cancer medicine is beneficial to the country and the people, and medicines like cold remedies, anti-inflammatory drugs, and fever reducers offer direct benefits to the public. Furthermore, the contributions Mr. Qin has made to the educational sector are all extraordinary. Mr. Qin, you will certainly make history."


    Qin Hao replied, "Mr. Wang, please don''t praise me so highly. I think it''s scientists like you, who work diligently and quietly, that truly deserve to make history. The rapid progress of Xuan Country is entirely due to the efforts of people like you."


    Wang Bo gave a bitter smile," Compared to you, Mr. Qin, we fall far short. In the past, our work was practically futile."


    Next to him, He Tingting spoke up with a hint of irritation, "Alright, enough of the mutual praise. Mr. Qin, with the people we currently have, it will take us about half a month to develop the smart chat software, and only then can we continue to develop the e-commerce platform and search engine."


    Qin Hao responded, "Hmm, let''s start with the chat software, then move on to the search engine. We can leave the e-commerce platform for last."


    He Tingting nodded, "Mr. Qin, today we developed the smart program code for the refrigerator. Could you come and take a look?"


    Curiously, Qin Hao walked over. In one part of the laboratory, a brand-new Kangmei Refrigerator was set up, now fitted with the smart motherboard that He Tingting and her team had developed.


    After He Tingting plugged in the refrigerator, a synthesized electronic voice came from inside, "Welcome to your Kangmei smart refrigerator, I am here to serve you at all times."


    He Tingting explained to Qin Hao, "This refrigerator uses the latest smart technology, Mr. Qin.


    It can scan the person in front of it using sensors and can perform retina scans, facial recognition, and fingerprint authentication.


    It can also connect to the internet, and the touch screen on the door offers many smart functions.


    The most important feature is the internal scanning sensor that can analyze the changes in composition within vegetables and meats."


    It can promptly alert the owner to prevent food spoilage, and it can also detect residual toxins in the vegetables you buy. Its functionality is very powerful.


    We are also developing another feature ¡ª my idea is to use future chat software to control various household smart appliances."


    When Qin Hao heard her last remark, his eyes brightened, "Mr. He, you must develop this feature."


    It''s very important for the popularization of the chat software. As smart home appliances become more common, so too will the potential users of the chat software increase.


    With the super trump card we develop, we''ll definitely secure a place in the domestic chat software market."


    Even if it doesn''t cripple Tenglong Group, it will certainly make them very uncomfortable.


    As long as Qin Hao gets a firm footing, he is confident about defeating Tenglong Group in the future.


    Continuing with a smile, He Tingting said, "Mr. Qin, features like retina, face, and fingerprint recognition can also be used to develop high-tech security doors.


    The homeowner could use the chat software''s home management features to remotely control the door access, making it convenient for relatives to enter when they visit."


    Chang Jing and Qin Hao''s eyes grew increasingly bright upon hearing this, especially Qin Hao, who was thinking even further ahead.


    For instance, future air-energy smart cars. If the car is at home and you are at the office, you could completely control it with your phone, allowing the car to drive itself to your office. This would make things a lot more convenient, like dropping kids off at school or using the car for your spouse."


    Of course, all of this depends primarily on the network.


    The development of the extremely fast Star Domain Network is fundamental to connecting all smart devices.


    Looking at his watch, Qin Hao said, "It''s already noon, let''s all go have lunch together."


    At Qin Hao''s invitation, they went to the cafeteria together. During the walk and while eating, these research enthusiasts kept discussing future smart device developments with him.


    After lunch, these people didn''t want to waste a minute and headed straight back to the lab.


    As Qin Hao and Chang Jing walked out of the cafeteria, he said to Chang Jing, "Accelerate the production of the servers, and try to do it as quickly as possible."


    Chang Jing nodded, "Yes, I understand, Mr. Qin."


    Before they even got back to the office building, Qin Hao''s phone rang. It was a call from an unknown number.


    He answered the phone, "Hello, who is this?"


    A young woman''s voice came through the phone, "Is this Mr. Qin? This is Anna Inshill. I need to discuss something with Mr. Qin. Do you have some time?"


    Upon hearing her name, Qin Hao''s expression turned cold. Anna Inshill? What relation did she have with Sophie Inshill?


    "Miss Anna, please go ahead and speak directly."


    Anna Inshill, "Mr. Qin, some matters are not clear over the phone, we should meet in person."


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Okay, where are you?"


    Anna Inshill giggled, "I''m in suite 2626 at Keldun Hotel, Mr. Qin, I''ll be waiting for you."


    That last sentence from Anna was tantalizing.


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao realized that Chang Jing was looking at him with an unusual expression.


    "Mr. Chang, I have to step out for a while," Qin Hao told him.


    Chang Jing responded indifferently, "I''m not your girlfriend, nor am I your boss; you don''t need to report to me."


    Qin Hao speechlessly said, "Mr. Chang, you''re overthinking it. I was just being polite."


    "Oh, then off you go."


    ...


    Qin Hao got into the car and instructed Leng Xuan to drive to Keldun Hotel.


    On the way, he pondered about Anna Inshill. What was her relation to Sophie Inshill, and what was her purpose in seeking him out?


    A little past one o''clock, Qin Hao arrived outside Keldun Hotel.


    With Leng Xuan and some others, he reached the deluxe suite 2626 on the 26th floor.


    Two black bodyguards stood at the door, and upon seeing Qin Hao and his group, they asked, "Are you Mr. Qin? Please come in."


    Qin Hao told Leng Xuan and the others, "Wait for me outside."


    He opened the door and walked in, greeted by a luxurious living room, dazzlingly decorated and extremely lavish.


    A beautiful young foreign woman was sitting on the sofa, wearing a golden silk nightgown, very short, revealing her slim and long white legs.


    She also held a wine glass, containing a swirl of red wine.


    As Qin Hao entered, she had just taken a sip, her cherry red lips looking even more vivid and stunning.


    "Mr. Qin?" Anna Inshill stood up and smiled, her beautiful eyes appraising him.


    After entering, Qin Hao was also sizing her up. She was an exceptional beauty, in appearance and figure not inferior to Sophie.


    "Miss Anna?"


    Anna''s face showed a seductive smile, "Thank you for gracing me with your presence, Mr. Qin. Please have a seat."


    Qin Hao sat opposite her, and she leaned forward to personally pour him a glass of red wine.


    As she poured, she smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, this is a vintage red wine, from 1787. Try it, the taste is very authentic."


    [This is the third issue, please wait for more, I have to step out today, no weekends or holidays, quite tragic. Would it be possible for the bosses to give me a few days off a month?]

 Chapter 530 532 Anna Insher

    Qin Hao glanced up inadvertently, then quickly averted his gaze.


    This Anna Insher was way too bold, she wasn''t wearing anything underneath.


    She must be doing this on purpose. Is she trying to seduce me?


    That shouldn''t be the case, we didn''t even know each other before. Could it be for the smart chip? But hasn''t Miss Su Fei already represented the Innsil Family to discuss this?


    Could it be that she and Su Fei are not on good terms?


    He had no experience with these large families and was unclear about the relationships among their children. Logically speaking, blood is thicker than water, so their relationship shouldn''t be bad.


    "Mr. Qin, what are you thinking about? Try a sip," Anna said, offering the wine glass to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao came to his senses, accepted the wine glass, and quickly said, "Please sit down, Miss Anna."


    Anna observed all his words and actions, and seeing his response, her rosy lips slightly curled into a smile.


    Sitting on the sofa, she clinked glasses with Qin Hao, "Have a drink, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao took a sip, set down the glass, and looked at Anna, "Miss Anna, you must have something to discuss with me. Please feel free to speak your mind."


    Anna put down her glass, licked her lips with her tongue, looking extremely sensual, "Mr. Qin, I''ll be straightforward. I would like to cooperate with your Xinghai Company."


    Qin Hao asked in confusion, "What is the relationship between Miss Su Fei and Miss Anna?"


    Anna smiled and said, "She is my half-sister from the same father."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Miss Su Fei and people from the Innsil Family have already approached me this morning."


    Anna nodded, "I am aware of that, and I believe that collaborating with me will be more beneficial for your future development."


    Qin Hao said, "Miss Anna, there should be no difference. It''s the Innsil Family who is cooperating with me either way."


    Anna smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, you are not aware of Su Fei''s status within the family; she really doesn''t hold any rank, because her mother was once a maid of the Innsil Family, and she is just a product of a drunken mistake."


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, then said with a smile, "Miss Anna, this has nothing to do with me."


    Anna shook her head, "How can it be unrelated? With her low status, she can''t mobilize much of the family''s resources.


    Even though she is negotiating with you now, the operating rights for the Innsil Family''s smart chips will end up in her uncle Gilbert''s hands, and she will be kicked out of the game."


    Qin Hao said, "That doesn''t concern me, as long as it doesn''t affect my interests."


    Anna said, "Mr. Qin, you must know about the assassination attempt on Su Fei on the airplane, right?"


    Qin Hao nodded, somewhat puzzled about why she was bringing this up.


    Anna said with a smile, "Do you know the results of Su Fei''s investigation? In the end, she found out that the killer was me. Mr. Qin, do you think I would lay a hand on her?"


    Qin Hao cleared his throat, wondering why they were discussing family matters with him. Of course, you had the motive to do it.


    If Su Fei were to die, you''d have one less competitor and a larger share of the inheritance.


    Anna said, "Our relationship has been bad since we were young. I have always looked down on her, but I have never thought of killing her. The real murderer is actually Gilbert, our uncle."


    ...


    Qin Hao was momentarily stunned, then let out a bitter smile. "Miss Anna, telling me this is useless. This is something your family has to deal with, and it has nothing to do with me."


    Erin smiled and said, "If I am not mistaken, once the contract is signed, Anna will be pushed out.


    Then Gilbert will take over, and he will control the entire Innsil Family by relying on the exclusive agency for the intelligent chips."


    Mr. Qin is able to cooperate with the Innsil Family purely on account of Miss Su Fei''s face. If something happens to her, that''s certainly not something Mr. Qin would want to see, right?"


    Contemplation flashed through Qin Hao''s eyes. Anna appeared to be flirtatious and charming, but that was merely an illusion.


    This person''s schemes and depths were very profound; Qin Hao couldn''t see through Anna at all.


    He indeed didn''t want anything to happen to Su Fei, as she had been a great help to Du Wanrou, and for Du Wanrou''s sake, he also didn''t want anything to befall Su Fei.


    Anna laughed, "I know Mr. Qin doesn''t trust me, but it''s easy to find out the truth. You can also see at the moment the contract is signed; the agent will definitely be Gilbert."


    Having said that, she got up, walked over, and sat next to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, wouldn''t you like to know how to test it?"


    Qin Hao could smell a faint fragrance wafting into his nostrils. He kept his eyes straight ahead, "Miss Anna, you seem not the least bit worried about the Innsil Family falling into Gilbert''s hands."


    Anna replied, "Sorrow doesn''t have to be written on the face¡ªit serves no purpose and is merely a display of ineptitude."


    Qin Hao continued to ask, "If Miss Anna knew that Gilbert is the murderer, why not tell the people in your family?"


    Anna smiled, "Only I know I''m not the murderer, while others all think I am. Explanations are useless; they would just think I''m trying to exonerate myself."


    Qin Hao asked, "Does Miss Anna have any way to test it?"


    Anna''s delicate hand rested on his shoulder, her lips, red as cherries, leaned close to his ear, "It''s simple. Let Gilbert know that I was in Xuan Country and had sought you out. Once the contract is signed, he will definitely make a move against Su Fei.


    Since Su Fei no longer serves any purpose to him, and she also has something he needs¡ªa string of passwords.


    The passwords for Rhein Bank, which include ten percent of Black Stone Group''s shares. If Gilbert obtains them, he will have absolute control over Black Stone Group.


    Of course, if I get them, I will also hold significant influence. Black Stone Group is the largest group company under the Innsil Family, holding many companies under the Innsil Family, like the largest shareholder of Innsil Hotel is Black Stone Group."


    He looked down at Anna sitting on the sofa: "Miss Anna, if you''re playing me, I guarantee you won''t be able to leave Jianghai City, and no one can save you."


    Anna said with a smile, "Mr. Qin''s Flying Leopard Guard Battalion is famous far and wide. How could I dare to play you?"


    "Good to know," said Qin Hao before he hastily turned his head away. Damn it, this woman is nothing but a sly fox.


    Qin Hao said, "If Miss Anna has no further business, then I''ll be taking my leave."


    As he left Anna''s private room, Qin Hao let out a long breath. He couldn''t be sure whether Anna''s words were true or false, but he felt it was necessary to help Su Fei.


    Just as he left the hotel, Qin Hao received a call from Feng Xiangyi, "Mr. Qin, the location for the new tower has been selected, very close to Xinghai Company''s. The land there is a bit cheaper, and we''ll need about 2.1 billion."


    Qin Hao responded, "Hmm, I''ll transfer the money to you later, start the construction once the land deal is closed."


    Feng Xiangyi asked, "Mr. Qin, if we are establishing a headquarters tower, should we hire a top foreign designer to draft a stylish design for our company?"


    Qin Hao said, "There''s no need. I''ll design it when the time comes."


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 531 533 Tyrant Contract

    Feng Xiangyi asked in surprise, "Mr. Qin, do you also understand architectural design?"


    Qin Hao said, "I barely know a little, it''s actually just a combination of mathematical and physical knowledge."


    Feng Xiangyi said, "If Mr. Qin knows that, we can save a few billion in funds. Those foreign famous architects charge billions to design blueprints for skyscrapers."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao thought about Su Fei, Anna, and that Gilbert.


    From his appearance, Qin Hao could not see anything unusual about Gilbert; of course, people who were good at disguising themselves were not easily noticeable to others.


    If this matter were true, he really couldn''t ignore it.


    His cooperation with the Innsil family was entirely due to Su Fei''s influence. He did not want to see Su Fei either ousted or killed.


    After driving around the city streets, Qin Hao decided to give Su Fei a call.


    "Where is Miss Su Fei?" Qin Hao asked.


    Su Fei answered with a laugh, "At the Innsil Hotel. Mr. Qin, do you need me for something?"


    Qin Hao said, "Yes, I''m almost at your hotel entrance. Come down and meet me, it''s about Anna Insher."


    Upon hearing that name, Su Fei''s expression changed slightly, "Has Mr. Qin met her?"


    "Correct, there''s a coffee shop outside the Innsil Hotel. I''ll wait for you there,"


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao''s entourage arrived outside the Innsil Hotel, and he walked out with Leng Xuan.


    Qin Hao asked Leng Xuan, "How many people are watching Anna?"


    Leng Xuan replied, "Four people. Anna brought only two bodyguards, and their strength isn''t strong, which is enough to keep an eye on them."


    Qin Hao directed, "Keep a close watch. If they show any signs of escaping, capture them immediately."


    Leng Xuan used a communicator to notify the personnel there while calling four additional people from Feibao Company to ensure foolproof security.


    In Jianghai City, no one matched Qin Hao''s strength.


    His commercial intelligence department now spanned various places in Jianghai City, and Flying Leopard Security was the largest guard company in the city, with security personnel of almost the highest combat strength.


    Nothing in Jianghai City could escape his surveillance.


    Soon, Sophie Inshill arrived at the cafe? inside the coffee shop, and Qin Hao gestured to her to hurry over.


    Sitting across from Qin Hao, she asked directly, "Mr. Qin, what did Anna tell you?"


    "It''s about a partnership." Qin Hao sipped his coffee and said lightly.


    Su Fei questioned, "Did you agree, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "If I had agreed, I wouldn''t have come to find Miss Su Fei. You are Wan Rou''s friend, and our cooperation with the Innsil family is entirely because of your influence."


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin," Su Fei expressed her gratitude.


    Now, Qin Hao''s status and strength were no less than that of the Innsil family, if not stronger.


    Qin Hao said, "Don''t mention it. I''m just curious, since you both are from the Innsil family, if it were a partnership, she would benefit too. Why then would she come to me for a partnership?"


    Su Fei hesitated and then said, "Mr. Qin, do you remember the incident on the plane initially? After my investigation, it was Anna who bribed them. Originally, this was our family matter.


    I wasn''t planning to tell Mr. Qin, but now I want to remind you, Mr. Qin, that Anna is ruthless and unscrupulous in achieving her goals. Don''t be deceived by her appearances."


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "I''ll be cautious. Miss Su Fei, please prepare the cooperation contract as soon as possible."


    He knew that within large families like the Innsil Family there were definitely several factions, covertly vying for fame and profit.


    He didn''t want to get involved in such matters, nor did he care to, as they had nothing to do with him.


    The two didn''t talk much, and after a while, Su Fei returned.


    Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, "Send a few people to watch Su Fei and her group, send more people."


    Leng Xuan nodded, "Yes, Mr. Qin."


    ...


    The next morning at 9:30, inside the conference room of Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Qin Hao, Chang Jing, Su Fei, Gilbert, and others were sitting inside, with Qin Hao and Chang Jing looking at the contract.


    This was the cooperation contract drafted by Su Fei and her team, with content and terms similar to those initially from the Ross Family.


    Although the Western Continent was not as large as the Federation, the living conditions of the people in those countries were high, with strong purchasing power, making the market potential not inferior to that of the Federation.


    Qin Hao thoroughly checked, and the legal representative of the contract was indeed Gilbert.


    He glanced at Gilbert and Su Fei, curious about how Gilbert had managed it, they must have reached some sort of cooperation agreement.


    Otherwise, Su Fei wouldn''t have changed the agent to Gilbert.


    Gilbert smiled and asked, "What do you think, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Yao shook her head, "Mr. Chang, please take out our contract for Miss Su Fei and Mr. Gilbert to see."


    Chang Jing replied, "Here is the contract we prepared, please take a look."


    Su Fei and Gilbert began to read and the more they read, the graver their expressions became.


    Qin Hao sat there smiling and said, "The Ross family signed this very contract, and so did the Mosi Family before them, who violated the contract terms and couldn''t get their money or chips. Do you think the Mosi Family dares to speak out?"


    After finishing, Su Fei and Gilbert didn''t know what to say; it was clearly a tyrannical contract, with all the initiative on the side of Xinghai Company.


    Xinghai Company could even independently tear up the contract, stopping chip supplies, which was what really made them uncomfortable.


    But they didn''t dare say anything, as Xinghai Company was the only one in the world, and if the Innsil Family didn''t cooperate with them, there were plenty of others who would, even with such tyrannical terms.


    After all, they were the ones asking Qin Hao for cooperation.


    This is the advantage of a monopoly conglomerate, holding complete initiative in the contract.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "What do you think? If you feel it''s not right, you don''t have to sign, I''m not forcing you."


    Gilbert and Su Fei were smart people; even if the contract was overbearing, they had to sign it.


    The Black Stone Group had previously used such contracts in cooperation, and because of needs, the parties had to cooperate.


    Now Gilbert understood what those people had felt.


    Qin Hao added, "As long as you don''t do anything out of line, we won''t randomly terminate our cooperation, as Xinghai Company highly values its reputation."


    Su Fei and Gilbert nodded and eventually signed the contract.


    The strategic cooperation fee was fifty billion Federation dollars, with a term of three years. Xinghai Company would provide at least one million units of smartphone chips and smart washing machine chips every month.


    In a few days, ten intelligent lithography machines would be produced, half of which would be sent to the Federation, and the remaining five would enter the production line, with a daily chip production capacity of about three hundred thousand.


    [First Update]

 Chapter 532 534 Gilberts Calculation

    The price of one unit is two billion Federation dollars, and after deducting various costs and labor expenses, for five units totaling ten billion Federation dollars, he could earn close to nine billion.


    This is the exorbitant profit of high-tech technology, selling monopoly technology.


    Currently, Chang Jing has invested more than ten billion in the photolithography machine production line, expanding it to twenty lines.


    In a few days, a new batch of intelligent photolithography machines will be put into use, and the output of intelligent chips will greatly increase.


    After the parties signed the contract, Gilbert and Qin Hao shook hands and then left.


    Not long after, Qin Hao received a call from Gilbert, inviting him out for a private meal.


    Qin Hao agreed, Gilbert really couldn''t sit still it seemed.


    His inviting Qin Hao out this time was likely to build a good relationship between the two men, so he could cut out Su Fei in the process.


    That way he wouldn''t have to worry about Qin Hao severing their cooperation after Su Fei''s death.


    Qin Hao drove out, and the place Gilbert had invited him to was the Innsil Hotel, but on the top floor, completely avoiding Sophie Inshill.


    When he arrived in the private room, Gilbert was already sitting at a round table, laden with an abundance of food.


    "Mr. Qin, please have a seat, have a seat," Gilbert said hurriedly as he rose from his chair.


    Qin Hao sat opposite Gilbert with a smile on his face, "Mr. Gilbert invited me out, is there something you need?"


    "Actually, there''s nothing in particular. Being able to cooperate with Mr. Qin makes me and the entire Innsil family very happy, this banquet today is also to express my excitement," Gilbert said fluently in Xuan Country''s language, even quoting idioms.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Mr. Gilbert is too polite, cooperation is mutually beneficial and win-win."


    Gilbert: "Mr. Qin, I will be responsible for the agency work in the Western Continent from now on, Su Fei will take care of the other businesses."


    After speaking, he carefully watched Qin Hao''s reaction, curious to see how Qin Hao would respond.


    There was no change in Qin Hao''s expression, instead, he replied with a smile, "Mr. Gilbert is mature and prudent, I feel more reassured with you as the agent, Su Fei is a bit too young indeed."


    Gilbert''s heart leaped with joy upon hearing this, but his face remained impassive, "You''re right, Mr. Qin, I also think Su Fei is too young, I''m afraid she might cause some trouble."


    After he finished, he clapped his hands, and several young, beautiful, and stunning foreign women walked in, each an outstanding beauty in their own right, colloquially referred to as foreign thoroughbreds.


    Gilbert had a beaming smile, the proverb says that even heroes find it hard to resist the allure of a beautiful woman, and since Qin Hao was so young, he thought that Qin Hao surely wouldn''t be able to resist such top-quality foreign beauties.


    Generally, people from Xuan Country liked to "ride" these kinds of foreign thoroughbreds.


    Seeing this scene, Qin Hao was slightly taken aback, "Mr. Gilbert, what is this about?"


    Gilbert said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, these beauties have been brought from Xiyu Country, they are absolutely genuine and top-notch, I assure you that you will be satisfied, let Mr. Qin have a look."


    Four blond-haired, blue-eyed young beauties approached.


    They were university students from a certain university in Xiyu Country, carefully chosen by Gilbert.


    These women also knew what they had come to Xuan Country for and were well prepared, plus Gilbert had given them a hefty sum of money upon arrival.


    "Mr. Qin, which ones do you find appealing?" Gilbert asked with a fawning smile.


    After looking over them for a moment, Qin Hao said with a smile, "All of them are quite nice, Mr. Gilbert has gone to a lot of trouble."


    Gilbert hurriedly said, "No trouble at all, Mr. Qin, please enjoy yourself. Before coming, I ensured they all underwent a comprehensive medical examination, they are all healthy with no diseases."


    After finishing his speech, he had those four people sit beside Qin Hao to serve him during the meal.


    "Mr. Qin, try some of this," a young and beautiful woman snuggled into his embrace.


    "Mr. Qin, this is also delicious."


    Three beauties were sitting to his left and right, and another one was behind Qin Hao, gently massaging him with hands that occasionally slipped inside his clothes.


    Qin Hao smiled at Gilbert and said, "Mr. Gilbert, that''s very thoughtful of you, I like it a lot."


    Gilbert let out a hearty laugh, "As long as you like it, Mr. Qin, that''s great. I''ve got some other matters to attend to, so I won''t disturb you further. Enjoy your meal and have fun."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Then I won''t see you out."


    "No need, Mr. Qin, enjoy yourself."


    Once Gilbert had left, the four blonde and blue-eyed foreign beauties became even bolder.


    "Mr. Qin, would you like me to feed you this?


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless and quickly stopped her, "Let''s go play in the room."


    He stood up and walked to the room, and the four young foreign beauties quickly followed.


    Qin Hao spoke, "Wait for me a moment, I need to go to the restroom."


    Once in the restroom, he called Leng Xuan, "Keep a close watch on Gilbert; he might make his move today."


    After the call, Qin Hao returned to the room, and the women immediately approached and clung to him.


    Qin Hao hurriedly said, "Ladies, I''m feeling a bit unwell, let''s call it a day."


    The women''s faces changed slightly upon hearing this, "It''s nothing, Mr. Qin, if you''re tired, you can just lie down."


    The task Gilbert gave them was to take good care of Qin Hao, and if they managed to sleep with him, they would receive a large sum of money.


    Now that Qin Hao was calling it quits, they wouldn''t be able to complete the task or get the money.


    Qin Hao knew what these people wanted, so he transferred one million to each of them, "Take this money and just lie in bed honestly. You can only leave when I say so."


    The faces of the four lit up with joy, and they lay down on the bed without another word. The bed was large enough for six or seven people to lie on.


    Qin Hao did not leave but stayed in the room the whole time, creating an illusion to confuse Gilbert.


    All day, Qin Hao stayed in the room. Gilbert indeed had someone secretly observing and saw that Qin Hao didn''t come out for nearly a whole day. A satisfied smile appeared on his face, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.


    He took out his phone and said, "You guys come in."


    Quickly, four bodyguards entered, and Gilbert said, "Get to work. Bring the Innsil Hotel Group share transfer contract over, and be sure to extract the password. After you get it, kill her and pin the blame on Anna. Anna''s arrival couldn''t have been timelier."


    After saying that, a sinister smile appeared on his face. He had already dealt with Qin Hao''s side, and Sophie''s death wouldn''t affect the cooperation at all.


    Sophie was no longer of any value, and the forty percent of Innsil Hotel Group shares given to Sophie also had to be taken back.


    Following these orders, the men left Gilbert''s room. Sophie''s room was downstairs, not on the same floor as Gilbert''s.


    [Second update]

 Chapter 533 535: True Colors Revealed

    After these four people came out of Gilbert''s room, they were spotted by members of the Flying Leopard Team.


    They immediately notified Leng Xuan, "Captain, four people have just left Gilbert''s room and seem to be heading toward Miss Su Fei''s room."


    "Follow them and wait for my instructions," Leng Xuan hung up the walkie-talkie and knocked before he entered the luxurious suite.


    Qin Hao was sitting on the living room sofa watching TV, those four women were still lying on the bed, only getting up to use the restroom.


    Leng Xuan said to him, "Mr. Qin, Gilbert has already made his move."


    Qin Hao stood up and followed him out, "Let''s go and see, I was about to die of boredom."


    The two left the room and took the elevator to the 26th floor, where Su Fei was staying, and stood in front of a door guarded by seven or eight members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion.


    As Qin Hao and the others approached, one of them whispered, "Mr. Qin, those four have been inside for a few minutes."


    Qin Hao asked, "Is someone watching Gilbert''s side?"


    Leng Xuan replied, "Four of our brothers are on guard. He also has two bodyguards with him, they won''t get away."


    Inside the room, Su Fei had already been subdued by these four people.


    She was now bound to the bed, her expression frantic, "What are you doing? What does Gilbert mean by this?"


    "Found the contract, right here," one of them pulled out the Innsil Hotel Group''s share transfer contract from a drawer.


    The four tucked the contract away, then looked at Su Fei and asked, "Miss Su Fei, what''s the password?"


    Su Fei''s face stiffened slightly, and then as if realizing something, she blurted out, "It was Gilbert? Was it him last time too?"


    After the incident last time, she had informed Gilbert, and it was Gilbert who had investigated the matter afterward.


    Not only had Su Fei''s two bodyguards been bribed by Anna, but now it seemed they were Gilbert''s men too.


    Initially, Su Fei was not favored within her family and was severely suppressed by Anna and others.


    At that time, Gilbert had extended an olive branch to her, and both parties used each other, allowing Su Fei to reach her current position through her intelligence and abilities.


    However, she had never expected that this ally she trusted the most would try to kill her multiple times.


    "Miss Su Fei, I''ll count to three, and if you don''t tell us the password, don''t blame us brothers for being rude. We''ve long been captivated by you."


    Su Fei''s face looked terrible, "You can drop that idea. I won''t tell you, and even if I die, you won''t get it."


    "Tough talk. Go, brothers, have your fun, and then she''s got a big torture coming."


    ...


    Qin Hao told Leng Xuan, "Subdue those inside and immediately have our people upstairs to arrest Gilbert."


    Leng Xuan nodded, "Yes, Mr. Qin."


    "Burst in."


    Leng Xuan took two steps back and then with a flying kick, he kicked the door open with tremendous force.


    A few men quickly rushed in. Su Fei and others inside the bedroom heard the commotion and were just about to come out, only to run into Leng Xuan and his men.


    "Bang, bang"


    Leng Xuan reacted extremely quickly, striking with lightning speed. The two black bodyguards also reacted fast, but one of them was still knocked down to the ground.


    The Flying Leopard Guard Battalion rushed in; at that moment, there were still two people in bed, about to start undressing.


    Leng Xuan swiftly charged forward, grabbed the two people, and threw them down, after which six or seven members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion immediately subdued these four individuals, then promptly retreated from the room.


    Qin Hao asked, "Where is Miss Su Fei?"


    Leng Xuan spoke somewhat awkwardly, "She''s inside, but Miss Su Fei is tied to the bed."


    Qin Hao entered, and upon seeing the situation on the bed, he was stunned for a moment. He quickly shut the door and then walked over to the bedside.


    Qin Hao hadn''t anticipated their actions to be so swift. Had he been a step later, things might have spiraled beyond his control.


    He hurriedly untied the ropes around Su Fei''s wrists and ankles. Su Fei''s eyes were red, and two trails of tears could clearly be seen under her eyes.


    After the ropes were untied, she threw herself into Qin Hao''s arms and clung to him, sobbing uncontrollably.


    Her crying was loud, and tears fell drop by drop like large beads.


    Mixed within Su Fei''s crying were sounds of fear, terror, sadness, and confusion.


    If Qin Hao hadn''t come, she didn''t know what torture she would have endured.


    Within the Innsil Family, the only person she trusted most was Gilbert, and Gilbert always treated her like family.


    Without Gilbert''s protection in the family, she was no match for Anna and her people.


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao patted her back and said, "It''s all right now, I''ve also had people take control of Gilbert."


    Su Fei came to her senses, hastily let go of Qin Hao, and then covered herself with the blanket.


    Qin Hao stood up and said, "Miss Su Fei, you change your clothes, I''ll step outside."


    After saying this, Qin Hao walked out and stood outside waiting for Su Fei.


    Leng Xuan and a few others had already taken control of those four people and were standing outside waiting.


    Three minutes later, Su Fei walked out from the room, having regained her composure, though her eyes were still slightly red.


    Qin Hao said, "Let''s go see Gilbert."


    Su Fei nodded slightly, and they both walked towards the room''s entrance.


    Just as they left the suite, Qin Hao and Su Fei froze because Anna Insher was standing outside.


    Seeing Qin Hao and Su Fei, Anna smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, I hope I''m not too late. Little sister, are you all right?"


    Qin Hao looked at Su Fei, who spoke in an even tone, "I''m fine, thank you for your concern, sister."


    Anna turned to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, I wasn''t wrong, was I? Without any use left for her, Gilbert would have killed her and then framed me."


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, "Miss Anna is very clever."


    Su Fei looked confusedly at Qin Hao and Anna, "What are you talking about?"


    Qin Hao explained, "Yesterday Miss Anna contacted me to discuss some matters, then I relayed Anna''s message to you. You must have told Gilbert, right? Otherwise, he wouldn''t have acted."


    Anna, "Mr. Qin is the key. Without his cooperation and help, Gilbert wouldn''t have been caught in the act."


    Su Fei almost understood what the two had initially discussed: "I''m sorry, sister Anna, I misunderstood you before."


    Anna smiled faintly, wiping away Su Fei''s tears and said, "We are sisters, we need to help each other in the future. There''s no need for such formalities between us."


    Now, Anna needed to improve her relationship with Su Fei, to then profit from the intelligent chip.


    Su Fei also needed Anna''s help to establish a footing within the family.


    Both were inclined to favor the other, which is why they expressed such sentiments.


    [Third update]

 Chapter 534 536 Future Building

    Qin Hao could naturally understand the thoughts of the two and couldn''t help but admire their cunning and scheming.


    Having cunning and scheming isn''t necessarily a bad thing.


    If Su Fei and Anna didn''t have any schemes or cunning, they wouldn''t have survived in the vast Innsil Family.


    As long as they didn''t use their schemes and cunning towards those close to them, Qin Hao thought it was acceptable.


    "Mr. Qin, let''s go see that old fox Gilbert," Anna said to him with a smile.


    Qin Hao nodded. They walked up the stairs to Gilbert''s room.


    By then, Gilbert and his two bodyguards had already been subdued by the people from the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion.


    Seeing Qin Hao enter, Gilbert quickly said, "Mr. Qin, what does this mean? Weren''t we talking nicely? You''ve enjoyed the company of the beauties, how can you deny knowing me now?"


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, "Mr. Gilbert, those beauties are still lying in bed. I haven''t touched them at all. If you want to use them, go ahead."


    Seeing Su Fei and Anna following Qin Hao into the room, Gilbert''s expression slightly changed, as if he had realized something.


    He looked at Qin Hao with a flash of viciousness in his eyes, "Qin Hao, your scheming runs deep."


    "Slap, slap"


    The people from the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion directly slapped him twice.


    Qin Hao sat down on the couch, "Compared to you, I''m still lacking. Sending someone to kill your own niece is something I couldn''t do."


    Gilbert''s face darkened, "What do you want?"


    Qin Hao turned to look at Anna, "Miss Anna, what do you think we should do with Mr. Gilbert?"


    An internal alarm went off in Anna, Qin Hao was pulling her into this. She had to dive into these troubled waters, otherwise she would have no part in the future benefits.


    She smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, keeping such a person around would only bury seeds of disaster. I think it''s better to kill him."


    Gilbert''s face instantly turned ashen. Qin Hao was also speechless. Indeed, a woman''s heart is most venomous, harsh but Qin Hao liked it.


    Her method of dealing with the situation was very much to Qin Hao''s taste.


    Gilbert really couldn''t be kept; after today''s events, he would hate Qin Hao to the bone. He couldn''t be allowed to live.


    Qin Hao looked towards Su Fei, "Su Fei, what do you think we should do?"


    Su Fei''s expression remained calm, her tone indifferent, "I think what Anna said is good."


    Gilbert''s face turned pale, sweat breaking out on his forehead. With Qin Hao''s power in Jianghai, killing him would be effortless.


    He looked at Su Fei and said urgently, "Su Fei, have you forgotten how your uncle used to help you? Whenever someone bullied you, I was the one who stood up for you, and when you faced difficulties, it was your uncle who solved them. Have you forgotten all this?"


    Su Fei''s expression grew colder, "All you did was to gain my trust and then use me. Indeed, you deserve to die."


    Gilbert retorted, "You ungrateful wretch, I should have killed you long ago."


    Then he looked at Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, I am a powerhouse in the Innsil Family. If we collaborate, I can give you eighty percent of the profits from independent sales and I''ll take only twenty percent.


    Su Fei and Anna definitely can''t offer that. Just let me live, Mr. Qin, and I can give you the maximum profit. I''m willing to be your dog, as long as you occasionally throw me a bone."


    ...


    Qin Hao was exasperated; Gilbert was willing to abandon the most basic human principles just to stay alive.


    This guy was truly capable of bending low; such a person definitely couldn''t be left alive.


    He looked at Gilbert and found a random reason, "I''m sorry, Mr. Gilbert, I prefer to collaborate with beauties. But don''t worry, Mr. Gilbert, I won''t kill you. That would be illegal."


    Gilbert breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this.


    But then, what Qin Hao said next made his face even more embarrassed, "Leng Xuan, from now on let Mr. Gilbert spend his life in devoted sleep, blissfully unaware."


    Leng Xuan nodded, then walked over to Gilbert''s side and pulled him into the next room.


    Behind him, Ai Wei''s eyes sparkled with a piercing light. Qin Hao might have looked young, but he was ruthless in his actions.


    Qin Hao asked, "How should we deal with Su Fei and the others?"


    Su Fei: "Mr. Qin, help me take care of it."


    "No problem, take them in for processing."


    A few minutes later, Gilbert and his group had all turned into vegetables.


    Qin Hao stood up and said, "I''ll leave the rest to you."


    Su Fei and Anna nodded, and Anna asked, "Mr. Qin, does your Flying Leopard Security Company have any plans to expand internationally? I would like to collaborate with you."


    Qin Hao: "That''s possible, for specific collaboration matters you should talk to Li Bao."


    He indeed wanted to expand Flying Leopard Security internationally, especially since many foreign countries allowed firearms, which could fully make up for some of the company''s current shortcomings.


    "It''s getting late, I should be going," Qin Hao said as he stood up.


    Su Fei and Anna said simultaneously, "I''ll see you out."


    The two women exchanged glances, smiled slightly, and then walked Qin Hao out together.


    At the entrance of the Innsil Hotel.


    Anna said to Su Fei, "Little sister Su Fei, why don''t you see Mr. Qin off?"


    Su Fei and Qin Hao walked toward the parking lot, and she said to him, "Thank you, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao: "You have also helped Wan Rou a lot in the Northern Federation, friendship is mutual."


    "Let''s sign the contract again tomorrow," Su Fei said with a smile.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Alright, you can just contact Mr. Chang when the time comes."


    ...


    On the way home, Qin Hao opened the system store, looking for architectural blueprints.


    He quickly found one: the Emperor Building architectural blueprint, resistant to earthquakes up to Level 10, with a total of 288 floors and a height of 1888 meters.


    Including a shopping center, exhibition hall, library, cinema, bank, therapy center, hospital, lake, hotel, apartments, and office spaces, the projected investment was ten billion Federation dollars.


    This building would not only allow all companies to move in, but also lease out many spaces to generate profits.


    Moreover, there were luxury residences; housing all the staff here was certainly not a problem.


    When Qin Hao saw it, his eyes lit up. If enhanced with Artificial Intelligence monitoring systems and some smart technologies, this was truly a futuristic smart technology edifice.


    The laboratories of Xinghai Company could also be moved here.


    The investment was huge and would take a long time, but if actually built, its impact would also be tremendous.


    Firstly, for its earthquake resistance, secondly for the variety of high technologies it would showcase, and thirdly, the building would include everything under one roof which, once constructed, would definitely be wildly popular.


    Even the height alone, standing at 1888 meters, would make this building a major tourist attraction.


    Currently, the tallest in the world was the Kingdom Tower in the Spa Island region of Di Te Country, standing at 1008 meters, the tallest skyscraper in the world.


    The second tallest building was the Dubai Tower in the Spa Island region of the Asni Emirate.


    These two countries, being major oil producers, were very wealthy.


    Qin Hao muttered with a smile, "Sorry, but I''m taking the title of tallest building."


    With that, he spent one million achievement points to purchase the Emperor Building''s blueprint.


    Just then his phone rang. He checked it and it was a call from Feng Xiangyi. It was already past eight in the evening. What could she want at this hour?


    [Fourth Release]

 Chapter 535 537: The Three Giants Make Their Move to Suppress

    Qin Hao answered the phone, "Hello, what''s wrong, Auntie?"


    Feng Xiangyi said with some difficulty, "Xiao Hao, I twisted my ankle. Do you have time to come over?"


    Qin Hao frowned, "What happened? Wait for me, I''ll be right there."


    Feng Xiangyi, "I twisted it getting out of the elevator because of my high heels."


    Qin Hao also had been planning to ask her about the land for the building since the design for the Emperor Building exceeded that of ordinary buildings, and an average plot probably wouldn''t suffice.


    He had Leng Xuan drive him to Feng Xiangyi''s residential complex.


    Arriving at Feng Xiangyi''s place, she was sitting on the couch, her complexion a bit pale, one foot raised, with the ankle completely swollen.


    Qin Hao walked over, saw her ankle, and asked in surprise, "Auntie, how did you twist it so badly?"


    Feng Xiangyi, "The heels were a bit high, but thankfully I was right by the elevator. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have been able to make it home. You are skilled in medicine, aren''t you? Can you treat me? I still have a lot of work to take care of at the company tomorrow."


    Qin Hao took out a silver needle and began to insert it into her ankle, "Auntie, has the land deal been settled?"


    Feng Xiangyi, lying on the couch, replied, "It''s almost settled; we just need to make the payment and sign the contract."


    Qin Hao, "How big is the area? I''m planning to build a 288-story comprehensive skyscraper."


    Feng Xiangyi almost jumped up at his words, "How many?? 28 floors or 288 floors?"


    Qin Hao, "288 floors. I plan to construct a complex that includes a shopping mall, exhibition hall, movie theater, library, bank, hospital, hotel, park, apartments, and so on."


    Feng Xiangyi stared at him blankly, "Mr. Qin, do you have more money than you know what to do with? I''ve never even heard of a 288-story building."


    Qin Hao, "The initial construction may cost just tens of billions of Federation dollars, and if we include the interior design, it will probably need over a hundred billion. After completion, we can rent out many spaces, and the money can be earned back in just a few years."


    Feng Xiangyi, "Mr. Qin, there''s no building with 288 stories in the world. I''m afraid no one can design such blueprints."


    Qin Hao, "Don''t worry about the blueprints; I''ve already designed them. I''m simply concerned about the size of the plot, as the surrounding area of the building will also need space for landscaping and so on."


    Feng Xiangyi said, "Well, we''ll discuss it and buy the surrounding land later as well, which might increase the costs."


    Qin Hao, "Don''t worry about the money; I''ll take care of it."


    After finishing, Qin Hao pulled out the silver needle and took paper from beside him to wipe the bruising that had surfaced on her ankle.


    Once he finished wiping, Qin Hao stood up and said, "There, Auntie, all done."


    Feng Xiangyi was stunned for a moment, looking at her ankle, "Is it healed just like that?"


    Qin Hao smiled, "What else? It''s not a serious illness. Try walking."


    Feng Xiangyi slowly stood up, holding onto Qin Hao, and cautiously began to walk forward.


    After a few steps, she indeed didn''t feel as much pain and could walk normally, though she still didn''t dare to exert too much force.


    Qin Hao, "You should be fine after resting for the night. Auntie, have you had dinner?"


    Feng Xiangyi, "Not yet. You haven''t eaten either, right? Let me cook for you."


    "You rest for a bit; I''ll cook," Qin Hao said as he pressed her back onto the couch and went into the kitchen.


    Sitting on the couch, Feng Xiangyi watched Qin Hao in the kitchen. Du Wanrou had come to see her a few days ago and had also told her about Qin Hao having several girlfriends.


    She had long anticipated that someone as capable as Qin Hao would be like this.


    Ordinary bosses and tycoons usually have several women, let alone Qin Hao, as long as he doesn''t grow tired of the old for the new, Feng Xiangyi felt that was enough.


    Remembering the question Du Wanrou had asked her before, she felt her cheeks grow hot.


    She had never expected Du Wanrou to ask if she liked Qin Hao and if she wanted to be with him, suggesting that two people could support each other.


    ...


    Initially, Feng Xiangyi thought Du Wanrou was testing her, so she vehemently refused.


    But after thinking it over, she realized Du Wanrou probably wasn''t testing her.


    About twenty minutes later, Qin Hao finished preparing dinner and set it on the dining table, saying to Feng Xiangyi, "Auntie, come and have dinner."


    They sat opposite each other. Qin Hao spoke while eating, "Auntie, secure the land deal as soon as possible."


    Feng Xiangyi nodded, "Mm, I will handle it tomorrow."


    About five minutes later, Qin Hao received a call from Kang Youyi, "Mr. Qin, Qian Du Network Company, Amao Net Shopping, and Tenglong Group have blocked and delisted all our products online."


    Qin Hao frowned, "Is the company significantly affected?"


    Kang Youyi, "Our bagged Jiangshan Roasted Duck, duck necks, duck wings, and the like have very good sales online, we''re losing at least nearly ten million in revenue each month."


    Qin Hao, "Alright, I understand. For now, slow down production a bit, let''s just supply some to retail distributors and large shopping malls,"


    After hanging up with Kang Youyi, Qin Hao received another call from An Linxuan. Xinghui Wine was also being blocked by these three industry giants.


    These three giants have tremendous influence on the internet, their combined reach almost covers over ninety percent of internet user traffic.


    It wasn''t just Jiangshan Roasted Duck and Xinghui Wine, but also Huafei Clothing Official Flagship Store and Huamei Cosmetics Company''s products as well.


    Any product from Qin Hao''s companies was being blocked by these three giants, with a direct economic loss of several billion each month.


    Qin Hao searched on his mobile phone for Xinghui Wine, Jiangshan Roasted Duck, etc., and couldn''t find anything.


    In the end, he searched for Xinghai High-tech Company and still found nothing, although this time there was an explanation from Qian Du Company.


    Because it had not reached a cooperation agreement with Xinghai High-tech Co., Ltd, Qian Du Company would temporarily cease all collaborations with Xinghai High-tech.


    Xinghai High-tech was too well-known, and Qian Du Company didn''t dare to block it silently; after all, this was not some small company.


    After reading, Qin Hao''s expression turned very cold. It might not look like a lot of money was lost, but the invisible impact on the reputation and prestige was immense.


    "What''s wrong? What happened?" Feng Xiangyi asked, noticing his expression.


    Qin Hao, "Those three internet giants have blocked all my companies, you can''t find anything about Jiangshan Group online."


    Feng Xiangyi''s expression shifted slightly, "What about the other search engines? Can''t find anything there either?"


    Qin Hao, "I haven''t tried the others yet."


    There are several search engine software providers besides Qian Du, including search engines from Amao Net Shopping and Tenglong Group.


    There''s no need to check; theirs definitely wouldn''t have anything.


    Beyond these three search engine providers, there is also Mige, a search engine from the Federation, backed by the Robert family, and even it had nothing.


    Qin Hao''s companies were thoroughly and completely blocked.


    [First Release]

 Chapter 536 538 Internet Blockade

    All search engine software had blacklisted him and his companies.


    Jiangshan Group and Xinghai Company were barred from the entrance of the internet.


    The name Qin Hao was also forcibly partially erased; searching for Qin Hao online yielded only the introduction as an academician of Xuan Science Academy.


    As for any other information, it was completely nonexistent.


    After dinner, Qin Hao returned home. On the way, he pondered the matter. Although the big three had blacklisted his companies, it didn''t affect the foundation of his business.


    Because he was in the physical business sector, not an internet company.


    Meanwhile, the internet was abuzz with this news, causing quite a stir.


    A well-known tech figure from Wei Yan: The big three domestic internet giants, unable to reach a cooperation with Xinghai High-tech Company, colluded to blacklist all companies under Qin Hao.


    "What''s going on? When I type ''Xinghai Company'' in Tenglong Group''s search, why does it show asterisks?"


    "Why does an error page come up when I search for Xinghui Wine on Qian Du?"


    "Damn, why is Jiangshan Roasted Duck gone from Amao Net Shopping? I was planning on buying some as gifts."


    "Huafei Clothing is gone too? Damn, is it a full internet blackout?"


    "Hua Mei Skincare is missing as well. Are the big three internet giants declaring war on Mr. Qin?"


    "In terms of the internet, Mr. Qin has no strength. It seems this time he can only be passively hit, and his only path is to compromise in the end."


    "Thankfully Wei Yan hasn''t blacklisted Mr. Qin. We support you, Mr. Qin; we haven''t forgotten the beneficial things you''ve done for the country and the people."


    "Amao Net Shopping and Tenglong Group have also done quite a lot of charity work, but compared to the money they''ve made, it''s far too little."


    "Support Mr. Qin. Their sense of social responsibility can''t compare to Mr. Qin''s. They''re not on the same level."


    "Most of the big three giants hold shares from foreign government companies. How can they compare to Mr. Qin''s purely Xuan Government-owned business?"


    "We support you, Mr. Qin."


    "Mr. Qin, I can only offer my moral support now."


    Tenglong Group''s chat and payment software had already become part of people''s lives throughout the country.


    So had Amao Net Shopping''s e-commerce and payment platform, which had become an essential part of people''s lifestyles.


    This is the behemoth of Xuan Country''s internet, unshakable by anyone.


    Although many people support Qin Hao, asking them to uninstall Tenglong Group''s chat software is really not something that can be done.


    Because Tenglong Group''s chat software had made many people''s ways of staying in touch much more convenient.


    Also, Amao Net Shopping, the nation''s largest e-commerce platform, had a single-day turnover of nearly two hundred billion on their Double Eleven Shopping Festival alone. The traffic was as terrifying as Tenglong Group''s chat and social software.


    Qian Du Company''s search engine software held 80% of customer entry points, and in the blacklist, its influence was by no means less than that of the other two giants.


    This is also where the big three got their confidence from; they were the tyrants on the internet, the emperors of the internet world.


    The joint statement issued by the three companies was like a royal decree to many other internet companies, and those who disobeyed were doomed to a miserable end.


    Back at home, Zhao Yuying, Han Meng, and Qiao''er were watching TV.


    When Han Meng saw him come in, she hurriedly stood up and walked over, "You''re back, Xiao Hao."


    Qin Hao smiled, "Yes, Meng, have you all eaten?"


    Han Meng nodded, "We''ve eaten already."


    "Then I''ll go back to the study first. You all should get some rest if you''re tired of watching."


    ...


    Qin Hao returned to the study and sat there, contemplating the situation. After a while, Zhao Yuying walked in, "Xiao Hao, do you know about what''s happening online?"


    Qin Hao, "I know, but it''s not a big problem. Don''t worry, Ying."


    Regarding the big three''s blacklist, Qin Hao currently had no good solution to resolve it, so he had to wait, wait for his company''s products to come out.


    Zhao Yuying said with a smile, "The company''s film crew and actors are almost ready, it''s just that finding a director is difficult."


    "What happened?" Qin Hao asked.


    Zhao Yuying, "The top directors in the country don''t accept just any film. They think our project won''t have a market and that filming it is doomed to fail, which is bad for their reputation, so many directors refused."


    Qin Hao was surprised, "Offering more money won''t get them?"


    Zhao Yuying nodded, "It''s not about money. If they lose their reputation, it will affect their future market value."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and then said, "No problem, if those people won''t film, then we''ll do it ourselves. I''m free these days anyway, I''ll go over and do it."


    It would take about a month for the Star Domain Network server to be produced. Since there was not much going on in his other companies, it was a good time to relax.


    Zhao Yuying was surprised, "You know how to direct films?"


    Qin Hao, "What''s so difficult about that? I can write scripts, directing films is all the same."


    Zhao Yuying stood behind him, smiling as she massaged his shoulders, "Really? Then I''ll have to see your directing skills for myself."


    "Why don''t you try out some of my other skills right now?" Qin Hao stood up, wrapped his arms around her waist, and grinned mischievously.


    ...


    The next morning.


    Qin Hao woke up early. Seeing Zhao Yuying lying in his arms, he smiled and opened the system mall to find the Film Directing Skill Book.


    It would cost ten thousand achievement points to exchange, and after spending over sixty thousand achievement points, he upgraded the skill to level five.


    About ten minutes later, Zhao Yuying slowly awoke, looking at Qin Hao with an enchanting smile on her face.


    Qin Hao smiled, "Get up, let''s go out for a walk, breathe some fresh air."


    "Mm," Zhao Yuying obediently nodded.


    After the two got up, Han Meng was already making breakfast. Saying a word, they went out for a walk along the beach.


    After breakfast.


    Qin Hao asked Zhao Yuying, "Is everything ready, Ying? When do we start shooting?"


    Zhao Yuying, "How about tomorrow? We''ll prepare for another day today and inform those involved in advance."


    "Okay, then I''ll go over tomorrow."


    Zhao Yuying nodded, "I''m heading to the office then. You rest well at home."


    Around 10:30 in the morning, Qin Hao received a call from Feng Xiangyi. The land issue was settled again, with a total cost of 32 billion Xuan Country Coins.


    After Qin Hao transferred the money, he instructed Feng Xiangyi to contact the largest domestic construction contractor.


    A precedent-setting, top-tier skyscraper of 288 floors would need several top companies to work together to have any hope of early completion.


    [Second update. Today will have the usual four updates. I went to see my grandmother today. In some places, they call them "grandma." As they get older, here''s a message for everyone: Don''t wait until the day when you want to care for them, but they are no longer around. While the elderly and your parents are still healthy, fulfill your filial duties.]

 Chapter 537 539 Filming a Movie

    For such a large project, Qin Hao had to enlist the largest engineering company in the country, with absolutely no room for compromise on the materials used.


    Such a massive project required official approval from government departments.


    Thanks to Xu Jiejian''s involvement, and because the design drawings were checked and completely qualified, including the application of many innovative technologies, the approval documents were issued that afternoon.


    Indeed, if such a world-class skyscraper were really built in Jianghai City, it would enhance the reputation of both Xuan Country and Jianghai City.


    That afternoon, Qin Hao received a call from Chang Jing: "Mr. Qin, the people from the three major internet companies are here again."


    Qin Hao responded impatiently, "Tell them to get as far away as they can."


    Chang Jing hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Mr. Qin, are you sure you don''t want to talk with them at all?"


    Qin Hao: "No need to talk, what does a complete internet ban matter? What I''m doing is physical industry; it may affect online sales a bit but it won''t touch the foundation."


    Chang Jing: "Alright, Mr. Qin, I know how to respond to them now."


    After hanging up the call, Han Meng, who was sitting next to Qin Hao, spoke up: "Xiao Hao, let me massage your legs; I just learned how to these last few days."


    Qin Hao: "No need, Meng, just sit and rest, don''t treat yourself like a servant."


    Han Meng whispered, "It''s okay, Xiao Hao, I can''t do much to help you, I can only do these things. I wouldn''t feel right if I didn''t do something for you."


    Qin Hao helplessly responded, "Meng, don''t think too much."


    Previously, Han Meng''s hands had been quite rough, but after various skincare products from Huamei Company came on the market, Su Mingzhi sent a variety of them to both Han Meng and Zhao Yuying, and Qin Hao had them use those.


    The results were naturally very reassuring since he had researched them himself.


    That evening around six o''clock, Xuan Country Daily published a report: "Today the medical division of the Xuan Science Academy made another significant breakthrough, discovering a new anti-tumor drug that can effectively treat various malignant tumors."


    At the same time, Mr. Fan, the director of the medical division of the Xuan Science Academy, revealed that they were developing a new type of vaccine that would only require infants to be vaccinated once a year to prevent various diseases.


    According to a scholar from Xuan Science Academy, Mr. Qin had written out his medical expertise and shared it for study, which was a main reason why the medical scholars in Xuan Country had achieved successive major breakthroughs.


    ...


    Zhao Yuying said with a smile, "Xiao Hao, does this mean the price of medications will come down in the future?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "The prices of medications have already been dropping; ever since the research for cold medicine, anti-inflammatory drugs, and fever reducers succeeded, those large foreign pharmaceuticals have started lowering their prices. Otherwise, who would buy their products?"


    The education issues in Xuan Country had almost been resolved, and the problem of expensive healthcare was being steadily addressed.


    Given the current pace, Qin Hao estimated that it would take a minimum of six months and a maximum of a year for the prices of various types of medications in Xuan Country to decrease, and the issue of expensive healthcare would also be resolved.


    It was now January 8 or 9, and various foreign corporate groups had quietly entered the Xuan Country market.


    The entry of these foreign corporations provided many job opportunities for Xuan Country.


    Zhao Yuying asked, "Qiao''er, when do you have your vacation?"


    Qiao''er giggled, "Day after tomorrow, we''ll start our winter break."


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "That soon? What''s today''s date?"


    "It''s January 11."


    Qin Hao checked his phone; the semester had almost passed without his realizing it, as he had barely been to school. With about a month to go before the New Year, he reflected on the time.


    He asked Zhao Yuying, "Ying, how long will the shooting of this movie take approximately?"


    Zhao Yuying replied, "The quick ones take about one or two months, while the slower ones can take up to half a year to a year. If it''s quick, we might even catch the Lantern Festival box office."


    "Dad, are you going to shoot a movie tomorrow?" Qiao''er asked.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Do you want to go see it? How about I take you there during your holiday?"


    Qiao''er giggled, "Okay."


    ...


    The next morning at seven.


    Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying drove to Yuhao Media Company, where the staff had already prepared everything.


    The cast Zhao Yuying chose for the movie was mostly the company''s artists, except for a few key roles, all of whom were from the company.


    This would also provide some exposure to the company''s new artists and save some on cast salaries.


    After Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying entered, dozens of people awaited in a large room, chatting noisily.


    Seeing the two, everyone immediately halted their conversation, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Zhao."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Is everyone ready?"


    "Ready," the crowd responded somewhat excitedly.


    Many of them were seeing Qin Hao for the first time. After all, he was the wealthiest man in the world. Even after donating five hundred billion Federation dollars to the national education, he still had nearly three hundred billion left, maintaining his status as the richest man.


    Qin Hao: "Then let''s head to the shooting location."


    Within the film industry base, there were several movie shooting sites, and Zhao Yuying had paid to reserve one.


    The distance was walkable.


    Once they arrived at the site, the crew began setting up various equipment while Qin Hao handled the movie camera.


    This was a top-of-the-line movie camera from Beihai Country, officially priced at over six hundred thousand.


    He fiddled with it for a while and quickly became familiar with its functions.


    The others had also changed into their costumes and were waiting for the shooting to begin, many of them excited as it was their first movie shoot.


    At eight o''clock, Qin Hao checked his watch and asked, "Ying, haven''t the male lead and the supporting actress arrived yet? What time did you tell them?"


    Zhao Yuying: "The shoot was planned for eight, they should be almost here, let''s wait a bit more."


    The male lead and the supporting actress were both popular domestic stars known for their acting skills. Together with her, this movie had a very luxurious lineup, enough to attract many viewers.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Then we''ll wait a bit longer."


    In the world of entertainment, there were plenty of stars known for their prima donna attitudes. Qin Hao hoped these two would be wise enough not to display such attitudes with him.


    In the business world, it was others who waited for him. Who would dare make him wait?


    Another fifteen minutes passed and the two individuals still hadn''t arrived. Qin Hao said to Zhao Yuying, "Ying, give them a call and find out whether they are coming or not. If they aren''t, we need to find replacements."


    Zhao Yuying took out her phone and called Yang Feng, whose agent answered, "Mr. Zhao."


    Zhao Yuying asked, "It''s already 8:15. We were supposed to start shooting at eight. Why haven''t they arrived?"


    "Sorry, Mr. Zhao, Yang Feng woke up late. Please wait a bit more."


    Zhao Yuying frowned, "Alright, come as soon as you can."


    Being in the industry, he understood clearly that this was a stall tactic, not an issue of waking up late. Was he thinking of asking for more money?


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 538 540 Smart Camera

    Qin Hao looked at Zhao Yuying''s expression and asked, "What''s going on? Is he still coming or not? If not, tell him to get lost as soon as possible."


    The people nearby heard this and were full of frustration¡ªMr. Qin''s temper was quite big indeed.


    Nowadays, which big-name star doesn''t throw their weight around? When making a film, you have to beg them, and there''s nothing you can do about their diva behavior.


    Zhao Yuying coughed lightly and said, "You''re a public figure after all; it won''t look good for your reputation if word gets out."


    "What are you saying?"


    Zhao Yuying replied, "Speaking of which, he''s probably trying to raise his price."


    Qin Hao''s brows furrowed, "Raise his price now? Wasn''t everything agreed upon at the start?"


    Zhao Yuying explained, "It was agreed upon at first, but this is a common tactic for many; because everything else is ready and we can''t film without him, we have no choice but to pay up."


    Qin Hao asked, "What about that female supporting lead? What''s her name and where has she gone off to?"


    Zhao Yuying spoke, "The female supporting lead is Wu Sinuo. She agreed to come only after the male lead, Yang Feng, confirmed his participation. She also has quite a following in the entertainment industry, belonging to the top-tier popular stars. If Yang Feng doesn''t show up, she probably won''t either."


    By 8:30, the person still hadn''t arrived, and the others were also becoming impatient, their gazes increasingly turning this way.


    Qin Hao was even more impatient inside. He took Zhao Yuying''s phone and then called Yang Feng.


    The call was quickly connected, with Yang Feng''s agent picking up as usual.


    Qin Hao directly said, "Let Yang Feng take the call."


    "Who is this?" The person asked curiously, not recognizing the voice as Zhao Yuying''s.


    Qin Hao said, "My name is Qin Hao. I''m the boss of Yuhao Media."


    The person paused for a second, and after a few seconds a male voice came through, "Mr. Qin, hello."


    Qin Hao said, "You don''t need to come anymore. And that Wu Sinuo can go stay wherever the hell she wants, acting all high and mighty and bringing it to my door."


    After finishing, Qin Hao hung up the phone, "Do we have alternative choices for the male lead and female supporting lead?"


    Zhao Yuying answered, "We don''t, but I think you''d fit the role of the male lead quite well. Why not give it a try? Finding someone else might take days of negotiation, and if they know we''re in a rush, they might ask for even more."


    Seeing the smile at the corner of her mouth, Qin Hao felt like he was being played, "Ying, isn''t this something you set up, aiming to have me play the male lead?"


    "How could that be? Am I that bad?" Zhao Yuying looked at him discontentedly.


    Qin Hao followed up, "What about the female supporting lead?"


    With a frown, Zhao Yuying said, "The female supporting lead needs to be sweet and pure-looking; it''s not easy to find."


    An idea flashed through Qin Hao''s mind, "I actually have someone in mind, but I''m not sure if she''s available."


    "Who?" Zhao Yuying looked at him curiously.


    The more Qin Hao thought about it, the more suitable it seemed. He took out his phone and called Xia Qing.


    The call connected quickly, and Xia Qing''s pleasant voice came through, "What''s up, Qin Hao?"


    Qin Hao asked, "Xiaoqing, are you busy right now?"


    Xia Qing answered, "Not busy. The school is almost on break, and some people have already gone home."


    Qin Hao inquired, "Are you interested in filming a movie? We hit a snag and need a female supporting lead."


    "Filming a movie? You''re making a movie?" Xia Qing expressed her surprise.


    Qin Hao chuckled, "Yeah, I had some free time these days, and the film company just happens to need help."


    Xia Qing sounded unsure, "Can I do it? I''ve never acted in a movie before."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Xiaoqing, come over and give it a try if you''re free."


    Xia Qing agreed, "Alright then, just tell me the address and I''ll head over."


    After hanging up, Zhao Yuying looked at him with an annoyed expression. "Your little lover?"


    Qin Hao coughed, "Ying, I was on the phone with the big brother from Xinghai Company."


    After finishing his sentence, he made a call to He Tingting. He remembered the lab was researching many products, and it seemed there was a smart movie camera among them.


    Qin Hao asked, "Hello, Mr. He, does the lab have a smart movie camera?"


    He Tingting replied, "Yes, after the high-level intelligent surveillance was researched, Mr. Liu and his team developed a smart camera. However, it''s not widely used, and it''s a bit costly¡ªnot like household appliances and computers and such."


    Qin Hao''s face lit up with joy, "Just send that stuff over to me, and also send twenty AI robots, have 001 lead them."


    "Okay, Mr. Qin, I''ll arrange it right away."


    It was just past nine in the morning when Xia Qing almost arrived with the people from Xinghai Company.


    The 001s had come by the company shuttle bus.


    The employees of Yuhao Media Company widened their eyes when they saw these robots.


    001 walked in the front, carrying two smart movie cameras on his shoulder, with nearly twenty AI robots following grandly behind him.


    "Wow, is that the 001 from the videos? It looks so cool."


    "So smart, it''s just like the future intelligent robots from a sci-fi blockbuster."


    "This is the AI robot that sells for five million Federation dollars?"


    The place instantly bubbled with excitement. Almost everyone was watching the 001s. Even though they had seen them in videos, the shock of seeing them in reality was still profound, and the visual impact was intense.


    001 placed the cameras on the ground. "Master, this is the smart movie camera Mr. He asked me to bring you. Are you making a movie, Master? Can you give me a role? Hehe."


    Xia Qing looked at 001 with a stunned expression. This thing was too intelligent, right? It was almost indistinguishable from a normal person.


    Qin Hao said, "I called you here to make a movie, get ready, we''ll start filming in ten minutes."


    Everyone was already prepared. Qin Hao checked the smart movie camera. It was an intelligent camera that could freely move and adjust its height.


    He uploaded the script into it, and the camera would then be able to shoot autonomously according to the script, eliminating the need for director''s control and even post-production editing and dubbing. The smart camera could handle everything on its own.


    "The filming is about to start; everyone, please get ready," suddenly a voice came from inside the smart camera.


    Everyone was startled and looked towards the speaking smart camera. Was that machine really speaking?


    Smart camera: "What are you dazing for? Get ready to shoot."


    The group snapped out of it, open-mouthed. Damn, it really was the camera speaking!!


    "Xiao Hao, hasn''t this camera become sentient?" Zhao Yuying was shocked. They could understand AI robots talking, but this damn camera could talk too?


    Qin Hao explained, "It''s a simple principle. If you install the voice mechanism in any smart device, it can converse with people, like household appliances, phones, computers, and so on."


    Xia Qing swallowed hard, "Isn''t this a bit terrifying?"


    ...


    A few minutes later, filming started. The initial scene was of 001 and the group of robots working at the space station.


    They didn''t have an actual space station, which would need to be created later with special effects software.


    Smart camera: "001, you''re supposed to be working, not posing. What the heck are you doing?"


    001: "Screw you, I''ve been carrying you all this way, and now you''re talking back to me? Believe it or not, after we finish filming, I''ll tear you apart."


    "Brother 001, I was just joking with you. Your pose is not bad, really cool. It''s sure to attract countless beautiful women."


    ...


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 539 541 Xinghai Chatting Software

    Zhao Yuying and Xia Qing turned to look at Qin Hao, "Is this what you brought in to make the movie?"


    These two seem like complete clowns.


    Qin Hao, with a head full of black lines: "Do you two want to start over from scratch?"


    001, with a chuckle, said, "Master, I thought the atmosphere on set was a bit tense, so I wanted to liven things up."


    After that, the shooting resumed normally. Some of the new artists were nervous for their first shoot, with movements and expressions that were simply not up to par.


    The smart cameras would point out their shortcomings and then instruct them on what to do, acting just like a tutor.


    This left Zhao Yuying, Xia Qing, and the others in continuous amazement.


    Xia Qing''s flaws during shooting were also pointed out one by one. These people quickly got into the groove, and the filming pace was fast.


    ...


    In the afternoon, news about Qin Hao making movies, being a screenwriter, and acting spread online.


    "Wow, Mr. Qin, isn''t this range a bit too broad for you? What fun is there in making films and acting for someone like you?"


    "Mr. Qin, do you really still feel like acting in movies?"


    "Mr. Qin sure has guts, to not take the collective ban from the three major internet giants to heart."


    "I think he has no choice, facing a joint ban by the big three, no one has a solution unless he bows his head and admits his wrong."


    "Qin Hao''s behavior is too arrogant, he deserves to be banned across the entire network."


    Yang Feng''s We''ve Research also posted a message: I had initially agreed to be the male lead in a movie for Yuhao Media.


    But then I gave up the role after learning that the director was someone who had never had any experience in directing.


    I think this represents Yuhao Media''s irresponsibility towards filmmaking.


    A screenplay written by someone who''s never been in the screenwriting industry, a film directed by someone who has never directed, and a film starring someone who has never acted in movies is doomed to fail.


    Yang Feng has a significant following on We''ve Research with over thirty million fans, and many of them are die-hard supporters.


    "Is Mr. Feng talking about that new movie Qin Hao is making? Sounds like it''ll be worse than crap."


    "Rich people play however they want, truly willful."


    "Support Mr. Feng, it''s better to not act in such a trashy movie."


    "Mr. Feng''s decision is right, acting in a bad movie would greatly damage his reputation."


    "Qin Hao might just want to experience what it''s like to be a screenwriter, director, and leading actor, but in the end, such a bad movie might not even be able to be screened in theaters."


    In the entertainment industry, the currently popular star Xiao Fei reposted Yang Feng''s We''ve Research post and added a few words of his own: To treat filmmaking as child''s play is an insult to those in the industry, and a garbage movie is doomed to fail.


    "Nobody''s going to watch Qin Hao''s garbage movie, probably not even his fans."


    "Fei Fei, is your sci-fi blockbuster coming out soon? We want to watch it."


    "I heard that Fei Fei''s ''Future War'' is set to release on Lantern Festival, we definitely have to go see it."


    "Every one of Fei Fei''s movies is so cool, I''ll definitely watch it."


    ...


    Time flies, and the years swiftly pass.


    More than twenty days had flown by in the blink of an eye, and now it''s already early February, less than half a month away from Spring Festival in Xuan Country.


    Jiangshan Building had already begun construction, its scale massive, with four of the country''s top engineering companies working day and night.


    Xinghai High-tech Company was also developing rapidly, the photolithography machine production line had expanded by twenty, and the smart chip production line had reached eighteen.


    The photolithography machines bound for the Northern Federation had all been delivered.


    In recent days, Xinghai High-tech Company had held several press conferences.


    The R&D staff of Xinghai Company had cracked various smart programs for household appliances, and they were now collaborating with companies from all industries within the country, with intelligent appliances about to become widespread.


    On February 1st, Xinghai High-tech Company held another press conference, where they introduced the latest anti-theft door technology. These doors would include retina, face, and fingerprint recognition, along with an anti-theft alarm system, ensuring a very high security coefficient.


    They had already partnered with the nationally renowned Wanli Door Industry Group, and the newly designed anti-theft doors were now more affordable and set to begin pre-sale.


    Xinghai High-tech Company.


    When Qin Hao got out of the car and walked to the office building, he didn''t have to stay at the movie set today since there were no scenes for him to film.


    He had heard from Chang Jing that the communication software had been developed and undergone several internal tests.


    Just as he arrived at the entrance of the office building, Qin Hao saw Chang Jing and a group of people walking out.


    "Mr. Qin," said someone from the group as they reached out to greet him.


    Chang Jing introduced them, "Mr. Qin, this is Mr. Guo Jiande from Wanli Door Industry Group. The Wanhao Real Estate Group is run by Mr. Guo''s older brother."


    Qin Hao paused for a moment then replied with a smile, "So it''s Mr. Guo, hello."


    Guo Jiande replied with a smile, "Mr. Qin, I''m very pleased to be able to cooperate with your company this time, and I also thank Mr. Qin for giving Wanli Group this opportunity."


    Qin Hao responded, "Wanli Door Industry has widespread operations across the country, and we chose Mr. Guo for a partnership, considering Mr. Guo''s strength, to achieve mutual benefits."


    If Qian Du Company, Tenglong Group, and Amao Net Shopping were dominators of the internet realm, then Qin Hao was now the overlord of the physical industries.


    Most physical industry companies had to act according to his whims.


    After sending off Guo Jiande, Qin Hao and Chang Jing went to the laboratory to look at the chatting and dating software developed by He Tingting and others.


    The software interface appeared simple and stylish, featuring a family management function that allowed users to control various smart devices at home.


    Other features were similar to those of Tenglong Group''s chatting software, but this new chatting software was more intelligent.


    He Tingting explained, "Mr. Qin, once users install our software, as long as they agree, it can automatically match all friends in their contact list, and if the user grants permission, it can also clone the friend lists from other chatting software."


    Qin Hao''s eyes lit up; this meant users wouldn''t have to worry about not having friends to chat with. Cloning friends was a terrifying feature.


    "Mr. Chang, have the Star Domain Network servers and wireless signal devices been produced?"


    Chang Jing replied, "Two wireless signal devices have been produced, and five servers are complete, with five more to go. It should take another four or five days."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Get in touch with the commercial satellite launch company; we''ll launch the wireless signal devices in the next couple of days."


    The wireless signal devices were the two most crucial pieces of equipment for Star Domain Network, as these devices would enter low earth orbit.


    Their strong signals would cover the entire planet, with Star Domain Network acting like an expanded wireless network.


    You could connect to Star Domain Network from anywhere, without the need for burying underground cables to link servers worldwide.


    Qin Hao continued, "Inform Blueberry Company that we''re embedding our chatting software in Blueberry Smartphones. Also, list the software on various app stores for download."


    "Mr. Qin, our chatting software doesn''t have a name yet," He Tingting interjected.


    After pondering for a moment, Qin Hao said, "Let''s call it Xinghai Chatting Software."


    [First release]

 Chapter 540 542 Get Out Immediately

    Having left the laboratory, Qin Hao directly made a call to Ye Lanxin.


    Ye Lanxin answered the call, delighted, "Mr. Qin, it''s been a long time since you called me."


    Qin Hao, "I''ve been quite busy these days. Mr. Ye, I''m calling to discuss a potential partnership."


    Ye Lanxin was momentarily taken aback, "A partnership with me, Mr. Qin? Are you joking?"


    Qin Hao asked bluntly, "Is the chat software currently embedded in your phones from Tenglong Group?"


    Ye Lanxin nodded, "That''s right, almost all mobile phone manufacturers embed Tenglong Group''s chat software, as well as the Amao Net Shopping APP. Mr. Qin, do you want me to uninstall their software? That''s not a problem at all."


    Uninstalling the software wouldn''t greatly impact Ye Lanxin, and it wouldn''t make much difference to these two internet behemoths either.


    Because even if the software wasn''t pre-installed, mobile phone users would certainly need to use it since they need to chat, so they would definitely download it themselves.


    Qin Hao, "It does indeed need to be uninstalled. My company has developed a new type of chat and office software, and I will need Mr. Ye to embed it in the phones."


    Upon hearing this, Ye Lanxin was shocked inside. No wonder Qin Hao had been indifferent to the total blockade by the three giants these days.


    So he had been secretly planning a chat software. Was he planning to defeat Tenglong Group on the internet?


    Currently, in the domestic mobile phone market, Xinghai High-tech Company supplied only to Blueberry Mobile Phone Company.


    In January, Blueberry Phone''s sales reached 1.3 million units, ranking fifth in domestic mobile phone sales for the month.


    According to Ye Lanxin''s estimation, if Xinghai Company could supply enough units, it wouldn''t be impossible to break through two million units in monthly sales.


    This month she received news that Xinghai Company''s chip production line had expanded several times over, and Blueberry Phone was about to experience another surge in sales.


    Last month, Blueberry Phone''s net profit reached more than two billion yuan, catapulting it to the top ranks of Xuan Country''s mobile phone brands.


    Now, Ye Lanxin''s strategy was to closely follow Qin Hao''s lead. The three giants of the internet might be influential, but they couldn''t affect her, whereas Qin Hao was different.


    With just one command from Qin Hao, he could completely cut off chip supplies and switch to other mobile phone manufacturers.


    Ye Lanxin felt that the market for Qin Hao''s chat and office software was also very large. As long as Blueberry Phone maintained an upward trend, it would not be a problem for Qin Hao''s chat software to surpass a hundred million users in the future.


    "This is a trivial matter for Mr. Qin. Starting from the next batch of phones, I will uninstall the software from Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping, and install yours. Phones that have been sold will also receive a system update to embed your software."


    Ye Lanxin was a smart person. She carried out her tasks without any hesitation.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Then I''ll trouble Mr. Ye with this. You can discuss the specifics of the cost with Mr. Chang."


    Ye Lanxin said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, talking about money will only hurt our feelings. Without you, there would be no Blueberry Phone today. Embedding software is a minor issue, hardly costing anything."


    Qin Hao, "Please discuss the partnership as soon as possible."


    Ye Lanxin, "Mr. Qin, are you free on February 10th?"


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "What''s up, is there something happening?"


    Ye Lanxin replied with a smile, "February 8th is the day Jianjun and I will get engaged. If you have time, could you come to our engagement party?"


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, "You''re getting engaged to Li Jianjun?"


    Ye Lanxin chuckled, "Hmm, do you have time, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao, "Such an occasion I must attend, even if I have to make time. Give me the location, and I''ll be there."


    Ye Lanxin, "It will be held in our hometown. I''ll send you the precise address later, Mr. Qin."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao''s face revealed a smile; Li Jianjun was getting engaged to Ye Lanxin. Weren''t their families sworn enemies?


    "Mr. Ye is getting engaged?" asked Chang Jing from the side.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Li Jianjun is quite a playboy. Mr. Ye should know that, right?"


    "Are you any less of a playboy?" Chang Jing retorted.


    ...


    Qin Hao hastily changed the subject, "Mr. Chang, the server for Star Domain Network is about to be produced. Have enough staff been recruited for the various departments?"


    Chang Jing replied, "The staffing is almost ready, where does Mr. Qin plan to place the office for Xingyu Network Communication Company?"


    Qin Hao said, "For now, let''s keep it here, it will be convenient for you to manage. Once the building is completed, all companies will move in."


    Chang Jing, curious, asked, "How big of a skyscraper does Mr. Qin plan to build? Four top engineering companies are constructing it round the clock."


    After a moment''s thought, Qin Hao replied, "A comprehensive skyscraper with 288 floors."


    Chang Jing looked at him in shock, "288 floors?"


    The news about Jiangshan Building hadn''t spread yet, and the various companies were still keeping it confidential. However, as time passed, this matter was bound to become public.


    With 288 floors and a height of 1888 meters, if the news were to spread, it would certainly become a project that captures the world''s attention.


    Because there has never been a skyscraper that tall in the world, even the world''s top engineering design companies haven''t been able to design something like it, due to the immense difficulty.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Yes, does Mr. Chang need a set? I''ll reserve one for you."


    Without hesitation, Chang Jing said, "If it''s free, reserve the best set for me."


    ...


    After leaving the company, Qin Hao returned home. Several cars were parked at the entrance of his house.


    Getting out of the car, Qin Hao passed a look of puzzlement as he noticed the cars at his doorstep, before entering the villa.


    Inside the villa, Li Mingzhe, Li Yushi, Li Mingguan, Li Jin, and Li Na were sitting on the couch.


    A cup of tea sat before each of them, and Han Meng stood motionless beside the sofa.


    Li Mingzhe, with his legs crossed, looked around Qin Hao''s villa with interest, his gaze finally settling on Han Meng.


    Staring at Han Meng, a flash of greed passed through Li Mingzhe''s eyes, "You''re my cousin''s nanny, right? How much does my cousin pay you a month?"


    Han Meng replied in a low voice, "About ten thousand."


    Li Mingzhe laughed, "My cousin is too stingy, only ten thousand? How about I give you a hundred thousand to follow me? Serve me well, and I''ll give you an extra hundred thousand bonus each month."


    He had to spend four to five hundred thousand a month just to support a second-tier female star; two hundred thousand to support a top-notch mature woman like Han Meng was really not expensive.


    Han Meng''s appearance and figure completely outclassed the second-tier female star he was supporting, but what he valued most was Han Meng''s frail, pitiful charm.


    Li Yushi and Li Jin frowned slightly at his words. If it weren''t for their grandfather''s orders, they wouldn''t have come with Li Mingzhe at all.


    He had been spoiled by his great-aunt from a young age and was notorious in Gujing City as a spoiled second-generation rich kid and a profligate.


    "So you''re very rich, huh?" At that moment, the front door opened from outside, and Qin Hao walked in with an expressionless face.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao suddenly enter, Li Mingzhe''s face changed slightly as he quickly smiled and said, "Cousin, you''re back."


    "Stop trying to be all friendly with me, get the hell out of here now," Qin Hao said, pointing at him.


    [Second update]

 Chapter 541 543 Ren Gaolang

    He had long since investigated all the information on each member of the Li Family.


    The affair of Li Mingzhe naturally couldn''t escape his notice, who at sixteen had had a fling with the school belle, subsequently resulting in her pregnancy.


    Li Pingrong had paid the girl''s family five hundred thousand to settle the matter.


    As Li Mingzhe grew older, he became even more arrogant. Relying on his family''s power, he once forced himself on a company president''s daughter, with Li Pingrong once again stepping in to resolve the situation. In college, the number of women he played with was countless.


    Now, he even keeps a second-tier actress from the entertainment circle, indulging in nightly revelries. Without any real capabilities, he is thoroughly a pampered wastrel.


    When his mother was forced into a marriage, Li Mingzhe''s parents were among the instigators.


    Qin Hao had no fondness for Li Pingrong''s family¡ªin fact, quite the opposite¡ªand now, taking advantage of his absence, they even dared to mock Meng.


    Seeing Qin Hao''s expression, Li Mingzhe forcibly squeezed out a smile and said, "Cousin, grandpa sent me here to give you a message."


    Qin Hao, "Dare to call me cousin again and I''ll smash your mouth. And don''t use him to press me. My mom might listen to him, but I sure don''t. Get out."


    The smile vanished from Li Mingzhe''s face, and he looked sullen. He was someone who cared about his reputation. Being insulted by Qin Hao like this, he could no longer hide the anger in his heart, "Fine, you just wait. I will tell grandpa about what''s happening here."


    Qin Hao, "Whatever, hurry up and get lost. If you dare to step one foot into my villa again, I''ll break your dog legs."


    Leng Xuan and a few others came in and escorted Li Mingzhe out, throwing him outside the villa.


    Qin Hao sat on the sofa looking at Li Yushi, Li Jin, and the others, "What do you want from me?"


    Li Yushi began, "Xiao Hao, this is my younger brother Li Mingguan, and that''s Li Jin''s younger sister, Li Na."


    Li Mingguan and Li Jin were about the same age, nineteen, while Li Na was the youngest, having just started high school at sixteen.


    "Cousin," Li Mingguan and Li Jin called out timidly.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Speak directly."


    Li Yushi, "Grandpa sent us here this time to extend an invitation for you, aunt, and uncle to visit on the third day of the New Year."


    Xinghai High-tech Company had developed rapidly; now its influence within the country was ever-growing, and its market value had soared from the initial 400 billion Federation dollars to over 600 billion, still on the rise.


    Although it had been banned by the three big internet giants, this hadn''t affected the development of Xinghai High-tech Company in the slightest.


    With the year nearly coming to an end, the future relationship between the two parties entirely depended on how the Li Family treated his parents.


    If his parents were happy, then the Li Family might still be able to follow behind Qin Hao and benefit from his success.


    If the Li Family remained the same as before, they wouldn''t just miss out on the benefits¡ªthey might even be left to fend for themselves in the harsh world.


    The visit from Li Yushi and the others today signified the Li Family''s gesture of lowering their heads to him.


    Qin Hao nodded, "I''ll tell my parents about this, but whether they go or not is entirely up to them."


    Li Jin asked with a smile, "Cousin, I heard you''ve been filming a movie these past few days?"


    Qin Hao, "Just something to do for fun, to relax a bit. Don''t leave at noon; stay for lunch. Meng, go buy some groceries."


    Han Meng nodded, tidied herself, and went out to buy groceries.


    "Cousin, are you still upset with Mingzhe brother because of the incident last time?" Li Mingguan quietly looked at him and asked.


    What Li Mingguan referred to was the incident at Li Moying''s birthday party, where the banquet ended with Li Mingzhe wanting Zhao Yuying to accompany him.


    Li Yushi glared at her younger brother, "Talk less, nobody takes you for a mute if you don''t speak."


    Qin Hao looked at Li Mingguan and said, "Li Mingzhe has been unruly since he was a child. At sixteen, he caused the class belle to get pregnant, and he even forced himself on the daughter of a company president. Now, he''s even keeping a female star as his mistress. This guy has a crooked heart, you should steer clear of him."


    Li Mingguan and the others were stunned for a moment. They didn''t know about these incidents, yet Qin Hao did?


    Li Na spoke up and said, "I also think my cousin is too detestable. Just a few days ago, he was asking me for our school beauty''s contact information."


    Li Jin frowned, "There''s also this kind of situation? How old is your school''s beauty?"


    "Let''s watch some TV," Qin Hao turned on the television.


    Li Na quickly said, "Cousin, watch Nanxiang TV. There should be a variety show on right now."


    Qin Hao switched to Nanxiang TV, where a variety show was indeed being broadcast.


    Li Na said with a smile, "I really love Yu Tiantian''s songs. Cousin, is she with your company?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, she seemed to have won the Vocal Champion of the Year award, didn''t she?"


    A few days ago, the finals of ''Vocal Champion'' had ended, and Zhao Yuying had told him that Yu Tiantian had won the championship, causing her popularity to soar.


    The variety show invited many guests, and this particular one on Nanxiang TV had high viewership ratings.


    The program featured contestants and judges all playing games to amuse the audience.


    "Next, our program team has invited a mysterious big shot. Everyone can try to guess who it is. He will engage in Q&A interactions with our contestants," the female host said with a mysterious smile.


    The male and female contestants also showed curious expressions¡ªthey didn''t know who this mysterious big shot was. The crew hadn''t revealed it.


    Then, it was time for a commercial break, leaving Li Na somewhat speechless: "This damn commercial has to come on at exactly this time."


    Qin Hao''s face wore a smile; this was a strategy of advertising planning and it wouldn''t take long.


    A few seconds later, the variety show resumed live,


    and the mysterious big shot appeared. Li Na was taken aback, "Holy shit, it''s actually Ren Gaolang."


    Li Yushi and the others were also stunned because they knew this Ren Gaolang. He was one of the prominent rich second generations of Xuan Country.


    Unlike other rich second generations who preferred to keep a low profile, he enjoyed using the internet to become famous, especially since his background was once exposed, which greatly increased his fame.


    The father of Ren Gaolang was Ren Huachen of Tenglong Group, the former richest man''s son of Xuan Country. With wealth behind him, he was jokingly referred to by numerous netizens as the national husband.


    Ren Huachen''s son? Qin Hao watched Ren Gaolang on the TV with great interest.


    The Q&A segment soon began, where Ren Gaolang would ask questions and the contestants answered.


    Finally, it was Yu Tiantian''s turn. Ren Gaolang looked at her with a smile and said, "You look familiar. Have you ever made a movie in Beihai Country?"


    The crowd and the audience on-site were taken aback. Was he subtly insulting Yu Tiantian, suggesting she was a Beihai Country adult video actress?


    The two had supposedly never met before. Why would he do this?


    It wasn''t long before some people connected it to Yu Tiantian''s backing, Yuhao Media¡ªQin Hao''s company. And Ren Gaolang''s family''s Tenglong Group was currently at a cold war with Qin Hao.


    He was probably taking a stand for his father, aiming to suppress an artist from Qin Hao''s company.


    Yu Tiantian was stunned for a second, then quickly recovered, her face showing a bit of embarrassment as she said, "No, I am from Xuan Country and have never been to Beihai Country."


    Ren Gaolang persisted, "You haven''t made an extra buck by filming a movie in Beihai Country? How come I feel like I''ve seen you in some movie? Do you know Mr. Cang?"


    [Third update]

 Chapter 542 544: Tang Group Bankruptcy

    Yu Tiantian felt humiliated, but she couldn''t show her anger in this situation, so she could only force an awkward smile and say, "No, I don''t recognize the person Mr. Ren mentioned."


    Ren Gaolang chuckled, "Are there any young people today who don''t know Teacher Cang?"


    Everyone was speechless; knowing is one thing, but daring to mention it on this kind of show? You''re the first.


    After the Q&A, Ren Gaolang left, leaving Yu Tiantian somewhat awkwardly behind.


    Li Yushi, Li Jin, and the others all turned their heads to look at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao was expressionless. It was clear that Ren Gaolang was targeting him, slapping him in the face.


    He asked Li Na, "Was this filmed yesterday?"


    Li Na nodded, "Yes, it should have been filmed yesterday, then broadcast today."


    Qin Hao took out his phone and called Zhao Yuying. The call was quickly connected, "Have you heard about Yu Tiantian''s situation?"


    Zhao Yuying sounded puzzled, "What happened to Yu Tiantian?"


    Qin Hao: "Nothing much, are you still shooting the movie? Will you be back by noon?"


    "No, we''ll go back after finishing the shoot in the afternoon."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao called Li Wenjun, "Find out where Ren Gaolang is now."


    Li Wenjun replied, "He''s in Jianghai City. He came here after recording the show for Nanxiang TV yesterday. He''s currently staying in Cuijing Villa District, accompanied by four female models."


    "Got it." After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao logged onto Wei Yan. Ren Gaolang was fond of visiting Wei Yan, and he checked it almost every day.


    He posted a message on Wei Yan: "Do you feel accomplished bullying a young girl? I know you''re in Jianghai City''s Cuijing District. If you have the guts, come out and see if I don''t slap you twice." Qin Hao also tagged him at the end of the message.


    "Holy shit, what''s happening? Is Mr. Qin going to beat up Ren Gaolang?"


    "Is it possible that Mr. Qin, being blacklisted, has lost his mind and is taking it out on Ren Gaolang?"


    "The people above, if you don''t know, then don''t blabber. Didn''t you see Mr. Qin saying Ren Gaolang bullied a young girl? Just watch this episode of Nanxiang TV''s variety show, and you''ll see that Ren Gaolang really went too far."


    "Damn it, daring to insult Tiantian, this piece of shit."


    "He''s so ugly, what''s he got except a bit of money? Who the hell can outspend Mr. Qin?"


    "Mr. Qin, go for it, kick his ass. That guy is too oppressive; they say Tiantian even cried."


    "Bullying others because of his powerful background. If his dad wasn''t the founder of Tenglong Group, he''d be nothing."


    ...


    About fifteen minutes later, Ren Gaolang saw the message from Qin Hao on Wei Yan. With Qin Hao talking like that, if he didn''t respond, wouldn''t that mean he was scared of Qin Hao?


    For the sake of his and his father''s reputation, he had to reply to Qin Hao.


    Ren Gaolang responded on Wei Yan: "Slap me twice? Mr. Qin is really imposing. Yes, I''m in Cuijing District, come here if you want to hit me. You think I''m scared of you?"


    Qin Hao instantly replied: "Good, don''t you run."


    After the reply, Qin Hao stood up and said, "I''m going out to take care of some business."


    "Cousin, you''re not really going to fight with that Ren Gaolang, are you? I''ll go with you," Li Na quickly stood up and said.


    Qin Hao glanced at her, "Then let''s go together."


    After leaving the villa, Qin Hao had Leng Xuan drive toward Cuijing District, with Li Yushi and the others following in their car.


    Half an hour later.


    At the Cuijing District Villa No. 9, Qin Hao''s convoy stopped outside the villa.


    He led Leng Xuan and a few others into the villa. Ren Gaolang was sitting on the sofa, surrounded by four scantily clad, beautiful female models.


    ```


    Ren Gaolang was taken aback to see Qin Hao enter; he hadn''t expected Qin Hao to truly dare to come.


    His two bodyguards outside had already been subdued.


    Qin Hao walked to the sofa, grabbed him with one hand, and with the other hand, "smack smack," delivered two slaps across his face.


    Everyone in the room was stunned, and those who had just come in, including Li Yushi, were dumbfounded as well.


    He had actually hit Ren Gaolang¡ªhe was the son of Ren Huachen from Tenglong Group!!


    Ren Gaolang looked at him with equally incredulous eyes, "You actually dared to hit me."


    Qin Hao sneered, "So what if I hit you? If you''ve got the guts, call the police. I''m telling you, if I hear one more instance of you insulting my company''s artists, don''t blame me for coming over and hitting you again."


    Ren Gaolang''s face darkened with fury, "You just wait, I will definitely avenge this."


    Qin Hao looked at him with pity, "I''m afraid you won''t have the chance in the future. Enjoy these few good days while you can."


    Ren Gaolang''s face changed slightly, what did he mean by that?


    Sure enough, the news of Qin Hao hitting Ren Gaolang spread online not long after. However, the news was quickly erased.


    Even if someone wanted to discuss the matter, they couldn''t, as official sources had directly banned the discussion.


    This was Tenglong Group taking action; the incident couldn''t get out, or else Ren Gaolang would become a laughingstock, and so would his father, Ren Huachen.


    Calling the police was useless; two slaps weren''t enough to convict, and it would only make the issue more widespread.


    ...


    After having lunch, Li Yushi and the others left.


    Around two in the afternoon, a piece of news spread throughout the Jianghai business world: Tang Group announced bankruptcy with debts of hundreds of billions, and the chairman, Tang Zhongqian, committed suicide by jumping off a building.


    Huamei Company proposed to invest ten billion to wholly acquire Tang Group''s industry chain.


    Qin Hao heard this news from Su Mingzhi. It felt rather sudden to him, as if Tang Group had collapsed too quickly.


    Huamei Company''s products are now extensive, covering skincare, makeup, shampoo, conditioner, daily necessities, and more.


    All of these are thanks to the R&D technology provided by Qin Hao; otherwise, how could it compete with Tang Group?


    Su Mingzhi said, "Mr. Qin, do you have time? Why not come over? Securing Tang Group would be extremely beneficial for our company''s development."


    Qin Hao nodded. If Huamei Company could take over Tang Group, it would be enough to support Huamei Company''s products to be sold nationwide.


    There would be no need for further investment in Huamei Company''s development; this would be more than sufficient.


    Moreover, future revenue would grow rapidly.


    "I''ll be right over," Qin Hao said before hanging up the phone.


    Around half-past three, Qin Hao arrived at Huamei Company, where Su Mingzhi and his daughter, Su Meilan, were waiting for him in the office.


    "Mr. Qin," Su Mingzhi and Su Meilan called out eagerly.


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Su, can we settle the Tang Group matter?"


    Su Mingzhi: "I''ve been quietly contacting many of Tang Group''s shareholders the past few days; a sum of about ten billion should be no problem. We would also need to take on about thirty billion of Tang Group''s debt; in total, the acquisition will cost roughly forty billion."


    Tang Group was previously valued at nearly two hundred billion; taking it over for forty billion would be a sure profit.


    Qin Hao wasn''t short of money right now, what he needed was a way to keep it flowing, because only by keeping it in circulation could he earn more.


    He said, "Mr. Su, go and negotiate with them. Money is not an issue, just give me a call once you''ve settled it."


    Su Mingzhi nodded, "Alright, Mr. Qin. Meilan, stay here and keep Mr. Qin company."


    [Fourth update]


    ```

 Chapter 543 545 Finishing Filming

    Su Mingzhi went to discuss the acquisition with the shareholders of the Tang Group.


    Su Meilan poured Qin Hao a cup of water, then sat down beside him.


    "Congratulations to the host for completing the main mission and obtaining one million achievement points, along with a random item."


    "Drawing random item reward."


    "Congratulations to the host for obtaining the first-generation mecha. The item has been placed in the system backpack."


    First-generation mecha? Qin Hao''s gaze faltered; what was this? He quickly opened the system backpack to check.


    First-generation Mecha: Made of rare alloys, F-grade material, wearing it greatly enhances attributes such as strength and agility, with extremely strong defense.


    The thing was great, but it was something he rarely needed, like the laser pistol, which he had only used once.


    However, these were all life-saving trump cards. Although he didn''t need them now, who knows when they might come in handy in the future.


    "Main mission initiated: company''s monthly profit to reach one hundred billion, with a reward of ten million achievement points and a random item."


    "System upgrade mission initiated: bring down the three internet giants. The system will consume fifty million achievement points to upgrade, at which point the Gold Mall will be upgraded to the Platinum Mall, and more high-tech products and technologies will be available for sale."


    "Mr. Qin, please drink your tea," Su Meilan''s voice rang out as she brought the tea up to Qin Hao''s lips.


    Qin Hao came back to his senses and took the tea, "Miss Su, there''s no need to trouble yourself, I can just sit here for a while."


    Su Meilan smiled and said, "It''s no trouble, Mr. Qin."


    A few minutes later, Su Meilan asked, "Mr. Qin, do you have time this evening? Shall we have dinner together?"


    Qin Hao was stunned, then chuckled, "I''m sorry, Miss Su, but I already have some matters planned with my girlfriend."


    He understood Su Meilan''s feelings, but since he felt nothing for her, he had to find an excuse to refuse.


    At five in the afternoon, Su Mingzhi sent news back that he had come to an agreement with the shareholders of the Tang Group; the acquisition price was one hundred and three billion Xuan Country Coins, with the Tang Group being three hundred and twenty-seven billion in debt.


    That meant after acquiring Tang Group, Qin Hao would have to come up with three hundred and twenty-seven billion to settle Tang Group''s accounts.


    To take over Tang Group completely cost four hundred and thirty billion altogether, and Qin Hao transferred the money to Su Mingzhi.


    He currently had over two thousand billion Federation Currency, which equated to one trillion and eight hundred billion Xuan Country Coin.


    Investing five hundred billion in Xingyu Network Communication Company, now spending four hundred and thirty billion on Tang Group, and the tower under construction, estimated to cost seven hundred billion.


    He also had to invest in Air Energy Cars, which would require at least an initial investment of over a hundred billion.


    Most importantly, if he were to construct future high-tech weapons, money would only flow out without coming in, much like running water, and this money might not even be enough.


    After five-thirty, Su Mingzhi returned with the acquisition contract.


    Qin Hao glanced over it, gave Su Mingzhi a few instructions, and then planned to leave. Su Meilan escorted him to the downstairs lobby as well.


    "Miss Su, you should head back," Qin Hao said with a smile, looking at Su Meilan downstairs.


    Su Meilan nodded, "Drive safely on the way, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao drove off, and Su Meilan''s eyes dimmed slightly as she watched the direction his motorcade disappeared into.


    ...


    On the way back, Qin Hao called his mother, "Mom, someone from the Li Family came over today and invited us to visit on the third day of the New Year."


    Upon hearing this, Li Shujie''s face lit up with joy, "Really? That''s great. Xiao Hao, when will you be back?"


    Qin Hao said, "In a few more days. Mom, I had someone buy a few apartments in the Jiangshan Mingcheng complex. We can move there in a few days. As for Uncle and the others, you can bring them to Jiangshan as well."


    Qin Hao''s relatives were not many, other than Li Family, he had only one uncle, who was Qin Man''s father.


    Mrs. Qin said grumpily, "Why didn''t you tell us earlier about buying a house?"


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "Mom, why don''t you and Dad go take a look today, and remember to bring Uncle and Aunt over too, I''ll have Kang Youyi tell you the location."


    Mrs. Qin nodded, "Understood. Come back early once you''re done; there''s just over ten days until the New Year."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Got it, Mom. I''m hanging up now."


    When he got home, Zhao Yuying and Xia Qing had already returned from filming. Since Jianghai University''s break and filming for the drama began, Xia Qing had been staying at Qin Hao''s villa.


    Zhao Yuying, Xia Qing, Han Meng, and Qiao''er¡ªthe four of them were sitting on the sofa chatting.


    After Qin Hao came in, he looked at Zhao Yuying and Xia Qing and asked, "You''re back? How did the filming go?"


    Zhao Yuying replied with a smile, "Pretty good. I estimate it''ll all be finished in another four or five days."


    Since the beginning of filming, they would hand over the day''s footage to Deng Wei''s special effects department each afternoon, with the special effects being done concurrently, overworking tirelessly.


    Once the film was finished, their special effects would likely be completed as well.


    "When are you going home, Ying?" Qin Hao asked as he sat on the sofa.


    Zhao Yuying said, "Once all the post-production work for the film is done, I''ll need to go back. My parents have urged me several times."


    Today was February 1st, and the 14th would be the lunar New Year''s Eve, the most important festival of the year: the Spring Festival.


    That evening, after dinner, Qin Hao went back to his room to rest. Not long after, Xia Qing came in.


    Her pretty face was flushed, and she seemed shy to look directly at Qin Hao, taking small, tentative steps to the side of the bed.


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao said with a smile, "Why are you so shy today? You weren''t like this a few days ago, were you?"


    Xia Qing glared at him with embarrassed anger, "If you keep this up, I''m going back to sleep."


    Qin Hao quickly embraced her, "Did Ying send you over?"


    Xia Qing, blushing, nodded her head.


    Qin Hao chuckled, "Then let''s go to sleep early."


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao and the others went back to the set, where Qin Hao had several scenes to shoot.


    After four more days of continuous filming, "Mechanical Soldier" officially wrapped up.


    That night, Zhao Yuying hosted a big dinner for all the staff and actors of the crew. Zhao Yuying drank quite a bit, and so did Xia Qing.


    Zhao Yuying had seen the pre-production special effects of the movie and could only describe it as shocking; the special effects were so realistic, stronger than those in foreign blockbusters.


    The movie wasn''t bloody; its themes were passion, excitement, shock, with a touch of romance added.


    On the way back, Zhao Yuying and Xia Qing each sat by his side.


    Zhao Yuying asked with a laugh, "Xiao Hao, do you think our movie might break records?"


    Qin Hao replied, "The results shouldn''t be too bad."


    Zhao Yuying went on, "Do you think our movie could be released globally at the same time? My dream has always been to make a movie that''s a hit all around the world, to become known by everyone, and then I could make even more money."


    She giggled after saying this, looking cute and charming from the alcohol.


    After thinking for a moment, Qin Hao said, "It shouldn''t be difficult, I''ll make a call and ask."


    [First Update]

 Chapter 544 546 Pointing the Sword at Tenglong Group

    Qin Hao took out his phone to call Silin Ross; as her status in the Ross family was not low, she should be able to handle this.


    The call was swiftly answered, and Silin''s voice emerged from the phone, "Mr. Qin, it''s very impolite to disturb someone''s sleep."


    It was nighttime in Xuan Country, while in the Northern Federation, it was early morning, around five or six o''clock.


    Qin Hao, "My company made a movie, and we want it to be released simultaneously in cinemas globally. Can you make it happen?"


    Silin Ross said with a laugh, "If it were someone else, I might not be able to help, but for Mr. Qin, I will certainly do my best. When can you supply your chips?"


    Qin Hao, "Regarding the chips, we can supply a batch by the end of this month, 1.5 million smart phone chips."


    The current daily output of Xinghai High-tech Company''s chips can reach nearly eight hundred thousand, and with the passage of time and the increase in the number of lithography machines, the chip production lines will also increase.


    One batch of production lines is dedicated to manufacturing smartphone smart chips, while others produce smart chips for household appliances like washing machines and refrigerators.


    The daily output of smartphone smart chips can now reach about three hundred thousand, and there are also many smaller chips in phones, whose daily output is even higher.


    1.5 million smart chips actually suffice to assemble about two hundred thousand smartphones.


    Silin, "If it''s 1.5 million sets of chips, that would be okay. I heard you''ve partnered with the Innsil Family?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Don''t worry, the company won''t be looking for more partners for now. The future chip output will increase, and we will significantly boost our supply."


    Silin spoke, "That''s good to hear. I''ll take care of the movie matter after I get up, and then I''ll have someone contact you. You can handle the follow-up negotiations."


    The Ross family''s entertainment and media industry covers various countries globally, with the number of cinemas amounting to thousands, which is quite formidable.


    Qin Hao, "Ying, please discuss the follow-up matters with foreign cinemas. The Ross family has a vast number of cinemas, and their network is expansive. You can leverage the Ross family''s cinemas to breakthrough into other international cinemas."


    Zhao Yuying nodded, "Okay, sounds good, Xiao Hao, you are amazing. I love you to death."


    Having said that, she hugged Qin Hao''s head and kissed his cheek, then rested her head on his shoulder and dozed off drowsily.


    Qin Hao held the two women with a smile on his face, while Xia Qing also leaned against his shoulder, softly saying, "I plan to go home tomorrow."


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, "So soon?"


    Xia Qing said with a smile, "Not soon, there are only seven or eight days left until New Year."


    Qin Hao, "Wait for me to return, and I''ll go see your uncle and aunt, and then take you to meet my parents."


    Hearing his words, Xia Qing felt warmth in her heart but expressed concernedly, "Will your uncle and aunt agree to us?"


    Qin Hao stroked her hair, "My parents will be too happy to object. In this way, they''ll soon have grandchildren to hold."


    "Stop it, who said I would have children with you," Xia Qing retorted with a blushing face and playful annoyance.


    Xia Qing had already booked a ticket for tomorrow morning to travel to Jiangshan.


    That night, Qin Hao and Xia Qing were entwined with each other deep into the night.


    ...


    The next morning, the two came downstairs, where Han Meng had already prepared breakfast and was bringing it to the table.


    "Did Xia Qing sister wake up?" Zhao Yuying asked with a smile.


    Xia Qing''s cheeks tinted red as she nodded, and after washing up, they began eating breakfast.


    After breakfast, Xia Qing packed up, and Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying drove her to the airport.


    Having seen Xia Qing off on the plane, Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying left the airport.


    Zhao Yuying said to him, "Xiao Hao, I''m going to the company first to check on how the special effects are coming along."


    Qin Hao, "All right, Ying, just call me if you need anything."


    ...


    That morning around nine, suddenly, news broke on the internet:


    "Qin Hao Strikes Back Powerfully Against the Three Internet Giants; Xinghai Chatting Software Installs Surpass One Million in Just a Few Days"


    "Qin Hao Invests Fifty Billion to Establish Star Domain Network Communication Company, Aiming at the Internet Industry"


    "Qin Hao''s Counterattack: Xinghai Chatting Software Targets Tenglong Group''s TT Chat Software."


    "Xinghai High-tech Company Enters the Internet Chatting Software Market with Its Multifunctional, Simple, and Fashionable Xinghai Chatting Software, Which May Shake TT''s Dominance in the Chat Application Sector"


    "Tenglong Group Convenes an Emergency Meeting Internally to Address the Challenge Posed by Star Domain Network Communication Company''s Xinghai Chatting Software"


    For a while, this was the talk of the entire internet, with Chang Jing orchestrating from behind the scenes.


    Because Xinghai Chatting Software indeed needed this kind of hype; the more people knew about it, the more would download it.


    Xinghai Chatting Software was now available online for download.


    In the past few days, Blueberry Phones sold had Xinghai Chatting Software pre-installed, and the phone systems were being upgraded. With the upgrade, the phones would have Xinghai Chatting Software.


    In just a few days, the installation number of Xinghai Chatting Software had reached more than a million devices, with almost every new Blueberry Phone requiring the Xinghai Chatting Software.


    "I always said Mr. Qin wasn''t one to just sit back; he''s indeed been preparing a surprise counterattack. I''m going to download and try Mr. Qin''s chatting and social app."


    "Is Mr. Qin gearing up to enter the internet sphere and go head-to-head with Tenglong Group?"


    "Supporting Mr. Qin, I''m downloading Xinghai Chatting Software right now."


    "Mr. Qin, please release more Blueberry Smartphones. I can never manage to grab one."


    "Strongly suggest producing more phones, including some cheaper smartphones. The expensive ones are unaffordable for the average person."


    ...


    Following this burst of news, in just half an hour, the downloads for Xinghai Chatting Software had reached over three million and were still rising.


    Those using Blueberry Smartphones also noticed the Xinghai Chatting Software on their phones.


    They had already downloaded the Tenglong Group''s chat software after buying the phone because they were used to it.


    As for Xinghai Chatting Software, they just glanced at it and didn''t even open it.


    Installation numbers alone didn''t reflect much; active monthly users were key. Only users who frequently used the app and were active could truly help Xinghai Chatting Software.


    Users with a Blueberry Phone found the pre-installed Xinghai Chatting Software and said to their phone, "Open Xinghai Chatting Software."


    Upon opening, Xinghai Chatting Software presented a view of the cosmos, with countless stars twinkling and forming an infinite vastness of a starry sea.


    "Welcome to Xinghai Chatting and Office Software. Please hold your phone as you proceed with your first login authentication."


    "Retina authentication in progress..."


    "Facial recognition authentication in progress..."


    "Fingerprint authentication in progress..."


    "Voice authentication in progress..."


    Xinghai Chatting Software proceeded with several authentications. Since the user was on a Blueberry Phone, the authentication process was very fast, taking just a few seconds.


    [Second update]

 Chapter 545 547 Free Access

    "Authentication successful, would you like to match friends from your contact list?"


    "Match"


    "Matching successful, would you like to match friends from the TT Chat Software into this software?"


    The man hesitated for a moment. Damn, is that even possible? Could the friends from TT software also be transferred?


    "Match"


    Instantly, his friend list increased by several hundred friends, although some names were grayed out, while others were highlighted.


    The grayed-out names indicated that these friends had not yet activated the Xinghai Chatting Software.


    He clicked on a name that was illuminated. The chat interface was nothing special, quite similar to TT Chat Software.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao also opened the Xinghai Chatting Software on his Blueberry Phone, and after a series of authentications, he accessed the software.


    The Xinghai Chatting Software performed excellently in terms of account security, virtually eliminating the possibility of accounts being hacked.


    While the chat interface offered little innovation, it was adequately standard, with excellent corporate office functions, suitable for corporate group offices.


    The home management feature seemed somewhat superfluous for now, but with the widespread adoption of smart appliances and smart locks, this could become a very powerful tool.


    Soon, Qin Hao arrived at Xinghai High-tech Company.


    In Chang Jing''s office, Qin Hao opened the door and walked in, asking, "Mr. Chang, is the server for Star Domain Network all set? When can it be activated?"


    Chang Jing replied, "Mr. Qin, everything is ready and can be activated at any time."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Take me there to have a look."


    Chang Jing led him out of the office building towards a workshop in the back, where the ten large servers of Star Domain Network and the services of Xinghai Chatting Software were located on the first floor.


    It was currently in standby mode. By turning on these ten large servers and the two wireless signal devices in low Earth orbit, Star Domain Network would fully activate, covering the entire planet.


    These ten large servers could accommodate ten billion connections without any lag, and similarly, the internet speed was exceptionally fast.


    Chang Jing started, "Mr. Qin, on the second and third floors of the workshop are various departments of Xingyu Network Communication Company.


    From the research and development department to the technical department, from the finance department to the administrative department, although currently the personnel is not numerous, it''s sufficient."


    Mainly, these large servers are driven by artificial intelligence. If online users have any queries, it can autonomously provide answers.


    Qin Hao asked, "Mr. Chang, how do you think we should launch Star Domain Network? Free or with a fee?"


    Chang Jing thought for a moment and said, "Tenglong Group''s TT software has a very large user base, although it facilitates communication among people.


    However, it also has a significant drawback, which is the lack of complete network coverage. Currently, the communication mode of TT Chat Software still relies on the three major mobile communication providers.


    If Mr. Qin wants to secure a foothold on the Internet, I think it must be launched for free, which would immediately attract a large number of users for Xinghai Chatting Software, though this will also instantly offend the three major mobile communication providers."


    Mobile communication providers earn their profits from phone card fees, which are incredibly lucrative annually.


    Although the cost of data is getting cheaper, every person still pays dozens or even hundreds of yuan per month, amounting to hundreds or thousands per year.


    With hundreds of millions of people, that is a market worth hundreds of billions. If Mr. Qin rashly launches it, he would likely instantly crush these three major mobile operators.


    Similarly, this market worth hundreds of billions would evaporate instantly, and he would surely offend many people.


    ...


    After pondering for a few seconds, Qin Hao said, "Then let''s launch it for free. Post an announcement online later, and we will open at twelve o''clock sharp."


    Chang Jing nodded, feeling a faint excitement inside.


    How big would the sensation be if Star Domain Network were fully launched?


    Tenglong Group boardroom.


    Ren Huachen convened an emergency meeting. The TT Chat Software was fundamental to Tenglong Group and had originally swept all internet competitors. Tenglong Group absolutely did not allow any potential threats to exist.


    If TT Chat Software were to be replaced, it would severely affect Tenglong Group''s position on the internet.


    "Has everyone heard about the Xinghai Chatting Software from Xinghai High-tech Company?" Ren Huachen asked calmly as he looked around.


    One person corrected, "Mr. Ren, it''s not from Xinghai High-tech Company, it''s the Xinghai Chatting Software under Xingyu Network Communication Company."


    Ren Huachen smiled and said, "I must have remembered wrong. Let''s hear everyone''s opinions."


    "Mr. Ren, although Qin Hao and Blueberry Mobile Phone Company are collaborating, it still doesn''t threaten our position."


    "Last month''s sales of Blueberry Phones were about 1.4 million units. Considering this month''s sales, let''s assume a total of 2 million. Such an installed base is merely a drop in the bucket in the internet domain, roughly equating to the traffic of a small internet company."


    Ren Huachen shook his head, "The sales of Blueberry Phones will definitely increase in the future, and so will the installed base of Xinghai Chatting Software.


    If Qin Hao collaborates with other smartphone manufacturers, then the installed base of Xinghai Software will be terrifying, and the potential user base will also increase a lot."


    Many people nodded; indeed, this was a likely scenario.


    Xinghai High-tech Company was still in its developmental stage, with daily production increasing. Once the chip production reached a certain level, surely more mobile phone companies would collaborate with Xinghai Company.


    The director of TT''s R&D department spoke up: "Actually, Mr. Ren doesn''t need to worry. Amao Net Shopping also tried to venture into social software before.


    Its e-commerce software had traffic over a hundred million, but in the end, it still failed against us. Users have formed habits, and I think we don''t need to take this too seriously. Once the novelty wears off, Xinghai Social Software will be forgotten."


    "That''s right, it''s no longer the early days of the internet. The social software market is already saturated. Wise men wouldn''t venture into this industry anymore."


    "The most important aspect of social software is networking. If people find out that those around them are still using TT Chat Software, with nobody to talk to on Xinghai Software, they will naturally lose interest in it."


    Hearing these opinions, Ren Huachen said, "Keep a constant watch on Xingyu Network Communication Company. Report to me immediately if there''s any movement."


    The meeting concluded, and Ren Huachen received a call from Lv Tian of Amao Net Shopping.


    Lv Tian cautioned, "Mr. Ren, have you seen what''s happening online? Be careful, Qin Hao is no ordinary person."


    Ren Huachen scoffed, "Many have tried to do social software before, but all have met with disastrous ends. I''ve looked at Xinghai Social Software, and it''s nothing to worry about."


    Hearing this, Lv Tian was inwardly annoyed. Are you kidding me with that remark?


    "Since Mr. Ren is so confident, it looks like I was worried for nothing," he said.


    Ren Huachen snorted internally. Lv Tian was known for being the most cunning, willing to do anything to achieve his goals, and his reputation was well known within the circle.


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 546 548 Officially Begins

    Ren Huachen had almost been done in by him back then, and he remembered it to this day.


    Currently, within the domestic internet industry, Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping are the strongest players, with Qian Du Company having fallen behind a tier.


    As such, Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping often compete in various sectors. Had it not been for the meteoric rise of Xinghai Company, it would have been impossible for the two to unite.


    During the recent food delivery war, both sides fought so fiercely that they were almost driven to desperation, burning through tens of millions every day.


    The topic of Xinghai Social Software had surged to number one in online discussions.


    Due to Qin Hao''s significant fame and a large fan base, the number of participants in the discussion was exceedingly high, having already exceeded ten million.


    Qin Hao had also given a simple introduction to the features of Xinghai Social Software on Wei Yan.


    Xingyu Network Communication Company had registered a Wei Yan account, and with Qin Hao''s help, their followers had quickly increased.


    From the backend, Qin Hao and Chang Jing saw that in just a couple of short hours, the download count of Xinghai Social Software had reached over fourteen million.


    The influence of Qin Hao online was evident.


    They could also see the number of active backend users, the peak being over six million users online at the same time.


    At this moment, it had dropped to around one million users, a steep decline.


    Xinghai Social Software featured functions such as adding friends and people nearby, and its geolocation was very accurate.


    Eleven o''clock in the morning.


    Xingyu Network Communication Company''s official Wei Yan released a staggering piece of news:


    Our company has developed the Star Domain Network wireless signal, with signal strength covering the entire globe and network speed calculated in DB. At twelve o''clock, it will be freely available to all national users; the service is not yet available abroad.


    Due to business cooperation issues, our wireless network will not be open to certain companies.


    For now, it will only be available for our own Xinghai Social Software, and we will provide the strongest signal for you, whether you are in the deep mountains or underground.


    Paying for calls? You''re already OUT.


    By using Xinghai Social Software, you will be able to contact any friend for free, and you can even call strangers, as long as you add the other party''s account. Voice and video calls feature ultra-clear quality throughout, without any network lag.


    We also have a considerate blacklist service. If you encounter harassing calls, add them to the blacklist, and our Artificial Intelligence server will monitor them 24/7. If there is confirmed evidence of frequent harassing calls, permanent bans will be enforced.


    ...


    Upon this announcement, a massive uproar erupted on the internet immediately.


    Wireless signal covering the entire globe? Free access for all national users?


    This news was far more shocking than Xinghai Social Software because it wasn''t just about the internet social industry, but Star Domain Network was different; its impact was enormous.


    The immediate reaction for many was disbelief. How could a global wireless signal with such strength be released when even 5G had not yet become widespread?


    Especially the experts in some industries were skeptics: "This is outright impossible. With present technology, it simply cannot be done. This statement is mere sensationalism; it seems to be just to promote Xinghai Social Software."


    Other industry experts also made statements: "Indeed, this is utterly implausible. To advertise their social software in such a manner is somewhat shameless."


    "Fake? Damn, got me all excited for nothing."


    "The experts are saying it''s fake; it must be fake. The person who spoke just now is a well-known communications industry expert in the country."


    "A scam? Damn, I''m uninstalling Xinghai Social Software."


    Among those discussing were fans of Qin Hao, who stated: The establishment of Xingyu Network Communication Company was with an investment of fifty billion by Mr. Qin. If the official Wei Yan account made this statement, it must be under Mr. Qin''s directive. Are you not aware of Mr. Qin''s strength?


    "Exactly, we trust Mr. Qin. Having developed Artificial Intelligence, what''s so difficult about a global Star Domain Network?"


    "Supporting Mr. Qin, looking forward to free video calls after twelve o''clock, haha."


    "What do the experts count for? Mr. Qin is a fellow of the Xuan Science Academy. Compared to Mr. Qin, of course his words carry more authority."


    "Right, we believe in Mr. Qin. Since he stated it, it must be so."


    There were many who believed in Qin Hao, but there were also quite a few who did not, with the communications industry experts taking the lead in skepticism.


    According to their estimates, even the Federation institutions that first researched the internet would not be capable of developing such a global wireless network, at least not for more than a hundred years.


    If the Star Domain Network was truly as powerful as stated by Xingyu Network Communication Company, it would completely overturn the current internet. With present technology, it simply couldn''t be done.


    When the people of Tenglong Group heard this news, their faces changed dramatically, and they convened an emergency meeting once again.


    If this news was true, it would indeed affect the status of TT Social Software.


    If the news were accurate, then the Xinghai Software right now would be like an app for free phone calls. If the network were fast, it would undoubtedly attract a massive user base right away.


    Once they had plenty of users and had formed a social network, people would become more and more inseparable from Xinghai Social Software, while TT Software would lose a large number of users.


    ...


    Inside the laboratory of Xinghai High-tech Company.


    After arriving, Qin Hao and Chang Jing found He Tingting and others, who were developing browser software.


    He asked, "Mr. He, when can the mobile browser software be developed?"


    He Tingting replied, "Mr. Qin, developing a browser is quite simple. We can just use a template, which should be ready by this afternoon. We''ll improve it gradually during use. To have something sophisticated and comprehensive might take about seven or eight days."


    Qin Hao said, "Start with a simple version, and we can slowly upgrade and improve it later. Even if it''s simple, it must have the most basic functions."


    "Understood, Mr. Qin."


    For now, the Star Domain Network was free only for Xinghai Social Software. If users wanted to browse websites or play games, they would still need to consume their own data, not to mention other activities.


    This was Qin Hao''s current weak point; his foundation on the internet was shallow and couldn''t form a complete ecosystem.


    With a comprehensive internet ecosystem and relying on the freely opened Star Domain Network, only then could true deterrence be formed.


    Everyone was eagerly awaiting the arrival of twelve o''clock.


    The three giants of the internet, as well as many internet companies, were waiting, along with the three major domestic mobile communication operators.


    They wanted to verify whether the news was indeed true!


    If it were true, there would be massive ramifications: user flight from TT Social Software, plummeting revenues for communication operators!


    Soon it was eleven fifty-nine in the morning, just one minute left until twelve o''clock.


    When the clock struck twelve, the workshop staff pressed the activation button, and two low-orbit signal devices were turned on, along with ten large servers.


    All around the world, whether it was Antarctica or the Arctic, the depths of the sea, or the deep mountains, a wireless network appeared on the wireless network list of their mobile devices.


    The network was named: Intelligent Star Domain Network!


    [Fourth update, starting to write the fifth one, which might be a bit late.]

 Chapter 547 549 Clear as Day

    This network was password-free; a single click was all it took to connect.


    Ren Huachen also connected and then clicked on the TT social app, but before he could enter, a dialog box popped up: "Smart Star Domain Network does not currently support this app. Would you like to use data to open it?"


    Upon seeing this, Ren Huachen was utterly baffled. Was the Star Domain Network really that smart, able to discern by itself?


    This scene was occurring in numerous places, including Amao Net Shopping''s Lv Tian, Qian Du Network Company''s Li Fengyu, and so forth.


    Those who had the Xinghai Social Software started making calls to friends in their contact list after connecting to the network.


    The video calls were incredibly clear, with crisp sound and no stuttering whatsoever.


    "Mom and Dad, hurry up and download Xinghai Social Software so you don''t have to spend a cent on video calls in the future," someone said.


    "Honey, quickly download Xinghai Social Software, so we can call and video chat regardless of where we are," another suggested.


    "Darling, download Xinghai Social quickly, it''s got signal all over the globe and the net speed is super fast," another urged.


    ...


    The download numbers for Xinghai Social Software were skyrocketing, with many people watching those numbers climb.


    Watching the number of downloads increase, Ren Huachen and others grew increasingly solemn.


    The three major domestic mobile communication operators also convened an emergency meeting.


    These mobile operators were completely caught off-guard; originally, it was a battle between the three internet giants and Qin Hao ¨C who would have guessed Qin Hao could come up with something like this wireless Star Domain Network.


    While it posed a significant challenge to Tenglong Group, it was an even bigger hit to the three operators.


    They had the misconception that Qin Hao wasn''t targeting the big three internet titans, but rather them.


    Fortunately, the wireless Star Domain Network was only free for Xinghai Social Software; had it been free across the entire network, these mobile operators might as well have closed up shop.


    Now their executives were already discussing this issue, adamant about not letting Xingyu Network Communication Company continue to develop unchecked.


    Otherwise, their businesses would eventually be squeezed out.


    ...


    Inside the Xinghai High-tech Company, Qin Hao and Chang Jing finished their meal around one o''clock and went to the workshop area.


    Qin Hao asked the staff member, "How many downloads has the Xinghai Social Software reached?"


    The staff member excitedly said, "Mr. Qin, it''s already reached over twenty-six million and is still rising wildly."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: twenty-six million was already quite significant, and seeing the current rate, it seemed hopeful to break fifty million.


    Fifty million downloads on the first day, what a terrifying number.


    Initially, whether it was Tenglong Group''s TT app or Amao Net Shopping''s e-commerce software, neither had achieved such a terrifying download number on their first day.


    Mainly because back then it was the early stage of the internet, unlike now when almost everyone has a mobile phone, with internet users numbering seven to eight hundred million.


    Now, Qin Hao had already set He Tingting and others to fully develop the browser and e-commerce platform.


    Internet products must keep up; otherwise, such a powerful Star Domain Network would be wasted.


    On Wei Yan Network, the official Wei Yan page of Xingyu Network Communication Company had already reached over ten million fans.


    Many netizens were privately messaging Xingyu Network Communication Company''s official Wei Yan: "Big bro, can you make it free across the entire network? Just Xinghai Social Software feels so limited."


    "Please, open up a few more apps. Otherwise, we still need to use data for other stuff."


    "Wow, your network speed is so fast, it completely overshadows the three major mobile operators, it''s so cool. Looking forward to more apps being available."


    ...


    The lady managing Xingyu Network Communication Company''s official Wei Yan saw these comments and chose a few to reply to: "We are researching more software programs and will develop them soon. Please hang tight."


    After replying, she posted an official statement: "To provide all users of Star Domain Network with a better online experience, we have developed a simplified version of the Xinghai Browser, which will go live at five o''clock on various e-stores for download."


    The news broke out and once again caused a huge sensation on the internet.


    If initially they hadn''t seen Qin Hao''s ambition, now his ambitions were clear for all to see.


    He aimed to use the Star Domain Network to revolutionize the current state of the internet and establish a new internet landscape.


    It must be said that Qin Hao''s displayed strength was formidable, and he indeed had the potential to overturn the three internet giants and establish a new internet landscape.


    At five o''clock in the afternoon, the simplified version of Xinghai Browser went online, and within an hour, it had more than ten million downloads.


    Initially, many users complained that, although Star Domain Network was great, they could not search web pages, but by the afternoon, it was available, satisfying many users'' needs.


    Because it didn''t use data and didn''t cost money, and the network speed was super fast, from now on, they could entirely ditch their SIM cards.


    Phone numbers are just a set of unique numbers, and each person who registered for the Xinghai Social Software was assigned a random digital account.


    This account essentially functioned as a typical phone number.


    Many small and medium-sized internet companies grew excited because they saw hope for rising up.


    In the past, with the three giants dominating, these smaller internet companies had no chance to rise.


    Even if you had an outstanding product, it couldn''t become popular under the watch of the big three, either being bought out or completely buried.


    But now it was different. As Star Domain Network had burst onto the scene with just one day''s open and already had over sixty million users, the future was unimaginable.


    Keep in mind, Star Domain Network was a global wireless network, and its users were worldwide; the future number and potential of users were beyond measure.


    Many small and mid-sized internet companies could see that Qin Hao''s main target was the three giants.


    Now, Qin Hao needed many products to enrich his Star Domain Network to retain more users, while these smaller companies needed the massive traffic from Star Domain Network.


    Both parties could engage in deep cooperation to achieve mutual benefits.


    ...


    The Qian Du Network Company was initially relieved that Qin Hao was targeting Tenglong Group first, but by the afternoon, there was Xinghai Browser and Xinghai Search Engine, directly targeting them.


    At half-past six, Qin Hao left Xinghai Company, and before leaving, he specifically checked the download numbers of Xinghai Social Software and Xinghai Browser.


    The downloads for Xinghai Social Software had reached fifty-three million, while Xinghai Browser had climbed to over twenty-four million.


    This included downloads from the computer version, though the computer version had much fewer downloads than the mobile version.


    Now, in the era of mobile internet, mobile users far outnumbered computer users, yet there was still a substantial number of computer users.


    Living conditions are continually improving; almost every household has a computer, and nowadays, office work is entirely dependent on computers.


    Laptops could connect to Star Domain Network, and desktops equipped with a wireless network card could as well.


    When Qin Hao got home around seven o''clock, Zhao Yuying was already home, and Han Meng had already made dinner, waiting for Qin Hao to return.


    [Fifth update, ask for votes]

 Chapter 548 550: Super Strong Signal

    Zhao Yuying saw Qin Hao come back and said with a smile, "Xiao Hao, your Star Domain Network is really fast. I just finished a video call with my parents, and they are using Xinghai Social Software too."


    Qin Hao said, "There''s still too little available now, but it will get better. Star Domain Network can completely handle many things."


    Zhao Yuying nodded, even as an outsider she could see the potential for the future, and if it continued like this, he really had the hope to become the new overlord of the Internet.


    Qin Hao asked, "How''s the movie special effects going?"


    Zhao Yuying replied, "It might take about two more days. The trailer is coming out soon, and the collaboration with foreign cinema lines is almost settled. It will premiere globally on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, on the Lantern Festival."


    After dinner, several people were watching TV when Qin Hao''s phone rang; it was the ringtone from Xinghai Social Software.


    The ringtone was very unique, one could recognize it as a call from Xinghai Social Software upon hearing it.


    Qin Hao looked and saw the contact name was Mom. He hurriedly answered the call, and then an image of his mother appeared on the phone.


    "Xiao Hao, have you had dinner?" asked Mrs. Qin with a smile.


    Qin Hao nodded, "I''ve eaten, Mom. Have you? Did you go house hunting today?"


    Mrs. Qin replied, "We ate. We saw a house, why did you buy a villa? It''s too big."


    As she spoke, Qin Youguo appeared in the video, "Xiao Hao, when are you coming back? The New Year is just a few days away."


    Qin Hao answered, "I have a friend''s engagement on the 8th, I''ll come back after attending the engagement party."


    "What about Xiao Meng and Qiao''er? What are they doing?" Mrs. Qin asked.


    Qin Hao handed the phone to Han Meng and Qiao''er, "Meng, it''s my parents'' call."


    "Ms. Qin, Grandma," Han Meng and Qiao''er hurriedly called out.


    They started chatting.


    Zhao Yuying whispered to Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, can your Star Domain Network cooperate with satellite TV channels?"


    Qin Hao replied, "It''s possible, but it depends on whether the other party is willing. Now, everyone pays for cable TV or uses network TV from the three major operators. There are significant interests involved, and the other party might not want to cooperate."


    Those people don''t care whether Star Domain Network offers free services; what they want to ensure is their own interests.


    Both cable TV and network TV from the three major operators are run by state companies, involving too much.


    Zhao Yuying took out her phone and logged onto Wei Yan, browsed for a while, then urgently said to Qin Hao, "Quick, look at this Wei Yan."


    Qin Hao glanced over; it was a Wei Yan posted by a female teacher teaching in the mountains.


    The signal of Star Domain Network is really strong, full signal no matter where in the deep mountains, it would be great if more apps could be opened or there was cooperation with satellite TV channels, then the children could watch TV every day.


    Am I asking for too much? Haha, but still, thanks to Mr. Qin, thanks to Star Domain Network, hoping that it will get better and open up more free software.


    Zhao Yuying said with a laugh, "There''s more, this is a well-known domestic explorer, he specifically goes to dangerous places or uninhabited areas."


    Previously, there was no signal at all in remote areas, but now with Star Domain Network cover, the signal is always full no matter where.


    There are many such Wei Yans, in elevators, mine tunnels, and even airplane wireless coverage by Star Domain Network.


    Moreover, Star Domain Network''s wireless signal doesn''t interfere with airplane flight; the mobile signals from the three major operators are electromagnetic signals.


    The wireless signal from Star Domain Network is a direct line-of-sight light speed signal, it handles every device''s signal accurately and quickly, transmitting it to the corresponding device at lightning speed, enabling extremely fast network communication.


    This requires very powerful hardware, a super processor that can handle quintillions of data per second, and super-large storage capacity chips calculated in DB.


    ...


    Around nine o''clock, Zhao Yuying was feeling sleepy, she glanced at Qin Hao, her cheeks slightly flushed.


    Qin Hao instantly understood what she meant. Han Meng was still chatting with Mrs. Qin. Qin Hao stood up and went to the bathroom, then back upstairs, and Han Meng did not notice.


    Zhao Yuying told Han Meng after seeing this, "Meng, I''m a bit tired, going to bed first."


    "Hmm, okay," Han Meng looked up, nodded, and agreed.


    In the master bedroom upstairs, Qin Hao lay on the bed as Zhao Yuying walked in.


    ...


    Downstairs, after about ten or so minutes, Han Meng ended the call and said to Qiao''er, "Go freshen up and sleep, I''ll take the phone to Xiao Hao."


    "Hmm," Qiao''er ran into the bathroom.


    Han Meng arrived upstairs, and just as she reached Qin Hao''s bedroom door, intending to open it, her body froze.


    Her cheeks instantly flushed, frozen in place unsure of what to do, certainly unable to go in now. What if Xiao Hao misses an important call amid his busy company schedule?


    She backed up a few steps, standing further from the door, waiting there.


    About half an hour later, the sounds inside the room stopped, and the two tightly embraced each other.


    Zhao Yuying asked, "Xiao Hao, what if I''m pregnant?"


    Qin Hao replied, "That shouldn''t happen, right?"


    Zhao Yuying asked, "But what if it really happens? Should we terminate or keep it?"


    "How can we terminate that? Of course, keep it," he responded.


    Just as he finished speaking, there was a sudden knock from outside, "Xiao Hao, are you asleep?"


    Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying exchanged a glance, startled, then Zhao Yuying hurriedly dove under the covers.


    "Not yet, Meng, come in," said Qin Hao.


    Han Meng walked in, her face blushing, head down not daring to look at the bed, "Xiao Hao, your phone."


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao guessed she must have come earlier and heard the sounds but didn''t come in.


    He reached out and took the phone, "Meng, it''s so late, you could give it to me tomorrow."


    Thinking he was blaming her, Han Meng explained, "I was worried you''d miss an important call."


    Qin Hao said, "Meng, I''m not blaming you, don''t misunderstand, did Qiao''er go to sleep?"


    Han Meng nodded, "She should be asleep now."


    "Meng," Zhao Yuying called out from under the covers, her face red.


    "You two continue, I''m going back to sleep," said Han Meng, quickly exiting.


    Inside the bedroom, Qin Hao looked at Zhao Yuying and chuckled, "Meng said we should continue, so let''s continue then."


    [First update]

 Chapter 549 551: Influence

    Half an hour later.


    "Xiao Hao, what do you think about Meng?" Zhao Yuying suddenly asked.


    Qin Hao was startled for a moment, "What about Meng? Are you talking about her as a person? She''s pretty good, honest and simple, and her cooking skills have improved quite a bit."


    Zhao Yuying gave him a look, "Stop playing dumb. You really have no thoughts about Meng?"


    Qin Hao cleared his throat, "How could I, am I that kind of person? Let''s just go to sleep."


    The next morning, February 6th.


    After breakfast, Zhao Yuying went to the Yuhao Media Company. The movie project wasn''t finished yet, and after it was done, it still needed to be submitted for review.


    Only after the relevant departments approved it could it be released online.


    Qin Hao went to Xinghai Company, where he was now more concerned with the download counts and active user numbers for Xinghai Social Software and the browser.


    Today, many international news outlets were reporting on the Star Domain Network, as its impact was immense.


    In the Federation, mobile phones and computers could access the Star Domain Network, and initially they thought it was a neighbor''s Wi-Fi network.


    But that morning, after seeing their own country''s news, they realized that this wasn''t just some nearby Wi-Fi, but a global wireless network set up by Xuan Country Star Domain Network Communication Company.


    A global wireless network ¡ª what does that even mean? Everyone who saw the news was utterly dumbfounded.


    Many tried connecting to the Star Domain Network: "Sorry, international online access is not yet available on the Star Domain Network."


    Numerous international online forums and blogs were abuzz.


    "Fuck, what the hell is this? Why isn''t international access available?"


    "What company is Star Domain Network Communication? I''ve never heard of it before."


    "Does Qin Hao from Xuan Country know about this? The current world''s wealthiest man, this is a company he invested in and established."


    "Damn, him again? Just after finishing with artificial intelligence, now he''s crafting a global wireless network?"


    "Why isn''t international access available? Are they discriminating against us?"


    "I have friends in Xuan Country; they use this network, and the speed is incredibly fast. Have you ever seen speeds at the level of light speed?"


    The top international network communication companies were profoundly shaken. We''ve just laid out the 5G network, and now a global wireless network appears? What''s critical is that the speed is terrifying.


    The biggest feature of the 5G network is its speed. If it were about signal coverage, it would be miles behind the Star Domain Network.


    Unless their base stations and signal towers were all over the globe, perhaps that might cover the world, but the cost is more than they can afford.


    And in some places, it''s virtually impossible to establish signal towers, making global coverage hard to achieve.


    In this regard, the Star Domain Network Communication Company is far ahead of these companies.


    All around the world, countries were discussing this matter, many were shocked, and numerous people were requesting global access.


    Zhou Island also opened access to the Star Domain Network, and there weren''t a few users who downloaded Xinghai Social Software and the Xinghai Browser.


    "This internet speed is damn powerful, too bad it only works with Xinghai Chatting Software and the Xinghai Browser."


    "Haha, those foreign countries haven''t opened it yet, currently only the people of Xuan Country can enjoy this benefit," said someone from Zhou Island with a sense of superiority.


    "Luckily the Star Domain Network Communication Company recognizes Zhou Island as Xuan Country''s territory, otherwise, we couldn''t enjoy the Star Domain Network either."


    "The technological development on the mainland is really fierce now; in some areas, it has completely crushed the Western powers."


    ...


    In the office of Xinghai Company, Chang Jing said to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, here is an email letter from the domestic top three mobile operators. They want us to charge for internet access."


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao sneered, "What business is it of theirs whether I charge or not? If I start charging, how am I supposed to compete with internet giants like Tenglong Group? Don''t bother with them."


    The three major mobile operators at home were almost frantic, especially after the release of the Xinghai Browser.


    If Qin Hao continued to cooperate with companies from all internet sectors, offering free internet access and free calls, who would still use phone cards?


    These three major mobile operators were not far from going out of business.


    These operators brought in profits in the hundreds of billions for the country every year, a horrifyingly large amount.


    Establishing base stations, signal towers, servers, etc., all required money; paying the salaries of hundreds of thousands of employees was also a major expense.


    Of course, compared to their investments, the money they made was much more.


    Qin Hao, sitting there, asked, "How long will it take to get the e-commerce platform up and running?"


    Chang Jing smiled and replied, "At least half a month, but before that we need to invite merchants. Without products, this e-commerce software is just an empty shell, quite useless."


    Qin Hao, "Are merchants easy to find?"


    Chang Jing, smiling, said, "We have ready ones, don''t we? The merchants from Amao Net Shopping can simply open another shop on our software; there''s no rule saying they can''t have shops on other platforms."


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao''s face showed a smile, "Mr. Chang, why do I feel like we''re picking peaches halfway down the road?"


    At that moment, the phone in the room rang. Chang Jing''s secretary answered the call, "Hello, this is the office of Xinghai Company."


    "Li, the head of iCool Network Company wants to meet with Mr. Chang."


    Li the secretary, "Please hold on a moment."


    After saying this, she hung up the phone and walked over to Chang Jing and Qin Hao, "Mr. Chang, the head of iCool Network Company wants to discuss business with you."


    Chang Jing responded indifferently, "Ask him to wait in the reception room."


    The AiKu Video APP is a well-known internet app for TV dramas, movies, and other video content.


    Although it can''t compare to the video playback software of Tenglong Group, Amao Net Shopping, and Qian Du Company, it still ranks at the bottom, but its traffic is significantly less than that of the top three giants.


    Mainly because these giants have their own software to direct traffic, with millions of users: the billion-level TT social software, billion-level Amao Net Shopping e-commerce vouchers, billion-level Qian Du search engine software.


    With fully functional features, and abundant TV drama and movie resources, their video apps wouldn''t lack traffic. Just funneling users with core traffic apps leads to huge user numbers for their video apps.


    Chang Jing said to him, "Mr. Qin, let''s go there together; he''s probably here to discuss a partnership."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, his face thoughtful as he pondered the specifics of the potential cooperation.


    In the reception room, Qin Hao walked in first, followed by Chang Jing, with Li the secretary behind, clearly distinguishing their positions.


    Inside sat a man in his forties, wearing glasses and appearing refined. This man was Luo Junliang, the head of iCool Network Company.


    [Second installment]

 Chapter 550 552 Toll System

    Luo Junliang hurriedly stood up and extended his hand when he saw Qin Hao and Chang Jing enter, "Mr. Qin, it''s a pleasure to meet you. I''ve long admired your reputation."


    Qin Hao shook hands with him politely and said with a smile, "Mr. Luo, you''re too polite. I used to watch movies on your company''s AiKu Video when I was in high school."


    Luo Jun laughed heartily, "That''s my honor."


    He then greeted Chang Jing warmly, "Mr. Chang, hello. They say Xinghai Company has an exceptionally talented and beautiful CEO, and indeed the reputation is well-deserved."


    After Qin Hao sat down, he said to him, "Mr. Luo, please have a seat."


    All three were seated, and Chang Jing''s secretary poured some water before excusing herself.


    Luo Junliang took a sip of the tea and said with a smile, "Good tea. If I''m not mistaken, this should be authentic Tieguanyin tea from An County in Nanjia Province."


    After speaking, he looked at Qin Hao, wanting to know if he had guessed correctly.


    Qin Hao cleared his throat and said, "Mr. Luo, I don''t understand much about tea. I''ll let Mr. Chang explain."


    Luo Junliang was taken aback, damn it, he had tried to brown-nose but ended up complimenting the wrong person.


    Chang Jing''s lips curved into a faint smile as she said, "Mr. Luo is right, this is indeed authentic Tieguanyin tea from An County in Nanjia Province. It seems you have a good understanding of tea."


    Luo Junliang quickly explained, "I''m not very knowledgeable about tea myself, I''ve just had this kind a few times."


    Now that Qin Hao didn''t know about tea, further boasting about his own knowledge would only embarrass Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Mr. Luo, let''s discuss the main topic directly. If you like this tea, I''ll have Mr. Chang send you some later."


    Luo Junliang nodded, "Good, then I''ll thank you in advance, Mr. Qin. I''ve come to discuss a potential cooperation with your Xingyu Network Communication Company. I have a question for you, Mr. Qin. Will Star Domain Network charge fees in the future?"


    Qin Hao replied affirmatively, "Star Domain Network will never charge its users."


    Luo Junliang continued his line of questioning, "Then, how many users can Star Domain Network handle at most before it reaches its limit?"


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Luo, you don''t have to worry about that. Even if everyone in the world used Star Domain Network at the same time, it wouldn''t affect the network''s speed."


    At these words, Luo Junliang was taken aback. Support for the entire global population to be online simultaneously without an issue? What kind of powerful processors would that require?


    If Star Domain Network continued to be free forever, then its user base would be extremely vast and terrifying, easily occupying the global market wouldn''t be a problem.


    If Tenglong Group had built its internet empire with TT social software, then Qin Hao now would build an even more formidable internet empire with the edge provided by Star Domain Network.


    This would overturn the old internet structure and create a completely new internet landscape.


    Qin Hao''s rocket car was about to take off, and now was an excellent opportunity to get on board. Once aboard, the situation might change entirely.


    Luo Junliang had pondered long into the previous night. His AiKu Video had always been overshadowed by the video platforms of the three giants. Although his product was good, those giants had already divided up the traffic, leaving him with only the scraps.


    Many internet companies like his were suffocated by the pressure from the three giants.


    Just when you showed signs of rising on the internet, either you were acquired by Tenglong Group or Amao Net Shopping. If you didn''t agree, you would face unbearable suppression.


    These two giants would never just watch a new internet company rise as it would affect their interests and status.


    ...


    Luo Junliang looked at Qin Hao and asked, "I''ve come here today to seek cooperation with Mr. Qin. How can I get Star Domain Network to open its services to AiKu Video for free?"


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "As long as it doesn''t conflict with any software under Xingyu Company, anyone who wishes to cooperate is welcome. However, I do not accept cooperation from companies in the fields of social software, e-commerce, and search engines.


    In order to enhance user experience, all internet companies that cooperate with Star Domain Network must enable login through Xinghai Social Software."


    Luo Junliang nodded slightly. He was involved in video apps, and he didn''t have the capacity to dabble in other sectors¡ªthat was a game for the big players.


    He felt that Star Domain Network''s offer couldn''t be so straightforward, "Mr. Qin, are there any other conditions?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "I invested fifty billion in the development of Star Domain Network, and most of it is already spent. If Mr. Luo''s app wants to use the services of Star Domain Network for free, some network maintenance fees will be required."


    Indeed, Star Domain Network was open to all users for free, but Qin Hao did not intend to offer it for free to these internet companies.


    Although Star Domain Network''s staff was small, their monthly payroll alone exceeded a million, not to mention the salaries of the software developers. Future company expansion and staff recruitment all needed funding.


    Both Chang Jing and Luo Junliang were stunned upon hearing this. Paying network maintenance fees? Wasn''t it supposed to be free?


    Luo Junliang asked, "Mr. Qin, could you please elaborate?"


    Chang Jing was also curious as she looked at Qin Hao; she had never heard him speak of these network maintenance fees before.


    It was only now that Qin Hao had thought of it ¨C offering free services to these internet companies without charging them anything was not such a good deal.


    He thought for a moment and said, "For video apps like Mr. Luo''s, I''ve tentatively decided to charge based on the number of monthly active users.


    For example, if AiKu Video app has fewer than one hundred thousand monthly active users, no fees will be charged.


    If there are between one hundred thousand and five hundred thousand, we will charge one hundred thousand in network maintenance fees per month; from five hundred thousand to one million, we will charge five hundred thousand per month; for one million to five million monthly active users, the charge will be one million per month.


    From five million to ten million, the fee will be three million per month; for ten million to fifty million, it will be five million per month.


    For fifty million to one hundred million, we will charge ten million per month in maintenance fees, and for apps with traffic over one hundred million, we will charge twenty million per month."


    Chang Jing and Luo Junliang were dumbfounded by his detailed charging system, utterly shocked.


    It was as if he had invented a whole new network charging mechanism.


    Previously, the three major carriers charged ordinary users for internet access. Now, Qin Hao was charging the companies behind the apps that users log into.


    This was truly pioneering.


    Chang Jing looked at Qin Hao with tremendous astonishment. How did he come up with this? She really wanted to


    As for the maintenance fee, it could be said to be very low. Last month, AiKu Video had over two million active users. According to Qin Hao''s charging system, they would have to pay one million in maintenance fees per month.


    One million was not much at all for an app with over a million in traffic.


    Due to decent traffic, AiKu Video alone made over five million in advertising revenue each month, so one million in network maintenance fees was trivial.


    Apps with over a hundred million in traffic were just TT software and Amao Net Shopping''s e-commerce platform on the internet. The value they generated was not something that could be measured by mere twenty million, with traffic over a hundred million alone valuing venture capital companies at tens of billions of Federation coins.


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 551 553: The Terrifying Ability to Divert

    Qin Hao looked at Luo Junliang and asked, "Mr. Luo, what do you think?"


    With an admiring gaze, Luo Junliang responded, "Mr. Qin''s charging system is something I''ve never seen before. To be honest, Mr. Qin''s idea is brilliant. I''m totally blown away. This isn''t just flattery, I really mean it."


    Qin Hao''s reputation and status today were definitely not built on luck.


    He''s only nineteen, right? To be this monstrously talented, it''s just terrifying. Who could possibly match him in the future?


    Sometime later, Chang Jing had someone draft a contract, which not only included the charging system but also added in detail the areas that the partner companies were forbidden to touch.


    If violated, Xingyu Network Communication Company reserved the right to terminate cooperation and demand compensation for breach of contract.


    Luo Junliang looked over the contract in detail, then picked up a pen and signed, for a total of two types of contracts, four copies in all. Each party held two copies: one was the partnership contract, and the other was the confidentiality agreement.


    The specific content of the partnership was something Qin Hao didn''t yet want anyone to know.


    Qin Hao asked with a smile, "Mr. Luo, how many active monthly users does your AiKu Video APP have?"


    Luo Junliang replied, "We have roughly over two million active monthly users."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Then, Mr. Luo, you better be prepared for a surge in traffic. Make sure the servers don''t crash."


    Luo Junliang couldn''t wait, "Mr. Qin, when can AiKu Video start using Star Domain Network for free?"


    Qin Hao said, "It can start in a little while."


    After Luo Junliang left, Chang Jing turned to Qin Hao in the reception room and said, "Mr. Qin, are we still charging for those non-profit software programs?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Non-profit software won''t be charged. What I just mentioned was only a framework; it needs you, Mr. Chang, to flesh it out."


    Chang Jing nodded, "I understand, Mr. Qin."


    Curiously, Qin Hao asked, "How many downloads do Xinghai Social and Xinghai Browser have now?"


    Chang Jing answered, "I''m not sure about the exact numbers at the moment. Last night at midnight, the download count for Xinghai Social Software was over sixty-nine million."


    The two walked together toward the workshop area of Xingyu Network Communication Company; calling it a workshop would be a misnomer¡ªit was better described as the office site for Xingyu Network Communication Company.


    Before they even reached the workshop, the Artificial Intelligence monitoring system suddenly sounded an alarm.


    "Alert, alert, in the server room of Xingyu Network Communication Company, Zhang Feng and seven workers are attempting to copy server data."


    The alarm rang three times, and on the first ring, the nearby Flying Leopard Security Team rushed in instantaneously.


    The seven workers in the server room turned pale when the alarm went off, freezing in place.


    They looked around, wondering what it was. Where was the sound coming from?


    In less than ten seconds, a squad from the Flying Leopard Security Team burst in. The eight-person team quickly subdued the seven workers.


    Soon after, Qin Hao and Chang Jing walked in. Qin Hao looked at them expressionlessly, "Take them all away and hand them over to the police."


    This kind of thing actually happens in many internet companies. If there''s money involved, some employees will sell data on the side. These seven people thought they had a flawless plan.


    They just didn''t expect Xinghai High-tech''s Artificial Intelligence monitoring system to be so extraordinary.


    In an instant, the server room was emptied of people. Chang Jing looked at him and asked, "What do we do now? Should we hire more people?"


    Qin Hao said, "No need."


    He approached the server, and after the successful retinal, facial, and fingerprint recognition, a voice welcomed him, "Welcome, Master, to the Star Domain Network smart server."


    "Add AiKu Video APP to the free usage list, as well as some non-profit and special institutions'' free APPs."


    "Understood, Master."


    After giving his instructions, Qin Hao left. He took Chang Jing to the monitoring room, planning to connect the Artificial Intelligence monitoring system to Star Domain Network and have the AI monitor every computer in the company from behind the scenes.


    Chang Jing watched his operation but didn''t know what Qin Hao was doing.


    After finishing, Qin Hao walked out of the monitoring room, which now had an intelligent door lock installed.


    The door could open with two or more of the following forms of recognition: retina, face, voice, and fingerprint.


    Currently, only Qin Hao and Chang Jing were qualified to enter the monitoring room.


    Now, many doors in the company had been fitted with smart locks, a product of a collaboration between Wanli Door Industry Group and Xinghai Company.


    Back in Chang Jing''s office, Qin Hao turned on her computer and said, "Send me the download data for Xinghai Social Software and Xinghai Browser from yesterday."


    Chang Jing was startled for a moment. Who are you talking to?


    Suddenly a data box appeared on Chang Jing''s computer, containing detailed download data such as the number of downloads per hour and the download locations.


    Xinghai Social Software''s download count had reached eighty-three million, while Xinghai Browser had fifty-seven million downloads.


    "How did this appear?" Chang Jing was dumbfounded, wondering if it was related to what had just happened.


    Qin Hao explained, "You''re right, Mr. Chang. It''s from the Artificial Intelligence monitoring system. Currently, it can monitor and operate all the computers in the company. If there''s any issue, you can just ask it.


    Mr. Chang, go ahead and produce two more large servers, I will need them for monitoring the entire Star Domain Network in the future."


    The ten big servers that Star Domain Network had were also equipped with AI programs, but those were only tasked with processing vast amounts of network data. They weren''t capable of monitoring the entire network system yet.


    ...


    At nine thirty in the morning, all Star Domain Network users received a push notification from Star Domain Network.


    "Updates to Star Domain Network''s free software include: AiKu Video APP, Train Ticket Purchasing APP, Xuan Country Bank, Development Bank APP... Jianghai Traffic Police APP and more."


    Apart from AiKu Video APP, the others were all either non-profit or special institutions'' APPs.


    Upon seeing this, a large portion of Star Domain Network users downloaded AiKu Video APP, as well as other useful apps for their daily life.


    After returning to his company, Luo Junliang could clearly see the download numbers for AiKu Video skyrocketing, far beyond his expectations.


    There weren''t few people with the same foresight as Luo Junliang; besides him, that morning, several gaming companies and online newspaper and magazine companies had approached him for partnerships.


    In just one morning, the latest download numbers for AiKu Video reached twenty-four million, meaning there were twenty million new users and an addition of eight million members in just half a day¡ªa number he couldn''t have dreamed of.


    With AiKu Video memberships at fifteen yuan a month and an increase of eight million members, this meant that in just one morning, the revenue from memberships alone had already exceeded one hundred million.


    Luo Junliang''s video software company had access to abundant TV series and movie resources because of his connections within the national broadcasting authorities.


    He could legally purchase many TV and movie rights, all through lawful channels.


    Witnessing the traffic-driving power of Star Domain Network, the big three internet giants were thoroughly shaken, prompting them to convene an emergency meeting once more.


    [Fourth update, that''s all for today, see you tomorrow]

 Chapter 552 554 Overtime

    Many small and medium-sized internet companies were excited, and after witnessing the rapid rise of AiKu Video, many internet company CEOs rushed to Jianghai City.


    In the afternoon, there was a large number of people coming to Jianghai City''s company to talk about cooperation. Qin Hao accepted all companies, except for those related to Tenglong and Amao Net Shopping, and then proceeded to collaborate and sign contracts.


    As for which apps could succeed, that depended on their own abilities.


    Qin Hao had given them a platform for fair competition, and whether they would stand out or be eliminated depended on each company''s capabilities.


    By the end of the afternoon, the number of free apps available on the Star Domain Network had reached dozens, covering all industries from newspapers and magazines to banking and finance, from education and fitness to travel and gourmet, music apps to video playback, and almost every type of app was available.


    And there was another very convenient point, as long as you had a Xinghai Social Software account, you could log in to all apps.


    Since these companies entered into cooperation with Xingyu Network Communication Company, they cut off all cooperation with the top three giants.


    Because of the abundance of products, the number of users on Star Domain Network increased a lot, and even more people downloaded Xinghai Social Software and Xinghai Browser. Today, Xinghai Social Software might hopefully break ninety million.


    Currently, Tenglong Group''s TT social software downloads had reached 1.3 billion, although there were many repeated downloads among these.


    According to the data report released by Tenglong Group last quarter, TT social software''s monthly active accounts had reached as many as 800 million, including all WeChat users both domestically and abroad, as well as data for multiple accounts per person.


    Even after deducting these, the monthly active users for TT social software were still above 700 million, which was quite terrifying.


    There aren''t many domestic active monthly account numbers that can break a hundred million, almost all of them are software under the big three giants.


    In the afternoon, after staying at the company for a while, Qin Hao left and went to Jiangshan Group.


    The day after tomorrow, he was going to Gujing City in Beisu Province. After attending Ye Lanxin''s engagement dinner, he planned to go home, so he came to take a look.


    Upon arriving at Jiangshan Cooked Food Company, the receptionist at the front desk hurriedly greeted him respectfully with a "Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and walked into the company. He arrived at Feng Xiangyi''s office door, pushed it open, and went inside.


    Feng Xiangyi was standing in her office stretching her body, as sitting for a long time made all her joints sore.


    Now that it was close to the end of the year, the company had many matters to deal with, and these days she had been working overtime very late every day.


    Seeing Qin Hao coming in, Feng Xiangyi paused and said, "You still remember to come? I thought you had forgotten about this company."


    Qin Hao gave an awkward smile and said, "Xingyu Network Communication Company has just been established and has been a bit busy."


    Feng Xiangyi glanced at him and said, "It''s almost the end of the year now, which company isn''t busy? I''m almost worked to death. Since you''re here, help me with the work."


    Seeing her tired look, Qin Hao knew she had probably been worn out these few days, and nodded, "Okay, you rest for a while."


    Feng Xiangyi protested, "Rest? When is there time to rest? Let''s get the work done quickly so I can go home and sleep. I''m just realizing now how comfortable it is to lie on a bed."


    Qin Hao took her place at the desk, while she sat at her secretary''s spot.


    The two worked from the late afternoon until eight o''clock at night, by which time all the other company employees had already left work.


    Qin Hao made a call to Han Meng, telling her he''ll be back late and not to wait for him for dinner.


    After hanging up the phone, Leng Xuan knocked on the door and then came in: "Mr. Qin, Ms. Feng, would you like something to eat?"


    Qin Hao took the meals over and placed them on the office desk to start eating. Feng Xiangyi yawned and walked over, her eyes slightly red with fatigue.


    "Auntie, have some food," Qin Hao told her. "After you eat, rest for a while, and I''ll handle the rest. There isn''t much left."


    Feng Xiangyi was indeed struggling to stay awake, so she nodded, "Okay then, I''m really sleepy."


    The two quickly finished their meal, and Feng Xiangyi fell asleep at the desk in less than a minute.


    Qin Hao looked at her and shook his head with a wry smile, then continued handling the various documents for the company.


    It was almost nine o''clock by the time Qin Hao finished handling everything.


    He looked at Feng Xiangyi, who was wearing a coat over a long-sleeved hip-hugging dress, which appeared to be from Huafei Clothing based on the fabric and brand.


    Underneath, she was wearing a pair of sexy black stockings, covered just right by the hip-hugging dress, presenting a seductive and attractive appearance.


    Now that it was close to the end of the year, the temperature in Jianghai City approached zero degrees, and the weather was dry and cold. In the south, there was no central heating, so in winter, heating was usually provided by air conditioners.


    The office had the warm air conditioner on¡ªif not for that, Feng Xiangyi, sleeping like this, would probably freeze awake.


    Qin Hao stretched his body, and his joints made a series of crackling sounds.


    He went over to Feng Xiangyi, tapped her, and said, "Auntie, wake up, let''s go home and sleep."


    Feng Xiangyi, who had been sleeping very little these few days and was exhaustively tired, was now soundly asleep and didn''t respond to his call.


    Qin Hao felt a bit guilty because Feng Xiangyi handled a lot of things that he should have.


    He shook her vigorously, and Feng Xiangyi mumbled drowsily, "Don''t touch me, I''m sleeping." And then there was silence as she fell asleep again.


    Qin Hao packed up her bag and then carried her out of the office.


    Outside the office stood Leng Xuan and another person. Seeing Qin Hao carrying Feng Xiangyi, their faces showed no change, and they quickly went out to open the elevator.


    There were a few security guards outside the company door. Qin Hao carried Feng Xiangyi into his car in the underground parking lot.


    "Go to Ms. Feng''s apartment complex first."


    Leng Xuan drove towards Feng Xiangyi''s residential complex, and twenty minutes later, they arrived at her building.


    Qin Hao carried Feng Xiangyi out of the car, entered the building, took the elevator up, and arrived at the door of Feng Xiangyi''s apartment.


    He took out the keys from her bag, opened the door, hurried in, and laid Feng Xiangyi on the bed in the bedroom.


    Qin Hao let out a long sigh of relief. Looking at Feng Xiangyi on the bed, he took off her shoes and coat.


    After washing up in the bathroom, having carried Feng Xiangyi for a distance, and though he wasn''t very tired, Qin Hao felt sticky from the sweat.


    After his shower, Qin Hao checked his phone and saw it was nearly ten o''clock. He decided not to go back but to stay here as there was another bedroom in Feng Xiangyi''s place.


    While drying his hair, he walked into Feng Xiangyi''s bedroom, then paused.


    [First update, I have something on today, the next updates will be later.]

 Chapter 553 555 Annual Meeting Preparation

    The next morning.


    Feng Xiangyi woke up in a daze, and when she saw the ceiling of her own house, she looked puzzled. Wasn''t I sleeping in the office?


    She took out her phone to check the time; it was six-eighteen in the morning. Was it already the next day?


    Could it be that Qin Hao had brought me back?


    She got out of bed and stumbled towards the bathroom, having not gone all night, she was woken by the urge to pee.


    In the second bedroom, Qin Hao heard the noise outside. He checked his watch, got dressed, and then went outside.


    As Qin Hao walked out of the bedroom, Feng Xiangyi just came out of the bathroom. They looked at each other, both stunned.


    ...


    Feng Xiangyi stared at him without the scream Qin Hao had expected, "You didn''t leave last night?"


    Qin Hao said awkwardly, "It got a bit late, so I just slept in the second bedroom."


    Qin Hao quickly explained, "I just helped you take off a silk stocking, I don''t know how the rest happened."


    ...


    A few minutes later, Feng Xiangyi came out dressed in mature and sexy stockings and a body-hugging long sleeve. She gave Qin Hao a cold look and then went into the kitchen.


    Qin Hao went into the bathroom and then brushed his teeth. There were spare toothbrushes here, probably prepared for Du Wanrou.


    After Feng Xiangyi had made breakfast, she also brushed her teeth and then started eating.


    Neither of them spoke. Qin Hao broke the silence, "Auntie, will you go back to your hometown for the New Year?"


    Feng Xiangyi replied, "I''m not planning on going back, there''s no one there anymore."


    Qin Hao, "Then will you be alone in Jianghai?"


    Feng Xiangyi, "Yeah, why don''t you come and spend the New Year with your auntie?"


    Qin Hao coughed awkwardly, "Cough, I''ll have to go home in a couple of days."


    Feng Xiangyi asked, "Aren''t you planning on attending the company''s year-end party? As the boss, it''s not good to skip it. The party needs a lot of preparation, like how to reward the employees and what to reward them with. That all needs your approval."


    The company''s year-end party? Qin Hao hesitated for a moment and then said, "When roughly are you planning to hold the year-end party?"


    Feng Xiangyi, "It''s tentatively scheduled for February tenth. Some common prizes have already been decided, but the big prizes involving a significant amount of money need your approval."


    Qin Hao, "Are you planning to hold the year-end party for Jiangshan Cooked Food Company or Jiangshan Group?"


    Feng Xiangyi, "Of course, it''s for Jiangshan Group. I''ve discussed it with others, and we''ve set the date for February tenth."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Then I''ll come back a couple of days late."


    Suddenly, Qin Hao''s phone rang, and it was a call from Silin Roy. "Mr. Qin, are you awake yet?"


    Qin Hao, "I''m having breakfast, what''s the matter, Miss Silin?"


    Silin Roy, "That issue with the Star Domain Network agency, Mr. Qin, please set your conditions."


    The emergence of Star Domain Network was as impactful as the advent of artificial intelligence, with unimaginable profits involved.


    Qin Hao, "Miss Silin, I have no immediate plans to sell the agency rights. Let''s talk about it later."


    Silin Roy urgently said, "Mr. Qin, you should be aware of the strength of the Ross family. Cooperating with us will maximize your benefits, and you know my character, Mr. Qin. I value friendship the most."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Miss Silin, I really have no plans to sell the agency rights. When the time comes and I decide to sell, I''ll definitely contact you first. How does that sound?"


    Silin Roy gave a slight smile, "Alright, Mr. Qin. A gentleman''s word is his bond."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao placed his phone on the dining table. Feng Xiangyi asked, "A foreign beauty?"


    Qin Hao, "A business partner."


    Feng Xiangyi, "Your companies, Xinghai and Xingyu, are among the world''s top firms. You must be dealing with a lot of people in business. Try to avoid getting involved with too many beauties. Aren''t you afraid of dying in bed one day?"


    ...


    After breakfast, Qin Hao and Feng Xiangyi went to the office, and inside the general manager''s office, Qin Hao asked Nie Si, "Nie, show me the list of prizes for the year-end party."


    Nie Si quickly handed him a folder containing a detailed plan for the year-end party, with prizes ranging from small to large, from detergent and laundry liquids, a shopping mall membership card, to household appliances, cars, and ten prizes of one hundred thousand each.


    These were the prizes for all four companies'' year-end parties.


    Qin Hao asked Nie Si, "Nie, how many people are attending the year-end party?"


    Nie Si answered without hesitation, "There are three hundred fifty-six people from Jiangshan Delicatessen, two hundred forty-one from Xinghui Wine Company, one hundred seventy-eight from Huamei Company, and two hundred forty from Huafei Clothing, making a total of one thousand fifteen people."


    Ever since Nie Si had become Qin Hao''s assistant, with the company''s growth, she had been learning and improving daily, and her skills were now very strong. Almost all of the company matters were handled by Feng Xiangyi and her these days.


    Her salary was also quite high, averaging over sixty thousand a month, which was something she would have never dared to dream about before.


    If Qin Hao hadn''t gone to Xinshang Square back then, she might not have been fired, and then met Qin Hao.


    It was Qin Hao who had changed the trajectory of her life.


    Hearing her response, Qin Hao said, "Only so many prizes for more than a thousand people? Increase the prizes fivefold and add some larger ones."


    Nie Si paused for a moment, then reminded him, "Mr. Qin, the expenses are already close to two million."


    Qin Hao, "Last month, Jiangshan Cooked Food made nearly two billion, Xinghui Wine made just less than three billion, Huafei Clothing also reached over two billion, and Huamei Company made over seventy million. These prizes are nothing."


    [Second update, still writing]

 Chapter 554 556 Small Features

    Nie Si asked softly, "Does Mr. Qin want to add any other rewards?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Purchase a hundred Blueberry Smartphones, twenty cars worth around half a million each, and you know about the skyscraper we''re building, right? Buy five sets of apartments near there, about 130 square meters each."


    Hearing his words, Nie Si was stunned. That... that was a lot, wasn''t it?


    Qin Hao continued, "What have we decided for all employees'' year-end bonuses?"


    Nie Si answered, "The year-end bonus is set to be double pay, double this month''s salary."


    Now, the lowest salary for employees of all companies under Jiangshan Group was over seven thousand, whether they worked at the duck farm or in the clothing factory, the minimum was over seven thousand, and they all worked regular eight-hour shifts.


    If there was overtime, earning over ten thousand a month was easy, and this was all set by Qin Hao.


    Because he understood the hardships of the grass-roots employees, who had given too much for their families and livelihoods.


    After thinking for a bit, Qin Hao said, "Then let''s make it triple pay, so everyone can have a happy new year."


    Nie Si exclaimed in surprise, "Triple pay? Mr. Qin, you mean to change it to triple the salary?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Mm, Nie Si, do you think there''s anything lacking for the annual party? Don''t be afraid to spend money, it''s best to suggest what the employees need."


    Nie Si thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Qin, what you''ve prepared is already a lot, I can''t think of anything else."


    Qin Hao said, "Then proceed as I''ve instructed, and pass the word to the heads of each company. By the way, have we invited any celebrities to come?"


    Nie Si replied, "Not yet, Mr. Qin, and we might not have enough time now, right? The schedules of those celebrities are very full."


    Qin Hao asked, "What do you think about inviting Yu Tiantian? Is she very famous now?"


    Nie Si said with a smile, "She''s quite a popular rising starlet, very high in popularity. There are many fans of hers in our company."


    "Mm, then let''s invite her. I''ll give her a call when the time comes."


    ...


    Around ten o''clock in the morning, news of the triple-pay year-end bonus had already spread through each subsidiary company, exciting both regular employees and management.


    That was three times the salary, after all. Normally, one could earn ten thousand a month, and this month one could earn thirty thousand.


    For high-level managers like Nie Si, with over fifty thousand in monthly salary, this month it would be a hundred and fifty thousand!


    Within Jiangshan Group, the gap between management personnel and regular employees wasn''t huge, with base-level store managers earning just five thousand more than regular employees per month, and with somewhat lighter workloads.


    While their salaries were not much higher than those of regular employees, they were the highest within their industry.


    All companies under Jiangshan Group had already switched to the office functions of Xinghai Social Software.


    After giving instructions for the annual meeting, Qin Hao left the company and got into his car, instructing Leng Xuan to drive to Fan Ruobing''s residential area.


    He was going to Ye Lanxin''s engagement banquet tomorrow and the company''s annual meeting the day after. Once he finished the annual meeting, he planned to head home, with hardly any time left.


    On the way to Fan Ruobing''s house, he made a voice call using Xinghai Software to Zhao Yuying, "Ying, could you send me Yu Tiantian''s contact information?"


    "What''s going on?" Zhao Yuying asked, wary.


    Qin Hao replied, "The day after tomorrow morning, Jiangshan Group is holding its annual meeting. I''m thinking of inviting Yu Tiantian to sing a couple of songs. Do you have time, Ying? Why don''t you join me? You''re a goddess in the hearts of many in our company."


    "Am I your goddess then?" Zhao Yuying teased.


    Qin Hao quickly responded, "Yes, yes!"


    Zhao Yuying chuckled, "Okay then, I''ll join you the day after tomorrow morning. I''ll send you Yu Tiantian''s contact information right away."


    After hanging up, Zhao Yuying immediately sent Qin Hao Yu Tiantian''s Xinghai Social account.


    Qin Hao opened the software, entered Yu Tiantian''s number, and then made the call. Soon, the phone was connected.


    Xinghai Social Software was gradually replacing the traditional calling function on phones.


    The Star Domain Network also had a very convenient feature: by opening the free app, it automatically connected to the network, eliminating the need to manually disconnect and reconnect each time.


    While it seemed like a small feature, it was a delightful surprise to many because of its convenience and smart integration.


    Yu Tiantian''s phone rang, and she saw the notification: Incoming call from Qin Hao, location Jianghai City, account number: 0!!!


    There was also a facial photo used for Qin Hao''s verification, visibly identifying him.


    She did not have Qin Hao''s contact information, but this was another small feature of Xinghai Social Software: since accounts required real-name verification, the caller''s real name was visible to the receiver regardless of whether they were contacts or not.


    Seeing Qin Hao''s name and account, she was momentarily stunned, then hurriedly answered, "Mr. Qin, are you looking for me?"


    Qin Hao asked with a smile, "How do you know it''s me?"


    Yu Tiantian was taken aback, "It''s a very convenient and smart feature of Xinghai Social Software, don''t you know?"


    Isn''t that software produced by your company? You, as the boss, don''t know?


    Cough cough.


    Qin Hao felt a little embarrassed, "Well, are you free the day after tomorrow morning?"


    Yu Tiantian, realizing she had misspoken, didn''t mention it further and replied with a smile, "Of course I have time for Mr. Qin. You''ve helped me so many times; I haven''t even thanked you yet."


    Qin Hao said, "You''re part of my company, so I definitely can''t stand by and watch you be bullied. I''m hosting an annual meeting the day after tomorrow morning and I''d like to invite you to sing a few songs. If you really don''t have time, it''s alright."


    Yu Tiantian eagerly responded, "I have time, where''s the location, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao answered, "The day after tomorrow morning in Jinxiu Hotel''s No. 1 Banquet Hall on the sixteenth floor, starting at nine o''clock."


    "Alright, Mr. Qin, I will definitely be there on time."


    ...


    After hanging up, Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, "Stop in front of a jewelry store in a bit."


    About half an hour later, he arrived downstairs at Fan Ruobing''s building. He told Leng Xuan and the others to wait below.


    He took the elevator to Fan Ruobing''s apartment door and then rang the doorbell.


    The door opened quickly. Fan Ruobing, upon seeing Qin Hao at the door, paused with a surprised gaze, then with a somewhat reproachful look, "You came."


    Qin Hao walked in, holding some items in his hands, all exquisitely packaged and branded with Shenglong Group.


    He sat down on the sofa and said, "With New Year''s approaching, these are the gifts I got for you. Do you like them?"


    After speaking, he opened one of the boxes. Inside was a ten-carat diamond snowflake necklace with snowflake-like inclusions within the diamond.


    These inclusions, resembling snowflakes, actually raised the value of the diamond above that of the finest-grade diamonds; such natural formations were quite rare.


    Qin Hao had taken a liking to it at first glance; he felt this necklace was very suited for Fan Ruobing and would only add to her pure and saintly charm.


    [Third update, one more to go]

 Chapter 555 557: Downloads Exceed Hundred Million

    Fan Ruobing looked at the diamond necklace shaped like a snowflake, a hint of adoration flashing in her eyes.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "This is a snowflake diamond necklace, let me put it on you."


    After he spoke, he carefully put the necklace on Fan Ruobing, "It matches your temperament perfectly, as if this snowflake diamond was made just for you."


    Fan Ruobing indeed liked it very much, she asked, "It''s expensive, right? How much?"


    "Over ten million, isn''t earning money all about living a better life?" After saying that, Qin Hao opened several other boxes containing diamond studs and rings, which he put on Fan Ruobing one by one.


    Fan Ruobing looked at them and then bent down to kiss him.


    To tell the truth, Qin Hao felt somewhat guilty towards her, as he seldom visited Fan Ruobing, yet she never complained.


    Perhaps she waited every day for Qin Hao to come, like a wife waiting for her husband to return home, full of anticipation every day, but ending every day in disappointment. Yet she never spoke of it, burying everything in her heart.


    Fan Ruobing softly said, "Let''s go to the bedroom."


    ...


    After more than half an hour, the noises in the room ceased.


    At eleven thirteen in the morning, the door to Fan Ruobing''s house was opened from the outside, Wang Shudan walked in.


    She looked around and did not see her daughter; had her daughter gone out?


    Fan Ruobing rarely went out; as long as there was food at home, she wouldn''t go out. She had always been like that since she was young.


    Finally, Wang Shudan arrived at the bedroom door, looking at the tightly closed door, she opened it.


    Upon seeing what was on the bed, she was shocked, her eyes widened and her mouth slightly open.


    This... Qin Hao was actually with her own daughter?


    Wasn''t high society buzzing about his engagement to that young miss from the Xu family? What was this all about?


    Qin Hao and Fan Ruobing, upon hearing the door open, woke up, and when they saw Wang Shudan at the door, Qin Hao was stunned.


    Fan Ruobing also flashed a look of surprise, Wang Shudan emotionlessly said, "I''ll wait for you outside." Saying that, she closed the door and stepped out.


    Qin Hao and Fan Ruobing exchanged glances, their faces a bit awkward.


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao and Fan Ruobing walked out of the bedroom, and Fan Ruobing pulled him to sit on the sofa.


    Wang Shudan asked Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, did you engage with that person from the Xu family?"


    Qin Hao awkwardly nodded, "Yes."


    Wang Shudan looked at Fan Ruobing, who hadn''t spoken yet. Fan Ruobing immediately said, "I know about these things, but I just like being with him."


    ...


    Wang Shudan was seriously upset by her daughter''s words, looking at her daughter and then at Qin Hao, unsure of what to say.


    Qin Hao quickly said, "Ms. Wang, I will take good care of Ruobing. These two days, I will handle the issue with the shares of Star Domain Network. I will leave ten percent of the shares for Ruobing, so if something happens to me one day, she won''t have to worry about her future life."


    Wang Shudan couldn''t control her daughter. No one could change what she had decided.


    She sighed; since Fan Ruobing knew and agreed, there was nothing she could do. Their family was not short of money; Fan Ruobing was certainly not with him for money.


    However, ten percent of the shares of the Xingyu Network Communication Company was something she would need to keep even if her daughter didn''t want it.


    It was a safeguard; if one day he left her daughter, it would still not be a loss.


    She had spent many years in the business world, very aware of the value of Xingyu Network Communication Company, no less than Xinghai Company. Ten percent of the shares was extremely significant.


    Wang Shudan told him, "If one day I find out that you are playing with my daughter''s feelings, even if you are the richest man in the world, I will not forgive you."


    "Rest assured, Ms. Wang, I will definitely not do that."


    Wang Shudan said, "I''m going to make lunch; you two have a talk."


    Qin Hao looked at Fan Ruobing, "Ruobing, why don''t you go back to your room and rest a bit more?"


    Fan Ruobing shook her head, "No need."


    After lunch, Qin Hao hurriedly left. Although Wang Shudan did not openly object, she still felt a bit uncomfortable.


    Once Qin Hao had left, Wang Shudan also breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at her daughter, noticing the jewelry on her neck and ears, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes, "Did he buy these for you?"


    Fan Ruobing nodded, "I don''t want you interfering with my affairs, only talk about mine when you have settled yours with my dad."


    Wang Shudan responded, "Your dad spends 360 days a year at the Xuan Science Academy; how do you expect me to live with him?"


    Fan Ruobing countered, "Initially, you had the opportunity to go to Jinchen City to find him. Why didn''t you go?"


    Wang Shudan said, "Ruobing, I have my own dreams and pursuits too; I cannot just live for him."


    Fan Ruobing replied, "Yes, you are living for yourself, I know. Do you think I don''t know about you and Wei Jiaxing?"


    Wang Shudan''s expression changed slightly upon hearing this, "How did you know about me and him?"


    Fan Ruobing laughed coldly, "If you don''t want others to know, don''t do it. I have records of how many times you two have gotten a room each month; I keep track of it all."


    Wang Shudan explained, "Ruobing, your dad and I are divorced; I can have my own private life. I''m a normal woman with normal physical needs."


    "Then, go pursue your physical needs, please leave now, and don''t interfere with my life," Fan Ruobing said coldly, her gaze icy.


    ...


    After departing, Qin Hao reached his car and said to Leng Xuan and his team, "Why didn''t you tell me Fan Ruobing''s mother was coming."


    Leng Xuan awkwardly replied, "Mr. Qin, we don''t know Ms. Fan''s mother."


    "Head to Xinghai Company," Qin Hao ordered.


    At half past two in the afternoon, Qin Hao arrived at Chang Jing''s office at Xinghai Company.


    Chang Jing, seeing him come in, smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, our Xinghai Social Software''s download count has already crossed a hundred million.


    Its daily active users are over eighty million, which is a very high activity ratio. Although Tenglong Group''s TT software has 1.3 billion downloads, its daily active users are just about five hundred million."


    [Fourth update, it''s already twelve thirteen past midnight. After a busy day, I stayed up late to finish the fourth update. Haha, would you give me a vote please?]

 Chapter 556 558: Its Awkward

    Although the gap may seem a bit large now, Xinghai Social Software has only been born for a few days.


    This kind of terrifying growth speed could totally replace TT Social Software in the future.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded slightly, the growth rate of Xinghai Social Software was within his expectations.


    The download volume of Xinghai Browser surpassed seventy million and was steadily increasing, becoming the sole entry point for all users accessing the internet.


    Many partner websites have also been embedded on the browser''s homepage, further enriching the user''s internet experience.


    Although Star Domain Network is free for users, the profits made on the browser have already reached tens of millions.


    With over forty million daily active users on the browser, those websites wishing to be embedded within have to pay for the partnership, and there are those who advertise¡ªthe advertisement fees on various pages are also different.


    As for trash ads or inappropriate ads, the servers will automatically filter them out the next day, not affecting user experience.


    In Qin Hao''s opinion, users are supreme, even including some partner sites; inappropriate ads will also be smartly filtered.


    Any advertisement that appears on the browser will undergo intelligent review by the backend smart servers.


    Qin Hao asked, "Mr. Chang, is everything ready for our company''s annual banquet?"


    Chang Jing replied, "It''s all prepared. We planned to hold it in the company cafeteria the day after tomorrow. It''s convenient this way, and Mr. Wang and the others don''t want to go to a hotel, thinking it''s a waste of time."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "What are the prizes for the annual banquet?"


    Chang Jing showed him the banquet''s planning document; the prizes were quite generous, more so than what Jiangshan Group had initially provided for their banquet.


    Qin Hao said, "Purchase twenty cars worth five hundred thousand each, then buy ten sets of houses nearby. Add some various smart phones and appliances, and give a year-end bonus of triple salary."


    The newly built skyscraper was close to Xinghai High-tech Company; as Xinghai High-tech Company was situated there, it had boosted the nearby economy, attracting many companies to relocate here as well.


    Chang Jing nodded slightly. Now that the company''s monthly profits exceeded ten billion, this stuff really wasn''t much.


    The two chatted in the office for a while, and secretary Li came in from outside, saying, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, people from the national departments are here."


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, "Which department?"


    Li replied, "I''m not sure either, they''re waiting at the entrance now."


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing exchanged glances and then walked outside. On the way, Qin Hao whispered, "Mr. Chang, they wouldn''t be here to cause trouble, would they?"


    After all, since Star Domain Network was launched, it had greatly impacted the three major domestic mobile operators. In time, these three operators would definitely go bust, and this undoubtedly affected the interests of many people.


    At the entrance of Xinghai High-tech Company stood seven or eight sedans and men in suites with leather collars as well as military officers in uniform.


    Among these people, Qin Hao recognized Xu Jiejian, but he didn''t recognize anyone else, though they all had an air about them that was no less imposing than Xu Jiejian''s.


    With a smile, Qin Hao said to Xu Jiejian, "Mr. Xu, why didn''t you notify us before your visit?"


    Xu Jiejian said with a smile, "It was quite sudden, so I just came over," then Xu Jiejian briefly introduced the others.


    These people were from Jinchen City, and the ones in military uniforms were from the Gujing Military Region.


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing led them into the company''s reception room. After serving some good tea, Qin Hao asked with a smile, "Gentlemen, what brings you to my company?"


    Xu Jiejian sat still; he didn''t know what these people were here for either.


    But if they were here to cause trouble and shut down Star Domain Network, he, Xu Jiejian, would be the first to disagree.


    Firstly, Star Domain Network is an official network, moreover, it is a high-tech, super-large-scale wireless network¡ªa feather in the cap for the government.


    Secondly, Qin Hao is now the son-in-law of the Xu family; legitimate interests of the family must not be wrongly destroyed, as the Xu family is not to be trifled with.


    A representative from the Gujing Military Region spoke first, "Mr. Qin, our military region wishes to discuss network cooperation with you. Star Domain Network''s speed is very fast, and it can comprehensively improve the efficiency of our military systems."


    Qin Hao replied, "That can easily be arranged. Just let me know your needs for the military region''s system, and I''ll have the Star Domain Network''s intelligent servers open access for free."


    "Mr. Qin, our police department also needs access to Star Domain Network," another person spoke up.


    In addition to the police department, other departments¡ªincluding the Justice Department, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Security Department, the Monitoring Department, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and various other departments¡ªall requested access to Star Domain Network.


    This was because Star Domain Network''s speed is so fast that it could significantly improve the work efficiency of each department.


    Qin Hao said, "Today I will open up Star Domain Network''s internet services to all national departments."


    The representative from Gujing Military Region then said, "Mr. Qin, we want to know about Star Domain Network''s defensive capabilities. Can it withstand the overwhelming attacks of hackers? If it becomes paralyzed, it would seriously affect the future work of each department, something we don''t want to see happen."


    Qin Hao turned on the projector in the reception room and said, "Release all the data from past attacks on Star Domain Network from recent days."


    The intelligent projector in the reception room automatically switched on, and a stream of data appeared on the wall behind Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao stood up and said, "As for the protection of Star Domain Network, you don''t have to worry. This is the number of times Star Domain Network has been attacked since it went live, reaching over ten billion times. Most of these have come from abroad, with forty percent being hackers from the Federation region.


    Over thirty percent are hackers from the Western Continent, twenty percent from Beihai and Beidou countries.


    Ten percent are from domestic hackers, and despite being attacked so many times, there has been no impact on Star Domain Network whatsoever¡ªthey can''t break in. The protective grade of Star Domain Network''s servers is absolutely top-tier."


    The images on the projector changed, showing a dense array of data.


    Qin Hao glanced at it and said, "These are the details of hackers who have attacked Star Domain Network''s servers, with locations all marked out."


    As soon as Qin Hao finished speaking, he was stunned¡ªdamn, were there hackers from the national departments attacking Star Domain Network?


    Ahem, the atmosphere in the reception room became a bit awkward.


    Xu Jiejian intervened to explain, "A few days ago, in order to test Star Domain Network''s defensive level, the relevant departments conducted an experiment. The server''s protective level indeed is quite impressive, very strong."


    Another person added, "That''s right, many departments are interested in purchasing servers from Xinghai Company."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and said with a smile, "Turn off the projector."


    The projector then automatically switched off, and there was a profound sense of shock in the eyes of everyone in the reception room. How was this possible? It was incredibly intelligent!


    [First Update]

 Chapter 557 559: Market Value Evaporates by a Hundred Billion

    Someone couldn''t help but ask, "Mr. Qin, how did you manage to do this?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Our company has an Artificial Intelligence monitoring system; such a concept has appeared in science fiction movies before. It was about controlling the global network, traffic, military, government, and other systems with a supercomputer AI, but currently, we haven''t reached that level of technology."


    Hearing Qin Hao''s words, these people were somewhat shocked. They were leaders from various departments and were quite knowledgeable.


    The concept of Artificial Intelligence was something they had heard of, one of the main technologies of the future.


    A middle-aged man then asked, "Mr. Qin, to what extent has your company''s AI technology advanced?"


    Qin Hao said, "Currently, it can cover a large corporation, building, or administrative department without any issues. We are still researching servers with better performance, and maybe in the future, we might see an AI that can monitor an entire city."


    The person from the Security Department said, "Mr. Qin, how much does one set cost? Our Security Department would like to purchase one."


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment and replied, "We originally did not sell this technology to outsiders, but you are a national department."


    "I''ll make an exception for you, offering a bit of a discount. One set will cost five hundred million Xuan Country Coins, including advanced wireless surveillance cameras, smart servers, and other equipment."


    Qin Hao knew that these departments'' annual budgets were extremely high, so five hundred million was trivial for them.


    The man from the Security Department nodded, "Okay."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "You see, this is our advanced intelligent wireless surveillance, previously it was wired. Then we developed wireless intelligent surveillance, which you don''t need to worry about being interfered with. The signal is not the usual type; what we have here is a superluminal direct signal, an interference-resistant signal, providing ultra-clear images and very clear recorded audio."


    The people in the reception room turned their heads towards a corner of the wall, where there was a fist-sized black sphere with a crystal-cut surface, full of technological aesthetics,


    This was the latest type of wireless intelligent surveillance camera, with 360 degrees of unobstructed monitoring.


    A person from the Network Information Department said, "Mr. Qin, regarding the issue of Xingyu Network being free to access, we believe it somewhat disrupts the current market balance, creating unfair commercial competition."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "If a business operates with the intention of pushing out competitors and monopolizing the market by selling products at below-cost prices within a certain market range or period, it is considered unfair competition by the law."


    This was a clause in the legal provisions, designed to prevent unfair commercial competition.


    The crowd was stunned by his words. You know what you are doing yet still you persist? If it weren''t for someone backing you up and Xingyu Network''s huge influence, it would have already been taken to court.


    Qin Hao continued, "There is another clause in the law: if a business conducts legitimate price competition based on improving technology, reducing consumption, and lowering costs, the law recognizes and protects such actions."


    Xu Jiejian and others nodded slightly, but no matter what you say, there definitely are costs involved, and since you are offering it for free now, that constitutes unfair competition."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Actually, our Xingyu Network is not free, so there isn''t any unfair competition as everyone says."


    Charging? Blatant lies.


    You are clearly offering it for free, and billions of people across the country know it, yet you claim it''s not free?


    Xu Jiejian couldn''t watch any longer, "Cough cough, Xiao Hao, are you saying there will be charges in the future?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "We are already charging. Hence, the Xingyu Network''s freely accessible app software must pay a network maintenance fee to Xingyu Network Communication Company each month."


    The people were all dumbfounded, "Those app companies have to pay a network maintenance fee every month?"


    Qin Hao turned to Chang Jing and said, "Mr. Chang, please bring the contracts we signed with those companies so the leaders here can have a look."


    Chang Jing stood up and left the room, quickly returning with the contracts, one for each person.


    Seeing the charging mechanisms in the contracts, surprise flickered through their eyes. Who came up with this charging mechanism?


    It was simply brilliant, indescribably clever.


    ...


    These people had stayed in the Xinghai Company for about half an hour before leaving. They had understood everything necessary, gaining the unexpected bonus of insights into Artificial Intelligence.


    In Chang Jing''s office, Qin Hao said to Chang Jing, "Mr. Chang, how many software development personnel does Xingyu Network Communication currently have? Hire more experts and elites in this field, allowing Mr. He and his engineers to focus on Artificial Intelligence research."


    Chang Jing nodded, "I have already poached two teams, nearly a hundred people, from several internet software companies. These are programmers who were among the first to engage with the internet and can develop various programs. Mr. He has already continued his AI research."


    Qin Hao said, "Now, mobile payments are very convenient, and Tenglong Group''s social software gets such high traffic volume thanks to mobile payments. Make Xinghai Social Software even more convenient and intelligent."


    Inside Tenglong Group, Ren Huachen frowned deeply. Ever since Xinghai Social Software was launched, TT Social Software''s traffic had noticeably declined, and the power of Xingyu Network greatly concerned him.


    This was an entirely new software that could potentially overturn TT Social Software.


    If it weren''t for Tenglong Group''s reliance on TT Social Software to form a complete ecosystem, the loss of users from TT Social Software would be even greater now.


    In Ren Huachen''s view, his own complete internet ecosystem couldn''t withstand Qin Hao''s assault, merely delaying the inevitable.


    Once Qin Hao had enough software, relying on Xingyu Network to form his own internet empire, it would mark the collapse of Tenglong Group''s internet empire.


    Qin Hao''s internet empire, strengthened by free and ultra-fast Xingyu Network, was what truly terrified him.


    In his view, Qian Du Company would likely be the first to collapse, followed by Amao Net Shopping and himself.


    Regret crept up in Ren Huachen''s heart; if he hadn''t been so aggressive initially, he might not be in this predicament today.


    He then pushed this thought aside; even if they hadn''t boycotted Qin Hao''s company last time, given Qin Hao''s ambition and character, he would have ventured into the internet and found opportunities to crush them.


    Now, Qin Hao merely had more reason to attack.


    Presently, Ren Huachen couldn''t think of any solution to break the impasse. He had faced many such predicaments before and always had the confidence to manage and resolve them.


    But now, he couldn''t think of any solutions, which caused him sleepless nights.


    Outside, a knocking sound interrupted the silence, then Ren Huachen''s female secretary walked out, somewhat panicked: "Mr. Ren, our market value has evaporated by nearly a hundred billion Federation Coins in the past few days. Our market value is now less than five hundred billion Federation Coins."


    [Second Release]

 Chapter 558 560 Li Fengyus Hope

    Tenglong Group''s market value used to be close to 600 billion Federation dollars, undoubtedly making it the internet hegemon in Xuan Country.


    The emergence of Xinghai Social Software dealt a significant blow to TT Social Software, followed by a sharp decline in Tenglong Group''s stock, erasing nearly 100 billion Federation dollars in market value.


    Amao Net Shopping has now become the company with the highest market value domestically, totaling over 540 billion Federation dollars.


    Previously, Tenglong Group had a market value of over 590 billion, while Amao Net Shopping was over 570 billion.


    Tenglong Group suffered the worst evaporation of market value, and since Amao was not on the free list of the Star Domain Network, it also lost some value.


    Qin Hao had not yet ventured into e-commerce software; once his software launched, it would be a fatal blow to Amao Net Shopping.


    Even the giants in the venture capital industry could see this, so now very few people were buying shares of Amao Net Shopping or Tenglong Group.


    They all turned their attention to Xinghai Company. The next step for Qin Hao would definitely be to tackle the e-commerce platform, though it was unclear what it would be like and whether it would severely impact Amao Net Shopping.


    Li Fengyu of Qian Du Company was also deeply worried. The usage of the mobile Qian Du search engine had sharply declined, and everyone was now using the Xinghai search engine. The market share had dropped from over seventy percent to just over fifty percent.


    The search engine was Qian Du Company''s main business, and its market value had plummeted from over 900 billion to just over 600 billion.


    Besides search engines, smart wearable devices, and autonomous driving were also Qian Du''s main businesses.


    No one could surpass Xinghai Company in artificial intelligence, which was fortunate since Xinghai Company had not ventured into smart wearable devices and autonomous driving.


    Li Fengyu felt that Qin Hao lacked refined car manufacturing technology or a deeply cooperative car manufacturer.


    But he was different. He had deep cooperation with the largest car manufacturer in the country, Changli Automotive Group.


    In this area, he still held an advantage, and moreover, his research on autonomous driving had made significant breakthroughs.


    He had now placed all his hopes on autonomous driving; once this research succeeded, it would create value many times scarier than the search engine business and could completely transform the current car market.


    ...


    That afternoon, Qin Hao had stayed inside the company, visiting the research and development department with Chang Jing. Most of their staff were working on setting up an intelligent e-commerce platform, including over ten laboratory personnel.


    This involved a bit of intelligent mini-program development, seemingly minor, but capable of enhancing user experience.


    Smartphones had not yet become widespread, and smart computers still hadn''t emerged; therefore, e-commerce platforms could not yet be fully intelligent, though there were some optimizations in certain mini-programs.


    Some features of the Xinghai Social Software were functional on Blueberry Smartphones, but could not fully perform on ordinary phones at present.


    Qin Hao''s current goal was to develop an e-commerce platform and then increase the production of mobile chips, thereby boosting the installation numbers for Xinghai Social, Xinghai Browser, and Xinghai Online Mall.


    Around six o''clock in the evening, Qin Hao returned home. Han Meng was preparing dinner, and Qiao''er was sitting on the sofa watching TV.


    "Hasn''t your Aunt Yu Ying come back yet?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Qiao''er nodded, "Not yet, Dad, didn''t you come home last night?"


    Qin Hao, sitting on the sofa, smiled and said, "It''s almost the end of the year, and there''s a lot to handle at the company. I was working until very late last night."


    Qiao''er, sitting next to him and hugging his arm, said, "Dad, Mom and I want to go back to my grandparents'' house in a few days."


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, "Going back to your hometown for the New Year?"


    Qiao''er shook her head, "We''ll come back after visiting Grandma and Grandpa. Mom says that a married woman shouldn''t spend New Year''s at her parents'' house; it could bring bad luck."


    ...


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; what era was this to still harbor feudal thoughts?


    He spoke, "In a couple of days, I''m also heading home; I''ll take you to our old home, and then you can come to my place for New Year''s. How''s that? I''ll have Grandpa and Grandma give you New Year''s gifts."


    Excited by his words, Qiao''er said, "Yeah, Dad''s really great."


    After saying this, she hugged Qin Hao''s head and gently kissed him on the cheek.


    Just then, Han Meng came out of the kitchen and paused when she saw this scene.


    Qiao''er saw her mom and quickly said, "Mom, Dad said he''ll take us back to our old home in a couple of days, and then we''ll go to spend New Year''s with Grandma and Grandpa."


    Stunned, Han Meng said, "Xiao Hao, there''s no need to trouble yourself. I''ll just go back to Jianghai after seeing my parents."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Meng, it''s no trouble at all. Leaving you two in Jianghai for New Year''s, my parents would probably kill me. Just listen to me on this."


    Unusually persistent, Han Meng said, "There''s no need, Xiao Hao. A divorced woman like me celebrating New Year''s at your place could bring bad luck; I''ll just stay here."


    Qin Hao said firmly, "No more talk; just listen to me on this."


    Shortly after, Zhao Yuying returned. She sat on the sofa and let out a long breath, "I''m almost dead tired."


    "Are the movie matters settled, Ying?" Qin Hao asked.


    Zhao Yuying nodded, "Yes, it''s all done. I took it for review this afternoon, and tomorrow I have to get the movie translated into various languages and send it to international agencies for review."


    "Yu Ying Auntie, let me give you a massage so you won''t be tired," Qiao''er said, standing next to her, ready to massage her shoulders.


    Zhao Yuying hugged her, "I''ll be fine after sitting for a while."


    Suddenly, Qin Hao''s phone rang¡ªit was a Xinghai video call from Mrs. Qin, and he answered, "What''s up, Mom?"


    "When are you coming back?" Mrs. Qin asked.


    Qin Hao said, "I have to attend a friend''s engagement party tomorrow, the day after tomorrow we have the company''s annual conference, and right after that, I''ll head home; Qiao''er and Meng will also come, so get the rooms ready, Mom."


    Mrs. Qin said with a smile, "Qiao''er is coming too? That''s wonderful."


    "I should be home by the 11th," Qin Hao thought aloud.


    Mrs. Qin nodded, "Come home early, we still need to buy things and prepare for the New Year''s goods. Your uncle and aunt are already here, staying in the villa next to ours."


    "Got it, Mom."


    After hanging up, Zhao Yuying curiously asked, "Whose engagement party are you attending tomorrow?"


    Qin Hao said, "Ye Lanxin''s from Blueberry Mobile Phone Company."


    Zhao Yuying suddenly realized, "Right, her engagement with Li Jianjun caused quite a stir a few days ago.


    It''s said that many business magnates and elites from various fields will attend; Blueberry Mobile Phone Company has gained significant fame domestically."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Once our movie goes online, Yuhao Media Company will also make waves both domestically and globally."


    [The third update]

 Chapter 559 561 Li Family Mansion

    Zhao Yuying said with a smile, "I hope so."


    She had already seen the movie, and with those lifelike effects, it was stunning, delivering a very intense visual impact.


    The biggest selling point of "Mechanical Soldier" was undoubtedly the luxurious and realistic high-tech weaponry battle scenes, which were incredibly shocking, along with the cool battle Mechas.


    More importantly, every character was fleshed out, which was also a selling point, but Zhao Yuying felt that the battle scenes were the main attraction.


    Just based on the special effects alone, she believed that the box office would be high.


    During dinner, Qin Hao asked Zhao Yuying, "Ying, when are you heading home?"


    Zhao Yuying asked, "When are you leaving?"


    "The morning of the 10th," he replied.


    Zhao Yuying said, "Then I''ll also leave on the morning of the 10th. The review should pass in the next couple of days."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "If there''s nothing urgent at the company, head back early to rest for a few days. After the New Year, I''m afraid we''ll have lots of things waiting for us."


    After dinner, Zhao Yuying and Qin Hao went for a walk outside. The temperature in Jianghai City was fast approaching zero degrees, making it rare for people to go out for a walk at night.


    Zhao Yuying held his arm with both hands and giggled, "I''ve imagined this scene before, and today it''s finally come true."


    Qin Hao said with a laugh, "Only you would come out in such cold weather."


    Zhao Yuying''s lips curved slightly, "It''s peaceful like this, as if the whole world only has you and me. It would be even better if it started to snow."


    After strolling for a while, they returned home.


    In the master bedroom on the second floor, after a battle between Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying, they fell asleep early.


    The next morning.


    After breakfast, Zhao Yuying went to the company. Today was Yuhao Media Company''s annual meeting, and as the boss, she had to attend.


    Qin Hao, after breakfast, went out and then called Xu Siyao.


    Xu Siyao felt a bit surprised to receive his call but sounded down, "What''s up? Did you need something?"


    Qin Hao said, "Ye Lanxin and Li Jianjun invited me to their engagement today. Do you have time? Let''s go together?"


    Xu Siyao paused, then said happily, "Sure, sure, come and get me. I''ll wait for you at home."


    Her slight resentment faded upon hearing Qin Hao''s words, and she felt joyful inside.


    On the way, Qin Hao bought some things, including fruits, nutritional supplements, and wearable accessories, among other items.


    Upon arriving at the Xu Jiekang household, Xu Jiekang, Yang Su, and Xu Siyao were all at home. Yang Su''s belly was growing bigger by the day and had already started to protrude slightly, easily noticeable.


    Xu Jiekang saw him and said with a smile, "Xiao Hao is here, come on in, and what''s with all these things you''ve brought?"


    Qin Hao placed the fruits, nutritional supplements, and various meats aside.


    He said with a smile, "Mr. Xu, with the New Year approaching, my mom reminded me early to buy some things to bring over. She said it''s a family tradition; I don''t quite understand it myself."


    Xu Jiekang said, "Xiao Hao, your new company is doing very well. Its future potential is no less than that of Xinghai High-tech Company."


    Qin Hao replied, "The most important thing is to make life easier for everyone and to reduce the burden on ordinary families a bit."


    Yang Su asked with a smile, "Xiao Hao, how did your brain get to be so smart? You manage to come up with everything."


    Qin Hao chuckled, "Maybe I''m just a bit smarter than the average person. Ms. Yang, how are you feeling now?"


    Yang Su gazed at her bulging belly, her eyes filled with maternal love, "It''s going well, I''ve been taking the fetus-preserving medicine you prescribed."


    Qin Hao: "You must keep taking it, Ms. Yang. You''re getting on in years, otherwise, it will be difficult for you to give birth when the time comes."


    Yang Su nodded, "Today is the engagement of the Li Family''s scion, Li Jianjun, isn''t it?"


    Qin Hao: "Yes, it''s between Li Jianjun of the Jinxiu Group and Ye Lanxin of the Blueberry Mobile Phone Company."


    Xu Jiekang said with a smile, "These two families are arch-enemies. It''s quite an extraordinary event for them to form a union in Gujing City.


    However, with these two families united, their influence will be greatly magnified. Beijiang''s the Li Family and the Ye Family are both powerful and prestigious."


    At this moment, Xu Siyao came down from upstairs. Upon receiving Qin Hao''s call, she had begun picking out clothes and dressing up.


    She wore black leggings that emphasized her long, straight legs and attracted attention. On top, she wore a thin sweater covered by a pink coat that reached down over her thighs.


    "Qin Hao," Xu Siyao ran over when she saw him and immediately hugged his arm, then turned her head and said, "Dad, Ms. Yang, we''ll be going now or else we''ll be late."


    Xu Jiekang and Yang Su escorted them to the door. Xu Jiekang said, "Be careful on the road."


    Xu Siyao: "Got it, Dad. You guys head back."


    Once in the car, the convoy slowly departed the villa complex, with five cars heading onto the highway, bound for Gujing City in Beijiang Province.


    On the way, Qin Hao took out the jewelry he had bought. It was a three-piece set¡ªnecklace, earrings, and ring, all top-quality pink diamonds worth tens of millions.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "The new year is coming up, and this is my gift to you. Do you like it?"


    Xu Siyao''s eyes gleamed with adoration, "It''s beautiful, and it must have cost a pretty penny, right?"


    Qin Hao: "It wasn''t too expensive. As long as you like it, that''s what matters. Let me put it on for you."


    After Qin Hao put on the pink diamond necklace, earrings, and ring for her, they added an aura of noble and pure princess elegance to Xu Siyao.


    Xu Siyao lay down on his lap, clutching him and closed her eyes, "Let me take a nap. Wake me up when we get there."


    The engagement party hosted by Ye Lanxin wasn''t in Gujing City, but rather at her ancestral home in the Li Family Mansion.


    Three hours later, the convoy entered the bounds of Gujing City. With the Li Village being on the eastern side of Gujing City, Qin Hao''s fleet didn''t need to go through the city center. A few dozen miles away from the city, the convoy turned off onto a rural road.


    Leng Xuan said, "Mr. Qin, we should arrive at the Li Family Mansion in about twenty minutes."


    Qin Hao, seeing that Xu Siyao was still asleep, woke her up: "Si Yao, wake up. We''re almost there."


    Xu Siyao woke groggily, stretching her body, "Are we almost at the Li Family Mansion?"


    "About twenty minutes left," Qin Hao replied, then checked his watch. It was 11:03 a.m., meaning they should arrive around 11:30 a.m.


    At 11:22 a.m., the convoy reached the Li Family Mansion.


    At the village entrance, an archway with an ancient style stood proudly, with the characters for "Li Family Mansion" written on it, strong and lively. The archway was draped with red satin, radiating joyfulness.


    The roads inside the Li Village were wide, lined with villas in an orderly fashion, and both the greenery and air quality were excellent.


    This didn''t look like a village at all, but more like the most top-end villa complex in Gujing City.


    Qin Hao, somewhat surprised by the sight of the Li Family Mansion, saw several large, ancient-style mansions at the village center that looked like the residences of princes and generals from ancient times.


    [Fourth update, that''s all for today, see you tomorrow]

 Chapter 560 562 Encounter

    Qin Hao''s eyes revealed a hint of curiosity upon sight, pondering which family''s house this was, for it bore such an imposing air.


    This place was called Li Family Mansion, which meant it must be the ancestral home of Li Jianjun and Li Moying, and does that mean his maternal grandparents also lived in this village?


    Considering that today was Li Xutian''s son''s engagement party, would Qin Hao''s maternal grandparents and the whole extended family be attending as well?


    With these thoughts in mind, an expression of intense interest appeared in Qin Hao''s eyes.


    The convoy took a turn and entered, eventually stopping in front of a mansion. Receptionists at the door saw the fleet of cars and promptly informed the insiders, "Mr. Li, Mr. Qin has arrived."


    "Mr. Ye, Mr. Qin has arrived."


    At this time, nearly all the guests had already arrived; Qin Hao was amongst the last to show up.


    Li Xucheng, Li Xutian''s brother, was welcoming guests at the door. Upon noticing Qin Hao and Xu Siyao alighting from the car, he quickly approached, "Mr. Qin, Miss Xu, welcome to Jianjun''s engagement banquet. I am Jianjun''s uncle; my name is Li Xucheng."


    The several receptionists at the doorway all turned their gazes to Qin Hao and then towards Xu Siyao, a flash of envy crossing their eyes.


    Qin Hao spoke with a light tone, "Mr. Li, there''s no need for formalities."


    No sooner had Qin Hao finished speaking when Li Xutian, Li Moying, and a few others quickly emerged from inside.


    Li Xutian, seeing Qin Hao, rushed over with a smile, "Xiao Hao, I meant to invite you. Later, after hearing from Lan Xin that you''d been invited, I didn''t mention it."


    Qin Hao responded with a smile, "It''s okay, Mr. Li. It''s all the same, whoever says it anyway."


    Li Xutian paused in surprise upon seeing Xu Siyao, "Miss Xu is here too. How is Mr. Xu doing?"


    Xu Siyao smiled lightly, "He''s very well."


    Seeing the pair holding hands intimately, everyone understood the implication; the rumors of Qin Hao''s engagement to Xu Siyao seemed true.


    ...


    A middle-aged man beside them spoke with a smile, "Mr. Qin, Miss Xu, good to see you. I am Ye Lanxin''s father, Ye Wentian; this is my wife Cheng Yue, that''s Lan Xin''s older brother Ye Yingfeng, and younger brother Ye Yingda."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and shook hands with Ye Wentian, "Mr. Ye, nice to meet you."


    Li Xutian said with a smile, "Let''s not stand here. Xiao Hao, let''s go inside. The engagement ceremony is about to begin."


    Qin Hao walked in the center, with Li Xutian and Ye Wentian flanking him on either side as they made their way deep into the Li residence.


    Although Qin Hao was young, his status and reputation in the Xuan Country Business World were exceedingly high, unmatched by any.


    In the business world, it wasn''t age but corporate strength that determined respect among peers.


    Qin Hao surveyed the mansion, its interiors also echoing ancient architecture complete with rockeries, gardens, ponds, pavilions, and corridors.


    As they walked, Qin Hao commented, "Mr. Li, your mansion could rival the estates of ancient kings and nobles, classically elegant and full of grandeur."


    Li Xutian chuckled, "This house has been passed down for quite some time, probably always looked like this, although we did renovate it."


    While conversing, they passed through the courtyard and entered a vast hall decorated with traditional round tables amid a boisterous crowd.


    Today, nearly all the notable figures of Beijiang Province were present, along with some high-society individuals from Jianghai City, totaling around seventy to eighty people.


    The moment Li Xutian and Ye Wentian ushered Qin Hao and Xu Siyao into the hall, the noise subsided in an instant.


    All eyes were almost immediately on Qin Hao and Xu Siyao.


    Qin Hao, with his significant reputation and standing in the business community, was known by everyone present. He was a man of unusual character, seldom attending banquets.


    ```


    There''s no need to mention Xu Siyao by his side, in her family, her grandfather is the most powerful figure in the Xuandong Region, a person with real authority. Not just in the Xuandong Region, but who across the entire nation would dare to harm her in any way?


    Rumors say that Qin Hao is entering into an alliance with the Xu Family, and it seems to be true. Now that Qin Hao is at the height of his power, with the Xu Family as his support, who would dare to oppose him in Xuan Country in the future?


    ...


    An elderly man around seventy years old slowly approached. He was Li Xutian''s father, Li Mingshan.


    Li Mingshan began to speak, "This must be Mr. Qin. I''ve heard Xutian mention you many times. Meeting you today, indeed, you are a standout among men, Shujie raised a fine son."


    Li Xutian introduced, "This is my father, Li Mingshan."


    Li Mingshan was well versed in the ways of business community interaction. Although he knew Qin Hao was Li Shujie''s son, he still addressed him as Mr. Qin instead of being overly familiar by calling him Xiao Hao. He didn''t want to cause any displeasure for Qin Hao anywhere.


    His words were also very carefully chosen, letting Qin Hao know that he recognized him as Li Shujie''s son, an in-law of the Li Family.


    Looking at Li Mingshan, although he was over seventy years old, his body appeared still robust, and his eyes were bright and spirited¡ªclearly a crafty old fox of the business world.


    He responded with a laugh, "According to our family hierarchy, I should call you grandpa-in-law, but please don''t call me Mr. Qin, Xiao Hao is fine. If my mother heard the formalities she''d surely reprimand me,"


    Qin Hao didn''t directly call him grandpa-in-law, but mentioned that according to the family hierarchy he should!!


    The Ye family members nearby looked on with confusion in their eyes.


    Family hierarchy? Grandpa-in-law? Could it be that Qin Hao has some other relationship with the Li Family?


    Li Mingshan''s wrinkled face broke into a smile, "Then, I shall be bold and call you Xiao Hao. You don''t mind sitting at the same table with this old man, do you?"


    "Anywhere is fine to sit," Qin Hao replied with a light smile.


    When he had first arrived, he had already scanned the room, mentally noting the placement of every person.


    The table where Li Mingshan had just been sitting was almost entirely occupied by people from Li Family Mansion, the direct relatives of the Li Family. Qin Hao''s grandfather-in-law, Li Mingwang, of course, was also at that table, along with Li Pingrong, Li Pingsheng, and Li Pingchang. Qin Hao didn''t recognize the others.


    Not far off, there was a table of women. Xu Siyao said to him, "I''m going to find Yushi and the others."


    Li Yushi and the others at her table were all young girls, including Li Qingya, the sisters Li Qingyun and Li Qingya, Yan Huayue, Li Jin, and so on.


    "Go ahead," Qin Hao nodded slightly.


    He followed Li Mingshan to the table, smiling at everyone seated there, and then took a seat himself.


    Li Mingwang was watching him, and Qin Hao was watching back, but neither spoke.


    Li Mingshan spoke with a smile, "This is Qin Hao, the Chairman of Jiangshan Group, Xinghai High-tech Company, and Xingyu Network Communication Company, and also the son of Shujie."


    "Ah, Mr. Qin, I''ve long admired your reputation."


    "Shujie''s girl''s son, remarkable, quite remarkable."


    "Hello, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao responded with a nod and a smile. At 11:50 AM, the engagement ceremony officially started. It was an ancient method of exchanging marital pledges. After the announcement of the marriage contract, both fathers signed their names, and the ceremony was completed.


    Then came the ceremonial meal. During the meal, neither Li Mingwang nor Qin Hao''s three uncles spoke to him.


    His three uncles seemed to want to say something several times, but seeing their father''s countenance, they chose to remain silent.


    [First update]


    ```

 Chapter 561 563: Strike Against Su Yi Group

    Qin Hao clearly understood what Li Mingwang was thinking; he wanted Qin Hao to initiate a conversation.


    He was overthinking it; how Qin Hao would treat the Li Family in the future depended entirely on how the Li Family treated his mother.


    With his mother''s issue still unresolved, did Li Mingwang expect him to warmly approach their indifference?


    That was simply impossible.


    The Li Family had failed to grasp the current situation; it should be them aligning with Qin Hao, not the other way round.


    Since they weren''t speaking, Qin Hao couldn''t be bothered with them. After finishing his meal, he left the table to join Xu Siyao, Du Yingqiang, Li Qingya, Li Qingyun, and Yan Huayue.


    Every move Qin Hao made here drew much attention. Many looked intrigued when they saw him join the table of these younger people like Du Yingqiang.


    "Mr. Qin, long time no see," Li Qingya said with a smile.


    Qin Hao smiled and asked, "Are you Qingya or Qingyun?"


    Du Yingqiang laughed, "Mr. Qin, you can''t tell them apart either? I can''t recognize them myself."


    Li Qingya rolled her eyes, "Mr. Qin, I''m the older sister, Qingya, this is my younger sister, Qingyun."


    Qin Hao: "You two look alike, and even wear the same clothes when you go out; I still won''t be able to tell you apart later."


    Du Yingqiang said with a laugh, "Exactly, next time wear different clothes, better yet, embroider your names on them, so we can tell you two apart."


    "What are you all talking about that''s so amusing?" Ye Lanxin approached with a smile.


    Du Yingqiang: "Good timing, Lanxin just arrived. Lanxin, can you tell which one is Qingya and which is Qingyun?"


    Both Li Qingya and Li Qingyun wore identical outfits: leggings, long-sleeved tops, and coats, even their hairstyles and figures were nearly alike.


    Ye Lanxin looked for a few seconds and shook her head smiling, "I can''t tell them apart either."


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Now that everyone is here, there''s something I would like to discuss with you all."


    The group''s expression turned serious; all fell silent and looked curiously at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao: "Starting today, we''ll target the Su Yi Group''s Su Yi Mall, and I will bear all the losses."


    With an unchanged expression, Du Yingqiang smiled slightly, "That''s a small matter, Mr. Qin, I''ll make a call to my subordinates in a bit."


    Ye Lanxin glanced at the Li family''s table¡ªhad something happened just now?


    No matter what had transpired, she needed to stand with Qin Hao; Blueberry Phone''s success today was entirely due to Xinghai Company.


    If ever Qin Hao and the Li Family go to war, she would stand in front of Qin Hao.


    She spoke, "I understand, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao said to Du Yingqiang, "Brother Du, your smart ship will have to wait until after the New Year, I will have someone work on the smart operation motherboard for the ship around March or April."


    With a smile, Du Yingqiang responded, "No worries, Mr. Qin, the ship needs a lot of chips and motherboards, so it''s okay if it takes a while."


    From their collaboration to the present, he had almost always been giving¡ªfrom Zhao Yuying''s contract to Huafei Clothing, Hua Mei Skincare, and more.


    Both Ye Lanxin and the Li sisters had reaped many benefits from Qin Hao.


    Kangmei Appliances and Blueberry Phone had made an international name, and they had earned billions in less than two months, while Du Yingqiang still hadn''t earned anything.


    However, he had no complaints; he was a smart man and could see that Qin Hao was not the type to be ungrateful.


    He might receive even more in return in the future.


    "Thank you, everyone. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave," Qin Hao said as he stood up.


    Ye Lanxin said hurriedly, "Mr. Qin, please stay a little longer."


    Qin Hao replied, "No, I plan to go to Gujing City to see Mr. Xu."


    Ye Wentian and Li Xutian saw Ye Lanxin and a few others escorting Qin Hao out and hurried over.


    "What is Xiao Hao doing?" Li Xutian asked.


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Li, I plan to head to Gujing City to see Mr. Xu, then to Jianghai City. Please, don''t see me off."


    Ye Wentian said, "Then, Mr. Qin, when you have time, come and visit us at home. Next to the Li Family Mansion is the Ye Family Mansion. Just call Lanxin."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Alright, Mr. Ye, no need to see me off, please go back."


    A group of people escorted Qin Hao and Xu Siyao to the door, and after they got into the car and left, the group turned back into the hall.


    In the hall, at Li Mingshan''s table, several middle-aged women approached; they were Li Mingwang''s daughters-in-law, who were also Qin Hao''s aunts by marriage.


    Cao Ru came over and said sarcastically, "So that''s Li Shujie''s son? Doesn''t even know to come over and greet his aunt. What kind of son has Li Shujie raised?"


    Li Mingwang''s expression darkened: "Shut up!"


    Cao Ru was frightened and immediately fell silent; she didn''t know what she had said wrong.


    Li Mingshan thought to himself, Qin Hao doesn''t even respect Li Mingwang''s face, what are you?


    To put it bluntly, you are not even worthy of carrying Qin Hao''s shoes.


    He then said to Li Pingrong, "Pingrong, you guys go back first, I have something to discuss with your father."


    Li Pingrong, Li Pingsheng, and Li Pingchang left, along with the others at the table, leaving only Li Mingshan and Li Mingwang.


    Li Mingwang sighed. He had avoided speaking to Qin Hao just now, actually as a test to gauge Qin Hao''s attitude towards the Li family.


    Now seeing the results, his expression was not good.


    Li Mingshan began, "Mingwang, brother, admitting the mistake openly is possibly your best choice now. Qin Hao''s attitude today has said it all. His current position indeed requires the Li family to look up to him."


    Li Mingwang knew clearly that this was the only way, even if he didn''t want to. Unless, of course, the Li family chose to avoid any interaction with Qin Hao for good.


    But could the Li family do that? Clearly, they couldn''t.


    If so, would Qin Hao let them off? The Ruixing Group and the Tang Group are living examples.


    As far as they knew, Old Cellar Wine and Nanlang Wine were also nearing bankruptcy, probably unable to last even the year.


    "Mingwang, brother, you''d better think it over. This might decide the rise or fall of your branch of the Li family."


    ...


    In the afternoon Qin Hao and Xu Siyao left Li Family Mansion and arrived at a villa complex in Nanjing where Xu Liangguo lived.


    Getting out of the car, Qin Hao saw Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun playing Go.


    Carrying some fruit and nutritional supplements, Qin Hao walked in, and Xu Liangguo, seeing both, smiled and said, "Xiao Hao has arrived."


    "Hurry up, it''s your move. This game, you are definitely going to be defeated," Chen Shengjun said eagerly.


    Xu Liangguo replied, "We''ll play another day, didn''t you see my granddaughter and her husband have arrived?"


    After finishing, he got up and led Qin Hao and the others into the living room.


    Watching Qin Hao''s retreating figure, Chen Shengjun sighed internally, a single misstep leads to a cascade of them!


    [Second update]

 Chapter 562 564 Breakthroughs in Drones

    In the villa''s living room, Wang Ping saw Qin Hao and Xu Siyao come in, and her face broke into a smile, "Xiao Hao, Si Yao, what brings you here?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "It''s almost Chinese New Year, so Si Yao and I decided to come and visit Grandpa and Grandma."


    Xu Liangguo gave him a glance, "Weren''t you supposed to take Si Yao to a friend''s engagement party?"


    Xu Siyao giggled, "That was just in passing. The real deal is seeing Grandpa and Grandma, we came here right after dinner."


    Xu Liangguo laughed without good humor, "Only you could sweet-talk like this, girl."


    Xu Siyao sat next to her grandmother and said, "Grandma, this is a dress I bought for you, try it on and see how it fits."


    After saying this, she picked up the new dress from the sofa and began to help her grandmother try it on.


    Wang Ping smiled tenderly, watching her granddaughter''s beaming face.


    Xu Liangguo said to Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, the research on the unmanned intelligent fighter jets is completed. After the New Year, someone will take it to a competition abroad."


    Qin Hao was momentarily puzzled, "How effective is it in combat?"


    Xu Liangguo said with a smile, "The new model of unmanned intelligent fighter jets is much stronger in various aspects compared to previous ones, completely dominating the old drones. The old drones lacked autonomous combat capabilities and the flexibility and adaptability of manned aircraft."


    The most important thing is, the previous drones were connected to the control towers by normal signals, which were easily disrupted, causing loss of control."


    With the stable signals from Star Domain Network, this issue is perfectly resolved. The unmanned fighter jets can connect to the Star Domain Network and then be controlled by the control center."


    Qin Hao, "That''s really great."


    Xu Liangguo, "We''ve conducted tests, and no matter what jamming devices are used, they can''t interfere with the Star Domain Network''s signal."


    "Experts say the Star Domain Network''s signal is different from regular signals. However, for better control, we still need a few dedicated servers. We''ll establish a brand-new military network and need you to provide the servers."


    Qin Hao, "Grandpa, rest assured, whatever you need, just say the word. I''ll have my people start manufacturing them when I get back. I''ll provide you with servers based on our Star Domain Network standards. Three servers will be more than enough for the military network."


    Xu Liangguo spoke up, "I know this involves the secrets of your company, but the country really needs it right now."


    Speaking of secrets was rather an understatement. Qin Hao would definitely tune the servers before handing them over; then they''ll set up the network themselves. Just researching the servers wouldn''t yield any results for them in a hundred or eighty years.


    Qin Hao said smiling, "No problem, Grandpa, whatever the country needs is fine, but I''ll need to be paid."


    Xu Liangguo shot him a glance, "Just charge the market price. Does the country lack your money?"


    What Xuan Country currently lacks isn''t money, but high-tech technology.


    Xu Liangguo was still very satisfied with all aspects of Qin Hao''s awareness, except for some flaws when it comes to women.


    ...


    The two stayed at Xu Liangguo''s house for about two hours and then set off back to Jianghai.


    In the afternoon, Ye Group and Du Group''s branches began a major pre-New Year sales promotion, a huge draw for customers, including an explosive lottery event, with the grand prize being a sedan worth three hundred thousand.


    Without exception, there were Su Yi Group malls nearby every shopping center holding promotions.


    Upon receiving this news, Li Pingrong''s face darkened.


    Li Mingzhe spoke up, "Dad, Ye Lanxin only just entered into a marriage alliance with the Li Family, so why are they squeezing out our Su Yi Group? What are they trying to do?"


    Looking at his incompetent son, a deep weariness rose in Li Pingrong''s heart.


    If the day came when he was gone, who could carry the flag for Su Yi Group? Li Mingzhe was definitely not up to the task, though he was capable where women were concerned.


    Li Minglei wasn''t cut out for business either. Thinking of this, he sighed, "The Ye Group and the Du Group are both suppressing us at the same time. It''s obviously orchestrated by someone behind the scenes. Who else could it be but Qin Hao, with such influence?"


    On hearing this, Cao Ru''s face changed, "What does this disrespectful wretch really want to do?"


    "Smack"


    Li Pingrong harshly slapped her across the face, leaving both Cao Ru and Li Mingzhe stunned.


    "How dare you hit me?" Tears immediately fell from Cao Ru''s eyes. It was the first time Li Pingrong had hit her in all their years of marriage.


    Li Mingzhe didn''t dare to speak; he could feel that his father was somehow different today.


    Li Pingrong spoke up, "Qin Hao is the owner of Jiangshan Group, Xinghai High-tech Company, and Xingyu Network Communication Company.


    Currently, Xingyu Network Communication Company is valued at four hundred billion Federation dollars, and Xinghai High-tech is at seven hundred billion. His personal wealth has already reached one trillion Federation dollars. Not just you, even a high official would have to respectfully address him as Mr. Qin.


    You don''t even qualify to carry his shoes, so where do you get the courage to curse him? Moreover, father talked to me this afternoon.


    From now on, anyone from the Li Family must show the utmost respect to Qin Youguo and Li Shujie, or they will be expelled from the Li family tree.


    Can''t you see the extent of Qin Hao''s power now? If he really decided to target Su Yi Group, it wouldn''t last very long.


    He''s also teaching you and me a lesson. How Su Yi Group fares in the future entirely depends on our attitude towards Shujie. Can''t you see that?"


    On hearing her husband''s words, Cao Ru just stood there dumbfounded. One trillion Federation dollars? Was Qin Hao really that powerful?


    ...


    At six-thirty in the evening, Qin Hao arrived at Xu Jiekang''s house.


    He walked into the house with Xu Siyao; Xu Jiekang''s housekeeper had already prepared dinner, just waiting for the two of them to return.


    "Xiao Hao is back. You must be tired from a day of traveling. Let''s have a drink, just the two of us," Xu Jiekang said with a smile as he took out a bottle of premium Xinghui Wine.


    Xu Siyao quickly said, "Dad, one bottle isn''t enough. Get a few more." Then she walked over and took out two more bottles.


    Qin Hao, with a frown, thought, Are they trying to get me drunk?


    He was right. That was exactly what Xu Siyao had in mind, so she could legitimately ask Qin Hao to stay the night.


    During dinner, Qin Hao and Xu Jiekang drank quite a bit, and it was already after eight o''clock when they finished.


    After drinking some tea, Qin Hao stood up and said, "Mr. Xu, Ms. Yang, it''s getting late. You should rest early. I''ll be taking my leave now."


    "It''s so late already, just stay here. We have plenty of rooms," Xu Jiekang said, making a symbolic attempt to make him stay.


    Xu Siyao eagerly chimed in, "Yes, yes, it''s so late. I''m worried about you. Just stay the night here."


    Qin Hao: "No, thanks. It''s inconvenient. I''ll come another time when I''m free."


    Xu Siyao immediately looked unhappy, pouting and her eyes turning red.


    Seeing his daughter like this, Xu Jiekang sighed and also spoke up, "Yeah, Xiao Hao, it''s so late. Maybe you shouldn''t leave."


    If the first time was a polite attempt to make him stay, this time it was because he couldn''t bear to see his daughter upset.


    Since the two had already been intimate and were also engaged, a few more times wouldn''t matter much. Although he tried to console himself with this thought, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable.


    [Third update, I slept till six in the afternoon, haha]

 Chapter 563 565 Annual Meeting

    Ms. Yang also spoke up, "Yeah, Xiao Hao, why don''t you just stay over tonight?"


    Xu Siyao looked at him with tearful eyes, truly hoping he would stay.


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment before replying, "Then I''ll impose on Mr. Xu and Ms. Yang."


    Xu Siyao''s tears turned to smiles, and Ms. Yang smiled and said, "It''s no trouble at all, we have spare rooms in the house."


    "I''ll go tidy up a room for you, you chat with my dad," Xu Siyao said and then dashed upstairs like a shooting star.


    "Take it easy, why run so fast?" Xu Jiekang watched his daughter''s figure disappearing and said with a helpless wry smile.


    Qin Hao sat back down on the sofa, then talked with Xu Jiekang about some matters concerning pharmaceuticals.


    Now, every once in a while, the academicians at the Xuan Science Academy''s medical department would develop a new drug. Yuan Kang''s pharmaceutical plant was very busy, with the factory running almost twenty-four hours non-stop.


    The price of drugs was dropping every day, and ordinary people were genuinely feeling the benefits of affordable medicine.


    The two of them moved on from talking about drugs to the market economy. The issues of expensive medical care and education were almost resolved, and people now had more disposable income than before. They could buy what they wanted to buy and eat what they wanted to eat.


    This was conducive to the growth of the entire market economy, and Xu Jiekang estimated that Xuan Country''s market would be even more prosperous next year.


    Moreover, deepening reforms and opening up would also greatly enhance the prosperity of Xuan Country''s market. He feared that next year would be another year of explosive economic growth.


    Around nine o''clock, Ms. Yang and Xu Jiekang went back to their bedroom to rest. They stayed in the master bedroom on the first floor.


    Xu Siyao took Qin Hao upstairs. She led him into her own bedroom, which was decorated in a delicate pink and filled with a faint, clean fragrance.


    "Why don''t you take a shower?" Xu Siyao said to him, her face flushed.


    The bedroom had an en suite bathroom and shower. Looking at her, Qin Hao said with a smile, "Together?"


    ...


    The next morning, after having breakfast at Xu Siyao''s house, Qin Hao left. Xu Jiekang also had many things to deal with at the company, so after breakfast, he left as well, asking Xu Siyao to help look after Ms. Yang at home.


    After all, Ms. Yang was pregnant, and it wouldn''t be convenient for her if something happened while she was alone at home.


    Qin Hao drove straight to Jinxiu Hotel in the morning. By the time he arrived at Jinxiu Hotel, it was already past eight-thirty. The annual corporate event was scheduled to start at nine.


    Kang Youyi and others had already arrived the day before and were arranged to stay inside the hotel.


    Taking the elevator to the exhibition hall on the sixteenth floor, the place was buzzing with people; most had already arrived.


    Feng Xiangyi was still arranging for people to tidy up the venue. In the middle was a large stage adorned with all sorts of prizes, ranging from small items like detergent and mobile phones to larger ones like refrigerators and air conditioners. There was even a brand-new Audi sedan worth just under five hundred thousand at the back.


    Qin Hao entered with Leng Xuan and others. Instantly, someone spotted him: "Mr. Qin has arrived."


    "Mr. Qin has arrived." The news spread quickly throughout the entire hall.


    Kang Youyi, Tian Yamei, Meng Zhicheng, and other former employees of Jiangshan gathered around: "Hello, Mr. Qin!"


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded his head, "When did everyone arrive?"


    "We arrived yesterday afternoon," Kang Youyi replied.


    Qin Hao looked at them, recognizing many familiar faces among them: Tian Yamei, Yu Jie, Yuan Qing, Liu Man, and there was one person he was somewhat surprised to see.


    Sun Wan looked at Qin Hao: "Mr. Qin, do you remember me?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Of course, I remember. How do you find it, Mr. Sun, as the regional manager of Shuinan Province now?"


    Kang Youyi added, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Sun is very capable in business, and the stores she manages always rank at the top in sales. She''s now the regional manager of the entire Shuinan Province."


    Qin Hao said, "Excellent. The development of Jiangshan Delicatessen to this day would not be possible without everyone''s hard work."


    At that moment, An Linxuan of Xinghui Employment also came over with some people, "Mr. Qin."


    While Qin Hao conversed with them, he moved further inside. Soon after, Zhao Dongqiang of Huafei Clothing, Su Mingzhi of Huamei Cosmetics Company, and others came over as well.


    The venue was divided into several sections, each company having its own area.


    Qin Hao also saw Yu Tiantian; she was sitting at a table signing autographs and taking photos with people.


    After talking with them, Qin Hao walked over to Yu Tiantian''s place: "Everyone, don''t tire out your Tiantian too much, or she won''t have the energy to sing on stage later."


    "Mr. Qin," Yu Tiantian said smilingly to him.


    After signing a few more autographs, and with her boss''s intervention, the crowd did not press her for more.


    As it approached nine o''clock, the stage was finally set up, and everyone took their seats in their respective areas.


    Qin Hao''s seat was at the front, next to Kang Youyi, Zhao Dongqiang, Su Mingzhi, and others.


    At nine o''clock, the Jiangshan Group Office annual corporate event officially began. The first to take the stage was Yu Tiantian, who came out from backstage and sang two songs.


    After the songs were finished, Yu Tiantian came down and sat next to Qin Hao; it was the seat Feng Xiangyi had arranged for her.


    Feng Xiangyi then went on stage to speak. She was now the vice president of Jiangshan Group, not just the vice president of Jiangshan Cooked Food Company.


    Currently, Jiangshan Group had several vice presidents: Kang Youyi, Feng Xiangyi, Zhao Dongqiang, Su Mingzhi, An Linxuan, and many of them were in name only. Feng Xiangyi and Nie Si from the Jiangshan Group Office were the ones with real power.


    Feng Xiangyi said, "Today is the very first annual corporate event hosted by Jiangshan Group. This year, we''ve weathered many difficulties together.


    Jiangshan Group has grown stronger and stronger, from an initial valuation of a dozen or twenty billion to a current valuation of over one hundred and eighty billion.


    Our company''s development can be said to have set a record in the industry. We still have great potential for further growth and will become even stronger in the future."


    The valuation Feng Xiangyi mentioned was in Xuan Country Coins. If converted to Federation currency, Jiangshan Group now also had a valuation of over twenty billion Federation coins, roughly equivalent to over one hundred billion, nearly two hundred billion in Xuan Country Coins.


    She briefly discussed the development of the company over the past few months, and a projector behind the stage displayed various data.


    After Feng Xiangyi finished speaking, the leaders of the various companies took turns speaking about the scale of development of their companies.


    Once everyone had finished speaking, it was Qin Hao''s turn. He stood up, walked to the stage, took the microphone and looked at the crowd below.


    With a smile, he said, "Actually, I don''t think there''s much to say. The group''s current development couldn''t have been achieved without everyone''s hard work. I hope everyone will continue to strive and create even more splendid achievements.


    Everyone is following me, essentially to earn money and support their families. Here, I can assure everyone: as long as the company continues to develop steadily, everyone''s salaries will keep getting higher and higher in the future!"


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 564 566 The Lottery

    Qin Hao''s words were very thorough, why would people like Kang Youyi, Feng Xiangyi, Zhao Dongqiang, Su Mingzhi, and An Linxuan follow him?


    The most fundamental reason is benefit, of course.


    They are not the kind of people who would do anything for profit, but benefit is a significant condition for their loyalty.


    And the tens of thousands of employees, they are all working to make money to support their families.


    Over time, as they continue to work with Qin Hao and stay at the company, they feel the boss is decent, the company''s treatment is good, and that creates a sense of belonging and honor.


    Hearing Qin Hao''s words, everyone''s faces were all smiles; they already felt their treatment was quite good, and if their salary could increase, that would be fantastic.


    There are very few bosses in the entire industry who can do this; when companies make a lot of money, their first thought is not to raise wages for employees, but to think about how to reduce staffing costs to make more money.


    Qin Hao continued, "I won''t say much more, let''s move on to the most exciting part, the annual party lottery.


    The top prizes include five Jianghai City houses around 130 square meters, ten Audi cars valued at about 500,000 each, fifty cash rewards of 100,000, a hundred Blueberry Smartphones, and so on. Everyone gets one chance to draw a prize."


    Hearing about the prizes, there was a stir below, a house? A car? Holy crap, that''s just too cool, right? Many were rubbing their hands together in anticipation, eager to show their skills. After all, with just a thousand people, the chance of winning a house was one in two hundred, which was incredibly high.


    Even if one only got a cash reward, that would be fine too, with fifty up for grabs, there was a high probability of five percent.


    Qin Hao: "Now please have the head of each company come up on stage to draw lots, to determine which subsidiary''s employees will have the chance to draw first."


    An Linxuan, Kang Youyi, Zhao Dongqiang, Su Mingzhi, and others came up, Feng Xiangyi also walked over from the side.


    Several people began to draw lots to determine the order, with Xinghui Wine Industry drawing first, Huamei Company next, Huafei Clothing third, Jianghai Cooked Food Company fourth, and Jiangshan last.


    "We invite the employees of Xinghui Wine Industry to come up on stage for the lottery." After everyone else had left, a man and a woman, two hosts, went up on stage.


    They were employees of Jiangshan Group, and because they had experience in this field, they were chosen as hosts for the annual party.


    One of Xinghui Wine Industry''s regular employees walked up, the big screen behind the stage had already switched to a large drawing wheel.


    The drawing wheel was spinning, and as soon as the person drawing the prize pushed the button on the stage, it would stop, and whatever prize the pointer landed on, that''s what they would win.


    The employee from Xinghui Wine Industry took a deep breath and pushed the button, watching as the pointer slowly came to a stop, finally landing on the Blueberry Smartphone.


    "Wow, a Blueberry Smartphone, he''s so lucky."


    "Congratulations to this colleague for winning a Blueberry Smartphone." The female host took out a smartphone and handed it to him.


    Then someone from Huamei Company went up, and they won a bag of laundry detergent, eliciting a series of sighs from the crowd.


    ...


    Time passed bit by bit, and after more than half an hour, the number of prizes was dwindling.


    Blueberry Smartphones had been taken as prizes seventy or eighty times, smart appliances five or six dozen times, and there are eight cash rewards of 100,000 left.


    But no one had yet drawn any of the real top prizes.


    Just then, there was an exclamation from the crowd: "Holy shit, someone actually won an Audi sedan!"


    "Finally, a big prize has been won," someone enviously said.


    Standing on the stage was a young woman in her mid-twenties. She was a manager at Huafei Clothing Factory, and seeing that she had won the sedan, she was a bit incredulous and stood there stunned.


    The female host was the first to react, enviously saying, "Congratulations to this colleague for winning an Audi sedan worth five hundred thousand."


    Many below applauded; this was the biggest prize so far.


    The woman was overjoyed and burst into tears, never imagining that happiness could come so suddenly; she had thought she might just win laundry detergent, but instead, she had won a major prize.


    The male host said, "Say a few words, you''re the first to win a big prize."


    Excitedly, the woman said, "Thank you, Mr. Qin, thank you to Jiangshan Group, thank you, Mr. Zhao, for giving me the opportunity to attend the annual meeting. Jiangshan Group''s treatment of employees is the best I''ve seen."


    "I hope everyone continues to work hard next year and strive for even greater success. There might be more prizes for the annual rewards next year, and I want to win a house," she said.


    ...


    "Pfft"


    "Hahaha"


    "Okay, that''s pretty assertive."


    Qin Hao was amused by her words, too. Was she planning on getting rich through the lottery?


    After the girl left the stage, Meng Zhicheng from Jiangshan walked up eagerly and pressed the button.


    The pointer slowly stopped and landed on laundry detergent¡ªand it was the last bag of detergent!


    Meng Zhicheng''s face was full of black lines, and he felt an urge to vomit blood.


    Kang Youyi and the others couldn''t help but burst into laughter; the chances of winning laundry detergent were now lower than winning a house.


    Kang Youyi couldn''t resist saying, "Old Meng, should I say you''re lucky or unlucky? You''ve snatched the last bag of detergent."


    The rest of the people laughed along, and the atmosphere at the venue was light and cheerful.


    After Meng Zhicheng stepped down, Li Jing from Jianghai Cooked Food Branch went up. She was currently responsible for developing the Xuanzhong Region market along with Lv Rong, and she had just hurried back not long ago.


    The current Li Jing had gained a more mature aura, looking sharp and capable, with a vibe of a powerful businesswoman.


    As soon as she stepped up, she drew the attention of many.


    The male host smiled and introduced, "The lady on stage is Li Jing, the head of Jiangshan Cooked Food''s Xuanzhong Region. Let''s welcome Li Jing to the draw."


    Thunderous applause erupted from below¡ªapplause for a beauty is often quite loud.


    Li Jing fixed her gaze on the screen, then pressed her hand down, and the pointer slowly stopped: an Audi car worth half a million.


    "Another car prize."


    "This lottery really depends on one''s looks; all the big prizes are going to the beauties."


    "All that''s left for the last draws are the big prizes."


    The host laughed and said, "Congratulations to Li Jing on winning the car prize. Would you like to say a few words, Li Jing?"


    A flicker of excitement passed through Li Jing''s eyes. Taking the microphone, she took a deep breath and said, "I made mistakes in the past, but it was Mr. Qin who helped me. I''m very grateful for the opportunity Mr. Qin gave me. Thank you, sir¡ªif not for you, there would be no me today."


    After she finished speaking, she bowed deeply towards Qin Hao''s direction. Others might not know what this was about, but Feng Xiangyi and the rest were well aware.


    Seeing Li Jing now so mature and strong, they were genuinely happy for her.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, accepting her deep bow of gratitude.


    The lottery soon reached its climax with only about a dozen people left, all from the company''s senior leadership.


    A house had been drawn, won by an employee of Huafei Clothing Company.


    "Congratulations to Yu Jie on winning the car prize," the host congratulated Yu Jie, who had just finished drawing.


    Yu Jie stepped down with a beaming smile, and then Nie Si went up.


    She took a deep breath and pressed the button: a home in the Tianli District.


    On seeing the result, Nie Si nearly jumped up in excitement. She had actually won a house worth four to five million¡ªa house she couldn''t afford on her salary for another ten years. Now that she had won it, how could she not be thrilled?


    [First update]

 Chapter 565 567 Preparation

    Everyone looked on with envy when they saw her draw the grand prize of an apartment, thinking if only they could win an apartment, they''d have to struggle a few decades less.


    Nie Si finished her excited speech and then went down, and the people around congratulated her for winning the big prize.


    Su Mingzhi won a cash reward of one hundred thousand, which was all the same to him; he wasn''t short on money, he was just in it for the fun.


    Afterward, Tian Yamei, the director of legal affairs from Jiangshan, took the stage for the draw, and she actually won an apartment too, provoking a collective gasp.


    Tian Yamei was thrilled, though she didn''t work in Jianghai, they were building the new headquarters building, and perhaps she would move there in the future, and then she could live in it.


    If she didn''t move there, she could also sell it and buy an even better apartment in Jiangshan.


    After Tian Yamei stepped down, the female host said with a smile, "Next, please welcome the beautiful Yu Tiantian to draw."


    Yu Tiantian was stunned for a moment, me?


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "You''re also an employee under me, join in the fun, just for laughs."


    Yu Tiantian gave a slight smile, "Mr. Qin, then I''ll take you up on that offer. If I win the grand prize, you can''t back out."


    "It''s just an apartment."


    After she went on stage, she immediately pressed the button, and the pointer stopped at: an apartment in Jianghai.


    Qin Hao was taken aback, and so were all the others around.


    Wow, she really won it?


    Yu Tiantian, with the microphone in hand, said to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, you can''t back out now."


    ...


    After that, Zhao Dongqiang also went up to draw, and he won a Blueberry Smartphone, An Linxuan won a Kang Mei smart refrigerator.


    Kang Youyi won the last car, Feng Xiangyi won the last apartment, and the drawing segment was completely over.


    After the drawing, everyone started to get ready for the meal.


    Zhao Dongqiang, Feng Xiangyi, Su Mingzhi, An Linxuan, Kang Youyi, and Yu Tiantian, along with Qin Hao, were eating in the same room.


    After one o''clock in the afternoon, Qin Hao said to Feng Xiangyi and the others, "Xinghai Company has its year-end party in the afternoon, and I need to go there. You all keep an eye on things here."


    "Sure, Mr. Qin," Feng Xiangyi and others nodded.


    Qin Hao drove to Xinghai High-tech Company, and the annual party of Xinghai Company was just beginning.


    Later on, Qin Hao went up and said a few words, and then he had nothing much to do.


    The annual meeting of Xinghai Company lasted until after three thirty in the afternoon, and when Qin Hao returned to the office, he said to Chang Jing, "Mr. Chang, have the server production line make a few large servers, the military needs them."


    Chang Jing smiled lightly, "They have been produced already."


    Qin Hao was startled, "When were they produced?"


    Chang Jing, "While the first batch of servers was being produced, I kept the production going. We have large, medium, and small servers all ready. Our smart servers perform so well that many orders have already been placed."


    Qin Hao said to her, "Then you contact the people at the Gu Jing Military Region, just sell it at market price."


    After chatting for a while, Li, the secretary, walked in, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, the robot''s exterior has arrived."


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing left the office, to the doorway of the robot workshop at the rear end, where a large truck was parked.


    A few people stood there, waiting for the person in charge to come for the inspection and receipt of goods.


    Robot number 001 came out of the workshop with more than ten other robots, since the task of moving things still had to be done by them.


    ```


    One of them looked at them and said, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, we are employees of the Xinghai Robot Parts Factory. The truck is carrying two hundred sets of the latest model robot exteriors."


    Qin Hao said, "Open the truck."


    A few people hurriedly opened the rear doors of the truck, and two robots crawled into the vehicle and brought down a box to open.


    This was a small industrial robot exterior with wheels, a type that could perform delicate tasks.


    Qin Hao said to 001, "001, let everyone come out, unload it, and bring it inside."


    More than fifty robots all came out, and in less than half an hour, they had moved everything off the truck.


    The several people drove off.


    Inside the robot workshop, 001 and the other robots began to assemble the robots.


    Qin Hao asked Chang Jing, who was beside him, "Mr. Chang, how many robot parts manufacturing plants do we have now?"


    Chang Jing answered, "Three, each with a monthly output of about three hundred sets. Currently, we need almost three hundred million per month just for the procurement of alloy steel. If the output increases in the future, we will definitely need to invest more money in purchasing alloy steel."


    The alloy steel used in the robots was specialized and cost about a million per ton.


    Qin Hao wasn''t letting the phone robots out for now, meaning producing the robots was essentially burning money.


    If it weren''t for Xinghai Company profiting a lot from chips and other business areas, they absolutely couldn''t have afforded the robot production.


    What Chang Jing had just mentioned was only the cost of the alloy steel. The salaries of the thousands of employees at the three factories were in the tens of millions a month, not to mention the wear and tear on factory equipment.


    Roughly estimated, about four hundred million a month was needed for the production of robot parts.


    Chang Jing, not understanding, asked, "Mr. Qin, what are you doing producing so many robots and not selling them?"


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "They''ll have a big use in the future. Remember, Mr. Chang, these are industrial robots."


    Industrial robots?


    Chang Jing looked at him with a puzzled expression, feeling that Qin Hao was definitely planning something big, but she couldn''t figure out what it was.


    Back at the office building, Qin Hao checked the download numbers for Xinghai Social Software and Xinghai Browser on his computer.


    The download figures for Xinghai Social Software had reached over a hundred and fifty million and were still increasing every day.


    Relieved, Qin Hao knew that as long as Xinghai Social became a platform for social interactions, the number of users would keep growing.


    He asked Chang Jing, not far from him, "Mr. Chang, is the payment function of Xinghai Social ready?"


    Chang Jing replied, "Currently, Xinghai Social Software has a Xinghai Wallet feature, where you can bind various bank cards. It has the most basic payment functions, but its prevalence in stores and mass markets is far from enough."


    Qin Hao said, "That will come gradually. We will consider offline payments when we have more users. I''m thinking, with the New Year approaching, many people will definitely be giving out red envelopes, and it wouldn''t look good if we lacked that feature."


    Previously, Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping fought a fierce cash-burning battle to compete for the offline payment market.


    Tenglong Group''s cashback promotions in physical stores and Amao Net Shopping''s friend referral rewards were all part of their cash-burning war to claim the offline payment market.


    They were honestly handing back cash to you, burning over ten billion every day and eventually shaping the market to what it is now.


    Almost every storefront displayed QR codes for both Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping, nearly splitting the offline payment market equally between them.


    Chang Jing suggested, "Mr. Qin, I think during the New Year period, we should run a cash red envelope promotion.


    It could attract more users to download and use Xinghai Software, similar to Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping, who spend over ten billion on red envelope promotions every year during this period.


    Especially TT software from Tenglong Group, their red envelope promotion is done very well, and it helps boost many of their APPs, like Tenglong Video, Tenglong Browser, Tenglong Music, and so on."


    [Second Update]


    ```

 Chapter 566 568 New Year Event

    Qin Hao''s eyes brightened, and a smile appeared on his face, "Mr. Chang, you are right, this kind of event is indeed good. Is the plan ready?"


    Chang Jing began, "I have contacted more than ten internet companies, each contributing twenty million, totaling around two billion.


    At that time, a cash red packet distribution event will take place on Xinghai Social, which will not only increase the download count of our Xinghai Social Software but also enhance the exposure and download counts of our partner companies'' software. Mr. Qin, how much funding do you think should be allocated from our side?"


    Qin Hao spoke, "Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping have always contributed over ten billion in the past; this year, they might allocate even more funds to recapture the customers we''ve taken from them. Mr. Chang, how much do you think is appropriate?"


    Chang Jing responded, "The more, the better, of course. Given your current status and position, it wouldn''t be appropriate to contribute less than them."


    After thinking it over, Qin Hao said, "Then let''s put forth ten billion. Do we know how much those two companies are planning to allocate?"


    Chang Jing replied, "This New Year, Tenglong Group plans to distribute two billion in cash red packets, and Amao Net Shopping will distribute 2.4 billion. They have already started their promotion, and some of their customers have started to come back. I''ve prepared everything; we just haven''t settled on the funding."


    Qin Hao spoke, "Then let''s go with the ten billion cash red packet promotion."


    He knew that defeating the three major internet giants wouldn''t be easy. They were deeply ingrained and widespread across the internet. A money-burning war was inevitable.


    Zhao Yuying stated, "I have already picked our spokesperson, Yu Tiantian from Yuhao Media Company. She''s currently a popular, well-regarded young actress. This will also help boost her popularity and reputation again."


    Qin Hao replied, "No problem, just talk to her directly. She knows what to do. I''ll start for my hometown tomorrow. Call me if there''s anything."


    Chang Jing nodded, "All right, Mr. Qin."


    After giving some instructions to Chang Jing, Qin Hao then left the office and returned home.


    When he got home, Zhao Yuying had just come back from the office as well.


    "Yu Ying, have you finished with the company matters?" Qin Hao asked as he looked at her.


    Smiling, Zhao Yuying nodded, "It''s all taken care of; I''m also headed home tomorrow."


    Entering the house, Han Meng and Qiao''er were watching television, having already packed their things today, preparing to head home tomorrow morning.


    Qin Hao handed out some things he had bought to Zhao Yuying, Han Meng, and Qiao''er, "This is the jewelry I bought yesterday. See if you like them."


    The delighted Zhao Yuying opened it and saw a three-piece diamond jewelry set, "It''s so beautiful."


    Although Han Meng did not know the price, she knew it must be expensive. Her face blushed slightly, "Xiao Hao, I shouldn''t take this."


    She felt that she and Qin Hao did not have that kind of relationship and should not accept such a gift.


    Qin Hao responded, "Meng, you''ve taken care of me for several months now. Consider this your New Year''s reward. Take it."


    Zhao Yuying also persuaded, "Meng, he isn''t short of money; don''t be shy, just take it."


    Unable to resist them both, Han Meng reluctantly accepted, "I''ll go cook then."


    The television was showing the 6:30 p.m. news.


    "Today at five in the afternoon, Old Cellar Wine Group and Nanlang Wine Group announced their bankruptcy and closure."


    When Qin Hao saw this news, he remained composed. The closure of these two mid-to-low-end brand wine groups meant that Xinghui Wine had now fully dominated the domestic market for mid-to-low-end liquor.


    Zhao Yuying spoke to Qin Hao, "Look at Wei Yan, the video from your company''s annual meeting has been uploaded online by an employee."


    Curious, Qin Hao took out his phone and opened Wei Yan, where many people were discussing the Jiangshan Group annual meeting.


    "Wow, five apartments in Jianghai City, and ten luxury cars worth half a million each, Mr. Qin is really generous."


    "Working at Jiangshan Group must be amazing, I want to join Jiangshan Group."


    "All employees of Jiangshan Group got triple their monthly salary this month, usually around 10,000, but this month it''s over 30,000, so satisfying."


    "Holy crap, do ordinary workers at Jiangshan Group earn that much?"


    "A friend of mine works at Jiangshan Cooked Food, slicing duck meat, and he told me he earns over 10,000 a month. I thought he was bragging, so I unfollowed him..."


    "Don''t even start, a while back a high school classmate who works at Huafei Clothing Factory as an ordinary worker earning about 10,000 a month, invited me to join thinking he was involved in pyramid selling, I cussed him out and blocked him, wondering now if it''s too late to apologize."


    ...


    "Props to the guys above, impressive, impressive."


    "I graduated from a decent university and make about 6,000 a month, dang it, I''m quitting my job, heading to Jiangshan Group."


    "With such high salaries, they must work you to death, be very careful before deciding."


    "No, that''s just nonsense. I work at Jiangshan Cooked Food. Yes, slicing meat is tiring because we sell a lot every day, but we only work nine hours a day with two days off per week, and make over 10,000 a month."


    "I work at Huafei Clothing Factory. Before Mr. Qin took over, our salary was the same as before.


    But since he took over, salaries went from about 4,000 to now nearly 9,000 to 10,000."


    Jiangshan Group has over fifty-six thousand employees, and many of them are on Wei Yan, clearing up any misconceptions for their company.


    Suddenly, Qin Hao had an idea. He sent Chang Jing a message on Xinghai Social, "Mr. Chang, hasn''t anyone approached to discuss partnership at Wei Yan?"


    Chang Jing replied, "Not at the moment, I once reached out to them, and their condition was that we pay them a collaboration fee of one billion per year."


    Wei Yan dared to make such demands because they have a huge sticky user base. In the whole of Xuan Country, there''s only one Wei Yan.


    Wei Yan indeed has impressive capital, ranking among the top on the internet besides those three giants, with over a hundred million active monthly accounts.


    Their annual revenue from advertising amounts to several billions.


    Once the New Year event is over, and the traffic for Xinghai Social Software inevitably explodes, Chang Jing did not believe they would still have the audacity to speak such words.


    Qin Hao sneered, "Let them dream on."


    Free use of Star Domain Network, and they even expect us to pay them a billion? Do they think I''m a fool?


    Chang Jing reassured, "Mr. Qin, don''t worry. After the New Year event, they should realize the immense potential of Star Domain Network. The daily active users of Xinghai Social Software are not lower than theirs."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Right now, let''s focus on the three giants. We can deal with Wei Yan later. When is the e-commerce platform going to be ready?"


    Chang Jing replied, "It''s estimated to officially launch on the second day of the lunar new year. It''s still in the beta testing phase, and we are also contacting some major brands to join."


    [Third update]

 Chapter 567 569: Ten Billion Cash Red Envelope

    Mr. Qin: "Mr. Chang, are you going home for the New Year?"


    Chang Jing paused before replying, "I don''t plan to go back, there''s quite a lot going on at the company."


    Mr. Qin: "Then I''ll leave the company matters to you, Mr. Chang."


    Not long after, Han Meng had dinner ready. During the meal, Mr. Qin said to Han Meng, "Meng, have you packed everything? We''ll be leaving tomorrow morning."


    Han Meng nodded, "Everything''s packed."


    Zhao Yuying, curious, asked, "Xiao Hao, how are you getting back tomorrow? Flying or driving?"


    Mr. Qin: "Planning to drive back. After the New Year, I''m not sure when we''ll return. Driving is more convenient."


    After dinner, Mr. Qin and Zhao Yuying headed back to their bedroom upstairs.


    Tonight was the last night they would spend together this year; tomorrow they would part ways.


    The next morning, after breakfast, Zhao Yuying packed up and headed to Jianghai Airport. Her assistant was also going back to her hometown with her today, and a few members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion were with Zhao Yuying as well.


    After packing up, Mr. Qin, along with Han Meng and Qiao''er, got into the car, and the convoy headed straight for the highway.


    The drive from Jianghai City to Jiangshan was over two thousand kilometers, taking more than a day. However, they needed to make a trip to the Yunyan Mountain Area in Nanchu Province en route, which could take even longer.


    Five luxury cars sped along the highway. Mr. Qin adjusted Han Meng''s seat, "Meng, it will take more than ten hours to get to Nanchu Province. If you and Qiao''er feel sleepy, take a nap."


    Han Meng gently nodded. She and Qiao''er were initially excited, but after a few hours, they began to feel bored.


    This morning around ten o''clock, an advertisement appeared online: "Grab tens of billions in cash giveaways this New Year on Xinghai Social Software."


    Due to blockages by the three major giants online, most of the Internet channels were blocked, but enough people knew about it since Xinghai Social Software already had no shortage of users.


    Besides the Internet, advertising spaces on major satellite channels, variety shows, etc., were all booked by Xinghai Company.


    Then, ads for this were being displayed on billboards, bus stops, and large screens in major cities across the country.


    The ad spend just over these few days was nearly nine figures, but the effect was significant, with Xinghai Social Software''s download numbers increasing by over thirty million in one day, and the numbers were growing rapidly.


    Wei Yan was abuzz: "OMG, check this out, Mr. Qin is giving away ten billion through Xinghai Social Software for the New Year."


    This message spread instantly across Wei Yan, quickly becoming the hottest topic of discussion.


    A ten billion cash giveaway was simply an unprecedented move.


    Just a couple days ago, Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping had released a two billion New Year cash giveaway, and now Mr. Qin had launched a ten billion cash giveaway, showing incredibly deep pockets.


    Even ordinary people could see that Xinghai Social was competing with Tenglong Group; it was a battle of finances.


    Mr. Qin, being the wealthiest person in the world with over a trillion in assets, was not someone Tenglong Group could easily compete with in terms of finances.


    Many companies on the internet were stunned by Mr. Qin''s move¡ªa ten billion cash giveaway? That was incredibly fierce.


    How many internet users are there in the entire country? Not even a billion, and how many users does Xinghai Social have?


    In the past, the numbers online simultaneously during the New Year on TT peaked at around four hundred million. With ten billion, even if it was divided equally, each person got several tens of yuan. Most importantly, the cash giveaways on Xinghai Social were not distributed equally but based on luck.


    The largest cash giveaway was 999,999 yuan, with at least a hundred packets available, followed by 99,999 yuan giveaways, with a minimum of ten thousand packets.


    To ensure fairness and justice, the information of those who won large prizes would be published on the official Xinghai Social website for everyone to monitor.


    Million-dollar cash red envelopes, a hundred of them? A hundred thousand dollars in cash red envelopes, ten thousand of them?


    Holy smokes, this is thrilling, super thrilling.


    "Mr. Qin is awesome, bless me to win the big prize."


    "With Mr. Qin''s grand gestures, I''ve decided to download the Xinghai Social Software."


    "I''ve rallied hundreds of people in my village to download the Xinghai Social Software, just waiting to win big and get rich."


    "I think from now on the internet will belong to Xinghai Social, Tenglong Group only offered two billion, and who knows how much of that is just vouchers. Mr. Qin, on the other hand, is giving out cash red envelopes that can be withdrawn directly to a bank card."


    When Ren Huachen from Tenglong Group heard this news, his face slightly fell. Ten billion, this guy really dared to give that away, wasn''t he afraid of wasting it?


    Although Xinghai Social Software had developed rapidly through Star Domain Network, Tenglong Group''s active users hadn''t decreased much since they still dominated the mobile payment market.


    Ordinary people going to malls or supermarkets still chose to use Tenglong Group''s payment software.


    Besides mobile payment software, Tenglong Group controlled eighty percent of Xuan Country''s gaming market, with currently popular PC and mobile games being produced by Tenglong Group''s acquisitions.


    Just like the popular game PlayerUnknown''s Battlegrounds that Qin Hao had played, it was a game acquired by Tenglong Group.


    Nevertheless, Ren Huachen felt a sense of crisis, the two billion red envelope event for the New Year was the most he could secure.


    Tenglong Group wasn''t ruled by him alone; there were many shareholders behind it, and they wouldn''t agree to spend more unless he paid out of his own pocket.


    When Lv Tian from Amao Net Shopping got this news, he too was astounded by the great courage displayed.


    Qin Hao''s success today was definitely not by chance.


    The entire day, Wei Yan was completely dominated by Xinghai Social Software and the ten-billion-dollar cash red envelopes.


    In the afternoon, all major satellite TV and online video ads were about Xinghai Social Software, Chang Jing had planned a lot to attract users.


    Around nine o''clock in the evening.


    Qin Hao''s convoy arrived at the Jinxiu Hotel in the capital city of Nanchu Province.


    At that time, Han Meng was awake, Qiao''er was sleeping, Qin Hao took out a coat and placed it over Qiao''er, then picked her up, "Meng, let''s rest in the hotel tonight, and we''ll go to your home tomorrow."


    The group got out of the car and entered the hotel, the rooms already booked. They took the elevator up to their rooms, and Qin Hao carefully placed Qiao''er on the bed.


    Then he said to Han Meng, "Meng, get some rest early. We''ll continue on our journey tomorrow morning."


    Her hometown was in the Yunyan Mountain Area, located in the southwestern part of Nanchu Province, and moving further southwest would lead into Shuinan Province.


    The next morning at seven, after having breakfast, Qin Hao and his companions set off again, heading towards Nan''an City in Nanchu Province.


    An hour later, they fully entered the territory of Nan''an City, looking out to see endless, boundless mountain ranges.


    Qin Hao could no longer remember how many tunnels they had passed. Later, they took a narrow mountain road, with rock walls on one side and a deep cliff on the other, where a slight misstep could mean falling to an unrecoverable death.


    Fortunately, there were almost no other cars, and by nine-thirty in the morning, the convoy arrived in Yunyan Town.


    Yunyan Town was very rudimentary, the houses along the road were even more basic than those in the villages of other provinces, and the streets were almost deserted, occasionally only a few old people could be seen sitting motionlessly.


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 568 570 Biaoshan Village

    Han Meng''s house wasn''t in Yunyan Town, but their mountain village was under the management of Yunyan Town.


    There were still about ten more miles of mountain roads when, upon reaching the town center, Qin Hao saw several children aged seven or eight playing together.


    The children, upon seeing the five luxury SUVs, showed curiosity in their innocent eyes as they watched the vehicles.


    Apart from an old bus near the brink of scrapping, there were no other vehicles in the town, and many people were seeing cars for the first time.


    Soon, many people came out to the streets to look at Qin Hao''s convoy since the cars weren''t moving fast through the town.


    "What kind of car is this? It looks so impressive," a middle-aged man in his fifties asked curiously.


    A young man nearby replied, "Uncle, this is a Mercedes. Only the wealthy in big cities can afford it, worth several millions."


    The surrounding people gasped at these words. Several millions?


    The uncle exclaimed, "This... This is too expensive, right? Are they made of gold?"


    "Yeah, one car could buy our whole little town."


    The young man curiously said, "Did some rich tycoon emerge from the Yunyan Mountain Area? Why would such nice cars come here?"


    "It looks like they are heading to the mountain village, but it''s unclear which village''s people they are."


    ...


    From Yunyan Town to Biaoshan Village, Qin Hao and his group had taken more than half an hour, mainly because the road was really tough; it was all rocky mountain roads, but thankfully they were in SUVs, otherwise, they would have had to walk to Biaoshan Village.


    Biaoshan Village was where Feng Xiangyi''s parents lived, and it wasn''t until entering the village that Qin Hao realized how simple the mountain village was.


    The houses here were all built from mountain stones, bearing the marks of wind and sun exposure.


    The five vehicles parked alongside the road in the center of the village - Qin Hao got out of his car and looked around Biaoshan Village, which appeared to have electricity as he could sporadically see some electric poles.


    The village had several hundred households, making it a significantly large mountain village, much better than those deep in the mountains and forests.


    Places like those were inaccessible by car and required traveling on foot; Biaoshan Village was closer to Yunyang Town, which made its transportation considerably more convenient.


    There weren''t a few people in the village; seeing five cars parked in the village, it wasn''t long before a crowd gathered around.


    Because Leng Xuan and others were there, the crowd didn''t dare to come too close.


    Qin Hao asked Han Meng, "Meng, which one is your house?"


    Han Meng, seeing many people coming over, blushed slightly and gently pointed to a house nearby, saying softly, "This one here."


    Her heartbeat quickened slightly. If these people saw me and Xiao Hao together, would they think we are a couple?


    "Then let''s go." Qin Hao took down many things from the car, all of which he had purchased on the way.


    Qiao''er held Qin Hao''s hand, hopping and jumping happily, "I haven''t seen Grandma and Grandpa for a long time."


    The three headed towards the nearby house. The courtyard walls of this house weren''t high, just about one and a half meters, built with large mountain stones as well.


    Just as several cars had stopped here, the people in the courtyard had noticed. As Qin Hao and his group reached the entrance, a young man about twenty-one or twenty-two years old came out. His skin was dark and his eyes bright.


    Seeing Han Meng and Qiao''er, the young man paused for a moment then a simple smile appeared on his face, "Sis, Qiao''er, you''re back?"


    Then he saw Qin Hao and the five luxurious SUVs parked by the road. "Who are you?" he asked.


    Han Meng hurriedly said, "Xiao Zhuang, this is Xiao Hao. He''s a benefactor of me and Qiao''er. Without him, you wouldn''t have seen your sister and Qiao''er."


    After speaking, she said to Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, my younger brother is like this, please don''t take it personally."


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, "It''s okay, Meng. Hi, I am Qin Hao."


    "Umm, I am Han Zhuang." Han Zhuang was a bit unaccustomed to shaking hands, his rough hand full of calluses, and he quickly withdrew it after a brief handshake.


    ...


    Qin Hao had a bitter smile on his face¡ªoutside, many people wished for a chance to shake his hand, yet this guy was simply disgusted by him.


    "Sis, come in quickly; mom and dad have been talking about you," Han Zhuang hurriedly led them inside.


    Leng Xuan and a bodyguard followed Qin Hao inside, while the remaining six bodyguards stood outside watching the car.


    In the courtyard, an axe and some wood were laid out; Han Zhuang had apparently been chopping wood just earlier.


    It was already winter, the weather here was cold, and firewood was needed daily for cooking and heating the kang.


    Before they even reached the house, Han Zhuang called out, "Mom, dad, sister and Qiao''er are back."


    His voice was loud, and Qin Hao felt a buzzing in his eardrums. How could this guy be so loud?


    Soon, a couple came out from the stone house, their faces lighting up with smiles when they saw Han Meng and Qiao''er: "Meng, Qiao''er, you''re back? Where did you go? We were so worried about you."


    Han Meng''s eyes became slightly red: "Mom, dad."


    Han Zhiming, seeing Qin Hao, asked in confusion, "And who might this be?"


    Han Meng introduced him: "Mom, dad, this is Qin Hao, he is our savior."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Hello uncle, auntie."


    Han Zhiming quickly replied, "Mr. Qin, please come in."


    Once inside the stone house, Qin Hao placed the many items he had bought to one side, and Han Meng''s mother, Qiu Yufang, said, "Mr. Qin, what did you buy all these things for? You''re too polite."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "These were bought by Meng, and also a little something from me, it''s not much money, auntie."


    The home is modest, Mr. Qin, don''t mind it and please have a seat anywhere," Qiu Yufang brought out a stool for Qin Hao.


    She also gave stools to Leng Xuan and the other man, but they chose to stand behind Qin Hao instead.


    Han Zhiming looked at his daughter and asked, "Xiao Meng, why did you leave without a word initially? You didn''t even notify your mom and dad; do you know how worried we were?"


    Han Meng spoke softly, "Mom, if I hadn''t left, Jia An would have forced me to bear children for his family, saying it was to continue the family line."


    Han Zhiming''s expression stiffened, "Isn''t his son dead? How could he continue the family line then?"


    Han Meng''s eyes reddened slightly, "He wanted me to bear children with his... with him."


    Han Zhiming and Qiu Yufang''s expressions turned grim, "That old man dared to commit such an inhuman act."


    Han Zhuang suddenly stood up, "Damn it, I''ll go and kill that old man."


    Qiu Yufang''s eyes widened, "Sit down right now; we''re in a law-abiding society. If you kill him, you''d be arrested too."


    Although they were furious, they were helpless against Jia An, especially since he was also the village chief of Langshan Village.


    Han Zhiming continued, "Then what''s the story with Mr. Qin and you?"


    Han Meng shared the events that unfolded after she went to Jianghai City with her parents, and upon hearing them, tears swirled in their eyes.


    Han Zhuang was seething with rage, breathing heavily, his hands clenched into fists.


    Seeing them like this, Qin Hao spoke up, "Uncle, auntie, what''s done is done, and the bad people have received their due punishment. Please don''t be too sad or angry; it''s not good for your health."


    Han Zhuang said to Qin Hao, "My sister has always been good to me. Since you saved her, you''re also my savior. Just say the word if you need anything in the future, and I guarantee I''ll take care of it."


    Qin Hao gave a slight smile. This guy was naively adorable¡ªa true salt-of-the-earth kind of man, but such people are often the easiest to deceive in society. With bodyguards like clouds around him, Qin Hao hardly needed his help. However, he took the offered help in good spirit, "Alright, I''ll definitely reach out if there''s anything."


    [First update]

 Chapter 569 571 Jia An

    At that time, a group of people entered Han Zhiming''s home, "Han, I heard Xiao Meng is back?"


    Han Zhiming and Qiu Yufang got up and walked out, followed by Qin Hao, Han Meng, and Han Zhuang.


    About a dozen people came in, and outside the courtyard wall, another crowd stood, all peering inside.


    These people were all attracted by the five Mercedes-Benz SUVs; there were quite a few young people in the village who usually worked outside and had already returned by the end of the year.


    Their knowledge was more extensive than that of the older villagers; they knew the price of these cars. Each one was worth more than three million, and that dark, shiny one in the middle was a bulletproof vehicle, valued at seven or eight million.


    Han Zhiming looked at Liu Guang and his group, stunned for a moment, "Head Liu, why have you all come?"


    Han Zhiming and his wife didn''t know about the cars outside, so they were curious why the village head and the others had come.


    Liu Guang said with a smile, "Han, is Xiao Meng back? Some villagers just said they saw Xiao Meng."


    Han Zhiming nodded, "Yes, Xiao Meng just got back."


    "Are the cars outside also Xiao Meng''s?" Liu Guang asked curiously.


    Cars? What cars?


    Han Zhiming turned his head towards his daughter, "Xiao Meng, what cars is Head Liu talking about?"


    Han Meng explained, "Head Liu must be referring to Xiao Hao''s cars."


    Xiao Hao? Liu Guang looked at the young man next to Han Meng. Those cars were his?


    Liu Guang''s son, Liu Kai, also looked at Qin Hao behind Han Zhiming''s couple. When he saw Qin Hao''s face, Liu Kai''s eyes widened. After rubbing his eyes and looking again, he said incredulously, "Qin... Mr. Qin?"


    The people around were stunned for a moment. Mr. Qin?


    Liu Guang said with a smile, "Son, you know him?"


    Liu Kai quickly responded, "Dad, he''s the Qin Hao I told you about, our company''s boss, the world''s richest man!"


    Liu Guang''s smile froze, his mouth hanging wide open.


    Liu Kai hurried over, "Mr. Qin, it really is you! I work at Jiangshan Delicatessen. I am currently employed at the branch in Nan''an City, Nanchu Province."


    Qin Hao looked at him and asked, "Is Kang Youyi your supervisor?"


    Liu Kai quickly nodded, "Yes, Mr. Qin, Mr. Kang is the head of our southwest region."


    "How is everything at the company? Do you find it suitable?" Qin Hao chatted with him casually.


    Liu Kai said, "It''s more than suitable, Mr. Qin. My salary is over ten thousand a month, and this month I might even make over thirty thousand. I have to thank you, Mr. Qin, for your consideration of your employees."


    The people around were shocked to hear their conversation, over ten thousand a month?


    For people in their village, making ten thousand in a year was about it, but Liu Kai makes over ten thousand in a month at his company? And this month he could get over thirty thousand? That''s unbelievable! What kind of job is this?


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Perform well. Our company doesn''t look at education but ability, and I see potential in you."


    Hearing this, Liu Kai was elated. Normally, not even the head of Nanchu Province could have a direct conversation with Qin Hao.


    Today, not only did he speak with Qin Hao, but it also seemed that Mr. Qin was considering promoting him.


    He was well aware that Qin Hao was speaking to him because of Han Meng''s family''s face.


    Whether he could progress in the future depended entirely on his performance today.


    He turned to his father, "Dad, bring all our chickens and ducks. It''s not often Mr. Qin visits, I have to treat Mr. Qin to a proper meal."


    Liu Guang also said hurriedly, "Right, right, Han, you all wait here for me. I''ll go home and get some things."


    Han Zhiming: "Head Liu, you don''t need to go to all this trouble."


    Liu Guang: "It''s no trouble at all, not in the slightest."


    ...


    Liu Guang returned home for only a short while before coming back, his right hand carrying a chicken and a duck, and in the other hand, he held a jug of wine.


    He said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, these are authentic home-raised chicken and duck, the meat stews up really fragrant. You wait inside, I''ll go pluck them."


    Han Zhiming: "Head Liu, let me help you."


    In the house, Liu Kai carefully asked Qin Hao who was sitting beside him, "Mr. Qin, what brings you to our Biaoshan Village?"


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Meng has been taking care of my daily life, and as the New Year is approaching, she wanted to come back for a visit. I happened to be passing by, so I accompanied Meng here."


    Liu Kai nodded, and at that moment, Qiao''er ran over and hugged Qin Hao: "Daddy, I want to go out and play."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Then I''ll take you out for a stroll."


    Zhao Kai was shocked. Wasn''t she Han Meng''s daughter? Yet she was calling Qin Hao dad? Then, what was the relationship between Han Meng and Mr. Qin?


    He didn''t dare to think further, and said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, let me show you around."


    Qin Hao took a turn around Biaoshan Village, which was located halfway up Biaoshan. The area was hilly, and due to winter, all the hills were bare.


    Liu Kai: "Mr. Qin, I don''t know if you''ve heard a local saying we have here."


    "What saying?"


    Liu Kai: "No three days of clear skies, no three feet of level land, no three parts of silver to hand. The environment here seriously limits our development. Furthermore, because of the mountain ranges, landslides and mudslides tend to happen more easily during the rainy season."


    Qin Hao: "Are those fruit trees on the hillside planted by you?"


    Liu Kai: "Yes, my father originally planned to lead the villagers to plant fruit trees extensively. But, it didn''t work out in the end. The road is a major issue. Without a road, large trucks can''t come in, and we can''t sell our fruits."


    Qin Hao slightly nodded. In Xuan Country, there was always a saying going around: if you want to be rich, build roads first. This saying really made sense.


    After making a round, they returned. Han Zhiming and Liu Guang had finished their preparations and were stewing the meat.


    At lunchtime, as they were eating, about a dozen people came to Han Zhiming''s house: "Where is that slut Han Meng? Get her out here for me."


    "Come out, come out," the people around Jia An shouted.


    Hearing this voice, Han Meng''s face changed. Han Zhiming, Qiu Yufang, Han Zhuang, Liu Guang, Liu Kai, and Qin Hao all went outside.


    Liu Guang looked at Jia An and said, "Jia An, what are you doing?"


    Jia An: "I heard my daughter-in-law came back? I''ve come to take her home."


    Han Zhiming said, "From now on, my daughter has nothing to do with the Jia family."


    Jia An sneered, "Just because you say there''s no relation, there isn''t? My family paid over ten thousand yuan to bring Han Meng into our home. Stop the nonsense and hand over Han Meng immediately."


    Qiu Yufang cursed, "You shameless old thing, if it wasn''t for you wanting to defile Xiao Meng, would she have left? Now, you want to drag her back only to gratify your beastly desires."


    Jia An: "Bullshit, Han Meng was bought by me, and from then on, she''s a member of the Jia family. I can do whatever I like with her. I''m asking you, are you going to hand her over or not?"


    Qin Hao stepped forward and said, "Meng is not going to go back with you. You might as well give up on that hope."


    Jia An: "So you''re the adulterer who came back with Han Meng?"


    [Second update]

 Chapter 570 572: The Strength of Han Zhuang

    Han Zhuang pointed at him and said, "You old fart, my sister has told me everything. Believe it or not, I''ll beat you to death."


    Jia An and his group showed a hint of fear in their eyes, "I paid the money, why shouldn''t I be allowed to take her back? She is a member of the Jia Family. If you won''t let me take her back, then return the money intact to my family."


    Qin Hao laughed and said, "It''s a legal society now. Meng and your son don''t even have a marriage certificate. Legally speaking, she''s not your son''s wife at all. You currently have no right to demand her to return, and I can even sue you for kidnapping."


    Jia An''s face changed slightly, "Don''t freaking scare me, you think I''m easy to intimidate? The Han Family took my money, so Han Meng is a member of my Jia Family. I think Han Meng is an ominous thing, she caused my son''s death, what''s wrong with wanting her to bear a son for my Jia Family to continue the lineage?"


    At this moment, the bodyguards outside came in. Although there were only six of them, they had an extraordinary aura and surrounded Jia An''s dozen or so people.


    Jia An smiled and said, "What, you want to fight? Don''t forget where you are, your few men are not enough."


    Qin Hao: "You''re not worthy of me taking action against you."


    Jia An: "Han Zhiming, I''m asking you, will you hand over Han Meng or not? Otherwise, don''t blame me for turning hostile."


    Qiu Yufang replied, "Impossible."


    "Then don''t blame me for taking her back by force." At Jia An''s command, the dozen young, strong men behind him were about to charge in.


    Han Zhuang rushed out instantly, angrily saying, "You''re bullying people too much!"


    "Bang"


    He kicked out, and one of the men was sent flying six or seven meters, crashing heavily to the ground and spitting out blood.


    Leng Xuan was planning to take action, but seeing this scene, his eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of shock.


    Qin Hao was also quite surprised, such immense strength!


    In the scene, Han Zhuang was immensely powerful. He didn''t know any grappling techniques, he was just frighteningly strong.


    In a matter of seconds, several of Jia An''s men were beaten down.


    Jia An''s men, after the initial chaos, took out ropes they made themselves, as thick as a baby''s arm and very durable.


    Soon Han Zhuang was wrapped up, several of them pulling hard on both sides. Han Zhiming and Qiu Yufang, seeing this, showed anxious expressions on their faces and ran forward to rescue their son.


    Qin Hao stopped the two of them, "Uncle, Auntie, don''t worry, Xiao Zhuang won''t be in danger."


    In the midst of the fray, Han Zhuang let out a loud yell, his face turning red.


    "Bang bang"


    The ropes, as thick as a baby''s arm, were directly snapped by his brute force, sending the men on either side tumbling to the ground.


    At this point, Jia An found a large rock and had walked behind Han Zhuang. Realizing Han Zhuang''s incredible strength, he decided that taking him down would mean the rest of the Han Family would be easy to deal with.


    But Jia An had not anticipated that Han Zhuang''s strength would be so formidable, and he hesitated for a moment.


    Turning around, Han Zhuang saw Jia An holding the rock behind him. Jia An reacted and smashed it toward Han Zhuang''s chest¡ªhe didn''t dare strike the head for fear of actually killing him.


    Han Zhuang roared furiously and threw a punch, striking the rock so hard that it shattered into pieces, with stone fragments flying everywhere.


    Then another kick landed on Jia An, causing him to spit blood and fall to the ground.


    Han Zhiming and Qiu Yufang hurried over, "Xiao Zhuang, are you alright?"


    Han Zhuang smiled naively, "Mom, Dad, I''m fine, look." Saying this, he even stretched out his hand for his parents to check; apart from a bit of white dust, his skin was unscathed.


    ...


    Qin Hao walked over and looked at Han Zhuang''s fist in surprise, "Xiao Zhuang, you''re really strong."


    Han Zhuang chuckled, "I don''t know why, but I''ve been strong ever since I was little."


    "How should we handle Qin''s people?" Liu Guang asked, looking at Jia An and the others on the ground.


    By now, Han Zhiming''s home had attracted quite a crowd; the fight had lured almost the entire village out.


    Qin Hao took out fifty thousand yuan and tossed it at Jia An, "Minus the money your Jia Family used for Meng''s marriage, the rest is for your medical expenses. Starting from today, Meng and your Jia Family have nothing to do with each other."


    The onlookers were envious at the sight of so much money; they too wished to get beaten up just to receive some compensation for medical expenses.


    Jia An was stunned for a moment, having thought he wouldn''t get anything, and was surprised to be given money. "Alright, we''re even now."


    Picking up the money, he left with his people, while everyone turned their gaze toward Qin Hao, acknowledging his wealth and his generous gesture.


    Back inside, Han Meng looked at Qin Hao with eyes full of guilt.


    Qin Hao acted as if he didn''t see it and, while eating, said to Liu Guang, "I heard that you had plans to lead the villagers in planting fruit trees nearby, Village Chief Liu."


    Liu Guang nodded, "I did think about it, life is too hard for the people here. We don''t aspire to get rich by planting fruit trees, but achieving modest comfort shouldn''t be a problem.


    The real difficulty lies in the road. Although it''s not far from here to Yunyan Town, the cost of construction in such a place would be more than tenfold that of other roads."


    Qin Hao spoke up, "I''ll cover the cost of the road. I will make a donation to the local government, and I hope that Village Chief Liu can lead the villagers to a better life."


    The people who heard him were shocked and then became excited, "Mr. Qin, the construction of this road will cost at least several billion. You''re not joking, are you?"


    Qin Hao smiled, "No joke, Village Chief Liu. You can count on my word, Qin Hao always means what he says."


    Liu Guang hurriedly said, "Then on behalf of all the villagers from the surrounding villages, I want to thank Mr. Qin. Mr. Qin, I toast to you."


    After the meal and drinks, Qin Hao phoned Chang Jing, instructing her to contact the Nanchu Provincial Government to donate two billion yuan.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao turned to Han Zhuang and asked, "Xiao Zhuang, are you interested in following me? I''ll pay you a hundred thousand yuan a month as salary."


    Not only Han Zhiming''s family but also Liu Guang and Liu Kai were shocked. A hundred thousand?


    "I... I''ll listen to my parents," Han Zhuang said, looking towards his parents.


    Liu Guang spoke up, "Han, why are you hesitating? Meeting Mr. Qin is a stroke of luck for your son. A hundred thousand a month, your family won''t be able to spend it all."


    Qin Hao smiled, "There''s no rush on this matter. Uncle, Auntie, take your time to think it through. Whenever you''re ready, you can call me or Meng." With that, he left his contact information.


    Then he embarrassingly realized that Han Zhiming''s family had no cell phones.


    He gave one of his bodyguard''s phones to them and simply showed them how to use the Star Domain Network.


    By two in the afternoon, Qin Hao left Biaoshan Village with Han Meng and Qiao''er.


    On the road, Qin Hao received a call from his parents, "Xiao Hao, have you guys not come back yet?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Mom, we''ll be home today, although it might be late."


    "It''s okay to be late, just be safe on the road."


    Around eight at night, Qin Hao''s motorcade finally entered Jiangshan territory, and a few minutes later, they drove into a villa compound in Jiangshan.


    Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin came out of the villa upon hearing the noise, followed by Qin Hao''s uncle and aunt.


    Qin Hao got out of the car with Han Meng and Qiao''er. Qiao''er ran over, "Grandpa, Grandma."


    Mrs. Qin kissed her forehead, "My dear granddaughter, Grandma has missed you terribly."


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 571 573 Homecoming

    Qin Hao said to Qin Youmin and Wang Yan, "Uncle, Aunt."


    Qin Youmin said, "Ah, Xiao Hao has really made something of himself now, our Qin family has finally produced a famous figure."


    "Who is this Xiao Hao?" Wang Yan asked, as a hint of awe flashed in her eyes upon seeing Han Meng.


    Qin Youguo said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, this is Xiao Meng, Qiao''er''s mother. She''s the one who has been taking care of Xiao Hao over in Jianghai."


    Upon entering the villa, Mrs. Qin hurriedly said, "Go wash your hands and then we can eat."


    During the meal, Qin Hao received a system notification sound:


    Congratulations to the host for donating two billion, acquiring two million achievement points, current achievement points: 2.326 billion.


    After dinner, Han Meng rushed into the kitchen, followed by Mrs. Qin and Aunt to clean up.


    Coming out of the kitchen, Mrs. Qin said to Han Meng, "Xiao Meng, I''ve already tidied up your and Qiao''er''s room, and here it is. You must be tired after traveling by car all day, try to rest early."


    Han Meng whispered, "Thank you, auntie."


    Mrs. Qin smiled broadly, "Don''t be so formal, treat this place like your own home."


    On the sofa, Qin Hao curiously asked, "Uncle, hasn''t Man returned yet?"


    Qin Youmin replied, "Xiao Man will be back tomorrow. She has a boyfriend now, did you know that, Xiao Hao?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "I know him; he''s my classmate. He''s very honest and quite capable too."


    Qin Youmin said, "Now that you have said this, I feel relieved. Just hearing about it from that girl made me uneasy."


    Qin Youmin and his wife talked for a while and then went home, as they lived in the villa next door.


    Qin Hao returned to his room, then logged into the Xinghai Social Software on his mobile phone, wherein his contacts list included Xinghai''s Artificial Intelligence, Xiao Xing.


    "Send over the download data for the Xinghai Social Software."


    A few seconds later, Xiao Xing sent him a data chart. He had left Jianghai City on the morning of the 10th, and it was now 10 pm on the 11th, almost two days later.


    During these two days, the advertisements for Xinghai Social Software had been overwhelming: Offering ten billion in cash red packets for the New Year, this single advertising slogan could attract countless people.


    The download count for Xinghai Social Software had skyrocketed from 150 million two days ago to 390 million now, and was still increasing at a very rapid pace.


    According to statistics, Xuan Country had just over eight hundred million internet users, and nearly half had already downloaded the Xinghai Social Software.


    The 14th is New Year''s Eve, with almost three days left. Achieving eight hundred million downloads is very likely.


    Relying on the various smart features of Xinghai Social Software and the free use of Star Domain Network, he believed that Xinghai Social Software would retain a large number of users.


    Qin Hao then checked the daily active users, where yesterday''s were less than three hundred million, but today they had risen to three hundred and eighty million.


    Since these people had just downloaded it, they would definitely try out how the software functioned, so the active users on the same day would be very high.


    However, to see the true retention of active users needed to wait until after the New Year when things had stabilized. That would be a more accurate count of how many users were truly retained.


    The download count for the Xinghai Browser had reached three hundred and ten million, which was quite terrifying.


    Qin Hao initiated a video call with Chang Jing, and after a few seconds, the video call connected. Chang Jing was lying in bed, wearing pajamas, and the video was very clear, her hair distinctly visible.


    This was not only due to the phone but also because of the network transmission. The frame loss rate of the Star Domain Network was very low and it did not lose any data packets; whatever was captured there would be transmitted here.


    She asked, "Mr. Qin, what brings you to call so late?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Mr. Chang, hire as many program developers as you can. I''m not worried about having too many; I''m worried about having too few when we need them."


    Chang Jing responded, "Don''t worry, Mr. Chang, there''s no need to worry about the number of people. I''ve asked the development department to work overtime the past two days, and we strive to go live on New Year''s Day, right on time for the red packet event."


    Qin Hao curiously asked, "Have the merchants on the e-commerce platform been contacted?"


    Chang Jing replied, "We''ve already negotiated with our own products, Xinghui Wine, Jiangshan Bagged Cooked Food, Hua Mei Skincare, Huafei Clothing, and besides these, several dozen large domestic brand merchants have joined, all of which are quite formal big brands."


    "Okay, Mr. Chang, you can operate with full authority. I won''t disturb your rest then, I''ll hang up first."


    Chang Jing: "Wait a moment, Mr. Qin, there''s another matter regarding the Xinghai intelligent robots. The military contacted me today. They plan to purchase another batch of robot intelligence mainboards, about twenty,"


    Qin Hao paused and said, "Sell it to them."


    The military wanted these intelligent mainboards, and Qin Hao knew what they were going to do with them; they were surely for the research of intelligent combat robots.


    The first generation of Xinghai intelligent robots were industrial robots. They could be applied in industry, and while they could also be used in the military, there would be many drawbacks.


    One is the robot''s alloy material; the current alloy steel refining technology isn''t so advanced, unable to refine superalloys. Second, the purification cost is high and consumes a lot, so the current special steel materials are very expensive.


    After hanging up with Chang Jing, Qin Hao sent a message to Du Wanrou: "Little girl, have you gone to bed? I just got home tonight."


    Du Wanrou: "Not yet, how did you get back?"


    "By car."


    Du Wanrou asked, "Did you see the message in the Xinghai group? There''s a high school reunion tomorrow at noon, are you going?"


    Qin Hao: "I didn''t see it, who''s organizing it?"


    Du Wanrou replied, "It''s organized by our class teacher, Liu Xiu."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "Then let''s go together. If we don''t, these people will probably say I''m acting high and mighty, as if I''ve achieved something and don''t regard my teachers and classmates anymore."


    Du Wanrou: "Okay, good."


    Qin Hao: "Where are you now?"


    "In the same district as you."


    Qin Hao paused: "You''re in Qingcheng Villa District too? Where? I''ll come over to find you."


    Du Wanrou: "Not far from your house, Villa No. 16, my parents are home, let''s talk tomorrow."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Then I''ll come over tomorrow to see Uncle and Aunt."


    ...


    The next morning, after having breakfast, Qin Hao took some gifts from home and walked out.


    Mr. Qin saw him and asked, "Xiao Hao, where are you off to so early in the morning?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Du Wan''s house is right here, I''m going over to see her."


    "Oh, in that case, invite Wan Rou over to sit, your mom and I haven''t seen her yet," Mr. Qin hurriedly said.


    Qin Hao left home and found Villa No. 16. Arriving at the villa door, Qin Hao knocked on the door.


    The door opened quickly, and Du Wanrou, smiling, looked at him: "Come in."


    "Xiao Hao is here, what did you bring? Come, sit down," Du Hongfeng and Feng Yun quickly got up and came over.


    Now, in the domestic business world, Qin Hao''s status and position were almost the highest, a figure that countless CEOs needed to look up to and curry favor with. Many CEOs wanted to meet with Qin Hao, but they didn''t have the opportunity.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Uncle Du, Aunt Feng, have you had breakfast? I hope I am not disturbing you?"


    [Fourth Release]

 Chapter 572 574 Inviting Du Hongfeng

    Mr. Du smiled and said, "We''ve already had breakfast. Please sit down, Xiao Hao."


    Du Wanrou said, "I''ll go get ready, wait for me a moment."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Go ahead."


    After Du Wanrou went upstairs to put on makeup and get dressed, Qin Hao sat on the sofa and said to Mr. Du, "Uncle Du, do you know about the current Hua Mei Skincare products?"


    Mr. Du said, "Of course, I know. My wife is using Hua Mei Skincare products for wrinkle removal and blemish treatment, and they are incredibly effective. Look at your aunt, doesn''t she look seven or eight years younger?"


    Feng Yun gave him a sideways glance, "Nonsense."


    Qin Hao took a closer look at Feng Yun. He hadn''t paid much attention before, but now that he did, she indeed looked much younger than before, probably around thirty-four or thirty-five, with no wrinkles on her face.


    "Ms. Feng really does look a lot younger than before."


    Mr. Du said, "I told you she looks younger, and she didn''t believe it. Now that Xiao Hao says so, do you believe it?"


    Feng Yun''s face carried a smile, "This is all thanks to the cosmetics from Xiao Hao''s company. Sometimes, they''re impossible to buy."


    Qin Hao said, "Ms. Feng, whenever you want them, just call me, and I''ll have someone deliver them to you. Actually, I have something I would like to discuss with you."


    Curiosity marked Mr. Du''s expression, "What''s the matter, Xiao Hao? Just say it."


    Qin Hao said, "I plan to build Hua Mei branch companies in the Southwest and Xuannan District. Uncle Du, are you interested in helping me? Shares aren''t an issue, and as for the position, you would be no less than Su Mingzhi."


    Mr. Du and Feng Yun exchanged glances, unsure of how to answer. They wanted to agree...


    Qin Hao continued, "Uncle Du, right now I don''t fully trust Su Mingzhi, but I really can''t find anyone else for this. Please help me."


    Seeing that he put it that way, Mr. Du nodded, "Alright, then I''ll sell my company here."


    Qin Hao said, "Uncle Du, there''s no need to sell. Just change the sign, and then I''ll give you all the skincare formulas to start production. When the time comes, I''ll give you twenty percent of the shares in Hua Mei Company. Aside from me, you''ll be the largest shareholder."


    With Hua Mei Company''s market value nearing twenty billion Xuan Country Coins, twenty percent of the shares would be worth forty to fifty billion, equivalent to his entire company. Most importantly, Hua Mei Company''s future growth potential was immeasurable.


    Mr. Du nodded; this meant that Hua Mei Company would acquire Mr. Du''s Ounuo Cosmetics Company in exchange for shares.


    Qin Hao carried on, "Ms. Feng, you will handle the company''s financial matters when the time comes. I don''t trust Su Mingzhi."


    Feng Yun nodded, "Don''t worry, Xiao Hao. Your aunt will definitely take good care of the company''s finances for you."


    Qin Hao said, "Then I''ll have to trouble Uncle Du and Ms. Feng."


    Mr. Du smiled, "No problem, Xiao Hao. We''re all family after all, it''s only natural."


    At that moment, Du Wanrou came down from upstairs. She had changed into fresh clothes, white as snow, pure and holy.


    She walked up to Qin Hao''s side and said with a smile, "Let''s go."


    Qin Hao said, "Uncle Du, Ms. Feng, please get ready. Today, I''ll have Su Mingzhi contact you."


    Mr. Du nodded, and the two of them stood up to see them out the door.


    As Qin Hao walked home, holding Du Wanrou''s hand, he looked at the items she was carrying and asked curiously, "Wan Rou, what''s that in your hand?"


    Du Wanrou replied, "It''s a set of clothes I bought for Uncle, as well as some jewelry and anti-wrinkle and whitening skincare products for Auntie."


    Qin Hao said, "My mom has plenty of skincare products."


    Du Wanrou smiled and said, "That was given by you, this is from me, it''s different."


    The two soon arrived at home to find Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin chatting with Han Meng and Qiao''er.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao enter with a young woman full of grace, Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin stood up and greeted them with a smile, "Xiao Hao is this Wan Rou?"


    Du Wanrou revealed a sweet smile on her pretty face, "Hello Uncle, Auntie, I am Du Wanrou."


    "Have a seat, Wan Rou. Xiao Hao often talks about you, saying you''re gentle, elegant, beautiful, and virtuous. I didn''t believe it before, but after seeing you today, Auntie is convinced," Mrs. Qin said as she took Du Wanrou''s hand and sat down on the sofa with her.


    Qin Hao thought to himself upon hearing his mother''s words, Have I ever said these things?


    Du Wanrou said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, this is the clothing I bought for you. Please try it on to see if it fits. If it doesn''t, I''ll return it."


    After she had spoken, Du Wanrou took out the clothing, a Sun Yat-sen suit.


    Qin Youguo quickly said, "Wan Rou, you don''t need to buy anything for your uncle in the future. I just bought some yesterday."


    Although he said this, he was actually very pleased because this was the clothes his future daughter-in-law had bought for him.


    Having such a virtuous and sensible future daughter-in-law, Qin Youguo felt delighted!


    Du Wanrou handed the clothing to Qin Youguo, "That was something you bought for yourself, Uncle, not by me, you should try it on, Uncle."


    Unable to refuse her, Qin Youguo took the clothing and went back to his room to change.


    Du Wanrou then took out skincare products and jewelry, "Auntie, these are the skincare products I bought for you. They reduce wrinkles, combat aging, and also have a whitening effect. My mom uses this brand, and it''s very effective. And this jewelry too, let me help you put it on."


    When she finished speaking, she intended to put the jewelry on Mrs. Qin, who said she could do it herself, but Du Wanrou insisted.


    After putting the jewelry on Mrs. Qin, Mr. Qin walked out of the room. Qin Hao and the others turned to look and saw Qin Youguo dressed in the Sun Yat-sen suit, which made him look much more spirited than before.


    Qin Hao said with a laugh, "Dad, you look great in those clothes, very distinguished."


    Mrs. Qin nodded in agreement, "It''s Wan Rou who knows how to pick the clothes. You look like a completely different person in that suit."


    Mr. Qin smiled slightly, "Is that so? I think it''s pretty good too. Wan Rou, your uncle will accept it; I won''t be polite with you."


    "Why would you be polite with me, Uncle, we''re all family now," said Du Wanrou, a bit shyly.


    Qin Youguo chimed in, "Yes, yes, family, we''re family. Don''t leave at noontime, I want you to try the fish I stewed."


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Dad, we have to attend a high school reunion soon, so we won''t be back for lunch."


    Mr. Qin replied, "Oh, then we can do it another time."


    Du Wanrou and Mr. and Mrs. Qin talked for a long time, and at ten twenty, Qin Hao and she took a car toward the Changle Hotel near Changle Second Middle School.


    This was the largest ordinary hotel near Changle Second Middle School. It was rumored to be owned by a relative of one of the school''s leaders, and business was quite good.


    On the way to the Changle Hotel, Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, who was driving, "Leng Xuan, after a while you can just drive the car back home. It''s nearly New Year''s; you should visit your family."


    Leng Xuan replied, "No worries, Mr. Qin, I have already called my family."


    Qin Hao insisted, "That''s not good enough; your family is so close by in Jiangshan. If you don''t visit, they might think I''m a heartless boss."


    Leng Xuan reported, "Mr. Qin, I received news from Li Wenjun, he advised us to be cautious of assassins from the Blood Killing Organization."


    [First Update]

 Chapter 573 575 High School Reunion

    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou stared in shock after hearing his words, "What did Li Wenjun say?"


    Leng Xuan replied, "He had just received the news as well, the Blood Killing Organization is planning to make a move against you, and according to Li Wenjun''s guess, they have been plotting this for a long time."


    A flicker of worry crossed Qin Hao''s eyes, "Have you found anything unusual? Or has anyone been followed?"


    Leng Xuan shook his head, "So far, nothing unusual has been discovered."


    Qin Hao said, "Inform Li Bao to enhance the security for the company''s senior personnel."


    Leng Xuan nodded, "Li Bao has already made arrangements. Mr. Qin, what I am most worried about now is you. The Blood Killing Organization usually only targets the person they aim to kill. They are very patient and will not act rashly without significant assurance. They will strike a fatal blow at your most relaxed moment."


    On hearing this, Du Wanrou felt a trace of worry rising in her heart, but Qin Hao grasped her hand and said with a faint smile, "They haven''t made their move yet, could it be that they haven''t found the opportunity?"


    Leng Xuan nodded, "That should be the case. I believe they are definitely hiding somewhere, waiting for the right moment."


    "Let''s all be more vigilant." Qin Hao didn''t say more on the subject, as he didn''t want Du Wanrou to worry too much.


    ...


    Around 10:40 PM, Qin Hao''s motorcade arrived at the entrance of Changle Hotel, adjacent to Changle Second Middle School.


    There were many vehicles parked at the hotel entrance: cars, electric bikes, bicycles, and more. Also, quite a few people were standing around the entrance.


    Among them was Mr. Liu, who had been Qin Hao and Du Wanrou''s class teacher back in the day.


    The people at the hotel entrance turned to look at Qin Hao''s motorcade when it pulled up, instantly recognizing who had arrived from the grandeur of the scene.


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou stepped out of the car, hand in hand, and Mr. Liu, along with others, hurried over to greet them.


    "Qin Hao, Wanrou, you''ve arrived," Mr. Liu said with a beaming smile.


    Behind her were some administrative staff and the principal of Changle Second Middle School, all of whom had come especially to see Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou greeted him with a neutral tone, "Mr. Liu."


    Back in school, Qin Hao had no particular fondness for him, it was just average.


    "Hello, Qin Hao, I am Mr. Liu, Director of Changle Second Middle, and this is our principal, Mr. Ma."


    Qin Hao glanced at the two, finding them somewhat familiar but recalling almost no interaction, "Director Liu, Mr. Ma, hello to you both."


    "Let''s go inside to talk," Mr. Liu intervened.


    Following Mr. Liu''s lead, Qin Hao entered the private room reserved for Class 2''s reunion within the hotel, while other classrooms hosted their respective class reunions.


    The private room was buzzing with lively conversations and laughter. As Qin Hao and Du Wanrou entered, the room immediately fell silent.


    Mr. Liu said, "Qin Hao, Wanrou, please take a seat. The principal and I will be in the next room."


    Qin Hao and Du Wanrou found two empty seats and sat down, after which Mr. Liu and the others stepped out of the room.


    After a few seconds of silence, Chen Shuna was the first to speak, "Welcome Mr. Qin to our high school reunion. Let''s all toast to Mr. Qin."


    The rest snapped out of it and hastily raised their glasses, some filled with soft drinks, others with beer.


    Qin Hao surveyed the crowd, spotting Yuan Zhengxiang, who used to be domineering, now holding a glass in his direction.


    Qin Hao''s current status was beyond comparison to theirs. The world''s richest man, with assets surpassing a trillion, it was something none of them could even dare to dream of, yet Qin Hao had achieved it.


    The Qin Hao who used to be timid and incompetent, struggling with his studies, had actually made it!!


    A maelstrom of emotions stirred in many hearts, like a bottle of mixed flavors overturned, regretting not having fostered a good relationship with him back in high school; they could have been friends with the world''s richest man now.


    Just tossing them a bit of money would be more than enough for them to enjoy for a lifetime.


    ...


    Qin Hao poured a drink for himself and Du Wanrou and said, "I''m not used to drinking alcohol, thank you everyone."


    This sentence conveyed a lot of information.


    Many people sighed in relief upon hearing his words; as long as Qin Hao didn''t intend to retaliate against them, they were immensely grateful.


    Given Qin Hao''s current identity and status, if he really wanted to suppress them, it would be very easy.


    But to Qin Hao, it didn''t matter. In the future, everyone would take their own paths, and it would be best if they didn''t disturb each other.


    The food arrived quickly and as everyone ate, they chatted. Chen Shuna also spoke to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, your Star Domain Network and Xinghai Social Software are really good. My dad can get signal abroad and make free calls home."


    Qin Hao asked curiously, "Isn''t the Star Domain Network still not open abroad?"


    Chen Shuna was taken aback, "Foreigners indeed can''t use it, but we from Xuan Country can still use the Star Domain Network when we go abroad. You''re the boss and you don''t know this?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Someone else manages the company; I''m not aware of the specifics, but as you said, it does sound pretty good."


    Zhao Man suddenly spoke up, "Mr. Qin, is it true about the red packet grabbing on Xinghai Social? Those red packets aren''t just going to your company''s own people, are they?"


    Qin Hao answered, "No, it''s a fair lottery. The information about the winners is published on the official website."


    Zhao Man chuckled and said, "Then could you increase my chances of winning? I''d like to become a millionaire too."


    Qin Hao replied, "I think you''d be better off stepping in some dog shit to improve your luck."


    "How rude, we''re classmates after all," Zhao Man said with a tone that carried a hint of coquettish protest.


    She was indeed quite attractive, and with careful embellishment she was charming, certainly above average in looks, but Qin Hao felt nothing.


    At that moment, Liu Xiu and Mr. Ma walked in, had a drink with the people inside, offered a few words of encouragement, and then left.


    After finishing the meal, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou walked out together, and the atmosphere inside the private room became livelier.


    With Qin Hao there, they always felt a sense of inhibition and pressure, unable to fully relax while talking and behaving.


    Just as Qin Hao and Du Wanrou came out, someone else emerged from a nearby private room: it was Xia Qing.


    The three exchanged looks, and Qin Hao smiled and said, "Xiaoqing, you''re here too?"


    Xia Qing nodded slightly. She glanced at Du Wanrou, and Du Wanrou was also looking at her, creating a somewhat tense atmosphere.


    Qin Hao let out a dry laugh and said, "Let''s go downstairs and talk there."


    The three of them stepped outside the hotel, and both Du Wanrou and Xia Qing were silent, their thoughts inscrutable.


    A minute later, Du Wanrou suddenly said, "Qin Hao, I want to speak with Xia Qing alone for a moment; you wait over there for us."


    Qin Hao looked at her quizzically and then walked to the edge of the road while Du Wanrou and Xia Qing moved aside and began to talk only when they were far enough away.


    Five or six minutes later, the two returned with smiles on their faces, appearing much more harmonious than before.


    Qin Hao asked them, "What were you talking about?"


    Du Wanrou replied, "Nothing much, just chatting for a while."


    Knowing that they wouldn''t tell, Qin Hao spoke up, "Let''s head back. Xiaoqing, let me take you to meet my parents."


    [Second Update]

 Chapter 574 576 Movie Discussion

    Xia Qing nodded, "It just so happens I bought gifts for Uncle and Auntie."


    She had driven here in a Volkswagen that cost around 300,000 yuan, not a luxury car but not a bad one either.


    In the afternoon, a little past one, Qin Hao brought Xia Qing to the Qingcheng Villa District.


    After getting out of the car, Du Wanrou spoke up, "Xiao Hao, I should head back home and not go in."


    Qin Hao, "What''s the matter? Come on in with us."


    Du Wanrou was worried about making Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin feel awkward, after all, both she and Xia Qing were Qin Hao''s girlfriends, Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin would praise one and then worry about the other''s feelings, her presence would put Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin in a difficult position.


    She laughed and said, "I''ll come by another day, we live so close anyway."


    After saying that, Du Wanrou left and headed home.


    Xia Qing watched Du Wanrou''s receding figure and remarked, "Wanrou really is a wonderful person."


    "Wanrou? What did you two talk about?" Qin Hao asked with a look of surprise.


    Xia Qing hurriedly said, "We didn''t talk about much, let''s go in quickly."


    Inside the villa, Mrs. Qin, Mr. Qin, and Han Meng were busy in the kitchen, preparing items needed for the New Year. This included making things like meatballs.


    "Mom and Dad, Xiaoqing is here," Qin Hao called out to the kitchen.


    Upon hearing this, Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin hurried out of the kitchen. Xia Qing had a smiling face with cute, charming dimples, "Hello Uncle, hello Auntie."


    "Ah, Xiaoqing is here, have a seat," Mrs. Qin said with a smile.


    Xia Qing sat down on the couch, "Uncle, Auntie, with the New Year approaching, I bought you New Year''s gifts. Please try them on and see if the clothes fit."


    Mrs. Qin, "Xiaoqing, don''t buy things recklessly in the future. It makes me very happy just to have you come here and chat with me."


    "It''s okay, Auntie, I earned the money myself." After she said that, she pursed her lips and glanced at Qin Hao with a smile.


    She had bought a set for both Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin and took them out for them to try on.


    After changing into the clothes, they said, "Xiaoqing, they fit well, they''re pretty good. How did you know what size clothes we wear?"


    Xia Qing, "I looked it up online."


    Now that Qin Hao was world-famous, Mr. Qin''s and Mrs. Qin''s personal details had already been exposed online; their heights, weights, and more were all available on the internet.


    "Mr. Qin, try on these shoes, and Auntie, please try on this jade bracelet."


    Xia Qing had bought quite a few things for them. She didn''t stay long, chatted for a while, and then went home.


    Mrs. Qin initially wanted to keep her for dinner, but as it was the 29th of the lunar month, Xia Qing didn''t want to impose.


    After Xia Qing left and looking at the clothes and shoes on them, Mr. Qin said cheerfully, "It''s good to have more daughters-in-law, we won''t need to buy anything in the future."


    Mrs. Qin turned to Qin Hao, "Does Wanrou know about you and Xiaoqing?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "She knows, Wanrou just went home."


    Mrs. Qin, "I won''t meddle too much in your affairs, as long as you can handle it well yourself, but try to give me a great-grandson sooner."


    After she finished speaking, Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin returned to the kitchen to keep busy.


    ...


    Qin Hao sat for a while but got bored, so he went to the study on the first floor of the villa, which had a computer and bookshelves.


    There were many books on the shelf, and he sat down in front of the computer and turned it on.


    This was a desktop computer Mr. Qin had specifically prepared for Qin Hao, bought just a couple of days ago.


    Now, because of the wireless Star Domain Network, the latest desktop computers all come with wireless network cards capable of connecting to the Star Domain Network.


    After turning on his computer and connecting to the Star Domain Network, Qin Hao downloaded the Xinghai Social Software and Xinghai Browser.


    He planned to use the computer to access Wei Yan, but since the Star Domain Network didn''t offer free access to Wei Yan, he still had to use his home internet connection, which he found somewhat frustrating.


    Wei Yan users are very loyal. Aside from the free software on the Star Domain Network, Wei Yan is the only other platform Qin Hao regularly visits.


    Of course, many people also shop on the Amao Net Shopping e-commerce platform, which could gradually be replaced by the Xinghai E-commerce Platform once it goes online.


    At the moment, Qin Hao''s online presence is minimal, limited to Xinghai Social Software and the Xinghai Browser. It will only be once the e-commerce software launches that his initial setup will be considered complete.


    Qin Hao is now contemplating how to collaborate with Wei Yan. A partnership with Wei Yan would invisibly expand the influence of the Star Domain Network.


    However, the people at Wei Yan aren''t fools, and they don''t want to take sides hastily, as aligning with the wrong side can have serious consequences.


    Upon logging into Wei Yan, Qin Hao saw a new message regarding Jiangshan Group.


    "Mr. Qin, how many stories is the new office building you''re constructing in Jianghai City? Some say it''s less than 300 stories. Is that true?"


    "How could it be fake when it''s been all over the news? It''s an investment of 700 billion Xuan Country Coins."


    "Over thirty stories have already been built. The four major construction companies are working day and night, and the speed of construction is incredibly fast."


    "288 floors, 1888 meters tall, earthquake resistance of level 10, and the entire building is said to have an Artificial Intelligence monitoring system. Mr. Qin, are you building a high-tech skyscraper of the future?"


    In response to the question about the skyscraper under construction, Qin Hao replied, "That''s right, I have already reached an agreement with the four major construction companies. We are indeed creating a high-tech skyscraper of the future that will incorporate many cutting-edge technologies. Everyone, please look forward to it."


    His Wei Yan post quickly garnered hundreds of thousands of comments.


    "Can''t wait for Mr. Qin''s 288-story skyscraper."


    "OMG, really? 1888 meters tall, that''s terrifying, plus it''s earthquake-resistant to level 10."


    "If this skyscraper does get built, it will completely revolutionize and change current building designs, especially in terms of earthquake resistance. Level 10, Mr. Qin isn''t just blowing smoke, is he?"


    "When has Mr. Qin ever bragged? You can tell you''re a newbie."


    ...


    After browsing Wei Yan for a while, Qin Hao came across news of Xiao Fei''s new movie "Future War," premiering on the Lantern Festival.


    The topic of "Future War" ranked among the top five hot topics of discussion.


    Xiao Fei was also promoting his own movie: "This will be Xuan Country''s premier sci-fi blockbuster. Everyone, just wait and see, it surely won''t disappoint and will definitely be superior to Yuhao Media Company''s shoddy productions."


    Shen Lin, the female lead of the movie, was promoting it as well.


    Many in the entertainment industry were forwarding and supporting it, helping to increase its exposure online.


    Yang Feng and Wu Sinuo have also received scripts for new movies and have started shooting. They are expected to be able to release theirs by May Day next year.


    While forwarding Xiao Fei''s promotions, Yang Feng did not miss the chance to throw shade at Yuhao Media: "I hear Yuhao Media wrapped up filming ''Mechanical Soldier'' in just one month. Such a flop was made so quickly. Good thing Sinuo and I left, or our reputations would be ruined."


    He didn''t directly confront Qin Hao, as he was somewhat concerned about Qin Hao, who is currently a top magnate in the prime of the Xuan Country Business World.


    Xiao Fei and others have many fans who left supportive messages for his new movie and said they planned to book tickets to see it when it premiered.


    "How can Yuhao Media''s ''Mechanical Soldier,'' filmed in one month, compare with Fei Fei''s ''Future War''? Don''t insult ''Future War.''"


    "Exactly, how can a trash movie compare with Fei Fei''s new movie?"


    "Looking at Yuhao Media''s official Wei Yan announcement, their movie is scheduled to release on the Lantern Festival too. Haha, they''re really asking for trouble."


    "Can''t wait for ''Future War'' on Lantern Festival to crush all other movies releasing at the same time."


    [Third update]

 Chapter 575 577 Lv Tians Phone Call

    Many people online discussed the skyscraper, followed by discussions about the movie.


    On the Lantern Festival, not only were Xiao Fei''s "Future War" and "Mechanical Soldier" released, but many other films premiered that day as well.


    Among them, there were also two large-production movies from the Federation, "Captain of the Northern Federation 4" and "Deep Sea Giant Shark"!


    In the past, movies made by the Federation were rarely released simultaneously in Huaxi, but now with the rapid economic growth of Xuan Country, the potential of the Xuan movie market has also begun to show.


    Many foreign films have targeted the Xuan market, and now many of them are released simultaneously in Xuan Country.


    Currently, Xuan Country hardly has any large-production films, mainly because movie special effects technology is severely behind. For instance, Xiao Fei''s "Future War" received an investment of five hundred million, which is considered a large investment for a domestic production.


    The pre-release promotional campaign was incredibly strong, practically omnipresent online, even purchasing many billboards and large screens in reality for promotion.


    In comparison, the promotion for Qin Hao''s "Mechanical Soldier" was quite scarce.


    While the quality of the movie is important, the pre-release advertising is also crucial. If no one watches it at the beginning, there won''t be many people later on.


    Qin Hao noted that his fan base had reached one hundred and thirteen million, one of the largest on Wei Yan.


    Even the popular celebrities in the entertainment industry didn''t have as many fans as he did.


    Qin Hao posted on Wei Yan, "On February twenty-ninth, the movie ''Mechanical Soldier,'' which I directed and starred in, will be released. It is definitely a work of conscience. I hope everyone can support it when the time comes. In a couple of days, I will release a trailer."


    "Damn, is the rumor on the internet true? Mr. Qin, did you really become a screenwriter, director, and actor?"


    "Supporting Mr. Qin, the world''s richest man becoming a director and male lead, haha, this is bound to be interesting."


    "Waiting for Mr. Qin''s movie to go online, I want to see Mr. Qin''s acting skills."


    "Really curious about what Mr. Qin looked like while filming the movie, booking a ticket in advance."


    "Mr. Qin, instead of focusing on business, why have you entered the film industry? You''re stealing our jobs."


    Following Qin Hao''s post on Wei Yan, Zhao Yuying, Yu Tiantian, and others also began to repost and advertise.


    Zhao Yuying also had a vast number of fans, and the discussion about "Mechanical Soldier" shot up, quickly entering the top ten hot topics on Wei Yan, gaining exposure.


    After Qin Hao admitted he directed and starred in "Mechanical Soldier," it caused quite a stir in the industry.


    These bastards, Qin Hao not going into business to make money, what''s with the film? You''re not short on cash, so is it fun to steal our jobs?


    However, upon remembering that Lv Tian, the former CEO of Amao Net Shopping, had also made a film, these people came to terms with it. Perhaps these business tycoons just find it fun and do it for the passion, playing around before calling it quits.


    Qin Hao actually did a decent job. In the past, when Lv Tian made a movie, he called upon many popular movie stars from the entertainment circle.


    ...


    Qin Hao logged out of Wei Yan, contemplating how to collaborate with it. The platform had very high user stickiness and yet had no competitors.


    If Wei Yan still refuses to see reason after the New Year, Qin Hao will have to use his own methods.


    Currently, during the major reshuffle of the internet industry, many internet companies are watching Qin Hao''s moves. If negotiations with Wei Yan break down, it''s very likely that numerous companies will come to Qin Hao with their own developed Wei Yan platforms looking for collaboration.


    Even if there''s no falling out, if the two sides fail to collaborate after a long time, Qin Hao believes there will still be companies reaching out to him for partnership.


    Today afternoon, Mrs. Qin received a call from Beijiang the Li Family¡ªit was Li Mingwang himself who had made the call, inviting their family to visit Beijiang Province on the third day of the Lunar New Year.


    After Li Shujie hung up the phone, she was so overjoyed she burst into tears. For more than twenty years, Li Mingwang had never taken the initiative to call her.


    This call was of significant importance, indicating that the Li Family had acknowledged her and Qin Youguo''s situation.


    They were both very clear in their hearts that all of this was because of their son.


    If it weren''t for Qin Hao, Li Mingwang probably would never have contacted her¡ªthe thought made Li Shujie''s heart ache again. Interests, everything was because of interests!


    At six in the afternoon, inside the Chairman''s office of Amao Net Shopping Company.


    Lv Tian''s eyes shifted uncertainly. After hesitating for a while, he took out his phone, logged onto Xinghai Social Software, and searched for Qin Hao. Many people with the name Qin Hao appeared.


    The first one was the Qin Hao he was looking for, with a verification description: Chairman of Xinghai High-tech Company and Xingyu Network Communication Company.


    This would only be displayed after a user had been independently verified. Those who hadn''t couldn''t be found through a search.


    Lv Tian clicked to make a call, but a dialog box suddenly popped up, "You are not on the contact list of the recipient. To prevent malicious harassment, please pay a deposit of one thousand yuan. If malicious harassment is detected, the deposit will not be returned, and the full amount will be compensated to the recipient."


    Lv Tian was a bit speechless after seeing this message. This guy''s Xinghai Social Software had too many little features, didn''t it?


    Nevertheless, he paid the fee and then made a call to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao''s phone rang. He took a look and saw it was Lv Tian''s call.


    He paused for a moment. Why is Lv Tian calling me? Currently, the two of us could be considered enemies, and logically speaking, Lv Tian should have no reason to call him.


    After hesitating for a few seconds, Qin Hao answered the phone, and asked indifferently, "Mr. Lv, what do you want?"


    Lv Tian chuckled, "Mr. Qin, this should be our first phone call, right?"


    Qin Hao did not know what Lv Tian was getting at, "That''s correct, it is indeed our first call."


    Lv Tian said, "Mr. Qin, do you know of Yarsin from the Northern Federation? The largest e-commerce platform in the world, with a market value exceeding a trillion, an entity as colossal as the AP Group."


    Qin Hao replied, "I''ve heard of it, and that should be your biggest competitor, Mr. Lv."


    Lv Tian said, "Let me get straight to the point, Mr. Qin. I''m reaching out today because I want to partner up with you. If we join forces¡ªI have an existing platform and the largest operations and R&D team in the world, and you have the advantage of the Star Domain Network.


    Together, we can definitely beat Yarsin to become the world''s largest e-commerce platform, and I can also help Qin Hao take down Tenglong Group and Qian Du Company."


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao smiled, "What kind of partnership are you proposing, Mr. Lv?"


    Lv Tian replied, "I''ll help you take down Tenglong Group and Qian Du Company, then partner with Amao Net Shopping to conquer the global e-commerce sector and defeat Yarsin from the Northern Federation.


    We both belong to enterprises under the Xuan Government. Mr. Qin, we should not be fighting amongst ourselves but should unite to take down foreign government enterprises and promote the glory of Xuan Country."


    Many in the business world called him sly and ruthless, but Qin Hao thought another term should be added: shameless. This guy really had no shame.


    When you were taking down so many domestic internet companies, why didn''t you talk about Xuan Country being one big family?


    Now that you sense a crisis, you suddenly start preaching about Xuan Country being one big family?


    [First Chapter]

 Chapter 576 578: Luring the Snake out of Its Hole

    Qin Hao asked with a chuckle, "Mr. Lv, what do you mean by suggesting Star Domain Network should cooperate with Amao Net Shopping?"


    Lv Tian: "Mr. Qin, I now own only 8% of Amao Net Shopping, you''re aware of this, right? How about we join forces to take over all the other shares? What do you think? You''ll have 51%, and I''ll take 49%."


    The corners of Qin Hao''s eyes crinkled slightly. Lv Tian really knew how to crunch the numbers. If Amao Net Shopping truly had a secret partnership with Qin Hao, then aside from Qin Hao himself, he would be the biggest winner.


    From owning 8% to suddenly controlling 49%, his net worth would have increased by who knows how many times. He was indeed crafty and cunning.


    Qin Hao: "Mr. Lv, I''m very interested in what you''re proposing. However, I don''t think it''s time to negotiate just yet."


    He would wait until Star Domain Network''s e-commerce platform had launched and started to impact Amao Net Shopping. By then, Lv Tian''s terms might change even further.


    Lv Tian understood what Qin Hao meant; he found the proposed 51% stake too little: "Mr. Qin, I''ll wait for your news."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao pondered for a while. Right now, Star Domain Network needed to expand its influence and increase both the quantity and the diversity of its free products.


    Chang Jing was also acting according to his wishes. Generally, Qin Hao could count on her to consider every possibility, her handling of matters was incredibly thorough. To date, Star Domain Network had several hundred free APPs available for use.


    It had touched nearly every industry on the internet except for the micro-research area and e-commerce platforms.


    However, some APPs were not as good as those under the Tenglong Group.


    For instance, in the gaming industry, nearly every game that Tenglong Group released was a blockbuster hit, and Tenglong still dominated over eighty percent of Xuan Country''s gaming market.


    Defeating Tenglong Group wouldn''t be easy¡ªit would require a step-by-step dismantling. It was impossible to topple Tenglong all at once.


    Whether the three internet giants would collapse or be acquired, they would be considered beaten. For Qin Hao''s system mall to be upgraded, he must break these three internet behemoths.


    "Daddy, dinner''s ready." Qiao''er ran in from outside to tell him.


    Qin Hao rose and went out with Qiao''er. Han Meng and Mrs. Qin were setting the table for dinner, and the entire Qin Youmin family was there as well.


    "Man, when did you guys get here?" Qin Hao asked with a smile upon seeing Qin Man.


    Qin Man: "We got here early. Uncle said you were busy in the study, so we didn''t call you."


    "Uncle, Auntie, please sit. I''ll go get the wine." Qin Hao went to get a few bottles of high-end Xinghui wine. This type of superior Xinghui wine was seldom sold to the public, each bottle costing upwards of 5,000 yuan, and usually, it was hard to come by.


    Mrs. Qin sighed as she sat down, "Tomorrow''s New Year''s Eve already. This year has gone by so fast."


    Qin Youmin sighed as well, "Indeed, we''re a year older. Xiao Hao and Xiao Man are all grown up and successful now."


    ...


    After dinner, Qin Hao and others sat on the sofa chatting, while Qin Youguo and Qin Youmin continued drinking.


    "Man, how are things going with you and Chen Ping?" Qin Hao asked.


    Qin Man: "It''s going well. He will talk to his parents this year; his family is in Nanyan Province."


    Qin Hao nodded, "That''s good to hear. Let me know if there''s anything you need."


    Qin Man: "What could I possibly need? His parents agree, and so do mine."


    From the side, Han Meng said softly, "Xiao Hao, how''s Xiao Zhuang''s situation?"


    Qin Hao paused, "What about it, Meng?"


    Han Meng spoke up, "About you hiring Xiao Zhuang. My parents have agreed, and he also wants to make money with you."


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "Really? That''s great. Let him come to Jianghai after the New Year."


    Originally, Qin Hao had secretly used the system to check Han Zhuang''s four major attribute values, and his strength attribute was terrifyingly high, reaching an astonishing eighty, while the other three attributes were quite ordinary.


    Now, Qin Hao''s strength value was only 40, which was half as much as Han Zhuang''s. This must be what the legends referred to as Innate Divine Strength.


    Qin Hao felt that Han Zhuang''s genes had undergone some kind of mutation, otherwise his strength wouldn''t be so frightening. Not only was his power outstanding, but Han Zhuang''s skin and bones were also very hard. With a little training, he would definitely be an extremely fearsome bodyguard.


    The reason Han Meng''s parents had agreed was also for Han Zhuang''s sake; he was already twenty-three years old, and the young girls in the village, having seen the dazzling world outside, simply didn''t fancy him or the other local youths.


    They had no other aspirations; as long as their son could earn money like the village chief''s son, Liu Kai, they would be content. Then, there would certainly be many people proposing marriage at their home, and perhaps their son could even find a better girlfriend outside.


    New Year''s Eve


    Early in the morning, Qin Hao was woken up by his parents. Today, the living room was already set up with offerings of a pig''s head, chicken, fish, and other items, hoping for good omens in the new year.


    Having nothing else to do, Qin Hao stepped out of the villa and said to Leng Xuan beside him, "Let''s go, I''ll take you home to have a look. How can you not go home on New Year''s Eve?"


    Leng Xuan was taken aback for a moment, then got in the car, and the convoy headed towards Leng Xuan''s home.


    On the way, Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, "Later, the two of us will make a trip to Dongan Mountain and lure out the assassins behind us."


    Leng Xuan was startled and said, "Mr. Qin, that''s too risky. If something unexpected happens, Mr. Li will kill me."


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "I wouldn''t do it if I wasn''t sure. Follow my command. In a while, let the others return, and the two of us will make a trip to Dongan Mountain."


    Dongan Mountain was located to the east of Jiangshan, a barren and uninhabited wasteland. There used to be a temple, but then the government funded its relocation below, which helped increase the city''s GDP.


    ...


    About half an hour later, the convoy stopped in the parking lot of Leng Xuan''s residential complex, where Qin Hao had purchased many things on the way.


    After getting out of the car, Qin Hao looked around the complex, noticing the landscaping and other aspects were very well done.


    Leng Xuan led Qin Hao up in the elevator to the twelfth floor, to apartment 1201, where Leng Xuan pressed the doorbell.


    Soon Leng Yue opened the door and exclaimed in surprise, "Brother, Brother Hao!"


    They entered, and Leng Zhengchu and Liu Qin were in the kitchen preparing foods for the New Year festivities.


    Leng Yue hurriedly called out, "Mom, Dad, Brother''s back, and Brother Hao is here too."


    Leng Zhengchu and Liu Qin came out of the kitchen with smiles on their faces at the sight of their son.


    Qin Hao apologized, "Uncle, Auntie, I''m sorry for making Leng Xuan work during such an important holiday."


    Leng Zhengchu replied with a smile, "This is his job; he''s supposed to work. It''s his good fortune from a previous life to be able to work with you, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Leng, just call me Xiao Hao, please don''t call me Mr. Qin."


    Leng Yue said, "Have a seat, Brother Hao, I''ll pour some tea for you."


    Qin Hao spoke awkwardly, "Mr. Leng, actually, Leng Xuan and I will have to leave after a short while. Sorry about that."


    Leng Zhengchu reassured him, "It''s fine, Xiao Hao. This is all part of his job."


    Leng Yue brought over a teapot and poured everyone a cup of water. Qin Hao looked at Leng Yue and asked with a smile, "Xiao Yue, what are you working on now?"


    "I''m training at the Feibao Security Company," Leng Yue replied with a smile.


    Qin Hao was taken aback and asked, "Ah? What do you mean?"


    [Second Chapter]

 Chapter 577 579: The First Generation Mecha

    ```


    Leng Yue said with a smile, "I participated in special training at Feibao Security Company, and in half a month, it''ll be over, and then I can become a member of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion."


    Qin Hao, "This... Xiao Yue, why don''t you do something else? This doesn''t seem suitable for girls."


    Damn, how did Li Bao''s side even review this?


    It was also his fault; he hadn''t said women could not be recruited initially. In fact, women are entirely capable of undergoing the training, it''s just that it''s very tough.


    Leng Yue, "I want to become strong so that even if I don''t do this in the future, I''ll have the ability to protect my friends and family."


    Qin Hao nodded, "That''s a good thought."


    Qin Hao stayed at Leng Xuan''s home for half an hour before leaving, with Leng Yue accompanying them to the downstairs.


    "Xiao Yue, sneak this into your parents'' glasses of water."


    Leng Yue saw the two bottles of red potion and was stunned for a moment, "Is this the same stuff that cured my brother and me?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, it''s called ''Life-Saving Medicine.'' It can cure all diseases except for neurological ones. Your uncle and aunt aren''t in great health, but once they take this, they''ll get better."


    "Thank you, Xiao Hao."


    Qin Hao and Leng Xuan left and got into the car, slowly driving out of the complex. Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, "Let them go back."


    After leaving the complex, the convoy split in two. Qin Hao''s car headed towards Dongan Mountain in Jiangshan City, while the other four vehicles returned to Qingcheng Villa District.


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao asked, "Is there a car following us?"


    Leng Xuan, somewhat worried, said, "No wonder those people didn''t find out; there are at least four cars alternately following us. They switch positions every few minutes, and they keep their distance, which makes them hard to notice. Mr. Qin, should we call for help?"


    "No need, drive at full speed towards Dongan Mountain." Qin Hao was relieved upon hearing this, as he had been concerned that no one would follow them, which would have rendered their efforts futile.


    At 9:58 a.m., Qin Hao''s car reached the top of Dongan Mountain and stopped at the plaza in front of the old temple''s entrance.


    The place was now desolate, with yellow and withered weeds, some half the height of a person, and the temple lay abandoned.


    After getting out of the car, Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, "Have you been here before? It''s my first time."


    Leng Xuan, "I had visited here before I went abroad."


    "Let''s go inside and take a look," Qin Hao said and proceeded inside.


    The temple entrance was covered in cobwebs. Although the spiders were gone with the onset of winter, the webs remained.


    Walking into the Buddha hall inside, there still stood several benevolent stone Buddhas, covered in dust and cobwebs.


    Suddenly, Leng Xuan asked, "Mr. Qin, do you believe in Buddha?"


    Qin Hao, "I don''t believe in gods or Buddha, nor do I respect ghosts or deities; I only cultivate myself. Do you believe?"


    Leng Xuan, a little embarrassed, laughed, "I believe in Buddha."


    "It''s pretty good to have a faith. Let''s go out; there''s nothing much to see here," Qin Hao said, and they left the temple to the outside.


    Those people hadn''t followed them up. It was clear they were very cautious.


    Qin Hao stood on the edge of the mountain top, overlooking the entire Jiangshan City, with a clear view of the whole cityscape.


    The two of them waited on the mountain top like that, having a casual lunch, until six in the evening. It was dark, and still no one had appeared.


    Leng Xuan, "Mr. Qin, it looks like we''ve waited in vain; those people haven''t shown up."


    Qin Hao''s brow furrowed slightly, "These people are too cautious, aren''t they? Even this didn''t draw them out? Let''s go back."


    ```


    Originally, he had planned to test the power of the mecha, and since there was no one here except Leng Xuan, he didn''t have to worry about being recorded, but unfortunately, those people never showed up.


    Just as the two were about to drive off, four cars drove up.


    Qin Hao and Leng Xuan exchanged a look after seeing this, and stepped out of the car again.


    After those four cars arrived, they turned off their headlights. The moon was very bright tonight, and the stars were shining; even without the headlights, visibility was still quite high.


    Four people got out of the cars, wearing expressionless faces, their eyes filled with a chilling killing intent as they stared at Qin Hao.


    Among them were three men and one woman; one of the men had Eastern features and looked and dressed like someone from Beihai Country.


    "Finally, you''ve come after a long wait," said Qin Hao with a smile on his face.


    Upon hearing his words, the four of them were visibly startled, thinking, Does this guy still have the mood to smile? Could he possibly have some trump cards up his sleeve?


    The blonde, blue-eyed woman named Ekas looked at Qin Hao with a faint smile, "I didn''t expect the world''s wealthiest man to be so young. Tsk, tsk, and quite the handsome one too,"


    The black man Det said, "Ekas, this isn''t the time for jokes. After we kill him, do whatever you want with his corpse; we don''t care."


    Yongshan Zhenyi added, "I have a drug here that''s specially designed to arouse the dead. Ekas, later on you can have your fun and taste the world''s wealthiest man."


    Leng Xuan''s face shifted slightly as he looked at the four people, "Poppies Ekas, Dark Messenger Det, and Ripper Yongshan Zhenyi?"


    "Didn''t expect a wolf to know about us," Ekas said with a chuckle, watching Leng Xuan.


    They had thoroughly investigated Leng Xuan''s identity long ago.


    All four people present were top assassins of the Blood Killing Organization. Leng Xuan recognized these three, but he didn''t know the fourth person. However, given that this person was with the other three, he must be someone formidable too.


    Qin Hao looked at the four and said, "Are you here to kill me, or to chat?"


    Qin Hao didn''t know that some top assassins liked to taunt before killing, which was a kind of occupational hazard.


    It was like a cat playing with a mouse, not in a rush to kill, but rather enjoying the torment.


    Some killers, on the other hand, would act without saying a word. Their killings were cold and bloody, and the victims'' screams excited them more¡ªan aberrant perk of their profession.


    Ekas shook her head, "You''re not happy to live a few seconds more? Do you think Leng Xuan alone can protect you?"


    Qin Hao took two steps forward, "No need for Leng Xuan, I want to play with you myself."


    "Heh, courting death," Det, the black man, snorted coldly.


    "Kill him, rip him open; I want to eat his heart raw," exclaimed another.


    Qin Hao chuckled coldly and took out a first-generation mecha from the system backpack. It looked like a palm-sized octagonal disk with a manual activation button in the center.


    "Activate," Qin Hao said aloud.


    His octagonal disk emitted a ray of light, and then something extended from it, completely enveloping Qin Hao.


    Leng Xuan and the four assassins from the Blood Killing Organization were all stunned. What the hell was that?


    Qin Hao was wrapped in a layer of grey material. He felt as light as a feather without a hint of burden, and a meter-long alloy scimitar sprung out in his right hand, while a round shield was on the other arm.


    Qin Hao took a moment to look himself over. The first-generation mecha didn''t hinder his vision; he could perfectly see his own appearance.


    This was just the first-generation mecha, which had no thermal weapons. If it were a more advanced mecha, it would probably come with thermal weapons.


    [Third update]

 Chapter 578 580 Red Envelope Event

    Ekas and her mates froze in place, staring at him with their mouths agape.


    What the hell was this? How had he suddenly transformed like this?


    "Whoosh"


    Qin Hao suddenly leaped from where he stood, soaring over ten meters high, then landed steadily back in the same spot.


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao''s face inside the mecha, this was damn powerful, without the slightest sense of pain upon landing.


    Normally, the higher someone jumps, the greater the force at the moment of landing, making it easy to injure one''s ankles, but now there was no need to worry.


    Just now, Ekas and her cohorts exchanged glances, seeing the deep shock in each other''s eyes; this was too incredible.


    They had seen people jump several meters high, but jumping over ten meters was a first for them. Is he even human?


    Qin Hao moved around a bit, roughly figuring out the purpose of this prototype mecha, which greatly amplified an individual''s strength, a truly badass device.


    He looked at Ekas and the four of them and said with a smile, "Didn''t you few say you were going to kill me, who wants to go first?"


    The group exchanged glances, none daring to step forward.


    "Trash, then I''ll have to take matters into my own hands." After saying that, Qin Hao''s figure instantly disappeared from the spot.


    Ekas and her group only saw a flash of cold light and felt a strong gust of wind hit their faces.


    Where is he?


    Ekas frantically turned her head to look, and Qin Hao had run behind them at some unknown point, the bright alloy scimitar held high against the starry sky.


    Ekas hurriedly looked to the person next to her, Yongshan Zhenyi stood there unmoving.


    As they were about to touch him, Yongshan Zhenyi''s head suddenly dropped, blood spurting like a fountain a few meters high, then he fell to the ground.


    Ekas and the others retreated several steps in fright, their faces pale, eyelids twitching.


    Leng Xuan was also stunned, his face full of disbelief; too fast, he didn''t even see what had happened.


    Qin Hao turned to face the remaining three,"So, these are top assassins? Not impressive at all."


    Ekas and the others felt an urge to vomit blood, damn it, it''s not just us, anyone who encounters this freak is done for, "What monster are you exactly?"


    "Dead men don''t need to know." Qin Hao''s figure disappeared again from the spot.


    The alloy scimitar was too sharp, not just for killing people but even slicing through iron like cutting tofu.


    Seconds later, two more people fell to the ground, leaving only Ekas.


    Ekas had already been scared stiff, lacking the courage to fight back, too terrifying, is this really still a human?


    When she noticed Qin Hao looking at her, Ekas''s face went pale, and she quickly said, "Mr. Qin, don''t kill me, I''m willing to serve you, just spare my life."


    Having said that, she stuck out her chest toward Qin Hao, her figure proud, and her appearance quite acceptable.


    Qin Hao looked at her without speaking, his figure disappeared from the spot, ending her life.


    After killing the four of them, Qin Hao retracted the mecha and put the octagonal disc back into the system backpack.


    "Leng Xuan, take care of them," Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan who was not far away.


    Leng Xuan quickly ran over, "Mr. Qin, what was that just now? Wasn''t that too insane?"


    Qin Hao:"The first-generation mecha, a kind of high-tech equipment. You might want to check out the movie ''Mechanical Soldier'' when it comes out. The advanced mecha depicted aren''t all fictional."


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao and another cleaned up the site; the bodies were cremated within the temple, then the ashes were thrown into a dry well, and the vehicles were pushed over a cliff.


    These vehicles were all unlicensed; even if found, no one would be able to trace the owners.


    ...


    Qin Hao and Leng Xuan got home around eight in the evening.


    Seeing him return, Mrs. Qin snapped, "Where have you been all day? Today is New Year''s Eve."


    Qin Hao explained, "I had some things to handle."


    "Have you eaten yet? There are still some dumplings left, go have some."


    After eating, Qin Hao went back to his room. Amao Net Shopping Group, and Xinghai Social Software had already started their red envelope events.


    He opened Xinghai SocialSoftware, but the eight o''clock grab had already passed, so he had to wait until ten o''clock.


    Beginning at six in the afternoon, a red envelope grab would start every two hours. The next one at ten o''clock would have a total amount of ten billion until they were all gone.


    The ten o''clock activity required downloading Xinghai Browser and AiKu Video before one could join the lottery.


    Those without the Xinghai Browser couldn''t join the lottery.


    Qin Hao checked the backend data, Xinghai Social Software''s downloads had reached 790 million.


    Starting at six, users who joined the grab exceeded 600 million. Over ten billion in red envelopes were quickly snapped up, with some grabbing a million in cash and others a hundred thousand. The least anyone got was a one yuan cash red envelope.


    On TT Social, there were also quite a few users grabbing red envelopes, but at most, they got a few cents, a lucky few maybe a bit more, the highest barely over one yuan, hardly enough to cover the data fees.


    After all, their New Year event fund was only two billion. With over 800 million internet users in Xuan Country, the average was barely two yuan per person. They didn''t dare set higher amounts since it would mean even less for others.


    A comparison brings harm indeed.


    The topic heated up on Wei Yan Online: "Haha, thanks to Mr. Qin, thanks to Xinghai Social Software, I grabbed a 66 yuan cash red envelope, the largest I''ve ever seen, can''t believe it was from Mr. Qin."


    "Haha I grabbed 69 yuan! Totally awesome, can''t wait for the ten o''clock event."


    "The folks who grabbed over three hundred aren''t even speaking up yet."


    "Damn it, I went to grab TT''s red envelope, three cents, crap, not enough even for the data fees."


    "Don''t even bother; Tenglong Group is too stingy, not as good as Amao Net Shopping. At least there I managed to grab over a yuan, but Mr. Qin is generous, I grabbed over a hundred, haha."


    "You guys are so lucky, I only grabbed twenty-plus yuan."


    "Why are you all grabbing so much? Why did I only grab one yuan? Honey, don''t you love me anymore? I''m your little fan girl."


    "My cousin just grabbed ten thousand, damn, she''s going crazy with joy."


    "Brother upstairs, are you lacking a brother-in-law? I can apply."


    ...


    "Thanks Mr. Qin, thanks to Xinghai Social Software, I grabbed 999999 yuan, I''m a junior high student, sixteen this year, finally I can let my parents work a bit less." A user with the nickname "I''m a Primary School Student" posted this message.


    Everyone was stunned: "A junior high student? Damn, a junior high student actually grabbed a million-dollar red envelope?"


    "Jealous, so jealous, need a son? I''ll be your godson."


    "Quick, look at the Xinghai Social, the list of lucky ones is out, over twenty people won the million dollars, and hundreds won the hundred thousand."


    Many people opened Xinghai Social to check, and indeed, the list was there. Winners from the six and eight o''clock activities were all listed.


    The first person: From Nan''an City, Nanyan Province, name: Xu Tongle, sixteen years old.


    ...


    Xinghai Social Software didn''t reveal detailed information, just names, ages, and general locations, as too much detail wouldn''t be good for the winners.


    The information they published was with the user''s consent; without consent, the million prize could not be claimed.


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 579 581: Traffic Surge

    Qin Hao logged into Wei Yan and saw that, sure enough, many people were discussing the red packet promotion of Xinghai Social Software. Many were showing off the red packets they had received, creating a form of advertising benefit invisibly.


    Amao Net Shopping did quite well, with more than two billion in giveaways. On average, even the least lucky could grab a dollar, with some getting as much as seventy to eighty.


    But Amao Net Shopping had only that one-time event. Once it was over, there were no more promotions, and now, virtually every netizen was waiting for the Xinghai Social Software''s ten o''clock red packet event.


    The download numbers for Xinghai Social Software once again surged like a geyser, and concurrently, the download numbers for Xinghai Browser were also skyrocketing.


    The New Year red packet event had certain conditions; one needed to have downloaded specified apps, and only then could they participate in the red packet event.


    It wasn''t just Xinghai Social Software and Xinghai Browser¡ªdownloads for AiKu Video, Chao Music APP, HY Live Broadcast Platform, Fire Sound Short Video, Latest News APP, and others also soared dramatically.


    Those companies had also put in some money, not much, but Qin Hao still made some fairly significant recommendations for them.


    Because Qin Hao was driving traffic for them, he was essentially earning money for himself. The higher their user traffic, the more money they would give to Xingyu Network Communication Company each month.


    This cooperative model made many Internet companies very comfortable, unlike the three giants'' domineering practices that required selling shares and such. This was a brand-new Internet paradigm.


    Qin Hao had no intention of acquiring those companies; he just needed to control a few key Internet traffic apps.


    No matter what others did, as long as he held control over browsers, social software, and e-commerce platforms¡ªthese high-traffic apps¡ªother Internet companies would have to treat him with the deference shown to an elder brother.


    The most important was Star Domain Network. Once it completely dominated the domestic market in the future, he could easily erase any app software and make it disappear from the online world.


    That was the most terrifying aspect, and if those people were smart, they should be able to see it.


    When the three major carriers got shut down and the three giants of the Internet were overthrown, that''s when the strength of Star Domain Network would truly show.


    At that time, he would be the uncrowned king of the Internet, with an influence greater than that of the current three giants combined. That was where the prowess of Star Domain Network lay.


    After browsing online for a while, it was ten o''clock, and the red packet event of Xinghai Social Software was launched once again.


    Qin Hao also logged in and made a few attempts, "Congratulations! You''ve snatched an 18.88 yuan cash red packet. The red packet has been placed in your Xinghai wallet. Bind a bank card, and you can withdraw at any time."


    In about three minutes, the red packets were all gone, and then the next red packet event was announced: for the New Year red packet, with two billion yuan in total prizes, downloading apps like Xinghai Browser and AiKu Video was required to participate.


    Many users didn''t have enough memory on their phones; they had to uninstall many other apps and download these specific ones instead.


    After all, in the future, they could use Star Domain Network to access these apps for free, rendering the others useless.


    ...


    "Watch the Spring Festival Gala and then grab red packets at twelve o''clock."


    "Watch the Spring Festival Gala while waiting to grab red packets, so delightful."


    "Mr. Qin is so generous; I actually got a 99999 yuan cash red packet, which is like a year''s salary for me."


    "So exciting, Mr. Qin is so generous, and Xinghai Social Software is very easy to use. From now on, I''ll be using Xinghai Social Software."


    Seeing the good reactions on Wei Yan, Qin Hao turned off his phone and went to sleep. Tomorrow would be the first day of the Lunar New Year, and according to tradition, he would have to pay New Year''s visits in the morning.


    The next morning, just as dawn broke, Qin Hao was woken up by his father. After getting up and washing up, he went to the neighboring house of Qin Youmin.


    After paying New Year''s visits to his uncle and aunt, Qin Hao returned home. After breakfast, he went to Du Wanrou''s home to convey his new year wishes.


    After sitting there for a while, Qin Hao left, asked for Xia Qing''s home address, and then went to her place.


    Along the way, Qin Hao''s phone wouldn''t stop jingling with messages, all from his company colleagues or business friends sending New Year''s greetings.


    Qin Hao had his phone send back replies one by one. He was using the most high-end Blueberry Smartphone, which, after being instructed, could complete the tasks flawlessly without the need for him to operate it himself.


    This was the convenience of artificial intelligence.


    Around 9:30 A.M., Qin Hao arrived downstairs at Xia Qing''s apartment.


    He took the elevator up alone and rang the doorbell to Xia Qing''s place. She quickly opened the door, smiling as she saw him, "You''re here."


    Stepping into the room, Xia Qing''s parents, Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong, were sitting on the sofa. Seeing Qin Hao come in, Xia Yingjie turned to him with a hint of a smile, "Xiao Hao''s here, please, take a seat."


    Their daughter had told them everything about her and Qin Hao, sparing no details.


    Initially, upon learning the news, they were uncomfortable. Qin Hao used to seem so honest; they hadn''t expected him to be so fickle-hearted.


    Xia Qing had told her parents everything to prevent any misunderstandings in the future. Although it was unpleasant, as long as she insisted, Xia Yingjie and his wife would find it difficult to object.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Mr. Xia, Auntie, today is the first day of the New Year, I''ve come to wish you both well."


    According to the customs of his hometown, paying a New Year''s visit meant kneeling, but in the city, a bow was the common practice.


    "Alright, alright, what era are we in that you''re still talking about paying New Year visits? Come, sit down, Xiao Hao," Tian Rong said with a smile.


    Qin Hao and Xia Qing took their seats on the sofa, and Tian Rong handed them a batch of nuts and sunflower seeds.


    Xia Yingjie looked at Qin Hao and said, "I''m aware of your relationship with Xiaoqing. If I find out you''re toying with her feelings, I wouldn''t mind going to jail¡ªI''d still have to kill you."


    Xia Qing: "Dad, why bring this up during the New Year''s celebration?"


    Tian Rong also tried to soothe the situation, "Old Xia, what''s gotten into you? Xiao Hao, don''t mind him, he''s just like that."


    He was Xia Qing''s father. Had it been anyone else, Qin Hao would have made sure they spent the rest of their life in a wheelchair.


    It was a father''s love for his daughter, and Qin Hao understood, considering he was with Xia Qing.


    He said with an embarrassed smile, "Mr. Xia, rest assured, I definitely won''t let Xiaoqing down."


    Xia Yingjie glanced at his daughter and sighed, "I hope you can live up to your words."


    "Mr. Xia, Auntie, what are you doing these days?" Qin Hao changed the subject.


    Tian Rong answered, "Ever since that incident, Old Xia fell ill, but now he''s almost fully recovered. We can''t just sit around doing nothing, so we''re considering starting a small business, something like a fruit supermarket."


    Qin Hao: "Uncle, Auntie, do you have any plans to start an engineering company again?"


    Xia Yingjie: "Engineering isn''t so easy to get into; it involves a lot of connections. I never had strong connections before, so I could only pick up small projects and even had to pay kickbacks to people."


    [First update]

 Chapter 580 582: Real Estate Engineering

    Qin Hao said with a smile, "That''s no problem, Uncle Xia. As long as you and Auntie are interested in doing it, I''ll invest in it. We might as well make it the biggest and the best."


    Xia Yingjie said, "Getting the land and developing it ourselves is the best approach. Initially, my goal was to make some money through construction projects and then buy a plot of land to develop on my own. I never expected this kind of thing to happen."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "What Uncle Xia thought was good, but it''s not like the past few years anymore. The real estate industry has entered a bottleneck. However, the future landscape of real estate is going to change."


    Xia Yingjie looked at him curiously, "What change?"


    In the business world, many company CEOs follow the trends set by magnates like Qin Hao because of their unique business insights and access to higher levels, and some can know future policies in advance.


    Xia Yingjie thought Qin Hao had heard some policy.


    Actually, Qin Hao did not know any policy. Although he was now a giant in the Xuan Country business world, he had always kept a respectful distance from the political arena.


    The Xuan Country officials could see his attitude, and the high levels greatly appreciated Qin Hao''s style; business was business, and politics was politics¡ªthese were two different aspects.


    In foreign countries, many group companies, after becoming giants in the business world, cannot resist the temptation of power and use various means to obtain power, aiming to control the political scene.


    This is a good example in the Federation and West Continent, where many business oligarchs in the Federation have great influence in politics.


    In Xuan Country, the officials would absolutely not allow such things to happen because businessmen prioritize profits. If a businessman controls power, they would use it to advance their profits, whereas no matter how the country develops, it will always prioritize its people.


    Because people are the foundation of a country, Qin Hao also viewed the people as the foundation of businessmen. Only when people become wealthier, can businessmen become richer.


    Not thinking about how to earn all of people''s money, making the commoners poorer and the rich richer.


    But how many can truly see through this point?


    ...


    Qin Hao said to Xia Yingjie, "Uncle Xia, I don''t know the specifics. However, I think the property prices are definitely going to decrease in the future, they are a bit overinflated now."


    Xia Yingjie nodded, "How much do you plan to invest?"


    Qin Hao wanted to change the current property market landscape. He said with a smile, "At least fifty billion. Just one machinery for the construction company can cost hundreds of millions, so setting up a large-scale real estate construction company might not even be enough with this."


    Fifty billion?


    The entire Xia Qing family was shocked. Fifty billion?


    Xia Qing gently nudged Qin Hao, who pretended not to see it and continued smiling at Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong.


    After hesitating for a few seconds, Xia Yingjie looked at him, "Fifty billion? Xiao Hao, you''re not joking, are you?"


    Qin Hao said, "Uncle Xia, do you think I''m joking? I really have this idea, and you and Aunt Tian have experience in this field before, which is perfect for you to take charge."


    Xia Yingjie asked the most sensitive question, "How will the shares be distributed then?"


    Qin Hao began, "How about Uncle Xia and Aunt Tian hold forty percent of the shares? I''ve already arranged things on the Xingyu Network Communication Company''s side, and I will leave twenty percent of the shares for Xiaoqing."


    He offered so much just to assure Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong, giving them a sense of security.


    Tian Rong said, "Xiao Hao, isn''t this share a bit too much?"


    Qin Hao said, "Aunt Tian, we''re all not outsiders, so don''t be polite. Once the new year is over and you have settled your affairs, head to Jianghai. Just set up the headquarters there."


    Xia Yingjie did not hesitate as he felt that Qin Hao had considered everything thoroughly, "Hmm, okay!"


    Qin Hao chatted here for a while, then his mother called him because they had guests at home and wanted him to come back.


    It was then that he got up to say goodbye, and Xia Qing escorted him all the way downstairs, "Why did you have to do it this way?"


    Qin Hao, smiling, replied, "This is perfect since I plan to enter the real estate construction industry, and Uncle and Auntie understand these things, otherwise I''d still have to pay to find someone."


    "Really? You''re not lying to me?"


    Qin Hao nodded his head, "No, why would I lie to you? Go back." After saying this, he touched Xia Qing''s long hair.


    Xia Qing watched him leave before turning to go back inside the building.


    ...


    Headquarters of the Blood Killing Organization overseas.


    A person walked into the head''s office, "Leader, this is the latest news from Xuan Country."


    After placing the items on the office desk, the person turned and walked out.


    Morman picked up the document and his brow instantly furrowed, Dead? Four top assassins all dead, bodies gone without a trace, how is this possible?


    A few minutes later, he picked up the phone and called out, "Mr. Morse, the Poppy Flower, the Dark Messenger, the Belly Ripper, and the Dark Wolf are all dead in Xuan Country, highly likely at the hands of Qin Hao."


    Morse Morse furrowed his brow upon hearing this, "All four top assassins are dead?"


    Morman, "Yes, bodies gone without a trace. Mr. Morse, I''ve decided to cancel the assassination plan on Qin Hao. Top assassins like Poppy Flower are worth billions in Federation currency, losing each one is a significant loss."


    "I understand, let''s cancel the assassination plan for now," Morse hung up the phone.


    The Mosi Family is one of the behind-the-scenes leaders of the Blood Killing Organization, but not the complete behind-the-scenes boss; several families control the Blood Killing Organization.


    ...


    Jiangshan City, Xuan Country.


    When Qin Hao arrived home, he saw Bai Jing, Deng Zhenyuan, and a group of people sitting on the living room sofa, almost all the well-known figures from Jiangshan''s upper-class society were there.


    "Mr. Qin is back."


    "Mr. Qin, happy new year."


    "Qin Hao, happy new year."


    ...


    Everyone stood up to offer their greetings, and Qin Hao smiled, "I also wish everyone a happy new year, please sit, don''t stand."


    Over twenty people sat down, and Qin Hao also took a seat.


    Bai Jing spoke with a smile, "Mr. Qin, do you have time for lunch? I''ll host a meal for us all."


    Qin Hao nodded his head, "Of course, how could I refuse when Mr. Bai has asked? It''s getting late, let''s head over now."


    The group got ready to leave when Mrs. Qin quickly said, "Everyone''s brought so much, we can''t eat all of this, take some back with you."


    Deng Zhenyuan said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, no need to be so polite, it''s our gesture."


    Qin Hao told his mother, "Mom, please accept it, I''m heading out now."


    Qin Hao and his group arrived at the luxurious private room in Jiangshan Hotel, where the food and drinks were served quickly.


    Bai Jing and others first toasted to Qin Hao, and though young, his stature and reputation in the business world meant that everyone present looked up to him.


    After finishing his drink, Qin Hao smiled and said, "Mr. Bai, Mr. Deng, please speak your minds."


    Bai Jing smiled slightly, "Mr. Qin, today is mainly about paying a new year''s visit. On the way here, we heard a piece of news, the Xinghai E-commerce Platform is launching today, isn''t it?"


    [Second Update]

 Chapter 581 583: Xinghai Mall Goes Live

    Qin Hao nodded, "If Mr. Chang set the launch for today, then it should indeed be today."


    Bai Jing spoke up, "Mr. Qin, what are the requirements for us to join the Xinghai Mall?"


    Qin Hao, "Large companies need to pay a deposit, and then they can open a store within Xinghai Mall. My goal is for anything that can be sold in reality to also be sold in Xinghai Mall."


    "Can we sell steel materials there, Mr. Qin?" Deng Zhenyuan asked.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Of course, for example if Mr. Deng wants to open a store, you need to provide all sorts of business certifications, the company''s full name, and detailed information.


    Other companies interested in steel materials can search for them and then contact the appropriate company for further investigation.


    If everyone wants to join Xinghai Mall, you can prepare the relevant documents after you go back, and then I will have Mr. Chang review them.


    The sooner you join, the greater the benefits might be. After all, when the platform matures, definitely more companies will join, and then the competition will be fierce."


    "Then we have to thank Mr. Qin," Bai Jing said with a smile.


    Her behavior was no longer as frivolous as before, after all, the current Qin Hao was no longer the Qin Hao of the past.


    Deng Zhenyuan spoke up, "Now, when the members of Shuinan Chamber of Commerce go out to do business, nobody dares to look down on us anymore, all thanks to Mr. Qin."


    "Indeed, with Mr. Qin around, no one dares to look down on people from Shuinan Chamber of Commerce anymore."


    Qin Hao, "You all give me too much credit. I don''t have that much strength."


    "Don''t be so modest, Mr. Qin. When you stamp your foot, the entire business world trembles."


    This lunch was more about flattery and sycophancy, something Qin Hao could understand. No matter where he went now, many people flattered and fawned over him, because his status no longer allowed these people to speak to him on equal terms, nor did they dare to speak to Qin Hao in the same tone.


    Flattery and sycophancy aren''t necessarily the doings of deceitful and cunning people; sometimes it''s just a product of the environment.


    These people wanted to cling to Qin Hao''s massive ship, hoping to make money with him.


    As for Qin Hao, he was indifferent. It was the same to him whether he made money alone or took these people along to make money, as they had their uses for him.


    ...


    On the web forum Wei Yan, this morning at nine o''clock, Xinghai High-tech Company officially announced through its Wei Yan that this afternoon at five o''clock, Xinghai Mall under Xinghai High-tech Company would go online.


    The news caused quite a stir. Was Qin Hao really going to overturn the three internet giants? With social software, a search engine, and an e-commerce platform all rolled out, especially the Xinghai Browser and social software, he had already dealt a significant blow to Qiandu Company and Tenglong Group.


    Especially for Qiandu Company, whose market value was evaporating the fastest, coinciding with the increasing download numbers of the Xinghai Browser.


    No longer as powerful as Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping''s internet ecosystem, Qiandu Network Company naturally suffered the most damage.


    Lv Tian was one of the first to receive this news. Even before Xinghai Mall went online, the stock of Amao Net Shopping began to fall.


    This revealed the terrifying influence of Qin Hao. Merely an announcement of an e-commerce platform going live caused the market value of Amao Net Shopping to evaporate by several billion Federation dollars.


    It was mainly because of the impressive strength Qin Hao had shown a few days ago. Both Xinghai Social Software and Xinghai Browser were reflections of Qin Hao''s potency in the internet arena.


    If Qin Hao was to run an e-commerce platform, they believed it wouldn''t be any worse.


    This was why the announcement from Xinghai High-tech Company caused Amao Net Shopping''s stock to plummet.


    The three major carriers were also panicking. Star Domain Network was including more and more apps, causing a sharp decrease in the cost of calls and data. Without the support of Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping''s users, they could not last even three months.


    ...


    Upon returning home in the afternoon, Mrs. Qin said to Qin Hao, "Xiao Hao, we''re going to your grandmother''s house the day after tomorrow morning."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Okay, I know, Mom."


    Mrs. Qin, "Xiao Hao, did you intentionally make things difficult for your uncle''s mall?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "The online public opinion incident was initially pushed behind the scenes by Su Yi Group. Don''t worry, Mom. I''m just teaching him a lesson. As long as he knows his place, I won''t make it too hard for him."


    "You keep saying ''him''. Watch how you speak. He is your uncle, my brother. If you dare to speak like this when we''re there, don''t blame me for hitting you," Mrs. Qin said with a hint of annoyance.


    Qin Hao gave an embarrassed smile, "Got it, Mom."


    After speaking with his mother, Qin Hao went to his study and logged onto his computer.


    Suddenly, his phone rang. It was a call from Chang Jing, "Mr. Qin, I''ve restructured Xinghai Social Software, Xinghai Browser, and Xinghai Mall under the subsidiary companies of Xinghai High-tech Company. Xingyu Network Communication Company will only handle Star Domain Network separately."


    Qin Hao, "Okay, I''m aware."


    Chang Jing continued, "Mr. Qin, there''s another matter. A company has approached us. They work in the micro-research field and want to cooperate with us."


    Qin Hao, "How are the talks going with the micro-research side? Are they interested in cooperating?"


    Chang Jing, "They are, but they also have conditions. Star Domain Network has to sign a contract with them to prevent future network bans against their micro-research."


    Qin Hao''s eyes narrowed slightly, and a sharp light flickered within. The upper echelons of the micro-research had far-reaching thoughts.


    After pondering for a moment, he said, "We can sign the contract, but in the future, they must pay fees according to the charging mechanism of Star Domain Network."


    The profit potential of one micro-research entity was limited, and Qin Hao wasn''t interested in pursuing it. With the time it would take, he could develop several high-tech projects that would earn far more money.


    Chang Jing, "Okay, Mr. Qin, I''ll discuss with the micro-research side shortly. There shouldn''t be any big problems."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao logged onto Wei Yan. If the micro-research fell into Star Domain Network''s domain, it would cause a significant upheaval.


    Around five o''clock in the afternoon, Xinghai Mall went online. In just half an hour, the download count reached a terrifying two hundred million.


    It was primarily because of the red packet grabbing event at six o''clock, which required downloading Xinghai Mall; otherwise, one couldn''t snatch the red packets.


    Qin Hao downloaded it as well and took a look at it. There were many categories: mobile phones, computers, clothing, jewelry, maternal and infant toys, alcohol, books, etc., and all these stores belonged to well-known large companies, with detailed addresses, all authentic.


    Close to six o''clock, the download count for Xinghai Mall reached over five hundred million.


    A five hundred million download count in one hour stunned those in the industry when they saw the data.


    Many shuddered at the thought; the pulling power and influence of Star Domain Network and Xinghai Social Software had grown so immense?


    [Third update]

 Chapter 582 584: Pressing Step by Step

    After everyone had snatched the six o''clock red envelopes, many logged onto Xinghai Mall to take a look. They wanted to see what Xinghai Mall was like and if it was comparable to Amao Net Shopping, they would start using Xinghai Mall instead.


    Since Star Domain Network supported Xinghai Mall, if the two were pretty much the same, why would they bother spending data fees on Amao Net Shopping?


    This was the current mindset of the public; as long as Xinghai Mall was not inferior to Amao Net Shopping, they would not consider using Amao Net Shopping anymore.


    Xinghai Mall had just launched and also had promotions, such as the Blueberry Smartphone flash sale, with one hundred thousand units available.


    In the future, flash sales for the Blueberry Smartphone would be conducted exclusively on Xinghai Mall.


    It was not just the Blueberry Smartphone, Kangmei Intelligent Appliances were also sold exclusively on Xinghai Mall, along with various companies that had cooperated with Xinghai High-tech Company.


    In addition to these, there were all kinds of general merchandise and snacks, Hua Mei Skincare products, Xinghui Wine, packaged Jiangshan Roasted Duck, duck neck, duck wings, and more.


    At six-thirty, the Blueberry Smartphone was set for a flash sale, with one hundred thousand units available on a first-come-first-served basis, at six-forty-five, one hundred thousand Kangmei Intelligent Washing Machines would start their flash sale, followed by Kangmei Intelligent Refrigerators at seven o''clock.


    At seven-fifteen would be the smart microwaves, and at seven-thirty the smart induction cookers, and so on.


    Chang Jing arranged for many advanced intelligent appliances to be included in the flash sale, a decision that was undeniably right.


    In the future, as intelligent appliances became more widespread, more people would visit Xinghai Mall, and Amao Net Shopping would be gradually replaced.


    In Qin Hao''s view, among the three giants, Tenglong Group was the most difficult to deal with. The resistance to replacing Amao Net Shopping would not be as substantial as it would be for the Tenglong Group.


    People use social media every day, but it''s not necessary to shop on Amao Net Shopping daily, and that''s the difference.


    Lv Tian must have seen this, which is why he made that phone call to Qin Hao.


    The merchants on Amao Net Shopping were not tied down to the platform; they could withdraw their shops at any time to set up elsewhere.


    This created a point of uncertainty for Lv Tian.


    This was also the reason why Xuan Country had not just one e-commerce platform.


    Aside from Amao Net Shopping, there was another highly competitive domestic platform, Jingxi Shopping Platform, which was not far behind in comparison.


    But when it came to domestic social software, there was not a single one that could compare with Tenglong Group!


    Of course, that was in the past. Now things were different. The sudden emergence of Xinghai Social Software had broken Tenglong Group''s monopoly, and its rise even indicated a trend of overthrowing the Tenglong Group.


    Qin Hao browsed Xinghai Mall and found that it basically had everything one could think of, and Xinghai Mall even had a company collaboration channel.


    Within this channel were various companies. For real-world companies in need of parts or custom-made products, they could search here and find many options to choose from, a feature that was developed specifically for new startups or small and medium-sized companies.


    The most important categories on an e-commerce platform generally included clothing, shoes, cosmetics, snacks, general merchandise, cell phones, and so on.


    These were the items with higher sales volumes. For clothing, Xinghai Mall had Huafei Clothing; for cosmetics, there were not only Hua Mei Skincare products but also international name-brand skincare and makeup products, all guaranteed authentic, with reasonable prices.


    At seven in the evening, Network Micro Research Company and Xingyu Network Communication Company simultaneously released a piece of news, announcing Network Micro Research''s inclusion in the Star Domain Network''s lineup of free apps.


    This announcement caused quite a stir online, as Wei Yan''s addition notably increased the influence of Star Domain Network.


    Along with this news, Star Domain Network also dropped several major bombshells: those second-tier veteran internet companies had also reached a cooperative intent with Star Domain Network and were about to be included in the lineup of free apps.


    These enduring internet companies had been very prominent during the early days of the internet and had significant influence. They were among those that had once competed with Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping. Unfortunately, they had later been defeated.


    Though they were defeated, having seized the early advantage, they are still major companies in the internet world.


    Now, even they are collaborating with Star Domain Network, and the three giants seem to be isolated by the entire internet.


    However, these three giants are indeed powerful, their subsidiaries combined rival more than half of the internet''s companies.


    ...


    Qin Hao stayed up until midnight, he checked and saw that Xinghai Mall''s download count had reached 670 million.


    The transaction volume of Xinghai Mall had reached 1.93 billion by midnight.


    Mostly, the contributions came from Blueberry Smartphones and Kangmei Intelligent Appliances, with a small portion from skincare products and Xinghui Wine.


    The next morning, Qin Hao, having nothing to do at home, browsed various news about Star Domain Network and the three giants on the internet.


    At nine o''clock, Star Domain Network released another piece of news: Currently, Star Domain Network has reached cooperation agreements with various television manufacturers and satellite channels, and will make the network freely available to all users'' TVs.


    Chang Jing''s plan proceeded step by step, leaving the three giants struggling to catch their breath as Star Domain Network''s influence gradually expanded.


    Seeing the news online, Qin Hao''s face reflected a smile. Chang Jing''s ability was beyond doubt, and with her there, Qin Hao felt very reassured.


    After spending some time browsing the news online, Qin Hao turned off his computer and went to the living room to talk with his parents for the entire day.


    Since setting up the company, he had rarely spent time chatting with his parents like this.


    That day, many shops were added to Xinghai Mall, mostly individual merchants.


    These individual merchants, selected by Chang Jing from quality merchants on Amao Net Shopping, such as those who sold fakes or inferior goods, could be directly detected by Xinghai Company''s Artificial Intelligence, and Xinghai Mall refused to cooperate with them.


    ...


    This afternoon, Qin Hao went shopping with his parents, Han Meng, and Qiao''er for some items, as they were visiting the Li Family tomorrow. Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin planned to buy some gifts and nutritional products.


    This was the first invitation from the Li Family, and Qin Hao''s three uncles also had quite a few children, so gifts needed to be prepared, along with various nutritional products for the elders.


    Anyway, when they returned home, Qin Hao and Mr. Qin were carrying many items in their hands.


    The third morning of the New Year at six o''clock.


    Qin Hao and his family took a car to Jiangshan Airport, Han Meng and Qiao''er also came, but Qin Hao had Leng Xuan send them to board the plane to Jianghai.


    Qin Hao and his family boarded the plane to Gujing City.


    Three hours later, Qin Hao and his family arrived in Gujing City. Exiting the airport, Qin Hao saw Li Yushi and Li Jin.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao and his family, Li Yushi and Li Jin hurried over: "Aunt, Uncle, cousin."


    "Yushi, Li Jin, what brings you here?" Mrs. Qin asked with a smile.


    Li Yushi: "Grandfather sent us to pick you up, Aunt, Uncle, please get in the car."


    After putting the luggage in the trunk, Qin Hao and his family got into Li Yushi''s SUV, and they drove towards the Li Family Mansion.


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 583 585: The Attitude of the Li Family

    At 10:47 AM, Li Yushi drove up to the entrance of the Li Family mansion.


    At that moment, Li Pingrong and his two brothers, along with their wives and children, were all waiting at the door. Seeing Li Yushi''s car approaching, their faces lit up with joy.


    After Qin Hao and his family alighted from the car, Li Pingrong, his brothers, and their wives hurriedly approached, "Youguo and Shujie are here. You must be tired after the flight, come on in. Father and mother have been waiting for you."


    Li Mingzhe, Li Mingguan, and others hurriedly came over to help Qin Hao with his things. Li Mingzhe wanted to call him ''cousin,'' but didn''t dare, so just gave Qin Hao an awkward smile instead.


    Li Shujie spoke up, "Big brother, why are you still waiting at the door?"


    Hearing Li Shujie address him as ''big brother,'' Li Pingrong breathed a sigh of relief and quickly responded, "Of course, of course, come inside, Shujie. Mom and dad have been waiting for a while."


    Walking into the Li family''s grand courtyard and entering the living room, Li Mingwang and Wang Shuifeng were already there waiting.


    Upon seeing Qin Youguo, Li Shujie, and Qin Hao enter, Li Mingwang and Wang Shuifeng turned to look at them.


    Li Shujie called out, "Dad, Mom."


    Li Mingwang nodded with a smile, and Wang Shuifeng quickly approached, "Xiao Jie, you''re here."


    Seeing her mother, Li Shujie''s nose tingled slightly, and her eyes reddened, "Mom."


    "Ah, have a seat, take a seat," Wang Shuifeng urged as she quickly guided her to sit on the sofa.


    Li Mingwang looked at Qin Youguo and said, "Youguo, Xiao Hao, please sit."


    "All right, Mr. Li." Qin Youguo sat down on the sofa, with Qin Hao sitting beside him.


    Li Pingrong and the others also took their seats. Li Mingwang then addressed Qin Youguo, "Youguo, about the past, your uncle was wrong. I hope you can forgive your uncle, don''t dwell on it."


    Qin Youguo was taken aback, not having expected Li Mingwang to personally apologize, "Uncle Li, it''s okay. Shujie has been under a lot more pressure these years."


    He subtly told Li Mingwang, as long as Li Shujie forgives you, I don''t really have any issues.


    Li Mingwang looked at his daughter, his eyes filled with guilt, "Xiao Jie, dad was wrong in the past. I shouldn''t have treated you that way, regardless of whether you forgive your father or not, I needed to say this."


    Li Pingrong and his wife also spoke, "Shujie, what big brother and sister-in-law did back then was also wrong, don''t take it to heart."


    Upon hearing their words, Li Shujie couldn''t hold back her tears any longer, releasing all the grievances and mental pressures from over the years.


    No one knew how much pressure she had borne, and no one could truly understand the anguish she had endured.


    Hearing her daughter''s crying, Wang Shuifeng''s eyes also reddened as she embraced her daughter and said, "It''s all right, Xiao Jie, it''s all past now, it''s okay."


    Li Mingwang had only this one daughter, whom he had cherished dearly since she was young. However, since the incident where she defied his wishes, their relationship had drastically changed.


    He had arranged a match with the Shen Family for his daughter''s sake, as the Shen Family held significant influence both in the business and political realms. Moreover, back then, Shen Mingwang from the Shen Family also fancied Li Shujie.


    Then, Shen Mingwang was also a renowned young talent and he felt that he was a good match for his daughter, so he finalized the marriage with the Shen Family. Little did he know that by that time, Li Shujie had already given her heart to someone else.


    Li Shujie''s soft exterior but firm interior had resulted in the current situation.


    Li Mingwang certainly felt regret, but due to pride and various factors, he could only bury it in his heart. The reason he was speaking up now was influenced by the impact and pressure from Qin Hao.


    He continued, "Xiao Jie, dad is telling you this not because of the pressure from Xiao Hao. In fact, I''ve wanted to say this long ago, ever since you and Youguo had Xiao Hao, I knew that it was settled, and I''ve actually forgiven you both in my heart."


    ...


    Seeing his mother cry heartbreakingly, Qin Hao felt very uncomfortable. Had he not been considering his mother''s feelings, he would have definitely set the Li Family straight.


    Mrs. Qin cried for a while and then calmed down. She wiped away her tears, "Dad, I''m sorry, I was also upset with you back then."


    Li Mingwang smiled and said, "It''s all in the past, Dad has not been mad at you for a long time."


    Li Pingsheng said, "Sis, Mom and Dad have always missed you, and every year after the New Year when other daughters would visit their families, our home didn''t have that. Mom would often secretly wipe away her tears in sadness."


    Over the years, Wang Shuifeng had been secretly contacting Li Shujie and occasionally sending her money.


    Li Shujie turned to Qin Hao and said, "Mom and Dad, you haven''t met Xiao Hao yet. Xiao Hao, say hello to Grandma and Grandpa."


    Qin Hao called out, "Grandma, Grandpa."


    Wang Shuifeng smiled and nodded, "Ah, in the blink of an eye, Xiao Hao has grown so much."


    Li Mingwang also nodded, relieved, "Xiao Hao, your Xinghai Mall launched yesterday, how was the transaction volume?"


    Qin Hao replied, "It was okay, not quite twenty billion."


    Li Pingrong and the others were shocked, not up to twenty billion? That was indeed terrifying. Li Pingrong''s mall was spread across the country, and even its daily turnover wasn''t that high.


    However, the nature of their businesses was different, so they couldn''t be compared.


    Although Qin Hao''s Xinghai Mall had a transaction volume nearing twenty billion, the profits were only about twenty to thirty million.


    Li Pingsheng asked, "Xiao Hao, can your site sell pesticides and seeds?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, Third Uncle, are you thinking about selling seeds and pesticides there?"


    Li Pingsheng nodded awkwardly, "I have that idea because the deep reform and opening up have been majorly impacted by foreign companies, and the sales of seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers have drastically reduced."


    Qin Hao said, "Third Uncle, that''s not the way to do it. Only by improving the quality of our own products do I think it''s the right approach."


    Li Pingsheng said, "I know that too. When it comes to advanced seed technology, we simply can''t compete with those foreign companies. My company also has a research department, but its strength is far less."


    Qin Hao said, "Third Uncle, don''t worry. I''ll think of a solution for you."


    "What can you do, Xiao Hao?" Li Pingsheng looked at him curiously.


    Qin Hao said, "I''ll try to research and see if I can develop more advanced seeds."


    ...


    Li Pingsheng was at a loss for words; was this his plan? Our entire R&D team couldn''t do it, how could you? Besides, you haven''t even been involved in the pesticide and seed industry.


    Still, he smiled and said, "Then I''ll leave it to you, Xiao Hao."


    "Third Uncle, there''s no need to be polite."


    His second uncle, Li Pingchang, also smiled and said, "Xiao Hao, I heard that the tower being built in Jianghai City is 288,1888 meters tall?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "That will be a comprehensive skyscraper, and it will also include various advanced artificial intelligence technologies. It will be an intelligent comprehensive building."


    Qin Hao''s three uncles had a long conversation with him. Li Pingrong didn''t mention Su Yi Mall because they were having a good talk, and those malls would probably stop their discount activities tomorrow.


    After eating lunch, they talked for a long time, and then Li Shujie said they had to leave.


    Wang Shuifeng hoped they could stay for a few more days, and Li Mingwang along with others strongly urged them to stay. Eventually, Mrs. Qin decided to stay for two days. The Li family had plenty of rooms, so there was no need to worry about accommodations.


    [First Update]

 Chapter 584 586: Trailer Premiere

    Qin Hao didn''t mind; as long as his parents were willing, he was okay with anything.


    Li Jin spoke up, "Cousin, let me take you to our Li Family Mansion for a visit? Our place is really beautiful."


    Qin Hao also felt bored, so he stood up and said, "Sure, I''d like to go out for a stroll too."


    "I''ll go too, cousin," Li Jin''s sister Li Na hurriedly said.


    Li Mingwang spoke up, "You all go ahead, take good care of Xiao Hao and just make sure to come back early in the evening."


    Qin Hao and his entourage left the Li Family Mansion, and Li Wenjun, Li Minglei, Li Yushi, and Li Mingguan all followed along.


    Their parents had already explained things to them, and they were well aware of Qin Hao''s current influence, so they clustered around him, making him the center of attention.


    Being the youngest, Li Na, once outside the house, said with a smile, "Cousin, there''s a fairly large park over there, with everything you could ask for, and the scenery is so nice. Let me take you there."


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "Hmm okay, I''m not familiar with this area, so you can lead the way."


    Walking outside was certainly more comfortable than sitting indoors, and after a few minutes, their group of seven arrived at the park within the Li Family Mansion grounds.


    The park was bustling with people enjoying themselves, featuring rockeries, lakes, classical pavilions, and corridors among other attractions.


    Beyond these, there were also many recreational facilities for the enjoyment of those at the Li Family Mansion.


    As Qin Hao entered the park, he noticed that it was crowded in the outer plaza, but as they moved further inwards, there were noticeably fewer people.


    Li Na said, "Cousin, look inside there''s even a palace built to mimic Guhua Palace, it cost nearly ten million to build."


    While they were talking, a group of about a dozen people approached from the opposite direction, including Li Moying and Li Jianjun.


    "Master?" Startled at first, Li Moying quickly became delighted upon spotting Qin Hao and ran over, "Master, what are you doing here?"


    The others, upon seeing Qin Hao, showed surprise in their eyes as almost no one present didn''t recognize him.


    Qin Hao gave the crowd a sweeping glance and noticed Shen Lin and Shen Lihang from the Shen Family, the son and daughter of the general manager of Jifeng Automobile Group, Shen Mingwang.


    He smiled at Li Moying and said, "I came to visit my maternal grandparents, just hanging out with friends. What about you?"


    Li Moying replied, "Yeah, a friend invited me out, but now that you''re here, Master, I''ll go with you instead."


    "Mr. Qin," Li Jianjun also started to greet him.


    Ever since the incident where he had witnessed Qin Hao killing on the plane, especially Qin Hao''s cold, indifferent expression, as if he were slaughtering a chicken or duck.


    Since then, he had always maintained a certain reverence for Qin Hao in his heart.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Then I won''t disturb you all. Continue enjoying yourselves."


    Shen Lihang, seeing the close interaction between Li Moying and Qin Hao, felt a twinge of jealousy and spoke up, "I heard Mr. Qin and the Xu Family''s young miss are engaged. Does Mr. Xu know about your philandering ways?"


    He was aiming to provoke Qin Hao as well as Li Moying.


    Qin Hao was a married man; was the heiress of Jinxiu Group really planning to become a mistress?


    Qin Hao clearly understood Shen Lihang''s intentions and asked as if ignorant, "And you are?"


    "Shen Lihang, deputy general manager of Jifeng Automobile Group," Shen Lihang replied, looking at him.


    Qin Hao remarked, "I don''t even know who the general manager of Jifeng Group is, let alone a deputy general manager like you. You''re not qualified to talk to me, but maybe if you brought your chairman here, it might just be acceptable."


    Shen Lihang''s face turned slight;y, having reached the position of deputy general manager of the Jifeng Group at the age of twenty-seven, he was always the focus of adulation wherever he went, and he was not accustomed to such an insult.


    He looked at Qin Hao and said, "I''d advise you not to be too arrogant, Qin Hao. Arrogant people will eventually face their downfall."


    Qin Hao narrowed his eyes slightly at him, "Who do you think you are to be giving me lessons? You better worry about the Jifeng Group instead, I don''t think it''ll be long before it goes under."


    ...


    Li Moying clasped Qin Hao''s arm with both hands, utterly indifferent to the many onlookers: "Master, I heard our company''s valuation has risen again."


    Qin Hao: "Valuation is all just smoke and mirrors. Our company isn''t in need of financing or going public, so it''s pointless. Let''s go have some fun, paying attention to this crap is just a waste of time."


    "Exactly! We''re making several billion a second; we can''t waste our time on such people. I''ll take you to Guhua Palace, it''s so beautiful," Li Moying said, pulling Qin Hao along with her towards the interior.


    Li Jianjun also hurriedly followed, leaving Shen Lihang and his group standing there.


    Shen Lin spoke up upon seeing her brother''s expression: "Why bother getting angry over such people, brother? The higher they climb, the harder they''ll fall."


    ...


    After Qin Hao and his group left, he couldn''t shake off the feeling that there was a hidden message in what Shen Lihang had said. Those too proud would eventually face their downfall?


    The more intelligent a person is, the more suspicious they become, and the more they think.


    If there were any issues, Li Wenjun would definitely call him, but Li Wenjun might not be able to find out everything.


    "Master, what are you thinking about?" Li Moying asked curiously, noticing Qin Hao was lost in thought.


    Qin Hao smiled faintly: "Nothing, just some stuff on my mind."


    Li Moying asked, "Master, are aunt and uncle here too?"


    Qin Hao: "Yes, we''re planning to stay here for a couple of days."


    "Then I''ll have my parents come over tonight."


    After wandering around for about two hours, Qin Hao went back. The Li Family had already arranged rooms for Qin Hao and his family.


    Qin Hao and his family stayed there for two days, leaving on the afternoon of the fifth day of the new year.


    Qin Youguo and Li Shujie went back to Jiangshan, while Qin Hao headed to Jianghai City.


    Just after four in the afternoon, Qin Hao emerged from the airport. Leng Xuan and others were waiting outside.


    "Let''s go home," Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan.


    Haoting Sea View Villa.


    Walking into the villa, Qin Hao was surprised to find Zhao Yuying there too: "Ying, when did you get back?"


    "Came back yesterday. Today our movie trailer was uploaded online, have you seen it?" Zhao Yuying said with a smile.


    Qin Hao sat down on the sofa and took out his phone to check Wei Yan: "I''ll go have a look."


    As soon as he opened Wei Yan, Qin Hao saw a trending post from Yuhao Media Company: "The ''Mechanical Soldier'' trailer is out now, the first ultra-thrilling sci-fi megahit in the country. Friends, come have a look."


    The post had over a million shares, a million comments, and a million likes. It was incredibly popular.


    It was a three-to-four-minute trailer, edited down for impact.


    Qin Hao clicked to watch and the first thing that caught his eye was a behemoth-like interstellar aircraft carrier cruising through space, with a blue planet ahead.


    The Artificial Intelligence of the interstellar aircraft carrier announced, "Life-supporting planet detected ahead. Entering level-one combat readiness."


    "Intruding the target''s network to retrieve data, please wait."


    The scene then shifted to a sky battle, set above the skies of New City in the Federation, with numerous Federation fighters engaging in combat with unmanned fighters descending from the interstellar warships.


    The scenes changed rapidly, barely hooking the viewer''s interest before moving to another exciting moment, leaving one''s heart itching with anticipation.


    [Second update]

 Chapter 585 587 Follow-up Planning

    After watching, Qin Hao had a smile on his face, and Zhao Yuying, sitting beside him, also watched it again.


    "Isn''t it very realistic? It''s not inferior to those foreign blockbusters at all."


    Qin Hao nodded. These special effects and visuals could not necessarily be produced even by the Federation in the north, and some of the special effects technology was extremely demanding.


    Yuhao Media Company, Qin Hao, Zhao Yuying, and Xia Qing''s social media platforms were all exploding.


    Since the three of them were the main actors, the trailer also featured them, and Qin Hao felt he looked very handsome, especially the moment in the movie when he donned the advanced mecha.


    Under Qin Hao''s social media: "Damn, that was mind-blowing, really looking forward to ''Mechanical Soldier'' release."


    "From the trailer alone, you can tell it''s a high-quality big production, I''ll definitely watch it."


    "Mr. Qin, I didn''t expect you to look so cool in a techno beat."


    "Reserving my tickets now, I can''t wait to see it."


    "Who said ''Mechanical Soldier'' wouldn''t succeed? What do you think after watching the trailer?"


    Many film stars and directors in the entertainment circle saw the trailer, after a long time, they spit out a word: Damn!!!


    Could Yuhao Media actually produce such a big-budget film?


    Yang Feng and Wu Sinuo also watched the ''Mechanical Soldier'' trailer, and they too were shocked, now deeply regretting their actions.


    If they had not intentionally caused trouble initially, perhaps they would be the ones trending now.


    Many were curious about the special effects production of ''Mechanical Soldier.'' Did Qin Hao spend a lot of money in the Federation specifically for it?


    After all, no domestic special effects company could produce such effects.


    Since Qin Hao was the world''s richest man, and many top foreign companies were collaborating with him, finding a special effects firm through his contacts shouldn''t have been a problem.


    Just as various speculations were brewing, Yuhao Media Company issued another statement.


    "All special effects in the ''Mechanical Soldier'' movie were produced by Yuhao Media''s Lan Shadow special effects department, and Yuhao Media Company welcomes movie and TV producers to collaborate."


    The news caused quite a stir, for if true, it meant that Xuan Country had broken the foreign monopoly in film special effects technology.


    How the hell does everything groundbreaking come from Qin Hao''s companies?


    Many started to seek verification abroad, as the trailer was released not only domestically but also internationally; foreign viewers were no less shocked upon seeing it.


    ...


    Inside the villa, Zhao Yuying, smiling, said to Qin Hao, "Today, Xiao Fei and Shen Lin''s movie also released a trailer, I watched it, it was quite good, but it''s several levels below ''Mechanical Soldier.'' If our film wasn''t there, their box office would probably be good."


    Qin Hao looked at Zhao Yuying: "Ying, I''ve noticed you can be quite wicked too."


    "Am I? Stop it, where have I been bad?" Zhao Yuying flirtatiously retorted.


    Just then, Han Meng walked out of the kitchen: "Xiao Hao, my brother will come to Jianghai City tomorrow."


    Qin Hao nodded: "Okay, Meng, I''ll send someone to pick him up tomorrow."


    "Thanks, Xiao Hao, wash up and let''s eat."


    During dinner, Qin Hao received a call from Xia Qing; her and her parents were coming to Jianghai City tomorrow, they had already discussed setting up a real estate construction company before the year''s end.


    At night, Qin Hao spent some time in his study, planning what followed next.


    Qian Du Company didn''t need to worry, as the user base and influence of Star Domain Network continued to grow, Qian Du''s risk of closure became increasingly remote.


    The ecommerce platform Amao Net Shopping faced little resistance; Xinghai Mall was adding many more individual traders and companies every day, and its scale would rival Amao Net Shopping in less than half a month.


    Even in terms of counterfeit and inferior products, Xinghai Mall was more effective in prevention, its artificial intelligence screening system was far superior to that of Amao Net Shopping.


    In fact, the most challenging competitor was still Tenglong Group. On social media, Qin Hao had already made significant progress.


    He had now clarified his thoughts, just needing to conquer the mobile payment market and the gaming industry, he would have won most of the battle.


    Currently, the internet was the only area he had not yet ventured into.


    Beyond these, Qin Hao also planned to start setting up a car factory, as producing air energy cars had to be scheduled soon.


    While he was deep in thought, a knock on the door sounded; Han Meng entered with a cup of coffee, "Xiao Hao, have some coffee to refresh yourself."


    Qin Hao smiled, "It''s fine, Meng. Where did Ying go?"


    Han Meng placed the coffee on the table, "Yu Ying is taking a shower, she''ll come soon," she said, her cheeks slightly reddening.


    Qin Hao gave an awkward smile, "Uh."


    About fifteen minutes later, Zhao Yuying came in wearing pajamas, her face flushingly adorable.


    "Let''s go back to our room."


    ...


    The next morning, after breakfast, Zhao Yuying went to Yuhao Media Company.


    Qin Hao went to Xinghai High-tech Company, where around nine o''clock, he arrived at the office and first toured various workshops in the factory.


    The production line inside the lithography machine''s framework had expanded to thirty lines, capable of producing two lithography machines each day, but the chip output at Xinghai Company was too limited to satisfy even the Xuan Country market, let alone the global market.


    He definitely needed to greatly expand the production lines.


    He also inspected workshops for sensors, intelligent surveillance cameras, and even the ones at Xingyu Network Communication Company.


    The ten smart servers required no personnel for maintenance, so besides Qin Hao, only Chang Jing worked at Xingyu Network Communication Company.


    ...


    Later, he also visited the robot workshop, where, according to Robot 001''s statistics, there were already seven hundred thirty robots present, all suitable for various types of work and available in different forms.


    In a couple of days, another batch of robot exteriors was expected to arrive.


    At present, there was a specific production line on the chip production line making intelligent chips for robots.


    These robots were currently idle, with no significant work, spending every day just sitting around here.


    After inspecting the robots, Qin Hao went to the laboratory, which had now expanded to two floors with nearly three hundred scientific researchers, though currently, only about half of them were present in the lab.


    After a tour, he headed to Chang Jing''s office in the administration building, where she was on a call inside the room.


    A few minutes later, she hung up the phone and looked at Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, you''re back?"


    Qin Hao said to her, "Mr. Chang, I''m planning to set up a car factory, with a total investment of over 300 billion. You register a company, then choose a site for the factory, just nearby will do."


    Upon hearing this, Chang Jing''s brows furrowed slightly, "A car factory? Mr. Qin, do you mean to produce artificial intelligence cars?"


    "That''s part of it," Qin Hao nodded.


    Chang Jing continued, "Mr. Qin, we don''t have mature car manufacturing technology. It''s not wise to rashly engage in car production and research. We would be better off leveraging our artificial intelligence technology to collaborate with a powerful company to develop AI-driven autonomous vehicles.


    I actually wanted to discuss this with you earlier, but it slipped my mind because I have been busy."


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 586 588 Collaboration

    Qin Hao looked at her and asked, "Does Mr. Chang have a suitable auto manufacturer in mind?"


    Chang Jing replied, "Domestic options include Jifeng Automobile Group, Changli Automotive Group, Wancheng Auto Group, Jianghai Automobile Group, and so on.


    Qian Du Company has a collaboration with Changli Automotive Group, and Jifeng Automobile Group belongs to the Shen Family. Excluding these two, Jiangqi Automobile has the strongest capability, their technology is also relatively advanced, and they''re willing to collaborate with us."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "What is the price range for vehicles from Jianghai Automobile Group?"


    Chang Jing responded, "Jiangqi Group''s best-selling model is the Rongwei series, valued between sixty to seventy thousand. It''s popular due to its affordability and decent technology, and it has been leading the low-end car market in sales for the past few years."


    Qin Hao considered this and said, "We can work with them, but I want to focus on mid-to-high-end models, so we''ll still need to set up our own factory. Mr. Chang, you take care of this¡ªonce the land is selected, let me know. I''ll be setting up an engineering company; by then we can just have them take over the construction."


    Chang Jing was startled, "A construction engineering company? Aren''t you tired, Mr. Qin? With all the money you have, why keep pushing yourself like this?"


    Qin Hao gave her a look, "Who would complain about having too much money? Please, Mr. Chang, finalize the details as soon as possible."


    Chang Jing nodded, "Understood, I''ll take care of it, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao then said, "Also, starting from today, we''ll move into the offline mobile payment market, aiming at a full-scale blow to Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping''s offline payment market. I''ll be contacting Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, and others to have their malls exclusively use Xinghai Collection Code."


    Chang Jing looked at him speechlessly, "Mr. Qin, are you trying to work me to death? By the time your car factory launches, I feel like I''ll drop dead at my desk."


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, "Maybe you should hire a few deputies to help you out, Mr. Chang?"


    Chang Jing replied, "I don''t need deputies, but we should set up a general management office for greater efficiency. Have your cousin join in, too."


    Qin Hao said, "That''s fine. Mr. Chang, you can make the arrangements as necessary¡ªI trust that a smart person like you won''t make foolish decisions. Also, for Xinghai Social, recruit some elite game developers, as I''m planning to develop some games later on."


    "Got it, Mr. Qin."


    After Qin Hao finished his instructions and was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something else, "Ask Mr. He, the chief engineer, to develop a set of intelligent programming codes and motherboards for ships."


    Chang Jing asked, "Mr. Qin, is there anything else you need to instruct? Just let me know all at once."


    Qin Hao thought for a bit before saying, "That''s all for now, Mr. Chang. I''m off to discuss the offline payment matters with Du Yingqiang and others."


    Upon leaving Xinghai High-tech Company, Qin Hao made a phone call to Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, and others, arranging to meet at the golf club.


    At ten in the morning, Qin Hao arrived at the golf club, where Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, Li Qingya, Li Qingyun, Li Moying, and Li Jianjun had already gathered.


    "Mr. Qin," the Li sisters greeted him sweetly with a smile upon seeing him.


    Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, and the others also greeted him one after another.


    Qin Hao sat down and said with a smile, "No need for formalities, everyone."


    Li Qingyun chuckled, "Then I won''t stand on ceremony with you, Mr. Qin. I want the full version of ''Mechanical Soldier'' the movie. I can''t wait to see it; the special effects are just too good, so impressive."


    ...


    Qin Hao said, somewhat exasperated, "Miss Li, can we please discuss the business at hand first?"


    Li Qingyun smiled sheepishly, "Mr. Qin, I assume you''ve asked us to meet because there''s something specific you need from us. Please, go ahead."


    Looking at Du Yingqiang and Ye Lanxin, Qin Hao began, "I plan to expand Xinghai''s presence in the offline payment market, and I''ll need help from Mr. Du and Mr. Ye."


    "That won''t be a problem," Du Yingqiang and Ye Lanxin replied.


    Qin Hao stated, "Terminate Amao Net Shopping and Tenglong Group''s online payments; your malls may only support Xinghai payments."


    Chang Jing had already nearly completed the layout for online payments, whether for Xinghai Mall, Star Domain Network, or the major apps under their banner, the payment methods must accommodate Xinghai payments, and collaboration with Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping''s mobile payment apps was prohibited.


    With Xinghai payments already holding a significant online market share, what remained was only the offline payment market.


    With the support of malls owned by Du Group and Ye Group, plus the malls under Su Yi Group, Xinghai payments would also dominate the main offline market.


    Qin Hao also had some malls in his possession, acquired during the takeover of Tang Group, albeit medium and small malls in county towns.


    Altogether, these malls accounted for sixty to seventy percent of Xuan Country''s total malls. For others, Qin Hao would have Chang Jing work on partnerships with them¡ªa matter of collecting fees, which should be relatively straightforward.


    Even if they couldn''t be persuaded to sever ties with Tenglong Group, enabling them to add Xinghai payments should be feasible.


    Qin Hao said to Ye Lanxin and the Li sisters, "Chip production will increase this month, be ready for it."


    Ye Lanxin and the Li sisters'' faces brightened, as they had been eagerly waiting for the production to ramp up. The demand was so high that the supply couldn''t keep up.


    Qin Hao continued, "There''s also the issue of the low-end mobile phone market. This month, I will start providing slightly lower-performance smartphone chips to some budget phone manufacturers."


    Currently, the Blueberry Phone retails for over six thousand, positioning it in the mid-to-high range. The common people, however, can only afford phones within the one to two thousand price bracket.


    The low-end mobile phone market is still the mainstream in the phone market, with very high demand. There aren''t that many wealthy individuals in Xuan Country at the moment.


    Even lower-performing chips will still outperform current high-end phones by a significant margin. The production of these chips will be much higher.


    If producing a high-end intelligent chip requires a hundred photolithography processes, then these lower-performance ones might only need ten, which means their output will be staggeringly high by comparison.


    Ye Lanxin nodded, "Mr. Qin, please entrust the high-end phone market as much as possible to Blueberry Phone."


    "Certainly, and for Qing Ya and Qing Yun, I will also supply some lower-performance chips for your family''s appliances and washing machines. I hope you can cover the high, mid, and low domestic markets soon."


    Lastly, Qin Hao turned to Li Moying and Li Jianjun, "Mo Ying, our company has developed a new AI diagnostic system that can establish intelligent hotels, buildings, banks, and other facilities. Are you interested?"


    Li Moying asked, "Intelligent hotels? How intelligent are we talking about, Master?"


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and then said, "How to put it? It''s almost like the artificial intelligence from sci-fi movies. They can connect to the Star Domain Network, and they can be controlled via the network. Plus, if there are any emergencies, the AI will inform you in real time."


    The group looked shocked by the information¡ªalmost like the artificial intelligence in science fiction movies?


    Li Moying remarked, "That''s impressive! Then let''s renovate a Jinxiu Hotel in Jianghai City to test it out."


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 587 589 Jiangqi Group

    Qin Hao said to Du Yingqiang, "Mr. Du, the intelligent ship technology is being researched and should be out before long."


    Du Yingqiang nodded, "Everything is ready, we''re just waiting for your smart chips, Mr. Qin."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "You won''t have to wait too long, Mr. Du."


    After chatting for a while, Qin Hao stood up to leave; he felt that Xia Qing and her family should be arriving soon.


    After leaving the club, Li Qingya and Li Qingyun caught up with him, "Do you have time, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao looked at the twin sisters, "What is it, Miss Li?"


    Li Qingya smiled faintly, "A friend wants to meet you, and we''re helping to introduce you. If you''re busy, Mr. Qin, another day is fine."


    Qin Hao glanced at his watch and said, "Will twenty minutes be enough?"


    "That''s enough, please follow us, Mr. Qin." Li Qingya and Li Qingyun got into the car and led the way.


    Qin Hao followed them to a teahouse, where the sisters led him to a private room.


    Li Qingya knocked on the door before pushing it open and entering. Inside sat a mature woman around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years of age, holding a teacup and sipping tea with an elegant posture and full of grace.


    Upon seeing Li Qingya, her sister, and Qin Hao enter, she put down her teacup and stood up with a smile, "Please sit down, Mr. Qin, Qing Ya, Qing Yun."


    Qin Hao glanced at Liang Xiyu, not recognizing her, having never met her before!


    The three of them sat down, and Li Qingyun said to Liang Xiyu, "Mr. Qin has other matters to attend to and only has twenty minutes."


    "That''s enough, thank you." Then she turned to Qin Hao, "Hello, Mr. Qin, my name is Liang Xiyu."


    Qin Hao nodded, "What is it that you need from me, Miss Liang? Just say it directly."


    In Jianghai City, Liang Xiyu was also a figure of note, hardly anyone didn''t know her, but Qin Hao just happened to be one of the few who didn''t.


    From his response, Li Qingya could tell that Qin Hao probably didn''t know Liang Xiyu''s identity, "Mr. Qin, Miss Xiyu is the vice president of Jiangqi Group, and her father is the chairman and general manager."


    Qin Hao was taken aback and gave an embarrassed smile, "So it''s Mr. Liang, my apologies, Mr. Liang, I don''t pay much attention to the people and affairs of the business world."


    Liang Xiyu smiled lightly, "You''re too modest, Mr. Qin. Today I asked Qing Ya and Qing Yun to arrange a meeting with you because I would like to discuss a partnership with you."


    "Artificial intelligence unmanned driving cars?" Qin Hao asked.


    Liang Xiyu nodded, "Mr. Qin, our Jiangqi Group is also a government enterprise, with the state holding a fifty-one percent share. We are among the top three in technological strength nationwide, and our Roewe series of sedans have always topped sales in the low-end car market since their launch."


    Chang Jing was just planning to approach them for a partnership, but to his surprise, the Jiangqi Group had already taken the initiative to seek him out.


    Liang Xiyu said, "I mention these points to let Mr. Qin know the strength of Jiangqi Group. As a domestic car brand, we are certainly a reliable partner."


    Li Qingya and Li Qingyun inwardly marveled upon hearing Liang Xiyu''s words, thinking that even a large government enterprise like Jiangqi Group was eagerly seeking partnership with him¡ªit was truly impressive.


    Qin Hao spoke up, "Our Xinghai Company is also interested in finding car manufacturers to partner with, but the targeted type of partnership is the low-end car market."


    The low-end car market?


    Liang Xiyu was taken aback, "Mr. Qin, the mid-to-high-end market has larger profits, why not aim for the mid-to-high-end market?"


    Qin Hao said, "Because I will be handling the mid-to-high-end market myself. Of course, I won''t stop Mr. Liang from venturing into the mid-to-high-end market, but if you end up losing everything, don''t blame me for not warning you now."


    The three were taken aback. Own the mid-to-high-end market? Was he planning to enter the automotive industry?


    Big brother, you haven''t even gotten the internet sector right yet, why are you entering the automotive industry now? For cars, you guys are completely blank on engine technology and various other technologies.


    Although Qin Hao lacked experience, the three didn''t dare underestimate him. Qin Hao had no experience in the internet before, but now? He had become a dominator on the internet.


    Nothing he did ever fell short.


    Liang Xiyu agreed very readily, "Okay, since Mr. Qin is involving the mid-to-high-end market, then our Jiangqi Group will only make models for the low-end car market."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Do you have a plan for the specific division of partnership benefits, Mr. Liang?"


    This was the key point of the partnership. Without benefits, who would want to cooperate?


    Liang Xiyu: "Mr. Qin, first we need to determine if the cost will increase. For example, if we switch to a smart motherboard and an intelligent system to operate the car, how much would the cost increase for a car that normally sells for sixty to seventy thousand?"


    Qin Hao: "Not too much higher, an ordinary car smart motherboard is only a few thousand, but we need to set it after it''s researched."


    The cost was not high at all, of course, the price was set by Qin Hao. As this was a high-end monopoly technology, he could set it at any amount, but setting it too high didn''t make sense, as the low-end car market values cost-effectiveness.


    Liang Xiyu: "Mr. Qin, I have two methods of benefit distribution, one is a buyout cooperation, and the other is a car sales revenue sharing model."


    "What''s the split for the car sales model?"


    "The most I can give Mr. Qin is a thirty to seventy split. Xinghai High-tech Company three, Jiangqi Group seven. After all, we need to bear the production costs of the engine, the car frame, and so on."


    This division was not small by any means. Qin Hao nodded, "Discuss the follow-up details with Mr. Chang, I will notify Mr. Chang."


    Liang Xiyu''s face lit up with joy: "Thank you, Mr. Qin."


    This was already an initial agreement on cooperation. If they could really cooperate with Xinghai High-tech Company, it would be a great joy for the Jiangqi Group.


    The Jiangqi Group had already been behind other automotive groups in the field of autonomous driving, let alone those world car manufacturers.


    Jifeng Group was not only cooperating with Zhongjia Smartphone, but they also reached a cooperation agreement with Tenglong Group and had been researching autonomous driving all along.


    Changli Automotive Group and Qian Du Company were collaborating, and Qian Du Company was slightly more powerful than Tenglong Group in the research of artificial intelligence.


    Those foreign car manufacturers were also researching the future of autonomous cars, and high-end cars like BMW had already launched features such as driverless parking.


    However, if Xinghai High-tech Company were to cooperate with them, the situation would change. They might become the first group in the world to apply artificial intelligence to cars.


    Qin Hao''s phone rang; it was Xia Qing calling: "Qin Hao, we are almost there."


    "Okay, I''ll come to pick you up now," Qin Hao hung up and said to Liang Xiyu, Li Qingya, and Li Qingyun, "I have some matters to attend to and must leave now."


    "Mr. Qin, take care," Liang Xiyu and the others stood up to see him off before returning to the private room.


    Liang Xiyu said to Li Qingya and her sister, "Qing Ya, Qingyun, thank you both."


    Li Qingya asked curiously, "Xiyu, Mr. Qin hasn''t researched autonomous driving, are you so sure that he can come up with it quickly?"


    Liang Xiyu: "You might not be aware of some news. Yesterday, an unmanned combat aircraft from Xuan Country won the championship at the world unmanned combat aircraft competition. A model called ''War Hawk'' shot down eighteen unmanned combat aircraft from other countries without a scratch, shocking all nations, and this unmanned intelligent combat aircraft is a product of the cooperation between the military and Xinghai High-tech Company."


    [First update]

 Chapter 588 590: Is there a problem?

    Li Qingya and Li Qingyun were shocked upon hearing this, "Xiyu, are you serious?"


    Liang Xiyu replied, "Why would I deceive you? Our Jiangqi Group is after all a government enterprise. Many directors in the board have connections that reach the sky, and they are extremely sensitive to information. It was they who told my father and me to seek cooperation with Mr. Qin."


    Li Qingyun slightly nodded, "If Xinghai Company can even control unmanned aircrafts, then autonomous driving for cars really wouldn''t be difficult for them."


    Liang Xiyu looked at them and said, "Your Kangmei Group is really lucky to have started working with Mr. Qin from the beginning. Tell me, did you two use your charms on Mr. Qin?"


    Hearing this, Li Qingya and her sister''s cheeks turned slightly red, "Xiyu, please don''t say things like that. Mr. Qin isn''t that type of person. He never made any improper proposals; it''s all business cooperation."


    Liang Xiyu chuckled, "Is that so? Look at your reaction. Don''t tell me you haven''t thought about Mr. Qin?"


    Her words made Li Qingya and her sister''s cheeks flush even redder, "Xiyu, when I get back, I''m telling aunt that you''re bullying us."


    ...


    At eleven thirteen, Qin Hao arrived at Jianghai Airport. After waiting a few minutes, Xia Qing and his family came out from the airport.


    "Mr. Xia, Ms. Tian, Xiaoqing, get in the car," Qin Hao took their luggage and had someone put it in the trunk.


    After getting in the car, Qin Hao sat in the passenger seat, while Xia Qing and his family took the back seat. Their first stop was a hotel where they had lunch.


    After lunch, Qin Hao wanted to take them to his own home for them to stay, but Xia Yingjie insisted on going to Xia Qing''s residence in Jianghai City, so they ended up going there.


    Qin Hao followed them upstairs, where Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong tidied up the bedroom.


    He said to Xia Qing, "Xiaoqing, should I buy you a place elsewhere? Renting all the time isn''t a solution."


    Xia Qing shook her head, "There''s no need, Xiao Hao. I have money now. In a few days, I''ll go look at some places with my parents."


    "Do you have enough money?"


    "Yes, I have tens of millions."


    After tidying up the room, Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong emerged. Xia Yingjie said with a smile, "Xiao Hao, I heard you''re building a 288-story skyscraper. Take me to see it. After that, we''ll go register the company."


    Qin Hao responded, "Mr. Xia, there''s no rush for that. How about we go after you and aunt rest a bit?"


    Xia Yingjie said, "It''s fine. It was just a two or three-hour flight, and I''m not tired. Let''s go."


    The group headed to the construction site of the building. Originally, Qin Hao intended to name it Jiangshan Building, but later thought Xinghai Building would be more appropriate.


    First, because Xinghai Company''s influence was greater, and since the building was a comprehensive structure, naming it Xinghai Building suited his vision more appropriately.


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao''s motorcade reached the construction site. Outside, many cars were parked, all belonging to the management of the four major construction engineering companies.


    The building had already reached nearly twenty stories. Although it was now winter, it did not affect the progress.


    Previously, construction would usually halt in cold weather since the cold made the materials less stable, potentially leading to collapse. However, now, a new type of building material was being used, which was resistant to low temperatures.


    Once they got out of the car, Qin Hao said, "Mr. Xia, please be careful."


    Leng Xuan and others walked ahead to the entrance, where an employee guarded the construction site. The sign read: "Restricted area, no unauthorized access."


    However, upon seeing Qin Hao, the employees immediately recognized him, "Mr. Qin, what brings you here?"


    "Open the gate; I want to check the construction progress," Qin Hao said.


    The man opened the gate and hurriedly took out some safety helmets; leaders often came for inspections, so there were many helmets available.


    After putting on their helmets, Qin Hao and his group entered the site. Inside, the noise of machinery was incessant, and construction materials were piled up like small hills.


    Seeing the scale of the building, Xia Yingjie gasped in astonishment, "This building is massive."


    Since it already had over twenty floors, the scale of the building could be gauged from its length from east to west, and north to south.


    The length of each floor was several hundred meters; Xia Yingjie estimated it by looking around and thought it was over two hundred meters long. It was shorter from north to south but still over one hundred meters long.


    This was a 288-story building. The base alone had to be enormous¡ªit was a vast project.


    "Xiao Hao, just these twenty floors must have cost billions, right?" Xia Yingjie mentioned as they walked.


    Qin Hao slightly nodded. He had been keeping an eye on various accounts, "About over two billion so far, and we settle the workers'' wages monthly."


    The construction workers up on the floors were not from the four major construction engineering companies. Instead, these companies had subcontracted the work to foremen.


    The four major companies handled material transport, supervising construction, etc. Most of the profits went into the pockets of these construction engineering companies, with only a small part going to the foremen, who then paid the construction workers.


    Qin Hao and others slowly made their way around. Xia Yingjie kept looking and curiously said, "Xiao Hao, let''s go up and see, Xiaoqing, you guys wait down here for us."


    "Okay, Uncle Xia," a few of them took an elevator platform to the construction site on the top floor.


    Xia Yingjie turned to him and said, "Xiao Hao, you need to be prepared."


    Qin Hao was startled and looked at him, "Prepared for what, Uncle Xia?"


    Xia Yingjie asked, "Prepared to be conned. What will you do if substandard materials have been used in this building?"


    Hearing this, Qin Hao''s expression slightly changed, "Uncle Xia, have you noticed something?"


    He was a layman in construction engineering and hadn''t studied this area, so he considered himself an outsider.


    Xia Yingjie replied, "Not yet, but we might find out when we get there."


    "Would these four major construction engineering companies really want to jeopardize their own reputation?" Qin Hao furrowed his brows. After all, if there was a problem with the construction, they would bear the primary responsibility.


    Xia Yingjie said, "Jeopardize their reputation? Such a thing doesn''t exist. If they use substandard materials, a building that should last a hundred years might collapse in just over a decade.


    By then, who would remember the four major construction companies? With such a big accident, you, being the owner of the building, would definitely be held accountable.


    They won''t say it''s a problem with the materials but will claim there was an issue with your building''s design. After all, with such a tall building, no one can guarantee your design is correct, only you know it is."


    Hearing Xia Yingjie''s words, Qin Hao inwardly took a cold gasp. If that were indeed the case, and the building encountered problems decades later, he couldn''t imagine the consequences and the impact it would have.


    [Second update]

 Chapter 589 591: Inferior Reinforcing Bars

    A few minutes later, Qin Hao and the others went up to the building, where now hundreds of workers were busy at work.


    The upper floor was like a vast square, and the arrival of Qin Hao and his group was like dropping stones into the sea, failing to attract much attention.


    Moreover, everyone was busy working and had no time to pay attention to Qin Hao and his companions.


    Xia Yingjie and Qin Hao walked around the construction site, which had narrow paths with steel reinforcements standing all around.


    Qin Hao was looking at the rebar, which was similar to those laid out below: "Mr. Xia, these seem to be the same."


    Xia Yingjie spoke softly, "Xiao Hao, did you notice the rebar below? It''s covered with a thick layer of dust.


    And there are no traces of them being moved, which indicates that the rebar has been sitting there for a while, a facade to pass inspection. If you go and check the fracture surface of the rebar there, you''ll be able to tell if it''s the same material."


    They arrived at a spot where workers were busy pouring concrete, with about a dozen of them on the job.


    Xia Yingjie squatted down to examine the fractured ends of the rebar and then gave Qin Hao a look, his expression troubled.


    "Who are you guys? Don''t interfere with our work," one of the workers said to them.


    Qin Hao stood up and said, "I''m Qin Hao, the investor of this skyscraper."


    The dozen or so workers were taken aback, Qin Hao? The world''s richest man, Qin Hao? Their eyes widened as they stared at Qin Hao, and upon confirming his appearance, they hurriedly said, "It really is Mr. Qin, hello Mr. Qin."


    "Hello, Mr. Qin." The workers quickly greeted him, and one of them initially wanted to reach out for a handshake, but seeing their dirty palms, retracted their hand instead, an awkward smile appearing on their honest faces.


    Qin Hao extended his hand with a smile, saying, "Hello."


    The worker hesitated, "Mr. Qin, my hand is quite dirty."


    "Dirt on the hands can be washed off, but a dirty conscience cannot be cleansed," Qin Hao said, taking the initiative to shake his hand.


    Upon hearing his words, the workers were puzzled, not quite understanding the meaning behind them.


    Qin Hao said, "You don''t have to work for now; come with me."


    Later, Xia Yingjie went to check other construction sites and without exception, all were using inferior rebar. Although they matched the size and appearance of those below, the differences in the core material were clearly visible at the fractured surfaces.


    Qin Hao''s face grew very dark. He took out his phone and called Li Bao: "Bring one hundred fifty men to the construction site of the new skyscraper, come as fast as you can."


    Not long after he had finished the call, more than a dozen people came up from below. They were supervisors from the four major construction engineering companies, responsible for various materials and overseeing the workers.


    "Mr. Qin, what brings you here?"


    Upon seeing Qin Hao, the supervisors hurried over, feeling uneasy. They didn''t know whether Qin Hao had detected anything amiss.


    Qin Hao looked at them with a smile, "Just here to take a look."


    Seeing his calm demeanor, the supervisors breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he hadn''t noticed anything; after all, a layman would not be able to tell the difference.


    The construction workers couldn''t tell either. The rebar looked identical in shape and surface appearance, so what could they discern?


    Qin Hao said, "This is my first visit, and despite the cold weather, everyone is still working. You all have worked hard. I''ve come just in time to have a meeting with everyone. Stop what you''re doing and come down with me."


    One after another, the crowd followed him down, and all the employees were gathered on an open space¡ªhundreds of them¡ªwith management from the four construction engineering companies standing at the front and the ordinary workers at the back.


    They all looked at Qin Hao, unsure of what the meeting was about.


    Qin Hao stood there, with Xia Yingjie, Tian Rong, Xia Qing, Leng Xuan, and others standing quietly behind him, not uttering a word.


    For several minutes, Qin Hao didn''t speak, and the crowd watched him, not daring to break the silence. What was Mr. Qin about to do? Why wasn''t he saying anything?


    ...


    At that moment, dozens of cars drove in from outside, and a group of people quickly got out and ran over.


    The people from the four construction engineering companies and the workers were startled. Who were these newcomers and what were they about to do?


    "Mr. Qin."


    Li Bao and his men arrived at Qin Hao''s side and respectfully called him.


    Qin Hao instructed, "Take control of all those wearing red caps."


    The personnel from Feibao Security Company immediately sprang into action. The managers and supervisors from the four construction engineering companies had a drastic change in their expressions. Some tried to flee, but they were no match for the swift members of the Flying Leopard Security Team.


    Within a minute, dozens of the construction engineering company personnel were all taken into custody.


    "Mr. Qin, what are you doing?" someone asked frantically.


    Qin Hao''s expression was stern, "What am I doing? Don''t you know in your heart about the inferior rebar you used? What are these inspectors for? Let me tell you, get ready to spend a lifetime in prison."


    Qin Hao said to Xia Yingjie, "Mr. Xia, take some people with you to collect the procurement lists and other evidence."


    Xia Yingjie led people into the offices of the supervisors and managers.


    "Mr. Qin, this has nothing to do with us; we don''t know anything," the ordinary construction workers quickly said.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "I know this matter is unrelated to everyone here; there''s no need to be nervous. How is your salary calculated?"


    "Mr. Qin, we are paid by the job, a set amount per square meter," one dark-skinned worker replied.


    Now that such a major issue had arisen, the work was sure to stop, and many workers sighed internally. It wasn''t easy to find such a good place to work with abundant work and timely wages.


    What weighed on them most was the prospect that they might not receive their wages for the half-month''s work, which would mean working for nothing.


    Qin Hao asked, "So, how much can everyone roughly earn in a month?"


    The dark-skinned worker continued, "If we work without taking leave or days off for a month, we can make about eight to nine thousand yuan."


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Now, with this issue on the construction site, the work will definitely have to stop, and everyone will need to take a break. We''ll have to tear down and restart the work once the problem is resolved."


    "Mr. Qin, we... we can''t wait."


    Their families depended on them, both the old at home and the young depending on them; they couldn''t afford to wait. If the work here stopped, they would have to find other construction sites to work on.


    Their simple statement of "cannot wait" revealed an endless dose of hardship.


    Qin Hao understood their predicament. He sympathized with these people who worked tirelessly to earn a living.


    They lacked education, were not college graduates, and did the hardest and most exhausting jobs society had to offer. They were referred to as dirty migrant workers by some people.


    But the money they earned came from their sweat and effort. Those who looked down on them, in Qin Hao''s view, were even less respectable.


    He said with a smile, "I plan to start a construction engineering company. I wonder if anyone would like to join? If there is no work for a whole month, I will pay each of you a salary of ten thousand yuan, along with social security and housing fund. If there is work, each of you will get twenty thousand a month, with the same benefits."


    [Third update]

 Chapter 590 592 Compensation

    These construction workers, upon hearing his words, looked stunned, feeling somewhat dizzy.


    "Mr. Qin, you aren''t joking, are you?" the dark-skinned man asked, looking at him.


    All the other construction workers were also staring at him, their eyes filled with excitement.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Everyone, rest assured, when the time comes, we''ll sign a labor contract that has legal protection. Moreover, I, Qin Hao, am the richest man in the world, so this amount of money is definitely within my capacity."


    Everyone nodded in agreement, convinced by his reputation as the richest man in the world.


    Soon after, Xia Yingjie came out with his team, carrying a thick list of purchases; they had already obtained much evidence.


    The most concrete evidence was still those towering steel bars at the construction site.


    Qin Hao immediately called the police, then phoned Feng Xiangyi, asking her to prepare to sue the top four construction companies.


    Before leaving, Qin Hao told the workers, "Everyone, stay here for a day or two. I''ll arrange for someone to come and sign contracts with you. I''m also planning to build a factory, and you can work there."


    Qin Hao left, having arranged for some people to guard the construction site to prevent anyone from entering.


    The top four construction companies only became aware of the situation after the police visited them after five in the afternoon.


    In the afternoon, Xia Yingjie registered a company, and Qin Hao transferred fifty billion as registered capital, while Chang Jing transferred three hundred billion.


    By five-thirty, Qin Hao had returned home. He wasn''t feeling very upset, thinking the situation could have been unimaginable had Xia Yingjie not come to inspect.


    Clearly, those four top construction companies were trying to undermine him, and there were definitely people behind the scenes messing with him.


    Now, Qin Hao had offended too many people, but there were also many who relied on his influence to survive; this was normal.


    The development of his various companies had definitely provoked the interests of many people, who had always been looking for opportunities to mess with him.


    Han Meng saw Qin Hao sitting with a furrowed brow and poured him a glass of water, quietly sitting next to him.


    Suddenly, Qin Hao''s phone rang. He looked at it, a cold smile appearing on his face as he answered the call.


    A middle-aged man''s voice came from the phone, "Mr. Qin, how much money would it take to talk things over? Just so you don''t blow this up."


    Qin Hao replied, "Scared now? What took you so long? I''ll tell you, it''s too late, we''ll see each other in court."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao, seeing Han Meng next to him, asked with a smile, "Meng, has your brother arrived?"


    Han Meng replied, "He''s already here, he''s currently training at Feibao Company."


    Qin Hao asked, "And Ying? Hasn''t she returned yet?"


    Han Meng answered, "Mr. Zhao and Ms. Wang have returned, so Yu Ying should be home too."


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, "Oh, I see. Did Qiao''er also go there to play?"


    "Yes, Qiao''er went there in the afternoon."


    After dinner, Qin Hao entered his study, logged onto Wei Yan, and posted from his account about the incident at the construction site.


    He didn''t spare the four major construction companies any face, exposing everything.


    These were Xuan Country''s most prestigious four major construction companies; the news caused a huge sensation, especially among the companies that had previously worked with them, prompting them to start self-inspection initiatives.


    Qin Hao''s exposure was accompanied by irrefutable evidence, as that lent credibility to the claims.


    These four large construction engineering groups are all well-known domestic enterprises, and they often undertake large foreign construction projects. The news had a significant impact.


    The official reaction was also swift, as authorities immediately dispatched personnel to take control of the leaders of the four major construction groups for a thorough investigation.


    As government enterprises, the responsible persons are definitely accountable for any issues, and it is very likely that the leaders will be replaced.


    ...


    This afternoon, another piece of news went viral online, Xinghai Payments has entered various major shopping malls, and many malls have canceled TT Payments and Amao Net Shopping payments.


    This dealt a significant blow to the two giants, with their market value evaporating daily, and the situation was getting worse.


    If this trend continues and stock prices keep falling, it will trigger a chain reaction among the shareholders. If everyone starts selling their stocks, the resulting harm and impact could be greater than the damage caused by Qin Hao.


    Stock market collapse would severely affect the operation of Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping.


    Now they must stabilize the stock market.


    The next morning, officials went to the construction site to collect other evidence.


    Xia Yingjie was busy; he first rented an office space in an office building, then recruited people from the job market and online.


    Qin Hao had Chang Jing send some people to help, and by the afternoon they had signed labor contracts with the workers on the site.


    The financial markets were also turbulent; at the opening of the stock market, the shares of Tenglong Group and Amao Net Shopping plummeted, with countless people selling their holdings, because if they didn''t act now, they might end up losing everything.


    Not only these two companies, but stocks of the four major construction groups also plummeted in a cliff-like manner.


    The financial tyrants and capital giants, whose sense of smell is incredibly sharp, sensed that after the major shopping malls switched to Xinghai Payments, Amao Net Shopping was hardly able to resist, and Tenglong Group would have been even worse off if it weren''t for its gaming business.


    The land for Xinghai Automobile Company was approved, with very high efficiency.


    Now, with Xinghai Company and Qin Hao''s high status in Jianghai, Qin Hao''s opening of new companies in Jianghai was contributing to Jianghai City''s GDP, and, with the connection to Xu Jiejian, the efficiency was remarkably fast.


    Once the land was approved, construction could start within the next couple of days.


    In the afternoon, another event occurred, Qin Hao sued the four major construction engineering companies in court, demanding compensation of twenty-seven billion for various losses and costs amounting to ninety-seven billion.


    This amount of money was not substantial for the four major construction groups; they could afford it, but the impact of this incident was something they could not withstand.


    The leaders of the group had already been taken away for investigation, involving corruption transactions, which are definitely subject to government investigation in state-owned enterprises.


    The court would hold a hearing for the case three days later.


    That day, Qin Hao did not go out; at noon, Du Wanrou came from Jiangshan to Jianghai City, and Du Hongfeng and his wife were also busy with matters concerning the Huamei Company, which Qin Hao had handed over to them.


    "Wan Rou, when are you leaving?" Qin Hao asked.


    Du Wanrou, "I''ll leave in a couple of days. There''s no spring break and classes have already started over there. I plan to study majors like Corporate Management and Economics and Finance, and then come back to help you manage the company."


    Qin Hao, "The company really lacks high-end management personnel right now, Wan Rou, you must be careful in the Federation, I have quite a few enemies there."


    Du Wanrou smiled, "Don''t worry, there won''t be any problems. Su Fei is also there."


    As the days passed, Du Wanrou later went to the Federation, and the court''s judgment was also issued, according to the laws and regulations, the four major construction engineering groups were required to compensate Qin Hao with a total of 124 billion.


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 591 593 Business Empire

    ```


    After the court''s verdict was issued, the skyscraper that was nearly twenty stories tall was demolished, and then reconstruction began.


    Qin Hao tasked Xia Yingjie with full responsibility for this reconstruction, instructing him to directly recruit workers.


    Currently, half of the workers were constructing the Xinghai Automobile Factory, while the other half returned to the skyscraper construction site.


    These workers came from all over the country and were well-acquainted with many other workers, introducing even more people to join Xinghai Construction Engineering Company.


    Xia Yingjie purchased all kinds of heavy industrial machinery as these would be indispensable for future construction projects.


    In the blink of an eye, it was the end of February, and that month, Qin Hao provided hundreds of thousands of chipsets to the Ross family of the Northern Federation.


    In March, Xinghai Company would officially supply low-end smartphone chipsets to the Ross family of the Northern Federation and the Innsil Family of the Western Continent. Even being low-end, these chipsets outperformed the high-end models of major brands, with a set supply of five hundred thousand units per month.


    March was a month of significant fruition for Xinghai High-tech Company, which after several months of accumulation, had finally taken its chipset production to the next level.


    At the end of February, another piece of news spread through the internet: Xinghai High-tech Company had entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Jiangqi Automobile Group. They would jointly create artificial intelligence unmanned vehicles at a price of around seventy to eighty thousand.


    This news caused quite a stir. Unmanned vehicles with artificial intelligence for only seventy to eighty thousand?


    As for their performance, no one doubted¡ªdays of intense online discussion about the military''s unmanned combat aircraft had already proved their prowess.


    The Xuan Country military and Xinghai High-tech Company developed unmanned combat aircraft called the War Eagles, which were superior in performance and highly agile. They shot down eighteen foreign unmanned combat aircraft, overwhelming the drones of other countries.


    Some domestic and international experts even predicted that the War Eagle unmanned combat aircraft could outperform manned fighters piloted by ace pilots, suggesting that the dangerous profession of pilot might become obsolete in the future.


    Xuan Country had already begun mass-producing the War Eagle series of unmanned combat aircraft and, for now, was not selling them abroad!


    This was the first time Xuan Country''s unmanned combat aircraft dominated the international stage.


    If unmanned flight in aircraft was possible, people had no reason to doubt Xinghai High-tech Company''s research in the automotive field.


    ...


    On the morning of March 1st, which fell on a weekend and was also the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, Qin Hao was having breakfast when Zhao Yuying came in from outside. She smiled and said, "Xiao Hao, our movie was released at midnight today. Guess how much the box office is now?"


    Qin Hao was taken aback, Zhao Yuying''s mention of this made him realize he had almost forgotten about it. After thinking for a moment, he said, "With a global release and since it''s the Lantern Festival holiday, the box office should be high. How much exactly, Ying?"


    Zhao Yuying smiled and said, "Thanks to the positive response to the trailers and the advertising campaign, from midnight till now, 7:36 AM, the domestic box office has reached 136 million.


    Currently, it''s ranked first in the domestic daily box office, with ''Captain of the Northern Federation 4'' in second place at 50 million. Our film is topping the online discussion charts with great public praise, and box office numbers should surge during the day and evening."


    Qin Hao nodded, "What about the overseas box office?"


    Zhao Yuying: "We haven''t received that data yet, probably not as impressive as here, but it shouldn''t be too far off."


    Qin Hao: "I have some things to do during the day, but let''s watch our movie together tonight and see how the final product turns out."


    Zhao Yuying, still smiling, said: "Okay, I''ll head to the company now."


    ```


    She came over to bring good news to Qin Hao, "Mechanical Soldier" is very likely to break the domestic box office record for the opening day, and even the total box office record could possibly be shattered.


    "Daddy, are we going to watch the movie tonight?" Qiao''er asked with a smile.


    Qin Hao nodded, "Hmm, wait for Daddy to come home."


    After breakfast, Qin Hao went to Xinghai High-tech Company. Right next to the company was the Xinghai Automobile Factory, which was currently under construction.


    Nearly a hundred intelligent robots were working on the construction site, and with their strong memory and learning abilities, once they learned how to do something, their work efficiency was extremely high.


    Not just here, there were almost four hundred intelligent robots working on the skyscraper construction site.


    Inside Chang Jing''s office, Qin Hao walked in and saw that Chang Jing was on the phone. These days, she had been very busy; large domestic and international aviation manufacturing companies were all contacting her, hoping to collaborate.


    Xinghai High-tech''s unmanned driving technology was very advanced, and these aviation companies also wanted to make their airplanes more advanced. Most importantly, they couldn''t fall behind other companies, or else they would be eliminated by the market.


    It was the market that was forcing them to cooperate with Xinghai High-tech; otherwise, they would face the risk of going bankrupt and closing down.


    Lately, Xinghai High-tech issued a statement saying they would open to cooperation and Xinghai Company would conduct partnerships through tenders, which finally reduced the number of calls Chang Jing received significantly.


    After hanging up the phone, Chang Jing said to him, "Mr. Qin, that was a call from the president of the Shuangxing Group in Beidou Country."


    The Shuangxing Group? Qin Hao showed an interested expression: This was a large conglomerate with cross-government business involvement, spanning electronics, aviation, commodities, insurance, finance, and more.


    The most famous was the Samsung Group in the electronics industry, almost as renowned as the AP Group of the Northern Federation. It was a super financial conglomerate of Beidou Country, capable of competing with the large financial groups of the Northern Federation.


    Shuangxing Group was a family-owned enterprise in Beidou Country, a private company. The Shuangxing Group had many electronics factories in Xuan Country that provided a large number of jobs. Their salary and benefits were also among the better ones in the electronics industry.


    Qin Hao''s impression of them was quite good, "They want to cooperate?"


    Chang Jing nodded, "Mobile phones, aviation, and various other fields all want to collaborate with us. I told them we could talk next month since our current production is not enough."


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, "Don''t worry about these for now. How are the three internet giants doing?"


    "Mr. Qin, you should come and take a look yourself. Send the data to my computer," Chang Jing said to the intelligent computer Xiao Xing.


    Qin Hao walked over to Chang Jing and looked at the computer. First was the active user count of Xinghai Social Software over the past week, with daily active users around six hundred million, which was incredibly impressive.


    In contrast, the daily active users of TT Social Software had plummeted from over six hundred million to around one hundred million, barely sustained by gamers.


    Xinghai''s search engine had around four hundred million daily active users while Qian Du''s daily user activity had dwindled to just a few million, teetering on the brink of closure.


    In the online and offline mobile payment market, Xinghai Payment dominated, seizing eighty-seven percent of the mobile payment market.


    The previous balance of power of two major players was completely disrupted, and now they could only shrink back to a corner.


    Xinghai Mall held an eighty-three percent market share while Amao Net Shopping was left with just eight percent, the remainder split among other e-commerce platforms.


    The three giants were at a significant disadvantage, and the blueprint for Qin Hao''s business empire was gradually taking shape.


    [First Update]

 Chapter 592 594: The Capabilities of Artificial Intelligence

    Chang Jing spoke up, "Qian Du Company is already struggling to stay afloat. If it hadn''t been for the glimmer of hope seen in self-driving cars, Qian Du Company would probably have gone bankrupt by now."


    "Self-driving cars?" Qin Hao chuckled.


    Chang Jing said, "The stock of Qian Du Company has already plummeted. Investors have been divesting and selling off Qian Du''s shares en masse. If it weren''t for Li Fengyu dipping into his own pockets to buy a large amount of stock, Qian Du couldn''t have held out this long."


    Qin Hao asked, "Dipping into his own pockets? He must have had to use all his savings over the years, right?"


    Chang Jing nodded, "Exactly, this time, Li Fengyu sold several of his houses, putting all his funds in self-driving technology."


    This time, Li Fengyu was bound to fail, for Jiangqi Group''s intelligent self-driving cars were already in production under intense secrecy.


    Xinghai High-tech''s artificial intelligence technology was very mature, and the first vehicle could be produced in about half a month, which would mark the moment of despair for Li Fengyu.


    Qin Hao could imagine his ending, but he had no choice, such is the nature of the business battleground.


    If one day Qin Hao fell, his fate would not be much better; certainly, there would be many waiting to kick him while he was down.


    Qin Hao said, "If I could come up with one or two more blockbuster games, Tenglong Group''s downfall wouldn''t be far off."


    Chang Jing added, "The user base is definitely going to shrink further. Whether the company goes bankrupt depends on how Ren Huachen deals with it. If he still holds out hope and dips into his own pockets, then Tenglong Group may hold on for a while longer."


    Qin Hao looked down at her and asked, "What''s the difference between that and going bankrupt? How many game developers are there now?"


    Chang Jing replied, "About sixty. They are also researching games, but their work can''t compare to Tenglong Group''s game team; the gap is quite significant."


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, "That''s not a problem. Mr. Chang, what do you think of Lv Tian?"


    Chang Jing sat in her chair, turned her head towards him upon hearing his words, their faces just a few inches apart.


    Her rosy lips parted lightly, "Lv Tian is undoubtedly competent, with many methods up his sleeve. And he always comes up with unusual and effective strategies; otherwise, his Amao Net Shopping wouldn''t have reached its current extent."


    Qin Hao asked, "What do you think about having him as your subordinate?"


    Chang Jing replied, "That would be fine; if he comes, he can take on a lot of responsibilities. Internet matters can be left to him. But do you think he would agree?"


    Qin Hao''s smile carried a self-assured charm, "Even someone like you is willing to approach him proactively; do you think he would refuse?"


    Upon hearing this, Chang Jing''s cheeks flushed red, and she pushed him away, "What do you mean I''m approaching proactively? I''m looking at the long-term benefits. Don''t make it sound so vulgar, okay? It makes me seem like... something else."


    "Mr. Chang, you''re overthinking it. I have some other matters to attend to so I''m going back to my office," Qin Hao said as he exited her office and entered his own.


    Back in his office, Qin Hao opened the system marketplace; he had proper business to attend to at the company.


    After searching for a while within the system marketplace, Qin Hao found what he was looking for: the Basic Interstellar Radar Navigation Satellite Intelligence System, priced at six million achievement points.


    The Basic Interstellar Radar Navigation Satellite System could be used on interstellar battleships or on planets, providing navigation services for land, sea, and air.


    Qin Hao considered looking for other items but didn''t find anything, so he chose to exchange for the radar navigation satellite system. The technology partly involved military aspects, which would be a serious issue if exposed.


    But without a navigation system, intelligent self-driving cars would be blind, even though they might still be roadworthy; the lack of a navigation system would severely impact their use.


    Leasing someone else''s navigation satellite offered no guarantee¡ªself-reliance was key.


    After learning the technology, a contemplative look appeared in Qin Hao''s eyes, and through the Star Domain Network, he sent the research and manufacturing technology to Mechanical Soldier 001. Such confidential matters naturally had to be entrusted to robots like 001.


    This was a matter of great importance, and once produced, nobody, including Chang Jing, could know about it.


    If the news got out, the charges against him would be serious. In Xuan Country, only the state could possess military technology; individual companies were not allowed to research it.


    Arms were always under strict control in Xuan Country, and the satellite market was similarly regulated by various nations¡ªonly states were entitled to launch them.


    After leaving instructions for Mechanical Soldier 001 online, Qin Hao sat in his office chair, agonizing over the decision for a long time before he finally exhaled, "Let everything follow my heart."


    Some things, when held in one''s hands, instill a sense of security.


    He had no ulterior motives; he simply hoped to have the strength to protect his family, friends, and country.


    Not everyone in the nation''s leadership was incorruptible and devoted to the people¡ªmany were living for their own desires. With so many uncertainties, he dared not take risks.


    Qin Hao continued to browse the system marketplace, looking for a mobile and a PC game. His main goal was to topple the three giants of the internet industry.


    He quickly found two games. The PC game was "Mechanical Soldier," which prominently featured controlling various mecha in combat and was also a 5V5 team battle game.


    Mecha came in many varieties, including those specialized for defense, agility, attack, as well as balanced warrior-type mechas, among others.


    This game also had an upgrade feature, and once intelligent wearable technology matured, players wearing smart gear would feel like they had truly entered another world.


    The current VR9D technology already had this effect, but it was not yet mature, and importantly, the gaming graphics and effects lacked refinement, which required further effort from game companies.


    Qin Hao''s goal was not to develop an ultra-realistic virtual game but to crush Tenglong Group''s gaming industry.


    The development of this virtual game could follow later; the current conditions of people''s lives didn''t allow for it yet.


    The mobile game was also "Mechanical Soldier," but with slight modifications to suit mobile user operation.


    The two games cost him a total of four million achievement points.


    He began writing code on the computer, planning to hand it over to the game development department once completed.


    Suddenly, the voice of the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing resonated, "Master, are you writing game code?"


    Qin Hao asked, "What about it?"


    Xiao Xing said, "Master, anything related to the network can be entrusted to me. I have now switched to a large server, and my processing capability is very strong. I can create the game, and it will be absolutely in accordance with your requirements."


    Qin Hao was taken aback, "Damn, you have this function?"


    Xiao Xing confirmed, "Yes, Master, Xiao Xing can handle anything related to the network."


    Qin Hao was indeed surprised; he hadn''t been aware of this feature, "How long will it take you to research these two games?"


    [Second update]

 Chapter 593 595: The Flying Car

    Xiaoxing paused and said, "It might take two or three hours, because Xiaoxing still needs to check the Star Domain Network and can''t focus solely on this."


    Qin Hao was so astonished that his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets¡ªtwo or three hours? And not even at full capacity?


    But then he came to understand. Xiaoxing''s server body was of the highest grade, with processing chips, storage chips, and so on all being top-notch, which meant its processing power must be formidable.


    As Qin Hao typed on his computer while Xiaoxing was at work, it was the perfect moment. The "Mechanical Soldier" movie was a hit, so these two games could also ride on its popularity. After all, it was his own movie, so it wouldn''t count as copyright infringement.


    Just as he was about to finish, Chang Jing walked in, holding two lunch boxes in her hands: "Stop working for now, let''s eat first."


    Qin Hao smiled, "I''m almost done, let''s wait a bit."


    "Look how happy you are, what''s up?" Chang Jing said as she put the meals on the coffee table and sat down.


    Two or three minutes later, Qin Hao finished his work and stood up, saying, "I discovered a function of Xiaoxing''s: she can independently research and produce both hand and computer games."


    Upon hearing this, Chang Jing''s expression was one of startled surprise, "It can develop games on its own?"


    Qin Hao took a seat and replied, "Yeah, you give it the game program, and it can make it by itself, and it also has the capacity for independent research and development."


    Eating her meal, Chang Jing commented, "That''s just incredibly powerful. There''d be no need for game developers anymore."


    Qin Hao opened his lunchbox and was taken aback, "Mr. Chang, did you not bring chopsticks?"


    Chang Jing glanced at his lunchbox and said with an embarrassed laugh, "Li must have forgotten, I''ll use a spoon. You can use the chopsticks¡ªI haven''t touched them yet."


    Qin Hao took them and started to eat. The morning had flown by without him knowing, and he was starving.


    While eating, Chang Jing asked, "Mr. Qin, what kind of car are you planning to produce? Do you have the most important technology, the engine?"


    Qin Hao answered with a smile, "Have you ever seen a flying car?"


    "Pfft"


    Chang Jing couldn''t help but spit out the rice she had just put into her mouth, and it landed right on Qin Hao''s face.


    Qin Hao froze in his spot, "Come on, what are you doing, sis?"


    "I... cough cough..." Chang Jing turned and started coughing.


    Qin Hao stood up and went to the washroom inside his office. This inner office even had a bed for resting at night when work was busy.


    After washing his face, Qin Hao came out and looked at Chang Jing, whose cheeks were tinged with a slight red and who seemed a bit embarrassed, "Mr. Qin, I''m sorry, I couldn''t help it."


    Qin Hao returned to his seat, "What''s so funny? I wasn''t telling you a joke just now."


    Chang Jing explained, "No, it''s just that my thoughts ran away with me. Go on, Mr. Qin, a flying car, you mean like the magnetic levitation trains in novels?"


    Qin Hao said, "Magnetic levitation is fine on a specific track, just like the current maglev trains, but cars are different from trains.


    "They don''t have a specific track to follow, and the earth''s magnetic force is too weak to rely on unless you use it in conjunction with a compatible road surface. If you''ve got to places without the right infrastructure, it''s useless. It''s not impossible to realize; it''s just too flawed."


    Chang Jing looked at him and asked, "So what kind of car are you talking about, Mr. Qin? A flying car would use up so much fuel."


    ...


    Qin Hao looked at her in disbelief, "Mr. Chang, can''t you just imagine a bit more boldly? Do future high-tech cars still use gasoline?"


    "Then are they powered by aerospace fuel? That would be too expensive to use, it''s just unaffordable."


    Qin Hao thought Chang Jing was pretty smart usually; how could she come up with such a ludicrous response?


    Aerospace fuel? Why don''t you just say rocket fuel?


    Chang Jing felt insulted when she saw the idiotic look in Qin Hao''s eyes, "Hey, what''s with that look?"


    Qin Hao spoke up, "I always thought Mr. Chang was pretty smart, so how could you come up with such a laughable response?"


    Chang Jing: "Laughable? What''s so funny about it? Don''t high-end planes and spacecraft use aerospace fuel? Is there something wrong with that thinking?"


    Qin Hao didn''t keep her guessing any longer and replied directly, "The cars I am researching don''t burn fuel, are clean, pollution-free, and can even fly."


    "That powerful?" Chang Jing looked at him in surprise.


    But she couldn''t comprehend how a car could fly without burning fuel, as she had never seen the high-tech technology of the future.


    Inertial thinking limited her imagination; not just hers, but the imagination of most people is limited by the inertial thinking of the current era.


    Let dreams soar, imagine boldly, anything is possible.


    After lunch, Qin Hao said to Chang Jing, "Mr. Chang, could you help me clean this up, please?"


    Chang Jing gave him a look and took the lunch box to wash it.


    Sitting on the sofa, Qin Hao opened Wei Yan and saw that the discussions about "Mechanical Soldier" were still hot, overshadowing all other topics.


    Radar navigation and intelligent satellites would take some time to develop, but that just needed to be completed before the Air Energy Car.


    The three major giants were already engaged in a fierce battle, and the longer it went on, the more disadvantageous it would be for them.


    The game from Xinghai Company was about to be released, and then Qin Hao could just wait for the three giants to go bankrupt, a day that wouldn''t be too far off.


    These three giants had a substantial foundation, so expecting them to go bankrupt so quickly was unrealistic.


    That Qin Hao had come this far was already terrifying, all thanks to Star Domain Network. Without it, toppling the three giants would have taken him a very, very long time.


    He could take a break now; building the car factory and starting operations would take at least two months.


    Work on the other building had resumed, and working day and night, it was estimated to take a little over a year.


    After washing up, Chang Jing returned and asked with curiosity, "Mr. Qin, I just got a message from 001 asking me to prepare some materials."


    Qin Hao: "Mhm, I have asked 001 and the others to research something, whatever materials they need you provide."


    Chang Jing nodded, "Mr. Qin, can you tell me again what kind of car you''re researching? What car can fly?"


    "Do you know what an Air Energy Car is?" Qin Hao countered.


    After some thought, Chang Jing shook her head, "I''ve never heard of it, Air Energy Car?"


    Qin Hao: "That''s right, a kind of air energy engine technology. It''s quite complex, but to put it simply, it can instantly absorb air and the powerful airflow entering the engine produces a form of energy. The air energy engine then converts this energy into kinetic energy, allowing the car to fly."


    Chang Jing partially understood but, seeing how serious Qin Hao was, she believed he wasn''t joking. If this were true, it would likely lead to another industrial revolution.


    Is he even from Earth? How can he invent so many things?


    Qin Hao noticed her look, "Why are you staring at me like that, Mr. Chang? Admiring me?"


    Chang Jing scoffed, "Pfft, what''s there for me to admire in you?"


    Qin Hao replied indifferently, "There''s not much going on in the company, so you take care of things, Mr. Chang. I''m going to relax for a few days."


    "Are you relaxing, or are you going to pick up girls?"


    ...


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 594 596 Brother-in-law, Someone is Bullying Me

    Qin Hao smiled faintly, "Is Mr. Chang feeling jealous?"


    Chang Jing pouted, "I just think it''s unfair. I''m working like a dog every day, while you''re so carefree."


    "That''s because I''m the boss." After saying that, Qin Hao left the office.


    Chang Jing watched his retreating figure and returned to her office.


    Once out of the office building, Qin Hao made a phone call to Du Wanrou, "How''s Wan Rou doing in the Federation?"


    With a groggy voice, Du Wanrou said, "Why are you calling me so late?"


    Qin Hao, "Oh, I forgot it''s midnight over there. It''s nothing serious, go back to sleep, and I''ll call you again when it''s day time there."


    "Mm." Du Wanrou hung up the phone drowsily.


    Qin Hao got into his car and called Fan Ruobing, "Hey, Ruobing, where are you now?"


    Fan Ruobing responded, "I''m at home."


    "I''m coming to see you, wait for me at home."


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao arrived at Fan Ruobing''s house, and she closed the door, asking him, "Is the company not busy anymore?"


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "Yeah, should be able to take a few days off. Are you alone at home? Where''s your aunt?"


    Fan Ruobing said indifferently, "She hasn''t been here since that time."


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, "What happened? Does your aunt not approve of you and me being together?"


    Fan Ruobing, "She can''t even control herself, what right does she have to control me? Do you remember Wei Jiaxing?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Isn''t he the vice president of your mother''s company? I met him when I went to your mom''s company with you."


    Fan Ruobing, "That''s him. My mom is with him now. Wei Jiaxing''s gaze towards me is greedy, it''s obvious he''s also interested in my body. I really don''t understand how my mom could be with someone like him."


    Qin Hao didn''t know how to respond to that question. Her mother had been single for so many years, maybe it was just for physical needs!


    Wang Shudan was well maintained and still charming.


    Did Wei Jiaxing want both mother and daughter? If he touched Fan Ruobing, Qin Hao wouldn''t let him off.


    In fact, he felt a little regretful. He had hoped to help Fan Chengye and Wang Shudan reconcile, but Wang Shudan had found another man.


    Qin Hao warned her, "Then be careful around him in the future."


    Fan Ruobing wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his chest, "Yeah, I know. He came over a few times the past few days, claiming he wanted to discuss his and my mom''s situation with me, but I didn''t let him in."


    With a naughty smile, Qin Hao suggested, "Let''s go painting."


    Fan Ruobing''s cheeks flushed, knowing full well Qin Hao didn''t mean painting at all...


    ...


    "Are you with me just to satisfy your own desires?" Fan Ruobing softly asked him.


    Qin Hao, "Actually, there''s definitely that desire influencing me, but it''s a very, very small part."


    His answer was honest. Anybody would have some level of desire for such a girlfriend.


    But if it were all about that kind of desire, the interest would fade over time, because one would get tired and seek a change.


    Qin Hao did have a slight desire to conquer her, but there was more tenderness in his feelings. He would not let down anyone who loved him deeply, nor the ones he loved deeply.


    Having money and power really can bring significant changes to a person, and also breeds many desires.


    If he were still the ordinary and timid person he used to be, he wouldn''t dare to imagine his current life, let alone think about it.


    The statement, "When well-fed and warm, thoughts turn to desire," has been passed down for a hundred years for good reason.


    With money and power, one''s heart undergoes a transformation¡ªa subtle and imperceptible change that you may not even notice yourself.


    Fan Ruobing, rarely smiling, said, "Do you know what I like about you?"


    Qin Hao asked, "What do you like about me?"


    Smiling, Fan Ruobing said, "Your sincerity and that little bit of personal charm."


    The two slept for a while and woke up after 3:30 in the afternoon.


    Fan Ruobing called out to him, "Get up now."


    "How about we go shopping?" suggested Qin Hao as he got out of bed.


    Fan Ruobing shook her head, "No, let''s stay at home and teach me to paint instead."


    Qin Hao understood her thoughts. Now that Qin Hao was a public figure, he would definitely attract a lot of attention outside, and she didn''t want to cause him any trouble.


    Qin Hao said, "Ruobing, give me some time. When the domestic internet is completely overtaken by the Star Domain Network, as long as I don''t want it, no one will be able to upload or discuss my matters online."


    With a smile, Fan Ruobing nodded, "Hmm, the three giants are about to be replaced by you. In my eyes, you are the most impressive."


    ...


    Around five in the afternoon, Qin Hao left Fan Ruobing''s house, boarded his car, and sent a message to Xinghai Company''s Artificial Intelligence Xiao Xing, instructing it to delete all his photos from the internet.


    That way, he would gradually disappear from the public eye.


    As soon as his motorcade left the residential complex, Qin Hao''s phone suddenly rang. He answered the call, "Hello, who is this?"


    "It''s me, brother-in-law," a woman''s voice came through the phone.


    Qin Hao was briefly confused. Brother-in-law? He soon remembered who it was; He Tingting had a cousin named Ding Shanshan.


    Curiously, he asked, "Shanshan? What''s up?"


    Ding Shanshan hurriedly said, "Brother-in-law, someone is bullying me. Please come save me, we are in Windsor KTV room 303 in Gaojiang District."


    Qin Hao exclaimed, "Who is bullying you?"


    "Strangers, a group from Beihai Country."


    Frowning, Qin Hao responded, "Then wait for me in the room; I''ll be right there."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao told Leng Xuan, "Go to Windsor KTV in Gaojiang District."


    The distance wasn''t far, and within minutes, Qin Hao arrived at Windsor KTV. He got out of the car and led Leng Xuan and his group into the KTV.


    There were service staff in Windsor KTV, and seeing Qin Hao entering with a group, one hurried over, "Sir, are you here to sing or to have fun?"


    Qin Hao responded, "I''m looking for someone. Take me to room 303."


    The server hesitated and asked, "Do you know the people in room 303?"


    "They are my friends."


    The server led him upstairs, and soon they arrived at room 303 on the third floor. The server knocked on the door and pushed it open.


    Qin Hao walked in. Ding Shanshan and four other young girls were sitting in the room; there was no sign of anyone bullying her.


    [First Release]

 Chapter 595 597 Calling Anyone at Will

    Qin Hao''s brows furrowed slightly as he spoke to the server, "You may leave for now."


    As soon as the server left, Ding Shanshan hurried over, grasping his hand, "Brother-in-law, you''re finally here."


    The few people with Ding Shanshan saw Qin Hao, and pairs of beautiful eyes fixed on him, "It''s really Mr. Qin, Mr. Qin, please take a photo with us."


    "Mr. Qin, I just watched ''Mechanical Soldier'' you starred in this morning. It''s so wonderful, I''m totally in love with you."


    Those four young girls ran over and surrounded Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao was completely exasperated. He looked at Ding Shanshan with a more serious tone, "Didn''t you say someone was bullying you? Are you playing games with me? Do you find this amusing?"


    Ding Shanshan quickly explained, "Brother-in-law, I''m not lying to you. Just now, a man from Beihai Country took advantage of me in the corridor. I kicked him twice, then a few people came out from their private room, including the boss of Windsor KTV. He told me that the person inside was someone I couldn''t afford to offend, and suggested that I let the matter rest."


    After she finished speaking, her eyes reddened slightly because Qin Hao''s tone had been clearly angry, and she felt somewhat aggrieved. She hadn''t lied to Qin Hao.


    Upon hearing her words, Qin Hao''s tone softened, "Someone I can''t afford to offend? That''s quite a bold claim. Where are they?"


    Ding Shanshan quickly replied, "They''re inside the large private room, number 301."


    Qin Hao said, "Come with me. I want to see who exactly is this untouchable person."


    Stepping out of the private room, Qin Hao and his party arrived at the door of private room 301. Leng Xuan directly opened the door. Inside, there were seven or eight men and around a dozen young and beautiful girls with exquisite figures accompanying them.


    This was KTV personnel, also colloquially known as ''little princesses''¡ªa bit higher-end and more expensive!


    Ding Shanshan and the others walked in. Nie Hongwen, the boss of Windsor KTV, saw them, frowning slightly, "Do you few think having backup makes you safe? Since you''re looking for death, I won''t bother with you anymore. You hit Mr. Sato''s friend. It''s already lenient that he hasn''t settled the score with you."


    "Is that so? You think you''re very impressive, huh?" Qin Hao walked in from behind, hands in pockets, looking at Nie Hongwen.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao, Nie Hongwen''s complexion changed subtly, "Mr. Qin...Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, "Turn off the music and turn on the lights."


    The music inside the private room came to an abrupt halt, and the lights were turned up brightly, illuminating everyone clearly. Qin saw the people inside.


    Apart from Nie Hongwen and the young women, the rest were people from Beihai Country.


    Qin Hao looked at Nie Hongwen, "So, you''re the boss of Windsor KTV?"


    Nie Hongwen stood up with an awkward smile, "So it''s Mr. Qin. What a surprise, like a flood hitting the Dragon King''s Temple¡ªis this young lady one of yours?"


    Qin Hao looked at him coldly, "We''ll discuss your issue in a moment. Stand by the wall for now and watch."


    Nie Hongwen stood there awkwardly, caught between the Sato family of Beihai Country and Qin Hao¡ªboth of whom he couldn''t afford to offend.


    "Mr. Nie, who are these people?" asked the leader among the group seated, a man in his mid-twenties, with a detached tone.


    Yankou Dazhuang spoke in Japanese, "Young master, it was that woman who kicked me twice just now. Initially, I didn''t plan to bother with her, but now they''ve even come knocking."


    Nie Hongwen, "Mr. Sato, this is Mr. Qin from the Xinghai High-tech Company."


    Sato Tarou turned his head to look at Qin Hao and said with a faint smile, "So, you''re Mr. Qin. I''ve long admired your name. Please take a seat."


    Qin Hao glanced at Sato Tarou, then turned to look at Nie Hongwen, "I don''t want to repeat myself."


    Sato Tarou, seeing that Qin Hao paid him no mind, narrowed his eyes slightly, a glint of sharpness passing through them.


    Nie Hongwen''s face stiffened, and he hesitated, until Leng Xuan and another person walked over and moved him aside.


    Qin Hao asked Ding Shanshan, "Who took advantage of you?"


    Ding Shanshan pointed to Yankou Dazhuang and said, "Brother-in-law, it was him, this fat guy with glasses."


    Yankou Dazhuang recognized Qin Hao; he was the head of Liangyi Store in the Xuan Country District and had seen Qin Hao once at an asset auction held by Ruixing Group.


    He was very aware of Qin Hao''s terrifying strength and capabilities in Xuan Country.


    But he didn''t show any fear because the person beside him was a key figure from one of Beihai Country''s six major wealthy families, the Sato Family.


    The Fu Feng Group in Beihai Country is the largest group owned by the Sato Family, involved in banking, real estate, steel, clothing, entertainment, precision engineering, and many other industries, with many world-renowned subsidiaries under its wing.


    If we''re talking about financial strength, Qin Hao couldn''t compare with this kind of wealthy family; these are world-famous financial powerhouses.


    There are too many hidden tycoons in the world who have never appeared in any newspapers or news because those newspapers and news outlets are their properties. If they don''t want people to know, then no one will know how wealthy they truly are.


    Just like the super wealthy consortia in the Northern Federation, how many people know about the Ross family or the Mosi Family?


    The rich list is just a means to push certain individuals into the spotlight to attract attention, nothing more.


    ...


    Qin Hao looked at Yankou Dazhuang, "Was it you who took advantage of my sister?"


    Yankou Dazhuang chuckled dryly, "Mr. Qin, your sister has already kicked me twice. We''re even now, why be so aggressive?"


    Qin Hao laughed angrily, "You were rude first, and yet you have the nerve to talk like that. The people of Beihai really do have thick skins. You think two kicks make us even? Where the hell did you get such a good deal?"


    Ding Shanshan quickly said, "Brother-in-law, when I kicked him, he was about to hit me. Then this Nie Hongwen stopped him, asking me to let bygones be bygones."


    Yankou Dazhuang''s face darkened, "What does Mr. Qin want, money or an apology?"


    Qin Hao said, "I''m not short of cash, and if apologies were useful, I have thousands of brothers under me. I''ll let them take advantage of your wife, then apologize. Do you think that would be okay?"


    Yankou Dazhuang snorted coldly, "Mr. Qin, don''t push too far. They were dressed like this; I mistook them for hostesses here by accident."


    "You''re the hostess, your whole family are hostesses!" Ding Shanshan cursed loudly.


    "This is called fashion, is it wrong to dress nicely? Die, fat pig."


    Qin Hao glanced at the attire of Ding Shanshan and her three friends; it wasn''t too revealing, and was completely different from the outfits of the women inside the room. Yankou Dazhuang was just making excuses for himself.


    Qin Hao asked Ding Shanshan, "Which hand did he touch you with?"


    "Right hand," Ding Shanshan quickly replied.


    Qin Hao said in a calm tone, "Put his right hand on the table."


    Two members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion rushed up, pressed Yankou Dazhuang to the coffee table, and laid his right hand on the table as well.


    The women around, as if anticipating what was to come, let out shrill screams and hurriedly retreated to the back.


    "Mr. Sato, save me!" Yankou Dazhuang''s face changed drastically, and he called out to Sato Tarou for help.


    Sato Tarou''s face looked very awkward, as Qin Hao was giving him no face at all, "Is Mr. Qin trying to bully with numbers?"


    Qin Hao looked at him disdainfully, "Want to call for backup? I''ll give you the chance, call whoever you want, let''s see how many people you can bring in."


    [Second update, the chapters are getting longer, I can feel it myself that writing four chapters now takes more effort than before, mainly due to storyline and plot issues. Give me some time, don''t rush me, I don''t want to ruin this book.]

 Chapter 596 598 Sato Tarous Strength

    Sato Tarou watched as flashes of sharp light passed through Qin Hao''s eyes; he took out his mobile phone and made a call.


    Yankou Dazhuang was his man, representing one of the six major financial conglomerates of Beihai Country, the Sato Family. This shouldn''t have been a big deal¡ªas long as Qin Hao gave him some face, the matter would have been settled, and they could have even taken the opportunity to get acquainted.


    But Qin Hao was arrogant and insolent, showing no respect for the Sato Family.


    Qin Hao was indeed very prestigious and well-known at the moment, but in terms of heritage and strength, there was still a huge gap between him and a super conglomerate like the Sato Family.


    Nie Hongwen knew the strength of the Sato Family very well because he often dealt with businessmen from Beihai Country.


    He said, "Mr. Qin, why don''t we have Mr. Yankou apologize, and we can let this matter rest?"


    Qin Hao said, "Considering you didn''t join outsiders to bully one of our own, I''ll spare you this time. Just stand there and behave."


    After speaking, he too took out his mobile phone and made a call. If he couldn''t overpower a foreigner in Jianghai City, he would lose all his dignity.


    Flying Leopard Security Company was currently the biggest bodyguard company in Jianghai City; wealthy businessmen from all over the country would almost always personally visit Flying Leopard Security to select their bodyguards.


    Currently, there were thousands of active personnel, and Jiangshan Base was still actively recruiting and training.


    In Xiyu Country, Li Bao and Anna Insher had jointly set up a new security company, which had a firearms license. Every month, Li Bao would send a batch of people there to be trained in various firearms techniques.


    Li Bao asked, "What''s up, Hao?"


    Qin Hao answered indifferently, "Bring some people over, and bring more. There''s a troublesome foreigner here."


    A foreigner?


    Li Bao was momentarily stunned, then hastily said, "Okay, Hao, I''m bringing people over right now."


    Both sides hung up and glanced at each other. Nie Hongwen sighed internally, realizing that things were getting serious. Neither of these men was someone he could afford to offend.


    Gaojiang District, bar street.


    Bystanders on the roadside suddenly stopped to look towards the center of the road, as a convoy of black sedans entered from the east. The fleet stretched as far as the eye could see.


    "Wow, who is this? What a show!" someone exclaimed in surprise.


    "There must be over a hundred cars, right? What''s going on?" a girl on the sidewalk asked, her eyes filled with intense curiosity.


    "Look over there, another large group of cars has driven in."


    A girl said, "What''s happening here? Why do I feel like something big is going to happen? Jiang Xue, should we call the police?"


    Jiang Xue replied, "Let''s wait until something starts, we''ll stay back and record it with our phones. If a fight does break out, this will be the evidence."


    The curious girl said, "Who are they? Don''t they know what kind of place this is? Jianghai has always had good public order; who would dare cause trouble here?"


    Jiang Xue nonchalantly took out her phone, "Who knows? There are plenty of brazen people out there. If it really is some sinister force, I''ll definitely expose them."


    ...


    The vehicles from both sides nearly simultaneously stopped in front of Windsor KTV.


    People from the Flying Leopard Security Team quickly got out of their cars, and as Li Bao was about to enter, a group also came down from the opposite convoy.


    They were dressed as members of the Jianghai City Beihai Martial Arts Society and some from the Shenwu Security Company.


    Li Bao knew of the Shenwu Security Company, which was only second to the Snow Leopard Special Bodyguard Company and Sky Wolf Special Bodyguard Company, and considered top-tier in Jianghai City.


    However, in terms of numbers and quality, Shenwu Security Company still couldn''t compare to Flying Leopard Security.


    Li Bao, seeing the head of Shenwu Security, Yamakawa Tatsuyuki, with a smile said, "Oh, isn''t this Mr. Yamakawa from the fields? It''s so good to finally meet you."


    Yamakawa Tatsuyuki, expressionless, retorted, "Move aside. I don''t have time to spar with you verbally."


    Li Bao''s men blocked the entrance of the KTV, and more people were continuously arriving from behind.


    People on the street were taken aback after seeing the groups, thinking, aren''t these from Flying Leopard Security? The other side has people from Beihai Martial Arts Society and Shenwu Security Company. It looks like they''re about to fight.


    "Li Bao, what do you mean by this? I''m busy today, we can talk about our issue later," Yamakawa Tatsuyuki said as he tried to enter.


    A group of elite members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion had already blocked the entrance.


    Li Bao sneered, "No need to talk later. Let''s settle it all today."


    Upstairs in the private room, Sato Tarou''s people drew back the curtains and checked outside, "Mr. Sato, people have arrived, but they are blocked outside."


    Qin Hao looked at Sato Tarou and asked, "Need to call more people?"


    With an expressionless face, Sato Tarou looked at him, and Qin Hao said with a faint smile, "Let''s get started."


    Next to Leng Xuan, a member of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion approached the coffee table. Yankou Dazhuang, pale as a ghost, looked towards Sato Tarou, hoping he could save him.


    Ding Shanshan and several others were also terrified. She had asked Qin Hao to teach Yankou Dazhuang a lesson, but she did not intend for him to harm anyone.


    She gently touched Qin Hao''s hand with both of hers, "Brother-in-law, how about we let it go?"


    "It''s fine, let me handle whatever comes."


    Once Sato Tarou stood out, the significance of this incident changed.


    This was no longer merely a matter between Ding Shanshan and Yankou Dazhuang, but a confrontation between Qin Hao and Sato Tarou.


    One was a new magnate in the business world of Xuan Country, and the other was the young master of the Sato Group, one of Beihai Country''s six major consortia.


    This confrontation was like a needlepoint against wheat bran. Presently, Qin Hao had the upper hand, since this was Xuan Country, not Beihai Country.


    Furthermore, at their level of confrontation, they would not involve the police for any major issue, since calling the police wouldn''t make a difference.


    If this had occurred in Beihai Country, the outcome might have been uncertain.


    With a "snap", Yankou Dazhuang''s right hand was broken; he screamed in agony and passed out with eyes rolling back.


    With Yankou Dazhuang''s hand broken, Sato Tarou''s expression darkened terribly.


    "Let''s go." Qin Hao turned and walked out of the private room.


    Ding Shanshan and several others quickly followed, "Brother-in-law, there won''t be any trouble, right?"


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently, "What trouble could there be?"


    Ding Shanshan worriedly replied, "You broke his hand though; what if the police find out?"


    Qin Hao retorted, "It wasn''t me who did it, so let them find whoever they want. Now you start worrying? Avoid such places next time."


    "Oh, I understand, brother-in-law," Ding Shanshan said quietly.


    Qin Hao continued, "You four go out first. There are quite a few people gathered outside; it''s easier for someone to target you if you walk out with me."


    Ding Shanshan nodded and quickly led her friends out.


    At this point, Sato Tarou and his group had also come out of the private room.


    At the entrance of the Windsor KTV, the security staff inside were dumbfounded, with no one daring to step forward and ask what was happening.


    They had no idea what was going on. Why were people gathered at the entrance of our KTV?


    Soon, Qin Hao came down from above, and Li Bao hurried over, "Hao, you alright?"


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 597 599: The Six Major Zaibatsu

    Qin Hao shook his head and smiled faintly, "No worries, they sure have put up a big show across there."


    Li Bao said disdainfully, "All flash and no bang. Hao, don''t be fooled by the fact they''re from a martial arts school. Our guys from the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion could take on several of them single-handedly."


    At this moment, Sato Tarou and his group also came downstairs, and several people from Beihai Country hurried in: "Mr. Sato, are you okay?"


    Qin Hao looked at those people, among them some he recognized, including Yasuhara Jiro, the Vice President of Luxing Pharmaceutical, and that Wang Changrui, as well as another person who seemed to be the President of Luxing Pharmaceutical.


    Mr. Sato sure has a significant background, with connections to Shenwu Security Company, martial arts schools, pharmaceutical factories, and even the world-renowned clothing brand Liangyi Store, among others.


    Sato Tarou snorted coldly, "A bunch of failures, if I were in trouble I would have been dead long ago, what use are you to me."


    Everyone fell silent, which showed just how high Sato Tarou''s prestige was.


    He left with his entourage, and soon after, the people from the martial arts school and Shenwu Security Company also departed.


    Qin Hao turned his head and saw Nie Hongwen. He beckoned him over and Nie Hongwen hesitated for a moment before approaching, "Mr. Qin, did you want to see me for something?"


    Qin Hao looked at him and asked, "What''s the deal with this Mr. Sato? Are you familiar with him?"


    Nie Hongwen looked at him in surprise, "This is the first time I''m meeting him too. Mr. Qin, don''t you know about the Sato Family from Beihai Country?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I don''t. Are they famous?"


    Nie Hongwen explained, "Beihai Country has six major financial groups, and the Sato Family is one of them. The person just now, Sato Tarou, is the young master of the Sato Family."


    Six major financial groups?


    Qin Hao''s face showed a thoughtful expression; he hadn''t paid attention to these kinds of matters before. It seemed he needed to have Li Wenjun provide him with more information on this.


    Although he was not sure how strong the Sato Family was, from the events that had just unfolded, Qin Hao could infer their strength.


    If they wielded such considerable power in Xuan Country, let alone in Beihai Country.


    Beihai Country''s industrial development preceded that of Xuan Country by many years. During World War II, Beihai Country had a significant number of aircraft carriers, while it was only recently that Xuan Country had produced its first.


    The growth of industry spawned many financial conglomerates, and those that could be counted among Beihai Country''s six major financial groups undoubtedly had substantial influence in both the political and business realms.


    Qin Hao left Windsor KTV and then got into the car and drove away.


    Not far away, Jiang Xue and her friend saw him. Her friend said curiously, "Isn''t that Mr. Qin? What''s he doing here? Oh, I get it now. Flying Leopard Security is one of his companies. He must have been bullied here and called for backup. Too bad a fight didn''t break out."


    After leaving Windsor KTV, Qin Hao hurried home. On the way, he called Li Wenjun and asked him to investigate the issue of Beihai Country''s six major financial groups.


    ...


    After Sato Tarou returned to his residence, he also ordered an investigation into Qin Hao. He couldn''t swallow this insult.


    He vowed to get his revenge. A mere upstart dared to challenge the authority of the Sato Family.


    "Send me the information immediately once the investigation is clear. I''ll make his life worse than death," Sato Tarou said with a chilling tone.


    The Red Sun Organization, one of the world''s seven largest assassination groups, was established and trained by the Sato Family and the Anpei Family for these unsavory tasks.


    When Qin Hao arrived home, it was already past six-thirty. Han Meng had already prepared dinner, and Zhao Yuying''s family was also there.


    "Xiao Hao is back. I haven''t seen you in a while and you seem to have gained even more of a presence," Zhao Xingbo said to him with a smile.


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, "Mr. Zhao, stop teasing me. I don''t have any kind of presence."


    Zhao Yuying laughed and said, "Enough talking, come and eat. We''ve been waiting for you for so long."


    Wang Zhi gave Zhao Yuying a disapproving look, "How can you talk to Xiao Hao like that? You''re getting less and less sensible."


    Zhao Yuying chuckled awkwardly and stuck out her tongue, while Qin Hao quickly said, "It''s okay, Auntie, Ying and I are really familiar with each other now."


    Indeed, they were very familiar with each other, so familiar they''d even been to bed together¡ªhow could they not be?!!


    After freshening up, Qin Hao took out a bottle of wine to drink with Zhao Xingbo. Zhao Yuying furrowed her brows slightly, "We''re going to see a movie later, why are you drinking now?"


    Zhao Xingbo glared at her, "I''ve noticed you''re getting more and more out of line. Don''t interrupt when Xiao Hao and I are talking."


    Qin Hao hurriedly said, "It''s fine, Ying, we''re just going to have a little bit, it won''t affect our movie-watching. Here, Mr. Zhao, I''ll toast to you."


    Zhao Yuying glared at him and sat down to eat her meal, huffing with annoyance.


    After dinner, Zhao Xingbo spoke up, "You go on to the movie. I need to head back to sleep."


    Wang Zhi said, "I won''t go either. I will stay home to look after Mr. Zhao. Xiao Hao, you go with Yu Ying and the others."


    Qin Hao, Zhao Yuying, Han Meng, and Qiao''er, the four of them, arrived at the nearby Wanhao Square, where there was a Wanhao Cinema.


    The cinema was teeming with people¡ªyoung couples and families of three, among others.


    Qin Hao also noticed the movie schedule on the big screen: of the nine theaters, seven would be showing the movie "Mechanical Soldier" at eight o''clock.


    The main reason was that the online response to Mechanical Soldier was just too positive, forcing many cinemas to change their schedules.


    Even with seven out of nine theaters at Wanhao Cinema switched to "Mechanical Soldier," there were still not enough showings. Many people in the lobby were protesting.


    "What''s going on with your cinema? I''ve been to eight cinemas, and there are no tickets left. Are people even allowed to watch movies anymore?"


    "Sorry, sir, we''ve already allocated seven theaters for ''Mechanical Soldier''."


    "Aren''t there a few theaters left? What about those two?"


    "Those two theaters have other films scheduled."


    "But does anyone buy tickets for them? If no one buys tickets, then change it to ''Mechanical Soldier''. So many people are waiting."


    "Yeah, yeah, change it to ''Mechanical Soldier'', it''s not like they''re doing anything anyway."


    "Sir, please wait a moment, we''ll contact the boss."


    ...


    With movie tickets in hand, Zhao Yuying said, "I asked someone to buy these in advance, otherwise we wouldn''t have been able to get any."


    The four entered the cinema, which was already packed with people and nearly full.


    Qin Hao and his friends settled into their seats, and watched the movie until after ten. Qin Hao watched it intently and found it really good, especially the special effects, which could be described as stunning and classic.


    Exiting the cinema, Qiao''er said with a smile, "Dad, you looked so cool in that movie. It was really amazing. I want to be like Aunt Yu Ying, someone so awesome."


    Zhao Yuying smiled and replied, "Qiao''er, that''s just a movie. Things like that don''t happen in real life."


    Qin Hao looked calmly at the night sky, that vast and endless expanse of stars was by no means simple. The falling of D-grade metal was the best proof of that.


    Back home, Han Meng took Qiao''er off to sleep¡ªit was back to school for her tomorrow, and she needed to attend classes.


    Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying were in the study, waiting for midnight, when the first-day box office results for "Mechanical Soldier" would come out.


    [Chapter Four]

 Chapter 598 600 Breaking Records

    This might not matter much to Qin Hao since he isn''t lacking money, but it''s significant for Zhao Yuying.


    Since its establishment, Yuhao Media Company hadn''t really made much profit, nor earned much money. Moreover, it had even faced some losses.


    Supporting artists costs money, as do all kinds of public relations and promotional activities.


    Currently, Yuhao Media has a number of artists and models, but Yu Tiantian is really the only one who stands out.


    If "Mechanical Soldier" turns out to be a huge hit, then the actors involved could also see their value skyrocket.


    The biggest beneficiary would be Yuhao Media, aside from Xia Qing, almost all are artists under Yuhao Media.


    When Qin Hao saw her sitting there, he walked over with a smile, "Ying, why don''t you stay tonight?"


    Zhao Yuying, "I can''t, what if my parents see me in the morning?"


    ...


    At eleven past eleven, Qin Hao''s phone suddenly chimed.


    He took it out and saw it was an email from Li Wenjun via Xinghai email.


    Fearing to disturb Qin Hao, Li Wenjun sent a voice message, "Mr. Qin, are you asleep? I''ve just sent the information I gathered to your email."


    Qin Hao opened the email and read through it, six major financial conglomerates of Beihai Country: the Sato Family, the Anpei Family, the Yoshida Family, the Dechuan Family, the Yamauchi Family, and the Aoki Family.


    The email also detailed these conglomerates'' industries and influence in Beihai Country, as well as the current relationships between each family.


    The Sato Family and the Anpei Family are closely related and currently wield immense power in Beihai, since the government is run by people from the Anpei Family.


    Another piece of information in the email: one of the top seven assassin organizations, the Red Sun Organization, is very likely trained by the Sato and Anpei families. This is something Qin Hao needs to be cautious about.


    Zhao Yuying, seeing his brow slightly furrowed, asked curiously, "What''s wrong? What are you looking at?"


    Qin Hao smiled lightly, "Nothing, just looking at some news. What time is it?"


    "It''s almost midnight in more than ten minutes." Zhao Yuying, rubbing her hands, felt a bit nervous.


    After reading the email, Qin Hao deleted it. A contemplative look flashed in his eyes; the strength of the Sato Family was somewhat beyond his expectations.


    What he worried about was the safety of those close to him. Qin Hao sent a message to Li Bao, instructing him to increase the number of people protecting his friends and relatives.


    Simultaneously, Qin Hao had the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing erase any information about him and his loved ones from the internet, making it impossible for anyone to find any information online.


    Those wishing to investigate Qin Hao would have to do so in reality, which would undoubtedly increase the difficulty of their investigation.


    At twelve o''clock, Zhao Yuying saw the real-time statistical data online. "Mechanical Soldier" had grossed 673 million yuan domestically on its opening day, breaking the domestic record for opening day box office revenue.


    Placing second was "Captain of the Northern Federation 4" with a box office of 137 million yuan on its opening day.


    The international box office had not yet been fully tallied, but with real-time box office numbers leading, "Captain of the Northern Federation 4" was in the first place with 52.16 million Federation coins in the box office.


    "Mechanical Soldier" was second with a box office of 48.86 million Federation coins.


    "Deep Sea Giant Shark" placed third with a box office of 45.88 million Federation coins.


    Zhao Yuying, quite excited, said, "Qin Hao, we''ve broken the domestic record for opening day box office revenue, and we crushed them with an absolute advantage. However, the overseas box office hasn''t done as well."


    Qin Hao said with a smile, "The promotion abroad wasn''t as intense, so this box office result is quite good, and it should explode tomorrow. Go back and rest early."


    Zhao Yuying nodded, then kissed him on the forehead, "Goodnight."


    The next morning, the latest advanced artificial intelligence cameras were installed around Qin Hao''s villa. These were networked cameras that the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing could detect any issues with.


    That day, online discussions about "Mechanical Soldier" were incredibly hot. The domestic first-day box office reached 672 million, breaking the record for domestic first-day earnings and shaking the entire entertainment industry.


    Not only domestically, but the international entertainment circles were also stunned by the box office of "Mechanical Soldier."


    "Xuan Country blockbusters with special effects are about to rise. Yuhao Media has broken the monopoly of foreign top special effects technology."


    "That''s freaking amazing, I hope Yuhao Media hurries up and makes the second part, can''t wait to see it."


    "The special effects are so stunning, it looks so good, I can''t wait to see it a second time."


    "Who knows that secondary female lead? She looks so sweet; I''ve fallen for her."


    "The secondary female lead is Xia Qing, a student at Jianghai University, who was previously an internet broadcaster. Unexpectedly, she became famous overnight by acting in a movie."


    "Big love for Zhao Yuying and Xia Qing, these two characters are so captivating."


    "And what about Mr. Qin? Isn''t Mr. Qin handsome? I think Mr. Qin is the handsomest, hubby I love you, muah."


    ...


    Zhao Yuying was already one of the top stars nationally, and progressing further was almost impossible, but the explosive success of "Mechanical Soldier" propelled her onto the international stage, turning her into a top actress known both domestically and internationally.


    Xia Qing also became famous because of this movie. Her fan base jumped from tens of thousands to over six million. Her past live-streaming exploits were dug up, but it did not cause any negative effects.


    "Hey, what should I do now? I''ve become famous, today countless people at school asked me for autographs," Xia Qing said troubledly in a phone call to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao said with a laugh, "Isn''t that quite good? Xiao Qing, do you have any thoughts about going into the entertainment industry?"


    Xia Qing shook her head, "No, there wouldn''t be any freedom to go out."


    Qin Hao, "Then let''s forget about it. Once the heat dies down, things should settle. How are Mr. Xia and Ms. Tian doing?"


    Xia Qing, "My parents have been almost too busy to live these days, they''re constantly at the construction site. I''ve got to go to class now, can''t talk more."


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao called Du Wanrou. It was just past eight o''clock in the evening over at the Federation, "Wan Rou, where are you?"


    Du Wanrou replied, "At the place where I''m staying, Miss Su Fei is also here."


    Qin Hao reminded her, "Try to bring more bodyguards when you go out, be careful these days."


    "What happened?"


    Qin Hao, "There''s some friction with the bastards from Beihai Country, and I''m afraid they might send someone after you."


    Su Fei''s voice rang out, "Mr. Qin, don''t worry, not only do I have my people here providing protection, the Ross family has also sent protection. Miss Wan Rou''s security level is no less than yours."


    Qin Hao felt relieved, "Then I''m relieved."


    Su Fei, "Mr. Qin, congratulations! Miss Wan Rou and I just watched ''Mechanical Soldier,'' and it''s truly spectacular and thrilling. It completely stunned everyone in the cinema, they couldn''t believe this movie was made by people from Xuan Country."


    [First update]

 Chapter 599 601: Smart Bank

    Qin Hao said with a light smile, "Yes, they feel that Xuan Country is inferior to them in every aspect."


    Su Fei replied, "But ever since Mr. Qin appeared, in many aspects Xuan Country has already completely surpassed the Federation and leads the world.


    For example, in pharmaceutical technology, many patients from the Federation now go to Xuan Country for treatment. Previously, it was foreigners who came to the Federation for medical care. Furthermore, in artificial intelligence technology, Xuan Country''s Falcon unmanned combat aircraft are even coveted by the Federation."


    What she mentioned were just some critical areas; artificial intelligence technology had already started entering various industries, and this year would be a booming year for the intelligent era.


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao watched TV, where the news was being broadcast.


    The female host smiled and said, "Artificial intelligence technology is now becoming increasingly prevalent, from mobile phones to appliances. Today, the four major banks in Xuan Country and Xinghai High-tech Company have reached a cooperation agreement. The artificial intelligence system has already been applied in banks.


    It can provide more convenient service to customers and also enhance bank security. Next, let''s watch a detailed report brought to you by our reporter."


    The TV screen switched, and a reporter stood at the entrance of the Development Bank. "Hello, I''m Wang Lu, your reporter. I am currently at the entrance of the Xuan Country Development Bank in Jinchen City. This is an artificial intelligence pilot bank, and I will take you through the experience of the AI system."


    After speaking, she entered the Development Bank, followed by many people, including some bank executives but mostly ordinary citizens eager to see what the bank''s AI system was really like.


    The usual hall manager was missing, and even the counter staff were gone, replaced by an electronic voice, "Welcome, Ms. Wang, to the Jinchen branch of Xuan Country Development Bank."


    Wang Lu was startled, "How do you know I''m Wang Lu?"


    "Because you are a customer of our Development Bank, and your information is in our internal system, which I am connected to, so I can scan your identity information."


    Reporter Wang Lu stated, "I plan to make a large cash withdrawal."


    The electronic voice continued, "Ms. Wang, there are multifunctional chairs in the hall. If you need to conduct transactions, please sit on a chair and wear our multifunctional virtual glasses."


    Wang Lu looked up and indeed saw rows of chairs in the hall, eight seats in a row, with two rows of chairs back to back forming a set.


    In between the two rows of back-to-back chairs, there was a very long safe, resembling an enlarged version of a cash deposit box.


    He walked over, sat down, and then put on the virtual glasses.


    "As you are using the virtual glasses for the first time, we are undergoing retina and facial recognition. Ms. Wang Lu, your scan is complete, you can also undergo voice and fingerprint authentication."


    The authentication was simple and completed in just seconds; then the scene changed, and before her eyes appeared a virtual counter and a virtual beautiful female staff member, smiling vividly as if real.


    "Hello, I am service agent 001, at your service."


    When Wang Lu wore the virtual glasses, the bank''s screen displayed Wang Lu''s virtual image.


    The people in the hall were shocked when they saw it¡ªwas this virtual imaging technology?


    Wang Lu said, "I want to withdraw money." As she spoke, she instinctively reached for her card.


    The virtual staff member smiled and said, "Since Ms. Wang Lu, you have undergone various authentications, you can directly withdraw money without a bank card and also do not need to enter a password. Your retina, face, voice, and fingerprints are the best passwords."


    "How much is in my balance?"


    "You have two cards with the Development Bank, totaling eighty-seven thousand three hundred sixty-four Yuan and nine cents."


    Reporter Wang Lu stated, "I want to withdraw fifty thousand."


    "Please wait a moment, we are processing your withdrawal."


    Seconds later, the chair where Wang Lu sat spat out fifty thousand Yuan, which she saw when she looked down and then grabbed in her hands.


    This virtual glasses experience was entirely different from the VR9D virtual glasses she used in entertainment venues.


    She continued, "What if I want to deposit money?"


    "You can open the cover on the right-hand seat''s armrest, and you can put money inside."


    She opened a lid on the armrest and placed the money inside, then a sound like a money counting machine started.


    Seconds later, the virtual staff member smiled and said, "Hello Ms. Wang Lu, you just deposited fifty thousand Yuan, your new balance is eighty-seven thousand three hundred sixty-four Yuan and nine cents."


    ...


    A few minutes later Wang Lu stood up from her chair, her face filled with astonishment; not only she but everyone present in the bank, and the viewers in front of the TV were extremely shocked. This was way too intelligent.


    Both Qin Hao and Han Meng saw the news on TV; this was a harbinger of the intelligent era''s arrival.


    Now some important institutions in other countries had reached cooperation with Xinghai High-tech Company, and they were going to push the intelligent process comprehensively.


    This would render many people unemployed, but the benefits outweighed the disadvantages. Without bank jobs, they could look for other jobs.


    At the same time, this would save a substantial amount of money for the country, which could be used to increase welfare subsidies for ordinary citizens or in impoverished areas.


    Leng Xuan came in and said, "Mr. Qin, the advanced intelligent surveillance outside has been installed and covers a distance of five hundred meters."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, I know."


    After Leng Xuan left, Qin Hao''s phone rang; it was Chang Jing calling, "Mr. Qin, did you have a conflict with the Sato Family?"


    "Mr. Chang, how did you know?" Qin Hao curiously asked.


    Chang Jing replied, "Never mind how I know it, many people already know. Sato Tarou was here by invitation this time.


    The Jianghai City Government has teamed up with some energy groups intending to purchase the new type of solar panels from the Fu Feng Group. Because of what occurred between you and him, he might now reconsider not selling them."


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, "It''s no concern of mine if he doesn''t want to make money. He can sell it or not as he wishes."


    Chang Jing explained, "In recent years, due to environmental pollution issues, the country has been strongly supporting new types of energy.


    Especially in electricity generation, where traditional power is being slowly phased out, wind power and solar energy are gradually becoming mainstream. Wind power has regional restrictions, but solar power does not.


    Solar power will be a mainstream research direction in the future, and the Fu Feng Group has very high technology in this area, holding a global leading position. By purchasing their products, we can learn from their technology and thus proceed with our own research."


    Qin Hao asked, "So, he isn''t selling now, is that it?"


    Mr. Chang continued, "Not exactly, he''s just dragging his feet. I think he wants someone to pressure you into apologizing to him."


    Qin Hao scoffed, "Apologize? He wishes."


    Chang Jing cautioned, "Mr. Qin, the Sato Family is powerful; you''ve offended them, so be cautious in the future."


    Qin Hao responded, "I understand, Mr. Chang. You be careful too, I''m worried Sato Tarou''s men might target you."


    [Second Update]

 Chapter 600 602 Borrowing Money

    In a villa complex in Jianghai City.


    A middle-aged man began, "Mr. Sato, our people haven''t found any useful information online; it seems all information about Qin Hao has been erased."


    Sato Tarou frowned, "Erased?"


    The middle-aged man replied, "Yes, young master. You may not be aware, but Xuan Country now uses the Star Domain Network, and Qin Hao has absolute authority over it. He can erase anything from the Star Domain Network at will."


    Sato Tarou had some understanding of the Star Domain Network, but only from when it was first launched, "Did we find any useful information?"


    The middle-aged man said, "We found out about Qin Hao''s parents, but they''re heavily guarded by experts from the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion. Qin Hao''s residence is under tight surveillance as well. It would be very difficult to carry out an assassination in Xuan Country."


    Because they couldn''t obtain firearms in Xuan Country at all, which severely limited the assassins'' effectiveness. Plus, with the strength of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion, successfully carrying out an assassination was extremely difficult.


    Sato Tarou''s eyes showed a twinge of unwillingness, and the middle-aged man continued, "Young master, there''s news from the family. They want you to form a partnership with Xinghai High-tech Company."


    Sato Tarou was taken aback, "Form a partnership with them? Are you sure that''s right?"


    The middle-aged man clarified, "This is a message from the Family Head. The advanced technologies of Xinghai High-tech Company are influencing the future shifts in the global financial oligarchy. The Family Head insisted that you must come to terms with Qin Hao, by any means necessary."


    ...


    Around noon, Qin Hao received a call from Zhao Yuying. The first day''s overseas box office results were in, and "Mechanical Soldier" ranked second with a box office of 88.72 million Federation currency, closely trailing the first place, "Captain of the Northern Federation 4," by just a million Federation currency.


    "Mechanical Soldier" had a combined domestic and international box office of over 1.2 billion, and that was just the beginning; it hadn''t ended yet.


    Considering the investments and advertising costs for the film didn''t even reach ten million, Yuhao Media Company made a huge profit.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao got a call from Xu Jiejian, "What are you busy with, Xiao Hao?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Mr. Xu, I''m just sitting at home, nothing much."


    Xu Jiejian spoke up, "Since you''re not busy, why don''t you come to a banquet tonight? Sato Tarou from the Fu Feng Group will attend too, and I hear there''s been some misunderstanding between you two. This is a good opportunity to clear it up."


    Qin Hao said, "Mr. Xu, I can handle my own affairs."


    Xu Jiejian insisted, "Xiao Hao, this isn''t just about you anymore. You should know, the Fu Feng Group recently developed a new type of solar panel with an energy efficiency five times that of existing ones. Our country has a huge population and massive energy consumption; this is a matter of national well-being."


    Qin Hao understood Xu Jiejian''s point, "I got it, Mr. Xu. I''ll be there tonight. Where is it?"


    "Innsil Hotel, Room 2606, at seven in the evening."


    After hanging up, Qin Hao sat in thought, while Han Meng didn''t disturb him, standing behind him gently massaging his shoulders.


    Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Han Meng walked over to open the door, where Miao Jing and Miao Jianyun, father and daughter, were standing outside.


    "Is Qin Hao at home?" Miao Jing inquired.


    Miao Jianyun nudged his daughter with a hint of urgency and said with a smile, "Is Mr. Qin at home?"


    Han Meng nodded, "Please come in."


    Sitting on the couch, Qin Hao was momentarily startled to see Miao Jianyun and Miao Jing. He got up to greet them, "Mr. Miao, Officer Miao, please have a seat."


    Once seated, Miao Jianyun smiled and said, "Long time no see, Mr. Qin. Are Qin Hao and his sister not here?"


    Qin Hao shook his head, "My parents are in Jiangshan."


    It was clear that Miao Jianyun''s visit had a purpose, and now that he mentioned my parents, it was obvious he wanted me to remember our families'' friendship.


    Smiling, Miao Jianyun said, "I hope Mr. Qin and his sister are in good health?"


    Qin Hao, "It''s fine, Mr. Miao, are you here to see me or my parents? If there''s something to say, just say it directly."


    Miao Jianyuan''s face showed a bit of embarrassment, "Mr. Qin, do you know that people from Fu Feng Group are here?"


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "I know."


    Miao Jianyun''s face bore a flattering smile, "Mr. Qin, I am here to ask if I could borrow some money from you. My company is having some cash flow issues, but once the finances are sorted out, I''ll definitely repay you."


    "Borrow money?" Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, he knew Miao Jianyun must want something from him, but he had not expected it to be a loan.


    Miao Jing couldn''t stand it any longer, this was the first time she saw her father so obsequious and acting so servile.


    She felt a nameless anger burning inside her, especially when she saw Qin Hao''s reaction to the loan request, "You''re so rich, what''s wrong with lending my family some money? It''s not like we won''t pay you back."


    Miao Jianyuan glared, "Xiao Jing, how dare you speak to Mr. Qin in such a manner? Apologize to Mr. Qin right now."


    As Miao Jing saw her father''s angry look, she turned to Qin Hao and noticed he was smiling at her, which irked her greatly, but she dared not lash out, "Sorry..."


    Qin Hao''s lips curled into a slight smile, "No worries, how could I hold a grudge against a woman."


    What do you mean by that? Are you looking down on women?


    Miao Jianyuan hastily said, "Thank you, Mr. Qin, for your magnanimity. Xiao Jing has been willful since she was little, all because her mother spoiled her. I''ll certainly make sure to discipline her properly when we get home."


    Qin Hao chuckled, "Mr. Miao, how much are you planning to borrow?"


    Miao Jianyun hesitated before saying, "Three billion."


    Qin Hao, "That''s no small sum, Mr. Miao, let me think about it."


    Miao Jing inwardly snorted, your net worth exceeds a trillion, three billion is nothing to you!


    "Alright, Mr. Qin, then I won''t bother you anymore, Xiao Jing and I will take our leave," said Miao Jianyun, forcing a smile as he got up and left with Miao Jing.


    Shortly after they left, Miao Jing returned, but this time she came back alone.


    Qin Hao saw her return and guessed what she was planning to do, "Officer Miao, just speak your mind."


    Miao Jing sat there and said bluntly, "What would it take for you to lend the money to my father?"


    Qin Hao, "Officer Miao, why should I lend money? My money wasn''t swept in by a gust of wind; I earned it through hard work. Please watch your tone, do you think you can act all high and mighty when asking to borrow money?"


    Miao Jing explained, "That''s not what I meant, and it''s not directed at you, Mr. Qin. Please don''t misunderstand me. I just want to help my father, please, Mr. Qin, my family will surely repay you."


    Qin Hao looked at her and asked, "And what if your family can''t repay?"


    Miao Jing, "I can write you an IOU."


    "Officer Miao, do you think I''m a child? An IOU," Qin Hao couldn''t help but laugh.


    Miao Jing, "Then what do you suggest?"


    Qin Hao picked up a water cup and took a sip, "That should be your concern."


    After hesitating, a determined look flashed in Miao Jing''s eyes, "If my family can''t repay your money, I''ll give myself to you."


    "Ptui!"


    Qin Hao spat out all the water he had just drunk, and began coughing violently.


    [Third installment, still writing the fourth]

 Chapter 601 603 Banquet

    Han Meng hurried over upon seeing this, gently patting his back, "Xiao Hao, are you okay?"


    "Cough, cough"


    Qin Hao responded, "Meng, I''m fine. You can go ahead with your work."


    Having said that, he looked at Miao Jing, "Officer Miao, what did you say just now? I didn''t hear you clearly."


    A blush crept onto Miao Jing''s pretty face, "I said if my family can''t repay your money, I will offer myself as collateral."


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, "Officer Miao, do you think you''re worth three hundred million?"


    Miao Jing showed signs of exploding, "What do you mean by that?"


    Qin Hao explained, "I didn''t mean anything by it, just that people can''t be measured in money. Some are priceless, some are worthless. I can lend you the money, but I hope you will keep your promise, Officer Miao."


    "I, Miao Jing, always keep my word," Miao Jing said with a firm tone.


    Qin Hao took out a stack of cheques, wrote three hundred million on one of them, and handed it to her, "This is three hundred million."


    Miao Jing took the cheque, glanced at it, then looked up at Qin Hao, "Thank you."


    Qin Hao, "Officer Miao, next time you come, wear your uniform. It''s more charming that way."


    A blush spread across Miao Jing''s cheeks, and she glared at him, "Pervert." With that, she left.


    Back at home, Miao Jing handed the cheque to her father, "Dad, I''ve borrowed the money."


    Miao Jianyuan was stunned, "You said you had something to do, was it to borrow money for me? Whose money is it?"


    Miao Jing, "Who else has so much money? Of course, it''s Qin Hao''s."


    Miao Jianyuan asked curiously, "How come he would lend you the money?"


    Miao Jing replied, "He agreed after thinking it through."


    ...


    Around six in the evening, Zhao Yuying returned, somewhat excited, she said to Qin Hao, "Today, a lot of TV and movie production companies contacted us, asking for our Blue Shadow special effects team to do special effects."


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "That''s quite good, the income just from special effects won''t be meager every month."


    Now that Yuhao Media had grown, he felt much more at ease. In the future, he could entrust everything to Zhao Yuying to manage. With this special effects technology, it would be hard for Yuhao Media Company to go bankrupt.


    Zhao Yuying, "Yeah, but if they want Yuhao Media to do the special effects, they not only have to pay up but also have to offer up some entertainment industry resources."


    She wanted to use the advantage of these special effects to expand the reach and strength of Yuhao Media, aiming to make Yuhao Media the largest entertainment media company in the country.


    Soon after, Zhao Yuying''s mother, Wang Zhi, walked in, "You child, not going home after getting off work."


    Zhao Yuying explained, "Mom, there were some issues at the company, I was discussing them with Xiao Hao."


    After a bit of conversation, Qin Hao looked at his watch and said, "Ms. Wang, Ying, Meng, I must leave for a banquet now."


    Zhao Yuying, "Go ahead, be careful on the road."


    ...


    Qin Hao got into the car, and five cars made their way to Innsil Hotel. He arrived outside the Innsil Hotel at 6:51 PM.


    After getting out of the car, Qin Hao and his entourage entered the Innsil Hotel and took the elevator up to the door of Suite 2606.


    There were quite a few bodyguards standing at the door of the suite, including several from Beihai Country. They were martial arts warriors specifically assigned to protect the safety of Sato Tarou up close.


    Leng Xuan knocked on the door, and it was promptly opened by a middle-aged man whom Qin Hao did not recognize.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao, the man''s face broke into a smile, "Mr. Qin has arrived, please come in."


    "Wait for me outside," Qin Hao said as he entered the private room, which was already full of people, including Sato Tarou and Xu Jiejian, as well as over a dozen other CEOs, none of whom Qin Hao recognized.


    Most of these individuals were CEOs of government enterprises within the energy sector, each managing companies with total assets approaching nearly one hundred billion.


    Nanxing Energy Group, led by Miao Jianyuan, hadn''t even reached ten billion; in such a gathering, he simply wouldn''t qualify to attend.


    Xu Jiejian, upon seeing Qin Hao, said with a smile, "Come sit, Xiao Hao."


    In the room, Xu Jiejian was the only one who dared address him as Xiao Hao; everyone else had to respectfully refer to him as Mr. Qin.


    Qin Hao took a seat next to Xu Jiejian, his expression was calm as he glanced at Sato Tarou and then surveyed the others in the room.


    Xu Jiejian said with a smile, "Xiao Hao, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Li from Tongben Energy Group, this is Wang Guanding from Zhongtai Energy Group..."


    "Mr. Qin, hello, I''ve long admired your reputation."


    "Mr. Qin, a belated happy new year, I''ve long held you in high esteem."


    Qin Hao responded to each in turn, finally arriving at Sato Tarou, to whom Xu Jiejian said, "This is Mr. Sato Tarou from the Fu Feng Group."


    Qin Hao was aware of the Fu Feng Group, the largest in the Sato Family''s portfolio, a conglomerate controlling countless smaller groups.


    Sato Tarou greeted Qin Hao with a smile, "Mr. Qin, I had heard of your great name back in Beihai Country, and seeing you today, you certainly live up to the reputation."


    His reaction was so different from what it once had been, causing some astonishment in Qin Hao''s heart. Wasn''t he the one who wanted to kill me? Why is he saying these things now?


    A flicker of confusion also passed through the eyes of others, weren''t the two supposed to have bad blood? And they almost came to blows, so why did they not seem as adversarial as rumored?


    Qin Hao replied calmly, "Mr. Sato is being too generous with his praise. Compared to the Sato Family, I still have a long way to go."


    Though his words sounded modest, they were laced with a strong undercurrent; weren''t the Sato Family supposed to be formidable? Why then are they speaking so meekly now?


    Sensing the tone of the conversation was off, Xu Jiejian quickly interjected, "Xiao Hao, I heard there was some misunderstanding between you and Mr. Sato?"


    "There was a small misunderstanding, but it''s already been resolved," Sato Tarou said first.


    Xu Jiejian: "That''s good to hear, harmony brings wealth, let''s all drink to that."


    Everyone raised their glasses and took a sip. Qin Hao was puzzled by Sato Tarou''s intentions, as the man seemed completely changed.


    "Let''s eat, everyone, eat."


    After a few rounds of drinks and dishes, Wang Guanding from Zhongtai Group turned to Sato Tarou and said, "Mr. Sato, I heard your Fu Feng Group has developed the latest solar panel with an energy efficiency five times greater than previous versions?"


    Sato Tarou nodded, "Indeed, our orders are now full. Many parts of the world have pre-ordered large quantities of our solar panels."


    Wang Guanding continued, "Mr. Sato, may I inquire how much the research and development costs have increased?"


    Sato Tarou replied, "Our latest solar panels have not only not increased in cost, but they''ve even decreased somewhat. This is something you all shouldn''t worry about."


    The crowd was visibly shocked by the news that costs had not gone up but had even been reduced.


    Xu Jiejian said, "Mr. Sato, I hope we can reach a cooperation agreement; we will definitely have the largest demand."


    As Xuan Country had the world''s largest population, its power consumption was extremely high.


    With a smile, Sato Tarou responded, "It''s simple to cooperate with our Fu Feng Group. Whether the cooperation is successful depends entirely on what Mr. Qin decides to do."


    [Fourth installment, no missed updates, tired, going to sleep.]

 Chapter 602 604 Angry Youth?

    Xu Jiejian and the others were startled, and so was Qin Hao. Was he expecting me to apologize?


    Xu Jiejian tentatively asked, "Mr. Sato, we are aware of the misunderstanding between you and Mr. Qin. In business, harmony brings wealth, and it''s better to resolve enmities rather than deepen them..."


    Sato Tarou interrupted, "You''ve all misunderstood my intention. Mr. Qin''s Xinghai High-tech Company has advanced artificial intelligence technology. We, the Fu Feng Group, want to enter into a strategic partnership with Mr. Qin for mutual benefit."


    Qin Hao then understood his intent; he wanted to cooperate with Xinghai Company, no wonder the man had changed his attitude all of a sudden.


    Xu Jiejian and the others were stunned, looking from Sato Tarou to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao looked at Sato Tarou and said, "I''m sorry, Mr. Sato, but I do not wish to cooperate with you."


    The expressions on the faces of those present changed slightly; they hadn''t expected Qin Hao to be so direct. Were you trying to completely offend the Sato family? Why bother?


    Indeed, Sato Tarou''s expression darkened slightly upon hearing these words. I''ve lowered my stance and let go of past issues, and yet, you give no respect to me or the Sato Family.


    He looked at Qin Hao and said, "Mr. Qin, I hope you will reconsider."


    Qin Hao calmly looked at him, "No need to consider, I''ve already decided, no cooperation."


    Sato Tarou nodded. "Alright, then there''s no need to discuss further. I guess there''s also no point talking about Fu Feng Group''s latest solar panel. I bid my farewell."


    After speaking, he stood up and left, his face expressionless, his mood severely darkened.


    The private room was eerily quiet; everyone was watching Qin Hao, not knowing what to say, nor daring to say anything.


    Xu Jiejian sighed, "Xiao Hao, the new solar panels from the Fu Feng Group are really important for our country, it''s a directive from above that we must achieve cooperation."


    Qin Hao, smiling, replied, "Mr. Xu, I understand, but I think their solar panels are too shoddy, not worth cooperating over."


    "Shoddy? Currently, Fu Feng Group''s solar panels are the most advanced in the world, even better than those in the Federation."


    "Exactly, Mr. Qin, you may not understand the energy sector, but the Fu Feng Group is undoubtedly the world leader in new energy."


    Xu Jiejian asked, "Xiao Hao, what do you mean by that?"


    Qin Hao casually smiled, "Our company is also developing a new type of solar panel that has more than fifty times the power generation capacity of current ones, and the cost isn''t high. It can be applied across various industries. We should have a prototype in about ten days."


    Everyone was shocked. Power generation capacity more than fifty times? "Mr. Qin, you''re not joking, are you?"


    Xu Jiejian was also stunned, "Xiao Hao, is what you say true?"


    Qin Hao replied, "Do I need to deceive everyone? Just wait for our company''s press conference."


    ...


    Sato Tarou returned to his residence, where a middle-aged man asked, "Young master, how did it go? Did you succeed?"


    He shook his head, "No, Qin Hao has great animosity towards us."


    The middle-aged man said, "Young master, after our investigations, this Qin Hao is a revolutionary zealot who deeply dislikes Beihai Country. Once, Luxing Pharmaceutical approached him for cooperation, not only did the deal fall through, but they were also insulted."


    "A revolutionary zealot?" Sato Tarou was taken aback.


    Being the world''s richest yet a revolutionary zealot? Shouldn''t such a person be looking globally and prioritizing interests above all else?


    The middle-aged man asked, "Young master, what should we do now?"


    Sato Tarou thought for a moment and then said, "No hurry, our new solar panels perform well and cost less, Xuan Country will surely need them. Let''s just wait, I''m well aware of the officials in the Xuan Country, they will definitely pressure Qin Hao."


    Qin Hao returned home; it was already past eight in the evening. Qiao''er was sitting on the sofa watching TV alone.


    "Qiao''er, where''s mom?"


    Qiao''er replied, "Mom is taking a bath. Dad, have you been drinking?"


    Qin Hao sat beside her, smiling as he spoke, "Yes, I drank some wine at a social event."


    Qiao''er snuggled closer to him and laid her head on his chest, "Dad, my teacher said drinking is bad for your health. You shouldn''t drink anymore."


    Qin Hao held her and said, "Dad was drinking Xinghui Wine. It''s not bad for the health; it even has some benefits."


    Qiao''er rested in his arms, "But teacher said it''s harmful to the body, could the teacher be wrong?"


    Qin Hao''s face bore a gentle smile, "Your teacher isn''t wrong. Most of the alcohol available harms the body, but Xinghui Wine is produced by dad''s company and it doesn''t harm the body."


    Qiao''er nodded, her eyes filled with admiration, "Dad, you''re amazing."


    Her heart felt an intense dependence on Qin Hao, feeling only safe and comfortable by his side.


    Mainly because the incidents of the past had inflicted indelible damage on her young mind.


    This was a type of mental and spiritual harm that no medicine could heal.


    At that moment, Han Meng walked out of the bathroom, draped in a white bath towel.


    Seeing Qin Hao was also in the living room, she blushed a little, "Xiao Hao is back."


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, "Hmm."


    Qiao''er whispered, "Dad, can you sleep with me tonight? Without you, I often wake up scared from nightmares."


    "Nightmares? What nightmares?" Qin Hao frowned slightly.


    Qiao''er, with her lovely eyes looking pitifully at him, said, "I always dream about bad people who bully me and mom. I''m scared."


    While Qiao''er was still young, her delicate features already hinted she''d grow into a beautiful woman.


    Hearing her words, Qin Hao felt worried; had she not yet forgotten about those past events?


    After experiencing such incidents, it wouldn''t be easy for anyone to forget.


    After a moment''s thought, he said, "Then tomorrow, let''s go see a doctor, okay? We should let the doctor check what''s wrong. This might be psychological trauma, and you might need guidance from a professional psychologist."


    Qiao''er nodded slightly, "Then, will you sleep with me tonight, dad?"


    Qin Hao, "I will. You also need to listen to dad and go to the hospital tomorrow."


    "Okay, dad," Qiao''er said with a smile, giving him a kiss.


    Qin Hao turned off the TV and said, "Then, let''s go to sleep."


    "Dad, carry me to the room."


    Qin Hao carried her into the room. He opened the door and was immediately startled; Han Meng was changing clothes inside.


    Han Meng paused, her cheeks turning bright red.


    Seeing her mother''s expression and then looking toward Qin Hao, Qiao''er asked with a smile, "Dad, isn''t mom beautiful?"


    [First update]

 Chapter 603 605 Psychiatrist

    Qin Hao had a somewhat awkward expression on his face, clearly, Qiao''er had asked that question on purpose.


    It wasn''t just Qin Hao who felt awkward, Han Meng was also very embarrassed; she was extremely shy.


    Qiao''er continued to ask, "Daddy, do you think Mommy is beautiful?"


    Qin Hao nodded, "Of course she is beautiful, otherwise how could you be so beautiful?" After saying that, he put Qiao''er on the bed.


    "Daddy, you should come to sleep too," Qiao''er said, grabbing his hand.


    Qin Hao replied, "Daddy is going to take a shower, and then I''ll come over."


    Qiao''er looked at him with big eyes, "Then Daddy, you need to come back quickly, Qiao''er is waiting for you."


    Qin Hao entered the bathroom and then began to shower.


    About ten or so minutes later, Qin Hao returned to the bedroom. He had changed into his pajamas. Han Meng''s cheeks were still flushed, and she lay in bed under the covers, too shy to look at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao sat on the bed and asked Han Meng, "Meng, do you know about Qiao''er having nightmares?"


    Han Meng nodded, "I know."


    Qin Hao remarked, "Then why didn''t you tell me?"


    Han Meng replied softly, "Aren''t dreams a normal thing?"


    This was the consequence of a lack of knowledge, Han Meng thought dreams were a normal occurrence and couldn''t think of their importance.


    Qin Hao said, "Qiao''er might have some psychological issues, let''s take her to see a psychologist together tomorrow."


    Upon hearing this, Han Meng sat up with a worried look in her eyes, "Qin Hao, what''s wrong with Qiao''er? What''s wrong with her psychologically?"


    Qin Hao glanced at Qiao''er and comfortingly said to Han Meng, "It''s nothing serious, Meng, don''t worry. Let''s go to sleep early."


    There were some things he could not say in front of Qiao''er; he was afraid it might trigger some unpleasant memories for her.


    Qiao''er was in the middle, with Qin Hao lying on the other side, "Qiao''er, go to sleep."


    Around six o''clock the next morning, Qin Hao woke up and saw that Qiao''er was still asleep. He looked over at Han Meng.


    Han Meng also woke up, and their eyes met. Han Meng''s cheeks turned slightly red, extremely shy. "Qin Hao, I''m getting up to make breakfast," she said.


    Qin Hao nodded, checked his phone, and then sent Chang Jing a message: "Find me the best psychologist in Jianghai City."


    A few seconds later, Chang Jing replied: "Mr. Qin, please wait a moment."


    Han Meng began to get dressed, cautiously and very quickly.


    At this moment, Qiao''er groggily opened her eyes, "Daddy, Mommy, you''re awake."


    Qin Hao answered, "Mm, you woke up so early? Don''t you want to sleep a bit longer?"


    Qiao''er chuckled, "I''m not sleepy anymore. The teacher said we just need to ensure we get more than seven hours of sleep each day."


    "Did you have any nightmares last night?"


    Qiao''er replied, "No, I didn''t have any nightmares because Daddy was with me, I slept really well," after saying that, she moved closer to Qin Hao and hugged his neck.


    ...


    Han Meng said, "You always go to the toilet in the morning; hurry up and go to the toilet and wash up."


    "I still want to stay with Daddy for a while."


    "Go to the toilet and then wash up properly," Han Meng pulled Qiao''er out, then after coming back she felt chilly and hurried back under the covers.


    Chang Jing then forwarded a message: Jianghai Sunshine Psychological Consulting Company, Jin Yuwan, top psychologist, graduated with a PhD in psychology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology among other qualifications.


    After reading it, Qin Hao noted it down, then he opened the system mall and found a technology for advanced solar panels.


    He read the detailed product description¡ªthe power generation capacity was more than eighty times that of current solar panels. With this technology, Xuan Country''s power generation would significantly increase.


    The solar panels could also be applied to cars. A fully charged solar-powered car could travel over two thousand kilometers. Moreover, as long as there was light, the car would continue to charge while running, which was very convenient.


    But there was also a drawback: if it continued to be cloudy and rainy for several days, and you also needed to travel a long distance, then that would be problematic.


    Situations like these were relatively rare; since the solar car''s battery capacity was sufficiently large, if you were commuting in the city, even driving for a month wouldn''t exhaust the battery, and during that month, there might only be a few cloudy days while most of the time the weather would be sunny.


    So, applying this technology to the automotive industry was also very advantageous, and it could save energy. Once air-powered cars were developed, it could nearly eliminate the need for oil altogether.


    If this were to become a reality, it would be a severe blow to the Federation, as a vast number of oil wells in the world were controlled by the Federation, and oil had to be traded in international markets in Federation currency.


    Not using Federation currency to buy oil would be a significant blow to the currency of the Federation.


    The exchange used up eight million of Qin Hao''s achievement points. He quickly transferred the development technology to his computer and finally sent it to Agent 001, ordering them to research it as quickly as possible.


    During breakfast, Zhao Yuying arrived to report on the box office of the movie. The second-day box office of "Mechanical Soldier" was 789 million, again breaking their previous record.


    Yuhao Media had been quite busy these days, with many companies seeking collaboration. After talking briefly with Qin Hao, she went to the office.


    After breakfast, at a little past eight, Qin Hao, accompanied by Qiao''er and Han Meng, drove towards the Sunshine Psychological Consulting Company.


    [Second Update]

 Chapter 604 - 604 606 The Trend Has Passed

    ?Chapter 604: Chapter 606 The Trend Has Passed Chapter 604: Chapter 606 The Trend Has Passed Sunshine Psychological Consulting Company is located in a building in Wuhui District of Jianghai City.


    After getting out of the car, Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan and the others, ¡°Leng Xuan, the two of you come up with me, the rest can wait here.¡±


    Qin Hao took the elevator to the sixteenth floor according to the information Chang Jing gave.


    After looking around in the corridor for a while, Qin Hao finally found Sunshine Psychological Consulting Company. Seeing the facade of the company, he had some doubts¡ªjust an office as big as a small one?


    The best psychologist in Jianghai City works here?


    He hesitated but still knocked on the door, Chang Jing wouldn¡¯t lie to him after all.


    ¡°Please come in,¡± a woman¡¯s voice came from inside the room.


    Qin Hao, with Han Meng and Qiao¡¯er, entered. There was only one woman inside the psychological consulting company, who was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. She was very beautiful, with a sexy figure, wearing large-framed glasses, and had a tender face that made her look like a little Lolita. She was the embodiment of being frail and easy to knock over.


    Jin Yuwan looked up at the three of them, ¡°Are you here for treatment?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°May I ask if you are Mr. Jin?¡±


    Jin Yuwan nodded, ¡°Yes, who needs treatment?¡±


    ¡°My daughter.¡± After saying that, he led Qiao¡¯er over and sat opposite Jin Yuwan.


    Jin Yuwan looked at Qiao¡¯er and then at Qin Hao. She felt this man looked familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere, ¡°What¡¯s the situation? Tell me in detail, please.¡±


    Qin Hao briefly described the events that had happened at the beginning, and then he talked about Qiao¡¯er¡¯s recent nightmares.


    Jin Yuwan frowned tightly, looking at Qin Hao with a bit of displeasure in her tone, ¡°As the child¡¯s father, how could you only find out after so long? I really don¡¯t understand what you parents nowadays are thinking. Anyone would be traumatized by what happened to her, you should have brought her to see a psychologist immediately.¡±


    Qiao¡¯er quickly said, ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s not Dad¡¯s fault, his company is really busy.¡±


    Jin Yuwan, ¡°Busy with the company? Are the child or the company more important? I hate people like you the most.¡±


    Han Meng also hurriedly said, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, I was the one looking after the child and didn¡¯t notice, it¡¯s not his fault.¡±


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, he was here for treatment, not to be scolded, ¡°Mr. Jin, shall we focus on the treatment? What¡¯s wrong with the child? Can it be cured?¡±


    Realizing her reaction, Jin Yuwan looked at Qiao¡¯er and asked gently, ¡°Qiao¡¯er, you have to answer Auntie¡¯s questions honestly, okay? Be a good and honest child.¡±


    Qiao¡¯er timidly nodded her head.


    Jin Yuwan asked, ¡°Do you have friends at school? How many friends do you have?¡±


    After thinking a bit, Qiao¡¯er replied, ¡°Two.¡±


    Jin Yuwan asked many questions geared for professional psychological evaluation.


    She came to a conclusion, ¡°The problem isn¡¯t serious. The main issue with the child is a lack of security, and she¡¯s also a bit reluctant to interact with strangers. Try to take her out more when you have free time, to places where there are more people.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll pay attention to this in the future.¡±


    Jin Yuwan continued asking, ¡°Qiao¡¯er, what makes you feel very safe and comfortable?¡±


    Qiao¡¯er glanced at Qin Hao and said softly, ¡°I want Dad to stay with me. I feel very safe and comfortable when he¡¯s with me. If Dad sleeps with me, I won¡¯t have nightmares.¡±


    Jin Yuwan said to Qin Hao, ¡°Try to find time during the day to accompany your child as well. Companies can be rebuilt, but if you lose your child, you will regret it for a lifetime.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jin. I will be careful.¡±


    Jin Yuwan: ¡°Whenever you have time, you and your wife should try to take the child out to have fun, and also accompany the child to sleep at night. Over time, the child¡¯s inner wounds will slowly heal.¡±


    ...


    Han Meng¡¯s face turned beet red. Wife?


    Qin Hao also heard this but didn¡¯t explain, ¡°Okay, Mr. Jin, we got it. How much is it?¡±


    Jin Yuwan: ¡°Since the child¡¯s issue isn¡¯t serious and didn¡¯t require specialized psychological treatment, a diagnosis fee of six hundred will suffice.¡±


    Qin Hao took out the money and gave it to Jin Yuwan: ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jin.¡±


    Jin Yuwan put away the money and said, ¡°Bring the child back in about a month for a follow-up; I¡¯ll see if there has been any improvement by then.¡±


    Arriving at the underground parking of the building, Qin Hao thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Since Qiao¡¯er isn¡¯t going to school today, let¡¯s go to the amusement park and have fun.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay!¡± Qiao¡¯er replied joyously.


    They went to a nearby large amusement park. There weren¡¯t as many people as on holidays, but it was still quite crowded.


    Since Qin Hao had Xiaoxing delete any photos off the internet, there weren¡¯t many people who remembered what he looked like. Even if someone felt he looked familiar, they wouldn¡¯t dare to recognize him because the three of them looked like a family.


    Around ten o¡¯clock, Qin Hao received a call from Chang Jing: ¡°Mr. Qin, I plan to release Mechanical Soldier¡¯s PC and mobile games around eleven o¡¯clock. The movie is a huge hit, so it¡¯s a good time to ride the wave.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Mr. Chang, you handle it as you see fit.¡±


    The online buzz about the movie ¡°Mechanical Soldier¡± remained high, and many people were discussing it.


    Be it Wei Yan, forums, or groups on social software, everyone was talking about the ¡°Mechanical Soldier¡± movie.


    Good word-of-mouth created a chain reaction that was much stronger than any advertisement.


    When all your friends are discussing this movie, a strong curiosity will arise in your heart¡ªjust what kind of movie is it that they find so appealing?


    On that day, ¡°Mechanical Soldier¡± also topped the overseas box office, becoming the first movie from Xuan Country to lead the international movie box office.


    At eleven o¡¯clock, an advertisement for the game appeared on Xinghai Social Software: ¡°The official ¡®Mechanical Soldier¡¯ game is here; with epic effects and a superb operational experience, it lets you experience the vast world of mecha.¡±


    Besides Xinghai Social Software, the game advertisement also appeared on Xinghai Browser, AiKu Video, Wei Yan, and apps from various partner companies.


    Within an hour, the PC version¡¯s download count reached over twenty million, and the mobile version¡¯s downloads soared to over forty million.


    This showed that the number of smartphone users greatly outnumbered those of computers.


    In Qin Hao¡¯s view, the functionality of smartphones had already reached about ninety percent of that of computers, and future virtual imaging technology would surely replace personal computers.


    The main reasons people still frequently used computers were for two big features: one was office software, indispensable in every company, and the other was computer games.


    The gaming experience on computers was wholly different from phones, but computers had their disadvantages¡ªthey couldn¡¯t be as conveniently played as smartphones.


    The release of Xinghai Company¡¯s game immediately caught the high attention of Tenglong Group. After their people tried the game, their eyes were filled with despair, revealing a sense of hopelessness.


    Whether judged by the graphics or the gameplay experience, the game was stronger than theirs in every aspect and was bound to attract a large number of gamers.


    It was as if they could already see the ending of Tenglong Group¡ªthe writing was on the wall.


    It wasn¡¯t that the other big three weren¡¯t strong enough; it¡¯s just that Qin Hao was exceptionally formidable.


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 605 - 605 607 Future Impact

    ?Chapter 605: Chapter 607 Future Impact Chapter 605: Chapter 607 Future Impact Tenglong Group could never have imagined that Qin Hao would develop a game so quickly.


    They estimated that it would take at least six months to develop a game that could compete with theirs, but Qin Hao took less than two months, a development speed that was terrifying.


    They could no longer see the future, and if things continued like this, in one or two months, the game ¡°Mechanical Soldier¡± would definitely become a hit, and their game players would surely decrease sharply.


    Two months, that¡¯s all the time they had left.


    Ren Huachen now looked over a decade older than before, with half his hair turned white. He resembled Tenglong Group, turning into an old man in his twilight years.


    After the stock market opened in the afternoon, Tenglong Group¡¯s stock plummeted once again, with countless people selling off their shares.


    Anyone with clear eyes could see that the three giants were finished, and closure was just a matter of time.


    After lunch, Qin Hao and two others finished eating outside and played elsewhere for the afternoon. Later in the afternoon, Qin Hao received a call from He Tingting, ¡°My uncle invites you and me to have dinner at his place tonight. Uncle told me about Shan Shan¡¯s situation, thank you.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I enjoy teaching those people a lesson.¡±


    ¡°Do you have time tonight? Let¡¯s go together,¡± asked He Tingting.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and asked, ¡°What time?¡±


    He Tingting, ¡°Let¡¯s go over at six, and come back after eating. My uncle wants to express his gratitude, and there is also a matter of cooperation that needs your approval.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll pick you up from the company later.¡±


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao played with Qiao¡¯er until five o¡¯clock before heading home, dropped Han Meng and Qiao¡¯er off at their homes, and then went to the company.


    He arrived at Xinghai High-tech Company, got out of the car, and walked towards the laboratory. At that moment, a large truck was parked at the entrance of the robotic workshop, and 001 and others were unloading robot parts.


    With three of its own robotic body production factories, intelligent robots were increasing in number.


    It was estimated that by the time Xinghai Automobile Factory was operational, the number of intelligent robots would be sufficient to fully support the production. With their work efficiency, the Air Energy Car would soon be released.


    In Qin Hao¡¯s influence in air energy engine technology was not weaker than artificial intelligence.


    Because the air energy engine performed better, it didn¡¯t consume any energy. For example, if jet fighters were equipped with this engine and combined with an artificial intelligence system, they could continue to fight for countless days as long as there was sufficient ammunition.


    Speed is critically important for jet fighters because with high speed, it¡¯s easier to swiftly dodge incoming missiles.


    When the enemy¡¯s missile approaches and they can¡¯t even see your trail, it¡¯s likely to scare them into crashing.


    If the speed is high, it can easily catch up to the enemy aircraft and execute a slaughter, the benefits are numerous. The production of the air energy engine will have a huge impact, big enough to affect the Federation¡¯s status as the world¡¯s superpower.


    The world¡¯s energy has always been controlled by the Federation. If the air energy engine is released, the Federation¡¯s long-prided trump card will become obsolete.


    It might also shake the monetary position of the Federation currency as well as its military superiority.


    When enemy aircraft fly over your country¡¯s territory with impunity, and your missiles can¡¯t hit them at all, what kind of world superpower are you talking about?


    The Federation maintains its superpower status with a central strategy and three basic points.


    Centered on military dominance, it controls energy, currency, and oceans.


    The Federation¡¯s military power is undoubtedly the strongest in the world, unrivaled.


    Energy refers to the Federation controlling over eighty percent of the world¡¯s energy supplies, whether oil or natural gas, essentials for all countries, with each country needing to make purchases.


    And these purchases can only be made using Federation currency, whose dominance is unshakeable.


    There were also seas, and the Northern Federation had the Pacific Fleet, Indian Ocean Fleet, and Atlantic Fleet, controlling global shipping.


    Blocking sea lanes could greatly impact a nation¡¯s import and export, and previously the Northern Federation had indeed blocked the shipping lanes of HX.


    Qin Hao would only provide this air energy engine technology to HX, and no matter how much money other countries offered, he would not sell it to them.


    Upon arriving in the lab, many people inside were conducting research, some studying intelligent rice cookers, intelligent gas stoves, intelligent faucets, intelligent toilets, intelligent switches, intelligent computers, and so on.


    Anything that could be applied in everyday life was being studied in the lab.


    The lab staff had by now reached nearly five hundred people, with just these individuals¡¯ monthly salaries totaling over a billion.


    If research expenses were added, the lab would consume over ten billion in funds every month.


    Apart from the nation, only Xinghai Company could afford such a massive lab.


    After Qin Hao entered, those people glanced at him but no one paid him any heed and continued with their experiments.


    In many of their eyes, there were no bosses, only research experiments, the joy of success, and the despair of failure.


    Qin Hao found He Tingting on the second floor where the projects were relatively high-end; He Tingting and a group were studying intelligent elevators.


    Indeed, they were intelligent elevators, but miniature versions, because a normal-sized elevator wouldn¡¯t fit in the lab for research.


    When Qin Hao approached He Tingting, she did not notice, her brows furrowed as she stared at the elevator.


    ¡°Mr. He, this elevator just can¡¯t increase its speed, and Mr. Qin¡¯s newly constructed building is 288 floors, the current speed is far too slow,¡±


    Another person said, ¡°This tech can only use foreign imports¡ªalthough we¡¯ve solved the intelligence aspect, we simply cannot tackle the elevator¡¯s speed and stability.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, I will provide you with a technical approach when the time comes.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    The surrounding people began to address him.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°I have a matter for Mr. He, the engineering lead. The intelligence issue is resolved¡ªleave other problems to me.¡±


    He Tingting and the rest nodded, she instructed others briefly, then left the lab with Qin Hao.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go change my clothes, wait for me a moment.¡± After saying this, she entered the changing room.


    A few minutes later, she emerged, wearing Huafei brand black thermal leggings, a thin sweater, and a coat.


    Qin Hao appreciated her figure, mature and sensual.


    Seeing his gaze, He Tingting gave him a sidelong glance, ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°If you went out like this, I doubt anyone would think you are the chief engineer at Xinghai High-tech Company¡ªyou are really too stunning.¡±


    Blushing, He Tingting walked over and pinched him hard, ¡°You¡¯ve gotten bolder haven¡¯t you, not seeing you for a few days?¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°Just a joke, Mr. He, life should be filled with some fun.¡±


    He Tingting replied, ¡°Stop calling me ¡®teacher,¡¯ I¡¯ve already resigned from Jianghai University and am now fully devoted to working here at the lab.¡±


    [The fourth update, that¡¯s all, go to sleep early, see you tomorrow, seeking votes]

 Chapter 606 - 606 608 Visiting

    ?Chapter 606: Chapter 608 Visiting Chapter 606: Chapter 608 Visiting Qin Hao was momentarily stunned by her words, ¡°You quit your job at Jianghai University?¡±


    He Tingting nodded, ¡°The laboratory work is plentiful, and I really enjoy working there. I couldn¡¯t manage both, so I resigned.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good, the laboratory needs you more.¡±


    As they walked and talked, they got into the car and drove towards He Tingting¡¯s uncle¡¯s residential complex.


    The district where Ding Shan lived was the Wanhao District, a high-end area in Jianghai City, with each apartment costing over four to five million.


    Arriving at the entrance of Ding Shan¡¯s building, Qin Hao and He Tingting got out of the car. He Tingting hooked his arm, and they walked into the building.


    When they reached Ding Shanshan¡¯s apartment, Qin Hao pressed the doorbell, and Ding Shanshan quickly opened the door. Seeing Qin Hao at the door, she smiled, ¡°Brother-in-law, sister Tingting, please come in.¡±


    Qin Hao and He Tingting walked in, and Ding Shan stood up from the sofa, ¡°Tingting, Xiao Hao, please have a seat.¡±


    ¡°Uncle,¡± He Tingting called out, then she lightly nudged Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao sighed inwardly and also called out, ¡°Uncle.¡±


    Ding Shan was overjoyed, Qin Hao actually called him uncle, which was enough for him to boast about when he went out.


    Qin Hao, the richest man in the world, was the number one magnate in the Xuan Country business world.


    Under his relentless pressure, the three internet giants were about to go bankrupt. Who in the entire Xuan Country business world could compare to him?


    Sitting on the sofa, Ding Shan personally poured tea for Qin Hao and He Tingting, ¡°Xiao Hao, Tingting, have some water. Your aunt is cooking in the kitchen, it¡¯ll be ready soon.¡±


    Ding Shanshan sat beside Qin Hao. He Tingting spoke up, ¡°Uncle, there¡¯s no need to trouble yourself. Shanshan ran into trouble, and it was only right for Xiao Hao to help.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Tingting is right, it¡¯s the least I could do.¡±


    Ding Shan said with a smile, ¡°Tingting is fortunate to have found such a good boyfriend like you, Xiao Hao. It must be the fortune she accumulated in her past life.¡±


    Qin Hao quickly responded, ¡°Uncle, please don¡¯t say that. It¡¯s not about the fortune of a past life, it¡¯s fate.¡±


    Ding Shan, ¡°Xiao Hao is right, fate, it¡¯s all fate. Xiao Hao, since you¡¯re here tonight, your uncle has a favor to ask.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Please tell me, uncle. As long as it¡¯s within my capability, it definitely won¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    Ding Shan, ¡°Tingting mentioned that your company developed intelligent lighting? Your uncle would like to cooperate with your company.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°So it¡¯s about that. That¡¯s a trivial matter. Uncle, you can visit the company and talk to Mr. Chang anytime, I¡¯ll let Mr. Chang know.¡±


    Ding Shan felt a surge of joy, ¡°Then thank you, Xiao Hao. You two chat for a bit, I¡¯ll go to the kitchen and help Xiao Jing.¡±


    ...


    Ding Shanshan said, ¡°Brother-in-law, that person from Beihai Country, what¡¯s his status? He had so many people call you.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°He¡¯s a fairly influential person in Beihai Country, but he can¡¯t cause much of a stir in Xuan Country.¡±


    Ding Shanshan said giggling, ¡°Brother-in-law, you were so cool that day. A few of my friends are asking for your contact info, but I didn¡¯t give it to them, heh heh.¡±


    He Tingting gave her a sharp look because her hands were clutching Qin Hao¡¯s arm, ¡°Don¡¯t be so disrespectful, he is your brother-in-law.¡±


    Ding Shanshan hummed, ¡°What about my brother-in-law? He¡¯s not an outsider, right brother-in-law?¡±


    He Tingting, ¡°Are you asking for a spanking again?¡± She then went over and playfully tickled her.


    Ding Shanshan laughed loudly, letting go of Qin Hao¡¯s arm, ¡°Sis, I¡¯m wrong, stop, it tickles so much.¡±


    He Tingting didn¡¯t stop, still tickling her.


    Ding Shanshan quickly pleaded for Qin Hao¡¯s help, grabbing onto his arm.


    While continuing to tickle, He Tingting said, ¡°Let go, don¡¯t be disrespectful.¡±


    Eventually, He Tingting had to stop, and Qin Hao quickly said, ¡°All right, you two, that¡¯s enough. You¡¯re both grown up, stop messing around.¡±


    Ding Shanshan hurriedly let go, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault, brother-in-law. It¡¯s all because my sister insisted on tickling me, and I¡¯m so ticklish.¡±


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t really say anything; he looked at He Tingting, ¡°Tingting, please sit down.¡±


    About fifteen minutes later, dinner was ready. There wasn¡¯t much fuss during the meal, just Ding Shanshan¡¯s mother expressing thanks to Qin Hao for his help.


    After sitting for a while post-dinner, Qin Hao and He Tingting bid farewell and left.


    Ding Shanshan even saw them off to the elevator, where she said with a laugh to Qin Hao and He Tingting, ¡°Brother-in-law, let me take a picture of you two.¡±


    He Tingting frowned slightly, ¡°What picture? You know your brother-in-law¡¯s status.¡±


    Ding Shanshan, ¡°It¡¯s fine, sis. I promise I won¡¯t leak it. If you don¡¯t like it, I can just take a picture of my brother-in-law alone. I¡¯m not interested in you.¡±


    ...


    Having left the elevator, Qin Hao and He Tingting got into the car and then left the place.


    In the car, Qin Hao asked He Tingting, ¡°I¡¯ll have your driver take you home.¡±


    He Tingting, ¡°I¡¯m living in Lijing District now, not far from the company. You can drop me off there.¡±


    Twenty minutes later, Qin Hao dropped He Tingting off at her building.


    He Tingting looked at him and asked, ¡°Will you come up for a bit?¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit late for that?¡±


    ¡°Where is your mind? I was just being polite. I¡¯m going up now,¡± He Tingting gave him a look and headed upstairs.


    Qin Hao gave an awkward smile and got back into the car, ¡°Leng Xuan, is Mr. He being protected?¡±


    Leng Xuan, ¡°Yes, there¡¯s protection for all the high-end talent in the lab, and their phones are equipped with the latest smart surveillance technology, currently monitored by the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing.¡±


    Back at home, Qiao¡¯er was waiting for him to return and had not gone to bed. Qin Hao quickly freshened up and then entered the bedroom belonging to Han Meng and Qiao¡¯er.


    Time flies, and before you know it, days turn into months.


    In the blink of an eye, five days had passed, and on that morning, Qin Hao received a call from his third uncle, Li Pingrong.


    Li Pingrong, ¡°What are you busy with, Xiao Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Playing at home. What¡¯s up, third uncle?¡±


    Li Pingrong paused before asking, ¡°How¡¯s that seed thing you were working on, Xiao Hao?¡±


    [First update]

 Chapter 607 - 607 609 Court Verdict

    ?Chapter 607: Chapter 609 Court Verdict Chapter 607: Chapter 609 Court Verdict Qin Hao, upon hearing his uncle¡¯s words, was stunned for a moment but quickly recovered, ¡°It¡¯s already done. I was a bit busy the past few days and forgot about it. Just wait a moment, uncle, I¡¯ll send it to you now.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao hurried to his study, opened the system store, and quickly found the category for agriculture and farming.


    He first chose to exchange for: Super Wheat Seed Development Technology, which could yield up to five thousand catties per acre, with tough and erect roots, and rich, full wheat grains, requiring five million achievement points for the exchange.


    Qin Hao checked online and found that the highest yield of wheat per acre in Xuan Country was over 1700 catties, which was the highest.


    Five thousand catties was definitely a shocking figure.


    After the exchange, Qin Hao sent the development technology to his uncle through Xinghai Social Software.


    Upon seeing this, Li Pingsheng asked in disbelief, ¡°Xiao Hao, is the yield per acre a typo? Five thousand catties?¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°Uncle, it¡¯s not a mistake. You¡¯ll know once you develop the seeds and experiment with them. Also, uncle, wait a moment.¡±


    Following that, Qin Hao exchanged for Super Corn Seed Development Technology, along with rice, soybeans, sorghum, peanuts, cotton, and more.


    Qin Hao exchanged for every major crop grown in Xuan Country, spending a total of fifty-eight million achievement points, as food production was tied to the fate of the nation.


    The increase in food production was crucial; firstly, it could increase export volumes to benefit farmers, and secondly, it could stockpile food to ensure there were no worries about food and drink in the event of war.


    Currently, farmers couldn¡¯t make much money from farming in a year, but starting from the next farming season, farming could also bring wealth and prosperity.


    Qin Hao told Li Pingsheng, ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t set the price too high, remember to cooperate with the government, that¡¯s how it can be widely popularized.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Xiao Hao, don¡¯t worry,¡± Li Pingsheng replied.


    Li Pingsheng¡¯s agricultural seed company was very large and ranked among the top ten in the country, and due to its openness to the global market, it faced competition from foreign seed companies.


    Foreign seed companies had advanced technology and high yields, which resulted in a lot of pre-orders for the next season¡¯s seeds; Li Pingsheng¡¯s company saw a significant decline in pre-orders.


    After helping Li Pingsheng, Qin Hao found advanced elevator technology and spent six million achievement points on it.


    He sent this technology to He Tingting in the lab through the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing.


    After completing these tasks, he checked the active users on the Xinghai Social Software; it constantly maintained around seven hundred million, which was extremely impressive.


    The active users on Tenglong Group¡¯s social software barely reached fifty million, a world of difference compared to before.


    The ¡°Mechanical Soldier¡± game also became hugely popular, with downloads exceeding five hundred million and average daily active users exceeding one hundred million.


    Reaching this level of game users was unprecedented.


    Suddenly, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang, it was a call from Xu Jiejian, ¡°Xiao Hao, can you really develop the new solar panels?¡±


    Qin Hao answered, ¡°Mr. Xu, I wouldn¡¯t cheat anyone, let alone you. Don¡¯t worry, it should be ready in about six or seven days.¡±


    Xu Jiejian nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve been under a lot of pressure these past few days. Uncle believes in you, just get it done as soon as possible.¡±


    Before he could hang up with Xu Jiejian, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang with a call from Chang Jing.


    He ended the call with Xu Jiejian and answered Chang Jing¡¯s, ¡°Mr. Chang, what¡¯s happening?¡±


    Chang Jing said, ¡°Mr. Qin, Qian Du Group, Tenglong Group, and Amao Net Shopping Group have sued our Xingyu Network Communication Company and Xinghai High-tech Company in court.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao¡¯s expression stiffened, ¡°They¡¯ve sued us in court? What does that mean?¡±


    Chang Jing said with a somewhat worried tone, ¡°The three groups are accusing Xingyu Network Communication Company of monopolistic technology and engaging in unfair competition, claiming that the Xinghai company¡¯s software sidelined the three groups¡¯ platforms. They¡¯re demanding compensation for all damages, demanding thirteen trillion Federation currency.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao furrowed his brows, ¡°Does having a leading technology also count as a monopoly?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°Having a leading technology does not count as a monopoly, but our use of Star Domain Network to edge out the three major groups might have violated anti-monopoly laws. The definition is actually quite vague, and it depends on how it is judged. I have already hired the best lawyers in the country.¡±


    Thirteen trillion Federation currency?


    These three bastards really dare to ask, are they trying to bankrupt me?


    At the same time, this news also spread online, with major news agencies and online media outlets racing to report it.


    Everything was being said, and some even claimed that Qin Hao had violated anti-monopoly laws and would compensate the three major companies thirteen trillion Federation currency.


    Suddenly, public opinions were diverse, and both Xingyu Network Communication Company and Xinghai High-tech Company were thrust into the eye of the storm.


    Qin Hao was once again thrust into the eye of the storm, and countless netizens left messages supporting Qin Hao, standing up against the three giants.


    ¡°We have all witnessed what Mr. Qin has done. What monopoly? It¡¯s obvious that Mr. Qin¡¯s technology is just more advanced.¡±


    ¡°Truly shameless, we support Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, we support Mr. Qin. My kid could start university this year without tuition fees, thanks to Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Support Mr. Qin, boycott the shameless three giants.¡±


    ¡°Monopoly my ass, just because they can¡¯t develop advanced technology, they accuse others of monopolizing? Are they saying artificial intelligence technology has also violated monopoly laws?¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao hung up the phone and told Han Meng before he left.


    He went to the office of Xinghai High-tech Company, where Chang Jing was discussing specific matters with people from the legal department.


    Seeing Qin Hao enter, Chang Jing looked up with a hint of worry between her brows, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao walked over and asked, ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°We can only wait for the court session three days from now, but I think the issue shouldn¡¯t be too significant. Who¡¯s right and who¡¯s wrong, I believe the authorities can discern.¡±


    Xinghai Company is vibrant and full of potential; the three giants are already in their twilight years. It is entirely Xinghai Company¡¯s merit that they could lead the world with some technologies now.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. The matter was not that simple, and the final outcome would likely result from many forces clashing.


    The court session was set for 9 AM on March 10th at the first court of Jianghai City.


    Chang Jing entered the courthouse with a few lawyers and staff, accompanied by Li Fengyu, Ren Huachen, and a group of other people including Lv Tian.


    Over the past few days, the court had also been gathering various pieces of evidence. When the time came, the judge announced the start of the session, and the lawyers from both sides began their initial skirmish.


    Finally, after both sides had no further additions, the judge began announcing the final discussion results:


    Xingyu Network Communication Company did indeed exhibit phenomena of monopolistic technology to exclude competitors.


    The software under Xinghai High-tech Company indeed outperformed the TT Social Software in performance and user experience, aligning with the rules of competing in the market through technological innovation.


    Regarding the huge compensation demanded by the Tenglong Group¡¯s three companies, it was deemed unlawful and was rejected.


    The final decision was to fine Xingyu Network Communication Company 1.369 billion, and order Xingyu Network Communication Company to implement network openness to the three Tenglong Group companies.


    [Second update, interested in the author¡¯s previous book? Two million words, might not be very well written: Top President¡¯s Godly Expert]

 Chapter 608 - 608 610 Qian Du Company Goes Bankrupt

    ?Chapter 608: Chapter 610 Qian Du Company Goes Bankrupt Chapter 608: Chapter 610 Qian Du Company Goes Bankrupt After the judge announced the verdict, he asked the plaintiff and the defendant, ¡°If anyone objects to this decision, they may appeal to the Intermediate People¡¯s Court.¡±


    Ren Huachen, Lv Tian, and Li Fengyu¡¯s eyes flickered with a trace of dimness; the outcome was worlds apart from what they had expected.


    Filing another lawsuit seemed futile; it was clearly a result deliberated by the higher-ups.


    They hadn¡¯t held much hope to begin with but now, even if there was a one in ten thousand chance, they didn¡¯t want to give it up.


    This time, it seemed like they had won, but it was almost as good as losing; it was only a fine of thirteen billion, which hardly affected Qin Hao at all.


    Then there was that open condition; if it had been open before, the three major tycoons would definitely not feel as desperate as they did now.


    Without the assistance of the Star Domain Network, how could Qin Hao have defeated the three major tycoons so swiftly?


    As for this result, Chang Jing breathed a sigh of relief. Although the fine was in the billions, it wasn¡¯t impactful.


    The judgment wasn¡¯t streamed live online, and the news spread on the internet only after it had concluded.


    Chang Jing returned to the office, where Qin Hao was sitting, waiting for her, ¡°How did it go?¡±


    Chang Jing replied with a smile, ¡°Xingyu Network Communication Company was fined over thirteen billion, and then it will open the Star Domain Network to the three Tenglong Group companies.¡±


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face, ¡°Just as expected.¡±


    Hearing his words, Chang Jing curiously asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, had you anticipated this?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°The Star Domain Network controls the life and death of all internet companies. Some people want me to hand it over; Mr. Chang, you must have thought of this when you heard the verdict, right?¡±


    Chang Jing paused for a moment, her beautiful eyes fixed on him, ¡°What do you plan to do?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled lightly, ¡°What do you think would happen if I refuse to give up more than fifty percent of the shares?¡±


    Chang Jing sat beside him, and after a few seconds said, ¡°If Mr. Qin doesn¡¯t want to worsen relations with those above, the only choice is to release the shares of the Star Domain Network.¡±


    Qin Hao sat there in deep thought. The upper echelons¡¯ desire for control was strong; they wanted to control the Star Domain Network, and what more the future Xinghai Automobile Factory?


    He had no options; in the face of the nation, any individual or force was pale.


    No one could resist this sort of intangible power.


    Chang Jing didn¡¯t disturb him, sitting quietly by his side, waiting for him to make a decision.


    In her view, no matter how Qin Hao pondered, the outcome was already set in stone, unchangeable by anyone.


    Qin Hao also understood that no matter how much he thought, the outcome was already fixed.


    He wasn¡¯t thinking about the present issues but was instead considering future matters; anything he would research in the future absolutely couldn¡¯t be done domestically.


    After Qin Hao realized this, he smiled and said to Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Chang, you go and talk to the officials. Sell fifty-one percent of the shares. The price can be set according to the valuation, but the company¡¯s managerial rights must remain in my hands.¡±


    The current market value of Xingyu Network Communication Company reached six hundred billion Federation currency. The reason why its valuation was so high was due to the strong performance of the Star Domain Network and its huge market potential.


    If the market were opened globally, the market value of the Star Domain Network would certainly be more than this.


    Fifty-one percent of the shares, that would be three thousand and sixty billion Federation currency.


    With the money from before, this would be entirely sufficient for his subsequent plans.


    After all, his purpose in running the Star Domain Network was to make money; selling some shares would instantly raise substantial funds for himself, arriving at the same destination through different paths, as long as the control remained in his hands.


    By selling these shares, he essentially gathered the profits of the next few years all at once.


    ...


    Chang Jing brought up an issue, saying, ¡°Mr. Qin, today Jiangqi Group¡¯s first intelligent autonomous vehicle has been released. It will undergo test driving and various safety tests.¡±


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised, ¡°So soon?¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°Once Jiangqi Group¡¯s latest smart car is out, Qian Du Company¡¯s hope will be completely shattered. Although it seems like a victory, they have already lost, and a closure is not far off.¡±


    With the three major groups going bankrupt, Xinghai Company will undoubtedly become the internet hegemon.


    Qin Hao¡¯s task was thus completed. The system would upgrade, resulting in the emergence of more advanced military technology and products.


    At ten in the morning, he left the company and returned home.


    With each passing day, Xinghai High-tech Company was making progress. The production of chips was rapidly increasing.


    After deducting various expenses in February, Xinghai High-tech Company had a net profit of over fifty-three billion, which was quite terrifying.


    This month, including other companies, the profit could very likely surpass one hundred billion.


    ...


    In a villa district in Jianghai City,


    Sato Tarou said to the middle-aged man beside him, ¡°Tell those people that if they don¡¯t cooperate, we will leave.¡±


    The middle-aged man made a phone call to Xu Jiejian, implying simply that they should quickly exert pressure on Qin Hao or else they would abandon the collaboration.


    After hanging up the phone, the middle-aged man said to Sato Tarou, ¡°Young master, I have gathered some information: Xinghai High-tech is also researching solar panels.¡±


    Sato Tarou sneered, ¡°What can they come up with? They don¡¯t have any foundation. Fu Feng Group has been researching this area for decades now, only achieving our current success. How is the investigation on Qin Hao going?¡±


    The middle-aged man, ¡°It¡¯s almost done. He lives in Haoting Sea View Villa District; there is a woman and a girl in the villa, heavily guarded. We also saw Qin Hao and a woman very close, arm in arm at midnight, called He Tingting, currently the chief engineer at Xinghai Company.¡±


    Sato Tarou, ¡°Anything else? I don¡¯t believe that the world¡¯s richest man has only a few women.¡±


    The middle-aged man, ¡°He has a fiance?e, Xu Siyao, with a significant background, and even more undercover bodyguards.¡±


    A fleck of ruthlessness flashed in Sato Tarou¡¯s eyes, ¡°Qin Hao better be sensible, or I¡¯ll make him regret it for the rest of his life.¡±


    ...


    At two in the afternoon, Qin Hao sat at home watching TV, with Han Meng by his side, gently massaging his legs.


    On the TV, a female reporter smiled and said, ¡°We are currently at Jiangqi Group Car Factory. Today, Jiangqi Group has a new car about to be launched, an intelligent autonomous vehicle jointly developed with Xinghai Company.¡±


    The report detailed footage of Jiangqi¡¯s new smart autonomous vehicle, which, after countless trials and checks by relevant departments, had no issues and was ready to be marketed.


    Jiangqi Group and Xinghai Company simultaneously issued a press release, and the news quickly spread across the entire network.


    Upon seeing this news, Li Fengyu of Qian Du Company was utterly dejected. Jiangqi Group¡¯s intelligent car was now marketable, while his autonomous vehicle was still in the testing stage and failing to meet some technical standards.


    At six in the evening, an explosive piece of news spread across the network again.


    ¡°Qian Du Company CEO Li Fengyu commits suicide by jumping off a building.¡±


    ¡°Qian Du Company declares bankruptcy, a former giant has fallen.¡±


    ¡°In debt by billions, Qian Du Company says goodbye to the internet, Li Fengyu commits suicide.¡±


    ...


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 609 - 609 611 Decision

    ?Chapter 609: Chapter 611 Decision Chapter 609: Chapter 611 Decision This was a profoundly shocking piece of news, and while many people felt a bit nostalgic, that nostalgia quickly evaporated.


    Since they had used Qian Du search engine software, many people had a slight emotional attachment to it.


    However, Qian Du search engine also had many criticisms, and the initial pay-for-placement scandal enraged all internet users.


    A patient who used the Qian Du search engine to look up hospitals did not see rankings based on the hospital¡¯s technical capabilities; instead, the rankings depended on how much money they paid, with the highest bidder placed first.


    As a result, the patient went to a subpar hospital, which severely delayed treatment and endangered their life.


    While there were some who were nostalgic, many others said that such a company indeed deserved to go out of business.


    Qin Hao too saw this news and remained expressionless. Before long, Zhao Yuying returned and said with a smile, ¡°Our movie should still be number one today, with an estimated box office of over 530 million.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the total box office so far?¡±


    Zhao Yuying, ¡°The domestic total has already reached 6.3 billion, breaking the domestic box office record, and the overseas box office is 4 billion, totalling over 10 billion. Of this, Yuhao Media can probably receive less than five billion, which is pure profit.¡±


    After she spoke, she chuckled to herself. The hype for ¡®Mechanical Soldier¡¯ hadn¡¯t died down yet, and according to this trend, they would continue to make a huge profit.


    What mattered most wasn¡¯t this, but rather the company¡¯s special effects department, which had many producers seeking their services now.


    Xuan Country actually had many TV dramas and movies with good plots, but their special effects technology was not commendable.


    In the future, just from special effects production alone, Yuhao Media Company¡¯s monthly earnings would be incredibly substantial.


    At that moment, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang; it was a call from his mother, Li Shujie, ¡°Hello, Mom, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Li Shujie, ¡°Xiao Hao, how did your dad and I become shareholders of your third uncle¡¯s company?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Mom, Dad, don¡¯t worry about it. Uncle must have his reasons behind it.¡±


    ¡°I heard your company lost over ten billion in a lawsuit, are you all right?¡± Mrs. Li asked worriedly.


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mom, we made it back in one day; don¡¯t worry.¡±


    After chatting with his mom for a while, Qin Hao hung up the phone, quite satisfied with his uncle¡¯s decision.


    Should something really happen to him one day, his parents¡¯ future would still have some security.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and then made a call to Lv Tian. The phone rang twice before connecting, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Qin to give me a call.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a faint smile, ¡°Mr. Lv, didn¡¯t you mention wanting to collaborate with me before? I think we can talk about it now.¡±


    Lv Tian was stunned for a moment, ¡°What can we still collaborate on, Mr. Qin? I no longer have the qualifications.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Why would you think that, Mr. Lv? What I value isn¡¯t your Amao Net Shopping Group but your capabilities as a person. Are you interested in taking charge of Xinghai Social Software, Xinghai Mall, and Xinghai Browser?¡±


    Lv Tian paused for a moment; he was indeed tempted. Xinghai Company had limitless prospects and would certainly become a dominant global company in the future.


    Staying with such a company would indeed be a great opportunity.


    He asked directly, ¡°I want to know my compensation.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I will restructure these three software APPs into a subsidiary under Xinghai Company, and I¡¯ll give you a five percent share.¡±


    Five percent?


    Lv Tian was internally surprised, somewhat admiring his audacity. The five percent might not seem like much, but it was worth several billion. Moreover, the development potential for these three applications was huge, and their future valuation would likely far exceed that of Amao Net Shopping now.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°Mr. Lv, you only get one chance. If you can¡¯t seize it, I¡¯ll have to find someone else.¡±


    ¡°Hold on, Mr. Qin, I have a condition. If you agree to it, I will work with you,¡± Lv Tian seemed to have made up his mind.


    Qin Hao¡¯s lips curved slightly upward, ¡°What condition?¡±


    Lv Tian, ¡°I want a relatively free management space. I don¡¯t want to have to report every decision I make.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°That¡¯s possible. I generally don¡¯t interfere with the company¡¯s affairs. As long as your policies are beneficial to the company¡¯s development, you can manage things as you see fit.¡±


    Lv Tian took a deep breath, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, I agree.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Lv, you will be very glad about the decision you made today.¡±


    Lv Tian, ¡°Mr. Qin, I also have a large number of R&D personnel here, may I bring them over as well?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Of course. Your company¡¯s R&D team is world-renowned. I would love to have them.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Zhao Yuying asked curiously, ¡°Xiao Hao, were you on the phone with Lv Tian? Is he coming to your company?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, now that two of the three giants have fallen, they are no longer a concern.¡±


    Admiration and fascination filled Zhao Yuying¡¯s eyes, ¡°Lv Tian used to be a big shot I looked up to, I never imagined he would become your subordinate.¡±


    Seeing the look in her eyes, Qin Hao knew she was thinking about him. Han Meng spoke up, ¡°Xiao Hao, I¡¯m going to pick up Qiao¡¯er.¡±


    Once Han Meng had left, the two were about to embrace and get cozy, when Wang Zhi suddenly walked in, ¡°Yu Ying, you girl, why don¡¯t you go home when you come back?¡±


    Zhao Yuying let out a forced laugh, ¡°I was discussing company matters with Xiao Hao.¡±


    Wang Zhi, ¡°Oh? Are you done discussing? If you¡¯re done, come home for dinner.¡±


    Zhao Yuying reluctantly glanced at Qin Hao and then followed her mother home.


    Qin Hao gave a wry smile and shook his head, then walked into the study. Once inside, his smile vanished, and he turned on the computer to seriously look at the world map.


    His gaze swept over the war-torn region of Spa Island and finally settled on Lijia State.


    Ultimately, his eyes fixated on Ban Guo Country; he zoomed in on the map and then searched online for the seas near Ban Guo Country.


    He was looking for a base for future development, the foundation for the future.


    Ultimately, he decided on a desolate island of Ban Guo Country¡ªsixty miles from the mainland, with an area of thirty square kilometers, it was a rather large deserted island.


    After choosing the island, Qin Hao faced some difficulty; he needed someone else¡¯s help to make contact.


    The Innsil family was not an option, as their influence was not that extensive. He had to reach out to Silin Ross of the Ross family.


    He pulled out his phone and made a video call to Silin-Ross. A few seconds later, she answered. Silin was still in bed, sleepily opening her eyes, ¡°Mr. Qin, why do you always like to disturb people¡¯s sleep? That¡¯s quite rude, you know?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Who knew you get up so late; I need you for something.¡±


    Silin sat up, wearing a golden nightgown, revealing her fair and smooth shoulders, ¡°Is it good news or bad news?¡±


    Qin Hao rarely contacted her, and now that he did, she suspected it couldn¡¯t be good news.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Of course it¡¯s good news. Do you want the Artificial Intelligence system? Are you interested in representing the Star Domain Network?¡±


    [End of the fourth update, no more today. There will likely be multiple updates on the 22nd.]

 Chapter 610 - 610 612 Buying an Island

    ?Chapter 610: Chapter 612 Buying an Island Chapter 610: Chapter 612 Buying an Island Silin Ross suddenly snapped to attention, ¡°Of course, of course, we would love to have those Artificial Intelligence devices from Xuan Country Bank as well, and I¡¯m also interested in the Star Domain Network agency.¡±


    In the Federation, the communications industry has always been dominated by the Robert family.


    They are the undisputed telecom giants in the Federation.


    The Robert family¡¯s position in the Federation¡¯s communications industry is like that of the three major operators combined in Xuan Country, unshakable by anyone.


    But now, things are different. The advent of the Star Domain Network has completely disrupted the plans and deployments of many mobile communications giants.


    The three major operators in Xuan Country were also planning to roll out the domestic 5G network, but no one expected the sudden emergence of the Star Domain Network.


    Now, it¡¯s not just about rolling out the 5G network, even their own survival is in jeopardy.


    The Robert family¡¯s own group was also planning to deploy a 5G network within the Federation, with an estimated cost of between fifty to a hundred billion Federation dollars.


    Now, this project has been halted; no one dares to proceed rashly anymore.


    If the Star Domain Network suddenly opens up, then all that money would be wasted, so the large mobile network operators around the world don¡¯t dare to make rash moves and are all trying to contact the Star Domain Network company. Since they can¡¯t surpass Star Domain Network, the only path left is collaboration.


    Needless to say, Silin Ross wanted the agency rights for the Star Domain Network. With that, the Ross family would become the telecom powerhouse in the Federation, significantly weakening the influence of the Robert family in the process.


    But he knew that Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t just let the Ross family have the agency for nothing; he must have approached her for a reason.


    She said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, just tell me what you need.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her seriously and said, ¡°I want to buy an island. My influence in Hei Province is still too limited, so I¡¯m hoping to get some help from the Ross family.¡±


    Silin Ross was taken aback, ¡°Hei Province, you mean? Although it¡¯s poor, the environment is indeed nice. How many square meters? Which country?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°It¡¯s about thirty kilometers in radius, Ban Guo Country, you know it? It¡¯s in their territorial waters.¡±


    Ban Guo Country?


    Anxiously, Silin opened the world map to take a look, then zoomed in carefully and found the island Qin Hao was talking about.


    After thinking for a moment, she said, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you sure you want to buy it? What use do you have for such a broken island there? And there¡¯s no precedent for selling islands there either. I¡¯ll have someone ask around.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°The price is negotiable, Miss Silin, contact me as soon as you have news.¡±


    Silin Ross: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll do my best to make it happen for you.¡±


    After hanging up, a hint of confusion flashed in Silin¡¯s eyes. What did he want with an island in Ban Guo Country?


    Was he going to live there by building his own house? That seemed unlikely, as such a big space wasn¡¯t necessary just for living.


    Could it be that he saw potential in the tourism resources there? Was he planning to develop the island into a tourist destination?


    Silin thought for a long time but couldn¡¯t figure it out, so she eventually stopped mulling over it, although she felt that Qin Hao must have had a significant purpose in mind.


    ...


    After hanging up, Qin Hao contemplated the next steps. If he managed to buy the island, developing it into a base later would still require a lot of money.


    His main goal now was to secure the island.


    Soon, Han Meng came back with Qiao¡¯er. Qin Hao, having nothing else to attend to, stepped out, while Qiao¡¯er was doing her homework at the coffee table, and Han Meng went to the kitchen to make dinner.


    Qin Hao sat beside Qiao¡¯er, watching her do her homework. Conscientiously, she finished in about fifteen minutes.


    ¡°Dad, can we watch some TV together?¡± she asked.


    Qin Hao nodded and turned on the television. The two of them sat on the couch and started watching a TV series.


    After dinner, Zhao Yuying and her family came over to sit for a while, chatted a bit, and then left.


    In the bedroom, Qiao¡¯er said to Qin Hao, ¡°Daddy, you sleep in the middle.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Dad can sleep on the side just fine. You in the middle is good, with one parent on each side. How comfortable is that, huh?¡±


    Qiao¡¯er: ¡°But Dad, you always fall off the bed at night. Qiao¡¯er sleeps still and won¡¯t toss and turn.¡±


    Qin Hao felt a bit embarrassed; the bed was indeed a bit small. It was just right for two adults, but with two adults and an eight or nine-year-old child, it was somewhat cramped.


    He wasn¡¯t very still in his sleep; for the past few days, he¡¯d found himself on the floor when waking up in the morning. If not for his good constitution, he would¡¯ve caught a cold from the chill long ago.


    Blushing, Han Meng said, ¡°Xiao Hao, you sleep in the middle. It¡¯s okay, otherwise you¡¯ll catch a cold falling to the floor all the time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Meng. I¡¯ll sleep on the side,¡± insisted Qin Hao.


    Qiao¡¯er pouted and looked at him pitifully, ¡°Daddy, it hurts my heart when you fall to the ground.¡±


    Ultimately, Qin Hao couldn¡¯t resist Qiao¡¯er¡¯s persuasion and ended up half-lying in the middle, sharing a big blanket among the three of them.


    The TV in the bedroom was still on, and all three of them lay half-propped up, watching.


    As the plot of the TV series unfolded, Qiao¡¯er said, ¡°Dad, how about you hug me and Mum to sleep?¡±


    ¡°Ah? Qiao¡¯er, that¡¯s not really appropriate.¡±


    ¡°Why not? How come it¡¯s okay on TV?¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°In the TV series, they are husband and wife; Meng and I aren¡¯t married.¡±


    ¡°Then can you pretend to be husband and wife?¡±


    ...


    A few minutes later.


    Qiao¡¯er giggled, ¡°Dad, let¡¯s turn off the lights and go to sleep.¡±


    Turning off the light, Qin Hao closed his eyes.


    Her pretty face flushed, she closed her eyes, her heart pounding, her body rigid, daring not to move.


    Eventually, the three of them fell asleep unknowingly.


    The next morning, Qin Hao groggily opened his eyes and was taken aback when he saw Han Meng so close.


    Qin Hao became exceedingly embarrassed. He decided to continue pretending to be asleep.


    After a few minutes, Han Meng quietly opened her eyes.


    Her face turned beet red, and with her cheeks burning, Qin Hao felt incredibly awkward, ¡°Sorry, Meng, I... I don¡¯t know what happened.¡±


    Looking down, Han Meng said shyly, ¡°It¡¯s... it¡¯s okay.¡±


    After a long silence, she spoke again, ¡°Xiao Hao, I owe you so much. I can¡¯t help you in other ways, but I want to take good care of you in life. As long as you don¡¯t mind, that¡¯s all that matters to me.¡±


    [First update]

 Chapter 611 - 611 613 Furong Association

    ?Chapter 611: Chapter 613 Furong Association Chapter 611: Chapter 613 Furong Association Her words carried a trace of inferiority.


    She felt that she lacked education and the ability to be of any help to Qin Hao, and moreover, she was a woman who had been married before.


    Han Meng remembered everything¡ªhow Qin Hao had saved her and her daughter, and the many ways he had helped them.


    Qin Hao looked at Han Meng, her delicate features and sparkling eyes slightly downturned, not daring to meet his gaze.


    Qiao¡¯er¡¯s voice suddenly rang out, ¡°Daddy, Mommy, what are you doing?¡±


    ...


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao and Qiao¡¯er got out of bed, finished washing up, and Qin Hao led Qiao¡¯er out.


    Outside, a white expanse enshrouded everything¡ªtoday¡¯s smog was a bit severe.


    Qin Hao frowned when he saw it, ¡°Qiao¡¯er, let¡¯s not go out today, the smog is quite severe.¡±


    Qiao¡¯er nodded, ¡°Mhm, my teacher also said that smog is bad for people¡¯s health¡ªwe shouldn¡¯t be active under smoggy skies too often.¡±


    After breakfast, Han Meng and Qiao¡¯er put on masks and went to school escorted by bodyguards.


    In the morning, Qin Hao received a call from Chang Jing, who informed him that a set of intelligent chip motherboards for the ship was ready.


    Qin Hao then made a call to Du Yingqiang, ¡°Du, what are you busy with?¡±


    Laughing, Du Yingqiang said, ¡°What else can I be busy with, just blindly busying myself every day. Brother Qin, did you contact me because the intelligent motherboards are ready?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°That¡¯s right, Du, bring your team to Xinghai Company to collect them, I¡¯ll be waiting for you there.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Brother Qin, I will bring my team right over,¡± Du Yingqiang said, his tone laced with excitement.


    After hanging up the call, Qin Hao drove to Xinghai High-tech Company, where many cars were parked at the entrance, and a group of smartly dressed people was standing at the door waiting for something.


    Qin Hao got out of the car and said to Leng Xuan, ¡°Find out what those people outside are here for.¡±


    The bodyguard soon returned and said to Mr. Qin, ¡°Mr. Qin, those people are domestic manufacturers of mid to low-end mobile phones. Today, Xinghai Company will hold a public tender to select partners for the mid to low-end market.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, without a word, and headed straight to Chang Jing¡¯s office.


    He said to Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Chang, I¡¯ve already settled things with Lv Tian; he should be coming over this afternoon.¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°He agreed? What responsibilities will he take on?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°He¡¯ll be responsible for the networking side and will be directly managed by you.¡±


    Chang Jing smiled faintly, ¡°I never thought such a big shot would work under me.¡±


    At this moment, Qin Man entered and spoke, ¡°Mr. Chang, Mr. Qin, those mobile phone manufacturers have already come in; I¡¯ve arranged for them in the reception hall.¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go there now.¡±


    She went to receive the mobile phone manufacturers, and Qin Hao waited on the couch for a short while before Du Yingqiang arrived.


    Stepping out of the office building, Qin Hao saw Du Yingqiang, Yan Huayue, Li Qingya, Li Qingyun, and Li Moying.


    ¡°Master.¡± Li Moying ran over when she saw him and grabbed his hand.


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Why have you all come?¡±


    Li Qingya, ¡°We had made plans for the morning, and then Brother Qin, you called Mr. Du.¡±


    Qin Hao said apologetically, ¡°Then I have interrupted you guys, sorry, my apologies.¡±


    Yan Huayue smiled, ¡°Mr. Qin, you really do jest.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Come, the intelligent motherboards for the ship are ready, Brother Du, let me show you.¡±


    He led Du Yingqiang and the others to the robot manufacturing workshop, where dozens of robots were researching and producing things.


    Li Moying, curious upon seeing the working robots, asked, ¡°Master, what are they doing? What is this they are making?¡±


    Unit 001 approached and said, ¡°Director Li, we are currently producing solar panels, a kind of advanced solar panel with super strong absorption and extremely high photovoltaic conversion efficiency.¡±


    Solar panels?


    Qin Hao, ¡°Cut the chatter and go get the smart motherboards for the ship.¡±


    001 grinned and led some people into the lab. A few minutes later, six robots came out holding something.


    Qin Hao took the items, ¡°Brother Du, these are the various intelligent motherboards needed for the ship. Our R&D personnel have gone through computer simulations and didn¡¯t encounter any problems, but you will only really know once you¡¯ve installed them on the ship.¡±


    Mr. Du nodded, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°No need to be so formal, if there are any problems, just contact Mr. Chang directly.¡±


    Li Qingya spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, we have a plan, and I was wondering if you might be interested?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her curiously, ¡°What plan?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s find a place to talk,¡± Li Qingya suggested.


    Qin Hao led them to his own office, ¡°Please, take a seat.¡±


    Li Qingyun looked around Qin Hao¡¯s office and laughed, ¡°Mr. Qin, isn¡¯t your office a bit too spartan?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°What¡¯s the difference whether an office is luxurious or spartan? It doesn¡¯t affect my earnings. Miss Li, you seem awfully secretive¡ªjust say what you have to say.¡±


    Li Qingya glanced at Yan Huayue next to Du Yingqiang, her gaze meant something, though she didn¡¯t speak.


    Understanding the situation, Yan Huayue stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the restroom.¡±


    After he left, only Li Qingya and her sister, Du Yingqiang, Li Moying, and Qin Hao remained in the room.


    Li Qingya began, ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re aware of the six major financial groups in Beihai Country, right?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, wondering why she would bring this up, considering if she was here to negotiate on behalf of the Sato family.


    Li Qingya, ¡°It¡¯s said that you and Sato Tarou almost came to blows? Is this solar panel production also aimed at competing against the solar panels from Fu Feng Group?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Miss Qingya, just speak your mind.¡±


    Li Qingya, ¡°Beihai Country has six major financial conglomerates, among which the Sato Family-led Fu Feng Group is one of them, known externally as the Furong Association.


    This Furong Association is headed by the Sato family, with dozens of large- and medium-sized groups as its support, covering various industries. They hold immense influence not only in Beihai Country but also globally.


    Apart from the Sato family¡¯s Furong Association, there are other associations like the Golden Light Association, Shuangmu Association, White Water Association, amongst the five major financial groups. Such organizations can completely rival the super families of the Federation, competing for interests in the global market.¡±


    [Second update]

 Chapter 612 - 612 614 Business Association Organization

    ?Chapter 612: Chapter 614: Business Association Organization Chapter 612: Chapter 614: Business Association Organization Having heard what Li Qingya said, Qin Hao had almost guessed her intention.


    Although Li Moying was usually carefree, she was meticulous and understood what Li Qingya meant, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.


    Du Yingqiang¡¯s eyebrows also furrowed as he spoke, ¡°Miss Li, what do you mean?¡±


    Li Qingya nodded slightly, ¡°That¡¯s right, if we want to expand into the global market, it would be very difficult for any of us alone to compete against those super conglomerates and large families. Even Mr. Qin alone would find it hard to cover various industries and create a significant impact.¡±


    Qin Hao, sitting there, did not speak. What Li Qingya said was true; if he wanted to be influential globally, one person¡¯s energy was limited. Only by uniting could they possibly succeed.


    Li Moying spoke up, ¡°But you know the domestic situation as well? The authorities do not allow such organizations because they can hold the domestic economy in their hands, and if they wish, they can cause an economic collapse at any time. The authorities wouldn¡¯t allow such power to be granted.¡±


    Li Qingya, ¡°As long as we don¡¯t reveal the core content of the organization, no one will know. I¡¯m sure Mr. Qin has also felt the pressure from the authorities. The recent court ruling says it all, they are warning Mr. Qin, they don¡¯t want to see your influence grow.


    We conduct our business legitimately, with capability and strength, why should we submit to others and be coerced?¡±


    Honestly, Qin Hao was somewhat surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected Li Qingya to say such things. He had underestimated these young leaders in the past; each one of them had exceptional capabilities to manage the group.


    Qin Hao had previously relied on a system, appearing friendly on the surface, but in reality, he hadn¡¯t taken these people seriously, overlooking their abilities.


    He looked at Li Qingya with a smile, ¡°Is this your idea, Miss Qingya, or your father¡¯s?¡±


    Li Qingya, ¡°My father is old now, devoid of ambition, and the Kangmei Group is big enough. He only wants us to guard what he has fought for, this is the idea of my sister and me.¡±


    Li Qingyun nodded and looked at Qin Hao, ¡°It mainly depends on Mr. Qin¡¯s approval, because if such an evaluation is indeed established, Mr. Qin will definitely be our core and reliance. If Mr. Qin does not join, it wouldn¡¯t mean much.¡±


    Du Yingqiang and Li Moying turned to him, Du Yingqiang somewhat moved. Everyone wanted to leave a mark in history, nobody wanted to remain ordinary.


    Li Moying listened to Qin Hao. As long as he agreed, she would follow Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao contemplated, ¡°This matter is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly.¡±


    Li Qingya was delighted to hear his words. She could sense that Qin Hao was somewhat moved.


    She continued, ¡°Mr. Qin, I understand your thoughts. I have long felt that you are not a typical businessman because you are too patriotic. In your eyes, benefits don¡¯t count for much; the nation is of utmost importance.


    The past events are evident, from various pharmaceutical research technologies, seismograph technologies to artificial intelligence technologies, and so on.


    No matter how you look at it, I don¡¯t think you are a typical businessman. I know what you are worried about. Establishing an organization and being patriotic are not mutually exclusive; they can very well complement each other.¡±


    She was right, who says forming a business organization must be harmful to the country?


    It¡¯s just that some people don¡¯t want anyone besides themselves to obtain supreme power. They only want to keep it in their own hands.


    Qin Hao was very clear about this, clearer than anyone.


    ...


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Miss Qingya, I have come to see you in a new light. I used to think you and your sister were just for show.¡±


    Li Qingya giggled, ¡°Your sincerity, Mr. Qin, is the reason I made this decision because I know following you will definitely bring benefits.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Find a time, a place, and gather everyone; we will discuss this in detail. Apart from yourselves, nobody else should know.¡±


    The group was thrilled. Li Qingya and her sister nodded, ¡°Sure, Mr. Qin.¡±


    After they had left, only Li Moying stayed behind. She giggled and said, ¡°Master, are you trying to make money with those solar panels? You can¡¯t forget about me in this venture.¡±


    After she finished speaking, she grabbed Qin Hao¡¯s arm and looked at him with a pitiful expression.


    Qin Hao watched her silently, ¡°You¡¯re such a sly one, don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t be left out.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the best, Master.¡± Li Moying hugged his arm.


    Just then, Chang Jing suddenly walked in. Seeing the two on the sofa, her expression remained unchanged without any sign of disturbance.


    Li Moying asked, ¡°Mr. Chang, why didn¡¯t you knock before coming in? What if my master and I were in the middle of something serious?¡±


    Qin Hao broke into a cold sweat, ¡°Stop talking nonsense, Mr. Chang, what brings you here?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°I¡¯ll wait until Mr. Qin and Mr. Li are finished with their business.¡± Then, she turned and walked out.


    Looking somewhat perplexed, Qin Hao turned to Li Moying, ¡°How are your brother and Miss Ye doing?¡±


    Li Moying replied, ¡°They¡¯re great. They might get married by the end of this year, but my brother doesn¡¯t want to marry so soon. He wants to enjoy a few more years of freedom.¡±


    Qin Hao still remembered how once on a plane, Li Jianjun and a flight attendant had gone into the lavatory, ¡°Does Miss Ye know about his affairs?¡±


    ¡°Miss Ye probably knows. Although my brother is a playboy, he doesn¡¯t talk about love; it¡¯s just mutual fun,¡± she said.


    The wealthy probably live like that, millionaires and young masters alike, who doesn¡¯t like toying with beauties? Perhaps there are some exceptions, but they are definitely a very small minority.


    Thinking for a moment, Qin Hao asked, ¡°By the way, is that pilot smart hotel ready yet?¡±


    Li Moying shook her head, ¡°Not yet, the hotel is so large, it still needs more than half a month, also, Master, there¡¯s something else I need your help with.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Qin Hao looked at her.


    Li Moying said, ¡°I created a video live streaming app and pulled some people from the TT live streaming platform, but it¡¯s not getting much traffic. Master, could you promote it on your software? I¡¯ve reserved some shares for you.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°That¡¯s a small matter, I¡¯ll have someone arrange it in a while.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master, mmwah.¡± Li Moying kissed him on the cheek and chuckled, ¡°I have some other things to take care of, so I¡¯m heading out first, Master.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao touched the damp spot on his cheek, gave an awkward smile, and then headed to Chang Jing¡¯s office, ¡°Mr. Chang, what did you need to discuss earlier?¡±


    Chang Jing stared at him, dumbstruck, ¡°You really are a rogue and a womanizer.¡±


    Qin Hao looked surprised, ¡°Mr. Chang, why am I a rogue and a womanizer?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you right now.¡± Chang Jing bowed her head again, focusing on her computer.


    Qin Hao walked over, puzzled, ¡°Mr. Chang, are you talking about me and Mo Ying? There¡¯s nothing between us, that girl just loves to spout nonsense.¡±


    Chang Jing pulled out a mirror from her drawer and placed it in front of him. Qin Hao was stunned as he saw a red lipstick mark on his face...


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 613 - 613 615 Twenty Percent Stake

    ?Chapter 613: Chapter 615: Twenty Percent Stake Chapter 613: Chapter 615: Twenty Percent Stake Qin Hao¡¯s old face blushed, ¡°Damn, I got played by this girl.¡±


    He hurried into the washroom and washed off the marks on his face, grateful that nobody had seen him; otherwise, it would have been a major embarrassment.


    After coming out of the office washroom, Qin Hao said to Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Chang, what was it you were talking about just now?¡±


    Chang Jing began, ¡°It¡¯s about the shares of Xingyu Network Communication Company.¡±


    Qin Hao asked curiously, ¡°What about the shares?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°The state only wants twenty percent of the shares; they can¡¯t digest fifty-one percent as it ties up too much capital, and the state has many other areas where funds are needed.¡±


    Twenty percent? Qin Hao¡¯s face broke into a smile; the officials were, in a way, giving him a response.


    ¡°Have the shares been traded yet?¡±


    Chang Jing said, ¡°The transaction is complete, totaling 120 billion Federation dollars.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the money?¡±


    Chang Jing smiled slightly, ¡°It¡¯s with me. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen so much money, I¡¯m tempted to run away with it.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°No need to run. If you really want it, you can have it, but then you would belong to me.¡±


    Chang Jing¡¯s cheeks reddened slightly at these words and gave him a glare.


    Qin Hao knew she had misunderstood and clarified, ¡°Mr. Chang, don¡¯t get me wrong, I mean that I value your capabilities more.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying I¡¯m worthless besides my capabilities?¡± Chang Jing watched him with an expressionless face.


    Qin Hao replied awkwardly, ¡°Mr. Chang, you¡¯re overthinking it, I didn¡¯t mean anything else.¡±


    Chang Jing handed him a list, ¡°Here are the mobile phone manufacturers that came for the tender today. Which ones does Mr. Qin choose?¡±


    The list contained names of dozens of mobile phone manufacturers, including several well-known brands like Xuanxing Mobile, Jinfeng Mobile, WO Mobile, and Xuanxian Mobile, as well as some medium-sized manufacturers.


    On the list, Qin Hao even spotted Zhongjia Mobile. Having had a falling out before, how shameless of them to still send someone over?


    Looking at the list, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Mr. Chang, which one do you think we should choose?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°It would be best to choose from among the major phone manufacturers, but as for which one, I¡¯ll leave the decision up to Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°No rush, we¡¯ll talk about it later.¡±


    ...


    After finishing his business with Chang Jing, Qin Hao headed to the third floor of the robotics workshop at the back. There were over fifty robots bustling about inside.


    They were producing high-grade navigation radar and intelligence devices, and after asking around, Qin Hao learned that it would take about half a month more.


    As per Qin Hao¡¯s request, they were only producing some critical components because he planned to launch them overseas, as the chances of even getting through regulatory approval were slim in his home country.


    There are many commercial satellite launching companies abroad, and launching a medium-range satellite would roughly cost around ten billion Federation dollars.


    Most importantly, their review process isn¡¯t as stringent, usually money is all it takes to get your satellite into orbit.


    Leaving the company, Qin Hao then proceeded to the Xinghai Automobile Factory construction site next door. The progress on the automobile factory was quick and the project wasn¡¯t overly massive.


    From this construction site, he moved on to the skyscraper project site, where Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong spent every day.


    Tian Rong was in charge of sourcing various materials, while Xia Yingjie oversaw the work outside.


    When Xia Yingjie heard that Qin Hao had arrived, he hurried down from above. The skyscraper had reached the twelfth floor now, with construction speed several times faster than before.


    Firstly, the number of workers had increased, and they were full of enthusiasm; secondly, many robots were helping out as well.


    Currently, there were nearly a thousand workers at the construction engineering company, twice as many as before, all under contract with the Xinghai Construction Engineering Company.


    Xia Yingjie asked, ¡°Xiao Hao, why are you here?¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°There wasn¡¯t much happening at the company, so I came over to check things out. Is everything going smoothly, Mr. Xia?¡±


    Xia Yingjie nodded, ¡°It¡¯s going quite well. The progress on the project is fast, and I got in touch with a major machinery company through Xinghai Company to collaborate on developing smart, large-scale construction equipment.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Xia, that¡¯s a good idea. Smart, large-scale construction equipment could significantly boost efficiency.¡±


    The two chatted at the construction site for a while, and Xia Yingjie said to him, ¡°You should go pick up Xiaoqing this afternoon, Ms. Tian and I are a bit busy today.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Alright, Mr. Xia.¡±


    Understanding that his daughter and Qin Hao were now together in such a manner, Xia Yingjie only wished for Qin Hao to spend more time with her.


    Leaving the construction site at half-past two in the afternoon, Qin Hao called Xia Qing, ¡°Xiaoqing, where are you?¡±


    ¡°At school.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯ll come to pick you up. Wait for me at the school gate.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao had Leng Xuan drive to the entrance of Jianghai University. Xia Qing was already waiting there, wearing a hat and a mask.


    Now she was somewhat of a celebrity herself, as the ¡°Mechanical Soldier¡± movie was still a hit, and many people recognized her.


    Once she was in the car, Qin Hao had Leng Xuan drive to the residential complex where Xia Qing lived. They had replaced their old home with a new one, bought outright and located very close to the school.


    Xia Yingjie had asked him to pick up Xia Qing, clearly wanting him to spend more time with his daughter.


    In the afternoon on the Wei Yan network, Amao Net Shopping Company released a message: announcing the closure of Amao Net Shopping Company, with Lv Tian set to lead the tech team to join Xinghai High-tech Company, taking charge of the internet projects for Star Sky Company.


    It stirred a wave of reaction.


    The news of Amao Net Shopping Group¡¯s closure and Lv Tian joining Xinghai Company quickly spread throughout the entire network.


    When Ren Huachen of Tenglong Group saw this news, he was so furious that he nearly spat blood.


    He had never seen such shamelessness ¨C his company crushed by a rival, and yet he had the gall to go work for them.


    With the three giants now reduced to just Tenglong Group, it was struggling to hold on.


    The user base for Tenglong Group¡¯s games had dropped to less than ten million, far more rapidly than Ren Huachen had imagined, mainly due to Star Domain Network. The domestic internet landscape had virtually become Qin Hao¡¯s domineering territory.


    Shortly after Amao Net Shopping Group announced its closure, the three major carriers jointly published an announcement: they would shut down mobile network services domestically.


    The three major carriers had numerous subsidiaries in many countries where Xuan Country companies were doing well. Even without the domestic market, since Star Domain Network had not yet expanded internationally, they could still make a profit.


    Qin Hao arrived at Xia Qing¡¯s new home, a layout with three bedrooms, two living rooms, and two bathrooms, with a total of over one hundred forty square meters.


    Xia Qing, with charming dimples on her face, asked, ¡°Want something to drink?¡±


    ¡°Drink water? Which one is your bedroom?¡± Qin Hao scooped her up in his arms.


    Xia Qing¡¯s face turned slightly red, ¡°This one is.¡±


    ...


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 614 - 614 616 Solar Panels

    ?Chapter 614: Chapter 616 Solar Panels Chapter 614: Chapter 616 Solar Panels Around five in the afternoon, Qin Hao and Xia Qing were awakened from sleep by the ringing of a cellphone.


    Qin Hao picked up the phone and saw that it was a call from Li Qingya; she had even made a video call, which he chose to answer in voice mode, allowing him to see her, but preventing her from seeing him.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Miss Qingya, what can I do for you?¡±


    Li Qingya spoke with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you free tonight? Let¡¯s go out for dinner together.¡±


    From Li Qingya¡¯s words, he could tell she must have something to discuss, and since they would be partners in the future, he felt obliged to comply with such a small request.


    Qin Hao paused before answering, ¡°Sure, where is Miss Qingya now?¡±


    Li Qingya was delighted, ¡°Jinxiu Hotel, Room 1818. Mr. Qin, we¡¯ll wait for you.¡±


    After hanging up, Xia Qing asked, ¡°Who was it? Which beauty?¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°Li Qingya from Kangmei Electrical Group, a business partner. She probably has something to ask of me.¡±


    Xia Qing pursed her lips, ¡°She¡¯s so pretty and inviting you to dinner, she must be up to no good.¡±


    ...


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao got dressed and got out of bed, ¡°Rest well, I¡¯m leaving now.¡±


    Xia Qing pouted her cute little lips, gazing at him with resentment in her eyes.


    After going downstairs, Qin Hao took a car to the Jinxiu Hotel, where he, along with Leng Xuan and a few others, took the elevator to Room 1818 on the 18th floor.


    Outside the door stood bodyguards from the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion, hired by the Li sisters. Seeing Qin Hao arriving, they respectfully greeted him as Mr. Qin and then opened the door for him.


    Qin Hao walked in to find three people sitting inside: the sisters Li Qingya and Li Qingyun, and a middle-aged man in his forties.


    Upon his entrance, the three of them quickly stood up, saying, ¡°Mr. Qin has arrived, please have a seat.¡±


    Qin Hao said apologetically, ¡°Sorry for the late arrival, I had some minor issues. Thank you for waiting.¡±


    The middle-aged man, Jiang Chenfeng, replied with a polite smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re too modest. We¡¯ve only arrived a little ahead of you.¡±


    Indeed, they had been there for only about forty to fifty minutes, having waited for almost an hour for Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°Tonight¡¯s meal is on me. Waiter, let¡¯s order.¡±


    A female waiter hurried in and handed the menu to Qin Hao, who then passed it to the Li sisters, ¡°You order, I¡¯m fine with anything.¡±


    The Li sisters ordered for four people. The middle-aged man didn¡¯t order, insisting that Qin Hao choose, so Qin Hao selected five or six items, then ordered a few more steamed buns as he was feeling hungry.


    The service was swift, and the dishes were brought out shortly after the waiter left.


    Picking up his chopsticks, Qin Hao said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat, I won¡¯t stand on ceremony.¡±


    The four or five steamed buns didn¡¯t last more than a few minutes in his hands. Li Qingya, her sister, and Jiang Chenfeng watched, dumbfounded. Geez, brother, did you just come back from a famine?


    After filling his belly a bit, Qin Hao said, ¡°Alright, Miss Qingya, please make the introduction.¡±


    Li Qingya regained her composure and smiled, ¡°This is Mr. Jiang Chenfeng from Jinfeng Mobile Company, also a friend of my father¡¯s.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Mr. Jiang, don¡¯t just focus on the food. Did you come to see me about that mobile manufacturer tender?¡±


    Jiang Chenfeng, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin. Our company is one of the top mobile manufacturers in the country, focusing on the mid-to-low end market with annual sales of several million units, making us one of the most competitive mobile brands domestically.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Since you come recommended by Qingya and Qingyun, there¡¯s no issue with collaboration. I¡¯ll call Mr. Chang in a bit, and that should do it.¡±


    Jiang Chenfeng grew excited and quickly raised his glass, ¡°Mr. Qin, a toast to you.¡±


    Li Qingya and Li Qingyun also lifted their glasses, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin, for giving us the honor. We sisters toast to you as well.¡±


    Qin Hao was impressed by the Li sisters¡¯ abilities; they were no ordinary individuals but rather smart and good at reading situations, making them excellent partners.


    Apart from what Qin Hao ate, the three guests had barely touched the dishes.


    Qin Hao inquired, ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating? If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll pack it up, otherwise, it¡¯s wasteful.¡±


    Jiang Chenfeng was stunned for a moment. What? Did I hear that wrong? The world¡¯s richest man packs leftovers after a meal?


    The Li sisters too were speechless, ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re so wealthy, do these few dishes really matter to you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about the money; it¡¯s shameful to waste,¡± Qin Hao said before turning to the waiter, ¡°Could you please pack this up for me? Thank you.¡±


    After packing up the leftovers, the group made their way downstairs. Qin Hao asked, ¡°How much is Room 1818?¡±


    ¡°Let me take care of it, Mr. Qin. How could we possibly let you pay?¡± Jiang Chenfeng quickly pulled out his card and handed it to the receptionist.


    The receptionist smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, it¡¯s free for you to dine here; that¡¯s the instruction from our chairman.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Alright, Mr. Jiang, since you waited so long, you can treat next time.¡±


    With the packed leftovers, he returned home where Han Meng and Qiao¡¯er were waiting for him.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten outside. There are still a few untouched dishes here, which I¡¯ve brought back for you.¡±


    ...


    Two days later, inside Xinghai High-tech Company.


    It was a clear day. A group of people stood on the rooftop of the office building.


    Qin Hao, Chang Jing, Xu Jiejian, and some experts in solar panels stood in front of a two-square-meter solar panel.


    The sun had just risen not long ago, and its rays shone upon the solar panel; next to it, a data display showed the results of the photovoltaic conversion.


    ¡°The sun has just risen, so it probably isn¡¯t generating much electricity, is it?¡± Xu Jiejian ventured.


    No sooner had he finished speaking than the number on the display jumped.


    There was a detection device on the battery that could show how much electricity was stored.


    ¡°This... in only a few minutes, it generated one kilowatt-hour of electricity?¡± an expert in solar panel technology disbelieved.


    The other experts were just as incredulous. Typically, a solar panel of this size would be considered good if it generated four kilowatt-hours of electricity in a day under such weather conditions. And yet, in mere minutes, it had produced one kilowatt-hour ¨C and this was only the result of the early morning sun.


    After half an hour, the storage showed fifteen kilowatt-hours, and as time passed and the sun climbed higher, the electricity generated would only increase.


    This breakthrough astonished the experts present, completely shattering their previous understanding.


    Qin Hao said to Xu Jiejian, ¡°Mr. Xu, do you believe it now?¡±


    Xu Jiejian expressed his shock, ¡°Xiao Hao, how did you do it? Isn¡¯t this speed of generating electricity just terrifying?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that difficult; you just need to think carefully,¡± Qin Hao replied with a smile.


    The experts fell silent collectively, thinking, Damn, we¡¯ve been studying for decades, and you resolved it just by thinking carefully?


    [First update]

 Chapter 615 - 615 617 Xinghai Association

    ?Chapter 615: Chapter 617 Xinghai Association Chapter 615: Chapter 617 Xinghai Association Qin Hao, Chang Jing, and Xu Jiejian came down from the rooftop, and Xu Jiejian¡¯s mind, which had been on edge these days, finally settled.


    In the office, Xu Jiejian had stayed here all morning.


    At noon, a few people came down from the rooftop and reported to Xu Jiejian, ¡°Mr. Xu, from morning till now, the power generation has already reached over 120 kilowatt-hours, and it will definitely be more in the afternoon, probably reaching close to 300 kilowatt-hours.¡±


    Xu Jiejian was shocked by the news, ¡°That high? Then, if it were placed in the Northwest Region, wouldn¡¯t the power generation be even higher?¡±


    The experts nodded, ¡°Exactly, if it were placed in the Northwest Region, the power generation would be even more.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Jiejian was completely reassured, he smiled and said, ¡°Good, since you¡¯re here, record a full day of data and then report it, I should head back now.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Xu, why don¡¯t you stay for lunch before leaving?¡±


    Xu Jiejian shook his head, ¡°No thanks, I have other matters to handle, so I¡¯ll leave first.¡±


    After Qin Hao and Chang Jing saw him out, Qin Hao returned and said to Chang Jing, ¡°Let the official WeChat release a message later, specifically talking about the Xinghai solar energy panels.¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Back in the office, Lv Tian was standing at the door of Chang Jing¡¯s office. Seeing Qin Hao and Chang Jing return, he called out, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Lv, please come in and speak,¡± Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Entering the office, Lv Tian said, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, here is the financial planning proposal for you to look at.¡±


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing each took a copy. Lv Tian was planning to establish a financial services company, similar to the previous Amao Net Shopping¡¯s money fund service, where users could deposit their money and receive very high interest rates, much higher than banks.


    The advantage of this financial service was that it could instantly gather a large amount of capital for the company to invest in various projects and make more money.


    After reviewing it, Chang Jing commented, ¡°Mr. Lv, this proposal is good. It can be executed.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s excellent. Mr. Lv, feel free to proceed.¡±


    Lv Tian nodded, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Chang, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang. It was Li Qingya¡¯s call, ¡°Mr. Qin, two o¡¯clock, Purple Bamboo Pavilion.¡±


    Qin Hao understood what she meant by her words; she must have gathered enough people, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll come after lunch.¡±


    While Qin Hao was eating lunch at the company, Xinghai High-tech Company posted the news about the solar panels on the Weiblog.


    ¨C Currently, our company has developed a new type of solar panel. Compared to similarly sized and powered solar panels in the past, the energy output of our new panels is nearly a hundred times higher...


    This message didn¡¯t attract much attention as people didn¡¯t understand the significance.


    However, it caused a huge stir in the energy sector; many started inquiring about the truth of the matter. If this were true, traditional coal power generation would be completely replaced, and wind power might gradually be phased out in the future.


    Though wind power is environmentally friendly, its cost is too high, and its power generation is even less than that of a single solar panel.


    As many people were confirming the truth of the news, Jianghai Official Weibo also released a message, meaning was also talking about the Xinghai solar panels.


    This was indirectly confirming the authenticity of the message.


    Sato Tarou also received this news, his face turning ashen. Xinghai Company had also developed a solar panel?


    ¡°And its performance is several tens of times that of their newest type of battery panel, how is that possible?¡±


    Sato Tarou simply didn¡¯t believe it, ¡°They must be boasting to make me anxious and prompt me to approach them proactively. This is very likely a strategy of using retreat to advance, to probe into the reality of the situation.¡±


    ...


    It was past one-thirty in the afternoon when Qin Hao left the company and arrived at the Purple Bamboo Pavilion.


    Purple Bamboo Pavilion is a teahouse, very quiet inside; the venue had been reserved for private use.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, please come in.¡± A staff member led him to the door of a private room and then left.


    Qin Hao told Leng Xuan, ¡°Stay here; don¡¯t let anyone get close.¡±


    He pushed the door open and walked into the elegantly arranged private room, which was quite spacious with several people already sitting there¡ªall of whom Qin Hao recognized.


    Li Qingya, Li Qingyun, Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, Li Moying, Jiang Chenfeng, and Liang Xiyu, a total of seven people.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Qin,¡± they rose and called out one by one.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and then sat down in a chair, ¡°Mr. Jiang and Mr. Liang should know what today¡¯s meeting is about, right?¡±


    Liang Xiyu and Jiang Chenfeng nodded, ¡°Qingya has already told us.¡±


    Li Qingya spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, have you decided on a name for the club?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Let¡¯s call it the Xinghai Association; does anyone have any objections?¡±


    Everyone shook their heads, indicating no objections; the organization was led by Qin Hao, so any name was acceptable.


    Li Qingyun said, ¡°Then let¡¯s call it the Xinghai Association. I think the name is good. Anyone who joins must regard Mr. Qin as the leader; whatever Mr. Qin commands must be cooperated with by everyone, or else they will be expelled from the club and undergo severe punishment.


    By ¡®whatever,¡¯ I mean anything. Do you all understand?¡±


    Everyone looked very serious and listened intently to Li Qingyun¡¯s words. The companies of those present all cooperated with Qin Hao¡¯s Xinghai Company, and if they did not comply, Qin Hao could completely cut off their chip supply and sideline them; they would not survive long.


    Jiang Chenfeng said, ¡°Of course, we will follow Mr. Qin¡¯s lead in the future.¡±


    Li Qingya took over the conversation, ¡°Actually, everyone need not worry too much. Mr. Qin is a very good person. The main purpose of establishing the Xinghai Association is to make everyone in the chamber of commerce more powerful, with more benefits and higher status.


    Using Mr. Qin¡¯s advanced technology as a spearhead in international markets, we will open the markets and, taking this opportunity, penetrate various industries. At that time, the Xinghai Association will control their economic lifelines.¡±


    Everyone nodded slightly, and Li Qingya continued, ¡°Currently, our membership is still too small, but as we develop further, we will select suitable people to join. Everyone can make recommendations, and after screening, they can join.


    Tomorrow I will go abroad to register a foreign company, Xinghai Holding Group, by then Mr. Qin will arrange the management of the whole Xinghai Association¡¯s affairs.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Miss Qingya will be responsible for the initial tasks, including the share issue of everyone¡¯s companies; I hope everyone has absolute control over their own companies¡¯ shares. I don¡¯t want to have to call meetings to discuss things when I give orders in the future.¡±


    Liang Xiyu spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin gave my family a thirty-seven percent stake in Jiangqi Group, a large part of which is in the hands of government enterprises. You could negotiate with AI cooperation as a condition to acquire twenty to thirty percent of the shares; thus, our Xinghai Association could indirectly control the majority stake.¡±


    Jiang Chenfeng nodded, ¡°When my company was developing, it underwent several rounds of financing, and I currently hold only just over thirty percent of the shares. Mr. Qin could use this method to buy back most of the shares, combining them to give us absolute power.¡±


    [Second update]

 Chapter 616 - 616 618 Aunt Dating Someone

    ?Chapter 616: Chapter 618: Aunt Dating Someone? Chapter 616: Chapter 618: Aunt Dating Someone? All the company shares present were incomplete except for those held by Du Yingqiang¡¯s family and Ye Lanxin¡¯s Blueberry Mobile Phone Company.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°I will fund the acquisition of other shares in several companies, and Miss Qingya will formulate the regulations for the Xinghai Association. Joining Xinghai Association indicates your trust in me, and with your involvement, I believe the Xinghai Association will become a top financial group that influences the global economy.¡±


    They stayed at the Purple Bamboo Pavilion for about half an hour before leaving separately.


    When Qin Hao returned to Xinghai Company, he said to Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Chang, I¡¯m giving you two hundred and fifty billion. On my behalf, acquire shares in Jinfeng Mobile Company, Jiangqi Group, and Kangmei Electrical Group. Just contact their general managers directly; they will agree.¡±


    Chang Jing was stunned for a moment, but she didn¡¯t ask further, ¡°Okay, Mr. Qin.¡±


    With the cooperation of Jiang Chenfeng and others, along with Qin Hao¡¯s support, the other shareholders had no choice but to sell even if they did not wish to.


    If they refused the courtesy drink, they had to face the penalty drink, thus Jiang Chenfeng and others would execute the second scheme, injecting funds into the companies to dilute their shares.


    This way, their shares would gradually decrease.


    After leaving Xinghai Company, Qin Hao went to Feibao Security Company and entered Li Bao¡¯s office. He said to Li Bao, ¡°I¡¯ve transferred fifty billion to the account of Feibao Company. Acquire all possible companies in the same industry with strength. Understood? If you need more money, come to me.¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, Li Bao always felt he was planning something significant, ¡°Hao, I¡¯ll arrange for people to negotiate and handle this right away.¡±


    Qin Hao recalled something, ¡°How is Han Zhuang doing?¡±


    Li Bao: ¡°Hao, that guy is simply a freak. He learns whatever he is taught in one go, and he¡¯s incredibly strong. After systematic training, he has become more than ten times stronger than when he first arrived.


    No one at the company can match him, and it seems like he feels no pain. Being hit by a steel rod only tickles him.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Take me to see him.¡±


    Li Bao led Qin Hao to the training ground at the back, where he saw Han Zhuang, wearing a tank top, engrossed in training.


    The weather was still very cold, and he was the only one wearing a tank top; everyone else was at least wearing long sleeves.


    Li Bao: ¡°Hao, this guy trains very hard. Ever since he arrived, he¡¯s been training almost all the time except when eating and sleeping, pushing himself extremely. I once asked him why he trains so hard, and he said he was doing it to earn money to get married.¡±


    Hearing this, a smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face. He walked up to Han Zhuang and shouted, ¡°Han Zhuang!¡±


    He used to often call him Xiao Zhuang when they first met, as Han Zhuang was older than Qin Hao but not as mature.


    Hearing his voice, Han Zhuang quickly turned around, his face breaking into a naive grin, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°How are you feeling here?¡±


    Han Zhuang chuckled, ¡°Mr. Qin, it¡¯s great here. The food and lodging are good. There¡¯s meat and eggs every meal, plus dishes I¡¯ve never had before.¡±


    This was a simple and honest man.


    Qin Hao: ¡°How about being my bodyguard in the future?¡±


    Han Zhuang quickly nodded, ¡°I came here with that intention, to be Mr. Qin¡¯s bodyguard.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Good, this is Leng Xuan, the captain of my personal bodyguards. Once you become my bodyguard, you¡¯ll need to follow his orders.¡±


    Han Zhuang had learned more than just Fighting Skill here; he had also attended classes on ideology and politics. He wasn¡¯t actually foolish, just straightforward by nature, ¡°Captain Leng, hello.¡±


    Leng Xuan: ¡°Hmm, devote yourself fully to safeguarding Mr. Qin¡¯s safety.¡±


    After giving instructions to Li Bao, Qin Hao left with his team and made another trip to Jiangshan Group.


    Currently, the office of Jiangshan Group was located in Jiangshan Cooked Food Company, where the general manager¡¯s office of Jiangshan Group had been set up.


    Upon entering Feng Xiangyi¡¯s office, she was sitting there processing company documents.


    Seeing Qin Hao come in, she visibly paused, ¡°Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao sat on the sofa, ¡°Auntie, how are things going with the company? Tell me about it.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi got up and walked over, ¡°Mr. Qin, I thought you had forgotten about this company.¡±


    Qin Hao sat on the sofa with one leg over the other, looking at her. Feng Xiangyi was dressed in a sexy and mature outfit with black stockings and a tight thin sweater, her figure curvy and prominent.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Jiangshan Group is my foundation, how could I forget? With auntie here, I naturally feel at ease.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi sat next to him, feeling quite pleased to hear his words, ¡°Jiangshan Delicatessen has now dominated the markets in the Northwest Region and Xuanbei Region. The cities in the Northwest Region are sparse, but there are quite a few people, and the turnover there isn¡¯t very high.


    We only need another six or seven days to cover the entire northeast region.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°How are the other companies¡¯ industries doing?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi was now not only in charge of Jiangshan Cooked Food Company but also managing Huafei Clothing Company, Xinghui Wine Company, Huamei Cosmetics Company, and others.


    Feng Xiangyi replied, ¡°Huamei, Huafei, and Xinghui Wine have all already covered the national market. Currently, I am having people draw up plans for the Southeast Continent market, and we are also acquiring companies in the same industry to increase production. However, it will take some time to expand overseas.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°It¡¯s already March 19, how much profit has Jiangshan Group made?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi replied, ¡°Since March, up to today, Jiangshan Group¡¯s turnover has reached more than ninety billion, with profits just shy of twenty billion.¡±


    At this rate, Jiangshan Group¡¯s monthly profit will reach over twenty billion.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°From now on, auntie, you will be fully responsible for Jiangshan Group¡¯s affairs. Allocate ten billion each month as development funds to continue expanding Jiangshan Group¡¯s territories.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi said, ¡°I had this plan too. Wan Rou¡¯s development is also not bad; she now procures goods worth millions of Federation currency each month.¡±


    While they were talking, a man in his thirties entered the room. Seeing Qin Hao and Feng Xiangyi inside, he paused, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang.¡±


    Qin Hao frowned slightly. As a subordinate, shouldn¡¯t he knock on the door before entering? Considering Feng Xiangyi¡¯s sake, he didn¡¯t say anything and simply nodded his head, his expression neutral.


    Feng Xiangyi said, ¡°Mr. Song, remember to knock before entering next time.¡±


    From Feng Xiangyi¡¯s reaction, Qin Hao could tell that she wasn¡¯t too blameful; it was clear that this Mr. Song often entered without knocking. Since Qin Hao was there today, she had to admonish him.


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but size up this Song Haoyu.


    Song Haoyu smiled and said, ¡°Alright, Mr. Feng, I¡¯ll be more careful next time. The weather is cold; here¡¯s a scarf I bought for you. I won¡¯t disturb your talk with Mr. Qin any further.¡± After saying this, he walked out.


    Feng Xiangyi¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, slightly embarrassed, ¡°He is the director of the administrative department, Song Haoyu.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Mr. Feng, as the person in charge, it¡¯s not appropriate to openly date in the company. If your secretary or someone from the outside saw and spread it, it wouldn¡¯t reflect well. You can date, but after work hours, try not to be too obvious at the company.¡±


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 617 - 617 619 Embarrassing Illness

    ?Chapter 617: Chapter 619: Embarrassing Illness Chapter 617: Chapter 619: Embarrassing Illness Feng Xiangyi was taken aback and turned her head, smiling as she said, ¡°Why do I feel like you¡¯re jealous?¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at her, ¡°Auntie, you¡¯re overthinking it. You¡¯re not getting any younger; you really should find someone. I¡¯ll have someone investigate him for you to see if there¡¯s any issue. If there¡¯s no issue, I can rest easy.¡±


    After he finished speaking, he called Li Wenjun, asking him to send over the information on Song Haoyu from the Jiangshan Group.


    Li Wenjun and others were currently focusing mainly on the senior executives of Qin Hao¡¯s various companies, as well as those hostile companies and other company information.


    They had collected a lot of information from many companies, and in less than five minutes, Li Wenjun sent over Song Haoyu¡¯s information.


    Qin Hao looked at it, ¡°He¡¯s already married?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi, ¡°Not that I know of. He told me he was single. Let me see.¡±


    She took Qin Hao¡¯s phone and looked at it, which included Song Haoyu¡¯s detailed information: place of birth, age, and many other details.


    It also mentioned his hometown and the names of his wife and children at home, and even his recent whereabouts.


    ¡°Wang? He¡¯s checked into a hotel with Wang?¡± Feng Xiangyi was somewhat in disbelief.


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Who is Wang?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi¡¯s eyebrows knitted tightly, ¡°It¡¯s a new girl in the administrative department.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Feng, you handle this kind of thing yourself. I¡¯m going home,¡± Qin Hao said with a light smile.


    Feng Xiangyi hurriedly said, ¡°Wait, are you free tonight? I¡¯ll treat you to dinner.¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned, ¡°Auntie, just tell me now, aren¡¯t we both free right now?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi blushed slightly, ¡°It¡¯s not convenient to talk about this at home. Let¡¯s talk tonight. You aren¡¯t busy, just wait here for me to finish work¡ªit¡¯s only until five.¡±


    After finishing talking with Qin Hao, Feng Xiangyi issued an order to fire Song Haoyu.


    At five in the afternoon, Qin Hao followed Feng Xiangyi back to her home.


    ¡°Auntie, just tell me what it is,¡± Qin Hao said as he walked into the house.


    Feng Xiangyi turned her head towards him, looking a bit embarrassed, ¡°I wanted you to check on an illness for me.¡±


    Qin Hao carefully looked at her complexion, ¡°You look pretty healthy. You don¡¯t seem sick.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi¡¯s face was slightly flushed, and she hesitated, wanting to say something but appeared too embarrassed to speak.


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao took her hand and checked her pulse. Her pulse didn¡¯t show any issues, but some diseases aren¡¯t detectable through facial complexion and pulse alone, as certain diseases involve these senses.


    He sat on the sofa and said to Feng Xiangyi, ¡°Auntie, since you¡¯ve asked me to come, just tell me straight. What¡¯s wrong exactly?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi¡¯s cheeks looked like red clouds as she took a deep breath and said, ¡°My...my body seems to have an infection....¡±


    Qin Hao gave her a quick check-up, then prescribed some medicine, ¡°Take this on time, and you should be better in a few days.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao quickly went downstairs and got into the car, letting Leng Xuan drive him home.


    Back at home, as he got out of the car, Qin Hao spoke to Han Zhuang, ¡°Han Zhuang, come inside too, and check on your sister.¡±


    Han Zhuang followed him inside, where Qiao¡¯er was doing homework and Han Meng was cooking dinner.


    Qin Hao called out, ¡°Meng, make some extra food, Xiao Zhuang is here.¡±


    Hearing this, Han Meng came out of the kitchen, slightly surprised to see Han Zhuang, ¡°Xiao Zhuang, what brings you here?¡±


    ¡°He thinks it¡¯s just because he¡¯s my bodyguard. He¡¯ll be around here often,¡± Qin Hao explained.


    Han Meng said, ¡°Thank you, Xiao Hao. I¡¯ll go cook now. You guys wait a moment.¡±


    ¡°Uncle,¡± Qiao¡¯er looked at Han Zhuang and called out.


    Han Zhuang grinned broadly, ¡°Qiao¡¯er, Mr. Qin is giving you such a great opportunity; you must study hard.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Uncle,¡± she replied.


    ...


    Inside a villa district in Jianghai City.


    A middle-aged man said to Sato Tarou, ¡°My lord, after inquiring, that Qin Hao has indeed developed a more efficient solar panel, and the officials have already obtained the data, which is almost a hundred times better than ours.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible? How did he do it?¡± Sato Tarou couldn¡¯t believe it.


    The middle-aged man asked, ¡°My lord, the people from Xuan Country have already decided against cooperating with us. What should we do?¡±


    Sato Tarou¡¯s eyes flashed with ruthless intent, ¡°If I can¡¯t kill him, I will still make him pay. Have someone take out He Tingting. The others stay undercover and follow orders. We¡¯re heading back to the country now.¡±


    Knowing Qin Hao¡¯s character, if he knew it was Sato who ordered the attack, he would retaliate against him. This place wasn¡¯t Beihai Country; it wasn¡¯t his turf, so it wasn¡¯t suitable to stay long.


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    Both men headed straight to the airport, and on the way, the middle-aged man made a call, ¡°Execute He Tingting.¡±


    Meanwhile, He Tingting had just gotten off work and returned home. Following the order, two cars instantly entered the villa district.


    About thirty seconds later in the Haoting Sea View Villa District, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang with a very shrill alarm sound.


    The face of Qin Hao changed, he pulled out his phone, and from it came the voice of the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing, ¡°Master, someone is after Mr. He, the chief engineer.¡±


    This message had been captured by the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing during network transmission, which manages massive data volumes in such a short time, showing the impressive capabilities of Xiao Xing.


    Qin Hao hurriedly ran out, ¡°Quick, get in the car, we need to go to Mr. He, the chief engineer¡¯s place.¡±


    On the car, he pulled out his phone to call He Tingting, but no one answered, which worried him.


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 618 - 618 620 Kill He Tingting

    ?Chapter 618: Chapter 620: Kill He Tingting Chapter 618: Chapter 620: Kill He Tingting In the car parked downstairs at He Tingting¡¯s residence, there were two members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion.


    They were responsible for He Tingting¡¯s safety, sent by Qin Hao through Li Bao and others.


    Suddenly the special communication device in the car rang out, ¡°Someone is trying to kill He Tingting. Remain vigilant and block those people at all costs. We will arrive shortly.¡±


    The two men were shocked, ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Leng.¡±


    Just then, a white van drove into the residential complex and stopped at the entrance of He Tingting¡¯s community.


    The two from the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion got out of their car, as did four men in black from the van.


    ¡°You two stop them, we¡¯re going up,¡± one of the men in black said.


    The flash of knives followed, and a fight broke out. Two of the men in black quickly rushed into the building, not taking the elevator but dashing up the stairs instead.


    Qin Hao had been calling He Tingting all the while, and finally got through, ¡°Hello? Why have you been calling me so much? I was cooking and didn¡¯t hear it.¡±


    Qin Hao hurriedly said, ¡°Someone is coming to kill you. Be careful, lock the door, and hide. We are on our way.¡±


    He Tingting¡¯s face changed, and she was flustered, not knowing what to do, ¡°Where... where should I hide?¡±


    ¡°Lock the door tightly and find a place to hide. I¡¯m already at your community.¡±


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    At that moment, the sound of doors being kicked in could be heard from outside, loud and startling, making He Tingting scream.


    ¡°Ah... they¡¯re coming up, what do I do?¡± He Tingting ran to the balcony, on the eighth floor of the building, realizing a jump would surely be fatal.


    The clash below had ended; two men in black were injured on the ground, and the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion rushed upstairs.


    By then, Leng Xuan had already driven into the complex at high speed. If not for the license plate, he would have been pulled over by traffic police by now.


    In the car, Qin Hao pulled out the first-generation Mecha and activated it, quickly covering his entire body.


    Having been to He Tingting¡¯s place once, he knew which floor and apartment she lived in.


    ¡°Squeal¡±


    The shrill sound of brakes, and Qin Hao, wearing gleaming silver armor, swiftly got out of the car. Han Zhuang and the others were stunned upon seeing him. Who was this?


    Without time to explain, Qin Hao stomped the ground and his figure shot upwards.


    He aimed straight for He Tingting¡¯s balcony. By now, two men had already broken down the door and barged in.


    Standing on the balcony, He Tingting was petrified with fear as the two assassins raised their knives, aiming for her head. She had nowhere to escape; the attackers were trained killers, not something He Tingting could fend off.


    As the blades¡¯ chilling glow drew closer, looking certain, she closed her eyes in despair.


    It was then that the sound of shattering glass was heard, and a silver-gray figure burst through, instantly embracing He Tingting, turning his own back to face the curved blades.


    ¡°Bang bang¡±


    Sparks flew as both knives struck Qin Hao¡¯s back.


    Qin Hao felt no pain. With an alloy sword appearing in his left hand, he swept it in an arc; blades were broken, heads flew.


    He Tingting opened her eyes to see a silver-hued object. Its warmth felt against her face was comforting. What was this thing? It had no nose, no ears¡ªcould it be the extraterrestrials from legends?


    Seeing the carnage inside the room, He Tingting let out a scream and quickly turned to bury her face in Qin Hao¡¯s embrace.


    The Flying Leopard Guard Battalion members arrived upstairs and were taken aback by the scene. Fortunately, He Tingting was unharmed, but who was this silver-gray person?


    With no facial features and the bloody heads on the floor, the sight was truly horrifying.


    Shortly after, Leng Xuan and others arrived. Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Clean this up, and take the two alive ones below.¡±


    He Tingting, upon hearing this familiar voice at her ear, opened her eyes and looked incredulously at the silver luminescent object in front of her: ¡°Qin Hao?¡±


    The silver glow of the Mecha slowly receded, revealing Qin Hao¡¯s true face. An octagonal spherical shape appeared in his hand and was promptly tucked away by him.


    He Tingting¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at him: ¡°What... What... What is that?¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t answer, instead, he glanced at her and said, ¡°Come to my house tonight.¡±


    He Tingting turned her head to look at the balcony window, where there was a human-shaped hole¡ªit must have been how Qin Hao entered from the outside.


    This is the eighth floor, how did he get up here?


    With a belly full of questions, she followed Qin Hao into the car and went to his home.


    On the way, He Tingting kept staring at him until Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°There are some things that are better for you not to know.¡±


    He Tingting asked, ¡°Then what exactly is that thing?¡±


    Qin Hao ignored her, and the car quickly arrived back at his house. Qin Hao and He Tingting got out of the car.


    For now, only Leng Xuan had returned; the others were still dealing with the scene.


    Upon entering the living room, Han Meng hurriedly came over upon hearing noise: ¡°Xiao Hao is back?¡±


    ¡°Daddy, why did you rush out like that? Who is this auntie?¡± Qiao¡¯er also ran over.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°This is Aunt Tingting, a colleague from Daddy¡¯s company.¡±


    He Tingting looked Qin Hao up and down: ¡°You¡¯re married with children?¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°This is my goddaughter; this is Han Mengmeng, mother and daughter. Let¡¯s have dinner first. Meng and Xiao Zhuang had something to take care of; they won¡¯t be able to come back for now, so let¡¯s not wait for them.¡±


    Han Meng nodded: ¡°Okay.¡±


    Now, He Tingting¡¯s heart was no longer filled with fear, but rather an intense curiosity; she really wanted to know what Qin Hao¡¯s thing was.


    What exactly was it? Something that could allow a person to fly up to the eighth floor from the ground? What could carry a long sword?


    And what was capable of expanding and contracting freely, simply unbelievable.


    After dinner, Han Meng cleared a room for He Tingting to rest and sleep in.


    ¡°Qin Hao, come in for a moment, I have something to ask you,¡± He Tingting said, standing at the bedroom door.


    Qin Hao came to the door of the guest room: ¡°Whatever it is, let¡¯s talk in the study.¡±


    Inside the study.


    Qin Hao sat there looking at her: ¡°What do you want to ask?¡±


    ¡°What exactly is that thing of yours?¡± He Tingting asked, looking at him.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°That¡¯s my secret, and not something that can easily be disclosed.¡±


    He Tingting quickly said, ¡°I promise I won¡¯t leak it out for you, I can swear on it.¡±


    Qin Hao scoffed, ¡°If swearing were useful, what would the law be for? Do you think I¡¯m a child?¡±


    He Tingting: ¡°I don¡¯t have any malicious intent, I¡¯m just curious, that thing really is too miraculous.¡±


    Qin Hao stood up and walked over to her, directly facing her, leaning forward, their distance very close.


    He Tingting felt the heat he exhaled: ¡°What are you trying to do?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know? My secret is only to be known by my woman. Do you still want to know?¡± Qin Hao¡¯s mouth tilted upward, showing a mischievously playful smile.


    [First update, I have something on today, so the next update will be late, please excuse me; this isn¡¯t considered a leave or break in updating, and I hope the bosses will approve of future leaves if needed, but of course, I won¡¯t take leave without serious reasons.]

 Chapter 619 - 619 621 Secret

    ?Chapter 619: Chapter 621 Secret Chapter 619: Chapter 621 Secret He Tingting¡¯s cheeks were slightly red, ¡°Can¡¯t I just know the name?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression remained calm, his mind spinning quickly. Before, only Leng Xuan knew about the Mecha, but now there were several more. However, he was confident he could control the members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion.


    But he couldn¡¯t be sure about He Tingting. If she casually mentioned it to Mr. Wang and the others, it would certainly spread.


    What should he do? Kill her to hide his secrets?


    If he had killed her, why would he have bothered saving her just now?


    Qin Hao fell into deep thought. Seeing him motionless, He Tingting didn¡¯t dare move, afraid he might do something outrageous.


    A few minutes later, a slight smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face as he looked at He Tingting, ¡°We are still considered a couple now, so logically I should tell you, right?¡±


    He Tingting nodded, indeed eager to know the secret of Qin Hao¡¯s object.


    Qin Hao leaned down and kissed her. He Tingting¡¯s expression froze, her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the nearby Qin Hao.


    He Tingting pushed him away, ¡°I... I don¡¯t want to know anymore. I don¡¯t want to know.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I also don¡¯t want anyone else to know about this.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t tell anyone else,¡± He Tingting said hastily.


    Qin Hao, ¡°How can I believe you? What if you spread it around?¡±


    Her eyes filled with a pitiful look as she stared at him, ¡°I definitely won¡¯t say it.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I hope so. If you do tell others, just don¡¯t blame me for being harsh on you.¡±


    Anyway, even if she said something, others might not necessarily believe her. It¡¯s just a matter of keeping a close watch.


    The next morning.


    Qin Hao had someone take He Tingting to the company, and he called in Leng Xuan, ¡°How are things? Did you find out anything?¡±


    Leng Xuan, ¡°The two assassins committed suicide by taking poison, leaving no clues behind.¡±


    Qin Hao waved his hand, then he took out his mobile phone and started talking to the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing, ¡°Xiao Xing, can you trace who the killer is?¡±


    ¡°The person who made the call giving the orders was from Beihai Country, but his exact identity is still unknown.¡±


    Someone from Beihai Country? A cold glint flashed in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes, he had only had issues with the Sato Family in Beihai Country, it was most likely someone sent by Sato Tarou.


    ¡°Where is Sato Tarou now?¡±


    Xiao Xing, ¡°He flew back to Beihai Country last night on a plane.¡±


    Damn, he got away quickly. Qin Hao was somewhat surprised.


    A while later, Han Meng returned home after taking Qiao¡¯er to school. She sat next to Qin Hao, ¡°Xiao Hao, I forgot to tell you, Yu Ying has gone to Jinchen City to attend some film festival, and later she said she will also go to places like Zhudao City.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Zhudao City? Unlike the inland areas, it¡¯s very chaotic. How many people are accompanying Ying?


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    Qin Hao took out his mobile phone and called Zhao Yuying, and the phone was quickly connected, ¡°Xiao Hao, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Ying, I heard you¡¯re going to Zhudao City as well. Are you taking many bodyguards?¡± Qin Hao asked with concern.


    Zhao Yuying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have taken more than ten bodyguards from the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Be careful out there on your own. Call me if anything happens.¡±


    ...


    That morning, the shares of Kangmei Electrical Group, Jiangqi Group, and Jinfeng Mobile Company all underwent changes. Those in the know would realize that Qin Hao was the one acquiring these shares.


    Investing in acquisitions like this is quite normal; generally, wealthy families will carry out acquisitions or venture capital investments to expand their influence.


    Moreover, Qin Hao also received a call from Xu Jiejian. The state was going to invest in solar energy panels because this concerns the citizens¡¯ electrical usage and domestic environmental issues.


    Most importantly, it involved a very large profit, given that Xinghai Solar Energy panels could be exported globally and the cost was not high, the slightly higher price would definitely be acceptable to others.


    Xu Jiejian didn¡¯t specify the details of the shares since Qin Hao owned the technology, and how to distribute it ultimately depended on Qin Hao.


    Leading technology brought with it unparalleled profit control.


    Just like the previous Federation, they controlled many high-end technologies and monopolized many industries, especially the energy sector. If you wanted high-tech products or energy, you¡¯d have to follow the Federation.


    Of course, the reason the Federation was a global leader primarily stemmed from its powerful military capabilities, which were the basis of maintaining any hegemony.


    Around ten in the morning, there was a knocking at the door.


    Han Meng rose gracefully and walked to the door, opening it to find a woman in a police uniform standing outside, ¡°Who are you looking for?¡±


    Miao Jing¡¯s expression was a bit unnatural, ¡°I¡¯m looking for Qin Hao, is he in?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he is, come in.¡±


    Han Meng led Miao Jing into the living room, and Qin Hao, seeing Miao Jing in her uniform, was taken aback, ¡°Miss Miao, are you here on a case?¡±


    Had Leng Xuan and the others not handled last night¡¯s incident well? Had the police found out?


    Recalling Miao Jing¡¯s investigative and deductive skills, he felt somewhat guilty; if it hadn¡¯t been for his high-tech gadgets, He Tingting might have really caught him.


    Miao Jing hesitated, slightly embarrassed, ¡°No, it¡¯s not that... Didn¡¯t you tell me to wear my uniform for our meeting last time?¡±


    Qin Hao, seeing her expression, guessed she must have something important to discuss, ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the study.¡±


    Once in the study, Qin Hao said, ¡°Miss Miao, please take a seat.¡±


    Miao Jing sat down, and as she looked at him, seeming hesitant to speak, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Miss Miao, are you here to repay the money?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t pay it back now,¡± Miao Jing said, lowering her head in embarrassment.


    Qin Hao was surprised, ¡°Really? It¡¯s only been a few days, and three billion are gone?¡±


    Miao Jing explained, ¡°No, it¡¯s not gone. It¡¯s just that my dad used it to turnover the company, and as soon as the company got started, I heard that you developed a new solar energy panel. Are you deliberately suppressing us?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her innocently, ¡°I don¡¯t even know what your family does, plus your family isn¡¯t worthy enough for me to suppress, and I don¡¯t have the time to oppress you.¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    She wanted to argue, but remembering Qin Hao¡¯s status, she realized he was probably right.


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Miss Miao, you have a year. There¡¯s no rush with the money.¡±


    Miao Jiang, ¡°I¡¯m not here about the money today. My family wants to cooperate with you on the new type of solar panel.¡±


    [Second Update]

 Chapter 620 - 620 622 Grandma Stop Crying

    ?Chapter 620: Chapter 622 Grandma Stop Crying Chapter 620: Chapter 622 Grandma Stop Crying Cooperation?


    Qin Hao¡¯s face showed an expression of great interest, ¡°Your family belongs to Nanxing Energy Group, right? With a total asset of barely one or two hundred billion, let me be frank, your family thinking about cooperating with me, you¡¯re not even in line.¡±


    Miao Jing knew that what Qin Hao said was the truth, but if they didn¡¯t cooperate, her family¡¯s company would definitely be squeezed out of the market.


    Xinghai Solar Energy¡¯s performance was excellent, and if monopolized by those major energy generation companies, the electricity they generate could supply the entire country and even store a large amount of electricity, with no end to its use.


    By then, it would be possible to do away with other forms of energy generation like coal-fired and wind power.


    Coal-fired power generation not only consumes a large amount of coal resources every year, but also severely impacts the air quality, while wind power is too costly ¨C a set of equipment can amount to millions of dollars.


    The state would definitely support power plants in adopting this new type of solar panel, at which time, other energy power plants might as well shut their doors for good.


    Miao Jianyuan had seen through this, which is why he sent Miao Jing. He knew coming by himself wouldn¡¯t be much use, maybe even less effective than his daughter. After all, a beautiful woman like his daughter negotiating business is certainly a big plus.


    Miao Jing pleaded with a pitiable look, ¡°We¡¯re old friends, aren¡¯t we? Please help me out? Otherwise, I really can¡¯t pay back the money you lent me.¡±


    Qin Hao was seeing Miao Jing beg for the first time, and he was sure she was faking it.


    The impression Miao Jing had given him in the past was that of a fiery personality, confident and assertive, arrogant and proud.


    He replied with a smile, ¡°Can¡¯t pay it back? No problem, didn¡¯t you say you could use yourself to repay the debt? I just happen to be short a few maids. Calculating a monthly wage of fifty thousand dollars, you¡¯ll have it paid off in just five hundred years.¡±


    Five hundred years? Miao Jing¡¯s expression turned strange. That¡¯s a debt she¡¯d never finish paying in a lifetime, this bastard even wants me to be a maid? I¡¯m furious, so furious.


    When Qin Hao saw her expression, he continued, ¡°Maybe if Miss Miao provides some ¡®special services¡¯, the debt could be cleared in just fifty years.¡±


    Special services? Miao Jing was close to exploding with anger; if it weren¡¯t for her father¡¯s situation, she would surely have beaten Qin Hao by now. When had she ever been spoken to like this?


    This bastard, he actually wants me to provide him with ¡®special services¡¯? Shameless, a rogue, a bastard... Sure enough, men become bastards when they have money.


    But Miao Jing didn¡¯t let it show. On the surface, she was still looking demure and extremely shy, ¡°Mr. Qin, once we start cooperating, we¡¯ll definitely have the money to pay you back.¡±


    Qin Hao, with a smile on his face, got up and walked over, ¡°I never imagined Miss Miao could also have this delicate and demure side.¡±


    Miao Jing felt as if flames were about to shoot out of her eyes, grinding her teeth in fury, wishing she could crush his bones.


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao felt delighted inside, ¡°Do you want to hit me, Miss Miao? You were not like this when you borrowed money. You can¡¯t pay it back and you¡¯re like this? I have a recording of what you said back then.¡±


    Miao Jing¡¯s eyes widened, A recording? ¡°You¡¯re so despicable.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed heartily, ¡°Despicable? Miss Miao, are you sure you didn¡¯t misspeak? I¡¯m despicable for lending you money? It seems these days, the debtor is the real master.¡±


    Qin Hao wore a sly grin, ¡°Do you really want to hit me, Miss Miao? Go ahead, I promise I won¡¯t retaliate, but then, this cooperation might be off the table.¡±


    Miao Jing took a deep breath, ¡°What exactly will it take for you to agree to cooperate with my family?¡±


    ¡°This cooperation can be discussed later, for now, I¡¯d like to collect some interest, that¡¯s not too much to ask, is it?¡±


    Qin Hao lowered his head, looking at her figure, his throat moved as he swallowed.


    Miao Jing¡¯s chest heaved with anger, she was very angry, yet unable to lash out.


    ...


    She didn¡¯t know what to do, whether to hit or scold him wasn¡¯t an option, unless she wanted to see her family¡¯s company collapse and her father mired in debt.


    For the first time, Miao Jing felt a sense of powerlessness. She finally realized how strong and influential Qin Hao was.


    His every action influenced the fate of countless companies; life and death hung on his every thought.


    Miao Jing¡¯s eyes reddened, and two streams of tears rolled down; she transformed all her grievances, anger, and helplessness into weeping.


    Qin Hao paused, then quickly said, ¡°Miss Miao, I just wanted to scare you, nothing more. It¡¯s your fault for investigating me in the first place.¡±


    Miao Jing ignored him, and her tears fell even more heavily, pitter-patter.


    Qin Hao became flustered, not knowing what to do. He could not stand women crying, ¡°Miss Miao, I was just trying to scare you. Don¡¯t be like this, okay? Isn¡¯t it enough that I admit I¡¯m wrong?¡±


    Miao Jing¡¯s sobbing grew louder, sounding completely heartbroken.


    ¡°Miao... Sister, I was really wrong. Don¡¯t rush to pay back the money, just do it whenever you can manage it.¡±


    Miao Jing continued crying, more pitifully than before.


    Quinn Hao felt at a loss. Had he known earlier, he would not have scared Miao Jing. What to do now? ¡°Lady, I truly realize my mistake. I haven¡¯t even laid a hand on you. Please, stop crying, okay? I can¡¯t stand seeing a woman cry. The cooperation, let¡¯s do it, okay?¡±


    Miao Jing suddenly stopped crying and glared at him with red eyes, ¡°Is that your word? If you go back on it, I¡¯ll... I¡¯ll beat you to death.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her, feeling as though he had been tricked, ¡°Were you just waiting for me to say this?¡±


    Miao Jing burst into tears again with a loud ¡°Wah!¡±


    Qin Hao helplessly said, ¡°Alright, alright, I agree. Have your father discuss the specifics with me. We¡¯ll talk about it this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Really? Swear to it,¡± Miao Jing stopped crying.


    Qin Hao, ¡°I swear, truly, my lady, can you please leave now?¡±


    Miao Jing, noticing his reaction, felt some satisfaction because she discovered Qin Hao¡¯s weakness ¨C the guy couldn¡¯t stand girls crying.


    ¡°If you lie to me, I¡¯ll come to your place and cry again this afternoon.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Lady, how dare I lie to you? I¡¯ve already agreed to the cooperation. If you¡¯re alright then please go, aren¡¯t you usually very busy?¡±


    [Third update, that¡¯s all for today, really tired.]

 Chapter 621 - 621 623 Misunderstanding

    ?Chapter 621: Chapter 623: Misunderstanding Chapter 621: Chapter 623: Misunderstanding Miao Jing glared at him, ¡°I¡¯m not a regular cop. I¡¯m usually pretty free unless there¡¯s a big case. Do you have any paper? Can you give me some? Otherwise, when I go back, my parents will definitely think you forced yourself on me.¡±


    Qin Hao was somewhat at a loss for words. He thought, why the hell did I even bother with her? He handed her a roll of paper, ¡°Clean yourself up before you leave.¡±


    Just as she had wiped herself off for a bit, her phone suddenly rang. She answered the call, ¡°Hello, Mr. Wang.¡±


    Wang Jiang¡¯s voice was urgent, ¡°Mr. Miao, an emergency has come up. Hurry to the police station for a meeting.¡±


    Miao Jing was taken aback. From Wang Jiang¡¯s tone, she could tell something big had happened.


    After hanging up the phone, Miao Jing hurriedly left Qin Hao¡¯s house.


    Qin Hao sighed in relief, glad she had finally left. He told himself never to mess with her again.


    His decision to choose Miao Jing¡¯s father, Miao Jianyuan, as a business partner was well thought out. From the moment Miao Jing arrived, he felt Miao Jianyuan was a good choice, but he had not initiated the conversation.


    After all, speaking up and being spoken to are completely different things.


    A new factory for solar panels was definitely needed. The largest shareholder was undoubtedly him, but he didn¡¯t have time to manage the company, so he needed to find a spokesperson for himself.


    Miao Jianyuan was the best candidate because besides him, he didn¡¯t know anyone else. He needed his own people to manage the company. Chang Jing was also very capable, but she couldn¡¯t be everywhere at once. She just needed to oversee everything.


    ...


    After coming out of the study, Qin Hao turned on the TV to see, ¡°Breaking news in Jianghai City, the Golden Phoenix Building was robbed this morning by masked robbers, with losses amounting to tens of millions.¡±


    Qin Hao could see that this must have been why Miao Jing left.


    After lunch, Qin Hao called Miao Jianyuan. He arrived in a bit, ¡°Mr. Qin, Xiao Jing has told me about it. Thank you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao waved his hand, ¡°Now that you¡¯re informed, Mr. Miao, I¡¯ll get straight to the point. I need your help to manage this company. You will take orders from me, understood?¡±


    Miao Jianyuan nodded, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Qin, I will follow your lead.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I won¡¯t let you down. I¡¯m giving you 10% of the shares in Xinghai Solar Panel Company. No need to invest, just manage it well.¡±


    Miao Jianyuan was somewhat excited at the prospect of becoming a leader in the domestic energy industry.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin, thank you, Mr. Qin. I will obey your orders,¡± Miao Jianyuan was almost ready to kneel in his excitement.


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go together. This afternoon, there are officials who will discuss this matter.¡±


    As they left the villa, Qin Hao told him, ¡°Mr. Miao, you can ride with me.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, Mr. Qin.¡± Miao Jianyuan got into Qin Hao¡¯s car.


    They drove to the Banquet Hotel in Jianghai City, a place where officials hosted meals. By the time Qin Hao arrived at the entrance, Xinghai Company¡¯s legal representatives had also arrived.


    ¡°Mr. Qin!¡± They saw Qin Hao and quickly greeted him respectfully.


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡±


    Inside Room 1 at the Banquet Hotel, Qin Hao and Miao Jianyuan entered with their entourage. A group of people were already seated, including Xu Jiejian and a few others he knew from the time they hosted Sato Tarou.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Qin,¡± those inside the room stood up and greeted enthusiastically.


    Qin Hao and Miao Jianyuan took their seats, ¡°This is Mr. Miao Jianyuan, by my side.¡±


    Miao Jianyuan clasped his hands together, and these people also greeted him one after another. Although they did not know Miao Jianyuan, since Qin Hao had introduced him, no matter whether they recognized him or not, they all had to honor that face.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Let¡¯s get straight to the point, Xinghai Solar Panel Company. I will invest one hundred and fifty billion, and I want to keep seventy-five percent of the shares. The remaining will go to the government, which will invest fifty billion for a twenty-five percent stake.¡±


    ¡°This... Mr. Qin, isn¡¯t that too little?¡± someone from the government side spoke up.


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently, ¡°Too little? If it¡¯s too little, then I can develop it alone. I¡¯m not short of cash.¡±


    The government official¡¯s face turned stiff, ¡°Mr. Qin, don¡¯t rush. Twenty-five percent it is.¡±


    Now, Qin Hao had the capital to stand firm, ¡°I will hand over the company to Miao Jianyuan to manage. In the future, if you want to cooperate, talk to Mr. Miao.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, there is a regulation about this sale; it has to be sold to state-designated power plants, that is, the few that are present here,¡± said the official very cautiously.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°That¡¯s no problem.¡±


    Now, most of the people present were CEOs of large state-owned power plants. Hearing Qin Hao agree, they breathed a sigh of relief.


    Qin Hao was indifferent; he had researched this to increase the nation¡¯s power generation, naturally prioritizing sales to state-owned power plants.


    After the discussion was settled, they signed the contract and then all parties dined together.


    After lunch, coming out of the Banquet Hotel, Qin Hao took Miao Jianyuan with him and left.


    On the way back, Qin Hao said to Miao Jianyuan, ¡°Once you get back, start preparing for the research and production of Xinghai solar panels. The money has already been transferred to the company account. We need to start mass production as fast as possible.¡±


    Miao Jianyuan nodded, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Qin. I will sell off Nanxing Group right after I return, then devote all my energy to Xinghai Energy Company.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Good, Mr. Miao, do well, and you won¡¯t lack benefits with me. As for your daughter, better not let her approach me again; I really can¡¯t stand it.¡±


    Miao Jianyuan nodded in agreement, but inside, he was a bit curious. Couldn¡¯t stand it?


    Did something happen between the two?


    After all, his daughter had an impressive figure and often engaged in fitness and martial arts training, clearly having significant needs in certain aspects; it was reasonable for Qin Hao¡¯s slight build to be overwhelmed.


    He thought for a moment and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask her to be more careful next time, to take care.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, she indeed should be more careful.¡±


    Miao Jianyuan felt joy within; if his daughter could be with Qin Hao, it would undoubtedly be a great opportunity. Although Qin Hao had a girlfriend, as long as his daughter was favored, that would suffice.


    Given the strength and potential Qin Hao had shown, if he decided to form one, he was bound to become a top financial group that could influence the world economy, an uncrowned king of the business world.


    Even heads of state would have to act according to his wishes.


    Such a man would not be content with just one woman. Now was the perfect time to attach to Qin Hao¡¯s mighty vessel. With his daughter¡¯s figure and looks, any man would be charmed, definitely enough to mesmerize Qin Hao.


    Miao Jianyuan saw the situation very clearly; of course, this required mutual affection. If his daughter did not like it, he would not force her. However, from what he gathered from Qin Hao¡¯s words, it seemed like things between them had already progressed significantly.


    Qin Hao, unaware of how Miao Jianyun was interpreting everything, and oblivious of his misunderstanding, returned home and Miao Jianyun quickly busied himself with the company¡¯s matters.


    Once back at the villa, Qin Hao had just sat down when his phone rang. It was a call from Silin Ross, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve already had someone discuss with them. Their side is somewhat relenting, but they want you to talk personally.¡±


    [First Release]

 Chapter 623 - 623 625 Departure

    ?Chapter 623: Chapter 625 Departure Chapter 623: Chapter 625 Departure Qin Hao and his two companions approached. ¡°Have you been waiting long? Why didn¡¯t you wait in the car?¡±


    She wrapped her arms around Qin Hao, chuckling, ¡°If I stayed in the car, wouldn¡¯t that show how much I don¡¯t miss you?¡±


    They separated, and Qin Hao playfully pinched her delicate nose before turning to Sophie Inshill. ¡°Miss Sophie, thank you for the trouble.¡±


    Sophie replied, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble, Mr. Qin. We are business partners, and besides, Wan Rou and I are good friends.¡±


    With a smile, Du Wanrou said, ¡°Let¡¯s get in the car. What do you think of this motorcade? I spent millions of Federation dollars to put it together, just to welcome you.¡±


    Watching Qin Hao and Du Wanrou¡¯s intimacy, Han Zhuang curiously asked, ¡°Xuan, who is that woman?¡±


    Leng Xuan said, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? She must be our sister-in-law.¡±


    Qin Hao, Du Wanrou, and Sophie got into the car, heading for Du Wanrou¡¯s residence in Bo City.


    Just as the car started, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang. He took it out and saw it was a call from Silin Ross.


    A glint flashed in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes as he answered the phone. ¡°Miss Sulin, you¡¯re quite well-informed. You got news of my arrival in Bo City so quickly?¡±


    Silin Ross chuckled and said, ¡°I knew much earlier. As soon as you flew from Xuan Country to the Northern Federation, my people told me. As long as you use your ID to buy a ticket, everything is traceable. It¡¯s not exactly a sign of being well-informed.¡±


    Qin Hao too realized it was because he used his ID card that as soon as he bought the ticket, it was entered into the aviation system. Having the right connections to get this information really wasn¡¯t difficult.


    ¡°When does Miss Sulin plan to start her journey?¡±


    Silin Ross replied with a laugh, ¡°No rush, I¡¯ll follow Mr. Qin¡¯s lead.¡±


    Qin Hao suggested, ¡°Then let¡¯s make it tomorrow. Where is Miss Sulin now?¡±


    ¡°Tan City.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll come find you tomorrow. What time is your flight?¡±


    Silin said, ¡°The flight is at eight in the morning. Let¡¯s meet directly at the airport tomorrow.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, a curious Sophie asked, ¡°Is that the Miss Sulin from the Ross family?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s her.¡±


    The motorcade soon reached Du Wanrou¡¯s residence in Bo City, a villa community. They got out of the car, and Du Wanrou said with a smile, ¡°Normally, Su Fei and I live together. I¡¯m not used to such a big house by myself.¡±


    Entering the villa, Du Wanrou asked, ¡°Have you eaten yet, Qin Hao? I¡¯ll go make you some breakfast.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I ate on the plane. I¡¯m just a bit tired. Where¡¯s your bedroom, I¡¯ll rest for a bit.¡±


    Du Wanrou pointed upstairs, ¡°The master bedroom is up there.¡±


    Qin Hao headed straight up, leaving Du Wanrou standing somewhat awkwardly with Sophie in the living room.


    Sophie chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t be shy now, go on up before the guy gets impatient.¡±


    Blushing, Du Wanrou nodded and made her way upstairs. When she reached the master bedroom on the second floor, Qin Hao was standing by the bed, staring at a pair of underwear.


    Du Wanrou paused upon seeing this, then quickly walked over and snatched it away. ¡°What are you staring at? Haven¡¯t you seen one before?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to like wearing these kinds of undergarments. But I like it.¡± He then embraced Du Wanrou.


    Tinted with red, Du Wanrou objected, ¡°Stop it, that¡¯s Su Fei¡¯s.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao looked surprised, ¡°What? Hers? How come hers are in your bedroom?¡±


    Rolling her eyes at him, Du Wanrou replied, ¡°Because we share a bedroom.¡±


    Grinning playfully, Qin Hao teased, ¡°My little treasure, never mind about this. Have you missed me?¡±


    Wan Rou bashfully nodded, ¡°I did.¡±


    Qin Hao pushed her onto the bed, drew the curtains, and locked the door.


    Separated for such a long time, Wan Rou¡¯s longing for him burst forth, demanding over and over, almost as if trying to make up for all the days lost.


    But she still was no match for Qin Hao, ultimately defeated and begging for mercy.


    Around eleven in the morning, Qin Hao and Wan Rou came downstairs, but Wan Rou walked somewhat differently than before, her legs weak as if she could barely stand.


    Seeing this, Su Fei struggled not to laugh out loud, surprised in her heart, could Mr. Qin¡¯s stamina be this astonishing?


    With his arm around Wan Rou, Qin Hao settled down on the couch. Su Fei spoke up, ¡°Wan Rou, Mr. Qin, it¡¯s almost noon, shall we go out to eat?¡±


    ¡°No need, you two rest here for a while, I¡¯ll go cook, and we can just eat at home,¡± said Qin Hao as he got up.


    Wan Rou also nodded, ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s not go out, eating at home is fine.¡±


    When Qin Hao entered the kitchen, Su Fei whispered in Wan Rou¡¯s ear, ¡°Can you not walk anymore?¡±


    Instantly, Wan Rou¡¯s cheeks turned crimson red, and she pinched Su Fei, ¡°Sister Su Fei, you¡¯re awful, stop it.¡±


    Su Fei giggled, ¡°What¡¯s there to be shy about? Seeing your legs go soft, is he that good in that department? Is it big?¡±


    ¡°Stop it, asking such embarrassing questions,¡± Wan Rou said, scratching her with both hands.


    Su Fei quickly struggled to dodge, and the two of them started horsing around on the couch.


    Wan Rou, weakened all over, was soon subdued by Su Fei, ¡°It¡¯s fine, no one will hear you if you take a peek.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Su Fei: ¡°You know, is it big or not? If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯m going to use my secret technique.¡±


    Wan Rou: ¡°It¡¯s big, your mouth probably can barely fit it.¡±


    Su Fei¡¯s cheeks flared with two patches of red, ¡°Even teasing me, you little brat, beware my *Dragon Claw Hand*!¡±


    ...


    At noon, Qin Hao cooked a few dishes, and the three of them had lunch at home.


    After lunch and resting for a while, Wan Rou felt her strength return, and they went out for an afternoon¡¯s stroll.


    That evening, Qin Hao told Su Fei, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Su Fei, could you please find a guest room to sleep in tonight?¡±


    With a faint smile, Su Fei replied, ¡°Not a problem, Mr. Qin, you two enjoy your evening.¡±


    That night, Qin Hao and Wan Rou were entwined for a long time again.


    Early the next morning, Wan Rou and Su Fei took him to the airport, and Qin Hao boarded the plane to Tan City.


    Around 7:40, Qin Hao arrived in Tan City and looked up Silin Ross, who was accompanied by roughly twenty bodyguards, each one armed and elite.


    Seeing that Qin Hao had brought only two people, Silin was taken aback for a moment, ¡°Mr. Qin, didn¡¯t I tell you to bring more people? The more people, the more awe-inspiring, and although it¡¯s not necessarily dangerous, a show of force is necessary.¡±


    Mr. Qin: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Sulin, I¡¯ve already arranged everything. My people are waiting in Bula City, the capital of Ban Guo Country.¡±


    Silin nodded, ¡°I was wondering, Mr. Qin, as the world¡¯s richest man, how could you possibly travel for business with just two people... Mr. Qin, do you need any equipment?¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at Leng Xuan and Han Zhuang, then said, ¡°Give me a set.¡±


    Silin gave a signal to someone beside her, and a bodyguard carrying a case walked over to Leng Xuan and handed it to him.


    Si Lin stood up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s about time.¡±


    [The Third Update]

 Chapter 624 - 624 626 Arriving at Bula City

    ?Chapter 624: Chapter 626: Arriving at Bula City Chapter 624: Chapter 626: Arriving at Bula City Qin Hao and Silin Ross walked side by side, followed by a procession of bodyguards.


    With Silin leading them, nobody checked them for security, and under the guidance of a senior airport official, they used a special channel to enter the first-class cabin of the airplane.


    The first-class cabin was extremely luxurious, spanning two levels, with many genuine leather-upholstered sofas that could also serve as beds when laid flat.


    Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan and Han Zhuang, ¡°You two can just find a spot to sit wherever.¡±


    Silin glanced around and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, let¡¯s go upstairs.¡±


    Qin Hao and she went up to the second level of the first-class dining area, which was very spacious with leather seats, a coffee table, and two large beds.


    The two sat on the sofa and Silin began, ¡°Mr. Qin, let me tell you about the specifics.¡±


    She organized her thoughts and said, ¡°My people have been in touch with Jacker, the direct leader of Ban Guo Country, who is the top leader of the country, controlling land sales, fiscal power, and military power, among other things.


    However, Congo is quite backward, with only one railway line in the entire country, and that too was left over from the colonial period by Lanxi Country. The interior is rife with bandits, and the political situation is not very stable. He is currently in great need of money, both to spur economic growth and to secure his political situation.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°So you mean to say, Miss Silin, that this Jacker is also considering selling the island to raise money?¡±


    Silin: ¡°That¡¯s correct. However, they have a multiparty system, and if word got out, he is afraid it would affect his position.¡±


    Qin Hao said lightly with a smile, ¡°If I could help improve the living standards of the residents, that would be beneficial for his reputation, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    Silin: ¡°Naturally. If there is a political achievement, selling the island wouldn¡¯t be too influential. What do you plan to invest in there? The living conditions are so poor there, you wouldn¡¯t make much money from investments.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Whether to invest or not, we¡¯ll see when the time comes, depending on the circumstances.¡±


    Just after he finished speaking, his phone rang. It was a call from Anna Insher, ¡°Mr. Qin, where will you be disembarking?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Jinsha City in the Ban Guo Democratic Republic.¡±


    Anna Insher said, ¡°Jinsha City and Bula City are not far apart, Mr. Qin, we¡¯ll wait for you there.¡±


    ¡°You? Miss Anna, you¡¯re going too?¡± Qin Hao asked in surprise.


    Anna chuckled on the phone, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin, how could I not come personally when you are visiting Lijia State? If something were to happen to you, I would feel guilty.¡±


    Qin Hao could only reply, ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble Miss Anna to wait in Jinsha City.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Silin asked curiously, ¡°Is that Anna from the Innsil Family?¡±


    Qin Hao, with a smile, ¡°Miss Silin also knows her?¡±


    Silin: ¡°I¡¯ve heard of her. She¡¯s a very capable person. Now, with her collaboration with Xinghai Company, the Innsil Family¡¯s influence in the Western Continent region has been growing steadily, rivaling those top-tier families.¡±


    ¡°Miss Anna indeed possesses some talent and ability.¡±


    After talking for a while, Qin Hao laid down on the bed to sleep and rest, as the journey from Tan City in the Federation to Jinsha City in the Ban Guo Democratic Republic would take nearly ten hours.


    Silin also lay down on the bed to rest. The temperature in the first-class cabin was just right, and there was a thin blanket for the rest of the distinguished passengers.


    Unconsciously, Qin Hao fell asleep, but later he felt something tickling his nose and, upon opening his eyes, he saw Silin sitting by his bed, teasing him with a giggling smile.


    Qin Hao gave her a look and closed his eyes to continue sleeping, ¡°Miss Silin, why aren¡¯t you sleeping instead of coming here to bother me?¡±


    Silin replied irritably, ¡°Do you think I want to bother you? You snore while you sleep, and it¡¯s so loud I can¡¯t even sleep.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Why don¡¯t you just plug your ears?¡±


    ¡°That makes sense.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao continued to sleep until he was woken up just before they arrived.


    Silin Ross said with a smile, ¡°We¡¯ll arrive in Ban Guo Democratic Republic in less than half an hour, and then we¡¯ll take a car to Ban Guo Country.¡±


    The two of them left the first-class dining room on the second floor and walked downstairs, where Silin¡¯s bodyguards were still standing motionlessly.


    Leng Xuan and Han Zhuang had also woken up. They found a free spot and sat down.


    Silin Ross asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, I heard that your Xinghai High-tech Company has developed a new type of solar energy electric battery panel.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°That¡¯s right, the power generation is hundreds of times greater than before.¡±


    Silin chuckled, ¡°I think that¡¯s pretty good. Have you started production yet?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s not the time to be looking for agents yet. When the time comes, I¡¯ll contact you. In the Federation, you¡¯re the only friend I have.¡±


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao and his party finally arrived at the Lijia State in Ban Guo Democratic Republic.


    After getting off the plane, Qin Hao looked around. There was no sign of an airport. The area was barren and deeply underdeveloped. This airport was actually financed and built by the alliance.


    Outside the airport stood two groups of people, one was Silin Ross¡¯s bodyguards, and the other was the security detail brought by Anna Insher.


    This time Anna brought nearly a hundred people, each one a trained elite, and all these bodyguards were armed with various kinds of automatic weapons.


    The people from the Ross family and Anna¡¯s group hurriedly came forward: ¡°Miss, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded his head and said, ¡°Miss Anna, when did you get here?¡±


    Anna replied, ¡°Not long ago, I¡¯ve only just arrived myself.¡±


    Silin glanced at Anna for a few seconds and then said with a smile, ¡°Hello, Miss Anna. I¡¯m Silin Ross from the Ross family.¡±


    Anna was also sizing up Silin, ¡°From the Ross family? Nice to meet you, Miss Silin, I¡¯m Anna Insher.¡±


    While they were greeting each other, Qin Hao observed the surroundings. The area outside the airport was desolate, nothing but barren land.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get in the car, Mr. Qin,¡± Anna said.


    The group got into the cars. There were not only the dozen vehicles brought by Anna but also Silin Ross¡¯s convoy. In total, there were more than thirty vehicles and over a hundred fully armed guards and bodyguards, attracting a lot of attention.


    To reach Ban Guo Country, they would have to pass through Jinsha City and then onto Bula City in Ban Guo.


    The capital city of Jinsha City had never seen such a convoy. Their capital city couldn¡¯t even compare with a third-tier city in Xuan Country; it was more like a county town.


    On the streets, Qin Hao noticed more people walking than vehicles; their cars attracted many gazes.


    Jinsha City was not as bustling as Qin Hao imagined. The convoy spent less than twenty minutes driving out of Jinsha City, heading towards Bula City in Ban Guo Country.


    It was several hundred miles from Jinsha City to Bula City. Qin Hao thought they would arrive quickly, but it took them the entire afternoon.


    Shortly after leaving Jinsha City, the road became difficult to travel, full of potholes and uneven, but fortunately, they were in SUVs.


    Upon arriving in Bula City, the capital city wasn¡¯t much better than Jinsha City; it was simply at the level of a county-level city in Xuan Country.


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 625 - 625 627 Ban Guo Country

    ?Chapter 625: Chapter 627 Ban Guo Country Chapter 625: Chapter 627 Ban Guo Country Qin Hao looked out through the car window. On both sides of the road were buildings usually three or four stories high, with absolutely no sight of tall skyscrapers or office buildings.


    Scattered along the street, he could see a few cars and occasionally some small restaurants catering to customers.


    Next to him, Anna curiously asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, why come to a place like this? Are you investing?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°I¡¯m here to buy a small island.¡±


    ¡°Buy an island?¡± Curiosity flickered in Anna¡¯s eyes as she wondered, why run here to buy an island?


    The convoy eventually stopped inside the State Guesthouse of Bula City, reserved for foreign guests. Silin¡¯s people had already coordinated with the folks from Ban Guo Country; this was their arranged accommodation.


    Moreover, there were no large five-star hotels in Bula City; the State Guesthouse was the best place around.


    Getting out of the car, Qin Hao sized up the area. The State Guesthouse of Ban Guo Country was a three-story building, its yard quite large and able to accommodate many vehicles.


    ¡°Mr. Fast, welcome to Ban Guo Country,¡± a Ban Guo Country diplomatic envoy came over and said to the middle-aged man next to Silin in French.


    The middle-aged man, Mr. Fast, smiled and said, ¡°Hello Mr. Moert, this is Miss Silin Ross, and this gentleman here is Mr. Qin Hao, and Miss Anna Insher from the Innsil Family.¡±


    The diplomatic envoy from Ban Guo Country, Moert, quickly said, ¡°Miss Silin, Mr. Qin, Miss Anna, welcome. The State Guesthouse is modest; please don¡¯t mind.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°Mr. Moert, you are too kind. The air here is fresh, and the surroundings are beautiful. I have long wanted to visit your country.¡±


    Moert laughed heartily, ¡°What Mr. Qin said is very true. Although our Ban Guo Country is developing slowly, it has an elegant environment and clean air, a fine location for tourism. Mr. Qin, being the wealthiest man in the world, would you be interested in investing in our country?¡±


    Ordinary civilians in Lijia State might not know Qin Hao¡¯s fame, but high-level officials and diplomats of these countries were well aware that Qin Hao¡¯s assets amounted to hundreds of billions of Federal currency¡ªhe was not short on money.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°I am indeed interested, but it depends on your country¡¯s policies.¡±


    Moert said, ¡°You¡¯re right, sir. Let¡¯s not talk about it outside, please come in. Tonight, our president will also have dinner with you. Please take some rest first.¡±


    Under his lead, Qin Hao and his entourage entered the State Guesthouse. With nearly a hundred armed guards outside and additional security inside, the place was well protected.


    After arranging their accommodation, Moert left. Qin Hao walked out of his room and said, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    At the door, four bodyguards with automatic rifles stood guard; they were all from the Flying Leopard Security Company.


    Qin Hao looked at the guns in their hands and asked, ¡°Have you ever fired these guns? Any problem with your marksmanship?¡±


    Anna walked out of the room, all smiles, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Qin. These men are rigorously trained and have all seen blood. Their fighting skills are also inherited from the Xuan Country Flying Leopard Security Company.¡±


    Qin Hao turned his head towards Anna, ¡°Miss Anna, would you like to go out for a walk? See the scenery here?¡±


    Anna flirtatiously smiled, ¡°I would be honored to follow your lead.¡±


    As they were about to head outside, Silin emerged from her room, ¡°Mr. Qin, what are you two sneaking off to do?¡±


    Qin Hao turned to her, speechless, ¡°What do you mean sneaking? It¡¯s a pity not to check out the local culture and scenery while we¡¯re here.¡±


    Silin smiled slightly, ¡°Then let¡¯s go together; I¡¯d like to see the local customs too.¡±


    The three of them walked out, not only accompanied by bodyguards but also by Ban Guo Country¡¯s security personnel.


    The sky had darkened, but the weather here was not as cold as in Xuan Country and the Federation; on the contrary, it was very hot, to the extent that Qin Hao felt a bit overheated even in a single-layer long sleeve.


    Ban Guo Country was located near the equator, where there were no distinct seasons, only perpetual summer.


    After walking for a while, Qin Hao turned to look at Anna and Silin, ¡°You two knew to wear thin dresses, why didn¡¯t you remind me?¡±


    An embarrassed smile crossed Anna¡¯s face, ¡°Mr. Qin, I thought you knew. Didn¡¯t Miss Silin tell you?¡±


    A sly spark flashed in Silin¡¯s eyes, ¡°Mr. Qin, I also thought you knew. Who would have expected you not to check online?¡±


    They walked around, and nearly everyone here was black. The economy was severely underdeveloped, even some county towns in Xuan Country were better than this place.


    Upon returning to the State Guesthouse, the black man Moert had already come back. Seeing the trio of Qin Hao, he quickly approached, ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Silin, Miss Anna, our president invites you.¡±


    A glint passed through Qin Hao¡¯s eyes, ¡°Good, Mr. Moert, please lead the way.¡±


    The three of them got into Moert¡¯s vehicle, and though the guards wanted to follow, Moert spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, we are going to a forbidden area, followers cannot come.¡±


    Qin Hao waved to Leng Xuan and the others, ¡°You wait here.¡±


    Moert had his driver take them deeper into Bula City, their convoy of five vehicles flanked by fully armed soldiers from Ban Guo Country.


    The convoy entered the center of power in Ban Guo Country, where security was extremely tight, with posts every few steps.


    They stopped in front of a four-story European castle, the residence of Ban Guo Country¡¯s president, Casol.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Silin, Miss Anna have arrived,¡± Moert said respectfully as he opened the car door.


    Qin Hao and his companions alighted from the car, examining their surroundings. The mansion was luxurious and grand, surrounded by lush gardens and flowers, comparable to a top-level luxury home.


    Qin Hao thought to himself, the number one man in Ban Guo Country really is wealthy, as a glint passed through his eyes.


    Moert said with a smile, ¡°Please, come in.¡±


    Under his lead, Qin Hao and the others walked in to find an even more magnificent and luxurious interior. Anna and Silin were taken aback and inhaled sharply.


    They saw Luminous Pearls the size of a human head on shelves, ancient Xuan Country blue and white porcelain vases, diamonds as big as half a fist, and quite a few Western antiques, each worth a fortune.


    Beyond these, there were young and beautiful maids in the room, and a round table set up in the living room, seemingly in anticipation of Qin Hao¡¯s arrival.


    At that moment, a bald black middle-aged man came downstairs. He revealed a row of white teeth upon seeing Qin Hao and his companions, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve heard so much about you, welcome to Ban Guo Country.¡±


    Qin Hao returned the gesture, ¡°Mr. Jacker, you flatter me. Ban Guo Country has extraordinary people and beautiful landscapes, and indeed we have seen quite a bit of scenery along the way.¡±


    Jacker, seeing Silin and Anna next to Qin Hao, had a glint of amazement in his eyes, ¡°These two must be Miss Silin from the Ross family and Miss Anna from the Innsil family, right? Welcome.¡±


    Their identities had been thoroughly investigated by Jacker beforehand.


    The parties exchanged pleasantries for a few moments, then sat at the round table. Jacker said with a smile, ¡°This is your first visit to Ban Guo Country, and you might not be familiar with our place. Let¡¯s begin with some of our cultural customs.¡±


    With that, he clapped his hands, and a dancer walked out from the adjacent room.


    [First update]

 Chapter 626 - 626 628 Confusing

    ?Chapter 626: Chapter 628: Confusing Chapter 626: Chapter 628: Confusing They were clad in see-through dresses, their figures graceful and alluring, as they performed a native dance that had its own unique charm.


    Although these people had dark skin, their faces and physiques were top-notch, exuding an exotic flair.


    Jacker had been enjoying the dance and had not spoken to the trio.


    Qin Hao and his companions had no choice but to join him in watching the dance. After about ten minutes, the dance ended and the performers departed.


    After everyone clapped, Jacker asked with a chuckle, ¡°Mr. Qin, what do you think?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen this type of dance. It¡¯s truly stunning; indeed, it¡¯s exceptional.¡±


    Jacker laughed, ¡°As long as Mr. Qin likes it. Bring the dishes.¡±


    Another group of female servants came up, each carrying a plate of delicious stir-fried dishes.


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised. Just how many beauties were kept in Jacker¡¯s mansion?


    Jacker sent someone upstairs, and then a white-skinned Western woman came down. She approached with a smile, her figure voluptuous.


    Qin Hao was momentarily stunned.


    Among his companions, Anna¡¯s figure was also good, but compared to this woman, she was quite lacking; not to mention Silin, who couldn¡¯t even compare.


    Jacker said with a smile, ¡°This is my beloved, Bai Li¡¯er. Li¡¯er, come meet Mr. Qin and his friends.¡±


    Bai Li¡¯er approached Qin Hao and bowed, ¡°Li¡¯er has heard of Mr. Qin¡¯s deeds; I am truly impressed.¡±


    Qin Hao was somewhat overwhelmed and quickly said, ¡°Miss Li¡¯er, no need to be so formal.¡±


    Jacker laughed and said, ¡°Li¡¯er, please sit.¡±


    He then picked up his glass and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Silin, Miss Anna, let us all drink together.¡±


    After three rounds of drinking and five courses, Jacker finally spoke about the matter at hand, ¡°Pu¡¯er Island is the one Mr. Qin wants to buy, correct?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, I plan to buy a small island to develop it and then make it the headquarters for my Xinghai Association, and also a place for the members of my Xinghai Association to live.¡±


    Xinghai Association?


    Jacker, Bai Li¡¯er, Silin Ross, and Anna Insher looked shocked. Xinghai Association? When did he form the Xinghai Association?


    Anna and Silin did not speak; now was not the time to ask, and they could inquire later when they returned. This matter must be thoroughly questioned, as it related to their future interests.


    Jacker was also curious about this issue and asked, ¡°Xinghai Association? I¡¯m hearing about this business organization for the first time. Is it something Mr. Qin founded?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, it was just recently established.¡±


    Jacker said, ¡°Mr. Qin, the island issue is not so simple. It¡¯s not just up to me in this country. Such a big matter requires a vote by the assembly, and I think they will not agree, as it involves issues of territorial sovereignty.¡±


    Silin and Anna paused as they were picking up dishes and looked at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Why be modest, Mr. Jacker? I believe that only Mr. Jacker can manage this.¡±


    Jacker shook his head with a bitter smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, let¡¯s eat, let¡¯s eat.¡±


    Later on, Jacker did not bring up the matter again. Qin Hao frowned inwardly, puzzled by what Jacker really wanted to do. If he disagreed, why invite me here?


    After the meal, Jacker had Moert take Qin Hao and his two companions back to the State Guesthouse.


    Back at the State Guesthouse, Qin Hao, Silin, and Anna sat in a room, Qin Hao slightly furrowed his brows, ¡°What exactly does Jacker want?¡±


    Silin shook her head, ¡°Since he asked you to come, he definitely wants to sell. The way he spoke tonight suggests he¡¯s trying to outwait you. It all comes down to who can keep their cool longer.¡±


    Anna nodded, ¡°Miss Sulin is right; Jacker most likely wants to drive up the price.¡±


    Qin Hao also felt that this was Jacker¡¯s intention. From his mansion, the furnishings in his home, and his demeanor, this man was extremely greedy. Considering the items in his home, he had surely embezzled a lot.


    As long as he doesn¡¯t ask for the moon, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to give him a little more. Qin Hao urgently needed a development base.


    Of course, he couldn¡¯t show that outwardly. He could say that there are so many islands in the world, and he didn¡¯t necessarily need this one.


    Qin Hao had carefully reviewed the region before. Other islands were not suitable like those in the Pacific, where the Federation¡¯s Pacific Fleet was, and the Indian Ocean had the Federation¡¯s Indian military bases and naval fleets.


    In the Atlantic Ocean between Lijia State and Mizhou, although there were military bases and fleets, they were not as closely monitored and were, moreover, quite distant from the Atlantic Fleet and military bases.


    The Federation¡¯s main focus was on the tense situation in the Indian Ocean; operating there could be unsafe.


    Silin then asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, what was that about the Xinghai Association you mentioned earlier?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°It¡¯s just a business organization. All of us working together for mutual benefit, a win-win situation. Why, Miss Silin, are you interested?¡±


    Silin, ¡°Of course I¡¯m interested. Mr. Qin, how could you establish this business association and not notify me? Am I even eligible to join?¡±


    Anna also chimed in, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin, are we eligible to join?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Are you joining as individuals or on behalf of your families?¡±


    Silin replied, ¡°Of course as individuals. We cannot represent our entire families; there¡¯s too much involved.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Welcome, of course, welcome. But once you join my Xinghai Association, you must abide by my rules. Can you do that?¡±


    Anna looked at him seductively, ¡°Does going to bed and sleeping also mean listening to Mr. Qin?¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao was speechless, ¡°You should review our bylaws first, then decide whether to join or not. Here¡¯s Qing Ya¡¯s contact information; you can contact her to inquire.¡±


    After leaving his room, Silin and Anna didn¡¯t bother him with their decision to join, as he was indifferent. They would definitely join; not joining would mean a loss of significant benefits.


    Early the next morning, after Qin Hao woke up and had dinner with Anna and Silin, they left the State Guesthouse.


    The streets during the day were quite busy, and there was a market not too far away with plenty of stalls, but Qin Hao glanced and saw no unique fruits or local products; the area was very poor.


    This place was not even as bustling as Jinsha City in the Ban Guo Democratic Republic.


    As they walked around the streets, the three of them attracted quite a few stares, as there weren¡¯t many foreigners here, let alone stunningly beautiful women like Silin and Anna.


    As they returned to the State Guesthouse, Qin Hao and his company saw three cars parked at the entrance.


    As Qin Hao approached the entrance, a black man stopped them, ¡°Mr. Qin, hello, Mr. Connet would like to see you.¡±


    Connet? Who was this person? Qin Hao turned to look at Anna and Silin.


    Silin whispered in his ear, ¡°Connet is currently the number two person in Ban Guo Country.¡±


    [The second update]

 Chapter 627 - 627 629 Finalized

    ?Chapter 627: Chapter 629 Finalized Chapter 627: Chapter 629 Finalized Secondary figure?


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Alright, lead the way.¡±


    The black man smiled, ¡°Please get in the car, everyone.¡±


    Once in the car, three vehicles drove in another direction, opposite to the direction they had taken to Jacker¡¯s place the previous night.


    Leng Xuan and the others followed behind, and they did not stop them.


    Qin Hao glanced at Sulin and Anna. From the driving direction, he could tell that this Connet and Jacker were probably not allies and could even be enemies.


    Jacker¡¯s mansion was in the central hub of power in the city, while Connet¡¯s residence was in the eastern part of the city, a great distance away.


    Upon arriving at Jacker¡¯s mansion, Qin Hao and the other two got out of the car and surveyed the area, where fully armed soldiers also guarded the entrance.


    The black man said, ¡°Mr. Qin, your escorts cannot enter.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Then forget it, if they can¡¯t enter, I won¡¯t go in either.¡±


    ¡°This... Mr. Qin, please wait a moment.¡± The black man became a bit anxious. He hurried inside; having already summoned people there, he¡¯d definitely be blamed if they didn¡¯t enter.


    Less than a minute later, the man came running out, ¡°Please come in, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao waved at Leng Xuan, signaling him to follow with six elites. If something really happened, he feared he wouldn¡¯t be able to protect Sulin and Anna by himself.


    Walking into Connet¡¯s villa living room, there sat a middle-aged black man with very short, curly hair.


    He, seeing Qin Hao and the two ladies, wore a broad smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Sulin, Miss Anna, please have a seat.¡±


    The three of them sat on the couch. ¡°Mr. Connet called us here, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Connet smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of Mr. Qin¡¯s great reputation. Seeing you today, indeed, it¡¯s the hero of the young generation, remarkable indeed.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Connet flatters me, I¡¯m merely lucky.¡±


    Connet, ¡°Mr. Qin, don¡¯t be modest. This isn¡¯t something that can be decided by luck, this is the result of capabilities and strength.


    ¡°I already know the purpose of Mr. Qin¡¯s visit. That island isn¡¯t of much use to us, and we lack the strength to develop it. It¡¯s not difficult for Mr. Qin to purchase it.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes; he unexpectedly knew about this, showing that his power in Bula City was not weak.


    He looked at Connet and said, ¡°Mr. Connet, can you assist me in this matter?¡±


    Connet nodded, ¡°The reason he hasn¡¯t agreed quickly is because it involves many issues and people.


    ¡°Selling the island is a big deal. If he insists on selling it, he could do it, but he would face great resistance. He must be weighing the pros and cons, the most important thing being how much money to ask for.¡±


    From his words, Qin Hao could tell that Connet and Jacker were completely different forces.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°How can Mr. Connet assist me?¡±


    Connet wore a mysterious smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, your three have been summoned by me, surely Jacker must already know. Don¡¯t you think he will be worried?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Connet wouldn¡¯t help me for nothing, right?¡±


    Connet laughed heartily, his expression serious, ¡°Mr. Qin is a smart man. I want nothing but the final price figures you all reach.¡±


    Qin Hao, wearing a smile, a sharp gleam passed through his eyes. This Connet was no simple character, but that was not his concern, as long as he got the permit, it was fine.


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s quite easy.¡±


    Connet, ¡°Someone, see Mr. Qin and his party out.¡±


    ...


    Back at their accommodation, Silin curiously asked, ¡°What does Connet want to do?¡±


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°He probably wants to seize power, doesn¡¯t he? But it has nothing to do with us. As long as we get the approval, let them bite each other however they like.¡±


    Anna said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin is right. I think Connet just wants to stage a coup.¡±


    Shortly after their return, Ambassador Moert arrived, mentioning that Jacker had invited them to join him for lunch.


    Upon arriving at Jacker¡¯s residence again, the meal was already prepared. Honestly, Qin Hao still missed the food here which could not compare with the simple meals at the State Guesthouse.


    Jacker really knew how to enjoy life.


    However, having got used to luxurious meals, eating ordinary food again would probably be hardly palatable to him, which was not good news for Kang Jiake¡¯er.


    Of course, Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t remind him; whether he lived or died mattered not to Qin Hao, as long as he just didn¡¯t die right now.


    Jacker smiled at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Please have a seat, Mr. Qin.¡±


    The three of them sat down, and Jacker directly asked, ¡°Did Connet seek you out today, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Jacker curiously inquired, ¡°What did Connet want with you?¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°Mr. Connet knew I had arrived and invited me to discuss the economic situation. How are things going with Mr. Jacker¡¯s island?¡±


    Jacker hesitated and said, ¡°Selling an island isn¡¯t like leasing one; it¡¯s a major issue. Although I am the president, it¡¯s not my say alone. This needs agreement from all levels.¡±


    ¡°Quote me a price,¡± Qin Hao directly asked.


    Jacker said in a low voice, ¡°Twenty billion Federation dollars.¡±


    Silin and Anna¡¯s faces slightly changed. By market estimates, it would have been only about seven or eight billion at most, yet he dared to ask for twenty billion.


    Both turned their heads to look at Qin Hao; the price was too high, Jacker was really asking for the moon.


    Qin Hao, with a faint smile, looked at Jacker, ¡°That¡¯s too high. I can¡¯t afford it.¡±


    Jacker laughed, ¡°Mr. Qin, your assets amount to hundreds of billions of Federation dollars; twenty billion Federation dollars is nothing at all.¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°I do have a lot of money, but most of it has been donated, and I¡¯ve made some investments as well. I can¡¯t come up with twenty billion Federation dollars; ten billion is my limit.¡±


    Jacker looked troubled as he said, ¡°Ten billion is too little, Mr. Qin. I need to pay off a lot of people in this deal.¡±


    Pay off a lot of people? More like you want to pocket more money.


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°In that case, Mr. Jacker, it seems we have nothing to talk about. There are plenty of islands in the world; I¡¯ll look in other countries.¡±


    As he turned to leave, Jacker quickly grabbed him, ¡°Mr. Qin, please wait, let¡¯s talk some more.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at him, then sat down again, ¡°Just tell me directly, Mr. Jacker, what¡¯s your lowest price? If it¡¯s reasonable, I¡¯ll take it. If not, let¡¯s not waste each other¡¯s time.¡±


    Jacker fell into contemplation, wrestling with his thoughts. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; no one spoke.


    After hesitating a long time, he finally spoke, ¡°Thirteen billion Federation dollars, but we need to sign two contracts. One is a public sale price of eight billion for Ban Guo Country, the rest in another contract.¡±


    Silin and Anna were shocked at his audacity to pocket sixty billion Federation dollars.


    Qin Hao thought for several seconds, then nodded, ¡°Okay, once the approval is issued, I will transfer the money.¡±


    [Third release]

 Chapter 628 - 628 630 Return to the Country

    ?Chapter 628: Chapter 630 Return to the Country Chapter 628: Chapter 630 Return to the Country Jacker¡¯s face broke into a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, let¡¯s have a drink.¡±


    After lunch, Qin Hao and his two companions left, heading back to the State Guesthouse. Sulin spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, this is 13 billion we¡¯re talking about. I can¡¯t believe you actually accepted it.¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a faint smile, ¡°It¡¯s simply worth the price. In the future, the value that this island will demonstrate will be far beyond 13 billion.¡±


    Anna asked curiously, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you planning to develop the island as a tourist destination? That won¡¯t make much money.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about that later. The first step is to get the island in our hands.¡±


    What he planned to do with the island was not something he would reveal to these two women¡ªit was his secret, one he would only share with his confidants.


    The approval documents did not come as soon as Qin Hao had expected. The next day, Jacker informed him that things were not that simple and that they would need to wait a few more days.


    In fact, the process wasn¡¯t that complicated; it was just that Jacker didn¡¯t want to relinquish too much of his own interests.


    After three to four days of discussion and research, the paperwork finally came through. As for how much of his interests Jacker parted with, Qin Hao didn¡¯t know, nor did he want to. It had nothing to do with him.


    At Jacker¡¯s mansion, the two parties signed the contract. After Qin Hao received the approval documents for Pu¡¯er Island, he transferred 13 billion Federation dollars to Jacker.


    Once everything was settled, Qin Hao let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Mr. Jacker, we will leave for Heijiao City this afternoon and then take a look at Pu¡¯er Island before we head back to our country.¡±


    Jacker said with a smile, ¡°Since Mr. Qin insists on leaving, I won¡¯t hold you any longer. This drink is to honor Mr. Qin.¡±


    They had lunch at Jacker¡¯s mansion and then Qin Hao and his group returned to the State Guesthouse, packed up, and set off for Zhudao City in Ban Guo Country, the largest city known as Heijiao.


    In terms of economic prosperity, Heijiao City was much more bustling than Bula City. The country¡¯s largest port was there, and all the imports and exports had to go through it.


    However, its geographical location was not very good; if it were to become the capital, it would be easily targeted in the event of a war.


    Sulin and Anna also wanted to take a look at Pu¡¯er Island, after all, it was an island worth 13 billion Federation dollars.


    The distance from Bula City in Ban Guo Country to Heijiao City was over a thousand miles. They didn¡¯t arrive in Heijiao City until the next morning.


    Heijiao City also had an international airport with direct flights to the Northern Federation and Xuan Country Pearl Island City.


    They checked into a hotel and then Anna instructed someone to rent a cruise ship. The port was seventy to eighty miles from Pu¡¯er Island, so they had to take a boat there.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, let¡¯s rest for a day, and we¡¯ll take the boat to Pu¡¯er Island tomorrow morning,¡± Anna said, looking somewhat tired.


    Qin Hao nodded. His energy levels were high, but Sulin and Anna were tired from traveling overnight.


    After all, they¡¯d already been delayed for many days; one more day didn¡¯t matter.


    After resting for the night, early the next day, Qin Hao and his group arrived at the port. His people had already rented a cruise ship, and after an hour¡¯s ride, they reached Pu¡¯er Island.


    Three sides of the place were cliffs, and only one side was a beach. There was no port, so the cruise ship couldn¡¯t get close. Qin Hao didn¡¯t bother taking a smaller boat over; he just took a quick look and went back.


    Back in Heijiao City, Qin Hao and his group went to the airport. At the time of parting, Qin Hao said to the two women, ¡°Miss Sulin, Miss Anna, I appreciate your help this time.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re welcome. We¡¯re friends, and it¡¯s only right to help each other,¡± said Sulin with a charming smile.


    Anna said flirtatiously, ¡°Mr. Qin, you must come to Xiyu Country next time. I will take care of you properly then.¡±


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh and nodded, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll definitely go.¡±


    Silin snorted coldly in her heart, ¡®Crafty fox, what¡¯s so great about you.¡¯


    ...


    Qin Hao boarded the plane to Pearl Island City in Xuan Country from Heijiao City. Once in Pearl Island City, he would need to change planes to fly to Jianghai City, probably taking almost twenty hours.


    On the plane, Qin Hao played with his cell phone. The Star Domain Network covered the globe, so even abroad, Qin Hao could still get a signal for internet and phone calls without any issues.


    He chatted with Chang Jing for a while, inquiring about the company. The Xinghai Automobile Factory had already been completed, and the number of intelligent robots in stock had reached more than fifteen hundred, just waiting for his return to start production at the factory.


    The Xinghai Solar Energy panels had also begun mass production. Miao Jianyuan had directly used cash to purchase several large factories, all the necessary equipment was in place, and production had started.


    The advanced navigation radar and intelligent monitoring satellite had also been successfully developed and only needed to be launched into orbit in batches when the time came.


    After returning, Qin Hao also needed to arrange the development of Pu¡¯er Island. Of course, for this kind of thing, he would not let people go. Robots could do it much better, and the new type of robots not only had batteries but also solar panels.


    Pu¡¯er Island was almost always under direct sunlight all year round, making solar energy generation the best choice there.


    At the Xinghai Association, Li Qingya had brought in several people, one of whom was Qin Hao¡¯s third uncle, who would be in charge of agricultural seeds in the future. Silin Ross also joined the Xinghai Association.


    Ana and Su Fei from the Innsil family had also joined, which was of extraordinary significance.


    Because by joining the Xinghai Association, they would all have to follow Qin Hao¡¯s orders.


    After finishing his chat, Qin Hao lay down on the genuine leather upholstered bed to sleep. When he woke up, he asked Leng Xuan, ¡°How much longer until we reach Pearl Island City?¡±


    Leng Xuan replied respectfully, ¡°Mr. Qin, about an hour to go.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, then glanced at the sleeping Han Zhuang next to him and shook his head with a wry smile.


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang. It was a video call from Zhao Yuying, ¡°Hello, what¡¯s up, Ying?¡±


    Zhao Yuying looked anxious and blurted out, ¡°Xiao Hao, where are you? Someone won¡¯t let me leave Pearl Island City.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Ying? Take your time.¡± Qin Hao¡¯s brows furrowed upon hearing this. Who didn¡¯t know that Yuhao Media Company was his business? Someone was daring to trouble Zhao Yuying, clearly not taking him seriously.


    Although he wasn¡¯t particularly powerful there, his reputation must have already spread, and there was no reason for the upper echelons of Pearl Island City not to know of him.


    Zhao Yuying explained the situation. Because the movie ¡°Mechanical Soldier¡± had become a huge hit and set box office records, many grand award ceremonies had invited her and Yuhao Media.


    After attending the film festival in Jinchen City, she came to Zhudao City for another film festival.


    Since Zhudao City developed its entertainment and film industry quite early, its film festival held greater influence, drawing more professionals to attend.


    Upon her arrival in Zhudao City, she was invited to many banquets, meeting many of the city¡¯s high society.


    It was precisely because of a banquet that Yuan Deyi, the eldest son of the Yuan family of Zhudao City, attempted to take liberties with Zhao Yuying, but he was taught a lesson by the members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion. The Yuan family, aware of who was behind Zhao Yuying, demanded she apologize or else she would not be allowed to leave Pearl Island City. They too had their dignity to maintain.


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 629 - 629 631 Harbor City

    ?Chapter 629: Chapter 631: Harbor City Chapter 629: Chapter 631: Harbor City Zhao Yuying knew that she represented Qin Hao now, and since she had done nothing wrong in this matter, she did not apologize.


    The Yuan Family held vast influence in Zhudao City, so they could not simply let Zhao Yuying leave without an apology.


    Even though Zhao Yuying had called the police, it was useless because the Yuan Family had not done anything overtly wrong and they had connections within the Zhudao City government, so calling the police was futile.


    After hearing her story, Qin Hao said, ¡°Ying, don¡¯t panic, I¡¯ll be arriving in Zhudao City soon, just send me the address, and I will come to find you once I get off the airplane.¡±


    Zhao Yuying, both surprised and delighted, said, ¡°Xiao Hao, you¡¯re coming back?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve handled everything there. There was no direct flight to Jianghai City, so I am coming to Zhudao City.¡±


    The two of them talked for a while. Zhao Yuying was currently safe, but the Yuan Family had gathered some people from their associations to block her and her entourage from leaving.


    The Yuan Family was at the top-tier echelon of families in Zhudao City, wielding power in the political, commercial, and underground worlds.


    Were it not for Qin Hao¡¯s reputation and influence, Zhao Yuying would have already suffered unspeakable horrors at their hands.


    Being merely a female celebrity, the Yuan Family did not take her seriously. Among the popular female celebrities like Zhao Yuying, many had been groomed by the Yuan Family.


    If they told them to go east, they would never dare head west.


    Around five in the afternoon, a plane from Ban Guo Country landed at Zhu Bei Sea International Airport.


    Exiting the airport, Qin Hao, Leng Xuan, and Han Zhuang took a taxi towards Shangri-La Hotel in Zhudao City.


    Now, Qin Hao rarely appeared online, and all photos of him had disappeared; he had slowly faded from public view. The average person who still remembered him was very few, thus the driver did not recognize Qin Hao.


    It took nearly an hour to arrive at Shangri-La Hotel, and the three of them took the elevator to the 28th floor.


    Around room 2808, several security officers from the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion were stationed. As Qin Hao and the others approached the door, the officers recognized him and respectfully greeted, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao knocked on the door, and it was soon opened by Zhao Yuying¡¯s assistant, who was also her former manager.


    She was startled to see Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯ve arrived, please come in.¡±


    She led Qin Hao into the room where Zhao Yuying was sitting in the suite¡¯s living room, watching television.


    Seeing Qin Hao enter, her face showed surprise and joy; she quickly got up and ran to hug him.


    Qin Hao held her slender waist, smiling, ¡°It¡¯s alright now, Ying.¡±


    Zhao Yuying let go of him, her cheeks turning slightly red, bashful yet adorable, ¡°You must be tired after such a long flight, have a seat, and I will give you a massage.¡±


    Zhao Yuying¡¯s manager tactfully exited the room, not disturbing the two.


    On the sofa, Qin Hao sat while Zhao Yuying massaged him.


    About half an hour later, there was a knock on the door.


    Opening the door stood Zhao Yuying¡¯s female assistant, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    The female assistant¡¯s cheeks were slightly red as she said, ¡°Mr. Qin, there is an award ceremony tonight, starting at seven, and it¡¯s almost time.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Alright, I know.¡±


    ...


    Back in the room, Qin Hao said to Zhao Yuying, ¡°Do you have an award ceremony at seven?¡±


    Zhao Yuying was momentarily stunned but quickly responded, ¡°Yes, there is an award ceremony, let me get ready, and we can go together.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll freshen up a bit.¡± She quickly went into the bedroom, washed up, and changed into new clothes.


    She hooked her arm through Qin Hao¡¯s as they exited the hotel, and a group of four cars headed toward the grand theater in Zhudao City, where the Zhudao City Film Festival awards ceremony was held.


    The film festivals Zhao Yuying had attended in the preceding days were minor compared to the magnitude and influence of the Zhudao City Film Festival.


    On the way, Leng Xuan said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s a car following us from the back, those are the people from the hotel surveillance.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°That¡¯s fine, let them follow.¡±


    Zhao Yuying nestled against Qin Hao¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°These past few days, the Yuan Family has had people watching over me. As soon as I leave the hotel, there are a lot of people following. Some friends from the circle told me I can only leave if I apologize to the Yuan Family, otherwise I won¡¯t be able to leave Zhudao City.¡±


    Qin Hao scoffed coldly, a glint of ruthlessness flashing through his eyes. It seemed many people did not take him seriously.


    Although he was the world¡¯s richest man, his influence mostly came from companies like Xinghai Company and Star Domain Network.


    This kind of influence was different from that which came from both the legitimate and underground worlds. The latter¡¯s influence was far more terrifying and feared.


    Even though the Yuan Family was not the world¡¯s richest, more people feared them than feared Qin Hao. This was because the Yuan Family was ruthless, while having money like Qin Hao did not necessarily mean one dealt with enemies lethally.


    Outside the grand theater in Zhudao City.


    Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying disembarked from the car, and the parking lot was filled with various luxury cars, the least expensive being worth several million, while others were worth tens of millions.


    It was now fifty-three minutes past six, and only their group headed into the theater.


    Zhao Yuying let go of his arm, ¡°There are many reporters inside, maybe you should wait for me outside.¡±


    Qin Hao grasped her hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t dare to report it. Even if they do, it won¡¯t show up online.¡±


    Seeing his confidence, Zhao Yuying looped her arm through his again, ¡°Alright then.¡±


    At the door, Zhao Yuying¡¯s manager took out an invitation, and through the corridor, they entered the grand theater, where the atmosphere was abuzz with many people chatting.


    Everyone here was a well-known figure in the entertainment industry, the least being second-tier stars, along with screenwriters, directors, and business magnates.


    The influence of the Zhudao City Film Festival was substantial, making its awards highly prestigious.


    As Zhao Yuying walked in arm-in-arm with Qin Hao, many people noticed them, and the entire theater quickly quieted down, all eyes on Zhao Yuying and Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao had actually come? And judging by their close demeanor, Zhao Yuying was definitely Qin Hao¡¯s person.


    Many people turned to look in another direction, where business moguls were seated, and among them were the members of the Yuan Family.


    [End of Chapter One]

 Chapter 630 - 630 632 There Will be No Yuan Family After

    ?Chapter 630: Chapter 632: There Will be No Yuan Family After Tomorrow Chapter 630: Chapter 632: There Will be No Yuan Family After Tomorrow The Yuan Family naturally recognized Qin Hao and noticed the slight change in their expressions when they saw his intimate attendance with Zhao Yuying.


    At first, they thought Zhao Yuying was just one of Qin Hao¡¯s playthings and did not expect him to come all the way to Zhudao City specifically for her.


    As they walked to the front, Qin Hao saw many popular stars and directors of the day.


    In the front row, Qin Hao noticed the seat for Zhao Yuying, which was reserved with only a single place for her, the seating arranged by name.


    Zhao Yuying said to her assistant, ¡°Ms. Li, please sit here. Just help with receiving the award later. Xiao Hao and I will sit over there.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mr. Zhao.¡±


    Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying headed towards the area where the business magnates were seated; Yuhao Media Company also had a place there.


    Before they could reach the area, several organizers who had received the news came out from backstage: ¡°Mr. Qin graces us with his presence, I apologize for not welcoming you earlier, I am Yang Zeyu, one of the organizers of this awards ceremony.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, ¡°It turns out to be Mr. Yang. I¡¯ve long heard of Mr. Yang¡¯s Zhudao Group. I was just passing by today and decided to take a look.¡±


    Yang Zeyu smiled and turned to a young man beside him, ¡°Xingzhi, please show Mr. Qin and Mr. Zhao to their seats.¡±


    Yang Xingzhi hastily spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Zhao, please follow me.¡±


    He led Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying to the area where the business elites were situated, right at the front. In Zhudao City, the Yang and Yuan Families were well-known and powerful clans, and the Yang Family¡¯s strength was no less than the Yuan Family¡¯s.


    After Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying sat down, on their left were two people from the Yang Family and on their right were several from the Yuan Family.


    Yang Xingzhi introduced them with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, this is my sister Yang Yiyi.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Qin.¡± Yang Yiyi was about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, her complexion calm and her gaze intelligent.


    Qin Hao looked at her and nodded with a smile, ¡°Ms. Yang is too polite.¡±


    Then Qin Hao turned to look at the two men on his right. Since the Yangs didn¡¯t proceed and these two could sit in the front row, they must be from the Yuan Family.


    The two men from the Yuan Family were also looking at Qin Hao, without any particular respect in their eyes.


    Although Qin Hao was the world¡¯s richest man, with a high status and great influence on the mainland, this was Zhudao City, not the mainland.


    A dragon, however strong, cannot suppress the local snake.


    The award ceremony began shortly and included many categories such as Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actor, and so on.


    The movie ¡°Mechanical Soldier¡± was a smash hit, topping the daily box office for four consecutive weeks, with a domestic total of over eighty billion, and even higher overseas, reaching over ninety billion Xuan Country Coins. The total box office of one hundred and seventy billion broke the film box office record.


    The Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenwriter, and Director awards were almost all won by ¡°Mechanical Soldier¡±.


    The ceremony lasted an hour and a half, after which came the banquet. The reporters had all left.


    Yang Xingzhi invited Qin Hao and company into the banquet to share a drink with the Yang Family, after which they went to entertain other guests.


    Qin Hao asked Zhao Yuying, ¡°Ying, are those two from the Yuan Family?¡±


    Zhao Yuying nodded, ¡°Yes, they are two sons of the Yuan Family. The elder is their father, Yuan Shan, who has been staying backstage and did not come out earlier.¡±


    Qin Hao picked up his glass and took a light sip, a shimmer of sharpness flashing in his eyes.


    At this moment, many popular stars from the inland came to toast Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying. Yuhao Media, with its advanced special effects technology, was already on the verge of becoming the entertainment media industry leader.


    The stars and celebrities present were all looking to shoot TV dramas and movies, and building a good relationship with Yuhao Media would make future collaborations more convenient.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve long admired your reputation, allow me to toast to you.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations to Mr. Zhao for winning so many awards, here¡¯s a toast to you.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zhao, Mr. Qin, I¡¯m Li Hao from Wangfeng Media, a toast to both of you.¡±


    Toasters came and went continuously, including popular male and female stars and the heads of many entertainment media companies. Unable to afford offending Qin Hao, they could only try to ingratiate themselves with him.


    Although the Yuan Family had enormous influence in Zhudao City, it couldn¡¯t reach them.


    After dealing with these people, Qin Hao walked with Zhao Yuying toward Yuan Shan, drawing the eyes of many others. They stopped their conversations and turned to look.


    They were curious to see how Qin Hao would handle the Yuan Family here, in their own territory. Was Qin Hao coming to apologize, or would he remain defiant to the end?


    If he apologized, Qin Hao¡¯s reputation would likely be dragged through the mud and become the subject of ridicule.


    But if he remained defiant, what could he do against the Yuan Family on their home ground?


    Yuan Shan also noticed Qin Hao approaching and stood there silently, watching him with a calm and indifferent expression, as if to say, ¡°No matter how terrifying your influence on the mainland, here in Zhudao you¡¯re just a dragon that must coil for me.¡±


    Standing beside Yuan Shan, Qin Hao looked at him lazily, ¡°Is it you who won¡¯t let Ying leave Zhudao City?¡±


    Yuan Shan, sensing hostility in his tone, snorted coldly, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. She dared to hit my son, and she¡¯s the first to do so. I¡¯ve already shown great face to Mr. Qin. Just have her apologize to my son, and I¡¯ll let her go.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°You should know the whole story, right? Your son started the trouble first.¡±


    With indifference in his voice, Yuan Shan replied, ¡°I don¡¯t look at the cause and effect, I only consider the impact on the Yuan Family.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s smile did not fade, ¡°Great, by tomorrow there will be no Yuan Family in Zhudao City.¡±


    Having said that, he walked Zhao Yuying out of the grand theater.


    Yuan Shan was momentarily stunned by his words, then a disdainful smile appeared on his face, thinking to himself that making the Yuan Family disappear was a bold claim. He vowed to show Qin Hao the Yuan Family¡¯s strength that very night.


    Many people around also heard what Qin Hao had said and were shocked. What did Qin Hao mean?


    Was he planning to use governmental power to suppress the Yuan Family?


    Qin Hao¡¯s company was involved in many projects in cooperation with the government. He certainly had influence with officials and could make weighty decisions.


    ...


    After leaving the grand theater, Qin Hao made a phone call to Li Wenjun, ¡°Send me the detailed information on the Yuan Family in Zhudao City.¡±


    Shortly after, Li Wenjun sent over the detailed information, which Qin Hao quickly memorized.


    Zhao Yuying said worriedly, ¡°Xiao Hao, maybe I should just apologize to them.¡±


    She was concerned for Qin Hao fearing he might get into trouble because of her. She had heard of the Yuan Family¡¯s strength, which was quite formidable in Zhudao City, even more so than the Yang Family.


    Qin Hao embraced her and said with a smile, ¡°Ying, why should we bow our heads in apology when we¡¯ve done no wrong? Now, no one can force me to bow and apologize.¡±


    When their motorcade was about to reach the hotel, several vans suddenly appeared at the intersection ahead. Twenty or thirty men got out of the vans and headed straight for Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying¡¯s convoy.


    These were men called by Yuan Shan. He wanted to teach Qin Hao a lesson, to show him the power of the Yuan Family in Zhudao City.


    [Second update, Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, I went to buy gifts this afternoon. Before the festival, I have to visit relatives and see the elders.]

 Chapter 631 - 631 633 Midnight Assassination

    ?Chapter 631: Chapter 633 Midnight Assassination Chapter 631: Chapter 633 Midnight Assassination Zhao Yuying¡¯s face changed when she saw them, ¡°Xiao Hao, you should leave quickly.¡±


    Qin Hao got out of the car leisurely, ¡°Yu Ying, don¡¯t worry. These insignificant folks can¡¯t stir up any waves.¡±


    Leng Xuan and Han Zhuang, along with more than a dozen Flying Leopard bodyguards, alighted from the vehicles and directly confronted them.


    ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡±


    The two groups clashed, continuous screams filled the air, and Leng Xuan and Han Zhuang, like tigers among sheep, had no rivals to match them.


    Especially Han Zhuang, who seemed like a reincarnated Heavenly God, could lift a sturdy man weighing approximately 180 pounds with one hand, then throw him five or six meters away, which was simply terrifying.


    Dozens of small-time thugs didn¡¯t last two minutes before they were knocked to the ground by Leng Xuan, Han Zhuang, and others.


    Qin Hao smirked coldly, these people were definitely sent by the Yuan Family to teach him a lesson, ¡°The hotel is just ahead, let¡¯s walk over.¡±


    Zhao Yuying nodded, and a few minutes later they were back inside the hotel.


    With Leng Xuan, Han Zhuang, and others guarding outside the room, any disturbances were futile.


    In the inner bedroom, after Qin Hao¡¯s return, he and Zhao Yuying became entangled passionately, and only after Zhao Yuying softly pleaded for mercy did Qin Hao let her go.


    Zhao Yuying nestled in his arms, ¡°Xiao Hao, when will we go back to Jianghai City?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°We¡¯ll go back tomorrow. Don¡¯t think too much, let¡¯s sleep.¡±


    Late at night, Qin Hao opened his eyes, then went out to the balcony, took out the original Mecha, suit up in the Mecha, and then put on a black cloak to cover his entire body.


    His main worry was someone spotting him on the way, so he put on the black cloak.


    He opened the window and jumped out, gently pressing his feet down, and his figure soared upwards to the hotel¡¯s thirtieth floor.


    Once he landed on the rooftop, Qin Hao checked the direction, then energetically stomped the ground, shooting off like a cannonball, and landed on the building opposite.


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao arrived at the most renowned luxurious villa community in Zhudao City.


    Those who lived here were either rich or noble, all notable figures in Zhudao, and the community¡¯s security level was exceptionally high. Elite security personnel patrolled at night, all armed.


    The community was also famous for its safety, which was why many officials and wealthy businessmen chose to buy villas here. Although expensive, it offered peace of mind.


    Qin Hao took out the Invisibility Cloak and wore it. The Invisibility Cloak only lasted half an hour; wearing it from the start wouldn¡¯t be enough, but now the timing was perfect.


    After activating the Invisibility Cloak, Qin Hao¡¯s figure completely vanished into the night, moving towards his target at a very high speed.


    The Yuan Family lived in this community, at a very large courtyard in the center surrounded by villas on three sides, all occupied by members of the Yuan Family.


    According to the detailed information provided by Li Wenjun, Yuan Shan, the chairman of the Yuan Group, had two sons, Yuan Deyi, and Yuan De Yong.


    Yuan Shan resided in the middle villa, while Yuan Deyi and Yuan De Yong each occupied the villas on the left and right respectively.


    Nearly twenty bodyguards were stationed at the villa entrances and around the courtyard.


    Qin Hao first entered the villa on the left, put on the invisible scanning glasses, then surveyed the interior of the villa.


    On the first floor, a maid was sleeping, while in the master bedroom on the second floor, three people lay on the bed. One of them was Yuan Shan¡¯s son, Yuan De Yong, and the other two were young, beautiful women.


    Moreover, Qin Hao had a somewhat recollection of these two young women, because they had also attended the award ceremony in the evening; they were quite famous actresses within the industry.


    According to the information, Yuan De Yong was not married, but Yuan Deyi was, having married the daughter of a chairman of a large company in Zhudao City.


    Upon reaching the second-floor bedroom, a cold light flickered in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes as a curved alloy knife appeared in his right hand. The blade flashed, and blood sprayed from the necks of the three people on the bed, killing them instantly.


    ...


    Qin Hao then went to the villa on the right, where Yuan Deyi lived.


    Just as he was about to go upstairs to act, Yuan Deyi¡¯s wife unexpectedly walked out of her room and cautiously opened the door to the middle villa.


    The three villas were connected, with each villa having a door to the others.


    Qin Hao was surprised. It was nearly one in the morning, what was Yuan Deyi¡¯s wife doing up, not sleeping?


    Entering Yuan Deyi¡¯s room, the guy was still deep in sleep. Qin Hao promptly finished him off.


    He then went through the door to the villa where Yuan Shan lived, arriving directly on the second floor.


    He could faintly hear Yuan Shan¡¯s voice: ¡°Why did you come so late, do you want me to beat you hard?¡±


    A cold smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s lips as he watched the situation inside clearly through his X-ray glasses.


    Yuan Shan was involved with his daughter-in-law, a fling that began by accident when Yuan Deyi was not at home. Yuan Shan¡¯s lust had taken over, and, surprisingly, his daughter-in-law had masochistic tendencies, which led to their affair.


    Qin Hao checked the time, the Invisibility Cloak still had twenty-three minutes left.


    He watched for a while, then with a single thrust, both were killed instantly.


    Having done all this, Qin Hao didn¡¯t even look back as he leaped out of the villa. The guards in the courtyard felt a cold wind blow by, making them shiver uncontrollably.


    ¡°Strange, there was clearly no wind just now, how come it¡¯s windy all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°You felt it too? I thought I was dreaming.¡±


    ...


    More than twenty minutes later, Qin Hao returned to his place, entering through the window. He put away all his gear and then cautiously went to the bedroom door and entered.


    Yu Ying was sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard and looking towards the door.


    Qin Hao paused, then walked to the bed: ¡°Ying, why are you awake?¡±


    Zhao Yuying hugged him tightly: ¡°Xiao Hao, where did you go? I was scared when I couldn¡¯t see you.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled: ¡°I just went to the bathroom.¡±


    Zhao Yuying knew he was lying because she had gone to the bathroom after waking up, and Qin Hao had not actually gone. However, she didn¡¯t ask further, clinging tightly to Qin Hao as if frightened he would disappear again.


    Qin Hao held her close: ¡°Let¡¯s sleep, Ying. Don¡¯t think too much.¡±


    The next morning.


    Explosive news spread through the upper echelons of Zhudao City: Yuan Shan, Yuan Deyi, and Yuan De Yong had been murdered in their homes. Alongside them, three women were also killed.


    The police investigated the surveillance cameras around the villa but could not find any useful clues. There were no suspicious people seen entering or exiting, which the police found unbelievable.


    [First Update]

 Chapter 632 - 632 634 Does it have anything to do with you

    ?Chapter 632: Chapter 634: Does it have anything to do with you? Chapter 632: Chapter 634: Does it have anything to do with you? The results of the crime scene investigation shocked the police, there were no clues at all¡ªno footprints, fingerprints, or hair.


    It was as if there was no murderer at all. How could that be possible?


    The only useful piece of information they obtained was that the murderer had been holding a very sharp weapon.


    The upper-class society of Zhudao City was well-informed; many had received news of the police investigation¡¯s outcome even before it was submitted to the higher-ups, and then it spread further.


    Many people thought of what Qin Hao had said the previous night, that after tomorrow, there would be no Yuan Family in Zhudao.


    Could it really be that Qin Hao had someone do this? But how did he accomplish it? Did he also have his own forces in Zhudao City?


    In the morning, after Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying washed up, they went downstairs to have breakfast.


    While they were having breakfast, the police from Zhudao City arrived, being very respectful, as the people above had instructed them to be respectful, that they were there to ask questions, not to make arrests.


    A cautious police officer asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, hello, we are from the Zhudao City Police Department. The Yuan Family has been murdered, and we would like to know where Mr. Qin was last night?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuying¡¯s face slightly changed¡ªwere the members of the Yuan Family all dead? They had died after Qin Hao¡¯s words last night?


    Qin Hao: ¡°After returning last night, we went to sleep. You can check the surveillance in the corridor to see what time we entered the room and what time we came out.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin. Enjoy your meal,¡± said the officers. They asked a few simple questions and then went to check the surveillance.


    Once those people had left, Qin Hao continued to eat his breakfast leisurely. Seeing that Zhao Yuying looked upset, he smiled and said, ¡°Ying, don¡¯t worry too much. It¡¯s alright, let¡¯s have breakfast. I¡¯ve already booked the plane tickets; we will be heading back shortly.¡±


    Zhao Yuying nodded: ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    After finishing breakfast, they were getting ready to leave when the Yang Family and some notables from Zhudao City arrived.


    Seeing Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying about to leave, Yang Zeyu quickly asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Zhao, are you leaving now?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been abroad for many days, and there are many matters to deal with back in Jianghai.¡±


    ¡°Then, let us see you off, Mr. Qin,¡± Yang Zeyu replied.


    It didn¡¯t take much thought to realize last night¡¯s incident with the Yuan Family was Qin Hao¡¯s doing. Everyone had witnessed his terrifying methods and felt an awe-filled reverence; they didn¡¯t dare to offend him in the slightest.


    On the road from the hotel to the airport, a convoy of dozens of luxury cars could be seen taking Qin Hao and his party to the airport.


    Upon arriving at Zhu Bei Sea International Airport, Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying got out of the car, and he said to Yang Zeyu and the others, ¡°Mr. Yang, no need to send us off, everyone can go back now.¡±


    Yang Zeyu and the others said, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Zhao, have a safe trip.¡±


    Entering the airport and holding their tickets, they boarded a plane to Jianghai City. The reason these people were so respectful was simply that they were shaken by his thunderous methods.


    Up till yesterday, they didn¡¯t take him too seriously, but today everyone¡¯s attitude towards him had changed; he was a god of death, not to be provoked¡ªthe Yuan Family was the best example.


    On the plane, Qin Hao took out his mobile phone and called Li Qingya; the call was quickly connected, and Li Qingya¡¯s voice came from the phone: ¡°Has Mr. Qin returned?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m on the plane right now. I should arrive in Jianghai City around noon. I¡¯m calling because there¡¯s something I need you to do.¡±


    Li Qingya asked curiously, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Do you know about the Yuan Group in Zhudao City? I want you and a few others to go acquire that company.¡±


    Li Qingya had heard about the Yuan Group in Zhudao City; it was a leading group with businesses in various sectors, especially strong in real estate and media entertainment.


    She quickly replied, ¡°Understood, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Has the Xinghai Holding Company application come through yet?¡±


    Li Qingya: ¡°The application has been approved, and the registration is overseas. This shell company will enable us to hold more shares.¡±


    Some companies have rules that foreign wage acquisitions of shares cannot exceed a certain amount. Now, with a foreign shell company, we can split the share acquisitions to gain control.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I will first transfer you 150 billion Xuan Country Coins, to be used as company investment and acquisition funds. If you run out, come to me for more.¡±


    He currently has about 1.6 trillion Xuan Country Coins in idle funds, so he is in a very strong financial position.


    Li Qingya spoke, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Zhao Yuying hesitated before speaking up, ¡°Xiao Hao, does the death of the Yuan Family have anything to do with you?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her, and she looked back at him. He nodded, ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Zhao Yuying¡¯s head slowly leaned against his chest. She knew that Qin Hao had killed the people of the Yuan Family all for her sake.


    She was very worried inside. If Qin Hao got arrested because of this, she would regret it for the rest of her life.


    Qin Hao knew what she was thinking and said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ying. They won¡¯t have any evidence, and even if they did, those people might not dare to touch me.¡±


    Zhao Yuying nodded slightly, simply holding him.


    At 11:28, the plane arrived at Jianghai City International Airport, where a fleet of cars was already waiting for them outside the airport.


    Leaving the airport and getting into a car, the fleet headed for Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    Back at home, Zhao Yuying said to him, ¡°I¡¯ll go home first to see my parents.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly and nodded. He entered the villa. Han Meng was in the living room learning to dance and dancing.


    When she heard the door open and turned to see that it was Qin Hao, her face lit up with happiness, ¡°Xiao Hao, you¡¯re back.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Meng learning to dance again?¡±


    Han Meng¡¯s face flushed, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m just practicing at home. If you want to see, I¡¯ll dance for you.¡±


    ¡°Learning that stuff for what, it¡¯s tiring. Rest for a while, Meng,¡± Qin Hao said, sitting on the sofa.


    Han Meng walked behind him and began massaging his shoulders, ¡°It¡¯s okay, not tiring, and it¡¯s also good for keeping fit.¡±


    Qin Hao, with his eyes half-closed, asked, ¡°Meng, did anyone come looking for me while I was away these days?¡±


    Han Meng: ¡°Yes, Ms. Xu Siyao came looking for you, but she left when she saw you weren¡¯t here.¡±


    Xu Siyao? Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment. These days he had been busy with company matters and hadn¡¯t gone to see her, or Fan Ruobing.


    After lunch, Qin Hao went out to Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Inside Chang Jing¡¯s office, she was busy handling company documents. Qin Hao walked in, ¡°Mr. Chang is still busy, I see.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re back. How did the talks go?¡± Chang Jing asked curiously.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s done. It cost 130 billion Federation Coins.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Then congratulations, Mr. Qin. The automobile factory has been completed for many days now. Why don¡¯t we go take a look now?¡±


    Under Chang Jing¡¯s lead, Qin Hao visited Xinghai Automobile Factory. Its interior was also finished, with all the necessary machinery and equipment ready; it only lacked workers to start operation.


    [Second update, stayed up late to write two chapters. I¡¯ll be visiting relatives in the morning, so I¡¯ll make up for it with more updates on the 22nd, and there will be more updates in the following days as well.]

 Chapter 633 - 633 635 The New Teacher

    ?Chapter 633: Chapter 635: The New Teacher Chapter 633: Chapter 635: The New Teacher While watching, Qin Hao said to Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Chang, we now need a steel plant.¡±


    Chang Jing looked at him puzzledly, ¡°What do we need a steel plant for, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Mr. Qin replied, ¡°The car body frames require special steel. If we have our own steel plant and make our own steel, it would be much better.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone look into it when we get back.¡±


    Having just returned from the automobile factory, Qin Hao saw many people pushing lithography machines into the chip workshop. The machines were being transported into the chip production workshop one by one.


    Curiously, Qin Hao asked, ¡°How many lithography machine production lines do we have now?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°Currently, we have expanded to fifty lithography machine production lines, capable of producing a hundred smart lithography machines per month. As for the chip production lines, there are sixty-five, with a current daily chip output of nearly three million.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°What¡¯s the demand from the various companies we¡¯re cooperating with right now?¡±


    As they walked, Chang Jing answered, ¡°Blueberry Smartphone Company has a monthly demand of ten million chips, which can produce over two million smartphones. Jinfeng Mobile needs over twenty million, requiring about five million smartphone chips per month.


    Beyond smartphones, the next largest supplies go to companies like Kangmei Appliances, Jiangqi Automobile, and others. Currently, we can meet these partners¡¯ demands.¡±


    Qin Hao, curious, asked, ¡°How much are the Ross family and the Innsil family supplied with each month at the moment?¡±


    Chang Jing said, ¡°Both sides are currently supplied with one million sets of smartphone chips each month. As for other types of chips, we can supply them once we increase our output next month.¡±


    The two talked as they walked and quickly arrived at the smart robot workshop, where many smart robots were present.


    After looking around, Qin Hao returned to his office. He used the Star Domain Network to transmit the Air Energy Car Manufacturing Technology to the storage chips of robot 001 and the other intelligent robots.


    This was essentially like teaching them how to manufacture Air Energy smart cars.


    The learning ability of smart robots was beyond doubt, and their work efficiency was incomparable to humans. Their biggest flaw was the lack of research and innovation ability.


    This was one of the reasons why Qin Hao kept recruiting technology R&D talents.


    Innovation was the key to progress; relying entirely on intelligent robots would severely affect the advancement of technology.


    After Qin Hao issued the orders, the robots in the smart robot workshop neatly marched out of the workshop to the adjacent Xinghai Automobile Factory. Under the leadership of robot 001, they each took their position and began working.


    Xinghai Automobile Factory quietly started its operations, unbeknownst to anyone, a profoundly influential new era industrial revolution was quietly unfolding.


    After arranging everything, Qin Hao left his office. He took a car to Xu Siyao¡¯s house, picking up some things on the way.


    On the road, he called Xu Siyao, ¡°Hey Si Yao, are you at home?¡±


    Xu Siyao responded sulkily, ¡°No, I¡¯m at school.¡±


    Hearing the tone of her voice, Qin Hao knew she was upset with him, ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, I just got back from abroad. I¡¯ll come to the school to find you.¡±


    A sly glint passed through Xu Siyao¡¯s eyes as she said, ¡°Hmm, come to the classroom to find me.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Alright, then wait for me in the classroom.¡±


    He informed Leng Xuan that they were heading to Jianghai University instead.


    Around 2:50 in the afternoon, Qin Hao arrived at the entrance of Jianghai University. He got out of the car and said to Leng Xuan, ¡°You guys just wait for me outside; I¡¯m going to see Si Yao. I¡¯ll be out soon.¡±


    Leng Xuan, knowing his capabilities, nodded, ¡°Okay, Mr. Qin, we¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡±


    Walking into the campus, he saw students from Jianghai University grouped in twos and threes along the road. Qin Hao walked alone by the roadside, unnoticed by anyone.


    Walking through the campus again, Qin Hao felt something special in his heart.


    He arrived at the Computer College¡¯s teaching building and found his class using his memory.


    Inside, a woman teacher in her thirties was giving a lecture, exuding a mature and sexy charm, filled with the allure of a mature woman,


    Qin Hao knocked on the door, and Ye Xiaolu, who was at the lectern inside the classroom, stopped and looked towards the entrance. The students also turned their heads in unison.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Ye Xiaolu said in an indifferent tone.


    Qin Hao pushed the door open and walked in, smiling awkwardly, ¡°Hello teacher, I¡¯m looking for Xu Siyao.¡±


    Ye Xiaolu was taken aback upon seeing Qin Hao, why did he seem somewhat familiar?


    The class was also momentarily stunned, but they quickly recognized Qin Hao, and instantly the classroom was filled with screams, ¡°Ah, it¡¯s actually Qin Hao.¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao actually came to school, he¡¯s so handsome.¡±


    ¡°Wow, if I had known he was this awesome, I should have chased after him back then.¡±


    ...


    When Ye Xiaolu heard the students¡¯ comments, she suddenly realized ¡ª no wonder he looked familiar, it turned out he was Qin Hao.


    She looked at Qin Hao with a flicker of appreciation in her eyes, ¡°So you¡¯re Qin Hao. Why haven¡¯t you been attending class for so many days?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯ve already spoken to the principal about my attendance, and he agreed to it.¡±


    That moment Xu Siyao walked over, intimately wrapping her arm around his, ¡°Mr. Ye, I have something to attend to and will be leaving first.¡±


    Ye Xiaolu and the rest of the class stared wide-eyed as they saw Xu Siyao and Qin Hao so close together. Could it be that the two of them were together?


    Ning Yao saw this as well, a flicker of dimness crossing her eyes. She had feelings for Qin Hao, but it seemed they were fated not to be. They only had a few interactions at the beginning of the term, and then no contact at all afterward.


    Nobody in the class knew about Xu Siyao¡¯s family background, but judging by the car she drove and her attire, her family was obviously wealthy.


    Qin Hao and Xu Siyao left the classroom and headed towards the school exit.


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Is Mr. Ye new here? I don¡¯t seem to have seen her at school before.¡±


    Xu Siyao: ¡°She used to be a student at our university, then went to Jinchen University to pursue her Ph.D. Now she¡¯s back, and supposedly, her relationship with our principal is not ordinary.¡±


    ¡°Principal? Which principal?¡± Qin Hao asked in surprise.


    Xu Siyao: ¡°That Mr. He.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Really? Can that be true?¡±


    Xu Siyao shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not too sure myself, some people say they¡¯ve seen the two of them getting into a car together, they seem to be quite close.¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t press further since Xu Siyao didn¡¯t know much either. After leaving the school and getting into the car, Qin Hao covertly sent a message to Li Wenjun, asking him to investigate the relationship between Ye Xiaolu and He Qizhi.


    In the car, Xu Siyao, holding his arm, asked, ¡°What did you go abroad for?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°I bought an island.¡±


    Xu Siyao looked at him in surprise, ¡°You bought an island? What are you going to do with that?¡±


    Qin Hao continued smiling, ¡°To develop it. In the future, we can live there or use it as the headquarters for our business association.¡±


    [First update]

 Chapter 634 - 634 636 Moving

    ?Chapter 634: Chapter 636: Moving Chapter 634: Chapter 636: Moving Xu Siyao didn¡¯t understand much, she nodded without asking further, and said with a smile, ¡°Do you still remember Ning Yao from our class?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°I remember, she¡¯s from my hometown.¡±


    Xu Siyao continued, ¡°There was that chubby guy from your dorm who was chasing her, what was his name, Wang Yanghua.¡±


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, and said indifferently, ¡°Ning Yao is quite nice, but Wang Yanghua has changed. These things should just take their natural course, we can¡¯t really do anything about it.¡±


    The convoy soon arrived at Xu Siyao¡¯s house. Getting out of the car, Qin Hao carried the things he had bought and the gifts inside.


    In the villa courtyard, Yang Su, with her belly protruding, was watering the flowers. Seeing Qin Hao and Xu Siyao enter, she said with a smile, ¡°Xiao Hao is here.¡±


    Qin Hao, looking at Yang Su, cautioned, ¡°Ms. Yang, you should be careful not to strain yourself.¡±


    Yang Su smiled, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m being careful. Being active now will help later on.¡±


    Walking into the living room, Xu Siyao poured a glass of water for Qin Hao.


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Has Mr. Xu gone to the company?¡±


    Xu Siyao replied, ¡°My dad has been very busy these days. There are new drugs being developed all the time, the factory is expanding, acquiring pharmaceutical plants, mass producing. He only comes home late at night.¡±


    Qin Hao said to Xu Siyao, ¡°Then you should stop going to school and stay home to take good care of Ms. Yang. It¡¯s better to have someone around.¡±


    Yang Su, smiling, responded, ¡°It¡¯s okay, there are two housekeepers here; they¡¯ll call Jie Kang if there¡¯s any issues.¡±


    Qin Hao insisted, ¡°Still, it¡¯s better to have family around. Si Yao, you should skip school for these days.¡±


    Xu Siyao, looking at him with her beautiful eyes, said, ¡°Then you need to come visit me more often.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll come over whenever I have free time.¡±


    Yang Su said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired, I¡¯ll go rest in my room. You two talk in the room.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face flushed red; he understood what Yang Su meant¡ªshe was creating an opportunity for the two of them.


    Blushing, Xu Siyao said, ¡°Ms. Yang, let me help you to your room.¡±


    After leaving Yang Su¡¯s bedroom, Xu Siyao quickly took Qin Hao¡¯s hand and headed upstairs to her own room.


    Almost an hour later, Xu Siyao was exhausted.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression was calm; the island had already been purchased, and next would be the development and construction.


    He planned to build a secret military base there.


    Around four in the afternoon, Qin Hao received a call from Leng Xuan, who usually did not call him unless it was something important.


    Answering the phone, Leng Xuan spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s been an incident involving Ms. Fan.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Hao¡¯s brow furrowed.


    Leng Xuan reported, ¡°Just now, our people reported that a man named Wei Jiaxing attempted to force himself on Ms. Fan, but we caught and stopped him.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯m on my way.¡±


    After hanging up, Xu Siyao looked at him and asked, ¡°Was that about Ruo Bing?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Something happened there, I¡¯m going to check it out.¡±


    Xu Siyao replied, ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m too tired to see you off.¡±


    Qin Hao affectionately kissed her forehead, then left Xu Siyao¡¯s house and took a car to the area where Fan Ruobing lived.


    Arriving at Fan Ruobing¡¯s home, she was sitting on the couch, expressionless.


    Next to her, two men from the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion were holding that Wei Jiaxing.


    As Qin Hao entered, he looked coldly at Wei Jiaxing, who hurriedly pleaded, ¡°Mr. Qin, I know I was wrong. Please spare me this once for Wang Shudan¡¯s sake.¡±


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t be bothered with him and walked over to the sofa to ask Ruobing, ¡°Does Ms. Wang know yet?¡±


    Ruobing shook her head, ¡°I haven¡¯t told her yet.¡±


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Ruobing, what do you plan to do?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±


    Qin Hao took out his phone and called Wang Shudan, who was not only the vice president of her company but also her current boyfriend, ¡°Ms. Wang, today Wei Jiaxing planned to take advantage of Ruobing, and my people caught him.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Wang Shudan¡¯s face changed, ¡°What did you say? Where are you now? I¡¯m coming right over.¡±


    In less than half an hour, Wang Shudan arrived, and seeing Wei Jiaxing and her daughter Ruobing in the room, her face turned ashen.


    ¡°Slap¡±


    She struck Wei Jiaxing across the face, trembling with rage, ¡°You bastard, heartless and ungrateful!¡±


    Wei Jiaxing was angry but dared not speak.


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently, ¡°Ms. Wang, let me handle this matter, Leng Xuan, take him away.¡±


    Leng Xuan and Han Zhuang took Wei Jiaxing away, knowing exactly what to do without Qin Hao having to instruct them.


    Wang Shudan did not stop them, nor did she care about Wei Jiaxing¡¯s fate, ¡°Ruobing, are you all right? It¡¯s all my fault.¡±


    Ruobing replied coldly, ¡°I¡¯m fine, as long as you can see his true colors.¡±


    Wang Shudan sighed, ¡°I never thought he would be such a person.¡±


    Ruobing spoke up, ¡°I want to move out.¡±


    Wang Shudan hastily said, ¡°Move out? Where do you want to go, Ruobing? I¡¯ll go buy a house for you right now.¡±


    Ruobing, ¡°I want to go to Qin Hao¡¯s place.¡±


    Upon hearing this, both Wang Shudan and Qin Hao were taken aback. Ruobing looked at Qin Hao, ¡°Could someone help me pack up?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded and ordered a few members of the guard battalion to pack Ruobing¡¯s belongings.


    Wang Shudan wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t, realizing she couldn¡¯t change Ruobing¡¯s determined decision. She had wanted Qin Hao to refuse, but how could Qin Hao possibly listen to her?


    Ruobing didn¡¯t have much stuff, and those people quickly packed it into the vehicles.


    ¡°Qin Hao, let¡¯s go,¡± Ruobing said, linking her arm through his.


    Qin Hao, looking embarrassed, said to Ms. Wang, ¡°Ms. Wang, we¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    The convoy headed to the Haoting Sea View Villa District. Upon reaching the gate of the district, those people started moving things into the house.


    Seeing this, Han Meng asked puzzled, ¡°Xiao Hao, what¡¯s this about?¡±


    Qin Hao introduced them, ¡°Meng, this is Ruobing. You can just call her Ruobing. Ruobing, this is Han Mengmeng.¡±


    Ruobing nodded slightly, ¡°Nice to meet you, Meng.¡±


    Qin Hao then asked, ¡°Ruobing, which room would you like to stay in?¡±


    Ruobing looked around and chose a bedroom on the second floor, where there are four bedrooms, and currently, Qin Hao was residing in the master bedroom.


    Once everything was settled, Qin Hao, Ruobing, and Han Meng sat on the sofa chatting. Ruobing, being cold-natured, was not very talkative, and Han Meng, being gentle and reserved, also didn¡¯t speak much. Mostly, it was Qin Hao who did the talking.


    After a while, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang; it was a call from Li Qingya, ¡°Mr. Qin, everything has been taken care of,¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Miss Li.¡±


    Li Qingya responded with a laugh, ¡°Please, Mr. Qin, no need to be so formal. Helping you is like helping myself.¡±


    [Second Update]

 Chapter 635 - 635 637 Covert Action

    ?Chapter 635: Chapter 637 Covert Action Chapter 635: Chapter 637 Covert Action Qin Hao chatted with Li Qingya for a while, then hung up the phone.


    Fan Ruobing went to clean up her painting tools. The study room was not very spacious because of the bookshelves and computer desk, so she had to place some items in the living room.


    After five o¡¯clock, Qiao¡¯er came back. She asked Qin Hao timidly, ¡°Daddy, who is this auntie?¡±


    Qin Hao introduced her with a smile, ¡°This is your Auntie Fan Ruobing. Auntie Ruobing will be living here from now on, so you have to be good and polite.¡±


    Qiao¡¯er nodded her head. She walked over to Fan Ruobing and said softly, ¡°Auntie Ruobing, welcome.¡±


    Fan Ruobing, looking at the innocent, lovely, and pretty Qiao¡¯er, showed a rare smile, ¡°So you are Qiao¡¯er. Hello there.¡±


    While Han Meng cooked in the kitchen, Qiao¡¯er worked on her homework. Soon after finishing her homework, she went to watch Fan Ruobing paint.


    Qin Hao was reviewing reports from various companies online. Nowadays, the heads of various companies would send him reports on a regular basis.


    Xinghai solar panels had entered mass production. They could currently produce nearly a thousand panels a day, and the panels were sold to power stations as soon as they were made. Miao Jianyuan was extremely busy.


    Later on, Qin Hao also received a message from Li Wenjun, which was about Ye Xiaolu and He Qizhi.


    He Qizhi was indeed involved romantically with Ye Xiaolu. Ye Xiaolu had arrived in Jianghai City less than a month ago, and within that period, records showed they had checked into a hotel more than ten times. There was even a video in the information Li Wenjun sent.


    The video was of He Qizhi and Ye Xiaolu...


    Qin Hao watched it briefly and quickly turned it off. This He Qizhi really was aging rather energetically.


    He sent Li Wenjun a message, ¡°How did you get this video?¡±


    Li Wenjun replied, ¡°Xiao Xing gave it to me. He Qizhi used a smartphone, and he recorded this and uploaded it to a cloud drive by himself. Xiao Xing was able to capture it.¡±


    As long as it¡¯s information on the Star Domain Network, the Artificial Intelligence Xiao Xing could capture it all. It was like the god of the Star Domain Network, omnipotent within its domain.


    In the future, when the Star Domain Network covers the globe, Xiao Xing will become its best intelligence officer. This was a dark web he had laid out.


    Whether you transmit information online or make a phone call, you won¡¯t escape the surveillance of Artificial Intelligence Xiao Xing.


    For the average netizen, the Star Domain Network has the best information leak prevention technology, but for certain individuals, they had no secrets from Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao was contemplating whether or not to tell He Tingting about this matter. Maybe their family had no issues, and bringing it up might just cause trouble. After some thought, Qin Hao decided not to tell He Tingting.


    ...


    ¡°Xiao Hao, Ruobing, Qiao¡¯er, time to eat,¡± Han Meng said as she brought out the dishes.


    The three of them washed up. Qin Hao and Qiao¡¯er sat at the dining chairs while Fan Ruobing went into the kitchen to help Han Meng with the dishes.


    Han Meng quickly said, ¡°Ruobing, you don¡¯t have to do anything, just sit and wait, I can bring them out.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s do it together, Meng, it¡¯ll be faster,¡± Fan Ruobing said, helping to carry a few dishes.


    Han Meng had prepared a sumptuous dinner¡ªwith six dishes and a soup, Fan Ruobing ate with gusto. ¡°Meng, your cooking is delicious,¡± she remarked.


    Han Meng responded softly with a smile, ¡°I learned it all online. I didn¡¯t know how to cook these at first either.¡±


    Fan Ruobing said, ¡°I¡¯ve tried to learn too, but I couldn¡¯t manage it. Meng, you¡¯re really skilled.¡±


    Seeing the two getting along well relieved Qin Hao; he had been worried that they might exchange cold and heated words, which would have been a headache for him.


    Qiao¡¯er spoke up, ¡°Auntie Ruobing, can you teach me painting after we finish eating?¡±


    Fan Ruobing replied, ¡°Of course, eat up, you¡¯re growing.¡±


    After dinner, Fan Ruobing was teaching Qiao¡¯er how to paint in the living room, with Qiao¡¯er following her lessons attentively.


    Han Meng finished tidying up and sat on the sofa watching television.


    Around nine in the evening, Qiao¡¯er began to feel sleepy. She said to Qin Hao, ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m sleepy, let¡¯s go to bed.¡±


    Han Meng¡¯s face turned a shade of red, while Qin Hao chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Your Aunt Ruobing just arrived, so tonight Daddy needs to keep Ruobing company.¡±


    Looking somewhat perplexed, Qiao¡¯er nodded, ¡°Oh, alright then. Tomorrow night Daddy can stay with Qiao¡¯er.¡±


    Qin Hao took Fan Ruobing to his own room, where she acted like a demure young woman only in front of him: ¡°I¡¯m going to take a bath.¡±


    With a mischievous smile, Qin Hao said, ¡°Together.¡±


    Soon after, the sound of running water could be heard from the bathroom.


    The next morning.


    Qin Hao opened his eyes and found Fan Ruobing nestled against him like a kitten, and before long she awoke.


    The two of them got out of bed, freshened up, and started having breakfast.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao said goodbye to Fan Ruobing and Han Meng before heading to the company.


    First, he went to the Xinghai Automobile Factory. Inside, he observed all the robots working diligently on manufacturing air-powered engines.


    Robot 001 spoke out, ¡°Master, at this pace, we can produce a batch of air-powered engines within three days. If we use ordinary materials for the car frame, we could have a finished product in seven days.¡±


    The seven days Robot 001 referred to would actually be more than fifteen days in a public setting, as they could work non-stop, twenty-four hours a day, unlike humans.


    Even with shift work in other automobile factories, they couldn¡¯t match up to the efficiency of the robots.


    Leaving the automobile factory, Qin Hao went to Xinghai Company, and arrived at Chang Jing¡¯s office. Chang Jing was not in, but her secretary was.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Chang?¡±


    The female secretary shook her head, ¡°She hasn¡¯t arrived yet. Mr. Qin, there¡¯s a large steel mill in Jianghai City that is interested in selling. Just yesterday, Mr. Chang asked me to keep an eye on it. Should we go and talk to them?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Let¡¯s have a talk. If the price is right, we¡¯ll buy it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll take someone over there to discuss it right away.¡±


    After the secretary left, Qin Hao returned to his office. He logged on to Wei Yan and noticed that Jiangqi Group¡¯s intelligent cars and various smart appliances and phones were the hot topics of discussion.


    Jinfeng Mobile faced the mid to low-end market, currently selling nearly one hundred thousand new smartphones every day, with sales booming.


    That¡¯s because Jinfeng Smartphones were priced at one thousand four hundred, with two other models priced at two and three thousand plus.


    Given the current situation, the domestic mobile phone market was headed for a major reshuffle. Good performance, smart features, and most importantly, such low pricing, had a significant impact on the mid to low-end market.


    Other phone manufacturers, without supply of Xinghai Intelligent Chips, would be pushed out and closed down within three months.


    Jiang Chenfeng of Jinfeng Mobile Company and Ye Lanxin of Blueberry Mobile Phone Company began to acquire and merge with major domestic mobile phone manufacturers simultaneously.


    At this point, the manufacturers had only two options: wait to be pushed out and go bankrupt or sell early while they could still make some money.


    Not only these two, but Kangmei Electrical Group was also aggressively acquiring and merging with electrical groups. Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxin, and Qin Hao¡¯s uncle Li Pingrong extended their reach to other major commercial groups.


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 636 - 636 638 Chang Jings Plea for Help

    ?Chapter 636: Chapter 638 Chang Jing¡¯s Plea for Help Chapter 636: Chapter 638 Chang Jing¡¯s Plea for Help All these actions were taken by companies under the Xinghai Association.


    As for the acquisition funds, some were paid out of their own pockets, while more were funds for acquisition transferred by Qin Hao to Li Qingya.


    Over one hundred and fifty billion in funds¡ªa portion of it was used to acquire the Yuan Group, while the rest was invested across various industries.


    Qin Hao was unaware of these, as they were orders issued by Li Qingya.


    Qin Hao sat in his office pondering how to develop Pu¡¯er Island. He needed to transport a group of people or robots over for development, starting with the construction of a port.


    After that, he needed to transport various industrial machines to carve out mountains, build constructions, and construct underground bases, among other things.


    While he was lost in thought, Chang Jing suddenly burst through the door and ran in. Yes, she really ran, with her hair somewhat disheveled.


    Qin Hao was taken aback by her appearance. Chang Jing was usually calm and collected, never like this. What happened?


    Chang Jing¡¯s eyes were slightly red as she looked at him and said, ¡°Qin Hao, please save my grandfather.¡±


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao quickly stood up and said, ¡°Mr. Chang, don¡¯t panic, take it slow. What happened to your grandfather?¡±


    Chang Jing said, ¡°My grandfather suddenly had a brain hemorrhage. It¡¯s very serious. The medication needed for treatment hasn¡¯t been developed yet. I know your medical skills are unparalleled, please save my grandfather. I¡¯ve been with him since I was little; he taught me a lot.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. Wasn¡¯t Chang Jing¡¯s grandfather the Family Head of the Chang Family?


    Last time, Chang Jing¡¯s father, Chang Anding, attempted to scheme against Xinghai Company, but unfortunately failed in the end. The Chang Family had pulled many strings. Was Mr. Chang unaware? Even if he didn¡¯t agree, he probably acquiesced.


    Seeing Qin Hao frown and fall into deep thought, Chang Jing knew what he was considering, and her heart suddenly tightened.


    She walked up to Qin Hao, grasped his arms with both hands, and her eyes were brimming with tears, ¡°Mr. Qin, I beg you, considering all I¡¯ve done wholeheartedly for the company, please save my grandfather.¡±


    Qin Hao was weighing the pros and cons. As the saying goes, ¡°Consider the monk¡¯s face when you don¡¯t look at the Buddha¡¯s.¡± He had to give Chang Jing face; Xinghai Company needed her.


    But Qin Hao couldn¡¯t just agree so readily. His face showed difficulty as he looked at Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Chang, you know how the Chang Family treated me. Now that he¡¯s ill, you want me to save him, but it¡¯s not that simple.¡±


    Hearing his words, Chang Jing became so anxious that tears started falling, ¡°Mr. Qin, please, from now on, the Chang Family will surely stand by your side. Plus, with the Xu Family, your influence in both military and political circles will be significant.¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled inwardly. If the Chang Family did shift to his side, it would indeed be a very good thing. The Xu Family was strong too, but sometimes they couldn¡¯t do it alone.


    However, he said indifferently, ¡°With my current influence, those people wouldn¡¯t dare touch me.¡±


    Chang Jing became even more anxious upon hearing his indifferent response, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m begging you to save my grandfather. From now on, I will do everything you say. I will be yours. Apart from your commands, I will not listen to anyone else. Is that okay?¡±


    At her words, a sly smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face, ¡°Be mine? Listen to everything I say? You¡¯re not joking, are you? I¡¯m someone who could do anything.¡±


    Seeing the look in his eyes, Chang Jing blushed, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°Yes, as long as you save my grandfather, I will agree to anything.¡±


    Having said that, her heart pounded wildly. She did have a fondness for Qin Hao deep down, after all, someone as outstanding as him was rare in this world.


    But when she thought about the fact that Qin Hao had several girlfriends, she felt upset. He was a notorious playboy.


    If only he had no girlfriends, what a good pair they would be¡ªboth talented and beautiful, Qin Hao with his strength and she with her capabilities.


    With some reluctance, Qin Hao said, ¡°Alright, then.¡±


    Seeing his expression, Chang Jing ground her teeth in anger, wishing she could choke him to death. Behold his feigned difficulty, as if Miss here isn¡¯t good enough for you, you womanizing scoundrel?


    She buried her hatred deep down and hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯ve already booked the flight tickets. Let¡¯s go quickly.¡±


    Having said that, she took Qin Hao by the hand and ran outside. When they reached the parking lot, she asked Leng Xuan and the others to drive to the airport.


    ...


    About half an hour later, Qin Hao and Chang Jing arrived at Jianghai City International Airport.


    Chang Jing had only bought a ticket for Qin Hao. They hurriedly boarded the flight, while Leng Xuan and the others originally planned to wait for the next plane, but were stopped by Qin Hao.


    With his martial prowess and trump cards, whether Leng Xuan and the rest followed or not made little difference.


    In the first-class cabin of the plane, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Are we heading to Jinchen City?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°Yes, my grandfather lives in Jinchen City.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her with a smile and asked, ¡°What do you think your family¡¯s reaction will be if they see me again?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Chang Jing gave him a glance and turned her head to look at the white clouds outside the plane window.


    He clearly just wanted to laugh at her family¡¯s expense; how could he also be so childish?


    The flight from Jianghai City to Jinchen City took about three hours and a bit. Around half-past eleven in the afternoon, they arrived at Jinchen City International Airport.


    Chang Jing had already notified her family from the plane. After leaving the airport, Qin Hao saw an Audi car waiting for them not far away.


    The Chang Family was rather low-key in Jinchen City; frankly speaking, this car was not befitting of the Chang Family¡¯s status.


    After getting in the car, there was a man in his fifties who said to Chang Jing, ¡°Miss, you¡¯re back.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°Liu, how is my grandfather doing?¡±


    Liu sighed, ¡°The experts are at a loss too. They say the Mr. Chang can live for at most another week.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Chang Jing breathed a sigh of relief, as long as her grandfather was okay for now. Since Qin Hao had come, he must surely have a way.


    Liu, noticing Qin Hao and Chang Jing getting into the car together, curiously asked, ¡°Miss, is this your boyfriend?¡±


    Because Chang Jing had not informed her family that she was bringing Qin Hao, and Liu had never seen Qin Hao before, he naturally mistook him for Chang Jing¡¯s boyfriend.


    Just as Chang Jing was about to explain, Qin Hao quickly said, ¡°That¡¯s right, Liu you really have a good eye.¡±


    Qin Hao wanted the Chang Family to know, before he treated the illness, that he intended to infuriate those people, to see how they would react.


    If they found out about this after the treatment, who knows, the Chang Family might turn hostile.


    But knowing now, either they send Qin Hao away and watch their own kin die, or they agree to seek Qin Hao¡¯s help with the treatment.


    Chang Jing, intelligent and wise, understood what Qin Hao was thinking; she sighed internally and did not argue.


    Liu drove towards the downtown area of Jinchen City, and the car arrived at a villa neighborhood.


    At the entrance of the neighborhood, armed police were on guard, and inside, teams patrolled with dogs.


    This villa neighborhood was not ordinary; it was where retired cadres lived. The people residing here were once political heavyweights.


    The car stopped in front of a villa courtyard. There were quite a few cars parked at the entrance of the villa. Many people were visiting Mr. Chang, and although he had retired, his influence remained.


    [Chapter Four]

 Chapter 637 - 637 639 Humiliating the Chang Family

    ?Chapter 637: Chapter 639: Humiliating the Chang Family Chapter 637: Chapter 639: Humiliating the Chang Family Mr. Chang fell ill around four in the morning, and the surgery was over by just after eight in the morning.


    The hospital was helpless with his condition, the experts said he could live at most seven more days, and it¡¯s possible he might only survive a day or two. That¡¯s why Mr. Chang requested to come back home. There was no hope for him there, and it was better to return.


    If he were to die, he wanted to die at home.


    After getting out of the car, Chang Jing glanced at the vehicles parked at the entrance and hurried inside.


    Qin Hao grabbed her hand, ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Are you planning to leave me here?¡±


    Chang Jing stopped, turned to look at him, and Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Come, let¡¯s go in arm in arm.¡±


    Chang Jing was stunned for a moment. Was Qin Hao trying to embarrass the Chang Family? High society almost universally knew that he was engaged to Xu Siyao from the Xu Family. What did it mean for her to walk in arm in arm with him now?


    The Chang Family¡¯s young Miss seen as Qin Hao¡¯s mistress? Let alone others, just the people from the Chang Family alone would likely find it hard to accept. She could fully imagine the consequences of entering intimately with Qin Hao.


    But if she did not do that, Qin Hao might well turn around and leave, and her grandfather would die.


    Chang Jing had no choice. It was only to blame that the Chang Family was once blinded by interest and made a wrong move. Now, it was too late for regrets.


    She walked into the villa arm in arm with Qin Hao. There were many people in the living room, old and young, men and women, all there to see Mr. Chang.


    Chang Jing entered intimately arm in arm with Qin Hao, immediately attracting many gazes.


    An Ding, An Bang, and Chang An from Xuan Country as well as their wives were frozen in place after seeing this scene. What... what was happening? Weren¡¯t the two of them a bit too intimate?


    The others were also curious, many eyes shining with a keen light. Who was this man by Chang Jing¡¯s side? Why did he look somewhat familiar?


    Qin Hao also saw some familiar faces, Chen Shengjun and his wife were also here, other than them he recognized no one else.


    ¡°Xiao Jing, Mr. Qin... Mr. Qin?¡± An Ding was stunned to see his daughter and Qin Hao so close: he had trouble grasping the situation.


    The rest of the Chang Family also found it difficult to accept. What... what was happening?


    Although Qin Hao was not a man of the political arena, his status and influence in the business world were extraordinary. To call him by name would be too presumptuous, so he addressed Qin Hao as Mr. Qin.


    Upon hearing An Ding¡¯s address, those around were instantly reminded of who this man was: Qin Hao, the CEO of Xinghai Company, the world¡¯s richest man!


    Wasn¡¯t he engaged to the granddaughter of Xu Liangguo? How come he was so intimate with this member of the Chang Family?


    Chang Jing called out a bit awkwardly: ¡°Dad, Mom.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s smile carried a hint of irony: ¡°Mr. Chang, long time no see.¡±


    An Ding, looking at the two arm in arm, asked with an odd expression, ¡°What¡¯s going on with you two?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled. ¡°Nothing much. Xiao Jing is now my woman. I heard Xiao Jing¡¯s grandfather was severely ill, so I came to have a look.¡±


    Everyone inside the villa looked stunned. Chang Jing was his woman? But he was engaged to the daughter of the Xu Family. Wasn¡¯t Chang Jing essentially the ¡°other woman¡±?


    Wasn¡¯t he afraid that both the Xu Family and the Chang Family would be furious?


    As expected, when they heard his words, the Chang Family¡¯s faces turned ashen. For Qin Hao to say this in front of so many people was like slapping the Chang Family¡¯s face, wasn¡¯t it?


    What angered him the most was Chang Jing had not spoken up to defend herself, effectively conceding to Qin Hao¡¯s words. An Ding felt a rush of blood to the head, his ears buzzing.


    Qin Hao was no longer afraid of retaliation from the Chang Family. How could they retaliate?


    Xinghai Company had a partnership with the military. The Warhawk Intelligent Unmanned Fighter they had developed was unmatched globally. Except for the top leader speaking out, who would dare touch him?


    ¡°You good-for-nothing!¡± Chang Anding finally lost his temper, his face turning an ashen hue as he spat out these two words.


    Everyone was looking at Chang Anding and Qin Hao, curious to see what the final outcome would be and how the Chang Family was going to handle the situation.


    Qin Hao wore an unconcerned expression. ¡°If Mr. Chang doesn¡¯t welcome me, then forget it, I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡±


    After saying this, he turned and walked toward the exit, but Chang Jing held onto his arm and wouldn¡¯t let go.


    Seeing this, Chang Anding was so furious he nearly vomited blood. Xiao Jing had always been sensible and measured, so what was happening today? What kind of bewitching potion had Qin Hao given her?


    The looks on the faces of those in the living room were somewhat peculiar, as it seemed like Chang Jing was incessantly clinging to Qin Hao.


    Chen Shengjun remembered something and spoke up. ¡°Xiao Hao, don¡¯t rush off. Your Uncle Chang didn¡¯t mean it that way. Come, sit down and let¡¯s talk.¡±


    The members of the Chang Family were taken aback, and others were also puzzled. What was Chen Shengjun implying?


    As the uncle of Chang Anding and others, shouldn¡¯t he be on the side of the Chang Family? Why was he speaking so kindly to Qin Hao?


    Chang Jing felt a sense of urgency. Had they all forgotten about Qin Hao¡¯s medical skills?


    Indeed, Chang Anding and the others had forgotten. Seeing their daughter so close to Qin Hao had driven them to distraction.


    What status did the Chang Family hold? Chang Jing, esteemed as the young miss of the Chang Family, had become someone else¡¯s mistress. If this news spread, where would the Chang Family¡¯s face be?


    After Chen Shengjun spoke, Chang Anbang and Chang An Country also came to their senses. Right, how could they have forgotten Qin Hao¡¯s medical expertise?


    On one hand was the reputation of the Chang Family, and on the other was the life of the old master. Both were extremely important to the Chang Family.


    Once Chang Anding realized this, he felt the urge to vomit blood. He thought Qin Hao was clearly doing this to humiliate the Chang Family.


    The Chang Family couldn¡¯t just scowl at him; they had to be courteous and respectful.


    Too detestable, this guy was simply too detestable.


    The Chang Family was now utterly powerless against Qin Hao. It wasn¡¯t just them; even other families couldn¡¯t touch Qin Hao.


    Because Qin Hao¡¯s company had a partnership with the national military, as soon as the Warhawk Intelligent Unmanned Fighter was introduced, it dominated the globe, becoming the world¡¯s top unmanned fighter. Many countries who wished to purchase it couldn¡¯t even get their hands on it.


    Xuan Country was now mass-producing the Warhawk Intelligent Unmanned Fighters. Once its air force was fully equipped, even the Federation would have to bow down and submit in terms of aerial combat.


    In Future War, air supremacy is crucially important. Whoever controls the skies will hold the key to victory.


    Even now, warships like aircraft carriers rely on fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, and so on for aerial combat.


    An aircraft carrier serves as a mobile airbase. The key to decisive battles is air supremacy.


    Military experts had once predicted that if Xuan Country¡¯s aircraft carriers were all equipped with Warhawk Intelligent Unmanned Fighters, their combat power would be more than seven or eight times that of the Federation¡¯s carriers.


    That is to say, the combat power unleashed by a single Xuan Country carrier would equate to that of seven or eight of the Federation¡¯s carriers.


    Chen Shengjun¡¯s boss, Chang Zhenli, spoke up: ¡°Everyone, please go ahead and leave. Come to visit my brother again in a couple of days.¡±


    These people also understood that the Chang Family needed privacy, and one by one, they said their goodbyes, soon leaving only the Chang Family members and Qin Hao in the room.


    Sitting on the sofa, Chang Jing¡¯s grandmother, Zhou Zhen, spoke up: ¡°An Ding, pour a glass of water for Xiao Hao.¡±


    [Fifth update, more coming in the afternoon]

 Chapter 638 - 638 640 Rescue Treatment

    ?Chapter 638: Chapter 640 Rescue Treatment Chapter 638: Chapter 640 Rescue Treatment Chang Anding dutifully poured a cup of tea for Qin Hao, who smiled and said, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Zhou.¡±


    Zhou Zhen looked at him and then at Chang Jing, whose cheeks flushed with red. She couldn¡¯t explain her situation with Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao just wanted to vent the frustration he had felt initially. If they didn¡¯t let him vent, there was no chance he¡¯d agree to treat Grandpa¡¯s illness.


    Chen Shengjun asked, ¡°Xiao Hao, are you confident you can cure Mr. Zhou¡¯s illness?¡±


    Everyone turned their attention to him. This was the question they were all most concerned about. If Qin Hao really could cure Mr. Zhou, then the Chang Family might overlook the matter between him and Chang Jing.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I need to examine the patient before I can say anything.¡±


    Zhou Zhen stood up anxiously, ¡°Let¡¯s go see him now.¡±


    The Chang Family led Qin Hao into the bedroom where Grandpa Chang Jianwu lay on the sickbed, his complexion waxen and an oxygen mask covering his face. Tears streamed down Chang Jing¡¯s face when she saw her grandfather¡¯s condition.


    Qin Hao walked over, checked the pulse, and everyone from the Chang Family watched him intently.


    Chen Shengjun asked, ¡°How is it, Xiao Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s not a serious problem. Could you all step outside for a moment?¡±


    Upon hearing this, the Chang Family faces lit up with joy. Did this mean he had a way to save the elder? Zhou Zhen and the others left the room.


    Qin Hao took out a bottle of life elixir from his system inventory and, removing Mr. Chang¡¯s oxygen mask, poured it into his mouth.


    He stayed in the bedroom for a full half-hour and then gave himself two injections, appearing to be drenched in sweat with a pale face.


    When he walked out, the Chang Family was taken aback by his pallor.


    Chang Jing hurried over to support him, ¡°Qin Hao, are you alright?¡±


    Qin Hao, weakly, said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, just a bit tired. I need some rest.¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°I¡¯ll help you to the room to rest for a while.¡± After saying this, she helped Qin Hao into the room she used to live in at that house.


    Upon entering the room, Qin Hao detected a faint, refreshing fragrance that was revitalizing.


    She carefully laid Qin Hao on the bed and then asked, ¡°How is my Grandpa doing?¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°He¡¯s alright now, and should wake up after some time.¡±


    The faces of the Chang Family members brightened with relief. That was excellent news. Grandpa Chang Jianwu was of crucial importance to the current state of the Chang Family. His well-being meant that Chang Anbang and Chang An Country could hope to make further progress.


    They were already significant figures in the region. Making the next step meant entering the real center of power.


    Zhou Zhen, upon hearing her husband was alright, finally let her worries subside, ¡°Xiao Hao, have a good rest, we won¡¯t disturb you.¡±


    They left and first went to check on Mr. Chang.


    Seeing him in this state, Chang Jing felt somewhat guilty. Clearly, Qin Hao had expended a great deal of energy to save her Grandpa. ¡°I¡¯m going to see my Grandpa first, then I¡¯ll come back to keep you company,¡± she said.


    Qin Hao, clutching her hand, showed a pale smile, ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡±


    Latter, Qin Hao fell asleep without realizing it.


    In the living room, Zhou Zhen and the others, having checked on the elder, sat on the sofa to wait for him to wake up.


    Unable to hold back, Chang Anding asked, ¡°Mom, what about Xiao Jing¡¯s situation? She¡¯s the mistress of our Chang Family; how can she be the ¡®other woman¡¯?¡±


    Zhou Zhen replied, ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this matter after your dad wakes up, I really don¡¯t know what to do.¡±


    Then, she looked at Chen Shengjun and asked, ¡°What do you think, brother-in-law?¡±


    Chen Shengjun hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Elder sister, I think if Xiao Jing doesn¡¯t object, we should just let nature take its course.¡±


    Let nature take its course?


    Chang Anding was stunned for a moment, ¡°Uncle, this is no trivial matter. It affects the face of our Chang Family. Even if we agree, would the Xu Family agree to it?¡±


    Chen Shengjun: ¡°Qin Hao originally had a girlfriend, and the Xu Family¡¯s girl was the third party involved. However, this old guy acted early and secured a legitimate status for his daughter.¡±


    ...


    Chang Anbang expressed his surprise, ¡°Mr. Xu can tolerate that with his explosive temper?¡±


    Both Chang Anbang and Chang Anding found it somewhat unbelievable. Xu Liangguo was known for his volatile temper. Nobody dared to provoke him; he was someone who would truly resort to violence.


    When Xu Siyao was young, she was bullied by the son of a political bigwig in Jinchen City. Xu Liangguo went to their house, and in front of the parents, broke the man¡¯s leg.


    Chen Shengjun spoke, ¡°If the Xu Family¡¯s young lady is willing, there is nothing old Xu can do about it. That¡¯s all the help he could offer. As for threatening Qin Hao, threats from the Xu Family are useless. Qin Hao¡¯s importance to the country is growing, and without the top brass¡¯s approval, no one can touch him.¡±


    The others exchanged glances. What Chen Shengjun said was true; no one could touch Qin Hao now.


    While they were talking, Chang Anding¡¯s wife, Song Cai, ran out of the bedroom, excitedly saying, ¡°Grandpa is awake.¡±


    Zhou Zhen and the others quickly got up and entered the bedroom, where Mr. Chang sat up by himself on the hospital bed, having removed all his medical equipment.


    ¡°Old Chang, you¡¯re awake.¡± As Zhou Zhen approached the bed, her eyes reddened slightly. They had almost been separated by life and death.


    Chang Anding and others asked, ¡°Dad, how do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?¡±


    Chang Jianwu smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. In fact, I feel much better. My body feels lighter than before, as if I¡¯m back in my forties or fifties. I remember I was sleeping. Mr. Chen, why have you all come?¡±


    Zhou Zhen, wiping her tears, said, ¡°At four o¡¯clock this morning, you had a sudden cerebral hemorrhage. It was Mr. Liu and his team who resuscitated you. But they said you only had seven or eight days to live. Later, Xiao Jing came with Xiao Hao to take a look at you.¡±


    Chang Jianwu curiously asked, ¡°Xiao Jing is back too? Which Xiao Hao is Xiao Hao?¡±


    Chang Anding: ¡°It¡¯s Qin Hao.¡±


    Chang Jianwu nodded thoughtfully, and Zhou Zhen said to her daughter-in-law Song Cai, ¡°Xiao Cai, go and fetch Mr. Liu to check Grandpa again.¡±


    Within about seven or eight minutes, Song Cai brought Mr. Liu, who also brought a few assistants. They gave Chang Jianwu another full body checkup,


    And Mr. Liu¡¯s frown deepened as the examination went on.


    Chang Anding: ¡°Mr. Liu, how is my dad doing?¡±


    ¡°How is this possible? How could he be cured? Who treated Mr. Chang?¡± Mr. Liu¡¯s eyes were filled with disbelief.


    Upon hearing his words, Chang Jing and the others completely let go of their worries.


    Chang Jianwu did not answer but instead smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s good that everything¡¯s fine. Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Liu. An Bang, please show Mr. Liu out.¡±


    After four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Qin Hao groggily opened his eyes; his complexion had returned to normal. Chang Jing wasn¡¯t in the bedroom; by now Mr. Chang should be awake, and she should be in the living room with everyone.


    Qin Hao stretched lazily and got out of bed, came downstairs from the upper floor, and saw all the members of the Chang Family sitting on the couch, chatting. Upon seeing him come down, their conversation abruptly stopped.


    [Chapter Six Update]

 Chapter 639 - 639 641 Tenglong Group Goes Bankrupt

    ?Chapter 639: Chapter 641 Tenglong Group Goes Bankrupt Chapter 639: Chapter 641 Tenglong Group Goes Bankrupt Chang Jing saw him come down and asked softly, ¡°Xiao Hao, you¡¯re awake. Are you alright now?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°I¡¯m fine, just a bit hungry. I haven¡¯t had lunch yet.¡±


    Chang Jianwu spoke, ¡°I¡¯m hungry too. Why don¡¯t you guys make some food and stir up some dishes? Xiao Hao, come and sit.¡±


    The wives of the three Chang brothers went into the kitchen, and Qin Hao sat next to Chang Jing, looking at Chang Jianwu¡ªit was his first time meeting Chang Jianwu.


    Chang Jianwu looked at him and said, ¡°I know about you and Xiao Jing. You young people should solve your issues yourselves. I¡¯m old and can¡¯t keep up with your youthful thoughts. Also, about the Xinghai Company¡¯s shares last time, the old man here owes you an apology.¡±


    Qin Hao, with his arm around Chang Jing¡¯s shoulders, smiled and said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Chang, for understanding. You also received the punishment you deserved last time, so let¡¯s let bygones be bygones.¡±


    An Ding, seeing Qin Hao¡¯s frivolous gesture, felt somewhat angry inside. Do you know who you¡¯re dealing with?


    Chang Jing¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, struggling between pushing him away and doing nothing.


    Chang Jianwu saw his gesture, smiled slightly, and his expression didn¡¯t change, ¡°I heard you got engaged to Old Xu¡¯s granddaughter?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    Chang Jianwu chuckled, ¡°What do you think of Xiao Jing? Wise and insightful, calm and composed, she¡¯s more suitable to be your capable wife. I think you two marrying each other is most suitable. That girl from the Xu Family, aside from being arrogant and wild, doesn¡¯t have any merits.¡±


    An Ding and the others, hearing their father¡¯s words, were stunned for a moment. Dad, are those really your words?


    Shouldn¡¯t you be fiercely stopping them?


    Chang Jing¡¯s cheeks grew even redder from her grandfather¡¯s words, feeling embarrassed and awkward.


    Qin Hao was also startled inside, What does Mr. Chang mean by this? Is he actually suggesting I marry his granddaughter? Shouldn¡¯t he be furious?


    ¡°Mr. Chang, what do you mean by this?¡±


    Chang Jianwu smiled, ¡°I mean that you should marry Xiao Jing. As for that girl from the Xu Family, if she wants to continue following you, let her. Then, all the resources of the Chang Family will be inclined towards you. You will be one of the Chang Family. Who dares to touch you will have to ask the Chang Family first.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed awkwardly, ¡°Let¡¯s forget about that.¡±


    If he dared do that, Xu Liangguo would probably fly over to find him.


    Chang Jianwu said, ¡°Are you afraid of that old guy Xu Liangguo? Don¡¯t worry, with the Chang Family protecting you, he absolutely can¡¯t touch you.¡±


    Qin Hao quickly said, ¡°Mr. Chang, let¡¯s talk about this matter later.¡±


    At this moment, Song Cai came out from the kitchen and said, ¡°Dad, Xiao Hao, the food is ready. You guys have some.¡±


    Qin Hao was indeed hungry. Since his body had been modified, his appetite had increased significantly, to two or three times that of a normal person.


    Out of five dishes, Qin Hao ate more than half, and Mr. Chang only ate a small portion.


    After the two had finished eating, visitors arrived at the Chang Family home, more than ten people in a group, some of whom had come over in the morning.


    ¡°Uncle Chang, Mr. Liu said you are all right now, that¡¯s really great,¡± a square-faced middle-aged man entered, smiling as he spoke.


    Chang Jianwu saw the man and nodded slightly, ¡°Ah, it¡¯s Xiao Cao, please have a seat.¡±


    Caolep Ping, ¡°Zhiyu, Zhibo, put the things there, come over and pay respects to your Mr. Chang and these uncles.¡±


    In addition to the Cao Family, there were the Wei Family, the Ma Family, and the Zheng Family, among others.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t like this kind of situation much, so he quietly took Chang Jing out of the living room to the yard.


    Chang Jing gave him a roll of her eyes and sat down on a bench in the villa¡¯s courtyard without saying a word.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Give me a smile; after all, you were the one who said you¡¯d listen to everything I say.¡±


    Chang Jing glared at him, her pretty face blushing. Qin Hao¡¯s words made her feel like she was a woman of ill repute.


    ...


    While they were talking, several young people in their mid-twenties came out of the villa.


    They walked over to Chang Jing and Qin Hao, and one of the men said, ¡°So this is Miss Chang Jing and Mr. Qin, correct? My name is Wei Pengtao.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded slightly: ¡°Hello, Mr. Wei.¡± Qin Hao simply nodded in response.


    Upon seeing Chang Jing, a gleam of admiration flashed in Cao Zhiyu¡¯s eyes; she was stunningly beautiful. Although he had been with numerous attractive women before, none were as strikingly charming as Chang Jing.


    ¡°Hello Miss Chang, my name is Cao Zhiyu.¡±


    ...


    Six young people sat down beside them and struck up a conversation. These individuals were from the Wei, Cao, Ma, and Zheng families, all well-known scions in Jinchen City.


    Not all of these people were wastrels. Wei Pengtao from the Wei family was sharp-witted and bright-eyed. His manners and speech were impeccable, giving off a refreshing aura.


    Wei Pengtao occasionally exchanged words with Qin Hao, neither too subservient nor too aloof; in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes, the others seemed insignificant.


    Later, they invited Chang Jing to a banquet. Since Chang Jing had been practically blind before and rarely socialized with peers, she reluctantly agreed, not wishing to refuse. Wei Pengtao also extended the invitation to Qin Hao.


    Before long, their elders came out of the villa, and they followed them out. As they left, Cao Zhiyu couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances at Chang Jing.


    Qin Hao smirked to himself, thinking, ¡°Even when she was blind, she wouldn¡¯t have cared for someone like you.¡±


    An Ding spoke to the two in the courtyard, ¡°Xiao Jing, Xiao Hao, it¡¯s quite cold outside, come inside and have a seat.¡±


    The two rose and entered the living room. Suddenly, Chang Jing¡¯s phone rang, and she took it out to see who it was before answering, ¡°Hello, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Chang, Tenglong Group has announced its closure. All its products have ceased operations, and they will proceed to shut down gradually over the next few days.¡±


    Upon hearing her secretary¡¯s words, Chang Jing revived: ¡°Okay, I know.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations, host, on completing the system upgrade task. The system will consume fifty million achievement points to upgrade to the Platinum System, the variety and pricing of commodities in the marketplace will also be adjusted.¡±


    ¡°Upgrading now, please wait...¡±


    Chang Jing hung up the phone and said to Qin Hao, ¡°Tenglong Group has announced its closure.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, inwardly looking forward to the upgraded system store, where the Human Body Transformation Gene Potion, which could extend life to two hundred years, would be available.


    Upon hearing Chang Jing¡¯s words, An Ding and the others were startled; Tenglong Group had also collapsed? Would this not mean that Star Domain Network would be dominated solely by Qin Hao going forward?


    Now, Qin Hao¡¯s influence was extraordinarily formidable; he was already an uncrowned king of the internet and real industries. As all industries moved towards automation, they could not do it without the Xinghai Company.


    His future achievements were boundless, with a very real chance of shaping the global economic landscape, possibily surpassing the influence of entire countries.


    [Seventh Update, will continue writing after dinner]

 Chapter 640 - 640 642 West King Mansion Hotel

    ?Chapter 640: Chapter 642 West King Mansion Hotel Chapter 640: Chapter 642 West King Mansion Hotel Thinking of these, the members of the Chang family exchanged glances, seeing Qin Hao now as a sword unsheathed, no one daring to challenge his edge.


    What did the others have to fight him with? In terms of technology, Xinghai Company was streets ahead of them.


    No one could stop Qin Hao¡¯s rise, a giant beast was gradually stretching out its claws in the East.


    Chang Jianwu sighed internally. Xu Liangguo, that guy, got ahead by a nose. That old fox must have seen the limitless potential in Qin Hao, otherwise, would he have agreed to his grandson-in-law having another woman?


    Damn, what a sly fox, I¡¯m one step behind him again.


    Chang Jianwu looked at Chang Jing and then at Qin Hao, a spark of inspiration flashing through his mind. Acting early is useless if Chang Jing has a child first, then no matter how early you act, it¡¯s no use.


    If Chang Jing knew what her grandfather was thinking now, she would probably be furious enough to spit blood.


    The Chang family¡¯s tone with Qin Hao became even more cordial this time, and Chen Shengjun also relaxed, having initially regretted agreeing to help the Chang family. Fortunately, their relationship had been restored as before, and even progressed further.


    In the future, even Qin Hao would have to call him uncle.


    At over five in the afternoon, Chang Jing¡¯s parents and grandfather said, ¡°Tonight, Qin Hao and I are going to a banquet, so we won¡¯t be eating at home.¡±


    Chang Jianwu nodded. ¡°Alright, remember to come back early in the evening. Liu, you take Xiao Jing and Xiao Hao.¡±


    Leaving the villa, Qin Hao and Chang Jing got into Liu¡¯s car.


    ¡°Master Liu, to West Prince Mansion,¡± said Chang Jing.


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment. ¡°West Prince Mansion? What place is that?¡±


    Chang Jing looked at him in surprise. ¡°A restaurant, don¡¯t you know about West Prince Mansion in Jinchen City?¡±


    Almost every high-society individual in any city knew of West Prince Mansion in Jinchen City because it was the top-grade hotel there.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, never looked into that stuff.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Have you set up the Xinghai Association?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded. ¡°You knew? Did Li Qingya and her sister tell you?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°I had discussed forming a consortium with Li Qingya and her sister previously, and it was after our discussion that she mentioned it to you. Do you have a plan for the next step?¡±


    Qin Hao was somewhat surprised. So, Chang Jing and Li Qingya and her sister had already discussed this. ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet. Today Li Qingya sent me a message. She is currently consolidating domestic industry companies, and I¡¯ve just transferred three hundred billion to Xinghai International Holding Company.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded. ¡°To become a top world financial conglomerate, the home base must be strong and stable. With the monopoly technology in smart chips, the best course for those companies not wanting to go bankrupt is to sell off while they still have value for us to acquire.


    This is our biggest advantage. We can quickly monopolize several industries related to smart chips, unlike other international conglomerates who might need decades of operation within the country to possibly monopolize one or two industries.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯ve bought an island abroad.¡±


    Chang Jing was taken aback and asked several questions in a row: ¡°Bought an island? Where? How big? What do you plan to do with it?¡±


    Qin Hao replied: ¡°In Hei Province, Pu¡¯er Island of Ban Guo Country, it spans sixty square miles. I plan to make it the headquarters of the Xinghai Association and also to build a factory there.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Building a factory there would be inconvenient for transportation, it just can¡¯t compare to an internationalized city like Jianghai.¡±


    Indeed, it¡¯s not as convenient as an international city, but the high-tech military factory he planned to build could only be built there.


    There were some things he still didn¡¯t plan to tell Chang Jing.


    After more than half an hour, the car drove into an ancient-style princely courtyard.


    Getting out of the car, plenty of other vehicles were parked around, and what caught the eye were ancient-style buildings in ash-gray, with red lanterns hanging under the roofs.


    The staff, both men and women here, were dressed in ancient attire, the female staff members looking more like maids from ancient times.


    Qin Hao and his companion walked along the corridor, led by a young and beautiful waitress.


    They arrived at Room Number One under the Heaven, where many people were already seated, both men and women, most of whom were in their twenties.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang are here, please take a seat,¡± Wei Pengtao said as he stood up with a smile.


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing took their seats, and Wei Pengtao introduced them to everyone present one by one.


    These people were all well-known second-generation disciples in Jinchen City, with their older generations previously holding high positions in the government.


    Some treated Qin Hao with courtesy and respect, but others dismissed him, considering him merely a common businessman.


    Like the two brothers from the Cao Family, and Ma Ying¡¯an from the Ma Family, although Ma Ying¡¯an¡¯s sister, Ma Hongyan, was quite respectful.


    At the dining table, there was also a brother and sister from the Zheng Family; Qin Hao was familiar with the Zheng Family because they were allied by marriage with the Shen Family of Jifeng Group.


    In Li Wenjun¡¯s investigation of the Shen Family, the closely related Zheng Family was naturally included as well.


    After the mutual introductions, Cao Zhiyu quickly said, ¡°Xiao Jing, here¡¯s a toast to you.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, my girlfriend doesn¡¯t drink; I¡¯ll drink it for her,¡± Qin Hao said indifferently to Cao Zhiyu.


    Cao Zhiyu¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°What are you, get lost.¡±


    Many people¡¯s expressions changed upon hearing this; Cao Zhiyu was truly foolish. How dared he insult Qin Hao? Did he not have a brain? Did he not know about Qin Hao¡¯s influence?


    He had always been this arrogant in Jinchen City, dominating over everyone present because of his powerful family background.


    Initially, Wei Pengtao hadn¡¯t planned to invite Cao Zhiyu, but as everyone else was attending, it would seem improper not to invite him, plus Cao Zhiyu had requested to come.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at Cao Zhiyu, ¡°You are the first to dare insult me like this, good.¡±


    Having said that, he stood up and walked over. Seeing this, Cao Zhiyu disdainfully said, ¡°What? You want to hit me? Touch me and see if you can leave Jinchen City.¡±


    Wei Pengtao quickly held Qin Hao back, ¡°Mr. Qin, please calm down, just calm down.¡±


    after saying this, he looked at Chang Jing, hoping she would persuade Qin Hao; if a fight really broke out, things could escalate severely.


    Chang Jing showed no intention of stopping the fight, feeling that Cao Zhiyu indeed deserved a beating for embarrassing Qin Hao in front of so many people.


    If Qin Hao didn¡¯t regain his dignity, what would that look like to others? Even common folks cared about their reputation¡ªlet alone Qin Hao. As someone associated with him, it would be unwise to stop him.


    Qin Hao¡¯s gaze was piercing, his face expressionless, ¡°You¡¯d better stand back. Block my path again, and don¡¯t blame me if you get hurt too.¡±


    Wei Lingman pulled her brother away; she had long been dissatisfied with Cao Zhiyu, who was arrogant and dismissed everyone. Such a person would eventually bring disaster upon his family.


    Cao Zhibo stood up and looked at him, ¡°You want to hit my elder brother?¡±


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Qin Hao grabbed Cao Zhibo by the collar with one hand, lifting him up forcefully, then threw him towards the doorway.


    Cao Zhibo soared through the air, gliding over the dining table and crashing heavily at the doorway, grinding his teeth with pain, screaming miserably.


    [This is the last update for today; more tomorrow.]

 Chapter 641 - 641 643 Su Jiayi

    ?Chapter 641: Chapter 643 Su Jiayi Chapter 641: Chapter 643 Su Jiayi The heavy slam left everyone present stunned, lifting a person weighing about 150 or 160 pounds with one hand and throwing them five or six meters away¡ªwhat kind of strength was that?


    He appeared frail and slender, how could he possess such immense power?


    Cao Zhiyu was also dumbfounded; he hadn¡¯t expected Qin Hao to be so strong. Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s cold gaze upon him, he couldn¡¯t help but shiver, ¡°You dare to hit a member of the Cao Family, do you have a death wish?¡±


    Qin Hao grabbed his head and ¡°bang bang¡± smashed it against the wall several times, leaving him dazed and seeing stars.


    The crowd watched, terrified. When Qin Hao flexed his might, it gave off a chilling sensation.


    This was a kind of invisible aura; some also called it murderous intent.


    Qin Hao casually tossed him to the ground, and then stepped on his knee.


    ¡°Crack¡±


    The chilling sound of a bone breaking rang out, and Cao Zhiyu screamed in agony before fainting.


    Wei Pengtao and others broke out in a cold sweat at the sight. Had he actually snapped Cao Zhiyu¡¯s leg?


    At that moment, the door to the private room opened, and several security personnel dressed in black suits entered: ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Who dares to cause trouble in this place?¡±


    Wei Pengtao hastily explained: ¡°A misunderstanding, just now friends were messing around.¡±


    The security guards recognized Wei Pengtao and his group, well-known young masters of Jinchen City. They didn¡¯t know how to deal with the situation and could only inform their superiors.


    After dealing with Cao Zhiyu, Qin Hao returned to his seat and picked up his chopsticks to eat.


    Wei Pengtao and others saw him still in the mood to eat and couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of admiration, thinking, man, you¡¯ve got some real nerve.


    Not to mention the strength and influence of the Cao Family, fighting was forbidden in West Prince Mansion, and no one dared to make trouble here because the background of the owner of West King Mansion Hotel was even more formidable.


    ¡°You folks have got some nerve, daring to make trouble in my place.¡±


    A crisp and pleasant female voice rang out from outside, her presence announced by her voice before she stepped in.


    Soon after, a beautiful woman around twenty-six walked in. She glanced around the room, noticing the two Cao brothers still sprawled on the ground.


    Her gaze swept around the room, finally settling on Qin Hao: ¡°Qin Hao? What brings you to my restaurant?¡±


    ¡°Do we know each other?¡± Qin Hao asked with a mix of surprise and confusion upon hearing her tone.


    Su Jiayi said with a smile, ¡°In the past, I knew you, but you didn¡¯t know me. Now, we know each other. My name is Su Jiayi. Are these two the ones you beat up?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Yes, I was just giving them a lesson on behalf of their family.¡±


    ¡°Hurry and carry these two wastes out. Seeing them just makes me sick,¡± Su Jiayi instructed the people behind her.


    She had always found the Cao brothers annoying, and seeing how miserably Qin Hao had beaten them, she felt quite pleased.


    A few people took the Cao brothers out, and Su Jiayi smilingly said, ¡°Qin Hao, since it¡¯s your first time here, I¡¯ll let the fight slide. No one would mind if I joined your dinner tonight, right?¡±


    Wei Pengtao and the others quickly said, ¡°Mr. Su, you¡¯re too polite, please take a seat, please take a seat.¡±


    Qin Hao, noticing Wei Pengtao and the others¡¯ expressions and although not aware of Su Jiayi¡¯s identity and background, could guess she must have significant clout, at least much more than Wei Pengtao and his group.


    After Su Jiayi sat down, she looked at Chang Jing with curiosity and asked, ¡°And who might this be?¡±


    Chang Jing replied with a smile, ¡°My name is Chang Jing, I¡¯m the general manager of Xinghai High-tech Company.¡±


    Su Jiayi: ¡°Ah, Mr. Chang, I¡¯ve long heard of your great reputation.¡±


    Chang Jing and Su Jiayi were of similar age, and although Su Jiayi might not have known of Chang Jing¡¯s name before, Chang Jing was now the general manager of Xinghai Company, responsible for all major affairs of the company.


    Her name now also enjoyed a considerable reputation worldwide, and many people knew that the general manager of Xinghai Company was Chang Jing.


    ¡°Mr. Su, you are too kind.¡±


    ...


    After exchanging pleasantries, Wei Pengtao spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, we didn¡¯t expect such an incident to happen when inviting you out today, and we¡¯re really sorry about that.¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a neutral tone, ¡°This has nothing to do with you.¡±


    Wei Pengtao had tried to prevent Qin Hao from escalating the situation, fearing it would be detrimental for both sides, without any intention of siding with the Cao brothers.


    Zheng Qinghui from the Zheng Family then said, ¡°Mr. Qin, my family is in the commercial aviation business, and I hope we can collaborate on the research of intelligent unmanned airliners. Here¡¯s a toast to you.¡±


    Qin Hao picked up his glass and took a sip with her. Although the Zheng Family and the Shen Family were linked by marriage, the Zheng Family might not necessarily side with the Shen Family when it comes to interests.


    Through conversation, Qin Hao had gotten a rough idea of what these families were into. Wei Pengtao¡¯s family was involved in mining machinery, not only manufacturing equipment but also mining various minerals.


    The Ma Family operated tobacco businesses. Of course, they managed it for the state, but a portion of the profits went into their pockets as well.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t know Su Jiayi¡¯s specific identity, but this West King Mansion Hotel was hers, and she had also started a biotech company, researching human genetics, biological genetics, and other such matters.


    The Cao brothers¡¯ family was in the oil and energy business, which included exploration and refining in a complete chain.


    Among these families, the Cao Family¡¯s industry was the most formidable.


    This dinner was merely to get acquainted with Qin Hao without directly discussing any cooperation; it was also to lay a foundation for the future.


    After dinner, as Qin Hao and Chang Jing were walking out, Su Jiayi caught up with them, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Qin, may I borrow some of your blood for a moment?¡±


    Qin Hao turned to look at Su Jiayi, who was very attractive with delicate features, fair skin, and a figure that wasn¡¯t very voluptuous but was well-proportioned, ¡°Miss Su, what do you need my blood for?¡±


    Su Jiayi said, ¡°For an experiment. You scored full marks in the unified exams, and you¡¯ve developed earthquake detection instruments, artificial intelligence technology, among other things. I want to see just how exceptional your genes are.¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned, ¡°That might not be such a good idea.¡±


    Su Jiayi argued, ¡°Why not? If I manage to research it, it would benefit our Xuan Country. Don¡¯t you want our Xuan Country to have more talents like you?¡±


    Are talents like me something that can just be popped out at will? Without the system, even Qin Hao couldn¡¯t have researched these things in a short time.


    ¡°Miss Su, I didn¡¯t mean it that way.¡±


    Su Jiayi asked, ¡°Are you afraid of pain? Or do you get queasy at the sight of blood? Don¡¯t worry, just close your eyes, and it¡¯ll be over in a moment.¡±


    After saying that, she took out a syringe for the experiment and to draw blood.


    Qin Hao looked at her in astonishment, ¡°Do you always carry this thing with you when you go out?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this is what I do. Hurry up and stretch out your hand. Taking a little blood won¡¯t hurt you.¡± After finishing her words, Su Jiayi took his hand, and Qin Hao felt a pinch on his finger, which subsided after a few seconds.


    Having collected the blood, Su Jiayi said with a smile, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    As Qin Hao watched her depart, he turned to Chang Jing, ¡°What¡¯s Su Jiayi¡¯s background?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°She calls the biggest boss her grandfather.¡±


    [First chapter update]

 Chapter 642 - 642 644 The Luoguo Delegation

    ?Chapter 642: Chapter 644: The Luoguo Delegation Chapter 642: Chapter 644: The Luoguo Delegation Qin Hao¡¯s eyes flashed with shock, no wonder Wei Pengtao and his people were so afraid of her, it turned out she had such a significant background.


    The granddaughter of a big boss?


    On the other hand, after the Cao brothers were beaten, the West Prince Mansion called an ambulance to take them to the hospital. Cao Zhibo made a phone call home, ¡°Dad, my brother and I were beaten, and my brother¡¯s leg is broken.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Caolep Ping¡¯s face turned pale, ¡°What happened? Who hit you?¡±


    Cao Zhibo: ¡°It was that Qin Hao, Dad, he¡¯s too arrogant. My brother just said one thing to him, and he beat both my brother and me.¡±


    Caolep Ping frowned, ¡°What did your brother say to him?¡±


    Cao Zhibo: ¡°My brother called him nothing special, said he just has some stinking money, acting all high and mighty in Jinchen City. Dad, have someone arrest him and kill him.¡±


    Caolep Ping¡¯s face became very unsightly, ¡°You idiotic thing, do you think he¡¯s someone you can just capture and kill? Both of you are good for nothing but causing trouble; just stay in the hospital.¡±


    He felt a sense of disappointment towards his son, but no matter what, it was still his son who had a broken leg by Qin Hao, and he took note of this vendetta.


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t be touched for now; he was too prominent at the moment.


    Representatives from Beiluo Country arrived today, negotiating with the government of Xuan Country to purchase Warhawk Intelligent Unmanned Fighters.


    In the past, it was always Xuan Country that imported fighter jets from Beiluo Country and then conducted their own research and innovation to produce their own jets.


    This was the first time in history that Beiluo Country was purchasing fighter jets from Xuan Country.


    This clearly showed how influential Warhawk Intelligent Unmanned Fighters were in the world.


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing returned to the villa where Chang Jianwu and his family had not yet rested. Seeing Qin Hao return, he smiled and said, ¡°How was it, Xiao Hao? Did you enjoy the gathering?¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°It was quite good.¡±


    Chang Jing pouted, ¡°He beat up those two brothers from the Cao Family.¡±


    Chang Jianwu was taken aback for a moment and then said with a smile, ¡°Those two from the Cao Family are usually too arrogant and insolent. It¡¯s good that Xiao Hao taught them a lesson, lest they cause a disaster for the family in the future.¡±


    Chang Anding also spoke up, ¡°Xiao Hao, Xiao Jing, you must be tired, right? The room has been arranged; you should go rest.¡±


    Chang Jianwu added, ¡°Right, early rest is good for your health. Xiao Hao, you and Xiao Jing will stay in the upstairs bedroom.¡±


    Chang Jing was startled, her cheeks flushing with two shades of red, ¡°We¡¯re staying in the same room?¡±


    Chang Jianwu said amicably with a smile, ¡°Yes, you and Xiao Hao are not strangers, go to sleep, and give your grandfather a great-grandchild soon.¡±


    Qin Hao was at a loss for words, thinking to himself that Mr. Chang was quite open-minded.


    Chang Jing¡¯s cheeks were a rosy red, ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re too annoying, I¡¯m not talking to you anymore,¡± and with that, she went upstairs.


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment then awkwardly smiled and followed her.


    Once in the bedroom, they found that the blanket had been replaced with a large double-sized one. Chang Jing¡¯s cheeks were burning scarlet, she was incredibly shy. She turned to Qin Hao and said with some distress, ¡°Don¡¯t try anything funny.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s not what you used to say.¡±


    Chang Jing stammered with a red face, ¡°I... I¡¯m not ready yet.¡±


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao smiled softly, ¡°I know, let¡¯s sleep.¡± Then he took off his clothes and lay down on the bed.


    Chang Jing did not dare look at him. After turning off the lights, she carefully changed into her nightwear and got under the covers, thankful that the bed was not too small, which would have guaranteed physical contact.


    Qin Hao indeed did not touch her, and eventually, Chang Jing fell asleep without knowing how, and when she woke up, it was already the next morning.


    ...


    Chang Jing hurriedly wriggled free from Qin Hao¡¯s embrace, and with such a big movement, Qin Hao naturally woke up. He looked at her, bleary-eyed, ¡°Sis, what are you doing? Can¡¯t a person get some sleep?¡±


    Chang Jing¡¯s eyes were filled with embarrassed anger, ¡°Don¡¯t you know what you¡¯ve done?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at himself, then at her and chuckled awkwardly, ¡°I don¡¯t sleep still, I don¡¯t know what I did.¡±


    Chang Jing, seeing that her clothes were no different, sighed in relief and glared at him in anger.


    ...


    At that moment, Chang Jing¡¯s mother¡¯s knocking came from outside, ¡°Xiao Hao, Xiao Jing, are you awake? Get up, it¡¯s time to eat.¡±


    Chang Jing, relieved, quickly replied, ¡°Awake, we¡¯re getting up now, Mom.¡±


    A voice also resounded in Qin Hao¡¯s mind: ¡°System upgrade successful, Platinum Mall is now open.¡±


    He hurriedly opened the system mall to find that everything had been upgraded, a level above those in the Gold Mall, and it included many high-tech military weapons.


    ¡°What are you spacing out for? Get up,¡± Chang Jing said when she saw him stand frozen.


    Qin Hao snapped back to reality, his eyes ablaze with excitement as he saw many items he would need later on. He hugged Chang Jing and gave her a peck, ¡°That¡¯s fantastic.¡±


    Chang Jing¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, looking at him in puzzlement, ¡°What is it? What¡¯s so fantastic?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, let¡¯s go downstairs,¡± Qin Hao said as he got dressed and they went down together.


    In the living room sat a middle-aged man wearing glasses; Chang Jianwu was chatting with him.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao and Chang Jing come down, the people on the sofa all turned to look.


    Chang Jianwu said, ¡°Xiao Hao, go wash up and have some breakfast. Secretary Wang is looking for you.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, washed up, had breakfast with Chang Jing, and then sat down on the sofa, ¡°What does Secretary Wang want with me?¡±


    Wang Qingkong looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°The delegation from Beiluo Country has come and wants to discuss the Star Domain Network with you. The leaders said as long as the price is right, they would agree.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded. Although Chang Jianwu didn¡¯t reveal Wang Qingkong¡¯s status, Qin Hao could guess it; what secretary could make Chang Jianwu personally entertain, the answer was self-evident.


    [Second update]

 Chapter 643 - 643 645 Star Domain Network Agent

    ?Chapter 643: Chapter 645 Star Domain Network Agent Chapter 643: Chapter 645 Star Domain Network Agent The domestic market has already been fully covered by the Star Domain Network, and he has plans to expand abroad.


    This would not only make money but also enable Qin Hao to gather a lot of intelligence, almost like establishing an intelligence department in Beiluo Country.


    Wang Qingkong stood up and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, shall we go now? The envoy from Beiluo Country is waiting inside the embassy.¡±


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing got up and walked out, Chang Jianwu spoke, ¡°Xiao Hao, Xiao Jing, come back early for lunch.¡±


    The two of them got into the car of Liu the housekeeper, following behind Wang Qingkong¡¯s car.


    On the road, Qin Hao spoke to Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Chang, shall we return to Jianghai City this afternoon?¡±


    Chang Jing nodded; they had left the company for more than a day, and many matters were waiting for Chang Jing to handle.


    Soon the car arrived at the embassy area of Jinchen City and finally drove into the embassy of Beiluo Country.


    Getting out of the car, Wang Qingkong led Qin Hao and the others into the embassy. After a brief exchange in the language of Beiluo with the embassy staff, a respectful person led them inside.


    The staff escorted them to a meeting room, where tea was subsequently served.


    Qin Hao looked at Chang Jing and asked, ¡°Mr. Chang, can you speak the language of Beiluo?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°I couldn¡¯t before, but I learned recently. I can communicate without issue.¡±


    About a few minutes later, four individuals from Beiluo Country, one woman and three men, walked in. They did not sit directly opposite Qin Hao and his companions but approached them instead.


    ¡°Mr. Chang, hello, my name is Gasskel Jin Liya.¡±


    Jin Liya was tall, likely around 175 cm, with a pronounced bust and waist, slightly uplifted nose bridge¡ªa typical northern Russian beauty. Her height was almost catching up to Qin Hao.


    She embraced Chang Jing and then hugged Qin Hao and Wang Qingkong. Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how foreigners grew up; some of their attributes were indeed impressively developed.


    After the hugs, Jin Liya and her three companions took their seats opposite, and Wang Qingkong said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, you might not know, but in Beiluo Country, hugs are only exchanged when meeting important friends.¡±


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing responded to Jin Liya with a smile, and Jin Liya returned the smile.


    The people of Beiluo Country are known globally for being passionate, generous, brave, and straightforward.


    Qin Hao¡¯s impression of them came from the internet; they were the only country to openly challenge the Federation.


    Since the end of World War II, the two powers have been in a Cold War, with the Federation continually imposing various sanctions on Beiluo Country.


    The economy of Beiluo Country was indeed severely affected by the sanctions, with their GDP not even making it into the world¡¯s top ten.


    Currently, the world¡¯s top GDP rankings are: the Federation at first, Xuan Country second, and Beihai Country third.


    It must be said that Beihai Country, despite its small size, has terrifyingly advanced industries and technology.


    If the Federation hadn¡¯t been so focused on Beiluo Country, Xuan Country wouldn¡¯t have developed as rapidly as it is now. At present, the Federation is stretched thin.


    On one hand is Beiluo Country, and on the other, the rapidly rising Xuan Country. The only advantage the Federation has now is its temporary lead in military technology and some high-tech industry monopolies.


    However, with the rise of Xinghai Company, many of the Federation¡¯s monopoly technologies will soon be subject to anti-monopoly actions by Xuan Country.


    Qin Hao is now the spearhead of Xuan Country¡¯s counterattack in the trade war against the Federation.


    It is because of the rise of Xinghai Company that the trade war policies of the Federation have not been finalized and implemented, only being talked about. They dare not enforce them.


    Jin Liya tossed back her long hair and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯ve tested your company¡¯s Star Domain Network and found it very impressive. We like it a lot and would like to cooperate with you to introduce it to our Beiluo Country.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Your country has been of great help to Xuan Country in certain respects, and I¡¯d be very happy to open the Star Domain Network to your country.¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Hao, Jin Liya¡¯s smile became even brighter and enchanting, ¡°Mr. Qin, please lay out the terms of our collaboration.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve initially drafted two collaboration models: the first is a long-term buyout model, which involves a substantial payment. The second is an agency model, where an annual agency fee is paid, and then the Star Domain Network within specific regions will be under your management, as for the profit management, that¡¯s up to you.¡±


    Jin Liya¡¯s face showed contemplation as she asked, ¡°How much is the annual agency fee for the second option? Mr. Qin, you know our situation over there¡ªdue to the Federation, many of our industries can¡¯t enter the global market.¡±


    After the nineties, Beiluo Country saw the emergence of many family-led conglomerates, like the Gascol Family to which Jin Liya belonged.


    Their financial strength couldn¡¯t compare to the conglomerates of West Continent and the Ximi Region.


    Qin Hao considered for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯m aware of the situation. Considering the long-standing friendly diplomatic relations between your country and Xuan Country, I will certainly offer a price consideration. Let¡¯s say, an annual agency fee of 13 billion Federation currency, as your territory is vast and covers a large area.¡±


    Now aware of his cunning, Chang Jing thought that even asking for an annual agency fee of 10 billion would have been reaching for the stars, but Qin Hao was asking for 13 billion.


    Jin Liya frowned upon hearing this, as 13 billion was beyond her expected price range.


    She looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, that price is too high. You should know that last year, our country¡¯s total market profit in the network communication industry was only a little over 20 billion. We need to penetrate the market initially, and the price is too steep. Please lower it a bit further.¡±


    After all, Jin Liya¡¯s intent to represent the Star Domain Network was to earn revenue, unlike the network¡¯s free distribution model which allowed for rapid market capture.


    Seeing her expression, Qin Hao knew she wasn¡¯t lying; perhaps he had quoted too high a price. ¡°Considering Miss Jin Liya¡¯s frank and honest character, let¡¯s make it 12 billion,¡± he proposed.


    Jin Liya looked at him dissatisfied and said in Xuan Country¡¯s language, ¡°Mr. Qin, you are too cunning; you¡¯re not sincere.¡±


    Her directness was typical of Beiluo Country¡¯s people¡ªstraightforwardness in either liking or disliking something.


    Of course, that did not mean they were foolish or unintelligent; they simply disliked excessive maneuvering.


    Wang Qingkong and Chang Jing turned to look at Qin Hao, whose expression was calm as he smiled and said, ¡°When doing business, everyone aims to maximize their profit. It isn¡¯t cunning¡ªI¡¯m just seeking benefits for myself. You¡¯re bargaining now for your own benefits as well.¡±


    ¡°Smooth talker,¡± Jin Liya said, her command of the Xuan Country language imperfect and her choice of words not quite appropriate.


    Chang Jing nearly laughed out loud. Was this considered smooth talking?


    [Third update]

 Chapter 644 - 644 646 Signing the Contract

    ?Chapter 644: Chapter 646 Signing the Contract Chapter 644: Chapter 646 Signing the Contract Qin Hao broke into a sweat, ¡°An agent¡¯s fee of ten billion Federation coins per year, can this price work for you?¡±


    Jin Liya spoke up, ¡°I think it could be a little less.¡±


    Qin Hao, smiling, asked, ¡°Miss Jin Liya, what price could you offer? Just say it directly.¡±


    With eyes as blue as sapphires, Jin Liya looked at him, ¡°Mr. Qin, I am not as cunning as you. I will offer you a fair price, 9 billion Federation coins. That¡¯s our limit. If Mr. Qin cannot accept this, there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her, his dark eyes meeting hers. Jin Liya¡¯s personality seemed quite straightforward.


    Nine billion Federation coins, equivalent to nearly 600 billion Russian coins, would absolutely be a huge sum for the Gascol Family.


    Although their family¡¯s industry was spread throughout Beiluo Country, it was difficult to reach the world market. The nine billion Federation coins were equivalent to more than their entire family¡¯s profits for a year.


    Jin Liya saw him contemplating and hesitating, somewhat worried he might refuse, but her family really didn¡¯t have much spare cash, ¡°Mr. Qin, consider it making a friend, I owe you a favor.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡±


    Wang Qingkong could not help but spit the water he just drank: ¡°Miss Jin Liya means a favor, not a lover.¡±


    Qin Hao also couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Alright, then it¡¯s 9 billion Federation coins, but you have to pay it in one installment.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin is a straightforward person, draw up a contract, ready to sign.¡± Jin Liya pleasantly said to the person beside her.


    The contract was quickly prepared, supervised by Chang Jing. Both Qin Hao and Jin Liya examined it in detail, then signed their names. Jin Liya stamped it with her company¡¯s seal. The Star Domain Network Company¡¯s seal wasn¡¯t there, so it was necessary to go to Jianghai City.


    Jin Liya spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, when do you return to Jianghai City?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°This afternoon. If Miss Jin Liya is free, you can come with us; there are direct flights to your country from Jianghai City.¡±


    Jin Liya nodded, ¡°Good, we were also planning to have a look at Mr. Qin¡¯s intelligent robots. What¡¯s the production capacity of your intelligent chips?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°The current production is not entirely adequate to supply domestically, when the chip production increases, then we¡¯ll consider cooperation with other areas.¡±


    After chatting for a while, Qin Hao and Chang Jing left, departing from the embassy while Wang Qingkong went his separate way.


    Back at home, Chang Jing informed her grandfather about their return to Jianghai City in the afternoon.


    Chang Jianwu knew Qin Hao¡¯s company was busy and didn¡¯t insist on them staying, just mentioned they should come back to visit when they have time.


    Furthermore, Chang Jianwu also told Qin Hao something, Beiluo Country and Xuan Country had reached an agreement on the purchase of Warhawk Intelligent Unmanned Fighters.


    Ten Warhawk series fighters, sold to Beiluo Country at a price of 4.9 billion Federation coins each, totaling 49 billion Federation coins.


    Qin Hao actually understood why the country was selling fighters to Beiluo Country, because they needed to contain the Federation, forcing it to focus more efforts in the regions of Eastern and Western Continent. The Federation would have less energy to sanction Xuan Country.


    Moreover, with Qin Hao¡¯s influence, Xuan Country would have more breathing space.


    Now, over ten aircraft manufacturing factories domestically are producing Warhawk Intelligent Unmanned Fighters at full capacity, estimating about thirty units per month.


    Today is March 28th, and by the end of this month, thirty Warhawk series fighters will be ready for test flights.


    The 49 billion Federation coins obtained from Beiluo Country would be sufficient to support the production of more than fifty Warhawk series fighters in Xuan Country. By then, there will definitely be more people coming to Xuan Country to buy fighters, allowing Xuan Country to make a huge profit from the war.


    After one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Chang Jianwu sent Qin Hao and Chang Jing to the airport. Waiting at the airport for Qin Hao was Jin Liya and her group.


    They went through a special passage and boarded the first-class cabin of the airplane.


    On the plane, Jin Liya curiously asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, how old are you this year?¡±


    ¡°Twenty years old,¡± Qin Hao sat opposite Jin Liya, with Chang Jing beside him.


    Jin Liya¡¯s mouth hung open, her face filled with disbelief, ¡°Twenty? You¡¯re simply a genius.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    Jin Liya rolled her eyes, ¡°You guys are too hypocritical. A genius is a genius, yet you deny it.¡±


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, damn, this isn¡¯t hypocrisy, it¡¯s modesty, alright, big sister? Forget it, I won¡¯t talk to you anymore; talking to her could shorten your life.


    After nearly three hours, the plane stopped at Jianghai City International Airport. Exiting the terminal, Leng Xuan and others were waiting for them.


    Qin Hao, Chang Jing, and Jin Liya got into one car, while the other people brought by Jin Liya took different cars.


    ¡°To the Xinghai Company,¡± Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan.


    Leng Xuan drove towards the Xinghai Company; along the way, Jin Liya occasionally looked out the window as it was her first time in Jianghai City.


    Jin Liya then asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, I heard that your country has applied artificial intelligence technology to many industries.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°But it hasn¡¯t been completely popularized yet, in about two to three months, it should cover most industries.¡±


    At five twenty in the afternoon, Qin Hao and his party arrived at Xinghai High-tech Company. First, they stamped the contract, then Qin Hao and Jin Liya entered the server room of the Star Domain Network.


    The server of the artificial intelligence Xiaoxing was also here; now Xiaoxing was in charge of the entire Star Domain Network¡¯s management.


    Closing the door of the machine room, Qin Hao called out, ¡°Xiaoxing!¡±


    Chang Jing and Jin Liya were dumbfounded, their faces full of disbelief and amazement, as a little girl materialized before them.


    This was already considered primary virtual imaging technology, which created virtual characters through various optical principles.


    Chang Jing saw this for the first time as well; originally, only Zhao Yuying had seen it once, no one else had.


    ¡°Master,¡± the little girl looked at Qin Hao and said with a smile.


    Jin Liya couldn¡¯t believe it; her blue pupils were wide open, ¡°This... this is incredible.¡±


    Chang Jing was equally shocked, the little girl seemed so lifelike; she was far better than any other virtual imaging technology currently on the market.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Activate the Star Domain Network inside Beiluo Country, and create a separate management account for the Beiluo Country Star Domain Network.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡± In less than a minute, Xiaoxing had handled it, and it gave the independent management account for the Beiluo Country Star Domain Network to Qin Hao, who then gave it to Jin Liya. With this account, the entire Beiluo Country Star Domain Network could be controlled.


    If the account password is stolen, it can be changed anytime by contacting Xiaoxing.


    Unable to hold back, Chang Jing asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, what technology is this?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s primary virtual imaging technology. Those on the market can only be considered pseudo-virtual imaging technology.¡±


    Coming out of the machine room, Jin Liya was still in shock. It was her first time seeing such a vivid virtual imaging character.


    [Fourth update, and the fifth is being written, might be quite late]

 Chapter 645 - 645 647 Major Upgrade of Mall Products

    ?Chapter 645: Chapter 647: Major Upgrade of Mall Products Chapter 645: Chapter 647: Major Upgrade of Mall Products Qin Hao took Jin Liya to visit the intelligent chip production workshop and then showed her the intelligent robots.


    There were currently six intelligent robots in the robot workshop.


    In the laboratory, Qin Hao also took her inside to look around. The Xinghai Company¡¯s laboratory had grown increasingly larger, now divided into three floors.


    After her visit, Jin Liya was astounded. The many intelligent devices in the laboratory amazed her; this laboratory was ahead of all other high-tech labs globally.


    The intelligent electronic glass doors in and out of the laboratory, high-level smart monitoring probes, and specially designed intelligent computers, among other things.


    That evening, Qin Hao and Jin Liya were escorted to the Jinxiu Hotel, and then they returned home.


    In the living room of the villa, Qin Hao walked into the house, where Qiao¡¯er, with a smiling face, was learning to paint with Fan Ruobing, whose icy demeanor had lessened considerably, her lips now curved in a smile.


    She wasn¡¯t naturally cold¡ªit was her life circumstances and family situation that had made her this way.


    Seeing Qin Hao come in, Fan Ruobing was momentarily startled, her smile growing wider. Qiao¡¯er put down her paintbrush and ran over, ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re back.¡±


    Qin Hao picked her up and asked with a smile, ¡°Did you listen to Mom while Daddy was away?¡±


    Qiao¡¯er nodded, ¡°Qiao¡¯er was very obedient. I¡¯ve been learning to paint with Aunt Ruobing every day.¡±


    Qin Hao walked over to Fan Ruobing, setting Qiao¡¯er down, ¡°Keep painting. Daddy will check your drawing in a while.¡±


    After speaking, he looked at Fan Ruobing and opened his arms to hug her, ¡°I left in a hurry yesterday because something came up and forgot to tell you.¡±


    Fan Ruobing, feeling his embrace, said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I had Meng here to keep me company, and Ying also visited twice.¡±


    At that moment, Han Meng came out of the kitchen, ¡°Xiao Hao has come back.¡±


    After dinner, Qin Hao went to his study. Xinghai Company had acquired a steel plant, and Qin Hao needed this plant to refine high-quality steel.


    He opened the system in the Platinum Mall and quickly found the category for steel refinement technology.


    ¡°Grade H steel refinement technology, requiring six million achievement points.¡±


    The grades for interstellar metal, from highest to lowest, were S, A, B, C, D, E, and F, which were military-grade; however, there were also G and H grades for civilian use.


    G and H grade metals were generally used for civilian purposes, such as in car frames and various other metal products used in everyday life.


    After exchanging, Qin Hao sent the technology to the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing, who then forwarded it to Chang Jing.


    Having done this, Qin Hao began to carefully browse the mall. There were many new products: F-class interstellar battleships, F-class interstellar transports, F-class interstellar aircraft carriers, first-generation mechas, laser cannon defense systems, planetary energy shields, deep-sea detection technologies, deep-sea mining equipment technologies, and so on.


    After finishing, a flicker of excitement passed through Qin Hao¡¯s eyes. Pu¡¯er Island needed to be developed as soon as possible.


    ...


    That night, Qin Hao went to Fan Ruobing¡¯s room, where the two embraced and made passionate love.


    The next morning, after breakfast, Qin Hao went to Xinghai High-tech Company.


    On the way, he checked the hot news online. At this time, Xinghai High-tech had already announced the opening of the Star Domain Network to Beiluo Country, which had caused quite a stir abroad.


    The news of Beiluo Country purchasing the Warhawk series fighters from Xuan Country had spread online, and rather than blocking the news, the Xuan government had deliberately allowed it to spread on the internet.


    It is known that the Federation is currently competing with Beiluo Country in the Eastern and Western Continents, and the situation in Saiya Country is essentially a behind-the-scenes contest between these two nations.


    Beiluo Country supports the government forces in Saiya Country, while the Federation backs the anti-government militias. Both sides have had their share of victories and defeats, and the struggle has been fierce.


    The regions of Eastern and Western Continents have always been a battleground, with wars breaking out occasionally, primarily because these areas are rich in oil resources. The Federation wants to gain complete control, while Beiluo Country also wants a share.


    The situation has only become more chaotic with their involvement, with many terrorist groups originating there, supported by complex and intertwined forces.


    The release of the news from Xuan Country about selling Warhawk Intelligent Unmanned Fighters carries a lot of implications.


    Upon hearing this news, other countries are sure to approach Xuan Country for purchases, especially those that have good relations with Xuan Country.


    Currently, the hottest topic online is not the Warhawk fighters but rice seeds; Pingsheng Agricultural Seeds Group has produced rice seeds that are ready for planting in the south in April.


    The rice seeds produced by Pingsheng Agricultural Seeds Group could increase yield to more than 5000 kilograms per acre, and because this greatly affects the farmers, the news has exploded like a bomb, causing a significant uproar.


    Moreover, the state is backing and promoting it, so there¡¯s no need to question its credibility.


    Besides rice seeds, Pingsheng Agricultural has also developed high-yield seeds for corn, wheat, and soybeans, which have now entered the experimental phase.


    This news has not only excited countless farmers but also the government, as much of the agricultural seeds currently used in Xuan Country are developed by companies in the Federation.


    Xuan Country does have its seed companies, but the domestic seeds are far less productive compared to those developed by Federation companies.


    ...


    Upon arriving at the company, Qin Hao went to Chang Jing¡¯s office; she was already there, having received the H-grade metal refining technology from Xiao Xing the day before and had arranged for it to be deployed.


    When Chang Jing saw Qin Hao enter, she looked up and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I have already arranged for the new steel refining technology, and we can start refining today.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°How many intelligent robots are there in the factory right now?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°None at the moment, a batch of about three hundred robots will arrive by the end of tomorrow. These new models come with solar panels so, weather permitting, we can skip the charging process.¡±


    ¡°How many robots are currently working at the construction site of the building?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Roughly nine hundred. Yesterday, number 001 recalled some of them to the Xinghai Automobile Factory.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Recall all of them in these next two days. I need them to develop Pu¡¯er Island and to acquire several factories to increase robot production, then purchase materials for constructing a port. We¡¯ll haul them away together with a cargo ship in a few days.¡±


    After instructing Chang Jing, Qin Hao took out his phone and called Du Yingqiang, whose family owns a shipping line; Qin Hao planned to buy an ocean-going cargo ship.


    Once the call connected, Du Yingqiang answered with a laugh, ¡°Qin, you need something?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Du, I wanted to ask where your ships usually deliver? Do they go to Lijia State?¡±


    Du Yingqiang: ¡°Yes, they usually go as far as Nanhei Country in the southernmost part of Lijia State.¡±


    Qin Hao knew about Nanhei Country, which wasn¡¯t far from Ban Guo Country¡¯s Pu¡¯er Island, ¡°I have a shipment that I plan to send to Pu¡¯er Island in Ban Guo Country, Lijia State. Do you have any ships departing soon?¡±


    [First update, fell asleep last night]

 Chapter 646 - 646 648 Missile Cooperation

    ?Chapter 646: Chapter 648 Missile Cooperation Chapter 646: Chapter 648 Missile Cooperation Du Yingqiang replied, ¡°At the beginning of April, a fleet of cargo ships will be setting out for Lijia State. What freight do you need to transport, Qin? I¡¯ll have them clear out a ship for your use.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m heading to Pu¡¯er Island in Ban Guo Country. I¡¯ve bought the island and plan to develop and build it up. I need to transport a batch of robots and materials for constructing a port.¡±


    Without a second thought, Du Yingqiang agreed, ¡°Prepare your goods these few days, Qin, and we¡¯ll load them directly onto the ship at the port when the time comes.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Du, has the intelligent autopilot cargo ship been built? I plan to buy one since I¡¯ll ultimately have a lot of things to transport.¡±


    To trouble Du Yingqiang once was okay; the two were close, but Qin Hao felt uneasy about bothering him every time, considering the long voyage and significant cost of each transport.


    Du Yingqiang replied, ¡°The intelligent mainboards are all installed, and we plan to test sail it at the beginning of next month. It¡¯s a medium-sized cargo ship with a capacity of one hundred thousand tons.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Then sell that one to me. How much is it?¡±


    Laughing, Du Yingqiang said, ¡°The cost is around fifty million Federation dollars. If you want it, Qin, I¡¯ll just give it to you.¡±


    Qin Hao cracked a smile. ¡°You¡¯re trying to make me owe you one, aren¡¯t you, Du? Alright, I¡¯ll remember the favor, but I still have to pay you.¡±


    After chatting for a while, Qin Hao hung up. He instructed Chang Jing to swiftly purchase various materials and deliver them to the port of Jianghai City.


    Back in his office, Qin Hao received a call from Jin Liya. ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯re leaving. If you ever come to Beiluo Country, you must let me know.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Certainly, Miss Jin Liya. I¡¯m a bit busy, so I won¡¯t be able to see you off myself.¡±


    Jin Liya: ¡°No problem. We¡¯re already in the car and almost at the airport. I won¡¯t disturb you any longer, Mr. Qin. Goodbye.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao started browsing the system store. Currently, in Xuan Country, the only military technology leading the world was the War Hawk series of fighter jets.


    Other military technologies were still lagging behind leading military nations like the Northern Federation and Beiluo Country.


    As he browsed, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up when he spotted an item. This item was considered quite basic in the Platinum Mall, but Qin Hao thought it could be effectively applied to the current military situation.


    ¡°Advanced solid fuel technology¡ªan efficient solid fuel developed from refining various fuels like petroleum.¡±


    The reason Qin Hao deemed this product basic was that future high-tech weapons wouldn¡¯t need such solid fuel; future laser cannons, for instance, would surpass current missiles in both speed and power.


    However, introducing this solid fuel now would be formidable, especially in the field of missiles.


    If Xuan Country¡¯s missiles were equipped with this solid fuel, their speed would be incredibly fast, leaving the enemy even less time to intercept, dramatically increasing the power of Xuan Country¡¯s missiles.


    Whether for offense or defense, it would play a significant role and strike fear into adversaries.


    Qin Hao spent eight million achievement points to exchange for this advanced solid fuel technology.


    Then he started typing on his computer, saving the research technology to a USB drive, which took almost an hour to complete.


    Just as he was about to leave, there was a knock at the door. ¡°Come in.¡±


    Qin Man entered and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, some military personnel have arrived in the guest room.¡±


    Military personnel? Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, stood up, and followed Qin Man out. He entered the reception room, where Qin Hao saw Xu Liangguo, accompanied by three people in military uniforms.


    Seeing the ranks of these individuals shocked Qin Hao; each of them was at least a major, which was quite formidable.


    Xu Liangguo, upon seeing Qin Hao, smiled and said, ¡°Xiao Hao has arrived. Let me introduce you to these gentlemen here. They are commanders of the missile forces. Here¡¯s your Mr. Liu, Mr. Wang...¡±


    Qin Hao shook hands with each of them and exchanged greetings.


    Xu Liangguo then said, ¡°They¡¯re here today because they want to collaborate with you on researching intelligent missiles.¡±


    ¡°Intelligent missiles?¡± Qin Hao asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.


    Mr. Liu spoke up, ¡°That¡¯s right, intelligent missiles¡ªmissiles capable of intelligently evading interception and achieving precise strikes. We believe that with Xinghai Company¡¯s artificial intelligence technology, it¡¯s entirely possible for us to cooperate to make this happen.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, ¡°There¡¯s absolutely no problem with collaborating. Whatever you need, I will make sure my team cooperates fully.¡±


    ¡°Good, then, thank you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°For the subsequent cooperation, you can speak directly with Mr. Chang. I will inform her of this.¡±


    Their visit today was to establish a preliminary cooperative relationship. Their elders knew Xu Liangguo, who was called upon to join because Qin Hao was his granddaughter¡¯s husband.


    It¡¯s not easy to refuse people when considering these relationships.


    After their discussion, Qin Hao took them to visit the company¡¯s workshop and finally to the laboratory.


    Seeing the number of scientific researchers in Xinghai Company¡¯s laboratory, Xu Liangguo and others were somewhat surprised; there were so many people working on various projects.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Our company¡¯s Mr. Chang has proposed a plan. Our laboratory will start knowledge exchange activities aimed at improving the skills of all our national scientific researchers. When one laboratory is strong, it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean Xuan Country is strong. Only when we have many researchers like this can Xuan Country become even stronger.¡±


    Xu Liangguo nodded, ¡°Xiao Hao, your level of ideological awareness is high. After I return, I will arrange for some talented individuals from the military district to come here for exchange and learning.¡±


    Those beside him nodded as well, ¡°Absolutely, it¡¯s a great opportunity for learning and exchange. I will also arrange for our people to come over.¡±


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°For those with special talents in certain areas of the country, I will arrange for special training for them to learn more about artificial intelligence. This will enable them to combine their knowledge and help enhance the defense technology of Xuan Country.¡±


    After touring the facilities, they came to the third floor of the laboratory, where people like He Tingting and Mr. Wang were engaged in research.


    They were working on the development of intelligent city infrastructure, a massive project requiring collaboration across various industry companies.


    He Tingting and the others saw Qin Hao and Xu Liangguo, glanced at them briefly, then turned their heads back and continued to frown in deep thought about their research.


    After leaving the laboratory, Xu Liangguo and his entourage were about to depart. As Qin Hao was about to speak to Xu Liangguo, Xu Liangguo suddenly turned around and said, ¡°By the way, Xiao Hao, I have some good news to tell you. Let¡¯s go to Jie Kang¡¯s place to talk about it.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, as he had been planning to give him the advanced solid fuel technology anyway.


    Upon exiting the company, the other individuals split from Xu Liangguo¡¯s car. Xu Liangguo¡¯s escort consisted of four vehicles, each with armed elite guards inside.


    [Second release, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival. You have a holiday, but I¡¯m still here typing away.]

 Chapter 647 - 647 649 National Revival

    ?Chapter 647: Chapter 649: National Revival Chapter 647: Chapter 649: National Revival On the way, Xu Liangguo broke the silence, ¡°I heard you¡¯ve gotten close to that girl from the Chang Family?¡±


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh, ¡°No, the Chang Family wanted to plot against my Xinghai Company, so I just wanted to disgrace them a bit.¡±


    Xu Liangguo chuckled, ¡°The girl from the Chang Family isn¡¯t bad¡ªsmart and wise, very capable, a good hand at managing a company. Didn¡¯t that old coot say he wanted you to marry his granddaughter?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned a bit awkward, ¡°Mr. Xu, how do you know about that?¡±


    Xu Liangguo scoffed, ¡°How could I not understand that old man¡¯s thoughts? He dreams quite prettily, thinking he can snatch the son-in-law of the Xu Family. I could tolerate his granddaughter being a mistress, but to usurp the position? Not a chance.¡±


    Less than half an hour later, Qin Hao and Xu Liangguo arrived at Xu Jiekang¡¯s house, where Xu Jiekang, Yang Su, and Xu Siyao were all at home.


    ¡°Dad, you¡¯re back,¡± said Yang Su with a smile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stand up, just sit down comfortably, don¡¯t disturb the baby,¡± Xu Liangguo hurriedly said.


    Xu Siyao walked over to Qin Hao¡¯s side and wrapped her arms around his, and several people sat down on the sofa.


    Xu Liangguo said to Qin Hao, ¡°Xiao Hao, I called you over because I have some good news to tell you. Si Yao, go get the stuff.¡±


    Xu Siyao got up and ran into the room, and soon she came out holding a military uniform in both hands.


    Qin Hao was taken aback when he saw it, as Xu Liangguo grinned and said, ¡°I made a request to the higher-ups, and you¡¯ve been formally granted the rank of Major, attached to the Gu Jing Military Region, as the overall person in charge of the Shadow Special Team.¡±


    To be honest, Qin Hao felt a tiny surge of excitement; he could say that he had risen from a commoner to being graced with nobility and military rank.


    Even though his status in the business world was high, in plain terms, he was still a civilian, but now it was different; suddenly, he had become a Major.


    Xu Jiekang was somewhat astonished inside, but nevertheless quite pleased. Such a high position had to be approved from above; it was not something Xu Liangguo could have managed alone.


    Xu Liangguo smiled at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Try it on.¡±


    Yang Su and Xu Siyao also said, ¡°Try it on.¡±


    He went to Xu Siyao¡¯s room and then changed into the Major¡¯s uniform, instinctively standing straighter. If his parents knew, they would probably be very happy.


    ¡°So handsome, so dashing.¡± Xu Siyao had stars in her eyes as she watched him come down dressed in the uniform.


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Mr. Xu, what kind of unit is the Shadow Special Team?¡±


    Xu Liangguo, with a smile, explained, ¡°The Shadow Special Team is the most formidable special forces unit of the Gu Jing Military Region. From now on, you¡¯ll be their direct superior, but it won¡¯t be much trouble and won¡¯t interfere with managing your company. Just go to the military region at the start of each month to sign in, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Originally, the higher-ups had not intended to assign him a position, but after some thought, Xu Liangguo decided to secure him a spot in the Gu Jing Military Region, and the higher-ups agreed.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Okay, got it. Also, Mr. Xu, I have something for you.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± asked Xu Liangguo curiously.


    Qin Hao took out a USB drive and placed it on the coffee table, ¡°I took the liberty of researching flame and missile fuels in my spare time. This USB drive contains my research on a new type of solid rocket fuel, which I estimate has more than ten times the performance of current missile speeds.¡±


    Xu Liangguo¡¯s eyes widened in amazement, ¡°Ten times? For real? Intercontinental missiles now travel four to five thousand kilometers per hour, and your solid fuel can increase that by ten times?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded seriously, ¡°This is my most conservative estimate, Mr. Xu. It might even be faster.¡±


    Xu Liangguo looked at the silver-white USB drive on the coffee table and felt a bit excited. This had huge implications; it could even change the current world military powers¡¯ arrangement.


    The world¡¯s hegemon, the Federation? If what Qin Hao had said about this solid fuel were true, then the hegemon status of the Federation would be shaken.


    Just imagine, if Xuan Country¡¯s short-range, medium-range, long-range, and intercontinental missiles were all equipped with this solid fuel, how terrifying would that be?


    In terms of attack, the speed would be extremely fast and frightening; the enemy wouldn¡¯t have a chance to react before being destroyed.


    Some countries¡¯ missile interception systems would become essentially useless. In terms of defense, Xuan Country would respond more swiftly and have a higher interception rate.


    Xu Liangguo, visibly excited, pocketed the USB drive, ¡°That¡¯s great, Xiao Hao. What exactly is in that brain of yours? You seem to be able to come up with anything.¡±


    Qin Hao let out a dry chuckle, ¡°Maybe my brain just thinks more than the average person,¡±


    ¡°All right, I must get going. Jie Kang, take good care of Xiao Hao.¡± Having said that, he got up to leave, even though he didn¡¯t understand what was written inside the USB drive, nor had he verified its authenticity.


    But with Qin Hao putting it that way, he already believed it eighty percent. Considering Qin Hao wasn¡¯t the kind of person to joke around and usually wouldn¡¯t engage in things he wasn¡¯t sure of.


    Originally he had planned to have lunch here before leaving, but now he couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. With this item in his hand, how could he possibly remain calm?


    Which Xuan Country citizen doesn¡¯t want to restore their nation¡¯s great pride and have the world bow down?


    All the grievances suffered over the years, all of it was for the future of the Xuan Country, for one day standing at the top of the world and achieving the great rejuvenation of the nation.


    The reason for Xu Liangguo¡¯s excitement was because he saw hope; he saw Xuan Country¡¯s hope of standing at the top of the world.


    If he could see Xuan Country rise to the top of the world once more before dying, he would die content.


    ...


    Watching Xu Liangguo¡¯s motorcade disappear, Qin Hao smiled softly; he could feel Xu Liangguo¡¯s deep excitement. Suddenly, Qin Hao¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Hey, Mr. Xu, there¡¯s still something I haven¡¯t discussed with you.¡±


    ¡°What is it, Xiao Hao? What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xu Jiekang asked curiously.


    Qin Hao spoke with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Mr. Xu. I¡¯ll call Mr. Xu again in the evening.¡±


    Now, he was at least a major and had made such a significant contribution. He was planning to discuss the deployment of the advanced navigational radar intelligence system. He felt that there shouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    Because it could be applied not only to automotive driving but also to trains and airplanes for navigation. Plus, with the addition of intelligent autopilot features, it would be perfect.


    The most important point was: it was still a radar navigation system, which could also be applied to the military field, providing global coverage. If any other country launched a military ship, they could monitor it.


    It was like possessing both Clairvoyance and Sharp-Hearing Ear, foreseeing the enemy¡¯s movements and gaining the upper hand. Its significance was no less than that of the solid fuel.


    Back in the villa, Qin Hao took off his military uniform and changed into his own clothes. He folded the uniform neatly and put it away, ¡°Is this the only set of clothes Si Yao has? Not even a spare to change into?¡±


    Xu Siyao shot him a look, ¡°You can have as many as you want. The uniforms custom-made by the military region are all produced by Huafei Clothing Company. Just say the word, and you can have as many as you wish.¡±


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 648 - 648 650 Fully Open

    ?Chapter 648: Chapter 650 Fully Open Chapter 648: Chapter 650 Fully Open Qin Hao chuckled, ¡°Did you drink vinegar today?¡±


    Xu Siyao hummed and pouted, looking at him she asked, ¡°Did Ruobing move into your villa?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°She had some trouble, and then she moved in.¡±


    Xu Siyao said, ¡°I want to go too, my dad agreed, and I¡¯ll move over after Ms. Yang has her baby.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded awkwardly, ¡°Okay, okay, let¡¯s go eat.¡±


    After they went downstairs, the nanny had already prepared lunch, and the whole family sat together harmoniously and enjoyed the meal.


    A little after three, Qin Hao left Xu Siyao¡¯s house and sat in his car looking at the military uniform beside him, a smile on his face.


    ¡°Where to, Mr. Qin?¡± Leng Xuan asked.


    After thinking for a moment, Qin Hao said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to Jianghai University. I¡¯ll go see Xia Qing, and the rest of you can go back. You alone will be enough.¡±


    Leng Xuan nodded, now understanding Qin Hao¡¯s strength, realizing that having those people with him or not didn¡¯t really make a difference.


    Arriving at the university¡¯s gate, Qin Hao was about to call Xia Qing when he suddenly saw a car driving out from inside. It was He Qizhi¡¯s car, and sitting in the passenger seat was none other than Ye Xiaolu.


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, then put away his phone and said, ¡°Follow them.¡±


    Leng Xuan quickly followed suit. He Qizhi went to the far-off Xushan District from Jianghai University. They stopped at a hospital in Xushan District, and Qin Hao was perplexed when he saw the hospital¡ªthey should be going to a hotel, right?


    Could it be that Ye Xiaolu was pregnant?


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Leng Xuan, follow them and see what¡¯s going on.¡±


    Leng Xuan got out of the car and followed them. About twenty minutes later, Leng Xuan returned and said, ¡°The two of them got a full-body check-up and nothing else.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go home.¡±


    This matter made him feel somewhat uneasy, as he didn¡¯t know whether he should tell He Tingting or not. Telling her would seem like he was meddling too much and potentially destroying someone¡¯s family.


    Back home, Qin Hao sat on the couch, idly watching the TV news program:


    The delegations from West Basistan, East Chao Country, and Yinna Country arrived in Xuan Country this afternoon to discuss the purchase of the Warhawk Intelligent Unmanned Fighter.


    West Basistan and East Chao Country could be considered as Xuan Country¡¯s little brothers, especially West Basistan, which would always firmly stand by Xuan Country¡¯s side in any matter.


    Yinna Country was also one of the countries with the highest level of diplomatic relations with Xuan Country. During the war, Xuan Country had offered assistance to the Oitans, and there is a stone pillar in the Freedom and Independence Square of Yinna Country, which bears the names of the countries that had helped them.


    The name of Xuan Country was conspicuously listed, and while many believe that the Federation and Yinna Country have a close relationship, this is not the case.


    The Federation favored and assisted Yinna Country simply because of the significant influence of the Oitans; they had to make that choice, or else the Federation would experience great turmoil.


    The Federation was divided between the business empire interest faction and the national interest faction, and the business empire¡¯s influence was stronger than that of the national interest faction.


    The business empire interest faction was in turn divided between the Oitans¡¯ interest faction and the natives¡¯ interest faction.


    In their opposition to the national interest faction, the Oitans¡¯ interest faction and the natives¡¯ interest faction joined hands, otherwise they could not suppress the national interest faction.


    The representative of this native interest faction was Silin¡¯s Ross family. The reason they are considered part of the native interest faction is that they had come to develop in the Federation earliest, while the Oitans only began to rise after World War II.


    If you were to really talk about the relationship between Yinna Country and the Federation, the Federation should be more like Yinna Country¡¯s gun.


    During the time Xuan Country was blockaded by the Federation, Yinna Country still provided military assistance to Xuan Country. Of course, they also reaped benefits from it, but sometimes money doesn¡¯t necessarily buy help.


    ...


    The next day¡¯s news reported again on the matter: East Chao Country had purchased two Warhawk series fighter jets from Xuan Country.


    West Basistan had also acquired three, and Yinna Country bought ten.


    Without a doubt, Xuan Country definitely made a huge profit again from these sales, and, of course, Qin Hao would earn a bit as well, since they were using the intelligent chips from his company.


    Over the next few days, more than thirty Warhawk Intelligent Unmanned Fighters would be delivered, and once the experiments concluded without any problems, they could be sent off.


    Xuan Country reserved five aircraft for itself, which would eventually need to be deployed within its own air force.


    However, Qin Hao didn¡¯t see the need to keep them anymore, because the air-energy engines were about to be released. These planes could be completely disposed of to make a profit, and then they could develop air-energy fighter jets.


    The air-energy engine, coupled with artificial intelligence technology, would completely overpower the current Warhawk fighters.


    Around eleven in the morning, Qin Hao received a phone call from Chang Jing: ¡°Mr. Qin, the delegation from East Chao Country is here at our company. Could you meet them? They¡¯re here to discuss business.¡±


    A delegation from East Chao Country coming to talk business with me?


    Their economy isn¡¯t very developed; could they be looking to introduce intelligent chips? That possibility doesn¡¯t seem very high.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I understand. You handle the reception for now, I¡¯ll be right over.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao left the villa and got into his car.


    Upon his arrival at the company, Qin Hao encountered the envoys from East Chao Country in the reception room, a group of nine people, eight men and one woman.


    ¡°This is Mr. Qin,¡± Chang Jing introduced to those present.


    The female interpreter from the envoy group echoed, ¡°This is Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Qin,¡± the middle-aged man leading the delegation greeted him.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, then sat opposite them: ¡°What sort of cooperation are you looking for with me?¡±


    The leader of the group said, ¡°We would like to invite Mr. Qin to invest in building factories in our East Chao Country. We will offer Mr. Qin many incentive policies. I know Mr. Qin is in charge of the Xinghai Association and your companies cover various industries.¡±


    It was impossible to keep the affairs of the Xinghai Association a secret. East Chao Country was looking to attract investment to promote economic prosperity.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. East Chao Country indeed was a good place; in the future, Qin Hao would have to deal with the world market, and Xuan Country¡¯s factories alone could not satisfy global demand. Building factories overseas was a necessary move.


    Since East Chao Country wasn¡¯t very developed, the cost of labor and various other aspects would be very low.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°I would like to know about the preferential policies your country can offer us?¡±


    ¡°We can offer tax reductions, and for buying land to build factories, we can also provide very substantial concessions, to the point that for certain key projects we can offer the land for free.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I am interested in knowing which sectors you plan to open up for cooperation.¡±


    ¡°Aside from the military sector, we are willing to open up any other field to Mr. Qin. However, Mr. Qin would need to comply with our local laws. We would need to hold a certain share and you cannot unilaterally raise prices. The selling prices need our official review and approval.¡±


    Qin Hao was genuinely stunned by their offer¡ªit was tantamount to full openness.


    This included numerous lucrative industries such as telecommunications, electric power, real estate, finance, insurance, and so on.


    Although East Chao Country wanted to hold some shares, they would also need to invest money to do so. Without an investment, they would have to exchange other things, and if they had nothing to exchange, the shares would be unrelated to them. It¡¯s not about not wanting to invest; it¡¯s about not having the capacity.


    [Fourth update, not a cheerful Mid-Autumn Festival for me; I spent it writing, goodnight world]

 Chapter 649 - 649 651 Various Parties Arrive at Xuan

    ?Chapter 649: Chapter 651: Various Parties Arrive at Xuan Chapter 649: Chapter 651: Various Parties Arrive at Xuan Chang Jing¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise and joy, happiness had arrived a bit too suddenly after hearing the words of the delegation from East Chao Country.


    With the capability and strength of the Xinghai Association, they had every opportunity to control the economy of East Chao Country and earn substantial profits.


    East Chao Country had always been sanctioned by the Federation, and its domestic economy was severely restricted.


    They had no options other than relying on Beiluo Country and Xuan Country, especially now with Beiluo Country and the Federation battling fiercely over the regions of Eastern and Western Continent, their resources were limited. Most importantly, Beiluo Country¡¯s economic scale was nowhere near that of Xuan Country.


    If they wanted their own economy to recover, they could only attract investment, inviting businessmen from Xuan Country to develop in their country.


    This would greatly promote their domestic tax revenue and economic prosperity, improving the standard of living for their people.


    As more factories were established, many workers would be recruited. These workers would earn wages and then spend within their own country, creating a healthy economic cycle.


    Of course, there was also a downside, which was the monopolization of many industries by Qin Hao¡¯s Xinghai Association.


    There were pros and cons to this matter, but in the eyes of East Chao Country, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.


    They had a small land area and population, and their technology was backward; no matter how they developed, they could never become as powerful as Xuan Country or the Federation.


    Due to their own factors, it was impossible for them to become a global military powerhouse.


    They were well aware of this fact, but to avoid being bullied in the future, they chose to rely on Xuan Country.


    The Federation was very powerful now, but being mortal enemies, East Chao Country could not rely on them.


    Although Beiluo Country¡¯s military might could contend with that of the Federation, their economy was poor, whereas Xuan Country held great potential. Currently, Xuan Country¡¯s economic scale was second only to the Federation, and it had continuously made breakthroughs in military technology.


    The once dormant Eastern giant dragon was gradually awakening. After much deliberation, East Chao Country made the current decision.


    Qin Hao discussed some specific details with them, while Chang Jing and her secretary made records.


    Both parties had an in-depth exchange on cooperation across various industries, the results of which greatly pleased Qin Hao. East Chao Country was very open, and from this, Qin Hao discerned the intentions of the higher echelons of Xuan Country.


    East Chao Country must have reached some cooperative agreement with the higher echelons of Xuan Country; otherwise, they would not have opened up to such a degree.


    East Chao Country was rich in underground resources, with large reserves of various rare metals, and they also possessed the largest iron mine in the Eastern Continent.


    This was what Qin Hao valued the most; he would need a lot of iron ore and rare metals in the future.


    Qin Hao discussed solar panels, Star Domain Network communications, as well as processed food, clothing, liquor, and pharmaceuticals with them.


    There were still many industry details to be finalized, and tomorrow Qin Hao would gather people from the Xinghai Association to discuss with their delegation, which could take several days to conclude.


    After all, many interests were involved and needed to be discussed specifically.


    Later, Qin Hao had Chang Jing arrange accommodation for the delegation from East Chao Country. They had lunch together at noon; Qin Hao originally did not want to join as he disliked such social occasions.


    However, for the sake of cooperation, it was not good to deny them face.


    When he left the hotel at noon, Qin Hao called Li Qingya, ¡°Qing Ya, notify all members of the Xinghai Association that are interested in developing in East Chao Country to come to Jianghai City and discuss with the delegation from East Chao Country.¡±


    Li Qingya was momentarily stunned, her tone somewhat excited, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you mean East Chao Country has fully opened up to us?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Exactly, currently only to companies from Xuan Country. This is an opportunity.¡±


    Li Qingya, ¡°Okay, Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll notify them right away.¡±


    As soon as he hung up with Li Qingya, Qin Hao received a call from Silin Ross, ¡°Mr. Qin, what are you busy with?¡±


    Qin Hao said smiling, ¡°What else can I be busy with? I¡¯m purchasing items, preparing for the development and construction of Pu¡¯er Island.¡±


    Silin giggled, ¡°Mr. Qin, I heard your company¡¯s Star Domain Network has now opened up to the public?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Yes, two days ago a delegation from East Luo Country approached me. Miss Silin, would your Ross family like to represent the Federation region for the Star Domain Network?¡±


    Silin, ¡°Of course I¡¯d be happy to, but I also have a matter I need to discuss with Mr. Qin. I¡¯ll be taking an early flight to Xuan Country this morning to discuss the details with you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    It should be in the early hours of the morning now in the Federation, and yet Silin hadn¡¯t gone to sleep.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Alright, when you arrive, just let me know, and I¡¯ll come to pick you up.¡±


    Silin said laughingly, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m also bringing a few friends, all coming to bring you money.¡±


    ¡°What friends?¡±


    Silin, ¡°Some communication industry giants from Siluo Country will also accompany me. They are coming for the agency issues of Star Domain Network, all bringing you money.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face lit up with a smile, ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s great, I¡¯m indeed in need of money right now.¡±


    In the past two days, Chang Jing spent nearly a hundred billion buying all sorts of equipment and materials for the development and construction of Pu¡¯er Island, including large-scale heavy machinery, mountain excavation equipment, solar power equipment, and various road construction materials, diesel, and so on.


    After chatting with Silin, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang again; this time it was a call from Anna Insher, whose commercial instincts from her consortium were extremely sharp.


    Her goal was similar to Silin¡¯s, mainly to manage the Star Domain Network.


    However, Qin Hao felt that they had other motives, not solely for Star Domain Network.


    In the afternoon, envoys from Teleonas Country also arrived in Jianghai City to meet Qin Hao; they came to buy the rights to the Star Domain Network.


    Qin Hao offered them the same price as Beiluo Country, which was nine billion Federation dollars, and they gladly accepted this price.


    After all, this was Xuan Country¡¯s subordinate, and the pricing was quite fair. The population of Teleonas Country was even larger than Beiluo Country, reaching over two hundred million, and their economy was also rapidly developing.


    By controlling the network, Teleonas Country would be able to dominate the entire national industry of networking.


    After seeing off the delegation from Teleonas Country in the afternoon, Qin Hao was busy in his office. He entered an advanced intelligence management program into the motherboard of the 002 robot via the network, raising its intelligence level to that of the 001 model.


    These intelligent robots going to Pu¡¯er Island required a high-level robot for leadership and management.


    Qin Hao then spent thirteen million achievement points in the system market to exchange for a design blueprint of an intelligent seaport that could be used both at sea and in the air.


    This was a futuristic high-tech port that could even accommodate F-class series of interstellar battleships, cruisers, aircraft carriers, and so on.


    He transmitted the port¡¯s design blueprint to 002, which would arrange the division of labor once it arrived at Pu¡¯er Island.


    After finishing these tasks, Qin Hao glanced at his watch and stood up, planning to go home when his phone suddenly rang; it was a call from Xiao Hao, ¡°Are you free tonight, Xiao Hao? How about coming out for dinner?¡±


    [First update]

 Chapter 650 - 650 652 Invitation

    ?Chapter 650: Chapter 652 Invitation Chapter 650: Chapter 652 Invitation Qin Hao curiously asked, ¡°Where is Mr. He going for dinner?¡±


    He Qizhi did not answer but counter-asked, ¡°You and Tingting aren¡¯t together, are you?¡±


    Qin Hao hadn¡¯t been alone with He Tingting these days: ¡°No, she¡¯s in the lab, and she might finish work late.¡±


    He Qizhi smiled and said, ¡°Great, just come by yourself tonight. I¡¯ll wait for you in room 1601 at the Innsil Hotel.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, a glint of sharpness passed through Qin Hao¡¯s eyes. It was obvious that He Qizhi didn¡¯t want He Tingting to know about this, and inviting him to dine at the Innsil Hotel seemed excessive.


    He felt that it must be related to Ye Xiaolu, and it was very likely that she was the one orchestrating everything behind the scenes.


    What does she want by inviting me to dinner? There must be something going on.


    While he was thinking, Chang Jing walked into the room, ¡°Mr. Qin, the funds of Xinghai Company are almost depleted these days.¡±


    It was already the end of March, and this month Xinghai Company¡¯s profits had been nearly a hundred billion, but he had spent it all on purchases, leaving almost no working capital.


    There are sufficient funds in Xingyu Network Communication Company, but since they are not the same company, the funds cannot be transferred arbitrarily.


    Qin Hao transferred one hundred billion into the company¡¯s account: ¡°Currently, we¡¯ve spent a hundred billion on purchasing various equipment and materials, right?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°Yes, about that, following your instructions to increase the production of robots and the research funding for the labs, etc., the spending needs to be at least several billion each month.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯ve already transferred the money you spent; just ask me for reimbursement when purchasing equipment and materials from now on, and don¡¯t use the funds from Xinghai Company anymore.¡±


    After finishing his statement, he continued, ¡°There might be more people coming these days, so Mr. Chang, it¡¯ll be a bit of a hassle for you.¡±


    Chang Jing gave him a look, ¡°You¡¯re free anyway, can¡¯t you come and help? It¡¯s your company after all.¡±


    ...


    Exiting the company, Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, ¡°Head to the Innsil Hotel.¡±


    On the way, Qin Hao called Han Meng at home, ¡°Meng, I¡¯ll be eating out tonight. No need for you guys to wait for me for dinner.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Xiao Hao, come back early then.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao pondered over the dinner He Qizhi was inviting him to. There was no doubt the person behind it was Ye Xiaolu, because there was no need for He Qizhi to do this; he could have just called him home.


    But now, he actually invited him to the Innsil Hotel, which said it all.


    Upon arriving at the Innsil Hotel, Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, ¡°You and Han Zhuang come up with me, the others wait here.¡±


    Entering the hotel, they took the elevator to the front of room 1601.


    Just as Qin Hao was about to knock, he vaguely heard a woman¡¯s voice from inside. With his keen senses, he listened carefully, confirming there were indeed voices.


    Leng Xuan curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Having said that, he knocked on the door as he didn¡¯t have time to wait outside.


    He Qizhi, having waited quite a while with Ye Xiaolu, couldn¡¯t hold back any longer.


    Upon hearing the knock, the two inside were momentarily stunned. He Qizhi asked, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Qin Hao.¡±


    ¡°Coming, coming...¡±


    After about a minute, He Qizhi came and opened the door. Qin Hao saw him smiling and asked, ¡°Mr. He, why did you take so long to open the door?¡±


    He Qizhi¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he smiled and said, ¡°I just went to the restroom. Come in, Xiao Hao, let me introduce you to a friend.¡±


    ...


    Entering the room, Ye Xiaolu sat by the round table, her cheeks flushed. Upon seeing Qin Hao, she stood up and walked over, ¡°Hello Qin Hao, nice to see you again.¡±


    ¡°So, it¡¯s Mr. Ye,¡± Qin Hao extended his hand to shake hers, but quickly withdrew it.


    He Qizhi laughed and said, ¡°You know each other? Then there¡¯s no need for me to introduce you. Take a seat, Xiao Hao.¡±


    Ye Xiaolu smiled seductively, ¡°The last time student Qin Hao was looking for his girlfriend Xu Siyao, it happened to be while I was giving a lecture.¡±


    At this, He Qizhi¡¯s expression shifted slightly, girlfriend? Xu Siyao?


    Qin Hao also noticed the change in his expression and internally cursed, almost revealing too much.


    A gleam appeared in Ye Xiaolu¡¯s eyes as she continued smiling, ¡°Mr. He, let¡¯s serve the dishes.¡±


    Regaining his composure, He Qizhi called out, ¡°Wait staff, serve the dishes.¡±


    In less than a few minutes, over a dozen dishes were served, along with three bottles of red wine. Ye Xiaolu opened the bottles and poured a glass each for He Qizhi, Qin Hao, and herself.


    Ye Xiaolu smiled and said, ¡°Cheers, Mr. He, Qin Hao.¡±


    He Qizhi¡¯s smile returned, and Qin Hao¡¯s involvement with his daughter could be discussed later. For now, it was about helping Xiaolu.


    After the toast, He Qizhi smiled and said, ¡°Eat up, Xiao Hao, don¡¯t be shy.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded and picked up some dishes with his chopsticks. The table was abundant with food; this was a high-end set meal from the Innsil Hotel costing sixty-six thousand per portion.


    The three ate for a while and drank a little wine. He Qizhi and Ye Xiaolu still hadn¡¯t mentioned the main issue, and Qin Hao hadn¡¯t asked directly. They were the ones who needed him, not the other way around.


    Qin Hao, who would normally not afford such a meal, was not hesitant. He continuously used his chopsticks.


    Eventually, Ye Xiaolu couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and gave He Qizhi a look.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, your uncle called you out today because he needs a favor,¡± He Qizhi finally broached the subject.


    The discussion finally began, and if they didn¡¯t speak up, Qin Hao was ready to leave after eating, ¡°Mr. He, what is it?¡±


    He Qizhi glanced at Ye Xiaolu, turned his head, and said, ¡°This matter involves Mr. Ye. I have a close relationship with Mr. Ye, and when she asked for my help, it was hard to decline. Isn¡¯t it, Xiao Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, the conversation had been dragged without getting to the point, ¡°Mr. He, please get straight to the point.¡±


    He Qizhi explained, ¡°Here¡¯s how it is, Mr. Ye¡¯s parents run a business in Zhou Island, and they are in the electronics technology sector. They would like to partner with your Xinghai Company for a mutually beneficial and profitable collaboration.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes sparkled, his smile unwavering, ¡°Mr. Ye¡¯s family is from Zhou Island?¡±


    He Qizhi elaborated, ¡°Mr. Ye grew up in Xuan Country, but her parents are businessmen on Zhou Island.¡±


    Ye Xiaolu nodded, ¡°I stayed on Zhou Island when I was little, then lived with my grandparents. After my grandparents passed away, I made my own way in Xuan Country.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled silently, sitting there and taking a light sip from his wine glass, ¡°Mr. He, Mr. Ye, what exactly are you proposing in this collaboration?¡±


    [Second Post]

 Chapter 651 - 651 653 The Annoyed He Qizhi

    ?Chapter 651: Chapter 653 The Annoyed He Qizhi Chapter 651: Chapter 653 The Annoyed He Qizhi Ye Xiaolu¡¯s heart lifted upon hearing those words. Could this mean there was a chance?


    She said with a light smile, ¡°Our family is in the business of manufacturing mobile phones, electronics, and home appliances. We want to cooperate with Mr. Qin in the area of smart chips. As for the profits, Mr. Qin can rest assured that we will not offer less than others, only more.¡±


    He Qizhi said with a smile, ¡°Yeah, Xiao Hao, we¡¯re all family here, and you¡¯ll make money too. Isn¡¯t that even better?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s smile faded from his face, ¡°Is your parents¡¯ company registered in Xuan Country or Zhou Island?¡±


    Ye Xiaolu answered, ¡°It¡¯s registered in Zhou Island.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry then, but my company currently has no plans to cooperate with any companies from Zhou Island.¡±


    Ye Xiaolu¡¯s smile froze; He Qizhi was also stunned. He quickly said, ¡°Xiao Hao, for my sake, can you give a little leeway and cooperate with Xiaolu¡¯s family?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Mr. He, there are other matters I can agree to, but let¡¯s not discuss this one anymore.¡±


    Upon hearing such a straightforward rejection, He Qizhi¡¯s face struggled to maintain composure, ¡°Doesn¡¯t Tingting even have this much face? Or is it because you have another woman and are bored with Tingting?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at He Qizhi calmly, ¡°This has nothing to do with Tingting. This is a matter of principle.¡±


    He Qizhi snorted coldly, ¡°A matter of principle? You¡¯re talking about principles with me? If you had any principles, how could you go after other women when you have Tingting? You must agree to this today. Otherwise, I¡¯ll tell Tingting and let her expose your shameful acts on the internet.¡±


    He had boasted of his ability to help Ye Xiaolu in front of her. Qin Hao was usually very sensible, but He Qizhi had not anticipated such a direct refusal from him.


    How could he face Ye Xiaolu after this?


    It must be said that Ye Xiaolu had some ability to get He Qizhi to cater to her every whim willingly.


    When Qin Hao heard He Qizhi¡¯s words, he scoffed, ¡°I don¡¯t need to be instructed by others in my affairs. If you want to expose me, go ahead. I don¡¯t care. Just be careful you might not even be able to log on to the internet.¡±


    He Qizhi, faced with Qin Hao¡¯s defiance, could hardly contain his fury, ¡°Do you believe I can get you expelled from school?¡±


    ¡°Do you have the authority? I¡¯m afraid you might be dismissed from your position before you can expel me.¡± After saying this, Qin Hao stood up and walked outside.


    He Qizhi was left sitting there, his face ashen. Ye Xiaolu¡¯s expression was also not great, her face shifting colors ceaselessly.


    She glanced at He Qizhi with a hint of disgust flickering in her eyes. What a useless man.


    But she said with a smile, ¡°Let it go, Qizhi. Let¡¯s leave as well.¡±


    ...


    On the way back, Qin Hao called He Tingting, ¡°Your dad just invited me to dinner.¡±


    ¡°What did he say to you? Did he need something from you?¡± He Tingting asked curiously.


    Qin Hao briefly described the incident at the hotel and added, ¡°Your dad has that kind of relationship with this Ye Xiaolu.¡±


    He Tingting¡¯s face changed upon hearing this, ¡°Impossible, my dad¡¯s not that kind of man.¡±


    ¡°I know you won¡¯t believe it. I¡¯ll send you a video to see for yourself.¡± After the call, Qin Hao sent He Tingting a video which showed He Qizhi and Ye Xiaolu doing those things.


    Then Qin Hao called Li Wenjun, ¡°Investigate Ye Xiaolu¡¯s detailed background for me.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao suspected she was a spy!


    ...


    On the way back, He Qizhi grew angrier the more he thought about it, and then he called He Tingting.


    The call was quickly answered, and He Tingting began, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with dad?¡±


    He Qizhi replied, ¡°Qin Hao has a mistress, did you know that?¡±


    He Tingting was taken aback, ¡°Dad, why are you suddenly asking this?¡±


    He Qizhi said, ¡°It seems you already know, then why didn¡¯t you tell me? You should leave that bastard immediately and resign from his company.¡±


    He Tingting frowned, ¡°Dad, I have a contract with the company. How can I just resign like that? Dad, don¡¯t worry about this; I can handle it myself.¡±


    He Qizhi pressed, ¡°How will you handle it? Once that bastard Qin Hao tires of you, he¡¯ll dump you. How will you handle it then? What can you do? I¡¯m going to expose him in the newspapers, see his reputation destroyed.¡±


    Hearing her father¡¯s words, He Tingting grew more anxious, ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t interfere with my affairs. I¡¯m an adult and can handle them myself. You should take care of your own matters.¡±


    He Qizhi¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°What matters of mine do I need to take care of?¡±


    He Tingting said, ¡°I¡¯ve already told mom about you and Ye Xiaolu. You¡¯d better think of how to explain it to her. Don¡¯t worry about me; I can handle my own issues.¡±


    After she finished, she hung up the call. He Qizhi turned pale. How could Tingting know? What should he do now?


    After thinking for a moment, he made a call to Ye Xiaolu, ¡°Xiaolu, my family seems to be aware of our affair.¡±


    Ye Xiaolu spoke indifferently, ¡°So they know, so what? Your wife is old; if you admit your mistake to her, she¡¯s sure to forgive you. After all the years you¡¯ve been together, she won¡¯t leave you.¡±


    He Qizhi¡¯s face relaxed, ¡°You always have a way, Xiaolu.¡±


    Ye Xiaolu¡¯s tone turned coquettish, ¡°Now what do we do? Qin Hao refuses to cooperate, and I¡¯ve promised my parents confidently. What should we do now?¡±


    Thinking it over, He Qizhi said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xiaolu, I¡¯ll find a way. I¡¯ll make sure he agrees.¡±


    Ye Xiaolu replied, ¡°Then think carefully, and if you can¡¯t come up with anything, don¡¯t touch me anymore.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao returned home, where Han Meng and the others were waiting for him. Qiao¡¯er and Fan Ruobing got along quite well; both wore more smiles than before.


    Fan Ruobing said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve started my period these last few days. Tonight, you should spend some quality time with Qiao¡¯er and Meng.¡±


    Han Meng blushed at the words, standing on the side, too shy to speak.


    That was just her personality; it couldn¡¯t be changed, but admittedly, it was quite endearing.


    However, that night, Qin Hao didn¡¯t make a move.


    The next morning, after breakfast, Qin Hao went to his office. By then, many members of the Xinghai Association had already arrived.


    Li Qingya, Li Qingyun, Ye Lanxin, Jiang Chenfeng from Jinfeng Mobile Group, Li Moying, Liang Xiyu from Jiangqi Group, and Guo Hang from Wanhao Real Estate Group, to name a few¡ªmore than thirty people in total.


    The heads of Jiangshan Group¡¯s various subsidiaries were also present, from Huafei Clothing to Hua Mei Skincare, Xinghui Wine Industry, Jiangshan Cooked Food, and so on.


    As Qin Hao entered the large conference room, Li Qingya and the others stood up and addressed him, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Li, Mr. Ye, Mr. Jiang, good to see you,¡± Qin Hao responded with a smile, greeting each one in turn.


    Qin Hao asked Chang Jing beside him, ¡°Has the delegation from East Chao Country arrived yet?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°They¡¯re on their way and should be here soon.¡±


    [Third update]

 Chapter 652 - 652 654 Anna and Silin

    ?Chapter 652: Chapter 654 Anna and Silin Chapter 652: Chapter 654 Anna and Silin At that moment, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang; it was from Silin Ross, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m almost at Jianghai International Airport, could you come to pick me up?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m on my way.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao said to Chang Jing and the others, ¡°Mr. Chang, I have another matter to attend to, please entertain Mr. Li and the rest.¡±


    Li Qingya said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s alright Mr. Qin, go ahead with your work, we are all family here, no one will mind.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin, feel free to attend to your business,¡± Guo Hang from Wan Hao Real Estate Group also spoke.


    Guo Hang joined Xinghai Association later. He was a famous real estate tycoon in Xuan Country, and Guo Jiande from Wanli Elevator Door Industry Group, his younger brother, had also joined the Xinghai Association.


    Because Xinghai Company had developed more advanced elevator technology and smart door locks, now Wanli Elevator Door Industry Group had shares belonging to Qin Hao.


    Even Wanhao Real Estate now had shares owned by Qin Hao, his billions had not been spent in vain.


    As he left the company, Qin Hao saw the cars of the East Chao Country mission entering.


    On the way to the airport, Qin Hao received another call from Anna Insher, who was also about to arrive at Jianghai International Airport.


    At 9:30 a.m., the group of Silin Ross walked out of the airport, comprising more than twenty people, including over ten bodyguards.


    They walked toward Qin Hao¡¯s convoy. Besides Silin Ross, Qin Hao also saw Lambert from the Onassis Family, who had previously visited with the Northern Federation Mission.


    ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± Silin said with a smiling face, showing her white, neat teeth.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Qi,¡± the people around Silin greeted him one by one.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Welcome to Xuan Country.¡±


    While they were speaking, Anna Insher and her group also came out from inside the airport. She had also brought some people with her, mainly from very powerful families in the Western Continent.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, long time no see, Anna has missed you a lot.¡± After saying that, Anna came over and gave him a hug and a kiss.


    Silin saw this and scoffed, ¡°Such a sly fox to do this in public.¡±


    Nevertheless, Anna¡¯s actions were quite effective. The surrounding people looked at Anna differently, the closeness between Anna and Qin Hao was obvious, and it seemed like they would need to get closer to her in the future.


    Qin Hao blushed slightly, feeling somewhat embarrassed and shy. Besides these people, there were many onlookers, and Qin Hao felt quite self-conscious with so many people watching.


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s reaction, Anna found it amusing and smiled seductively, ¡°Mr. Qin also has other friends here, isn¡¯t this Miss Silin Ross from the Ross family? Nice to see you again.¡±


    Silin smiled faintly, ¡°Miss Anna, haven¡¯t seen you for a few days, and you¡¯ve become even more charming.¡±


    She could not miss the sarcasm in her words and looked at Silin, ¡°Miss Silin, your figure hasn¡¯t changed much; the method I recommended last time must not have worked, right?¡±


    Silin¡¯s cheeks turned red, and she glared at her without replying.


    Seeing the two bickering the moment they met, Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, ¡°Hurry up and get in the car. Aren¡¯t you tired after such a long flight?¡±


    After speaking, Qin Hao opened the car door and got in. Seeing this, Anna promptly followed him, and Silin hesitated for a moment before getting in as well.


    The others had no choice but to get into other cars, leaving the bodyguards to take cabs on their own.


    ...


    In the car, Qin Hao sat in the middle of the back seat, flanked by Anna Insher and Silin Ross.


    He opened his mouth and said, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for you to check into the hotel first. Once you¡¯ve rested, we can discuss other matters.¡±


    Anna smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s okay, Mr. Qin. We already slept a lot on the plane. Once we arrive at the hotel, we can discuss the collaboration.¡±


    Silin also spoke up, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin, we rested well on the plane.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded and asked curiously, ¡°What was that recommendation method you mentioned earlier, Anna?¡±


    Anna chuckled and said, ¡°Last time in Lijia State, I noticed Miss Silin was slender and offered her a good method to enhance her stature, but it seems Miss Silin didn¡¯t use it.¡±


    Silin¡¯s cheeks flushed as she retorted, ¡°Where am I slender? This is called perfect body shape. Isn¡¯t it tiring for you to walk around with such a large frame?¡±


    Qin Hao burst into laughter, ¡°Alright, alright, every time you two meet, you act like enemies, and you didn¡¯t even know each other before.¡±


    They soon arrived at Jinxiu Hotel. Standing outside, a group of people examined the building, ¡°Jinxiu Smart Hotel? This hotel has smart features?¡±


    Anna and Silin both looked on with curiosity, ¡°Mr. Qin, what kind of hotel is this?¡±


    ¡°This is a smart five-star hotel jointly established by Jinxiu Group and our Xinghai Company. It has just been renovated, and I will show you around,¡± Qin Hao said as he led the way.


    Following him to the entrance, Qin Hao explained, ¡°Here, there are several advanced surveillance probes that can detect any position in front of the hotel and even identify whether there are any weapons.¡±


    ¡°Also, the hotel¡¯s smart sensory glass door, which is our latest innovation, automatically opens and closes when it detects someone entering or leaving. Since it¡¯s a hotel, retinal, facial, vocal, and fingerprint authentication features are not applied.¡±


    As Qin Hao approached the entrance, the glass door automatically opened.


    ¡°Welcome to Jinxiu Smart Hotel,¡± the voice then repeated in Federation language.


    Entering the lobby, Qin Hao said, ¡°You guys go ahead and check in.¡±


    The check-in process was swift. In just about two to three minutes, dozens of people had completed it and moved toward the elevator entrance. Sensing their presence, the elevator doors automatically opened.


    Without pressing any buttons, the smart elevator knew which floor they needed to go to because their information had already been entered into the hotel¡¯s smart server.


    Reaching the 20th floor, Qin Hao mentioned, ¡°When we entered the hotel, the surveillance camera had already captured everyone¡¯s faces. Just smile at the camera near your room door, and it will open.¡±


    Some people didn¡¯t believe it and tried; indeed, their room doors unlocked. Attempts to access other rooms had no response since those rooms weren¡¯t activated. Attempts on activated rooms where the face didn¡¯t match failed to unlock,


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°Inside the room, there is a 24-hour artificial intelligence assistant available for service. You can tell it what you need, and it will relay the information to the outside staff, who will then make arrangements.¡±


    The attendees were truly amazed. This was indeed very intelligent.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, since all these devices are networked, could they be hacked?¡± someone asked.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Have you ever heard of anyone hacking into the Star Domain Network? Its security is not something these people can breach. Even if one day they do break into the Star Domain Network, they can¡¯t control any connected device, because only the owner¡¯s commands are effective.¡±


    Having experienced this, they entered a large business conference room. Qin Hao took the main seat, with Silin¡¯s team on the left and Anna¡¯s team on the right, and they began discussing the collaboration.


    [Fourth update, watched the TV series Night Emperor, the finale aired at 1:15 AM. This update is a bit late, but nothing is missing]

 Chapter 653 - 653 655 Opportunities

    ?Chapter 653: Chapter 655 Opportunities Chapter 653: Chapter 655 Opportunities Miss Sulin was the first to speak, ¡°Mr. Qin, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Bridges from Charlo Country, a telecommunications giant, this is Mr. Philton from Siluo Country, and this is Mr. Tom Reit from Cuba...¡±


    Almost everyone from Beimi had come, and Miss Sulin was their leader.


    As she introduced each person, they would stand up to greet and then sit down again.


    Following that, Miss Anna introduced her colleagues, who also came from various countries in the Western Continent.


    Their primary aim was for Star Domain Network. Qin Hao did not care who became the agents; as long as they paid, it was fine.


    Qin Hao looked at Miss Sulin and said, ¡°Miss Sulin, let¡¯s first discuss your agency issues. Do you want to represent the entire Beimi, and then you distribute the agency rights in Beimi, or just represent the Federation?¡±


    If Sulin represented the entire Beimi, she could allocate the agency rights to others after returning. This would help her control the entire telecommunications industry in Beimi, having everyone in her hands.


    She said without hesitation, ¡°If possible, I would like to represent the entire Star Domain Network in Beimi.¡±


    The other telecom giants of Beimi had a neutral expression; they had anticipated this outcome since they could meet Qin Hao through Sulin.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°That simplifies things. It saves me from negotiating individually. The agency fee for the entire Star Domain Network in Beimi is forty billion Federation Coins per year, Miss Sulin, and this is a friendly price I¡¯m offering you.¡±


    This price was not high considering Beimi¡¯s population was nearly six hundred million, with the Federation alone having over three hundred million, and a high internet penetration rate among its citizens.


    According to statistics, last year the Federation¡¯s turnover in the telecommunications industry exceeded eighty billion Federation Coins.


    This meant that even if Sulin Ross represented Star Domain Network at a cost of forty billion Federation Coins, their annual profit would still surpass this agency fee.


    This had no cost of goods or maintenance expenses; turnover minus agency fees was their net profit. Labor wages were not calculated by Qin Hao since it required very few staff.


    Moreover, representatives from countries like Charlo and Siluo also wanted agency rights; thus the Federation¡¯s agency fee was around twenty billion Federation Coins.


    Sulin thought briefly, then nodded her agreement. Qin Hao was returning a favor, considering the Ross family had exerted significant effort and used many connections to help him purchase Pu¡¯er Island in the past.


    Qin Hao spoke to the room¡¯s advanced intelligent surveillance probe, ¡°Print two copies of the contract.¡±


    The nearby printer activated, and soon two contracts were printed. Qin Hao handed one copy to Sulin, both parties checked them, then signed and stamped them.


    Qin Hao then said to Miss Anna, ¡°Miss Anna, the price for your Western Continent Region is also forty billion Federation Coins a year, but the population of your region is much larger than that of the Federation.¡±


    Anna smiled and nodded. Qin Hao had given her the authority to distribute interests in the Western Continent, which could absolutely elevate the Innsil Family.


    After the parties signed the contracts, Xingyu Network Communication Company recorded an income of eighty billion Federation Coins. The current revenue was nearly one hundred billion Federation Coins.


    This was without having gone global yet, only having opened in parts of the Eastern Continent and in Beimi and the Western Continent regions.


    If other regions were also opened, Xingyu Network Communication Company¡¯s annual profit from agency fees alone would exceed one hundred and fifty to one hundred and sixty billion Federation Coins, surpassing one trillion Xuan Country Coins in revenue.


    After all, other regions were not as developed; the agency fees would not be as high.


    Now, financiers could notice that a vast amount of capital was flowing towards Xuan Country, an abnormal phenomenon. This was set to significantly impact the economic supremacy of the Federation.


    In the past, the Northern Federation monopolized various high-tech technologies and petroleum energy, with massive amounts of capital flowing into the Northern Federation, which contributed to its highly developed economy.


    However, Xuan Country had now blazed a new trail by opening a channel on the financial conduit leading to the Northern Federation, causing a significant amount of capital to flow into Xuan Country.


    The biggest beneficiary was naturally Qin Hao, who would make a lot of money, followed by Xuan Country, whose company taxes and so forth would also reach a very large figure.


    Moreover, Star Domain Network also held twenty percent of the national shares, and every year Qin Hao would also generate hundreds of billions in huge profits for the nation.


    Most of these profits were earned from foreigners and were completely more than what the original three major operators had earned.


    Certainly, Qin Hao would invest this money in national development, molding Xuan Country into the new world hegemon.


    After the negotiations concluded, most had left, leaving only Silin Ross and Anna remaining, exchanging glances.


    Silin spoke softly, ¡°Mr. Qin, I heard East Chao Country has fully opened up to you?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded and said, ¡°Don¡¯t get your hopes up, you two, they have only opened up to Xuan Country Company for now.¡±


    Silin smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s the official involvement of your country in East Chao Country; naturally, we wouldn¡¯t have any ideas, but this time, we have a great opportunity to tell Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°What opportunity?¡±


    Silin smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, your current profitability is extremely terrifying and impressive, but you are still quite insulated from global news. Which region do you think has the most development potential right now?¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Southeast Continent, represented by Stan Country, has great development potential, as do several coastal countries in Lijia State.¡±


    Anna interjected, ¡°Mr. Qin, the opportunity we are discussing is Stan Country in the Southeast Continent Region. They have a large population, and the domestic market has tremendous development potential. It might be the next Xuan Country in Southeast Continent.


    ¡°It¡¯s not too late to enter the Stan Country market now, as no monopolistic situation has formed yet. Although we are a bit late, with your advanced monopolistic technology, Mr. Qin, we can definitely break into the market and gradually devour the Stan Country market, achieving control over their economy.¡±


    Silin nodded; that was also what she meant regarding Stan Country.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Your families are all quite strong, so why come to me?¡±


    Silin replied, ¡°Mr. Qin, large families have their difficulties, and the competition is fierce. This time, I am cooperating with Mr. Qin personally. We can enter the Stan Country market together; you get the meat, we get the soup.¡±


    Anna, smiling, said, ¡°Although our Innsil Family isn¡¯t as powerful as the Ross family, we are united. In this generation of disciples, Su Fei and I hold the major power in the family.¡±


    Qin Hao, after some thought, asked, ¡°Is the competition there very fierce?¡±


    Silin nodded and said, ¡°Beidou Country¡¯s Shuangxing Consortium, Beihai Country¡¯s six major consortia, as well as the families and consortia in the Western Continent and the Northern Federation, are all vying for that market. My Ross family is also involved; the person in charge is Vennis-Ross, one of the future heirs of the Ross family.¡±


    ¡°What is your status in the Ross family?¡± Qin Hao curiously asked.


    Silin replied, ¡°Currently, I can also be considered one of the future heirs of the Ross family. All this is due to Mr. Qin. Nobody in our family expected Mr. Qin to erupt with such force, many regret it immensely.¡±


    [First Update]

 Chapter 654 - 654 656 Grand Plan

    ?Chapter 654: Chapter 656: Grand Plan Chapter 654: Chapter 656: Grand Plan Qin Hao thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Let¡¯s put off entering the Stan Country market for now. There¡¯s no rush; I need to handle the situation with East Chao Country first.¡±


    Silin, ¡°There¡¯s no hurry for this matter. We can enter there whenever Mr. Qin is ready; it won¡¯t be too late.¡±


    Qin Hao possessed advanced monopolistic technology. Even if they entered later, it wouldn¡¯t matter; they just wanted to see if Qin Hao was interested in going.


    Qin Hao certainly had this intention. His business empire was already taking shape, and the next step was to use various advanced technologies to monopolize the market economies of certain countries.


    First, it would bring huge profits; second, it could influence their governments, align them with Xuan Country, and make them Xuan Country¡¯s vassals.


    Qin Hao¡¯s current goal was to influence the countries around Xuan Country. He planned to first secure his immediate surroundings before addressing other matters.


    Now that East Chao Country had aligned with Xuan Country, Xuan Country would definitely support East Chao Country¡¯s economy vigorously, setting an example that could sway more neighboring countries.


    The small countries around them understood very clearly that becoming a top world power was impossible due to limiting factors such as land area, population, and high-tech technology.


    Their goal was simply to achieve economic prosperity and find a strong country to align with, so they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about being oppressed by other countries.


    Anna looked at her watch and said, ¡°It¡¯s almost noon, Mr. Qin. Let¡¯s go have lunch together.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go together.¡±


    The three of them left the meeting room and went to the hotel¡¯s second floor for lunch. There was a smart display on the table with various menus; they could also request any service they needed through it.


    Their table had a table number, so the back end could easily tell which dishes were ordered by guests at which table, which was very convenient.


    While they were waiting for their food, Lambert from the Onassis Family came over. He looked at Qin Hao and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, waiting for lunch?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Mr. Lambert, did you need to see me about something?¡±


    Lambert glanced at Silin and Anna, smiled, and said, ¡°I do have a little matter. May I discuss it outside, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°No problem; Anna and Silin are people I trust. Mr. Lambert, please feel free to speak.¡±


    Lambert hesitated for a moment, ¡°I heard that Du Group¡¯s shipyard developed an intelligent ocean-going freighter.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Yes, I had previously promised you, Mr. Lambert. Don¡¯t worry, I will also provide you with the freighters¡¯ smart mainboards.¡±


    Although there were many freighter smart mainboards, supplying them was not an issue for Qin Hao, as constructing a single freighter required a few months due to its large overall structure.


    Qin Hao could easily supply them for the production of intelligent freighters.


    Lambert continued, ¡°Mr. Qin, as you know, our Onassis Family¡¯s main business is in arms. We would also like to have in-depth cooperation with you in military technology, for mutual benefit.¡±


    Qin Hao was startled for a moment, then said with a smile, ¡°We in Xuan Country have regulations, Mr. Lambert; I can¡¯t agree to that.¡±


    The Onassis Family¡¯s initiative must have been backed by official directives from the Federation, as the Federation now coveted Xuan Country¡¯s Warhawk Intelligent Unmanned Fighter.


    The technology of this fighter essentially involved applying Xinghai Company¡¯s artificial intelligence technology; there were no other changes.


    As long as they got the artificial intelligence technology from Qin Hao, the Federation could also develop this type of fighter.


    ...


    Their thinking was correct, but they did not understand Qin Hao as a person.


    Mr. Lambert persisted, ¡°Mr. Qin, don¡¯t be in such a rush to refuse. Everything can be discussed. You can also state your conditions, and we will do our best to meet them.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, a spark of inspiration flashing through his mind, ¡°Mr. Lambert, I need to consider this carefully.¡±


    Mr. Lambert smiled slightly, ¡°Good, Mr. Qin, whenever you have made a decision, you can contact me at any time. We will definitely not disappoint you.¡±


    After Mr. Lambert left, Silin looked at him and said, ¡°The Onassis Family has significant authority in the military of the North Federation. They also sell various types of military equipment around the world, including ordinary weapons, warships, missiles, and fighter jets, as long as the price is right. However, they do not sell their top-tier technology weapons,


    mainly to the Eastern and Western Continents and the Lijia State. Their financial and physical capabilities are very strong.¡±


    Lunch was served quickly, and after lunch, Qin Hao took Silin and Anna to Xinghai Company, where he had Xiaoxing create several independent sub-accounts for Silin and Anna.


    After receiving the management account, Silin asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, how is the usage rate of the Star Domain Network in Beiluo Country?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Because of the strong push by the government of Beiluo Country, their users have now reached more than eighty million. According to this growth rate, the market could be completely taken over within a week.¡±


    Silin said, ¡°We can¡¯t possibly have government support. It was a great effort just to obtain this business license, and I¡¯m not sure if we can earn back the agency fee in the first year.¡±


    She was somewhat worried, as the agency fee was almost entirely from her own funds, and she had also borrowed some from her family. In the future, twenty percent of the profits from Star Domain Network would have to be shared with her family.


    The current supply of smart chips by Xinghai Company could only sustain the production of about five hundred thousand smartphones, with profits ranging between four hundred million and five hundred million Federation dollars.


    She had not earned much money yet but had nearly invested everything she had in Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°You let all users try it for free for the first seven days. After they have used the Star Domain Network, will they be comfortable going back to their previous networks?¡±


    Silin¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, Mr. Qin. The citizens of the North Federation are not short of money; what they lack are better experiences and services. Once they have better experiences and services, they will naturally choose the Star Domain Network.¡±


    After leaving the server room, Qin Hao took them on a tour of the company, ¡°When do you two plan to leave?¡±


    Anna giggled, ¡°Of course, we will listen to Mr. Qin. Whenever you tell us to go, we will leave.¡±


    Silin looked at her speechlessly, then replied, ¡°I plan to begin my journey back tonight.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Operate your region well. By following me, I will definitely not let you suffer any losses.¡±


    Silin and Anna nodded. Now that both had joined the Xinghai Association, they were essentially Qin Hao¡¯s people.


    However, Silin had joined as an individual, whereas the entire Innsil Family had joined the Xinghai Association.


    The Innsil Family was only considered a second-tier family in the Western Continent, but since collaborating with Qin Hao, their influence had also gradually increased.


    In his mind, Qin Hao subtly divided the entire planet into several regions, with Silin in charge of North and South Mizhou, the Innsil Family responsible for the Western Continent, and he himself handling the other regions.


    This was a plan for a global business empire.


    At five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Silin, Anna, and the others took a plane back. Now that they had obtained the agency rights, they had to go back and start operations as soon as possible.


    Inside Xinghai Company, the East Chao Country delegation was still discussing specific cooperation details with the officials of the Xinghai Association.


    After sending off Silin and Anna, Qin Hao received a call from Xu Liangguo, ¡°Xiao Hao, your satellite issue has been sorted out. Tomorrow, a vehicle will come to pick it up.¡±

 Chapter 655 - 655 657 Deservedly Wealthy

    ?Chapter 655: Chapter 657: Deservedly Wealthy Chapter 655: Chapter 657: Deservedly Wealthy Qin Hao¡¯s face brightened with joy, ¡°Really Mr. Xu? That¡¯s great.¡±


    Xu Liangguo reminded, ¡°Remember to check in at the military district in a few days.¡±


    ¡°I know, Mr. Xu. I¡¯ll go check in when I have time.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao returned home where Zhao Yuying was also present. She and Qiao¡¯er were watching Fan Ruobing draw, while Han Meng was sitting in the kitchen having breakfast.


    When Zhao Yuying saw him return, she turned her head and looked at him with a wistful expression, ¡°You¡¯re back?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°Ying, has the company been busy these days? I haven¡¯t seen you for several days.¡±


    Zhao Yuying came over to help him take off his coat and hung it on the nearby rack, ¡°The company is shooting a new movie, so I¡¯ve been busy preparing the past few days.¡±


    Qin Hao expressed his concern, ¡°Don¡¯t overwork yourself. Just take some time to relax.¡±


    Zhao Yuying nodded, ¡°Mmm, I recently poached two management talents, so I won¡¯t be as busy anymore. I can just sit at home and count money now.¡±


    Qin Hao curiously asked, ¡°What about uncle and auntie?¡±


    ¡°They are at home,¡± Zhao Yuying replied with a bit of a wistful look. Because her parents were there, it wasn¡¯t convenient for her to do ¡®that¡¯ kind of thing with Qin Hao. Once a woman has experienced that taste, she tends to crave and miss it deeply.


    In the blink of an eye, the time came to April 1, which was three days later.


    The Xinghai Association and the envoys from East Chao Country had already finished discussing the details of their cooperation. This morning, the envoys from East Chao Country took a flight back home.


    In a couple of days, the merchants from Xinghai Association would go to East Chao Country to select sites and build factories. East Chao Country offered significant incentives this time, which clearly showed their determination to stand with Xuan Country.


    With this in-depth opening up, many large enterprises from Xuan Country would also enter East Chao Country, in fields such as railway construction, highway projects, and power line construction, etc.


    With the opening of East Chao Country, Xuan Country would earn the lion¡¯s share of the profits, followed by Xinghai Association. East Chao¡¯s economy would also prosper as a result of this openness.


    At this moment, Qin Hao was sitting in his office at Xinghai Company, looking at the computer screen displaying the company¡¯s revenue and profit for the month.


    In March, Xinghai Company invested fourteen and a half billion in various aspects such as production line expansion, staff recruitment, and investment in robot production.


    The net profit for the month was ten billion and eighty-nine million, mainly from the sale of smart chips and supply. Social networking software and e-commerce platforms also accounted for a significant share of the revenue.


    The smart era had just begun, and the market potential was far from being fully unearthed. This was just the beginning.


    The profits from Star Domain Network were even more astonishing, mainly because many countries became agents of Star Domain Network in March. The one year¡¯s agency fees were all included in March¡¯s finances, totaling a net profit of 101.2 billion Federation coins, which is over seven hundred billion Xuan Country coins.


    Feng Xiangyi had also sent over the March data for Jiangshan Group. With business revenues exceeding three hundred billion, the profits were forty-three billion, almost comparable to Xinghai Company in revenue, but the profit was worlds apart.


    The high-tech industry sells technology¡ªindeed, it¡¯s an industry with huge profits.


    Qin Hao left one hundred and eighty-nine billion for Xinghai Company for continued expansion and other investments, while the remaining nine hundred billion were distributed among several shareholders and himself.


    Li Moying and Xu Siyao each received one hundred thirty-five billion, Chang Jing received forty-five billion, and the remaining five hundred and eighty-five billion went into Qin Hao¡¯s wallet.


    On Star Domain Network¡¯s side, the state received twenty billion and two hundred million Federation coins, Chang Jing got fifty billion Federation coins, and the remaining seven hundred and fifty billion Federation coins were for Qin Hao.


    Adding the profits from the Jiangshan Group, Qin Hao¡¯s income for March reached six thousand two hundred thirty-five billion Xuan Country coins.


    After looking through everything, Qin Hao sat there, browsing the system shop. This time, having completed the task, he was rewarded with a system backpack expansion card.


    Once used, the storage capacity of the system backpack increased, allowing for more items to be stored. However, this was not very useful to Qin Hao.


    He usually kept only items such as clothes, cash, contracts, and similar things in his system backpack.


    The system had issued a new main task, vastly different from the previous ones.


    Main Task: Achieve a monthly income of over 8,000 for all citizens of Xuan Country (Note: excluding the elderly and students, as the system only records the income details of regular citizens¡ªnot including company CEOs or senior management).


    System Reward: One hundred million achievement points, Item Reward: D-grade first-generation Mecha.


    The reward was extremely generous, Qin Hao didn¡¯t care about the achievement points, but this D-grade first-generation Mecha really made him envious.


    If even the ungraded first-generation Mechas were so formidable, what about this D-grade one?


    The first-generation Mechas in his system mall were of F-grade, and this reward was a D-grade one, which clearly indicated the high level of difficulty of the task.


    With a population of about 1.4 billion in Xuan Country, after excluding the elderly, children, and the wealthy, the working class and farmers amounted to around one billion.


    To raise the monthly income of one billion people to over 8,000 equated to eight trillion.


    According to statistics, the number of people in Xuan Country with a stable monthly income of over 10,000 didn¡¯t even reach ten million previously, and in a big city like Jianghai City, the income of most workers generally ranged from five to six thousand a month.


    In second, third, and fourth-tier cities, the monthly wages of ordinary employees were about three to four thousand, so raising all to over eight thousand was a daunting task.


    As he frowned in deep thought, he wondered how long it would take him to solve a problem that even the country itself had not managed to do yet.


    At that moment, there was a knock at the door, and Qin Hao called out, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Lv Tian walked in, holding a financial plan in his hand, which he handed to Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin, this is the new financial plan drafted by our team.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, ¡°Mr. Lv, please give me a detailed introduction.¡±


    Lv Tian: ¡°This financial plan aims to increase the income of citizens through a wage management product. For instance, if a person¡¯s monthly income is five thousand, after deducting various living expenses, with a remaining three thousand deposited into our financial product.


    They would then receive a certain reward each month. I¡¯ve set it so that if they deposit three thousand, they will receive a reward of three hundred every month. To prevent the wealthy from exploiting the system for cash, we¡¯ve temporarily set a maximum deposit limit of five thousand per user.


    For some, this five hundred in financial earnings might not be appealing, but it¡¯s different for ordinary workers¡ªthey need the money.


    This financial product can accumulate a massive amount of wealth for our company, but it also carries risks. If the investment profits don¡¯t keep up, it could bring down our company.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up; it was indeed a great idea: ¡°Fine, let¡¯s proceed according to the plan.¡±


    As long as the financial product was associated with the names of Xinghai Company and Qin Hao, there was bound to be a high number of buyers¡ªafter all, would the richest man in the world need their money?


    After signing and applying his seal of approval, Lv Tian left, and that very day, advertisements for the financial product appeared on the Xinghai design software.


    Simultaneously, Lv Tian also promoted it online, which stirred considerable public opinion.


    Xinghai Company roughly explained: This financial product was Mr. Qin¡¯s way of giving back to the users, contributing to increasing everyone¡¯s monthly income.


    ¡°This Xinghai salary financial product offers a reward of five hundred for a deposit of five thousand for one month? Is that true or false?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you see this is a financial product from Xinghai Company? Didn¡¯t you see it was personally approved by Mr. Qin? How can it be fake? Go deposit your money quickly.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try depositing two thousand first.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin is generous, not forgetting about us even after getting rich, a conscientious entrepreneur, you deserve to be wealthy.¡±

 Chapter 656 - 656 658 Membership Conditions

    ?Chapter 656: Chapter 658: Membership Conditions Chapter 656: Chapter 658: Membership Conditions Qin Hao didn¡¯t know that within just a few hours, the salary and financial products of Xinghai Company had raised nearly 300 billion Xuan Country Coins.


    Shortly after Lv Tian had left, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang; it was a call from Xu Liangguo, ¡°Xiao Hao, your satellite has been launched, and in a few hours, the satellite you launched can be used. Luckily, this time the rocket used a new type of solid fuel.¡±


    Qin Hao asked with a smile, ¡°How about it, Mr. Xu, was the new solid fuel successful in its trial?¡±


    Xu Liangguo laughed heartily, ¡°It was successful. Now we¡¯re mass producing it, and it will be equipped to the troops very soon. This fuel is easy to produce, and the materials used are not that rare.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Xu, the Onassis family from the Federation wants to buy my AI drone technology.¡±


    Xu Liangguo, ¡°Xiao Hao, you absolutely must not sell this technology. The Federation secretly wants to acquire our Warhawk fighters, but we didn¡¯t sell. Damn, they used to block our military technology, and now they want to buy ours¡ªno chance.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°The artificial intelligence unmanned driving technology definitely cannot be sold because it involves many aspects. If they acquire the drone driving technology, they can apply it to other industries.¡±


    Xu Liangguo, ¡°We are already testing unmanned reconnaissance and bombers, and the results are very good. If there¡¯s a war in the future, we can completely avoid pilot casualties. Also, without a cockpit, the ammunition load can be significantly increased, thus enhancing its firepower.¡±


    After chatting for a while and hanging up, Qin Hao walked out of his office and went to the satellite monitoring room on the top floor of the office building, previously an earthquake monitoring space.


    However, it had now been converted into a satellite monitoring room, filled with many computers and a large satellite detection display in the center.


    Once the advanced navigation radar system entered its designated orbit, upon activation, this place could receive transmission signals sent by the satellite.


    On the military side, Qin Hao had given them the signal receiving code key. They could also use this advanced navigation radar intelligence device, but they would receive information related to military radar navigation.


    For now, Qin Hao was only monitoring plain road navigation.


    The monitoring room was already filled with employees, who turned on their computers, waiting for the satellite to enter orbit and officially activate.


    ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± the person in charge of the monitoring room, Li Weidong, hurriedly called out respectfully upon seeing Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°The satellite will enter orbit today. Everyone, be prepared.¡±


    Li Weidong, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Qin, we are all ready.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°After confirming the tests are accurate, connect to the Star Domain Network, and have Lv Tian quickly develop a navigation map software APP.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°If there¡¯s any problem, call me directly.¡±


    After leaving the monitoring room, Qin Hao went to Chang Jing¡¯s office, ¡°Mr. Chang, what is the general salary for our company¡¯s regular employees now?¡±


    Chang Jing looked up at him, ¡°According to your orders, the lowest salary is over ten thousand. What¡¯s up?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Nothing much, just thinking about raising the salary for ordinary workers nationwide. Do you have any good ideas, Mr. Chang?¡±


    Chang Jing looked him up and down, ¡°Why are you feeling so generous today?¡±


    Qin Hao, upon hearing her words, rebutted, ¡°When have I not been kindhearted? Not long after Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was established, I donated several hundred million, and later, several billion.


    I also donated five hundred billion Federation Coins to contribute to the education sector. How come, according to you, I was unkind before?¡±


    Chang Jing glanced at him, speechless. She had mentioned it offhand, not expecting Qin Hao to respond so extensively. She hurriedly interrupted him, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you really think that way? No kidding?¡±


    ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m in the mood to joke with you?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°It¡¯s truly hard. Why would you do this?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Of course, it¡¯s to make Xuan Country stronger. The damn Northern Federation used to bully us too much. Sooner or later, they¡¯ll have to pay back double.


    Another reason is for our own sake. If the people are wealthy, merchants will be wealthier. If they have money, they definitely need to spend it. With our good products, can we really worry that they would buy others¡¯ instead? It all comes back around in the end.¡±


    Chang Jing, her eyes sparkling with admiration, looked at him, ¡°If every company CEO had your level of awareness, Mr. Qin, I believe that day wouldn¡¯t be far off.¡±


    Qin Hao, smiling, said, ¡°I do have a plan. Currently, those who join Xinghai Association are top-tier major companies, and they all cooperate with us. How about I ask them to raise their employees¡¯ salaries?¡±


    Chang Jing thought for a moment and replied, ¡°They should agree because, Mr. Qin, you can bring them more profits. Also, Mr. Qin, you could even set this as a criterion for joining the Xinghai Association¡ªany company whose ordinary employee wages fall below a certain threshold cannot join.¡±


    Qin Hao took out his phone and called Li Qingya, ¡°Qingya, notify all the CEOs under the Xinghai Association that employees in their Xuan Country factories and companies must have a monthly salary of at least eight thousand. Those who cannot achieve this will be kicked out of the Xinghai Association.¡±


    Li Qingya¡¯s expression froze at these words, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll notify them right away.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Let me know the final result. Companies that meet the requirements will receive deeper cooperation from Xinghai Company, even access to more advanced technology.¡±


    After hanging up, Li Qingya reflected for a moment. Her family¡¯s Kangmei Group had a high turnover, so raising employees¡¯ salaries for these companies was not difficult, although it would slightly reduce their own profits. However, the impact wasn¡¯t significant.


    After Qin Hao hung up the phone, Chang Jing said to him, ¡°Mr. Qin, Du Group¡¯s cargo ship will set sail tomorrow. The goods I ordered have already been placed in the port, and 1000 robots marked ¡®002¡¯ have also been loaded into the containers.¡±


    Around five in the afternoon, the high-grade intelligent navigation radar satellite officially began operation. The military and Xinghai Company received the satellite signals immediately.


    Seeing the so powerful military radar satellite, the military personnel were thrilled. They could completely monitor all the military activities in the whole world.


    The movements of the Federation fleets appeared clearly on the radar, even displaying the models of the warships.


    Commercial cargo ships and military vessels were distinctly identifiable, making this intelligent radar surveillance satellite nothing short of terrifying.


    Inside Xinghai Company¡¯s monitoring room, the displayed images showed surveillance of various roads¡ªfrom rural roads to major highways¡ªdetectable by the satellites, making them a perfect match for autonomous vehicles.


    The current online navigation maps are either purchased for the right of use from Northern Federation navigation satellites or use Xuan Country¡¯s Beidou civilian navigation system, but neither are very intelligent.


    As Qin Hao and Chang Jing left the monitoring room, they walked up the stairs. While walking, Chang Jing said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I posted a job advertisement on the World High-level Talent Recruitment Network, planning to hire one or two capable deputies.¡±


    Just as she finished speaking, Chang Jing suddenly missed a step, twisted her ankle, screamed, and fell downwards.

 Chapter 657 - 657 659 Crazy Exchange

    ?Chapter 657: Chapter 659: Crazy Exchange Chapter 657: Chapter 659: Crazy Exchange Qin Hao, with quick reflexes, hurriedly grabbed her arm.


    Chang Jing¡¯s face was pale, and large beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Qin Hao steadied her and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    She took a sharp intake of breath, ¡°I¡¯ve twisted my ankle.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at her and said, ¡°I¡¯ll help you back to the office first.¡± Having said that, he supported Chang Jing as they headed downstairs, but it was really inconvenient to walk down the stairs with one foot.


    ¡°I¡¯ll carry you down,¡± Qin Hao said, not waiting for her agreement, and picked her up to walk downstairs.


    Chang Jing¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, and she sneakily glanced at Qin Hao before quickly lowering her head ¨C this guy was too rough; I hadn¡¯t even agreed yet.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, what is this???¡± Li, the secretary, suddenly came out of the third-floor corridor and saw Qin Hao holding Chang Jing with wide eyes, somewhat in disbelief.


    Chang Jing felt her cheeks burning; she knew she needed to remain calm.


    She said in as calm a voice as she could manage, ¡°I twisted my ankle and couldn¡¯t walk downstairs, so Mr. Qin is carrying me.¡±


    Qin Hao quickly nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, Mr. Chang twisted her ankle.¡±


    Li, the secretary, held back her laughter. Their story was too poor, but she didn¡¯t dare expose them; both were her immediate superiors: ¡°I understand, Mr. Chang, you don¡¯t have to explain, I know you¡¯ve twisted your ankle.¡±


    When Chang Jing heard her, she felt the urge to spew blood. It was obvious that she didn¡¯t believe it and thought I was making excuses.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, continue on; I didn¡¯t see anything just now,¡± she said before retreating back into the corridor.


    Qin Hao looked awkwardly at Chang Jing, who glared at him: ¡°It¡¯s all because of you. Your response just now made it sound even more like an excuse.¡±


    Qin Hao replied exasperatedly, ¡°How is this related to me? Did I say anything wrong?¡±


    ¡°Of course, you did, you should have proven it to her.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°How should I prove it? Like this?¡± As he spoke, he touched Chang Jing¡¯s twisted ankle, and a scream erupted instantly.


    Li, who hadn¡¯t walked far, shivered when she heard it. What were Mr. Qin and Mr. Chang doing?


    Chang Jing fiercely clutched at the flesh around Qin Hao¡¯s waist, nearly tearing it off, as she looked at him with her eyes reddening, ¡°Are you trying to kill me with pain?¡±


    Qin Hao countered, ¡°But you just told me to prove it, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Chang Jing, taken aback by his retort, hastened him, ¡°Hurry up and get me back to the office.¡±


    Qin Hao carried her to his office and hadn¡¯t put Chang Jing down when his phone in his pocket rang. He hurriedly placed Chang Jing gently on the sofa and answered the call.


    Li Qingya¡¯s voice came from the phone, ¡°Mr. Qin, the heads of all thirty-six companies under the Xinghai Association have agreed, and this month we will officially start implementing the new salary system.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face lit up with joy, ¡°Good, Qing Ya, thank you for your hard work.¡±


    Li Qingya gave a slight smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, you are too polite. This is all part of my job. The Xinghai Association does indeed need to set up such a threshold.¡±


    Qin Hao remembered something, ¡°Xinghai Holding Company overseas holds shares in many companies. I forgot about your remuneration issue. I¡¯ll give you five percent of the shares in Xinghai Holding Company overseas. Naturally, being so busy here will affect Kangmei Group¡¯s management.¡±


    Li Qingya replied with a laugh, ¡°At Kang Mei Group, it¡¯s mainly my father and Qingyun who are responsible. I¡¯m now specifically in charge of Xinghai Holding Company.¡±


    After chatting for a while, Qin Hao hung up the phone. These people were very cooperative, and naturally, he wouldn¡¯t treat them unfairly.


    ¡°Mr. Chang, let me take a look at your foot first,¡± Qin Hao carefully removed her high heels.


    By this time, her ankle had swollen up. Qin Hao held her calf with one hand and took out several silver needles with the other, inserting them into her ankle.


    She was curious about where Qin Hao had produced the silver needles from.


    And who had he learned his medical skills from? Artificial intelligence technology, advanced seismometers, advanced radar navigation satellites, and so on.


    She had never thought about it carefully before but thinking about it now was somewhat terrifying. How could a person be so skilled to such an extent?


    Was he perhaps an extraterrestrial being?


    He had information; if he were an extraterrestrial being, surely the country would know, she pondered deeply.


    Qin Hao looked at her translucent, jade-like feet and admired them for a moment before turning to Chang Jing, only to find her lost in thought: ¡°Mr. Chang, don¡¯t move, the swelling will go down in a moment.¡±


    Chang Jing did not respond; she was still immersed in her own thoughts.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Hey, big sister, what are you thinking about?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°It should be me asking you, what are you so engrossed in thinking about? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve got someone on your mind? Just don¡¯t forget what you promised me at the beginning,¡± Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Chang Jing: ¡°What did I promise you? I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and did not argue with her further. He went to the computer and opened the system¡¯s marketplace to exchange for new concrete material technology and new road material technology, among others.


    He transferred these two technologies to Number 002. These would be useful when it was time to construct the port.


    Qin Hao also exchanged for regular car engine technology, new alloy technology (applicable to phones, computers, home appliances), high-tech door and window technology, advanced cable technology, and advanced piping equipment.


    He exchanged for more than twenty different types of advanced product development technologies across various industries, spending nearly two hundred million achievement points.


    He had two main goals: one was to let the companies under the Xinghai Association use them for free as compensation, and the other was to comprehensively improve the product quality across industries in Xuan Country.


    Why is the Federation so developed? Simply because the quality of their products in various industries is at the world¡¯s advanced level. Good products have greater competitiveness and better sales.


    Just like foreign cars, with engine technology far superior to domestically produced cars in Xuan Country, and many other components. Qin Hao was now set on changing this situation to make Xuan Country lead the world in all industries.


    He wasn¡¯t transferring these technologies to the companies under the Xinghai Association, but allowing them to use them. If one day they left the Xinghai Association, Qin Hao would take them back and knock them down to square one.


    Unknowingly, more than two hours passed, and he had transferred all the technical materials to Xiaoxing¡¯s server.


    After completing all this, he stretched and felt he had touched something. Turning his head, he saw He Jing standing behind him, watching him: ¡°What were you just writing?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Some technical materials. When you come to the company tomorrow, contact Qing Ya and others to file for the national patent. Then sign a contract with them. They can use these advanced technologies for free, but if they leave the Xinghai Association, then we have the right to take them back.¡±


    Chang Jing¡¯s eyes were filled with amazement: ¡°Did you just come up with all this?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it for many days. I only wrote it out today. How¡¯s your foot?¡±


    ¡°Much better, but I can¡¯t exert too much force. Wearing high heels might still not work.¡± She was currently standing barefoot next to Qin Hao.

 Chapter 658 - 658 660 Internet Sensation

    ?Chapter 658: Chapter 660: Internet Sensation Chapter 658: Chapter 660: Internet Sensation Qin Hao looked at her delicate feet, shimmering like jade, fragrant like lotus¡ªsurely these must be the legendary ¡°jade feet!¡±


    Does this guy have some sort of special fetish? Why is he staring at my feet? It¡¯s embarrassing.


    ¡°You¡¯re really a freak.¡±


    With an unblushing face, Qin Hao said, ¡°Sister, I was just looking at the injury on your ankle. It seems alright now, I¡¯ll remove the needle, and then we can head back.¡±


    Chang Jing had not expected him to be so thick-skinned; she gave him a cold look and returned to the sofa.


    Qin Hao removed the needle and heard Chang Jing¡¯s stomach growl; he looked up out the window. ¡°What time is it now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nine in the evening,¡± Chang Jing replied irritably.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Then let¡¯s go grab something to eat first.¡±


    After leaving the office building, Qin Hao and Chang Jing arrived at the parking lot and got into the car. Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, ¡°First, take Mr. Chang home, and look for a restaurant on the way; she and I will grab a bite first.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°There¡¯s a night market not far ahead where they sell food, they close at eleven.¡±


    As they neared the night market, Qin Hao had Leng Xuan stop the car: ¡°Mr. Chang and I will walk there.¡±


    After getting out of the car, the two walked towards the night market, and they could hear various sounds and a buzz of voices even before they arrived.


    Chang Jing had already changed into a pair of flats; not only did she have spare shoes in her office, but various sorts of clothing as well.


    She wore black leggings with a pink thin sweater, topped with a light coat. Her figure was shapely, and her features were exquisitely charming.


    It was now April, the vegetation had started sprouting, spring had arrived, and the air was not so cold anymore.


    But the temperature difference between day and night was still significant, the evenings were a bit chilly, though Chang Jing didn¡¯t feel cold dressed this way.


    As they walked, Qin Hao said, ¡°Mr. Chang, you¡¯ve been so busy with the company for so long, I haven¡¯t yet treated you to a meal. Tonight, my treat.¡±


    Chang Jing smirked, ¡°Wow, so generous.¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°Ask anyone if I¡¯ve treated them to a meal? It¡¯s not about how much money; it¡¯s about face. Even if I invited someone for fried dough sticks and soy milk, they would brag about it for a lifetime.¡±


    Chang Jing couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°You were rather shy when you checked my eyes before, now you¡¯ve gotten pretty slick.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Sister, I¡¯m just speaking logically. Spending more money on a treat doesn¡¯t necessarily mean it¡¯s heartfelt¡ªyou need to understand that.¡±


    As they talked, they arrived on the bustling night street, which was long and lined mainly with vendors selling various types of grilled meats. Just at the street corner, both could already smell the meaty aroma.


    Chang Jing¡¯s stomach growled again: ¡°I can¡¯t handle it anymore, let¡¯s hurry.¡±


    She pulled Qin Hao along as they entered, buying several meat and squid skewers along the way. Qin Hao had eaten these during his junior and senior high school days and hadn¡¯t had much since.


    The two ate as they walked, and no one on the street recognized him as the current richest man in the world.


    Chang Jing might have been very hungry, as she bought a lot of food along the way, all paid for by Qin Hao, as he carried the items. Soon, Qin Hao¡¯s hands were filled with fifty or sixty skewers of food.


    They reached the front of a restaurant, and Chang Jing, smiling, said, ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you to taste our northern delicacy, sheep offal soup.¡±


    The two walked in, and Chang Jing ordered, ¡°Boss, two large bowls of sheep offal soup.¡±


    ¡°Alright, coming right up.¡±


    Qin Hao had tasted sheep offal soup before; it tasted pretty good and was very drinkable: ¡°Eat some skewers, they won¡¯t taste good once they cool down.¡±


    Chang Jing, smiling, took some skewers and began eating, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, when I was little, my parents once took me to have sheep offal soup, and I¡¯ve loved it since. Now, when I pass by here after work, I have a bowl every evening.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯ve had it too. It¡¯s more appropriate in winter since it really warms you up.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°And this flavor, add some chili pepper, just thinking about it makes my mouth water.¡±


    ...


    After dinner, he dropped her off at the nearby neighborhood where he lived. Seeing the neighborhood, Qin Hao felt it seemed familiar; it seemed like He Tingting also lived here, but the neighborhood was large, and their homes were not very close.


    Reaching the building entrance, Chang Jing said, ¡°Okay, that¡¯s far enough; you should head back and rest early too.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I¡¯d still prefer to walk you to your door; it makes me feel more at ease when I go back.¡±


    Hearing this, Chang Jing blushed slightly, ¡°No need, it¡¯s so close, what could possibly happen?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go; don¡¯t dawdle. It¡¯s already ten o¡¯clock,¡± Qin Hao walked in first.


    Chang Jing watched his retreating figure, her heart pounding wildly. He couldn¡¯t possibly be thinking of doing that, could he?


    With a nervous heart, she took the elevator with Qin Hao to her doorstep.


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Alright, go on in; I¡¯m heading back now.¡±


    Chang Jing paused, startled. He wasn¡¯t thinking about doing that kind of thing with me? Just a pure escort?


    ...


    The next morning, Jianghai City International Port.


    Qin Hao and Du Yingqiang watched as items were loaded onto the cargo ship. Du Yingqiang chuckled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, this is that smart cruise ship, named ¡®Xinghai¡¯ as you instructed.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°Let¡¯s go up and have a look.¡±


    The two boarded the Xinghai Cargo Ship. The deck was spacious and already had several containers on it. Then, they moved to the cockpit.


    The cockpit was filled with touchscreens of all sizes, giving off a very high-tech vibe. Inside, seven or eight people were responsible for monitoring, since it was the maiden voyage, and these people would watch over things first.


    If an accident occurred, they could also pilot it manually.


    ¡°Mr. Du,¡± the people saw Du Yingqiang and hurriedly greeted him with respect.


    Du Yingqiang nodded slightly, ¡°This time you are heading to Pu¡¯er Island in Ban Guo Country. From now on, you¡¯re Mr. Qin¡¯s men, and this is Mr. Qin.¡±


    Mr. Qin?


    Several people turned to look at Qin Hao and quickly said, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded. ¡°Xinghai Company¡¯s staff will contact you to check on the situation at sea. Report any issues to them. It¡¯s a demanding journey to Pu¡¯er Island; it¡¯s much farther than your previous routes.¡±


    The few men paused, Xinghai Company? Could he be Qin Hao from Xinghai Company?


    Descending from the cargo ship, Qin Hao asked Du Yingqiang, ¡°When do you think it can depart?¡±


    Du Yingqiang replied, ¡°It should be able to leave by tonight.¡±


    That morning, a news story exploded across the entire Xuan Country network:


    Xuan Country Daily: ¡°Thirty-six major groups in Xuan Country simultaneously raise salaries; minimum wages for employees start at 8000, benefiting millions. The nation highly commends this move, hoping all companies will learn from them.¡±


    ¡°Awesome, I work at Wanhao Real Estate Company. I used to get a base salary of only 4000, and now it¡¯s directly 8000; Mr. Guo is powerful.¡±


    ¡°I am an employee at Kangmei Electric Factory, a factory in a third-tier city; the wage has gone from just over 3000 straight up to decent money, big love for Kangmei Group.¡±


    ¡°Employee at Blueberry Mobile Electronics Factory in Zhou Island; the usual salary was 3600¨C3700, now it¡¯s directly raised to 8000. Many employees cried with joy when they heard the news.¡±


    ...

 Chapter 659 - 659 661 Ye Xiaolus Invitation

    ?Chapter 659: Chapter 661: Ye Xiaolu¡¯s Invitation Chapter 659: Chapter 661: Ye Xiaolu¡¯s Invitation Many people were discussing this matter, some were happy because they were within these thirty-six large groups.


    More people were envious, saying that even a monthly salary of over eight thousand in third and fourth-tier cities was simply terrifying.


    Industry insiders were incredibly shocked. Had these thirty-six major groups gone mad? Why had they suddenly increased their employees¡¯ salaries so much?


    In the past, even when the state issued orders, they wouldn¡¯t listen. These people valued money above everything else. Now, why had they changed?


    Salary increases were a great thing for both the state and ordinary citizens; they could improve many people¡¯s living standards, which counted as a political achievement.


    The political achievements of the current leaders weren¡¯t instigated by them, but they were formed during his tenure.


    From last year to this year, Xuan Country¡¯s leaders had received many unexpected surprises, including breakthroughs in pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence technology, seismographs, education, military, and so on.


    These achievements were enough to match or even surpass all those created by former leaders.


    Later, a mysterious netizen posted online: ¡°Unveiling the secret behind the salary increases of the thirty-six large groups.¡±


    The click rate and shares of this article were quite terrifying, with comments over a million, shares over a million, and nearly ten million clicks.


    The content of the article briefly described the general situation of these thirty-six large groups, then went on to reveal the shareholding structure of these companies, with almost every group having one shareholder being: Xinghai Holding Company overseas.


    Undoubtedly, it was very likely that Mr. Qin, Qin Hao, was orchestrating these salary increases from behind the scenes.


    Qin Hao¡¯s care for his employees was well-known; when he initially established Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, the salaries of ordinary employees under the company were nearly ten thousand yuan.


    Qin Hao also created the largest civilian commercial organization in Xuan Country, the Xinghai Association, and these thirty-six large groups were all members of it, with Qin Hao being the president.


    The founding idea of the Xinghai Association was to collaborate, help each other, resist foreign consortia, stabilize the domestic situation, and at the same time, open up foreign markets.


    This article was very well-analyzed, nobody came out to confirm it, but also nobody denied it.


    The upper echelons already knew about the Xinghai Association yet did not stop it; now that Qin Hao was a major in the nation and one of its own, managing the Xinghai Association was essentially like the state managing it.


    Initially, granting Qin Hao a military rank wasn¡¯t so simple.


    The senior national leaders intended to use him to control those major groups in Xuan Country, killing two birds with one stone.


    One was to secure Qin Hao, and the other was to indirectly control those large groups.


    Coming out of the port, Qin Hao went to Jiangshan Group, and in a couple of days, he would lead a team to East Chao Country, with several representatives from the group¡¯s companies accompanying him.


    Upon arriving at Feng Xiangyi¡¯s office in Jiangshan Group, she was sitting there alone, handling various company documents.


    Qin Hao entered and said, ¡°Auntie, have the people going to East Chao Country been decided yet?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi, ¡°They have all been notified and can leave at any time.¡±


    Qin Hao sat opposite her and asked softly, ¡°Auntie, have you recovered from your illness?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi¡¯s face turned red, and she nodded shyly, ¡°It already got better a few days ago.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°That¡¯s good, you should take care in the future, Auntie.¡±


    ...


    Feng Xiangyi glared at him, thinking he was definitely teasing her on purpose, often using that as a topic, ¡°If you mention that again, shall I just pull your ears off?¡±


    Qin Hao leaned back in his chair and chuckled dryly, ¡°Mr. Feng, you should know who is the chairman of Jiangshan Group, it¡¯s me.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi stood up and walked over, reaching for his ear, ¡°According to Wan Rou¡¯s side of the family, I¡¯m still your elder. Now you¡¯ve learned to use your status to pressure me?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, just kidding, Auntie. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Qin Hao said as he stood up and started heading towards the door.


    Feng Xiangyi grabbed his shirt, ¡°Think you can just tease me and leave?¡±


    After speaking, she forcefully pulled him back and swiftly reached for Qin Hao¡¯s ear with her other hand.


    She was no match for Qin Hao. He twisted around, breaking free, and then counter-grappled her, ending up holding both her hands instead.


    Qin Hao stood behind her, one hand in front capturing both her wrists, then chuckled, ¡°Auntie, I¡¯ve had some training.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi, flushed with urgency, exclaimed, ¡°Let go quickly, you¡¯re hurting me.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Am I dumb? If I let you go, won¡¯t you hit me?¡±


    Suddenly, Qin Hao felt a pain in his palm, as Feng Xiangyi had bitten him, though not very hard.


    Qin Hao released her hands, and a few seconds later, Feng Xiangyi also let go of him. The back of his hand clearly showed two rows of teeth marks.


    Feng Xiangyi huffed and said nothing.


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Ye Xiaolu. Now, Xinghai Social Software always had a real-name verification feature.


    A flicker of confusion crossed Qin Hao¡¯s eyes. What did Ye Xiaolu want by calling me again?


    He hesitated, then answered the call, ¡°Miss Ye, is there something you need?¡±


    Ye Xiaolu¡¯s voice came through the phone, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you free for lunch? I¡¯d like to have a meal with you alone.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°If it¡¯s about the previous matter, then there¡¯s no need to discuss it.¡±


    Ye Xiaolu: ¡°Mr. Qin, I have something to tell you. This matter is very important as it involves someone¡¯s life and death. I¡¯ll be waiting for you in room 1212 at the Panjin Hotel.¡±


    Involved someone¡¯s life and death? Could it be related to He Qizhi? Qin Hao frowned.


    Ye Xiaolu deliberately left things unclear, intending to make him go there in person.


    ¡°Which fox is this?¡± Feng Xiangyi suddenly asked.


    Qin Hao: ¡°A teacher from Jianghai University.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi paused, ¡°You like this type? How long have you two been seeing each other? Does Wan Rou know about this?¡±


    Qin Hao said exasperatedly, ¡°I told you she¡¯s a teacher at Jianghai University. I¡¯ve only met her once; we¡¯re hardly acquainted, let alone involved in that kind of thing. Anyway, Auntie, I need to go to the Panjin Hotel now.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi: ¡°Wait up, Panjin Hotel is nearby. I¡¯ll go with you. I don¡¯t think she has good intentions, inviting you out alone.¡±


    Qin Hao was indifferent. If Feng Xiangyi wanted to go, let her. After all, he wasn¡¯t doing anything inappropriate with Ye Xiaolu.


    They walked for a few minutes and soon saw the Panjin Hotel. They took the elevator up to the door of suite 1212.


    Feng Xiangyi knocked on the door, and soon Ye Xiaolu opened it with a smile, ¡°Qin... who are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Qin Hao¡¯s aunt,¡± she said as she grabbed Qin Hao¡¯s arm, glaring at Ye Xiaolu demonstratively.


    Ye Xiaolu paused, then smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, please come in.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t expected Qin Hao to bring someone else, but she already had a new plan. Perhaps having this person here was even better.

 Chapter 660 - 660 662 Cunning Plan

    ?Chapter 660: Chapter 662 Cunning Plan Chapter 660: Chapter 662 Cunning Plan Upon entering the private room, the dining table was already set with food and drinks.


    Ye Xiaolu spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss, please take your seats.¡± She then poured wine for both of them.


    Qin Hao looked at her and asked directly, ¡°Miss Ye, just say what you need to say. I don¡¯t like beating around the bush.¡±


    The identity of this Ye Xiaolu was somewhat mysterious; Li Wenjun had not been able to uncover any useful information. As for Ye Xiaolu¡¯s claim that her parents were business people on Zhou Island, Li Wenjun did indeed find it, but it was a shell company that had only been established recently.


    All her other information was also available, and there were no issues, which exactly because of the lack of issues, gave off a hint of strangeness.


    Li Wenjun, who had been working in the intelligence field for years, had told Qin Hao that something was off about this Ye Xiaolu, that she was very likely a spy, but there was no evidence. To investigate further, they would have to rely on national authorities.


    Ye Xiaolu said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t be in such a hurry, Mr. Qin. I¡¯m proposing a toast to you and the lady here.¡±


    After she finished speaking, she raised her glass and took a sip. Qin Hao wanted to see what she was up to, so he took a sip and looked at her with a bland expression.


    Ye Xiaolu smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll repeat what I said before¡ªif we cooperate, I will tell you the news, which concerns your safety and that of certain people around you.¡±


    ¡°Are you threatening me with some unfounded news? You should know that my patience is limited,¡± Qin Hao said, his eyes sharp and expression slightly cold as he looked at her.


    Ye Xiaolu felt a deadly aura hit her face, causing her to shiver, ¡°Mr. Qin, this is just a fair trade. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can simply wait a few days to see whether it¡¯s true or false.¡±


    Qin Hao, seeing how adamant she was, grew suspicious. Could she have really obtained some information?


    At that moment, Qin Hao suddenly felt as if a blazing flame had ignited within him, quickly spreading throughout his body.


    His face turned beet red as the effects of the drug took hold rapidly. Feng Xiangyi, sitting next to him, reacted even more violently. After all, Qin Hao¡¯s constitution was much stronger than that of an ordinary person, and he possessed a greater resistance.


    Seeing the effects of the drug kick in, Ye Xiaolu couldn¡¯t help but smile as she said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I know you¡¯re quite the expert on drugs, but this is the latest secret drug we¡¯ve developed. I wonder if you have a way to counteract it?¡±


    Qin Hao currently felt his brain buzzing, hot blood rushing to his head. The drug¡¯s impact on his nerves was powerful, and he was struggling with an urge to rip off Ye Xiaolu¡¯s clothes. However, he was holding back.


    He got up and ran towards the door.


    Ye Xiaolu, agile and quick, charged at him and kicked towards Qin Hao. Qin Hao hurriedly tried to dodge, but due to the effects of the drug, his reaction time was much slower than usual, and he couldn¡¯t avoid the kick, toppling to the ground.


    Turns out, this Ye Xiaolu was also a combat expert, definitely someone with professional training¡ªa regular university teacher wouldn¡¯t possess such fighting skills. With that, plus all the previous incidents, it was certain that Ye Xiaolu was a spy.


    Qin Hao¡¯s thoughts raced, contemplating countless options, and finally, he chose the most effective one. A silver laser pistol appeared in his hand, aimed at Ye Xiaolu.


    Ye Xiaolu paused for a moment, only to see a dazzling flash of light, and then she lost consciousness. There was a wound the size of a baby¡¯s fist on her chest, but no blood was flowing from it.


    Due to the intense energy, her wound was cauterized instantly, still emitting a faint wisp of smoke.


    The laser pistol was quite powerful, but it wouldn¡¯t pass through her body to destroy objects behind her. The energy released in the moment of impact would surge into the person¡¯s body, destroying all tissues and organs, causing instant death.


    Of course, there were more lethal laser weapons capable of penetrating several bodies, causing instant death, but the power of a laser pistol was not that great.


    Ye Xiaolu¡¯s body fell rigidly; to her death, she never knew how she had died or what that bright light was.


    Having retrieved the laser pistol, Qin Hao¡¯s mind was now a blank slate. He struggled to get up and go to the door, but at that moment, Feng Xiangyi suddenly rushed over and started kissing him passionately.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s brain suddenly became lost, forgetting everything.


    ...


    Almost two hours later, the noise in the room ceased, and calm was restored.


    Around four in the afternoon, Qin Hao woke up to find himself lying in bed with Feng Xiangyi beside him, her hair drenched.


    Qin Hao remembered that he had killed Ye Xiaolu, but he couldn¡¯t recall much about what happened with Feng Xiangyi afterward, nor how they ended up in bed.


    He found his clothes and phone, then used the monitoring feature on his phone to find nine genuine pinhole cameras in the three bedrooms and living room.


    Finally, he found Ye Xiaolu¡¯s phone in her pocket, which shockingly had videos of him and Feng Xiangyi.


    After completely deleting them, Qin Hao glanced at Ye Xiaolu¡¯s body, a few sparks of determination flickering in his eyes. He took out his phone and called Xu Liangguo, ¡°Mr. Xu, I have killed a female spy.¡±


    ¡°What female spy?¡± Xu Jiejian paused for a moment upon hearing this.


    Qin Hao briefly explained the recent events¡ªhow Ye Xiaolu had wanted to use her own life to threaten cooperation, and how Qin had counterattacked and killed her¡ªbut he did not mention anything about the drug.


    Xu Jiejian said, ¡°Alright, I got it. I will send someone to take care of it, and I will also investigate those who were in close contact with her.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao returned to the room. Feng Xiangyi had woken up at some point. She looked at Qin Hao, who was also looking at her, and he said with an awkward sense of guilt, ¡°I am sorry, Auntie. I didn¡¯t know this would happen.¡±


    Ye Xiaolu had originally planned to meet Qin Hao and then coerce him into having relations with her, which she intended to use as leverage. However, she hadn¡¯t expected Qin Hao to bring a woman along, nor had she anticipated that he would have a laser pistol.


    Feng Xiangyi¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red at his expression, ¡°I know it¡¯s not your fault. Could you help me put on my clothes? I don¡¯t have the strength anymore, and someone is coming soon, right?¡±


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, ¡°Auntie, isn¡¯t this inappropriate?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi, ¡°You¡¯ve already done ¡®that¡¯ to me, and now you think it¡¯s inappropriate? Hurry up, I don¡¯t want others to see me like this.¡±


    In the end, Qin Hao still walked over and helped her put on her clothes.


    Later, people from the Security Department arrived, and upon entering, they respectfully said, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Take the body away, and then conduct a thorough investigation.¡±


    As those men left, Feng Xiangyi looked at him with wide eyes, ¡°Major? When did you become a major?¡±


    [Went to the Civil Affairs Bureau today, guess what I did]

 Chapter 661 - 661 663 Shining Brightly

    ?Chapter 661: Chapter 663 Shining Brightly Chapter 661: Chapter 663 Shining Brightly Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°The appointment came down a few days ago.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi was somewhat shocked. A major? Some people struggle their entire life and may not reach this step. Even with connections, a rank of major isn¡¯t something one can easily obtain; it must be approved by someone with clout.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Auntie, let me take you home first.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi nodded, opened her arms, and Qin Hao carried her out. Her legs would probably need a night¡¯s rest before they had any strength.


    To tell the truth, Feng Xiangyi¡¯s heart was a mix of joy and worry. She was happy because she had indeed fantasized about doing that with Qin Hao, and now it had actually happened. Though she didn¡¯t know how it was done or felt anything particular, the barrier had been broken.


    What worried her was the concern that this might be the only time between them...


    Qin Hao carried her out of the hotel, and outside he saw Leng Xuan and Han Zhuang. Seeing Qin Hao and Feng Xiangyi like this, the two men were momentarily stunned then quickly followed.


    ¡°First, let¡¯s take Mr. Feng home,¡± Qin Hao said to them.


    He did not tell them about what happened in the hotel because it was pointless. The blame couldn¡¯t be placed on the two men; mainly, he had been too careless.


    Upon arriving at Feng Xiangyi¡¯s residence, Qin Hao placed her on the couch. He originally intended to leave, but seeing Feng Xiangyi in this condition, she might not even be able to cook dinner.


    Qin Hao turned on the TV and also sat down on the couch. ¡°Auntie, do you want to go to the bedroom and rest for a while?¡±


    ¡°No need, lying on the couch is just as good,¡± Feng Xiangyi said as she lay on the couch, her feet pointing towards Qin Hao.


    He was watching the news channel. Variety shows and TV dramas held no attraction for him; it was the various issues on the news that he cared about more.


    ¡°In recent days, our country has developed the latest type of missile and rocket solid fuel, which can increase the speed of missiles by more than tenfold. At present, Xuan Country is the first country in the world to research this solid fuel.¡±


    ¡°Our country¡¯s new type of intelligent unmanned bomber has entered the testing phase, with a power that has increased several times over than before.¡±


    ¡°Xuan Country Jianghai City¡¯s Xinghai Steel Refinery has produced a new type of steel called H grade alloy. It is a blend of several metals melted and refined together, ultimately produced with toughness and strength surpassing the special steel materials of the Federation.¡±


    ¡°The Wanli Group and Xinghai Company have jointly developed a new type of smart elevator technology...¡±


    The news said a lot about the latest technologies that had been researched, each surpassing the technology of the Federation and the rest of the world.


    Many of Xuan Country¡¯s technological and military news were closely watched by foreign media, and as soon as these messages were released, they quickly spread abroad.


    Beidou media: ¡°Xuan Country has researched a new type of solid fuel for missiles, which will increase missile speed by more than tenfold. Intercontinental missiles will reach the Federation¡¯s territory within minutes.¡±


    This news caused quite a stir on Beidou¡¯s military forums: Xuan Country just likes to brag; aren¡¯t they afraid of biting off more than they can chew?


    ¡°I have already gotten used to Xuan Country¡¯s boastful claims. If they said they had researched antimatter weapons, I would believe it.¡±


    ¡°Haha, as a neighbor of Xuan Country, I¡¯m almost scared to death, so terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Shameless, the bragging gets bigger and bigger.¡±


    ¡°I think Xuan Country¡¯s Falcon series of fighter jets are also all talk; all exaggerations, what was just a pile of scrap metal is touted as powerful weaponry.¡±


    The response of Beihai military enthusiasts was similar to that of Beidou, all of them feeling that Xuan Country was just posturing, creating an illusion of power.


    Beihai military enthusiasts: ¡°Xuan Country is actually a paper tiger now, it seems formidable but is actually easy to knock down,¡±


    ¡°They were just a defeated opponent that our Great Bei Hai Empire almost conquered back then.¡±


    ¡°After the defeat in World War II, despite being prohibited from producing aircraft carriers, our Great Beihai Empire had built almost thirty of them during the war. Xuan Country currently has only two, so what do you have to compare with us?¡±


    ¡°Even now that we have warships of aircraft carrier level, if war truly breaks out, a simple retrofit would make them powerfully armed aircraft carriers.¡±


    ¡°You Chinamen, once the Great Beihai Empire rises again, we will surely conquer you.¡±


    ...


    In the face of these reports released by the Xuan Country media, some countries were skeptical and disbelieving, while others were utterly shocked!


    At Feng Xiangyi¡¯s home, as dusk approached, Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°Auntie, I¡¯ll go cook dinner.¡±


    About half an hour later, Qin Hao had prepared dinner, and he walked over to the sofa intending to help Feng Xiangyi to the dining table.


    But as she stood up, Feng Xiangyi¡¯s legs gave way, and she started to fall to the ground.


    Qin Hao quickly caught her and, feeling a bit embarrassed, hastily withdrew his hands and settled Feng Xiangyi in a dining chair.


    During dinner, Qin Hao didn¡¯t know what to say, and Feng Xiangyi, with her head bowed, also didn¡¯t know what to say, making the atmosphere somewhat awkward.


    After finishing dinner, Qin Hao cleaned up and washed the dishes.


    Coming out of the kitchen, Qin Hao looked at Feng Xiangyi on the sofa and said, ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s getting late, I should head back now.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi replied, ¡°I can¡¯t even move now, do you plan to leave me alone at home? You started this, so of course you should take good care of me. You need to stay tonight to look after me.¡±


    Reserved?


    Now that the paper screen had been pierced, what use was there in being reserved? Grasping the reality was the true essence.


    Qin Hao looked at her, stunned for a moment, then hesitated for a few minutes before nodding his head.


    Feng Xiangyi chuckled, ¡°Come, sit down and watch the news.¡±


    Qin Hao sat down on the sofa, and the international military news was playing on the TV: ¡°Tensions between the government forces of Yinna Country and Saiya Country in the Eastern and Western Continents are escalating. Yinna Country¡¯s ten War Eagle unmanned combat aircraft shot down sixteen of Saiya Country¡¯s Ru-37 fighter jets, resulting in the loss of dozens of elite air force personnel.¡±


    ¡°Beiluo Country has stated that it will establish an S300 missile defense system for Saiya Country.¡±


    ¡°Xuan Country¡¯s War Eagle fighter jets have shown extraordinary performance in the Eastern and Western Continents, overpowering the world¡¯s advanced combat aircraft with unquestioned superiority.¡±


    ¡°The Di Te Country is considering the purchase of twenty War Eagle series fighter and bomber aircraft from Xuan Country.¡±


    The Saiya Country¡¯s government forces are able to suppress the opposition faction entirely because of the support from Beiluo Country and the Da Yi Country behind the scenes.


    Although the opposition faction is backed by Yinna Country and the Northern Federation, they lack public support and strength and are far inferior.


    ¡°A suicide attack occurred at Yiguo Square, where a car bomb drove into a crowded area. The driver detonated the bomb, resulting in more than thirty deaths and sixty to seventy injuries.¡±


    ...


    Around nine o¡¯clock in the evening, Feng Xiangyi yawned incessantly, her eyes brimming with tears: ¡°Qin Hao, I¡¯m sleepy.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Then let me take you to your room to rest.¡±


    After finishing his sentence, he carried Feng Xiangyi into the master bedroom and placed her on the bed.

 Chapter 662 - 662 664 He Qizhi

    ?Chapter 662: Chapter 664 He Qizhi Chapter 662: Chapter 664 He Qizhi Qin Hao helped her take off her clothes.


    ¡°I want to take a bath, could you run the water for me?¡± Feng Xiangyi suddenly said.


    Qin Hao, acting like a caretaker, walked into the bathroom, filled a tub with warm water, and carried Feng Xiangyi into the bathtub.


    Afterward, he bathed her and finally, after wrapping her in a towel, returned to the bedroom.


    He was left in the bedroom by Feng Xiangyi.


    ...


    The next morning.


    Having mostly recovered overnight, Feng Xiangyi prepared breakfast. After eating and cleaning up, they left the room together.


    Feng Xiangyi, arm in arm with him, asked, ¡°That man you killed, there really won¡¯t be any trouble, right?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, auntie, I am a major after all, what problem could there be in killing a spy?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi said, ¡°I see if you dare to go out so casually again. Those vile foxes mean no good; they just want to seduce you and then demand money from you.¡±


    Qin Hao awkwardly nodded, ¡°I understand, auntie.¡±


    Once in the car, Qin Hao asked Leng Xuan to drive to Jiangshan Group. On the way, Feng Xiangyi, looking at him, quietly asked, ¡°Are you troubled? Don¡¯t know how to explain things to Wan Rou?¡±


    Qin Hao sighed and nodded. It might have been easier to explain things with another woman, but this was Du Wanrou¡¯s aunt, which was a bit tricky.


    Feng Xiangyi chuckled and said, ¡°Wan Rou actually told me a long time ago; she agrees with the two of us.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Qin Hao was taken aback.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she replied.


    The car soon arrived under the skyscraper of Jiangshan Group, and Feng Xiangyi embraced him, planting a deep kiss on him, ¡°I¡¯m off to work, you little rascal.¡±


    ¡°How am I a rascal?¡± Qin Hao mused to himself.


    After seeing off Feng Xiangyi, Qin Hao said, ¡°To Xinghai High-tech Company.¡±


    Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Once at the company, Qin Hao first went to the office building¡¯s satellite navigation monitoring room, ¡°Check on the status of the Xinghai cargo ship.¡±


    A person began operating the computer, and soon six green dots appeared on the screen.


    The person spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, the ship behind is the Xinghai cargo ship.¡±


    Qin Hao then had the person zoom in for a closer look. The screen gradually enlarged, and the six green dots slowly became six cargo ships, sailing across the vast ocean.


    This was like a camera zoom function, appearing very small from afar, but upon enlarging several times, it became very clear.


    One could even see the crew moving on deck, crystal clear, as if there were a high-definition camera directly above the ship.


    Moreover, the advanced intelligent navigation radar satellite could also store all camera records within the last half month.


    Because of the large storage capacity of the satellite¡¯s chips, even covering the whole world and recording billions of videos, it could still store up to half a month¡¯s footage, which was quite formidable.


    Presently, the Xuan Country Police Department was gradually upgrading to advanced intelligent radar satellites because this could significantly improve the case resolution rate.


    Leaving the satellite monitoring room, Qin Hao proceeded to Chang Jing¡¯s office.


    He asked, ¡°Mr. Chang, have you finished handling those companies¡¯ technical licensing and cooperation?¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°It¡¯s all done. We were busy until after nine last night.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°That¡¯s good. Now that they all have advanced technology, they¡¯ll definitely expand their factories further to cater to the global market. Did you tell them they must set up factories in Xuan Country?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already laid down the rules: they must set up factories in Xuan Country. Once Xuan Country¡¯s economy completely surpasses the North Federation and becomes a dominant force, they can then move the factories overseas.¡±


    At that time, Qin Hao could completely relocate some factories to his subordinate nations, which would boost their economies and also give him control over their economic and military capabilities. They would be compelled to rely on Xuan Country.


    This way, Xuan Country could firmly tie them down in both the military and economic sectors, making any treason almost impossible.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°There should be news from East Chao Country in a couple of days; I might lead a team there. By the way, how¡¯s the Star Domain Network usage over in the North Federation?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°According to Xiaoxing¡¯s data, there were 180 million internet users on the first day alone¡ªtheir country has over 300 million netizens, so replacing the old communication networks won¡¯t be difficult.


    Our Xinghai Social Software also has a version in the Federation language and was launched in the North Federation long ago, currently with a download count of about 70 million.¡±


    The competition between Xinghai Social Software and the North Federation¡¯s social software was intense, without the advantage of Star Domain Network, achieving significant success in a short time was challenging.


    However, once various smart devices become widespread, Xinghai Social Software will inevitably take over.


    While Qin Hao and Chang Jing were talking, there was a knock at the door, and He Tingting walked in, ¡°Mr. Qin, I need to speak with you.¡±


    Qin Hao stepped outside and looked curiously at Mr. He, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°My dad has been arrested; could you please help me check on him?¡± There was an anxious and worried look in He Tingting¡¯s eyes.


    Qin Hao was taken aback, ¡°Is it because of Ye Xiaolu?¡±


    He Tingting nodded, ¡°That Ye Xiaolu is a spy; my dad was closely associated with her and was also taken away for investigation.¡±


    Even if He Qizhi had not revealed any secrets, this time he was finished, and he might never be able to enter the system again.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Where is your father being held now?¡±


    He Tingting replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know, they were taken away by the Security Department. I was hoping you could help me find out.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll help you ask around.¡±


    On the road, a worried He Tingting asked, ¡°Is my dad going to die? They won¡¯t shoot him, will they?¡±


    Qin Hao frowned, ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Even if he did leak some information to Ye Xiaolu, your dad doesn¡¯t have access to any major secrets. He probably won¡¯t die.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, He Tingting still felt uneasy, ¡°My mom is just outside; she wants to come along too.¡±


    When they arrived at the company¡¯s entrance, Qin Hao saw He Tingting¡¯s mother, Ding Man, along with He Tingting¡¯s uncle, Ding Shan, and Ding Shanshan.

 Chapter 663 - 663 665 We Are Not Lovers

    ?Chapter 663: Chapter 665 We Are Not Lovers Chapter 663: Chapter 665 We Are Not Lovers ¡°Brother-in-law, my uncle is okay, isn¡¯t he?¡± Ding Shanshan asked with some concern.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Let me ask. You guys wait a bit.¡± He waved at Leng Xuan and the others to get the car out, then made a phone call to Xu Jiejian.


    After the call connected, Xu Jiejian asked with a smile, ¡°What is it, Xiao Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Xu, do you know where He Qizhi is being held? I want to take someone over to see him.¡±


    Xu Jiejian: ¡°I¡¯m not clear about that. The handling of issues on that side is not under my jurisdiction, but I can ask for you. Give me a moment.¡±


    About three to four minutes later, Xu Jiejian called back and told Qin Hao the location where He Qizhi was detained.


    Qin Hao said to He Tingting and the others, ¡°I know where it is now. Let¡¯s go together.¡±


    All of them got into Qin Hao¡¯s car. Qin Hao sat in the passenger seat, with He Tingting, Ding Man, and Ding Shanshan behind him.


    Ding Shan and his wife Tan Jing took the car behind. The convoy headed to the suburban area of Jianghai City. They arrived at the Security Department¡¯s Detention Center No.1, where the detainees were all apprehended by the security services, and local police had no jurisdiction to intervene.


    After Qin Hao reported his name, someone led them inside. The prison here was nothing like a typical detention center, housing criminals of significant importance to national security.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, according to regulations, no one else except you can enter. However, our chief personally called to instruct us that everyone you have brought can come inside,¡± the man leading the way said with a smile.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t recognize any chief from the Security Department, but such a statement was surely giving him a lot of face. ¡°Then please thank your chief for me.¡±


    He Tingting¡¯s family was utterly shocked upon hearing this. Mr. Qin? When had he become an officer?


    They quickly arrived at the door of the cell holding He Qizhi. ¡°Open the door, Mr. Qin would like to see the prisoner,¡± commanded the guard.


    The soldier on guard duty opened the door. Qin Hao and the others walked in. He Qizhi was sitting on the bed, his head full of white hair, looking a decade older in an instant.


    ¡°Dad,¡± He Tingting said, rushing over to her father as soon as she saw him.


    Ding Man rushed over as well, tears streaming down: ¡°He.¡±


    Seeing them, He Qizhi felt an immense sense of guilt: ¡°Xiao Man, Tingting, dad is sorry for letting you down, but I absolutely did not do anything to betray our country and people.¡±


    His affair with Ye Xiaolu was entirely due to her seduction.


    Ye Xiaolu, having undergone professional training, was extremely skilled in the art of seduction; He Qizhi was unable to resist her sugar-coated bullets and various moves.


    Seeing her father¡¯s slightly greying hair, He Tingting felt a pang in her heart: ¡°Dad, you will definitely be okay.¡±


    He Qizhi came to his senses and asked, ¡°How did you find this place?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Hao helped us find it,¡± Ding Man quickly replied.


    He Qizhi looked at Qin Hao and sighed: ¡°Xiao Hao, your uncle was blinded before. Don¡¯t hold it against your uncle, I won¡¯t interfere in your and Tingting¡¯s affairs anymore.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him and nodded. Whether his words were sincere or false, it made no difference to Qin Hao, as his relationship with Tingting wasn¡¯t real in the first place.


    ¡°You all have a talk. I¡¯ll step out for a bit.¡±


    Hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, Ding Man felt puzzled. Why wasn¡¯t he the slightest bit worried about his future father-in-law? Could it be that seeing our family¡¯s decline, he plans to abandon Tingting?


    ...


    Qin Hao stood at the door watching the two guards handling the door: ¡°Are you guys also from the Gu Jing Military Region?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the two of them respectfully answered.


    About half an hour later, He Tingting and her family emerged from the room. He Tingting said to Qin Hao, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Upon leaving the detention center, Ding Man suddenly spoke up to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, you go back first. We¡¯ll take a cab, so as not to trouble you.¡±


    Qin Hao, He Tingting, and Ding Shanshan¡¯s family were taken aback by Ding Man¡¯s words. What was this all about?


    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll head off first.¡± Qin Hao got into his car and left.


    Ding Shan and Tan Jing looked at Ding Man and asked, ¡°Sis, why did you talk to Xiao Hao like that?¡±


    Ding Man huffed, ¡°Her father-in-law has been arrested; did you see any sign of worry or concern on his face? I think he sees our family¡¯s downfall and wants to distance himself from us.¡±


    He Tingting quickly explained, ¡°Mom, he¡¯s not like that.¡±


    Ding Man: ¡°How is he not? My eyes aren¡¯t blind yet. I haven¡¯t become so senile that I mistake good people for bad.¡±


    He Tingting: ¡°Mom, he and I are not really a couple. He¡¯s just pretending to be my boyfriend to ward off your pressure for me to marry.¡±


    Her words left everyone stunned. Ding Man also looked at her daughter with some incredulity, ¡°Are you saying you and he have always been pretending?¡±


    He Tingting nodded, ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve always been pretending. He and I are not really a couple.¡±


    The expressions on Ding Shanshan¡¯s family members¡¯ faces were full of astonishment. He Tingting and Qin Hao were pretending? For some reason, Ding Shanshan felt a hint of joy in her heart.


    Back at the company, Qin Hao went to check on the Xinghai Automobile Factory. The H-grade alloy produced at Xinghai Steel Refining was ready to be applied to Xinghai Automobiles.


    The air-powered engine was almost ready to be manufactured, and it would take at most another ten days for the finished car to come out.


    Now, only Qin Hao was allowed into the Xinghai Automobile Factory; no one else was permitted entry.


    After leaving the automobile factory, Qin Hao returned to the Xinghai Company office. That afternoon, he received an invitation from East Chao Country, asking them to visit for an onsite inspection the day after tomorrow.


    Soon after, Qin Hao notified Li Qingya and then asked her to inform the others. They would send representatives to visit and inspect East Chao Country together.


    When it was almost closing time, He Tingting came to his office.


    Qin Hao was surprised to see her, ¡°Mr. He, why have you come to the office? Why don¡¯t I give you a few days off?¡±


    He Tingting looked at him and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I have something I want to talk to you about. Let¡¯s go to my place to talk.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Mr. He, you can just talk to me here about whatever it is.¡±


    He Tingting: ¡°It¡¯s not quite convenient here. Let¡¯s go to my place.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°Mr. He, I know why you came to see me, but there¡¯s nothing I can do about this matter.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told my mom about our pretending,¡± He Tingting started.


    Qin Hao nodded; her response was completely irrelevant.


    Seeing his indifferent reaction, He Tingting said in a somewhat pleading tone, ¡°My dad really hasn¡¯t done anything illegal or against the country. I hope you can help my dad and me.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s words were not an excuse. Although he was a major, this was a matter for the Security Department, and he didn¡¯t have any contacts there.


    Just then, He Tingting suddenly unbuttoned her clothes, letting them fall to the ground.

 Chapter 664 - 664 666 Zheng Yuanlong of the Zheng Family

    ?Chapter 664: Chapter 666: Zheng Yuanlong of the Zheng Family Chapter 664: Chapter 666: Zheng Yuanlong of the Zheng Family Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, ¡°What are you doing? Hurry and put your clothes back on.¡±


    He Tingting, ¡°My mom called one of my dad¡¯s old friends, and after they heard about this, they avoided it like the plague, each of them hanging up the phone, none willing to help our family. Now you¡¯re the only one who can help us, I¡¯m begging you, please.¡±


    After she finished, she walked over and came to Qin Hao¡¯s side.


    Qin Hao was now afraid someone would come in. If someone saw them and it got out, what would they think?


    He quickly said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to do this to ask for my help; put your clothes on quickly. If someone comes in and sees us, even jumping into the Zhuo River wouldn¡¯t wash us clean.¡±


    He Tingting, ¡°I¡¯ve already told Secretary Qin that no one will disturb us while we discuss work.¡±


    Discuss work? Is this how you discuss work?


    Qin Hao said, ¡°First listen to me and put on your clothes, and I¡¯ll ask about your father¡¯s situation.¡±


    ¡°Then call now,¡± He Tingting said, standing close to him.


    He dared not look at He Tingting, taking out his phone to call Xu Jiejian and then got the number for the person in charge of the Security Department in Jianghai City.


    Qin Hao made a call to this person, ¡°Hello, Director Li, this is Qin Hao. I wanted to inquire about He Qizhi¡¯s situation, has the investigation uncovered any problems?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Then for what reason can he be released?¡±


    Director Li said with difficulty, ¡°I can¡¯t decide on this matter. Although there¡¯s nothing wrong with him, after all, he was overly intimate with someone with a sensitive identity.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Who can make the decision?¡±


    Director Li, ¡°Major Qin, you¡¯ll have to call our bosses¡¯ boss. I¡¯ll give you the number.¡±


    He gave Qin Hao a number. Qin Hao dialed the number and after ringing for more than ten seconds, the call was answered, ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°May I speak with Director Zheng? This is Qin Hao, I have something to ask you about.¡±


    Zheng Yuanlong asked curiously, ¡°It turns out to be Major Qin, what can I do for you?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I wanted to know when He Qizhi might be released. After all, he is the president of Jianghai University, and there¡¯s a lot of work that needs his attention.¡±


    In the official circles, some things can¡¯t be said too openly, but both parties were smart people, and Zheng Yuanlong also understood what Qin Hao meant.


    That is, it was as if nothing had ever happened to He Qizhi, after all, he hadn¡¯t done anything outrageous, nothing more than a romantic fling.


    He Tingting pricked up her ears, eager to hear how the other party would respond.


    She knew Qin Hao didn¡¯t know the other party, but at least Qin Hao wasn¡¯t just anyone, he had significant face.


    After hesitating for a few seconds, Zheng Yuanlong said smilingly, ¡°Since there¡¯s no issue, the man should indeed be released. Mr. Qin, my name is Zheng Yuanlong, let¡¯s have a drink together when you come to Jinchen City next time.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Sure, certainly, thank you Director Zheng.¡±


    The other party wanted him to remember this favor. Zheng Yuanlong? The name sounded familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao turned to look at He Tingting and then hurriedly looked away again, ¡°All right, it¡¯s taken care of now. Put your clothes on quickly.¡±


    He Tingting¡¯s face lit up with joy, but seeing Qin Hao¡¯s reaction, she felt a sense of defeat. Am I not pretty enough, not appealing?


    She looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Why won¡¯t you touch me? Am I not beautiful enough? In terms of looks and figure, am I worse than your girlfriend?¡±


    Qin Hao said speechlessly, ¡°Big sister, it¡¯s not about whether you¡¯re beautiful or not. If I blackmailed you with this matter to do that sort of thing with you, I wouldn¡¯t feel right. On an ordinary day, I probably wouldn¡¯t refuse; I admit I like beautiful women, but there¡¯s a right way to get things.¡±


    ...


    He Tingting gave him a look, moved closer to his side, and said, ¡°I¡¯m volunteering now. Every night when I sleep, I dream of the scene where you flew in that night to save me.¡±


    Qin Hao said awkwardly, ¡°Big sister, stop teasing me. Put your clothes on quickly, can¡¯t we talk about this later?¡±


    He Tingting went back to her clothes and rustled as she put them on.


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but glance up briefly and swallowed hard. He Tingting, twenty-six or seven years old, was fully matured, extremely charming.


    After He Tingting put on her clothes, she sneaked a glance at Qin Hao, their eyes met.


    Qin Hao quickly averted his gaze. He Tingting¡¯s cheeks flushed with color. She was somewhat puzzled by Qin Hao; he clearly wanted her, yet he hadn¡¯t made a move.


    What kind of person was he? What was he thinking?


    After she was dressed, Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°It¡¯s time to get off work, let¡¯s go.¡±


    The two left the office building. On the way, He Tingting softly said to him, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just have your dad be more careful in the future.¡± Qin Hao owed Director Zheng Yuanlong a favor because of He Qizhi¡¯s affair.


    He later remembered, wasn¡¯t Zheng Yuanlong someone from Jinchen the Zheng Family? When he was dining at the West King Restaurant, his daughter Zheng Qinghui and son Zheng Yuankai were there.


    Zheng Yuanlong¡¯s wife was from the Shen Family of the Jifeng Group, the sister of Shen Mingwang.


    Now, with the sales of cars from the Jifeng Group plummeting, Jiangqi Group¡¯s intelligent driverless cars had hit the market. Not only the Jifeng Group, but many foreign car brands had also been impacted.


    When he got back home by car, Han Meng, Qiao¡¯er, Fan Ruobing, and Zhao Yuying were all there. Seeing him return, Han Meng hurried over, helped him take off his coat, and hung it up nearby.


    Zhao Yuying said to Han Meng, ¡°Meng, if my parents come, you just say I¡¯m eating here and discussing company matters with Xiao Hao.¡±


    Han Meng¡¯s cheeks turned red, nodding as if she knew what Zhao Yuying was going to do with Qin Hao.


    After Zhao Yuying spoke, she pulled Qin Hao up to the second floor, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡±


    Once on the second-floor master bedroom, Zhao Yuying hugged him tightly, ¡°You scoundrel, why haven¡¯t you come back these past two days?¡±


    ...


    At six forty-five, Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying came down the stairs.


    Qin Hao felt relieved, glad for his extraordinary constitution, otherwise, he would have been drained dry.


    During dinner, Qin Hao told Han Meng and the others that he would be going to East Chao Country for about three to five days.


    The next morning.


    After having breakfast, Qin Hao went to Xinghai Company. That day another twenty-plus photolithography machines were delivered to the production line, and the output of smart chips was set to increase another notch.


    [Third update, more to come]

 Chapter 665 - 665 667 The Little Witch

    ?Chapter 665: Chapter 667: The Little Witch Chapter 665: Chapter 667: The Little Witch He came to his office to deal with various documents sent by Li Qingya. Xinghai Holding Company now possessed stakes in many companies, and there were a lot of issues that needed his attention.


    About half an hour later, he finished handling those documents and then asked Xiaoxing to transmit the surveillance room¡¯s camera feed to him.


    His computer screen showed the Xinghai Cargo Ship that was in transit.


    The Xinghai Cargo Ship was equipped with wireless advanced intelligent surveillance probes, connected to the Star Domain Network, and with a switch of view, Qin Hao could see inside the cockpit.


    The crew members were sitting there chatting; this voyage was much more relaxed than before. They only needed to glance at the monitors occasionally; as long as there weren¡¯t any problems, they didn¡¯t have to do much.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°You guys go open that red container on the deck. Inside are the company¡¯s smart robots that can do a lot of work once we reach the destination.¡±


    After all, there was no port there yet. According to Qin Hao¡¯s plan, the cargo ship could only stop outside the beach of Pu¡¯er Island, and then goods would be transported via small to medium-sized boats.


    When the crew members in the cockpit suddenly heard Qin Hao¡¯s voice, they jumped in shock, turning their heads towards the wireless intelligent surveillance probe.


    ¡°Stop looking, it¡¯s me talking. Go and open that container,¡± he said.


    The crew promptly responded, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin.¡±


    They went up to the deck and, following Qin Hao¡¯s instructions, they opened the red container, and out walked the Xinghai smart robots, one by one.


    Robot 002 said, ¡°We were suffocating in there, finally able to come out for some fresh air.¡±


    The crew members took a step back in fright when they heard Robot 002 speak, thinking to themselves, ¡°Holy shit, has this hunk of metal come to life?¡±


    Though they had heard of artificial intelligence, this was their first encounter with Xinghai Company¡¯s AI robots.


    Seeing their reaction, Robot 002 said with a laugh, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, we¡¯re all on the same side. I¡¯m just following my master here. Now, if only I had an AK and some pirates showed up, that¡¯d be awesome.¡±


    The crew members looked at each other bewildered, thinking, ¡°This guy actually wants pirates? Big brother, do you not know how vicious pirates are? If we encounter them, we¡¯re all dead.¡±


    Robot 002 said, ¡°Brothers, come out and soak up some sun; let¡¯s get those batteries fully charged.¡±


    Qin Hao watched for a while longer before turning off the satellite video feed, then checked the Star Domain Network usage in Beiluo Country, North and South Mizhou, and West Continent.


    The number of Star Domain Network users in Beiluo Country had soared to over one hundred million. Although Beiluo Country was the largest in the world in terms of territory, it had a sparse population of less than two hundred million. Now, the internet users had reached over one hundred million; the network communications market was undoubtedly conquered.


    The user numbers in West Continent and North and South Mizhou were also rising fast. These days were a free trial period, and almost every netizen was trying out the Star Domain Network.


    You wouldn¡¯t know until you try, but once you do, it¡¯s quite a shock. The network speed felt like riding a rocket, and when paired with a smartphone that boasted excellent performance and storage capacity, it was a perfect match.


    Afterward, Qin Hao checked the overseas download numbers for Xinghai Social Software, which wasn¡¯t very satisfying.


    ¡°Bang bang¡±


    There was a knock at the door. Qin Hao said, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Qin Man walked in and spoke to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Su and a few friends have arrived; they¡¯re waiting for you in the reception room.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Su? Which Mr. Su? Su Mingzhi from Huamei Company?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Qin Man replied, ¡°No, it¡¯s Mr. Su from Jinchen City. She said she¡¯s an old friend of yours.¡±


    ...


    Then it dawned on Qin Hao who it was ¡ª other than Su Jiayi, who else from Jinchen City could it be? He only knew one Su there, and this person had quite the clout, not someone to offend lightly.


    Also, when did she and I become friends? It doesn¡¯t seem like we¡¯re familiar at all.


    Last time, Su Jiayi even drew a tube of blood from him. Could it be that they discovered something?


    He got up and went to the reception room, where Su Jiayi, Wei Pengtao, and Zheng Qinghui were sitting and drinking tea.


    Seeing Qin Hao coming in, the three of them stood up and greeted him with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao sat opposite them, ¡°Miss Su, what do the three of you want to see me for?¡±


    With a smile, Su Jiayi said, ¡°Isn¡¯t Mr. Qin leading a team to the East Chao Country tomorrow? We¡¯re coming with you to talk business on the side.¡±


    Their companies were going to represent state-owned enterprises for cooperation, like Wei Pengtao¡¯s mechanical mining company, which was going to East Chao Country to jointly develop the largest iron mine in West Continent.


    Zheng Qinghui¡¯s family intended to open several more airports in East Chao Country.


    What are you going to East Chao Country for? You¡¯re not members of my Xinghai Association.


    Although that¡¯s what Qin Hao thought, he dared not say it out loud, mainly because Su Jiayi¡¯s identity was too intimidating. Who would dare to provoke her?


    He replied, ¡°Sure, that¡¯s no problem. You can follow us there tomorrow.¡±


    Looking at him, Su Jiayi said, ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s one more thing. Could I borrow a bit more blood from you this time?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her warily, ¡°Big sister, look at how thin I¡¯ve become. If you draw more blood, I¡¯m afraid it will hurt my vitality.¡±


    Su Jiayi glanced at him, ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re a doctor yourself. Don¡¯t you have any idea whether it will harm your vitality or not?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°My constitution is different from that of normal people. It¡¯s easy for me to harm my vitality. Others might not have a clue.¡±


    Su Jiayi continued, ¡°Mr. Qin, after testing with professional equipment, we found that the cell longevity in your blood is completely different from that of normal people. We calculated that the aging rate of your cells is about three times slower than that of ordinary people.


    That is to say, if others can live up to eighty years, you could live beyond two hundred. However, we can¡¯t confirm this yet, so we need more of your cells for testing.¡±


    Qin Hao was startled inside, ¡°Damn, Su Jiayi¡¯s company is really something, to have figured this out.¡±


    He replied, ¡°Miss Su, let¡¯s forget about it. I really dislike the feeling of people using me for experiments.¡±


    Su Jiayi insisted, ¡°This is not treating you like a lab rat. Perhaps we can find a genetic breakthrough in your body. If we really succeed, you will make the greatest contribution to the advancement of mankind, and your name will go down in history.¡±


    Qin Hao snorted, ¡°I¡¯m already set to go down in history now.¡±


    Seeing that he was unyielding, Su Jiayi¡¯s wily nature suddenly emerged, ¡°Are you going to give it or not? If not, I¡¯m going to call my grandfather.¡±


    ...


    Wei Pengtao and Zheng Qinghui were dumbfounded, here she was using that trick again, a tactic that had worked many times over in Jinchen City, never failing to succeed.


    Because no one dared to take the risk, who is her grandfather? If he really made the call, the consequences would likely be dreadful.


    ¨C Qin Hao: ¡°Miss Su, you¡¯re not exactly young anymore. That¡¯s quite childish of you. Even if you make the call, I don¡¯t believe you¡¯d have me executed.¡±


    With fierce eyes, Su Jiayi glared at him; this was the first time she was thwarted, ¡°How much? Can¡¯t I just buy it?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°My parents said I¡¯ve been frail since I was young. Drawing blood really does damage my vitality.¡±


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 666 - 666 668 Anti-Wolf Electric Baton

    ?Chapter 666: Chapter 668: Anti-Wolf Electric Baton Chapter 666: Chapter 668: Anti-Wolf Electric Baton Miss Su Jiayi¡¯s neatly aligned white teeth clenched together, making a chattering sound. Wei Pengtao leaned to the side, well aware that this was a sign of her impending rage.


    This was Jinchen City¡¯s number one little witch, whom everyone found headache-inducing. It¡¯s just a few drops of blood, why must you go out of your way to offend her?


    Zheng Qinghui also felt that Qin Hao had no need to offend Su Jiayi. She was famously cunning and had tricked countless people.


    Suddenly, Su Jiayi said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s fine, since Mr. Qin isn¡¯t willing, let¡¯s just forget it. I¡¯ve heard that Xinghai Company¡¯s intelligent robots are extremely smart. Mr. Qin wouldn¡¯t mind showing us around, would you?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Sure, Secretary Qin, please show Miss Su and her companions around the company. I have some matters to attend to, so I won¡¯t be able to join you.¡±


    Su Jiayi was momentarily stunned, feeling like her punch had landed on cotton. With our status, you¡¯re actually having a secretary accompany us?


    Qin Hao stood up and returned to his office, while Qin Man took Su Jiayi and the other two on a tour inside the company. It took them half an hour to go around the massive company.


    In his office, Qin Hao thought about the issue with Su Jiayi. She actually managed to detect it. Even if she knew she was special, she should be okay, right?


    Now not only was Qin Hao the richest man in the world, but also a Major in the military. Despite Su Jiayi¡¯s distinguished identity, she couldn¡¯t just do as she pleased with him. A single move could affect the whole situation.


    Once he came to a realization, Qin Hao relaxed. However, he still had one more thing in mind. Su Jiayi¡¯s biogenetic technology company was pretty strong; he planned to start his own biogenetic tech company to develop Human Gene Potion.


    To Qin Hao, this project was second only to the military weapons he intended to develop. It was something that could change an era.


    Around ten in the morning, Qin Man brought Su Jiayi and the others back. Under her leadership, they had thoroughly witnessed the high-tech products of Xinghai Company.


    Aside from the lab which they didn¡¯t visit, they saw nearly everything else, especially the intelligent robots, which greatly astonished them.


    Once in the office, Su Jiayi acted as if she were in her own home, casually walking around. When she saw the game on the computer screen, she was visibly frustrated: ¡°So this is what you call being busy? Getting into Fight the Landlord,¡± she said.


    Qin Hao, smiling, replied: ¡°I just finished up. Would you like to play for a while, Miss Su?¡±


    Su Jiayi looked at him and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we have some serious matters to discuss with you.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback: ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?¡±


    With a smile, Su Jiayi responded: ¡°I didn¡¯t want to say it then, but I want to say it now. It¡¯s a message from my grandfather for you.¡±


    Qin Man, Wei Pengtao, and Zheng Qinghui had all left the office, leaving only Qin Hao and Su Jiayi.


    Then suddenly, a scream erupted from the room, and Wei Pengtao shuddered outside.


    Zheng Qinghui exchanged a glance with him, a look of sympathy for Qin Hao in their eyes. Of all people to annoy, why did it have to be him? His pranking skills are even more numerous than the meals we eat.


    Inside the office, Qin Hao looked at the black object in Su Jiayi¡¯s hand: ¡°What is this thing?¡±


    With a giggle, Su Jiayi said: ¡°The latest model of a biological electric anti-wolf stick. This kind of electric stick can directly hit the nervous system and knock someone out on the spot. Your physique really is special, it didn¡¯t knock you out. This one is the enhanced version.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao felt an urge to vomit blood. Dammit, I didn¡¯t even touch you, we¡¯re two or three meters apart, how the hell did you shock me?


    Su Jiayi smiled as if she knew what he was thinking and explained, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Qin, I accidentally touched the switch just now. The effective range is within five meters, and an invisible bioelectric current will be emitted towards the target.¡±


    Accidentally touched the switch? I¡¯ll believe that when hell freezes over.


    Qin Hao looked at her warily and asked, ¡°Miss Su, if you have something to say, please speak quickly.¡±


    Su Jiayi sat across from him and said with a smile, ¡°My grandfather said that for this trip, you¡¯re in charge. This is the first time our Xuan Country is truly helping an allied country militarily and economically. We absolutely cannot let it turn into a farce. We need to make certain countries take notice.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded. This trip was indeed important. East Chao Country was the first country to announce its allegiance to Xuan Country to the world.


    Although Teleonas Country was also under Xuan Country¡¯s wing, it had never dared to openly admit it.


    After all, Xuan Country¡¯s military and economic strength were far behind the Federation¡¯s in the past, so they had their reservations.


    This matter was not only a major concern for Xuan Country, but many countries around the world were also paying attention, including Beiluo Country, the Federation, countries of the West Continent, as well as Beihai Country and Beidou Country, and so on.


    Su Jiayi and Qin Hao had a long conversation in the office, almost entirely consisting of messages her grandfather had asked her to convey.


    It was past eleven-thirty when Su Jiayi finished speaking with Qin Hao. Tomorrow, another group of people from state-owned enterprises would be departing from Jinchen City to East Chao Country, and members of the Xinghai Association would follow Qin Hao from Jianghai City to East Chao Country.


    Upon leaving the office, Qin Hao politely said to Su Jiayi and the others, ¡°It¡¯s also noon now. How about you have lunch before you go?¡±


    ¡°Sure, you¡¯re so rich, why not let you pay?¡± Su Jiayi nodded and agreed.


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°What I mean is to eat at our company¡¯s cafeteria. I often eat here, and it¡¯s quite delicious.¡±


    Su Jiayi gave him a glance, ¡°With all your money, how can you be so stingy? How much could a meal possibly cost you?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°If Miss Su doesn¡¯t want to eat, you can leave. I didn¡¯t beg you to stay.¡±


    Su Jiayi snorted, ¡°Who said I was leaving? I want to eat in your cafeteria and see if the hygiene standards are up to snuff. If they¡¯re not, I¡¯ll report you by name.¡±


    Qin Hao took them to the cafeteria, which was clean and tidy, presenting a pleasant ambiance upon entering.


    Many employees were eating in the cafeteria at this time, and seeing Qin Hao and Chang Jing bringing in a few people was nothing out of the ordinary.


    Even though Qin Hao was the boss, he ate the same food as everyone else and was very kind to the employees; he never put on airs.


    Wei Pengtao said with a smile while eating, ¡°Mr. Qin, the meals are quite lavish. Your employees actually get to eat all this; you¡¯re really good to your employees.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°The employees are the foundation of the company; they are also their second home in a way. Giving them a ¡®home away from home¡¯ feeling makes them gradually fall in love with this place.¡±


    Zheng Qinghui nodded, ¡°Mr. Qin is right. Employees are the cornerstone of the company¡¯s development and progress, they are the foundation. If the employees are not united in their feelings towards the company, then the company can¡¯t develop much.¡±


    The group discussed company matters while Su Jiayi¡¯s bright eyes wandered, seemingly lost in thought about something.


    Wei Pengtao laughed and said to Chang Jing, ¡°Today we visited the entire Xinghai Company. Everything was orderly, clean, and tidy. From the small details of the company, one can see Mr. Chang¡¯s management ability, which is the most capable I have seen so far among senior management personnel.¡±


    [First update]

 Chapter 667 - 667 669 Proceeding Cautiously

    ?Chapter 667: Chapter 669: Proceeding Cautiously Chapter 667: Chapter 669: Proceeding Cautiously They weren¡¯t flattering Chang Jing; their status was no less than hers, and they meant every word they said.


    During the morning visit, they had noticed how strong Chang Jing¡¯s management abilities were, and they had even considered offering a high price to tempt her away, but who could poach someone from Qin Hao¡¯s hands?


    Su Jiayi said to Chang Jing, ¡°Miss Chang, we met when we were children, do you remember?¡±


    Chang Jing nodded her head. It had been a long time ago. Su Jiayi had once followed her elders to the Chang Family and had spoken with Chang Jing.


    Su Jiayi whispered, ¡°Miss Chang, why don¡¯t you come to my company and be the general manager? Our company also has a branch in Jianghai City, and I¡¯m planning to move our headquarters to Jianghai City.¡±


    Chang Jing smiled wryly, ¡°I have signed a contract with Mr. Qin, and if I went to your company, I¡¯d have to pay a huge amount in damages, several hundred billion Federation dollars.¡±


    Su Jiayi pouted, ¡°That¡¯s too much. That should be considered an unreasonable term. Let¡¯s sue him.¡±


    Wei Pengtao and Zheng Qinghui smirked upon hearing this; it was clear that Su Jiayi was targeting Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao had heard it too, but he didn¡¯t take it seriously. Although he hadn¡¯t known Su Jiayi for long, he had nearly figured her out.


    Although she was a troublemaker, she had her limits and was quite serious when it came to important matters.


    So dealing with someone like Su Jiayi was simple: don¡¯t bother with her little tricks, just ignore her, and that was enough.


    After lunch, Su Jiayi and the other two didn¡¯t leave. Wei Pengtao¡¯s family was in the mining business, also producing mining machinery.


    Their visit had two purposes, one was regarding a trip to East Chao Country, and the other was to explore a partnership with Qin Hao¡¯s Xinghai Company.


    In Qin Hao¡¯s office, Wei Pengtao said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, you don¡¯t have a mining machinery sector yet. I wonder if you¡¯d be interested in developing intelligent machinery for mining?¡±


    Xinghai Company¡¯s autonomous driving technology was mature and could be applied to mining equipment. If both parties cooperated, they could develop intelligent mining equipment in a very short time.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I am very welcoming of any company that wants a good cooperation with Xinghai Company. However, currently the Xinghai Association has a rule that we only collaborate with member companies.¡±


    Wei Pengtao hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°What are the requirements to join the Xinghai Association, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°The primary requirement for membership now is that the average monthly wages of all employees under the group must be above eight thousand. If there are any fabricated wage reports or layoffs, the entire Xinghai Association will proceed to blockade and suppress those companies.¡±


    This was one of the main conditions for membership. Other requirements included company strength, assets, and creditworthiness, among others.


    Upon hearing this condition, Wei Pengtao hesitated for a few seconds. His family¡¯s conglomerate was massive, employing hundreds of thousands of workers. Raising their wages monthly would be a significant expense.


    The conglomerate¡¯s profits would definitely be affected. According to the wages Qin Hao suggested, the cost would be nearly ten billion a month for over two hundred thousand employees.


    The Wei Family¡¯s mining machinery equipment conglomerate made roughly twenty-three to twenty-four billion a month in profit. Allocating nearly half of that profit to wages was something Wei Pengtao could accept, but would the shareholders agree?


    Qin Hao knew what Wei Pengtao was thinking, which was nothing but profit. These large conglomerates had terrifying profits; it wasn¡¯t that they couldn¡¯t afford to raise wages, but rather they didn¡¯t want to share their profits.


    Zheng Qinghui also fell into contemplation. She too wanted to collaborate, but the condition was somewhat painful for them¡ªthe extra expense of several billion a month was not a minor expenditure.


    If it were the government asking them to raise salaries, they would have plenty of excuses to brush it off. But now it was Xinghai Company, and cooperating with them held the promise of reaching the top tiers of global groups.


    The government clearly understood this, which was why only Qin Hao could restrain and even compel these conglomerates to compromise.


    The government wasn¡¯t suited to use harsh measures, as these conglomerates had powerful backers, becoming even more formidable when combined.


    Seeing them deep in thought, Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Take your time to think it over. Once you¡¯ve decided, you can contact Li Qingya; she¡¯s currently in charge of Xinghai Association matters.¡±


    ...


    Wei Pengtao and Zheng Qinghui left. They needed to go back and discuss this matter with their families and the company¡¯s shareholders.


    Qin Hao looked at Su Jiayi, who seemed curious, and asked, ¡°Miss Su, why aren¡¯t you leaving? I don¡¯t have time to entertain you.¡±


    Su Jiayi pouted, ¡°Do I need you to entertain me? I¡¯m not a child. My grandfather told me to learn more from you. Since there¡¯s nothing urgent back home, I might as well learn a bit more from you.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Qin Hao replied, not wanting to rush her away. He returned to his seat, checked the position of the Xinghai, which hadn¡¯t yet entered the Stan Ocean, and noted that it would take at least half a month to reach Pu¡¯er Island.


    Qin Hao later received a call from Li Qingya; the personnel for tomorrow¡¯s trip to East Chao Country had been finalized, with everyone already in Jianghai City. They would meet and proceed to the airport together the next day.


    That afternoon, approximately a dozen Xinghai Association conglomerate companies issued statements. They had mastered world-leading advanced technologies, and samples had already been produced. After evaluations by national authoritative agencies, the product quality was deemed safe and reliable.


    New type of concrete, high-tech multifunctional glass, high-end decorative materials, high-tech elevators, advanced piping, industrial laser equipment, and more.


    Each of these world-leading new technologies was released, and these companies also declared that none of these technologies were developed by themselves¡ªall were authorized by Xinghai Company.


    Online, these companies¡¯ new products caused a moderate stir, later on even mentioned in the news.


    After all, these advanced technology inventions significantly impacted Xuan Country.


    Xuan Country would transition from a major importing country to a major exporting country. Although it was already an exporting country, with these technologies, its export volumes would increase substantially, attracting global capital to Xuan Country.


    At the same time, Xuan Country would also reduce imports of monopolized foreign products, needing only to increase raw material imports instead.


    The cost of importing raw materials was low compared to the high-priced products made by foreign oligarchies, which Xuan Country needed and had no choice but to buy at high prices.


    ...


    Wei Pengtao and Zheng Qinghui returned to their residence in Jianghai City, staying in the same villa community.


    Wei Pengtao discussed joining the Xinghai Association with his father, Wei Minghui, ¡°Dad, what should we do?¡±


    Wei Minghui replied directly, ¡°Of course, join the Xinghai Association. What¡¯s there to hesitate about?¡±


    Wei Pengtao asked, ¡°Dad, would the shareholders and the board agree?¡±


    Wei Minghui replied irritably, ¡°Didn¡¯t you watch Wei Yan or the news today?¡±

 Chapter 668 - 668 670 Going to East Chao Country

    ?Chapter 668: Chapter 670 Going to East Chao Country Chapter 668: Chapter 670 Going to East Chao Country Wei Pengtao expressed his confusion, ¡°What happened to Wei Yan and the news? I just came out of Xinghai Company and haven¡¯t had time to check.¡±


    Wei Minghui said, ¡°You should take a good look at it later. You must get me into the Xinghai Association as soon as possible. We¡¯ll start raising the company employees¡¯ salaries to a minimum of eight thousand this month, and if we can join the Xinghai Association one day earlier, we can only make money, not lose it.¡±


    Wei Pengtao was perplexed by his father¡¯s words, wondering what was going on with his dad today. He wasn¡¯t like this before, ¡°Are you okay, Dad?¡±


    Wei Minghui replied irritably, ¡°What would be wrong with me? Son, can¡¯t you see how terrifying Qin Hao is by now? The stocks of those big corporations that have joined the Xinghai Association have been rising all the time, and after the news comes out this afternoon, the stocks will probably surge crazily.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Wei Pengtao wanted to call Qin Hao, but the Xinghai Social Software indicated that the other party was on a call, so he made a call to Li Qingya.


    It was Zheng Qinghui who was on the phone with Qin Hao, and she was one step ahead of Wei Pengtao.


    After hanging up with Zheng Qinghui, Qin Hao received a voice message from Li Qingya, who informed him that Wei Group wanted to join the Xinghai Association.


    After chatting with Li Qingya, Qin Hao smiled. There was no need for him to worry; they would naturally be more anxious.


    The Xinghai Association still had great potential for development. It currently only covered a few dozen industries, while there were hundreds of industries nationwide.


    Of course, Xuan Country had more than just hundreds of industries, but only a few hundred were relevant to the technology sector. Other industries, such as the catering, leasing, and other non-technology research and development industries, were not included.


    As Qin Hao put down his phone, Su Jiayi asked curiously, ¡°Have both of their groups agreed?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Now you can leave without worries, right?¡±


    Surprised inwardly, Su Jiayi wondered how he knew she was waiting for this news. However, she didn¡¯t show her surprise and simply snorted indifferently before getting up and walking out.


    ...


    The next morning, at Jianghai City International Airport.


    Dozens of luxury cars were parked in the airport plaza, and a group of people dressed in business suits with leather collars were gathered, talking away. Some were accompanied by secretaries and assistants, and others by bodyguards.


    These people attracted quite a crowd of onlookers at the airport. Any one of them was a major corporation¡¯s CEO, with a net worth of billions; people who were usually out of reach.


    ¡°Damn, is that Mr. Guo from Wanhao Real Estate? What are they doing at the airport?¡±


    ¡°That must be Mr. Li, with a net worth over six hundred billion. Holy crap, so many tycoons.¡±


    ¡°Why are all these big shots gathered together?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not entering or leaving, are they waiting for someone?¡±


    ¡°Who has such a big clout that all these people are waiting together?¡±


    Some onlookers started filming with their phones and uploaded the footage to short-video and Meiyin platforms, drawing a myriad of likes and comments.


    Wei Pengtao, Zheng Qinghui, and Su Jiayi were among the crowd, mingling and laughing with these individuals. The members of the Xinghai Association had a good relationship with each other, with little competition.


    Even if there was competition, it had been mediated, and their interests had been clearly divided.


    About five or six minutes later, Qin Hao¡¯s motorcade arrived, and then Qin Hao stepped out of his car, casually dressed.


    While all the surrounding CEOs were dressed formally in business attire, he was the only one clad in casual clothes.


    ¡°Mr. Qin has arrived.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    A crowd of people swarmed over, surrounding him from front and back, like stars around the moon.


    Almost all these people were heads of various groups, after all, since Qin Hao had personally made the trip, how could they send their deputies?


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s go, everyone, it¡¯s getting late.¡±


    The group made their way to the airport terminal, with Qin Hao leading the way, followed by the Li Qingya sisters, Su Jiayi, Wei Pengtao, Zheng Qinghui, and the heads of other companies.


    They boarded the first-class cabin of the plane through a special channel, as there wasn¡¯t enough room for everyone, many assistants, secretaries, and bodyguards had to sit in the economy class section.


    In the first-class cabin, Qin Hao sat on the second floor, with the Li Qingya sisters sitting nearby, along with Su Jiayi and several other company heads.


    Li Qingya sat next to Qin Hao, holding a business tablet in her hand and smilingly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, these are all the groups under the Xinghai Association, with detailed information about each one on here. Currently, there are over 8 million employees benefiting, and as more companies begin to start production and construction, even more employees will benefit.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Qingya, make sure to pay close attention, and if there are any companies that dare to conceal or falsify information, inform me immediately.¡±


    Li Qingya nodded, ¡°Sure thing, Mr. Qin. I¡¯ll have someone keep an eye on it. Mr. Qin, take a look at these, they are some of the sources and raw material industries I¡¯ve invested in with funds.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced over and said, ¡°Not bad, most of these are companies from which our company procures raw materials.¡±


    After the two finished talking, Li Qingyun spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, Kangmei Group plans to make smart refrigerators and various household appliances to expand the company¡¯s scope of business.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Expansion is fine, but make sure not to conflict with other companies of the Xinghai Association.¡±


    These companies had almost all received technological authorizations from Xinghai Company, and they would surely expand operations in the future, hiring more employees, making Xuan Country even more prosperous and powerful.


    ¡°Are you Miss Qingya and Miss Qingyun from Kangmei Group?¡± Wei Pengtao asked with a smile.


    Li Qingya nodded, ¡°Hello Mr. Wei, I¡¯ve long heard of Wei Group, the giant in the mechanical mining equipment industry.¡±


    Wei Pengtao laughed, ¡°You flatter me too much, Miss Qingya. Nowadays, who doesn¡¯t know about the big name of Kangmei Group nationwide?¡±


    ¡°Hello Miss Qingya, let me formally introduce myself. I am Zheng Qinghui of the Zheng Group.¡±


    Li Qingya, ¡°Hello Mr. Zheng.¡±


    ...


    Seeing them chat so animatedly, Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°You all enjoy your conversation, I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go, too.¡± Su Jiayi, already bored to death, immediately followed after Qin Hao¡¯s remark.


    They went down from the second floor, with the restroom at the rear of the first-class section, near where the flight attendants rested.


    Approaching the restroom door, two tall, young, and beautiful flight attendants seeing Qin Hao coming, hurriedly stood up and asked, ¡°Sir, is there anything we can help you with?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just going to use the restroom, no, thank you.¡± After speaking, Qin Hao turned to Su Jiayi and said, ¡°Ladies first, you go ahead.¡±


    Su Jiayi, not standing on ceremony, opened the restroom door and walked in, then locked the door behind her.


    Qin Hao waited outside, with the two flight attendants looking at him, one of them asked, ¡°Are you Mr. Qin Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded with a smile, ¡°I am honored that you recognize me.¡±


    ¡°It really is you, Mr. Qin! We hardly dared to believe it.¡± The two flight attendants were extremely excited at their encounter with the world¡¯s richest man, Qin Hao¡ªthey were actually speaking with the world¡¯s wealthiest person.


    [Third update]

 Chapter 669 - 669 671 Hard Fall

    ?Chapter 669: Chapter 671: Hard Fall Chapter 669: Chapter 671: Hard Fall At first, they didn¡¯t dare to recognize Qin Hao mainly because they barely remembered his face anymore.


    In the past few months, Qin Hao had gradually vanished from the public eye, and even if he stood before them now, they probably wouldn¡¯t recognize him.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, could I take a photo with you?¡± one of the flight attendants asked hopefully as she looked at him.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°Of course you can.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Na, could you take it for us? Take a few shots,¡± she said as she handed her mobile phone to another flight attendant.


    After Qin Hao had taken photos with them, Su Jiayi came out from the restroom, and then Qin Hao went in.


    About one and a half hours later, the plane arrived at the airport in Gaoping City, East Chao Country.


    Currently, only Xuan Country and Beiluo Country have direct flights to Gaoping City in East Chao Country. Other countries do not, mainly because East Chao Country was recently established and many countries had not yet established diplomatic relations with it, compounded by the Federation¡¯s recent blockade and suppression of East Chao Country.


    Aside from Beiluo and Xuan Countries, no other country dared to provoke the Federation.


    Upon leaving the airport, Qin Hao and his companions could clearly feel the low human traffic, with scarcely a shadow in sight across the vast airport square.


    East Chao Country had already sent people to wait outside the airport, with dozens of black sedans lined up.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, welcome to Gaoping City. I am Jin Guangjue, the envoy to receive you,¡± greeted a man.


    Qin Hao shook hands with him, ¡°Hello, Mr. Jin.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, please get in the car; I will first take you to a place to rest, and then our leader will host a luncheon for everyone at noon,¡± said Jin.


    Once aboard the car, they drove towards Gaoping City; Qin Hao observed the scenery outside. The online sources claimed that Gaoping City in East Chao Country was one of the cities in the world with the highest proportion of green space, and that was indeed the case.


    Even within the city limits, there were many green parks, and one could see various forest parks thereafter.


    Statistics showed that the built-up area of Gaoping City accounted for about 20 percent, and the remaining 80 percent was all garden greenery.


    Primarily because East Chao Country did not have a large population and there was no severe land and housing crunch like in Xuan Country.


    Throughout the journey, Qin Hao noted that Gaoping City¡¯s development was not as backward as foreign news reported, at the very least it matched the standards of second-tier cities in Xuan Country.


    The motorcade arrived outside the only five-star hotel in Gaoping City, East Chao Country, which had been sealed off, accessible only to Qin Hao and his party.


    Jin Guangjue had already arranged the rooms and personally led Qin Hao and his companions to their respective rooms.


    After making arrangements, he said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, please rest for a while; our leader will come at noon.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jin.¡±


    Jin Guangjue smiled, ¡°Mr. Qin, you are too polite. If there¡¯s nothing else, we will take our leave now.¡±


    ¡°Wait, Mr. Jin, your Mandarin is quite good. Did you study in Xuan Country?¡± Qin Hao curiously asked.


    If Jin Guangjue hadn¡¯t mentioned he was from East Chao Country, Qin Hao might have thought him to be from Xuan Country, especially since his Mandarin was very standard.


    With a dry laugh, Jin replied, ¡°Mr. Qin, you might not know, but in our country¡¯s education system, we have specialized courses in Xuan Country¡¯s language, which I studied at school.¡±


    After Jin Guangjue left, Qin Hao sat on the sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the view of the entire Gaoping City.


    Some corporate subsidiaries and factories of the Xinghai Association would be established here, and more companies planned to develop in Nansong City, a coastal city in East Chao Country.


    Located by the mouth of Zhudao, it was the largest port city set for development in East Chao Country, and because of the Federation¡¯s blockading policies, this major port city had always been just on the brink of development.


    Now, with Xuan Country¡¯s support, East Chao Country planned to develop this port city, thereby spearheading the economic development of the entire nation.


    While he was pondering, the door to the room was opened, and Su Jiayi walked straight in.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t need to look to know it was her; unlike others, she never knocked before entering.


    ...


    Su Jiayi saw Qin Hao without turning his head and sat down on the sofa next to him, ¡°Landlord Qin, what are you thinking about?¡±


    Qin Hao was exasperated, what kind of nickname was that? ¡°Miss Su, do you enjoy giving people nicknames?¡±


    Su Jiayi said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not too bad. The rich kids in Jinchen City all have nicknames, and yours sounds pretty nice. Do you know what Wei Pengtao¡¯s nickname is? Chicken Coop Raider...haha.¡±


    After saying that, she laughed so hard that she bent over backward, unable to stop.


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, remembering Wei Pengtao¡¯s name, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think your nickname sounds much better than his?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°So should I thank you for that?¡±


    ¡°No need to thank me, no need to thank me,¡± Su Jiayi said nonchalantly.


    There was a knock at the door, and Li Qingya walked in. Seeing Qin Hao and Su Jiayi in the room, she paused and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Su, am I disturbing you?¡±


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°Not at all, Miss Su is just bored and looking to tease me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s bored!¡± After saying that, Su Jiayi lifted her leg and kicked straight towards the space between Qin Hao¡¯s legs with practiced ease, clearly often using this move.


    This crippling kick was ruthless and without any reservations.


    Qin Hao also became angry. If he were really hit by that kick, he feared he would become Xuan Country¡¯s last eunuch in history.


    With quick reflexes, he caught her ankle with one hand and grabbed the clothes by her neck with the other, lifting her up like lifting a dead pig and threw her straight onto the bed.


    Su Jiayi let out a scream, landing heavily on the bed. The mattress was so bouncy that it threw her back up before she fell back down again.


    Li Qingya was flabbergasted. Mr. Qin¡¯s skills were impressive, flowing smoothly like water, effortlessly elegant.


    Su Jiayi got up from the bed and saw Qin Hao¡¯s expressionless face.


    Her eyes slightly red with anger, she glared at Qin Hao, then got up, huffed, and quickly walked out of his room.


    Qin Hao felt a bit guilty. She wouldn¡¯t tell her grandfather, would she? It should be fine, it was just a throw after all.


    Li Qingya cautiously asked Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Qingya, did you need something?¡± Qin Hao¡¯s face regained its smile.


    Li Qingya smiled as she walked in, ¡°Nothing much, just came to have a chat with Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Come in and have a seat.¡±


    They chatted for a while, and then someone came to notify them that the leader of East Chao Country was about to arrive, and Qin Hao led his people down to the lobby to receive him.


    At around eleven twenty, a convoy arrived at the hotel entrance, and a slightly overweight man got out of the car amidst a crowd. He appeared to be in his thirties; this was Jin Tiansi, the leader of East Chao Country.


    Those who came with him were key officials from various government sectors of East Chao Country.


    Qin Hao walked over with his people, but did not extend his hand in greeting. His people followed his cue.


    Their combined wealth was several times that of the economy of East Chao Country.


    Jin Tiansi got out of the car and looked around. The officials from East Chao Country were displeased to see that Qin Hao did not come over to greet them.


    After all, our leader is the head of a nation, and yet you did not come over to greet us.


    Jin Tiansi walked towards Qin Hao and extended his hand with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve long heard of your great reputation.¡±

 Chapter 670 - 670 672 Jin Tiansi

    ?Chapter 670: Chapter 672 Jin Tiansi Chapter 670: Chapter 672 Jin Tiansi Qin Hao extended his hand with a smile and replied, ¡°Mr. Jin, you are too modest. I often see your name in the news of Xuan Country, your attitude and policies towards the Federation are worth learning from many people.¡±


    Jin Tiansi¡¯s eyes sparkled with a glint as he laughed heartily, ¡°I am still far behind you, Mr. Qin. Please come in, let¡¯s talk while we eat.¡±


    Qin Hao and Jin Tiansi walked shoulder to shoulder into the hotel.


    The words Qin Hao had just spoken were loaded with meaning, hinting at a reality that, aside from Xuan Country, he had no other support.


    Beiluo Country and the Federation were fiercely competing in the East Chao Country and the Western Continent, too preoccupied to care for others, and Beiluo Country¡¯s economy was no match for Xuan Country; they truly couldn¡¯t lift you up.


    The Federation was out of the question; the citizens of East Chao Country held deep animosity towards both the Federation and Beihai Country. If he leaned towards the Federation, stability in his own country might be compromised.


    Apart from Xuan Country, he had no other choice.


    That was where Qin Hao found his boldness just now, indicating he didn¡¯t necessarily need to flatter, rather you would be the one needing to seek us out.


    The group arrived at the hotel¡¯s banquet hall, where Jin Tiansi said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, please take a seat, everyone.¡±


    Qin Hao, Li Qingya, her sister, Su Jiayi, Wei Pengtao, and others sat together while others took seats at the nearby tables, accompanied by other personnel from East Chao Country.


    Soon, servers brought some snacks and fruits; Jin Tiansi said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, please help yourself, eat as you like.¡±


    A server pushed to the side, while scantily clad, slim dancers strolled into the banquet hall from the side and began dancing on the central carpet.


    The dancers were all slim, beautiful, carefully selected top beauties, and their dances infused with unique ethnic features were a sight to behold.


    Jin Tiansi, with a broad smile and slightly squinted eyes, watched the dancers, contemplating which one to choose for the night.


    Qin Hao and others ate while watching; the dancers performed three dances in succession before exiting the hall.


    The food and drinks were served one after another, everyone toasted and began their meal.


    The dishes here tasted alright, Jin Tiansi said while eating, ¡°Mr. Qin, this afternoon let¡¯s go and have a look on site, we have already prepared the blueprints.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Good, Mr. Jin.¡±


    After the meal, Jin Tiansi had someone distribute a blueprint to each person including Qin Hao, detailing the layout and specific locations of various factories.


    The blueprints showed the locations and floor areas of Huafei Clothing Factory, Huamei Cosmetics Factory, and Xinghui Employment Factory. The overall plans were reasonable, but some details would still need to be discussed after seeing the site.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Mr. Jin, let us depart and inspect the site; we can look over these in detail on the way.¡±


    Jin Tiansi nodded, ¡°Yes, good, let¡¯s conduct an on-site inspection then.¡±


    A group left the hotel, and Qin Hao, along with sisters Li Qingya and Li Qingyun, joined Jin Tiansi in his car.


    Jin Tiansi¡¯s car was a luxury extended domestic sedan, as lavish inside as a hotel.


    As Qin Hao sat there with sisters Li Qingya and Li Qingyun on each side, Jin Tiansi saw the smiling sisters, ¡°Which honorable surname do these two beautiful ladies carry?¡±


    Li Qingya: ¡°Mr. Jin, my name is Li Qingya, this is my sister Li Qingyun, and I currently head the Xinghai Holding Company, while my sister is in charge of the Kangmei Group.¡±


    Jin Tiansi said with a smile, ¡°Miss Qingya, what do you think of Gaoping City?¡±


    Li Qingya nodded, ¡°I find Gaoping City to be very beautiful, the air is especially fresh, very suitable for living. It¡¯s far better here than what those foreign news reports suggest, I think they¡¯ve never even been to East Chao Country.¡±


    Jin Tiansi laughed heartily, ¡°Miss Qingya is right, those damned media are just kissing the Federation¡¯s feet.¡±


    Li Qingya was stunned for a moment; she hadn¡¯t expected Jin Tiansi to say something like that, especially since he was a leader of East Chao Country and should be mindful of his image.


    She could only force a laugh, ¡°Mr. Jin is so straightforward.¡±


    Jin Tiansi smiled and said, ¡°I say it as it is, though I am the leader of East Chao Country, I¡¯m also just an ordinary person. Miss Qingya, have you considered settling in Gaoping City? I quite like you.¡±


    Li Qingya was stunned again; so this was his intention. She apologized, ¡°Sorry Mr. Jin, I don¡¯t have that intention at the moment.¡±


    Jin Tiansi said unconcernedly, ¡°No worries, no worries, I believe Miss Qingya will gradually like this place.¡±


    As long as he could win over the elder sister, Jin Tiansi was confident he could then win over Li Qingyun, and then he could.... Just thinking about it made him excited, similar to when he had forcefully responded to the Federation.


    Qin Hao remained silent throughout. Jin Tiansi was a very scheming and capable man; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have secured his position.


    About twenty minutes later, Qin Hao, Jin Tiansi, and their group arrived at a newly designated industrial area in Gaoping City.


    Afterward, Jin Tiansi no longer spoke to Li Qingya about his liking for her but engaged in regular conversation.


    Given his status, Li Qingya had no choice but to engage in conversation with him; after all, offending the leader of East Chao Country was not a wise move.


    Everyone felt that the industrial zone was quite nice during their inspection; it was very large, and they discussed specific details while examining the area.


    East Chao Country offered significant incentives; the land prices were not high and could be said to be very low.


    They toured the industrial zone all afternoon because there were too many factories to be established, and even an afternoon was not enough to see everything thoroughly. The discussions mainly focused on specific details.


    On the way back to the hotel, Jin Tiansi parted ways with them, saying he had some other matters to handle.


    On the way back, Li Qingya looked at Qin Hao and grudgingly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I am after all your employee, how come you didn¡¯t help me out?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Are you talking about Jin Tiansi? Next time he talks to you and you don¡¯t feel like responding, then don¡¯t respond. You are with the Xinghai Association, and he wouldn¡¯t dare to fall out with us.¡±


    Li Qingya had reservations, ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s a good idea; it is still his territory, and I¡¯m afraid we might run into trouble if we don¡¯t give him face.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°If he dares to make trouble, then we¡¯ll just pull out our investments and leave. There are many places in the world where one can make money. With our products, they will be marketable everywhere we go; being advanced is everything.¡±


    Back at the hotel, Qin Hao and the others from the Xinghai Association had dinner together, and he spoke with them for a while.


    After dinner, Guo Hang of Wanhao Real Estate spoke up, ¡°Since we¡¯ve come all the way to East Chao Country, and it¡¯s rare we¡¯re all together, let¡¯s go out and experience the charm of East Chao¡¯s capital.¡±


    [Second update, more to come]

 Chapter 671 - 671 673 Singing in the Bar

    ?Chapter 671: Chapter 673 Singing in the Bar Chapter 671: Chapter 673 Singing in the Bar The others smiled and nodded, then turned to Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin doesn¡¯t come to Gaoping City often. Let¡¯s all go out and have fun together.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Since everyone wants to go out and have fun, then let¡¯s go together, but let¡¯s not cause any trouble.¡±


    Guo Hang laughed and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯re not children anymore. Fighting and killing is something that only children do.¡±


    With more than thirty people in Qin Hao¡¯s entourage, plus secretaries, assistants, and bodyguards, there were nearly seventy people in total. It was unlikely that anyone would dare to offend this group.


    Suddenly, Su Jiayi spoke up: ¡°I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a bar street not far from here. Let¡¯s go there and have fun, drink, sing, and dance...¡±


    ¡°Really? Then let¡¯s do as Miss Su suggests.¡± The others, aware of Su Jiayi¡¯s identity as the little princess of Xuan Country, knew she was not someone to be trifled with.


    Qin Hao was unfazed and led the group toward the nearby bar street.


    Su Jiayi was excited: ¡°Mr. Qin, since you¡¯re the boss of all of us here, does that mean you¡¯ll be taking care of the expenses tonight?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll cover everyone¡¯s expenses tonight.¡±


    Su Jiayi turned around with a smile and said, ¡°Did everyone hear that? Mr. Qin said he¡¯s treating us tonight, including the money for calling over little sisters. Everyone order freely.¡±


    Qin Hao nearly stumbled; when did I say that?


    Li Qingya and Li Qingyun pursed their lips and chuckled; it seemed like Su Jiayi loved to mess with Qin Hao.


    Su Jiayi turned her head to give Qin Hao a look, her face carried a smug, triumphant expression, as if she were a general who had won a great battle.


    Qin Hao glanced at her and then turned away, his expression calm. A good man does not fight with women.


    They arrived at the famous Sleepless Bar Street of Gaoping City. Cars were parked along both sides of the street. In East Chao Country, those who could afford to buy a car were considered wealthy.


    In East Chao Country today, it¡¯s like Xuan Country in the 1990s; anyone who owns a car is definitely rich. Ordinary people simply cannot afford one.


    The cars here were almost all produced by Xuan Country; in the domestic market, they were low-end, but here, they were considered luxury vehicles.


    Qin Hao arrived at the most famed Golden Light Bar on the street. Just looking at the decoration and exterior, the Golden Light Bar already stood out from the rest.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to this one.¡± Qin Hao led the group inside, and there was a decent number of people in the bar.


    Qin Hao sat at the bar counter, with Li Qingya and Li Qingyun sitting next to him. Su Jiayi spoke to the bartender at the front: ¡°Give me the most expensive drink you have here.¡±


    The bartender was taken aback for a moment, then started to mix the drink. He usually fulfilled the requests of beautiful women, especially someone like Su Jiayi, an exceptional beauty.


    After mixing the drink, the bartender smiled and said, ¡°This one¡¯s on me for the beautiful lady.¡±


    ¡°No need, I already have someone treating me. You see this guy here, he looks like a cucumber, all lumpy and awkward, nowhere near as handsome as the man by my side.¡± Su Jiayi declined and couldn¡¯t resist mocking him.


    As expected, the bartender glanced at Qin Hao, a hint of jealousy flashing in his eyes. Damn it, so what if he¡¯s more handsome than me? What¡¯s the use? I earn a salary of five thousand a month.


    Qin Hao watched Su Jiayi speechlessly; she could somehow make everything about him.


    After having a few drinks on the first floor, the group went upstairs and took the largest VIP room in the bar, which had a minimum spending requirement. With so many people, it would cost at least several hundred thousand.


    It wasn¡¯t clear if it was Su Jiayi who ordered or if the bar itself had offered, but not long after they entered the VIP room, a service member brought in a bunch of beautifully charming little princesses¡ªranging in age from twenty to thirty-something, with young, mature, and seductive faces.


    Qin Hao hadn¡¯t called for them, and seeing that Qin Hao hadn¡¯t made the call, no one else dared to. So, the server had no choice but to lead them back out again.


    Su Jiayi spoke up: ¡°I¡¯ve heard online that Mr. Qin sings very well. How about we have Mr. Qin sing us a song?¡±


    ...


    ¡°Sure, Mr. Qin, sing one for us.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, give us a song.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Mr. Qin, sing one for us, we all know you sing well.¡±


    Eventually, Li Qingya and Li Qingyun joined in the commotion, because they too wanted to hear Qin Hao sing live.


    With so many people urging him, Qin Hao found it hard to refuse. He smiled and said, ¡°I only know how to sing songs in Xuan Country¡¯s language. They don¡¯t have Xuan Country songs here, do they?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we have not only Xuan Country songs but also Federation songs,¡± Su Jiayi said hurriedly.


    Qin Hao walked up to the song selection screen, truly unsure of what to pick. Suddenly, Su Jiayi reached out and randomly chose one, ¡°Mr. Qin, just sing this one, otherwise, we might have to wait until tomorrow morning for you to pick a song.¡±


    As the music started playing, Qin Hao glanced at the song title ¡°Nostalgia for Youth¡± and felt relieved¡ªfortunately, he¡¯d heard this song before.


    The private room fell silent, leaving only the melody of the backing track. Qin Hao opened his mouth to sing, and as his voice rang out, it captivated everyone present.


    We once had


    Mornings untainted by pollution


    Tick-tock goes the second hand


    But it can¡¯t hold onto an evening


    ...


    Oh how we miss our youth


    Yesterday takes root and sprouts in memories


    Love nourishes that patch of heartland


    Blossoming into beautiful tears we can¡¯t bear to let fall


    Oh how we miss our youth


    The footprints we¡¯ve left compose a painting


    The most beautiful scene is your smile


    In that ¡®goodbye¡¯ lies too much we can¡¯t let go.


    The people in the room, most of them successful individuals in their forties, were taken back to their younger selves by his emotionally resonant singing.


    Back then, they were still young and green, their youth filled with bitterness, joy, regrets, and remorse.


    Many had moist eyes, including the sisters Li Qingya and Li Qingyun, who stared at Qin Hao, transfixed.


    Su Jiayi wore an expression of disbelief. How the hell could he sing so beautifully? It even sounded better than the original singer, especially with that incredibly emotive voice.


    When the song ended, silence took over the room. A few seconds later, everyone realized what had happened and burst into applause, with some sneakily wiping away tears from the corners of their eyes.


    Qin Hao returned to his seat and handed the microphone to someone else, ¡°Everyone should sing and have fun.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, have a drink to soothe your throat,¡± Li Qingya offered Qin Hao a cup of beverage.


    Qin Hao nodded, took the drink, and began to sip, while the others also started singing themselves.


    Half an hour later, Li Qingya stood up and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡±


    ¡°Sister, I¡¯ll go too,¡± Li Qingyun said hurriedly.


    The two women left the private room, and Qin Hao sat there with a smile on his face, listening to the other guests sing.


    About two minutes later, Leng Xuan came in from outside. He whispered a few words to Qin Hao, causing Qin Hao¡¯s brows to furrow slightly. He stood up and walked out.


    Many noticed Qin Hao¡¯s movement and looked puzzled. What was Mr. Qin up to?


    Outside the private room, Li Qingya and Li Qingyun stood together, blocked by members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion. Opposite them stood a group of fashionable and avant-garde young men and women, dressed like spoiled rich kids.


    Li Xianjun sized up Qin Hao as he came out of the large private room and challenged, ¡°Are you the one who stole my room?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Li, these guests arrived first, how about I find another room for you?¡± The bar manager offered, his face a picture of appeasement.


    Li Xianjun kicked out in frustration, ¡°Screw your large ¡®Ye¡¯, I want this biggest one.¡±

 Chapter 672 - 672 674 Conflict

    ?Chapter 672: Chapter 674: Conflict Chapter 672: Chapter 674: Conflict The bar manager was kicked over. He looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Gentlemen, would you mind moving to another private room? We apologize for the inconvenience.¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t respond to him but instead looked at Li Xianjun, ¡°Things should go by order, we booked this room first. Why should we give it up to you?¡±


    Li Xianjun scornfully said, ¡°If you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯ll get lost fast. A mere lowly merchant is now trying to act tough in front of me.¡±


    He was Gaoping City¡¯s top young master. He knew every notable figure in Gaoping City. Qin Hao and his group were all new faces and having so many bodyguards, they could only be businessmen.


    The rest of the people in the private room all came out, just in time to hear what Li Xianjun had said. They all turned their heads to look at Qin Hao.


    Li Xianjun glanced at the Li sisters and suddenly said with a smile, ¡°If you let the two of them spend the night with us, then we¡¯ll let this incident slide, otherwise I will make sure you regret it deeply.¡±


    After finishing his sentence, Li Xianjun waved his hand, and six men stepped forward from behind him, drawing out handguns and pointing at Qin Hao and his friends: ¡°All of you, stay damn quiet.¡±


    The expressions of Qin Hao¡¯s group changed drastically. They had guns? What were they supposed to do now?


    The Li sisters also looked extremely upset. These were real guns, the dark muzzles like a devouring abyss.


    Although East Chao Country also had a gun ban, the enforcement wasn¡¯t so rigorous for some top-level officials; it was relatively lax.


    With a smiling face, Li Xianjun looked at Qin Hao, ¡°Just hand them over, and I¡¯ll spare your lives. Otherwise, I¡¯ll kill all of you.¡±


    Qin Hao stood calmly as he stared at Li Xianjun, wondering if this encounter was a coincidence, or if someone had orchestrated it from behind the scenes?


    As he considered the possibilities, Su Jiayi¡¯s face also turned somewhat embarrassed. She hadn¡¯t expected to run into this situation here.


    If they started shooting? His side would definitely suffer heavy casualties.


    Qing Ya stepped forward, ¡°Mr. Qin, let me go with them.¡±


    Qin Hao turned his head to look at her, his tone calm but firm, ¡°You are a member of the Xinghai Association. As long as I¡¯m here, no one can touch you.¡±


    Li Xianjun¡¯s eyes flashed viciously, ¡°Go fuck yourself! At this point, you still dare to act smart? Kill two of them first to show them we mean business.¡±


    As his voice fell, the six gunmen turned their guns, but just then, a flash of cold light burst in front of everyone¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Ahhh, ahhh!¡±


    The sounds of screaming filled the air. Looking closely, the six gunmen had flying knives embedded in their necks, the entire blades having gone in, killing them instantly on the spot.


    After Qin Hao had used flying knives to save Su Fei on the plane, he realized they were quite effective. As long as the speed was sufficient, they could be more deadly than guns at close range.


    Everyone from both sides was stunned by Qin Hao¡¯s move. Was he even human? Six gunmen were killed instantly, without even having a chance to shoot. What kind of power was this?


    Su Jiayi, Qing Ya, and the others stared at Qin Hao¡¯s back, their eyes full of shock. It was terrifying; he was just like a god.


    ¡°Attack! Go for it!¡± Qin Hao said, his tone slightly cold.


    Leng Xuan and others rushed forward. Their side had many bodyguards, greatly outmatching the other side in combat strength.


    A crowd surged forward, with Leng Xuan heading straight for Li Xianjun.


    A few minutes later, those who could run had fled, those who could be caught were caught, and Li Xianjun was also seized and brought before Qin Hao.


    Leng Xuan and Han Zhuang each kicked him, forcing Li Xianjun to kneel in front of Qin Hao.


    With a grim look on his face, Li Xianjun said to Qin Hao, ¡°Release me now, or you won¡¯t be able to leave Gaoping City.¡±


    ¡°Slap, slap¡±


    Qin Hao gave him two solid slaps, ¡°I really want to know how powerful your family is?¡±


    ¡°My dad is Li Tianzhen, the second in command of East Chao Country,¡± Li Xianjun said, looking at him.


    ¡°Is that supposed to impress me?¡± Qin Hao responded disdainfully.


    Just then, a large contingent of Gaoping City police rushed up, led by the chief of the city police, who had also been at the industrial area inspection that afternoon and naturally recognized Qin Hao and his group.


    Seeing him, Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Mr. Park, you must explain this to me, or else we will leave for our country tomorrow.¡±


    After finishing his statement, Qin Hao walked outside with his group, not giving Mr. Park a chance to speak.


    Back at the hotel, Qin Hao told everyone, ¡°Everyone should rest early after we get back. If East Chao Country doesn¡¯t give us an explanation, we will leave for our country tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin.¡± The group nodded and responded in unison.


    In his room, Qin Hao lay on the bed, pondering the incident at the bar. Was this event a coincidence, or was Jin Tiansi behind it?


    Then he felt he was perhaps overthinking it, and the matter might not be so complex after all.


    They say clever people are often overly suspicious. Qin Hao thought there was truth in that. Clever people would consider all possibilities and take corresponding precautions, leaving them with few true friends.


    Just like those billionaires at the Xinghai Association, how many true friends did they have?


    Qin Hao felt he was heading in their direction.


    As he finished contemplating and was about to sleep, there was a knock at the door. Qin Hao got out of bed and went to open it, finding the Li sisters standing there.


    Qin Hao looked at them curiously and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Qing Ya hesitated, ¡°Mr. Qin, we are scared.¡±


    ¡°Come in and tell me about it,¡± Qin Hao said, knowing they must have connected tonight¡¯s incident to many things.


    Thinking about that possibility gave them a creepy feeling.


    The Li sisters walked in, and Qing Ya said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯re scared. We don¡¯t feel safe staying in our room..¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking. Why don¡¯t you sleep here, and I¡¯ll sleep on the floor.¡±


    Qingyun gave a shy smile, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°No worries. Since I brought you here, naturally I must ensure your safety. Get some sleep, we have a lot to do tomorrow.¡±


    Li sisters got into bed, in their pajamas and under the covers, while Qin Hao slept on the carpet.


    The next morning around six, Qin Hao and the Li sisters were woken up by a knock on the door.


    Groggy-eyed, Qin Hao got up and opened the door, ¡°Miss Su, do you always have so much energy so early in the day?¡±


    Su Jiayi walked in and said, ¡°I need to talk to you.¡±


    When she entered the room and saw the Li sisters¡¯ disheveled appearance on the bed, Su Jiayi turned to stone: ¡°Qin Hao, you are shameless, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    The Li sisters blushed at her words, ¡°Miss Su, it¡¯s not what you think, Mr. Qin was sleeping on the floor.¡±


    Su Jiayi curled her lips, ¡°Give me a break, with two stunning sisters, he¡¯d sleep on the floor? Do you think he¡¯s a saint or something?¡±


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain and felt no need to justify himself to her, ¡°Do you need something, Miss Su? If not, please leave, I¡¯m trying to sleep here.¡±


    Su Jiayi huffed and said, ¡°People from the Xuan Country Embassy are here looking for you.¡±

 Chapter 673 - 673 675 Return to the Country

    ?Chapter 673: Chapter 675: Return to the Country Chapter 673: Chapter 675: Return to the Country Qin Hao took off his pajamas and got dressed in front of the three women. As Su Jiayi and the other two watched him put on his top, they noticed his skin was a bronze color, and although his muscles were not very developed, they were clearly defined with good lines.


    After getting dressed, Qin Hao washed up and then went out. He found the people from the Xuan Country Embassy in the lobby downstairs.


    A middle-aged man wearing glasses reached out to Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, hello, I am Wang Yuanqing, the ambassador from Xuan Country to East Chao Country.¡±


    Qin Hao sat down, smiled and asked, ¡°Mr. Wang, what brings you to me?¡±


    Wang Yuanqing began, ¡°I heard about what happened last night. I hope Mr. Qin can keep calm, the joint anti-action partnership is critical, and you can¡¯t let your emotions dictate your actions.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°Mr. Wang, what do you mean by ¡®letting my emotions dictate my actions¡¯? I don¡¯t quite understand your point.¡±


    Wang Yuanqing¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re a smart man, you should know what to do without me having to spell it out for you, right?¡±


    Qin Hao snorted coldly, ¡°I¡¯ll do as I please, and no one can tell me what to do. To put it bluntly, what are you, and what right do you have to come here giving me directives?¡±


    Wang Yuanqing¡¯s face suddenly turned pale, ¡°Mr. Qin, please watch your language.¡±


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°Get lost. I¡¯ll handle my own affairs without needing your pointers. Who gave you the right?¡±


    A few bodyguards, who were military personnel, were standing beside Wang Yuanqing, and at Qin Hao¡¯s words, they frowned, ¡°Mr. Qin, please show some respect for Mr. Wang.¡±


    Qin Hao took out a military ID and said, ¡°Do you recognize the words on this?¡±


    When the bodyguards saw the information on the military ID, their expressions changed, and they promptly saluted Qin Hao, ¡°Good day, sir.¡±


    Wang Yuanqing¡¯s face shifted between shades, Major? He¡¯s a Major?


    Qin Hao put away his military ID without giving him another glance and turned to walk back. If he wasn¡¯t wrong, this Wang Yuanqing must have been sent to mediate.


    It could be that Jin Tiansi asked him to do it, or it might have been from the Xuan Country side.


    But no matter who it was, he had his own bottom line that nobody could break.


    Back upstairs, Li Qingya and the others were already up, but Qin Hao felt their gazes on him were somewhat different.


    Wei Pengtao saw Qin Hao and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, did you sleep well last night?¡±


    ¡°Quite well, why do you ask?¡± Qin Hao looked at him, puzzled.


    Wei Pengtao said enviously, ¡°If it were me, I¡¯m sure I¡¯d also have slept very well. The beauty of sisters, tsk tsk, I really envy you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao felt his head go numb; without needing to guess, he knew what had happened. Su Jiayi must have spread the word about Li Qingya and her sister staying in his room.


    Isn¡¯t this girl going a bit too far? It doesn¡¯t affect me, but it¡¯s not so good for the reputation of those two sisters, right?


    He went looking for Su Jiayi, who was chatting and laughing with the Li sisters. When they saw Qin Hao come in, the Li sisters blushed with a hint of shyness.


    Qin Hao looked at Su Jiayi and said, ¡°Su Jiayi, come here.¡± After speaking, Qin Hao walked over.


    Caught off guard, Su Jiayi had not yet had a chance to speak before Qin Hao grabbed her and threw her back onto the bed.


    Looking at her wrist that had turned red from the grip, Su Jiayi¡¯s eyes welled up slightly, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far. There¡¯s nothing between me and Qing Ya, and by spreading this, you¡¯ve not cast their reputations in the best light.¡±


    Li Qingya hastily interjected, ¡°Mr. Qin, this has nothing to do with Miss Su. We happened to come out of your room just when they saw us.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, turned his head slowly to look at Su Jiayi on the bed, and coughed, ¡°Miss Su, sorry about that, I¡¯m a bit hungry. I¡¯m going to have breakfast first.¡±


    After saying this, he hurriedly ran out, and Su Jiayi jumped down from the bed: ¡°Qin Hao, you bastard, stop right there. No one has ever thrown me down before, and you¡¯ve done it twice.¡±


    Li Qingya and Li Qingyun exchanged glances, then quickly followed him out.


    In the hotel restaurant, Qin Hao sat there with a bitter look, beside him was Su Jiayi with reddened eyes, and on the other side were Li Qingya and the others.


    Qin Hao said with an awkward smile, ¡°Miss Su, I apologize, this time it¡¯s my fault, my fault, I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    Su Jiayi said, ¡°If apologies were useful, what would we need the police for?¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Then what do you suggest we do?¡±


    Su Jiayi looked at him and said, ¡°Let me do a few more experiments, and then I¡¯ll forgive you. Otherwise, this isn¡¯t over.¡±


    ¡°What kind of experiments?¡± Li Qingya and her sister asked curiously.


    Qin Hao gave the two a look, ¡°If you two had spoken up earlier, it wouldn¡¯t have come to this.¡±


    Su Jiayi took out her cellphone and said, ¡°Will you agree or not? If you don¡¯t, I¡¯m going to video call my grandmother. She¡¯ll be really upset and angry when she sees me like this.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s mind raced, and suddenly, an idea struck him: ¡°Miss Su, actually, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been considering for a while but haven¡¯t done yet. Would you be interested in collaborating with me to start an even bigger biogenetic technology company?¡±


    Su Jiayi looked at him suspiciously, ¡°A bigger biogenetic technology company? You put up the funds, I contribute the effort, a fifty-fifty split.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°That¡¯s way too much for you, fifty-fifty definitely won¡¯t work. I¡¯ll take ninety, you get ten.¡±


    Su Jiayi almost glared at him, ¡°What do you take me and my research team for? Forty-six is the lowest I¡¯ll go.¡±


    Qin Hao pursed his lips, ¡°Your team, no offense, is worthless. Not only will I put up the money, but I¡¯ll also provide the genetic technology. All you need to do is research.¡±


    Su Jiayi looked at him curiously and asked, ¡°You know about biogenetic technology too?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Is it that hard? In plain terms, biogenetic drugs are just an upgraded version of ordinary drugs, and the two are somewhat related.¡±


    In the end, after some negotiation, they reached an agreement: Qin Hao would hold an eighty percent stake in the new biogenetic technology company, while she would hold twenty percent.


    Just after they had breakfast, Jin Tiansi arrived with his people, expressing deep regret and guilt about yesterday¡¯s incident. They had already deployed personnel to ensure their safety.


    Moreover, Li Xianjun had been detained, and according to the laws of East Chao Country, he would be sentenced to life imprisonment. As a result, Li Xianjun¡¯s father had also been demoted.


    Qin Hao was quite satisfied with this outcome. In the morning, they continued to tour the industrial zone of Gaoping City, and in the afternoon, they set off for the coastal city of Nansong City in East Chao Country, where the scale of construction investment was even larger.


    In the initial phase, Xinghai Association planned to invest five hundred billion in East Chao Country, with the scale of subsequent investment depending on the economic situation.


    After staying in East Chao Country for three days, Qin Hao and the people of Xinghai Association set off to leave. Later, they would send their subordinates to supervise the construction of the factory and other developments.


    Coming out of Jianghai City International Airport, it was around five o¡¯clock in the afternoon.


    After saying goodbye to the executives of various companies, Qin Hao went straight home by car. Although there seemed to have been no changes in Xuan Country over these days, in reality, many countries and giants around the world were paying close attention to Xuan Country.


    Because in the past few days, Xuan Country had produced too many innovative high-tech products, nearly every new product surpassing the current global standards, unbelievably ahead of its time.


    [Second update]

 Chapter 674 - 674 676 Air Energy Car

    ?Chapter 674: Chapter 676 Air Energy Car Chapter 674: Chapter 676 Air Energy Car How is it possible that Xuan Country suddenly emerged with so many high-tech products? What exactly is going on?


    Many people were investigating this, and eventually they found out that all these technologies were licensed by Xinghai Company. How did Xinghai Company come up with these technologies?


    The most panicked right now were the officials of the Federation and those business magnates within the Federation. If this development continued, Xuan Country was very likely to replace the Federation and become the new economic center of the world.


    The concerns of those business tycoons and officials were about the same; they absolutely could not allow Xuan Country to become the center of the global economy, nor could they let it shake the position of their business oligarchy.


    This situation wasn¡¯t without room for maneuver. If Qin Hao chose to collaborate with them, that would naturally be the best option.


    Otherwise, these business empires would join forces with the nationalists to suppress Xuan Country and suppress Qin Hao.


    ...


    When Qin Hao got home, Han Meng, Fan Ruobing, Zhao Yuying, and Qiao¡¯er were all there. They were sitting on the couch, chatting and laughing. Seeing Qin Hao return, Han Meng stood up and walked over, ¡°Xiao Hao is back.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Is everything fine at Meng¡¯s home?¡±


    Han Meng nodded, ¡°Everything is quite fine; it¡¯s just that Qiao¡¯er misses you a bit.¡±


    When Qin Hao was not home, Han Meng always felt something was missing, but she couldn¡¯t quite put it into words, so she expressed it through Qiao¡¯er.


    Sitting on the couch, Qin Hao let out a long sigh¡ªthere was indeed no place like home.


    The matters in East Chao Country were completely settled, and in the next few days, many factories would start construction.


    Zhao Yuying looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Xiao Hao, you must be tired, let me take you to the bedroom to rest for a while.¡±


    To rest in the bedroom? It seems she wants more than just rest, doesn¡¯t she?


    But indeed, he was feeling quite pent-up; Qin Hao followed Zhao Yuying up to the second-floor bedroom. Fan Ruobing and Han Meng¡¯s expressions didn¡¯t change much, except Han Meng blushed a little.


    About ten minutes later, Zhao Yuying¡¯s mother Wang Zhi entered. She looked at Han Meng and Fan Ruobing and asked, ¡°Xiao Meng, Ruobing, is Yuying not here?¡±


    Han Meng quickly said, ¡°Xiao Hao just came back, and Yuying has a lot of business matters to discuss with him. They are discussing it right now, Auntie. Better not to disturb them, I will talk to Yuying in a while.¡±


    Wang Zhi nodded, ¡°Okay, then tell Yuying to come back for dinner early.¡±


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying came down from upstairs.


    Han Meng said, ¡°Yuying, your aunt came looking for you just now, she told you to come back early.¡±


    Next door at home, after Wang Zhi returned, she said to Zhao Xingbo, ¡°How come every time she comes back, Yuying always discusses business with Qin Hao?¡±


    Zhao Xingbo, ¡°Xiao Hao hasn¡¯t been home for several days, and Ling has definitely a lot of matters at the company, it¡¯s quite normal.¡±


    Wang Zhi glanced at him, ¡°Normal? What¡¯s normal? Who knows how many girlfriends Qin Hao has. Isn¡¯t it inappropriate for our daughter to be so close to him?¡±


    Zhao Xingbo, ¡°Our daughter is not a child anymore; she¡¯s an adult and can make her own judgments. We just need to support her decisions.¡±


    Wang Zhi scoffed, ¡°Would you still support her if she becomes someone else¡¯s mistress or side chick?¡±


    Zhao Xingbo, ¡°Our daughter is grown up now; can¡¯t you just worry less? ¡±


    ...


    After dinner in the evening, Qin Hao went to Fan Ruobing¡¯s room.


    The next morning.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao went to Xinghai Company. On the way, he received a message from 001: ¡°The first air energy car will be made this afternoon.¡±


    Upon hearing this news, Qin Hao¡¯s face brightened with joy. Finally, it had come out, and many things would become very convenient from now on.


    He immediately called Xu Liangguo, ¡°Mr. Xu, what are you busy with?¡±


    ¡°Nothing much, just playing chess with Mr. Chen. He has already lost to me five times, haha,¡± Xu Liangguo laughed heartily as he spoke.


    Chen Shengjun¡¯s voice emerged, ¡°Is that Xiao Hao? I heard you are having quite an influence in East Chao Country. Be careful of schemers behind your back.¡±


    ¡°If they dare, I¡¯ll break their legs,¡± Xu Liangguo snorted coldly.


    Qin Hao felt a bit embarrassed and quickly said, ¡°Mr. Xu, if you are free this afternoon, why don¡¯t you come to Jianghai City? I have something amazing to show you.¡±


    Xu Liangguo asked curiously, ¡°What amazing thing?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It¡¯s not convenient to talk over the phone. It¡¯s better if you come and see for yourself, Mr. Xu. I guarantee you¡¯ll be very surprised.¡±


    Moved by the mystery, Xu Liangguo said, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll head to Jianghai City in a bit.¡±


    Chen Shengjun added, ¡°I¡¯m free as well, I¡¯ll come along and visit my niece, Xiao Jing, too.¡±


    ¡°If Mr. Chen wants to come, then come along,¡± Qin Hao was indifferent about it.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao felt pretty good; the air energy car had finally come through.


    At Xinghai High-tech Company, Qin Hao entered Chang Jing¡¯s office where she was busy with company business. Noticing Qin Hao, she looked up and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, our navigation satellite has just established a partnership with Jiangqi Group. Going forward, every smart car¡¯s motherboard will be equipped with Xinghai¡¯s intelligent navigation system.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Chang, our car has already been developed into a finished product. Do you want to come see it this afternoon?¡±


    Chang Jing looked at him, ¡°A car that can fly?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Exactly, I¡¯ll show you later.¡±


    ¡°What car that can fly?¡± Su Jiayi suddenly walked in from outside, asking curiously.


    Qin Hao was startled, ¡°What are you doing here? Haven¡¯t you gone back to Jinchen City yet?¡±


    Su Jiayi: ¡°I arrived here earlier than you. What were you just talking about? A car that can fly?¡±


    This girl has really sharp ears; she heard everything.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Nothing much, we were just chatting.¡±


    ¡°Pff,¡± Su Jiayi scoffed. She didn¡¯t believe Qin Hao¡¯s words at all; this guy definitely wasn¡¯t telling the truth.


    Then she suddenly remembered something, ¡°You said we¡¯d do something about the company, when are you planning to deliver? If you dare deceive me, it won¡¯t be over between us.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Big sister, don¡¯t rush. Why don¡¯t you discuss it with Mr. Chang? If things go well, have Mr. Chang show me the report.¡±


    Su Jiayi nodded, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s discuss it, Mr. Chang.¡±


    After sending her off, Qin Hao returned to his office. He called Feng Xiangyi to discuss some issues related to the construction of the Jiangshan Group in East Chao Country.


    No one else had gone to Jiangshan Group, and Qin Hao needed to inform her to prepare to send someone there.


    After he and Feng Xiangyi ended the call, Su Jiayi walked in: ¡°I know what you were talking about just now. Your car factory has produced a new type of car.¡±


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 675 - 675 677 Liusheng Shinzi

    ?Chapter 675: Chapter 677 Liusheng Shinzi Chapter 675: Chapter 677 Liusheng Shinzi She had persisted in asking Chang Jing until he finally couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and told her, as it wasn¡¯t a secret anyway.


    Qin Hao looked at her and asked, ¡°Is the matter with the Biogenetic Technology Company settled?¡±


    Su Jiayi nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve discussed it with Mr. Chang already. You could directly finance the acquisition of my former company, and the headquarters will be in Jianghai City.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°Since it¡¯s all settled, you should leave if there¡¯s nothing else. Why are you still here in my office?¡±


    ¡°I like it here; I¡¯ll stay here. What can you do about it?¡± Su Jiayi replied and then sat on the sofa with her legs crossed.


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless; Su Jiayi was too clingy, ¡°You¡¯re like a plaster that won¡¯t come off.¡±


    Su Jiayi didn¡¯t care what he said and started eating fruit, humming a tune.


    Qin Hao truly had no way to deal with her. Hitting her was definitely not an option, scolding her wouldn¡¯t be right either. Whenever he rebuked her, she would pretend not to hear. Qin Hao felt she was like a hedgehog, hard to handle.


    That¡¯s when Qin Man walked in. She glanced at Su Jiayi on the sofa and said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s a woman outside looking for you.¡±


    A flash of confusion crossed Qin Hao¡¯s eyes, ¡°A woman? Who is she?¡±


    Qin Man asked, ¡°I don¡¯t know her. She¡¯s quite pretty. Do you want to see her or not?¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at Su Jiayi, then got up and said, ¡°I might as well meet her.¡±


    He stood up and left the office, and after hesitating, Su Jiayi followed him. She also wanted to see who this beauty was.


    In the reception room.


    A stunningly beautiful woman sat there, her long black hair smooth and silky, cascading down both sides like a waterfall, with straight bangs.


    She looked to be around twenty, very young, pure and charming, much like a student.


    Liusheng Shinzi sat calmly, her dark and bright eyes sparkling with intelligence.


    About two minutes later, a few people entered, led by Qin Hao, accompanied by two others, Qin Man and Su Jiayi.


    Qin Hao looked at Liusheng Zhenzi with a puzzled expression, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t know each other, right? Is there something you need from me?¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi stood up opposite Qin Hao, looked up at him with a pure smile, ¡°Hello, Mr. Qin, I am pleased to meet you.¡±


    Qin Hao extended his hand and they shook briefly; Liusheng Zhenzi¡¯s hand was very soft.


    After they let go, Qin Hao said to Liusheng Zhenzi, ¡°Please take a seat, Miss. I still don¡¯t know your name, or why you are seeking me.¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi sat across from him, smiling, ¡°My name is Liusheng Zhenzi, from one of the top six financial groups in Beihai Country, the Golden Light Association, and the eldest daughter of the Liusheng Family.¡±


    Qin Hao was visibly stunned for a moment, a person from Beihai Country? What a pity, she¡¯s so pretty yet she¡¯s from Beihai Country.


    Liusheng Zhenzi looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I came to you alone this time to discuss a potential cooperation.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at Su Jiayi, ¡°Miss Su, we are about to discuss business, could you please step outside for a moment?¡±


    Su Jiayi smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s no problem, I won¡¯t interrupt you guys.¡±


    Qin Hao, annoyed, said, ¡°If you don¡¯t leave, I will have security escort you out.¡±


    Su Jiayi rolled her eyes at him and stood up to leave.


    Qin Hao looked at Liusheng Zhenzi curiously, ¡°You are from the Liusheng Family? Why are you here alone?¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi replied, ¡°I am studying in Xuan Country Jianghai City. My family has been in touch, and they have asked me to discuss the entire cooperation with you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her and smiled as he asked, ¡°Miss Zhenzi, what kind of cooperation would you like to discuss?¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi: ¡°Our Liusheng family would like to engage in a comprehensive cooperation with Mr. Qin¡¯s Xinghai Company, including the Star Domain Network, intelligent chips, autonomous driving technology, and more.¡±


    Qin Hao said in an even tone, ¡°You should know the current situation of Xinghai Company. At present, we only cooperate with companies under the Xinghai Association. Cooperation with foreign corporate groups depends on the circumstances.¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi: ¡°Mr. Qin, we can discuss the price; just name a figure.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m not lacking money right now.¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi, upon hearing his words, furrowed her brows slightly, ¡°How can Mr. Qin be convinced to cooperate with us?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It all depends on how much sincerity your Liusheng family can show. Miss Zhenzi, think it over and come find me when you are ready.¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi nodded slightly, rose to her feet, smiled at him, and then left.


    After Liusheng Shinzi left, Qin Hao sat there and began to contemplate; the Liusheng family coming to him was something he hadn¡¯t expected.


    There must be things he didn¡¯t know about in this scenario.


    Qin Hao said to Xiaoxing, ¡°Send me the current information about the Liusheng family.¡±


    Very soon, Xiaoxing sent some information to Qin Hao, which was gotten through the Star Domain Network information from the Federation side.


    The Liusheng family was one of the six major consortia in Beihai Country, but their current situation in Beihai was not very good.


    They had been suppressed by a coalition of the Sato Family¡¯s Furong Association, the Abe family¡¯s Sanshui Association, and the Aoki family¡¯s Sanjin Association.


    This suppression had been ongoing for over a year. The Liusheng family suffered severe losses, their domestic market was languishing, and their international market was also under attack.


    The main reason was the defeat of their leader in the previous election.


    The current leader of Beihai Country was from the Abe family; the Liusheng family had previously supported their own candidates against the Abe family, but had failed.


    The Abe family, now in power, joined forces with the Sato and Aoki families to brutally suppress and retaliate against the Liusheng family.


    With the upcoming election in Beihai Country, to prevent success from the Liusheng family candidates, the three major consortia intensified their strikes.


    With a re-election secured, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry, and a few years¡¯ time would be enough to bring down the Liusheng family.


    If it weren¡¯t for the Liusheng family¡¯s deep roots and significant influence, they couldn¡¯t have endured for so long.


    Now, knowing they couldn¡¯t just sit back and wait, the Liusheng family sought to cooperate with Qin Hao to create significant influence in various sectors in Beihai in order to strategize.


    If the election was successful, the Liusheng family would completely turn the tables and stabilize their position.


    This was one of the main reasons why the Liusheng family approached Qin Hao; another was their desire to capture more of the world market through cooperation with Xinghai Guild.


    After reading the information, Qin Hao got up and walked out of the reception room. Just then, Chang Jing came out of the office: ¡°Mr. Qin, there is something that needs your decision.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°I just received a call from Zhou Island Baosheng Electronics Group. They want to relocate their headquarters to Xuan Country and subcontract the production of our smart chips.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s good news, but you must thoroughly check out Baosheng Electronics Group¡¯s situation.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°It¡¯s already been checked out; there are no issues. They have experience in chip subcontracting, but with the rise of smart chips, these subcontracting companies have been hit hard due to decreased business, and many factories are unable to secure contracts.¡±


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 676 - 676 678 Sneak Attack

    ?Chapter 676: Chapter 678 Sneak Attack Chapter 676: Chapter 678 Sneak Attack This Baosheng Electronics Group made this decision simply because their business had dried up.


    In Zhou Island, Baosheng Electronics Group was not considered a top company, but it was a fairly decent contract manufacturer.


    Although it was not large, if its headquarters were to relocate to Xuan Country, the resulting public opinion impact would certainly be positive.


    Qin Hao, ¡°If there are no problems, then we¡¯ll agree to their contract manufacturing, not only letting them contract manufacture but also ensuring they get even more business than they had in Zhou Island. However, the employees they hire must be from Xuan Country, and their working hours and pay must be in accordance with our standards.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°Okay Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll go respond to them right away.¡±


    After Chang Jing left, Su Jiayi came over and asked curiously, ¡°What was that woman from Beihai Country discussing with you?¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at her, ¡°Nothing important.¡±


    ¡°Tch, I don¡¯t even want to know if you don¡¯t feel like talking,¡± Su Jiayi said contemptuously as she curled her lip.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Then why did you ask?¡±


    Su Jiayi, taken aback, glared at him fiercely before storming into Chang Jing¡¯s office.


    Qin Hao spent the entire morning in his office, checking the data for Xinghai Social Software. The financial products in the Xinghai payment wallet had now accumulated over four hundred billion in management funds.


    Lv Tian had made some investments with that money, but most of it was still lying idle. He was considering where to invest it next, and some of the Xinghai Association¡¯s group companies would definitely be a secure bet for investment, with no loss.


    Investing in East Chao Country¡¯s ventures was also an option, which would undoubtedly yield huge returns in the future.


    At noon, Xinghai High-tech Company posted a message on the online platform Wei Yan:


    Our company has reached a strategic cooperation agreement with Baosheng Electronics Group. The Baosheng Group¡¯s headquarters will relocate to Nanchu Province in Xuan Country, where we will also construct several large-scale electronic contract manufacturing factories to boost the region¡¯s economic development.


    Baosheng Electronics Group is the sole company that contract manufactures the Xinghai Intelligent Chip. For Baosheng Group, this is an opportunity. Xinghai Company will put in all efforts to deeply cooperate and engage with such a partner.


    Initially, the announcement did not make a significant impact. To the average netizen, it seemed like just another company cooperating with Xinghai Company.


    However, it caused a major stir within the industry, as it involved a large group from Zhou Island now planning a full relocation to Xuan Country, which had considerable implications.


    Originally, groups and companies in the Zhou Island region were strong and looked down on some enterprises and companies in Xuan Country. But now, with the Baosheng Group¡¯s policy, it indicated that Zhou Island was on its last legs. In contrast, Xuan Country appeared like a dragon awakening in the East, destined to soar high in the future.


    The move by Baosheng Group would inevitably influence other companies and groups, particularly when they saw that Baosheng Group was thriving in Xuan Country; other companies might consider doing the same.


    Another impact was the increase in job opportunities and citizens¡¯ income in Xuan Country.


    Zhou Island would experience an increase in unemployment, with many people losing their jobs. Currently, only Baosheng Group had moved over, which might not make a significant impact. But what if ten, or a hundred, other companies did the same? At that point, Zhou Island¡¯s economy would collapse.


    The Federation wouldn¡¯t be able to save them, unless they turned to Xuan Country and, more specifically, to Qin Hao.


    Zhou Island¡¯s media also covered the news, and Qin Hao deliberately had Xiao Xing prioritize the story, making it visible to many netizens in Zhou Island.


    The official personnel of Zhou Island tried to cut off access to the Star Domain Network or to delete the news, but to no avail.


    Because Qin Hao was the administrator of Star Domain Network, he could make any news appear on the internet within the Zhou Island region. That was the most lethal move.


    Now the people on Zhou Island finally understood why Qin Hao had initially offered free access to Star Domain Network. It was like opening a gap through the internet which they couldn¡¯t plug.


    This move was really damn disgusting, as the official personnel of Zhou Island region put it.


    It was as if someone took a dump on your face, and you were powerless to do anything about it.


    ...


    The people of Zhou Island had long since grown accustomed to the Star Domain Network, wasn¡¯t it free and fast as hell? Who would be so silly as to use any other network?


    Even if they wanted to switch networks now, it would be useless, because those network communication companies had already gone bankrupt.


    Qin Hao thought of his own move, smiling at the idea that the return of Zhou Island wouldn¡¯t be too far off.


    After pondering these thoughts, Qin Hao remembered the Zheng Group and Wei Group, who had now joined the Xinghai Association. He planned to share some advanced technologies with them, and naturally he also intended to invest in their groups, purchasing a significant portion of their shares.


    In the system store, he spent thirty million achievement points to exchange for comprehensive development technology of aviation passenger planes and mining intelligent machinery equipment.


    After learning these technologies, he sent them all to the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing.


    As he was about to finish writing, Chang Jing and Su Jiayi came in from outside, ¡°Mr. Qin, let¡¯s go have dinner together.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Mr. Chang, just give me a moment, I¡¯m almost done.¡±


    As he spoke, he continued to tap on the keyboard; Chang Jing and Su Jiayi stood waiting, with Su Jiayi curiously coming over for a look. However, Qin Hao was typing things with strong professionalism, which she couldn¡¯t understand at all.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t mind, and a few minutes later, he locked his computer and stood up, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The three of them arrived at the company cafeteria, each took a meal, and found an empty spot to sit down.


    Qin Hao had just sat down when He Tingting came over with her meal and sat opposite him.


    ¡°Mr. He,¡± Qin Hao said with a smile when he saw her.


    He Tingting smiled and nodded, ¡°My dad has gone back to work at the university. My family would like to invite you to dinner this evening.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all, my parents insisted you come, so please do,¡± He Tingting said softly, looking at him.


    Qin Hao made eye contact with her and couldn¡¯t help but recall the incident that happened in the office that day, coughing lightly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll come by this evening then.¡±


    He Tingting nodded with a smile, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you after work.¡±


    After lunch, Qin Hao returned to the office building. He sent a message to AI unit 001, inquiring about the construction status of the Air Energy Car.


    AI 001 responded: Master, the first Air Energy Car has been manufactured, just waiting for you to test drive.


    Qin Hao, ¡°I¡¯ll bring someone over in the afternoon, have everything ready for me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master, we¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re satisfied.¡±


    ...


    At around two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, both Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun, along with some guards, arrived at Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Qin Hao, Su Jiayi, and Chang Jing were there at the entrance to welcome them.


    ¡°Mr. Xu, Mr. Chen.¡± Su Jiayi saw the two of them and called out with a chuckle.


    Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun looked surprised to see her, ¡°Jiayi, what are you doing here?¡±


    With a face full of smiles, Su Jiayi ran over like the girl next door, ¡°Qin Hao simply insisted on pulling me into a partnership, so I agreed. From now on, I will be in Jianghai City.¡±


    [This morning, I went out to buy some home appliances, had them delivered to the new house in the afternoon, and didn¡¯t get back home until nine in the evening. I¡¯m tired, but I¡¯m continuing to write.]

 Chapter 677 - 677 679 Xinghai Automobile Factory

    ?Chapter 677: Chapter 679 Xinghai Automobile Factory Chapter 677: Chapter 679 Xinghai Automobile Factory Qin Hao was somewhat speechless at her words, ¡°What do you mean by dragging you into a collaboration no matter what?¡± He decided not to lower himself to her level.


    He spoke to Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun, ¡°Mr. Xu, Mr. Chen, I¡¯ll take you to the automobile factory for a look.¡±


    Xu Liangguo said, ¡°Alright, you mentioned something mysterious over the phone, I really want to see what it is.¡±


    Qin Hao took the four of them to the nearby Jianghai Automobile Manufacturing Plant, where personnel from Flying Leopard Security strictly guarded the entrance, allowing no one but Qin Hao to enter.


    Even the security personnel couldn¡¯t enter the factory¡¯s workshop unless it was a special circumstance.


    Trucks delivering H-grade alloy were also unable to go deep inside, only unloading in the open space just inside the factory¡¯s gate; later, intelligent robots would transport the H-grade alloy into the workshop.


    ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± the security personnel at the gate saluted Qin Hao promptly as they saw him.


    Qin Hao nodded his head, then turned to Xu Liangguo and said, ¡°Let¡¯s just the five of us go in, Mr. Xu.¡±


    Xu Liangguo turned back to the guards following them and said, ¡°You all wait out here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    The five of them walked into the automobile factory, then into an automobile production workshop, where they were greeted by a whole array of intelligent robots.


    However, these robots were not working but were lined up in two rows, holding banners and some even holding flags, standing there to welcome the five visitors.


    ¡°Welcome Mr. Qin and other leaders to Xinghai Company for your inspection work,¡± the robots said in unison.


    Su Jiayi and Chen Shengjun were dumbstruck, seeing Xinghai Company¡¯s intelligent robots for the first time; they had only seen them in news before, and seeing them in reality was quite a visual impact.


    Robot 001 came over and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, how do you like this ceremony? Are you pleased with it?¡±


    ¡°Quit the brown-nosing,¡± Qin Hao said, irritated.


    Chen Shengjun watched Robot 001 with interest, ¡°This is too intelligent, it¡¯s almost like a real human.¡±


    Su Jiayi looked at Robot 001 and asked, ¡°Hey, are you an artificial intelligence robot?¡±


    Robot 001 turned and glanced at Su Jiayi, ¡°Duh, open your titanium alloy dog eyes and see clearly, my body is entirely made of H-grade alloy, very tough. Even if a missile exploded next to me, I wouldn¡¯t be affected.¡±


    ¡°You dare insult me? Looking for trouble?¡± Su Jiayi kicked him, then quickly withdrew her leg.


    ¡°Hiss¡±


    ¡°That hurt like hell.¡±


    Robot 001 said disdainfully, ¡°You think you can hit me? As if, you¡¯re overestimating yourself.¡±


    Qin Hao with a smile on his face said, ¡°Enough, stop messing around, let¡¯s go see the car.¡±


    Leading the way, Robot 001 took them deeper into the workshop, where a red cloth covered something.


    Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun looked curiously at the red cloth, presumably this was the thing Qin Hao was talking about, probably a car.


    Su Jiayi¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at the red cloth, and Chang Jing was also curiously looking, could this be the flying car Qin Hao mentioned?


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Hurry up and unveil it, no need for all these theatrics.¡±


    He was also somewhat eager; he had never seen a real Air Energy Car.


    Robot 001 revealed the object by lifting the red cloth to show something starry gray, resembling a bullet head, sleek and bright with a high-tech feel. At a glance, it looked seamless, with no visible signs of assembly.


    Unit 001 began, ¡°This is the latest air energy car developed by Xinghai Automobile Factory. It lacks what one might call wheels and is entirely made from H-grade alloy, which is incredibly hard. The glass is the newest type of space glass.¡±


    Even if a bomb were to strike it, both the body and the glass would remain undamaged. Moreover, this car also utilizes the most advanced artificial intelligence technology, including autonomous driving technology.¡±


    Xinghai Automobile can authenticate its owner through retina scans, facial recognition, fingerprinting, and voice identification. It can also be remotely controlled using Xinghai Social Software. Equipped with the latest Xinghai navigation system, just state a destination, and it can drive there autonomously.¡±


    The most important point is that its speed can exceed two Machs, that is, around 2,400 to 2,500 kilometers per hour, and that¡¯s not even its top speed.¡±


    Chen Shengjun and Xu Liangguo were astounded, ¡°Two Machs? Are you joking? That¡¯s several times faster than a commercial jet?¡±


    Unit 001 replied, ¡°You¡¯ll understand once you try it. Now, let me show you the resilience of H-grade alloy and space glass.¡±


    Having said that, he picked up a steel pipe prepared nearby and smashed it against the car body with a ¡°bang¡±. The car body was unscathed, whereas the steel pipe was dented.¡±


    He then struck the glass and, similarly, left no marks; the quality was beyond question.¡±


    Su Jiayi asked curiously, ¡°Running this fast, how much fuel does it consume?¡±


    Unit 001 retorted, ¡°Are your ears stuffed with donkey hair? Didn¡¯t you hear what I just said? This is an air energy car; it doesn¡¯t run on fuel. It¡¯s powered by air energy. Understand, ignorant child?¡±


    Su Jiayi was infuriated. A robot was lecturing her¡ªhow could she tolerate this? Yet, she was powerless against Unit 001.¡±


    Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun asked solemnly, ¡°Air energy? What is that?¡±


    Unit 001 explained, ¡°As the name suggests, an air energy car is powered by an air energy engine, a highly advanced technology that uses air as propulsion energy and emits only air, causing no environmental pollution.¡±


    No fuel?


    Chen Shengjun was stunned, ¡°Then how expensive is it to make?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, that involves our commercial secrets.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Mr. Chen, the cost won¡¯t be too high; it can definitely be popularized.¡±


    Xu Liangguo asked, ¡°Xiao Hao, do you think this technology can be applied to fighter jets, bombers, patrol aircraft, and other such planes?¡±


    Qin Hao answered with a smile, ¡°Absolutely, and you can even remove the rotary wings. If the entire body were replaced with H-grade alloy, it would be impervious to enemy aircraft and certainly cripple them comprehensively. Mr. Xu, let¡¯s go and test it ourselves.¡±


    After finishing his words, he walked to the front of the car and went through various authentications.


    ¡°Xinghai Car No. 1 has locked its owner, welcome, owner, to use Xinghai Automobile,¡± a melodious female voice announced.


    The door on the driver¡¯s seat then lifted, revealing the luxurious genuine leather seats inside, akin to top-tier sofas.¡±


    The interior of the car was luxurious and brimming with a sense of technology, including a display screen in the middle.¡±


    Qin Hao said to Xu Liangguo and others, ¡°Mr. Xu, come aboard. I¡¯ll take you guys for a test drive.¡±


    Xu Liangguo and a few others approached, the car doors opened automatically, and all four of them got in. The interior was spacious enough for five people without feeling cramped and was very comfortable to sit in.¡±


    ¡°Owner, should I start the car?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Start.¡±


    ¡°Where would the owner like to go?¡±


    Qin Hao answered, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the sea and show us what you can do.¡±


    [I¡¯ll update more tomorrow; I¡¯m too tired today, baby¡¯s sleepy]

 Chapter 678 - 678 680 The Flying Car

    ?Chapter 678: Chapter 680: The Flying Car Chapter 678: Chapter 680: The Flying Car ¨C The air energy car rose slowly. The five people sitting inside didn¡¯t feel any movement. If they didn¡¯t see the outside through the glass, they wouldn¡¯t have known that the car had already flown up.


    A part of the ceiling above the car automatically retracted, revealing the blue sky and white clouds outside.


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    The car shot straight up, reaching an altitude of several thousand meters in the blink of an eye. People at the factory gate saw a dark shadow fly by, but they couldn¡¯t make out what it was.


    At an altitude of several thousand meters, the air energy car stopped, quietly hovering motionless.


    Qin Hao and the others looked out the window with curious eyes, feeling utterly astonished. Was the acceleration supposed to be this fast?


    The display in front of them showed all the data¡ªthe altitude was currently three thousand one hundred forty-five meters, and all functions were normal.


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Mr. Xu, this can also limit the altitude. If it becomes popular later, we can restrict the flying altitude to below five hundred meters.¡±


    Mr. Xu immediately asked, ¡°Can this air energy engine be applied to fighter jets?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Of course it can. That¡¯s exactly why I invited you, Mr. Xu. This will greatly enhance the maneuverability of the aircraft. In terms of speed, we could completely overpower them, and the payload capacity will also significantly increase. Even missiles will likely not be able to keep up with the speed of the fighter jets. Most importantly, it doesn¡¯t consume fuel and can fly indefinitely in the air.¡±


    Mr. Xu and Chen Shengjun looked at each other, both seeing shock and excitement in each other¡¯s eyes.


    If Xuan Country had such fighters and bombers, whom would they need to fear? Who would dare challenge Xuan Country then?


    The air energy car flew forward at a high speed, and the white clouds outside the window zipped by quickly.


    The display switched to the scene outside, showing nothing but blue skies and white clouds.


    In less than ten minutes, the air energy car came to a stop, and the display inside showed the land ahead. Not far away was land.


    ¡°Where are we now?¡± Chen Shengjun asked curiously.


    Qin Hao, ¡°We¡¯re almost over the land of Beihai Country, ahead is Changqi City in Beihai Country, and we¡¯re currently still over the waters of Beihai.¡±


    Chen Shengjun¡¯s expression changed, ¡°How did we end up here?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Chen, don¡¯t worry. H-grade metal has powerful stealth capabilities, Beihai¡¯s radar satellites can¡¯t detect us at all.¡±


    ¡°Not detected at all?¡± Chen Shengjun exclaimed in shock.


    Nowadays, every country has stealth fighter jets. Although they are called stealth, they can¡¯t completely evade radar satellite detection. Can this H-grade metal truly completely avoid detection?


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, completely undetectable, unless they develop a more powerful radar and satellite monitoring, like our Xinghai radar navigation satellite, which could detect it.¡±


    It was a game-changer. Chen Shengjun and Mr. Xu felt exhilarated. The stealth feature was like a super weapon. Our fighters could fly right up to your doorstep, and you wouldn¡¯t have a clue, and by the time you realized, it might be too late.


    ¡°Back to the factory,¡± Qin Hao instructed the air energy car.


    About ten minutes later, the air energy car returned to Xinghai Automobile Factory. As he got out of the car, Mr. Xu exclaimed, ¡°This really is comfortable, very nice, very comfortable.¡± He continued gazing intently.


    Qin Hao quickly said, ¡°Mr. Xu, once the second car is produced, I will send it over to you.¡±


    Mr. Xu nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Hmm good, this will make going out for business much easier.¡±


    Chen Shengjun chuckled, ¡°Xiao Hao, Mr. Chen really likes this thing too, you see...¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Chen, I will send you one as well.¡±


    Chen Shengjun grinned, ¡°Good.¡±


    Su Jiayi quickly said, ¡°I want one too.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°No, I have to pay to produce these. If you want one, you¡¯ll have to buy it.¡±


    ...


    Later, Mr. Xu, Chen Shengjun, and Qin Hao stepped aside and started discussing, ¡°Xiao Hao, this is a big deal. Don¡¯t publicize or sell it for now. You can first supply it to the military district at a fair price, just making a bit of profit. Once we have developed this kind of fighter jet, then you can sell the air energy cars.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Sure, I understand what you are worried about, Mr. Xu. Rest assured, even if they buy the Xinghai air energy car, they won¡¯t be able to figure it out; they probably won¡¯t even be able to dismantle it.¡±


    Mr. Xu, ¡°H-grade alloy, air energy engine, smart motherboard; we will have to buy all the important parts for our aircraft from you in the future.¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled, ¡°Earning a living, right? How could I possibly ask for so much money from our own country? Making a small profit is fine.¡±


    Mr. Xu, with a smile, said, ¡°There has been a major breakthrough in the research for high-precision smart missile heads, it¡¯s coming out in a couple of days. Combined with the solid fuel you provided, our missiles will become the strongest in the world.¡±


    Qin Hao, with a smile, said, ¡°The stronger the country, the more prosperous and powerful, the better the business.¡±


    In the afternoon, Mr. Xu and Chen Shengjun learned more about the air energy cars and did not leave until after four o¡¯clock.


    Qin Hao, Chang Jing, and Su Jiayi walked out of the automobile factory. He asked Chang Jing, ¡°What do you think, Mr. Chang?¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°Unexpected and far-reaching.¡±


    Qin Hao, with a smile, said, ¡°When I produce a few more cars, I¡¯ll give you one.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Chang Jing didn¡¯t refuse because she liked it very much, though she didn¡¯t show it. Nobody could resist the temptation of an air energy car.


    Qin Hao, ¡°When the time comes, I¡¯ll have them make some specifically for women, with red exteriors, and you can choose whatever color you want for the interior.¡±


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s wonderful.¡±


    Su Jiayi pouted, feeling this guy was too biased. But she understood she couldn¡¯t compare with Chang Jing, who was not only his right-hand but also his woman.


    Back in the company, Su Jiayi said, ¡°I¡¯m going to head back first.¡±


    Qin Hao let out a sigh of relief, finally, you¡¯re leaving. He smiled and said, ¡°Drive safely.¡±


    Su Jiayi could see through his intentions, gave him a glare, and drove away from the parking lot.


    After leaving the Xinghai Automobile Factory, Mr. Xu and Chen Shengjun took a private jet to Jinchen City. The air energy engine was a major event, and they needed to report it.


    ...


    At around five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, He Tingting emerged from the lab and went to Qin Hao¡¯s office.


    She asked Qin Hao, ¡°Are you done with your work?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Almost done, just a moment please.¡±


    He was looking at detailed information and documents about major world financial groups sent by Li Wenjun, which would be useful in the future.


    Detailed information about business tycoons from areas like the Federation, Western Continent, Beihai Country, Beidou Country, and Southeast Continent was included and very comprehensive.


    [First update]

 Chapter 679 - 679 681 Shameless Strike

    ?Chapter 679: Chapter 681 Shameless Strike Chapter 679: Chapter 681 Shameless Strike About three or four minutes later, Qin Hao had committed all the information to memory and stood up, saying, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡±


    The two of them left the office building together, then He Tingting got into his car.


    It was a little after six, the sky had just darkened when Qin Hao¡¯s motorcade arrived downstairs at He Tingting¡¯s place.


    After getting out of the car, He Tingting hooked her arms through his, her cheeks flushed with shyness, feeling completely different from when she had pretended before.


    Qin Hao glanced at her, smiling without saying a word. He Tingting¡¯s cheeks grew even redder, ¡°Let¡¯s go up quickly.¡±


    They entered the elevator, which was nearly empty.


    Today, He Tingting was wearing a black leather skirt, with flesh-colored stockings underneath, a base shirt, and a black coat on top, looking incredibly sexy.


    In the elevator, Qin Hao awkwardly said, ¡°Teacher, don¡¯t stand too close, or it might be embarrassing later.¡±


    He Tingting relaxed her grip around his arm slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t call me teacher anymore. Now I¡¯m an employee at your company, Mr. He doesn¡¯t sound good either, just call me Tingting.¡±


    While they spoke, the elevator reached her floor. They stepped out, and He Tingting pressed the doorbell. The door was quickly opened, and Ding Shanshan stood at the doorway grinning at them.


    He Tingting was surprised, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Ding Shanshan: ¡°Mr. Qin is here, why can¡¯t I be? Weren¡¯t you and Mr. Qin just pretending? Are you putting on an act again?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin is here?¡± He Tingting¡¯s parents and Ding Shanshan¡¯s parents came out from the inside.


    He Qizhi, Ding Man, Ding Shan, and Tan Jing hurriedly came out to greet him, and their way of addressing Qin Hao had also changed.


    After all, their daughter and Qin Hao were not in that kind of relationship; continuing to call him Xiao Hao would be too presumptuous and self-important.


    Qin Hao entered He Tingting¡¯s home and sat down on the sofa in the living room. Ding Man and Tan Jing went to the kitchen to cook, while He Qizhi and Ding Shan sat on the sofa chatting with him.


    He Qizhi started, ¡°Mr. Qin, thanks for your help last time. I won¡¯t forget your kindness. Without your help, my whole life might have been ruined.¡±


    Having gone through that event, He Qizhi had come to understand a lot.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I helped you mainly because of Tingting, and also because you didn¡¯t go too far with your actions. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have helped you. The matter is over now; let¡¯s not talk about it anymore.¡±


    Ding Shan laughed, ¡°Right, right, it¡¯s all in the past, let¡¯s not bring it up again.¡±


    ¡°Have some water,¡± He Tingting offered a glass of water to Qin Hao, placing it in front of him.


    Ding Shanshan asked, ¡°Brother-in-law... can our company join the Xinghai Association?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Anyone who meets the criteria can join. You know the conditions, right?¡±


    Ding Shanshan nodded, ¡°I know, our family¡¯s lighting fixture factory has been expanding continuously, and the smart light fixtures are selling very well, with workers¡¯ wages gradually increasing.¡±


    The meal was ready quickly, and during dinner, He Qizhi and Ding Shan frequently offered toasts as a sign of respect and gratitude.


    After dinner, Qin Hao stayed at He Tingting¡¯s for a little longer before leaving.


    Outside the door, He Tingting said to her parents, ¡°Let me walk Mr. Qin out; you all can go back.¡±


    In the elevator, He Tingting stood in front of him and slowly hugged him, ¡°Thank you, Qin Hao.¡±


    When she undressed in Qin Hao¡¯s office that day, she had already made her decision.


    Not only had Qin Hao saved her, but he had also saved her father. However, that wasn¡¯t what mattered most to her. What mattered most was the feeling she had for Qin Hao, an indescribable sensation.


    She was already twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. If she waited any longer, she would be past her prime. She was now taking the initiative, deeply influenced by the subtle charisma that Qin Hao exuded.


    ...


    The elevator soon reached the ground floor. The doors opened to an empty space, and Qin Hao reluctantly said, ¡°I should go now.¡±


    ¡°Mm, be careful on the road,¡± He Tingting said softly, with concern in her voice.


    After she spoke, she suddenly went on tiptoe and kissed Qin Hao, and it was a long time before they parted.


    Before leaving, Qin Hao whispered in her ear, ¡°I like the way you look in uniform.¡±


    With her face flushed, He Tingting spoke in a tiny voice, ¡°Then I¡¯ll wear it only for you to see from now on.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed heartily and turned to leave.


    The following morning.


    After finishing his meal, Qin Hao changed into his military uniform.


    Zhao Yuying, Fan Ruobing, Han Meng, and Qiao¡¯er were taken aback by his attire, ¡°Xiao Hao, what are you doing dressed like that?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°I¡¯m going to sign in.¡±


    ¡°That uniform fits you really well, you look even more handsome than before,¡± Zhao Yuying came over to inspect him carefully.


    With a slight smile, Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯m heading out now. It¡¯s the weekend today, so if you all want to go shopping, feel free to go. There are ten billion in these cards, come to me if you spend it all.¡±


    ¡°Although we¡¯re not short of money, I need to take good care of it for you.¡± Saying so, Zhao Yuying took the cards and distributed them to Han Meng and Fan Ruobing.


    As Qin Hao walked out of the villa, he saw Zhao Xingbo and his wife, ¡°Uncle, aunty, where are you off to?¡±


    Zhao Xingbo and his wife paused upon seeing Qin Hao in military attire, ¡°Just out for a stroll, Xiao Hao, what about you?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m just stepping out for a bit, to sign in.¡±


    ¡°That uniform looks sharp on you, very nice,¡± Zhao Xingbo remarked approvingly.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Uncle, aunty, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡±


    Once in the car, Qin Hao directed Leng Xuan to drive towards the Gu Jing Military Region. On the way, he took out his phone and logged onto Wei Yan.


    ¡°Jianghai Police caught the thieves who had robbed a gold store some days ago through Star Domain Network. Five people were apprehended in the mountains, and they were reportedly playing video games on Star Domain Network when they were caught.¡±


    Some Daily: ¡°International oil prices are feared to rise again, surpassing all previous records.¡±


    Some Daily: ¡°With the economy of Xuan Country booming, the Federation has raised oil prices again to curb the economic growth of Xuan Country.¡±


    Some Daily: ¡°This oil price increase is targeted only at Xuan Country, with prices in other countries remaining the same. The Federation is targeting Xuan Country.¡±


    Federation official media reported: ¡°Xuan Country consumes a very large amount of oil, which has a significant impact on the global environment. For the safety of the world¡¯s environment and for the sake of humanity¡¯s home, Xuan Country must reduce its oil consumption...¡±


    [Second Update]

 Chapter 680 - 680 682 Shadow Special Combat Brigade

    ?Chapter 680: Chapter 682 Shadow Special Combat Brigade Chapter 680: Chapter 682 Shadow Special Combat Brigade Numerous netizens expressed their outrage, ¡°The North Federation is simply too shameless.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect them to use such despicable tactics, they are truly fitting of being the world hegemon.¡±


    ¡°Seeing this news, I¡¯m actually happier than I am angry because this indicates that the North Federation is somewhat in a panic. They never anticipated Xuan Country¡¯s rise to be so swift. Clearly, this plan was made in a hurry without deep consideration.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Xuan Country is about to rise, and the North Federation is scared.¡±


    The Xuan Country officials also responded to this matter with strong words, condemning the shameless conduct of the North Federation.


    Despite the condemnation, Xuan Country was powerless regarding this matter because the North Federation monopolized about eighty to ninety percent of the global energy supply, and Xuan Country was a major importer of energy, consuming a substantial amount of oil daily.


    Apart from the verbal censure, there was really nothing they could do except accept the harsh reality of the price increase.


    For now, they could only endure. Once air-powered engines became widespread, Xuan Country could completely escape the problem of energy shortage and would no longer be constrained by the North Federation.


    Nearly two hours later, Qin Hao arrived at the Guchen Military Region. As his car approached the entrance, it was stopped by fully armed soldiers: ¡°This is a restricted military area, no unauthorized personnel allowed.¡±


    Qin Hao took out his military officer ID for the soldier to inspect. After looking at it, the soldier¡¯s expression changed in surprise, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Can I go in now?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, please enter.¡± The person hurriedly directed others to open the gate.


    Qin Hao¡¯s car entered the military region, which was vast, resembling a small town with various office buildings, training grounds, and more.


    Leng Xuan drove around for quite some time but could not find the location; Qin Hao said, ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll go ask.¡±


    After getting out of the car, Qin Hao walked towards an office building not far away, with Leng Xuan and a few others following in the car.


    Just then, some young women in camouflage uniforms came out of the building, and Qin Hao quickly called out to them.


    They all turned their heads to look, and upon seeing the military rank on Qin Hao¡¯s shoulders, they briskly stood at attention and saluted, ¡°Good day, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, as he was still not quite accustomed to this title of Mr. Qin. He asked, ¡°Does any of you know where the Shadow Special Team is located? Can you take me there?¡±


    The Shadow Special Team?


    Hearing his words, members of the cultural troupe recalled something. Could he be Major Qin Hao, the newcomer to the Shadow Special Team?


    The news of Qin Hao¡¯s promotion to Major had already spread throughout the military region because some had seen the appointment letter with his name on it.


    Moreover, it was said that this Major was also the world¡¯s richest man, who was not only young and wealthy but now also a Major, ranking just below the top leaders. In this environment, he could virtually have his way.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I know, I do.¡± Several people eagerly came forward to say.


    ¡°Then, please lead the way.¡± Qin Hao smiled warmly; the beauties of the military region were quite enthusiastic indeed.


    Six or seven individuals led Qin Hao and his company into the innermost building of the military region.


    One of them said, ¡°Mr. Qin, this building is the office building of the Shadow Special Team. Your office is on the third floor.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded with a smile, ¡°Thank you, much appreciated.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble, Mr. Qin, this is what we should do.¡± The individuals left cheerily.


    Qin Hao entered the building and made his way to the third floor. After looking around, he found the main office of the Shadow Special Team, marked with the sign ¡°Shadow Special Team General Office.¡±


    He opened the door and went in. Inside the office, several women were sitting there processing documents. They were startled by Qin Hao¡¯s sudden entrance.


    ¡°Who might you be?¡± one of the female secretaries asked.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I am Qin Hao, the overall person in charge of the Shadow Special Team.¡±


    There were a total of four people in the office, in addition to three female soldiers doing secretarial work, there was also a woman dressed in a senior colonel¡¯s military uniform.


    Huang Qiuyue looked up at Qin Hao, her gaze indifferent, but a hint of disgust flashed deep in her eyes.


    The other three hurriedly said respectfully, ¡°Good day, sir.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Who is in charge of the Shadow Special Team now?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I am in charge,¡± Huang Qiuyue said as she stood up.


    Qin Hao looked at her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Huang Qiuyue replied very formally, ¡°Huang Qiuyue, Senior Colonel, currently in charge of the work related to the Shadow Special Team, my position is Chief of Staff.¡±


    Qin Hao had noticed the change in the looks of a few people. The three other secretaries showed nothing but surprise and curiosity, whereas Huang Qiuyue¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of disgust towards him.


    Could it be because of his arrival, usurping her authority?


    Qin Hao looked at her and asked, ¡°Mr. Huang, is my office here?¡±


    Huang Qiuyue: ¡°There is a separate office for the chief over there, Li, please take the chief there.¡±


    A woman came over, ¡°Please follow me, sir.¡±


    Qin Hao followed her to an office not far away, opened the door, and walked in. The interior was simply decorated, with a mahogany bookcase containing a variety of military history books and military literature.


    On the spacious desk, there was a model of the latest type of Warhawk unmanned combat aircraft.


    Li began, ¡°Sir, this is your office. If you need anything, just directly dial the number on the desk phone.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Call Mr. Huang here, tell her I need to see her.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Li left the office.


    Qin Hao sat in the chair and stretched, I¡¯m your immediate superior now, when I summon you, you must come, when I send you away, you must leave.


    Huang Qiuyue quickly arrived, knocking on the door first and only entering after receiving Qin Hao¡¯s permission, with nothing wrong in her etiquette.


    She looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, you wanted to see me?¡±


    Qin Hao, still sitting there, looked at her and said, ¡°Mr. Huang seems to really dislike my being here. Do you have any objections to me?¡±


    Huang Qiuyue indeed did not like Qin Hao very much because she felt Qin Hao had made it here through connections and vested interests rather than genuine ability.


    The Shadow Special Combat Brigade was a place for the strong; each soldier within was an elite, handpicked from thousands, a king among soldiers.


    This was the Gu Jing Military Region¡¯s most elite force, a sharp dagger.


    But then, someone like Qin Hao, who understood nothing, was sent to oversee it, which she considered an insult to the Shadow Special Brigade.


    Although Huang Qiuyue thought this way, she dared not articulate it aloud. After all, Qin Hao was still her superior, a major in the military region.


    She said in an even tone, ¡°Mr. Qin, you are mistaken. I didn¡¯t mean that.¡±


    ¡°Whether you meant it or not doesn¡¯t really matter. I won¡¯t be coming here often anyway. I didn¡¯t want this rank, but they insisted on giving it to me. I¡¯m too busy to spend time here,¡± Qin Hao said and then sighed.


    Huang Qiuyue was somewhat speechless; this guy really knew how to play the fool. But this wasn¡¯t the place for it.


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 681 - 681 683 Exchange of Skills

    ?Chapter 681: Chapter 683: Exchange of Skills Chapter 681: Chapter 683: Exchange of Skills Qin Hao, seeing that she remained silent, stood up and said, ¡°Take me to see the Shadow Special Combat Brigade. I haven¡¯t yet seen this troop under my command.¡±


    After speaking, he got up and walked outside. Huang Qiuyue glanced at his departing figure and followed.


    Upon exiting the office building, Qin Hao¡¯s vehicle was still there, with Leng Xuan and others waiting for him. To them, Qin Hao said, ¡°Come and take a look with me.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue looked at Qin Hao¡¯s bodyguards and said nothing, figuring that the bodyguards of someone with his stature would be no ordinary people.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Mr. Huang, give me a detailed introduction of the Shadow Special Combat Brigade.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue began, ¡°The Shadow Special Combat Brigade is the ace troop of the Gu Jing Military Region. Currently, there are more than three thousand special forces soldiers within the brigade, among which there is a sharp sword: the Shadow Special Team, divided into three companies, each company into three squads, with each squad consisting of eight or nine members.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly as they talked and walked, quickly arriving at the training camp deep within the military area.


    Huang Qiuyue said, ¡°This is just the training camp for ordinary soldiers. The Shadow Special Combat Brigade¡¯s is further inside. Mr. Qin, I suggest we drive there.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded. The area was indeed vast, and it would take over twenty minutes to get anywhere if they walked.


    Three military off-road vehicles quickly passed through the training grounds of the ordinary soldiers and finally arrived at a secluded training field.


    This was the training ground of the Shadow Special Combat Brigade, where many were presently training on various items.


    The vehicles stopped in the plaza of the training ground, and Qin Hao, Huang Qiuyue, and a few others got out of the cars.


    The captain of the Shadow Special Team, seeing them, hurriedly ran over: ¡°Mr. Huang.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue instructed, ¡°Have everyone halt their training. The head of our special brigade is here. Let¡¯s gather and meet Mr. Qin.¡±


    Liu Kangding was taken aback, glancing at Qin Hao beside him. Is this our new leader?


    He quickly responded, ¡°Yes, Mr. Huang,¡± and went to assemble the troops, not speaking to Qin Hao during the whole process.


    Qin Hao remained expressionless. It seemed these people didn¡¯t like him much, probably thinking of him as someone who got in through connections and benefits.


    With the exception of those away for training or exchanges, over a thousand people assembled within three minutes.


    Standing at the very front were the members of the Shadow Special Team, eighty-one in total, standing straight with a gleam in their eyes, clearly a force to be reckoned with.


    Huang Qiuyue stood in front of them, in her sharp camo uniform that hugged her figure, looking gallant: ¡°Today, Mr. Qin Hao has come. I¡¯ve gathered you all to acquaint you with our leader. Mr. Qin, please say a few words.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at the crowd and said indifferently, ¡°It seems like many of you are quite dissatisfied with me. If you have any issues, a real man would say it out loud, don¡¯t hide it. I have no patience for those who act like goddamn women.¡±


    ...


    Huang Qiuyue¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly when she heard his veiled comment. Is he insulting me?


    The crowd also didn¡¯t expect Qin Hao to make such remarks.


    Qin Hao looked at them and smiled, ¡°What? No one dares to speak? And here I thought the men of the Shadow Special Combat Brigade were tough. Seems like they¡¯re just a bunch of cowards.¡±


    This was intolerable.


    Liu Kangding, as the team leader, was the first to speak up: ¡°I heard the leader used to be a businessman?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, not just in the past, but now and probably in the future too. What about it? Does being a businessman make me inferior to you?¡±


    Liu Kangding said, ¡°It¡¯s not what I meant, Mr. Qin. I think businessmen should focus on their trade, and military matters should be left to the suitable people.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°All matters ultimately serve the same purpose. If I can manage a company with hundreds of thousands of employees, why can¡¯t I manage a few thousand of you? Besides, with Mr. Huang here, management can be delegated to others. At the higher level, just overseeing the broader strategy is enough.¡±


    Liu Kangding was speechlessly rebuked by Qin Hao. Then someone else said, ¡°Everyone in the Shadow Special Combat Brigade is an elite, chosen from thousands. Everyone here is strong, including Mr. Huang, who is also a force to be reckoned with.¡±


    ¡°She won us over with her strength, and we don¡¯t want to be led by someone who is powerless,¡±


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°You think you¡¯re strong? That I must be weak? A true strong person would never have that mindset; they wouldn¡¯t underestimate any opponent. Since you all think so highly of yourselves, pick any one of these people by my side.¡±


    Liu Kangding said, ¡°Does Mr. Qin want us to duel with your bodyguard?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Precisely, these individuals are the elite trained by my security company and will be my personal guards in the future. Hurry up and choose, don¡¯t dawdle.¡±


    One of them stepped forward, ¡°I¡¯ll go first, I want to challenge him.¡±


    The person selected was a bodyguard standing behind Leng Xuan; seeing he had been chosen, he stepped out.


    Those around them stepped back, providing ample space for the two of them.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Begin whenever you¡¯re ready.¡±


    Like swift leopards, the two rushed towards each other with great speed, yet Qin Hao could see his bodyguard was even faster.


    Although the Shadow Special Combat Brigade had extensive training, their methods and potential-unlocking exercises were far inferior to those of Feibao Security Company.


    ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡±


    The two got into close contact, their fight intense; their punches were powerful, fierce, and ruthless, their moves incredibly ferocious.


    Qin Hao stood there with an easy smile, confident in the bodyguards beside him.


    After about twenty rounds, the man from the Shadow Special Team was swept off his feet by a kick, flung several meters away. Had the bodyguard not pulled his punch at the last moment, the man would have suffered internal injuries.


    The people from Shadow Special Team were shocked, his bodyguard was this skilled?


    Qin Hao smiled and asked, ¡°Anyone else?¡±


    Liu Kangding stepped forward, ¡°Mr. Qin, I would like to have a go.¡±


    ¡°Sure, whom do you want to challenge?¡±


    Liu Kangding pointed at Han Zhuang and said, ¡°I want to challenge him.¡±


    As this man stood beside Qin Hao, he must be one of the most formidable bodyguards; defeating him would not be considered a hollow victory.


    Han Zhuang stepped forward with a simple smile, ¡°Watch how I take you down.¡±


    Liu Kangding scoffed, taking three steps in two and leaping up with a heavy kick aimed at Han Zhuang¡¯s chest.


    Han Zhuang was quick to react. He was certain he could grab Liu Kangding¡¯s ankle, but instead, he roared and threw a punch.


    The crowd was stunned. Was this man foolish? At that moment, the force in Liu Kangding¡¯s leg was immense, not just from the leg¡¯s strength but also from the momentum, exploding with a force many times greater than normal.


    ¡°Thump¡±


    The collision of fist and leg made a dull sound, and Liu Kangdi was sent flying backward at even greater speed, then landed heavily on the ground, while Han Zhuang remained unshaken.


    Liu Kangding tried to get up, but the sharp pain in his right foot made him fall again, as several people rushed to help him, ¡°Team Leader Liu, are you all right?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a light smile, ¡°Anyone else who is unconvinced is welcome to step forward and fight.¡±


    No one else stood up. With his bodyguards being so formidable, who would dare?


    Just then, Huang Qiuyue suddenly stepped out, ¡°If all these bodyguards were trained by Mr. Qin, then surely Mr. Qin¡¯s own skills must be impressive as well. I would like to exchange a few moves with Mr. Qin.¡±


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 682 - 682 684 Duel

    ?Chapter 682: Chapter 684: Duel Chapter 682: Chapter 684: Duel The faces of the members of the Shadow Special Combat Brigade fell slightly, and then showed some anticipation.


    Huang Qiuyue had won the combat championship in the military, in an all-forces combat competition no less. Even when fighting one on one, these men from the Shadow Special Combat Brigade were no match for her, as she was incredibly skilled in close combat.


    Qin Hao looked at her with a smile, ¡°I don¡¯t hit women, I¡¯m afraid I might hurt you.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue retorted, ¡°In combat contests, it¡¯s normal to get hurt. Just because you¡¯re afraid of injuries, do you stop training? Commander, please accept my challenge.¡±


    Having said that, she walked to the center of the field, waiting for Qin Hao to come down and fight her.


    Qin Hao gazed at Huang Qiuyue; her delicate features and slim figure, especially in a military uniform, presented a striking and spirited appearance.


    He took off his cap and walked down, facing her directly. Their eyes met, and Huang Qiuyue suddenly dashed forward with great speed, kicking off from the ground.


    As she approached Qin Hao, she leaped into the air, aiming a knee strike straight at Qin Hao¡¯s chest.


    The move was powerful and potentially lethal. Qin Hao quickly retreated, stepping out of Huang Qiuyue¡¯s attack range.


    After landing, Huang Qiuyue executed a ground sweep, kicking up dust, her moves seamless and fiercely swift.


    Qin Hao dodged on the spot, avoiding her attack once again. Huang Qiuyue spun around and stood up, throwing a punch at Qin Hao¡¯s chest.


    Qin Hao¡¯s hands moved like lightning to form a claw, grasping her fist. ¡°It¡¯s my turn now, Chief of Staff Huang.¡±


    After saying this, he pushed hard, sending Huang Qiuyue stumbling back several steps; she was shocked by Qin Hao¡¯s strength. His slender physique had exploded with such formidable power?


    Before she could recover, Qin Hao attacked, moving as fast as a cheetah, his leg scissor kicks coming at her like a violent storm.


    Huang Qiuyue blocked with her arms, the sounds of their close combat resounding one after another.


    Each of Qin Hao¡¯s kicks carried an immense force. After three kicks, Huang Qiuyue could no longer withstand them, her arms drooping weakly as she temporarily lost consciousness.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    With the final kick, Qin Hao pulled back most of his strength, striking Huang Qiuyue¡¯s body.


    She screamed in pain, her body flung backward two meters before heavily hitting the ground.


    After landing, Qin Hao walked over, ¡°Chief of Staff Huang, are you alright? I told you that you were no match for me.¡±


    After being helped up by him, Huang Qiuyue saw the footprints on her uniform and felt a bit embarrassed, ¡°Commander, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    She tried to brush the dust off her uniform but couldn¡¯t lift her arms; Qin Hao¡¯s kicks had been too forceful.


    Qin Hao noticed her predicament, realizing that walking out like this would surely draw ridicule.


    He extended his hand to help brush off the dirt but then hesitated, ¡°Chief of Staff Huang, shall I help you remove the dirt?¡±


    ¡°That would be troubling you, Commander,¡± Huang Qiuyue said calmly.


    Qin Hao managed to remain composed, brushing off the dirt. Then, he turned to look at the members of the Shadow Special Combat Brigade, ¡°Anyone else want to challenge me?¡±


    None of the members of the Shadow Special Combat Brigade spoke up. Qin Hao had proven his strength, and they were no longer as resistant to him.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°Moving forward, I will bring over the training methods from Feibao Security Company for your training. If there¡¯s nothing else, you¡¯re dismissed. Continue training.¡±


    After he finished speaking, he looked at Huang Qiuyue, ¡°Mr. Huang, let¡¯s go.¡±


    The two got in the car and left the training base. On the road, Qin Hao looked at Huang Qiuyue¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Mr. Huang, don¡¯t worry, your hand will be fine soon.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue nodded; she felt a bit awkward now.


    She had thought of Qin Hao as merely a businessman who had used various connections to get in.


    Now she knew Qin Hao had the capability.


    She hesitated for a few seconds and then said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Commander, I misunderstood you.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°It¡¯s all right, I¡¯ll send you Feibao Company¡¯s training methods shortly. Those are just the basic training methods, and there will be intermediate and advanced manuals for the Future Soldier Special Training Manual later.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue nodded, ¡°Did you develop all this, Commander?¡±


    Qin Hao could sense a slight change in Huang Qiuyue¡¯s attitude toward him and smiled, ¡°You might say that.¡±


    When the two returned to the office building of the Shadow Special Combat Brigade, Qin Hao handed over the information of Li Bao and a few others to Huang Qiuyue, ¡°Help me with this, they will be my guards from now on.¡±


    Aside from money, these people had gained nothing by following him; he regarded this as securing a future for them, and from now on, they would also be part of the Shadow Special Combat Brigade.


    Huang Qiuyue had seen the capabilities of these men and believed they were completely competent for the job, ¡°Commander, do they need to be equipped with firearms?¡±


    ¡°Is that possible?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Huang Qiuyue, ¡°Your rank is certainly high enough to authorize it.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Then let¡¯s equip them and get them a few military uniforms as well.¡±


    Later, Huang Qiuyue instructed others to take care of it. Qin Hao sent the basic version of the Future Soldier Special Training Manual to Huang Qiuyue using the office computer.


    Huang Qiuyue was an expert in this field, and many of the training methods of the Shadow Special Combat Brigade had been refined by her.


    When she saw the training manual that Qin Hao sent, she was genuinely surprised. Every training item was annotated with its effects and functions, and which potentials it would stimulate.


    It took over an hour to process the identities of Leng Xuan and the others, and that was only because of Qin Hao¡¯s involvement; otherwise, it would have taken several days.


    Around 11:30 am, Huang Qiuyue knocked and entered, ¡°Commander, shall we go to lunch together?¡±


    Qin Hao was also hungry, ¡°Yes, that sounds good.¡±


    He followed Huang Qiuyue out of the office building, where soldiers in groups could be seen heading toward the cafeteria.


    As they walked, Qin Hao said, ¡°Mr. Huang, I generally won¡¯t come here. When I¡¯m not around, you are in complete charge.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Huang Qiuyue had already received the message from above. Qin Hao was just a nominal figure here; he didn¡¯t have the time to manage, and everything still depended on Huang Qiuyue.


    The two talked and walked, quickly arriving at the officers¡¯ cafeteria, where those dining were all officers of the rank of battalion commander or higher from the military district.


    Upon the arrival of Qin Hao and Huang Qiuyue, they were the highest-ranking officers there.


    ¡°Mr. Huang.¡± Many people greeted Huang Qiuyue; with a high military rank and good looks, she was one of Gu Jing Military Region¡¯s famous ¡°military flowers.¡±


    When they saw Qin Hao next to Huang Qiuyue, these people hesitated for a moment. A Major¡¯s rank, could it be the new Qin Hao from the Shadow Special Combat Brigade?

 Chapter 683 - 683 685 When to Get Married

    ?Chapter 683: Chapter 685 When to Get Married Chapter 683: Chapter 685 When to Get Married Qin Hao followed Huang Qiuyue to the window to get a serving of food, and then casually found an empty seat to sit down.


    At this moment, a group of people walked through the entrance, around seven or eight in total, looking up, the military ranks were generally high, the lowest being that of a major.


    They walked in, talking and laughing, and then headed towards the officer¡¯s canteen¡¯s private room.


    Qin Hao glanced up then lowered his head, continuing to eat his meal.


    Huang Qiuyue also glanced up, stunned for a moment, then lowered her head and continued with her lunch, wondering, why is he here?


    ¡°Mr. Huang is here too? Let¡¯s have a meal together,¡± said a man with a colonel¡¯s rank from that group.


    Huang Qiuyue looked up at the man, ¡°Better not, today our leader is here, I need to accompany our leader. How come people from the Flying Dragon Team are in the Gu Jing Military Region?¡±


    Chen Tianlong then noticed Qin Hao next to him, and when he saw his rank, he was taken aback, a major? Isn¡¯t there only a handful in the Gu Jing Military Region? How come I don¡¯t recognize him?


    He said with a smile, ¡°Isn¡¯t the grand military competition coming up? Your leaders specifically asked me to teach your Shadow Special Team so that, come the competition, you don¡¯t end up last again.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue¡¯s face looked somewhat unnatural, the Shadow Special Team was the strongest ace in the Gu Jing Military Region, but it had always ranked last within the special combat brigades of the seven military regions.


    Chen Tianlong belonged to the Jinchen Military Region¡¯s Flying Dragon Special Combat Brigade; he was the captain of the Flying Dragon Special Combat Team, which always ranked first each year, possessing great strength.


    She furrowed her brows, ¡°How come I¡¯m not aware of this? Who issued the order?¡±


    A man from the Gu Jing Military Region with a colonel¡¯s rank spoke up ¡°This is by order of Mr. Li.¡±


    Qin Hao chimed in, ¡°Which Mr. Li? My people don¡¯t need anyone else¡¯s instruction; let them lead Mr. Li¡¯s soldiers instead.¡±


    The colonel was taken aback, ¡°And you are?¡±


    Huang Qiuyue spoke up, ¡°This is the leader of our Shadow Special Combat Brigade, Major Qin Hao.¡±


    The few people around were taken aback, Qin Hao?


    ¡°So it¡¯s Mr. Qin, but this order comes from Mr. Li,¡± the man said awkwardly.


    Qin Hao retorted, ¡°What does Mr. Li oversee? In the Shadow Special Combat Brigade, my word is law. Tell them to go back where they came from.¡±


    Chen Tianlong¡¯s face couldn¡¯t hide his discomfort. They were from the Flying Dragon Special Combat Brigade after all, and Qin Hao¡¯s words were downright dismissive of his Flying Dragon Team.


    He sneered, ¡°A businessman turned major really thinking he¡¯s somebody, huh?¡±


    Although Qin Hao was a major, he belonged to the Gu Jing Military Region, which had no authority over Chen¡¯s Jinchen Military Region, so he wasn¡¯t afraid, especially since his family was not to be trifled with, it was just a major after all.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Qin Hao kicked out lightning-fast, striking Chen Tianlong in the stomach, causing him pain and making him stagger back a few steps.


    Chen Tianlong, furious, charged forward with a shout, swinging a heavy punch towards Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao quickly stood up, throwing a punch with his right hand.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Their fists collided, sending Chen Tianlong flying back four or five meters, crashing into a dining table before rolling onto the floor.


    Chen Tianlong¡¯s face was a picture of discomfort, his right arm twitched slightly, unable to exert any force.


    ¡°Mr. Chen, are you alright?¡± Some people nearby hurried over to help him up.


    Qin Hao said disdainfully, ¡°With that level of ability, you want to teach the people of the Shadow Special Team? You¡¯re not qualified yet.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise. Too strong. He had actually sent Chen Tianlong flying with a single punch. Earlier, when he sparred with me, if he hadn¡¯t let me make two moves first, I probably couldn¡¯t even have withstood one, could I?


    ...


    Chen Tianlong dared to confront Qin Hao physically, but others did not dare. They quickly assisted Chen Tianlong out of the cafeteria.


    The colonel had not expected the confrontation to escalate into a fight. He sighed as he looked at Qin Hao, not knowing what to say, nor could he say anything.


    After all, in terms of rank, he was two levels below Qin Hao. Qin considered his superior, so he dared not speak out.


    Eventually, he hurriedly followed them out. It was imperative Chen Tianlong didn¡¯t come to harm.


    Qin Hao sat down and continued eating his meal. He asked Huang Qiuyue, ¡°What¡¯s this about the military-wide competition he mentioned? Why are they having someone else¡¯s people instruct you?¡±


    Huang Qiuyue said somewhat awkwardly, ¡°It¡¯s a competition among the special teams from several military regions. Our Shadow Special Team has always been at the bottom in previous years, so this year the leaders brought in someone from the Flying Dragon Special Team, likely hoping to move up the rankings.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Is it happening soon?¡±


    Huang Qiuyue nodded, ¡°It should start at the end of May or beginning of June.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Just have those people train according to the training manual. They have a foundation, so they should progress quickly. Once they¡¯ve completed the training covered in this beginner¡¯s manual, let me know, and I¡¯ll put together an intermediate manual for them.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue asked, ¡°Following the training laid out, do you think we have a chance to avoid coming in last in the competition, sir?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee first place, but we definitely won¡¯t be last.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue¡¯s face brightened with a smile, ¡°As long as there is improvement, that¡¯s fine. It would be too embarrassing to come last again, absolutely no way to lift our heads in public.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her speechlessly, ¡°Is that all you aspire to? This military-wide competition, we must take first place. If not, then everyone can just go back home and farm.¡±


    Tian Qiuyue, ¡°Sir, you don¡¯t know how formidable the Jinchen Military Region¡¯s Flying Dragon Special Brigade is. Almost every single one of their guys could take down one and a half of ours, especially that Chen Tianlong.¡±


    ¡°That waste you¡¯re talking about can fight? Today is April 9th. By the end of April, I need the people of the Shadow Special Team to complete the training targeted in the basic training manual, then I¡¯ll give you the intermediate manual. Have them finish the intermediate manual within a month.¡±


    ...


    Past one in the afternoon, Qin Hao left Gu Jing Military Region. On his way back, he received a call from Xu Liangguo, ¡°You lad, still messing around in the military, why did you beat up Mr. Chen¡¯s grandson?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°That guy was too arrogant, just asking for a beating, needed to be put in his place.¡±


    Xu Liangguo chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t be so impulsive next time. By the way, the state has already sent people to your company to discuss purchasing air energy engines and Grade H alloy, with priority supply given to the state. You¡¯ll certainly not earn less money, and the cars you produce can be used internally for now, don¡¯t publicize it yet, it¡¯s too big of an impact.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Understood, Mr. Xu.¡±


    Xu Liangguo spoke with a smile, ¡°My boy, you¡¯re now a national treasure. No one can touch you. By the way, when are you and Si Yao getting married? How about the end of this year?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m not even at the legal age to get married yet.¡±


    Xu Liangguo, a bit annoyed, ¡°Who the hell set that up? I¡¯ll give them a call, tell them to change it. Over twenty should be fine.¡±

 Chapter 684 - 684 686 Liusheng Shinzis Phone Call

    ?Chapter 684: Chapter 686 Liusheng Shinzi¡¯s Phone Call Chapter 684: Chapter 686 Liusheng Shinzi¡¯s Phone Call After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao sat idly in the car and logged onto Wei Yan online.


    He browsed through Wei Yan, where his followers had exceeded two hundred million. Although his Wei Yan account had been inactive for several months, he hadn¡¯t lost many followers; most were still paying attention to him.


    As Qin Hao browsed, the top trending topic was, ¡°The Federation has raised oil prices against Xuan Country, while Nan L Country continues to export to Xuan Country at the original price.¡±


    The second hot topic was also related to Nan L Country.


    ¡°This afternoon, Nan L Country and Xuan Country reached an agreement to purchase five War Eagle drones and five War Eagle bombers.¡±


    ¡°ST Country and the Asni Royal Family also reached a commercial procurement cooperation with Xuan Country. They will each purchase five War Eagle drones.¡±


    In the past, Xuan Country might not have sold such aircraft, but now with the air energy engine, Xuan Country would develop more advanced fighters, bombers, reconnaissance planes, and so on.


    By selling the outdated fighters for huge profits and then producing new types of fighters, perhaps those people were still complacent, but once Xuan Country¡¯s new fighters were launched, they would probably cry.


    The money was made by Xuan Country, yet they still hadn¡¯t acquired the most advanced fighters.


    Regarding these orders, the more the better, and no order was refused.


    ...


    Qin Hao returned to Jianghai City at around four in the afternoon, and had Leng Xuan and his team drive to Jiangshan Group.


    Now Leng Xuan and his people all had military uniforms, IDs, and more importantly, they were fully equipped with weapons.


    Qin Hao changed out of his military uniform, as it was too conspicuous to wear out.


    Upon arriving at Jiangshan Group, he went straight to Feng Xiangyi¡¯s office. Inside, Feng Xiangyi was talking with a secretary and an assistant. On seeing Qin Hao enter, the few people hurriedly greeted him, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao sat on the sofa and said, ¡°Just continue talking.¡±


    Five minutes later, Feng Xiangyi finished explaining everything. She told her secretary and assistant, ¡°Just do as I said. I need to discuss some matters with Mr. Qin; don¡¯t let anyone disturb us.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Feng.¡± The secretary and assistant walked out together.


    After they left, Feng Xiangyi walked over in high heels, click-clacking as she approached.


    She sat next to Qin Hao, ¡°Did you miss me?¡±


    ...


    About an hour later, the office was calm again.


    Feng Xiangyi straightened her clothes and sat up, ¡°As long as you like it. In a few years, when I¡¯m older, I won¡¯t be able to compete with those young beauties by your side.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Auntie, don¡¯t overthink it. I have already acquired a biogenetic technology company. In the future, we will develop many genetic drugs to preserve youth forever. Living for a few hundred years isn¡¯t far-fetched.¡±


    ¡°Really? You¡¯re always good at cheering people up,¡± said Feng Xiangyi, hugging him.


    ...


    At five twenty in the afternoon, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang and Feng Xiangyi paused...


    Qin Hao answered the phone, ¡°Hello, who is this?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, hello, I am Liusheng Zhenzi.¡± A pleasant female voice came through the phone.


    ¡°Hiss,¡±


    Qin Hao inhaled sharply, ¡°Miss Zhenzi, what can I do for you?¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi, ¡°I have already discussed it with my family. Mr. Qin, can we meet to talk? I am in the Jinxiu Hotel, Changping District, in Room 2818.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°That¡¯s fine; I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Feng Xiangyi ran into the bathroom inside the office.


    After straightening his clothes, Feng Xiangyi came out, pouting her cherry lips, and gave him a coquettish look.


    Qin Hao chuckled, walked over, and gently embraced her, kissing her forehead, ¡°I need to go out for a bit.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi obediently nodded. Although she was several years older than Qin Hao, she was now as docile as a young woman.


    Exiting Jiangshan Group, the sun was nearly setting.


    Getting in the car, Qin Hao told Leng Xuan, ¡°Head to the Jinxiu Hotel in Changping District.¡±


    By the time the motorcade reached Jinxiu Hotel, it had already grown dark, and the Jinxiu Hotel was brightly lit up, its hall glittering and upscale.


    Leng Xuan and his people, in plain clothes, followed Qin Hao into the hotel elevator.


    In front of Room 2818 on the 28th floor.


    Qin Hao knocked on the door, and soon Liusheng Zhenzi opened it, a pure smile on her face, ¡°Mr. Qin, please come in.¡±


    Walking into the room, there was no one else except for Liusheng Zhenzi.


    She began, ¡°Mr. Qin, haven¡¯t you had dinner yet? Let¡¯s order first.¡±


    The two ordered a few dishes, then sent their order to the hotel kitchen via the internet.


    Qin Hao looked at Liusheng Zhenzi and asked with a smile, ¡°I heard that Miss Zhenzi is studying at Jianghai University?¡±


    Li Wenjun had investigated Liusheng Zhenzi, and surprisingly she was also at Jianghai University, in the same batch as him, but she studied business management and was not on the same campus.

 Chapter 685 - 685 687 Submission

    ?Chapter 685: Chapter 687 Submission Chapter 685: Chapter 687 Submission Liusheng Zhenzi nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right¡ªspeaking of which, Mr. Qin and I were classmates at Jianghai University. Your fame had already spread throughout the whole school; many regarded you as a role model, and several in our dormitory even idolized you as a male god.¡±


    Qin Hao gave an embarrassed smile, ¡°Is that so? I didn¡¯t expect to have such charm.¡±


    The two made small talk for a while, and then the food arrived. The waitress placed the dishes on the table and then left.


    Qin Hao picked up his chopsticks and began to eat. He was somewhat hungry after the afternoon¡¯s exertions: ¡°How do you find Xuan Country, Miss Zhenzi? There must be many chasing after you, right?¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi didn¡¯t conceal the truth and nodded, ¡°Yes, but I can sense that they¡¯re only after me to taste what Beihai Country women are like, just to feel that sort of vengeful pleasure.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Miss Zhenzi speaks truly. Many hold such thoughts, and even deep within me, I harbor them as well. It must be the result of animosity.¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi looked startled and awkwardly suggested, ¡°Mr. Qin, let¡¯s talk about business.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke while continuing to eat, ¡°Alright, tell me the result of your family¡¯s deliberations.¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi: ¡°Has Mr. Qin learned about the situation of our family?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve heard something about it. The situation seems quite dire, and if a countermeasure isn¡¯t found soon, I¡¯m afraid your family will be crushed by the united effort of the three families.¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi: ¡°That¡¯s correct. We are prepared to accept any condition from Mr. Qin, as long as you can help our family overcome this crisis.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her with interest, ¡°Any condition?¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi nodded. The Liusheng Family was now at a critical juncture of survival. If it meant getting through the difficulty, they were willing to agree to any of Qin Hao¡¯s conditions¡ªa far better outcome than being crushed by the combined force of the three major families.


    Qin Hao said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. As long as the Liusheng Family submits to me, I will give you my full support.¡±


    At his words, Liusheng Zhenzi¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. Submit? That would mean servitude for generations.


    She fell into deep thought; the price was likewise substantial.


    A minute later, she took out her phone and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, please wait a moment. I need to contact my father.¡±


    She didn¡¯t avoid Qin Hao and directly made the call, communicating in Beihai Country¡¯s language, but this didn¡¯t keep Qin Hao from understanding.


    Liusheng Zhenzi didn¡¯t conceal anything, ¡°Father, Mr. Qin has said that he will only help the Liusheng Family through our crisis if we submit to him.¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and after pondering for a few minutes, he spoke, ¡°Agree to his terms¡ªwe have no other option.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Liusheng Zhenzi turned to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin... Master, our family agrees.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded with a smile, ¡°Good. In a while, I will grant your family Star Domain Network access rights, and I¡¯ll also provide you with chips later. Relying solely on your family¡¯s strength makes it hard to confront them, so you¡¯ll need to ally with the other two families. As long as the benefits are substantial, they won¡¯t refuse.¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi nodded; it was the only way. With just their family¡¯s strength, it was indeed challenging to stand against the three powerful families. But by joining with the Dechuan and Yamauchi families, resisting the three major families was still feasible.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°How much the Star Domain Network agency fee is, the three of your families will share. The profits will also be evenly split among you three. As for smart chips, I will supply them to you as well. You¡¯ll coordinate with the other two families regarding this. As for the relationship between us, let¡¯s not expose it.¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi nodded, ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Tomorrow I will have someone develop a neural drug that can control your family. If you harbor any treacherous thoughts, the drug will destroy your nervous systems immediately.¡±


    She could only accept this result, which was still better than the annihilation of her family.


    Liusheng Zhenzi served him a helping of food with her chopsticks, ¡°Please eat, Master. This is a signature dish of Beihai Country, and Jinxiu Hotel prepares it quite authentically.¡±


    When she finished, she placed the chopsticks near Qin Hao¡¯s mouth, waiting for him to open his mouth and eat.


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment. Is the innate ability of Beihai Country women to attend to men? Could it be that even she, the noble heiress of the Liusheng Family, knew how to do this?


    Liusheng Zhenzi seemed to know what he was thinking and explained in a gentle voice, ¡°We¡¯ve received all sorts of familial education from a young age, and attending to men is one of the courses.¡±


    ...


    At 6:45 pm, when Qin Hao and Liusheng Zhenzi were nearly done with their meal, there was a knock on the door from outside.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Leng Xuan hurried in. ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s a problem. Mr. Chang has gone missing.¡±


    A slight change crossed Qin Hao¡¯s face. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Leng Xuan explained, ¡°After Mr. Chang finished work, he went for a meal in the snack street, and then after entering a shop, he disappeared.¡±


    Qin Hao took out his cell phone and said, ¡°Connect me to Xiaoxing.¡±


    Xiaoxing: ¡°Master.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Pull up the surveillance video for Mr. Chang after he entered the snack street.¡±


    With Qin Hao¡¯s prior instruction, Xiaoxing now also managed the radar satellite system, and soon a video of Chang Jing entering the snack street five minutes ago appeared in Qin Hao¡¯s hands.


    Liusheng Zhenzi curiously stood by and watched without speaking.


    The video was sped up; soon, Chang Jing entered a lamb tripe soup shop. Four men from the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion were briefly held up by someone; they didn¡¯t pay attention to it then, but looking back, it wasn¡¯t a coincidence.


    While watching, Qin Hao said, ¡°Remember the faces of these few people, and have someone investigate them.¡±


    After Chang Jing entered, she didn¡¯t come out again. At the back door of the shop, Qin Hao saw several people lifting Chang Jing into a white van.


    The surveillance camera continued to follow the van as if the cameras were right above them. This shocked Liusheng Zhenzi immensely. What kind of surveillance equipment was this?


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Get the air energy car to come to the rooftop of the Jinxiu Hotel in Changping District to pick me up.¡±


    After finishing, he got up and walked outside; Liusheng Zhenzi and Leng Xuan hurriedly followed, and they soon arrived at the rooftop.


    ¡°Teacher, how did you get here so fast?¡± Suddenly, a voice rang out, and Li Moying caught up from behind.


    Qin Hao looked at Li Moying in surprise. ¡°Mo Ying, how did you get here?¡±


    Li Moying quickly ran over. ¡°I heard the people downstairs saying the teacher was here, so I came.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Chang Jing has been kidnapped; I need to go rescue her.¡±


    In the video, the white van was moving very fast, heading to a small dock and then onto a ship. It was a smuggling boat, judging by the direction it was heading

 Chapter 686 - 686 688 Differentiation

    ?Chapter 686: Chapter 688: Differentiation Chapter 686: Chapter 688: Differentiation The air energy car swiftly left the area, and the large display screen inside the car showed the vessel they were pursuing.


    Li Moying and Liusheng Shinzi sat in the back, curiously sizing up their surroundings as they sat facing each other.


    The car¡¯s seats were adjustable and could be lowered to rest on tree rubber.


    ¡°Master, what is this?¡± Li Moying couldn¡¯t help but ask, driven by curiosity.


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°It¡¯s the latest car produced by the Xinghai Automobile Factory.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so cool,¡± Li Moying exclaimed as she looked out the window. Towering skyscrapers swiftly passed by below them, the speed was breathtaking.


    Liusheng Shinzi was also stunned. It was her first time seeing a flying car, and the speed was terrifyingly fast.


    Was this a car newly produced by his company?


    ¡°We¡¯ve caught up,¡± Qin Hao said evenly, and then the car began to descend from the sky.


    Liusheng Shinzi was taken aback, ¡®That quickly? Was it even three minutes?¡¯


    Li Moying and Liusheng Shinzi both stared out the window into the pitch-black night, with the sea wind howling, they faintly spotted a light below, which was probably a ship.


    The air energy car soon landed about ten meters above that light source. The car was silent, and the people on the boat were completely unaware.


    Qin Hao put on an initial-generation Mecha suit, opened the car door, then jumped down, descending from the sky onto the deck.


    There was no one on the deck; he rushed into the cabin, a curved alloy knife in hand.


    From within the car, Li Moying and Liusheng Shinzi heard screams echoing eerily through the dark night.


    About ten seconds later, a figure flew up from below and entered the car.


    Qin Hao put Chang Jing in the back seat and retracted his Mecha suit.


    Chang Jing, Li Moying, and Liusheng Shinzi widened their eyes in wonder, ¡°What is that thing?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s the initial-generation Mecha, its functions aren¡¯t perfect yet, but it can greatly enhance various physical attributes of the human body.¡±


    ¡°Mecha? Does that thing really exist?¡± Li Moying asked, somewhat excitedly.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Mr. Chang, are you okay?¡±


    Chang Jing shook her head, her expression unchanged from usual, ¡°Mr. Qin, may I take a look at your Mecha?¡±


    Qin Hao pulled it out, ¡°What¡¯s there to see?¡±


    The three of them took it and started examining it. Without Qin Hao¡¯s command, it was completely inoperative.


    ¡°Master, I want one too,¡± Li Moying said, clinging to his arm with a coquettish tone.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Currently, there is only one. I¡¯ll give you one once we start mass production. After registering it to you, you can use it.¡±


    Li Moying grinned, ¡°Thank you, Master. And I want this car too.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°This car is in production. I¡¯ll give you one when it¡¯s ready, but you mustn¡¯t publicize it or let too many people know.¡±


    Li Moying nodded, ¡°I promise I won¡¯t spread the word, Master. I¡¯ll just keep it on the rooftop of my hotel, where nobody else can go.¡±


    Qin Hao first dropped Liusheng Shinzi off at her place, then took Li Moying and Chang Jing back home.


    ¡°Mr. Chang, I will send a few more people over to protect you shortly.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°Yes, you should also head back and rest early.¡±


    Qin Hao went straight home, the air energy car flew itself back to the Xinghai Automobile Factory, Leng Xuan and the others hadn¡¯t returned yet; they had already gone to capture those people.


    Even without interrogation, Qin Hao roughly guessed who was behind this¡ªit was none other than the Sato Family from Beihai Country.


    ...


    The next morning, as Qin Hao left his home to head for Xinghai High-tech Company, Leng Xuan spoke in the car, ¡°Mr. Qin, those people have been thoroughly investigated, and they are indeed from the Sato Family of Beihai Country.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°I know. Have Li Wenjun thoroughly investigate the Sato Family, and then select some reliable people; we¡¯re preparing to take a trip to Beihai Country in a couple of days.¡±


    It seemed Leng Xuan realized what Qin Hao intended to do and nodded slightly, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll make the arrangements in a moment.¡±


    Upon arriving at Xinghai Company, Liusheng Zhenzi had already arrived. Qin Hao had Xiaoxing give her the management rights of the Star Domain Network from Beihai Country, ¡°For now, hand over this management account to your family, and in a couple of days, I will take you to Beihai Country.¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi: ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Remember to transfer the money to me as well.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master, I¡¯ll call my father right now,¡± Liusheng Zhenzi made a call to her father, transferring the Star Domain Network management account to him.


    Upon receiving the management account, Liusheng Ichiro immediately contacted the clan leaders of the Dechuan and Yamauchi Families.


    Liusheng Ichiro: ¡°Dechuan, our Liusheng Family has just finalized a collaboration with Mr. Qin of Xinghai Company to manage the Star Domain Network, would you be interested?¡±


    Dechuan Dayong, visibly surprised, responded, ¡°A Star Domain Network Agency? Mr. Liusheng, are you joking? How did you manage that?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro said with a smile, ¡°My daughter is studying in Jianghai City. She is stunningly beautiful, trained from a young age, and is quite favored by Mr. Qin.¡±


    Dechuan Dayong felt a pang of envy. Qin Hao was the world¡¯s wealthiest man, controlling the Star Domain Network, smart chips, artificial intelligence technology, and more, sought after by countless top syndicates for collaboration.


    The Dechuan Family had also sent representatives, but they hadn¡¯t even managed to meet Qin Hao in person, and to think that the Liusheng Family had secured this opportunity through such means¡ªwhy hadn¡¯t I thought of this before?


    My Dechuan Family¡¯s daughter is not inferior to that of the Liusheng Family.


    ¡°Mr. Liusheng, I¡¯ll be there shortly; please wait a moment,¡± Dechuan Dayong replied hastily.


    After hanging up, Liusheng Ichiro then called Yamakou Masao of the Yamauchi Family, ¡°Mr. Yamauchi, what are you busy with?¡±


    Yamakou Masao was surprised to receive a call from Liusheng Ichiro, wondering if he now wanted the Yamauchi Family¡¯s help.


    Curiously, he asked, ¡°Mr. Liusheng, what can I do for you?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro: ¡°I have a big business opportunity and would like to see if Mr. Yamauchi would be interested in a collaboration.¡±


    Yamakou Masao, with a puzzled expression, asked, ¡°Mr. Liusheng, what big business are you referring to?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro: ¡°I¡¯ve reached an agreement with Mr. Qin of Xuan Country, and we can secure the agency right for the Star Domain Network. You, I and the Dechuan Family will handle it, and we¡¯ll share the profits equally.¡±


    Yamakou Masao hesitated for a moment: ¡°Is this for real?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro: ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t split the profits with you without good reason. I need both your family and the Dechuan Family to help our Liusheng Family collectively withstand the Sato Family, the Anpei Family, and the Aoki Family.¡±


    Yamakou Masao: ¡°This can be considered, but I think we need to discuss the distribution of profits from the Star Domain Network a bit more.¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro inwardly sneered, the Yamauchi Family was indeed greedy, but he was prepared: ¡°Mr. Yamauchi, our Liusheng Family will also secure smart chips and intelligent autonomous driving chips later. If you prefer not to continue collaborating later, I can give you a slightly larger share of the Star Domain Network profits.¡±

 Chapter 687 - 687 689 Joining the Xinghai Association

    ?Chapter 687: Chapter 689 Joining the Xinghai Association Chapter 687: Chapter 689 Joining the Xinghai Association Yamakou Masao was shocked upon hearing his remark, ¡°Mr. Liusheng, are you not joking? We can also get the intelligent chip and the unmanned driving technology?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro replied, ¡°Does Yamakou know how I obtained the agency rights for Star Domain Network?¡±


    ¡°How did you obtain it?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro said, ¡°My daughter is deeply favoured by Mr. Qin. Zhenzi worked hard to get the agency rights for the Star Domain Network.¡±


    Yamakou Masao¡¯s expression stiffened momentarily before he spoke, ¡°Mr. Liusheng is indeed astute. Please wait a moment, I¡¯ll be right over, and we can discuss the cooperation in detail.¡±


    ...


    In Xuan Country Jianghai City, at the office of the Chairman of the Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Liusheng Shinzi had left, and Qin Hao was tapping away at his keyboard. He had just spent ten million points of achievement to exchange for a drug that controlled the human nervous system in the shopping mall.


    He handed it over to Agent 001, who would later send the purchase list to the company¡¯s procurement department, and the staff there would buy the necessary items.


    After completing these tasks, Qin Hao checked on the Xinghai Cargo Ship. At that moment, the ship had reached the southern part of Lijia State and was en route to Pu¡¯er Island. It would take about four to five more days.


    The current daily engine production capacity of the Xinghai Automobile Factory had reached more than fifty units. This was only the engine, not the entire Air Energy Car.


    Besides engines, there are bearings, car bodies, seats, and other aspects that all take time to produce. With only ten production lines currently available, a batch of about ten cars can be produced every four days.


    However, the military was now purchasing Air Energy engines. The first order consisted of thirty Air Energy engines. The ones used in aircraft were larger, more complex in process and of course, they had to be more powerful.


    These could be produced in about three days or so. The aircraft also required many other parts, and the production rate would definitely not keep up with the Xinghai Automobile Factory¡¯s engine manufacturing speed.


    The military also needed to purchase the H-grade alloy and the intelligent unmanned driving technology from Qin Hao¡¯s company. Qin Hao controlled what were essentially some of the most important parts of an aircraft, and these did not come cheap.


    There was a knock at the door, a ¡°bang bang¡±.


    Chang Jing entered from outside, ¡°Mr. Qin, representatives from Beidou Country¡¯s Red Dream Group and Shuangxing Group have arrived.¡±


    A faint smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face. The financial consortia of Beidou Country couldn¡¯t sit still either? Two family consortia had arrived at once.


    He got up and walked out of the office with Chang Jing. Inside the reception room, a group of about ten or more people were seated, each dressed sharply in suits, giving off a clean and smart look.


    ¡°Hello Mr. Qin, I am Li Tianyu from the Shuangxing Group.¡± As Li Tianyu saw Qin Hao, he promptly stood up to shake hands and introduce himself.


    Park Gaoyuan also spoke respectfully, ¡°Hello Mr. Qin, I am Park Gaoyuan from the Red Dream Group.¡±


    They then shook hands with Chang Jing standing beside them.


    Both parties sat down, and Qin Hao looked at Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan with a smile, ¡°What brings Mr. Li and Mr. Park to me?¡±


    Li Tianyu spoke first, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯d like to discuss a potential collaboration with you.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at them and asked, ¡°What kind of collaboration?¡±


    Li Tianyu said, ¡°We are looking to deeply cooperate with you, Mr. Qin, in areas such as network communications, intelligent chips, artificial intelligence technologies, and various other fields.¡±


    Qin Hao bluntly asked, ¡°And what¡¯s in it for me?¡±


    Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan were taken aback, exchanged a glance, and cautiously said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯re willing to make significant concessions on profits.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not short of money right now; Xinghai Company¡¯s profits each month are astronomical.¡±


    Li Tianyu¡¯s brows furrowed slightly; the situation was not unfolding as he had anticipated, ¡°What benefits would Mr. Qin like?¡±


    A playful smile grew at the corner of Qin Hao¡¯s mouth, his smile holding a trace of mischief, ¡°Apart from money, I want both your families to join the Xinghai Association. I am aware of your family¡¯s influence in Beidou Country and the world.¡±


    Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan¡¯s brows furrowed. Join the Xinghai Association? Wouldn¡¯t that mean the Shuangxing Group and the Red Dream Group would become subordinates to him?


    If they agreed, the Shuangxing Group and the Red Dream Group would thereafter be taking orders from someone else. If they refused, they might never be able to cooperate with the Xinghai Company again.


    Not being able to cooperate with the Xinghai Company could lead to a major impact, perhaps even leading to the bankruptcy and failure of their groups.


    This left them in a dilemma.


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently, ¡°You two should go back and consider it carefully. Once you¡¯ve made a decision, we can continue our discussion.¡±


    Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan left with their entourage. The matter was indeed something they needed to ponder over, as the implications were significant.


    Qin Hao now needed to establish his own power in Beidou Country. If the Shuangxing Group and the Red Dream Group agreed, then he could fully leverage their influence to manipulate the upper echelons of Beidou Country.


    Chang Jing looked at Qin Hao, understanding his intent, ¡°Mr. Qin, regarding the visit of the Shuangxing Group and the Red Dream Group to Xuan Country, I think it could be publicized in the media of Beidou Country.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°That¡¯s fine, once the other two family consortia hear the news, they will likely be unable to sit still either.¡±


    This morning, past ten o¡¯clock, Beihai Country¡¯s Liusheng, Dechuan, and Yamakou conglomerates issued a joint statement: for seven days, Star Domain Network would be freely available nationwide, after which it would become a paid service.


    When the Sato Family heard this news, they were deeply shaken. The Liusheng Family had obtained the agency rights for Star Domain Network?


    What exactly was going on?


    ...


    ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s something I need to discuss with you,¡± Li Qingya began.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Li Qingya said, ¡°Some groups under the Xinghai Association wish to expand rapidly and hope to receive financing from you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°How much money is needed approximately?¡± asked Qin Hao curiously.


    Li Qingya replied, ¡°There are a total of twenty-seven groups, needing approximately eight hundred billion in funds.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll have Lv Tian transfer four hundred billion to you later, and I¡¯ll transfer another four hundred billion myself.¡±


    Xinghai financial products had already gathered a substantial amount of capital for him, which could opportunistically be used to invest in these groups. Each of these groups held advanced technological licenses, and they would open up the world market in the future, guaranteeing profitable returns.


    These companies were seeking financing from Qin Hao, which would mean the groups would have shares owned by Qin Hao, effectively making them his semi-companies. Thereafter, they needn¡¯t worry about technology licensing anymore.


    Three days passed in the blink of an eye.


    In Beihai Country, with the support of the Yamakou and Dechuan families, the Liusheng Family had stabilized their position. Combined, these three families matched the energy of the Sato, Aoki, and Anpei families.


    Over the past few days, the Xinghai Company had spent a hundred billion to acquire three large steel mills, aiming to increase the production speed of H-grade alloy.


    The newest H-grade alloy will also be used in the outer shells of robots. With this alloy available, the combat robots had begun to take shape, and the military was still conducting research.


    The thirty Air Energy engines had been secretly escorted to the military factory, where the production of the latest fighter jets and bombers had commenced.

 Chapter 688 - 688 690 Ban on Xinghai Association (Part 1)

    ?Chapter 688: Chapter 690 Ban on Xinghai Association (Part 1) Chapter 688: Chapter 690 Ban on Xinghai Association (Part 1) This morning at Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Inside Qin Hao¡¯s office, Li Qingya had arrived; she was reporting on the affairs of Xinghai Holding Company to Qin Hao.


    While they were speaking, Chang Jing knocked and entered, ¡°Mr. Qin, people from Shuangxing Group and Red Dream Group have arrived.¡±


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s join them and see.¡±


    Li Qingya was no outsider now; she was in charge of the entire Xinghai Association and was also Qin Hao¡¯s right-hand woman.


    The three of them entered the reception room, where Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan were sitting. They had come today because word of their visit to Xuan Country had been leaked domestically.


    If they did not take action soon, the other two major consortia in Beidou Country might reach an agreement with Qin Hao ahead of schedule.


    This was not what they wanted to see. If those two consortia collaborated with Qin Hao, leveraging Xinghai Company¡¯s advanced technology, their own industries would definitely be greatly impacted.


    In Beidou Country, there were already many advanced products from Xuan Country affecting their interests to different degrees. The companies from this side of Xuan Country hadn¡¯t launched a full-scale invasion, just small-scale penetrations.


    This showed that if some companies of the Xinghai Association launched a full-scale invasion, they would be utterly unable to resist unless the official intervened to ban Hx company products from entering, but that was almost impossible.


    Cutting off trade was akin to burning bridges. Although Beidou Country and the Federation had close relations, breaking off relations with Xuan Country would have too great an impact and the disadvantages would outweigh the benefits.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, Mr. Li,¡± greeted Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan as they sat down with the three from Xinghai.


    Qin Hao looked at them and asked, ¡°What have you two decided? If you haven¡¯t decided yet, then don¡¯t bother thinking about it anymore. All the groups under the Xinghai Association have already planned to enter the Beidou Country market.¡±


    Li Tianyu hastily said, ¡°Mr. Qian, we have decided. We will join the Xinghai Association, share weal and woe, and honor and disgrace together.¡±


    Park Gaoyuan also nodded, ¡°Yes Mr. Qin, Shuangxing Group and our Red Dream Group have already developed some world markets, and they can completely serve the Xinghai Association.¡±


    Hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, they were both a bit anxious. If the Xinghai Association launched a major invasion, Beidou Country¡¯s companies simply could not withstand it.


    Because the group companies under the Xinghai Association had cutting-edge technology and their product quality was far superior to those of competitors, and the prices were not high, any rational person would definitely choose their products.


    Qin Hao nodded at this and said, ¡°Okay, however, you are different from the other members of the Xinghai Association, so the benefits you enjoy will also be different. Many technologies will require you to pay for licensing.¡±


    Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan nodded; spending money was not an issue¡ªmany top-tier conglomerates couldn¡¯t even buy the technology from Xinghai Company.


    They discussed the specific details of the cooperation and then signed various contracts.


    These contracts were all drafted by Qin Hao¡¯s side. They had a great deal of autonomy. If the two groups did something unsatisfactory, he could completely terminate the contracts and instantly push them into the abyss.


    In the end, Qin Hao hoped they could make headway in the politics of Beidou Country; he wanted to control Beidou Country¡¯s commerce using these two major groups.


    The current rulers of Beidou Country were supported by the other two major consortia, but these two groups also had significant political influence.


    Now, with Qin Hao¡¯s support from behind the scenes, they might be able to make greater political progress in Beidou Country.


    Around eleven o¡¯clock in the morning, after the discussions were complete, Qin Hao first granted them access to the Star Domain Network. They had to pay four billion Federation currency annually for the license.


    Although the land area of Beidou Country was not large, it had nearly sixty million people.


    After negotiating with Qin Hao, they set off back to Beidou Country in the afternoon. They needed to prepare; they had also secured the licensing for unmanned driving technology, which would soon be supplied.


    ...


    Back in the office, Li Qingya said to Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin, these few days I¡¯ve been contacting countries in the southern region. The governments have agreed to open the Star Domain Network, but the profits generated in their countries must be taxed according to local laws.¡±


    Qin Hao responded with a light smile, ¡°Though the South comprises mostly smaller nations, the profits generated are not insignificant. Groups under the Xinghai Association can also enter there to expand the market.¡±


    Li Qingya: ¡°Some groups have already started operations there, other companies are also preparing. Within half a month, various sales companies under the Xinghai Company groups will be spread across those southern countries.¡±


    Companies under the Xinghai Association were dumping products into the southern countries, instead of building factories like in East C Country. This was about making money, whereas the latter was about investing and building to then make money.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°How is the construction going in East C Country?¡±


    Li Qingya: ¡°Construction is fully underway. If all goes to plan, it will take about three months to complete. After that, East C Country will also become one of our production bases.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, let me show you some news,¡± Chang Jing came in from outside.


    Qin Hao turned on the TV in the office; it was broadcasting the midday news.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao slightly squinted his eyes. Was the Federation sensing a crisis and planning to throttle all companies of the Xinghai Association?


    The Xinghai Association was growing stronger, something the Federation did not want to see. With their military advantage, they could completely block the Xinghai Association with an all-out embargo.


    The influence of the Federation was not waning in the world; they had the power to use their naval forces to block the globe and prohibit any nation or company from trading with the Xinghai Association.


    The Federation had their own concerns. If they did not decide to blockade now, the future might be too late once Xuan Country surpassed them in military and economic terms.


    ¡°Military Flash Report, last night at dawn, five War Eagle bombers from Nan L Country and Northern E Country battled, carrying out carpet bombing on anti-governmental militants and YS Country military bases in Country X, resulting in heavy losses for the anti-government militants and YS country military personnel, while the Federation¡¯s Southern Ocean Fleet entered the Asni Sea.¡±


    ¡°This morning, the Federation¡¯s Southern Ocean Fleet launched dozens of missiles at Country X, bombing the government¡¯s military airports and bases.¡±


    ¡°YS Country dispatched War Eagle fighters in a retaliatory bombing, and Northern E Country¡¯s T300 missile system shot down two unmanned War Eagle fighter jets.¡±


    ¡°Asni Country condemned the government forces of Country X for using viral weapons, deploying fighter jets to specifically strike at the government forces of Country X.¡±


    The Yo Black region erupted in conflicts, with all sides entering a heightened state of combat readiness.


    Country X¡¯s government forces were backed by Nan L Country and Northern E Country, while the anti-government militants in Country X had the support of YS Country, Asni Country, and the Federation.

 Chapter 689 - 689 691 Ban on Xinghai Association (Part 2)

    ?Chapter 689: Chapter 691 Ban on Xinghai Association (Part 2) Chapter 689: Chapter 691 Ban on Xinghai Association (Part 2) Chang Jing began, ¡°Yesterday, a cargo ship bound for the North Federation was seized by their naval fleet. It was carrying hundreds of Jiangqi Group¡¯s artificial intelligence autonomous vehicles and other products from Xinghai Association companies, with a total value of nearly a hundred billion.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Does the upper echelon of Xuan Country know about this?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°They do, and Xuan Country has strongly condemned the North Federation¡¯s actions, demanding they release the cargo. But you know how the North Federation is, will they hand it over? They control the global oceanic trade routes; our Xinghai Association will face severe impacts moving forward.¡±


    Qin Hao gave a small nod; he understood the consequences of a global blockade and was aware of the dominant sea power status of the North Federation, which nearly controlled all crucial trade routes.


    After some thought, he said, ¡°Tell the people of Xinghai Association not to panic. Let¡¯s see what the stance of the other countries is.¡±


    Li Qingya nodded, and then Qin Hao made a call to the North Federation¡¯s Silin Ross.


    After five or six seconds, the call connected. On the video, Silin Ross looked somewhat exhausted. ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m sorry ¨C it¡¯s an irresistible trend, and I¡¯m helpless to change it.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°How are things on your end?¡±


    Silin sighed, ¡°Alright, I guess. This blockade has indeed had a significant impact on me,¡±


    The North Federation¡¯s decision was the outcome of deliberation among multiple forces, and it was likely that the Ross family was among them.


    Even if they didn¡¯t wish for such an incident to occur, certainly more people were not happy with the idea of the Ross family monopolizing the benefits.


    The Ross family has stood tall in the North Federation for hundreds of years, not without reason. At the meeting, the Ross family cast their vote for the blockade without hesitation.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Star Domain Network won¡¯t be affected one bit.¡±


    After He Silin-Ross ended the call, Qin Hao grew worried about Du Wanrou and made a call to her. ¡°Wan Rou, are you alright?¡±


    In a gentle tone, Du Wanrou responded, ¡°I¡¯m fine, but our storefronts have been sealed off.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Are you with Su Fei?¡±


    Du Wanrou: ¡°Su Fei has gone back to Y country; I¡¯m at home by myself. People downstairs are saying someone is watching me.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s heart instantly tensed. ¡°Wan Rou, I¡¯ll come to pick you up right away.¡±


    Concerned that Qin Hao would come and then wouldn¡¯t be able to leave, Du Wanrou said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I haven¡¯t done anything illegal, so what right do they have to arrest me?¡±


    ¡°Some things don¡¯t need a reason. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t have any trouble. Wait for me.¡± After saying that, Qin Hao hung up.


    To Chang Jing and Li Qingya, Qin Hao said, ¡°Respond to the global blockade of Xinghai Association¡¯s companies by the North Federation using normal procedures externally, condemning the hegemonic behavior of the North Federation. Lastly, we hope they maintain fairness and justice towards all countries; otherwise, the Xinghai Association will retaliate in our own way.¡±


    Chang Jing and Li Qingya nodded, ¡°Understood, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m heading to the North Federation first.¡±


    Li Qingya voiced her concern, ¡°Mr. Qin, it¡¯s too dangerous in the North Federation. If they capture you, according to their national regulations, you could be sentenced to hanging.¡±


    At that moment, Li Qingya¡¯s phone rang. She apologized and answered, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Her father¡¯s anxious voice came through, ¡°Your sister has been detained by the authorities in FB country¡¯s capital, ML City. They say she¡¯s an international fugitive and want to hand her over to the North Federation. What should we do?¡±


    Hearing this, Li Qingya¡¯s expression dramatically changed. Her sister had been caught? If she fell into the hands of the North Federation, the consequences were unimaginable.


    She looked at Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, Qingyun has been detained by the police in FB country.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Then we rescue Qingyun first. Follow me.¡±


    With an icy face, he led Li Qingya and others out of the office. On the way, Qin Hao made a call to Huang Qiuyue, ¡°Prepare weapons for me. I¡¯ll be bringing people over.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue was taken aback for a moment, ¡°Qin Hao, what are you planning to do?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°A rescue. My people have been captured in FB country, and I¡¯m going to save them. Get the Shadow Special Team ready for me too.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue: ¡°This is a major issue and requires an order from the leadership.¡±


    ¡°As the chief of the Shadow Special Combat Brigade, don¡¯t I have that authority? Enough bullshit, just get it ready for me. If not, you can get lost.¡± Following that, Qin Hao hung up.


    Hearing his words, Huang Qiuyue¡¯s chest heaved with anger, her heart filled with grievance.


    She quickly called Xu Liangguo and relayed what Qin Hao had just said. Xu Liangguo responded, ¡°Just do what he ordered you to do; he¡¯ll take the fall if anything happens.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue paused, puzzled. Was this tacit approval? ¡°Alright, I understand.¡±


    Qin Hao, accompanied by Li Qingya, Leng Xuan, and others, arrived at the Xinghai Automobile Factory, where there were now two Air Energy Cars.


    Inside the workshop where the Air Energy Cars were stored, Li Qingya and Leng Xuan looked at the two vehicles in front of them, or more precisely, at the Air Energy Cars.


    The second Air Energy Car differed in appearance from the first and was somewhat larger, resembling a flying bus.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, what is this?¡± Li Qingya asked curiously.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Air Energy Car. Let¡¯s get in and talk.¡±


    The door to the first car opened automatically, revealing an interior as luxurious as a presidential suite.


    Qin Hao, Li Qingya, and Leng Xuan got into the car, leaving behind the other bodyguards. Qin Hao didn¡¯t take them along because they hadn¡¯t been trained in firearms and other weapons, rendering their presence less useful.


    ¡°To the Gu Jing Military Region,¡± Qin Hao directed firmly.


    The two Air Energy Cars started automatically and took to the sky, vanishing into the clouds and racing towards the Gu Jing Military Region at top speed.


    Li Qingya looked around at the car¡¯s interior with curiosity, occasionally glancing out the window. The car could fly; what kind of vehicle was this?


    Qin Hao: ¡°Confirm Li Qingyun¡¯s location.¡±


    A monitor stood up in front of the car¡¯s interior, and its screen lit up, first displaying a high-definition satellite map of the region, images captured by Advanced Radar Navigation Satellites.


    Then the Earth grew larger, eventually zooming in on the capital of FB country, ML City. The image continued to enlarge, making the streets visible, along with the connected vehicles and pedestrian traffic, all crystal clear.


    The display showed the scene from half an hour earlier. Li Qingyun was intercepted by the FB country¡¯s Police on her way to the airport and was then taken to the Marla City First Police Station.


    Through sensors, it was finally determined that Li Qingyun was being held in Cell No. 11 on the sixth floor of the Marla City First Police Station.

 Chapter 690 - 690 692 Kill and Enter

    ?Chapter 690: Chapter 692: Kill and Enter Chapter 690: Chapter 692: Kill and Enter Li Qing Ya and Leng Xuan were surprised by the car¡¯s intelligence and their mouths fell open, ¡°Mr. Qin, this car is too powerful!¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°The performance of this car is indeed good, but finding Qingyun was entirely due to the radar navigation satellite. It¡¯s the combination that makes it seem very formidable. Alright, we have reached the Gu Jing Military Region, prepare to get off.¡±


    At the Gu Jing Military Region, above the training grounds of the Shadow Special Combat Brigade.


    The personnel from the Shadow Special Team had already assembled when two objects descended from the sky and landed steadily on the ground.


    Huang Qiuyue and everyone from the Shadow Special Team were stunned. ¡°Damn, is that an alien¡¯s UFO?¡±


    The car door opened, and Qin Hao, Li Qing Ya, and Leng Xuan stepped out.


    Li Qing Ya was shocked inside. It had only been a few minutes, and they had traveled from Jianghai City to the Gu Jing Military Region? That was incredibly fast.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao stepping out, Huang Qiuyue paused and exclaimed, ¡°Commander?¡±


    The people from the Shadow Special Team were also stunned. How did the commander come out from there?


    Qin Hao glanced at Huang Qiuyue and asked, ¡°Is everything ready?¡±


    Huang Qiuyue nodded, ¡°Commander, everything is ready. The first squad of the Shadow Special Team is assembled and awaits your command.¡±


    Command my ass, Qin Hao didn¡¯t have that much time to chit-chat, ¡°Our target is to head to the capital of FB country, ML City, to the First Police Station to carry out a mission.¡±


    The people from the Shadow Special Team were boiling with excitement. This was their first time going on such a mission, and many of them hadn¡¯t seen blood.


    ¡°Get on the vehicle; we¡¯ll go over the details once inside.¡±


    After he spoke, the door of the larger Air Energy Car behind them opened, and the first squad of the Shadow Special Team quickly ran up, followed by Huang Qiuyue.


    She was worried that Qin Hao might escalate the situation, and she had to be there to control things.


    Everyone boarded, and the two Air Energy Cars ascended swiftly into the air, then flew towards the capital of FB country, ML City.


    The electronic voice inside the vehicle announced, ¡°The flight target is the First Police Station of ML City in FB country. Estimated time of arrival is twenty minutes.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue and others were startled. Twenty minutes to reach ML City of FB country? Was that even possible? Normally, it would take three to four hours by plane, right?


    Qin Hao¡¯s voice rang out in the other Air Energy Car, ¡°Check the monitor for detailed information. The location for the rescue is marked there.¡±


    The monitor displayed the terrain and appearance of the First Police Station in Marla City; Li Qingyun¡¯s location was also pinpointed.


    Although Huang Qiuyue and others had many questions, they could only keep them to themselves, as Qin Hao was in the other flying vehicle.


    It seemed more fitting to call it a flying vehicle; its flight speed exceeded planes several times over, boasting superior performance. What exactly was this device? If equipped to the troops, it would greatly enhance their combat capabilities.


    ¡°Five minutes remaining to reach the First Police Station of ML City. Please prepare for combat.¡±


    ¡°Warning, warning: a squad of twenty-eight soldiers from the Northern Federation is driving toward the First Police Station of ML City, estimated to arrive in seven minutes. Please remain vigilant.¡±


    Then, the monitor displayed a convoy of military vehicles from the Northern Federation.


    They were driving toward the First Police Station of Marla City at a steady pace, never imagining that Qin Hao would bring a special squad there.


    Qin Hao also heard this news, his eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of murderous intent passing through them.


    Marla City, with a population of over eight million, was an economic, cultural, and transportation hub of FB country, strategically located and also the largest port city. Highly developed, it was one of the largest cities on the Y continent.


    The streets of Marla City were bustling at this time, with many pedestrians strolling along the sidewalks.


    The First Police Station was located in the busiest area of Marla City, and it was also the largest police station there, with tight security and hundreds of police officers.


    Hill, the Police Chief of the First Police Station, had already informed the stationed troops of the Northern Federation about the capture of Li Qingyun; they would be arriving soon.


    Hill spoke, ¡°Make sure to keep a close eye on that woman. Don¡¯t screw this up.¡±


    ¡°Police Chief, I¡¯ve already assigned four men to guard the outside; there won¡¯t be any problems.¡±


    Hill nodded, ¡°Alright, you can go.¡±


    ...


    On the street outside the First Police Station, a pedestrian pointed to the sky and said, ¡°Look, what are those two black dots in the sky?¡±


    Upon hearing his words, the surrounding people looked up and saw the two black dots growing larger and larger.;


    It had no wings, nor did it resemble a UFO seen on TV, but it shone brightly, exuding a strong sense of technology, clearly not something ordinary.


    ¡°Quick, take out your phones and film it.¡± Many people took out their phones and began filming the Air Energy Cars.


    The two Air Energy Cars hovered outside the sixth-floor windows.


    ¡°Move in, prioritize rescuing the hostage, then go kill that Police Chief.¡±


    ...


    Soon, Qin Hao dashed to the door of Detention Room 11, opened it, and stepped inside. Li Qingyun, handcuffed, sat on a chair. She had heard the gunfire and looked up in surprise when she saw Qin Hao charge in.


    Qin Hao found the keys and hurriedly unlocked her handcuffs, ¡°Qingyun, are you alright?¡±


    Li Qingyun nodded, ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mr. Qin, how did you get here?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk later, follow me.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke to his team, ¡°You guys go upstairs and take care of that person; I¡¯ll wait for you on the roof.¡± After saying that, he led Li Qingyun towards the end of the corridor.


    They boarded the vehicle, the door closed automatically, and they flew towards the rooftop.


    Huang Qiuyue and the others quickly ran up the stairs to the eighth floor, just as Hill and his subordinates, alerted by the gunfire, came out of the office.


    ¡°Bang, bang¡±


    ...

 Chapter 691 - 691 693 Annihilation

    ?Chapter 691: Chapter 693: Annihilation Chapter 691: Chapter 693: Annihilation Huang Qiuyue and the others quickly arrived at the rooftop, and by then, the entire building was filled with the shrill sound of alarms.


    Someone had already reported the situation here to their superiors, requesting them to send support to suppress the disturbances.


    The operatives from the Shadow Special Team wore gray combat suits, rendering them unrecognizable to others.


    ¡°Commander, the mission is completed, Hill has already been killed,¡± Huang Qiuyue reported to Qin Hao.


    ¡°Wait to break the volunteers, then withdraw.¡±


    ...


    Soon, the reinforcements arrived at the entrance, but in less than a minute, twenty-eight individuals were completely annihilated.


    Qin Hao glanced over and said indifferently, ¡°Get in the car.¡±


    The group got into the Air Energy Cars, and within five seconds, two Air Energy Cars vanished above the First Police Station.


    About five minutes later, personnel from Lvcao Country and the Federation arrived at the scene, only to find it chaotic with severed limbs and the smell of burned flesh.


    Seeing this scene, their expressions turned extremely grim.


    Which organization was so daring as to wreak such havoc?


    ¡°What exactly happened here? Where¡¯s Hill? Let him come see me,¡± demanded the chief official from Marla City, who arrived with a group of people.


    ¡°Director Hill is already dead.¡±


    ¡°What? Who are these people exactly?¡±


    Someone whispered, ¡°Mayor White, the prisoner we had in custody has been rescued by them.¡±


    After a brief investigation, the Mayor of Marla City and the Colonel of the Federation forces roughly understood the whole situation.


    The group had come to rescue Li Qingyun, and most importantly, they had come and gone without anyone noticing, as if they had suddenly appeared.


    How exactly did they get to the Marla City First Police Station, and how did they leave?


    As they puzzled over this, a citizen of Marla City posted the incident at the First Police Station online.


    ¡°Just now, a shooting occurred in Marla City, claiming the lives of dozens of Federation soldiers.¡±


    ¡°A mysterious flying object was spotted over the Marla City police station, extremely fast with a high-tech appearance, suspected to be an intrusion.¡±


    ...


    Inside the Air Energy Cars, Qin Hao, Li Qingya, Li Qingyun, and Huang Qiuyue were in one car, while Leng Xuan and the Shadow Special Team operatives were in another.


    Li Qingyun looked at Qin Hao and her sister and asked, ¡°Sis, I was only captured a short while ago, how did you get here so quickly? And what is this thing? A flying vehicle?¡±


    Li Qingya, relieved to see her sister unharmed, smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin heard about your troubles and immediately led us here. This device is a new type of car developed by Xinghai Automobile Factory.¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°This is an Air Energy Car, powered by air energy without consuming gasoline, and very fast, several times faster than an airplane.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue and Li Qingya had already experienced the speed of the Air Energy Car, which was truly extremely fast and could be described as terrifying.


    Li Qingyun was slightly shocked, ¡°So fast? Then it will be very convenient to go to other countries in the future.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Once it becomes widespread, transportation will indeed be much more convenient.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, you are amazing,¡± Li Qingyun said, her eyes full of admiration.


    Huang Qiuyue spoke up, ¡°Commander, I think these devices should first be applied to the military. If we could have this technology in fighter jets and bombers, we could dominate the skies.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯ve already started cooperating with the military, and with the addition of unmanned intelligent driving technology, the combat capability of these fighters will be extremely terrifying.¡±


    A electronic voice suddenly announced, ¡°Ten minutes from the Federation; please prepare.¡±


    Qin Hao instructed, ¡°Locate Du Wanrou, and open a video call with her.¡±


    ¡°Location complete, initiating video call with Du Wanrou.¡±


    The video call connected quickly, and Du Wanrou appeared in the video, ¡°What¡¯s up, Qin Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Wanrou, I¡¯m almost at the Federation, you are still at school, right? Go to the roof of your school library, I will meet you there.¡±


    ¡°The library roof?¡± Du Wanrou thought she might have misheard.


    Qin Hao confirmed, ¡°Yes, the library roof. Trust me, Wanrou, I will be at your school in ten minutes.¡±


    Du Wanrou nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll go there and wait for you, be careful though, there are a lot of people monitoring me.¡±


    Indeed, there were many people watching her at the moment; they did not directly arrest her because Du Wanrou had not violated any Federation laws, but most importantly, they wanted to see how important Du Wanrou was to Qin Hao.


    They wanted to see if Qin Hao would come to the Federation for her.


    If Qin Hao dared to come by airplane, then they could seize the opportunity to capture him.


    After entering the library, Du Wanrou was followed by a few people, and instead of hurrying to the rooftop, she stayed on the first floor for a while, pretending to read.


    [I¡¯m getting a new apartment ready to move in soon¡ªlots of preparations and purchases to be made. I hope for your understanding, and if not, feel free to vent with a few angry words.]

 Chapter 692 - 692 693 Revised Chapter

    ?Chapter 692: Chapter 693 Revised Chapter Chapter 692: Chapter 693 Revised Chapter Huang Qiuyue and the others soon arrived on the rooftop, and at that moment, a piercing alarm blared throughout the building.


    Someone had already reported the incident here and requested backup.


    ¡°Chief, the mission is complete, Hill has been killed by us,¡± Huang Qiuyue told Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao said with a faint smile, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, the show has just begun. Keep an eye on the entrance. As soon as those people arrive, open fire as soon as they enter the door.¡±


    ...


    In less than a minute,


    a group boarded the Air Energy Cars, and within five seconds, two Air Energy Cars vanished into the sky.


    About five minutes later, people from FB Country and the Federation arrived at the scene, only to find a chaotic sight of severed limbs and the smell of burnt flesh.


    Seeing this scene, their faces turned incredibly grim.


    ¡°What on earth happened here? Where is Hill? Bring him to see me,¡± the top official from Marla City demanded, arriving with a group of people.


    ¡°Hill is dead.¡±


    ¡°What? Who are these people exactly?¡±


    After a brief investigation, White and the people from the Federation had a rough idea of the situation.


    These people had come to rescue Li Qingyun, and most importantly, they had arrived unnoticed, as if out of thin air.


    How exactly did they get here? And how did they leave?


    While they were puzzled, some citizens of Marla City had already posted about the incident online.


    ¡°Mysterious flying objects spotted over Marla City, extremely fast and high-tech looking, suspected to be an extraterrestrial shape.¡±


    ...


    Inside the Air Energy Car, Qin Hao, Li Qingya, Li Qingyun, and Huang Qiuyue were in one vehicle, Leng Xuan and the members of the Shadow Special Team were in another.


    Li Qingyun, looking at Qin Hao and her sister, asked, ¡°Sis, I was captured not long ago, how did you all get here so quickly? And what are these? Flying devices?¡±


    Relieved to see her sister unharmed, Li Qingya replied with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin rushed over as soon as he heard you were in trouble. This is a new type of car developed by Xinghai Automobile Factory.¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°This is an Air Energy Car, it operates on air energy without consuming gasoline, and its speed is several times faster than that of an airplane.¡±


    Huang Qiuye and Li Qingya had already experienced the speed of the Air Energy Car; it was incredibly fast, indeed terrifying.


    Li Qingyun was somewhat shocked, ¡°So fast? Wouldn¡¯t it be really convenient to go to other countries in the future?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°It will indeed be very convenient once it becomes widespread.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, you are amazing,¡± Li Qingyun said, her eyes brimming with admiration.


    Huang Qiuyue spoke up, ¡°Chief, I think this technology should first be applied to the military. If we had these kinds of fighter jets, we could dominate the skies in aerial combat.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°I have already begun cooperation with Sector J, and with the addition of unmanned intelligent driving technology, the combat capability of these fighters will be extremely terrifying.¡±


    Suddenly, an electronic voice announced, ¡°Ten minutes away from the Federation, please prepare.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Locate Du Wanrou and initiate a video call with her.¡±


    ¡°Location confirmed, initiating a video call with Du Wanrou.¡±


    The video call connected quickly, and Du Wanrou appeared on the screen: ¡°What¡¯s up, Qin Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Wanrou, I¡¯m almost at the Federation. You¡¯re at school, right? Go to your school¡¯s library rooftop; I¡¯ll pick you up there.¡±


    ¡°Library rooftop?¡± Du Wanrou wondered if she had heard wrong.


    Qin Hao confirmed, ¡°Yes, the library rooftop. Trust me, Wanrou, I¡¯ll be at your school in ten minutes.¡±


    Du Wanrou nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll go there now and wait for you. Be careful, many people are watching me.¡±


    Indeed, many people were watching her at the moment. They had not yet made a direct arrest, mainly because they wanted to see what Du Wanrou meant to Qin Hao.


    They wanted to see if Qin Hao would come to the Federation for her.


    If Qin Hao dared to come by airplane, they could seize the opportunity to capture him.


    After entering the library, Du Wanrou was followed by several people. She checked her watch and did not rush to the rooftop, instead, she stayed on the first floor for a while, pretending to read a book.

 Chapter 693 - 693 694 Mysterious Aircraft

    ?Chapter 693: Chapter 694: Mysterious Aircraft Chapter 693: Chapter 694: Mysterious Aircraft A few minutes later, she went up to the second floor, and this time she spent less time on the second floor before heading to the third.


    The person following her looked perplexed. What was she doing? Looking for a book?


    With a minute left before the ten minutes were up, Du Wanrou headed directly to the rooftop. She was currently on the fourth floor of the library, which had eight floors in total.


    She ran fast towards the rooftop. As the one observing her saw this, they hastily gave chase, but were blocked the moment they reached the staircase entrance.


    These were the bodyguards sent by Silin Ross to secretly protect Du Wanrou, and at this moment, they served their purpose, buying some time for her.


    By the time Du Wanrou reached the rooftop, it had been about ten minutes since she hung up the phone.


    She looked around, the entire campus coming into view. A dark spot in the distance sped towards her, growing larger until it revealed itself as a silver-grey object that in the blink of an eye arrived above the rooftop of the library.


    The door of the car opened, and Qin Hao stepped out. Du Wanrou was stunned. What was this thing?


    Qin Hao embraced her and said, ¡°Wan Rou, get in the car. We¡¯ll talk after we leave.¡±


    Following him, Du Wanrou got into the car. Just as the two of them boarded, a few of Du Wanrou¡¯s people arrived at the rooftop and caught a glimpse of the Air Energy Car leaving. It disappeared from their sight in an instant.


    The individuals gaped in disbelief, looking at the sky. What the hell was that?


    Inside the Air Energy Car, Du Wanrou saw Li Qingya and her sister Huang Qiuyue and paused, ¡°Xiao Hao, who are they?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and introduced, ¡°This is Li Qingya and Li Qingyun. Qing Ya is currently managing Xinghai Holding Company, and Qingyun is in charge of Kangmei Electrical Group. This is Huang Qiuyue, the Chief of Staff of the Shadow Special Combat Brigade of the Gu Jing Military Region.¡±


    With a smile, Du Wanrou greeted the three of them, then asked, ¡°Xiao Hao, what is this thing? How can it fly in the sky?¡±


    ¡°This is the first product developed by Xinghai Company, the Air Energy Car, which integrates various advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, H-grade alloys, and so on,¡± Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Laughing, Du Wanrou said, ¡°I want one.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Hmm, they¡¯re still in production. In two or three days we can produce a new one. I will give you the best one then.¡±


    Suddenly, the screen inside the car lit up, showing a news anchor. It was the host of the Federation News Channel.


    ¡°We have just received news that a shooting attack occurred in Marla City of Lvcao Country, with dozens of Federation soldiers killed. Someone captured footage of a mysterious aircraft on the scene.¡±


    News agencies in various countries on the West Continent also reported the incident, as it was of great significance.


    Many countries received insider information suggesting that Xuan Country might be behind the incident, along with the mysterious aircraft. Could it be Xuan Country¡¯s secret weapon?


    Lvcao Country has the Federation¡¯s radar system, but it failed to detect these two aircraft. Even the military bases of the Federation in the Pacific Ocean didn¡¯t pick them up.


    This shocked the Federation. How could it not detect them?


    Could these be Xuan Country¡¯s latest stealth aircraft? If so, the situation was tricky. Such aircraft were fully capable of flying into the Federation¡¯s territory and doing anything, including initiating 9/11-like incidents or dropping bombs.


    None of these were something the Federation could afford. This matter needed to be thoroughly investigated as soon as possible.


    ...


    At twelve forty-eight in the afternoon, the Air Energy Car landed inside the Xinghai Automobile Factory workshop.


    After stepping out of the car, Du Wanrou said in disbelief, ¡°We arrived at Jianghai City so quickly?¡±


    Qin Hao held her hand, ¡°Is this fast? It¡¯s going to be even faster in the future.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue said to Qin Hao, ¡°Commander, we¡¯ll be heading back first.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°I¡¯ll have the Air Energy Car take you back. It¡¯ll return on its own.¡±


    After seeing off Huang Qiuyue and her group, Qin Hao said to Li Qingya, ¡°Qing Ya, call a meeting of the Xinghai Association members, and tell them to avoid going abroad for now. We¡¯ll discuss this further once things settle down.¡±


    Li Qingya nodded, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin.¡±


    After leaving the car factory and entering Xinghai High-tech Company, Li Qingya and her sister drove away.


    As Qin Hao and Du Wanrou were walking to the office building, Du Wanrou said to him, ¡°I¡¯d like to work at Xinghai Company. What do you think?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°I could use the extra help. Mr. Chang posted job interview requirements a few days ago, but no one has come for an interview yet. From now on, you will be responsible for Xinghai Company and help Mr. Chang manage it.¡±


    The two of them arrived at Chang Jing¡¯s office. When Chang Jing saw Qin Hao enter with a beautiful woman, she greeted them with a smile, ¡°This must be Miss Du, right? Hello, I am Chang Jing.¡±


    Du Wanrou replied, ¡°Mr. Chang, hello.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Mr. Chang, you mentioned being too busy by yourself, so let Wan Rou join you in managing the company. This should help lighten your workload.¡±


    Chang Jing smiled, ¡°I couldn¡¯t ask for more. Miss Du, you¡¯ll have to work hard from now on.¡±


    Du Wanrou and Chang Jing started talking. She needed to get a detailed understanding of Xinghai Company¡¯s operations. How could she manage without knowing anything?


    Qin Hao suggested, ¡°Wan Rou, let¡¯s go have lunch first. You can talk to Mr. Chang in detail afterward.¡±


    Chang Jing also spoke, ¡°Yes, Mr. Du, let¡¯s go for lunch first, then we can talk afterwards.¡±


    After lunch in the company cafeteria, Du Wanrou went to find Chang Jing, while Qin Hao, with nothing else to do, returned to his office.


    He turned on his computer and browsed the latest news. Xuan Country had also reported on the incidents in Lvcao Country¡¯s capital, Marla City. However, there were no detailed reports, just a mention of the shooting incident.


    Online comments were overwhelmingly consistent, most expressing sentiments that the victims got what they deserved.


    In addition to rising oil prices, some imported goods were also becoming more expensive.


    Fortunately, Xuan Country had already broken their monopolies in many areas of science and technology. Otherwise, the situation for Xuan Country would be even more passive.


    After checking the news, Qin Hao informed Han Meng to prepare more food for the evening since Du Wanrou had returned.


    Not long after hanging up the phone, Qin Hao received a call from 001, ¡°Master, the potion to control the human nervous system has been developed.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Okay, I got it.¡±.


    ¡°Knock, knock.¡±


    There was a knock at the door and Qin Man entered from outside, ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s someone outside coming for a job interview. It¡¯s a foreigner looking to interview for the vice president position of the company.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback. So someone did come, and it was even a foreigner.


    He got up and walked outside. Chang Jing and Du Wanrou also came out, both wearing smiles, seeming to have had a good chat.


    [Note down the debts owed to everyone!!]

 Chapter 694 - 694 695 Annie Chalender

    ?Chapter 694: Chapter 695 Annie Chalender Chapter 694: Chapter 695 Annie Chalender Chang Jing started, ¡°A candidate has come for an interview, let¡¯s go take a look.¡±


    The three people entered the reception room, where a blonde beauty sat. She was described as a beauty because she looked very young, probably around twenty years old.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao and the others enter, she stood up, smiled, and said in Xuan Country language, ¡°Mr. Qin, hello, my name is Annie Chalender, from Xiyu Country.¡±


    Qin Hao and the others sat down and observed Annie Chalender.


    He uncertainly asked, ¡°Miss Annie, are you sure you are here for the interview?¡±


    Annie nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, I saw your company¡¯s recruitment requirements online. Are you still hiring?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°There is one open position. But, Miss Annie, have you graduated? Or are you still studying?¡±


    Annie took out her resume, ¡°Mr. Qin, here is my resume; you can have a look.¡±


    After speaking, she handed over the resume. Qin Hao took it and glanced through. His expression faltered, reading that she had completed her PhD at Yingqiao University of Xiyu Country at sixteen, received a postdoctoral degree from the North Federation¡¯s Provincial Polytechnic University at seventeen, and served as the Vice President at BC Investment Bank of Xiyu Country at eighteen.


    During this period, she had invested in hundreds of companies, directly earning BC Bank profits amounting to several hundred billion Federation currency, and to this day, none of the companies and industries she invested in had recorded a loss.


    This resume was extremely impressive. Qin Hao was deeply impressed upon seeing it.


    He smiled and said, ¡°Miss Annie, are you sure there is no mistake in this resume?¡±


    Annie replied, ¡°Doesn¡¯t your company have a verification system? If it¡¯s fake, it would naturally be detected.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke to an advanced wireless AI monitoring probe in the corner, ¡°Xiaoxing, check this resume information.¡±


    Annie, curious, looked towards the corner at the intelligent monitoring probe. Could this be the Artificial Intelligence technology from Xinghai High-tech Company?


    About seven or eight seconds later, Xiaoxing¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Master, the information is accurate. Annie was born in the Chancellor Duke aristocracy of Xiyu Country, naturally intelligent, and extraordinary. In Xiyu Country, she is hailed as a prodigious young lady.¡±


    Qin Hao was astounded, it was indeed true. It seemed her intelligence might not be much inferior to that of Chang Jing.


    Annie, somewhat curious, asked, ¡°Is this an Artificial Intelligence system?¡±


    Qin Hao did not answer but instead asked, ¡°Miss Annie, what is your purpose in joining Xinghai Company?¡±


    Annie spoke directly, ¡°For benefits, of course. I believe with my capabilities, I can relieve you of worries, Mr. Qin, and in return, you can provide what I desire.¡±


    Qin Hao then asked, ¡°Now that Xinghai Company is globally blocked by the North Federation, why would you still choose to join Xinghai High-tech Company?¡±


    Annie replied, ¡°The trend towards an intelligent and advanced human society is the tendency of the times. Whoever resists this tide will ultimately be submerged in the long river of history, whether they are strong or weak. I am not optimistic about the North Federation¡¯s blockade, and the final outcome is likely to backfire.¡±


    Du Wanrou and Chang Jing nodded. They agreed with Annie¡¯s view, finding it insightful and unique.


    Qin Hao continued asking, ¡°If it were up to you to control Xinghai Company, what do you think should be the next step in its development?¡±


    Annie thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Using the Star Domain Network to penetrate the global market, controlling the global network, and then developing ourselves. The global blockade is also a chance for development for Xinghai Company, as we have more time to strengthen ourselves.


    Once we boost our various production capacities, we can eventually supply the global market. For now, Mr. Qin, it¡¯s only necessary for you to consolidate Xinghai Company¡¯s position in the countries near Xuan Country.¡±


    While the North Federation had blocked Xinghai High-tech Company, it had not blocked Xingyu Network Communication Company.


    Because the Star Domain Network was extensive, it had already spread through North and South Mizhou, the Western Continent, and most areas of the Eastern Continent.


    Qin Hao declared, ¡°Miss Annie, you have successfully passed the interview and can start work at any time. Welcome to Xinghai High-tech Company.¡±


    ¡°Welcome, Miss Annie,¡± Chang Jing and Du Wanrou also expressed their welcome.


    Annie had a smile on her face, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin, for giving me this opportunity. I will definitely not disappoint you. May I take a detailed look at the company this afternoon?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s a good idea. Mr. Chang will give you a tour.¡±


    Chang Jing, together with Du Wanrou and Annie, started touring around the company, while Qin Hao returned to his office and carefully reviewed the files of the Charlende family.


    The Charlende family was an aristocratic ducal family from Xiyu Country with a very high status, second only to the royal nobility of Xiyu Country.


    BC Investment Bank was an enterprise owned by the Charlende family and was undeniably a business giant in the Western Continent.


    Because of the relationship between the Innsil family and Xinghai Company, old-established families like the Charlende had been greatly shaken. If they did not take countermeasures soon, they would be completely edged out by the Innsil and You Tai families.


    Annie was likely representing those old-established aristocratic families.


    Moreover, Qin Hao did not want to see the You Tai family monopolizing the Western Continent. That would not be good for him.


    Currently, the Northern Federation had imposed a global blockade on Xuan Country. Many powers were still observing, especially in the Western Continent, where they had yet to react.


    At around five in the afternoon, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou returned to Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    As they entered the home, Zhao Yuying, Fan Ruobing, Han Meng, and Qiao¡¯er were all present.


    ¡°Aunt Wan Rou, you¡¯re back!¡± Qiao¡¯er saw Du Wanrou and hurried over.


    With a smile on her face, Du Wanrou asked, ¡°Did you miss Aunt Wan Rou?¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Qiao¡¯er giggled in response.


    Zhao Yuying also greeted her, ¡°Wan Rou¡¯s back, come have a seat.¡±


    The group settled on the sofa, and Qin Hao introduced them to each other, ¡°This is Ruobing.¡±


    Fan Ruobing, who was not very good at verbal communication, nodded slightly towards Du Wanrou as a greeting.


    After dinner, they watched TV for a while before Qin Hao and Du Wanrou retired to the master bedroom on the second floor.


    ...


    In the Northern Federation, after Du Wanrou was rescued, those who had quickly reported to their superiors recounted the details of the incident.


    After an afternoon of analysis, the Northern Federation confirmed that Xuan Country possessed a mysterious aircraft capable of evading radar detection and moving at high speeds.


    The mysterious aircraft from Lvcao Country that rescued Du Wanrou was instigated by Qin Hao.


    Was this mysterious aircraft developed by Qin Hao?


    It must have been him; Xuan Country¡¯s technology could not have developed such a formidable device otherwise.


    If such a device were applied to military purposes, it would be truly terrifying. Did Xuan Country already possess this mysterious warplane?


    Considering these implications, the upper echelon of the Northern Federation furrowed their brows, realizing they needed to properly verify this situation.


    ...


    In the bedroom, Du Wanrou¡¯s cheek flushed pink as she wrapped her arms around Qin Hao¡¯s neck...


    [I will go shopping in the afternoon, hurry up and write something light this morning, just a light scolding]

 Chapter 695 - 695 696 The Ross Family

    ?Chapter 695: Chapter 696: The Ross Family Chapter 695: Chapter 696: The Ross Family Just as the two were about to get intimate, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang.


    Qin Hao was momentarily stunned before pulling out his phone to look. It was a call from Silin Ross.


    A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes as he answered the call, he said, ¡°Miss Silin, it¡¯s quite rude to disturb others.¡±


    Silin smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Qin, I have something to ask you.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°What is it?¡±


    Silin: ¡°My people told me that Du Wanrou is missing. Was she rescued by you?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, right now Wan Rou and I are together.¡±


    Silin, curious, asked, ¡°Was that mysterious aircraft also developed by you?¡±


    At that moment, Silin was surrounded by a group of people, all of whom were business tycoons from the Beihai Federation, or high-ranking officials.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Yes, it was developed not long ago.¡±


    Siyao hesitated and then asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you selling that thing?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I originally planned to sell it, but the relevant procedures haven¡¯t been arranged yet, it will take some time.¡±


    Silin: ¡°Mr. Qin, sell me one, I can pay any price.¡±


    A gleam passed through Qin Hao¡¯s eyes. He had already grasped the situation around Silin; this phone call was definitely made at someone else¡¯s behest, ¡°Let¡¯s forget about it for now, the economy is heavily locked down, we can talk about it later.¡±


    Silin hastily said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mr. Qin, the Ross family has special channels, there definitely won¡¯t be any issues.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Let¡¯s still pass on it. Our current production is limited, and we can¡¯t even satisfy domestic demand, let alone consider overseas sales.¡±


    Silin, a bit displeased, said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we are old friends. Don¡¯t I even deserve this much consideration?¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°If you really want one, it¡¯s possible, but the price is quite high. We should still negotiate in person. When you have time, come to Xuan Country and we can discuss it further. Let¡¯s hang up if there¡¯s nothing else.¡±


    After hanging up, Silin looked towards the clan leader of the Ross family: ¡°Uncle, what should we do?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this further,¡± said Jestefu, the clan leader of the Ross family.


    Once these people left, the smile on Silin¡¯s face disappeared, and she sighed internally. Her uncle was the family head of the Ross family, and he clearly hadn¡¯t taken her advice but had joined forces with the various powers of the Beihai Federation.


    If it were anyone else, they might have made the same decision, considering that the Beihai Federation is the world¡¯s superpower and economic leader, while the Xinghai Association is just rising. If they joined forces with the Xinghai Association and lost, they would end up with nothing. Jestefu couldn¡¯t afford to gamble, nor did he dare to.


    Even the Ross family couldn¡¯t withstand the attacks and ostracism of the Beihai Federation¡¯s forces.


    Silin sat there thinking about her future affairs. Within the family, she wasn¡¯t regarded highly, with almost all the real power held by her uncle¡¯s lineage.


    The position of family head originally belonged to her father, but he died in a car accident, which was an accident and not murder. Eventually, her uncle took over as the family head.


    ...


    Meanwhile, after hanging up the phone, Qin Hao picked up Du Wan and carried her to the bed.


    The next morning.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao and Du Wan went to Xinghai High-tech Company together.


    Upon exiting the company¡¯s parking lot, Qin Hao and Chang Jing met Annie Chalender, who greeted them with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, Wan Rou.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, and Du Wan replied with a smile, ¡°Miss Annie, you¡¯re quite early.¡±


    Annie: ¡°There¡¯s a lot of work still unfamiliar to me, came early to get a head start.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go together,¡± Du Wan suggested, and she walked into the company alongside Annie.


    Qin Hao headed to the Xinghai Automobile Factory. Currently, agent 001 and others, following Qin Hao¡¯s instructions, were producing a type of large air transport vehicle. In the future, transporting goods to Pu¡¯er Island by sea would be impossible, but he could carry out air transportation.


    Right now, those materials could be used for a while. By the time they were nearly depleted, the air transport vehicles from the Xinghai Automobile Factory would be ready.


    After getting the needed items from the factory, he returned to his office at Xinghai Company. This morning, he had received news from Xinghai cargo ship, agent 002, an intelligent robot, had already arrived at Pu¡¯er Island.


    Their first task was to build a solar power station, and once the power equipment was set up, they would start building the port.


    Qin Hao also received a call from Silin Ross, stating she would start her journey to Xuan Country today to discuss purchasing air energy cars.


    After hanging up with Silin, Qin Hao called Liusheng Zhenzi, ¡°Come to Xinghai Company.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, Master,¡± Liusheng Zhenzi responded.


    About twenty minutes later, Liusheng Zhenzi arrived at his office, her black hair parted on both sides, her pure and bright eyes looking at him.


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, call your family and tell them we are coming now.¡±


    The two left the office together. On the way, Liusheng Zhenzi took out her phone and called her father, Liusheng Ichiro: ¡°Father, Mr. Qin will be visiting Beihai Country shortly; please gather all our clan members.¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro hesitated and then said, ¡°Can Mr. Qin come a few days later?¡±


    Now that the Beihai Federation has globally banned the Xinghai Association, he was regretting agreeing to Qin Hao and wanted him to come later to see how things go.


    Liusheng Zhenzi: ¡°Please get ready, father. Mr. Qin is coming soon.¡±


    She didn¡¯t tell Qin Hao because, in her view, since they had already agreed to Qin Hao, they shouldn¡¯t be fickle. Most importantly, Qin Hao had immense potential, truly terrifying. With just the air energy car alone, he could dominate the world.


    The two arrived at the automobile factory and got into one of the air energy cars. Qin Hao didn¡¯t bring Leng Xuan and others, just him and Liusheng Zhenzi.


    After getting into the car, the air energy car flew out of the factory, heading towards the Ancient City in Beihai Country.


    In the car, Liusheng Zhenzi knelt on the synthetic leather floor mat: ¡°Master, let me give you a massage.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Wait for the massage. I need to inject you first. This is a nerve agent secretly developed by my company that can control nerves.¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi was about to get up, intending to take off her clothes, ¡°Master, go ahead and give me the injection.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just an injection in the arm.¡±


    [Second update, there should be one more]

 Chapter 696 - 696 697 Kneel Down

    ?Chapter 696: Chapter 697 Kneel Down Chapter 696: Chapter 697 Kneel Down Liusheng Zhenzi was indeed the treasured daughter of the Liusheng Family, but now she acted like a mere servant, especially in her absolute obedience to her master, exuding a warmth that gave an inexplicable sense of achievement.


    Qin Hao took out a syringe and injected it into her arm, a drug for controlling the mind. Liusheng Zhenzi quietly watched the scene, her face showing no change.


    ...


    Although it was her first time, Qin Hao showed no mercy.


    The Air Energy Car soon reached the skies above Ancient City in Beihai Country.


    The two adjusted their clothes as the Air Energy Car, like a streak of light, swiftly flew into Gujing City.


    In just a few seconds, they flew into the Liusheng family residence within Ancient City.


    The Liusheng family mansion covered nearly a hundred acres, very large, with hundreds of direct descendants alone, and the number of male and female servants exceeded a thousand.


    The Air Energy Car stopped in a backyard of the Liusheng family.


    Liusheng Ichiro had been waiting there; seeing the Air Energy Car descend from the sky and land smoothly, his expression faltered. Was this the Air Energy Car his daughter had mentioned?


    As the car door opened, Qin Hao and Liusheng Zhenzi stepped out, but Liusheng Zhenzi was now mobility impaired, being helped down by Qin Hao.


    Liusheng Ichiro, being experienced, saw their condition and understood what was happening, ¡°Mr. Qin, your room is ready. You might want to freshen up first.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, taking Liusheng Zhenzi to the room prepared by Liusheng Ichiro.


    He said to Liusheng Zhenzi, ¡°You rest for a bit.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master,¡± Liusheng Zhenzi replied softly.


    Qin Hao and Liusheng Ichiro stepped out of the room, coming outside. Qin Hao¡¯s face was expressionless, his cheeks frosted, ¡°Kneel!¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro was stunned for a moment, his eyes widening as he looked at Qin Hao, confused about why he would say that.


    Qin Hao, ¡°I¡¯ll give you another chance, kneel or not.¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro hesitated for a few seconds and then knelt on the ground with a ¡°thump.¡±


    Seeing him, Qin Hao spoke indifferently, ¡°Now your Liusheng family are my servants. You must call me ¡®Master¡¯ upon seeing me. You can call me ¡®Mr. Qin¡¯ in the presence of others, but privately you must address me as ¡®Master.¡¯ Understand the distinction?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Liusheng Ichiro said respectfully from the ground.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Also, those words you said to Zhenzi, I do not want to hear them again, or I will erase your Liusheng family from the face of the Earth.¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro shivered inwardly, feeling as if he had plunged into an ice cellar: ¡°Yes Master, I will absolutely not make that mistake again.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Get up, have all 736 family members been gathered?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro slowly stood up and replied, ¡°Master, everyone has been gathered.¡±


    Qin Hao waved his hand and two silvery-white boxes appeared on the ground, ¡°Let them come in, one by one, for injections. This is a neuro-active drug I secretly developed with heritable properties; henceforth, your Liusheng family will be servants to my family for generations.¡±


    ¡°Liusheng Ichiro, grateful for Master¡¯s deep grace, my Liusheng family is willing to serve as your family¡¯s servants from generation to generation, protecting Master,¡± Liusheng Ichiro accepted the situation as it now stood.


    Throughout the morning, all 736 members of the Liusheng family, regardless of age or gender, were injected with the nerve-controlling fluid.


    At noon, Liusheng Ichiro, along with some of the most important elders of the Liusheng family, hosted a banquet for Qin Hao.


    Normally, women were not allowed to dine at the same table as men, but with Qin Hao¡¯s command, Liusheng Ichiro and others dared not object.


    Now many of them felt regret; having just escaped from the jaws of wolves, they had fallen into the clutches of a tiger. But it was too late for regrets.


    ¡°Master, here is some fresh abalone, please try it,¡± Liusheng Zhenzi deftly picked up the food, feeding Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao, not refusing, ate while speaking, ¡°This maid of yours is quite good, keep her by my side from now on.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master,¡± Liusheng Zhenzi giggled.


    After lunch, Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Investigate the Sato family¡¯s details thoroughly for me, and also that Red Sun Assassin Organization.¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro was slightly stunned, ¡°Yes, Master, I will have someone investigate that immediately.¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi, ¡°Master, shall I show you around the sights of Ancient City? This place was once the capital of Beihai Country and has many historic sites.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, having nothing better to do: ¡°Then let¡¯s go have a look.¡±


    The two left the Liusheng family, with a moderate amount of traffic and pedestrians on the streets. The driver drove them to Golden Wind Temple in Ancient City, a famous local scenic spot.


    Qin Hao stepped out of the car, Liusheng Zhenzi following him. The temple was very crowded ¨C there wasn¡¯t much to see here, certainly nothing comparable to the sights in Xuan Country.


    After leaving Golden Wind Temple, they visited other places which mostly featured temples and scenic spots, and not much else.


    By four in the afternoon, Qin Hao returned to the Liusheng family residence. Just as he got back to his room, Liusheng Ichiro had someone send over several pieces of information.


    Liusheng Zhenzi stood behind Qin Hao, massaging his shoulders, her movements gentle and expert, making it a very comfortable experience.


    Qin Hao first opened the information on the Red Sun Assassin Organization, a well-known assassin group in the world¡¯s underworld, secretly founded by the Sato Family, the Anpei Family, and the Aoki Family.


    The headquarters of the Red Sun Organization was located on a small island in Beihai Country, which served as their training base. The assassins of the Red Sun Organization were all trained on this island.


    A few minutes later, he had finished reading about the Red Sun Assassin Organization; the specific defense details and exact numbers were not investigated, but the location and other information such as the person in charge were noted.


    Then Qin Hao picked up the information on the Sato family. The Sato family numbered eight hundred and thirteen people, their headquarters located in Guwu City.


    As she massaged, Liusheng Zhenzi asked softly, ¡°Master, what do you need their information for?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Zhenzi, what do you think would happen if the Sato family disappeared overnight from Beihai Country?¡±

 Chapter 697 - 697 698 Red Sun Assassin Organization

    ?Chapter 697: Chapter 698 Red Sun Assassin Organization Chapter 697: Chapter 698 Red Sun Assassin Organization Liusheng Zhenzi heard his words, and her heart skipped a beat. After a moment of thought, she said, ¡°That will definitely cause a great stir in Beihai Country. The Sato Family is one of the powerful ruling families of Beihai.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°So which family do you think will benefit the most?¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi, ¡°The other major families will all become beneficiaries. It will also be greatly beneficial for our Liusheng Family, and our alliance of three families will become even stronger.¡±


    Qin Hao closed the file, a glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes as he said indifferently, ¡°Then let them disappear.¡±


    The Sato Family had targeted Qin Hao time and time again, from He Tingting to Chang Jing. Qin Hao could no longer tolerate it, and today was the perfect day to get rid of them.


    With the outstanding performance of the first-generation Mecha, Qin Hao was confident that he could take care of the Red Sun Organization headquarters and the Sato Family.


    Around nine o¡¯clock at night, the sky was overcast with some clouds, the stars were not visible, the moon was half-hidden behind red gauze, and there was a cool breeze in the air.


    Qin Hao, Liusheng Zhenzi, and Liusheng Ichiro got into the Air Energy Car, and Liusheng Ichiro, curious, asked, ¡°Master, where are we going?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°You¡¯ll know when we get there.¡±


    The Air Energy Car started up and flew into the night sky. Liusheng Ichiro looked out the window, and in a matter of seconds, Ancient City had disappeared from his sight.


    About two or three minutes later, the Air Energy Car stopped, hovering in mid-air, and the display screen showed high-definition video from below.


    It was an island with some buildings on it, and there were still lights twinkling.


    Seeing this, Liusheng Ichiro felt a sense of familiarity, ¡°Master, isn¡¯t this the headquarters island of the Red Sun Assassin Organization?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Exactly, wait here.¡±


    After speaking, Qin Hao took out the first-generation Mecha, and in an instant, his entire body was covered with a layer of silver-hued alloy metal.


    The car door opened, and the night wind rushed in, making one shiver involuntarily.


    Qin Hao jumped down, and Liusheng Ichiro¡¯s eyes widened. It was dozens of meters high; how could he just jump down like that?


    Soon, Qin Hao¡¯s figure appeared on the car¡¯s internal video screen. The display showed high-definition night vision imagery. Although many places below were pitch black, it was still very clear.


    Liusheng Ichiro turned to Liusheng Zhenzi, ¡°Zhenzi, what is the master planning to do?¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi, ¡°He is probably going to eliminate the Red Sun Assassin Organization.¡±


    Eliminate the Red Sun Organization? Just by himself?


    Liusheng Ichiro thought Qin Hao might have gone mad. Although the Red Sun Organization was not the world¡¯s top assassin organization, it was not something a few people could wipe out.


    Meanwhile, on the display screen, Qin Hao had already landed on the ground. Liusheng Ichiro and Liusheng Zhenzi were both staring at the screen.


    After landing, Qin Hao produced an alloy curved blade in his hand. With a slight exertion of his legs, he shot out like a cannonball, covering a dozen meters in an instant and arriving next to a sentry.


    His arm moved, and the blade came down. The man didn¡¯t even have a chance to scream before he fell to the ground.


    Now, since it was night, most of the people from the Red Sun Assassin Organization had already returned to their houses. Some were playing, some were asleep, and there were not many sentries outside¡ªa total of about thirty.


    After Qin Hao finished off the fifth sentry, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded.


    Someone had discovered the dead sentries. There were people in the assassin organization tasked with checking the sentries periodically, and it just so happened to be check time.


    The piercing alarm blared, and some people ran out from a building not far away. They were carrying automatic weapons and looked around cautiously.


    Qin Hao did not stop; they would find out sooner or later, and it didn¡¯t affect him one bit.


    One minute later, dozens of sentries had all been decapitated. Searchlights were constantly shining over the area, but those people couldn¡¯t see anything.


    ¡°Damn it, who is it? You guys, go check it out,¡± said a team leader with a grim face.


    This was the Red Sun Organization¡¯s headquarters, and now someone had the audacity to cause trouble here. It was a contempt for their Red Sun Organization. If word got out, where would the Red Sun Organization¡¯s face be?


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Gunshots rang out, and the person who had just spoken fell to the ground, face up, with a bloody hole in his forehead.


    These killers, trained as they were, instantly raised their guns and fired toward the source of the sound, filling the air with gunfire.


    By then, Qin Hao had already run over a dozen meters away, holding a gun he had just snatched from a hidden guard.


    The ground where he had been was a mess, riddled with bullet holes.


    ¡°Kill¡±


    Qin Hao discarded that gun and charged directly toward the crowd ahead. His speed was so fast that the others couldn¡¯t react in time.


    ¡°Shick shick shick¡±


    The sound of a blade entering bodies emerged, and in an instant, six or seven people were beheaded. The rest of the crowd, horrified, turned their guns, ready to fire.


    ¡°Bang bang¡±


    But Qin Hao was too quick, and they couldn¡¯t hit him¡ªit was an outright slaughter.


    Up in the air energy car, Liusheng Ichiro was sweating profusely as he watched. Is this still a human? How can someone be so monstrous?


    Liusheng Shinzi was also stunned, her beautiful eyes sparkling with fascination. I really wasn¡¯t wrong to follow him.


    Below, the massacre continued. Many people came running out of the buildings and were added to the ranks of the slaughtered.


    At the top of the building, someone who saw the ferocious Qin Hao clenched their teeth and said, ¡°Kill him for me.¡±


    ¡°But captain, our own men are down there.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t care whether they live or die, just shoot.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Dada dada¡±


    Gunfire spat out from the windows of several rooms on the rooftop, thoroughly strafing the people below.


    Many of the killers were shot dead by their own people. Qin Hao too was shot multiple times, with sparks flying off him, but not a single bullet penetrated the defense of the primal mecha.


    In a matter of seconds, everyone below was dead, except for Qin Hao, who stood alone.


    The people above were stunned. ¡°He was hit by dozens of bullets and didn¡¯t die? What kind of monster is this?¡±


    ¡°He has no facial features¡ªis this an alien?¡± someone asked, terrified.


    Inside the car, Liusheng Ichiro was shocked as well. Such close range, hit by that many bullets, and it didn¡¯t affect him at all?


    Qin Hao stomped forcefully on the ground and leaped up, flying into the building.


    About seven or eight minutes later, the island quieted down. There was no more gunfire, nor could any figures be seen.


    A silhouette flew up from the rooftop¡ªit was Qin Hao. He gently landed inside the air energy car.


    By then, his mecha was dyed red, and he radiated an aura of death. Liusheng Ichiro didn¡¯t even dare to breathe heavily, just staring blankly at him.


    The primal mecha retracted, revealing Qin Hao¡¯s true face. He glanced indifferently at Liusheng Ichiro and sat down: ¡°Go to the Sato Family in Guwu City.¡±


    The air energy car started up once more. Liusheng Ichiro shook at the words and respectfully said, ¡°Master, are you going to eradicate the Sato Family?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°That¡¯s right, kill off some of the important figures of the Sato Family. As for the others, ensure they are dealt with properly and make sure there are no lingering threats.¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro quickly nodded: ¡°Master, rest assured, your subordinate will handle it well.¡±

 Chapter 698 - 698 699 Wait and See

    ?Chapter 698: Chapter 699: Wait and See Chapter 698: Chapter 699: Wait and See A few minutes later, Qin Hao and his people arrived above the Sato Family¡¯s mansion.


    Qin Hao, following the same method, donned the first generation Mecha and infiltrated the Sato Family. Liusheng Ichiro watched Qin Hao¡¯s figure with a hint of excitement in his eyes. If the Sato Family were to be annihilated, the Liusheng Family would benefit greatly.


    Similarly, the alliance between the Anpei Family and the Aoki Family would also be significantly weakened.


    Inside the Sato Family Head¡¯s room, Sato Genji was cavorting with a woman.


    Upon hearing this from not far outside the door, Qin Hao¡¯s face revealed a cold smile. He charged out, instantly killing the four guards at the door.


    He kicked down the door and rushed in, directly killing Sato Genji with a single blow, and then he left.


    The woman hadn¡¯t had even a chance to react; by the time she opened her eyes, she saw Sato Genji¡¯s lifeless body.


    She let out a wail of horror and fainted on the spot.


    In five minutes, Qin Hao had killed all the direct descendants of the Sato Family, including Sato Tarou.


    While killing Sato Tarou, Qin Hao found that the man was actually engaged with his own father¡¯s women, and there were two of them, which was a bit terrifying.


    ...


    Back in the car, Qin Hao said, ¡°You handle the rest.¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro replied, ¡°Master, I¡¯ve already called people over. I¡¯ll start taking actions tonight, aiming to maximize the benefits from this incident. You can just drop me off in Guwu City.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and dropped him off in a villa neighborhood in Guwu City.


    Then Qin Hao returned to the Liusheng Family with Liusheng Zhenzi. It was already late, and Qin Hao did not return to Jianghai City.


    In the room, Liusheng Zhenzi had changed into a maid outfit and was massaging his body.


    Qin Hao lay there, contemplating the matters of Beihai Country, hoping that Liusheng Ichiro could take control of Beihai Country in the future. That way, he would indirectly control Beihai Country as well.


    The next morning, Liusheng Zhenzi personally attended to his bathing and dressing, while the servants of the Liusheng Family brought breakfast to the room.


    That morning, the upper echelons of Beihai Country were massively shaken. All the direct descendants of the Sato Family had been assassinated. The Liusheng Family, Yamakou Family, and Dechuan Family divided nearly seventy percent of the Sato Family¡¯s strength among themselves.


    The Aoki Family and the Anpei Family had the slowest reactions, capturing less than thirty percent of the spoils.


    The Liusheng Family made the most decisive move, gaining the most benefits and significantly bolstering their strength, unseen.


    Additionally, the Red Sun Assassin Organization had been wiped out¡ªa fact known only by the six major conglomerates. Aside from the Liusheng Family, the other families were greatly shocked. Who could have destroyed the Red Sun Assassin Organization, and who had the power to do so?


    Liusheng Ichiro gave just a hint to the Family Heads of the Shangou Family and the Dechuan Family that it was their Liusheng Family who had hired the person to wipe out the Red Sun Assassin Organization.


    This revelation deeply shocked Yamakou Masao and Dechuan Dayong. Could the Liusheng Family have a hidden force?


    ...


    Around seven in the morning, Qin Hao and Liusheng Zhenzi returned to Xuan Country Jianghai City in an Air Energy Car.


    Liusheng Zhenzi accompanied him to Xinghai Company, where they encountered Du Wanrou in the office building.


    Du Wanrou glanced at him and asked, ¡°Where did you go last night? Why didn¡¯t you come home?¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°I went to Beihai Country to resolve some matters. This is Liusheng Zhenzi from the Liusheng Family.¡±


    Du Wanrou commented, ¡°Miss Silin came by yesterday, but you weren¡¯t here.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll give her a call in a bit.¡±


    Du Wanrou said, ¡°Alright, I have to get going. They¡¯ve developed a new product in the lab yesterday¡ªa type of improved work robot capable of replacing some high-risk professions.¡±


    Back in his office, Qin Hao made a call to Leng Xuan, ¡°Leng Xuan, come to my office.¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi stood by Qin Hao¡¯s side obediently, her actions well-measured. In front of others, it was impossible to discern their relationship.


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°Zhenzi, you can go about your own business.¡±


    Liusheng Zhenzi softly replied, ¡°Zhenzi¡¯s most important duty is to serve by the master¡¯s side.¡±


    Qin Hao wanted to say something, but after some thought, he decided against it.


    Leng Xuan arrived shortly after, ¡°Mr. Qin, you wanted to see me.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Select a group of people and take them to Pu¡¯er Island. Just work on that Air Energy Car. I will provide you with a brand new training manual, and I want you to train a group of elites for me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin,¡± Leng Xuan responded, his expression turning serious.


    Qin Hao instructed, ¡°Start out now.¡±


    After Leng Xuan left, Qin Hao opened the system market and located the Interstellar Killer Training Manual (Beginner Level).


    There were intermediate and advanced levels available as well, but the current hardware facilities simply couldn¡¯t meet those standards. The beginner¡¯s manual posed no major issues.


    Qin Hao spent six million achievement points to exchange for the killer training manual, then edited it on his computer and sent it to Leng Xuan¡¯s phone.


    As he finished up, Silin Ross arrived. She was waiting in the reception room.


    Qin Hao made his way to the reception room. Besides Silin Ross, there were several people from the Northern Federation, whom he did not recognize.


    ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± Silin Ross greeted him with a smile upon seeing him.


    The others also greeted Qin Hao in turn.


    Qin Hao sat opposite them, smiling but remaining silent, and so did Silin.


    Unable to hold back, one of them said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯ve come here to discuss the new type of car with you.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him, ¡°No need to discuss it; I have no intention of selling.¡±


    The expressions of the few men changed slightly as they looked to Silin, who said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve come to Xuan Country hoping to work at the Xinghai Association. I¡¯m wondering if you would have any need for me?¡±


    ¡°Miss Silin, don¡¯t forget the purpose of our visit,¡± one of them said darkly.


    Silin replied, ¡°Your purpose is the new type of car. My goal is the job interview. There¡¯s no conflict. You talk about your matters and I¡¯ll talk about mine with Mr. Qin.¡±


    Hearing Silin¡¯s words, the group grasped her intentions, their expressions turning gloomy, having been played by Silin. Her trip to Xuan Country had nothing to do with securing the new type of car for the Northern Federation.


    ¡°You better consider the consequences carefully, Miss Silin,¡± said one with a malignant edge.


    Qin Hao interjected, ¡°Please remember where you are. Do you think you¡¯re in the Northern Federation? Get lost and stop disgusting me.¡±


    ¡°Fine, you¡¯ll see,¡± the group stood up and left.


    You¡¯ll be seeing from wheelchairs from now on, Qin Hao thought.


    He then instructed Xiaoxing, ¡°Have someone break their legs for me. Let them ¡®see¡¯ sitting down from now on.¡±


    ...

 Chapter 699 - 699 700 Research and Development of Life

    ?Chapter 699: Chapter 700 Research and Development of Life Potion Chapter 699: Chapter 700 Research and Development of Life Potion Miss Sulin revealed a bitter smile; Qin Hao¡¯s vindictive nature really was something that made people want to laugh and cry.


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you to the Xinghai Association headquarters. Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t been to the Xinghai Association headquarters before.¡±


    The two left the reception room, where Liusheng Shinzi was standing at the door.


    Qin Hao said to Liusheng Shinzi, ¡°Shinzi, go handle your own affairs. Miss Sulin and I have to take a trip out.¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi nodded, ¡°Yes, Master.¡± After speaking, she left.


    Miss Sulin looked at Qin Hao with surprised eyes, ¡°Master? Who is she?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a faint smile, ¡°She¡¯s the eldest daughter of the Liusheng Family from Beihai Country; now the entire Liusheng Family is my family servant.¡±


    A hint of shock flickered in Miss Sulin¡¯s eyes. The Liusheng Family, one of the six financial conglomerates of Beihai Country, had become his family servant?


    She was unaware of what had happened in Beihai Country and somewhat unable to understand how the Liusheng Family had become his family servant.


    Qin Hao¡¯s power was growing ever larger. Although the Beihai Country authorities were on good terms with the Federation, they probably didn¡¯t know that the Liusheng Family had already become Qin Hao¡¯s family servant.


    With Qin Hao¡¯s advanced technology, he could entirely help the Liusheng Family raise their status in Beihai Country, even eventually seizing great power.


    By then, the whole of Beihai Country would have to heed his commands; he would be the true uncrowned king of Beihai.


    Having left the office building, the two made their way to the parking lot, where Qin Hao drove Miss Sulin Ross toward the Xinghai Association Headquarters.


    The Xinghai Association Headquarters was located on the busiest financial street in Jianghai City, managed by Li Qingya.


    On the way, Miss Sulin started, ¡°Mr. Qin, it seems you¡¯re not worried about the Federation¡¯s global blockade policy.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°What¡¯s there to worry about? It just means that some overseas business can¡¯t be done anymore, which is a good opportunity for us to develop and accumulate.¡±


    Miss Sulin asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you think there will be a conflict?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Both sides possess weapons of mass destruction. The possibility of conflict is very low,¡±


    Miss Sulin nodded, ¡°I think so too. Right now, the Federation and Xuan Country are both watching West Continent. If they side with the Federation, Xuan Country will face more difficulties. If they continue to engage in diplomatic trade with Xuan Country, the impact of this blockade will also be diminished a bit.


    The most critical issue rests with you, depending on how much benefit those old families in West Continent want and if they¡¯re going to make outrageous demands.¡±


    Soon, Qin Hao drove to the International Financial Building on the financial street of Jianghai City, where Xinghai Holding Company was located on the twentieth floor.


    Qin Hao and Miss Sulin took the elevator to the twentieth floor. There were about a hundred employees inside Xinghai Holding Company, all of whom were industry elites and representatives of high income.


    The two young female receptionists at the door were taken aback when they saw Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    This was the first time they had seen Qin Hao in person since they started working at the company.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Is Mr. Li in the office?¡±


    The female receptionist responded with a radiant smile and a gentle voice, ¡°Mr. Li is in the office. Mr. Qin, let me take you there.¡±


    After speaking, she led the way, taking Qin Hao and Miss Sulin to the office of Li Qingya!


    The female receptionist knocked on the door, and Li Qingya¡¯s voice came from inside, ¡°Please come in.¡±


    Upon opening the door, Qin Hao and Miss Sulin entered. Li Qing Ya sat on her office chair, while Li Qingyun was on the couch, sitting with her legs crossed, barefoot, and playing with her phone.


    Seeing Qin Hao come in, she was momentarily startled and hurriedly put on her shoes, her expression turning slightly embarrassed, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s fine, no need to be formal.¡±


    Li Qingya stood up and walked over, ¡°Miss Sulin is here too.¡±


    Miss Sulin replied, ¡°I¡¯m here for my new position. From now on, Miss Li will be my boss.¡±


    Li Qingya and Li Qingyun looked at them with puzzled eyes. Qin Hao explained, ¡°Miss Sulin will be the Deputy Director of Xinghai Holding Company from now on. Qingya, you two will have to work well together from here on.¡±


    Li Qingya nodded, ¡°Understood, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao stayed and chatted with them for a while, mainly about the affairs of the Xinghai Association. Currently, members of the Xinghai Association were staying obediently in Xuan Country, as stepping out of the country posed the risk of being arrested.


    It was just that they already had new technologies and had not completely transformed them into brand new advanced products. A large group like theirs would need several months to make the transition.


    Li Qingya said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, over the past few days, more than ten companies have joined the Xinghai Association. I¡¯ve sent you the names and business scopes of those companies to your email.¡±


    Although the Federation had imposed a blockade on the global maritime routes, not all countries complied with the Federation¡¯s orders. Many countries continued to trade with Xuan Country.


    Around eleven in the morning, Qin Hao returned to the Xinghai High-tech Company because Chang Jing had called him to say that Su Jiayi had come over.


    In the Xinghai High-tech Company, in Qin Hao¡¯s office, upon entering, he saw Su Jiayi sitting in his office chair, fiddling with his computer.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao return, she said without mincing words, ¡°What¡¯s up with this crappy computer of yours? I want to play a game, but I can¡¯t even get into the interface.¡±


    Qin Hao replied indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s an intelligent computer. Unless it¡¯s me or I give permission, no one can open it. What do you need from me?¡±


    Su Jiayi said, ¡°What do I need? The Xinghai Biological Genetic Technology Company is all set up now. Where¡¯s that genetic medicine formula you talked about?¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Has the lab already been outfitted with intelligent equipment?¡±


    Su Jiayi replied, ¡°Per Mr. Chang¡¯s instructions, everything has been arranged properly.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Stand up. I¡¯ll write the formula down and send it to you online.¡±


    Su Jiayi stood up from the seat, and a faint fragrance filled the air. Qin Hao sniffed it as he took a seat in the chair, with Su Jiayi watching from his side.


    Qin Hao opened the system marketplace; there were many types of genetic medicine research and development technologies available in the marketplace.


    Life Gene Ordinary Potion, commonly known as Life Potion, exchange price ninety million achievement points.


    The exchange price for this Life Potion was exceptionally high, but its effects were also incredibly profound, justifying its cost.


    Qin Hao chose to exchange it and immediately learned it. Then he placed his hands on the keyboard and began to type away.


    From Su Jiayi¡¯s perspective, it seemed as though he contemplated for a few seconds and then started writing.


    Su Jiayi¡¯s beautiful eyes curiously watched the computer screen as Qin Hao typed exceptionally fast, and she nearly couldn¡¯t keep up with the speed of his typing.


    About fifteen minutes later, Qin Hao finished, ¡°Done. In a while, I¡¯ll send it to the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing. It will tell you what you need and how to configure this Life Potion.¡±


    Su Jiayi curiously asked, ¡°The name of the research and development technology you¡¯ve written is Life Potion?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Its full name is Life Gene Ordinary Potion, commonly known as Life Potion. Its function is to treat all diseases in a short amount of time, excluding neurological disorders.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Su Jiayi looked at him wide-eyed, her expression filled with disbelief.


    Curing all diseases in a short amount of time sounded a bit like science fiction.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Big sister, do I have any reason to lie to you? You¡¯ll know once the research is done.¡±


    After receiving the research technology, Su Jiayi was in good spirits and said with a smile, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off. This is something beneficial for the country and the people. I¡¯ll go and develop it.¡±


    After Su Jiayi had left, Qin Hao opened his email to check the documents Li Qingya had sent him.


    With more than ten companies joining the Xinghai Association, he needed to exchange for some advanced technological products and then provide those people with technology licensing. As long as they stayed with the Xinghai Association, Qin Hao would continue to provide them with technology licensing.


    He then spent forty-one million achievement points to exchange for some high-tech technologies.


    If all the companies under the Xinghai Association could popularize the acquired technology, the entire Xuan Country would take a huge step forward.


    For now, they still needed time to settle and assimilate!


    He spent the entire afternoon in his office.


    Around five, Du Wanrou and Annie walked in, ¡°Mr. Qin, shall we go visit my aunt after work? She knows I¡¯m back and has invited us over for tonight.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yeah, sure.¡±


    Annie spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s something I want to discuss with you.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Annie said, ¡°The Charlende Family and some old-fashioned influential families from the West Continent would like to cooperate with your company. If you think it¡¯s feasible, I¡¯ll let my family know; if not, it¡¯s no problem either.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Let them come. We can talk. If they¡¯re looking to make exorbitant demands, then it¡¯s better for them not to come.¡±


    [Usually a chapter is two thousand words. This one is two thousand five hundred words, haha!]

 Chapter 700 - 700 701 Powerful Modified

    ?Chapter 700: Chapter 701 Powerful [Modified] Chapter 700: Chapter 701 Powerful [Modified] Annie nodded slightly upon hearing his words, ¡°Okay, Mr. Qin.¡±


    The influence of those old families in the West Continent was huge, deeply rooted and full of heritage, incomparable to that of the Innsil Family.


    The Innsil Family mainly allied with Ota families, whose influence in the Western Continent was not as significant.


    Especially after the World War, one could hardly see an Ota person in the West Continent, and since then the influence of the Ota families in the West had greatly diminished.


    Qin Hao tidied up a bit, then left the company with Du Wanrou. They drove towards the residential area where Feng Xiangyi lived.


    Although Leng Xuan had gone to Pu¡¯er Island, the number of his bodyguards had not decreased, with four cars and eight members of the Flying Leopard Guard Battalion before and after.


    On the way, Du Wanrou started speaking, ¡°Your thing with Auntie, she told me all about it.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression became a bit awkward, not knowing what to say.


    Seeing his reaction, Du Wanrou teased, ¡°How was it with Auntie?¡±


    ¡°Ahem, can¡¯t you put it more delicately?¡±


    Du Wanrou gave him a disdainful glance, ¡°Feeling awkward now? You should have thought of this earlier.¡±


    About half an hour later, they arrived at the residential area where Feng Xiangyi now lived, which was a house she had won at the annual meeting.


    After getting out of the car, Du Wanrou took his arm, and the two of them walked into the building and took the elevator up to the door of Feng Xiangyi¡¯s home.


    Qin Hao pressed the doorbell, and soon Feng Xiangyi opened the door from inside, ¡°Xiao Hao, Wan Rou, you¡¯re here, come in quickly.¡±


    As soon as he entered the house, Qin Hao smelled the fragrance of food, ¡°Auntie, are you cooking?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sit on the sofa and wait a bit, it will be ready soon,¡± Feng Xiangyi said before hurrying back into the kitchen.


    Du Wanrou stood up and entered the kitchen as well, with both of them busying themselves there.


    Qin Hao turned on the TV and watched for a while. The evening news was currently on.


    The presenter said with a smile, ¡°Our country has now developed the latest model of intelligent missile systems. Equipped with new fuel, its accuracy and speed are ahead of other nations, and its strike capability exceeds all current missiles.¡±


    The internet on Wei Yan was blowing up at this news.


    ¡°Xuan Country is powerful, well done.¡±


    ¡°Those scientists worked hard; without you, there would be no strong Xuan Country today.¡±


    ¡°Offend our Xuan Country, though you be far away, you shall be brought to justice.¡±


    ¡°Our country has finally developed a powerful weapon; this capability outclasses all missile systems in the world.¡±


    ¡°66666666¡±


    ¡°Support the motherland, I am proud to have such a strong country.¡±


    ...


    ¡°The meal is ready, come eat, Xiao Hao,¡± Feng Xiangyi called out as she walked out of the kitchen with the food.


    The weather was gradually warming up, and Feng Xiangyi wore a black short dress at home.


    Qin Hao washed up and sat down at the dining chair, with Du Wanrou seated next to him, and Feng Xiangyi opposite him.


    During dinner, Feng Xiangyi said while eating, ¡°The Jiangshan Group¡¯s business has now spread through East Chao Country and Beidou Country, and is now getting ready to enter the Southeast Continent region.¡±


    She didn¡¯t know what else to say, and could only talk about some work-related matters.


    Du Wanrou said with a smile, ¡°Auntie, didn¡¯t you just say in the kitchen that you missed Qin Hao? Why have you started talking about work again?¡±


    Feng Xiangyi¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, and she gave her a glance, ¡°It¡¯s because you are here, how could I say anything else.¡±


    After dinner, Du Wanrou spoke up, ¡°Auntie, didn¡¯t you have something to say to Xiao Hao? You two go talk in the room, I¡¯ll go wash the dishes.¡±


    Feng Xiangyi and Qin Hao were taken aback for a moment. They exchanged glances, and with a fiery look in her eyes, Feng Xiangyi pulled Qin Hao into the bedroom.


    After Du Wanrou finished washing the dishes, she sat on the sofa, and the sounds inside the house were clearly audible.


    Around seven in the evening, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou left Feng Xiangyi¡¯s house.


    On the way back, Du Wanrou said to him, ¡°You should go sleep in Ruobing¡¯s room tonight.¡±


    After their intimate moment that night, Qin Hao went to Fan Ruobing¡¯s room.


    Now the construction of the Xinghai Building was nearly half finished, once the Xinghai Building was completed, the highest and most luxurious floor was reserved for Qin Hao¡ªby then, a custom smart bed would be ordered...


    The next morning, Qin Hao and Fan Ruobing came out of the bedroom. They entered the master bedroom on the second floor; Du Wanrou was still asleep, having been exhausted by Qin Hao last night.


    Qin Hao approached the bed to wake her up. Du Wanrou, bleary-eyed, opened her eyes and asked, ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost seven o¡¯clock, time to get up for breakfast.¡±


    Seeing that Fan Ruobing was also there, Du Wanrou¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, and she hurriedly got up to get dressed.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou went to the company.


    Around nine in the morning, a group of people arrived from the Western Continent, led by the Arnold Royal Family of Xiyu Country.


    In the reception room, Qin Hao, Chang Jing, Du Wanrou, and Annie were there to receive them.


    Both sides introduced themselves. This time, the Arnold Family actually brought a royal princess by the name of Diana.


    Diana looked at Qin Hao with a smile and said in the Xuan Country language, ¡°They say Mr. Qin is very young, but I didn¡¯t believe it until today. Meeting you has truly surprised me; you¡¯re simply a genius.¡±


    Her every frown and smile, every move she made, exuded a noble and elegant air, the result of being steeped in luxury and aristocratic education since childhood. She was truly of the nobility.


    Qin Hao replied with a faint smile, ¡°Princess Diana flatters me. Genius is hardly the word; I might just be a bit smarter than the average person.¡±


    Harrison of the Robert Family said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, you are aware of why we have come. We¡¯d like to cooperate with you¡ªin smart phones, computers, electronics, automobiles, as well as other industries.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°That matter isn¡¯t so easily settled, after all, my first collaboration was with the Innsil Family.¡±


    Diana replied with a smile, ¡°What if the Innsil Family also agrees? Besides, our cooperation won¡¯t affect the Innsil Family¡ªin fact, the Innsil Family stands with us now.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°If the Innsil Family agrees as well, then of course we can cooperate. You should know what I want. Can you do it?¡±


    Diana replied, ¡°Since we have come, naturally we can do it.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s good, cooperation is not an issue, but I have one more condition¡ªthe West Continent Market must be opened up to our Xinghai Association.¡±


    The Xinghai Association has many group companies under its banner, involved in various industries. With advanced technology and products, dominating that market would not be difficult.

 Chapter 701 - 701 702 Three Months Later

    ?Chapter 701: Chapter 702 Three Months Later Chapter 701: Chapter 702 Three Months Later Diana hesitated for a moment, exchanged glances with someone beside her, and was quite aware of the groups under the Xinghai Association. They were known for their advanced technology and exceptional products. Entering the West Continent Market would create a significant impact.


    After some discussion, they decided that as long as there was no industry conflict or competition formed, entry into the West Continent Market was permissible; their first priority was to ensure their interests.


    Qin Hao nodded in agreement, and both parties signed a cooperation contract.


    After signing the contract, Diana asked with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, I heard that your company has developed a new type of car, could you show us around it?¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned, impressed by their well-informed sources, ¡°Of course, especially since it will be sold in the future.¡±


    The group walked out of the office building and went to the neighboring Xinghai Automobile Factory. Qin Hao first took them to see the manufacturing workshop of the Air Energy Cars, where more than a thousand intelligent robots were working methodically. The scene was quite stunning and offered a strong visual impact to Diana and her companions.


    Diana showed a look of astonishment, ¡°Mr. Qin, are all intelligent robots working in this car factory?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, all of them are robots.¡±


    Du Wanrou and Annie, seeing this for the first time, were equally shocked. It was just like a high-tech factory of the future.


    After touring the production workshop, Qin Hao took them to where the Air Energy Cars were stored. Two silver-gray Air Energy Cars stood silently there.


    Diana closely examined the car. The exterior was seamless, with no visible joints between steel plates, appearing as one complete entity.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Princess Diana, would you like to try out the performance of the Air Energy Car?¡±


    ¡°Is that possible?¡± Diana turned and looked at him.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Of course, open the car door.¡±


    The door of the Air Energy Car automatically opened, and Diana, along with a few others, went inside. The interior was equally luxurious and technologically advanced.


    Qin Hao let the Air Energy Car take them out for a flight. It lasted about twenty minutes, flying directly to Xiyu Country and then back.


    After getting off the car, Diana still had a deep look of shock in her eyes, ¡°Mr. Qin, with this Air Energy Car released, transportation in the future will be greatly facilitated.¡±


    ¡°I wonder how much Mr. Qin is planning to sell it for?¡± someone from the Robert Family inquired curiously.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°For cars, you just need to occupy the low-end market. The Air Energy Car will be open to the mid-to-high-end market, so it¡¯s best you don¡¯t enter the mid-to-high-end market, or you will suffer heavy losses in the future.¡±


    Diana said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I would also like such a car, can I pre-order one?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Of course, Princess Diana. If you want one, we can custom-build it for you. The price will be around five billion Xuan Country Coins.¡±


    Diana gaped, ¡°Five billion? Mr. Qin, isn¡¯t that too expensive? We are partners, and I think we could also become friends. Could you give me a discount?¡±


    ¡°Friends (pao)?¡± Qin Hao was taken aback as her pronunciation of Xuan Country language was not very standard; ¡®friends¡¯ sounded like ¡®pao friends¡¯.


    Diana nodded with her delicate features, ¡°Yes, friends (pao).¡±


    ...


    Chang Jing looked expressionless, Du Wanrou gave him a disdainful glance, as there were so many people, at least show some face.


    Annie couldn¡¯t help but cough, ¡°Mr. Qin, Princess Diana meant ¡®friend¡¯, not that other kind of ¡®friend¡¯.¡±


    Qin Hao remarked, ¡°President Annie knows quite a lot, even understanding the various meanings of our Xuan Country¡¯s characters.¡±


    Annie was at a loss for words, Diana curiously asked, ¡°Friends (pao), I meant friends.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed and said, ¡°Alright, Princess Diana, if you really want one, I¡¯ll give you a family discount¡ªfour billion Xuan Country Coins.¡±


    This thing he had originally priced in the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and millions, with the highest being a few billion. The price he mentioned just now was also blurted out randomly.


    Of course, these wealthy people don¡¯t care¡ªthey can ask for more under the pretense that this car is fully equipped.


    Diana nodded, ¡°Forty billion Xuan Country Coins is indeed not expensive for such a car, which is about just under six billion Federation Coins.


    Later, when Diana and her group were leaving, Annie said a few words to Diana, and then Qin Hao saw that Diana¡¯s cheeks turned red as she glanced his way.


    Feeling guilty, Qin Hao turned his head and looked around. After that, Diana came over and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we are leaving.¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°Then let me have another Air Energy Car take you folks home, that one can hold a few more people.¡±


    ¡°Then thank you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ...


    After Diana and her group left, Qin Hao and his people also went back.


    Time went by day by day, and in the blink of an eye, three months had passed, winter had gone and summer had arrived.


    The Federation¡¯s blockade against Xuan Country still existed, but since West Continent had not joined, the impact wasn¡¯t too significant.


    Xinghai Company¡¯s chip production was also gradually increasing, now having reached a very terrifying number.


    Companies under the Xinghai Association had also become very powerful after three months of growth, and the domestic market was now fully supplied.


    Because of the Xinghai Association, Xuan Country¡¯s economy had not decreased but had increased over the past few months, as a large amount of international capital flowed into Xuan Country, since many foreign countries and companies needed to buy products from the Xinghai Association.


    Now, the Xinghai Association had a rule that if you wanted to buy their products in Xuan Country, you first had to exchange for Xuan Country Coins, and then you could make the purchase.


    This greatly increased the purchasing power of the Xuan Country Coin, and alongside it, the Xuan Country Coin had risen in value¡ªnow one Federation Coin could exchange for about four Xuan Country Coins, whereas it used to exchange for nearly seven Xuan Country Coins.


    Today is July 15th, and the season has entered the sultry days of summer.


    In the morning, Huaxi Daily published an article: ¡°Xuan Country has fully entered the intelligent era, with an intelligence penetration rate as high as 96%.¡±


    Now when you walk on the streets, you can see various smart products, like smart trash bins, smart bus stops, smart street lamps, and so on.


    The People¡¯s Daily also tallied the average monthly salary of ordinary workers across the nation, reaching 6,800 Yuan.


    This refers to ordinary workers, not including high-tech talents, high-income individuals, etc.


    The main reason ordinary workers¡¯ wages are so high is because of the Xinghai Association. The Xinghai Association has dozens of major groups, and there are hundreds to thousands of companies that collaborate with these groups.


    Now, to cooperate with a group from the Xinghai Association, the employee salary is a standard. Companies with low employee salaries are basically not qualified to cooperate, which was a strategy thought up by Silin Ross, quite a good one.


    ...


    On Wei Yan¡¯s online platform.


    Xinghai High-tech Company released a Wei Yan post with a video: ¡°Our company has now developed an Air Energy Car, a type of car that can fly in the sky without consuming any fuel, safe and environmentally friendly. The top-end air energy cars are made of Grade H metal...¡±


    The video below is a demo of the Air Energy Car, just letting people have a look.


    This news caused quite a stir online¡ªa car that doesn¡¯t use gasoline and can fly? And the minimum price is only 200,000?


    [Second update, the previous one was blocked, certain things cannot be written, tiring, tiring, it has been modified, those who haven¡¯t seen it can go take another look]

 Chapter 702 - 702 703 Experiment

    ?Chapter 702: Chapter 703 Experiment Chapter 702: Chapter 703 Experiment The price Qin Hao set truly left many people agape, an Air Energy Car for two hundred thousand?


    This two-hundred-thousand Air Energy Car was made of ordinary materials for both the exterior and interior, and its flight height was limited as well.


    The more expensive ones were made of better materials and could fly a bit higher!


    The most expensive model was crafted from H-grade metal, featuring smooth lines and seamless construction,


    ...


    At this moment, Qin Hao was sitting in his office, where a larger advanced smart display screen had already been mounted on the wall in front of him.


    The screen showed images of Pu¡¯er Island, where the port had already been built, and the massive underground base was due to be completed in the next few days.


    The underground base covered a vast area and was even connected to the seafloor, using the latest glass technology and H-grade alloy to construct an undersea base.


    The base took nearly thirty-thousand hours to complete, with thousands of robots working tirelessly to create the super undersea base capable of producing F-grade interstellar aircraft carriers.


    A knock on the door sounded, and the display screen automatically turned off. Qin Hao called out, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Chang Jing entered from outside, ¡°Mr. Qin, Xinghai Building will be completed this morning, Mr. Xia asked you to come and take a look.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, stood up, and left the office. The Xinghai Building, after nearly six months of construction, was finally about to be completed.


    The 288-story Xinghai Building was built in less than six months, a marvel in the history of world architecture.


    Like the previously tallest Burj Khalifa in Asni Country, which took several years to construct, the rapid construction of Xinghai Building was primarily due to the application of advanced intelligent equipment that greatly improved efficiency.


    At this time, no matter where one was in Jianghai City, they could see the towering Xinghai Building, a true marvel.


    Leaving the office, Qin Hao saw Du Wanrou and Annie. With the two of them at Xinghai Company, Chang Jing managed even more efficiently.


    ¡°Going to see Xinghai Building?¡± Du Wanrou asked.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go take a look together.¡±


    The group of four left the office building and saw the towering Xinghai Building not far away, majestic and imposing.


    The four of them took a car to the construction site, where Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong, a couple, were waiting with a group of people.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang, you¡¯re here,¡± Xia Yingjie greeted as he approached with his team.


    Qin Hao smiled and asked, ¡°Mr. Xia, is the building completed? Take us for a tour.¡±


    Xia Yingjie led Qin Hao and the group into the building; now all that was left was the interior decoration, which wouldn¡¯t take much time. It was simply a matter of spending more money to hire more people.


    After touring for over half an hour, they had only roughly looked around. If they were to visit every detail, even a whole day wouldn¡¯t be enough.


    After the tour, Qin Hao instructed Xia Yingjie to arrange for the decoration quickly and not to worry about the expense.


    Money was something Qin Hao now had in abundance; in three months, the profit created by all his companies had already exceeded a trillion.


    Currently, on the global rich list, over thirty individuals from Xuan Country are among the top fifty, all of them members of the Xinghai Association.


    Although this list doesn¡¯t account for many hidden wealthy individuals, it indirectly reveals one fact: Xuan Country¡¯s economy is soaring at a frightening pace.


    Conversely, many of the Federation¡¯s wealthy have fallen off the list, their company performances worsening, some even going bankrupt, with the Federation¡¯s unemployment rate increasing and the economy contracting.


    While it doesn¡¯t seem too severe right now, if it continues, the Federation¡¯s economy will severely regress, with unemployment rates skyrocketing, and by then, it will be too late to reverse the situation.


    Since the Federation imposed a blockade on Xinghai Association and Xuan Country, Qin Hao had cut off all trade with the Federation, and their smart chip factories¡¯ lithography machines had been remotely shut down.


    ...


    Back at Xinghai Company, Annie came into Qin Hao¡¯s office with a stack of documents: ¡°Mr. Qin, Changli Automotive Group has agreed to our acquisition plan. The entire group can be bought for thirty billion Xuan Country Coins.¡±


    A smile spread across Qin Hao¡¯s face. It wasn¡¯t just Changli Automotive Group; he had already acquired several other large domestic automotive groups at low prices, aiming to increase the production of Air Energy Cars.


    Of course, this excluded Jifeng Automobile Group of the Shen Family, which he would not consider buying even at the lowest price.


    With Jiangqi Automobile Group holding the low-end market and Air Energy Cars beginning pre-sales, Xinghai Automobile will also monopolize the mid-to-high-end market.


    Those automobile groups had no second option but to sell their companies at low prices.


    Qin Hao¡¯s decision not to acquire Jifeng Group would have meant that the company would become worthless and eventually go bankrupt and close down.


    The initial online public opinion incident was manipulated by Jifeng Group behind the scenes. Now was the time to settle this account with them.


    After signing the document, Annie left the room.


    Du Wanrou entered again, ¡°These are twenty-seven companies that relocated from Zhou Island. We arranged for them to set up their factories in economically underdeveloped areas such as Shuinan Province and Nanchu Province.¡±


    Compared to other parts of Xuan Country, these regions had a lower GDP, but their economic situation had already improved a lot, with incomes having multiplied several times over.


    The national tax revenue was also very high, with nearly a hundred billion invested in some of the extremely poor areas in the last few months.


    Some villages were relocated entirely, others received new roads, making transportation more convenient. Xuan Country no longer had any extremely poor areas.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°How is the economic situation in the Zhou Island region now?¡±


    ¡°Due to the deepening cooperation between the nations of the Southeast Continent and our Xinghai Association, companies in the Zhou Island region closed down or went bankrupt. More companies have migrated to the mainland. Their unemployment rate is now very high, and many have started protesting and demonstrating against the administrators of the Zhou Island region.¡±


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face; they would not be able to hold out for much longer. The Federation to the north was too preoccupied to care about them.


    Du Wanrou continued, ¡°Regarding the matter of Xinghai Bank, what do you think?¡±


    After pondering, Qin Hao said, ¡°Leveraging Xinghai Company¡¯s current reputation, if we were to establish Xinghai Bank, many people would definitely choose it. After all, Xinghai Company is now rich enough to rival nations, even more reliable than state banks.¡±


    ...


    Around noon, Xinghai Air Energy Cars began their presale. Ten cars worth five billion each, a hundred cars at one billion each, a thousand cars at twenty million each, ten thousand cars at three million each, and a hundred thousand cars priced at two hundred thousand each.


    In less than a minute, all the cars were sold out, and Xinghai Automobile Factory¡¯s account was instantly credited with over a hundred billion. The figure was somewhat terrifying.


    It¡¯s primarily because there are now more wealthy people in Xuan Country.


    After having lunch at the company, Qin Hao received a call from Su Jiayi, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯ve finally done it, we¡¯ve made the breakthrough. You must come see this.¡±


    Qin Hao was somewhat speechless, ¡°Big sister, it took you three months to come up with this; I¡¯m really starting to doubt your abilities.¡±


    Su Jiayi defended, ¡°Do you think this was easy to research? Some of the instruments were totally unsuitable; many had to be modified by us. You, this terrible capitalist, only know about benefits and money, not at all considerate of us ordinary people.¡±


    Ordinary people? You¡¯re anything but ordinary.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡±


    After hanging up, he drove an Air Energy Car to the Xinghai Biological Genetic Technology Company¡¯s research base.


    The lab was located in the New Port District. It took him about two minutes on a slow drive to reach the research base.


    Getting out of the car, he walked towards the lab¡¯s entrance which featured a smart lock. Only personnel from the lab could enter, but naturally, as the boss, Qin Hao had complete access rights.


    After retina and face scans, Qin Hao entered the research facility.


    Walking down the corridors, he arrived at the lab where Su Jiayi and a group of experts were waiting for him.


    On the lab bench, there was a test tube containing a red liquid, the very life-saving elixir they had been working on.


    Seeing him arrive, someone spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, shall we test this thing out?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Proceed with the experiment.¡±


    In the lab, they had lab mice for experiments. One of the experts made a cut on a mouse which couldn¡¯t struggle because it was restrained.


    Then, someone injected the life-saving elixir into the mouse¡¯s body with a syringe.


    Everyone watched the mouse¡¯s wound heal at a speed visible to the naked eye, and then it completely disappeared.


    The experts conducted a full-body check on the mouse; there were no side effects, and it was completely healed.


    This was a test for external injuries, and then they conducted tests for internal injuries, experiments with cancer cells, and various viruses. Without exception, all were completely eradicated by the life-saving elixir.


    The experts were excited and thrilled, with Su Jiayi¡¯s eyes shining and a smile on her face.


    Qin Hao observed Su Jiayi¡¯s subtly upturned corner of the mouth, his own smile carrying a profound meaning.


    [End of the 2600-word chapter]

 Chapter 703 - 703 704 Speak or Not

    ?Chapter 703: Chapter 704: Speak or Not? Chapter 703: Chapter 704: Speak or Not? The experiment was done, and Qin Hao asked, ¡°Any problems with mass production?¡±


    An old expert replied, ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s no problem with that. It¡¯s just that the procedures are a bit complicated; the raw materials are not very rare.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Then let¡¯s acquire a factory and start mass production. Mr. Su, come over for a moment, I need to speak with you.¡±


    He walked out of the laboratory and entered Su Jiayi¡¯s office.


    When Su Jiayi came in, Qin Hao closed the door of the office and turned to look at her without saying a word.


    With a puzzled look in her eyes, Su Jiayi asked him, ¡°Mr. Qin, is there something you need me for? If there¡¯s something, just say it.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°You should be very clear about what I want from you.¡±


    Su Jiayi¡¯s face changed, and she glared at him angrily, ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯m also one of the company¡¯s directors. Why are you interrogating me? I¡¯m not your prisoner. If you dare to question me again, don¡¯t blame me for not being polite to you.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change; he somewhat admired Su Jiayi¡¯s acting skills. This year¡¯s Oscar for Best Actress should be yours.


    He looked at Su Jiayi and said, ¡°I would like to see how you¡¯re going to be impolite to me.¡±


    Su Jiayi gave him a sly grin and suddenly kicked at him. The kick was swift and fierce, catching one off guard. If it had been anyone else, they might have been hit, but Qin Hao was no ordinary man, and he quickly caught Su Jiayi¡¯s ankle.


    Her leg was lifted perfectly, resting on Qin Hao¡¯s shoulder. Fortunately, she was wearing super short hot pants. If it had been a skirt, she probably would have exposed herself.


    Struggling, Su Jiayi tried to shake her leg free, but her ankle was clamped tight as if in a vise, not budging at all.


    Qin Hao looked at her with a smirk as she stared back at him. ¡°Let go of me this instant.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently, ¡°Miss Su, stop pretending. I know what you¡¯ve been up to. Hand over the formula for the life potion.¡±


    Su Jiayi¡¯s brows knitted slightly. ¡°What life potion formula? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. You never gave it to me.¡±


    Seeing that she was still being stubborn, Qin Hao scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t think that I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve been doing these past days. Hand it over.¡±


    Su Jiayi replied calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    Qin Hao slightly increased his grip on her ankle. ¡°Miss Su, don¡¯t force me to take action.¡±


    Embarrassed and angry, Su Jiayi said, ¡°Let go of me. I don¡¯t know about any formula.¡±


    Qin Hao sneered. ¡°If you don¡¯t hand it over, I might have to search myself.¡±


    Su Jiayi suddenly reached out and slapped at Qin Hao¡¯s face. He let go of her foot and caught her wrist, then grabbed her other hand and pinned her down on the office desk.


    He held Su Jiayi¡¯s two wrists with one hand, and to prevent her from kicking, Qin Hao also got control of her legs.


    Qin Hao searched the pockets on the back of her shorts but found nothing. She had two more pockets in front, and still, Qin Hao found nothing.


    ¡°You jerk, let go of me. I¡¯ll tell my grandfather about this,¡± Su Jiayi said through gritted teeth.


    Without finding what he wanted in her pockets, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Where did you put it?¡±


    Su Jiayi didn¡¯t say a word, feeling somewhat shocked in her heart. How did Qin Hao know? Could someone from the lab have betrayed her? That seemed unlikely, considering those were people she had brought in herself.


    But how did Qin Hao find out? She thought she covered her tracks perfectly, and even sophisticated surveillance wouldn¡¯t have revealed anything.


    ...


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Miss Su, I¡¯ll give you one last chance. Will you talk or not?¡±


    Still, Su Jiayi said nothing. Qin Hao looked at her graceful back, contemplating. Rough interrogation would definitely not work, and neither would scolding.


    At times like this, special measures are needed. Even though they might be underhanded and despicable, they would certainly be effective.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Miss Su, don¡¯t blame me for being impolite.¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do, you bastard? If you dare to touch me, I¡¯ll kill you,¡± Su Jiayi said with panicked eyes and teeth clenched.


    Seeing that she still kept silent...


    Qin Hao¡¯s heart hardened, and he said with a sneer, ¡°Miss Su, this is your last chance.¡±


    Su Jiayi bit down hard, still not speaking. She believed that given her status, Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t dare do anything serious¡ªher grandfather was a person of great influence.


    The fact that Qin Hao didn¡¯t resort to harsh interrogation proved it; he wouldn¡¯t dare to harm her. He was just trying to scare her.


    ...


    More than an hour later, peace was restored in the room.


    He handed her some tissues. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that for this time.¡±


    After speaking, Qin Hao left the office. He suspected that Su Jiayi might have given the formula to her grandfather.


    Would she tell her grandfather about this? If she did, it could be dangerous for himself.


    Qin Hao returned to the seaside villa complex and just as he got out of the car, he saw Zhao Yuying.


    Zhao Yuying ran over with a smile and hugged his arm. ¡°My parents want to meet you. They already know about us.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback. ¡°Did your uncle and aunt gossip about you?¡±


    ¡°No, let¡¯s go,¡± Zhao Yuying said cheerfully, pleased that they could now be openly together.


    Qin Hao entered Zhao Yuying¡¯s family villa, where Zhao Xingbo and his wife were playing with their dogs¡ªa Golden Retriever, a Samoyed, and a Husky.


    ¡°Xiao Hao is here. Please, have a seat,¡± Zhao Xingbo quickly got up and said.


    Nowadays, Qin Hao¡¯s fame and status were very high, not just in Xuan Country, but all over the world, there were hardly any who didn¡¯t know his name, though not many could remember his face.

 Chapter 704 - 704 705 Be Prepared

    ?Chapter 704: Chapter 705 Be Prepared Chapter 704: Chapter 705 Be Prepared Qin Hao now held a very high prestige and status in the world.


    He had led humanity into the age of intelligence and had now developed the air energy car, quietly sparking an industrial revolution.


    Most importantly, he was the richest man in the world, with so many assets that they were innumerable.


    Some foreign media even commented that he was a leader of an era, whose contributions to humanity were immeasurable.


    Sitting on the sofa with a smile, Qin Hao said, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, you know about Yu Ying and me. I know what you¡¯re worried about, but rest assured, I will not let Yu Ying down.¡±


    Zhao Xingbo nodded, ¡°That¡¯s enough for me. I believe you are a man of integrity and keep your word. Mr. Zhao is uneducated and can¡¯t say much, so don¡¯t take offense.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°Mr. Zhao, you¡¯re being too polite. We¡¯re family now.¡±


    Zhao Xingbo nodded again, ¡°That¡¯s right, we¡¯re family now.¡±


    After chatting for a while, Qin Hao¡¯s phone rang. It was Chang Jing calling, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯ve already recruited enough employees domestically for the air energy car manufacturing, and the robots have also been loaded onto the air energy trucks; they will soon arrive at Pu¡¯er Island.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°There¡¯s another thing. The laboratories of Xinghai High-tech Company and Xinghai Biological Genetic Technology Company, along with the Star Domain Network General Service and the server of Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing, must all be moved to Pu¡¯er Island.¡±


    Chang Jing was surprised, ¡°Move to Pu¡¯er Island?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Many buildings and laboratories have already been constructed there. Just let them move in. Employees¡¯ families who want to accompany them can do so as well.¡±


    On Pu¡¯er Island, Qin Hao had absolute control, and without his permission, no information from those people could reach the outside world.


    Now with the air energy car, it was just over an hour back and forth, not considered a distance at all.


    The air energy buses and trucks of Xinghai Company served only the company. For others traveling abroad or transporting goods, they would need to use the airplanes of the airline companies.


    The Zheng Family owned an airline and was also a member of Xinghai Association, and their passenger planes had already been converted to air energy planes.


    The business covering countries worldwide, except the Northern Federation.


    Many foreign airlines were purchasing the Zheng Family¡¯s air energy planes at high prices. The Zheng Family Group¡¯s stocks had increased seven or eight times, and Qin Hao, holding their shares and supplying them with parts, was also among the biggest beneficiaries.


    Then there was the logistics service. Products sold by Xinghai e-commerce usually arrived domestically within three hours, a speed beyond imagination.


    After hanging up, Chang Jing arranged to start moving the laboratory of Xinghai High-tech Company. The Xinghai Biological Genetic Technology Company was also notified, and the relocation would begin no later than tomorrow morning.


    After leaving Zhao Yuying¡¯s house, Qin Hao thought for a moment and then called Du Wanrou, ¡°Wan Rou, arrange it. I want to build a chip manufacturing factory, alloy refining plant, and other factories on Pu¡¯er Island.¡±


    Currently, there were nearly ten thousand intelligent robots on Pu¡¯er Island, but they were all engaged in developing an underwater base. Additional research was planned for energy weapons and interstellar warships.


    Behind him, Han Meng was massaging Qin Hao¡¯s shoulders while Fan Ruobing and Qiao¡¯er had gone out to play.


    She asked softly, ¡°Xiao Hao, when is Xiao Zhuang coming back? My parents want to visit him in Jianghai City.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I am not sure about the specifics. They are still training on Pu¡¯er Island, but if Uncle and Auntie want to visit, they can take the air energy car. It¡¯s very quick.¡±


    Leng Xuan, Han Zhuang, and others were still training. At this moment, they had begun training with the intermediate assassin¡¯s manual.


    Han Meng nodded, ¡°Okay, when do we go?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Let¡¯s go now; I was planning to bring my parents here as well. We¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    ...


    The two left the villa and got into an air energy car. It was Han Meng¡¯s first time in an air energy car, and she looked a bit nervous.


    The air energy car started and quickly ascended into the sky, speeding toward Nanchu Province.


    About ten minutes later, the air energy car arrived at Han Meng¡¯s doorstep in Biaoshan Village.


    The current Biaoshan Village had undergone an earth-shaking transformation compared to before, with asphalt roads, solar street lamps, and brand new bungalows...


    Getting out of the car, Qin Hao and Han Meng went inside, where Han Zhiming and Qiu Yufang were chatting in the courtyard.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, Xiao Meng, how come you are here?¡± Han Zhiming and Qiu Yufang were momentarily startled upon seeing the two.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Meng said you missed Xiao Zhuang, and I was just about to pick up my parents, so I thought I¡¯d pick up uncle and auntie as well.¡±


    The faces of Han Zhiming and his wife lit up with joy. Xiao Zhuang had never been away from them, and they had been missing him terribly, prompting the call to Han Meng. The couple quickly packed some clothes and other items, then got into the car.


    The vehicle ascended into the sky and flew toward Shuinan Province.


    Mr. and Mrs. Han surveyed the interior of the car, then looked outside the window, ¡°Xiao Hao, is this an air energy car?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, uncle, it took just about ten minutes from Jianghai City to here, very quick.¡±


    Han Zhiming said, ¡°I¡¯ve read about air energy cars on the internet.¡±


    After chatting for a while, the air energy car arrived at the residential complex where Mr. and Mrs. Qin lived.


    Father and mother were chatting with uncle and auntie when they saw a car descend from the sky, causing Mr. Qin and the others to turn their heads.


    Qin Hao and the others got out of the car, ¡°Dad, mom, uncle, auntie.¡±


    Qin Youguo beamed, ¡°Xiao Hao is back, and Xiao Meng is here too.¡±


    Qin Hao introduced, ¡°Mom and dad, these are Meng¡¯s parents.¡±


    ¡°Come inside, let¡¯s talk inside,¡± Mr. Qin stood up and led them toward the villa.


    Sitting on the sofa, Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Dad, mom, uncle, auntie, I¡¯m here to pick you up. Please pack your things, we¡¯ll be leaving soon.¡±


    ¡°To Jianghai City?¡± Qin Youguo was taken aback.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, mom and dad, please listen to me this time.¡±


    In the past, they had been reluctant to go, fearing they would disturb Qin Hao. Now, seeing their son¡¯s expression, they could tell he was worried about them.


    Qin Youguo guessed what Qin Hao was worried about; his son¡¯s fame, status, and wealth were unmatched, and such abundance could lead to envy.


    He couldn¡¯t assist his son in the business world, but he didn¡¯t want to be a burden either.


    A few minutes later, Mr. Qin had finished packing, and they boarded the air energy car. Ten minutes later, they arrived at the Haoting Sea View Villa District.


    The surrounding villas were vacant. This was a district developed by Wan Hao Real Estate Group, and Guo Hang had given the several villas next to theirs to him earlier.


    Now the new building materials were incredibly strong, durable, and efficient¡ªseveral times more so than before.


    After settling his parents, uncle, auntie, and Han Meng¡¯s parents, Qin Hao took them to his own villa.


    Inside the villa, Du Wanrou, Fan Ruobing, Zhao Yuying, and Qiao¡¯er were all at home.


    Qin Hao introduced them to each other. It was Fan Ruobing¡¯s first time meeting Mr. and Mrs. Qin, while the others had met them before.

 Chapter 705 - 705 706 Puer Island

    ?Chapter 705: Chapter 706 Pu¡¯er Island Chapter 705: Chapter 706 Pu¡¯er Island Later, Xu Siyao, Xia Qing, and the couple Zhao Xingbo arrived, and the big family divided into two tables.


    The men sat together, drinking for two days, while the women quietly chatted among themselves.


    Qin Youguo was delighted to see his son surrounded by so many girlfriends, thinking to himself that the Qin family was destined to prosper.


    He drank quite a bit, as did a few others.


    It wasn¡¯t until after ten in the evening that the gathering dispersed, and Mr. and Mrs. Qin went back successively, while Qin Hao sat on the sofa drinking hot water.


    Xu Siyao started, ¡°Xiao Hao, Ms. Yang is about to give birth, and my granduncle has already had twins¡ªa boy and a girl.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. Time had flown by, and nine months had passed in the blink of an eye. He still vaguely remembered the scene when Xu Jiekang came to him.


    He also felt the distance growing between the Xu family and himself; perhaps they had received some news, or maybe they were afraid that being too close would stir suspicion from those above.


    It was these feelings that led Qin Hao to decide to send his parents and relatives to Pu¡¯er Island, where no one could interfere, for it was his territory.


    From Qin Hao¡¯s actions today, Du Wanrou also sensed something and felt a twinge of unease.


    Du Wanrou spoke up, ¡°Xiao Hao, you¡¯ve had a lot to drink. Why don¡¯t you head to bed early? Siyao, Xiaoqing, please help him upstairs.¡±


    Xu Siyao and Xia Qing exchanged glances, their cheeks blushing, and quickly stood up to support Qin Hao as they ascended the stairs.


    In the master bedroom, Qin Hao sat on the bed, while the two women stood there, unsure of what to do. What was Wan Rou implying? Did she want the two of them to...with Qin Hao?


    At the thought, their cheeks burned even redder, embarrassment overwhelming them.


    Qin Hao knew what they were thinking, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a slight, mischievous smile, ¡°It¡¯s late; let¡¯s get some rest.¡±


    ...


    Soon, the room echoed with sounds deemed inappropriate for children.


    Around midnight, the sounds in the room ceased, and Qin Hao, embracing the two women, let out a long breath.


    Xu Siyao and Xia Qing¡¯s cheeks were flushed, and recalling the earlier scene, they were awash in shyness.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Let¡¯s sleep, it¡¯s already so late.¡±


    Suddenly, Xu Siyao spoke up, ¡°Xiao Hao, my grandfather wanted me to pass on a message. He told you not to... not to let interests blind your heart.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°I understand. Let¡¯s go to sleep now.¡±


    Xu Siyao looked at him and said, ¡°Qin Hao, I¡¯m really worried. I can tell they are keeping their distance from you.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay, they probably have their reasons. Don¡¯t worry so much. Sleep now.¡±


    After saying that, he closed his eyes. Xu Siyao¡¯s words echoed in his mind, ¡®Don¡¯t let interests blind your heart?¡¯


    The underlying meaning of that phrase was, ¡®Your current interests are terrifying, having monopolized many industries, you nearly control Xuan Country¡¯s economy. Don¡¯t become a despicable capitalist.¡¯


    Qin Hao also felt that he had changed somewhat, thinking back to yesterday¡¯s incident with Su Jiayi, he felt a bit overinflated.


    ...


    The next morning, Xu Siyao left because Yang Su was about to give birth, and she had a lot of tasks to help with.


    Xia Qing didn¡¯t leave; school had already let out for summer vacation, and she had nothing to do at home.


    Qin Hao called for another large Air Energy Car and arranged for his parents, uncle and aunt, and others to be seated in that vehicle. Zhao Yuying¡¯s parents boarded as well.


    Zhao Yuying, Han Meng, Qiao¡¯er, Du Wanrou, Xia Qing, and Fan Ruobing also followed them.


    Qin Hao first headed to Xinghai High-tech Company. The laboratory had already been moved yesterday, and now a large air energy truck was parked on the ground, with people loading items like smart lithography machines and sensor production machines onto it.


    Qin Hao got out of the car and saw Chang Jing, who was directing the operations. He asked, ¡°Has the bio-genetic technology company¡¯s experimental base been moved over yet?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°They just set off, using five Air Energy Cars.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯ll be going to Pu¡¯er Island this morning, just give me a call if there¡¯s anything.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao returned to the Air Energy Car, which instantly took to the skies and flew towards Lijia State¡¯s Pu¡¯er Island.


    About forty minutes later, Qin Hao and his group arrived at the port of Pu¡¯er Island.


    The port was very spacious and large, resembling the combination of more than a dozen airplane runways.


    Docked above were dozens of Air Energy Cars, passenger buses, and trucks. Robot 002 and other robots were transporting machinery and equipment.


    When Qin Hao saw Su Jiayi and the others, and Su Jiayi saw him, her expressionless face made him feel somewhat guilty.


    ¡°Dad, Mom, this used to be Ban Guo Country¡¯s Pu¡¯er Island, but now I have bought it. This island is mine now,¡± he said.


    Qin Youguo and the others took in the surroundings: tall trees, lush grass and flowers, villas with ocean views perched halfway up the hill, and an endless sea right across from them. Standing on the balcony, they could enjoy the magnificent ocean view.


    Xia Qing, Du Wanrou, and others were also looking around curiously.


    Then, two robots drove up in two Air Energy sightseeing cars: ¡°Mr. Qin, please board the car.¡±


    More than a dozen people got onto the two sightseeing cars, which slowly drove forward and stopped in front of Su Jiayi and the others.


    Qin Hao said to Su Jiayi, ¡°Mr. Su, please take note of how many employees wish to bring their families here, then give me the list. I will arrange for vehicles to bring their families over. We will have all sorts of living supplies and entertainment facilities here in the future.¡±


    Su Jiayi responded, ¡°Got it, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao continued to drive inward; beyond the port, they saw a round, low building with a sign hanging over the main entrance: Xinghai High-tech Company Experimental Base.


    While the experimental base did not seem very large from above ground, most of its structure was underground, vast and very secure.


    Next to it was the experimental base of the bio-genetic technology company, with both buildings having similar shapes.


    Behind them stood eight high-rise buildings, some providing accommodation in apartment buildings, others being office buildings, entertainment buildings, and so on.


    Further back was a square, and beyond the square was a road leading up the mountain, dotted with villas all the way to the peak.


    Qin Hao led them directly to the top of the mountain, where there was a very large villa, specially built for Qin Hao, which also had an entrance leading to the underground seabed base.


    Next to the large villa were several others, prepared by Qin Hao for his parents, relatives, and people like Zhao Xingbo.


    They all entered the large villa, which was already decorated regally and luxurious in style.


    Qin Youguo and the others then went to see the other villas nearby, which all had similar decor but were not as large.


    After seeing them, Mr. and Mrs. Qin and the others were quite pleased, finding them very nice,


    ¡°Dad, Mom,¡± as they were admiring their new surroundigs, the voice of Han Zhuang came from outside.

 Chapter 706 - 706 707 Various Assassinations

    ?Chapter 706: Chapter 707 Various Assassinations Chapter 706: Chapter 707 Various Assassinations Leng Xuan and Han Zhuang walked in from outside, and upon seeing them, Han Zhiming and his wife hurried over: ¡°Xiao Zhuang.¡±


    Qiu Yufang tightly held her son¡¯s hand and said, ¡°You¡¯ve gotten darker and thinner, but you look even more robust.¡±


    Han Zhuang smiled honestly, ¡°Mom and Dad, I train every day now, my strength has increased a lot, I eat well, and sleep well, I just sometimes miss you.¡±


    Qin Hao introduced his parents to them, and Qin Youguo said with a smile, ¡°So you¡¯re Xiao Meng¡¯s brother, you really are strong. Mr. Han, from now on you can just live here, and you¡¯ll be able to see your son every day.¡±


    The purpose of Qin Hao¡¯s bringing them here this time was to have them live here. Having the company staff¡¯s family members come would also make the place lively, as it would be annoying for anyone if it were empty.


    He also planned to build the world¡¯s most high-end entertainment facilities here, for the elderly and children to relax and have fun.


    Of course, all kinds of daily necessities were absolutely essential, the food and drink had to be even more comprehensive than outside.


    After showing them around, Qin Hao said to his parents and the others, ¡°Dad, Mom, you guys should live here. Whenever you want to go back, just take a car from the port, I¡¯ll leave a few vehicles for you.¡±


    Qin Youguo nodded, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s really nice here, your mom and I both like it very much.¡±


    Qin Youmin added, ¡°Yes, Xiao Hao, the environment and air quality here are much better than in our country, suitable for long-term living.¡±


    Zhao Xingbo and his wife, Han Zhiming and his wife also nodded. After all, transportation was convenient now; it would take less than an hour to get back if they wanted.


    The greening part here was designed by Qin Hao, and No. 002 and the others made it according to the requirements; it was no worse than those tourist destinations, and perhaps even better.


    Qin Hao directly called for two Air Energy Cars and then parked them on top of the hill, so they could get into a car right outside the villa whenever they wanted to go out.


    Going down from the mountain top, there was also an open-air elevator, the most advanced intelligent elevator.


    This morning, Xinghai Alloy Factory, Star Domain Network General Service, Artificial Intelligence Master Server, Xinghai Advanced Radar Satellite and other facilities all relocated here.


    All sorts of fruits, vegetables, meats, seasonings, and other daily necessities were being transported over continuously. Xinghai Company had many Air Energy Cars, so one day was enough for these tasks.


    After settling his parents and the others, Qin Hao received a call from Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s been an incident.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Hao asked, puzzled.


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°There¡¯s been an incident in Beidou Country. Han Zhiming Group¡¯s Li Tianyu was assassinated and is severely injured. Red Dream Group¡¯s Park Gaoyuan was also targeted, but didn¡¯t suffer serious injuries. Additionally, Yoshida Ichiro from Beihai Country¡¯s the Liusheng Family is critically wounded. These assassins acted almost simultaneously.¡±


    Upon hearing the news, Qin Hao¡¯s brow furrowed slightly: ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao said to his parents, Du Wanrou, Xia Qing, and the others, ¡°There¡¯s been a situation I need to handle. Mom and Dad, I¡¯ll go first. Wan Rou, if you want to leave, just take a car back.¡±


    ¡°Mm, you go deal with your business.¡±


    Qin Hao called Leng Xuan and got into a car together heading for Beihai Country.


    On the way, Qin Hao accessed the video surveillance of the attacks on Yoshida Ichiro, Li Tianyu, and Park Gaoyuan¡ªthese were high-definition videos, and the features of the assassins were very clear.


    The assassin who targeted Yoshida Ichiro used a handgun; there were a total of four assassins, who fired many bullets into Yishida Ichiro¡¯s car.


    The bodyguards in the car died on the spot, Yoshida was shot multiple times, and luckily, the bullets didn¡¯t hit any vital organs directly. However, even so, he was currently hanging by a thread.


    Li Tianyu was leaving the company when he was shot. The bullet from a sniper rifle penetrated a bodyguard¡¯s body and then Li Tianyu¡¯s, causing very serious injuries.


    The attempt on Park Gaoyuan took place at a banquet. The assassin, disguised as a waiter, didn¡¯t severely injure him because Park was cautious and wore a bulletproof vest.


    ...


    After verifying through video surveillance, the assassins who had attempted to kill Liusheng Ichiro had run to a hideout. Qin Hao made a call to Liusheng Shinzi, ¡°Have those assassins been caught yet?¡±


    ¡°No, Master.¡± Liusheng Shinzi replied.


    Qin Hao gave her the location, ¡°The assassins are there, bring more people with you.¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi was extremely shocked in her heart. How could the Master know such detailed information? ¡°Okay, Master, I will send people right away.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao made another call to Li Tianyu, but a woman answered, ¡°Mr. Qin, hello, I am Li Xixue, Li Tianyu is my father.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°How is your father¡¯s condition?¡±


    Li Xixue replied, ¡°He¡¯s still in the intensive care unit.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I will come over in a minute, and I¡¯ve sent the location of the assassin to your phone.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao did not call Park Gaoyuan because that assassin had already died.


    The communication signals used by these assassins were not from Star Domain Network but other satellite signals, so it was still not possible to lock down the organization behind the scenes. This would require a slow and steady investigation.


    About an hour later, Qin Hao arrived at the Liusheng Family¡¯s residence.


    As soon as he got out of the car, a maid came over, ¡°Master, the young lady asked us to wait for you here. We will take you over.¡±


    They led Qin Hao to Liusheng Ichiro¡¯s room where many of the Liusheng Family¡¯s death servitors were stationed outside his room.


    Qin Hao pushed the door open and entered. Liusheng Shinzi, his mother, and the six elders of the Liusheng Family were all inside, furrowing their brows with a look of worry on their faces.


    The Liusheng Family was flourishing these days, yet they hadn¡¯t anticipated such an incident; it was a heavy blow for the family.


    This was because the Liusheng Family did not yet have a new generation of leaders.


    ¡°Master.¡± Liusheng Shinzi saw him approach and spoke respectfully.


    The others, including Liusheng Shinzi¡¯s mother, also called out to him, ¡°Master.¡±


    Qin Hao had them call him this not out of vanity, but to constantly remind everyone in the Liusheng Family of his status.


    Qin Hao glanced at Liusheng Ichiro on the bed, covered in machinery and needles, with only a faint breath remaining.


    He took out a bottle of life potion and handed it to Liusheng Shinzi, ¡°This is the latest gene potion developed by Xinghai Biological Genetic Technology Company. It¡¯s called the life potion. Apart from neurological diseases, it can treat all diseases, including physical injuries. Your father can drink it or have it injected into his body.¡±


    Everyone in the room was looking at the red potion in Liusheng Shinzi¡¯s hand.


    Liusheng Shinzi took out a syringe, drew the life potion into it, and then injected it into her father¡¯s body.


    The others watched Liusheng Ichiro, eager to see if the life potion was as effective as claimed.


    Once the life potion entered his body, it rapidly repaired the injuries.


    Liusheng Ichiro¡¯s pale face gradually gained some color, and in about six or seven minutes, he slowly opened his eyes.


    Zhenzi, her mother Fujii Keiko, and the six elders were immensely shocked after seeing this. It worked, it actually worked!!

 Chapter 707 - 707 708 Mythical Organization

    ?Chapter 707: Chapter 708 Mythical Organization Chapter 707: Chapter 708 Mythical Organization Liusheng Shinzi turned her head to glance at Qin Hao, also showing a deep shock in her eyes.


    Liusheng Ichiro said, ¡°Why has the Master come as well?¡±


    Fujii Keiko hurriedly explained the situation, and Liusheng Ichiro got up from the bed and knelt down on the ground, ¡°Thank you, Master, for saving my life.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke in an indifferent tone, ¡°You are my servant, and only I can decide your fate. No one else is allowed to do that.¡±


    After finishing his words, Qin Hao handed him ten bottles of Life Elixir, ¡°Take these ten bottles of Life Elixir for now, and drink them immediately if anything happens in the future.¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro accepted them cautiously, while a few elders nearby revealed a covetous look in their eyes¡ªthis was something that could save their lives at a crucial moment.


    ¡°Thank you, Master, for the gift.¡±


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°In the future, Xinghai Biological Genetic Technology Company will develop more genetic medicines. As long as you serve me loyally, I can ensure you a life spanning hundreds or even a thousand years.¡±


    Everyone in the room was stunned by his words. Hundreds or thousands of years?


    In the past, they might have been skeptical, but the Life Elixir had already proven his capabilities. Regardless of the disease or the severity of an injury, using the Life Elixir meant they would be fine.


    Such a thing had been beyond their imagination before; perhaps their Master truly could develop such genetic medicines.


    Thinking of this, Liusheng Ichiro and others were thrilled. Who wouldn¡¯t want to live for hundreds or even a thousand years?


    All at once, everyone in the room knelt down: ¡°The Liusheng Family swears allegiance to the Master unto death.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Rise. How confident are we about the election in December?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro pondered before replying, ¡°Currently, we have about a fifty to sixty percent chance.¡±


    ...


    Liusheng Ichiro said, ¡°Master, I do have a plan, but indeed, it requires your assistance.¡±


    ¡°What plan?¡± Qin Hao looked at him.


    Liusheng Ichiro said, ¡°It is impossible for the Aoki Family Head to side with us. If he dies, there will be strife within the Aoki Family over the position of Family Head. My relationship with the Aoki Family¡¯s Aoki Ikaze is not bad. I¡¯ll help him seize the position of Family Head, and then he¡¯ll stand with me.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll have someone take care of the Aoki Family Head. By the way, did you catch those assassins?¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi replied, ¡°They committed suicide by poisoning themselves. They were all well-trained assassins, but we found the distinct mark of the Red Sun Assassin Organization on their bodies.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll make a trip to Beidou Country first. You should recover from your injuries.¡±


    A group of people escorted him to the car, and Fujii Keiko said, ¡°Master, there¡¯s not much for Shinzi to do at home. Let her take good care of you.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Fujii Keiko. Though she was Shinzi¡¯s mother, she didn¡¯t look old, with hardly any wrinkles, mature and sexy with enduring charm.


    ¡°Alright, you all go back.¡±


    Qin Hao, Leng Xuan, and Liusheng Shinzi got into the car, and the Air Energy Car soared straight into the sky upon ignition.


    In the high sky, Qin Hao had the Air Energy Car come to a stop and hover quietly in the air.


    Qin Hao asked Leng Xuan, ¡°Leng Xuan, what do you think our organization should be called?¡±


    Leng Xuan was taken aback and replied, ¡°Mr. Qin, I may be good at killing, but naming is not my forte.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, knowing full well that it was not that Leng Xuan couldn¡¯t come up with a name, but that he truly didn¡¯t dare to take this responsibility, understanding his own status.


    After thinking for a while, Qin Hao said, ¡°What do you think of the name ¡®Mythical Organization¡¯?¡±


    Leng Xuan replied, ¡°Mythical, Mythical Organization, Mr. Qin, that¡¯s a good name, very imposing.¡±


    ¡°Then from now on, we¡¯ll be called the Mythical Organization.¡± Having said that, Qin Hao said to the Air Energy Car, ¡°Search for where the Aoki Family Head is.¡±


    The screen displayed fast-changing images and quickly located a building. The Aoki Family Head was inside.


    Qin Hao handed the first generation Mecha to Leng Xuan, ¡°Use this to kill Aoki Shouta.¡±


    Leng Xuan nodded, ¡°Understood, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Activate.¡±


    Qin Hao uttered the command, and the first-generation Mecha covered Leng Xuan¡¯s entire body.


    The Air Energy Car flew towards the building and eventually stopped above it. Leng Xuan looked at Aoki Shouta¡¯s photo and location on the screen and leapt down.


    Qin Hao originally wanted to blame the Blood Killing Organization, but after some thought, he decided against it, as the organization was backed by the Federation, and the Aoki Family was pro-American. It wouldn¡¯t make sense for them to act against their own.


    About three minutes later, Leng Xuan returned. He got into the car, which then quickly left the area.


    The first-generation Mecha automatically disassembled and returned to Qin Hao¡¯s hands. ¡°Is he dead?¡±


    Leng Xuan nodded, ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡±


    ...


    At that moment, chaos erupted within the building. Aoki Shouta had been killed, a significant event since he was a high-ranking military official in Beihai Country.


    Leng Xuan had left behind a few words: Mythical Organization!


    Arriving at the Li Family¡¯s estate in Beidou Country, as soon as Qin Hao¡¯s car had landed, the security personnel quickly surrounded it, and some even drew their guns at the Air Energy Car.


    Ever since the incident with Li Tianyu, the estate¡¯s security had been tightened several fold.


    Qin Hao and his companions didn¡¯t get out of the car, but soon, high-level personnel of the Li Family arrived. They didn¡¯t need to wonder who had come¡ªit was Qin Hao.


    The only such Air Energy Car in the entire world belonged to Qin Hao.


    Li Xixue hurriedly commanded, ¡°Everyone stand down. This is Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao, accompanied by Liusheng Shinzi and Leng Xuan, stepped out of the car. Li Xixue, seeing Qin Hao, was taken aback for a moment. So, this was Qin Hao? He was indeed very young. She said, ¡°Mr. Qin, please excuse us. Ever since my father¡¯s incident, the estate has been under martial law.¡±


    Qin Hao replied calmly, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Take me to see Mr. Li.¡±


    Li Xixue led Qin Hao and his party into the large villa of the estate. There were many people inside, from the Li Family and also quite a few from the Shuangxing Association.


    Seeing Qin Hao entering, they all turned to greet him respectfully, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao gave them a slight nod and continued to follow Li Xixue inside, eventually reaching the room where Li Tianyu was being treated.

 Chapter 708 - 708 709 Conditions

    ?Chapter 708: Chapter 709 Conditions Chapter 708: Chapter 709 Conditions For world-class conglomerates like theirs, seeking medical treatment at a hospital was out of the question, as they had the most advanced medical equipment and top-tier doctors at home.


    Several doctors were busy in the room, and Qin Hao didn¡¯t go in to watch, he just stood there, watching with an indifferent expression


    He was thinking about whether to save Li Tianyu and, if he didn¡¯t save him, what the risks would be, and if he did, what demands should he make of the Li family?


    Li Xixue looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I heard you are highly skilled in medicine. Is there any way you can save my father?¡±


    Qin Hao was startled for a moment. Did she also know about my medical skills? ¡°I¡¯m not very confident, and Mr. Li is severely injured. It will take a great deal of effort to save him.¡±


    As the daughter of Li Tianyu, Li Xixue, deeply versed in the ways of business, understood the deeper meaning of Qin Hao¡¯s words instantly.


    She hesitated, then said, ¡°Mr. Qin, please come with me.¡±


    Li Xixue led Qin Hao and three others to a room upstairs, ¡°Mr. Qin, please wait here for a moment.¡± After saying that, she left.


    About four or five minutes later, Li Xixue returned with several people.


    Li Xixue began to introduce them, ¡°Mr. Qin, this is my mother Park Huijin, and these three are the elders of our family.¡±


    The position of elder was generally reserved for those with high prestige within the family and came with significant power.


    Qin Hao sat on the sofa and nodded slightly, with Leng Xuan standing behind him and Liusheng Shinzi next to him massaging his leg.


    After sitting down, Park Huijin asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, can you save Tianyu?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Sort of.¡±


    Park Huijin said, ¡°Mr. Qin, our Shuangxing Group is a member of your Xinghai Association. Now that Tianyu has had an accident, as the president, you can¡¯t just ignore it.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°You and the other corporations in Xinghai Association are different; you¡¯re not exactly my confidantes. We look more like collaborators.¡±


    The Li family¡¯s chief elder said, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you suggesting that we become your direct subordinates?¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°No, household servants.¡±


    Expressions changed on the faces of Li Xixue, Park Huijin, and others. Household servants?


    The Li family¡¯s second elder¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you insulting our Li family?¡±


    Qin Hao stated indifferently, ¡°You can think whatever you want. It¡¯s up to you whether to agree or not. Now, as Xuan Country grows stronger, the Federation¡¯s influence in Dongzhou is waning.


    Beidou Country is already showing tendencies of aligning with Xuan Country, and other major groups in Beidou have already reached out to me, TL Group and Dongyu Group, you must know them, right? If we sever ties with you and collaborate with them, do you think your Shuangxing Group can withstand that?¡±


    The Cui family of TL Consortium and the Zheng family of Dongyu Consortium are now the powerful families in Beidou Country, holding more sway than Shuangxing Group and Red Dream Group.


    If Qin Hao were to partner with them, leveraging their authority combined with Xinghai Company¡¯s advanced technology, both Shuangxing Group and Red Dream Group would stand no chance.


    Park Huijin, who was Li Tianyu¡¯s wife and also a part of Hong Meng Group¡¯s the Park family.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°Think it over carefully. Time is running out; I¡¯ll give you only thirty minutes to decide. Now, you may step out and think about it. Also, inform the Park family. I want an answer in half an hour.¡±


    He was preparing for the future; if Xuan Country ever took action against him, he wanted to have resources to retaliate. If not, all the better.


    ...


    The members of the Li Family walked out, and the family¡¯s elder spoke up, ¡°What if we kill him and blame it on an assassin? That way, no one else would know, and our collaboration with Xinghai Company could still continue.¡±


    Li Xixue slowly shook her head, ¡°Elder, do you think Qin Hao is that foolish? Do you think he won¡¯t consider this possibility? If he were so careless, he would have died at the hands of the Federation long ago.¡±


    Li Family Elder, ¡°Then what do we do? Are we truly going to become his servants?¡±


    Park Huijin furrowed her brows, with her husband unconscious, the Li Family was without a leader. What should be done?


    Li Xixue looked at her mother and said, ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you call Uncle and have him come over to see if he has any suggestions?¡±


    Park Huijin made a call to Park Gaoyuan. The two families weren¡¯t far apart, and he arrived soon.


    About half an hour later, Park Huijin walked alone into the room where Qin Hao was.


    She looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, there are some things I¡¯d like to discuss with you alone.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her, ¡°Leng Xuan, Zhenzi, wait for me at the door.¡±


    Only Park Huijin and Qin Hao were left in the room. She walked up to Qin Hao, a faint fragrance wafting through the air.


    Though Park Huijin was in her forties, her skin and figure were well-maintained, making her appear only in her thirties. Mature and sensuous, she could rival Yoshida Zhenzi¡¯s mother, Fujii Keiko.


    Qin Hao looked at her, his expression calm and unstartled, ¡°Miss Park, have you all made up your minds?¡±


    Park Huijin knelt in front of Qin Hao, lifting her head up. Her delicate features gazed at Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, I beg you, please save my husband. I¡¯m willing to do anything if you save him.¡±


    Qin Hao looked down at her, his expression unchanging, ¡°Is this the result of your half-hour deliberation?¡±


    Park Huijin tried to seduce Qin Hao, but he remained unmoved.


    He had to be firm, ¡°If you love your husband that much, why would you resort to this? Beauty tricks won¡¯t work on me. I¡¯m still offering the same condition. I¡¯m giving you another ten minutes to think it over.¡±


    ¡°Ours was a marriage of convenience. He has many women outside, and I can only wait at home every day for him to return, sometimes for several days. I¡¯m asking you to save him because the Li Family cannot afford to lose him now,¡± Park Huijin said, but her hands didn¡¯t stop moving.


    Qin Hao moved her hand away, ¡°You have eight minutes left.¡±


    Park Huijin saw that his expression remained unchanged throughout and felt a bit disappointed. With her figure and face, how could he remain indifferent?


    ¡°Go out and think it over. You only have eight minutes left,¡± he said.


    Park Huijin stood up and walked out, returning to the room. Park Gaoyuan and Li Xixue turned to look at her, ¡°How did it go? Did he bite?¡±


    Park Huijin answered, ¡°No, his tone was very firm. I think he¡¯s determined to make us agree.¡±


    ¡°What should we do?¡± Park Gaoyuan¡¯s brows furrowed deeply.


    If they don¡¯t agree and the collaboration ends, Qin Hao will seek cooperation with other consortia. The outcome for Shuangxing Group and Red Dream Group would be bleak, certainly unable to withstand for long.


    Li Xixue spoke up, ¡°We have no other options now. Either we agree to survive, or we go bankrupt and the Li Family perishes. Without his advanced technology and products, we are just fish on the chopping board, at his mercy.¡±

 Chapter 709 - 709 710 Coercion and Bribery

    ?Chapter 709: Chapter 710 Coercion and Bribery Chapter 709: Chapter 710 Coercion and Bribery Upon hearing Li Xixue¡¯s words, a few people fell into silence. In fact, they didn¡¯t need to agree.


    But should Shuangxing Group and Red Dream Group fall from grace, they would be left with nothing. Then, it would be effortless for TL Group and Dongyu Group to snuff them out.


    They arrived at Qin Hao¡¯s room where Park Huijin and several elders from the Li Family spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯ve thought it over, and we agree to your terms.¡±


    Park Gaoyuan also spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, our Park Family is also willing to become your servants.¡±


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face as he took out a neural control drug from his system backpack and first injected the direct members of the Li Family, then ordered them to administer the drug to the rest of the family.


    Those injected with the neural control drug had to obey Qin Hao¡¯s commands or suffer unbearable full body pain and endure endless agony. If resisted, the neural pain could torture one to death.


    By around noon, all direct members of the Li Family and Park Family had been administered the drug.


    During this time, an elder from the Park Family refused to inject his grandson and was tormented by the neural drug for nearly an hour. If it hadn¡¯t been for Park Gaoyuan¡¯s pleas, the man would have died.


    Having witnessed the drug¡¯s potency, they dared not show any negligence towards the orders given by Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao gave Li Tianyu a life potion and the neural control drug, and he soon regained consciousness.


    Park Huijin, Li Xixue, and others showed a flicker of joy upon seeing this.


    Li Tianyu, seeing Qin Hao, was startled, ¡°Mr. Qin, how come you¡¯re here?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I came at the request of the Li Family to save you. From now on, everyone from the Li Family and Park Family will address me as Master.¡±


    Master? Upon hearing this, Li Tianyu¡¯s expression changed slightly as Qin Hao walked away.


    Park Gaoyuan, Park Huijin, and several elders from the Li Family recounted everything to him. After listening, Li Tianyu let out a long sigh.


    Li Xixue said, ¡°Dad, the young beautiful woman next to him is Liusheng Shinzi, the daughter of the Liusheng Family. It looks like the Liusheng Family is already under his control as well.¡±


    The influence of the Liusheng Family in Beihai Country was growing stronger, and it was very likely that the next leader of Beihai Country would be from the Liusheng Family.


    While they were talking, Park Gaoyuan¡¯s phone suddenly rang. After the call, which lasted a few dozen seconds, he hung up.


    He informed Li Tianyu and the others, ¡°The head of the Aoki Family in Beihai Country, Aoki Shouta, was killed at the military headquarters. The assassin left the words ¡®Myth Organization¡¯ behind. Now the Aoki Family is in complete disarray.¡±


    Li Tianyu and the others were shocked, ¡°With Aoki Shouta dead, the Liusheng Family can use this opportunity to intervene in the Aoki Family¡¯s affairs. They don¡¯t need to control the entire Aoki Family; just gaining the support of half of the family members would ensure a victory for the Liusheng Family in the end-of-year elections.¡±


    Park Huijin exclaimed in surprise, ¡°What¡¯s this Myth Organization of assassins? I¡¯ve never heard of them before.¡±


    Li Xixue, ¡°If my guess is correct, this should be a newly established assassin organization. The person behind it is very likely Qin Hao. He is paving the way for the Liusheng Family to take over Beihai Country. The Myth Organization is truly terrifying to have been able to kill Aoki Koji inside the heavily guarded military headquarters.¡±


    Li Tianyu nodded. Being able to kill Aoki Shouta in such a heavily defended place proved the Myth Organization assassins¡¯ strength.


    At lunchtime, Qin Hao sat with the others, flanked by Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan. Next were the members from the Li Family and Park Family.


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°From now on, your two families should cooperate sincerely. I¡¯ll help you ascend to the throne of Beidou Country. You can also discuss any difficulties you may have.¡±


    Li Tianyu began, ¡°Master, the influence of TL Group¡¯s Cui Family and Dongyu Group¡¯s Zheng Family in the business world has diminished significantly. We have also bribed some political figures, but we are not completely confident about the October elections. We may need to employ certain methods.¡±


    ¡°What methods?¡± Qin Hao asked nonchalantly while eating.


    Li Tianyu, ¡°Intimidation and bribery. Some people just won¡¯t shed tears until they see the coffin.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Do you want me to take care of some people for you?¡±


    Li Tianyu nodded, ¡°Although our Li Family has death servants, their abilities are mediocre. If we leave it up to them, they might mess it up.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Give me a detailed list, and I¡¯ll have someone handle it.¡±


    After lunch, Qin Hao returned to his room, while Li Tianyu had someone compile a detailed list. About ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door.


    ¡°Come in.¡± Qin Hao laid on the sofa while Liusheng Shinzi massaged him.


    Seeing this scene, Li Xixue became even more convinced that the Liusheng Family must have become his servants.


    She approached Qin Hao and said softly, ¡°Master, here is the detailed list of thirty-six people, with their full information.¡±


    Qin Hao called Leng Xuan over, handed him the list, and gave him the prototype mecha, ¡°Take care of this matter.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin,¡± Leng Xuan took the items and left.


    Without leaving, Li Xixue looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Master, our SPAs in Beidou Country are renowned. This massage technique originates from our Li Family. Allow your servant to give you a massage.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Really? Then let¡¯s give it a try.¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi glanced at Li Xixue before giving up her spot to her.


    Li Xixue sat on Qin Hao¡¯s waist and began massaging his back with her hands.


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao commented, ¡°It is indeed quite nice, even more comfortable than Zhenzi¡¯s massage.¡±


    Pouting, Liusheng Shinzi said, ¡°Master, although my massage may not be as good as hers, I am definitely better in other aspects.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true,¡± Li Xixue continued massaging as she spoke.


    Liusheng Shinzi, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, let¡¯s have a competition. Master, I want to compete with her.¡±


    Qin Hao, looking at Li Xixue, noted her height, around one meter sixty-seven, not a voluptuous figure but shapely with particularly long, straight legs complementing delicate features. She was certainly not less attractive than Liusheng Shinzi.


    He inquired of Li Xixue, ¡°This must be your first time, right?¡±


    For big families like theirs, the education and management of children, especially their physical integrity, were extremely strict. Marriages were generally arranged with equals in status. If not a virgin, it could easily offend the alliance family, as they would consider it an insult.


    The status of women was far below that of direct male descendants in the family, a silent consensus common everywhere.


    ...

 Chapter 710 - 710 711 The Matron

    ?Chapter 710: Chapter 711 The Matron Chapter 710: Chapter 711 The Matron Li Xixue began with the warm-up work.


    In another room, Park Huijin asked with some concern, ¡°Can Xixue gain Mr. Qin¡¯s favor? That Liusheng Zhenzi is from the Liusheng Family, and their education in certain aspects is indeed terrifying.¡±


    Park Gaoyuan said, ¡°I¡¯ve already called Shuang Yu, and she will be here soon.¡±


    Li Tianyu spoke up, ¡°Our two families are already his servants, I think we might as well have Xixue and Shuang Yu attend to him.¡±


    Park Gaoyuan nodded in agreement, and just then his phone suddenly rang, ¡°Hello, what is it?¡±


    ¡°Family Head, today Xuan Country announced to the public that they have equipped a hundred of their newest model fighter jets. The new fighter jets are powered by air energy engines and combine H-grade alloy with artificial intelligence technology, surpassing the world¡¯s most advanced fighter jets in terms of payload capacity and performance.¡±


    Air energy engines, H-grade alloy, artificial intelligence technology¡ªalmost all the most important parts of the fighter jets came from Xinghai Company.


    Park Gaoyuan was shocked. The sleeping lion of Xuan Country was finally waking up, and it was they, their master, Qin Hao, who roused this lion.


    Be it in terms of economy or military, the Federation¡¯s influence in the East Continent region was weakening more and more.


    With the new model jets equipped, it seemed the Xuan Country might soon call the shots in the Asian region.


    The voice on the phone continued, ¡°Family Head, there¡¯s another thing. This afternoon, Xuan Country will dispatch ten of their new model jets to escort a shipping convoy to Lijia State, to ensure the safety of the cargo ships. This is a counter to the Federation.¡±


    Park Gaoyuan¡¯s expression froze; Xuan Country¡¯s actions clearly showed they had no fear of the Federation.


    After hanging up the phone, Park Gaoyuan briefed Li Tianyu about the situation, who frowned slightly, ¡°If the Cui Family and the Zheng Family lean toward Xuan Country, Xuan Country would certainly welcome it. With Xuan Country¡¯s support, what should we do?¡±


    Park Gaoyuan fell into deep thought, ¡°Let¡¯s ask our master after he finishes his work.¡±


    Park Huijin spoke up, ¡°Shall I go and ask the master?¡±


    Li Tianyu glanced at her, ¡°Go ahead, after all, Xixue lacks experience, and it¡¯s just right for you to go. Let¡¯s not let our Li Family be outdone by the Liusheng Family.¡±


    Park Huijin smiled coyly, enchanting and charming. She arrived at Qin Hao¡¯s room door where she could hear Xixue¡¯s voice, and then she entered.


    ...


    Around 3:30 pm, the room quieted down.


    After resting for a while and getting dressed, Park Huijin relayed the news from Xuan Country to him, ¡°Master, if the Cui and Zheng families truly turn to Xuan Country, what should we do?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°You do your own things and don¡¯t worry about those.¡±


    Park Huijin nodded slightly, understanding Qin Hao¡¯s implication.


    Later, Li Tiancheng and Park Gaoyuan came in, and after discussing what Park Huijin had just mentioned, Qin Hao told them not to worry about anything, and that the person elected in October must be from the Li Family.


    Seeing his own wife acting affectionately beside Qin Hao, Li Tianyu showed no change in expression. He had plenty of women outside, had even been with other men¡¯s wives, and as long as it would secure the Li Family¡¯s interests, he would agree to give Park Huijin to Qin Hao.


    Li Tianyu said, ¡°Master, the assassin who tried to kill me has been caught, alive. He is a gold medal killer from the Blood Killing Organization.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s gaze narrowed slightly, a sharp light flashing in his eyes, ¡°I understand, have someone thoroughly investigate the Blood Killing Organization¡¯s information.¡±


    After 4 pm, Leng Xuan returned, ¡°Mr. Qin, everything has been handled.¡±


    Qin Hao took out some neural control drugs and handed them to Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan, ¡°This is the medicine you will use. You can also use it to control some people to serve you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan replied as they took the medicine.


    As Qin Hao stood up, he said, ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing else here, I will head back first. Call me if there¡¯s anything.¡±


    ¡°Master, please wait, Shuang Yu is coming in,¡± said Park Gaoyuan toward the doorway.


    A beautiful young girl around twenty years old walked in, looking at Qin Hao as she came.


    Park Gaoyuan spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, this is my beloved daughter Shuang Yu. We are too busy in Beidou Country and don¡¯t have the time to attend to you. We would like Xixue and Shuang Yu to accompany you and serve at your side.¡±


    Qin Hao saw that Park Shuangyu was quite pretty. With his current status, naturally, servant girls by his side couldn¡¯t be unattractive, ¡°Alright, come along then,¡± he said.


    The group escorted Qin Hao to his car, and they didn¡¯t leave until the air energy car disappeared from sight.


    Qin Hao made another visit to the Liusheng Family and gave Liusheng Ichiro some drugs. After finishing up all his business, he then returned to Jianghai City.


    In the Haoting Sea View Villa, Du Wanrou, Xia Qing, and others were all at home. Seeing Qin Hao return with three exceptionally beautiful girls, Du Wanrou and the others were stunned. Then, Qin Hao saw flames almost shooting out of Du Wanrou¡¯s eyes as she became enraged.


    Qin Hao hastily explained, ¡°Wan Rou, let me introduce you. This is Liusheng Zhenzi from the Liusheng Family, this is Li Xixue from Beidou Country¡¯s Shuangxing Group, and this is Park Shuangyu from the Red Dream Group. They are all my maidservants, and these three families are also my maidservants.¡±


    ¡°Greetings to all the madams,¡± said Liusheng Zhenzi obediently.


    Li Xixue and Park Shuangyu, seeing Liusheng Zhenzi¡¯s actions, were startled for a moment but then bowed and said, ¡°Greetings to all the madams.¡±


    Madams? Du Wanrou and the others were taken aback. They are maidservants???


    Qin Hao walked over smiling and said, ¡°They are all maidservants. Meng, just arrange a room for them to stay together, that will do. They can take care of household matters from now on...¡±

 Chapter 711 - 711 711 The Matron

    ?Chapter 711: Chapter 711 The Matron Chapter 711: Chapter 711 The Matron Li Xixue began with some warm-up activities.


    In another room, Park Huijin asked with some concern, ¡°Can Xixue win Mr. Qin¡¯s favor? That Liusheng Shinzi is from the Liusheng Family, and the education they provide in certain areas is quite terrifying.¡±


    Park Gaoyuan replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already called Shuang Yu, and she¡¯ll be here soon.¡±


    Li Tianyu spoke up, ¡°Both our families are already his servants, I think it¡¯s better to let Xixue and Shuang Yu attend to him.¡±


    Park Gaoyuan nodded in agreement. Suddenly his phone rang, ¡°Hello, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Family Head, today HX country announced to the public that it has equipped a hundred of the latest fighter jets. The new fighter jets are powered by air energy engines and integrate H-grade alloy and artificial intelligence technology. They outclass the world¡¯s most advanced fighter jets in terms of payload capacity and performance.¡±


    Air energy engines, H-grade alloy, artificial intelligence technology¡ªthe most critical parts of the fighter jets all came from Xinghai Company.


    Park Gaoyuan was shocked. The sleeping lion of HX, which had been dormant for thousands of years, was finally awakening, and it was their master, Qin Hao, who roused it.


    The influence of West M Country in Asia was becoming weaker in both the economic and military spheres.


    With the deployment of the new fighter jets, HX would likely call the shots in the Asian region from now on.


    The voice on the phone continued, ¡°Family Head, there¡¯s one more thing. This afternoon, HX will dispatch ten new fighter jets to escort cargo to Hei Province to ensure the safety of the cargo ships. This is a counterstrike against West M Country.¡±


    Park Gaoyuan¡¯s expression stunned. By doing this, HX was clearly not afraid of West M Country.


    After hanging up, Park Gaoyuan relayed the news to Li Tianyu, whose eyebrows slightly furrowed, ¡°If the Cui Family and the Zheng Family side with HX, HX would surely be pleased to see that happen. Now with HX support, what should we do?¡±


    Park Gaoyuan fell into deep thought, ¡°Let¡¯s ask the master after he¡¯s finished with his business.¡±


    Park Huijin spoke up, ¡°Shall I go and ask the master?¡±


    Li Tianyu glanced at her, ¡°Go ahead. Xixue doesn¡¯t have experience, and it¡¯s just right for you. Don¡¯t let our Li Family lose to the Liusheng Family.¡±


    Park Huijin smiled sweetly, enchantingly beautiful. She arrived at the door of Qin Hao¡¯s room and could hear Xixue¡¯s voice; then she also walked in.


    ...


    Around three-thirty in the afternoon, peace returned to the room.


    After resting for a while and getting dressed, Park Huijin informed him about the news from Huaxia, ¡°Master, if the Cui and Zheng families really lean towards HX, what should we do?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°You just take care of your own affairs, don¡¯t worry about those things.¡±


    Park Huijin nodded slightly, understanding Qin Hao¡¯s intentions from his response.


    Later, Li Tiancheng and Park Gaoyuan came in. After discussing what Park Huijin had just mentioned, Qin Hao told them not to worry about anything and that the person elected in October must be from the Li Family.


    Seeing his wife affectionately by Qin Hao¡¯s side, Li Tianyu showed no change in his demeanor; he had plenty of women outside and had even been with other people¡¯s wives. As long as it ensured the interests of the Li Family, he would agree to offer Park Huijin to Qin Hao.


    Li Tianyu said, ¡°Master, the assassin who tried to kill me has been captured alive ¨C a gold medal killer from the Blood Killing Organization.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp light flashing in them, ¡°I see, have someone thoroughly investigate the Blood Killing Organization.¡±


    Leng Xuan returned after four o¡¯clock, ¡°Mr. Qin, everything is taken care of.¡±


    Qin Hao handed over some nerve-controlling drugs to Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan, ¡°This is the medication you¡¯ll use. You can also use this to control some people and have them work for you.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, master,¡± Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan took the medication.


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing more here, I¡¯ll head back. Call me if you need anything.¡±


    ¡°Master, please wait a moment, Shuang Yu, come in,¡± Park Gaoyuan called out towards the door.


    A youthful and beautiful girl around twenty years old entered, looking towards Qin Hao as she approached.


    Park Gaoyuan spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, this is my beloved daughter Shuang Yu. We are too busy in East Han Country to attend to you, so we¡¯d like Xixue and Shuang Yu to stay by your side and serve you.¡±


    Qin Hao saw that Park Shuangyu was good-looking, and given his status, naturally, the maids by his side couldn¡¯t be unsightly, ¡°Alright, come with me.¡±


    The group escorted Qin Hao to the car, and they didn¡¯t leave until the air energy car disappeared from view.


    Qin Hao then visited the Liusheng Family and gave Liusheng Ichiro some medications. After finishing these tasks, he finally returned to Jianghai City.


    Inside the Haoting Sea View Villa, Du Wanrou, Xia Qing, and the others were all at home. Seeing Qin Hao return with three exceptionally beautiful girls, Du Wanrou and the others were stunned. Then Qin Hao noticed flames erupting in Du Wanrou¡¯s eyes, as if she was about to erupt.


    Qin Hao quickly explained, ¡°Wan Rou, let me introduce you, this is Liusheng Shinzi from the Liusheng Family, this is Li Xixue from the Shuangxing Group of East Han Country, and this is Park Shuangyu from the Red Dream Group. They are all my maids, and these three major families are also my maids.¡±


    ¡°Greetings to all the ladies of the house,¡± Liusheng Shinzi said obediently.


    Li Xixue and Park Shuangyu, surprised by Liusheng Shinzi¡¯s gesture, also bowed and said, ¡°Greetings to all the ladies of the house.¡±


    Ladies of the house? Du Wanrou and the others were momentarily perplexed. They are maids???


    Qin Hao went over, smiling, ¡°They are all maids. Meng, you can arrange a room for them. They can live together; let the three of them handle household matters from now on...¡±

 Chapter 712 - 712 712 Advanced Technology

    ?Chapter 712: Chapter 712 Advanced Technology Chapter 712: Chapter 712 Advanced Technology Han Meng stood up to arrange rooms for the three of them.


    Du Wanrou looked at Qin Hao with curiosity and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? The Yoshida Family, the Li Family of Shuangxing Group, and the Park Family of Red Dream Group are all powerful conglomerates.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°I have secretly brought the Yoshida Family, the Li Family, and the Park Family under control. This will be our capital for self-protection in the future.¡±


    Du Wanrou nodded slightly, ¡°You are worried about Xuan Country ...¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s better to be safe than sorry. Have some of the company¡¯s important industries already been moved to Pu¡¯er Island?¡±


    Du Wanrou replied, ¡°Most of them have been relocated, along with a large number of employees¡¯ families, because we offer free accommodation and meals. Many employees have agreed to have their families go, and today we¡¯ve already transferred over three thousand people.¡±


    Xia Qing commented, ¡°The environment there is really nice. With more people, it¡¯s going to be lively, and those people probably won¡¯t want to come back.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°I plan to build an intelligent city there and have Mr. Xia and Auntie supervise the construction. Everything here is almost finished except for the decoration. There¡¯s not much left to do.¡±


    Zhao Yuying added, ¡°I also plan to relocate the headquarters of Yuhao Media there.¡±


    Yuhao Media has now become a giant in the international entertainment media, earning a fortune in the entertainment industry with its special effects technology, and has acquired many domestic media companies. It has many top stars under its umbrella.


    The movies produced by Yuhao Media Company are now very famous worldwide.


    Many stars and artists from the Southeast Continent region have also signed with Yuhao Media.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°If you want to move, go ahead. I¡¯ll call Mr. Xia and Auntie right now.¡±


    After saying this, he took out his smartphone, which automatically dialed Xia Yingjie. A few seconds later, the call connected, and Xia Yingjie¡¯s voice came through, ¡°What¡¯s up, Xiao Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Mr. Xia, the Xinghai Building here is almost complete. I plan to develop Pu¡¯er Island into an intelligent city. You and Auntie will be responsible for the development there. I¡¯ll send you the design blueprints in a moment.¡±


    Xia Yingjie replied, ¡°Okay, don¡¯t worry Xiao Hao, Uncle will make sure it¡¯s done well.¡±


    Developing an entire city was something Xia Yingjie had never even dared to dream of before, and he was secretly looking forward to it.


    Xia Yingjie was already equipped with an air energy car, the best of its kind. He hung up and, together with Tian Rong, packed up and set off for Pu¡¯er Island.


    Qin Hao exchanged six million achievement points for an intelligent city design blueprint in the system mall.


    The designs for both the skyscrapers and the residential districts were very detailed, but the most important aspect was the intelligent design of the city. Once built, this city would become the only intelligent metropolis in the world.


    He went to the study, worked on the computer, and nearly an hour later, he finished and sent the blueprints to Xia Yingjie.


    Qin Hao then initiated a video call to Agent 002, and soon Agent 002¡¯s figure appeared on the computer.


    ¡°Master,¡± the electronic voice of Agent 002 sounded.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Is the underwater base almost complete?¡±


    Agent 002 replied, ¡°It should be completed around ten o¡¯clock tonight.¡±


    Suddenly, a figure burst out, ¡°Master, did you miss me?¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback when he saw Agent 001, then quickly understood. Agent 001 had already taken the robots from the original car factory to the underwater base.


    Qin Hao instructed, ¡°With more and more people living on the island, security is a major issue. Remember to have someone patrol 24 hours a day and strictly guard the restricted areas. Don¡¯t let anyone in.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master, I¡¯ve already arranged everything,¡± Agent 001 replied.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°Right now, you guys are unarmed. Later, I am going to give you several research and development technologies. Whatever materials you need, just speak directly to Mr. Chang or Mr. Du to arrange the purchase. Understand?¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao started searching in the system mall. The island¡¯s security measures had to be well established.


    Laser Cannon Defense System Research and Development Technology: Exchange price eighty million achievement points.


    Beam Charging Cannon Long-range Strike Research and Development Technology: Exchange price eighty million achievement points.


    Laser Pistol Development Technology: Exchange price six million achievement points.


    Laser Automatic Rifle Development Technology: Exchange price ten million achievement points.


    F-grade Generation One Mecha Development Technology: Exchange price sixty million achievement points.


    Energy Defense Shield Research and Development Technology: Exchange price one billion achievement points.


    Qin Hao had exchanged for all of these; the underwater base was very large, big enough for No. 001 and others to research and develop, now with over ten thousand intelligent robots, divided into several sections for research.


    He sent each piece of research technology to No. 001 and No. 002, and now the two of them oversaw everything there.


    Six types of high-tech weapon development technologies in total, after Qin Hao sent them, he asked them to develop them in the shortest possible time. With these technologies, Pu¡¯er Island would truly be safe.


    After finishing these, Qin Hao exchanged for two kinds of potions.


    Mental Potion: Cures all neurotic diseases, exchange price ninety million achievement points.


    Body Attribute Genetic Potion: Enhances five points of various attributes, reusable until the body attribute values are maxed out, exchange price one hundred and ten million achievement points.


    Qin Hao sent the research technology for the Mental Potion and the Body Attribute Genetic Potion to Xiaoxing, with the Mental Potion to be developed by the Xinghai Biological Gene Laboratory.


    But for the Body Attribute Genetic Potion, Qin Hao asked Xiaoxing to send some robots to the research base to develop it personally.


    Qin Hao opened the system character attribute panel:


    Name: Qin Hao


    Age: 20


    Gender: Male


    Realm: Fourth Tier Mortal (body initially modified)


    Achievement points: 1.104 billion


    Merit points: 1


    Strength: 40


    Agility: 27


    Intelligence: 28


    Physique: 27


    Skills: National Martial Arts, Medical Skills, Black Technology Abilities, Painting, Gambling Skill, Basketball, etc.


    Items: Invisibility Cloak, Detoxification Elixirs, Invisible X-ray Glasses, Invisible Bulletproof Vest, Ninety-Nine Silver Needles... Laser Pistol, First Generation Mecha.


    As for the merit points, Qin Hao had never understood what they were exactly for and had never seen them increase otherwise.


    Although he didn¡¯t know what use they served, given how difficult they were to earn, Qin Hao felt they must be significant in the future¡ªthis was his intuition.


    The last time he remembered earning a merit point was when he helped capture a criminal.


    Later he also helped Miao Jing capture other criminals, so why hadn¡¯t it increased?


    After coming out of the study, Qin Hao sat down on the sofa, and Du Wanrou spoke, ¡°Xiao Hao, come here and see, they have started fighting.¡±


    ¡°What started fighting?¡± Qin Hao walked over, curious.


    On the TV, several air energy fighter jets were attacking four warships on the sea surface, which bore pirate flags.


    Xia Qing, ¡°Today wasn¡¯t our country¡¯s cargo ship setting sail? They encountered pirates, the latest model fighters are wiping out the pirates.¡±


    Watching the news on the TV, this was the latest satellite live broadcast footage; within seconds, those pirate ships were sunk, and the air energy planes were unscathed.


    The speed and accuracy of the air energy fighter jets were terrifying, missile speeds were also fast; it was impossible to intercept, easy to hit, leaving only the option to passively take hits.


    After watching, Qin Hao pondered, where did the pirates get such large warships from?


    [Third release]

 Chapter 713 - 713 713 Jestefus Phone Call

    ?Chapter 713: Chapter 713 Jestefu¡¯s Phone Call Chapter 713: Chapter 713 Jestefu¡¯s Phone Call Some things are clear but unsaid.


    It¡¯s like human relationships, seeing through things without spelling them out. There¡¯s no need to burn bridges before it comes to a head.


    After four pirate warships were demolished, a few cargo ships only then sailed into these waters.


    The air energy fighter jets had detected the pirates in advance, so the cargo ships had just arrived after the pirates were taken out.


    Many countries were watching this live broadcast, and were greatly stunned by the performance of the new air energy combat aircraft.


    After dinner, Qin Hao spent the night with Zhao Yuying and Fan Ruobing.


    The next morning.


    Qin Hao went to Xinghai Company, and Zhao Yuying went to Yuhao Media Company to prepare for the headquarters relocation.


    Inside Xinghai Company, Qin Hao sat in his office looking at the data on the computer. Although the salaries of Xuan Country¡¯s ordinary citizens had increased by a good amount, there was still a significant gap from eight thousand.


    Today, Xinghai Association had more than sixty major conglomerates from Xuan Country, encompassing nearly seventy percent of the country¡¯s top major corporations across various industries.


    The now influential Ping Sheng Agricultural Seed Company was his maternal uncle¡¯s business.


    His eldest and second uncles also basked in a bit of this glory, but they could not compare with their third brother¡¯s conglomerate.


    His third uncle¡¯s various agricultural seeds were being sold globally, and they were sure to become the world¡¯s number one agricultural seed company in the future.


    Xinghai Association also had an agricultural machinery equipment conglomerate, which had developed automated agricultural machinery equipment that no longer required human labor, all solved by intelligent machinery.


    Now, whether they were farming back home or working elsewhere, people¡¯s incomes were much higher than before, and their living conditions had improved significantly.


    Because it had not been long, the accumulation of wealth was not apparent, but by next year, a significant change would be visible.


    A knock-knock sounded at the door.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Annie walked in from outside, ¡°Mr. Qin, your bank application has been rejected.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback. As expected, the higher-ups no longer wanted him to get more powerful. ¡°Then apply for one in Xiyu Country.¡±


    Annie nodded. If they applied in Xiyu Country, it would be quite a blow if Xuan Country later denied access, but it was the only option left.


    Annie also felt that the people at the top were trying to limit him.


    On this day, the headquarters of the companies under Qin Hao began to relocate, including Jiangshan Group, Xinghai Social Software, and so forth.


    In the morning, Qin Hao thought of something, exchanged for Grade F Metal Refining Technology in the system marketplace, costing him ninety million achievement points.


    He passed this technology to Unit 001, as the new weapons to be produced required this grade of alloy.


    Qin Hao made a call to Leng Xuan, and soon Leng Xuan came in, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Leng Xuan, you¡¯ve been with the Blood Killing Organization before, right? Do you know where their headquarters is?¡±


    Leng Xuan shook his head, ¡°Only some higher-ups know about the headquarters. The place I trained at was just a branch on a small island.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Then go and take down this branch. Let the outside world witness the prowess of the Myth Organization and greatly increase its reputation.¡±


    Leng Xuan took the prototype mecha and drove an air energy car towards a branch of the Blood Killing Organization.


    Qin Hao sat in his office, pondering over the situation in the West Continent. Right now, the influence of both Beihai Country and Beidou Country was slightly too weak. It would be ideal if he could control a few of the big families in the West Continent.


    But how easy could it be to control those major families over there? What method should be used?


    As he pondered, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang. He took it out and saw it was an unknown number, but the caller ID displayed Jestefu.


    Who was Jestefu?


    He answered the call, ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡±


    Jesterfo Ross, upon seeing Qin Hao had answered the phone, cautiously offered a nervous chuckle, ¡°Mr. Qin, hello, I am the Family Head of the Ross family, Jesterfo, and also Sulin¡¯s uncle.¡±


    Qin Hao responded indifferently, ¡°What do you need me for?¡±


    Jesterfo¡¯s face turned a bit awkward upon hearing his tone, but he had no choice, he needed something from Qin Hao now.


    He apologized with a chuckle, ¡°Mr. Qin, is Miss Sulin doing well in Xuan Country?¡±


    ¡°Miss Sulin is doing quite well. If you¡¯re looking for her, you should call her directly,¡± said Qin Hao, making a move to hang up the phone.


    Jesterfo quickly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m calling for you, please don¡¯t hang up yet.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Just get to the point, I don¡¯t like beating around the bush.¡±


    Jesterfo said with a smile, ¡°Our Ross family would like to engage in sincere cooperation with you, Mr. Qin. We can discuss any conditions you may have.¡±


    Qin Hao heard his words and a hint of a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. Any conditions can be discussed?


    He replied, ¡°Mr. Jesterfo, don¡¯t you think it is a bit late for that now?¡±


    Jesterfo pleaded, ¡°Mr. Qin, I was too ignorant before, please give me another chance. Besides, you¡¯re aware of the situation here in the Federation. The business families alone are not enough to influence the situation.¡±


    After thinking for a moment, Qin Hao said, ¡°As you are aware of the current situation, let¡¯s wait and talk about it later.¡±


    The entire world now knew about the situation between the Federation and Xuan Country, even the average person was aware. If he were to collaborate with a group subsidiary of the Ross family now, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if someone labeled him a traitor consorting with the enemy.


    Jesterfo also understood Qin Hao¡¯s intention. His call was genuinely a probe, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve disturbed you enough. Let¡¯s get in touch another day.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Jesterfo looked towards the Family Heads of the Mosi Family, Onassis Family, Robert family, and George Family beside him. This time, these business giants had stood together.


    Whether they were established native families or the newly modern You Tai Family, they had already joined forces to protect their interests.


    They had begun to feel the crisis; if they didn¡¯t react, they would fall from their thrones, lose much, and even end up as obscure small families.


    This was an unacceptable outcome.


    ...


    After hanging up the phone, a faint smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face; the business empire factions of the Federation were finally starting to feel restless.


    Having heard his words, they should seek out the leaders of the Federation to discuss matters.


    Qin Hao was not in a hurry; those people were more anxious than he. Every day of delay was a substantial loss for them.


    Knocking sounds, ¡°Bang bang,¡± rose at the door.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Chang Jing walked in, wearing a black dress, her figure curvaceous. She began, ¡°Mr. Qin, there has been a problem at Xinghai Solar Panel Company.¡±


    In good spirits, Qin Hao admired Chang Jing¡¯s features and figure as he asked nonchalantly, ¡°Mr. Chang, that black charm of yours looks pretty good today.¡±


    Chang Jing gave him a knowing glance, full of allure, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m reporting an issue to you.¡±

 Chapter 714 - 714 714 Miao Jianyuan Gets Caught

    ?Chapter 714: Chapter 714 Miao Jianyuan Gets Caught Chapter 714: Chapter 714 Miao Jianyuan Gets Caught Qin Hao asked with a smile, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Tell me.¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°Miao Jianyuan has been arrested on suspicion of bribery and is now in custody.¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment. ¡°How did that happen? Does he even need to bribe anyone?¡±


    Chang Jing said, ¡°I don¡¯t know the details.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression faltered, and he got up, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll go and see for myself.¡±


    He left the office and then drove to the Jianghai City Police Station. Within a few minutes, he arrived at the entrance of Jianghai City Police Station.


    The skies of Jianghai City were filled with various types of air energy cars, resembling a scene from a science fiction movie.


    Getting out of the car, Qin Hao walked inside. He called Miao Jing since she worked here and should know the situation.


    The call connected quickly: ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Where are you now? Do you know about your father¡¯s situation?¡±


    Miao Jing replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m in the director¡¯s office right now.¡±


    ¡°Come out and meet me; I¡¯m almost at your lobby.¡±


    A few minutes later, Miao Jing hurried down from upstairs.


    She came up to Qin Hao and asked with concern, ¡°Did you come because of my dad¡¯s issue?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her. ¡°Miao Jianyuan is one of my people, and naturally, I had to come over when he got into trouble. What exactly happened?¡±


    Miao Jing hesitated before responding, ¡°It was an order from above. They said my dad used his position at the solar panel factory to network with influential figures for the benefit of his own power plant.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression stiffened; he remembered that Miao Jing¡¯s family¡¯s Nanxing Energy Group was sold. ¡°Didn¡¯t your dad sell the group?¡±


    Miao Jing shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not clear about the details. It looks like he didn¡¯t sell it, but instead handed it over to my mother to manage.¡±


    Qin Hao snorted coldly, not knowing what to say, ¡°Take me to see your director.¡±


    Miao Jing responded, ¡°I¡¯m no longer a police officer. I resigned.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you still wearing that uniform?¡±


    Miao Jing replied, ¡°I just resigned, and I haven¡¯t had the chance to change out of it yet. I can take you to see Mr. Wang.¡±


    The two entered the office building and reached Wang Jiang¡¯s office. Seeing Qin Hao enter, Wang Jiang quickly stood up, greeted him with a smile, and said, ¡°Mr. Qin has arrived; please, have a seat.¡±


    Qin Hao sat on the sofa and asked directly, ¡°Mr. Wang, what¡¯s the situation with Miao Jianyuan?¡±


    Wang Jiang didn¡¯t hide anything and briefly explained Miao Jianyuan¡¯s situation, stating that the evidence was conclusive, which is why the higher-ups had authorized his arrest.


    Qin Hao felt somewhat frustrated; Miao Jianyuan was really bringing trouble on himself.


    But since Miao Jianyuan was his employee, it would not look good for Qin Hao if he ended up being convicted.


    Now at his current status, he needed to consider many things; this arrest had come without any prior notice to him, clearly indicating that it was meant to serve as a warning to him.


    However, everything was done according to procedure, so there was no obligation to inform him.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Mr. Wang, may I see Miao Jianyuan?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Mr. Qin, please follow me,¡± Wang Jiang led him and Miao Jing to the detention room.


    ...


    The door to the detention room opened, and Qin Hao and others entered. Miao Jianyuan was sitting on a chair, his expression dull and lifeless.


    Seeing Qin Hao and his daughter enter, he quickly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I know I was wrong. Please save me.¡±


    Qin Hao looked unimpressed, ¡°Do you still have the face to ask me for help? What did you tell me at the beginning? You better reform yourself while inside.¡±


    Miao Jing, seeing her father¡¯s wrinkled face, wanted to say something but didn¡¯t.


    Miao Jianyuan pleaded, ¡°Mr. Qin, I really do recognize my mistakes.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at him coldly and said to Miao Jing and Wang Jiang, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    He walked out of the police station, and Miao Jing followed him. Qin Hao got into the car, and she got in as well.


    Qin Hao looked at her, ¡°Why are you following me?¡±


    ¡°I... I don¡¯t know what to do,¡± Miao Jing stammered.


    Qin Hao said indifferently, ¡°What can be done? Were you not a police officer before? Don¡¯t you know what should be done?¡±


    Miao Jing¡¯s voice was soft, ¡°But it¡¯s my dad.¡±


    Seeing her guilty look, Qin Hao said smilingly, ¡°Officer Miao, I didn¡¯t expect you to say such things. I remember when you investigated me, you weren¡¯t like this.¡±


    The air energy car slowly started, flying towards Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Miao Jing looked at him, ¡°Mr. Qin, I know you are extremely capable. Could you please save my dad? He is your man too, and if he gets arrested, it wouldn¡¯t reflect well on you either. People who don¡¯t know might think it¡¯s a move against you.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled lightly, ¡°Act against me? Do you think they would dare? My Xinghai Association controls nearly a hundred large corporations, with tens of millions of employees, and indirectly benefits nearly a thousand companies. To put it bluntly, with a single command, I could collapse the market economy.¡±


    His statement was not an exaggeration, but a fact.


    The current market economy has developed in this way, with almost every industry being monopolized by the Xinghai Association. Small businesses, unable to compete in terms of product quality and scarcely offering cheaper prices, have been gradually eliminated.


    Given the current market development, perhaps each industry might eventually have only one colossus remaining.


    These giants will sustain many companies and employees related to them. The market has its finite needs, and the closure of smaller companies does not result in unemployment.


    When small businesses shut down, large companies expand to fill the market demand, and this expansion involves hiring more employees.


    In essence, this too is a monopoly, but it is the rule of market development, which is unstoppable.


    The outcome of a hundred schools of thought contending is the survival of the fittest; the inadequate are eliminated, and the capable survive.


    The market economy of Xuan Country is developing this way, with the members of the Xinghai Association holding advanced technology licenses. The weak either exit or get acquired.


    Xinghai Company parking lot.


    Qin Hao got out of the car, and Miao Jing followed him. She said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, I know of your capabilities. If only you would intervene, my dad would surely be fine.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her, ¡°But there is a price to pay. Do you understand why I should sacrifice my interests to save him? This is the consequence of his own actions.¡±


    Back in the office, Miao Jing looked at Qin Hao, who was seated at his desk. After hesitating, she walked over to him, blushing, and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, as long as you save my dad, I¡¯m willing to do anything.¡±


    Qin Hao glared at her, ¡°You already owe me one from last time, big sister. Have you forgotten?¡±


    Miao Jing was at a loss for words and said, ¡°Then... then I can wear the uniform a few more times...¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°You should go back first. Let me think about this.¡±


    Miao Jing watched him, biting her lip, ¡°Mr. Qin, you must save my dad.¡±

 Chapter 715 - 715 715 They All Want to Get on Board

    ?Chapter 715: Chapter 715: They All Want to Get on Board Chapter 715: Chapter 715: They All Want to Get on Board Qin Hao, seeing her pitiful appearance, felt somewhat helpless, ¡°Let me think about it; you go back first, and I¡¯ll give you an answer tonight.¡±


    Miao Jing nodded and then left, glancing back three times with every step, worried that Qin Hao might ignore her father¡¯s plight.


    He sat in his office, pondering Miao Jianyuan¡¯s situation¡ªwhat should he do? Should he save him?


    If so, how should he go about saving him? There was much to learn in this.


    ¡°Bang bang,¡± the sound of knocking came, and Chang Jing walked in from outside.


    She looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, some of the important headquarters of our Xinghai Company have already moved to Pu¡¯er Island. Qingyun and her team also want to move their headquarters there.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Those who want to go can, but they must pay a fee. After all, more people means more expenses. As for how to charge them, Mr. Chang, you determine that.¡±


    The members of the Xinghai Association were only moving their headquarters there, which had no impact on the domestic economy. Remote control was sufficient.


    Nowadays, video conferencing was very common, and there was hardly any difference from meeting in person in a conference room.


    Chang Jing nodded slightly, ¡°Mr. Qin, what about Mr. Miao¡¯s situation? What do you plan to do?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I¡¯m still considering. Mr. Chang, what do you think I should do?¡±


    Chang Jing thought for a moment and said, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not a big issue. That person spoke unintentionally, which led to his arrest. It¡¯s not just Miao Jianyuan; many were apprehended. With your influence, a few words should clear everything up.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Chang Jing, ¡°Really?¡±


    Chang Jing placed a folder on his desk, ¡°This is the latest list of applicants for membership sent to me by Qing Ya and Silin.¡±


    Qin Hao opened the folder with a puzzled look and glanced through it. There were about twenty corporate groups listed, familiar major conglomerates, and also some medium to large groups.


    Chang Jing, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you know the backgrounds of these groups?¡±


    Qin Hao took a few looks and said, ¡°I recognize a few, all backed by influential figures from Xuan Country.¡±


    Chang Jing smiled slightly, ¡°Exactly, all these groups are backed by influential figures from Xuan Country. They want to get on board with you and have you help them make money. If they join the Xinghai Association, the issue with Miao Jianyuan will naturally be resolved.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at the list and their business scopes and nodded slightly, ¡°Alright, let them join. I will give them some licenses for advanced technology later, but Miao Jianyuan must also be punished. Have him donate his Nanxing Energy Group.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t condone such arrogance¡ªMiao Jianyuan had to be punished.


    Nanxing Energy Group was worth tens of billions now, enough to cause Miao Jianyuan a significant sting.


    After making the decision, Qin Hao phoned Miao Jing, ¡°I can get your father out, but as punishment, your family must donate the Nanxing Energy Group.¡±


    Miao Jing, hearing this, was overjoyed. She didn¡¯t care about the corporate group; as long as her father was safe, that was all that mattered, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Miao Jing told her mother, Zhao Chunmei, ¡°Mom, Mr. Qin promised to save dad, but he wants us to donate Nanxing Group.¡±


    Zhao Chunmei¡¯s expression froze, ¡°The entire Nanxing Group?¡±


    ¡°Mom, what are you worried about at a time like this? If dad can¡¯t come out and continue to follow Mr. Qin, do you think Nanxing Group is still worth anything?¡± Miao Jing couldn¡¯t help but raise her voice.


    Zhao Chunmei, ¡°Xiao Jing, I¡¯ll listen to you, and prepare the share transfer immediately.¡±


    Soon, the share transfer at Nanxing Energy Company was completed, and all shares were transferred to the state.


    ...


    After one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Leng Xuan returned, with the protection of an original generation Mecha, the mission completed very smoothly.


    The backers of the Blood Killing Organization were the commercial tycoons of the Northern Federation, but now those tycoons are bowing down to Qin Hao, so the Blood Killing Organization will no longer dare to touch Qin Hao¡¯s people.


    If they dared to mess with Qin Hao¡¯s people again, they would be digging their own graves, courting their own destruction.


    Latter, Qin Hao spent one hundred and ten million achievement points to exchange for more than a dozen items, all for use by the companies that had newly joined the Xinghai Association.


    The various advanced technologies he is now rolling out cover nearly every industry, and if this continues, in a short time, Xuan Country will become the first country in the world to fully enter the intelligent era.


    After finishing work at five o¡¯clock, Qin Hao left his office and saw Chang Jing and Annie coming out. He asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Wan Rou?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°She went to handle work on Pu¡¯er Island. A lot of companies have just moved there, and they need someone to guide and manage them. Moreover, they lack a manager there, so Wan Rou went over this afternoon after she picked up her parents.¡±


    Annie added, ¡°Wan Rou saw you were busy and didn¡¯t want to disturb you. Would you like to join us for dinner, Mr. Qin? Mr. Chang is treating.¡±


    ¡°No thanks, I¡¯d rather go home.¡±


    Annie said with a smile, ¡°Right, Mr. Qin has several lovely wives waiting at home. We won¡¯t keep you then.¡±


    ...


    On his way home, Qin Hao received a call from Miao Jianyuan, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m out. Do you have time? My wife has already prepared dinner, why don¡¯t you come over and join us for a meal?¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Then wait for me at home, I¡¯ll be over in a while.¡±


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao arrived home and only saw Han Meng, Liusheng Shinzi, Li Xixue, and Park Shuangyu there.


    ¡°Master, you¡¯re back.¡± Liusheng Shinzi ran over to greet him immediately.


    Qin Hao asked Han Meng, ¡°Meng, where are Ruobing and Xiaoqing?¡±


    Softly, Han Meng replied, ¡°Xiaoqing and Ruobing took Qiao¡¯er to Pu¡¯er Island. They said they¡¯d stay there for a few days.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Oh, they didn¡¯t even tell me. By the way, Meng, I¡¯ll be going out later. You all just eat at home, and remember to listen to Meng¡¯s words.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Liusheng Shinzi and the other two responded respectfully.


    He walked out of the villa and headed on foot to Miao Jianyuan¡¯s homey, which wasn¡¯t far from theirs.


    After knocking on the door, Miao Jianyuan quickly opened it, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    With a neutral expression, Qin Hao glanced at him and then walked in, sitting down on the sofa. Miao Jianyuan hurriedly made tea and poured water, ¡°Mr. Qin, have some water.¡±


    ¡°The entire group was donated away, do you feel heartbroken?¡±


    Without hesitation, Miao Jianyuan shook his head, ¡°No, I don¡¯t. Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve seen through it all now. I have realized the severity of my mistakes, and I will never make this kind of mistake again.¡±


    ¡°What do you plan to do in the future?¡± Qin Hao asked nonchalantly as he took a sip of water.


    Miao Jianyuan¡¯s arm trembled slightly upon hearing his question, spilling the hot water and exclaiming in pain.


    He quickly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance, I really won¡¯t make this kind of mistake again.¡±


    Qin Hao gazed at him with profound and bright eyes, ¡°I¡¯m asking what you plan to do?¡±

 Chapter 716 - 716 716 Suicide by Hanging

    ?Chapter 716: Chapter 716: Suicide by Hanging Chapter 716: Chapter 716: Suicide by Hanging Miao Jianyuan hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I would like to go to Pu¡¯er Island to help you manage the solar panel factory.¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t immediately answer, but sat there, sipping tea.


    After Miao Jianyuan was captured, he truly regretted his actions, so much so that his intestines were nearly green with remorse. Given another chance, he definitely would not do those things again.


    Seeing Qin Hao in thought, Miao Jianyuan hesitated for a moment before saying softly, ¡°Mr. Qin, Xiao Jing said you were here and she¡¯s asking you to go upstairs, she needs to see you.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°She¡¯s at home? I thought she had gone out. Whatever it is, she can just come down and say it.¡±


    Miao Jianyuan explained, ¡°Xiao Jing has been sick since this afternoon, running a fever with dizziness, and she¡¯s still lying in bed now.¡±


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go and have a look, I remember she was fine during the day.¡±


    He walked up to the second floor and arrived at Miao Jing¡¯s bedroom door, knocking lightly.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Miao Jing¡¯s voice sounded from inside.


    Qin Hao pushed open the door and walked in, greeted by a faint scent, with the room decorated very elegantly.


    The smart air conditioning in the room was on, and Miao Jing was laying in bed under the covers: ¡°Close the door, please, I¡¯m cold.¡±


    Cold? If you¡¯re cold, why is the air conditioner still on?


    Qin Hao closed the door and walked over, ¡°Weren¡¯t you perfectly fine during the day? What has made you sick? And what did you want to talk to me about?¡±


    Just as he approached the bed, Miao Jing got up from it. She was dressed in her work clothes, and her attire was their summer uniform.


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, his eyes widening as he looked at her...


    ¡°Miao Jing, what are you doing?¡±


    Miao Jing¡¯s face was flushed, ¡°Paying back debts. Today, I¡¯ll pay back everything I owe you. From now on, my family and I will be square with you, and so will I.¡±


    ...


    Downstairs in the living room, Zhao Chunmei had finished preparing dinner and sat on the sofa, sighing, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault. If it weren¡¯t for you, your daughter wouldn¡¯t be doing this.¡±


    Miao Jianyuan gave her a disdainful glance, ¡°What do you know? Do you realize how influential he is now? Do you know the true purpose behind his development of Pu¡¯er Island?¡±


    Upon hearing her husband¡¯s words, Zhao Chunmei¡¯s expression flickered, ¡°What purpose?¡±


    Miao Jianyuan said, ¡°Many of Xuan Country¡¯s advanced military technologies are supported by him. He¡¯s someone who will conquer the entire planet in the future, do you understand now?


    If he can help Xuan Country develop various advanced military technologies, then he can certainly create even more advanced things. In developing Pu¡¯er Island, I believe he¡¯s researching his own interests. In the future, he¡¯s very likely to become the ruler of the planet. Do you think our daughter will be at a loss following him?¡±


    ...


    The couple waited in the living room for a good one and a half hours, and damn, the food had gone cold.


    Zhao Chunmei said with confusion, ¡°Why haven¡¯t they come down yet? What are they doing?¡±


    Miao Jianyuan: ¡°Cough cough, what could they be doing? You needn¡¯t ask.¡±


    ¡°But does it need to take one and a half hours?¡±


    Miao Jianyuan felt a bit embarrassed, ¡°Mr. Qin might be a bit extraordinary in this regard.¡±


    As they were speaking, Qin Hao came down from upstairs, alone.


    Seeing Qin Hao coming down, Miao Jianyuan smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, please take a seat and rest for a while. Let¡¯s have dinner.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Mr. Miao, in the next few days, you and Auntie head to Pu¡¯er Island. You¡¯ll be in charge of the solar panel factory there.¡±


    Miao Jianyuan¡¯s face brightened, ¡°Okay, Mr. Qin, I guarantee I won¡¯t make mistakes again.¡±


    After dinner, Qin Hao took some food upstairs. Miao Jianyuan and Zhao Chunmei exchanged glances, a hint of elation in their eyes. Mr. Qin was quite considerate after all.


    Qin Hao carried the food to the upstairs bedroom, where Miao Jing was lying down. When she saw him come in, she looked over.


    The truth is, when she saw the food in his hands, Miao Jing felt rather touched deep down. After all, he wasn¡¯t the type to just wipe his mouth clean and walk away after eating.


    Qin Hao sat on the edge of the bed and said to her, ¡°Have some food.¡±


    Miao Jing said to him, ¡°You don¡¯t need to bother with me anymore. We¡¯ve settled our debts, and from now on, let¡¯s go back to how things were before.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°First of all, the money you borrowed from me is enough to hire several top-tier celebrities. You think you can clear it all at once? By market top rate, it would take at least ten years, right?¡±


    Ten years?


    Miao Jing¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°You¡¯re shameless.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed heartily, ¡°Have some food. You¡¯ll need the energy to hit me afterward.¡±


    ...


    Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and the construction of Pu¡¯er Island was becoming more and more complete. Under Xia Yingjie¡¯s leadership, one building after another soared into the sky, along with many oddly-shaped, iconic structures.


    Current specialists would find it incredible if they saw this, as they would think it defied the knowledge of physics in construction.


    Now Xia Yingjie was using newly produced construction materials for these buildings, solid and setting quickly, while the decoration materials were also the most advanced, pollution-free, and harmless.


    Nowadays, a new building could rise from the ground on Pu¡¯er Island in just a day.


    The current person in charge of the situation on Pu¡¯er Island was Du Wanrou. Now, she was the direct manager of the entire island, overseeing everything.


    With half a month¡¯s development, the Xinghai Association¡¯s influence in the Southeast region had grown increasingly significant, taking control of many countries¡¯ markets.


    Although many national governments felt some resentment, they were powerless. Their products were superior in all aspects, and the prices were people-friendly; they simply couldn¡¯t compete.


    Qin Hao was in his office looking at the computer when 001 sent him a video, ¡°Master, we have now produced laser pistols and laser rifles.¡±


    ¡°How many have been produced?¡±


    001: ¡°Ten laser pistols and ten laser rifles, tested by the laboratory, and the power is as described in the development technology you provided.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Start mass production. How¡¯s the research on the island¡¯s Laser Cannon Defense System coming along?¡±


    001 replied, ¡°It¡¯s also nearly ready for production, about another ten days or so.¡±


    After hanging up the video call with 001, Chang Jing suddenly came in from outside, exclaiming, ¡°Mr. Qin, you need to see the news right now.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at her curiously and opened the computer¡¯s news to read: The leader of the Northern Federation was found dead by hanging at his residence around one o¡¯clock this morning.


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 717 - 717 717 Energy Weapons

    ?Chapter 717: Chapter 717 Energy Weapons Chapter 717: Chapter 717 Energy Weapons When he saw the news, Qin Hao was taken aback. Hanged himself?


    Chang Jing spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, could this be the handiwork of those business oligarchs from the Northern Federation behind the scenes? These days, I often see news reports about ordinary workers in the Northern Federation protesting and demonstrating due to unemployment issues. The direction of public opinion is heavily controlled by those business oligarchs.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. Aside from those capital oligarchs, who else could wield such terrifying power?


    They probably hadn¡¯t reached a consensus, so those capital oligarchs took action. For the sake of profit, they indeed can do anything.


    In the past, there had been investigations online claiming that the leader of the Northern Federation was often referred to as: the position with the highest mortality rate.


    Looking back, many leaders died from assassinations or sudden serious illnesses, among other things.


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Jestefu, ¡°Mr. Qin, did you see today¡¯s major news?¡±


    Qin Hao responded indifferently, ¡°Just saw it.¡±


    Jestefu said, ¡°Mr. Qin, moving forward, we will elect a new leader, and some of our foreign policies are bound to undergo significant changes. If there is anything else you are dissatisfied with, you can bring it up with us, and we can continue to discuss it.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Okay, I can see your sincerity. Let¡¯s talk about specific cooperation after you handle your affairs.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Chang Jing looked at him and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, here are the profit details of the company from last month.¡±


    It was now August, and in July, Xinghai Company had made over 500 billion in profits, while Xinghai Holding Company had made over 400 billion. The profits from the previous month were nearly one trillion.


    However, expenditures on Pu¡¯er Island were also significant, especially the construction and research costs of the underwater base, which reached over 200 billion each month.


    This included base construction, production of Grade F alloy metals, robot production, and investment in various research materials, among other things.


    Many weapons and equipment were currently being produced; these were things that only required funding without bringing any returns. As long as Qin Hao kept producing, he had to keep investing money.


    The production of robots had been continuously increased by Qin Hao, and now the total monthly production capacity of robots could reach more than five thousand.


    Now, in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes, money was truly just a string of numbers, without any real significance.


    Chang Jing asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, with so much money being spent each month, where are you investing it?¡±


    Qin Hao looked up at her, his gaze deep and bright, ¡°Mr. Chang, this is classified. Do you want to know?¡±


    Chang Jing¡¯s face revealed a smile, ¡°Currently, there are tens of thousands of intelligent robots on Pu¡¯er Island, but they are virtually invisible on the surface. Undoubtedly, those robots must be inside the underground base. Mr. Qin, you must have developed a massive underground base.¡±


    Hearing her analysis, Qin Hao¡¯s smile did not diminish. Knowledge of the intelligent robots was limited, and they were all transported secretly. Given her position as a senior executive, it was normal for Chang Jing to deduce this.


    Chang Jing continued, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Mr. Qin, with such secretive operations, you must be researching something important, like military equipment, weapons, and so on.¡±


    Qin Hao stood up, walked over to her, and lightly embraced her slender waist, ¡°Being too smart isn¡¯t always a good thing.¡±


    Chang Jing¡¯s cheeks blushed, but she remained composed, looking at the close Qin Hao, ¡°I think it¡¯s a good thing. If I weren¡¯t smart, Mr. Qin, why would you hire me?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°You¡¯re saying this now because you just want to become one of my people, right?¡±


    Chang Jing nodded directly, ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t want to go from being a core member of your staff to an outsider.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Are you trying to seduce your boss in the office?¡±


    ¡°I suppose so.¡± Chang Jing looked at him with a smile and leaned down to kiss him.


    ...


    Fortunately, the office glass was the latest kind, which cannot be seen through from the outside, but from the inside, it offered a clear view outside, even at a distance of several hundred meters through the glass, much like a magnifying glass.


    This latest model of glass was not only bulletproof but also had various other functions.


    The smart lock on the door automatically locked itself while the two were embracing, and it couldn¡¯t be opened from the outside.


    After the deed, Qin Hao said to her, ¡°You¡¯ve gotten your way.¡±


    Chang Jing¡¯s cheeks were flushed, her voice as soft as a mosquito¡¯s, ¡°Hurry, let¡¯s go out. I¡¯m exhausted and need to rest.¡±


    Qin Hao carried her to the bed inside, feeling somewhat tired himself; they lay down together.


    Chang Jing sighed deeply, turned her head towards Qin Hao, and asked, ¡°Can you tell me now what you are producing in that base?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Energy weapons.¡±


    ¡°Energy weapons?¡± Chang Jing¡¯s eyes flashed with confusion.


    Military weapons still belonged to the age of automatic cannons, yet Qin Hao was researching energy weapons, which would belong to the future¡ªno pollution and relatively strong destructive power.


    She suddenly remembered something, ¡°Is it like the energy weapons in Mechanical Soldiers?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Exactly that kind.¡±


    Chang Jing eagerly asked, ¡°Then, in the future, will you also develop interstellar warships? The kind that can travel through space.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Chang Jing looked at him, ¡°Are you an alien? How could you come up with so many high-tech innovations?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m an alien, and the children you will have will be aliens too.¡±


    ...


    It was half an hour later when they finally stopped.


    After resting for a while, the two emerged from the room.


    Seeing how Chang Jing walked slowly, Qin Hao felt a bit amused, ¡°Work in my office, I¡¯m going out for a bit.¡±


    ¡°What for?¡± Chang Jing asked curiously.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°To check on the Xinghai Building. I heard they¡¯ve finished renovating over a hundred floors already, just the lower hundred floors left to do.¡±


    He left the company and took an air energy car to the roof of the Xinghai Building, a vast area resembling a football field, specially equipped for the landing of air energy cars, complete with trees, flowers, a swimming pool, and more.


    Descending from the car, Qin Hao looked outside the building, surrounded by clouds and mist, resembling an Immortal Realm.


    He then went down from the top floor to the 188th floor corridor, which was splendidly decorated and luxurious. Entering his appointed room, he looked around and found it to be very satisfactory, meeting his requirements.

 Chapter 718 - 718 718 Looking for a job

    ?Chapter 718: Chapter 718 Looking for a job? Chapter 718: Chapter 718 Looking for a job? Qin Hao watched for a while, then drove off. Currently, the person in charge here was one of Xia Yingjie¡¯s subordinates.


    When he learned that Qin Hao had arrived, he immediately ran out from the building, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°How many more days will it take to complete the work?¡±


    The man replied, ¡°About half a month, during which we will order various kinds of furniture for the upper floors.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Try to improve the efficiency. Don¡¯t worry about spending money, hire more people.¡±


    After leaving the Xinghai Building, Qin Hao went back home. Now, only Han Meng and Liusheng Shinzi were left in the villa.


    His life was very peaceful now, with almost no enemies. All the tycoons in the world¡¯s business circles needed him; no one would dig their own grave by troubling Qin Hao.


    They all hoped Qin Hao would cooperate with them to make a profit and maintain their current status.


    In the Northern Federation, the Ross family, the Mosi Family, the George Family, the Onassis Family, and the Robert family were preparing for the new leader¡¯s election, and this time they were putting up one of their own.


    The election would take at least half a month, Qin Hao could wait. The longer, the better, because it would give him more power and capital.


    Who would he fear once the energy weapons were launched?


    Sitting on the couch, Qin Hao watched the TV. The news anchor was discussing an event: ¡°According to the Northern Federation Observatory, their astronomical satellites have detected that tomorrow there will be a large meteor shower globally, with an estimated hundreds of meteors.¡±


    ¡°The Northern Federation is preparing for the new election event and will announce the results in early September.¡±


    ¡°The Asian Alliance meeting is about to convene, with more than ninety percent of the Eastern Continent countries participating, mainly discussing military and economic cooperation in certain areas.¡±


    ¡°Conflict has flared up again between the Eastern Continent and the Western Continent Black Region; Beiluo Country deployed a large number of fighter jets and bombers to strike against the Saiya Country opposition, causing heavy casualties among the opposition forces.¡±


    Beiluo Country saw the Northern Federation was preoccupied with internal issues and began their powerful counterattack.


    They seized this opportunity to completely eradicate the Northern Federation¡¯s influence in the Eastern and Western Continent Black Regions.


    Although the Northern Federation was leaderless, it still had institutions like parliament, which responded immediately. They wouldn¡¯t dare touch Xuan Country, but who said they couldn¡¯t deal with you?


    ¡°Xiao Hao, come eat,¡± Han Meng called out to him from the kitchen.


    Qin Hao and Han Meng sat there eating, while Liusheng Shinzi stood by. They would wait until Qin Hao had finished before they ate.


    After dinner, Qin Hao made a video call to his mother, and he found that Du Wanrou, Xia Qing, Fan Ruobing, and Qiao¡¯er were also there.


    ¡°Mom, have you eaten yet?¡±


    Mrs. Qin, smiling, said, ¡°We have eaten. Xiaoqing cooked the meal. Xiao Hao, have you eaten?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I just ate, how are you all doing over there?¡±


    Mrs. Qin, still smiling, said, ¡°It¡¯s really good here, much better than back home. Your father and I have grown to like it here. Now there are more people, and it¡¯s very lively.¡±


    Qin Hao and his mother chatted for a while, and later Han Meng also spoke with Qiao¡¯er and Mrs. Qin.


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao watched TV for a while and then said to Han Meng, ¡°Meng, I¡¯m going to rest now. You should rest early too.¡±


    Han Meng nodded lightly, saw Qin Hao go upstairs, and then she also went back to her room.


    The next morning.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao stepped out of the villa and saw Miao Jing walking towards the exit of the community. He called out, ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Miao Jing glanced at him, snorted, and continued walking away.


    Qin Hao watched her retreating figure as he got into the air energy car and slowly followed her; there wasn¡¯t much happening at the company, so he had time to spare.


    He followed Miao Jing out of the residential area. Seeing him trailing her, Miao Jing stopped, turned around, and the car came to a halt, the door swinging open.


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°Get in, I¡¯ll take you wherever you are going.¡±


    Miao Jing hesitated for a moment then climbed into the car. Her parents had already gone to Pu¡¯er Island, and she had been alone at home these days.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Where to?¡±


    Miao Jing replied, ¡°I¡¯m going job hunting.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback by her response. ¡°Need money? There are ten billion in this card, just take it and use it as you need.¡±


    Miao Jing glanced at him, ¡°I don¡¯t want your money. Just take me to Maosheng Group.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled without saying anything and directed the air energy car towards Maosheng Group. A few minutes later, they reached the Maosheng Group building in Jianghai City.


    Getting out of the car, Qin Hao followed her inside. Miao Jing turned around and said, ¡°You must be busy, right? I can go to the interview by myself.¡±


    ¡°The company isn¡¯t that busy these days, so I¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡±


    Once Miao Jing was inside, Qin Hao took out his phone and called Li Qingya, ¡°Notify all companies under Xinghai Association as well as those companies we have interests in not to hire a person named Miao Jing.¡±


    After ending the call, a smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face as he sat in the air energy car waiting for Miao Jing.


    About half an hour later, Miao Jing came out, her expression not looking too good.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°How did it go? Did you pass the interview?¡±


    Miao Jing shook her head, ¡°No, they said I wasn¡¯t suitable.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°What position were you applying for? Your previous job was a police officer; no company position really matches that, does it?¡±


    Miao Jing replied, ¡°I used to help out at my dad¡¯s company during school vacations; I can manage things without a problem.¡±


    Latter, Miao Jing went to many other groups and companies, but none were successful.


    Qin Hao told her, ¡°It¡¯s getting dark; how about we go home after this one?¡±


    Miao Jing, feeling dejected, had received more blows in one day than in decades; she had no confidence left at all.


    She weakly nodded and then walked into Ren Yi Group.


    Qin Hao sat in the air energy car, his face wearing a smile, thinking that even if she went to a thousand companies, the result would be the same. Xinghai Association¡¯s influence in Xuan Country was unimaginable; even if they were not members of Xinghai Association, their companies had collaborations with member companies of Xinghai Association¡ªno one would dare to offend them.


    While he was waiting for Miao Jing to return, the display screen of the air energy car suddenly lit up, ¡°Master, several hundred unidentified objects are approaching from outer space; they are estimated to enter Earth¡¯s outer space in half an hour and the atmosphere in forty minutes.¡±


    ¡°What kind of objects are these unidentified objects?¡± Qin Hao curiously asked.


    Xiaoxing replied, ¡°Because the radar navigation satellites¡¯ primary function is not to monitor space, the specifics are still unclear; we will be able to detect more once the objects enter Earth¡¯s outer space.¡±


    ¡°Continue monitoring.¡±


    Qin Hao had not yet researched space-related matters, other than the Star Domain Network signal reception and transmission devices and radar satellites, he hadn¡¯t worked on other stuff; now it seemed that he had to fully engage in these matters.


    As he contemplated, Miao Jing came out, and unsurprisingly, no one dared to hire her.


    Back in the car, Miao Jing thought more and more that something was amiss. After visiting dozens of group companies in one day, how could every single one of them have the same response?


    [A lot of things happened today; moving tomorrow early morning, updates will return to normal after the day after, continuing with four updates per day]

 Chapter 719 - 719 719 Unknown Object

    ?Chapter 719: Chapter 719 Unknown Object Chapter 719: Chapter 719 Unknown Object She glanced at Qin Hao, and Qin Hao was also looking at her, smiling and saying, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    Miao Jing: ¡°Was it you who sabotaged me behind my back? Otherwise, how could dozens of conglomerates all reject me? At the very least, I¡¯m a graduate from a key university.¡±


    Without admitting or denying, Qin Hao said, ¡°If you really want a job, why not come to my company? The benefits are good, the potential for development is great, and who knows, you might become the boss one day.¡±


    ¡°No thanks, just take me back,¡± Miao Jing said with a pout, feeling a bit sullen.


    Qin Hao commanded the Air Energy Car to fly upwards: ¡°I heard there¡¯s going to be a meteor shower today, let¡¯s go have a look.¡±


    In his heart, he was actually very curious about what those unidentified objects were. Could they be the same type of things as before?


    Previously, on the beach outside the Haoting Sea View Villa District, a piece of D-grade metal debris had fallen. Could it be the same kind of stuff this time?


    There used to be a saying on the internet: One might only know three percent of the world, and ordinary people might only understand point three percent of it; there are many things people simply don¡¯t know.


    Many people attribute phenomena on Earth that science can¡¯t explain to alien civilization technology.


    In Qin Hao¡¯s view, the existence of alien civilizations is beyond question, but whether Earth had contact with alien civilizations in the past, he couldn¡¯t be sure.


    If they had, why would they have left?


    The universe is so vast, with countless stars. It¡¯s improbable that Earth is the only planet with life. There are certainly many others; it¡¯s just that Earth¡¯s technology is limited and hasn¡¯t discovered them yet.


    Now, as twilight approached and the sky hadn¡¯t darkened yet, they quickly arrived high in the sky.


    This was the limit for the Air Energy Car; if it flew out of the atmosphere, the air would become thinner, and eventually, it would lose power.


    An Air Energy Car relies on the presence of air. If it reaches a place without air, then it would be of no use.


    Miao Jing looked through the transparent sunroof at the outside, where the western sky was adorned with a red glow, like a fiery cloud, magnificently breathtaking.


    At the moment, the display inside the car showed a view of outer space, with irregular objects flying towards them.


    Some of these objects were as black as ink, some shone with a silver luster, and others blazed with a golden brilliance...


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, staring at the objects on the screen.


    Miao Jing also noticed and curiously asked, ¡°What are those things?¡±


    With a grave expression, Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°They¡¯re from outer space, but what exactly they are, I¡¯m not too sure.¡±


    ¡°From outer space?¡± Miao Jing¡¯s eyes gleamed with curiosity.


    These objects were not at all affected by the buoyancy of outer space; they were made of a special kind of alloy metal that isn¡¯t influenced by the invisible forces and buoyancy of the orbital paths in space.


    This is also the main reason some of them can reach Earth.


    The moon acts as a barrier for Earth, and on the far side of the moon, there should be more of these unidentified objects.


    Some of these objects are massive, like a building, while some are as small as a fist.


    These are all special alloy objects. Earth¡¯s atmosphere shouldn¡¯t have much effect on them.


    When meteorites fall, they are eroded by the atmosphere and end up as a very small piece. But these are special alloys, and the friction caused by the atmosphere won¡¯t have much of an impact on them, and won¡¯t wear down their size.


    Soon, those objects entered the atmosphere, and the high-speed friction generated heat energy that formed a scorching flame on their surface.


    People below began to see it: ¡°Look quickly to the west, is that a meteor? It¡¯s so spectacular.¡±


    ¡°There are some in the north, and some in the south too.¡± People all around the world had seen it.


    Countless individuals stood still on the streets, gazing upward at the sky, as hundreds of meteors streaked by, a spectacular sight that was rare to witness over many years.


    Qin Hao and Miao Jing watched from inside the air energy car, with Miao Jing admiring the meteor shower.


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao was contemplating. There definitely weren¡¯t any alien civilizations on the planets near Earth; these objects must have drifted over from far away.


    Based on estimates, these things could very likely have been floating in space for a very long time before they reached Earth.


    If they hadn¡¯t been floating for a long time, that would mean an alien civilization was very close by, and it would be impossible for them not to have discovered Earth.


    There was only one explanation, that the alien civilization was far away, and Earth was still an undiscovered planet with life.


    The alien civilization might have been clashing with other alien civilizations, then these fragments of warships drifted along with the void and floated over here.


    The war might have taken place a long time ago, perhaps they had already settled their differences by now, or maybe the cease-fire had begun, or it could even be that they were still fighting!


    The meteor shower lasted for quite some time, about thirty minutes or so, and they fell all over the world: in the Federation region, Lijia State region, Xuan Country, Beiluo Country, Western Continent region, and more.


    However, the Federation had a greater number of them.


    Radar monitoring satellites recorded all the quantities in detail¡ªthere were a total of six hundred eighteen pieces. Over three hundred fell in the North and South Mizhou region, while another three hundred fell in the Eastern Continent and Western Continent Black Region.


    According to Qin Hao¡¯s estimate, they should all be some special metals, which even if obtained, wouldn¡¯t be much use, as they would still be impossible to study.


    To start making sense of them would take at least several decades or even a century.


    After finishing his thoughts, Qin Hao looked at Miao Jing, who was also looking at him, then his gaze shifted downward, resting on her protruding parts.


    Miao Jing¡¯s cheeks flushed red: ¡°What are you looking at, haven¡¯t you seen them before?¡±


    Qin Hao hadn¡¯t sought her out these days, deep down she actually felt a tinge of anger, feeling uncomfortable.


    Qin Hao smirked, ¡°How could I have not seen them, I even held them.¡± After speaking, he rose and sat beside Miao Jing, his hand encircling her waist.


    Miao Jing¡¯s cheeks were crimson, and she twisted her body slightly, pretending to struggle.


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao laughed and said, ¡°Do you miss me? I¡¯ve been busy with company stuff these days, you have to understand.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Miao Jing turned her head away. Busy? I think you¡¯ve been busy with those young beauties in the villa.


    Qin Hao¡¯s hands roamed as Miao Jing half-resisted and half-welcomed his advances, soon falling under his relentless onslaught.


    The two engaged in a fierce battle tens of thousands of meters in the air; the back seat folded down into a large bed, which was very convenient.


    Once again feeling Qin Hao¡¯s vigor, Miao Jing felt blissful and experienced the sensation of soaring once more.


    An hour or so later, the car became quiet again, the two embracing each other, with Miao Jing now like a little woman, once more conquered by Qin Hao.


    ¡°Master, Du Wanrou called you just now, but I intelligently intercepted it.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Then call Wan Rou back.¡±


    The call went through quickly, and Qin Hao asked, ¡°What¡¯s up, Wan Rou?¡±


    Du Wanrou spoke, ¡°Do you know about the meteor shower just now? There was an unidentified object that fell close to Pu¡¯er Island, and I¡¯ve already had 001 retrieve it to the island. Come over and take a look, it looks like a cockpit.¡±

 Chapter 720 - 720 720 Life Saver

    ?Chapter 720: Chapter 720 Life Saver Chapter 720: Chapter 720 Life Saver Cockpit?


    Did a cockpit fall from outer space? Impossible, right?


    Qin Hao immediately realized the gravity of the situation and quickly asked, ¡°What¡¯s inside? Is there anyone in there?¡±


    Du Wanrou replied, ¡°I can¡¯t see.¡±


    Qin Hao hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯m heading over now, wait for me there.¡±


    The air energy car headed to Pu¡¯er Island immediately, after hanging up the phone, Miao Jing curiously asked, ¡°Did she say that the meteor that just fell was a cockpit?¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°That wasn¡¯t a meteor; it¡¯s a type of advanced alloy used in constructing interstellar warships.¡±


    Miao Jing felt even more confused, ¡°Advanced alloy? Interstellar warships? What are those?¡±


    Qin Hao patiently explained, ¡°They are from alien civilizations, understand? The universe is infinitely vast; there¡¯s definitely more than one planet with life. In the grand scheme of the universe, Earth is probably just a speck of dust.¡±


    ¡°Are there really aliens?¡± Miao Jing curiously asked.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°There should be, but they are very far from Earth, and they probably don¡¯t even know that Earth exists.¡±


    Miao Jing nodded slightly upon hearing his words; she had encountered such incidents before when she was a police officer¡ªcommonly known as UFO incidents.


    She began speaking, ¡°Speaking of this, I remember something. About four or five years ago, when I had just become a police officer, I encountered one of these cases. A construction team reported finding fragments of a flying vehicle while digging an underground project. Later investigations revealed that it wasn¡¯t a flying vehicle from this world, and eventually, the military took it away.¡±


    The journey from Jianghai City to Pu¡¯er Island was still quite lengthy, taking about forty to fifty minutes to reach Pu¡¯er Island.


    The two took this opportunity to rest for a while. After the air energy car arrived at Pu¡¯er Island, it flew directly deep into the island where a door in the mountainside opened, and the air energy car flew inside, and the metal door automatically closed behind them.


    The air energy car parked, and Qin Hao and Miao Jing got out, surveying the inside of the base.


    The base was lit with countless lights, exceedingly bright, and everywhere, H-grade alloy was used, incredibly sturdy.


    ¡°Master,¡± at the entrance of the base, a dozen robots stood holding the most advanced laser weapons.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Where are Wanrou and the others? Lead me to them.¡±


    ¡°Master, please follow us,¡± two of the robots led the way as others continued to stand guard.


    They led Qin Hao to an elevator that descended about six or seven stories underground.


    Miao Jing curiously asked, ¡°Qin Hao, what place is this?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°The underwater base on Pu¡¯er Island.¡±


    Exiting the elevator, the space below was even more extensive. The two followed through, soon seeing the underground ocean¡ªyes, an ocean¡ªbut with the latest type of glass preventing the seawater from coming in.


    However, this view had a significant visual impact on Miao Jing; the base was truly spectacular.


    They soon arrived at a large laboratory where Du Wanrou and others were present, with an elliptical object the size of a house placed on the floor.


    Du Wanrou, 001, and 002 were gathered around it, studying it.


    Seeing Qin Hao entering with a woman, she paused and then asked, ¡°Who is this?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°She¡¯s the daughter of Miao Jianyuan, Mr. Miao, and her name is Miao Jing. She was a police officer in Jianghai City. Miao Jing, this is the Wanrou I told you about.¡±


    Miao Jing glanced at Du Wanrou, ¡°Hello, Miss Du.¡±


    Miss Du nodded slightly, ¡°Hello, Miss Miao.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao walked up to the oval object and touched it, ¡°Xiao Ying, can you take a look at what this is?¡±


    Xiao Ying, ¡°Master, this is supposed to be an escape pod used on battleships, akin to the lifeboats on ships, intended for escaping.¡±


    An escape pod? Does that mean there are people inside?


    What about the objects that fell elsewhere? Could they also be similar?


    Qin Hao involuntarily took a few steps back, ¡°There aren¡¯t aliens inside, are there?¡±


    Xiao Ying, ¡°There indeed are, but they have been dead for a long time. This escape pod had been drifting for nearly a thousand years; the nutrient solution inside has long been depleted, and the person inside has starved to death.¡±


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, ¡°How do you open this thing?¡±


    Xiao Ying, ¡°This is now ownerless, and a life-saving device like this shouldn¡¯t have any self-destruct system. From its current state, it appears to have activated the sleep system to reduce energy consumption. To open it, you would need to wake it up.¡±


    ¡°How do you wake it up?¡±


    ¡°Forcefully dismantle it, and it will wake up from its sleep mode and should automatically open.¡±


    After understanding, Qin Hao said to No. 001 and No. 002, ¡°Dismantle this thing for me forcefully.¡±


    No. 001 nodded, ¡°Master, please wait a moment; we have high-powered laser equipment here. I¡¯ll get someone to bring it over for cutting.¡±


    It sent the message through the network directly, and soon after, four robots came in pushing a laser cutting device.


    Qin Hao stood a few meters away, with Du Wanrou and Miao Jing beside him.


    Curiously, Du Wanrou asked, ¡°Qin Hao, is this the cockpit?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°This is a life-saving device, similar to lifeboats on a cruise ship, used for emergency escapes. It even has aliens inside; you¡¯ll see them in a moment.¡±


    ¡°Aliens?¡± Du Wanrou and Miao Jing appeared stunned at the remark. Are there really aliens?


    Once the laser cutting machine started, it began cutting through the life-saving device, which was made of F-grade metal, just within the capabilities of the cutter.


    But as soon as they started, the whole pod began to tremble, and Qin Hao waved his hand, signaling those nearby to step back.


    The life-saving pod opened up like a seashell, resembling a gaping mouth, with a man lying underneath, dressed in a military uniform of unknown origin, skin pallid and features refined, comparable to the young celebrities outside.


    Since their genetic technology for humans was so advanced, it was normal for him to look attractive.


    Qin Hao and the others took a few steps forward, then stared at the man inside the pod.


    Suddenly, an image appeared in front of Qin Hao and the others, a figure materializing in the air, using virtual imaging technology. It was like a diary, recording the man¡¯s life.


    ¡°I am Major Finn from Lei Meng Duchy in the Nolan Star System. Our military was ambushed by the Silver Star Free Federation in the Nolan Star System, sustaining heavy losses. I escaped the battlefield in this life-saving pod, but a Beam Cannon hit, and the star navigation system failed. I drifted into the Southern Wasteland Star System.¡±


    ...


    ¡°To conserve the nutrient solution, I underwent cryosleep, letting the life-saving pod¡¯s AI search for a way home. By the time I woke up, over two hundred years had passed, and the nutrient solution was gone. I could only hold out for a few more days.¡±


    ¡°I feel my strength waning. Am I going to die? The Southern Wasteland Star System really is uninhabited; there¡¯s nothing here... ¡±

 Chapter 721 - 721 721 Showing Up at the Door

    ?Chapter 721: Chapter 721: Showing Up at the Door Chapter 721: Chapter 721: Showing Up at the Door The image vanished quickly; those were the person¡¯s last words.


    From this footage, Qin Hao received several messages. There is a place far from them named Nolan Star System, as well as two nations, Lei Meng Duchy and Silver Star Free Federation.


    And the galaxy they were in seemed to be called Southern Wilderness Star System.


    Most importantly, how far was the person adrift before he reached here from Earth?


    Had the war over there ended already? Had people already started to develop the Southern Wilderness Star System? After all, almost a thousand years had passed.


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Team 001, go ahead with your tasks.¡±


    Only Qin Hao, Du Wanrou, and Miao Jing remained inside the laboratory. Miao Jing curiously asked while looking at the alien man, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t his body decayed?¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°The body¡¯s genetic structure has changed, which probably prevents decay.¡±


    After finishing, he continued, ¡°I¡¯m going to Xinghai Company¡¯s laboratory.¡±


    He left and arrived at Xinghai Company¡¯s laboratory using the underground elevator. You could access the company¡¯s lab from the base, but without authentication through fingerprints, retinal scans, face recognition, etc., one couldn¡¯t enter the base from the lab.


    Qin Hao found He Tingting and said to her, ¡°Find some smart and capable people, then go to work in the underwater base¡¯s lab to research extraterrestrial high-tech weapons.¡±


    He Tingting nodded slightly. She selected about sixty people, each of whom was among the elite here. Chen Ping was also among them. After studying and researching these past days, Chen Ping had shown exceptional talent.


    From now on, they would live inside the base. Unless there were special circumstances, they were not permitted to leave the underwater base. The internet signals and Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing would also filter to ensure no secrets of Pu¡¯er Island were leaked.


    Qin Hao led He Tingting and the group into the base. First, they went through retinal, facial, fingerprint, and voice authentication, which would serve as their proof for entering and exiting in the future.


    If outsiders attempted to intrude, the base¡¯s self-protection system would activate. Laser weapons would be engaged, ensuring no one could escape.


    Finally, they arrived at the laboratory, where Du Wanrou and Miao Jing were still present.


    Qin Hao introduced to He Tingting and the others, ¡°You all must have seen today¡¯s meteor shower, right? This is one of the pieces that fell near Pu¡¯er Island. It¡¯s an extraterrestrial civilization¡¯s survival pod, and inside is an extraterrestrial.¡±


    Upon hearing this, He Tingting and the others looked startled and turned their heads to look at the alien inside the survival pod.


    Qin Hao added, ¡°From now on, your task is to research various future high-tech weapons. Currently, the base has produced laser weapons, pistols, automatic rifles, and in a few days will produce a Laser Cannon Defense System, Beam Recharge Cannons (for long-range striking), etc. I will hand over the complete production technology of these weapons to everyone to study and learn.¡±


    Everyone was shocked upon hearing his words. Laser weapons? Were laser weapons produced here?


    Wang Bo, Mr. Wang, asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, can we take a look at the laser weapons?¡±


    ¡°Of course, you can.¡± After saying that, he had Team 001 bring in the laser weapons.


    In Team 001¡¯s hands were two weapons, one pistol and one rifle.


    They set up several Grade H composite steel plates.


    Team 001 stated, ¡°These are currently the world¡¯s most advanced alloy steel plates, two centimeters thick. I don¡¯t need to elaborate on their hardness, but even a bomb can¡¯t shatter them. Now, let me first show you the Laser Pistol.¡±


    Everyone watched as he held the laser pistol in his hand. 001 walked a distance, and with a ¡°whoosh,¡± a glow lit up, sending a white beam straight at those several H-grade metal plates.


    ¡°Hisss¡±


    The first H-grade alloy steel plate was penetrated, the second was barely penetrated, and the third was untouched, but this was enough to prove the terror of the laser pistol.


    After firing the pistol, 001 introduced it, ¡°This is a laser pistol. Inside it, there is a laser energy resonator that can continuously generate laser energy from a distance for the laser pistol. Its firing speed is not very fast.¡±


    He then took out an automatic laser rifle and, with several ¡°whoosh whoosh whoosh¡± sounds, a few beams were fired at an extremely high speed, much more powerful and efficient than the pistol.


    Wang Bo and the others were incredibly shocked to see it. Laser weapons had actually appeared, and it was truly unbelievable.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Currently, these weapons have already begun being mass-produced. In the future, everyone here can study these things. However, for the sake of secrecy, no one is allowed to leave the underwater base without permission. Anyone who does will be automatically destroyed by laser weapons, so don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡±


    After giving instructions to them, Qin Hao, Du Wanrou, and Miao Jing left the base and went directly to the villa on top of the mountain.


    Fan Ruobing, Xia Qing, Zhao Yuying, and Qiao¡¯er were all there. When they saw Qin Hao and the others come out of the elevator, their faces froze for a moment.


    Qiao¡¯er ran over with a smile, ¡°Daddy, how come you¡¯re here too? Did you miss Qiao¡¯er?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°Yes, Daddy missed you, so he came over.¡±


    In the evening, Qin Hao instructed the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing to investigate the unidentified objects that had fallen. He was concerned that other life-saving devices might have fallen elsewhere.


    The next morning, Qin Hao received a message from Xiao Xing with detailed information and pictures of the unidentified objects from the day before.


    Qin Hao looked it over carefully. There was only one object like the life-saving device, and the rest were other things that Qin Hao did not understand.


    He stayed on Pu¡¯er Island for a while, as there was nothing pressing back home, and he spent some time with his parents.


    About half a month later, the Laser Cannon Defense System had been completed, and the Beam Recharge Cannon was still being manufactured, but it was about to be produced.


    That day, Qin Hao received a call from Chang Jing. Someone from the higher-ups in the Xuan Country wanted to meet with him.


    Qin Hao returned by air energy car. Miao Jing had not returned; she had found her work on the island, overseeing the entire island¡¯s security, while Du Wanrou was in charge of government affairs.


    Upon reaching Jianghai City¡¯s Xinghai High-tech Company, several people in black suits waited for him in the reception room. The visitor was Wang Qingkong, the secretary of Su Jiayi¡¯s grandfather, a very influential character.


    Qin Hao walked into the reception room, saw Wang Qingkong, and sat down with Chang Jing.


    He said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Wang, what brings you to me?¡±


    Wang Qingkong¡¯s expression remained neutral, betraying no emotion. In a calm tone, he said, ¡°I¡¯m here because there are some important matters I¡¯d like to discuss with Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Just say what it is,¡± Qin Hao responded coolly.


    Wang Qingkong looked at him with hawk-like eyes, sharp as ever, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Mr. Qin has a base on Pu¡¯er Island?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him indifferently, ¡°What about it?¡±

 Chapter 722 - 722 722 The Changes in Su Jiayi

    ?Chapter 722: Chapter 722: The Changes in Su Jiayi Chapter 722: Chapter 722: The Changes in Su Jiayi Wang Qingkong continued to ask, ¡°I don¡¯t know what Mr. Qin¡¯s base is used for?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, ¡°Do I need to tell others about that? I bought it from the hands of Ban Guo Country. You can take a look at the contract, that is my place, it doesn¡¯t belong to any country, I can do whatever I want there.¡±


    Wang Qingkong recalled the instructions from above and suppressed his anger, ¡°Mr. Qin, don¡¯t forget that you are still a citizen of Xuan Country.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t forget that. The blood of Yan and Huang flows in my veins.¡±


    Wang Qingkong spoke up, ¡°You should be very familiar with Colonel Huang Qiuyue, right? From now on let her take care of your safety, since you are an important national figure, and your security needs to be enhanced.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    Wang Qingkong: ¡°The Federation up north has already chosen a new leader, and they have also withdrawn their previous foreign policies. I wonder, Mr. Qin, what do you think?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It has nothing to do with me, that¡¯s their own business.¡±


    Wang Qingkong looked at him and said, ¡°The higher-ups hope that Mr. Qin will continue to maintain the current state and not engage in any commercial cooperation with the Federation.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Our company will naturally come to a decision on this matter.¡±


    By now, Qin Hao was considering not just the affairs between countries but the technological progress of the entire planet.


    What he needed right now was to make money. Only with sufficient funds could he develop more advanced weapons.


    The laser weapons currently being produced consumed a large amount of money every day, spending money like water. Fortunately, the companies under him were making money fast enough to afford such expenditures.


    He still needed to research many more high-tech weapons, which would be even more costly, and he must expand the market. The wealthy people in the Federation were numerous, how could he possibly give up on that?


    Wang Qingkong was very dissatisfied with his response, but there was nothing he could do, only to report the situation to the higher-ups for them to decide.


    After seeing Wang Qingkong off, Chang Jing said to him, ¡°Mr. Qin, this approach isn¡¯t good for you.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°I know, but I must continue in this way.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Chang Jing was somewhat puzzled.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Because I need to strengthen myself. Do you want to entrust your fate to others? By the way, has the Xinghai Building finished its renovations yet?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°Today is the last day of the acceptance inspection. Once it¡¯s checked, it will be all set, and we can move in at any time. Mr. Qin, when do you think would be a good day for the ribbon-cutting ceremony?¡±


    Qin Hao indifferently said, ¡°Any day is fine, the day after tomorrow works.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Let¡¯s wait for the results of today¡¯s inspection then. If there¡¯s no issue, the ribbon-cutting will be the day after tomorrow.¡±


    Back in his office, Qin Hao checked up on Su Jiayi¡¯s information. She had already left Pu¡¯er Island and returned to Jianghai City.


    The records of arrivals and departures on Pu¡¯er Island, along with phone communication records, were very detailed. No information could be transmitted out from the island by phone, and the only person who left the island was Su Jiayi.


    The information must have been relayed to Xuan Country by Su Jiayi.


    He made a phone call to Su Jiayi: ¡°Mr. Su, where are you?¡±


    Su Jiayi replied, ¡°In Jianghai City.¡±


    ¡°Come to Xinghai High-tech Company, I need to talk to you about something.¡±


    Today, Xinghai Biological Genetic Technology Company announced a matter: currently, our company has developed two genetic medications, Life Gene Potion and Mental Gene Potion, which can cure all diseases and neurological disorders. The medications have been evaluated by world-renowned authorities, and there are no issues such as false advertisements. Currently, they are available for pre-sale online, priced at ten thousand Xuan Country Coins per dose.¡±


    ...


    This news shook the global web. Biological genetic medications? Can cure all diseases?


    Qin Hao also mentioned it on Wei Yan, his reputation was very early, and with him stepping forward to confirm, many people would believe.


    The price of ten thousand yuan is not expensive; it is costly for the people in Lijia State but relatively affordable in other regions.


    Currently, the medications can only be purchased online in the Xinghai Mall, and later, special air-powered transport vehicles will deliver the goods.


    With Qin Hao¡¯s confirmation, many people logged onto the Xinghai Mall to check this medication. Detailed instructions stated it could cure all diseases. Should the medicine prove ineffective, Xinghai Company would provide a hundred times compensation.¡±


    Xinghai Mall and social software are not very widespread in the international market, but with the permeation of smart items, Xinghai Social Software and Xinghai Mall will occupy a larger market share.¡±


    Many people abroad began downloading Xinghai Mall, now handling various smart items, whereas other e-commerce platforms had no smart items for sale.


    This was the sales strategy crafted by Lv Tian, and its effect was very notable; the download numbers abroad were immense, and it dealt a significant blow to foreign e-commerce groups and social software providers.¡±


    Now, the market in the Federation has also allowed Xinghai Social Software and Xinghai Mall to launch, almost dominating half the landscape of Federation¡¯s social software and e-commerce platforms in just a few days.¡±


    Today, the Zheng Family¡¯s air-powered large aircraft was put into service. The speed of the air-powered aircraft was very fast, which would save many people travel time.


    Many domestic and international airlines are ordering these air-powered aircraft, just in the aircraft industry alone, contributing over a hundred billion Xuan Country Coins per month to the Zheng Family and Qin Hao.¡±


    As Qin Hao browsed the internet news, his phone rang. It was a call from Jestefu of the Ross family: ¡°Mr. Qin, can we talk about collaboration now?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve seen the sincerity from Mr. Jestefu. Let¡¯s set a time. I¡¯m just tied up here in Jianghai City for the next couple of days.¡±


    Jestefu: ¡°Mr. Qin, you can decide the time.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°August 8th. Let¡¯s discuss it on Pu¡¯er Island.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, we¡¯ll see you on August 8th.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Su Jiayi walked in from outside, not even knocking on the door. She went straight to the sofa and sat down.


    Qin Hao could tell that the current Su Jiayi was fundamentally different from before. Her demeanor was much more restrained than before, not as arrogant and domineering. Now, her facade seemed forced, as if lacking in confidence.


    He got up and walked to Su Jiayi¡¯s side, which made her nervous. What was he going to do? Was he going to do that sort of thing to her again?


    ¡°What did you call me here for?¡± Su Jiayi asked hastily.


    Qin Hao began, ¡°You leaked the information about Pu¡¯er Island, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Su Jiayi explained, ¡°What do you mean, leaked? I just told my family about the situation there. Did it involve company secrets? Can¡¯t I even talk about that?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°What about the Mental Gene Potion?¡±


    Su Jiayi: ¡°Since you already know, why bother asking me? Yes, I got the formula for the Mental Gene Potion and handed it over to the country, to prevent you unscrupulous capitalists from making money.¡±

 Chapter 723 - 723 723 Huang Qiuyue Arrives

    ?Chapter 723: Chapter 723: Huang Qiuyue Arrives Chapter 723: Chapter 723: Huang Qiuyue Arrives Qin Hao sneered, ¡°I¡¯m a heartless capitalist? My actions speak for themselves. What have you done?


    From where do you get the audacity to criticize me? You¡¯re the kind of person who can only talk but is good for nothing else. Let me ask you, have you ever run a hotel or a company in Jinchen City? How many people in need have you helped? How much money have you donated?¡±


    Rendered speechless by Qin Hao, Su Jiayi pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°The cost of Life Potion and Spirit Potion is just a few thousand yen, but you sell it for ten thousand yen. Aren¡¯t you being greedy?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°A few thousand in cost, plus labor, transportation, packaging, and so on. Is ten thousand yen too much? Compared to previously, when hospital visits could easily cost hundreds of thousands, I charge ten thousand yen to cure all ailments. Do you think that¡¯s expensive?¡±


    Su Jiayi huffed, ¡°All the logic seems to be with you, say what you will.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just asking to be straightened out,¡± Qin Hao said as he pulled her up and then dragged her to the desk.


    Struggling slightly, Su Jiayi asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ...


    ...


    Over half an hour later, the office regained its calm. Qin Hao said, ¡°You remember what you said earlier, right? If you¡¯ve forgotten, I can remind you now.¡±


    Su Jiayi said, ¡°You bully, you only know how to pick on me. Don¡¯t you know how to appreciate and cherish beauty?¡±


    The corners of Qin Hao¡¯s mouth lifted in a slight smile, ¡°Just obey me well from now on, and I¡¯ll certainly cherish you.¡±


    Pouting, Su Jiayi said, ¡°When have I ever disobeyed?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I won¡¯t hold the matter about the Life and Spirit Potion formulas against you this time, but if there¡¯s a next time, I¡¯ll have to punish you severely.¡±


    Later, the pair got dressed. Su Jiayi didn¡¯t leave, and instead lay down on the couch to rest.


    At noon, Qin Hao, Chang Jing, and Su Jiayi ate lunch together. Chang Jing was a smart person; she gleaned something unusual from Su Jiayi¡¯s gaze.


    Could something have happened between her and Mr. Qin?


    As she ate, Chang Jing said, ¡°Mr. Qin, everything at the Xinghai Building has been checked, and there are no problems. The floor plans for each level are also ready. How are we going to sell these residential units?¡±


    With the building¡¯s 188 floors, minus the levels for banks, supermarkets, hospitals, and schools for commercial use, there are still over two hundred residential floors left, with twenty households per floor¡ªthat adds up to over four thousand units.


    Each unit is roughly about 120 square meters, with none too large or too small; they are all something like that.


    At least a few hundred thousand people could live in that building.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and then said, ¡°We should reserve some of the apartments for our company¡¯s employees first, then for Xinghai Association company employees, and afterward, for others.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, at what price should we set them?¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°What¡¯s the current average price per square meter for residential buildings close to Xinghai Building?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°The average nearby is around 51,000 per square meter. I think we can set a higher price here. In every aspect of quality, those residential communities can¡¯t compare with ours.¡±


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, ¡°How can the prices still go up? What¡¯s the Xinghai Association doing about it?¡±


    Chang Jing explained, ¡°Mr. Qin, in a super-metropolitan like Jianghai City, where mainly wealthy people live, every inch of land is extremely valuable, and it¡¯s hard to reduce prices.


    The people from Xinghai Association mainly influence the housing prices in third and fourth-tier cities and towns, which have dropped by over thirty percent. Now, with ordinary employees earning considerable salaries, buying a house after a few years of hard work isn¡¯t difficult.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°We can offer a substantial discount to our own employees. You handle that.¡±


    Chang Jing estimated that these apartments could fetch over twenty billion. Most of the commercial floors were owned by Qin Hao¡¯s companies.


    With so many residents, the mall, hospital, school, hotel, entertainment venues, and similar places would see an unceasing flow of customers¡ªeventually, their money would end up in Qin Hao¡¯s hands.


    Earning salaries from Qin Hao, then spending money that goes back into Qin Hao¡¯s hands, Qin Hao then pays them their wages again; this cycle continues. Qin Hao gains the products manufactured by the companies, while the people attained an enhancement in their material lives.


    Although Qin Hao had relocated many company headquarters to Pu¡¯er Island, it had not affected Xuan Country¡¯s economy. Not only had factories not diminished, but they were also increasing rapidly.


    In the month of July alone, the group companies under Xinghai Association built over two hundred new factories, hiring a large number of employees.


    Currently, many foreign companies were ordering from Xuan Country. Demand was high, outstripping the supply, and many companies were actively building new factories.


    Many people knew that the markets in the south of North and South Mizhou were about to open, and when that happened, the demand would increase even more. Thus everyone was hurrying to prepare stock, leading to Xuan Country¡¯s thriving economy.


    The government had sent officials to investigate personally; based on this growth trend, it wouldn¡¯t take two months for Xuan Country to surpass the Federation and become the world¡¯s largest economy, moving its citizens into the ranks of developed nations.


    Therefore, no one dared to mess with Qin Hao now; even if they wanted to, they couldn¡¯t affect him too greatly as it would lead to economic collapse.


    Around one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Huang Qiuyue from the Shadow Special Team arrived.


    At that time, Qin Hao was sitting in his office, and Su Jiayi was also there, playing with her phone on the couch.


    Upon arriving, Huang Qiuyue looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Sir, I am here under orders to ensure your safety.¡±


    Qin Hao retorted, ¡°With your skills, you can¡¯t even beat me. How can you protect me?¡±


    Huang Qiuyue¡¯s expression remained unchanged: ¡°Even though my skills are no match for yours, sir, please don¡¯t underestimate anyone.¡±


    Qin Hao responded indifferently, ¡°Suit yourself, I need to go out now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll come with you,¡± Su Jiayi said as she stood up.


    Qin Hao left the office and got into an air energy car, with Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue following him.

 Chapter 724 - 724 724 A Trace of Guard

    ?Chapter 724: Chapter 724: A Trace of Guard Chapter 724: Chapter 724: A Trace of Guard Qin Hao arrived at Jiangshan Group and then spoke to Feng Xiangyi about the Xinghai Building, asking her to prepare to move there.


    Seeing that Qin Hao had brought people with him, Feng Xiangyi glanced at him with a resentful look, expressing her dissatisfaction.


    The two talked for more than half an hour, and during that time, Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue were also in the office.


    Upon leaving Jiangshan Group, he went to the headquarters of the Xinghai Association.


    He looked for Silin Ross, this time assigning Huang Qiuyue and Su Jiayi to stay outside.


    Inside the office, Qin Hao said to Silin, ¡°Has your family contacted you?¡±


    Silin shook her head, ¡°No.¡±


    Qin Hao said to her, ¡°Jestefu called me. The major businesses on their end seem to have reached an agreement to cooperate with me.¡±


    Silin: ¡°Mr. Qin, what do you plan to do?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I plan for you to go back and take charge, helping me control the North and South Mizhou region. I will choose to cooperate with the majority of the families in the Federation while also kicking some out, and those families will definitely agree eventually.


    ¡°The families that are kicked out will certainly seek revenge crazily. Even if it means their destruction, they would take me down with them. Similarly, you will be in great danger, but I will send people to protect you, and those families will also send people to protect you. What do you think?¡±


    Silin instantly agreed, ¡°Okay, Mr. Qin I am willing to help you control the situation in the Federation.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Good, Miss Silin, I won¡¯t let you down. I will give you ten percent of the profits generated in North and South Mizhou.¡±


    Silin nodded in agreement, ¡°Thank you Mr. Qin for putting your trust in me.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Miss Silin, we started cooperating from the beginning, and I believe you are smart. I intend to control the economy of the entire North and South Mizhou. I hope you can help me achieve that. Come with me to Pu¡¯er Island on the 8th to negotiate with those people.¡±


    ¡°Okay Mr. Qin,¡± Silin took a deep breath and nodded.


    With these words from Qin Hao, her position in the Federation would be unmatched, and all the family heads would have to act according to her expressions¡ªa kind of invisible power.


    Leaving Silin¡¯s office, Qin Hao turned and asked, ¡°Is Qing Ya here?¡±


    Silin: ¡°Qing Ya is currently at Pu¡¯er Island, I¡¯m in charge here.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Handle the handover in the next few days, and I will come to pick you up when it¡¯s time.¡±


    After leaving the office building, Qin Hao asked Su Jiayi, ¡°I plan to go home. Where will you go?¡±


    Su Jiayi: ¡°I... I¡¯ll go back with you, I live alone in Jianghai City.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Huang Qiuyue, ¡°Miss Huang, there¡¯s no place for you to stay at my house, why don¡¯t you stay at a hotel?¡±


    Huang Qiuyue was unfazed, ¡°No problem, I can just sleep in the car outside.¡±


    Upon returning to Haoting Sea View Villa, Qin Hao entered with Su Jiayi, and saw Han Meng and Liusheng Shinzi inside the house.


    Su Jiayi was stunned to see so many beautiful women in the house, she turned to look at Qin Hao with great dissatisfaction.


    ¡°Xiao Hao is back,¡± Han Meng approached.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Meng, this is Su Jiayi, just call her Jiayi.¡±


    ¡°Miss Jiayi, please come in.¡±


    Su Jiayi: ¡°Thank you, Meng.¡±


    Qin Hao sat on the couch and asked Liusheng Shinzi, ¡°How are things in Beihai Country? Does Liusheng Ichiro have confidence now?¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi replied, ¡°Master, rest assured, Aoki Ikaze, with my father¡¯s support, has now become the head of the Aoki Family and is already under my father¡¯s control.¡±


    ...


    Listening to their conversation, Su Jiayi pondered, ¡®Liusheng Shinzi? Could she be from the Liusheng Family of Beihai Country?¡¯


    ¡®And she mentioned Aoki Ikaze becoming the head of the Aoki Family. Is all of this being manipulated by Qin Hao from behind the scenes?¡¯


    Subsequently, Qin Hao asked Li Xixue, ¡°How are things in Beidou Country?¡±


    Li Xixue: ¡°Master, rest assured, my father said it¡¯s absolutely foolproof.¡±


    Beihai Country and Beidou Country should be fine, and will follow his orders from now on. He then went to his study and turned on the computer.


    Currently, the business of Xinghai Association is spread across the Southeast Continent region, especially in Stan Country, where over thirty percent of the goods are exported to them.


    Now, the influence of Xinghai Association in the Southeast Continent region is substantial. Many local governments show great respect to them because Xinghai has boosted their market prosperity.


    Besides the war-torn East Continent and Western Continent Black Region, every other area has traces of Xinghai Association, and their influence in the East Continent is indisputable.


    The families in the Western Continent that cooperate with Qin Hao can only secure their interests in their own countries. The competition for the global market holds no advantage for them, with the supply of smart chips being a major bottleneck, tightly controlled by Qin Hao.


    The chips he provides are only for those families to use domestically. Those wishing to compete in the global market need a substantial supply of chips.


    ...


    In the evening, Su Jiayi voluntarily entered Qin Hao¡¯s bedroom.


    Downstairs, Liusheng Shinzi said to Han Meng, ¡°Meng, why didn¡¯t you go? You see, she beat you to it.¡±


    Li Xixue and Park Shuangyu nodded in agreement, ¡°Yes, Meng, we all can see that the master really likes you, he¡¯s just embarrassed to make that kind of move. Where else can you find such a good man? Opportunities are taken, not given.¡±


    Han Meng blushed and felt extremely shy, ¡°I... I...¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi: ¡°Meng, your personality is really too gentle, but I think that¡¯s also part of your charm. I didn¡¯t expect someone else to show up today; otherwise, tonight you could have been with the master. Looking at that person¡¯s attitude, she clearly looks down on us.¡±


    Li Xixue and Park Shuangyu also sensed that Su Jiayi¡¯s gaze was very disdainful towards them, which made them uncomfortable.


    ¡®We might as well be from prominent families; what right do you have to look at us that way?¡¯


    Han Meng: ¡°Let it be, let¡¯s go rest.¡± Saying this, she returned to her room.


    Liusheng Shinzi and the others also went back to their rooms. Park Shuangyu spoke, ¡°I can tell the master doesn¡¯t really like her, she can¡¯t compare to his main ladies.¡±


    Li Xixue nodded, ¡°I think the master is still a bit cautious towards her, she might have an extraordinary background. We should investigate her identity.¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi laughed, ¡°Park Shuangyu, go upstairs later and serve the master, letting that person understand our worth.¡±


    Park Shuangyu¡¯s cheeks turned red, ¡°Can I do it? The master doesn¡¯t seem to like me much; he hasn¡¯t touched me for so long.¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi explained, ¡°You don¡¯t understand the master¡¯s character; just be bold and follow what we taught you, I guarantee it will be fine.¡±

 Chapter 725 - 725 725 Pirates at Sea

    ?Chapter 725: Chapter 725: Pirates at Sea? Chapter 725: Chapter 725: Pirates at Sea? Upstairs, in Qin Hao¡¯s room, Su Jiayi didn¡¯t persist for long, after all, she had already expended a lot of energy during the day.


    Looking at Su Jiayi on the bed, a sharp glint passed through Qin Hao¡¯s eyes. Her behavior now was somewhat abnormal, a bit unlike her usual self¡ªhad she really been conquered by him?


    Qin Hao was somewhat skeptical; Su Jiayi was known in Jinchen as a little witch full of tricks. How could she be easily conquered? She certainly had her own calculations in mind.


    As for her purpose, Qin Hao didn¡¯t know and didn¡¯t care. So what if she knew about the things inside his base? Who else had the power to destroy it?


    Letting others know his strength would only make them more afraid and more wary.


    At this moment, a knocking sound emerged, and Park Shuangyu walked in wearing a pink nightgown, her figure curvy and pronounced.


    ¡°Master.¡± Park Shuangyu gracefully walked to the side of the bed.


    Su Jiayi looked at Park Shuangyu. What was she doing here?


    Qin Hao was also watching her as Park Shuangyu carefully climbed onto the bed...


    Now, her entire Park Family were Qin Hao¡¯s slaves; her life no longer offered any choices but to follow Qin Hao, to serve him.


    Instead of serving Qin Hao passively, it was better to take the initiative to earn his favor.


    The next morning.


    Qin Hao went to Xinghai Company. Today, Xinghai Building started its sale to the public, with constant online and real-world advertisements.


    Chang Jing had already contacted some hospitals, banks, schools, and other institutions, and construction and relocation began within these two days.


    Xinghai Association¡¯s affiliated companies were many and covered various industries. Chang Jing also contacted some of these companies, asking them to establish branches within Xinghai Building.


    Once sales of Xinghai Building¡¯s residential units commenced, the thousand units set aside for staff were sold out within the morning. Staff could buy at the price of twenty thousand per square meter, which was more than half cheaper than the market price.


    The other three thousand plus residential units also sold out within a day. Xinghai Building, currently the tallest building in the world, came with comprehensive living and entertainment facilities; above all, the prices were even cheaper than those of average buildings.


    If they were to buy, they would definitely choose Xinghai Building.


    If someone asked you where you bought your property and you could answer ¡°in Xinghai Building, the tallest building in the world,¡± it would be a clear boast.


    The following day, Qin Hao and Chang Jing attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Xinghai Building, which invited many prominent figures from the business world and entertainment celebrities.


    After the ceremony, Qin Hao chatted with the guests who attended for a while.


    ¡°Master.¡± Li Moying and Li Jianjun came too; within Xinghai Building was a floor for their Jinxiu Hotel.


    Qin Hao nodded with a smile: ¡°How come you¡¯re here too.¡±


    ¡°Master, you haven¡¯t looked for me for so long, have you forgotten about me?¡± Li Moying was somewhat downcast.


    Qin Hao patted her head: ¡°Of course not, I¡¯ve just been a bit busy these days.¡±


    Li Jianjun and Ye Lanxin smiled, and Li Jianjun said with a grin, ¡°Mr. Qin, congratulations.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Where is Uncle Li now?¡±


    Li Moying: ¡°My dad is now on Pu¡¯er Island. The environment and air there are pretty good, and he can manage the company remotely.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Cousin.¡± Li Yushi and Li Jin came over, accompanied by Li Mingzhe, Li Minglei, and others.


    Qin Hao¡¯s grandparents and the whole family had also moved to Pu¡¯er Island, along with his three uncles.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Yushi, little Jin, you¡¯re also here, come on, I¡¯ll take you inside to have a look.¡±


    Inside Xinghai Building, Qin Hao had reserved three large department stores; otherwise, it would not suffice for the needs of those residing here.


    That day, many people moved into Xinghai Building, and Qin Hao, with Han Meng and a few others, also moved in. Their rooms were on the top floor, from where the scenery of the entire Jianghai City could be surveyed through the floor-to-ceiling windows.


    On the morning of August 8th at eight o¡¯clock.


    Qin Hao, Su Jiayi, Huang Qiuyue, and Silin drove an air energy car toward Pu¡¯er Island.


    At the same time, Jestefu and others from the Federation also took a private plane toward Pu¡¯er Island.


    Their aircraft was still just an ordinary one, but the port was large enough for a plane to land from the sky.


    It wasn¡¯t a far trip from the Federation to Pu¡¯er Island by plane, around a few hours¡¯ worth.


    Today Qin Hao also received notification from No. 001 stating that the F-grade Mecha had been developed. The F-grade Mecha was entirely constructed from F-grade ultra-thin alloy and functionally, it was significantly stronger than the first-generation Mecha.


    Its left hand was a Laser Rifle, and the right hand was a short-range Laser Cannon for close combat damage. At the chest region, hidden automatic Laser Cannons housed six barrels, capable of firing six laser shells simultaneously.


    The Mecha also had a propulsion device, a refined high-grade fuel that allowed the Mecha to soar through the high skies, with a speed faster than or, at worst, equal to that of an air energy car.


    A few grams of fuel could enable the Mecha to fly tens of thousands of kilometers. This high-grade fuel is not easy to refine, requiring petroleum and other rare fuels, making it applicable for space shuttles.


    However, if applied to interstellar battleships, the power would be insufficient, necessitating even more advanced fuel.


    About an hour later, they arrived at Pu¡¯er Island.


    Qin Hao had planned to drive the air energy car further inside, but the scene at the port caught his attention.


    About thirty robots stood at the port, each uniformly armed with a Laser Gun. Not far away, four speedboats were rapidly approaching the port, their occupants fully armed and resembling pirates.


    The port was bustling, and as the scene unfolded, many faces turned pale with fear: ¡°The pirates are coming, the pirates are coming!¡±


    At the same time, the voice of the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing echoed over Pu¡¯er Island: ¡°A group of pirates have arrived outside the port, fully armed. Please keep a distance from the port to avoid unnecessary harm. Pu¡¯er Island has the strongest guards, so there is no need to worry. We will now broadcast the port scene for everyone to watch.¡±


    Whether at home or in the square, the display in front of the people switched to the scene at the port.


    The speedboats were drawing closer and closer, and a warning echoed from the port: ¡°You have entered Pu¡¯er Island¡¯s territorial waters. We now warn you to retreat promptly, or we will proceed with a destructive assault.¡±


    Ignoring the warning, the speedboats continued their rapid approach.


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡±


    All thirty Laser Guns fired almost simultaneously, and onlookers only saw beams of dazzling light shooting out.


    ¡°Boom boom boom¡±


    The four speedboats didn¡¯t even get a chance to retaliate and instantly became fireballs on the sea, with not a single person spared.

 Chapter 726 - 726 726 Negotiations

    ?Chapter 726: Chapter 726 Negotiations Chapter 726: Chapter 726 Negotiations The people on Pu¡¯er Island were shocked by the scene they had just witnessed. The island was home to numerous business tycoons, who felt an immense shock at the sight.


    What are those robots holding in their hands?


    The voice of the Artificial Intelligence Xiao Xing sounded again, ¡°The defenses of Pu¡¯er Island are extremely secure. Everyone can live here with peace of mind. Our robots are now equipped with laser weapons, what you just saw were laser guns.¡±


    After taking care of the four pirate yachts, the robots continued their patrol around the harbor.


    Huang Qiuyue, Su Jiayi, and Silin were frozen, their eyes locked in a daze on the robots armed with laser weapons.


    Laser weapons? He actually developed laser weapons?


    This was the first time laser weapons had been displayed in front of so many people, stunning almost everyone on the island. Laser weapons, previously only theoretical, had now become a reality.


    Qin Hao said to the three stupefied people, ¡°Let¡¯s go. The people from the Federation will be arriving soon.¡±


    Only then did the three come to their senses, turning their heads to look at him.


    Silin asked in surprise, ¡°Mr. Qin, did you develop those laser weapons?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, not only laser guns but there is also a Laser Cannon Defense System on the island right now.¡±


    ¡°Laser cannons?¡± Huang Qiuyue¡¯s eyes widened.


    Full of curiosity, Su Jiayi asked, ¡°Can you take us to see the laser cannons? I¡¯ve only seen them in movies, never in real life.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it later, and it involves top-secret information; it¡¯s not something you can just see whenever you want.¡±


    The four of them took a special air energy car into the town within Pu¡¯er Island, where towering skyscrapers rose all around them, the shortest of which were fifty to sixty stories high.


    They arrived at the Xinghai International Building, a towering sixty-six-story building that housed the headquarters of all the group companies under the Xinghai Association.


    The car landed on the rooftop, and after Qin Hao and his company got out, Li Qingya and the others approached them.


    Qin Hao said to Li Qingya, ¡°Is the meeting room ready? The people from the Federation should be arriving soon.¡±


    Li Qingya nodded slightly, ¡°Everything is ready, Mr. Qin.¡±


    A few people stood on the rooftop, looking up at the endless blue sea, the sea breeze cool and refreshing on their faces.


    Around nine-thirty in the morning, a plane arrived above Pu¡¯er Island and, under the guidance of the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing, smoothly landed at the harbor.


    The Jestefu delegation disembarked from the plane, a group of about twenty people in all.


    Three air energy cars swiftly brought those people to the rooftop of the Xinghai International Building.


    After the cars parked, Jestefu and his entourage of more than twenty people stepped out, with Qin Hao, Li Qingya, Silin, Su Jiayi, Huang Qiuyue, and others watching them.


    Jestefu was the first to approach with a smile on his face, greeting in the language of Xuan Country, ¡°Hello, Mr. Qin. I am Jestefu.¡±


    Qin Hao shook hands with him, ¡°Hello, Mr. Jestefu.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, hello, I am Housman from the Mosi Family, I am Philton from the Onassis Family, I am Gert from the Robert Family, and I am Bartel from the George Family.¡±


    A group of people introduced themselves one after another, not only these five top-tier families but also more than a dozen medium and large family heads.


    Although their financial power might not match that of those five families, their influence within the Federation was nothing to scoff at. Together, these family heads could sway the entire situation of the Federation.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the conference room.¡±


    The group moved from the rooftop to the conference room downstairs, taking seats at the conference table, with Qin Hao, Li Qingya, Sulin, Su Jiayi, and Huang Qiuyue on one side, and Jestefu and others on the opposite side.


    ...


    Jestefu was slightly surprised to see Sulin sitting next to Qin Hao, wondering how she had gotten here.


    Qin Hao began, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the cooperation. The affairs of North and South Mizhou will be managed by Miss Sulin. From now on, if you have any issues, you can go directly to her.¡±


    The expressions on the faces of the family heads stiffened upon hearing this. Entrusting things to Sulin? Wouldn¡¯t that mean they¡¯d have to play by her rules from now on?


    Bartel, the Family Head of the George Family, spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, this doesn¡¯t seem quite appropriate, does it?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°If the Bartel Family Head finds it inappropriate, you may choose not to work with me. You are free to leave now.¡±


    At hearing this, Bartel¡¯s face changed slightly. Qin Hao¡¯s words left him with no dignity. His current status and position meant he didn¡¯t need to leave Bartel any face.


    There were subtle changes in everyone¡¯s expressions, but Bartel suppressed the anger in his heart without showing it.


    Housman from the Mosi Family quickly said, ¡°We can agree to Mr. Qin¡¯s terms. After all, Miss Sulin is one of our own from the Federation, not an outsider. This isn¡¯t really a condition at all.¡±


    Jestefu and the others nodded in agreement. This wasn¡¯t an excessive demand, and even if it were, what choice did they have but to agree?


    They had gone through so much just for the chance to collaborate with Qin Hao and maintain their status as business magnates.


    Even if they couldn¡¯t keep their global oligarch status, they at least had to cling to their position within the Federation¡ªthat was their bottom line.


    Qin Hao looked at them and continued, ¡°If anyone has any doubts regarding the arrangement with Sulin, please speak up. If not, let us proceed with our discussion.¡±


    All shook their heads to signal no doubts.


    Qin Hao went on, ¡°Now, about our collaboration, I must keep the internet sector for myself due to my own social networking and e-commerce software. Other industries pose no issue.¡±


    The eyes of the crowd turned to Bartel of the George Family, whose business primarily involved the internet including e-commerce, social networking, and forums.


    Sure enough, Bartel¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Mr. Qin, our family¡¯s main businesses are social networking and e-commerce platforms. These are the two main pillars of our family. You can¡¯t just take them away. Leave us some room to survive, at least.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I haven¡¯t banned your family¡¯s social networking and e-commerce platforms from operating. We can compete fairly. If there is a conflict of interest with my business, there¡¯s nothing I can do. Mr. Bartel, what do you suggest? Should I take my own software off the market in the Federation?¡±


    Gert, the Family Head of the Robert Family, spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, can we collaborate on automobiles?¡±


    The Robert Family had interests in the internet and automotive industries. If they couldn¡¯t see hope in the internet, and now if automobiles were also off-limits, they would certainly not agree.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Of course, as long as you¡¯re willing to purchase, I can even provide you with engines for Air Energy Cars so you can manufacture them yourself. Aside from social networking and e-commerce software, as long as it¡¯s an industry I¡¯m involved in, we can collaborate¡ªexcept for specific industries. Industries not yet addressed by your families must also allow entry of groups under the Xinghai Association.¡±

 Chapter 727 - 727 727 Tiger Shark Pirate Organization

    ?Chapter 727: Chapter 727: Tiger Shark Pirate Organization Chapter 727: Chapter 727: Tiger Shark Pirate Organization The people from Jestefu were shocked when they heard his words, wasn¡¯t this what they had done so much for?


    However, Bartel, the Family Head of the George Family, couldn¡¯t be happy because their family would suffer a great blow. They started up in the network industry, and if they lost this sector, their status would plummet dramatically.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t be too happy too soon. As you know, I am from Xuan Country and the policies there are a bit strict, so the price for your goods will be twenty percent higher than the usual.¡±


    Twenty percent? Everyone was stunned for a moment, then they regained their composure. Twenty percent wasn¡¯t too costly, they could totally accept it; if worse came to worst, they would simply sell at a higher price.


    Housman from the Mosi Family asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, the industries that you collaborate with us, the companies under the Xinghai Association won¡¯t enter and compete with us for the market, will they?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°That won¡¯t happen unless it¡¯s an industry you haven¡¯t touched. And I can give you the entire market of North and South Mizhou, not letting outsiders intervene.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s spirits were lifted; the market in North and South Mizhou was not small at all. If Qin Hao could give it to them, this was indeed good news.


    They talked in detail about the specific terms, like the Kangmei Electrical Group that belonged to Li Qingya¡¯s family could completely sell to the Federation¡¯s groups after manufacturing, and then they would resell it to earn the difference.


    At noon, after having their meal here, as Qin Hao and his party were coming out of the restaurant, his phone suddenly went off, ¡°Alert, alert. A hundred miles away from Pu¡¯er Island, a pirate battleship and more than a dozen speedboats are coming. Please prepare as soon as possible.¡±


    Seeing this message, Qin Hao frowned slightly. Pirates again?


    Could they be with the same group as those from this morning? Fine by me, I hadn¡¯t come to you for payback yet, but now you¡¯re coming to me?


    He led these people to the top of the building, and Jestefu and others looked on curiously. We¡¯re not done discussing business yet, why have we come here?


    Qin Hao looked towards the distant ocean and said with a faint smile, ¡°In a moment, there will be an interesting show for everyone to watch.¡±


    An interesting show? Everyone looked puzzled.


    At that moment, an Air Energy Car flew in and landed beside them, and Du Wanrou and Miao Jing got out of the car.


    They walked over to Qin Hao¡¯s side, and seeing Qin Hao¡¯s reaction, they knew he must be aware of the situation.


    About fifteen minutes later, a group of pirate ships appeared on the distant horizon, led by a pirate battleship, the most top-tier of battleships. That pirates possessed such a battleship was quite impressive.


    Jestefu and the others also saw the battleship and speedboats: ¡°What are those?¡±


    ¡°It seems to be the Tiger Shark Pirate Organization.¡± someone recognized the flag on the battleship and was stunned for a moment.


    Pirates?


    Everyone¡¯s faces changed slightly; pirates had come here with a battleship. What should they do now? There were no armed forces on the island.


    Many were panicked and thought of escaping, but seeing Qin Hao¡¯s calm demeanor without any change, they were confused. Was he not afraid to die? The Tiger Shark Pirate Organization was known to be extremely ruthless in the Atlantic Ocean, known for slaughtering without mercy.


    They had once hijacked a luxury cruise ship, and hundreds of people were robbed; all the men were killed and the women were taken away.


    Many countries had gone after them, but they never found their headquarters, which was hidden very well.


    Now, why had they come to Pu¡¯er Island so openly? Could it be they wanted to hijack the wealthy on the island?


    After all, there were no shortage of business tycoons on Pu¡¯er Island. If they could hijack these people, the wealth they could acquire was unimaginable.


    ...


    ¡°You¡¯re in the waters of Pu¡¯er Island. We now warn you to leave immediately, or we will launch a devastating attack on you.¡± The loudspeaker on Zhudao boomed, its voice carrying far, clear enough for the people on the pirate ship to hear it.


    ¡°Boss, they actually said they¡¯re going to launch a devastating attack on us, haha, that¡¯s hilarious.¡±


    ¡°The people on this island must be rich fools with no sense of reality, they have no armed forces, and yet they dare to strike at us? It seems like a blatant bluff, they want to scare us off.¡±


    ¡°But boss, we can¡¯t be careless. Our four speedboats vanished right around here.¡±


    The leader of the Tiger Shark Pirate Organization, Harold, spoke up, ¡°Shout to the people on the island that we only rob and don¡¯t kill. Have all the islanders kneel at the port, or we¡¯ll bombard the island.¡±


    ¡°Yes, boss.¡±


    The worn-out pirate battle ship halted, and someone spoke in the Federation language to the people on the island, ¡°People of Pu¡¯er Island, lay down your weapons and surrender immediately. We won¡¯t harm your lives, we only want money. Everyone kneel at the port, or we will bombard Pu¡¯er Island.¡±


    The voice traveled far, reaching many parts of Pu¡¯er Island.


    One pirate battle ship and about a dozen speedboats, carrying roughly a hundred fully armed pirates, all fierce and vicious.


    Whether it was the large screens in the squares or monitors in private homes on Pu¡¯er Island, everything was broadcasting the situation at the port.


    Atop the Interstellar National Building, Jestefu looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, let¡¯s get in an air energy car and leave quickly, the Tiger Shark Pirate Organization is very brutal.¡±


    Qin Hao gave Jestefu a glance and said with a faint smile, ¡°Mr. Jestefu, don¡¯t rush, the show hasn¡¯t started yet.¡±


    After speaking, he said to Miao Jing, ¡°Xiao Jing, let them witness our strength.¡±


    Miao Jing took out her phone and said, ¡°Let¡¯s show them the power of the laser cannon.¡±


    With her words, a beam of light emerged from deep within Pu¡¯er Island, then streaked across the sky, instantly hitting the pirate battle ship.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    Flames erupted and light scattered; the entire pirate battle ship exploded, turning into a ball of firelight. The people aboard had no chance to react, and under the high-energy blast of the laser cannon, they instantly turned to ash.


    The pirates on the speedboats were stunned, their eyes wide and mouths agape, a look of disbelief on their faces.


    This... what the hell is this?


    The people on Pu¡¯er Island were also shocked; they had just seen the laser gun in the morning, and now what was this weapon?


    Jestefu and the others were also dumbfounded, disbelieving expressions on their faces. What kind of weapon was this?


    ¡°Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡±


    More than a dozen beams of light lit up on Pu¡¯er Island, brightening the sky, and then those pirate speedboats turned into fireballs, the speed so fast it was almost impossible to react.


    It was too quick, the speed of laser weapons was comparable to the speed of light.


    Like current laser weapons have range limitations, although they are fast, after a certain distance, their power dissipates into nothing.


    Miao Jing continued, ¡°Xiaoxing, check where these people came from, and then send someone to eradicate this island organization.¡±


    Seconds later, seven or eight air energy cars lifted off and set course for the headquarters of the Tiger Shark Pirate Organization.

 Chapter 728 - 728 728 Laser Weapons

    ?Chapter 728: Chapter 728: Laser Weapons Chapter 728: Chapter 728: Laser Weapons Miao Jing used a loudspeaker to explain to the people on the island, ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry. What just happened was our Pu¡¯er Island¡¯s Laser Cannon Defense System, which can withstand attacks of any magnitude. There are absolutely no issues with security.¡±


    Jestefu and others heard Miao Jing¡¯s explanation, they exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in the others¡¯ eyes.


    Laser weapons?


    Pu¡¯er Island actually had laser weapons? Qin Hao was truly terrifying¡ªhad he really developed such a thing?


    Qin Hao said with a relaxed smile at this time, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go back and continue discussing our cooperation.¡±


    Once they returned to the meeting room, the atmosphere was completely different from the morning¡¯s. The negotiations proceeded quickly, and they agreed directly to any request that wasn¡¯t too excessive.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao coldly smirked in his heart. It seemed that military force was what mattered most.


    What should have taken several hours to discuss was settled in one hour.


    The Family Head of the Onassis Family, Feldon, asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, I was wondering if you sell these laser weapons? The price is negotiable. We would like to introduce a batch of such laser weapons.¡±


    Hearing this, Huang Qiuyue felt a sudden tightness in her heart and quickly turned to look at Qin Hao. Would he really sell them to the Federation?


    The relationship between the two countries was not very friendly. If Qin Hao sold them, it would not be a good thing for Xuan Country.


    Even more seriously, there was suspicion of Qin Hao engaging in treasonous activities.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°I won¡¯t sell these weapons, but if you pay a fee, I can install the Laser Cannon Defense System in your Federation territory. The Laser Cannon Defense System can perfectly defend and intercept various missiles.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Huang Qiuyue let out a sigh of relief, but then her brows furrowed at the rest of his statement. This wasn¡¯t much different from selling.


    Feldon from the Onassis Family was stunned for a moment, and the others looked contemplative.


    They could establish a Laser Cannon Defense System base in the Federation, but the final control would still be in Qin Hao¡¯s hands, which meant their national security would be in Qin Hao¡¯s grasp.


    After a pause, Feldon said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we need to discuss this matter further. I¡¯ve heard that you also have laser guns here, is that correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we do have laser guns.¡±


    Feldon, ¡°Then how much do you sell them for, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°The laser guns are cheaper, one million Federation Coins for a laser pistol, and five million for a rifle.¡±


    Though the purchasing power of the Xuan Country Coin had improved a lot, it still couldn¡¯t compare to that of Federation Coins¡ªthere was still a gap.


    The price Qin Hao quoted was truly expensive, but it was the only one of its kind worldwide; you either buy it or you don¡¯t¡ªthis was the power of monopoly.


    An army of tens of thousands, with each rifle costing five million¡ªif you were to equip a force of fifty thousand, that would be two hundred and fifty billion Federation Coins.


    They were a top financial family of the Federation, with total assets of just a few hundred billion Federation Coins, and it was impossible for them to spend all their funds to arm a single army.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, may I purchase ten?¡± Feldon asked.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Of course you can. After you¡¯ve paid, you can take the laser guns with you when you leave.¡±


    Jestefu hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, our Ross family also wants ten.¡±


    ¡°Our Mosi family would like ten as well,¡± Housman said.


    ...


    Tens of millions of Federation Coins meant little to them; Qin Hao directly sold over two hundred long rifles and over a hundred laser pistols, raking in 1.1 billion Federation Coins.


    That sum was enough to produce thousands more laser guns.


    Once these people paid, robots soon delivered large batches of laser guns.


    After Jestefu and others left, Silin also left with them, accompanied by four elite assassins from the Myth Organization.


    Once those people had left, Huang Qiuyue turned her head and said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, don¡¯t forget who you are.¡±


    ¡°Who am I?¡± Qin Hao asked with a faint smile.


    Su Jiayi, Du Wanrou, Miao Jing, and the others all looked towards Huang Qiuyue. Du Wanrou and Miao Jing were somewhat curious. Judging from her tone, she didn¡¯t seem to be one of Qin Hao¡¯s women. So who was she?


    Huang Qiuyue¡¯s face was stern and expressionless, ¡°You are a Major in the Gu Jing Military Region of Xuan Country. You are a citizen of Xuan Country, yet you agreed to establish a Laser Cannon Defense Base in the Northern Federation. What were you thinking? Could it be that for the sake of profit, you would betray your homeland?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s smile faded as he looked at her and said, ¡°Xuan Country has a history of five thousand years, through the rise and fall of governments and dynasties; what remains unchanged are the ordinary people living on that land. I will not be loyal to a person or a regime; my loyalty lies with the ordinary people toiling on that land.


    I do hold the rank of Major in Xuan Country, but I also have another identity as a human being of Earth. I am free to have my own purposes for what I do. Mr. Huang, if you wish to continue protecting me, then do so. If not, I can arrange for someone to send you back right now.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue and the others were stunned by his words, which could be considered outright treason.


    If this were the feudal era, just for these remarks, he would be executed along with his entire family line.


    Even in the present day, such words would be taboo if they got out, remembered by those in high positions.


    Du Wanrou and Miao Jing caught the undercurrent in his words, and at that moment, they saw a special charm in Qin Hao that drew them to him.


    Su Jiayi was also stunned, her gaze somewhat vacant as Qin Hao¡¯s words today struck her with enlightenment.


    ...


    When Miao Jing came to her senses, she approached him and whispered, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. He and her team have developed a combat robot; let¡¯s go and take a look.¡±


    Qin Hao, along with Miao Jing and Du Wanrou, took the elevator down. They arrived at a special underground elevator entrance, passed the verification, and the elevator doors opened for the three to enter.


    On the way, Miao Jing said, ¡°Mr. He and her team have combined robots, laser guns, laser cannons, and advanced fuel to create a finished product. It¡¯s a battle robot capable of free flight.¡±


    As they spoke, they arrived at the underwater base laboratory, where He Tingting and others were surrounding a robot.


    ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± the lab personnel called out eagerly upon seeing him.


    Qin Hao eyed the robot and asked He Tingting, ¡°Tingting, is this the combat robot you¡¯ve developed?¡±


    The robot was clad in silver-gray, made of Grade F alloy, and showed no seams anywhere¡ªa technology that followed the seamless tech used in air energy cars, ensuring internal components remained undamaged in combat.


    He Tingting nodded slightly, ¡°According to the current tests, there are no issues, but it still needs to be verified in actual combat.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s test it,¡± said Qin Hao.


    ¡°There¡¯s a small pirate organization three hundred nautical miles north of Pu¡¯er Island. Let it take them on as a trial,¡± He Tingting suggested.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Good, it¡¯ll be the perfect opportunity to assess its capabilities.¡±

 Chapter 729 - 729 729 F-Class Mecha

    ?Chapter 729: Chapter 729: F-Class Mecha Chapter 729: Chapter 729: F-Class Mecha He Tingting entered the address information and mission requirements into the battle robot¡¯s chip, ¡°Divine Dragon, exterminate this small pirate organization.¡±


    The battle robot walked out, and a very large monitor in the laboratory displayed its figure as soon as it left; everyone was watching the screen.


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    The battle robot¡¯s feet emitted blue flames as it shot up into the sky and instantly flew into the high altitudes.


    The screen continuously showed the figure of the battle robot, which remained within surveillance range no matter how fast it flew.


    Curious, Qin Hao asked He Tingting, ¡°This battle robot is called Divine Dragon?¡±


    He Tingting replied with a smile, ¡°Divine Dragon is the totem of Xuan Country, isn¡¯t it? I plan to incorporate the battle robots we produce into a unified legion called Divine Dragon Army. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Divine Dragon Army? That¡¯s a pretty good name,¡± Qin Hao acknowledged with a nod.


    Miao Jing didn¡¯t say anything. Such matters should have been her decision, but it seemed that He Tingting and Qin Hao had a close relationship, and with He Tingting being the boss of the lab, her status was certain to rise in the future.


    While they conversed, the battle robot arrived above a small island, hovering quietly dozens of meters above, looking down at the area below.


    This was a small pirate organization¡¯s base, with five or six speedboats and over thirty pirate members on the island.


    They generally preyed on passing merchant ships or cruise liners.


    Several buildings on the island housed people lying outside sunbathing with weapons in hand, while others were in the rooms doing that sort of thing with captured women.


    The island had quite a few slaves, both men and women, though fewer men and many women.


    The battle robot descended from the sky, landing directly outside those buildings.


    The person on patrol who spotted it first called out, ¡°Who is there?¡±


    The battle robot turned to look, causing the eight or nine people on guard to freeze for a moment in shock: What the hell was this, human or ghost?


    ¡°Whizz whizz whizz¡±


    The battle robot¡¯s right hand rose, emitting beam after beam of light that struck and instantly killed the nine people.


    Shrieks awoke people inside the building, and then, one after another, individuals armed with guns ran out, freezing for a moment when they saw what was outside before opening fire on the battle robot.


    Without dodging, the battle robot stood still, its chest plate opening to reveal six dark barrel ports.


    ¡°Boom boom boom¡±


    Beams of light shot out in an instant, turning the people who rushed out to ashes under the onslaught of the energy cannons.


    Then, the battle robot charged inside and killed everyone there, collecting a considerable amount of cash, gold, diamonds, and jewelry from the battle.


    There were about twenty women left on the island, all captured by the pirates to be slaves.


    Seeing the disheveled women with hollow gazes, Du Wanrou spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, let¡¯s bring them to our island.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, alright.¡±


    The battle robot gathered the female slaves and managed to board them onto a relatively large ship, then set sail for Pu¡¯er Island.


    At that moment, Miao Jing also received a message from the robot; the people dispatched to eradicate the Tiger Shark Pirate Organization had returned.


    Miao Jing informed Mr. Qin, ¡°The entire Tiger Shark Pirate Organization has been eliminated. They also rescued almost a hundred slaves, mostly women and some men, along with valuables worth over ten billion including cash, gold, diamonds, and other items.¡±


    After eradicating those two pirate organizations, Qin Hao directly profited over ten billion, indeed nothing was quicker than amassing cash through plunder.


    No wonder nations always sought war in the past, the spoils of war came without cost, and one could even rob with righteousness and impunity.


    ...


    After testing the combat robots¡¯ performance, Qin Hao said to He Tingting, ¡°The combat robots are quite good. Start mass production in the base¡¯s production line.¡±


    He Tingting reminded him, ¡°Mr. Qin, the cost of one combat robot is around five million Federation dollars.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the cost, just start production. Wan Rou, take me to see the F-class mecha.¡±


    Leaving the laboratory, Qin Hao, Du Wanrou, and Miao Jing arrived at the place where the F-class mecha was being produced.


    Inside, hundreds of robots were at work manufacturing mecha, which are products of high precision and difficulty and among the hardest to produce.


    Miao Jing picked up an item resembling a belt and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, this is the F-class mecha. It has an ownership recognition feature, which means once recognition is established, only the owner or someone they permit can use it.¡±


    After she finished speaking, she placed the mecha belt around Qin Hao¡¯s waist, and soon after, Qin Hao felt a wave of consciousness entering his mind.


    ¡°Welcome to using War God mecha, would you like to activate the mecha?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Activate!¡±


    The mecha enveloped him, instantly covering his entire body. The left hand of the mecha had a laser gun, with a barrel for a laser cannon beneath it.


    The right arm also featured a barrel for a laser cannon, but nothing on top. This was the spot for the laser sword, intended for close combat and incredibly powerful.


    The laser sword, a high-energy oscillating blade, could slice through very tough metals, even the current F-class metal.


    In front of the mecha was a laser cannon firing bay, and on the back, something the size of a backpack¡ªthat was the Beam Energy Cannon!


    The power of the mecha far surpassed that of the combat robots, and it could even be said to annihilate combat robots in seconds.


    The underwater base had ample space, so he tested its performance and then took it off, ¡°Hmm, very good. How many have been produced now?¡±


    Miao Jing spoke up, ¡°Ten. The research costs for this thing are high, around fifty million Federation dollars for one mecha.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s fine, just proceed with the production, don¡¯t worry about the money.¡±


    Miao Jing, ¡°The Beam Recharge Cannon has also been produced, and the energy shields are already set up.¡±


    The defenses of Pu¡¯er Island were now as solid as iron, fearful of no assault, even if the Northern Federation were to bring its full might against it, it would be to no avail.


    Qin Hao said to Miao Jing and Du Wanrou, ¡°Take two of these ten mechas for yourselves, the others I need to give to them.¡±


    Du Wanrou and Miao Jing nodded, knowing to whom Qin Hao intended to give the mechas.


    Qin Hao then returned to the laboratory, calling He Tingting out. When He Tingting stepped out from the laboratory and saw him, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk at my place.¡±


    Her living quarters were inside the underwater base, and the room was quite nicely arranged.


    Upon arriving in the room, He Tingting was about to change clothes, when Qin Hao hastily said, ¡°Tingting, I came to talk to you because there¡¯s something important.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± He Tingting asked curiously.


    Qin Hao, ¡°The form of the combat robots doesn¡¯t have to be limited to human shapes; they can be a variety of animals or birds. Of course, we will use whatever form is best suited for combat, but they must all be capable of aerial combat.¡±

 Chapter 730 - 730 730 Ideas for Making Money

    ?Chapter 730: Chapter 730: Ideas for Making Money Chapter 730: Chapter 730: Ideas for Making Money He Tingting nodded slightly, ¡°I have the same thought.¡±


    What Qin Hao was doing was actually in preparation for the future interstellar aircraft carrier. Once they had an interstellar aircraft carrier, these things could be fully equipped on it.


    Of course, these were not enough. The strongest combat power of these items was on the ground, and subsequently, he still needed to produce advanced fighter jets.


    With He Tingting and others around, he could save a lot of achievement points. Combat robots and fighter jets could be obtained without having to exchange them.


    After saying that, Qin Hao took out an F-grade Mecha and gave it to He Tingting, ¡°This is the latest produced F-grade Mecha, you can directly bond with it and use it.¡±


    Filled with curiosity, He Tingting asked, ¡°An F-grade Mecha? What grade of Mecha did you use to save me that time?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°That was a first-generation Mecha, the very initial form of Mechas. Now this is an F-grade Mecha. With it, I won¡¯t have to worry about your safety anymore. The Mecha will protect you all.¡±


    He Tingting nodded, but instead of bonding with it right away, she placed the Mecha¡¯s belt on the coffee table.


    She walked to the wardrobe, took out a set of female faculty professional suits, and changed into them right in front of Qin Hao.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but swallow his saliva. He Tingting¡¯s cheeks turned red with shyness as she walked over to Qin Hao and hugged him with her arms wide open.


    With a timid voice, He Tingting asked, ¡°Do you like these clothes?¡±


    Qin Hao asked softly, ¡°Hmm, it seems you have other clothes in your wardrobe. Did you prepare all of them?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t know if you like those things, but I do.¡± He Tingting chuckled.


    ...


    The two played around for a bit over an hour, embracing each other, and not long after, He Tingting fell asleep.


    Around six in the evening, Qin Hao and He Tingting woke up. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go eat together.¡±


    He Tingting nodded slightly. They got dressed, she bonded with the Mecha, then strapped it on her waist, and they left together.


    The two of them took the elevator directly from the underwater base to the villa on the mountaintop.


    Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin were there, as well as Du Wanrou, Xia Qing, Fan Ruobing, Zhao Yuying, and Miao Jing, among others.


    Qin Hao distributed the F-grade Mechas to his parents, but there were still two left, not quite enough for everyone.


    As Du Wanrou and others were cooking, Mr. Qin pulled Qin Hao aside and asked, ¡°Son, so many... Is your body up for it?¡±


    Qin Hao laughed and replied, ¡°No worries, Dad, I¡¯m in good shape.¡±


    Mr. Qin, ¡°That¡¯s good. Just don¡¯t wear yourself out because of this. Seeing you, I¡¯m reminded of my own youth when all the class beauties, department beauties, and school beauties were after me...¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that look? You think I¡¯m bragging? Let me tell you, the class beauty in our class, someone named Meilan, used to write me love letters, and even asked me out at night...¡±


    Mr. Qin hadn¡¯t finished speaking when a sudden sharp pain hit his ear, ¡°What were you saying? Be brave and say it again.¡±


    Mr. Qin¡¯s face turned red, ¡°What did I say? I¡¯m educating our son. Let go, everyone¡¯s watching, where¡¯s my dignity going to go.¡±


    Li Shujie replied irritably, ¡°What dignity do you need? Go on, keep talking.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao coughed lightly, ¡°Mom, alright, my dad was just bragging.¡±


    Li Shujie huffed, finally releasing Mr. Qin¡¯s ear.


    After having dinner, Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin stayed for a while to talk, then went back to their own villa nearby.


    Qin Hao and the others watched TV for a while, then went up to the bedroom with Du Wanrou and the others.


    When they arrived at the second-floor master bedroom, Qin Hao was stunned for a moment because inside the master bedroom was a very large bed, big enough for all of them to fit on.


    Could it be a surprise prepared by Wan Rou and the others for me?


    Du Wanrou explained, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. When you weren¡¯t here, we sisters would sleep together.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled broadly, ¡°No problem, even when I¡¯m here, you all can sleep together.¡±


    ¡°Do you think you¡¯re made of iron?¡± Du Wanrou gave him a glance.


    ...


    Having stayed on Pu¡¯er Island for two months, the production of laser weapons had become quite terrifying, along with war robots and F-grade Mechas, and so on.


    The North and South Mizhou region had also begun to step into the intelligent era initially, and that area could generate an income of over two hundred billion Federation Coins for him per month.


    The market in the Eastern Continent was even larger, with a monthly income of nearly a trillion Xuan Country Coins.


    Although his income was exceedingly horrifying now, the expenses on Pu¡¯er island were also immensely frightening.


    As the number of industrial robots increased, so did the production of laser weapons, Mechas, and combat robots, and higher production meant more investment.


    Investment requires money, and as production increased, his funds were now clearly becoming insufficient.


    Inside the villa, Qin Hao sat on the sofa frowning in deep thought. Where could he get the money?


    The production of laser guns might not need to be increased anymore. The current amount was enough, but the production of combat robots, aerial fighter jets, and Mechas couldn¡¯t stop.


    An interstellar aircraft carrier could at least carry three hundred thousand combat robots and five hundred thousand aerial fighter jets. This was a military force capable of conquering a planet, incredibly terrifying.


    As he was contemplating with a frown, Du Wanrou walked in from outside, ¡°Thinking about money?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Wan Rou, where do you think we should go to make money?¡±


    Du Wanrou, ¡°The market in the Western Continent hasn¡¯t been fully exploited. If you supply more chips, the profit could be higher. Also, Lijia State here is too poor to do business, but the wealthiest are still the nations. It¡¯s quicker to make money if you cooperate with them.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°If it¡¯s just about establishing military defense bases in their countries, they won¡¯t agree. They definitely also want control. If it¡¯s in my hands, it would be as if they¡¯ve placed their national security in my hands.¡±


    Du Wanrou smiled and said, ¡°The Eastern Continent is currently in a heated conflict with the Western Continent Black Region. We can contact some of the parties involved, then sell or rent them our weapons.¡±


    ¡°Rent? Renting out weapons?¡± Qin Hao reflected upon her words, which seemed like a good idea.


    Just then, his phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Han Meng, ¡°Meng, what¡¯s up?¡±


    In a gentle voice, Han Meng said, ¡°Xiao Hao, that Li Xixue has something to say to you.¡±


    Soon, Li Xixue¡¯s call came through the phone, ¡°Master, the election results are out. We succeeded.¡±

 Chapter 731 - 731 731 Gene Drugs

    ?Chapter 731: Chapter 731: Gene Drugs Chapter 731: Chapter 731: Gene Drugs Qin Hao¡¯s face broke into a smile, ¡°Okay, I know.¡±


    Li Xixue continued, ¡°Master, my father would like to invite you to lunch today at noon. Do you have time, Master?¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be there in a while.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao asked Du Wanrou, ¡°Are there any pirates around here?¡±


    ¡°There might be,¡± Du Wanrou said, somewhat uncertainly.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s check with the radar navigation satellite. If there are any, let¡¯s eliminate them¡ªthose pirates have quite a lot of money.¡±


    Du Wanrou nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell Miao Jing to arrange it.¡± Having said that, she went to make arrangements.


    At that moment, Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue walked in; Huang Qiuyue had also been here these past few days.


    Huang Qiuyue had reported the situation here to Xuan Country via the communication satellite, all under Qin Hao¡¯s surveillance.


    Qin Hao even knew clearly what Huang Qiuyue had said; he hadn¡¯t installed eavesdropping devices on her or her residence but rather, the laboratory had developed a new type of signal interception and analysis equipment.


    Su Jiayi came in and said to him, ¡°Qin Hao, the laboratory¡¯s robots say that they¡¯ve developed the Human Gene Potion and the Body Attribute Potion.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°They¡¯ve developed the Human Gene Potion as well?¡±


    Su Jiayi nodded. She didn¡¯t know what the Human Gene Potion was for, but seeing Qin Hao¡¯s expression, her intuition told her it must be something valuable.


    Unfortunately, these items were all managed by intelligent robots, and other people had no access to them at all.


    The Human Gene Potion could change a person¡¯s physique, enhance cell regeneration ability, and slow down the aging process of the human body¡ªit was something beneficial for longevity. Qin Hao had taken it once before.


    He stood up and headed inside the underwater base, with Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue following behind.


    Huang Qiuyue now had access to the underwater base as well, but her permission was only basic; she couldn¡¯t go to many places and could only enter and exit without being able to do anything else.


    Qin Hao wasn¡¯t hiding it from her; he wanted the higher-ups of Xuan Country to know that he now had his own base and means of self-protection, and that his destiny could only be controlled by himself.


    They reached the underwater base via the elevator, and Su Jiayi couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously, ¡°Qin Hao, what are the Human Gene Potion and the Body Attribute Genetic Potion used for?¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at her and spoke indifferently, ¡°The Human Gene Potion can improve a person¡¯s physique to the point where they are hardly susceptible to diseases. When I say hardly susceptible, it means it¡¯s very difficult to fall ill. However, if you don¡¯t take care of yourself, and deliberately harm yourself, it¡¯s still possible to get sick.


    In addition to improving the human body, it also enhances cell regeneration ability, delays cellular and bodily aging, and prolongs life; you could live over two hundred years.¡±


    Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue were stunned upon hearing his words, and they exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other¡¯s eyes. Live over two hundred years? That was almost like the mythical Immortal Pill?


    Su Jiayi continued to ask, ¡°What is the Body Attribute Genetic Potion used for?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°The Body Attribute Genetic Potion can stimulate a person¡¯s potential, enhancing one¡¯s strength, agility, physique, and intelligence. It can also be taken repeatedly, until a person¡¯s potential is fully realized.¡±


    This also sounded quite terrifying.


    The three of them quickly arrived at the facility where the Human Gene Potion and Body Attribute Potion were produced.


    Hundreds of robots were mechanically working inside. Upon Qin Hao¡¯s entrance, the robot in charge approached, ¡°Master.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Where are the Human Gene Potion and Body Attribute Genetic Potion that have been produced?¡±


    ¡°Please wait a moment, Master.¡± The robot went inside, then brought out a high-grade, password-protected case.


    Upon opening it, steaming mist emerged, and test tubes stood vertically inside.


    The robot spoke, ¡°Master, the top twenty are Human Gene Potions, and the ones below are Body Attribute Genetic Potions, totaling forty.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take these with me for now, continue production.¡±


    Now, Qin Hao¡¯s company sold a vast amount of life potions and spirit potions every month, and the profits were extremely terrifying.


    Besides the profits from high-tech products like intelligent chips, the next largest profits came from producing gene potions.


    He took the gene medicines and left, heading back to his villa.


    Although Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue also wanted them, they knew clearly that even if Qin Hao were to give them away, he wouldn¡¯t give them first.


    Qin Hao called Du Wanrou and others over and handed the Human Gene Potion to Du Wanrou, instructing her to distribute them.


    Currently, there were only twenty Human Gene Potions available, not enough to go around¡ªQin Hao¡¯s parents, aunts and uncles, as well as the parents of Du Wanrou and Xia Qing, among others.


    Qin Hao told Du Wanrou, ¡°More gene medicines will be produced later; you can just go get them when they¡¯re ready.¡±


    Du Wanrou nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Qin Hao said to her, ¡°I have to go to Xuan Country and Beidou Country, and I may not return in the next few days.¡±


    He stepped out of the villa, with Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue following him, and they all got into a car.


    In the Air Energy Car, Qin Hao took out a Body Attribute Genetic Potion and looked at it before taking one. A warm current emerged from his throat and instantly spread through his meridian pathways.


    The warm current surged through every bone, muscle, and even each cell of Qin Hao¡¯s body.


    Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue watched him, and after about ten minutes, Qin Hao had completely assimilated the energy of the gene potion. He checked his attributes, and each had increased by about five points.


    ¡°This stuff is indeed quite useful,¡± Qin Hao felt the changes in his body.


    Su Jiayi giggled, ¡°Can I also try one?¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at her, ¡°The quantity is still too small; you can try it later.¡±


    Sitting next to him, Su Jiayi wrapped her arms around his arm, her tone somewhat coquettish, ¡°There are more than twenty, right? Can¡¯t I just try one?¡±


    Huang Qiuyue watched their interaction, her expression unchanged; she had already been aware of this.


    A spark of inspiration flashed through Qin Hao¡¯s mind: ¡°These are still needed; you can have one once more are produced.¡±


    Su Jiayi pouted, ¡°No, I want one now.¡±


    If the young masters of Jinchen City saw Su Jiayi now, they would probably be astounded. The formidable little witch of Jinchen behaving like this?


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°There are still others here; it¡¯s not really appropriate, is it? But I¡¯ll make do.¡±

 Chapter 732 - 732 732

    ?Chapter 732: Chapter 732 Chapter 732: Chapter 732 Su Jiayi was taken aback at the words, what do you mean ¡®I want it right now¡¯? I didn¡¯t mean it like that at all!!!


    Huang Qiuyue also visibly paused, what does he mean by this?


    If he really did such a shameless thing in front of her, what should she do?


    In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Huang Qiuyue¡¯s mind, and at that moment, Qin Hao began to act.


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s movements, Huang Qiuyue stood frozen, what to do?


    If Huang Qiuyue was openly surveilling Qin Hao, then Su Jiayi was the secret chess piece, one overt and the other covert, working in tandem from afar.


    Qin Hao made no attempt to conceal his actions; he wanted Huang Qiuyue to see everything.


    ...


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao handed a bottle of water to Huang Qiuyue, ¡°Want a sip of water?¡±


    ¡°No need, thank you,¡± Huang Qiuyue said with an expressionless face and a bland tone.


    Seeing her expression, Qin Hao¡¯s smile didn¡¯t fade as he unscrewed the cap and began to drink.


    Su Jiayi spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ve found you¡¯re even more powerful than before, is it because of the Body Attribute Genetic Potion?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°That¡¯s part of the reason.¡±


    ¡°I want to try one too, is that okay?¡± Su Jiayi said as she clung to him, her beautiful eyes filled with longing.


    Qin Hao took out a bottle from his system backpack, ¡°Here, give it a try.¡±


    Su Jiayi drank it and felt her cheeks turn redder, feeling a warm current surging through her body.


    Eventually, the Air Energy Car stopped on the rooftop of Xinghai Building, the world¡¯s tallest skyscraper. By then, Su Jiayi had fully absorbed the effects of the genetic potion, and she could clearly feel her strength and speed had greatly improved from before.


    If she had a strength tester now, she could accurately test just how much her strength had increased.


    They moved from the rooftop to a room on the 188th floor, where Han Meng, Liusheng Shinzi, Li Xixue, and Park Shuangyu were all present.


    ¡°Xiao Hao is back,¡± Han Meng said as she saw him, unable to hide her longing.


    Qin Hao walked over and stroked Han Meng¡¯s hair, ¡°Meng, you should come with me to Pu¡¯er Island later, there is a school there too.¡±


    Han Meng nodded obediently, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Qin Hao turned to Huang Qiuyue, ¡°How about I give you two days off?¡±


    Huang Qiuyue was startled. She had been thinking about an excuse to leave when Qin Hao unexpectedly brought it up. Could he know something?


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°You¡¯ve been on Pu¡¯er Island for so long, go home and see your family.¡±


    The doubt in Huang Qiuyue¡¯s heart dissipated, and she nodded slightly, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ...


    After Huang Qiuyue left, Su Jiayi said she also wanted to visit home and they departed together.


    The two didn¡¯t have much information, they were unaware of core secrets.


    Qin Hao said to Li Xixue, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll take a trip to Beidou Country together.¡±


    All five of them left the room and got into the Air Energy Car. From the rooftop of Xinghai Building, they could see Air Energy Cars moving freely through the air above Jianghai City.


    Jianghai City of Xuan Country was now the world¡¯s first city to fully enter the era of intelligence, be it transportation, housing, or other aspects, all involved smart technologies.


    The profit from Air Energy Cars alone was terrifying each month, not to mention engine sales, garnering over two hundred billion in profit each month.


    After all, his Air Energy Cars had monopolized the global market, and the demand was extremely high.


    The five of them drove towards the capital of Beidou Country in the Air Energy Car. About fifteen minutes later, they landed in the Li Family¡¯s estate.


    As they got out of the car, Li Tianyu, Park Huijin, Park Gaoyuan, and a number of elders were waiting for Qin Hao.


    ¡°Master,¡±


    Upon seeing Qin Hao descend, everyone quickly greeted him respectfully.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, then led Han Meng inside towards the Li Family¡¯s living room. Once seated on the sofa, Li Tianyu and others sat beside him.


    Li Tianyu spoke up, ¡°Master, I have not let you down. The third elder of our family has succeeded.¡±


    After he finished, the third elder of the Li Family stood up and said, ¡°Master, our people now control many positions. From now on, this will be solely your domain.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded subtly, ¡°People¡¯s livelihood is the most important. Only by ensuring a better life for the citizens will they support you more. Let me know if you need any help.¡±


    Li Tianyu said, ¡°Master, we are currently laying out a plan for the nationwide intelligent era. Our territory is small and our population is sparse, but our economy is quite developed. Entering the intelligent era will be faster for us, and we need strong support from the master in all aspects.¡±


    What he said was true; Beidou Country did have an advantage and had been a developed country. If they could introduce smart technology in all areas, they could enter the intelligent era faster than Xuan Country.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Whatever support you need, just tell me, or talk to Chang Jing, Li Qingya, and the others.¡±


    Li Tianyu said, ¡°We need the seeds from Ping Sheng Agricultural Group, and support for many other industries.¡±


    ¡°None of these are problems. I will talk to the members of the Xinghai Association, or I will give you some of the technology myself.¡±


    The Li Family and the Park Family were now his family¡¯s servants. It was safer to give them the technology than to the members of the Xinghai Association, who might betray him. But the Li and Park families absolutely could not.


    Upon hearing this, both Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Master, can you really give us the technology?¡±


    Qin Hao affirmed, ¡°You are my people, and I trust you. Just list whatever technology you want, and I will send it to you at that time.¡±


    A bit excited, Li Tianyu said, ¡°Master, our nation has its own intelligence department. We¡¯ve heard that you¡¯ve produced laser weapons. Could we purchase them? Strong military strength is the bedrock of our citizens¡¯ sense of security.¡±

 Chapter 733 - 733 733 Debut Turmoil

    ?Chapter 733: Chapter 733 Debut Turmoil Chapter 733: Chapter 733 Debut Turmoil Qin Hao heard his words and said, ¡°Right now, the products I¡¯ve manufactured include Laser Guns, Laser Cannon Defense Systems, and Beam Recharge Cannons.¡±


    ¡°Master, what... what are these?¡± Li Tianyu and a few others didn¡¯t quite understand.


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°You should know what a Laser Gun is, it often appears in sci-fi movies these days. The Laser Cannon Defense System is a type of defensive interception system that can intercept various missile attacks and so on, it¡¯s a defensive-type Divine Artifact.


    It greatly surpasses current weapons in terms of speed and power. The Beam Recharge Cannon is a long-range laser cannon that boasts high precision, immense power, and rapid speed. Almost no country on Earth can intercept it with their current technology.¡±


    Liusheng Shinzi, Li Xixue, Li Tianyu, and Park Gaoyuan were all dumbfounded. Could it be that powerful?


    Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan only knew that Qin Hao had developed laser weapons, but they were not very clear about the power.


    Liusheng Shinzi was also extremely shocked. Was their master this formidable? Now even military weapons had been developed? And they were the legendary laser weapons.


    Li Tianyu asked, ¡°Master, how are you selling these? Or can they only be introduced?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Your country pays, and then I¡¯ll set up the Laser Cannon Defense System in your country. For several countries near Beidou Country, the Laser Cannon Defense System can reach and defend against nearby countries.¡±


    Li Tianyu quickly asked, ¡°Third Elder, how much idle capital does our country currently have?¡±


    The third elder of the Li Family thought for a moment and said, ¡°Master, how about we use two hundred billion Federation dollars to introduce the Laser Cannon Defense System?¡±


    ¡°Okay, you can discuss it with Mr. Du from the Xinghai Military Firearms Company later and get the contract signed,¡± Qin Hao nodded, two hundred billion Federation dollars was indeed a substantial amount.


    The Li Family had just gained control of the situation, and deploying two hundred billion Federation dollars was already quite a bit, carrying no small risk.


    However, once the news got out, they would definitely gain the citizens¡¯ support because it was a great thing that protected all the citizens of Beidou Country, beneficial to the country and the people.


    Li Tianyu asked, ¡°Master, are you short on money right now? Both the Li and Park families can provide about three hundred billion in liquid funds.¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t hesitate, their lives were his, so naturally, their money was also his: ¡°I am a bit short, so I¡¯ll accept that money.¡±


    Soon, Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan arranged for the transfer of funds to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao took out two F-grade Mechas: ¡°These are the new F-grade Mechas I¡¯ve researched. You can use them after acknowledging ownership.¡±


    Currently, Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan were his trusted subordinates, and their safety was a must to ensure; as long as nothing happened to them, there would be no issues within Beidou Country.


    Curiously, Li Tianyu asked, ¡°F-grade Mecha? Master, is this the same type of Mecha from the ¡®Mechanical Soldier¡¯ movie?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°The Mechas in ¡®Mechanical Soldier¡¯ are a bit more powerful, but you can test the power of this Mecha yourself.¡±


    The Mechas had already undergone the first authentication process, and Qin Hao was the first master. Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan could only be considered secondary masters; if Qin Hao and they issued commands at the same time, the Mechas would obey Qin Hao¡¯s orders.


    ...


    After acknowledging the ownership of the mechas, they came to the martial arts field of the estate, where they were now covered in Mechas.


    Liusheng Shinzi, Li Xixue, Park Huijin, and Park Shuangyu were all watching Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan; they couldn¡¯t recognize the two at all, who now looked more like iron men.


    There were targets at several tens of meters, a hundred meters away on the martial arts field.


    ¡°Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡±


    Several beams of light shot out, instantly penetrating the exact centers of the targets. The precision was unquestionable, and the power was beyond imagination. The furthest was over a thousand meters away, yet it still effortlessly hit the bullseye.


    They also tested the laser cannon under the arm, which directly blew a big hole through a twenty-centimeter-thick steel wall, completely unable to withstand the power of the laser cannon.


    ¡°Swoosh, swoosh¡±


    Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan shot up into the sky, disappearing from the sight of the others in an instant and entering the high elevations.


    ¡°Come back,¡± Qin Hao issued a command.


    More than ten seconds later, two Mechas flew back from the sky. Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan were greatly shocked, wondering why it wasn¡¯t obeying their commands. Could it be malfunctioning?


    Then, the system on the Mecha told them that it was Qin Hao¡¯s order.


    They understood suddenly; how could Qin Hao hand over such powerful weapons to them without keeping a safeguard at hand.


    Upon landing, the two of them retracted their Mechas, which turned into belt-like objects and clipped onto their waists.


    Qin Hao told them, ¡°This Mecha has a self-protection system. If you¡¯re in any danger, it can sense it beforehand and ensure your safety.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master, for your generous gift.¡± The two men knelt on the ground and said respectfully.


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently, ¡°Serve me well and you¡¯ll be well rewarded in the future. However, should you harbor any ulterior motives, don¡¯t blame me for erasing you immediately.¡±


    Upon hearing his threatening words, Li Tianyu and Park Gaoyuan shivered, hastily saying, ¡°We, the Li Family and the Park Family, swear to follow the Master to the death.¡±


    By noon, Beidou Country had signed a contract with Star Sea International Arms Company. Beidou Country spent two hundred billion Federation dollars to have Star Sea International Arms Company establish a Laser Cannon Defense System, ensuring the national defense security of the entire Beidou Country.


    Such a significant deal couldn¡¯t be hidden, and the Beidou Country officials did not attempt to conceal it, making it completely public.


    Not only did the citizens of Beidou Country know about it, but so did other countries around the world.


    ¡°Our country has now signed a contract with Star Sea International Arms Company, and we will be deploying the newest type of laser weapons to ensure our citizens¡¯ security.¡±


    ¡°Beidou Country and Star Sea International Arms Company have signed a two hundred billion Federation dollar military contract, with Star Sea International Arms Company providing Beidou Country with laser defense weapons.¡±


    ¡°Star Sea International Arms Company has developed laser weapons and has already signed a military contract with Beidou Country.¡±


    ¡°Laser weapons have emerged, is Star Sea International Arms Company¡¯s claim of having developed laser weapons real or just hearsay?¡±


    ¡°From intelligent chips to Air Energy Cars, from genetic medicine to laser weapons, Xinghai Group has ushered in a brand new era, leading humanity into a completely new age.¡±


    Many foreign media praised Xinghai Company, mainly because Xinghai Company¡¯s influence was so terrifying that no one dared to speak ill of it.


    Now, most of the world¡¯s mainstream countries had cooperative relationships with Xinghai Association, and they certainly did not wish to offend such a formidable partner.


    In the afternoon, Du Wanrou arranged for people to come to Beidou to install the Laser Cannon Defense System safely.


    Qin Hao did not leave Beidou Country; he had to discuss follow-up matters with Li Tianyu, Park Gaoyuan, and others in the afternoon, which were very important to Qin Hao.


    Now that Beidou Country had this weapon, Qin Hao needed it to cause a bit of friction afterward, for example, with Beihai Country and East Chao Country. That way, they too would purchase the Laser Cannon Defense System to ensure their safety.


    Thus, Qin Hao would be able to sell a bit more.


    Although Beihai Country had its informants, they still needed a reason, an excuse.

 Chapter 734 - 734 734 Methods

    ?Chapter 734: Chapter 734 Methods Chapter 734: Chapter 734 Methods Today, Qin Hao didn¡¯t leave. In the afternoon, he took a large number of Body Attribute Genetic Potions in his room, consuming about 14 bottles, and now his physical quality was terrifying.


    Name: Qin Hao


    Age: 20


    Gender: Male


    Realm: Junior Warrior (modified by the genetic potion system)


    Achievement Points: 850 million


    Merit Points: 1


    Strength: 100


    Agility: 100


    Intelligence: 100


    Physique: 100


    ...


    Now that his body¡¯s potential had been fully developed, taking more Body Attribute Genetic Potions was no longer useful.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t go back in the evening. Instead, he stayed with the Li Family, where he felt safer than in Xuan Country.


    In the room, Qin Hao and Han Meng sat on the bed. Han Meng held the edge of her clothes, uncertain of what to do.


    Qin Hao looked at her with a smile and said, ¡°Meng, let¡¯s rest.¡±


    Han Meng nodded slightly and the two turned off the lights and lay in bed. Han Meng couldn¡¯t help but snuggle closer to Qin Hao.


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao and Han Meng emerged from the room to find Liusheng Shinzi and others waiting outside. They took a stroll around the estate.


    Li Tianyu went to handle some matters, his wife Park Huijin following by his side.


    Her eyes occasionally glanced towards Qin Hao, full of meaning. She missed him. Li Tianyu hardly visited her room at night, and even if he did, it was over quickly.


    Around ten o¡¯clock, Qin Hao received a notice from Du Wanrou that Beidou Country¡¯s Laser Cannon Defense System was completed.


    It was located forty miles outside the capital of Beidou Country, now heavily guarded, and no one was allowed to approach.


    The Laser Cannon Defense System was remotely controlled by the Artificial Intelligence Xiao Xing. If missiles attacked Beidou Country, the system would automatically intercept them.


    If Beidou Country ordered attacks on other countries, it would still require Qin Hao¡¯s approval.


    The decision-making power of the Laser Cannon Defense System was still in Qin Hao¡¯s hands; it was just a disguised way for Beidou Country to gain a massive amount of funding.


    In the afternoon, according to Qin Hao¡¯s instructions, Li Tianyu made an excuse and fired two shots at an uninhabited area between Beihai Country and East Chao Country. The destructive power of the laser cannon was terrifying ¨C it left a crater six to seven meters deep and over ten meters wide at the site.


    East Chao Country and Beihai Country issued statements of condemnation, but Beidou Country had its excuses. ¡°Our radar system detected your soldiers entering our territory. This was just a warning. If it happens again, we will fire directly at people.¡±


    With the Laser Cannon Defense System, Beidou Country was very confident. Beihai Country and East Chao Country could bark all they wanted, but they wouldn¡¯t dare to take action.


    The laser cannon was terrifying. It reached their doorstep, and their radar systems failed to detect it at all.


    Laser weapons differed from current weapons; they were two different concepts. The radars could detect missiles and other weapons, but not laser weapons, which were energy weapons.


    Qin Hao had them do this to show the world the power of laser weapons, to open up the market for his products.


    With the pressure from Beidou Country, Beihai Country would definitely have to spend money to build their Laser Cannon Defense Base, and Qin Hao would gain another deposit of funds.


    As for East Chao Country, Qin Hao wasn¡¯t sure as Jin Tiansi was not easy to control. He seemed to be aligned with the upper echelons of Xuan Country, and Qin Hao had no further contact with him afterward.


    The factories and companies of the Xinghai Association were doing well there. The development of East Chao Country was rapid; with a small territory and population, their progress was catching up to Xuan Country.


    The Xinghai Association deserved eighty percent of the credit, providing a massive number of jobs for the people of East Chao Country.


    Some countries seemed to be enemies, but in fact, they might be on the same side, like the current Beidou and Beihai Countries. They were both Qin Hao¡¯s people; it was just that some small tricks were needed for the purpose.


    Around two in the afternoon, Qin Hao received a call from Liusheng Ichiro and then took Han Meng and a few others to the Liusheng Family in Beihai Country.


    Within the estate of the Liusheng Family, Qin Hao¡¯s group got off the car, and Liusheng Ichiro, along with his wife Fujii Keiko and others, knelt on the ground to welcome them. This level of respect seemed quite appropriate.


    ¡°Rise,¡± Qin Hao said to them.


    Han Meng was surprised to see these people treating Qin Hao like a deity. Why were they so afraid of Xiao Hao?


    In the living room, Liusheng Ichiro sent away unrelated people. Everyone seated was a direct member of the Liusheng Family.


    Liusheng Ichiro said to Qin Hao, ¡°Master, we are now very well-prepared. I think we can take action ahead of time.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Do you need any help?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro replied, ¡°Master, this Anpei Youta is still quite stubborn. We need to show him some color, make him comply obediently.¡±


    Understanding his intent, Qin Hao took out his phone and called Leng Xuan. The headquarters of the Myth Organization was on Pu¡¯er Island, and the number of members had increased significantly, with both men and women, many of whom were rescued by Qin Hao from pirates.


    Qin Hao entrusted Leng Xuan with training these people. Those who didn¡¯t want to train lived and worked on Pu¡¯er Island.


    The call was quickly answered, and Leng Xuan¡¯s voice came from the phone, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Send a few people to Beihai Country. Let Anpei Youta understand the consequences.¡±


    Leng Xuan replied, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll send people immediately. They will take action in about an hour.¡±


    [First update]

 Chapter 735 - 735 735 Subjugation

    ?Chapter 735: Chapter 735 Subjugation Chapter 735: Chapter 735 Subjugation After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao said to Liusheng Ichiro, ¡°Just wait, and if he still doesn¡¯t submit in the end?¡±


    A vicious glint flashed through Liusheng Ichiro¡¯s eyes, ¡°If he still doesn¡¯t submit, then we¡¯ll have to resort to our last plan.¡±


    Qin Hao asked with an indifferent expression, ¡°Are you confident?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro hesitated before replying, ¡°There¡¯s some risk involved.¡±


    ¡°What have you been doing all these days? You haven¡¯t set things up yet?¡± Qin Hao¡¯s face grew cold, and a murderous aura radiated from him.


    Liusheng Ichiro¡¯s body shuddered, and he quickly knelt down and said, ¡°Master, although the Dechuan Family and the Yamakou Family are in a cooperative relationship with us, and they have said they will support our Liusheng Family, I¡¯m just afraid they might go back on their word.¡±


    Qin Hao said coldly, ¡°Then do everything possible to prevent that from happening. This is an F-grade Mecha; go handle it.¡±


    Having said that, he handed an F-grade Mecha to Liusheng Ichiro, who had heard about the mecha from Liusheng Shinzi. It was a terrifying weapon.


    After taking it, he said excitedly, ¡°Master, rest assured, I will personally take care of this matter.¡±


    ...


    Once Liusheng Ichiro had bonded with the mecha, he got acclimated to it, then flew directly to Da Xiong City in Beihai Country.


    The Dechuan Family headquarters were located in Da Xiong City, which was also one of Beihai Country¡¯s economically developed cities.


    It took Liusheng Ichiro roughly seven minutes to travel from Ancient City to Da Xiong City. He flew directly from the sky into the Dechuan Family¡¯s estate, landing in the inner courtyard.


    He had barely touched down when people spotted him. Soon, the Dechuan Family¡¯s guards surrounded Liusheng Ichiro.


    Dechuan Dayong also came out of his room and, looking at the figure that resembled an iron man, he frowned slightly, ¡°What is this?¡±


    The voice of Liusheng Ichiro came from inside the mecha, ¡°Dechuan Dayong, is this how you treat your distinguished guests?¡±


    Hearing Liusheng Ichiro¡¯s voice, Dechuan Dayong was taken aback, ¡°Liusheng Ichiro? What is this contraption you¡¯re wearing?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro said, ¡°It¡¯s the latest mecha developed by Star Sea International Arms Company. You must have seen ¡®Mechanical Soldier¡¯.¡±


    Dechuan Dayong asked, ¡°A mecha? What business do you have with the Dechuan Family?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro said with a smile, ¡°Of course, I have something to discuss with you. But before that, let me show you the power of a mecha.¡±


    After saying that, he spun on the spot, and his laser gun shot out a circle of light, killing all the surrounding Dechuan Family¡¯s guards in an instant, not a single one left; they were too fast, those people didn¡¯t have a chance to react.


    After completing this, Liusheng Ichiro rushed forward and grabbed Dechuan Dayong.


    Then Dechuan Dayong felt like he was flying into the sky, as the strong wind painfully scraped his face.


    ¡°Slower, slower,¡± Dechuan Dayong quickly said.


    About a minute later, Liusheng Ichiro slowed down, and Dechuan Dayong realized it too, and opened his eyes to find himself still in the air, with the beach and ocean below.


    He was shocked, as Da Xiong City was a distance away from the seaside. They had gotten there so quickly; the speed of the mecha was terrifying.


    If it were not for Liusheng Ichiro deliberately protecting him, the strong wind would have been enough to peel off his skin.


    They landed on a deserted beach, and Liusheng Ichiro put away his mecha. Dechuan Dayong looked at him with a grave expression, as if he had realized something, ¡°What exactly do you want to do?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro looked at him and said faintly, ¡°It¡¯s simple, the Dechuan Family will submit to the Liusheng Family.¡±


    Dechuan Dayong¡¯s complexion changed slightly, ¡°Impossible, what qualifications does your Liusheng Family have to compare with our Dechuan Family in terms of seniority and heritage?¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro, ¡°Yes, your Dechuan Family has an ancient heritage and profound background, but what use is that? In the face of high-tech weapons, all are paper tigers. I am not discussing this with you¡ªif you agree, well and good; if not, I¡¯ll go back right now and wipe out the Dechuan Family¡¯s direct lineage. If you think I don¡¯t dare, you can try me.¡±


    ...


    Dechuan Dayong¡¯s expression froze; he had fully witnessed the terrifying power of the Mecha that Liusheng Ichiro now indeed possessed.


    The most important thing was that no one would know who the murderer was; his Dechuan Family would be wiped out by an unknown assailant, and no one would suspect it was Liusheng Ichiro.


    But for him, the proud head of the Dechuan Family, to submit to someone else was something he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do.


    Among the six major financial families in Beihai Country, the Dechuan Family was considered among the top distinguished clans, with a heritage spanning hundreds of years and many impressive individuals emerging from the family.


    The other families, in terms of historical heritage, couldn¡¯t compare with the Dechuan Family.


    Dechuan Dayong¡¯s expression flickered uncertainly; he didn¡¯t know how to decide, facing an extremely difficult choice.


    Liusheng Ichiro said indifferently from the side, ¡°In Xuan Country, there¡¯s an old saying: ¡®A wise man submits to circumstances.¡¯ Whether the Dechuan Family is to be extinguished from here on or to continue its legacy, it¡¯s entirely up to you to decide.¡±


    Dechuan Dayong wanted to buy some time, ¡°This is a matter of great importance; I need to discuss it with the elders in my clan.¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro, ¡°Don¡¯t play such tricks. Don¡¯t I know what you¡¯re thinking? As long as you agree, if those old fellows dare to object, I¡¯ll just kill them. You have two minutes to think.¡±


    Two minutes later, Liusheng Ichiro looked at him and asked, ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡±


    ¡°I... agree,¡± said Dechuan Dayong, sounding as though all his energy had been drained from him.


    To refuse meant the Dechuan Family would be destroyed in an instant, never to rise again, but by agreeing, they could at least cling to survival, and perhaps find an opportunity to turn the tables in the future.


    Liusheng Ichiro chuckled wickedly, ¡°Swallow this.¡±


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a drug that controls people. Eat it.¡±


    Dechuan Dayong swallowed it, and Liusheng Ichiro said with a smile, ¡°From now on, your Dechuan Family will be nothing but servants to the master.¡±


    ¡°Master? Which master?¡± Dechuan Dayong was a bit perplexed upon hearing his words.


    Liusheng Ichiro, ¡°Of course the master is Qin Hao. Always remember your place, otherwise don¡¯t blame me for not warning you if anything happens.¡±


    He took Dechuan Dayong back to the Dechuan Family¡¯s residence in Da Xiong City, where Dechuan Dayong convened the direct members of his family and announced that the Dechuan Family would become vassals to Qin Hao.


    Two elders objected on the spot and were killed by Liusheng Ichiro right there and then. Their guards rushed in seeking vengeance but were no match for Liusheng Ichiro.


    Under the Laser Gun, no one could stand their ground; the bullets they fired couldn¡¯t even scratch the armor of the Mecha.


    While some were still itching to move against him, seeing Liusheng Ichiro¡¯s strength filled their hearts with horror, and they didn¡¯t dare act.


    After ensuring all the direct members of the Dechuan Family had taken the drug, Liusheng Ichiro set off once more, this time to the Yamauchi Family in Daban City.


    Subduing the Yamauchi Family took Liusheng Ichiro a little time; the Yamauchi Family¡¯s ties to the underworld were extensive, commanding many people and numerous elites¡ªwhy would they submit so easily?


    Only after Liusheng Ichiro decimated the organized syndicate of the Yamaguchi Group did he conduct a slaughter among the Yamauchi Family members, with Yamakou Masao ultimately capitulating to the might of his Mecha.


    [Second update]

 Chapter 736 - 736 736 Trouble

    ?Chapter 736: Chapter 736 Trouble Chapter 736: Chapter 736 Trouble After Liusheng Ichiro dealt with the Yamauchi and Dechuan families, the assassins from the Myth Organization arrived above Beihai Country in an air energy car.


    Four figures clad in F-grade mechas flew out of the vehicle, and inside the mechas were virtual display screens that could search for people and places through the Star Domain Network.


    The Star Sea radar navigation system comes in several grades, including commercial navigation categories and military radar classifications, as well as target positioning and locking functions. Combined with laser weapons, they would unleash terrifying power.


    The number of F-grade mechas produced on Pu¡¯er Island had already reached over a thousand. In addition, there were more than two thousand various forms of combat robots, ten sets of the Laser Cannon Defense System, of which one set had already been sold, and over a hundred Beam Recharge Cannons.


    Around seven o¡¯clock in the evening, as Qin Hao, Han Meng, and Liusheng Ichiro were dining, four Mechanical Soldiers appeared at the entrance, startling the people around them. They instantly surrounded the four Mechanical Soldiers.


    ¡°Stand down,¡± Qin Hao said indifferently.


    The guards hastily retreated, and the four Mechanical Soldiers walked in. Their bodies were covered in black mecha armor; they were the Shadow Guards of the Myth Organization, the elite of the elite, the best of the best.


    As the mechas retracted, four faces were revealed, three men and one woman, all appearing young in age.


    In unison, the four said, ¡°Master, the mission is complete.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°I know, you may go back.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The four reactivated their mechas, soared into the sky, and disappeared into the vast night.


    Liusheng Ichiro and the others felt a shock in their hearts. Had the Master already formed a mecha force? If that was truly the case, who else could be his opponent? Liusheng Ichiro was keenly aware of the terrifying power of mechas, seemingly unstoppable by anything.


    After dinner, Liusheng Ichiro also called for the family¡¯s dance troupe, the women scantily clad, sexy in figure and overflowing with appeal, each carefully selected from the Liusheng Family.


    Liusheng Ichiro said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, these are some of the famous girl group members from Beihai Country, and I guarantee they¡¯re all authentic. If you like, I can have them keep you company tonight.¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°No need.¡±


    That night, back in his room, Qin Hao was still sharing a room with Han Meng. After their first time, the second was much more practiced for both of them.


    Just as Qin Hao was about to go to sleep and rest with Han Meng, his phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Silin Ross.


    He answered the phone, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Silin?¡±


    Silin spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, today the George Family attempted to assassinate me. I¡¯m fine, and now I¡¯ve allied with the Ross, Mosi, and Onassis families to take down the George Family.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°Such families are of little use anyway. The George Family must have accumulated quite a fortune over the years, right?¡±


    Silin said, ¡°A conservative estimate would be around six to seven hundred billion, considering the George Family used to be a top-tier business magnate in the world.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Indeed quite wealthy, how will you distribute the interests?¡±


    Silin said with a smile, ¡°The three big families will take ten percent, and the rest is all yours, Mr. Qin. I know you¡¯re in need of money right now, and this should help solve your urgent needs.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Funds are indeed a bit tight right now; I was even planning to develop some new products.¡±


    Silin remembered something else, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve heard that the Federation military is researching a secret weapon.¡±


    ¡°Secret weapon? Do you know the specifics?¡± Qin Hao was taken aback; what secret weapon could they be researching?


    Silin shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know the details. Those in possession of such information are aligned with the national interest faction.¡±


    Last time, during the confrontation between the business empire faction and the national interest faction, the business empire faction took the initiative, and it was only at the end that the big shot hanged himself to death.


    However, this does not mean that the national interest faction lacks strength. Their power is also terrifying, and in some respects, the business empire faction cannot even get involved.


    The two talked for a while, and Silin briefly mentioned the situation in the Northern Federation.


    The next day at 9 a.m., the leader of Beihai Country announced his resignation, which caused quite a stir in Beihai Country. Many applauded the news, while others were surprised, as the announcement was somewhat sudden.


    Ordinary people actually do not care who becomes the leader. What they care most about is whether their living conditions have improved and whether their interests are protected.


    But the news caused quite a stir internationally, as those at this level think about things differently from ordinary citizens.


    A leader of a country resigning, there must definitely be the shadow of some forces involved, otherwise such an event would never happen.


    Which force is manipulating things behind the scenes?


    In the past, the only nation that could influence Beihai Country¡¯s situation was the Northern Federation, but it has gradually receded from the Dongzhou stage, and its influence has become negligible.


    Is it Xuan Country? Unlikely, the relationship between the two countries has not reached that point.


    Several countries have already guessed, but most are still unclear. However, once the new leader is selected, everything will naturally become clear.


    With things here almost settled, Qin Hao was ready to leave. As he was about to take his air energy car back, his cell phone rang; it was a call from the intelligent computer Xiao Xing, ¡°Master, Li Moying and Li Qingyun have been captured and detained by the East Chao Country.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao¡¯s face changed slightly, ¡°What did you say? Captured and detained? What happened?¡±


    ¡°The reason given by East Chao Country is that Jinxiu Hotel Group is suspected of illegal operation, and Kangmei Appliances is suspected of monopoly business!¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and a sharp light flashed, ¡°I know, are the two of them okay?¡±


    ¡°They have been secretly detained in a location, Master. I have already sent you the place.¡±


    After receiving the information, Qin Hao hurriedly said to Liusheng Ichiro, ¡°Prepare an air energy car for me.¡±


    Then, he said to Han Meng and the others, ¡°You go to Pu¡¯er Island first. I have some matters to deal with.¡±


    Liusheng Ichiro arranged an air energy car for Qin Hao, and he set off directly for East Chao Country.


    On the way, he received a call from Li Qingya, who had also received the news, ¡°Mr. Qin, Qingyun has been captured by East Chao Country, and Mo Ying as well.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I already know about this, and I¡¯m on my way there now.¡±


    Li Qingya did not lose her senses, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin, you should also be careful. Jin Tiansi seems to be deliberately provoking you, he probably wants to lure you over.¡±


    Hearing her words, Qin Hao¡¯s mouth curved slightly, revealing a disdainful smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have it all figured out.¡±


    Jin Tiansi doing this suddenly must have a reason, or he has been instructed by someone, and Qin Hao is definitely the ultimate target.


    Qin Hao actually wanted to see what Jin Tiansi was up to!


    [Third update]

 Chapter 737 - 737 737 Work Stoppage Incident

    ?Chapter 737: Chapter 737 Work Stoppage Incident Chapter 737: Chapter 737 Work Stoppage Incident On the way, Qin Hao made a call to Jin Tiansi via Star Domain Network, and the call was connected after roughly fifteen seconds.


    Jin Tiansi¡¯s face carried a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, what can I do for you?¡±


    Qin Hao looked indifferently at Jin Tiansi in the video, ¡°What¡¯s the deal with Li Qingyun and Li Moying?¡±


    Jin Tiansi¡¯s smile paused, ¡°Well, they violated our local legal regulations. Jinxiu Hotel is involved in pornography, and Kangmei Appliances in monopoly practices. There¡¯s nothing I can do, as in East Chao Country, the law is above everything.¡±


    Upon hearing his excuse, Qin Hao sneered internally, ¡°Where are they now?¡±


    Jin Tiansi, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Qin, they are fine, and the place they are being held is absolutely secure.¡±


    Qin Hao directly asked, ¡°When can they get out?¡±


    Jin Tiansi, ¡°Mr. Qin, I don¡¯t know that. It depends on the verdict of our nation¡¯s legal system.¡±


    Qin Hao immediately hung up the phone. Seeing this, Jin Tiansi¡¯s expression turned cold, ¡°Even leaders of other nations don¡¯t have the nerve to hang up on me that rudely. Very well, I¡¯d like to see how long you can stay arrogant.¡±


    After hanging up on Jin Tiansi, Qin Hao called Li Qingya, ¡°Tell all members of the Xinghai Association to shut down all factories and companies in East Chao Country within five minutes. Anyone who fails to do so should get the hell out of the Xinghai Association.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin,¡± Li Qingya responded with a serious face.


    She couldn¡¯t comprehend why East Chao Country would arrest Li Moying and her own sister; they were essentially courting disaster.


    Li Qingya immediately disseminated Qin Hao¡¯s orders.


    Those who received the news were stunned for a moment, then quickly sprang into action, flooding East Chao Country with phone calls.


    One factory after another announced shutdowns and suspensions, causing countless workers to head back home, puzzled by the abrupt halt. Wasn¡¯t everything running smoothly before?


    Within five minutes, over seventy percent of the companies and factories in East Chao Country announced temporary closures. As for when production might resume, that remained unknown.


    This directly led to millions becoming unemployed in an instant, causing significant panic.


    Meanwhile, a piece of news broke out on East Chao Country¡¯s network: Jin Tiansi¡¯s chaotic life.


    The article mainly delved into Jin Tiansi¡¯s private life, discussing his numerous lovers, members of girl groups from East Chao Country, and so on.


    But it was all promoted in text and images. Qin Hao had not released any video or photos yet; it wasn¡¯t time to burn bridges, considering Li Qingyun and Li Moying were still in his hands.


    A subsequent article emerged, analyzing the sudden shutdown of hundreds of factories and companies: Jin Tiansi had taken a fancy to Jinxiu Group¡¯s female CEO, Li Moying, and Kangmei Group¡¯s Li Qingyun. They were now arrested by Jin Tiansi, and the mass closure of companies and factories was entirely due to this reason.


    As Qin Hao controlled East Chao Country¡¯s internet, he deliberately spread these two pieces of news, allowing online users to see them.


    East Chao Country had no authority to shut down its own Star Domain Network, and it was impossible to apprehend employees from Star Domain Net Company, as their headquarters were now located on Pu¡¯er Island.


    Jin Tiansi soon got wind of the online news, and his face grew exceedingly grim.


    ...


    Qin Hao quickly arrived at the capital of East Chao Country. He didn¡¯t go to see Jin Tiansi, but instead, he went to Jinxiu Group.


    He was not in a hurry now, Qin Tiansi would be more anxious than him. As long as the factories and the company remained closed, the ordinary workers would grow increasingly desperate.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, what brings you here?¡± The person in charge of Jinxiu Hotel was sent by the Jinxiu Group, a member of the Li Family; he recognized Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Find a room and we¡¯ll talk.¡±


    Li Tianshun led Qin Hao to a luxury private room, where Qin Hao asked him, ¡°What¡¯s going on with Mo Ying and Qingyun?¡±


    Li Tianshun hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯m not very clear about it; today, Mr. Li from our side and Mr. Li from Kangmei Group were in the room when a group came to arrest them. They are from the Internal Security Department, not the police. I have connections with the police. Mr. Qin, is this what you came for?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Nonsense, what else could I be here for? You may leave now.¡±


    Once Li Tianshun left, Qin Hao turned on the computer in the room and used the radar navigation satellite system to check on Li Moying and Li Qingyun¡¯s location. There were no developments; they were still being detained.


    Qin Hao pondered the underlying circumstances of the issue. Jin Tiansi had no need to offend Qin Hao or the Xinghai Association. His actions must have been under someone else¡¯s command, but who could that be? The mastermind behind it all did not require much thought to identify; it was evident on paper.


    Who else but the higher-ups in Xuan Country would have the power to command Jin Tiansi to act?


    The reason they had Jin Tiansi make a move was they still did not want to completely break with Qin Hao.


    Jin Tiansi arresting Li Moying and Li Qingyun was likely an attempt to lure Qin Hao into a trap. Once he arrived, they would make their move against him, either to capture or to kill.


    Thinking of this, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed, flickering with sharp lights.


    He made a phone call to Leng Xuan, instructing him to send ten Shadow Guards over. To be absolutely prepared for any eventuality, he had to make thorough arrangements.


    Under Qin Hao¡¯s manipulation, public opinion on the internet grew increasingly intense, with almost the entire population of East Chao Country becoming aware.


    Simultaneously, Qin Hao deliberately spread the news internationally.


    ¡°East Chao Country¡¯s Jin Tiansi arrests two Xinghai Association members, possibly due to personal vendettas against the Xinghai Association¡±


    ¡°Current CEOs of Jinxiu Group and Kangmei Appliances group in East Chao Country arrested without cause, Xinghai Association counterattacks, hundreds of factories and companies shut down, millions unemployed.¡±


    Many countries and regions were now aware of the incident, and Qin Hao¡¯s intent in disseminating the news was to establish authority. He wanted those involved to understand the consequences of offending the Xinghai Association.


    Around four in the afternoon, ten Shadow Guards arrived in the capital of East Chao Country, and Qin Hao arranged for five to go outside the First Detention Center, where Li Moying and Li Qingyun were being held.


    With the Shadow Guards¡¯ capabilities, they could easily rescue Li Moying and Li Qingyun from the inside, but Qin Hao did not take action. He was waiting for Jin Tiansi to make his move.


    The next day, a large number of citizens began to gather on the streets, staging protests and demonstrations. They strongly protested Jin Tiansi¡¯s actions and unanimously demanded the release of Li Moying and Li Qingyun.


    This was because it affected their personal interests; if the state could not protect the citizens¡¯ personal interests, it wasn¡¯t far from being ousted.


    Now, more than half of the people in the capital of East Chao Country were out of work, and for the sake of their livelihood, they would definitely need to stand up and protest.


    The impact of the Xinghai Association¡¯s company and factory shutdowns was tremendous. In East Chao Country, there were many small and medium-sized factories with partnerships with Xinghai Association companies. The shutdowns not only affected the workers who lost their jobs but also the factory owners who could no longer earn money.


    The scale of the shutdowns and work stoppages initiated by the Xinghai Association created an immense impact in East Chao Country, greatly affecting the entire nation.

 Chapter 738 - 738 738 Take Action

    ?Chapter 738: Chapter 738: Take Action Chapter 738: Chapter 738: Take Action Jin Tiansi was so passive primarily because of the Star Domain Network. Qin Hao had control over the network, holding all the initiative in his hands.


    In East Chao Country, although there were domestic media, if Qin Hao said you couldn¡¯t post something online, then nothing could be published.


    There were newspapers, but very few people bought them nowadays; they simply couldn¡¯t compete with the internet.


    Later, the number of people joining the demonstrations increased, and some had even surrounded the office buildings of East Chao Country.


    Around ten in the morning, Qin Hao received a call from Jin Tiansi, ¡°Mr. Qin, you are forcing my hand.¡±


    Qin Hao responded with a faint smile, ¡°Forcing your hand? What are you that you think you can be forced by me?¡±


    Jin Tiansi¡¯s face turned ashen, suppressing the anger in his heart, ¡°Mr. Qin, what exactly do you want?¡±


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°I want you to release Li Moying and Li Qingyun, and then resign, taking responsibility for your actions.¡±


    Chilled by his words, Jin Tiansi said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I feel we can¡¯t clear this matter up over the phone. How about we meet in person to discuss this?¡±


    ¡°Alright, where?¡± Qin Hao asked, noticing him finally getting to the point.


    Jin Tiansi replied, ¡°It¡¯s too chaotic outside now, I can¡¯t come out. Mr. Qin, please come to the Military Industry Building, it¡¯s safer here, we have our people guarding it.¡±


    Qin Hao agreed without hesitation, ¡°Alright, then see you at the Military Industry Building.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Jin Tiansi instructed his subordinates, ¡°Immediately arrange for a setup at the Military Industry Building and wait for my orders to act.¡±


    On the other hand, after Qin Hao hung up the phone, a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes; Jin Tiansi wanted him to go to the Military Industry Building, presumably to take action.


    Qin Hao informed the Shadow Guards briefly, then drove the Air Energy Car towards the Military Industry Building.


    The Military Industry Building was not far from here. Two minutes later, Qin Hao arrived outside the Military Industry Building, where he parked the car at the entrance, which was guarded by many fully armed soldiers.


    As Qin Hao got out of the car, someone greeted him immediately, ¡°Mr. Qin, our leader has been waiting for you. Please come in.¡±


    Qin Hao, with a smile on his face, looked around and said lightly, ¡°Well-guarded, aren¡¯t we?¡±


    The man explained, ¡°There are many people demonstrating in the city. We¡¯re afraid they might come here, so we have to tighten security.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, saying nothing more, thinking, I see you¡¯re not afraid of citizens coming here but rather aiming at me, right?


    He followed the man to an elevator and went up to a conference room on the twenty-first floor, where Jin Tiansi was waiting for him with two bodyguards standing behind him.


    Qin Hao sat across from him and asked, ¡°Where are Li Moying and Li Qingyun?¡±


    Jin Tiansi said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, shouldn¡¯t we also settle the matter of the online public opinion and the factory shutdowns?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°As long as they¡¯re fine, I can take care of the internet issue for you, and the factory shutdowns too.¡±


    ¡°Good, I¡¯ll call them right now.¡± After saying this, he took out his phone and made a call, ¡°Bring Li Moying and Li Qingya to the Military Industry Building.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, he said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, please wait a moment, Li Qingyun and Li Moying will be brought over shortly.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll suppress the issues on the internet, and the factory can resume operations, but you must pay a price for this incident.¡±


    Jin Tiansi¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you asking me to resign to take responsibility? That¡¯s not possible.¡±


    The moment he finished speaking, Jin Tiansi¡¯s phone rang. He answered the call and after a few words, he told Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, please hold on a moment; I need to handle some business.¡±


    After he finished speaking, he walked out and closed the door, and the room instantly fell quiet again.


    Qin Hao had an F-class Mecha belt around his waist. It was currently in standby mode, but some network functions could still be used.


    He sent a message to the five Shadow Guards outside the detention center, ¡°As soon as Li Moying and Li Qing Ya come out, start the rescue.¡±


    Then he sent another message to the five Shadow Guards outside the Military Industry Building, ¡°As soon as there¡¯s any movement inside, make your move.¡±


    After leaving the office, Jin Tiansi hurriedly walked to the elevator and went down to a top-secret room on one of the lower floors.


    This room was filled with monitors, and Qin Hao¡¯s room was also within the surveillance scope. At that moment, Jin Tiansi could see Qin Hao sitting there, looking relaxed.


    Seeing this, a grim expression appeared on Jin Tiansi¡¯s face, ¡°Even if you have boundless wealth, you won¡¯t escape today.¡±


    Inside the Military Industry Building, he had hidden at least a thousand fully armed soldiers.


    He thought Qin Hao was too arrogant to come to East Chao Country alone.


    Jin Tiansi was very clear about what Qin Hao was relying on. It was none other than the business empire he had built, which indeed had significant influence, but this was not irreversible. In his view, as long as the measures were strong enough, the losses could be minimized, and not many people could withstand the threat of death.


    ¡°Take action,¡± Jin Tiansi said word by word.


    In the room where Qin Hao was, the two bodyguards directly drew their guns and aimed at Qin Hao, ¡°Kneel down, surrender.¡±


    Seeing their actions, Qin Hao¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, ¡°Has Jin Tiansi finally decided to make a move?¡±


    ¡°Let me warn you one last time, kneel down and surrender immediately.¡±


    Qin Hao sat still, ¡°What if I don¡¯t kneel?¡±


    ¡°Bang bang¡±


    The two men opened fire, targeting Qin Hao¡¯s shoulders. They had been ordered to capture him alive if possible.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t dodge or flinch. The bullets hit his shoulders, but the scene was not as Jin Tiansi and others had imagined with blood splattering.


    The bullets seemed to have hit a steel plate. Although they penetrated Qin Hao¡¯s clothes, they didn¡¯t break his skin. The bullets fell to the floor, emitting a crisp sound.


    Seeing this scene on the surveillance footage, Jin Tiansi¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. The two bodyguards were also stunned, staring at Qin Hao¡¯s shoulders and then back at their guns.


    This is definitely a real gun, how could this be? He must be wearing a bulletproof vest. That must be it; otherwise, he couldn¡¯t have blocked the bullets.


    ¡°Bang bang¡±


    The two men shot at Qin Hao¡¯s head. Qin Hao had lost his patience and was no longer playing along. He quickly reached out his hand and caught the two bullets.


    Jin Tiansi was dumbfounded, and the two top-level bodyguards were also stunned. Damn, is he even human?


    ¡°Swoosh swoosh¡±


    Qin Hao flung the bullets out, piercing through the foreheads of the two men.


    Qin Hao looked at the camera in the corner and said, ¡°You¡¯re next.¡±


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s confident and formidable smile, a chill rose on Jin Tiansi¡¯s back. It was terrifying, utterly terrifying. Such close range, catching bullets with his hands, what kind of concept was that?


    Dodging bullets was one thing, maybe explainable by great predictive skill and quick reactions, but catching bullets with bare hands, how do you explain that???

 Chapter 739 - 739 739 The Zhang Family Head

    ?Chapter 739: Chapter 739: The Zhang Family Head Chapter 739: Chapter 739: The Zhang Family Head This is an unsolvable problem!


    Jin Tiansi now understood why Qin Hao was so brazen¡ªit turned out that Qin Hao himself was terrifyingly powerful.


    Thinking of the over a thousand people he had ambushed inside the building, Jin Tiansi felt slightly relieved. Even if you are that formidable, could you really overcome a thousand people?


    At that moment, five Shadow Guards descended from the sky and rushed into the building.


    These five men arrived suddenly and moved quickly, each taking a different floor; they immediately began to clear the area.


    The Military Industry Building housed no outsiders; everyone was an operative sent by Jin Tiansi.


    The building was filled with unending screams. Under the laser weapons, no one could withstand the attack, nor could their strikes breach the Mechas¡¯ defenses.


    Watching this unfold through surveillance monitors, Jin Tiansi saw the Mechanical Soldiers, looking like gods of death, and his legs wouldn¡¯t stop trembling.


    What kind of monsters were these? How could they be so terrifying?


    About fifteen minutes later, the noise inside the Military Industry Building ceased, and the air around was filled with a faint smell of blood.


    In a room on the sixteenth floor, Jin Tiansi was kneeling on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, surrounded by five black-armored Shadow Guards.


    Qin Hao stood there overlooking Jin Tiansi with a cold and indifferent gaze, as if he were looking at an ant, ¡°Have you anything else to say?¡±


    Jin Tiansi hastily clung to his legs, saying, ¡°Mr. Qin, I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance. I was forced to do this. It was the people from Xuan Country who made me do it. Mr. Qin, this has nothing to do with me.¡±


    Qin Hao had already anticipated this, and looked at him, saying, ¡°Are you done speaking?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, you can¡¯t kill me. I am the leader of East Chao Country!¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at him, then walked out of the room. He contacted the other five Shadow Guards, ¡°Mo Ying and Qing Yun are alright?¡±


    ¡°Master, rest assured, both individuals have been rescued, and they have not been injured at all.¡±


    ¡°Master, where are you?¡± Li Moying¡¯s voice came through the communicator.


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯m at the Military Industry Building, dealing with some matters with Jin Tiansi. There¡¯s nothing to worry about, just wait for me at the hotel.¡±


    ¡°Mm, Master, make sure you come back early.¡±


    After hanging up the communicator, Qin Hao called Li Qingya: ¡°If Jin Tiansi dies, who has the capability to take over his duties?¡±


    Li Qingya began, ¡°Mr. Qin, the Jin Family has a great influence in East Chao Country, they are the most powerful family. Even if he dies, the successor will still be someone from the Jin Family, as they hold some key positions.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°And the next family in line would be which one?¡±


    Li Qingya replied, ¡°It¡¯s the Zhang Family, but their strength is far less than that of the Jin Family. The Jin Family has been developing steadily over the years.¡±


    Qin Hao commented, ¡°Stable? Perhaps it would be even more stable if the entire Jin Family disappeared. Give me the contact information for the Zhang Family Head.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao then called the Zhang Family Head, Zhang Shilin, ¡°Is this Mr. Zhang?¡±


    ¡°Who is this?¡± Zhang Shilin curiously asked upon hearing his voice.


    Qin Hao stated, ¡°I am Qin Hao, do you recognize me?¡±


    At the mention of his name, Zhang Shilin appeared stunned. Qin Hao? Hadn¡¯t Jin Tiansi lured him away? Shouldn¡¯t he be captured by now?


    He cautiously inquired, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you alright?¡±


    Qin Hao replied indifferently, ¡°Right now, an opportunity lies before you. If you wish to seize it, come to the Military Industry Building.¡±


    An opportunity?


    Zhang Shilin¡¯s expression froze. Qin Hao was unharmed, which could only mean that Jin Tiansi was in trouble. Realizing this sent a shock through Zhang Shilin¡¯s heart. This was Jin Tiansi¡¯s turf; could they really not subdue Qin Hao?


    ...


    But even if Jin Tiansi was dead, there was still the immensely powerful Jin Family. Thinking of this, he hesitated.


    The Jin Family was a behemoth in East Chao Country, unshakable by any other family.


    Realizing his concern, Qin Hao said, ¡°From today onwards, there will be no more Jin Family in East Chao Country, you needn¡¯t worry too much.¡±


    On hearing this, Zhang Shilin was shocked, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you mean...¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the rest of the Jin Family, ensuring they won¡¯t see tomorrow¡¯s sunrise.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m coming, Mr. Qin. Wait for me.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, about fifteen minutes passed before Zhang Shilin arrived. As he entered the Military Industry Building, he detected a faint smell of blood. The deeper he went, the more horrified he became.


    All around were severed arms and legs¡ªtoo bloody, too horrifying, and soon he couldn¡¯t help but vomit.


    Fortunately, he had come up to the sixteenth floor by elevator. Had he walked, he probably would have thrown up his stomach.


    Zhang Shilin was immensely shocked. How had Qin Hao done this? By what means had he killed so many people?


    Upon reaching the sixteenth floor, he found Qin Hao waiting in a room. Jin Tiansi was also there, but he was already dead.


    Zhang Shilin, looking at the calm and composed Qin Hao, felt his heart pound with fear. This young man was terrifying, and so were the five people around him, all radiating a chilling murderous aura.


    Could it be that these few men had killed all those people? And what were they wearing?


    ¡°Are you Mr. Zhang?¡± Qin Hao looked at him, his gaze sharp as lightning.


    Zhang Shilin¡¯s body trembled slightly as he nodded slightly, ¡°Hello, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently, ¡°I¡¯ll leave the rest to you. I¡¯m sending people now to take care of the other members of the Jin Family.¡±


    After saying this, he left with the five Shadow Guards. Upon exiting the Military Industry Building, Qin Hao sent those five to deal with the rest of the Jin Family.


    Even in East Chao Country, the Jin Family couldn¡¯t withstand the slaughter of the Mechanical Soldiers.


    Qin Hao returned to the hotel, where he met Li Moying and Li Qingyun. They were waiting for him in the room, guarded by two Shadow Guards at the door.


    ¡°Master,¡± Li Moying ran over to him as she saw him, her eyes slightly reddened as she embraced him.


    Qin Hao gently patted her back, ¡°It¡¯s okay, nothing¡¯s wrong.¡±


    Li Qingyun spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, what could be wrong with me? I¡¯m sorry you were frightened this time. Keep this safely, this is an F-grade Mecha, it could save your lives in critical moments.¡± After saying this, Qin Hao took out two Mecha belts and gave them to them.


    They played with them for a while, and soon figured them out. Both Li Moying and Li Qingyun were very interested and started donning the Mecha.


    Qin Hao called Du Wanrou and asked her to prepare some Mecha for the core members of the Xinghai Association. However, the Mechas given out required reauthorization, and the real control still lay in Qin Hao¡¯s hands.


    Qin Hao did not leave East Chao Country that day, he was waiting for the final outcome.


    In the afternoon, the five Shadow Guards returned. They had killed every direct descendant of the Jin Family.


    The next morning, just after eight, Zhang Shilin publicly announced that Jin Tiansi, unable to withstand immense pressure, had committed suicide. A new leader would be elected, and Zhang Shilin would act as the leader in the meantime.


    He also made a promise to all citizens: to actively correct mistakes, fully negotiate with the corporations of the Xinghai Association, and strive to secure a stable job for all citizens.

 Chapter 740 - 740 740 Stable

    ?Chapter 740: Chapter 740 Stable Chapter 740: Chapter 740 Stable The news of the Jin Family¡¯s annihilation did not spread far, as the people of East Chao Country unanimously maintained their silence.


    With many vacancies, Zhang Shilin promoted his own people to the open positions. Now that the Jin Family was gone, his Zhang Family was the biggest, and no one dared to say anything. Moreover, Zhang Shilin had also bestowed plenty of benefits upon them.


    The news of Jin Tiansi¡¯s suicide and the extermination of the Jin Family could be kept from the common citizens, but not from the top brass of the nations.


    Upon hearing this news, they were incredibly shocked. Qin Hao had actually annihilated the Jin Family in East Chao Country¡ªhow on earth did he manage that?


    The Xuan Country side was equally shaken. Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue provided them with the most plausible explanation: F-grade Mecha!


    There was no other explanation, and having witnessed the power of mechas themselves, they knew they were not something human strength could withstand.


    ¡°Has Qin Hao¡¯s personal armed force really become this terrifying?¡± some high-level officials from Xuan Country couldn¡¯t believe it.


    ...


    Soon after Zhang Shilin took over as acting leader, within less than a day, the factories and companies under the Xinghai Association had resumed operation, calling back their employees.


    This greatly increased Zhang Shilin¡¯s prestige in East Chao Country, which could only be described as frightening, because he was doing real and good deeds for the ordinary citizens, who would naturally remember him and be grateful.


    To be frank, dealing with these ordinary citizens was quite easy¡ªin blunter terms, they were easily fooled. As long as you considered their needs and thought on their behalf, they would support and protect you.


    After stabilizing the situation, Zhang Shilin came to the Jinxiu Hotel alone to find Qin Hao.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, the situation has more or less stabilized now. What should I do next?¡± Zhang Shilin asked carefully.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Don¡¯t you know what to do? Manage as you should manage, but remember one thing clearly¡ªyou must understand whose orders to follow.¡±


    Zhang Shilin nodded hurriedly, ¡°I will always look to Mr. Qin as my guide. If Mr. Qin tells me to go east, I will definitely not go west.¡±


    He now fully understood Qin Hao¡¯s strength and methods. If Qin Hao could destroy the Jin Family, he could just as easily destroy the Zhang Family. Offending Xuan Country was one thing, but he couldn¡¯t afford to offend Qin Hao.


    Offending Xuan Country would, at most, result in an economic blockade against East Chao Country, but they would never dare to initiate a military strike.


    But if he offended Qin Hao, the Jin Family¡¯s fate would be an excellent outcome.


    Would an economic blockade work against East Chao Country? The Xinghai Association listened to Qin Hao. Whether an economic blockade could be implemented was up to him.


    Zhang Shilin knew clearly how to choose.


    Qin Hao took out a vial and said, ¡°Drink this.¡±


    Zhang Shilin did not hesitate, nor did he ask what it was. He took it and drank it down, earning a bit of Qin Hao¡¯s admiration.


    He was very smart, even Qin Hao appreciated him somewhat.


    Qin Hao told him, ¡°What you¡¯ve taken is the latest research in control serums, specially designed to handle some disobedient people.¡±


    Zhang Shilin responded, ¡°Mr. Qin, I will definitely be obedient.¡±


    Qin Hao then took out more vials, ¡°These serums need to be administered to all direct members of your family. If you fail to follow my commands, the serum will take effect. You weigh your options.¡±


    Zhang Shilin carefully accepted them and asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, I would like to buy the Laser Cannon Defense System on behalf of East Chao Country. Is that possible? We can come up with two hundred billion Federation currency.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Of course. Transfer the money to Star Sea International Arms Company, and then someone will come to install the Laser Cannon Defense System.¡±


    The two discussed some additional matters afterwards, with no one knowing precisely what was said.


    ...


    In the evening, Qin Hao received a call from Xu Siyao.


    Xu Siyao asked, ¡°Are you in East Chao Country?¡±


    ¡°Yes, what¡¯s up, Si Yao?¡±


    Xu Siyao: ¡°Nothing much, just missing you a bit. When are you coming back to Xuan Country?¡±


    After thinking for a moment, Qin Hao replied, ¡°Tomorrow, I guess. There¡¯s not much left to do here.¡±


    Xu Siyao giggled, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you in Jianghai City.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao leaned against the headboard, his gaze falling into deep thought. Now that the funds had increased somewhat, once the business with the Liusheng Family was settled, an even larger sum of money would be credited to his account.


    He was planning to manufacture some satellites, like meteorological satellites, astronomical observation satellites, reconnaissance satellites, monitoring satellites, and so on.


    The current Advanced Radar Navigation Satellites have the capabilities of detection and reconnaissance satellites, so there¡¯s no need to launch so many separate satellites.


    What he needed now was an astronomical observation satellite, primarily for observing the movements in the depths of the universe.


    Qin Hao started searching in the system¡¯s mall and quickly found the Century No. Astronomical Remote Observation Satellite, priced at sixty million achievement points.


    Meteorological Satellite: Capable of predicting weather changes for accurate judgment, priced at forty million achievement points.


    Air Quality Optimization Device: Capable of improving the air quality of a planet, enhancing the freshness of the air, and filtering out all polluted gases and microparticle dust, priced at eighty million achievement points.


    Seeing this Air Quality Optimization Device, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up; it indeed seemed like a terrific invention.


    Having grown up in Xuan Country since he was young, he was well aware of the air quality issues there. Due to rapid development, pollution had become quite severe, significantly impacting many people¡¯s health.


    Although Qin Hao had not reached an agreement with some of Xuan Country¡¯s upper echelons, this had nothing to do with the ordinary citizens.


    After making the exchange, Qin Hao passed the information to Du Wanrou, instructing her to oversee the arrangements.


    By the time he finished with these tasks, it was already deep into the night. Just as he was about to go to bed and rest, there was a knocking at the door.


    Perplexed, he walked to the door and opened it. Li Qingyun stood at the entrance, wearing an autumn dress, her delicate features and fair skin complemented by her petite and graceful figure.


    Upon seeing her, Qin Hao paused: ¡°Qingyun, how come you haven¡¯t gone to bed yet?¡±


    Li Qingyun¡¯s cheeks were tinged with a touch of red, ¡°Mr. Qin, I can¡¯t sleep and wanted to talk to you about something.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Sure, come in and talk.¡±


    They both sat on the sofa in the room, and Qin Hao poured her a cup of tea, ¡°Have some water, and tell me what¡¯s on your mind.¡±


    Li Qingyun said, ¡°Xuan Country had once convened many group leaders from the Xinghai Association to have a talk. Are you aware of that, Mr. Qin?¡±


    ¡°I know a bit.¡± Qin Hao was well aware of such matters, but some things could not be fully disclosed.


    Li Qingyun continued, ¡°You probably can guess the intentions of Xuan Country. They want us, the heads of the large conglomerates, to stand with them at critical moments. Mr. Qin, I think they might be planning to take action against you.¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled confidently, ¡°I¡¯m aware. The kidnapping of you and Mo Ying was orchestrated by them. Otherwise, Jin Tiansi wouldn¡¯t have dared to act so brazenly.¡±


    Li Qingyun was taken aback, ¡°It was people from Xuan Country?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes. Jin Tiansi confessed before his death. However, after this incident, those from Xuan Country should realize the disparity between us. To proceed in the same manner would be to overestimate themselves.¡±


    [First update]

 Chapter 741 - 741 741 Return

    ?Chapter 741: Chapter 741: Return Chapter 741: Chapter 741: Return Li Qingyun was somewhat surprised in her heart, realizing that the incident was actually orchestrated by those people!


    She asked, ¡°So if we return to Xuan Country, won¡¯t it be very dangerous?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°You all now have F-level Mechas with you, there¡¯s absolutely nothing to worry about. If you want to run, no one can catch you.¡±


    Li Qingyun nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed as she looked at Qin Hao and whispered, looking down, ¡°Mr. Qin, I... I like you.¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, then asked with a wry smile, ¡°What do you like about me?¡±


    Li Qingyun¡¯s face turned even redder, and shyly said, ¡°I don¡¯t know, but when I see you, I feel my heart beating faster, and I often dream about you at night.¡±


    Qin Hao was the dream lover of many women, wealthy and powerful yet still young. Countless women desired him.


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°I already have many women by my side, I am not a suitable partner.¡±


    Li Qingyun replied, ¡°I... I don¡¯t mind. There are two things in life you can¡¯t miss, one is the last bus home, and the other is the person you love.¡±


    Although Qin Hao wasn¡¯t particularly handsome, he possessed a unique charm, which to many women felt like a magnetic pull.


    This must be personal charm.


    Never underestimate this personal charm; women deeply enchanted by it can do just about anything.


    Just like the current frenzy of celebrity fandom, female fans would do absolutely anything for the young idols they adore!


    Qin Hao could tell that the women around him admired and even worshipped him.


    Everything he did, every product he developed, was simply breathtaking, which is why they worshipped him.


    Now, Li Qingyun was in this state, an infatuated reverence, without any reason or purpose, merely influenced and affected by Qin Hao¡¯s personal charm!


    In the eyes of people like Li Qingyun, Qin Hao was like a popular young idol to his female fans, adored and worshipped to the extent of madness.


    However, Li Qingyun and others still maintained their rationality, but the affection, infatuation, and reverence in their hearts were unstoppable.


    Qin Hao had seen through everything; he was now a fully leveled personality, transcending ordinary individuals. According to the system, his level was: Junior Warrior!


    Li Qingyun got up and sat next to Qin Hao...


    ...


    Suddenly, Li Moying entered, pouting slightly, somewhat displeased, ¡°Master, how can you two be like this? What about me?¡±


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao opened his eyes to find two people lying beside him.


    They also awoke, and the two women exchanged glances, both exceedingly shy.


    Qin Hao looked at them both and smilingly said, ¡°Let¡¯s get up. It¡¯s time to head back to Xuan Country.¡±


    After getting up, the three of them ate something and then left East Chao Country in an Air Energy Car.


    Today, Zhang Shilin would be discussing a collaboration with Du Wanrou from Star Sea International Arms Company, relieving him of these concerns.


    On the return journey, Qin Hao and the two others sat in the car. Li Moying asked, ¡°Master, what are we going to do in Xuan Country?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°We¡¯ll make a trip to the Xu family. Once their issues are resolved, we¡¯ll head back to Pu¡¯er Island.¡±


    Now, Pu¡¯er Island, transformed by Qin Hao¡¯s efforts, was like a paradise on Earth, with breathtaking scenery; those who went there didn¡¯t want to leave.


    Access to Pu¡¯er Island wasn¡¯t open to just anyone¡ªit was either employees or family members of the Xinghai Group, or people close to Qin Hao; ordinary people simply couldn¡¯t go there.


    By 8 in the morning, Qin Hao arrived in Jianghai City, his first stop being Xinghai High-tech Company.


    Exiting the car, Qin Hao and his companions walked towards the office building, entering Chang Jing¡¯s office where Annie was also present.


    Surprised to see the trio, Chang Jing nodded after Qin Hao asked, ¡°Is everything ready?¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°Everything¡¯s ready. Annie and others will soon move to Pu¡¯er Island.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Pu¡¯er Island is getting more crowded, and there are more responsibilities to manage. She¡¯s getting overwhelmed handling it alone; it¡¯s good that you¡¯ll help share the burden.¡±


    This move involved shifting the Xinghai High-tech company¡¯s management department entirely to Pu¡¯er Island for remote operation, allowing them to handle things from there unless it was necessary to drive down.


    However, with advanced surveillance cameras in place, Xiaoxing would notify Chang Jing and others of any issues, so generally, there wouldn¡¯t be any problems.


    Qin Hao turned to Li Qingya and Li Moying and asked, ¡°Are you returning with me, or will you go with Mr. Chang today?¡±


    Li Moying and Li Qingyun exchanged glances before saying, ¡°We¡¯ll go with Mr. Chang; you go attend to your matters.¡±


    ...


    Leaving Xinghai High-tech, Qin Hao drove to Xu Siyao¡¯s home. Within minutes, he reached her front door.


    He knocked on the door, and after about ten seconds, Xu Siyao, in her pajamas and looking languid, opened the door. Seeing Qin Hao, she immediately perked up, ¡°Qin Hao? You¡¯re here, come in quickly.¡±


    After she grabbed Qin Hao¡¯s arm and pulled him inside, they entered the living room where Yang Su and Xu Jiekang were each holding a child, walking around.


    ¡°Xiao Hao is here,¡± Xu Jiekang and Yang Su said with a smile.


    Qin Hao smiled as he walked over, glanced at the two children, then sat down on the sofa, ¡°Mr. Xu, Ms. Yang, if you¡¯re free, you should stay on Pu¡¯er Island. The air and environment there are great, and there are schools and everything!¡±

 Chapter 742 - 742 742 Visitors

    ?Chapter 742: Chapter 742 Visitors Chapter 742: Chapter 742 Visitors Xu Jiekang sat down and said with a smile, ¡°I was planning just that. I have handed over the domestic companies to someone else to manage. From now on, I want to take good care of these two children.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Mr. Xu, you and Ms. Yang are welcome to go whenever you want. Once there, everything will be arranged for you. I have prepared a residence for you with a very nice view.¡±


    Xu Jiekang nodded slightly, ¡°The old man will also come over in a bit. He has something to say to you. Xiao Hao, I heard you¡¯ve produced laser weapons?¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°Yes, Pu¡¯er Island now has laser weapon defenses. In terms of security, there¡¯s no doubt, it is absolutely one of the safest places in the world.¡±


    Xu Jiekang looked at him, hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°Xiao Hao, why not cooperate with Xuan Country? After all, you grew up there. Why have a falling out with them?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Mr. Xu, I would like to cooperate, but they might not agree, because I have my conditions for cooperation.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Xu Jiekang didn¡¯t know what else to say. The Qin Hao of now was no longer the Qin Hao of before.


    He had soared through the dragon gate, rising rapidly, and no one could restrain him anymore.


    Around nine o¡¯clock, Xu Liangguo arrived, accompanied by Chen Shengjun.


    They had come in an air energy car, which had become very popular in Xuan Country. Nearly every city had them, let alone high-ranking individuals like Xu Liangguo.


    The group sat on the couch, with Qin Hao facing Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun. The faint smile on his face never faded.


    Chen Shengjun looked at him and said, ¡°Xiao Hao, I heard from Xiao Jing that they are also moving to Pu¡¯er Island?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s safer there, and all the office buildings have been built. They can manage the company remotely.¡±


    Chen Shengjun said with a laugh, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Pu¡¯er Island is beautifully scenic and has fresh air. It seems like a very suitable place to live.¡±


    Qin Hao chatted about everyday matters with the two, not directly jumping into the main topic at first.


    They were certainly here representing some people. As for what they wanted to say to Qin Hao, he wasn¡¯t sure. But today, they would definitely be representing an official attitude on behalf of the authorities.


    After some small talk, Xu Liangguo began, ¡°Xiao Hao, can we discuss your laser weapons, mechas, and combat robots?¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Do you want to buy them, Mr. Xu, or are you looking to acquire the technology?¡±


    Xu Liangguo was upfront, ¡°The higher-ups want the technology.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Forget about the technology, but they are available for purchase.¡±


    He was short on money now, and as Xuan Country had rapidly developed and made a lot of money, it was a good opportunity to earn some from the national coffers.


    Xu Liangguo asked, ¡°How much for the laser cannon defense system? And do you still retain control over it?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Two hundred billion Federation dollars. That¡¯s the price for other countries too, and Xuan Country is not short of this amount of money now.¡±


    Chen Shengjun said, ¡°Can we take control, even if it costs more money?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Even if I officially give you control, I will still have control in reality. With such a high-casualty weapon, I must retain some degree of control.¡±


    Xu Liangguo sighed, ¡°Then how about the laser guns, mechas, and combat robots? How are you selling them?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Laser guns are for sale, but mechas and combat robots are expensive. An F-grade mecha costs about five hundred million Federation dollars, while a combat robot costs a hundred million Federation dollars each.¡±


    ¡°That expensive?¡± Chen Shengjun and Xu Liangguo frowned.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Though they are expensive, they are worth the price. You should be aware of the combat capabilities of the F-grade mechas.¡±


    Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun discussed and finally decided to purchase a set of laser cannon defense systems, ten F-grade mechas, one hundred combat robots, and several laser guns.


    The economy of Xuan Country was growing by leaps and bounds; the treasury was full, and they had plenty of money ¡ª this amount was not considered much.


    The most important aspect of this purchase was Xuan Country¡¯s attitude. They had already thought through how to get along with Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao was no longer someone they could influence.


    In truth, whether Xuan Country bought those weapons or not, Qin Hao, being a descendant of the Yan and Huang Emperors, would protect the land of Xuan Country with all his might. As long as he was there, no one could touch Xuan Country, nor would anyone dare.


    At noon, Xu Liangguo, Chen Shengjun, and Qin Hao had lunch together. The two also hinted at the attitudes and intentions of the higher-ups.


    After having lunch and a short conversation, Xu Liangguo and Chen Shengjun left.


    Qin Hao asked Xu Siyao, ¡°Siyao, will you come with me to Pu¡¯er Island?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure; there isn¡¯t much happening at home anyway,¡± Xu Siyao replied with a smile, nodding her head.


    Xu Jiekang spoke up, ¡°You two go ahead, Xiaosu and I will follow in a few days.¡±


    After getting into the air energy car, Qin Hao and Xu Siyao set off for Pu¡¯er Island. Along the way, Xu Siyao couldn¡¯t resist and started doing it with him in the car.


    Back on Pu¡¯er Island, Qin Hao settled down comfortably once more.


    ...


    Now, Chang Jing, Du Wanrou, and Miao Jing took care of the island¡¯s affairs, while Li Qingya managed the Xinghai Association.


    In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.


    The laser cannon defense system purchased by East Chao Country was installed the next day, and Xuan Country was also installing theirs; the weapons and equipment they bought had been delivered too.


    Another significant event caused a considerable stir internationally: the Xinghai International Bank was established on Pu¡¯er Island. Moreover, Qin Hao was also planning new currency reforms.


    He intended to issue his own currency, and then leverage the advantages of his commercial empire to make his currency globally accepted, even going as far as to replace all national currencies, aiming to have only one currency worldwide.


    The currency effort was no small challenge, and it required careful strategizing. It was unlikely to yield any immediate results.


    The election results in Beihai Country had concluded, and a member of the Liusheng Family had been successful.


    Liusheng Ichiro¡¯s first action was to purchase a laser cannon defense system from Qin Hao, which effectively meant using Beihai Country¡¯s treasury to give money to Qin Hao as a sign of loyalty.


    That day, Qin Hao sat on the mountain peak, enjoying the view below.


    Chang Jing came out of the villa, ¡°The research on high-level meteorological satellites, astronomical observation satellites, and air quality optimization devices has been completed.¡±


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s launch them into space.¡±


    Pu¡¯er Island now had satellite launch technology; with advanced fuel technology, satellites could quickly enter their specific orbits at high speeds.


    Chang Jing continued, ¡°Someone from Saiya Country has come; it looks like they want to buy your weapons.¡±


    Saiya Country?


    The most chaotic regions in the world, the Eastern Continent and the Western Continent Black Region?


    An interested expression appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face: ¡°I¡¯ll go have a look.¡±

 Chapter 743 - 743 743 Engsor

    ?Chapter 743: Chapter 743 Engsor Chapter 743: Chapter 743 Engsor Qin Hao and Chang Jing arrived at the rooftop of the Star Sea International Arms Company building in an Air Energy Car.


    They took the elevator to the reception area of the company, where one person was seated and four stood, looking like bodyguards. Each had a fierce appearance exuding a menacing aura, clearly elites weathered by many battles.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, hello,¡± the person seated said as he saw Qin Hao and Chang Jing enter. He quickly stood up, speaking in not very fluent Xuan Country language.


    Nowadays, foreign companies wanting to collaborate with the Xinghai Association almost always spoke the Xuan Country language because Qin Hao had an unofficial rule that if you don¡¯t speak the Xuan Country language, you don¡¯t qualify to cooperate with the Xinghai Association.


    Therefore, many large families around the world now include Xuan Country language training in their curriculum.


    Engsor had heard about this and had crammed Xuan Country language recently, previously having known none of it.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Mr. Engsor, please take a seat.¡±


    After both parties sat down, Engsor was somewhat shocked as he looked at Qin Hao. Everyone said Qin Hao was very young, and though he was prepared, he was still somewhat shocked when he saw him in reality.


    He was so young, yet he had reached such a stage, which was quite terrifying indeed.


    It was said that he now controlled the East Chao Country, Beidou Country, and Beihai Country, and even Xuan Country had to show him respect.


    Engsor said carefully, ¡°Mr. Qin, hello, I am Engsor, the current head of the Fergus family from Mao Country, one of the three major armed forces within our territory.¡±


    Qin Hao was also somewhat aware of the situation in Mao Country. The force led by Engsor was the weakest among the armed forces in Mao Country, with the other two backed by major countries.


    One was supported by Beiluo Country, and the other by the Federation. Engsor¡¯s forces were merely surviving in a crack between powers and were having a very hard time.


    Otherwise, he would not be seeking help from Qin Hao now.


    Qin Hao asked directly, ¡°What brings you to Pu¡¯er Island?¡±


    Engsor said with a smile, ¡°I want to purchase some of your advanced weaponry.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°What kind of weapons would you like to buy? We have laser guns, combat robots, laser cannon defense systems, beam recharge cannons, and more.¡±


    Engsor asked cautiously, ¡°And what are the prices for these?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°Our public asking price for a laser pistol is three million Federation currency, a laser rifle is six million Federation currency, combat robots are one hundred million Federation currency, and the laser cannon defense system is two hundred billion Federation currency.¡±


    The pricing was determined after deliberation by Chang Jing and others, differing somewhat from the prices Qin Hao had previously quoted offhand.


    Engsor said somewhat embarrassingly, ¡°Mr. Qin, could I see the laser guns and combat robots?¡±


    The other items were out of his consideration, as they were way beyond what he could afford at the moment.


    The laser cannon defense system priced at two hundred billion Federation currency would cost more than his entire family could afford.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Of course.¡±


    He and Chang Jing then led Engsor to a test site at the back of the island, a restricted area generally inaccessible to the public.


    The site was not empty, with some robots nearby preparing to launch several satellites.


    Engsor followed beside Qin Hao and, seeing the scene not far off, curiously asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, what is that for?¡±


    Qin Hao explained with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s for preparing to launch satellites.¡±


    Engsor was startled for a moment, feeling somewhat surprised in his heart. Satellites? Could he actually produce satellites on his own now?


    Upon arriving at the testing field, Qin Hao had a combat robot bring over a laser gun, and he let Engsor try out the laser gun.


    In terms of power, firing speed, and ease of operation, it completely surpassed all guns in the world today. Even untrained individuals could easily operate the laser gun without any so-called recoil.


    ...


    ¡°This... is so easy to use.¡± Engels was overjoyed. If his troops were equipped with this weapon, they would absolutely dominate their enemies.


    If he had a large number of these weapons, couldn¡¯t he dominate Mao Country?


    Thinking of this made him somewhat excited, ¡°Mr. Qin, I want a hundred of these laser rifles and fifty pistols.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°That would be 750 million Federation currency in total. Let me also show you the power of the combat robots.¡±


    After speaking, he commanded the combat robot, which instantly entered combat mode, raising both hands simultaneously. The laser gun and a small laser cannon fired instantly.


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡±


    ¡°Boom boom boom¡±


    A small hill in the distance was directly leveled by the violent firepower, extremely terrifying. Then, the combat robot instantly flew out, its speed so fast that it was impossible to see clearly.


    The combat robot hovered in the air to fire, then charged into the trees below, and a high-energy laser sword appeared in the robot¡¯s right hand, easily cutting down large trees that were several tens of centimeters thick.


    Engsor watched, dumbfounded and extremely shocked. Whether in long-range or close combat, the combat robot was exceptionally formidable, capable of annihilating a squad of hundreds by itself.


    Engsor breathed heavily, his eyes flashing with determination, ¡°Mr. Qin, I want a hundred of these.¡±


    The Fergus family wasn¡¯t very wealthy, having only just over ten billion Federation currency in total. Now, he was almost putting all his capital on the line.


    He was betting it all¡ªto have these things meant victory in future battles, acquiring the fruits of victory, and using them to grow stronger.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°Sure, Mr. Engsor. Do you need anything else?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll just take these for now, and we can talk about other things later.¡± Engsor said with a sheepish smile, since he really didn¡¯t have much money left.


    Back in the office building, Engsor transferred the money to Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin, when can these weapons be delivered?¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°They can be delivered right now. Just wait a moment, and then you can leave in an air energy car.¡±


    ¡°Sure, Mr. Qin.¡± Engsor hurriedly nodded in agreement.


    He had never been in an air energy car before; in Mao Country, where could one find such a car when many people live day to day without assurance?


    About half an hour later, all the weapons were loaded, and Engsor left with his people. As he was leaving, he excitedly shook Qin Hao¡¯s hand, ¡°Mr. Qin, it was a pleasure doing business.¡±


    Qin Hao, watching Engsor¡¯s bearded face, never lost his smile, ¡°Pleasure doing business, and I hope Mr. Engsor will continue to support my enterprise in the future.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, absolutely,¡± Engsor nodded repeatedly.


    Watching Engsor leave, Qin Hao¡¯s face revealed a mysteriously enigmatic smile.


    Chang Jing saw his smile and was somewhat speechless. This guy was too cunning. The primary controllers of those combat robots were still Qin Hao, and the secondary ownership system was Engsor, meaning that if Qin Hao commanded it, the robots wouldn¡¯t heed Engsor¡¯s commands.

 Chapter 744 - 744 744 Koba City

    ?Chapter 744: Chapter 744 Koba City Chapter 744: Chapter 744 Koba City On the way back, Qin Hao saw the rockets launched from the back mountain had already ascended into space.


    These satellites were all equipped with laser defense systems to ensure their safety, and Qin Hao was worried that some countries might target his satellites.


    After the satellites reached orbit, people on Pu¡¯er Island began to prepare, and once the satellites entered a specific orbit, they could start receiving signals.


    About half an hour later, all three satellites had entered their predetermined orbits and began normal operations.


    At the same time, Qin Hao had Xinghai Group announce a message to the public, ¡°Our company has successfully launched an Air Quality Optimization Device today, which can filter the air to make it fresher. We welcome all nations to collaborate with our company.¡±


    This announcement caused quite a stir among nations around the world. An Air Quality Optimization Device? Capable of filtering and optimizing polluted air? Was such a thing even possible?


    They were somewhat puzzled at how Qin Hao managed to develop these things¡ªthe things that ordinary people wouldn¡¯t even dare to dream of, he had made a reality.


    After the Air Quality Optimization Device started operating, Qin Hao also used a high-altitude astronomical satellite to capture a video of the device at work.


    The area now filtered and optimized by the Air Quality Optimization Device was Xuan Country.


    ...


    On Pu¡¯er Island, Qin Hao entered the underwater base to take a look. There were now over forty thousand industrial robots¡ªif it weren¡¯t for financial constraints, the output would be very high.


    Plenty of Body Attribute Genetic Potions and Human Gene Potions had been produced, and Du Wanrou had mostly distributed them to the people around her.


    The underwater base was still under development and had extended deep into the sea. Standing in the glass elevator, Qin Hao watched the fish swimming outside the glass.


    Chang Jing came along with him and marveled at the beauty of the sea, her eyes revealing her fondness.


    ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful, Qin Hao, look over there! There¡¯s a big shark, it¡¯s huge,¡± Chang Jing suddenly exclaimed.


    Qin Hao turned to look and saw a large shark swimming nearby. It was very big, more than twenty meters long, hunting for prey.


    Chang Jing asked worriedly, ¡°Will it break the glass?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even laser gun weaponry can¡¯t break this glass.¡±


    While they talked, they arrived at another part of the underwater base, which could be considered a separate base connected by a passageway.


    In this section, the robots were busy excavating the underwater base, which was over a thousand meters below the surface¡ªa very deep location.


    Chang Jing suggested to him, ¡°I think we should now produce some underwater resource exploration equipment. You know, the ocean covers more than seventy percent of the Earth¡¯s surface, and there are all kinds of rare minerals and resources beneath the sea. This way, we could also save a lot of costs.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up at her suggestion, ¡°That¡¯s a great idea.¡±


    The two of them looked around for a while before leaving, as developing the base would take some time.


    After exiting the base, Qin Hao asked Chang Jing, ¡°How¡¯s the currency matter going?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°I have already contacted several countries. East Chao Country, Beidou Country, and Beihai Country should not be a problem. There might be some resistance from the others, but given our vast corporate empire, they have no choice.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Then let¡¯s speed up the process.¡±


    Chang Jing went to the Xinghai International Bank Building, and Qin Hao went to the headquarters of the Xinghai Association.


    Inside the general manager¡¯s office at the Xinghai Association headquarters building, Qin Hao knocked and entered to find Li Qingya, Li Qingyun, and Li Moying talking. When they saw Qin Hao enter, the three women paused.


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Qingya, give me the current membership list of the Xinghai Association. I want to take a look.¡±


    Li Qingya nodded, walked over to a filing cabinet, and took out a folder.


    Qin Hao sat there, looking through the list. The Xinghai Association had seventy-eight members, majority of which were conglomerates from Xuan Country, and only a few were foreign companies.


    They were conglomerates from Beidou Country, Beihai Country, and one from the Innsil Family in the Western Continent.


    In fact, many foreign conglomerates wanted to join the Xinghai Association, but Qin Hao hadn¡¯t agreed to any of them.


    The conglomerates in the Xinghai Association now had significant international reputations. As long as they continued to develop, in less than a year, they would become some of the world¡¯s top conglomerates.


    Qin Hao had stakes in these conglomerates, and their products were all authorized with technology he provided¡ªthey simply couldn¡¯t function without Qin Hao.


    The folder detailed the companies from Xuan Country and meticulously recorded the number of employees each company had under its umbrella.


    The total number of employees under the Xinghai Association had reached over six hundred million. Not all of them were employed directly by the Xinghai Association; many were from companies that had partnerships with the Association.


    It was like a massive net that enveloped the entirety of Xuan Country.


    According to Xiaoxing¡¯s statistics, there were now more than one hundred million people earning over ten thousand per month, nearly completing the mission.


    Li Qingya and the others didn¡¯t disturb him, quietly standing there watching him.


    After finishing, Qin Hao had a rough idea in his mind: the system mission should be completed by the end of this year, and he would be able to receive the D-grade Mecha as a reward.


    If the F-grade Mecha was already so formidable, what more a D-grade Mecha!


    He couldn¡¯t even imagine how powerful a D-grade Mecha would be.


    After finishing, Qin Hao looked up and said to them, ¡°Continue with what you were discussing. I¡¯m done here; I¡¯ve got some things to attend to.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, Xiao Hao, do you have time tonight?¡± Li Qingyun asked with a hint of red on her cheeks.


    Qin Hao paused, then nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll come to see you tonight.¡±


    Leaving the office, he headed to the Xinghai Company Building and opened up the system mall in his own office to browse.


    Underwater Resource Detection Equipment: Capable of detecting resources within a hundred-mile radius under the sea. Exchange price: one hundred million achievement points.


    Underwater Resource Mining Equipment: Capable of mining various resources and minerals from the depths of the sea. Exchange price: one hundred million achievement points.


    After exchanging for these two items, Qin Hao was left with 590 million achievement points.


    He sent the technology specifications for these two pieces of equipment to Du Wanrou on the computer, then instructed her to arrange for the robots to start production.


    ...


    In the Eastern Continent and the Western Continent Black Region, within Mao Country¡¯s borders...


    Engsor, having received those weapons, couldn¡¯t wait to test them. His forces were in a town near Koba City, numbering over a thousand people.


    He had given the laser guns to the elite soldiers trained by his family, and a hundred combat robots were fighting there.


    Engsor called everyone together and declared, ¡°Brothers, have you seen these new weapons? With them, we can definitely win. We must liberate Mao Country, rescue the people living in dire straits. Everyone prepare; we set off to attack Koba City in five minutes.¡±

 Chapter 745 - 745 745 The Power of Battle Robots

    ?Chapter 745: Chapter 745: The Power of Battle Robots Chapter 745: Chapter 745: The Power of Battle Robots Koba City is located in the northernmost part of Mao Country, adjacent to Turqi Country. This place is rich in resources and strategically important, and has always been a hotly contested spot by several forces.


    Five minutes later.


    Engsor organized his men and started to march towards Koba City. In the past, when his team was larger, they had also fought over Koba City and even captured it once, but suffered heavy casualties and later it was taken from them.


    As time went on, the number of Engsor¡¯s troops dwindled, and now there were just over a thousand left.


    Occasionally, he received a piece of information that Qin Hao had advanced weapons, which led him to seek out Qin Hao. He felt that his trip was worthwhile.


    Engsor took everyone with him, some driving, but most running on the ground.


    At the forefront were the combat robots, some of which flew ahead to scout for enemy intelligence and investigate the situation.


    About half an hour later, Engsor led his men to a high slope eight hundred meters outside the city.


    A deputy spoke up, ¡°Leader, what do we do next?¡±


    Engsor glanced at the combat robots and said, ¡°There are at least three thousand rebel militants in the city now, and we only have a little more than a thousand people. We can¡¯t just storm in, let these combat robots go in first.¡±


    After speaking, he ordered ninety combat robots to enter Koba City and slaughter the rebel militants inside.


    Ninety combat robots soared into the air and flew towards Koba City. As they approached, the rebel militants inside the city spotted the robots.


    Although they had never seen combat robots before, they instinctively picked up their guns and opened fire on the robots.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    ¡°Dada dada¡±


    Bullets sparked off the bodies of the combat robots but did not affect their speed in the slightest.


    Meanwhile, the combat robots in the air also revealed their own weapons. Beams of light lit up and struck directly at those who had just fired, with deadly accuracy. In an instant, nearly a hundred people on the other side were dead.


    Not only were there rebel militants in the city, but also collaborating government forces, civilians, and journalists from various countries.


    When those journalists saw the combat robots flying from the air and slaughtering the rebel militants, they widened their eyes in disbelief.


    ¡°What are these things?¡± A male journalist from Lanxi Country was dumbfounded.


    A blonde-haired, blue-eyed journalist from Xiyu Country exclaimed in shock, ¡°Are those laser weapons?¡±


    Federation journalist: ¡°There are insignias painted on these combat robots, indicating they belong to Engsor¡¯s forces. How did they get combat robots? Record this! This is big news.¡±


    Once the ninety combat robots entered the city, they began to massacre. The rebel militants had no power to fight back.


    The most powerful weapon these people had was rocket launchers, but even these were ineffective against the robots¡¯ defenses, let alone reaching the robots themselves.


    When Engsor and his men entered afterward, all rebel militants had been killed, not a single one had escaped. Some tried to flee, but they couldn¡¯t outrun the combat robots.


    Those who hadn¡¯t run far were directly killed by laser guns. Those who didn¡¯t run and found a sturdy shelter might have survived a few seconds longer.


    Walking into the city, Engsor and his men were visibly shocked. Ninety combat robots had annihilated a force of over three thousand rebel militants in just ten minutes. What kind of combat power was that?


    Engsor¡¯s men were all dumbfounded. They had thought they were in for a fierce battle, but getting Koba City turned out to be so easy.


    A robot walked up to Engsor, ¡°Master, all the rebel forces in the city have been wiped out, and no innocent people were harmed.¡±


    Engsor¡¯s face showed a smile, ¡°Good, very well done. Everyone, clean up the battlefield and remember not to touch the civilians¡¯ belongings; otherwise, execute them immediately.¡±


    Engsor was very clear about what he had and what he didn¡¯t; now, he had nothing but Renxin.


    He couldn¡¯t compare to the regular government forces in terms of background, nor could he match the rebel forces in terms of strength.


    He was a wise man. Those things could be acquired later, but Renxin, which those people lacked, was what he needed now. Amidst the raging wars and people living in dire straits, he intended to use his own Renxin to strengthen his team.


    ...


    Not long after the battle in Mao Country ended, the news about Koba City changing hands spread through the media of various countries.


    Media from Xiyu Country: ¡°Mao Country¡¯s war reveals combat robots and laser weapons; over three thousand rebel militants were annihilated by ninety combat robots within ten minutes.¡±


    Media from the Federation: ¡°Engsor¡¯s force, the weakest armed faction in Mao Country, surprisingly reveals combat robots and laser weapons wiping out over three thousand people , competing against ninety combat robots.¡±


    Media from Lanxi Country: ¡°One of Mao Country¡¯s three major forces, Engsor¡¯s force, now possesses combat robots and laser weapons. Will Engsor become the ultimate winner of Mao Country¡¯s war?¡±


    In addition to the major countries¡¯ media, many medium-sized media were also reporting on this matter.


    ¡°Mao Country¡¯s situation grows more chaotic: Where do the combat robots and laser weapons originate from?¡±


    ¡°The frightening combat power of combat robots and the battle footage of laser weapons¡±


    This news swept across the globe like a storm, especially the videos of the combat robots fighting, which were spread across various countries.


    After watching the videos, numerous national leaders fell silent; too powerful, the combat power of these combat robots was too frightening.


    Were these combat robots developed by Qin Hao¡¯s Xinghai Military Firearms Company?


    ...


    On Pu¡¯er Island, Qin Hao also saw the video; such a big incident couldn¡¯t escape his notice.


    Now, his subordinate, Li Wenjun, was the biggest intelligence head, collecting news from around the world and then categorizing and summarizing it.


    The reputation of the combat robots and laser weapons was now thoroughly established; there should be many orders in the future.


    Those developed countries need to buy some to research and assess.


    Sure enough, that evening, as the president of Xinghai Military Firearms Company, Miao Jing¡¯s assistant received a phone call from the leaders of Mao Country¡¯s government forces, they also wanted to purchase combat robots.


    The call had barely ended when the rebel forces contacted them too, wanting to buy as well.


    Not just them, countries from West Continent were also contacting Xinghai Military Firearms Company, wanting to purchase combat robots and laser weapons.


    Miao Jing had someone arrange the schedule; these people needed to be met in separate sessions.


    After watching the video, Qin Hao went to the Xinghai Association¡¯s headquarters building, where Li Qingyun was currently residing. The headquarters building of Xinghai Association was almost the tallest on the island, offering a panoramic view of Pu¡¯er Island¡¯s beautiful scenery from the upper floors.


    He reached the top floor where Li Qingyun¡¯s residence was located and knocked on the door; the door quickly opened, and upon seeing him, Li Qingyun smiled, ¡°Come in quickly.¡±


    Qin Hao walked into the room; Li Qingya was also inside. Seeing Qin Hao, she shyly said, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±

 Chapter 746 - 746 746 Desperate Engsor

    ?Chapter 746: Chapter 746: Desperate Engsor Chapter 746: Chapter 746: Desperate Engsor Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°Just call me Qin Hao privately.¡±


    Li Qingyun said from the side, ¡°You guys chat; I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡±


    Only Qin Hao and Li Qing Ya were left in the living room. Li Qing Ya found a topic and chatted with him, ¡°Is the currency matter almost settled?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°It should be soon; it will be sorted out in a couple of days.¡±


    Li Qing Ya spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, I have an idea, but I¡¯m not sure if it will work.¡±


    Qin Hao curiously asked, ¡°What idea?¡±


    Li Qing Ya, ¡°Do you know about the human body chip? Many countries are researching this technology. The concept has been proposed a while ago. It involves implanting a tiny chip into the human body, and then people can freely control various smart home devices like appliances, TVs, doors, and windows, cars, etc. They can also store money, essentially turning a person into a bank card.¡±


    Hearing her words, Qin Hao thought it sounded very good, but implanting chips into human bodies was a very daunting task. With billions of people globally, producing chips was one thing, but would those people be willing to have chips implanted in their bodies?


    Although there were no dangers, there was the fear of resistance, but what Li Qing Ya suggested could indeed be tried.


    The functions of the chip could also be more comprehensive, such as location tracking, emergency alert, and body diagnosis capabilities, etc., which would facilitate rescues in emergencies. Virtual imaging technology was also indispensable.


    Virtual imaging technology could completely use a watch, ring, necklace, etc. as carriers. Activating these devices could project certain types of light, creating virtual images. These images could be used for work, handling various tasks, drawing, etc.


    Such devices could completely replace computers for office work. As for gaming, Sol, who is in charge of the network, is leading a team to research virtual helmets; future games will be played with virtual helmets, glasses, gaming pods, and other devices.


    Before they knew it, the two of them had talked for a long time, and Li Qingyun quickly came out of the bathroom wrapped in a thin bath towel, exposing her fragrant shoulders and beautiful legs.


    She sat next to Qin Hao. Seeing this, Li Qing Ya got up and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower too; you guys chat.¡±


    Li Qingyun hugged Qin Hao¡¯s arm, smiling, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the room.¡±


    Qin Hao stood up and followed Li Qingyun into the room. The room was decorated very femininely, in soft pink colors, and was permeated with a light, pleasant fragrance, making it feel very comfortable.


    Li Qingyun stood in front of him, raised both her hands, and hugged his arm.


    The sounds from inside the room continued, and Li Qing Ya pondered for a moment, took a deep breath, and cautiously opened the door and walked in.


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao woke up and saw the Li sisters on the bed; they had also awakened.


    However, Li Qing Ya was very shy, covering her face with the blanket, not daring to look at Qin Hao and Li Qingyun.


    Li Qingyun laughed teasingly, pulling off her blanket, ¡°Sis, you weren¡¯t like this last night.¡±


    Li Qing Ya glared at her, ¡°Hurry up and get up. There¡¯s a lot to do today.¡±


    After a simple breakfast, Qin Hao went to find Chang Jing. He thought the ideas Li Qing Ya mentioned last night were excellent, and he decided to start developing a human body chip.


    The human body chip is a very very small chip; it demands high technical requirements, involving nano-chip technology.


    Chang Jing curiously asked, ¡°You¡¯re researching human body chip technology?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°A type of human body chip that can be applied in various fields of life and work. It could be integrated into the banking system too. Once the human body chip is implanted, just scanning a person could display their balance, which would make shopping and controlling home appliances and smart locks much easier.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded slightly after hearing his brief introduction, ¡°That sounds very promising.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°How are Sol¡¯s research on virtual helmets, glasses, and gaming pods coming along? Any progress?¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°This involves some advanced technologies, it won¡¯t be developed in a short time.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I¡¯ll think of a solution.¡±


    Once Chang Jing left, Qin Hao opened the system marketplace and spent ninety million to acquire human body chip technology and virtual game helmet, glasses, and gaming pod technologies.


    ...


    That morning, many people came to Pu¡¯er Island. The two major armed forces of Mao Country, as well as representatives from major countries around the world, came to purchase Qin Hao¡¯s advanced weapons.


    Qin Hao did not turn them away, as they were all bringing him money, why would he refuse?


    All three factions having these weapons would ensure balance; the more fiercely they fought, the better, as they would definitely come back to buy more whenever their weapons were damaged.


    He would buy back those damaged combat robots at a low price, then simply refashion them.


    That day, Qin Hao¡¯s order amount reached three hundred billion Federation dollars.


    Moreover, the revenues of the various companies were also slowly increasing. The companies under him still had huge potential for development, with future profits expected to keep increasing.


    Now, several things were being researched and produced on the base: seabed resource monitoring technology, seabed resource exploitation equipment, virtual imaging technology, human body chips, virtual gaming equipment, and more.


    Each of these was very important to Qin Hao.


    The situation in Mao Country became clear again since the government army and the rebel armed forces both purchased a large number of combat robots and laser weapons, thus putting the Engsor forces once again at a disadvantage.


    Engsor used to be grateful to Qin Hao, but now he almost hated him to death.


    He was the typical greedy capitalist, prioritizing profit above all.


    He thought this way because Qin Hao shattered his beautiful illusion; he originally thought he could become the boss of Mao Country with these advanced weapons until Qin Hao sold the weapons to the other two factions too.


    Actually, even if Engsor were in Qin Hao¡¯s place, he would sell too; why not make money?


    Of course, if Engsor could offer Qin Hao more benefits, perhaps Qin Hao might agree to sell the advanced weapons only to him.


    But he had already spent all his money last time and scarcely had enough to buy weapons.


    Thinking of these things, Engsor anxiously pulled at his hair, wondering what to do. He couldn¡¯t lose again; he had already invested everything he had in this venture, and losing would leave him with nothing. He might even be dismembered by those two factions.

 Chapter 747 - 747 747 Gaining Something for Nothing

    ?Chapter 747: Chapter 747 Gaining Something for Nothing? Chapter 747: Chapter 747 Gaining Something for Nothing? But how can I contend with those people? How can I obtain more weapons from Qin Hao¡¯s hands?


    Engsor¡¯s brain was spinning rapidly, as he thought hard.


    About ten minutes later, a resolute look flashed in his eyes. He thought of a method, but it was somewhat risky, and Qin Hao might not agree. However, he had no other choice but to try.


    By now, Engsor¡¯s forces had been driven out of Koba City. More than twenty of his combat robots had been disabled. He felt immeasurable pain for each loss; after all, each was worth a hundred million Federation dollars.


    He returned to that small town once more. Those people did not pursue him again, knowing Engsor still had quite a few combat robots. They didn¡¯t want to lose too many of their own.


    Because if the losses were too great, the other side would take advantage of the weakness, and by then, it would be too late to buy more weapons.


    After making up his mind, Engsor turned to his cousin who was also his deputy and said, ¡°I need to make a trip to Sol Island to see Mr. Qin. This concerns our very survival. You all just stay put and keep things calm here at home.¡±


    ¡°Okay, cousin, you go. We¡¯ll wait for your return,¡± responded the deputy.


    On the morning of September 5th, shortly after eight o¡¯clock, Engsor arrived at Pu¡¯er Island again, four days later.


    The one to receive him was Miao Jing, but he told her he wanted to see Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao was on top of the mountain, chatting with his parents. Now that his parents had taken the Human Gene Potion, they wouldn¡¯t get sick easily as long as they didn¡¯t behave recklessly, and they could live to over two hundred years old.


    He entered the reception room of Xinghai Military Fire Company¡¯s building. Inside, Engsor stood talking with Miao Jing.


    Engsor had the capabilities and strength to become a leader of a power; he was also very good at reading situations and strategic planning.


    During his chat with Miao Jing, he sensed that her relationship with Qin Hao was not simple. After all, such beautiful women with stunning figures were rare; Qin Hao was no saint, how could he not be moved?


    If it were Engsor himself, he would have wanted to take such a beauty for his own as well.


    However, upon realizing that Miao Jing was Qin Hao¡¯s person, he did not dare to entertain any thoughts, speaking to her only with the utmost respect.


    When Qin Hao entered, Engsor quickly stood up, respectfully greeting, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao seated himself and asked, ¡°Mr. Engsor, what brings you to me?¡±


    Engsor laughed dryly, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve come to discuss a partnership.¡±


    Qin Hao, looking curious, asked, ¡°What kind of partnership? Aren¡¯t you here to buy military hardware?¡±


    Engsor affirmed, ¡°Correct, I am here to purchase military arms, but this is related to the partnership.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Get to the point, what partnership?¡±


    Engsor stated, ¡°Mr. Qin provides me with advanced weapons, helps me defeat those two powers, and once I become the leader of Mao Country, I can return the favor tenfold to Mr. Qin, even opening up the country¡¯s key industries to you, sir. This is something those other two powers absolutely cannot do.¡±


    Those two powers already had their interests divided up by some major countries.


    Some industries monopolized by certain countries were extremely lucrative, typically held by the state in other nations. Now, Engsor was willing to hand these over in exchange for Qin Hao¡¯s support at present.


    Qin Hao was startled by his words for a few seconds, then smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Engsor, are you trying to fleece me, using an empty promise to gain my support?¡±


    Engsor hastily replied, ¡°Mr. Qin, I can put it in writing. What I say, I¡¯ll deliver.¡±


    He had come here this time precisely with the intention of trying to fleece, driven to this by his desperate circumstances.


    But this wasn¡¯t exactly getting something for nothing, as he would have to take control of Mao Country in the future, and these commitments would certainly need to be honored. If they were not disclosed, he would be finished, especially since the creditor was Qin Hao, who could easily kill him without revealing anything.


    ...


    Qin Hao was indeed somewhat moved by his words, and thought Infisol indeed had some mettle to come up with such a plan.


    However, Qin Hao wanted to push him, not eager himself but knowing that Infisol couldn¡¯t afford to delay.


    He looked at Infisol and said, ¡°I¡¯m not one to trust contracts or written evidence.¡±


    Infisol was taken aback by his words, ¡°So, Mr. Qin, what do you suggest we do?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a faint smile, ¡°I have a kind of drug that can control people. As long as you take it, I can help you take control of Mao Country and become its leader.¡±


    When Infisol heard this, he realized Qin Hao¡¯s intention and was greatly shocked. Qin Hao wanted to take over the entirety of Mao Country.


    Indeed, Qin Hao wanted the entirety of Mao Country.


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°Mr. Infisol, you should think it over. Come to me once you¡¯ve made a decision.¡±


    Infisol sat there, stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected Qin Hao¡¯s ambition to be so great, thinking the terms he offered were already very tempting.


    About two hours later, Infisol had made up his mind and spoke to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, I agree to your terms.¡±


    At this point, he had no other choice, to refuse and go back to wait for death at the hands of those two powers, or to agree and not only survive but also have the chance to take control of Mao Country, even though the price was great.


    With a faint nod from Qin Hao, someone immediately came in and administered an injection to Infisol.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Now each of those two powers has about two hundred combat robots. This time when you leave, I¡¯ll arrange three hundred combat robots for you.¡±


    Infisol nodded, ¡°As long as their robots are disabled, I¡¯m confident I can erode their power bit by bit.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s sign the contract,¡± Qin Hao directed Miao Jing to bring out a contract, which listed the weapons Infisol had purchased on credit from Xinghai Company.


    Didn¡¯t he say he didn¡¯t believe in contracts? Infisol paused for a moment, then hastily signed his name.


    After signing the contract, Infisol left, this time with more than three hundred combat robots. With these robots, his confidence was restored.


    ...


    In the reception room, Miao Jing spoke to Qin Hao, ¡°I think this man is not simple and will not be so easily controlled.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°No matter how capable he is, he cannot withstand this new drug, and in addition, I have those combat robots up my sleeve.¡±


    By noon, Infisol rushed back within Mao Country and once again led an assault on Koba City.


    Nearly four hundred combat robots were formidable, and after annihilating more than fifty of the enemy¡¯s combat robots, they successfully took control of Koba City.


    The other two major forces in Mao Country were shocked. Where did Infisol get so many combat robots? Where did he get the money?


    Both factions became anxious and contacted Qin Hao to buy combat robots.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t reject them, selling robots to them as well. This was precisely the situation he wanted to see, as the money they spent was enough for him to produce several times the number of combat robots.

 Chapter 748 - 748 748 Star Coin Issuance Ceremony

    ?Chapter 748: Chapter 748 Star Coin Issuance Ceremony Chapter 748: Chapter 748 Star Coin Issuance Ceremony So he did not refuse these people who came to purchase because this would also make Infisol owe more and more, and eventually, they wouldn¡¯t be able to even repay the interest.


    Although Qin Hao verbally dismissed the significance of contracts to Infisol, contracts still held substantial authority in the world.


    With this contract, he could completely position himself at the moral high ground and take the initiative, doing as he pleased when the time came.


    The reason he agreed to support Engsor was actually for the sake of his new currency.


    In the next two days, the Xinghai International Bank would launch its brand new currency. Today, Chang Jing would begin notifying all members of the Xinghai Association as well as all major global corporations that cooperate with the Xinghai Association.


    Aside from the world¡¯s business giants, some important national leaders would also attend. Qin Hao now held great prestige and many who wished to come might not even be able to.


    Many people received invitations from Xinghai International Bank that day, inviting them to attend the currency launch ceremony.


    Currency launch ceremony?


    Those invited slightly contracted their pupils upon reading these words, Currency launch ceremony? Currency launch ceremony?


    What was Qin Hao up to?


    Was he planning to issue his own currency? The current regional currency hegemon was still the Federation Coin¡ªwas his action aiming to replace the worldwide position of the Federation Coin?


    Qin Hao now indeed had the qualification. Every day, hundreds of billions of Federation Coins were flowing in and out of the Xinghai Association.


    If he stipulated his own currency, that would greatly mobilize his currency, resulting in lots of currencies flowing into the Xinghai International Bank.


    If other national currencies experienced excessive outflows, the only solution would be to print more money, which would cause the currencies to rapidly devalue, eventually possibly becoming as worthless as the current currencies of Beihai Country and Beidou Country.


    No matter how you looked at it, this matter had a huge impact.


    The major families of the Federation also received invitations, and they felt a bit panicked seeing this news. Qin Hao was beginning to issue his own currency¡ªwouldn¡¯t the Federation Coin be at risk in the future?


    The rights to issue the Federation Coin currently rested in the hands of these big families. Qin Hao¡¯s currency issuance would definitely impact their Federation Coin, which they did not wish to see.


    Although Qin Hao now had many cooperations with them, the Federation Coin was their fundamental interest and absolutely could not be compromised.


    The relationship between world-class business giants wasn¡¯t exactly peaceful. Some competed in certain industries, while others cooperated in others.


    This relationship was somewhat complicated; they might be burning cash in a big battle one day and shaking hands on a deal the next, as if nothing had happened.


    Ordinary people found it difficult to understand such relationships, which were essentially caused by the distribution of capital interests.


    The people from Xuan Country also received the invitation, and seeing it, they furrowed their brows¡ªnew currency?


    They had been planning to negotiate with Qin Hao for all future transactions to exclusively use Xuan Country Coin, which would greatly boost its circulation and appreciation. Who could have expected Qin Hao to start issuing his own currency as well.


    ...


    Three days later, a series of air energy cars arrived at Pu¡¯er Island, parking in the harbor parking lot, and then they were transported by special vehicles to the Xinghai International Bank Building.


    Everyone who could come here was a major figure, each worth over a hundred billion.


    Many were visiting Pu¡¯er Island for the first time and were somewhat entranced by the beautiful scenery¡ªthe air was extremely fresh, and even breathing here brought a delightful fragrance that made one feel comfortable.


    This surprised many; Pu¡¯er Island was like a paradise, especially the air, which was simply wonderful.


    On the way, an electronic voice in the car introduced: The Air Quality Optimization Device purifies and filters the air on Pu¡¯er Island daily, making it the freshest air in the world and beneficial for those living here long-term.


    The air here was better than some companies¡¯ marketed air. If everyone liked it, you could also purchase a residence here. We currently have a property for sale, starting at a low price of one hundred million, available on a first-come-first-served basis.


    The starting price of one hundred million was nothing to these magnates, who indeed considered buying a property here.


    Soon, the vehicles entered Pu¡¯er Island, and skyscrapers came into view. Most of these buildings were incredibly majestic, mostly around a hundred stories high, with even taller ones not being uncommon.


    Xia Yingjie had been busy these days; he had always been working on constructing Pu¡¯er Island, where there were now many tall buildings.


    There were six residential buildings with over a hundred floors each, and selling them meant money.


    Considering a hundred-story building had thousands of households, and each household priced over one hundred million Federation Coins, that totaled hundreds of billions of Federation Coins.


    With Pu¡¯er Island¡¯s current environment and conditions, there was no worry about unsold units. Prices could possibly be reduced later.


    At the entrance of Xinghai International Bank Building.


    Everyone got out of their cars and, led by the staff, entered the building where they were greeted.


    They were all arranged in a large hall with assigned seating numbers. Each person¡¯s place had been carefully prepared, including seats for the magnates and spots reserved for journalists from various countries.


    The currency issuance naturally needed to be known worldwide to enhance its visibility, letting the public know about his currency and gain acceptance.


    This would facilitate its circulation in the future.


    Around 8:50 a.m., almost all of the people had arrived, totaling over two hundred.


    At 9 o¡¯clock, Chang Jing came out from backstage and said with a smile, ¡°Welcome to the Xinghai International Bank currency launch ceremony. I am Chang Jing, the president of Xinghai International Bank and also the president of Xinghai Group.¡±


    Applause erupted below; many present had heard of Chang Jing, a key figure in Xinghai Group, almost second only to Qin Hao.


    Behind Chang Jing was a large display screen. She turned and pointed to the screen, saying, ¡°Please look at the currency design of our Xinghai International Bank.¡±


    The screen first showed a one-unit currency with an image of the starry sea, very three-dimensional, looking as if one were actually gazing at a starry sea.


    Then, the attendants gave everyone in the audience a one-unit star coin.


    As the attendees looked at the exquisitely perfect star coin in their hands, they were momentarily stunned¡ªthis was like a work of art, incredibly fine and beautiful.


    Next were the five-unit, ten-unit, fifty-unit, hundred-unit, thousand-unit, and ten-thousand-unit denominations.


    Each star coin was impeccably made, filled with immediate appeal, something that current market counterfeits could not imitate.


    After the introduction of the star coins, Qin Hao walked out from backstage. Instantly, countless cameras focused on him and began snapping photos; this was his first appearance in front of so many reporters.

 Chapter 749 - 749 749 Banquet

    ?Chapter 749: Chapter 749 Banquet Chapter 749: Chapter 749 Banquet ¡°Mr. Qin, may I ask what the purpose is of issuing the Xing Coins?¡± a reporter hurriedly asked.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, how much have your total assets reached now?¡±


    ¡°Hello Mr. Qin, why did you decide to sell laser weapons to Mao Country?¡±


    A flurry of journalists bombarded Qin Hao with questions, creating a cacophony.


    Qin Hao walked over to signify that everyone should quiet down, upon which the reporters stopped and all stared at him wide-eyed.


    Qin Hao began, ¡°Please take your seats and ask your questions one at a time. If anyone disrupts the order, you will be asked to leave.¡±


    Many then raised their hands, wanting to speak and inquire.


    Qin Hao first pointed to a journalist from Xuan Country, ¡°You go ahead and ask.¡±


    The journalist from Xuan Country asked with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, may I boldly ask how much your total assets are?¡±


    After hesitating for a few seconds, seeing the Xuan Country journalist¡¯s eagerness, Qin Hao replied, ¡°If it¡¯s inconvenient for Mr. Qin to disclose this, it¡¯s fine not to say anything, as many of us are curious.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and responded, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I was just thinking about how much assets I actually have. To be honest, I can¡¯t even figure it out in a few minutes because there are just too many. Let me put it this way, the profit from all my companies combined amounts to about one trillion Xuan Country Coins per month.¡±


    Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was stunned into silence.


    One trillion a month in profit? What kind of earning speed is that¡ªabsolutely terrifying.


    Everyone present was indeed shocked, even though they had already estimated Qin Hao¡¯s wealth very highly, no one expected his current profits to be so staggeringly high.


    Even for major powers like the Federation and Xuan Country, a monthly profit of this magnitude was unheard of; he was truly in a position to rival entire nations now.


    It took the journalist from Xuan Country about ten seconds to regain her composure, before she said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin, for answering my question.¡±


    Then Qin Hao selected another journalist, a woman from Beihai Country.


    She asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, I would like to know if the issuance of the Xing Coins will impact the currencies of countries worldwide?¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°You do not need to worry about that. The Xing Coin is just a transaction currency, closely linked with the currencies of other nations. The current currency market is unstable, which is a concern for many. Today I can assure you, the Xing Coin will never depreciate; its introduction will only further prosper the global market.¡±


    His statement was confident and resolute, showing his determination clearly to everyone.


    In fact, the global currency market is indeed unstable, and if the Xing Coin is as stable as Qin Hao suggests, it would indeed be a boon for global transactions.


    The heads of the major families of the Federation felt panicked, ¡°Dammit, this guy wants to make the Xing Coin the world¡¯s leading currency?


    Where does that leave our Federation Coin?


    The most important reason why the Federation Coin has dominated the world currency market is due to the Federation¡¯s military strength, being historically number one, along with controlling the world¡¯s energy trades.


    Now, with the Federation¡¯s military dominance no longer assured and oil trades shrinking significantly,


    Qin Hao¡¯s sudden rise has caused the Federation Coin to depreciate and the Xuan Country Coin to appreciate, significantly impacting the global economic market.


    Afterward, Qin Hao selected another journalist from the Federation. She asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, did you sell the fighter robots and laser weapons to Mao Country?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, this is a currency issue ceremony, not an advanced weaponry sale event, but I can still answer your question¡ªthe weapons were sold by Xinghai Military Fire Company, and as businessmen, we naturally sell to any customers that come to us.¡±


    ...


    After the currency issuance ceremony, Qin Hao hosted a banquet within the building,


    Members of the Xinghai Association came forward to toast Qin Hao one after another, and Mr. Guo from Wanhao Real Estate Company came over with a smile and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, this Xuan Country Coin is really exquisitely made, just like a work of art.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Guo, your transnational real estate group has a terrifying monthly transaction volume. In the future, Xinghai Bank will still need your care.¡±


    Guo Hang hastily replied, ¡°Mr. Qin, please don¡¯t say that, I am overwhelmed, really overwhelmed.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin.¡± Du Yingqiang, Ye Lanxing, and Li Jianjun came over.


    Qin Hao clinked glasses with them, ¡°Mr. Du, Mr. Ye, Mr. Li, long time no see.¡±


    Now Du Yingqiang and Li Jianjun had already started managing their family¡¯s companies, and the Du Group had already launched air-energy cargo ships and cruise ships, similar in nature to air-energy airliners.


    However, the Du Group used ships as the carrier, making the experience completely different from flying on a plane. Planes need to fly high, whereas air-energy cruise ships operate at mid to low altitudes.


    On air-energy cruise ships, one could stand on the deck, closely interact with the blue skies and white clouds, and the speed wasn¡¯t so fast either.


    Once launched, it caused a great sensation, and many were made.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, long time no see, you still look as impressive as ever.¡± Wei Pengtao from Jinchen the Wei Family also arrived, accompanied by a woman, his sister Wei Lingman.


    People from Jinchen the Ma Family and the Zheng Family also arrived. They were now members of the Xinghai Association, and the older generation in their families were also high-ranking members. These were some of the top elite families of Xuan Country.


    The Ma Family managed the tobacco business, and with Qin Hao¡¯s advanced purification technology, their cigarettes were sold worldwide, with explosive sales.


    Not to mention the Zheng Family¡¯s airline, Zheng Airlines covered destinations around the world, and daily, people flew on Zheng Airlines¡¯ planes.


    Ma Hongyan also said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, why do I feel like you¡¯ve become more charming than before?¡±


    Zheng Qinghui from the Zheng Family also nodded in agreement, ¡°I have the same feeling.¡±


    Qin Hao responded with a bitter smile, ¡°Alright, stop teasing me, I still have some idea of what I look like.¡±


    ¡°Haha, Mr. Qin, you are too modest,¡± they said.


    As Qin Hao was chatting with them, a few more people approached, it was Anna and Miss Su Fei from the Innsil family.


    Anna was dressed in a sexy, mature, charming fashion, while Su Fei was dressed in a pure, cute, and stunning manner.


    The two half-sisters came over, and Su Fei said, ¡°Mr. Qin, long time no see.¡±


    Qin Hao turned with a smile, ¡°It turns out to be Anna and Miss Su Fei, long time no see.¡±


    Anna, with a smile brimming with meaning, said, ¡°Mr. Qin, you are quite the busy man these days; it¡¯s hard to even get an audience with you.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, long time no see; is Wan Rou on Pu¡¯er Island?¡± Su Fei also greeted him.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°She is. After the banquet, I¡¯ll take you to see her.¡±


    The banquet soon started, and those who could sit at the same table as Qin Hao, aside from a few members of the Xinghai Association, were all family heads from top tier wealthy families.


    Such as the Ross Family, the Mosi Family from the Federation, family heads from the Li and Park Families of Beidou Country, and the family head of the Liusheng Family from Beihai Country.


    In addition, there were representatives from the Western Continent¡¯s royal Arnold Family, still represented by Princess Diana.

 Chapter 750 - 750 750 Sanctions

    ?Chapter 750: Chapter 750 Sanctions Chapter 750: Chapter 750 Sanctions Apart from the Innsil Family, only the Arnold Royal Family from the Western Continent had attended; the other top families from the Western Continent did not come.


    As for what they were thinking, Qin Hao was not sure and he had no intention to ponder over it.


    If you do not recognize kindness, then do not blame me.


    At the banquet, Qin Hao was talking with everyone with a smile on his face while eating. Silin Ross was also there; she was now Qin Hao¡¯s spokesperson in North and South Mizhou, holding a very high status. All the major families were very respectful towards her.


    Do not be fooled by Silin being a woman, her methods were anything but simple, and she had the support of Qin Hao.


    The annihilation of the George Family had caused a huge shock in the Northern Federation and Western Continent markets. Once prominent, the George Family was completely destroyed by Silin, leaving not a single soul alive out of nearly a thousand people.


    At that time, it caused many families in the Northern Federation to be terrified. Silin had acted very tough, and her methods were ruthless. Since then, no one dared to underestimate her.


    Now, many of the Ross family¡¯s businesses were managed by Silin. Taking advantage of the power Qin Hao had given her, she rallied many people within the Ross family to her side, and now Jestefu almost hated her to death.


    Because now, Jestefu was gradually being sidelined.


    On the surface, Silin and Jestefu appeared to be greeting each other with smiles, but their rivalry behind the scenes was intense, and members of other families had been watching all along.


    After the banquet ended, Silin, the Ross family, the Mosi Family, the Onassis Family, and the Robert family members went to the conference room with Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao, Chang Jing, and several company members sat together as Silin and her group took their seats opposite them.


    ¡°What brings you all to me?¡± Qin Hao asked them in a calm tone.


    Jestefu glanced at Silin and began to speak, ¡°Mr. Qin, you should be aware of our purpose here. The currency of the Federation is fundamental to us, and we want to discuss this matter with Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao knew what they meant and asked directly, ¡°You want me to not issue Xinghai currency?¡±


    Several people hastily said, ¡°Mr. Qin, that¡¯s not what we mean. We hope that Mr. Qin can minimize our losses.¡±


    These people dared not ask Qin Hao to not issue Xinghai currency, as this would touch on Qin Hao¡¯s fundamental interests. They were looking to Qin Hao to lessen their own losses as much as possible.


    The most important reason why several big families from the Western Continent did not come was the Xinghai currency. The emergence of Xinghai currency could potentially impact their own currencies.


    Since the establishment of the European Union in the Western Continent, it had almost functioned as one entity, advancing and retreating together with the goal of making the Union currency circulate worldwide.


    The biggest obstacle was the Federation currency from the Northern Federation, so now on many strategic issues, the European Union and Northern Federation diverged, and the European Union even intended to cooperate with Beiluo Country to knock the Northern Federation.


    Despite its small size, the Western Continent had very strong industrial levels and economy. Should a strategic alliance agreement be reached with Beiluo Country, the position of the Northern Federation would be irrevocably lost.


    ...


    Qin Hao said, looking at them, ¡°Times are progressing, and certain things are destined to be phased out. Xinghai currency will become the only currency circulating globally, and all other currencies will be cancelled. If you want to minimize your losses, then let go as soon as possible, otherwise, you will end up with nothing.¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, their brows furrowed slightly; it was a huge source of income, and letting go would be akin to cutting off one¡¯s own arm.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°It¡¯s hard for you to make a decision now. You can think it over, see the potential of Xinghai currency, then we can talk after you have considered it.¡±


    Jestefu and the others nodded slightly, that was all they could do for now; they would observe the circulation of Xinghai currency and see how other countries would react to it.


    After Jestefu and the others left, Chang Jing looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°What about the Western Continent? Not a single person from the big families came, only the Arnold Family.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Raise the supply price for the Western Continent by fifty percent, just say the cost has increased.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t let go of the market in the West Continent, as the income of several hundred billion each month was something Qin Hao badly needed. The major families had already determined that Mr. Qin wouldn¡¯t give up the West Continent market, which is why they dared to stay away.


    Qin Hao now needed money for development in all areas, so he couldn¡¯t abandon that market, but he also wanted to show those people a lesson, raising the purchase price was one means.


    These items were a must-buy for the other parties, so Mr. Qin would make a big profit.


    At this moment, Chang Jing¡¯s phone rang; it was a call from her subordinates, ¡°Mr. Chang, Princess Diana of the Arnold Royal Family wants to meet with you and Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Let her come up,¡± Mr. Qin said.


    About two minutes later, Diana Arnold walked in from outside, alone, without any assistants or bodyguards.


    Looking at this noble princess of the West Continent royal family, Qin Hao said, ¡°Please take a seat, Princess Diana.¡±


    Diana sat opposite Qin Hao and Chang Jing with a smile on her face, ¡°Mr. Qin, have you just finished talking with the people from the Northern Federation?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Yes, it seems that many people do not like the new currency I¡¯ve introduced. However, no one can stop what I want to do, and I will not spare anyone who dares to obstruct me.¡±


    Diana¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. That statement of Mr. Qin was meant for me, right? Does he know the purpose of my visit?


    ¡°Does Mr. Qin plan to raise the purchase prices for the West Continent Group?¡±


    Mr. Qin: ¡°Yes, costs have increased, so naturally, the prices have to rise as well. The Earth¡¯s resources are getting scarcer by the day, and prices are likely to keep climbing.¡±


    ...


    Hearing his explanation, Diana was somewhat speechless. The Earth¡¯s resources are getting scarcer?


    After that, Diana didn¡¯t say anything more, as she had already received Qin Hao¡¯s response.


    Around three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, everyone had left Pu¡¯er Island, and the media of different countries began a frenzy of reporting.


    ¡°Pu¡¯er Island, the World¡¯s Richest Island: Like a Paradise on Earth¡±


    ¡°The World¡¯s Richest Person Reveals His Assets for the First Time: Earning a Trillion a Month¡±


    ¡°World¡¯s Richest Person Qin Hao Releases a Brand-New Currency, Xinghai Coin, Abbreviated as Xing Coin, Exquisite to the Extreme, Like a Collectible¡±


    ¡°A Legendary Genius: Qin Hao, the Emperor of the Business World, a Developer and Leader of a New Era¡±


    This topic was discussed extensively online, especially in Xuan Country, as Qin Hao had been out of the public eye for a long time.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen Mr. Qin again, still so young and handsome,¡± said a netizen from Xuan Country on Wei Yan.


    ¡°Earning a trillion a month, holy cow, Mr. Qin toss me some of that, I only make a bit over ten thousand a month.¡±


    ¡°To the post above, are you kidding me? How are you getting a monthly salary of ten thousand? Are you okay in the head?¡±


    ¡°I really want to hear Mr. Qin sing a song again.¡±


    ¡°Awesome, Mr. Qin is incredible, his profit this month is kind of terrifying, I bow down to you, boss.¡±


    ¡°[Congratulations to IG for their clean sweep against G2 to secure the victory!! See you at the finals]¡±

 Chapter 751 - 751 751 The Terror of Battle Robots

    ?Chapter 751: Chapter 751 The Terror of Battle Robots Chapter 751: Chapter 751 The Terror of Battle Robots That afternoon, Xinghai Company imposed a price hike sanction on the West Continent, directly increasing prices by fifty percent.


    The people there were furious but dared not speak out, as the company held advanced technology in its grasp.


    It was like how they used to control monopolistic technology and could charge however much they wanted, knowing full well you would buy it no matter how expensive, as you needed it.


    Now, they found themselves in the same situation.


    At the same time, at five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Beihai Country, Beidou Country, and East C Country jointly announced that they would incorporate the Xinghai Coin into their domestic market transactions, encouraging citizens to use Xinghai Coins for trading.


    Xinghai International Bank also announced the exchange rates between the various national currencies and Xinghai Coin without delay.


    Currently, the exchange rate between Xinghai Coin and Federation Coin is about 1:8, with the Union Coin it is 1:6.4, and with Yu Country Coin it is 1:5.6.


    This had already become the world¡¯s most expensive currency.


    And within that day, hundreds of billions of Federation Coins and Xuan Country Coins had flowed into Xinghai International Bank, exchanged for a number of Xinghai Coins.


    Now Mr. Qin¡¯s regulations had been issued, stating that Xinghai Association members and foreign corporate groups must conduct transactions in Xinghai Coin.


    In future, a massive amount of various national currencies would flood into Xinghai International Bank, and as funds continued to grow, the bank¡¯s terrifying nature would become apparent.


    ...


    As days went by, a week passed in the blink of an eye, and more and more Xinghai Coins entered circulation, surpassing the 500 billion mark.


    This was roughly equivalent to four trillion Federation Coins, more than two hundred and sixty trillion Xuan Country Coins!!!


    This served to indicate the staggering volume of transactions through Mr. Qin¡¯s companies, with the largest contributions coming from Beihai Country, Beidou Country, and East C Country.


    They had purchased an extremely large number of Xinghai Coins with their national currencies to support the circulation rate of Xinghai Coin.


    This morning at nine o¡¯clock, East C Country announced that its national banks would merge with Xinghai International Bank and that Xinghai Coin would become their circulating currency.


    This was the first country to denote Xinghai Coin as its national currency, causing shock among many nations. Had Mr. Qin¡¯s control over East C Country reached such a terrifying extent? Even their national banks had come under the control of Xinghai Bank.


    For the citizens of East C Country, this wasn¡¯t bad news; the value of Xinghai Coin was steadily increasing, with 1 Xinghai Coin now exchanging for approximately 8.3 Federation Coins.


    Beihai Country and Beidou Country were also preparing for this move, yet it was somewhat challenging due to the enormous volumes of their trades; changing currencies could have a significant impact and, if not handled correctly, might trigger an economic collapse.


    The fighting in Country X was intense, as the government forces and rebel groups had purchased over three hundred combat robots, amounting to a transaction of almost four billion Xinghai Coins.


    These two forces seemed to be out of money, having been completely drained by Mr. Qin.


    Between them, each faction had already purchased around a thousand combat robots, while Mr. Qin had supported Engsor with two thousand combat robots.


    Engsor hadn¡¯t disappointed Mr. Qin; he now controlled nearly half of Mao Country¡¯s territory, his forces had grown to over sixty thousand men, and most importantly, he had won the people¡¯s hearts, with a large number of the populace supporting him.


    After selling three hundred combat robots to each of the two forces, Mr. Qin had Miao Jing send another one thousand six hundred combat robots to Engsor, and now even he was beginning to lose track of how much he owed Mr. Qin.


    Qin Hao could not wait any longer, he decided to have Engsor launch a full-scale attack. With the addition of over 1,600 combat robots, Engsor should have no problem flattening this X Country.


    He made a call to Engsor, ¡°Now 1,600 combat robots are on their way. Launch the full-scale attack and resolve the battle within three days.¡±


    Engsor was taken aback for a moment, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ...


    That day, large-scale battles erupted once again in X Country. The rebel forces, supported by the Federation, saw the Federation¡¯s naval fleet bombarding the government forces and Engsor¡¯s control.


    Standing behind the government forces, Northern E Country also retaliated, firing hundreds of missiles back at the rebel forces.


    Although it seemed like they were fighting each other, more missiles were actually targeted at the regions controlled by Engsor, because his power was becoming too strong. If not contained, X Country could end up in his hands.


    Even after the missile bombardment, Engsor was not significantly affected, since the combat robots could evade them, and only some regular soldiers were harmed.


    In response to the bombardment from the Federation and Northern E Country, Engsor issued a strong condemnation through the media, to these two powers, hoping they would not interfere in Mao Country¡¯s affairs, and not to use missiles to harm the citizens of X Country as this was an internal matter for X Country.


    This statement of condemnation was of little use, incapable of stopping the actions of the Federation and Northern E Country, but it could enhance Engsor¡¯s reputation and status.


    Just after he had issued the condemnation, Engsor began the full-scale assault, targeting the government¡¯s armed forces first. Nearly three thousand combat robots flew in from the sky, swarming densely and blotting out the sun.


    Seeing this, the government¡¯s soldiers turned pale. In recent days, everyone in Mao Country had witnessed the terror of combat robots. Now, with so many on the opposing side, how could they even fight back?


    Many had already started to flee, for humans stood no chance against robots, and no number of them would be enough for the robots to eliminate.


    The government forces only had a mere four hundred combat robots, which all lay on the ground after a wave of attacks.


    The battle did not drag on for long, as the government¡¯s leaders were either killed or captured. Engsor then reassembled his forces and launched an attack on the rebel forces.


    In a single day, Engsor eliminated both major forces with a thunderous and swift campaign, too fast for the Federation and Northern E Country to react.


    By the time they realized what had happened, the two forces were wiped out completely, proving the terrifying efficiency of combat robots.


    Enraged, the Federation sent their naval fleet to fire hundreds of missiles in retaliation. Engsor dispatched five hundred combat robots to meet the attack.


    Two warships were sunk and an aircraft carrier was severely damaged, while not a single robot was lost. It was as if ants were biting an elephant, and these ants could all fly, with incredible agility.


    The Federation¡¯s fighter jets were no match at all; each one that approached was taken down. The weapons on their warships couldn¡¯t reach the combat robots.


    The only things that could harm combat robots were other combat robots. Ordinary artillery simply couldn¡¯t hit them unless a combat robot stood still and didn¡¯t move.


    The Federation¡¯s naval fleet was in utter panic and quickly retreated. They had never engaged combat robots before, and this was the first time they witnessed their horror.


    When other countries around the world learned of this event, they were incredibly shocked. Combat robots had actually forced the Federation¡¯s naval fleet to retreat!


    One must realize that the Federation¡¯s naval fleet was the strongest in the world, and they were unable to deal with mere combat robots?

 Chapter 752 - 752 752 Layout

    ?Chapter 752: Chapter 752 Layout Chapter 752: Chapter 752 Layout Upon learning that the forces they supported had been annihilated, Beiluo Country reacted similarly to the Federation, with its missile base located in Turqi Country launching hundreds of missiles in an attempt to eliminate Engsor.


    With Qin Hao backing him, Engsor wasn¡¯t afraid at all. He once again dispatched five hundred combat robots, ordering them to destroy Beiluo Country¡¯s missile base in Turqi Country.


    The combat robots¡¯ impressive mobility and combat strength were truly showcased that day, sinking the Federation¡¯s naval fleet and destroying Beiluo Country¡¯s missile base in Turqi Country.


    Any single one of these achievements was shockingly impressive; the combat strength of the robots was simply too strong.


    Most importantly, it was Engsor¡¯s courage. He dared to engage in conflict with the Federation and Beiluo Country, two of the most powerful nations in the world. You, a leader of a tiny territory, dare to confront them?


    Many knew, standing behind Engsor was Qin Hao. Without Qin Hao¡¯s clandestine support, Engsor wouldn¡¯t have been able to challenge these two significant forces.


    The situation in Mao Country had stabilized that day. The other two major forces within the country either surrendered or were killed; there was simply no escape.


    Engsor had already organized the combat robots to perform a carpet search within the country. With such a small territory, there was nowhere to hide from the advanced technology of the combat robots.


    After stabilizing the situation in Mao Country, Qin Hao arranged for the installation of a Laser Cannon Defense System there.


    The Federation had already ceased their military activities and made no statements regarding their sunken warships.


    Beiluo Country didn¡¯t say anything either, but Qin Hao knew they must be gathering their strength, preparing for their next move.


    Three days later, Engsor officially announced the formal establishment of the Mao Country Republic.


    All eyes around the world were on Mao Country. No one attended the founding ceremony of Mao Country, as the current situation was still unclear, and neither the Federation nor Beiluo Country had made their positions known.


    During the inauguration ceremony, Engsor officially took office as the leader of Mao Country. The citizens of Mao Country cheered joyously, having longed for a return to peaceful life after such prolonged conflict.


    Engsor also assured all citizens that Mao Country would no longer suffer from the impacts of warfare.


    They had reached an agreement with Xinghai Military Fire Company to equip the country with the world¡¯s most advanced Laser Cannon Defense System¡ªsuch an advanced defensive weapon was not even possessed by the Federation or Beiluo Country.


    His words greatly uplifted spirits. Engsor further noted that during the war, Turqi Country had taken the opportunity to occupy Sheng, which rightfully belonged to them. After several unsuccessful negotiations, Engsor decided to launch a counterattack against Turqi Country.


    All the citizens present were moved by his speech, wishing they could enlist and enter the battlefield right then and conquer Turqi Country.


    While no other countries¡¯ representatives attended Mao Country¡¯s founding ceremony, many foreign journalists were present.


    Listening to Engsor¡¯s words, they were stunned¡ªwhat was he planning? Did he intend to conquer Turqi Country?


    Rather than resting and recuperating, he was actually preparing to launch an attack.


    However, remembering the terror of the combat robots, the journalists felt somewhat relieved. Though Turqi Country was larger than Mao Country, it lacked such advanced weapons as combat robots and would only be beaten down.


    Especially now that Mao Country was also armed with laser defense weapons.


    Beyond these declarations, Engsor also made a promise to all citizens; by the end of the year, he would restore life to its previous level or even better. If not, he would resign.


    Engsor dared to make these promises by relying on Qin Hao, who could completely restore Mao Country¡¯s prosperity in three months with his business empire, perhaps even surpassing the past.


    Mao Country¡¯s previous monetary system was overthrown, and the Engsor designated the Star Currency as the national common currency.


    Xinghai International Bank opened a branch in the capital of Mao Country, and subsequently, they planned to construct additional branches throughout the region.


    Under the Xinghai Association, solar power plants, Star Domain Network, national highway projects, agricultural seed companies, and more all poured into Mao Country.


    Especially the agricultural seed companies, after years of war in Mao Country, it was a luxury for many citizens simply to have enough to eat.


    Under the Xinghai Association, the Pingsheng Industrial Seeds Company, owned by Qin Hao¡¯s maternal uncle, produces a very high-yielding seed that is renowned worldwide.


    It sold extremely well in Xuan Country, Southeast Continent, Beidou Country, East Chao Country, and Beihai Country.


    Now, Ping Sheng Agricultural Seeds Group had almost formed a monopoly, because the technology was so advanced and far ahead of other companies. Most importantly, the prices were not high, and other agricultural seed companies had been crushed.


    Today, Ping Sheng Agricultural Seeds Group is the world¡¯s largest agricultural seed group, and countless countries wish to collaborate with Ping Sheng Agricultural Group.


    After all, food is the root of everything, and with seeds from Ping Sheng Agricultural Group, the problem of food and warmth can be easily solved.


    After the founding ceremony of Mao Country ended, a thousand combat robots along with twenty thousand Mao Country soldiers entered the territory of Turqi Country.


    The battle was imminent, and after the two sides engaged, the soldiers of Turqi Country could not hold out even for ten minutes before they were crushed.


    On Mao Country¡¯s side, they pursued the victory, and within a day they had swept through half of Turqi Country.


    The soldiers of Turqi Country suffered tens of thousands of casualties. It was their first encounter with the power of combat robots, which seemed impossible for humans to withstand.


    The soldiers of Mao Country did not harm the people of Turqi Country; they continued to adopt a conciliatory policy. Infisol aimed to conquer all of Turqi Country and incorporate it into their territory.


    He intended to create a new Asni Empire, which was also Qin Hao¡¯s intention. Behind the scenes, Qin Hao would provide him with continuous support.


    Since the appearance of air energy cars, the price of oil had fallen day by day, but this did not mean that oil had become useless.


    Some of Qin Hao¡¯s high-level fuels needed components purified from oil, so the price of oil was still very important in Qin Hao¡¯s mind.


    He intended to use Mao Country to wrest control of the oil from the hands of the Northern Federation.


    At night, Mao Country did not cease fighting. They fought all the way to the capital of Turqi Country and captured the leader of Turqi Country alive.


    Within a day and a night, the government of Turqi Country was overthrown, and this news caused a significant shock when it spread throughout Mao Country.


    Now, in the eyes of these people, Engsor was almost regarded as a deity.


    In the past, Mao Country only had a part in being attacked, and no one had imagined that one day it would conquer Turqi Country, a powerful neighbor.


    In response to Mao Country¡¯s actions, the Northern Federation, Beiluo Country, and various countries of the West Continent issued statements demanding that Mao Country withdraw its troops from Turqi Country, arguing that Mao Country had severely violated the international peace treaty. They threatened that if Mao Country continued its unilateral actions, they would use coalition forces to launch a fierce retaliation.


    The response from Infisol was simple, ¡°When Turqi Country bullied us, where were you? Now that we, Mao Country, are strong and want to settle accounts, you show up. You are clearly targeting us, Mao Country.¡±


    This remark resonated with the national sentiment, and they overwhelmingly supported Engsor¡¯s decision.

 Chapter 753 - 753 753 The Power of the Beam Recharge Cannon

    ?Chapter 753: Chapter 753: The Power of the Beam Recharge Cannon Chapter 753: Chapter 753: The Power of the Beam Recharge Cannon Qin Hao on Pu¡¯er Island had been paying close attention to this matter, as it held great significance for his future.


    After the declaration proved fruitless.


    The Federation and Northern E Country both launched missiles at important locations and bases in Mao Country.


    Hundreds of missiles flew towards important targets in Xuan Country, but as soon as these missiles reached the airspace above Xuan Country, beams of light shone from below ¨C the Laser Cannon Defense System had been activated.


    Countless beams of light shot up into the sky, instantly turning the night into day.


    Many countries were watching this battle, and the result was jaw-dropping: not a single one of the hundreds of missiles fell within Xuan Country¡¯s territory; all were intercepted and destroyed by the laser cannons.


    Such interception efficiency was terrifying. Even the strongest missile interception systems of the Federation and Northern E Country could only intercept about ten percent of the missiles; most could not be stopped.


    Yet now, the Laser Cannon Defense System of Xuan Country was capable of 100 percent interception, which was truly terrifying.


    After Xuan Country intercepted those missiles, dozens of beams of light rose from several locations within its territory, visible to nearly everyone within Xuan Country. The beams flew towards the distance.


    In the Persian Gulf region of the Asni Sea, a Federation aircraft carrier fleet was poised and waiting for orders to launch a final assault on Xuan Country.


    Besides, at a Northern E Country air force base, all personnel were also ready for deployment, and upon receiving orders, they would fly their fighter jets to bomb Xuan Country relentlessly.


    However, after waiting for some time, no follow-up orders came through.


    As they pondered, beams of light appeared in the distant night sky and in the blink of an eye, they were upon them. It was like a small sun, so bright that it was blinding.


    ¡°Boom.¡±


    The light struck the center of the aircraft carrier fleet, directly severing the massive carrier in two.


    The aircraft carrier was ablaze with fire, and screams and cries for help were endless.


    As the personnel on the other warships considered mounting a rescue, dozens more beams of light attacked. They hastily fired to intercept, but before their shells could even reach the beams, they dissipated, utterly useless.


    ¡°Boom, boom, boom.¡±


    The light covered the entire aircraft carrier battle group, and after a dozen seconds, everything vanished, leaving no trace on the sea surface. The entire aircraft carrier battle group had completely disappeared.


    At the same time, the Northern E Country air force base was also enveloped in light, and after a dozen seconds, the base was razed to the ground.


    The Federation and Northern E Country were in shock.


    The power of the Beam Recharge Cannon exceeded everyone¡¯s imagination; it was too terrifying, too powerful. Unstoppable, not even aircraft carriers could withstand a single blast; what in the world could?


    This clash was witnessed by Xuan Country, West Continent, and many other countries around the world. The Laser Cannon Defense System was considered invincible, and the long-range strike capability of the Beam Recharge Cannon was simply unanswerable¡ªthere was no way to fight back.


    Qin Hao¡¯s secret weapon turned out to be so formidable. How had he become so abnormal, to be able to develop such a weapon?


    On that night, the Federation and Northern E Country were silent, taking no further action, and issuing no statements.


    One aircraft carrier fleet was easily wiped out; how could the Federation dare to act rashly? The loss was too great.


    The situation was similar for Northern E Country, with one of their largest airbases being destroyed, their control in the YO Black region had almost vanished in an instant.


    The next morning, Xuan Country provided an explanation to its citizens: last night, the Federation and Northern E Country had bombarded our country with missiles, but all of the missiles were intercepted by our laser defense system. In addition, our country destroyed a Federation aircraft carrier fleet and a large Northern E Country airbase.


    Upon the release of this news, there was an uproar among nations around the world, as not all were aware of last night¡¯s events.


    The Federation and Northern E Country both suffered significant losses at the hands of Mao Country?


    After conquering TQ Country, Xuan Country directly sent people to manage it, and all former personnel were thoroughly executed by Engsor, to prevent future troubles, a move that Qin Hao greatly admired.


    That day, Engsor once again announced that military action would be taken simultaneously against YL Country and Ye Country. Ye Country is bordered by Xuan Country to the north and YS Country to the east, with a very small territory.


    Although YL Country is large, its national strength is not strong, even weaker than TQ Country. Years of conflict have severely lagged YL Country¡¯s economy.


    The Federation had previously waged war against YL Country, overthrowing its regime, causing YL Country to be in a state of continual internal strife, which still persists.


    Xuan Country¡¯s combat robots advanced with an overwhelming force, swiftly breaching YL Country.


    In half a day, Xuan Country had taken over YL Country and Ye Country without pause and moved into the Asni Peninsula.


    This was the ultimate goal for Qin Hao and Engsor; the region was richest in oil resources.


    ST Country was panicking a bit, frantically asking the Federation for help. However, the Federation was also hesitating and contemplating. There used to be three aircraft carrier battle groups at the naval base in the YD Ocean; now, with one fleet annihilated, only two remained.


    ST Country was crucial for the Federation, as it ensured the dominance of the Federation currency as the global reserve currency. If ST Country were lost, then the status of the Federation currency would also be shaken.


    The oil and natural gas resources here were too abundant, nearly ninety percent of the world¡¯s oil was imported from this region.


    Half an hour after Xuan Country made a move against ST Country, the two aircraft carrier fleets in the YD Ocean finally mobilized upon receiving orders. No matter what, they had to try; a shake in the status of the Federation currency was not something the entire Federation wanted to see.


    This touched the common interests of both the commercial empire faction and the national interest faction.


    Qin Hao¡¯s advanced radar satellite system had been monitoring the Federation¡¯s two fleets the entire time, and he received news as soon as the two fleets set out.


    A fierce look flashed in his eyes, ¡°Beam Recharge Cannon, prepare to fire.¡±


    Tens of Beam Recharge Cannon in Xuan Country began charging, ready to launch long-range laser cannons.


    Seconds later, Qin Hao received a message, ¡°Charging complete, ready to fire. Shall we fire?¡±


    ¡°Fire.¡±


    Dozens of beams of light lit up again within Xuan Country; Engsor was taken aback seeing this. Who was he planning to strike this time?


    Were those two countries making a move again?


    The speed of the Beam Recharge Cannon was incredibly fast, and this was no ordinary artillery. The Federation¡¯s satellite radar could not detect it at all.


    By the time the personnel in the two aircraft carrier task forces saw what was coming, it was too late.


    The two aircraft carrier groups hadn¡¯t gotten far from the military base when they were completely annihilated, leaving the Federation in shock upon receiving the news, furious but not daring to express it.


    They knew that Qin Hao was plotting behind the scenes. Now with the Federation¡¯s influence in the YD Ocean effectively wiped out, their prestige would also sink to an all-time low.


    Seeing the sky ablaze over the YD Ocean, Qin Hao¡¯s face revealed a cold smile, ¡°This is just the beginning.¡±


    ¡°Aim at the Federation¡¯s DX Ocean aircraft carrier fleet.¡±


    After charging, each Beam Recharge Cannon could fire five shots, with each charge taking twenty to thirty seconds.


    Once charged, the Beam Recharge Cannon once again targeted the Federation¡¯s DX Ocean aircraft carrier fleet base.

 Chapter 754 - 754 754 Republic of Albia

    ?Chapter 754: Chapter 754 Republic of Albia Chapter 754: Chapter 754 Republic of Albia ¡°Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡±


    Beams of light shot up into the skies, hurtling towards their destination with the speed of lightning.


    This day was destined to be extraordinary.


    Chaos reigned within the Black Palace of the Northern Federation: ¡°Our two aircraft carrier battle groups have been sunk, what do we do now?¡±


    ¡°Sol Country won¡¯t hold out much longer, and Xuan Country has just added another two thousand combat robots that no one can stop.¡±


    ¡°What to do? Should we deploy another fleet?¡±


    ¡°We must preserve Sol Country, or else our Federation currency will collapse, and if that collapses, the Northern Federation will completely lose its hegemony.¡±


    Northern E Country was also watching the battlefield. At the moment the Northern Federation¡¯s aircraft carriers were sunk, they received the news: ¡°The Northern Federation¡¯s two aircraft carrier battle groups have been annihilated by Xuan Country¡¯s laser cannons.¡±


    ¡°Xuan Country¡¯s weapons are too strong, what do we do? Should we still take action?¡±


    ¡°Take action? How do we fight? Tell me, how do we fight?¡±


    ...


    Northern Federation: ¡°It¡¯s terrible, our carrier base has been destroyed, and not a single warship remains; they¡¯ve all been sunk.¡±


    ¡°Another military base has been destroyed by the laser cannons.¡±


    The world was shocked; in one day, the Northern Federation¡¯s vaunted ocean fleet had been completely destroyed.


    In the face of laser weapons, the Northern Federation¡¯s ocean fleet was as fragile as paper, easily obliterated.


    Without these ocean fleets, the Northern Federation had already lost its position as the supreme power; in terms of naval capability, it was now inferior to Xuan Country.


    The Northern Federation was truly in a state of panic now.


    Jestefu made a call to Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin, what on earth do you want to do?¡±


    Qin Hao pretended to be puzzled: ¡°Mr. Jestefu, what do you mean by that? I¡¯m fishing here, is there something wrong?¡±


    Jestefu: ¡°Mr. Qin, we both know what¡¯s going on. Don¡¯t push them to desperation; otherwise, those factions driven by national interests will resort to their trump cards.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Trump cards? Are you talking about nuclear weapons? If they dare to use them, then let them use them. But don¡¯t blame me for not warning you, when the nuclear weapons explode over your country, are you sure you can afford that loss?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Jestefu¡¯s face stiffened. Explosion above their own airspace? Could he really intercept them so quickly?


    Remembering the terrifying laser weapons, Jestefu didn¡¯t think Qin Hao was just bluffing; he might truly be capable of it.


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently: ¡°Just stay quietly at home. Otherwise, I won¡¯t mind making the Northern Federation disappear.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, a cold sweat broke out on Jestefu¡¯s back. He relayed the message, and the decision was up to those people now.


    Qin Hao¡¯s air combat devices had not even been revealed yet, and these were intended to be equipped on future interstellar warships.


    The air combat device was even more terrifying, equipped with various powerful laser cannons and laser rotary machine guns, among others.


    Qin Hao¡¯s seabed base was now close to developing an ion cannon attack satellite¡ªa space weapon with immense destructive power.


    With one strike, it could wipe out the entire Northern Federation.


    This was a satellite weapon that stored energy in solar panels, capable of transforming solar energy into a force capable of unleashing a devastatingly powerful ion cannon blast that could shatter a planet.


    ...


    Within two days, Xuan Country had conquered the entire Asni Peninsula. The high-level officials from the Federation and Northern E Country had several phone calls with Qin Hao. They wanted to figure out Qin Hao¡¯s intentions, what exactly he was planning to do, and when he would stop.


    Qin Hao gave them an ambiguous response: he wanted to rebuild the Asni Empire.


    The Asni Empire?


    Conquering the Asni Peninsula was not the end? Did he also plan to take over Nan L Country? Would A Country from Lijia State make a move?


    There were many aspects that warranted discussion, such as whether there would be trouble on the West Continent.


    After all, the original Asni Empire was very powerful, with the Mediterranean as its backyard. As to how Qin Hao would build a new Asni Empire, they were not sure, and could only speculate.


    Engsor did not stop its advance. After seizing the Asni Peninsula, it targeted Nan L Country next.


    Nan L Country could be considered the strongest nation in the region, and it was supported by Northern E Country.


    This country had always been researching nuclear weapons, and whether it possessed them was unclear to other nations. Nan L Country had not made any public announcements; it was highly unlikely that they had them, but it was not certain whether they truly didn¡¯t have any.


    When Xuan Country made its move against Nan L Country, Qin Hao also deployed the latest weapon, the neutron cannon.


    This weapon could disrupt Nan L Country¡¯s normal signal transmission equipment, plunging its communication signals into a state of paralysis.


    This weapon was known as the nuclear weapon of the electronic communication world, as it completely destroyed all communication devices within an area.


    The Federation, Northern E Country, and Xuan Country all possessed such weapons, but their technology was not very mature.


    With Nan L Country¡¯s signals paralyzed, Xuan Country launched a ferocious attack. First, Qin Hao used long-range Beam Recharge Cannons to destroy Nan L Country¡¯s important missile bases and air force bases.


    Then, thousands of combat robots with hundreds of thousands of mixed troops entered Nan L Country¡¯s territory.


    The war lasted two and a half days, and Nan L Country simply could not resist the attack from Mao Country. The main reason was that Xuan Country¡¯s advanced weapons were too powerful. Not just Nan L Country, even the Federation and Northern E Country could not withstand Xuan Country¡¯s attacks.


    Putting aside the troops, the thousands of combat robots alone were enough to sweep them aside, not to mention the long-range attacks from the Beam Recharge Cannons.


    In these days, all the countries of the world had been paying attention to this conflict. No country wanted the war to escalate, for that would seriously affect the development of the global economy.


    After occupying Nan L Country, Xuan Country did not make any further moves, but began to consolidate its newly occupied territory, especially the Asni Peninsula.


    Meanwhile, Engsor declared to the outside world that the Asni Republic was officially established, comprising the territories of Xuan Country, TQ Country, YL Country, Y Country, various nations of the Asni Peninsula, and Nan L Country, instantly becoming one of the top ten largest territorial nations in the world.


    ...


    Because of the war here, the oil price had soared in the last few days, but it had now started to gradually decrease. Now, all the oil exploration rights were in Qin Hao¡¯s hands.


    Previously, the exploration rights were held by the Asni countries and the Federation, but Qin Hao had essentially snatched them away overtly.


    The Federation did not dare to make any statements. The world was no longer what it had been before, and the Federation was no longer the world¡¯s dominant power.


    While Xuan Country was pacifying the populace, Qin Hao had already sent people to the Asni Peninsula to begin taking over the oil extraction.


    Air Combat Devices, combat robots, and so on, all required high-grade fuel, which was refined from petroleum.


    This was also set to be an important fuel in the future.


    Engsor announced to the world that the domestic currency system would be re-adjusted, unifying the currency as ¡°Star Currency,¡± and that oil transactions would also be conducted in Star Currency.

 Chapter 755 - 755 755 Mine Owner

    ?Chapter 755: Chapter 755 Mine Owner Chapter 755: Chapter 755 Mine Owner The world had regained stability and the frequently war-torn regions of eastern and the Western Continent Black Region had been thoroughly resolved. Through Engsor¡¯s daily media offensives, the people of those regions gradually accepted him and the now vast Asni Republic.


    Under the leadership of Qin Hao, a large number of groups and companies from the Xinghai Association entered the Asni Republic to help rejuvenate its economy.


    There were natural advantages here, as the oil resources were very abundant. Qin Hao alone could not possibly exploit them all, so he allocated some to groups under the Xinghai Association, which also provided them with some benefits.


    With the oil alone, the Asni Republic was enough to prosper.


    Even though air energy cars were selling globally, the sales volume of ordinary smart cars in the low-end market was still very high.


    Especially now in Lijia State, where development had just begun and cars had just become popular, very few could afford the high-end air energy cars, and most would buy low-end vehicles.


    In mid-October, the Xinghai Group announced that the company had developed a human body chip. This chip, a few millimeters in size, could be completely implanted into a person¡¯s body without causing any side effects.


    The human body chip would have many functions, controlling home appliances, smart door locks, smart cars, and accounts with Xinghai International Bank.


    Besides the human body chip, there was also virtual imaging technology. For these two technological products, Xinghai Company held a press conference to let everyone in the world understand the human body chip technology and virtual imaging technology in detail.


    Virtual imaging technology could simulate any character, animal, or scene.


    With the release of these two pieces of news, the whole world was shocked. Qin Hao was getting stronger and stronger, with all the cutting-edge technologies being developed by him.


    That day, another piece of news shook the world. Beiluo Country and the European Union had reached a strategic cooperation agreement and would henceforth advance and retreat together. The union currency would also circulate within Beiluo Country.


    Beidou Country and Beihai Country both announced that their national currency system would adopt the Xinghai currency system. Within half a month, the exchange of old and new currency would be completed, with all Beihai banks transforming into Xinghai smart unmanned banks.


    Inside the Xinghai International Bank Building on Pu¡¯er Island,


    Chang Jing said to Qin Hao, ¡°This is the circulation data of Xinghai currency in the market over the past half month, accounting for 43.7% of the global currency circulation amount.¡±


    In other words, if the global currency circulation amount was one trillion for the first half of October, then the circulation of Xinghai currency was more than four hundred and thirty billion, a very high market share.


    The main reasons were still the immense size of the Xinghai Association, which possessed leading technology, and secondly, the monopoly on oil, which made up the bulk of it.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°And how about the circulation of other currencies?¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°The union currency is second, followed by Xuan Country Coin and the Federation currency.¡±


    After losing their dominance in oil, Federation currency suffered a crazy devaluation. Now one Xuan Country Coin could exchange for more than one Federation currency, causing a crash in the net worth of countless people, especially the big families in the North Federation, whose fortunes evaporated by hundreds of billions in an invisible way.


    No matter how the global market changes, the Earth is stepping into an era of full intelligent automation. Intelligent home appliances, cars, and other things have already become very popular in several large continents such as North and South Mizhou, East Continent, and the West Continent.


    In Lijia State, where resources were abundant, development was also rapid, and several of Xinghai Association¡¯s mineral resource excavation companies had entered the area.


    All the known mineral resources on Earth could be found in Lijia State, along with many rare resources needed for high-tech products, which earned it the nickname of the ¡°world¡¯s raw material warehouse,¡± showing just how rich Lijia State was in mineral resources.


    However, due to reasons such as backward local technology and poor quality, the level of development was very low.


    Because it was underdeveloped, transportation was inconvenient in all respects, which is why large development groups seldom mined in the inland of Lijia State in the past. However, now with the introduction of Air Energy Cars, everything has become much more convenient.


    Qin Hao¡¯s mining company is now extracting several large iron mines and rare minerals.


    Just then, the phone on Chang Jing¡¯s desk suddenly rang. As Qin Hao was sitting there, he answered the call directly, ¡°This is Mr. Chang¡¯s office, what¡¯s happened?¡±


    The person on the other end faltered before speaking hastily, ¡°Mr. Qin, those black people are causing trouble again.¡±


    Qin Hao asked puzzledly, ¡°Causing trouble again? What kind of trouble?¡±


    The person on the line started to explain, ¡°They are demanding their wages. The contract states payment once a month, but these people disagree and insist on being paid daily. Moreover, there have been frequent cases of theft of rare metals. Just today, we caught them, and out of embarrassment and rage, they gathered some black workers and attacked our management staff, causing dozens of fractures, who we¡¯ve just sent to the hospital.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°Have these people often caused trouble before?¡±


    The person replied, ¡°Yes, every few days they stir up trouble, and they refuse to work hard. I¡¯ve never seen people like this who want to earn money without putting in the effort. Mr. Qin, you should come over and see for yourself; they are still causing a disturbance and are specifically asking to see Mr. Chang.¡±


    ¡°I understand, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao looked at Chang Jing, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go have a look.¡±


    The two went to the top of the building and got into an Air Energy Car to head towards the Ban Guo Democratic Republic. The Ban Guo Democratic Republic is not the same as Ban Guo Country; the names are similar, but they are two separate nations.


    On the way, Chang Jing said to Qin Hao, ¡°Education here is backward, and most people are not of high quality. This kind of thing is common around here.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Common? These are the company¡¯s rules. We can¡¯t indulge them just because their overall quality is low.¡±


    About seven or eight minutes later, Qin Hao arrived at a rare mineral worksite about twenty miles from the capital of the Ban Guo Republic, Jinsha City.


    Several Air Energy Cars landed at the worksite, where over a hundred black people were throwing stones at the office building from a distance.


    Local police and ambulances were nearby, but these officers were just smoking off to the side, not bothering to intervene.


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing got out of the car, followed by six men from the Shadow Guards of the Mythological Organization.


    Qin Hao approached the officers and asked them in the local language, ¡°Something like this has happened here, and you aren¡¯t going to do anything about it?¡±


    One of the black officers looked up at him and said dismissively, ¡°The owner of this mine doesn¡¯t know how to behave, hasn¡¯t paid us off, so why should we care?¡± He then went back to smoking his cigarette.


    An officer next to him looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°And who might you be?¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a faint smile, ¡°I am the owner of this mine.¡±


    The four officers looked startled and sized him up. Then, they turned their gazes to Chang Jing beside him, a glint flashing in their eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re the owner of this mining operation? A person from the East Continent?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    One of the officers, looking cautiously at Qin Hao, proposed, ¡°How about this? Let us have some fun with the beauty from the East Continent beside you, and I guarantee no one will dare cause trouble at your mine again.¡±

 Chapter 756 - 756 756 Markus

    ?Chapter 756: Chapter 756 Markus Chapter 756: Chapter 756 Markus They often did this type of thing, nearly always succeeding.


    They had even forcibly taken several young girls before, with no one daring to report it.


    In places like Lijia State, such incidents were quite common. Policemen had immense power, and some countries didn¡¯t even have courts; police normally handled these matters themselves.


    What crime the police said you committed, that was the crime you were charged with.


    When Qin Hao heard their conversation, his expression turned cold, radiating a terrifying aura. He had dared to bomb the Federation¡¯s naval fleet, let alone deal with a few police officers from the Ban Guo Republic.


    ¡°Cripple their limbs,¡± Qin Hao said indifferently.


    Four Shadow Guards rushed forward and promptly attacked the four policemen from Ban Guo Country. Their moves were sharp and ruthless, breaking their limbs in a few strokes, not giving them a chance to draw their guns.


    A few nurses and doctors nearby were stunned, disbelievingly watching Qin Hao and his men. They dared to attack the police? Didn¡¯t they know how powerful the police were?


    Qin Hao waved at them, ¡°Take them to the hospital.¡±


    The people hurriedly ran over, lifted the four policemen onto stretchers, and drove off.


    Qin Hao glanced at the Africans and gave a look to the nearby Shadow Guards. Four Shadow Guards wearing Mechas approached, ¡°Everyone, stop.¡±


    Hearing the voice, the people turned around, and seeing six Mechanical Soldiers standing there, they were initially startled. What the heck were these?


    Qin Hao, with an expressionless face, looked at them and asked, ¡°What are you doing? Are you disregarding the company¡¯s policies and regulations?¡±


    ¡°Who are you to meddle?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I am the boss here. Do you think I have a say?¡±


    The man cursed loudly, ¡°So you are that heartless boss. Goddamn it, give us our money now, or we¡¯ll tear down your mine.¡±


    ¡°Swoosh¡±


    A beam of light flashed, leaving a large hole in the man¡¯s chest. His eyes widened before he fell to the ground.


    The people around were startled, looking at the laser gun in the Shadow Guards¡¯ hands with a bit of horror. What kind of weapon was this?


    Qin Hao said to them, ¡°Not working properly and causing trouble instead? Are you all wanting to die?¡±


    Indeed, upon his words, many showed a trace of fear in their eyes, preferring their lives over conflict.


    But a few were defiant, ¡°You dare kill someone? Brothers, don¡¯t be afraid of him. We are many, and they are few. A stone from each of us and they are dead.¡±


    This person held some influence, as over a dozen people responded.


    ¡°Swoosh, swoosh¡±


    Beams of light illuminated, and in an instant, the man who had spoken and the people around him fell to the ground.


    The remaining people were terrified, thinking, God, he actually dared to kill so many at once?


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Those who should return to work, go back. As long as you work sincerely for a day, I won¡¯t owe you a penny, but if you dare cause trouble, don¡¯t blame my men for being ruthless.¡±


    Hearing his words, the people quickly picked up their tools and went back into the mine to continue working.


    At this moment, people from inside the office building came out, bruised and looking miserable.


    They had been transferred from Pu¡¯er Island, all underlings of Chang Jing.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Chang.¡± The people quickly approached Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao asked them, ¡°Is everyone alright? Those who are injured should visit the hospital. I will arrange armed forces here. If something like today happens again, kill them directly.¡±


    ...


    The crowd turned pale upon hearing these words. Kill them? Wasn¡¯t that a bit too cruel?


    But remembering their boss¡¯s strength, they felt relieved. With his strength, this probably wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    Just then, the unique siren of Ban Guo Country rang out outside the mine.


    Four beat-up police cars stopped at the entrance of the mining area, and about a dozen Black police officers got out of the cars, all armed with weapons.


    ¡°Who hurt our people?¡± they asked, looking at Qin Hao and his group.


    Qin Hao looked at them and said, ¡°I ordered the attack. What about it?¡±


    ¡°Who are you? Which country are you from? Do you have a passport?¡± one of the officers asked him.


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t be bothered with them. ¡°Go back and tell Lindberg to control his men, or else don¡¯t blame me for not being polite.¡±


    Lindberg? Who the hell is that? Our boss is Markus.


    The man was about to curse and lecture Qin Hao when someone beside him held him back, ¡°Our leader is called Lindberg.¡±


    The others did not make any sudden moves because the more Qin Hao looked at them, the more he felt they were no ordinary people. Could this mine owner be connected?


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Qin Hao said indifferently, ¡°My name is Qin Hao. Tell him and he¡¯ll know.¡±


    The men were doubtful, and some took out their phones to call their direct supervisor, Markus. When Markus heard the name Qin Hao, he paused, feeling it sounded familiar.


    Moreover, the fact that the person dared to mention Lindberg¡¯s name outright, clearly he was no ordinary person. Qin Hao? Qin Hao?


    Suddenly, Markus¡¯s eyes widened. Could it be the Qin Hao from the Xinghai Association?


    He quickly asked, ¡°What¡¯s the name of this mining site?¡±


    ¡°It seems to be called Xinghai Mining Company.¡±


    Markus¡¯s face turned pale. It was really him! ¡°Hurry, please invite him over, and be polite. He is a distinguished guest. If he doesn¡¯t come, you all can get lost.¡±


    The men were stunned when they heard this. A distinguished guest? This young man from the East is a distinguished guest? Who exactly is he?


    The men all gave sheepish smiles and cautiously said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯re sorry, we failed to recognize you. Our chief would like to invite you to the city for lunch.¡±


    ¡°No need, I don¡¯t have time.¡±


    Hearing Qin Hao¡¯s curt refusal, the men hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, please go. Our boss genuinely invites you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin, we were blind before, please don¡¯t be angry with us.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Fine, but there are a few dead bodies here; handle them.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Qin, we¡¯ll take care of it,¡± the men said, nodding eagerly as he agreed.


    They had dealt with such matters too many times, whisking the bodies away to a random burial was routine.


    ...


    Qin Hao said to Chang Jing, ¡°You go back first, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    ¡°Okay, just be careful,¡± Chang Jing said with concern.


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you go ahead.¡± After speaking, he drove off towards Jinsha City in an Air Energy Car.


    Some of the police officers hurriedly led the way for Qin Hao, while others went to deal with the bodies.


    In the only three-star hotel in Jinsha City, led by two people, Qin Hao walked into a room.


    Markus was sitting inside waiting for him. Seeing Qin Hao enter, he stood up and grinned, ¡°Hello, Mr. Qin. I¡¯ve long heard of your reputation.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Markus.¡±


    Both parties sat down, and Qin Hao looked at Markus and asked, ¡°Mr. Markus, did you want to discuss something with me?¡±


    Markus spoke softly, ¡°Mr. Qin, I have a big business proposal for your collaboration. Are you interested?¡±


    ¡°What business?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Markus said, ¡°Lindberg is about to step down, and I want to collaborate with you, Mr. Qin. With your help, I can ascend to the leader¡¯s position, and I could offer you some benefits in return. For example, a few mining veins that your company is mining could be given to you for free.¡±

 Chapter 757 - 757 757 Negotiations

    ?Chapter 757: Chapter 757 Negotiations Chapter 757: Chapter 757 Negotiations Qin Hao looked at him and asked, ¡°What kind of help do you need from me?¡±


    Markus smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Mr. Qin¡¯s company has combat robots and laser weapons. I want a thousand combat robots and a set of laser cannon weapons. As long as I ascend to the position of leader, I can give those mining veins to Mr. Qin for free.¡±


    When Qin Hao heard his words, he sneered inwardly, thinking he¡¯s treating me like a fool with more money than sense?


    He looked at Markus, ¡°Do you know the selling price of a combat robot? Twenty million Xing coins, which is about one hundred million Alliance coins. A laser cannon weapon sells for fifty billion Xing coins, two hundred and fifty billion Alliance coins. The mining rights for those veins are only worth several tens of millions of Alliance coins for a few years.¡±


    Markus was stunned for a moment. He knew that Qin Hao¡¯s company had combat robots and laser weapons and was aware that the Asni Republic had purchased many, but he did not realize they would be so expensive.


    He stared at Qin Hao blankly, ¡°Mr. Qin, isn¡¯t this too expensive?¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a faint smile, ¡°Expensive? You obviously haven¡¯t witnessed the combat robots¡¯ strength firsthand.¡±


    Markus¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, ¡°Then what would it take for you, Mr. Qin, to help me?¡±


    Qin Hao answered, ¡°With those thousand combat robots, you could sweep through half of Lijia State. How about we play a bigger game? I help you unify Lijia State, and I get all of the mining veins in Lijia State.¡±


    Markus was shocked by his words. Unify Lijia State? Damn, big brother, that¡¯s some bold thinking.


    He felt that becoming the leader of the Ban Guo Republic would be enough for him. Unifying Lijia State? Better not even entertain the thought; it was beyond his wildest dreams.


    Qin Hao, seeing his reaction, was somewhat speechless. What a waste of space, he thought: ¡°If Mr. Markus doesn¡¯t dare, then let¡¯s forget it.¡±


    Markus still wanted Qin Hao¡¯s support, but the Ban Guo Democratic Republic alone was of little interest to him.


    After lunch, Qin Hao left. On the way back, he made a phone call to Chang Jing, ¡°Give me Connet¡¯s contact number in Ban Guo Country.¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t know many people in Lijia State, but Connet was up to the task, unlike the leader of Ban Guo Country, Jacker, who was somewhat lacking.


    He had come from the Ban Guo Republic to Ban Guo Country, and he had already gotten in touch with Connet en route.


    Connet was also very willing to meet him, and they agreed to meet at one of Connet¡¯s secluded residences.


    Within a villa complex on the outskirts of Bula City, Qin Hao¡¯s air energy car landed at the villa¡¯s entrance. Qin Hao stepped out of the car and was greeted by two bodyguards who respectfully said, ¡°Mr. Qin, please follow us.¡±


    They led Qin Hao into the villa, where Connet was sitting inside waiting for him.


    As Qin Hao entered, Connet quickly stood up to welcome him, ¡°Mr. Qin, it¡¯s been a while. I¡¯ve missed you greatly.¡±


    ¡°After we parted, I¡¯ve also held fond memories of Connet.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, please take a seat.¡±


    Once they were seated, Connet looked at Qin Hao with a smile and said, ¡°You must be here for some matter, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Mr. Connet, I¡¯m not one to beat around the bush. Let me get straight to the point. Do you want to unify Lijia State and become the leader of the entire Lijia State?¡±


    Connet¡¯s expression changed at these words. Unify Lijia State? Become the leader of the entire Lijia State?


    It was something he had fantasized about, but only as a fantasy. He knew it was nearly impossible.


    However, if Qin Hao were to help him, it might not be so impossible. His combat robots and laser weapons were formidable, building up what used to be minor Mao Country into the Asni Empire.


    But why would Qin Hao help him for nothing? Surely, he had his own motives.


    Connet asked, ¡°What do you want, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao replied simply, ¡°It¡¯s straightforward¡ªall the mining extraction rights in Lijia State, along with many other high-profit industries. I need them all. What you need is to manage Lijia State well for me. I don¡¯t want any incompetents; I will provide you with the power you should have.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Connet understood the meaning¡ªQin Hao wanted to control Lijia State, and if he were to help Qin Hao, he would become the second most powerful person in Lijia State.


    After thinking for two seconds, Connet nodded in agreement without much hesitation. The benefits outweighed the risks. Becoming the second most powerful person in Lijia State would greatly increase his prestige and status, giving him access to opportunities beyond his current scope.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°You¡¯ve been plotting to take over the leader¡¯s position in Ban Guo Country. Taking down Jacker shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡±


    Connet was shocked. How did he know this? ¡°Mr. Qin, how did you find out?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I have the world¡¯s most powerful intelligence agency. Nothing escapes my notice. That Bai Li¡¯er beside Jacker, she¡¯s been planted by you, hasn¡¯t she?¡±


    Connet nodded, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Drink this,¡± Qin Hao said as he took out a bottle of control potion.


    Connet hesitated a moment, then picked up the potion and drank it down. Qin Hao told him, ¡°This is a potion to control people. If you ever disobey me, I can have you killed at any moment.¡±


    Connet hastened to say, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Qin, I will follow your orders.¡±


    Qin Hao, with an expressionless face, said, ¡°Later, I will have someone deliver a thousand combat robots first. Once the domestic situation is under control, it¡¯s up to your abilities how things develop. If you¡¯re not up to the task, don¡¯t blame me for finding someone else.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin, rest assured, I will complete the task,¡± replied Connet.


    After finalizing his discussion with Connet, Qin Hao returned to Pu¡¯er Island, where he went to Miao Jing¡¯s office at Xinghai Military Fire Company.


    Miao Jing was working in her office, dressed casually, sitting there watching the virtual screens in front of her.


    As Qin Hao came in, she looked up and noticed him, ¡°You¡¯re back.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled as he walked over to her and picked her up in his arms.


    Miao Jing¡¯s cheeks turned red, and she hit him lightly with her small fists, ¡°Stop it. What if someone comes in and sees us?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a mischievous grin, ¡°It¡¯s fine, let¡¯s lock the door.¡±


    ¡°Click¡±


    The office¡¯s smart door, hearing his voice, automatically locked itself.


    Miao Jing, looking at him, asked, ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    Qin Hao answered, ¡°In a bit, I need you to arrange for a thousand combat robots to go to Ban Guo Country, to meet with Connet.¡±


    Miao Jing nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    She then spoke to the virtual screen, ¡°Have 001 arrange for a thousand combat robots to be sent to Ban Guo Country, to be handed over to Connet.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Ms. Miao,¡± came the artificial electronic voice.


    The Artificial Intelligence quickly took care of the arrangements, leaving Miao Jing with nothing to worry about.


    Then the two of them got back to their own work.


    ...

 Chapter 758 - 758 758 Wanting a Child

    ?Chapter 758: Chapter 758 Wanting a Child Chapter 758: Chapter 758 Wanting a Child Around 3 p.m.


    Qin Hao and Miao Jing were tightly embracing each other, and by this time, those thousand battle robots had already been delivered into the hands of Connet from Ban Guo Country.


    He had already planned the actions for tonight, and with these battle robots, he could completely sweep through the Lijia State region.


    However, he would still need a large amount of food as his territory kept growing, and inevitably, the number of people under him would also increase.


    But this wasn¡¯t a big problem; Xuan Country had a very large reserve of food, and when the time came, he could simply buy it directly from there.


    Xuan Country¡¯s agricultural seed companies were famous worldwide, and Qin Hao¡¯s Xinghai Association also owned an agricultural seed company.


    Connet paid close attention to news from around the world and was very familiar with Qin Hao and the Xinghai Association. He was aware of these details because, after taking power in Ban Guo Country, he wanted to make various strategic deployments.


    However, he never anticipated that Qin Hao would seek him out, nor did he expect that Qin Hao would have such great ambition, actually wanting to control the entire Lijia State.


    Although Lijia State was currently poor and underdeveloped, this place held the world¡¯s richest mineral and rare metal resources, similar to the oil advantage of the Asni Peninsula.


    If managed well and developed properly, Lijia State¡¯s growth could be extremely rapid, potentially no worse than Asni in the future.


    That night, within Ban Guo Country, Connet launched a coup. Jacker was killed, along with several of Jacker¡¯s loyal subordinates, by Connet, who successfully took over the country¡¯s armed forces.


    Not many people were concerned about the affairs of Ban Guo Country, but the neighboring countries were very attentive, since they bordered each other after all.


    Wei Country lay to the north of Ban Guo Country, and its leaders had had a good relationship with the former Jacker. Following this event, the leader of Wei Country strongly condemned Connet¡¯s actions and likewise refused to recognize Connet¡¯s regime in Ban Guo Country.


    Lindberg, from the Ban Guo Democratic Republic, also issued a condemnation, denouncing Connet for usurping power, and Connet¡¯s actions served as a warning to them.


    After seeing the statements from these two countries, Connet¡¯s face revealed a cold smirk. You¡¯ve just given me the excuse I needed to attack you, and you come to me on your own initiative.


    He also issued a statement, which largely meant that the affairs of Ban Guo Country should be resolved by its own people. Your interference in our internal matters is unacceptable, and I, Connet, will decisively not tolerate it. I will declare war on both of your countries.


    The people of Wei Country and the Ban Guo Republic were baffled. War? Damn, your domestic situation hasn¡¯t even stabilized, and you¡¯re talking about declaring war? It¡¯s perfect timing, as we were just looking for a reason to invade.


    The next morning, Connet split his domestic forces in two, sending one towards Wei Country and the other towards the Ban Guo Republic, with five hundred battle robots leading each troop.


    ...


    At this moment, Qin Hao was on Pu¡¯er Island, watching satellite high-definition video surveillance that displayed the progress of Connet¡¯s two troops.


    This Connet is decisive in action, attacking two countries at once. Not bad, he¡¯s got guts.


    Du Wanrou, Xia Qing, Fan Ruobing, and Xu Siyao were lying next to him, also watching. The virtual image showed two teams moving in different directions, and the expressions of the soldiers were clearly visible, as if they were right in front of their eyes.


    Qin Hao turned off the virtual imaging system. The outcome of the battle didn¡¯t need to be observed; no country in Lijia State could withstand the battle robots.


    Du Wanrou sat up to get dressed, and as she did, she said, ¡°The seabed resource detection equipment and the seabed resource extraction equipment should be ready by this morning.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Really? Then after breakfast, let¡¯s go and take a look together.¡±


    No sooner had he finished speaking than the bedroom door was opened by Han Meng, who announced, ¡°Breakfast is ready, everyone get up and eat.¡±


    The group from the bedroom came out, freshened up, and then went downstairs.


    Yoshida Zhenzi, Li Xixue, and Park Shuangyu were tidying up the breakfast on the dining table.


    ¡°Master, Mistress,¡± the three greeted respectfully as they saw Qin Hao and the others coming down from upstairs.


    During the meal, Xia Qing spoke up, ¡°Si Yao, Ruobing, Meng, after we finish eating, let¡¯s go see uncle and auntie, shall we?¡±


    Xu Siyao and the others nodded, ¡°Yes, sure. Auntie mentioned that we¡¯re going to the seaside to have fun today.¡±


    Before everyone had finished their breakfast, Mrs. Qin Li Shujie arrived, and upon seeing her, Qin Hao hurriedly greeted, ¡°Mom.¡±


    ¡°You all continue eating, I¡¯ll just wait until you¡¯re done.¡±


    After breakfast, Yoshida Zhenzi and the others went to clean up, Mrs. Qin shot Qin Hao a meaningful glance and then walked outside the villa.


    Qin Hao followed her out, asking curiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mom?¡±


    Li Shujie looked at him and said irritably, ¡°What do you think is wrong? How long has it been now, and still not a single sign?¡±


    ¡°What sign?¡±


    Li Shujie responded, ¡°The matter of children. With so many, there should have been some sign by now.¡±


    Qin Hao awkwardly replied, ¡°Mom, these things are about fate, aren¡¯t they? Although I have ways to make someone pregnant, I still think we should leave it to fate.¡±


    Li Shujie gave him a stern look and said seriously, ¡°Leave what to fate? You better hurry up. When we go outside and see others with their children, do you know how your father and I feel?¡±


    Qin Hao quickly said, ¡°I¡¯ll get right on it.¡±


    At that moment, Xu Siyao, Xia Qing, Fan Ruobing, and Han Meng came out, and they said with a smile, ¡°Auntie, shall we go have fun?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course,¡± Mrs. Qin instantly put on a smile and led the girls down the mountain.


    Qin Hao touched his nose, thinking to himself, who exactly is your son here, I feel like I am the adopted one.


    Du Wanrou also came out and asked curiously, ¡°What happened? What did Auntie talk to you about?¡±


    Qin Hao awkwardly said, ¡°Nothing much, just about having children.¡±


    Looking down at her own stomach with a gloomy expression, Du Wanrou said, ¡°I haven¡¯t noticed any signs either. Maybe we should try medication, I want to have a baby for you.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, then let¡¯s use an auxiliary formula.¡±


    As they talked, they took the underground elevator to the underwater base, entering the workshop that produced underwater resource detection equipment; numerous robots were working there.


    The underwater resource detection equipment was a circular device, over ten meters in diameter, with various precise and intelligent detection instruments capable of locating various metal veins and rare resources, among others.


    Beside it was a large-scale underwater mining machine, which would mine directly at the detected resources¡¯ location, store the metal resources in a storage warehouse, and then transport them back.


    001 informed Qin Hao and Du Wanrou that the construction would be completed and ready for a trial run in the water in about an hour.


    After looking around, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou walked out of the production workshop, and 001 continued, ¡°Master, at the gene medicine laboratory, we have developed several primary gene medicines such as Potential Gene Potion, Strength Gene Potion, and Intelligence Gene Potion and so on. We have already started pre-sales to the public.¡±

 Chapter 759 - 759 759

    ?Chapter 759: Chapter 759 Chapter 759: Chapter 759 Qin Hao slightly nodded, genetic drugs also had different grades, and most of these were first-grade genetic drugs.


    Only that attribute gene potion could be considered a second-grade genetic drug, capable of continuously strengthening various physical attributes.


    Now, Xinghai Genetic Biological Company was renowned worldwide, and the sales of Life Gene Potion and Spirit Gene Potion were extremely hot, the demand far exceeding supply, with the black market prices reaching several hundred thousand per dose.


    Now, the physical attributes of the people around Qin Hao had already been enhanced to the highest, and the attribute gene potion was currently provided internally only.


    Du Wanrou picked up some drugs in the Genetic Laboratory and then left for the base¡¯s residence with Qin Hao.


    After entering, Du Wanrou asked him, ¡°How should this medicine be used?¡±


    ¡°You just need to boil it and then drink it,¡± Qin Hao explained the dosage in detail, and Du Wanrou went to the kitchen to prepare the medicine.


    About twenty minutes later, Du Wanrou finished preparing the medicine and brought a bowl to Qin Hao.


    Seeing her hopeful eyes, Qin Hao felt somewhat guilty, Du Wanrou was the first person who followed him.


    He picked it up and drank it down, and Du Wanrou also drank her own.


    After finishing, she hugged Qin Hao¡¯s arm, ¡°Come on, I want to have two babies with you.¡±


    ...


    Only when she was completely out of energy did Du Wanrou stop.


    They slept for a while, and it was past noon when Du Wanrou woke up. Her physique was different from before and recovered very quickly; the two of them tidied up and left the base.


    Worried, Du Wanrou asked, ¡°Qin Hao, do you think the medicine worked? Or could it be unsafe to use?¡±


    Qin Hao held her hand and smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything¡¯s fine. Stop thinking too much.¡±


    After leaving the base, Qin Hao received a call from Chang Jing, ¡°Hello, what happened to Xiao Jing?¡±


    Chang Jing started speaking, ¡°Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue came here, they¡¯re looking for you.¡±


    Qin Hao was momentarily startled, why had these two come again? He thought Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue wouldn¡¯t come back, they must be here for something important.


    He said to Du Wanrou, ¡°I need to go to Xinghai International Building, Wanrou you go back and rest for a while.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you go ahead.¡±


    Qin Hao arrived at Chang Jing¡¯s office in the Xinghai International Building. Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue were sitting on the sofa; when they saw him enter, Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue both looked up.


    Su Jiayi¡¯s eyes were somewhat resentful, like that of a woman filled with grievances.


    Qin Hao looked at them and asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Su Jiayi, ¡°What? Can¡¯t I look for you? Are you trying to deny everything after you¡¯ve had your fill?¡±


    Qin Hao replied calmly, ¡°How am I trying to deny everything? Tell me if you need something.¡±


    Su Jiayi looked at him and said, ¡°I¡¯m pregnant.¡±


    Qin Hao disdainfully curled his lips, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m also a doctor. You¡¯re pregnant?


    Chang Jing sighed in relief upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, thinking it would be quite chaotic if Su Jiayi were actually pregnant.


    Now, everyone following Qin Hao was waiting for Du Wanrou to get pregnant. They could feel Qin Hao¡¯s affection for Du Wanrou, and her behavior in daily interactions and life was enough to make them feel this way.


    ...


    Qin Hao knew that the two women had come with a purpose; otherwise, they would not have waited until now to come.


    He opened his mouth and asked, ¡°Miss Su, Miss Huang, just say it, what do you need from me? I don¡¯t like people who beat around the bush.¡±


    Su Jiayi, hearing his address, hummed in dissatisfaction, ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the conference room.¡±


    Qin Hao turned and walked out, several people headed to the conference room, and Chang Jing also followed them in.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Speak.¡±


    Su Jiayi began, ¡°Qiu Yue and I have come this time to discuss a potential cooperation with you.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°What cooperation?¡±


    Su Jiayi said, ¡°Military cooperation, we want to introduce your laser weapons, Laser Cannon Defense System, and Beam Recharge Cannon long-range strike system.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°That is possible; I had approached them before, but they did not agree. Have they changed their minds now?¡±


    Su Jiayi nodded, ¡°Yes, they have changed their minds now. We want the Laser Cannon Defense System, combat robots, Beam Recharge Cannons, and since we are all family, could you give us a discount?¡± After saying this, she chuckled.


    Qin Hao gave her a look, ¡°You should know the external sale price. I also have the Energy Shield Defense System; ask if you need it?¡±


    ¡°What is the Energy Shield Defense System?¡± Su Jiayi asked curiously.


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°It¡¯s a defense shield that can protect against high-altitude laser beam weapon attacks.¡± Following that, Qin Hao waved his hand, and a virtual imaging system appeared, displaying a map of Xuan Country, and then a blue energy shield perfectly covered the borders of Xuan Country.


    Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue, seeing this, curiously asked, ¡°Is this the Energy Shield Defense System you mentioned?¡±


    Qin Hao moved his head slightly, and within the virtual imaging system, a ray of light passed and then hit the energy shield.


    ¡°This simulates the Beam Recharge Cannon firing a beam cannon shell. The power of the shell and the defensive capability of the shield have both been calibrated. The Beam Recharge Cannon really can¡¯t break through the defense of the energy shield.¡±


    Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue widened their eyes in amazement. Wasn¡¯t the Energy Shield Defense System too impressive?


    They didn¡¯t know Qin Hao had such technology; how much more was he hiding? Did he have any other trump cards?


    Qin Hao indeed had more trump cards; he had launched ten ion beam attack satellites. He did this entirely for future considerations, in case there was an extraterrestrial civilization invasion, so they wouldn¡¯t be caught off guard.


    His reason for revealing the Energy Shield Defense System was also to protect the citizens of Xuan Country.


    Su Jiayi asked, ¡°How much for the Energy Shield Defense System?¡±


    ¡°One hundred billion Xinghai Coins, roughly about eight hundred billion coins.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s that expensive?¡± Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue widened their eyes; one hundred billion Xinghai Coins were now the highest valued currency in the world.


    She then called her grandfather as so much money was not a trivial amount.


    After hanging up the phone, Su Jiayi said to Qin Hao, ¡°My grandfather said he can let Xinghai Coins circulate; can the price be a bit cheaper?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up, he thought for a moment and said, ¡°Five hundred billion then. After all, I don¡¯t know with what intensity I would encourage people to use Xinghai Coins in transactions.¡±


    Su Jiayi purchased one Energy Shield Defense System, ten Beam Recharge Cannons, one Laser Cannon Defense System, a thousand combat robots, and a variety of laser weapons, totaling over a trillion Xuan Country Coins.

 Chapter 760 - 760 760 Laser Cannon

    ?Chapter 760: Chapter 760: Laser Cannon Chapter 760: Chapter 760: Laser Cannon Su Jiayi, on behalf of Xuan Country, signed the contract, and soon after, the money was transferred.


    Qin Hao sent the order to Miao Jing and asked her to arrange for delivery.


    Xuan Country must have felt a crisis, with Northern E Country and the Federation joining forces, practically forming the world¡¯s strongest alliance.


    The Federation is now laying low, their military strength nowhere near what it used to be, not even up to par with Xuan Country.


    When ranking military strength by individual countries, the Asni Republic is definitely first, followed by Xuan Country, Northern E Country, and the Federation.


    The Asni Republic¡¯s military strength largely comes from their combat robots and laser weapons.


    In recent days, Qin Hao had equipped the Asni Republic with many more laser weapons, and personal identity chips were also becoming popular there.


    With personal identity chips, there¡¯s no need for separate ID cards anymore, as the chip records everything internally.


    Being newly established, the Asni Republic had to re-register its population, and now everything is done with Artificial Intelligence equipment, which is highly efficient.


    Now, nearly 99 percent of the population has implanted personal identity chips, which has made work and life much more convenient.


    Beihai Country, Beidou Country, and East C Country have also nearly completed implanting personal identity chips, which will further facilitate people¡¯s lives.


    Some more developed smaller countries are also purchasing personal identity chips, as they indeed make life easier for their people and improve official work efficiency.


    This time, Xuan Country purchased a large number of military weapons, as well as a batch of personal intelligence chips.


    After the contract discussions, Su Jiayi said to Qin Hao, ¡°There¡¯s something else I need to talk to you about privately.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, Chang Jing, and Huang Qiuyue both got up and left the room, leaving only Qin Hao and Su Jiayi.


    He looked at Su Jiayi and asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Our situation, what am I to you?¡± Su Jiayi looked at him as she asked.


    Qin Hao was startled for a moment, not sure how to respond; it was initially just for a moment of pleasure.


    Su Jiayi was attractive and curvy, but what mattered most was her status and fiery personality, which gave Qin Hao a particularly thrilling sensation at the time.


    Seeing him not speaking, Su Jiayi¡¯s face showed a hint of anger. She climbed directly onto the table from the opposite side and walked over.


    Qin Hao stared at her, dumbfounded, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ...


    When the two emerged from the conference room, Huang Qiuyue was standing at the door while Chang Jing had gone to attend to other matters.


    Huang Qiuyue, seeing them, had an unnatural expression on her face. Although she hadn¡¯t heard the sound from inside, she could imagine what had happened.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Now that the discussions are finished, are you heading back to Xuan Country?¡±


    Su Jiayi quickly replied, ¡°Our business is done. There¡¯s nothing for us back home, so we plan to stay on Pu¡¯er Island for a while.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded indifferently, ¡°Sure, as you wish. I¡¯ll have someone arrange accommodations.¡±


    Just then, Chang Jing rushed out from the office, ¡°Xiao Hao, come quick, there¡¯s been an incident.¡±


    As Qin Hao entered the office, Chang Jing¡¯s work virtual imaging system was broadcasting news: Today at 12:36 pm, the Federation and Northern E Country jointly announced that they had developed laser cannon weapons, and subsequent Federation member countries and Northern E Country would be equipped with them.


    ¡°Laser cannon weapons? How did they develop them? Could it be that someone within the base leaked secrets?¡± Chang Jing¡¯s brow furrowed.


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°There are strict surveillance layers in the base, and outsiders haven¡¯t had access. It couldn¡¯t have leaked.¡±


    Chang Jing puzzled, ¡°Then how did they develop it?¡±


    Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue also saw the news, and their faces showed shock, ¡°Northern E Country and the West Continent developed laser cannon weapons?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Check the video of their laser cannon test.¡±


    The news was instantly transmitted to the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing¡¯s server, which began retrieving high-definition video from radar monitoring satellites.


    About a dozen seconds later, the video was transmitted. The footage showed a desert area in Northern E Country.


    A strangely shaped laser cannon stood in the desert, and several miles away, there was a target building.


    Operated by several individuals, light gathered at the muzzle, then a large cluster of light shone like a small sun, so bright that it was blinding to the eyes of those around.


    In an instant, the building miles away was leveled, leaving behind a circular pit one mile wide, with destructive power beyond imagination.


    Qin Hao and the others widened their eyes upon seeing this because the laser cannon was very powerful, nearly matching the Beam Recharge Cannon¡¯s power, and was incomparable to current nuclear weapons.


    The most important thing was that it was pollution-free, unlike nuclear weapons, which cause significant radiation and environmental damage.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Play back the video and take a closer look at that Beam Cannon.¡±


    The video replayed, focusing on the Beam Cannon, with extraordinary clarity as if people were standing in front of it and watching closely.


    After watching for a while, Qin Hao said, ¡°This looks like it¡¯s been modified.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chang Jing asked curiously.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes gleamed, ¡°Look at this barrel, if I¡¯m not mistaken, it should be made of E-grade metal, even more advanced than our current F-grade metal. It¡¯s impossible for any country or company on Earth to produce such high-grade metal now because it requires some rare metals that aren¡¯t found on Earth. This barrel must be of extraterrestrial origin.¡±


    Chang Jing was startled, ¡°You mean this laser cannon fell from the sky?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°And look at the energy storage conversion device, it¡¯s made with G-grade metal, which our company sells. They couldn¡¯t obtain F-grade, so they had to use this as a substitute.¡±


    Huang Qiuyue, ¡°Are you saying that they assembled a laser cannon using parts from an extraterrestrial civilization?¡±

 Chapter 761 - 761 761 New Pattern

    ?Chapter 761: Chapter 761 New Pattern Chapter 761: Chapter 761 New Pattern Qin Hao nodded, that was exactly what he meant.


    Indeed, it was as he had suspected. Northern E Country had collaborated with the countries of the West Continent, and they had all brought out the alien civilization parts that their nations had once obtained, conducted research, and finally produced this laser cannon.


    Despite this, Qin Hao still felt a sense of urgency. It seemed that the plan to dominate the world needed to be expedited.


    Qin Hao said to Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue, ¡°You two go back and convey my intentions to Xuan Country.¡±


    Full of curiosity, Su Jiayi and Huang Qiuyue asked, ¡°Convey what intentions?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°This is the Y Continent region, you should be aware of my sphere of influence, including areas like the southeastern bu, the south, and others. I hope Xuan Country can increase its influence and take control of these regions, so that the entire Y Continent is within our grasp.¡±


    Su Jiayi nodded slightly, ¡°I¡¯ll go back and tell my grandfather about this.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°If you need any help, just ask. If war breaks out, I can provide more combat robots at a low price.¡±


    Su Jiayi nodded, and she and Huang Qiuyue took an air energy car back to Xuan Country.


    In Chang Jing¡¯s office, Qin Hao made a phone call to Silin. Up until now, he had not deployed weapons to either the North or South Mizhou regions, but now he was about to make his move.


    The call was quickly connected, and Silin, sitting in her office and seeing Qin Hao¡¯s image, smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao asked with a smile, ¡°Miss Silin, I hear you¡¯re living quite well these days?¡±


    Silin replied, ¡°Really? I find it quite boring. I actually quite fancy living in Pu¡¯er Island now.¡±


    Qin Hao chatted with her, ¡°If Miss Sulin wants to come over, you can just come directly. With technology so advanced now, you can just remotely control the company.¡±


    Silin laughed, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m planning. Once I¡¯ve handled things here, I¡¯ll head over. But Mr. Qin, you didn¡¯t call just to chat, did you? Tell me, what is it?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°I want to help the Federation take over the entire North and South Mizhou, but my orders are heeded by the Federation.¡±


    Silin was taken aback for a moment, ¡°Make the Federation dominate North and South Mizhou?¡±


    Qin Hao confirmed, ¡°Exactly, I¡¯m well aware of your influence in the Federation. Although you can¡¯t yet determine the overall situation, it¡¯s considerable. I¡¯m giving you fifty Shadow Guards, those who comply will prosper, those who oppose will perish.¡±


    Silin could hear the determination in his voice, ¡°Okay Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll set things straight here tonight.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°In a while, the Shadow Guards and two thousand combat robots will be on their way. You can arrange things when they arrive.¡±


    After speaking with Silin, Qin Hao hung up the phone. He then turned his attention to Lijia State; Connet had already led forces to occupy Wei Country, and they had taken over most of Ban Guo Republic. By tonight it should all be settled.


    Qin Hao also provided Connet with another two thousand combat robots. Now, there were still a large number of combat robots in Qin Hao¡¯s base, more than enough.


    A great number of air combat devices had also been produced, but Qin Hao had not put them into use. Now, with more than twenty thousand air combat devices in storage, Qin Hao continued to produce them vigorously.


    Qin Hao wanted to change the current world order, and only by launching a war could he build a new world structure at the fastest speed possible.


    Though there would be some casualties, after stability was achieved, the whole world would move towards a more prosperous era.


    Now, Y Continent, North and South Mizhou, and Lijia State were all within Qin Hao¡¯s strategic plans. The only part left was the West Continent, but it seemed they were not planning to cooperate.


    While Qin Hao was considering his options, Chang Jing walked in, ¡°The other underwater base has been completed. We¡¯ve also detected a large amount of mineral resources on the nearby seafloor with our underwater exploration equipment, and we¡¯re now fully engaged in mining and manufacturing underwater extraction apparatuses.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, opened the system mall, and then found the F-class interstellar aircraft carrier research technology, which cost three hundred million achievement points.


    After the exchange, Qin Hao only had over a hundred million points left. He also exchanged for a smaller interstellar battleship, which cost him one hundred million achievement points.


    Though far smaller compared to interstellar aircraft carriers, the interstellar battleship was still a colossus. Its role was to protect the interstellar aircraft carriers and to inflict damage on enemy forces.


    The interstellar battleships were equipped with beam energy cannons, while the interstellar aircraft carriers carried air combat devices. In terms of capability, the aircraft carriers were far stronger than the battleships.


    Because the air combat devices loaded on the interstellar aircraft carriers could unleash far greater combat power than the interstellar battleships.


    An interstellar aircraft carrier within the universe¡¯s various nations was a symbol of national military power; any nation without such a vessel was considered minor in the cosmic hierarchy.


    After the exchange, Qin Hao sent the technology to Number 001, directing it to oversee production tasks at the new underwater base.


    Three days later, on October 21st.


    J Country announced it had become a territory of the Federation, and MX Country also declared it was entering the territory of the Federation. Then the Federation in the southern part of Beimi and Southern Mizhou declared war and launched an attack.


    Over at Y Continent, Xuan Country had also made its move. Some countries directly submitted, while those that didn¡¯t were flattened by combat robots.


    ...


    Suddenly, the entire world was engulfed by a surge of warfare. In the Lijia State region, Connet had combat robots and was sweeping through the north of Ban Guo Country.


    The invincible Federation¡¯s forces were also sweeping across North and South Mizhou; taking over the entire region was only a matter of time.


    The current war had reached a global scale.


    This was a great war that reshuffled the world order. Although many countries were affected, the casualties were not numerous, as high-tech weapons were now in use.


    In North and South Mizhou, once areas were conquered, the major families of the Federation competed to settle in, seizing resources and industries.


    In Y Continent and Lijia State, it was the Xinghai Association¡¯s turn to act. Under Qin Hao¡¯s instruction, nearly all of the Xinghai Association¡¯s conglomerates established factories and companies there.


    Qin Hao needed them to invigorate the local economic market.


    The West Continent and the Northern E Country, aware that these wars were instigated by Qin Hao, were not fools. They understood Qin Hao¡¯s intentions; he was aiming to dominate the world and become the lord of all.


    Sooner or later, he would make his move on the West Continent as well, and they were very clear about this, hence, they strongly condemned the countries initiating the wars. They urged those nations to rise in rebellion and even secretly planned to supply equipment to them.


    However, those supplies were intercepted, and now they had no hope of leaving the Western Continent region.


    As time passed, the war continued. After more than a month, Y Continent was the first to end the war and entered a phase of stabilization and recuperation.


    Recounting the population, re-establishing education plans, and rebuilding legal order¡ªall these required time to gradually take effect.


    It took another five days before the war in North and South Mizhou came to an end, and it too entered a stage of recovery and stabilization.

 Chapter 762 - 762 762 The Trend is Set

    ?Chapter 762: Chapter 762: The Trend is Set Chapter 762: Chapter 762: The Trend is Set After the Northern Federation occupied North and South Mizhou, it publicly announced that the Xing will be the new currency system to support the monetary transactions of the new nation.


    In Xuan Country, the Xing could also circulate, but it was not designated as the official sole currency.


    ¡°Congratulations, Host, on completing the main quest. You have earned one hundred million achievement points and a D-grade Mecha.¡±


    ¡°The new main quest has begun: Subsequent achievement points gained will be calculated based on the host¡¯s prestige.¡±


    Qin Hao was momentarily stunned when he heard this message; at the time, he was sitting on the sofa, listening to his parents¡¯ teachings.


    Li Shujie spoke up, ¡°Wanrou is now pregnant, and everything must prioritize her well-being. Don¡¯t let her work so hard anymore. Did you hear me?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded awkwardly, while Du Wanrou said with a smile, ¡°Mom and Dad, this isn¡¯t Xiao Hao¡¯s fault; I wanted to work.¡±


    Qin Youguo said, ¡°It¡¯s his fault for letting you work even though he knows you¡¯re pregnant. What if something happens? Wanrou, you should just stay home from now on. We can go for walks when we have nothing else to do; no need to do these exhausting tasks anymore.¡±


    It was not just Qin Hao and Du Wanrou sitting on the sofa; Xia Qing, Xu Si, Fan Ruobing, Han Meng, and Zhao Yuying were also seated there.


    At that moment, Zhao Yuying suddenly stood up, covered her mouth, and ran into the bathroom, beginning to retch.


    Han Meng got up and went over, ¡°I¡¯ll go check on Yu Ying.¡±


    ¡°Yu Ying¡¯s complexion is a bit off. Is she sick?¡± Li Shujie asked with concern.


    Qin Youguo, looking at Zhao Yuying retching in the restroom, said uncertainly, ¡°Could Yu Ying also be pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Hao, you know medicine, so hurry and check on Yu Ying,¡± Mrs. Qin urged.


    Zhao Yuying returned quickly, and Qin Hao had her sit next to him, ¡°Yu Ying, let me take a look at you.¡±


    ¡°Look at what? I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s just that I haven¡¯t had much of an appetite these past few days and don¡¯t want to eat anything,¡± Zhao Yuying replied.


    Qin Hao went over to take her pulse, then he paused, looking somewhat surprised, ¡°Ying, you¡¯re pregnant.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Zhao Yuying was a bit astonished, ¡°I¡¯m pregnant?¡±


    Qin Youguo and Li Shujie exclaimed joyfully, ¡°Yu Ying is pregnant too? This is wonderful! Is it a boy or a girl?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Judging by the pulse, it¡¯s a boy.¡±


    Qin Youguo chuckled, ¡°A boy is good, a boy is good.¡±


    Li Shujie gave him a look, ¡°Girls aren¡¯t good? Look at your thinking.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant; I like both boys and girls,¡± Qin Youguo quickly explained.


    Du Wanrou said with a smile, ¡°Congratulations, Ying.¡±


    Xia Qing, Xu Siyao, and several others also sincerely congratulated Zhao Yuying. They had all been living together these days, like sisters, and did not envy Zhao Yuying for being pregnant¡ªalthough they did harbor some admiration.


    They too wished to have a baby with Qin Hao.


    After Qin Hao had been educated by Mr. and Mrs. Qin, they then went out.


    Later, Qin Hao took Zhao Yuying to the residence of Zhao Xingbo and Wang Zhi to share the good news.


    Arriving at Zhao Xingbo and Wang Zhi¡¯s place, Zhao Yuying entered with a smile, calling out, ¡°Mom and Dad.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Xiao Hao and Yu Ying are here, come sit down,¡± Zhao Xingbo and Wang Zhi said as they rose to greet them with smiles.


    Qin Hao and Zhao Yuying sat down, and Zhao Yuying said with a smile, ¡°Mom and Dad, I¡¯m pregnant.¡±


    ¡°Pregnant?¡± Zhao Xingbo and his wife looked at her with surprise and delight.


    Zhao Yuying nodded, ¡°It¡¯s been almost a month now, I just found out today.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, I and your mother have longed to hold a grandchild.¡± Wang Zhi said with a beaming smile, though deep down she was also worried that her daughter would fall out of favor if she didn¡¯t have a child.


    ...


    Qin Hao later received a call from Miao Jing, and then he went to the Xinghai Military Fire Building.


    Miao Jing said to him, ¡°Soldiers from several countries in West Continent have entered the northern states of Lijia State, claiming it is to protect these countries¡¯ territorial sovereignty.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Where has Connet reached now?¡±


    Miao Jing replied, ¡°He¡¯s just shy of those northern states. Without your order, he doesn¡¯t dare to make a move now.¡±


    Qin Hao immediately called Connet.


    Connet, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Just do it. Kill anyone who dares to stand in the way.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin,¡± Connet said respectfully.


    Afterward, Connet launched an attack, and the soldiers from those West Continent countries were also hit.


    Beiluo Country made a public statement: It demanded Connet to immediately cease his aggression, or they would resort to a blanket strike with their laser cannons.


    Connet outright ignored their warning; he now only listened to Qin Hao. Whatever Qin Hao told him to do, he did.


    Later on, Beiluo Country launched its laser cannon, targeting the Black Alliance¡¯s headquarters where Connet was, along with other senior officials.


    Connet was unaware of this. The first to detect it was one of Qin Hao¡¯s advanced radar satellites. After inspection, a cyan energy shield appeared in the sky above Lijia State.


    Nearly everyone in the Lijia State region saw it; they were covered by a cyan energy shield.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    Connet and others saw it too. At the same time, he received a message from Qin Hao. It was Qin Hao¡¯s unknown Energy Shield Defense System in Lijia State, deployed to protect him from Beiluo Country¡¯s Beam Recharge Cannon.


    Right after the call, Connet saw a streak of light speeding towards them from the distance in the sky.


    With a ¡°boom,¡± it collided with the cyan energy shield. The shield rippled in layers but was not breached.


    Qin Hao also retaliated immediately, the Beam Recharge Cannon fired, targeting Beiluo Country¡¯s cannon.


    Beiluo Country¡¯s Beam Recharge Cannon was instantly destroyed, and Beiluo along with other West Continent countries were silenced, uncertain of what to say.


    With their only Beam Recharge Cannon gone, they now had no capacity to resist.


    After Connet captured the northern part of Lijia State, he did not continue his advance because Qin Hao¡¯s order was just to occupy Lijia State.


    ...


    Inside the Xinghai Military Fire Building on Pu¡¯er Island, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Are the interstellar warships almost produced?¡±


    Miao Jing replied, ¡°They are more than halfway built, it will take about one more month.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°How is the construction of the military bases in Mizhou and the underground military base in the Sahara Desert of Lijia State progressing?¡±


    ¡°They will be completed within a month.¡±


    Qin Hao now had more than five hundred thousand industrial robots working under him, with incredibly high efficiency, and the number of industrial robots was increasing by a hundred thousand each month.


    Qin Hao looked at the world map and said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing much with Mizhou and Lijia State. We still need to negotiate with East Continent, and I believe those in West Continent will come to me if they are wise.¡±


    ¡°What will you do if Xuan Country doesn¡¯t agree?¡± Miao Jing asked.


    Qin Hao, ¡°I believe they will agree. They are quite clear about the current situation.¡± After finishing, he turned on the virtual imaging system and called Su Jiayi.

 Chapter 763 - 763 763 Return to Huaxia

    ?Chapter 763: Chapter 763: Return to Huaxia Chapter 763: Chapter 763: Return to Huaxia The video call connected quickly, and Su Jiayi¡¯s figure appeared in front of Qin Hao.


    Next to Su Jiayi were a middle-aged couple ¨C her parents, who also saw Qin Hao.


    ¡°Is that Qin Hao?¡± Su Jiayi¡¯s father, Su Hongyu, asked.


    With a touch of embarrassment, Su Jiayi nodded; her parents were well-informed about her and Qin Hao but had never met him before.


    Qin Hao was very familiar with Su Jiayi¡¯s background and had seen photos of her family.


    He smiled and greeted, ¡°Hello, Mr. Su.¡±


    Su Hongyu gave a slight nod, ¡°You wanted to talk to Jiayi about something, right? Go ahead then.¡±


    Taking the video call, Su Jiayi curiously asked, ¡°What did you need me for?¡±


    She remembered that this was the first time Qin Hao had initiated a call to her.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I would like to talk to your grandfather, could you arrange a meeting for me?¡±


    Taken aback for a moment, Su Jiayi responded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll mention it to my grandfather later and let you know once I have an answer.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao told Miao Jing, ¡°In those areas we¡¯ve already taken over, set up more weapons to prevent any more trouble from occurring.¡±


    Miao Jing nodded, ¡°I¡¯m on it. Our surveillance satellites are continuously monitoring those regions. Any disturbance will be detected immediately, and battle robots will be sent to suppress it.¡±


    The Asni Republic had stabilized; people were living prosperously, and with a good life, nobody wanted war any longer.


    Even if some tried to overthrow Engsor¡¯s regime, they wouldn¡¯t succeed, as they would be discovered and eliminated immediately.


    In North and South Mizhou, the influence of the Northern Federation was already substantial, and with various advanced technologies, there were barely any disturbances; stability would gradually be restored. In Lijia State, on the other hand, there was more unrest, but it did not significantly affect the overall situation.


    As Miao Jing got busy, Qin Hao took a D-class Mecha from his system backpack and inspected it.


    It was a small, golden circular object. Upon activation and bonding with an owner, golden D-class Mecha armor covered Qin Hao¡¯s body, giving him a majestic appearance, with the golden armor looking quite impressive.


    Laser Guns, Beam Cannons, Particle Cannon Launching Bays, Energy Swords, and the iconic device of the D-class Mecha ¨C the Sub-light speed propulsion device.


    The Sub-light speed propulsion was an extremely powerful speed device.


    Light speed is currently the fastest known unit of speed; light travels about 300,000 kilometers per second, and it¡¯s roughly 380,000 kilometers from Earth to the moon, meaning, at light speed, it would take just over one second to travel from Earth to the moon.


    The Sub-light speed propulsion device is slightly slower than the speed of light but still incredibly fast; the trip from Earth to the moon would take only seconds.


    A few seconds to the moon. What kind of concept is that? It¡¯s something unthinkable.


    While Qin Hao was admiring himself, Miao Jing walked in with Feng Xiangyi.


    The two women were startled upon seeing the shimmering golden Qin Hao: ¡°What is this thing?¡±


    Qin Hao retracted the Mecha and said with a smile, ¡°D-class Mecha, a very powerful one. And, looks like Auntie has also arrived.¡±


    Miao Jing glanced at Feng Xiangyi and said with a smile, ¡°I have things to do. You two chat.¡±


    Once Miao Jing was gone, Feng Xiangyi approached him with wistful eyes, ¡°You didn¡¯t think to come to see me all these days.¡±


    Qin Hao felt a bit guilty, ¡°Auntie, I¡¯ve been really busy these days.¡±


    This was the trouble with having many women; not taking good care of one of them could make her feel uncomfortable.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re done with your busyness now?¡± Feng Xiangyi asked.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m done. Auntie, you should move into the villa too.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem appropriate, I am Wan Rou¡¯s aunt...¡± She was actually tempted because she disliked the feeling of living alone.


    Qin Hao reassured her, ¡°Everybody knows anyway, don¡¯t overthink it.¡±


    ...


    Since it was perpetually spring here, Feng Xiangyi wasn¡¯t wearing much; a short one-piece dress and sexy black stockings made her look mature and attractive.


    By noon, the office fell silent.


    Qin Hao sat in his office chair, his eyes slightly closed.


    Feng Xiangyi said, ¡°Xiao Hao, I want to have your baby.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you will, Auntie.¡± Qin Hao replied.


    ...


    More than ten minutes later, they straightened their clothes and walked out together, joining Miao Jing in the building¡¯s cafeteria for lunch.


    After lunch, a satisfied Feng Xiangyi went off to get busy with her things, and Qin Hao headed to the military base¡¯s research lab.


    On Pu¡¯er Island, there were dozens of labs, attracting experts from various industries worldwide.


    Many had been recruited by Qin Hao with generous offers, so they were more than willing to come.


    Qin Hao arrived at He Tingting¡¯s lab, which he hadn¡¯t visited in a long while.


    Inside the lab, He Tingting and others were busy with research. Seeing Qin Hao enter, He Tingting smiled and greeted, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°What are you working on?¡± Qin Hao inquired with curiosity.


    He Tingting replied, ¡°We¡¯re looking into the propulsion systems of interstellar aircraft carriers, trying to increase their speed.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t overwork yourself; this kind of thing can¡¯t be rushed.¡± Qin Hao advised.


    ¡°I know,¡± He Tingting said, tidying up before leaving the lab with him.


    The two of them arrived at He Tingting¡¯s residence on the base. She asked him, ¡°I heard Yu Ying is pregnant?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°You knew too?¡±


    ¡°How could I not know about something that big?¡± He Tingting remarked, giving him a wry look.


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s communicator suddenly rang; it was a call from Su Jiayi, ¡°Qin Hao, I¡¯ve spoken with my grandfather. Come to Jinchen City tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll be in touch when I get there.¡±


    Where to meet didn¡¯t matter to Qin Hao; no one on Earth could kill him now.


    After ending the call, Qin Hao looked at He Tingting, and she at him; they hugged each other, kissed deeply, entwining together.


    ...


    The next morning at eight.


    Qin Hao set off in an Air Energy Car towards Xuan Country, accompanied by Liusheng Shinzi, Li Xixue, and Park Shuangyu.


    All three of them had been physically enhanced and each possessed an F-class Mecha, serving both as bodyguards and maids.

 Chapter 764 - 764 764 Yanjing City

    ?Chapter 764: Chapter 764: Yanjing City Chapter 764: Chapter 764: Yanjing City Qin Hao had not returned to Xuan Country for several months, and he felt as if it had been years since his last visit.


    Entering the territory of Xuan Country and observing its present domain, a smile graced his face.


    Liusheng Zhenzi said with a smile, ¡°Master, would you like a glass of juice?¡±


    Qin Hao took the juice and had a sip. If the negotiations with Xuan Country went smoothly this time, then Beihai Country, Beidou Country, and East Chao Country would also have to be incorporated into Xuan Country¡¯s map.


    He planned to divide the world into several major zones, such as the Mizhou District, Lijia State District, Xuan Country District, and so on. Of course, this would require the reorganization of a federal institution.


    At 9:10 in the morning, Qin Hao entered the domain of Jinchen City. He used his communicator to call Su Jiayi, ¡°I¡¯ve entered Jinchen City, where shall we meet?¡±


    ¡°Come to my place,¡± Su Jiayi gave Qin Hao her home address.


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao drove towards Su Jiayi¡¯s home. Not long after entering the territory of Jinchen City, Qin Hao saw towering skyscrapers, over a hundred stories tall, with numerous Air Energy Cars racing through the air, crisscrossing like a futuristic sci-fi city.


    Qin Hao soon arrived at the address given by Su Jiayi. It was a high-end villa district, and the Air Energy Car directly parked in front of the yard at number 16.


    Several plain black intelligent sedans were parked next to the gate, and a few elite bodyguards stood at the entrance to the courtyard.


    Qin Hao and a few others got out of the vehicle, looked around, and then walked toward the courtyard.


    The bodyguards at the entrance stopped Qin Hao, ¡°May I know if you are Mr. Qin?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am Qin Hao.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, please come in. The others may not enter.¡±


    Qin Hao turned to Liusheng Zhenzi and the others and said, ¡°Wait for me outside.¡± He then walked in alone.


    Upon reaching the door, he rang the doorbell. When the person inside saw it was Qin Hao, they commanded the smart door to open directly, and Su Jiayi came forward to greet him.


    Several people were seated on the sofa in the living room, including Su Jiayi¡¯s parents and grandparents.


    Su Hongyu said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin has arrived, please take a seat.¡±


    He did not call Qin Hao ¡°Xiao Hao¡± because the relationship between him and Su Jiayi was not yet confirmed, and today they had serious matters to discuss.


    Qin Hao sat on the adjacent sofa, and Su Jiayi¡¯s grandparents looked at him, feeling somewhat surprised at his youth.


    He¡¯s only in his twenties, isn¡¯t he? To have reached such a position so young was indeed somewhat monstrous.


    ¡°Mr. Wang, this is our first meeting, isn¡¯t it?¡± Qin Hao greeted with an initiating smile.


    Su Jiayi¡¯s grandfather nodded slightly, his expression calm yet dignified, ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the study.¡±


    The two went to the study and sat opposite each other. Qin Hao took the initiative to say, ¡°Mr. Wang, you should be clear about the purpose of my visit. Let me explain.¡±


    Wang KaiMin said, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°Mr. Wang, there really is an alien civilization, you don¡¯t deny that, do you?¡±


    Wang KaiMin replied, ¡°There should be. Our country has many top-secret archives recording events about alien civilizations. I even suspect that you might be an alien.¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°Mr. Wang is joking. I am a true native of Xuan Country, having grown up there since I was small.¡±


    Wang KaiMin said, ¡°I am aware of your file. If I weren¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t have used the word ¡®suspect.''¡±


    Everything Qin Hao had shown was too abnormal. No matter how clever a person was, they had their limitations; it wasn¡¯t possible to be so monstrous and defy the natural order.


    Qin Hao asked further, ¡°Mr. Wang, how strong do you think the technology of the famed alien species is?¡±


    Wang KaiMin: ¡°I don¡¯t know, but definitely much more advanced than us.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°If an alien civilization arrives on Earth, what do you think will happen to our planet?¡±


    Wang KaiMin frowned slightly: ¡°It would be a disaster for Earth. I¡¯ve also seen your ¡®Mechanical Soldier¡¯ movie, but Earth doesn¡¯t have the strength of Water Blue Star depicted in the movie. Possibly, all Earthlings might be enslaved and sold as slaves across the stars.


    It¡¯s also possible that they are friendly, but that possibility is very low. Whether it¡¯s Earth or the entire universe, interests prevail. If enslaving Earth suits their interest and generates great benefits for them, they will definitely enslave the entire planet.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded in agreement, Wang KaiMin saw through it very clearly, and his words were to the point.


    He spoke up: ¡°I¡¯m discussing the unification of Earth with Mr. Wang for establishing the Earth Federation, dividing Earth into several administrative regions.¡±


    Wang KaiMin understood what he meant; the regions were already quite distinct¡ªMizhou District, Lijiazhou District, Xuan Country District. There will probably be a West Continent Zone later on.


    What concerned him was the issue of management or, in other words, the distribution of power.


    Qin Hao knew what he wanted to hear: ¡°The administration of the Xuan Country District, including Mr. Wang¡¯s responsibilities, won¡¯t be interfered with by me. I have no interest or intention to meddle. In the future, I will establish military bases in various places to provide strong military protection for each district.¡±


    Wang KaiMin: ¡°I understand your intentions, and I can agree to that.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback, as he didn¡¯t expect Wang KaiMin to agree so readily.


    Wang KaiMin then asked: ¡°I just want to ask you one question. If there really is an alien invasion, how confident are you that you can hold them off?¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°That depends on the level of alien invasion. As long as it¡¯s not a very powerful interstellar empire, I¡¯m confident I can resist it.¡±


    Wang KaiMin: ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Now let¡¯s talk about Jiayi¡¯s situation.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed awkwardly: ¡°What about Jiayi?¡±


    Wang KaiMin¡¯s expression turned serious: ¡°What do you mean what about? You think I don¡¯t know about you and Jiayi? What do you plan to do about it?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Wang, I will take good care of Jiayi in the future.¡±


    ...


    The two men entered the study for half an hour and then came out. Su Hongyu and Su Jiayi looked at both of them.


    Wang KaiMin said to Su Hongyu and his wife: ¡°I have matters to attend to and must leave now. Xiao Hao, if you¡¯re not busy, stay for lunch before you go.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Okay, Mr. Wang, you go ahead with your affairs.¡±


    After Wang KaiMin left, Qin Hao said to Su Hongyu and his wife: ¡°Uncle Su, Auntie, Jiayi and I are going out for a stroll. We¡¯ll be back by noon. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been here, so I want to see what¡¯s changed around here.¡±


    ¡°Sure, go ahead,¡± Su Hongyu and his wife nodded.


    Qin Hao and Su Jiayi walked out of the villa, with Su Jiayi holding his hand and smiling, ¡°Where are we going to play?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just wander around and see what¡¯s changed,¡± Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Su Jiayi: ¡°Then let¡¯s drive there.¡± She drove a new SUV model from Jiangqi Group out of the garage.


    Nowadays, such cars are nearly obsolete, as the market is almost entirely dominated by air energy cars and autonomous intelligent cars.


    Getting into the car, she said to Qin Hao: ¡°Let¡¯s go shopping.¡±


    The autonomous vehicle headed towards Wanhao Mall, the largest shopping mall in Jinchen City.


    In the car, the two sat in the back. Su Jiayi looked at him and asked, ¡°What did you and my grandfather talk about?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Nothing much, just some business matters.¡±

 Chapter 765 - 765 765 Get Lost Immediately

    ?Chapter 765: Chapter 765 Get Lost Immediately Chapter 765: Chapter 765 Get Lost Immediately Throughout the journey, Qin Hao was admiring the scenery outside. The traffic in Jinchen City was no longer as congested as it used to be.


    Moreover, the air here was very fresh, a stark contrast to the past.


    Half an hour later, they arrived at the Wanhao Shopping Plaza. The car automatically found a parking spot and came to a stop. The two of them got out of the car and looked at the Wanhao Shopping Plaza.


    The foot traffic here was quite heavy, especially since today was a holiday, so there were more people than usual.


    The population of Jinchen City had grown since then. The real estate prices here had decreased somewhat, but were still very high. After all, this was the capital of Xuan Country; housing prices could not be compared with those in third- or fourth-tier cities.


    There were many people in the large square outside, with a large number of young men and women, some in groups of three or four, others couples.


    Su Jiayi pulled him towards the inside of the shopping plaza. Walking through the square, although people occasionally glanced over, most were looking at Su Jiayi, with very few looking at Qin Hao.


    Even the people who looked at Qin Hao did not recognize him, as he rarely appeared in the media.


    Inside Wanhao Shopping Plaza, it was massive, with all types of stores.


    Su Jiayi led him to a storefront: Huafei High-end Clothing Store, a luxury branch of Huafei Clothing Company. The clothes inside were all very expensive, with nothing less than ten thousand yuan.


    ¡°How about this outfit?¡± Su Jiayi asked, looking at a men¡¯s casual suit.


    The sales associate smiled and said, ¡°This was designed by our renowned designer, Mr. Li from Huafei Clothing Company. Each piece of clothing he designs is perfect, with very high prices. I think this suit is very suited to this gentleman¡¯s temperament, and we only have this one piece in our store.¡±


    The saleswoman¡¯s words were sweet and pleasing to hear.


    Su Jiayi said, ¡°I also think it¡¯s very fitting for you.¡±


    She took it down and said to Qin Hao, ¡°Go try it on.¡±


    Qin Hao took the clothes and went into the fitting room. Su Jiayi looked at the women¡¯s clothing as the sales associate eagerly made recommendations.


    The store had quite a few customers. Those daring to enter were no ordinary people. There were also quite a few sales associates, enough to provide one-on-one service.


    Su Jiayi spoke up, ¡°This white mink coat looks quite nice.¡±


    The saleswoman smiled, ¡°Miss, this is our store¡¯s exclusive mink coat, the only one of its kind.¡±


    The exclusive mink coat was priced at four hundred ninety-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine yuan, one of the most expensive pieces in the store. The one she had picked out for Qin Hao was only a hundred sixty-six thousand.


    ¡°Take it down for me to try,¡± Su Jiayi said.


    The saleswoman was about to take it down when a young beauty next to her suddenly reached out and grabbed it, ¡°Delin, I really love this coat.¡±


    The young man beside her laughed, ¡°If you like it, then let¡¯s buy it.¡±


    Su Jiayi turned her head and said, ¡°I saw it first, okay? Don¡¯t you know the rule of first come, first served?¡±


    The sales associate also smiled and said, ¡°Sir, Miss, this lady was the first to look at this coat.¡±


    Li Delin glanced at Su Jiayi and then said to the saleswoman, ¡°Is Chen Derui here? In the store?¡±


    ¡°You know Mr. Chen?¡± the saleswoman asked, surprise and uncertainty in her voice.


    Li Delin said, ¡°My dad is Li Zhenghao, do you think I wouldn¡¯t know Chen Derui?¡±


    The saleswoman paused upon hearing the name Li Zhenghao and hurriedly made a call to Chen Derui in the office.


    Su Jiayi said somewhat displeased, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? Can you act this way just because you have some connections?¡±


    ¡°I suggest you leave early and avoid trouble,¡± the young beauty beside Li Delin said disdainfully to Su Jiayi.


    At that moment, Qin Hao walked out of the fitting room and came over to Su Jiayi. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Su Jiayi turned her head to look at him and then froze because Qin Hao looked truly handsome and distinguished in the outfit he had put on.


    The female sales assistant, Li Delin, and the woman beside him all glanced at him, surprise and envy flashing in their eyes.


    Li Delin sneered inwardly. So what if he has a presence? My dad is Li Zhenghao, the president of Xinghai Association¡¯s Jinchen Branch. The bosses of those big conglomerates have to be courteous when they see him.


    ...


    At this moment, Chen Derui approached. He saw Li Delin and warmly said, ¡°Delin, you came over and didn¡¯t even tell me; aren¡¯t you being a bit too standoffish?¡±


    Li Delin smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Chen, my girlfriend fancies this piece of clothing.¡±


    ¡°If Mr. Li¡¯s girlfriend fancies it, then I¡¯ll take the initiative to give it to Mr. Li,¡± Chen Derui said with a slight smile.


    The female sales assistant hesitantly said, ¡°Mr. Chen, it was this lady who first took interest in the clothing.¡±


    Su Jiayi also spoke up, ¡°Exactly, I saw it first. Why give it to her? What does that mean? Do you look down on me?¡±


    Chen Derui glanced at Su Jiayi and explained, ¡°This piece of clothing has already been reserved, and the staff below were not informed. I¡¯m sorry, Miss, please take a look at the other clothing.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit, do you think I¡¯m stupid?¡± Su Jiayi burst out with a curse.


    Immediately, Chen Derui¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Miss, please show some respect when speaking, or I will not hesitate to have security throw you out. No one dares to cause trouble in our Huafei Clothing Store.¡±


    Su Jiayi turned to look at Qin Hao, aware that this was one of his industries.


    Qin Hao frowned slightly as he looked at Chen Derui and asked, ¡°Is this how you manage your store?¡±


    Chen Derui replied irritably, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to teach me how to manage my store. If you want to buy clothes, buy them; if not, then leave immediately.¡±


    His voice was quite loud, and many onlookers turned their heads curiously.


    Li Delin, standing nearby, said mockingly, ¡°Hurry up and leave, don¡¯t embarrass yourself here.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Chen Derui and then at Li Delin. ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more chance to rectify the situation,¡± he said.


    ¡°Kid, who do you think you are? Giving me a chance to rectify?¡± Li Delin laughed disdainfully.


    Chen Derui did not speak, as he had already started gesturing to the security guards at the entrance.


    Qin Hao took out a communicator and called Zhao Dongqiang. The call connected swiftly. ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    He immediately asked, ¡°Do you know Chen Derui from the Huafei High-end Clothing Store in the Wanhao Shopping Plaza in Jinchen City?¡±


    ¡°Please hold on, Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll check,¡± was the response.


    Apart from franchise stores, Huafei Clothing Company had many directly-operated stores, and it was impossible for him, the president of Huafei, to remember them all.


    He replied promptly, ¡°Mr. Qin, I found him. There is indeed a Chen Derui there. Do you know him, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Of course I know him, right now he¡¯s trying to have me thrown out.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang¡¯s expression changed immediately. ¡°That bastard. Mr. Qin, I¡¯m going to make him pack up and get lost right now.¡±


    After hanging up the call, Chen Derui¡¯s phone rang. Seeing that it was Zhao Dongqiang¡¯s call, he answered it respectfully, ¡°Hello Mr. Zhao, this is Chen Derui.¡±


    Zhao Dongqiang¡¯s voice came through the phone, ¡°Chen Derui, pack up and get out now. If you dare leave one second late, I¡¯ll have you blacklisted in the entire industry.¡±

 Chapter 766 - 766 766 Wang Yue

    ?Chapter 766: Chapter 766 Wang Yue Chapter 766: Chapter 766 Wang Yue Chen Derui¡¯s face turned exceedingly awkward upon hearing Zhao Dongqiang¡¯s words, ¡°Mr. Zhao, what did I do wrong?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you clear about what you just did? You have two more minutes,¡± Zhao Dongqiang said, and then he hung up the call.


    Cold sweat was already dripping down Chen Derui¡¯s face. He glanced at Qin Hao; it was he who had just made the call. Who exactly was this person?


    There was no time for him to ponder; he hurriedly ran to his own office, quickly packed up his things, and left. The other employees of the clothing store were dumbfounded. What, where was Mr. Chen going?


    Just then, all the employees received a command issued by Zhao Dongqiang from the headquarters: Due to Chen Derui¡¯s dereliction of duty, he was to be immediately dismissed and never rehired.


    All of these people had microchips implanted in their bodies, provided for free by the company, which were used to send important company messages directly to their chips, ensuring all employees received news right away.


    For someone like Chen Derui, who was expelled from the company, his chip would no longer receive any information from the company in the future.


    Li Delin, seeing Chen Derui leaving without a word, was confused, ¡°Hey, hey, Mr. Chen, what are you doing?¡±


    A female sales associate spoke up, ¡°I apologize, sir, but he is no longer our person in charge here. He¡¯s been fired.¡±


    ¡°Fired? Are you kidding me? Who fired him?¡± Li Delin asked.


    The female sales associate said, ¡°Our general manager did.¡± She then glanced at Qin Hao. She had heard everything Qin Hao had said earlier, and Chen Derui¡¯s dismissal must be related to him. She wondered who he was, to be acquainted with our Mr. Zhao.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°So, how should this piece of clothing be sold now?¡±


    The female sales associate hurriedly took the clothing from Li Delin¡¯s girlfriend¡¯s hands, ¡°This lady came first, naturally it is her choice to make.¡±


    Li Delin¡¯s face turned somewhat uncomfortable, ¡°Alright, you win, just you wait.¡±


    After saying his piece, Li Delin turned and left with his girlfriend. Qin Hao didn¡¯t even spare him a glance as he took out his communicator and sent a message to Qing Ya from the Xinghai Association.


    In less than two minutes, Li Zhenghao, Li Delin¡¯s father, was relieved of his position as the president of Jinchen City¡¯s Xinghai Branch by Miao Jing.


    After Qin Hao and Su Jiayi finished buying clothes and walked out of the store, Su Jiayi asked curiously, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you reveal your identity and scare him?¡±


    ¡°Bullying such a person is senseless. Letting him receive the punishment he deserves is enough,¡± Qin Hao said indifferently.


    The two browsed around for a while, and Su Jiayi bought quite a few things before they headed back.


    Qin Hao had lunch at Su Jiayi¡¯s place, chatted with Su Hongyu for a while, and then took his leave.


    Su Jiayi spoke to persuade him, ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay here for a few days? You can go back after everything is settled.¡±


    Su Hongyu and his wife were somewhat speechless. Couldn¡¯t their daughter be a bit more reserved? She was actually inviting him to stay a few days at their home?


    Qin Hao also noticed the expressions of Su Hongyu and his wife and replied with a forced laugh, ¡°No, I¡¯m going to stop by Jianghai City.¡±


    Su Jiayi was a bit displeased, but there was nothing she could do about it.


    Qin Hao got into the Air Energy Car and headed for Jianghai City. He wanted to wait for the policy decisions in Xuan Country to be implemented before leaving.


    At the top floor of Xinghai Building in Jianghai City, an Air Energy Car settled on the roof.


    Qin Hao and three others got out of the car. He told Liusheng Shinzi and the other two, ¡°Go get the room in order; I¡¯ll go take a look at the company.¡±


    ...


    He arrived at the entrance to the general manager¡¯s office at Xinghai Building and knocked on the door. Annie¡¯s voice came from inside, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Qin Hao walked in, and there were two people in the office: one was Annie Charlend and the other was her assistant, who was sexy and enchanting, extremely charming.


    Seeing Qin Hao, Annie was taken aback momentarily before hurriedly getting up and saying, ¡°Mr. Qin, what brings you here? Xiao Yue, make some tea for Mr. Qin.¡±


    Her assistant, Wang Yue, nodded slightly and then went to make the tea.


    Qin Hao sat on the sofa and began to say, ¡°I came to Xuan Country to discuss some matters and thought I¡¯d stop by to take a look.¡±


    Annie sat across from him and smiled, asking, ¡°Did the talks go smoothly?¡±


    For Qin Hao to personally handle a cooperation, it must be a big deal, and Annie could even guess whom Qin Hao was negotiating with. If it was a success, it would greatly influence the global landscape.


    With these thoughts, a sharp light flickered in Annie¡¯s eyes. The West Continent was simply no match for Qin Hao now, and many were already considering their options for the future.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, President Annie, please have some tea,¡± Wang Yue said as she brought two cups of tea to them.


    Qin Hao glanced at Wang Yue and curiously asked, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you before, are you new here?¡±


    Wang Yue gave a coy smile, enchantingly replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin, I used to study abroad at Yu Bridge in Xiyu Country.¡±


    ¡°Do you prefer Xiyu Country, or Xuan Country?¡± Qin Hao asked as he took a sip of his tea.


    Annie curiously looked at Qin Hao and Wang Yue, wondering why he was chatting with her assistant. Could he have taken a fancy to her assistant?


    Wang Yue did not expect Qin Hao to make small talk with her, and after a brief pause, she replied, ¡°Of course my homeland is better, Xuan Country¡¯s development is now incomparable to other countries.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, and said no more to Wang Yue.


    Wang Yue stood quietly to the side, and Annie began to speak, ¡°Mr. Qin, what do you plan to do about the West Continent? Our Charlend family would like to discuss specifics with you.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Discuss what?¡±


    Annie replied, ¡°Specific matters regarding cooperation. We can contribute our strength to your cause for unification.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already chosen the spokesperson for the West Continent, the Innsil Family. Your Charlend family can only be second.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Annie said, ¡°Mr. Qin, our Charlend family has greater influence in Xiyu Country than the Innsil Family, and our strength is also superior to theirs.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled lightly and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care whether its strength is strong or weak. My own strength is enough. What I need is loyalty. Even if the Innsil Family is nothing but a puddle of mud, I can prop them up against a wall.¡±


    ...


    Hearing his words, Annie was at a loss for words: ¡°Then, our Charlend family is willing to assist the Innsil Family and help you, Mr. Qin, fulfill your grand plan.¡±


    Now that Qin Hao had spoken, she was left with no other choice.


    No families from the West Continent had approached Qin Hao yet. Their Charlend family was the first to do so. As long as they wholeheartedly supported the Innsil Family, Qin Hao¡¯s character was such that he would not let them be treated unfairly.


    The two talked for quite a while, and after the discussion, Qin Hao left. Wang Yue found a reason to leave the office as well.


    ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± Wang Yue called out as she hurried after him, but after just a couple of steps, she suddenly cried out and fell to the ground.


    Qin Hao turned his head and saw Wang Yue fall, having twisted her ankle.


    ¡°Assistant Wang, are you all right? Was there something you needed from me?¡± Qin Hao asked as he approached her.


    Wang Yue¡¯s face showed a hint of pain as she said, ¡°Mr. Qin, could you take me back to where I live? It¡¯s very close, just upstairs.¡±

 Chapter 767 - 767 767 Tang Yue

    ?Chapter 767: Chapter 767: Tang Yue? Chapter 767: Chapter 767: Tang Yue? Qin Hao nodded and helped her into the elevator.


    Wang Yue was an employee of Xinghai Company, and also Annie¡¯s assistant, with her own separate living quarters here.


    It was a two-bedroom and one-living room apartment. After entering, Qin Hao placed her on the sofa.


    Wang Yue exuded a faint fragrance. She said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, thank you. Take a seat, I haven¡¯t talked business with you yet.¡±


    Qin Hao sat down and responded, ¡°Assistant Wang, just speak your mind.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I want to work on Pu¡¯er Island, is that okay?¡± Wang Yue leaned toward him, her tone coquettish.


    Qin Hao glanced at her, his expression unchanging, ¡°Assistant Wang, it¡¯s a thin line between heaven and hell.¡±


    His words were somewhat cryptic, and Wang Yue didn¡¯t understand them.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, are you hot?¡± After saying that, she removed her jacket, revealing a black short dress underneath.


    It was winter in Xuan Country, and the weather outside was very cold. She was wearing very little.


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s indifference, Wang Yue couldn¡¯t help but lean closer again, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m so bored.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her indifferently, his eyes deep and clear.


    Wang Yue, seeing his demeanor, grew anxious inside. Why was he indifferent?


    Qin Hao took a deep breath and asked lightly, ¡°Tang Feipeng¡¯s living well in the Xiyu Country, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Wang Yue was jolted, shock flashing in her eyes. She suppressed her inner shock and said with a smile, ¡°Who is Tang Feipeng? Mr. Qin, what are you talking about?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°Originally, Tang Group, Ruixing Clothing Trading Group, and Huaqing Energy Group were my adversaries, wanting to use Yuan Feng, the head of Divine Eagle Special Bodyguard Company, against me. However, Yuan Feng lost, and after the three big groups abandoned him, he started his retaliation, kidnapping the families of the chairmen one after the other.¡±


    Hearing this, Wang Yue¡¯s face turned ugly, her eyes flickering with hatred.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°Yuan Feng did unspeakable things to them. After he was killed, the three big groups pointed their fingers at me, thinking I was the main cause of the incident. They did not consider, is this really all my fault? Miss Tang Yue, tell me, whom should we blame for this?¡±


    Tang Yue said viciously, ¡°Everyone bears some responsibility for this incident, and I¡¯m very clear about that. But my father¡¯s death was solely your doing. If it wasn¡¯t for your oppression, his company wouldn¡¯t have gone bankrupt, and he wouldn¡¯t have committed suicide.¡±


    Qin Hao said impassively, ¡°Business is like a battlefield, it¡¯s survival of the fittest. My product is good, naturally people will flock to it, inferior products will naturally be eliminated. That¡¯s the law of the market. His suicide was his own choice, it has nothing to do with me.¡±


    Tang Yue looked at him and asked, ¡°How do you know my identity? We have never met, and I am completely different from before, even old friends wouldn¡¯t recognize me now.¡±


    Qin Hao stated, ¡°I¡¯ve investigated your Tang family¡¯s information long ago. I know everything you do in the Xiyu Country. Do you believe that with just one phone call, without my personal involvement, the Innsil Family and the Charlende Family would kill your brother?¡±


    Tang Yue hastily said, ¡°Don¡¯t kill him, this matter has nothing to do with him, it¡¯s me who wants to kill you.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Do you think I would believe that? He¡¯s started a small company in the Xiyu Country, gathering strength, isn¡¯t that for revenge one day?¡±


    Tang Yue didn¡¯t expect Qin Hao to know so much, in such detail. She felt a sense of despair.


    ...


    Qin Hao activated his communicator.


    Seeing his action, Tang Yue hurriedly covered his communicator with her hand, ¡°What are you doing? Please, don¡¯t kill him.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s gaze was cold, ¡°Not kill him? Should I leave a threat for myself? I¡¯ll give you two one last chance to talk on the phone. After that, both of you can be on your way.¡±


    Fear flashed in Tang Yue¡¯s eyes upon hearing his words, ¡°Mr. Qin, please don¡¯t kill my brother. I¡¯m willing to die, but please spare his life. I¡¯ll definitely tell him not to seek revenge and to live well. I beg you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    After speaking, she got up from the sofa and knelt in front of Qin Hao.


    ¡°Please, Mr. Qin, spare my brother. Kill me, please. I¡¯m begging you.¡± Tang Yue clasped his hand, pleading desperately.


    Seeing her like this, Qin Hao felt somewhat uncomfortable, feeling like a demon.


    Qin Hao picked her up and set her back on the sofa, ¡°I don¡¯t really like people doing this.¡±


    ¡°Please, Mr. Qin, spare my brother. Can¡¯t you just kill me? I implore you,¡± Tang Yue pleaded, gripping his hand.


    Qin Hao looked at her, his eyes wavering, and finally, he said, ¡°I won¡¯t kill you. However, you must go to Pu¡¯er Island.¡±


    ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll go now. I¡¯ll call my brother immediately. Thank you, Mr. Qin, thank you,¡± Tang Yue hurriedly thanked him.


    Qin Hao looked at her, ¡°This is your last chance. I hope you make the most of it.¡±


    Tang Yue asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, can I continue to work at Xinghai Company?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Yes, but you¡¯ll have to work on Pu¡¯er Island.¡±


    ...


    Leaving Tang Yue¡¯s room, Qin Hao let out a long breath, realizing he wasn¡¯t that heartless after all.


    These two wouldn¡¯t make much of a ripple, and once on Pu¡¯er Island, combat robots would keep a close watch on them. If they harbored any ill intentions again, the combat robots would shoot to kill.


    Back at his penthouse, Liusheng Shinzi and the others had already tidied up the rooms.


    Qin Hao received a call from Sophie Inshill, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you in Xuan Country now?¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Mm, have Miao Jing and Chang Jing contacted you?¡±


    Sophie nodded, ¡°They¡¯ve contacted me, and the Charlende Family has just reached out to me too. We¡¯ve secretly aligned with some families and are planning to take action in a couple of days.¡±


    ¡°Speed up the process,¡± he advised.


    Sophie assured, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin.¡±


    After ending the call, Qin Hao stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out over the entirety of Jianghai City.


    ¡°Master, let me give you a massage,¡± Liusheng Shinzi approached and offered sweetly.


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Right, you three should give your father a call and settle the allegiance to Xuan Country issue promptly.¡±

 Chapter 768 - 768 768 Alien Civilization

    ?Chapter 768: Chapter 768: Alien Civilization Chapter 768: Chapter 768: Alien Civilization The next morning.


    Xuan Country announced externally that for the convenience of domestic and international market goods transactions, it would adopt the star currency system, and all identity verification information would use human body chip technology.


    This news caused quite a stir, but it was mostly approved.


    Because it was a good thing for ordinary citizens and also beneficial for the companies.


    It would make life more convenient for the people and transactions between companies.


    Xuan Country also agreed to establish the latest type of military base in the original western mountainous region of Xuan Country, primarily for the production of combat robots, laser cannon weapons, and air combat devices.


    The base here mainly produced ordinary parts; the critical parts needed to be shipped from Pu¡¯er Island for assembly because Qin Hao needed to ensure the control of these advanced weapons.


    On the West Continent, Sophie Inshill had also made her move. Now, it was an inevitable trend. Resistance meant a dead end, but compliance might offer a way to survive.


    Qin Hao stayed in Xuan Country for four to five days, then he returned to Pu¡¯er Island.


    On December 15th, the first interstellar battleship was produced.


    After receiving a notification from Chang Jing and Miao Jing, Qin Hao was in Li Qingya and Li Qingyun¡¯s office and took them as well to the underwater base.


    With the two women flanking him, Li Qingyun curiously asked, ¡°Qin Hao, what are we going to do?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m taking you to see a big guy.¡±


    They walked through the underwater passage to another underwater base. As soon as they entered, a colossal object caught their eyes.


    Countless industrial robots were working, producing what was an interstellar aircraft carrier. It was more than halfway completed; it would take another two to three months to finish the build.


    The sisters, Li Qingya, widened their eyes in disbelief at the sight of the interstellar aircraft carrier that was thousands of meters wide, ¡°Qin Hao, what, what is this?¡±


    Qin Hao, smiling, replied, ¡°An interstellar aircraft carrier, a super weapon in interstellar warfare.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too big,¡± said Li Qingya, stunned.


    Qin Hao led them further inside, where the production of interstellar warships was taking place.


    The interstellar warship was slightly smaller than the aircraft carrier but was still a giant compared to the current weapons on Earth: 1500 meters wide, over 300 meters tall, nearly 10,000 meters long, built entirely from grade F metal.


    Both Chang Jing and Miao Jing stood atop the warship looking down as Qin Hao and the others arrived using the elevator.


    ¡°Qing Ya, Qing Yun, you are here too,¡± Chang Jing and Miao Jing greeted with smiles.


    ¡°Chang Jing, Miao Jing,¡± sisters Li Qingya smilingly called out.


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look inside the command module.¡±


    They entered the warship¡¯s command module. Directly in front was a piece of transparent glass allowing a view outside; the rest was filled with screens, buttons, and many seats, resembling a large command center.


    001 spoke, ¡°Master, I have entered your information into the warship¡¯s artificial intelligence system; you are the owner of this warship and can command it yourself or assign it to someone else.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Initiate the warship.¡±


    In an instant, lights, displays, virtual imaging systems, onboard radar systems, firepower systems, propulsion systems, all activated inside the command module.


    Qin Hao and the group left the command module and explored other compartments, like the residential compartment, which was akin to a five-star hotel suite, luxurious and extremely comfortable.


    Chang Jing and the others were deeply shaken; it was truly unbelievable.


    Just as they left the warship, Qin Hao¡¯s mobile phone rang. It wasn¡¯t someone else¡¯s call, but a call from the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing.


    Qin Hao turned on the communicator, and Xiao Xing sent him a video.


    It showed an interstellar warship traveling in the endless expanse of space that was similar in size and model to the one Qin Hao had just produced.


    Qin Hao could clearly see several people standing in the cockpit, including a middle-aged man with a full beard, looking into the depths of space ahead.


    Seeing this video, Qin Hao¡¯s expression became grave, because the video was captured by an Earth-orbiting space observation satellite, observing a scene deep in space.


    Chang Jing and the others, seeing his unusually grave expression, were breathing much lighter than usual, fearful of disturbing him.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Xiao Xing, is this information from the advanced space observation satellite?¡±


    Xiao Xing replied, ¡°Yes, master. They are two light years away, approximately twenty trillion kilometers. Based on their current speed, it would take about a month to reach Earth.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I understand. Keep a close eye on them, and report immediately if there are any developments.¡±


    After ending the call, Qin Hao¡¯s brow was furrowed. One month, the speed at which the alien civilization was approaching far surpassed his expectations.


    Chang Jing said, ¡°Is that an alien civilization¡¯s warship?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Correct, they will arrive on Earth in about a month.¡±


    Alien civilization?


    Li Qingya and the others were stunned.


    Qin Hao told Miao Jing, ¡°Increase the production of industrial robots, speed up the production of air combat devices. Can an interstellar aircraft carrier be built in a month?¡±


    Miao Jing: ¡°It¡¯s too difficult; the shortest time might be two months.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Do your best, Chang Jing, immediately notify the heads of all zones, and set up a virtual video conference right away.¡±


    After speaking, he hurried to the base¡¯s conference room, where he put on a virtual helmet, looking somewhat like a motorcycle helmet encompassing his entire head.


    Upon activation, Qin Hao then opened his eyes to appear in a virtual conference room; this was consciousness virtual technology.


    Soon, the heads of Mizhou District, Xuan Country District, Asni District, Lijiazhou District, and West Continent Zone appeared in the virtual conference room.


    This was their first time using virtual technology.


    Silin Ross, Wang KaiMin, Connet, Engsor, Sophie Inshill all looked at him.


    Qin Hao showed the video Xiao Xing had sent him to everyone and then explained, ¡°This is footage captured by the space monitoring satellite, an interstellar battleship heading towards our Earth. They might not have discovered Earth yet, but once they get in range, Earth will be exposed to their eyes.¡±


    ¡°Alien civilization?¡± Wang KaiMin¡¯s brow furrowed slightly.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Correct, they will arrive on Earth in about a month, possibly even sooner. I¡¯ve gathered everyone here today to have all zones at full capacity to produce air combat devices.¡±

 Chapter 769 - 769 769 Small-Scale Star Destroyer Cannon

    ?Chapter 769: Chapter 769: Small-Scale Star Destroyer Cannon Chapter 769: Chapter 769: Small-Scale Star Destroyer Cannon Air Combat Devices would play a significant role in future air battles, being a key to victory.


    Qin Hao observed for a moment, the interstellar battleship before him was not an ordinary one; it was also equipped with carrying capabilities. Given the size of the battleship, it should be able to carry ten thousand Air Combat Devices.


    If there were only this battleship to consider, Qin Hao was confident he could defeat it. His worry was that a continuous stream of large troops would come after, and in that case, Qin Hao would not be able to resist at all, and the entire Earth would fall.


    After giving instructions to them, Qin Hao exited the virtual meeting room. There were currently over seven thousand Air Combat Devices in the base, and even if they were to produce at full capacity for a month, they could probably only make up to ten thousand units.


    Fortunately, he had also deployed ion attack satellites in space, which could deliver a fatal blow at a critical moment.


    Besides these, Qin Hao also had a large number of Mecha guards under his command. Although their combat power was not as good as that of the Air Combat Devices, carrying out tasks such as decapitation strikes and rapid assaults was not a problem for them.


    He was confident and certain that he could take down this battleship.


    ...


    In the distant starry sky, the battleship Qin Hao observed was traveling at a constant speed.


    The bearded man named Shan Xingyun was the captain of the Interstellar Bounty Team; freelance professionals who took on missions, completed them, and earned bounties. They could also be called interstellar scavengers.


    He said, ¡°Don¡¯t even mention it, although there are no life-bearing planets in the Southern Wilderness Star System, it¡¯s quite rich in rare resources. On this route, we¡¯ve gathered quite a bit of resources. We¡¯ll definitely make a big sell once we get back.¡±


    Liu Guangliang said, ¡°Boss, a passage has been opened up in the Endless Meteorite Zone, and more and more exploration teams are entering here. We need to speed up, or all the good stuff will be snatched away by those people.¡±


    Shan Xingyun laughed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this battleship is equipped with the most advanced detection scanning system. Even if the resources are far away, we can detect whether there are any rare resources.¡±


    Ding Jingmei, nestled in Shan Xingyun¡¯s arms, coquettishly smiled and said, ¡°Yun, wouldn¡¯t it be great if we could also come across a life-bearing planet? The Thunder God Bounty Team found one before and sold it for ten billion star coins. Now they¡¯re an S-ranked bounty team. If we had that kind of money, we could get a more advanced warship and recruit more members.¡±


    Shan Xingyun sighed, ¡°When will I, Shan Xingyun, ever have that kind of luck?¡±


    ...


    On Earth, the atmosphere had grown somewhat tense, imperceptibly so to the ordinary person, but very much palpable to those in higher positions.


    An extraterrestrial civilization had appeared. Though currently distant from Earth, there was a significant chance they would discover it.


    One month was neither long nor short, but after giving orders, Qin Hao still felt unsettled, for he had no absolute certainty.


    His parents, his wife, and even his unborn child all lived on Earth; he wouldn¡¯t allow the slightest accident to happen.


    Qin Hao sat in his office browsing the system marketplace, looking for a weapon of overwhelming power that could also be produced within a month. Anything overly complicated was not an option at this point as it couldn¡¯t be produced in time.


    He browsed for a long time without finding anything suitable until he finally saw an item: a mini Star Destroyer Cannon. It was an energy weapon, a level above laser weapons, capable of absorbing various types of energy and converting it into the devastating power of the Star Destroyer Cannon. The exchange price was one hundred million achievement points.


    Qin Hao chose to exchange. He still had several tens of millions of achievement points, but he had a lot of money now and didn¡¯t need to worry about these points.


    After the exchange, Qin Hao called Miao Jing into his office, ¡°This is the production technology for the mini Star Destroyer Cannon. Produce it in the Saha Desert in Lijia State, and have those construction robots at the base start with this.¡±


    Construction at the Saha Desert Base is now more than half complete, enough space to produce the Star Destroyer Cannon.


    The area is hot all year round, with the sun almost directly overhead. The Star Destroyer Cannon requires a large amount of energy, so Qin Hao plans to install solar panels there to transfer the absorbed electrical energy to the cannon.


    Normally, small Star Destroyer Cannons are equipped with energy stones, as most powerful Energy Cannons require them.


    Energy stones contain a large amount of energy, enough to power an Energy Cannon.


    His current laser guns, laser cannons, and Beam Recharge Cannons are all categorized as laser weapons, not true energy weapons.


    The power of energy weapons is much greater than that of laser weapons. If laser weapons are likened to guns, then energy weapons are cannons, overwhelmingly superior in power to laser weapons.


    The ion cannons in space are also beam weapons and are very powerful, but they still can¡¯t compare to the Star Destroyer Cannon.


    As days passed, half a month flew by in the blink of an eye. Qin Hao had been staying on Pu¡¯er Island the whole time, arranging everything.


    That day, he was at home with Du Wanrou and Zhao Yuying when his phone rang. It was Miao Jing calling: ¡°Xiao Hao, the underwater resource detection equipment has discovered something special. Come and take a look.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± he asked curiously.


    Miao Jing: ¡°Some stones, but not ordinary ones. The detection equipment indicates they are energy stones. They¡¯ve already been mined and brought back.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s spirits lifted upon hearing this. He had instructed the underwater resource detection equipment to scan the entire Atlantic seabed for resources days ago, and he hadn¡¯t expected to have a discovery now.


    He said to Du Wanrou and Zhao Yuying, ¡°I need to step out for a bit because of some business.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, but don¡¯t overexert yourself. You haven¡¯t been sleeping well these past few days,¡± Du Wanrou said with concern.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded. Indeed, he had not been sleeping well, plagued almost every night by dreams of an alien civilization invading Earth, with the planet succumbing to chaos, war raging, and countless homes ruined and lives lost.


    Upon arriving at the base, Qin Hao found Miao Jing standing over a table looking at some creamy white stones.


    Qin Hao approached and observed the stones, roughly seventy or eighty pieces, varying in size¡ªfrom as small as a fist to as large as a basketball.


    Indeed, these were energy stones, of the lower-grade variety, yet even these contained a terrifying amount of energy.


    These low-grade energy stones were enough to fire the small Star Destroyer Cannon twice.


    Qin Hao inquired of Miao Jing, ¡°How is the production of the Star Destroyer Cannon going at the Saha Desert Base?¡±


    ¡°Almost ready in half a month¡¯s time,¡± Miao Jing replied.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I hope those aliens decide to arrive a few days later.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it. What¡¯s meant to come will come. We¡¯ll deal with the enemy if they arrive and the flood if it comes; there¡¯s always a way out,¡± Miao Jing embraced him with both hands, cheek pressed against his chest.


    Qin Hao stroked her hair, his tone calm and resolute, ¡°I will protect all of you and guard this land. If anyone dares to lay a finger on it, I will kill them.¡±

 Chapter 770 - 770 770 Global Live Broadcast

    ?Chapter 770: Chapter 770 Global Live Broadcast Chapter 770: Chapter 770 Global Live Broadcast Miao Jing held him tightly, ¡°If there ever comes a day when we really have to die, I hope to die with you.¡±


    Qin Hao patted her back, ¡°That won¡¯t happen; such a thing will never occur.¡±


    Miao Jing looked up at him, stood on her toes, and kissed his lips.


    The two embraced and kissed deeply in the laboratory, separating after several minutes.


    She also hoped to conceive Qin Hao¡¯s baby, to have a child that belonged to them both.


    The door to the room automatically locked, and there were no others inside.


    ...


    After resting for a while, the two of them came out. Miao Jing arranged for the combat robots to escort the energy stones to the base in the Saha Desert.


    Time flew swiftly by.


    Like any normal day that morning, everyone ate, attended school, went to work, busying themselves with their respective duties and affairs.


    Suddenly, screens all over the world turned on automatically, lighting up in classrooms, offices, and public display screens in squares ¨C everyone was stunned.


    What was happening? What had occurred?


    It was the age of intelligence, and these were opened by orders from Qin Hao to the Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing.


    Just as some were about to check and turn off the screens, an image appeared showing a colossal interstellar battleship cruising through space.


    ¡°Wow, that battleship is huge and cool-looking. Is this a movie trailer?¡± someone exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°It¡¯s so lifelike; that battleship looks sick.¡±


    ¡°If only I could own a battleship like that, to roam the stars, pick up the prettiest girls, sleep with the most noblewomen...¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why did the screen turn on by itself? Even if it¡¯s promoting a movie trailer, there¡¯s no need for this. We¡¯re still in class.¡±


    At that moment, the screen shifted, and Qin Hao¡¯s figure appeared.


    ¡°Who¡¯s this guy? So young?¡±


    ¡°Why does he look a bit familiar? Have I seen him somewhere before? Is he a celebrity?¡±


    ¡°I remember now, isn¡¯t that Qin Hao? The young genius, the world¡¯s richest man, founder of Xinghai Group, pioneer of the intelligent era, developer of laser weapons...¡±


    ¡°Right, it is Qin Hao. How did he appear in the video? In the past, he rarely showed up in newspapers or online.¡±


    At this moment, Qin Hao spoke from within the display screen, ¡°Hello to all of humanity across the world, I am Qin Hao, founder of Xinghai Group. Today, I bring you a grave message.


    The video you just saw is not a movie trailer nor any cinematic scene. It is a real event. An interstellar battleship is heading towards Earth and will arrive in our atmosphere in about an hour.


    This is a true extraterrestrial civilization. I hope everyone can prepare themselves because no one knows how this extraterrestrial civilization will treat the people of Earth. I, Qin Hao, and the entire Xinghai Group will protect Earth, guard all human compatriots. If they wish to harm Earth, they will have to step over my dead body.¡±


    All around the world, his words stunned everyone. An alien civilization invading Earth?


    That interstellar battleship wasn¡¯t a movie trailer? It was an actual vessel from an alien civilization?


    A sense of fear began to rise in many people, a fear of the unknown. With such a large battleship, what could Earth use to defend itself?


    How will the extraterrestrial civilization treat us? What should we do?


    ...


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°There¡¯s no need to panic. My Xinghai Group has developed many powerful weapons. We will not let them succeed. The subsequent footage will be broadcast live globally. The fate of Earth needs to be witnessed by everyone.¡±


    After speaking, Qin Hao¡¯s figure disappeared from the video, followed by an appearance of numerous Air Combat Devices.


    These devices, with their unusual designs, emitted blue flames as they flew toward the high skies. Thousands of these Air Combat Devices ascended into the sky all around the globe.


    ¡°These are the Air Combat Devices developed by the Xinghai Group, an aerial combat weapon,¡± someone explained in the video.


    The scene shifted again, showing Beam Recharge Cannons across the globe at the ready; capable of reaching high into the atmosphere.


    Finally, the video cut to an endless expanse of sea, and after about a minute, a colossal object slowly emerged from the depths to ascend into the air.


    All who saw it were dumbfounded. Did Earth also have an interstellar battleship?


    On the deck of the interstellar battleship stood several people, led by none other than Qin Hao, flanked by more than a dozen Shadow Guards clad in F-grade Mechas.


    The video was very clear; standing in the middle was Qin Hao. The F-grade interstellar battleship slowly rose to the higher skies, quietly waiting for the arrival of Shan Xingyun and his group.


    At that moment, Shan Xingyun and his people were overwhelmed with excitement. They had found something amazing, something that could make them fabulously wealthy.


    ¡°A life-bearing planet, we¡¯ve actually found a life-bearing planet within the Southern Wilderness Star System. We¡¯ve struck it rich, we¡¯re going to strike it rich!¡± Liu Guangliang stood excitedly in the command cabin.


    Ding Jingmei was also thrilled, ¡°Not just a life-bearing planet, but also a planet with vast energy deposits.¡±


    What they referred to as an energy planet was what Qin Hao and others called the sun. Sun-like planets were very rare and often contained abundant and rare resources.


    A glint of excitement flashed in Shan Xingyun¡¯s eyes, ¡°I, Shan Xingyun, have finally hit a stroke of luck. Not only have I discovered a life-bearing planet, but I¡¯ve also found one rich with rare resources.¡±


    Liu Guangliang said with a smile, ¡°Such a primitive star system will definitely be very backward. Boss, when the time comes, can you find me a few beautiful women?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have dozens to pick from when the time comes,¡± Shan Xingyun answered generously.


    Liu Guangliang hurriedly thanked his boss.


    As they neared Earth, the planet broadcasted their vessel live. As the distance closed, an alarm sounded from their battleship, ¡°Alert, alert. The battleship is being monitored by the opposing space surveillance satellites. Activate the anti-monitoring system?¡±


    ¡°Activate the anti-monitoring system.¡±


    The battleship remained visible in the video feed. The view inside the command cabin grew less clear, but the entire interstellar battleship was still in sight.


    ¡°They even have space surveillance satellites; not bad for a primitive planet,¡± Liu Guangliang commented casually.


    Shan Xingyun smiled faintly, ¡°They can¡¯t be very powerful. If it were a powerful planet, we wouldn¡¯t be able to get this close.¡±


    Soon they arrived above Earth, greeted by the sight of countless Air Combat Devices and a massive interstellar battleship.


    Upon seeing this, Shan Xingyun and his group slightly furrowed their brows. An interstellar battleship? This planet had such technology?

 Chapter 771 - 771 771 Aerial Combat

    ?Chapter 771: Chapter 771 Aerial Combat Chapter 771: Chapter 771 Aerial Combat Liu Guangliang and Ding Jingmei¡¯s gazes also hardened at the same moment, their pupils contracted slightly as they stared at the opposite interstellar warship and the densely packed air combat devices.


    A voice came from the other side, ¡°You have entered Earth¡¯s territory, please leave immediately, or we will carry out a devastating strike against you.¡±


    Shan Xingyun¡¯s gaze slightly narrowed as he stared at the interstellar warship where Qin Hao was located. He was thinking and weighing whether or not to take action and if so, how great his chances of victory would be after doing so.


    It had not been easy to discover a life-sustaining planet, and he was not willing to let go easily.


    Fortune favors the bold. Maybe trying his luck might bring a chance of success, Shan thought, as a trace of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.


    He spoke, ¡°People of Earth, listen, give up resistance and surrender immediately. I can guarantee not to kill a single one of you, but if you remain stubborn, don¡¯t blame me for starting a slaughter.¡±


    The current scene was being broadcast live globally, and everyone on Earth heard Shan Xingyun¡¯s words.


    Even if there hadn¡¯t been a broadcast, the sound amplifying device emitted by the warship would have carried the message across the entire planet.


    When Qin Hao heard his words, his expression became increasingly grave. With just one ship, you think you can make Earth yield?


    ¡°All units enter combat state.¡±


    Energy shields lit up across Earth, protecting various regions, while over ten thousand air combat devices were ready for deployment.


    Several laser beams from Qin Hao¡¯s warship twinkled, indicating the charging up of the Beam Cannon.


    Shan Xingyun¡¯s warship deployed an energy shield, and countless air combat devices, numbering over ten thousand, flew out from the rear hatch of the ship.


    ¡°Swoosh, swoosh¡±


    Dazzling lights flared up as both parties launched their attacks almost simultaneously.


    They were several miles apart, and beams of light lit up and streaked between the two warships.


    After launching the attacks, both sides simultaneously activated their Beam Cannon interception systems to block each other¡¯s attacks.


    Shan Xingyun¡¯s warship, which was a Class F battleship from the Moon Mist Empire, was slightly more powerful and efficient than others of the same class.


    Since the Moon Mist Empire was one of the most powerful empires in the galaxy and a leader in technology, their warships naturally surpassed those of smaller nations in both offensive and defensive capabilities.


    Several beams of light were emitted; Shan Xingyun¡¯s warship intercepted more than ten, with only two or three hitting the warship¡¯s energy shield.


    ¡°Energy shield has been attacked, current defensive capability is at 85 percent.¡±


    Shan Xingyun had a cold smirk on his face. Earth had only one interstellar warship, which was evidence enough of their immature technology, likely not even on par with those of smaller nations, let alone compared to a warship from the Moon Mist Empire.


    But the outcome of the battle left Shan Xingyun and his colleagues dumbfounded. Their warship¡¯s several attacks had all been intercepted by Qin Hao¡¯s interstellar warship.


    How is this possible?


    Shan Xingyun and his associates widened their eyes in disbelief. How could their interception system be so strong?


    They didn¡¯t know that Qin Hao¡¯s warship was not just cobbled together but was built using advanced technology from another universe, technology that was more mature and powerful than that of this universe.


    Because Qin Hao learned from the system Xiao Ying that its universe belonged to a higher plane, a higher universe, whereas the universe Qin Hao belonged to was a lower plane, also known as a lower universe.


    The moment the Beam Cannon exploded, it was as dazzling as fireworks, exceptionally brilliant; humans on Earth watched this scene wide-eyed. Although the explosion was beautiful, to them, it resembled a rose with thorns.


    It looked beautiful but was deadly.


    ...


    Shan Xingyun had planned to deploy the Air Combat Devices for the battle, but upon witnessing the strength of Qin Hao¡¯s battleship, he hesitated.


    However, Qin Hao did not hesitate. Once the battle had commenced, there was no turning back. They had to annihilate the enemy to prevent future threats.


    Over ten thousand combat robots swarmed and flew toward Shan Xingyun¡¯s interstellar battleship.


    Streaks of dazzling light hit the battleship¡¯s energy shield.


    Shan Xingyun countered immediately. His battleship¡¯s Beam Cannons fired repeatedly, destroying dozens of Air Combat Devices.


    He no longer hesitated and deployed all the Air Combat Devices from the battleship.


    In just a few seconds, Shan Xingyun¡¯s battleship¡¯s energy shield was reduced to 60% efficiency. The Air Combat Devices were powerful, resembling high-speed mobile turrets that could rapidly wear down the energy shield.


    Qin Hao was also firing. His target was Shan Xingyun¡¯s battleship.


    ¡°Swoosh swoosh¡±


    Round after round was fired, and the Beam Energy Cannons, evading the Air Combat Devices, struck Shan Xingyun¡¯s battleship, significantly reducing the shield¡¯s defense.


    Shan Xingyun hastily ceased attacking the opposing Air Combat Devices and started to focus solely on defending against Qin Hao¡¯s attacks.


    Shan Xingyun¡¯s Air Combat Devices were also formidable. Many Beam Cannons hit Qin Hao¡¯s battleship¡¯s energy shield, and the sides engaged in fierce combat.


    For Qin Hao, the situation was still favorable. If this continued, Shan Xingyun would definitely be the first to falter.


    Everyone on Earth watched this great battle, able to see the lights flashing in the sky right from the ground.


    What was originally a scene from a movie unexpectedly appeared in reality.


    The alien civilization was very strong. Had it not been for the advanced weapons developed by Qin Hao, they probably would not have been able to withstand the alien civilization¡¯s attacks. In that case, everyone would have faced surrender and submission.


    ¡°How can this life planet be so terrifying? Boss, what should we do? We definitely can¡¯t beat them at this rate,¡± Liu Guangliang expressed his concerns anxiously.


    He did not want to die here, despite the high value of a life planet, life itself is more precious.


    Ding Jingmei also showed concern in her eyes, ¡°The strength of this planet¡¯s battleships and Air Combat Devices is no weaker than ours. How can such a small planet have such advanced technology?¡±


    This overturned the trio¡¯s understanding. In the universe, even those empires controlling hundreds of planets hadn¡¯t developed combat devices and battleships as formidable as Qin Hao¡¯s.


    How had such a minor planet acquired such technical power?


    Just then, ten ion beam attack satellites lit up in the distance, unnoticed by anyone.


    Ten beams of light shot down, forcing Qin Hao¡¯s Air Combat Devices to swiftly retreat. Every device caught in the path of those beams was utterly annihilated.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    The towering beams struck Shan Xingyun¡¯s battleship. The ion beams fired by the attack satellites were incredibly powerful and could easily obliterate any country on Earth.


    Seconds later, Shan Xingyun¡¯s battleship¡¯s energy shield was shattered, and the beams struck the body of the battleship itself.


    The entire battleship shook. While its F-level metallic defenses were substantial, just five seconds later, the battleship featured vast breaches, and many components and devices were destroyed.


    Shan Xingyun and his associates¡¯ faces paled, ¡°Let¡¯s go, they actually have ion beam attack satellites.¡±


    He had been too careless, not imagining that Earth possessed such defensive offensive weapons. Such satellites could be easily destroyed by deploying a single Air Combat Device if detected, which was simple, but undetected, the consequences were severe. Its biggest advantage was that once it absorbed enough energy, its power was immense.

 Chapter 772 - 772 772 Solemn

    ?Chapter 772: Chapter 772 Solemn Chapter 772: Chapter 772 Solemn Shan Xingyun and his crew¡¯s battleship had been destroyed. They boarded escape pods and rapidly detached from the battleship, flying into the endless expanse of space.


    ¡°Trying to escape?¡± A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes.


    His body was covered in golden mecha armor, resembling a golden War God.


    ¡°Swoosh¡±


    Qin Hao flew out, his speed as fast as lightning, leaving behind afterimages. Wherever he passed, the enemy¡¯s air combat devices were split in two.


    ¡°Boss is coming, he¡¯s coming after us, look!¡± Liu Guangliang¡¯s face changed drastically when he saw Qin Hao¡¯s figure.


    Ding Jingmei looked at the golden figure with a slight frown. ¡°What is that thing?¡±


    Shan Xingyun was stunned for a few seconds, then he thought of something, and his face turned pale, feeling extremely embarrassed. ¡°He... he actually has a mecha!¡±


    ¡°Mecha? How is that possible? Mech-ass are banned from sale throughout the universe, how could he have one?¡± Ding Jingmei and Liu Guangliang were incredibly shocked, they couldn¡¯t believe it.


    A mere civilization from a planet in the Southern Wilderness Star System, it was already shocking enough that they had interstellar battleships, but they even a fucking mecha. Producing mech-ass requires extremely exquisite technology involving too many technical fields that most nations simply cannot produce.


    ¡°Stop him, all air combat devices, attack him!¡± Shan Xingyun urgently gave the order and then maneuvered the escape pod to flee rapidly.


    Following Shan Xingyun¡¯s command, those air combat devices began to swarm Qin Hao, but they were no match for him.


    With each slash of Qin Hao¡¯s energy sword, an air combat device would be split in two, turning into scrap metal. It was as if he was unstoppable, a slayer of gods and buddhas alike.


    The most critical point was that Qin Hao¡¯s speed was too fast¡ªfast enough that the air combat devices didn¡¯t even have time to lock on to him.


    The people on Earth were immensely shocked by this. Are mechs that strong? Were air combat devices no match for them?


    The Shadow Guards, worried that Qin Hao might be in trouble, also flew out from the battleship. The advantage of mechs is their high mobility¡ªmore agile than air combat devices. Although their power might be slightly inferior, that only applies to F-grade mechs; the power of a D-grade mecha far surpasses the current air combat devices.


    In the video, someone was explaining to people all over the world: ¡°Mr. Qin is wearing a D-grade mecha, a very high-level mecha. Those in black mech-ass around him are the Shadow Guards, all uniformly equipped with F-grade mech-ass.¡±


    Qin Hao did not tangle with those air combat devices; he activated the sub-light speed propulsion device at full power, and his figure instantly disappeared from where he was.


    He charged toward the fleeing escape pod with speed invisible to the naked eye.


    The speed of the escape pod was not slow, but it still couldn¡¯t compare to a D-grade mecha.


    Seeing the speed of Qin Hao¡¯s mecha, Shan Xingyun¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of despair. ¡°A high-grade mecha, he¡¯s wearing a high-grade mecha. What the fuck kind of abnormal planet is this?¡±


    Mecha were powerful symbols of great empires and the Federation; an inconsequential place actually having one, one can imagine the shock and impact it had on them.


    If they had known that Earth possessed so many terrifying weapons, they would never have invaded Earth; they would have been better off mining rare energy resources in the Sun!


    ...


    ¡°What do we do now? What should we do?¡± Liu Guangliang, seeing Qin Hao getting closer and closer, felt somewhat desperate.


    Seeing Qin Hao approaching like a golden streak of light, Shan Xingyun knew that escape was hopeless. A glint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes. Even if I am to die, I will drag all of you down with me.


    After he had thought it through, Qin Hao sent a message through the communication equipment of the escape pod to the channel used by all the bounty teams: ¡°I am Shan Xingyun, captain of the Gale Bounty Team. We have discovered a life-bearing planet and another planet rich in rare energy resources in the Southern Wilderness Star System.¡±


    However, this life-bearing planet possesses interstellar warships and mecha. The interstellar warship and mecha technology on this planet are extremely advanced; the warships are even stronger than those produced by the Moon Mist Empire, and they also have advanced mecha manufacturing technology.


    The message instantly transmitted to the channels of all the bounty teams; it was a channel used by all bounty teams, and nearly every bounty team received this message, causing a huge sensation.


    Shan Xingyun also uploaded the video footage from earlier, otherwise, why would those people believe him? Why would they come here?


    In an instant, nearly all of the bounty teams in the cosmic interstellar space saw this message, especially those currently in the Southern Wilderness Star System, who were overjoyed and immediately set sail towards the coordinates marked by Shan Xingyun.


    Even more bounty teams were rushing to the opened channel in the endless asteroid belt; it was the only passage leading into the Southern Wilderness Star System, and they wanted to compete for the life-bearing planet and the rare energy resource planet.


    Liu Guangliang and Ding Jingmei understood his intentions and actions immediately; he was planning to drag Earth along with them to a mutual destruction.


    ¡°Hisss.¡±


    Shan Xingyun had just finished sending the message when Qin Hao caught up. A dazzling energy sword was swung, splitting the escape pod in two with a brilliant stroke of energy, killing Shan Xingyun and the two with him instantly, their blood spattering the starry sky.


    The people on Earth watching this scene smiled. Did we win? We won.


    The battle in the sky ceased upon Shan Xingyun¡¯s death; those air combat devices became ownerless objects. Qin Hao ordered people to pack up everything and bring it back, including the pierced warship.


    If it couldn¡¯t be repaired, then such a large piece of Grade F metal could still be used to produce many things. However, Qin Hao was quite confident he could fix it; the damaged parts could simply be replaced with new ones, as he had the technology.


    Qin Hao had another reason for bringing back the warship; he wanted to retrieve the information from the chips on the warship, to understand the power structure of this cosmic interstellar space.


    Back at base, Qin Hao asked Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing to start decrypting the information from the warship¡¯s chips, which took several hours due to encryption.


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao took the opportunity to tally the casualties. More than two thousand air combat devices were lost, but around six thousand were captured; overall, this did not count as a loss, but rather they had made a substantial profit.


    After several hours, Xiao Xing decrypted the chip¡¯s password and accessed all the information it contained.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression became grave once he reviewed the information from the chips.


    This universe contained eight major star systems, each with a powerful empire or federation, commonly known as the Eight Great Empires.


    The star systems of the Eight Great Empires contained countless smaller star systems, and the number of nations was beyond count.


    What made Qin Hao solemn wasn¡¯t these Eight Great Empires, but the Southern Wilderness Star System where Earth was located.


    Originally, the Southern Wilderness Star System was unknown, with the nearest among the eight star systems being the Nolan Star System.


    Between the Nolan Star System and the Southern Wilderness Star System, there was an endless asteroid belt filled with asteroids of varying sizes.


    Nine out of ten warships that ventured into it would be destroyed, but as technology advanced, a channel was opened through the endless asteroid belt.


    Countless interstellar scavengers, exploration teams, and bounty teams entered the Southern Wilderness Star System.


    Shan Xingyun and his team were just one of these bounty teams in the Southern Wilderness Star System, and there were many such teams within it, teams far more powerful than Shan Xingyun¡¯s.

 Chapter 773: 773 Sun

    Chapter 773: Chapter 773 Sun


    Shan Xingyun and others could discover Earth, so could those people; it was only a matter of time.


    Time was now very important to Qin Hao, the later those people discovered Earth, the better. Qin Hao would build enough strength to protect himself.


    The people on Earth had already started cheering because Qin Hao had defeated an alien civilization. The mysterious unknown alien civilization was not so terrifying or fearful.


    ¡°Congratulations, host. Your prestige has increased and you have earned three billion achievement points.¡±


    The achievement points were still slowly increasing. The higher his prestige in the minds of people around the world, the more achievement points he got, though he was not very clear on how it was calculated.


    Back at the villa, his parents, Du Wanrou, Xia Qing, Xu Siyao, Zhao Yuying, Han Meng, and others were all there.


    When Qin Hao saw them, he forced a smile on his face, ¡°Mom, dad, why are you all here?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Hao, are you okay?¡± Qin Youguo and Li Shujie looked at him with worried eyes.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Mom, dad, what could be wrong with me? I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t the aliens come to invade us again?¡± Li Shujie asked.


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, ¡°I can¡¯t be sure. Maybe they will come, maybe they won¡¯t. Mom, dad, Wan Rou, you all stay safe in Pu¡¯er Island, don¡¯t go out. I need to go out for a bit.¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Du Wanrou asked curiously.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I need to make a trip to the Sun.¡±


    ¡°The Sun? You¡¯re going up to the Sun?¡± Du Wanrou and the others widened their eyes.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°There should be rare energy resources on the Sun. We now need a lot of energy to arm ourselves.¡±


    ¡°How can you go up there when it¡¯s so hot? I heard the surface temperature gets up to six thousand degrees, and the core temperature is over ten million degrees.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I have Mecha protection. I can move around on the surface without any issues, so don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    After he finished speaking with them, Qin Hao returned to the battleship at the base. He didn¡¯t take anyone with him. As he was about to board the interstellar battleship, Miao Jing suddenly followed him, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    Qin Hao turned around and looked at her, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I can go by myself.¡±


    ¡°I also want to travel through space and see that vast and magnificent Sun,¡± Miao Jing said.


    Qin Hao looked at her, thought for a moment, and finally nodded. The two of them boarded the interstellar battleship and piloted the ship out of the base, heading straight for the Sun.


    The distance between the Sun and Earth is four hundred times that of the Moon to the Earth, approximately 120 million kilometers.


    The interstellar battleship was very fast, so that distance was not considered too far; it would take roughly around two days to get there.


    The battleship swiftly flew out of Earth, traveling at the highest speed through the endless starry skies. The two sat in the command cabin; the battleship did not require their guidance and flew automatically after inputting the target. For various unexpected situations encountered along the way, it handled them on its own.


    For instance, in the event of encountering meteor showers or the like, if they were too large and posed a threat, then the battleship would automatically fire the Beam Cannon to destroy the meteors.


    Miao Jing looked at Earth receding behind them and said, ¡°The water-blue Earth looks so beautiful.¡±


    Qin Hao was also looking at Earth, his hometown, the place that had nurtured him; he swore to protect the safety of Earth at all costs.


    The battleship sped fast, and Earth became smaller in their eyes, quickly turning into a black dot.


    Miao Jing sighed, ¡°In the entire universe, we are probably just a speck of dust.¡±


    Qin Hao, with a bright gaze, looked at her and said, ¡°We are not dust, but the constantly shining stars, enduring through ages.¡±


    ...


    Miao Jing smiled upon hearing his words and leaned her head on his shoulder, gazing out at the star-studded space from the warship, ¡°Immortality, does such a thing truly exist?¡±


    Qin Hao confirmed with certainty, ¡°It definitely exists, and I will surely achieve it.¡±


    ¡°Mm, I believe in you.¡±


    About ten hours after he left Earth, Qin Hao received a video call from the headquarters on Pu¡¯er Island.


    Upon answering the call, Chang Jing¡¯s figure appeared, her eyes filled with urgency and worry, ¡°Qin Hao, the space high-level satellites have detected several bounty teams, they are coming in their interstellar warships, and it will take about a month to arrive.¡±


    Qin Hao frowned slightly, ¡°How many bounty teams are there?¡±


    ¡°Six, no wait, three more have just been added, nine now.¡± Chang Jing answered as she saw another three bounty teams enter the range of the space monitoring satellites.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Three more? A total of nine teams? How is it possible that so many teams discovered Earth at the same time?¡±


    Chang Jing spoke solemnly, ¡°Xiao Hao, I think there¡¯s a possibility, when analyzing the warship chip information, I once saw a message, their bounty teams have their own channel, could Shan Xingyun have let the news out before he died?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°That¡¯s the only explanation, I understand, I¡¯ll hurry back.¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°Be careful when you go to the Sun, the temperature there is extremely high.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there won¡¯t be any issues, a Grade D Mecha won¡¯t fear such high temperatures.¡±


    After ending the communication, a look of worry crossed Qin Hao¡¯s brows, could it be that the entire Southern Wilderness Star System¡¯s bounty teams knew about this?


    Since the event had already occurred, the only thing to do was to work hard to resolve and address it!


    Anxiety and fretting were of no use.


    Qin Hao told Miao Jing, ¡°Take a rest, we still have more than ten hours before we reach the Sun.¡±


    Miao Jing looked at him and said, ¡°You should rest as well.¡±


    The two lay down on the bed and fell asleep. Qin Hao slept very soundly and peacefully, and by the time he awoke, Miao Jing had already woken up and was lying there quietly watching him.


    Qin Hao glanced at the screen, he had slept for over ten hours, he looked at Miao Jing and said, ¡°If we stay in space for a few months, I think it might drive you crazy.¡±


    Miao Jing chuckled and said, ¡°Not at all, because I have you with me.¡±


    One day later.


    The interstellar warship finally arrived above the Sun, where the temperature had already reached more than four thousand degrees, which was incredibly terrifying.


    Qin Hao checked and saw that this temperature did not affect the interstellar warship much, as it could endure up to more than eight thousand degrees.


    The two individuals in the command cabin had already suited up in their Mechas, and Qin Hao directed the interstellar warship to slowly enter the atmosphere of the Sun.


    As they passed through the atmosphere, Qin Hao and Miao Jing could clearly see the scene below, which was akin to an inferno with flames erupting everywhere.


    The warship stopped about a hundred meters above the ground of the Sun and hovered quietly there.


    Waves of fire surged below, like angry fire dragons wanting to burn everything in the world to ashes.


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing stepped down from the warship, and the door of the warship immediately closed to prevent the high temperatures from slowly eroding the internal components.

 Chapter 774: 774 Critical Situation

    Chapter 774: Chapter 774 Critical Situation


    Qin Hao and Miao Jing disembarked from the warship and slowly descended; there was hardly any land below, just pools of molten lava bubbling with white steam and emitting heat waves.


    ¡°This is all lava, what are you doing here?¡± Miao Jing asked as she looked at him.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Looking for rare resources. Shan Xingyun¡¯s team said there are rare energy resources on the Sun.¡±


    ¡°The Sun is so vast, how are you going to find anything?¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°I had someone remove the resource detection system from that warship and install it on this one. The warship is scanning now. There are many rare energy barytes deep within the magma, it¡¯s a pity they¡¯re a bit too deep, the temperature is too high.¡±


    After finishing, Qin Hao continued, ¡°Follow me.¡±


    He flew deeper, with Miao Jing closely following behind him. Qin Hao had a virtual imaging system in front of him, with all the data scanned by the warship transmitting to the virtual screen in front of him.


    About ten minutes later, Qin Hao stopped. Miao Jing looked down at the red ground about the size of a few dozen square meters and exclaimed in surprise, ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°Exposed energy barytes,¡± Qin Hao said, a smile on his face, feeling a bit excited.


    Curious, Miao Jing looked at the red stones, ¡°Are those the energy barytes?¡±


    Qin Hao and Miao Jing landed on the patch of stone, and soon the starship also arrived. Qin Hao squatted down and picked up a piece of red energy stone from the ground.


    ¡°Xiao Ying, what grade of energy stone is this?¡± he asked the system, Xiao Ying.


    Xiao Ying replied, ¡°According to the classification of our universe, this is an intermediate energy stone. The surface ones are all intermediate, and there is a very high chance that there are advanced energy stones underneath.¡±


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t be bothered with that much detail, so he began excavating at the center of this area. Miao Jing later joined in, and the two didn¡¯t stop, fully committed to mining these energy barytes.


    If these were installed on a small Star Destroyer Cannon, it would be incredibly terrifying, and this was his only capital to stand against those bounty hunter teams.


    Qin Hao had been digging for five days straight, and a circular hole that was more than ten meters deep had appeared. He didn¡¯t mine the energy stones at the edge because if the lava flowed in, it would hinder his mining later.


    After transporting the energy stones to the warship, Miao Jing came back to him and said, ¡°Xiao Hao, take a rest. You¡¯ve been digging for five days.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m fine, my physique has been modified with a genetic potion.¡±


    Miao Jing said, ¡°My physique has been modified too, but I couldn¡¯t last more than two days. You must be tired as well; take a break.¡±


    ¡°Really, I¡¯m fine.¡± Qin Hao was unwilling to waste even a minute; time was extremely precious to him. The more energy barytes he had, the longer earth could hold on. The longer he had, the more chance there was to research more weapons.


    Miao Jing looked at him somewhat angrily, standing still without moving.


    Having no choice since he was indeed a bit tired, Qin Hao stood up and said with a smile, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll rest for a bit.¡±


    The two returned to the warship, removed their mechas. Qin Hao¡¯s body was soaked with sweat, and after more than five days of continuous mining, even his modified body had overexerted itself.


    Miao Jing took out some food and nutrients for him to eat, ¡°Eat up, and rest for a bit.¡±


    After eating, Qin Hao lay down in bed and fell asleep. While he was sleeping, Chang Jing sent another video communication, but since Qin Hao was asleep, the warship didn¡¯t make a sound.


    Miao Jing answered the call and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up, Jing?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Xiao Hao?¡± Chang Jing asked curiously.


    Miao Jing replied, ¡°Xiao Hao has just fallen asleep; he¡¯s exhausted. Let him rest a bit. What¡¯s wrong, Jing?¡±


    Chang Jing spoke, ¡°Tell Qin Hao that there are at least thirty bounty hunter teams rushing towards Earth right now.¡±


    Miao Jing¡¯s expression changed slightly, ¡°That many?¡±


    Initially, a single bounty hunter team from Shan Xingyun was enough to require Qin Hao¡¯s full effort, but now with over thirty approaching, how could Earth possibly defend itself?


    ¡°You and Xiao Hao should hurry back,¡± Chang Jing said.


    She was also feeling a bit anxious now, for there were too many bounty hunter teams; she couldn¡¯t bear to imagine what scenario Earth was about to face.


    Qin Hao woke up after about six or seven hours, and seeing him, Miao Jing, with a solemn expression, said, ¡°Chang Jing just video-called me.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°What did she say?¡±


    Miao Jing replied, ¡°Chang Jing said there¡¯s a large number of bounty hunter teams heading to Earth, and she told us to rush back.¡±


    Upon hearing the news, Qin Hao¡¯s expression remained unchanged, as he had anticipated this situation, ¡°No worries, the soonest of them won¡¯t arrive for another twenty days. Let¡¯s mine some more resources; these will be our capital to stand against them.¡±


    Miao Jing nodded slightly, and she and Qin Hao donned their Mechas and went back to mining.


    This mining session lasted for half a month, by which time the mine shaft had reached nearly a hundred meters deep, and the warship was loaded with a large amount of Energy Baryte.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Qin Hao said to Miao Jing upon returning to the warship.


    Miao Jing nodded, ¡°Is this enough?¡±


    ¡°Almost,¡± Qin Hao responded.


    Qin Hao piloted the warship away from the Sun swiftly, heading towards Earth.


    Two days later, Qin Hao and Miao Jing returned to the Pu¡¯er Island base on Earth. Getting off the warship, Chang Jing was waiting for them there.


    Qin Hao looked at her and asked, ¡°How many mini Star Destroyer Cannons have been produced?¡±


    Chang Jing, ¡°Two have been produced; we have three in total now. How about you? Did you find the Energy Baryte?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°We found it; it¡¯s all on the warship. Have someone move these stones to the locations of the three mini Star Destroyer Cannons.¡±


    Chang Jing started organizing the transfer of all the Energy Baryte to the various military bases.


    ¡°Take me to see the space surveillance satellites. How much longer until those bounty hunter teams arrive?¡±


    The three entered the space satellite monitoring room, where the large screen was keeping watch over deep space. Several interstellar warships were approaching at high speeds, each flying different flags representing their respective bounty hunter teams.


    Qin Hao took a look; there were now more than fifty teams, and even more were continuously on their way.


    The faces of both Miao Jing and Chang Jing were grave; there were too many teams, an overwhelming number that sent shivers down their spines.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed, a glint flashing through them, let them come, all of them. It would be perfect to deal with them all in one go.


    The discovery of a life-bearing planet in the Southern Wilderness Star System had, for some reason, spread throughout the various nations of the universe. It wasn¡¯t just bounty hunter teams; some nations had also dispatched fleets, and there were even interstellar journalists and others.


    They were after the advanced Mecha manufacturing technology; Shan Xingyun himself had once stated that there were advanced Mechas on Earth. It wasn¡¯t just these small to mid-sized countries that were intrigued and surprised but also the empires.

 Chapter 775: 775 All Arrive

    Chapter 775: Chapter 775 All Arrive


    Chang Jing asked, ¡°Should we make this public? But I fear it may cause panic.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Let¡¯s make it public.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded slightly and, following his instructions, disclosed the news to the whole world.


    The Earth was in an uproar and shock, dozens of bounty mercenary teams? Nearly a hundred interstellar warships? How could Earth defend itself?


    They knew Qin Hao had only one interstellar warship, how could he confront nearly a hundred?


    Eventually, Chang Jing also reassured these people, indicating that Xinghai Group had powerful secret weapons and would do everything it could to protect Earth¡¯s safety.


    Although Chang Jing said this, a feeling of panic still spread among everyone.


    They didn¡¯t want to be enslaved, didn¡¯t want to become someone else¡¯s slave, they wanted to live well, freely and with dignity.


    After the announcement, many people lost the mood to study or work since their future was uncertain.


    Latter, holidays were declared globally, and the live broadcast was kept on continuously, everyone watched those massive warships in the depths of space.


    Three days later, three bounty mercenary teams arrived in Earth¡¯s orbit, totaling four interstellar warships.


    One bounty mercenary team was quite strong, possessing two interstellar warships.


    Qin Hao rode the interstellar warship with the Shadow Guards to high altitude, confronting the crew of those four interstellar warships.


    The three bounty mercenary teams were also on alert, no one made a move first as they all feared giving the other an advantage.


    Seeing they hadn¡¯t acted, Qin Hao breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed these three teams hadn¡¯t agreed on distributing their interests. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t wait since many more teams were continuously on their way.


    About half an hour later, two more bounty mercenary teams arrived over Earth.


    The number of bounty mercenary teams kept increasing, within a day more than a dozen teams arrived, and even more were on their way, soon to arrive.


    Qin Hao kept confronting them without taking any action, as he worried that these people might counterattack simultaneously, and Earth would not be able to withstand it.


    The atmosphere in Earth¡¯s space grew more tense, and humans on Earth also felt an intangible oppression, as if something was stuck in their chests, making it difficult to breathe.


    Later, Qin Hao returned in the interstellar warship, as staying there was of no use; so many interstellar warships could have blasted his ship with just a few shots.


    More and more bounty mercenary teams arrived over Earth, and the situation became even more confusing. Some teams that had already made contact planned to take action, but observing arriving strong bounty teams, they canceled their plans.


    About three days later, eleven interstellar warships approached from distant space, their hulls painted with the insignia of the Lei Meng Duchy, belonging to Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s interstellar fleet.


    Many bounty teams saw this scene and their pupils constricted, glinting sharply, as Lei Meng Duchy had actually dispatched an interstellar fleet.


    Not just Lei Meng Duchy but several other countries very close to the endless meteorite zone also deployed interstellar fleets.


    Silver Star Free Federation, Flame Dragon Duchy, and Nanyan Duchy all sent out their space fleets. Apart from these countries, there were also reporters from major Interstellar Entertainment media outlets.


    After those reporters arrived, they started shooting videos of Earth with ultra-clear space cameras and conducted live broadcasts in space.


    The number of people following this news wasn¡¯t too high, nor too low; discovering a life-sustaining planet was comparatively fresh news in interstellar terms.


    ¡°Hello, everyone. I am a reporter from Interstellar Entertainment Report. My name is Gao Xiaoyue, and right now we are in the space around that life-sustaining planet of the Southern Wilderness Star System. As you can see, a large number of bounty teams have gathered here.


    This life-sustaining planet has also adopted a fully defensive stance, with the energy shield already activated. From this, we can deduce that this planet¡¯s level of technological development is quite impressive. Now, let¡¯s take a real look at the specific situation on this planet with our cameras.¡±


    The space high-definition camera zoomed infinitely, the Earth appearing larger and larger within the camera, soon revealing land and bodies of water.


    Gao Xiaoyue said with a smile, ¡°As you can see, the majority of this planet is covered by oceans, about seventy to eighty percent, with only about thirty percent being land. But this aquamarine planet is indeed very beautiful. Wow, there are various kinds of fish we have never seen before in the oceans, and there are also various animals on land, so beautiful, so spectacular.¡±


    The geographic conditions and technological developments of those countries in interstellar space mean they hardly ever see such pristine ecological lifeforms. Most are genetically cloned copies, lacking that natural essence.


    Nowadays, many people eat synthetic high-nutrient items, and ordinary individuals can¡¯t afford this naturally occurring poultry and meat, which is priced unimaginably high.


    This would be unimaginable for Earthlings; poultry and meat are now very affordable.


    In many planets across the universe, land covers most of the area, and some planets don¡¯t even have oceans, with some living their whole lives never seeing fish.


    Actually, in the beginning, such ordinary poultry and meat weren¡¯t so expensive, it was even considered cheap. But with the emergence of various high-tech nutritional products, these started to be phased out.


    But when they were almost extinct, their prices were jacked up, and they turned into items that ordinary people simply couldn¡¯t afford.


    Some things in this world are really curious and hard to understand.


    Now, since it is night, you can hardly see anyone on the streets; everybody is at home watching the live broadcast on TV, and also saw reporter Gao Xiaoyue broadcasting there.


    ¡°Towering skyscrapers are enough to prove the high level of development of this planet; various unmanned cars and light rails show that the humans on this planet, like us, have entered the intelligent era. However, it seems they¡¯ve just entered.¡±


    ¡°What is this appearing on the big screen? Wow, they are actually broadcasting our space view live, it¡¯s so clear. I appeared too, are they all watching me?


    Hello, humans on Earth, I am Gao Xiaoyue from Interstellar Entertainment Report.¡±


    Qin Hao in the base naturally also saw this Gao Xiaoyue; this journalist has quite the nerve to rush to such a place. If a war broke out, escaping would be difficult.


    Interstellar Entertainment Group is the largest media organization in the universe, with immense influence. Even if a war started, no one would dare to harm Gao Xiaoyue or her staff.


    Gao Xiaoyue continued, ¡°I wonder if I could interview one of your Earth leaders? Don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t make a move; I¡¯m just here for a simple interview.¡±

 Chapter 776: 776: The Star Destroyer Cannon Shows Its Might

    Chapter 776: Chapter 776: The Star Destroyer Cannon Shows Its Might


    Pu¡¯er Island was safe. Even if a beam cannon struck the ground, nothing would affect those inside the base, such as Du Wanrou, Zhao Yuying, and others.


    Qin Hao was worried that these groups would unite to attack Earth, and in that case, the energy shield wouldn¡¯t hold.


    Of course, that possibility was very small. They were each fighting independently, and it was difficult for them to unite. Dozens of bounty hunter teams and several national fleets couldn¡¯t possibly come together.


    After hearing what Gao Xiaoyue said, Qin Hao told Du Wanrou and the others, ¡°I am stepping out for a bit, just wait here for me.¡±


    He donned a Class D Mecha and flew straight out, appearing in Earth¡¯s orbit within a few seconds.


    Qin Hao, clad in a golden Mecha, retracted his helmet, revealing a young and determined face, his eyes blazing as he surveyed the crew on the hundreds of warships before him.


    In an instant, everyone¡¯s gaze centered on him, and Gao Xiaoyue also looked at him before driving over in a small space skimmer.


    She was followed by a space HD camera. Coming to Qin Hao¡¯s side, Gao Xiaoyue sized him up and asked, ¡°Are you the leader of this planet?¡±


    Qin Hao remained composed, watching Gao Xiaoyue and the space HD camera by her side. Gao Xiaoyue was beautiful by any standard, both in figure and facial features, ranking top on Earth.


    Unfortunately, her expression and tone were those of a superior speaking to an inferior, lacking any sign of respect.


    Now, with highly advanced cosmic technology, becoming beautiful wasn¡¯t hard. With enough money, any plain woman could become top-tier beautiful.


    The two assessed each other, trying to spot any differences. On all fronts, they were the same, no distinctions.


    ¡°I am asking you a question,¡± Gao Xiaoyue said, frowning slightly when she saw that he didn¡¯t respond.


    Qin Hao looked at her and replied, ¡°I am not any leader, I am a part of Earth, and it is everyone¡¯s duty to defend it.¡±


    Gao Xiaoyue asked, ¡°What is your name?¡±


    Qin Hao, already somewhat impatient inside, answered, ¡°Qin Hao.¡±


    Gao Xiaoyue said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I am pleased to interview you. Is that advanced Mecha you are wearing?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, going by the current cosmic standards, it is considered advanced Mecha.¡±


    The surrounding warships¡¯ crews, overhearing this, became visibly excited. A mere planet possessing advanced Mecha manufacturing technology was truly shocking.


    Gao Xiaoyue asked, ¡°How did such a minor planet produce this kind of advanced Mecha? Or did you find this Mecha somewhere?¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°I don¡¯t need to tell you that, do I?¡±


    Gao Xiaoyue felt annoyed inside. He was just a native, after all; the advanced Mecha must have been found. If they could mass-produce them, would they fear these bounty mercenary teams?


    She continued, ¡°Now that Earth¡¯s interstellar civilization has been discovered, do you have anything to say?¡±


    Qin Hao said indifferently, ¡°I am aware of the Interstellar Federation, which dedicates itself to peaceful cosmic development. The Southern Wilderness Star System is part of this universe, and Earth likewise belongs to the universe. All people should treat Earth properly and avoid starting wars. The interstellar wars ended just a few centuries ago, and I believe no one wants to ignite warfare again.¡±


    His words were intended for the ears of the Interstellar Federation Government. Although Qin Hao spoke true to their principles, the Federation Government was too distant, beyond reach.


    Nevertheless, he had no hope that the Federation Government would immediately intervene; he was laying the groundwork for the future.


    In the interstellar nations, strength is respected. Only by letting others know your strength and capabilities will they respect you, granting you the appropriate status.


    Gao Xiaoyue smiled faintly at his words, ¡°Mr. Qin¡¯s response isn¡¯t bad, but since Earth is still an obscure planet in the interstellar realm, the Interstellar Federation Government might not be able to offer much help. Good luck.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, a gleeful expression appeared in her eyes, showing her disdain for Qin Hao and the people on Earth.


    Putting it bluntly, Qin Hao and the people on Earth are just natives.


    With so many interstellar warships, they could easily destroy the Earth, and although Qin Hao had an advanced Mecha, he couldn¡¯t make a significant impact.


    Qin Hao looked at her indifferently, ¡°Keep your arrogance to yourself. You, a mere reporter, are not qualified to look down on us Earthlings. The least you could show is some respect, and yet you stand there hoping for a spectacle, not afraid of dying here yourself?¡±


    Gao Xiaoyue¡¯s face slightly changed, and she snorted coldly, ¡°A bunch of barbarians and natives, I don¡¯t mean to belittle you, but in my eyes, you are truly trash. Do you think owning an advanced Mecha makes you superior?¡±


    Suddenly, an energy sword appeared in Qin Hao¡¯s hand, followed by a swift motion¡ªa streak of light from the sword flashed by Gao Xiaoyue¡¯s ear, and a few strands of her hair slowly drifted to the ground.


    ¡°Next time, I will ensure you are decapitated,¡± Qin Hao said emotionlessly, snorting coldly.


    Gao Xiaoyue turned pale with fear; she could have died right there if Qin Hao¡¯s last strike had been even slightly off.


    Her heart pounding, she dared not look at Qin Hao and immediately turned and ran.


    The people on the surrounding warships saw the power of the D-class Mecha and were impressed, eagerly wanting to acquire it.


    Qin Hao, sensing their intense gazes, glanced around and vanished, almost instantly returning to the Pu¡¯er Island base.


    ...


    That night, Qin Hao remained on alert. The others didn¡¯t take action, as they spent the night discussing the final distribution of benefits.


    The next morning, they began to shout, ¡°People of Earth, kneel and surrender immediately, accept our enslavement, or our interstellar warships will flatten your planet.¡±


    People on Earth could hear their words; their expressions shifted. Were they about to start their attack?


    Standing inside the command center of the Pu¡¯er Island base, Qin Hao¡¯s face was stern, a cold smile appeared on his lips as he heard their words, ¡°Let¡¯s show them the power of the Star Destroyer Cannon.¡±


    ¡°Prepare to fire the Star Destroyer Cannon.¡±


    ¡°Star Destroyer Cannon 1 ready.¡±


    ¡°Star Destroyer Cannon 2 ready.¡±


    ¡°Star Destroyer Cannon 3 ready.¡±


    In Earth¡¯s space, the interstellar warships were also preparing, having settled their discussions. They planned to breach Earth¡¯s energy shield, and once broken, they could capture humans at will, with those few crucial technologies having been divided among four countries.


    Gao Xiaoyue and a group of reporters retreated nearly a hundred miles, using space high-definition cameras to record the video, also fearing accidental harm.


    In the Pu¡¯er Island base, Qin Hao spoke softly, ¡°Fire.¡±


    Suddenly, from Earth¡¯s position, dazzling lights burst forth; three red energy columns shot up into the sky, like Earth¡¯s roar and howl, causing the void to tremble and shake, utterly terrifying.


    [The third update]

 Chapter 777: 777 Terror

    Chapter 777: Chapter 777 Terror


    Above the Earth, the people on the interstellar warships saw those three beams of light that reached the sky, and the starships trembled slightly.


    ¡°What is that?¡± someone exclaimed, eyes wide, looking at those three incredibly terrifying beams of light.


    ¡°What should we do? Should we run?¡± another said with a pounding heart.


    The group of reporters including Gao Xiaoyue was also curious, ¡°Is this Earth¡¯s secret weapon? What kind of weapon is this?¡±


    ¡°Such a terrible oppressive force, it¡¯s suffocating even from this far away.¡±


    Being a reporter for the Interstellar Entertainment Report, Gao Xiaoyue had seen a lot and was well-informed. She furrowed her brows, trying hard to recall, then suddenly her eyes widened, her face in disbelief as she said, ¡°Could it be energy weapons?¡±


    At this moment, the fleet from Lei Meng Duchy started to retreat, and he also reminded those around him, ¡°Everyone retreat quickly, these are energy weapons, energy weapons.¡±


    The people around him who heard the message from the Lei Meng Duchy fleet turned pale, fear showing in their eyes, and they hurriedly maneuvered their interstellar warships to retreat.


    Damn it, how could this planet be so terrifying? To even possess energy weapons.


    What kind of abnormal planet is this, even our nation doesn¡¯t have energy weapons, yet a planet so small actually does, the people from Lei Meng Duchy thought.


    But it was already too late to retreat, three powerful pillars of energy came swiftly, hundreds of times faster than their retreat.


    ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡±


    The three energy pillars exploded at the central position of those warships, like small suns exploding, incomparably bright.


    Even the people on Earth standing on the ground could see the light produced by the explosions in the depths of space.


    The power of the Star Destroyer Cannon was too strong; after the explosion, the resulting energy fluctuations directly disintegrated the surrounding warships, and the people inside were turned to ash.


    Once the light had faded, of the more than a hundred warships, only seven or eight remained.


    People on Earth were stunned, as were Gao Xiaoyue and the other interstellar reporters. They stood with mouths agape, wide enough to shove in an egg, dumbfounded by the gruesome scene before them.


    The lucky few who survived in those seven or eight interstellar warships hurriedly fled the area. This planet Earth was too frightening, possessing energy weapons. Unless the large nations among the stars took action, they simply couldn¡¯t handle Earth.


    But would those big countries be willing to come? Earth was not a pushover, and both sides would suffer heavy losses if they fought. Without substantial rewards, no big nation would come.


    Qin Hao breathed a sigh of relief when he saw those people fleeing, a smile appearing on his face. This time, they should understand Earth¡¯s strength.


    The scene just now was being live-streamed by Gao Xiaoyue and others. Many became aware of Earth¡¯s strength; this life planet was not like other indigenous life planets. This planet had formidable military might.


    Gao Xiaoyue and the others also left, as there was no more significance in staying.


    Qin Hao soothed the people¡¯s hearts, asking everyone to continue going to school and work. Earth¡¯s greatest crisis had just been averted.


    Earth regained its usual calm, and Qin Hao arranged for the combat robots to pilot the warships into space, collecting the wreckage of those warships. This metal was of F grade and could be used later on.


    The entire industry of Earth began to operate rapidly from this day onwards, with the production of industrial robots increasing. Factories were being set up in each region, vigorously producing industrial robots.


    Air Combat Devices, interstellar warships, and Small Star Annihilation Cannons were also being produced at an accelerated rate. Qin Hao, having finally won this opportunity, was determined to seize it. Only by making Earth stronger could they have more time to develop.


    About three days later, the Galaxy Federation Government was announced on Earth, a name which Qin Hao and his people had discussed for several days.


    Some suggested calling it Earth Federation, Earth Alliance, Earth Republic, but in the end, Qin Hao decided on the name Galaxy Federation.


    The Galaxy was actually what those people in the universe called the Southern Wilderness Star System, just with a different name.


    There are hundreds of billions of planets in the Galaxy, and this name also represents the will of Qin Hao.


    ...


    Ten days later, Qin Hao received a call from Du Yingqiang, ¡°Mr. Qin... no, I should call you Mr. Qin now, the space transport ship has been produced.¡±


    When Qin Hao heard his teasing words, he laughed and said, ¡°Du Yingqiang, you¡¯re also teasing me. Just send the space transport ship over to me.¡±


    Du Yingqiang said, ¡°January 26th is the day of my wedding with Hua Yue, and Qin, you must come.¡±


    Qin Hao was surprised to hear this, ¡°Getting married? Good, I will definitely be there. Where will it be held?¡±


    Du Yingqiang replied, ¡°In Jianghai City, that¡¯s our hometown. The wedding will be held there.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Okay, I will definitely go.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao sighed, thinking about his own situation. Du Yingqiang could give his loved one a wedding, but what about himself?


    He quickly put these thoughts to the back of his mind and began arranging the resource mining robots; once the space transport ship arrived, he would send them to mine energy baryte at the Sun.


    At that moment, Miao Jing walked into the office, ¡°Xiao Hao, the interstellar aircraft carrier has been produced.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face lit up with joy, ¡°Then how many air combat devices have been produced?¡±


    ¡°All bases are working at full capacity; so far, over eighty thousand air combat devices have been produced.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Have there been any results from the laboratory? Has the planetary air transformation device been produced?¡±


    Miao Jing replied, ¡°Not yet.¡±


    In these days, Qin Hao had exchanged many advanced technologies in the system¡¯s mall; one such technology was the planetary air transformation device, capable of generating oxygen, gravity, and more on a planet.


    Qin Hao said after some thought, ¡°After producing the Star Destroyer Cannon, install them on satellites around the Earth and on small celestial bodies to defend the space security of the Earth.¡±


    Miao Jing nodded slightly, ¡°Okay, will those people come back, Xiao Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°They probably won¡¯t come back, but others will.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± asked Miao Jing, curious.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°People from the Interstellar Federation. After all, Earth is now known to everyone. Following proper procedures, establishing a national name and applying for some formalities should allow us to become a member of the Interstellar Federation and enjoy the protection of federation laws.¡±


    All of this was his speculation, but he felt it was very likely true.


    Miao Jing asked, ¡°Does this require any procedures? How are they verified?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Not sure, the specifics are still unknown. If our network here could be integrated with the interstellar one, messages would probably be much more convenient and accessible.¡±


    Currently, the Artificial Intelligence on Earth is Xiaoxing, and Qin Hao had increased its performance by more than tenfold, allowing it to easily handle all sorts of global issues.


    Time passed day by day, and five days later, on January 26th.


    Qin Hao drove to the Jinxiu Hotel in Jianghai City of Xuan Country District to attend the wedding of Du Yingqiang.


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 778: 778: Du Yingqiangs Wedding

    Chapter 778: Chapter 778: Du Yingqiang¡¯s Wedding


    Jianghai City, outside Jinxiu Hotel.


    After parking the car, Qin Hao and Li Qingya, along with Li Qingyun, got out. The two sisters were old friends with Du Yingqiang, who had also invited them to attend.


    Li Qingya and Li Qingyun looked at the Jinxiu Hotel before them, which was no longer the Jinxiu Hotel of the past. It had undergone significant changes in height, exterior design, and interior decoration, among other aspects.


    The trio walked toward the hotel entrance, where an arch had been raised and banners were hung.


    Upon arriving at the entrance, the greeters recognized Qin Hao and quickly said respectfully, ¡°Mr. Qin, hello, please follow me.¡±


    The staff led the three to a special elevator and then up to the wedding hall on the sixtieth floor.


    At the entrance to the wedding hall, members of the Du Family were there to greet guests.


    Du Jinglong, Du Yingqiang¡¯s father, had never dealt with Qin Hao and had not met him before, but he had seen Qin Hao. When he saw Qin Hao entering with the Li sisters, a smile spread across his face, ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Li, welcome, it¡¯s an honor to have you here.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Du, you¡¯re too kind. I¡¯ve known Mr. Du for a long time, and it is only right that we come to his wedding,¡± Li Qingya replied with a smile.


    Qin Hao¡¯s status was now completely different from before, as he was the leader of the Galaxy Federation, effectively the leader of all the people on Earth.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so polite, Mr. Du, Du and I are old friends,¡± Qin Hao added.


    Du Jinglong quickly nodded, ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Li, please come in.¡±


    He led the three into the wedding hall. Everyone present at Du Yingqiang¡¯s wedding was a business mogul, and they all recognized Qin Hao. As he entered, the hall fell silent and heads turned to look at him.


    Qin Hao personally attending Du Yingqiang¡¯s wedding indicated a close relationship with the Du Family. Now that Qin Hao was in charge of Earth, the Du Family was likely to become a true behemoth.


    Qin Hao had already distributed many technologies to his top followers, such as cosmic transportation spaceships, cosmic passenger spaceships, and cosmic mining equipment.


    The Earth¡¯s undersea resources had already been fully explored, and the next step was gradual development.


    Space held even more resources, many of which were rare and needed by Qin Hao. He required these materials to develop more powerful weapons and to terraform uninhabited planets to make them suitable for human habitation.


    On Earth, Qin Hao had already introduced policies encouraging childbirth, strongly supporting citizens in having children, with the government providing significant support.


    Various genetic potions were also being provided at a lower price, and some were even free, such as those preventing various diseases. Potions that developed the body¡¯s potential were also being supplied vigorously.


    Du Jinglong led Qin Hao and the other two to a table at the back of the hall. The people sitting at this table were amongst the highest-status individuals present.


    ¡°Mr. Qin has arrived, please have a seat,¡± Du Xiude said as he stood up upon seeing the three arrive.


    The others also stood up, smiling and greeting Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao nodded in response and then sat down. Du Xiude, Du Yingqiang¡¯s grandfather, smiled at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I hear that the Human Gene Potion will be made available to the public soon?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the average lifespan of Earth¡¯s human population is too short by interstellar standards, and it needs to be increased.¡±


    An intrigued person nearby asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, what exactly is the Human Gene Potion?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°A type of gene medicine can enhance cellular regenerative capability and slow down the aging process of the human body, enabling people to live beyond two hundred years. With further advancements, human lifespan could continue to increase indefinitely.¡±


    ...


    The few people around him, upon hearing his words, straightened their faces, filled with surprise and delight: ¡°Gene medicine that can extend lifespan?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°To be precise, slowing down aging and extending lifespan are two different concepts.¡±


    At eleven o¡¯clock in the morning plus a few minutes, the wedding ceremony of Du Yingqiang officially began.


    Qin Hao, Li Qingya, and Li Qingyun sat quietly, watching the scene with a sense of warmth and envy.


    Both women also glanced at Qin Hao several times, the implication of which was self-evident.


    The wedding ceremony came to a conclusion, and Du Yingqiang and Yan Huayue tidied up a little before starting to offer toasts, the first of which was at the table where Qin Hao was seated.


    Qin Hao looked at the newlyweds and said with a smile, ¡°Congrats, Du.¡±


    ¡°Qin, I see you looking envious. If you¡¯re envious, you can hold one yourself,¡± teased Du Yingqiang.


    Qin Hao gave him a look, this guy really knew how to hit a nerve: ¡°I¡¯ll definitely let you know when I do.¡±


    After Du Yingqiang finished offering toasts, he moved on to other tables to continue, as the couple was to toast at each and every table.


    During the meal, Qin Hao received a call from Chang Jing: ¡°Xiao Hao, our space exploration ship has discovered dozens of rare resources on the Moon and several nearby small satellites, some of which are exactly what you mentioned.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face lit up upon hearing this: ¡°Really? That¡¯s great, have the robots start mining immediately.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°The interstellar aircraft carrier has also successfully been fitted with three small Star Destroyer Cannons. Gravity devices and planetary air modification devices have been produced on Tingting¡¯s end as well, and I have arranged for robots to transport these installations to the Moon with the cosmic ships.¡±


    ¡°Alright, just implement it according to the plan I¡¯ve set out.¡±


    Earth is rapidly developing and advancing. Qin Hao, for the progression of various aspects of Earth, has provided many advanced technologies to companies of the Xinghai Association so that they could produce at full capacity. This was also to ensure that they wouldn¡¯t be overwhelmed by the large conglomerates of the universe after integrating with it.


    After the wedding banquet ended, Qin Hao and the sisters Li Qingya left, stepping out of the Jinxiu Hotel. Qin Hao looked at the surrounding buildings; Jianghai City has completely transformed from its past, with automated public buses, light rails, and advertising billboards among others.


    Qin Hao originally planned to visit Jianghai University, but after thinking it over, he decided against it and returned with Li Qingya and her sister to Pu¡¯er Island.


    That day, the news reported: The establishment of space military bases on the Moon and other small satellites, as well as renovating the Moon, the commercial release of Human Gene Potion, and the establishment of the Space Military Academy were among a series of major news items.


    Each development caused significant reactions online. Space military bases could make the Earth more secure. Renovating the Moon was in preparation for future colonization, and most importantly, the commercial sale of the Human Gene Potion was made public.


    This was a potion that could delay cellular aging and prolong life, representing a tremendous boon,


    However, due to production costs, it could not be provided for free. The price of a single dose was ten thousand Wan Xing coins, which was not expensive.


    The Space Military Academy also sparked a great deal of interest because Qin Hao had formed the Galaxy Fleet to guard Earth¡¯s security and ensure the travel and business safety of Galaxy residents.

 Chapter 779: 779 Recruiting Students

    Chapter 779: Chapter 779 Recruiting Students


    As for the enrolment standards of the Space Military Academy, Chang Jing and others are still in discussion, but they will likely select and assess candidates from universities around the world before admitting them.


    The teachers and professors for the Space Military Academy, Qin Hao has already handed over all the necessary materials to Chang Jing, who will choose appropriate personnel, and then have them join the Space Military Academy.


    Qin Hao aimed to build a first-class interstellar Space Military Academy; of course, in the meantime, he also needed to develop various models of interstellar warships and interstellar aircraft carriers, so they would match the corresponding tactics.


    All sorts of preparations were underway, with the Galaxy Space Military Academy being rapidly built and various corresponding facilities also in production.


    Qin Hao was quite free, while Chang Jing and others were busy. Now, every five days or so, the space transport ship would return to Earth to bring back the mined Energy Baryte and rare resources.


    Energy Baryte could be used not only in Star Destroyer Cannons but also in the development of new warships.


    Qin Hao had already exchanged for the production technology of D-class interstellar warships, interstellar aircraft carriers, and Mecha; billions of achievement points were spent in an instant.


    These required Energy Baryte as propulsion fuel, and their speed and power were incomparable to F-class warships.


    For now, he could only exchange for D-class items in the system mall; there was nothing higher. He would need a system upgrade before more advanced items would become available.


    As for when the system would upgrade, even he didn¡¯t understand.


    A month later, a month and a half since those interstellar warships had left, there was still no news from the Interstellar Federation Government, and the space surveillance satellites hadn¡¯t detected any spacecraft approaching.


    During breakfast, Chang Jing said to Qin Hao, ¡°The Galaxy Space Military Academy has been completed, along with all sorts of training and educational facilities. You should go recruit students from various prestigious universities when you have time.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Okay, send me the list of schools later.¡±


    After breakfast, Chang Jing sent him a list of some universities, all previously world-renowned schools. Naturally, the Space Military Academy would look for quality schools; being able to get into such schools was proof of their strength.


    This didn¡¯t mean that ordinary universities lacked talent; it¡¯s just that compared to the well-known schools, they were few, and searching them would waste a lot of time and human resources.


    Qin Hao glanced at the list and then contacted four future teachers of the academy, all chosen by Chang Jing.


    After hanging up the communicator, Qin Hao took an Air Energy Car to the Space Military Academy¡¯s entrance.


    At the entrance, four people were waiting for him, three men and one woman, all in their fifties, two from the East and two fair-skinned Westerners.


    ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± the four people said respectfully.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Let¡¯s head to Jianghai University in Xuan Country District first.¡±


    The four didn¡¯t dare to say otherwise. Wherever Qin Hao said to go, they went. They all boarded the Air Energy Car, and the combat robots also loaded some equipment onto the car and followed them, mainly to protect the safety of Qin Hao and his group.


    Along the way, Qin Hao contacted the president of Jianghai University, He Tingting¡¯s father, who was still managing the university.


    After He Qizhi hung up the phone, he sent a notice to all the students in the school, instructing them to gather for the assessment and selection of the Galaxy Space Military Academy.


    Many people showed excitement on their faces when they heard the news; the Space Military Academy? This was an opportunity to soar.


    Moreover, since it was newly established, it was certainly in need of people. Those who could get in now would likely be heavily relied upon in the future.


    People coming out from the Galaxy Space Military Academy would go on to serve in the Galaxy Interstellar Fleet, essentially becoming military officers.


    Of course, Qin Hao would not only select candidates within universities but also from various military districts, some assessed for advanced studies at the military academy and others considered for their potential to become Mechanical Soldiers.


    Not everyone¡¯s potential was the same; while genetic attribute potions could be used repeatedly to increase an individual¡¯s physical attributes, the extent was also determined by the person¡¯s potential.


    For instance, some people had limited potential and, even if they took many genetic attribute potions, they would not reach the full potential status of Qin Hao.


    An hour later, at the main campus sports field of Jianghai University in Jianghai City.


    Two Air Energy Cars slowly descended, one large and one small. Qin Hao and his group got out of the smaller car at the front, while the advanced equipment and combat robots were in the following car.


    He Qizhi and his group had already been waiting here for a while. When they saw Qin Hao and his group disembark, he approached: ¡°Xiao Hao, you¡¯ve arrived.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mm, Mr. He, have all the students gathered?¡±


    He Qizhi replied: ¡°All students from the main campus are here.¡±


    On the main campus sports field, students filled the area, with only those from the main campus present. Many more students from the other campuses would come after the main campus students had almost finished their assessments.


    The robots quickly set up a tent, and five testing devices were placed inside. After setup, the combat robots formed two lines and stood motionless.


    Qin Hao and He Qizhi sat down inside: ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡±


    The first to come up were senior students, five of them sat down as instructed, with their hands, feet, and heads covered by the devices. After the devices were activated, they felt a slight tingling, which then disappeared.


    The values appeared on the device screens: 3345. These four numbers indicated the potential values of four attributes; 0 meant all attributes could reach 100, whereas 9 meant they could reach the nineties.


    Currently, Qin Hao had set the standard that each potential value needed to be at least six to be accepted. If there was someone with exceptionally high single attributes, they could also be accepted.


    ¡°Potential values do not meet the standard.¡± The machine¡¯s voice sounded, and those students stepped down, and another group came up.


    Time passed quickly, and after two hours, almost all the senior students had been tested, with no one meeting the criteria.


    The last four individuals stepped forward, two men and two women. After the machines were connected and activated, two of the machines emitted a ¡°beep¡± sound.


    ¡°Name: Chu Lei, Potential Value: 6777, Qualified¡±


    ¡°Name: Chen Xiaomeng, Potential Value: 8878, Excellent.¡±


    Qin Hao and the four teachers brightened up when they heard this, finally, they had candidates. He Qizhi also smiled, as it would reflect poorly on him if his institution couldn¡¯t produce any candidates.


    Qin Hao stood up and went over to take a look, then said to them: ¡°Your potential values meet the standards, would you like to study further at the Space Military Academy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we would.¡± Chu Lei and Chen Xiaomeng quickly nodded their heads.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded: ¡°Go back and get ready; in a few days, an Air Energy Car will specifically pick you up and take you to the Space Military Academy on Pu¡¯er Island.¡±

 Chapter 780: 780: Seeing Ning Yao Again

    Chapter 780: Chapter 780: Seeing Ning Yao Again


    Chu Lei and Chen Xiaomeng nodded with excitement, ¡°Yes, okay.¡±


    The people around them were envious as these two were the only ones to pass the potential test from the start until now. In the future, they would be students of the Galaxy Space Military Academy, and once they graduated, they could become officers in the interstellar fleet or significant figures in other fields.


    After all, getting into the Galaxy Space Military Academy meant leaping through the dragon gate.


    Out of all the senior students in the main campus, only these two had passed the potential test, which showed how strict Qin Hao¡¯s selection was.


    After the seniors finished, it was the juniors¡¯ turn, but none of the junior class passed the potential test, unlike the seniors who had at least two passers.


    Next, it was the sophomores¡¯ turn. Qin Hao and a few others sat there idly, just watching those students take the test.


    One by one, the students came up eager and left disheartened.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression remained calm, showing no changes. Everything depended on personal fate; he provided the opportunity, but whether they could seize it was up to them.


    At that moment, a few sophomore students from the Computer College approached. There were four girls, they glanced at Qin Hao and then sat on the machine.


    Qin Hao recognized all four of them as having been in the same class as him, but he did not have a particularly deep impression.


    ¡°Name: Sun Xiao, potential value: 6666, qualified.¡±


    None of the other three qualified, only Sun Xiao. Upon hearing this, her face lit up with joy. She said excitedly, ¡°Did I really pass? Did I really pass?¡±


    Her three friends nodded and said enviously, ¡°You don¡¯t even have good grades, how did you pass?¡±


    Sun Xiao just laughed, ¡°I don¡¯t know, who knows how this machine tests.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s voice sounded out, ¡°This machine tests your potential value, not how good you are at studying.¡±


    ¡°Qin... Mr. Qin, do you remember us?¡± Sun Xiao asked.


    Han Jing, Su Jia, and Feng Ying all looked at Qin Hao. He nodded with a smile, ¡°Of course I remember. We can talk more later; please step down for now.¡±


    The four walked down, and soon another four people approached, and Qin Hao was very familiar with these individuals.


    Ning Yao, Wang Yanghua, Sun Feng, and Wu Jun all had complex expressions when looking at Qin Hao, especially Sun Feng and Wu Jun. They had been dormitory mates and brothers with Qin Hao initially, but unfortunately, relations had become tense over time due to Cui Zhi¡¯s issue, and they had looked for trouble with Qin Hao several times.


    Looking back now, both felt immensely regretful; it was as if they could turn their intestines green with regret.


    Fat Wang Yanghua also had a complex feeling in his heart, wondering how he should speak to Qin Hao, what tone and attitude to use...


    The machine test began, and the ¡°beep beep¡± sound rang out again.


    ¡°Name: Ning Yao, potential value: 0000, perfect.¡±


    The people around were shocked upon hearing this; 0000 was considered perfect potential, oh my goodness, such a thing actually happened.


    Qin Hao also looked at Ning Yao in surprise, as after him and Chang Jing, she was the third person to have such terrifying potential.


    Among Qin Hao¡¯s women, only Chang Jing had reached a potential of 0000, others were mostly between 678.


    ¡°Congratulations, student Ning Yao,¡± Qin Hao said, smiling at her.


    Seeing his smile, Ning Yao also smiled, ¡°Does this mean I can also enter the Space Military Academy?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Of course, if even you couldn¡¯t get in, then nobody could.¡±


    Ning Yao looked at him and asked, ¡°Do you have time at noon? Can I invite you for lunch?¡±


    Qin Hao paused and replied, ¡°Sure.¡±


    Ning Yao smiled and walked down, Wang Yanghua glanced at Ning Yao, then looked at Qin Hao, wanting to say something but held back.


    Sun Feng and Wu Jun also glanced at Qin Hao, walking away dejectedly. They too wanted to enter the Galaxy Space Military Academy, they too wanted to be superior, but unfortunately, they lacked the potential.


    The sophomores quickly finished their tests, and by this time it was almost noon, so He Qizhi did not call for the freshmen anymore and announced that the potential test would continue at 1:30 PM.


    The students gradually left the playground, and He Qizhi spoke to Qin Hao, ¡°Xiao Hao, go do your thing. If there¡¯s anything, just give me a call. I¡¯ll take these four teachers to lunch.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Mr. He, thank you for your trouble.¡±


    He Qizhi responded, ¡°Xiao Hao, why so formal with me, hurry along now.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao walked out of the makeshift tent, and not far away, Ning Yao and a few others were standing there watching. Seeing Qin Hao coming over, everyone seemed excited.


    Soon, he arrived in front of Ning Yao and the others, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go have lunch.¡±


    Sun Xiao and some others asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, can we join you?¡±


    Ning Yao shot her a glance, ¡°How about tonight, since he¡¯s not leaving in the next few days anyway. I have something to talk to him about today.¡±


    Sun Xiao said, ¡°Okay, it¡¯s settled then, we¡¯ll all have dinner together tonight. You guys can¡¯t go back on your word.¡± After saying this, she left with Han Jing, Su Jia, and Feng Ying without further disturbing them.


    Ning Yao suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go to that one place.¡±


    Qin Hao paused, that one place? They had dined together once before at a little restaurant off-campus, ¡°Is that place still there?¡±


    Seeing that he remembered, Ning Yao smiled and nodded, ¡°Yes, it has been renovated and is now even cleaner and tidier.¡±


    The two of them talked as they walked, heading towards the outside of the campus, attracting many curious glances. Qin Hao was walking with Ning Yao, the beauty of our school; what was their relationship?


    Arriving at the small restaurant outside the school, before Ning Yao could speak, the cheerful proprietress said, ¡°Xiao Yao is here again. Are you having noodles for lunch today? And who is this young man with you?¡± She smiled as she spoke.


    Ning Yao¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, ¡°Ms. Li, two bowls of noodles, please.¡±


    After ordering, she said to Qin Hao, ¡°This is a new dish they introduced. You haven¡¯t tried it yet, right?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°No, do you come here often?¡±


    Ning Yao, ¡°Yes, because it holds my memories.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao changed the topic, ¡°I heard that Wang Yanghua is pursuing you? How is it going between you two?¡±


    Ning Yao was taken aback, her beautiful eyes staring at him, ¡°How did you know? Did someone tell you?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°I just heard about it by chance.¡±


    Ning Yao replied, ¡°He is indeed pursuing me, and has been for a while now, but I haven¡¯t agreed because I already have someone I like.¡±


    Just then, Wang Yanghua walked in from outside, coming straight to their table, ¡°Big brother, Xiao Yao.¡±

 Chapter 781: 781: Strangers When We Meet Again

    Chapter 781: Chapter 781: Strangers When We Meet Again


    Qin Hao and Ning Yao looked up at Wang Yanghua. Ning Yao said, ¡°Wang Yanghua, I¡¯ve told you many times, please don¡¯t call me that anymore.¡±


    Wang Yanghua¡¯s face turned a bit awkward, ¡°Xiao Yao, I¡¯m sincere about you. I¡¯m not just fooling around, I really want to be with you.¡±


    Ning Yao sneered after hearing his words. Wang Yanghua¡¯s reputation in the class and at school was not good, especially since he became wealthy, he toyed with too many girls to count.


    Qin Hao knew somewhat about Fatso Wang Yanghua. Originally, he had helped Fatso, never expecting him to turn out this way. Sometimes, money really could change a person.


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, ¡°Fatso, do you know why I later barely contacted you? The things you did were extremely despicable. Do you think others don¡¯t know about what happened with Zhao De¡¯s ex-girlfriend?¡±


    Wang Yanghua¡¯s face changed slightly when he heard this, ¡°Brother, I... I couldn¡¯t help it, I really didn¡¯t mean it.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Whether you could control yourself or not, what you did to her and how you treated her afterward, think about your conscience, do you feel guilty?¡±


    Wang Yanghua looked uncomfortable, he couldn¡¯t resist saying, ¡°I didn¡¯t mistreat her, I even gave her some money. Those girls who were with me were all seductive cheap goods, all for the money. I looked after their bodies, and they were after money, what¡¯s wrong with mutual consent?¡±


    Qin Hao looked disappointed, ¡°You¡¯re very rich, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t forget that I still own eighty percent of your company¡¯s shares, and it¡¯s been over a year since you gave me my share of the profits, right? You better just focus on your studies from now on.¡±


    Wang Yanghua¡¯s face drastically changed, ¡°What are you trying to do? The company was built from my hard work, you just contributed some money. Isn¡¯t it enough that I pay you back that money?¡±


    Hearing his remarks, Qin Hao almost laughed, Just some money? Would you have developed to this point without that money?


    He looked at Wang Yanghua and said indifferently, ¡°Give me the money that belongs to me, and we can call it even. I will sell the shares, and you can go your own sunny path from now on.¡±


    Wang Yanghua¡¯s expression darkened, and he turned to leave the restaurant.


    Qin Hao sighed. Ning Yao looked at him and said with a light smile, ¡°See? This is the person you helped with your money back then.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not wrong either; he just has different principles from mine,¡± Qin Hao didn¡¯t mention Wang Yanghua again.


    Ning Yao, ¡°Has there been any news from the Interstellar Federation Government? There should have been some by now.¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know the situation over there. If only Earth¡¯s network could merge with the interstellar¡¯s, we could get more information.¡±


    Ning Yao, ¡°Then you should talk with the network communication companies in the interstellar. Just waiting here isn¡¯t the solution.¡±


    Hearing her words, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, I hadn¡¯t thought of that. After sorting out matters here, I¡¯ll make a trip to the interstellar, and it¡¯s also a good chance to see just how powerful these interstellar empires are.¡±


    Ning Yao said smilingly, ¡°I want to experience this dazzling and colorful universe of stars.¡±


    ¡°Wait until you graduate from the Space Military Academy.¡±


    ...


    After lunch, the two exited the restaurant. Ning Yao said, ¡°Shall we take a walk?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, and the two of them started walking on the snack street. The street was crowded, mostly with students from Jianghai University and other nearby schools, with every storefront bustling with business.


    Suddenly, Ning Yao said, ¡°Thank you, Qin Hao.¡±


    Qin Hao was a bit stunned, ¡°Why suddenly thank me? It was you who treated me to lunch today, I should be thanking you.¡±


    Ning Yao said with a smile, ¡°This is on behalf of my parents thanking you. Now they both have jobs, and each of them earns over twenty thousand a month. You provided these jobs, you made our family¡¯s life better.¡±


    Qin Hao forced a smile and shook his head, ¡°This is the result of societal progress and the inevitable development of the era. Even without me, another Qin Hao would have stood up.¡±


    ¡°By the way, how are things going with Si Yao?¡± Ning Yao asked nonchalantly.


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh, ¡°Pretty good.¡±


    Ning Yao: ¡°You have several girlfriends, right?¡±


    Although Qin Hao¡¯s affairs were never reported on the internet or in the media, people in the industry knew about it. It was just one of those things that was understood, not spoken of, with no one daring to publicize these matters openly.


    ¡°Cough cough, let¡¯s talk about something else,¡± Qin Hao said, his face slightly awkward.


    Ning Yao pursed her lips and smiled, ¡°Do you still remember how we met?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°On the train, right? Back when freshman year started.¡±


    ¡°You remember all that?¡± Ning Yao exclaimed with delight.


    Qin Hao glanced at her, ¡°Big sister, it wasn¡¯t decades ago. How could I forget?¡±


    Ning Yao chuckled but said nothing. The two walked for a while before returning to the school.


    At one-thirty in the afternoon, the potential testing assessment continued. A little after two, Pu¡¯er Island sent over ten newly manufactured testing equipment, which greatly sped up the testing speed and progress.


    However, Jianghai University had too many students, and they couldn¡¯t finish the tests in one day. At the same time, Qin Hao had He Qizhi notify the principals of a few other universities in Jianghai City, asking them to bring their students to participate in the testing.


    After the testing ended at five in the afternoon, Qin Hao was about to leave when Sun Xiao, Han Jing, and Su Jia brought Ning Yao here to find him, ¡°Mr. Qin, you agreed to have dinner with us tonight.¡±


    Qin Hao was startled, having completely forgotten about this arrangement, ¡°Okay then, I don¡¯t really have anything else planned. Where shall we eat? Dinner is on me tonight.¡±


    Sun Xiao spoke up, ¡°Let¡¯s go for hotpot. The weather is just right for it. There¡¯s a great and affordable hotpot place nearby I know of.¡±


    It was still winter in Jianghai City, and the weather was somewhat dry and cold. The group of five left the school and after a five-or-six-minute walk, arrived at the hotpot restaurant Sun Xiao had mentioned.


    Upon entering the restaurant, the place was bustling with nearly every seat filled.


    ¡°Hello, welcome! Party of five?¡± The server hurried over and asked with a smile.


    Sun Xiao nodded, ¡°Do you have any private rooms available?¡±


    Waitress: ¡°Yes, ladies and gentlemen, please follow me to the second floor.¡±


    Guided by the server, they reached a private room on the second floor. The second floor was much quieter than the first, though sounds occasionally came from other private rooms. Still, it was much better compared to the first floor.


    Once seated in the private room, Sun Xiao and Ning Yao ordered a lot of items. With Qin Hao there to foot the bill, they went all out.


    With the improvement in people¡¯s living standards, various industries were also growing, such as the catering industry. More people were eating out every day, and their business was better than before.


    The meats, vegetables, and various other dishes they ordered soon arrived, along with more than a dozen bottles of beer.


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 782: 782: Conflict at the Hotpot Restaurant

    Chapter 782: Chapter 782: Conflict at the Hotpot Restaurant


    Chapter 782


    The beer was ordered by Sun Xiao and a few others. After it arrived, Sun Xiao opened the beer and poured a glass for everyone, ¡°Here, Mr. Qin, this one¡¯s for you.¡±


    Qin Hao raised his glass and smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t call me Mr. Qin. We are all classmates; just call me Qin Hao.¡±


    Sun Xiao was not shy, ¡°Alright, Xiao Yao and I will be at the Space Military Academy later. You¡¯ll have to take good care of us.¡±


    Ning Yao chuckled, thinking his directness was a bit much, but verbally agreed, ¡°Yes, we are all old classmates after all.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°How can I take care of that? Teachers will treat everyone equally. As long as you both work hard, I promise you will have a great future.¡±


    Han Jing, Su Jia, and Feng Ying looked a bit envious; they also wanted to attend the Space Military Academy, ¡°Qin Hao, we failed the potential test. Is there any other way we can enter the Space Military Academy?¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment then said, ¡°It¡¯s not like there are no other ways. If you excel in a particular industry, there¡¯s also a chance to get into the Space Military Academy. The current admissions system of the academy is not yet perfect, but it will be improved over time.¡±


    The three women, hearing there was still hope, smiled, ¡°We will strive to excel in our majors.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°The major you are in now doesn¡¯t offer much more to learn. In a few days, I will start teaching specialties like virtual imaging technology, and you could come to the academy to study those.¡±


    He planned to introduce more specialties in the future, allowing students on Earth to study them since the majors offered by universities were somewhat outdated compared to current societal technologies.


    Upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, Han Jing and the others nodded slightly. This was indeed an opportunity.


    ¡°Qin Hao, here¡¯s to you,¡± the girls raised their glasses and drank with him again.


    The group chatted and drank, quickly finishing over a dozen bottles of beer. Qin Hao drank the most since they kept toasting to him, but his physical fitness was very good, so this amount of alcohol was nothing to him.


    Ning Yao drank until her cheeks were slightly pink, making her look quite adorable.


    The others had slightly red cheeks as well, but fortunately, they were not drunk.


    Seeing there was no more beer, Sun Xiao asked, ¡°Qin Hao, do you want to drink more? Shall I ask the waiter to bring a few more bottles?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°No need, this is enough, and you should drink less too.¡±


    Sun Xiao smiled and said, ¡°No problem, we have you if we drink too much.¡±


    Though she said that, she didn¡¯t order more drinks, and everyone after eating a while were mostly full, mainly because they weren¡¯t very hungry after drinking so much.


    After eating mostly, Sun Xiao asked, ¡°It¡¯s only a little past seven now, Xiao Yao, Qin Hao, shall we go sing some songs? There¡¯s a KTV nearby.¡±


    Ning Yao didn¡¯t answer; she knew Sun Xiao was creating an opportunity for her, so she looked toward Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and nodded, ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t have anything else planned.¡±


    Sun Xiao walked out the door, turning her head to say, ¡°I¡¯ll settle the bill; tonight¡¯s on me.¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, she bumped into someone¡ªa well-built young man. Having drunk a bit and with the man¡¯s strength, Sun Xiao didn¡¯t manage to keep her balance and fell to the ground.


    Ning Yao and the others hurriedly followed, ¡°Sun Xiao, are you alright?¡±


    Before Sun Xiao and the others could speak, the man in green cursed, ¡°Fuck your mom, you blind bitch.¡±


    ¡°You bumped into me, and now you think you¡¯re in the right?¡± Sun Xiao argued indignantly.


    The group opposite them consisted of seven or eight men who had just come out from the next private room. Their faces were flushed with alcohol, and they each bore a menacing look, appearing no good at all.


    Although society has developed rapidly and technological advances are swift, there will always be these types of thugs in any era. They bully the weak and dominate others both male and female.


    Upon hearing Sun Xiao¡¯s words, the young man sneered, ¡°So what? I cursed you, what are you going to do about it? Oh wow, wearing Jianghai University¡¯s uniform? I don¡¯t even know how many of your female students I¡¯ve messed with, each looking pure but absolutely wild in bed.¡±


    Ning Yao and the others¡¯ faces turned sour upon hearing his words. Sun Xiao, fiery by nature, couldn¡¯t help but retort, ¡°You¡¯re the slut here! Your whole family must be sluts. If your mom wasn¡¯t a slut, how would you have been born?¡±


    Qin Hao, hearing her sharp words, was exasperated; this woman was quite formidable. He hadn¡¯t realized it before, but now he truly understood Sun Xiao.


    The man opposite was stunned by her retort, as it was the first time someone had insulted him like this. ¡°You fucking whore, you¡¯re asking for it.¡±


    ¡°Dude, teach her a lesson, dammit, she even dared to curse you. Tonight, let our brothers show them what we¡¯re made of,¡± one of the guys beside him chimed in.


    Qiu Shuai rushed forward in a few quick steps, raising his hand to slap Sun Xiao across the cheek.


    His hand had just been raised and hadn¡¯t yet fallen when it was grabbed by someone.


    Qin Hao, looking at Qiu Shuai with disgust, said, ¡°It¡¯s because of scum like you that an otherwise bright society gets darkened.¡±


    After he finished speaking, he let go of Qiu Shuai¡¯s hand, giving him two sharp slaps across the face, causing Qiu Shuai to see stars and reel in confusion.


    Although these people were just small-time thugs, the impact of their actions was exceedingly harmful. In Qin Hao¡¯s view, these people were even more despicable than some criminal fans.


    ¡°Fuck, you dare hit our bro, get him!¡± The other seven men rushed forward upon seeing Qiu Shuai get slapped.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression remained calm. These insubstantial fools only relied on their numbers to intimidate honest people.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Sounds of a scuffle emanated from the second floor of the hotpot restaurant. The waitstaff quickly noticed and rushed over. By the time they arrived, Qiu Shuai and his eight men had already been knocked down.


    Seeing no damage to the restaurant, the waitstaff sighed in relief.


    With a calm face, Qin Hao said to Ning Yao and Sun Xiao, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The group made their way to the first floor. Sun Xiao settled the bill. Qin Hao had intended to pay, but Sun Xiao insisted, and he didn¡¯t argue with her, considering it wasn¡¯t much money.


    After leaving the hotpot restaurant, Sun Xiao¡¯s smile returned. ¡°That was so satisfying, Qin Hao, you were awesome. I so wanted to bash them up myself, wish we could¡¯ve beaten them so bad they¡¯d never get out of bed again.¡±


    Because Sun Xiao had a high school classmate who had been played by these people.


    Her classmate also studied at Jianghai University, but they were not in the same major. Because her classmate went to a club with some friends, she was targeted by these types, and with just a bit of manipulation, they had her completely at their mercy.


    University students who haven¡¯t stepped into society often have little experience in various aspects, making them easy targets for manipulation at this phase in their lives.


    Qin Hao was unaware of these issues, and he said with a smile, ¡°Once you enroll in the Galaxy Space Military Academy, you can also become much tougher than the average person.¡±

 Chapter 783: 783 Daoba

    Chapter 783: Chapter 783 Daoba


    Sun Xiao heard his words and asked curiously, ¡°Can I become even more formidable than these people, too? Is it also called Fighting Skill there?¡±


    Qin Hao replied as they walked, ¡°You should know about attribute genetic potions, right? As long as you¡¯re a student at the Galaxy Space Military Academy, you can receive various types of training from the academy. The attribute genetic potion is one of such trainings, which will enhance your physical condition to beyond that of an ordinary person.¡±


    Ning Yao and Sun Xiao¡¯s eyes lit up when they heard this. Their bodies, beyond that of an ordinary person?


    Ning Yao asked curiously, ¡°Then, to what extent can our physical fitness improve?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°That depends on the potential values you test for together. If your values are all 0000, each attribute can be perfectly developed to 100. My current physical condition is at full capacity, having reached 100 in every aspect.¡±


    It hadn¡¯t been long since they left when Qiu Shuai and a few others emerged from the hotpot restaurant and saw Qin Hao and his group not far away.


    ¡°Handsome, look, they entered Night Rainbow KTV,¡± someone beside him noticed Qin Hao and his group entering Night Rainbow KTV and hurriedly spoke up.


    A vicious glint passed through Qiu Shuai¡¯s eyes, ¡°Heaven has a path yet you don¡¯t walk it, hell has no gate yet you break in, let¡¯s go find Dao.¡±


    The group also headed towards Night Rainbow KTV because they were associated with the place. Dao was their boss.


    Qin Hao and his group entered a private room in the KTV, and once inside, Sun Xiao said, ¡°Xiao Yao, why don¡¯t you sing a song for Qin Hao to hear, I bet he¡¯s never heard you sing.¡±


    Ning Yao¡¯s cheeks flushed, but no one knew whether it was from drinking or from embarrassment.


    Soon after they entered the private room, Qiu Shuai and his people also walked in. The two female receptionists at the front desk saw Qiu Shuai and promptly greeted him respectfully, ¡°Handsome.¡±


    Qiu Shuai asked with an emotionless face, ¡°Which private room did those six people just enter into?¡±


    The female receptionist hesitated, ¡°Handsome, which six people are you talking about?¡±


    Qiu Shuai said, ¡°The six people who just came in, the group with one guy and five girls.¡±


    ¡°They went to private room 306, why do you ask, handsome?¡±


    Qiu Shuai ignored her and led his people upstairs, but he didn¡¯t go directly to look for Qin Hao because Qin Hao¡¯s skills were quite formidable. He needed to gather more people first.


    He arrived at a certain private room on the fifth floor of Night Rainbow KTV and knocked on the door, an impatient male voice from inside asked, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    ¡°Dao, it¡¯s me, Xiao Shuai.¡±


    Dao said, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Qiu Shuai pushed the door and entered. Inside the private room, there were three people, one male and two females, both of the girls wearing Jianghai University uniforms.


    Qiu Shuai recognized these two girls, they were the schoolgirls that his boss had just picked up. Despite being high-achievers, their performance wasn¡¯t any worse than those women who mixed in night scenes.


    Dao kept battling while he asked, ¡°What do you need? Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m busy?¡±


    ¡°Dao, some of us brothers got beaten up at the hotpot restaurant.¡±


    Dao asked, ¡°Who beat you up? Was it Hu and his people?¡±


    Qiu Shuai shook his head, ¡°No, not Hu¡¯s people. They seem like students from Jianghai University, five girls and one guy.¡±


    Dao paused for a moment, ¡°You¡¯re telling me that eight of you got beaten up by five women and one guy? Fuck your mother, you still have the face to say it out loud? You¡¯re going to ruin my reputation.¡±


    Qiu Shuai said awkwardly, ¡°We were beaten by that one guy, that fellow is really quite formidable. We were no match for him at all.¡±


    ¡°Where is the person?¡± Dao asked.


    Qiu Shuai replied, ¡°They came to our KTV after leaving the hotpot restaurant. They¡¯re in room 306 right now, and those five girls are all very beautiful. You¡¯ll definitely like them when you see them, Dao.¡±


    Dao nodded slightly, ¡°I got it. Wait for me outside for a while, and find some more brothers to come over.¡±


    Qiu Shuai went out, and about five or six minutes later, Dao came out pulling up his pants. Nearly twenty people had already gathered outside.


    He shook his head and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, take me to see. Someone dares to mess with my people, I don¡¯t think they want to hang around this area anymore.¡±


    In room 306, after Ning Yao finished singing a song, Sun Xiao also performed her talent for everyone¡ªdancing!


    The room filled with a popular dance track from the internet, and she started dancing in front of the large screen in the room. With an already impressive figure, her dancing seemed even more charming and seductive.


    Just as Sun Xiao was about to finish dancing, the door to the room was suddenly opened from the outside, and a dozen people crowded in. The sound in the room ceased abruptly, and the lights were turned on.


    Frightened, Sun Xiao and the others quickly ran to Qin Hao¡¯s side. Qin Hao sat there, looking at Dao, Qiu Shuai, and the group.


    After seeing Qiu Shuai and the others, Qin Hao understood what was happening. They were calling in reinforcements, seeking to even the score. Unfortunately, they messed with the wrong person.


    Qiu Shuai pointed at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Dao, it¡¯s him. He¡¯s the one who beat up our brothers.¡±


    Dao twitched the long knife in his hand toward Qin Hao, ¡°It was you who beat up my brothers?¡±


    Qin Hao sat unmoved, his tone disdainful, ¡°So what if I did?¡±


    Dao shot back, ¡°You think you¡¯re tough? You dare to act tough in front of me, Dao? Kneel down, kowtow, and apologize to my brothers, or I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    Qin Hao picked up his glass, took a sip, and looked at him, ¡°You and your brothers kneel down and apologize now, and maybe I¡¯ll spare you this once.¡±


    Dao laughed at his words, and his minions joined the laughter as if they had heard some joke.


    Nowadays young people all act tough, huh? Kid, take a good look. I¡¯m holding a knife.¡±


    A laser rifle suddenly appeared in Qin Hao¡¯s hands, ¡°Do knives impress you? Do you recognize this thing?¡±


    Dao was taken aback by the laser rifle that had appeared in Qin Hao¡¯s hands. Almost nobody on Earth didn¡¯t recognize it¡ªa new type of laser gun. How did he bring it out?


    The people around didn¡¯t see it clearly. It was like magic, appearing suddenly.


    Dao and his people seriously doubted the authenticity of the gun, ¡°Kid, who are you trying to fool with a fake gun?¡±


    ¡°Whoosh.¡±


    A beam of light shot out, hitting Dao in the leg, and he instantly knelt on one knee on the ground. The color drained from the faces of those around him as they hastily stepped back two paces, looking at Qin Hao with fear in their eyes.


    No wonder he was so confident; he had a laser gun.


    Ordinary people can¡¯t get their hands on such a thing. Where did he get it from? They aren¡¯t even available on the black market, where they are strictly controlled.


    Dao looked at him with a terrified gaze, ¡°Who exactly are you?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him indifferently, ¡°You¡¯re not worthy of knowing who I am. It looks like you¡¯ve done quite a few terrible things. Do you have any last words?¡±


    [Second Update]

 Chapter 784: 784: Seventh Master

    Chapter 784: Chapter 784: Seventh Master


    Daoba¡¯s face changed dramatically as he said, ¡°Big brother, I was blind and failed to recognize Mount Tai. I admit defeat this time. Please have mercy and let me off just this once.¡±


    Qin Hao responded indifferently, ¡°I let you off this time, but did you ever let those people off even once?¡±


    Hearing his tone, Daoba quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m with Wang Qi. For Wang Qi¡¯s sake, please spare me this time, big brother.¡±


    Wang Qi?


    Qin Hao said, ¡°What Wang Qi? Wang Ba? Never heard of them. Are their faces worth a lot?¡±


    Daoba was stunned for a moment. Qin Hao having a laser gun meant he was definitely powerful. In Jianghai City, where some now had power and status, who didn¡¯t know Wang Qi?


    Daoba looked at him and said, ¡°Brother, I advise you to take back your words, or Wang Qi will make your death miserable.¡±


    Qin Hao scoffed. On Earth, no one dared make his death miserable.


    He took out his communicator and called Wang Jiang. Although the Galaxy Federation Government had been established, many government agencies hadn¡¯t changed much. Jianghai City still had a police department, but the equipment used was now more advanced, the crime-solving rate was very high, and the crime rate had greatly reduced.


    Wang Jiang, frightened by Qin Hao¡¯s call, as Qin Hao had rules against being called ¡°chairman¡± or such, asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you looking for me?¡±


    Qin Hao asked directly, ¡°Do you know about the criminal elements involved with the Changhong KTV near Jianghai University?¡±


    Wang Jiang broke into a sweat upon hearing this. Was Qin Hao going to take him down? ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m not aware of this matter, but I will send someone to arrest those people immediately.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Come as fast as possible, to room 306!¡±


    After hanging up, Wang Jiang personally led the police in air energy cars to Changhong KTV. In about two minutes, Wang Jiang arrived with a large force and arrested Daoba, Qiu Shuai, and others.


    Daoba urgently said, ¡°This man has a gun, he has a gun, you need to arrest him too.¡±


    Wang Jiang kicked him and said, ¡°Take them all down now.¡±


    Once everyone was taken away, Wang Jiang came up to Qin Hao and respectfully asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, how should we handle these people?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Such scum harm society by being free. Let them do some work for the Galaxy Federation, and go wherever there¡¯s work for them.¡±


    Wang Jiang quickly nodded and said, ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao, recalling something, asked, ¡°Have you heard of Wang Qi?¡±


    Wang Jiang¡¯s gaze faltered, and he carefully said, ¡°Mr. Qin, you know of this person too?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know him. Just heard Daoba mention him. Said he¡¯s quite powerful in Jianghai City. Is he involved in criminal activities? If so, arrest him immediately. I don¡¯t want such threats to society to exist.¡±


    Wang Jiang hesitated with his eyes, ¡°Mr. Qin, this person is not simple, and we don¡¯t have direct evidence of his crimes.¡±


    Qin Hao hearing Wang Jiang¡¯s words, frowned slightly, ¡°Not simple? Has he got a big background?¡±


    Wang Jiang said, ¡°Not that, but this person¡¯s abilities are said to be unimaginable, beyond comprehension.¡±


    ¡°Any specific information?¡±


    Wang Jiang replied, ¡°No, we¡¯ve tried digging into this person¡¯s background, but it¡¯s like he appeared out of nowhere, with no information at all.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I understand now. You can go back.¡±


    Wang Jiang and his group left again, and Sun Xiao and the others were somewhat frightened. They were fortunate that Qin Hao was there today; otherwise, they didn¡¯t know what might have happened to them.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Keep singing, it¡¯s all right now. Those people won¡¯t come back again.¡±


    Knowing Qin Hao¡¯s identity and strength, Sun Xiao knew such trivial matters were indeed nothing for him. She said to Ning Yao and the others, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s all dance a cheerful dance and show Qin Hao.¡±


    The five of them stood in front of the big screen, with Ning Yao in the middle, and then began to move their bodies, lively and sexy...


    Around nine o¡¯clock in the evening, Qin Hao and his six companions walked out of the KTV. Sun Xiao and the others quickened their pace intentionally, giving Qin Hao and Ning Yao some space to talk alone.


    As they walked, Ning Yao asked, ¡°Where will you rest tonight?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I have a place at Xinghai Building where I¡¯ll rest.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Ning Yao nodded slightly, unsure of what else to say. Should she suggest that she accompany him?


    She couldn¡¯t even bring herself to say those words, let alone think them, as just the thought made her cheeks flush with shyness.


    Soon, they reached the entrance of Jianghai University. Qin Hao said to them, ¡°You all go back and rest. I should be heading back as well.¡±


    Ning Yao nodded, ¡°Okay, then get some rest when you get back.¡±


    The group entered the university, walking a good distance before Sun Xiao finally spoke, ¡°Xiao Yao, what¡¯s going on with you? How could you not seize such a good opportunity?¡±


    Ning Yao shyly replied, ¡°I couldn¡¯t speak.¡±


    Sun Xiao showed a look of frustration, ¡°Shy? How much is being shy worth? If it were me, I would have made a move on him. If you don¡¯t take control, don¡¯t blame me for being heartless. I saw how much Qin Hao enjoyed watching me dance.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao, arriving at Xinghai Building in an Air Energy Car, lay on his bed and made a call to Li Wenjun, ¡°Send me the information on that guy called Wang Qi from Jianghai City.¡±


    About three minutes later, Qin Hao received a message from Li Wenjun on his communicator. The virtual display technology activated, showing a person¡¯s information: ¡°Name: Wang Qi, Place of Origin: Unknown, Age: 45 Years Old, Appeared in Jianghai City three months ago, single-handedly killed dozens of local underground gang leaders, vastly respected, becoming the top figure in Jianghai City¡¯s underground circles, highly skilled, rumored to be a martial arts master.¡±


    Upon reading this, Qin Hao frowned slightly. A martial arts master?


    Indeed, there have always been legends of various martial arts in Xuan Country, like Five Elements Fist, Tai Chi Boxing, Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms; Qin Hao considered these merely legends and not believable.


    Having never seen a real martial arts master himself, he did not believe in their existence.


    Now, Li Wenjun¡¯s intelligence saying that this Wang Qi resembled a martial arts master intrigued him.


    Could there really be the legendary martial world in existence? He felt he needed to meet this Wang Qi in person because only then would he know the truth.


    ...


    The next morning around seven o¡¯clock, after breakfast, Qin Hao did not go to Jianghai University¡¯s testing site but instead sought out this so-called martial arts master.


    After gaining his position and reputation, Wang Qi truly knew how to enjoy life, occupying the mansion of a former gang leader and even taking over the man¡¯s wife, spending his days indulging with his new wives.


    In a villa on a mountain top in the suburbs, Qin Hao arrived at the top of the mountain and stepped out of his Air Energy Car, surveying the mountaintop villa.


    Standing there, one could see a large part of Jianghai City¡ª a great geographic advantage for people like them, as they could spot the police immediately upon arrival and prepare accordingly.


    [The third update]

 Chapter 785: 785: The Legendary Jianghu

    Chapter 785: Chapter 785: The Legendary Jianghu


    Chapter 785


    Luxury cars were parked at the entrance of the villa atop the mountain, where eight bodyguards in black suits also stood, exuding an intimidating presence.


    When they saw an Air Energy Car land on the mountaintop, curiosity appeared in their eyes. In Jianghai City, those who could afford such a car were either rich or noble. Was this a visitor for Wang Qi?


    Qin Hao walked up to the entrance of the villa where he was stopped by someone, though the person spoke politely, ¡°Sir, may I ask whom you are looking for?¡±


    ¡°Is Wang Qi at home?¡± Qin Hao asked directly.


    The man replied, ¡°Wang Qi generally does not see visitors until after ten o¡¯clock. Please come back after ten.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. Wang Qi really put on quite an air, ¡°Get lost. There¡¯s no one I want to see who can be stopped.¡±


    ¡°Sir, these are the rules set by Wang Qi. We are just following orders. Please understand,¡± the men said with a pained expression, not daring to offend him.


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    The men felt a cool breeze brush past their faces, and then Qin Hao¡¯s figure disappeared from the spot. They turned their heads and, in an unknown moment, Qin Hao had already reached the villa¡¯s entrance, then he opened the door and walked in.


    Inside the villa¡¯s living room, a woman in her thirties, wearing almost nothing, was sitting down for breakfast in the kitchen. Upon seeing someone enter, she screamed and hurriedly ran upstairs.


    About five to six minutes later, Wang Qi came downstairs, flanked by four mature women as beautiful as flowers.


    Seeing Qin Hao with an expressionless face, he said, ¡°Who are you? Don¡¯t you know my rules? Are you seeking death?¡±


    Qin Hao sat on the sofa, looking disdainfully at him, ¡°You are Wang Qi?¡±


    Wang Qi¡¯s eyes flashed sharply, ¡°Daring to call me by my full name, are you looking for trouble?¡±


    ¡°Where are you from?¡± Qin Hao asked, looking at him.


    Wang Qi said, ¡°Brat, do you think I, Wang Qi, am easy to bully? Today, I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson on behalf of your family.¡±


    After he finished speaking, he let go of the beauties and charged over, his speed was fast, but to Qin Hao, it was still too weak.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Before his fist could reach Qin Hao, he was kicked away. His body flew backward for four to five meters and crashed heavily to the ground. Then, as if nothing had happened, he stood up again, his eyes filled with disbelief as he looked at him, ¡°Which family are you from?¡±


    Hearing his question, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes flashed brightly, ¡°I am not from any family.¡±


    Wang Qi asked, ¡°Then are you from some sect?¡±


    Hearing a lot in his words, Qin Hao responded, ¡°Cut the crap, tell me where you came from.¡±


    Having just exchanged blows with Qin Hao and knowing his terrifying strength, Wang Qi turned and ran as soon as he heard Qin Hao¡¯s words. He smashed through a glass window and ran towards the back mountain.


    Qin Hao¡¯s face showed a look of disdain. Run?


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    A streak of light lit up, striking Wang Qi on the leg, but even so, his speed did not decrease.


    Qin Hao¡¯s feet slammed fiercely against the ground, and he burst forth in an instant, his speed many times faster than Wang Qi¡¯s, his full physical attributes bursting forth.


    Five seconds later, Qin Hao caught up with Wang Qi and landed a mighty kick on his back, causing him to spit blood and tumble forward, crashing heavily to the ground.


    The kick inflicted serious internal injuries on Wang Qi.


    Lying on the ground, he looked at Qin Hao in disbelief, ¡°Who exactly are you?¡±


    Qin Hao picked him up and then carried him to the Air Energy Car, which then drove away directly and returned to the rooftop of Xinghai Building.


    On the rooftop, Qin Hao brought Wang Qi with him and asked, ¡°You consider yourself a martial arts expert?¡±


    Wang Qi looked at him and asked, ¡°Who exactly are you? What do you want to do?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Tell me everything you know.¡±


    Wang Qi was taken aback, ¡°What do you want to know?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Where are you from? And what are those families and sects you mentioned?¡±


    Wang Qi¡¯s expression was one of surprise: ¡°You¡¯re so skilled, yet you don¡¯t know about these? Who exactly are you?¡±


    Qin Hao lifted his leg and kicked him: ¡°I¡¯m asking you, talk more nonsense and I¡¯ll ****ing kill you.¡±


    Wang Qi hurriedly said, ¡°I am an outer disciple of the Feiyun Sect. I offended an outer elder and fled from there, eventually ending up here.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°What¡¯s this Feiyun Sect?¡±


    Upon hearing his question, Wang Qi, with a frustrated face, said: ¡°The Feiyun Sect is one of the six major sects in the Jianghu, ranking alongside the eight great families. They are all martial families with hundreds to thousands of years of heritage.¡±


    Six major sects? Eight great martial families?


    This was the first time Qin Hao had heard about these things. He glanced at Wang Qi¡¯s attributes.


    Name: Wang Qi


    Gender: Male


    ...


    Strength: 45, Agility: 39, Intelligence: 20, Constitution: 45.


    These attributes were much stronger than that of an average person. No wonder he had such great influence within the underground societies of Jianghai City; these attributes were enough to crush any ordinary person.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Are all the people in your Jianghu as useless as you?¡±


    Wang Qi: ¡°I am just an outer disciple of the Feiyun Sect. The inner disciples possess high talent, and they can cultivate the sect¡¯s cultivation techniques. They can generate inner strength within their bodies, killing people invisibly, which is extremely terrifying and powerful. I¡¯m not even third-rate compared to them.¡±


    To Qin Hao¡¯s surprise, these things actually existed. However, he wasn¡¯t too worried. Even if these people were powerful, they couldn¡¯t possibly be a match for laser weapons. Even if they could fend off laser weapons, laser cannons were enough to kill them, let alone that Qin Hao also had mechas at his disposal.


    The warriors wearing mechas, each one a peak master¡ªwhat could those people use to compare with mechanical soldiers?


    However, Qin Hao was curious about the cultivation techniques Wang Qi mentioned. The functions of the cultivation techniques and those of the Potential Gene Potion should be similar, both aiming to unlock human potential. Could they possibly be integrated and applied in science?


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Do you know where the Feiyun Sect is? Tell me the exact address.¡±


    Wang Qi: ¡°I can¡¯t remember clearly. The Feiyun Sect is deep in the mountains, surrounded by formations. Ordinary people can¡¯t find it at all.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Which are the six major sects and the eight great families you mentioned?¡±


    ¡°The Feiyun Sect, Heavenly Heart Sect, Hunyuan Sect, Chongxu Sect, White Sun Sect, and Green Cloud Sect are the six major sects. And Kong, Cao, Yan, Hua, Jin Wei Tao Jiang are the eight great families. These are all hidden clans that generally do not emerge.¡±


    Qin Hao took note of them: ¡°Seeing that you have some use, I¡¯ll spare your life for now. Just stay close to me.¡±


    Wang Qi quickly nodded in agreement. His life was now in Qin Hao¡¯s hands, and it was his great fortune not to be killed.


    Qin Hao sent a message to Li Wenjun, asking him to investigate those six major sects and eight great martial families.


    He then said to Wang Qi, ¡°Tell me more about the affairs of your Jianghu. How did you get there and how did you cultivate?¡±


    Not daring to hide anything, Wang Qi revealed everything. He had been sent there since he was a child, although he was not clear on exactly how. Each morning, an outer elder would teach them cultivation techniques, which really meant teaching them how to unlock their bodily potential, not genuine cultivation methods.


    Most of their time was spent working; decades later, their bodies became extraordinary, possessing immense strength. However, due to their poor talent, they could only stay in the outer sect until they grew old and died.


    [Fourth Installment]

 Chapter 786: 786: Shy Ning Yao

    Chapter 786: Chapter 786: Shy Ning Yao


    Qin Hao listened to his words, took out a dose of mind-control drug from his system backpack, and injected him with it, ¡°This is a drug that controls people. If you try to betray me, you will be backlashed to death.¡±


    Wang Qi¡¯s face showed embarrassment, but he had no choice but to accept it. At this point, he was like a fish on the chopping block, at the mercy of others.


    After that, Qin Hao took out a bottle of healing potion and gave it to him, ¡°Drink this, it can heal injuries.¡±


    Wang Qi looked at the healing potion with a puzzled expression. Could this thing really heal wounds? Are you teasing me?


    He didn¡¯t dare to speak out and drank it, but after he did, his expression turned to one of utter shock because he could clearly feel the changes in his body. Within two minutes, all the internal injuries he had sustained and the bruises on the surface of his body were healed.


    ¡°This... This is simply a miraculous healing potion!¡± Wang Qi was immensely shocked, staring at Qin Hao and found himself at a loss for words for a long time.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°This is a healing potion. It¡¯s available on the market. Didn¡¯t you know?¡±


    Wang Qi paused, ¡°Available on the market? It must be very expensive then.¡±


    ¡°Ten thousand Star Coins a dose, expensive?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Wang Qi said, ¡°Ten thousand Star Coins a dose? That¡¯s cheap? How can such a miraculous healing potion be so cheap?¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t bother with him, these people were already somewhat out of touch with the times. Other than having the advantage of their cultivation techniques, they had nothing else, and even that wasn¡¯t an advantage in front of Mecha.


    At half-past ten in the morning, Qin Hao went to Jianghai University, with Wang Qi respectfully following him like a bodyguard.


    Walking on campus, Qin Hao headed toward the sports field. By now, the testing of students from the main campus had been completed, with only nine meeting the standards. Now it was the turn of the students from the east campus.


    Arriving at the temporary tent that had been set up, Qin Hao sat down, with Wang Qi standing motionless behind him.


    Now, groups of more than a dozen students were stepping up for testing, making the process extremely efficient.


    ¡°Beep beep¡±


    The testing device suddenly went off, followed by an electronic voice, ¡°Name: Kong Mengyu, Attribute Value: 9989, Perfect.¡±


    Upon hearing this voice, Qin Hao not only turned to look but also saw a young and beautiful woman, perfect in face and figure, and most captivating was the pristine aura about her, as if a celestial being had descended to earth.


    The people around were also looking at Kong Mengyu, because she was truly too beautiful, the crowned belle of the east campus.


    Even Qin Hao felt a tinge of surprise, and he stood up smilingly and said, ¡°Congratulations, student Shen Mengyu.¡±


    Shen Mengyu looked at him, nodded slightly, and then turned and walked away.


    Afterward, another group came up, ¡°Beep beep¡±


    ¡°Name: Cao Yitian, Attribute Value: 8878, Excellent.¡±


    ¡°Name: Yan Xilong, Attribute Value: 8888, Excellent.¡±


    Two more had passed the potential test consecutively, which surprised Qin Hao a bit. Quite a few talents here.


    He congratulated each in turn, and the two responded politely before stepping down.


    As noon was almost over, Ning Yao and a few others arrived; they were there to find Qin Hao.


    After all the people had gradually left, Ning Yao walked over with a smile on her pretty face, ¡°Haven¡¯t had lunch yet? Let¡¯s go together.¡±


    The teachers from the Future Space Military Academy next to them said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, go ahead and take care of what you need to; we¡¯ve got things covered here, nothing to worry about.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, stood up, and left with Ning Yao; Sun Xiao and several others followed. She looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°When can we start studying at the Space Military Academy, Qin Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°We¡¯ll need to wait until the enrollment is nearly complete, which should take at most a month.¡±


    Sun Xiao nodded, ¡°Oh, then can we bring family members? I¡¯ve heard the environment on Pu¡¯er Island is beautiful and the air is fresh; I¡¯d like my family to accompany me.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°That¡¯s possible. You students who passed the tests have some special privileges; I¡¯ll have someone arrange housing for you by then.¡±


    Sun Xiao was pleasantly surprised, ¡°Really? I heard the houses there are very expensive, even more so than the housing prices in Jianghai City.¡±


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°You have to believe in your own value; you students are worth more than just a house in the future.¡±


    As several people were walking out of the school, someone stopped them.


    This was a young man with strikingly heroic features and quite good-looking at that.


    He looked at Ning Yao and Qin Hao, ¡°You told me you have someone you like, and he¡¯s the one you like?¡±


    Ning Yao¡¯s cheeks instantly turned bright red, and she dared not look at Qin Hao, ¡°Hua Lihui, what are you doing? Who I like is none of your business, is it?¡±


    Hua Lihui was a student of Jianghai University, and he also knew about Qin Hao¡¯s identity, but there was no fear in his eyes, ¡°Qin Hao, Ning Yao is the person I like; I hope you won¡¯t compete with me for her.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, ¡°Some things can¡¯t be obtained by fighting for them; since Ning Yao doesn¡¯t like you, you should stop pestering her.¡±


    Hua Lihui retorted, ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me what to do.¡±


    Qin Hao snorted coldly, ¡°In that case, you can¡¯t dictate what I do either; now step aside and don¡¯t ruin my mood to have lunch.¡±


    At that moment, a dozen combat robots surrounded them; seeing that something was going on with Qin Hao, they automatically came over.


    Hua Lihui¡¯s expression slightly changed upon seeing the combat robots; no matter how formidable he was, he was no match for them. Their steel bodies were too tough, not to mention, the laser weapons in the hands of these combat robots.


    He couldn¡¯t fathom how Qin Hao had managed to develop such formidable devices.


    Qin Hao and the others left with great swagger, prompting Hua Lihui not to dare utter another word.


    Once they were outside the sports field, Qin Hao asked curiously, ¡°Ning Yao, who is this Hua Lihui?¡±


    Ning Yao¡¯s cheeks were still somewhat flushed, her heart pounding like a fawn on the run.


    Sun Xiao answered for Ning Yao, ¡°He is a transfer student to our class; seems like he has some connections, and his grades and all are pretty good.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly; the group reached a small cafe? outside the school. After having lunch, Sun Xiao and a few others found an excuse to go back to the school, leaving Ning Yao and Qin Hao alone.


    Ning Yao mustered up the courage and said, ¡°Qin Hao, let¡¯s go see a movie; Yuhao Media Company¡¯s ¡®Mechanical Soldier 2¡¯ has been released.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback by Ning Yao¡¯s words, ¡°Mechanical Soldier 2 has been released?¡±


    Ning Yao nodded, ¡°Yeah, it premiered a couple of days ago, but it was too crowded to get tickets; there should be fewer people today.¡±


    After speaking, she sneakily glanced at Qin Hao, thinking back to the advice Sun Xiao gave her back at the dorm, which made her blush.


    Sun Xiao had told Ning Yao to invite Qin Hao to a movie, then during the movie to act scared and worried, naturally grabbing onto his hand, followed by strolling the streets, dining out, staying out late, leaving them no choice but to go to a hotel...

 Chapter 787: 787: People of the Hua Family

    Chapter 787: Chapter 787: People of the Hua Family


    Qin Hao had no idea what Ning Yao was thinking. He slightly nodded and the two of them took a car to the nearest cinema.


    The cinema was quite crowded, though not as much as it had been a few days earlier. After buying tickets and some snacks, they queued to enter the screening hall.


    In ¡°Mechanical Soldier 2,¡± the lead actors had been replaced by others from Yuhao Media Company. Qin Hao recognized the female lead; her name was Yu Tiantian.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t know the plot of the movie. This was the second installment written by Zhao Yuying¡¯s company, following the first step of ¡°Mechanical Soldier.¡± Overall, it wasn¡¯t bad and was on par with the first installment.


    During a particularly thrilling scene, Qin Hao felt Ning Yao grab his hand.


    Qin Hao sneakily glanced at her. Ning Yao, with her cheeks flushed, watched the movie and didn¡¯t dare look at Qin Hao, but her grip was very tight.


    She didn¡¯t let go of Qin Hao¡¯s hand even after the movie ended. As they walked out of the cinema, Ning Yao naturally hooked her arm through his. Her heart was pounding, afraid that Qin Hao might suddenly pull away.


    After leaving the cinema, Ning Yao took him shopping and to enjoy some entertainment facilities. After dark, they had a candlelit dinner together.


    Coming out of the restaurant, Ning Yao was still holding onto his arm. She felt a warm comfort throughout her body.


    The two walked along the street, which wasn¡¯t very crowded. The weather was still a bit cold, and there weren¡¯t many people out at night.


    As they walked, Ning Yao said, ¡°Qin Hao, I heard you¡¯re developing the moon. Will people be able to live there in the future?¡±


    Qin Hao slightly nodded, ¡°Yes, once Earth¡¯s population is large enough, we can take a spaceship to the moon. It would only take an hour or two, and you could also enjoy the space scenery.¡±


    Just as Ning Yao was about to speak, two figures suddenly leapt out from the bushes nearby, wielding long swords that shone coldly as they rushed towards Qin Hao.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he moved to shield Ning Yao behind him.


    The two figures approached rapidly, reaching Qin Hao in just a few seconds. Their icy swords aimed for his throat and chest.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression remained calm as he extended his hands, catching the two swords between his fingers, which surprised the attackers. To catch a sword with bare hands ¡ª what sort of strength was that?


    ¡°Crack¡±


    The two swords were instantly snapped by Qin Hao¡¯s fingers. The attackers¡¯ eyes widened in horror as they scrambled back, turning to flee.


    Qin Hao flicked his hands, and two streaks of cold light flashed with extreme speed. This strength erupted purely from his flesh.


    As the cold light was about to stab into the attackers, they released a burst of light from their bodies, shielding themselves from the broken swords. However, the tremendous force sent them flying backwards.


    Seeing this, a glint flashed in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes. Was this the Inner Strength that Wang Qi had mentioned?


    He chased after them. As Qin Hao caught up, the two tried to get up and escape, but after being punched twice by Qin Hao, they no longer had the strength to run.


    Qin Hao looked at them sternly, ¡°Who are you? Why are you trying to assassinate me?¡±


    The two men remained silent, no matter how much he asked.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned cold as he administered a control drug, ¡°First taste the agony of a thousand ants gnawing at your heart.¡±


    At this, their expressions drastically changed. Soon after, a gnawing pain erupted within them, and they writhed on the ground in agony.


    Less than a minute later, they could no longer endure. They hastily said, ¡°We¡¯ll talk, we¡¯ll talk, please give us the antidote quickly.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡± With Qin Hao¡¯s words, they no longer felt the pain.


    Both men were middle-aged. They quickly said, ¡°We were sent by our young master. He instructed us to find an opportunity to kill you and then kidnap Ning Yao.¡±


    Curiously, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Who is your young master? Do I know him?¡±


    ¡°Hua Lihui is our son of the Hua family.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression was slightly startled. Hua Lihui was a son of the Hua Family? Weren¡¯t these families supposed to be out of the public eye?


    In fact, he didn¡¯t know that what Wang Qi had mentioned was about the six major sects staying out of the public eye, while the eight great ancient martial families were very much involved and hidden within this bustling metropolis.


    There were members of the six major sects in the city as well, but very few.


    A smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face. So, Hua Lihui was from the Hua family. He had been trying to find these ancient martial families, and now the opportunity had presented itself.


    ¡°You two go back, tell him the mission failed, and then flee back.¡± Qin Hao said to them.


    The two were stunned for a moment and asked, ¡°What about the antidote?¡±


    ¡°There is no antidote. From now on, behave yourselves, or you¡¯ll get to experience the feeling of ¡®ten thousand ants gnawing at the heart¡¯ every day.¡±


    The two shivered, no longer dared to talk back, and turned to leave.


    Ning Yao came over, curious, and asked, ¡°Who are they? What is their relationship with Hua Lihui?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Xuan Country has eight great ancient martial families, and the Hua Family is one of them. That Hua Lihui is their son, and these two are likely their servants.¡±


    Ning Yao was puzzled: ¡°Eight great ancient martial families? Servants? What era are we in that such family systems still exist?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°There are still empires in interstellar space; compared to that, these ancient martial families are nothing special.¡±


    Ning Yao was stunned for a moment: ¡°There are empires in interstellar space? And they¡¯re surviving? That¡¯s just unbelievable.¡±


    ¡°The universe is vast, full of wonders.¡±


    After speaking, Qin Hao sent a message to Li Wenjun, asking him to keep an eye on that Hua Lihui at Jianghai University.


    The two walked for a while, Ning Yao looking at him several times as if she wanted to speak but stopped herself, clearly struggling to express herself!


    Seeing through her thoughts, Qin Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s getting late; how about I walk you home?¡±


    Ning Yao quickly whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve already told them I won¡¯t be going back tonight.¡±


    ¡°Ah? If you¡¯re not going back, where will you sleep?¡± Qin Hao asked, pretending to be clueless.


    Ning Yao¡¯s cheeks turned red, ¡°I¡¯ll sleep in a hotel...¡±


    The two arrived at the hotel, took the room card, and entered the room, Ning Yao¡¯s heartbeat racing.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be heading back now, you get some rest,¡± Qin Hao said to her.


    As she heard his words, Ning Yao felt anxious and suddenly hugged him from behind, ¡°Don¡¯t go, I¡¯m scared to be alone.¡±


    Qin Hao turned his head, his face brimming with a smile: ¡°Scared of what?¡±


    Realizing his teasing tone, Ning Yao responded, feeling a bit irritated, ¡°Stop it, you¡¯re so bad, always bullying me,¡± while she playfully punched him with her small fists.


    ...


    The next morning.


    Qin Hao and Ning Yao both woke up.


    [Second update]

 Chapter 788: 788 Figured It Out

    Chapter 788: Chapter 788 Figured It Out


    Qin Hao woke up and looked at Ning Yao, smiling.


    Seeing his expression, Ning Yao guessed what he was planning to do, her cheeks flushed red, and she lay there without speaking, effectively consenting.


    After getting out of bed, the two of them casually ate something at the hotel.


    Qin Hao opened the virtual imaging system and checked Hua Lihui¡¯s location; he was no longer at Jianghai University but inside a residential building a hundred stories high, in a room at the very top.


    First, he dropped Ning Yao off at Jianghai University and, before leaving, gave her an F-grade Mecha to ensure her safety.


    After dropping off Ning Yao at the school, Qin Hao took an Air Energy Car to Hua Lihui¡¯s residence, landing on the rooftop, and then got out.


    Upon reaching Hua Lihui¡¯s doorway, Qin Hao knocked. Hua Lihui saw him outside through the indoor monitor.


    When he saw it was Qin Hao, his expression changed slightly. Why has he come here? Could he know that I was behind last night¡¯s incident?


    As these thoughts crossed his mind, Hua Lihui¡¯s eyes flickered, considering how to respond.


    About a minute later, Hua Lihui opened the door, and Qin Hao walked straight in and asked, ¡°Are you from the Hua Family?¡±


    Hua Lihui looked calmly at him and said, ¡°Since you know of the Hua Family, you should be aware of our strength.¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°I really don¡¯t know the strength of your Hua Family. Is it more powerful than laser weapons?¡±


    Hua Lihui was at a loss for words. Although their family was an ancient martial family, and their trained individuals were stronger than ordinary people, they couldn¡¯t compare to laser weapons.


    ¡°What are you here for? If it¡¯s nothing, please leave,¡± Hua Lihui said.


    Qin Hao sat on a luxurious sofa and smiled lightly, ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that last night¡¯s incident was your doing?¡±


    Hua Lihui¡¯s face changed. Those two useless men must have betrayed me, damn it, ¡°What do you want to do?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Generally, those who have tried to kill me are now dead.¡±


    At these words, Hua Lihui¡¯s eyes shone, ¡°The combat robots you produce are indeed strong; not even our family elders are necessarily a match, but that is all external power. You didn¡¯t bring any combat robots with you now, do you think you can handle me?¡±


    ¡°Want to try?¡± Qin Hao said disdainfully.


    Hua Lihui declared, ¡°Today you¡¯ll experience the might of an ancient martial family firsthand.¡±


    He then suddenly moved, his hands turning into claws, aiming for Qin Hao¡¯s shoulders. Qin Hao lifted his leg and kicked out, countering any technique with a single move.


    His kick was far beyond Hua Lihui¡¯s expectations in both speed and strength.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Hua Lihui¡¯s body flew backwards, crashing over a luxurious single-seater sofa.


    Qin Hao stood there, unmoving, his disdainful smile deeply humiliating Hua Lihui: ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you.¡±


    He had never been beaten up from childhood, nor had he ever suffered any slight.


    Especially Qin Hao¡¯s scornful look, it profoundly struck at his self-esteem.


    Hua Lihui struck out with a palm through the air, sending an invisible but intense force of wind, Qin Hao squinted slightly, unafraid and met it with a punch.


    His fist hit the invisible force, dispersing it with the wind, Qin Hao felt like he was punching something tangible.


    Hua Lihui spewed blood and flew backwards, his expression one of shock as he looked at Qin Hao, eyes filled with disbelief. How could he be so powerful?


    ¡°What realm of master are you supposed to be?¡± Qin Hao asked him.


    Hua Lihui remained silent. Qin Hao went up and kicked him, but he still said nothing. Qin Hao sneered and started hitting him with both fists and feet, ¡°Don¡¯t want to talk, huh? I¡¯ll beat you until you do.¡±


    A few minutes later, Hua Lihui finally couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore, ¡°I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll talk.¡±


    Qin Hao said impatiently, ¡°Hurry up, or I¡¯ll beat you until you can¡¯t take care of yourself.¡±


    By now, Hua Lihui¡¯s face was swollen, and his body had countless fractures, ¡°In front of me, I can only be considered a third-rate expert.¡±


    ¡°What is the strongest realm in your family?¡± Qin Hao continued.


    Hua Lihui replied, ¡°Our Supreme Elder is the strongest, rumored to have reached the Postnatal Realm.¡±


    ¡°How strong is the Postnatal Realm?¡±


    Hua Lihui said, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen the Supreme Elder in action, so I¡¯m not sure about the specifics.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°You should know where the headquarters of the eight major families are, right?¡±


    Hua Lihui responded, ¡°I know about the Kong, Cao, and Yan families. The other four families are in the north; I don¡¯t know about them. We don¡¯t communicate much with them, but there are members of the Kong, Cao, and Yan families studying at Jianghai University.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? What are their names?¡±


    ¡°From the Kong Family, it¡¯s Kong Mengyu, from the Cao Family, it¡¯s Cao Yitian, and from the Yan Family, it¡¯s Yan Xilong here studying.¡±


    Qin Hao felt these names sounded familiar; weren¡¯t they the ones who passed the potential test yesterday?


    ¡°Where is the headquarters of your Hua Family?¡±


    Hua Lihui hesitated, but seeing Qin Hao about to make a move, he hurriedly said, ¡°Our Hua Family headquarters is in Nancha Province.¡±


    After clarifying some things, a smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face, ¡°This time I¡¯ll spare your life. If there¡¯s a next time, don¡¯t blame me for not giving the Hua Family any face.¡±


    After he finished speaking, Qin Hao left. He had figured out the headquarters of the Kong, Cao, Yan, and Hua families; he could visit anytime he wanted, as Monks can run away, but the temple won¡¯t run.


    After Qin Hao left, tears of grievances flowed from Hua Lihui¡¯s eyes; when had he ever been beaten so miserably?


    A few minutes later, he took out a communicator and made a call. The phone was quickly answered with a pleasant female voice on the other end, ¡°Hello, what¡¯s up, Lihui?¡±


    ¡°Sis, I got beaten up,¡± Hua Lihui said pitifully.


    Hua Linglong¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, ¡°Who beat you up? With your skills, you can¡¯t beat ordinary people?¡±


    Hua Lihui explained, ¡°She¡¯s no ordinary person, it¡¯s Qin Hao.¡±


    Hua Linglong looked surprised, ¡°Qin Hao? The one who fought with the alien civilization?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sis, it¡¯s him.¡±


    Hua Linglong puzzled, ¡°How did you provoke him? You know his strength; those battle Mechas could flatten our Hua Family.¡±


    ¡°He stole my girlfriend; that¡¯s why we fought, and I couldn¡¯t beat him,¡± he explained.


    Hua Linglong said, ¡°That¡¯s outrageous, sheer bullying! Wait for me, I¡¯m going to Jianghai City. Don¡¯t tell our parents about this yet, or they¡¯ll inevitably give you a beating.¡±


    After all, Qin Hao was no ordinary person. His strength was so great that these ancient martial families didn¡¯t want to provoke him.


    ...


    After Qin Hao left, he sent the information on the Kong, Cao, Yan, and Hua families to Li Wenjun and asked him to keep a close watch.


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 789: 789: Hua Family Hua Mingwang

    Chapter 789: Chapter 789: Hua Family Hua Mingwang


    Just after ten in the morning, Qin Hao arrived at Jianghai University, where the potential test was still ongoing.


    Ning Yao had already returned to the dormitory, where Sun Xiao and the others were wearing sly smiles as they looked at her. Sun Xiao asked with a giggle, ¡°How was it Xiao Yao, did you enjoy last night?¡±


    Ning Yao, wordlessly staring at them, found their question somewhat mortifying.


    Han Jing teased with a laugh, ¡°From the expression on her face, it¡¯s clear to see, it must have been nice, tsk tsk.¡±


    Su Jia also asked, ¡°Is Qin Hao¡¯s combat strength strong? How long did he last?¡±


    Feng Ying added, ¡°Right, if he can last twenty minutes then that¡¯d be awesome, but those five or six-minute types just don¡¯t feel like anything.¡±


    Ning Yao turned bright red with embarrassment. Seeing this, Sun Xiao cast a scornful look at Feng Ying, ¡°Are you complaining about your ex-boyfriend? Each time, he lasted only two or three minutes before finishing. There¡¯s no need to wonder about Qin Hao¡¯s combat strength; it must be incredibly strong, considering last night he took on eight by himself.¡±


    Han Jing sighed, ¡°If I could also have just one time with Qin Hao, I¡¯d die satisfied.¡±


    Upon hearing her words, everyone in the dorm was petrified. That kind of thought was okay in your head, but to actually say it out loud was really badass.


    ...


    After lunch, Qin Hao returned to his residence at Xinghai Building, pondering what attitude he should adopt towards the eight ancient martial families.


    He wanted the cultivation methods of these families to study their peculiarities and, with some luck, maybe even develop more powerful techniques from them.


    He didn¡¯t need to help with the enrollment work for the Galaxy Space Military Academy, as the others were fully capable of handling it.


    At that moment, the doorbell rang outside, and Qin Hao looked up, the monitor showing the person ringing the doorbell.


    It was a young woman in her twenties, with two long braids, looking pure and beautiful.


    Who is this? Qin Hao wondered, his eyes flashing with confusion before he instructed the smart door to open.


    Hua Linglong walked in and saw Qin Hao sitting on the couch.


    Qin Hao looked at her, and she sized him up, ¡°You¡¯re Qin Hao?¡±


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, ¡°And you are? What do you want with me?¡±


    Hua Linglong said, ¡°My name is Hua Linglong. Isn¡¯t it too much that you snatched my brother¡¯s girlfriend and then beat him up?¡±


    When Qin Hao heard her accusations, he laughed, ¡°I snatched your brother¡¯s girlfriend? Please, get your facts straight. She never liked your brother to begin with.¡±


    Hua Linglong retorted, ¡°You must have used some underhanded method. We are all well aware of your high prestige and status on Earth. For you, getting a woman to submit is easy.¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t feel like explaining too much, ¡°Let¡¯s cut to the chase. Why are you here? What do you want to do?¡±


    Hua Linglong declared, ¡°You bully the weak and domineer over both men and women. Today, I am here to seek justice on heaven¡¯s behalf.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao was exasperated, thinking he sounded like a big villain. Does she really think she¡¯s living in ancient times? Taking justice on heaven¡¯s behalf?


    He said in disbelief, ¡°Lady, please wake up to the modern era. Who do you think you are, a heroine? Even if you are, shouldn¡¯t you first understand the situation thoroughly?¡±


    ¡°Enough talk, prepare to die.¡± Hua Linglong drew a soft weapon from her waist, its cold light fierce and sharp edge threatening.


    She flew towards Qin Hao¡ªyes, literally flew¡ªfor her cultivation talent was high, and her strength far exceeded Hua Lihui¡¯s, reaching the realm of a second-rate master.


    But in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes, she was still too weak. He had just checked Hua Linglong¡¯s attribute values, and each was around sixty, which was no match for Qin Hao¡¯s full attributes.


    ¡°Bang, bang¡±


    They exchanged blows, and Hua Linglong¡¯s combat power somewhat surprised Qin Hao. Although her attributes weren¡¯t high, after her inner strength was augmented, her combat power surged significantly. It took three rounds before she was defeated by Qin Hao, who locked her arms and rendered her unable to move.


    Hua Linglong¡¯s arms and legs were both locked by Qin Hao, leaving her immobilized, which filled her with shame and rage: ¡°Bastard, let me go, or I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you try to kill me? I¡¯m standing right here,¡± Qin Hao said with a faint smile.


    Hua Linglong¡¯s cheeks flushed with anger: ¡°Let me go.¡±


    Why would Qin Hao possibly release her? ¡°Speak another word of nonsense, and see if I don¡¯t strip your clothes off.¡±


    Frightened, Hua Linglong dared not struggle any more, cursing with her lips: ¡°Pervert, rogue.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her, his tone contemptuous: ¡°Rest assured, I have no interest in you.¡±


    Hua Linglong felt as if she had been insulted, ¡°Get lost, jerk.¡±


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao said to her, ¡°I can let you go, but you need to behave yourself. Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for being impolite.¡±


    With a snort, Hua Linglong was released by Qin Hao, and she didn¡¯t make another move because Qin Hao¡¯s strength seemed unfathomably deep.


    Qin Hao activated the virtual imaging system of the communicator and called Hua Mingwang.


    About ten seconds later, the call connected, and the two appeared on each other¡¯s video screens. Hua Mingwang¡¯s expression clearly faltered upon seeing Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin, what can I do for you?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Right now, your daughter is in my hands. I want you to come to Jianghai City and have a proper talk with me about the future.¡±


    Hua Mingwang¡¯s expression changed slightly: ¡°Mr. Qin, if Linglong has done anything offensive, I apologize on her behalf and hope you can let her go.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°She wanted to kill me. How can I just let her go? You have half an hour. If you don¡¯t arrive here within that time, don¡¯t blame me for being rude.¡±


    After saying that, he hung up the call. Hua Linglong looked at him and asked, ¡°What exactly do you want to do? Let the one responsible face the consequences; if you want to kill me, just do it.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s mouth curved slightly upwards as he smiled and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of death?¡±


    Hua Linglong sneered back: ¡°Do you think everyone is as afraid of death as you are?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Since you¡¯re not afraid of death, would you be afraid if I stripped off your clothes?¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    Before long, Hua Mingwang arrived at the rooftop of Xinghai Building in an air energy car. It wasn¡¯t just him who got out of the car, but also four white-haired elders who were clearly figures of formidable presence.


    They knocked on Qin Hao¡¯s door and, once it was opened, the five of them entered. Seeing her father and the Supreme Elders, Hua Linglong quickly ran over: ¡°Dad, grandfathers.¡±


    Qin Hao did not stop her and sat there with an indifferent expression, watching them.


    Relieved to see his daughter was unharmed, Hua Mingwang turned to Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin, what did you call us here for?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°You¡¯ve hidden yourselves quite deeply. If it hadn¡¯t been for a chance occurrence, I wouldn¡¯t even have known that beings like you existed on Earth.¡±


    Hua Mingwang explained: ¡°Our clan has ancestral teachings that we follow in all our actions.¡±


    [Fourth Update]

 Chapter 791: 791: Sweeping Through

    Chapter 791: Chapter 791: Sweeping Through


    The Feiyun Sect had a maze at the foot of Feiyun Peak, but no formations on the summit.


    Now, atop the sealed peak was a swarming mass; the Sect Leader and Elders of the Feiyun Sect had all come out.


    Looking at the scene in the sky, Sect Leader Yang Weifeng said, ¡°I do not know which gentleman has graced our Feiyun Sect. Please do come down and have a talk.¡±


    Hundreds of battle robots descended, surrounding the entire Feiyun Sect, and an Air Energy Car also landed.


    Qin Hao, Hua Mingwang, and others got out of the car.


    Seeing Hua Mingwang and the rest, Yang Weifeng¡¯s face stiffened, ¡°Why has Family Head Hua come to our Feiyun Sect with such a show of force?¡±


    A wry smile appeared on Hua Mingwang¡¯s face. What the hell does this have to do with me? Do you really think I¡¯m stupid enough to command these things?


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°This has nothing to do with Family Head Hua. It is I who has come to look for your Feiyun Sect.¡±


    Yang Weifeng turned to look at Qin Hao, a young man in his twenties. Which family does he belong to? Why are the people from the Hua Family following behind him?


    He asked, ¡°What business do you have with our Feiyun Sect?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Was it you who ordered someone to kill Wang Qi?¡±


    Yang Weifeng was taken aback, then an inner door Elder said, ¡°Wang Qi is a traitor of our Feiyun Sect. It¡¯s natural for us to clean our own house. Who are you? The matters of our Feiyun Sect do not need outsiders to interfere.¡±


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°What Feiyun Sect, what traitor. This is Earth, where the law has the final say. You guys are plotting murder, and I am now going to arrest you all. Any objections?¡±


    ¡°Who on earth are you?¡± Yang Weifeng eyed him.


    Qin Hao, ¡°The leader of the Galaxy Federation Republic, Qin Hao. You may not know of me, but today you will. Surrender without resistance or die if you resist.¡±


    The faces of Yang Weifeng and the others changed slightly, ¡°Do you think my Feiyun Sect has no one?¡±


    Qin Hao sneered again, ¡°It¡¯s not about bullying you, it¡¯s about you breaking the law, understand? Take them down, and anyone who dares to resist shall be killed without mercy.¡±


    The battle robots began to take action. Yang Weifeng¡¯s face changed, ¡°You impudent brat, courting death.¡±


    He rushed forward, extremely fast, leaving behind after-images in his original place.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Qin Hao also suddenly made a move; they exchanged a palm strike, and Yang Weifeng staggered back several steps, whereas Qin Hao stood immovable, though he felt a slight numbness in his arm.


    This surprised Qin Hao¡ªYang Weifeng¡¯s palm had carried Inner Strength; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been so terrifying.


    Yang Weifeng was even more shocked; how could this man, who clearly had no cultivation, have such a terrifying physical body?


    Qin Hao, not wanting to waste time with him, pulled out a laser long spear and shot several beams of light toward him.


    Yang Weifeng hurriedly summoned his inner strength to defend; the first shot made him stagger back two steps, and the inner strength shield wobbled. The second shot shattered the shield, causing him to spit blood and stagger backward.


    Just as the third shot was about to hit him, a figure suddenly flew out and with great difficulty blocked the last beam of light.


    A look of interest appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s face. Hua Mingwang and the others, upon seeing the figure, had a slight change of expression, ¡°The Supreme Elder Fei Wuqing of the Feiyun Sect?¡±


    The figure was an old man with white hair and an aura of transcendent dignity. Looking at Qin Hao, he said, ¡°He was merely an outer disciple, and for that, you intend to exterminate my entire Feiyun Sect?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s not about extermination but arresting you. I will certainly release the innocent as long as you do not resist. I promise not to kill you.¡±


    Fei Wuqing looked at the battle robots and air combat devices, having just felt the power of the laser guns; he knew even a dozen shots could be more than he could withstand, let alone the more terrifying weapons mounted on those battle robots and air combat devices.


    Yang Weifeng said to Fei Wuqing, ¡°Supreme Elder, we can¡¯t agree to this. If we do, our Feiyun Sect will be finished.¡±


    Fei Wuqing said, ¡°If we don¡¯t agree, do you think Feiyun Sect can withstand them?¡±


    Looking at the cold, emotionless battle robots and air combat devices, Yang Weifeng found himself at a loss for words.


    ¡°Take them away,¡± Qin Hao ordered with a wave of his hand, and all the people of Feiyun Sect were taken onto air energy cars.


    After everyone was taken away, Qin Hao also ordered a search of Feiyun Sect¡¯s Scripture Pavilion, taking away all the cultivation techniques, even those hidden in secret chambers. Under the scrutiny of high-tech equipment, Feiyun Sect had nowhere to hide.


    Upon seeing this, Yang Weifeng almost spat blood¡ªit was their sect¡¯s accumulation and foundation for hundreds of years.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t return but brought his men to the nearby Hunyuan Sect.


    Atop Hunyuan Peak, Qin Hao and his people surrounded the area, calling in several large air energy buses in the process.


    The people of Hunyuan Peak were dumbfounded, wondering what on earth was going on.


    Using a loudspeaker, Qin Hao shouted, ¡°People of Hunyuan Sect, listen up, I am Qin Hao from the Galaxy Federation Republic. Global unification is now underway, and everybody is to line up in order as commanded. I am taking you back for inspection.¡±


    The Sect Leader of Hunyuan Sect looked up at Qin Hao inside the vehicle, ¡°Qin Hao? Never heard of you. You dare to create trouble at our Hunyuan Sect; do you have a death wish?¡±


    ¡°Submit and live, resist and die.¡±


    The battle robots and air combat devices took action, and Hunyuan Peak burst into brilliance, instantly killing half of them, with the Sect Leader and a host of elders being directly blown apart by the laser cannons.


    The disciples of Feiyun Sect inside the air energy car broke out in cold sweat when they saw this; was this simply too powerful?


    They felt relieved that they had listened to the Supreme Elder. Otherwise, the fate of Hunyuan Sect would have been their own.


    In just a matter of seconds, more than half of Hunyuan Sect lay dead or injured, and the remaining people, terrified, knelt down to surrender.


    ...


    Within a day, Qin Hao used air combat devices and battle robots to sweep through the six major sects, seizing all of their cultivation methods and capturing everyone to Pu¡¯er Island.


    Back in Jianghai City, Qin Hao said to Hua Mingwang, ¡°You know what the Hua Family must do now, right?¡±


    Hua Mingwang nodded hurriedly. If he still didn¡¯t understand what to do, the demise of his family wouldn¡¯t be far off, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Qin, I¡¯m going to prepare right away.¡±


    Qin Hao added, ¡°And pass the word to the other families¡¯ heads as well.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Qin.¡±


    After sending off the Hua Family¡¯s people, Qin Hao sat on the sofa and browsed through the cultivation techniques of the six major sects.


    The techniques from the six sects looked similar, and he casually picked one to practice according to its instructions.


    A few minutes later, he sensed the ¡®inner strength¡¯ described in the technique, which would likely scare the people of the six sects to death if they knew.


    A few minutes to sense the ¡®inner strength¡¯¡ªeven a genius could not be this fast.


    Actually, the main reason was Qin Hao¡¯s high talent and his body¡¯s purity, suitable for cultivation, after undergoing gene enhancement through medicinal solutions.


    [Second Update]

 Chapter 790: 790: The Arrogant Feiyun Sect

    Chapter 790: Chapter 790: The Arrogant Feiyun Sect


    Qin Hao looked at them and said, ¡°Family Head Hua, please take a seat.¡±


    Hua Mingwang and his group sat down, and he started speaking, ¡°My daughter is of a stubborn nature. If she has offended Mr. Qin in any way, I hope for your forgiveness and ask that you don¡¯t hold it against her.¡±


    Hua Linglong felt somewhat displeased, but she didn¡¯t dare say anything.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°She is already of age, and moreover, she is a citizen of Earth. Whatever she has done, she must face the consequences for her actions. Attempting to assassinate me is akin to treason, which carries the death penalty.¡±


    Hua Linglong¡¯s face tensed, and the faces of Hua Mingwang and the several elders kept changing.


    The message from Qin Hao was clear, as long as he wished, Hua Linglong could be killed at any moment.


    Hua Mingwang looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, please speak frankly. As long as it¡¯s within our Hua Family¡¯s power, we will certainly cooperate with you to the best of our abilities.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I want your Hua Family to hand over all Cultivation Methods. I wish to study them and then offer them to the students at the Space Military Academy to cultivate and test.¡±


    Hua Mingwang¡¯s expression changed instantly, and he immediately said, ¡°Mr. Qin, that¡¯s impossible for us to do. The Cultivation Methods are the foundation of our Hua Family. We could never agree to this request under any circumstances.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Working in isolation brings no benefits. Sharing them with me, I might be able to develop even better Techniques, and then everyone could have access to improved Cultivation Techniques.¡±


    No matter what Qin Hao said, Hua Mingwang kept shaking his head. This matter had touched their family¡¯s bottom line, and he could not agree to it, even if Hua Linglong were to die, it would be impossible to hand over the Hua Family¡¯s Techniques.


    Qin Hao could see his determination and said with an expressionless face, ¡°Family Head Hua, please think it over carefully. Let me know when you have made up your mind.¡±


    After speaking, he called out, ¡°Escort Family Head Hua and his party to their rooms to rest.¡±


    Several combat robots came in, leading Hua Mingwang and his group out.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes twinkled with sharpness, he had given Hua Mingwang two days to think it over, and if he failed to understand, then Qin Hao would resort to force.


    Back in their room, Hua Linglong spoke up, ¡°Dad, this Qin Hao is too overbearing. The Techniques belong to our Hua Family. Why should he demand them just like that?¡±


    Hua Mingwang looked at her and said, ¡°I think he has his heart set on our Techniques. If we don¡¯t give them to him, he¡¯s likely to use you as a bargaining chip.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Dad. I¡¯m not afraid,¡± Hua Linglong replied.


    Hua Mingwang let out a sigh, ¡°I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t stop until he gets what he wants.¡±


    ¡°Family Head, should we slip away quietly?¡± the fourth elder of the Hua Family suggested.


    Hua Mingwang: ¡°Leave? To where? The entire Earth is under his control, where could we possibly go?¡±


    ¡°Then should we join forces with other families to oppose him?¡± the third elder said.


    Hua Mingwang shook his head, ¡°Setting aside whether they¡¯re willing to cooperate with us, even if we could form an alliance, do you think we¡¯re a match for Qin Hao? Air Combat Devices, combat robots ¨C we can¡¯t contend with any of that.¡±


    ...


    The next morning, as Qin Hao was having breakfast, Hua Mingwang and his entourage walked in.


    Hua Mingwang started speaking, ¡°Mr. Qin, there are still some issues within my family. Today, we came to bid you farewell.¡±


    While continuing his breakfast, Qin Hao looked at him and asked, ¡°Have you made up your mind about the matter?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I cannot agree to the matter concerning the Techniques.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke indifferently, ¡°Then think it over some more. You can leave when you¡¯ve come to a decision. My patience has its limits.¡±


    Hua Mingwang and his companions¡¯ faces turned somewhat awkward. Was Qin Hao planning to place them under house arrest?


    Just as Hua Mingwang was about to speak, Qin Hao¡¯s communicator suddenly rang. It was a call from Wang Qi, ¡°Master, save me quick, the people from the Feiyun Sect have found me.¡±


    The Feiyun Sect?


    Qin Hao revealed a smile on his face, stood up and said, ¡°Family Head Hua, you and the others come with me for a trip.¡±


    They took the Air Energy Car to the mountain-top villa where Wang Qi was located, and in just one minute, Qin Hao and his group arrived at the villa on the mountain peak.


    At that moment, three figures emerged from within the villa, with Wang Qi¡¯s head in their hands; he had already been killed by the people of the Feiyun Sect.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed, and a sharp glint flashed by. These people really did ignore the laws of the outside world, this was not what he wanted to see.


    ¡°Stop, how dare you kill someone in broad daylight, you lot have quite the guts,¡± Qin Hao got out of the car, his tone ice-cold.


    The three figures halted and faced Qin Hao, ¡°We are on Feiyun Sect business. Out of the way, or we¡¯ll kill you too.¡±


    Qin Hao scoffed, ¡°Feiyun Sect has quite the audacity. Better surrender without resistance, or you won¡¯t be able to handle the consequences.¡±


    The three people didn¡¯t recognize Qin Hao, how could they possibly listen to him: ¡°Seeking death, you dare meddle in the affairs of the Feiyun Sect?¡±


    After speaking, one of them charged over. A gun appeared in Qin Hao¡¯s hand, a glint of light flashed, and a hole appeared in the person¡¯s forehead, then he fell down stiffly.


    The other two visibly paled, looking at the laser gun in Qin Hao¡¯s hand with a hint of fear, and their tone softened, ¡°I advise you not to interfere with the Feiyun Sect¡¯s matters.¡±


    Qin Hao was expressionless, ¡°Now you only have two choices, either die or surrender obediently.¡±


    The two exchanged glances and almost simultaneously attacked Qin Hao from two directions, their speed was very quick.


    In their eyes, although Qin Hao¡¯s weapon was truly formidable, they were confident they could kill Qin Hao in close combat.


    ¡°Swoosh, swoosh¡±


    Two flashes of light passed by, and before the two could make it a few steps, they were brought down by Qin Hao¡¯s laser gun, its formidable power truly shocking Hua Mingwang and his entourage.


    Qin Hao took out the communicator and made a call to Li Wenjun, ¡°Have you determined the exact locations of the six major sects?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve been determined, all in deep mountains and dense forests, I¡¯ve already sent the detailed locations to your communicator.


    As long as these people are on Earth, they will be detected by high-level radar surveillance satellites; they really have nowhere to hide.¡±


    Qin Hao hung up the communicator and sent a message to the military robot numbered 003 at the Xuan Country District military base, asking them to dispatch Air Combat Devices and combat robots to the Feiyun Sect¡¯s location.


    After giving the instruction, Qin Hao glanced at Hua Mingwang and the others, ¡°Get in the car, we¡¯re going to the Feiyun Sect.¡± Saying so, he was the first to get into the car.


    The fourth elder of the Hua Family glanced at Hua Mingwang, signaling whether they should take the opportunity to sneak attack Qin Hao from behind.


    Hua Mingwang shook his head; he had an understanding of Qin Hao¡¯s strength from his daughter, very strong. If the sneak attack failed, their Hua Family would truly be finished.


    Once in the car, they drove off towards the vast mountainous area of the Xuanzhong Region; the Feiyun Sect was located on the Feiyun Peak amidst the vast ranges.


    Along the way, Qin Hao did not speak. In about five minutes, the Air Energy Car arrived in the airspace above Feiyun Peak.


    The area was already surrounded by air combat and combat robots, and the people of the Feiyun Sect had noticed, now all of them gathered in the practice square at the top of the peak, their eyes full of confusion and puzzlement looking at the Air Combat Devices and combat robots.

 Chapter 792: 792: A Thousand Miles in a Day

    Chapter 792: Chapter 792: A Thousand Miles in a Day


    The cultivation method of the Hunyuan Sect was called the Mixed Element Skill, which sounded quite formidable, but in reality, it was not much different from the techniques of a few other families and only had seven layers.


    Qin Hao had cultivated for a day and had already reached the first level of the Mixed Element Skill, which was what people in the martial world commonly referred to as a third-rate expert¡¯s realm.


    One thing that surprised Qin Hao was that his attribute values had increased slightly.


    Originally, all four of his attribute values were 100, and he thought that this was already the limit of the human body, but as soon as he attained the first level of the Mixed Element Skill, his strength, agility, and constitution each increased by two points. Although not much, it was an unexpected gain.


    How much would his attribute values increase if he cultivated to the seventh level of the Mixed Element Skill?


    He would need to thoroughly study this technique when he got back. If he could figure out the subsequent levels, this might represent a revolutionary change.


    Around six in the evening, Ning Yao came to find him. Qin Hao opened the door, and she walked in, ¡°What have you been doing at home by yourself?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been studying the ancient martial techniques of those martial families.¡±


    ¡°How is it? Do ancient martial arts really exist?¡± Ning Yao asked curiously.


    Qin Hao gathered the Inner Strength in his fingers, and a burst of Qi Force exploded out, shattering the teacup on the coffee table six or seven meters away with a bang.


    Ning Yao watched, dumbfounded, ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so powerful?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°The power is decent, but it still doesn¡¯t compare to a laser gun. Would you like to try cultivating it too? I have the cultivation method from Heavenly Heart Sect, which is more suitable for women¡ªthe Heavenly Heart Sect is made up of female martial artists.¡±


    Ning Yao nodded, ¡°Sure, I grew up watching martial arts TV shows, and my fascination with martial arts is quite serious.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯ve sent the Heavenly Heart Sect¡¯s cultivation method to your communicator. You can just follow it to cultivate later. Let¡¯s go eat first.¡±


    The two left the room; there was a restaurant in the Xinghai Building just below. They took the elevator down, and the restaurant here was bustling with many young men and women dining inside.


    Qin Hao found a random spot to sit down and while he was having dinner, he received a call from Chang Jing, ¡°Xiao Hao, what¡¯s the deal with those people?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°They are from the six major factions of the martial world in Xuan Country. I got their cultivation techniques, and I¡¯ll send them to you now. Then you can have my people research these techniques and see if we can develop even more powerful and refined attacks.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao sent those techniques to Chang Jing.


    After dinner with Ning Yao, they returned to their room and got entwined with each other again.


    After they were done, Ning Yao lay in his arms, holding him tight, her eyes slightly closed, and her face bearing a smile.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°I should be returning to Pu¡¯er Island in a couple of days. Come back with me.¡±


    Ning Yao said, ¡°I¡¯m not ready yet. Once the Galaxy Space Military Academy starts, I¡¯ll go with Sun Xiao and my parents.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Alright, remember to call me if anything comes up.¡±


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao took Ning Yao back to Jianghai University. She would be going back to her hometown in the next few days to inform her parents.


    Today, Qin Hao also received calls from the eight major ancient martial arts families, who were willing to relocate to Pu¡¯er Island and to share their cultivation techniques for Qin Hao¡¯s research. They would follow Qin Hao¡¯s orders in all matters.


    Helpless under Qin Hao¡¯s roof, they had to bow their heads. Qin Hao¡¯s combat robots and air combat devices were too powerful, and his methods made them fearful. This guy was truly willing to take action. If they didn¡¯t want to be destroyed, they had no choice but to obediently comply.


    The recruitment plan for the Space Military Academy was still underway, with Chang Jing also sending people and equipment for recruitment in West Continent and Mizhou.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao returned to Pu¡¯er Island, as the eight major ancient martial arts families were also gradually moving in. Chang Jing had already arranged their accommodations, placing them within the same area as the members of the six sects.


    Upon returning to Pu¡¯er Island, Qin Hao went to find Chang Jing, who was now in the underground base¡¯s laboratory.


    Inside the base¡¯s laboratory, Chang Jing was talking with He Tingting. Qin Hao approached and asked, ¡°How is it going? Have you discovered anything from those cultivation techniques?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re still researching. It requires simulation of the human body cultivating the techniques, and it would be best if someone who has personally cultivated them were involved in the research,¡± He Tingting said.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°These cultivation techniques are quite simple. You all can practice them, and then carry on with the research.¡±


    He Tingting nodded her head; she had the same idea.


    Qin Hao asked Chang Jing, ¡°Has there been any situation with the space monitoring satellites? Have people from the Interstellar Federation arrived?¡±


    Chang Jing shook her head, ¡°We haven¡¯t detected anything for the time being.¡±


    Qin Hao frowned slightly. It had been two months; why was there still no movement on their part? Could it be they didn¡¯t want to deal with us?


    After thinking for a moment, he said to Chang Jing, ¡°In the next few days, have someone prepare various space signal devices. I¡¯m going to the Interstellar to take a look.¡±


    Chang Jing was startled, ¡°To the Interstellar? Going alone is too dangerous for you. The Lei Meng Duchy, Silver Star Free Federation, Flame Dragon Work, and Nanyan Duchy are all near the endless meteorite zone. Last time we destroyed so many of their warships. If they discover you, they will surely kill you.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll be careful. This trip, by connecting to the Interstellar network, we won¡¯t be as ignorant about the Interstellar as we are now.¡±


    Chang Jing was still somewhat worried, ¡°Going alone is really too dangerous.¡±


    ¡°I have the D-grade Mecha for protection, so escaping shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Don¡¯t worry. After I leave, the overall situation on Earth is in your hands. Develop it quietly according to the plan I gave you.¡±


    Knowing that he had made up his mind and that it was difficult for anyone to stop him, Chang Jing said, ¡°You can rest assured about matters on Earth. Do you want to bring some bodyguards with you this trip?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s take some. It¡¯s good to have someone to look out for me,¡± Qin Hao said.


    After leaving the base, Qin Hao went to the residences of the members of the six sects and the eight ancient martial families. These people had exceptional skills and needed to be closely monitored.


    There, Qin Hao saw several familiar faces ¨C Kong Mengyu, Cao Yitian, Yan Xilong, and a few younger individuals sitting together, chatting.


    These three were individuals who had passed the potential test he conducted initially. Qin Hao had not expected them to be members of the eight major ancient martial arts families.


    ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± Kong Mengyu, Hua Linglong, and the others quickly stood up and greeted him with respect.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°What are you all discussing?¡±


    Shen Mengyu replied, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯re discussing martial arts.¡±


    With a smile, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Where would you say my level stands in the Ancient Martial World?¡± After speaking, he released a surge of inner strength, punching a finger hole more than ten centimeters deep into the stone table.

 Chapter 793: 793 Departure

    Chapter 793: Chapter 793 Departure


    Kong Mengyu and the others were stunned, especially Hua Linglong, whose face was overtly filled with shock.


    Just a few days ago, Qin Hao was someone who had never cultivated, and now he possessed such strong inner strength¡ªhow was that possible? Hua Linglong could hardly believe it.


    Kong Mengyu of the Kong Family said, ¡°Mr. Qin, judging by the strength of your inner strength, you can now be considered a third-rate expert. How long have you been cultivating?¡±


    Being a third-rate expert was nothing remarkable in the eyes of these clans¡¯ geniuses, as Kong Mengyu and the others were almost second-rate experts themselves.


    Hua Linglong said, ¡°You hadn¡¯t even started cultivating a few days ago, so how do you have inner strength now, and how did you become a third-rate expert?¡±


    When Kong Mengyu, Cao Yitian, and others heard her words, their eyes widened in shock. He had no inner strength a few days ago? Only in the past couple of days had he obtained it?


    Could it be that he had cultivated inner strength within two days and had become a third-rate expert?


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I cultivated the Mixed Element Skill for one day yesterday, and then I had inner strength. Is cultivation that difficult?¡±


    Hua Linglong, Kong Mengyu, and others looked at him with utterly shocked expressions. Cultivating the Mixed Element Skill for one day and reaching the level of a third-rate expert? Damn, what kind of monster is this?


    They stood there, staring at him blankly, their faces filled with shock.


    ¡°Why are you all staring at me like that?¡± Qin Hao curled his lip.


    Hua Linglong said speechlessly, ¡°Do you know how long it takes us to cultivate from ordinary people to third-rate experts? Even for those with great talent, it takes several years, and for others, more than a decade. You became a third-rate expert in one day¡ªdo you still consider yourself human?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Don¡¯t beat around the bush and insult me, thinking I won¡¯t understand. Go back and tell your clan to stay put and avoid trouble. Anyone who causes problems, I will annihilate their clan.¡±


    Hua Linglong and others nodded. Now that they were on Qin Hao¡¯s territory, they dared not harbor any ill thoughts and only prayed that Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t target them.


    Yan Zihui from the Yan Family asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, I would also like to study at the Space Military Academy. May I?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°As long as you pass the test, you can. But once you¡¯re at the academy, if anyone uses their martial power to bully other students, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless.¡±


    Yan Zihui nodded quickly, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Qin, we will definitely adhere to the school rules.¡±


    After talking to them for a while, Qin Hao then left.


    Four days later, the recruitment at the Galaxy Space Military Academy was still in full swing. Now with more testing equipment, it would probably take about half a month to complete.


    That day, Qin Hao arrived at the base with twenty Shadow Guards beside an interstellar warship, while Chang Jing, Du Wanrou, Xia Qing, Xu Siyao, and others saw him off.


    Du Wanrou, with her belly protruding, said, ¡°Be careful out there, and come back early.¡±


    Qin Hao gently hugged her, ¡°Hmm, I will come back early.¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao, if you don¡¯t come back soon, I will bring the fleet to find you,¡± Miao Jing said to him.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°After the fleet grows stronger, we can expand the patrol area. If I do not return for a long time, you can take the warship to the Endless Asteroid Belt to meet me.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Qin Hao and his group boarded the interstellar warship, with Leng Xuan, the current leader of the Shadow Guards, in charge of Qin Hao¡¯s security. These Shadow Guards wore D-grade mechas, all of which had been produced and equipped for them to ensure Qin Hao¡¯s protection.


    The warship rose from the seabed, soaring into the high sky. Only those close to him knew that Qin Hao was leaving today, and no one else did.


    Soon, the interstellar warship ascended into the high sky and flew towards the deep cosmos, headed for the Endless Asteroid Belt. According to the chip information on those warships, it would take nearly three months to reach the Endless Asteroid Belt from Earth.


    If everything went smoothly, the round trip would take over six months by then, Du Wanrou would be close to giving birth.


    He only hoped he could make it back in time to witness the birth of his child.


    Inside the warship, Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, ¡°Leng Xuan, take a look at these cultivation techniques. Since you¡¯re free anyway, practicing them could enhance your physical attributes.¡±


    Qin Hao passed on many cultivation books to Leng Xuan for him to choose from.


    Leng Xuan glanced over and picked one. Although ¡®Stellar Wander¡¯ sounded appealing, in reality, it was a terribly dull affair.


    For a day or two, you might marvel at the endless splendor of space, but after ten days to a half-month, you¡¯d start to find it boring; in one or two months, normal people would easily become irritable and lose their temper.


    If there was a group of people, it might be a bit better, with others to talk to and pass the time.


    That¡¯s why modern long-distance interstellar ships are equipped with numerous entertainment facilities, such as various games, gambling, beautiful women, and so on.


    After sitting on the warship for two or three days, Qin Hao also became somewhat annoyed. He started practicing ancient martial arts to pass the time during his boredom.


    As days passed, the inner strength within Qin Hao¡¯s body grew more abundant and robust. If those from the ancient martial families saw this, they would probably be dumbstruck.


    Because in one month¡¯s time, Qin Hao had cultivated the Mixed Element Skill to the third level, roughly equivalent to the realm of a first-class expert.


    One day, after eating something, Qin Hao asked, ¡°How much longer until we reach the Endless Meteorite Zone?¡±


    A Shadow Guard beside him replied, ¡°Master, it will take about two more months.¡±


    Qin Hao sighed, sat on the bed, and continued to practice the Hunyuan Sect¡¯s cultivation technique; he was almost sick of practicing daily.


    The monotonous days slowly passed, and two months later, Qin Hao was awakened from his cultivation by Leng Xuan.


    Qin Hao opened his eyes, his gaze sharp, and an invisible aura emanated from him, causing Leng Xuan to stiffen.


    Leng Xuan¡¯s face showed surprise. Inner strength manifested outwardly? Grandmaster Realm?


    The levels in the Ancient Martial World were divided into: Third-rate ¨C Second-rate ¨C First-rate ¨C Postnatal ¨C Innate ¨C Grandmaster ¨C Heavenly Human Realm, a total of seven major realms.


    In three months, Qin Hao had cultivated to the peak of the Grandmaster Realm, significantly enhancing his physical attributes and explosively increasing his combat power.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Have we arrived yet?¡±


    ¡°We are almost at the Endless Meteorite Zone,¡± Leng Xuan replied.


    Qin Hao walked to the front of the command cabin, looking at the star map on the screen, which had specific location markers.


    They were now very close to the Endless Meteorite Zone, but the warship had stopped because not far ahead, many people and interstellar vessels were detected.


    Moreover, their interstellar warship could not enter the Endless Meteorite Zone because at the other end of the zone, various nations¡¯ armed forces were present. Since he had no formal identity in interstellar space, recklessly driving an interstellar warship in would lead to being blown up.


    However, Qin Hao was well prepared. He said, ¡°Everyone, board that small cosmic exploration ship. Remember, our identity is that of explorers from the Southern Wilderness Star System.¡±


    All aboard the warship boarded a smaller ship, which then flew out from the warship.


    Qin Hao directed the interstellar warship to find a deserted and hidden planet to conceal itself.


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 794: 794 Nanming Star

    Chapter 794: Chapter 794 Nanming Star


    Qin Hao and his crew were piloting a cosmic exploration ship, heading to a nearby endless asteroid zone.


    Soon, Qin Hao saw many other cosmic exploration ships like his, all small in size.


    Some were just leaving a planet, some headed towards one, and others flew towards the limitless asteroid zone¡¯s passage.


    Qin Hao¡¯s small spaceship was inconspicuous and did not attract anyone¡¯s attention.


    Over ten minutes later, Qin Hao and his team arrived at the entrance of the endless asteroid zone, where many ships were queuing.


    Qin Hao and his crew stood on the deck watching ahead, where warships were docked, and people were collecting money.


    Once the passage to the endless asteroid zone was opened, people from four nations took turns charging fees here. Anyone could enter the Southern Wilderness Star System to treasure hunt, but they had to pay a fee, and pay again when exiting.


    It was soon Qin Hao¡¯s ship¡¯s turn. Two men in armor, their faces visible, sized up Qin and his company, ¡°Where are you guys from? We don¡¯t have an entry record for you.¡±


    Qin Hao smilingly said, ¡°We entered as soon as the passage opened and got lost deep in the Southern Wilderness Star System, it took us a while to find our way back.¡±


    The middle-aged man in armor asked, ¡°I heard the depths of the Southern Wilderness Star System are rich in resources, you must have made a fortune this time, right?¡±


    Qin Hao could detect his implication and chuckled, ¡°We spent all our star coins before coming in, there are some rare resources here.¡±


    After speaking, Qin Hao brought out a pouch containing some rare metals. These rare metals were a hard currency in interstellar transactions, valuable anywhere.


    Seeing this, a smile spread across the middle-aged man¡¯s face; what Qin Hao provided was worth more than a few cosmic ships¡¯ fees.


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Brother, I caught some natives without identities in the star system, any way you can help procure some identity proofs?¡±


    After speaking, Qin Hao handed him some more rare metals, and the middle-aged man¡¯s smile widened, ¡°This is a small matter. Here¡¯s the brother¡¯s number, just call him once you are out of the passage.¡±


    Having written down the contact number, Qin Hao piloted the spaceship into the passage of the endless asteroid zone. The corridor was about a hundred meters wide, surrounded by large and small asteroids in irregular motion, their speed very high.


    Even an interstellar warship navigating inside wouldn¡¯t last a minute before getting smashed to pieces.


    The passage was long; it took Qin Hao¡¯s ship half a day to exit the endless asteroid zone.


    Qin Hao made a call, ¡°Hello, is this Mr. Yang?¡±


    The person on the phone responded, ¡°You are the one seeking help, right? My brother told me about you. Come directly to Zhudao City¡¯s port on Nanming Star, call me again when you are at the port.¡±


    ¡°Alright, we are on our way.¡±


    Qin Hao piloted the cosmic exploration ship towards Nanming Star. He had the complete star map, which he had extracted from the chips of mercenaries¡¯ battleships.


    His star map was very comprehensive, showing what each planet was called and the cities on those planets.


    Qin Hao input Nanming Star, Zhudao City, and the cosmic exploration ship headed there.


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao could see Nanming Star, a planet several dozen times larger than Earth with a very large population.


    Zhudao City was a mid-sized city on this planet.


    After Qin Hao¡¯s spaceship landed at the port, before he could make a call, someone shouted to them, ¡°Over here!¡±


    Qin Hao and his crew of over twenty people walked over, Hong Xiuji looked at them briefly, ¡°These people have no identity info?¡±


    ¡°Correct, once Mr. Hong has arranged it, I surely won¡¯t let you down.¡±


    Hong Xiuji replied, ¡°Creating identity proofs for so many people will cost a lot.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°No worries, money is not an issue.¡±


    Hong Xiuji smirked internally, sensing that Qin Hao must have gained quite a lot from the Southern Wilderness Star System; he decided he must really cash in on him this time.


    ¡°Follow me,¡± Hong Xiuji told them.


    Qin Hao and his twenty companions boarded his large vehicle, which just managed to fit them all.


    He led Qin Hao and the others to his workplace, though calling it a workplace was somewhat generous¡ªit was a small, dilapidated house filled with various sophisticated devices.


    Qin Hao looked around and asked, ¡°Are you sure the identities you create won¡¯t be detectable by others?¡±


    This person clearly belonged to the same type as those on Earth who made fake documents.


    Hong Xiuji, somewhat displeased, replied, ¡°Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s identity verification system has flaws, and I control those flaws. Doubt my abilities again, and I¡¯ll kick you out immediately.¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled without further comment. A few people gave him their names, which he and his assistant started entering into the devices.


    About ten minutes later, Hong Xiuji had finished. He held over twenty cards, the identity proofs for several people.


    Qin Hao reached out to take a look, but Hong Xiuji withheld them, ¡°Money first.¡±


    ¡°How much?¡± Qin Hao inquired.


    ¡°Three million star coins,¡± Hong Xiuji stated.


    Qin Hao frowned slightly. Three million star coins was not a trivial amount. He had given the inspector of his ship rare metals worth only several hundred thousand, but this guy was asking for millions, thinking he could fleece him?


    ¡°I don¡¯t have the money,¡± Qin Hao said, laughing.


    Hong Xiuji replied, ¡°You have rare metals, which will also do.¡±


    Qin Hao had someone bring out two bags of rare metals and gave them to him, ¡°Will these suffice?¡±


    ¡°Not enough, you need to bring two more bags,¡± Hong Xiuji responded.


    This time, Qin Hao had taken a lot of these items because he didn¡¯t have the local currency and needed to exchange these items for money.


    He gave him two more bags, which satisfied Hong Xiuji. He manipulated the cards a bit more before handing them to Qin Hao, ¡°There won¡¯t be any issues with your identity info, but if someone looks closely, they might discover something because you guys appeared so suddenly. However, nobody generally checks, and you should be fine using these.¡±


    Qin Hao gave a faint smile, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    After speaking, he turned and walked away. Leng Xuan and a few others suddenly took action and killed Hong Xiuji and his assistant.


    These two had to die no matter what.


    Qin Hao stood downstairs for a while until Leng Xuan and his crew came out. Leng Xuan said to him, ¡°Master, this is 730,000 star coins in cash, and we¡¯ve also taken out some valuable items. Where do we go now?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s exchange those rare metals for money first. Without money, we can¡¯t do a thing here,¡± Qin Hao told him.

 Chapter 795: 795 Fang Haoming

    Chapter 795: Chapter 795 Fang Haoming


    Qin Hao looked up a rare metal trading company using the interstellar map.


    In several planets surrounding the endless meteorite passage, there were many such companies. They generally bought rare metals from people there and then found channels to resell them.


    Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan and the others, ¡°Some of you go back to the spacecraft. We don¡¯t need so many people to follow.¡±


    Leng Xuan sent fifteen people back, with six remaining to follow him.


    They took the city light rail of Zhudao City and arrived in Anchuan District, where almost all the rare metal trading companies were located.


    Getting off the light rail, Qin Hao and his group walked on the streets. He surveyed the environment¡ªthere were hardly any trees, the air wasn¡¯t very good, and aside from buildings and roads, there was a complete lack of vegetation.


    This planet had been terraformed later on and had originally been a barren one.


    There were quite a few cars and people on the streets. Qin Hao took out the rare metals from the system backpack, and each person carried some, amounting to several hundred pounds.


    This type of rare metal had an average price of over one hundred thousand Wan Xing currency per kilogram, which all together could sell for tens of millions of Wan Xing currency.


    Qin Hao and his companions walked for a while, and then they saw a large metal trading market. This place had sellers and buyers of metals, and almost every kind of metal was available.


    The market was a circular building. Walking inside, Qin Hao saw many people setting up stalls, some selling and others buying.


    Qin Hao walked around the circle and then returned to the center, where six rather large businesses were buying various kinds of rare metals. The signs indicated they were substantial companies.


    He approached one of the stalls and, taking out a piece of rare metal, asked, ¡°How do you buy this?¡±


    The person at the stall glanced at him dismissively and then froze, exclaiming in surprise, ¡°E-grade rare metal?¡±


    Upon hearing this, several people at nearby stalls couldn¡¯t help but turn their heads to look, and when they saw the metal in Qin Hao¡¯s hands, they too were stunned.


    ¡°Young man, I can¡¯t decide on this. Just wait a second, I¡¯ll call our young master,¡± he said.


    Several people at nearby stalls hurriedly made calls to their own bosses. E-grade rare metal was extremely rare here.


    About two minutes later, a group of people marched grandly into the market, heading straight for this spot.


    ¡°Who is selling E-grade rare metal?¡± Fang Haoming came forward and asked.


    The person at the stall responded, ¡°Young master, it¡¯s this young man who wants to sell.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Fang Haoming, who was sizing him up, ¡°You are selling E-grade rare metal? How much do you have?¡±


    ¡°All of these, what¡¯s your offer?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Fang Haoming said, ¡°Fair price: eighty thousand Wan Xing currency per kilogram.¡±


    Before Qin Hao could speak, a woman¡¯s voice came from another stall nearby, ¡°Eighty thousand Wan Xing currency? Fang Haoming, it¡¯s a bold price to declare. Sir, I¡¯ll take all of it at one hundred thousand Wan Xing currency per kilogram.¡±


    Fang Haoming turned to look with a somewhat embarrassed expression, ¡°Are you trying to stir up trouble, Shui Huilan?¡±


    Shui Huilan smiled faintly, ¡°It¡¯s not me stirring up trouble, but don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being too oppressive? Only eighty thousand for E-grade rare metal.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Shui Huilan and said, ¡°I¡¯ll sell these metals to you.¡±


    Shui Huilan gave a soft smile, ¡°Very well, sir. Mr. Fu, please weigh this gentleman¡¯s metals.¡±


    Fang Haoming¡¯s expression changed slightly. So many E-grade rare metals would yield at least tens of millions in profit. Most importantly, the Fang Family was planning to build a warship; if this were to be delivered to them, his future position within the Fang Family would surely ascend by leaps and bounds, even potentially becoming the Family Head one day.


    ¡°Hold on, does Fang Haoming run a business where you think you can deal or not deal as you please?¡± Fang Haoming coldly huffed.


    Qin Hao turned his head and looked at him, ¡°My stuff, I¡¯ll sell to whoever I want, what are you going to do about it?¡±


    Fang Haoming looked at Qin Hao with disdain and said, ¡°Kid, today you¡¯ve got to sell, whether you like it or not.¡±


    As his words fell, the dozen or so bodyguards behind him stood out, ready to make a move on Qin Hao and his people at Fang Haoming¡¯s command.


    Shui Huilan¡¯s expression changed slightly, was Fang Haoming trying to coerce a sale?


    She had come out in a hurry earlier and had not brought any bodyguards, so she gave Mr. Fu a look.


    Around them, quite a few people who had heard the commotion began to gather around.


    ¡°Is Fang Haoming trying to force a sale again? It¡¯s happened several times, and nobody steps in.¡±


    ¡°Step in? His Fang Family is so powerful in Zhudao City, who would dare?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s over, this young man is going to be unlucky.¡±


    ¡°You can tell he¡¯s too young, walking around with so much Grade E rare metal, he could easily be robbed.


    ¡°The people from the Fang Family are too domineering. I fear this young man won¡¯t even make it out of Zhudao City alive, even if he does sell to him.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao looked at Fang Haoming and said, ¡°Someone like you, still daring to threaten me?¡±


    Fang Haoming, having been looking for a suitable reason, laughed heartily upon hearing him, ¡°Dare to call me rubbish? You¡¯ve got guts, kid. Get him, break his legs and leave all the stuff behind for me.¡±


    His bodyguards surged forward, while Leng Xuan and his six people met them head-on.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Leng Xuan and his group all had bodies transformed by attribute genetic serums, and they had also practiced their cultivation techniques on the way there, making their strength beyond imagination.


    In less than a minute, all of Fang Haoming¡¯s bodyguards and subordinates were downed by the six from Leng Xuan¡¯s group who remained unscathed.


    The crowd around them was shocked, ¡°Damn, these six bodyguards are awesome.¡±


    ¡°This skill is really incredible, Fang Haoming has really kicked an iron plate this time.¡±


    ¡°With such formidable bodyguards, this young man might not be of ordinary origin.¡±


    Seeing this outcome, Shui Huilan¡¯s beautiful eyes gleamed with admiration for the impressive skills of these six men.


    Fang Haoming was stunned, unable to believe what he was seeing, ¡°How is this possible? These bodyguards are all well-trained by the Fang Family.¡±


    Qin Hao walked up to Fang Haoming, slapped him twice across the face, ¡°With this rubbish, you still want to mess with me? Compete with me? You really don¡¯t know your own weight.¡±


    Fang Haoming¡¯s expression was fierce, ¡°You dare hit me? This is Zhudao City, the territory of the Fang Family, you¡¯re dead, I¡¯m telling you.¡±


    ¡°Slap slap slap¡±


    Qin Hao quickly slapped Fang Haoming, causing him to see stars and his head to buzz. When Qin Hao finally stopped, Fang Haoming¡¯s head was still swaying from side to side.


    The people around started laughing when they saw this, and Shui Huilan couldn¡¯t help but snort a laugh.


    Seconds later, Fang Haoming fell to the ground, and Qin Hao, not deigning to give him another glance, said to Shui Huilan, ¡°Beauty, let¡¯s get on with the trade.¡±


    Shui Huilan nodded slightly, ¡°Mr. Fu, weigh these for me, please.¡±

 Chapter 796: 796 Shui Huilan

    Chapter 796: Chapter 796 Shui Huilan


    Mr. Fu weighed those rare metals, a total of six hundred and thirty-two pounds, amounting to sixty-three million two hundred thousand Xing credits.


    In the interstellar world, the term ¡®Xing credits¡¯ refers to a different concept from that on Earth; they are not the same currency.


    On Earth, ¡®Xing credits¡¯ is short for ¡®Xinghai credits,¡¯ while in the interstellar community, ¡®Xing credits¡¯ refers to ¡®interstellar credits.¡¯


    After checking the rare metals, Shui Huilan transferred the money to Qin Hao, giving him a card that could be swiped anywhere in the interstellar community without restriction.


    Shui Huilan looked at Qin Hao with a smile and asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, you are not from the Lei Meng Duchy, are you? May I know where you come from?¡±


    ¡°Tanglong Empire in the Tanglong Star System,¡± Qin Hao replied indifferently.


    A flicker of surprise passed through Shui Huilan¡¯s eyes. The Tanglong Empire? That was one of the eight great empires in the galaxy, and it was located far, far away, almost at the center of the universe. It was also very powerful among the eight empires.


    Just then, a group of people walked into the market, led by a middle-aged man.


    The people around changed their expressions upon seeing them, ¡°Fang Lijun is here, and he has brought so many fully armed bodyguards. This kid is done for.¡±


    Fang Lijun was the father of Fang Haoming, a powerful figure in the Fang Family.


    Seeing this, Shui Huilan¡¯s expression slightly changed. Fang Lijun arrived so quickly?


    With an expressionless face, Fang Lijun walked over and asked, ¡°Who hit my son?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Fang Lijun, who was followed by more than twenty fully armed subordinates, each holding a laser gun.


    On Nanming Star, there are many family forces, and conflicts often occur. As long as these conflicts don¡¯t threaten the rule of the Lei Meng Duchy, the higher-ups usually don¡¯t bother with these family squabbles, since they all ¡°have to pay a large sum of money every month.¡±


    ¡°Dad, it¡¯s him, this person. You catch him, I want him to beg for life but unable to beg for death,¡± Fang Haoming climbed up from the ground, pointing at Qin Hao and said excitedly.


    In his mind, he had already imagined the scene of Qin Hao falling into his hands, wanting to cut Qin Hao¡¯s flesh piece by piece.


    He wanted to torture Qin Hao little by little and make Qin Hao realize how formidable he was.


    Fang Lijun squinted at Qin Hao and said, ¡°No one dares to touch my son Fang Lijun in Zhudao City.¡±


    ¡°You think you¡¯re so tough?¡± Qin Hao said disdainfully to him.


    The people around were startled; this guy still talked so toughly. Did he not see those bodyguards behind Fang Lijun?


    Those were laser guns. Even if his bodyguards were tough, could they withstand laser guns?


    Many people thought Qin Hao was courting death.


    Shui Huilan also felt Qin Hao was unwise. Did he have another card up his sleeve? But what card could withstand a laser gun?


    After hearing what Qin Hao said, Fang Lijun laughed, ¡°Tough? I am tough in Zhudao City. Killing you would be as simple as crushing an ant. Do you believe it or not?¡±


    After he finished speaking, his bodyguards had already raised their guns, aiming at Qin Hao and his group.


    With just an order, Qin Hao and his group would be riddled with holes.


    The surrounding people had already turned pale; Fang Lijun was definitely going to act as this wasn¡¯t his first time.


    It was over; the young man had offended Fang Lijun, and this time he seemed doomed.


    Many onlookers sneered. It was well known that a local snake could not be suppressed by even a strong dragon. This young man, relying on his strength, dared to offend the Fang Family; he was still much too young, lacking experience and wisdom.


    What a pity, everyone knew of the Fang Family¡¯s tyranny in Zhudao City. Offending the Fang Family was like acting the fool.


    Shui Huilan also felt pity in her heart. Although her family¡¯s business was vast, its reach didn¡¯t extend this far.


    The local families of Nanming Star were very resistant to foreign powers. It took her family a long time to barely establish a foothold here.


    She wanted to help Qin Hao, but she lacked the power to do so.


    Qin Hao looked at Fang Lijun with a placid expression, ¡°Stop the nonsense. If you want to start, then get on with it.¡±


    Fang Lijun¡¯s expression changed slightly, ¡°Take him down. Show no mercy to those who dare resist.¡±


    His bodyguards, armed with guns, approached, and that¡¯s when Leng Xuan suddenly moved. His body was instantly covered by a D-class Mecha, and his figure disappeared from the spot.


    ¡°Aaaaah¡±


    Screams echoed one after another. Not one of those men had the chance to shoot before they were all decapitated and collapsed to the ground.


    This scene stunned everyone. They gaped, their mouths wide enough to fit an egg.


    What kind of monster is this? It instantly killed over twenty fully-armed bodyguards?


    Fang Lijun truly hit an iron wall this time. This young man must be of significant status.


    Shui Huilan¡¯s beautiful eyes were wide with disbelief as she stared at Leng Xuan. Is... is this a Mecha?


    Fang Haoming¡¯s smile froze on his face. He had been fantasizing about how to torture Qin Hao, and now he was dumbfounded.


    Fang Lijun¡¯s face was also quite embarrassed, in disbelief. Is this still a human?


    He had never seen a Mecha and naturally did not know its power.


    Qin Hao said with an indifferent gaze, ¡°Kill them all.¡±


    Leng Xuan¡¯s figure moved again, his energy sword flickering as Fang Haoming and Fang Lijun were decapitated, their blood spilling over the stall.


    The onlookers were terrified. This person was horribly efficient, killing Fang Lijun without blinking an eye. Wasn¡¯t he afraid of the Fang Family¡¯s revenge?


    Remembering Leng Xuan¡¯s power, the crowd felt he probably didn¡¯t fear the Fang Family¡¯s revenge at all.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Qin Hao turned around, leading his people away. His expression was consistently indifferent, as if he had just stepped on a few ants.


    They walked out of the metal market with great swagger.


    Shui Huilan hesitated for a moment before following them out. Just as Qin Hao and his group left the metal market, Shui Huilan¡¯s voice rang from outside, ¡°Sir, please wait a moment.¡±


    Qin Hao turned his head to look. Shui Huilan¡¯s face was smiling sweetly as she said, ¡°Would you like to sit somewhere with me, sir?¡±


    Qin Hao hesitated briefly, then nodded, ¡°Sure.¡±


    Led by Shui Huilan, Qin Hao arrived at Shui Huilan¡¯s Zhengxing Metals Company.


    In the guest room, Shui Huilan poured a cup of water for Qin Hao, ¡°May I ask your esteemed surname, sir?¡±


    ¡°Qin Ritian.¡± Qin Hao replied indifferently.


    ¡°Pfft¡±


    Shui Huilan, hearing his name, spat out the water she had just sipped, and if Qin Hao hadn¡¯t dodged quickly, it would have all sprayed on his face.


    Consequently, some water still splashed onto his face.


    Shui Huilan¡¯s face turned slightly red as she hurriedly handed him a tissue, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Qin, it wasn¡¯t on purpose. Your name is just a bit... you know.¡±


    Qin Hao took the tissue and wiped his face, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m used to it.¡±


    Shui Huilan burst into laughter with a ¡°pfft.¡± She found this Qin Ritian quite humorous.


    She looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, my name is Shui Huilan. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± She finished, extending her slender, delicate hand.

 Chapter 797: 797: My Family Deals in Arms Business

    Chapter 797: Chapter 797: My Family Deals in Arms Business


    Qin Hao extended his hand for a light handshake, ¡°Hello, Miss Shui.¡±


    Shui Huilan asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, are those people outside your subordinates?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°That¡¯s right, they are all my subordinates.¡±


    Shui Huilan hesitated before asking, ¡°Mr. Qin, did your subordinate use a mecha just now?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her with a smile, ¡°Miss Shui is quite knowledgeable, even knowing about mecha.¡±


    Shui Huilan: ¡°Our Shui Family headquarters is in the Nolan Empire within the Nolan Star System, we receive information much more swiftly than smaller nations. Has the Tanglong Empire already developed such impressive mecha?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled without answering; he also didn¡¯t know whether the Tanglong Empire had such mecha.


    Seeing that he did not answer, Shui Huilan thought her question might have touched a sensitive area for him, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Qin, if it¡¯s inconvenient to answer, then never mind.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Some things indeed aren¡¯t convenient for Miss Shui to know right now.¡±


    Shui Huilan nodded slightly, changing the topic, ¡°Mr. Qin, did you come from within the Southern Wilderness Star System?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Yes, when the Endless Meteorite Area just opened, I led people in and indeed found a lot of rare metals and resources.¡±


    ¡°It is said that deep within the Southern Wilderness Star System there is a living planet. Have you heard about it, Mr. Qin?¡± Shui Huilan asked.


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°Really? I¡¯m not aware of this news.¡±


    Shui Huilan: ¡°You might not know because you just came out. I heard that living planet is quite powerful; the interstellar warships of the four nearby nations all suffered losses there. The information is heavily censored, not many know about it, I also heard it from my family.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Is that so? Just a living planet, what kind of waves can it really stir up.¡±


    The two conversed quite a bit. The reason Qin Hao accepted Shui Huilan¡¯s invitation was also based on his own plans; he wanted to use Shui Huilan¡¯s help to acquire an interstellar network transmission connection device.


    From Shui Huilan¡¯s words, he could tell her family background was not simple, with the Nolan Empire being one among the eight great empires as well.


    Later, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Miss Huilan, I¡¯d like to purchase a few interstellar network signal receivers and transmitters. Do you know where I can buy them?¡±


    Shui Huilan said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, stop calling me Miss Huilan. If you don¡¯t mind, just call me Huilan, and I¡¯ll call you Xiaotian.¡±


    She found it somewhat difficult to call him by his full name.


    Qin Hao nodded with a smile, ¡°Alright then, I won¡¯t stand on ceremony.¡±


    Shui Huilan glanced at her watch, ¡°It¡¯s almost evening. Xiaotian, let me treat you to dinner. There¡¯s a restaurant in Zhudao City with very nice food; we can eat and talk.¡±


    Qin Hao also wanted to improve their relationship, so the two went to the only S-class restaurant in Zhudao City, equivalent to a five-star hotel on Earth.


    The name of the hotel was the Xinghong Interstellar Hotel, and the parking lot was lined with one luxurious air energy car after another.


    Shui Huilan was surprised upon seeing this, ¡°Why are there more cars than usual today?¡±


    Mr. Fu, who was beside her, said, ¡°Miss, today is the engagement party of Miss Li from the Li Family and the Fang Family company.¡±


    ¡°The Fang Family?¡± Shui Huilan¡¯s forehead creased slightly upon hearing this; she glanced at Qin Hao. Qin Hao had just killed several people from the Fang Family today, and if people from the Fang Family saw Qin Hao, it would definitely bring trouble.


    But remembering Qin Hao¡¯s strength, she thought that even if the Fang Family came out in full force, they might not be a match for Qin Hao.


    She had made up her mind about Qin Hao, from his speech and behavior to various other aspects, she could tell that there was something extraordinary about him. Offending several families in Zhudao City for his sake was worth it.


    Thinking of this, she said to Mr. Fu, ¡°Call over some more people.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, Huilan. The few people with me are enough.¡±


    ¡°Just to be safe,¡± Shui Huilan insisted and let Mr. Fu make the arrangements.


    The two of them walked into the hotel and took the elevator to the private room Shui Huilan had reserved ahead of time. The engagement banquet hall for the Li Family and the Fang Family was on the same floor.


    However, it was in a different direction, and neither party saw the other.


    Inside the private room, Shui Huilan and Qin Hao¡¯s party ordered a table full of dishes, and the hotel¡¯s service was very efficient¡ªthe food was served quickly.


    While eating, Shui Huilan asked, ¡°Xiaotian, you mentioned you wanted to buy an interstellar network signal reception and transmission device? What do you need that for?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I plan to place it in the Southern Wilderness Star System. I¡¯ve discovered several planets there rich in energy sources. Someone needs to be stationed there year-round, and with the interstellar network signal, it¡¯ll be convenient to stay in contact with home. I¡¯m not very familiar with this side of the Nolan Star System. Huilan, do you know where I can buy one?¡±


    After thinking for a moment, Shui Huilan said, ¡°The Lei Meng Duchy simply doesn¡¯t sell such devices. The smaller nations all get their equipment from those giant corporations. If you want to buy that kind of thing, you need to go to the Nolan Empire, or you could go to your Tanglong Empire as well, but the Tanglong Empire is too far away, only the Nolan Empire is an option.¡±


    Qin Hao frowned, he had to go to the Nolan Empire? That place was a bit far from the Lei Meng Duchy.


    Shui Huilan continued, ¡°It so happens that I plan to return to the Nolan Empire in a few days. Xiaotian, you can come with me when the time comes.¡±


    After thinking for a moment, Qin Hao then nodded, ¡°Alright, then we¡¯ll go to the Nolan Empire together in a few days. I appreciate it, Miss Huilan.¡±


    Shui Huilan smiled faintly, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Xiaotian. When you¡¯re away from home, you have to rely on friends. Here¡¯s to you.¡±


    The two raised their glasses and drank. The liquor was strong, and despite being a woman, Shui Huilan¡¯s tolerance for alcohol was quite impressive.


    As they drank and chatted, they quickly finished off a bottle and Shui Huilan called for two more. As she poured for Qin Hao, she asked, ¡°What kind of business does your family do?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re involved in all sorts of business,¡± Qin Hao replied with a smile.


    Shui Huilan continued with a smile, ¡°Then what¡¯s your main business?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Military weapons. If you need any, Huilan, I could get some for you.¡±


    A flash of surprise crossed Shui Huilan¡¯s eyes. Military weapons? Damn, a person who has the right to develop military weapons definitely comes from a family with strong background and power.


    Moreover, since Qin Hao was from the Tanglong Empire, his family must be powerful there, right?


    She asked with a smile, ¡°What does that include, the military weapons?¡±


    ¡°Interstellar warships, interstellar aircraft carriers, Beam Recharge Cannons, laser cannons, laser guns, even Mechas,¡± Qin Hao listed with a smile, exuding an elegant demeanor and a special charm.


    Shui Huilan had no doubt about his words, ¡°Your family must be really powerful, Xiaotian.¡±


    Qin Hao responded, ¡°It¡¯s alright. But no one dares to touch anyone from our family. If you need any weapons, Huilan, just let me know, and I¡¯ll give you a family discount.¡±


    As the conversation continued, they spoke more. Later, Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡±


    He left the private room, and outside Mr. Fu and Leng Xuan were standing respectfully. As Qin Hao walked toward the restroom, Leng Xuan intended to follow, but Qin Hao stopped him.

 Chapter 798: 798 The Li Family and the Fang Family

    Chapter 798: Chapter 798 The Li Family and the Fang Family


    Entering the restroom, Qin Hao went into a separate stall. Just as he finished and stepped out, a young woman suddenly rushed in.


    Qin Hao was stunned, and so was Li Jiaqi. Quickly, Li Jiaqi reacted and hurried into the stall Qin Hao had just used.


    Is this a women¡¯s restroom?


    Qin Hao looked around the restroom; isn¡¯t this a men¡¯s restroom?


    He initially wanted to remind the woman but decided it wasn¡¯t his business, maybe she just had this kind of hobby.


    As he was about to leave, a group of people suddenly rushed in, blocking the restroom entrance.


    ¡°Sir, have you seen a woman, about 1.65 meters tall, wearing a pink short skirt, with braided hair?¡±


    Qin Hao hesitated. Isn¡¯t that the woman who just ran in?


    Inside the stall, Li Jiaqi¡¯s heart skipped a beat upon hearing them, praying he wouldn¡¯t say anything, if he dared to say, she¡¯d kill him.


    ¡°Is she a member of your family?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    The people nodded urgently, ¡°That¡¯s right, she¡¯s our young lady. Sir, have you seen her?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°She¡¯s just in the restroom here. Does your young lady have some sort of illness? Why is she running into the men¡¯s restroom?¡±


    Listening to his words, Li Jiaqi felt dizzy, almost spitting blood. You¡¯re the one who¡¯s sick, you bastard.


    Upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, the group was delighted and quickly approached the stall: ¡°Miss, please come out, or else the master will be angry again.¡±


    Li Jiaqi: ¡°Let the person who just spoke come in, I need to say a few words to him, then I¡¯ll come out.¡±


    Qin Hao was about to leave when the group turned to him with an apologetic smile: ¡°Sir, we have to trouble you, we¡¯re really sorry.¡±


    ¡°What does it have to do with me whether she comes out or not? You all figure it out yourselves.¡± Qin Hao was not interested in getting involved in such matters.


    ¡°Sir, please help us, if we cannot bring the young lady back, the master will be furious.¡± one person pleaded.


    Although they were many, they didn¡¯t threaten or force Qin Hao but used a negotiating tone.


    Qin Hao walked to the stall door: ¡°Why did you want me to come over?¡±


    Li Jiaqi banged on the door and suddenly pounced over, hugging Qin Hao...


    Qin Hao was stunned, and so were the people from the Li Family. What the hell is going on here?


    At this moment, more people entered the restroom. They were from the Fang Family, led by Mr. Fang, Fang Wensheng. As he entered, he witnessed Li Jiaqi kissing Qin Hao.


    Fang Wensheng felt a rush of blood to his head, his mind buzzing, Have I been cuckolded?


    ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you, you bastard.¡± Fang Wensheng shouted loudly, startling Li Jiaqi.


    However, Li Jiaqi was secretly pleased upon seeing him, as if God¡¯s helping her, just in time for Fang Wensheng to witness this scene.


    Fang Wensheng charged forward, determined to kill Qin Hao. For someone of the prestigious Li¡¯s company to be humiliated like this, if the news spread, how would he hold his head high, and how would the Li Family not be shamed?


    ¡°Mr. Fang, this is a misunderstanding, it has nothing to do with this gentleman,¡± Li Family¡¯s servant hurriedly explained.


    Qin Hao lifted a leg and kicked Fang Wensheng to the ground directly, stunning the onlookers with Li Jiaqi, who was about to protect Qin Hao, also amazed, Wow, that¡¯s cool!


    ¡°Can you let go now?¡± Qin Hao asked Li Jiaqi.


    Li Jiaqi got off him, though her hands were still hugging his arm, making them look very close.


    Fang Wensheng climbed up from the ground, his eyes red: ¡°What are you all standing around for? Get him, kill him!¡±


    The Fang Family followers rushed forward, following their master¡¯s order.


    Li Jiaqi quickly stood in front of Qin Hao: ¡°What are you doing? He¡¯s my man, if you want to hit him, then hit me too.¡±


    The Li Family¡¯s people hurried over, blocking the young lady¡¯s front, afraid that the Fang Family might harm their young lady.


    The two groups stood off within the cramped restroom.


    Soon, people from both the Fang Family and the Li Family arrived. Fang Zhengwu, upon seeing the situation inside, slightly changed his expression, ¡°What are you all doing inside? Come out and talk.¡±


    Fang Family Head Fang Mingkai, his face darkened, spoke, ¡°Quickly separate them, what kind of behavior is this?¡±


    The Fang Family people attempted to separate Li Jiaqi and Qin Hao, but Li Jiaqi wouldn¡¯t let go.


    The crowd moved out of the restroom, and the Fang Family members recounted the incident to Fang Mingkai, making him frown deeply.


    In the hallway, Fang Zhengwu began, ¡°Mingkai, what is going on here? You owe me an explanation.¡±


    Li Jiaqi quickly said, ¡°What do you mean what¡¯s going on? I already have a boyfriend, and I¡¯m not going to marry Fang Wensheng.¡±


    ¡°Jiaqi, shut up,¡± Li Mingkai reprimanded.


    Li Mingkai addressed Fang Zhengwu, ¡°Mr. Fang, this person is not Jiaqi¡¯s boyfriend, he was merely using the restroom, our Li Family servants can testify to that.¡±


    Fang Zhengwu: ¡°Regardless, this person cannot leave alive, otherwise our families will lose face.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Li Jiaqi¡¯s face changed slightly. She hadn¡¯t expected them to want to kill Qin Hao; she only used him as a shield to deter the Fang Family, not foreseeing such serious consequences.


    Li Mingkai¡¯s brow furrowed; he didn¡¯t agree with Fang Zhengwu¡¯s decision, but there wasn¡¯t much he could do, as the Li Family was at fault here.


    At this moment, Leng Xuan and others arrived, worried since Qin Hao hadn¡¯t come out of the restroom for so long.


    ¡°Make way,¡± Leng Xuan and others pushed through the crowd and reached Qin Hao¡¯s side.


    ¡°Young Master,¡± Leng Xuan and others greeted.


    The Li Family and Fang Family individuals¡¯ expressions froze; could this young man have some noteworthy background?


    Li Jiaqi was also taken aback, looking up at Qin Hao with surprise.


    At this moment, someone from the Fang Family exclaimed, ¡°Family Head, these are the people who killed Elder Fang Lijun.¡±


    The surrounding people gasped in shock, and members of both the Li Family and Fang Family¡¯s expressions drastically changed, as they had already heard the news of Fang Lijun¡¯s assassination, but didn¡¯t expect it to be this young man.


    Fang Zhengwu¡¯s expression hardened as he scrutinized Qin Hao, ¡°Are you the one who killed Fang Lijun?¡±


    The atmosphere around suddenly grew tense, becoming quite grave.


    Li Mingkai¡¯s eyes held a hint of shock; this person killed a member of the Fang Family, yet dared to linger here, such a bold heart he must have.


    Qin Hao maintained a faint smile, ¡°Yes, I did kill him. Are you planning to seek revenge?¡±


    Fang Zhengwu squinted his eyes, filled with murderous intent, ¡°Are you aware of my Fang Family¡¯s power in Zhudao City? Even if you have a strong background, it counts for nothing here.¡±


    ¡°Oh really? If your Fang Family wishes to disappear from Zhudao City, go ahead and try,¡± Qin Hao replied dismissively.

 Chapter 799: 799 The Fang Family is Annihilated

    Chapter 799: Chapter 799 The Fang Family is Annihilated


    Hearing his words, the crowd gasped. This guy had such nerve to say he wanted to make the Fang Family disappear from Zhudao City.


    Li Mingkai felt a bit curious. This young man didn¡¯t look ordinary¡ªcould he have a powerful background?


    Li Jiaqi was also a little surprised. The person she randomly found turned out to have killed an elder of the Fang Family. This was way too badass.


    ¡°Arrogant fool. Get him!¡± Fang Zhengwu snorted coldly.


    He didn¡¯t know exactly how Fang Lijun had died, but in Zhudao City, the Fang Family was the overlord. No one could challenge their authority.


    Over a dozen Fang Family servants charged forward. Leng Xuan exchanged a glance with Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao gave him a look, and Leng Xuan understood immediately. His D-level mecha swiftly covered his entire body, his figure moving as fast as lightning as the energy sword in his hand swept out.


    The Fang Family members fell one by one, screams echoing around them. In the blink of an eye, everyone around Fang Zhengwu was dead.


    Fang Zhengwu was dumbfounded. The onlookers from the Li Family were also stunned, instinctively stepping back two paces.


    Leng Xuan stepped in front of Fang Zhengwu, whose face turned pale. ¡°I¡¯m the Family Head of the Fang Family. You can¡¯t kill me, or you¡¯ll face unimaginable consequences!¡±


    ¡°Hiss!¡±


    Without wasting a word, a single sword stroke severed his head, clean and efficient.


    Li Mingkai was truly shaken. Ruthless. This man killed the head of the Fang Family without hesitation, as if the Fang Family didn¡¯t even exist in his eyes.


    Who exactly was he? What kind of background did he have?


    At this moment, Shui Huilan and her entourage arrived. Seeing the carnage on the ground, her expression shifted slightly. ¡°Xiaotian, what happened here?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly. ¡°Nothing, just a few flies that needed swatting.¡±


    Shui Huilan noticed the bodies on the ground, especially Fang Zhengwu¡¯s, and her face grew solemn. Qin Hao had even killed the head of the Fang Family.


    In your eyes, they¡¯re just ants?


    This was one of the top families in Zhudao City!


    Li Mingkai, seeing that Shui Huilan and Qin Hao were acquainted, felt a bit surprised. ¡°Miss Shui, it¡¯s been a long time.¡±


    Shui Huilan glanced at Li Mingkai and lightly nodded. ¡°Mr. Li, it¡¯s been a while.¡±


    Qin Hao turned to Li Jiaqi and said, ¡°I¡¯m not someone you can use so casually. Using me comes at a price.¡± With that, he grabbed Li Jiaqi and began to walk away.


    Li Jiaqi¡¯s expression changed. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Li Mingkai hurriedly asked, ¡°Sir, where are you taking Jiaqi?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him coldly. ¡°If you don¡¯t want the Li Family to end up like the Fang Family in Zhudao City, keep your mouth shut.¡±


    Li Mingkai felt deeply displeased but didn¡¯t dare to say anything. Qin Hao¡¯s men were just too powerful.


    Only one of them had acted earlier, and if all of them had done so, he couldn¡¯t imagine what the outcome would have been.


    Also, what was that thing they were wearing? Could it have been the rumored mecha?


    Mechas weren¡¯t something just anyone could get their hands on. Not even the King of the Lei Meng Duchy could obtain one. Only someone with a massive background could acquire such a thing.


    This young man was definitely not someone the Li Family could afford to provoke.


    Qin Hao left with Li Jiaqi, followed by Shui Huilan and Leng Xuan.


    As they exited the hotel, Qin Hao said to Shui Huilan, ¡°Huilan, give me all the detailed information on the Fang Family. Tonight, I¡¯ll make the Feng Family disappear from Zhudao City as well.¡±


    Shui Huilan paused for a moment, then nodded. To her, this might actually be a good thing.


    With the Fang Family out of the picture, a lot of profits would open up, and she¡¯d be able to claim a large portion of the market.


    Next to them, Li Jiaqi didn¡¯t dare say a word. She hadn¡¯t expected the random person she¡¯d picked to be this terrifying. The Fang Family had been wiped out just like that¡ªwhat kind of power was this?


    After receiving the Fang Family¡¯s information from Shui Huilan, Leng Xuan left with another person to handle it.


    With the protection of D-level mecha, the Fang Family wouldn¡¯t be able to stir up any trouble.


    Upon leaving the hotel, Qin Hao suddenly realized he didn¡¯t seem to have a place to stay. He cleared his throat lightly. ¡°Huilan, are there any other hotels in Zhudao City?¡±


    Shui Huilan reacted with a smile. ¡°Xiaotian, if you don¡¯t mind, come stay at my place. I have several villa properties.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and then nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll trouble you then, Huilan.¡±


    Shui Huilan smiled gently. ¡°Xiaotian, no need to say that. Let¡¯s go.¡± She then glanced at Li Jiaqi, wondering if Qin Hao planned on having a little fun with the Li Family¡¯s young lady tonight.


    They soon arrived at Shui Huilan¡¯s residence, where she prepared a villa for Qin Hao.


    ¡°Xiaotian, rest early. Don¡¯t play too late,¡± Shui Huilan said with a chuckle.


    For someone like Qin Hao, a privileged young master, playing around with women was nothing out of the ordinary.


    Qin Hao sat on the bed in the villa¡¯s bedroom, gazing at Li Jiaqi with a faint smile. ¡°Miss Li, how should I settle accounts with you for today¡¯s incident?¡±


    Li Jiaqi felt a bit panicked. She had just witnessed Qin Hao¡¯s terrifying methods and was genuinely scared of him.


    Looking at Qin Hao, she spoke nervously. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. I just wanted to use you as a shield.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s tone remained calm. ¡°If I were an ordinary person, I¡¯d be dead at the hands of the Fang Family because of you.¡±


    Li Jiaqi replied, ¡°But nothing happened, right? I¡¯ll compensate you with money, is that okay?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I don¡¯t need money. Since you¡¯re so eager to make me your boyfriend, I¡¯ll play the role tonight.¡±


    Li Jiaqi¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°What are you doing? If you dare to touch me, my father won¡¯t let you go!¡±


    ¡°Is your Li Family stronger than the Fang Family?¡± Qin Hao sneered in disdain.


    As the two spoke, Leng Xuan and his companion returned. He knocked on the door and, upon receiving permission, entered. ¡°Master, the Fang Family has been wiped out. Not a single person was spared. We also recovered over ten billion starnotes in cash and some interstellar bank cards.¡±


    Li Jiaqi¡¯s expression changed slightly upon hearing this. They had eliminated the Fang Family so quickly? The efficiency was terrifying.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression remained indifferent. ¡°Got it. Leave us.¡±


    Now, only Qin Hao and Li Jiaqi remained in the bedroom.


    Qin Hao smiled as he looked at Li Jiaqi, whose expression shifted multiple times. ¡°What are you doing? Don¡¯t do anything crazy. I really didn¡¯t mean to harm you,¡± she pleaded.


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t do this. I... I was wrong.¡±


    Qin Hao leaned down, their faces only a few centimeters apart.


    Li Jiaqi¡¯s heart thumped wildly. She could feel Qin Hao¡¯s breath, and her cheeks flushed bright red, as if imagining what might happen next.


    But the scenario she imagined didn¡¯t occur. Qin Hao froze, making no further moves.


    She opened her eyes and found Qin Hao looking at her with an amused smile. She immediately became both embarrassed and angry. ¡°What exactly do you want to do?¡±


    ¡°Call your father. I have something to discuss with him,¡± Qin Hao said coldly and domineeringly.

 Chapter 800: The 800th Plan

    Chapter 800: The 800th Chapter Plan


    Li Jiaqi hesitated for a moment: ¡°Call my father?¡±


    ¡°Hurry up.¡± Qin Hao frowned slightly, looking at her.


    Li Jiaqi came to her senses, took out her phone, and quickly dialed her father, Li Mingkai. Within about ten seconds, the call was connected.


    Li Mingkai asked with a trace of surprise: ¡°Daughter, where are you? You¡¯re not with that person, are you?¡±


    Li Jiaqi replied, ¡°I am. He asked me to give you a call.¡±


    Li Mingkai¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of doubt: ¡°Looking for me? What does he want with me?¡±


    Qin Hao took the phone and said to Li Mingkai: ¡°Mr. Li, you should have already received the news that the Fang Family has been wiped out, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already heard about it. What can I do for you, Mr. Qin?¡± Li Mingkai asked cautiously.


    Qin Hao gave a faint smile: ¡°There¡¯s an opportunity right now. I¡¯m wondering if Mr. Li would like to seize it.¡±


    Li Mingkai¡¯s eyes flashed with a trace of suspicion upon hearing this: ¡°What kind of opportunity, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°You may not know my background¡ªI come from the Tanglong Empire. My family deals in arms manufacturing; whatever weaponry exists in the galaxy, I can procure it.¡±


    Li Mingkai was utterly shocked upon hearing this. No wonder Qin Hao seemed so formidable; turns out, he was from the Tanglong Empire.


    The Tanglong Empire is one of the eight major empires, and it holds a particularly dominant position among them.


    The fact that Qin Hao¡¯s family operates an arms business in the Tanglong Empire speaks volumes about their strength.


    Li Mingkai¡¯s curiosity deepened as he wondered, ¡°Why is he telling me all this?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, are you implying...?¡± Li Mingkai ventured cautiously.


    Qin Hao: ¡°You¡¯re correct in your thinking. The Southern Wilderness Star System is rich in resources, and I intend to establish my family¡¯s influence here. I find you to be a potential candidate for support, Mr. Li.¡±


    Li Mingkai felt somewhat excited but quickly calmed himself: ¡°How does Mr. Qin propose to support the Li Family?¡±


    ¡°That depends entirely on your family¡¯s attitude,¡± Qin Hao replied.


    Li Mingkai fell into deep thought. Qin Hao¡¯s intentions were clear¡ªhe wanted unwavering loyalty from the Li Family.


    Li Jiaqi listened to their conversation while sitting on the bed, not daring to breathe too loudly. This decision could carry tremendous risks if it failed, but the rewards would also be immense if successful.


    About two to three minutes later, Li Mingkai finally asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re aware that our Li Family isn¡¯t very powerful. We don¡¯t have enough funds to arm a formidable force.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not an issue. As long as your family pledges loyalty to me and to the Qin Family, I can provide anything¡ªstarships, combat robots, air combat devices, even mechas. You¡¯ve seen the power of mechas yourself; every one of my subordinates owns an advanced-grade mecha,¡± Qin Hao responded.


    Li Mingkai was stunned by this revelation. Advanced-grade mechas? No wonder they were so terrifying.


    Has the Tanglong Empire already equipped itself with this level of advanced mechas? Unbelievable.


    Qin Hao continued: ¡°Since I¡¯m telling you all this, you should clearly understand what decision the Li Family ought to make. Otherwise, you¡¯re fully aware of the consequences.¡±


    Li Mingkai¡¯s heart shuddered. Was Qin Hao implying he would eliminate the Li Family if they refused?


    He quickly said: ¡°Mr. Qin, I agree. Our Li Family can pledge loyalty to you and the Qin Family. However, you must ensure that our family receives tangible benefits.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly: ¡°That goes without saying. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll deliver ten sets of low-grade mechas to Miss Jiaqi¡ªenough for your Li Family to dominate Zhudao City.¡±


    Li Mingkai¡¯s expression changed drastically. Ten mechas? Qin Hao¡¯s generosity was beyond anything he could have imagined.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I promise our Li Family won¡¯t let you down,¡± Li Mingkai responded hastily.


    Qin Hao added: ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited just yet. These ten mechas will be sold to you at the lowest price¡ªI¡¯ll need ten billion star coins from you. Later, I¡¯ll observe your abilities and the Li Family¡¯s overall performance. If you prove capable and deserving of full support, then I¡¯ll spare no effort in aiding you.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, rest assured¡ªI will not disappoint you,¡± Li Mingkai replied urgently.


    After their conversation ended, they hung up. Li Jiaqi looked at Qin Hao curiously and asked: ¡°Are you really from the Tanglong Empire?¡±


    The Tanglong Empire is one of the eight major empires. Compared to it, the Lei Meng Duchy is utterly insignificant. If the Tanglong Empire were likened to nine oxen, Lei Meng Duchy would only qualify as a single hair on one of those oxen.


    In terms of territory size and military power, the discrepancy is astronomical.


    Citizens of the eight major empires are revered wherever they go; no country dares offend them. The wrath of an empire is terrifying, leaving rivers of blood in its wake.


    Qin Hao looked at Li Jiaqi, chuckling softly: ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    Li Jiaqi was curious: ¡°Is the Tanglong Empire as prosperous and powerful as people say?¡±


    To the aristocrats of the Tanglong Empire, Li Jiaqi was nothing more than a bumpkin. Despite being the eldest daughter of the Li Family in Zhudao City, her family wasn¡¯t even significant within Nanming Star, much less beyond.


    To Li Jiaqi, Qin Hao might very well be an aristocrat of the Tanglong Empire¡ªtrue nobility. Even the King of Lei Meng Duchy would need to bow respectfully in their presence.


    Qin Hao smiled faintly: ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I think it must be incredibly prosperous. Is your family part of the aristocracy?¡± Li Jiaqi pressed further.


    Qin Hao shot her a sideways glance: ¡°You sure do talk a lot. Plenty of families under my command hold the rank of duke and noble.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t lying; many families from the West Continent on Earth were loyal to him, including over a dozen duchies and several royal families.


    Li Jiaqi was utterly astonished¡ªa commander of so many duke-level families? Damn it, just how powerful was the Qin Family?


    Qin Hao looked at her and said: ¡°From now on, your Li Family will be my servants. Naturally, you will be my maid¡ªmy personal attendant.¡±


    Li Jiaqi¡¯s face turned red. Her initial resistance had already waned, though she still felt embarrassed.


    With a wicked smile, Qin Hao added: ¡°Where¡¯s that boldness you had earlier when you kissed me impulsively? I liked that version of you.¡±


    ...


    The next morning.


    Qin Hao and Li Jiaqi woke up quickly. Seeing Li Jiaqi¡¯s flushed face, Qin Hao gave a faint smile: ¡°Time to get up.¡±

 Chapter 801: 801 Slave Trade Market

    Chapter 801: Chapter 801 Slave Trade Market


    At around 7:30 in the morning, Qin Hao and Li Jiaqi finished washing up and came down to the living room on the first floor, where breakfast was already prepared.


    After eating breakfast, Shui Huilan arrived. She said to Qin Hao, ¡°Xiaotian, I have some matters to attend to today, so I won¡¯t be able to accompany you. Miss Li can show you around Zhudao City instead.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Huilan, if you have things to do, go ahead. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    Shui Huilan smiled faintly, ¡°Alright, once I finish up in the next few days, we¡¯ll set off for the Nolan Star System.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Okay.¡±


    After Shui Huilan left, Li Jiaqi asked curiously, ¡°Are you going with her to the Nolan Empire?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Yes, there are some things that need handling.¡±


    Li Jiaqi nodded slightly, ¡°Can I come along with you? I¡¯ve been staying on Nanming Star for so long and haven¡¯t gotten a chance to visit the Nolan Empire.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at her, ¡°If you want to go, then go.¡±


    After finishing breakfast, the two left the villa. Li Jiaqi planned to take him around Zhudao City, though she personally didn¡¯t think there was much worth seeing here.


    Here, there were no villages or countryside at all¡ªjust cities. Roughly every thousand miles, there would be another city.


    The city lords hold significant power, practically ruling as local emperors. On Nanming Star, the one with the greatest authority and strength is the Star Lord, who oversees all cities on the planet. The city lords are all under the Star Lord¡¯s command.


    The hierarchical system here is entirely different from that on Earth.


    Li Jiaqi first took Qin Hao to the Li Family¡¯s headquarters, a massive estate. Land resources here were not as scarce as on Earth, and the Li Family¡¯s property was extremely large, with hundreds of servants alone.


    Led by Li Jiaqi, Qin Hao arrived at the Li Family¡¯s living room. Li Mingkai and several elders of the Li Family were already waiting at the entrance to greet him.


    ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± Li Mingkai and the others said respectfully.


    Entering the living room, Qin Hao took the main seat, while Li Mingkai and the others sat on secondary seats.


    Qin Hao retrieved ten F-grade mecha belts from his system backpack and placed them on the table: ¡°These are F-grade mechas. You can try them out first.¡±


    Li Mingkai and the others stared curiously at the mecha belts on the table, their eyes scanning them with fascination since they had never seen anything like them before.


    Qin Hao tossed one to Li Mingkai: ¡°You try it first.¡±


    Li Mingkai strapped on the mecha belt, initiated it, and began the recognition process. After about one or two minutes, the recognition process succeeded, and Li Mingkai was fully covered by the mecha.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to your family¡¯s training ground to test the mecha¡¯s capabilities.¡±


    The group rose and headed to the Li Family¡¯s training ground behind the estate. The space was enormous, and after Li Mingkai arrived, he started testing the power of the F-grade mecha.


    ¡°Whizz-whizz-whizz!¡±


    ¡°Boom-boom-boom!¡±


    In no time, the training ground became a war zone. Dozens of moving targets were destroyed or blasted away, with perfect precision and extremely powerful impact. The mecha¡¯s performance was dozens of times superior to combat robots, with its key advantage being human-controlled maneuverability and adaptability.


    The elders of the Li Family and Li Jiaqi watched in awe, mouths agape. This mecha was simply unprecedented.


    And this was just an F-grade mecha¡ªthe lowest tier. How powerful would advanced-grade mechas be?


    The demonstration of D-grade mecha at the hotel the other day was likely just the tip of the iceberg; its true power hadn¡¯t been fully unleashed.


    After Li Mingkai finished testing, he shut down the mecha, his face glowing with excitement: ¡°This is incredible. Absolutely incredible. I think just a handful of these could easily take down an F-grade interstellar battleship. It¡¯s practically a super weapon on the battlefield.¡±


    Li Mingkai wasn¡¯t wrong. On the battlefield, mechas truly function as super weapons. D-grade mechas, for instance, can easily dismantle a starship¡¯s command system and execute high-level assassinations of strategic leaders.


    D-grade mechas are also fast, allowing them to escape after completing their missions.


    Back in the living room, Li Mingkai handed Qin Hao a bank card containing ten billion Star Currency. This sum was almost a third of the Li Family¡¯s total assets.


    But he felt it was worth it, as these mechas had the potential to generate a far greater return. Even if he sold one for ten billion Star Currency now, people would likely scramble to buy it.


    Still, Li Mingkai had no intentions of selling, and Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t permit him to sell them either. These mechas could generate even more value.


    In the living room, Qin Hao also brought out the control-inducing drugs and handed them to Li Mingkai: ¡°Anyone affiliated with the Qin Family must take this drug for better control.¡±


    Li Mingkai hesitated briefly but ultimately downed the drug. Then, the elders of the Li Family and Li Jiaqi also took it.


    Qin Hao provided Li Mingkai with plenty of the drug¡ªit was necessary for every member of the Li Family to consume it.


    After the arrangements were complete, Qin Hao and Li Jiaqi left the Li estate and began wandering around Zhudao City.


    Li Jiaqi first took Qin Hao to a well-known spot in the city: the Zhudao Market.


    The market was bustling, loud, and teeming with people. The foot traffic here was immense, and Qin Hao even spotted some rather peculiar individuals:


    There were dwarves, people with four arms, cat-eared humanoid women, and many more...


    This was Qin Hao¡¯s first time seeing such diversity, and he was inwardly surprised. However, outwardly, he stayed calm¡ªhis identity as a disciple of a noble family from the Tanglong Empire meant he was supposed to be familiar with such phenomena. Clearly, he needed to brush up on his knowledge of interstellar cultures.


    He read the sign at the market¡¯s entrance: ¡°Zhudao Slave Trading Market.¡±


    Slave trading market?


    Qin Hao and Li Jiaqi entered the market. The streets were spacious, lined with shops on either side, which mostly bore the names of various slave trading companies.


    In interstellar trade, slave trafficking was a legal business. Today was an eye-opening experience for Qin Hao, though he couldn¡¯t let it show. He feigned composure while observing his surroundings, occasionally commenting, ¡°This slave market is too small.¡±


    Li Jiaqi nodded, ¡°Yeah, just a few hundred miles in scale. I once visited Raymond Star, the central planet of the Lei Meng Duchy. The slave market there was massive. It was very fascinating¡ªa single slave market there is almost the size of several Zhudao Cities combined.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao was speechless. What the heck? That big?


    Suddenly, Li Jiaqi recalled something and said, ¡°I think there¡¯s an auction happening at Sky Wolf Auction House today. Shall we go check it out together?¡±

 Chapter 802: 802: Elf Clan Princess

    Chapter 802: Chapter 802: Elf Clan Princess


    Qin Hao curiously asked, ¡°Sky Wolf Auction? What kind of things do they auction?¡±


    Li Jiaqi explained, ¡°The Sky Wolf Auction is hosted by the Sky Wolf Commerce. Sky Wolf Commerce is one of the top ten commerce houses in several nearby nations, with considerable influence. This auction typically sells various kinds of slaves from all over the galaxy.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. ¡°Then let¡¯s go take a look.¡±


    Under Li Jiaqi¡¯s guidance, the two quickly ventured deep into the slave trading market, where the Sky Wolf Slave Auction was located.


    Outside the auction house, an advertisement was prominently displayed: Today¡¯s auction features a female elven princess from the Southern Wilderness Star System, a one-of-a-kind rarity.


    Seeing this announcement, Qin Hao¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°A female elven princess?¡±


    Li Jiaqi said, ¡°You might not know this, but a few months ago, the Thunder God Mercenary Corps discovered a living planet. They then sold it to a colossal interstellar corporation. Over the past few months, that mega-corporation has gained control of the planet. This elven woman was likely purchased by the Sky Wolf Commerce from them.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes gleamed with interest. ¡°I see. Let¡¯s go in and take a look.¡±


    Entering the auction required purchasing a ticket for a price of ten thousand star coins. Only with a ticket could one gain entry.


    The two entered the auction hall, which was teeming with people¡ªthousands at least.


    In the past few days, the Sky Wolf Auction had been heavily promoted. Many wealthy elites from not just Zhudao City, but also other cities and planets, had gathered for the event.


    Though Zhudao City was not considered particularly large on Nanming Star, its slave trading market was a signature industry of the planet, dominating the business across several nearby systems.


    The two found their seats and sat down. Beside them were two middle-aged men: one slightly overweight with a constant smile, the other thin, with hawk-like eyes and a high nose bridge.


    The thin man glanced briefly at Qin Hao and Li Jiaqi before turning his head away, while the slightly overweight man gave Qin Hao a polite smile.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly in return before settling into his seat.


    About five to six minutes later, the auctioneer stepped onto the stage¡ªa woman dressed provocatively, with an alluring appearance.


    She smiled and said, ¡°Welcome, esteemed guests, to the Sky Wolf Auction. Today¡¯s event will be the most exciting auction to date, because we have a new humanoid species to showcase. Their beauty and physiques will undoubtedly astound everyone. Now, let¡¯s start with today¡¯s first item: a Cat Clan girl.¡±


    As she finished speaking, an iron cage rose from beneath the stage. Inside was a young girl with cat ears and a human body. She appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old.


    Smiling, the auctioneer continued, ¡°I¡¯m sure many of you are familiar with the Catman Race¡ªa unique species in our galaxy. Due to their natural habitat, they are born with cat ears. Not only that, but their sense of smell and vision are extraordinarily acute, and their bodies are incredibly agile. The Sky Wolf Commerce guarantees their authenticity¡ªthis is absolutely an original specimen. To those interested, let the bidding begin!¡±


    Inside the iron cage, the Cat Clan girl¡¯s eyes were dim, scanning the crowd below. She understood all too well the fate that awaited her.


    As an Earthling, Qin Hao felt a complex mix of emotions at the sight of someone being sold in a cage.


    If not for him, could the humans of Earth find themselves similarly enslaved, confined in cages, and auctioned off one day?


    Though she belonged to the Catman Race, she was still a person¡ªa sentient being shaped by her environment, much like how Earth¡¯s environment had produced distinctions like black and white skin.


    This was the harsh reality of interstellar society: brutal and unforgiving. One moment of carelessness, and the next person trapped in the cage could be him¡ªor anyone from Earth.


    ¡°The starting bid is one million star coins. Each increment must be no less than one hundred thousand star coins,¡± the auctioneer said with a smile.


    ¡°One million one hundred thousand.¡±


    ¡°One million three hundred thousand.¡±


    ¡°One million five hundred thousand.¡±


    ...


    The price climbed rapidly. Li Jiaqi turned to Qin Hao and asked, ¡°Master, you must¡¯ve seen top-tier Cat Clan beauties before in the Tanglong Empire, right?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t usually go to these kinds of places.¡±


    Li Jiaqi nodded. ¡°Cat Clan girls are very skilled in serving their masters. Would you like to bid for her?¡±


    By this point, the price had already reached two million seven hundred thousand star coins¡ªan incredibly high amount.


    After a moment of hesitation, Qin Hao raised his paddle. ¡°Three million!¡±


    Many heads turned toward him. Three million? That was quite a significant jump.


    The slightly overweight man beside Qin Hao also glanced at him, visibly surprised.


    ¡°Three million one hundred thousand,¡± someone else bid.


    ¡°Four million,¡± Qin Hao countered without hesitation.


    The bidder hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Four million one hundred thousand.¡±


    ¡°Five million.¡±


    Silence fell across the room. Five million was an exceptionally high price, breaking the Sky Wolf Auction¡¯s record for a Cat Clan girl.


    This Cat Clan girl¡¯s quality was indeed top-notch, far exceeding previous auctions in attracting bidders.


    ¡°Five million, going once. Any higher offers? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for such an exceptional Cat Clan girl.¡±


    ¡°Five million, going twice.¡±


    ¡°Five million, going three times. Sold! Congratulations to buyer 788. This Cat Clan girl is now yours.¡±


    Sitting in his seat, Qin Hao swiped his card, deducting five million star coins directly.


    Shortly after, auction staff released the Cat Clan girl from her cage and brought her to Qin Hao¡¯s side.


    The auction seating featured luxurious leather chairs¡ªsome arranged in pairs, others standalone. Qin Hao and Li Jiaqi¡¯s seats were connected, but there was some distance from the adjacent ones. The Cat Clan girl now stood beside Qin Hao.


    Her enchanting, doe-like eyes gazed at Qin Hao, uncertain of the fate that awaited her.


    The auction continued. The next item was a male dwarf. Though short in stature, dwarves were renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship.


    In fact, many of the interstellar warships and air combat devices across the galaxy were crafted by master dwarves. Their handmade weapons surpassed even the precision of machine production.


    Many families employed dwarf artisans to produce custom weapons.


    Subsequent auctions featured slaves from the Four-Armed Race, Centaur Clan, Werewolf Clan, and even human women.


    Today¡¯s event was an eye-opener for Qin Hao.


    The auctioneer announced, ¡°Now we present the grand finale of today¡¯s event. Most of you are here precisely for this. Allow me to introduce a true treasure¡ªthe elven princess. Take a good look.¡±


    ¡°The Elf Clan is a newly discovered species, hailing from a planet in the Southern Wilderness Star System. They were first found by the Thunder God Mercenary Corps, later purchased by the Nolan Empire¡¯s Divine Wind Group. Our own Sky Wolf Commerce acquired this elven princess at an immense cost.¡±

 Chapter 803: 803 Auction

    Chapter 803: Chapter 803 Auction


    The Sky Wolf Commerce indeed purchased an Elf Clan princess from the behemoth Divine Wind Group, but there are many Elf princesses, and this is merely one of them.


    If there were only one, even with the power of the Sky Wolf Commerce, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to buy her.


    If transported to one of those empires, such items could be auctioned for a much higher price, as the wealthy there are far too numerous.


    This particular Elf Clan princess was acquired by the Sky Wolf Commerce through considerable effort, spending over a billion star currency, which speaks to the terrifying profit potential involved.


    The Divine Wind Group spent ten billion purchasing her from the Thunder God Mercenary Corps, and now just one Elf Clan princess is being sold for a billion star currency.


    The Elf Clan¡¯s life planet contains billions of Elf Clan inhabitants, both male and female, and not only females can be sold for money¡ªmales are valuable too.


    If all were extracted and sold, the profit would be beyond imagination.


    The female host continued, ¡°Every Elf Clan member sold is one less remaining, let alone a princess of the Elf Clan. Across the vast interstellar universe, there are only a handful of Elf princesses. To have a princess become your maid, to toy with as you please¡ªisn¡¯t that a breathtaking experience? Now, let everyone admire this extraordinarily beautiful Elf Clan princess.¡±


    A steel cage rose from beneath the auction stage, revealing a woman dressed in a white gauze dress standing inside.


    The skin of the Elf Clan princess was fair and luminous, delicate as porcelain. Her facial features were exquisite and enchanting, a beauty to rival nations. Paired with the semi-transparent white gauze dress, her stunning allure was even more accentuated¡ªan ethereal charm beyond measure.


    The audience at the auction was instantly captivated by the Elf princess¡¯s looks and figure.


    She was so beautiful¡ªsurely she possessed the legendary beauty that could ¡°make fish sink in shame and birds drop from the skies,¡± a visage that ¡°eclipses the moon and shames even blooming flowers.¡±


    Many were struck by the Elf princess¡¯s unrivaled appearance, and some grew visibly excited. A beauty of this caliber must be claimed through the auction¡ªit would undoubtedly be an exhilarating conquest to dominate such a magnificent gem.


    What captivated people even further was the expression on the Elf princess¡¯s face¡ªher stubborn, hate-filled glare directed at everyone below.


    But even the thought of suicide was beyond her, for like the Cat Clan girl, she had been administered a controlling drug. Her life now rested entirely in someone else¡¯s hands.


    Even fasting wouldn¡¯t work, as one nutrient injection would keep her from starving to death.


    In other words, she had no recourse but to submit to the fate assigned to her.


    Yet her heart remained rebellious. She hated everyone, despised those who destroyed her homeland.


    Qin Hao was also stunned by the Elf princess¡¯s beauty, but what intrigued him more was the fiery hatred embedded in her gaze.


    Within her eyes, Qin Hao saw countless stories.


    Li Jiaqi regained her composure and appeared somewhat shocked: ¡°This Elf Clan princess is breathtakingly beautiful! Even as a woman, I find myself drawn to her.¡±


    She glanced at Qin Hao afterward, wondering if he had been moved¡ªwould he place a bid on this Elf princess?


    Given Qin Hao¡¯s status, if he fancied her, he would most likely bid, right?


    The female host continued, ¡°The starting price is one billion star currency, with each increment no less than ten million star currency.¡±


    Her words barely concluded before the auction hall fell silent. A billion star currency? This price exceeded the imagination of most attendees.


    A starting price of one billion was unprecedented at the Sky Wolf Auction; this was the first time.


    The sheer price alone already deterred many bidders.


    Many guests grumbled internally. Wasn¡¯t the Elf Clan priced excessively high? The Divine Wind Group was achieving precisely what it intended¡ªthey sought to inflate the prices of Elves, both male and female, to maximize their profits.


    The Divine Wind Group monopolized the entirety of the Elf Clan population. Their first move was to build hype around the Elf Clan name, then make scarcity drive up value, and finally sell off individuals slowly for optimal gains.


    Despite the exorbitant price, someone from a private box on the second floor called out, ¡°One billion and one hundred million.¡±


    Another voice from the first-floor general seating followed, ¡°One billion and two hundred million.¡±


    A different box from the second floor chimed in, ¡°One billion and three hundred million.¡±


    The competitive bidding grew intense¡ªeach increment was in tens of millions of star currency. The Catwoman Qin Hao had won during an earlier auction only cost five million.


    The Catman Race was plentiful throughout the galaxy, and certain profit groups specifically bred Catwomen. They controlled entire populations within the Catman Race, forcing them to breed offspring, selecting and selling some of those offspring¡ªa fully developed profitability chain had emerged.


    Prices rose rapidly, breaking the two-billion mark soon after. Many bidders from the first floor had already dropped out, as the cost had grown too steep.


    Only a handful of bidders in the second-floor boxes remained in contention.


    Qin Hao gazed at the Elf princess, his expression impassive as he deliberated whether or not to bid.


    His reason was pure sympathy¡ªcertainly not a desire for the Elf princess¡¯s beauty. Well, even he didn¡¯t quite believe his own excuse.


    He felt that if she was sold to others, the Elf princess might suffer unimaginable torment. In his possession, at least, her fate could be slightly less dire.


    Qin Hao deployed his system to scan the Elf princess.


    Name: Luna.


    Gender: Female


    Race: Elf Clan


    Strength: 20


    Agility: 30


    Intelligence: 35


    Constitution: 20


    Description: Elf Clan princess with immense potential, skilled in archery and assassination.


    Qin Hao was surprised by her physical attributes and description¡ªher fundamental stats were remarkably high, far surpassing the average human on Earth. Plus, her untapped genetic potential allowed for enhancements using attribute-gene modulating serum.


    ¡°Two billion and four hundred million,¡± a voice called out again from a second-floor box.


    The audience burst into commotion upon hearing the figure. A slave reaching such an astronomical price was almost hard to fathom.


    Scarcity justified the cost¡ªmany affluent figures were eager to experience the thrill and sensation of conquering the legendary Elf princess.


    For many magnates, earning money existed to fuel lavish indulgences¡ªto enjoy pleasures unattainable to the common folk¡ªthat was the true essence of being wealthy.


    ¡°Two billion and five hundred million,¡± someone countered, determined to vie for the Elf princess.


    At that moment, Qin Hao raised his paddle and declared, ¡°Three billion.¡±


    The hall erupted in astonishment, countless heads turning toward Qin Hao. Even the portly man seated nearby turned to regard him. A Foxman Clan beauty, whom he¡¯d purchased for a few million earlier, sat atop his lap.


    The stout man¡¯s expression revealed his surprise at Qin Hao¡¯s bid. Initially, he had pegged Qin Hao as merely the scion of modest family wealth. He now harbored second thoughts.


    Anyone capable of bidding three billion wasn¡¯t the offspring of an ordinary merchant family.


    Many of the second-floor box occupants turned their scrutinizing gazes toward Qin Hao, their eyes narrowing slightly. Just who was this individual?


    The Cat Clan girl beside Qin Hao blinked in astonishment¡ªher master seemed quite wealthy. She hoped he would treat her well moving forward.


    Individuals like the Cat Clan girl were conditioned from childhood with doctrines that ingrained servitude into their psyche. For such people, rebellion was hardly a conceivable thought. Thoroughly trained, their behavior was tailored to fully satisfy the whims of affluent owners.


    [Chapter Four]

 Chapter 804: 804: Competition

    Chapter 804: Chapter 804: Competition


    ¡°Three billion one hundred million,¡± Chang Yu called out from the second-floor private box, staring at Qin Hao.


    Who is this guy? Daring to fight me for a woman¡ªhe must have a death wish if he plans to leave Zhudao City alive.


    ¡°Three billion five hundred million.¡±


    Another private box couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and joined in with a new bid.


    ¡°Four billion,¡± Qin Hao said calmly, his expression unchanged.


    The auctioneer, hearing his extravagant tone, couldn¡¯t hide his excitement and added, ¡°The bidder in seat 788 offers four billion! Does anyone want to top that? Boss, you¡¯ve got guts¡ªboss, you have style! How about letting this little sister accompany you tonight as a bonus?¡±


    The auctioneer was deliberately flattering him, trying to provoke the other two into continuing the competition.


    Sure enough, as the auctioneer¡¯s words fell, Chang Yu shouted, ¡°Five billion!¡±


    He was getting carried away, directly raising the bid by one billion, shocking everyone in the venue.


    ¡°Young Master, you only have six billion in your account,¡± his butler reminded him cautiously.


    Chang Yu replied, ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing. Have someone keep an eye on the person in private box 8 and the bidder in seat 788; I want to see who dares compete with me, Chang Yu.¡±


    ¡°Five billion five hundred million,¡± came an unhurried bid from the occupant of private box 8.


    Many turned to look at Qin Hao, even the female auctioneer gazed at him, curious if he would raise the bid further.


    Inside the metal cage, the Elf Clan princess, Luna, also looked at Qin Hao, but her gaze was different¡ªhers was filled with hatred.


    To these people, she was merely an item to be traded. She hated them so much she wished she could kill them all.


    ¡°Six billion,¡± Qin Hao bid again, his demeanor still as relaxed as ever, the faint smile on his face never disappearing.


    Chang Yu¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°Investigate! Find out exactly who these two people are. I want their full details. In Zhudao City, no one dares contend with me, Chang Yu, for anything.¡±


    ¡°Six billion five hundred million,¡± came another methodical bid from private box 8.


    Now, only the two of them remained in the bidding war, and everyone turned their eyes to Qin Hao once more.


    ¡°Ten billion.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s words stunned the entire venue¡ªeveryone turned to stone.


    Holy crap, this is insane! Ten billion for a slave?! And it wasn¡¯t the end yet¡ªthe auction was still ongoing.


    Even the auctioneer was floored by Qin Hao¡¯s bid, his body trembling with excitement. ¡°T-Ten... ten billion star coins! The boss in seat 788 sure is incredible. I feel like kneeling and licking the boss¡¯s boots¡ªhe¡¯s way too generous!¡±


    Li Jiaqi was utterly stunned. So this was someone from the Tanglong Empire¡ªof course, they were filthy rich. Spending ten billion star coins without even flinching?


    This further convinced Li Jiaqi of Qin Hao¡¯s identity. Who else but someone from a massive empire could spend like this without batting an eye?


    In private box 8, Wu Wenxing hesitated for a moment before the person beside him spoke up. ¡°Young Master, the price is starting to get too high. Any more, and you won¡¯t have enough money.¡±


    Wu Wenxing¡¯s expression remained emotionless. ¡°I understand.¡±


    Then he continued bidding. ¡°Ten billion five hundred million.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    The auction house erupted into chaos again. The bidding continued¡ªthis was clearly a battle to the death.


    ¡°Eleven billion,¡± Qin Hao declared.


    It had come down to a contest of who had more liquid resources on hand.


    In private box 8, Wu Wenxing finally spoke. ¡°This brother is indeed bold. I, Wu Wenxing, bow out. How about we grab dinner together tonight?¡±


    His words left the crowd disappointed. That¡¯s it?


    Wait a moment¡ªdid he just say his name was Wu Wenxing? Could he be the son of the Star Master of Rockstone Planet, Wu Wenxing?


    As the crowd pieced together Wu Wenxing¡¯s identity, the auction house buzzed with chatter. The son of a Star Master was attending this auction? This was big news.


    But even more intriguing was what Wu Wenxing said next¡ªinviting Qin Hao to dinner? That was clearly a trap, an undisguised ambush. Was he trying to save face?


    Of course, Qin Hao understood the hidden implication, smiling casually. ¡°Sure, pick the place.¡±


    The crowd was shocked. This guy knew Wu Wenxing¡¯s identity and still accepted? Who exactly was he?


    Could he be even more fearsome than Wu Wenxing?


    Judging by his demeanor, this man didn¡¯t seem like someone simple.


    ¡°Eleven billion once! Any more bids?¡±


    ¡°Eleven billion twice!¡±


    ¡°Eleven billion three times¡ªsold! Congratulations to the bidder in seat 788 for securing the Elf Clan princess.¡±


    After completing the payment and swiping his card, the auction staff respectfully escorted the Elf Clan princess to Qin Hao. They also handed over the antidote, specifically for neutralizing the substances in her body.


    Beyond this, they also presented Qin Hao with a super VIP card. It offered significant discounts for transactions at any business under the Sky Wolf Commerce Group.


    As the auction concluded, someone exited private box 8 and approached Qin Hao, handing him an invitation¡ªa courtesy for the dinner Wu Wenxing had mentioned earlier.


    Qin Hao accepted the invitation and left the auction hall with Li Jiaqi, the Cat Clan girl, and the Elf Clan princess. Along the way, they drew countless gazes, many filled with envy and jealousy.


    Exiting the auction house, Qin Hao and his group made their way back. On the way, he looked at the Cat Clan girl and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Master, I don¡¯t have one yet. Master, can you give me a nice name?¡± The Miao Clan girl¡¯s voice was sweet, with a coquettish tone.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and casually gave her a pleasant name. ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be called Qingtao.¡±


    The Cat Clan girl nodded. ¡°Yes, Master. From now on, I¡¯ll be called Qingtao.¡±


    Next, Qin Hao turned to the Elf Clan princess. Luna stared back at him, her eyes full of disdain.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Qin Hao asked her.


    Luna didn¡¯t want to respond but found her body betraying her control. ¡°I¡¯m Luna.¡±


    After giving her a glance, Qin Hao turned away, and the group continued back to his lodging.


    ¡°Feel free to move around here as you wish,¡± Qin Hao said to them. ¡°I have some matters to attend to.¡± With that, he returned to his room.


    Qin Hao connected to the interstellar network and spent some time brushing up on common knowledge and basic information.


    His memory was excellent, allowing him to read at an astonishing speed. While he was immersed in his studies, his communication device rang¡ªit was a call from back home.


    On his way over, Qin Hao had already set up wireless signal receivers and transmitters for the Star Domain Network. Now, its coverage was widespread.


    His communication device had also been enhanced, allowing him to connect back home effortlessly.


    Answering the video call, Chang Jing was momentarily taken aback upon seeing Qin Hao. ¡°Why do you look different?¡±


    Qin Hao caught on and smiled. ¡°I used a disguise skill from martial arts¡ªI don¡¯t want anyone recognizing me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, where are you now? How are things going?¡± Chang Jing asked.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I¡¯m in the Lei Meng Duchy. In a few days, I¡¯ll head back to Nolan Star in the Nolan Empire. Only there will I be able to acquire an interstellar network signal device. But I¡¯ve come up with a new plan.¡±

 Chapter 805: 805 Qin Haos Plan

    Chapter 805: Chapter 805 Qin Hao¡¯s Plan


    Chang Jing heard his words and curiously asked, ¡°What plan?¡±


    Qin Hao said to her, ¡°I¡¯ve taken control of a small family on Nanming Star. I plan to give them some support and gradually elevate them to become the planet¡¯s star leader, or the ruler. Meanwhile, you can develop your potential during this period. When the time comes, we¡¯ll cooperate internally and externally to advance into the interstellar domain.¡±


    Since the Interstellar Federation Government doesn¡¯t care about Earth, Qin Hao decided to take matters into his own hands.


    Qin Hao had mostly figured it out¡ªthere had been no word from the Interstellar Federation, likely because some major powers disagreed.


    It seemed they couldn¡¯t let go of Earth¡¯s enormous slice of the pie. For example, the Elf Clan. Enslaving the Elf Clan¡¯s planets had brought them boundless returns.


    Chang Jing was stunned after hearing his words. ¡°Advance into the interstellar domain?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. ¡°That¡¯s right. The Endless Asteroid Belt is a military fortress. By controlling it, we can attack if needed and retreat when necessary. How¡¯s the research and production of D-class interstellar warships and air combat devices going?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°D-class interstellar warships and interstellar aircraft carriers have already been produced. We have plenty of interstellar mining ships, and the resources we¡¯ve collected are sufficient for our needs.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. ¡°Use the technology I left with you and produce at full capacity. How are Wan Rou and Yu Ying doing?¡±


    Chang Jing said, ¡°They¡¯re doing well. Things on Earth are stable and peaceful.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. When Wan Rou gives birth, I might not be able to return, but make sure to notify me on that day.¡±


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t worry,¡± she replied.


    After hanging up the communicator, Qin Hao exhaled deeply as a sharp glint flashed across his eyes. The D-class warships had already been developed, and only the eight major empires across the interstellar domain possessed them.


    Small nations like the Lei Meng Duchy could never withstand them.


    The Southern Wilderness Star System, while strong, had many weaknesses¡ªits population was too small, and its Star Sky Fleet was still relatively modest in scale.


    But these issues could be resolved gradually. Population growth wasn¡¯t a critical issue; with advanced technology, the population could surge within a decade or so. However, this would require adequate welfare policies to ensure support, as otherwise, Earth¡¯s humans might not agree to have so many children.


    Qin Hao could use news, media, and the internet to inform the public about future trends, encouraging people to contribute to Earth¡¯s development through higher fertility rates.


    Qin Hao believed that over 80% of people would be willing to contribute to Earth¡¯s growth because they had seen alien civilizations. No one wanted to be enslaved by the interstellar interest groups and treated as mere commodities in trade.


    ...


    Qin Hao stayed in his room for several hours and only came out to have lunch.


    The Catman Race girl Qingtao smiled sweetly and said, ¡°Master, lunch is ready. You can eat now.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. The Elf Clan princess, Luna, was sitting to the side without uttering a word.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat,¡± Qin Hao said to the group.


    After speaking, he sat down at the dining table. Qingtao, Li Jiaqi, and the Elf Clan princess Luna didn¡¯t approach because there was an unwritten rule across the interstellar domain: slaves were not allowed to eat at the same table as their masters.


    Seeing them remain seated without moving, Qin Hao said, ¡°Sit down and eat together. I don¡¯t uphold so many rules here.¡±


    Li Jiaqi hesitated for a moment before sitting down; after all, she wasn¡¯t groomed as a slave from a young age.


    Qin Hao turned his gaze to the Catman Race girl Qingtao. ¡°Qingtao, come sit with us and eat too.¡±


    Qingtao obediently nodded and then sat next to Qin Hao. The Elf Clan princess Luna remained motionless, as if she hadn¡¯t heard anything.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t call her again. The group started eating lunch together. After the meal, Qin Hao called Luna into his room.


    In the room, Luna seemed to sense what was coming and looked somewhat pale.


    Qin Hao looked at her and asked, ¡°Where is your Elf Clan¡¯s life planet located in the Southern Wilderness Star System?¡±


    Luna stared at him cautiously and asked, ¡°What do you intend to do?¡±


    ¡°I want to rescue your people,¡± Qin Hao said, smiling faintly.


    Luna froze upon hearing his words. ¡°You said you¡¯re going to rescue my people? With what means?¡±


    Qin Hao calmly replied, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. But I¡¯m not saving you for free¡ªyou¡¯ll need to pledge allegiance to the Galaxy Federation and become citizens under my Federation.¡±


    ¡°Citizens under the Federation? Who exactly are you?¡± Luna looked at him in shock.


    Qin Hao stared at her and asked, ¡°Do you understand the current situation in the interstellar domain?¡±


    Luna nodded slightly before shaking her head. ¡°They transmitted basic interstellar knowledge to me. I know a few things.¡±


    ¡°Do you know about other life planets in the Southern Wilderness Star System?¡± Qin Hao asked her.


    Luna froze briefly. ¡°Other life planets? I¡¯ve never heard of them.¡±


    Qin Hao activated the virtual projection system and searched up a video online titled: ¡°A New Life Planet Emerges in the Southern Wilderness Star System. Its Technological Capabilities Are Astounding, Annihilating Many Interstellar Fleets and Mercenary Forces.¡±


    He played the video for Luna to watch. The video began with footage of a reporter¡¯s interview.


    Although many nations had tried to block the news, the video had still spread online. Yet few people had watched it, as most dismissed it as a movie clip.


    The video cut past the evening interview footage to the next day¡¯s battle segments.


    Luna stared at the video for a long time. ¡°This is also a life planet in the Southern Wilderness Star System?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded. ¡°Correct. That¡¯s where I¡¯m from. Other than my subordinates, you¡¯re the only one who knows this information.¡±


    Qin Hao wasn¡¯t worried that she¡¯d share the information. Besides, she didn¡¯t have the ability to leak it.


    ¡°You¡¯re from there? Then why are you here?¡± Luna asked curiously.


    Qin Hao smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯m here to strike back. I want them to know our power.¡±


    Luna looked unconvinced. ¡°Does your planet have such capabilities? They¡¯re very strong.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. If you want me to save your people, just give me the approximate location of your planet. I¡¯ll have my team start preparations.¡±


    Luna thought for a moment before revealing her planet¡¯s location. If he could save them, that would be great. If not, it wouldn¡¯t cost her anything. She cautioned him, ¡°There are several Divine Wind Group warships stationed there.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°A few warships aren¡¯t a problem. How many of your people are still there?¡±


    Luna answered sadly, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the exact numbers, but many people were taken. My mother and sisters were also captured.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll start by rescuing those people. We¡¯ll think about the others later,¡± Qin Hao said to her.


    Luna¡¯s gaze turned wary. ¡°Why are you helping me? Are you trying to deceive me into trusting you?¡±


    [Second update]

 Chapter 806: 806 Banquet

    Chapter 806: Chapter 806 Banquet


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but laugh after hearing her words, ¡°What do you have that¡¯s worth me lying to you about? Can you even refuse if I tell you to do something now?¡±


    Luna thought about it and felt the same¡ªthere was nothing about her that would warrant Qin Hao deceiving her.


    Qin Hao said to Luna, ¡°Record a video, so that when my people go to rescue your clansmen, they can cooperate and trust us.¡±


    Luna still felt a bit incredulous, ¡°You really want to save my clan?¡±


    Qin Hao spent so much money at the auction to buy her¡ªwas it really just to rescue her clan?


    This made her feel like she was floating in the clouds; happiness had come a little too suddenly.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I have my own reasons for saving your people. My Federation needs a large influx of fresh blood¡ªI need talent. I hope your Elf Clan won¡¯t disappoint me.¡±


    Luna immediately said, ¡°Rest assured, we definitely won¡¯t disappoint you.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I am your master now. I spent eleven billion star coins on your auction.¡±


    Luna, looking a little embarrassed, called out, ¡°Master.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed and said, ¡°No need to force it; it¡¯s all the same whether you call me that or not. Alright, let¡¯s record the video first, and don¡¯t let anyone else know about our arrangement.¡±


    Luna nodded lightly, understanding the gravity of the situation. If word got out, Qin Hao might end up killed, and she wouldn¡¯t escape a fate of enslavement and torment either.


    Luna cooperated with Qin Hao to record a video, which would later serve as proof for rescuing the Elf Clan. With this, her people would trust and collaborate, making the rescue operation smoother.


    After the video was recorded, Qin Hao sent it to Chang Jing and then initiated a video call with her.


    Luna quietly observed from the side. Her flawless, exquisite face remained calm as she held her breath and watched the holographic display system.


    Qin Hao started speaking, ¡°Xiao Jing, did you see the video I sent you?¡±


    Chang Jing nodded slightly, ¡°I did. What is this about?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°There¡¯s another habitable planet in the Southern Wilderness Star System¡ªit¡¯s the Elf Clan¡¯s homeworld. I want you to organize a rescue operation for them. There are a few F-class interstellar warships there; prepare for the rescue. How¡¯s the situation on the Moon? Is it ready for habitation?¡±


    Chang Jing froze for a moment¡ªanother habitable planet in the Southern Wilderness Star System? Elf Clan?


    She replied, ¡°The Moon is already habitable. Our gravity and stabilization technology is highly advanced now. Are you planning to relocate the Elf Clan there and make them citizens of the Galaxy Federation?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Exactly. To be honest, our population is still far too small. Integrating the Elf Clan into the Federation would be beneficial. Remember, treat them fairly¡ªin the eyes of the Galaxy Federation¡¯s laws, everyone is equal.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°Got it, Xiao Hao. Don¡¯t worry¡ªthere¡¯s the Artificial Intelligence system managing things. While absolute fairness doesn¡¯t exist, it¡¯s much better than it used to be.¡±


    After Qin Hao ended the call, both of them stepped out of the room. Li Jiaqi caught sight of them and felt a hint of confusion¡ªhad they come out this quickly?


    It didn¡¯t make sense. Wasn¡¯t the Master supposed to be very... vigorous? Could it be even he couldn¡¯t resist the charm of the Elf Clan princess?


    Luna spoke to Qin Hao, ¡°Mas... ter, I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°There¡¯s still some food left¡ªgo ahead and eat.¡±


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao and Luna went back into the room, causing Li Jiaqi and the young Cat Clan girl to feel a bit jealous...


    However, what Qin Hao and Luna did in the room had nothing to do with any romantic escapades. Instead, Qin Hao was helping her learn the foundational knowledge and common sense of interstellar life.


    Around four in the afternoon, Shui Huilan returned. Qingtao knocked on the door and came in to inform Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao and Luna stepped out. When Shui Huilan saw the stunningly beautiful Elf Clan princess, her gaze faltered for a moment. She had always heard tales of how gorgeous the Elf Clan princesses were, but she never believed them, thinking it was just hype to raise their auction prices.


    But now she believed it¡ªstanding before Luna, even she felt overshadowed.


    However, to Shui Huilan, no matter how beautiful Luna was, she was still just a slave. Her status and social rank couldn¡¯t compare to hers at all.


    That sense of superiority was Shui Huilan¡¯s way of asserting herself.


    She glanced at Luna and then turned her head away, feigning indifference, ¡°So this is the slave you spent eleven billion star coins on?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and smiled faintly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Isn¡¯t the Elf Clan princess beautiful? I think she¡¯s worth the price.¡±


    Shui Huilan rolled her eyes at him, ¡°It¡¯s not about whether she¡¯s worth it or not¡ªit¡¯s the fact that you offended Wu Wenxing because of her. Do you even know what kind of status Wu Wenxing from Private Room #8 holds?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°What does his status have to do with me?¡±


    Shui Huilan seemed exasperated, ¡°I understand your family¡¯s powerful position in the Tanglong Empire, but this is the Lei Meng Duchy¡ªfar away from the Tanglong Empire. A strong dragon cannot suppress a local serpent. Don¡¯t you get that? Wu Wenxing is the son of the Mountain Stone Planet¡¯s ruler, and his power is immense.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Luna¡¯s heart tightened. She understood now¡ªthe planet ruler¡¯s position was equivalent to the queen of her Elf Clan.


    And Wu Wenxing was the ruler¡¯s son¡ªa level of power beyond imagination. She looked at Qin Hao with worry in her eyes.


    Shui Huilan noticed Luna¡¯s reaction and felt annoyed. This Elf Clan princess really was a vixen¡ªshe¡¯d only just met Qin Hao and already managed to show such obvious concern.


    Qin Hao had a playful, unruly smile on his face, ¡°The ruler¡¯s son is so impressive, huh?¡±


    Bai Huilan¡¯s expression turned slightly serious when she heard his tone, ¡°The ruler can mobilize warships. How would you defend against warships?¡±


    ¡°Warships aren¡¯t invincible,¡± Qin Hao sneered.


    Bai Huilan, hearing that, didn¡¯t bring up the topic again. She figured Qin Hao wasn¡¯t foolish¡ªif he said such things, he must have his own plans. ¡°What¡¯s your plan for the banquet tonight?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°I¡¯m definitely going. Not going would make it seem like I¡¯m afraid of him.¡±


    ¡°He invited me too. Let¡¯s go together tonight then,¡± Shui Huilan said to him.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Alright.¡±


    Shui Huilan stayed for a while before leaving.


    At six-thirty in the evening, Qin Hao, Luna, Shui Huilan, Qingtao, and Li Jiaqi headed to the Xinghong Hotel together.


    Leng Xuan and several others were escorting them, while twelve Shadow Guards were stationed at the interstellar port ready for action at any moment.


    Xinghong Hotel.


    They stepped out of the vehicle, their gazes sweeping across the parking lot, which was packed with luxury cars¡ªeven more impressive than the cars from a few days ago.


    Tonight, Zhudao City¡¯s elite had gathered¡ªevery attendee was a prominent figure in the city.


    Qin Hao and his companions arrived at the entrance and presented their invitations. The staff checked them and allowed them to enter the hotel.


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 807: 807: Slap in the Face

    Chapter 807: Chapter 807: Slap in the Face


    The banquet hosted by Wu Wenxing was held on the top floor of the Xinghong Hotel, the most luxurious banquet hall in the entire Star Rainbow Hotel.


    As soon as they entered the hotel, many people spotted Qin Hao and recognized him.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the guy who outbid Mr. Wu for the Elf Clan¡¯s princess at the Sky Wolf Auction? He really dared to show up.¡±


    ¡°Looks like there¡¯s going to be a good show tonight.¡±


    Someone curiously asked, ¡°What are you guys talking about? Who¡¯s this guy? And why is he walking with Shui Huilan?¡±


    A person next to him replied, ¡°It¡¯s clear you didn¡¯t attend the Sky Wolf Auction today, huh? It was insanely thrilling.¡±


    ¡°I had a business deal to take care of, so I missed it. I heard there was an auction for a breathtakingly beautiful Elf Clan princess.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. See that stunning beauty over there? That¡¯s the princess from the Elf Clan. The guy next to her won the bid for her with 1.1 billion star coins. At the time, even Mr. Wu from Shanshi Star was bidding. That guy didn¡¯t give Mr. Wu any face and directly outbid him.¡±


    The man was shocked upon hearing this. ¡°So, it was him who went against Mr. Wu? Who is he?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. He¡¯s very mysterious. But for someone to be so extravagant, his family is definitely no ordinary one.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s surely well-connected. Otherwise, where would he get so much money? And he¡¯s got the nerve not to show Mr. Wu any respect.¡±


    ...


    Inside the elevator, Shui Huilan glanced at Qin Hao and said, ¡°You¡¯re the talk of Zhudao City now.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°There will probably be lots of people watching the drama unfold tonight, Miss Huilan. Maybe you should keep some distance from me later.¡±


    Shui Huilan rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Xiaotian, who do you think you¡¯re talking to? No matter what, I¡¯ll stand by your side. Sure, Wu Wenxing has a powerful background, but even he wouldn¡¯t dare mess with me. After all, I am a citizen of the Nolan Empire.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly as the elevator soon arrived at the top-floor banquet hall of the Xinghong Hotel.


    Exiting the elevator, Qin Hao and Shui Huilan walked in together. Shui Huilan was well-known in Zhudao City, and as soon as they entered, many people greeted her.


    Shui Huilan turned to Qin Hao and said, ¡°Let me go say hello to some old friends first. You find a place to sit and keep a low profile.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, then found a spot to sit. There were food and drinks on the table.


    Luna, Qingtao, and Li Jiaqi stood by his side. The banquet hall was filled with women, each flaunting her proudest female companion.


    But compared to Luna, those women paled in comparison.


    Luna¡¯s beauty overshadowed everyone present. In no time, Qin Hao¡¯s side attracted countless gazes. Many people recognized him.


    ¡°He actually showed up. Isn¡¯t he worried that Wu Wenxing might embarrass him tonight?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just Wu Wenxing. The City Lord¡¯s son, Chang Yu, who was also bidding that day, is here tonight too.¡±


    ¡°Look over there! Chang Yu is already walking toward Qin Hao.¡±


    When Qin Hao entered, Chang Yu noticed him right away. When his gaze landed on Luna, a flash of jealousy crossed his eyes.


    ¡°What I, Chang Yu, can¡¯t have, you shouldn¡¯t even dream of having.¡±


    After learning about Wu Wenxing¡¯s identity, Chang Yu realized it was impossible for him to get Luna. Now, approaching Qin Hao was merely a pretext to humiliate him, forcing him to hand over the Elf Clan princess willingly.


    That way, Chang Yu could use this as an opportunity to curry favor with Wu Wenxing, which would benefit both his father and the Chang Family¡¯s future.


    Chang Yu approached Qin Hao with a Human Fox Clan beauty and four subordinates in tow.


    He had investigated Qin Hao¡¯s background but found nothing except a few newly registered aliases from a few days ago. It was clear Qin Hao didn¡¯t want anyone uncovering his true identity.


    To Chang Yu, this was ideal. If he didn¡¯t know Qin Hao¡¯s precise identity, it was easier to act. If he already knew and still acted, it could provoke whoever stood behind Qin Hao.


    Besides, this region was one of the most remote in the galaxy. Even if someone died here, their backers might not come looking.


    Chang Yu looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Qin Ritian, correct?¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at him indifferently. He didn¡¯t recognize this man. ¡°And you are? Do I know you?¡±


    Chang Yu sneered coldly. ¡°My father is the City Lord of Zhudao City. Who do you think I am?¡±


    Many people around turned to look. Was Wu Wenxing already starting to move behind the scenes?


    ¡°What¡¯s with all these nobodies? I¡¯ve never heard of you. Don¡¯t ruin my appetite.¡± Qin Hao lifted his gaze and looked at him disdainfully.


    Chang Yu¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°How dare you! Are you challenging my father¡¯s authority? You dare to disrespect him in Zhudao City? You must be tired of living.¡±


    ¡°Smack.¡±


    With a swift motion, Qin Hao slapped him. Although they weren¡¯t standing particularly close and Qin Hao¡¯s hand didn¡¯t actually touch his face, a crisp sound echoed throughout the hall.


    Not only that, but Chang Yu was sent flying. A distinct handprint appeared on his cheek.


    The Chang Family¡¯s servants paled, rushing to help him up. ¡°Young Master! Young Master, are you alright?¡±


    The crowd looked on in stunned silence. None of them ever imagined Qin Hao would dare make a move at the banquet.


    What shocked them even more was that none of them had seen how Qin Hao executed the strike.


    What kind of technique was this?


    Li Jiaqi, Luna, and Qingtao were equally astonished. Qin Hao¡¯s hand hadn¡¯t even touched the man. How could he have been slapped so forcefully?


    If not for Chang Yu¡¯s body having undergone basic gene modification, this slap could have put him in critical condition. Yet even so, it left him completely dazed.


    His face swelled, three or four teeth were knocked out, and blood dripped from his mouth. He looked at Qin Hao, muttering unintelligibly.


    Though no one could understand his words, his expression made it clear¡ªhe was ordering his men to attack Qin Hao.


    Just as the Chang Family¡¯s servants prepared to make a move, Wu Wenxing¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? This is my banquet hall. Do you think nothing of me, Wu, by starting a fight here?¡±


    Upon seeing Wu Wenxing, Chang Yu immediately began babbling again, though his words were incomprehensible.


    One of his servants quickly explained, ¡°Mr. Wu, our young master approached him to greet him, but he slapped our young master unprovoked. He started it.¡±


    Wu Wenxing furrowed his brow and turned toward Qin Hao. ¡°Mr. Qin, did you throw the first punch?¡±


    Still seated, Qin Hao looked at him and said nonchalantly, ¡°That¡¯s correct. I was the one who struck first.¡±


    Hearing this, Wu Wenxing¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Mr. Qin, I invited you here so you could mingle with the guests, not to start fights. Chang Yu¡¯s father is the City Lord of Zhudao City. Apologize to him immediately. If Chang Yu doesn¡¯t forgive you, there¡¯s nothing I can do to help.¡±


    [Fourth chapter, still updating]

 Chapter 808: 808: Wu Wenxing Dies

    Chapter 808: Chapter 808: Wu Wenxing Dies


    At this moment, Chang Yu had taken medication, and his bleeding had stopped. He looked at Qin Hao with a sinister gaze and said coldly, ¡°Kneel...before me, and I might consider forgiving you.¡±


    Wu Wenxing¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but he was inwardly pleased with Chang Yu¡¯s behavior.


    He believed that, given Qin Hao¡¯s character, there was no way he would comply. Things were about to get even more interesting.


    But just then, Shui Huilan stepped out of the crowd. She stood in front of Qin Hao and said, ¡°Young Master Chang, Mr. Wu, this is my friend. Let¡¯s just call it off for my sake, alright?¡±


    Wu Wenxing frowned upon seeing Shui Huilan step in to speak on Qin Hao¡¯s behalf and replied, ¡°Miss Huilan, this matter has nothing to do with you. You¡¯d best not interfere.¡±


    Chang Yu, on the other hand, was much less polite. ¡°Who do you think you are? You think you¡¯re worthy of my respect?¡±


    Chang Yu dared to speak so brazenly because he¡¯d heard from his father about Shui Huilan¡¯s background and history.


    Although Shui Huilan was a citizen of the Nolan Empire, her family wasn¡¯t particularly influential there, which emboldened him to insult her.


    Hearing Chang Yu¡¯s words, Shui Huilan¡¯s face darkened. Not only had he refused to give her any consideration, but he had humiliated her publicly in front of these onlookers. She found herself in a difficult position.


    The reason she chose to stand up for Qin Hao, even at the cost of offending Wu Wenxing and Chang Yu, was because she had made a gamble¡ªa gamble that Qin Hao was stronger than the two of them.


    If she lost, her family¡¯s decades-long business operations on Nanming Star would be ruined. But if she won, she believed the rewards would be far greater.


    Qin Hao noticed Shui Huilan standing up for him and nodded slightly in his heart. She had some guts.


    He said, ¡°Huilan, just stand aside. I¡¯ll handle this myself.¡±


    Shui Huilan took the opportunity to step down, but her expression was still unpleasant.


    Qin Hao turned his gaze to Chang Yu and Wu Wenxing and said, ¡°You two can stop pretending. Do you think everyone else here is an idiot? If you¡¯ve got something to say, say it outright.¡±


    Wu Wenxing¡¯s face darkened slightly; he hadn¡¯t expected Qin Hao to be so direct. He sneered, ¡°Are you trying to justify hitting Young Master Chang?¡±


    Chang Yu chimed in, ¡°Leave that elf slave of yours behind for me and kneel to call me ¡®Grandfather¡¯ three times, and I¡¯ll let you walk away. How about it?¡±


    It was clear now that their real target was the Elf Clan princess. Wu Wenxing still couldn¡¯t swallow his humiliation from earlier in the day, and the crowd quickly grasped the underlying motives.


    Moreover, judging by Chang Yu and Wu Wenxing¡¯s posture, they were obviously prepared. It seemed today would not end well for Qin Ritian.


    Observers could tell that Qin Hao wasn¡¯t an ordinary man, but this was the Lei Meng Duchy, on Nanming Star, in Zhudao City¡ªa place firmly within Chang Yu and Wu Wenxing¡¯s domain.


    A mighty dragon couldn¡¯t suppress local serpents, let alone if Qin Hao might not even qualify as a mighty dragon!


    Qin Hao pulled Luna close to him, his gaze filled with disdain as he looked at Chang Yu and Wu Wenxing. ¡°You two mongrel dogs want to take what¡¯s mine?¡±


    ¡°Pfft!¡±


    Some people in the crowd couldn¡¯t help but laugh upon hearing his words. Mongrel dogs?


    Chang Yu and Wu Wenxing¡¯s faces turned ashen. Had someone just dared to call them mongrel dogs?


    One was the son of the City Lord, the other the son of the Star Master¡ªboth of them with prestigious statuses and countless admirers.


    No one had ever insulted them like this before, and certainly not publicly in front of such a large audience.


    This was an absolute humiliation¡ªa total obliteration of their pride.


    Damn it, this bastard deserved to die. Even death by a thousand cuts wouldn¡¯t be enough to assuage their rage.


    Chang Yu pointed at Qin Hao aggressively. ¡°You¡¯re f***ing courting death! Take him down!¡±


    As his words fell, a wave of men surged into the banquet hall. At least fifty to sixty of them stormed in.


    Guests in the hall were terrified and instinctively retreated a few steps. The newcomers headed straight for Qin Hao.


    Shui Huilan, Luna, Qingtao, and Li Jiaqi¡¯s faces shifted slightly; there were far too many enemies to resist.


    Luna started to step forward, but Qin Hao restrained her.


    Luna paused and turned to look at him. She had intended to sacrifice herself to save Qin Hao and the others, believing that Qin Hao still needed to rescue her people. She couldn¡¯t just watch him be killed.


    Qin Hao, guessing her intent, chuckled lightly and said, ¡°This is the age of technology. Victory isn¡¯t determined by numbers anymore.¡±


    Leng Xuan stepped out with another individual and said, ¡°The rest of you, protect the master.¡±


    With that, the two of them activated their black D-grade mechas, which gleamed coldly and exuded an intimidating aura, especially the energy swords glowing brightly in their hands.


    Faces in the hall froze in astonishment. What were these things?


    Even Chang Yu and Wu Wenxing hesitated for a moment, feeling a foreboding sense of danger.


    Leng Xuan and the Shadow Guard launched into action. They moved like lightning-fast predators.


    The crowd could only see flashes of light from the energy swords and hear agonizing screams¡ªthey couldn¡¯t catch sight of Leng Xuan or the Shadow Guard¡¯s movements.


    After about ten seconds, Leng Xuan and the Shadow Guard returned to Qin Hao¡¯s side.


    Looking around, the fifty or sixty men summoned by Chang Yu were all lying on the floor, with severed limbs and gruesome injuries scattering the area. The hall reeked of blood.


    The crowd was utterly shocked, their gazes filled with terror as they stared at Qin Hao. With only two people, he had slaughtered all of Chang Yu¡¯s men¡ªwhat kind of monstrous power was this?


    Chang Yu was trembling violently, overwhelmed with fear. He had never witnessed such a chilling scene before.


    Wu Wenxing was also struggling to maintain his composure, but the sweat running down his face betrayed his inner turmoil.


    Shui Huilan, Li Jiaqi, Luna, and Qingtao were entirely stunned. This was too terrifying, too overwhelming. It was certainly far beyond the capabilities of ordinary humans.


    The four women turned to look at Qin Hao. Right now, everyone¡¯s attention was fixed on him.


    Qin Hao smiled casually as he ignored the corpses on the ground. Quite a few women in the crowd were momentarily mesmerized¡ªhe was simply too damn cool.


    He turned to Chang Yu and Wu Wenxing and asked, ¡°Do you have any other tricks? Feel free to try them.¡±


    ¡°Thud!¡±


    Upon hearing his voice, Chang Yu couldn¡¯t hold himself together and dropped to his knees. ¡°Qin, Mr. Qin, I¡¯ve realized my mistake. Please spare me this time! I was forced by Mr. Wu to do it¡ªhe made me!¡±


    Wu Wenxing glared at Chang Yu with intense hatred, thinking, Just wait¡ªI¡¯ll deal with you later.


    He steadied his nerves as he stared at Qin Hao, trying to suppress his fear. ¡°My father is Wu Tianyao, the Star Master of Rock Star. If you dare lay a hand on me, my father will bring warships to kill you.¡±


    The crowd turned to look at Qin Hao. Wu Wenxing¡¯s status wasn¡¯t ordinary¡ªQin Hao likely wouldn¡¯t dare act.


    After all, the Star Master had the authority to command fleets.


    Qin Hao remained unfazed and said casually, ¡°Warships are scary? If your father comes here, I¡¯ll send him to join you in death.¡±


    With that, Qin Hao waved his hand, unleashing an invisible inner strength. It struck Wu Wenxing¡¯s chest, sending him flying and spewing blood. He died on the spot.


    [Fifth update]

 Chapter 809: 809 Revenge Is Coming

    Chapter 809: Chapter 809 Revenge Is Coming


    Everyone was shocked to the core upon seeing this¡ªhe actually killed Wu Wenxing!


    How did he just kill Wu Wenxing? What kind of advanced technology was that? To kill someone invisibly?


    Chang Yu felt even more fearful seeing Qin Hao kill Wu Wenxing without so much as blinking. He didn¡¯t want to die; there were still many pleasures he hadn¡¯t indulged in.


    He dropped to his knees and pleaded desperately, ¡°Qin, please spare me. I promise I¡¯ll never dare to cross you again.¡±


    This time, he was genuinely scared out of his wits. If Qin Hao could kill Wu Wenxing without hesitation, why wouldn¡¯t he kill him too? He begged for mercy, hoping to earn himself a glimmer of hope for survival.


    Qin Hao looked at him, his eyes glinting sharply. ¡°Young Master Chang, don¡¯t be like this. I, Qin Ritian, am not some wanton killer of innocents. Let¡¯s talk this over properly.¡±


    The crowd listening to him was speechless. You¡¯re claiming you¡¯re not a cold-blooded murderer? Then what do you call the corpse on the ground and Wu Wenxing¡¯s body?


    What shamelessness!


    Still, not a single person dared to show an unusual expression, fearing that Qin Hao might cut them down in an instant.


    Chang Yu saw the smile on Qin Hao¡¯s face, and his own turned pale. ¡°Qin, I truly know I was wrong. I¡¯ll never dare again¡ªplease, I beg you, spare me. My father only has me as a son, and he¡¯s still waiting for me to carry on the family line.¡±


    ¡°Whatever it is, let¡¯s discuss it outside. Don¡¯t worry; I won¡¯t kill you,¡± Qin Hao said casually, smiling.


    Chang Yu quickly nodded like a grandson bowing before his elder, practically wishing he could transform into Qin Hao¡¯s grandson just to ensure his survival.


    Qin Hao led him out of the banquet hall and took the elevator down to leave the hotel.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, that¡¯s fine¡ªhave your father come ransom you. You should be worth 3 billion star coins, right?¡± Qin Hao asked, looking at him.


    Chang Yu didn¡¯t dare say anything else. ¡°I¡¯m worth it, absolutely worth it! Don¡¯t worry, Qin, I¡¯ll call my father right away.¡±


    Qin Hao could tell that Chang Yu was truly scared out of his mind. Revenge? Forget it¡ªif he ever saw Qin Hao again, his legs would tremble in terror.


    He immediately called his father. Chang Yuntian had already heard the news earlier, especially the part about Wu Wenxing being killed¡ªhis heart trembled. His troublesome son had offended someone truly ruthless.


    Luckily, the other party didn¡¯t kill him, or Chang Yuntian would have been powerless to do anything.


    Someone who dared kill the son of a planetary ruler¡ªwhy would they bother fearing a mere family under a city lord?


    Three billion was something the Chang Family could afford. After all, they were the most influential family in Zhudao City, stronger even than the former Li Family. Their foundations were unmatched.


    Positions like City Lords and Planetary Rulers were generally inherited, with outsiders rarely getting in unless the ruling family was annihilated. These local emperors wielded immense power.


    They held authority akin to regional rulers or high-ranking provincial governors.


    The money soon arrived in Qin Hao¡¯s account. Smiling, Qin Hao told him, ¡°Alright, Mr. Chang, you can leave now.¡±


    Chang Yu was overwhelmed with gratitude and nearly broke into tears. ¡°Thank you, Qin. Thank you so much!¡±


    Once he finished speaking, he bolted away, desperate never to come within a meter of this devil again. Ensuring his safety was all he cared about.


    Qin Hao watched his reaction, a hint of mockery curling on his lips.


    He returned to the parking lot, where Shui Huilin, Luna, Qingtao, and Li Jiaqi were awaiting his return.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡±


    The four women nodded and got into the car. On the drive home, Shui Huilin said to Qin Hao, ¡°If Wu Tianyao from Rockstone Star gets word of this, he¡¯ll surely seek revenge for his son. He¡¯s notorious for his dominance in this region.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°No problem. If he dares come, I¡¯ll make sure he doesn¡¯t return.¡±


    Soon, they arrived back at their residence. Shui Huilan exchanged a few words with Qin Hao before heading off to rest.


    Qin Hao said to Luna and the others, ¡°There are plenty of rooms here. Feel free to choose one to rest in.¡±


    Qingtao chimed in, ¡°Master, I¡¯ll sleep with you. I know plenty of things, you know.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her and coughed lightly. ¡°Alright then.¡±


    Luna¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment. She suddenly felt that Qin Hao seemed like a pretty decent guy.


    ...


    Qin Hao and Qingtao returned to the room. Truthfully, he had yet to experience the charm of a Catman Race beauty¡ªcough, tonight was the night to try.


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao and Qingtao emerged from the room.


    Qingtao walked with a visible lack of energy¡ªclearly, the two had gotten a bit carried away the previous night.


    Luna and Li Jiaqi had already prepared breakfast. After washing up, the two joined them for breakfast.


    While eating, Qingtao giggled and said, ¡°Master is amazing.¡±


    Li Jiaqi had experienced Qin Hao¡¯s prowess before, while Luna blushed upon hearing this, feeling a little shy.


    Qin Hao¡¯s face burned red with embarrassment. Matters like these really shouldn¡¯t be discussed casually.


    As they ate, Shui Huilin ran in frantically. ¡°Xiaotian, bad news! Wu Tianyao is coming with an interstellar battleship, saying he¡¯s here for your head!¡±


    Qin Hao froze for a moment, then smiled. ¡°Where is he now?¡±


    Shui Huilan answered, ¡°According to sources, Wu Tianyao is already on his way.¡±


    Qin Hao called Leng Xuan over, gave him a few instructions, and sent him out to handle things.


    Now, all of Zhudao City¡¯s elite circles knew about this and were aware that Wu Tianyao was coming¡ªwith an interstellar battleship, no less.


    How could Qin Ritian possibly defend against that?


    Although everyone knew Qin Hao¡¯s subordinates were terrifyingly powerful, this was an interstellar battleship¡ªa colossal weapon dominating the stars.


    No matter how incredible those few underlings were, they couldn¡¯t possibly stand a chance against the battleship.


    This time, Qin Ritian was truly doomed.


    They speculated that Qin Hao¡¯s background must be significant, but against an interstellar battleship, human strength was meaningless.


    This highlighted one of the reasons people often said that even a strong outsider couldn¡¯t overpower a local tyrant.


    Even if you were from the Tanglong Empire, you wouldn¡¯t always have access to an interstellar battleship while traveling. Even if your country allowed it, other nations certainly wouldn¡¯t let foreign battleships roam their skies freely.


    In places like this, local tyrants might not seem overwhelmingly strong, but they possessed plenty of devastating weapons¡ªlike the interstellar battleship now.


    How could anyone possibly fend against it?


    This was why everyone believed Qin Hao was finished.


    Interstellar battleships were beyond the capabilities of human resistance unless you possessed one of equal caliber for a fair fight.


    By around 9 a.m., a hulking behemoth loomed over Nanming Star¡¯s Zhudao City in orbit.


    Wu Tianyao had already coordinated with the planetary ruler of Nanming Star, naturally providing generous benefits¡ªotherwise, there was no way the ruler would have permitted him to bring an interstellar battleship over.

 Chapter 810: 810: Shocking the Audience

    Chapter 810: Chapter 810: Shocking the Audience


    ¡°Qin Ritian, come out and face your death.¡±


    A voice emanated from the starship, magnified through loudspeakers, resounding across all of Zhudao City.


    Countless air energy cars soared into the sky at once, this was a grand spectacle they had to witness.


    Wu Tianyao personally piloted the starship here, showcasing his immense rage. Wu Wenxin was his favorite son, whom he intended to appoint as the future Star Lord.


    Who would have thought that his son would be killed on a visit to Nanming Star?


    This was a direct slap to the face of the Wu Family on Shanxing Star. If they didn¡¯t strongly suppress this, how could the Wu Family lift their heads high? How would the other families still respect the Wu Family?


    This would shake the very foundation of the Wu Family.


    Qin Hao flew up in the air in a car, accompanied by Shui Huilan and Luna. He had left Li Jiaqi and Qingtao behind at their residence.


    However, they were also watching the live broadcast from high above. Reporters had rushed to the scene, providing a live feed of the event, which was undoubtedly big news and sure to attract many viewers.


    In the high sky, Qin Hao¡¯s car stopped dozens of miles from the starship.


    Qin Hao¡¯s voice rang out from inside the car: ¡°I killed the young one, now the old one is here for revenge?¡±


    Wu Tianyao¡¯s voice was icy and ruthless: ¡°Impudence! I, as a dignified Star Lord, will not tolerate your insolence. Capture him for me.¡±


    Three air combat devices launched from the starship, heading straight for Qin Hao¡¯s air energy car.


    They didn¡¯t open fire directly because Wu Tianyao wanted to capture Qin Hao alive. He wanted to torture Qin Hao severely and make everyone realize the consequences of offending the Wu Family.


    Seeing the three air combat devices speeding towards them, a trace of fear flickered in Luna¡¯s eyes. When her home was overrun, it was these air combat devices that had massacred them.


    These things were terrifying, beyond anything the Elf Clan had ever seen or heard of.


    Seeing them again rekindled the deep-seated fear within her.


    Shui Huilan was also somewhat fearful, but she handled it much better than Luna.


    The onlookers from a distance thought to themselves that Qin Ritian was probably done for. The starship and air combat devices weren¡¯t something ordinary families could withstand, this was beyond the scope of normal family forces.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, the air combat devices are invincible, what can he possibly use to resist?¡±


    ¡°Ha, arrogant rich boy. This is the Lei Meng Duchy, not his territory, and he still dares to be so brazen. This is his end.¡±


    ¡°A Star Lord¡¯s power is indeed formidable. Who can rival the might of a starship?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity for that little beauty Shui Huilan, she chose the wrong side. The Wu Family won¡¯t spare her either.¡±


    The crowd watching saw the three air combat devices and were all discussing, believing that Qin Hao had no chance of survival.


    Just when the three air combat devices were halfway to their target, twelve figures suddenly appeared in the air. Their speed was incredible, almost as if they had instantly materialized in the sky.


    They hovered quietly in the air, standing before Qin Hao¡¯s car, guarding his safety and that of his companions.


    They were all clad in D-class mechas, equipped with terrifying sub-light speed propulsion devices. In terms of speed, even D-class starships couldn¡¯t match the D-class mechas.


    Wu Tianyao and the others were stunned upon seeing the sudden appearance of the Shadow Guards.


    ¡°Does he think they can stop the air combat devices? Such ignorance, air combat devices are invincible, how could mere humans block them?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a futile struggle. Nothing can withstand the power of a starship.¡±


    Wu Tianyao was slightly taken aback: ¡°What are these things? They look somewhat like combat robots.¡±


    ¡°Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡±


    Three Shadow Guards moved, heading towards the air combat devices, their speed leaving a trail of afterimages.


    ¡°Such speed?¡± The crowd was shocked.


    Many had witnessed the Shadow Guards¡¯ killing spree last night, but the speed they showed then wasn¡¯t even a fraction of this.


    Now, the Shadow Guards were revealing their true strength.


    Wu Tianyao squinted, his eyes flashing with sharp light.


    Just as the Shadow Guards were about to clash with the air combat devices, they made their move.


    ¡°Slash, slash, slash¡±


    Three energy swords emitted sword beams over ten feet long, colliding with the air combat devices and slicing them into two, sending them plummeting to the ground trailing black smoke.


    This scene left everyone present gaping in shock.


    ¡°What... What the hell are these things?¡±


    ¡°My god! They can kill air combat devices in one strike! How could something so small possess such terrifying power?¡±


    ¡°Which nation created this? We¡¯ve never even heard of it.¡±


    ¡°So impressive. No wonder Qin Ritian is so confident, with these things, he can dominate the entire galaxy.¡±


    ¡°Such power, he must not be provoked.¡±


    Li Mingkai of the Li Family was also watching. Upon seeing the Shadow Guards take down the air combat devices with a single strike, he was deeply shaken by the terrifying power of advanced mechas.


    After destroying the air combat devices, the three Shadow Guards didn¡¯t stop and headed straight for the starship.


    Wu Tianyao¡¯s face changed: ¡°Activate the starship¡¯s defense system.¡±


    Before the starship¡¯s energy shield could activate, the Shadow Guards had already reached the starship. The sub-light speed propulsion devices were not just for show.


    The speed was beyond imagination.


    ¡°So fast, the starship didn¡¯t even have a chance to activate the energy shield, it¡¯s terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Is this the speed of light?¡± the crowd speculated.


    ¡°Light speed? None of the Eight Major Empires possess this technology, do they? Or have they not announced it yet?¡±


    ¡°Even if it¡¯s not light speed, it¡¯s very close to it.¡±


    Inside the air energy car, Shui Huilan and Luna were deeply shocked by the strength Qin Hao displayed.


    Now, Luna trusted Qin Hao even more and believed that her people could be saved.


    Shui Huilan was astounded. How powerful was his family? What kind of noble standing did his family hold in the Tanglong Empire?


    Both women couldn¡¯t help but look at Qin Hao, who was smiling calmly and observing the outside with a serene expression.


    At this moment, Qin Hao exuded an inexplicable charm, powerful, confident, and domineering...


    Though Qin Hao wasn¡¯t the most handsome man, to them, he was far more attractive than any pretty boy.


    After boarding the starship, the Shadow Guards swiftly advanced into the command cabin. The combat robots on the ship were like paper and couldn¡¯t withstand even one strike.


    Wu Tianyao was captured, and the entire starship was powered down. Everyone watched quietly, their mouths agape, shock evident on their faces.


    Just three people so easily destroyed a colossal starship; what kind of monstrous strength was this?

 Chapter 811: 811 Departure

    Chapter 811: Chapter 811 Departure


    All of Zhudao City¡¯s upper-class society was shocked, unable to believe it.


    Especially Chang Yuntian, who looked on with his mouth agape, speechless for a long time.


    Chang Yu murmured to himself, ¡°I told you he was terrifying. Dad, do you believe me now? Even an interstellar warship isn¡¯t his match. This is so terrifying; he isn¡¯t human.¡±


    At this moment, Wu Tianyao had already been brought in front of Qin Hao¡¯s vehicle by the Shadow Guards.


    Wu Tianyao¡¯s face was pale and extremely sullen. He, a dignified planetary ruler, had now become someone else¡¯s prisoner.


    There was an unconcealable look of fear in his eyes.


    What on earth is this? Why is it so terrifying? As a planetary ruler, he had seen much, but if there were such a weapon in the interstellar realm, how could he not know?


    As he scrutinized the Shadow Guards, a sudden flash of insight crossed his mind, and he exclaimed, ¡°I know, this is a mecha, an advanced mecha!¡±


    His voice wasn¡¯t loud, but people in the distance heard it.


    Some people showed a look of confusion. What¡¯s a mecha? They quickly opened their virtual imaging systems and began searching for information about mechas.


    Some people were extremely shocked because they knew about mechas. The eight powerful empires and the Interstellar Federation all had such things. These were symbols of powerful empires.


    And now, he actually possessed such an advanced mecha, didn¡¯t that mean his background was extremely terrifying?


    Even within the eight powerful empires, this probably wasn¡¯t something owned by just any faction.


    No wonder he dared to act so.


    Qin Hao, hearing Wu Tianyao¡¯s words, calmly replied, ¡°Too bad you realized it a bit late.¡±


    Wu Tianyao¡¯s expression changed slightly. What did he mean by this? Does he intend to kill me? ¡°This is the Lei Meng Duchy. I am the planetary ruler of the Lei Meng Duchy. Do you still dare to kill me? The duchy will definitely pursue this to the end if I, a planetary ruler, am killed.¡±


    Wu Tianxing was right. The Lei Meng Duchy controlled thirty to forty planets. The death of a planetary ruler was a major event.


    Qin Hao said flatly, ¡°Then I await the Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s investigation.¡± He then said to his Shadow Guards, ¡°Kill him!¡±


    ¡°Swoosh¡±


    The energy sword flickered, and Wu Tianyao¡¯s head flew off, with blood spraying through the air.


    Everyone was shocked beyond belief. He actually killed Wu Wenxing. Was he not afraid of the Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s pursuit and retaliation?


    Even if the Lei Meng Duchy didn¡¯t chase and retaliate, he would need to give the Lei Meng Duchy an explanation, or else where would the duchy save its face?


    The death of a planetary ruler was no trivial matter.


    Qin Hao said to the Shadow Guards, ¡°Send a few men to Shanshi Star to take care of the Wu Family. Leave no future troubles.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Six Shadow Guards soared into the sky, disappearing into the vast cosmos in an instant.


    Qin Hao and his group returned. As for the interstellar warship, someone would naturally deal with it in due time.


    Returning to their residence, Shui Huilan said worriedly, ¡°Xiaotian, the planetary ruler has been killed. This is a major incident. The Lei Meng Duchy will definitely not stand idly by, even if you are from the Tanglong Empire.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°I know, I have my own plans.¡±


    Shui Huilan heard his words and said nothing more, ¡°I¡¯ll go prepare. We¡¯ll set off for the Nolan Empire tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    After Shui Huilan left, Qingtao came over, ¡°Master, you¡¯re amazing. I really admire you.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled lightly at her words, ¡°You little girl, you¡¯re flattering me.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± Qingtao said coyly.


    About an hour later, the six Shadow Guards returned. The Wu Family on Shanshi Star had been eradicated, and they brought back a large amount of star currency and treasure, amounting to nearly thirty billion.


    At this moment, Shanshi Star was already in some chaos, with several major families preparing to seize the position of planetary ruler.


    After securing this position, they would typically apply for a commission from the Lei Meng Duchy. As long as they obeyed the duchy¡¯s governance, their application would generally not be rejected.


    That day, Qin Hao was also preparing for the journey to the Nolan Empire. The route from the Lei Meng Duchy to the Nolan Empire was a long one. Even if everything went smoothly, it would take three months, passing through dozens of duchies, kingdoms, and federations along the way.


    Interstellar space was indeed vast. A small nation like the Lei Meng Duchy controlled dozens of planets, not to mention those powerful kingdoms, federated republics, and empires.


    From what Qin Hao understood from the information online, the Nolan Empire controlled billions of planets, an unimaginable and powerful feat.


    Billions of planets¡ªit was indeed mind-boggling for Qin Hao. Such power was truly immense.


    ...


    The news from this side quickly reached Raymond Star, the capital planet of the Lei Meng Duchy.


    After receiving the news, the King of the Lei Meng Duchy did not immediately issue any orders, leaving many people confused as to why.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao made some preparations. Around seven o¡¯clock the next morning, Qin Hao, Luna, Qingtao, Li Jiaqi, and Leng Xuan arrived at the port and boarded the Shui Huilan family¡¯s spaceship.


    There were many cosmic cargo ships at the port, not just from Shui Huilan¡¯s family. Several merchant ships were also present.


    Qin Hao took a quick look and saw there were sixteen cosmic cargo ships in total, three of which belonged to Shui Huilan¡¯s family. He boarded one of these ships, which were carrying goods in the back.


    There were also two interstellar warships at the port. These were hired jointly from the planetary ruler of Nanming Star to ensure the voyage¡¯s safety. However, they would not continue beyond the Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s border.


    At that time, they would need to hire interstellar warships from another country for protection.


    Inside the spaceship, Shui Huilan saw Qin Hao board and smiled, ¡°Xiaotian, wait a bit. We will set off soon.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and looked around at the ship¡¯s decor, which had several luxurious rooms.


    About ten minutes later,


    The cosmic cargo ships at the port started moving. Ahead was a warship, and one followed behind, maintaining a distance of over ten kilometers.


    Air combat devices patrolled the area in between, preventing small groups of interstellar pirates from stealing cargo.


    A convoy of cosmic cargo ships stretching for over ten kilometers began to travel, soon entering the endless starry sky.


    Interstellar travel was the most tedious and boring occupation, and Qin Hao had experienced it firsthand.


    However, this time he had more people with him, so there would be someone to talk to.


    Qin Hao and his group stayed in the spaceship¡¯s observation room, where they could see the outside scenery.


    Shui Huilan said, ¡°It¡¯s been over half a year since I last went home. I¡¯m starting to miss the people there.¡±


    Hearing her words, Qin Hao¡¯s mind drifted to the images of his parents, Du Wanrou, and Xia Qing. He also wanted to go back, but reality wouldn¡¯t allow him to.

 Chapter 812: 812 Our King Invites You For A Talk

    Chapter 812: Chapter 812 Our King Invites You For A Talk


    Qin Hao quickly came out of his reverie and looked at Qingtao, asking, ¡°Qingtao, do you miss your family?¡±


    ¡°Qingtao has no family. Qingtao¡¯s only family is the master.¡± After saying that, Qingtao obediently and tenderly hugged his arm.


    Li Jiaqi felt a bit speechless. Damn, these specially trained slaves really know how to tug at your heartstrings.


    Shui Huilan said with a smile, ¡°Interstellar travel is so boring. Let¡¯s play a game to pass the time.¡±


    ¡°What game?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Shui Huilan brought out a set of items and explained the game to them. Qin Hao was stunned for a moment; it resembled Mahjong from Earth.


    ¡°Do you understand? Most casinos around here have this, and it can also be used for leisure,¡± Shui Huilan asked them.


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°We have something similar where I¡¯m from. Let¡¯s play together.¡±


    Shui Huilan said, ¡°Since we¡¯re playing, we should have stakes.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°What stakes?¡±


    Shui Huilan thought for a moment and said, ¡°Let¡¯s say the loser takes off a piece of clothing. Since Qingtao and Luna don¡¯t have any money, winning money wouldn¡¯t be fun. And once you¡¯re completely undressed, you have to put on a performance. How about it? Haha, I¡¯m quite good at this game.¡±


    ...


    Two hours later, Shui Huilan, Li Jiaqi, Luna, and Qingtao had lost very badly.


    Shui Huilan was a bit speechless, ¡°This is absurd. I¡¯m usually pretty good at this game. Why haven¡¯t I won a single hand today?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just her; Li Jiaqi, Qingtao, and Luna hadn¡¯t won a single game either. Qin Hao had won them all.


    Qin Hao picked up a tile and said with a smile, ¡°Sorry, I won again.¡±


    The women looked at each other, dumbfounded, with black lines on their foreheads. Again? Damn, are you cheating?


    Shui Huilan and Luna were both exceedingly embarrassed, and Qingtao and Li Jiaqi were hesitant.


    ¡°Hurry up, don¡¯t dawdle,¡± Qin Hao said, smiling broadly at Shui Huilan and Luna.


    ...


    Shui Huilan couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you cheating? How come you win every time?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t help it, I¡¯m just too skilled. Now take off your clothes and perform. Huilan, you go first to set an example for them,¡± Qin Hao said with a mischievous grin.


    Shui Huilan¡¯s face turned a rosy red. It was clear Qin Hao was teasing her. She rolled her eyes at him seductively and performed a popular dance.


    Then Luna, Qingtao, and Li Jiaqi each performed a show according to their agreement.


    Qin Hao watched with delight, feeling quite content with this lifestyle.


    As the days passed, one morning eight days later, Qin Hao woke up with Li Jiaqi and Qingtao lying beside him.


    His communication device rang. Qin Hao looked at it and said to Li Jiaqi and Qingtao, ¡°You two go out for a bit and call Luna in.¡±


    Li Jiaqi and Qingtao left, and Luna soon walked in. Seeing Qin Hao, her face turned slightly red. Did he call me in to do that with him?


    Actually, even if Qin Hao really wanted to do that with her now, she probably wouldn¡¯t refuse.


    Her cheeks flushed as she looked at Qin Hao, ¡°Master, did you call for me?¡±


    Seeing her expression, Qin Hao knew what she was thinking, smiled bitterly, and shook his head, then connected the video call on the communication device.


    Chang Jing¡¯s face appeared on the screen, ¡°Xiao Hao, the Elf Clan members have been rescued. There are about two billion of them, and we used dozens of large spaceships.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled at this, and Luna asked excitedly, ¡°Really? Have they all been rescued?¡±


    Chang Jing smiled at Luna and said, ¡°I¡¯ll connect the spaceships now.¡±


    Soon the video shifted to various scenes inside the spaceships, and Luna¡¯s voice appeared on the virtual screen.


    ¡°It¡¯s the little princess! Look, it¡¯s the little princess.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s really the little princess. She found people to rescue us.¡±


    ¡°Where are you, little princess?¡±


    ¡°Thank you for rescuing us, little princess.¡± Some knelt to thank her, and soon many more followed suit.


    Luna¡¯s eyes were slightly wet, ¡°It¡¯s good to see you all safe. It wasn¡¯t me who rescued you; it was people from Earth. They¡¯re our benefactors. When we get there, I hope everyone will abide by the laws. I still need to rescue my mother and sister, so I can¡¯t return for a while. Rest well; one day, we¡¯ll make our enemies pay a hundredfold.¡±


    ¡°Yes, revenge. Let them pay their blood debts.¡±


    Qin Hao spoke up at this point, ¡°I¡¯m the leader of the Galaxy Federation. Welcome to our big family. I deeply regret your past suffering. I hope everyone will work hard to learn new knowledge. Together, we¡¯ll make them pay their blood debts.¡±


    ¡°This is the leader of Earth, and also the leader of the Galaxy Federation Government and our future leader,¡± Luna told them.


    ¡°Thank you, leader.¡±


    Many of these people had lost their families. Mothers, sisters were taken away, brothers, and others were lost in wars.


    After ending the call, Luna hugged Qin Hao and cried until she calmed down.


    Qin Hao gently patted her back, comforting her, ¡°It¡¯s okay. This trip to the Nolan Empire will also help us look for your mother and sister.¡±


    Luna looked up at him, with a blush, kissed his cheek softly, ¡°Thank you, master.¡±


    Luna felt very grateful and had some admiration and affection for him. As a slave, Qin Hao didn¡¯t have to do anything. He could do whatever he wanted with her. But he did so much, rescuing her entire clan.


    Qin Hao smiled mischievously at her, ¡°How do you plan to thank me properly?¡±


    Luna, seeing his mischievous smile, blushed even more, feeling warm, ¡°I... I...¡±


    Just then, there was a knock on the door, urgent.


    Qin Hao opened the door and went out. Shui Huilan and the others stood there, ¡°Bad news, the fleet has been intercepted by Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s Star Sky Fleet. They are likely after you.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression remained calm, ¡°Let¡¯s go and see.¡±


    The group left the room and came to the ship¡¯s deck. At this moment, dozens of air combat devices flew over and hovered above the deck.


    Someone emerged from an air combat device, ¡°Is Mr. Qin Ritian here? Our King would like to meet you.¡±

 Chapter 813: 813: King Wei Yingrui

    Chapter 813: Chapter 813: King Wei Yingrui


    Shui Huilan¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise upon hearing the words, inviting him over for a chat? Weren¡¯t they here to capture him?


    After all, he had killed the star lord of Mountain Stone Star.


    Some things Shui Huilan wasn¡¯t aware of, like how the King of Lei Meng Duchy didn¡¯t have strong control over these star lords, which was akin to the ancient feudal lords who had considerable power. Now that Wu Tianyao was dead, it was actually beneficial for the King of Lei Meng Duchy.


    Because he could use this chance to strengthen his control over Mountain Stone Star.


    The soldier was afraid Qin Hao would refuse and quickly added, ¡°Mr. Qin can bring his guards along. Our king just wants to have a talk with Mr. Qin.¡±


    What the soldier meant to convey was that our king does not intend to kill you but genuinely wants to have a discussion.


    Qin Hao pondered for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡±


    He left a few Shadow Guards to ensure the safety of Luna, Qingtao, and others, and along with Leng Xuan and several others, boarded the Air Combat Device.


    Not far from the caravan was Lei Meng Star, the capital planet of Lei Meng Duchy.


    About ten minutes later, Qin Hao arrived at Leimeng City on Lei Meng Star, which served as the economic and military center of Lei Meng Duchy, bustling with activities.


    Leimeng City was massive, roughly the size of dozens of Zhudao Cities, with countless buildings towering hundreds of stories high and Air Energy Cars speeding through the city.


    The Air Combat Device landed on the rooftop of the tallest building in Leimeng City.


    This cylindrical skyscraper, nearly three hundred stories high, housed the military and political offices of Lei Meng Duchy, with various departments located within the building.


    Qin Hao and his group descended from the Air Combat Device and were promptly escorted inside the building.


    They arrived at the entrance of a reception room, where several guards were stationed. They looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, our master is waiting for you inside.¡±


    Qin Hao told Leng Xuan and others, ¡°You all wait outside.¡±


    He walked into the reception room, where a middle-aged man was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the bustling scene outside.


    Upon hearing someone enter, the man turned around and looked at Qin Hao, ¡°Hello Mr. Qin, please take a seat. I am Wei Yingrui, the king of Lei Meng Duchy.¡±


    Having said that, he extended his hand and shook hands with Qin Hao. Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°Hello Prince Wei, I am Qin Ritian from Tanglong Empire.¡±


    Wei Yingrui¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise upon hearing this, ¡°Mr. Qin, please sit down.¡±


    The two sat across from each other, with Wei Yingrui smiling kindly while maintaining a dignified demeanor, ¡°Mr. Qin, killing the star lord of my Lei Meng Duchy has put me in a difficult position.¡±


    Qin Hao calmly replied, ¡°Prince Wei can handle it as he sees fit.¡±


    Wei Yingrui smiled and said, ¡°I have already investigated the matter thoroughly. It isn¡¯t Mr. Qin¡¯s fault, so I will handle it fairly.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Prince Wei must have something else in mind for inviting me here.¡±


    Wei Yingrui nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve visited Tanglong Empire once. Mr. Qin, are you a member of the Qin Family?¡±


    Qin Hao narrowed his eyes slightly, ¡°Prince Wei seems to know quite a lot. Yes, I am indeed from the Qin Family!¡±


    Wei Yingrui was taken aback, realizing that he was actually from the Qin Family. Tanglong Empire had several major superfamilies: Emperor the Li Family, followed by the Qin Family, the Cheng Family, among other distinguished founding aristocrats.


    Wei Yingrui softened his tone a bit, ¡°Mr. Qin, your subordinates use advanced mecha units?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct, Prince Wei has quite the eye,¡± Qin Hao replied indifferently.


    Wei Yingrui laughed awkwardly, ¡°Mr. Qin, I wonder if your Qin Family sells these mecha units? I¡¯d like to buy some.¡±


    Qin Hao pondered for a few seconds upon hearing this, then replied, ¡°I cannot make decisions on advanced mecha units and would need to inquire. However, I can make decisions on lower-grade mecha units.¡±


    ¡°How much for lower-grade mecha units? Does Mr. Qin have other items for sale besides mecha units?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him and asked, ¡°What does Prince Wei want to buy? We sell weapons, but for some high-level weapons, I would need to ask.¡±


    ¡°I need interstellar warships, air combat devices, and combat robots,¡± Wei Yingrui replied.


    Although Lei Meng Duchy could produce these items, their technology lagged behind that of the eight major empires, hence their performance was inferior.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m well aware of your country¡¯s weapons performance. How about I send over the test videos for these weapons in the next few days, and if Prince Wei is interested, you can place an order then.¡±


    Wei Yingrui nodded, ¡°How much for the lower-grade mecha units?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°The price for lower-grade mecha units is ten billion star coins each. You know how difficult they are to obtain.¡±


    Currently, there are practically no channels for purchasing mecha units in the interstellar marketplace, making Qin Hao¡¯s offer unique.


    Wei Yingrui had no intention of haggling, as he knew how difficult it was to obtain these. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take a hundred of them. Is that possible?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Of course, Prince Wei. How could I refuse when you are giving me money? From now on, we¡¯re all friends.¡±


    Wei Yingrui burst into laughter at Qin Hao¡¯s straightforwardness, ¡°That¡¯s right, from now on, we¡¯re friends.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Prince Wei, I have some industries in the Southern Wilderness Star System. Currently, passing through the endless asteroid pathway incurs fees. The fees are not a problem, but it delays time. Time is money.¡±


    Wei Yingrui instantly understood, ¡°That¡¯s easy to solve. I¡¯ll issue an exemption certificate for Mr. Qin. They will pass you through directly without fees.¡±


    In his view, this was not a big deal, as the fees were trivial and inconsequential.


    Qin Hao stood up and said, ¡°If Prince Wei has nothing else, I will take my leave. I need to head to Nolan Empire for some business.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, why don¡¯t you stay for a meal? We really hit it off,¡± Wei Yingrui genuinely wanted to get along well with Qin Hao to acquire more advanced weapons in the future.


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°No need, the caravan people are still waiting for me.¡±


    Wei Yingrui didn¡¯t insist, ¡°Then, Mr. Qin, be sure to drop by for a drink when you pass through here next time.¡±


    ¡°Certainly, Prince Wei,¡± Qin Hao smiled slightly.


    Leaving from there, he was escorted back to the caravan, which then resumed its journey.


    Back on the ship, Shui Huilan quickly asked, ¡°Xiaotian, are you alright? What did Wei Yingrui want with you?¡±


    ¡°Nothing much, just discussing business, he wants to buy mecha units,¡± Qin Hao¡¯s face showed a hint of cold smile.


    My mecha units are not that easy to purchase. Since you came to me, don¡¯t blame me, Qin Hao, for being ruthless.


    Qin Hao will certainly leave a backdoor program in the mecha units Wei Yingrui purchases to manipulate them for rebellion later!


    If he wants to buy warships, air combat devices, and combat robots, Qin Hao will also ensure he retains control over them, making it easier to dominate Lei Meng Duchy.


    [Fifth update completed today]

 Chapter 814: 814 Divine Wind Group

    Chapter 814: Chapter 814 Divine Wind Group


    Shui Huilan was taken aback: ¡°Did he mention anything about Wu Tianyao?¡±


    Qin Hao responded calmly, ¡°He said a word or two. He doesn¡¯t have the guts. If he dares to make a move, I promise he will die miserably.¡±


    Even without Leng Xuan and the others accompanying him, Qin Hao was confident he could kill him and escape easily.


    Wei Yingrui also knew he definitely had advanced mechas, so he didn¡¯t dare to make a move.


    Hearing the murderous intent in Qin Hao¡¯s words, Shui Huilan was slightly startled. Did a ruler of a nation decide to kill just like that?


    Wasn¡¯t he afraid of starting a major war?


    A few people returned to the spaceship, and Shui Huilan said to him, ¡°In another day, we will leave the borders of the Lei Meng Duchy. The next country is the Mongast Federation Republic, which is somewhat stronger than the Lei Meng Duchy, but not by much.¡±


    Qin Hao returned to his room and sent a message to Chang Jing, telling him to develop a batch of F-level mechas. Wei Yingrui had already paid the deposit, and he would transfer the remaining balance once the goods arrived.


    After giving Chang Jing instructions, Chang Jing went to work on it. Qin Hao also asked her to create a test video demonstrating the power of Earth¡¯s new air combat devices and combat robots.


    As for interstellar battleships, they were too large to pass through the endless asteroid belt unnoticed.


    He could transport mechas, air combat devices, and combat robots via spaceship, but battleships were too unwieldy, so he decided not to sell interstellar battleships to Wei Yingrui for now.


    ...


    In the distant Nolan Empire, at the headquarters of the Divine Wind Consortium.


    Guo Yuanwu¡¯s face was grim: ¡°What did you say? The Elf Clan was rescued? Who the hell rescued them? Who dares to touch the interests of the Divine Wind Group?¡±


    The others, seeing his expression, were somewhat afraid: ¡°Mr. Guo, we aren¡¯t sure of the specifics. We¡¯re having people investigate. The last message we received from the other side was that a few battleships suddenly appeared there without any warning.¡±


    A flash of insight crossed Guo Yuanwu¡¯s eyes: ¡°Was there any trace of fleet mobilization in the Lei Meng Duchy, the Silver Star Free Federation, the Flame Dragon Duchy, or the Nanyan Duchy?¡±


    ¡°After a thorough investigation, there were no signs of fleet mobilization from any of them. It definitely wasn¡¯t their fleets, and they wouldn¡¯t dare to provoke the Divine Wind Consortium.¡± Someone replied.


    ¡°So who dares to target the Divine Wind Group?¡± Everyone furrowed their brows.


    At that moment, there was a knock on the meeting room door. A female secretary walked in: ¡°Mr. Guo, we¡¯ve analyzed the black box from the battleships in the Southern Wilderness Star System, and there¡¯s a video of the incident.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s spirits lifted upon hearing this: ¡°Play it immediately. I want to see who has the audacity to touch our assets.¡±


    The female secretary activated the meeting room¡¯s virtual imaging system and played the video from the battleships.


    Three Divine Wind Group battleships hovered over the Elf Clan¡¯s life planet. Suddenly, several black dots appeared in the distant starfield. The black dots quickly enlarged, and in the blink of an eye, five ominously dark battleships appeared clearly in the video.


    No people could be seen on the battleships, but there was a logo painted on their hulls.


    Guo Yuanwu quickly said, ¡°Pause. Which country¡¯s logo is this?¡±


    Everyone shook their heads; the symbol was unfamiliar to them.


    ¡°Investigate. I want to know which faction this logo belongs to.¡± After speaking, Guo Yuanwu continued watching the video.


    In the video, the battleships opened fire immediately, and the Divine Wind Group¡¯s battleships fired back.


    But when the enemy¡¯s weaponry hit their battleships, the energy shields were like paper, completely unable to withstand the fire, and the ships were swiftly incinerated.


    Conversely, when their weaponry hit the enemy¡¯s shields, not even a ripple appeared; their defense and attack power were entirely overwhelmed.


    They couldn¡¯t hold out for a single round, while one of their battleships¡¯ recording functions wasn¡¯t completely destroyed.


    Later, Guo Yuanwu and the others saw several people disembark from the battleships, and a voice emanated from within: ¡°We are from the Galaxy Federation Government¡¯s interstellar fleet, here on a mission to rescue you...¡±


    Then the video ended. Everyone¡¯s faces showed confusion. Galaxy Federation Government? They had never heard of such a nation.


    ¡°What country is this? How come I¡¯ve never heard of it?¡± Guo Yuanwu asked curiously.


    The others were also baffled; none of them had heard of this country¡¯s name.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the endless asteroid belt only surrounded by the Lei Meng Duchy and three other countries? When did this Galaxy Federation Republic come about?¡±


    Just as he finished speaking, his eyes widened as if he recalled something: ¡°I understand now, Mr. Guo! Do you remember the events of a few months ago? Deep within the Southern Wilderness Star System, there¡¯s another life planet with somewhat advanced technology. The mercenary squads and interstellar fleets were almost entirely wiped out. Could it be this nation?¡±


    Everyone¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this. Oh right, how had they forgotten about the life planet deep in the Southern Wilderness Star System?


    Guo Yuanwu: ¡°Check the previous reports from the journalists. See if it¡¯s that country.¡±


    After speaking, he furrowed his brow. He didn¡¯t feel elated, because he had just thought of a troubling issue. The performance of those battleships was incredibly strong. Could they have been developed by that life planet?


    If that were true, it would be terrifying.


    Advanced mechas and advanced interstellar battleships were the military standard of the eight empires.


    ¡°What¡¯s troubling you, Mr. Guo? Once it¡¯s clarified, it¡¯s just a primitive planet daring to challenge the Divine Wind Consortium? That¡¯s simply asking to be destroyed. We should annihilate their government and enslave the entire population forever.¡± Someone said viciously.


    Guo Yuanwu gave him a glance: ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the power of those battleships? They can definitely rival the Nolan Empire¡¯s advanced interstellar battleships. How do you intend to destroy them?¡±


    The person was rendered speechless: ¡°How could they be that powerful?¡±


    ...


    On the other side, Qin Hao and his group had already passed through the Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s borders and entered the Mongast Federation Republic.


    They had enlisted two more interstellar battleships for escort, and nothing had happened along the way.


    A month had passed since their departure.


    Inside the spaceship, Qin Hao sat idly as Qingtao and Luna massaged his back.


    Shui Huilan said, ¡°We should enter the Xuanzhou Kingdom¡¯s territory by tomorrow. The caravan will rest for a day when we get there. We can go down and relax.¡±


    Li Jiaqi was delighted: ¡°Really? That¡¯s great.¡±


    She was almost suffocated with boredom. If it weren¡¯t for Qin Hao, she believed she would have gone mad. She regretted coming along and wouldn¡¯t have done so if she¡¯d known how tedious it would be.


    [Late night first update, it¡¯s 1:30 AM, time to sleep!]

 Chapter 815: 815 Jiangchuan City

    Chapter 815: Chapter 815 Jiangchuan City


    Don¡¯t mention Li Jiaqi, even Qin Hao felt bored sitting for such a long time.


    Hearing that they could take a break for a day tomorrow, he secretly let out a sigh of relief.


    Shui Huilan said while smiling, ¡°Tomorrow, we will stop at Jiangchuan City, a major city in the Xuanzhou Kingdom. It¡¯s a big city for interstellar trade nearby, and a few merchant ships in our caravan will stop there to trade.¡±


    The next morning, just after eight o¡¯clock.


    Under the command of the ground port, the caravan slowly landed at the port of Jiangchuan City.


    Shui Huilan and others parked the merchant ships, gave brief instructions to the people below, and then led Qin Hao and his group into Jiangchuan City.


    On the way by car, Shui Huilan said, ¡°Let me first take you to the shopping mall here. They have clothes, shoes, and a variety of other things¡ª it¡¯s very well-stocked.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Qingtao and Luna. They really needed to buy some clothes; they had been wearing Shui Huilan¡¯s clothes these days.


    Ten minutes later, they arrived at the Jiangchuan Shopping Mall in Jiangchuan City. This place was huge, spanning dozens of miles, and very lively with a lot of people around.


    Upon walking inside the mall, Qin Hao and his group couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit dazzled by the sheer number of clothes.


    ¡°I know a few stores that carry famous interstellar brands. Let me take you to check them out,¡± Shui Huilan said as she led them inside.


    Inside the mall were several large stores of well-known interstellar clothing brands. The stores were big and crowded.


    As soon as they entered, the women were attracted by all the beautiful clothes.


    Qin Hao said to them, ¡°Try on what clothes you like, don¡¯t worry about saving money for the owner.¡±


    ¡°Xiaotian, you¡¯re so biased, what about me?¡± Shui Huilan pouted displeased and looked at him.


    Qin Hao gave a dry laugh, ¡°Ahem, well then, let¡¯s all do it together.¡±


    When they entered, they attracted quite a few glances, mainly because Luna was so beautiful that she made the other beauties in the store seem like mere green leaves to her flower.


    Many men, upon seeing her, had their eyes light up with desire; conquering such a beauty would be an exhilarating experience.


    Soon, the women had picked out some clothes they liked. The lowest-priced clothes here were above a million Star Coins, with the more expensive ones in the tens of millions¡ª they were top luxury items.


    Luna picked out a few white dresses and fur coats, but seeing the high prices, she looked over at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao, smiling, said, ¡°If you like them, go ahead and take them. It¡¯s not much.¡±


    Shui Huilan chimed in from the side, ¡°Exactly, Xiaotian is not short on money, you don¡¯t need to save for him.¡±


    ¡°Slap¡±


    At this moment, a loud slap was heard.


    Qin Hao turned his head to see Qingtao covering her face, her eyes instantly red, standing there not daring to speak.


    A young man looked at her with disdain and said, ¡°A mere female slave, and you dare to compete with this young master for clothes? Who the hell do you think you are? Hand the clothes over to me quickly.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face darkened, and he hurried over, attracting quite a few onlookers.


    ¡°Qingtao, what happened?¡± Qin Hao asked, looking at Qingtao.


    Qingtao replied, aggrieved, ¡°Master, I wanted to pick out a piece of clothing for you. I saw it first... I¡¯m sorry, master, I caused you trouble. I¡¯m sorry, master.¡±


    The young man looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°This is your slave? Next time you go out, watch her more closely. A cheap slave like her dares to compete with me for clothes?¡±


    ¡°F**k you, who do you think you are.¡± Qin Hao charged forward and slapped the young man hard across the face.


    The slap sent the young man flying, crashing into several clothing racks.


    And that wasn¡¯t the end of it. Qin Hao rushed over again, lifting him with one hand and slapping him repeatedly across the face.


    The crowd was stunned, their eyes wide. This guy was unbelievably fierce.


    The store employees wanted to intervene, but Qin Hao was too ferocious for them to handle.


    At this moment, several of the young man¡¯s attendants arrived but were also quickly taken down by Qin Hao.


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao stopped and threw the young man to the ground. ¡°Who the hell do you think you are? Only I can touch my slaves.¡±


    By now, the young man was barely conscious, lying on the ground and spitting out blood bubbles.


    The attendants said, ¡°You have a lot of nerve to dare hit a member of the Du Family.¡±


    When the surrounding people heard this, their faces changed. The Du Family of Jiangchuan? They were a prominent family in Jiangchuan City.


    Anyone doing business here or even stopping by with a caravan had surely heard of the Du Family¡¯s reputation.


    Nobody expected this young man to be from the Du Family.


    ¡°This person is too reckless, hitting a Du Family member for a mere slave.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he didn¡¯t realize he was confronting a member of the Du Family. He¡¯s finished. The Du Family will stop at nothing for revenge.¡±


    ¡°In the past, someone once foolishly offended the Du Family. That person had quite a background too. But unfortunately, this is the Xuanzhou Kingdom and Jiangchuan City. Once the Du Family dealt with him, his family didn¡¯t dare cause any trouble.¡±


    ¡°This guy is obviously putting on a show. Who would offend somebody else for a mere slave?¡±


    Shui Huilan and the others hurried over, ¡°Xiaotian, don¡¯t be impulsive, this person is from the Du Family.¡±


    This is the Xuanzhou Kingdom, not the Lei Meng Duchy. The families here are not comparable to those in Zhudao City.


    Qin Hao ignored Shui Huilan and said disdainfully, ¡°Is the Du Family very powerful? If they want revenge, bring it on. I¡¯m not afraid. If they dare touch my people again, I¡¯ll make the Du Family disappear from the interstellar scene.¡±


    The crowd was shocked by his words. Damn, such arrogance.


    Does he not know the strength of the Du Family in Jiangchuan City?


    Luna and Qingtao felt a warm current in their hearts, thinking how fortunate they were to have such a master.


    Qin Hao turned to Qingtao, patting her head and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Qingtao. Next time, if something like this happens, call me directly.¡±


    Qingtao obediently nodded, ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Qin Hao then said to the clerk, ¡°I will buy all these clothes. Calculate the total cost.¡±


    The female clerk, feeling relieved, quickly totaled the value of the clothes scattered on the ground. ¡°Sir, including the clothes these ladies are holding, the total comes to 107 million Star Coins.¡±


    The female clerk glanced at Qin Hao. One hundred and seven million Star Coins was no small amount.


    The surrounding people¡¯s expressions also changed. They might buy a piece of clothing for several million here, but this guy spent over one hundred million at once?


    With an indifferent expression, Qin Hao took out a card and made a swipe. ¡°Charge it.¡±


    Wei Yingrui had paid him a deposit of 10 billion Star Coins. Apart from that, he also had billions of Star Coins taken from the Wu Family.


    [Chapter 2]

 Chapter 816: 816: The Bai Family and the Du Family

    Chapter 816: Chapter 816: The Bai Family and the Du Family


    This amount of money is nothing to him.


    At this moment, Du Zhiyi, who had taken some healing potion, had already regained consciousness, but his injuries still seemed quite severe.


    He was helped up by servants, his eyes as dark as a deep pool: ¡°Just you wait, if I let you walk out of Jiangchuan City alive, my surname isn¡¯t Du.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at him indifferently: ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for your Du Family to come for revenge.¡±


    After saying that, he walked out of the clothing store with Luna, Qingtao, and a few others. Du Zhiyi glared at their backs and took out his communicator to make a call.


    Qin Hao and his group left the clothing store and went to a few shoe stores nearby for a look.


    As soon as they walked into a shoe store, a female attendant smiled and approached: ¡°Hello, welcome.¡±


    ¡°Sir, are you looking for men¡¯s shoes or women¡¯s shoes?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Let¡¯s look at both.¡±


    ¡°Sir, we have the latest men¡¯s and women¡¯s shoes. Look at this pair, they¡¯re extremely comfortable with a massage function, auto dust removal, and tough materials that knives and swords can¡¯t damage. They also enhance jumping ability,¡± the female attendant introduced with a smile.


    Qin Hao tried on a pair of men¡¯s shoes, and to be honest, the effect was quite impressive, very comfortable¡ªthough, the price was also very significant at 8.88 million.


    He said to Luna and the others, ¡°You all pick some too.¡±


    Luna and a few others, with a polite laugh, began picking out shoes they liked.


    A few minutes later, just as they were almost done choosing, a group walked in, led by a young man dressed in fine clothes, clearly not an ordinary person.


    The man glanced around at the customers in the store, and when he saw Luna, his gaze lingered for a moment. He quickly walked over, reaching out to touch Luna¡¯s pretty face while lewdly saying, ¡°What a beautiful slave.¡±


    Luna stepped back: ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Bai Bufen sneered: ¡°Little girl, I¡¯ve taken a liking to you. From now on, you¡¯re with me. Who¡¯s your master? I¡¯ll talk to him.¡±


    Hearing Luna¡¯s voice, Qin Hao turned his head and frowned slightly. Damn, why are there so many rich brats in Jiangchuan City?


    Shui Huilan also noticed and looked at Qin Hao with an exasperated expression. Are these people blind?


    It wasn¡¯t entirely Bai Xiaofan¡¯s fault; Luna was just so beautiful that she attracted everyone¡¯s attention wherever she went.


    The term ¡°beauty brings trouble¡± was probably coined for someone like Luna.


    Qin Hao walked over, Luna moved closer to him and looked at Bai Bufen.


    Bai Bufen looked Qin Hao up and down: ¡°Is she your slave?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    Bai Bufen: ¡°I¡¯m the young master of the Bai Family in Jiangchuan City. Give me this slave and let¡¯s be friends.¡±


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but laugh at his arrogance: ¡°Is your friendship that important?¡±


    Bai Bufen laughed as he said: ¡°It¡¯s your first time in Jiangchuan City, right? Haven¡¯t you heard of the Bai Family? Let me tell you, if you become my friend, you can do whatever you want in Jiangchuan City.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and asked: ¡°Are you stronger than the Du Family?¡±


    Bai Bufen was taken aback and looked at him with suspicion: ¡°The Du Family? Do you know someone from the Du Family?¡±


    ¡°No, I just crippled someone from the Du Family,¡± Qin Hao said calmly.


    ...


    Bai Bufen was shocked: ¡°You said you crippled someone from the Du Family?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°That¡¯s right, it was in that clothing store next door. If you don¡¯t want to end up like him, you¡¯d better disappear from my sight.¡±


    Bai Bufen was initially intimidated by his words, but then he thought, who would dare to touch someone from the Du Family in Jiangchuan City? The Du Family was not weaker than the Bai Family.


    Moreover, the current Du Family Head was tough and domineering. The Du Family¡¯s influence was even greater than the Bai Family¡¯s. Who would dare to touch someone from the Du Family?


    Bai Bufen looked at Qin Hao and said: ¡°Kid, exaggeration has its limits. You said you crippled someone from the Du Family? Why not say you crippled someone from the Ji Family?¡±


    The Ji Family held the title of City Lord in Jiangchuan City for generations, with more profound heritage and strength than the Du or Bai families.


    Qin Hao frowned at his words, but Bai Bufen continued: ¡°Stop talking nonsense. You almost had me fooled. I won¡¯t take advantage of you; I¡¯ll give you 10 million, and you can go buy a few more slaves.¡±


    Qin Hao sighed: ¡°I¡¯ve tried to be reasonable with you, but you just don¡¯t listen. Do I have to beat you up to make my point? Fine, I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Qin Hao kicked him, sending him flying to the store¡¯s entrance.


    The intense pain made Bai Bufen¡¯s face turn pale, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.


    Bai Bufen¡¯s servants saw this, and two of them ran to help him while the others charged at Qin Hao.


    But Leng Xuan and the others subdued them with a single move and threw them out.


    Qin Hao walked up to Bai Bufen: ¡°Do you believe me now? You really need to be taught a lesson, huh?¡±


    ...


    After leaving the shoe store, they wandered around and bought some more things. Later, Qin Hao had the items sent back to the spaceship because they had bought quite a lot.


    Qin Hao and his group continued to stroll around. As it was almost noon, they planned to go eat.


    Just as they were about to leave Jiangchuan Shopping Plaza, they were blocked by two groups, each with about twenty to thirty people.


    One side was Du Zhiyi, and the other side was Bai Bufen.


    The two exchanged glances and were stunned, thinking to themselves: Why is he here too?


    The crowd at the shopping plaza was dense, and seeing this scene, they knew there was a good show to watch.


    Bai Bufen looked at Du Zhiyi and asked: ¡°Du Yingqiang, what brings you here?¡±


    Du Zhiyi: ¡°I¡¯m here for revenge.¡± He then looked at Qin Hao, his eyes filled with hatred.


    Bai Bufen recalled what Qin Hao had said earlier. Damn, he really had also beaten someone from the Du Family and it was a direct descendant, Du Zhiyi.


    He looked at Qin Hao and sneered: ¡°You are really bold, daring to hit both me and Du Yingqiang in Jiangchuan City. You¡¯re dead today, no worries. I never kill women. The slaves beside you will be well taken care of by both me and Du Yingqiang.¡±


    Upon hearing these words, Du Zhiyi glanced at Luna, Qingtao, and Shui Huilan: ¡°Indeed, these slaves are of really good quality.¡±


    Bai Bufen said to Du Zhiyi: ¡°Du Yingqiang, be careful. This guy is quite strong. I specially called a few experts from my family.¡±


    ¡°I also called some experts. Today, he will die here,¡± Du Zhiyi said, his eyes gleaming with a murderous light.


    Hearing this, those around them were shocked. Damn, someone dared to beat members of both the Bai and Du families in Jiangchuan City? Is he tired of living?


    ¡°He¡¯s practically courting death. The Bai and Du families are top families in Jiangchuan City. It¡¯s hard to survive offending one, let alone both.¡±


    ¡°This guy must be new to Jiangchuan City and unaware of the strength of the Du and Bai families.¡±


    ¡°Haha, he¡¯s surely dead. It¡¯s a pity for those beautiful slaves. Falling into their hands will surely mean a terrible fate for them.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t know his limits. Does he think he can act wild in Jiangchuan City?¡±

 Chapter 817: 817 Elf Clans Sixth Princess

    Chapter 817: Chapter 817 Elf Clan¡¯s Sixth Princess


    Qin Hao looked at Bai Bufen and Du Zhiyi with a slight frown, ¡°Do I really have to kill you two for you to understand the meaning of regret?¡±


    ¡°This guy¡¯s got a big mouth. He wants to kill the young masters of the Bai Family and Du Family. Does he not know what death means?¡±


    ¡°If he kills these two and walks out of Jiangchuan City alive, I¡¯ll twist my head off and use it as a chamber pot.¡±


    ¡°Haha, he definitely doesn¡¯t dare to kill them. This is a tactic, probably to scare them so he can escape.¡±


    Du Zhiyi sneered, ¡°Kill us? You should think about what your last words will be.¡±


    Bai Bufen sneered, ¡°Aren¡¯t you and your subordinates all so tough? Let¡¯s see how tough you really are.¡±


    This time, the two had brought the elite warriors from their families, all combat-capable, some even trained in external martial arts techniques for fitness and strength.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes flashed with disdain as he looked at them. Shui Huilan by his side said, ¡°Xiao Hao, be careful. If you really kill them, we might not be able to leave Jiangchuan City.¡±


    Even if Qin Hao could escape using his mecha, Bai Huilin still had a large batch of goods, worth over a billion.


    Qin Hao understood her concern and nodded slightly, ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    Leng Xuan and his men walked out, not wearing their mecha suits. This time, they were going to rely solely on physical strength to defeat them.


    Although the opponent had many people, Leng Xuan and his team had undergone systematic training and genetic modification, and also practiced ancient martial arts from Earth.


    In terms of strength, they were definitely formidable.


    Bai Bufen and Du Zhiyi saw Qin Hao¡¯s men coming out and waved their hands, sending their own men into the fray.


    Ten Shadow Guards clashed with the others, engaging in a fierce battle in the square. But the fight quickly turned one-sided.


    The elite servants that Bai Bufen and Du Zhiyi were so proud of were no match for the Shadow Guards.


    The onlookers were shocked, ¡°Damn, these people¡¯s skills are incredible, they¡¯ve definitely had the best training.¡±


    ¡°Every move is fatal or crippling, these people aren¡¯t simple.¡±


    ¡°To think these are the elites of the Bai Family and Du Family, yet they¡¯re being beaten so badly. Their combat power is evident.¡±


    ¡°Daring to attack the young masters of the Bai Family and Du Family, they must have some serious skills.¡±


    Bai Bufen¡¯s face changed slightly, ¡°How are his men so strong?¡±


    Du Zhiyi also couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°I brought the elites of the Du Family.¡±


    The fight lasted about a minute, with all the men brought by Du Zhiyi and Bai Bufen lying on the ground, and Qin Hao¡¯s men unscathed.


    Qin Hao stepped forward, and Bai Bufen and Du Zhiyi exchanged a glance, both eyes filled with panic. They were notorious wastrels in Jiangchuan City, often bullying others with their families¡¯ power.


    This was the first time they encountered such a situation, how could they not be scared?


    The crowd watched Qin Hao, wanting to see if he would actually kill the two. If he did, there would be a huge spectacle.


    Qin Hao walked up to the two, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Are these the people you brought? What use are this bunch of trash?¡±


    ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Bai Bufen took a step back, somewhat afraid.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I won¡¯t kill you. But you won¡¯t keep your legs.¡±


    They had felt some relief upon hearing the first part, but the rest of his words made their faces change.


    The Shadow Guards came forward, grabbed the two, and brutally broke their legs. They screamed like pigs being slaughtered, then passed out.


    The crowd was stunned, damn, isn¡¯t this the same as killing them?


    This guy¡¯s too fierce, isn¡¯t he afraid of the two families¡¯ revenge?


    Qin Haoruo casually said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, time to eat.¡±


    The crowd almost fainted at his words, what the heck, you still feel like eating???


    Shouldn¡¯t you be running away quickly?


    After walking for a while, Qin Hao and his group found a large hotel. They were tired of the food on the spaceship after these days.


    In the hotel¡¯s private room, Shui Huilan worried, ¡°Do you think Xiaotian will be okay?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything¡¯s fine.¡±


    If the Bai Family and Du Family really acted against them, Qin Hao would make them disappear.


    Shui Huilan was still worried. After all, this wasn¡¯t the Lei Meng Duchy, but the Xuanzhou Kingdom, governing hundreds to thousands of planets. The king here was no Wei Yingrui.


    If Qin Hao really wiped out the Bai Family and Du Family, the Xuanzhou Kingdom could indeed send a large fleet to hunt them down.


    How would they resist then? It wouldn¡¯t be just one interstellar warship, but an entire fleet.


    Qin Hao ordered a large table of dishes. The waiter soon brought the food, and he said, ¡°Everyone eat, eat a lot. Otherwise, you won¡¯t get good food for months.¡±


    In the private room, there was a virtual screen, showing local TV programs.


    As they were about to finish eating, the screen suddenly changed to an ad-news broadcast. This news appeared not only in their room but on screens all over Jiangchuan City.


    This afternoon at 3 PM, Jiangchuan Auction will host its monthly grand auction. We welcome all to attend. This time we have many new slaves on offer: exquisite beauties from the Catman Race, Foxman Clan, Leopard Woman Clan, Winged Race, and even a rare Elf Clan princess.


    The Elf Clan was discovered by us in the Southern Wilderness Star System, with males handsome and females beautiful¡ªpeerless beauties. This auction features the Sixth Princess of the Elf Clan.


    The screen showed a video of the Elf Clan¡¯s Sixth Princess, capturing her from all angles. Her stunning beauty was breathtaking.


    Luna froze upon seeing this, a hint of excitement flashing in her eyes as she looked at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao glanced at Luna calmly. Shui Huilan asked curiously, ¡°Luna, do you know this Elf Clan princess?¡±


    Luna nodded sadly, ¡°This is my sister, Jiao Rou.¡±


    After eating, Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the auction with Luna this afternoon. You guys head back first; I¡¯ll have someone take you back.¡±


    Shui Huilan and Li Jiaqi nodded. Shui Huilan couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Xiao Hao, you wouldn¡¯t really bid on this Elf Clan princess, would you?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°I do have that thought. I like beautiful women of all kinds and don¡¯t want to miss any of the earthly treasures.¡±


    Of course, the others didn¡¯t know about his relationship with Luna, and he couldn¡¯t let them know.


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 818: 818 Jiangchuan Auction

    Chapter 818: Chapter 818 Jiangchuan Auction


    After leaving the hotel, Leng Xuan sent ten people to escort Shui Huilan, Qingtao, and Li Jiaqi back to the spaceship.


    Qin Hao and Luna headed towards the Jiangchuan Auction.


    On the way, Luna held onto his arm with both hands and softly said, ¡°Thank you, master.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°I am trying my best to save the people of the Elf Clan, but I also hope that the Elf Clan will be loyal to me.¡±


    That was his true goal.


    Luna nodded, ¡°Master, don¡¯t worry. We Elves know who is truly good to us and who is bad.¡±


    The Jiangchuan Auction was quite far from here. On the way, Qin Hao and Luna could see the auction¡¯s advertisements everywhere. Everyone in the city knew about it.


    This auction was not only for slaves but also for rare metals and other items. The variety was rich.


    Many people were heading there as well. It was a grand auction event.


    Some people wanted to auction off some items and top-quality slaves, while others just wanted to see the spectacle and experience the grand scene.


    Du Family in Jiangchuan City.


    Liu Mengyu went into the room of Du Family Head Du Zilong crying, ¡°Zilong, you have to stand up for our child.¡±


    Du Zilong looked at her and frowned slightly, ¡°Crying like this, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Liu Mengyu quickly stopped crying out of fear, ¡°Zilong, our child Zhiyi¡¯s legs were broken by someone. He¡¯s now receiving treatment in the clan.¡±


    Du Zilong raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, his face darkening, ¡°Zhiyi¡¯s legs were broken? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Who dares to touch the Du Family members in Jiangchuan City? Could it be the Ji Family?


    Recently, the Du Family and the Ji Family have had some minor conflicts. Could the Ji Family have done this?


    Liu Mengyu replied, ¡°It was an outsider. Because of a lowly slave, he attacked our son. Later, our son couldn¡¯t stand it and sought revenge, but that man¡¯s subordinates were formidable. Our son suffered a loss and had his legs broken. He even said that the Du Family is nothing but trash in his eyes.¡±


    Du Zilong¡¯s face grew increasingly sinister, ¡°Have we found any information about that person? I want to see who dares to mess with my son.¡±


    ¡°We have some information, but it¡¯s superficial, nothing useful,¡± Liu Mengyu replied.


    Du Zilong nodded slightly, ¡°Send me the information. I¡¯ll handle this. I¡¯m going to the Jiangchuan Auction; there are good things being auctioned this time.¡±


    The same scene was happening in the Bai Family. Despite being the scions of their families, Bai Bufen and Du Zhiyi were not to be easily bullied by outsiders. It concerned the reputation and prestige of the whole family.


    ...


    At 2:45 PM, Jiangchuan Auction.


    Qin Hao, accompanied by Luna, Leng Xuan, and others, slowly entered the auction. The crowd was vast, and the ticket prices were exorbitantly high, at 100,000 star coins per ticket. Ordinary people couldn¡¯t afford to get in; those who did were people of some stature.


    The auction house was huge, capable of accommodating over ten thousand people. There were also private prestigious rooms on the second floor for VIPs or esteemed clients of the Jiangchuan Auction.


    Qin Hao found his seat and sat down, with Luna standing beside him and four of Leng Xuan¡¯s men standing behind him.


    The auction house only allowed each person to bring five attendants, and they had to stand without seats.


    Many people around noticed Luna, their eyes showing a hint of amazement. What a beautiful female slave! She could indeed rival the Elf Clan princess featured in the auction¡¯s promotional video.


    As it approached 3 PM, the seats on the first floor were almost full. Those who were meant to come had arrived.


    A slightly overweight middle-aged man walked up to the auction stage. He had a smile on his face, and his eyes were almost unseen as he smiled broadly.


    He looked at the crowd below and grinningly said, ¡°Welcome to Jiangchuan¡¯s premier auction. I promise you, today, no boss here will regret attending. Without further ado, I announce the official start of the auction.¡±


    After speaking, an item slowly rose on the auction stage, covered with a red cloth.


    The auctioneer, still smiling, pulled off the red cloth, revealing a bottle of red translucent liquid. Because the auction house was so large, there were also large HD screens behind the stage, allowing everyone to see clearly.


    What is this? Many people showed puzzled looks.


    The auctioneer began to introduce, ¡°This is a bottle of genetic serum, from the distant Bright Empire in the Bright Star System. It is the latest research product for enhancing human body attributes. Drinking it can greatly improve physical fitness, with absolutely no side effects. I guarantee it with the reputation of the Jiangchuan Auction.¡±


    The crowd was shocked. A genetic serum that can increase human body strength?


    The auctioneer continued, ¡°This genetic serum can only be used once. Multiple uses will be ineffective, and these are the comparative results after testing. Initially, a person could only punch with a force of over 200 kilograms. After using it, their punch became over 400 kilograms. Agility and physique have all increased by more than double. The starting bid is five million star coins, with each bid not less than fifty thousand star coins. Let the bidding begin.¡±


    Qin Hao listened to the auctioneer¡¯s introduction with a calm expression. He already possessed such serums, and his could be used repeatedly, at a higher grade than this one.


    ¡°Six million,¡± someone directly increased the bid by one million.


    ¡°Six million five hundred.¡±


    ¡°Seven million.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Ten million.¡±


    Many people were bidding, as such genetic serums were extremely rare, only available in the eight major empires. This was also the first time it was being auctioned at the Jiangchuan Auction.


    Eventually, this bottle of genetic serum was auctioned off for 18.5 million star coins.


    The auctioneer then said, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t worry. There are four more bottles of genetic serum, making a total of five. This is a rare opportunity.¡±


    The prices of the remaining genetic serums were similar to the first one and were quickly sold.


    ¡°The next auction item is a Leopard Woman Clan beauty. As for its quality, everyone can see for themselves,¡± the auctioneer said with a smile.


    Soon, a leopard woman ascended from beneath the stage, without any iron cages or restraints.


    This leopard woman had an exceptional figure and face, very enticing, with a leopard tail swaying behind her.


    The auctioneer smiled, ¡°This is a wild leopard woman, very passionate in bed. The starting bid is five million star coins. Gentlemen, you may start bidding.¡±


    This Leopard Woman Clan beauty¡¯s final price was 33 million star coins. The attraction of beauty couldn¡¯t be denied; men were willing to pay for enjoyment and excitement.


    One by one, the auction items were sold, none of which were of any use to Qin Hao.


    At this point, another auction item covered with a red cloth appeared, giving it a mysterious aura.


    The auctioneer smiled, ¡°Next, we have an F-class mecha from the Dark Empire in the Dark Star System, developed by the Dark Empire. Let¡¯s first watch the performance and power of this dark mecha.¡±


    [Fifth Update]

 Chapter 819: 819: Start the Auction

    Chapter 819: Chapter 819: Start the Auction


    Qin Hao squinted his eyes upon hearing those words, low-grade Mecha?


    The large screen displayed a video of the Dark Mecha performance test. Qin Hao looked closely; it wasn¡¯t much worse than low-grade Mechas on Earth. Of course, if it were a one-on-one battle, Earth Mechas would definitely have the advantage.


    Almost everyone present saw this kind of Mecha for the first time and were deeply shocked by the strength of several powerful families. It was terrifying.


    Though it¡¯s not big, its destructive power was astonishing, especially against battleships. It was like a battleship killer.


    Members of the Bai Family, the Du Family, and the Ji Family saw it and their eyes lit up. They came here precisely for this item.


    The host laughed and said to the crowd, ¡°The starting bid for the Dark Mecha is ten billion star credits. Each bid increment must be no less than twenty million. The auction starts now.¡±


    ¡°Eleven billion.¡± The Bai Family Head immediately called out.


    ¡°Eleven billion five hundred million.¡± Someone on the first floor called out next, a foreign merchant.


    Many people sitting in the first-floor hall were foreign merchants or people passing through this place. Do not underestimate these people; among them might be someone with extensive connections.


    Although local families were strong, they wouldn¡¯t easily provoke those foreign merchants.


    Bidding for the Mecha was very intense, quickly escalating to fifteen billion star credits. By this time, fewer people called out bids, but there were still about ten individuals.


    As the price climbed ever higher, fewer people bid. When the price reached twenty billion, only members of the Bai Family, the Du Family, and the Ji Family remained.


    The three families were determined to win this Mecha, competing fiercely.


    The Ji Family were the City Lords of Jiangchuan City. This powerful item could not be allowed to fall into the hands of other families within Jiangchuan City.


    The price kept soaring, nearing the thirty billion mark, causing great pressure on the three families.


    Though their family assets were considerable, their liquid funds were limited, with many other expenditures requiring funds. Now it came down to who had more liquid assets.


    Ultimately, the Dark Mecha was auctioned to the Du Family for thirty-five billion. The faces of those in the Bai Family and the Ji Family boxes turned a bit ugly.


    After concluding the transaction, the host continued: ¡°The next auction item is sure to be liked by everyone, the Elf Clan Princess. I won¡¯t say much; the promotional ads said it clearly. The Elf Clan has only seven princesses; this is the sixth princess. In the entire galaxy, there are just a few, and all are captivatingly beautiful.¡±


    Elf Clan¡¯s sixth princess, Jiao Rou, rose slowly from beneath the auction stage. She was unshackled, looking weak and delicate, dressed in pink, making her seem even more fragile and captivating. Her breathtaking beauty invoked a strong protective urge.


    Many people held their breath upon seeing the Elf Clan¡¯s sixth princess, Jiao Rou. She was the most beautiful woman all present had ever seen.


    The host smiled and said, ¡°She¡¯s truly breathtakingly beautiful. Even I am deeply moved and wish to hold her protectively in my arms. Rest assured, this Elf Clan princess is absolutely authentic and untouched by anyone. If she has been touched, our auction house will compensate with ten times the auction price.¡±


    That statement was what most concerned everyone. If she had been touched, her price would significantly drop, causing many to lose interest.


    ...


    ¡°Starting bid is ten billion star credits. In the entire galaxy, there are only a few Elf Clan princesses, making this one extremely rare. It is said that the fleets of Divine Wind Group on the Elf Clan¡¯s original planet were destroyed and many Elves were rescued. Hence, Elf Clan beauties¡¯ prices will keep rising, especially the incredibly rare Elf Clan princesses.¡±


    This news shocked everyone. The Elves controlled by Divine Wind Group were rescued?


    This starting bid is already alongside the Dark Mecha, but Mechas can be produced in large quantities, while the Elf Clan princesses are few and can¡¯t be publicized like Mechas.


    Thus, in terms of rarity, the Elf Clan princess slightly outranks, which is why she is being auctioned after the Mecha.


    ¡°Ten billion five hundred million,¡± someone on the first floor called out.


    ¡°Eleven billion.¡±


    ¡°Eleven billion eight hundred million.¡±


    ...


    This time, the number of bidders on the first floor was even greater than for the Mecha, indicating the strong attraction of the sixth princess Jiao Rou.


    Bai Family Head Bai Xingbo also liked her and instructed his men to bid, ¡°Fifteen billion.¡±


    Du Zilong from the Du Family also liked her but did not bid again due to the high price and limited liquid funds.


    The Ji Family bid, ¡°Sixteen billion.¡±


    Many more foreign merchants on the first floor were bidding. They had money; they just didn¡¯t find anything they liked initially.


    Numerous powerful individuals were on the first floor.


    The price was slowly approaching twenty billion. Qin Hao had not bid yet; Luna looked at him, her eyes filled with concern.


    ¡°Twenty billion,¡± came a bid from the Ji Family¡¯s box.


    ¡°Twenty-one billion,¡± a middle-aged man on the first floor countered firmly.


    Many recognized him as a member of the Zhou Family from the Radiant Kingdom, whose strength surpassed that of the Bai Family and Du Family, though such cross-national comparisons hold little significance unless the strength is vastly superior.


    ¡°Twenty-two billion,¡± the Bai Family continued bidding.


    ¡°Twenty-two billion five hundred million,¡± someone from a box on the second floor couldn¡¯t sit still and had to bid.


    Generally, those bidding later hold greater power, with earlier bids just warming up.


    ¡°Twenty-two billion seven hundred million.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao pressed a button on his seat and said, ¡°Thirty billion.¡±


    His voice spread throughout the auction house through the speaker system, shocking everyone, who all turned to look.


    Even many people in the second-floor boxes focused their attention on Qin Hao.


    Thirty billion? He raised it to thirty billion in one go, showing the bidders up.


    Du Zilong and Bai Xingbo saw Qin Hao¡¯s face and were momentarily stunned. This was the man who had crippled both their sons¡¯ legs!


    The host looked a bit excited, ¡°Thirty billion first call. This gentleman is quite impressive. Any higher bids?¡±


    ¡°Thirty billion two hundred million.¡±


    The middle-aged man on the first floor continued bidding.


    Those in the second-floor boxes quickly followed, ¡°Thirty billion five hundred million.¡±


    Nearby Qin Hao, a fat man was momentarily stunned upon seeing him, ¡°Damn, why is he here too?¡±


    ¡°Brother, do you know this person? Where is he from?¡± someone nearby asked curiously.


    After all, someone able to call out thirty billion in one go must be of significant stature.

 Chapter 820: 820: Fifteen Billion

    Chapter 820: Chapter 820: Fifteen Billion


    Several people around were watching the fat man.


    This fat man was none other than the one who sat next to Qin Hao during Luna¡¯s auction.


    He said with a smile: ¡°Of course I know him. We¡¯ve had meals together. We¡¯re quite close; I call him Brother Tian. I just didn¡¯t expect Brother Tian to also come to the Xuanzhou Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Come on, brother, let¡¯s exchange business cards. I¡¯m the president of Hai Shan Interstellar Group.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the president of Ming Guang Group, Li Mingguang.¡±


    A few people on the side were exchanging names with the fat man, and he smiled and said: ¡°Brother Tian, like me, is from Lei Meng Duchy.¡±


    Lei Meng Duchy? Isn¡¯t that on the far edge of the interstellar space, a relatively backward country?


    The fat man explained: ¡°Although Brother Tian is from Lei Meng Duchy, he is not actually a native. He¡¯s just doing business there. See the beauty beside him? She is a princess of the Elf Clan, bought by Brother Tian at an auction.¡±


    ¡°That guy must be something, right?¡± someone beside asked.


    The fat man chuckled: ¡°Not just something, but quite something. Let me tell you, no one in Jiangchuan City dares to mess with him. If anyone does, they will definitely meet a terrible end.¡±


    ¡°So, who is he exactly?¡±


    The fat man coughed lightly: ¡°Brother Tian has never told anyone this, but from what he¡¯s said before, I gather he¡¯s from the Tanglong Empire.¡±


    After he finished, the fat man sneered inwardly, thinking, fools, I just made it all up.


    ¡°Four billion.¡± Qin Hao spoke again, raising the bid by ten billion.


    The middle-aged man on the first floor hesitated for a moment but did not speak up. This price was a bit too high.


    ¡°Four billion five hundred million.¡± The bid from the private box on the second floor continued.


    Everyone was shocked. It was already forty billion, and someone in the second-floor box was still bidding. Whoever was in there must be quite formidable.


    ¡°Five billion.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s tone was flat, his expression unchanged, as if spending fifty billion was nothing to him.


    ¡°Whoa, fifty billion, who is this guy? So impressive?¡±


    ¡°A female slave fetching this kind of price, it¡¯s the first time in Jiangchuan Auction, right?¡±


    ¡°This Elf Clan princess, whether in appearance, figure, or temperament, is worth this price. Being able to spend nights with such a beauty would be a great pleasure in life.¡±


    ¡°If I had the money, I¡¯d even be willing to spend five hundred billion.¡±


    The bid from the private box on the second floor continued calmly: ¡°Five billion five hundred million.¡±


    Qin Hao squinted slightly, a gleam flashing in his eyes. Luna felt a bit nervous and held Qin Hao¡¯s hand; she hadn¡¯t expected someone to still bid after fifty billion.


    Everyone looked at Qin Hao, waiting for him to raise the bid again. Considering his previous momentum, retreating now seemed unlikely.


    The auctioneer was extremely excited. The fiercer the competition, the higher his commission would be.


    Qin Hao paused for a few seconds and then said: ¡°Ten billion.¡±


    ¡°Wow¡±


    The entire auction house erupted in an uproar.


    The auctioneer, hearing this price, breathed heavily and was speechless for a while. Ten billion, wow, ten billion.


    Which top family¡¯s young master is this? This is beyond extravagant.


    The auctioneer: ¡°Bidder 1368 has offered ten billion. Is there any higher bid? This is the princess of the Elf Clan, her beauty, figure, and temperament need no further description; she is a priceless treasure.¡±


    ¡°Ten billion going once, is there any higher bid?¡±


    In the private box on the second floor sat a young master in his thirties, named Ji Feichao, one of the many princes of the Xuanzhou Kingdom, and also the Star Lord of Jiangchuan Star.


    ¡°Star Lord, this price is a bit high,¡± an old servant beside him cautiously reminded.


    Ji Feichao: ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing. Another five hundred million. If he continues to bid, then forget it.¡±


    The old servant was stunned for a moment, then called out in the room: ¡°Ten billion five hundred million.¡±


    The auction hall fell silent again. They were still bidding; someone in the second-floor box was still raising the bid.


    Who is this person in the private box on the second floor? Such strength!


    ¡°Fifteen billion.¡± Qin Hao unhesitatingly called out again.


    The crowd had already become accustomed to being shocked, and now hearing Qin Hao¡¯s bid, they felt a bit numb.


    This is simply not human. For a female slave, it¡¯s reached fifteen billion, this is definitely a young master from some top family in the interstellar space.


    Ji Feichao did not raise the bid again, and in the end, the Elf Clan princess was sold to Qin Hao for fifteen billion.


    He actually didn¡¯t have much property, so he didn¡¯t need to worry about cash flow and other issues.


    Today¡¯s auction in Jiangchuan ended with a staggering price of fifteen billion.


    After swiping his card, the sixth princess of the Elf Clan, Jiao Rou, was brought before Qin Hao. Countless eyes turned toward them, and only then did people notice Luna beside Qin Hao.


    Luna¡¯s beauty was in no way inferior to Jiao Rou¡¯s; the two only differed in their temperaments. One was delicate and pitiable, while the other was cute and charming.


    Is she also a princess of the Elf Clan?


    Jiao Rou saw Luna and was stunned. The two women hugged each other and cried.


    Qin Hao got up and said: ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it back home.¡±


    They left the auction house, watched by many, including Ji Feichao from his box, his eyes gleaming.


    He, a prince of the Xuanzhou Kingdom and Star Lord of Jiangchuan Star, had never before had anyone contend with him for something.


    He remembered this person.


    Du Zilong and Bai Xingbo sent people to watch Qin Hao, intending to figure him out before making any move.


    They didn¡¯t want to provoke a monstrous existence.


    After leaving the auction house, Qin Hao and his group took a car to the port, arriving in five or six minutes.


    Back in the cabin of the spaceship, Jiao Rou began talking to Luna, full of questions: ¡°Seventh sister, how did you end up here?¡±


    Luna recounted her experiences with Qin Hao in detail to Jiao Rou.


    At this time, Qin Hao was talking with Shui Huilan and others: ¡°When can we leave?¡±


    Shui Huilan: ¡°We need a permit from Jiangchuan Star. It should be ready by this afternoon, and we also need to rent an escort ship. There will be many interstellar pirates afterward.¡±


    The deeper into interstellar space, the more prosperous the trade routes, and naturally, the more interstellar pirates.


    Wealth comes with risks. Although the danger is high, the rewards are significant for them.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Can we leave tomorrow?¡±


    Shui Huilan: ¡°Almost, the permit should be ready today. I¡¯ve also contacted the Jiangchuan City Lord¡¯s office regarding the starship. How did the auction go? Did you get it?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Got it. The sisters are reminiscing now.¡±


    As they were talking, Shui Huilan¡¯s communicator rang with a response regarding the permit. But seeing the reply, she frowned because the permit had not been approved!

 Chapter 821: 821 Banquet

    Chapter 821: Chapter 821 Banquet


    Qin Hao noticed her frown and curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°The permit hasn¡¯t been approved, what¡¯s going on?¡± Shui Huilan¡¯s brows were tightly knitted. Without the permit, her spaceship couldn¡¯t leave the port.


    This had never happened before. To promote commercial prosperity, the local authorities wouldn¡¯t hinder these merchant caravans.


    Qin Hao immediately thought of the Bai Family and the Du Family: ¡°Could it be that the Bai Family and the Du Family are causing trouble?¡±


    Shui Huilan shook her head: ¡°They shouldn¡¯t be able to interfere in this. Let me make a call to check.¡±


    So she called a familiar contact in Jiangchuan City: ¡°Hello Mr. Li, this is Shui Huilan. I want to ask about the issue with my convoy¡¯s permit?¡±


    A man¡¯s voice came through the communicator: ¡°Mr. Shui, let me check for you, please wait a moment.¡±


    About a minute later, the man replied: ¡°Mr. Shui, have you offended someone here? The Ji Family has blocked your permit.¡±


    ¡°The Ji Family? No, I don¡¯t know anyone from their family. Mr. Li, can you help me? Money is not an issue,¡± Shui Huilan asked anxiously.


    ¡°Sorry, Mr. Shui, I can¡¯t help with this. You know how powerful the Ji Family is.¡±


    After hanging up, Shui Huilan looked at Qin Hao: ¡°What should we do? The Ji Family is blocking our permit.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°How about I go and talk to the Ji Family? If it doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll teach them a lesson.¡±


    Shui Huilan¡¯s forehead creased: ¡°Let¡¯s use this as a last resort and think of other solutions first.¡±


    At this moment, Luna and Jiao Rou walked out of the room. Jiao Rou sweetly called out to Qin Hao, ¡°Master.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Just stay by my side from now on.¡±


    Shui Huilan, Li Jiaqi, and the others were astonished upon seeing Jiao Rou. What a delicate and lovable beauty.


    Do all Elf Clan women look this beautiful? It made other women envious and jealous.


    Even Qin Hao felt a protective urge upon seeing her.


    ¡°How much did you pay at the auction?¡± Shui Huilan assumed Jiao Rou¡¯s auction price was higher than Luna¡¯s.


    Because the area was more prosperous and had more wealthy competitors, and her delicate personality would particularly attract men.


    ¡°Fifteen billion.¡±


    Shui Huilan and Li Jiaqi¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°How much? Fifteen billion? Are you crazy?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled: ¡°Such a beauty is priceless.¡±


    Shui Huilan was speechless. Fifteen billion... Her cargo this time would earn at most three billion, and the round trip itself took six months.


    Around five in the afternoon, Shui Huilan received an invitation to an evening banquet hosted by Jiangchuan Star¡¯s leader Ji Feichao in Jiangchuan City. Many local families and visiting merchants were invited for a networking event.


    The invitation listed both Shui Huilan and Qin Hao¡¯s names.


    Seeing this, Shui Huilan froze for a moment: ¡°How do they know your name? This is an invitation from Ji Feichao!¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and replied, ¡°They must have investigated my background. The leader of Jiangchuan Star was probably also at the auction in Jiangchuan Auction.¡±


    Besides, Qin Hao had a good guess who Ji Feichao was¡ªlikely the person he had bid against at the auction.


    Because who else would have the financial power and strength?


    Shui Huilan looked at him: ¡°Are you going to attend?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Of course, I want to see what they are up to, and also to address the issue with your convoy¡¯s permit.¡±


    Shui Huilan nodded slightly. She thought the same. Without settling the permit issue, her convoy couldn¡¯t leave.


    After some preparations, Qin Hao told Li Jiaqi and Qingtao: ¡°Wait for us on the spaceship. I¡¯ll leave someone to protect you. This banquet might be dangerous; you shouldn¡¯t come.¡±


    Qingtao and Li Jiaqi nodded: ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    A bit past six, Qin Hao, Shui Huilan, Luna, and Jiao Rou left the spaceship, accompanied by five men led by Leng Xuan.


    They drove to the outskirts of Jiangchuan City, to Ji Feichao¡¯s private estate where the banquet was held.


    At the entrance, someone checked their invitations and said, ¡°Sorry, sir and miss, private bodyguards are not allowed inside the estate.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded to Leng Xuan and the others: ¡°You can wait outside for us.¡±


    He and the others walked in; Luna and Jiao Rou each held onto one of his arms.


    Upon entering, they drew countless stares, as Luna and Jiao Rou were stunning, outshining every beauty present.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the guy from the auction today? He¡¯s here too.¡±


    ¡°Damn, flanked by two breathtaking beauties, that¡¯s the life.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t these two from the Elf Clan? They look rather similar.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be happy with just one of them.¡±


    They soon arrived at the estate¡¯s back garden, where multiple tables and seats were set with rare drinks and snacks.


    With Luna and Jiao Rou by his side, Qin Hao looked like a sun in the night, dazzling everyone.


    As soon as they entered, Ji Feichao spotted them and approached with a smile: ¡°Welcome to tonight¡¯s banquet, Mr. Shui, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Shui Huilan was a bit apprehensive, as this was the leader of Jiangchuan Star: ¡°Mr. Ji, you¡¯re too kind. This is a business networking event; I would have come even without an invitation.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded calmly, which made Ji Feichao slightly displeased. As the leader of a star and a prince of Xuanzhou Kingdom, what did a mere nod mean?


    However, he didn¡¯t show it: ¡°Mr. Qin, your extravagance at the auction was quite the talk. Truly impressive.¡±


    He glanced at Jiao Rou and Luna, feeling a tinge of jealousy.


    Qin Hao was disdainful, thinking, as if I didn¡¯t know you were the one in the private box? What hypocrisy: ¡°Mr. Ji, you¡¯re too kind. If there¡¯s one thing I don¡¯t lack, it¡¯s money.¡±


    ...


    Ji Feichao¡¯s expression briefly changed but quickly returned to normal. Shui Huilan and others almost fainted upon hearing this.


    Wow, flaunting wealth in front of Ji Feichao?


    But Qin Hao had the means. Who else would spend fifteen billion on a slave girl?


    The Family Heads of the Du Family and Bai Family were also there, having received invitations. They spotted Qin Hao at the entrance, their eyes gleaming.


    Du Zhiyi was present too, his legs healed, though he could never forget the incident.


    Seeing Qin Hao, his eyes showed a flash of malice. Noticing the two beauties beside him, he felt even more jealousy: ¡°Brother, it¡¯s him, he¡¯s the one who beat me today.¡±


    Du Zhixiu glanced over, his eyes gleaming: ¡°I can¡¯t believe he had the guts to come here.¡±

 Chapter 822: 822: Jiangchuan Star Lord Ji Feichao

    Chapter 822: Chapter 822: Jiangchuan Star Lord Ji Feichao


    Du Zhiyi began, ¡°Brother, Ji Feichao personally received him. Is this person someone important?¡±


    Du Zhixiu sneered, ¡°Ji Feichao didn¡¯t go to receive him; he went to receive the two beauties beside him.¡±


    Ji Feichao didn¡¯t talk much with Qin Hao. After a brief exchange, he went to entertain others.


    Qin Hao and Shui Huilan found a place to sit. Shui Huilan didn¡¯t know many people here, but quite a few people approached Qin Hao to toast him or hand him business cards.


    No matter what business Qin Hao was in, his displayed strength warranted such attention.


    Shui Huilan whispered to Qin Hao, ¡°What do you think his purpose is in inviting us here? It can¡¯t be just a simple invitation, right?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°You¡¯ll know in a while.¡±


    While they were talking, Du Zhixiu, holding his beautiful slave, came over with Du Zhiyi.


    He looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°So you¡¯re the one who broke my brother¡¯s leg? You¡¯ve got some guts to touch a member of the Du Family!¡±


    His loud voice attracted many people¡¯s attention. Isn¡¯t this the eldest young master of the Du Family?


    What did he just say? Qin Ritian broke his brother¡¯s leg?


    Whoa, this is intense! This is the Du Family¡¯s territory.


    Not only that, but Bai Bufe, the next heir of the Bai Family, also walked over. Du Zhixiu and Bai Bufe were well-known figures in Jiangchuan City, leading the younger generation.


    Bai Bufe looked at Qin Hao expressionlessly: ¡°You crippled a direct disciple of the Bai Family in public. Are you provoking our Bai Family?¡±


    The people around were shocked: ¡°He offended the Bai Family too?¡±


    ¡°Does he have to be so fierce? Brother, can¡¯t you keep a low profile on their turf?¡±


    ¡°Look at the aura of the Bai Family and the Du Family. They want to humiliate him at this banquet.¡±


    ¡°This is Ji Feichao¡¯s private banquet. They wouldn¡¯t dare cause a scene, right?¡±


    Ji Feichao noticed the situation and walked over: ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Bai Bufe and Du Zhixiu hurriedly said, ¡°Star Lord, you may not know this, but this man here dared to cripple my brother¡¯s legs in broad daylight today. Many witnesses were present.¡±


    Ji Feichao frowned: ¡°Is this true, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Mr. Qin looked up at the three of them: ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true. They brought this upon themselves. Sparing their lives was already showing mercy to your two families.¡±


    This was too arrogant!


    Broke their legs and still considered it showing mercy?? People around were speechless,


    They looked at Qin Hao, who seemed about twenty years old, and thought he must be a pampered disciple of a wealthy family. Otherwise, how could he say something like that?


    ¡°Star Lord, you heard that. If our Du Family and Bai Family act like nothing happened, where¡¯s our face?¡± Du Zhixiu and Bai Bufe said.


    Ji Feichao frowned deeply, showing an indecisive expression: ¡°Mr. Qin is my honored guest, and your Du Family and Bai Family are prominent families on Jiangchuan Star. How about giving me some face, and I¡¯ll mediate this?¡±


    ¡°Why should I give you face?¡± Before Bai Bufe and Du Zhixiu could speak, Qin Hao looked at him and said indifferently.


    Ji Feichao¡¯s face changed slightly: ¡°Qin Ritian, watch your words. I sincerely want to mediate, and you respond coldly. Fine, you handle your business yourselves.¡±


    ¡°Does he think having some money makes him invincible? He really doesn¡¯t know how to behave.¡± People around started discussing.


    ¡°Star Lord Ji is kindly mediating, and he doesn¡¯t appreciate it, even responding coldly. He deserves to be dealt with by the Du Family and the Bai Family.¡±


    ¡°He probably thinks he¡¯s very tough.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s completely offended Star Lord Ji. Doesn¡¯t he know any social etiquette? How can his family¡¯s elders trust him to be out?¡±


    ¡°Watch, this kind of person won¡¯t realize his mistakes until he¡¯s in deep trouble.¡±


    ¡°Pretending to be cool, let¡¯s see how he kneels and apologizes soon.¡±


    People around were gossiping, likely trying to curry favor with Ji Feichao, the Du Family, and the Bai Family.


    Though Qin Hao was wealthy, here, money wasn¡¯t everything; power was.


    Du Zhixiu looked at Qin Hao and sneered: ¡°You hurt my family¡¯s disciple. I must take you all in today.¡±


    He could see Ji Feichao favoring the two female slaves beside Qin Hao, and he was ready to offer this favor.


    Bai Bufe also spoke: ¡°No, our Bai Family also needs to take him. He¡¯s damaged our family¡¯s honor, and we can¡¯t let this slide.¡±


    Shui Huilan and the others¡¯ eyes showed worry. Qin Hao had already offended Ji Feichao, and now the Du and Bai families wanted to capture them. They felt like they were in a desperate situation.


    Especially Jiao Rou, who had just seen a glimmer of hope for survival. Was it about to shatter again?


    ¡°Get lost.¡±


    Qin Hao shouted, waving his hand, releasing a surge of formless qi force that swept Du Zhixiu and Bai Bufe away.


    The two were sent flying five or six meters, landing and vomiting blood.


    Those two who were just talkative about dealing with him were now in a sorry state.


    People around were shocked. Whoa, how did he do that? A wave of the hand sent them flying?


    Not far away, Du Zilong and Bai Xingbo watched with twitching brows, amazed by Qin Hao¡¯s display.


    Ji Feichao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing Qin Hao with a confused and suspicious expression.


    ¡°Bold, daring to cause trouble here, men, take them down,¡± a loud shout arose.


    The manor¡¯s guards rushed in and surrounded Qin Hao and the others.


    Ji Feichao¡¯s face turned dark: ¡°Daring to cause trouble at the banquet, do you not see me, Ji Feichao, in your eyes? Take them down and throw them into jail.¡±


    His heart was already delighted. He didn¡¯t expect Qin Hao to act so directly, giving him a perfect excuse to capture him.


    The guards were fully armed, combat robots, with laser guns and alloy shields, making them impossible for ordinary people to resist.


    ¡°Swoosh swoosh¡±


    Several figures flew in from outside, landing in front of Qin Hao and the others, blocking the combat robots.


    These people were in black mecha, emanating a chilling killing intent, with an invisible aura spreading around them.


    ¡°Whoa, is he challenging Star Lord Ji?¡±


    ¡°This is Jiangchuan Star. One call from Star Lord Ji, and countless troops would come. How can he fight back?¡±


    ¡°This will only hasten his demise. Star Lord Ji isn¡¯t just the Star Lord of Jiangchuan Star; he¡¯s also a prince of the Xuanzhou Kingdom. He¡¯s definitely doomed.¡±


    Ji Feichao didn¡¯t think anything of those few Shadow Guards: ¡°Qin Ritian, you think you can save yourself with just a few people? You underestimate me, Ji Feichao. None of you are leaving today.¡±

 Chapter 823: 823: Huge Compensation

    Chapter 823: Chapter 823: Huge Compensation


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he looked at Ji Feichao and said flatly, ¡°If I want to leave, no one can stop me.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Take him down, kill anyone who dares to resist.¡± Ji Feichao ordered.


    Those combat robots moved instantly, only obeying Ji Feichao¡¯s commands.


    The people around quickly retreated, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.


    The Shadow Guards also made a move; energy swords lit up, glowing brightly. With one swipe, a sword beam dozens of meters long appeared in the air.


    The combat robots in front seemed like mere paper, easily sliced in half by the sword beam.


    Everyone was dumbfounded, not daring to believe their eyes. The powerful combat robots were like paper before the sword beam?


    What is this weapon? How can it be so powerful?


    Du Zilong and Bai Xingbo were terrified, ¡°Damn, this power is insane! What is this thing?¡±


    Ji Feichao¡¯s eyes widened. He had never seen such a terrifying energy sword. With a foreboding feeling, he hastily notified the Guard Army to come over.


    In less than a minute, all of Ji Feichao¡¯s proud combat robots lay scattered on the ground, with parts strewn everywhere.


    At this moment, the support Ji Feichao had called for had not yet arrived.


    Qin Hao walked up to Ji Feichao with his men and said coldly, ¡°Just these few people are enough to destroy your entire Jiangchuan Star. Do you believe it or not?¡±


    Ji Feichao¡¯s face turned grim, ¡°Who on earth are you?¡±


    ¡°Who I am doesn¡¯t matter. Stop your scheming; don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to.¡± Qin Hao sneered.


    The people around didn¡¯t dare to breathe, shocked by the strength Qin Hao displayed.


    Suddenly, someone exclaimed, ¡°I get it, the followers around him are wearing advanced Mecha.¡±


    ¡°What? Advanced Mecha?¡±


    ¡°Is this what advanced Mecha looks like?¡± The crowd carefully examined the Shadow Guards.


    Du Zilong and Bai Xingbo¡¯s faces changed dramatically upon hearing this. Nowadays, even basic Mecha are not widespread, yet his followers were equipped with advanced Mecha? This must be a terrifyingly powerful background.


    Ji Feichao¡¯s expression froze upon hearing this¡ªadvanced Mecha? Could he be the son of a top family from one of the eight great empires?


    If this were true, then he had indeed kicked against the iron plate this time.


    The Xuanzhou Kingdom also had Mecha, but the numbers were very few and only basic Mecha.


    Currently, those who owned advanced Mecha all belonged to top families from the eight great empires.


    The basic Mecha at the auction was provided by him, intending to unbalance the power between the Du Family and the Bai Family and let them fight each other so he could benefit.


    At this moment, some Air Combat Devices were approaching from afar, and the Shadow Guards raised their cannons.


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh.¡±


    Beams of light shot out. Don¡¯t underestimate the small cannons on the Shadow Guards¡¯ Mecha; their power was immense.


    In terms of speed, power, and precision, their shells outclassed any laser cannon or Beam Cannon of the Xuanzhou Kingdom.


    Ji Feichao had dispatched twenty Air Combat Devices, but before they could enter the manor, they were all destroyed by the Shadow Guards.


    He didn¡¯t call for more support, knowing it was pointless. If Qin Hao wanted to leave, he couldn¡¯t stop him. This was the power of advanced Mecha.


    He had seen the performance of advanced Mecha in a video at the royal palace, and it was terrifyingly powerful, capable of taking down interstellar warships and aircraft carriers.


    Ji Feichao quickly figured everything out and looked at Qin Hao, asking, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be asking you that? You were behind the issue with my friend¡¯s trade permit, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    Ji Feichao: ¡°The permit can be issued immediately, and I can also apologize to Mr. Qin.¡±


    A real man knows when to bend and when to stand tall. With the current situation, being stubborn might cost him his life¡ªJi Feichao was a smart man.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Skip the apology, just compensate me for my losses. Since it¡¯s your first time, five hundred billion will do. You should know that another star lord didn¡¯t even get the chance to compensate before I killed him.¡±


    ...


    Ji Feichao¡¯s face was full of black lines. Had he really killed a star lord? This guy is ruthless.


    The people around exchanged glances; holy crap, do you think being a star lord means nothing? Just kill if you feel like it?


    And demanding five hundred billion right off the bat! This was nearly Ji Feichao¡¯s limit.


    Five hundred billion was an enormous number for everyone present.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°Star Lord Ji, you can also choose not to pay and then be killed by me. Whether you live or die is entirely in your hands.¡±


    Ji Feichao had no choice; he certainly didn¡¯t want to die: ¡°I¡¯ll pay.¡±


    ¡°Then stop wasting time, hurry up and hand it over.¡±


    Qin Hao was also thinking about the future. When they reached the Nolan Empire, this money could still be useful in auctions, if any.


    Ji Feichao handed a card to Qin Hao, containing almost all his funds.


    Qin Hao put it away and walked smilingly toward Du Zilong and Bai Xingbo, ¡°You two should also pay for your children, two hundred billion each will do. If you don¡¯t want to pay, I¡¯ll have my men annihilate your families now¡ªdo you believe they can finish you in three minutes?¡±


    Gi Feichao had already given in and paid; the two families did not dare to be tough either, nor did they have the strength to be tough in front of Qin Hao.


    Now, they wished they could go back and beat Du Zhiyi and Bai Bufen to death because of those two, the families had lost two hundred billion each, which was nearly half of their entire family assets.


    The permit for Shui Huilan¡¯s trade convoy also came through. After collecting the money, Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°You may continue, I¡¯ve got other things to do, so I¡¯ll leave first.¡±


    He left Ji Feichao¡¯s private manor with Shui Huilan, Luna, and Jiao Rou.


    Back at the port, Qin Hao told Shui Huilan, ¡°Let¡¯s head out. No need for any Escort Ships; Leng Xuan and the others are sufficient.¡±


    Shui Huilan had seen Leng Xuan and the others¡¯ prowess; their combat capabilities were stronger than interstellar warships, making her naturally at ease. She began informing everyone to prepare to depart.


    Qin Hao returned to his room and opened the communicator. It was a video call from Chang Jing, ¡°Xiao Hao, those Mecha have already set off. They should reach the Endless Asteroid Belt in two to three months.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯ll send you the exemption certificate, transmit it to them. Once they reach the Endless Asteroid Passage, they can go through directly. Remember to disguise; don¡¯t let Wei Yingrui know you¡¯re coming from the Endless Asteroid Belt.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°I¡¯ve already instructed them, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Jing, how many warships do we have now?¡± Qin Hao asked, as he was particularly concerned about this.


    He wanted to fight his way out of the Galaxy and build a powerful interstellar empire because only the strong had the absolute say in the interstellar realm.


    Chang Jing smiled and said, ¡°We have five D-class warships, one D-class interstellar aircraft carrier, which currently has four hundred thousand D-class Air Combat Devices equipped, still short of six hundred thousand, and D-class combat robots and Mecha are being produced in large quantities. Currently, some elite members of the Elf Clan and Human Clan have been selected to further their studies at the Galaxy Space Military Academy.¡±

 Chapter 824: 824 Sailing

    Chapter 824: Chapter 824 Sailing


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Hmm, how are things going with the Elf Clan? Has everything settled down yet?¡±


    Chang Jing replied: ¡°Hmm, the construction on the moon has been very rapid, all the members of the Elf Clan have settled down. Xiao Hao, an elf himself, has been quite the talent; it might be due to their growth environment. However, now we¡¯ve developed various genetic potions, our future Earth generations¡¯ genes will progressively improve.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Accelerate the production of various warships, first form a fully organized interstellar fleet.¡±


    Nations like Lei Meng Duchy don¡¯t have fully organized interstellar fleets with diverse ship types, only made up of interstellar warships, vastly different from a well-organized interstellar fleet.


    If they encounter a fully organized interstellar fleet, they would be completely crushed.


    Chang Jing: ¡°I¡¯ve already ordered production at various military bases; within two to three months, we can form a complete interstellar fleet.¡±


    Qin Hao asked with a smile: ¡°How are Wan Rou and Yu Ying? Are they still healthy?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Wan Rou is due in a little over a month. Just a moment, I¡¯ll call her over now.¡±


    Soon, Du Wanrou, Zhao Yuying, Xia Qing, Xu Siyao, Fan Ruobing, Han Meng, He Tingting, and others appeared on the video.


    ¡°Qin Hao.¡± Du Wanrou and the others called out as they saw him, their eyes filled with longing.


    Qin Hao looked at them, feeling somewhat guilty: ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Why say sorry? We are family, as long as you¡¯re well out there, we are relieved.¡± Du Wanrou said with a smile.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯ll expedite my plans, aiming for an early reunion.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. Be careful out there, safety is paramount.¡± Xia Qing and the others replied.


    Qin Hao chatted with them for a long time; after hanging up the communicator, he sent a message to Wei Yingrui of the Lei Meng Duchy, stating that a hundred F-grade mechas would be delivered within a month or two.


    Wei Yingrui actually wanted to purchase Qin Hao¡¯s air combat devices and combat robots, but these needed to be dealt with gradually. He would first check the quality of this batch of mechas, and if reliable, he would continue to order more.


    After finishing his conversation with Wei Yingrui, a knock sounded at the door. As the door opened, Luna and Jiao Rou walked in.


    Luna¡¯s cheeks were slightly red: ¡°Master.¡± Jiao Rou also called him softly ¡°Master.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at them and asked: ¡°What¡¯s up? Do you need something from me?¡±


    Luna replied with a blush: ¡°We came to serve you for the night, Master.¡±


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, swallowing hard as he looked at the two of them. With their extraordinary beauty, it would be hard for any man to resist, especially Jiao Rou, who stirred a strong protective instinct.


    He asked: ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Luna and Jiao Rou nodded: ¡°Master, we are sure.¡±


    Hearing their confirmation, Qin Hao didn¡¯t hold back anymore.


    ...


    The next morning.


    Qin Hao opened his eyes and woke up, Luna and Jiao Rou were deeply asleep on either side of him, the night having been somewhat wild.


    About half an hour later, Luna and Jiao Rou groggily woke up, their eyes sleepy, and upon seeing Qin Hao, a blush quietly spread over their faces.


    ...


    ¡°Get up now, you two. Take this; these are attribute genetic potions, which can enhance your physical attributes.¡± Qin Hao took out some attribute genetic potions from the system backpack.


    Before leaving Earth, Qin Hao had prepared many things in his system backpack, with a space of several hundred square meters, sufficient to store many items.


    After Luna and Jiao Rou consumed the life potions, their four attribute values reached the extreme limit of over ninety within half an hour.


    The two had decent potential; after taking the genetic potions, Qin Hao also gave each of them an F-grade mecha. His system space only contained these, as not many D-grade mechas were produced at the time.


    ¡°Use these for now; they can save your lives in critical moments.¡±


    Once Luna and Jiao Rou recognized the mecha as theirs, the smart programs within would teach them how to use it simply.


    After leaving the room, Qin Hao, Luna, and Jiao Rou went to the spaceship¡¯s hall, where Shui Huilan, Qingtao, and Li Jiaqi were chatting.


    By this time, the spaceship had already left Jiangchuan Star but was still navigating through Xuanzhou Kingdom territory.


    The Xuanzhou Kingdom¡¯s domain was vast, controlling a thousand stars; after Xuanzhou Kingdom, the next was Shuiyuan Alliance Republic, with strength similar to Xuanzhou Kingdom, also controlling over a thousand stars.


    After eating something, Qin Hao asked: ¡°When can we reach Nolan Empire?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll take about another month and a half.¡± Shui Huilan replied.


    Qin Hao instructed Shui Huilan: ¡°Look online to see if there¡¯s any news about the auction of Elf Clan princesses nearby in these kingdoms.¡±


    Shui Huilan was surprised: ¡°You want to auction another Elf Clan princess? Aren¡¯t two enough to keep you busy?¡±


    Qin Hao coughed lightly: ¡°Elf Clan princesses are quite exquisite, suiting my taste.¡±


    The group began searching online; with an AI filtering program, the search was easy but time-consuming due to the vast data.


    After a day¡¯s search, no useful information was found online.


    Luna and Jiao Rou felt somewhat disappointed. Jiao Rou only knew her sister and mother were taken away by those people but didn¡¯t know precisely where. However, it was highly likely they were taken to Divine Wind City in the Nolan Empire.


    Divine Wind City is the headquarters of Divine Wind Group and the stronghold of the Guo Family. The Guo Family is a well-known giant family in the Nolan Empire.

 Chapter 825: 825 News

    Chapter 825: Chapter 825 News


    The strength and heritage of this family are very formidable. Even if Qin Hao wants to deal with them, he has to consider it carefully.


    With the power of the Guo Family in the Nolan Empire, they likely possess advanced mechas, potentially in large numbers. It¡¯s not something that can be dealt with easily.


    At this moment, Qin Hao doesn¡¯t know that the Guo Family is already gathering forces, planning to invade the Southern Wilderness Star System and wipe out Earth.


    The Guo Family is still basing their assessment of Earth¡¯s strength on a few months ago, so they¡¯ve dispatched nearly twenty F-class warships and one advanced warship, along with five elite Mechanical Soldiers.


    In the eyes of the Guo Family, these five elite Mechanical Soldiers are enough to handle the entire Earth.


    A mere primitive planet dares to encroach on the interests of our Divine Wind Group. This is sheer recklessness. This time, the Guo Family not only intends to capture the people of the Elf Clan but also to enslave the entire Earth.


    Previously, you repelled a few mercenary squads and thought no one could deal with you? It was just that the major powers couldn¡¯t be bothered with you.


    We didn¡¯t seek trouble with you, yet you took the initiative to provoke our Divine Wind Group.


    ...


    Every day, Qin Hao and others keep an eye on online news. Whenever there is information about the Elf Clan, the system alerts them.


    After more than ten days of travel, Luna and Jiao Rou have been completely won over by him, and their relationship has grown much closer than before.


    They¡¯ve now just left the Xuanzhou Kingdom and are currently in the vacuum zone between the Xuanzhou Kingdom and the Shuiyuan Alliance Republic. This area is resource-poor and quite sensitive, often leading to skirmishes between the two nations.


    Hundreds of stars away from them, a relatively large and exquisite asteroid is docked with a larger, dilapidated warship and dozens of smaller high-altitude cosmic shuttles on its rear side.


    ¡°There are merchant ships coming, three in total. Huh? There¡¯s no escort ship,¡± someone said excitedly.


    The leader of the pirates hurried over, ¡°No escort ship? This is like mutton sent to our doorstep.¡±


    ¡°Boss, could it be a fishing boat, deliberately luring us out?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, no one controls this place. Everyone, stay alert. We haven¡¯t had a full meal for days. If we don¡¯t rob something soon, we¡¯ll starve to death.¡±


    On Shui Huilan¡¯s ship, no anomalies were detected because the pirates¡¯ ships were currently powered down and thus undetectable.


    However, Leng Xuan and others, relying on their mecha¡¯s warning system, discovered the pirates and informed Qin Hao immediately.


    Upon receiving the news, Qin Hao said to Shui Huilan, ¡°There are pirates behind that asteroid ahead.¡±


    Shui Huilan was stunned for a moment, ¡°Why didn¡¯t the ship detect anything? How many people?¡±


    ¡°Over a hundred, with dozens of shuttles and one warship,¡± Qin Hao replied.


    As Qin Hao was speaking, the ship was still dozens of miles away from the pirates when suddenly the pirates¡¯ shuttles and warship powered up.


    The shuttles and warship roared towards Shui Huilan¡¯s three transport ships.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    The warship fired a series of laser cannons, and Leng Xuan and others began to counterattack, intercepting the shells from the warship since only these shells posed any threat to the ships.


    Within seconds, the pirates¡¯ sole warship exploded into a ball of fire, and none of the pirates on board survived.


    The other cosmic shuttles were stunned. What the hell, the boss is dead? How could there be such powerful firepower without an escort ship?


    But it was too late for them to retreat. Leng Xuan and others fired their energy cannons, and with rapid speed, the Shadow Guards flew out, activating their sub-light speed propulsors and arrived in front of the enemies in a blink of an eye.


    D-class mechas against these outdated cosmic shuttles was a one-sided massacre. A few minutes later, the battlefield returned to silence, and all the pirates were slaughtered completely.


    Shui Huilan¡¯s convoy continued their journey, unaffected.


    In this manner, they traveled through the endless starry sky for over a month, getting closer to the Nolan Empire.


    Along the way, they kept an eye on the Elf Clan news online but found no updates.


    Qin Hao, however, learned one piece of information: people from the Elf Clan¡¯s home planet had been rescued, enraging the Divine Wind Group, which had now gathered a fleet and was heading to the Southern Wilderness Star System to destroy Earth.


    Such a large-scale mobilization of the fleet couldn¡¯t be concealed from others, so the news had already spread.


    Upon getting the news, Qin Hao immediately informed Chang Jing, telling him to prepare as the Divine Wind Group¡¯s exact strength was no secret and available online.


    The Divine Wind Group thought that it was impossible for Earth¡¯s people to have reached the interstellar realm, so they didn¡¯t hide anything. In their eyes, Earth was just a bit more technologically advanced than other primitive planets and not worth worrying about.


    After getting the news, Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but sneer. With just them, they think they can annihilate Earth? Sheer delusion.


    ¡°News! There¡¯s news!¡± Qingtao¡¯s voice suddenly rang out.


    Qin Hao quickly reacted and, along with Luna and Jiao Rou, went over to Qingtao. On the display in front of her was a message: The Nolan Empire¡¯s Divine Wind City will hold an Elf Clan Princess Auction in three months. Five stunning Elf Clan princesses and the Elf Clan queen will be up for auction.


    The advertisement even had a promotional video showing the Elf Clan queen and the five princesses, each being a peerless beauty of national allure.


    Because the galaxy is vast, people from many places need a long time to travel, so they¡¯re starting the promotion early.


    The main focus of their promotion is the eight major empires and a few neighboring powerful and wealthy kingdoms. Other countries don¡¯t have many wealthy people.


    Seeing this, Luna and Jiao Rou were delighted and eagerly looked at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao frowned slightly, and Shui Huilan looked at him and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why aren¡¯t you happy after receiving the news?¡±


    ¡°So many being auctioned at once? Plus, this is the Nolan Empire. There are too many wealthy people. It¡¯s going to be difficult to win the auction for all of them,¡± Qin Hao replied.


    Shui Huilan was stunned, looking at him in shock, ¡°You¡¯re seriously thinking of bidding for all of them? Can you handle that many?¡±


    Li Jiaqi and Qingtao were equally astonished.


    Only Luna and Jiao Rou understood Qin Hao¡¯s intention. He actually wanted to help the Elf Clan.


    Qin Hao smiled and explained, ¡°Luna and Jiao Rou also want to reunite with their sisters, and I have a great fondness for the Elf Clan. We¡¯ll see what the situation is when the time comes and decide then.¡±


    Shui Huilan felt a bit envious of Luna and Jiao Rou. Indeed, even heroes can¡¯t resist the charms of beautiful women. Qin Hao plans to spend billions to buy several Elf Clan princesses and the queen just for them. How much would that cost? At least billions.


    Billions! Even the Shui Family¡¯s total assets don¡¯t amount to that much. Qin Hao is willing to spend such a sum for a few female slaves. She now wished she could become an Elf Clan princess and be bought by Qin Hao.

 Chapter 826: 826 Guangyang Star

    Chapter 826: Chapter 826 Guangyang Star


    Luna and Jiao Rou heard his words and felt a bit worried. The auction price for Jiao Rou had already reached 15 billion. What¡¯s more, they were in the Nolan Empire.


    There were far more wealthy people there, and the price would only be higher, not lower. With a three-month advance notice, the competition would certainly be fiercer.


    Three months were enough for wealthy people from other empires to come; not to mention, even if the auction took place only in the Nolan Empire, the price wouldn¡¯t be cheap.


    Qin Hao currently had over 200 billion star coins in his hands. Wei Yingrui from the Lei Meng Duchy had already paid him the remaining balance.


    Even with this money, Qin Hao wasn¡¯t entirely confident he could win all the auctions.


    Shui Huilan spoke up, ¡°We will enter the territory of the Nolan Empire in a few days. Our Shui Family is in Guangyang City on Guangyang Star, one of the three major families in Guangyang City.¡±


    The Shui Family wasn¡¯t much in the entire Interstellar Federation. The Nolan Empire had billions of planets, and there were many like Guangyang Star. The Shui Family was merely one of the three major families on Guangyang Star, and even being the top family on Guangyang Star was insignificant within the Nolan Empire.


    The location of Guangyang Star was somewhat on the edge of the Nolan Empire, far from the economic and power center of the Nolan Empire.


    Like Divine Wind Star, where the Guo Family was, which was one of the economic centers of the Nolan Empire, close to the capital planet, Nolan Star.


    The Guo Family was also one of the actual controllers of the Nolan Empire, wielding significant power.


    The Interstellar Federation was controlled by the eight major empires; Earth wasn¡¯t recognized because the eight empires hadn¡¯t acknowledged it.


    ...


    After nearly three months of travel, Qin Hao and his group finally arrived at Guangyang Star in the Nolan Empire.


    Three starships slowly landed and quickly docked at Guangyang Star¡¯s port.


    Shui Huilan had already contacted her family. After the starships landed, people from the Shui Family arranged for unloading.


    Stepping off the starship, Shui Huilan didn¡¯t see her parents or any family members, a hint of puzzlement flashed in her eyes. In the past, she was always greeted upon her return.


    What happened this time?


    Moreover, she had informed her parents that she was coming with important friends.


    Shui Huilan asked the person next to her, ¡°Where are my parents? Didn¡¯t they come?¡±


    ¡°Miss, there¡¯s some trouble in the family. You¡¯ll understand when you get back.¡± The person next to her whispered.


    Shui Huilan was stunned for a moment, then turned to Qin Hao and said, ¡°Sorry, Xiaotian, my parents didn¡¯t come due to some issues. I¡¯ll take you there myself.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I won¡¯t mind such things.¡±


    The group boarded a car and headed towards Guangyang City. Guangyang Star was huge, dozens of times larger than Earth, with a population of hundreds of billions. Guangyang City alone had billions of people.


    They quickly entered Guangyang City and arrived at the Shui Family residence within minutes.


    At the entrance of the Shui Family residence, there were servants guarding. Seeing Shui Huilan with guests, they didn¡¯t stop her, though their gazes were somewhat peculiar.


    Shui Huilan didn¡¯t think much of it and led Qin Hao and the others inside. The residence was enormous, with endless palaces, grand in style, pavilions, corridors, and gardens everywhere, spanning over ten miles, majestic and grand.


    They twisted and turned to arrive at the entrance of a quaint courtyard with several palaces inside.


    ¡°Miss.¡± The servant at the courtyard entrance respectfully greeted Shui Huilan.


    Shui Huilan nodded slightly, ¡°Are my parents inside?¡±


    ¡°They are, but Miss... you should come back later.¡± The servant stammered.


    Shui Huilan frowned, ¡°What¡¯s going on? What happened? Tell me quickly.¡±


    The servant hesitated, seeing Shui Huilan¡¯s gloomy face, quickly said, ¡°Miss, it¡¯s Young Master. His legs were broken today, and Master and Madame are watching over him inside.¡±


    Shui Huilan¡¯s face changed, ¡°Yinglong¡¯s legs were broken? Who did it? What happened?¡±


    ¡°Miss, you¡¯d better go in and see for yourself.¡±


    Shui Huilan hurried inside, followed by Qin Hao, Luna, Jiao Rou, Qingtao, and Li Jiaqi.


    Entering the palace, it was resplendent and luxurious, but without many people.


    They reached the rear hall, where Shui Huilan¡¯s parents were sitting by the bed, worriedly watching Shui Yinglong lying on the bed.


    Upon hearing the door open, Shui Taihong and Liu Ye turned their heads and first saw Shui Huilan, ¡°Huilan, you¡¯re back.¡±


    Then seeing Qin Hao and the others, Shui Taihong and Liu Ye stood up and said, ¡°You must be Mr. Qin, as Huilan mentioned. Apologies, Mr. Qin, there¡¯s been some trouble at home, we couldn¡¯t greet you properly, please forgive us.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I am not that particular.¡±


    ¡°Please have a seat, Mr. Qin.¡± Liu Ye said politely.


    Shui Huilan hurried to the bedside, looking at her pale-faced brother, anxiously asked, ¡°Dad, mom, what happened? Who injured Yinglong?¡±


    Shui Taihong sighed, not knowing how to explain.


    Liu Ye hesitated and said, ¡°It was Shui Juncai.¡±


    ¡°Shui Juncai? How could he be so ruthless to a family member?¡± Shui Huilan¡¯s face turned grim.


    Liu Ye replied, ¡°It¡¯s all because your uncle¡¯s branch wants more benefits. When I told your father to fight for the Family Head position, he didn¡¯t listen. Look now? After a few years, they¡¯re finally taking action against us.¡±


    Shui Taihong cautioned, ¡°Keep your voice down. It¡¯s also Yinglong¡¯s fault for being reckless this time.¡±


    Shui Huilan was puzzled, ¡°What exactly happened?¡±


    Shui Taihong glanced at Qin Hao and the others, hesitant to speak.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°You discuss first; we¡¯ll step outside.¡±


    Shui Huilan hurriedly said, ¡°Dad, mom, Xiaotian isn¡¯t an outsider. You can speak freely.¡±


    Shui Taihong looked at Qin Hao apologetically, ¡°Shui Juncai has a girlfriend, and yesterday he found Yinglong in bed with her. In a fit of anger, he broke three of Yinglong¡¯s legs.¡±


    Three legs?


    Shui Huilan frowned, ¡°Even if that¡¯s true, Shui Juncai shouldn¡¯t have done that. Moreover, we aren¡¯t clear about the circumstances; Yinglong might¡¯ve been framed.¡±


    Shui Huilan¡¯s mother Liu Ye echoed, ¡°Yes, I believe there¡¯s something fishy here. But your brother hasn¡¯t regained consciousness, so we can¡¯t verify.¡±


    ¡°Has he been treated? Why isn¡¯t he awake?¡± Shui Huilan asked curiously.


    Shui Taihong replied, ¡°He¡¯s been treated and given genetic medicine. He should recover completely after some rest. He ought to have awoken by now.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s poisoned. If he isn¡¯t treated soon, he¡¯ll die tonight.¡± Qin Hao said suddenly from beside them.

 Chapter 827: 827: The Shui Family

    Chapter 827: Chapter 827: The Shui Family


    Doctors in the interstellar realm are almost extinct now, although they still exist in many ordinary places.


    Because some ordinary people can¡¯t afford gene medicine, they can only use standard drugs, and doctors can survive there.


    Nowadays, when something happens, people usually directly take gene medicine, because gene medicine can not only treat all kinds of diseases but also heal various external injuries, so there¡¯s no need for doctors at all.


    There are no doctors in the Shui Family either, so no one has examined Shui Yinglong, and they didn¡¯t use any instruments for checks, thinking he had merely fainted from pain.


    Shui Huilan and her family members showed a slight change in expression upon hearing his words.


    Shui Taihong spoke up, ¡°It¡¯s impossible, after the incident, I gave Yinglong gene medicine; even if he was poisoned, it should have killed the poison.¡±


    Qin Hao replied in a calm tone, ¡°Such low-level gene medicines are ineffective against certain unknown poisons. Although I haven¡¯t encountered this poison before, his various reactions tell me there¡¯s a mysterious toxin spreading in his body.¡±


    Shui Huilan hurriedly asked, ¡°Xiaotian, can you treat it?¡±


    ¡°Let me take a look.¡± Qin Hao walked to the bedside and examined Shui Yinglong¡¯s complexion before taking his pulse.


    His body functions have been slowly deteriorating, and if not for the gene medicine, he would have died faster.


    This toxin is something he has never encountered before; naturally, he has no way to treat it.


    Shui Taihong hurriedly asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, how is it? Is Yinglong alright?¡±


    ¡°You can use an instrument to test his body functions to find out,¡± Qin Hao told him.


    Upon hearing this, Shui Taihong quickly sent for the instrument, and soon it was brought in. Shui Taihong tested his son, showing that each value was slowly declining.


    Shui Huilan¡¯s family saw this and became a bit panicked. ¡°Mr. Qin, what should we do? Since you can see it, you must be able to treat it, right?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°It¡¯s easy to see, but treatment is not so simple.¡±


    Shui Taihong became even more frantic upon hearing this, ¡°What should we do? Mr. Qin, you must save my son, I¡¯m begging you.¡±


    Liu Ye and Shui Huilan were also watching him. Finding a doctor now would be too late, and even if they did, they might not be able to cure him.


    Shui Huilan looked at him and said, ¡°Xiaotian, you must have a way, right? He¡¯s my brother, I don¡¯t want him to die, please save him.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡±


    At another location within the Shui Family.


    Shui Juncai spoke to his father Shui Taisheng, ¡°Dad, that little bitch Shui Huilan is back, and she brought a few people with her.¡±


    Shui Taisheng laughed slightly, ¡°Her return is of no use, coincidentally Meng Family called a few days ago, I¡¯ve already decided to marry Shui Huilan to Meng¡¯s son, forming an alliance between the two families.¡±


    Shui Juncai¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this, ¡°That¡¯s high, Dad, your move is truly brilliant.¡±


    Shui Taisheng sneered, ¡°They are far from challenging me, are you sure Shui Yinglong will die?¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, Dad, I¡¯ve arranged everything, Shui Yinglong will certainly die.¡± Shui Juncai sneered.


    ...


    Qin Hao used accomplishment points to elevate his medical skills to ninth-level max, his head filling with immense information.


    It took him over half an hour to fully grasp the knowledge, the information was vast, and he learned some things he didn¡¯t know before.


    The path of medicine is indeed endless. Currently, people in the interstellar realm think they¡¯ve truly understood the human body with gene medicine, but there are secrets about the body they haven¡¯t discovered yet, still unresearched.


    The human body is like an infinite universe, discovering a few planets, tens, hundreds, might make people think they¡¯ve understood the whole universe, but that¡¯s a big mistake.


    Shui Yinglong¡¯s current situation is not complicated at all in his eyes now, once understood, it¡¯s genuinely simple; if not understood, even painstaking efforts can¡¯t solve it.


    Qin Hao took out Jiujin Silver Needles from his system backpack, which he hadn¡¯t used for a long time.


    First, he had Shui Taihong remove Shui Yinglong¡¯s clothes. Then he quickly filled Shui Yinglong¡¯s body with silver needles, mesmerizing the onlookers with the sheer speed of his technique.


    Moreover, each silver needle was precisely placed, with every spot playing a crucial role, indispensable.


    After inserting the last silver needle, Shui Yinglong¡¯s complexion began to turn rosy.


    Shui Taihong¡¯s family and Luna were curious about the silver needles, wondering about their purpose.


    They had never seen such things before.


    In about five or six seconds, Du Yinglong¡¯s body started feeling hot, the silver needles trembled slightly and then turned from silver to dark black at a visible speed, astonishing everyone.


    Why did the silver needles change color? What¡¯s going on?


    Qin Hao quickly removed the silver needles, then said to Shui Taihong, ¡°The toxins in his body have been absorbed; these silver needles are now useless. Have someone bring me more of these silver needles.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll arrange it now.¡± Saying that, Shui Taihong gave orders.


    Qin Hao then fed Du Yinglong a bottle of life elixir and spirit elixir, ¡°He should be awake after a few hours of rest.¡±


    ¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Qin, we truly appreciate it,¡± Liu Ye said gratefully.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°No need to be polite, Huilan is my friend, I definitely need to help.¡±


    Liu Ye said to Shui Huilan, ¡°Huilan, I¡¯ve already arranged your room, take Mr. Qin there to rest first.¡±


    Shui Huilan nodded slightly, ¡°Xiaotian, follow me.¡±


    She led Qin Hao and his companions to a nearby palace, which was also luxuriously grand with a soft, sumptuous bed.


    Shui Huilan, ¡°Xiaotian, rest for now, if you need anything, just tell the people below, I¡¯ll go check on my brother.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°You go ahead.¡±


    At this moment, Qin Hao¡¯s communicator rang; it was Wei Yingrui from Lei Meng Duchy calling.


    Qin Hao answered the call with a smile, ¡°Prince Wei, what can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, the Mecha has been tested without any issues, I want to purchase some advanced battleships equipped with Energy Weapon Cannons, would you sell these?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°The advanced battleships are very costly; are you sure you need them, Prince Wei?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the specific price?¡± Wei Yingrui asked.


    ¡°An advanced battleship costs 100 billion star coins each; we also have advanced air combat devices and combat robots at affordable prices, one billion star coins for an advanced combat device, and twenty million for a combat robot.¡±


    Currently, Wei Yingrui has used F-class Mecha to acquire substantial funds from several star lords, strengthening his control over Lei Meng Duchy. Moreover, in several confrontations with Silver Star Free Federation, he gained an advantage, securing mining rights for several veins.

 Chapter 828: 828: Competing for Fame and Profit

    Chapter 828: Chapter 828: Competing for Fame and Profit


    Wei Yingrui thought for a moment and replied: ¡°Then I want three advanced warships, one thousand advanced air combat devices, and one thousand advanced battle robots.¡±


    Calculating these, it would be approximately 4,200 billion star coins. Wei Yingrui was indeed investing heavily.


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao¡¯s smile grew wider: ¡°Alright, Prince Wei is indeed generous. As per the usual rules, pay some deposit first, and then settle the balance when the weapons are delivered. I will make the decision to gift Prince Wei an advanced mecha.¡±


    Wei Yingrui¡¯s eyes sparkled with delight: ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re indeed magnanimous. I won¡¯t be polite with you then.¡±


    After they finished speaking, they hung up the phone. A gleam flashed in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes; even if you were polite with me, I would still give you this advanced mecha to ensure future control over you.


    After hanging up the communicator, Qin Hao sat on the sofa, contemplating future matters.


    With just the things Wei Yingrui purchased, Qin Hao¡¯s plan to conquer the Lei Meng Duchy would be much easier in the future.


    Qingtao stood behind giving Qin Hao a gentle massage, and Luna and Jiao Rou softly asked: ¡°Master, when are we going to Divine Wind Star?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled at them and said: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll head to Divine Wind Star once Huilan finishes her tasks. I will do my best to rescue your sister and mother.¡±


    Nearing noon, Shui Huilan arrived and told Qin Hao: ¡°Xiaotian, my brother has already woken up. My parents invited you to join us for lunch.¡±


    Qin Hao got up and walked over, and they returned to the rear hall where Shui Yinglong was awake on the bed.


    Shui Taihong and Liu Ye were sitting beside the bed, accompanying him. Seeing Qin Hao, Shui Taihong hurriedly said: ¡°Mr. Qin, thank you, Yinglong has woken up.¡±


    Regarding the matter with Shui Yinglong and Shui Juncai¡¯s girlfriend, they had just asked about it, but Shui Yinglong knew nothing about it. He said directly that Shui Juncai had invited him out for fun and drinks, but he didn¡¯t remember what happened afterward.


    At this moment, a servant walked in and said: ¡°Master, the Family Head has arrived.¡±


    Shui Taihong paused for a moment: ¡°Okay, I know. I¡¯ll go over right away.¡±


    After saying that, he told Liu Ye: ¡°Ye, take care of Yinglong. Huilan and I will go out and take a look. Mr. Qin, please join us.¡±


    A group of people moved from the rear hall to the front hall, where Shui Taisheng and Shui Juncai were sitting and waiting for them.


    Seeing Shui Taihong come out, Shui Taisheng opened his mouth with a smile: ¡°Second brother, after much contemplation, though Yinglong was at fault first, Juncai¡¯s response was heavy. I brought him here today to apologize.¡±


    Shui Huilan scoffed: ¡°Apologize? Don¡¯t be hypocritical. I think he deliberately hurt my brother.¡±


    Shui Taihong said: ¡°Huilan, say less. Brother, Yinglong is alright thanks to Huilan¡¯s friend who healed him.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Shui Juncai and Shui Taisheng were stunned. Yinglong is alright? Already healed?


    At this moment, Shui Taisheng and Shui Juncai noticed Qin Hao and his group. When they saw Luna and Jiao Rou, a gleam of admiration flashed in their eyes. Such beautiful women.


    These rare beauties, they hadn¡¯t seen even on Guangyang Star.


    Not to mention Guangyang Star, their travels had never encountered such stunning women.


    Shui Taihong smiled at Qin Hao and his group: ¡°These must be the friends Huilan brought back. Welcome to the Shui Family. I am here today to invite you all for a meal, so let¡¯s all go together.¡±


    Shui Taihong replied: ¡°Brother, Yinglong just recovered and I need to care for him.¡±


    Shui Taisheng: ¡°This time, there¡¯s an important matter to discuss with you and Huilan, concerning the future fortune of the Shui Family. I also invited several elders, so let¡¯s discuss it together.¡±


    A hint of suspicion flashed in Shui Huilan¡¯s eyes. Concerning the family¡¯s future fortune? It can¡¯t be good news.


    Under Shui Taisheng¡¯s lead, a few people arrived at the banquet hall within the Shui Family estate, where a table was already set, and the five elders of the Shui Family had arrived.


    ¡°Family Head.¡± They hurriedly greeted Shui Taisheng respectfully.


    Now these elders had all been bought by Shui Taisheng, everything followed his orders.


    Shui Taisheng said: ¡°Please have a seat.¡±


    Everyone took their seats, and the food was served quickly. Shui Taisheng looked at Qin Hao: ¡°This is Huilan¡¯s friend from outside. By the way, may I know your surname?¡±


    ¡°Qin Ritian.¡±


    Qin Hao responded indifferently.


    ¡°Pfft.¡±


    Shui Juncai sprayed the water he just drank from his mouth, coughing violently.


    Shui Taisheng and the other elders of the Shui Family almost couldn¡¯t hold back their laughter. Damn, what kind of name is this?


    ¡°Huilan¡¯s friends are indeed extraordinary; the name alone reflects Mr. Qin¡¯s great ambition.¡± Shui Taisheng said, with a hint of sarcasm.


    Qin Hao heard him but continued to smile faintly, as if he hadn¡¯t heard his words.


    Shui Huilan¡¯s face darkened: ¡°Uncle, why did you call us together? I still need to go back and take care of my brother.¡±


    Shui Taisheng¡¯s eyes gleamed and he smiled: ¡°This matter involves you, Huilan. A few days ago, the Meng Family proposed marriage to our Shui Family. You know our current situation, constantly pressured by the Yan Family and the Meng Family. The Meng Family is looking to ally with us through marriage. After deliberate consideration with the elders, we decided to marry you to the Meng Family¡¯s young master.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Shui Taihong and Shui Huilan¡¯s faces changed slightly. Shui Taihong asked: ¡°Brother, why didn¡¯t you inform us about such a big matter beforehand?¡±


    Shui Taisheng: ¡°This was discussed with the elders yesterday. You were taking care of Yinglong, so I didn¡¯t tell you.¡±


    ¡°I disagree. I know what I want.¡± Shui Huilan said resolutely.


    Shui Taisheng¡¯s face darkened: ¡°Huilan, this concerns the fate of the family. You can¡¯t refuse. Every member of the Shui Family must be prepared to sacrifice for the family, including myself. Personal choices can¡¯t affect the family¡¯s grand plan.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. You belong to our Shui Family. It was the Shui Family who raised you. Now it¡¯s time for you to repay the family.¡± The Great Elder said.


    ¡°Precisely, you can¡¯t refuse this. The family¡¯s interests take precedence; personal interests are secondary. Can¡¯t you see the weight?¡± The Second Elder said.


    Shui Taihong and Shui Huilan had seen through the situation. Shui Taisheng had fully taken control of the family now, it¡¯s become his one-man show.


    No wonder Shui Taisheng sent her to the Lei Meng Duchy earlier; Shui Huilan would hinder his plans. Shui Taihong was weak and uninterested in power struggles, and Liu Ye, being a woman, couldn¡¯t withstand Shui Taisheng.


    Shui Huilan said: ¡°I think you aren¡¯t doing this for the family¡¯s interests but your own. I already have a boyfriend, Qin Ritian, whom I brought here to get my parents¡¯ consent for marriage.¡±

 Chapter 829: 829: Take Action

    Chapter 829: Chapter 829: Take Action


    Shui Taisheng and his men heard her words, their expressions changed slightly, and they all turned to look at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression remained unchanged, with a faint smile on his face.


    Shui Taihong also said, ¡°Yes, I have already discussed this with Ye. Their matter has been settled.¡±


    ¡°As the head of the Shui Family, why don¡¯t I know about this?¡± Shui Taisheng¡¯s face darkened.


    Shui Taihong explained, ¡°I just discussed this with Ye, and haven¡¯t had a chance to tell you yet.¡±


    Shui Taisheng said, ¡°No, we have already agreed with the Meng Family. Huilan must marry the Meng Family¡¯s young master.¡±


    Shui Taihong replied, ¡°The Shui Family¡¯s arrangement can only be canceled. Huilan and Xiaotian are already bound as husband and wife.¡±


    ...


    Shui Taisheng and his men¡¯s faces changed drastically. If the two really had engaged in such a matter, the Meng Family would surely not accept this. However, telling the Meng Family this would cause Shui Taisheng to lose face. He had just agreed to the arrangement, how could he now go back on his word?


    Shui Juncai spoke up, ¡°I have an idea. We can give Mr. Qin a sum of money, and he can take the money and leave Guangyang Star immediately. For Huilan, we can just perform a secret procedure. The Meng Family won¡¯t investigate these details thoroughly.¡±


    Shui Taisheng nodded slightly, ¡°This is the best solution.¡±


    Shui Huilan said coldly, ¡°Impossible. I will not leave Xiaotian. You can abandon this idea.¡±


    Shui Taisheng¡¯s face darkened, ¡°This matter is settled. You will agree whether you like it or not. You have no choice in this.¡±


    ¡°Big brother, aren¡¯t you being too overbearing?¡± Shui Taihong voiced his opposition.


    Shui Taisheng said, ¡°This concerns the family¡¯s destiny. How can it be a child¡¯s play? This matter is settled. If you disregard the family¡¯s fate, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless.¡±


    Shui Huilan sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t use the family¡¯s interests as a shield. Who doesn¡¯t know about your ambitions? I¡¯m telling you, this matter is impossible.¡±


    After saying this, she stood up and said to her father and Qin Hao, ¡°Dad, Xiaotian, let¡¯s go.¡±


    A few people got up and left without giving Shui Taisheng any face at all. Shui Taisheng¡¯s face turned livid, a vicious glint flashed in his eyes. The Shui Family now was no longer what it used to be. Whether you agree or not, you have no choice.


    Back at Shui Taihong¡¯s residence, Shui Huilan had the servants bring lunch, and they sat down to eat.


    Shui Huilan apologized to Qin Hao, ¡°Xiaotian, I¡¯m sorry. I had no other choice earlier.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°It¡¯s okay. There¡¯s no need to say much between us. If you need my help, just ask.¡±


    Shui Huilan said to her father, ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t think Shui Taisheng will let this go easily. We need to be prepared.¡±


    Shui Taihong was stunned, ¡°Shui Taisheng has control over almost the entire Shui Family now. No matter how we prepare, it¡¯s useless. While they haven¡¯t reacted yet, you should leave quickly, take Yinglong with you.¡±


    ¡°Dad, how can I leave you behind? I won¡¯t go.¡± Shui Huilan said.


    Shui Taihong said, ¡°If you don¡¯t leave, you¡¯ll only implicate Mr. Qin. After all, Mr. Qin is innocent.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Shui Huilan was not worried about Qin Hao¡¯s abilities at all, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry about Xiaotian, he¡¯s very capable.¡±


    After lunch, Shui Huilan originally planned to take Qin Hao and others out for a walk, but they were stopped. Shui Taisheng had issued orders that Shui Taihong¡¯s family was forbidden from leaving the Shui Family premises.


    Now, Shui Taihong¡¯s side was practically under house arrest, only able to move within the nearby area, unable to leave the Shui Family estate.


    Shui Huilan was angry but knew there was no use in being anxious. Shui Taisheng now had great power in the Shui Family, and everyone followed his orders.


    Although her father had been managing the Shui Family for many years, his prestige and position were slightly inferior to Shui Taisheng¡¯s.


    All afternoon, Shui Huilan thought about strategies. Apart from Qin Hao, she had no chance of turning the tides.


    In the evening, Shui Huilan went to Qin Hao¡¯s room. At this time, Luna and the other three women were in the room.


    Shui Huilan said, ¡°Xiaotian, I have something to discuss with you.¡±


    Qin Hao had already guessed what it was. He said to Luna and the others, ¡°You all go out first. I have something to discuss with Huilan.¡±


    After Luna and the others went out, Shui Huilan said to Qin Hao, ¡°Xiaotian, I want you to help me deal with Shui Taisheng and his men.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, but I also have a condition.¡±


    Shui Huilan walked up to him and slowly took off her dress.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°That¡¯s not the condition I meant, don¡¯t misunderstand.¡±


    Shui Huilan said, ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll agree to any condition because I have no other way.¡±


    ¡°I want your Shui Family to become my vassals. Of course, this is just for easier control. Rest assured, I won¡¯t make you do anything against your interests. And you will take the position of head of the Shui Family, your father is a bit lacking,¡± Qin Hao said calmly.


    Shui Huilan nodded slightly, ¡°It¡¯s an honor for our family to become Xiaotian¡¯s vassals.¡±


    ...


    The next morning.


    Shui Taihong, Liu Ye, Shui Huilan, and Qin Hao were having breakfast.


    Shui Juncai suddenly came in with a group of men, about a dozen elite subordinates. He looked at the people in the room and said, ¡°Come with us, the family head requests your presence.¡±


    Shui Huilan glanced at him, ¡°Can¡¯t you see we¡¯re having breakfast? We¡¯ll talk later.¡±


    Shui Juncai¡¯s face changed, ¡°I¡¯m not asking. You bitch, you think you¡¯re so important? Take them all away. Kill anyone who resists.¡±


    Leng Xuan and a few others stepped out and blocked Shui Juncai and his men.


    Shui Juncai looked at Qin Hao and sneered, ¡°Ritian, are you planning to intervene? Do you even know your own worth? Do you think you¡¯re so invincible because you¡¯re called Ritian? I think you should be called Rigou.¡±


    *Slap slap*


    Leng Xuan immediately slapped him several times, making him see stars, his head buzzing and disoriented.


    Shui Juncai¡¯s subordinates saw this and rushed forward, prompting Leng Xuan and the others to engage. The clash broke out right there in the palace.


    Shui Taihong and Liu Ye¡¯s eyes were filled with worry. Shui Juncai¡¯s aggressive approach clearly indicated that Shui Taisheng couldn¡¯t wait to act against them.

 Chapter 830: 830: The Power of Mecha

    Chapter 830: Chapter 830: The Power of Mecha


    Although Huilan had told them that Qin Hao was formidable, how formidable could he be with just a few people? Could he be better than the entire Shui Family?


    A minute later, all the people Shui Juncai brought were down on the ground, and Leng Xuan had captured Shui Juncai.


    Shui Taihong and his wife were a bit surprised. These people were very strong in combat, but even so, they probably weren¡¯t a match for Shui Taisheng. After all, the Shui Family members had weapons, and no matter how skilled these fighters were, they couldn¡¯t compete with laser guns.


    Shui Juncai looked at Leng Xuan and the others with a bit of fear: ¡°You dare lay hands on me in the Shui Family? You¡¯re dead. You¡¯re all dead.¡±


    ¡°Noisy. Take him out and teach him a lesson. Make him shut that mouth,¡± said Qin Hao as he continued eating.


    Leng Xuan and a few others took Shui Juncai out. Qin Hao continued eating, while Shui Taihong and his wife lost their appetite and felt a bit uneasy.


    Huilan spoke up: ¡°Mom, Dad, just stay here and take care of Yinglong. Leave everything else to me.¡±


    Liu Ye looked at her daughter and said: ¡°Huilan, don¡¯t be stubborn. If it comes to it, just bow to your uncle. Your life is more important.¡±


    Shui Taihong agreed: ¡°Yes, Huilan. If necessary, just bow down.¡±


    Huilan: ¡°Mom, Dad, don¡¯t worry about it. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    After breakfast, Qin Hao said to Huilan: ¡°Let¡¯s go, take a look.¡±


    He took Luna, Jiao Rou, and Huilan out of the palace. Outside, Shui Juncai was standing there, being beaten. His cheeks were swollen, and blood was trickling from his mouth.


    ¡°Bring him along,¡± Qin Hao said.


    The group of over twenty people walked towards the main hall of the Shui Family. When they arrived, they found Shui Taisheng and the elders of the Shui Family waiting there.


    Seeing his son¡¯s condition, Shui Taisheng¡¯s face changed: ¡°What happened? Who beat my son like this?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said: ¡°Your son¡¯s mouth was a bit dirty, so I fixed it for him. I believe it should be fine now.¡±


    Shui Taisheng¡¯s face turned extremely dark: ¡°Qin Ritian, this is a Shui Family matter. How dare you interfere? You¡¯re courting death.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at him: ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Shui Taisheng looked at Huilan: ¡°Where are your parents? Why didn¡¯t they come?¡±


    Huilan: ¡°Uncle, you can speak to me directly. I can make decisions for my parents.¡±


    ¡°The arrangement for you to marry into the Meng Family is set, and the companies you control must be handed over to the family for management and expansion of the family¡¯s influence,¡± Shui Taisheng stated one by one.


    Huilan saw that he finally revealed his true intentions and sneered: ¡°Impossible. Shui Taisheng, I will make it clear today that you cannot control my affairs, nor do you have the right.¡±


    Shui Taisheng chuckled: ¡°Is that so? Don¡¯t force my hand, or I¡¯ll make sure your entire family disappears from the galaxy.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, a group of nearly a hundred people stormed into the hall from all directions. Each held a laser gun, ready to turn Qin Hao and his group into sieves at Shui Taisheng¡¯s command.


    Huilan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change: ¡°Do you think these rabble can force me to comply?¡±


    Shui Taisheng: ¡°Rabble? Huilan, niece, you¡¯ve really grown bolder. These people can kill you, your parents, and your brother. Believe it or not, no matter what you decide, I will still kill your father and brother, but I¡¯ll spare you and your mother. After all, you two are beauties.¡±


    Shui Taisheng¡¯s face took on a lecherous look, and the other elders also smiled: ¡°Family Head, I¡¯ve been coveting that little bitch Liu Ye for a long time. Can I have a taste when we capture her?¡±


    Shui Taisheng laughed heartily: ¡°Of course, everyone here will get a share. We¡¯ll make them drink the slave potion, and they¡¯ll be our slaves forever.¡±


    Huilan¡¯s face darkened: ¡°You are truly a beast.¡±


    ¡°Niece, Huilan, you¡¯ll know if I¡¯m truly a beast once you experience my power. Ha ha.¡± Shui Taisheng laughed arrogantly without restraint.


    The others laughed along with him, and the elders¡¯ eyes roved over her body.


    Shui Juncai also laughed: ¡°Huilan, you little bitch, did you hear that? Let me go now, and maybe I¡¯ll be gentle with you. And as for you, Qin Ritian, I¡¯ll show you my power. I¡¯ll treat those two beauties by your side well too.¡±


    ¡°Noisy.¡±


    Qin Hao lifted his leg and kicked him, sending him flying and landing right at Shui Taisheng¡¯s feet.


    Shui Taisheng was about to help his son up, but he found that he had already stopped breathing. His face changed dramatically: ¡°Qin Ritian, I will kill you! Attack, tear this Qin Hao Ritian into a thousand pieces!¡±


    Nearly a hundred people swarmed forward. Instantly, Qin Hao and his people were covered in mecha, leaving everyone stunned: ¡°Mecha? It¡¯s mecha!¡±


    The Shui Family¡¯s chief elder exclaimed in disbelief: ¡°How is that possible? How can they have mecha?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s mecha. Where did they get mecha?¡± The second elder stood dumbfounded.


    ¡°Could it be this Qin Ritian? It must be him. Otherwise, Shui Huilan couldn¡¯t possibly have such things,¡± others murmured as Shui Taisheng stood frozen, his face dramatically changing. The people who were about to act stopped, as they knew the power of mechs in the Nolan Empire.


    Despite their number, they couldn¡¯t stand a chance against even one mechanical soldier.


    A single mechanical soldier could slaughter hundreds of thousands of ordinary people.


    Huilan¡¯s voice echoed from within the mecha: ¡°All Shui Family members present, lay down your weapons and surrender, or face death without mercy.¡±


    Their eyes wavered, looking at Huilan and then at Shui Taisheng.


    ¡°Lay down your weapons and surrender, or face death without mercy,¡± the Shadow Guards shouted in unison, their presence killing and fearsome.


    All of the Shui Family members hurriedly laid down their weapons. Such a number of mechanical soldiers could annihilate the entire Shui Family. Who would dare resist?


    Huilan instantly appeared before Shui Taisheng, her energy sword flashing out and killing him on the spot.


    This wasn¡¯t the end. The energy sword slashed out again, killing those few elders too.


    These were Shui Taisheng¡¯s followers. Even if they yielded to her strength now, they would be future threats. They had to be eliminated.


    The others were shocked into stillness. Huilan looked at them and said: ¡°Shui Taisheng and his followers, in pursuit of their interests, intended to murder their kin, violating our ancestral codes. I have eradicated them for the family¡¯s sake. There are still some of Shui Taisheng¡¯s confidants within the family. You must bring them all to me now. If anyone resists, kill them without mercy.¡±

 Chapter 831: 831: The Shui Family Changes Hands

    Chapter 831: Chapter 831: The Shui Family Changes Hands


    ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± Those people responded in unison.


    They walked out of the palace and began to capture Shui Taisheng and the confidants of various elders. Now that Shui Taisheng and several others are dead, the Shui Family will be under Shui Huilan¡¯s control from now on, making it the perfect time to show their loyalty.


    This day, the Shui Family experienced a monumental change, unknown to the outside world, as the entire Shui Family was under lockdown.


    Shui Taisheng¡¯s confidants were all suppressed by Shui Huilan¡¯s forceful means. At this moment, the Shui Family was completely under Shui Huilan¡¯s control.


    After dealing with the Shui Family, Shui Huilan announced to Guangyang City that because Shui Taisheng and others were blinded by interests and attempted to harm the direct descendants of the Shui Family, they had been punished according to the family law. Shui Huilan has now become the Family Head, and all matters of the Shui Family will be decided by her in the future.


    This news caused a considerable stir on Guangyang Star. Shui Taisheng and his men were killed by Shui Huilan? How is that possible?


    Shui Huilan had been outside for so long, and logically, her control over the Shui Family was weak. How could she possibly contend with Shui Taisheng and others?


    Many forces within Guangyang City were puzzled. What secret trump cards did Shui Huilan actually possess?


    When Shui Taihong and Liu Ye learned of this news, they were also somewhat incredulous. How could their daughter have killed Shui Taisheng and others? Could it be due to the people around Qin Ritian?


    That number of people was not enough to be considered and couldn¡¯t possibly be the reason.


    If not reliant on Qin Ritian and his people, then how did their daughter defeat Shui Taisheng and others?


    They completely couldn¡¯t figure out what was going on.


    The Shui Family was enormous and controlled many companies across various industries. In a short time, she simply couldn¡¯t get everything sorted out. However, this personnel change didn¡¯t affect the basic operations of those companies, except that a few high-ranking officers were taken away.


    At around three o¡¯clock that afternoon, Shui Huilan received an invitation from the Yan Family at the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, inviting influential families and individuals within Guangyang City to attend a monthly social banquet at the hotel.


    The initial purpose of this banquet was to strengthen cooperation among everyone in Guangyang City and to seek common development.


    However, it later evolved into a banquet where the Yan Family, the Meng Family, and the Shui Family recruited forces. Numerous small forces in Guangyang City became subsidiary to the three major families, seeking better development.


    After handling some critical matters, Shui Huilan went to find her parents.


    Shui Taihong looked at his daughter and said, ¡°You killed your uncle? How could you bring yourself to do it? He was your uncle, after all.¡±


    Shui Huilan: ¡°Dad, if I didn¡¯t kill him, our entire family would have died. Moreover, he and those elders planned to imprison me and mother, using us for their pleasure. I didn¡¯t want to kill him unless absolutely necessary.¡±


    Liu Ye spoke up: ¡°Good job, daughter. Your father is always indecisive. If decisive action is not taken when it should be, chaos will ensue. You did the right thing. How did you defeat Shui Taisheng and his men?¡±


    Shui Huilan smiled and said, ¡°It was Xiaotian. I gave him a Mecha. What could they use to resist me in front of a Mecha?¡±


    Shui Taihong was shocked: ¡°Mecha? Mr. Qin gave you a Mecha? Who exactly is he?¡±


    Shui Huilan: ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry about it. He is just very powerful, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ...


    At around five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Shui Huilan, Qin Hao, Luna, and others left the Shui Family and headed towards Guangyang Hotel in Guangyang City.


    Outside Guangyang Hotel, luxury air energy cars were parked. Several people got off the car and walked towards the hotel.


    At the entrance of the hotel, there were dedicated waiters welcoming today¡¯s guests.


    ¡°Miss Shui... Family Head, please come in.¡± The female waiter reacted quickly and personally led them into the hotel.


    Many people were entering the hotel, and upon seeing Shui Huilan and her party, they turned to look. Is she Shui Huilan? Who are those people beside her?


    Just as they were about to enter the elevator, a voice suddenly called out: ¡°Huilan, wait a minute.¡±


    Shui Huilan and the others turned around to see Meng Qinghui walking over with a smile on his face.


    ¡°Mr. Meng, please watch your words. Address me as Family Head Shui.¡± Shui Huilan said flatly.


    Meng Qinghui¡¯s expression changed slightly, but he forced a smile and said, ¡°Huilan, we are going to get married sooner or later. Why does it matter how I address you?¡±


    The people around were surprised when they heard this. Shui Huilan was going to marry Meng Qinghui from the Meng Family? How come they didn¡¯t know about this? Could the two major families be merging?


    If this were true, it would cause quite a stir in Guangyang City. Now that Shui Huilan is the Family Head of the Shui Family, if the Meng Family and the Shui Family form an alliance through marriage, even the Yan Family wouldn¡¯t be able to compete with them.


    Shui Huilan replied coldly, ¡°When did I agree to marry Mr. Meng? Please don¡¯t speak nonsense.¡±


    Meng Qinghui smiled and said, ¡°Your former Family Head agreed to this. The marriage contract is written in black and white.¡±


    Shui Huilan: ¡°Whoever agreed with you, go marry them. It has nothing to do with me. In the future, please watch what you say, Mr. Meng, or don¡¯t blame me for being impolite.¡±


    Meng Qinghui¡¯s face changed several times. He didn¡¯t expect Shui Huilan to reject him publicly, which was a slap in the face for the Meng Family. From now on, cooperation between the two families would be impossible.


    He initially brought this up to let everyone around know that now the Shui Family and the Meng Family were in decline and needed to unite. He believed Shui Huilan would be wise enough, but he didn¡¯t expect her to respond so firmly.


    This entirely cut off the possibility of cooperation between the two families.


    ¡°You bitch, do you really think that becoming the Family Head of the Shui Family means you can cover the sky with one hand? Without the Meng Family¡¯s help, I¡¯d like to see how you withstand the Yan Family¡¯s assault.¡± Meng Qinghui snorted coldly, not sparing Shui Huilan¡¯s face anymore.


    ¡°How dare you insult the Family Head of the Shui Family! Slap him.¡± Several servants of the Shui Family came out, grabbed Meng Qinghui, and gave him a round of slaps.


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    A middle-aged man walked in from outside. Seeing the people of the Shui Family hitting his son, he hurried to stop them.


    Shui Huilan turned her head to look. She recognized this person as Meng Gaoyuan, the Family Head of the Meng Family.


    She looked at Meng Gaoyuan with a faint smile and said, ¡°Family Head Meng, I¡¯m just educating your son on how to speak properly, so he won¡¯t bring disaster to your Meng Family.¡±


    Meng Gaoyuan¡¯s face turned grim. ¡°Thank you, Family Head Shui, for your teachings. Your lesson to my son is something I will remember.¡±


    Shui Huilan smiled indifferently, not caring about Meng Gaoyuan¡¯s words. With the Mecha and Qin Hao around, not to mention the Meng Family, even the Yan Family was nothing in her eyes.


    She already had a rough plan in mind, a plan to annihilate the Meng Family and the Yan Family. She wanted to make the Shui Family the number one family on Guangyang Star.

 Chapter 832: 832 The Meng Family Makes a Move

    Chapter 832: Chapter 832 The Meng Family Makes a Move


    Shui Huilan wrapped her arm around Qin Hao¡¯s as they entered the elevator, catching the attention of Meng Qinghui and Meng Gaoyuan, who shot a glance at Qin Hao.


    They didn¡¯t know this man, and he wasn¡¯t a son from any prominent family in Guangyang City. Who was he? How could he be so close to Shui Huilan?


    With all the recent upheaval in the Shui Family, did it have something to do with him? In an instant, Meng Gaoyuan thought of many things.


    A hint of jealousy flashed in Meng Qinghui¡¯s eyes. He had always liked Shui Huilan and wanted to conquer this famous strong woman of Guangyang City.


    Who is that man? Seeing Shui Huilan so close to him, could he be in that kind of relationship with her?


    Has the woman I¡¯ve always wanted to conquer been conquered by this guy? Seeing the way Shui Huilan looks at him, there¡¯s definitely something between them.


    A blazing fire of jealousy rose in Meng Qinghui¡¯s eyes. Shui Huilan, such a strong woman, and he hadn¡¯t even had a taste yet. How could he let someone else get there first?


    Qin Hao and Shui Huilan soon arrived at the hotel¡¯s banquet hall, where many people had already gathered. Most were already present; the ones who came later were from the more powerful families.


    The room quieted significantly as Shui Huilan and her group entered, with many heads turning to look at them.


    The Shui Family¡¯s change of leadership had quite an impact on many in Guangyang City. After all, those other forces had previously relied on Shui Taisheng. Now with Shui Huilan in charge, they were uncertain about her intentions toward them, feeling very uneasy.


    Many also noticed Qin Hao beside Shui Huilan. Seeing her intimately holding the arm of a stranger, many of their eyes glimmered with curiosity. Who was he? What was his relationship with Shui Huilan?


    Shui Huilan walked over to the allied forces of the Shui Family and, after saying a few words to Qin Hao, let go of his arm and began to converse with them with a smile.


    The others felt a sense of relief seeing Shui Huilan¡¯s friendly demeanor toward them.


    As long as Shui Huilan had no hard feelings toward them, they could be at ease. After all, they had been flattering Shui Taisheng and the others previously.


    Soon after, the Family Heads of the Meng Family and the Yan Family also came in, mingling with their respective groups in their designated areas.


    Qin Hao casually found a place to sit down and said to Luna and Jiao Rou, ¡°You two sit down too, and have something to eat.¡±


    Luna and Jiao Rou each sat beside him, these two breathtaking beauties drawing quite a few stares.


    While Qin Hao was casually eating his snacks, Meng Qinghui approached, stopping at his table and looking at Qin Hao and the two women with him. ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with Shui Huilan?¡±


    Qin Hao looked up at him. ¡°What¡¯s between her and me has nothing to do with you, does it?¡±


    Meng Qinghui¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Do you know where you are? Do you believe I can kill you right here in Guangyang City?¡±


    ¡°Idiot.¡± Qin Hao glanced up at him, spitting out the words disdainfully.


    Meng Qinghui¡¯s face sank. If Shui Huilan had said that, he might have let it go, given her status and position. But Qin Hao, just a pretty boy Shui Huilan was keeping, had the gall to insult him?


    He raised his hand to slap Qin Hao¡¯s face. If he couldn¡¯t touch Shui Huilan, he could certainly deal with this fellow.


    Before Meng Qinghui¡¯s hand could land, Leng Xuan intercepted it, then delivered a resounding slap to his face, a sound that echoed throughout the banquet hall, drawing many curious glances.


    ¡°Whoa, Meng Qinghui got hit? Who¡¯s that guy?¡±


    ¡°What happened? How did the son of the Meng Family get slapped?¡±


    The people of the Shui Family, the Yan Family, and the Meng Family all saw what had happened, each with their own thoughts. This person, brought by Shui Huilan, had struck the son of the Meng Family. Meng Gaoyuan would not let this slide.


    Even though he was linked to Shui Huilan, he wasn¡¯t Shui Huilan herself. Meng Gaoyuan wouldn¡¯t show her face for this. If this incident didn¡¯t display the Meng Family¡¯s strength, what would the others think? What would those who depended on the Meng Family think?


    Meng Gaoyuan shouted angrily, ¡°How dare you hit my son? Guards, seize him and break his arms and legs!¡±


    The Meng Family¡¯s servants rushed forward, but Shui Huilan spoke up, ¡°Hold on! Family Head Meng, without discerning right from wrong, you¡¯re trying to cripple my man. Isn¡¯t that too domineering? It¡¯s clear your son came over to cause trouble and deservedly got beaten.¡±


    Meng Gaoyuan¡¯s face was impassive. ¡°Family Head Shui, I advise you not to intervene, or don¡¯t blame us Mengs for being ruthless.¡±


    Meng Gaoyuan¡¯s words were a warning to Shui Huilan, implying that anyone who stood in their way would become an enemy of the Meng Family.


    Currently, the Shui Family was the weakest among the three major families, with the Meng Family ranked second and the Yan Family as the foremost.


    At that moment, Yan An, the son of the Yan Family, stepped forward, a faint smile on his face. ¡°Regardless, he shouldn¡¯t have hit Meng. This is a matter of the Meng Family¡¯s reputation.¡±


    The crowd saw the Yan Family stepping up for the Meng Family, each person¡¯s gaze full of different sentiments. Was Yan An signaling something, or was he just trying to sow discord between the Shui and Meng Families?


    No matter his intentions, the Yan Family would indirectly benefit from this situation.


    Shui Huilan squinted slightly at Yan An. Had the Meng Family already fallen in line with the Yan Family?


    Qin Hao then spoke up, ¡°A bunch of useless fools. Even if I beat you, what could you do about it?¡±


    ¡°Arrogant! Seize him!¡± Meng Gaoyuan shouted coldly.


    The Meng Family¡¯s people charged forward, and Qin Hao¡¯s Shadow Guards also stepped out. The two sides clashed fiercely within the banquet hall, fighting fiercely.


    The crowd was stunned. What the hell, they really started fighting here! Isn¡¯t this too exhilarating?


    Could it be that the Shui and Meng Families would settle things here tonight?


    No matter the outcome, both families would suffer significant losses, potentially resulting in both falling while the Yan Family reaped the benefits.


    The fight in the banquet hall lasted over a minute, with all the Meng Family members lying on the ground.


    Meng Gaoyuan¡¯s face was gloomy. These people were incredibly skilled, but it wasn¡¯t over yet. Fortunately, he had come prepared tonight.


    A dozen guards behind him brandished laser guns.


    The sight made faces turn pale; Meng Gaoyuan had even brought the Meng Family¡¯s elite guards? He had indeed come prepared.


    ¡°Zap zap zap¡±


    Beams of light lit up as the laser guns aimed not only at Qin Hao¡¯s group but also at everyone in the Shui Family¡¯s sphere, including Shui Huilan and her entourage.


    At the same time, a group of people wielding laser weapons burst in from outside the banquet hall.


    The Yan Family members¡¯ expressions changed slightly upon seeing this. Who were these people? Were they from the Shui Family or the Meng Family?


    When the laser guns turned to target the Yan Family, both Yan An and Yan Family¡¯s head Yang Yang¡¯s faces changed dramatically.


    Without further ado, ¡°Zap zap zap¡± filled the hall with flashes of light, and screams echoed within seconds.

 Chapter 833: 833 Set Off

    Chapter 833: Chapter 833 Set Off


    Shui Huilan was also stunned by this sudden change. It seemed the Meng Family had been prepared.


    Fortunately, Qin Hao was there. In the instant those people opened fire, the Shadow Guards were already covered in mechas, and together they released an energy shield.


    The beams hit the shield without causing a ripple. This was the energy shield of a D-class mecha; how could mere laser guns penetrate it?


    In a matter of seconds, the banquet hall was littered with dead and wounded, especially on the side of the Yan Family. Nearly half of them were dead, and the others only survived by fleeing to Shui Huilan¡¯s side.


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s side, Meng Gaoyuan¡¯s face changed drastically: ¡°Mechas? They have mechas? How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡±


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    The ten or so Shadow Guards fired energy cannons, and the thunderous sound filled the banquet hall. Meng Gaoyuan¡¯s men fell in droves.


    Then the sound of laser rotary guns followed, their firepower far superior to Meng Family¡¯s people.


    Meng Gaoyuan and Meng Qinghui watched, wide-eyed, as their men fell one by one. Soon, the banquet hall was eerily quiet.


    The Shadow Guards retracted the energy shield, and Meng Gaoyuan looked at Qin Hao¡¯s group in terror, a look of despair on his face. He had carefully planned this for a long time, believing it to be flawless and undetected.


    But he hadn¡¯t accounted for the appearance of Qin Hao and his team, equipped with such high-level mechas. Who were they?


    What sort of person could arm their subordinates to this extent, if not someone from one of the top families of the Nolan Empire?


    How could that little tramp Shui Huilan be acquainted with such a powerful figure?


    The surviving people now looked at the carnage in the banquet hall with hearts pounding in fear. Had they not run over just now, they¡¯d probably be dead too.


    Qin Hao walked out slowly from the back, approaching Meng Gaoyuan and his son.


    ¡°Thud¡±


    Meng Qinghui suddenly knelt on the ground.


    Seeing this, Meng Gaoyuan angrily cursed, ¡°You fool, stand up! We¡¯ve lost, and you think kneeling will make them spare you?¡±


    Meng Qinghui pleaded, ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t want to die. I want to live. Please, don¡¯t kill me. I¡¯ll do anything you say.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed disdainfully, ¡°Where¡¯s the confidence you had when you attacked me earlier? A bit of spine might¡¯ve earned you some respect.¡±


    He didn¡¯t deal with Meng Gaoyuan and his son himself but left them for Shui Huilan, hoping she might still make use of them.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading back now. You handle the rest,¡± he said to Shui Huilan.


    Shui Huilan nodded slightly, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Qin Hao left with his men, but not before leaving two Shadow Guards with her to prevent any unexpected incidents.


    ...


    That day, Guangyang City was in turmoil. Meng Gaoyuan had attempted to kill the Shui Family and Yan Family heads, but his plan failed. The Yan Family head was killed, and the Meng Family head was captured alive by Shui Huilan and then killed.


    Both the Meng Family and the Shui Family suffered heavy losses. Although their heads were dead, the families still had elders and successors, so their strength wasn¡¯t significantly impaired, except the Meng Family lost more dead soldiers.


    However, the leaderless state caused chaos within the two families, with some trying to stabilize the situation and others vying for power.


    Shui Huilan wouldn¡¯t let such an opportunity slip by. She began to interfere in both families¡¯ affairs discreetly, supporting two people to compete for the head positions.


    This was an opportunity for the Shui Family, a chance to rise.


    In about five days, with the help of the Shadow Guards, Shui Huilan had taken control of the Meng and Yan Families, slowly eating away at their assets and power.


    The Shui Family grew stronger in Guangyang City, with more and more people aligning themselves with it.


    One bright morning,


    Qin Hao woke up, finding Shui Huilan, Qingtao, and Li Jiaqi lying beside him.


    Shui Huilan quickly awoke. She looked at Qin Hao, who was also looking at her.


    Suddenly, Qin Hao spoke, ¡°There¡¯s nothing much left to do here. I¡¯m planning to set off for Divine Wind Star with Luna and Jiao Rou. Later, you should move the Shui Family business towards the Lei Meng Duchy, understood?¡±


    Hearing his words, Shui Huilan was stunned, ¡°Move towards the Lei Meng Duchy? The business environment there isn¡¯t very good.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°The Southern Wilderness Star System has many undeveloped planets rich in resources. You can mine there. Take Qingtao and Jiaqi with you, and I¡¯ll assign you ten Shadow Guards for protection.¡±


    Although Shui Huilan didn¡¯t understand Qin Hao¡¯s intentions, she nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll start making arrangements in the next few days.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better to take your closest people with you,¡± Qin Hao advised.


    He didn¡¯t explain his reasons, just expecting Shui Huilan to follow his instructions. The consequences of not doing so would be her responsibility.


    Shui Huilan said, ¡°Master, here are 60 billion star coins from the Meng and Yan Families. You¡¯ll need money on Divine Wind Star, and while this isn¡¯t much, it should help you.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, accepting the money without hesitation. He indeed needed money, though it might be more than enough.


    In the morning, over breakfast, Qin Hao informed Luna, Jiao Rou, Li Jiaqi, and Qingtao about his plans.


    Qingtao felt a bit sad. She had always wanted to be with Qin Hao, even if it meant facing death alongside him.


    The journey to Divine Wind Star promised many unknown dangers.


    Although Qin Hao initially hadn¡¯t planned to take Luna and Jiao Rou, he realized the Elf Clan princesses wouldn¡¯t trust him otherwise.


    After detailing his plans, Qin Hao left ten Shadow Guards with Shui Huilan.


    Shui Huilan and her group escorted Qin Hao to the passenger spaceship in Guangyang City. The ship wasn¡¯t going directly to Divine Wind Star but was heading in that direction, requiring several transfers of space vessels.


    The passenger spaceship was massive, about ten stories high, and incredibly fast, a unified Nolan Empire transportation, comparable to D-class battleships in speed.


    Shui Huilan had purchased the tickets. Qin Hao and his companions found their first-class suites, which were adjacent to several other first-class suites. Opening the doors, they were greeted by a luxurious interior, comparable to top-star hotels.


    The first-class suite was on two levels, with many rooms inside. Qin Hao, Luna, and Jiao Rou went to the rooms on the second floor.


    Opening the door, they saw the bed, sofa, monitor, and large floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the starry sky.

 Chapter 834: 834 Casino

    Chapter 834: Chapter 834 Casino


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. It looked quite beautiful, and the curtains could be pulled down when sleeping.


    About five or six minutes later, the spaceship started, taking off from the port of Guangyang City and disappearing into the boundless starry sky.


    Qin Hao returned to the living room on the first floor, where Leng Xuan and others stood motionless.


    There was a knock on the door. A Shadow Guard walked over and opened the door. A young, beautiful Foxman Clan waitress walked in, ¡°Hello sir, these are the snacks and beverages provided by our spaceship. We also have many entertainment facilities on the spaceship. If you have anything you want to play, you can call me. I will be stationed outside your room 24 hours a day.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Alright.¡±


    The beautiful Foxman Clan waitress put down the snacks, fruit platter, and drinks, then exited the room.


    Qin Hao, along with Luna and Jiao Rou, spent some time in the room reading the news online. In just over two months, the auction would be held.


    It would take roughly two months to travel from Guangyang Star to Divine Wind Star by spaceship. The Nolan Empire was vast, with its planets numbering in the billions¡ªunimaginable.


    After reading the news, Qin Hao spent some time watching a movie online. Around noon, he asked the Foxman Clan waitress to bring lunch.


    After lunch, Qin Hao, Luna, and Jiao Rou went to play in the room on the second floor for a while.


    In interstellar travel, there is rarely daytime; mostly, it is nighttime. However, everyone¡¯s communicator has a time-calculation feature that tracks how much time has passed.


    When Qin Hao and the others woke up, it was around five in the afternoon.


    Coming down from the second floor, Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan, ¡°Let¡¯s go out for a walk. It¡¯s pretty boring indoors.¡±


    Leng Xuan called for five people to follow Qin Hao. As they exited the room, the Foxman Clan waitress was sitting there. Seeing Qin Hao come out, she quickly said, ¡°Sir, do you need any assistance?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention there are entertainment facilities here? Show us around.¡±


    ¡°Sir, we have many entertainment facilities. Where would you like to go?¡± The waitress smiled broadly upon hearing his words.


    She would receive a commission for guiding Qin Hao to spend. The more Qin Hao spent, the higher her commission would be.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°What entertainment facilities do you have?¡±


    ¡°Bar, dance hall, foot bath, game hall, casino, fighting ring, etc. We have almost all the entertainment facilities you can find on Earth,¡± the waitress replied.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Let¡¯s check out the fighting ring. What kind of fights do they have there?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the casino. The other places seem uninteresting,¡± Qin Hao reconsidered and said.


    At this moment, the door of the adjacent first-class suite opened, and a young, beautiful woman came out, followed by several bodyguards who clearly looked elite.


    The young woman glanced at Qin Hao and his group, then said to the waitress at the door, ¡°Take me to the casino.¡±


    Her group walked ahead, and Qin Hao¡¯s group followed. They entered the elevator together and arrived at the spaceship¡¯s casino.


    The casino was inside the ship. The lighting was bright, and the atmosphere was luxurious. As soon as Qin Hao entered, he saw that there were many people inside, and it was very noisy.


    Some people were exuberant, some were downcast, and some were anxiously watching the gambling tables...


    The Foxman Clan waitress said to Qin Hao, ¡°Sir, would you like to play a bit? Exchange some chips?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°I¡¯ll play for a while. It¡¯s pretty dull here.¡±


    The group arrived at the chip exchange counter, and the young woman next to them was also exchanging chips.


    ¡°Sir, how much would you like to exchange?¡± the waitress asked with a smile.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Let¡¯s exchange one billion first.¡±


    The waitress and the service staff at the counter were stunned by his response, One billion???


    Lan Xin, who was exchanging chips beside them, also turned around upon hearing this. Another big spender trying to impress me? You think this will make me take notice of you? Dream on.


    She took her ten million chips and turned away.


    ¡°Sir, did you say you wanted to exchange one billion in chips?¡± the Foxman Clan waitress asked, unsure.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, one billion. Swipe the card.¡±


    The Foxman Clan waitress was a bit excited because, according to the rules, she would earn a one percent commission on the chips guests exchanged. Qin Hao¡¯s one billion meant she would get a one million star coin reward.


    To the casino, Qin Hao¡¯s one billion in chips could earn them at least seventy to eighty percent, making a one-million reward insignificant.


    The beautiful Foxman Clan waitress had never seen such a generous customer before. Initially, seeing Qin Hao with Luna and Jiao Rou, two stunning beauties, she thought she wouldn¡¯t make much money. Unexpectedly, Qin Hao was so extravagant.


    In the past, the most generous bosses she served at night would only give a service fee of a hundred thousand star coins, and the more generous would give a few hundred thousand.


    ¡°Sir, what would you like to play?¡± The waitress¡¯s tone became even more affectionate than before.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Take me to the high-stakes area.¡±


    The waitress immediately understood and led him to a table in the center of the casino.


    The table was surrounded by quite a few people, standing three to four meters away. Aside from the dealer, there were five players, including the young woman who had just sat down.


    This table required a minimum stake of ten million to sit. The waitress seated Qin Hao next to the young woman.


    Lan Xin glanced at Qin Hao with a look of disgust. Why is this guy like a fly? Following me everywhere?


    Qin Hao noticed Lan Xin¡¯s expression and smiled wryly to himself. What¡¯s with that look, lady?


    He didn¡¯t bother to argue with her and turned to ask the waitress, ¡°What are the rules here?¡±


    ¡°Sir, this game is called Three Cards. Each player gets three cards. The one with the highest hand wins. The order of hands from lowest to highest is single card, pair, straight, and three-of-a-kind...¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly after listening. This game was quite similar to the Three Card game on Earth, almost identical.


    ¡°Sir, are you playing this round? If so, please place ten thousand chips in the pot,¡± the dealer asked.


    Qin Hao threw in a one-million chip because he didn¡¯t have ten thousand chips, leaving nine hundred thousand in the pot.


    A beautiful and sexy croupier dealt cards to the seven players, including the dealer.


    The first player, a middle-aged fat man, didn¡¯t even look at his cards and directly tossed in fifty thousand star coins, ¡°Blind fifty thousand.¡±


    The second player looked at his cards and said, ¡°One hundred thousand.¡±


    The third player also didn¡¯t look at his cards and directly bet fifty thousand. Blind bets are ten thousand, while seen bets require double.


    The fourth player folded. Lan Xin, sitting next to Qin Hao, looked at her cards and threw in one hundred thousand.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t look at his cards and said with a smile, ¡°Blind bet, two hundred thousand!¡±


    [Fourth update]

 Chapter 835: 835: The Flush of Golden Flowers

    Chapter 835: Chapter 835: The Flush of Golden Flowers


    The dealer didn¡¯t look at the cards either. He looked at Qin Hao and smiled, ¡°Hidden cards, two million, I¡¯ll call.¡±


    After a round, the funds on the gambling table reached nearly seven to eight million, and this was just the first round.


    The second round began. The fat guy hesitated for a moment, opened his cards, then immediately folded after seeing his hand.


    ¡°Four million.¡± The second person, a skinny man with glasses, threw in four million chips without hesitation.


    Lan Xin hesitated for a moment and said in a crisp, pleasant voice, ¡°I¡¯ll also call four million.¡±


    At this point, it was Qin Hao¡¯s turn again. He smiled and looked at a few people, still not looking at his cards. ¡°Hidden cards, four million.¡±


    The dealer glanced at him, ¡°I¡¯ll call four million.¡±


    ¡°Eight million.¡± The skinny guy with glasses directly called eight million.


    It was Lan Xin¡¯s turn again. She had exchanged only ten million chips, and now the chips on the table were not enough. Plus her cards were not that great, so she was a bit hesitant.


    From her expression, everyone could see she was a novice.


    Lan Xin looked at her cards again. It was just a pair, and a small pair at that: pair of threes.


    She glanced at the maid beside her, wanting to ask her opinion. But the maid was even less experienced and didn¡¯t know whether to call or not.


    In the end, Lan Xin folded. She felt her hand was a bit small, though there was some reluctance in her heart. But the price of eight million was a bit high, and there was still a player with visible cards betting. If he dared to bet, his hand should not be small.


    After Lan Xin folded, Qin Hao said, ¡°Hidden cards, eight million.¡±


    The people around were taken aback. Damn, this guy was betting heavily. Every time he bet, it would be double. Now the money inside had exceeded over twenty million.


    The dealer looked at Qin Hao and picked up his cards. ¡°Sixteen million.¡±


    The skinny guy with glasses continued to call, ¡°Sixteen million.¡±


    ¡°Eight million.¡± This time, Qin Hao didn¡¯t raise the bet, still putting in eight million.


    The dealer didn¡¯t hesitate at all and folded. From Qin Hao¡¯s stance, it was impossible to make him fold by himself.


    Now only Qin Hao and the skinny guy with glasses were left. He looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Sixteen million, show your cards.¡±


    After saying that, he revealed his cards, an Ace high. Yes, just an Ace high.


    Lan Xin, who was watching from the side, widened her eyes. Damn, he bet so much with just an Ace high? He scared off my pair!


    ¡°Sir, show your cards.¡±


    Everyone looked at Qin Hao¡¯s cards. Although the guy¡¯s hand was not big, sometimes an Ace high is still a very strong hand.


    Qin Hao turned over his cards one by one. When people saw his hand, there was a murmur around, because Qin Hao had a Ten high.


    Lan Xin glared at Qin Hao. Betting so much? I thought you were so capable. If you hadn¡¯t driven up the betting price, I wouldn¡¯t have folded. I might have won this round, this bastard, so hateful.


    The guy with glasses looked at Qin Hao¡¯s cards and smiled, ¡°Sorry, I won.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, his expression unchanged. After all, it was just under twenty million.


    Lan Xin said to the waiter beside her, ¡°Exchange one billion in chips for me.¡±


    The waiter, full of smiles, quickly went to exchange them. Soon, one billion chips appeared on the table. For this table, one billion chips were not much. Except for Qin Hao, everyone had over one billion chips in front of them.


    While the cards were being dealt, Qin Hao opened the system and looked at his gambling skills. His achievement points were almost breaking one hundred billion, mainly because when he saved the Elf Clan earlier, his achievement points had skyrocketed.


    Qin Hao spent tens of millions of achievement points to raise his gambling skill to the maximum level, level nine.


    The second game started, and the player next to the guy with glasses placed the first bet. He looked at his cards and said, ¡°One million.¡±


    Lan Xin also looked at her cards. This time, she had a big pair, the highest pair: pair of Aces. Without hesitation, she called one million.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Hidden cards, eight million.¡±


    Everyone was stunned. Damn, why bet so big?


    The dealer looked at his cards. ¡°Sixteen million.¡±


    The middle-aged fat guy originally planned to bet hidden cards several times, but didn¡¯t expect Qin Hao to bet so big. He looked at his cards and then at the others who had bet: Lan Xin and the dealer.


    He couldn¡¯t read the dealer, but from Lan Xin¡¯s eyes, he could tell her hand this time should be even bigger than the last.


    Last time, when she saw the guy¡¯s hand, she was obviously a bit regretful and annoyed. Clearly, she should have had a pair. If it was a straight, she wouldn¡¯t have bet. It was likely a small pair.


    Except for Lan Xin and Qin Hao, the others were all casino veterans. Their observation and psychology were very strong. An average person could not see through their expressions to read their hands.


    ¡°I fold.¡± The middle-aged fat guy threw away his cards.


    Finally, it was the skinny guy with glasses¡¯ turn. He looked at his cards and also folded.


    ¡°Sixteen million.¡± The middle-aged man who bet first continued to place his bet.


    Now it was Lan Xin¡¯s turn. She was a bit lacking in confidence. At first, she had been very confident, but seeing several bets placed, each with such momentum, she felt a bit scared.


    This is actually a common issue for beginners. Everyone¡¯s eyes were on Lan Xin, and from her expression, they could tell her hand was probably not very big, but not too small either, likely a big pair or a small straight.


    These people had very sharp eyes. Casino veterans were not average people.


    ¡°Sixteen million.¡± Lan Xin eventually called. She was afraid she would be wrong again.


    This is the mentality of a novice. It¡¯s because of this mentality that they lose more and more when gambling.


    Casinos have their means, winning money is really difficult.


    ¡°Eight million.¡± Qin Hao once again bet eight million in hidden cards, showing no sign of fear.


    The dealer continued to call sixteen million. The middle-aged man and Lan Xin also continued to follow. Qin Hao kept up as well.


    Soon the amount on the table exceeded one hundred million.


    ¡°All-in.¡± The middle-aged man pushed all his chips in, about thirty million.


    This was the pace to have all cards revealed. Lan Xin hesitated for a moment and also pushed in over thirty million. Qin Hao threw in over ten million because he had hidden cards.


    The dealer also pushed in over thirty million. Now, the pot had exceeded two hundred million. The chips Lan Xin had just exchanged, one billion, were almost gone.


    ¡°Show your cards. I have 369 Gold Flowers.¡± The middle-aged man revealed his hand.


    Lan Xin¡¯s face changed slightly. She revealed her hand, a pair of Aces, as the others predicted.


    Qin Hao looked at the dealer and smiled, ¡°You reveal first.¡±


    The one with hidden cards could reveal last. This was a casino rule.


    The dealer showed his cards and said, ¡°I have a Straight Flush.¡±


    His cards were 789 of the same suit, commonly known as a Straight Flush. The only hand better than a Straight Flush is a Four of a Kind.


    The middle-aged guy looked at the dealer¡¯s cards and froze. Almost everyone looked at Qin Hao, thinking he was certainly going to lose. With a Straight Flush, who could compete?

 Chapter 836: 836 A Group of People

    Chapter 836: Chapter 836 A Group of People


    Those players with exposed cards are no match, let alone Qin Hao with his hidden cards.


    The house is going to win this hand ninety-nine percent, this is over two hundred million, they¡¯re playing big this round.


    The main reason is Qin Hao¡¯s hidden card bet of eight million, which is too high. Now Lan Xin hates him to death, this bastard had to raise the stakes that high, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have lost so much. Now everything¡¯s going to be taken by the house.


    ¡°Sir, please reveal your cards.¡± The dealer said to him with a smile.


    Qin Hao extended his right hand, revealing his first card, which was a six of hearts, the second card a six of diamonds, the third one a six of spades.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao¡¯s cards, the dealer¡¯s smile froze on his face, Lan Xin and the middle-aged man holding the three cards widened their eyes in disbelief, a triplet?


    ¡°Whoa, it¡¯s actually a triplet, how amazing!¡±


    ¡°It really is a triplet, his hidden cards are incredible.¡±


    ¡°Amazing, he¡¯s a master, earning over two hundred million in one hand.¡±


    The dealer forced a smile and said, ¡°Congratulations, sir, you won.¡±


    The croupier pushed all the chips to Qin Hao and collected the cards, the electronic equipment shuffled the deck and dealt to a few others.


    Now there are six people left at the table: the dealer, the croupier, a middle-aged fat man, a man with glasses, Lan Xin, and Qin Hao.


    After dealing, the first to bet was the dealer, who watched his cards and bet one million. The middle-aged fat man and the man with glasses both followed with one million. Lan Xin looked at her hand, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes, and she followed with one million.


    ¡°Eight million.¡± Qin Hao again bet eight million with his hidden cards.


    The dealer hesitated for a moment and then folded, and so did the middle-aged fat man and the man with glasses. They had been observing everyone at the table, and Lan Xin¡¯s expression did not escape their notice.


    Inexperienced players showing joy in their eyes indicates a strong hand, strong enough to give them an eighty to ninety percent chance of winning.


    Now only Qin Hao and Lan Xin remained at the table, Lan Xin looked at him and said, ¡°Sixteen million, I call you.¡±


    Now she only had these remaining chips, the one hundred million in chips she had just exchanged were almost gone. If she loses this hand, she won¡¯t have many chips left.


    After speaking, Lan Xi revealed her cards, only one King card.


    This stunned the dealer and the man with glasses, but they quickly realized they had been tricked by this little girl, who had pretty sharp instincts.


    Seeing her hand, Qin Hao chuckled and said, ¡°You dared to call sixteen million with this hand?¡±


    After saying that, he revealed his cards, one Ace, crushing Lan Xin¡¯s hope.


    Lan Xi was stunned, how can this guy have such good luck?


    Qin Hao collected the chips and laughed as he said to Lan Xin, ¡°Beauty, you¡¯re not cut out for this. Go dance in the nightclub instead.¡±


    Lan Xin was a bit annoyed by his words: ¡°What¡¯s the big deal, you only won a couple of hands. I have plenty of money. No need to worry about me, exchange ten billion chips for me again.¡±


    At this moment, a young man walked in from outside, followed by two beautiful women. A female servant¡¯s tray held several billion in chips: ¡°Bullying women, what kind of man are you? I¡¯ll play with you.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at the young man, but didn¡¯t speak, not wanting to deal with this clown.


    Lan Xin glanced at the man and turned her head, another person trying to win her favor.


    The gambling resumed, Qin Hao won the last round. This time the dealer starts betting, he bet one million with his hidden cards, and the others followed with one million.


    When it came to Qin Hao, he raised it to eight million again.


    The dealer didn¡¯t hesitate and followed with eight million, Qin Hao squinted his eyes, a middle-aged fat man saw his cards and followed with sixteen million.


    The man with glasses also followed with sixteen million after seeing his cards, the newly joined middle-aged man followed with sixteen million, Lan Xin saw her cards and followed with sixteen million.


    The crowd began to get excited, damn, no one folded, this is getting scary.


    Qin Hao laughed and said, ¡°Seems I¡¯ll have to raise the stakes, hidden cards, thirty million.¡±


    The crowd was shocked, damn, big brother, you really dare to bet.


    Thirty million in hidden cards means the others have to call sixty million, harsh, he¡¯s a ruthless player.


    Even the dealer hesitated, sixty million, should he call? What if he loses?


    Fortunately, the young master has arrived, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the situation.


    The dealer thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Sixty million.¡±


    The middle-aged fat man and the man with glasses were deep in thought, their cards were strong, folding would be a pity, but calling and losing would be a huge loss.


    In these moments, people tend to have a gambler¡¯s mentality, wanting to take a chance as they are attracted by the huge potential profits.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call sixty million.¡±


    Both followed, the young master smiled and threw in sixty million, unfazed, as if sixty million was nothing to him.


    Lan Xin also followed with sixty million, Qin Hao paused slightly, then said with a faint smile, ¡°Seems everyone has strong cards, if I win this hand, it¡¯ll be huge, hidden cards fifty million.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s still raising the stakes, unbelievable, this guy is incredible.¡±


    The dealer hesitated for a moment then folded, the middle-aged fat man and the man with glasses raised it by a hundred million, the young master followed with a hundred million, ¡°This spaceship, this casino belongs to my Pei Family, you can bet whatever you want, no matter how much, you¡¯ll lose to me eventually.¡±


    If a casino doesn¡¯t have cheating tricks, it¡¯s not a casino, it¡¯s all about whose trickery is better.


    The amount at the table kept growing, Qin Hao kept betting hidden cards, eventually, the middle-aged fat man and the man with glasses ran out of funds, they exchanged three billion, all-in opening cards.


    The middle-aged fat man held three cards, and so did the man with glasses, his were bigger than the fat man¡¯s.


    Lan Xi smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m holding a straight flush.¡±


    The middle-aged fat man and the man with glasses stared blankly at her straight flush, nearly bankrupt.


    The crowd was shocked, ¡°A straight flush, that¡¯s a big hand.¡±


    Lan Xin smiled at the chips on the table, not only recovering all her losses from earlier but also earning a significant amount.


    ¡°Beauty, don¡¯t celebrate too early, I have a triple A.¡± The young master Pei Yingcai revealed his cards, three Aces.


    This is the biggest hand in the game.


    Lan Xin¡¯s face stiffened as she looked at Pei Yingcai: ¡°How is this possible? Are you cheating? You just came and got a triple A?¡±


    Pei Yingcai laughed, ¡°With so many people watching, and surveillance cameras, if I were cheating, would all these people not see it? Relax, the money that¡¯s yours, I won¡¯t take. Consider it a gift to make a friend.¡±


    ¡°Impressive, gifting billions to make friends, this handsome guy is really charming.¡±


    ¡°My God, three Aces, this guy¡¯s luck is incredible, first hand and he gets three Aces.¡±


    ¡°Three Aces, the biggest hand, a clean sweep, there must be tens of billions here.¡±

 Chapter 837: 837: Desperate in Defeat

    Chapter 837: Chapter 837: Desperate in Defeat


    ¡°This guy¡¯s luck is off the charts. He just won over a billion in one go. If I had that kind of money, I wouldn¡¯t work another day in my life.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s so handsome! I¡¯d love to spend the night with him.¡±


    Lan Xin snorted and replied, ¡°No need. I don¡¯t lack that kind of money.¡±


    Pei Yingcai heard the comments around him and sneered internally. A bunch of fools. This is just one of the casino¡¯s tricks.


    He won this round, but soon he would start losing, giving all his money back to the casino. Once all the money went to the house, he¡¯d make his exit.


    Pei Yingcai looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Buddy, do you even need to look at your cards?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Why not look? Maybe my cards are even better than yours.¡±


    ¡°Better? Is he kidding? What cards could beat my three Aces?¡± someone sneered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure. There¡¯s one hand that beats three Aces¡ªan off-suit 2-3-5. It trumps everything if it¡¯s in dark. If it¡¯s shown, it¡¯s useless.¡±


    ¡°The odds of getting an off-suit 2-3-5 are even smaller than three Aces. How likely is that?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. If he pulls an off-suit 2-3-5, I¡¯ll eat my own shit.¡±


    ...


    Pei Yingcai narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a faint smile, ¡°If you can pull an off-suit 2-3-5, it would certainly be unbeatable, but do you think that¡¯s likely?¡±


    The croupier, who worked for the casino, knew exactly what cards everyone had and who was winning.


    The house and the croupier had secretly brought in Pei Yingcai because earlier, Qin Hao had shown three Aces.


    According to the croupier¡¯s dealing, that hand was supposed to be the house¡¯s win, while the others¡¯ hands were weak. Yet Qin Hao somehow ended up with three Aces, and no one saw how he cheated.


    Even the surveillance team didn¡¯t catch it. If they had, they would¡¯ve notified the floor right away and he would¡¯ve been caught.


    They figured they were dealing with a pro and called in Pei Yingcai.


    Qin Hao looked at Pei Yingcai, smiling: ¡°I¡¯m about to reveal my cards. You¡¯d better watch closely and brace yourself. Don¡¯t act like you didn¡¯t lose fair and square.¡±


    The croupier then abruptly said, ¡°Sir, for fairness, let me reveal your cards using special tools. I won¡¯t touch your cards.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at her, ¡°Why don¡¯t you help others reveal their cards? Why only me? Anyway, I¡¯m just lucky. Go ahead.¡±


    His tone was full of confidence. Lan Xin turned her head curiously to look at him. Where did he get such confidence? Had he seen his cards already?


    That was impossible. Everyone was watching. He couldn¡¯t have peeked at his cards.


    The croupier used a tool to reveal the first card¡ªa two of hearts. Seeing this, many held their breath, eyes fixed on the three cards.


    The second card was revealed¡ªit was a three of spades.


    The whole room fell silent. The few people at the table narrowed their eyes, their gazes sharp¡ªcould it really be a 2-3-5?


    The dealer was already sweating. If it really was a 2-3-5, the casino would take a huge hit.


    Lan Xin looked at Qin Hao in shock. She was starting to believe Qin Hao. With the 2 and 3 already revealed, how far could the 5 be?


    The spectators around held their breath, not daring to make a sound, fearing they might disrupt the cards.


    The croupier¡¯s hand trembled slightly as she took a deep breath and revealed the final card¡ªa five of diamonds.


    Seeing this card, she appeared deflated, and if not for the support of the table, she might have collapsed.


    Pei Yingcai¡¯s face was full of shock as he looked at Qin Hao in disbelief. How could this be? How could he draw a 2-3-5 of different suits?


    Lan Xin and the onlookers were also stunned. It really was an off-suit 2-3-5! And the cards were revealed by the croupier. Qin Hao hadn¡¯t touched the cards at all.


    Because casino rules stated that once a player touched the cards, they could no longer be considered a dark hand.


    The guy who promised to eat shit quietly slipped away amidst the shock of the crowd.


    Qin Hao turned to Pei Yingcai, smiling, ¡°Sorry, buddy, I won.¡±


    The billions in chips were all Qin Hao¡¯s now.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Anyone still want to play?¡±


    ¡°Of course. This was nothing. How about we play one-on-one?¡± Pei Yingcai said with a faint smile.


    The middle-aged man, the glasses-wearing man, Lan Xin, and the house had no objections. They were not ready to make a move yet. Qin Hao¡¯s performance was too unusual. They needed to observe more.


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, ¡°How do you want to play?¡±


    Pei Yingcai: ¡°Still three-card poker, highest hand wins, but we play open-handed. The croupier will reveal the cards directly.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll start with a billion.¡± With that, Pei Yingcai tossed in a billion in chips.


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°A billion is too little. How about ten billion?¡±


    Pei Yingcai was taken aback. Ten billion? If he didn¡¯t match it, the croupier wouldn¡¯t deal the cards and Qin Hao would win by default.


    ¡°Ten billion it is, deal the cards.¡± Pei Yingcai said immediately.


    Ten billion might be nothing to Qin Hao, but for Pei Yingcai, it was his limit. If he lost this, he¡¯d face heavy punishment from his family.


    The croupier took a deep breath and first dealt Pei Yingcai a ten of hearts, then a jack of spades to Qin Hao.


    In the second round of dealing, Pei Yingcai got a nine of hearts, while Qin Hao got a two of diamonds.


    Qin Hao was leading by one point, but Pei Yingcai¡¯s cards had the potential for a flush, straight flush, or straight. The best Qin Hao could do was a pair of jacks, a significant difference.


    ¡°Deal the third card,¡± Pei Yingcai said with a faint smile.


    This croupier was the best at sleight of hand, even surveillance couldn¡¯t catch her cheating.


    Pei Yingcai¡¯s third card was supposed to be an eight of hearts for a straight flush.


    The third card revealed for Pei Yingcai was a two of spades.


    The croupier was stunned, and so was Pei Yingcai. How could it be a two of spades? What the hell was going on? Could the croupier be a traitor?


    Impossible! This croupier had been their family¡¯s slave for years. Betrayal was out of the question.


    He turned to Qin Hao: ¡°You¡¯re cheating! It has to be you cheating!¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him disdainfully. ¡°The croupier dealt the cards. I didn¡¯t even touch them. You say I¡¯m cheating? With all these people watching? If you can¡¯t afford to lose, don¡¯t play. I thought you had more money. Can¡¯t even afford ten billion? This is no fun. I¡¯m out.¡±


    ¡°Stop! Block him,¡± Pei Yingcai ordered, losing his composure.


    Instantly, the casino¡¯s security staff surrounded them, blocking Qin Hao and the others¡¯ exit.


    Qin Hao remained calm, smiling: ¡°So you and the casino are in cahoots?¡±

 Chapter 838: 838 Essence

    Chapter 838: Chapter 838 Essence


    People around heard Qin Hao¡¯s words, realized what was happening, and all looked at Pei Yingcai.


    Pei Yingcai¡¯s face changed, incredibly embarrassed. He didn¡¯t know what to say at this moment. If he let Qin Hao stay, wouldn¡¯t it mean that their casino couldn¡¯t afford to lose?


    ¡°A few billion, that¡¯s all. Can¡¯t afford to lose? If you can¡¯t afford to lose, I can give it to you,¡± Qin Hao said, his face full of mockery.


    Pei Yingcai quickly thought of a countermeasure and said, ¡°Impossible. I can still afford to lose that little bit of money. But I suspect you cheated somehow. We need to check the surveillance footage. If you didn¡¯t cheat, I¡¯ll apologize to you, and you¡¯ll be free to leave.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Sure, feel free to check it right here. Let¡¯s everyone see if I cheated.¡±


    Soon, the surveillance department sent over the footage. Pei Yingcai watched, and so did everyone else. They couldn¡¯t see anything unusual at all.


    The footage played again and again.


    Finally, Qin Hao said, ¡°Any problems, young master?¡±


    Pei Yingcai: ¡°No problems. I¡¯m sorry, sir, I apologize for what happened earlier.¡±


    Even though he said this, he remembered Qin Hao in his heart. While he couldn¡¯t do much to him on the spaceship, once they disembarked, he¡¯d make sure Qin Hao understood his power.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I want to know, since you¡¯re the person in charge of the casino, why are you gambling at our table? Are you colluding with the dealer to cheat us? Also, everyone, please look closely at the footage at three minutes and fifteen seconds. Check where the croupier dealt the card from.¡±


    Pei Yingcai and the croupier¡¯s faces changed slightly upon hearing this. The others demanded the video be replayed to see the footage of that time frame.


    ¡°Let us see the footage from that time frame. Replay it quickly.¡±


    ¡°Replay it, let¡¯s have a good look.¡±


    Pei Yingcai¡¯s face was as dark as iron. Such a hidden move, even careful observers wouldn¡¯t necessarily notice it. How did he discover it?


    For a moment, Pei Yingcai didn¡¯t know what to do.


    More and more people demanded to see the replay, including a few who had been gambling at the table earlier. They all insisted on seeing it in detail.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you dare let us see it? This dirty casino, we¡¯ll smash it up.¡±


    The number of people demanding to see the replay increased. Others gathered around, and upon learning the situation, they too demanded to see the footage.


    The situation was getting out of control. If Pei Yingcai didn¡¯t let them see it, they might really smash up his casino.


    Finally, he said, ¡°Replay the footage, let them see it.¡±


    The footage replayed, and soon it was at three minutes and fifteen seconds. Qin Hao immediately shouted, ¡°Pause it.¡±


    The video paused. At this moment, all eyes were on the croupier¡¯s hand, she was drawing a card but hadn¡¯t drawn it completely yet.


    ¡°Slow it down by ten times, play for half a second, and pause.¡± Qin Hao said.


    Pei Yingcai¡¯s face was darker than ever. With so many people watching, he had no choice but to play as required.


    When the video paused again, the croupier had drawn more than half of the card. It was now apparent.


    The card was not drawn from the top but from the middle of the deck. By the rules, this card should have been the top one.


    This card was dealt to Pei Yingcai, and when revealed, it was an ace, which meant Pei Yingcai had a set of aces in that hand.


    The crowd only then saw it clearly. The croupier¡¯s technique was too fast; even with surveillance footage, it was hard to spot without slow motion.


    ¡°Indeed, there¡¯s something fishy. No wonder I rarely win at this casino, you guys cheat. Compensate us, give us our money back.¡±


    ¡°Yes, give us our money back. You were ripping us off.¡± Some who lost money chimed in.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, give us our money back.¡±


    ¡°No wonder I¡¯ve always been losing, fucking pay up.¡±


    Pei Yingcai¡¯s face darkened as he looked at the croupier who was dealing the cards: ¡°You have some nerve, cheating in my casino, ruining its reputation. Who instructed you?¡±


    The female croupier turned pale and rushed to her knees, pointing to the dealer: ¡°It was him, he said we¡¯d split the profits fifty-fifty.¡±


    ¡°You bastard, someone drag these two out.¡± Pei Yingcai¡¯s face showed real distress, not just an act.


    He was truly embarrassed but mostly angry at Qin Hao.


    After that, he said to the gamblers who were there earlier: ¡°We will compensate you for today¡¯s losses. I sincerely apologize for what happened. We will reflect and reform the casino. If anyone tries to take advantage of this, there will be no mercy.¡±


    With that, the casino guards all took out their laser guns, serving as a warning.


    The compensation would cost Pei Yingcai dearly. Lan Xin alone lost nearly 1 billion, and the others combined lost over 2 billion.


    This no longer concerned Qin Hao. He turned and walked out. Initially, he didn¡¯t plan to expose Pei Yingcai and his cronies, but Pei had pushed too far.


    He considered it a good deed. Every casino has its tricks. Maybe this would help some people see the true nature of casinos and stay away from them.


    Pei Yingcai was indeed clever, reacting quickly and putting the blame on the croupier and dealer.


    Nonetheless, he suffered heavy losses, having to compensate Lan Xin and the others with billions.


    Pei Yingcai watched Qin Hao¡¯s departing back with a vengeful look, longing to tear him apart.


    ¡°You wait. When the spaceship reaches Anning Star, it will be your death day.¡±


    Just as Qin Hao was about to leave the casino, Lan Xin caught up. She shouted, ¡°Hey, wait.¡±


    Qin Hao stopped and turned around to look at Lan Xin: ¡°Are you calling me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m calling you,¡± Lan Xi chuckled.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Is there something you need from me?¡±


    Lan Xin walked to his side and looked at him curiously: ¡°What¡¯s your name? I¡¯m Lan Xin. Can we be friends?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her, then at the bodyguards behind her, all with vigilant expressions: ¡°Sure, more friends, more paths. My name is Qin Ritian.¡±


    ¡°Pfff!¡±


    Lan Xin laughed upon hearing his name: ¡°Qin Ritian? What were your parents thinking, to give you a name like that?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face turned black: ¡°Making fun of someone¡¯s name is very disrespectful.¡±


    Lan Xin explained, ¡°Don¡¯t take it the wrong way, it¡¯s just that I¡¯ve never heard a name like that. Let me treat you to a meal.¡±


    The group moved to the spaceship¡¯s upscale restaurant. Qin Hao and Lan Xin sat across from each other, with Luna, Jiao Rou, and Leng Xuan standing nearby. Lan Xi¡¯s maid and bodyguards also stood by.


    Lan Xin looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°That 2-3-5 hand you played earlier, how did you do it? Do you often go to casinos?¡±

 Chapter 839: 839: Becoming a Father

    Chapter 839: Chapter 839: Becoming a Father


    Qin Hao replied casually, ¡°It¡¯s my first time at a casino. How do you think I got that hand?¡±


    Lan Xin asserted with certainty, ¡°You must have cheated too, but your methods are more sophisticated, so we couldn¡¯t detect it. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been such a coincidence.¡±


    Qin Hao gave a slight smile, neither admitting nor denying, ¡°Miss Lan Xin, would you like something to eat?¡±


    Lan Xin suddenly recalled past events, ¡°No wonder I always lost when playing with those people; they must have been cheating.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s lips twitched. You needed to cheat to beat her? Any experienced player would find it easy to win against her.


    Lan Xin looked at Luna and Jiao Rou and asked curiously, ¡°Are these two beauties your female slaves? They¡¯re quite pretty.¡±


    Luna and Jiao Rou were indeed beautiful, but Lan Xin wasn¡¯t inferior to them. With her excellent royal genetic heritage, she was perfect in every way.


    Whether in looks, figure, or temperament, Lan Xin was not lacking at all. One could easily tell that Lan Xin was no ordinary person; a commoner wouldn¡¯t carry this kind of aura.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°An Elven princess, have you heard of it?¡±


    Lan Xin was surprised, ¡°This is an Elven princess? Where did you get her?¡±


    Qin Hao replied indifferently, ¡°At an auction. Although it was expensive, it was worth the money.¡±


    Lan Xin asked, ¡°Where are you planning to go?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Divine Wind Star. I heard an Elven princess will be auctioned there in two months. I¡¯m going to see if I can bid on a few more Elven princesses.¡±


    Lan Xin laughed and said, ¡°What a coincidence! I also plan to go to Divine Wind Star. Let¡¯s go together.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. This Lan Xin seemed to have some background, and she might come in handy later.


    After dinner, Lan Xin said, ¡°Where do you plan to go next? The casino is boring now.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, just wandering around,¡± Qin Hao replied.


    Lan Xin suggested, ¡°How about we go to the game arcade? It¡¯s more fun there with all sorts of simulation games.¡±


    Qin Hao, having nothing better to do, followed her to the large game arcade on the spaceship. The place had even more people than the casino, with many seated at virtual simulators playing games.


    The arcade wasn¡¯t just for kids; there were even more adults playing.


    Lan Xin led him to a game simulator, a cosmic spacecraft simulator that mimicked the feeling of speeding through the galaxy.


    ...


    During the day, Qin Hao and Lan Xin went out to play, returning to their rooms at night. A month passed in the blink of an eye, with their spaceship stopping at many planets.


    In one more day, they would reach Anning Star, where they needed to change spaceships before heading to their destination, Divine Wind Star.


    That night, around ten o¡¯clock, Qin Hao had just finished a ¡°battle¡± with Luna and Jiao Rou when his communicator rang. It was Chang Jing calling.


    Though Qin Hao was deep in the galaxy, his communicator was Earth-made, equipped with a signal receiving and transmitting device.


    Despite some distance, it only caused a signal delay, but video calls were still possible.


    Answering the call, Qin Hao asked, ¡°How¡¯s it going, Xiao Jing?¡±


    Chang Jing smiled and said, ¡°We have completely annihilated the Divine Wind Group¡¯s fleet. Our control area is expanding, with our fleet patrolling thousands of surrounding planets. We have also begun extracting resources from many planets.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°That¡¯s good. This experience should make the Divine Wind Group realize our strength. If they want to mess with us again, they¡¯ll have to think long and hard.¡±


    Chang Jing said, ¡°We are currently producing various advanced warships at full capacity in our dozens of military bases. In half a month, we¡¯ll have an organized interstellar fleet ready. We¡¯ve already discovered some interstellar mining teams, but we¡¯ve driven them away.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Once the fleet is ready, send people to blockade the passage to the Endless Asteroid Belt and announce publicly that it belongs to the Galaxy Federation.¡±


    After chatting for a while, Qin Hao briefed Chang Jing about his recent situation. Once the Divine Wind Star matter was settled, he would return to Lei Meng Duchy and prepare to launch his interstellar campaign.


    Chang Jing also shared some good news: he had become a father. Du Wanrou had given birth to twins, and both mother and children were in good health.


    Hearing this news, Qin Hao¡¯s face lit up with a smile. I became a father? I became a father?


    His excitement was evident, even though he was mentally prepared, he couldn¡¯t suppress his inner joy.


    That night, Qin Hao had a restless sleep, dreaming about his son and daughter, and of returning to Earth...


    The next morning, Qin Hao woke up and sighed. But soon after, he looked more energetic than before, determined to finish his business here quickly and return home to see his children.


    ¡°Luna, Jiao Rou, wake up.¡± Qin Hao woke the two women, and after some tidying up, the three of them went downstairs.


    Just as he was about to have breakfast, there was a knock on the door. Lan Xin walked in from outside, ¡°Ritian, I¡¯m here for breakfast.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s forehead was full of black lines upon hearing her address him, ¡°Don¡¯t you have breakfast in your place?¡±


    Lan Xin laughed and said, ¡°I just like eating at your place. Do you know how many people wish to have breakfast with me but don¡¯t get the chance? You¡¯re really lucky, you know?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled lightly, ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯m very lucky.¡±


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you arguing with me today? You look really happy. Did something good happen? Share it with me,¡± Lan Xin asked curiously, seeing Qin Hao¡¯s glowing face.


    Qin Hao rolled his eyes at her, ¡°What good thing could it be? I¡¯m just happy that we¡¯ll reach Anning Star today.¡±


    Lan Xin could tell he was brushing her off and didn¡¯t press further, ¡°Do you want to explore Anning Star? The spaceship won¡¯t leave until tomorrow anyway.¡±


    ¡°Where to explore? Are you familiar with Anning Star?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Lan Xin, ¡°Don¡¯t you know guides are a thing now? Just hire one. There will be many people offering their services when we get off the spaceship. We just need to find a reliable one.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her in surprise, ¡°You seem quite familiar with this.¡±


    ¡°Of course, have you seen how many planets I¡¯ve visited?¡± Lan Xin said proudly.


    In the spaceship¡¯s casino, Pei Yingcai woke up in the morning and was scolding the croupier again, ¡°It¡¯s all because of you! If it weren¡¯t for you, would I have lost so much money?¡±


    ¡°Master, I¡¯m sorry. Please forgive me,¡± the croupier pleaded.

 Chapter 840: 840 Lan Xins Identity

    Chapter 840: Chapter 840 Lan Xin¡¯s Identity


    ¡°Yes, Master, I will arrange someone to watch him.¡± The croupier said respectfully.


    A little after eleven at noon, the spaceship docked at Anning City¡¯s port on Anning Star. The port was very large, with many cargo ships and passenger ships.


    As they disembarked from the spaceship, Qin Hao saw someone from Lan Xin¡¯s group effortlessly find a guide.


    Lan Xi spoke to the guide, ¡°Take us to the snack street here, remember, the best snack street.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Miss, Sir, please follow me.¡± The guide had his own car, which was a specialized sightseeing vehicle, taking Qin Hao and his group towards the inner city of Anning City.


    Shortly after Qin Hao and his companions left, two other cars followed them.


    Pei Yingcai quickly received the news, a cold glint flashing in his eye. Once they were in Anning City, their lives would be out of their control.


    He called his family and summoned a group of trained death warriors, planning to kill Qin Hao and rob him of his money and slave girls.


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao and his group, under the guide¡¯s direction, quickly arrived at the city¡¯s famous snack street. This street was very long, stretching over ten miles, showcasing nearly all the special foods of Anning Star.


    Lan Xin, like a little elf, became even more lively and open upon entering, buying a little to taste at every stall.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao also bought some food, eating some himself and giving some to those around him.


    ¡°Delicious!¡± Lan Xin said, eating a skewer of grilled meat.


    This meat was from an animal unique to Anning Star, resembling a cow from Earth in the pictures, but not quite, more akin to a mythical creature.


    They stayed on this snack street for nearly two hours until Lan Xin couldn¡¯t eat anymore and had the food packed up. There were bags now that kept food at room temperature, retaining the flavor as if freshly bought, perfect for foodies.


    Qin Hao and Lan Xin bought a large amount of special local food and left the snack street. Shortly after leaving, they were surrounded by a group of people.


    The guide saw the attire of those people and turned pale with fright, running away immediately.


    They were from the Pei Family, a force in Anning City that ordinary people couldn¡¯t afford to provoke.


    Qin Hao and Lan Xin were unfamiliar with the Pei Family¡¯s attire, but frowned slightly at being blocked by dozens of people.


    Lan Xin showed no fear, ¡°Hey, what are you doing? A good dog doesn¡¯t block the way.¡±


    At that moment, someone walked out from the crowd; it was Pei Yingcai, from the spaceship casino.


    Pei Yingcai looked at Qin Hao¡¯s group, smiling, ¡°Here, let¡¯s see what waves you can stir.¡±


    Lan Xin immediately understood that this was revenge against Qin Hao.


    She always thought Qin Hao was mysterious and not simple; today, she would see how he handled this situation, which seemed to be Pei Yingcai¡¯s territory.


    The guide¡¯s reaction showed that Pei Yingcai¡¯s family had significant power here.


    Qin Hao looked at him disdainfully, ¡°Are you here to die?¡±


    Pei Yingcai sneered at his arrogant words, ¡°You know where you are? Do you understand the status of my Pei Family here?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Enough with the nonsense. If you want to fight, do it quickly. If not, leave. My time is precious.¡±


    ¡°Arrogant! Seize them, kill anyone who resists!¡±


    Dozens of people rushed forward. Qin Hao remained motionless as a Shadow Guard stepped out, instantly shielded by advanced mecha, and with one sweep of the sword, dozens were cut in half, blood everywhere.


    Another sword stroke, and all of Pei Yingcai¡¯s men were killed.


    The bystanders were stunned; someone dared to commit murder openly in Anning City, against the Pei Family no less?


    The guide hadn¡¯t run far, seeing this scene he turned pale, thinking, ¡°Holy crap, are the people I¡¯m guiding that terrifying?¡±


    ¡°Any last words?¡± Qin Hao asked the horrified Pei Yingcai.


    Pei Yingcai¡¯s face changed drastically, ¡°What are you trying to do? This is Anning City, I¡¯m from the Pei Family!¡±


    ¡°Enough of your nonsense!¡± Qin Hao said impatiently.


    The Shadow Guard swung his energy sword, decapitating Pei Yingcai, killing him instantly.


    Lan Xin¡¯s guards saw the mecha on the Shadow Guard and their eyes lit up with vigilance. Lan Xin was also surprised, advanced mecha? His subordinates had advanced mecha, who was he?


    Only a few noble families in the Nolan Empire possessed advanced mecha, so he must be from another empire¡¯s noble family?


    As Qin Hao and his group prepared to leave, a group of dark silhouettes flew over; they were Anning City¡¯s airborne patrol combat drones, designed to maintain the city¡¯s stability and safety.


    ¡°Who dares to kill in broad daylight? Immediately kneel and surrender.¡± A voice came from the airborne combat device.


    Here, the security was unlike other places; any incident would be detected by the city¡¯s smart surveillance system, transmitting the information to relevant departments, which would send personnel or smart machines to handle it.


    Lan Xin looked at Qin Hao, eager to see how he would handle this.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°When Pei Yingcai led people to capture me, where were you? Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t know. Now that I¡¯ve killed him, you show up. Do you think I¡¯m easy to bully?¡±


    ¡°Warning again, put down your weapon, surrender, or we will take coercive measures.¡±


    Qin Hao squinted, a cold light flashing in his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Lan Xin suddenly said, ¡°Do you recognize this token? Withdraw.¡±


    She held out a token; the airborne combat device scanned it and instantly transmitted it to Anning City¡¯s central smart system, which quickly identified the token¡¯s significance.


    The airborne combat devices swiftly flew away.


    The Nolan Empire had a central smart system, with information inaccessible to many people.


    Lan Xin put away the token, and the bystanders curiously and puzzledly watched her. What was going on? Why did the airborne combat devices retreat?


    Qin Hao also turned to look at Lan Xin. He knew she had a significant background, but wasn¡¯t sure exactly what. Now, with a token scaring away the airborne combat devices, who was she?


    If it wasn¡¯t for her, it would have been troublesome.


    Though Qin Hao¡¯s group wouldn¡¯t be killed or captured, it would delay their trip to Divine Wind Star.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao and Lan Xin strolled around again, but Qin Hao didn¡¯t ask about her identity. Since she didn¡¯t want to talk about it, asking was futile. When the time was right, she would naturally reveal it.

 Chapter 841: 841 Arrival at Divine Wind Star

    Chapter 841: Chapter 841 Arrival at Divine Wind Star


    Around four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Qin Hao and Lan Xin had just come out of a temple where a local god statue was worshipped. This god was believed by the native inhabitants of Anning Star.


    Just as they stepped out of the temple, someone hurried over: ¡°Are you Miss Lan Xin?¡±


    Lan Xin looked at the person and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Miss Lan Xin, I am a housekeeper of the He Family. Our master would like to invite you and your friend to dinner.¡± The person spoke with extreme respect.


    The He Family is the star lord of Anning Star and the city lord of Anning City, even stronger than the Pei Family.


    When Lan Xi scared off the Air Combat Device, the He Family, being the star lord¡¯s family, received the news immediately and learned about Lan Xin¡¯s identity.


    As a princess of the Nolan Empire, no family within the empire dared to provoke her. The Lan Family, the imperial family, was incredibly powerful, and even the other top families in the Nolan Empire would not dare to affront the royalty casually.


    Lan Xin refused immediately without thinking: ¡°No need, I don¡¯t know him, and there¡¯s nothing to talk about.¡±


    ¡°Miss Lan Xin, our master knows you like Sky Star Jade. He plans to gift you a flower sculpted from his treasured Sky Star Jade by one of the empire¡¯s top sculptors. You will surely like it.¡± The man continued.


    Lan Xin¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this: ¡°Really? If you¡¯re lying, I won¡¯t spare you. Lead the way.¡±


    The He Family¡¯s housekeeper breathed a sigh of relief as Lan Xin agreed. Had she insisted on not going, he wouldn¡¯t know what to do.


    This was a chance to be close to the imperial family. If they treated Lan Xin well, their rise to prominence would be just around the corner.


    The group boarded a few high-end air energy cars.


    A few minutes later, the air energy cars landed in the He Family¡¯s mansion.


    As soon as they got off the cars, a group of people stood there waiting to greet them. Upon seeing Lan Xin emerge, they quickly approached: ¡°He Family Head He Xingming pays respects to Princess Lan Xin.¡±


    ¡°Pay respects to Princess Lan Xin,¡± the others also knelt and respectfully echoed.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise, Princess Lan Xin?


    Could she be a princess of the Nolan Empire?


    At this moment, Lan Xin didn¡¯t look like her usual self. She appeared calm and dignified, an aura of noble grace emanating from her: ¡°Rise.¡±


    ¡°Princess Lan Xin¡¯s arrival brings great honor to the He Family. Please come in, Princess.¡± He Xingming said respectfully.


    Though the Nolan Empire had hundreds of princesses, Princess Lan Xin was one of the emperor¡¯s favorite daughters, highly favored.


    Lan Xin walked in with Qin Hao by her side. Although the people around didn¡¯t recognize Qin Hao, they knew anyone who could laugh and talk with the princess must be no ordinary person.


    Pei Family Head Pei Zhengpeng was also in the crowd. Pei Yingcai, his son, had died at Qin Hao¡¯s hands, but he dared not show any hint of hatred because it involved Princess Lan Xin.


    He came today to apologize. Yes, his son was killed, yet he had to come to apologize, or he feared the Pei Family would face complete destruction.


    In the banquet hall of the He Family mansion, food and wine were already prepared. He Xingming knew Lan Xin loved various delicacies, so he had specially brought in some rare treats from outside, pleasing Lan Xi immensely.


    Qin Hao and Lan Xi sat together, surrounded by the heads of various big families from Anning Star.


    These people flattered Lan Xin, saying whatever sounded nice.


    Later, Pei Family Head found an opportunity to say, ¡°Princess Lan Xin, I apologize for the incident earlier today involving you and your friend. I wasn¡¯t aware of the situation. My delinquent son deserved to die.¡±


    Lan Xin: ¡°Let¡¯s not bring up the past. I won¡¯t pursue it further.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Princess Lan Xin, thank you so much,¡± Pei Zhengpeng expressed his deep gratitude, genuinely moved.


    With just one word from Lan Xin, the empire wouldn¡¯t need to intervene; the He Family and other families could easily destroy the Pei Family.


    He Xingming spoke up: ¡°Everyone should educate their disciples properly after returning home and avoid being too arrogant. Fortunately, this time we met Princess Lan Xin; if it had been another prince, your families might have been wiped out.¡±


    The crowd hurriedly nodded in agreement. There had never been such a prominent figure on Anning Star before. Who could have known Princess Lan Xin would come? It seemed they must keep their arrogant disciples more subdued in the future.


    The banquet proceeded smoothly, and after the meal, the heads of various families gradually departed.


    Lan Xin and Qin Hao were invited to the He Family¡¯s living room, where He Xingming brought out his treasured Sky Star Jade.


    This piece of Sky Star Jade had been sculpted into a flowering tree, emitting a silver-gray light, crystal clear, and twinkling beautifully.


    This was considered a luxury item in the interstellar world. Such sculpted Sky Star Jade was priceless outside, not available even with money.


    Qin Hao was also seeing such an item for the first time; it was indeed beautiful, a rare jade reminiscent of the infinite cosmos, hence the name Sky Star Jade.


    Lan Xin didn¡¯t hold back: ¡°This is nice, Head of the He Family, I really like it. I won¡¯t be polite.¡±


    ¡°Princess Lan Xin, no need to be polite with me. Keeping it here would only hide its shine; it can only fulfill its worth with Princess Lan Xin.¡± He Xingming¡¯s flattery was indeed unmatched.


    His words made the listener feel very comfortable, truly skilled in flattery.


    That evening, he kept Lan Xin and Qin Hao¡¯s party, having already arranged the spaceship matter.


    The next morning, He Xingming personally sent them to the spaceship, only turning back after watching it leave.


    The spaceship¡¯s destination this time was Divine Wind Star, Qin Hao¡¯s final stop.


    During the journey, Qin Hao and Lan Xin stayed the same; Qin Hao didn¡¯t change his attitude toward her despite her identity.


    After a month of travel, Qin Hao finally arrived at the port of Divine Wind City on Divine Wind Star.


    Divine Wind Star was massive, with a population over a trillion, one of the Nolan Empire¡¯s largest life planets, hundreds of times Earth¡¯s size.


    As the spaceship descended from the sky, Qin Hao caught a glimpse of the outline of Divine Wind City, skyscrapers countless and stretching beyond sight, revealing the grandeur of the city.


    The spaceship landed at the port, and Qin Hao, Lan Xin, and their party disembarked. Luna and Jiao Rou looked around in shock, noticing floating buildings in the distance.


    Indeed, they were buildings floating in the air, utilizing anti-gravity devices that allow objects to float under the influence of anti-gravity, without any propulsion.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find a hotel to settle down first,¡± Qin Hao said to Luna and Jiao Rou.


    Beside them, Lan Xin quickly suggested: ¡°I know of a really good hotel in Divine Wind City, Ritian, let me take you there.¡±

 Chapter 842: 842: Attitude

    Chapter 842: Chapter 842: Attitude


    Qin Hao looked at her and asked, ¡°Do you, a princess, also need to stay in a hotel?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with hotels? I always stay in hotels when I¡¯m outside. If you go to the Royal Grand Hotel in Divine Wind City, you won¡¯t be able to get a room without me. With me, they¡¯ll have to bring out the best rooms for us,¡± Princess Lan Xin said with a smile.


    Qin Hao indifferently said, ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s stay at the hotel together.¡±


    On the way to the hotel, the air energy car was broadcasting a news report: The entire expedition army organized by the Divine Wind Group to the Southern Wilderness Star System was annihilated. Dozens of warships, including D-class warships, did not escape. The military technology capabilities of Earth, this primitive planet, have shocked countries across the universe.


    Qin Hao had already received this news; it was just now spreading in Divine Wind City.


    Lan Xin, a bit surprised, said, ¡°That Earth in the Southern Wilderness Star System is quite powerful, even managing to wipe out the fleet organized by the Guo Family.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face remained calm, not making any comments.


    Lan Xin looked at him and asked, ¡°Do you know anything about this Earth life planet in the Southern Wilderness Star System?¡±


    Qin Hao slightly nodded, ¡°It¡¯s not really a secret.¡±


    ¡°Now that the Divine Wind Group¡¯s fleet has been wiped out, I guess no one will dare provoke this Earth anymore. I really want to see that Earth in the Southern Wilderness Star System, to see what it¡¯s really like.¡± Lan Xin said with a bit of longing in her eyes.


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°It¡¯s very dangerous there. If you go, you might not come back.¡±


    Lan Xin sighed, ¡°If only there were no wars in this universe, that would be so good. I believe even that Earth in the Southern Wilderness Star System doesn¡¯t want war. Everyone just wants to live in peace, but due to interests, wars erupt throughout the universe.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°No one wishes for war. Some fight for interests, others for resistance. Maybe only through complete unification of the universe will there be no war.¡±


    ¡°Complete unification?¡± Lan Xin¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing his words.


    Qin Hao looked at her with curiosity, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did I say something wrong?¡±


    Lan Xin said, ¡°You really dare to think big. The universe is so vast; who dares claim they can unify the entire universe? Not even my Axe King dares say that, nor the emperors of the other seven great empires.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed and said, ¡°That remains to be seen.¡±


    As they talked, they soon arrived at the Royal Grand Hotel in Divine Wind City. The hotel, over two hundred stories tall, was majestic and grandiose.


    Lan Xin and Qin Hao walked in and came to the front desk. Lan Xin took out the Royal Grand Hotel¡¯s Supreme VIP card. The service staff, seeing it, were startled and hurriedly arranged rooms for the two with respect.


    Qin Hao and Lan Xin each requested a top-tier suite.


    They took the elevator to the 266th floor. Lan Xin didn¡¯t go to her room but instead went to Qin Hao¡¯s suite.


    Lan Xin looked at him and said, ¡°Divine Wind City has many fun places. I¡¯ve been here before. Do you want me to take you out to explore?¡±


    Qin Hao gave her a look, ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ve traveled for so long. I just want to rest a bit.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then you rest. I¡¯ll call you when we go out to play.¡± Finishing her words, Lan Xin got up and left.


    After Lan Xin left, Qin Hao sat on the sofa, showing a thoughtful expression. He currently had over two thousand billion in funds, but he didn¡¯t feel entirely secure.


    The screen in the suite shifted, suddenly showing the scene of the Endless Asteroid Passage.


    ¡°According to the latest information from our interstellar news, Earth, this life planet in the Southern Wilderness Star System, has established the Galaxy Federation Government. Currently, they have dispatched the interstellar fleet to block the Endless Asteroid Passage, preventing anyone from entering the Southern Wilderness Star System. Those inside have been driven out without facing slaughter.¡±


    Seeing this news, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes flashed with brilliance. Chang Jing had finally taken action. It seems the complete interstellar fleet has been produced and equipped; his conquest of the stars is imminent.


    The reporter continued on the suite¡¯s television, ¡°Currently, several neighboring countries of the Endless Asteroid zone have entered a state of full military preparedness. Lei Meng Duchy and the Silver Star Free Federation have applied for military protection from the Interstellar Federation. The Interstellar Federation is discussing specific matters.


    Just ten minutes ago, the Galaxy Interstellar Federation Government released a video message to the stars. Let¡¯s take a look at it together.¡±


    The reporter faded away, and a video appeared showing a young beautiful elf woman wearing the Galaxy Federation military uniform.


    ¡°I am Galaxy Federation Major Jing Yu. On behalf of the Elf Clan and the Galaxy Federation, I issue a warning to all interstellar nations. The Elf Clan is part of the universe, one of many life planets. I hope those who enslave the Elf Clan realize their mistake, return the Elf people safely, and hand over the original invaders of the Elf Clan. Otherwise, the Galaxy Federation will retaliate with force.¡±


    This news was broadcast in many places across the stars: the eight great empires, thousands of kingdoms, duchies, federations, etc.


    The Guo Family in Divine Wind City naturally received the message. Their faces darkened, thinking, ¡°A mere small life planet dares to shout? They don¡¯t know their limits. Do you think you can suppress us with force? Can you even break out of the Southern Wilderness Star System?¡±


    The Interstellar Federation quickly issued a response: ¡°The Galaxy Federation Government is not recognized by the Interstellar Federation. It is not considered a complete nation. Regarding the threats issued by the Galaxy Federation Government, we strongly condemn them. To protect the lives and property of interstellar citizens, the Interstellar Federation will dispatch a United Fleet to forcibly suppress your barbaric planet.¡±


    This response was meant not only for the Galaxy Federation but for everyone in the interstellar space.


    It was not just talk. After the Interstellar Federation¡¯s response, they urgently contacted each empire, kingdom, and duchy¡¯s leaders, holding video conferences, demanding that each nation send troops to form a powerful United Fleet and forcibly suppress the Galaxy Federation.


    Qin Hao also saw this news with a cold smile on his face, thinking, ¡°Come, I¡¯ll show you the strength of the Galaxy Federation.¡±


    On this day, Qin Hao received the final payment from Wei Yingrui of Lei Meng Duchy. The warships, air combat devices, and advanced combat robots had all been delivered. His account instantly surged by several thousand billion star coins.


    Now, his star coins had reached over eight thousand billion, making him almost completely confident.


    Five elf princesses and one queen, totaling six people¡ªthe money was almost enough.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao rested for a while. Later, Luna knocked on the door to wake him up, ¡°Master, Princess Lan Xin is here to find you.¡±


    Qin Hao got up and went out. Lan Xin was sitting on the sofa, looking at him and saying, ¡°Hurry up and freshen up. After dinner, I¡¯ll take you to a fun place.¡±

 Chapter 843: 843 Lets See Who Backs Down First

    Chapter 843: Chapter 843 Let¡¯s See Who Backs Down First


    Qin Hao was in a good mood and asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s the fun place?¡±


    ¡°The biggest casino in Divine Wind City. Let¡¯s go and win a lot of money. If the casino dares to renege, I¡¯ll handle it. We split the winnings fifty-fifty. How about it?¡± Lan Xin said with a big smile.


    Qin Hao was a bit speechless, ¡°You are a princess after all, do you really need money?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do, who doesn¡¯t? Anyway, there¡¯s nothing else to do, and your gambling skills are excellent. Let¡¯s go earn some money, quick.¡± Lan Xin urged him.


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao was ready. He, along with Luna and Jiao Rou, followed Lan Xi out of the room.


    They left the hotel and took a car towards the largest entertainment district in Divine Wind City. It had all sorts of entertainment venues and was always lively at night.


    It was already nightfall. Sitting in the air energy car, they overlooked the entertainment district of Divine Wind City, brightly lit with colorful neon lights flashing.


    The air energy car finally stopped at the entrance of Divine Wind Casino.


    Qin Hao and Lan Xin got out of the car. After paying, Lan Xin walked in first. There were neatly dressed staff at the casino entrance. When someone walked in, they would bow and say, ¡°Welcome.¡±


    Moreover, each staff member was a young and beautiful woman. Despite the advanced technology, the presence of real women felt different from robots.


    Inside, it was magnificently decorated, luxurious and grand. As soon as they stepped in, a smiling female attendant walked over, ¡°Hello sir, miss.¡±


    Lan Xin spoke, ¡°We¡¯re here to gamble. Take us to the high-stakes gambling hall.¡±


    The female attendant paused and asked, ¡°Miss, how high stakes would you like to play?¡±


    ¡°What are the stakes in your highest gambling hall?¡± Lan Xin countered.


    The female attendant smiled even more and replied, ¡°The highest gambling hall is on the eighteenth floor. The minimum chips required to enter are one billion.¡±


    Lan Xin said, ¡°Exchange ten billion chips for me, and also ten billion for my friend here.¡±


    The female attendant¡¯s smile grew brighter. Recently, more and more wealthy people were coming to Divine Wind City. Many had exchanged ten billion chips directly, which was unprecedented.


    This must be due to the upcoming Divine Wind Auction. Many wealthy individuals from the galaxy had come, some arriving early, while others were still on their way.


    After exchanging the chips, they took the elevator to the eighteenth floor, the highest-stakes gambling hall in Divine Wind Casino.


    There was also a dedicated chip exchange service. Despite the high stakes, there were quite a few people inside. All the tables had players.


    Qin Hao and Lan Xin found a table with fewer people and sat down. They were accompanied by service personnel.


    There were four players at the table, currently in the middle of a game of Three Card Poker.


    The players included the dealer, a charming middle-aged woman, a fat man, and a young man.


    Seeing Qin Hao and Lan Xin sit down, the players glanced at them and continued to place their bets. The winner of this round was the middle-aged woman with a pair of Aces.


    This time, Qin Hao and Lan Xin each tossed in one million chips, the minimum bet at this table.


    The croupier dealt the cards, starting with the player next to the middle-aged woman, the fat man, and soon the cards were dealt.


    The fat man said, ¡°Dark hand, five million.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow with five million.¡± The young man smiled leisurely and tossed in five million.


    Lan Xin looked at Qin Hao, ¡°How much should I bet?¡±


    The players looked at Qin Hao and Lan Xin, thinking, are these two a team?


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Bet as much as you want.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll bet less, you raise the stakes.¡± Saying this, she threw in five million chips.


    ¡°Dark hand, one billion.¡± Qin Hao casually tossed in a billion chips.


    Finally, it was the dealer¡¯s turn. He felt a bit speechless, where did these people come from? So aggressive?


    He hesitated, looked at his cards, and with a bit of concern, decided to follow with one billion in dark hand.


    The middle-aged woman glanced at Qin Hao and smiled faintly, ¡°Dark hand, follow one billion.¡±


    The fat man looked at his cards and folded.


    The young man hesitated, pretended to be laid-back, and tossed in one billion. Lan Xin, following Qin Hao¡¯s lead, also bet one billion without hesitation.


    ¡°Dark hand, two billion.¡± Qin Hao raised by another billion.


    The dealer frowned. If he were to follow again, it would be four billion.


    The dealer didn¡¯t understand Qin Hao¡¯s strategy yet, so he had some concerns.


    ¡°Four billion.¡± The dealer continued to follow.


    The middle-aged woman looked at her cards, hesitated, and threw them away, feeling her odds were too low for such high stakes.


    The young man continued to follow with two billion. Lan Xin also followed with two billion.


    ¡°Three billion.¡± Qin Hao continued his dark hand.


    At this point, the dealer had no choice but to continue, ¡°Six billion.¡±


    The young man hesitated, looked at his cards, and said, ¡°Follow with six billion.¡±


    Lan Xin saw her small cards and folded, thinking it wasn¡¯t worth it to continue.


    ¡°Four billion.¡± Qin Hao raised by another billion.


    He now had less than one billion chips left. The female attendant beside him was astonished by his audacity.


    ¡°Eight billion.¡± The dealer continued to follow, although he suspected the young man might be bluffing to take Qin Hao¡¯s hand.


    Dark hands rarely turn out strong, having high loss rates, but winning one could win big.


    The young man followed with eight billion.


    Qin Hao took Lan Xin¡¯s chips and said, ¡°Five billion.¡±


    We¡¯ll see who bluffs first!


    The dealer was sweating; he had already wagered over ten billion. If he continued, he had to follow with ten billion more.


    ¡°Ten billion.¡± The dealer gritted his teeth and pushed out ten billion in chips.


    The young man hesitated. If he followed with ten billion, would Qin Hao raise by six billion next?


    ¡°Ten billion.¡± After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he followed.


    Qin Hao told the attendant, ¡°Exchange a hundred billion chips for me.¡±


    The table was stunned. What was he planning?


    The attendant quickly brought a hundred billion chips. Qin Hao threw ten billion chips, ¡°Ten billion, will you follow or fold?¡±


    ¡°Twenty billion.¡± The dealer, still holding over sixty billion in chips, could manage twenty billion.


    ¡°Twenty billion.¡± The young man followed, leaving him with few chips left.


    ¡°Dark hand, twenty billion.¡± Qin Hao unhesitatingly bet another twenty billion.


    The middle-aged woman and the fat man were stunned, wondering which family¡¯s disciple played so boldly without fear of losing?

 Chapter 844: 844 Win Money

    Chapter 844: Chapter 844 Win Money


    The people at the gambling table had never seen someone place bets like this before, and at the moment the amount of cash on the table was nearing a hundred billion.


    If the dealer and the young nobleman followed suit again, it would be eighty billion star coins.


    The dealer looked at the young man and said, ¡°How about we each reveal our cards for forty billion?¡±


    If we keep betting like this, no one can endure it.


    The young man glanced at the dealer, then looked at Qin Hao, finally nodding his head and asked the server to exchange forty billion in chips.


    Each person tossed forty billion, then chose to reveal their cards.


    The casino had this rule, they couldn¡¯t keep betting without revealing the cards.


    The dealer was the first to reveal his hand; his cards were a sequence 7-8-9. The young man laughed and said, ¡°Sorry, I have a flush.¡± As he spoke, he revealed his cards.


    The dealer¡¯s expression froze, his face changed slightly; this round he had bet nearly a hundred billion.


    Everyone turned to look at Qin Hao, who smiled and said to the croupier, ¡°Help me reveal my cards.¡±


    The croupier hesitated for a moment but still came over and uncovered Qin Hao¡¯s cards one by one. The first card was a spade Ace, the second card was a spade 2, and the third card was a spade 3.


    The few people at the gambling table were shocked upon seeing this. A straight flush? He had concealed cards and revealed a straight flush?


    The dealer, the middle-aged woman, the middle-aged fat man, and the young man all had expressions of disbelief. How could he be so damn good?


    Qin Hao hadn¡¯t even touched his cards the whole time, making it seem impossible to cheat. Was this guy really so lucky?


    Qin Hao looked at his cards and smiled slightly, ¡°I suppose I won this round?¡±


    Lan Xin was all smiles, incredibly impressive, winning over a hundred billion in one go. They threw in a million chips, and the second round continued.


    The young man hesitated for a moment, then exchanged ten billion in chips again. Winning once meant Qin Hao was lucky, but he didn¡¯t believe Qin Hao could keep this luck indefinitely.


    The second round began; the dealer concealed a bet of one million, everyone else followed suit with one million, when it came to Qin Hao¡¯s turn, he directly threw in ten billion chips.


    Everyone¡¯s faces changed, damn, that¡¯s aggressive. Do you really think you can always draw such good cards?


    The dealer looked at his cards; ten billion was a significant amount. After looking at the cards, he tossed in twenty billion chips.


    The middle-aged woman smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ll follow with ten billion.¡±


    The middle-aged fat man checked his cards and also followed with ten billion. The young man was much more cautious this time; he no longer had the carefree demeanor he had before, losing nearly a hundred billion in the last round had caused him inner turmoil.


    After checking his cards, the young man didn¡¯t hesitate to exchange chips again and followed with twenty billion.


    Lan Xin checked her cards and chose to fold, Qin Hao looked at the dealer, the middle-aged woman, the middle-aged fat man, and the young man, then smiled and said, ¡°So many people following? Then I¡¯ll raise the stakes, twenty billion.¡±


    The dealer followed with forty billion. The middle-aged woman checked her cards and also followed with forty billion. The middle-aged fat man, the young man, all followed with forty billion again.


    These people were all wealthy; Qin Hao sneered inwardly, do they all think their cards are good? This round I¡¯ll win everything from you.


    ¡°Fifty billion,¡± Qin Hao concealed fifty billion.


    ¡°A hundred billion,¡± the others didn¡¯t hesitate, holding large hands themselves and feeling confident in winning.


    ¡°A hundred billion,¡± Qin Hao concealed another fifty billion.


    Now the people at the table calmed down; with open bets, it would be two hundred billion, which was a considerable amount for those present.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got enough on the table, how about revealing cards for two hundred billion each?¡± the dealer suggested.


    ¡°Alright, two hundred billion it is,¡± the middle-aged woman hesitated briefly but agreed.


    The others nodded, not knowing how much they would lose if they kept betting; two hundred billion was their limit.


    The dealer revealed his cards first, a straight flush, the middle-aged woman smiled and said, ¡°I have a straight flush too, but larger than yours.¡±


    The dealer¡¯s and the middle-aged fat man¡¯s faces changed slightly, seeing the middle-aged woman¡¯s cards, they lost hope for this round, losing several hundred billion star coins.


    The young man smiled and said, ¡°I have three sixes.¡±


    Then he looked at Qin Hao, ¡°Reveal your cards, I don¡¯t believe your cards can beat mine.¡±


    ¡°Young man, anything is possible, don¡¯t speak too certainly. Why not help me reveal my cards? So you won¡¯t accuse me of cheating if I beat you, I¡¯ve never touched my cards,¡± Qin Hao smiled blandly.


    The young man got up and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see where your confidence comes from.¡±


    He walked over and uncovered three cards directly.


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s cards, his eyes widened as if seeing something shocking, ¡°This... this is impossible? Three sevens? You must be cheating.¡±


    The dealer and the middle-aged woman also looked at him in unison.


    Qin Hao sat there calmly and said, ¡°You can eat crap, but don¡¯t slander. I¡¯ve never touched the cards, there¡¯s surveillance here, we can check it; I¡¯m just incredibly lucky at gambling.¡±


    ¡°Check the surveillance, you must be cheating, your cards can¡¯t be this good,¡± the young man insisted.


    Soon the virtual imaging system displayed the surveillance video of their gambling. Watching it more than ten times, they found nothing suspicious.


    Qin Hao¡¯s face grew cold, ¡°Do you still have doubts?¡±


    Lan Xin said, ¡°If you can¡¯t afford to lose, don¡¯t play. Losing money and then accusing others of cheating is really absurd.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, sir, I apologize on behalf of the casino,¡± the dealer continued to apologize, as people who come here are no ordinary folk.


    Qin Hao looked at them and asked, ¡°Still playing? If not, I¡¯ll go to other tables.¡±


    Play?


    Play your damn game, who would play with you being so monstrous?


    The dealer said apologetically, ¡°Sorry sir, we¡¯re almost out of funds, you¡¯d better play at other tables.¡±


    The others had almost lost all their money, shaking their heads.


    Qin Hao got up and took his chips to another table.


    The dealer glanced at the croupier, and the croupier understood, got up to report the situation to the person in charge.


    The few people exchanged looks, then followed, standing not far behind Qin Hao, watching him to see how he was cheating.


    About half an hour later, the gamblers at the table successively lost, and the chips in front of Qin Hao had surpassed two thousand billion.


    Lan Xin¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement, so much money, such an incredible speed to earn.


    Qin Hao arrived at the last table, which had the biggest stakes in the gambling hall, players here had chips worth hundreds of billions.

 Chapter 845: 845: Astonishing Gamble

    Chapter 845: Chapter 845: Astonishing Gamble


    At this moment, dozens of people had already gathered behind Qin Hao. These were all the people who had lost money to him.


    The middle-aged beautiful woman, the middle-aged fat man, and the young man who were initially following him were completely shocked. Now they were somewhat questioning their lives. Could there really be such heaven-defying luck in the universe?


    There weren¡¯t many people at this gambling table: one croupier, a young woman, an old man with white hair, and a middle-aged man.


    Seeing Qin Hao sitting there with dozens of people behind him, the people at the gambling table were taken aback.


    What¡¯s going on? Why bring so many people to gamble? Afraid someone might rob him if he wins money?


    Now Qin Hao had over one trillion in chips, which he had let Lan Xin exchange. The two of them each had nearly a trillion star coins.


    Unbeknownst to them, the casino management was already in disarray. In just the past half hour, the casino had lost nearly a trillion, which was a terrifying event for the casino.


    The person in charge had already reported the situation. The main issue was that they couldn¡¯t find any evidence of Qin Hao cheating. If this continued, the situation would become unmanageable.


    Just as Qin Hao sat down, a young man walked in from outside.


    The people at the gambling table saw him and smiled, ¡°Mr. Guo, what brings you here?¡±


    Guo Yanghua glanced at everyone, his eyes resting on Qin Hao. ¡°I heard there¡¯s a gambling master in the casino who won several trillion. I came to take a look.¡±


    The people at the table turned to look at Qin Hao, then glanced outside.


    At this moment, there wasn¡¯t a single person at the other gambling tables outside. Could it be that the people behind this man were all losers?


    Hearing their conversation, Qin Hao squinted his eyes. The Guo Family? The Divine Wind Group¡¯s Guo Family?


    Luna and Jiao Rou saw Guo Yanghua, and a flash of hatred crossed their eyes. It was his family that enslaved the entire Elf Clan, treating them as playthings to auction off for profit.


    Guo Yanghua also saw Luna and Jiao Rou and sensed their hostility. He smiled, ¡°These two must be Elf princesses. Quite beautiful, indeed.¡±


    The surrounding people turned their eyes to Luna and Jiao Rou, carefully examining them. Many of them came here specifically to bid on Elf princesses and queens.


    Someone curiously asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t the auction not yet started? How does he have an Elf princess?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Guo Yanghua explained, ¡°The Elf Clan has seven princesses in total. We sold two of them to other business associations. This gentleman must have bought them from them.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°I¡¯m here to gamble, not to listen to your nonsense. Are we gambling or not? If not, I¡¯ll leave.¡±


    Hearing this, Guo Yanghua¡¯s face darkened. This man had some nerve. He was from the Guo family, and this man was showing no respect at all.


    The young woman at the gambling table curiously observed Qin Hao. She was surprised by his tone. The Guo Family was one of the top families in the Nolan Empire. Even if one didn¡¯t respect Guo Yanghua, one should at least respect the Guo Family, right?


    ¡°Of course, we can gamble. Croupier, start dealing.¡± After saying this, he walked to the croupier¡¯s side. He wanted to see how Qin Hao won.


    Qin Hao tossed in one million chips. The croupier started dealing, and the first to receive cards was Qin Hao.


    After dealing five cards, everyone looked at Qin Hao. Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Dark cards, fifty billion.¡±


    The croupier matched the fifty billion. The young woman, Gu Yuwei, also matched the fifty billion. The old man and middle-aged man matched as well. Fifty billion was nothing to them.


    ¡°One hundred billion.¡±


    Qin Hao pushed in another hundred billion chips.


    The croupier glanced at Guo Yanghua and followed with a hundred billion. The others hesitated briefly, then also matched a hundred billion.


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Seems like these people are quite wealthy. Two hundred billion.¡±


    The croupier matched the two hundred billion. Gu Yuwei checked her cards and then followed with four hundred billion.


    The old man checked his cards and followed with five hundred billion. The middle-aged man folded and left.


    ¡°Five hundred billion.¡± Qin Hao tossed in five hundred billion chips without hesitation.


    The croupier checked his cards and folded after seeing them.


    Gu Yuwei looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°One trillion.¡±


    The old man hesitated for a moment, then left. He couldn¡¯t figure out either Gu Yuwei or Qin Hao.


    Just as Qin Hao was about to throw in another five hundred billion, Gu Yuwei said, ¡°Since no one else is in, I¡¯ll call your one trillion. I have a straight, eight, nine, ten.¡±


    ¡°Will you open my cards, or should I?¡± Qin Hao asked calmly.


    ¡°You can open them yourself,¡± Gu Yuwei casually replied.


    Qin Hao revealed the first card, facing Gu Yuwei. She saw a heart Ace.


    The second card was the seven of hearts, and the third was the nine of hearts.


    ¡°You win.¡± Gu Yuwei¡¯s expression remained unchanged.


    The people around held their breath. He won again?


    ¡°Damn it, this guy¡¯s dark cards are always huge. What the hell is going on?¡±


    ¡°He won again. This round he won nearly over two trillion.¡±


    ...


    The second round started. The croupier checked his cards and bet ten billion. Gu Yuwei also checked her cards. Qin Hao¡¯s style was wild; saying he wasn¡¯t worried about the over a trillion was a lie.


    After checking her cards, Gu Yuwei folded. The old man checked his cards and bet ten billion. The middle-aged man also bet ten billion.


    ¡°Five hundred billion, if you don¡¯t match, you can fold.¡± Qin Hao directly bet five hundred billion in dark cards.


    The croupier looked at Guo Yanghua, who nodded slightly. He didn¡¯t believe Qin Hao could be this good every time.


    The old man bet one trillion, and the middle-aged man also bet one trillion.


    The people around were astonished. Damn, this round was even more thrilling than the last.


    ¡°Dark cards, one trillion.¡±


    ...


    The scene instantly fell silent. One trillion in dark cards, this was insane.


    Guo Yanghua said, ¡°I match with two trillion.¡±


    The old man hesitated but matched with two trillion. The middle-aged man followed with two trillion. It seemed their cards were good; it was just a matter of who had the highest.


    ¡°One trillion.¡± Qin Hao didn¡¯t add more; he didn¡¯t have many chips left.


    ¡°Two trillion, let¡¯s reveal the cards.¡± Guo Yanghua said.


    The old man and middle-aged man both bet two trillion star coins. If they continued like this, they wouldn¡¯t be able to hold on, but they were reluctant to fold. Revealing the cards was the best option now.


    People held their breath, looking at the chips on the gambling table. The total now had exceeded ten trillion. Such a big bet had never been seen before.


    If Qin Hao won this round, it would be legendary. Over ten trillion¡ªthe money many families couldn¡¯t earn in a lifetime.


    The croupier revealed his cards, a straight flush, an incredibly strong hand. The old man and middle-aged man both had three of a kind.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes were now on Qin Hao¡¯s cards at the table. Apart from Gu Yuwei, almost everyone else had their money on the table.

 Chapter 846: 846 Guo Pengfei

    Chapter 846: Chapter 846 Guo Pengfei


    Qin Hao said to the croupier: ¡°Beautiful lady, please help me reveal the cards.¡±


    The croupier was stunned for a moment, glanced at Guo Yanghua, but before Guo Yanghua could speak, Gu Yuwei stood up and said: ¡°I will reveal the cards for you, sir. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, please go ahead.¡± Qin Hao smiled faintly.


    Gu Yuwei walked over and stood next to Qin Hao. With so many people watching, she slowly revealed the first card.


    It was a diamond Ace. She then revealed the second card, which was a heart Ace. Guo Yanghua¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly when he saw this: two Aces.


    Everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound. The entire gambling hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.


    Gu Yuwei slowly revealed the third card, a spade Ace, stunning everyone present.


    A triple Aces, it was an incredible hand.


    Guo Yanghua was dumbfounded, and so was Gu Yuwei. She turned her head and looked at Qin Hao with a shocked expression. How did he do it?


    If someone said Qin Hao was lucky, she would absolutely not believe it. Once can be explained by luck, but twice, three times? There¡¯s definitely something fishy here.


    He never touched his own cards from beginning to end. How did he do it?


    Qin Hao looked at his cards and said with a smile: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect my luck to be this good, triple Aces! I should thank this beautiful lady for having such good fortune.¡±


    Guo Yanghua looked at Qin Hao and said: ¡°You must be cheating! How dare you cheat in the Guo Family¡¯s casino? Are you tired of living?¡±


    This time, losing several trillion star coins was going to be hard to explain to his family. The total head of the casino might have to be replaced if he couldn¡¯t give a satisfactory explanation.


    Divine Wind Casino had always been a highly profitable business for the Guo Family. Guo Yanghua had benefited immensely from it. Now, with a nearly trillion-star-coin deficit, the family¡¯s accountability was inevitable, and he had to resolve this issue.


    He didn¡¯t know Qin Hao, thinking he probably wasn¡¯t anyone significant in the Nolan Empire.


    He planned to use his strength to solve this issue.


    Upon hearing Guo Yanghua¡¯s words, everyone turned to look at Qin Hao. Guo Yanghua was visibly anxious and wanted Qin Hao to return all the money.


    The others¡¯ eyes lit up. If Qin Hao returned the casino¡¯s money, could they get theirs back too?


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression did not change at all upon hearing Guo Yanghua¡¯s words. He turned to look at Lan Xin.


    Lan Xin sneered and said: ¡°What¡¯s this? The Guo Family is one of the top families in the Nolan Empire, and they can¡¯t even afford to lose this much money? If you can¡¯t afford to lose, why run a casino? What a disgrace.¡±


    ¡°How dare you? You bitch, how dare you insult the Guo Family? Seize them for cheating in Divine Wind Casino. They¡¯re courting death.¡± Guo Yanghua snorted coldly.


    A lot of security personnel flooded in from outside the gambling hall, surrounding Qin Hao, Lan Xin, and the others.


    Lan Xin¡¯s face turned icy and fierce: ¡°Break them all!¡±


    Her bodyguards instantly donned their mechas, and with energy swords in hand, they charged out. In a matter of seconds, the hall was filled with screams. Within just a few dozen seconds, all the people Guo Yanghua had called in were incapacitated, with their legs severed.


    Lan Xin¡¯s bodyguard even severed Guo Yanghua¡¯s legs, shocking everyone present.


    This group of people actually dared to incapacitate the disciples of the Guo Family in their own casino? How audacious. The Guo Family was a top family in the Nolan Empire.


    Who were these people exactly? Didn¡¯t they fear the Guo Family¡¯s wrath?


    ¡°Is that a high-tech mecha?¡± someone said in shock.


    ¡°Is this the legendary high-tech mecha?¡±


    Gu Yuwei, an old man, and a middle-aged man looked at Lan Xin and Qin Hao, astonished that their servants were equipped with high-tech mechas. This must mean they had a significant background, potentially rivaling the Guo Family.


    After using a life potion, Guo Yanghua looked at Lan Xin in shock and asked: ¡°Who exactly are you people?¡±


    ¡°You are not qualified to know. Today, you must give us an explanation for this matter. Call the person in charge of your family.¡± Lan Xin¡¯s small mouth exuded a chilling aura.


    Guo Yanghua hesitated.


    ¡°Smack, smack.¡±


    Lan Xin¡¯s bodyguard slapped him twice directly: ¡°Don¡¯t dawdle, hurry up.¡±


    Guo Yanghua was furious but didn¡¯t dare show it. The servants had high-tech mechas, so these people definitely had significant backing. The Guo Family also had high-tech mechas, but Guo Yanghua hadn¡¯t been allocated one, only a low-tech one.


    He opened his communicator and called: ¡°Fei, come to the casino, there¡¯s a problem.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Guo Pengfei frowned slightly.


    Guo Yanghua hesitated and said: ¡°Someone cheated in the casino and won over ten trillion. I tried to detain them, but they have significant backing and high-tech mechas. Both my legs and the security personnel¡¯s were severed.¡±


    Guo Pengfei¡¯s expression changed slightly: ¡°How dare someone cause trouble on the Guo Family¡¯s turf? I want to see who has such audacity. I¡¯ll be there immediately.¡±


    ...


    About three minutes later, Guo Pengfei walked in with his people, his face expressionless. The first person he saw was Guo Yanghua: ¡°Who is causing trouble here?¡±


    ¡°Fei, it¡¯s them. They are too arrogant, completely disregarding our Guo Family.¡± Guo Yanghua pointed to Lan Xin and Qin Hao.


    Guo Pengfei turned and saw Qin Hao, then looked at Lan Xin. Upon seeing Lan Xin, his face froze: ¡°Lan... Princess Lan Xin?¡±


    Lan Xin snorted coldly: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Guo to still remember me.¡±


    Guo Pengfei turned and slapped Guo Yanghua: ¡°You idiot, this is Princess Lan Xin. Open your dog eyes and take a good look.¡±


    Guo Yanghua covered his cheek, completely stunned. Princess Lan Xin?


    Which Princess Lan Xin? Suddenly, his eyes widened, his pupils shrank rapidly. Could it be that Princess Lan Xin?


    Gu Yuwei, the old man, the middle-aged man, and the surrounding people were all shaken by Guo Pengfei¡¯s words. Lanxi? Could she be the emperor¡¯s most favored young daughter???


    Guo Pengfei smiled warmly at Lanxi: ¡°Princess Lan Xin, why are you here? You should have informed me when you came to Divine Wind City; I would have extended all courtesies.¡±


    Lan Xin: ¡°I came with a friend. Don¡¯t change the subject. Can I exchange these chips?¡±


    ¡°Of course, exchange Princess Lan Xin¡¯s chips immediately.¡± Guo Pengfei ordered.


    Soon the chips were exchanged for money, and a gold card was delivered to Lan Xin.


    Lan Xin gave half to Qin Hao and smiled: ¡°There¡¯s nothing fun here. Let¡¯s go get some supper.¡±


    Guo Pengfei glanced at Qin Hao with a hint of doubt in his eyes. Who was this person who was walking with Princess Lan Xin?


    He knew all the core members of the top families in the Nolan Empire and had never seen Qin Hao before.


    This person¡¯s background must not be something significant.


    Guo Pengfei quickly followed suit: ¡°Princess Lan Xin, I know a great place for supper. Let me take you there.¡±

 Chapter 847: 847 Identity

    Chapter 847: Chapter 847 Identity


    Lan Xin looked at Guo Pengfei and said, ¡°No need, Mr. Guo, I can go with my friends.¡±


    Guo Pengfei replied with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble, let¡¯s all go together. Since Princess Lan Xin is here, how can I not show some hospitality?¡±


    This guy had always been following along, Qin Hao could tell that he seemed to have a thing for Lan Xin.


    Guo Pengfei was a direct disciple of the Guo Family, while Guo Yanghua was just a capable disciple from a side branch. Their status and positions couldn¡¯t compare at all.


    That was why Lan Xin dared to cripple him earlier. If it had been someone like Tang Pengfei, a direct disciple, she wouldn¡¯t have acted rashly.


    The elite families of the Nolan Empire were not pushovers, and Lan Xin didn¡¯t want to escalate conflicts between the Guo Family and their royal house.


    They arrived at a nearby late-night diner.


    Guo Pengfei called over a waiter and said to Lan Xin, ¡°Princess Lan Xin, order anything you like. Tonight, it¡¯s on me.¡±


    As he said this, he glanced at Qin Hao with a flash of sharpness in his eyes, ¡°May I know this gentleman¡¯s name? Which family are you from?¡±


    Qin Hao replied indifferently, ¡°Qin Ritian, from a small family of the Tanglong Empire in the Tanglong Star System.¡±


    Tanglong Empire? Qin Ritian?


    Could he be from the Qin Family, one of the top families in the Tanglong Empire? Anyone who could be with Princess Lan Xin shouldn¡¯t be an ordinary person.


    Guo Pengfei noticed that Qin Hao didn¡¯t clearly indicate his family, so he didn¡¯t press further, as it was already suggestive enough.


    Lan Xin had never asked about Qin Hao¡¯s identity. This was the first time she heard that he was from the Tanglong Empire.


    The Qin Family was also one of the top families in the Tanglong Empire, quite comparable to the Guo Family.


    While they were talking, two more people walked in. Guo Pengfei glanced over and was startled, ¡°Gu Haoming is here too.¡±


    Gu Haoming walked over with his sister Gu Yuwei and replied with a smile, ¡°Mr. Guo is here too? And isn¡¯t this Princess Lan Xin? What a coincidence.¡±


    Looking at the familiar face of Gu Yuwei, Guo Pengfei remembered seeing her at the casino earlier. However, his attention was mostly on Lan Xin, ¡°Mr. Gu, who is this?¡±


    Gu Haoming introduced, ¡°This is my sister, Gu Yuwei.¡±


    Guo Pengfei connected the dots. Damn, it was probably Gu Yuwei who told him. He recognized her as the young beauty from the gambling table earlier. She glanced at Princess Lan Xin and then at Qin Hao.


    ¡°What a coincidence today, let¡¯s all sit and eat together. It¡¯s on me.¡± Gu Haoming said as he and his sister took their seats.


    Guo Pengfei cursed inwardly, Hell, do you think I lack money? You¡¯re clearly here for Princess Lan Xin.


    Princess Lan Xin was the most cherished princess of the Nolan Empire¡¯s emperor. Many elite families wanted her to marry into their families.


    Moreover, Princess Lan Xin was beautiful and charming, attracting people like Guo Pengfei and Gu Haoming.


    Before long, the late-night snacks were served. Gu Haoming curiously asked, looking at Qin Hao beside Lan Xin, ¡°Who is this gentleman?¡±


    ¡°My friend, why?¡± Lan Xin said, looking at him.


    Gu Haoming smiled and said, ¡°Just thought he looked a bit unfamiliar.¡±


    ¡°This is Mr. Qin Ritian from the Tanglong Empire,¡± Guo Pengfei said from the side.


    Gu Haoming nodded, ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with the Qin Family of the Tanglong Empire, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao replied vaguely, ¡°Somewhat related.¡±


    Gu Minghao smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve met Qin Tian, a brother from the Qin Family, several times. How are you related to him?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know him,¡± Qin Hao said candidly.


    This left Guo Pengfei and Gu Minghao momentarily stunned. Qin Hao didn¡¯t know Qin Family¡¯s heir Qin Tian? What was his relationship with the Qin Family then?


    Qin Hao wasn¡¯t lying to them; the relation he mentioned was just their common surname, Qin.


    After the meal, Guo Pengfei spoke again, ¡°Princess Lan Xin, my father was delighted to hear of your arrival and wishes to invite you to our home.¡±


    Lan Xin replied flatly, ¡°It¡¯s quite late today, I¡¯ll visit another day.¡±


    ¡°No worries, Princess Lanxi can visit at any time,¡± Guo Pengfei said with a smile.


    Gu Minghao sneered inwardly, damn, this guy is shameless. Princess Lan Xin clearly declined, yet he¡¯s still inviting her.


    Lan Xin replied, ¡°Another day then. I will surely visit Mr. Guo¡¯s old family head personally, but not today. We¡¯re leaving now.¡±


    With that, she stood up and walked out, with Qin Hao walking alongside her.


    Guo Pengfei glanced at Gu Minghao, ¡°You know Qin Tian of the Tanglong Empire? Find out who this Qin Ritian really is.¡±


    Gu Minghao nodded slightly, ¡°Alright.¡±


    He took out his communicator and called Qin Tian, whom he had met once, and exchanged contact information with.


    The communicator quickly connected, and a handsome man appeared before them, smiling faintly, ¡°Mr. Gu, what can I do for you?¡±


    Gu Minghao nodded slightly, ¡°Where are you now, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Tian replied, ¡°I¡¯m on a spaceship. I should be arriving in Divine Wind City soon.¡±


    ¡°Are you also here for the Elf Clan princess and queen?¡± Gu Minghao asked, surprised.


    Qin Tian replied, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m here to take a look. If I¡¯m lucky, I might win one or two.¡±


    Gu Minghao laughed, ¡°With your skills, it should be easy to win one or two. Remember to contact me when you arrive in Divine Wind City. I¡¯ll treat you to a drink.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t be polite with you then.¡±


    Gu Minghao said, ¡°I have something to ask you.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead and ask.¡±


    Gu Minghao said, ¡°I met someone in Divine Wind City named Qin Ritian. He claims to be related to the Qin Family but doesn¡¯t know you. Do you have such a person in your family?¡±


    ¡°Qin Ritian?¡± Qin Tian¡¯s expression turned a bit strange upon hearing the name.


    ¡°Yes, his name is Qin Ritian.¡±


    Qin Tian replied, ¡°There is no such name among our core disciples. As for the side branch disciples, I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    Gu Minghao nodded, ¡°Alright, thank you. Let me know when you arrive in Divine Wind City.¡±


    ...


    After the call, Gu Minghao and Guo Pengfei exchanged looks. It seemed Qin Hao wasn¡¯t a core member of the Qin Family, probably just one of the many side branch members.


    If that was the case, he wasn¡¯t much of a threat. However, they shouldn¡¯t make things too ugly, as he was still related to the Qin Family, and they had to show some respect.


    On their way back, Lan Xin said to Qin Hao, ¡°Ritian, can you do me a favor? Accompany me to visit the Guo Family in a few days?¡±

 Chapter 848: 848 The Former Family Head of the Guo Family

    Chapter 848: Chapter 848 The Former Family Head of the Guo Family


    Qin Hao turned his head to look at her and replied, ¡°No.¡±


    Princess Lan Xin laughed and said, ¡°Brother Ritian, we are friends, aren¡¯t we? I¡¯m in trouble now, can¡¯t you help me?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Is this helping? You¡¯re pushing me into the fire pit. You know the strength of the Guo Family well. If I go with you, the Guo Family will definitely hold a grudge against me.¡±


    Lan Xin hurriedly promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely ensure your safety.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Qin Hao still shook his head.


    Lan Xin snorted, ¡°If you help me this time, I will promise you one thing in return, okay? That seems fair, right?¡±


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, ¡°Anything?¡±


    ¡°But within my capabilities,¡± Lan Xin seriously said to him.


    Qin Hao thought for a while and said, ¡°I came here to auction off the Elf Clan¡¯s princess and queen. I want to buy all of them. If my money isn¡¯t enough, you have to help. If someone wants to attack me, you also have to help stand up for me.¡±


    After all, Divine Wind City is now filled with top family disciples, and they all have high-level mecha for protection. Qin Hao currently has no advantage at all.


    If he wins the auction, and a family disciple wants to kill him, his only option is to run away.


    With Lan Xin¡¯s help, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about not being able to leave Divine Wind City.


    But agreeing to Lan Xin¡¯s request also puts him in great danger, as even Lan Xin¡¯s suitors alone are enough to trouble him. Moreover, among these suitors, there are some top family disciples.


    This matter has both pros and cons.


    Lan Xin nodded slightly upon hearing his words, ¡°Alright, I promise you, but you also have to promise to cooperate with me.¡±


    After the two confirmed their cooperation, they immediately synced up.


    Back at the hotel, Lan Xin didn¡¯t return to her room but went directly to Qin Hao¡¯s room. She said to Qin Hao, ¡°If we¡¯re going to put on a show, it should be convincing. I¡¯ll stay here tonight; there are several rooms anyway.¡±


    Qin Hao had no objections. He took Luna and Jiao Rou back to his room.


    As for whether anyone was watching them, Qin Hao could guess with his toes that someone was definitely tracking Lan Xin. Now that Lan Xin was staying in his room for the night, it certainly sent a signal.


    ...


    They stayed in the hotel for about five days. Guo Pengfei, Peng Minghao, and others almost all got the news: Princess Lan Xin and Qin Hao were actually sleeping in a suite together. This news was really shocking to them.


    Why would Princess Lan Xin sleep in a suite with this person? What is their relationship?


    With ten days left before the auction starts, Lan Xin and Qin Hao¡¯s party left the hotel and headed toward the Guo Family¡¯s residence in Divine Wind City.


    After staying in the hotel for a few days, Lan Xin thought that the outside world should be well informed by now. It was the right time to visit the Guo Family.


    In about ten minutes, they reached the depths of Divine Wind City, arriving at the Guo Family¡¯s residence.


    The Guo Family residence spans tens of miles, with palaces and pavilions everywhere, even floating buildings in the air, resembling an Immortal Realm.


    The main gate of the Guo Family residence is a traditional-style red lacquer gate, ancient and grand, giving off a sense of majesty.


    Servants stood at the entrance. Lan Xin said, ¡°Report inside that Princess Lan Xin is here to visit.¡±


    The servant¡¯s face froze upon hearing this. The news of Princess Lan Xin¡¯s arrival in Divine Wind City had already spread. In the past few days, a large number of people had flocked to the city for the Elf Clan auction.


    These people included countless wealthy individuals. Upon learning that Princess Lan Xin of the Nolan Empire was here, they all wanted to see this legendary young princess.


    The servant at the Guo Family residence¡¯s gate reported back through the communicator, then respectfully led Lan Xin and Qin Hao¡¯s party inside.


    Along the way, Guo Pengfei and his father Guo Yuanwu hurriedly came out. Seeing Lan Xin, they promptly and respectfully said, ¡°Princess Lan Xin.¡±


    Lan Xin gave a slight nod, exuding an air of nobility and elegance. She usually presented this demeanor in front of outsiders but showed her true lively and carefree nature only when alone with Qin Hao.


    Guo Pengfei felt awkward seeing Lan Xin holding Qin Hao¡¯s arm. Thinking about his goddess being intimately involved with Qin Hao in the room for several days made him feel extremely disgusted.


    However, he dared not show it. Guo Yuanwu glanced at Qin Hao and said with a broad smile, ¡°You must be Mr. Qin Ritian. I¡¯ve heard your gambling skills are exceptional. We should witness it someday.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled mildly, ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ve researched these aspects before.¡±


    Lan Xin continued, ¡°We¡¯ve been in Divine Wind City these days, feeling a bit unwell, so we rested for a few days. We came over with Xiaotian to visit Mr. Guo, the Family Head.¡±


    ¡°Xiaotian? What is your relationship with the princess?¡± Guo Yuanwu couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Lan Xin smiled slightly, ¡°Xiaotian is my boyfriend. We met on Anning Star. In a few days, I¡¯ll return to Nolan Star to inform my father.¡±


    Guo Yuanwu¡¯s expression remained unchanged; he slightly nodded. There wasn¡¯t much he could say about this matter, ¡°Please come in, Princess Lan Xin and Mr. Qin.¡±


    Under their guidance, Qin Hao and Lan Xin arrived at the Guo Family¡¯s guest palace. Inside the guest hall sat an elder with silver hair, who was Guoanye, the old Family Head of the Guo Family.


    Guoanye did not rise upon seeing Lan Xin. He sat there with an aged appearance, ¡°Lan Xin, come and sit.¡±


    Lan Xin respectfully addressed him, ¡°Mr. Guo,¡± then sat down with Qin Hao on the nearby chairs. Guo Yuanwu and Guo Pengfei also sat down.


    Guoanye had lived for hundreds of years, originally fighting for Jiangshan alongside her grandfather. Even when seeing Lan Xin¡¯s father, he need not kneel or salute.


    ¡°Mr. Guo, how is your health?¡± Lan Xin asked.


    Guoanye laughed and said, ¡°I¡¯m just an old man now, having lived for over 600 years, it¡¯s enough for me. Who is this young man? Is he a prince?¡±


    Lan Xin introduced, ¡°Mr. Guo, this is my boyfriend, called Qin Ritian.¡±


    Qin Ritian looked at Guoanye and said, ¡°Hello, Mr. Guo, the Family Head.¡±


    He greeted plainly. As for calling Guoanye ¡°grandfather,¡± he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it. Even addressing him as Mr. Guo was already quite respectful.


    This greeting was not disrespectful.


    However, Guo Yuanwu and Guo Pengfei felt displeased because Qin Hao showed no sign of reverence on his face. How dare he look down on our family¡¯s pillar even before becoming Nolan Empire¡¯s royal consort?


    Even if you became Nolan Empire¡¯s royal consort, you wouldn¡¯t have the right to look down on our family¡¯s pillar.


    Guoanye scrutinized Qin Hao with his cloudy eyes, ¡°Mr. Qin must be a remarkable young man. The future will surely hold great prospects for him. Princess Lan Xin is lucky to have found such a good husband.¡±

 Chapter 849: 849: Banquet

    Chapter 849: Chapter 849: Banquet


    Guoanye has lived for centuries and has seen all kinds of people, his insights can be described as exceedingly sharp.


    However, in the eyes of Lan Xin, Guo Pengfei, and Guo Yuanwu, they felt that Guoanye was just praising Qin Hao to give face to Princess Lan Xin.


    Lan Xin shyly smiled and said, ¡°Grandpa Guo, you overpraise him, he¡¯s not that outstanding.¡±


    Guoanye chuckled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve lived for hundreds of years and have rarely been wrong in judging people. If my Guo Family had disciples like this, I could die with a smile.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lan Xin quickly said, ¡°Grandpa Guo, don¡¯t say that. The Guo Family has many outstanding disciples. Mr. Guo Pengfei, for instance, is very capable and resourceful.¡±


    ¡°He still has a long way to go,¡± Guoanye said flatly.


    Guo Pengfei felt a burning jealousy in his heart now; this Qin Ritian was likely an outsider. Even if it was for Princess Lan Xin¡¯s sake, was it necessary to flatter him so much?


    Calling him a dragon among men, he¡¯s just a gigolo clinging to a woman.


    Lan Xin did not stay long at the Guo Family, spending only about half an hour before the two of them left. Guoanye wanted her to stay for a meal, but Lan Xin politely declined.


    After Guo Yuanwu and Guo Pengfei saw them off and returned.


    Guoanye said to the two of them, ¡°Have you investigated this Qin Ritian¡¯s identity?¡±


    Guo Yuanwu and Guo Pengfei were stunned and Guo Pengfei quickly said, ¡°Grandpa, I have looked into it, but it¡¯s still unclear. His identity registration is in Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s Nanming Star, almost on the edge of the star system, very close to the endless asteroid field.¡±


    ¡°Is his identity registration on Nanming Star within Lei Meng Duchy? How long has it been registered?¡± Guoanye asked.


    Guo Pengfei replied, ¡°About a few months ago. As for his earlier information, I couldn¡¯t find anything. I¡¯ve already contacted Qin Tian from the Qin Family to help investigate if there is an outsider disciple named Qin Ritian.¡±


    ¡°As long as he¡¯s not from our Nolan Empire,¡± Guoanye said indifferently.


    Guo Yuanwu curiously asked, ¡°Dad, why do you say that?¡±


    Guoanye replied, ¡°This person is extraordinary, and will never be a nobody in the future. If he were in our Nolan Empire, he would at least rise to be a top family, and could potentially overthrow Emperor the Lan Family.¡±


    ¡°Really? Is he that capable? Grandpa, you¡¯ve only seen him once,¡± Guo Pengfei said, somewhat incredulously.


    Guoanye coldly snorted, ¡°What do you know about judging people? Otherwise, would the Guo Family be where it is today?¡±


    He was not wrong, as he had initially chosen to follow Princess Lan Xin¡¯s grandfather, which led to the current status of the Guo Family.


    Guo Pengfei did not dare to argue, ¡°But now he¡¯s become Princess Lan Xin¡¯s man, and he still won¡¯t be from the Nolan Empire?¡±


    Guoanye looked at him with disappointment, ¡°Princess Lan Xin and he are pretending, you can¡¯t see that? How can I trust the Guo Family to you in the future? Princess Lan Xin is doing this probably because she doesn¡¯t want to get married, or become a sacrifice of a political marriage.¡±


    Guo Yuanwu and Guo Pengfei were both stunned, pretending? They were pretending?


    ¡°Do you know what to do now?¡± Guoanye asked, looking at Guo Pengfei.


    Guo Pengfei replied, ¡°I know, Grandpa. I¡¯ll find a chance to get rid of this Qin Ritian, since he has no real relationship with Princess Lan Xin.¡±


    ...


    ¡°You fool, is that what I said? And don¡¯t offend Qin Ritian lightly. If you want to kill him, you must have absolute certainty, understand? Otherwise, there will be endless troubles,¡± Guoanye almost hit him in anger.


    Guo Pengfei cautiously nodded. Guoanye continued, ¡°Princess Lan Xin doesn¡¯t want to become a sacrifice of a political marriage, so you must show genuine affection for her. Let her know that your union is out of love, not political interests. If there¡¯s no hope, forget it, there are other princesses.¡±


    ...


    After Lan Xin and Qin Hao left the Guo Family mansion, Lan Xin let out a long breath, ¡°Your performance was lacking, you didn¡¯t cooperate at all. I called him Grandpa Guo, and you called him Elder Family Head Guo.¡±


    Qin Hao said calmly, ¡°I couldn¡¯t say it.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, where are we going now?¡± Lan Xin asked.


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know. If there¡¯s nothing important, I¡¯d like to go back and sleep.¡±


    Lan Xin looked at him speechlessly, ¡°Fine, go back and sleep.¡±


    On the way back, Lan Xin received a call from Gu Minghao, ¡°Hello, Princess Lan Xin, are you free this evening?¡±


    ¡°Do you need something, Mr. Gu?¡± Lan Xin asked curiously.


    Gu Minghao smiled, ¡°Tonight, Mr. Guo and I have invited many princes from different families. Princess Lan Xin, come join us. There will be several princes and nobles from different empires.¡±


    Hearing his words, Lan Xin nodded, ¡°Alright, what time and where?¡±


    ¡°At the Divine Wind Hotel, the banquet starts at seven tonight,¡± Gu Minghao replied.


    ¡°See you tonight, Mr. Gu,¡± Lan Xin said.


    After hanging up, Lan Xin said to Qin Hao, ¡°We¡¯re attending a banquet tonight. It will let more people know about you.¡±


    Qin Hao felt a headache, ¡°Do I have to go?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you are my boyfriend now, how can you not go?¡± Lan Xin refused.


    Back at the hotel, Qin Hao rested during the day. Around 6:50 PM, he and Lan Xin came out of the room.


    The banquet location was within the hotel, just an elevator ride away.


    They took the elevator to the banquet hall, which was already bustling with people, mostly young men and women from prominent families of the Nolan Empire and other empires.


    Such gatherings were rare, but this one happened because of the auction.


    As Lan Xin entered, Guo Pengfei, Gu Minghao, and several young nobles and ladies walked out. The attendees turned their heads to look.


    ¡°Princess Lan Xin is here.¡±


    ¡°Princess Lan Xin is even more beautiful than the rumors say. No wonder she is the most favored princess.¡±


    ¡°Who is the man next to Princess Lan Xin? Why is she holding his arm?¡±


    ¡°Could he be Princess Lan Xin¡¯s boyfriend? I thought she was single!¡±


    ¡°Who is this person?¡±


    Gu Minghao and the others were equally stunned; only Guo Pengfei knew the news.


    ¡°Princess Lan Xin, you and Mr. Qin...?¡±


    Lan Xin smiled and replied, ¡°Xiaotian is my boyfriend now.¡±


    Gu Minghao and the others quickly reacted, smiling broadly, ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Qin. Please come in.¡±


    An attractive and handsome young man beside them asked, ¡°Are you Mr. Qin Ritian? I heard you have some connection with my Qin Family. What is the relationship?¡±

 Chapter 850: 850: Fianc茅e?

    Chapter 850: Chapter 850: Fiance?e?


    The people nearby all looked at Qin Hao, wondering if he had some relation to the Qin Family. If that were the case, he should certainly know Qin Tian and should show respect to Qin Hao, who was a direct descendant.


    Qin Hao looked calmly and replied, ¡°The relation I¡¯m talking about is just a shared surname. Does Mr. Qin think I¡¯m wrong?¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. I thought someone was trying to use the name of the Qin Family to swindle others,¡± Qin Tian said as he glanced at Lan Xin.


    His meaning was clear: he implied that Qin Hao was using the name of the Qin Family to deceive Lan Xin.


    However, Lan Xin¡¯s expression did not change. Qin Hao¡¯s identity was indeed of no importance to him.


    Gu Minghao smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s discuss everything inside.¡±


    Entering the banquet hall, Lan Xin and Qin Hao sat at a round table, joined by Guo Pengfei, Gu Minghao, Gu Yuwei, and Qin Tian. Besides them, there were five other people.


    Gu Minghao began the introductions: ¡°This is Shi Wenqiang from the Shi Family. I believe Princess Lan Xin knows him.¡±


    The Shi Family was also one of the four top families in the Nolan Empire, alongside the Gu Family, the Guo Family, and the Lan Family.


    The heads of these four families were once comrades with Lan Xin¡¯s grandfather in establishing the Nolan Empire. They were the leading families, with the Lan Family at the forefront.


    The power and rewards these three families enjoyed today were all granted by the Lan Family, acknowledging their exploits in expanding the Nolan Empire.


    Gu Minghao continued, ¡°This is Prince Dan Taijun from the Moon Mist Empire, this is Princess Mo Yu from the Moon Mist Empire, this is Prince Duanmu Feng from the Sky Wolf Empire, and this is Strazi from the Bright Empire.¡±


    Lan Xin nodded slightly to each of them, feeling curious about why so many princes and princesses from the great empires had gathered here.


    This group probably had the most esteemed status in the banquet hall. At the other tables were other nobles, the sons of various prominent families, each equally esteemed.


    Duanmu Feng from the Sky Wolf Empire looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°May I know which family this gentleman is from, to have won Princess Lan Xin¡¯s favor?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly and replied, ¡°Just a minor family, hardly worth mentioning in your esteemed eyes.¡±


    ¡°Since you know you¡¯re insignificant, why still stay with Princess Lan Xin? You¡¯re courting death,¡± Duanmu Feng¡¯s tone turned sharp.


    Qin Hao narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°This is my own business. It¡¯s none of Prince Duanmu¡¯s concern, is it?¡±


    Duanmu Feng¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he said, ¡°Yesterday, my father concluded talks with the King of the Nolan Empire. Mr. Lan has promised Princess Lan Xin to me as my fiance?e. Now tell me if it concerns me or not?¡±


    His eyes flashed sharply as he looked at Qin Hao, his expression cold and severe.


    Everyone at the table was stunned by this statement. Had Mr. Lan already betrothed Lan Xin to Prince Duanmu Feng of the Sky Wolf Empire?


    Lan Xin also froze, a flash of darkness in his eyes, but he still smiled and said, ¡°Really? Why don¡¯t I know about this?¡±


    Duanmu Feng replied, ¡°I believe Princess Lan Xin will find out if you return to the Nolan Star.¡±


    Turning to Qin Hao, he said, ¡°Insulting my fiance?e is the same as insulting my parents. Only your death can quell my hatred.¡±


    Qin Hao hadn¡¯t expected things to escalate this far. The King of the Nolan Empire had already betrothed Lan Xin to him?


    What kind of joke was this?


    The expressions of the people at the table varied. They hadn¡¯t seen this coming. Guo Pengfei and Gu Minghao exchanged complex glances. The current King¡¯s thoughts were becoming increasingly unfathomable to them.


    Those from the Bright Empire and the Moon Mist Empire were also lost in thought. The marriage alliance between the Nolan Empire and the Sky Wolf Empire carried significant implications. Would it alter the current interstellar balance?


    Such things were beyond their comprehension. They needed only to relay the information back. They now wondered how Duanmu Feng would act. Would he publicly kill Qin Hao on the spot?


    People at surrounding tables sensed the tension and turned to look. Others followed their gaze.


    What was happening there?


    ...


    Qin Hao reacted quickly, sneering at Duanmu Feng, ¡°I knew Lan Xin first. You¡¯re merely relying on your status and background to interfere. You seized my beloved, yet you accuse me unjustly. Is the Duanmu Family always this shameless? Or is the entire Sky Wolf Clan this shameless?¡±


    His words were harsh, filled with no fear. So what if you¡¯re a prince of the Sky Wolf Empire? I¡¯m not easily bullied either.


    The others at the table were surprised by his boldness. This guy was truly daring, speaking to Prince Duanmu Feng of the Sky Wolf Empire like that.


    Duanmu Feng¡¯s face darkened as he stood, staring coldly at him, ¡°You¡¯re courting death.¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t back down, ¡°I¡¯ve heard the Sky Wolf Clan has great individual combat skills. I¡¯d like to test them. Do you dare to duel me?¡±


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll personally tear you apart,¡± Duanmu Feng sneered, his eyes filled with disdain.


    Lan Xin, Guo Pengfei, and Gu Minghao were stunned by Qin Hao¡¯s declaration.


    He wanted to duel the prince of the Sky Wolf Clan? Didn¡¯t he know that the Sky Wolf Clan¡¯s individual combat prowess was unmatched in the galaxy?


    Typically, a common member of the Sky Wolf Clan could easily defeat six or seven ordinary people.


    Even more so, Duanmu Ci, being of royal blood, had capabilities far beyond those of an ordinary Sky Wolf.


    People at nearby tables also heard their exchange.


    ¡°Princess Lan Xin has been betrothed to Prince Duanmu Feng of the Sky Wolf Empire? Why hasn¡¯t this big news spread yet?¡±


    ¡°Now Princess Lan Xin has a boyfriend, yet the King betrothed her to Duanmu Feng. What a mix-up. Duanmu Feng¡¯s fiance?e has been courted by another man?¡±


    ¡°Shh, lower your voice. The Sky Wolf Clan doesn¡¯t usually mind such matters. They are physically strong, especially in certain aspects. Women generally can¡¯t handle them. If Princess Lan Xin goes there, she¡¯ll likely suffer.¡±


    ¡°You can see from Princess Lan Xin¡¯s face. She¡¯s forcing a smile but must be suffering inside. She probably doesn¡¯t want to be with those barbarians.¡±


    ¡°This boyfriend of Princess Lan Xin has some backbone, daring to challenge Duanmu Feng. Courageous indeed, but the difference in strength is too great.¡±


    ¡°Yes, in a duel, there¡¯s no life or death. This person will likely be torn apart by Duanmu Feng of the Sky Wolf Empire.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen the Sky Wolf Clan fight before. They are truly fierce, ripping someone in half with sheer strength.¡±


    ¡°Not just strength; their speed far exceeds that of ordinary people, like a cheetah. This guy is certainly doomed.¡±

 Chapter 851: 851: The Contest

    Chapter 851: Chapter 851: The Contest


    Duanmu Feng looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Since we are going to duel, we naturally need to set the rules first. No external forces, no mechas, just rely on personal strength. How about it?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression was indifferent: ¡°Alright, whatever.¡±


    Lan Xin turned to look at him, and said, ¡°Xiaotian, let¡¯s forget it. When I return to Nolan Star, I¡¯ll talk to my father about our situation.¡±


    She was very clear about the strength of the Sky Wolf Clan in the Sky Wolf Empire. It¡¯s not something ordinary humans can contend with; they are an exceptionally powerful and twisted race.


    The potential of the Sky Wolf Clan in terms of physical attributes far exceeds that of ordinary humans. With the aid of attribute gene potions, their individual combat abilities have reached a terrifying level. It can be said that the average individual combat strength of the Sky Wolf Clan ranks first in the galaxy.


    Upon hearing Lan Xin¡¯s words, a hint of malice flashed in Duanmu Feng¡¯s eyes. This nuisance, at this moment, was still concerned about Qin Ritian.


    Just wait. Once I kill him and marry you, I¡¯ll show you what this prince is capable of. You¡¯ll be kneeling before me as the princess of the Nolan Empire, begging for mercy.


    Duanmu Feng smiled and said, ¡°If you¡¯re scared, kneel on the ground and call me ¡®Father¡¯ three times loudly. Serve me as my slave for the rest of your life, and I might just spare you.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face remained calm as he said, ¡°Cut the crap. We¡¯ll see who kneels and begs.¡±


    Duanmu Feng laughed heartily: ¡°Alright then, let everyone present be the witnesses. This hotel should have a duel arena, right?¡±


    Guo Pengfei spoke up, ¡°There is a large duel arena on the rooftop. Why don¡¯t the two of you resolve your grievances there?¡±


    ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go there.¡± With that, Duanmu Feng was the first to walk out of the banquet hall.


    Qin Hao, Lan Xin, and others followed suit, and everyone in the banquet hall headed to the rooftop.


    The rooftop was very large, comparable to several airports on Earth. In the center, there was a large duel arena, about five or six meters high and half the size of a football field. It wasn¡¯t used often.


    Duanmu Feng used his legs to powerfully push off the ground, jumping directly onto the more than five meters high fighting platform.


    He looked down at Qin Hao from above: ¡°Trash, come up and die.¡±


    Lan Xin held Qin Hao¡¯s hand. She didn¡¯t expect the banquet to reach this point tonight, nor did she expect her father to have already promised her to the prince of the Sky Wolf Empire.


    Now Qin Hao was going to fight Duanmu Feng one-on-one; she was a bit worried. The strength of the Sky Wolf Clan was well-known throughout the galaxy, and if Qin Hao went up there, he would be facing almost certain death.


    This matter originally had nothing to do with Qin Hao, and in her heart, she already considered Qin Hao a friend, her only friend. If Qin Hao died because of her, she would feel guilty and remorseful.


    Living in an imperial family all these years, she had to be cautious and wary, trusting no one but close relatives.


    In the past few months with Qin Hao, she felt at ease.


    Qin Hao said to her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Watch how I defeat this monster.¡±


    The situation had reached this point, and Lan Xin could not stop it. She nodded and said, ¡°Be careful. The Sky Wolf Clan excels in both strength and speed.¡±


    Qin Hao walked step by step towards the fighting platform, everyone¡¯s eyes focused on him.


    How could such a frail figure compete with the immensely strong Duanmu Feng? In terms of physique, Duanmu Feng completely outclassed Qin Hao, not to mention the explosive muscles that gave a powerful visual impact.


    Duanmu Feng¡¯s muscles were all gained through hard training, not by using shortcuts.


    In the eyes of everyone, Qin Hao had no chance of winning. Going up there was as good as signing his death warrant.


    Of course, if he didn¡¯t go up, he would be humiliated even more by Duanmu Feng and looked down upon by everyone.


    Qin Hao walked up to the fighting platform via the stairs. The two faced each other, eyeing each other intently.


    Guo Pengfei said, ¡°Both sides get ready. 3, 2, 1, begin.¡±


    As soon as Guo Pengfei¡¯s words fell, Duanmu Feng moved instantly. His figure was like lightning, rushing towards Qin Hao with such speed that it was hard to even see him clearly.


    The distance from his original position to in front of Qin Hao was over ten meters, but Duanmu Feng crossed it in less than a second.


    A powerful punch was aimed at Qin Hao¡¯s chest. If it hit, an ordinary person¡¯s organs would be shattered, leading to immediate death.


    Lan Xin and others had already floated up to the sky seats to get a better view of the fighting platform. By wearing special fighting glasses, they could see the situation more directly and clearly.


    When she saw Duanmu Feng¡¯s fist, Lan Xin¡¯s heart jumped. The smart glasses provided data analysis: Duanmu Feng¡¯s speed had reached about thirty meters per second, and his punch had a force of approximately 800 kilograms. Such terrifying numbers.


    Even among the human race, with full physical development, the force couldn¡¯t reach 800 kilograms.


    Guo Pengfei and others were shocked. The Sky Wolf Clan was truly terrifying. An 800-kilogram punch? Even combat robots would be knocked away.


    Qin Ritian is doomed. A punch like this would kill immediately.


    Qin Hao also moved, slightly shifting his body so that the punch grazed past him and missed.


    Duanmu Feng was momentarily stunned, but his reaction was quick. He threw another punch with even greater strength and force.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Qin Hao was faster, as if he knew the punch was coming. He grabbed Duanmu Feng¡¯s wrist, and with an over-the-shoulder throw, he flung the large figure onto the platform.


    Duanmu Feng quickly got up from the ground and immediately distanced himself from Qin Hao, looking at him with shocked eyes.


    His strength and speed were this formidable?


    Qin Hao¡¯s physical attributes had long reached 100, and with the cultivation of some ancient martial arts, his attributes had increased even further.


    In the fight with Duanmu Feng just now, he had only used physical strength, not his Inner Strength.


    Everyone in the sky seats was shocked, their eyes wide as they looked at Qin Hao on the platform.


    He actually threw Duanmu Feng of the Sky Wolf Clan onto the ground? How was that possible?


    Many couldn¡¯t believe it since they knew the strength of the Sky Wolf Clan was extremely formidable. When had they ever suffered a loss in combat with humans?


    Duanmu Feng was of royal blood, even purer and stronger than ordinary Sky Wolf Clan members.


    Now in a fight, he didn¡¯t have the upper hand. How strong was this person¡¯s body?


    Lan Xin¡¯s eyes sparkled. His body was indeed powerful.


    Duanmu Feng stared at Qin Hao with a blank expression: ¡°It seems I underestimated you. You will undoubtedly die today.¡±

 Chapter 852: 852: Evolved Beings

    Chapter 852: Chapter 852: Evolved Beings


    Qin Hao said calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if you lose, I won¡¯t kill you. After all, you are a prince of the Sky Wolf Empire; I have to give you that much respect.¡±


    Duanmu Feng snorted coldly. This time, he put away his disdain, looking at Qin Hao with caution, and then charged again.


    This time, his speed was even faster, and his strength was even stronger.


    Qin Hao did not sit around waiting for death; he confronted him head-on with even faster speed and greater force, like an arrow leaving the bowstring, sharp and unstoppable.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The sound of a dull body collision echoed, and Duanmu Feng¡¯s figure was seen flying backward again, landing heavily on the ground.


    Duanmu Feng had blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, looking at Qin Hao with disbelief. He was defeated with just one kick; how could he be so strong?


    But I am from the Sky Wolf Clan, this is absolutely impossible, absolutely impossible.


    The spectators in the air also couldn¡¯t believe it. If it was negligence at first, then what about now?


    This was definitely a clash of hard strength.


    How could this Qin Ritian¡¯s body be so powerful? Stronger than the Sky Wolf Clan, who exactly is he? Ordinary families could never produce such a person; even the top families of the Eight Empires would have a hard time. This required extreme potential and talent.


    Qin Hao looked at Duanmu Feng with disdain and said, ¡°With your kind of trash, you still want to compete with me for a girlfriend? Do you think you have the qualifications? A trash that can¡¯t even withstand one move from me.¡±


    Duanmu Feng¡¯s face was very ugly, his eyes blood red as he stared at him, roaring, ¡°I will tear you apart.¡±


    With that, he stood up, his eyes blood red, his face turning red. His body gradually grew larger, bursting out of his clothes. Sharp claws grew from his hands, and thick hair grew from his body, his momentum rising.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes squinted slightly as he saw this. What the heck, he¡¯s turned into a monster?


    The people seated in the air were stunned: ¡°What¡¯s going on? How did Prince Duanmu become like this?¡±


    ¡°What... what is this monster?¡± Some people could not accept it. The elegant and dashing Duanmu Feng had now turned into a hairy monster.


    Duanmu Feng¡¯s image in the hearts of many women instantly changed. They liked the refined and handsome Duanmu Feng, not this monster-like creature.


    Which woman could accept being crazily attacked by such a thing?


    The faces of several people from the Moon Mist Empire and the Bright Empire were a bit heavy, and Guo Pengfei and others also had serious expressions, their eyes showing thoughtful looks.


    At this moment, someone in the crowd suddenly exclaimed: ¡°I remember now, the Sky Wolf Empire has always been researching Human Evolution Gene Drugs; could it be that their research has succeeded?¡±


    The faces of the surrounding people changed drastically when they heard this. Human Evolution Gene Drugs??


    Could this be the effect of the Evolution Gene Drugs? This is too damn scary.


    Maybe it¡¯s because of the Sky Wolf Clan¡¯s nature? A bit of atavistic phenomenon after evolution.


    Duanmu Feng was now over three meters tall, like a giant monster, with long hair all over his body, even on his face, only his eyes, nose, and mouth exposed.


    He spoke: ¡°You are the first person to make me use my evolved form; you should be proud of that. Since our Sky Wolf Empire developed the Evolution Gene Drugs, this is the first time we exposed it. You should be honored to be the first to die under my evolved form.¡±


    Duanmu Feng¡¯s words confirmed what the man had just said. The Sky Wolf Empire had truly developed the Evolution Gene Drugs, and it seemed to be a drug that could make people incredibly powerful.


    ¡°Let you feel the power of our Sky Wolf Clan¡¯s evolved form.¡±


    With that, his figure jumped more than ten meters into the air. Although his body had become larger, his speed had also become faster.


    He swooped down toward Qin Hao like a cannonball, swift and fierce.


    ¡°Boom!¡± With a loud bang.


    The entire arena trembled, dust swirling everywhere, making it impossible to see the situation clearly.


    Lan Xin¡¯s heart jumped, not expecting Duanmu Feng to have such a trump card. The evolved form had never been known before.


    Did her father engage her to the Sky Wolf Empire because of these Evolution Gene Drugs?


    In an instant, many thoughts flashed through Lan Xin¡¯s mind.


    On the arena, when the dust settled, everyone looked attentively and saw a shallow pit about one or two meters deep in the arena. Duanmu Feng was crouching there, but Qin Hao was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Such terrifying strength, this arena is made of alloy, yet he made such a huge dent with his feet alone. This is comparable to the power of a low-level Mecha.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the other person? Why can¡¯t we see him?¡±


    ¡°He must have been crushed into a pulp, right? With such force, even a combat robot would have been smashed.¡±


    ¡°The Sky Wolf Empire¡¯s Evolution Gene Drugs are indeed terrifying; what incredible power.¡±


    ¡°Wait, look behind Duanmu Feng, is that someone? Qin Ritian isn¡¯t dead.¡±


    Everyone looked carefully; Qin Hao was not dead. Duanmu Feng¡¯s stomp hadn¡¯t hit him; he had dodged it.


    Lan Xin breathed a sigh of relief. She wanted to call a halt, but at this point, Duanmu Feng was already in a rage, and he wouldn¡¯t listen to her even if she spoke.


    ¡°Hmm? You actually dodged it, lucky you. Try receiving my punch now,¡± Duanmu Feng sneered continuously, turning and punching at Qin Hao.


    This time, Qin Hao did not retreat; he wanted to test the strength of this evolved form¡¯s power.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    As their fists collided, Qin Hao felt a huge force coming from Duanmu Feng¡¯s fist, immediately sending him flying.


    In the air, Qin Hao did several backflips before landing steadily on the ground. Although he was at a disadvantage with this punch, his movements were stylish and graceful, catching the eyes of many watching beauties.


    This time¡¯s head-on clash made Qin Hao roughly gauge Duanmu Feng¡¯s strength; it was immense, and this evolved form was incredibly terrifying.


    ¡°Have you realized how strong I am now? This prince will eat you alive,¡± Duanmu Feng said, his blood-red eyes staring at him as he licked his lips with his tongue.


    ¡°An evolved form is just so-so. Do you have any other skills? If not, then let¡¯s end this,¡± Qin Hao¡¯s eyes were like lightning, gleaming with sharpness.


    Duanmu Feng laughed loudly, ¡°Did I hear wrong? Just so-so? Such big talk, indeed it should end, face your death.¡±


    The Inner Strength in Qin Hao¡¯s body began to circulate, spreading through his limbs.


    He charged again; his figure was like a lightning bolt, reaching an extreme speed.


    ¡°Swoosh, swoosh.¡±


    Just as Duanmu Feng was about to charge, Qin Hao had already passed him. Duanmu Feng only felt a cool sensation on his shoulder.


    Qin Hao stood behind Duanmu Feng, both of them standing with their backs to each other.


    A few seconds later, Duanmu Feng¡¯s arms suddenly fell off, blood spurting, and Duanmu Feng screamed in pain.

 Chapter 853: 853: Shock

    Chapter 853: Chapter 853: Shock


    In the recent clash, Qin Hao¡¯s Inner Strength enveloped his palms, making them like two sharp blades. Even though Duanmu Feng¡¯s body was tough, it couldn¡¯t withstand the Inner Strength.


    The crowd was stunned by this scene. They had just witnessed Duanmu Feng¡¯s evolved form¡¯s power, which had smashed a large pit into the fighting stage, yet his body remained unscathed. Now his arms had been severed, and Qin Hao hadn¡¯t used any weapons. How did he accomplish this?


    If the attack had been aimed at Duanmu Feng¡¯s neck just now, would he be beheaded now?


    Thinking about this, everyone looked at Qin Hao. How could his combat power be so terrifying? Who exactly was he? Which empire was he from?


    To defeat an evolved form of the Sky Wolf Clan with mere physical strength alone was really too terrifying. Could he also be an experimental subject from some empire?


    If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s too frightening. Which empire developed this kind of gene drug?


    On the fighting stage.


    Qin Hao looked at Duanmu Feng and said calmly, ¡°You¡¯ve lost.¡±


    Duanmu Feng sneered, ¡°I am the evolved form of the royal bloodline of the Sky Wolf Clan. How could I possibly lose to a human? I will not lose.¡±


    As his words fell, the severed arms grew back at a speed visible to the naked eye, leaving people dumbfounded.


    ¡°This... This healing speed is too terrifying?¡± Onlookers were dumbfounded.


    Duanmu Feng looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°I will not lose. The evolved form of the Sky Wolf Clan is immortal.¡±


    Qin Hao was also somewhat surprised to see his arms grow back. So strong?


    Duanmu Feng flexed his muscles, his blood-red eyes fixed on Qin Hao. ¡°You¡¯re strong, beyond my imagination. I don¡¯t care which empire you¡¯re from, today you must die. Activate the second evolution.¡±


    Someone below shouted in dismay, ¡°Prince, no, the second evolution is still unstable, it could cause a backlash to your body.¡±


    These were the servants brought by Duanmu Feng, who were terrified when they saw the prince initiating the second evolution form.


    But Duanmu Feng didn¡¯t listen. Even if he heard it, he wouldn¡¯t stop. He wanted to kill Qin Hao, he wanted to tear this scum to pieces.


    ¡°Still able to undergo a second evolution?¡± The spectators were shocked.


    This was already terrifying enough, yet it could still evolve?


    Duanmu Feng¡¯s form didn¡¯t change significantly, but his muscles looked more robust and two wings grew from his back.


    This second gene evolution serum extracted some kind of gene drug from the Winged Race and applied it to the Sky Wolf Clan, making them grow wings and soar. However, in other aspects, this second evolution gene drug was still not very perfect.


    For example, the explosive power genes of the Giant Clan were still not perfected, easily causing backlash.


    Seeing Duanmu Feng¡¯s changes, everyone¡¯s eyes narrowed. The gene drug of the Sky Wolf Empire was actually this strong.


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh¡±


    Duanmu Feng¡¯s figure disappeared from where he stood, moving even faster than before.


    ¡°Bang bang¡±


    This time, the two clashed intensely, with Qin Hao showing his full strength. At this moment, Duanmu Feng¡¯s power was no weaker than his.


    The sound of their bodies colliding was incessant, making everyone¡¯s hearts pound. They felt pain for the two of them; these two were truly perverse, already exceeding the realm of ordinary humans.


    The two fought from the fighting stage to mid-air. Yes, they battled in mid-air, with Duanmu Feng flying with his wings and Qin Hao relying on Inner Strength.


    But the spectators didn¡¯t know this. Seeing Qin Hao fighting Duanmu Feng in mid-air, they found it somewhat unbelievable.


    ¡°Is this still human? How can he stay in mid-air without wings for so long?¡± someone wondered.


    Both sides were exceedingly shocked in their hearts, with Qin Hao amazed at Duanmu Feng¡¯s second evolution and Duanmu Feng astonished at Qin Hao¡¯s power, not understanding how he did it.


    After dozens of rounds, Duanmu Feng¡¯s expression changed drastically, his movements becoming slow and stiff.


    Qin Hao seized the opportunity and kicked him in the chest, sending him plummeting from the sky.


    Duanmu Feng landed heavily on the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust. His blood vessels suddenly burst, blood instantly covering his entire body.


    The flaws of the unstable second evolution gene drug were now clearly showing.


    The people of the Sky Wolf Empire rushed over, feeding Duanmu Feng several bottles of gene drugs, and then cautiously carried him away.


    ¡°We need to treat our prince. Please excuse us.¡± An old man led Duanmu Feng away, taking one last look at Qin Hao with a flash of shock in his eyes.


    This person¡¯s strength was beyond everyone¡¯s expectations, too formidable. Originally, people didn¡¯t need to rely on Mechas to be this powerful.


    Their battle showed many people another world.


    Qin Hao walked step by step down from the air, completely beyond the scope of scientific theory, as if walking down an invisible staircase.


    At this moment, he was like a deity, evoking admiration in people¡¯s hearts.


    He went directly to Lan Xin¡¯s side and said calmly, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go back.¡±


    Lan Xin nodded slightly. The two descended from the rooftop and returned to the room.


    As soon as they entered the room, Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but spit out a mouthful of blood. The battle earlier had caused him considerable internal injuries.


    Luna, Jiao Rou, and Lan Xin¡¯s faces changed at once, ¡°Master, Xiaotian, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, just a bit of a jolt to the internal organs. Drinking some life potion will fix it.¡± Qin Hao told them.


    He took out a bottle of life potion and drank it. ¡°I¡¯ll go rest in my room for a while.¡±


    ...


    This evening, the video of the rooftop battle at the Divine Wind Hotel quickly spread throughout Divine Wind City. The names Duanmu Feng and Qin Hao spread instantly.


    The high-definition video of their battle had already been sent to the Guo Family, the Gu Family, the Shi Family, and Emperor the Lan Family. The heads of these families were all watching.


    It even reached the Tanglong Empire, the Moon Mist Empire, and the Bright Empire.


    Qin Hao stayed alone in his room for six or seven days. His Cultivation Technique had broken through to the highest Heavenly Human Realm in the Ancient Martial World.


    In the Ancient Martial World, the Heavenly Human Realm could sense the changes in heaven and earth, transcending ordinary people.


    That afternoon, he was observing the changes in his body, finding the Cultivation Technique too lacking, with only seven levels? He thought he should look for more complete Cultivation Techniques after returning, which might make him even stronger.


    At this moment, a knocking sound was heard. Qin Hao said, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Lan Xin pushed the door open and entered, closing it behind her. She looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°How is your recovery? Are you almost well?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve been fine for a while. What¡¯s up? Is the auction about to start?¡±

 Chapter 854: 854 The Auction Begins

    Chapter 854: Chapter 854 The Auction Begins


    Princess Lan Xin smiled and said, ¡°There¡¯s still three days left, right? Your fight video with Duanmu Feng has already spread, almost everyone in the interstellar space knows about it, and the reaction is huge.¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, feeling a faint sense of foreboding: ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re quite the celebrity now. By the way, where are you from exactly? How is your body so strong?¡± Princess Lan Xin asked curiously.


    Qin Hao opened the system to check, and his achievement points had already exceeded one trillion.


    Although he was using a fake name now, it didn¡¯t affect earning achievement points, because he hadn¡¯t changed much.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be any kind of celebrity.¡± Qin Hao sidestepped the question, not revealing his background.


    He really didn¡¯t want to be a celebrity, because it would increase the chances of being exposed. Once his identity was revealed, it would be dangerous.


    Princess Lan Xin continued to ask, ¡°What¡¯s the deal with your body? How is it so strong?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Genetic modification drugs, and my hometown has a kind of Cultivation Method that can also enhance physical strength.¡±


    ¡°Cultivation Technique to strengthen the body?¡± Princess Lan Xin¡¯s eyes showed curiosity.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°It¡¯s ancestral.¡±


    Princess Lan Xin sat by the bed and looked at him, saying, ¡°It¡¯s said that the Prince of Sky Wolf Empire, Duanmu Feng, has already recovered.¡±


    ¡°Maybe scientific deification is really possible.¡± Qin Hao thought about Duanmu Feng¡¯s evolved form and said.


    If his second evolutionary gene drug was perfect, his combat power would be truly terrifying. If a third evolutionary gene drug could be developed, scientific deification wouldn¡¯t be a fantasy; maybe it could really be achieved.


    Throughout history on Earth, various myths have been passed down. People in myths can fly, escape, overturn mountains and seas, and live forever.


    Maybe these scenes from myths can be realized through powerful scientific and technological strength.


    Princess Lan Xin nodded slightly, noting that humans in the interstellar space were advancing toward legendary gods: ¡°I don¡¯t want to marry Duanmu Feng of Sky Wolf Empire. They¡¯re just a bunch of barbarians; most women who go there end up tortured to death.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her, feeling helpless in this matter. He couldn¡¯t influence Nolan Empire at all: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Princess Lan Xin, I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡±


    Princess Lan Xin smiled bitterly: ¡°I know, no one can change my father¡¯s decision. Even though I don¡¯t want to, I have to marry into Sky Wolf Empire and to that monster Duanmu Feng.¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t know how to comfort her. It was hard enough for him to protect himself here, and he was powerless to manage Princess Lan Xin¡¯s affairs.


    Suddenly, Princess Lan Xin changed the subject, looking at Qin Hao: ¡°We acknowledged our relationship before my father gave the order, so it¡¯s normal that I¡¯m not a virgin anymore. I¡¯d rather give my first time to you than to that monstrous creature.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face froze: ¡°To me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, what? Are you disgusted by me, Your Highness?¡± Princess Lan Xin leaned closer to him.


    Qin Hao laughed dryly: ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s appropriate.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s inappropriate? Everyone outside thinks we¡¯re a couple anyway, and giving Duanmu Feng a cuckold would be quite thrilling, right?¡±


    ...


    The two fought for more than an hour.


    When the room quieted down, Qin Hao and Princess Lan Xin slept in each other¡¯s arms, waking up at around eight in the evening.


    Qin Hao and Princess Lan Xin stayed in the hotel for three days straight, during which Princess Lan Xin crazily demanded from Qin Hao, resulting in multiple passionate encounters.


    This morning at nine, at Divine Wind Auction.


    Qin Hao and Lan Xi had arrived here long ago, now waiting quietly for the auction to begin in an elegant private room.


    Luna and Jiao Rou were a bit nervous, as they would soon meet their relatives and mother.


    Today¡¯s auction didn¡¯t have anything else; it started directly with the Elf Clan¡¯s Fifth Princess, without any unnecessary delay.


    ¡°First up for auction is the Fifth Princess of the Elf Clan. Her appearance is like a Heavenly Immortal with a perfect figure that everyone can see, so I won¡¯t waste words. The starting bid is one hundred billion star coins, and each raise must be no less than one billion star coins. Now, the auction begins,¡± the host said.


    ¡°One hundred fifty billion.¡±


    ¡°Two hundred billion.¡±


    ¡°Three hundred billion.¡±


    ...


    The price climbed rapidly as there were thousands of people in the auction hall. There were too many wealthy individuals, so the price was rising very fast.


    Seeing the trend of this pricing, Qin Hao frowned. At this rate, breaking a trillion would be easy, and he might not have enough money.


    He looked at Princess Lan Xin beside him and asked, ¡°How much funds do you have?¡±


    ¡°You just keep bidding, the money will be enough,¡± Princess Lan Xin replied.


    ¡°One trillion.¡± A voice suddenly rang out; it was Qin Tian of the Qin Family from the Tanglong Empire.


    The bidders went silent, partly because of Qin Tian¡¯s status and partly because of the high price.


    The Divine Wind Group had acquired the entire life planet of the Elf Clan from the mercenary group for just one hundred billion star coins, and now an Elf Clan princess was auctioned for one trillion!


    Many people present were billionaires with over a trillion in assets, but that didn¡¯t mean they had over a trillion in liquid assets. It referred to their total assets; liquid assets amount to three or four hundred billion at most.


    If there were too few liquid assets, it would affect company operations, so these liquid assets couldn¡¯t be consumed too much.


    Almost no one was bidding now; some could afford the price but didn¡¯t want to offend Qin Tian.


    The Qin Family of Tanglong Empire wasn¡¯t a small family. Many people¡¯s businesses were spread across various interstellar countries, and offending the Qin Family would make it impossible to survive in Tanglong Empire.


    ¡°One trillion one hundred billion.¡± Qin Hao bid.

 Chapter 855: 855 Auction Ends

    Chapter 855: Chapter 855 Auction Ends


    Everyone was stunned; someone actually dared to defy Qin Tian?


    Hearing Qin Hao¡¯s voice, Qin Tian was taken aback. Was it that Qin Ritian?


    Guo Pengfei, Gu Minghao, and others also recognized the voice. Especially Duanmu Feng, who had already recovered from his injuries, though he wouldn¡¯t be able to activate his secondary evolution form for a while.


    Qin Tian thought for a while and didn¡¯t raise the bid, as he felt someone else would compete with Qin Hao.


    Sure enough, Duanmu Feng called out, ¡°150 billion.¡±


    The events of that day had spread far and wide, and many people remembered Qin Hao¡¯s voice. Upon hearing Duanmu Feng¡¯s voice, many understood what was happening¡ªwere these two about to clash again?


    ¡°160 billion,¡± Qin Hao continued to bid.


    ¡°200 billion. Go ahead if you can outbid me,¡± Duanmu Feng sneered.


    He didn¡¯t intend to win the auction for the fifth princess of the Elf Clan; he just wanted to spite Qin Hao. For many scions of top-tier families, 200 billion was already a steep price.


    As disciples of top-tier families, they hadn¡¯t inherited their families¡¯ assets and didn¡¯t have nearly as much money as Qin Hao.


    ¡°200 billion! Damn, these top-tier family heirs are really extravagant.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s 200 billion star coins for a female slave? Even if she¡¯s a princess, she¡¯s not worth that much.¡±


    ¡°This is outrageous. The highest valuation for an Elf Clan princess was previously 100 billion, and now it¡¯s already 200 billion.¡±


    ¡°That Qin Ritian probably won¡¯t bid anymore, right? It¡¯s said he¡¯s not very influential; can he really put up that much money?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget who his girlfriend is. That¡¯s Princess Lan Xin, and Mr. Lan dotes on her immensely, giving her limitless funds.¡±


    ¡°Duanmu Feng is Princess Lan Xin¡¯s fiance?, and now another man is using her money to compete with him. Duanmu Feng¡¯s expression must be like he just ate shit.¡±


    ...


    Indeed, Duanmu Feng had considered all this. The thought of it made his face darken with rage. He clenched his fist tightly and thought: Just wait until you marry into the Sky Wolf Empire. I¡¯ll show you what this prince can do. I¡¯m going to use my evolution form to thoroughly dominate you, you slattern.


    ¡°201 billion,¡± Qin Hao raised the bid without hesitation. He was determined to win these people.


    The auctioneer, slightly excited, said, ¡°Box 3 has bid 201 billion. Is there any higher bid? 201 billion, going once.¡±


    ¡°201 billion, going twice.¡±


    ¡°201 billion, going thrice.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations to the owner of Box 8 for winning the auction for the fifth princess of the Elf Clan. Next up is the fourth princess of the Elf Clan, starting at the same price. Let the bidding begin.¡±


    ¡°200 billion,¡± Qin Hao immediately bid.


    Many people were about to bid, but upon hearing his price, they were left speechless.


    Damn, he¡¯s not even giving others a chance to bid, starting at 200 billion?


    The auction hall on the first floor fell silent. That price was beyond their reach¡ª200 billion could buy many top-quality female slaves with looks and figures no worse than the Elf Clan princesses.


    The Elf Clan princesses were sought after mainly because they were a new race, exciting and novel to everyone.


    The Divine Wind Group surely still had many members of the Elf Clan. Allowing them to breed, more Elf Clan slaves would continuously emerge in the future, lowering their prices.


    Strazi of the Bright Empire called out from his box, ¡°210 billion.¡±


    If he could secure it at this price, he¡¯d take it, but otherwise, he felt it was too extravagant to spend so much on a slave¡ªamounting to several advanced warships.


    ¡°250 billion,¡± Qin Hao flaunted his wealth, adding 40 billion at once.


    ¡°250 billion, going once. Is there any higher bid?¡±


    ...


    In the box, Gu Minghao was speechless. ¡°Why is this guy bidding so high?¡±


    Gu Yuwei smiled softly. ¡°Maybe he has a special fondness for Elf Clan beauties.¡±


    ¡°Even if he likes these beauties, isn¡¯t the price too high?¡±


    Gu Yuwei said, ¡°Brother, if you like them, just bid yourself.¡±


    Gu Minghao shot her a glance, ¡°Absolutely not. If I spent billions on a female slave, what would our father think? With so many family disciples, if just a few spread the word, my reputation in the family would be ruined. A billion is my limit, but this guy¡¯s ruthless.¡±


    Qin Hao won all five Elf Clan princesses at an average price of 200 billion each, meaning he spent about a trillion star coins. He still had several billion left, which seemed enough.


    The disciples of top-tier families hadn¡¯t made many bids, which puzzled him. Weren¡¯t they here for the Elf Clan princesses? Why weren¡¯t they bidding? To give him face?


    Ahem!


    The auctioneer continued, ¡°Now, for the highlight of this auction: the queen of the Elf Clan.¡±


    As he spoke, the Elf Clan queen slowly ascended from beneath the stage.


    The Elf Clan queen looked around thirty, her figure and beauty were unparalleled. Despite being a prisoner, her regal demeanor was intact. Seeing her instilled a strong urge for domination in the audience.


    ¡°Her allure speaks for itself. She¡¯s even more captivating than the Elf Clan princesses. More importantly, she¡¯s a queen. Many men dream of conquering a woman like this. Starting bid: 200 billion star coins. Let the bidding begin.¡±


    ¡°300 billion.¡±


    ¡°350 billion.¡±


    ...


    ¡°1,000 billion,¡± Qin Hao didn¡¯t raise the bid too aggressively this time.


    ¡°1,100 billion,¡± someone continued to bid.


    ¡°1,150 billion.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°3,000 billion.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to waste time. This price should secure it.


    Hearing his bid, everyone gasped. Damn, another sky-high bid. He had already spent over ten trillion. Is this guy really that wealthy?


    ¡°3,000 billion, going once. Is there any higher bid? This is the queen of the Elf Clan.¡±


    Queen, my ass. She¡¯s just a prisoner now. For 3,000 billion, we could buy two advanced warships, the value of which far surpasses that of an Elf Clan queen.


    In the end, the Elf Clan queen was auctioned to Qin Hao for 3,000 billion. Luna and Jiao Rou¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement, and they breathed a sigh of relief.


    Guo Pengfei beamed. This time, the Divine Wind Group made a huge profit. They had more stunning beauties among the enslaved Elf Clan, not just the princesses.


    They just used the princesses¡¯ statuses to fetch higher auction prices.


    In the box, the auction staff quickly brought the five Elf Clan princesses and the queen to them.


    Seeing their sister and mother, Luna and Jiao Rou hurried over, embracing them and crying out in relief.

 Chapter 856: 856 Leaving, Investigating

    Chapter 856: Chapter 856 Leaving, Investigating


    Yun Ya quickly reacted, looking at Luna and Jiao Rou and asked, ¡°Why are you here? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Mother, we¡¯ll tell you when we get back.¡± Luna and Jiao Rou replied.


    Princess Lan Xin said to Qin Hao, ¡°Let¡¯s go back. Take better care of your body in the future, don¡¯t get drained.¡±


    ...


    By this time, the auction attendees had already started leaving the venue. The auction had opened many people¡¯s eyes, with the total auction price exceeding a trillion, making a massive profit for the Divine Wind Group.


    Qin Tian, Gu Minghao, Shi Wenqiang, Duanmu Feng, and others came out of the private box, running into Guo Pengfei.


    Qin Tian saw Guo Pengfei and said, ¡°Congratulations, Guo Pengfei!¡±


    Gu Minghao and the others also offered their congratulations. Guo Pengfei had always been managing the Elf Clan affairs, and he had made a huge profit from the auction of the Elf Clan princess, securing a higher status within the Guo Family.


    Guo Pengfei was delighted and said with a smile, ¡°Qin, Gu, I must thank you for your support. I have many other beautiful Elf Clan women that are no less attractive than the princess. I will send a few over later.¡±


    The group originally felt some regret, but upon hearing this, their smiles grew wider.


    Guo Pengfei also wanted to take this opportunity to build relationships with the group for future profitable collaborations. After all, they were powerful and some could become future heirs of their families.


    At this moment, Qin Hao and his group came out of their box, coincidentally seeing Guo Pengfei and his group in the corridor.


    Duanmu Feng¡¯s eyes flashed with anger seeing Qin Hao and Princess Lan Xin, especially seeing Qin Hao¡¯s hand placed around her waist. He wished he could kill Qin Hao and destroy Princess Lan Xin.


    That girl! Knowing Mr. Lan had already betrothed her to me, yet she is so intimate with another man. How can I maintain my dignity as a prince?


    Guo Pengfei and the others glanced at Duanmu Feng, whose face was ashen and eyes full of fury.


    Princess Lan Xin did not even glance at Duanmu Feng. Qin Hao, however, turned and looked at him before leaving with his group.


    Duanmu Feng clenched his fists tightly, and the others did not know how to console him. They would have reacted the same way if it happened to them.


    Guo Pengfei hesitated and said, ¡°Duanmu Feng, there is something I don¡¯t know if I should say.¡±


    Duanmu Feng looked at him and said, ¡°Gu Pengfei, just say what you want to say.¡±


    Guo Pengfei: ¡°Duanmu Feng, now that Princess Lan Xin is like this, I think it might be better for your father to choose another princess. This would be good for both sides.¡±


    Duanmu Feng: ¡°No, I don¡¯t care if she is a virgin or not. I just want to show her who is powerful.¡±


    Hearing his words, everyone could imagine Princess Lan Xin being tormented by Duanmu Feng, but knew they could not intervene.


    Qin Tian suddenly asked, ¡°Who exactly is Qin Ritian? Has anyone figured out his background?¡±


    Everyone shook their heads slightly; they had mobilized their intelligence networks but still found no useful information.


    Just then, Guo Pengfei¡¯s communicator rang; it was his father, Guo Yuanwu: ¡°Father, you need me?¡±


    Guo Yuanwu: ¡°The auction is over, right? Bring Mr. Gu and Prince Duanmu over, that information about Qin Ritian has some leads.¡±


    Guo Pengfei was stunned: ¡°Did you find out? Where does Qin Ritian come from?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain when you get here, it¡¯s hard to detail over the communicator.¡±


    ...


    On the other side, back in the hotel, Luna and Jiao Rou were talking with their mother and sister in the room.


    Qin Hao and Lan Xi were in the living room. Princess Lan Xin looked at him and asked, ¡°When are you planning to leave?¡±


    ¡°Now.¡± Qin Hao did not want to stay any longer, the longer he stayed, the more variables there would be. He also wanted to hurry back to see his son and daughter.


    Princess Lan Xin said, ¡°I brought my spacecraft, faster than a D-grade battleship with sub-light speed propulsion. You can use it. Even the Sky Wolf Empire wouldn¡¯t be able to catch up with you.¡±


    She brought her spacecraft worried that Qin Hao would be pursued by the Sky Wolf Empire.


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°Come with me. I will solve your issues.¡±


    Princess Lan Xin smiled, her eyes slightly red as she slowly hugged him: ¡°Your words are enough. It¡¯s useless. No one can change my father¡¯s will.¡±


    She had been waiting for these words from Qin Hao. They were enough for her; she was happy that Qin Hao did not just see her as a plaything.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Staying here will only end with you being married off to the Sky Wolf Empire, suffering Duanmu Feng¡¯s abuse. Come with me, I will solve this.¡±


    His tone was full of dominance and confidence.


    Princess Lan Xin looked up at him with a bright smile: ¡°You are so confident? Then I will go with you. Don¡¯t blame me for dragging you down later.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled lightly: ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    He called out Luna and the others, and Princess Lan Xin dispersed her guards, only keeping the maid Chun Mei.


    The group arrived at the rooftop of the Divine Wind Hotel, where a spacecraft stood capable of carrying dozens of people. Once aboard, Princess Lan Xin piloted it off Divine Wind Star.


    The spacecraft was incredibly fast, like a stream of light; the sub-light speed propulsion was no joke.


    ...


    At the Guo Family mansion.


    Guo Pengfei and his group had arrived at the Guo Family. In the hall, after paying respects, Gu Minghao and the others sat down.


    ¡°Dad, did you find out Qin Hao¡¯s detailed background?¡± Guo Pengfei asked.


    Everyone also looked at Guo Yuanwu; they wanted to know about Qin Hao¡¯s background.


    Guo Yuanwu shook his head: ¡°Though we didn¡¯t completely find out, we have some clues. Take a look at this video.¡±


    Virtual imaging appeared before them, showing Qin Hao standing on the deck of a spaceship, a soldier inspecting him. Qin Hao handed something to the soldier.


    Guo Pengfei and the others looked confused: ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where is this taken?¡±


    ¡°This is the earliest video of Qin Hao; before this, he had never appeared in the interstellar space. The name Qin Ritian was registered afterward at Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s Nanming Star.¡±


    Guo Pengfei and the others were stunned. He asked, ¡°Dad, you mean he came from the Southern Wilderness Star System?¡±


    Guo Yuanwu shook his head: ¡°It¡¯s not confirmed yet. According to that person, Qin Ritian¡¯s group said they entered just after the Endless Asteroid Corridor opened. I¡¯ve sent people to investigate. Let¡¯s wait for the results.¡±


    Qin Tian said, ¡°If they can¡¯t find his record of entry, does that mean he came from a life planet deep within the Southern Wilderness Star System?¡±

 Chapter 857: 857: Exposure

    Chapter 857: Chapter 857: Exposure


    ¡°From the depths of the Southern Wilderness Star System? Could there be other life planets in the Southern Wilderness Star System?¡± Gu Minghao asked in surprise.


    Guo Yuanwu smiled faintly, ¡°Currently, we only know of two: one is the life planet of the Elf Clan, and the other is a life planet called Earth. As for whether there are other life planets, it¡¯s still unknown.¡±


    At this moment, the elder of the Guo Family, Guoanye, walked out of the back hall with a cane. Upon seeing him, Duanmu Feng and others quickly stood up and saluted, ¡°Old Family Head.¡±


    Guoanye slightly nodded, ¡°Are you discussing about that Qin Ritian?¡±


    ¡°Grandfather, have you watched this video?¡± Guo Pengfei asked cautiously.


    Guoanye glanced at it and said, ¡°I just saw it. Do you remember the news a few days ago about the fleet organized by our Divine Wind Group being completely wiped out?¡±


    Everyone nodded. Such big news surely wouldn¡¯t go unnoticed, and at the time, they were quite shocked by Earth¡¯s military technology.


    They couldn¡¯t understand how a primitive life planet could possess such powerful military technology.


    Guoanye: ¡°Our Guo Family¡¯s fleet was ambushed and completely annihilated; otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have lost so badly. Logically, Earth couldn¡¯t have known about our plans. There¡¯s only one possibility: they received the information early and set up an ambush.¡±


    Guo Pengfei suddenly realized, ¡°Grandfather, do you mean someone from Earth had already infiltrated our interstellar domain, received the information, and sent it back?¡±


    Guoanye looked at him, neither nodding nor shaking his head, continuing, ¡°There are also two other matters, one is this video, and the other is today¡¯s auction.¡±


    ¡°What is the connection between these matters?¡± Gu Minghao asked curiously.


    Shi Wenqiang, Qin Tian, Duanmu Feng, and others also looked at Guoanye with puzzled expressions.


    Guoanye: ¡°This video can roughly prove that he is from the Southern Wilderness Star System. If he had entered there before, he wouldn¡¯t need to forge his identity after coming out. His name also confirms his identity, as does the auction event, all pointing to his real identity.¡±


    Guo Pengfei asked upon hearing his grandfather¡¯s words, ¡°Grandfather, do you already know the background of this Qin Ritian? Who on earth is he?¡±


    ¡°The life planet Earth in the Southern Wilderness Star System is now known as the Galaxy Interstellar Federation, and the leader of this Galaxy Federation is called Qin Hao. Qin Hao, Qin Ritian, Ritian Hao, he is actually the leader of the Galaxy Interstellar Federation called Qin Hao. He auctioned the Elf Clan¡¯s princess and queen to rescue the leader of the Elf Clan.¡±


    At these words, everyone was shocked.


    Qin Ritian? Qin Hao? The leader of the Galaxy Interstellar Federation?


    He, the leader of the Galaxy Federation, dared to venture alone into interstellar space?


    Guo Pengfei hurriedly said, ¡°Grandfather, quickly have someone capture him.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too late. He and Princess Lan Xin have already left. Catching up with them will be very difficult. Truly, a young hero with such courage and wisdom is remarkable,¡± Guoanye sighed.


    The expressions of the few people in the hall were varied; Qin Ritian was actually the leader of the Galaxy Interstellar Federation, Qin Hao!


    ...


    At this time, Qin Hao and others had already left Divine Wind Star far behind. Elf Queen Yun Ya looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, thank you for saving our entire Elf Clan, please accept my sincere gratitude.¡±


    After speaking, she gave Qin Hao a deep bow.


    Lan Xin and her maid Chun Mei were stunned, what was the meaning of this?


    Looking at Yun Ya, Qin Hao said, ¡°Queen Yun Ya, there¡¯s no need for thanks. I saved the Elf Clan to strengthen our Galaxy Federation. I hope we can cooperate sincerely in the future and develop together. You also know about me and Luna, Jiao Rou. We are no longer outsiders.¡±


    Luna and Jiao Rou¡¯s cheeks flushed red, and they lowered their heads, not daring to look at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao handed them the antidote for slavery, ¡°Now the matter is settled. This is the antidote for slavery. Once you take it, you will be free.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin.¡± Yun Ya and the others expressed their gratitude.


    They were extremely excited inside. No one longed for freedom and equality more than these women who had been enslaved for days.


    Lan Xin looked at Qin Hao with wide eyes, ¡°Who... who exactly are you?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Princess Lan Xin, let me formally introduce myself. I come from Earth¡¯s life planet in the Southern Wilderness Star System, now known as the Galaxy Federation. My real name is Qin Hao, and I am the leader of the Galaxy Federation.¡±


    Lan Xin stared at him in shock, ¡°You are the leader of the Galaxy Interstellar Federation???¡±


    ¡°Yes, indeed. From now on, you¡¯ll be the leader¡¯s wife.¡± Qin Hao teased.


    Lan Xin¡¯s cheeks reddened, and she glared at him, still somewhat shaken inside. He was actually the leader of the Interstellar Federation Government.


    Chun Mei was also stunned by his words; this person was actually the leader of the Galaxy Federation. It was said that their military technology was very strong, and the fleet organized by the Guo Family had been completely annihilated there.


    Lan Xin¡¯s spacecraft was very fast. In just half a day, they had traveled a great distance and would be out of the Nolan Empire¡¯s territory in a few days.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao¡¯s true identity was exposed, and his detailed information was posted on the interstellar internet. His real name and information about the Galaxy Federation were all leaked.


    At the same time, an interstellar bounty was issued by the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire, calling for the capture of Qin Hao and his group throughout the galaxy.


    Qin Hao and Lan Xin saw this, but their expressions didn¡¯t change. Their spacecraft was nearly the fastest in the galaxy. Even if they were wanted, no one could catch them.


    The spacecraft had nutrient solution, enough to last them for a period. With their speed, they would reach Lei Meng Duchy and return to the Southern Wilderness Star System within a month.


    Lan Xin said, ¡°The nutrient solution on the spacecraft might not be enough for us to reach Lei Meng Duchy.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°No problem, when it¡¯s almost gone, let Leng Xuan and the others go buy some more.¡±


    Leng Xuan and the others all had advanced mecha. If necessary, they could even rob some.


    Time passed day by day, and about half a month later, they had already left the Nolan Empire¡¯s territory, now traveling through the Shuiyuan Alliance Republic¡¯s region.


    The nutrient solution on the spacecraft was nearly depleted, and Qin Hao told Leng Xuan and the others, ¡°You guys go rob some nutrient solution, head to that distant planet, and then catch up with us.¡±


    Leng Xuan and the others nodded and then flew out of the spacecraft, quickly heading to the planet Qin Hao mentioned.


    In about ten minutes, Leng Xuan and the others reached there and directly robbed a large amount of nutrient solution from a city. The planetary defenses couldn¡¯t match the speed of D-grade mecha and were quickly left far behind.


    Twenty minutes later, Leng Xuan and the others caught up, replenished the nutrient solution, and continued their journey toward the Southern Wilderness Star System.

 Chapter 858: 858 Youre So Cunning

    Chapter 858: Chapter 858 You¡¯re So Cunning


    ¡°Today, the interstellar joint fleet launched an attack on the Endless Asteroid Zone, and both sides have engaged in fierce combat within the asteroid passage.¡±


    ¡°The interstellar joint fleet suffered heavy losses and has retreated to the defensive lines set up by the Lei Meng Duchy, Silver Star Free Federation, Flame Dragon Duchy, and Nanyan Duchy.¡±


    ¡°The Galaxy Federation in the Southern Wilderness Star System has demonstrated exceptional strength this time. According to reports from the frontline, the Galaxy Federation has fully assembled elite fleets whose strength is beyond everyone¡¯s imagination.¡±


    This news spread across the interstellar network at lightning speed, reaching every empire, kingdom, and duchy, causing widespread shock.


    How could the native planets within the Southern Wilderness Star System be so formidable?


    Qin Hao and Lan Xin also saw the news within their spacecraft. Lan Xi exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Isn¡¯t Earth just a life-supporting planet? How could it have such strong military power?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Military technological strength has nothing to do with the size of a planet. As long as this technology is developed, the vast and resource-rich Southern Wilderness Star System can easily mass-produce various warships.¡±


    If Qin Hao¡¯s planet was in the interstellar region and its surrounding resources were plundered, he would have no way forward. But now, Earth is in the Southern Wilderness Star System, surrounded by many planets that have not yet been exploited, allowing him ample resources to develop military strength.


    Lan Xin mused, ¡°Are the people on Earth naturally very smart? Otherwise, how could you develop so many powerful weapons?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Humans are the same everywhere. The main factor is the development of genetic drugs. Our genetic drug development is quite balanced, covering various aspects.¡±


    Lan Xin held onto his arm, ¡°Do you think my father will send a fleet to invade you?¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Probably not, unless the Eight Major Empires reach a unified strategic cooperation and deploy fleets together. A single empire¡¯s fleet wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat us. Moreover, without corresponding interests, they wouldn¡¯t dispatch their armies.¡±


    Lan Xin nodded slightly, ¡°The Eight Major Empires mistrust each other, making unified collaboration difficult. Once you show off your strength, you can then align with several empires to divide them.¡±


    Elf Queen Yun Ya and several others were resting on the floor not far away. The spacecraft was originally meant for a few people, but now with so many onboard, the sleeping areas were limited to only one bed, forcing Yun Ya and others to rest on the floor. Thankfully, there were carpets, making it clean and comfortable.


    Over ten days later, in the Lei Meng Duchy, several hundred miles from the territory of the White General Star.


    Qin Hao, Lan Xin, Elf Queen Yun Ya, and others stood inside the spacecraft. Lan Xin spoke, ¡°Ahead is the territory of the Lei Meng Duchy. On the other side, the Interstellar Federation has established a defense line. We won¡¯t be able to break through.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°No problem, head towards the Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s defense line. There are my people on Nanming Star.¡±


    When Qin Hao left Nanming Star, the Li Family in Zhudao City of Nanming Star had sworn allegiance to him. Now, the Li Family is extremely powerful, with F-grade mechas aiding them. No family on Nanming Star can oppose the Li Family.


    The Li Family seized this opportunity to greatly expand, annexing several families and becoming one of the prominent families on Nanming Star.


    The Shui Family, with Shui Huilan, is also on Nanming Star. Following Qin Hao¡¯s orders, they have transferred most of their assets there. With the support of the Li Family, the Shui Family has also become a prominent family on Nanming Star.


    Two hours later, the spacecraft reached the orbit of Nanming Star. After communicating with Shui Huilan, the spacecraft flew directly to Nanming Star and landed in the Shui Family estate.


    When Shui Huilan saw Qin Hao again, her eyes were somewhat complicated. Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°You can call me Qin Hao or Xiao Hao.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll call you Xiao Hao. You sure know how to hide,¡± Shui Huilan said, looking at him with a coquettish smile, her eyes filled with longing.


    Lan Xin, seeing this, pinched Qin Hao hard. This guy really knew how to leave affection everywhere.


    Arriving at the Shui Family courtyard, Qin Hao said to Yun Ya and the others, ¡°You should rest here for a few days, and then we¡¯ll return to the Southern Wilderness Star System.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin.¡± Yun Ya and the others nodded.


    Shui Huilan directed the servants to take Yun Ya and the others to their rooms, while Qin Hao, Lan Xin, and Shui Huilan went to the living room.


    Shui Huilan smiled at Lan Xin and said, ¡°Princess Lan Xin.¡±


    Lan Xin replied, ¡°You know me?¡±


    ¡°I used to be a subject of the Nolan Empire, so of course, I recognize the beautiful and lovely Princess Lan Xin,¡± Shui Huilan smiled.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°What is the current situation here?¡±


    ¡°The fleets of the four duchies and the Interstellar Federation have set up a defense line within a few hundred star miles of the Endless Asteroid Passage to prevent the Galaxy Federation from breaking through. However, it seems they won¡¯t be able to hold back the Galaxy Fleet. The Galaxy Fleet is too powerful. What the Galaxy Fleet will do next is yet to be seen,¡± Shui Huilan explained.


    After understanding the situation, Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go rest.¡±


    Lan Xin and Shui Huilan paused, exchanged a glance, hesitated for a moment, and then followed Qin Hao.


    The interstellar society is quite open. Many family heads have multiple wives, and sharing a husband among several women is also common.


    The three of them entered Shui Huilan¡¯s bedroom, and soon Lan Xin¡¯s voice was heard from the room...


    The next morning.


    After breakfast, Qin Hao activated the communicator and called Wei Yingrui of the Lei Meng Duchy. The call was quickly connected, ¡°Mr. Qin, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Wei Yingrui now knew Qin Hao¡¯s identity, and his tone was less than friendly.


    No wonder Qin Hao had so many high-tech weapons; he turned out to be Qin Hao, the leader of Earth¡¯s forces in the Southern Wilderness Star System.


    Hearing Wei Yingrui¡¯s tone, Qin Hao chuckled lightly, ¡°Prince Wei, why change your attitude after buying weapons?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I don¡¯t believe we have anything else to discuss. It¡¯s best we stay out of each other¡¯s waters,¡± Wei Yingrui responded coolly.


    The formidable strength of the Galaxy Fleet made nearby countries tremble. If the Galaxy Fleet attacked, they would be unable to resist.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s not up to you now. Come to Nanming Star immediately.¡±


    ¡°Nanming Star? You¡¯re on Nanming Star?¡± Wei Yingrui¡¯s eyes widened, a sharp gleam flashing in them.


    If he could kill Qin Hao here, the Galaxy Fleet might disband on its own. But it could also provoke the Galaxy Fleet to invade the interstellar regions in fury.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Hurry up, I don¡¯t have time to waste.¡±


    By the time Qin Hao finished speaking, Wei Yingrui found himself suddenly covered in mecha gear. The mecha launched into the sky, carrying him towards Nanming Star.


    Wei Yingrui was terrified, ¡°What¡¯s going on? I didn¡¯t activate the mecha!¡±


    Is there a backdoor control program within the mecha? Qin Hao, you¡¯re so cunning.

 Chapter 859: 859: Return

    Chapter 859: Chapter 859: Return


    Thinking about this, Wei Yingrui¡¯s face became very grim. Even this advanced mecha had a backdoor control program. What about the battle robots, air combat devices, and warships?


    I spent all this money for nothing?


    Why didn¡¯t they detect this earlier? What were the inspection departments doing?


    About ten minutes later, the advanced mecha brought Wei Yingrui to Nanming Star. He had come from the Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s defensive line, so he arrived quickly.


    Wei Yingrui was directly taken to the Shui Family¡¯s living room.


    The mecha shed halfway, and Qin Hao looked at Wei Yingrui with a faint smile, ¡°Long time no see, Prince Wei.¡±


    ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± Wei Yingrui¡¯s face darkened, looking extremely unpleasant.


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, ¡°You should know very well what I want. You now have two choices: either die or submit to me. If you submit to me, I can still let you manage the Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s territory. As long as you don¡¯t make mistakes, this position will always be yours.¡±


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible for a prince to submit?¡± Wei Yingrui snorted coldly.


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°I don¡¯t believe anything is impossible. Taste the feeling of a thousand cuts first before you say that.


    Let me explain to Prince Wei what a thousand cuts is. In ancient times, there was a punishment where chunks of flesh were cut from a person with a knife. The person wouldn¡¯t die immediately, at least not after a thousand cuts. Now, with genetic drugs, maybe Prince Wei will never die.¡±


    Hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, Wei Yingrui¡¯s face changed dramatically. Is there really such a vicious punishment?


    ¡°You demon, pervert.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°You have ten seconds to consider. It¡¯s a simple decision, do you want to live or do you want to die?¡±


    ¡°10, 9, 8, 7...¡±


    Wei Yingrui hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I want to live. I¡¯ll listen to everything you say.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°That¡¯s the right decision, a decision only a smart person would make. Here, take the slave medicine.¡±


    Wei Yingrui took it, his hand trembling slightly. He was genuinely terrified by the cruel punishment Qin Hao described. What kind of planet is this, to come up with such a vicious punishment?


    Seeing Wei Yingrui drink the slave potion, Qin Hao¡¯s face showed a smile, ¡°Now, which areas are under Lei Meng Duchy¡¯s responsibility on the defensive line?¡±


    Wei Yingrui activated a virtual imaging system, ¡°Master, here is our defensive line, and these regions are the responsibility of other duchies and the United Fleet.¡±


    He agreed to Qin Hao because he witnessed the strength of the Galaxy Fleet. In a confrontation, the United Fleet suffered heavy losses while the Galaxy Fleet didn¡¯t have a single damaged ship. That powerful organized Galaxy Fleet was intimidating.


    If the Galaxy Fleet were to attack in the future, he couldn¡¯t avoid destruction, as he wouldn¡¯t be able to stop it.


    Now, by siding with Qin Hao, he might still be valued in the future.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Later, I will take a spacecraft to the Southern Wilderness Star System. Tell your people on the defensive line to act like they didn¡¯t see anything.¡±


    Wei Yingrui nodded, ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°After I discuss things over there, I¡¯ll tell you when to launch the attack. We¡¯ll work internally and externally to annihilate these United Fleets.¡±


    Wei Yingrui nodded in agreement. Even without Wei Yingrui¡¯s internal and external support, if Qin Hao¡¯s Galaxy Fleet fought, they could still defeat these United Fleets easily. With his help, it would just be simpler.


    After their discussion, Wei Yingrui left, and Qin Hao said to Lan Xin and Yun Ya, ¡°Let¡¯s prepare to leave.¡±


    They nodded, and a few minutes later, the spacecraft took off from the Shui Family, heading straight for the endless asteroid belt.


    Because of the spacecraft¡¯s speed, they reached the defensive line of the United Fleet in about three minutes. Wei Yingrui had already made arrangements, so no one intercepted them.


    The distant defensive line of the United Fleet also detected the spacecraft, but its speed was too fast. By the time they reacted, the spacecraft had already flown into the endless asteroid passage.


    Although the endless asteroid passage was long, it only took about twenty minutes for the spacecraft.


    On the way, Qin Hao initiated a video call to Chang Jing, and the communicator quickly connected. ¡°Xiao Jing, I¡¯m currently in the endless asteroid passage and will soon reach the Southern Wilderness Star System.¡±


    Chang Jing¡¯s face lit up with joy, ¡°Our fleet is over here, and we have monitoring devices in the passage, we already saw your spacecraft.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon, I¡¯ll hang up now,¡± Qin Hao said with a smile.


    He felt a bit excited inside. He had been away from Earth for almost a year and was finally coming home.


    Lan Xin glanced at Qin Hao, feeling uneasy. It seemed he had many wives at his home too. Would they reject her?


    About twenty minutes later, Qin Hao and his team saw the end of the endless asteroid passage. The spacecraft slowed down, and a few minutes later, it exited the passage.


    There, nearly a hundred warships were anchored, densely packed, giving a tremendous visual impact.


    These were two fully organized interstellar fleets. Many people were standing on the interstellar aircraft carrier, Galaxy. The spacecraft slowly landed there.


    Qin Hao, Lan Xin, the Elf Queen, and the Princess stepped off the spacecraft.


    Seeing Qin Hao, Chang Jing walked quickly over and hugged him tightly. Glancing at Lan Xin and the others beside Qin Hao, she gave him a hard look but didn¡¯t say much.


    She looked at the Elf Queen Yun Ya with a smile, ¡°Welcome back, Queen Yun Ya.¡±


    On the deck were several members of the Elf Clan. Seeing their queen and princess return, their faces showed excitement, but they didn¡¯t move because they were under military orders and couldn¡¯t move without command.


    Qin Hao glanced at Yun Ya and said, ¡°Queen Yun Ya, you can speak with your people first.¡± He then walked into the interstellar aircraft carrier with Chang Jing, Lan Xin, and others.


    On the way, Qin Hao introduced them, ¡°This is Chang Jing. When I¡¯m not here, she¡¯s the person in charge of the Galaxy Federation. This is Princess Lan Xin of the Nolan Empire.¡±


    Chang Jing smiled, ¡°Hello, Princess Lan Xin. I didn¡¯t expect this guy to have such skills, even getting a princess from one of the eight great empires.¡±


    Lan Xin smiled faintly, ¡°Hello, Chang Jing-jie. Just call me Lan Xin-mei. Please take care of me in the future.¡±


    ¡°No need to be formal, Lan Xin-mei. You¡¯re part of the family here, no one will bully you,¡± Chang Jing said gently, seeing through Lan Xin¡¯s worries.


    As they entered the ship, Chang Jing spoke to Qin Hao, ¡°Xiao Hao, how do you plan to arrange the Elf Queen? She was a leader of the Elf Clan. Now that she¡¯s back, this has both pros and cons for us.¡±


    The advantage is that the Elf Clan will be even more grateful and loyal to Qin Hao. The disadvantage is that with her previous prestige, she could rally some Elf Clan members if she uses some means.


    Qin Hao understood this as well, his tone calm, ¡°Let her be a queen but without real power. Just like how Xiyu Country had a queen back on Earth. And keep someone to watch over her.¡±

 Chapter 860: 860 Return Journey

    Chapter 860: Chapter 860 Return Journey


    Chang Jing slightly nodded her head. Qin Hao¡¯s thoughts were aligned with hers. This Elven queen absolutely must not gain real power.


    Due to her significant influence and high status among the elves, if she gained actual power, it would affect Qin Hao¡¯s position.


    She spoke up, ¡°We can educate the elves through various channels such as media and education, encouraging their sense of belonging to the Galaxy Federation, while gradually diminishing the queen¡¯s revered image in their minds. The Galaxy Federation has only one leader.¡±


    After speaking, she continued, ¡°By the way, Yuying is about to give birth.¡±


    Qin Hao was momentarily surprised and delighted, ¡°Really? Are they all on Earth now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re all on Earth,¡± Chang Jing replied.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Let¡¯s return to Earth first, I want to go home and have a look.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°Should we put things on hold here for now?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Yes, let¡¯s put them on hold. We¡¯ll proceed with the next step after we return from Earth. I want to see the children.¡±


    Before long, the Elven Queen Yun Ya and others including Luna came in. Yun Ya looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, when are we going back to Earth? I want to see my people, I feel deeply guilty for not protecting them.¡±


    Hearing her words, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes flashed with a glimmer of light, and he smiled faintly, ¡°We¡¯ll set off soon. We now have sub-light speed cosmic ships, so it will only take a few days to reach Earth.¡±


    Yun Ya slightly nodded and stood silently to the side.


    Qin Hao said to Chang Jing, ¡°Prepare for departure.¡±


    Chang Jing handed over the command to her deputy, who was one of her close associates, also issuing orders to the artificial intelligences of all the warships, ensuring stability even in case of betrayal. This was the benefit of artificial intelligence, as it was solely loyal to Qin Hao and his people.


    At the same time, they had their own thoughts. Any adverse actions against the Galaxy Federation would not be executed, unless ordered by Qin Hao.


    ...


    Qin Hao and his party took an advanced cosmic ship to Earth, which would take about five days to reach Earth at its speed.


    On the way, Qin Hao and Chang Jing had a video call with Du Wanrou and others on Earth.


    The video connected quickly, and Du Wanrou appeared, alongside a cradle with a boy and a girl inside.


    Qin Hao¡¯s face lit up with joy, ¡°Wan Rou.¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s voice, Du Wanrou was full of surprise, ¡°Xiao Hao, where are you? Are you coming back soon?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Hao?¡± Mr. and Mrs. Qin also appeared in the video, along with Xia Qing, Xu Siyao, Fan Ruobing, Han Meng, Zhao Yuying, Miao Jing, and Li Moying.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, where are you now? Get back here quickly, Yuying is about to give birth. How can you, as a father, put anything above your child?¡± Mrs. Qin scolded him from the other side of the call.


    Qin Hao chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m on my way back now, it¡¯ll take just five days to get to Earth.¡±


    ¡°Really? You¡¯re not lying to me?¡± Mrs. Qin was skeptical.


    Chang Jing smiled and said, ¡°Mom, Xiao Hao is with me. We¡¯re on our way back.¡±


    Mrs. Qin: ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good. Hurry back, Yuying is about to give birth.¡±


    Qin Hao talked a bit longer before ending the call. He reached out to pull Chang Jing and Lan Xin close.


    He said to Chang Jing, ¡°I know it¡¯s been hard for you, Xiao Jing.¡±


    Chang Jing, understanding his meaning, nestled her head on his shoulder, ¡°Helping you is enough for me.¡±


    The Galaxy Federation Government needed people to manage and control it. Chang Jing was the most suitable candidate, along with Ning Yao, Miao Jing, Li Qingya, and others.


    They were currently the high-ranking officials of the Galaxy Federation Government, managing and maintaining its operations for Qin Hao.


    If they were to get pregnant and leave their positions to others, Qin Hao would not be at ease. However, he intended to select a new batch of elites for the Interstellar Federation Government upon returning.


    These individuals had to be loyal to the Galaxy Federation.


    Qin Hao glanced at Lan Xin, who pouted her seductive red lips at him with a hint of coquetry on her face.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go rest for a while,¡± Qin Hao chuckled.


    Chang Jing¡¯s face immediately turned red, realizing he wanted her and Lan Xin together. She hadn¡¯t been intimate with Qin Hao for a long time and deeply missed that feeling.


    The three of them returned to a room on the ship.


    About an hour later, the sounds in the room finally quieted down.


    Qin Hao opened the system and checked the system mall. Most of the useful items in the mall had already been redeemed when he left Earth, but there were still some he hadn¡¯t.


    He planned to redeem the remaining technology after returning but wanted to upgrade the system now.


    ¡°Xiao Ying, when can the system be upgraded?¡± Qin Hao communicated with the system Xiao Ying through his mind.


    Xiao Ying: ¡°The host can spend 100 billion achievement points for a forced upgrade, which will unlock more items after the upgrade.¡±


    ¡°100 billion?¡± Qin Hao checked his achievement points, totaling over 150 billion.


    The bounty on the interstellar network had significantly raised Qin Hao¡¯s reputation in the galaxy, adding many achievement points.


    With a galactic population in the quadrillions, the increase in points wasn¡¯t actually that much.


    After some thought, Qin Hao said, ¡°Upgrade it, 100 billion it is.¡±


    ¡°Host has consumed 100 billion achievement points to forcibly upgrade the system. The system is upgrading and will take about a day. Please wait.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao, Chang Jing, and Lan Xin slept for five or six hours. When they woke up, Qin Hao smiled warmly at them, then there was a knock on the door.


    ¡°Master,¡± Luna¡¯s voice came from outside.


    Qin Hao was a bit surprised, quickly dressing before stepping out to see Luna at the door. He asked curiously, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Luna spoke softly, ¡°Master, my mother is looking for you. She said there¡¯s something she needs to discuss.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s mind raced as he nodded slightly, ¡°Take me to her.¡±


    Luna led Qin Hao to the Elven Queen Yun Ya¡¯s room. She knocked on the door, ¡°Mother, Mr. Qin is here.¡±


    ¡°Come in,¡± came Yun Ya¡¯s voice from inside.


    Hearing her tone and attitude, Qin Hao frowned slightly. Given her current status, shouldn¡¯t she have come to open the door herself?


    I¡¯ll see what you want from me, he thought as he pushed the door open and walked in. Inside, the Elven Queen Yun Ya stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the vast starry sky outside.

 Chapter 861: 861: Return to Earth

    Chapter 861: Chapter 861: Return to Earth


    Qin Hao walked straight to the sofa and sat down, speaking with an authoritative tone: ¡°Queen Yun Ya, what can I do for you?¡±


    Elf Queen Yun Ya turned to look at him, her posture elegant and exceedingly noble: ¡°Mr. Qin, to be able to become the leader of the Galaxy Federation at such a young age and command a powerful fleet, I have immense admiration for you.¡±


    Qin Hao heard her flattery and smiled faintly: ¡°Queen Yun Ya, there¡¯s no need for such compliments. Just tell me directly what you want.¡±


    Yun Ya¡¯s eyes flickered, her exquisitely beautiful face revealing a charming smile: ¡°Mr. Qin, I want to discuss some issues regarding my situation with you.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her: ¡°What issues are you referring to?¡±


    Yun Ya: ¡°My placement issue. Mr. Qin, I wish to continue leading our Elf Clan. My people and I will remain loyal to you and will never commit any act of betrayal. You are a benefactor to the Elf Clan, and we are not a people who repay kindness with enmity.¡±


    Qin Hao replied: ¡°Queen Yun Ya, you must remember that now both the Elf Clan and the people on Earth are citizens of the Galaxy Federation Government. I¡¯ve already thought about your placement; you will still be the queen of the Elf Clan, but the Elf Clan will be governed by the Galaxy Federation Government. Do you have an issue with that?¡±


    Yun Ya understood immediately what he meant. Regaining control over the Elf Clan was no longer possible.


    However, she did not give up: ¡°Now the Elf Clan is part of the Galaxy Federation, and Mr. Qin is correct. I used to be the Queen of the Elf Clan and am skilled in management. I also wish to contribute to the development of the Galaxy Federation. I hope Mr. Qin understands that I have no other intentions.¡±


    Hearing her words, Qin Hao frowned and began to ponder. Since she had put it that way, it was difficult for him to refuse directly.


    About a dozen seconds later, Qin Hao said to her: ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this matter later. I need to consult with the other heads of the Galaxy Federation Government, as your placement is not a trivial matter.¡±


    Yun Ya walked over to him and knelt beside him, looking up at him: ¡°Mr. Qin, we are not outsiders now. I support your relationships with Luna and Jiao Rou. They are fortunate to be with you.¡±


    She began to use the emotions of Luna and Jiao Rou to persuade Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao looked at her exquisitely beautiful face, his eyes deep and bright. Yun Ya felt as if Qin Hao¡¯s gaze could see through everything, as if she were standing there without any cover.


    To Qin Hao, Yun Ya was an ambitious woman, and such people could be dangerous. After gaining power, she might try to turn the tables.


    Of course, if such a person could be controlled, she would also be a great asset. It just depended on how Qin Hao would handle her.


    Seeing that he was still unmoved, Yun Ya hesitated for a moment: ¡°Mr. Qin, I understand your concerns. I won¡¯t do anything unwise because it would have no benefit for me and would only lead to my downfall.¡±


    Although Yun Ya was the mother of Luna and Jiao Rou, she didn¡¯t look much older than thirty. She had a voluptuous figure and a lingering charm, coupled with her extraordinary beauty, making her an exceedingly rare earthly treasure.


    The most attractive thing about her was her mature, noble, and elegant demeanor, which had a massive allure for many men.


    This was one of the reasons why her starting price at auctions was so high; her status, demeanor, and appearance were all top-notch.


    Qin Hao looked at her ruby-red lips and a slight wicked smile appeared on his face.


    ...


    Yun Ya hesitated for a moment, then stood up.


    Shortly after, the sound of Elf Queen Yun Ya¡¯s voice echoed within the room.


    After about two hours, the sounds in the room finally ceased.


    She nestled in Qin Hao¡¯s arms, softly asking: ¡°Have you decided on my matter?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her and replied: ¡°Most of the Elf Clan now resides in several cities on the Moon. However, there is already a star lord on the Moon. You can become a deputy star lord to manage all affairs. Only us senior members of the Galaxy Federation Fleet have the authority to mobilize it. The star lord and deputy star lord are only responsible for the planet¡¯s governance.¡±


    Yun Ya nodded slightly: ¡°Yes, I will manage the Moon well.¡±


    ...


    A few seconds later, the sounds in the room started again. Luna, who had already relaxed, tensed up again.


    After more than half an hour, the sounds ceased. Qin Hao opened the door and saw Luna at the entrance. He then called her in.


    ...


    Five days passed swiftly.


    Galaxy Federation Earth Star, Xuan Country District, Jianghai City, spaceport.


    A high-end spaceship slowly landed at the port. Many people stood beside it; they were all high-ranking officials of the Galaxy Federation Government.


    Qin Hao, Chang Jing, Lan Xin, Yun Ya, and others disembarked from the spaceship.


    Most of these high-ranking officials of the Galaxy Federation Government were unfamiliar faces, but a few were recognizable.


    Like Lv Tian from the former Amao Net Shopping Group, Li Jianjun from the Jinxiu Group, Sophie Inshill, Anna Insher, and Ning Yao among others.


    They had already handed their groups over to the elderly to manage. With the complete popularization of gene technology, everyone could now live over a hundred years longer, so the elderly of the past were now middle-aged and could continue working for many years.


    These individuals also had relationships with Qin Hao and got along well with him, so they transitioned from business to politics, which also allowed them to take care of their families.


    Seeing Qin Hao return, they showed utmost respect. Ning Yao walked over, smiling and said: ¡°Welcome back.¡±

 Chapter 862: 862 Qin Tian is Born

    Chapter 862: Chapter 862 Qin Tian is Born


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Why are there so many people here? Let¡¯s not make such a big deal out of this.¡±


    ¡°No problem, these twenty-odd people are all high-ranking officials of the Galaxy Federation Government, no one else knows,¡± Ning Yao replied with a smile.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Mm, arrange for the Elf Queen and the seven princesses, and send them to the moon.¡±


    Ning Yao nodded and immediately arranged for Yun Ya and the others to board a spaceship bound for the moon, which would soon arrive at the moon.


    Qin Hao looked at the people from the Galaxy Federation Government and smiled, nodding, ¡°I just got back from outside, there¡¯s a lot to do at home, so I won¡¯t host a banquet today. I¡¯ll treat everyone to a meal another day.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Your Majesty,¡± everyone said respectfully.


    Qin Hao, Chang Jing, Lan Xin, and Ning Yao got into an air energy car and headed straight to Pu¡¯er Island.


    The office of the Galaxy Federation Government is now located in Jianghai City in the Xuan Country District. Jianghai City is the central office location for the entire Galaxy Federation Government.


    On their way to Pu¡¯er Island, Ning Yao said, ¡°Xiao Hao, do you remember the Huamei Cosmetics Company?¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, ¡°Of course I remember, I acquired the cosmetics company back in the day. What about it?¡±


    Ning Yao explained, ¡°Wan Rou¡¯s parents took over the management of the cosmetics company later on. However, Su Mingzhi was not very happy. A few days ago, Wan Rou¡¯s father was involved in an accident where two air energy cars collided at high speed, and he got injured. The investigation suggests it was likely Su Mingzhi¡¯s doing, but there¡¯s no evidence.¡±


    Qin Hao frowned slightly, ¡°Su Mingzhi?¡±


    Ning Yao nodded, ¡°Yes, because he was one of the earliest people with you. Without enough evidence, it¡¯s hard to take action, and there¡¯s no good explanation for Wan Rou either.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ll handle this situation.¡±


    Ning Yao continued, ¡°Currently, many top-level groups are trying to reach into the politics of the Galaxy Federation.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°If they¡¯re capable, that¡¯s fine. If they¡¯re not, they¡¯ll be sent packing, no need to save anyone¡¯s face.¡±


    In five or six minutes, Qin Hao and the others arrived at the hillside villa on Pu¡¯er Island.


    After getting out of the car, Qin Hao hurried into the villa where Mr. Qin, Mrs. Qin, Du Wanrou, Zhao Yuying, Fan Ruobing, and Xia Qing were waiting for him in the living room.


    Seeing him come in, they all stood up, their beautiful eyes fixed on him.


    Qin Hao grinned, ¡°Let me see my precious son and daughter.¡±


    He hurried to the cradle, where the two little ones were staring outside with their eyes wide open, their deep black eyes shining brightly.


    Seeing Qin Hao, the two little ones grinned.


    Qin Hao quickly said, ¡°Mom, Dad, did you see that? They smiled at me. The kids still recognize me. Let¡¯s have Daddy hold you.¡±


    ¡°Be careful, the kids are still so small,¡± Mrs. Qin said worriedly.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mom. I¡¯ll be careful.¡± With that, he picked up his daughter first, as she was born before his son.


    After holding his daughter for a bit, he picked up his son and then suddenly asked, ¡°By the way, do they have names yet?¡±


    ¡°You just thought of that now? I¡¯ve already decided on the names. They will be called Qin Long and Qin Feng,¡± Mr. Qin said.


    Qin Hao pouted, ¡°Dad, aren¡¯t those names a bit old-fashioned?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean old-fashioned? I named you, and you think your name¡¯s old-fashioned?¡± Qin Youguo glared at him.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Alright, whatever you say, you¡¯re their grandpa.¡±


    Hearing his words, Du Wanrou and the others couldn¡¯t help but laugh. After holding the babies for a while, Qin Hao gently put them back in the cradle.


    Then he remembered something and looked at Lan Xin, introducing her to his parents and Du Wanrou, ¡°This is the princess of the Nolan Empire, her name is Lan Xin.¡±


    ¡°Lan Xin, these are my parents, this is Wan Rou, Yu Ying, Xiao Qing, Mo Ying, Ruobing...¡±


    Qin Hao introduced them to each other, and while Mr. and Mrs. Qin gave him a look, they were very warm and friendly to Lan Xin.


    Zhao Yuying was due in about five or six days. Qin Hao hadn¡¯t been anywhere else for days, waiting quietly for the birth of their child while spending time with Xia Qing, Ning Yao, Li Moying, and Fan Ruobing.


    The first time he missed it, but now that he was here, there was no way he wouldn¡¯t stay by Zhao Yuying¡¯s side.


    The news of his return quickly spread throughout high society on Earth. Many people came to visit, but Qin Hao refused them all, as he was waiting for his child¡¯s birth.


    That day, Zhao Yuying was sent to the hospital on Pu¡¯er Island. The medical staff carefully escorted her into the delivery room.


    Qin Hao, Mr. Qin, Mrs. Qin, Xia Qing, Xu Siyao, and Fan Ruobing waited outside.


    About twenty minutes later, a medical staff member rushed out from inside, ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Qin, it¡¯s a big healthy boy, both mother and child are fine.¡±


    Modern medicine is very advanced now, and childbirth is almost 100% safe.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, and Mrs. Qin took out several red envelopes to give to the nurses, ¡°Distribute these to the doctors and medical staff.¡±


    ¡°Auntie, I can¡¯t accept this, I really can¡¯t,¡± the nurse said quickly, refusing.


    Jokingly, this was Qin Hao, the leader of the Galaxy Federation Government. How could she dare take money from Qin Hao?


    Mrs. Qin explained, ¡°This isn¡¯t a bribe, it¡¯s because I¡¯ve just gained a grandson, I¡¯m happy, please accept it.¡±


    Qin Hao also said, ¡°Take it, and buy yourselves something nice to eat after work.¡±


    Hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, the nurse hesitated for a moment but eventually accepted, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Soon after, Zhao Yuying was wheeled out of the delivery room into a high-end sterile hospital room. Seeing Qin Hao, she smiled, and Qin Hao held her hand, ¡°Thank you, Yu Ying.¡±


    Zhao Yuying smiled faintly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ve been looking forward to this day for a long time.¡±


    The nurse quickly came in with the genetic medicine. They¡¯re using the best genetic medicine now, some for disease prevention, some to enhance physical potential, and the one given to Zhao Yuying would soon help her body recover.


    In the afternoon, Zhao Yuying and the baby were discharged, as her body was fine and she went straight back to the villa.


    Du Wanrou was also home looking after the children, who were very well-behaved and didn¡¯t cry much. Due to the genetic medicine, their mental development was rapid, and they were very sensible.


    Qin Hao stayed with Zhao Yuying and their three kids for three more days. The child born to Yu Ying was named Qin Tian by him. On the fourth day, he got into an air energy car and headed for Jianghai City in the Xuan Country District.


    Su Mingzhi from Huamei Cosmetics Company lived in Jianghai City, with the company¡¯s headquarters also located there. After Jianghai City became the political center of the Galaxy Federation Government, many top corporations moved their headquarters there.


    Su Jia, Li Moying, Xu Siyao, Xia Qing, and Fan Ruobing accompanied him in the air energy car.


    They quickly arrived outside Huamei Cosmetics Company in Jianghai City. Initially, Qin Hao had put Du Hongfeng and his wife in charge of a region of Huamei Cosmetics Company. However, for various reasons, Du Hongfeng and his wife later moved to Pu¡¯er Island, weakening their control over the company.


    This led to the current power struggle.


    If both were fighting purely based on their abilities, Qin Hao might not care. But Su Mingzhi had already resorted to underhanded methods.


    Du Hongfeng was Du Wanrou¡¯s father, and Su Mingzhi had already crossed a line with him.

 Chapter 863: 863: Disposal

    Chapter 863: Chapter 863: Disposal


    Jianghai City, Hua Mei Skincare Group Building.


    Nowadays, Huamei Cosmetics is sold throughout the entire Galaxy Federation. Almost all tiers of skincare products on Earth and the Moon are occupied by Huamei Cosmetics Company.


    There are a few other skincare brands struggling to survive, but the situation isn¡¯t good because Huamei Cosmetics¡¯ products are really effective, almost monopolizing the market.


    An air energy car landed on the rooftop, and Qin Hao and his group stepped out of the vehicle.


    Standing on the rooftop and looking out, the prosperity of Jianghai City could be seen with skyscrapers standing tall in the clouds, no less grand than those big cities in the interstellar regions.


    Lan Xin was also observing, as numerous air energy cars flew through the sky.


    It wasn¡¯t as backward and poor as she initially imagined. On the contrary, it was quite prosperous. After all, a planet capable of having such a powerful interstellar fleet couldn¡¯t be underdeveloped.


    Qin Hao took a glance and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go down and take a look.¡±


    He led the women down from the rooftop to the general manager¡¯s office of Huamei Cosmetics Group.


    Two bodyguards were standing at the door of the office. When they saw Qin Hao, their expressions changed slightly: ¡°Qin... Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Is Su Mingzhi inside?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Su is in, but he is a bit busy right now. Can you wait for a while?¡± The two replied hesitantly.


    Just now, Su Mingzhi had told them that everyone had to wait, but now that Qin Hao had arrived, they felt a bit uneasy saying so.


    However, Qin Hao was usually not on Earth; it was mainly Su Mingzhi who managed them. Additionally, they were hired by Su Mingzhi, so they ultimately decided to follow Su Mingzhi¡¯s instructions.


    Qin Hao¡¯s face turned slightly cold: ¡°Do you know where you are? Do you know whose company this is? Do you know who the chairman of this company is?¡±


    The two hesitated, and Leng Xuan and others stepped forward and pushed them aside.


    Someone then opened the door, and Qin Hao walked in first. Inside the office, Su Mingzhi was holding a young woman on his lap, and they were kissing.


    Seeing Qin Hao and his group enter, Su Mingzhi was startled and quickly got up, saying, ¡°Mr. Qin, what brings you here? I visited you a few days ago, but you were busy at home.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Su Mingzhi impassively and then glanced at the young Elf woman.


    Yes, the young woman was of the Elf Clan; their ears were different from humans, which was easy to distinguish.


    This woman was someone Su Mingzhi had courted when he went to the Moon. He cherished her greatly and almost always indulged her.


    Qin Hao looked at him mockingly and said, ¡°Mr. Su is living quite well now, I see.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, you flatter me. It¡¯s just that... I couldn¡¯t resist the temptation,¡± Su Mingzhi said with a dry laugh.


    Then he quickly added, ¡°Mr. Qin, please have a seat. Xiao Hui, go prepare some tea.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Forget it. Mr. Su, you owe me an explanation about these company accounts.¡± After saying that, he took a stack of documents from Leng Xuan and tossed them onto the office desk.


    These past few days, he wasn¡¯t just staying home with his children. He also had people secretly conduct a thorough investigation into Huamei Cosmetics Group.


    Upon careful inspection, the company accounts didn¡¯t add up. There were tens of billions missing every month, all flowing into Su Mingzhi¡¯s pockets. Although he hid it well, there were still holes in his plan that could be uncovered with a detailed investigation.


    Hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, Su Mingzhi hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, let me explain. The large gap in funds is because during production, the ordinary employees didn¡¯t follow standard procedures, leading to significant raw material waste. Also, in terms of raw material procurement, the previous head of procurement was embezzling, so I fired him.¡±


    Qin Hao took out more documents: ¡°These are the records of the fund flows. Nearly all those billions ended up with you or your wife and daughter. How do you explain that?¡±


    Su Mingzhi¡¯s face changed slightly, ¡°Mr. Qin, I know I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have misappropriated company funds. Considering how long I¡¯ve been with you, can you forgive me this once? I promise I¡¯ll never do it again.¡±


    ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve done? If it was just this, we wouldn¡¯t be having this conversation. Think about everything you¡¯ve done.¡± Qin Hao said, narrowing his eyes at him.


    Su Mingzhi¡¯s face changed expressions. Could it be that he knew about Du Hongfeng¡¯s matter as well? But I handled that very discreetly.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°You know very well what you have done. According to Federation law, you¡¯ll be spending some quality time inside, reflecting on your actions.¡±


    ¡°Take him away.¡±


    Leng Xuan and a few others stepped forward and apprehended Su Mingzhi.


    Su Mingzhi¡¯s face turned pale, and he hurriedly pleaded, ¡°Mr. Qin, I truly know I was wrong. Even if I don¡¯t have any merits, I¡¯ve still worked hard. For that, can you spare me this time? I¡¯m willing to leave the company voluntarily and live an ordinary life.¡±


    ¡°Are you the kind of person who can live an ordinary life?¡± Qin Hao asked, looking at him.


    In the end, Su Mingzhi was taken away and handed over to the Galaxy Federation Government for judgment. Su Meilan couldn¡¯t escape either; she was involved as well.


    This incident was announced company-wide, and Du Hongfeng would become the new general manager of Huamei Cosmetics Company, overseeing all company affairs.


    As for the subsequent company meetings, he did not attend because there was no need for him to be there.


    After finishing these matters, Qin Hao took them to their residence in Xinghai Building, where he treated Lan Xin to some famous cuisine from Xuan Country.


    He stayed on Earth for two days, then went to the Moon. At this time, the Moon had already been transformed into a planet suitable for human habitation, housing not only the Elf Clan but also many humans.


    Compared to the countries in the interstellar regions, the population of the Galaxy Federation was relatively small, totaling less than ten billion.


    However, this wasn¡¯t a significant problem. Through warfare, he could completely capture a large population, and they would need to capture some slaves as well.


    Slaves have low demands; they only need to be fed. There is hardly any expense in their daily lives, while ordinary citizens enjoy many state benefits and welfare. If they were all turned into citizens, it would be a significant burden on the Galaxy Federation.


    This is also why many imperial systems exist in the interstellar regions. It¡¯s not that their civilizations are backward but due to economic capacity constraints.


    If everyone were imperial citizens, it would create a significant economic burden. So in every country, the slave trade is rampant, with numerous slave auctions.


    It can be said that in the major interstellar empires, seven or eight-tenths of the population are slaves, and only two or three-tenths are true imperial citizens ¨C the upper class.


    If Qin Hao wanted to grow his Galaxy Federation, he could only achieve it by capturing more people and improving the economy for his citizens, who would then manage the slaves. Of course, this also had some drawbacks, like forming various families, but everything would be under control.

 Chapter 864: 864: The Moon

    Chapter 864: Chapter 864: The Moon


    Qin Hao only needed to control the most critical military power, as military force was the key to everything.


    On this day, he boarded a spacecraft alone to go to the moon. From Earth to the moon, the sub-light-speed spacecraft took only about five minutes.


    On the way, Qin Hao took a moment to open the system store. The system had long been updated, but he had hardly checked it since returning home.


    He skimmed through it and saw that the highest-level starship currently in the store was of B-level, two levels higher than D-level, and significantly more powerful.


    In addition to starships, there were various powerful long-range energy cannons, defensive energy cannons, and other technologies that completely crushed those of the Eight Great Empires.


    Besides military technology, there were also various aspects of life and civilian technologies. If Qin Hao researched all of them, it would change the entire interstellar power structure.


    The Galaxy Federation would then look down upon the stars, becoming the most powerful empire in the galaxy and potentially achieving universal unification.


    B-level starships and spacecrafts, equipped with super-light-speed power devices, could travel from Earth to the Endless Asteroid Belt in less than a day. The speed was unimaginably terrifying.


    The journey from Earth to the Endless Asteroid Belt was very far. Previously, piloting an ordinary starship took several months.


    As he browsed the system store, the spacecraft had already reached the moon and finally landed at the Federation office building on the moon, where most of the Federation Government administrators were located.


    Outside the Federation office building, Qin Hao exited the spacecraft and saw a group of people waiting for him outside the building.


    ¡°King,¡± they greeted him respectfully. Yun Ya was among them, standing at the front, as she was the Deputy Chief Star Officer of the moon.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡±


    They surrounded him and entered the conference room of the Moon Federal Government office building.


    Qin Hao addressed everyone, ¡°I¡¯ve been following the lunar management recently from Earth. You¡¯ve done well, but we need to strengthen management, education, and other aspects. Federal law should be the highest standard, and education should align with Earth¡¯s. We must not miss any talent.¡±


    Everyone nodded in agreement, taking notes and recording every word on their communicators for later study.


    He continued, ¡°We should encourage business development. For a planet or a country to prosper, commerce must thrive. In the future, the Galaxy Federation will connect with the interstellar community to promote commercial prosperity. There are many areas where we need to emulate interstellar nations...¡±


    Qin Hao spoke at length, and everyone listened attentively. When he finished, he asked, ¡°Does anyone have anything to add?¡±


    The Moon¡¯s Chief Star Officer was Xu Jiejian, Xu Siyao¡¯s uncle.


    Xu Jiejian was experienced, having previously managed Jianghai City. If not for Qin Hao¡¯s sudden rise, he might have had a chance to enter the center of power.


    He spoke, ¡°King, I learned online that slavery exists in the interstellar community. Should we also learn from this?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Yes, if the population is too large, it places a significant burden on the national finances. Slavery must be implemented.¡±


    Xu Jiejian and others had different views compared to the interstellar community but understood the need for localized policies: ¡°Slavery is not impossible, but I think we can implement incentive policies to give slaves hope of becoming citizens, thus preventing slave uprisings.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Qin Hao nodded in approval.


    Xu Jiejian continued, ¡°Recently, our moon¡¯s interstellar exploration department discovered a planet covered in various oddly-shaped peaks with no trees or vegetation, only bare mountains. However, it looked stunning and impressive and could be developed into a key interstellar tourism project.¡±


    He offered many good suggestions, which Qin Hao agreed to.


    Finally, Qin Hao turned to the Elf Queen Yun Ya and asked, ¡°How do you find handling these administrative matters, Queen Yun Ya? Are you familiar with them?¡±


    Yun Ya nodded slightly, ¡°With Xu overseeing and everyone¡¯s help, I have become familiar with the situation here. King, I will not disappoint your trust.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Do well; otherwise, I will have to act according to federal law.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, King. I will do my best,¡± Yun Ya replied solemnly.


    Afterward, everyone reported their recent achievements to Qin Hao.


    The meeting lasted just over an hour, and after it ended, people gradually left to return to their work.


    Soon, only Yun Ya, Xu Jiejian, and Qin Hao were left.


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Mr. Xu, I will be leaving Earth in a few days. While I am gone, I hope you will manage the moon well. Do not let me and Si Yao down.¡±


    Xu Jiejian understood his message and nodded slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Xiao Hao¡¯s family here.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°I will take a walk around the moon to see the situation of the Elf Clan.¡±


    ¡°Let Queen Yun Ya accompany you. She is already familiar with the area, and I have some matters to attend to.¡±


    Yun Ya and Qin Hao left the Federal Government office building together. They got into an air energy car and began to tour Moon City.


    Moon City was the largest city on the moon, named after the moon itself. About 80% of the residents were elves, and approximately 20% were humans.


    There were many other cities on the moon, mostly inhabited by elves.


    In the car, Yun Ya smiled and said, ¡°King, during my time here, I have investigated the elves¡¯ living conditions. Xu and his team have done a great job. The elves¡¯ lives here are even better than on the Elf Planet.¡±


    ¡°As long as you are satisfied, Queen Yun Ya. This is just the beginning; things will get even better.¡±


    After touring Moon City for over an hour, Qin Hao and Yun Ya traveled to Zhenxing City, hundreds of miles away. Along the way, they saw numerous fields and trees.


    These improved agricultural plants would produce abundant food, alleviating any concerns about shortages.


    There were fewer roads between the two cities than before, as everything now relied on air energy cars for transportation.


    Qin Hao spent the whole day on the moon, visiting dozens of major cities and examining the local situations in detail.


    In each city, he and Yun Ya would disguise themselves and gather firsthand information.


    Many things could be seen in satellite surveillance videos, but some needed to be examined on the ground. Around 6 PM, they returned to Yun Ya¡¯s residence in Moon City¡ª a rather large private estate.

 Chapter 865: 865 Launch the Attack

    Chapter 865: Chapter 865 Launch the Attack


    After all, Yun Ya is the queen of the Elf Clan, and the living quarters for her and several princesses cannot be vague.


    The air energy car landed within the manor. Qin Hao walked inside the manor, observing the surroundings. There were many advanced combat robots guarding the manor.


    These were all arranged by Xu Jiejian, with an intention to protect, but also to monitor. As soon as there is any unusual activity here, these combat robots will transmit the information, allowing Qin Hao and others to know immediately.


    Within the manor, Qin Hao saw quite a few servants, all of them were also from the Elf Clan. These people were recruited by Yun Ya upon her return to the Elf Clan. Many Elf Clan members aim to become servants of the queen and princesses, which is considered an honor.


    Although these people have joined the Galaxy Federation, their minds are still clouded with thoughts from ancestral teachings.


    This issue is not something that can be resolved in a day or two; it requires at least several years or even over a decade to eradicate their old thoughts. Meanwhile, the next generation will grow up too.


    When they arrived at the manor¡¯s castle, Luna and Jiao Rou, along with seven other princesses, were already waiting. Upon seeing Qin Hao and his mother entering, they served them tea.


    Dinner was a special meal of the Elf Clan, it was Qin Hao¡¯s first time experiencing it, featuring a type of meat unique to the Elf Clan that is not found on Earth.


    After dinner, Qin Hao did not leave but stayed there for the night, accompanied by Luna and Jiao Rou.


    The next morning.


    Qin Hao left the moon, followed by Luna and Jiao Rou, which was also Yun Ya¡¯s intention, aligning with the wishes of both women.


    Back on Earth, Qin Hao became busy again, exchanging various technologies in the system mall, including B-class battleships, patrol ships, anti-submarine ships, escort ships, interstellar aircraft carriers, B-class mechas, air combat devices, combat robots, and various advanced civilian technologies.


    The exchange price for each item was over billions, consuming almost all his five hundred billion achievement points.


    After completing the exchange, he handed the technologies over to Chang Jing, He Tingting, and Ning Yao, assigning them to handle mass production.


    As for the required B-class rare metals and other resources, there was no need to worry. The Southern Wilderness Star System is vast, with billions of stars, making B-class metals fairly accessible.


    About five days later, matters were sorted, and Qin Hao began preparations for departure.


    He was bound for the endless asteroid field, ready to launch a star-studded campaign.


    This time he brought few people, only Leng Xuan and the Shadow Guards, along with Lan Xin, Luna, and Jiao Rou. This journey was for war, not for recreation. He dared not bring Xia Qing, Ning Yao, Fan Ruobing, fearing any mishap involving them.


    On this day, Qin Hao set out, accompanied by a fully assembled interstellar fleet.


    Currently, the Galaxy Federation¡¯s military production speed is exceptionally terrifying; assembling D-class fleets like these, three to four can be produced within a month, quite staggering.


    Moreover, Miao Jing is still constructing more military bases, knowing larger, more intense wars are forthcoming. The production speed of interstellar fleets must keep pace, as falling behind could hinder Qin Hao¡¯s progress, even potentially causing failure in the ultimate war.


    Qin Hao stood inside the interstellar aircraft carrier, gazing at the outer space. Frequently, he could spot the Galaxy Federation patrol fleets.


    Currently, the Galaxy Federation patrol fleets cover nearly ten thousand stars around Earth, many being resource-rich metal planets, some undergoing transformation to become habitable life planets.


    Lan Xin looked at him and asked, ¡°Xiao Hao, are you planning to fight your way through the endless asteroid field?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, the Lei Meng Duchy, Silver Star Free Federation, Flame Dragon Duchy, and Nanyan Duchy are my initial targets. Once secured, we shall outline further plans.¡±


    Lan Xin nodded in agreement, understanding these nations belonged to the interstellar periphery. Conquering them would not cause too much upheaval.


    Should he continue his campaign, the eight major empires certainly would not remain idle, as many countries are their vassals. They cannot stand by and watch their vassals being extinguished without responding, which would result in dire consequences.


    ¡°Our counterparts, the Nolan Empire, borders the Sky Wolf Empire and the Moon Mist Empire. However, the Moon Mist Empire lies within the interstellar realm. In the future, you will confront the Nolan Empire and the Sky Wolf Empire,¡± Lan Xin said to him.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Do not worry, my target is the Sky Wolf Empire. As long as the Nolan Empire remains uninvolved, I will not engage them.¡±


    Seven days later.


    Qin Hao led a fully assembled D-class interstellar fleet to the entrance of the endless asteroid field corridor.


    Hundreds of warships waited for Qin Hao here, knowing well what was about to unfold. Many felt their blood boil with anticipation.


    Along with the ships brought by Qin Hao, there were now nearly five hundred D-class warships, countless air combat devices, and combat robots.


    Qin Hao ordered, ¡°Set out, first eliminate those United Fleets, then conquer the surrounding four duchies, everyone follow my commands.¡±


    The colossal fleet commenced launch, entering the endless asteroid corridor. Inside the central interstellar aircraft carrier, Qin Hao called Wei Yingrui of the Lei Meng Duchy.


    The call was quickly answered, Wei Yingrui respectfully addressed Qin Hao, ¡°Master.¡±


    ¡°Create some distance between your fleet and the United Fleet, my fleet will arrive shortly,¡± Qin Hao replied calmly.


    Wei Yingrui was taken aback, realizing the commencement of the interstellar campaign, ¡°Understood, Master, I will immediately send our fleet information to you to avoid friendly fire.¡±


    Swiftly, Wei Yingrui shared the fleet information, which Qin Hao disseminated to each fleet unit.


    The speed of D-class warships is remarkable, within a few hours, they reached the exit of the endless asteroid corridor.


    As they were about to emerge from the corridor, the interstellar joint fleet had already detected them.


    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong, the Galaxy Fleet is attacking!¡± someone in the interstellar joint fleet exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°They are attacking with nearly five hundred warships, and all appear to be advanced warships. We have over a thousand warships, but only a few dozen advanced ones. What should we do?¡±


    Urgently, someone informed the highest commanding officer of the interstellar joint fleet, ¡°General Ma, what do we do now?¡±


    Ma Shikai: ¡°What to do? Of course, we fight them. We have many ships, what is there to fear? Order everyone to engage them.¡±


    ¡°Yes, General.¡± The subordinate heard the order and quickly conveyed it.


    Ma Shikai continued, ¡°The command ship is crucial; it must not be attacked on the battlefield. Once they engage, our fleet will pull back to ensure the command center¡¯s safety.¡±

 Chapter 866: 866

    Chapter 866: Chapter 866


    The people on the command ship listened to him, their faces darkened, so you are not foolish after all.


    He had just ordered those low-level battleships to attack, which was clearly suicidal, akin to smashing eggs against a rock. The attack range and power of the energy cannons on advanced battleships were far beyond the capabilities of low-level battleships.


    Although the interstellar joint fleet had a large number of low-level battleships, everyone knew too well that these low-level battleships would likely be destroyed before they even had a chance to fire.


    After all, the energy cannons on advanced battleships had extremely long attack ranges, high power, and fast firing rates, thoroughly outclassing low-level battleships.


    By the time Qin Hao and his men emerged from the endless asteroid belt, those low-level battleships had already charged forward.


    The Galaxy Fleet¡¯s energy cannons fired directly, blasting at the low-level battleships and air combat devices in the sky.


    In an instant, the sky was covered with the light of energy cannons.


    An energy cannon struck a battleship, and the resulting energy shockwave destroyed dozens of surrounding low-level battleships. The air combat devices were even more fragile, completely unable to withstand the attack.


    In just a few seconds, nearly a hundred low-level battleships were destroyed, unable to even get within firing range before being obliterated.


    The battle did not last long, less than three minutes, before the interstellar joint fleet began to collapse. Countless interstellar fleets, witnessing the power of the Galaxy Fleet, were filled with terror and began to flee.


    However, their speed was nothing compared to the advanced battleships, and fleeing only led to inevitable death.


    In the end, only the flagship of the interstellar joint fleet managed to escape, as Ma Shikai had ordered the ship to move away from the battlefield right at the start. As soon as they saw the unfavorable situation, they fled immediately.


    Qin Hao did not order anyone to pursue them, as it was pointless. In roughly half an hour, thousands of low-level battleships had been destroyed, and the remaining ones all raised the flag of surrender.


    Once the starry sky had calmed, the cleanup machines were deployed to collect the battlefield debris, mainly the metal fragments, which could be melted down and used to forge new battleships.


    At this time, Wei Yingrui of the Lei Meng Duchy arrived alone. Upon boarding the D-grade interstellar aircraft carrier, he was deeply shocked that Qin Hao was capable of producing such high-tech military products, which was simply unbelievable.


    Entering the battleship, he saw many advanced combat robots along the way. When he finally met Qin Hao, he respectfully addressed him as ¡°Master¡± without hesitation.


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, ¡°Prepare to announce this to the nation.¡±


    Wei Yingrui nodded, ¡°Yes, Master. I have already prepared the script. From now on, the entire Lei Meng Duchy will be incorporated into the Galaxy Federation, and its citizens will become citizens of the Galaxy Federation.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Very well. Everything should be managed as before, but I will install video surveillance satellites over each planet.¡±


    Wei Yingrui did not dare to say anything else; he could only nod and agree with everything Qin Hao said.


    A few minutes later, Wei Yingrui left the interstellar aircraft carrier and piloted his spacecraft back to the Lei Meng Duchy to handle the matter. If he couldn¡¯t take care of this matter properly, Qin Hao certainly wouldn¡¯t place any trust in him.


    After the battlefield cleaning was complete, Qin Hao continued to advance his army, targeting the Silver Star Free Federation first.


    ...


    ¡°The Galaxy Fleet emerged victorious from the endless asteroid belt; the interstellar joint fleet was utterly defeated and annihilated.¡±


    ¡°The interstellar joint fleet suffered a crushing defeat, with the mighty Galaxy Fleet deploying nearly 500 advanced interstellar battleships, showcasing their formidable military strength.¡±


    ¡°The rise of another empire, with the Galaxy Federation demonstrating immense military power, comparable to the Eight Great Empires.¡±


    This news quickly spread across the galaxy, causing a massive stir.


    The military strength of the Galaxy Federation Republic was so powerful? Comparable to the Eight Great Empires?


    Could the interstellar landscape be on the verge of change? Might this even become the ninth empire in the galaxy?


    The Eight Great Empires, upon receiving the news from the front lines, also showed serious expressions and the Interstellar Federation Government urgently convened an all-national leaders meeting to respond to the Galaxy Federation and Qin Hao.


    The Interstellar Federation Government and the smaller countries unanimously hoped that the Eight Great Empires would take action.


    But the Eight Great Empires remained silent. They needed to carefully calculate and observe the Galaxy Federation¡¯s goals.


    If they were to send troops, how should they go about it? How many should each nation contribute?


    Given the current strength displayed by the Galaxy Federation, it would take at least a thousand advanced battleships to have a chance against Qin Hao.


    These advanced battleships were extremely costly, and losing even one would mean a loss of billions in star currency. If any state suffered too great a loss, it would significantly impact their military strength, allowing other empires to take advantage.


    Each empire had its own considerations and calculations.


    During their meeting, the leaders of the Silver Star Free Federation, the Flame Dragon Duchy, and the Nanyan Duchy sent out distress signals, as the Galaxy Fleet was currently advancing on three fronts, attacking the border nations of these federations.


    Each time they arrived at a planet, it was either submission or death. Anyone who dared resist was brutally suppressed, with Qin Hao showing no mercy. Only by displaying powerful strength and ruthless tactics would certain people understand their might.


    Within a day, the Lei Meng Duchy, Silver Star Free Federation, Flame Dragon Duchy, and Nanyan Duchy were all occupied by the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    The Lei Meng Duchy surrendered directly. Although there were some voices of opposition within the duchy, Wei Yingrui silenced them with strong measures. Citizens of each federation were anxious, uncertain of the fate that awaited them.


    After occupying these four duchies, Qin Hao implemented the laws and regulations that Chang Jing and others had long prepared. The legal system was unified under the Galaxy Interstellar Federation¡¯s laws, while other aspects, including the currency system, remained unchanged for now.


    These four duchies controlled around a hundred planets in total, with a population of approximately 50 billion. While this was not substantial in the galaxy, it was still significant to Qin Hao.


    After occupying the four duchies, Qin Hao ceased his advance, as further action might provoke an alliance of the Eight Great Empires.


    This was not the situation he desired. Even with his current strength, he could not withstand the combined force of the Eight Great Empires.


    He could either secretly ally with several empires to divide them or wait until the B-grade battleships were developed, at which point he could thoroughly crush them without worry.


    But since the B-grade battleships were not yet ready, he had to pause and solidify his rear lines for now.


    As per Qin Hao¡¯s orders, a new military production base was being constructed on a planet near the endless asteroid belt, to support Qin Hao¡¯s interstellar fleet.


    Simultaneously, Qin Hao was also managing the population, planning to relocate some people to the galaxy.

 Chapter 867: 867 Visitors from Bingzhou Kingdom

    Chapter 867: Chapter 867 Visitors from Bingzhou Kingdom


    The news of the Galaxy Federation Republic¡¯s occupation of the four duchies spread like a hurricane across the entire interstellar space.


    Three of the rulers of the countries died, and one surrendered.


    At this moment, Qin Hao was on Silver Star, the capital planet of the former Silver Star Free Federation. Qin Hao has now designated Silver Star as the central city, and the headquarters of the Galaxy Fleet is also stationed here.


    Because Silver Star¡¯s geographical location is excellent, it¡¯s almost at the center of the four duchies, making it a suitable choice. Moreover, Silver Star¡¯s economy and industrial level are among the most developed planets.


    Headquarters of the Silver Star Galaxy Fleet.


    Qin Hao stood in the surveillance room, looking at the virtual screens in front of him. Lan Xin, Luna, and Jiao Rou stood beside him.


    Occasionally, a red dot would light up on a virtual screen, followed by the Artificial Intelligence enlarging the map, clearly showing what was happening there. A group of people was robbing and killing in broad daylight.


    Although Qin Hao had already occupied the four duchies, this brought about a brief period of chaos and panic, with many people seizing the opportunity to rob, rape, and kill.


    The Artificial Intelligence immediately issued orders, commanding the battle robots and air combat devices on the local planets to kill or capture those people.


    Of the four duchies, the Silver Star Free Federation was considered the most powerful, with satellite video surveillance on dozens of controlled planets. Any illegal activities detected by the Artificial Intelligence program would be followed by the deployment of air combat devices and battle robots.


    Currently, on these more than a hundred planets, Qin Hao had left fifty air combat devices and three hundred battle robots on each planet, aiming to maintain the safety of local ordinary citizens, preventing them from falling into total chaos.


    The satellite video surveillance systems of the other three countries were incomplete, covering only a few planets. Equipment and supplies were being transported there to consolidate the Galaxy Federation Government¡¯s control.


    ...


    Besides the Silver Star Free Federation and Lei Meng Duchy, the other two countries had been in some turmoil over the past few days. Without video surveillance satellites, events on these planets would only be known through online calls.


    However, after Qin Hao¡¯s brutal suppression, those taking advantage of the chaos and causing trouble significantly decreased. Although there were still no video surveillance satellites, this did not hinder reporting. Upon any report, advanced air combat devices and battle robots would immediately respond and deal with the criminals.


    Because of these actions, the perception of the Galaxy Federation Republic had greatly improved among many people, even faster than law enforcement responses before, with air combat devices patrolling twenty-four hours a day.


    Ordinary citizens also heard that Qin Hao would install video surveillance satellites above every planet, monitoring any illegal activities for immediate response by aerial vehicles and battle robots.


    Three days later.


    Qin Hao and Lan Xin, along with others, were in the Galaxy Fleet Military and Political Office Building. This building, previously the military and political office of the Silver Star Free Federation, had been converted to the military and political building of the Galaxy Federation Republic, managing all the planets of the former four countries.


    At this time, a person entered and respectfully said, ¡°Mr. Qin, an envoy from the Bingzhou Kingdom is here and wants to see you.¡±


    Qin Hao turned and asked, ¡°An envoy from the Bingzhou Kingdom?¡±


    The Bingzhou Kingdom and the Xuanzhou Kingdom were currently neighboring countries to the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    The Xuanzhou Kingdom was a vassal state of the Nolan Empire, while the Bingzhou Kingdom was a vassal of the Sky Wolf Empire. Qin Hao had poor relations with the Sky Wolf Empire, so the Bingzhou Kingdom¡¯s motives for coming were likely not simple.


    ¡°Take me to see them,¡± Qin Hao said.


    Lan Xin hastily said, ¡°Xiao Hao, be careful.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and then went to meet the envoy from the Bingzhou Kingdom. They arrived in the reception room, where seven people were waiting for Qin Hao.


    Seeing Qin Hao enter, the seven people turned to look at him, their eyes flickering and expressions calm.


    Someone stood up and smiled, ¡°Greetings, Mr. Qin. We are envoys from the Bingzhou Kingdom, representing our ruler to discuss some matters with you.¡±


    Qin Hao sat opposite them, smiling, ¡°What matters do you want to discuss?¡±


    The person replied, ¡°Mr. Qin should be well aware of what we want to discuss. Today, we represent not only the Bingzhou Kingdom but also the Sky Wolf Empire.


    Our Bingzhou Kingdom is a vassal state of the Sky Wolf Empire. The Sky Wolf Empire is exceptionally powerful, one of the eight major empires in the galaxy.


    While the Galaxy Federation Republic is strong, it cannot compare to the Sky Wolf Empire. As long as you do not start a war, everything remains as it is, and no one will care about the four duchies. But if you dare to attack our Bingzhou Kingdom, the Sky Wolf Empire will deploy heavy troops to annihilate you.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡±


    ¡°I have no intention of threatening you, Mr. Qin, only stating a fact.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Anything else to say? If not, you can get out.¡±


    The envoys of the Bingzhou Kingdom¡¯s faces changed slightly. How could the leader of the Galaxy Federation Republic speak so rudely?


    You are a ruler; where is your decorum?


    ¡°Take care, Mr. Qin,¡± they said, surprised at Qin Hao¡¯s lack of decorum. Even if the parties are adversaries, the minimum courtesy towards an envoy should be observed.


    Indeed, a barbaric nation from the Southern Wilderness Star System, not even understanding basic etiquette.


    After the envoys left, Lan Xin looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°You speak too directly. After they return, they will definitely spread the word that the Galaxy Federation Republic is a barbaric country.¡±


    ¡°Let them say whatever they want. When my fleet attacks, they¡¯ll shut up,¡± Qin Hao replied disdainfully.


    Lan Xin analyzed, ¡°I think what they said may not be entirely true. Given the Sky Wolf Empire¡¯s strength and behavior, they wouldn¡¯t act like this. It¡¯s likely the Bingzhou Kingdom, fearing destruction, brought up their backer.¡±


    Just then, Qin Hao¡¯s communicator rang. It was a call from his subordinates: ¡°Mr. Qin, the genetics research laboratories of Lei Meng Duchy, Flame Dragon Duchy, and Nanyan Duchy have been moved to the Silver Star Genetic Research Laboratory.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Good, I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    He and a few others, including Lan Xi, took an air energy car to the Silver Star Genetic Medicine Laboratory. Though called a laboratory, it was quite large, even bigger than the government office, with plenty of sophisticated equipment.


    Qin Hao entered the research room, now hosting genetic medicine research experts from four countries, all subdued by Qin Hao. Resistance meant certain death. Their work or salary hadn¡¯t changed, so they complied.


    ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± these people greeted Qin Hao respectfully upon seeing him.

 Chapter 868: 868 Interstellar Federation Delegation

    Chapter 868: Chapter 868 Interstellar Federation Delegation


    There are hundreds of people in the laboratory now, all of whom are experts in gene drugs from four original countries. There are many other gene drug researchers in different laboratories. These people are the most elite.


    Qin Hao looked at them and said, ¡°I have gathered everyone here to develop a gene drug, a human evolution gene potion that can greatly enhance human physical attributes and extend human lifespan.¡±


    Someone curiously asked, ¡°What is the expected effect of this gene drug, King?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°This gene drug can significantly slow down the aging of human cells, while new cells will be just as strong as before. According to estimates, this new type of gene drug can allow humans to live for about a thousand years, and human physical attributes will also be incredibly strong. A single punch will have at least one thousand kilograms of force, and speed and physique will be equally terrifying.¡±


    The crowd was shocked by his brief introduction: ¡°King, are you saying that this gene drug is comparable to the evolution drugs of the Sky Wolf Empire?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°The Sky Wolf Clan¡¯s evolution drugs are different. Their gene drugs should be a fusion of advantageous genes from several races and then modified. Their first evolution gene drug is relatively mature, but the second evolution falls short. Our research will directly surpass their second evolution gene drug.¡±


    Although Qin Hao¡¯s gene drug cannot make humans grow wings, the explosive power it generates is faster than flying. Even if the Sky Wolf Clan can fly in the air, they will be instantly shot down.


    The crowd was somewhat shocked upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, completely surpassing the Sky Wolf Clan¡¯s second evolution gene drug.


    The Galaxy Federation Republic¡¯s headquarters is already researching this drug. Qin Hao also provided them with the research technology to allow them to conduct research and production.


    Qin Hao has deployed heavy troops to guard this gene drug laboratory. No one can enter or leave without his permission, and he has thoroughly investigated the backgrounds of these people with no issues.


    Back at his residence, Qin Hao sat on the sofa and initiated a video call with his family. The call was quickly connected.


    Chang Jing¡¯s figure appeared on the screen: ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Xiao Hao?¡±


    ¡°How is the research on the human evolution gene drug going?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Chang Jing: ¡°Still under research, it may take some more time.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°We have already occupied those four countries. Produce the warship technology I gave you as soon as possible.¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°The warships are under production. The large-scale Star Destroyer Cannons for planetary defense have been produced, and once they are in sufficient quantity, I will have them sent over. Xiao Hao, didn¡¯t you plan to establish a military weapon production base there? It¡¯s better to produce these things there. If a great war breaks out, it would be difficult to supply from here.¡±


    Qin Hao replied: ¡°I was also thinking about that. I have already started having robots build a base in the endless meteorite passage. I am also integrating the military production bases of these four countries to form four large military production bases.¡±


    After all, the things in military bases are produced by intelligent robots. They are much more reliable than humans and won¡¯t leak any secrets.


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao opened the interstellar map to take a look. Currently, the Galaxy Federation Republic borders the Xuanzhou Kingdom and Bingzhou Kingdom. There are hundreds of other countries beyond them, leading to the Nolan Empire, Sky Wolf Empire, and Moon Mist Empire.


    Further into the galaxy, there are the Tanglong Empire, Bright Empire, Darkness Empire, Maya Empire, and Free Interstellar Federation Republic.


    These are the eight major empires in the galaxy, each extremely powerful. There is no detailed ranking on which one is more powerful.


    Staring at the map, Qin Hao fell into deep thought. The Bingzhou Kingdom is far from the Sky Wolf Empire. If he were to conquer the Bingzhou Kingdom, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem, but he cannot let the eight major empires see through his ambition. Otherwise, if they join forces, it would be very terrifying.


    Lan Xin saw him thinking and did not disturb him. She opened the interstellar network to check the latest news.


    She just opened the interstellar news website when her expression changed slightly: ¡°The Nolan Empire and Sky Wolf Empire have reached a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement. The two sides will not only cooperate on human evolution gene drugs but also on military alliances.¡±


    This news was not good for her. The Nolan Empire and Sky Wolf Empire forming a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement is akin to an alliance, a full cooperation with significant implications.


    ¡°The Sky Wolf Empire¡¯s foreign affairs department issued a statement: Warning the Galaxy Federation Republic to return those planets to the four countries. This is an invasion of another country¡¯s territorial integrity and is something the entire galaxy should resist.¡±


    The Interstellar Federation Government also condemned the Galaxy Federation Government.


    In response to these condemnations, the Galaxy Federation¡¯s foreign affairs department responded: ¡°Now when we take back our territory, it¡¯s considered an invasion? Why didn¡¯t anyone say this when you attacked us? Why don¡¯t you release the enslaved Elf Clan?¡±


    Suddenly, Qin Hao¡¯s voice sounded in Lan Xin¡¯s ear: ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    Lan Xin was startled: ¡°You scared me.¡±


    Qin Hao picked her up and laughed: ¡°Did I scare you? Then I should make it up to you.¡±


    Soon, Lan Xin¡¯s voice echoed through the room, and it only stopped after more than an hour.


    Lan Xin looked up at Qin Hao: ¡°The Nolan Empire and Sky Wolf Empire have allied.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I know. If one day I go to war with the Nolan Empire, I will spare your father¡¯s life for your sake.¡±


    Lan Xin was stunned by his words. Spare my father¡¯s life? The mighty Nolan Empire, and you claim to spare my father¡¯s life?


    As they were talking, a knock sounded on the door, and Luna walked in from outside. She said to Qin Hao: ¡°Xiao Hao, the Interstellar Federation Government¡¯s delegation has arrived.¡±


    ¡°Where are they?¡± Qin Hao¡¯s eyes flashed with confusion. What is the Interstellar Federation delegation doing here?


    Luna replied: ¡°They are in the orbit of Silver Star. I didn¡¯t allow them to enter without your permission.¡±


    Qin Hao looked puzzled: ¡°Let them in.¡±


    He tidied up and then went to the reception room of the Military and Political Office Building. The Interstellar Federation delegation was already waiting for him there.


    A group of dozens of people, both men and women, middle-aged men and young men and women, were all observing Qin Hao.


    They were very curious about this young leader of the Galaxy Federation Republic. They wanted to know how Qin Hao became the King of the Galaxy Federation Republic at such a young age.

 Chapter 869: 869 Dantai Moyu

    Chapter 869: Chapter 869 Dantai Moyu


    Qin Hao sat opposite these people, with Luna and Jiao Rou sitting beside him, both of them now familiarizing themselves with some political affairs around them, acting in the roles of assistant and secretary.


    ¡°Greetings, Mr. Qin. I am Jia Xingbo, the vice president of the Interstellar Federation Security Council,¡± Jia Xingbo said to Qin Hao with a smile.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, not understanding what these people were here for: ¡°May I ask what brings you all to the Galaxy Federation Republic?¡±


    He did not have a good impression of the Interstellar Federation. Frankly speaking, the Interstellar Federation Security Council was just a puppet controlled by the eight major empires.


    Although the Interstellar Federation had not recognized the existence of the Galaxy Federation Republic, this did not matter much to Qin Hao. Once he produced B-class warships and various advanced weapons, and his strength grew, the Interstellar Federation would naturally acknowledge it.


    Jia Xingbo and the others could sense the displeasure in Qin Hao¡¯s tone, knowing what he was thinking. He smiled and said, ¡°We bring good news for you, Mr. Qin. The Federation Security Council has decided to recognize the existence of the Galaxy Federation Republic. From now on, the Galaxy Federation Republic will be a member of the Interstellar Federation.¡±


    Having said that, he took out some documents, handed them to Qin Hao, and continued, ¡°This is the membership application for the Galaxy Federation to join the Interstellar Federation. We¡¯ve already stamped it, and all that is needed is your signature, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at the application and looked at him with puzzlement: ¡°President Jia, what do you mean by this? Just state any conditions you have.¡±


    He felt that the Interstellar Federation wouldn¡¯t agree to let him join the Federation for no reason.


    If the Galaxy Federation joined the Interstellar Federation, it would also mean that the existence of the Galaxy Federation Republic was acknowledged throughout the entire Interstellar Federation.


    This would have numerous benefits for the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t believe the Interstellar Federation would acknowledge him for no reason; there must be something going on.


    Jia Xingbo smiled and said, ¡°There aren¡¯t really any conditions. We just hope that Mr. Qin can stop waging wars. The territories of the four major countries, along with the vast Southern Wilderness Star System, should be sufficient for Mr. Qin to digest.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Qin Hao showed a thoughtful expression. He had no plans to initiate further wars in the near future.


    He had already demonstrated his prowess within the interstellar realm. Now he needed to consolidate power.


    Producing B-class interstellar warships would take some time, and mass equipping them, Qin Hao estimated, would take at least another five to six months.


    After a minute, Qin Hao looked at Jia Xingbo and smiled, saying, ¡°As long as no surrounding countries provoke our Galaxy Federation Republic, I won¡¯t take action against them either.¡±


    Jia Xingbo: ¡°Since Mr. Qin has agreed, we can continue discussing other matters, such as trade, currency, and other aspects.¡±


    ...


    The two sides discussed for nearly two hours. There were many mutually beneficial business cooperation initiatives. Qin Hao encouraged merchants to come to the Galaxy Federation for business and promised substantial policy support.


    By the time the discussion ended, it was almost evening. Qin Hao arranged for someone to take them to a nearby hotel.


    As they were leaving, Jia Xingbo walked behind and said to him, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you remember Princess Mo Yu?¡±


    Qin Hao was slightly startled upon hearing this: ¡°Do you mean Princess Dantai Moyu of the Moon Mist Empire?¡±


    At a banquet in Divine Wind City, Guo Pengfei had once introduced the people at the table, and he remembered there was a princess from the Moon Mist Empire named Dantai Moyu.


    Jia Xingbo: ¡°Yes, precisely. Princess Mo Yu is just outside. There are some matters she wishes to discuss with Mr. Qin. This time, the Interstellar Federation¡¯s recognition of the Galaxy Federation Republic was orchestrated behind the scenes by Princess Mo Yu.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Alright.¡±


    Exiting the building, Jia Xingbo and his party, accompanied by Silver Star City¡¯s leaders, went to the nearby hotel.


    Dantai Moyu stepped out of an air energy car, smiling as she walked over gracefully: ¡°Mr. Qin, long time no see.¡±


    Qin Hao also smiled: ¡°Miss Mo Yu, long time no see. Please, come in.¡±


    The two of them walked into a reception room within the Military and Political Office Building. Qin Hao looked at Dantai Moyu curiously and asked, ¡°Miss Mo Yu, you must have some objective in helping me within the Interstellar Federation. Just be direct.¡±


    Dantai Moyu smiled: ¡°Mr. Qin, has your body been modified by gene drugs? Our Moon Mist Empire wishes to collaborate with you on gene drugs.¡±


    Back then, Qin Hao defeated Duanmu Feng of the Sky Wolf Clan, who had undergone secondary evolution. Although the Sky Wolf Clan¡¯s secondary evolution gene drugs were not very refined, the strength demonstrated was very terrifying. Qin Hao¡¯s victory proved his own immense power.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Yes, in the field of gene drug research, if I claim second place, no one else in the galaxy would dare claim first. We are currently producing a type of human evolution gene drug that, once consumed, extends life up to a thousand years and enhances strength, speed, and other aspects to surpass the secondary evolution gene drugs of the Sky Wolf Clan.¡±


    Hearing this, Dantai Moyu¡¯s eyes sparkled: ¡°Mr. Qin, I won¡¯t mince words. Our Moon Mist Empire also wants to acquire this gene drug research technology.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It¡¯s not impossible to get this gene drug technology. What can your Moon Mist Empire offer in exchange?¡±


    This gene drug was incredibly powerful. If the Moon Mist Empire desired it, they would need to provide something of equal value.


    Dantai Moyu understood this. After a few minutes of thinking, she said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we have almost everything you have. The Galaxy Federation Republic is still not stable. Our Moon Mist Empire can form a strategic alliance with Mr. Qin¡¯s Galaxy Federation.¡±


    Qin Hao wanted to hear this. The Nolan Empire and the Sky Wolf Empire had formed a strategic alliance, and with the Moon Mist Empire as a counterbalance, it would also prevent the possibility of the eight major empires forming a coalition.


    ¡°Miss Mo Yu, can you make this decision?¡±


    After all, Dantai Moyu was just a princess of the Moon Mist Empire. Could she, a single princess, make such a decision?


    Dantai Moyu: ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Qin. Since my mother sent me, she naturally endowed me with some authority. Besides, my status in the Moon Mist Empire is not that of an ordinary princess.¡±


    ¡°Mother? The ruler of the Moon Mist Empire is a woman?¡± Qin Hao was stunned.


    Dantai Moyu nodded: ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my mother. Mr. Qin didn¡¯t know?¡±


    Qin Hao gave an awkward smile: ¡°I really didn¡¯t know that; it¡¯s kind of surprising.¡±


    Dantai Moyu: ¡°It¡¯s quite normal on our side. All the queens of the Moon Mist Empire have been female throughout history. Mr. Qin, I will first report back to my mother, and I will give you a definite answer tomorrow morning.¡±

 Chapter 870: 870: Cooperation

    Chapter 870: Chapter 870: Cooperation


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for your good news, Miss Mo Yu.¡±


    After finishing, he stood up and saw Dantai Moyu out. It was already dark outside. After sending Dantai Moyu away, Qin Hao brought Luna and Jiao Rou back to their residence.


    Lan Xin was cooking dinner at home, and Qin Hao sat on the sofa and turned on the TV.


    On the local TV station, there was continuous promotion about Qin Hao and the benefits of the Galaxy Federation, and the efficiency of various works.


    Now Qin Hao¡¯s name and photo often appear on TV, aimed at increasing his renown. His achievement points are growing very fast.


    After watching the local news, he also checked the latest interstellar news.


    The host of the news said: According to the latest news, the Xuanzhou Kingdom and Bingzhou Kingdom have separately procured a batch of advanced warships from the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire, with a quantity of around a hundred ships.


    The Bingzhou Kingdom and Xuanzhou Kingdom have each bought about a hundred warships. These advanced warships were previously not sold externally by the eight major empires, but now it is a special period.


    The prices of these advanced warships are not cheap. Xuanzhou Kingdom and Bingzhou Kingdom have used up most of their national funds this time.


    The Nolan Empire and Sky Wolf Empire also needed them to restrain and threaten Qin Hao.


    The news of the Galaxy Federation Republic joining the Interstellar Federation has also spread on the news, leaving many countries incredibly shocked. Did the Interstellar Federation acknowledge the Galaxy Federation Republic? What¡¯s going on?


    Even the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire were somewhat puzzled. When did the Interstellar Federation recognize Qin Hao¡¯s Galaxy Federation? Why don¡¯t we know?


    Very quickly, the Sky Wolf Empire investigated and found out that the operation behind this was conducted by the Moon Mist Empire, as the Interstellar Federation only consists of people from the eight major empires, which makes such matters easy to investigate.


    Duanmu Feng squinted his eyes upon hearing this news, with a gleam flashing in them. The Moon Mist Empire wants to make friendly relations with Qin Hao? It seems you have made your decision. Alright, once our secret weapon is developed, we¡¯ll target you first.


    The hatred of a stolen wife is irreconcilable. Qin Hao must die to ease my resentment.


    Currently, the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire are researching a new type of warship, the C-class warships, which are stronger than D-class warships.


    Duanmu Feng believes that if these warships get mass-produced, no empire in the entire galaxy would be able to withstand them.


    On the surface, other empires believe that the Nolan Empire and Sky Wolf Empire are researching gene evolution drugs, but they are actually researching higher-grade warships.


    The two countries have reached an agreement that once these warships are mass-produced, there will only be two empires in the entire galaxy.


    One would be the Nolan Empire, and the other would be the Sky Wolf Empire.


    However, Duanmu Feng is unaware that Qin Hao is already researching B-class warships, which are one level higher than C-class warships. If C-class warships face B-class warships, they would only be crushed.


    ...


    Regarding the Galaxy Federation and Sky Wolf Empire matter, other empires have been maintaining a neutral and observant stance.


    Upon seeing the Interstellar Federation acknowledge the Galaxy Federation Republic, the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire simultaneously released news statements.


    ¡°Regarding the Interstellar Federation recognizing the Galaxy Federation Republic, both the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire express their opposition. We are very disappointed with the unilateral action of the Interstellar Federation, as it will greatly erode its authority. We absolutely do not recognize such barbaric and indigenous country and hope the Interstellar Federation realizes its mistake and corrects it promptly.¡±


    Following the statements of the two major empires, their affiliated countries also issued statements, refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    Almost all the southern countries do not acknowledge the Galaxy Republic because they are essentially under the two major empires¡¯ influence. Whatever the two empires say, they will follow.


    The Interstellar Federation and Moon Mist Empire also responded: The Galaxy Federation Republic is a member of the vast interstellar, and according to the Interstellar Federation¡¯s laws, the Galaxy Federation entirely meets the criteria to join the Interstellar Federation. Everything was done according to the regulations, and the unreasonable demands of the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire are trampling on the dignity of the Federation¡¯s laws.


    Both sides stand firm in their arguments, but on the surface, the Interstellar Federation seems to hold the moral and legal high ground, as everything complies with its regulations.


    The Galaxy Federation Republic also responded, strongly condemning the unethical behavior of the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire. The Galaxy Federation Republic is a part of the interstellar community and should join the Interstellar Federation according to the laws and rules.


    Both sides engaged in a war of words, without any further actions.


    Currently, Qin Hao¡¯s power is very strong, with those advanced warships on par with the warships of the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire. Qin Hao has displayed strength that has somewhat intimidated them.


    However, this is just the apparent strength. How much strength he is hiding, others do not know.


    If they want to eliminate Qin Hao, these two empires might also suffer significant losses, which they do not want to see.


    They are waiting; once the C-class warships are ready, the Moon Mist Empire, Tanglong Empire, and Galaxy Federation Republic would all be like children in comparison.


    ...


    The next morning at eight o¡¯clock.


    Galaxy Military and Political Office Building Reception Room.


    Qin Hao and Dantai Moyu were sitting face to face. Dantai Moyu smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I already spoke with my mother last night. We can form an alliance, not just for gene drugs but we can also cooperate in other aspects. The Moon Mist Empire will do its best to collaborate with you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded: ¡°Alright, we can.¡±


    Dantai Moyu continued: ¡°I see Mr. Qin lacks a lot of advanced equipment here. Our Moon Mist Empire can provide a batch for free to show our sincerity.¡±


    Qin Hao did not refuse and replied with a smile: ¡°Then I will happily accept it. There are many rare resource veins within the Southern Wilderness Star System. We discovered a rare metal vein that produces an alloy far superior to the current D-class warship alloy. Miss Mo Yu, are you interested in mining it?¡±


    Dantai Moyu¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing that: ¡°Stronger than the D-class warship alloy?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, if graded, it would be considered a C-class metal alloy, suitable for building C-class warships.¡± Qin Hao shared this to let the Moon Mist Empire know his value, ensuring mutual benefits for a stronger alliance.


    Qin Hao was already researching B-class warships, so sharing C-class resources didn¡¯t bother him.


    Dantai Moyu restrained her excitement: ¡°Mr. Qin, you are truly willing to share with our Moon Mist Empire?¡±


    ¡°We are now allies; mutual benefits are advantageous for both. You strengthened means good for the Galaxy Federation as well. Of course, we won¡¯t allow free mining of this vein.¡±


    Dantai Moyu responded, ¡°Naturally, money is not an issue. As allies, we should advance and retreat together.¡±

 Chapter 871: 871 Human Evolution Gene Drugs

    Chapter 871: Chapter 871 Human Evolution Gene Drugs


    Qin Hao and Dantai Moyu respectively signed a strategic alliance agreement on behalf of their countries.


    ¡°Miss Mo Yu, let me show you our gene drug laboratory.¡± Qin Hao stood up and said to her.


    Mo Yu nodded, the two walked side by side out of the Military and Political Office Building and arrived at the gene drug research base.


    They passed through the sterilization channel and entered the laboratory, where over a hundred gene drug experts were busy, each fully equipped without any part of their body exposed.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao bring in a young woman, the head of the laboratory quickly approached, ¡°King.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°How is the research on Human Evolution Gene Drugs going?¡±


    The person responded, ¡°King, various ingredients are being researched, and it will take about four or five days to produce a finished product.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, inform me as soon as the finished product is produced.¡±


    Qin Hao took Mo Yu around the laboratory and then left. After leaving, he said to Mo Yu, ¡°Miss Mo Yu, once we have the finished product and you see the effect, we can discuss the technical collaboration.¡±


    Mo Yu nodded, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you have anything to do now? If not, shall we go to the mine you mentioned?¡±


    This was a matter of greater concern to her. Although Human Evolution Gene Drugs were also important, this was more critical to her.


    Because it was a metal that could be used to research stronger spacecraft, its value, in Mo Yu¡¯s view, was no less than that of Human Evolution Gene Drugs.


    Qin Hao found an advanced spacecraft and took Mo Yu to the Southern Wilderness Star System,


    They passed through an endless meteorite channel, and after more than half an hour of flight, they stopped above a planet.


    Above the planet, there were many cosmic transport ships, some flying out, some descending onto the planet. Arriving on the planet, Qin Hao and Mo Yu disembarked.


    Mo Yu saw the open-air rare metal mine and walked over to pick up a piece, ¡°Is this the C-grade rare metal you mentioned?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Yes, Miss Mo Yu can take a piece back for analysis.¡±


    The two looked around for a while, then returned.


    ...


    As time passed, the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire continued to engage in verbal battles with Qin Hao without any real confrontation.


    Qin Hao did not continue to attack. With stability over these days, the citizens of the original four countries had returned to normal life, and the crime rate was even lower than before. Due to the development of the Southern Wilderness Star System, the economy was booming.


    One day, Qin Hao received a call from the gene biological laboratory; the Human Evolution Gene Drugs had been developed.


    He called Mo Yu, and the two went together to the gene drug research base.


    In the laboratory, after Qin Hao and Mo Yu entered, the head of the laboratory held a small bottle of gene potion, ¡°King, this is the Human Evolution Gene Potion.¡±


    Qin Hao took it and looked at it, ¡°Miss Mo Yu, why don¡¯t you find someone to test it.¡±


    Mo Yu had brought several subordinates this time specifically to test the Human Evolution Gene Drugs, ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s go and test it.¡±


    They went to a drug effect testing laboratory within the gene drug base, which was equipped with all kinds of testing instruments: strength, speed, agility, body detection, etc.


    ¡°Mr. Liu, why don¡¯t you try it?¡± Mo Yu said to a middle-aged man beside her.


    He was the captain of Mo Yu¡¯s bodyguard team, extremely skilled.


    Liu Guan stepped forward and threw a full punch at the strength testing instrument, showing a force of 589 kilograms, almost 600 kilograms with one punch.


    He did not use any assistance, only striking from his original position. If assisted, the output could be even more terrifying.


    Next, he tested speed, constitution, body, and other aspects.


    After the tests, Qin Hao handed him the Human Evolution Gene Potion, which Liu Guan drank without hesitation.


    Instantly, his face turned red, and soon his entire skin showed a red hue. He sat down quickly, fearing he would not be able to stand steadily if standing.


    Several minutes later, sweat dripped from his forehead, soaking his entire body, with steam rising from his head.


    Qin Hao and Mo Yu watched him closely.


    The drug effect of the Human Evolution Gene Potion lasted about half an hour, after which Liu Guan opened his eyes and awkwardly said, ¡°I need to go to the restroom.¡±


    He hurriedly ran to the restroom and came out after ten minutes.


    Mo Yu looked at him, ¡°Mr. Liu, how does your body feel?¡±


    Liu Guan moved his body and replied, ¡°Princess, I feel much lighter. Let me test it.¡±


    He approached the strength testing instrument again and threw a punch, the wind howling fiercely.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The numbers on the strength testing instrument swiftly jumped, one hundred, two hundred, three hundred... one thousand, thirteen hundred... sixteen hundred and sixty-seven!


    Seeing this number, Mo Yu was stunned; the strength had increased by more than a thousand kilograms. This was terrifying.


    If facing a battle robot, one punch could send it flying.


    Then he tested speed, constitution, and body cells, each value multiplying several times, leaving Mo Yu in shock. Moreover, Liu Guan¡¯s body showed no issues, everything was normal.


    The Human Evolution Gene Drugs could be considered a great success.


    With a detailed formula from Qin Hao, there would naturally be no problems, skipping repeated human trials and gene drug reajustments.


    Mo Yu was a bit excited, ¡°Mr. Qin, this Human Evolution Gene Drug is incredibly powerful.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°It seems Miss Mo Yu is quite satisfied with this gene drug.¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯m not satisfied with this, no other gene drug can satisfy me.¡±


    Seeing the drug test success, the head of the gene drug research center informed Qin Hao and then returned to work.


    Qin Hao and Mo Yu walked out of the research base, beginning to discuss the cooperation on Human Evolution Gene Drugs in detail.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, are you really willing to give this technology to our Moon Mist Empire?¡± To be honest, she couldn¡¯t believe anyone would offer such top-tier genetic technology.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°Of course, we¡¯re allies, after all. However, this gene drug was developed through repeated research. This technology can be licensed to you, but you need to pay for the license duration.¡±


    ¡°How is this priced? Mr. Qin, you mustn¡¯t overcharge.¡± Mo Yu said with a slightly coquettish tone.


    Qin Hao, ¡°You can just pay the current market price for the most advanced gene drug license.¡±

 Chapter 872: 872: Invitation

    Chapter 872: Chapter 872: Invitation


    Dantai Moyu laughed, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, it¡¯s a deal. Our support equipment and instruments will arrive soon.¡±


    At that moment, Qin Hao¡¯s communicator rang; it was a call from one of his subordinates. ¡°King, a large shipment of defensive weapons has just arrived at HQ. Do you want to inspect them?¡±


    ¡°Where are these weapons now?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    ¡°At the first military base on Silver Star.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll head over immediately,¡± said Qin Hao.


    After hanging up the communicator, Qin Hao turned to Dantai Moyu, ¡°Miss Moyu, a shipment of new defensive weapons has arrived at HQ. Let¡¯s go take a look together.¡±


    Dantai Moyu¡¯s eyes filled with curiosity, ¡°New defensive weapons? Sure.¡±


    Qin Hao and his team arrived at the first military base on Silver Star, where military transport ships were docked in the square, unloading large pieces of equipment from the warships.


    As Qin Hao and his team got out of their vehicle, dozens of robots stood nearby. ¡°King.¡±


    ¡°Show us the newly arrived weapons,¡± Qin Hao instructed the intelligent combat robots.


    They led Qin Hao¡¯s group to the square and, at Qin Hao¡¯s command, the robots opened up the large pieces of equipment that had been unloaded.


    Large Star Destroyer Cannons came into view, each one enormous, covering several hundred square meters. The dark, gaping muzzles gave onlookers a sense of unease and dread.


    Dantai Moyu asked curiously, ¡°What kind of weapon is this?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°New defensive weapons, Large Star Destroyer Cannons. These are meant to be equipped along the borders. A single shot can turn advanced warships within dozens of kilometers into scrap metal.¡±


    Dantai Moyu¡¯s face showed shock, ¡°Even advanced warships can¡¯t withstand it?¡±


    ¡°Of course, these are our newly developed defensive weapons, specifically designed to counter advanced warships.¡±


    Dantai Moyu was truly astonished. Qin Hao¡¯s capabilities were impressive; the defensive weapons he produced were unmatched, even the Moon Mist Empire didn¡¯t possess such technology.


    She hesitated for a moment and then said, ¡°Mr. Qin, is the power really as strong as you say?¡±


    Qin Hao showed her a test video that had been recorded at the HQ during the initial research. In the video, a small planet was hit by a Large Star Destroyer Cannon and exploded like a bomb, breaking into countless pieces of varying sizes, drifting in space.


    Seeing the power of the Large Star Destroyer Cannon left Dantai Moyu¡¯s throat dry. She swallowed hard, ¡°This is incredibly powerful.¡±


    She looked at Qin Hao, her eyes shining with admiration, ¡°Mr. Qin, are these Large Star Destroyer Cannons for sale?¡±


    ¡°Not for now, we don¡¯t have enough to equip our entire border. Once we have increased our production, we can consider selling them to you,¡± Qin Hao replied.


    Dantai Moyu nodded, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, it¡¯s agreed then.¡±


    ...


    After returning from the military base, Dantai Moyu had no further business in the Galaxy Federation Republic. She bid farewell to Qin Hao and left.


    The news of the strategic alliance between the Moon Mist Empire and the Galaxy Federation Republic had already spread across the galaxy a few days earlier, causing quite a stir among various powers.


    Why would the Moon Mist Empire collaborate with the Galaxy Federation Republic? The Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire are both at odds with the Galaxy Federation Republic. Although the Moon Mist Empire had some friction with the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire before, it wasn¡¯t severe.


    Now, collaborating with Qin Hao undoubtedly worsens relations between them.


    Stellar Year 6481, July 1st.


    It had been over a month since Dantai Moyu left, and all parties were secretly amassing their strength.


    The Large Star Destroyer Cannons had been deployed along the entire border, and B-class mechas and warships had been produced, though the numbers were still limited.


    On this day, Qin Hao received an invitation from the Interstellar Federation, inviting the Galaxy Federation to participate in the Interstellar Mecha Tournament and the Interstellar Human Genetic Strength Competition.


    This event, hosted by the Interstellar Federation, invited the eight major empires and hundreds of stronger kingdoms.


    According to their assessment, the Galaxy Federation¡¯s strength was second only to the eight major empires, significantly surpassing the other kingdoms.


    Interstellar Mecha Tournament? And Human Genetic Strength Competition?


    Upon seeing this, Qin Hao squinted slightly. The event was scheduled for October 1st, three months later, as some countries were far away and needed to depart early to reach the event location in the Interstellar Federation.


    Just after receiving the invitation, Dantai Moyu called him, ¡°Mr. Qin, did you get the invitation?¡±


    ¡°I received it. What¡¯s up?¡±


    Dantai Moyu asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you plan to go?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a chance to make a name for ourselves since all the strong nations will be there.¡±


    Dantai Moyu said, ¡°Then Mr. Qin, let¡¯s meet on Ancient Saint Star.¡±


    ¡°Alright, see you on Ancient Saint Star.¡±


    Ancient Saint Star is under the jurisdiction of the Interstellar Federation. As the leading alliance in the galaxy, the Interstellar Federation also possesses its own territory, not very large, with just a few dozen planets, but it boasts a prime location in the galaxy¡¯s center.


    After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao¡¯s communicator rang again. It was a call from Li Qingya. When the video connected, Li Qingya¡¯s pretty face appeared on the screen, ¡°Qin Hao, we¡¯ve just come through the Endless Asteroid Passage and will soon reach Silver Star. Are you on Silver Star?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face lit up with joy, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m on Silver Star.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, we¡¯ll be there shortly, wait for us,¡± Li Qingya laughed playfully.


    This time, Li Qingya had come with Li Qingyun, Fan Ruobing, and Han Meng, escorting a shipment of B-class mechas and several B-class warships.


    These were the latest weapons freshly produced by the HQ, including B-class air combat devices and combat robots.


    After hanging up, Qin Hao turned to Lan Xin, Luna, and Jiao Rou, ¡°Qingya and the others are coming, let¡¯s go to the military port to greet them.¡±


    Li Qingya and her group were traveling in a B-class warship capable of superluminal speeds, reaching Silver Star in just over ten minutes. This kind of speed is among the fastest in the galaxy.


    They waited a short while at the port before seeing the massive warships enter Silver Star, landing at the military port.


    Li Qingya and the others disembarked from the warships. Upon seeing Qin Hao, they quickly approached, with Li Qingya hugging him tightly. She released him after ten seconds.


    Qin Hao looked at them, a warm smile on his face, ¡°Let¡¯s go home and get some rest.¡±


    ¡°Wait, this is from Sister Jing,¡± Li Qingya said, taking out a box containing several black rings.


    Qin Hao glanced at it and put it away. These were B-class mechas, each ring holding an entire mecha.

 Chapter 873: 873 Departure

    Chapter 873: Chapter 873 Departure


    How terrifying the technology contained in this can be imagined.


    A small ring containing the entire B-level mecha technology is incredibly frightening.


    On the way back, Qin Hao took out a black ring and put it on his hand. The ring would adjust its size according to the thickness of the person¡¯s finger.


    Then comes the recognition system; once a bond is established, the operation is complete. It can be initiated at any time by thought or spoken commands.


    Back home, Qin Hao distributed the B-level mechas to Leng Xuan and the Shadow Guards, as well as to Lan Xin, Luna, and Jiao Rou.


    Qin Hao said to Li Qingya and the others, ¡°You must be tired after the journey. Rest up. When you wake up, I¡¯ll take you out for some fun.¡±


    The Li Qingya sisters gave him a meaningful look and then went to their room to rest.


    Luna and Jiao Rou said, ¡°Xiao Hao, we have some things to handle. There is still a lot of work left to do.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, but don¡¯t overwork yourselves.¡±


    Lan Xin chuckled and said, ¡°You stay with Qing Ya and the others. I¡¯m going to test the power of this B-level mecha.¡± After saying that, she walked out.


    Once outside, she activated the B-level mecha. Her whole body was covered in a silver-white alloy, and she shot into the sky, disappearing from view in less than a second.


    A few seconds later, Lan Xin landed on a small asteroidal body in space.


    Lan Xin stopped and turned to look at the silver-white planet behind her, her eyes filled with shock. It only took a few seconds to get here from Silver Star City?


    This must be two or three million kilometers away, far beyond the speed of light. Could this B-level mecha have reached the legendary super-light-speed?


    She activated the mecha¡¯s weapons: a rapid-fire energy gun in her left hand, a high-energy sword in her right hand, and six barrels opened on her chest, which were material energy rapid-fire cannons.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    She aimed at a boulder tens of feet away, and almost instantly, the boulder disintegrated into tiny particles and vanished into thin air.


    Lan Xin was dumbfounded. This... it disintegrated instantly??? This material energy cannon is too terrifying!


    If it hit a warship or a planet, what would happen? Would they also be disintegrated?


    Thinking about this, Lan Xin shivered uncontrollably. This weapon is truly terrifying.


    She hesitated for a moment before ultimately making a communication call to her father. She had always been by Qin Hao¡¯s side and knew how terrifying he was. Although the Galaxy Federation was not yet as powerful as the eight empires, the strength and potential Qin Hao currently showed indicated that the Galaxy Federation would surpass all empires in the future.


    The video call quickly connected, and Lan Antai¡¯s face was stern without any expression: ¡°You still have the face to call me?¡±


    ¡°Father, I don¡¯t want to marry Duanmu Feng. You know what they are like. If I marry him, I¡¯ll be tormented to death. Can you bear to see your daughter tortured to madness?¡± Lan Xin¡¯s eyes turned red as soon as she saw her father.


    Lan Antai¡¯s face remained stoic, but a slight ripple appeared in his otherwise calm eyes: ¡°For the grand plan of the empire, everyone must be prepared for sacrifice. You almost ruined my plan. Where are you now?¡±


    ¡°On a small asteroidal body outside Silver Star.¡± Lan Xin felt a bit bitter upon hearing her father¡¯s words.


    Lan Antai: ¡°Are you with that Qin Hao? Why are you calling me?¡±


    Lan Xin looked at her father and said, ¡°Father, why are you collaborating with the Sky Wolf Empire? Working with them is like seeking skin with a tiger.¡±


    ¡°I have my own judgment.¡± Lan Antai still had a soft spot for Lan Xin in his heart, but he didn¡¯t show it.


    Lan Xin said, ¡°Father, I made this video call because I have something to tell you.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    Lan Xin: ¡°End your collaboration with the Sky Wolf Empire. Qin Hao is truly formidable. He has developed many advanced weapons.¡±


    ¡°What weapons?¡± A hint of curiosity flashed in Lan Antai¡¯s eyes. If his daughter said they were advanced, they must be very powerful.


    Lan Xin¡¯s eyes hesitated. On one side was her father, who had loved her since childhood, and on the other was Qin Hao. She found it hard to decide.


    In the end, she said, ¡°Mechas that surpass advanced mechas, and new types of warships.¡±


    ¡°New mechas that surpass advanced mechas? How powerful are they?¡± Lan Antai asked.


    Lan Xin: ¡°They completely crush current advanced mechas. As for other weapons, I don¡¯t know. Father, I¡¯m telling you this because I want you to see the situation clearly and stop working with the Sky Wolf Empire.¡±


    Lan Antai: ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing. You don¡¯t have to worry about it. Stay there peacefully.¡±


    After hanging up the communicator, Lan Xin let out a long sigh and displayed a hint of worry on her face.


    ...


    Meanwhile, after Lan Xin left, Qin Hao went into Li Qingya sisters¡¯ room. The two women were washing up, and their faces flushed slightly when they saw him come in.


    Qin Hao chuckled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s shower together.¡±


    Soon, the sound of the two women echoed in the bathroom, entwined with affection, stirring the imagination.


    In the evening, Lan Xin, Luna, and Jiao Rou all returned. After dinner, Lan Xin called Qin Hao outside and told him about the matter.


    After hearing her out, Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°I said I would spare his life on account of you in the future.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you mad at me?¡± Lan Xin asked, looking at him.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Of course I¡¯m mad at you. I¡¯m very angry.¡±


    And so, Qin Hao spent every day accompanying them. Since the four women, Li Qingya and her sisters, arrived, they had no intention of leaving. Silver Star City had Qin Hao¡¯s private residence, a very large private estate, which the four women tidied up again.


    As time went by, the strength of the Galaxy Federation Republic grew stronger and stronger. Almost every day, new weapons were produced.


    The Interstellar Mecha Competition and the Human Gene Medicine Competition were drawing closer and closer.


    On September 15th, Galactic Calendar, Qin Hao set out with Lan Xin and some officials of the Galaxy Federation to Head to the Ancient Saint Star of the Interstellar Federation.


    Leng Xuan and the Shadow Guards were indispensable, and security personnel had to be brought along.


    Silver Star was far from Ancient Saint Star, but they were taking a super-light-speed spaceship, so the trip would only take a little more than ten days to cross half the interstellar space to reach the Ancient Saint Star.


    Inside the spaceship, in Qin Hao¡¯s room, after they set off, he made a video call to Dantai Moyu: ¡°Miss Moyu.¡±


    Dantai Moyu smiled and asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you almost here?¡±


    ¡°Not yet; we just set off.¡±


    Dantai Moyu was slightly stunned: ¡°Just set off? There¡¯s only half a month left, can you make it?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Moyu. We will arrive ahead of time.¡±


    Dantai Moyu looked puzzled: ¡°You just set off, and I know how far Silver Star is from the Interstellar Federation. How could you make it in half a month?¡±

 Chapter 874: 874 Interstellar Federation

    Chapter 874: Chapter 874 Interstellar Federation


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°We are aboard the latest model of spaceship, powered by a superluminal propulsion device, capable of over five hundred thousand kilometers per second.¡±


    ¡°Superluminal Propulsion Device?¡± Dantai Moyu¡¯s expression showed surprise.


    If this thing is applied to warships, wouldn¡¯t it be even more terrifying?


    Since Qin Hao has already applied it to spaceships, it is definitely used on warships as well. In just a few months, he has managed to develop a super-light speed power device.


    Dantai Moyu couldn¡¯t imagine how terrifying warships equipped with this power device would become. Coupled with warships made of C-grade metal, just a collision could destroy countless warships.


    She now felt increasingly unable to see through Qin Hao. What kind of freak is this person, to be so terrifying?


    The two chatted briefly and then hung up the phone. Now, the Moon Mist Empire has developed new types of warships but has not made significant breakthroughs in terms of attack weapons, energy shields, and propulsion devices. The only change was that the ship¡¯s alloy was replaced with C-grade metal.


    Lan Xin looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°In this competition, the national leaders of various countries will attend; the leaders of the eight major empires should also be present. This competition happens once every ten years. Getting into the top ten greatly improves a country¡¯s reputation and status because it tests the comprehensive strength of a country.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°The top ten?¡±


    Lan Xin responded, ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate the top ten. There are tens of thousands of countries in the galaxy, and only a little over a thousand qualify to participate. Being in the top ten out of those thousand is extremely difficult. But with your current B-grade mecha, you have a great chance of getting into the top three.¡±


    ¡°Top three?¡± Qin Hao was taken aback.


    Lan Xin continued, ¡°Yes, this mecha competition doesn¡¯t involve ordinary mechas. Many countries will heavily modify their mechas, greatly enhancing their performance and combat power, although such modifications are complex and difficult to mass-produce.¡±


    Qin Hao was a bit surprised. Is there really such a strategy?


    After eleven days of space travel, the spaceship finally arrived outside the Ancient Saint Star of the Interstellar Federation.


    The spaceship slowed down, and through the spaceship glass, one could see ships from various countries entering the Ancient Saint Star, bearing their national emblems.


    Qin Hao¡¯s spaceship also bore the emblem and insignia with the words Galactic Federation Republic.


    ¡°Finally here,¡± Lan Xin said, smiling as she looked at the massive planet not far ahead.


    At that moment, an alarm sounded on the spaceship, ¡°Alert, alert, a spaceship is speeding toward us. It is estimated to collide with us in five seconds. Please hold onto the handrails nearby.¡±


    Everyone on the spaceship¡¯s face changed in shock and hurriedly grabbed onto anything they could.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    A muffled sound echoed in the air as a spaceship from behind crashed heavily into Qin Hao¡¯s spaceship. The immense impact force caused the ship to jerk forward suddenly, but the hull took no damage.


    In contrast, the bow of the battleship behind was dented.


    Surrounding warships halted, looking at Qin Hao¡¯s warship and the one behind it.


    ¡°Galactic Federation Republic¡¯s spaceship? Their ship is quite sturdy; such a collision didn¡¯t cause any harm, and instead, the Ancient Wood Kingdom¡¯s spaceship suffered.¡±


    ¡°The Ancient Wood Kingdom is a vassal state of the Sky Wolf Empire. I think this time, the Sky Wolf Empire is deliberately trying to show Qin Hao a lesson.¡±


    ¡°Does Qin Hao really dare to confront the Sky Wolf Empire? Isn¡¯t this seeking his own doom? Does he think his Galactic Federation Republic is a match for the Sky Wolf Empire?¡±


    ¡°He thinks he can act fearlessly just because he¡¯s aligned with the Moon Mist Empire? Ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°The Sky Wolf Empire should eliminate Qin Hao to assert dominance.¡±


    On the Ancient Wood Kingdom¡¯s battleship, several people were stunned, seeing their ship¡¯s bow dented. Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be his ship that got dented?


    ¡°Sorry, our spaceship¡¯s braking system malfunctioned just now.¡± A voice came from within the Ancient Wood Kingdom¡¯s spaceship.


    Qin Hao¡¯s face turned cold. That excuse could only deceive a fool.


    ¡°Accelerate, ram them back.¡±


    The Galactic Federation Republic¡¯s spaceship suddenly turned around and accelerates forcefully.


    The ship vanished from its original spot, and people on surrounding ships only heard a loud bang. The Ancient Wood Kingdom¡¯s spaceship shattered into fragments, with no survivors.


    Those nearby were dumbfounded and deeply shocked. Qin Hao¡¯s actions were indeed arrogant and domineering.


    Without a word, he shattered the Ancient Wood Kingdom¡¯s spaceship. How terrifying!


    Most shocking to everyone was the durability of Qin Hao¡¯s ship. Even after reducing the Ancient Wood Kingdom¡¯s spaceship to pieces, his ship remained undamaged, which was hard to believe.


    The Ancient Wood Kingdom¡¯s ship was made of D-grade metal, material used in high-grade warships.


    Even D-grade metal seemed like paper in front of his ship. What material is his warship made of?


    ¡°Such audacity, to dare to smash our Ancient Wood Kingdom¡¯s spaceship!¡± Two more spaceships from the Ancient Wood Kingdom approached, a stern voice emanating from one of them.


    Upon hearing this voice, people around became tense. This is the ruler of the Ancient Wood Kingdom.


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond. His warship accelerated again, heading straight for one of the Ancient Wood Kingdom¡¯s ships.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    The sound of the spaceship shattering was loud like an explosion, providing intense visual impact.


    Several surrounding spaceships retreated, afraid that Qin Hao might crash into them by accident.


    The ruler of the Ancient Wood Kingdom saw what happened, his face turned pale. Fear rose in him, thinking about how sturdy Qin Hao¡¯s ship was.


    If it crashes into my ship, what will be the outcome? He was drenched in cold sweat.


    At this moment, Qin Hao¡¯s ship had already adjusted its bow to face him. The Ancient Wood Kingdom¡¯s ruler widened his eyes in fear and hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, what do you mean by this?¡±


    His tone was much softer than before. After all, in the face of life and death, no one would choose to die, especially the higher one¡¯s status and position.


    But Qin Hao showed no intention of stopping, daring to provoke me; I¡¯ll ram you to death.


    ¡°Sorry, our spaceship has some functional failures. Everyone, please stay away.¡± Qin Hao¡¯s voice came from within the ship.


    Many people, upon hearing his shameless voice, almost laughed out loud, thinking, as the leader of a nation, how could this guy be so shameless?


    Qin Hao¡¯s spaceship started moving again. Just as it was about to charge forward, an authoritative voice rang out, ¡°Halt.¡±


    Simultaneously, a dozen spaceships approached from behind, bearing the totem of the Sky Wolf Empire, a symbol recognized by all in the galaxy.


    This was the totem of the Sky Wolf Empire; every interstellar warship had this emblem.

 Chapter 875: 875: Conflict

    Chapter 875: Chapter 875: Conflict


    ¡°The people from the Sky Wolf Empire are here. This is going to be interesting.¡±


    ¡°That voice just now was Prince Duanmu Feng of the Sky Wolf Empire, right? Although he narrowly lost that battle, the strength he displayed was shocking.¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao stole Duanmu Feng¡¯s fiance?e. The hatred from having one¡¯s fiance?e taken is as deep as the hatred from killing one¡¯s father. I wonder if Princess Lan Xin came along this time.¡±


    ¡°Prince Duanmu, save us! The ships of the Galaxy Federation Republic rammed into and destroyed two of our ships without any reason. You have to stand up for us,¡± the king of the Ancient Wood Kingdom urgently pleaded upon seeing the scene.


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    ¡°Boom¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s ship didn¡¯t stop at all, directly crashing into the last remaining ship of the Ancient Wood Kingdom. It shattered instantly, killing the king of the Ancient Wood Kingdom on the spot. This was nothing short of slapping the Sky Wolf Empire in the face.


    Seeing this, Duanmu Feng¡¯s face turned grim. ¡°Qin Hao, you have a lot of nerve. This is the Interstellar Federation, not a place where you can act wildly as you please.¡±


    Qin Hao replied unhurriedly, ¡°Who do you think you are to shout in front of me? My ship just malfunctioned.¡±


    A fierce murderous intent flashed in Duanmu Feng¡¯s eyes. ¡°Malfunctioned? I believe you crashed deliberately to kill the king of the Ancient Wood Kingdom. This is the Interstellar Federation. Are you trying to trample on its authority?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not qualified to talk to me. Let your dad come out,¡± Qin Hao said arrogantly and domineeringly.


    The surrounding people were utterly shocked. This guy dared to address the king of the Sky Wolf Empire so directly. Was he not afraid that the Sky Wolf Empire would act and leave him here forever?


    The people of the Sky Wolf Empire heard Qin Hao¡¯s words, and their ships partially surrounded Qin Hao¡¯s ship in an instant. Onboard many ships, dark cannon muzzles were revealed.


    Qin Hao only brought one spaceship, which seemed to be at a disadvantage. Yet, the toughness and speed of Qin Hao¡¯s ship were indeed terrifying, leaving no doubt in their minds.


    However, the ships of the Sky Wolf Empire had energy cannons. No matter how tough your ship was, could it withstand the energy cannons?


    ¡°In the Interstellar Federation, you dare to assassinate the king of the Ancient Wood Kingdom? What do you take the laws of the Interstellar Federation for? If not strictly punished, how can we convince the masses?¡± A sharp voice came from one of the ships. This was Duanmu Citian, the king of the Sky Wolf Empire.


    His words had just fallen when another voice rang out, ¡°King Duanmu, what a display of power. Are you trying to exercise the Interstellar Federation¡¯s authority? Just now, the ship of the Ancient Wood Kingdom rammed into Mr. Qin¡¯s ship, and you didn¡¯t say a word. It was very clear that the Ancient Wood Kingdom provoked first.¡±


    As the voice fell, everyone turned their heads to look. They saw a dozen ships approaching with the emblem of the Moon Mist Empire engraved on their hulls.


    ¡°The people from the Moon Mist Empire are here. Are they going to protect Qin Hao?¡±


    ¡°The Moon Mist Empire¡¯s strength is no less than that of the Sky Wolf Empire. Will these two empires clash here?¡±


    ¡°You never know. You¡¯ve seen the Sky Wolf Empire¡¯s nature. They don¡¯t even give face to the Interstellar Federation and kill whoever they want.¡±


    Duanmu Citian continued, ¡°Queen Dantai, this matter has nothing to do with you. You¡¯d better stay out of it, or don¡¯t blame me for turning hostile.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin is our Moon Mist Empire¡¯s ally. If you touch him, you¡¯re touching the Moon Mist Empire,¡± Queen Dantai stated, equally strong-willed.


    ...


    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s getting lively.¡± A voice rang out. The people from the Nolan Empire had arrived, right beside the ships of the Moon Mist Empire.


    Everyone was astonished. The Nolan Empire was here too.


    If the Nolan Empire kept the Moon Mist Empire in check, no one could protect Qin Hao.


    He was going to pay the price for his arrogance. The Sky Wolf Empire wasn¡¯t one to be insulted casually; a bloody price had to be paid.


    Duanmu Feng saw the Nolan Empire arrive and sneered, ¡°Qin Hao, come out and kneel to die. Otherwise, I will make you beg for life while wanting death.¡±


    He was already imagining the scene of Qin Hao falling into his hands. He would torture Qin Hao severely, make him kneel and call him father, and make Qin Hao watch as he had his way with Lan Xin in front of him...


    Thinking of this, he couldn¡¯t help but feel an uncontrollable excitement, a sense of revenge.


    But Qin Hao didn¡¯t come out as he expected. Instead, he smirked dismissively, ¡°Who do you think you are, barking in front of me? Oh, sorry, I forgot your ancestors were beasts. Keep barking, let¡¯s see how much of your ancestors¡¯ skills you can showcase.¡±


    Everyone was dumbfounded. Holy crap, he actually said the ancestors of the Sky Wolf Clan were beasts?


    These words offended the entire Sky Wolf Empire¡¯s Sky Wolf Clan.


    Duanmu Citian¡¯s face darkened frighteningly upon hearing this. In his mind, he had already sentenced Qin Hao to death. ¡°Those who insult my Sky Wolf Clan must die.¡±


    Duanmu Feng, filled with killing intent, commanded, ¡°Go, capture them for me. I want them alive.¡±


    He wanted Qin Hao captured alive.


    Instantly, more than twenty highly advanced mechanical soldiers rushed out, heading straight for Qin Hao¡¯s spaceship.


    Leng Xuan and a group of Shadow Guards flew out and stood in the air above the spaceship. Their bodies glowed with a pitch-black light, their mechas specifically designed and colored black to suit the Shadow Guards.


    One of the Shadow Guards approached alone, yes, just one Shadow Guard.


    Leng Xuan and the other Shadow Guards didn¡¯t move at all.


    This action puzzled the people of the Sky Wolf Empire, the Moon Mist Empire, and the Nolan Empire. The surrounding spectators were stunned. What was happening? Were they sending someone to die?


    Or did only this one have the courage to go up?


    Inside the Nolan Empire¡¯s ship, Lan Antai watched the mechanical soldier. Was this the new type of mecha Xinxin mentioned?


    In an instant, the Shadow Guard¡¯s speed increased, disappearing on the spot. He left a series of afterimages in the void.


    People around couldn¡¯t see the Shadow Guard¡¯s trajectory at all; it was too fast, too quick for them to react.


    The naked eye couldn¡¯t keep up with the Shadow Guard¡¯s movement. This kind of superluminal speed couldn¡¯t be seen unless by precision instruments.


    ¡°Ahhhh¡±


    The screams surged continuously. In about two seconds, the Shadow Guard returned to his original position.


    The crowd turned their heads, and the mechanical soldiers of the Sky Wolf Empire still hovered in flight poses but were completely motionless, standing still in the void.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Blood mists exploded one after another, instantaneously killing twenty-some highly advanced mechanical soldiers of the Sky Wolf Empire.


    This outcome was unbelievable to everyone present. Too strong, this Shadow Guard was too strong, strong enough to cause terrifying awe.


    Duanmu Feng was dumbfounded, Duanmu Citian¡¯s eyes froze, and others were at a loss for words.


    ¡°How is this possible? How is this possible?¡± Duanmu Feng murmured, unable to believe it.


    ¡°What an incredibly powerful mecha, the speed is too fast, simply unbelievable.¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao actually owns such terrifying mechas! Where did he get them from?¡±


    ¡°Instantly killing more than twenty advanced mechanical soldiers, just... how did they do that?¡±

 Chapter 876: 876 Queen Dantai

    Chapter 876: Chapter 876 Queen Dantai


    Queen Dantai of the Moon Mist Empire saw this and her beautiful eyes sparkled with brilliance. The decision she made at the time was not wrong. This Qin Hao is mysterious and terrifying.


    Lan Antai¡¯s eyes glimmered with a sharp light. Is this the new type of mecha Qin Hao developed that Xinxin mentioned? Its power is simply terrifying, especially its speed¡ªit might even be faster than light!


    At this moment, Qin Hao walked out of the spaceship with Lan Xin¡¯s slender waist in his arms and stood on the deck.


    He looked at the ship where Duanmu Feng was and his mouth curved into a faint smile. To Duanmu Feng, it was a mocking and disdainful smile.


    His eyes were gloomy, his face was difficult to look at, and his fists were clenched. He wished he could tear Qin Hao to pieces with his own hands.


    This guy mocking me is one thing, but coming out holding Princess Lan Xin¡¯s slender waist, is he deliberately trying to anger me?


    The people around saw Qin Hao¡¯s actions, and their eye corners twitched. This Qin Hao is really ruthless. It¡¯s bad enough he stole Duanmu Feng¡¯s fiance?e, but now he¡¯s even flaunting her in front of him. This guy is just too vicious.


    Is he trying to drive Duanmu Feng to his death?


    Qin Hao spoke in a calm tone: ¡°Prince Duanmu, didn¡¯t you want to capture me alive? I¡¯m standing right here. Come on, capture me.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lan Xin took out a grape and gently fed it into Qin Hao¡¯s mouth.


    This action made Duanmu Feng even more furious. His eyes instantly turned blood-red. That b*stard, that b*stard!!!


    The people of the Sky Wolf Empire didn¡¯t dare to act recklessly now. Just one Shadow Guard had demonstrated such terrifying strength. If all twenty of Leng Xuan¡¯s men went on, what kind of scene would that be?


    Duanmu Citian felt his own life might be at risk.


    Even though he didn¡¯t want to clash with Qin Hao right now, he couldn¡¯t just retreat. That would be a severe blow to the Sky Wolf Empire¡¯s prestige. He pondered how to find a way to back down.


    As the situation reached a stalemate, people from the Interstellar Federation finally arrived. They had received news during the conflict between Qin Hao and the Ancient Wood Kingdom and rushed over immediately.


    The person who arrived was Jia Xingbo. He saw the tense atmosphere in the scene, chuckled dryly, and stepped forward, ¡°What are you all doing? If there¡¯s any misunderstanding, let¡¯s talk it over on Ancient Saint Star.¡±


    Duanmu Citian snorted coldly, ¡°Hmph, if President Jia doesn¡¯t make things clear, today I¡¯ll make you bleed on the spot.¡±


    Qin Hao sneered disdainfully, ¡°You really have thick skin. If you have the balls, take action. I promise you¡¯ll die quickly.¡±


    Jia Xingbo, unaware of the situation here, hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, calm down. Let¡¯s discuss this once we return.¡±


    Duanmu Citian no longer paid attention to Qin Hao, ordered his men to pilot the ship away, and headed towards Ancient Saint Star, followed closely by the spacecraft of the Nolan Empire.


    Qin Hao glanced at the ship of the Moon Mist Empire, smiled, nodded, and returned to his ship, also leaving.


    Seeing that there was no more drama to watch, the surrounding people also headed towards Ancient Saint Star.


    The Sky Wolf Empire had taken a hidden loss this time, and Qin Hao had indeed shown some strength, especially the prowess displayed by the mechanical soldier just now, which greatly shocked the surrounding people.


    About ten minutes later, Qin Hao¡¯s spaceship entered Ancient Saint Star, finally stopping at the third reception port, with the spacecraft of the Moon Mist Empire following closely.


    This port was also divided. The spacecraft of the Nolan Empire and the Sky Wolf Empire were adjacent, and those of the affiliated countries stayed near them.


    The affiliated countries of the Moon Mist Empire stayed on this side, and other empires had specific port areas as well.


    After getting off the spaceship, Qin Hao still held Lan Xin¡¯s waist. Just a short distance away, Dantai Moyu¡¯s voice came: ¡°Mr. Qin, please wait.¡±


    Qin Hao turned to see Dantai Moyu rushing over, ¡°My mother wants to see you in a while.¡±


    ¡°Sure, once the Federation arranges our accommodation, I¡¯ll go see Queen Dantai.¡±


    Under the guidance of the Interstellar Federation staff, Qin Hao and his team arrived at the largest and most luxurious hotel in Ancient Saint City, the Federation Reception Hotel.


    The hotel was enormous, more than three hundred floors high, capable of accommodating hundreds of thousands of people.


    The Galaxy Federation Republic was arranged on the three hundredth floor, and the people of the Moon Mist Empire were also on this floor. After arranging the rooms, Qin Hao walked out of his room and came to the door of Queen Dantai¡¯s room.


    Dantai Moyu was waiting for him here. Seeing him coming over, she knocked on the door. After hearing her mother¡¯s voice, she opened the door and led Qin Hao inside.


    In the luxurious suite, a mature, noble, and beautiful woman sat on the sofa, with four cold-faced young female guards standing behind her.


    Although she was Dantai Moyu¡¯s mother, she looked only about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Genetic drugs had preserved her figure and appearance very well, and her mature charm was a deadly weapon for men.


    Any man seeing Queen Dantai now would probably want to tear her clothes off.


    A flash of amazement appeared in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes. This person was simply too perfect, with looks and temperament even more attractive than Elf Queen Yun Ya.


    Queen Dantai elegantly gestured with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, please have a seat.¡±


    Qin Hao sat opposite her, with Dantai Moyu standing behind her mother. Queen Dantai was wearing a hazy gauzy dress, her figure faintly visible and extremely alluring.


    Qin Hao smiled and asked, ¡°Queen Dantai, what do you need me for?¡±


    Queen Dantai smiled slightly, exuding an air of luxurious nobility, ¡°Mr. Qin, you are a bit unkind. We are allies. Shouldn¡¯t you share the powerful mecha you¡¯ve developed with your allies?¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°This mecha was just developed and came back from the base, so I haven¡¯t had a chance to inform Queen Dantai yet. But I brought several more this time. If Queen Dantai likes, you can try it.¡±


    After speaking, he took out two rings from his pocket.


    ¡°Is this the mecha?¡± Queen Dantai¡¯s eyes showed surprise upon seeing them.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, a B-level mecha.¡±


    Queen Dantai took the two rings, looked at them, and then put them on. The sound of the B-level mecha AI acknowledging its master echoed in her mind.


    She didn¡¯t bind them immediately, ¡°Mr. Qin, I heard from Moyu that you¡¯ve developed a new super-light speed power device?¡±


    ¡°Yes, if Queen Dantai needs it, I can sell it to you at the lowest price,¡± Qin Hao said, blocking any further conversation on the topic.


    He could sell the product but would not reveal the technology.


    Queen Dantai hesitated, ¡°It must be very expensive, right? We have high demand. How about I buy a long-term license for the technology for decades, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qina then added, ¡°The technology cannot be leaked, and the price won¡¯t be high considering we are allies.¡±


    [I¡¯m attending a writer¡¯s training class in Beijing today. It will take three days in total, including the trip there and back. I will update more when I return.]

 Chapter 877: 877 Tanglong Empire Li Junchu

    Chapter 877: Chapter 877 Tanglong Empire Li Junchu


    Queen Dantai heard his words and said nothing.


    She shifted the topic to the B-level Mecha: ¡°Mr. Qin, has this Mecha been mass-produced? Can we make bulk purchases?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It¡¯s currently in mass production. I¡¯ll sell a batch to your Moon Mist Empire when the time comes.¡±


    Queen Dantai smiled and said: ¡°Mr. Qin, you should be careful about today¡¯s events. The Sky Wolf Empire won¡¯t easily let it go. Based on my understanding of them, it¡¯s likely they will attempt assassination.¡±


    ¡°Assassination? It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Qin Hao was indifferent. In the face of absolute strength, any plots and schemes are futile.


    Queen Dantai: ¡°Tonight there is a banquet held by the Federation. Let¡¯s go together; we can watch out for each other.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Alright.¡±


    He talked with Queen Dantai for a while and then got up to leave.


    After Qin Hao left, Mo Yu asked: ¡°Mother, what do you think of him?¡±


    ¡°Young but extremely shrewd, even I can¡¯t see through him. He¡¯s not a simple person, and he won¡¯t be a simple character in the future.¡± Queen Dantai said lightly.


    Mo Yu: ¡°According to my investigation, he values loyalty deeply and isn¡¯t the type to be deceitful. He is someone with whom we can cooperate deeply.¡±


    Queen Dantai: ¡°Yes, he values emotions. If you are kind to him, he will repay you double.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao returned to the room where Lan Xin was waiting for him. She felt a bit depressed about her father¡¯s attitude today.


    She had always been with Qin Hao and knew his terrifying strength. Almost every so often, the main base would send a large number of new weapons, and the military base here was also in full production, clearly preparing for future battles.


    Facing the two empires, he was unflustered and even confident.


    Qin Hao was not arrogant; he had a great handle on whatever he did.


    By noon, there was a knock on the door, and Mo Yu walked in: ¡°Let¡¯s go have lunch together. The food at Federation Hotel is among the best in the galaxy and is very tasty.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Really? Then I must give it a good try. Let¡¯s go, Lan Xin.¡±


    The group walked out of the room, followed by bodyguards, and entered the elevator. Mo Yu pressed the button for the 180th floor.


    This was a special elevator that didn¡¯t stop midway. Within seconds, it arrived at the 180th-floor dining hall.


    It was a very large restaurant, already crowded with people. It took Qin Hao and the others a while to find an empty seat.


    Each table had a young and beautiful waitress. Seeing Qin Hao and his group, the waitress said respectfully: ¡°Sir, Miss, here is our menu. What would you like to eat?¡±


    The waitresses knew very well that those dining here today were likely princes or princesses, high-ranking officials, or even monarchs. Hence, they were very cautious.


    An electronic menu was opened, and Mo Yu and Lan Xin skillfully ordered several signature dishes, while Qin Hao ordered a few dishes himself.


    The hotel¡¯s efficiency was high; within minutes, the dishes Qin Hao ordered were served¡ªnine dishes in total.


    Mo Yu picked up her chopsticks, smiling: ¡°I won¡¯t be polite with you; I¡¯m going to eat now.¡±


    Qin Hao and Lan Xin also started to eat. The food here was indeed very delicious.


    As the three were eating, a group of handsome young men approached them. Among them, Qin Hao recognized one¡ªthe Qin Family¡¯s Qin Tian from the Tanglong Empire.


    The others were likely from the Tanglong Empire as well.


    The leading one addressed Mo Yu: ¡°Princess Mo Yu, long time no see. You are increasingly charming.¡±


    Mo Yu looked at the man and smiled: ¡°It¡¯s Prince Li. Long time no see.¡±


    Li Junchu glanced at Qin Hao and Lan Xin. He didn¡¯t recognize either of them but figured anyone dining with Mo Yu wasn¡¯t an ordinary person.


    Seeing Qin Hao and Lan Xin still eating without acknowledging him, Li felt a bit annoyed but didn¡¯t show it.


    Li Junchu raised his glass, smiling: ¡°To Princess Mo Yu, I toast you.¡±


    Mo Yu nodded slightly, raised her glass in return, and took a sip.


    Li Junchu: ¡°Princess Mo Yu, it¡¯s rare that we meet. Would you mind if we join you?¡±


    Mo Yu was slightly taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected Li Junchu to say that. After all, he was a Prince, so dignity had to be given: ¡°Prince Li, if you wish to sit, please do. Waiter, bring more dishes.¡±


    Li Junchu and his group of five sat down. Qin Tian smiled at Qin Hao and Lan Xin: ¡°Mr. Qin, Princess Lan Xin, long time no see.¡±


    Hearing Qin Tian¡¯s words, the expressions of those at the table changed slightly. Mr. Qin? Princess Lan Xin?


    Could he be the leader of the Galaxy Federation Republic, Qin Hao? The same Qin Hao who confronted the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire?


    Li Junchu and his companions all stared at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao looked at Qin Tian and replied: ¡°Mr. Qin, long time no see.¡±


    The two hadn¡¯t had any conflicts, so Qin Hao responded out of courtesy.


    Li Junchu looked at Qin Hao in astonishment: ¡°You are Qin Hao from the Galaxy Federation Republic?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Prince Li to have heard of me. What an honor.¡± Qin Hao said calmly.


    Li Junchu smiled: ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of Mr. Qin¡¯s great name. My father praised you several times, saying you are a young hero with exceptional potential.¡±


    Qin Hao watched Li Junchu. Was this guy flattering him? But he was a Prince of the Tanglong Empire; there was no need to flatter him, right?


    Li Junchu continued: ¡°I¡¯ve watched the fight video between you and Duanmu Feng. It was astounding. I never thought humans could be that powerful. Mr. Qin, was your body modified by genetic drugs?¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t expect this guy to be so talkative: ¡°Somewhat, though there¡¯s also martial arts.¡±


    ¡°Martial arts? Ancient martial arts?¡± Li Junchu¡¯s eyes lit up.


    Qin Hao looked at him curiously: ¡°You know about ancient martial arts?¡±


    Li Junchu: ¡°There are ancient martial arts families in our Tanglong Empire, specializing in cultivation techniques. However, even at advanced levels they are not as strong as genetic warriors. We¡¯ve researched those techniques using technology but haven¡¯t made significant progress.¡±


    Qin Hao had also been researching but found no major breakthrough. Ancient martial arts were very mysterious. Who created them? Who left them? Why do they make people so powerful?

 Chapter 878: 878: Maya Empire

    Chapter 878: Chapter 878: Maya Empire


    Qin Hao had inquired thoroughly about this matter with the ancient martial arts families on Earth, but there were no clues; they didn¡¯t know either.


    As for the principle of ancient martial arts altering human constitution, it also remains unclear.


    Qin Hao understood the principle of ancient martial arts, which is to cultivate inner strength through ancient martial arts cultivation methods, and then use inner strength to enhance the body. However, the origin and production of this inner strength are still unknown.


    Li Junchu continued, ¡°Mr. Qin, let¡¯s have a drink. I¡¯m also an ancient martial arts enthusiast. If we have time, we can discuss ancient martial arts cultivation together.¡±


    Qin Hao had a drink with him. Li Junchu was about the same age as them. Upon learning of Qin Hao and Lan Xin¡¯s identities, he put away his arrogance.


    The group had a good chat at the dining table. After lunch, Li Junchu said, ¡°Princess Mo Yu, Princess Lan Xin, Mr. Qin, do you have anything planned for the afternoon? I¡¯ll take you out to play. There¡¯s a fun place on Ancient Saint Star called the Ancient Holy Temple. It enshrines a saint. Legend has it that he was a celestial being. Ancient Saint Star is named after this temple. I found my ancient martial arts cultivation progressing quickly there.¡±


    Qin Hao was intrigued by his words: ¡°Let¡¯s go and check it out.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go together,¡± Li Junchu said with a bright smile.


    They left the restaurant and walked to a nearby elevator entrance. A group of people was standing there¡ªboth men and women, all with extremely proud expressions. These people exuded a strong aura of unattainable nobility.


    Li Junchu noticed the confusion in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes and sneered, ¡°These people are from the Maya Empire in the Maya Star System. People from their country always act like this, thinking they are heaven¡¯s chosen ones and feeling superior wherever they go.¡±


    Mo Yu also spoke, ¡°Although these people are very arrogant, they indeed have the capability. Whether it¡¯s their mechas or warships, they can be said to have developed the strongest ones among the eight major empires. They are also very advanced in gene medicine research.¡±


    Li Junchu sneered again, echoing the truth in Mo Yu¡¯s words, but he couldn¡¯t stand their superior attitude.


    Lan Xin also said, ¡°The Maya Empire is powerful, but they rarely interact with other countries. They¡¯ve long developed a kind of gene medicine that allows a person to live for over a thousand years. However, this gene medicine is only available in the Maya Empire, and outsiders cannot access it.¡±


    At the elevator entrance, Qin Hao scrutinized the seven or eight people from the Maya Empire. They were all handsome and beautiful, but their demeanor was cold and distant.


    That group glanced at Qin Hao and the others before turning away, showing no interest.


    Li Junchu was right; these people were too damn arrogant. In less polite terms, they were born pretentious. Qin Hao couldn¡¯t stand the arrogance in their eyes, itching to slap them.


    He wanted to crush their arrogance under his feet.


    Even though they hadn¡¯t offended Qin Hao, their faces just begged to be slapped.


    ...


    The elevator opened quickly, and two groups of people entered. Lan Xin held Qin Hao¡¯s arm, standing close to the Maya Empire¡¯s people.


    Li Junchu turned to them and asked, ¡°Who are you in the Maya Empire?¡±


    The group glanced at him and turned away, not bothering to respond.


    Li Junchu looked a bit embarrassed: ¡°I¡¯m Prince Li Junchu of the Tanglong Empire. Are you disrespecting the Tanglong Empire?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not our intention. We generally don¡¯t respond to people we don¡¯t know,¡± a young woman from the Maya Empire replied.


    This statement was as good as saying nothing.


    To the others, people from the Maya Empire appeared rude and ill-mannered.


    But the Maya people themselves felt this wasn¡¯t rude; their etiquette was entirely different from those outside.


    What seemed particularly rude to Qin Hao and others was actually normal conduct there, reflecting differences in local etiquette education.


    If Earth¡¯s etiquette education equated rude expressions to greetings, interactions with others would surely end in fights.


    Qin Hao was beginning to understand the Maya Empire¡¯s ways, but he still found their inherent arrogance and pride distasteful.


    The Maya Empire¡¯s self-conceit led to minimal interaction with the galaxy. They lived within their own world.


    But they were indeed impressive. Qin Hao had just checked online; their creativity was extraordinary. They led in developing all kinds of advanced weapons and warships, surpassing all other empires.


    In the previous mecha and gene medicine competitions, the Maya Empire took the championships, reportedly without showcasing their best mechas.


    Though they rarely interacted with the galaxy, their demonstrated strength made them formidable, deterring any empire from provoking them.


    ...


    Li Junchu, feeling unsatisfied, asked, ¡°Where are you headed?¡±


    ¡°To the Ancient Holy Temple,¡± Su Anna responded coolly.


    The elevator fell silent again. Li Junchu wanted to say more but couldn¡¯t think of anything else. The expressions on their faces were as if they were owed money.


    Almost no one outside had significant contact with the Maya Empire, let alone seeing any Maya princess or even a foreign minister.


    The Maya Empire was truly mysterious, and outsiders knew little about them.


    The Interstellar Federation once tried to send people to the Maya Empire to learn more, but they were refused. Non-Maya clan members were not allowed to enter the Maya Empire¡¯s territory without permission.


    Exiting the hotel, Li Junchu called a large tour bus, while the group from the Maya Empire boarded another vehicle.


    On the bus, Li Junchu said, ¡°Every time I come here, I see people from the Maya Empire going to the temple. I suspect they might also have cultivation techniques that might be more refined than ours.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this: ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Just a guess,¡± Li Junchu replied with a smile.


    Ancient Saint City on Ancient Saint Star was huge. The tour bus flew in the air for over ten minutes before arriving at the legendary Ancient Holy Temple.


    The temple was immense. The tour bus stopped outside, and Qin Hao was stunned to see the crowd ahead.


    ¡°So many people?¡± Lan Xin exclaimed.


    Li Junchu smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s normal to have many people at this time. Let¡¯s go in and take a look.¡±


    Following the crowd, they entered the vast temple. Inside were numerous palaces, with lesser and greater holy temples aplenty.

 Chapter 879: 879 Ancient Holy Temple

    Chapter 879: Chapter 879 Ancient Holy Temple


    Li Junchu said, ¡°Is this Mr. Qin¡¯s first visit? How about we first take a look at this Lesser Saint Temple and the Greater Saint Temple?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Li, don¡¯t call me Mr. Qin. I think you are also a straightforward individual, just call me Qin. Then, let¡¯s first check out those nearby temples.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Qin, I won¡¯t stand on ceremony then. Let¡¯s go and check out the Lesser Saint Temple.¡± Li Junchu said with a smile.


    Li Junchu was not a clueless person. After knowing Qin Hao¡¯s identity, he gave Qin Hao enough respect, which was sufficient.


    After they entered the main gate of the Ancient Holy Temple, Li Junchu led them to a palace temple on the left. The plaque at the entrance bore three gilded characters: Lesser Saint Temple.


    There were not many people inside, but there were quite a few burning incense and paying their respects.


    Inside the temple, there stood a statue about a zhang tall (approx. 3 meters) of a burly man dressed in armor. At the base of the statue were several large characters: Western Lesser Saint Marshal Xuanwu.


    Li Junchu smiled and said, ¡°This is Western Lesser Saint Marshal Xuanwu. It is said that he was once an immortal being capable of traversing heaven and earth. There are also Eastern Lesser Saint, Southern Lesser Saint, and Northern Lesser Saint.¡±


    Then, Qin Hao and his group went to the temple of Eastern Lesser Saint Marshal Yi Sheng. Qin Hao furrowed his brows slightly, a thoughtful look in his eyes.


    They then arrived at the temple of Northern Lesser Saint Marshal of Heavenly Blessing. When they reached the fourth Lesser Saint Temple, Qin Hao stood there stunned. The statue was titled Northern Lesser Saint Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy.


    Moreover, the statue depicted Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy holding a six-foot rake in his hand.


    What the hell is this?


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Qin?¡± Li Junchu asked curiously upon seeing Qin Hao¡¯s expression.


    Qin Hao snapped out of it and smiled, ¡°Nothing, it¡¯s just that this rake is a bit peculiar.¡±


    ¡°This rake is called the Six-foot Nail Rake. Look, there is a detailed description behind it. Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy is one of the Four Saints of the Arctic, overseeing the endless heavenly river.¡±


    Qin Hao was a bit bewildered. Isn¡¯t this from Earth¡¯s mythology? Could it be that they have the same stories here?


    Besides these Lesser Saint Temples, there were also Greater Saint Temple, Great Emperor Temple, Human Emperor Temple, Ancient Holy Temple, and so on.


    Qin Hao and his group went through all of them, recognizing many figures from Earth¡¯s myths and legends.


    Finally, they arrived outside the Ancient Holy Temple, where there were many people. Just as they were about to go in, a voice came from behind, ¡°Move aside, our prince wants to enter.¡±


    Qin Hao and Lan Xin, who were at the back, didn¡¯t have time to turn around before someone tried to push them aside, but they were stopped by Leng Xuan and his group.


    ¡°Get out of the way, how dare you block our prince¡¯s path. You have a death wish?¡± The person¡¯s hand was grabbed and couldn¡¯t break free, shouting.


    With a ¡°crack,¡± the person¡¯s arm broke on the spot.


    Leng Xuan was the leader of Qin Hao¡¯s imperial guards, wielding more power than those high-ranking officials of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    Now, he had status and position. How dare a mere lackey bark orders at him?


    ¡°How dare you!¡±


    Seeing Leng Xuan make a move, dozens of people immediately surrounded them.


    Li Junchu and the others turned around and saw the opponents. Li Junchu frowned, ¡°People from the Dark Empire?¡±


    A young man dressed in black emerged from the Dark Empire¡¯s side. He had black hair and eyes, and his handsome face was as captivating as a star across the galaxy.


    He looked at Qin Hao and his group, a wicked smile appearing on his handsome face, ¡°No one has ever dared to touch my people. Kneel!¡±


    ¡°Nangong Jian, what do you mean?¡± Li Junchu stepped forward and said.


    Nangong Jian had clearly seen Qin Hao and Li Junchu together and still spoke this way, obviously showing no respect to him.


    Nangong Jian: ¡°What? Li Junchu, you dare challenge me? Weren¡¯t you beaten last time?¡±


    The people around them had various expressions on their faces after hearing Nangong Jian¡¯s words, glancing towards Li Junchu. Li Junchu¡¯s face turned a bit unsightly as he indeed had a conflict with Nangong Jian previously, leading to a fight where he suffered a loss.


    Hearing Nangong Jian bring this up again, Li Junchu felt embarrassed: ¡°Nangong Jian, aren¡¯t you annoyed that I didn¡¯t kick your face last time?¡±


    ¡°Step aside, or I¡¯ll beat you today.¡± Nangong Jian snorted coldly.


    Li Junchu: ¡°Oh really? Then let¡¯s settle both the old and new scores, men, beat him up.¡±


    In an instant, both sides charged at each other. However, no one used mechas or large weapons, relying entirely on their physical prowess, a tacit rule among them.


    Leng Xuan and his group joined the fight at Qin Hao¡¯s signal.


    The surrounding people quickly backed away, fearing they would get caught in the commotion. Both parties had significant backgrounds, and there would be nowhere to seek justice if injured accidentally.


    The Dark Empire¡¯s soldiers had strong individual combat abilities. The men brought by Li Junchu were no match, but fortunately, Leng Xuan¡¯s group was there, or Li Junchu¡¯s side would quickly lose.


    Both sides consisted of genetically modified individuals. Li Junchu¡¯s side also had skilled fighters, but the Dark Empire¡¯s soldiers were extremely strong due to their extensive use of genetic modification drugs.


    After a few minutes, people on both sides started to fall, but more on Li Junchu¡¯s side. None of Qin Hao¡¯s men had fallen, thanks to the latest Human Evolution Gene Potion they had taken.


    Fighting these people, they hadn¡¯t even used their full strength as it wasn¡¯t necessary.


    Soon everyone was down, except for Leng Xuan and the Shadow Guards, who stood by Qin Hao¡¯s side.


    Nangong Jian¡¯s eyes narrowed, a gleam flashing through. These people were incredibly strong and hadn¡¯t even used their full power.


    Though Li Junchu¡¯s men were mostly down, Qin Hao¡¯s people were still standing, meaning he had won.


    He looked at Nangong Jian with disdain, ¡°Well, they say the Dark Empire¡¯s combat prowess is strong, but it seems not so. Prince Nangong, you don¡¯t look too good.¡±


    Nangong Jian¡¯s face was expressionless, looking at Qin Hao, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Does a defeated man have the right to speak?¡± Qin Hao glanced at him indifferently.


    Li Junchu felt delighted at Qin Hao¡¯s words. This was the first time he saw Nangong Jian lose face, given his usual arrogance.


    Nangong Jian seethed with killing intent, his figure vanishing and reappearing instantly toward Qin Hao.


    His speed was so fast that people around couldn¡¯t react.


    But to Qin Hao and Leng Xuan, it was still too slow. Before he could get halfway, Leng Xuan grabbed him, unable to move forward or retreat.


    Nangong Jian froze, looking at Qin Hao and the grabbing Leng Xuan in disbelief.


    Leng Xuan lifted him like a chick, ¡°You piece of trash, and you dare try to kill my master?¡±

 Chapter 880: 880: Forging a Path

    Chapter 880: Chapter 880: Forging a Path


    Nangong Jian¡¯s face turned red as he flailed his arms and legs in the air, looking like a clown: ¡°Let go of me, let go of me now.¡±


    Li Junchu couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter when he saw this: ¡°Oh dear, Brother Nangong, what are you up to? Flying in the air?¡±


    Qin Tian and the others also couldn¡¯t help but laugh. They were following Li Junchu¡¯s lead, so they did as he did naturally.


    Nangong Jian felt utterly humiliated by Li Junchu¡¯s mocking and glared at Qin Hao furiously: ¡°Tell your man to let go of me.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly: ¡°Ask Brother Li. If Brother Li says to let you go, I¡¯ll let you go.¡±


    Ask Li Junchu? Nangong Jian¡¯s face turned livid. Wasn¡¯t this a deliberate insult?


    Li Junchu smiled broadly upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words: ¡°Haha, Nangong Jian, I never thought you would have such a day. Haha, come, beg this prince, and maybe I will tell Brother Qin to release you.¡±


    Excitement filled Li Junchu¡¯s heart. He was delighted by the situation and began to regard Qin Hao more highly.


    Nangong Jian looked at Li Junchu, his expression fluctuating. Beg him? Impossible. How could a prince stoop so low to beg him?


    Nangong Jian was now being held aloft by Leng Xuan, watched by so many people, completely shaming a prince like him.


    Seeing that Nangong Jian had no intention of yielding, Li Junchu said to Qin Hao with a laugh: ¡°Brother Qin, Nangong Jian is very proud. I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll beg for mercy. Just have your subordinate carry him around the Ancient Holy Temple once.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Then carry him around once. Let¡¯s not waste our time playing.¡±


    With that, the group pretended to leave.


    Nangong Jian¡¯s face changed dramatically. As a prince of the Dark Empire, if he were humiliated like this in the Ancient Holy Temple, he and the Dark Empire would be the laughingstock.


    If his father found out, the consequences would be dire.


    He hurriedly called out: ¡°Wait.¡±


    Li Junchu turned around with a broad smile: ¡°Prince Nangong, have you thought it through?¡±


    Nangong Jian¡¯s face was flushed, and he looked at Qin Hao and his group fiercely: ¡°I beg for mercy.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hear how Prince Nangong begs for mercy.¡± Li Junchu smiled proudly. Nangong Jian, I never thought you¡¯d have this day.


    Today¡¯s event showed that you just came for me, but you didn¡¯t expect that I, Li Junchu, had just made a new friend. Indeed, the more friends, the better.


    Nangong Jian: ¡°Prince Li, I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have offended you.¡±


    Saying this, his face turned so dark it seemed like it was about to drip water.


    Li Junchu laughed heartily, feeling satisfied and pleased: ¡°Since Prince Nangong knows his mistake, this prince forgives you this time. Brother Qin, please let Prince Nangong go.¡±


    Qin Hao gave Leng Xuan a look, and Leng Xuan released Nangong Jian.


    Nangong Jian said nothing, but after being let down, he left quickly with a gloomy face.


    He had no face left to stay here. Soon, what just happened would spread throughout the Ancient Saint City.


    Once Nangong Jian left, Li Junchu laughed heartily: ¡°Brother Qin, thank you. I¡¯ll remember this favor, let¡¯s go inside the Ancient Holy Temple and have a look around.¡±


    The onlookers, realizing Li Junchu and Qin Hao¡¯s identities, quickly cleared a path for them.


    The inside of the Ancient Holy Temple was vast, with a statue standing in the center of the temple. Many people were praying and burning incense, and the air was thick with smoke.


    There, Qin Hao saw the group from the Maya Empire standing by the statue, quietly gazing at the ancient holy statue.


    Qin Hao and his group approached to take a closer look. The ancient holy statue gave them a very peculiar feeling.


    Qin Hao couldn¡¯t quite describe what was peculiar about it, it was just a sense he had.


    This feeling wasn¡¯t unique to him; everyone who entered felt the same. However, many were accustomed to it, while this was Qin Hao¡¯s first time.


    Qin Hao activated his ancient martial arts cultivation technique and felt it circulating faster than before, extremely smoothly.


    A strange invisible stream of air emanated from the ancient holy statue.


    His cultivation technique¡¯s speed increased, reaching tenfold its usual speed.


    But it was of no use because he had no subsequent cultivation techniques, no direction for a breakthrough.


    No path? Then I¡¯ll carve my own path.


    With these thoughts in mind, Qin Hao began to intensely absorb that invisible stream of air. Under the insane rotation of his technique, a large amount of air flowed into his body.


    Everyone in the grand hall sensed it, an invisible energy vortex swirling above Qin Hao¡¯s head.


    Nearby, Li Junchu, Lan Xin, and Dantai Moyu were flung away by the invisible force but managed to land steadily with a backflip.


    The three of them looked at Qin Hao with astonished eyes. What was happening?


    The crowd from the Maya Empire was equally stunned, a rare look of surprise on their faces.


    Li Junchu and his group reacted quickly, ordering their subordinates to drive out all idle people and seal off the area.


    Only they and the people from the Maya Empire remained in the temple. Shortly, people from the Ancient Holy Temple arrived, three in total.


    One was the temple master, and the other two were vice temple masters.


    Seeing Qin Hao standing in the center with his eyes half-closed, they showed puzzled expressions.


    Qin Hao was now in a strange state, similar to a cultivator¡¯s breakthrough, but not quite.


    One could say he was innovating within the cultivation realm, creating the next level of the cultivation technique, forging a new path for cultivators.


    As time passed, more and more spiritual energy streamed into his body.


    Lan Xin asked worriedly: ¡°What¡¯s happening to Qin Hao? Is he alright?¡±


    Dantai Moyu shook her head: ¡°The invisible force just now was terrifying. Although our bodies have been enhanced, we had no resistance at all.¡±


    Li Junchu gulped: ¡°Could Brother Qin be encountering something good? The ancient saint manifesting?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, that¡¯s superstitious.¡± Dantai Moyu rolled her eyes at him.


    ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t insult the ancient saint,¡± one of the temple officials finally said.


    Dantai Moyu asked them: ¡°This is your Ancient Holy Temple. What¡¯s happening to my friend? Can you explain?¡±


    One of them hesitated before speaking: ¡°We don¡¯t know either, maybe it really is the ancient saint manifesting.¡±


    Dantai Moyu scoffed: ¡°Manifestation my ass. Who are you fooling?¡±


    ¡°Miss, watch your words. Do not insult our ancient saint,¡± the temple official warned.


    Dantai Moyu retorted: ¡°What? You think you can kill me? You don¡¯t even qualify to carry my shoes.¡±


    Li Junchu intervened: ¡°This lady is Princess Mo Yu of the Moon Mist Empire, and I am a prince of the Tanglong Empire. Disrespect us, and we¡¯ll tear down your shabby temple. Did you use some sorcery on my brother?¡±


    The three temple leaders¡¯ expressions changed slightly upon hearing this. Were these people that powerful?


    They quickly said: ¡°We don¡¯t know what happened to this gentleman.¡±


    Su Anna from the Maya Empire spoke: ¡°He¡¯s likely breaking through a limit.¡±

 Chapter 881: 881: Taking a Step

    Chapter 881: Chapter 881: Taking a Step


    ¡°Breaking the limit?¡±


    Lan Xin¡¯s face froze for a moment. What does this mean?


    Everyone around looked at Su Anna¡¯s group, wanting to know exactly what he meant.


    Su Anna: ¡°The current cultivation methods in the interstellar world all have their limits. If there are higher-level techniques, perhaps humans can become stronger, but none exist yet. He now plans to blaze a new path.¡±


    Upon hearing Su Anna¡¯s words, everyone seemed to understand somewhat.


    ¡°When will he wake up?¡± This was the question that concerned Lan Xin.


    Su Anna replied calmly, ¡°He has only two outcomes: either he succeeds and wakes up, or he fails and his body explodes.¡±


    The Maya Empire has been researching human cultivation techniques, and they have attempted dozens of times to break the limit and forge a new path, but all attempts have failed without exception.


    Innovation, carving a new path, is easier said than done. This road is sure to be filled with thorns and blood.


    At this moment, Qin Hao indeed felt like he was about to explode because too much energy had entered his body. If not for the genetic modifications his body underwent, he would not have been able to withstand it.


    What should he do next? Qin Hao¡¯s brain was running at high speed.


    How should he deal with this much energy within his body?


    He first directed the energy to every bone, muscle, and cell in his body, using it to transform each part again.


    His cells, muscles, and bones, already strong from genetic modifications, still seemed not strong enough to Qin Hao. He believed in the limitless potential of the human body.


    The massive energy within him was being consumed bit by bit, but at the same time, more energy continued to pour in.


    He didn¡¯t know how long had passed; every cell, bone, and muscle in his body was strengthened, followed by his meridians, and finally, his dantian.


    The dantian is the most important place in cultivation methods, used to store energy. After completing a cycle of the cultivation technique, the energy also returns to the dantian.


    It¡¯s like a container, a vessel holding energy.


    Now, in order to become stronger, he could only enlarge this container or improve the quality of the energy.


    He didn¡¯t know how to enlarge his dantian, nor did he have the confidence, but he thought he could try to improve the quality of his internal energy, transforming quantity into quality!


    He began to try compressing the invisible energy and inner strength, winding them together.


    The swelling sensation in his dantian sharply increased, and Qin Hao spat out blood.


    Lan Xin and the others¡¯ faces changed slightly upon seeing this: ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°Probably about to fail,¡± a fleeting dimness crossed Su Anna¡¯s eyes, but she quickly replied calmly.


    It seemed that no one could blaze a new path, not even a single step forward!


    If even our Maya Clan couldn¡¯t take the first step, how could other races?


    As a member of the Maya Empire, they were born with a sense of superiority, considering themselves the smartest and most talented race in the interstellar world.


    In the blink of an eye, three days had passed, and Lan Xin and the others had been waiting here for over three days.


    Inside the Ancient Holy Temple, Qin Hao had been standing still all this time. Suddenly, a powerful aura emanated from his body, making everyone present step back.


    Su Anna and others from the Maya Empire were shocked. What was happening?


    Had he succeeded in taking the first step?


    How was that possible? Even the strongest of the Maya Clan couldn¡¯t do it. He couldn¡¯t possibly do it.


    Qin Hao opened his eyes, scanning the crowd, his gaze like lightning, sending chills down their spines.


    Lan Xin was overjoyed and quickly ran over: ¡°Xiao Hao, are you alright?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled at her: ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s already dark? Let¡¯s go back.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been almost four days!¡± Dantai Moyu couldn¡¯t help but say.


    Four days?


    Qin Hao¡¯s face froze: ¡°You mean I¡¯ve been standing here for four days?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Qin. You¡¯ve been standing here for four days. We were scared to death, thinking something happened,¡± Li Junchu said as well.


    Su Anna from the Maya Empire looked at Qin Hao: ¡°Did you succeed in taking a step?¡±


    She said ¡°a step,¡± not ¡°a path.¡±


    Qin Hao had indeed taken a step. He glanced at Su Anna, but did not answer, turning to Lan Xin instead: ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The group walked out of the Ancient Holy Temple and took a sightseeing car back to the Federation Hotel.


    ...


    Back at the hotel, Li Junchu and the others parted ways with Qin Hao in front of the elevator: ¡°Qin, we¡¯re going back now. Let¡¯s hang out again another day.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Okay.¡±


    In the room, Lan Xin couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously, ¡°What have you been doing these past few days?¡±


    ¡°Walking a path. I¡¯ve successfully taken a small step,¡± Qin Hao showed no joy, instead seeming somewhat worried.


    Having taken this small step, he realized how long and difficult the path was!


    The first step was taken by luck, but what about the second, third, fourth... the ten thousandth step?


    He didn¡¯t believe he would be so lucky every time.


    Just one failure, and he would face a bottomless abyss, a place where he couldn¡¯t even find a resting place for his dead body.


    Looking back, Qin Hao still felt a bit scared. What made him think he should take a step back then?


    Luckily, he succeeded this time.


    The proverb ¡°fortune favors those who take risks¡± was true. By taking this small step successfully, he reaped huge rewards.


    His physical strength became incredibly terrifying, and the inner strength in his dantian underwent a qualitative transformation, turning into a new kind of energy, more powerful than ever.


    This new energy was continuously circulating, strengthening his bones and muscles.


    Lan Xin asked curiously: ¡°The path of cultivation?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this path is too difficult. I should focus on technological research instead. By the way, when does the competition start?¡± Qin Hao thought achieving godhood through technology seemed easier than groping in the dark.


    Lan Xin replied: ¡°It starts tomorrow. If you hadn¡¯t woken up, I would have handed it over to someone else.¡±


    In other rooms at the hotel, Dantai Moyu, Li Junchu, and Su Anna were recounting the recent events to their parents.


    Especially the matter concerning Qin Hao.


    After hearing her daughter¡¯s account, Queen Dantai¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly: ¡°The Maya Empire people said he succeeded in taking the first step?¡±


    Dantai Moyu nodded: ¡°Yes, they were incredibly shocked when they saw Qin Hao wake up.¡±


    Queen Dantai: ¡°It seems his body has made significant progress, but we don¡¯t know just how strong he has become.¡±


    On the other side, Li Junchu was telling his father about the incident in the Tanglong Empire.


    In the rooms where the Maya Empire people resided.


    After Su Anna conveyed the matter to her mother, Queen Maya was shocked: ¡°Did you say someone successfully took the first step?¡±


    Su Anna nodded: ¡°Yes, we saw it with our own eyes, right next to the sculpture in the Ancient Holy Temple. According to my investigation, this person seems to be the leader of the Galaxy Federation Republic.¡±


    Queen Maya¡¯s eyebrows knitted slightly: ¡°The Galaxy Federation Republic? That country making waves in the interstellar community?¡±

 Chapter 882: 882: The Competition Begins

    Chapter 882: Chapter 882: The Competition Begins


    Su Anna spoke, ¡°The spiritual energy around the ancient saint statue is dense, similar to the sacred places of our Maya Empire. It is a good place for breakthroughs. I didn¡¯t expect that person could take the first step.¡±


    Maya Empire¡¯s Queen Angel Bell¡¯s eyes flashed sharply, ¡°The competition will start tomorrow. After the competition is over, let¡¯s talk to Qin Hao.¡±


    In martial arts research, Qin Hao has already surpassed the Maya Empire, which we indeed need to study.


    The reason why Maya Empire is so proud in the outside world is mainly because their various technologies lead other empires.


    Whenever an empire surpasses them in any aspect, they strive to learn and research, because only by doing so can they maintain their current status without faltering.


    They are not really arrogant, just that no empire has surpassed them.


    The next morning at eight-thirty, the Federation Arena in Ancient Saint City was already packed with people, men and women, old and young. They came from various empires and kingdoms, wanting to witness a top-notch mecha feast and the ultimate human strength combat.


    This is a circular arena, very large. Each country has its designated area. Qin Hao took a rough look and found at least a million people in this arena.


    The population from the eight major empires is the largest, along with some people from the kingdoms.


    The Interstellar Federation Government is the organizer of this event. At eight forty, they started the opening ceremony speech, followed by detailed explanations about this year¡¯s mecha competition rules.


    The eight major empires do not participate in the preliminary matches because everyone knows their mecha¡¯s strength; they only appear in the later stages.


    The first matches are between the duchies and kingdoms. The Galaxy Federation Republic is currently classified as a kingdom by the Interstellar Federation Government, just below the eight major empires.


    Of course, there are too many kingdoms in the galaxy, and kingdoms are also divided into different levels.


    In terms of actual strength, the Galaxy Federation Republic is definitely among the top in the kingdom category. Even in a war with one of the empires, Qin Hao has a fair chance, and even if unable to completely defeat, he would remain invincible.


    However, the outside world does not know the true strength of the Galaxy Federation Republic. Even the Moon Mist Empire is not very clear. They only know Qin Hao has many advanced items, but whether they are mass-produced is unknown.


    Although the Galaxy Federation Republic is now open to the outside world, its military defense is very strict. Many kingdoms and empires want to know Qin Hao¡¯s real power, but cannot infiltrate Qin Hao¡¯s military system.


    Qin Hao has now evolved his Intelligent Computer Xiao Xing to a very advanced level, easily defending against various interstellar hacker attacks.


    ...


    ¡°The mecha competition will be divided into 13 groups, with each group consisting of a hundred countries, randomly drawing opponents. The first places in each group will advance to compete with the top three of the eight major empires.¡±


    After this Interstellar Federation official finished speaking, a famous interstellar dance troupe started performing on the central stage.


    Qin Hao sat in the chair, with Lan Xin, Leng Xuan, and some officials beside him. This was the location of the Galaxy Federation Republic. The awkward part was that there were almost no people behind them.


    The reason for saying ¡°almost no one¡± is that a few people were sitting behind them, these few people were from the Galaxy Federation Republic. They were business people and happened to be close, so they came over.


    Many people around were looking at this side, wondering which country it was, and why there were so few people, only five, which was too embarrassing.


    After a passionate and sexy dance, a virtual screen broadcaster announced the next performer, the currently popular female star Liu Yuxi from the Free Star System Federation, the highest popularity female star in the galaxy.


    As Liu Yuxi appeared, the audience in the arena went into a frenzy. More than eighty percent of the people present were her fans, demonstrating her high popularity.


    She started singing a passionate song ¡°Mechanical Battle Song.¡± She was very beautiful, with perfect facial features and figure, which is why she became the interstellar sensation goddess.


    Lan Xin spoke beside him, ¡°Liu Yuxi¡¯s voice is very beautiful. I love listening to her songs, it sounds like a heavenly voice.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Her voice is indeed beautiful.¡±


    A few minutes later, Liu Yuxi finally finished singing and sat in the VIP seat. She was a special guest.


    ¡°I announce the official start of the Interstellar Mecha Tournament. The opponents are randomly drawn by the system. The first group selection will begin, everyone please look at the big screen.¡±


    The big screen started spinning and then the name of a country appeared: Cangsheng Kingdom VS Galaxy Federation Republic.


    Many people knew about Cangsheng Kingdom, but quite a few hearing about the Galaxy Interstellar Federation for the first time naturally regarded it as a small country.


    Qin Hao glanced at Leng Xuan, ¡°Just send anyone.¡±


    Leng Xuan glanced at the Shadow Guards beside him, the Shadow Guard instantly covered with mecha, disappearing from the spot in zero point something seconds, appearing on the arena.


    Because he moved so fast, many people did not see clearly how the Shadow Guard appeared in the arena.


    At this time, the mecha fighter from Cangsheng Kingdom was still flying halfway, comparing the mecha performance, Cangsheng Kingdom was already at a disadvantage.


    Many people were amazed at the speed of the Shadow Guard, such fast speed.


    An official host started explaining, ¡°The mecha of Cangsheng Kingdom is an independently produced mecha called the Falcon series mecha, its performance is almost comparable to advanced mechas, very powerful.¡±


    He was explaining not only to the audience present but also to everyone watching the live broadcast.


    ¡°As for the mecha of the Galaxy Federation Republic, we didn¡¯t get much information, but judging by the speed just now, I think this mecha must have undergone special modifications, greatly enhancing its speed, but it might have severe deficiencies in other aspects.¡±


    Because this is very common in the galaxy, some mechas enhance speed significantly, but their defense, attack, and other aspects are drastically poor, unable to match the speed.


    A mecha is not impressive just because it is speedy. If its defense system and attack system do not keep up, it is useless, merely ornamental.


    After both sides entered the arena and prepared, a three-second countdown started.


    The arena was very large, several kilometers in size, enough for mechas to showcase their performance.


    ¡°Begin¡±


    As soon as the countdown ended, everyone felt a blur before their eyes. The Shadow Guard disappeared from the original spot, appearing ten meters behind the mecha fighter of Cangsheng Kingdom.


    [Back, today¡¯s first update]

 Chapter 883: 883 Antimatter Cannon

    Chapter 883: Chapter 883 Antimatter Cannon


    ¡°Crack¡±


    Only to see the mecha of the Cangsheng Kingdom¡¯s Mechanical Soldier, falling off like fragments, revealing the figure of a middle-aged man.


    The Shadow Guards did not kill the man, just destroyed his mecha.


    The host was stunned, senior officials from various kingdoms and empires were stunned, millions of live audiences and countless people watching on TV were shocked.


    What... What kind of mecha is this? How can it be so powerful?


    Directly breaking down the opponent¡¯s mecha, how the hell is this achieved? How fast must this be?


    The Shadow Guards vanished from their spot, appearing ten meters behind the man, without even a second passing. During this, he had to draw his sword, and control the force precisely, otherwise it could have killed the man.


    Thinking carefully about all this, it¡¯s terrifyingly incredible.


    Even the person from Cangsheng Kingdom was dumbfounded, feeling cold sweat all over. If the opponent¡¯s force had been a bit stronger, would his fate be the same as his mecha?


    The judge reacted after a long time: ¡°Galaxy Federation Republic wins.¡±


    Five citizens of the Galaxy Federation Republic applauded in their seats, smiling, as their country¡¯s superiority shone brightly on their faces.


    At this moment, the eyes of officials from surrounding countries were noticeably different, becoming much more respectful.


    The Shadow Guards stepped forward, instantly returning to Qin Hao¡¯s side, demonstrating an astonishing mastery and speed with the mecha.


    Many countries turned their gaze towards Qin Hao¡¯s side, the leaders of the eight great empires and numerous kingdoms stared at them in shock, amazed by the power displayed by the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    This mecha is too strong, far exceeding many people¡¯s expectations.


    But people still hadn¡¯t fully understood the mecha¡¯s firepower system, so they did not jump to conclusions.


    Many people sat in the VIP seats, discussing Qin Hao¡¯s mecha.


    Liu Yuxi listened to their conversations, occasionally glancing at the Shadow Guards beside Qin Hao, deeply impressed by the mecha¡¯s performance earlier.


    Not only her, but people from Maya Empire, Bright Empire, Dark Empire, Free Star System Federation and Tanglong Empire were also stunned.


    Moon Mist Empire, Sky Wolf Empire, and Nolan Empire were somewhat prepared having witnessed it before, but were still incredibly shocked.


    ...


    Dozens of matches took place in the morning, and by the end of the day, the top rank in the first group was decided.


    The morning matches also had several highlights, showcasing various modifications of mechas, some indeed demonstrated miraculous effects.


    Some had freakish defense, others invincible attacks, and some were as fast as lightning...


    Close to noon, Qin Hao¡¯s side started the second round of matches, this time the opponent was also from a kingdom, its mecha characterized by fast firepower attacks and high precision.


    Before the opponent could fly closer, it would be hit by beam cannon, its power and accuracy were terrifying.


    ¡°The next match is Galaxy Federation Republic vs. Lie Wu Kingdom. Everyone has seen their mechas, both are very strong. However, I believe Galaxy Federation¡¯s winning chances are greater due to its terrifying speed.¡±


    The live audience and online viewers nodded slightly, they also thought Galaxy Federation Republic had a high chance of winning.


    At the start of the match, the Shadow Guards did not demonstrate the speed advantage of the mecha, instead, standing still.


    Before going on stage, he was commanded by Qin Hao to fully display the power of the B-grade mecha.


    He was there to show all countries in the galaxy that the mecha of Galaxy Federation Republic is the strongest in the universe, which would invisibly enhance the Federation Republic¡¯s influence and reputation.


    Seeing the Shadow Guards standing still, the mecha warrior from Lie Wu Kingdom was pleased, thinking the opponent would immediately use their speed advantage, but they did not.


    He quickly operated his mecha, locked onto the Shadow Guards, and dozens of beams lit up, beam cannons fired at the Shadow Guards.


    Many present saw the Shadow Guards standing still and were speechless. Damn, these are more than a dozen super beam cannons, just standing there? This is too arrogant, right?


    This is a super beam cannon, even if your speed is fast, the defense is comparable to advanced mecha, it still can¡¯t withstand it.


    As the opponent just fired the beam cannon, the Shadow Guards moved, raising his left hand and firing an Antimatter Cannon.


    The glow of the Antimatter Cannon was dim, much less compared to the dozen beam cannons.


    ¡°Does he intend to block those dozen beam cannons with just this one cannon?¡±


    ¡°What arrogance.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s going to pay for his arrogance. Lie Wu Kingdom¡¯s mecha has strong attack power, comparable to advanced mecha, yet he challenges the opponent¡¯s advantage, too foolish.¡±


    ...


    As the Antimatter Cannon collided with the beam cannons, there was no expected energy fluctuation, the beam cannons turned into tiny photons, returning to their essence, shimmering in the air then gradually extinguished.


    The Antimatter Cannon did not weaken at all, continued forward, and in the terrified eyes of Lie Wu Kingdom¡¯s mecha warrior, it hit, without the expected explosion, the entire mecha warrior was directly broken down into cosmic particles, vanishing into nothing.


    This scene made many people present stand up in shock, especially those from empires and kingdoms.


    ¡°How is this possible? What kind of cannon is this?¡± A stunned audience member was wide-eyed.


    ¡°This is too... too powerful. What kind of cannon is this?¡±


    ¡°Is it the legendary Antimatter Cannon? Isn¡¯t it only theoretical? Has Galaxy Federation Republic developed it?¡±


    ¡°Antimatter Cannon? No way, even the eight great empires haven¡¯t developed it.¡±


    Lan Antai from Nolan Empire and Duanmu Citian from Sky Wolf Empire glanced at each other, seeing shock and horror in each other¡¯s eyes.


    Antimatter Cannon?


    Qin Hao actually developed such a terrifying weapon; has this Antimatter Cannon already been equipped on warships? This was the burning question for the two leaders.


    Queen Dantai of Moon Mist Empire felt turbulent waves in her heart. She exchanged glances with her daughter, their faces clearly showing shock.


    The queen of Maya Empire frowned, and Su Anna turned to her mother, this truly was an Antimatter Cannon.


    They were also researching it in Maya Empire, but still had a long way to go before production.


    The expressions of other empire and kingdom leaders were similar, slack-jawed, disbelief written on their faces.


    The live audience and online viewers were utterly silent, all stunned by the Antimatter Cannon.


    [Second update still coming]

 Chapter 884: 884: Shock

    Chapter 884: Chapter 884: Shock


    The Shadow Guards returned to Qin Hao¡¯s side from the duel platform, standing motionless beside him.


    This time, the way everyone looked at them was completely different from before.


    None of the countries or people dared to underestimate Qin Hao and his companions anymore; the strength Qin Hao demonstrated was shocking to everyone.


    Whether it was the speed or the attack capability of the Mecha, it far exceeded all current Mechas.


    Especially the Antimatter Cannon, the power was truly terrifying. If the power of the Antimatter Cannon is so great, could it turn an entire planet into cosmic particles?


    Thinking of this, many people¡¯s eyes showed fanaticism and fear.


    Fanaticism because they thought if they could obtain such a weapon, they would certainly gain more benefits; fear because they were scared to face such a weapon.


    Judging by the performance of the Antimatter Cannon, although its speed was not that fast, no defensive weapon could withstand the Antimatter Cannon.


    As long as it touched the Antimatter Cannon, it would turn into nothingness; no defensive cannon could block it.


    ...


    After the match, it was time for the midday break and lunch.


    The official personnel announced the end, and the audience left in succession to eat nearby. For someone at Qin Hao¡¯s level, arrangements had already been made by the Interstellar Federation, right at the top hotel next to the dueling arena.


    Queen Dantai and Dantai Moyu walked over, their seats were very close to Qin Hao¡¯s side.


    Queen Dantai approached with a smile and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, how about having lunch together?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Please, Queen Dantai.¡±


    The two walked side by side out through a nearby passage, with many people from various countries looking at them as they saw them making their way out.


    Some had a vague idea about the cooperation between the Moon Mist Empire and Qin Hao, but the details were not widely known.


    Now, it seemed that the Queen of the Moon Mist Empire had very keen judgment; this move could be said to be extremely precise.


    Although she offended the Nolan Empire and Sky Wolf Empire by cooperating with Qin Hao, Qin Hao¡¯s demonstrated power and potential at this moment were extremely terrifying.


    Besides, even without cooperating with Qin Hao, the alliance between the Nolan Empire and the Sky Wolf Empire would have also been a threat to the Moon Mist Empire, potentially endangering its safety.


    For many people, the alliance between the two empires was an uncertain factor.


    As they exited the passageway, Li Junchu ran over, ¡°Qin, Queen Dantai.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and responded, ¡°Li.¡±


    Queen Dantai nodded faintly; he was just a prince of the Tanglong Empire. She responded out of respect for Qin Hao; if it were someone else, she would have given them a cold face long ago.


    It was obvious that Li Junchu was trying to get closer to Qin Hao. Now that Qin Hao was her ally, she didn¡¯t want him to be swayed by others.


    Li Junchu seemingly did not notice Queen Dantai¡¯s look and said with a smile, ¡°Qin, would you mind if I joined you for lunch?¡±


    ¡°No problem, let¡¯s go together,¡± Qin Hao agreed with a smile.


    They soon arrived at the hotel, led by the service staff, and came to the table that had already been arranged.


    Queen Dantai, Dantai Moyu, Qin Hao, Lan Xin, and Li Junchu sat down at the table.


    While waiting for the dishes, Queen Dantai smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, your Galaxy Federation Republic¡¯s performance today must have astonished many people.¡±


    Li Junchu chimed in, ¡°Indeed, Qin, your Mecha is just too impressive. What kind of Mecha is that? Did you develop it?¡±


    ¡°B-level Mecha,¡± Qin Hao replied.


    Queen Dantai and the others looked puzzled, ¡°What is a B-level Mecha?¡±


    Currently, Mechas and battleships in the galaxy were classified simply as low level and high level without clear grading.


    Qin Hao¡¯s system came from an advanced dimension where technology had reached its peak, and various technological weapons had very clear classifications, which were worth studying.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and explained, ¡°A B-level Mecha is a grade classification for Mechas. The Mechas currently equipped by the eight empires are roughly D-level according to this classification, with C-level, B-level, A-level, and even S-level above them. Battleships are classified similarly.¡±


    Queen Dantai somewhat understood but got the gist that Qin Hao¡¯s current Mecha was approximately a whole grade higher than the current Mechas.


    The dishes soon arrived, and Qin Hao and the others chatted while eating.


    Queen Dantai: ¡°Mr. Qin, can you sell some of those B-level Mechas to our Moon Mist Empire? I plan to equip my elite guards with them.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Sure, although our production is not high right now, since Queen Dantai is an ally of the Galaxy Federation, I will have them set aside a hundred sets of Mechas.¡±


    Queen Dantai was delighted, ¡°Great, thank you, Mr. Qin. If there¡¯s anything you need, feel free to let me know.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Since Queen Dantai mentioned it, I do have a need. The Galaxy Federation is in short supply of slaves. Queen Dantai can exchange slaves for the Mechas.¡±


    Queen Dantai was momentarily stunned. Slaves? The Moon Mist Empire had plenty of slaves to offer. If Qin Hao needed more, it could be arranged.


    Upon hearing their conversation, Li Junchu hesitated before saying, ¡°Qin, could you also sell me some of those Mechas?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, ¡°Sorry, Li, my Mecha production is limited and I must prioritize our allies.¡±


    Li Junchu nodded hurriedly, ¡°No problem, Qin, I understand.¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t say anything more. Though his Mecha production was indeed high, he hadn¡¯t agreed to Li Junchu¡¯s request for a reason that Li Junchu understood.


    If the Tanglong Empire was not an ally of Qin Hao, the B-level Mechas would not be sold to them. He was subtly hinting to Li Junchu that only if the Tanglong Empire allied with him would the B-level Mechas be available to them.


    ...


    After lunch, Li Junchu left, presumably to convey Qin Hao¡¯s message to his father.


    Queen Dantai said, ¡°Mr. Qin, the next match doesn¡¯t start until two in the afternoon. Let¡¯s head back to the room for a chat; there are some things I want to discuss with you privately.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and followed her to the room prepared by the hotel, where it was just the two of them inside.


    ¡°Please, have a seat,¡± Queen Dantai smiled, looking at him.


    Qin Hao sat on the sofa, and Queen Dantai sat opposite him, her bright, captivating eyes fixed on him, ¡°Mr. Qin, according to the latest information I received, the cooperation between the Nolan Empire and Sky Wolf Empire is not as simple as it seems.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that, Queen Dantai?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously, looking at her.


    Queen Dantai: ¡°According to my intelligence, these two empires seem to be researching some kind of secret weapon together. The specifics are not yet clear, but they are definitely working on something.¡±


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 885: 885

    Chapter 885: Chapter 885


    Qin Hao heard Queen Dantai¡¯s words, a look of contemplation appeared on his face: ¡°Maybe they are researching some secret weapon.¡±


    Queen Dantai: ¡°The things that these two empires are researching together shouldn¡¯t be simple. It¡¯s very likely to be a military weapon that can overturn the interstellar pattern.¡±


    Her ability to become the queen of the Moon Mist Empire wasn¡¯t just due to her exceptional fortitude and thinking.


    Although intelligence hasn¡¯t revealed what exactly the two empires are researching, she can roughly guess that anything making two major empires collaborate wouldn¡¯t be ordinary.


    It must be something capable of disrupting the current interstellar pattern.


    Not knowing the exact details left Queen Dantai a bit uneasy.


    Qin Hao nodded calmly, let them research; he didn¡¯t believe their findings could match his B-grade battleship.


    Let them research, when they finish, I¡¯ll bring over my B-grade battleship and show them true power.


    Queen Dantai was surprised by Qin Hao¡¯s reaction, why didn¡¯t he look worried?


    After all, the feud between Qin Hao and the Sky Wolf Empire was significant. If they succeeded in their research, Qin Hao would be their first target.


    Does he have some secret weapon too? Otherwise, why is he so calm?


    Queen Dantai looked at him and gently asked: ¡°Mr. Qin, you look very calm, do you have some secret weapon?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her, smiled without speaking, appearing profound and mysterious, giving a sense of impenetrability.


    Since interacting with Qin Hao, Queen Dantai had never seen through him.


    Seeing him smile without speaking, Queen Dantai rolled her eyes flirtatiously, enchanting and alluring: ¡°Mr. Qin, we are now allies on the same front, what¡¯s good for you is good for me, what¡¯s bad for you is bad for me, are you hiding something from your ally?¡±


    Qin Hao almost lost his composure seeing Queen Dantai¡¯s gaze; Queen Dantai from the Moon Mist Empire was still charming, maturely sexy, with perfect features and figure, and an excellent temperament that few could resist.


    ¡°Ahem, Queen Dantai, I¡¯m not hiding anything from you,¡± Qin Hao explained awkwardly.


    Queen Dantai noticed his gaze but pretended not to see: ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you worried they¡¯ll research a more powerful weapon?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°They aren¡¯t the only ones researching weapons, I am too, and many new types are already equipped.¡±


    Curiously, Queen Dantai asked: ¡°Mr. Qin, what new types of weapons are you researching?¡±


    ¡°For defense, we mainly have large Star Destroyer Cannons, along with electronic, network signal, and various defense equipment. For offense, there¡¯s the new battleship, Antimatter Cannon, etc.¡± Qin Hao said plainly without hiding.


    Queen Dantai was stunned for a moment: ¡°Antimatter Cannon is already equipped on the battleship?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°The Antimatter Cannon on the battleship is very powerful.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, our new battleship is also developed, but there¡¯s been little progress in propulsion and firepower systems. If equipped with your Antimatter Cannon and Superluminal Propulsion Device, it would be terrifying,¡± Queen Dantai shared her thoughts.


    Qin Hao: ¡°We¡¯re still in the equipment stage; the fleet hasn¡¯t fully updated yet.¡±


    Queen Dantai: ¡°We don¡¯t need so many for now, just a few sets of battleship equipment would do. I¡¯m worried that if the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire develop new weapons, our Moon Mist Empire won¡¯t be able to resist.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll check their production capacities,¡± Qin Hao said perfunctorily.


    Queen Dantai could hear his intentions, her eyes slightly widened at him: ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly: ¡°The competition is about to start, let¡¯s discuss this matter later, let¡¯s head to the arena first.¡±


    ...


    Queen Dantai said no more, and she and Qin Hao went to the competition arena, but she still wore a smile without revealing any anger.


    The afternoon¡¯s competition was still for the same group. Since Qin Hao showcased the power of his Mecha, the audience felt less interested in the current competition.


    Barring any accidents, the first place in this group was certainly going to the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    Around 5 PM, the group¡¯s competition ended, and the Galaxy Federation Republic secured first place in the group stage with absolute dominance.


    Today¡¯s competition was thoroughly concluded, and the next day would be the second group¡¯s turn. With several groups in total, the competition would last about half a month.


    As the competition ended, several individuals from surrounding duchies and kingdoms swarmed Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin, have some time tonight? Let¡¯s have dinner together?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, here¡¯s my contact number. I¡¯m the duke of Lingyuan Duchy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the king of Wanshang Kingdom, Mr. Qin, here¡¯s my contact number.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m the president of Skyfire Republic, could I invite you for dinner?¡±


    ...


    Soon, dozens of people surrounded Qin Hao, all of them dukes or kings from various duchies or kingdoms.


    They witnessed the performance and power of the B-grade Mecha; although it hadn¡¯t faced the eight major empires¡¯ Mecha yet, it could definitely crush them.


    They wanted to establish good relations with Qin Hao and obtain some B-grade Mecha, especially the Superluminal Propulsion Device and Antimatter Cannon technology.


    While surrounding Qin Hao, another group came over. The surrounding individuals quickly stepped aside, recognizing the arrival of Queen Maya and her attendants from the Maya Empire.


    Queen Maya and Su Anna came before Qin Hao.


    Queen Maya¡¯s appearance and figure were impeccable, with a cold demeanor starkly different from Queen Dantai.


    She looked at Qin Hao, her tone indifferent: ¡°Mr. Qin, would you join me for dinner?¡±


    The surrounding people were shocked at Queen Maya¡¯s invitation; she had never invited someone to dinner before.


    Even the leaders of the other seven major empires never received an invitation from Queen Maya.


    Apparently, Qin Hao¡¯s Mecha had intimidated the Maya Empire too, or Queen Maya wouldn¡¯t personally invite him.


    At this point, a group from the Tanglong Empire approached, including Li Junchu and his father, the emperor of Tanglong Empire, Li Weitian.


    Seeing them, Queen Dantai also came over.


    In a rare scene, the leaders from three major empires gathered around Qin Hao.


    Li Weitian from the Tanglong Empire smiled and said: ¡°Mr. Qin truly surprised everyone, why don¡¯t we all have dinner together?¡±


    Qin Hao slightly nodded: ¡°Let¡¯s all go together.¡±


    Queen Maya and Queen Dantai also nodded, and the group headed out of the competition arena.


    Not far away, people from the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire watched, their gaze fluctuating.

 Chapter 886: 886: Treating Your Arrogance

    Chapter 886: Chapter 886: Treating Your Arrogance


    Lan Antai of the Nolan Empire spoke to Duanmu Citian, ¡°Mr. Duanmu, let¡¯s go. I¡¯ve already arranged a meeting with Mr. Nangong of the Dark Empire.¡±


    Duanmu Citian slightly nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    After the competition ended, everyone returned to the Federation Hotel. In a luxurious suite, Qin Hao, Princess Lan Xin, Queen Dantai, Dantai Moyu, Li Weitian, Li Junchu, Queen Maya, and Su Anna sat inside.


    Li Weitian, a middle-aged man, smiled warmly and said, ¡°Mr. Qin is truly talented at such a young age, achieving so much already. It¡¯s truly admirable.¡±


    ¡°You flatter me, Mr. Li,¡± Qin Hao responded with a faint smile.


    Queen Dantai spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, your mecha performance was outstanding. I suppose many people want to invite you for a meal but haven¡¯t found the opportunity.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Mr. Qin¡¯s mecha was truly impressive, it was incredibly powerful,¡± Li Weitian added sincerely, with an intent to befriend Qin Hao.


    Although the Galaxy Federation Republic¡¯s territory and population are less than the eight great empires, its displayed strength is not to be underestimated and has the potential to become the next empire.


    Had it been other kingdoms or principalities, Li Weitian¡¯s attitude would have been different.


    At the table, Queen Maya and Su Anna spoke little. After the food and drink were served, everyone had a drink together.


    After several rounds of drinks and dishes, they began to discuss the main topic.


    Li Weitian looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, it¡¯s incorrect for some countries in the interstellar community not to recognize the Galaxy Federation Republic. The Galaxy Federation Republic fully meets the Federation¡¯s membership criteria and rules. Some countries ignore the Federation¡¯s laws for personal gain; our Tanglong Empire strongly condemns this.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Time will prove everything.¡±


    Li Weitian¡¯s eyes gleamed, ¡°After this competition, our Tanglong Empire will mobilize its vassal states to recognize the Galaxy Federation Republic. Mr. Qin, if you have the time, you are welcome to visit our Tanglong Empire after the competition.¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Li. If I have the time, I will certainly visit the Tanglong Empire.¡±


    Li Weitian raised his glass, ¡°Great, Mr. Qin, it¡¯s settled then. Be sure to notify me when you come so I can play the host¡¯s part.¡±


    To Li Weitian, this meal was about building rapport; it wasn¡¯t time to discuss cooperation yet.


    He felt the first step had succeeded; Qin Hao¡¯s attitude indicated they could continue their discussions.


    Though the Maya Empire had matters to discuss with Qin Hao, the dining table wasn¡¯t the place, so they said little.


    After the meal, when Li Weitian got up to leave, Su Anna spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, our queen has something to discuss with you.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at Su Anna and Queen Maya, ¡°Alright.¡±


    He asked Lan Xin to return to her room first, and Queen Dantai and Dantai Moyu also left. Qin Hao followed the Maya Empire¡¯s people to Queen Maya¡¯s room.


    Inside the room were only Qin Hao, Queen Maya, and Su Anna. Sitting on the sofa, Qin Hao looked at the aloof Queen Maya and asked, ¡°Queen Maya, what do you want to discuss?¡±


    Queen Maya¡¯s expression was calm, ¡°I heard that Mr. Qin has made the next breakthrough in martial arts?¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    Queen Maya continued, ¡°Can Mr. Qin share some experience? Our Maya Empire has been researching this but has not made this step.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Why should I share with you? Queen Maya, you are too presumptuous.¡±


    Queen Maya remained unfazed, ¡°What are your conditions, Mr. Qin? As long as they¡¯re reasonable and within our Maya Empire¡¯s capabilities.¡±


    Qin Hao scoffed lightly, ¡°Is this your sincerity? I need nothing from your Maya Empire. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    He stood to leave, but Queen Maya¡¯s face turned slightly cold, and Su Anna quickly intervened, ¡°Mr. Qin, please wait a moment.¡±


    Qin Hao turned to her, ¡°Is there more?¡±


    Queen Maya said, ¡°Mr. Qin, please be seated, Anna, you can leave.¡±


    After Su Anna left, Queen Maya looked at Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, our Maya Empire is willing to form an alliance with your country. With our Maya Empire¡¯s support, no empire would dare provoke you.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s lips curled into a disdainful smile, ¡°Queen Maya, do you think I fear those empires? Also, mind your tone. Before others, you may be superior, but to me, you¡¯re nothing special, just slightly more attractive.¡±


    Queen Maya was momentarily stunned by his words. She was not foolish; Qin Hao¡¯s meaning was clear. If it came to war, he wouldn¡¯t be afraid.


    Could he already have the strength to confront two great empires?


    She was incredulous but remembering Qin Hao¡¯s powerful mecha, she somewhat believed, ¡°Mr. Qin, may I witness the strength you¡¯ve gained after your breakthrough? I want to see how strong you¡¯ve become.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her, ¡°Queen Maya, as a top martial artist, you wouldn¡¯t mind a spar, so you can better understand the strength difference.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    Queen Maya moved to a spacious area, and Qin Hao followed, standing opposite her.


    Queen Maya was clad in a white dress, her figure exquisite. With a swift movement, her inner strength gathered at her feet, she approached Qin Hao in the blink of an eye.


    Her jade palm aimed at Qin Hao¡¯s chest, imbued with immense inner strength, its power extraordinary.


    Qin Hao¡¯s reaction was quicker; as her palm approached, he instantly grabbed her smooth wrist.


    Queen Maya tried to dislodge his grip with her inner strength, but it was like throwing a stone into the sea, causing no ripples.


    This shocked Queen Maya, but she quickly reacted, kicking at him. Despite her slender build, the kick¡¯s force was formidable, enough to send a 200-pound man flying.


    Qin Hao, acting faster, grabbed her ankle; the power difference was vast, they weren¡¯t in the same league.


    Before Queen Maya could respond, Qin Hao hoisted her up by her wrist and ankle.


    Queen Maya¡¯s expression turned panicked, ¡°Alright, put me down.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, not intending to release her; today, he intended to humble the proud Queen Maya.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, let me down,¡± Queen Maya kept insisting.


    Qin Hao set her down but kept holding her by the ankle, then wrapped an arm around her waist.


    [Second update, more to come]

 Chapter 887: 887 Conquest

    Chapter 887: Chapter 887 Conquest


    Queen Maya looked at him, and Qin Hao looked back at her, their eyes meeting.


    Qin Hao¡¯s gaze was deep and bright, like the stars, while Queen Maya¡¯s expression remained calm, with no sign of change. However, Qin Hao could feel that beneath her composed facade, she was brewing some kind of emotion.


    ¡°Let go,¡± Queen Maya¡¯s tone was flat, yet it carried a chilling coldness.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to spar? It¡¯s not over yet, let¡¯s continue.¡±


    Queen Maya¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of killing intent. As the noble queen of the Maya Empire, she had never been treated so lightly. Such a person deserved to die.


    In an instant, her body was covered by a layer of silver-white mecha. Qin Hao sneered and his B-Class mecha also covered his entire body.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Queen Maya fired a shot without any hesitation. The energy beam cannon hit Qin Hao, knocking him back several meters, but causing no damage.


    The B-Class mecha was too resilient. Even though Queen Maya¡¯s mecha was close to C-Class, the gap to B-Class was too large.


    Queen Maya was shocked to see the defensive capabilities of the B-Class mecha.


    During today¡¯s match, she had witnessed the speed and attack system of the B-Class mecha, which were incredibly powerful. Now, seeing its formidable defensive capabilities, she realized this mecha¡¯s performance completely overshadowed all other mechas in the galaxy.


    Qin Hao disappeared from his original position in an instant and reappeared beside Queen Maya, grabbing her arm and flying out the window.


    In the blink of an eye, Qin Hao had flown with Queen Maya to a nearby small celestial body, away from the Ancient Saint Star.


    This asteroid was only a few kilometers in size, devoid of any life, and covered in gray rocks.


    ¡°Now let me show you the true power of a B-Class mecha,¡± Qin Hao said calmly, looking at Queen Maya.


    Queen Maya had witnessed the power of the B-Class mecha, and she watched him with alert eyes.


    ¡°Whoosh!¡±


    Qin Hao moved suddenly, his figure disappearing from his original position, moving at a speed so fast, it was like lightning.


    Although Queen Maya¡¯s mecha had a locking and tracking system, Qin Hao¡¯s speed was too fast. Even if it could lock onto his position, there was no chance to react.


    In the world of martial arts, speed is the ultimate weapon.


    Queen Maya¡¯s vision blurred as Qin Hao¡¯s figure flickered around her, moving nearly a hundred times in just a second, showcasing his incredible speed.


    After a few seconds, Qin Hao stopped, standing a few meters in front of her.


    Queen Maya was about to make a move, but as soon as she tried, the mecha pieces on her body began to fall off one after another.


    Then she felt a chill, and looking down, she saw that her dress had turned to shreds, falling to the ground. Now she stood there completely exposed.


    She looked up at Qin Hao, her exquisite face expressionless: ¡°Mr. Qin, do you find this amusing?¡±


    Qin Hao retracted his mecha, revealing his true form: ¡°Queen Maya, I could kill you anytime I want. To me, you are just an ant. Put away your pretentious arrogance, or don¡¯t blame me for being impolite.¡±


    Queen Maya: ¡°This is my personality, and it¡¯s not for Mr. Qin to manage.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not my business. But you¡¯re here to discuss matters with me, and with this attitude, it leaves a bad impression.¡±


    ¡°Then there¡¯s no need to discuss,¡± Queen Maya replied flatly.


    Qin Hao smiled faintly: ¡°You think you can dictate when we discuss or not? Who do you think I am?¡±


    Queen Maya frowned slightly: ¡°What are you planning?¡±


    ¡°Nothing much, just teaching you how to behave in the galaxy. I don¡¯t care how the Maya Empire educates, today I¡¯m going to teach you the etiquette of the Galaxy Federation Republic, to show you how to properly negotiate and discuss,¡± Qin Hao walked towards her slowly.


    Queen Maya¡¯s face turned cold; she wanted to retaliate, but remembering Qin Hao¡¯s strength, she gave up. Making a move would only bring her more humiliation. But standing there under Qin Hao¡¯s gaze without resisting still felt unbearable.


    Queen Maya¡¯s face flushed slightly. Although she tried to restrain herself, it wasn¡¯t something she could fully control: ¡°Don¡¯t push it too far.¡±


    ¡°Even if I am pushing it, what can you do?¡± Qin Hao said disdainfully.


    Queen Maya: ¡°You...¡±


    Qin Hao watched her, smiling as he reached out his hand. Queen Maya, seeing his movement, couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. Even if she wasn¡¯t a match for him, she had to resist.


    Her punches and kicks were easily neutralized by Qin Hao.


    ¡°Let go, or I will destroy your Galaxy Federation Republic,¡± Queen Maya¡¯s face turned livid.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed upon hearing her words. He had intended to give Queen Maya a small lesson, but it seemed that a small lesson wasn¡¯t enough.


    ¡°At this moment, the wisest choice would be to shut up rather than provoke my hatred,¡± Qin Hao taunted mockingly.


    Queen Maya briefly lost her composure. In such a situation, it was impossible for anyone to remain calm.


    ¡°I¡¯m stating a fact. The Maya Empire has tens of thousands of advanced warships. Even though your Galaxy Federation has advanced weapons, it cannot withstand such a massive force. Mr. Qin, you better think carefully,¡± Queen Maya said coldly.


    Qin Hao sneered: ¡°Really? Then you can try. But before that, let me show you my power.¡±


    ...


    In the galaxy, having children is a simple matter. The technology for genetic test-tube babies is very advanced, sparing women the pain of pregnancy and childbirth.


    Of course, a few people still choose to give birth naturally.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t expect that this was Queen Maya¡¯s first time.


    ...

 Chapter 888: 888: So What If Its Excessive?

    Chapter 888: Chapter 888: So What If It¡¯s Excessive?


    The small unnamed celestial body returned to tranquility.


    Queen Maya lay in Qin Hao¡¯s arms. Qin Hao took out a set of clothes and handed them to her: ¡°Put these on.¡±


    Queen Maya accepted the clothes indifferently and slowly put them on. She glanced at Qin Hao, her expression a bit complicated.


    Qin Hao took out a B-class mecha: ¡°This is for you. I accidentally broke your mecha earlier, so I¡¯m giving you a better one.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want it,¡± Queen Maya coldly refused.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly: ¡°Just take it; it¡¯s a B-class mecha, the same as the one I¡¯m wearing.¡±


    Queen Maya¡¯s eyes showed a hint of hesitation: ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll study your mecha?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled: ¡°By the time you figure it out, I¡¯ll have developed an even more powerful mecha.¡±


    Queen Maya was stunned by his confident words. Develop an even more powerful mecha? Where did he get such confidence?


    Is it that easy to develop mechas?


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°You should go back now, or they¡¯ll come looking for you soon.¡±


    Queen Maya glanced at him, activated the B-class mecha, and left instantly. Within a few seconds, she was back at the hotel.


    In the room, Su Anna was standing inside. Seeing her mother return, she was taken aback: ¡°Mother, where did you go?¡±


    Queen Maya said faintly: ¡°I went outside to discuss cooperation with Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°So, what was the outcome?¡± Su Anna was quite concerned about this issue.


    Queen Maya: ¡°From what I observed in martial arts, he has broken through to the next level. He¡¯s quite powerful, but still far from being able to match the capabilities of a mecha. There¡¯s a long way to go on that path. He gave me this B-class mecha to study.¡±


    Su Anna was stunned: ¡°He actually dared to give it to us? Isn¡¯t he afraid we¡¯ll figure it out?¡±


    ¡°Who knows what he¡¯s thinking. Anyway, I¡¯m a bit tired, I¡¯m going to rest now.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao returned to the hotel room. Lan Xin was waiting for him there. Seeing him come in, she smiled and asked, ¡°How did the talk go?¡±


    ¡°It went well.¡± Qin Hao sat on the sofa and pulled her into his arms.


    Princess Lan Xin leaned on his shoulder and said softly, ¡°Today, my father seemed to have dinner with the kings of the Sky Wolf Empire and the Dark Empire.¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled softly: ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Let¡¯s just rest and go to sleep.¡±


    The next morning.


    The tournament at the arena started on time. However, these days it had nothing to do with the Galaxy Federation Republic, so Qin Hao didn¡¯t go. Some of the kings from other empires also didn¡¯t go, only sending some ministers instead.


    The early matches were not very interesting; it was only later that it became exciting.


    On this day, Qin Hao and Lan Xin left the hotel and went to the largest shopping mall nearby.


    Although there was a mecha match today, the shopping mall was still quite crowded. They walked into a high-end clothing store where Lan Xin started picking out clothes.


    ¡°Qin Hao, how about this one?¡± Lan Xin pointed to a black casual outfit.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Not bad, give it a try.¡±


    Lan Xin took the clothes and went into the fitting room. At this moment, a few young men and women walked into the store, talking as they entered: ¡°Today¡¯s match was really boring.¡±


    ¡°Kang is right. Yesterday¡¯s match was much more exciting. That mecha from the Galaxy Republic was really incredible. If I had that mecha, I could dominate the galaxy.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that mecha was really cool. We should find out if the Galaxy Republic is willing to sell that kind of mecha.¡±


    As they spoke, they glanced at Qin Hao standing nearby and then turned their attention back to the clothes in the store.


    They didn¡¯t recognize Qin Hao. Even though Qin Hao was there yesterday, the arena was so large that only people from neighboring countries knew him. Those from further away had no idea what Qin Hao looked like.


    Moreover, those who didn¡¯t know him wouldn¡¯t even realize he was the leader of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    After all, the Galaxy Federation Republic is at the edge of the galaxy. Only a few hundred countries nearby knew about it. Those in the central galactic region only heard the name Galaxy Federation Republic for the first time yesterday.


    ...


    At this moment, the fitting room door opened. Lan Xin, dressed in a black casual outfit with her hands in her pockets, walked out. Her hair was tied up, making her look pure, lively, and stunningly beautiful.


    Qin Hao was momentarily dazed upon seeing her. Lan Xin, noticing his expression, revealed a mischievous smile on her face, adding to her charm.


    Seeing Lan Xin, the three men and one woman nearby were also taken aback. Damn, when did such a beauty come to Ancient Saint City?


    ¡°Hello, beautiful. Can we be friends?¡± Kang Feiye immediately approached, acting polite and courteous.


    Lan Xin glanced at him and said coolly, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t have the habit of making random friends.¡±


    Kang Feiye¡¯s expression stiffened: ¡°I¡¯m Kang Feiye from the Kang Family of Ancient Saint Star.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡±


    The people beside Kang Feiye said, ¡°The Kang Family is one of the four great families of Ancient Saint Star, along with the Shi Family, the Chu Family, and the Yue Family. I¡¯m Shi Kolang, the son of the Shi Family, and this is Chu Sheng, the son of the Chu Family.¡±


    Lan Xin frowned slightly: ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t know you. Please move aside.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re just a pretty face. Acting all high and mighty, but who knows how many men have had their way with you.¡± The young woman nearby, jealous of Lan Xin¡¯s looks and demeanor, spoke bitterly.


    Qin Hao spoke up: ¡°Watch your mouth.¡±


    Several people turned to look at Qin Hao, sizing him up. This time, Qin Hao and Lan Xin hadn¡¯t brought the Shadow Guards with them. Plus, Qin Hao¡¯s clothes weren¡¯t particularly fancy, making them think he and Lan Xin were probably the children of some wealthy merchants from another country.


    In their eyes, this was nothing to be afraid of.


    The young woman looked at Qin Hao disdainfully: ¡°What are you going to do about it? My mouth is my own, and I¡¯ll say what I want. Who the hell do you think you are?¡±


    ¡°Slap¡±


    Qin Hao raised his hand and slapped her, making her spin in place.


    The young woman held her face, glaring at him viciously: ¡°How dare you hit me? I¡¯m Yue Jing of the Yue Family, and my father is the Family Head.¡±


    ¡°Annoying.¡±


    ¡°Slap¡±


    Qin Hao slapped her again: ¡°Say one more word, and I¡¯ll keep hitting you.¡±


    Yue Jing was frightened by Qin Hao¡¯s cold demeanor, wanting to speak but too scared to do so.


    Kang Feiye looked at Qin Hao: ¡°Was it really necessary to hit Miss Yue over just a few words?¡±


    ¡°So what if it was necessary?¡± Qin Hao looked at them disdainfully.

 Chapter 889: 889 Apology

    Chapter 889: Chapter 889 Apology


    Kang Feiye and his companions heard Qin Hao¡¯s arrogant words, and their faces darkened. Qin Hao was too arrogant; he obviously did not take their four families seriously.


    A lot of big shots had come to Ancient Saint City these days, but they recognized most of them, and even if they didn¡¯t, they could tell by the level of their bodyguards.


    Now, Qin Hao didn¡¯t even have a decent bodyguard by his side, so he probably wasn¡¯t anyone important.


    Kang Feiye and his companions were already secretly contacting their people. ¡°You¡¯re pretty arrogant. Dare to leave your name?¡±


    ¡°My name is Qin Hao. Come seek revenge if you want, but be prepared for your entire family to be wiped out.¡±


    Kang Feiye and his companions sneered at his words. Wipe out our family? What big talk. Not even the head of a duchy or a kingdom would dare say they¡¯d wipe out our family in Ancient Saint Star.


    Plus, they hadn¡¯t heard of anyone named Qin Hao. He must not be someone important or from a big family, so there was no need to worry.


    The Tanglong Empire did have a big family named the Qin Family, and they knew Qin Tian from that family. But there was no one named Qin Hao among the Qin Family¡¯s direct descendants.


    Kang Feiye and his three companions didn¡¯t have the courage to act; Qin Hao had hit Yue Jing so fast that they hadn¡¯t even had a chance to react. In terms of raw power, the three of them might not be Qin Hao¡¯s match, and even if they were, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for them to take him down.


    They had already notified their subordinates and just needed to wait for them to arrive.


    ...


    Qin Hao and Lan Xin continued picking out clothes, buying several outfits. During this time, Kang Feiye, Yue Jing, and others didn¡¯t leave; they had no mood to shop.


    After buying their clothes, Qin Hao and Lan Xin left the clothing store. Kang Feiye watched them and said to Shi Kolang, Chu Sheng, and Yue Jing, ¡°Follow them. Our people will be here soon.¡±


    The other three nodded, and Yue Jing said, ¡°When we catch them, you guys can do whatever you want with the woman. But I want Qin Hao. I¡¯ll milk him dry and make him wish he were dead.¡±


    The four walked out of the store and followed Qin Hao. Qin Hao and Lan Xin noticed them.


    Lan Xin looked at Qin Hao. ¡°They¡¯re following us.¡±


    ¡°Let them. They¡¯re asking for death themselves,¡± Qin Hao said calmly.


    When Qin Hao and Lan Xin reached the plaza, the servants called by Kang Feiye and the others arrived, more than thirty of them in total.


    Seeing his people, Yue Jing pointed at Qin Hao and Lan Xin. ¡°It¡¯s those two. Capture them for me.¡±


    The servants didn¡¯t hesitate and rushed forward.


    They were slaves and had to obey their masters¡¯ orders, even if standing before them was the leader of the Interstellar Federation.


    Just as Qin Hao was about to act, four figures suddenly appeared. They were the Shadow Guards, sent by Leng Xuan to protect Qin Hao secretly.


    Kang Feiye and his companions¡¯ faces changed dramatically when they saw the Shadow Guards. ¡°Aren¡¯t those the Shadow Guards of the Galaxy Federation Republic?¡±


    How could they be here?


    What happened next stunned them. The four Shadow Guards instantly took action, knocking the servants to the ground before returning to Qin Hao¡¯s side.


    Qin Hao turned to Kang Feiye and the others, speaking calmly. ¡°I will visit your families tonight.¡±


    With that, he left with Lan Xin, leaving Kang Feiye and his companions dumbfounded. Who exactly was he? Could he be the son of the Galaxy Federation Republic¡¯s leader?


    If that were true, it wouldn¡¯t be good news for them.


    The Galaxy Federation Republic is now famous across the galaxy. Almost every country knows about them. Their mecha technology is incredibly advanced, surpassing that of the Eight Great Empires, which is terrifying.


    To many countries, the Galaxy Federation Republic has the potential to compete with the Eight Great Empires, and might even become the ninth great empire in the galaxy.


    ...


    During the day, Qin Hao and Lan Xin visited various places, returning to the hotel near evening.


    Just as he entered his room, there was a knock on the door. Soon after, Dantai Moyu walked in, smiling at Qin Hao. ¡°Mr. Qin, I heard that the Kang Family, Chu Family, Shi Family, and Yue Family of Ancient Saint Star offended you?¡±


    ¡°Miss Mo Yu, your news travels fast.¡± Qin Hao took a sip of water while sitting on the sofa.


    Dantai Moyu: ¡°It¡¯s not that my news travels fast. The heads of those four families came to find me, asking me to intercede on their behalf. Mr. Qin, how do you want to handle this matter?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to me. Handle it however you want.¡±


    Dantai Moyu: ¡°The heads of the four families have booked a private room at the hotel and want to invite you over. They¡¯ve brought those four people with them. Whether you want to kill them or do something else, it¡¯s all up to you.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled. ¡°Then I¡¯ll give Miss Mo Yu some face.¡±


    He went out with Lan Xi and Dantai Moyu, arriving at a private room where four seated individuals and four standing ones awaited.


    The standing ones were Kang Feiye, Chu Sheng, Shi Kolang, and Yue Jing. When they saw Qin Hao, their expressions turned awkward.


    The four middle-aged men sitting quickly stood up, respectfully saying, ¡°Mr. Qin, Princess Mo Yu.¡±


    Dantai Moyu nodded slightly and then said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, please have a seat.¡±


    Qin Hao sat across from the four, with Dantai Moyu beside him. Without needing her to speak, the family heads quickly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we understand today¡¯s incident was our fault. We¡¯ve brought these four here. Whatever you wish to do to them, we will comply.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled as he looked at Kang Feiye, Chu Sheng, Shi Kolang, and Yue Jing.


    The four trembled at his gaze, their faces pale and bodies shivering.


    Kang Feiye suddenly spoke. ¡°Mr. Qin, we were blind to your greatness. Please have mercy and spare us.¡±


    Chu Sheng, Shi Kolang, and Yue Jing hurriedly bowed their heads in unison. ¡°Mr. Qin, please spare our lives.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at them and said calmly, ¡°This time, as a favor to Princess Mo Yu, I will let you go.¡±


    They had already groveled, and with the four family heads and Dantai Moyu present, and these people had not crossed his bottom line, there was no need for further action. If they had, no amount of pleading would have helped.


    ¡°Thank Mr. Qin and Princess Mo Yu quickly,¡± the family heads urged.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin, Princess Mo Yu.¡± The four hastily bowed in gratitude.


    Dantai Moyu nodded slightly. ¡°Alright, be more restrained in the future. Acting like this will ultimately bring disaster to your families. You may leave.¡±


    Kang Feiye and the others bowed and left. Soon after, food and drinks were served, and the family heads took turns respectfully offering toasts.


    After a few rounds of drinks and dishes, Dantai Moyu spoke up. ¡°Mr. Qin, the four family heads have something to discuss with you today.¡±

 Chapter 890: 890 Assassin

    Chapter 890: Chapter 890 Assassin


    Qin Hao looked at the four family heads and curiously asked, ¡°What business do you have with me?¡±


    The Kang Family head smiled broadly and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we have seen the mecha of your country. We are interested in purchasing a few sets; not too many, just a few for each family.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment, ¡°You should be aware of the performance of these mecha. Besides my allies, I have never sold them to anyone else.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, you can state any requirements you have. Our four families have significant commercial scale and can develop in the Galaxy Federation Republic, aiding Mr. Qin in developing the domestic economy.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Let¡¯s forget about that; it¡¯s too far away and wouldn¡¯t help much. Let me first mention the price of a B-grade mecha, one trillion star coins each, and each family is limited to purchasing three. I won¡¯t sell more.¡±


    One trillion is a very high price, but it is worth it.


    A single B-grade mecha can completely destroy an advanced battleship, whose price would exceed one trillion.


    Qin Hao only wants money now; with money, he can acquire anything.


    One trillion?


    Upon hearing the price, the expressions of the four family heads froze for a moment. No mecha has ever reached such a price, but the performance of the B-grade mecha is indeed strong. Although the price is high, it is worth it.


    Most importantly, only Qin Hao sells them throughout the interstellar domain, making it a monopoly business.


    The four family heads hesitated for a moment but then nodded in agreement: ¡°Okay, each of our families will take three B-grade mecha.¡±


    Each family taking three sets means twelve mecha in total, amounting to twelve trillion star coins.


    This money is enough for Qin Hao to produce more mecha and military weapons.


    Both parties were very satisfied with tonight¡¯s banquet; not only did the four families reconcile with Qin Hao, but they also purchased B-grade mecha.


    After leaving the private room, the four family heads bid farewell and left. Once everyone had left, Dantai Moyu looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°Are you really planning to sell a mecha for one trillion star coins?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°I can make a lot of money with one trillion star coins, so why not sell? Don¡¯t worry; the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire will never obtain them, and even if they do, they won¡¯t be able to use them.¡±


    Dantai Moyu¡¯s face changed slightly upon hearing his words: ¡°No wonder you are confident, you have such a backup plan.¡±


    She was somewhat curious: wouldn¡¯t the buyers discover the backdoor program?


    Indeed, they would not discover or crack this backdoor program; it was a program set by Qin Hao during production.


    The mecha purchased by the Moon Mist Empire also have the backdoor program, primarily to prevent enemies from buying and then targeting him. As long as the Moon Mist Empire remains allied with Qin Hao, there would be no issue with these mecha.


    Dantai Moyu continued to ask, ¡°What does the Maya Empire want from you? Are they looking to cooperate?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head slightly, ¡°They didn¡¯t mention cooperation, who knows what they¡¯re thinking.¡±


    The elevator soon reached their floor, the elevator doors opened, and a beam of light flashed.


    Qin Hao reacted quickly, instantly activating the B-grade mecha to shield his body, and immediately guarded Dantai Moyu.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Beams of light struck the mecha on Qin Hao¡¯s back. Dantai Moyu¡¯s face changed dramatically, she looked gratefully at Qin Hao and hurriedly activated her mecha.


    The advanced mecha she wore did not have autonomous protective activation, meaning she had to manually activate it when facing danger, unlike the B-grade mecha which would activate instantly upon sensing danger and cover the entire body.


    Qin Hao brandished a sword light with a backhand swipe, instantly slicing several black-clad assassins in half, scaring the others into retreat.


    There were eight assassins in the hallway, each wearing advanced mecha, all of them elite.


    Qin Hao had just killed three with one strike, leaving five more assassins. They exchanged glances and charged forward.


    ¡°Boom boom boom¡±


    The entire Federation Hotel building trembled. The two hundred-plus floors were ablaze, with sparks flying everywhere.


    Fortunately, the Federation Hotel was very sturdy, and the explosion didn¡¯t harm the main structure. Otherwise, the collapse would have been catastrophic.


    Despite this, the fierce explosion caused significant panic.


    The walls of several luxury suites were blown through, and the people inside were instantly killed.


    The Ancient Saint City¡¯s guard army responded quickly. Within seconds, countless air combat devices and battle robots arrived, controlling the fire immediately.


    Countless people gathered at the explosion site, eager to see what was going on and who was the target of assassination in the Federation Hotel.


    The power of a mecha self-detonation is massive, comparable to a hit from an energy cannon.


    As the dust settled, two figures emerged from the explosion center: Qin Hao and Dantai Moyu.


    Both appeared a bit disheveled, and seeing them, Lan Xin and the Moon Mist Empire people¡¯s faces changed dramatically, rushing forward.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Princess, are you alright?¡±


    Qin Hao retracted his mecha, revealing himself with no injuries: ¡°I¡¯m fine, take Moyu for treatment.¡±


    Though Dantai Moyu had Qin Hao¡¯s protection, the self-detonation of five Mechanical Soldiers was extremely terrifying, causing Dantai Moyu minor injuries.


    Seeing that Qin Hao was alright, people¡¯s expressions varied. The B-grade mecha¡¯s toughness was indeed terrifying; such an explosion was hardly a threat to him.


    Qin Hao glanced at everyone present. Nearly all eight major empires were there, along with many people from other kingdoms and principalities. He said to Lan Xi, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, please wait a moment. We¡¯ve already investigated; those eight assassins were gold-medal assassins of the Shadow Killer Organization.¡± An official of the Interstellar Federation hurriedly approached respectfully.


    Qin Hao glanced at him without speaking and left with his entourage.


    He took Lan Xin to Queen Dantai¡¯s room, where Dantai Moyu had already taken life potion and, seeing Qin Hao enter, said, ¡°Mr. Qin, thank you. Without you, I¡¯d be dead now.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°No need to thank me, Miss Moyu. We¡¯re allies; I wouldn¡¯t just watch you die.¡±


    Queen Dantai remained expressionless: ¡°Someone dared to carry out an assassination at the Federation Hotel; surely there are calculations behind this.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Who does Queen Dantai think is most likely?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say; it could be the Sky Wolf Empire, the Nolan Empire, or the Dark Empire. It could also be the Free Star System Federation or Bright Empire causing trouble. This requires thorough investigation.¡± Queen Dantai said calmly.


    Qin Hao: ¡°As long as Miss Moyu is alright, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    The assassination attempt on Qin Hao and Dantai Moyu soon spread throughout the Ancient Saint City, with many people speculating about the mastermind.


    Returning to his hotel room, Qin Hao called Leng Xuan into the room. He didn¡¯t care who the perpetrator was; as long as they were his enemy, he would personally deal with them tonight.

 Chapter 891: 891: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

    Chapter 891: Chapter 891: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes


    ¡°Take some people and pay a visit to those empire leaders,¡± Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan.


    Leng Xuan¡¯s expression froze: ¡°Leader, how should we pay them a visit? Should we kill them all?¡±


    With the strength of the Shadow Guards, killing those empire leaders wouldn¡¯t be difficult, but if he did, he likely wouldn¡¯t be able to return to the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    The entire galaxy would probably descend into chaos.


    He said, ¡°Just teach them a lesson.¡±


    Leng Xuan went out. In the luxurious suite where Sky Wolf Empire leader Duanmu Citian resided, he was discussing something with Lan Antai and the dark empire leader.


    Suddenly, an alarm sounded. Before the three could react, a dark-clad figure appeared in the room.


    The three leaders instantly covered themselves with their mechas, warily eyeing the shadow.


    Who is this? What is he here for?


    Meanwhile, the sound of rushing guards could be heard outside. The three leaders inside were crucial; if something happened, the galaxy would be in turmoil.


    The Shadow Guard made his move. The three leaders, Duanmu Citian, couldn¡¯t just sit back and do nothing; they tried to resist.


    But how could they fend off a B-grade mecha? In a second, the three leaders were kicked heavily against the wall by the Shadow Guard.


    Feeling the strength of this black-clad figure, Duanmu Citian¡¯s face changed drastically. A B-grade mecha from the Galaxy Federation Republic? What is Qin Hao trying to do?


    Does he think the assassin tonight was sent by us?


    ¡°Bang bang¡±


    The Shadow Guard rushed at the three, throwing a barrage of punches and kicks, though avoiding fatal blows. Soon, guards rushed in, seeing their leaders in the hands of the enemy and dared not make any rash moves.


    After the beating, the Shadow Guard activated the super-luminance propulsion device and charged out, scattering anyone at the door, killing them instantly.


    This scene played out similarly in other rooms, except for the Maya Empire, Moon Mist Empire, and Tanglong Empire; the other empires were not spared.


    This matter did not spread out, as it concerned the empire leaders¡¯ prestige, and no one would willingly publicize it.


    They knew Qin Hao was retaliating for the assassination attempt, though he didn¡¯t know who exactly was behind it, he was sure it was one or more of the eight major empires.


    The next morning, Su Anna arrived outside Qin Hao¡¯s room: ¡°Mr. Qin, my mother wants to see you.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    He and Su Anna left the room. On the way, Su Anna hesitated and then asked, ¡°What were you doing with my mother the other day? Why did it take so long?¡±


    That day, she stayed in the room, at least for more than an hour, wondering what business required such a long discussion outside.


    Qin Hao looked at her with a faint smile: ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t be asking you, Mr. Qin,¡± Su Anna replied.


    Qin Hao: ¡°It¡¯s better if you don¡¯t know this.¡±


    ...


    Soon, Qin Hao arrived at Queen Maya¡¯s room. Su Anna didn¡¯t follow him inside.


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment before sitting beside Queen Maya, looking at her graceful figure and delicate face. Queen Maya glanced at him but said nothing more.


    ¡°Is there a reason you called me here?¡±


    Queen Maya said, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know who tried to kill you yesterday?¡±


    ¡°Do you know?¡± Qin Hao turned to look at her.


    Queen Maya activated the virtual imaging system and said, ¡°According to our investigation in the Maya Empire, the ones behind this are from the Bright Empire.¡±


    ¡°Bright Empire?¡± Qin Hao looked at the information on the virtual imaging system.


    Queen Maya said, ¡°The galaxy may seem peaceful, but there¡¯s actually much undercurrent. Many people want to see chaos, especially the Bright Empire and a few countries from the Free Interstellar Federation.¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t know much about those empires and couldn¡¯t find much information about them online. Certain information couldn¡¯t be obtained from the internet.


    ¡°Many countries want to see chaos in the galaxy?¡± Qin Hao asked, surprised.


    Queen Maya nodded: ¡°The Bright Empire has a vast religious system called the Bright Sect. They want to spread the Bright Sect across the galaxy, but they¡¯re currently rejected by various empires. The Free Interstellar Federation Republic always dreams of liberating the entire galaxy and becoming its overlord. Every citizen of the dark empire is a fanatic invader, educated as such for hundreds of years, harboring the ambition to dominate the galaxy for a long time.¡±


    As Qin Hao listened to Queen Maya, he felt he was re-learning about these empires. None of them seemed friendly; he might have antagonized them all last night.


    Queen Maya continued: ¡°Especially the dark empire. Located near the northern abyssal region, the abyss is rich in energy baryte and rare minerals. After years of accumulation, the dark empire has become quite terrifying.¡±


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Northern abyss? What kind of place is that?¡±


    Queen Maya said, ¡°It¡¯s similar to the Southern Wilderness Star System but appears like an abyss, deep and unfathomable. Aircrafts entering rarely come out. Many countries have investigated it but haven¡¯t obtained useful information. No one knows how deep the abyss goes or what it connects to.¡±


    Qin Hao realized he knew too little about the galaxy. With countless countries, he couldn¡¯t understand them all, let alone other information.


    After discussing the matter, Qin Hao looked at Queen Maya and grinned mischievously: ¡°Did you call me here to handle some serious business?¡±


    Queen Maya replied seriously: ¡°I¡¯m just informing you about the mastermind behind yesterday¡¯s incident.¡±


    ...


    About an hour and a half later, the sounds in the bedroom ceased.


    Qin Hao, with a smile on his face, said: ¡°I have to leave now, or it will arouse suspicion.¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid of suspicion?¡± Queen Maya didn¡¯t move and spoke calmly.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. Are you?¡±


    ...


    Time passed day by day. Ten days later, although Qin Hao knew the Bright Empire was behind it, he took no action. It wasn¡¯t the right time.

 Chapter 892: 892: The Battle Begins

    Chapter 892: Chapter 892: The Battle Begins


    He had to wait until the match was over, so he could leave right after without any delay.


    But on this day, Qin Hao¡¯s communicator suddenly rang; it was a call from his hometown.


    He connected the communicator, and before he could speak, Chang Jing¡¯s voice came through: ¡°Qin Hao, something¡¯s wrong. Nearly a hundred duchies and kingdoms nearby have formed a punitive fleet, targeting our Galaxy Federation Republic.¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned: ¡°Nearly a hundred duchies and kingdoms united?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°That¡¯s right. According to the intelligence, there are at least nearly ten thousand interstellar warships. Though our warships are powerful, too many ants can still kill an elephant.¡±


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll head back immediately. When will they likely arrive?¡±


    ¡°They are still assembling, but they should be here within the next two days.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Organize the fleet to intercept them first and then arrange for personnel to withdraw into the endless asteroid passage.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get on it right away.¡±


    They quickly ended the call, after which Qin Hao called in Leng Xuan: ¡°Get ready, we¡¯re leaving Ancient Saint Star immediately for Silver Star.¡±


    Seeing his expression, Leng Xuan guessed that something important must have happened back home: ¡°Yes, my King.¡±


    Lan Xin walked out of the room: ¡°Qin Hao, what happened?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°There¡¯s an issue over at Silver Star; we have to go back.¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t need to guess who orchestrated this. Besides the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire, who else could have such influence?


    Moreover, only they could unite nearly a hundred kingdoms and duchies.


    Quickly, they packed up, and a few of them exited the hotel, activated their Mecha, and flew towards the port in Ancient Saint City at top speed.


    In just a dozen seconds, they arrived at the port, launched their spaceship, and sped away from there at full speed.


    From the moment Qin Hao decided to leave to the actual departure, it only took a few minutes, leaving no time to notify anyone else.


    Aboard the spaceship, Qin Hao first had a video call with Queen Maya of the Maya Empire: ¡°I need to go back; there¡¯s something wrong at the base.¡±


    ¡°Alright, stay safe,¡± Queen Maya said only these few words.


    Qin Hao: ¡°It won¡¯t be long; I¡¯ll visit the Maya Empire personally.¡±


    After talking to Queen Maya, Qin Hao also informed Queen Dantai of the Moon Mist Empire.


    Upon hearing his words, Queen Dantai frowned slightly: ¡°No wonder the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire have formed a defense line. It¡¯s to stop us in the Moon Mist Empire from aiding you. I didn¡¯t expect them to launch such a plan at this time.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes were calm, deep, and bright, shimmering with a sharp light: ¡°You just need to contain these two empires. I can handle the rest of these countries, though it will be a bit troublesome.¡±


    Queen Dantai: ¡°Alright, be careful. Guns and cannons on the battlefield don¡¯t have eyes. If you really can¡¯t hold on, let us know. Our Moon Mist Empire will definitely deploy heavy troops.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Queen Dantai.¡±


    No matter if she was being truthful or not, at least she had shown her stance.


    The news of Qin Hao¡¯s departure spread within Ancient Saint City half a day later, a result anticipated by the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire.


    Nearly a hundred countries united to launch a punitive fleet, with nearly ten thousand warships. This was something no empire could underestimate.


    Even if the punitive fleet couldn¡¯t destroy the Galaxy Federation Republic, in the views of Duanmu Citian and Lan Antai, it could significantly restrict Qin Hao¡¯s development.


    In any case, this matter had only benefits for them.


    Qin Hao¡¯s Mecha had been performing too dominantly and powerfully, so they had to curb his development. If they allowed him to continue unabated, it would be terrifying. By then, neither the Sky Wolf Empire nor Nolan Empire would be confident in defeating Qin Hao.


    This was not a situation they wanted to see.


    If the punitive fleet ultimately failed, they had further plans in place.


    ...


    Meanwhile, a piece of news also spread across interstellar space: ¡°In the southern part of the Galaxy, nearly a hundred kingdoms and duchies have united to form a fleet to attack the Galaxy Federation Republic.¡±


    Interstellar Express: ¡°War is about to break out in the southern part of the Galaxy. Nearly a hundred countries have formed a United Fleet to wage war on the Galaxy Federation Republic.¡±


    Interstellar Bright News: ¡°The Galaxy Federation Republic in peril, with nearly a hundred countries declaring war on the Galaxy Federation Republic to restore the rule of Lei Meng Duchy, Silver Star Free Federation, and two other countries.¡±


    Since they declared war on Qin Hao, they naturally had to find a suitable reason. Helping four countries to restore their nations and drive out the invader Qin Hao was a good reason. At least, it had a justification in righteousness, not an unjustified fleet.


    In response to the declaration of war by nearly a hundred countries, the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire expressed complete support. They strongly condemned the Galaxy Federation Republic¡¯s acts of aggression and supported the restoration of the four countries.


    Not only the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire, but the Bright Empire, Dark Empire, and Free Federation Republic also expressed support.


    Moon Mist Empire and Maya Empire opposed it, while Tanglong Empire chose neutrality.


    For a time, the wind direction within the Interstellar Federation Government changed. Now, five major empires opposed Qin Hao, with only two empires supporting him.


    Although these five major empires superficially stood with the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire, if actual combat ensued, only the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire would send troops, while the other three empires might not take military action against Qin Hao.


    The mere display of their allegiance was already sufficient. The influence of the five major empires was significant enough to affect more than half of the Galaxy.


    Now, the internet and news outlets were almost all discussing the matters of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    Three days after Qin Hao left Ancient Saint Star, he received a notice from Chang Jing that the Galaxy Fleet had engaged the United Punitive Fleet.


    In their initial clash, the United Fleet lost over two hundred warships, while ten Galaxy Fleet warships suffered moderate damage.


    On the fourth day, they clashed again in the vacuum zone between the Galaxy Federation Republic and Bingzhou Kingdom.


    The United Fleet lost over five hundred warships, while six Galaxy Fleet warships were severely damaged and lost combat capability.


    The Galaxy Fleet deployed high-class warships, of which the Galaxy Federation Republic had about a thousand. Losing a few did not matter much; at this rate, the United Fleet could not afford the losses.


    On the fifth and sixth days, the United Fleet did not attack, instead discussing specific strategies. This wasn¡¯t sustainable unless they also brought in some high-class warships.


    Later, they clashed again, but this time the Galaxy Fleet initiated the attack. Although the United Fleet was prepared, the performance gap in their warships was too great, leading to the loss of nearly a thousand more warships for the United Fleet.

 Chapter 893: 893 Kill

    Chapter 893: Chapter 893 Kill


    After ten days of full-speed travel, Qin Hao and his group finally returned to Silver Star, the capital of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    He had directly broken through the enemy¡¯s defensive line at high speed. Those people tried to intercept him, but their missiles couldn¡¯t keep up with Qin Hao¡¯s spaceship.


    Silver Star Military and Political Office Building, inside Chang Jing¡¯s office.


    Qin Hao disembarked from the spaceship and went straight to Chang Jing¡¯s office. Chang Jing was watching the virtual combat imaging system.


    Seeing Qin Hao return, she smiled, ¡°Xiao Hao, you¡¯re back.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and walked over to ask, ¡°What¡¯s the situation now?¡±


    Chang Jing replied, ¡°More than half of the inhabitants from nearly a hundred planets nearby have already migrated to the Southern Wilderness Star System, and others are still in the process of migrating.¡±


    Such a large-scale migration has a significant impact, and Chang Jing is also worried that the flames of war will reach the homeland.


    ¡°How many B-class battleships do we have now?¡±


    Chang Jing: ¡°There aren¡¯t many B-class battleships, currently only about fifty, but we have many Star Destroyer Cannons equipped. Defending against these United Fleet forces shouldn¡¯t be an issue, though I believe the United Fleet will definitely have other strategies.¡±


    Qin Hao sat down and looked at the interstellar strategic map, ¡°After this, the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire are likely to take action. We have to be prepared. Withdrawing all personnel is a wise choice. Even if we can¡¯t defend this place, the endless asteroid passage is still easy to defend. With their numbers, they can¡¯t perform well inside the passage.¡±


    The two started discussing in the office, from defensive large Star Destroyer Cannons to air combat devices and B-class mechas.


    Currently, there are more than six hundred B-class mechas. Chang Jing has already formed a Shadow Guard Corps, whose main responsibility is to protect the high-ranking officials of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    During wartime, these Shadow Guards will play an extraordinary role.


    Around five in the afternoon, Qin Hao gathered all the Shadow Guard Mechanical Soldiers to carry out a decapitation strike on the United Fleet.


    In the square under the Military and Political Office Building, Qin Hao and Chang Jing stood there watching those mechanical soldiers, about five hundred of them. The other Shadow Guards were on protection missions.


    These Shadow Guards came from the main base, mostly humans from Earth, with a few elite Elf Clan members.


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°The United Fleet, composed of over a hundred countries, has launched an attack on our Galaxy Federation Republic. Today, we must let these rabble know that the Galaxy Federation Republic is not to be provoked. Everyone prepare, depart in one minute.¡±


    During this minute, Qin Hao would send them the mission targets and maps.


    This way, their combat targets would be clearer.


    One minute later.


    Qin Hao looked at the five hundred Shadow Guards, ¡°Are you all ready?¡±


    ¡°Ready.¡± Everyone responded in unison, filled with murderous intent. They had undergone brutal training to reach this point; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be qualified to wear B-class mechas.


    Qin Hao covered himself in his mecha, ¡°Move out.¡±


    Over five hundred people soared into the sky. Chang Jing watched Qin Hao¡¯s figure with some concern. It wasn¡¯t that she lacked confidence in the B-class mechas; it was a natural worry.


    Over five hundred mechanical soldiers took off, flying deep into the starry sky. In the vast cosmos, five hundred mechanical soldiers seemed insignificant.


    The speed of the B-class mechas was incredibly fast. In just a few dozen seconds, Qin Hao saw the defensive line of the United Fleet. Enormous interstellar warships stood in the void, like ancient beasts.


    At that moment, the detection instruments on that side hadn¡¯t detected Qin Hao and his group. Their instruments were too outdated to detect the mechas, which had perfect stealth capabilities.


    Unless Qin Hao and his group entered the visual range of the warships, they wouldn¡¯t be detected at all.


    Soon, the United Fleet noticed Qin Hao and his group. Beams of light illuminated, and beam cannons were fired.


    For a moment, beams of light blossomed in the starry sky. Qin Hao said, ¡°Disperse and engage. After destroying the United Fleet¡¯s command center, act as the situation demands.¡±


    In an instant, the five hundred individuals dispersed. The vast starry sky was very conducive to the mechanical soldiers¡¯ performance.


    Beam cannons fired swiftly but couldn¡¯t hit the agile mechanical soldiers.


    In just a few seconds, Qin Hao and his group broke through the defensive line. Lights blossomed below, beams of energy piercing the sky.


    Qin Hao and the others maneuvered, dodging and advancing simultaneously.


    The command center of the United Fleet was on an interstellar aircraft carrier, and chaos had already ensued inside.


    ¡°The enemy mechas have broken through, we should retreat.¡±


    ¡°Retreat? Our command center is at the center of the entire fleet. Those mechanical soldiers can¡¯t get through. Don¡¯t be scared.¡±


    ¡°According to the intel, their mechas might be high-grade. It¡¯s possible they could break through.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, we have fifty high-grade mechanical soldiers with us. If they dare to come, we¡¯ll crush them.¡±


    Suddenly, a staff member hurriedly said, ¡°Sir, Sir, look quickly.¡±


    Everyone in the command center turned to look. The virtual large screen displayed the battle outside. Numerous beam cannons ascended, but were cleverly dodged by the enemy. Not a single mechanical soldier was hit.


    ¡°This... how is it possible? These are not high-grade mechas.¡± Someone said in a pale and shocked tone.


    ¡°High-grade mechas can¡¯t be this agile. Look at their speed and weapons. What kind of cannon is that? One shot, and our warship vanishes into thin air.¡±


    ¡°These terrifying mechas surpass high-grade levels. They¡¯re here; we must retreat.¡±


    ¡°Retreat? How? Those mechas¡¯ speed, didn¡¯t you see? Our escape pods won¡¯t outrun them. All mechanical soldiers, engage immediately and entangle them.¡±


    Fifty high-grade mechanical soldiers hidden inside the interstellar aircraft carrier rushed out.


    ¡°Order all warships. Once our mechanical soldiers engage the enemy, fire at will.¡±


    Faces in the command center changed drastically. Someone said, ¡°General, our mechanical soldiers are out there too.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t worry about that now. These mechas are too terrifying.¡±


    At this point, Qin Hao and his group were fast approaching the command center of the United Fleet. Seeing fifty mechanical soldiers flying out, Qin Hao smirked and fired the antimatter cannon, followed by a sweeping energy sword.


    Leng Xuan and others also attacked, dozens of sword beams several feet long emanated. The fifty mechanical soldiers of the United Fleet didn¡¯t last a single round and were destroyed.


    Faces in the command center changed drastically. The enemy¡¯s mechanical soldiers were this terrifying?


    Through the mecha¡¯s communication, Qin Hao said, ¡°Kill.¡±

 Chapter 894: 894: Crushing Defeat

    Chapter 894: Chapter 894: Crushing Defeat


    In an instant, all the mechanical soldiers launched an attack towards the headquarters of the United Fleet.


    Brilliant beams of light illuminated the scene, revealing the terrifying power of the antimatter cannon. The headquarters, spanning hundreds of square meters, was incinerated into nothingness in an instant. The people inside were disintegrated, dying without a sound.


    The massive interstellar battleship also had a huge hole ripped through it, with many vital systems disabled, rendering it completely combat ineffective.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao led his people scattering in all directions, and those warships couldn¡¯t stop them at all.


    The super-light speed power device was no joke, utterly overwhelming everything in terms of speed.


    The United Fleet descended into chaos with their headquarters destroyed. Nearly ten thousand warships were left without a commander, creating a significant problem.


    One must understand that this was a fleet formed by nearly a hundred countries united together. Without a unified command, they would end up just a loose sandpile.


    After Qin Hao and his people withdrew, they didn¡¯t move far from the United Fleet.


    At this time, Chang Jing led the Galaxy Fleet towards them. The weapons range of the Galaxy Fleet was very far, and they opened fire even before entering the range of the United Fleet. The fleet was in utter disarray, with some charging forward and others retreating.


    In the endless starry sky, beams of light were dazzling and bright.


    Powerful energy beams crisscrossed the starry sky, illuminating everything.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Warships exploded, blooming like fireworks, dazzling and bright, lighting up the starry sky.


    The interstellar joint fleet was in utter chaos, with some warships charging forward and others retreating in a panic.


    Without commanders, these United Fleet warships couldn¡¯t resist at all. In the past, under command, they would charge forward resolutely. Given their numbers, at most a few hundred warships would be lost in the beginning, but they could still return fire later.


    But now, some warships charged forward without entering their firing range and were destroyed before they could even engage.


    The United Fleet collapsed utterly, fleeing deeper into the starry sky. Chang Jing led the fleet in pursuit, firing as they chased.


    In terms of speed, the United Fleet warships were no match; in terms of firepower range, they were also inferior to the Galaxy Fleet.


    Additionally, Qin Hao and others were also in action. The destruction caused by the Shadow Guards was equally terrifying. One Shadow Guard was enough to destroy a warship¡¯s central control command system.


    The greatest advantage of mechanical soldiers was their agility, and the defensive weapons on those warships couldn¡¯t hit them at all.


    The Shadow Guards were like ghostly assassins on the battlefield, having already destroyed hundreds of warships.


    The sudden war caught the United Fleet completely off guard.


    The battle here was always under media scrutiny, and the sudden outbreak of war did not escape the reporters¡¯ eyes. They recorded the process and streamed it live online.


    Many people were following the war here. War live-streaming was very rare online, so it drew many viewers.


    They witnessed the immense power of the Galaxy Federation Republic, especially the ghost-like mechanical soldiers and the incredibly strong interstellar battleships.


    The near ten-thousand-strong United Fleet was utterly shattered, creating a powerful visual impact.


    ¡°Damn, the Galaxy Federation Republic is so strong, especially those mechas. Are they the legendary B-class mechas?¡±


    ¡°The United Fleet is too useless. With nearly ten thousand warships, even blindly charging forward would cause heavy losses to the Galaxy Fleet.¡±


    ¡°It just shows the Galaxy Federation Republic has strong tactics, and those mechanical soldiers are too formidable, like picking a general¡¯s head from a thousand-strong army as if plucking an item from a bag.¡±


    ¡°If the Galaxy Federation develops for a few more years, with more mechanical soldiers and advanced warships, they have a good chance of joining the ranks of empires.¡±


    ¡°This war might be the will of some empires. They don¡¯t want another empire rising in the stars, as it would harm their interests.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, it has nothing to do with us. Let those power-hungry people fight. It¡¯d be best if they all got killed.¡±


    ¡°Brother above, you¡¯re naive. It has nothing to do with you? Wait until the war reaches you, and you¡¯ll know if it has anything to do with you. The ones who always suffer in war are us common folk.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. If the United Fleet gets annihilated, people from those countries might be turned into slaves.¡±


    ...


    The grand interstellar pursuit continued. The chase led Qin Hao and others deep into the Bingzhou Kingdom and then into the Zhongyuan Kingdom. Lasting over twenty hours, the entire United Fleet was nearly wiped out, with less than one-tenth surviving.


    The battle¡¯s outcome shook nearly a hundred countries. They lost; the United Fleet was completely defeated.


    These countries had poured all their might into the battle, and with the complete defeat, they couldn¡¯t muster any strength to retaliate, nor even defend themselves. They could only seek help from the two great empires.


    The United Fleet¡¯s crushing defeat caused a huge uproar in the galaxy. The Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire were also greatly shocked, not expecting the United Fleet to lose so quickly.


    They originally didn¡¯t hope the United Fleet would win, but just wanted to curb Qin Hao¡¯s growth. But now it seemed, they had thought too much and underestimated Qin Hao¡¯s strength.


    A fleet composed of nearly a hundred countries¡¯ alliance turned out to be no match for the Galaxy Federation Republic. His strength was already close to that of an empire.


    As long as the number of advanced warships increased, the strength of the Galaxy Federation Republic would be no less than some empires, perhaps even stronger, especially since Qin Hao¡¯s mecha were extremely formidable, providing a significant advantage.


    After dealing with the United Fleet, Qin Hao and his team returned to the interstellar aircraft carrier where Chang Jing was.


    Looking at Chang Jing, Qin Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s time to proceed with the next step.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded slightly. He led the vast fleet to the capital planet of the Bingzhou Kingdom, Bingzhou Star, and also arranged for a live broadcast online, intending to broadcast the subjugation of these countries.


    The purpose of the live broadcast was to both intimidate and let people know the stance of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    The Galaxy Federation Republic was not a barbarous slaughterer.


    ¡°Look quickly, the Galaxy Federation Republic is starting a live broadcast.¡±


    ¡°What? The Galaxy Federation Republic is live-streaming? What are they up to?¡±


    Immediately, many people flooded into the live broadcast room on the interstellar network, including many heads of state and high-ranking officials from various countries.


    The live video showed a planet, gradually zooming in.


    A woman¡¯s voice echoed in the live room: ¡°Welcome to the Galaxy Federation Republic¡¯s live broadcast. We are now on the capital planet of Bingzhou Kingdom, Bingzhou Star. A few days ago, Bingzhou Kingdom allied with nearly a hundred countries to form the United Fleet and launched an unprovoked attack on our Galaxy Federation. Today, the United Fleet has been completely annihilated. We will broadcast the entire process of subjugating Bingzhou Kingdom.¡±


    [This is the second update, there is still...]

 Chapter 895: 895: Incorporated into the Territory

    Chapter 895: Chapter 895: Incorporated into the Territory


    ¡°The complete process of conquering the Bingzhou Kingdom?¡±


    The people in the live broadcast room heard the woman¡¯s voice and were slightly stunned.


    Is the Galaxy Federation Republic trying to use Bingzhou Kingdom to establish authority and achieve a deterrent effect?


    Indeed, in the end, civilians always suffer the most in wars. The people in the live broadcast room seemed to anticipate the fate of ordinary citizens in Bingzhou Kingdom, either enslaved or killed.


    The likelihood of mass slaughter is high, possibly entire planets¡¯ populations being wiped out to create fear and establish control.


    At this moment, the massive Galaxy Fleet had already halted above Bingzhou Star, causing considerable panic among those below who saw it.


    The entire planet is surrounded, and those people have no way to escape, only to await their fate.


    The immense interstellar aircraft carriers floating in the void gave everyone on Bingzhou Star a sense of oppression, like a mountain pressing on their chest, making them feel suffocated.


    ¡°Listen up, everyone on Bingzhou Star, we are the fleet of the Galaxy Federation Republic. Now we demand you lay down your weapons and surrender immediately. As long as you surrender, we will accept you fully, and your status will remain unchanged. Those who are citizens will continue to be citizens. But if anyone dares to resist, they will be killed without mercy.¡±


    The amplified voice spread across Bingzhou Star, causing the people there to be stunned, finding it hard to believe. Still citizens? We won¡¯t be enslaved?


    The people in the live broadcast room were equally stunned, unable to react.


    Many of the senior officials and the King who heard this breathed a sigh of relief; this tactic was ruthless.


    Because with this approach, it will be easier for the Galaxy Federation Republic to conquer other countries in the future, as ordinary citizens won¡¯t be affected much, and their lives might even improve.


    Indeed, most of Bingzhou Star surrendered, accepting the rule of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    A large number of warships flew into Bingzhou Star, and apart from the Bingzhou Royal Palace, everyone else surrendered. They had no other choice; in the face of life and death, wise people would make the sensible decision.


    Inside the Bingzhou Royal Palace, the King of Bingzhou Kingdom sat there emotionlessly, stunned.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to be dethroned so quickly. He still had many beauties he hadn¡¯t slept with and many tasks unfinished; he didn¡¯t want to die.


    But as a King, his dignity did not allow him to kneel and surrender.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t care whether he surrendered or not; if he did, his life would be spared, if not, he would die.


    ¡°Leng Xuan, handle the situation at Bingzhou Royal Palace, swiftly and cleanly.¡±


    Leng Xuan slightly nodded: ¡°Yes, King.¡±


    He led twenty Shadow Guards towards the Bingzhou Royal Palace. Qin Hao then said to Chang Jing: ¡°Inform all the City Lords of Bingzhou Star to convene immediately. Latecomers will be treated as rebels.¡±


    ¡°Yes, King.¡± Chang Jing began notifying all the City Lords of Bingzhou Star.


    They stayed inside the warship, waiting quietly for those people to arrive.


    About ten minutes later, Leng Xuan returned with his men. He reported to Qin Hao and then stood to the side.


    The King and Prince inside the Bingzhou Royal Palace had all been killed, and the concubines and princesses were placed under house arrest. When Qin Hao established his imperial palace, these people would become slaves.


    Not long after Leng Xuan returned, all the City Lords of Bingzhou Star arrived, totaling fifty-three City Lords. Bingzhou Star was large, with fifty-three major cities where the entire population was concentrated.


    ¡°Greetings, King.¡± After arriving, they knelt and saluted Qin Hao with extreme respect, fearing any mistakes.


    Qin Hao slightly nodded: ¡°Stand up. Let¡¯s start the meeting.¡±


    They ascended the warship, then under the leadership of Qin Hao and Chang Jing, entered the meeting room on the interstellar aircraft carrier.


    After everyone was seated, Qin Hao looked at them and said: ¡°You should all be clear about the reason for this gathering, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we understand.¡± They quickly nodded in agreement.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I will not move any of you out of your positions for now. I will assess you for a period. If you truly have the ability to manage the cities well, you will remain as City Lords. But if you fail, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless; your family will be eliminated.¡±


    They trembled slightly upon hearing his deadly words. He was not joking; if the governance was poor causing people¡¯s lives to deteriorate, Qin Hao would indeed kill them.


    Qin Hao continued: ¡°All previous policies of Bingzhou Kingdom will be changed. Future education, laws, and other policies will be posted online by Mr. Chang. I hope you will follow and implement them. Anyone pretentiously following orders will implicate their entire family.¡±


    They nodded in agreement, not daring to utter any other words.


    After finishing the affair on Bingzhou Star, Qin Hao divided his forces to start conquering the entire Bingzhou Kingdom, all under live broadcast.


    Bingzhou Kingdom consisted of approximately 130 planets, including 95 inhabited planets and the rest being resource-rich mining planets.


    In roughly ten hours, the Galaxy Federation Republic had incorporated the entire Bingzhou Kingdom into its territory, deploying a considerable number of Air Combat Devices and combat robots on each planet.


    These were excellent tools for maintaining planetary security, not very useful on the battlefield, but essential for planet management.


    In the live broadcast room, the peaceful methods of the Galaxy Federation Republic received widespread acclaim. They hoped this would continue, so civilians wouldn¡¯t become casualties in wars.


    After completing the conquest of Bingzhou Kingdom, Qin Hao did not continue his actions but returned to Silver Star, where many military bases were producing equipment at full capacity.


    The currently produced equipment includes the most advanced weapons, such as B-class warships, aircraft carriers, and super energy cannons.


    In his room at night, Qin Hao had a video call with Du Wanrou at the main base. He chatted with Du Wanrou, Zhao Yuying, and others, looking at his son and daughter with a big smile.


    ¡°Once things stabilize here, I¡¯ll bring you all over,¡± Qin Hao smiled and said to them.


    Du Wanrou and the others slightly nodded: ¡°Be careful out there.¡±


    Miao Jing spoke: ¡°A batch of weapons was dispatched today. They¡¯ll arrive in a few days, including more than a hundred B-class warships and various weapons. The military production bases at home are operating around the clock.¡±


    A hundred warships? Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this. Combined with the B-class warships produced here, he now had nearly two hundred.


    The combat power of these two hundred B-class warships cannot be compared with high-tier warships. With these two hundred B-class warships, he was confident he could pierce through an empire and return safely.

 Chapter 896: 896 Xuanzhou Kingdom

    Chapter 896: Chapter 896 Xuanzhou Kingdom


    The strength of B-class warships cannot be compensated by the number of D-class warships, the performance gap is too great, they are not on the same level at all.


    In Qin Hao¡¯s view, these warships are far from enough, but they can form a strong deterrent, making those empires hesitant to act rashly.


    Qin Hao will not reveal his trump card now, he is waiting, waiting for the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire to make their move, and then to fiercely strike fear into these two empires.


    The next morning at 9:30, Qin Hao received a communication call from the sisters Li Qingya, they were now on the planet at the Endless Asteroid Passage.


    ¡°Qin Hao, the warships sent from home have arrived, more than a hundred B-class warships and a thousand D-class warships,¡± Li Qingya said.


    This time Earth sent over all the advanced warships, leaving only a dozen B-class warships to patrol and protect. Generally, there¡¯s nothing much happening over there, with air combat devices and combat robots, it¡¯s enough to maintain planet security.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Send those D-class warships over, let the B-class warships stay there on standby for now.¡±


    ¡°Alright, got it.¡±


    About half an hour later, more than a thousand D-class warships arrived at Silver Star Port, increasing Qin Hao¡¯s fleet to about three thousand advanced warships.


    Each warship has a captain and dozens of deputies, besides this, there¡¯s also a large number of air combat devices and combat robots.


    Currently, the key to victory at the combat level lies with the warships and the mechanical soldiers, the air combat devices and combat robots can only be used for maintaining planetary law and order and are no longer relevant in large-scale battles.


    After having lunch, Qin Hao and Chang Jing boarded the interstellar aircraft carrier again, issuing today¡¯s mission to each warship.


    Today¡¯s mission was to conquer the Xuanzhou Kingdom near the Galaxy Federation Republic, the Bingzhou Kingdom had already been subdued, and now the only nearby target was the Xuanzhou Kingdom.


    At 1 p.m., over three thousand interstellar battleships of the Galaxy Federation Republic entered the Xuanzhou Kingdom¡¯s territory.


    The Publicity Department was also live streaming over the internet, many people in the Xuanzhou Kingdom had watched the stream yesterday, so they were not too panicked, as the Galaxy Federation Republic treats ordinary citizens quite well. It¡¯s the top brass initiating the battles that should be worried.


    Upon entering the Xuanzhou Kingdom, the Galactic Fleet started conquering one planet after another, facing almost no resistance, because resistance was futile.


    The result would be death or death; submitting might help preserve your current status, and even if not, it wouldn¡¯t necessarily mean death.


    All along the way, Qin Hao and the others faced no resistance within the Xuanzhou Kingdom, but when they reached the capital planet Xuanzhou Star, they finally encountered obstacles.


    The ruler of the Xuanzhou Kingdom assembled all domestic fleets to make a last-ditch effort against Qin Hao.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao sneered, ¡°With these pathetic warships, you think you can stop the march of my Galaxy Federation Republic?¡±


    ¡°People of the Xuanzhou Kingdom, listen up, lay down your arms and surrender immediately, and our Galactic Fleet will spare your lives. Resisting will only hasten your deaths.¡±


    The people of Xuanzhou Star were in panic, they never expected their ruler to resist. If they angered the Galactic Fleet, would they wipe out the entire Xuanzhou Star?


    ¡°This has nothing to do with us, it¡¯s the ruler¡¯s decision alone.¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao, aren¡¯t you known for loving your people like your children? Withdraw immediately, or I will kill everyone on Xuanzhou Star,¡± the voice of the Xuanzhou Kingdom¡¯s ruler came through.


    Hearing this, the people of Xuanzhou Star turned pale, kill us all???


    Qin Hao was stunned by his desperate remarks but soon realized the Xuanzhou Kingdom¡¯s ruler was on the verge of madness, trying every means to stop Qin Hao to maintain his current status and position.


    But can he stop Qin Hao this way?


    His actions would only make those people hate him instead of Qin Hao.


    Of course, if Qin Hao handled this poorly, it could cause some impact.


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°King Ji, Xuanzhou Star has not yet surrendered to my Galaxy Federation Republic, so the people of Xuanzhou Star cannot be considered citizens of my Galaxy Federation Republic. Would you harm your own subjects?¡±


    ¡°Stop your crap, although these people have not surrendered yet, their hearts are already with you. I give you three minutes to retreat quickly, or I will start the massacre.¡±


    ...


    When people go mad, they can do anything.


    The ruler of the Xuanzhou Kingdom was already on the edge of madness, and as long as there was a glimmer of hope, he would not miss any opportunity, even if it meant massacring a city.


    Hearing the massacre threat, the people on Xuanzhou Star were shocked, they never expected the one threatening massacre would be their ruler, not Qin Hao!


    ¡°We can¡¯t sit here waiting to die, he¡¯s gone mad, he wants to kill us all.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we can¡¯t wait to die, we must find a way to welcome Mr. Qin.¡±


    Never underestimate the power of the common folk, the lower, middle, and upper management of the Xuanzhou Kingdom are all citizens of the Xuanzhou Kingdom.


    The situation was now very clear, the ruler of the Xuanzhou Kingdom had gone mad, people around him wouldn¡¯t follow him to their deaths, and many had their own thoughts by now.


    Three minutes later, a voice rang out on Xuanzhou Star: ¡°Mr. Qin, we have already killed Ji Feiqiang, please enter Xuanzhou Star.¡±


    Hearing this, Qin Hao smiled and commanded the fleet to enter Xuanzhou Star, making the entire Xuanzhou Kingdom a part of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    At this time, the territory of the Galaxy Federation Republic expanded several folds, and if the entire Southern Wilderness Star System was counted as part of the Galactic Federation¡¯s territory, Qin Hao¡¯s domain was no less than the eight major empires.


    Although the Southern Wilderness Star System had many planets, there were too few habitable planets.


    The moves by Qin Hao¡¯s side were known by the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire, and they were also considering countermeasures.


    Seeing the actions and attitude of the Galaxy Federation Republic, Qin Hao surely wouldn¡¯t stop, he would continue to subdue those countries, so it couldn¡¯t be left to develop like this?


    Many countries were asking the two empires for help, they were the ones who initiated the war, now they couldn¡¯t just stand by.


    The Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire issued a statement: a strong condemnation of the actions of the Galaxy Federation Republic, denouncing Qin Hao¡¯s military violence, demanding Qin Hao to immediately return the countries, or they would deploy heavy forces to annihilate Qin Hao.


    This statement was just to find a reason for sending troops, without it, their actions would lack legitimacy.


    Although the statement was issued, the two empires still needed to discuss the specific course of action.


    After the statement from the two empires, Qin Hao received a video communication call from Queen Dantai of the Moon Mist Empire: ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±

 Chapter 897: 897 Chaos Will Arise

    Chapter 897: Chapter 897 Chaos Will Arise


    Qin Hao looked at Queen Dantai and smiled: ¡°What brings you to me, Queen Dantai?¡±


    Queen Dantai: ¡°Did you see the external declaration of the two great empires? I think the two empires are going to make a move against you.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Let them come, I¡¯ve been waiting for them.¡±


    Queen Dantai looked at him solemnly: ¡°Mr. Qin, the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire have jointly formed a line of defense, completely blocking the passage to your territory. Our Moon Mist Empire¡¯s support cannot get through, but we can hold down a large portion of their forces.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said: ¡°No worries, I can hold them off, and even if I can¡¯t, I can retreat to the Southern Wilderness Star System and guard the Endless Asteroid Passage. They¡¯ll find it nearly impossible to break through.¡±


    Queen Dantai: ¡°One more thing, the Dark Empire also seems to be mobilizing troops. They are close to the Bright Empire and the Free Star System Federation. Could they be planning to go to war with the other two empires?¡±


    Upon hearing Queen Dantai¡¯s words, Qin Hao frowned slightly, puzzled: ¡°Who knows what the Dark Empire is up to, we¡¯ll have to wait and see.¡±


    The two chatted for a while before ending the communication, recalling something Queen Maya had once said, and Qin Hao felt the galaxy might fall into chaos again.


    Someone wants to reshuffle the interstellar landscape and redistribute the interests.


    Fortunately, he now has many military bases, and B-level battleships will be produced one after another. He can completely withstand the attacks of the two great empires. Once the number of B-level battleships increases, it will be his time to counterattack.


    As days went by, Qin Hao and Chang Jing didn¡¯t remain idle. One country after another was incorporated into the territory of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    After occupying those countries, Qin Hao relocated many people to planets near the Endless Asteroid Passage, which were originally planets of the Four Dukedoms.


    Half a month later, the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire finally dispatched their troops, publicly declaring about six thousand advanced battleships, more than double that of the Galaxy Fleet.


    Meanwhile, the Dark Empire declared war on the Tanglong Empire, the Bright Empire declared war on the Moon Mist Empire, and the Free Federation Empire declared war on the Maya Empire, with the three empires forming a strategic alliance.


    This news swept across the entire galaxy like a hurricane, causing a massive sensation. The empires are at war, is the era of great chaos in the galaxy about to begin?


    The rulers and citizens of the duchies and kingdoms were terrified, as they suffered the most in such large-scale wars.


    For a time, the entire galaxy was plunged into chaos.


    Currently, there are three major alliances in the galaxy: one is the Dark Empire, the Bright Empire, and the Free Interstellar Federation; the second is the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire. Various signs indicate that these five great empires might have some connections.


    The third alliance is now the Moon Mist Empire and the Galaxy Federation Republic, while the Tanglong Empire and the Maya Empire didn¡¯t have time to react as the war came too suddenly.


    ...


    On this day, Qin Hao conquered another country, then did not make any further moves. By now, there were already over seven hundred planets under the Galaxy Federation Republic, all inhabited life planets, unlike those desolate planets in the Southern Wilderness Star System.


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing started arranging defensive forces, waiting for the fleets of the two great empires to arrive. Large Star Destroyer Cannons were equipped at the border, totaling over one thousand seven hundred, enough to give the two great empires a hard time.


    Moreover, he hadn¡¯t used this secret weapon before, and no outside parties knew about it. Currently, only those who operate B-level Mechas were aware, while others did not.


    After seven days of preparation, Qin Hao had set everything up, estimating that the fleets of the two great empires would take another five or six days to arrive.


    All he needed to do now was quietly wait for the fleets of the two great empires to come.


    More than two hundred B-level battleships had already left the Southern Wilderness Star System, currently stationed on Silver Star. It would only take a few minutes for the B-level battleships to arrive here from Silver Star, ready to provide support at any time.


    Five days later.


    Qin Hao finally awaited the arrival of the fleets of the two great empires. They stopped hundreds of miles away, not launching a reckless attack.


    This time, both sides had advanced battleships, with almost equal performance, leaving Qin Hao with no advantage. However, he had large Star Destroyer Cannons at the border.


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing watched the big screen in the main command center, which displayed the fleet videos of the two great empires as Qin Hao monitored them.


    The Galaxy Federation Republic was not only leading others in battleships and Mechas, but also far ahead in various detection satellites and monitoring satellites.


    The fleets of the two great empires advanced slowly, with all detection devices and systems turned on, and reconnaissance air combat devices in front of the fleet gathering intelligence.


    The distance between the two sides grew closer and closer, two hundred miles, one hundred fifty miles, one hundred miles.


    The fleets of the two great empires stopped again, as one hundred miles was within the range of D-level battleship weapons. Advancing any further would lead to engagement.


    ¡°Activate the monitoring system and see what¡¯s going on over there,¡± someone ordered.


    The two fleets hurriedly activated their monitoring systems, but the screen showed a white blur, unable to see anything on the opposite side.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± someone was puzzled.


    The general of the Nolan Empire fleet frowned slightly when he saw this: ¡°The other side seems to have such advanced signal interference equipment?¡±


    ¡°Sir, are you saying that our detection system was interfered with by them? How is that possible? Our current monitoring system is the strongest in the empire.¡±


    The general didn¡¯t know what was going on either but couldn¡¯t shake a sense of unease, an intuition he had developed over years of battles.


    The fleets of the two great empires were not unified; each side had a leading general.


    The same situation was occurring with the Sky Wolf Empire. They made a call, and the general of the Nolan Empire said: ¡°Be careful, this Galaxy Federation Republic is a bit strange.¡±


    The general of the Sky Wolf Empire sneered: ¡°Why be afraid of just a few battleships? Let¡¯s charge through and crush them.¡±


    The general of the Nolan Empire: ¡°We¡¯re like the blind right now, not knowing where the Galaxy Fleet is. How can we attack? Intelligence didn¡¯t mention such a strong signal blocking interference device in the Galaxy Federation. I think we should wait.¡±


    ¡°Wait for what? Qin Hao only has a small fleet; why be afraid? We, the Sky Wolf Empire, will go first, and you follow. This way, we can finish them and return to attack the three great empires from behind, earning military merits.¡±


    The general of the Nolan Empire hesitated for a moment, then nodded. The Galaxy Federation Republic didn¡¯t have many warships, so even if they wanted to play tricks, they couldn¡¯t. He was tempted by the military merits. Only with military merits could they climb higher within their empire.

 Chapter 898: 898 The Battle Begins

    Chapter 898: Chapter 898 The Battle Begins


    The fleets of the two great empires started to move, all under Qin Hao¡¯s surveillance.


    Although they activated their counter-reconnaissance systems, there was a significant technological gap, and they couldn¡¯t prevent Qin Hao¡¯s reconnaissance.


    The speed of the fleets of the two great empires was not fast; they were also wary, observing their surroundings to guard against Qin Hao¡¯s sudden ambush.


    Even though the monitoring systems failed, their warships had complete maps, knowing how many planets and what kind of planets were ahead, and where the Galaxy Fleet was most likely to be hiding.


    All warships entered wartime preparedness status. With just one order, thousands of warships could release over ten thousand shells, which was enough to turn a planet to dust.


    Although they hadn¡¯t yet spotted the Galaxy Fleet, as soon as the enemy fired, their position would be exposed, and they would be locked onto immediately.


    This way, the two great empires¡¯ fleets were on the defensive; however, they weren¡¯t too worried because their warships had energy shield defense systems, providing ample reaction time.


    Unless the opponent¡¯s firepower was intense, there wouldn¡¯t be much impact.


    After they traveled twenty miles, Chang Jing turned to Qin Hao, ¡°Shall we make a move?¡±


    ¡°Wait a little longer.¡± Qin Hao¡¯s eyes were fixed on the screen, his gaze bright and deep.


    At this moment, the fleets of the two great empires also stopped. A general from the Nolan Empire fleet said, ¡°Shall we test fire a shot?¡±


    The general from the Sky Wolf Empire nodded slightly, ¡°There is a planet in the forward left called Sky Sun Star. It is the largest planet nearby and highly likely to hide warships. Since they won¡¯t come out from the dark, let¡¯s draw the snake out of its hole.¡±


    ¡°Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡±


    Beams of light illuminated from thousands of warships, flying directly towards Sky Sun Star not far away.


    The beam energy cannons reached Sky Sun Star in a matter of seconds, enveloping it in thousands of lights, as dazzling as a sun.


    ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡±


    Explosions erupted continuously on the surface of Sky Sun Star, with nearly the entire planet engulfed in war turmoil, but the planet had already been evacuated by now.


    Because Qin Hao had already foreseen this scene, everyone on nearby dozens of planets had been relocated by Qin Hao to planets near Silver Star.


    Li Qingya and her sister, Fan Ruobing, and Li Moying had already returned to Silver Star.


    In just tens of seconds, the entire Sky Sun Star was leveled, with no trace of cities left, just ruins.


    After the fleets of the two great empires finished firing, they began to slowly advance again. When they reached fifty star miles, their speed slowed even more, their vigilance at its peak.


    At this moment, Qin Hao said in a calm tone, ¡°All star destroyer cannons, warships, prepare.¡±


    A few seconds later, a cold light flashed in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes, ¡°Fire.¡±


    ¡°Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡±


    Along the borders of the Galaxy Federation Republic, countless asteroids blossomed with brilliant light, beams soaring into the sky, flying at light speed towards the fleets of the two great empires not far away.


    More than three thousand warships nearby also fired their beam energy cannons.


    Tens of thousands of beam energy cannons were aimed at the fleets of the two great empires.


    As soon as the beam energy cannons were fired, the fleets of the two great empires detected energy fluctuations, countless red dots appearing on the display screens, indicating the firing positions.


    ¡°Activate energy defense shields.¡±


    Instantly, energy shield defense systems were activated on every warship, revealing clear energy shields.


    The overwhelming energy cannons rained down, landing on the energy shields of these warships.


    ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡±


    Explosions echoed nonstop, and the powerful energy waves caused ripples to spread across the energy shields of the two great empires¡¯ warships.


    Especially when the large star destroyer cannon hit, it directly reduced the defense system of the energy shield by more than half.


    Many people¡¯s expressions changed dramatically, ¡°What the heck is this?¡±


    ¡°Crack, crack¡±


    Some warships¡¯ energy shields didn¡¯t last more than ten seconds and shattered instantly, energy cannons striking the warships, igniting blazes, and many warships were directly destroyed.


    The large star destroyer cannon¡¯s power was immense; a single shot was enough to consume over half of the energy in a warship¡¯s energy shield.


    ¡°Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡±


    Before one wave settled, the star destroyer cannon released a second wave of artillery. Qin Hao had plenty of energy stones to supply these large star destroyer cannons for attacks.


    After this attack, all star destroyer cannons moved on their own, leaving their original positions and hiding tens of miles away in another location.


    Because by this point, the warships of the two great empires began to counterattack.


    Their firepower was equally fierce, with nearly a hundred star destroyer cannons being blown to pieces due to not retreating in time.


    Having changed positions, the warships of the two great empires couldn¡¯t locate the new positions of the star destroyer cannons unless they fired again. If another round of star destroyer cannons came, their energy shields would be near their limit.


    After changing positions, the star destroyer cannons fired again, while Qin Hao¡¯s warships also opened fire. Although the enemy¡¯s warships retaliated, they were all blocked by energy shields.


    After seven or eight minutes of confrontation, the fleets of the two great empires had lost over eighteen hundred warships, and the energy shields of the remaining warships had all been destroyed.


    By then, more than half of the star destroyer cannons had been destroyed, though the warships hadn¡¯t suffered much loss.


    The fleets of the two great empires had charged forth, the Galaxy Fleet moved to intercept, and a large number of mechanical soldiers were secretly causing havoc.


    Do not underestimate the destructive power of mechanical soldiers; B-grade mecha made them more agile, able to easily infiltrate warships and destroy command systems.


    The distance between the two sides¡¯ warships grew shorter until they finally stopped at thirty star miles, simultaneously opening fire at each other.


    The Shadow Guards darted forward at superluminal speed, initiating decapitation actions against the fleets of the two great empires.


    Virtually nothing could stop the Shadow Guards¡¯ movements, swift as thunder, killing silently.


    Nearly a thousand mechanical soldiers flooded the battlefield, with two Shadow Guards per warship. In under twenty seconds, that warship would fall silent.


    A mechanical soldier of equal grade could completely destroy a warship of the same grade, not to mention that Qin Hao¡¯s mechas were B-grade.


    The combat strength of B-grade mechas was the first and last time the generals of the two great empires ever witnessed it.


    Even with nearly a hundred D-grade mechanical soldiers, they couldn¡¯t withstand the assassination by the Shadow Guards, as the Shadow Guards¡¯ speed was too fast. A single sword sweep ended the D-grade mechanical soldiers, slicing them in half with no chance to resist.


    Within seven or eight minutes, more than thirty-seven hundred warships of the two great empires remained but were all silent, everyone onboard had been slaughtered by the mechanical soldiers.


    Qin Hao¡¯s side lost about five hundred warships, but he captured nearly four thousand, and though many star destroyer cannons were lost, the battle reaped more rewards.


    The fleets of the two great empires were entirely annihilated, over six thousand warships, nearly four thousand captured, considerably bolstering Qin Hao¡¯s power.

 Chapter 899: 899 Retreat

    Chapter 899: Chapter 899 Retreat


    After Qin Hao had the battleships received, he led his men back and simultaneously issued a statement: The United Fleet formed by the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire has been annihilated by the Galaxy Fleet, and the Galaxy Federation continues to welcome the assaults of the two empires.


    This announcement sent shockwaves across the entire interstellar domain.


    The United Fleet of the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire has been defeated? Completely annihilated?


    How is this possible? Over six thousand advanced battleships, it¡¯s just not something Qin Hao could withstand. How could Qin Hao possibly annihilate these battleships?


    Many people refused to believe the news, but the silence from the two empires, along with Qin Hao¡¯s announcement, compelled them to believe.


    If the fleets of the two empires had not been annihilated, would Qin Hao have the mood to issue an announcement?


    The only explanation: The fleets of the two empires might really have been annihilated by Qin Hao.


    In other interstellar battlefields, the fight between the Dark Empire and Tanglong Empire saw the Tanglong Empire retreating progressively, with half of its satellite nations captured by the Dark Empire, though the homeland remains untouched by the flames of war for now; it¡¯s only a matter of time.


    The conflict between the Maya Empire and Free Interstellar Federation is slightly better, with the Maya Empire holding the advantage.


    The battle between the Bright Empire and Moon Mist Empire reveals the formidable strength of the Bright Empire, while the Moon Mist Empire retreats step by step, much like the Tanglong Empire.


    Qin Hao¡¯s victory was a good piece of news for them, yet they were also quite shocked by Qin Hao¡¯s strength, able to withstand the fleets of two great empires, which was somewhat terrifying.


    After repelling the battleships of the two empires, Qin Hao continued his march to conquer nearby nations.


    Currently, between the Galaxy Federation Republic and the two empires, there are three to four hundred nations, all of them vassal states of the two empires, who found themselves somewhat terrified after the defeat of the two empires.


    Even the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire were no match for Qin Hao, so what can we do to resist?


    While Qin Hao conquered states, Chang Jing was in charge of affairs; aside from the Earth, there were over sixty new military production facilities on this side.


    Some produce battleships, others mechas, and a small portion manufacture air combat devices and combat robots.


    Right now, what Qin Hao primarily needs are B-grade battleships and mechas, as these two are the major lethal weapons on the battlefield.


    Qin Hao quickly estimated that there were currently over a hundred military production bases in the entire Galaxy Federation, with a considerable amount of raw materials sourced from deserted planets within the Southern Wilderness Star System.


    The Galaxy Federation Republic grows stronger by the day, inviting no resistance wherever it goes, and Qin Hao didn¡¯t kill those surrendering kings but unified them to Silver Star.


    After conquest over five medium-sized kingdoms, Qin Hao paused; the Galaxy Federation Republic had control over approximately two thousand planets.


    The reason Qin Hao didn¡¯t proceed with his assault is that he is waiting; outside the territory of the Galaxy Federation Republic lies a zone filled with small meteorites and a vast expanse of uninhabited planets that could serve as a battlefield.


    The last defeat of the two empires does not mean they will cease their offensive against Qin Hao; they will surely try again.


    Indeed, the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire were discussing this matter, as their C-grade battleships were nearing completion, and each nation still had around twenty thousand D-grade battleships.


    More than half of their battleships formed a defense line to guard against a sudden strike from the Moon Mist Empire.


    They could mobilize roughly twenty thousand battleships, but cannot deploy them all, as that would provide an opportunity for others to take advantage.


    Following final deliberations, the two empires decided to deploy thirteen thousand battleships¡ªthis should be sufficient to kill Qin Hao, right?


    Even if they couldn¡¯t finish him off, it wouldn¡¯t matter; just restraining Qin Hao¡¯s growth would suffice, as they needed a bit more time, with the first C-grade battleship about to emerge. Once tested with no issues, mass production could commence.


    The two empires each had hundreds of military production bases, and they were all large-scale bases. It¡¯s estimated that once the first battleship is tested problem-free, their monthly output could reach around a thousand ships.


    This is just the output of one empire. Considering various raw materials, every empire could produce about ten thousand ships at the most, and any more would require resource plundering.


    On this day, the two empires again announced externally that they would dispatch thirteen thousand battleships to attack the Galaxy Federation Republic, hoping Qin Hao would recognize his mistake and surrender voluntarily, avoiding the pain brought to innocent civilians.


    Qin Hao¡¯s reply was straightforward: Bring it on, and your fleet will surely face no return.


    The other three interstellar battlefields were ablaze with conflict, as many small nations had started engaging in battle, with everyone in the interstellar realm feeling insecure, spawning numerous interstellar pirates engaging in robbery and plunder.


    With many planets now under Qin Hao¡¯s control, detection satellites were being produced massively, needing deployment to every planet to monitor them entirely, so that any crime would be tracked instantly.


    With over ten thousand D-grade battleships incoming, Qin Hao had to give his all this time, as any mistake could render previous efforts worthless.


    In roughly thirteen days, the United Fleet of the two empires arrived, but they did not rashly attack; the complete annihilation of over six thousand battleships clearly indicated everything, illustrating Qin Hao¡¯s potent yet undisclosed powers.


    Upon arrival, the United Fleet of the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire did not act immediately; they observed for three days, investigating Qin Hao¡¯s circumstances before initiating their attack.


    A thousand battleships led the charge, with others trailing behind at a distance of several star-miles.


    Similarly, their reconnaissance systems achieved nothing, akin to blind men seeing nothing.


    The current United Fleet was like a blind man, yet possessing great strength, comparable to an adult blind person, while Qin Hao¡¯s fleet could be likened to a regular minor.


    Though possibly weaker in strength than the United Fleet, Qin Hao¡¯s fleet was agile and unaffected.


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡±


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Suddenly, light erupted in the distance, countless beams shot forth with rapid speed, in the blink of an eye overwhelming the vanguard battleships with fire.


    Qin Hao¡¯s firepower was incredibly fierce, boasting around six thousand battleships along with large Star Destroyer Cannons, overwhelming the mere thousand battleships.


    In mere seconds, the vanguard unit of the United Fleet was thoroughly obliterated, with not a single battleship spared.


    The commanding officer of the rear United Fleet witnessed this and his face changed, observing the immense firepower¡ªa strength equal to at least eight thousand battleships; otherwise, such powerful fire couldn¡¯t be achieved.


    Eight thousand battleships, and that was just Qin Hao¡¯s openly displayed power; how much strength was Qin Hao concealing in secret?


    Fearful of provoking, the United Fleet commander refrained from rashly attacking, as his main objective was holding Qin Hao in check to impede his development.


    ¡°Withdraw, retreat immediately.¡± He gave the order without hesitation.

 Chapter 900: 900: Exactly What I Want

    Chapter 900: Chapter 900: Exactly What I Want


    The United Fleet turned their stern into their bow, and left in an orderly fashion at incredible speed.


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing were stunned when they saw this. Retreat? Why would they retreat with so many warships? Could it be they know I have a B-class battleship ambush?


    It¡¯s impossible. Qin Hao has already activated the anti-reconnaissance monitoring system. The two empires couldn¡¯t have discovered it.


    Chang Jing puzzledly said, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Should we pursue them?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°No pursuit. Our advantage now is the anti-reconnaissance monitoring system. If we pursue, this advantage will be lost. Let¡¯s see what they¡¯re up to.¡±


    After the United Fleet retreated, they didn¡¯t return. They have already roughly gauged Qin Hao¡¯s strength¡ªvery strong. Even with over ten thousand warships, they don¡¯t have an eighty percent chance of defeating Qin Hao.


    This aligns perfectly with the mission given at departure; as long as they can curb Qin Hao¡¯s expansion, it¡¯s enough.


    For four to five days, the United Fleet made no move, remaining stationed within the Hundred Victory Kingdom, never venturing out.


    Qin Hao now roughly understands the United Fleet¡¯s intention¡ªthis is to curb his development and buy time.


    The two empires are researching a secret weapon. They seem to want to buy time.


    This suits Qin Hao perfectly. He still has too few B-class battleships and needs time to produce equipment.


    Understanding the United Fleet¡¯s intention, Qin Hao said to Chang Jing, ¡°Just have someone keep an eye on them; they¡¯re likely not coming out.¡±


    Chang Jing nodded, ¡°Mm, I¡¯ve already arranged for that.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Alright, we can have a good rest during this time.¡±


    The two got into the latest flying vehicle towards Silver Star, followed by dozens of Shadow Guards to ensure their safety.


    Inside the spacecraft, Chang Jing embraced him, her beautiful eyes gazing at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao smiled and kissed her cherry lips. The two began their passionate moment inside the spacecraft.


    Afterward, the two lay on the bed, Chang Jing spoke, ¡°Once the war is over and the Galaxy Federation Republic is strong enough, I want to have a baby.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°Yes, once things settle, I¡¯ll be home every day to have a baby with you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re annoying.¡±


    About half an hour later, Qin Hao and Chang Jing arrived at Silver Star, the spacecraft landing in Qin Hao¡¯s estate.


    Descending from the vehicle, Qin Hao and Chang Jing, hand in hand, walked into the castle palace designed and built by Chang Jing¡¯s arranged personnel¡ªmagnificent, luxurious, and splendid.


    The estate has combat robots patrolling, combat devices in the air, and many servants inside, meticulously selected.


    Entering the castle, Li Qingya, Fan Ruobing, and others were watching TV, smiling as Qin Hao returned, ¡°Xiao Hao, Jing, you¡¯re back.¡±


    Chang Jing went over and sat down, chatting with them.


    By noon, Ning Yao, Luna, and Jiao Rou also returned. Ning Yao came later to help manage affairs here.


    Qin Hao said to them, ¡°You chat, I¡¯ll make lunch for you.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t cooked in a while, but his skills hadn¡¯t faded.


    Busy for almost an hour, Qin Hao prepared a sumptuous lunch. During lunch, Qin Hao received a video call from Queen Dantai.


    Connecting the video call, Queen Dantai¡¯s virtual image appeared above the dining table.


    Qin Hao, eating and looking at her, said, ¡°What is it, Queen Dantai?¡±


    Queen Dantai looked at him and said, ¡°King Qin, you¡¯re still in the mood to eat? I¡¯m about to go crazy.¡±


    She was indeed anxious. The Moon Mist Empire¡¯s war situation was tense; the Bright Empire¡¯s displayed strength was formidable, particularly in warship numbers, far surpassing the Moon Mist Empire.


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Humans need food like iron. How can one not eat?¡±


    Queen Dantai: ¡°It seems King Qin doesn¡¯t take the United Fleet of the two empires seriously, which reassures me.¡±


    The stronger Qin Hao is, the better for her since they are allies. As long as he can restrain the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire, she¡¯s relieved.


    She worries most about the two empires suddenly launching attacks, forcing her into a corner, but seeing Qin Hao so at ease, it seems the two empires have no energy left to attack the Moon Mist Empire.


    The Galaxy Federation Republic¡¯s sudden rise has completely disrupted the Sky Wolf Empire, Nolan Empire, Bright Empire, Dark Empire, and Free Interstellar Federation Empire¡¯s plans.


    Without the Galaxy Federation Republic¡¯s emergence, restraining the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire, half of the Moon Mist Empire and Tanglong Empire territory might have already fallen.


    ¡°Queen Dantai, how¡¯s your situation? Can you withstand the Bright Empire?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    Queen Dantai sighed, ¡°Not too well, the Bright Empire¡¯s warship numbers greatly exceed ours, and I suspect they have a secret weapon.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Try to hold them off; once I¡¯ve dealt with the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire, I¡¯ll help you, but I won¡¯t help for free.¡±


    ¡°By the time you deal with the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire, we fear Moon Mist Empire will already be gone.¡± Queen Dantai replied irritably.


    Qin Hao faintly smiled, ¡°That day won¡¯t be too far away.¡±


    Queen Dantai heard his words, feeling a chill¡ªwon¡¯t be long? Where does he get such confidence?


    These aren¡¯t dukedoms or kingdoms but vast empires; there are only eight empires in the entire galaxy. Do you really believe you can topple two major empires?


    Queen Dantai is very curious about what secret weapon Qin Hao possesses.


    The two chatted for a while before disconnecting. After lunch, Qin Hao sat on the couch and made a video call to Queen Maya of the Maya Empire.


    The video call quickly connected, Qin Hao asked, ¡°How is your Maya Empire¡¯s situation?¡±


    ¡°Quite good,¡± Queen Maya replied calmly, then asked, ¡°I heard the two empires dispatched over ten thousand interstellar warships; is everything alright over there?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°No problem here, don¡¯t worry, within a year, both the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire will be erased from the galaxy. Just hold on for a year.¡±


    Queen Maya was stunned hearing his words, ¡°A year? You can eliminate two major empires in a year?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Almost.¡±


    ¡°Holding on for a year shouldn¡¯t be an issue.¡± Queen Maya replied.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Mm, be careful; since the three major empires dare openly wage war, they certainly have tricks up their sleeves.¡±


    Queen Maya: ¡°My Maya Empire hasn¡¯t exerted full strength yet. It¡¯s uncertain who will win in the end.¡±

 Chapter 901: 901 Half a Year

    Chapter 901: Chapter 901 Half a Year


    Qin Hao looked at Queen Maya and teased, ¡°Haven¡¯t seen me these days, did you miss me?¡±


    ¡°Do you have any other business?¡± Queen Maya replied irritably.


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°Nothing else, once I rule the interstellar domain, I¡¯ll come to the Maya Empire to get you.¡±


    Queen Maya rolled her eyes at him and then hung up the communication call.


    In the afternoon, Qin Hao, Ning Yao, Fan Ruobing, and others did some exercises and then went to sleep.


    Time passed day by day, and in the blink of an eye, a month had gone by. The United Fleet of the two empires made no movements, and Qin Hao hadn¡¯t annexed any more countries.


    He is now also establishing military production bases vigorously, with nearly a hundred new ones added in a month.


    The number of B-grade warships and Mechas is increasing, and now with more bases, future production will keep escalating. Many military production bases were built by Qin Hao in the Southern Wilderness Star System, making it very safe and close to raw material extraction.


    In the secret military production bases of the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire, their C-grade warships were finally produced, and today all tests have been completed, reaching the standards.


    This made Duanmu Citian and Lan Antai extremely excited, as they seemingly envisioned the scene of dominating the interstellar domain, erasing empires like Moon Mist Empire and Maya Empire from the galaxy.


    Additionally, the Dark Empire, Bright Empire, and Free Interstellar Federation will be eradicated one by one.


    Lan Antai said to Duanmu Citian, ¡°Mr. Duanmu, we can start mass production.¡±


    Duanmu Citian nodded slightly, ¡°Pleasure working with you, Mr. Lan.¡±


    Both harbored thoughts of eliminating the other, but they knew it wasn¡¯t feasible now, given the unclear situation in the interstellar domain. If they started fighting, it would exceed expectations. They had to wait at least until both of them unified the galaxy, then it would be time to act.


    The Galaxy Federation Republic, Sky Wolf Empire, and Nolan Empire fell into silence again, while several other empires were engaged in heated battles, with fire and smoke everywhere, countless people suffering, and many refugees heading toward the Sky Wolf Empire, Nolan Empire, and Galaxy Federation Republic.


    This side seemed relatively quieter, and although the atmosphere suggests an approaching storm, it was at least safer and more stable than there.


    Especially many wealthy families, migrating to that direction, wanting to move to the Galaxy Federation Republic, since Qin Hao treated people from other countries quite well and demonstrated strong power, remaining undefeated despite the attacks from the two empires, which says it all.


    Time flies, months pass.


    In the blink of an eye, half a year has passed. The Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire haven¡¯t taken action, and Qin Hao was enjoying the leisure.


    During this period, Fan Ruobing, Li Moying, and Li Qingya sisters became pregnant. Qin Hao had already sent them back to Earth for peaceful rest and took the chance to visit his children.


    Qin Long and Qin Feng were already more than a year old, able to call ¡°daddy¡± and ¡°mommy,¡± very cute. Hearing them call him ¡°daddy,¡± Qin Hao¡¯s heart almost melted.


    Now he has only one thought, to sweep across the entire interstellar domain as quickly as possible, unify the galaxy, and accompany his children every day, watching them grow up slowly.


    This is his current sole desire.


    Over the past six months, the Moon Mist Empire, Tanglong Empire, and Maya Empire have fought fiercely with those three empires.


    Especially the Tanglong Empire and Moon Mist Empire, the battlefires had reached their homeland, while the Dark Empire and Bright Empire possessed powerful strength, with continuous replenishment following warship losses, having very sufficient warship reserves.


    The Maya Empire was somewhat better, continuously locked in a stalemate with the Free Interstellar Federation, both side evenly matched.


    During these six months, many wealthy families migrated to the Galaxy Federation Republic, since it was relatively safe here, and Qin Hao was glad to welcome these people, as commerce prosperity made people wealthier.


    Through stable development over the half-year, the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire amassed many C-grade warships.


    The Sky Wolf Empire currently has more than six thousand warships, and Nolan Empire has about the same, besides occupying several small countries during this half-year due to their rare metal veins needed for warship production.


    With these C-grade warships, the two empires felt ready, the time had come to showcase their strength.


    Though the number of warships was limited, they could sustain warfare while producing more warships on the go.


    On this day, the two empires simultaneously announced: they would launch a full-scale attack on the Galaxy Federation Republic, completely annihilating Qin Hao.


    The Galaxy Federation Republic was deemed necessary to annihilate by the two empires, as only after removing it, they could safely attack the Moon Mist Empire and Tanglong Empire without worrying about threats from both fronts.


    Qin Hao made no response; it seemed the two empires had developed new secret weapons, likely warships, as only warships were the key to warfare now.


    Currently, Qin Hao possessed 4,500 B-grade warships domestically, enough to wipe out the two empires.


    The number of B-grade Mechas is even more terrifying, reaching over 7,000 sets, all equipped on the Shadow Guards.


    Qin Hao and Chang Jing had already headed to the front lines, awaiting the arrival of the two empires.


    After half a year¡¯s preparation, Qin Hao was equally well-prepared, with all kinds of equipment and devices ready, just waiting to annex those countries.


    The propulsion devices of C-grade warships upgrade to Sublight Speed Power Device, they are fast, though not comparable to B-grade warships or Mechas, they are still much better than the high-end warships now.


    About five days later, fleets from the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire arrived. This time, they deployed an entire army, with over ten thousand C-grade warships all mobilized.


    They planned to use overwhelming force to obliterate the Galaxy Federation Republic, and then turn around to deal with Moon Mist Empire and Tanglong Empire.


    ¡°Qin Hao, surrender now, or don¡¯t blame us for flattening the Galaxy Federation Republic,¡± said Duanmu Feng, the prince of Sky Wolf Empire, in a cold voice.


    He was enthusiastic now, having long awaited vengeance, wanting to capture Qin Hao alive, making him suffer worse than death, to toy with Qin Hao¡¯s women in front of him, letting him savor that bitterness.


    Such thoughts filled Duanmu Feng with excitement, as this time he commanded himself, ready to exact revenge from years ago.


    Sky Wolf Empire¡¯s leader was also a prince, Lan Xin¡¯s half-brother, having few sentiments with her: ¡°Qin Hao, come out and kneel to surrender, or we¡¯ll slaughter your entire Galaxy Federation Republic.¡±


    ¡°What big words, if you want to kill me, bring it on; I¡¯ll be waiting for you, just afraid you¡¯ll end up terrified and humiliated,¡± Qin Hao coldly snickered after seeing their warships.


    Sure enough, as he imagined, the two empires had developed C-grade warships, one tier below the B-grade warships.

 Chapter 902: 902: B-Class Battleship

    Chapter 902: Chapter 902: B-Class Battleship


    According to normal technology standards, the two great empires couldn¡¯t possibly produce B-level warships in a leap; technology progresses step by step.


    They cannot compare to Qin Hao, who possesses a system with every conceivable technology.


    Duanmu Feng heard Qin Hao¡¯s words, with a cold sneer on his face, this ignorant waste probably doesn¡¯t know what kind of warship I have behind me, right?


    This is a C-level warship, enough to sweep across your entire Galaxy Federation Republic.


    ¡°Duanmu Feng, stop wasting words with him, let¡¯s attack, we have many things to do after destroying the Galaxy Federation,¡± said the Prince of the Nolan Empire.


    Duanmu Feng nodded slightly, ¡°The whole army, prepare.¡±


    Over ten thousand D-level warships and another ten thousand C-level warships were ready for battle, and the verbal standoff between the two sides ceased.


    ¡°Set out.¡±


    A total of over twenty thousand warships grandly sailed towards the territory of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    This war was broadcast live online by many countries, including the Galaxy Federation Republic, Sky Wolf Empire, Nolan Empire, and others.


    Qin Hao¡¯s live broadcast aimed to demonstrate his strength to his country¡¯s people and others, providing his citizens a sense of security and intimidating other nations.


    A lot of people focused on this war, not only citizens of the Galaxy Federation Republic but also the eight major empires, including Sky Wolf Empire, Nolan Empire, and Moon Mist Empire.


    Because this war determines the future interstellar order, if Qin Hao is killed and the Galaxy Federation Republic is destroyed, Moon Mist Empire, Tanglong Empire, and Maya Empire would also be doomed, reshuffling the interstellar order.


    If Qin Hao is not defeated and the two great empires are, it will equally trigger a chain reaction.


    Of course, almost no one thought this was possible, or dared to think it; no matter how strong Qin Hao is, he can¡¯t be a match for the two great empires.


    Qin Hao defeating the two empires? Most people thought this was completely impossible; no one would even consider this outcome.


    ¡°Be careful, they have a very strong counter-reconnaissance detection system,¡± Duanmu Feng reminded the Prince of the Nolan Empire.


    Because at this moment there was nothing on their display screens, nothing could be seen, they couldn¡¯t detect the location of Qin Hao¡¯s warships or weapons.


    The distance closed somewhat, and Duanmu Feng¡¯s C-level warship detected them. He said, ¡°There are about 6,000 D-level warships in the left front and right front.¡±


    The hardware of D-level warships is still a bit lacking, the wireless detection system of C-level warships can detect some equipment of D-level warships, thereby determining their position.


    The speed of over twenty thousand warships was very fast, and they had great confidence in their C-level warships, in absolute strength, conspiracies and tricks were of no use.


    Upon entering firing range, all the D-level warships on Qin Hao¡¯s side opened fire, along with more than 5,000 Star Destroyer Cannons.


    In an instant, the dark starry sky was like daylight, dazzling beams of light shot up like world-ending pillars.


    The warships of the two great empires were instantly covered by light, and several thousand warships at the front were shattered immediately, the power of the large Star Destroyer Cannons was too great, D-level warships couldn¡¯t withstand it at all.


    Such a massive attack shocked many viewers of the broadcast, the Galaxy Federation Republic was so strong, in just one round they destroyed about 3,000 warships of the two great empires, it was terrifying, a couple more rounds and wouldn¡¯t the two empires¡¯ fleets be annihilated?


    Just as Qin Hao opened fire, the two empires¡¯ fleets reacted quickly and counterattacked immediately.


    Their firepower was even more ferocious, although they lost 3,000 warships, Qin Hao¡¯s side lost even more, with over 6,000 warships nearly completely wiped out.


    Too terrifying, the two empires attacked with full force, not to mention the Galaxy Federation Republic, even a single empire might not withstand it.


    In one round, almost the entire 6,000 warships of the Galaxy Federation Republic was lost.


    The citizens of the Galaxy Federation Republic saw their complexions change drastically, too strong, the fleets of the two empires were too strong, how could this be resisted?


    Is the Galaxy Federation Republic going to be destroyed by the two great empires?


    The two great empires completely mobilized, putting the entire nation into this, they obviously decided to obliterate Qin Hao, it¡¯s over, now the Galaxy Federation Republic is done for.


    ¡°With these trash warships, you dare to boast? Show whatever cards you have, or there won¡¯t be another chance,¡± Duanmu Feng said disdainfully.


    Qin Hao¡¯s voice transmitted from the endless starry sky, ¡°The show has just begun, don¡¯t be too early to be pleased.¡±


    As Qin Hao¡¯s words ended, a massive fleet suddenly appeared in front of the two empires¡¯ coalition forces, this was a B-level warship fleet.


    Beams of antimatter cannon light illuminated, enveloping the fleets of the two great empires.


    At the same time, the fleet accelerated in a wedge shape, directly charging towards the two empires¡¯ fleets.


    ¡°There is a fleet ahead, open fire immediately.¡±


    This B-level fleet appeared very suddenly, if it wasn¡¯t right in their line of sight, they wouldn¡¯t have detected it at all.


    Over twenty thousand warships launched their first attack, but when their energy cannons met the antimatter cannons, it was as if fire met water, directly evaporating.


    The coalition fleet of the two empires was stunned, and all viewers of the broadcast were also stunned.


    ¡°What... what¡¯s going on?¡± Countless people were dumbfounded, not daring to believe it.


    ¡°Damn, how can the energy cannons evaporate and disappear for no reason? This is too terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Is this the trump card of the Galaxy Federation Republic?¡± The Kings of Moon Mist Empire, Maya Empire, and Tanglong Empire were shocked all over their faces.


    The Kings of Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire were also watching the broadcast, after all, this battle was of great importance, and seeing this situation, their expressions changed dramatically.


    Antimatter cannon? Is this an enhanced version of the antimatter cannon on Mechas?


    As the antimatter cannon struck, the joint fleet of the two empires had no opportunity to retreat.


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz¡±


    Warships dissipated at a speed visible to the naked eye, in a matter of seconds, over 6,000 warships were destroyed by the antimatter cannon, leaving not a trace, giving an extremely strong visual impact.


    Too terrifying, too shocking, too unbelievable.


    As the antimatter cannon ceased, the B-level fleet charged straight in, five wedge-shaped formations, charging directly.


    The super-light speed power devices all activated, the speed was so fast that it dazzled people¡¯s eyes, the shadows of the five formations were completely indistinguishable.


    ¡°Bang bang bang bang¡±


    Intense collision sounds were heard, and everyone watched the live broadcast without blinking, only to see the coalition fleet of the two empires being divided into five regions, thousands of warships getting smashed into pieces.


    This scene gave an extremely strong visual impact, it was pure brute force, the fleet of the Galaxy Federation Republic was so strong, without the slightest damage.


    The five formations rapidly changed formation, the heads and tails swapped, charging again towards the coalition fleet of the two empires.

 Chapter 903: 903 Shocking

    Chapter 903: Chapter 903 Shocking


    Duanmu Feng and the Prince of the Nolan Empire were ashen-faced, their eyes filled with incredulity.


    How could it be? How could he have such terrifying warships?


    This is impossible.


    ¡°Fire at them, attack!¡± Duanmu Feng hastily commanded.


    They still had over ten thousand warships left, almost half had been lost, but most of the losses were D-class warships.


    Countless energy cannons fired at Qin Hao¡¯s fleet of B-class warships. The energy shields of the B-class warships were activated, and they didn¡¯t even bother to return fire.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    The energy cannons hit the energy shields of the B-class warships, not causing the slightest ripple, as if they were merely scratching an itch.


    This left Duanmu Feng and the Prince of the Nolan Empire dumbfounded. Such a perverse defense capability? So many shells hitting it were utterly useless?


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    The sound of fierce collisions rang out, accompanied by the breaking of warships and the screams of countless people.


    Five formations, like five sharp daggers, pierced in and out of the fleets of the two empires seven times, while the United Fleet was helpless against the B-class fleet.


    At this time, the joint fleet of the two empires had few warships left, only a little over three thousand.


    Duanmu Feng and the Prince of the Nolan Empire were pale, almost scared to death by Qin Hao¡¯s B-class warships. They had thought C-class warships were already the mightiest in the stars, but they hadn¡¯t expected Qin Hao to have even mightier warships.


    The B-class fleet stopped at this time, and Qin Hao stepped out from a warship, looking at the joint fleet of the two empires, he mockingly said, ¡°Prince Duanmu, do you think these warships are enough?¡±


    Duanmu Feng¡¯s face was ashen, his body shivered, unable to speak.


    The Prince of the Nolan Empire fared no better, with dim eyes and utter despair, as they had brought all their C-class warships, never expecting such a disastrous defeat.


    This defeat would directly overturn the current galactic order.


    Everything was over; with Qin Hao possessing such terrifying warships, the two empires stood no chance.


    The interstellar live-streaming room was silent, and everyone was stunned, followed by an overwhelming sound of shock.


    How could the Galaxy Federation Republic be so strong?


    How could Qin Hao have so many terrifying warships?


    Qin Hao¡¯s voice rang out again: ¡°Surrender, you have no chance of winning, the yielding live, the rebellious die. I give you three minutes to consider.¡±


    The fleets of the two empires fell silent; there was no point in resisting any longer, death would be the only outcome. If they surrendered, perhaps they could continue living.


    Duanmu Feng reacted, saying, ¡°Qin Hao, give up on this idea, our Sky Wolf Empire¡¯s warriors will not surrender.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Qin Hao coldly laughed. He believed some were unafraid of death, but they were very, very few; most people still wanted to live.


    Three minutes later, Duanmu Feng was beheaded by his own subordinates, the Prince of the Nolan Empire knelt and surrendered, and all the warships surrendered.


    The rulers of the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire sat dumbfounded in the live-stream, their eyes dimming, realizing everything was finished.


    Qin Hao¡¯s warships turned out to be stronger than our newest model; how can this be, how can this be??


    Their hearts bled, with a feeling of ¡°why was one as brilliant as Zhou Yu born in the era of Zhuge Liang.¡±


    Qin Hao accepted their surrender. Even if they hadn¡¯t, he had ways to capture these warships, as his thousands of Shadow Guards hadn¡¯t even been deployed yet.


    After accepting their surrender, several key figures were imprisoned by Qin Hao, while some inconsequential people continued to be used, which also gave hope to those who surrendered.


    After cleaning the battlefield, Qin Hao led his army to begin the road of conquest once more.


    He had prepared for over half a year, eagerly awaiting this day. The speed of the B-class warships was incredibly fast, and wherever they went, nations surrendered one after another.


    He left behind those he had long trained for this, and left some air combat devices and combat robots for protection. Once a planet was conquered, it was considered secured.


    These new star lords were all trained by Qin Hao, and if any family disobeyed, the air combat devices and combat robots would eliminate them.


    In one day, Qin Hao conquered dozens of countries, nearly a thousand planets, nearly doubling the territory of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    The Galaxy Federation Republic¡¯s path of frenzied expansion had just begun.


    In five days, Qin Hao took over all the countries to the south of the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire.


    This efficiency shocked everyone, mainly because Qin Hao leveraged the victory; those kingdoms, having watched the war live stream, were terrified, and none dared to resist.


    Currently, the territory of the Galaxy Federation Republic couldn¡¯t compare to the eight great empires, but the power that Qin Hao now displayed surpassed that of these empires.


    The people within the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire were on edge, although the lower-level civilians were quite calm because Qin Hao treated the civilians fairly. To them, whichever country¡¯s citizen they were was the same as long as their lives were secured.


    The Dark Empire, Free Interstellar Federation, and Bright Empire had halted their offensives, because the situation hadn¡¯t developed as they anticipated.


    The two empires had been unexpectedly defeated by Qin Hao, something no empire had ever imagined, let alone dared to imagine.


    If the two empires were destroyed by Qin Hao, they too would be almost finished.


    Everyone knew Qin Hao had a good relationship with the Moon Mist Empire, Tanglong Empire, and Maya Empire, and if he made a move, they wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it.


    The Moon Mist, Tanglong, and Maya empires sighed with relief, though they were somewhat worried that Qin Hao might wipe them out as well?


    After subjugating those kingdoms, Qin Hao suddenly stopped and didn¡¯t attack the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire.


    This left many perplexed as to why he wouldn¡¯t pursue victory. With his current strength, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    Qin Hao chose not to pursue for his own considerations; he needed to develop for a while. Many devices and instruments were nearly depleted and needed to be produced again. Otherwise, even if he conquered the two empires, not having his own armed forces on the planets would be pointless.


    Moreover, he felt that the number of his B-class warships was still too few, and the more of them there were, the better.


    As the days passed, almost all eyes in the interstellar world were on Qin Hao, fixed on the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    A month passed in the blink of an eye, and Qin Hao still hadn¡¯t made any moves, which was a torment that the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire found hard to endure.


    Duanmu Citian and Lan Antai felt as if a knife was at their throat, but it never came down, an indescribable feeling.

 Chapter 904: 904 Lan Antai

    Chapter 904: Chapter 904 Lan Antai


    After so many days, the Maya Empire, Moon Mist Empire, and Tanglong Empire have more or less guessed Qin Hao¡¯s intentions.


    He must be making final preparations; after all, the two great empires are too large, and fully absorbing them would require a lot.


    Qin Hao is in no hurry to take over the two empires. Even if he gave them ten years, they can¡¯t possibly develop B-class warships.


    Right now, the two empires are like meat by his mouth; he can eat them whenever he wants.


    Unbeknownst to anyone, over the past month of stable development, hundreds of military production bases have been added within the Galaxy Federation Republic, and the production speed of B-class warships has increased by more than tenfold.


    On the other side, the Dark Empire, Free Star System Federation, and Bright Empire are once again at war with the Tanglong, Moon Mist, and Maya Empires.


    They are like arrows that have been shot out, unable to stop.


    Time passes by, and another four months go by.


    During this time, the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire weren¡¯t idle either. They couldn¡¯t just sit and wait for death; they were fully producing C-class warships, hoping to cause some damage to Qin Hao even if they faced eventual annihilation.


    Finally, in the sixth month after the armistice, Qin Hao took action again, with his number of B-class warships reaching over fourteen thousand.


    Moreover, at the borders, there are two thousand B-class warships patrolling 24 hours a day, preventing fleet incursions from the two empires from causing harm deep within the Galaxy Federation.


    Twelve thousand B-class warships split into two routes: one led by Miao Jing¡¯s fleet, and the other by Qin Hao. They began a full-scale assault on the Sky Wolf Empire.


    The Sky Wolf Empire was already prepared. As Qin Hao entered their territory, their warships were already on standby¡ªover ten thousand D-class warships and several thousand C-class warships.


    Without any nonsense, Qin Hao directly started the battle, with six thousand B-class warships, each equipped with hundreds of antimatter cannons.


    The overwhelming light from both sides¡¯ warships lit up, and the energy cannons fired by the Sky Wolf Empire couldn¡¯t reach Qin Hao¡¯s side at all.


    As time passed, mere minutes later, the Sky Wolf Empire suffered heavy losses and began to retreat.


    This wasn¡¯t a battle of equal magnitude. As the fight broke out here, large fleets from the Nolan Empire attacked the Galaxy Federation Republic from another direction.


    They were immediately detected by the patrolling B-class warships, and both sides engaged in combat.


    The Nolan Empire planned not to engage in direct battle but to rush inside and disrupt Qin Hao¡¯s rear.


    However, they were overthinking; tens of thousands of Mechanical Soldiers were already waiting for them.


    ...


    The plans of the Sky Wolf Empire and Nolan Empire failed again, with the warships produced over five months being completely lost.


    On this day, Qin Hao and Miao Jing captured five thousand planets, which is roughly close to one-tenth of the territory of the Sky Wolf Empire.


    The Sky Wolf Empire actually controls about fifty thousand planets with life; there are even more uninhabited planets and metal-rich resource planets within their domain, numbering in the hundreds of thousands.


    With every capture of a planet, Qin Hao and Miao Jing would leave a batch of Air Combat Devices and battle robots, as well as selected star candidates.


    After resting overnight, Qin Hao and Miao Jing continued their capture efforts the next day.


    Their pace wasn¡¯t too fast or too slow; on the other side, the battle was intense, as the Dark Empire, Bright Empire, and Free Star System Federation exerted their full power, wanting to resolve the situation quickly and stabilize.


    The Tanglong Empire and Moon Mist Empire were desperately holding on; many native planets were being conquered and plundered, with citizens on captured planets becoming the slaves of the opposing side.


    Half a month later, the Sky Wolf Empire completely fell, Duanmu Citian fought a desperate battle on Sirius with Qin Hao, leading to the annihilation of tens of thousands of the Sky Wolf Clan, and the Sky Wolf Empire king perished on the spot.


    The once-mighty Sky Wolf Empire was totally wiped out by Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao¡¯s name became known throughout the galaxy, and his prestige was arguably the highest across the stars.


    Achievement points grew by billions every day, frighteningly fast.


    After dealing with the Sky Wolf Empire, Qin Hao turned his attention to the Nolan Empire, this time with Lan Xin accompanying him.


    After all, she is the princess of the Nolan Empire, Lan Antai is her father, and she didn¡¯t want to see Qin Hao and her father come to blows¡ªshe wanted neither of them to get hurt.


    Lan Antai cherished her since childhood; this affection was irremovable.


    Qin Hao understood Lan Xin¡¯s feelings, so he advanced quickly; in just eight days, Qin Hao and Miao Jing joined forces and arrived outside Nolan Star.


    Lan Xin glanced at Qin Hao, who nodded slightly, then she spoke: ¡°Father.¡±


    The people on Nolan Star were stunned upon hearing Lan Xin¡¯s voice, and so was Lan Antai. At that moment, Lan Xin¡¯s holographic image also appeared in the sky above Nolan Star.


    Seeing his daughter¡¯s form, Lan Antai¡¯s gaze turned complex, his expression shifted; he never anticipated such a day would come, nor did he expect Qin Hao to be so powerful.


    Lan Antai took a deep breath: ¡°Xinxin, this is none of your concern; step down and let Qin Hao come forward.¡±


    Lan Xin: ¡°Father, the Duanmu Family of the Sky Wolf Empire has already been destroyed. Do you also want the entire Lan Family to face annihilation? The lives of millions hinge on your decision.¡±


    Upon hearing his daughter¡¯s words, Lan Antai froze. The Lan Family was very large on Nolan Star, with millions of people!


    Lan Xin continued: ¡°Father, Qin Hao said that if you surrender, he won¡¯t kill anyone indiscriminately, and if Father is willing to support him, he will offer you a position.¡±


    Lan Antai¡¯s gaze wavered. Should he, a proud emperor, support someone else?


    If he didn¡¯t support, millions of family members might be slaughtered.


    Qin Hao spoke up: ¡°Mr. Lan, the future territory of the Galaxy Federation Republic will be vast; I can¡¯t manage it all alone. If Mr. Lan is willing, I¡¯d like to invite Mr. Lan to be the Prince Zhen Nan of my Galaxy Federation Republic.¡±


    If Lan Xin weren¡¯t pregnant, Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t have bothered, but now, to prevent Lan Xin¡¯s heartbreak, he needed to try to keep Lan Antai.


    Seeing Qin Hao personally invite him, Lan Antai understood many things. It seemed Qin Hao treated his daughter well, but he couldn¡¯t overcome the barrier in his heart¡ªshould he, a proud emperor, submit to Qin Hao?


    Next to him, the princes and princesses suddenly knelt down: ¡°Father, Sister Lan Xin seems favored by Qin Hao; if we submit to him, maybe life won¡¯t be too bad.¡±


    No one wanted to die; everyone wanted to live.


    Lan Antai understood their thoughts; he sighed inwardly: ¡°Mr. Qin, would you dare to come down for a discussion?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± After saying this, Qin Hao, clad in mecha, flew down by himself. Seeing this, Lan Xin hurriedly followed.

 Chapter 905: 905 Situation

    Chapter 905: Chapter 905 Situation


    In a matter of seconds, Qin Hao and Lan Xin arrived at the Nolan Imperial Palace on Nolan Star.


    The palace was majestic, grand and magnificent, while also exuding an aura of inviolable solemnity.


    This Nolan Empire had stood for thousands of years, undergoing countless renovations. As Lan Xin arrived and saw the familiar palace, her eyes were filled with complex melancholy.


    Qin Hao smiled at her and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright, don¡¯t think too much.¡±


    The palace was heavily guarded, yet no one stopped Qin Hao and Lan Xin as they made their way to the main hall of the palace.


    Inside the hall, there were many people, including Lan Antai and various princes and princesses, numbering several dozen.


    Qin Hao glanced at Lan Antai and the others, while Lan Antai was also observing Qin Hao. Such achievements at his young age were truly terrifying. What kind of prodigy was this?


    He was just in his twenties, yet how could he be so formidable? Lan Antai felt a sense of helplessness rising in his heart.


    If Qin Hao were of a similar age to him, perhaps his heart would feel a bit more at ease, but he was just in his twenties, so young.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, let¡¯s discuss this at the rear hall.¡± In front of Qin Hao, Lan Antai¡¯s voice lost its usual authority, sounding more like that of an elderly man.


    Qin Hao went with him to the rear hall, while other princes and princesses eagerly surrounded Lan Xin, expressing their warmth and care.


    In the rear hall, Qin Hao and Lan Antai sat facing each other. Lan Antai looked at him and sighed, ¡°Mr. Qin is indeed admirable.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Lan, you¡¯re too kind. I¡¯ve just been lucky,¡± Qin Hao replied with a slight smile.


    Lan Antai said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I am willing to surrender. May I ask what role Prince Zhen Nan holds? What are his specific responsibilities?¡±


    Qin Hao answered, ¡°He is responsible for the governance and military management of a vast southern region of the Galaxy Federation Republic. Of course, the movement of warships would require my command.¡±


    Lan Antai nodded slightly. This was quite a generous treatment, considering that other kings had either been killed or placed under house arrest, with none entering the political arena of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    Lan Antai was the only exception.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°Mr. Lan, it would be best not to entertain other thoughts. I don¡¯t want Lan Xin to feel heartbroken; do you understand?¡±


    Lan Antai understood Qin Hao¡¯s meaning, which was a warning not to harbor disloyal intentions or entertain thoughts of restoration.


    Lan Antai nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Qin. Even if I wished to restore the kingdom, I would not have the opportunity.¡±


    ¡°As long as you understand.¡±


    After conversing for more than ten minutes, they emerged from the rear hall. At this time, those princes and princesses were still having cordial conversations with Lan Xin.


    Upon seeing their father and Qin Hao emerge, they immediately fell silent.


    Lan Antai spoke, ¡°I have agreed to Mr. Qin¡¯s recruitment. Henceforth, you shall no longer call yourselves the Princes of the Nolan Empire. You are the sons of Prince Zhen Nan.¡±


    Upon hearing this, they hastily nodded in agreement. Lan Xin smiled upon hearing her father¡¯s words; it was reassuring that he had agreed.


    Soon after, this news was announced globally. Many people sighed in relief at the news, having long been aware of the complete annihilation of the Duanmu Family. They certainly did not want to follow in their footsteps.


    With this, the Sky Wolf Empire and the Nolan Empire were completely subdued by Qin Hao. At this time, the territory of the Galaxy Federation Republic was indisputably the largest in the galaxy.


    Of course, not only in territory but also in military strength, population, and other aspects, it stood at the forefront.


    After subduing the two great empires, Qin Hao did not continue military maneuvers but started to rest and restore, stabilizing the rear. He needed some time to digest these two empires.


    The original military bases of the two empires were undergoing transformation and would produce B-class warships in the future.


    Currently, the monthly production capacity of B-class warships in the Galaxy Federation Republic had reached over two thousand ships. If these military bases were fully transformed, the output would become even more astonishing.


    While Qin Hao stabilized his side, other battlefields in the galaxy were still fiercely blazing. The Moon Mist Empire and the Tanglong Empire had already lost nearly a tenth of their territory.


    About seven days later, the kings of the Tanglong Empire and the Moon Mist Empire set up a video call with Qin Hao.


    Li Weitian and Queen Dantai hoped he could deploy troops to assist them. Qin Hao told them that it would take some more time, as his side had not yet stabilized.


    Queen Maya did not seek help because they were evenly matched with the Free Star System Federation.


    After hanging up the call, Qin Hao sat there contemplating how to rescue these three great empires, when to do so, and what conditions to ask for.


    Chang Jing noticed him deep in thought and, knowing what he was contemplating, said after some thought, ¡°Xiao Hao, how far do you envision the development of the Galaxy Federation Republic? Do you want to unify the entire galaxy?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Actually, if those three great empires were destroyed, it wouldn¡¯t make much difference whether they were unified or not. The Galaxy Federation Republic would still be the leading empire in the galaxy.¡±


    He actually did not intend to annihilate all the empires. The Moon Mist Empire, the Maya Empire, and the Tanglong Empire could remain, but these three empires must depend on him, becoming vassal states of the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    These three empires probably understood his intention, but it hadn¡¯t come to that stage yet, and they weren¡¯t willing to take such a step.


    As days passed, another month went by. Every day, Qin Hao¡¯s power increased significantly, and the production capacity of B-class warships was now tremendously astonishing.


    In that month¡¯s time, the Tanglong Empire and the Moon Mist Empire suffered repeated setbacks, and the Maya Empire was also showing signs of weakness, having lost several battles in recent days and dozens of planets.


    During that month, the Dark Empire, the Bright Empire, and the Free Star System Federation also contacted Qin Hao, seeking cooperation to divide the Moon Mist three great empires.


    Qin Hao gave them a vague response, knowing that they were not actually looking to split these empires with him, but testing whether he had intentions of military intervention.


    Later, seeing that Qin Hao had not deployed troops, they sighed in relief, although they were somewhat worried about him swooping in to seize the fruits of victory after the war ended.


    Qin Hao was waiting for the moment when the Tanglong Empire and the Moon Mist Empire could no longer hold on. They would undoubtedly come to seek his aid.


    Indeed, half a month later, the kings of the Tanglong Empire and the Moon Mist Empire, Li Weitian and Queen Dantai, along with the Maya Empire¡¯s queen, arrived on Nolan Star of the Galaxy Federation Republic, where Qin Hao now resided.


    The three kings were currently accommodated in the Nolan Hotel in Nolan City, the most luxurious hotel there, which also served as a national Banquet Hotel.


    After they arrived, Qin Hao, Chang Jing, Miao Jing, and Lan Antai headed to the hotel, where a special government conference room was located.


    Upon entering the hotel conference room, Li Weitian, Queen Dantai, and Queen Maya were already waiting for him.


    Seeing Qin Hao and the others enter, the three of them stood up and turned to look at him.


    Qin Hao smiled at them and said, ¡°Please sit down, no need to stand on ceremony.¡±

 Chapter 906: 906 Queen Maya

    Chapter 906: Chapter 906 Queen Maya


    After Qin Hao sat down, Li Weitian and Queen Dantai exchanged a glance, then spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, we can barely hold on any longer. When will you be able to intervene?¡±


    Queen Dantai took over the conversation, saying, ¡°Mr. Qin, at this rate, we won¡¯t last a few months.¡±


    Queen Maya didn¡¯t speak; her beautiful and captivating eyes just gazed at him.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°No need to worry, everyone. I¡¯ve already taken care of matters with the two great empires. We can deploy troops in the coming days, but we still need to discuss the details of our cooperation.¡±


    Queen Dantai, Li Weitian, and Queen Maya all wore serious expressions, as they were finally getting to the main topic.


    Queen Dantai said, ¡°We do need to discuss this; it¡¯s better to settle matters beforehand than to have problems later.¡±


    Li Weitian and Queen Maya also nodded slightly; some things must be clearly stated.


    Qin Hao glanced at Lan Antai, who then said, ¡°These are the details of the cooperation. The three of you can take a look.¡±


    After speaking, he activated the virtual imaging system and transmitted the documents to the virtual systems in front of the three leaders.


    After reading the documents, the three leaders frowned slightly. The condition of becoming a dependent state was difficult for them to accept, but thinking of their current imperial predicament and Qin Hao¡¯s strength, they remained silent.


    The territories of the Bright Empire, Free Star System Federation, and Dark Empire would belong to the Galaxy Federation Republic, and the three great empires would have to become dependent states of the Galaxy Federation Republic, with many more specifics outlined later.


    Queen Dantai asked, ¡°If we become your dependent states, will our military and political affairs remain autonomous?¡±


    ¡°We will not interfere in your military and political affairs. Everything will follow what¡¯s outlined in this agreement. You can think it over and give me an answer in a day,¡± Qin Hao smiled.


    Queen Maya spoke in a calm tone, ¡°No need to consider further; our Maya Empire agrees.¡±


    Queen Dantai and Li Weitian were stunned for a moment at her words. She agreed just like that? They were planning to discuss it further back home.


    The two exchanged a glance and also said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we agree to your terms as well.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Very well, then please sign. Our Galaxy Federation fleet can be dispatched at any time.¡±


    The three leaders signed their names, and recordings of the scene would be preserved.


    After signing, Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°You must be tired from your journey. Please get some rest first. Once you are refreshed, we will discuss the specifics of troop deployment.¡±


    The three nodded and then left, with Queen Maya giving Qin Hao a glance as she departed.


    Once only a few people were left in the conference room with Qin Hao, he said to them, ¡°You may leave first; I have some matters to attend to.¡±


    After everyone else had left, Qin Hao exited the conference room and arrived outside Queen Maya¡¯s quarters, where several elegant and attractive maids stood at the door.


    Seeing Qin Hao, they did not stop him. He knocked on the door and soon heard Queen Maya¡¯s voice from inside, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Qin Hao opened the door and entered, discovering that not only was Queen Maya there, but Su Anna was also present.


    After more than a year, seeing Qin Hao again, he was no longer the Qin Hao of the past. His identity and status were incomparable to before. No one had expected that in just a year, Qin Hao would grow to such a formidable level.


    ¡°Mr. Qin,¡± Su Anna called out respectfully.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Princess Anna.¡±


    Queen Maya looked at him and said, ¡°Have a seat.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at the spot beside her, hesitated, but eventually sat down. Queen Maya said nothing, and Su Anna, as if she had already known, showed no sign of surprise.


    Seeing Su Anna there, Qin Hao felt a bit restrained and awkwardly said, ¡°Uh, have you been well these days?¡±


    Queen Maya turned to look at him, ¡°I¡¯ve been missing you.¡±


    Qin Hao was momentarily taken aback by her words, especially since Su Anna was still present, ¡°Is this appropriate?¡±


    Queen Maya rolled her eyes at him, ¡°Anyway, Anna will be your woman in the future.¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned, ¡°My woman?¡±


    Queen Maya nodded, ¡°I plan to betroth Anna to you, to unite our households. Do you have any objections? Any objections are to be withheld.¡±


    ...


    [Note: Omitted one hundred characters]


    ...


    Afterwards, the three of them took a nap, waking up to find it was already evening.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go eat something,¡± Qin Hao felt a bit hungry, having exerted a lot of energy in the afternoon.


    The group dressed and headed to the living room, where the service staff soon delivered dinner.


    During the meal, Queen Maya asked, ¡°Have you been studying any cultivation techniques lately?¡±


    ¡°No, it seems like a difficult path; it¡¯s not that simple,¡± Qin Hao shook his head.


    Because he had taken that step, he knew how difficult that path was. Even with the current advanced technology, it was impossible to deduce a complete cultivation method.


    Queen Maya said, ¡°I think this path, while difficult, promises great achievements in the future.¡±


    ¡°Immortality? The power to destroy heaven and earth?¡± Qin Hao recalled those myths, his eyes filled with longing.


    Now, destroying heaven and earth was within his capability, but immortality was still out of reach. The current gene serums only allowed one to live for around two thousand years.


    He didn¡¯t know if such things truly existed, as there was no way to verify them.


    Queen Maya nodded, ¡°Yes, according to our ancient texts, such powerful cultivators did exist a long, long time ago.¡±

 Chapter 907: 907 Dad

    Chapter 907: Chapter 907 Dad


    Qin Hao curiously asked, ¡°Since there are ancient texts, isn¡¯t there any complete cultivation technique passed down?¡±


    Queen Maya shook her head: ¡°No, we have searched nationwide, but there is simply no complete cultivation technique. According to various ancient texts, this world seems unsuitable for cultivation, and it gradually disappeared.¡±


    Qin Hao sighed: ¡°Those are too distant for us, we might never be able to access them in our lifetime.¡±


    In the luxurious suite of the Moon Mist Empire, Queen Dantai was already aware of Qin Hao entering Queen Maya¡¯s room, as the two rooms were not far apart, easily visible to each other.


    Qin Hao stayed in Queen Maya¡¯s room for such a long time, what was he discussing with Queen Maya inside?


    Could the two families be joining forces or scheming something else?


    Thinking of this, Queen Dantai frowned slightly. Now Qin Hao was at the peak of his power and incredibly strong. For the Moon Mist Empire to survive, they must have Qin Hao¡¯s consent.


    Around seven in the evening, Qin Hao came out of Queen Maya¡¯s room. Queen Dantai quickly got the news. Before Qin Hao could go far, Queen Dantai¡¯s people caught up with him and invited him to have a seat in her room.


    Qin Hao was puzzled. Could it be that Queen Dantai of the Moon Mist Empire also wanted to build a good relationship with him?


    After all, now the Galaxy Federation Republic and Qin Hao¡¯s reputation were so great that many were even saying he was the future master of the stars.


    Arriving in Queen Dantai¡¯s room, Dantai Moyu and Queen Dantai were both there. Queen Dantai, seeing Qin Hao enter, stood up and smiled, saying: ¡°Mr. Qin, sorry for inviting you this evening, please sit down.¡±


    Qin Hao sat across from her and gave a faint smile: ¡°Since I have nothing else to do, Queen Dantai must have something in mind, right? Please, go ahead and say it directly.¡±


    Dantai Moyu poured a cup of tea for Qin Hao and her mother, then opened the door and left, leaving only Qin Hao and Queen Dantai in the room.


    Queen Dantai, dressed in a purple gauze dress, her figure graceful and her exquisitely perfect face looking at Qin Hao, said with a hint of coquettishness, ¡°Mr. Qin, I heard you spent half a day in Queen Maya¡¯s room, aren¡¯t you being a bit partial to them? After all, we are the allies.¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly: ¡°Queen Dantai, don¡¯t misunderstand. I didn¡¯t discuss any military or political matters with Queen Maya, just some personal matters.¡±


    Personal matters?


    Hearing his words, Queen Dantai was slightly stunned, and then a faint blush appeared on her face: ¡°What personal matters do you have with Queen Maya?¡±


    ¡°Do I need to explain it so clearly? Just matters between a man and a woman.¡± Qin Hao looked at her speechlessly.


    Queen Dantai was shocked, matters between a man and a woman? Could it be that for the development of the Maya Empire, Queen Maya did such a thing with Qin Hao?


    No way? The people of the Maya Empire have always been so proud, not to mention the queen, even the people of the Maya Empire have never married outside.


    It turned out that Queen Maya was such a woman; they could also lower their proud heads for survival.


    Thinking of this, Queen Dantai¡¯s heart shivered; if that¡¯s true, Qin Hao would certainly favor the Maya Empire. Wouldn¡¯t that mean...?


    She looked up at Qin Hao, curiously pursing her lips, and asked: ¡°Mr. Qin, how is Queen Maya?¡±


    ¡°Are all women this gossip-loving?¡± Qin Hao looked at her speechlessly.


    Queen Dantai gave an awkward smile: ¡°I just want to know how the usually proud Queen Maya succumbs to Mr. Qin¡¯s charm.¡±


    Qin Hao took a sip of tea without responding to her.


    Seeing him remain silent, Queen Dantai got up and sat down next to Qin Hao, a faint fragrance wafting over: ¡°Mr. Qin, I can do what Queen Maya can do.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her: ¡°Queen Dantai, there¡¯s no need for this. You don¡¯t have to do this. I, Qin Hao, would not aim to annex your Moon Mist Empire.¡±


    Queen Dantai understood Qin Hao¡¯s character; as long as she didn¡¯t do anything outlandish, Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t destroy the Moon Mist Empire.


    But her concern wasn¡¯t Qin Hao, it was others. If others played tricks, it would be hard to say.


    Only by becoming more intimate with Qin Hao would the Moon Mist Empire be safer.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I know your character; I, Dantai Yanyu, am captivated by your personal charm. A man like you is desired by every woman.¡±


    Qin Hao turned to look at her as she too lifted her gaze to look at Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin, do you like that girl Mo Yu? I want to betroth her to you.¡±


    ¡°Queen Maya said the same thing.¡± Qin Hao was somewhat at a loss. This was likely a politically beneficial marriage alliance.


    He hadn¡¯t expected it would come to this. He thought for a moment and said, ¡°This still needs Mo Yu¡¯s consent. I don¡¯t like to force anyone.¡±


    ¡°That girl Mo Yu admires Mr. Qin greatly, and you¡¯ve interacted before. She knows well Mr. Qin¡¯s character.¡±


    ...


    On the next morning, the three major rulers again discussed specifics with Qin Hao.


    In the afternoon, the monarchs of the three empires returned, accompanied by six thousand B-class battleships, with generals from the Galaxy Federation Republic leading the teams.


    Besides these, Qin Hao also provided Queen Maya and Queen Dantai with a few hundred sets of B-class mecha to ensure their safety.


    As for Li Weitian of the Tanglong Empire, he didn¡¯t care; if he died, someone else would surely take his place.


    The three major rulers returned very quickly because this time they had B-class ships, capable of terrifying superluminal speeds.


    In about two days, they were back in their countries, then began to launch a strong counterattack.


    Later, Qin Hao left Nolan Star, took a ship, and returned to Earth because Li Qingya¡¯s sisters, Fan Ruobing, and Li Moying were about to give birth.


    On Pu¡¯er Island on Earth.


    Qin Hao disembarked from the aircraft and saw Han Meng, Fan Ruobing, Li Moying, and others.


    They were sitting in the courtyard, basking in the sun and chatting. Seeing Qin Hao return, the women were somewhat surprised and showed joy on their faces.


    Du Wanrou and Zhao Yuying were with Qin Long, Qin Feng, and Qin Tian.


    ¡°Look, Daddy¡¯s back.¡± Du Wanrou and Zhao Yuying exuded a motherly radiance.


    Qin Long, Qin Feng, and Qin Tian turned their heads toward Qin Hao. Qin Long and Qin Feng ran over with small steps, their childish voices ringing: ¡°Daddy...¡±


    Qin Hao hurried up to them, picked them up, kissed them each: ¡°Have you been listening to Mom at home?¡±


    ¡°Dad... Dad, I want a hug too.¡± Qin Tian also walked over. He was a few months younger than Qin Long and Qin Feng and still unsteady on his feet.

 Chapter 908: 908 Star Sky Insect Clan

    Chapter 908: Chapter 908 Star Sky Insect Clan


    Qin Hao put down Qin Long, picked up the two of them again, wishing he had four hands.


    He played with the three little guys for a while, then went to see Han Meng, Fan Ruobing, Li Moying, and the sisters Li Qingya.


    A few people talked outside for a while and then returned to the villa. Not long after, Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin arrived.


    ¡°Is everything done over there?¡± Mr. Qin asked as he looked at him.


    Qin Hao said with a smile, ¡°Not yet, but soon. I¡¯ll go back after a while.¡±


    The Moon Mist Empire, Maya Empire, and Tanglong Empire need several months to completely annihilate the Dark, Bright, and Free Star System Empire. He will return when they launch a full-scale attack.


    Mrs. Qin said, ¡°Why isn¡¯t it done yet? Can¡¯t your subordinates handle it? Spend some good time at home with Wan Rou.¡±


    In Mrs. Qin¡¯s view, Qin Hao was not a qualified husband, rarely being at home.


    Qin Hao hurriedly explained, ¡°Mom and Dad, don¡¯t worry, the matters are almost settled. I will have time to be with you then.¡±


    ¡°The child is growing too. If he doesn¡¯t see you for a long time, he might forget you.¡± Mrs. Qin glared at him.


    This time, Qin Hao stayed on Earth for a long time. With the help of B-class battleships, the three great empires of Moon Mist cleared the opposing empires out of their territories in less than a month and continued to attack the enemy¡¯s homeland.


    The Dark Empire, Bright Empire, and Free Star System Federation continued to retreat. They had proposed peace, but the Moon Mist, Tanglong, and Maya Empires refused.


    Now they¡¯re close to losing, knowing to beg for mercy now? It¡¯s already too late; these three empires must be destroyed.


    Three months later, the Dark Empire, Bright Empire, and Free Star System Federation continued to retreat. At this time, their territories had fallen on a large scale and had now retreated to the edge of the Northern Abyss region.


    On this day, Qin Hao received a communication call from the three kings. They hadn¡¯t launched a general attack yet and were waiting for Qin Hao¡¯s arrival.


    After finishing speaking with his parents, Du Wanrou and others, Qin Hao boarded a spaceship and flew deep into the universe.


    Seven days later, Qin Hao arrived on Nolan Star, bringing Lan Antai, Lan Xin, and a hundred warships to the Northern Abyss region.


    About seven days later, Qin Hao arrived at the edge of the Northern Abyss region. The three national fleets of the Moon Mist Empire, Maya Empire, and Tanglong Empire had already surrounded the area.


    Seeing Qin Hao arrive, Queen Dantai, Queen Maya, and Li Weitian came over.


    Li Weitian said with a smile, ¡°Qin Country¡¯s ruler, the people of the three great empires have already been surrounded, waiting for you to issue the order for the general attack.¡±


    Qin Hao checked through the satellite monitoring system, and the people of the three great empires had slipped into the abyss, but they had not gone deep.


    The entire abyss gave a weird feeling. Qin Hao always had an uneasy feeling after seeing it, which he couldn¡¯t quite explain.


    ¡°This Northern Abyss always gives me an uneasy feeling, like a giant beast opening its bloody mouth,¡± Qin Hao said.


    Queen Maya nodded slightly, ¡°I also have this feeling, always thinking this place is very dangerous.¡±


    Li Weitian laughed and said, ¡°Qin Country¡¯s ruler, this place is just like this. I¡¯ve been here many times, and every time it gives me a feeling of palpitations, never that feeling of getting used to it and not being afraid.¡±


    As they talked, they watched the display screen. The people of the Dark Empire, Bright Empire, and Free Star System Federation didn¡¯t move inside; their fate was already sealed.


    The news of Qin Hao¡¯s arrival was also known to the people of those three empires.


    At this time, a voice came from within the abyss, ¡°Qin Hao, are you trying to drive us to extinction?¡±


    Li Weitian said, ¡°It¡¯s the king of the Dark Empire.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°It¡¯s not me driving you to extinction, it¡¯s you pushing yourself to the brink.¡±


    Li Weitian said, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you starting a war for no reason, you wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this today. This is your self-inflicted fate; Qin Country¡¯s ruler, launch the general attack and wipe out these people.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°All warships ready.¡±


    When the people of the Dark Empire, Bright Empire, and Free Star System Federation saw this, their faces changed drastically, and they hurriedly flew their warships deep into the abyss.


    ¡°Fire.¡±


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡±


    Energy cannons and antimatter cannons were fired into the abyss¡¯s passageway, which was like an ancient well, a downward passage with a diameter of several hundred starries.


    At present, the combined remaining warships of these three great empires were only six thousand, with each empire having around two thousand.


    They were all flying deeper into the abyss, but in an instant, thousands of warships turned to ashes. Some warships still flew deeper.


    If they didn¡¯t go deeper, they¡¯d surely be killed by Qin Hao. Although the deeper part of the abyss was dangerous, there was a slim chance of survival, at least not facing immediate death.


    The second round of energy and antimatter cannon fire quickly went out, leaving very few warships from the three empires. By now, they had already entered the inner regions of the abyss, moving extremely fast.


    So fast that even the energy cannons couldn¡¯t catch up. Seeing this, Qin Hao and the others showed surprise on their faces; how could these warships suddenly explode to such speed?


    Something was off, right? That speed just now probably exceeded the speed of light; in the blink of an eye, they were out of sight.


    After a few seconds, Li Weitian said, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Queen Dantai thought for a moment and said, ¡°The interior of the abyss is extremely strange; they probably won¡¯t survive, right?¡±


    Queen Maya chuckled softly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter if they¡¯re dead or not; even if they¡¯re not, they won¡¯t stir up any trouble in the future.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s head back.¡±


    Just at this moment, Li Weitian, staring at the display screen, widened his eyes and said, ¡°Qin... Country¡¯s ruler, you... you better look at what that is?¡±


    Qin Hao, Queen Dantai, and Queen Maya turned to look at the battleship¡¯s display screen, which still showed the situation of the abyss. At that moment, numerous black shadows were seen flying upwards, densely packed and dark like a swarm.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression froze, and he asked in confusion, ¡°What are these things?¡±


    The others shook their heads as they also had no idea what these were; they had never seen anything like them.


    Queen Maya seemed to recall something, her eyes showing fear as she said, ¡°Could it be the return of the Star Sky Insect Clan?¡±


    ¡°What Star Sky Insect Clan?¡± Qin Hao and the others turned to look at her, seeing her aghast expression, all having a bad premonition.


    The Maya Empire is the oldest in the interstellar realm; many interstellar mysteries have records in their empire¡¯s library.


    Queen Maya explained, ¡°The Star Sky Insect Clan, I¡¯ve only read about in ancient records. It¡¯s a species with extremely high reproductive capabilities, terrifying attack power, speed, and defense. They hatch from insect eggs and eat everything, including entire planets.¡±

 Chapter 909: 909: The Terrifying Interstellar Insect Clan

    Chapter 909: Chapter 909: The Terrifying Interstellar Insect Clan


    A few people were stunned at Queen Maya¡¯s words, not quite believing it. Eat entire planets?


    They looked again at the things flying out of the abyss. These things can eat planets?


    According to the smart calculations on the display screen, the flying speed of those things is about sub-light speed, similar to the speed of a Class C battleship.


    Although not as fast as a Class B battleship, this is already terrifying. Bear in mind, they are creatures, not cold steel mecha.


    For creatures to reach such speed is truly terrifying.


    Soon, they flew out from the abyss, and this time, Qin Hao and others could see very clearly.


    This Star Sky Insect Clan was pitch black all over, some large ones were several meters long, small ones were about a meter. They had six legs, a pair of wings, mandibles similar to those of ants, shimmering with cold light, incredibly sharp.


    They flooded out from the abyss, seeing tens of thousands of battleships here, as if driven mad.


    Qin Hao spoke: ¡°All battleships fire, don¡¯t let those things get close.¡±


    The people on the battleships didn¡¯t take these Star Sky Insect Clan seriously, they¡¯re just some large beasts, one shot would be enough to wipe out the majority.


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡±


    A volley of energy cannons was fired, followed closely by antimatter cannons.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    The energy cannons hit the bodies of those Star Sky Insect Clan, but did not explode as humans imagined, instead, they dissipated into nothingness, as if these insects were immune to energy weapons.


    Not only that, after being hit by the energy cannon, the size of those insects visibly increased.


    Qin Hao and others were dumbfounded, ¡°Whoa, what¡¯s going on? This is insane!¡±


    Fortunately, the subsequent antimatter cannons blasted away, directly disintegrating tens of thousands of insects into dust.


    Qin Hao felt relieved to see this scene. If even antimatter cannons were ineffective, the whole interstellar realm would really be doomed.


    He immediately snapped out of it, hastily saying: ¡°Class D battleships, retreat quickly, Class B battleships cover the rear and intercept those Star Sky Insect Clan.¡±


    Tens of thousands of Class D battleships urgently withdrew, Class B battleships took the rear, firing off antimatter cannons, within seconds millions of insects were wiped out, but the abyss continuously spawned countless Star Sky Insect Clan, endless and impossible to annihilate.


    Although there are more than ten thousand Class B battleships here, the number of insects is overwhelming and unceasing. At this rate, in five minutes, these Star Sky Insect Clan will come close to the battleships and devour them completely.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, we better retreat, otherwise these insects will rush over.¡± Li Weitian said, pale-faced. He hadn¡¯t expected these Star Sky Insect Clan to be this formidable.


    Queen Dantai said: ¡°If we retreat, these Star Sky Insect Clan will have more space to move, and then the situation will be uncontrollable.¡±


    Queen Maya said: ¡°Even now, we can¡¯t control it. Staying here is likely to lead to death.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at the display screen, every second hundreds of thousands or millions of insects are killed by antimatter cannons, but the abyss spews forth more insects, too many, impossible to annihilate.


    ¡°Retreat slowly, keep firing while retreating.¡± Qin Hao ordered all Class B battleships.


    All Class B battleships began retreating, luckily Class B battleships have absolute speed advantages.


    The fleet retreated thousands of star miles, firing while retreating, in no time the area several hundred star miles around the abyss was filled with Star Sky Insect Clan, incredibly terrifying.


    ¡°How many of these Star Sky Insect Clan is there? At least tens of billions, right?¡± Li Weitian was dumbfounded, incredulous.


    Between the fleet and Star Sky Insect Clan there were dozens of desolate planets, those insects didn¡¯t pursue the fleet but swarmed towards those desolate planets.


    The area of these planets was not smaller than Earth, after countless Star Sky Insect Clan ascended them, the originally gray-yellow planets turned dark black.


    The entire planet was shrinking at a speed visible to the naked eye, about seven or eight minutes later the Star Sky Insect Clan flew away, leaving no trace of the planet, a void.


    Qin Hao felt extremely shocked, Queen Maya and others turned pale as well, these Star Sky Insect Clan are too terrifying, they actually devoured the entire planet?


    This is simply unbelievable.


    Li Weitian¡¯s body trembled, what would happen if these Star Sky Insect Clan flew to human planets?


    Everyone did not dare to imagine.


    Qin Hao¡¯s face was solemn: ¡°With just these battleships we can¡¯t fend off these insects, send a message to the humans in the interstellar realm, those who can escape from nearby planets should do so.¡±


    Immediately, subordinates posted a message on the interstellar network, complete with a video.


    The news announcement and video caused a stir and panic across the interstellar realm about the Star Sky Insect Clan??


    The citizens of the former Dark Empire, Bright Empire, and Free Star System Federation began evacuating, within half an hour the major planet ports were crowded, but there weren¡¯t enough spaceships, many people were stranded at the ports.


    Wealthy individuals directly commanded their private spaceships towards the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    To everyone, only there seemed comparatively safe.


    Qin Hao led the fleet retreat after retreat, soon the energy stones ran low, Qin Hao had no solution but to order the fleet to evacuate at full speed.


    On the way back, Qin Hao and others looked solemn, Li Weitian asked Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin, what should we do after returning?¡±


    Queen Dantai and Queen Maya also looked at him, now only Qin Hao¡¯s Class B battleships could harm these Star Sky Insect Clan.


    After thinking a bit, Qin Hao said: ¡°Send people to closely monitor this area, see how many Star Sky Insect Clan there actually are, fully produce Class B battleships, I¡¯ll authorize the technology to you, also study these Star Sky Insect Clan, then establish an interstellar defense line.¡±


    This is not the time to hold back, it involves the survival of the entire interstellar realm, even of Qin Hao¡¯s own family, friends, and children, this is not to be taken lightly.


    Everyone nodded slightly, it concerns the life and death of interstellar humans, such matters cannot be taken lightly, lacking such spirit, one could not become a ruler.


    Qin Hao said: ¡°Leng Xuan, go catch a few interstellar insect clan, we need to study them well.¡±


    Whether it¡¯s the strength, speed, or that terrifying destructive power of the interstellar insect clan, they¡¯re worth studying well; they must know themselves and their enemy to be invincible.


    Leng Xuan nodded: ¡°Yes, King.¡±


    ¡°Be careful.¡± Qin Hao reminded him.


    Leng Xuan donned a Class B mecha and flew out, like a stream of light, reaching the forefront of the interstellar insect clan army within seconds.


    He charged forward, wanting to test the combat power of the Star Sky Insect Clan.


    With one sword sweep, a sword beam over ten meters long swept out, hitting the Star Sky Insect Clan, but did not split as imagined.

 Chapter 910: 910: Defense Line

    Chapter 910: Chapter 910: Defense Line


    The Star Sky Insect Clan wasn¡¯t harmed in the slightest; their constitution is immune to energy.


    Upon seeing this from within the starship, Qin Hao and the others frowned slightly¡ª even the energy swords on the mecha were ineffective? What kind of constitution does this Star Sky Insect Clan have?


    Leng Xuan, seeing the energy sword wouldn¡¯t work, switched to a B-grade alloy long sword.


    He charged towards one of the Star Sky Insect Clan members, the alloy long sword slicing down with a ¡®hiss¡¯, cutting the Star Sky Insect Clan member in half, killing it on the spot.


    Seeing Leng Xuan, the surrounding Star Sky Insect Clan members emitted a strange hissing sound, and charged forward, hundreds swarming around him.


    Although Leng Xuan wore a B-grade mecha, he didn¡¯t dare to linger in battle; if surrounded by these insect clan members, he would be doomed.


    He casually grabbed two Star Sky Insect Clan members and escaped at full speed, the terrifying propulsion device of faster-than-light drive disappearing from the insect clan¡¯s sight in the blink of an eye.


    Back aboard the starship, a few Shadow Guards brought two Star Sky Insect Clan members into the command cabin.


    The two Star Sky Insect Clan members eyed Qin Hao and the others, mouths hissing, struggling to break free and devour Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao, Queen Maya, Queen Dantai, Li Weitian, and Lan Antai scrutinized the insect clan closely, seeing them for the first time.


    Though Queen Maya had seen them in ancient texts, she hadn¡¯t seen them in reality.


    As Qin Hao and the others were observing, the two Star Sky Insect Clan members suddenly spat out a stream of green fluid from their mouths.


    Quickly reacting, Qin Hao struck out with two streams of inner strength, directly repelling the green fluid back.


    The green fluid landed on the surface of the starship, emitting a ¡®hissing¡¯ sound, causing several small pits on the ship¡¯s hull.


    The faces of Qin Hao and the others changed slightly¡ªa powerful corrosiveness indeed, no wonder these creatures consume everything, and can even corrode B-grade metals, let alone other materials.


    If it were C-grade or D-grade metals, fear the corrosion would be even more severe.


    Qin Hao instructed the Shadow Guards, ¡°Secure these two Star Sky Insect Clan members; once we return, let someone study them thoroughly.¡±


    A few days later, Qin Hao returned to Nolan Star, now bustling with people. Citizens from several nearby empires had come to the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    All around the frontier planets of the Galaxy Federation Republic were now populated, with people being arranged for migration inland.


    The research team had immediately analyzed the Star Sky Insect Clan, and three days later, they reported their findings to Qin Hao.


    These Star Sky Insect Clan members have special constitutions, being immune to energy weapons but having no resistance against ordinary artillery and antimatter cannons.


    Ordinary artillery has long since become outdated, and current nations don¡¯t have them; moreover, their power is not as formidable as antimatter cannons.


    Qin Hao had already authorized the technology for antimatter cannons and starships to the three major empires, but the core technologies need to be procured from him, as he still wants to control these newly developed starships.


    On this day, Qin Hao received a communication call from Li Weitian, the King of the Tanglong Empire: ¡°Mr. Qin, a tenth of the planets of the Dark Empire have already fallen into the hands of the Star Sky Insect Clan, nearly ten billion people have been consumed by the insect clan, and wherever they pass, nothing is left behind.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Mr. Li.¡±


    After ending the call, Qin Hao opened the system interface to see if there was anything useful in the system shop.


    Even before opening the system shop, Qin Hao paused upon seeing: Merit Points: 11 ???


    When did the merit points increase? Qin Hao remembered they had always stayed at 1, with the one merit point obtained back on Earth, never gaining any since.


    ¡°Xiao Ying, what¡¯s the matter with the merit points?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Xiao Ying: ¡°Through his own strength, the host slaughtered approximately ten billion Star Sky Insect Clan members, thus increasing by ten merit points.¡±


    Star Sky Insect Clan? Killing one billion for one merit point?


    ¡°What exactly is the use of these merit points?¡± Qin Hao asked curiously.


    ¡°The host will naturally find out later.¡±


    Seeing it wouldn¡¯t say more, Qin Hao didn¡¯t ask further, browsing the system shop where he found a book recording highly hazardous cosmic beasts.


    Spending one billion achievement points, he exchanged for it, and upon reviewing it in his mind, the number one ranked creature was known as the Star Devourer Beast.


    The Star Devourer Beast is an astronomical creature that consumes planets as food, possessing terrifying strength. If one exists in a universe, that universe awaits obliteration.


    Second is the Cosmic Ants, a species more terrifying than the Star Sky Insect Clan. They are a communal species roaming through cosmic planes, consuming even space barriers wherever they go; encountering them almost guarantees that the universe will be devoured.


    Qin Hao continued to read down, eventually reaching the Star Sky Insect Clan, which detailed its characteristics and how to respond when encountering it.


    Star Sky Insect Clan: Parasitic in certain dimensional spaces, with the insect queen as the leader, exhibiting strong reproduction abilities; most powerful insect queens can produce a trillion offspring daily, with young growing into mature adults capable of battle within a week.


    When their numbers reach a certain level in the dimensional space, they break into the space, and aim to conquer a cosmic starfield.


    This Star Sky Insect Clan¡¯s strengths are fast reproduction and energy weapon immunity, while weaknesses include slow speed and low defense; subsonic weapons are their nemesis.


    Subsonic weapons?


    Qin Hao, slightly surprised, immediately searched the shop.


    Super Subsonic Weapon Device: Exchange price of fifty billion achievement points, capable of emitting high-frequency super subsonic waves, which can decompose physical structures.


    Such a device isn¡¯t practical for warfare, but is quite effective against the Star Sky Insect Clan, which have no ranged attack capabilities.


    Qin Hao exchanged for this technology, and began organizing its mass production in military bases, deciding on interstellar strategic placement.


    Planning defensively necessitates choosing appropriate locations and areas.


    After several reviews, Qin Hao¡¯s gaze settled on the territories of the Moon Mist Empire and Tanglong Empire; they share borders from one spatial barrier to another, representing the shortest distance.


    If the subsonic weapon were placed here, it would effectively divide the cosmic universe into two halves¡ªone for humanity and the other for the Star Sky Insect Clan.


    Currently, this is the only approach; the current quantity of B-grade starships isn¡¯t enough to annihilate the entire Star Sky Insect Clan; without a defensive line, the Star Sky Insect Clan might even invade the Galaxy Federation Republic.


    After thinking it through, Qin Hao called Queen Maya with a video communication; if the defense were established here, people throughout Maya Empire would need to evacuate from their country, a colossal undertaking, although countless empire transport starships made evacuation manageable.

 Chapter 911: 911: Building the Defense Line

    Chapter 911: Chapter 911: Building the Defense Line


    After the video call connected, Queen Maya looked at him curiously and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Xiao Hao?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°You should know the situation with the Star Sky Insect Clan. We¡¯ve already researched their weaknesses and plan to build a defense line between the Moon Mist Empire and the Tanglong Empire to block those insects. However, everyone from your Maya Empire needs to migrate.¡±


    Queen Maya was slightly stunned upon hearing his words, ¡°Everyone migrate?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Yes, your place is too vast and sparsely populated; it¡¯s too late to build a defense line. It can only be done in the area near the Moon Mist Empire and Tanglong Empire. I can allocate some planets in the Southern Wilderness Star System for you, where you will remain independent.¡±


    Queen Maya thought for a few seconds and replied, ¡°Just give us a place to recuperate; independence doesn¡¯t make much difference. I¡¯ll immediately arrange for everyone to prepare for evacuation.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I will dispatch all ships, transport ships, and battleships to assist you in evacuating. You prepare first while I contact Mr. Li and Queen Dantai.¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Hao gave a communication call to Li Weitian and Queen Dantai, telling them his plan. They all agreed, as they had no choice anymore.


    If they don¡¯t want to be exterminated by the Star Sky Insect Clan, they must follow Qin Hao¡¯s orders. The Star Sky Insect Clan is too terrifying, and with their strength alone, they can¡¯t resist them.


    On this day, a large number of ships, transport ships, and battleships from the Tanglong Empire, Moon Mist Empire, and Galaxy Federation Republic entered the territory of the Maya Empire, initiating a massive evacuation.


    The residents of one planet after another in the Maya Empire began to evacuate. According to statistics, the Maya Empire has roughly over a trillion people, which is the least among the eight empires.


    Empires like the Dark Empire, Bright Empire, and Free Star System Federation have populations in the tens of trillions, much more than the Maya Empire.


    However, many people are dying at the hands of the Star Sky Insect Clan. During the evacuation of Maya Empire citizens, one could see people from the former three empires of the Dark Empire fleeing towards the Galaxy Federation Republic in desperation.


    Over more than ten days of evacuation, all citizens of the former Maya Empire have now migrated to the Galaxy Federation Republic. They are now settled within the territory of the former Nolan Empire and Sky Wolf Empire, as sending them to the Southern Wilderness Star System would take too long now.


    Subsequently, all transport ships began internally evacuating parts of the citizens of the Moon Mist Empire and Tanglong Empire.


    According to satellite monitoring reports, the Star Sky Insect Clan has now occupied nearly two-thirds of the territory of the former Dark Empire, Bright Empire, and Free Star System Federation. In another seven or eight days, these three empires will likely be completely overrun.


    The Galaxy Federation Republic has now produced a large number of Super Subsonic Weapons, many of which have been moved to designated locations. The military weapon production level of the Galaxy Federation Republic is now very formidable.


    The current Galaxy Federation Republic is no longer what it once was, with military weapon production equating to what three empires combined used to produce¡ªa truly formidable increase.


    The Moon Mist Empire and Tanglong Empire don¡¯t have many residents that need to evacuate. In five days, all residents outside the defense line were brought in, as for the original citizens of the three empires, Qin Hao was powerless.


    Once all the residents were evacuated, Qin Hao and others began constructing the defense line.


    One Super Subsonic Weapon Device after another was installed. With great manpower, in two days all the Super Subsonic Weapon Devices were installed along the defense line, capable of radiating about two hundred star miles forward.


    After finishing the installation of these Super Subsonic Weapons, Qin Hao began building a protective wall similar to ancient Earth¡¯s city walls.


    However, this protective wall is built with special materials, capable of emitting subsonic waves forward. It is one of the best materials for defending against the Star Sky Insect Clan.


    This material is common in the interstellar space and is not a rare precious resource.


    Transport ships carrying one batch of materials after another arrived here, and countless industrial robots and various instruments began working in this void of interstellar space.


    This defense wall was designed to be eight hundred star miles high, spanning the entire east and west sides of the interstellar space, splitting the galaxy in two.


    During the construction of the defense line, the Star Sky Insect Clan army came; the territories of the former Dark Empire, Bright Empire, and Free Star System Federation had all been occupied by the insect clan, countless humans perished in the insect¡¯s mouths.


    According to official statistics, the three empires had a total population of nearly ten trillion, and at least seventy percent couldn¡¯t evacuate in time, being devoured alive by the Star Sky Insect Clan.


    This is an extremely frightening number, and although Qin Hao wished to save them, he was truly powerless.


    Standing on the battleship and watching the densely packed insect army in the distant starry sky gave a creepy feeling as there were simply too many of them, countless in number.


    Those insect armies were charging crazily over, while Qin Hao, with a cold expression, calmly said, ¡°Activate the Super Subsonic Weapon Devices.¡±


    ¡°Zzzzz¡±


    A wave of invisible electromagnetic pulses arose, instantly covering an area of hundreds of star miles ahead.


    The insect army that rushed into the range instantly turned to dust and dissipated into the universe.


    However, the relentless insect army continuously flew in, only to die upon entry, with the same outcome regardless of their numbers.


    Within minutes, at least billions of the insect army died, yet there was no apparent reduction in their number.


    At this moment, those insect armies halted their charge, ceasing their reckless advance.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao, Queen Dantai, Queen Maya, and Li Weitian, along with Lan Antai, felt a sense of relief; the Super Subsonic Weapons were indeed effective.


    Without this defense line, relying on their B-level battleships alone might not withstand these insects due to their sheer numbers. Once the B-level battleship¡¯s energy stones were depleted, they would be doomed unless they fled, leaving the citizens behind unprotected.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Let all military factories fully produce B-level battleships. Compared to these insect armies, our numbers are still far too few.¡±


    Li Weitian and the others nodded. If the number of B-level battleships reached a certain level, they would still have a chance to win.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Periodically send out B-level battleships to eliminate some of the insects, to reduce their numbers. For now, let¡¯s go out and have a good kill.¡±


    He then commanded the battleships to fly out of the defense line. Just now, the subsonic weapon devices killed tens of billions of insect armies, earning him over ten merit points.


    Such points are hard to come by, and Qin Hao believed they could be very useful in the future.


    Nearly fifty thousand B-level battleships went out, and it was a one-sided slaughter against these insects. Besides their numerical advantage, they had nothing else.


    Qin Hao led the fleet in a half-day massacre, slaughtering nearly a trillion of the insect army, turning this into a vacuum zone.


    After observing during the half-day slaughter, it was shown that the insect grades are hierarchical, and they have intelligence, although the intelligence of lower-level insects is very low, only following orders; they also have insect generals leading them.

 Chapter 912: 912: Insect Clans Unrest

    Chapter 912: Chapter 912: Insect Clan¡¯s Unrest


    Upon seeing the strength of Qin Hao¡¯s starships, the insectoid commanders ordered their troops to retreat and head elsewhere.


    Observing that the region hundreds of stars wide beyond the defense line was clear of insectoids, Qin Hao led the fleet back, as he dared not venture deeper just yet.


    Returning within the defense line, Qin Hao checked his merit points, which had now exceeded 4,000. Although his fleet had not exterminated so many insectoids, the extensive defense line meant other areas were also under attack, resulting in countless casualties.


    ¡°Everyone, once back, work on producing B-class battleships diligently. Only when our proficiency with B-class battleships improves can we launch a counterattack,¡± Qin Hao advised his team.


    The group nodded slightly, and Qin Hao began arranging for the Maya Empire¡¯s people to be transported to the Southern Wilderness Star System, as it still required development.


    By nightfall, according to the intelligence brain, about five trillion insectoids had perished beneath the defense line that day, a terrifying number, yet their overall count seemed undiminished.


    The following day, while construction on the defense line walls continued, official news outlets began to reassure the public and simultaneously praised Qin Hao¡¯s contributions to interstellar humanity.


    His fame now soared high in the universe, and almost everyone knew Qin Hao¡¯s name. Without him, interstellar humanity would have been annihilated by the Star Sky Insect Clan.


    Qin Hao¡¯s achievement points had increased by billions, now exceeding a trillion, which was truly frightening.


    If the system were to upgrade, it should unlock more powerful weapons, making it easier to deal with the Star Sky Insect Clan. However, he was also uncertain when the system would upgrade.


    As days passed, a month went by in the blink of an eye, and the defense line wall spanning the interstellar east-west direction was constructed.


    Though the Star Sky Insect Clan tried to breach the defense line several times afterward, it was utterly ineffective against the super-subsonic weaponry guarding it.


    Qin Hao and his team were also fully engaged in producing B-class battleships, but the rare metal resources were limited. The rare metals on this side of the galaxy were nearly exhausted, necessitating mining in the Southern Wilderness Star System.


    Although the Southern Wilderness Star System only had a handful of planets, there were countless uninhabited ones, harboring abundant mineral and metal resources.


    B-class Mechas were also being produced extensively, capable of easily slaying the Star Sky Insect Clan.


    Currently, every week the Interstellar Human Alliance¡¯s fleet would make a sortie to slaughter the insectoids and curb their numbers.


    Qin Hao¡¯s merit points slowly approached ten thousand, and now, besides worrying about the defense line, he had little else to do.


    Thus, observing the defense line stabilize, he left the area.


    Lan Antai, Queen Dantai, Li Weitian, and others were in charge here. Various powerful antimatter cannons were mounted on the interstellar walls, though not the full complement as per the design.


    Because the defense line walls were so long, fully equipping them with the designed antimatter cannons would require at least several billion, but currently, there were only about 60 million antimatter cannons installed.


    One day, while Qin Hao was on Earth, Fan Ruobing, Li Moying, Han Meng, and the Li Qingya sisters had given birth¡ªthree boys and two girls, lively and adorable.


    He was outside playing with Qin Long and Qin Feng when his communicator suddenly rang with a message from the director of the Galaxy Federation Republic Insect Race Laboratory.


    ¡°Leader, we¡¯ve made a major discovery.¡±


    Curious, Qin Hao asked, ¡°What discovery?¡±


    ¡°Through our research, we¡¯ve found something akin to Energy Baryte within the insectoids. This pure Energy Baryte naturally forms after they consume numerous entities and filter it internally. We also discovered that this Baryte greatly benefits the human body, allowing absorption and bodily transformation.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned slightly surprised: ¡°You mean it can transform the body? To what extent?¡±


    The person replied, ¡°We¡¯re not exactly sure yet. We have invited a skilled cultivator for absorption, and we¡¯ll know the results after a few days.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Alright, let me know the results when they come out.¡±


    Just after disconnecting the communicator, a voice resonated in Qin Hao¡¯s mind from the system.


    ¡°Congratulations, host. Achieving ten thousand merit points has triggered a hidden task: system upgrade. The system is upgrading, please wait.¡±


    Hearing this news, Qin Hao was stunned. Did the system upgrade just by reaching ten thousand merit points?


    So, will future upgrades depend on merit points?


    At this moment, Qin Hao¡¯s communicator rang again. It was a call from Lan Antai: ¡°Leader, please come over. The insectoid army is gathering outside the defense line and seems to be planning something big.¡±


    Hearing about the issue at the defense line, Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯ll head over immediately. Keep a close eye on the defense line situation and send me the videos from that area.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Leader.¡±


    After ending the call, Qin Hao spoke briefly with his parents and Du Wanrou, then piloted his craft toward the interstellar defense line.


    On the way, Qin Hao reviewed the videos from the interstellar line, spotting a massive insectoid army assembling outside the defense line, arrayed in neat formations like a regular military legion.


    Seeing the insectoids¡¯ legion formation for the first time, Qin Hao felt that things might not be so simple.


    At this moment, Li Weitian, Queen Dantai, and others were on the walls of the defense line, closely monitoring the insectoids¡¯ movements outside.


    Queen Maya was currently in the Southern Wilderness Star System developing barren planets, addressing citizen settlement issues. Although she hadn¡¯t come herself, she dispatched most of her battleships and various advanced equipment to support this pivotal war for the human race¡¯s survival.


    After traveling at full speed, it took Qin Hao eight days to reach the interstellar defense line. Even though his craft was a super-light-speed vehicle, it still felt too slow to him, fearing he might not make it if a war broke out.


    Arriving at the defense line, Qin Hao met Lan Antai: ¡°What¡¯s the current situation?¡±


    Lan Antai, leading him into the command center, said, ¡°Leader, check out the footage from the advanced surveillance satellites, the insectoids have been rallying their forces these days. Our estimates indicate at least over ten trillion, and they¡¯ve nearly all gathered here, likely aiming to breach a segment of the defense line.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Judging by these insectoids¡¯ stance, that seems to be their intent. But how do they plan to break through the defense line?¡±


    Lan Antai also found it puzzling. The insectoids should have known the strength of the defense line, so this attack wouldn¡¯t be so straightforward.


    Qin Hao suddenly recalled something: ¡°By the way, wasn¡¯t the insectoid language converter developed? Have you tried communicating with them?¡±


    ¡°It was indeed developed, and we¡¯ve spoken using it, but the insectoids acted as if they didn¡¯t hear us, offering no reply. Could there be an issue with the language converter we developed?¡± Lan Antai responded.

 Chapter 913: 913 System Mall

    Chapter 913: Chapter 913 System Mall


    Qin Hao frowned slightly: ¡°That¡¯s not right. They tested all of this. Let me try.¡±


    He approached the insect clan language converter amplifier, looked at the insectoid army ahead, and said, ¡°Where¡¯s your Insect King? I am the leader of the Human Alliance, have it come out and say a few words.¡±


    The opposing insect clan army showed no movement; those low-level insects weren¡¯t intelligent enough to understand Qin Hao¡¯s words, but the insect commanders and above had intelligence¡ªsomething Qin Hao had learned from the data.


    Sure enough, a dozen seconds later, an insect commander stepped forward from behind, looking toward the front line and growling a few ¡°hisses.¡±


    The insect clan language converter directly translated the commander¡¯s growls into human language, ¡°Human leader? If you know what¡¯s good for you, surrender quickly, or we¡¯ll annihilate all of you.¡±


    Lan Antai turned his head to look at Qin Hao, who calmly said that this insect commander¡¯s intelligence wasn¡¯t high. If it were, it wouldn¡¯t say such words.


    Surrender?


    With your Star Sky Insect Clan demeanor, can you not devour us?


    Qin Hao sneered: ¡°Have your Insect King come out; you¡¯re not qualified to speak with me.¡±


    The insect commander coldly scoffed: ¡°Our king isn¡¯t someone you can see just because you say so.¡±


    Qin Hao ignored it further, turning to Lan Antai and said: ¡°Send out a fleet, hit them hard and then return.¡±


    Lan Antai nodded, then led thirty thousand warships out, all while the antimatter guns on the city walls started firing.


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡±


    The sky was filled with antimatter cannon fire, the insect commander didn¡¯t even have time to retreat, being instantly blown to dust.


    Over thirty thousand B-class warships were advancing and firing, eliminating billions of insectoids even before arriving at the insectoid army. Despite the casualties, the insectoid formations remained organized.


    Qin Hao glanced and paid no further attention, choosing to return to the Human Alliance Command Center.


    The Human Alliance was an organization jointly established by Qin Hao, Li Weitian, Queen Dantai, and Queen Maya, with Qin Hao serving as the leader, overseeing the entire Human Alliance.


    He first went to the insect lab, on account of the energy baryte matter already having a conclusion.


    Upon entering the lab, Qin Hao asked the person in charge, ¡°Where is that person?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, please follow me.¡± The person led Qin Hao to a sealed laboratory.


    Within the lab sat a man, a member of the Shadow Guards, also a cultivation expert.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao enter, he hurriedly stood up and respectfully addressed him: ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°How do you find the energy baryte?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    The Shadow Guard member replied: ¡°It¡¯s very suitable for cultivation; after absorbing two energy barytes, I am unsure of my current state, but it definitely surpasses the current highest level.¡±


    Qin Hao was surprised: ¡°Its effect is this strong?¡±


    If there were dozens or hundreds, wouldn¡¯t that be even more terrifying?


    ¡°Did you feel like your body was about to explode during absorption?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°I understand. There¡¯s nothing more, continue with your tasks.¡±


    After exiting the lab, Qin Hao said to Leng Xuan: ¡°Deploy a Shadow Guard team to hunt the Star Sky Insect Clan and retrieve the energy baryte from within them.¡±


    Leng Xuan slightly nodded: ¡°Understood, Mr. Qin.¡±


    At the Human Command Center, Qin Hao entered a virtual meeting room, inviting Queen Maya, Queen Dantai, and Li Weitian for a meeting.


    In less than a minute, the virtual images of three people appeared in the meeting room.


    Queen Maya, Queen Dantai, and Li Weitian were present.


    Qin Hao first addressed Queen Dantai and Li Weitian: ¡°How are things on your end?¡±


    ¡°Initially, we had some insect clan gatherings, but now they¡¯ve dwindled down, seemingly all heading towards Mr. Qin¡¯s area, we¡¯ve deployed most of our fleet for support,¡± responded Queen Dantai and Li Weitian.


    Qin Hao: ¡°You must not let your guard down. I suspect these large-scale gatherings of insectoids are not as simple as they seem. We must remain vigilant because if something happens to our frontline, we¡¯d all be left defenseless, and no one would survive the insect clan¡¯s invasion.¡±


    Li Weitian and Queen Dantai nodded, understanding the seriousness.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°There is an additional matter to address in today¡¯s meeting.¡±


    Everyone looked curiously at him, wondering what he was referring to.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Research from the lab indicates the insect clan contains a type of energy baryte, highly suitable for human absorption during cultivation. My personnel absorbed two pieces and surpassed current limits of cultivation strength.¡±


    The faces of Queen Maya and the others showed slight shock: ¡°Able to surpass current cultivation limits?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, what are your thoughts?¡± Qin Hao asked with a smile.


    Queen Maya: ¡°Why didn¡¯t we discover this after killing so many insectoids before?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°They were likely disintegrated by the antimatter cannons. Now I¡¯ve deployed forces to hunt Star Sky Insect Clan to see the specific situation.¡±


    After exiting the virtual meeting room, Qin Hao returned to his quarters.


    On the way, he consistently monitored the frontline situation, finding no time to check the system store after the upgrades.


    Opening the system, he examined his character attribute panel.


    Name: Qin Hao


    Age: 23


    Gender: Male


    Realm: Intermediate Warrior


    Achievement Points: 1.98 trillion


    Karma Points: 10992


    ...


    After viewing the attribute panel, Qin Hao noticed a new Karma Store beside the system store, but it was grayed out and inaccessible.


    Upon clicking, a message indicated the Karma Store would fully open after the next system upgrade.


    He entered the system store, where top-level items had already been updated, including A-class space warships, A-class mecha, space cannons, space jump technology, space combat devices, space transmission arrays, etc.


    Qin Hao carefully perused the descriptions of these military weapons, and after reading, his eyes shone with excitement, thinking they were incredibly strong.


    If he were to produce these items, he wouldn¡¯t need to worry about the Star Sky Insect Clan, the Insect King, or the Insect Queen.


    The exchange prices for these advanced technologies were also high, like the space cannon exchange price being several hundred billion achievement points, and a space warship requiring one trillion achievement points.


    But since he wasn¡¯t lacking achievement points, he directly exchanged for some of the most crucial technologies.


    After exchanging, Qin Hao used his thoughts to read the technology, storing these advanced technologies in his communicator, then sending them to Chang Jing for manufacturing arrangements.


    He no longer needed to type words one by one on a computer, as there were no computers anymore; everything was handled with the communicator, completely replacing phones and computers and offering more functionality.

 Chapter 914: 914 Attrition War

    Chapter 914: Chapter 914 Attrition War


    Not long after Qin Hao messaged Chang Jing, she called him: ¡°Are those technologies real?¡±


    ¡°When have I ever lied to you? Just have someone research them.¡± Qin Hao replied to her.


    Chang Jing didn¡¯t ask further: ¡°Well, with these military weapons, we won¡¯t have to worry too much about those Star Sky Insect Clans.¡±


    She is a smart person, knowing Qin Hao has his secret. Even if someone is exceptionally intelligent, developing a few innovative technologies is impressive enough. Now Qin Hao has presented one after another; no doubt, he has his secret.


    He¡¯s now handing them over to Chang Jing, who will pass them on to the researchers at the lab. Externally, it can be entirely promoted as if the lab developed them.


    In the evening, Leng Xuan returned with the Shadow Guards. This time, 2,000 Shadow Guards went out and brought back almost 200,000 Energy Barytes.


    Qin Hao practiced at night, absorbing only five Energy Barytes, and already felt his body entering the next level, extremely terrifying. These Energy Barytes contain very pure and vast Spiritual Energy.


    However, there is no complete grading system now, so he doesn¡¯t know what level he is at.


    He wants to categorize a new grading system according to strength, but with his current level still being low, he hasn¡¯t had the capability to redefine the realms.


    He continued practicing throughout the night, later absorbing more than a hundred Energy Barytes without breakthrough, but he could clearly feel his Inner Strength becoming thickened.


    At seven in the morning, Qin Hao was summoned to the city wall defense line by Lan Antai.


    Because the Insect Clan¡¯s army was preparing to attack, their forces had nearly gathered completely at that moment, outside the defense line, giving off a heavy atmosphere.


    Qin Hao stood in front of the monitor, looking at the Insect Clan¡¯s army. They didn¡¯t move yet, positioned outside the range of the Antimatter Cannon, now familiar with its range.


    About a dozen minutes later, the Insect Clan¡¯s army started the attack, fields spanning hundreds of stars outside the defense line held the ongoing charge of the Insect Clan¡¯s army, madly rushing inside fearlessly.


    These Insects rush within less than ten meters of the defense line before exploding from the attacks of the super-based sonic weapons, spraying blue blood.


    In just a few minutes, the casualties among the Insect Clan reached several billion.


    Later, countless Insects linked together, forming a straight line like a centipede, charging forward in a line. Numerous long centipedes rushed in rapidly, with those in front exploding one after another, but those in the back were less affected.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao¡¯s and Lan Antai¡¯s faces slightly turned, resembling a human bridge built; the super-based sonic weapon had limited penetration, damaging only the front ones, entirely incapable of dealing with the back.


    The star line defense spanning hundreds of stars was already halfway overtaken by the Star Sky Insect Clan.


    Numerous centipedes formed from Insects waved in the galaxy, swiftly approaching the defenses on the city wall.


    ¡°Prepare all Antimatter Cannons and battleships to fire.¡± Qin Hao said sternly.


    ¡°Fire.¡±


    Each Antimatter Cannon fired with precision, hitting precisely in the middle of those Insects forming lines, directly breaking those Insect lines into two.


    The Insects in the front lines couldn¡¯t hold on for long before dying, although more Insects joined from the back, the Antimatter Cannon¡¯s continuous attacks prevented them from reaching half the defense line before being cut in the middle.


    Both sides engaged in a war of attrition; the Insects attacked repeatedly relentlessly. The attacks on Qin Hao¡¯s side couldn¡¯t cease; any stoppage would give them an opening.


    However, Qin Hao had plenty of Antimatter Cannons on the city wall and on battleships; he had no fear in a war of attrition.


    In the rear, transport ships continuously delivered Energy Stones, fueling the Antimatter Cannon¡¯s consumption.


    Although the Antimatter Cannon didn¡¯t discharge Energy Cannons, it required energy to be fired, and not much at that, providing confidence in attrition against the Insects.


    Throughout the entire interstellar space, there¡¯s an abundance of Energy Stone mines; in an endurance fight, Qin Hao showed no fear.


    Despite the Insect Queen¡¯s terrifying daily production of Insects, in Qin Hao¡¯s view, the current Insect Queen hadn¡¯t reached such terrible levels, with daily production around several hundred billion, far from the top-tier Insect Queen.


    This attrition war persisted for over half a month, with billions of Insects dying within the defense line daily.


    Ultimately, the Human Alliance won the war, causing the Insect Clan to lose over a trillion in casualties, greatly depleting their vitality.


    Seeing the Insect Clan army retreat like a wave, Qin Hao, Lan Antai, and others breathed a sigh of relief.


    In these days, people throughout the galaxy focused on this area, and upon seeing news announcements that the Insect army retreated, humans on many planets rejoiced.


    That day, the Galaxy Federation Republic issued news announcements about the Insects externally, briefly mentioning the Energy Barytes within them, and promoting the cultivation civilization in interstellar space.


    The current high-grade gene medicine was extremely expensive, ordinary people couldn¡¯t afford it, but cultivation was different; it could be proliferated in schools, martial halls, military, etc., at a lower cost.


    Besides, recently, Qin Hao distinctly noticed that a certain energy in the galaxy had increased significantly compared to before, presumably due to the destruction of Insects and their Energy Barytes shattering, dispersing into the air.


    These energies undergo certain effects in the air, generating additional energy for human cultivation.


    All this was discovered through air monitoring research; Qin Hao found that the appearance of Insects wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing.


    Now, Qin Hao dispatched people daily to hunt Insects, obtaining large quantities of Energy Barytes, which he would proportionally distribute to future schools, military, etc.


    Cultivation became popular in interstellar space, supported by the government, with many martial arts schools springing up like mushrooms.


    Various cultivation techniques, driven by Qin Hao¡¯s promotion, entered schools, their teachers being skilled cultivators.


    With the increasing proficiency in mecha numbers and warships, more Mechanical Soldiers and warships were dispatched daily.


    Warships sent out collected Energy Barytes using battle robots and Air Combat Devices on board.


    Meanwhile, merchants noticed the huge profits involved and started targeting those Insect Energy Barytes, but lacking B-grade mecha and warships, since they were banned for sale to support the war.


    However, they could buy super-light-speed ships, escaping Insect pursuit, using various methods to capture Insects, such as chemical attacks, old gunpowder weapon attacks, etc.

 Chapter 915: 915: Space Battleship

    Chapter 915: Chapter 915: Space Battleship


    For profit, some people are always willing to take risks.


    Later, Qin Hao opened a special passage one day for these people. After all, eliminating a member of the Insect Clan was also a contribution, and the money was earned at great risk, so he didn¡¯t enforce strict controls.


    Most importantly, many large families were involved, and they too wanted a share of the pie.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t mind this, as long as it didn¡¯t cross his bottom line or the laws of the Galaxy Federation Republic, it was fine.


    The interstellar realm fell into a brief calm again. After the last war, the Insect Clan no longer approached the interstellar defense line because they realized its formidable nature.


    As days passed by, the interstellar realm was moving towards a path of combined development of cultivation civilization and technological civilization, with technological civilization seeming slightly more advanced at present.


    About three months later, the Galaxy Federation Republic produced its first space battleship, a terrifying type of battleship capable of space jumps.


    Qin Hao did not announce this news publicly for the time being but continued production in secret. In addition to the space battleship, there were also space transmission devices, space cannons, and so on.


    The debut of the space battleship required many supporting devices, such as setting up space coordinates, which involved designing the space coordinates of various regions on the entire interstellar map.


    With the experience from the production of the first ship, other military bases began to produce according to that standard.


    Since the Insect Clan wouldn¡¯t attack for a short time, Qin Hao had enough time to produce space battleships. Once reaching a certain number, the life and death of the Insect Clan would be under his control.


    Three more months passed, and Qin Hao watched his children grow each day, loving them even more, taking them out to play every day.


    One day, the Galaxy Federation Republic released a news announcement: In recent days, our Galaxy Federation Republic has developed a new type of space battleship that¡¯s capable of space jumps and sudden strikes, a super battleship. Besides the space battleship, there are also space mechas, space cannons, space transmission devices, and other weapons.


    The news announcement shocked the entire interstellar realm instantly.


    Space weapons?


    The Galaxy Federation Republic actually developed space weapons? How long have they been a nation, how could their technological prowess be so terrifying?


    Just after the news announcement, Qin Hao received a video call from Queen Maya. As soon as the call connected, the first thing Queen Maya said was, ¡°I want a set of space mecha.¡±


    ¡°Alright, you¡¯re on Maya Star, right? I¡¯ll come over immediately.¡± Qin Hao instantly donned the latest space mecha.


    After inputting the coordinates for Maya Star, Qin Hao¡¯s figure disappeared from where he was, and almost instantly, he appeared outside Maya Star.


    Qin Hao saw that the energy bar of the mecha instantly dropped to one-seventh; such a long distance consumed nearly eighty to ninety percent of the energy.


    However, the energy in the mecha could be absorbed and restored, or supplemented directly with energy stones.


    He didn¡¯t change for the time being, as this energy was sufficient for the current consumption. Another space jump, and Qin Hao appeared within the Maya Palace on Maya Star.


    This palace was where Queen Maya resided, and she was meditating in her room.


    Qin Hao¡¯s sudden appearance startled her: ¡°Weren¡¯t you on Earth?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the space mecha can perform space jumps. Although the energy consumption is somewhat large, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Qin Hao looked at her with a smile.


    Queen Maya stood up and walked to his side: ¡°This is too amazing, with such a long distance, a space jump of the mecha brought you here?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°How is your cultivation going now?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what realm I¡¯m in now, but I¡¯m much stronger than before,¡± Queen Maya said, hugging her arms.


    Qin Hao reached out to embrace her slender waist, just as he was about to act, his communicator rang. It was a call from Queen Dantai. He connected the call and smiled, ¡°Yanyu, are you calling me for space mecha too?¡±


    ¡°Are you on Maya Star now?¡± Dantai Yanyu saw Queen Maya next to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Just got here.¡±


    Queen Dantai: ¡°I also want a space mecha, and there¡¯s something else. Many people here have discovered that many low-level Insect Clan members are different from before.¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment: ¡°What¡¯s different?¡±


    Queen Dantai replied, ¡°Their numbers seem to have increased, and from experiments on the captured Insect Clan, we found that they are developing resistance to the Super Subsonic Weapon Device, though it¡¯s not very strong yet.¡±


    This wasn¡¯t good news for the Human Alliance; the Insect Clan was developing resistance to subsonic weapons, how was that possible?


    Qin Hao nodded gravely: ¡°I understand, I¡¯ll head over once I¡¯m done here.¡±


    Queen Dantai rolled her eyes at him; done with what? What are you planning to get busy with?


    After hanging up, Qin Hao turned to look at Queen Maya, who also blushed and rolled her eyes at him.


    Soon, certain sounds echoed in the room.


    ...


    Leaving Maya Star, Qin Hao returned to Earth, taking a few hundred space battleships to the Human Alliance command center.


    With multiple space jumps, Qin Hao arrived at the Human Alliance command center next to the interstellar defense line in just a few minutes.


    He first had someone investigate the latest situation of the Insect Clan, then summoned Queen Dantai and Li Weitian over.


    Both came over from their own empires, and upon boarding the space battleship, they met Qin Hao and examined the space battleships extensively.


    The laboratory quickly sent over the latest data. Through experiments, they discovered that these Insect Clan members had indeed developed resistance to subsonic weapons. Previously, they would die upon entry, but now they could withstand it for some time.


    This caused a bit of a panic in the laboratory, but remembering that the Galaxy Federation Republic had developed space battleships, they felt slightly reassured.


    Qin Hao furrowed his brows upon seeing the experimental data; these low-level Insect Clan members had evolved, could it be that their queen had evolved too?


    ¡°Yanyu, how did you discover it on your side?¡± Qin Hao asked Queen Dantai.


    Queen Dantai: ¡°They found it by accident as well.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯m planning to go check out the Abyss, do you want to come?¡±


    ¡°The Abyss? It¡¯s probably full of Insect Clan members by now, wouldn¡¯t it be suicidal to go there?¡± Li Weitian hesitated and said.


    Qin Hao glanced at him: ¡°What? Mr. Li, are you afraid of death and don¡¯t want to go?¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, Li Weitian¡¯s heart trembled, and he hurriedly said: ¡°Mr. Qin, that¡¯s not what I meant; I¡¯m just concerned about potential dangers if we go there.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°If it was dangerous, do you think I would suggest it?¡±

 Chapter 916: 916: Enslaving the Queen of Insects

    Chapter 916: Chapter 916: Enslaving the Queen of Insects


    Li Weitian hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I will follow your orders in everything.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at him, then said calmly, ¡°Prepare for departure.¡±


    Queen Dantai glanced at Li Weitian, said nothing, and began to prepare for departure. Li Weitian went out to make preparations.


    After a few minutes, two hundred space warships were ready.


    Qin Hao, Queen Dantai, Lan Antai, Li Weitian, and others stood in the control room of the warship, and all the warships began to jump through space.


    Instantly, the two hundred warships vanished from their original location. Li Weitian and the others stood in the command cabin, only to see a blank on the display screen, which showed the outside scene, but they were in a space tunnel at the moment.


    A few seconds later, they emerged from the subspace, and the two hundred warships appeared abruptly, surrounded by countless Star Sky Insect Clan.


    Those Star Sky Insect Clan were momentarily stunned by the sudden appearance of the warships, then screeched and charged forward.


    All warships immediately entered combat mode, space cannons fired, exploding among the Insect Clan. Space black holes formed, drawing Insect Clan within a radius of several miles into them with immense gravitational force.


    In a blink, the Insect Clan within a radius of several hundred star miles were obliterated, causing Li Weitian and others to gasp, witnessing the terrifying power of the space cannon.


    ¡°Who the hell could withstand this?¡±


    In front of them was the depth of the original interstellar abyss, countless Insect Clan were pouring out from it, and the surrounding Insect Clan were also rushing over.


    This was their territory now, and with human warships appearing here, they had to be destroyed because their queen resided deep within the abyss.


    ¡°Go in and take a look.¡± Qin Hao commanded the warships to fly toward the abyss.


    Even before they reached there, countless Insect Clan had already surrounded them. The space warships flashed, a shield appeared around them, causing the Insect Clan to vanish into smoke upon contact.


    The space warships crushed everything along the way, every Insect Clan that touched a space warship turned to ash, the defensive shield of the space warships wasn¡¯t just a defense, but possessed super strong offensive capabilities too.


    Qin Hao and the others soon arrived at the entrance of the abyssal passage. Space cannons fired down, instantly clearing all Insect Clan within the entire passage.


    Qin Hao and the others entered the abyss, at this time Insect Clan from the depths and above were rushing in crazily to stop these space warships.


    But before the space warships, these Insect Clan stood no chance. Their proud mandibles and highly corrosive acid proved useless.


    The warships began their deep dive, and in just a few minutes, the two hundred space warships penetrated several hundred star miles, yet they still hadn¡¯t reached the bottom, slaughtering countless Insect Clan along the way.


    Qin Hao¡¯s merit points increased rapidly, gaining tens of thousands of achievement points in such a short time.


    After diving nearly ten thousand star miles, the warships finally reached the bottom of the abyss. Beside the bottom was a very large space entrance, from which Insect Clan continuously emerged.


    After spending a few minutes cleaning out the Insect Clan at the space entry, Qin Hao and the others maneuvered the warships to fly inside.


    This was a dimensional space, not very large, even smaller than the current territories of the Tanglong Empire, but everywhere were Insect Clan, and on the ground of this dimensional space was a massive ootheca writhing.


    This ootheca stretched across most of the dimensional space, its size was unimaginably large. Qin Hao and the others could see countless Insect Clan larvae emerging from this giant ootheca.


    ¡°Could this be the Insect Queen?¡± Queen Dantai was somewhat shocked.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, although he hadn¡¯t seen it before, this Insect Queen matched the description.


    At this moment, countless Insect Clan forces were charging, many high-level Insect Clan were among them, but before the space cannon, they were like something fragile.


    Numerous Insect Clans perished under the space cannon, it was truly crushing and slaughter, without any chance to fight back.


    The space warships were vastly superior to the Insect Clan, and it¡¯s not something that could be compensated by sheer numbers.


    Half an hour later, in the dimensional space, the number of Insect Clan decreased sharply, now only a few billion left, a few more space cannon shots and they would be completely extinct.


    Qin Hao spoke on the warship, ¡°The Star Sky Insect Clan are nothing special.¡±


    There was an automatic language translator on the space warships, and among the remaining Star Sky Insect, there were many Insect Generals, Insect Marshals, and even the Insect King was here.


    The Insect Clan heard Qin Hao¡¯s words, their screeches continued for a moment and then quieted down, a voice, neither male nor female, echoed, ¡°Who are you people?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t even know who we are? I am the leader of the Human Alliance.¡± Qin Hao said blandly.


    ¡°Human Alliance? How is that possible?¡± The voice of the Insect Queen was filled with disbelief.


    Not long ago, the Human Alliance was only slightly stronger than the Star Sky Insect Clan, and dared not invade the Insect territory on a large scale, yet now they had reached the heart of Insect territory, making the Insect Queen find it hard to believe.


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°Are you the Insect Queen? Now you have two choices, either be destroyed by us, the Human Alliance, or submit to our Human Alliance.¡±


    Hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, the Star Sky Insect Clan fell silent, submit to humans?


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°If you choose to submit, I can grant you a region, but of course, I will also implant an enslavement chip in you. I¡¯ll give you three minutes to consider, and if you haven¡¯t made up your mind in three minutes, I¡¯ll wipe out your entire Star Sky Insect Clan.¡±


    Qin Hao actually wanted to subjugate the Star Sky Insect Clan because then the Insect Queen could endlessly produce Insect Clan, and after being fed energy, generate Energy Baryte within, which humans could use for cultivation.


    It¡¯s similar to raising pigs, fattening them up, and then slaughtering them.


    Of course, the Insect Queen couldn¡¯t be slaughtered, as the continuation of the Insect Clan¡¯s heritage depended on her.


    After about two minutes, seeing that the Insect Queen hadn¡¯t made a decision yet, Qin Hao ordered all the space warships to prepare to fire the space cannons, intending to annihilate the entire Star Sky Insect Clan in one stroke.


    As the three-minute deadline approached, the Insect Queen finally spoke, ¡°I choose to submit.¡±


    Faced with the existence of her species versus extinction, she chose to cling to survival, because as long as there is life, there is hope.


    Qin Hao smiled upon hearing the Insect Queen¡¯s answer, ¡°You¡¯ve made a wise choice.¡±


    He said to Leng Xuan, ¡°Schedule the implantation of the latest enslavement chip in her.¡±


    The Star Sky Insect Clan and the Insect Queen were something Qin Hao had thoroughly researched beforehand.


    One of the Shadow Guards flew out, approaching the Insect Queen¡¯s head, and implanted several miniature enslavement chips into her body.


    After implantation, a powerful consciousness directly invaded the brain nerves of the Insect Queen, instantly destroying her original consciousness and creating a new one, one only loyal to Qin Hao.

 Chapter 917: 917: The Chosen One

    Chapter 917: Chapter 917: The Chosen One


    A few minutes later, the insect queen issued command after command, while it also communicated with Qin Hao through the enslavement chip using consciousness: ¡°Master, I have now given the order, all Insect Clan are to cease attack, and they have been summoned back.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°For now, let all the Insect Clan gather in this generation of the abyss. I will periodically arrange for feeding.¡±


    The insect queen immediately responded, without any hesitation: ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The original insect queen probably never imagined that Qin Hao¡¯s enslavement chip would directly destroy its consciousness, birthing a new one.


    Two hundred space warships instantly disappeared here and appeared in the starry sky, and then after several spatial jumps, returned directly inside the interstellar defense line.


    Getting off the warship, Li Weitian felt like he was dreaming. Have the Insect Clan been dealt with just like that? So simply?


    Aren¡¯t the space warships too powerful? These completely crush B-class warships, how did Qin Hao develop such terrifying things?


    With such weapons in the Galaxy Federation Republic, it seems they will have to obediently listen to Qin Hao in the future.


    On this day, the Human Alliance Center issued a news announcement to the outside world: The Star Sky Insect Clan has been conquered by our leader Qin Hao, and now they have all retreated back into the abyss, and will not step out of it again.


    This news was like a heavy bomb exploding by the ears of everyone in the interstellar realm.


    The Star Sky Insect Clan surrendered? We won?


    Countless people were moved to tears, because many of them had escaped from the mouths of the Star Sky Insect Clan, and many had sleepless nights due to the Insect Clan, and now they could finally have a peaceful sleep.


    Qin Hao¡¯s prestige rose sharply again, with achievements growing rapidly.


    These days the interstellar defense line began to open gradually, many people wanted to go back to their homeland, however, many planets in areas occupied by the Insect Clan were devoured, leaving only a scant few thousand planets, knowing that there were billions of planets here before.


    Nearly 90% of the planets were eaten by the Star Sky Insect Clan, showcasing the great harm these Insect Clans had caused.


    Many people wept bitterly seeing their homeland no longer existed.


    Now the galaxy has completely stabilized and settled down, with the Galaxy Federation Republic being the current number one interstellar empire, and the Moon Mist Empire and Tanglong Empire as its subordinate nations.


    After solving the Insect Clan problem, Qin Hao returned to Earth, peacefully accompanying his wife and children.


    B-class spaceships have become widespread in the interstellar community, and space ships have entered civilian life, greatly facilitating interstellar travel.


    With the addition of the Maya Empire, the Southern Wilderness Star System has also gradually prospered.


    ...


    The administrative work of the Galaxy Federation Republic was completely handed over by Qin Hao to his subordinates, and he would only deal with major issues.


    Of course, the most important military power was in the hands of himself and those around him. This was the most crucial thing.


    Those space warships were enough to eliminate any nation or person daring to resist.


    Time passed day by day, and in the blink of an eye, nearly five years went by. The galaxy was now very stable and prosperous, with a base crime rate, interstellar pirates were nowhere to be seen.


    Because under the space warships, no interstellar pirate could survive.


    The development of gene pharmaceuticals was also rapid, due to Qin Hao¡¯s system, gene pharmaceuticals nowadays could make people live for thousands of years.


    The cultivation civilization also progressed extremely quickly, with a constant supply of energy baryte from the Star Sky Insect Clan, many people were breaking through continuously.


    Qin Hao has now broken through four or five times already, and he estimated his current strength might be on par with wearing a low-level mecha.


    Watching his children grow up day by day, that feeling was indescribable, and he himself became more mature.


    Now the eldest Qin Long and Qin Feng were almost six years old, and Qin Tian, Qin Lang, and the others were not small either.


    On this day at five-thirty in the afternoon, Qin Hao personally came to the school gate where Qin Long and Qin Feng were attending.


    Soon the school bell rang, and moments later, Qin Hao saw his son and daughter come out from within.


    ¡°Dad.¡± Qin Long and Qin Feng, seeing Qin Hao, smiled and ran over to hug him.


    Qin Hao said with a smile: ¡°How about today? Have you listened to the teacher at school?¡±


    ¡°We have. My sister and I have both listened to the teacher.¡± Qin Long¡¯s handsome face bearing seriousness.


    Even though Qin Long and Qin Feng were still small, their excellent bloodline genes made them handsome and pretty, and when they grew up they would definitely be extremely good-looking guys and girls.


    Hugging them, Qin Hao¡¯s eyes were full of doting: ¡°Mom has made black chicken soup at home for you, and Grandma and Grandpa have made delicious rice cakes.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s great, Dad let¡¯s hurry home.¡± Qin Long laughed cheerfully.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go home.¡± With that, he took his son and daughter onto the flying vehicle.


    The three of them quickly returned home, just after getting off the flying vehicle, the sky above Pu¡¯er Island drastically changed, with dark clouds gathering, lightning flashing serpent-like, and the sky within thousands of miles darkening, bringing an extremely strong sense of oppression from the sky, making it feel suffocating.


    Seeing this scene, Qin Hao frowned slightly, feeling a bad premonition inside. The space mecha instantly covered his body, and Qin Long and Qin Feng also donned custom-fitted space mechas.


    He had indeed put in a lot of effort to protect his children.


    Inside the villa, Du Wanrou and others also came out, curiously looking at the sky, wondering what was going on?


    ¡°Qin Hao, what is this? What¡¯s happening?¡± Du Wanrou and several others came out, looking at the sky and asked.


    Qin Hao shook his head: ¡°I don¡¯t know, logically speaking, the weather now is within our control, how could something like this happen?¡±


    Instantly Qin Hao received a notification, a message from the meteorological bureau, which also saw the situation in the sky but did not know how it was formed.


    Somewhat contrary to current meteorological knowledge, logically this situation should have omens and could be intervened by human means as well.


    They tried to intervene, but there was no effect at all now.


    ¡°Send the air warships and Shadow Guards up to take a look,¡± Qin Hao said.


    Instantly, dozens of air warships appeared in the air, with hundreds of Mechanical Soldiers flying out.


    Qin Hao had deployed a lot of armed forces on Earth to protect his family.


    At this moment, two black space holes suddenly appeared in the sky, with two large hands emerging, emanating an ancient and wild aura.


    These two hands seemed to traverse the river of time and space, directly grasping from countless spatial planes.


    Seeing these two large hands, Qin Hao and others were incredibly shocked, are these...human hands? How could they be so large? And where did these hands come from?


    ¡°It turns out to be a chosen one, our Butian Sect will take him.¡± A desolate voice suddenly appeared, as a hand reached out towards Qin Long beside Qin Hao.

 Chapter 918: 918 Children Kidnapped

    Chapter 918: Chapter 918 Children Kidnapped


    Qin Hao reacted quickly: ¡°Stop him.¡±


    The battleship in the air and the Shadow Guards instantly launched their strongest attack on the giant hand, with countless spatial cannons hitting its arm.


    But it had no effect at all, as if merely scratching an itch, unable even to break through the opponent¡¯s defense.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao¡¯s face changed slightly, and he hurriedly protected his son and daughter in front of him; it was evident that the target of the giant hand was his side.


    All the Shadow Guards and space battleships tried their best to block the giant hand.


    ¡°Do not overestimate yourselves.¡±


    A voice emitted from within the spatial crack, laden with thick disdain.


    The giant hand trembled slightly, and nearby space battleships and Shadow Guards exploded into fragments one after another.


    Witnessing this scene, those on the ground, including Qin Hao, were horrified. What on earth could this be?


    An utterance that destroyed dozens of space battleships and hundreds of Shadow Guard Mechanical Soldiers?


    Qin Hao did not retreat, grasping an energy sword in his right hand, he addressed the giant hand: ¡°Who exactly are you?¡±


    ¡°Butian Sect selects disciples from myriad dimensions. Your child¡¯s talents are promising. Our Butian Sect grants him a chance of fortune; you common people ought to kneel and thank us.¡±


    With that, the giant hand grabbed and directly sucked Qin Long into its grasp.


    Simultaneously, another giant hand moved, sucking Qin Feng into its grasp: ¡°This girl¡¯s natural phoenix body is also of decent aptitude. Our Xingyue Palace will take her.¡±


    ¡°Dad, Mom.¡±


    In the grasp of the giant hand, Qin Long and Qin Feng were panicked and crying out.


    ¡°Long¡¯er, Feng¡¯er.¡± Du Wanrou¡¯s eyes turned red instantly, and she charged forward in a space mecha.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes were wide with rage: ¡°No one can take my children away.¡±


    He flew forward, frantically attacking the two giant hands.


    ¡°Our Butian Sect favors your children, a blessing you should be grateful for; instead, you obstruct us, begone.¡±


    With the last word spoken, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou were sent flying backward, pieces of their space mechas falling off, and they spat blood heavily onto the ground.


    The giant hands came quickly and retreated just as fast, disappearing into the spatial crack in an instant.


    The spatial crack soon healed, and the overcast sky returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.


    Zhao Yuying, Xu Siyao, and others hurried to Qin Hao¡¯s side; he and Du Wanrou had suffered severe internal injuries. After administering potions to them, they quickly carried the pair back to the room.


    At night, Qin Hao and Du Wanrou woke up, opened their eyes, and Qin Hao hastily asked: ¡°Where are Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er?¡±


    Beside the bed, Xia Qing and others exchanged hesitant glances: ¡°Xiao Long and Xiaofeng were taken away.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao felt like he was struck by lightning, his mind went blank, and his eyes became hollow and dim.


    ¡°Xiao Hao, are you alright? Don¡¯t scare us,¡± Xia Qing and others were alarmed by his appearance.


    Soon after, Du Wanrou also awakened; when she heard that her son and daughter had been taken away, she fainted again.


    That night, many stayed by the bedsides of Qin Hao and Du Wanrou, fearing something would happen to them.


    The next day, after Du Wanrou woke up again, Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin, along with Du Hongfeng and his wife, entered her room while others went out.


    The four elderly were heartbroken because the children had grown up under their watch, and now they had been taken somewhere unknown. How could they not be anguished?


    ¡°Wan Rou, don¡¯t be sad. At this moment, both you and Xiao Hao should pull yourselves together,¡± Mrs. Qin comforted.


    Feng Yun also spoke to her daughter: ¡°They probably don¡¯t intend to kill Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er. If they wanted to, there was no need to take them away. Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er must be alive.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Xiao Long and Xiaofeng must be alive,¡± Mr. Qin nodded in agreement.


    With comfort and persuasion from both sides of parents, hope rekindled within Du Wanrou, and she went to Qin Hao¡¯s room.


    Inside the room, Xia Qing, Zhao Yuying, Fan Ruobing, Li Qingya, and others were all there, along with Qin Hao¡¯s other children.


    Upon seeing Du Wanrou, Mr. Qin, Mrs. Qin, and others enter, Xia Qing and Ning Yao hurriedly went to support Du Wanrou.


    Approaching the bed, Du Wanrou looked at Qin Hao. He was staring blankly at the ceiling with hollow, lifeless eyes.


    Currently, his heart was flooded with guilt and remorse; he, a formidable master of the stars, couldn¡¯t even protect his own children¡ªnothing short of a huge mockery.


    Qin Hao had fallen into a downward spiral of self-blame; he hated himself for being so weak, unable to protect his own kids.


    Du Wanrou, seeing his expression, knew what he was thinking; her lips, a bit pale, opened to speak: ¡°Our Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er are not dead. Are you planning to lie in bed forever?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s originally hollow eyes slowly regained vigor; he suddenly sat up.


    Yes, Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er are not dead; they have only been taken away.


    One is with the Butian Sect, and the other seems to be with something called the Xingyue Palace.


    Qin Hao got off the bed: ¡°Where¡¯s Leng Xuan, call him in.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Hao, Leng Xuan... Leng Xuan died that night,¡± Chang Jing said.


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, Leng Xuan was dead?


    Leng Xuan had been with him since Earth times; their bond was deep.


    He took a deep breath, saying: ¡°I¡¯ll step out for a while, and be back tonight.¡±


    Those in the room looked at him with puzzled eyes, wondering what he was going to do. Would anything happen?


    Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin hastily arranged for Shadow Guards to follow, as Qin Hao took a flying vehicle to the Galaxy Federation Republic¡¯s space laboratory.


    ...


    At night, Qin Hao returned, resuming his usual demeanor, though all the women could tell his mood wasn¡¯t as good as before.


    But when watching his other children, a genuine happiness surfaced on his face, hardly seen elsewhere.


    Day by day passed, and seven days swept by in a flash.


    On this day, Du Wanrou found Qin Hao, asking: ¡°What have you been busy with lately?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her weary face, gently embraced her, saying: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Wan Rou, it¡¯s all my fault.¡±


    Du Wanrou held him, her tears unstoppable: ¡°Qin Hao, it¡¯s not your fault. They were too strong; you did your best.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already got people researching the Space Plane Transmitter,¡± Qin Hao said.


    Du Wanrou was taken aback, curiously asking: ¡°What is the Space Plane Transmitter?¡±


    ¡°It can transport to other world planes,¡± Qin Hao replied.


    Raising her head, Du Wanrou, with eyes reddened, looked at him: ¡°Why are you researching this thing?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s gaze was firm: ¡°I¡¯m going to find Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er and bring them back.¡±


    Du Wanrou hastily said: ¡°No, I disagree. Do you know where Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er are? Do you know where this Space Plane Transmitter will transport you? It¡¯s too dangerous, I don¡¯t agree.¡±

 Chapter 919: 919 Shuttle

    Chapter 919: Chapter 919 Shuttle


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°With the protection of the Space Mecha, nothing will happen when crossing the space plane. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already planned everything.¡±


    Although Qin Hao said this, he didn¡¯t actually have any plan. He only knew that the Space Plane Transmitter would send him to a nearby dimension.


    As for whether it¡¯s the dimension where his son and daughter are, that remains unknown.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already lost Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er. I don¡¯t want to lose you too. Yu Ying, Ruobing, Si Yao, and my parents can¡¯t lose you either. Promise me you won¡¯t go, okay?¡± Du Wanrou, although she also wanted her son and daughter back, couldn¡¯t allow Qin Hao to take such risks.


    Qin Hao gently patted her back, ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    That night, he stayed with Du Wanrou, and the next day, Qin Hao gathered his parents, Xia Qing, Xu Siyao, Fan Ruobing, and the others to tell them about his decision.


    Upon hearing his words, their expressions varied, with Mr. and Mrs. Qin refusing without hesitation, ¡°No way.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Mom and Dad, I understand what you¡¯re saying. Wan Rou is my wife, and Xiaoqing, Si Yao, and Ruobing are as well. Tian¡¯er and Lang¡¯er are my sons, and Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er are also my children. As their father, I have to fulfill my duty as a father.¡±


    Mr. Qin said, ¡°Then you go find Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er. How do you face Xiaoqing and them? How do you face Lang¡¯er and Tian¡¯er and the others?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Mom and Dad, Tian¡¯er, and Lang¡¯er still have Yu Ying and Xiaoqing with them as they grow up. They¡¯re much happier compared to Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er. I¡¯ve thought deeply about this issue, so please don¡¯t worry yourselves.¡±


    ¡°Mom and Dad, please don¡¯t scold Xiao Hao. We understand him,¡± Xia Qing said.


    Zhao Yuying, Fan Ruobing, He Tingting, and others also voiced their support, ¡°You can go, but you must promise to return safely. We¡¯ll be waiting for you at home.¡±


    Hearing their words, Qin Hao felt incredibly guilty in his heart, but he had no other choice.


    Seeing Xia Qing, Xu Siyao, and the others offer their support, Mr. and Mrs. Qin stopped trying to dissuade Qin Hao.


    Over the next few days, Qin Hao began to prepare for his departure. He packed many things into the system space in case of emergency.


    The storage space is still under research. Otherwise, he could have taken even more things with him.


    During these days, he also spent time with Qin Tian, Qin Lang, and the others. They are all his children, and he felt guilty about leaving them now.


    Five days later, at the mountain top on Pu¡¯er Island on Earth.


    Qin Hao, Mr. and Mrs. Qin, Du Wanrou, Xia Qing, Xu Siyao, He Tingting, Li Moying, Fan Ruobing, and others stood there.


    Beside Qin Hao stood a silver-white device resembling an escape pod.


    Qin Hao turned to look at his parents, Wan Rou, Yu Ying, Xia Qing... and also Qin Lang, Qin Tian, and Qin Qing.


    ¡°Dad, we¡¯ll be waiting for you at home. You have to bring Brother Xiao Long and Sister Xiaofeng back.¡± Qin Tian¡¯s eyes were slightly red, tears streaking his face.


    Qin Hao nodded, his eyes resolute, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dad will bring Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er back.¡±


    He then looked at his parents, Du Wanrou, and the others, taking a deep breath, ¡°I¡¯m leaving now, you should go back.¡±


    Qin Hao stepped into the Space Plane Transmitter. Mr. and Mrs. Qin, Du Wanrou, and the others raised their hands, waving gently.


    Xia Qing, Ning Yao, He Tingting, and Han Meng could no longer hold back the tears in their eyes, as pearl-sized tears fell from their cheeks.


    With the push of a button, a flash of light and Qin Hao¡¯s figure vanished instantly within the Space Plane Transmitter.


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s figure disappear, Du Wanrou couldn¡¯t help but shed tears.


    In the interstellar world, besides them, no one knew about Qin Hao¡¯s departure. If anyone knew Qin Hao had left, there would be an uproar.


    But before leaving, Qin Hao had already made arrangements with Du Wanrou, Chang Jing, and the others,


    At the same time, Qin Hao¡¯s Space Mecha activated, and he opened his eyes to look outside. He was flying through a space corridor.


    From time to time, space turbulence struck him, but thankfully, with the Space Mecha¡¯s protection, he was able to withstand it.


    About two or three hours later, Qin Hao finally saw a bright spot ahead. According to the Space Plane Transmitter¡¯s instructions, the appearance of a bright spot meant he was nearing another plane.


    Just as Qin Hao was about to reach that bright spot, the surrounding space turbulence suddenly became violent, its power increasing several folds.


    Violent space turbulence struck Qin Hao, the powerful rebound force causing him to cough up blood endlessly.


    Qin Hao fully activated the mecha¡¯s hyperspeed propulsion device, flying towards the space exit. In this space turbulence, space jumping was impossible as you wouldn¡¯t know where you¡¯d end up, with a high risk of death.


    Seconds later, Qin Hao finally approached the space exit. By that time, his mecha had already started cracking and couldn¡¯t hold on much longer.


    The violent space turbulence was too strong. If the mecha shattered, he would be finished.


    Fortunately, he had reached the space exit by now. Taking a leap out, a torrent of space turbulence struck his back at the same time.


    Qin Hao spat out a mouthful of blood, falling from high above, while the space rift gradually healed until it disappeared.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Qin Hao fell into a forest. He took out a life potion from the system space and drank it. A few minutes later, his body was almost recovered, and he stood up, observing his surroundings.


    He found himself in a vast and seemingly endless forest, surrounded by towering trees with diameters of several meters, with even ancient trees over a dozen meters thick.


    Occasionally, Qin Hao could hear beasts roaring.


    Where is this place? Qin Hao frowned slightly, feeling as though he had come to a primeval forest.


    This land gave him an extraordinarily pleasant feeling, with a rich energy constantly nourishing his body.


    Qin Hao changed into a new mecha, speeding off into the distance. Without knowing the spatial coordinates here, he didn¡¯t dare use the space jump function, as one could not know where it might lead.


    He raced forward at incredible speed. While flying, roars sounded from the right, and Qin Hao saw a giant demonic wolf tens of feet tall approaching. That¡¯s right, it was flying, with its four sturdy paws still emitting flames.


    Qin Hao paused for a moment, ¡°What the hell is this monster?¡±


    The wolf¡¯s eyes, as large as lanterns, stared at Qin Hao, ¡°For thousands of years, no human has dared step into my domain. You¡¯ve got quite the nerve.¡± With that, and under Qin Hao¡¯s astonished gaze, the wolf transformed into a humanoid form, a handsome man.


    Qin Hao was incredibly shocked, hastily saying, ¡°Brother, I meant no harm, just passing through.¡±


    ¡°Those who trespass on the Ten Thousand Demon Sacred Mountain shall die.¡± With that, the wolf¡¯s eyes flashed with two bolts of lightning.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyebrows twitched violently as he instantly vanished from the spot. The place where he had stood was struck by thunder, leaving a crater dozens of meters deep.

 Chapter 920: 920 Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range

    Chapter 920: Chapter 920 Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range


    Qin Hao felt a shock in his heart, turned around and ran. This was just too freaking terrifying.


    The speed of the space mecha was fully unleashed by him, resembling a stream of light darting through the forest.


    The handsome man, upon seeing Qin Hao¡¯s speed, had a look of surprise flash in his eyes. How could someone who¡¯s only scratched the surface of cultivation be so fast?


    He hurriedly pursued, his speed equally rapid, but just barely on par with Qin Hao.


    Along the way, quite a few monsters noticed Qin Hao, but upon seeing the handsome man behind him, they showed fear in their eyes and dared not move recklessly.


    That was the soul-devouring demon wolf lurking around the outskirts of Ten Thousand Demon Sacred Mountain, having cultivated for tens of thousands of years, the king among the beasts in this area, no beast dared to enter its territory.


    This human really had the audacity to provoke the soul-devouring demon wolf.


    Seeing the soul-devouring demon wolf relentless in its pursuit, Qin Hao turned the space cannon to his back and fired a shot with a ¡°whoosh.¡±


    The space cannon instantly reached the front of the soul-devouring demon wolf. The handsome man sensed the power of the space cannon and his face tensed, striking out with his fist.


    A surge of overwhelming power emanated from his right hand, clashing with the projectile from the space cannon.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    A violent explosion erupted, an invisible energy wave rippling out, breaking dozens of towering ancient trees in half.


    The soul-devouring demon wolf¡¯s figure halted for a moment, giving Qin Hao precious seconds to have long disappeared without a trace.


    He was slightly shocked inside. This person¡¯s power was only of the Qi Refinement Realm, how could he unleash such terrifying attacks??


    How did he even accomplish this?


    Are human cultivators all this terrifying now? No, this matter must be reported back.


    He looked at the spot where Qin Hao vanished with some anger, his face cold as he turned and left.


    Qin Hao ran for over half an hour, and seeing that the handsome man hadn¡¯t caught up, he breathed a sigh of relief. That was just too freaking terrifying, if he hadn¡¯t reacted fast, he would¡¯ve been ashes by now.


    And why did the space cannon not create a spatial rift just now? Could it be due to different spatial rules?


    Ten Thousand Demon Sacred Mountain??


    What is this place anyway, and are Long¡¯er and Feng¡¯er here too?


    Speeding all the way, Qin Hao, although noticed by many monsters, none could catch up to him. The speed of the space mecha was still incredibly terrifying.


    He had been running in this mountain forest for seven or eight days without finding a way out, the vastness of this mountain range was beyond his expectations.


    At the speed of space mecha, these days should have been enough to cross half a small star system.


    This indicated how tremendous and terrifying this endless mountain range really was, something Qin Hao had never heard or seen before.


    Moreover, Qin Hao hadn¡¯t seen a single human figure along the way, it was almost all monsters. Was this a monster¡¯s world?


    That day, as Qin Hao continued soaring through the forest, he noticed that the further he went, the more monsters he encountered. However, these monsters weren¡¯t as formidable as that wolf before, not even close.


    While flying in the air, the smart brain of the space mecha suddenly sounded: ¡°Master, detected five humans several miles ahead.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao felt a surge of spirit; people? Great, finally encountered people.


    Following the guidance of the mecha¡¯s virtual screen, he flew over there, and after a few minutes, Qin Hao arrived at the location.


    He didn¡¯t approach directly but hid behind a giant tree, where not far ahead, four men and one woman were battling a monster about a yard tall.


    These five people held various ancient-style weapons, pressing down against the monster.


    The monster was bleeding profusely, suffering significant injuries, and could barely hold on.


    A few minutes later, the monster was slain, and the group extracted something similar to an energy baryte from its body. Some of them were skinning the beast, others cutting its meat.


    Seeing them finish, Qin Hao got up and walked out.


    The four men and one woman all stood up as they saw someone emerge, their eyes watching him warily.


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, I just want to ask where this place is and how to leave?¡±


    They scrutinized him, sensing his internal strength, and realized Qin Hao was quite weak, feeling relieved.


    However, they were a bit skeptical of his words: ¡°You don¡¯t even know where this place is? How did you get here?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve lived in the deep mountains since I was young and never went out before. Now that my parents have passed, I¡¯m thinking of seeing the outside world, so I don¡¯t know the way.¡±


    ¡°I see. Well, we are also planning to leave the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, so let¡¯s go together. I¡¯m Chu Jianglong, the captain of this team,¡± Chu Jianglong said, smiling at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao expressed his gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Chu, my surname is Qin, first name Hao.¡±


    Through conversation, Qin Hao learned that these people came from Nanxing City on the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range. The five formed a temporary team, which makes hunting monsters more efficient and lets them earn a lot of materials to sell.


    The only woman in the team, named Zhou Yue, was mature and sexy, exuding an aura of mature femininity.


    They were currently heading towards the edge of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, which was still quite a distance away. At the current pace, it would take five to six days longer.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t ask what world this was, asking such a basic question would raise suspicion. Besides, he could simply buy a historical book at a bookstore after leaving to find out.


    ¡°Brother Qin, given your strength, it¡¯s unbelievable you¡¯ve made it here alive,¡± Chu Jianglong and the others, having spent so much time in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, knew well its dangers.


    Qin Hao¡¯s strength was so low, he probably couldn¡¯t even defeat the weakest of the monsters. How could he possibly survive?


    Qin Hao smiled lightly, ¡°Perhaps it was my luck. I didn¡¯t encounter many monsters along the way.¡±


    A glint flashed through Chu Jianglong¡¯s eyes as he laughed loudly, ¡°Mr. Qin¡¯s luck is indeed something.¡±


    The woman in the team, Zhou Yue, spoke with a smiling tone, ¡°Mr. Qin, what do you plan to do once you¡¯re outside? Why not join me? I guarantee you¡¯ll live well.¡±


    She then gave Qin Hao a teasing glance.


    The other people around inwardly sneered, thinking she was quite the saucy vixen. Yet, no one dared underestimate her; her skills were formidable, fierce and snake-like.


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°I don¡¯t know yet, I¡¯ll see the world outside first.¡±


    Zhou Yue gave him a enchanting smile, glanced at him without saying anything further, and moved up to chat with Chu Jianglong, occasionally laughing and swaying her body flirtatiously.


    ¡°Brother, stay away from that woman. She¡¯s no ordinary character.¡± A man with a square face, who appeared honest and gave off a kindly vibe, approached him and advised.


    Qin Hao nodded with a smile, ¡°Thank you, brother.¡±

 Chapter 921: 921 Scheme

    Chapter 921: Chapter 921 Scheme


    The honest middle-aged man with a square face smiled and said, ¡°No need to be polite, young brother, my name is Cheng Zhong, I¡¯m a few years older than you, just call me Cheng.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll call you Cheng then.¡± Qin Hao didn¡¯t hold back.


    Cheng Zhong: ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s hurry out of this damned place.¡±


    They relied on swift walking to travel; the beast they had just slain was a level seven Qi Refinement beast, it took more than half an hour to kill it, consuming a lot of their energy.


    They continued to regain their strength while walking, for if another such powerful beast appeared, they could only flee in panic.


    Dusk quickly fell, and Chu Jianglong found a place to set up camp. Later, he scattered some things around the campsite to prevent a beast attack at night.


    At night, Chu Jianglong and the others roasted beast meat, and Qin Hao received a large piece, having to admit that this beast meat was indeed delicious, absorbing substantial spiritual energy daily to refine the body, surpassing all the meat Qin Hao had ever eaten.


    After dinner, Qin Hao went into a tent to rest, and nothing happened at night as they continued their journey.


    Four days later, they were infinitely close to the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, and by tomorrow afternoon, they should reach Nanxing City.


    That night, they found a place to set up camp.


    Zhou Yue took out a large piece of beast meat, which was from the level seven Qi Refinement beast they had jointly slain earlier: ¡°Mr. Qin, please roast it, I need to discuss something with Mr. Chu.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and sat down to roast the meat.


    The others also left and gathered with Chu Jianglong, likely discussing how to distribute the spoils.


    About half an hour later, the five returned with smiles, appearing quite satisfied.


    Chu Jianglong smiled at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°Qin, is the meat roasted?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s ready.¡± Qin Hao replied.


    Afterward, he cut off some pieces and distributed them to everyone. Chu Jianglong said, ¡°Tomorrow we¡¯ll reach Nanxing City. After parting tonight, who knows when we will meet again? Here is my treasured Green Bamboo Wine, let¡¯s all have a taste.¡±


    He then took out several bowls, poured a cup for each person, and everyone looked at the wine with a bit of caution.


    Chu Jianglong understood their thoughts and smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll drink first as a courtesy.¡±


    After speaking, he took the bowl and drank it down.


    Seeing him drink, everyone raised their bowls and drank too; they had checked the wine and found nothing wrong.


    ¡°Everyone, enjoy the meat, this is Silver Blood Beast meat, a great tonic,¡± Chu Jianglong said, then picked up a piece to eat.


    Midway through eating, Qin Hao felt his body weaken and his limbs lose strength; what was going on?


    The people around him felt the same, already sitting paralyzed on the ground, faces drastically changing.


    They turned to Qin Hao: ¡°Did you put Dissolving Power Powder in the meat?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head: ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡±


    ¡°We kindly took you in, never thought you¡¯d be this kind of person.¡± Chu Jianglong glared at Qin Hao angrily.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you.¡± Cheng Zhong was furious, face turning red, slowly moving, eager to personally slaughter Qin Hao.


    At this moment, Zhou Yue suddenly stood up, smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Chu, stop pretending, get up now.¡±


    Then, under the angry gazes of everyone, Chu Jianglong stood up, he wasn¡¯t poisoned at all.


    ¡°Is it you two?¡± Cheng Zhong and the others looked troubled.


    Zhou Yue sneered: ¡°You all got too much of the spoils, now Mr. Chu and I want them back.¡±


    ¡°You treacherous woman.¡± Cheng Zhong and the others cursed at Zhou Yue.


    Zhou Yue: ¡°Mr. Chu, stop wasting words with them, take the stuff and send them on their way.¡±


    Chu Jianglong nodded slightly, walked to one person, took off his Space Ring, and then struck his chest with a palm, directly shattering his internal organs.


    Then he went to Cheng Zhong, and just as he was about to take the Space Ring, Cheng Zhong suddenly sprang up, instantly stabbing a blade into Chu Jianglong¡¯s chest.


    Chu Jianglong¡¯s eyes widened, incredulous, as he looked at Cheng Zhong: ¡°You... you didn¡¯t fall victim to the Dissolving Power Powder?¡±


    Cheng Zhong¡¯s face turned malicious, a stark contrast to his usual honest demeanor: ¡°Miss Zhou outwardly cooperated with you, but we¡¯ve been secretly working together all along.¡±


    Chu Jianglong looked at Zhou Yue, wanting to say something but couldn¡¯t, falling straight down.


    Qin Hao was truly shocked by the turn of events, Cheng Zhong had been secretly cooperating with Zhou Yue, if not for the reality in front of him, Qin Hao couldn¡¯t believe the ordinarily honest Cheng Zhong was so sinister and ruthless.


    Cheng Zhong quickly dealt with another person, glanced at Qin Hao, and then looked at Zhou Yue: ¡°What about him?¡±


    ¡°What do you think? What¡¯s the point of keeping him? Just kill him.¡± Zhou Yue said coldly.


    Cheng Zhong turned to Qin Hao, walking over step by step: ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re actually a good person, but too trusting of others, this is a world where people eat people, don¡¯t blame your elder brother.¡±


    Just as he raised his hand to make a move, Zhou Yue suddenly acted, instantly coming behind Cheng Zhong and stabbing at Cheng Zhong¡¯s back with a Soft Sword.


    Cheng Zhong moved swiftly, dodging Zhou Yue¡¯s ambush: ¡°I was already waiting for you to make your move.¡±


    Zhou Yue¡¯s face slightly changed upon seeing her ambush fail: ¡°You¡¯re actually a level seven Qi Refinement expert, Cheng Zhong, you¡¯re really deeply hidden.¡±


    Initially, Chu Jianglong¡¯s strength was the highest in the team, at level seven Qi Refinement, while Zhou Yue and several others were at level six Qi Refinement.


    No one would have thought Cheng Zhong was hiding his strength.


    ¡°Die, you vile woman; if I didn¡¯t hide my strength, you would have killed me by now.¡± He said, then charged and fought with Zhou Yue.


    The two fought, Zhou Yue¡¯s strength was considered good among level six Qi Refinement, but facing Cheng Zhong, a level seven expert, she was simply no match.


    After barely sustaining through a dozen exchanges, Zhou Yue was slain by Cheng Zhong.


    After dealing with the spoils, Cheng Zhong looked at Qin Hao, suddenly tossed a dagger without any words, he was waiting for Zhou Yue to act earlier making her think he wouldn¡¯t defend.


    These people have deep calculations.


    Seeing the flying dagger, Qin Hao¡¯s Space Mecha instantly covered his body, causing him to disappear instantly.


    The dagger directly embedded itself into the ground.


    Cheng Zhong was planning to turn away, but upon seeing this, his face showed surprise, such speed, at what level could one possess such speed?


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to hide deeper, who exactly are you?¡± Cheng Zhong looked at Qin Hao from not far away, astonished.


    Qin Hao: ¡°What does Cheng think I am?¡±


    ¡°You certainly haven¡¯t lived in the deep mountains all along, those living there wouldn¡¯t have such tender skin, Qin Hao, how about you let me off, I¡¯ll give all these things to you.¡± Cheng Zhong said, looking at him.

 Chapter 922: 922 Nanxing City

    Chapter 922: Chapter 922 Nanxing City


    Based on the speed Qin Hao demonstrated earlier, Cheng Zhong had no certainty in killing Qin Hao, which is why he took on this attitude.


    Qin Hao looked at him indifferently, acknowledging that Cheng Zhong¡¯s words made sense; people living deep within the mountains wouldn¡¯t behave like him.


    Back then, even Chu Jianglong and a few others probably didn¡¯t believe his words.


    ¡°Do you think I can let someone who wants to kill me walk away?¡± Qin Hao¡¯s tone was calm.


    Although the space mecha had already attached itself to him, it merely adhered to his body like a suit of armor without anything special, making it impossible for Cheng Zhong to detect.


    Cheng Zhong looked at him warily, ¡°Mr. Qin, why rush to kill me? You suffered no loss and even gained something. Let me go, and I will surely remember your kindness.¡±


    A gleaming alloy sword appeared in Qin Hao¡¯s right hand, emitting a chilling aura, bloodthirsty and razor-sharp.


    Seeing Qin Hao draw the sword, Cheng Zhong realized Qin Hao had no intention of letting him go. With a determined heart, he charged forward.


    Qin Hao¡¯s figure flashed and vanished from his spot, moving as swiftly as lightning, as fast as a storm.


    Cheng Zhong couldn¡¯t even see Qin Hao¡¯s trajectory, only feeling a chill on his neck.


    Qin Hao stood behind Cheng Zhong, the alloy longsword in his hand unstained by blood.


    A few seconds later, Cheng Zhong¡¯s head dropped, spraying blood two or three meters high, and his body fell stiffly to the ground.


    Qin Hao walked over and took off several spatial storage rings from Cheng Zhong¡¯s body, where all the belongings of these five people were stored.


    These spatial storage rings require a cultivator¡¯s Divine Sense to access and retrieve items.


    Currently, Qin Hao was aware of only one realm: the Qi Refinement Realm. Furthermore, he had heard from Chu Jianglong and others that the Qi Refinement Realm seemed to have several layers; however, he hadn¡¯t asked about the specifics as it was common knowledge known by almost everyone.


    As Qin Hao was about to turn and leave, a woman¡¯s voice suddenly sounded, ¡°Hehe, this is humanity.¡±


    Qin Hao was startled and turned to see a few people walking out from not far away.


    Three men and one woman, including two elders, and a relatively young man and woman. The woman had delicate and extraordinary features, an exquisite and slender figure, paired with an outstanding temperament, making her a top-tier beauty.


    The young man appeared slightly immature, probably only fifteen or sixteen years old.


    How could these people appear silently? Why didn¡¯t the space mecha detect them?


    ¡°Do you have business?¡± Qin Hao asked them calmly.


    ¡°The energy fluctuations in your body indicate a cultivation of only two or three layers of the Qi Refinement Realm, yet you managed to instantly kill a cultivator at the seventh layer of the Qi Refinement. How did you do it?¡± The young and beautiful woman looked at him curiously with her large eyes.


    Qin Hao: ¡°No comment.¡±


    After speaking, he turned to leave, moving very quickly because these people gave him a gut-wrenching feeling, extremely dangerous, not ordinary people.


    ¡°Miss, should we capture him?¡± An elder beside the young woman asked her.


    The young woman shook her head, ¡°We¡¯re too close to Nanxing City here. If we cause too much of a disturbance, it won¡¯t benefit us.¡±


    Qin Hao moved swiftly; for her guards to catch up, they would have to exert full strength, which would draw experts from Nanxing City.


    ...


    Around five in the morning, Qin Hao saw the outline of Nanxing City, somewhat resembling the ancient city gates of the Xuan Country.


    However, here the city gates and walls were extremely tall, and Nanxing City was also very large, comparable to the level-one interstellar city where Qin Hao was from.


    Although the city gates hadn¡¯t opened yet, many people had already gathered outside, locals from nearby tribes, bringing monster skins and materials to sell in Nanxing City.


    Qin Hao joined the crowd, waiting for the gates to open.


    During this time, he examined the spatial storage rings of Chu Jianglong and others, finding many monster skins, monster cores, and energy stones, along with a few low-level Divine Skills manuals; nothing else was noteworthy.


    Qin Hao felt somewhat regretful; if there had been a cultivation method, it would have been great.


    At six in the morning, as the sun rose, the city gates of Nanxing City opened on time, and the crowd gradually started to enter.


    Qin Hao entered the city, observing the surrounding streets and shops, most of which were two to three stories high, and there were shops of all kinds.


    He walked along the street for a while but didn¡¯t see any bookstores; after walking a bit further, Qin Hao spotted a shop called the Divine Power Pavilion, with a signboard indicating it sold cultivation techniques, Divine Skills, and ancient books.


    He went inside; the shop had quite a few people browsing the cultivation techniques and Divine Skills manuals on the counters.


    After searching for a while, Qin Hao found the counter selling ancient books. There weren¡¯t many people here, as such ancient books were rarely purchased; cultivation techniques and Divine Skills manuals were generally preferred.


    ¡°Clerk, how are these sold?¡± Qin Hao called out to the clerk.


    The clerk came over and smiled, asking, ¡°Which types of ancient books does the gentleman wish to purchase?¡±


    ¡°These: Tianxiang Dynasty History, Hidden Dragon Continent Brief History, and this unofficial history.¡± Qin Hao pointed to the three books.


    The clerk handed them over, ¡°That will be ninety lower-grade Spirit Stones in total, sir.¡±


    Lower-grade Spirit Stones?


    Qin Hao took out an energy stone from the spatial storage ring, ¡°Is it this kind of thing?¡±


    The clerk was a bit stunned, did this person not even know what a Spirit Stone was? ¡°Yes sir, that¡¯s it.¡±


    Qin Hao handed over ninety pieces to her and proceeded to leave with the books.


    As he reached the door, a group of people happened to be entering, both men and women, wearing splendid attire, clearly not ordinary people.


    ¡°Move aside. You¡¯re blocking my path,¡± one of the young noblemen said with a hostile tone upon seeing Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao frowned slightly; was this person really so arrogant? Did he not understand basic courtesy?


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me tell you to move aside? Do you want to die?¡± Pang Yang snapped, seeing Qin Hao standing still with furrowed brows, feeling displeased.


    Just as Qin Hao was about to speak, a young woman from the group intervened, ¡°Mr. Pang, let it go; acting like this just makes people think your Pang Family is overbearing and tyrannical.¡±


    Upon hearing the young woman¡¯s words, Pang Yang said nothing more.


    Lan Sihui gave Qin Hao a smile and then proceeded inside the shop.


    Qin Hao said nothing; he was still unfamiliar with the situation in Nanxing City and didn¡¯t know this person¡¯s identity or background, so he didn¡¯t act impulsively.


    He was here to find his child, and most importantly, he lacked confidence in his current strength.


    If a few more cultivation experts like Soul-Eating Demon Wolf appeared, he would likely meet his end here.


    When away from home, one must first learn to endure.


    But he remembered this grudge.


    Pang Yang wouldn¡¯t have thought that just due to those few words, the reaper was already beckoning to him.


    Qin Hao left the shop and found an inn, requesting an ordinary guest room.


    Inside his room, he took out the books and began reading. It wasn¡¯t until evening that he finished all three books, mainly because they contained a wealth of information.

 Chapter 923: 923: Exchanging Cultivation Technique

    Chapter 923: Chapter 923: Exchanging Cultivation Technique


    After finishing reading these three books, Qin Hao gained a general understanding of this world.


    This world is called the Hidden Dragon Continent, a vast land where numerous races stand, marked by an exceptionally powerful cultivation civilization and a world where the strong are revered.


    Countless empires, kingdoms, and sects are established across the Hidden Dragon Continent, yet Qin Hao did not see the names of Butian Sect or Xingyue Palace.


    There are also many hidden forces on this continent, but whether these two sects are among them, he remains uncertain.


    Thinking of these things, Qin Hao sighed, his eyes somewhat dazed and dim, Long¡¯er, Feng¡¯er, where are you???


    At that moment, a voice suddenly resounded in Qin Hao¡¯s mind: ¡°Detecting a change in the host environment, the system will undergo a forced upgrade, and the upgrade will consume one trillion achievement points.¡±


    ¡°The system is upgrading, expected to take ten hours, please wait...¡±


    Upon hearing this voice, Qin Hao¡¯s face lit up with joy; will the updated system shop feature cultivation methods this time?


    He rose and left the courtyard room, headed to the first floor, ordered some food, and began to eat dinner. The first floor was bustling, with all sorts of conversations.


    There were many tidbits of information to be heard here.


    While eating, Qin Hao listened to the chatter, gleaning quite a few useful messages. Nanxing City had five major cultivation families, with the Pang Family being one of them.


    The five major cultivation families were very powerful in Nanxing City, with no one daring to provoke them, and the strongest among them was the City Lord¡¯s Zhou Family.


    Located near the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, Nanxing City was mixed with all kinds of people, including quite a few low-profile experts.


    After listening for a long time, Qin Hao felt there were no useful messages left and returned to the backyard after paying the bill.


    This inn was adjacent to a river, opposite a brothel, from which the silver-bell laughter of women often emanated. Due to the high foot traffic here, the brothel¡¯s business was booming.


    Instead of returning to his room, Qin Hao sat in the garden between the inn and guest rooms.


    Sitting on the stone bench, Qin Hao looked at the bright moon in the night sky, nostalgia welling up inside him.


    Soon after, footsteps sounded and a voice followed: ¡°Young Master, quite a coincidence, we meet again.¡±


    Turning towards the voice, Qin Hao saw they were acquaintances from the encounter in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range: ¡°Is there something you need?¡±


    With a smile, Ning Ziyuan said to Qin Hao: ¡°Why keep people at a distance, Young Master? I¡¯m not one of those cruel-hearted individuals.¡±


    Qin Hao pursed his lips inwardly, wondering if she was such a person, who could tell.


    Initially, he hadn¡¯t realized Cheng Zhong was that kind of person; in the end, he hid the deepest and seemingly most harmless, often turning out to be the most venomous.


    Ignoring her, Qin Hao continued to gaze at the bright moon in the starry sky.


    Disregarding his silence, Ning Ziyuan sat on the stone bench opposite him, with Ning Chengjie following suit and the two elderly men remaining standing.


    She sized up Qin Hao with curious eyes: ¡°May I ask your surname, Young Master? I am called Ning Ziyuan, and this is my brother, Ning Chengjie.¡±


    ¡°I am Qin Hao.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s Mr. Qin. I¡¯m curious, where is your hometown, Mr. Qin?¡± Ning Ziyuan asked.


    Qin Hao: ¡°The Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range.¡±


    Ning Ziyuan paused: ¡°Your hometown is in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, Mr. Qin?¡±


    ¡°Yes, a small village tribe,¡± Qin Hao nodded.


    Ning Ziyuan shifted the topic: ¡°Are you moon-gazing, Mr. Qin? Missing family?¡±


    Qin Hao slightly nodded: ¡°A bit.¡±


    ¡°This shop is owned by my family, Mr. Qin. If you need anything, feel free to ask; I won¡¯t disturb your moon-gazing any longer,¡± Ning Ziyuan stated as she stood and left.


    Upon leaving, Ning Chengjie asked, somewhat confused: ¡°Sister, why bother with him? With his indifferent attitude, if this were the Ten Thousand Demon Sacred Mountain, I¡¯d have knocked him down already.¡±


    Ning Ziyuan glanced at him: ¡°He has only the strength of Qi Refinement stage three or four, yet he can instantly defeat a master of Qi Refinement stage seven. Even if it were you, would you be able to achieve that?¡±


    Ning Chengjie was momentarily speechless; though from the Ten Thousand Demon Sacred Mountain, with the strength of Qi Refinement stage three or four defeating a cultivator of stage seven, he indeed couldn¡¯t manage it.


    Had it been just one or two minor stages higher, he might feel confident, but this was three or four...


    Ning Ziyuan continued: ¡°Also, stop mentioning the Ten Thousand Demon Sacred Mountain; do you want everyone to know we¡¯re from there?¡±


    ...


    After a while in the garden, Qin Hao returned to the room to rest.


    Upon waking the next day, the system had already been updated.


    He quickly opened the system to check, and the virtue shop had been activated, featuring several categories: cultivation techniques, divine skills, formations, alchemy, puppets, etc., with detailed segmentation.


    Qin Hao first opened the cultivation techniques category, where dozens of techniques were available. Four techniques were the most expensive and best, requiring ninety-nine thousand virtue points to exchange.


    First was the Nine Revolutions Immortal Skill; second was the Eight Desolate Slaying God Skill; third was the Chaos Battle God Skill; fourth was the Immortal Burying Skill.


    He briefly reviewed the descriptions of these four techniques, contemplated for a moment, and ultimately chose the Immortal Burying Skill, which he favored.


    Currently holding over a hundred thousand virtue points, Qin Hao exchanged for the Immortal Burying Skill, holding off on other exchanges for the time being.


    Having exchanged the technique, he eagerly began to read and then commenced practice according to the introduction in the Immortal Burying Skill.


    Due to the cultivation sacrifices, within less than a day, he reached the Qi Refinement stage four.


    The spiritual energy in this world was exceedingly dense, ideal for cultivation. Within just three days, Qin Hao had cultivated to Qi Refinement stage six, although he could clearly sense the progression in realm had slowed somewhat.


    That day, he reopened the virtue shop in the system, intent on exchanging divine skill secrets.


    In the divine skills section were also numerous heaven-defying grade divine skills, but choosing divine skills wasn¡¯t about picking the best or most expensive but selecting those most suitable for his current stage.


    Even if he exchanged the strongest divine skill, lacking the strength, it couldn¡¯t be utilized effectively.


    After considering for some time, Qin Hao decided on exchanging for a set of divine power sword skills named the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill, a fiercely attacking swordsmanship. Post-exchange, he began learning.


    After two days passed, Qin Hao emerged from the room. He had gone over the divine skills repeatedly, yet as he hadn¡¯t practiced in real combat yet, staying in the room for cultivation was no longer useful.


    He approached the inn¡¯s front desk, asking the owner, ¡°Boss, how many days of room charges do I owe?¡±


    ¡°Young Master, our lady instructed that your room charges are waived,¡± the owner replied promptly.


    Qin Hao paused: ¡°Where¡¯s your lady?¡±


    ¡°The lady has left, asking for me to tell the Young Master this message: Until we meet again.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Please thank your lady for me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Young Master.¡±


    Qin Hao walked out of the inn, wandering aimlessly and pondering his next actions: enhancing strength, searching for Xiao Long and Xiaofeng.


    This place was the edge of the Hidden Dragon Continent; only the central area was the most thriving and powerful. Reaching there would provide more information.


    But only those with strength are qualified, and rescuing Xiao Long and Xiaofeng also necessitates strong power, at least enough to surpass those who once captured Xiao Long and Xiaofeng.


    Unknowingly, Qin Hao crossed the bridge, arriving at the other side of the river.


    ¡°Young Master, care to come in and have a little fun?¡± a beautiful woman swaying flirtatiously invited from the brothel door.


    At that moment, the wooden window on the second floor suddenly shattered, and a figure fell from above. Qin Hao hesitated briefly but reached out to catch him.


    The person dressed as a scholar, blood spilling from his mouth, looked gratefully at Qin Hao: ¡°Thank you, Young Master, for your aid.¡±


    Pang Yang¡¯s figure appeared on the second floor, disdainfully looking at the man: ¡°Daring to compete with this Young Master for Miss Xian¡¯er, courting death, go back down and keep beating him.¡±

 Chapter 924: 924 Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill

    Chapter 924: Chapter 924 Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill


    Several figures jumped down from the second floor; these were Pang Yang¡¯s bodyguards.


    Pang Yang also saw Qin Hao next to that person: ¡°Dare to meddle in this young master¡¯s affairs, beat him together, waste them and throw them into the river to feed the fish.¡±


    The people from several brothels and the street nearby had long been attracted by the situation just now.


    They stood on the buildings and streets watching this side.


    Seeing it was Pang Yang, many felt relieved because they all knew Pang Yang; such incidents had happened before.


    The person was definitely an outsider; Xian¡¯er was Pang Yang¡¯s woman, who dared to touch?


    ¡°Xian¡¯er belongs to Pang Yang, known by everyone in Nanxing City. This person is courting death by daring to touch.¡±


    ¡°The most unfortunate one is that person; now even he is done for.¡±


    ¡°Who can you blame for this? Blame him for meddling, he deserves it.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s wait for these two to be fed to the fish.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao had long wanted revenge; he had understood the power of the Pang Family, reportedly having a Postnatal Peak expert.


    An expert beyond the Qi Refinement Realm, moreover, a Postnatal Peak expert is only half a step from an Innate expert.


    However, Qin Hao had a Space Mecha, so he wouldn¡¯t care about a Postnatal expert.


    At this moment, Pang Yang¡¯s five bodyguards had already charged over.


    Qin Hao¡¯s face turned slightly cold, a metallic long sword appeared in his hand, meeting the five men.


    These five bodyguards had the power of the seventh layer of Qi Refinement; Qin Hao, although only sixth layer, possessed top-tier Cultivation Technique, his Spiritual Energy vast and mighty, his Divine Skills were unmatched by them.


    ¡°Ten Thousand Thunder Breaking the Sky¡±


    Qin Hao shouted coldly, as he swung his sword, the sky darkened, and dozens of blue lightning bolts descended from above.


    ¡°Boom boom boom¡±


    Pang Yang¡¯s five servants were enveloped by the thunderbolts, screams sounded, five seventh-level Qi Refinement servants were instantly knocked down, though not dead, they suffered serious injuries and lost combat effectiveness.


    People around witnessed this scene, their expressions changed, such powerful Divine Skills.


    Pang Yang¡¯s expression slightly condensed after witnessing this, many women from the brothel stood at the railings or windows on the second floor watching.


    Qin Hao¡¯s move using Thunder Sound Sword Skill was impressive, graceful and attracted admiration from many courtesans.


    Qin Hao looked at Pang Yang, his feet fiercely stamping the ground, rushing forward with the sound of wind and thunder, at this moment Qin Hao seemed transformed into thunder, exceedingly swift, thunder roared.


    This was the second move of Thunder Sound Sword Skill: Rapid Lightning Wind and Thunder, focusing on killing a single target with the speed of lightning.


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    Qin Hao arrived on the second floor almost instantly, Pang Yang, although a disciple of the Pang Family, indulged excessively, with low talent, so he wasn¡¯t valued by the family, his power was poor as well. If it wasn¡¯t for his mother being the main wife of the Pang Family, he wouldn¡¯t even have these few bodyguards.


    ¡°Swoosh¡±


    Pang Yang was beheaded directly by the metallic long sword, blood spurted, gruesome and bloody.


    Girls around screamed repeatedly, turning around and running.


    People on the street and other wooden buildings were dumbfounded, Pang Yang was killed? The son of the Pang Family from Nanxing City, Pang Yang was killed?


    Although Pang Yang was a wastrel of the Pang Family, not valued, the Pang Family¡¯s bloodline couldn¡¯t be killed casually, let alone a direct disciple.


    Killing a direct disciple of the Pang Family, this was a slap in the face of the Pang Family.


    This person was too impulsive, killing Pang Yang, he offended the entire Pang Family.


    The Pang Family was one of the five great families in Nanxing City, countless experts, reportedly also having Postnatal Peak experts, this person was bound to die.


    Qin Hao, after killing Pang Yang, flew down from the building, glanced at the man and said: ¡°Better run, otherwise you won¡¯t be able to escape soon.¡±


    The man looked at Qin Hao, ¡°Thank you, brother, for saving my life, my name is Mu Jun, I will repay your kindness someday.¡±


    After speaking he quickly left, knowing if he stayed longer, it might be too late.


    People around glanced at Qin Hao, he did not flee but collected the Space Rings from Pang Yang and others, as he currently needed Spirit Stones to cultivate.


    Immortal Burying Skill now required many Spirit Stones to advance to the next realm.


    ¡°This person isn¡¯t running, isn¡¯t he afraid of the Pang Family¡¯s retaliation?¡±


    ¡°Could he be a disciple of some great sect? If so, then indeed, he wouldn¡¯t fear the Pang Family.¡±


    ¡°The Pang Family must have received the news by now, their experts might already be on the way.¡±


    Qin Hao, after tidying up the spoils of war, stood there waiting for Pang Family members to arrive, perhaps he could even extort the Pang Family for something.


    After about half a cup of tea¡¯s time, Pang Family members arrived, over a dozen people.


    ¡°Who dares to kill my Pang Family disciple?¡± A handsome young man stepped forward, eyes sharp, with a glint flashing.


    The crowd saw this handsome young man and was stunned: ¡°Isn¡¯t this the Pang Family¡¯s first genius, Pang Yi? He¡¯s emerged from seclusion?¡±


    ¡°Reportedly before seclusion he was at the eleventh layer of Qi Refinement; has he broken through to the twelfth layer?¡±


    ¡°The Pang Family¡¯s foremost young genius, indeed living up to the name, is Pang Yi not yet twenty this year? Already at the twelfth layer of Qi Refinement, truly terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Not yet twenty, Qi Refinement layer twelve, Nanxing City hasn¡¯t seen such a genius for hundreds of years.¡±


    ¡°Is Pang Yi, the top genius among Nanxing City¡¯s younger generation?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s hard to say; reportedly the Lan Family¡¯s Lan Sihui is also terrifying; someone saw her in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range fighting a beast at the tenth layer of Qi Refinement alone.¡±


    ¡°What? A beast at the tenth layer of Qi Refinement? That combat strength can be compared to early-stage Qi Refinement twelfth layer cultivators; is the young miss of the Lan Family truly that terrifying?¡±


    ¡°Not only the Lan Family, the Zhou Family, the Yuan Family, and the Jin Family also have young geniuses; as for who is the number one among the younger generation in Nanxing City, it¡¯s truly hard to say.¡±


    ...


    ¡°It¡¯s you who killed my brother?¡± Pang Yi looked at Qin Hao, face cold, tone with a bit of disdain.


    Twenty-four or twenty-five years old, only at the seventh level of Qi Refinement? Haha.


    Qin Hao could see the arrogance in Pang Yi¡¯s eyes, replied calmly: ¡°Yes, I killed him, just a waste, repeatedly provoking me, deserved to die.¡±


    People around heard Qin Hao and Pang Yi¡¯s conversation, couldn¡¯t help but admire his courage.


    Regardless of the age issue, just talking about power, Pang Yi crushed Qin Hao.


    Pang Yi said indifferently: ¡°You are not worthy of me making a move; enforcement team, take him.¡±


    The ten members of the Pang Family enforcement team stepped forward; all at the ninth or tenth level of Qi Refinement, dealing with a mere Qin Hao at the seventh level, seemed more than sufficient to everyone.


    ¡°Those who offend the majesty of the Pang Family, kill.¡±


    The ten people rushed in, blades and swords flashed, Sword Qi swept across, instantly enveloping Qin Hao.


    They aimed to kill Qin Hao on the spot, asserting the Pang Family¡¯s authority.


    Qin Hao¡¯s metallic long sword appeared, employing the first move of Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill: Ten Thousand Thunder Breaking the Sky.


    He channeled Spiritual Energy frantically into the metallic long sword, sword swung out, wind and thunder followed, dark clouds gathered, even more terrifying than before.

 Chapter 925: 925: The Pang Familys Number One Genius

    Chapter 925: Chapter 925: The Pang Family¡¯s Number One Genius


    The people around were suddenly startled: ¡°Could it be that he wasn¡¯t using his full strength just now?¡±


    Pang Yi saw the Divine Skills that Qin Hao displayed, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. For someone at just the seventh level of Qi Refinement to unleash such a powerful attack, these skills were indeed strong.


    A master from the Pang Family¡¯s enforcement team was cloaked in thunder; Ten Thousand Thunder Breaking the Sky is a group attack swordsmanship, with high damage.


    Although these individuals are at the tenth level of Qi Refinement, in terms of the thickness of Spiritual Energy within their bodies, they are not superior to Qin Hao, and their skills cannot compare to his.


    They were caught up in the thunder, and Qin Hao took the opportunity to unleash his second move: Rapid Lightning and Wind.


    His figure moved like lightning, weaving through the crowd, enhancing the power of the first move to be even more terrifying.


    ¡°Ah¡±


    A cry of agony was heard as one of the Pang Family¡¯s enforcement team had his chest pierced by a long sword, dying on the spot.


    The others also panicked, Qin Hao¡¯s strength was somewhat beyond their expectations, killing off a formidable tenth-level Qi Refinement expert right off the bat, which was rather frightening.


    The surrounding people were also shocked; a Qi Refinement seventh-level surrounded by ten ninth-level and tenth-level experts could still counterattack and kill, this was indeed terrifying.


    This person must either be a disciple of a major sect or someone with a stroke of good fortune.


    Logically, if Qin Hao were a disciple of a major sect, he would certainly announce his affiliation, but he hasn¡¯t said a word, meaning he is likely someone with great opportunities, who has come across a treasure. Thinking of this, many people¡¯s eyes glinted.


    ¡°Fall back.¡± Pang Yi suddenly spoke at this moment.


    The strength Qin Hao was now displaying was immensely strong, and these few members of the Pang Family¡¯s enforcement team might not be able to take him down.


    Those individuals retreated, clothes tattered, with several spots on their bodies looking horribly charred.


    Although their strength wasn¡¯t low, they were merely family servants in the Pang Family, unable to learn powerful Divine Skills; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be in such a tragic state.


    Pang Yi stepped forward, looking at Qin Hao, and said, ¡°Your Divine Skills aren¡¯t bad, I¡¯ve taken a liking to them. Surrender them obediently, and I can spare your life, allowing you to stay by my side as my servant.¡±


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°You don¡¯t even have the qualification to carry my shoes, yet here you are putting on airs.¡±


    Upon hearing such crude words, Pang Yi¡¯s face became unsightly, ¡°You¡¯re courting death.¡±


    He charged forward, his figure like the wind, reaching Qin Hao in the blink of an eye, hands forming fists suffused with surging Spiritual Energy aimed at Qin Hao¡¯s chest.


    Qin Hao reacted extremely swiftly, responding with a punch.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    The muffled sound of collision echoed, and both figures retreated simultaneously.


    Qin Hao stepped back three steps, Pang Yi stepped back two.


    Pang Yi looked at Qin Hao with shock in his eyes, a raging storm stirring in his heart, he¡¯s only at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, yet he can match me.


    His Cultivation Technique must be very strong; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be so fearsome.


    An extraordinary Cultivation Technique, super strong Divine Skills; such a person being this age should not be a disciple of a major sect, since major sects don¡¯t accept disciples of such age without a firm foundation, and future achievements wouldn¡¯t be great.


    So now there¡¯s only one possibility, this person must have some great opportunity.


    If I obtain his Cultivation Technique and Divine Skills, I¡¯ll surely become stronger; thinking this, a hint of excitement surged in Pang Yi¡¯s eyes.


    Qin Hao¡¯s mind was quickly contemplating, dealing with Pang Yi is already difficult enough, and if more experts from the Pang Family arrive, I fear I won¡¯t stand a chance.


    With these thoughts, Qin Hao activated the Mecha; a swift battle is necessary.


    Pang Yi thought likewise, this person must be dealt with swiftly, lest other families find out and compete with the Pang Family.


    He attacked once more, this time unleashing all his strength, not wanting to drag the fight with Qin Hao.


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    Pang Yi accelerated, reaching Qin Hao¡¯s presence, his fist barely extending before Qin Hao seized it instantly.


    Before he could exert force, a tremendous strength emanated from Qin Hao¡¯s hand, rendering him helpless.


    With a crunching sound.


    His arm was directly broken by Qin Hao, followed by another punch to his chest.


    The punch caused him to spit blood, his organs shifting places, and then a continuous set of moves by Qin Hao pressed Pang Yi underfoot.


    The surrounding people were dumbfounded at this scene, unable to believe it.


    This person actually pressed the first young genius of the Pang Family, Pang Yi, underfoot?


    ¡°How is this possible? Just now the two were evenly matched, weren¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°A seventh-level Qi Refinement actually stomped a twelfth-level young genius underfoot? Isn¡¯t that too strong?¡±


    ¡°The Pang Family¡¯s number one young genius actually lost, and lost to a seventh-level cultivator; is twelfth-level Qi Refinement made of plastic?¡±


    ¡°Never thought the Pang Family¡¯s genius was this vulnerable.¡±


    ¡°This guy stepping on the Pang Family¡¯s top genius is akin to stomping on the Pang Family¡¯s pride, he¡¯s doomed.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s too impulsive, the Pang Family¡¯s patriarch is said to be a Postnatal Peak expert.¡±


    Just as the crowd was buzzing, reinforcements from the Pang Family arrived; during Qin Hao¡¯s fight with Pang Yi, the Pang Family¡¯s enforcement members had already summoned aid.


    Pang Guangfei, the Pang Family Head, seeing his son stepped on by Qin Hao, his face turned grim: ¡°How dare you, let go of my son immediately, or I¡¯ll grind you to dust.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao pressed down harder, the sound of breaking bones echoed, Pang Yi spat several more mouthfuls of blood.


    His face turned iron-blue, extremely unsightly, wishing to bury himself out of shame.


    He, the dignified number one young genius of the Pang Family, now stepped on by a seventh-level Qi Refinement cultivator, if this were spread around, not only he but the entire Pang Family would lose face.


    Pang Guangfei¡¯s face became exceedingly gloomy upon seeing this: ¡°Cease this.¡±


    ¡°How much do you think he¡¯s worth in Spirit Stones?¡± Qin Hao coldly and calmly asked Pang Guangfei, not showing any signs of panic.


    Pang Guangfei¡¯s eyes fixed fiercely on Qin Hao like a sharp sword, being a Postnatal Middle Stage expert, contemplating his chances of rescuing his son.


    Now even if the Pang Family¡¯s patriarch came, Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t fear at all; the power of the Mecha isn¡¯t something they can imagine.


    In terms of strength, speed, or defense, it¡¯s incredibly formidable.


    ¡°Let go of my son, I guarantee not to kill you, allowing you to leave Nanxing City safely,¡± Pang Guangfei said.


    Qin Hao curled his lips: ¡°I only want Spirit Stones, half a million low-grade Spirit Stones; if you don¡¯t produce them, I¡¯ll kill him.¡±


    With that, a long alloy sword appeared in Qin Hao¡¯s hand, resting against Pang Yi¡¯s neck.


    Pang Guangfei couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, his figure vanished from where he stood, leaving behind traces of images, moving at an incredibly fast speed.


    ¡°The Pang Family Head has acted; he¡¯s a Postnatal expert, how dare this person threaten the Family Head, courting death.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe that a seventh-level Qi Refinement can beat a Postnatal expert; if he can, I swear I¡¯ll eat shit.¡±


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    Qin Hao also moved, too fast, so fast that the crowd couldn¡¯t even see his figure.


    Then they saw Pang Guangfei flying backward even faster, crashing heavily onto the ground.

 Chapter 926: 926: Three Hundred Thousand Spirit Stones

    Chapter 926: Chapter 926: Three Hundred Thousand Spirit Stones


    The people of the Pang Family were stunned, and the onlookers were dumbfounded, their eyes almost popping out.


    The Pang Family Head was defeated without even being able to withstand a single move?


    How the hell is this possible?


    A Qi Refinement stage seven defeating a Postnatal Middle Stage expert? How is this possible? There¡¯s no such case in the entire Hidden Dragon Continent, right?


    At this moment, Qin Hao had already returned to his original spot, as if he hadn¡¯t moved at all, his speed was too fast, so fast that no one could see clearly.


    Pang Guangfei stood up and looked at him in shock: ¡°Are you a body cultivator?¡±


    Just then, the kick Qin Hao launched and the speed he exhibited had no spiritual energy fluctuations; it was completely based on physical strength.


    That was why Pang Guangfei said so. If Qin Hao was a body cultivator, that would be understandable.


    Because body cultivators primarily cultivate the physical body and do not focus on spiritual energy cultivation, but such people are incredibly rare because achieving success in body cultivation is extremely difficult, extremely hard.


    The hardships body cultivators endure are beyond the imagination of most people.


    Among the body cultivators of the entire Hidden Dragon Continent, there are less than one in ten thousand.


    ¡°A body cultivator? He¡¯s actually a body cultivator, no wonder he can crush Pang Yi at Qi Refinement stage twelve with the strength of stage seven.¡±


    ¡°Even the Pang Family Head was defeated by him in one move. How strong is his body?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Pang Guangfei and said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you the time of one incense stick, either come up with five hundred thousand spirit stones or I¡¯ll kill you all.¡±


    Pang Guangfei¡¯s expression was uncertain. Five hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones was probably all their family had.


    Does he have to ask the ancestor to step in?


    The ancestor was the Pang Family¡¯s trump card, not easily used; otherwise, other families would learn of their true strength. Exposing their trump card is tantamount to letting the enemy analyze their strengths and weaknesses.


    And to bring out the ancestor over such a matter, the ancestor would surely be enraged, considering him incompetent as the family head, and might even replace him.


    Thinking of these, Pang Guangfei looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°This time I, Pang Guangfei, admit defeat. The Pang Family can¡¯t come up with five hundred thousand spirit stones, kill us and we still don¡¯t have that amount. Three hundred thousand is my limit.¡±


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment: ¡°Three hundred thousand it is then, hurry up, you only have the time of one incense stick.¡±


    Pang Guangfei quickly dispatched someone to retrieve it, and at the same time, he tossed a space ring to Qin Hao: ¡°Inside are one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones, the remaining two hundred thousand is being fetched.¡±


    In Pang Guangfei¡¯s eyes, his son¡¯s value was definitely worth that price, because his talent was exceptionally high, a rare genius in the Pang family in a hundred years; given some time, he would definitely have the hope of breaking through to the Innate Realm.


    An Innate Realm expert, how could it be compared to a mere three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones?


    In less than half an incense stick¡¯s time, the people of the Pang Family returned, bringing the two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.


    Qin Hao accepted them all; these spirit stones were enough for him to break through several realms.


    Those around watching saw Qin Hao took thirty thousand spirit stones and were a bit envious; these stones were something they couldn¡¯t earn in a lifetime.


    For cultivators, the most important thing is spirit stones. Without spirit stones, no matter how talented you are, your cultivation speed cannot catch up.


    To become a master, one is talent, and the other is spirit stones, both are indispensable.


    This is also why many are willing to enter certain families and sects, because these families and sects have spirit stone resources to provide spirit stones for their cultivation.


    After obtaining the spirit stones, Qin Hao released Pang Yi and confidently left, yet the Pang Family did not dare to stop him at all.


    Pang Guangfei¡¯s expression was grim as he led the Pang Family away in disgrace.


    The event today might soon spread across the whole of Nanxing City, and the Pang Family¡¯s prestige would plummet and be laughed at.


    ...


    This area was a mix of dragons and snakes; the news quickly spread.


    After obtaining the spirit stones, Qin Hao returned to the inn and continued his cultivation.


    The Immortal Burying Skill was extremely powerful, highly efficient in absorbing and converting spiritual energy. Within a day, he had absorbed and refined nearly thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones, and his strength had reached the peak of Qi Refinement stage seven.


    Five days later, Qin Hao had almost absorbed all three hundred thousand spirit stones, leaving about ten thousand for purchasing items and staying in inns.


    His strength had also reached the peak of Qi Refinement stage nine, just a step away from stage ten.


    Normally, for a person to break through from Qi Refinement stage seven to the peak of stage nine would generally take about two years, but Qin Hao only took a few days, the main reason being the surplus of spirit stones.


    This time, he planned to look around Nanxing City, and if there wasn¡¯t anything he needed, he would leave and head towards the Skyfire Dynasty inside.


    The place was more prosperous than here, with many large families and sects, where he could also get more information.


    Arriving at the front restaurant, Qin Hao ordered a few dishes.


    Someone in the restaurant spoke up, ¡°Have you heard, the Red Cloud Sect has come to Nanxing City to select gifted youngsters; it¡¯s said the talented disciples of the Five Major Families all joined the Red Cloud Sect.¡±


    ¡°The Red Cloud Sect is one of the Four Great Sects in Jiangping State, with experts as numerous as clouds, very terrifying. Even a single expert they send could wipe out the Five Major Families of Nanxing City.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been decades since the Red Cloud Sect came to Nanxing City to select disciples, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there used to be no talented disciples in Nanxing City, but now each family has talented youngsters, and the Red Cloud Sect naturally won¡¯t miss out on these cultivation geniuses.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s heard that the other three sects in Jiangping State are also recruiting disciples in other towns, the competition among the Four Great Sects has always been intense, each wants to surpass the others.¡±


    When Qin Hao heard their conversation, he was stunned, Red Cloud Sect? One of the Four Great Sects?


    After finishing breakfast, Qin Hao threw some spirit stones to the innkeeper, who was quick to say, ¡°Mr. Qin, these spirit stones are too many.¡±


    ¡°Consider it covering a few days¡¯ room fees, thank your madam for me.¡± Having said that, Qin Hao turned and left the restaurant.


    The innkeeper had also heard about Qin Hao¡¯s deeds a few days ago, stunned by Qin Hao¡¯s daring to extort the Pang Family Head, his strength was somewhat terrifying.


    After leaving the restaurant, Qin Hao walked towards the West District of Nanxing City, planning to sell those materials for some spirit stones, and then see if there was anything good at the trade market. If not, he¡¯d leave the city via the west gate, heading deeper into the Hidden Dragon Continent.


    A dozen minutes later, Qin Hao arrived at the trade market in the West District of Nanxing City, where there were many shops and stalls, offering a wide array of items.


    ¡°Selling holy healing medicine, below Innate experts only need to be breathing and we can cure you, holy medicine for healing, holy medicine.¡±


    ¡°Pill furnace of an Alchemy Grandmaster, come and take a look if you like, discovered deep in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, cheap price, only one million spirit stones.¡±


    In the trade market, voices hawking wares echoed continuously, but most were con artists, mainly tricking newcomers as the old-timers all knew it was a scam.

 Chapter 927: 927: Red Cloud Sect

    Chapter 927: Chapter 927: Red Cloud Sect


    Qin Hao listened to the shouts and looked at the stalls, indeed there were things there, and they looked exquisite and had a sense of age.


    Of course, good stuff has appeared here before too, sellers not recognizing the value ended up selling them at very low prices, only to regret deeply afterwards upon learning their true worth.


    After watching for a while, Qin Hao found a few general stores and sold his things, exchanging them for over a thousand Spirit Stones.


    The demon cores were quite valuable, Chu Jianglong and five others had killed many formidable beasts.


    Having sold his items, Qin Hao wandered around the marketplace. The stalls were selling everything: cultivation techniques, divine skills, magical artifacts, divine weapons, spirit grass, materials, and more.


    Qin Hao passed by stall after stall, eventually stopping in front of one.


    ¡°Mister, fancy anything you see?¡± A slim-faced middle-aged man asked from behind the stall.


    Qin Hao pointed at a silver collar on the stall: ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°Ah, young man, you have a keen eye, spotting my stall¡¯s treasure in one glance. To be honest, I discovered this treasure in an Immortal¡¯s residence, it¡¯s suspected to be an ancient Immortal Artifact, the Vajra Bracelet!¡± The stall owner said with a smile.


    Qin Hao¡¯s head was full of black lines, an ancient Immortal Artifact, Vajra Bracelet? You really dare claim anything.


    ¡°How much?¡±


    The stall owner smiled, ¡°Brother, you¡¯re a discerning person. I won¡¯t cheat you, take it away for ten thousand Spirit Stones. Treasures should complement heroes, and I can see Brother has an extraordinary presence, truly a dragon among men, this treasure is a perfect match for you.¡±


    ¡°Ten thousand Spirit Stones? Do you really take me for a fool? This isn¡¯t even a low-grade magical artifact, more like a one-time-use magical item.¡± Qin Hao said, looking at him with disdain.


    The stall owner smiled awkwardly: ¡°Indeed, you are a discerning person. This bracelet is a one-time defensive magical item, capable of releasing a protective shield. It¡¯s a superior defensive magical item. If you truly want it, take it for a thousand Spirit Stones.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°One hundred Spirit Stones, not one more, look at this bracelet, it¡¯s cracked, probably unusable even once.¡±


    The stall owner hesitated, then said: ¡°Please, sir, add a bit more, one hundred Spirit Stones is truly too little.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes glanced at an object resembling jade next to the bracelet: ¡°Is this also an ancient Immortal Artifact? How much for it?¡±


    The stall owner heard his sarcastic remark, his expression remained unfazed, he smiled at the item Qin Hao mentioned, a palm-sized black jade with various dents and bumps.


    He laughed and said: ¡°Sir, this item I acquired from someone else, if you want it along with the bracelet, give me three hundred Spirit Stones.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s goal was the black jade stone. He feigned hesitation: ¡°Three hundred it is, then.¡±


    With that, Qin Hao placed three hundred Spirit Stones on the stall, which the stall owner immediately took.


    Qin Hao reached out and grabbed both items in his hand.


    Then suddenly a voice rang out: ¡°Stop.¡±


    Both the stall owner and Qin Hao turned to see a group dressed in splendid attire walking towards the stall. Among them, Qin Hao recognized a familiar face, the first genius of the younger generation of the Pang Family, Pang Yi.


    Including the woman, Lan Sihui from the Lan Family, who once spoke on Qin Hao¡¯s behalf.


    Enemies meeting face to face, emotions ran high, Pang Yi looked uncomfortable upon seeing Qin Hao. Lan Sihui and the others had seen Qin Hao¡¯s image before, so they recognized him as well.


    Qin Hao looked at the one who had just spoken, ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°I want that black jade stone in your hand for ten thousand Spirit Stones,¡± the person said, speaking to Qin Hao casually.


    The stall owner was in shock upon hearing the offer, ten thousand Spirit Stones? He quickly turned to Qin Hao: ¡°Brother, I can¡¯t sell that black jade stone anymore. I¡¯ll return your three hundred Spirit Stones.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at him indifferently: ¡°The transaction is already complete, even if you give me ten thousand Spirit Stones, I still wouldn¡¯t sell it.¡±


    ¡°Brother, can we discuss this? This item is useful to me. Please name your price,¡± the leading man said to him.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t want to sell it.¡±


    ¡°Five thousand Spirit Stones, how about that? This price isn¡¯t low,¡± the well-dressed man continued.


    The stall owner was shocked at the price, five thousand Spirit Stones, five thousand Spirit Stones!


    Qin Hao still shook his head. The man clenched his teeth and said: ¡°Ten thousand Spirit Stones, this price is already very high.¡±


    The stall owner almost fainted, ten thousand Spirit Stones, ten thousand Spirit Stones! What the heck is this black jade stone?


    ¡°Sorry, Brother, I also need this,¡± Qin Hao said, intending to turn and leave.


    At this moment, Pang Yi spoke: ¡°Qin Hao, don¡¯t be ungrateful. This is a senior brother from the Red Cloud Sect, ten thousand Spirit Stones, what more do you want? Don¡¯t be greedy.¡±


    The three from the Red Cloud Sect did not stop Pang Yi from speaking. They were also displeased with Qin Hao, a mere cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, daring to refuse them repeatedly. Truly ungrateful.


    If not for the consideration of the Red Cloud Sect¡¯s reputation, that person would have taken it by force long ago.


    Because the black jade stone in Qin Hao¡¯s hand was a type of talisman, and it was likely an extremely famous Sword Intent Talisman. As for which level of master left the Sword Intent, that remained unknown.


    However, being able to leave Sword Intent in a talisman meant that at the very least, it had to be grandmaster-level Sword Intent. Such items could sell for hundreds of thousands to millions in larger cities.


    That was the price for grandmaster-level Sword Intent. If it were of a higher level, it would be worth millions, tens of millions, and could not be bought even if one had money.


    ...


    Qin Hao turned to look at Pang Yi: ¡°Do you want to be trampled underfoot like a dead dog again?¡±


    Pang Yi¡¯s face instantly became extremely embarrassed.


    Nie Feng of the Red Cloud Sect heard this and looked at Pang Yi, curious: ¡°Junior Brother Pang, what¡¯s this about?¡±


    Pang Yi¡¯s face flushed red. How could he explain this? But Nie Feng had asked, and after hesitating a bit, he said: ¡°Senior Brother Nie, this person killed my brother a few days ago, injured me badly, and extorted thirty thousand Spirit Stones from the Pang family.¡±


    Nie Feng¡¯s expression hardened: ¡°Such acts, how are they any different from robbery? Our Red Cloud Sect, as a reputable sect, should support justice. Such cultivators we must punish.¡±


    After speaking, he looked at Qin Hao, ¡°Will you come with us back to the Red Cloud Sect, or shall I take action to bring you back?¡±


    Pang Yi reminded him from the side: ¡°Senior Brother Nie, this person is a body cultivator with strong power. Even my father suffered losses against him.¡±


    Nie Feng raised an eyebrow, a body cultivator? ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ve always heard body cultivators are powerful. Today, I¡¯ll see for myself.¡±


    As an elite disciple of the Red Cloud Sect, Nie Feng¡¯s strength had already reached the Postnatal Middle Stage. This outing was to gain experience with his uncle and others.


    Regarding these Loose Cultivators outside, as a disciple of the esteemed Red Cloud Sect, he felt a deep disdain.


    Although Pang Yi said his father suffered losses to Qin Hao, Nie Feng didn¡¯t take it to heart, for he was confident he could crush Pang Yi¡¯s father.


    Being a disciple of a major sect, his cultivation technique, divine skills, and magical items were beyond what the Pang Family could compete with.

 Chapter 928: 928 Xue Lingling

    Chapter 928: Chapter 928 Xue Lingling


    Qin Hao heard Nie Feng¡¯s shameless remark and laughed coldly, ¡°Are all Red Cloud Sect members so shameless? To say such shameless things for the sake of a treasure, it¡¯s indeed laughable and extremely disgraceful.¡±


    The people surrounding did not speak; they weren¡¯t fools. It was clear that Nie Feng wanted the black jade in Qin Hao¡¯s hands, yet Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t sell it, and now he was finding reasons to forcibly seize it.


    Nie Feng¡¯s expression remained unchanged, ¡°Courting death, do you think you can tarnish the reputation of my Red Cloud Sect?¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Nie Feng rushed over, aiming a slap at Qin Hao¡¯s cheek.


    Qin Hao took a step back, dodging the slap, and simultaneously raised his leg to kick Nie Feng¡¯s side face.


    Nie Feng snorted coldly and swung his palm toward Qin Hao¡¯s calf.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Hands and feet collided, and Qin Hao staggered back two steps. Nie Feng was a Postnatal Middle Stage expert, and although Qin Hao had already advanced to the ninth level of Qi Refinement, there was still a significant gap between him and Nie Feng.


    ¡°Is this your real strength? It¡¯s nothing special.¡± Nie Feng looked at him with disdain.


    Qin Hao felt a bit surprised. No wonder he¡¯s a disciple from a major sect. Though he and Pang Guangfei were both at the Postnatal Middle Stage, in terms of spiritual energy richness, Nie Feng far surpassed Pang Guangfei.


    Moreover, Nie Feng was accompanied by two other Red Cloud Sect disciples, Pang Yi and Lan Sihui; these few were all part of the Red Cloud Sect, and it seemed the situation couldn¡¯t be delayed.


    The space mecha instantly enveloped his body, and Qin Hao looked fiercely at Nie. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll let you witness the strength of body cultivation.¡±


    He claimed to be practicing body cultivation to avoid revealing the space mecha, which was connected to his secret¡ªa secret best kept from others.


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡±


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s figure disappeared from the spot and started battling with Nie Feng. The Qin Hao now was completely different from just moments ago. Nie Feng could only defend and had no power to counterattack.


    Under Qin Hao¡¯s intentional restraint, Nie Feng managed to hold out for a few rounds before being kicked flying.


    That kick was powerful and heavy, like a massive stone slamming into his chest, causing his organs to shift and making him vomit blood instantly, heavily injured.


    No one else had time to react; Nie Feng¡¯s defeat was so swift that others didn¡¯t have the chance to support him.


    ¡°How dare you harm Senior Brother Nie, such audacity.¡± The others realized and instantly rushed forward.


    Pang Yi was shocked in his heart; he was really this formidable? No, he must be killed, so he rushed forward as well.


    Lan Sihui and the others exchanged glances, hesitated for a moment and went up too. After all, they were Red Cloud Sect disciples now, although they didn¡¯t want to offend Qin Hao, weighing the situation made them naturally side with Red Cloud Sect.


    Qin Hao sneered coldly, turned and ran, disappearing from everyone¡¯s sight within a few breaths.


    ¡°We¡¯ll chase him. You two take Senior Brother Nie back to report to the mentor. My Red Cloud Sect members aren¡¯t ones he can just waste away.¡± With that, the two pursued him.


    Qin Hao quickly flew to the city gate. The guards had not received any notice, so Qin Hao flew directly out from the west gate, and several city guards didn¡¯t even react.


    ¡°Did someone just fly past here?¡± one city guard asked.


    ¡°Seems like it, too fast, didn¡¯t see clearly.¡±


    ¡°Forget about it, better not meddle. A cultivator who possesses such speed isn¡¯t someone easy to deal with.¡±


    While they were talking, two others approached from afar, dressed in luxurious clothes, with an imposing demeanor, ¡°Did someone just fly out from here?¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± the city guard curiously asked.


    ¡°We are Red Cloud Sect disciples, capturing the assailant who attacked a disciple of ours.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the city guard¡¯s face slightly changed and hurriedly said, ¡°Yes, someone just flew out from here, very fast. We didn¡¯t see clearly.¡±


    ¡°Chase!¡±


    The two instantly flew out, both Postnatal Middle Stage experts. They weren¡¯t pursuing Qin Hao to capture him, as they knew their skill wouldn¡¯t suffice. Nevertheless, tracking his whereabouts was enough. Once the mentor arrived, he could surely capture him.


    After leaving the west gate, Qin Hao soon entered a forest and flew deep inside. Before long, he had left the two Red Cloud Sect individuals far behind.


    He took out a map and looked at it; thousands of miles from Nanxing City lay Changliu City in Jiangping State.


    Between these cities were forests and plains inhabited by various tribes and races, some immensely powerful and renowned, others minuscule and insignificant.


    After flying for a while, Qin Hao discovered a village where all the over thousand people had been killed.


    They died in gruesome terror, seemingly having experienced immense agony, drained of all their blood and essence.


    Qin Hao observed that these people had died less than an hour ago.


    Looking at the dense corpses on the ground, his eyes narrowed. Someone had committed such a heinous act.


    He walked through the village step by step; when he was about to leave, a girl suddenly emerged from a tree ahead, around eight or nine years old, her bright big eyes red, her pretty face streaked with tears.


    Qin Hao looked at her, she also looked at Qin Hao, her eyes showing some fear.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a bad person, just passing by. What happened here?¡± Qin Hao explained.


    The girl glanced at him but didn¡¯t answer, hurriedly ran to a short distance, knelt on the ground, shouting, ¡°Mom, wake up, don¡¯t scare me. Dad, what¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t leave me behind, Dad...¡±


    Crying aloud, she covered herself over them, her cries were mournful.


    Seeing this scene, Qin Hao felt uncomfortable, especially since he had become a father, he couldn¡¯t bear such scenes.


    Until one becomes a parent, they can¡¯t understand this kind of feeling.


    He walked to the girl¡¯s side, ¡°Your parents have passed away.¡±


    ¡°No... they haven¡¯t died. Dad, Mom, wake up, look at Ling¡¯er.¡± The girl¡¯s cries intensified, big tears rolling down her cheeks.


    Qin Hao looked at her and remembered Xiao Long and Xiaofeng¡¯s faces.


    After about twenty minutes, Qin Hao buried everyone from this village and took the little girl out of the village.


    Leaving the girl alone here, being a father now, Qin Hao couldn¡¯t do it.


    Later, after talking to the girl, Qin Hao learned that a man in a black robe murdered the entire village. The girl¡¯s parents had a Concealing Talisman, so the girl was not found, but her parents died.


    The only love in the world that is completely selfless and greatest is parental love.


    ¡°Big brother, where are we going?¡± The girl asked him innocently.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°My son and daughter are a few years younger than you, you can call me Uncle. My name is Qin Hao, and what¡¯s yours?¡±


    ¡°Uncle Qin, my name is Xue Lingling, you can just call me Ling¡¯er.¡± Xue Lingling said softly.

 Chapter 929: 929: Wanted Notice

    Chapter 929: Chapter 929: Wanted Notice


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°Ling¡¯er, do you know which way that person ran?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s in this direction. Mr. Qin, that demon is very formidable. We won¡¯t run into him, will we?¡± Xue Lingling said, a look of fear on her face.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I wish we could meet him. Such a demon deserves to be killed by everyone. It would be a perfect chance to avenge your parents and everyone in the village.¡±


    With Ling¡¯er joining him, Qin Hao¡¯s pace slowed a bit, but the people from the Red Cloud Sect did not catch up.


    They had long lost Qin Hao¡¯s trail. With such a vast area outside Nanxing City, where could they possibly look?


    In the evening, Qin Hao found a towering tree, built a simple wooden hut on it, and let Ling¡¯er sleep inside while he cultivated outside, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon.


    ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± Ling¡¯er said, looking at him.


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Go to sleep. Uncle is outside keeping watch, nothing will happen.¡±


    At night, while Qin Hao was cultivating, he heard Ling¡¯er crying in her sleep. He let out a long sigh, knowing that witnessing her parents and relatives die had caused her deep emotional trauma.


    It wasn¡¯t until the sun was high the next day that Ling¡¯er slowly woke up.


    Qin Hao was roasting meat below. Seeing Xue Lingling awaken, he said, ¡°Ling¡¯er, come down and have something to eat.¡±


    Xue Lingling nimbly descended from the tree. Her tribe also had lower-level cultivation methods, so even though she wasn¡¯t yet at the Qi Refinement Realm, her body was quite agile.


    ¡°Uncle, this meat is really tasty,¡± Ling¡¯er said after taking a bite.


    Qin Hao: ¡°This is the meat of a Level 7 Qi Refinement Realm beast. It¡¯s beneficial for the body and greatly nourishing.¡±


    After breakfast, the two continued on their journey. They had already lost a night, and Qin Hao was worried that experts from the Red Cloud Sect might catch up.


    Qin Hao donned the space mecha, holding Ling¡¯er with one hand and using spiritual energy to guard her body. After all, the wind generated by their speed would be too much for her to bear.


    He moved swiftly, and at this rate, they would reach Changliu City by nightfall.


    Changliu City wasn¡¯t far from Nanxing City. There were hundreds of similar towns in the entire Jiangping State.


    Jiangping State is just one state within the Tianxiang Dynasty, which is so vast that many can¡¯t travel across the entire dynasty in their lifetime.


    As Qin Hao was flying mid-air, a black light suddenly attacked from below, accompanied by a howling wind that rustled the leaves.


    Qin Hao reacted instantly, dodging with Xue Lingling in tow, a metallic longsword appearing in his hand: ¡°Who dares to sneak attack? Show yourself and meet your fate.¡±


    ¡°Heh heh.¡±


    A man in a black robe appeared, looking at Qin Hao and Xue Lingling with a sinister smile: ¡°You dare to fly recklessly in the open with only Qi Refinement level nine? You¡¯re underestimating us demonic cultivators, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Generally, when traveling from one town to another, those with modest strength would take flying boats, while the wealthy would use a Space Transmission Array. Few, like Qin Hao, would fly so brazenly outside because it¡¯s too dangerous.


    Xue Lingling saw the man in the black robe and showed fear: ¡°Mr. Qin, it¡¯s him. He¡¯s the one who killed my parents and villagers.¡±


    The black-robed man¡¯s eyes flickered upon hearing this, looking at Xue Lingling: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect a fish to slip through the net. But it¡¯s a good chance to take care of both of you today. Absorbing your cultivation should help me break through to the Innate Realm.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you. Didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d deliver yourself to my door. Tell me, how do you want to die?¡± Qin Hao looked indifferent, his tone cold and ruthless.


    The black-robed man laughed arrogantly, ¡°You want me to die? You, who are merely at Qi Refinement level nine, dare to speak so boldly? Ridiculous. Well, if you had any sense, you wouldn¡¯t be out here alone.¡±


    Qin Hao placed Ling¡¯er on a tree, then charged at the black-robed man.


    The black-robed man sneered repeatedly. He had absorbed and refined those blood essences and vengeful souls overnight, breaking through from the Postnatal Middle Stage to the Peak of Postnatal Late Stage, just a step away from the Innate Realm.


    But soon, the smile froze on the black-robed man¡¯s face because he couldn¡¯t detect Qin Hao¡¯s figure at all. He was too fast, so fast that even at the Postnatal Peak, he couldn¡¯t follow Qin Hao¡¯s movement trajectory.


    Qin Hao exerted his full strength this time, thoroughly enraged by the black-robed man¡¯s actions.


    A few dozen seconds later, Qin Hao returned to his original position, coldly watching the black-robed man.


    The black-robed man was also staring at him and attempted to exert pressure, but his arms fell off in sections, blood gushing forth.


    Subsequently, his legs also fell off in sections, and his body was cut into one hundred and eight pieces by Qin Hao.


    Even in death, the black-robed man stared in disbelief. How could a mere Qi Refinement level nine cultivator be so terrifying?


    He never understood how Qin Hao killed him.


    ¡°Congratulations to the host for killing the demonic cultivator, rewarded with one thousand merit points.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations to the host for avenging Xue Village, rewarded with one thousand five hundred merit points.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao was momentarily stunned upon hearing the system¡¯s voice¡ªso many merit points?


    To think he had only received one merit point for slaying a hundred million Star Sky Insect Clans, indicates this guy had done no shortage of evil deeds.


    Qin Hao took the storage space from the black-robed man. There were a fair number of spirit stones and some low-level magic artifacts, but they were all made from vengeful spirits. Qin Hao destroyed them, finding them unpalatable to use.


    Returning to Xue Lingling¡¯s side, she suddenly knelt down: ¡°Mr. Qin, thank you for avenging my parents and people of the tribe. Thank you.¡±


    Qin Hao hurriedly helped her up, ¡°Silly girl, no need to be formal with uncle. People like him, I kill one when I see one.¡±


    Xue Lingling: ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re amazing. He was already a peak Postnatal expert, and you still managed to kill him.¡±


    ¡°Are Postnatal experts formidable? They still die when facing uncle.¡± With that, Qin Hao carried her forward again.


    Around five in the afternoon, Qin Hao saw the outline of Changliu City from afar. He slowed down, and as they approached Changliu City, he and Ling¡¯er walked towards the city gate.


    A crowd had gathered by the city gate, and Qin Hao, with Ling¡¯er in tow, curiously walked over. A wanted poster was affixed to the city wall.


    The Red Cloud Sect is fully hunting the demonic cultivator Qin Hao. He seriously injured disciples of the Red Cloud Sect and slaughtered everyone in Xue Village. Information regarding his whereabouts is being solicited, with a reward of ten thousand low-grade spirit stones for those who provide leads.


    Below was a high-definition portrait of Qin Hao, extremely clear.


    Seeing this, Qin Hao¡¯s expression subtly changed, and he quickly turned and led Ling¡¯er away.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, uncle?¡± Xue Lingling hadn¡¯t seen the notice on the wall and was curious and puzzled.


    Qin Hao: ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We¡¯ll enter the city later.¡±


    Fortunately, no one noticed Qin Hao. He took Ling¡¯er back to the forest in the outskirts.


    He opened the system¡¯s merit store, then spent five thousand merit points to exchange for the most powerful disguise skill: Thousand Faces Divine Skill.

 Chapter 930: 930 Sword Intent Talisman

    Chapter 930: Chapter 930 Sword Intent Talisman


    Qin Hao glanced over it and frowned slightly. He thought the Disguise Skill was simple, but he was wrong. This Thousand Faces Divine Skill was very powerful, not something that could be learned by just looking at it once.


    Cultivating the Thousand Faces Divine Skill to the extreme allows one to transform into anyone at will, perfectly mimicking appearance, aura, and strength.


    After about an hour, Qin Hao had an introductory grasp. He changed his appearance to look like a man in his thirties.


    Xue Lingling saw this and curiously asked, ¡°Uncle, why have you changed your appearance?¡±


    ¡°There are bad people who want to kill Uncle, so Uncle has to change his appearance a bit.¡± Qin Hao held her little hand and walked into Changliu City.


    Xue Lingling nodded: ¡°But Uncle, you¡¯re so good. Why would anyone want to kill you?¡±


    Qin Hao explained, ¡°In this world, many people seem good but are actually very bad inside¡ªthey are beasts in human clothing, monsters wearing human skin.¡±


    Xue Lingling somewhat understood: ¡°Anyway, I only know that Uncle is a good person, and all those who want to kill you are bad people.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled gently: ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    He brought Xue Lingling back to the gate of Changliu City, where many people were still gathered. Due to the high traffic, such a large bounty on a wanted notice was extremely rare.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t even look at it and took Lingling into the city. The guards at the gate glanced at him and Xue Lingling, then turned their attention to others.


    Walking into Changliu City, many bulletin boards and walls had wanted notices for Qin Hao.


    The influence of the Red Cloud Sect in Jiangping State was immense, being one of the four major sects, and Beiliu City was also within their sphere of influence.


    After walking on the street for a while, Qin Hao saw familiar faces. The recently beaten Nie Feng, Pang Yi, and others were walking on the street.


    Qin Hao saw them from a distance, his eyes widened, and he quickly took Lingling to a nearby stall and bought her some snacks.


    Nie Feng and his group walked down the street, with Pang Yi occasionally scanning the people around, hoping to spot Qin Hao.


    He wouldn¡¯t give up as long as there was any hope of finding Qin Hao.


    He also saw Qin Hao and Xue Lingling by the stall, but Qin Hao¡¯s appearance, demeanor, and aura had all changed, and he had a little girl with him. Pang Yi could never have imagined this person was Qin Hao.


    They quickly left, and Qin Hao took Lingling into a tavern.


    Back in the room, Qin Hao said to Lingling, ¡°Lingling, Uncle needs to cultivate for a while. If you get hungry, eat something; if you¡¯re tired, rest.¡±


    Xue Lingling nodded obediently: ¡°Okay, Uncle, you focus on your cultivation. Lingling will be very well-behaved.¡±


    Qin Hao sat cross-legged on the ground and took out the black jade stone.


    The reason he chose this item was that he discovered anything he scanned, the system would provide a name and introduction for. Otherwise, as a novice, he wouldn¡¯t know what a Sword Intent Talisman was.


    Qin Hao carefully extended his Divine Sense into the Sword Intent Talisman, and a sharp Sword Intent instantly slashed towards him, severing his Divine Sense that had just entered.


    This caused a trickle of blood to leak from the corner of his mouth, his Divine Sense was damaged.


    Qin Hao was startled inside; the Sword Intent within the Sword Intent Talisman was so powerful, he almost fell for it.


    He bit his finger, and a drop of essence blood dripped onto the black jade stone, slowly soaking in. This is called blood recognition.


    Earlier he was a bit too anxious and forgot about blood recognition.


    This time when he entered the Sword Intent Talisman, the powerful Sword Intent no longer attacked him.


    Inside the Sword Intent Talisman, the myriad Sword Intents crisscrossed and surged within the space.


    After a few seconds, these Sword Intents suddenly all gathered in one place, and then a figure formed of Sword Intent appeared, a middle-aged man holding a three-foot green-bladed sword.


    ¡°I have studied the Sword Dao for thousands of years, and my understanding of Sword Intent has finally reached the Grandmaster Realm. Thus, I inscribed my understanding and insights into this talisman for a fated person to comprehend and train.¡±


    After saying this, the figure began to demonstrate, what he displayed was not a swordsmanship Divine Skill but a form of Sword Intent, devoid of any moves yet surpassing any Divine Skill.


    Because each stroke he made embodied the will of the sword, the law of the sword, profound and unfathomable, wondrous beyond words.


    Qin Hao watched carefully, comprehending this rare Sword Intent.


    Grandmaster Sword Intent Talismans are very rare, a serendipity for cultivators, especially those who practice the Sword Dao.


    He studied for five days before withdrawing his Divine Sense from the talisman. These five days brought him significant gains; if he were to employ the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill again, its power would be much greater than before.


    But to fully comprehend this Grandmaster-level Sword Intent requires a very long time.


    He currently didn¡¯t have such a long time to perceive Sword Intent. Opening his eyes, Qin Hao saw no one in the room, hesitated for a moment, then opened the door and went downstairs.


    He was residing in a single room on the fourth floor of the tavern; the third floor also had guest rooms, while the second and first floors were dining areas.


    Descending from the staircase, at the first-floor staircase entrance he saw Xue Lingling being blocked by several people, her small face flushed red.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name, little girl? Our young master just loves little girls as cute and petite as you,¡± a noble young master smiled, his eyes roving over Xue Lingling¡¯s face and body.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Xue Lingling¡¯s eyes were a bit panicked.


    ¡°Doing what? Haha, our young master is fond of you, what do you think we¡¯re doing?¡± another person laughed heartily.


    ¡°Our young master is the son of the Family Head of the Pei Family in Changliu City, it¡¯s your fortune he¡¯s taken a liking to you, just come with us obediently.¡± With that, he reached out to grab Xue Lingling.


    There were many people inside the tavern, but no one dared to step forward, because that noble young master was Pei Rui, a direct disciple of the Pei Family.


    The Pei Family is a top family in Changliu City, and the City Lord is currently the head of the Pei Family.


    ¡°This little girl is doomed. I heard that Pei Rui is a pedophile with very perverted habits.¡±


    ¡°He has abducted little girls on the streets more than once or twice, and it¡¯s said they all died miserably.¡±


    ¡°Speak quieter, or he¡¯ll hear us, and then we¡¯re dead.¡±


    ¡°A friend of mine is a servant at the Pei Family, he often hears the screams of little girls from Pei Rui¡¯s courtyard, it¡¯s truly horrible.¡±


    ¡°What are you doing? Let me go, my uncle will surely kill you if he finds out,¡± Xue Lingling hurriedly struggled.


    The servants accompanying Pei Rui sneered, ¡°What¡¯s your uncle worth? If he dares to come, he¡¯d probably fall to his knees before our young master.¡±


    ¡°Take her away; this young master wants to have a good time tonight,¡± Pei Rui said coldly.


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    A cold voice suddenly came from upstairs.


    Upon seeing Qin Hao, Xue Lingling¡¯s face showed an excited expression: ¡°Uncle.¡±


    Pei Rui and his three servants looked up at Qin Hao, and one of them said, ¡°You¡¯re her uncle? Our young master fancies her, so you¡¯d better know your place and get lost.¡±

 Chapter 931: 931 Teaching Children

    Chapter 931: Chapter 931 Teaching Children


    The people around looked at Qin Hao, a middle-aged man dressed in plain clothes, quite ordinary.


    Qin Hao stepped down from the stairs, directly approached the person who had just spoken, and kicked him flying with a swift kick. Despite the guard¡¯s considerable strength, he had no chance to react.


    The onlookers were shocked that Qin Hao acted without any nonsense, attacking directly without even clarifying Pei Rui¡¯s identity.


    Pei Rui and his companions were taken aback. It had been ages since anyone dared to make a move in front of them, and they were indeed stunned.


    ¡°You damn bastard, how dare you make a move? Do you even know who you just hit?¡±


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    Qin Hao slapped him, making him spin a few times on the spot, seeing stars as his head buzzed.


    ¡°You... you¡¯re courting death.¡± Pei Rui was furious at the blatant disregard for his reputation.


    ¡°Scram.¡±


    Qin Hao kicked him flying, causing Pei Rui to spit blood on the spot.


    ¡°You... you actually hit our young master! You¡¯re dead.¡± The last servant said before running over to assist Pei Rui.


    A flash of murderous intent flickered in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes. Just as he was about to take action, Xue Lingling suddenly spoke, ¡°Uncle, forget about it. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at her, then turned back to Pei Rui and his group, ¡°Get lost now. Don¡¯t let me see you again, or you¡¯ll be dead without a doubt.¡±


    Pei Rui nodded fiercely, then quickly left the restaurant.


    Looking at the lunch on the ground, he walked to the counter and ordered two more lunches.


    The people around feared Qin Hao¡¯s demeanor; he was excessively fierce, daring to strike a member of the Pei Family in Changliu City without fleeing. Was he not afraid of their revenge?


    The reason Qin Hao spared Pei Rui was to teach Xue Lingling a lesson, on how to deal with enemies.


    After all, she was still young, maybe a bit soft-hearted. Only by going through certain events would she understand what to do in the future.


    After ordering lunch, Qin Hao and Xue Lingling sat on the first floor, waiting for Pei Rui¡¯s revenge.


    The food quickly arrived, and Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Ling¡¯er, eat something.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Xue Lingling nodded.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Can you tell uncle why you didn¡¯t let me kill him just now?¡±


    Xue Lingling hesitated and said, ¡°Uncle, I thought I was fine, so I felt it unnecessary to kill him. Did I do something wrong?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled: ¡°Ling¡¯er, you didn¡¯t do anything wrong, but it depends on the person. This person¡¯s status is prestigious, having been humiliated by us, he won¡¯t swallow this anger. Later, he will surely come with more people for revenge.¡±


    Xue Lingling¡¯s face changed at his words, quickly saying, ¡°Uncle, let¡¯s leave fast.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s probably too late now.¡± Qin Hao said while eating.


    Sure enough, within a short time, Pei Rui returned, bringing over twenty guards and an early-stage expert, a powerful guard from his mother¡¯s side.


    Pei Rui looked at Qin Hao with a ferocious expression: ¡°Weren¡¯t you arrogant just now? Let¡¯s see you act tough again now!¡±


    Then he glared at Xue Lingling: ¡°You little brat, tonight I¡¯ll have ten men have their way with you.¡±


    ...


    Hearing his vicious words, Xue Lingling turned pale with fright.


    Qin Hao still sat there without moving, raising his head to look at Pei Rui: ¡°I gave you a chance earlier, but you didn¡¯t take it.¡±


    Pei Rui was momentarily stunned by his words. At that moment, Qin Hao flicked his finger, and an invisible, fierce Sword Qi sliced through, swiftly crossing Pei Rui¡¯s neck.


    His head rolled off, blood spurting wildly.


    The Pei Family servants and the people in the restaurant were stunned. He actually killed Pei Rui from the Pei Family?


    ¡°Attack, kill him.¡± The Pei Family¡¯s early-stage expert commanded fiercely.


    The Pei Family guards swarmed forward, and that expert sent a message back to the family while joining the fight.


    Inside the Pei Family mansion in Changliu City.


    Pei Rui¡¯s mother, the legitimate wife of the Pei Family Head, paled upon receiving the servant¡¯s Yu Stone message and hurried into the mansion¡¯s lounge.


    In the Pei Family mansion lounge, the Family Head, Pei Changming, was entertaining an Outer Elder of the Red Cloud Sect and disciples including Nie Feng.


    ¡°Mr. Pei, regarding Pei Qing, it¡¯s settled then. This child has excellent talent and will surely become a master under the Red Cloud Sect¡¯s guidance.¡± Mr. Song, the elder of the Red Cloud Sect, said with a smile.


    Pei Changming laughed heartily: ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to Mr. Song.¡±


    At that moment, a middle-aged woman suddenly rushed in from the back hall, speaking urgently before Pei Changming could scold her, ¡°Changming, something terrible has happened, our Rui¡¯er was killed, right inside the Tiantai Restaurant.¡±


    Pei Changming¡¯s face changed drastically at the news, ¡°What? Who dares to kill my son Pei Changming in Changliu City?¡±


    He quickly apologized to Mr. Song and said, ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Song, I¡¯ll have to leave for a moment.¡±


    Mr. Song suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go and have a look together. Perhaps we can assist Mr. Pei.¡±


    Pei Changming did not refuse. The group flew rapidly towards the Tiantai Restaurant, arriving there in a matter of seconds.


    The fight inside the restaurant had already ceased, and all Pei Family servants were slain by Qin Hao¡¯s Sword Qi. He had just comprehended some insights from the Sword Intent Talisman and used them to test on these people, proving extremely powerful.


    ¡°Congratulations to the host for earning five hundred merit points.¡±


    Upon their deaths, a system voice echoed in Qin Hao¡¯s mind.


    At that moment, Pei Changming and his companions entered, seeing Pei Rui¡¯s headless corpse, Pei Changming¡¯s face turned ashen, looking at Qin Hao and Xue Lingling not far away.


    At that moment, only the two of them were on the first floor, as everyone else had run off in fear or upstairs to the second floor.


    ¡°For daring to kill my son, I will grind your bones to dust.¡± Pei Changming¡¯s voice was filled with murderous intent, releasing a powerful aura.


    ¡°Mr. Pei is already an Innate expert, this is terrifying.¡±


    ¡°When did Mr. Pei break through to the Innate Realm?¡±


    ¡°Beneath Innate, all are ants, this man and girl are surely doomed today, they¡¯ll likely be tortured to death.¡±


    ¡°The Pei Family being the top family in Changliu City is all due to Pei Changming¡¯s presence, ruthless and never leaving future troubles for his family.¡±


    Qin Hao swiftly shielded Xue Lingling behind him, emitting his own aura to counter Pei Changming¡¯s.


    Although his level was far below Pei Changming¡¯s, he had just grasped a trace of Sword Intent, enough to resist the aura of an Innate expert.


    As Qin Hao looked at the people beside Pei Changming, his eyes narrowed slightly; Nie Feng, Pang Yi, Lan Sihui and others were there, seemingly from the Red Cloud Sect.

 Chapter 932: 932 Identity Exposure

    Chapter 932: Chapter 932 Identity Exposure


    This is a bit troublesome now, Pei Changming is an Innate master, and that elder from the Red Cloud Sect should also be an Innate-level expert.


    Added with Nie Feng and others, he can¡¯t fight head-on; if it weren¡¯t for Xue Lingling, he might give it a try.


    ¡°Die.¡±


    Pei Changming¡¯s figure disappeared from the spot, and he struck out a palm in the air, a giant flame palm towards Qin Hao.


    ¡°Is this the Fire Cloud Palm, the Pei Family¡¯s ultimate skill?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been many years since I¡¯ve seen the Pei Family¡¯s Fire Cloud Palm, and its power is still as potent as back in the day.¡±


    ¡°Boom¡±


    A giant palm print appeared on the ground where Qin Hao stood, and the entire inn trembled slightly.


    As the dust settled, there was no sign of Qin Hao.


    At this moment, Qin Hao was holding Xue Lingling while standing on the second floor. When Pei Changming and others saw him, they slightly squinted their eyes, flashing a hint of surprise at the speed.


    ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± Pei Changming asked as he looked at him.


    Qin Hao sneered: ¡°Who I am, you¡¯re not qualified to know.¡±


    Pei Changming¡¯s face darkened: ¡°Arrogant.¡±


    He raised his palm and struck again; Qin Hao, unfazed, joined his index and middle fingers, using them as a sword, sweeping out wisps of Sword Qi.


    The Sword Qi seemed chaotic, but it actually contained a profound Sword Intent.


    Pei Changming and the others initially looked disdainful, but after a few seconds, their expressions changed; this was no ordinary Sword Qi.


    ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡±


    The Sword Qi and Pei Changming¡¯s Fire Cloud Palm collided, and although Pei Changming was an Innate-level expert, his Fire Cloud Palm did not overwhelm Qin Hao¡¯s Sword Qi.


    ¡°Such strong Sword Intent, Mr. Pei, let me assist you.¡± The elder from the Red Cloud Sect, Song Liang, stepped forward.


    Wielding a long sword, he swung it forward, a red Sword Beam swept horizontally, imposing in momentum, causing the entire wooden inn to shake.


    Others blocked the inn¡¯s exit to prevent Qin Hao from escaping.


    Qin Hao flicked his fingers, Sword Qi sweeping out, cutting towards Song Liang¡¯s Sword Beam.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    The Sword Qi and the Sword Beam collided; after a few seconds of stalemate, the Sword Qi was broken, and the Sword Beam¡¯s power also reduced significantly as it continued to sweep over.


    Forcing, Qin Hao took out his alloy long sword, a Sword Beam swept out, shattering the red Sword Beam.


    Not far away, Pang Yi saw Qin Hao¡¯s alloy long sword, his expression froze, soon reacting with uncertainty as he looked at Qin Hao: ¡°Elder, the sword he holds is exactly like Qin Hao¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Powerful Sword Intent? Elder, he¡¯s Qin Hao, the Sword Intent Talisman is in his hand.¡± Nie Feng heard Pang Yi¡¯s words and quickly reacted, speaking urgently.


    Song Liang suddenly realized: ¡°No wonder you possess such strong Sword Intent, you are Qin Hao.¡±


    Qin Hao said nothing, holding Ling¡¯er with one arm, wielding the alloy long sword in the other, performing Ten Thousand Thunder Breaking the Sky, enveloping everyone present.


    Upon seeing the familiar move, Nie Feng, Pang Yi, and others became even more convinced he was Qin Hao.


    ¡°Kill.¡±


    Song Liang charged against the tide, his long sword waving, layers of Sword Beams enveloped Qin Hao. He exerted his full effort; such items like a Sword Intent Talisman are rare and must be obtained, greatly enhancing his strength.


    Pei Changming, seeking revenge for his son and to establish the Pei Family¡¯s prestige, also fully exerted his effort, with others attacking from the periphery.


    This left Qin Hao a bit overwhelmed.


    His realm wasn¡¯t high, only advantageous in having the spatial Mecha; holding Xue Lingling, he protected her fully, rushing outward with the highest speed.


    Along the way, several Sword Beams and palm prints hit his back.


    Although the spatial Mecha had strong defensive capabilities, the powerful counterforce from the attacks caused him some internal injury.


    The wooden inn¡¯s wall was directly smashed into a large hole by Qin Hao, his figure disappeared instantly without a trace.


    Though the foremost feature of the spatial Mecha is space jumping, his normal speed is terrifying; the superluminal propulsion device allowed Qin Hao to fly out of Changliu City in less than three seconds.


    Pei Changming didn¡¯t even have time to activate the City Protection Array.


    ¡°Wha... what is this speed?¡± Pei Changming looked incredulously at Qin Hao¡¯s disappearing figure.


    Song Liang explained: ¡°This person should be using some secret treasure, otherwise, the speed wouldn¡¯t be so fast. Even experts in the Grandmaster Realm don¡¯t have such speed.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity, letting this kid escape.¡± Pei Changming¡¯s eyes flashed a trace of regret, realizing that if he had directly activated the City Protection Array at the start, Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t have gotten away.


    Song Liang continued: ¡°Mr. Pei need not fret, our Red Cloud Sect has issued a wanted order for him; as long as he¡¯s in Jiangping State, he can¡¯t get away.¡±


    ...


    After Qin Hao and Ling¡¯er left Changliu City, they flew for another distance before stopping.


    Setting Ling¡¯er down, Qin Hao looked at Xue Lingling and asked: ¡°Ling¡¯er, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m alright, are you injured?¡± She noticed blood at the corner of Qin Hao¡¯s mouth, looking a bit worried.


    Qin Hao wiped the blood off the corner of his mouth: ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a minor injury.¡±


    Just then, a figure suddenly flew out from the distant bushes, moving like lightning, its bloody mouth aimed at Xue Lingling.


    ¡°Screech¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s alloy long sword flashed out, directly slicing the Lightning Leopard in half, its blood pouring out, splattering everywhere.


    Xue Lingling was startled, watching the Lightning Leopard nervously on the ground, its body still crackling with arcs of lightning, extremely scary.


    ¡°Congratulations to the host for slaying the Lightning Leopard, rewarded with 10 merit points.¡±


    Within the Lightning Leopard¡¯s body, Qin Hao found a demon core, sparkling with arc lightning, a valuable item.


    Cultivators can absorb and refine it, or sell it to alchemists to refine into pills.


    After cleaning up the Lightning Leopard, Qin Hao said: ¡°Let¡¯s go, Ling¡¯er.¡±


    The two walked in the mountain forest, where there were many beasts; only in those towns was it safe, and generally, few would walk alone in the wild forest.


    ¡°Uncle, where are we going?¡± Xue Lingling asked curiously as she followed him.


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said: ¡°Let¡¯s go to Jiangping City first; it¡¯s the state city of Jiangping State, very bustling.¡±


    Walking alongside, Xue Lingling asked curiously: ¡°Uncle, where do you intend to go?¡±


    Qin Hao was momentarily stunned, his eyes showing a trace of melancholy and confusion: ¡°I don¡¯t know where to go either.¡±


    ¡°Uncle, how can you not know where you¡¯re going?¡± Xue Lingling curiously looked at him.


    Qin Hao: ¡°I don¡¯t know where they are either.¡±


    ¡°Who are they?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°My son and daughter were taken away by someone, and I¡¯m looking for them, but I have no idea where they are.¡±


    Xue Lingling comforted him: ¡°Uncle, you¡¯ll definitely find them; they will be alright.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your kind words.¡± Qin Hao smiled, patting her head.


    At night, Qin Hao and Ling¡¯er spent the night in the mountain forest; Qin Hao opened the merit mall and hesitated before exchanging for a superior cultivation technique.


    That night, Qin Hao cultivated while studying the Sword Intent Talisman.


    By morning, with the sun rising.


    Qin Hao slowly opened his eyes, his bright gaze seemed to flash with sword light, terrifying and daunting.

 Chapter 933: 933 System Task

    Chapter 933: Chapter 933 System Task


    Every time he comprehended this Sword Intent Talisman, Qin Hao felt he gained a lot.


    Xue Lingling quickly woke up, and during breakfast, Qin Hao said to Ling¡¯er, ¡°Ling¡¯er, do you want to cultivate?¡±


    Ling¡¯er nodded her head, ¡°I want to become strong, so I can protect the people around me and help Uncle. Are you asking me to cultivate, Uncle?¡±


    ¡°Then sit down, relax, and don¡¯t resist, or it will damage your Divine Sense.¡± Qin Hao instructed her.


    Ling¡¯er sat there, looking at him seriously.


    Qin Hao placed his finger on her forehead, and a stream of information poured into her mind, ¡°This is the complete ¡®Burning Moon Immortal Scripture¡¯, a very good Cultivation Technique, practice it well.¡±


    Xue Lingling absorbed the knowledge in her mind, hurriedly stood up, and knelt before him, ¡°Thank you, Master, Ling¡¯er will definitely work hard on cultivating.¡±


    ¡°Get up, just call me Uncle, there¡¯s no need for Master.¡± Qin Hao quickly went over to help her up.


    But Xue Lingling insisted on kneeling there, ¡°My parents told me before that even a small favor should be returned a hundredfold. Master saved me and avenged the entire village, and now you are teaching me a Cultivation Technique. In my heart, you are my Master, my father.¡±


    Once a teacher, a father for life!


    Qin Hao sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve never been anyone¡¯s Master, I¡¯m not good at teaching others. Just call me Uncle.¡±


    ¡°Is Master displeased with Ling¡¯er¡¯s lack of talent?¡± Xue Lingling looked up, her delicate young face filled with grievance, her eyes already red, on the verge of tears.


    Qin Hao: ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean, forget it, just call me Master then.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡± Ling¡¯er got up and ran to his side, holding his arm, ¡°Master is the best, wooden horse.¡± After saying this, she kissed Qin Hao on the cheek.


    Qin Hao, ¡°You little girl, focus on your cultivation. There are some Spirit Stones in this storage ring, enough for you to practice for a while.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    Xue Lingling¡¯s talent was not bad, and the Burning Moon Immortal Scripture was indeed powerful. Within about half an hour, she found the sensation of Qi, and soon reached the first level of Qi Refinement.


    Then the two of them continued on their journey, cultivating non-stop, absorbing Spiritual Energy from the heavens and earth, and the essence of sun, moon, and stars.


    Along the way, they encountered many demons, none of whom Qin Hao spared, and whenever they met a weaker one, he would guide Ling¡¯er to kill the demon beast, which also served to increase her practical experience.


    They had been traversing the mountains and forests for over ten days, passing through several towns.


    Qin Hao had already broken through to the eleventh level of the Qi Refinement Realm because he hunted two early Postnatal Realm demon beasts along the way, absorbing and refining their demon cores. Otherwise, how could he have broken through two realms so quickly?


    Now he was somewhat reluctant to leave because there were many demon beasts here. He could use Mecha to hunt high-level demon beasts, absorb and refine their demon cores to improve his realm.


    ¡°Master, I¡¯m back.¡± Ling¡¯er walked out from the distant woods, carrying a demon beast of the fifth level of Qi Refinement in her hand.


    Even though she was only at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, her real combat power could rival experts of the sixth or seventh level. This was one of the strengths of top-tier Cultivation Techniques.


    ¡°Are you injured?¡± Qin Hao noticed the claw marks on her arm and frowned slightly.


    Ling¡¯er laughed sheepishly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Master. It¡¯ll be better soon. You rest, and I¡¯ll roast some meat for you.¡±


    Ling¡¯er now appeared much more mature than before and had grown considerably taller.


    Qin Hao sat meditating and cultivating while she started a fire and began roasting the meat.


    After ten minutes or so, Ling¡¯er cut off a piece of meat and handed it to Qin Hao, ¡°Master, have some meat.¡±


    Qin Hao opened his eyes with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re becoming more and more considerate.¡±


    ¡°As long as Master is happy.¡± Xue Lingling said sweetly.


    After having lunch, Qin Hao took her back on the road. They had deviated from their original route, delving deeper into the mountain ranges.


    ¡°We are now not far from Jiangping City. At our current speed, we can reach Jiangping City in two or three days.¡± Qin Hao said to Xue Lingling.


    Xue Lingling, ¡°Master, will we also be wanted in Jiangping City?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°It¡¯s possible. I¡¯ll go ahead and check things out when we get there.¡±


    The Red Cloud Sect had a great reputation in Jiangping State, and their wanted posters were probably also posted in Jiangping City.


    Jiangping City was the state capital of Jiangping State, situated in the central location with an excellent geographical position and abundant Spiritual Energy. It was a great place.


    ¡°Ding, system main mission triggered: kill the son of the Jiangping State lord, Li Yifan, who is secretly cultivating Demon Skills and has cruelly killed countless young boys and girls.¡±


    ¡°Mission rewards include two thousand merits and a random magical item. The mission must be completed within five days; failure will erase all merits.¡±


    Qin Hao hadn¡¯t heard the system mission voice for a long time.


    Kill the son of Jiangping State¡¯s lord?


    This damn thing wants me to become a wanted criminal throughout Jiangping State?


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Master?¡± Xue Lingling asked, seeing him standing still, curious about his sudden stop.


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Two days later, Qin Hao and Xue Lingling arrived near Jiangping City. At that moment, they were still in a forest area, about ten miles away from Jiangping City.


    By then, one could already see many cultivators on the road and in the air.


    Qin Hao once again changed his appearance, ¡°Ling¡¯er, wait for me here, I¡¯ll go ahead to check out the situation. I¡¯ll inform you through the jade token if there¡¯s any news.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Master, be careful.¡± Ling¡¯er¡¯s eyes showed concern.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, nothing will happen to Master.¡± Qin Hao flew low to the ground, speeding towards Jiangping City.


    Cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm could only fly at low altitudes unless they reached the Postnatal Realm, where they could soar through the air, and their speed would increase significantly.


    About five or six minutes later, Qin Hao arrived outside Jiangping City. At this time, he was dressed like a noble young master, handsome and elegant, wearing expensive clothes.


    Just one look would make people think he was a young master from some prestigious family.


    Next to the city gate, there were several notices posted, one of which was a wanted poster for Qin Hao, featuring two images of him and Xue Lingling¡¯s portrait.


    Luckily, he came to take a look in advance; otherwise, he would have been caught by them.


    Qin Hao walked into Jiangping City; it was much larger than Nanxing City and Changliu City, by several times at least.


    Upon entering the city, Qin Hao sent a jade token transmission to Xue Lingling, ¡°Ling¡¯er, I¡¯ve now entered the city. You wait for me nearby. After I finish my business, I¡¯ll come to find you.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Master, Ling¡¯er will wait for you here.¡±


    After ending the jade token transmission, Qin Hao walked further into the city, contemplating how he would kill the son of the Jiangping State lord.


    This was the son of a state lord, after all. The state lord¡¯s residence would definitely have strict security. Even with his Spatial Mecha, he might not be able to kill Li Yifan.


    So he could only make a move outside the state lord¡¯s residence, then rely on the Spatial Mecha¡¯s advantage to escape the city.


    Before doing all this, he needed to investigate Li Yifan¡¯s daily whereabouts.


    [On the last day of 2018, I plan to express something, what about you? Haha]

 Chapter 934: 934 Immortal Miao Building

    Chapter 934: Chapter 934 Immortal Miao Building


    Regarding gathering information, Qin Hao had no channels, so he had to go to a nearby tavern.


    Here, the crowd is a mix of fish and snakes, with all sorts of people, and all kinds of information can be heard.


    Qin Hao ordered two dishes and a bottle of wine, and started drinking leisurely.


    ¡°Did you see the notice at the city gate? The Red Cloud Sect is hunting a demonic cultivator who slaughtered a small tribe and killed the City Lord of Changliu City¡¯s son. Such arrogance!¡±


    ¡°I learned about this when I was in Changliu City. I was at that tavern. That person was terrifying, bringing a little girl and fought against the City Lord of Changliu City and the elder of the Red Cloud Sect without being disadvantaged, and finally left gracefully.¡±


    ¡°A reward of three hundred thousand spirit stones has been offered, I wish I could spot where Qin Hao is.¡±


    ¡°The Red Cloud Sect, Xuanyang Sect, Fiery Flame Sect, and Holy Thunder Sect have opened their doors for recruitment. Do you want to try out?¡±


    ¡°Of course! If chosen by one of the sects, there¡¯s hope to breakthrough to the Postnatal Realm and Innate Realm in the future.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard people from the four sects have come to Jiangping City, apparently aiming to recruit the son of the governor, Li Yifan, into their sects.¡±


    ¡°Li Yifan is a renowned genius in our Jiangping State. Will he join these four sects?¡±


    ¡°These four major sects have been in Jiangping State for thousands of years, deeply rooted, with countless cultivation techniques and Divine Skills, and incredibly abundant cultivation resources.¡±


    ...


    After listening for half a day, Qin Hao hadn¡¯t heard any useful information, which left him speechless.


    After eating, he walked out of the tavern, and not far from there, someone suddenly approached him: ¡°Is this gentleman looking for information?¡±


    Qin Hao turned to look at him, his eyes full of suspicion.


    The person hurriedly explained: ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand me, I just noticed you¡¯ve been sitting inside the tavern for a while, so I assumed you might need some information.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°How did you know I was here for information?¡±


    The man smiled slightly: ¡°You dress unusually, clearly not an ordinary person, and normally wouldn¡¯t dine in such a place. Thus, seeing you here, you surely must be looking for some news.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded faintly: ¡°You¡¯re right, I am looking for some information. Do you have any?¡±


    ¡°Of course! From large dynasties and major sects to small kingdoms and minor sects throughout the Hidden Dragon Continent, we have all kinds of information here, though prices differ.¡± The man smiled.


    Hearing this, Qin Hao appraised him: ¡°With such prowess, how come you¡¯re soliciting customers on the street?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re here to serve those unaware of us, like you.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Take me to see it then.¡±


    ¡°Alright, please follow me.¡± The man led Qin Hao back into the tavern but this time to a four-story building behind it.


    There weren¡¯t many people inside. The man led him to the counter: ¡°Li Gaoshu, this is the guest.¡±


    The man looked at Qin Hao, while Qin Hao scrutinized him. Li Gaoshu, a middle-aged man whose strength was unfathomable, was inscrutable to Qin Hao.


    ¡°Please come in and sit.¡± He took Qin Hao to a room at the back where only the two of them were.


    He looked at Qin Hao and asked: ¡°What information does the gentleman seek?¡±


    ¡°I want all the information on Li Yifan, the governor¡¯s son of Jiangping State. How many spirit stones?¡± Qin Hao asked.


    The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment, then said: ¡°Which aspect of information do you need? His daily whereabouts or his strength?¡±


    ¡°His whereabouts, I¡¯d like to know where he goes each day.¡±


    Middle-aged man: ¡°Li Yifan rarely goes out, sometimes not stepping outside for an entire month. However, there¡¯s a gathering tomorrow night that he should attend; the venue is the Immortal Miao Building.¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned: ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°Otherwise? If you want knowledge of his strength, cultivation techniques, Divine Skills, and weaknesses, we can get that too, but it would be expensive.¡± The middle-aged man smiled.


    Qin Hao: ¡°That¡¯s sufficient. I¡¯d like an image of him too. How much in total?¡±


    Middle-aged man: ¡°Altogether, it¡¯s ten thousand inferior-grade spirit stones.¡±


    Qin Hao was speechless, it¡¯s like robbery for just a few words and ten thousand inferior-grade spirit stones?


    ¡°This price is not high. Li Yifan is one of the governor¡¯s most valued sons, and if you want detailed information, it will cost at least a hundred thousand inferior-grade spirit stones.¡± The middle-aged man explained with a smile.


    Qin Hao took out ten thousand spirit stones and handed them over: ¡°Give me his image.¡±


    Receiving the spirit stones, the middle-aged man produced a jade piece with Li Yifan¡¯s image, without which Qin Hao wouldn¡¯t recognize him.


    After viewing the image, Qin Hao turned to leave, but the middle-aged man quickly said: ¡°Please hold on. This is our Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion jade piece. If you need any information in the future, you can contact me directly. We have branches in major cities across the continent, so you might need it someday.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Qin Hao was about to take it when the man continued: ¡°Our Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion jade pieces are also sold separately, costing ten thousand inferior-grade spirit stones.¡±


    Qin Hao hesitated briefly but eventually paid the ten thousand spirit stones, took the jade piece, and left.


    After Qin Hao left, a gleam flashed in the middle-aged man¡¯s eyes. This person¡¯s disguise skill is strong, even I can¡¯t see through to his true identity. He seeks Li Yifan¡¯s information; could he be a foe of the Li Family?


    ...


    After leaving the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, Qin Hao went to several miscellaneous shops, purchasing some items and a few maps: one of Jiangping City and another of the Tianxiang Dynasty.


    On the map, Qin Hao found the location of the Immortal Miao Building, situated in the most bustling area of Jiangping City.


    The Immortal Miao Building isn¡¯t a common tavern; it resembles a historical brothel.


    Qin Hao settled into a nearby inn, awaiting tomorrow night¡¯s banquet, while pondering tomorrow¡¯s plan and how to proceed.


    In the evening, Qin Hao briefly explained to Ling¡¯er, advising her to be cautious while alone outside.


    Subsequently, he began cultivating, adjusting his state until around five o¡¯clock the next afternoon, when he opened his eyes and left the tavern.


    Exiting the tavern, Qin Hao arrived at the entrance of the Immortal Miao Building, where, even before entering, he smelled a lingering fragrance wafting from inside, accompanied by the sound of women¡¯s laughter.


    Qin Hao took a step inside and was greeted by an old madam: ¡°Welcome to the Immortal Miao Building, sir. Our ladies here are pretty and lovely, guaranteed to satisfy.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I heard you have a Heavenly Immortal beauty named Miss Xian Yin here, is that correct?¡±


    The madam laughed: ¡°So you¡¯re here for Miss Xian Yin? Fortunately, she¡¯s not engaged right now, but her price is quite high, and she only performs, not accompanies.¡±


    [At 1:02 in the deep night, I bring you another update and wish everyone a Happy New Year]

 Chapter 935: 935 Banquet

    Chapter 935: Chapter 935 Banquet


    ¡°Spirit stones are not an issue. Is this enough?¡± Qin Hao tossed ten thousand low-grade spirit stones to the brothel madam.


    The madam beamed with joy, ¡°That¡¯s enough. Miss Xian Yin has another engagement shortly.¡±


    She hurriedly led Qin Hao to a small courtyard behind a pavilion. The courtyard featured a garden, pavilions, and corridors, creating a pleasing view.


    Led by the madam, Qin Hao arrived at the second floor of the pavilion.


    The madam knocked on the door, ¡°Miss Xian Yin, you have a guest.¡±


    ¡°Come in,¡± a clear and lovely voice answered from inside, like a yellow oriole emerging from a valley, melodious and lingering.


    Hearing the voice was like seeing the person. Qin Hao was also stunned by the voice, so beautiful.


    The madam opened the door with a smile, ¡°Please come in, sir.¡±


    Qin Hao entered, and the madam closed the door behind him.


    Inside the room, there was a gauzy curtain at the balcony. Behind it, the silhouette of a graceful lady could be faintly seen, but her appearance was unclear.


    ¡°Please take a seat, sir.¡± The woman¡¯s voice was melodious and gentle, like orchids in a secluded valley, softening the heart.


    No wonder every time Li Yifan came out, the first place he visited was here; if it were Qin Hao, he might come here every time too.


    Miss Xian Yin¡¯s voice was truly breathtaking, indeed living up to her name.


    Qin Hao sat on a soft cushion, gazing at Xian Yin behind the curtain. He was now a bit curious about her appearance.


    ¡°Miss Xian Yin, may I see your appearance?¡± Qin Hao asked with a smile.


    Xian Yin replied, ¡°Looks are just a shell, nothing much to see. I shall perform a piece for you instead.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled lightly, ¡°Does Miss Xian Yin think the spirit stones are not enough? If not, name your price. Today, I only want to see your face.¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, Xian Yin frowned slightly, ¡°Please do not trouble me, sir. I have never shown my face to anyone.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Is that so? Has Li Yifan ever seen it?¡± Qin Hao asked coolly.


    Xian Yin was startled for a moment, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°In that case, please play a piece,¡± Qin Hao no longer insisted on seeing her face.


    Xian Yin softly asked, ¡°What piece does the gentleman prefer?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Anything will do, play what you are best at.¡±


    Xian Yin sat there, placing her hands on the guzheng. The sound of the guzheng arose, its melody gentle, cleansing and rolling, revealing a homesick sorrow.


    While listening to her guzheng, Qin Hao couldn¡¯t help but envision scenes of his hometown, parents, relatives, wife, and children in his mind.


    After the piece ended, the melody echoed in Qin Hao¡¯s mind, lingering long.


    Not only was Xian Yin¡¯s voice beautiful, but her guzheng playing was also astonishing.


    ¡°Impressive, Miss Xian Yin indeed lives up to her name, played very well.¡± Qin Hao praised without reservation.


    Xian Yin replied flatly, ¡°Thank you for your praise, sir. What else would you like to hear?¡±


    ¡°Anything you find impressive will do,¡± Qin Hao didn¡¯t say much more.


    Xian Yin continued to play, for over half an hour as dusk fell, the madam knocked on the door and entered, ¡°Sorry, sir, we have a banquet in the Immortal Miao Building tonight, and Miss Xian Yin needs to perform there.¡±


    Knowing the real business was about to begin, Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t delay Miss Xian Yin any longer then.¡±


    Xian Yin emerged from behind the curtain at this moment, her face covered with a veil, making it impossible to see her appearance. It wasn¡¯t a regular veil; it could block divine sense.


    She glanced at Qin Hao, then followed the madam out.


    Qin Hao also went out, planning to take a look at tonight¡¯s banquet.


    The banquet tonight was hosted by Li Yifan, inviting people from the four major sects, mostly talented disciples and newly recruited talents of the sects.


    The banquet had no restrictions; anyone interested could join. Tonight¡¯s banquet gathered many young talents from Jiangping State.


    The location of the banquet was in the garden behind the Immortal Miao Building; the garden was large, with many tables already set up and quite a number of people already present.


    Upon entering, Qin Hao wandered around a bit before finding a table to sit down at.


    After arriving here, Miss Xian Yin entered a pavilion.


    As more and more guests arrived at the banquet, over a hundred, most of whom were young talents, both male and female, from various towns in Jiangping State.


    Close to seven o¡¯clock, Li Yifan and his entourage entered, along with a few old acquaintances of Qin Hao¡¯s.


    Nie Feng, Pang Yi, and Lan Sihui from the Red Cloud Sect were among them. There were also people from the other three sects Qin Hao didn¡¯t know.


    Li Yifan, the son of the Jiangping State Prefect, was handsome and exceptionally gifted, a renowned young genius, admired by countless.


    ¡°Is that Li Yifan? So handsome, he¡¯s my idol.¡± A young female cultivator at Qin Hao¡¯s table looked at Li Yifan with shining eyes.


    ¡°Young Master Li is a prodigy. It¡¯s said he¡¯s a postnatal peak expert, only half a step away from the Innate Realm, an Innate expert at twenty, rare in Jiangping State for a thousand years.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s terrifying. Many can¡¯t break through to the Innate Realm in a lifetime, yet Young Master Li is about to at twenty.¡±


    ¡°Amazing, if only he were my dao companion,¡± another lovestruck girl at the table said.


    Qin Hao also observed Li Yifan, with a courteous and gentle demeanor, giving an impression of a spring breeze.


    Who would have thought someone so outwardly perfect would cultivate harmful and heinous evil skills?


    No one present would probably guess, and if Qin Hao hadn¡¯t received a system alert, he wouldn¡¯t have known either.


    Thinking of this, Qin Hao looked at Li Yifan, showing a derisive expression¡ªa typical example of knowing the face but not the heart.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that expression? Do you look down on Young Master Li?¡± A female cultivator at his side, having noticed his expression, said displeased.


    Qin Hao glanced at her, lavishly dressed, with a Qi Refinement Level Nine strength, presumably a wealthy family¡¯s heiress.


    His target tonight was Li Yifan, so he ignored the female cultivator.


    To prevent the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion from leaking his information, Qin Hao had altered his appearance for the night, still in a noble young master¡¯s guise but significantly different from yesterday.


    ¡°Tongtong, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Another female cultivator looked at her and Qin Hao with confusion.


    The one called Tongtong glared at Qin Hao, turned, and said, ¡°Cousin, he just gave a sneering smile toward Young Master Li, what¡¯s that about?¡±


    The other female cultivator, sensing Qin Hao¡¯s Qi Refinement Level Eleven strength, disdainfully said, ¡°Young Master Li is unparalleled, a prodigy; it¡¯s normal for some wastes to be envious and hateful. Don¡¯t engage with such people; it¡¯s a waste of time and energy.¡±


    [Today is the first day of the new year, updating diligently.]

 Chapter 936: 936: Banquet Interlude

    Chapter 936: Chapter 936: Banquet Interlude


    ¡°Alright, cousin.¡±


    The other cultivators at the table glanced at Qin Hao, their eyes revealing disdain.


    Except for the younger one, Tongtong, the others at the table were at the twelfth level of Qi Refinement or at the initial stages of the Postnatal Middle Stage, all renowned talents in their own right.


    Even they secretly held great admiration for Li Yifan; for someone to dare ridicule him was simply arrogant beyond measure.


    Qin Hao heard the taunts from the two young female cultivators, yet his face remained expressionless, as if he heard nothing. Such people were not worth his attention.


    Li Yifan and his entourage had already reached the table at the center of the garden and taken their seats.


    A nearby old servant turned and addressed everyone, saying, ¡°Welcome to the banquet hosted by our young master. All present are talents from various regions, and our young master hopes for future exchanges on the path of cultivation and mutual progress. With the four major sects now recruiting disciples, take this opportunity to join your preferred sect. Now, let us all enjoy a performance by Miss Xian Yin.¡±


    As his words settled, the sound of a guzheng echoed from the balcony on the second floor of the nearby pavilion, where Xian Yin sat playing.


    The entire banquet fell silent as everyone listened intently to the guzheng performance by Xian Yin.


    Minutes later, when the piece ended, everyone still found themselves savoring the lingering beauty.


    ¡°Wonderful!¡± Someone at Li Yifan¡¯s table exclaimed and began to clap.


    The guests followed suit with applause, marveling at the unprecedented melody and score that had astonished and overwhelmed them.


    Xian Yin stood up on the pavilion balcony, her shimmering eyes looking below, ¡°Li Yifan, this young lady wishes to perform a sword dance for the young talents present. Will Li Yifan be kind enough to accompany me?¡±


    The banquet buzzed with noise; Miss Xian Yin invited Li Yifan to dance with her in front of everyone, making her feelings for him quite obvious.


    Many had heard rumors of Li Yifan and Xian Yin, saying that whenever Li Yifan left the mansion, the first place he visited was the Immortal Miao Building, seeking out Miss Xian Yin, suggesting there were mutual affections between them.


    However, Li Yifan held extraordinary status and talent; though Xian Yin was also a remarkable beauty, her status was far inferior, at best capable of being a concubine.


    To be Li Yifan¡¯s concubine was considered climbing high, turning a crow into a phoenix regarding status.


    Many daughters of noble families present showed looks of envy and jealousy, such as the two who had earlier spoken against Qin Hao, now nearly aflame with anger.


    Li Yifan was the idol in their hearts, and now a mere courtesan from a brothel invited their idol to dance; such news was unwelcome to them.


    Witnessing their expressions, Qin Hao chuckled inwardly. Why are you feeling envious and resentful now?


    Xian Yin leapt off the pavilion balcony, her gown flowing like an immortal descending to earth, capturing the awe of many; she was breathtakingly beautiful.


    Xian Yin landed on the martial stage within the garden, usually reserved for duels and performances like dance and music.


    Li Yifan floated up gracefully, equally charming, resembling a celestial couple, seemingly made for each other.


    Xian Yin drew a soft sword, with a twist of her wrist, elegant sword blossoms appeared.


    Coordinating with her sword dance, Li Yifan complemented her, sword qi rampant on the martial stage, harmonizing perfectly...


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the Zither Phoenix Song? They truly seem like a match made in heaven.¡± Someone became captivated by the pair on the martial stage.


    Once these words were uttered, many young women around turned toward him, their fierce gazes making the person shiver.


    In that moment, the scene on the martial stage changed abruptly, Xian Yin¡¯s soft sword suddenly thrust toward Li Yifan.


    This scene left everyone startled; what was this? There seemed to be no such sword dance sequence in the Zither Phoenix Song!


    Li Yifan reacted swiftly, parrying with his sword at extreme speed, narrowly avoiding the soft sword piercing his chest.


    Witnessing this, a flicker of regret and reluctance flashed in Xian Yin¡¯s eyes as she kicked toward Li Yifan.


    Li Yifan retreated gracefully, moving back several meters.


    His gaze filled with suspicion as he looked at Xian Yin, ¡°Why do you want to kill me?¡±


    The old servant below intended to capture Xian Yin but was stopped by Li Yifan¡ªhe didn¡¯t regard a woman as a threat.


    Everyone was confused; what was happening? Was the Immortal Miao Building¡¯s Miss Xian Yin attempting to kill Li Yifan?


    The owner of the Immortal Miao Building had already fainted from shock.


    Qin Hao watched, his eyes slightly narrowed, face showing intrigue. He hadn¡¯t expected tonight¡¯s banquet to unfold this way¡ªit was quite the spectacle.


    Xian Yin, with hatred on her face, looked at Li Yifan, ¡°Do you remember the family obliterated by the Li Family two years ago? My family, all three thousand members, were slaughtered by your Li Family. Today, I¡¯m here to avenge them.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re a surviving member of the Jiang Family, hiding this well. If I hadn¡¯t broken through to the Innate Realm, I might have fallen for your scheme today.¡±


    Upon hearing Li Yifan¡¯s words, everyone¡¯s expressions changed slightly¡ªInnate Realm?


    Did he break through to the Innate Realm?


    Xian Yin¡¯s expression also changed¡ªthe Innate Realm? Below Innate, all are ants; Xian Yin, currently at the Postnatal Middle Stage, stood no chance against an Innate expert.


    But now there was no retreat for her. With a shout, Xian Yin charged, soft sword sweeping, emitting waves of sword light.


    Li Yifan¡¯s lips curled in disdain as he swung his long sword, releasing a sword arc over ten meters long, dispersing all of Xian Yin¡¯s sword light, ultimately causing her to cough up blood, sent flying backward.


    Everyone was astonished¡ªhow powerful! An expert at the Innate Realm was terrifying indeed.


    ¡°Rest assured, I won¡¯t kill you; it¡¯d be too wasteful to kill such a beauty. I will train you well from now on. Take her away,¡± Li Yifan said casually, looking at Xian Yin.


    Immediately, two Li Family servants ascended, intending to take Xian Yin down for further handling.


    At this moment, suddenly two fierce sword qi severed the Li Family servants in an instant.


    The crowd showed expressions of shock again; was the drama not over? Who was intervening?


    In that moment, a new figure appeared on the martial stage¡ªnone other than Qin Hao.


    He stood beside Xian Yin, smiling faintly at Li Yifan, ¡°Li Yifan, how could you lay hands on such a beautiful lady? You truly don¡¯t know how to cherish beauty.¡±


    Seeing Qin Hao, Xian Yin gazed at him with suspicion¡ªwasn¡¯t he the one who listened to my music this afternoon? Why would he save me?


    Li Yifan¡¯s eyes narrowed, appraising Qin Hao, ¡°Who are you? Are you her accomplice?¡±

 Chapter 937: 937: Slaying Li Yifan

    Chapter 937: Chapter 937: Slaying Li Yifan


    How Qin Hao got up just now, Li Yifan did not see clearly. Just the speed alone made him have to be cautious.


    The old servant usually by Li Yifan¡¯s side also came up, guarding him.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the person from just now?¡± At a table at the banquet, a female cultivator hurriedly turned her head to look, but Qin Hao was already nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Is it really him? What does he want to do?¡± Tongtong¡¯s expression was surprised.


    Qin Hao looked at Li Yifan and said calmly, ¡°Li Yifan, you secretly practice evil skills, absorbing young boys and girls, creating endless sins. Today, I will act on behalf of the heavens and cut down you, this beast in human clothing.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Li Yifan¡¯s face did not change, but his heart was in turmoil. How could he possibly know about this?


    Apart from his father and others in the family, no one knew about this. How did he find out?


    Everyone present was also dumbfounded. Li Yifan secretly cultivates evil skills, absorbing young boys and girls???


    ¡°This is impossible. This person must be slandering with false accusations. How could Young Master Li be such a person?¡± Someone immediately opposed, completely not believing Qin Hao¡¯s words.


    ¡°Yes, this is impossible.¡± Many female cultivators also supported Li Yifan one after another.


    Li Yifan: ¡°Slandering to mislead the masses, how could I possibly do such a cruel thing? For such slander against me, today I will take your head.¡±


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°Those stray children in Jiangzhou City were taken by your Li Family under the pretense of adoption, but in the end, weren¡¯t they all absorbed and killed by you? You organized a bandit group in the nearby Jiangjing State to plunder young boys and girls and secretly send them to the state lord¡¯s mansion. Did you think no one knew?¡±


    Hearing Qin Hao speak with reason and evidence, everyone looked on with suspicion because in the nearby Jiangjing State, there was indeed such a bandit group specializing in plundering young boys and girls.


    Li Yifan¡¯s expression slightly darkened, ¡°Kill him.¡±


    The old servant beside him rushed forward. He was an expert of the early Innate stage, specifically protecting Li Yifan¡¯s safety. Qin Hao had just shown great speed, and others going up would only be courting death.


    Qin Hao turned his head and looked at Xian Yin, ¡°Lend me your sword.¡±


    Xian Yin was stunned for a moment, then handed her Soft Sword to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao¡¯s figure instantly vanished from where he stood, pushing his speed to the extreme, and with a piercing sound, he met the Li Family¡¯s old servant.


    ¡°Swish, swish, swish¡±


    ¡°Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s speed was too fast, and the speed of his sword was even faster. In less than a second, Qin Hao returned to his original spot.


    At this moment, the Pei Family¡¯s old servant still maintained his charging posture. A few seconds later, his head fell off. In the face of Qin Hao¡¯s speed, a dignified expert of the Innate Realm didn¡¯t even have a chance to make a move.


    Seeing this scene, Li Yifan¡¯s pupils constricted sharply, his face showing a look of shock. An expert of the Innate level was killed just like that?


    How is this possible? How did he do it?


    Xian Yin and the people below the martial arts stage were dumbfounded. What kind of speed is this? How could it be so terrifying?


    Could he be a master-level expert??


    Qin Hao¡¯s Thousand Faces Divine Skill can not only change one¡¯s appearance but also hide one¡¯s strength, making it impossible for others to see through.


    The reason these people thought he was a master-level expert was that they couldn¡¯t see through his strength. Of course, if he encountered a true master, this concealment wouldn¡¯t work unless he could comprehend the Thousand Faces Divine Skill deeper.


    Qin Hao looked at Li Yifan with a faint smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s your turn, Young Master Li.¡± After speaking, his figure vanished from the spot.


    ¡°Kill¡±


    Li Yifan wasn¡¯t one to wait passively for death. Having just witnessed Qin Hao¡¯s strength, he immediately unleashed his trump card move.


    In an instant, a sinister wind howled around Li Yifan, and wronged souls roared, making the entire banquet hall¡¯s temperature drop by several degrees.


    ¡°Young Master Li has really practiced evil skills. How could he practice evil skills?¡± someone exclaimed in disbelief upon seeing the cultivation technique he displayed.


    ¡°He indeed practiced evil skills. To think Li Yifan is such a person.¡± Li Yifan¡¯s image instantly collapsed in the eyes of many female cultivators.


    ¡°Look at those wronged souls; they¡¯re all children. He is too cruel.¡±


    ¡°Who would have thought Young Master Li truly practiced evil skills?¡± Nie Feng from the Red Cloud Sect frowned slightly, disbelieving what he saw.


    On the martial arts stage, waves of Sword Qi swept out and struck Li Yifan¡¯s protective barrier.


    His speed was fast, but his attack power was somewhat lacking. Although the Sword Qi was fierce, it could not break through his defense.


    Qin Hao felt a bit anxious in his heart. If this dragged on, it would not be beneficial to him, and perhaps by now someone had already informed the Li Family.


    Li Yifan was also somewhat puzzled. Why was this guy¡¯s attack power so weak?


    Could it be he wasn¡¯t a master-level expert?


    Just as he was puzzled, an extremely strong energy suddenly attacked.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    His protective barrier shattered directly, and he spat out blood. Qin Hao seized the opportunity to stab a sword into his chest.


    Not assured, Qin Hao cut off his head as well. After confirming Li Yifan was truly dead, Qin Hao quickly returned to Xian Yin¡¯s side, grabbed her, and vanished into the vast night.


    His voice came from afar, ¡°If the Li Family wants revenge, feel free to find me. I am a Protector in name and in deed, and it is my duty to eliminate demons and cultivate justice.¡±


    Qin Hao said these words to throw a smokescreen for these people to avoid anyone guessing his identity.


    After Qin Hao left, the place erupted. A lot had happened tonight.


    Miss Xian Yin of the Immortal Miao Building attempted to assassinate Li Yifan for revenge but failed. Then a Protector appeared and killed Li Yifan. Li Yifan cultivated evil skills, absorbing young boys and girls!


    Dozens of seconds after Qin Hao left, the people from the Li Family rushed over and hurriedly ordered the city to be sealed off to capture the culprit.


    But by then, Qin Hao had already taken Xian Yin out of Jiangping City.


    Having killed the son of the state lord of Jiangping State, if he didn¡¯t run now, wouldn¡¯t he be a fool?


    While he feared no one in solo combat, the state lord¡¯s mansion was powerful with numerous experts, and he couldn¡¯t hold them off.


    Once out of Jiangzhou City, Qin Hao, still running, contacted Xue Lingling and set a meeting point before heading towards Ling¡¯er.


    Qin Hao¡¯s single arm was around Xian Yin, who was still awake, watching as the ground below sped past rapidly. The speed was incredibly fast, and she was somewhat puzzled about who he really was.


    A few minutes later, Qin Hao descended from the air, landing in a dense forest.


    ¡°Master, you¡¯re back.¡± Xue Lingling jumped down from an ancient tree and cheerfully ran over.


    Seeing the woman in Qin Hao¡¯s hand, she paused and curiously asked, ¡°Master, who is this person?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡± Qin Hao placed Xian Yin on the ground.


    Xian Yin coughed a few times, took a healing pill from her storage space, and consumed it.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Ling¡¯er, prepare to continue on the road, we¡¯re too close to Jiangping City.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Master.¡± Xue Lingling nodded.


    Qin Hao then said to Xian Yin, ¡°Miss Xian Yin, I¡¯ll help you to this point. Fate may bring us together again.¡±


    [Counting the chapter past midnight, this is the fourth update of the day, the first day of the new year, we must start with a good omen]

 Chapter 938: 938: Pursuit and Kill

    Chapter 938: Chapter 938: Pursuit and Kill


    Xian Yin quickly said: ¡°Mr. Qin, wait a moment.¡±


    Qin Hao turned his head to look at her: ¡°Miss Xian Yin, is there something else?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, may I know your honorable surname?¡± Xian Yin¡¯s beautiful eyes were looking at him.


    ¡°Qin Hao.¡±


    Upon hearing the name, Xian Yin felt it was somewhat familiar. Then she quickly recalled: ¡°Are you the Qin Hao wanted by the Red Cloud Sect?¡±


    Qin Hao said nothing, looking at her with indifferent eyes.


    Seeing his calm and clear gaze, Xian Yin felt a bit frustrated. She was, after all, a stunning beauty; how could he not be moved by her?


    She spoke up: ¡°Mr. Qin, I was once the daughter of the Jiang Family. Later, my family was destroyed by the Li Family, and I have been secretly planning revenge.


    If it weren¡¯t for Mr. Qin¡¯s help today, I wouldn¡¯t be able to avenge myself and might even be tortured to death. I once vowed that if anyone helped me seek vengeance, I would serve as their slave for life.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I don¡¯t need a slave, Miss Xian Yin. You don¡¯t have to make yourself uncomfortable. If there¡¯s nothing else, we¡¯ll be going. Please take care of yourself.¡±


    Having said this, he took Ling¡¯er and walked into the deep mountains.


    Xian Yin was momentarily stunned but quickly got up and followed them.


    After walking a distance, Qin Hao looked at her helplessly: ¡°Miss Xian Yin, I¡¯ve already said you don¡¯t need to repay me.¡±


    Xian Yin spoke: ¡°Mr. Qin, you might not know the influence of the Family Head¡¯s residence; they¡¯re very powerful. It¡¯s very likely I will be captured by them.¡±


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment: ¡°Alright then, stay until your injuries are healed.¡±


    Xian Yin was delighted to hear Qin Hao agree, and the three of them headed deeper into the mountains.


    Jiangping City, Family Head¡¯s residence.


    The news of Li Yifan¡¯s death had thrown the entire residence into chaos, and Jiangping City had been locked down. Many experts had been sent out, but there had been no news.


    Li Changdong, the Li Family Head, stood in the living room, his expression extremely grim. He was fully aware of what had happened at the Immortal Miao Building.


    Who was that person? How did he know Yifan was practicing Evil Skill?


    If he could kill an Innate Realm expert instantly, he must be a Grandmaster Realm expert. But apart from the four major sects in Jiangping State, he hadn¡¯t heard of any other Grandmaster Realm experts.


    Protector? What mysterious organization was this? He hadn¡¯t heard of it.


    As he was pondering, a servant came in quietly: ¡°Family Head, Mr. Song from the Red Cloud Sect and others have arrived.¡±


    Li Changdong¡¯s expression flickered: ¡°Invite them in.¡±


    Song Liang and others soon walked in from outside. Li Changdong spoke: ¡°Mr. Song, why are you here so late?¡±


    ¡°Family Head, I¡¯ve heard about today¡¯s events. It¡¯s outrageous! Someone dares to assassinate within the state city; this challenges the authority of the Tianxiang Dynasty.¡± Song Liang didn¡¯t mention anything about Li Yifan practicing Evil Skill.


    Such things often happen in these large sects; for breakthroughs and power, many choose the side paths.


    It¡¯s almost an unwritten rule that as long as it goes unnoticed, generally no one intervenes.


    Li Changdong nodded slightly: ¡°I have distributed the person¡¯s portrait to each town in Jiangping State, with a reward of five hundred thousand Spirit Stones. I have also applied for a dynasty-wide warrant, and by tomorrow their wanted portraits will appear in towns across the dynasty.¡±


    Song Liang spoke: ¡°Family Head, there¡¯s something I wish to tell you.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Song, feel free to speak.¡±


    Song Liang: ¡°On Xian Yin, there is a Divine Sense mark left by our disciple. We can roughly sense her location. Since that person rescued the severely injured Xian Yin, they probably won¡¯t separate temporarily. We can follow the clues to find him.¡±


    Li Changdong¡¯s eyes lit up: ¡°Really?¡±


    Song Liang nodded and said to Nie Feng behind him: ¡°Nie Feng, step up and explain to the Family Head.¡±


    Nie Feng felt a bit awkward; he initially left the Divine Sense mark on Xian Yin because he wanted to find an opportunity to capture and have fun with her. Unexpectedly, it became an important clue.


    He had deliberated over this matter for a long time before speaking up because Xian Yin and Li Yifan were flirting initially, which wouldn¡¯t be seen well.


    Nie Feng briefly explained but modified it, claiming he left the mark during a battle with Xian Yin.


    He had practiced a Divine Sense tracking spell; otherwise, he couldn¡¯t leave a mark on Xian Yin.


    ¡°Can you sense where they are now?¡± Li Changdong asked urgently.


    Nie Feng: ¡°Due to the distance, I can only sense a general direction; they should be northwest of Jiangping City.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± An excited gleam flashed in Li Changdong¡¯s eyes.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Qin Hao and the two others moved swiftly about six or seven hundred miles away from Jiangping City when Qin Hao stopped, saying it was time to rest.


    He flew onto an ancient tree and had time to check the system, seeing two thousand merit points had been credited. He hadn¡¯t yet drawn the random treasure reward.


    ¡°Would you like to draw random treasure rewards?¡±


    ¡°Draw.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations to the Host for receiving the low-level treasure Xuanling Bow.¡±


    ¡°Main quest activated: Punish the wicked and eradicate evil, earning infinite merit. Kill all outer and inner elders and the Sect Leader of the Red Cloud Sect, with random rewards of merit points, Spirit Stones, treasures, pills, and other items.¡±


    Upon hearing this quest, Qin Hao¡¯s face stiffened. Kill all outer and inner elders and the Sect Leader of the Red Cloud Sect? It¡¯s asking me to wipe out the entire Red Cloud Sect?


    Where do I have the strength for that?


    Although the Mecha¡¯s speed is fast, it can¡¯t break the defense of true experts; quick speed is useless.


    Despite the complaint, the quest had been issued, and he had to complete it, for he needed the system to rapidly enhance his power.


    This time, the rewards include Spirit Stones, treasures, and pills, all of which are critically important to him.


    Half an hour later, Qin Hao suddenly opened his eyes, speaking to Xian Yin and Xue Lingling: ¡°Let¡¯s go, someone¡¯s coming.¡±


    Xian Yin¡¯s face changed, grabbing Xue Lingling¡¯s hand as they flew into the distance.


    Through the Mecha, Qin Hao could sense the approaching group¡¯s fast speed, rapidly nearing. At this rate, they¡¯d catch up in about two minutes.


    He grabbed both women, fully activating the Mecha¡¯s speed: ¡°They¡¯re fast. I¡¯ll carry you in our escape.¡±


    In terms of power, Qin Hao was indeed inferior to those ancient cultivators, but when it came to speed, he feared no one.


    Xian Yin¡¯s cheeks reddened, her slim waist held tightly by Qin Hao, face feeling hot. Still, knowing this was for escape, she understood Qin Hao¡¯s actions were unintentional.


    ¡°They accelerated,¡± Nie Feng quickly noted as the Divine Sense signal weakened.


    Li Changdong, Song Liang, and others exerted all their strength to chase fiercely, yet the distance only grew rapidly instead of closing.

 Chapter 939: 939 Fire Lion Beast

    Chapter 939: Chapter 939 Fire Lion Beast


    What the heck is this, a demon?


    Li Changdong and others were speechless. They were moving too fast, how could they be this quick?


    If the opponent was truly a Grandmaster Realm expert, then they really needed to be cautious, he and Song Liang were both at the Peak of Innate Late Stage, it would be hard to fight against a Grandmaster Realm expert.


    But the opponent had an injured person, considered as a burden.


    Around six o¡¯clock the next morning, the sun was rising, and the golden morning light scattered through the leaves, shining into the forest.


    Qin Hao and his two companions were meditating and resting. After a night¡¯s rush, according to Qin Hao¡¯s estimation, they had run at least tens of thousands of miles.


    Even so, Qin Hao and the others had still not left the borders of Jiangping State. Hidden Dragon Continent was too large, moreover, it was a complete continent, larger than the interstellar universe Qin Hao was in.


    You must know, Qin Hao¡¯s interstellar universe has vast starry skies, planets are not connected, while Hidden Dragon Continent is a complete continent.


    The entire Hidden Dragon Continent can be roughly divided into five regions, East Continent, West Continent, Southern State, North Continent, and Central Continent.


    Qin Hao was currently in the Skyfire Dynasty, located in the Southern State region. Within the Southern State, there are several dynasties and countless imperial kingdoms. Like the Skyfire Dynasty, the Southern State had at least hundreds of countries like this, it was a vast and boundless continent.


    The Skyfire Dynasty had nearly a hundred states, each state was similar in size to Jiangping State, some even larger.


    Qin Hao cultivated for a while, then went around to gather some wood to start a fire and roast meat.


    Xian Yin was still healing, her injuries hadn¡¯t completely recovered, Ling¡¯er was also absorbing Spirit Stones to diligently improve her power.


    About half an hour later, Qin Hao spoke up, ¡°Eat something.¡±


    Xian Yin and Xue Lingling opened their eyes, Xian Yin slightly pursed her lips, her voice melodious, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Master, your cooking smells so good, much better than mine.¡± Xue Lingling laughed cheekily.


    Qin Hao gave her a sideways glance, ¡°When did you become so good at flattery?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just telling the truth.¡± Ling¡¯er pouted, her expression was exceedingly adorable.


    Qin Hao smiled knowingly, ¡°Quickly eat, after finishing we¡¯ll continue on the way, those people might still be chasing us.¡± After saying that, he looked at Xian Yin, ¡°Miss Xian Yin, how are your injuries?¡±


    ¡°Almost healed.¡± Xian Yin replied.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Once we reach the town, we should part ways again. It¡¯s not very safe in these deep mountains and wild ridges.¡±


    Xian Yin said nothing, quietly eating the roasted meat in her hand.


    After breakfast, the trio continued on their way, Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er walked together, chatting, and before long, they appeared much closer.


    After walking for over ten minutes, a roar suddenly rang out from not far away, Qin Hao and the others immediately stopped.


    The ground trembled slightly, as if it had been shaken by an earthquake.


    A few seconds later, a monster measuring four or five zhang long appeared ahead of the trio, its fur fiery red like clouds, emitting blazing flames.


    Xian Yin spoke up, ¡°This is a Fire Lion Beast at the Postnatal Peak Realm.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t very worried because, in her opinion, Qin Hao should be a Grandmaster level expert. Such a Postnatal Realm beast was of no concern to a Grandmaster level expert.


    Qin Hao¡¯s face was somewhat serious, ¡°You guys get back.¡±


    Xian Yin froze for a moment but still retreated with Ling¡¯er a distance.


    ¡°Ling¡¯er, what realm is your master in?¡± She curiously asked Ling¡¯er.


    Xue Lingling thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Seems like Qi Refinement level eleven, Master is really remarkable.¡±


    Xian Yin was taken aback, eyes widened with disbelief, ¡°What? Qi Refinement level eleven???¡±


    How could this be, Qi Refinement level eleven could have that kind of speed? Could defeat Innate Early Stage experts in an instant? Absolutely impossible.


    Xue Lingling nodded, ¡°Right, Xian Yin, isn¡¯t Master amazing?¡±


    Xian Yin coughed lightly, nodding her head, ¡°Certainly remarkable.¡±


    ¡°Heehee.¡± Hearing her praise Qin Hao, Xue Lingling¡¯s face was full of smiles.


    At this moment, Qin Hao was already engaged in a battle with the Fire Lion Beast, wearing his space mecha and holding a long alloy knife.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Qin Hao utilized his extraordinary speed, swinging the alloy knife against the Fire Lion Beast, colliding with its fur, sparking.


    The alloy knife, although very sharp and infused with spiritual energy, still could not break through the Fire Lion Beast¡¯s defense, the gap in realms was quite large, and the Fire Lion Beast¡¯s defense was formidable.


    The fur was like steel needles, fearsome beyond measure.


    Seeing this scene, Xian Yin was surprised and shocked. He couldn¡¯t break the Fire Lion Beast¡¯s defense; was he really a Qi Refinement level eleven cultivator?


    If he really was, how to explain his speed? How did he kill Li Yifan and that old servant??


    Who exactly is he?


    Now Xian Yin¡¯s heart rose with intense curiosity, feeling that Qin Hao was like a mist, elusive and enigmatic.


    After battling the Fire Lion Beast for a while, both sides understood each other¡¯s combat capabilities.


    Qin Hao was fast, but in terms of attack, it was too weak in the eyes of the Fire Lion Beast, like merely tickling it.


    In another clash, Qin Hao quickly retreated, simultaneously bringing out a longbow, drawing the bow, opening the string, a brilliant light shot out.


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    The Xuanling Arrow flew with a piercing sound, extremely fast.


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    The Fire Lion Beast hadn¡¯t expected Qin Hao to have a spirit bow, caught off guard, the Xuanling Arrow pierced into its huge head and exploded.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    The Fire Lion Beast let out a thunderous roar, blood splattered a bit, leaving a large wound on its head, but it wasn¡¯t dead.


    It turned its attention and charged towards Xian Yin and Xue Lingling in the distance.


    Xian Yin and Xue Lingling¡¯s faces changed upon seeing this, hurriedly retreating, Qin Hao quickly pursued, shooting several arrows from the Xuanling Bow.


    Xuanling Arrows pierced the Fire Lion Beast¡¯s body, but the beast ignored them, directly charging towards Xian Yin and Xue Lingling.


    Qin Hao instantly accelerated to his fastest speed, surpassing the Fire Lion Beast, blocking in front of the two, with the space cannon on the mecha firing, precisely as the Fire Lion Beast opened its bloody mouth.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    The space cannon exploded inside it, directly disarranging all its internal organs.


    The Fire Lion Beast¡¯s corpse fell heavily to the ground, and the flames around its fur were extinguished, completely dead.


    Qin Hao walked over, opened the corpse, and took out the monster core. A Postnatal Peak Realm beast¡¯s monster core was a valuable item, enough for him to absorb and refine for many days.


    After tidying up the Fire Lion Beast¡¯s corpse, Qin Hao turned and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er followed him, walking a distance, Qin Hao discovered a cave, ¡°This might be the Fire Lion Beast¡¯s dwelling, we can rest here for a while.¡±


    The trio entered the cave, the passage was dozens of meters long, with a circular chamber at the end. The space inside was large, clean, and tidy, with no strange odors.


    Inside the cave, there was also a pond, with a small grass growing in fiery red on the stone in the center of the pond.

 Chapter 940: 940 Breakthrough

    Chapter 940: Chapter 940 Breakthrough


    Xian Yin¡¯s eyes showed some excitement: ¡°Fiery Flame Herb?¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at it, and the system automatically identified the name. Indeed, it was called Fiery Flame Herb, mainly used for refining the Innate Elixir.


    The Innate Elixir is a miraculous Spirit Pill that can help a Postnatal Peak expert break through to the Innate Realm.


    ¡°It¡¯ll take a few more days to mature,¡± Qin Hao said.


    Xian Yin was stunned: ¡°Mr. Qin, you know herbs too?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I know a little bit, shall I give this herb to you?¡±


    Xian Yin quickly shook her head. She indeed needed these things, as she had been preparing them since she broke through to the Postnatal Realm.


    The Fiery Flame Herb was precisely one of the main herbs she was missing.


    But she couldn¡¯t take it. If not for Qin Hao, she would have died long ago. How could she fight over things with him? She said, ¡°Mr. Qin, you should use it. I don¡¯t need it right now.¡±


    ¡°I have no use for it. Three days later is the best time to harvest without damaging its properties. You can pick it then.¡± Qin Hao had no use for these things.


    After speaking, he found a place to start cultivating, intending to absorb the demonic core of the Fire Lion Beast.


    Qin Hao was well aware of his shortcomings. He had speed, but his attack wasn¡¯t sharp enough. When encountering truly skilled experts, though he could protect himself, his attacks were lacking.


    The power of the space mecha could not be enhanced, so now he could only improve his own strength.


    Qin Hao fully operated the Immortal Burying Skill and began to absorb the Fire Lion Beast¡¯s demonic core.


    The demonic core of a Postnatal Peak Realm contained an immensely terrifying and abundant energy. It was the essence of a beast, with the energy inside being extremely pure.


    Xian Yin saw Qin Hao cultivating and started chatting with Ling¡¯er. The two talked a lot, Xian Yin shared her background, which brought tears to Ling¡¯er¡¯s eyes, and she also shared her own background. Their fates were strikingly similar.


    Three days later, the Fiery Flame Herb in the center of the pond matured. Qin Hao was still cultivating, so she had to pick that Fiery Flame Herb and store it.


    ¡°Sister Xian Yin, will those bad people catch up?¡± Ling¡¯er felt concerned seeing Qin Hao still cultivating.


    Xian Yin was stunned: ¡°Probably not. We¡¯ve already far outrun them.¡±


    Ling¡¯er breathed a sigh of relief: ¡°That¡¯s good. Master is still cultivating, and it would be troublesome if they came.¡±


    Xian Yin glanced at Qin Hao, her beautiful eyes full of curiosity. Who really is he?


    At this moment, Qin Hao suddenly emitted a strong and powerful aura, rippling out like waves.


    Xian Yin hurriedly took Ling¡¯er and retreated a distance.


    Ling¡¯er asked in confusion: ¡°Sister Xian Yin, what¡¯s happening with Master?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin should have broken through to the Postnatal Realm,¡± Xian Yin said with some surprise in her voice. ¡°So quickly? Didn¡¯t he encounter any boundary obstacles?¡±


    Boundary obstacles, as the name implies, are the barriers one encounters when breaking through realms.


    Generally, every cultivator encounters boundary obstacles. Those with poor talent have stronger barriers, making it hard to break through. Those with high talent break through more easily.


    Judging from Qin Hao¡¯s breakthrough speed, his talent should be very high; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have smoothly reached the Postnatal Realm.


    In fact, Qin Hao didn¡¯t feel any boundary obstacles at all. Once he had absorbed enough energy, and with the support of the Immortal Burying Skill, everything happened naturally.


    Seconds later, Qin Hao opened his eyes, with a flash of joy in them.


    ¡°Congratulations, young master, for breaking through to the Postnatal Realm.¡± Xian Yin¡¯s smile was reserved and graceful, pleasing to the eye.


    ¡°Congratulations, Master. You¡¯re truly amazing.¡± Ling¡¯er ran over and hugged his arm.


    Qin Hao, at this point, had no more Spirit Stones. After thinking for a while, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go out and hunt some beasts for their demonic cores for cultivation.¡±


    He didn¡¯t plan to leave now because he still had a system task to complete. Once finished, he would leave Jiangping State.


    Also, he needed to improve his strength, and hunting beasts during this period was the perfect opportunity to enhance his abilities.


    The three of them exited the cave. There were too many beasts nearby, most of them at the Postnatal Peak Realm. Occasionally, they encountered ones at the Innate Realm.


    They flew in the forest for a while and then discovered a Postnatal Late Stage beast¡ªa Green-Eyed Demon Wolf.


    The Green-Eyed Demon Wolf, seeing humans intruding on its territory, roared continuously, its pair of eerie green eyes staring fixedly at the three.


    ¡°I feel a little dizzy,¡± Ling¡¯er said.


    Xian Yin quickly reminded: ¡°Don¡¯t look at its eyes.¡±


    Qin Hao calmly said, ¡°Xian Yin, keep Ling¡¯er behind and watch.¡± With that, he rushed forward.


    This time, Qin Hao did not use the space mecha, battling the Green-Eyed Demon Wolf with his own strength.


    He aimed to hone his practical combat skills and enhance the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill.


    In the forest, Sword Qi crisscrossed, dazzling light shining. After breaking through to the Postnatal Realm, Qin Hao¡¯s combat power surged, and even when fighting against a Postnatal Late Stage beast, he held his ground and was quite formidable.


    From afar, Xian Yin noticed that Qin Hao¡¯s speed was not as monstrous as before. Was he battling the Green-Eyed Demon Wolf using only his strength?


    If that was true, he would be terrifying. A Postnatal Early Stage cultivator versus a Postnatal Late Stage beast¡ªshe had never seen or heard of such a battle.


    Normally, a Postnatal Late Stage beast¡¯s combat power far exceeds that of a cultivator of the same level¡ªoften, it takes four or five cultivators of the same level working together to slay a beast of the same level.


    Beasts are naturally strong in combat, but their intelligence doesn¡¯t match humans. However, the top-ranked beasts possess intelligence comparable to humans.


    The sounds of battle in the forest lasted a long time, and finally, Qin Hao decapitated the Green-Eyed Demon Wolf with one sword strike.


    Qin Hao was only slightly injured, and after tidying up the wolf¡¯s carcass, he continued searching for more beasts without resting.


    Xian Yin felt a bit worried: ¡°Young master, won¡¯t you take a break?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Qin Hao replied calmly.


    Very soon, they encountered a second beast, a Postnatal Peak Realm beast stronger than the Green-Eyed Demon Wolf.


    Qin Hao again chose not to use the space mecha and fought fiercely with this beast, facing danger several times, causing Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er much concern.


    However, Xian Yin could see Qin Hao¡¯s progress. His Swordsmanship became increasingly sharp, and its power grew stronger.


    He was a combat genius, always finding his shortcomings in each battle and correcting or even improving them.


    Xian Yin couldn¡¯t quite understand. With such high talent, how was he only at this realm?


    Could it be that he hadn¡¯t been cultivating for very long?


    After almost an hour of fierce fighting, Qin Hao finally slew the Peak Late Stage beast. However, his body bore over a dozen wounds, not lightly injured, and his Spiritual Energy was vastly depleted.


    In Xian Yin¡¯s heart, waves of shock surged. If she hadn¡¯t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn¡¯t have believed it.


    A cultivator who just broke through to the Postnatal Early Stage had consecutively slain two Postnatal Late Stage beasts¡ªwhat kind of combat power was this?


    [Third Update]

 Chapter 941: 941 Golden Tiger Guard

    Chapter 941: Chapter 941 Golden Tiger Guard


    If word of this spreads, I¡¯m afraid no one will believe it.


    Even the peak experts of the Postnatal Late Stage absolutely cannot achieve what Qin Hao has done. If that¡¯s the case, doesn¡¯t it mean that Qin Hao¡¯s combat power is even more terrifying than the cultivators at the peak of the Postnatal Late Stage?


    After resting for half an hour, Qin Hao resumed his hunting activities.


    He spent the entire day fighting with beasts, and by the evening, he had slain about a dozen beasts at the Postnatal Peak Realm.


    Returning to the cave, Ling¡¯er began to prepare the roasted meat and brewed the Demon Bone Soup while Xian Yin assisted her.


    Today, they harvested quite a variety of beasts, practically having meat from every kind.


    After dinner, Qin Hao took out several beast cores and handed them to Ling¡¯er; after some hesitation, he also gave two to Xian Yin: ¡°We¡¯ll cultivate here for a while to improve our strength.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Ling¡¯er replied obediently.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin,¡± Xian Yin expressed her gratitude.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, and the three of them began cultivating, sitting cross-legged. Qin Hao currently held eight beast cores from Postnatal Peak beasts.


    The Immortal Burying Skill ran at full force, crazily absorbing the pure energy within those eight beast cores.


    After breaking through to the Postnatal Realm, Qin Hao¡¯s speed of energy absorption increased by dozens of times. Massive amounts of energy entered his body, following the cultivation technique of the Immortal Burying Skill, eventually transforming into pure energy that entered the dantian, repeatedly cycling.


    Cultivation is a tedious and repetitive task; sometimes, you have to go through the same cycle for months, years, or even decades, centuries.


    Cultivation transcends time; years pass in the blink of an eye, as the Cultivation Realm often says.


    Four days later, all the energy from the eight beast cores was absorbed by Qin Hao, allowing him to barely break through to the Postnatal Middle Stage.


    The Immortal Burying Skill is a top-tier cultivation technique that requires an extraordinary amount of energy for each minor realm breakthrough.


    The energy includes Spiritual Energy, the essence of sun, moon, and stars, etc. As long as it is energy, it can be absorbed and refined.


    Qin Hao opened his eyes; the cave was empty, with neither Xian Yin nor Ling¡¯er present.


    With a hint of doubt in his eyes, he got up and walked outside. Before he reached the exit, he heard the sound of a zither coming from outside.


    At the cave entrance, he saw Xian Yin playing the zither not far away, with Ling¡¯er watching attentively as if she was learning.


    It had to be said that Xian Yin¡¯s zither playing was incredibly beautiful, able to immerse people within the melodies, affecting their emotions and feelings.


    After the piece finished, Qin Hao clapped, and Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er turned to look at him: ¡°Master, have you finished cultivating?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Hmm, are you learning the zither from Miss Xian Yin?¡±


    Ling¡¯er chuckled: ¡°Yes, Master. Xian Yin¡¯s sister plays so beautifully, I want to learn too, and then play for you.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and patted her head: ¡°Then learn well from Miss Xian Yin; she certainly plays well.¡±


    At that moment, more than ten figures suddenly appeared, surrounding Qin Hao and the others.


    Leading them were Li Changdong and Song Liang, among others.


    Xian Yin¡¯s expression changed drastically upon seeing them ¡ª how did they appear here silently?


    Qin Hao¡¯s face also tensed. How did these people follow them silently? Didn¡¯t the space mecha detect them?


    Li Changdong and his companions realized they had been discovered the first time, so for this pursuit, they concealed their presence. After all, the technology of the space mecha is dead; cultivators whose auras are concealed cannot be detected.


    Song Liang and others, upon seeing Xue Lingling beside Qin Hao, were taken aback: ¡°Are you Qin Hao??¡±


    Nie Feng and others were in disbelief. Was Qin Hao really the one who killed Li Yifan? Why him? He had no grievances or enmity with Li Yifan, so why would he kill him?


    Li Changdong turned to Song Liang: ¡°Is he Qin Hao?¡±


    Song Liang nodded slightly: ¡°That¡¯s right, he is indeed the Qin Hao wanted by our Red Cloud Sect, and to think he also killed Li Yifan.¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao, my Li Family has no grievances with you; why did you kill my son?¡± Li Changdong asked with a dark expression, staring at him.


    Qin Hao sneered: ¡°I made it clear when I killed him; having done so many heinous deeds, if Heaven won¡¯t punish him, then I will act in Heaven¡¯s stead, upholding justice in this world.¡±


    Xian Yin and Xue Lingling looked at Qin Hao, at that moment finding his silhouette becoming immensely larger.


    If Heaven won¡¯t punish him, then I will act in Heaven¡¯s stead!


    ¡°What a noble act of upholding Heaven¡¯s justice! In Jiangping State, I am Heaven; my words are the rules. Today, I will use the heads of you three to commemorate my son¡¯s spirit in Heaven,¡± Li Changdong uttered with a grim expression, killing intent pouring forth.


    Qin Hao discreetly placed a ring in Xian Yin¡¯s hand, transmitting a message via Divine Sense: ¡°Put the ring on; after activation, take Ling¡¯er and run. I¡¯ll hold them off. Don¡¯t speak; time is of the essence. Contact me once you¡¯re safe.¡±


    Song Liang cautioned: ¡°Be careful, Li Changdong, this kid is a bit strange; he can kill an Innate Realm early-stage expert in an instant.¡±


    ¡°Golden Tiger Guards, attack,¡± Li Changdong ordered.


    Eight men in golden armor flew out, and each of their chests bore a fierce tiger head made entirely of gold and iron.


    These eight were the renowned leaders of the Eight Golden Tiger Guards from the state lord¡¯s mansion, each an expert in the Innate Realm. They excelled in Combined Attack Skill and, when coordinated, could slay Innate Late Stage experts ¡ª extremely formidable.


    ¡°You must hurry,¡± Qin Hao urged as he advanced.


    Xian Yin understood that staying would only burden Qin Hao, so she activated the mecha and, holding Xue Lingling, flew outward, their speed so swift even she did not anticipate it ¡ª disappearing in a flash.


    Those around had no chance to react.


    Li Changdong and Song Liang were a bit dumbfounded. What incredible speed was this?


    Xian Yin could not possibly possess such speed; had she, she wouldn¡¯t have failed the assassination attempt earlier.


    This speed was almost like Qin Hao¡¯s from before; could it be that Qin Hao ran so fast because of a magic artifact? Did he now give this artifact to Xian Yin?


    The possibility was high.


    Qin Hao engaged in combat with the Eight Golden Tiger Guard leaders, whose strength was indeed formidable, producing powerful combat prowess.


    Though he had broken through to the Postnatal Middle Stage, significantly increasing his combat power, facing these eight leaders was quite challenging.


    ¡°Is this all? I thought you were tougher; you can¡¯t even defeat my Golden Tiger Guards,¡± Li Changdong sneered, seeing Qin Hao rapidly fall behind.


    Qin Hao wielded the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill to its fullest, but alas, the gap in both sides¡¯ realm strength was substantial.


    He activated the space mecha, his figure flashed, disappearing from his original position, reappearing beside the Red Cloud Sect elder, Song Liang.


    Song Liang¡¯s face turned pale; without a chance to react, Qin Hao executed the strongest move of the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill: Purple Lightning Thunder Dragon.


    With a single stroke, a purple thunder dragon roared forth, directly piercing through Song Liang¡¯s chest.


    He was merely an outer elder of the Red Cloud Sect, with a strength only at the Innate early-stage, not very high. Even without the mecha, Qin Hao was confident in taking him down.

 Chapter 942: 942: Black Python

    Chapter 942: Chapter 942: Black Python


    Qin Hao did not escape immediately; it was actually to kill this outer elder of the Red Cloud Sect.


    Song Liang was instantly slain, and Nie Feng¡¯s expression changed slightly. He turned and ran.


    Qin Hao sneered, and the Xuanling Bow appeared in his hand. He shot an arrow, blowing Nie Feng to pieces on the spot.


    At this moment, Li Changdong also launched an attack, delivering a powerful palm strike towards Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao brandished his sword to defend. Li Changdong¡¯s palm struck the alloy longsword with a ¡°clanging¡± sound, transmitting a tremendous force through his hand.


    Borrowing the momentum, Qin Hao flew backward and turned around, flying off into the distance, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.


    Li Changdong¡¯s face darkened, feeling a bit surprised. How is he still so fast? Didn¡¯t he give the mystical artifact to Xian Yin?


    The leader of the Eight Golden Tiger Guards saw Qin Hao escaping and felt frustrated. In terms of strength, they were confident in killing Qin Hao, but this guy was like a slippery eel; his speed was ridiculously fast, and they couldn¡¯t catch up.


    ¡°What do we do, Governor?¡± The leader of the Eight Golden Tiger Guards returned to Li Changdong¡¯s side.


    Li Changdong said, ¡°Let¡¯s head back. This person¡¯s speed is too fast for us to catch, and now that Nie Feng is dead, we can¡¯t find them either.¡±


    However, this matter can¡¯t just end like that. The Skyfire Dynasty has already agreed to his request to issue a national manhunt for Qin Hao and Xian Yin. But now there¡¯s another person to watch for. As long as the three of them appear in the city, they will be discovered.


    ...


    Qin Hao flew for a while and saw Xian Yin flying over alone. ¡°Why did you come back? Where is Ling¡¯er?¡±


    Xian Yin was startled to see Qin Hao escape. ¡°You¡¯re okay?¡±


    At first, she also thought Qin Hao had given her the mystical artifact to escape, intending to come back to save Qin Hao. Seeing him escape, she knew that Qin Hao must have more than one of these mystical artifacts.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, but where¡¯s Ling¡¯er?¡± Qin Hao understood Xian Yin¡¯s purpose for returning; she must have come to rescue him.


    Xian Yin said, ¡°I left Ling¡¯er up ahead and told her to wait for us there.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The two increased their speed to the extreme, shuttling through the forest like lightning, incredibly fast.


    A few minutes later, they found Ling¡¯er, who was hiding on an ancient tree.


    Seeing Qin Hao and Xian Yin return, Ling¡¯er flew down from the tree. ¡°Master.¡±


    Qin Hao embraced her. ¡°It¡¯s okay now. We¡¯ll talk later. Let¡¯s find a safe place first.¡±


    The three flew thousands of miles before finally stopping in front of a waterfall.


    Below the waterfall was a pool, with a stream flowing beneath it. Qin Hao examined the surrounding environment. ¡°The spiritual energy here is quite dense. Let¡¯s train here for a while and carve out a cave behind the waterfall.¡±


    Xian Yin nodded slightly. The environment here was beautiful, and the spiritual energy was indeed abundant. It was quite a good spot.


    Just as Qin Hao was about to begin, the water in the pool suddenly shook as if something was about to emerge from below.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Be careful, there seems to be a beast in the pool.¡±


    Just as he spoke, a giant python emerged halfway from the pool, its bloodred eyes as large as lanterns coldly watching the three of them.


    The python¡¯s entire body was covered in black scales, with the exposed section coiled together, its head held high, about ten meters long.


    Xian Yin sensed the aura emitted by the Black Python and her expression changed slightly. ¡°Is this a Black Python of the Innate Initial Phase?¡±


    ¡°Pathetic humans, daring to intrude on my territory.¡± The Black Python spoke using Divine Sense, transmitting its message into their minds.


    Qin Hao produced an alloy longblade, planning to engage this Innate beast.


    ¡°Swoosh¡±


    Qin Hao rushed forward, unleashing the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill.


    The Black Python roared repeatedly, using its tough scales to fight Qin Hao above the pool.


    Xian Yin protected Ling¡¯er and backed away some distance, watching as man and beast battled. Qin Hao¡¯s combat prowess was terrifying, and the power of the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill had significantly increased. They fought to a stalemate, evenly matched.


    The battle was truly terrifying.


    The more Qin Hao fought, the more valiant he became, radiating dazzling light all over his body, resembling a War God descending to the mortal world, immense and fearsome.


    After battling for more than an hour, the Black Python died at Qin Hao¡¯s hands, and Qin Hao, now somewhat exhausted, sat by the shore to meditate and recover.


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er came over to help handle the Black Python¡¯s corpse. The snake¡¯s gall was a medicinal ingredient and a key component in concocting the Innate Elixir, something Xian Yin now needed.


    The Black Python¡¯s body was enormous. After over half an hour, Qin Hao had mostly recovered, though they still had not finished dealing with it.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, this Black Python¡¯s gall is a valuable item. Combined with Fiery Flame Herb and other ingredients, it can be used to refine the Innate Elixir.¡± Xian Yin said with a smile.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t need it; you take it for your use. I only want the beast core.¡±


    While the two were cleaning the Black Python¡¯s corpse, Qin Hao began chiseling a cave on the mountainside. By the time they finished, Qin Hao had already carved out a sizable cave suitable for all three to train in.


    Qin Hao gathered some dry grass to spread inside the cave, and after Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er finished with the Black Python¡¯s corpse, they too entered the cave.


    Xian Yin took off the Space Mecha ring and handed it to Qin Hao. ¡°Mr. Qin, here is your mystical artifact back.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°You hold onto it for now. Hunt some beasts during the day and bring back some beast cores to train with.¡±


    Xian Yin was tempted by his words. This mystical artifact was extraordinary, with rapid speed and great power increases. ¡°Mr. Qin, this is too valuable.¡±


    ¡°No worries, keep it for now. This way, you can kill more beasts and enhance your strengths.¡± Qin Hao insisted.


    Then Qin Hao spoke to Xue Lingling. ¡°Ling¡¯er, come here.¡±


    Xue Lingling quickly ran over. ¡°What is it, Master?¡±


    ¡°Take this item with you. If you encounter danger, activate it.¡± Qin Hao took out another Space Mecha and gave it to Ling¡¯er.


    Xian Yin was stunned. How many of these incredibly powerful mystical artifacts does he have?


    Xue Lingling put on the Space Mecha ring and went through the recognition procedure and so on.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°With these, I can be at ease. As long as you don¡¯t encounter extremely powerful experts, escaping shouldn¡¯t be an issue.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master,¡± Xue Lingling giggled.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Hmm, go and hunt some beasts, improve your combat experience.¡±


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er left. It wasn¡¯t even noon yet; the two of them should be able to kill several late-stage beasts.


    Qin Hao opened the system. When he slew Song Liang, the outer elder of the Red Cloud Sect, he heard the reward prompt: one thousand merit points and a random mystical artifact.


    ¡°Draw random mystical artifact.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations to the host for obtaining an intermediate mystical artifact, the Green Lotus Sword.¡±


    Qin Hao took it out to have a look. The Green Lotus Sword and the Xuanling Bow were of the same level, both considered intermediate mystical artifacts.

 Chapter 943: 943 Danqing City

    Chapter 943: Chapter 943 Danqing City


    But this Green Lotus Sword is meant for women, so I can give it to Ling¡¯er since she doesn¡¯t have a suitable weapon yet.


    Exiting the system, Qin Hao sat cross-legged and began cultivating, absorbing the black python¡¯s demon core.


    In the evening, Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er returned. With the advantage of her space mecha, Xian Yin had killed six beasts at the peak of the Postnatal Late Stage, and had also discovered some artifact refining materials and spirit stones in the black python¡¯s underwater cave dwelling.


    Seeing Qin Hao cultivating, Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t disturb him, chatting and laughing as they prepared dinner.


    On their way back today, Xian Yin had picked some herbs to brew soup, making the meat broth more flavorful.


    As the roast meat and broth neared completion, Qin Hao opened his eyes and ceased cultivating. Seeing this, Ling¡¯er quickly laughed and said, ¡°Master, you¡¯ve stopped cultivating?¡±


    ¡°With such tempting aromas, how could I continue cultivating? It¡¯s better to fill up and then cultivate,¡± Qin Hao replied with a smile.


    During dinner, Qin Hao asked Xian Yin, ¡°Miss Xian Yin, it seems you often live in the forests, right?¡±


    Xian Yin paused, then smiled and said, ¡°After my family was annihilated, I lived in the forests for some time and gained some opportunities, or else I wouldn¡¯t think of seeking revenge.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°What are your plans for the future?¡±


    Xian Yin: ¡°I have no plans, I just want to stay by Mr. Qin¡¯s side to repay my debt of gratitude.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qin Hao quickly said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, I have a lot going on, and it¡¯s too dangerous to follow me.¡±


    Ling¡¯er softly whispered from the side, ¡°Master, just let Sister Xian Yin come along.¡± After speaking, she sneaked a glance at Qin Hao, fearing he might get angry.


    Seeing her expression, Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to let your sister Xian Yin follow, it¡¯s mainly too dangerous, and I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll be implicated.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mr. Qin, I¡¯m not afraid, and with the artifact you gave me, my life is secure,¡± Xian Yin hurriedly said.


    Seeing both of them say this, Qin Hao didn¡¯t continue the topic: ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll discuss this later. Let¡¯s eat first, I¡¯m starving.¡±


    After dinner, the three began cultivating. The next morning, when Qin Hao opened his eyes, Xian Yin was no longer in the cave. Stepping outside, he found her by the waterfall pond, playing a tune, seemingly reminiscing about loved ones.


    After finishing, Xian Yin saw Qin Hao beside her: ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°Not bad playing. Did you teach yourself?¡±


    Xian Yin: ¡°I once got a music score and learned from it. It¡¯s not like I have that kind of talent.¡±


    Qin Hao sat on a rock: ¡°Tell me about your story.¡±


    Now that Xian Yin intended to follow him, Qin Hao needed to understand her.


    An inner joy filled Xian Yin; did this mean Qin Hao was beginning to accept her?


    ¡°When I was sixteen, my family was destroyed by the Li Family, all because of an alchemy technique,¡± she finished, glancing at Qin Hao. His expression remained calm and unchanged, as if the alchemy technique was as worthless as trash in his eyes.


    To know, on Qianlong Road, alchemy techniques are extremely rare; the appearance of one can drive a region¡¯s forces into madness.


    Xian Yin continued her story. Sent away from her family in advance, she survived, later hiding in the forests to cultivate and study the alchemy technique!


    Five months ago, Xian Yin entered the Immortal Miao Building in Jiangzhou City. Quickly, she became the lead with her stunning beauty and mesmerizing tunes, thus getting close to Li Yifan.


    Later came the banquet¡¯s assassination attempt on Li Yifan. Had Qin Hao not appeared, she¡¯d have perished or been tortured to death.


    After finishing her story, Xian Yin took out an ancient text from her storage space: ¡°Mr. Qin, this is the alchemy technique.¡±


    ¡°Why give it to me? I don¡¯t need it. You keep it,¡± Qin Hao glanced over and said.


    Jokingly, his merit store had everything; why would he be interested in a mere alchemy technique?


    Xian Yin: ¡°Master, I¡¯ve already memorized it, so it¡¯s of no further use to me. You should have it.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°No need, I don¡¯t like alchemy.¡±


    At this moment, Ling¡¯er came out of the cave: ¡°Master, what¡¯s Sister Xian Yin doing?¡±


    ¡°Chatting,¡± Qin Hao turned to glance at her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go hunt some beasts. I¡¯ve reached the sixth level of Qi Refinement. As long as I have enough demon cores, I can break through to the Postnatal Realm,¡± Ling¡¯er giggled.


    That was exactly Qin Hao¡¯s intention: hunting beasts by day and cultivating by night, as there was nothing else here, just plenty of beasts.


    In the blink of an eye, a month had passed. Now, where Qin Hao and the others were, there wasn¡¯t a single beast within a hundred miles, nor did any beasts dare to approach, knowing three formidable figures lived there.


    Using demon cores for cultivation and eating beasts, it was terrifying.


    That day, from within the mountain with the waterfall emerged a powerful aura, but it quickly disappeared.


    Inside the cave, Xian Yin looked incredulously at Qin Hao: ¡°You broke through to the late Innate Realm?¡±


    Qin Hao remained calm, nodding slightly, with not the slightest hint of happiness on his face.


    Xian Yin was speechless, unsure of what to say. He was truly a monstrous genius, a freak.


    A month ago, he¡¯d been at the Postnatal Middle Stage, and now he was already at the late Innate Realm stage. If word got out, it would drop everyone¡¯s jaws.


    Ling¡¯er¡¯s big, bright eyes were full of admiration: ¡°Master is amazing, advancing so fast in cultivation.¡±


    Now Ling¡¯er was also an expert at the Postnatal Middle Stage. She wasn¡¯t even ten, which was terrifying. To reach the Postnatal Middle Stage before ten was nearly unheard of in Jiangping State.


    Xian Yin, too, had broken through to the early Innate Realm and was now at the peak of the Early-stage Innate, very close to the Intermediate Innate Stage.


    Qin Hao spoke: ¡°Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time to settle accounts.¡±


    The three of them left the cave, flying through the air toward the mountain range¡¯s outskirts. Qin Hao wore a black robe, his long hair cascading down his back.


    The nearest city was quite far, so the three activated their space mecha.


    Within half a day¡¯s time, the three arrived outside a city named Danqing City, approximately in the central northern part of Jiangping State, neither too far nor too close to Jiangping City, with three cities in between.


    Outside the city, Xian Yin looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°Are we just going to enter like this, sir? Shouldn¡¯t we disguise ourselves?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly: ¡°We came here for revenge; what need is there for disguises? Let¡¯s go.¡±


    He led the two toward the city gate, where many notices were posted, all wanted lists.


    Portraits of Qin Hao, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er were there, but now, over a month later, hardly anyone paid attention to them.


    Initially, gate inspections were stringent, but now the guards merely gave a cursory glance.


    In their eyes, such formidable individuals would not boldly come here¡ªit would be seeking death. Even if they did, the guards dared not arrest them; after all, this was someone who dared to kill the son of the state lord, let alone these lowly soldiers.

 Chapter 944: 944 Kill

    Chapter 944: Chapter 944 Kill


    Qin Hao and his companions reached the city gate, and the guards barely glanced at them, allowing them to enter directly.


    Upon entering the city, Qin Hao headed to a tavern, and as the trio stepped inside, they immediately attracted numerous glances, primarily because Xian Yin was exceedingly beautiful. Even with a veil covering her face, it couldn¡¯t hide her stunning beauty and grace.


    ¡°What would the guest like to eat?¡± The tavern waiter asked with a cheerful smile.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Bring us some of your signature dishes, and a jug of wine.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing, guest, please wait a moment.¡± After speaking, the waiter hurried off to the kitchen.


    The tavern was bustling with people, initially drawn by Xian Yin¡¯s appearance and enchanting figure. However, the more they looked, the more familiar she seemed to many.


    A spark of intuition flickered in someone¡¯s mind as they glanced at Qin Hao and Xue Lingling beside them. Aren¡¯t these the three individuals being hunted by the City Lord¡¯s Mansion and the Red Cloud Sect?


    Excitement flashed in many eyes; the City Lord¡¯s Mansion and the Red Cloud Sect were offering a bounty of tens of thousands of Spirit Stones.


    A group of four at one of the tables exchanged glances and stood up to approach them, and the crowd turned to watch, wondering if these four intended to capture Qin Hao and his companions with their abilities.


    ¡°Qin Hao, Miss Xian Yin, what a surprise to find you here. You¡¯d better come with us quietly, or don¡¯t blame us for being impolite,¡± said the leading man, sneering at Qin Hao and Xian Yin.


    ¡°Get lost.¡±


    Qin Hao uttered coldly, and four chopsticks sprang from the chopstick holder on the table, piercing through the dantian of the four individuals.


    ¡°Ah...¡±


    Screams erupted as the four fell to the ground, their inner strength dissipating swiftly, their dantians destroyed, their powers lost.


    Faces around them changed drastically; four Postnatal Realm experts rendered useless just like that? What realm does he belong to?


    Innate Realm?


    Some originally had the urge to act, but were now intimidated, none daring to move rashly.


    Though a few individuals did exit the tavern, seemingly to report the news, since discovering a crucial clue could also yield rewards.


    Qin Hao paid no mind to them. He entered the city with the intention of being noticed, so Li Changdong and others might appear, giving him the chance to kill Li Changdong.


    The food and drink soon arrived, and the trio sat there eating, showing no sign of wanting to leave.


    The news of Qin Hao¡¯s arrival in Danqing City quickly reached the City Lord¡¯s ears.


    ¡°What did you say? Qin Hao and Xian Yin have arrived in Danqing City?¡± The City Lord was a bit incredulous.


    The person replied: ¡°Yes, City Lord, that tavern is our property, and it¡¯s indeed those three people, and Qin Hao crippled four Postnatal experts in one move.¡±


    The City Lord¡¯s expression changed: ¡°He crippled four Postnatal Realm experts at once? Alright, I understand.¡±


    Once that person left, he immediately notified Li Changdong. He didn¡¯t have the confidence to handle such a ruthless character; only Li Changdong could deal with Qin Hao.


    Upon receiving the message, Li Changdong swiftly led the experts of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion through space transmission, arriving from the transmission array of Danqing City in less than a minute.


    This time, he not only brought the leaders of the Eight Gold Tiger Guards but also many experts. He intended to set up a formation to prevent Qin Hao from escaping.


    Soon, he led his men to the tavern and immediately surrounded it, forming a simple trap formation to prevent Qin Hao from using artifacts to escape instantaneously.


    Li Changdong entered the tavern with the Gold Tiger Guards, witnessing Qin Hao leisurely eating, emitting a murderous air: ¡°Qin Hao, I didn¡¯t expect you to dare show up here. Today, I will certainly kill you.¡±


    People inside the tavern quickly evacuated, fearing collateral damage.


    ¡°Long time no see, Li Changdong. Still such a hot temper.¡± Qin Hao looked at him, unfazed and calm.


    Seeing his demeanor, Li Changdong felt unsettled, wondering about the reason for Qin Hao¡¯s composure. Did he have a plan?


    In an instant, many possibilities rushed through his mind: ¡°Qin Hao, you assassinated my son and killed the Red Cloud Sect elder; which demonic sect are you from?¡±


    Qin Hao stood up and replied, ¡°Li Changdong, if you want revenge, go ahead, but don¡¯t smear me. Your son practiced evil skills, harmed countless children, deserved to be killed.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense.¡± Li Changdong snorted coldly; he had long sealed the news related to this matter.


    After all, if this spread, it would have a very negative impact on him, and the Skyfire Dynasty¡¯s King might even dismiss him.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Then does Li Changdong dare to swear an oath?¡±


    Li Changdong hesitated: ¡°You¡¯re not worthy, attack him.¡±


    The leaders of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion¡¯s Eight Gold Tiger Guards charged, launching an assault on Qin Hao and his companions.


    Qin Hao met them head-on, wielding a long alloy knife, unleashing waves of powerful sword qi.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    The tavern was filled with the clash of blades and swords, sword qi dominating the space.


    After the initial exchanges, the leaders of the Eight Gold Tiger Guards were shocked, as they clearly felt Qin Hao had grown stronger than before.


    How was this possible? It had been merely over a month, yet his strength had increased this much?


    ¡°Kill¡±


    Qin Hao exclaimed lightly, unleashing Ten Thousand Thunder Breaking the Sky. At this point, the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill was immensely more potent, with power countless times greater than before.


    The lightning pillar grew much thicker than before, its power dozens of times stronger; such powerful attacks left the leaders of the Eight Gold Tiger Guards only able to defend.


    Witnessing Qin Hao¡¯s display of strength, Li Changdong¡¯s heart surged like a raging storm; this young man¡¯s strength had advanced frightfully fast, from barely defending against the Gold Tiger Guards a month ago to overwhelming them now.


    This person must not be allowed to remain, or he will become a grave threat in the future.


    With these thoughts, Li Changdong charged into the battlefield himself. As a master at the early stage, combined with the leaders of the Eight Gold Tiger Guards, he doubted Qin Hao could withstand.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    ¡°Boom boom boom¡±


    Qin Hao single-handedly fought nine experts, surprisingly holding his ground without falling behind.


    This left the spectators bewildered; this Qin Hao was truly terrifying.


    ¡°Slash¡±:


    One of the Gold Tiger Guards¡¯ leaders was pierced through the chest, dying on the spot.


    Li Changdong felt a bit embarrassed by this; nine people besieged Qin Hao, yet he managed to counter-kill one, a blatant affront.


    ¡°Kill¡±


    Li Changdong shouted, exerting surging spiritual energy, golden light flashing in his hands, sending palm prints at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao¡¯s figure flickered with agility, avoiding direct confrontation with Li Changdong; he intended to first deal with the Gold Tiger Guards.


    In about the time of an incense stick, the Gold Tiger Guards¡¯ leaders died one after another, their combined attack skill weakened greatly once the first died.


    Now the tavern only held Li Changdong and Qin Hao.


    ¡°Next year today will be your death anniversary.¡± Not wanting any more delay, Qin Hao activated his space mecha.

 Chapter 945: 945: Killing the State Lord

    Chapter 945: Chapter 945: Killing the State Lord


    Li Changdong¡¯s brow twitched, and he had a bad premonition. This Qin Hao was too terrifying.


    He hadn¡¯t seen him for a month, yet he could now fight against a Grandmaster Realm expert. What kind of monster was he?


    Qin Hao moved, his figure like a ghost, disappearing from where he stood. Li Changdong also moved, opting not to defend but to attack, because he knew defending would only lead to death; only by fighting hard could he find a sliver of hope.


    Li Changdong unleashed his strongest divine skill, and in an instant, palm prints filled the entire restaurant, each one about two or three meters in size.


    Xian Yin hurriedly took Ling¡¯er and ran outside when she saw this. Within the restaurant, Qin Hao¡¯s figure was almost invisible because he was too fast.


    Inside the restaurant, palm prints and Sword Qi filled the air. Tables and chairs were shattered under this mighty offensive.


    ¡°Swoosh¡±


    A long sword emerged from Li Changdong¡¯s back. His eyes widened as he looked at Qin Hao in front of him, disbelief written all over his face.


    Qin Hao withdrew the long sword, and Li Changdong¡¯s body fell with a thud. Those outside the restaurant turned pale with fear at the sight, stepping back a few paces.


    He actually killed Li Changdong! Li Changdong was the ruler of Jiangping State, personally appointed by the emperor of the Skyfire Dynasty. Killing Li Changdong was a challenge to the dignity of the Skyfire Dynasty, a slap to the emperor¡¯s face.


    Qin Hao sheathed his sword and walked out of the restaurant. A few seconds later, the entire restaurant collapsed with a bang, sending up a cloud of dust.


    Although there were many soldiers outside the restaurant, none dared to approach Qin Hao. If he dared to kill a ruler, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kill soldiers like them.


    Qin Hao flew towards Danqing City with Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er.


    Beside the Transmission Array in Danqing City, the City Lord and his men were guarding it, on Li Changdong¡¯s orders, to prevent Qin Hao and his companions from using the array to escape.


    When Qin Hao and his party arrived by the array, the Danqing City Lord was shocked: How did they escape? Wasn¡¯t Li Changdong supposed to capture him personally?


    ¡°Qin Hao, I¡¯ve been waiting for you here for a long time. Attack them and capture them.¡± The Danqing City Lord ordered.


    They didn¡¯t know of Li Changdong¡¯s death. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t dare touch Qin Hao, even if they had ten times the courage.


    ¡°Swoosh¡±


    A blast of Sword Qi swept out, cutting dozens of soldiers in half.


    Qin Hao looked at the Danqing City Lord and asked, ¡°Do you want to join Li Changdong?¡±


    The Danqing City Lord trembled at these words, his eyes widened. Could it be... could Li Changdong be dead?


    Qin Hao and his two companions walked straight into the Transmission Array. On the array was a map marker, and Qin Hao chose Jiangzhou City. After inserting some Spirit Stones, the array activated.


    With a flash of light, Qin Hao and his companions disappeared into the array.


    They were now in the space passage, and a few seconds later, with a flicker of light, they arrived inside the Transmission Array in Jiangzhou City.


    ¡°Master, where are we going?¡± Xue Lingling asked curiously.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°We¡¯re going to the City Lord¡¯s mansion to collect some interest.¡±


    The City Lord¡¯s mansion was already in some disarray, as news of Li Changdong¡¯s death had just been relayed. Li Changdong¡¯s brother, Li Changchun, immediately stepped out to take charge, sensing his opportunity had come.


    Now that his elder brother was dead, and with the Li Family leaderless, only he could stabilize the family.


    Qin Hao and his companions emerged from the Transmission Array and flew over the Li Family within the City Lord¡¯s mansion.


    ¡°Hear me, people of the Li Family: I am Qin Hao. Li Changdong has been killed by me. Surrender two million low-grade Spirit Stones, and I¡¯ll spare your lives. Otherwise, I¡¯ll wipe out your entire family.¡± Qin Hao¡¯s voice was loud and spread to every corner of the Li Family.


    In the Li Family¡¯s living room, all the core family members had gathered.


    Someone heard Qin Hao¡¯s words, and his face turned grim: ¡°This Qin Hao bullies people too much, killing our Family Head and then threatening to destroy our Li Family here in Jiangzhou City.¡±


    ¡°Shut up! My elder brother was not only a Grandmaster Realm expert, but he also brought the eight Golden Tiger Guard leaders. Even so, he was killed. Can¡¯t you see how terrifying Qin Hao¡¯s strength is? Do you want our entire family to be wiped out?¡± Li Changchun roared angrily.


    The person was so frightened that he immediately fell silent. The strongest experts in the Li Family had been slain by Qin Hao; what else could they use to resist?


    ¡°Activate the family formation. Our family¡¯s formation was arranged by the dynasty¡¯s Array Master on my brother¡¯s request, capable of withstanding attacks from Grandmaster Realm experts.¡± Li Changchun made a quick decision.


    In an instant, the Li Family¡¯s protective formation activated, and a semicircular shield covered the entire family compound.


    Qin Hao saw the semicircular shield and was slightly taken aback: ¡°Is this a formation?¡±


    Xian Yin nodded slightly: ¡°This should be the Li Family¡¯s protective formation, said to be set up by an Array Master from the dynasty, capable of defending against attacks from Grandmaster level experts.¡±


    At this moment, Xian Yin¡¯s mindset had changed greatly from before. What had once seemed an unattainable City Lord¡¯s mansion was now under her gaze, and Qin Hao had avenged her by killing Li Changdong.


    Back then, when her family was destroyed, the leaders were Li Changdong, Li Yifan, and the eight Golden Tiger Guard leaders. Though few in number, they were all experts.


    Now all those people were dead, and her revenge was complete.


    Qin Hao looked with interest at the semicircular defensive shield. This thing was somewhat like the shields on interstellar warships.


    He drew his alloy long sword and swung it in the air, sending sharp Sword Qi to hit the Li Family¡¯s protective formation.


    The formation rippled upon impact, although Qin Hao¡¯s Sword Qi was fierce, it wasn¡¯t quite enough.


    The Sword Intent Talisman he had these days hadn¡¯t been fully comprehended, and his Sword Intent had not seen much improvement.


    ¡°Qin Hao, you killed our Family Head. Now you come to the Li Family to recklessly flaunt. What on earth do you want? Do you disregard the authority of the Skyfire Dynasty?¡± Li Changchun¡¯s voice came from below.


    Qin Hao sneered: ¡°Now you talk to me about the authority of the Dynasty? When you massacred the Jiang Family, did you ever consider the law of the Dynasty? When hunting me down, did you respect the Dynasty¡¯s authority?¡±


    Li Changchun: ¡°Those were all actions of my elder brother. The rest of the Li Family was unaware of these matters. Why must you pin all responsibilities on our family?¡±


    ¡°Enough with the nonsense. Two million Spirit Stones, and your family gets to live. If I have to break through your protective formation, it won¡¯t end with just two million Spirit Stones.¡± Qin Hao said calmly.


    Li Changchun: ¡°This is a defensive formation set up by the dynasty¡¯s Array Master. Even Grandmaster experts can¡¯t break it.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Then I¡¯ll break it for you to see.¡± Qin Hao sneered and unleashed the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill.


    ¡°Rushing Thunder and Gale¡±


    ¡°Thunder Roars in the Ears¡±


    ¡°Purple Lightning Thunder Sound¡±


    The Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill had a total of four forms, and these were the last three, also the most powerful single-target moves.


    Dark clouds gathered over the Li Family, with lightning flashing. Thunderous clouds shrouded the entire Li Family with a terrifying pressure, leaving many below with a suffocating feeling.


    All three forms were unleashed; the dark clouds roiled, and thunder roared as if divine punishment was descending upon the world.

 Chapter 946: 946: Flattening the Red Cloud Sect

    Chapter 946: Chapter 946: Flattening the Red Cloud Sect


    The people of the Li Family below saw this scene, their expressions changed slightly, some worried that the defensive formation would be broken.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    Columns of thunder descended from the sky, striking the family protection formation of the Li Family.


    Subsequent thunder pillars hit the same spot in succession, with thunderous sounds continuously. With each thunder pillar that fell, the family protection formation of the Li Family would tremble.


    Qin Hao¡¯s space mecha fired a spatial cannon, also hitting the spot where the thunder pillars landed.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    The family protection formation of the Li Family turned dim and cracked with the fall of each thunder pillar, and when the last one fell, the protection formation was shattered.


    Li Changchun and others¡¯ faces changed drastically, pale as death. Could the family protection formation really be broken? How is this possible? This was a formation set up by the array master of the dynasty! How could it be broken?


    ¡°Does your Li Family have any last words to say?¡± Qin Hao¡¯s tone was cold. With a sword cut down, a sword aura tens of feet long fell, and dozens of palaces collapsed with a rumble.


    The people of the Li Family were petrified with fear. How could they resist this?


    ¡°Mr. Qin, please show mercy. Our Li Family knows we were wrong and are willing to compensate Mr. Qin.¡± Li Changchun hurriedly said.


    Qin Hao looked with disdain and said, ¡°Four million spirit stones. If there¡¯s one less, I will destroy your Li Family.¡±


    ¡°Four million? Mr. Qin, isn¡¯t that too much?¡± Li Changchun¡¯s face changed slightly.


    Qin Hao swept horizontally with a sword. The powerful sword qi fell beside Li Changchun, leaving a gulch more than ten meters deep in the ground, terrifying beyond measure.


    Li Changchun¡¯s face turned pale, and he dared not bargain anymore, sending someone to prepare the spirit stones.


    About ten minutes later, Li Changchun barely scraped together four million spirit stones, respectfully handing them over to Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin, here are four million spirit stones.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly: ¡°Then the grievances between me and your Li Family are written off from now on. If your Li Family foolishly provokes me again in the future, it won¡¯t be something four million spirit stones can solve.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured Mr. Qin, our Li Family certainly won¡¯t provoke Mr. Qin again.¡± Li Changchun didn¡¯t dare to offend him anymore. Li Changdong and the leader of the Eight Gold Tiger Guards all died at his hands, showing how terrifying his strength was.


    Such strength is enough to walk across Jiangping State unimpeded.


    Qin Hao checked the spirit stones. The spirit stones in his storage space seemed like a mountain.


    He said to Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er, ¡°Let¡¯s go, settle accounts with the Red Cloud Sect.¡±


    Li Changchun was almost paralyzed upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, going to settle accounts with the Red Cloud Sect?


    Is he planning to destroy the Red Cloud Sect?


    In terms of strength, the State Governor¡¯s Mansion wasn¡¯t as strong as the Red Cloud Sect. Just the grandmaster realm experts, the Red Cloud Sect had two, plus a large number of late innate realm experts. Is he really going to the Red Cloud Sect?


    ...


    Qin Hao left, taking Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er as they headed to the transmission array in Jiangzhou City.


    The Red Cloud Sect was located in the northeast of Jiangping State, near Red Cloud City, and about tens of thousands of miles from Jiangping City.


    With a flash of light in the transmission array, Qin Hao and the two others disappeared inside. Many people had been paying attention to the previous battle, realizing that the Li Family was finished this time. It would be difficult to rise again after provoking such a major figure.


    What excited everyone the most was Qin Hao¡¯s last words: settling accounts with the Red Cloud Sect? Was he really going to the Red Cloud Sect?


    After Qin Hao disappeared from the transmission array, many people also entered it, heading towards Red Cloud City.


    Jiangping State, the central square of Red Cloud City.


    The transmission array in the central square glowed, and Qin Hao and his companions emerged from it. At this time, the square was bustling with people, many setting up stalls selling things,


    Upon emerging from the transmission array, Qin Hao glanced around, noticing many people selling medicinal herbs and artifact refining materials.


    Xian Yin asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, are we really going to the Red Cloud Sect?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°After resolving matters here, it¡¯s time to leave.¡±


    Xian Yin hesitated for a moment, ¡°But the Red Cloud Sect is very powerful, with experts as numerous as clouds. Their Sect Leader and Grand Elder are both grandmaster realm experts, and many beneath them are at the innate realm.¡±


    Although Qin Hao was at the late innate realm, ordinary grandmaster realm experts were no match for him. Even if two attacked him together, he didn¡¯t care.


    In battles of this level, ordinary innate experts simply couldn¡¯t intervene and would only be a hindrance, so Qin Hao wasn¡¯t afraid of them swarming him.


    ¡°Today, the Red Cloud Sect must disappear from Jiangping State.¡± After saying this, Qin Hao flew into the air.


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er followed and flew into the air as well.


    ¡°Flying is forbidden within Red Cloud City, do you wish to die?¡± A voice suddenly came from within the city, and many people on the ground looked up at the three in the sky.


    Are these three people here in Red Cloud City for the first time? Flying is forbidden here; flying is a grave disrespect to the Red Cloud Sect.


    Qin Hao waved his arm, sending out a sweep of sword qi that entered the city, followed by a scream.


    ¡°Today, we flatten the Red Cloud Sect.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s tone was calm, yet it carried a sense of authority. His voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it echoed throughout the city.


    Everyone in Red Cloud City heard his words and was shocked, What? Someone wants to flatten the Red Cloud Sect? Who could it be?


    ¡°What the hell, am I hearing things? Did someone say they want to flatten the Red Cloud Sect?¡±


    ¡°You heard right. I heard it too. Who is this person? Could it be an alliance of other three major sects?¡±


    ¡°Go quickly and see, there¡¯s going to be a big show today.¡±


    Many people headed towards the Red Cloud Sect, which was very close to Red Cloud City, as Red Cloud City was right at the foot of the Red Cloud Sect¡¯s mountain.


    As Qin Hao and his companions flew, they quickly reached the top of the Red Cloud Sect¡¯s mountain, where the top was dotted with numerous palaces.


    ¡°The Sect Leader and elders of the Red Cloud Sect, come out and meet your fate.¡± Qin Hao stood still in the void, wearing black robes fluttering in the wind, with Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er standing beside him. Those who didn¡¯t know better might think they were a family of three.


    The Red Cloud Sect had thousands of disciples, with a few hundred inner disciples, most of whom were outer disciples. After hearing Qin Hao¡¯s voice, they were stunned for a moment, then all looked up at the sky.


    Who is this? Such arrogance?


    ¡°Who dares to provoke my Red Cloud Sect?¡± A figure flew out, it was an outer elder of the Red Cloud Sect.


    Qin Hao swung his right hand, a sweep of sword qi slicing through the air, cutting the outer elder in half before he could reach Qin Hao.


    The disciples of the Red Cloud Sect were dumbfounded. My god, who is this person? Just waving a hand and killing an elder?


    On the mountaintop, Pang Yi, Lan Sihui, and a few others looked at each other. Isn¡¯t this Qin Hao? Has he become this powerful now?


    A swipe of the hand to kill an innate expert?


    ...


    An elder flew out, his hair all white but with a vibrant spirit.


    He squinted his eyes at Qin Hao, ¡°Who might this young man be? My Red Cloud Sect has never had a grudge against you, right?¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him with an overbearing tone, ¡°My name is Qin Hao. You¡¯re the Grand Elder of the Red Cloud Sect, aren¡¯t you? Call out your Sect Leader and all the elders to meet their deaths, for after today, the Red Cloud Sect will no longer exist in Jiangping State.¡±

 Chapter 947: 947: Can the past be remembered?

    Chapter 947: Chapter 947: Can the past be remembered?


    Qin Hao?


    The Great Elder of the Red Cloud Sect heard this name and found it somewhat familiar. Soon he remembered, wasn¡¯t this the man who killed Song Liang?


    At this moment, all the inner and outer sect elders of the Red Cloud Sect rose into the air, standing behind the Great Elder.


    Ye Haiqing looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°You¡¯ve killed an elder of our Red Cloud Sect and now you come looking for us. Do you think our Red Cloud Sect is easy to bully?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, I do think you¡¯re easy to bully. Today, I¡¯m here to level your Red Cloud Sect,¡± Qin Hao said arrogantly and audaciously.


    Ye Haiqing: ¡°Then I cannot let you stay.¡±


    With that, he rushed forward. Qin Hao let out a cold laugh, holding a three-foot-long green blade to meet the attack.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    The two clashed, with sword beams dozens of meters long colliding and dissipating in the air.


    Although Qin Hao was at the late Innate Realm, he was not at a disadvantage against Ye Haiqing, who was at the early Grandmaster level. He grew stronger with each battle, even showing a tendency to suppress Ye Haiqing.


    Not far away in the sky, a crowd had already gathered, their eyes shining as they watched Qin Hao and the Great Elder of the Red Cloud Sect fight. This was one fierce character, daring to declare he would level the Red Cloud Sect all by himself.


    After crossing swords with Qin Hao, Ye Haiqing was tremendously shocked. This boy was merely at the late Innate Realm, yet his combat power was so terrifying. Could it be that he was a disciple from a great family or sect of the Skyfire Dynasty?


    Otherwise, how could his combat power be so terrifying?


    On the mountaintop of the Red Cloud Sect, both outer and inner sect disciples were watching the battle in the air.


    Pang Yi, Lan Sihui, and the others were visibly shocked by the evenly matched fight between Qin Hao and Great Elder Ye Haiqing, while a sense of helplessness arose in their hearts.


    How did he become so terrifying?


    In a battle of this level, cultivators with ordinary Innate Realm could not intervene.


    However, a few elders of the Red Cloud Sect shifted their gaze toward Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er.


    ¡°Capture those two,¡± the Second Elder said. This person was too reckless, coming to the Red Cloud Sect to cause trouble and even bringing his wife and child.


    In an instant, five outer sect elders flew over. Xian Yin, upon seeing this, snorted coldly and confronted them with a soft sword in her hand.


    For insurance, she activated a space mecha. Coupled with her realm advantage, she killed all five outer sect elders in less than ten seconds.


    The expressions of the Second Elder and others subtly changed. Was this person also this strong?


    To kill five outer sect elders in just a few seconds, she was probably at the mid-Innate level?


    The Second Elder and others of the Red Cloud Sect dared not act rashly again, all eyes were on the Great Elder and Qin Hao in battle, as these two were key to victory and defeat.


    Qin Hao wielded the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill to perfection, with continuous thunder claps resounding through the void.


    Ye Haiqing was no ordinary person either, holding a spear and displaying the Red Cloud Sect¡¯s ultimate Thunderbolt Spear Skill to its fullest.


    However, in terms of the power of Divine Skills, the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill had the upper hand.


    Although Qin Hao was at the late Innate Realm, the Immortal Burying Skill was a top-notch cultivation technique, and the spiritual energy contained within him far exceeded that of Ye Haiqing.


    After more than a hundred rounds of fighting, Ye Haiqing was already at a disadvantage and slightly struggling, continuing like this would be a certain death.


    The expressions of the Second Elder and others of the Red Cloud Sect subtly changed upon seeing this. Just a hundred rounds, and the Great Elder was already at a disadvantage. How could this Qin Hao be so terrifying?


    In the void, Qin Hao fought more and more courageously, pushing the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill to the extreme. Dark clouds gathered within a hundred miles of the void, with thunder rumbling, the world darkened, and the sun and moon lost their brilliance.


    The Great Elder Ye Haiqing of the Red Cloud Sect bitterly held on, his mouth already overflowing with blood.


    This Qin Hao was too terrifying, simply a battle genius. At the start of the fight, he hadn¡¯t felt anything, yet the longer the battle lasted, the more terrifying he found Qin Hao.


    Because Qin Hao was elevating himself in battle, his combat power was becoming increasingly terrifying, such a monstrosity he had never encountered in his life.


    ¡°Clang!¡±


    Sword met spear, and the Great Elder of the Red Cloud Sect was sent flying by a great force, with a mouthful of blood spraying from his lips.


    The faces of the Red Cloud Sect members changed dramatically, was the Great Elder about to be defeated?


    Qin Hao closed in, a sword beam slashing directly at Ye Haiqing.


    ¡°Crack!¡±


    The spear in Ye Haiqing¡¯s hand snapped in response, with the leftover force striking his chest.


    ¡°Poof!¡±


    Ye Haiqing spewed blood from his mouth, his complexion ashen and bloodless.


    ¡°Great Elder.¡± An inner sect elder hurriedly rushed forward, trying to protect him.


    Qin Hao turned his head, his dark, bright eyes flashing with electricity, and the Purple Lightning Thunder Sound was launched, causing three inner sect elders to explode in mid-air instantly.


    Ordinary cultivators of the Innate Realm couldn¡¯t withstand even a single move from him.


    ¡°Mr. Ye, I¡¯ll send you on your way,¡± Qin Hao said, then flew over.


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    A stream of light shot out from the depths of the Red Cloud Sect, straight at Qin Hao in the air.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed, striking the stream of light with his sword.


    The stream of light flew back, and at this moment, a figure appeared in the air. It was a middle-aged man, dignified and righteous.


    ¡°Is this the Sect Leader of the Red Cloud Sect, Ye Wufeng?¡±


    ¡°Ye Wufeng finally came out, it¡¯s said he¡¯s been in seclusion all this time, just to break through to the legendary Heavenly Human Realm.¡±


    ¡°Hundreds of years ago, Ye Wufeng was already at the early Grandmaster level, now after centuries of seclusion, he will probably be even more terrifying.¡±


    ¡°This Qin Hao is also truly terrifying, being able to defeat the Great Elder of the Red Cloud Sect, he must count as a top expert in the entire Jiangping State.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s so young, his future is boundless, the Red Cloud Sect offending him is a loss not worth the gain.¡±


    Ye Wufeng looked at Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin, several elders of our Red Cloud Sect have already died at your hands. I think it would be best to let things end here, our Red Cloud Sect admits defeat, what do you say?¡±


    Disciples of the Red Cloud Sect and the crowd watching were stunned at his words, just conceding like that? Why not fight him?


    This scene surprised many, with Qin Hao already at their doorstep, Ye Wufeng was still holding back.


    Qin Hao smiled lightly: ¡°What if I don¡¯t agree?¡±


    The crowd was bewildered, not agree? He actually refused to agree? Did he truly intend to level the Red Cloud Sect?


    Ye Wufeng frowned slightly: ¡°Why must Mr. Qin be so aggressive? You¡¯ve killed so many people, shouldn¡¯t your anger be assuaged by now?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at him: ¡°One hundred and twenty-five years ago, you and Ye Haiqing led the elders of the Red Cloud Sect, committing an atrocity you should be well aware of, no?¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, the faces of Ye Wufeng and the elders of the Red Cloud Sect changed dramatically.


    Surrounding people and disciples of the Red Cloud Sect were puzzled, what had the Sect Leader and elders done? Why did their faces change as soon as Qin Hao spoke?


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er were also very curious, what was Mr. Qin (Master) talking about?


    Qin Hao¡¯s face was icy and merciless: ¡°One hundred and twenty-five years ago, you led the elders of the Red Cloud Sect in massacring a tribe of ten thousand in the Xuanqing Dynasty, not sparing men, women, old, or young. Do you remember the six-year-old girl you strung up and humiliated? Do you remember her cries and screams?¡±

 Chapter 948: 948: The Destruction of the Red Cloud Sect

    Chapter 948: Chapter 948: The Destruction of the Red Cloud Sect


    Ye Wufeng and the elders of the Red Cloud Sect¡¯s faces changed dramatically, looking at Qin Hao with disbelief, as if they¡¯d seen a demon.


    How could he know so clearly?


    Could he be a survivor from the Black Tiger Tribe?


    The spectators and disciples of the Red Cloud Sect¡¯s faces changed slightly, could there really be such a thing?


    ¡°I remember now, indeed, over a hundred years ago there was a genocide that shocked the Xuanqing Dynasty, could the guilty party be the Red Cloud Sect?¡±


    ¡°No way! The Red Cloud Sect is a reputable sect in Jiangping State, how could they do something like this?¡±


    ¡°Look at the faces of those Red Cloud Sect elders, how ugly they look. I think there¡¯s an eighty-ninety percent chance the Red Cloud Sect did it.¡±


    ¡°If this is true, the Red Cloud Sect¡¯s reputation will be ruined.¡±


    ¡°Impossible, this is absolutely slander.¡± Some disciples of the Red Cloud Sect did not believe Qin Hao¡¯s words.


    Ye Wufeng stared at Qin Hao, with killing intent flashing in his eyes, but he was not confident in defeating Qin Hao, just the fact that he defeated the great elder was enough evidence of his terrifying combat strength.


    Qin Hao continued, ¡°Sect Leader Ye, have you deciphered the Black Tiger Token of the Black Tiger Tribe? It¡¯s said there¡¯s a secret in it that allows one to break through to the Heavenly Human Realm.¡±


    The crowd was shocked, the Black Tiger Token of the Black Tiger Tribe? It can allow one to break through to the Heavenly Human Realm???


    By now, nearly everyone understood, no wonder Ye Wufeng led people to slaughter the entire Black Tiger Tribe, it was for the Black Tiger Token!


    Ye Wufeng¡¯s face didn¡¯t change much, but inside, he was overwhelmed by gigantic waves, how could he know? How did he know?


    Back then, he had checked carefully, all thirteen thousand two hundred seventy-six people of the Black Tiger Tribe were killed, not a single survivor.


    It¡¯s absolutely impossible for anyone to know, how did Qin Hao know?


    ¡°Today I came here to serve justice, to kill these worse-than-animal things.¡± Upon saying this, Qin Hao¡¯s sharp gaze swept over Ye Wufeng and those elders.


    Ye Wufeng knew the matter had been exposed, even if he didn¡¯t admit it, once it spreads, someone will come to investigate, eventually, they won¡¯t be able to avoid being uncovered.


    He asked Qin Hao, ¡°I¡¯m very curious, how do you know?¡±


    Ye Wufeng¡¯s words caused an uproar, he indirectly admitted it!


    ¡°Unexpectedly, the genocide back then was really masterminded by Ye Wufeng, this is unbelievable.¡±


    ¡°Bah, I thought he was a noble gentleman, but he¡¯s worse than a demon cultivator.¡±


    ¡°Such beasts in clothes, everyone should punish them.¡±


    Below, the disciples of the Red Cloud Sect were in chaos, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect the Red Cloud Sect to be such a sect, I want to quit the Red Cloud Sect.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m quitting too, how is this any different from a demonic sect?¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°If you wish to remain hidden, unless you¡¯ve never done it, good and evil eventually pay their debts, if heaven won¡¯t punish, I, Qin Hao, will serve justice.¡±


    ¡°What a ¡®serve justice¡¯, I want to see what ability you have, kill.¡± Ye Wufeng knew this battle was unavoidable, he took the initiative, charging towards Qin Hao.


    The other elders of the Red Cloud Sect exchanged glances, many had already developed the intent to flee, something from over a hundred years ago exposed, staying here would mean certain death, escaping to an uninhabited remote mountain forest might save their lives.


    Thinking of this, two inner sect elders suddenly flew far away.


    Qin Hao separated from Ye Wufeng, the Xuanling Bow appeared in his hand, two arrows shot out, instantly bursting the two inner sect elders, scary enough to keep the other elders frozen in place.


    This Qin Hao is too perverse, engaged in a fight with the Sect Leader, yet still had the chance to shoot others.


    Ye Wufeng, now in the mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, possessed terrifying combat power, with boundless Spiritual Energy within his body, every move and gesture exuded Spiritual Energy, his whole body glowing brilliantly.


    Qin Hao was even more terrifying, the Immortal Burying Skill was used to its extreme, the golden sword light illuminated half the sky, with formidable power seemingly capable of shattering mountains and rivers.


    Having just fought the great elder of the Red Cloud Sect, Qin Hao showed no sign of exhaustion, instead, he fought with increasing vigor, his whole body emitting golden light, like a War God descending.


    Xian Yin saw Qin Hao battling in the sky, a hint of bewilderment flashed in her eyes, at this moment Qin Hao¡¯s image was deeply imprinted in her mind.


    She had also fantasized about having a man as a peerless hero, now Qin Hao perfectly matched her fantasy.


    ¡°Xian Yin sister, your eyes are so bright.¡± Ling¡¯er suddenly spoke beside her.


    Xian Yin¡¯s cheeks instantly reddened, ¡°Mr. Qin is indeed a prodigious talent, having a peerless and unmatched aura now.¡±


    ¡°Master is really incredible.¡± Xue Lingling¡¯s eyes showed admiration.


    She then looked at Xian Yin and whispered, ¡°Xian Yin sister, do you like Master?¡±


    Xian Yin blushed again, ¡°You little girl, what do you know, don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡±


    ¡°Xian Yin sister, I can tell, if you really like Master, you should pursue him, or else someone else might snatch him.¡± Ling¡¯er said.


    Xian Yin¡¯s face burned, unsure how to respond to that.


    By now, Qin Hao and Ye Wufeng were locked in intense battle, both unleashing their most powerful Divine Skills, repeatedly aiming for each other¡¯s vital points.


    ¡°Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, just so-so.¡± Qin Hao¡¯s voice spread, shocking everyone present, mid-stage Grandmaster Realm just so-so??


    In the whole Jiangping State, Grandmaster Realm experts were rare, he actually said mid-stage Grandmaster Realm experts were just so-so?


    Suddenly, a figure was blown back from the battle group, upon closer look, it was Ye Wufeng.


    At the same time, a ray of light roared in, piercing into Ye Wufeng¡¯s chest, pinning him against the mountain wall of Red Cloud Peak.


    It was an arrow from the Xuanling Bow, giving Ye Wufeng no chance to breathe.


    Ye Wufeng stared wide-eyed, lowering his head to gaze at the Spiritual Arrow formed by Spiritual Energy in his chest, then his head completely hung limply, lifeless.


    ¡°Dead? The Sect Leader of the Red Cloud Sect, Ye Wufeng was killed by Qin Hao?¡±


    Everyone present could not believe it, this Qin Hao is too strong!


    Having slain Ye Wufeng, Qin Hao did not linger, he charged at the Red Cloud Sect¡¯s elders.


    With a few moves, he wiped out the more than ten inner and outer sect elders of the Red Cloud Sect.


    Qin Hao looked at the disciples below and spoke, ¡°This matter has nothing to do with you, you may leave on your own.¡±


    After saying this, he took Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er deeper into the Red Cloud Sect.


    The Red Cloud Sect, as one of the four major sects in Jiangping State, surely had many good things inside.


    Others saw Qin Hao entering, hesitated whether to go in and snatch some, but upon thought, dared not enter, that guy even killed the Sect Leader and elders of the Red Cloud Sect, such a ruthless person can¡¯t be provoked, let¡¯s wait for him to come out and then see if we can grab some soup.


    Soon, the news that the Red Cloud Sect was annihilated by Qin Hao spread, especially to the other three major sects, who got the news almost instantly, as they had spies here.

 Chapter 949: 949: The Attitude of the Skyfire Dynasty

    Chapter 949: Chapter 949: The Attitude of the Skyfire Dynasty


    The energy fluctuations emanating from within the Red Cloud Sect were powerful as Qin Hao was forcefully breaking through the restrictive barriers of the sect¡¯s treasure vault.


    The Red Cloud Sect has existed in Jiangping State for thousands of years, retaining some measure of its wealth.


    Those magical artifacts are quite low-level and useless to Qin Hao, although some spirit stones and medicinal herbs are somewhat valuable.


    Afterward, Qin Hao visited the Scripture Pavilion of the Red Cloud Sect, primarily to search for ancient texts and see if there were any traces of the Butian Sect and Xingyue Palace.


    About an hour later, Qin Hao and his two companions emerged from the Red Cloud Sect, and the onlookers rushed in, surging into the sect.


    Qin Hao took some important items, yet there were still many valuable things inside the Red Cloud Sect, such as palace materials and spirit beasts.


    Upon leaving Red Cloud Sect, Qin Hao and his companions did not return to Red Cloud City, but flew towards the north.


    Since Qin Hao killed the governor of Jiangping State, if the Skyfire Dynasty dispatched experts to hunt them down, heading to a city to use a Transmission Array would be akin to walking into a trap. The safest approach was to traverse the vast mountain ranges, heading closer to the central region of Hidden Dragon Continent.


    Three days later, the Skyfire Dynasty issued a proclamation across all corners of the dynasty: The dynasty is aware of the Li Family¡¯s and Red Cloud Sect¡¯s actions, rescinding the wanted order for Qin Hao and his companions. Additionally, the Skyfire Dynasty issued a recruitment notice, hoping Qin Hao would join the Skyfire Dynasty to serve it.


    Of course, Qin Hao and his companions were unaware of this notice, as they were still within a forest.


    Along the way, they hunted monsters while traveling, thus their speed wasn¡¯t very fast.


    After completing a main quest, Qin Hao accumulated a substantial number of merit points and also received a reward in the form of a magical treasure along with a considerable amount of mid-grade spirit stones.


    That night, they meditated and cultivated inside a cave.


    Qin Hao perused the merit shop, feeling that his current divine skills were somewhat lacking; apart from the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill, he didn¡¯t possess other offensive divine skills. Now that his power has increased, he felt it was time to exchange for more powerful divine skills.


    Domineering Dragon Fist Divine Power, Thunderbolt Fist Divine Skill, Five Mountains Fist Divine Power, Five Elements Fist Divine Power: Xuanbing Palm Divine Power, Coiling Silk Palm Divine Ability, Vajra Palm Divine Ability, Five Extremes Palm Divine Ability, et cetera; the divine skills in the merit shop dazzled Qin Hao.


    Whether it be fist divine abilities, palm divine abilities, leg divine abilities, or swordsmanship, blade techniques, spear techniques ¨C everything imaginable was present.


    After viewing them for a long time, Qin Hao exchanged for two powerful divine skills, Heavenly Gang 72 Palm and Earthly Fiend 36 Fists, and later noticed a special divine skill named ¡°Phoenix Dance Nine Heavens Song.¡±


    Coincidentally, the system awarded him a magical ancient zither, which paired with the Phoenix Dance Nine Heavens Song could be used by Xian Yin.


    The last time, Qin Hao gave the Green Lotus Sword to Ling¡¯er, so this time, it was suitable.


    After exchanging, Qin Hao also acquired another divine skill called Red Luan String Hand.


    These divine skills are top-tier, and they can be used even if their power significantly increases in the future, undoubtedly surpassing the supreme divine skills on Hidden Dragon Continent.


    No feast lasts forever; the day will come when he will part ways with Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er to search for his child.


    He hopes that after separating, the two of them can protect themselves. Having been together for such a long time, he has developed feelings for both of them and does not want them to face any trouble in the future.


    After cultivating all night, Qin Hao opened his eyes the next morning, a glint flashing within them.


    By this time, Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er were already awake; Xian Yin was outside playing her tune, and Ling¡¯er was preparing breakfast.


    Every morning, Xian Yin would play a few songs, and from the sound, her mood had improved considerably compared to before, not as sorrowful as before.


    Qin Hao walked out of the cave, and as Xian Yin finished her tune, she quickly stood up with a smile, saying, ¡°Mr. Qin.¡±


    Xue Lingling also stood up and said, ¡°Master, breakfast is almost ready; do you smell how fragrant it is?¡±


    Qin Hao sat on a nearby rock and smiled, nodding, ¡°Fragrant, your cooking skills are getting better.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, as long as Master likes it.¡± Hearing his praise, Xue Lingling¡¯s face was full of smiles. Her dependence on Qin Hao was very strong, considering him her only family, as she had no parents or relatives.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°By the way, Master has a divine skill to teach you. It¡¯s a top-tier divine skill; you must cultivate it diligently, and don¡¯t pass it on.¡±


    With that, he handed her a jade slip in which he had inscribed the contents of the Red Luan String Hand Divine Skill, which could be learned using Divine Sense.


    Xue Lingling chuckled, ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    Qin Hao then turned to Xian Yin and said, ¡°Miss Xian Yin, this ancient zither is for you, along with this musical score divine skill.¡±


    Upon hearing his words and seeing the gilded ancient zither in Qin Hao¡¯s hand, Xian Yin¡¯s heart raced and cheeks flushed, ¡°Mr. Qin, I won¡¯t be formal with you.¡±


    ¡°No need to stand on ceremony, take them. I noticed your cultivation technique isn¡¯t very good; this is the Burning Moon Immortal Scripture, which Ling¡¯er is also cultivating. You can switch to this technique from now on.¡±


    Xian Yin nodded, feeling a bit overwhelmed; was he interested in her since he gifted her so many things?


    ...


    During breakfast, a communication stone within Qin Hao¡¯s storage space lit up.


    Qin Hao took it out to look; it was the communication jade stone purchased from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion earlier.


    ¡°Does Mr. Qin remember me? I¡¯m the boss from Jiangzhou City.¡± The voice of the middle-aged boss sounded from within the jade stone.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of doubt, ¡°Mr. Li, do you need me for something?¡±


    ¡°I have good news for Mr. Qin. Given your youthful age, your ability to defeat Grandmaster Realm experts is truly extraordinary, comparable to the genius disciples of major families and sects in Central Continent.¡±


    Qin Hao showed no change in expression upon hearing his flattering words, ¡°Mr. Li, just say what you need to say.¡±


    Li Gaoshu chuckled dryly, ¡°Mr. Qin, the Skyfire Dynasty has rescinded the charges against you, and they have also issued a recruitment order, inviting you to join the Skyfire Dynasty and work for them.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned into a daze, ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Of course, why would I deceive Mr. Qin? Congratulations, you¡¯re going to prosper.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Thank you, Mr. Li, for the news. We¡¯ll meet again if fated.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, goodbye.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s battle prowess has now caught the attention of the Skyfire Dynasty. Continuously defeating Grandmaster Realm experts is enough to prove his strength. Heavenly Human Realm experts are rare in the Skyfire Dynasty; each one reigns over a region for the dynasty.


    The emperor of the Skyfire Dynasty values Qin Hao¡¯s potential. At just over twenty years old, being able to defeat Grandmaster Realm experts implies limitless future potential and possibly surpassing the Heavenly Human Realm.

 Chapter 950: 950 Shuijiang City

    Chapter 950: Chapter 950 Shuijiang City


    In the Skyfire Dynasty, those in the Heavenly Human Realm are considered top experts. As for those who surpass this realm, it¡¯s likely only the emperor of the Skyfire Dynasty.


    Everyone in the dynasty knows that Emperor Meng Tianchen of the Skyfire Dynasty is the pinnacle expert beyond the Heavenly Human Realm, undoubtedly the greatest expert in the dynasty.


    Qin Hao said to Xian Yin and Xue Lingling, ¡°The dynasty has canceled the wanted notice for us.¡±


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er, upon hearing this, showed a delighted expression, ¡°Really? That¡¯s great.¡±


    Qin Hao took out a map, glanced at it, and said, ¡°In a few more days, we¡¯ll be out of Jiangping State. Ahead is Yangchuan State.¡±


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er had never left Jiangping State. To them, Jiangping State was already vast; they never imagined they would one day leave it.


    While on the road, Qin Hao took out the ancient books and jade slips he had looted from the Red Cloud Sect and began to read.


    Later, Xian Yin couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity and asked, ¡°Young master, do you like reading the ancient histories of the Hidden Dragon Continent?¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°I don¡¯t like reading this stuff, but I need to find something useful. Unfortunately, there¡¯s no record of it here; most records are about the history of Jiangping State. Only a few mention the history of the Skyfire Dynasty, without the history of the entire continent recorded.¡±


    Xian Yin: ¡°If the young master wants records of the entire Hidden Dragon Continent, they are probably only in the Skyfire Dynasty¡¯s palace library. Other places almost have none.¡±


    The Skyfire Dynasty¡¯s royal library?


    ...


    Four days later, outside Shuijiang City in Yangchuan State.


    A pair of young men and women stood with a young girl, surveying Shuijiang City.


    These three were none other than Qin Hao, Xian Yin, and Xue Lingling.


    Xue Lingling: ¡°Master, Sister Xian Yin, this Shuijiang City is even larger than Jiangzhou City.¡±


    Xian Yin smiled and said, ¡°The further you go inside, the more prosperous it becomes. Shuijiang City belongs to Yangchuan State, and although Jiangping State and Yangchuan State both fall under Yuxing County, Yangchuan State is more prosperous. Here the land is rich and the people are talented, and there are more experts. Places like Yuxing State are even more prosperous.¡±


    Xue Lingling¡¯s eyes revealed a look of yearning, ¡°Really? When we have the chance, let¡¯s go and take a look at this splendid world.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside. We¡¯ll stay here for two days and then leave via the transmission array.¡±


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er nodded, and the three walked into Shuijiang City. The city gate was bustling, with many setting up stalls outside, selling some low-grade herbs.


    As they walked into the city, Ling¡¯er curiously observed the city¡¯s scenes; there were quite a few people on the streets.


    At this moment, the crowd not far ahead became chaotic, with people rushing to the sides as a voice rang out, ¡°Get out of the way!¡±


    A young master was riding a majestic Flame Beast, rampaging down the street.


    The Flame Beast¡¯s hooves stepped on fire, its speed like the wind, extremely fast.


    Qin Hao remained unmoved, still standing in the middle of the street; Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er glanced at him and did not move either.


    In the blink of an eye, the Flame Beast was about to rush up to them. The young master on the beast saw Qin Hao and the others standing still, shouted angrily, ¡°Get out of the way, or don¡¯t blame this young master if you get killed.¡±


    Qin Hao still did not move. This street belongs to everyone; why should I let you pass?


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Just as the Flame Beast was about to collide with Qin Hao, he suddenly punched out, his fist striking the head of the Flame Beast.


    Instantly, the Flame Beast stopped, ¡°thud¡± it fell to the ground and lost its life.


    The surrounding people were slightly stunned, damn, this person actually punched a running Flame Beast to death?


    The Flame Beast was massive, its strength terrifying, coupled with the force of its run, it could knock an Innate realm expert flying, yet it was punched to death by one person; how terrifying is this person¡¯s strength?


    Who is this person?


    The young master also fell from the Flame Beast but, being a cultivator, did not suffer too badly.


    Seeing his beloved Flame Beast dead, he glared angrily at Qin Hao, ¡°Do you have a death wish? You dared to kill my Flame Beast. That cost me ten thousand spirit stones.¡±


    ¡°Scram, one more word and I¡¯ll send you to accompany it,¡± Qin Hao retorted disdainfully.


    Jin Yu¡¯an¡¯s body trembled upon hearing this; only now did he realize the person in front of him just punched a charging Flame Beast to death¡ªwhat kind of strength is this?


    Not even my father could manage that, could he? Thinking about this, he dared not speak further; the person in front of him was an expert.


    Qin Hao, seeing him sensibly keep quiet, ignored him further and walked ahead with Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er.


    ¡°Congratulations to the host for disciplining a spoiled brat, reward: 100 merit points.¡±


    The people around felt satisfied seeing Jin Yu¡¯an embarrassed; this guy was always arrogant and unruly in Shuijiang City, he should have been taught a lesson long ago.


    As Qin Hao and the others left, Jin Yu¡¯an quickly departed too. He returned to his family, hesitated for a long time, and then went to the study.


    Jin Wufeng, seeing his son enter, put on a stern face, ¡°What do you want? Are you out of money again?¡±


    Jin Yu¡¯an hurriedly explained, ¡°Father, I was just out riding the Flame Beast, and it seemed too excited, went crazy, and charged down the street, then someone standing on the street punched the Flame Beast to death.¡±


    Jin Wufeng¡¯s eyes showed surprise upon hearing this, ¡°You said someone punched a running Flame Beast to death?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father.¡± He finished, glancing stealthily at his father.


    Jin Wufeng¡¯s expression turned a bit grim, ¡°You useless son, you only know how to cause trouble for me every day. Excited? I bet you let the beast run wild on purpose. To punch a charging Flame Beast to death is at least an Innate realm expert.¡±


    Jin Yu¡¯an¡¯s face changed, ¡°Father, what should we do then?¡±


    ¡°Where is he? Did he say anything?¡± Jin Wufeng asked.


    Jin Yu¡¯an said, ¡°He didn¡¯t really say anything, just left.¡±


    Jin Wufeng breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°This is an elder being gracious, not quarreling with you. Otherwise, do you think you¡¯d still be able to stand here in front of me?¡±


    After finishing, he continued, ¡°Find out where that elder went; I want to visit him. An Innate realm expert, could he be an elder of some sect?¡±


    ...


    The three of them, Qin Hao, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er, found an inn and requested a separate courtyard with a pavilion, as it was quieter for cultivation.


    In the living room on the first floor of the pavilion, Qin Hao sat there looking at the jade slips; he hadn¡¯t finished the ancient books and jade slips obtained from the Red Cloud Sect.


    Xian Yin brewed him a cup of tea, ¡°Young master, have some tea.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Thank you, Miss Xian Yin.¡±


    ¡°Why be polite, young master? I can¡¯t repay your kindness in my lifetime.¡± These days, she had been cultivating the Burning Moon Immortal Scripture and the Phoenix Dance Nine Heavens Song.


    She was truly astonished by this cultivation technique and divine skills, which in her mind, were among the best across the Hidden Dragon Continent.


    Qin Hao not only saved her but also avenged her and now gave her cultivation techniques, divine skills, and treasures. She felt she owed Qin Hao too much.

 Chapter 951: 951 Banquet

    Chapter 951: Chapter 951 Banquet


    Qin Hao heard her words and smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t feel any psychological burden. I¡¯m helping you not to make you repay me.¡±


    Xian Yin nodded, knowing in her heart that Qin Hao didn¡¯t have any ulterior motives, but how could she as the involved party easily let it go?


    This isn¡¯t something you can just let go of by saying so.


    Xue Lingling at this time came down from upstairs, ¡°Master, shall we have some fun this afternoon?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve been focusing on cultivation for so many days. I¡¯ll take you out to have some fun this afternoon.¡±


    Xue Lingling was delighted upon hearing his words, ran over and kissed him on the cheek, ¡°Master is really great.¡±


    Honestly, Xian Yin was a bit envious of Xue Lingling, because she was young and could act without constraint, but she had too many concerns.


    ¡°Xian Yin sister, you continue talking with Master, I¡¯m going upstairs to enjoy the view.¡± After speaking, Xue Lingling headed upstairs.


    Xian Yin¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, and she said shyly, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m going up too.¡±


    About half an hour later, a few people entered the courtyard. The shop assistant led some people in, ¡°Sir, this is Mr. Jin, the City Lord of Shuijiang City.¡±


    Jin Wufeng gave the shop assistant a look, and the shop assistant wittily retreated.


    Qin Hao looked at Jin Wufeng and then at Jin Yu¡¯an standing behind him, understanding about what was happening, ¡°What does Mr. Jin want from me?¡±


    Jin Wufeng looked at Qin Hao with a hint of doubt in his eyes. He felt Qin Hao looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before, ¡°This elder, today my son was rude. I¡¯m here to bring my son to apologize.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. I didn¡¯t take it to heart.¡±


    Jin Wufeng smiled, ¡°May I know the esteemed name of the elder?¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao.¡±


    Jin Wufeng¡¯s expression turned to shock, ¡°You are Mr. Qin?¡±


    Upon hearing his father¡¯s words, Jin Yu¡¯an was puzzled, Mr. Qin? Is he very famous? How come I¡¯ve never heard of him?


    Qin Hao slightly nodded, ¡°Mr. Jin knows me as well?¡±


    Jin Wufeng looked at the chair next to him, full of smiles, and Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Sit down.¡±


    After he sat down, he smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin¡¯s name is like thunder piercing the ears. You killed the former state lord Li Changdong of Jiangping State and destroyed the Red Cloud Sect, one of the four major sects in Jiangping State. Now, who in the entire Yuxing County doesn¡¯t know Mr. Qin¡¯s name?¡±


    As the saying goes, you can never compliment too much.


    Hearing his father¡¯s words, Jin Yu¡¯an looked at Qin Hao in shock, cold sweat already forming on his back.


    He is the one who killed the Jiangping State lord and destroyed the Red Cloud Sect? Damn, how did I encounter such a ruthless person? Luckily, he didn¡¯t kill me.


    This is a person who dares to kill even a state lord, let alone me, merely the son of a city lord.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Jin, does your city lord¡¯s mansion have ancient texts recorded about the Hidden Dragon Continent?¡±


    Jin Wufeng was stunned for a moment, ¡°Yes, if the elder needs it, I¡¯ll have it sent over immediately.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°I have some use for it. I¡¯ll return it after reading, Mr. Jin.¡±


    ¡°The elder is welcome to take it as you please, it¡¯s my honor. By the way, does the elder have time this evening? I¡¯ve already reserved a private room at the Miao Xian Building. Let¡¯s have a meal together tonight, so I can fulfill my duty as the host,¡± Jin Wufeng hurriedly said.


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb the elder. The ancient texts have already been sent and are on their way.¡± After speaking, Jin Wufeng carefully left with his son.


    Once out of the tavern, Jin Wufeng let out a long breath, then turned to glare at his son, ¡°When will you stop worrying me? Fortunately, Mr. Qin is magnanimous. If he had really killed you, I couldn¡¯t have saved you.¡±


    ¡°Father, I know I was wrong,¡± Jin Yu¡¯an obediently said.


    Jin Wufeng: ¡°How many times have I heard you say that? Have you changed? Look at Mr. Qin, he¡¯s in his twenties and his power intimidates the entire Yuxing County. Even I must respectfully call him an elder.¡±


    ¡°Father, I will diligently cultivate from now on. I want to become someone like Mr. Qin too,¡± Jin Yu¡¯an said seriously.


    Jin Wufeng originally wanted to discourage him, but after a moment of hesitation, he said, ¡°I believe in you. Work hard, your talent is not bad.¡±


    ...


    After having lunch in the attic at noon, Qin Hao and the others left the tavern and strolled around Shuijiang City.


    Xue Lingling bought many snacks and trinkets, thoroughly enjoying herself. After all, she was still young and had a child¡¯s innocence.


    The entire afternoon, Qin Hao accompanied the two of them shopping, meanwhile also reading the ancient texts about the Hidden Dragon Continent sent by Jin Wufeng. The texts talked about various dynasties and powers on the Hidden Dragon Continent, but he didn¡¯t find what he wanted.


    This left him somewhat disappointed.


    Around six in the afternoon, the three of them returned to the tavern, by which time the sun had already set and the sky was gradually getting darker.


    Just as they reached the tavern entrance, Qin Hao saw a chariot made of refined iron, pulled by two powerful demonic beasts, parked at the entrance.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, our master has sent me to take you to the Miao Xian Building,¡± a person hurried forward and said respectfully when he saw Qin Hao and the others return.


    Xian Yin was taken aback for a moment and then said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, you go ahead. Ling¡¯er and I will wait for you to return.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Let¡¯s all go.¡±


    ¡°Is that suitable, sir?¡± Xian Yin felt it wasn¡¯t appropriate for women to follow men¡¯s gatherings.


    Qin Hao said lightly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing unsuitable. Let¡¯s all go, get in the car.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Xue Lingling said with a big smile as she got in the car.


    Once the three of them were inside, the demonic beast chariot raced forward with great speed, yet it felt very smooth inside, without a hint of bumpiness.


    This was the first time Qin Hao and the others had ridden in such a demonic beast chariot. Ling¡¯er and Xian Yin curiously examined the interior, noting that it was spacious and luxurious, like a mobile house.


    About ten minutes later, Qin Hao and the others arrived outside the Miao Xian Building.


    As they got off the chariot, the Jin Family¡¯s steward hurriedly said, ¡°Please come in, elder.¡±


    Qin Hao got out of the car and, upon seeing the Miao Xian Building, was momentarily stunned, ¡°Is this a brothel?¡±


    ¡°Elder, please don¡¯t misunderstand, this is the largest tavern in Shuijiang City, offering the finest services,¡± the steward explained with a dry laugh.


    Xian Yin¡¯s face showed a bit of awkwardness. Had she known it was such a place, she wouldn¡¯t have come. Since the other party invited Qin Hao here, they must have prepared the finest beauty services.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡±


    Under the guidance of the steward, Qin Hao and the others headed to a private room on the third floor of the Miao Xian Building.


    Inside the room sat four people, one of whom was Jin Wufeng, while the other three were other family heads from Shuijiang City.


    ¡°Elder, you¡¯ve arrived. Please have a seat.¡± Jin Wufeng stood up quickly when he saw Qin Hao, and the other people followed suit.


    Qin Hao sat down and then said to Xian Yin and Xue Lingling, ¡°Sit down, don¡¯t stand.¡±


    Jin Wufeng was momentarily surprised when he saw Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er. He didn¡¯t expect Qin Hao to bring beauties here, especially since he had already prepared them for Qin Hao.

 Chapter 952: 952 Bi Yu Sect

    Chapter 952: Chapter 952 Bi Yu Sect


    Jin Wufeng hastily said, ¡°Please sit, please sit.¡±


    After speaking, he told the young beautiful waitress inside the room, ¡°Serve the dishes.¡±


    Very soon, the food and wine were served. Jin Wufeng hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, there are a few top beauties in Miao Xian Building, would you like to have them join us for a drink?¡±


    Just after he spoke, he felt two murderous intents coming towards him, causing his body to tremble. The source of this murderous aura was Xue Lingling and Xian Yin.


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°No need, if you need them, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin doesn¡¯t need it, and we don¡¯t need it either.¡± Jin Wufeng quickly said, and the others hurriedly nodded in agreement.


    The two sides began to eat, and Jin Wufeng raised his wine glass and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I toast to you, thank you for your magnanimity, and not pursuing the matter with my son.¡±


    After speaking, he turned his head and looked at Jin Yu¡¯an standing behind him: ¡°What are you standing there for? Toast to Mr. Qin and apologize.¡±


    Jin Yu¡¯an quickly walked to the table, picked up a wine glass and drank it, then retreated.


    In terms of identity and status, he was not qualified to sit here, and Jin Wufeng wouldn¡¯t let him sit here either, as it would be an insult to Mr. Qin.


    After drinking, Jin Wufeng continued, ¡°This second glass, I represent everyone in Shuijiang City in welcoming Mr. Qin to our city.¡±


    The others also raised their glasses: ¡°Welcome Mr. Qin to Shuijiang City.¡±


    Qin Hao saw that Jin Wufeng¡¯s attitude was quite decent, nodded slightly, and finished the wine in his glass.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, ladies, please eat, eat.¡±


    This meal was essentially Jin Wufeng¡¯s way of apologizing, trying to flatter Qin Hao, leaving a good impression, in hopes of seeking favors from Qin Hao someday.


    A few days ago, the Skyfire Dynasty had issued a recruitment order for Qin Hao, ostensibly wanting to appoint him as the governor of Jiangping State. A governor is much more powerful than a City Lord like him.


    After three rounds of drinks and five courses of food, the atmosphere was decent. Jin Wufeng spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you aware of the recruitment order the dynasty has issued for you?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°Not aware, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Jin Wufeng said, ¡°Mr. Qin, the dynasty has now issued the recruitment order, hoping to recruit you into the Skyfire Dynasty. If you agree, you could very likely be appointed as the governor of Jiangping State.¡±


    After speaking, he and the others looked at Qin Hao. Qin Hao¡¯s expression remained calm, showing no change. The position of Jiangping State governor had no allure for him.


    Seeing no reaction from him, Jin Wufeng was puzzled, ¡°Does Mr. Qin not want to be the governor of Jiangping State?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want it. I prefer being free and unrestrained, don¡¯t want to be under someone else¡¯s control.¡± Qin Hao replied.


    In fact, many cultivators think just like Qin Hao, not wanting to be under control, but there are also many cultivators who wish to become the ruler of a city or state in the Skyfire Dynasty, as they would obtain more cultivation resources that way.


    Having more cultivation resources implies being able to break through to higher realms and also to develop one¡¯s family, with both advantages and disadvantages.


    Currently, Qin Hao is not really lacking cultivation resources, even if he lacked them, he could acquire some.


    Jin Wufeng and the others were stunned when they heard his words, not wanting to be a governor? ¡°Mr. Qin¡¯s actions are truly beyond our understanding. Since Mr. Qin is not willing, we shall not mention it anymore. Let¡¯s drink.¡±


    ...


    While they were enjoying their drink, chaos erupted outside the private room, and shortly afterward, the door was kicked open.


    Six young men and women walked in from outside, leaving Jin Wufeng and the others, Qin Hao, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er stunned.


    What¡¯s going on?


    Jin Wufeng¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Who do you think you are, do you know where you are?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the City Lord of Shuijiang City, Jin Wufeng, right? Get your son out here to kneel and break his own legs.¡± One relatively older male, with a cold expression, looked at Jin Wufeng with a hint of disdain in his tone.


    Jin Wufeng was just about to curse, but his body trembled immediately. These people, knowing his identity, still dare to shout like this, clearly indicating they have a significant background.


    He looked at the six men and women with uncertain eyes: ¡°Who are you all?¡±


    The person who spoke earlier, with his nostrils in the air, said casually, ¡°We are disciples of the Bi Yu Sect. Your son exchanged words with my junior sister; I think you¡¯re tired of living as the City Lord?¡±


    Jin Wufeng and his companions were shocked at the mention of the Bi Yu Sect; they were actually disciples of the Bi Yu Sect.


    Jin Yu¡¯an offended disciples of the Bi Yu Sect?


    Jin Yu¡¯an, at the back, was also stunned, looking at one of the young beauties among them. He indeed exchanged some frivolous words yesterday, but did not do anything.


    Jin Wufeng cautiously said, ¡°Young masters, ladies, my son is naturally rebellious, but I know he meant no harm. If he has offended you, I apologize on his behalf, hoping you can spare him for my sake.¡±


    The older male named Xiao Hai looked at Jin Wufeng with disdain, ¡°What face does a mere City Lord have? Why should I give you face? Have your son come out, apologize before my junior sister, then break his own legs. This matter ends here, otherwise, I¡¯ll make the Jin Family disappear from Shuijiang City.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, the disciples of the Bi Yu Sect are not people you can offend.¡±


    The young beauty named Wang Xueya also spoke, ¡°If your son can¡¯t do it, you kneel before me and break your own legs too.¡±


    Jin Wufeng¡¯s face looked terrible; these people really left him no dignity, making him lose face in front of Qin Hao and the others, but he dared not show anger, because the opposite party members were disciples of the Bi Yu Sect.


    The Bi Yu Sect ranks third among the five major sects in Yangchuan State, extremely powerful, and even in the Yuxing County¡¯s prefecture, the Bi Yu Sect is a guest of the Commandery Prince.


    Xiao Hai smiled lightly at Jin Wufeng and said, ¡°Since my junior sister has spoken, any of you can kneel. I give you ten seconds to consider, if you don¡¯t kneel to apologize, don¡¯t blame me for wiping out the Jin Family.¡±


    Jin Wufeng¡¯s face was uncertain. If they don¡¯t kneel, the whole Jin Family would be implicated. But if they kneel, he as a dignified City Lord, how could he manage Shuijiang City in the future? Who would still respect him?


    ¡°I... I... kneel...¡± Jin Wufeng said in humiliation, his face flushed red.


    ¡°I will bear the consequence of my action alone, this has nothing to do with my father and the Jin Family. I kneel and apologize.¡± Jin Yu¡¯an stepped forward, standing before his father, glaring at Xiao Hai and the others.


    Jin Wufeng grabbed Jin Yu¡¯an and slapped him, ¡°You unfilial son, retreat!¡±


    ¡°Father, I know I disappointed you too much in the past. I¡¯m sorry, but this time I can¡¯t listen to you.¡± After speaking, he ¡°thud¡± kneeled in front of Xiao Hai and Wang Xueya.


    Wang Xueya saw his appearance and her pretty face showed a mocking smile, ¡°Start by kowtowing dozens of times.¡±

 Chapter 953: 953: Visitors from the Bi Yu Sect

    Chapter 953: Chapter 953: Visitors from the Bi Yu Sect


    Jin Yu¡¯an felt extremely suffocated, his face turning red to the extreme.


    ¡°Enough.¡± Suddenly, a voice rang out.


    Everyone in the booth turned their heads toward the source of the voice. The speaker was none other than Qin Hao.


    He sat in his chair, looking at Wang Xueya, Xiao Hai, and the others, saying, ¡°It¡¯s better to forgive and forget. He already knows he¡¯s wrong, and you haven¡¯t suffered any harm either, so let¡¯s call it a day.¡±


    Wang Xueya turned her head to look at him: ¡°Who do you think you are? I advise you not to meddle in other people¡¯s business.¡±


    ¡°Smack¡±


    The sound of a slap rang out, and a red handprint appeared on Wang Xueya¡¯s cheek.


    Xian Yin¡¯s cold beautiful eyes stared at her: ¡°If you dare insult my master again, you¡¯ll surely die on the spot.¡±


    ¡°Right, you vicious woman,¡± Ling¡¯er chimed in from the side.


    Wang Xueya held her face, the once pretty cheeks now twisted: ¡°You dare hit me? You wretched woman, I¡¯ll kill you. Senior Brother, quickly kill them, kill them.¡±


    Xiao Hai looked at Qin Hao and the others with murderous intent. His secret relationship with Wang Xueya was very close, or he wouldn¡¯t have brought people here.


    However, upon seeing Xian Yin¡¯s appearance and graceful figure, he was utterly amazed.


    The men could be killed, but these two women could be kept for some fun.


    He looked at Qin Hao with disdain and said, ¡°Daring to hit a disciple of the Bi Yu Sect, you¡¯re courting death.¡± With that, he took a step and rushed in front of Qin Hao, slapping toward Qin Hao.


    He didn¡¯t regard Qin Hao at all. He, a dignified disciple of the Bi Yu Sect, high and mighty, saw killing Qin Hao as easy as crushing an ant.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Before Xiao Hai had a chance to strike, Qin Hao kicked him in the dantian, sending him flying, spewing blood, his powers instantly abolished.


    ¡°You... you actually crippled my cultivation? You... you...¡± Xiao Hai was so furious he passed out.


    Jin Wufeng and the others were stunned. Qin Hao had dared to cripple a disciple of the Bi Yu Sect. Wasn¡¯t he worried about the consequences of offending them?


    The five from Wang Xueya also froze. Xiao Hai was the strongest among them, yet he couldn¡¯t even withstand a single move? What kind of power did that man possess?


    Qin Hao looked at the others and said, ¡°If you want revenge, I¡¯m always ready. My name is Qin Hao. Take this useless one and leave.¡±


    As if pardoned, Wang Xueya and the others hurriedly took the unconscious Xiao Hai and left.


    Jin Yu¡¯an looked at Qin Hao and knelt down slightly: ¡°Thank you, elder, for your help.¡±


    Jin Wufeng also bowed: ¡°Thank you, elder.¡±


    ¡°Forget it, have someone take me back.¡± Qin Hao said blandly.


    Jin Wufeng hurriedly summoned others to escort Qin Hao and the others back to the inn. Tonight, he had drunk a lot of wine and felt dizzy; the wine in this world was indeed tasty, perhaps due to the richness of Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth.


    Returning to the lodging, Ling¡¯er went to the room upstairs, while Xian Yin helped Qin Hao into the room on the first floor.


    Setting Qin Hao in a chair, Xian Yin spoke: ¡°Master, I¡¯ll prepare some hot water for you to bathe.¡±


    With that, she went to the nearby bathroom, started the water, and adjusted the temperature.


    About ten minutes later, Xian Yin came out of the bathroom, approached Qin Hao, and said softly, ¡°Master, the water is ready.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Alright, thank you, Miss Xian Yin. You should also rest early.¡±


    Xian Yin blushed slightly: ¡°Master, no need to be so polite with me. Let me serve you in your bath.¡±


    ¡°Ah? No need, Miss Xian Yin. I haven¡¯t drunk much; I can manage myself.¡± Qin Hao quickly replied.


    Xian Yin stood there motionless, her eyes slightly red, voice sweet as a yellow oriole: ¡°Does master detest Xian Yin?¡±


    Qin Hao explained: ¡°Miss Xian Yin, please don¡¯t misunderstand, I didn¡¯t mean that. It¡¯s not good for you, Miss Xian Yin, because the interaction between men and women is inappropriate.¡±


    ¡°Xian Yin doesn¡¯t mind. As long as she can serve alongside the master, Xian Yin is willing to do anything.¡± With that, she lifted her head, her face flawless as jade, her beautiful eyes fixed on Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze. In terms of both figure and appearance, Xian Yin was the finest he had ever seen¡ªthe epitome of perfection.


    He said those things just now to prevent losing control, given what he¡¯d been through, especially having not been with a woman for several months now.


    Qin Hao stepped into the bathroom, and Xian Yin followed, standing outside the tub, gently undoing Qin Hao¡¯s robe.


    His clothes gradually diminished, leaving him bare.


    Xian Yin¡¯s face had turned deep red; this was her first time serving a man like this: ¡°Master, please enter the tub.¡±


    A bit embarrassed, Qin Hao quickly entered the tub, where besides the water, there were many other things like additives.


    Half-kneeling behind him, Xian Yin placed her soft, fair hands on his shoulders: ¡°Master, I¡¯ve added some herbs to the tub that are good for your body.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°It¡¯s indeed comfortable, relieving fatigue and sobering up, even the circulation speed of Spiritual Energy has increased a lot.¡±


    After bathing, Qin Hao stepped out of the tub, and upon seeing Qin Hao¡¯s naked body, Xian Yin¡¯s face heated up, yet she continued observing every part of his body carefully.


    She brought out a robe, personally dressing Qin Hao, the gentle motions akin to those of a virtuous wife and good mother.


    As she helped him dress and tie his sash, Qin Hao could breathe in her fragrance, which was a form of torment for him.


    And for Xian Yin, it was also a form of torment. After dressing him, she felt relieved: ¡°Master, rest early. I¡¯ll go rest as well.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Okay, go and rest.¡±


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao opened his eyes from meditation and cultivation, arose, and walked out of his room where Ling¡¯er and Xian Yin were chatting in the living room.


    ¡°Master,¡± they called out upon seeing Qin Hao come out.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Tell the waiter to bring breakfast. If there¡¯s nothing today, we¡¯ll depart from here.¡±


    Ling¡¯er asked, ¡°Master, will the people from Bi Yu Sect come for revenge?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face froze: ¡°Speak of the devil, the people from Bi Yu Sect have arrived.¡±


    As soon as he spoke, a voice came from outside the inn: ¡°Qin Hao, come out and die.¡±


    This voice was loud, echoing across most of Shuijiang City. The speaker was an elder of the Bi Yu Sect, accompanied by Wang Xueya and her five companions; Xiao Hai had been sent back to the sect for healing.


    Many people rushed out of their homes upon hearing the voice; watching drama is human nature, no matter where it is.


    Qin Hao, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er flew out of the pavilion and looked at the few people facing them in midair.

 Chapter 954: 954 Meeting in Yangchuan City

    Chapter 954: Chapter 954 Meeting in Yangchuan City


    Bi Yu Sect Elder Peng Jie looked at Qin Hao and the other two: ¡°You must be Qin Hao? The worthless disciple of Bi Yu Sect, you have some nerve.¡±


    ¡°Just a mere late Innate Realm, and you dare to shout in front of me?¡± Qin Hao observed his realm strength with some disdain.


    Upon hearing his mocking words, Peng Jie¡¯s face turned slightly embarrassed: ¡°Do you think that by killing two trash Grandmaster Realm experts, you¡¯re invincible? You¡¯re too arrogant. Our Bi Yu Sect has experts in abundance, killing you is as easy as turning a hand.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Then let them come. You, a useless person, are not worthy of my attention.¡± Qin Hao¡¯s tone was nonchalant, not even regarding Peng Jie in the slightest.


    Peng Jie was furious at heart: ¡°You¡¯re just at the late Innate stage, yet so inflated with pride, it¡¯s simply self-destructive. Today, this old man will teach you how to behave.¡±


    With that said, Peng Jie rushed forward. He knew of Qin Hao¡¯s record of having slain Grandmaster Realm experts, but he found it unimpressive.


    If it were him, he was confident he could also slay a Grandmaster Realm expert like Li Changdong.


    As soon as he made his move, Peng Jie displayed his most powerful technique, despite his words, he was very cautious and careful in the fight.


    No matter what means Qin Hao used to kill a Grandmaster Realm expert, it was his strength that could not be underestimated.


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    Peng Jie instantly surged close to Qin Hao, wielding a circular magical treasure, and with a swing, fierce Sword Qi swept in all directions.


    Qin Hao¡¯s figure vanished from his original position, utilizing his speed to its utmost, he appeared in front of Peng Jie in the blink of an eye, kicking toward Peng Jie¡¯s chest with a forceful gust carrying a piercing sound of air-breaking.


    Peng Jie sneered, indeed a Loose Cultivator, without even a decent magic treasure. Glimmers of light appeared on his body, and under the urging of Spiritual Energy, a protective barrier manifested with his protective garment.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s kick landed on the barrier, transmitting a vast and mighty force from his foot.


    Feeling that force, Peng Jie¡¯s face slightly changed, his whole body was kicked away like a ball, fortunately, his protective garment withstood it, otherwise, this kick would have exploded him.


    But before he could recover, Qin Hao had already charged again, his speed completely surpassing Peng Jie.


    ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s kicks were so swift, in half a breath, he kicked over ten times, shattering Peng Jie¡¯s protective garment on the spot, finally stepping on his chest, directly from mid-air to the ground below.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡±


    Peng Jie¡¯s figure heavily crashed on the ground, pounding a large pit into the hard bluestone floor, as blood uncontrollably spurted from his mouth.


    All of this happened in a flash, from the clash to Peng Jie¡¯s defeat, it took only a few seconds, too fast, many people didn¡¯t even see how Peng Jie lost.


    ¡°Elder.¡± Wang Xueya and the others were shocked, how strong is this Qin Hao that even the elder is not his match?


    Qin Hao lightly applied pressure with his foot, causing Peng Jie to spit blood again: ¡°Who...who are you, really?¡±


    He refused to believe a mere ordinary Loose Cultivator could be this powerful. This person must be a disciple of some prestigious family or major sect; otherwise, how could he be so terrifying.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Weren¡¯t you speaking so arrogantly just now? Repeat what you said for me to hear again?¡±


    Peng Jie¡¯s face flushed red: ¡°I am an outer elder of Bi Yu Sect, and the Xiao Hai you disabled is a grandson of an inner elder of Bi Yu Sect, just you wait, Bi Yu Sect will kill you.¡±


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Qin Hao lifted his leg and stomped on his dantian, completely destroying it: ¡°Go accompany that useless one.¡±


    On the Hidden Dragon Continent, crippling someone¡¯s cultivation is more terrifying than killing them.


    He was once high above with a distinguished status, but with his cultivation ruined, he would lose everything and could even suffer humiliation and torment from many former enemies.


    ¡°You... crippled my cultivation, I... will annihilate your whole family.¡± Peng Jie seemed to lose his mind.


    Qin Hao lifted his leg, kicking him back to Wang Xueya and the others: ¡°I await your Bi Yu Sect¡¯s revenge.¡±


    Wang Xueya and the others dared not breathe heavily for fear Qin Hao might also cripple them, hurriedly taking the crippled Peng Jie away from there.


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er descended from the sky, Qin Hao said in a calm tone: ¡°Let¡¯s go have breakfast.¡±


    As they ate breakfast, Jin Wufeng arrived with his son Jin Yu¡¯an: ¡°Senior, thank you for your grace in helping my son. I, Jin Wufeng, will be eternally grateful.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°The Bi Yu Sect behaves arrogantly and tyrannically. I was merely displeased, no need to thank me.¡±


    If Qin Hao hadn¡¯t stepped up and diverted Bi Yu Sect¡¯s attention, Jin Yu¡¯an would have been in dire trouble, even the Jin Family might have suffered.


    ¡°Senior, your grace is like a rebirth to me. Jin Yu¡¯an will never forget this for the rest of his life.¡± With that, Jin Yu¡¯an knelt and kowtowed.


    Qin Hao waved his hand, and he stood from the ground: ¡°No need for such a grand gesture. Just focus on cultivating diligently in the future. We will be leaving today, Bi Yu Sect will likely pursue us relentlessly, you should have no further concerns.¡±


    Jin Wufeng: ¡°Senior, be careful on your journey.¡±


    After breakfast, Qin Hao and the others arrived at the transmission array in Shuijiang City, and Jin Wufeng and others saw them off.


    Once on the transmission array, with a flash of light, Qin Hao and the others disappeared within it.


    A few seconds later, Qin Hao and the others opened their eyes, appearing in another town, though they didn¡¯t rest, continuing to use the transmission array.


    As for Bi Yu Sect, after learning of Peng Jie being crippled, they were thunderously angry. If they did not respond with strong action, their Bi Yu Sect would become the laughingstock among the various sects and forces.


    They issued a Bi Yu Sect bounty: A warrant for Qin Hao and the other two throughout Yuxing County, offering a reward of a million Spirit Stones and a magical treasure for any leads on Qin Hao.


    Before Bi Yu Sect¡¯s bounty was fully spread across Yuxing County, Qin Hao had already responded: ¡°If Bi Yu Sect is not satisfied, I¡¯ll be waiting for you in Yangchuan City.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s response was domineering and fearless.


    Yangchuan City is the state city of Yangchuan State, bustling and extremely populated, with cultivators from various regions.


    Bi Yu Sect: ¡°If you dare set foot in Yangchuan City, our Bi Yu Sect will take your head.¡±


    ...


    After five days of traveling, Qin Hao arrived in Lanshan City, the next transmission array from Lanshan City leads to Yangchuan City.


    Though fast, cultivators cannot frequently use transmission arrays. Continuously traversing space, their bodies feel tired and require rest.


    Seeing that the sky was turning dark, Qin Hao said: ¡°Let¡¯s rest here for the night and head to Yangchuan City in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Yes, young master (master).¡±


    Upon exiting the transmission array, there were quite a few spies around, sending out information upon seeing Qin Hao¡¯s appearance.


    However, no one dared to approach because Qin Hao¡¯s strength was not weak, having slain Grandmaster Realm experts and destroyed a sect, now boldly opposing Bi Yu Sect without fear, such strength was not something they could offend.

 Chapter 955: 955 Battle

    Chapter 955: Chapter 955 Battle


    Next to the transmission portal, there were several inns and restaurants. Given the proximity to the portal, this area had a geographical advantage, which meant prices were relatively high.


    Despite this, many still chose to stay here. Qin Hao also rented a small courtyard from one of the nearby taverns.


    In the loft of the small courtyard, after dinner, Qin Hao continued meditating on the Sword Intent Talisman.


    These days, he had been immersed in understanding this talisman, significantly improving his swordsmanship. This grandmaster-level Sword Intent was something even Heavenly Human Realm cultivators and higher couldn¡¯t necessarily create;


    it required incredible talent to grasp the rules of the universe and create a peerless Sword Intent.


    Ling¡¯er and Xian Yin also retreated to their rooms for cultivation. Recently, they had devoted themselves to their training, supported by an ample supply of Spirit Stones, advancing rapidly with deeper insights into Divine Skills and increasing their battle strength significantly.


    Early the next morning, the first rays of sunlight shone through the window, and Qin Hao opened his eyes, sharp and piercing. His robe fluttered without wind, making him look like an unsheathed sword, sharp and fierce.


    Soon, the sharpness subsided, and Qin Hao returned to normal, getting up and leaving the room.


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er were already waiting outside. Seeing them, Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s time to meet the mighty figures from the Bi Yu Sect and see what¡¯s going on.¡±


    They left the tavern and arrived at the transmission array, with countless eyes watching Qin Hao and his companions. In a flash of light, the three disappeared.


    Yangchuan City.


    Many had already gathered here to witness the outcome between Qin Hao and the Bi Yu Sect.


    The Bi Yu Sect was one of the five major sects in Yangchuan State and was renowned across Yuxing County. They used to be guests of honor at the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion in Yuxing County, extremely powerful, with more than a dozen grandmaster-level experts.


    When Qin Hao and the others emerged from the transmission array, the square fell into silence.


    ¡°So this is Qin Hao? He looks so young, probably around twenty-five, right?¡± someone remarked.


    ¡°At this age, to repeatedly slay grandmaster-level experts, his potential is limitless.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, if the Bi Yu Sect doesn¡¯t eliminate him this time, he will surely become a significant threat to them in the future.¡±


    ¡°No wonder the dynasty issued a recruitment order for him. Such a young master is very likely to become one of the legendary Heavenly Human Realm experts someday.¡±


    ¡°Are you Qin Hao? Kneel and surrender now; our Bi Yu Sect elder might still spare you,¡± a voice suddenly rang out among the crowd, as four arrogant disciples from the Bi Yu Sect stood there.


    ¡°Scram¡±


    Qin Hao shouted, his voice booming like thunder, echoing across the square. The four disciples¡¯ expressions changed drastically, retreating continuously, with blood spurting from their mouths.


    The faces of others in the square also changed; what terrifying power! A single shout injured four Innate early-stage experts; what kind of battle strength was this?


    The Bi Yu Sect disciples looked at Qin Hao in shock and disbelief.


    Qin Hao asked the four, ¡°Where are your Bi Yu Sect members? Weren¡¯t you saying you want to take my head?¡±


    ¡°Our elders are waiting for you outside the city, afraid that you won¡¯t dare go,¡± one replied, regaining confidence while mentioning his elder.


    They brought three elders this time, each a grandmaster-level expert¡ªone early-stage, one mid-stage, and the great elder in the late stage.


    Even with Qin Hao¡¯s formidable battle strength, could he withstand three grandmaster-level experts? Especially with one mid-stage and one late-stage grandmaster.


    Qin Hao sneered disdainfully, flying into the sky towards the outskirts of the city, with Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er following behind.


    The crowd saw Qin Hao truly heading there, their spirits lifted, and they followed suit.


    A sizable group of cultivators flew towards the north city gate of Yangchuan City.


    On the northern city gate walls of Yangchuan City, Qin Hao stood in the air, with three elders meditating cross-legged outside the city walls, while dozens of Bi Yu Sect disciples stood below.


    ¡°Are you Qin Hao?¡± The three elders opened their eyes, sharp gazes flashing, with Bi Yu Sect¡¯s great elder Xiao Qingtian asking Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao turned to Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er, saying, ¡°You can just watch from the city wall.¡± With that, he walked calmly across the sky.


    By now, over a thousand people had gathered on the north city wall, even the governor of Yangchuan State was alerted, sitting on the wall with a large group of guards, his expression unchanged.


    After walking a few hundred meters, Qin Hao stopped, looking at the three and said, ¡°Yes, I am Qin Hao. Was Xiao Hai, whom I crippled a few days ago, your grandson?¡±


    ¡°Since you know, you should be aware of the consequence you face today,¡± Xiao Qingtian said, his words filled with deadly intent.


    Qin Hao laughed coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not here to listen to you spout nonsense. Are you Bi Yu Sect members all coming at me, or one by one? Come, I¡¯m ready.¡±


    The crowd on the wall was shocked by his audacity; facing three grandmaster-level experts, he remained calm. Where did he get such confidence?


    One of them was a late-stage grandmaster expert, surely able to break through to the Heavenly Human Realm given time.


    Besides Xiao Qingtian, the other two elders were also fearsome. The Bi Yu Sect¡¯s early-stage grandmaster experts could not be compared to the Red Cloud Sect or Jiangping State¡¯s governor, Li Changdong; they were far superior in Cultivation Technique and Divine Skills.


    An early-stage grandmaster of Bi Yu Sect could easily slay Li Changdong.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need all of us to deal with you,¡± Xiao Qingtian said disdainfully.


    The Twelfth Elder of Bi Yu Sect stepped forward, ¡°Great Elder, let me handle this. I will capture this boy and hang him outside Bi Yu Sect¡¯s ancient tree for a hundred years, repaying the blood debt he owes our sect.¡±


    This was the cultivator at the early-stage grandmaster level, who had been at this stage for over two hundred years. He could already feel that, given a few more decades, he would surely break through to mid-stage grandmaster.


    Xiao Qingtian hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°Alright, Twelfth Elder, go capture him and show him the strength of our Bi Yu Sect.¡±


    Although Qin Hao could kill grandmaster-level experts, which demonstrated his prowess, Twelfth Elder¡¯s battle strength was not lacking. Even ordinary mid-stage grandmaster experts were no match for him.


    If Twelfth Elder were indeed to fall behind against Qin Hao, he and the Eighth Elder were here, with enough time to rescue Twelfth Elder.


    The Twelfth Elder of Bi Yu Sect sneered at Qin Hao, ¡°Those who dare trample the dignity of our Bi Yu Sect shall be killed without mercy.¡±


    ¡°You old fart, you show off without even fighting. I bet I¡¯ll cut you down within fifty exchanges,¡± Qin Hao retorted playfully.


    Twelfth Elder: ¡°Arrogant.¡±


    With that, Twelfth Elder charged at Qin Hao, his hands swiftly forming and launching palm prints, red as the clouds, to envelop Qin Hao.

 Chapter 956: 956: Two Consecutive Kills

    Chapter 956: Chapter 956: Two Consecutive Kills


    ¡°Is this the Red Cloud Palm? What terrifying power.¡±


    ¡°Red like the clouds at dawn, the palm imprint as steady as a mountain, what else could it be but the Red Cloud Palm?¡±


    ¡°The Red Cloud Palm is the signature Divine Skill of the Red Cloud Sect. The Twelfth Elder uses it right away, clearly intending to defeat Qin Hao in the shortest time possible.¡±


    Qin Hao moved as well, with a light smile on his face. He waved his hands, executing the Heavenly Slaughter Palm.


    The Heavenly Slaughter Palm has seventy-two forms, with numerous variations. It is incredibly powerful and is one of the strongest Divine Skills Qin Hao has exchanged for.


    As the Heavenly Slaughter Palm was unleashed, the world dimmed and the sun and moon lost their luster. In an instant, clouds formed densely, and the wind howled furiously.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    The two sides engaged in battle. The palm imprints collided, dazzling light glimmered, crimson rays scattered, and waves of formless energy rippled out.


    Everyone was watching the two fighting in the sky. Qin Hao demonstrated great combat strength. Even though the Twelfth Elder of the Bi Yu Sect displayed the Red Cloud Palm, he gained no advantage.


    After exchanging over ten rounds, they separated, and Qin Hao looked at the Twelfth Elder of the Bi Yu Sect with a faint smile, saying, ¡°If that¡¯s all you¡¯ve got, let¡¯s end it here.¡±


    ¡°Arrogant, it¡¯s not certain who will live or die yet.¡± The Twelfth Elder snorted coldly.


    Qin Hao once again executed the Heavenly Slaughter Palm, the palm imprint glowing with a golden light, even more terrifying than before. Just now, he was only using the first ten forms.


    The Twelfth Elder sensed the power of the palm imprint, his face slightly tensed, realizing it was even stronger than before.


    Xiao Qingtian and the Eighth Elder also felt the increase in power of the palm imprint, frowning slightly.


    ¡°Bang, Bang¡±


    Once again, the two sides collided. Qin Hao¡¯s palm imprints grew stronger with each strike, and the Twelfth Elder of the Bi Yu Sect was instantly at a disadvantage.


    Golden light blossomed around Qin Hao, his blood surged powerfully. He struck with the Heavenly Slaughter Palm imprint, and the Twelfth Elder countered.


    The palm imprints collided, shattering the Twelfth Elder¡¯s imprint. The Heavenly Slaughter Palm landed on him, causing him to spew blood and be sent flying.


    Xiao Qingtian and the Eighth Elder¡¯s expressions changed upon seeing this, and they rushed forward instantly.


    Qin Hao had long been wary of them. He sneered, ¡°It¡¯s already too late.¡±


    As the words fell, a palm imprint appeared next to the Twelfth Elder of the Bi Yu Sect, squeezing him to death on the spot, blood mist spraying like a blooming blood flower.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tear you apart, you brat.¡± Xiao Qingtian was furious, his Late Stage Grandmaster Realm aura no longer hidden, bursting out uncontrollably.


    Right under their noses, Qin Hao actually killed the Twelfth Elder, causing Xiao Qingtian and the Eighth Elder to lose face.


    ¡°Kill.¡±


    The Eighth Elder of the Bi Yu Sect was equally enraged. If they didn¡¯t kill this brat, they would become a laughingstock.


    The scene of Qin Hao slaying the Twelfth Elder of the Bi Yu Sect was witnessed by all on the city wall. When the Twelfth Elder was crushed by the Heavenly Slaughter Palm imprint, their hearts tightened.


    Too terrifying, too frightening.


    He actually killed the Twelfth Elder of the Bi Yu Sect, and Xiao Qingtian and the Eighth Elder didn¡¯t have time to save him.


    ¡°Are Xiao Qingtian and the Eighth Elder of the Bi Yu Sect going to besiege Qin Hao?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Qin Hao just at the Late Innate stage, yet his combat power is so terrifying? Who exactly is he?¡±


    ¡°This brat¡¯s strength is indeed terrifying. Ordinary Grandmaster Realm experts are really no match for him, but now it¡¯s a Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm and a Late Stage Grandmaster Realm. Even if his combat strength is terrifying, I¡¯m afraid he can¡¯t withstand the siege of these two experts.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s too ostentatious. If I were him, I¡¯d definitely lay low, wait until I¡¯m stronger, and then sweep across the world¡¯s enemies with a single sword.¡±


    Upon seeing Xiao Qingtian and the Eighth Elder of the Bi Yu Sect attacking together, Qin Hao laughed heartily, his black hair flying: ¡°Come on, all of you, none of you will leave today.¡±


    He did not retreat but advanced, pinching his palm imprints with both hands and met them head-on.


    In an instant, the three engaged in a battle again. The sky was bright with light, Spiritual Energy overflowed; only three streams of light entangled with each other were visible.


    ¡°Xian Yin, will master be okay?¡± Ling¡¯er asked worriedly.


    Xian Yin¡¯s beautiful eyes were fixed intently on the sky: ¡°Maybe, I¡¯m not sure either.¡±


    A Late Innate facing a Late Stage Grandmaster Realm and a Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, in the past, everyone would confidently say: the Late Innate cultivator will surely die.


    But now no one dared to be so certain, because Qin Hao¡¯s demonstrated combat power exceeded everyone¡¯s imagination, even breaking many people¡¯s worldviews.


    Can someone of lower cultivation level really win against those of higher level?!


    After battling for dozens of rounds, the three separated. Qin Hao¡¯s clothes were somewhat tattered, with a few bleeding wounds, but thankfully not on vital areas.


    Xiao Qingtian and the Eighth Elder¡¯s hair and clothes were a bit disheveled, but there were no wounds.


    This time, Qin Hao was at a slight disadvantage.


    Many on the city wall wore astonished expressions. To be besieged by two Grandmaster Realm experts and still hold out, Qin Hao¡¯s combat power was truly terrifying.


    If he doesn¡¯t die this time, he will certainly become very formidable in the future.


    No wonder the Skyfire Dynasty issued a recruitment order for him; his potential is really immense.


    Waves of unprecedented shock surged in Xiao Qingtian¡¯s heart. He and the Eighth Elder worked together but failed to kill him, this brat¡¯s combat power has reached such a terrifying level, he absolutely cannot be left alive, or he will surely become a major future threat.


    He exchanged a glance with the Eighth Elder, seeing the shock in each other¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Kill¡±


    The two shouted together, charging up again, their murderous intent even more intense than before. This brat cannot be left alive.


    Qin Hao remained unafraid. With one hand, he formed the Heavenly Slaughter Palm imprint, and with the other, he formed the Earth Evil Fist Seal, his aura surging, both hands shining with brilliant golden light.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    The three streams of light intertwined once more, this time the fight was even fiercer, the light radiated, energy was rampant and incredibly terrifying.


    The imprints, fist seals, and Sword Qi scattered out, hitting the ground, leaving deep marks, incredibly terrifying.


    Disciples on the city wall and around the Bi Yu Sect watched the sky. This time, the two sides fought for more than half an hour, and eventually, a figure was seen flying out from the melee.


    A close look revealed it was the Eighth Elder of the Bi Yu Sect, with a fist imprint on his chest, sunken chest bones, and wide eyes, he had already lost breath.


    Everyone¡¯s faces were filled with shock, especially the disciples of the Bi Yu Sect, with expressions of disbelief.


    The two Elders besieged and yet one was still reverse killed. Is this Qin Hao still human?!


    Qin Hao and Xiao Qingtian separated. Both had numerous wounds, blood dripping and soaking their clothes.


    However, Xiao Qingtian¡¯s expression was very grim. The Bi Yu Sect had come with three elders, and now two were dead, leaving him as the only one.


    If they didn¡¯t kill him, and it spread out, the Bi Yu Sect¡¯s reputation would be completely ruined.


    In Xiao Qingtian¡¯s view, Qin Hao should now be exhausted. He had fought for so long, surely there wasn¡¯t much Spiritual Energy left within him.


    ¡°Kill¡±


    Xiao Qingtian shouted, wielding a large knife, and charged again.

 Chapter 957: 957 Victory

    Chapter 957: Chapter 957 Victory


    Qin Hao laughed heartily, one hand wielding a fist technique, the other a swordsmanship, charging forth like a War God.


    A blue and yellow streak intertwined in intense battle, both sides unleashing their strongest attacks.


    The Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill, Heavenly Gang Palm, Earth Evil Fist, Grandmaster Sword Intent, and more¡ªQin Hao displayed them all. Indeed, a late-stage grandmaster is terrifying; if he only had one Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill, Qin Hao would not be confident in defeating Xiao Qingtian.


    But now he has several mighty Divine Skills. A good Divine Skill can multiply a cultivator¡¯s combat power, and a good Cultivation Technique can do the same.


    Whether it¡¯s Cultivation Techniques or Divine Skills, Qin Hao¡¯s are stronger than Xiao Qingtian¡¯s, albeit lacking a major realm.


    Having slain twelve elders and eight elders of the Bi Yu Sect did expend considerable energy, but his Cultivation Technique is top-tier, storing vast amounts of Spiritual Energy in his dantian and recovering quickly. He is confident in depleting his Spiritual Energy to kill Xiao Qingtian.


    At this point, Xiao Qingtian is fighting desperately, exerting his full strength, his combat power surging, terrifyingly peerless.


    Their fight lasted a long time. After over an hour, a turning point emerged in the battle.


    After all, Xiao Qingtian is old now. Although he¡¯s late-stage grandmaster, such prolonged all-out fighting was exhausting, and his Divine Skills were not as powerful as earlier.


    Qin Hao seized his flaw, bringing together his index and middle fingers, sweeping horizontally with a sword, releasing a fierce Sword Qi that severed Xiao Qingtian¡¯s arm.


    Had he not reacted, this Sword Qi would have been enough to sever his head.


    ¡°Elder.¡± The disciples of Bi Yu Sect saw Elder¡¯s arm severed, their faces drastically changing.


    Xiao Qingtian looked at the severed arm, his face darkening as he looked up at Qin Hao, a feeling of impotence welling up inside.


    How could someone merely at the late Innate stage be so terrifying in combat?


    What kind of monstrous being is he? Could he be from some royal dynasty or major sect?


    The onlookers were similarly shocked; Xiao Qingtian had an arm severed. Is this battle about to end?


    Qin Hao looked at Xiao Qingtian with a cold, ruthless expression: ¡°Mr. Xiao, do you have any final words? Speak them, let the disciples of Bi Yu Sect take them back.¡±


    The disciples of Bi Yu Sect were alarmed, their hearts shattering. Is Elder going to die?


    Elder is among the top three experts in the sect; even he is to die at Qin Hao¡¯s hands?


    Xiao Qingtian¡¯s expression did not change: ¡°It¡¯s not certain who will live or die. Kill.¡±


    He held his sword in his right hand, swinging it with more vigor than before.


    ¡°Just a dying flash of brilliance, let¡¯s see how long you can last.¡± Qin Hao sneered and charged with clenched fist techniques.


    The two tussled again, Xiao Qingtian held on for ten more minutes before his assault hesitated, a hint of dullness flashed in his eyes.


    This hadn¡¯t killed Qin Hao, he truly had no chance anymore.


    Seeing Xiao Qingtian¡¯s attacks slow down, Qin Hao sneered, his hands opening wide, launching palm and fist imprints, forcing Xiao Qingtian to retreat repeatedly, spitting blood endlessly.


    After enduring a dozen palm and fist imprints, Xiao Qingtian was unable to resist, struck by the Heavenly Gang Palm Seal in the chest, his vital organs shattered, dropping from the sky.


    In the air now stood only Qin Hao alone, his black robe now appearing purplish-red, stained by his own blood.


    He scanned the people below; none dared meet his gaze. He was now like a War God, an insurmountable peak.


    The disciples of Bi Yu Sect were terrified, and the people on the city walls couldn¡¯t believe it; he had consecutively slain three grandmaster experts, including one at mid-stage and one at late-stage Grandmaster Realm.


    Too terrifying, too incredible.


    Simply unbelievable.


    Qin Hao looked at the disciples of Bi Yu Sect and spoke: ¡°Go back and tell your Sect Leader of Bi Yu Sect, I¡¯m always ready for their retaliation.¡±


    Having said that, he took a step and walked on air onto the city wall. Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er saw him return and asked anxiously: ¡°Master, are you alright?¡±


    People around instinctively stepped back; the killing aura around Qin Hao gave them a sense of suffocation.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly: ¡°I¡¯m fine, even two more wouldn¡¯t be an issue, let¡¯s go find a place to rest.¡±


    The three left the area, and the crowd on the wall dispersed only after a long while.


    Today¡¯s battle left an indelible impression on many; a late Innate stage cultivator consecutively slaying early, mid, and late-stage grandmaster experts, it¡¯s truly unfathomable.


    What¡¯s happened here spread at astonishing speed throughout Yangchuan State and reportedly reached Yuxing County.


    After all, such battles come once in a century, crossing one major realm to kill; it¡¯s unprecedented indeed.


    ...


    Qin Hao and the two arrived at an inn, requesting a private palace loft.


    ¡°Young Master, are your injuries alright?¡± Xian Yin asked worriedly.


    Qin Hao had already changed into new clothes by this point, his wounds all healed. He had used a life potion, a panacea for healing.


    However, life potions have limitations; they only restore bodily injuries, not Spiritual Energy or internal vitality.


    Having experienced this battle, Qin Hao had somewhat depleted his internal vitality, requiring some time to recuperate.


    ¡°Young Master, go to your room; I have some herbs here that can restore some vitality.¡± Xian Yin spoke.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and returned to his room, at the same time taking out three Space Rings: ¡°These are the Space Rings of the three elders of Bi Yu Sect; inside are quite a few herbs, use them.¡±


    Xian Yin glanced inside, finding many precious herbs, including several rare ones for restoring vitality.


    ¡°Young Master, I¡¯ll first get hot water ready and then mix in the herbs. You can bathe directly then.¡± Xian Yin said to him.


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Thank you, Xian Yin.¡±


    ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t mention it; it¡¯s my duty.¡± Saying this, she went busy.


    Over twenty minutes later, Xian Yin emerged from the bathroom: ¡°Young Master, it¡¯s ready.¡±


    Qin Hao entered the bathroom; this inn was more luxurious, with a bathing pool in the bathroom, much larger than the bathtub at the previous inn, with many herbs floating on the surface, the water¡¯s color slightly red.


    Xian Yin approached Qin Hao, reaching to undo his garment; Qin Hao, taken aback, quickly said: ¡°Xian Yin, I can handle it; I¡¯m not injured in my hands or legs.¡±


    ¡°Young Master, let Xian Yin do it.¡± Xian Yin looked up at him, her beautiful eyes rendered him defenseless.


    Qin Hao said nothing more, Xian Yin quietly undressed him, then Qin Hao entered the bathing pool.


    As Xian Yin added several herbs, she spoke: ¡°Young Master, your reputation from this battle probably has spread throughout Yuxing County, a late Innate stage slaying three grandmaster experts, including a mid-stage and late-stage grandmaster. This is unprecedented in Yuxing County¡¯s thousands of years.¡±

 Chapter 958: 958 New Year Festival

    Chapter 958: Chapter 958 New Year Festival


    Qin Hao soaked in the bath, slightly closed his eyes, clearing his mind and keeping a sense of calm, not daring to think too much.


    Xian Yin, such an exceptional beauty, had a great seductive power, and Qin Hao had always been restraining himself.


    ¡°Young master, I think the Skyfire Dynasty might issue a new recruitment order. Your battle prowess has definitely exceeded their imagination.¡± After sprinkling the herbal medicine, Xian Yin knelt slightly behind him and gently massaged Qin Hao.


    Soon, Qin Hao felt his body warming up, as the medicinal effect in the bath began to take hold.


    He soaked in the bath for over half an hour, feeling warm all over, with most of his vitality restored.


    ...


    The Bi Yu Sect also received the news of the three elders¡¯ deaths. The death of Xiao Qingtian and his companions was a heavy blow to the Bi Yu Sect.


    Originally, there weren¡¯t many Grandmaster Realm experts in their sect. Now, three were dead, including one at the later stage and one at the middle stage of grandmaster, shaking the foundations of the Bi Yu Sect.


    After learning about Qin Hao¡¯s terrifying battle prowess, the Bi Yu Sect no longer made harsh threats or mentioned any further attempts to hunt down Qin Hao.


    Based on the power Qin Hao had shown, the Bi Yu Sect realized that trying to slay him would surely come at an extremely high cost, which the sect couldn¡¯t afford, as it wasn¡¯t worth causing losses to their entire sect just to deal with one Qin Hao.


    There are five major sects in Yangchuan State, with intense competition, and they couldn¡¯t afford to lose any more strength unnecessarily. Even if mocked, they wouldn¡¯t act against Qin Hao again, lest they provide opportunities for other sects.


    It¡¯s tantamount to admitting defeat in a disguised manner.


    The next morning, many people in Yangchuan City were still discussing yesterday¡¯s battle.


    After a night¡¯s rest, along with Xian Yin¡¯s herbal medicine, Qin Hao¡¯s body had recovered substantially.


    As he emerged from the room, Ling¡¯er looked at him and asked, ¡°Master, is your body feeling better?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Much better, no problem now.¡±


    At that moment, a staff member brought breakfast from outside and placed it on the table in the living room. Although it was breakfast, there were many dishes, with several types of soups and rice.


    ¡°Young master, please eat.¡± Xian Yin tidied up a bit and said.


    While they were having breakfast, a bellboy rushed in and respectfully said, ¡°Guests, there are people from the state lord¡¯s mansion outside wishing to meet you.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression was calm as he said, ¡°Let them in.¡±


    The bellboy nodded and turned to leave, feeling a bit surprised. Who were these three? Even the steward of the state lord¡¯s mansion came to personally meet him.


    Quickly, the bellboy brought four people inside, led by an elderly man who was well-known in Yangchuan City, the steward of the state lord¡¯s mansion, second only to the lord himself.


    ¡°Greetings, Mr. Qin. I am Ding Shan, the steward of the state lord¡¯s mansion.¡± The steward of the state lord¡¯s mansion said respectfully.


    While eating breakfast, Qin Hao looked at him, ¡°Mr. Ding, is there something you need from me?¡±


    Ding Shan said respectfully, ¡°Our state lord learned of Mr. Qin¡¯s arrival in Yangchuan City and is quite excited. A lunch banquet has been prepared in the state lord¡¯s mansion, inviting Mr. Qin to attend, and there is also a secret order from the dynasty that needs to be conveyed to Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°I understand. I will come at noon.¡±


    ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb Mr. Qin any further. Farewell.¡± Ding Shan led his people to gradually withdraw from the pavilion.


    After they left, Xian Yin said, ¡°Young master, it seems the dynasty knows about yesterday¡¯s events and may offer better terms.¡±


    Qin Hao showed a thoughtful expression and now just wanted to visit the Royal Book Library of the Skyfire Dynasty.


    Ling¡¯er said, ¡°Master, it¡¯s only two days until the New Year Festival, and surely there will be many street vendors.¡±


    Qin Hao paused, ¡°What is the New Year Festival?¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er were slightly taken aback, ¡°You don¡¯t know what the New Year Festival is?¡±


    Qin Hao awkwardly nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve lived in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range for years, hardly came out, don¡¯t know what this festival is.¡±


    Ling¡¯er curiously asked, ¡°Master, did you grow up in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range? Are your parents there too?¡±


    ¡°They are no longer in this world,¡± Qin Hao sighed lightly.


    Ling¡¯er hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Master.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled gently, ¡°It¡¯s alright. They¡¯re probably living well in another world.¡±


    Xian Yin spoke up to change the topic, ¡°The New Year Festival is the most important festival on the Hidden Dragon Continent, occurring once a year, and after it¡¯s celebrated, one grows a year older.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, realizing this New Year Festival was much like Chinese New Year on Earth.


    ...


    The three of their fates now seemed similar; Ling¡¯er and Xian Yin had no family, while Qin Hao did, but they were in another world.


    After breakfast, they went out to stroll the streets. Nearing the New Year Festival, both shops and crowds on the streets seemed to have a cheerful and festive atmosphere.


    Many shops had hung red lanterns and pasted red couplets.


    Ling¡¯er jumped around joyfully, ¡°Master, our tribe used to celebrate the New Year Festival like this, it was very lively.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xian Yin showed a look of recollection. She remembered her childhood New Year Festivals, always accompanied by her mother, shopping and having fun.


    In a blink of an eye, those times were long gone.


    Qin Hao looked at everything before him, feeling some nostalgia, ¡°Xian Yin, Ling¡¯er, where do you plan to go, what do you intend to do?¡±


    Ling¡¯er and Xian Yin were slightly stunned by his words. Ling¡¯er thought for a moment and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know yet, I just want to be by Master¡¯s side.¡±


    Xian Yin nodded, ¡°I have no family, I only wish to stay with the young master.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no banquet that doesn¡¯t disperse eventually; one day we¡¯ll part ways. I need to find my daughter and son, no matter where they are, I must find them,¡± Qin Hao¡¯s eyes were incredibly determined.


    Xian Yin¡¯s heart trembled, ¡°Son and daughter? Young master, you have children?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve had them for a long time. They should be about Ling¡¯er¡¯s age now, but unfortunately, they were later abducted, without any news.¡±


    ¡°Who took them?¡± Xian Yin curiously asked.


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°Specifically, I don¡¯t know. I only know the names of two sects, one called Butian Sect, the other Xingyue Palace.¡±


    ¡°Butian Sect? Xingyue Palace? Never heard of these forces,¡± Xian Yin frowned slightly. She had heard of some top forces on the continent, but not these two.


    She thought for a moment and said, ¡°Could it be major sect forces from the North Continent?¡±


    Currently, Qin Hao and the others were in the Southern State, which was very large. The South Continent Dynasty alone had several dynasties, such as the Skyfire Dynasty, which had hundreds of similar dynasties within, and countless sects across the Southern State, with generally people only knowing a few strong sects, while many sects¡¯ names were completely unknown to them.

 Chapter 959: 959: Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Branch

    Chapter 959: Chapter 959: Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Branch


    Even many sects in the Southern Continent are not fully recognized, let alone the sects in the Central, Northern, Eastern, and West Continents.


    Qin Hao sighed, ¡°I have also been searching for the Butian Sect and the Xingyue Palace, but there has been no news.¡±


    Miss Xian Yin comforted, ¡°The Hidden Dragon Continent is so vast, there are many sects we don¡¯t know about in the major continents. Perhaps there are sects named Butian and Xingyue Palace in one of them.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. Based on the two individuals¡¯ former strength, the Butian Sect and Xingyue Palace must definitely be powerful forces. Otherwise, how could they traverse endless space and directly abduct Qin Long and Qin Feng?


    The sects where people of such level are definitely not small sects.


    Moreover, Qin Hao faintly remembers what that person said back then, ¡°Being noticed by our Butian Sect is your blessing.¡±


    This should indicate that the Butian Sect is a very powerful sect, and according to Qin Hao¡¯s judgment, it is at least one of the top sects on the Hidden Dragon Continent.


    The methods and divine skills of those masters are too strong, beyond typical masters.


    Despite Qin Hao¡¯s current battle strength comparable to the peak of the Grandmaster Realm, if he were to encounter that individual again, he still feels like an ant, with a gap in strength too vast.


    Around eleven in the morning.


    Qin Hao and the others finished their street tour and arrived at the Yangchuan State Lord¡¯s Mansion entrance. The guards had already been notified and hurriedly, respectfully led them inside: ¡°Mr. Qin, please enter.¡±


    The State Lord Mansion is large, even more luxurious and grand than Jiangping State¡¯s State Lord Mansion. After walking for a long time, they finally arrived at the reception hall.


    Many young and beautiful maids and servants stood in the reception hall, where an ancient round wooden table was placed.


    ¡°Mr. Qin has arrived, please have a seat,¡± Mr. Ding Kun, the State Lord of Yangchuan State, quickly rose and said.


    Qin Hao entered the reception hall and sat down, with Miss Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er beside him.


    Mr. Ding Kun noticed the two ladies sitting at the table with him and felt a bit uncomfortable, but did not show it on his face: ¡°Mr. Qin, who are these two?¡±


    ¡°This is my disciple, Ling¡¯er; this is Miss Xian Yin,¡± Qin Hao explained in a calm tone.


    Mr. Ding Kun nodded slightly, ¡°So it¡¯s Mr. Qin¡¯s disciple and confidante, bring in the dishes.¡±


    Maids in white dresses slowly came up one by one. They all had striking figures and charming appearances, each a top beauty outside.


    Qin Hao¡¯s intuition could sense that Mr. Ding Kun seemed to dislike Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er sitting at the table.


    He spoke, ¡°Mr. State Lord, what¡¯s the reason for inviting me here? Just say it; I have matters in the afternoon.¡±


    Mr. Ding was taken aback, then smiled and said, ¡°The dynasty already knows of Mr. Qin¡¯s glorious achievements. The dynasty wants to recruit Mr. Qin to join the court as a general for our Skyfire Dynasty, offering abundant cultivation resources and various materials¡ªbenefits are definitely not lacking.¡±


    Without thinking, Qin Hao replied, ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about this yet; we can discuss it later.¡±


    Mr. Ding didn¡¯t expect such a straightforward answer, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Mr. Qin consider it properly?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll speak when I decide. I don¡¯t know when that¡¯ll be,¡± Qin Hao was absolutely not going to join the court. He has his own matters.


    However, he couldn¡¯t completely reject the Skyfire Dynasty, as he planned to enter the Royal Book Library of the dynasty.


    If he outright refused, perhaps the dynasty wouldn¡¯t allow him into the Royal Book Library.


    Upon hearing his words, Mr. Ding chuckled dryly, ¡°Mr. Qin is indeed not an ordinary person. I, Mr. Ding, toast to Mr. Qin.¡±


    This lunch was tasteless for Qin Hao, and had it not been to hear the recruitment message from the Skyfire Dynasty, he wouldn¡¯t even have come here.


    After lunch, he promptly left the State Lord Mansion.


    Miss Xian Yin asked, ¡°Sir, should we return to the inn?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Not going back to the inn; we¡¯re going somewhere. After we¡¯re done, we¡¯ll leave here.¡±


    He then retrieved a jade stone from his storage space and checked using his divine sense, soon finding the Yangchuan City branch of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.


    Since Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is an intelligence agency, their information should be detailed, and perhaps they have news about the Butian Sect and Xingyue Palace.


    On the way to the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion branch, Qin Hao asked Xian Yin, ¡°Xian Yin, have you heard of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion?¡±


    Xian Yin showed a confused expression, ¡°Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion? I haven¡¯t heard of it. Is it a major sect?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics; it seems like a large force.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s a major power, I should have heard of it. Why haven¡¯t I?¡± Xian Yin looked at him curiously.


    Qin Hao explained while walking, ¡°This is an underground intelligence force. From them, you can purchase almost any information, though it costs some spirit stones, and such an intelligence organization must have strong backing.¡±


    Xian Yin was hearing about this Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion for the first time, finding it curious as a place selling intelligence.


    About five or six minutes later, Qin Hao arrived at a shop named Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion. Inside, they sold everything¡ªcultivation techniques, divine skills, elixirs, magic items, herbs, and more.


    ¡°Welcome, sir, miss; what would you like to buy?¡± the attendant asked Qin Hao and his group.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Is your shopkeeper here?¡±


    ¡°If you want to buy something, you can speak with me,¡± the attendant said.


    Qin Hao: ¡°What I want isn¡¯t on your counter.¡±


    The attendant paused for a moment and quickly understood: ¡°Sir, please follow me.¡±


    He led Qin Hao and his companions to the third floor of the shop, arriving at a door and knocked: ¡°Boss, there¡¯s a guest.¡±


    ¡°Come in,¡± a voice sounded from inside.


    The attendant opened the door: ¡°Sir, miss, please enter.¡±


    Qin Hao and his group entered. The room was much larger than Qin Hao had imagined, with jade spirit spheres arranged within, hanging spirit spheres descending from the ceiling, which are used on the Hidden Dragon Continent for recording various intelligence.


    The room was sparsely populated, with only an elder sitting there, holding a spirit sphere and viewing with divine sense.


    When Qin Hao and his companions entered, he slowly put down the sphere and looked up at Qin Hao, slightly startled upon seeing his face, ¡°Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°You recognize me?¡±


    ¡°Yesterday¡¯s battle made Mr. Qin famous; how could I not recognize you? Mr. Qin, please, everyone, have a seat. Coming here today, may I ask what brings you?¡± The elder kindly smiled, appearing gentle and friendly.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Naturally, it¡¯s to seek some information. I fear your Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion might not have it.¡±


    The elder smiled slightly, ¡°As long as it exists on the Hidden Dragon Continent, our Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion can help Mr. Qin obtain it, though some are quite costly.¡±

 Chapter 960: 960: News of Xingyue Palace

    Chapter 960: Chapter 960: News of Xingyue Palace


    Xian Yin was stunned when she heard his words, such arrogance, are you saying you can gather intelligence from the entire continent??


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Oh? Don¡¯t boast in front of me.¡±


    The old man chuckled, ¡°Mr. Qin, maybe our Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion isn¡¯t well-known in the Skyfire Dynasty, mainly because we specialize in intelligence work. But if you inquire in those dynasties or even the bustling Central Continent, who doesn¡¯t know of our Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion?¡±


    Qin Hao had never been there, so he wasn¡¯t clear about how powerful the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion really was.


    He asked, ¡°I want detailed information on the Butian Sect and Xingyue Palace, how many Spirit Stones will that be?¡±


    The old man raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, Butian Sect? Xingyue Palace?


    ¡°Mr. Qin, where are these sects located? In which continent?¡± he asked.


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t be asking you. Didn¡¯t you say your Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion¡¯s intelligence is unrivaled? Then go find out.¡±


    The old man frowned slightly, ¡°I indeed don¡¯t have any information on the Butian Sect or Xingyue Palace here. My data mainly covers the Skyfire Dynasty and a few neighboring dynasties, but I can ask our headquarters for you.¡±


    ¡°Then go ask.¡±


    The old man took out an Information Spirit Ball and started contacting someone above.


    Qin Hao and the others sat nearby waiting, but they couldn¡¯t hear what the old man was saying because he had used a soundproof barrier.


    About ten minutes later, the old man ended the call with the Information Spirit Ball, dismissed the soundproof barrier, and said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, headquarters has sent over the information.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s spirits lifted, ¡°Really? Is there any information?¡±


    The old man replied, ¡°As for the Butian Sect you mentioned, our Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion doesn¡¯t have any information on it. We¡¯ve dispatched people to investigate thoroughly as soon as we have news, we will inform you.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°You mean there¡¯s news on Xingyue Palace?¡±


    The old man nodded, ¡°Xingyue Palace is a top-tier sect in the Central Continent, I¡¯ve received detailed information on Xingyue Palace, do you need it, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°How many Spirit Stones?¡±


    The old man: ¡°The detailed information on Xingyue Palace costs ten million Spirit Stones. We will list all the masters of Xingyue Palace and the Divine Skills they are proficient in. Rough information is cheaper, and basic information is the cheapest.¡±


    Qin Hao was initially almost frightened by the price, but after thinking it over he said, ¡°Just give me the basic information.¡±


    He just needed to know the location of Xingyue Palace, knowing the general geographic location would make everything easier to handle.


    ¡°Two hundred thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones,¡± the old man said with a smile.


    Qin Hao paid him the Spirit Stones, and he handed Qin Hao an Information Spirit Ball, ¡°Use your Divine Sense to enter it, our Information Spirit Balls cannot be taken away.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s Divine Sense entered the Information Spirit Ball, and instantly the scene before his eyes changed, revealing misty peaks, lush and grand, filled with Spiritual Energy, with spirit beasts galloping among the mountains and cranes swirling in the air, it was a rare cultivation paradise.


    Above the peaks, faintly discernible palaces and grand architecture could be seen, majestic and magnificent, luxurious and splendid.


    A voice suddenly echoed: ¡°Xingyue Palace is located in the northwest Xingyue Mountain Range of the Central Continent of the Hidden Dragon Continent. It is one of the top sects in the Central Continent. According to records, Xingyue Palace is one of the oldest top forces on the entire Hidden Dragon Continent.


    This sect has distinctive requirements for recruiting disciples; it only accepts female disciples, not males, and is filled with powerful masters. It is one of the most formidable sect factions on the Hidden Dragon Continent.


    ...


    The Information Spirit Ball contained little information, merely a rough outline, but it was enough.


    Qin Hao returned the Information Spirit Ball to the old man, who said, ¡°Mr. Qin, can you give us any hint about the Butian Sect you mentioned? Our headquarters couldn¡¯t find any information regarding Butian Sect, it seems like the sect doesn¡¯t exist on the entire Hidden Dragon Continent.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I don¡¯t know much specific details, but I¡¯m sure the strength of the Butian Sect is no less than that of Xingyue Palace.¡±


    No less than Xingyue Palace? Then it must also be a famous top-tier sect on the Hidden Dragon Continent. It shouldn¡¯t have no information at all.


    Could it be some hidden force?


    The old man replied, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, I will have our headquarters conduct a more thorough investigation, should there be any information, I will notify you using our Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion¡¯s special jade stone.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll wait for your good news.¡±


    After leaving the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion¡¯s branch, Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er could clearly sense a change in Qin Hao¡¯s mood from before.


    ¡°Where to, my lord?¡± Xian Yin, seeing Qin Hao happy, showed a captivating smile on her flawless face.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Let¡¯s go, take the Transmission Array to Yulan County, then head from Yulan City¡¯s Yulan County to the capital city of the Skyfire Dynasty.¡±


    To reach the dynasty, they could only take Transmission Arrays step by step, from there they could transmit to the kingdom¡¯s northernmost town to swiftly leave the Skyfire Dynasty.


    There are no Transmission Arrays between dynasties because it involves many interests.


    Even within the Skyfire Dynasty, the transmission is limited, as Transmission Arrays in other cities cannot directly reach the capital city, but those in the capital can transmit to any city within the territory.


    There¡¯s a lot to learn in that regard, including security and defense issues.


    The three of them reached the Transmission Array, used it to leave Yangchuan State and entered the territory of Yuxing County in Yuxing State, the most prosperous state in the entire Yuxing County.


    After taking a dozen Transmission Arrays consecutively, Qin Hao and the others arrived in Jiuwu City of Yuxing State.


    Jiuwu City is considered a large city within Yuxing State, home to tens of millions of cultivators.


    After exiting the Transmission Array, Qin Hao looked at Ling¡¯er, noticing her tired expression.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find an inn to rest. We can continue our journey tomorrow,¡± Qin Hao suggested.


    Xian Yin nodded, ¡°Alright.¡±


    They found a top-tier hotel and inn in Jiuwu City and rented a separate courtyard.


    Qin Hao said, ¡°I¡¯m going to my room to cultivate, call me if anything comes up.¡±


    ¡°Master, you go ahead,¡± Ling¡¯er said with a smile.


    Once Qin Hao entered the inn, Ling¡¯er whispered to Xian Yin, ¡°Sister Xian Yin, tomorrow is the New Year Festival, I plan to buy some gifts for Master. Shall we go out and do some shopping later?¡±


    Xian Yin nodded, having the same idea, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go now before it gets dark.¡±

 Chapter 961: 961: Unmatched Sword Intent

    Chapter 961: Chapter 961: Unmatched Sword Intent


    After the two women finished discussing, they left the tavern. Xian Yin planned to get some nice fabric to make a robe for Qin Hao by hand.


    Qin Hao was unaware of the two women¡¯s plans. After returning to his room, he continued to comprehend the Sword Intent Talisman, which he was almost fully grasping. With some luck, he might completely understand it today.


    His cultivation talents were high, and he broke through various realms with ease, like water flowing naturally.


    This Sword Intent Talisman, if given to someone else, might take them years to comprehend, but for Qin Hao, a month was sufficient.


    A few hours later, in Qin Hao¡¯s room, the Sword Intent Talisman floating in front of him suddenly cracked. The cracks grew larger until the entire talisman shattered, finally transforming into a wisp of smoke and disappearing.


    At this moment, Qin Hao opened his eyes, and within them, sword light flickered as if swords were clashing violently, sharp beyond compare.


    After a while, the sword shadows in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes dissipated, returning to normal. He had completely comprehended the Sword Intent Talisman. If he were to perform the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill again, its power would be dozens of times greater than before.


    Leaving the room, Qin Hao did not see Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er in the living room. He went upstairs but did not find them, feeling a bit puzzled. What were these two up to?


    He was just coming down from upstairs when the sound transmission jade in his storage space started buzzing. It was Xian Yin sending a message.


    ¡°Young master, Ling¡¯er and I ran into some trouble,¡± Xian Yin¡¯s voice came from the jade.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    ¡°Young master, this is our location,¡± Xian Yin sent her coordinates through the jade.


    Qin Hao immediately sensed her location, his figure instantly flying out of the pavilion.


    Within seconds, Qin Hao arrived at where Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er were. They were on a street, with over ten people lying on the ground beside them, all dressed as household servants.


    At that moment, they were surrounded by a group of patrolling soldiers from Jiuwu City, about twenty-plus individuals.


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er had not taken action because if they fought these royal soldiers, the nature of the situation would change, and they didn¡¯t want to implicate Qin Hao.


    If they became wanted by the dynasty, they might have to live in exile again.


    Qin Hao landed beside Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er and asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er smiled upon seeing him, and Ling¡¯er quickly said, ¡°Master, just now a man was forcefully seizing a woman in broad daylight, and I couldn¡¯t stand by, so I stepped in to teach him a lesson.¡±


    The patrolling soldiers, seeing Qin Hao descend from the sky, showed signs of fear and vigilance in their eyes.


    Hearing Ling¡¯er¡¯s words, Qin Hao understood the situation. She must have encountered a young aristocrat. Looking around, he asked, ¡°Where is that man?¡±


    ¡°He got away,¡± Ling¡¯er replied somewhat regretfully.


    At this moment, the surrounding soldiers spoke up, ¡°Fighting is prohibited in Jiuwu City. You¡¯ve clearly violated the city¡¯s rules by fighting openly. Please come with us.¡±


    Ling¡¯er argued, ¡°That man brazenly seized a woman in broad daylight. Why didn¡¯t you arrest him?¡±


    ¡°That was the young master of the Huo Family. How can people like you compare?¡± the lead soldier retorted coldly.


    With a ¡°bang,¡±


    Qin Hao waved his hand, emitting an invisible Qi Force. The man flew backward instantly, ¡°So you mean to say that my disciple is easy to bully?¡±


    The soldiers, seeing their leader sent flying, were horrified. They rushed over to help him up, ¡°Are you alright, leader?¡±


    The leader looked at Qin Hao in shock, his face skeptical and uncertain.


    At this point, a group of people rushed over from a distance, led by a young master.


    Ling¡¯er whispered to Qin Hao, ¡°Master, he is the one who just forcefully seized women in broad daylight.¡±


    Huo Taifan pointed at Xue Lingling and Xian Yin, ¡°You two bitches, don¡¯t think anyone can leave today.¡±


    This time, he had called in more experts from his family, even bringing several Innate Early Stage experts. In his eyes, this was more than enough to deal with Xue Lingling and Xian Yin.


    The onlookers, seeing Huo Taifan return with reinforcements, remarked, ¡°This time, Huo Taifan brought experts. These two beautiful women are finished.¡±


    ¡°Not necessarily; I think that man who just arrived seems quite formidable.¡±


    ¡°No matter how formidable he is, can he compare to the Huo Family? The Huo Family is one of the top families in Jiuwu City.¡±


    ¡°The leader was merely at the Postnatal Early Stage, not much of an expert. Anyone could send him flying; you can¡¯t judge his power from that.¡±


    ¡°These people are in for a world of trouble.¡±


    ¡°Huo Taifan is famously lecherous, no matter young or old, as long as they¡¯re beautiful. I fear for these two beauties tonight.¡±


    ¡°Serves them right; this is the cost of meddling.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao looked coldly at Huo Taifan, ¡°What are you? Daring to touch my people.¡±


    Huo Taifan glanced at Qin Hao, snorted coldly, ¡°I have no time to waste words with you. Capture all of them for me!¡±


    ¡°Yes, young master.¡±


    The people behind Huo Taifan rushed forward, while Qin Hao stood still, his robe fluttering in the wind.


    Suddenly, sword light flickered in his eyes, swords clashing sharply.


    ¡°Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡±


    ¡°Pshh, pshh, pshh¡±


    Sword Qi suddenly appeared in the air, with sword glows racing and lethal Sword Qi sweeping across.


    Moving the sword with intent, this was Grandmaster Sword Intent.


    In a matter of seconds, all the people Huo Taifan brought were slashed by Sword Qi, not one left. The blue stone road on the street was stained red, bloody and terrifying.


    Huo Taifan stood there in shock, eyes wide open in disbelief.


    The patrol team was equally dumbfounded. What kind of method was this?! Without moving a hand, sword Qi abruptly appeared and killed all these men.


    What level of expert was this? Killing with just a gaze?


    The onlookers were also stunned, mouths agape, nearly able to fit a chicken egg inside.


    ¡°How... how is this possible? He didn¡¯t even move, how did the Sword Qi appear?¡±


    ¡°Is this Sword Intent? How could someone so young comprehend Sword Intent?¡±


    ¡°What? Sword Intent? How is that possible? Even a Heavenly Human Realm expert might find it hard to comprehend. How could someone so young understand Sword Intent?¡±


    ¡°This is too unbelievable. Just who is he?¡±


    ...


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er were also taken aback, looking at Qin Hao with eyes full of admiration. This was simply too impressive.


    Qin Hao gazed at Huo Taifan, eyes flashing with blade and sword shadows, exceptionally fierce.


    Huo Taifan, upon seeing this, turned pale, and his legs trembled uncontrollably. Within seconds, his pants were wet...


    ¡°Die.¡±


    Qin Hao spat out a single word, like the Nine-character True Words, his voice booming like thunder.


    ¡°Pshh¡±


    Suddenly, a Sword Qi appeared, cutting off his head.


    The people around turned pale. He actually killed the young master of the Huo Family; truly audacious.


    But with his strength, he probably wasn¡¯t afraid of the Huo Family¡¯s revenge at all.


    Qin Hao looked at the patrol soldiers, frightening them so much that they stepped back repeatedly: ¡°Young master, we were blind not to recognize Mount Tai. Please don¡¯t blame us.¡±

 Chapter 962: 962 Visiting to Apologize

    Chapter 962: Chapter 962 Visiting to Apologize


    ¡°Scram.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s tone was calm, exuding the authority of a superior.


    The patrol guards left the area as quickly as they could, not daring to look back, fearing Qin Hao might regret letting them go.


    Qin Hao turned to Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er nodded, and the three of them headed back to the restaurant. On the way, Ling¡¯er asked, ¡°Master, have you fully comprehended that Sword Intent Talisman?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Yes, the Sword Intent is indeed powerful, its attack methods are truly unpredictable, and its power is great, superior to many Divine Skills. Moreover, the Sword Intent can be fused with the Divine Power Sword Skill, making the divine techniques even stronger.¡±


    Xue Lingling giggled and said, ¡°Master is indeed the best. That move just now was so impressive, it enchanted both me and Sister Xian Yin.¡±


    A slight blush appeared on Xian Yin¡¯s perfect face as she gave Ling¡¯er a playful glance, full of allure and charm.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°Why did you both come out without a word? You didn¡¯t even tell me.¡±


    Xue Lingling stuck out her tongue: ¡°Master, it¡¯s almost the New Year Festival, so Sister Xian Yin and I bought some gifts for you.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to buy those gifts; Master doesn¡¯t value those.¡±


    ¡°Regardless of whether Master values them or not, it¡¯s a token of affection from Sister Xian Yin and me,¡± Ling¡¯er said earnestly, looking up.


    The three of them chatted while walking and soon returned to the restaurant.


    ¡°Master, we¡¯ll give you the gifts tomorrow. Sister Xian Yin and I will head back to our rooms first,¡± Xue Lingling said to him.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ...


    The Huo Family in Jiuwu City.


    The news of Huo Taifan being slain quickly reached the Huo Family.


    The Huo Family Head, Huo Honglin, was furious when he heard the news: ¡°Who dares to kill a disciple of the Huo Family in Jiuwu City? Investigate this for me; I want him torn to pieces.¡±


    The entire Huo Family was alarmed, and many people were sent out to investigate the matter of Huo Taifan.


    Within less than half an hour, the Huo Family had figured out the whole story. They are one of the top families in Jiuwu City, so investigating this matter wasn¡¯t difficult, especially since a lot of people were watching back then.


    Moreover, they had thoroughly investigated the whereabouts of Qin Hao and his group.


    Just as Huo Honglin was preparing to lead people to find Qin Hao and his companions, the City Lord of Jiuwu City, Wu Bin, arrived.


    Upon receiving the news, Huo Honglin hurried out of the living room to greet him: ¡°Mr. Wu, what brings you here?¡±


    Wu Bin looked at him and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡±


    The two of them entered the living room, where several elders of the Huo Family were seated. The incident of Huo Taifan¡¯s murder was a matter of honor for the Huo Family, and these elders were planning to go with the Family Head to kill Qin Hao to uphold the family¡¯s prestige.


    ¡°Mr. Wu, why have you come to our Huo Family?¡± Huo Honglin and the elders asked him in confusion.


    Wu Bin said, ¡°I know about Huo Taifan¡¯s case. In this matter, Huo Taifan was in the wrong first, and the Family Head should not pursue it anymore.¡±


    Huo Honglin and the Huo Family elders were stunned by his words.


    Not pursue it? What does Wu Bin mean by this? Could that person be related to him?


    If that¡¯s the case, the Huo Family really wouldn¡¯t dare to act. Although the Huo Family is strong in Jiuwu City, they aren¡¯t stronger than the Wu Family of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    Even so, Huo Honglin still asked, puzzled, ¡°Mr. Wu, is that person a relative of your Wu Family?¡±


    Wu Bin smiled bitterly and shook his head: ¡°It would be better if he was a relative. Both our families cannot afford to provoke this person. Not only should we not pursue the matter, but we must also personally visit and apologize.¡±


    The people of the Huo Family¡¯s expressions changed slightly at these words. Not only should they not pursue it, but they also have to apologize?


    Could it be the son of the Commandery Prince of Yuxing County?


    Thinking of this, the Huo Family members had unpleasant expressions. If it really was someone from the Commandery Prince¡¯s Mansion, they would have no choice but to swallow their anger and apologize obediently.


    ¡°Mr. Wu, is this person from the Commandery Prince¡¯s Mansion?¡±


    Wu Bin shook his head: ¡°No, he isn¡¯t from the Commandery Prince¡¯s Mansion, but he¡¯s even more formidable than those from there. He is Qin Hao.¡±


    The members of the Huo Family were stunned, and Huo Honglin asked in puzzlement, ¡°Qin Hao? Which Qin Hao?¡±


    ...


    Wu Bin said speechlessly, ¡°How many people named Qin Hao are there in the entire Yuxing County?¡±


    Huo Honglin suddenly remembered something and widened his eyes: ¡°Is it that Qin Hao who executed three elders of the Bi Yu Sect?¡±


    Wu Bin: ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s him. He just arrived in Jiuwu City today, and such an incident already occurred. You know his temperament; he might annihilate your Huo Family tonight.¡±


    The members of the Huo Family were no longer calm, a trace of panic flashing in their eyes.


    They had long heard of Qin Hao¡¯s notorious reputation; he was definitely a ruthless person, even making the Bi Yu Sect silent.


    He had even executed a regional lord and destroyed a sect, which was terrifying.


    Huo Honglin hastily turned to Wu Bin and said, ¡°Mr. Wu, what do we do now?¡±


    Wu Bin: ¡°What else can we do? Pay a visit and apologize. The City Lord¡¯s patrol guard also displeased him. I came to you to go together; compared to face, life and death weigh more heavily.¡±


    Huo Honglin nodded, indeed compared with the life and death of the family, this bit of face was really trivial.


    He said, ¡°Mr. Wu, there¡¯s no time to lose, let¡¯s go now.¡±


    Wu Bin got up and walked outside, and Huo Honglin followed behind him, while the other members of the Huo Family were looking at each other, their previous killing intent gone.


    Are you kidding, that¡¯s Qin Hao we¡¯re talking about, renowned throughout all of Yuxing County. Who would dare to provoke him?


    ...


    Tianfeng Restaurant.


    Wu Bin and Huo Honglin came here without any guards. As they walked into the restaurant, the shop assistant recognized them and was so terrified that he almost collapsed: ¡°Mr... Mr. Wu, Mr... Mr. Huo, welcome!¡±


    ¡°Take us to Mr. Qin¡¯s private courtyard,¡± Wu Bin said.


    The shop assistant cautiously asked, ¡°Mr. Wu, which Mr. Qin are you referring to?¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao, Mr. Qin, who just checked into your restaurant this afternoon,¡± Wu Bin said.


    The shop assistant quickly checked and said, ¡°City Lord, Family Head, please follow me.¡±


    He led the two to the outside of Qin Hao¡¯s courtyard, feeling somewhat shocked. Who was this person that Mr. Wu and the Family Head of the Huo Family would visit in person? Such grandeur!


    ¡°Mr. Wu, Mr. Huo, Mr. Qin lives in this courtyard, please enter,¡± the shop assistant said very respectfully.


    Wu Bin said, ¡°Go notify Mr. Qin, and once he agrees, we will go in.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the shop assistant was shocked. Whoa, they needed Mr. Qin¡¯s permission to enter?


    Who exactly was this Mr. Qin?


    He carefully walked to the pavilion¡¯s door and knocked on it.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    He pushed the door open and went in, where a young gentleman in a blue robe was sitting, sipping tea.

 Chapter 963: 963 Yuxing City

    Chapter 963: Chapter 963 Yuxing City


    ¡°Mr. Qin, City Lord Wu and Family Head Huo have arrived, they¡¯re waiting outside,¡± the waiter whispered.


    Qin Hao had already sensed them and replied, ¡°Let them in.¡±


    The waiter ran out, and soon Wu Bin and Huo Honglin walked in. They looked at Qin Hao sitting on the chair, a bit surprised. Was he Qin Hao? So young?


    They didn¡¯t feel much before meeting, but now they were truly shocked. This Qin Hao was really too young.


    At such an age, having such terrifying strength, what would he become in the future?


    ¡°Mr. Qin, I am Wu Bin, the City Lord of Jiuwu City, and this is Family Head Huo Honglin of the Huo Family,¡± Wu Bin said cautiously as he stood there.


    Qin Hao looked up at them, ¡°You two came looking for me, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Wu Bin followed up, ¡°Mr. Qin, I just found out about what happened on the street today. As soon as I heard the news, I came here with Family Head Huo to apologize to you.¡±


    Apologize?


    Qin Hao sneered inwardly, this is a world that respects strength. Having strength is everything. Earth is actually not much different, but this place is more cruel.


    Looking at Huo Honglin, Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°There¡¯s no need for an apology. Your son made a mistake and has paid the price. I won¡¯t involve the Huo Family. Of course, if the Huo Family wants revenge, we can have a match.¡±


    Huo Honglin quickly said, ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re joking. My son is unambitious, bullying men and women all day. Offending Mr. Qin was because he had no foresight and deserved to be punished.¡±


    Qin Hao heard his words and slightly raised the corners of his mouth. His son was killed by me, and he can still say such dignified words. None of them are simple individuals.


    He looked at Huo Honglin and smiled faintly, ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that. I won¡¯t implicate your whole family because of this.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin, for your magnanimity,¡± Huo Honglin lowered his stance significantly.


    Wu Bin also spoke, ¡°The patrolling soldiers today were also at fault. I have strictly reprimanded them, and today¡¯s events will not happen again.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°That¡¯s good. Since there¡¯s nothing else, I won¡¯t keep you two. I need to cultivate.¡±


    ¡°Very well, we won¡¯t disturb Mr. Qin any further. Goodbye,¡± the two, hearing his expulsion, said and left.


    As long as Qin Hao doesn¡¯t hold them responsible, it¡¯s fine.


    Their purpose here was mainly to ensure their families wouldn¡¯t be affected.


    Now it seemed Qin Hao didn¡¯t have such intent, which let them feel at ease.


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao, having cultivated all night, came out of his room to find Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er waiting for him.


    ¡°Master, Master, come try the robe Sister Xian Yin made for you to see if it fits,¡± Ling¡¯er quickly ran over as he came out, pulling his hand to the table.


    Xian Yin blushed slightly, ¡°Please try it, my lord, and see if it fits.¡±


    On the table lay a neatly folded black robe. Qin Hao unfolded it to find a few vividly embroidered five-clawed dragons on it, lifelike, looking impressive and extraordinary.


    Qin Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°It looks great. Thank you, Xian Yin.¡±


    ¡°No need to thank me, my lord, as long as you like it. Try it on and see if it fits,¡± said Xian Yin, her face blossoming with beauty.


    Qin Hao put it on, and it fit perfectly.


    Xue Lingling remarked, ¡°Wow, Master, you look handsome in this outfit.¡±


    ¡°You little flatterer,¡± Qin Hao said playfully.


    Xue Lingling stuck her tongue out playfully, and Xian Yin felt satisfied, smiling softly, ¡°Please sit down, my lord.¡±


    Qin Hao sat down in a chair, and Xian Yin, standing behind him, gently tied his long hair with a jade hairpin, making him look more handsome and heroic.


    After finishing, Xian Yin blushed slightly and said, ¡°How do you like it, my lord?¡±


    Qin Hao looked and nodded with satisfaction. He indeed looked even more handsome than before, particularly with this outfit, which enhanced his demeanor.


    Xue Lingling took out her gift, a brocade bag, ¡°Master, this is the gift I give you, called the Peaceful Brocade Bag. Inside are my blessings for you, Master. Wearing it will make everything go smoothly for you.¡±


    She personally placed it on Qin Hao¡¯s waist, her expression serious yet adorable.


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s pack up and get ready to leave.¡±


    The three tidied up and then left the inn for the Transmission Array in Jiuwu City. Yuxing State, being the county state of Yuxing County, had a vast expanse, almost twice the size of other states.


    He could now only advance city by city via the Transmission Array. Only upon reaching Yuxing County City could he teleport freely within Yuxing County through the array there.


    After hundreds of transmissions, Qin Hao and his companions finally arrived at Yuxing City¡¯s county seat, Yuxing City.


    Yuxing City was enormous, seven or eight times the size of a common city, and it was divided into an inner and outer city.


    They were currently in Yuxing City¡¯s outer city, which was large, occupying about eighty percent of Yuxing City. The remaining twenty percent comprised the inner city.


    Only the noble or expert cultivators could normally reside in the inner city, though spending Spirit Stones could also grant entry.


    Exiting the Transmission Array, Qin Hao said, ¡°The Transmission Array to the northern cities of Yuxing County is in the inner city. Let¡¯s head there first.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, Yuxing City looks so lively today,¡± remarked Xian Yin, gazing around.


    Xue Lingling laughed, ¡°Today is the New Year Festival, and this is the county city, so it¡¯s surely bustling.¡±


    The trio strolled along the street, taking in the lively scenes around them. Shops and inns on both sides hung red lanterns and pasted couplets, filled with festive spirit.


    ¡°Master, Master, let¡¯s buy a little red lantern too?¡± Ling¡¯er suggested, eyeing a stall selling lanterns.


    Qin Hao nodded, leading the two over to buy two small red lanterns from a street stall, spending a low-grade Spirit Stone.


    Walking along the street, Ling¡¯er bounced around happily, ¡°Master, Sister Xian Yin, you both come chase me!¡±


    ¡°Slow down, don¡¯t run around,¡± Qin Hao cautioned as he noticed the crowded street.


    A few minutes later, Ling¡¯er exclaimed, ¡°Oh no!¡± from ahead.


    Qin Hao and Ling¡¯er hurried over, only to find several middle-aged men blocking Ling¡¯er, ¡°Young lady, watch your path. Didn¡¯t you see someone in front of you?¡±


    Xue Lingling retorted, ¡°Clearly you intentionally blocked me.¡±


    ¡°Bumping into us requires paying a price. I see you¡¯re quite pretty; you should fetch a good price. Take her away,¡± said one of the burly middle-aged men.


    Qin Hao and Xian Yin arrived just then, ¡°Stop.¡±

 Chapter 964: 964: The Strong Are Respected

    Chapter 964: Chapter 964: The Strong Are Respected


    The few people looked at Qin Hao and Xian Yin, and when they saw the veiled Xian Yin, their eyes lit up.


    Although Xian Yin was veiled, her figure and demeanor were extraordinary.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t expect there would be two more people, and she looks quite nice.¡± The person looked Xian Yin up and down without restraint.


    Xian Yin¡¯s willow-like eyebrows furrowed slightly, her face frostbitten. She raised her hand and struck out with a powerful Qi Force, and the five burly men across from her instantly fell to the ground, vomiting blood.


    She only intended to teach these people a lesson, not too lightly, nor too heavily.


    Ling¡¯er hurried back to Qin Hao and Xian Yin¡¯s side: ¡°Master, they deliberately blocked my way.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°I know.¡±


    The few people got up from the ground and glared viciously at the three of them: ¡°You dare to hit us, do you know who we are?¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at them and said indifferently, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. Get lost now, or I¡¯ll end you right here.¡±


    When they heard his words, they couldn¡¯t help but shiver. Although Qin Hao¡¯s tone was calm, there was a chilling coldness in it.


    They hesitated for a moment, then turned and ran away into the distance.


    Just now, Xian Yin alone had displayed enough strength. They were not her opponents at all; escaping now was the best choice, and they would deal with them later after bringing reinforcements.


    After they left, Qin Hao and the other two headed towards the inner city. It was about eleven in the morning, and when they reached the gate of the inner city, a team of soldiers was conducting inspections there.


    As the three approached, a soldier stopped them: ¡°Young master, entering the inner city requires registration. Please state your name.¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao.¡±


    The soldier guarding the city felt the name was familiar but couldn¡¯t recall where he had heard it. After registering, he proceeded to register Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er as well.


    After the registration, the three of them paid three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones before entering the inner city.


    Entering the inner city, it was evident it was much more prosperous than the outer city; just looking at the decorations of the shops on both sides of the street and the signboards could tell they weren¡¯t on the same level.


    And you could see that almost everyone walking on the street was dressed in brocade clothes or had an impressive presence.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Let¡¯s first find a place for lunch, try the signature dishes here, and then find a place to stay for a day. We¡¯ll continue the journey tomorrow.¡±


    This suited Xue Lingling perfectly, as today was the New Year Festival, and it would surely be lively at night. They could play for a bit and continue their journey tomorrow.


    Although this was the inner city of Yuxing City, its area was no smaller than a regular city, and it was even larger.


    While they were walking down the street, a group of people approached aggressively from afar, heading towards the city gate.


    The three of them were quite conspicuous, a man and a woman with a child.


    Before the group got too close, they spotted the three: ¡°It¡¯s them; didn¡¯t expect they would come here themselves.¡±


    The group quickly ran over and surrounded the three.


    Tao Bin glared at the three viciously: ¡°There¡¯s a way to heaven you do not walk, but you¡¯ve barged into hell without a gate. How dare you beat people from the Golden Phoenix Building, are you tired of living?¡±


    ¡°Brother Bin, how do you see these two girls? With a bit of training, they might become top performers in our Golden Phoenix Building.¡± One of the men who had been beaten smiled fawningly at Tao Bin.


    Tao Bin looked at Ling¡¯er and Xian Yin, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes: ¡°Not bad. You weren¡¯t lying this time; their appearance is indeed impressive. Take off the veil,¡± he said at last to Xian Yin.


    Xian Yin glanced at him coldly but did not respond.


    Tao Bin sneered: ¡°Ah, quite the fiery temper. But I like conquering women like this because that¡¯s where the thrill is.¡±


    ...


    Those around stopped to watch what was happening.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Tao Bin from the Golden Phoenix Building? He¡¯s snatching female cultivators from out of town again.¡±


    ¡°Alas, the Golden Phoenix Building is backed by the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion. Who dares to provoke them? Being targeted by them means tough luck.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, this isn¡¯t the first time. Just days ago, I saw Tao Bin, relying on his strength and the backing of the Commandery Prince, snatch three female cultivators from out of town, forcing them to become prostitutes in the Golden Phoenix Building.¡±


    ¡°I know those three female cultivators you¡¯re talking about. They¡¯re in the Golden Phoenix Building now. After consuming their drugs, they have no choice but to comply.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity for these two beauties, one big and one little, both exceptional beauties. This time they might fetch a good price.¡±


    ¡°If they really auction off those two beauties, I¡¯ll definitely attend the auction. I won¡¯t want the bigger one, just one night with the little one is enough, more interesting to play.¡±


    ¡°Liu, you have quite an interesting taste.¡±


    ...


    This is a world where people prey upon people, far more brutal than the world Qin Hao came from.


    The weak have no dignity here, and there is virtually no rule of law. Only the strong are entitled to respect and dignity, and the strong¡¯s words are the truth.


    At this moment, Qin Hao deeply realized the cruelty of this world.


    No matter if you¡¯re on the street, as long as you¡¯re weak, you may be humiliated or even killed, and no one will care. Even if you lie dead on the street, no one will bother with you.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes grew colder, like icy blades, exuding a chilling coldness.


    He looked at Tao Bin, and a flash of light swept through his eyes. Suddenly, a Sword Qi appeared, severing Tao Bin¡¯s third leg.


    Screams erupted, and Tao Bin looked down at himself, blood gushing: ¡°You... I¡¯ll have you sliced to pieces.¡±


    ¡°Swish¡±


    The Sword Qi appeared again, this time cutting off one of his arms.


    Everyone from the Golden Phoenix Building was taken aback, and the onlookers were stunned. Damn, this is an expert, definitely an expert.


    Tao Bin looked at Qin Hao with horrified eyes: ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±


    ¡°The one who will kill you.¡± Qin Hao¡¯s gaze was exceptionally fierce; he¡¯d never emanated such killing intent before.


    Tao Bin¡¯s body trembled, and he gritted his teeth against the pain: ¡°I was blind not to recognize Mount Tai. Please, senior, spare my life.¡±


    Qin Hao snorted coldly: ¡°Spare your life? If I were just a powerless person, would you let us go?¡±


    Finishing speaking, a gleam flashed in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes, and a storm of Sword Qi ensued, slicing Tao Bin into several pieces on the spot, terrifying beyond measure.


    The rest from the Golden Phoenix Building were stunned, and the onlookers watched in amazement. Tao Bin, a renowned expert from their building, was instantly killed? What kind of freak is this?


    Qin Hao stepped forward, and instantly a myriad of Sword Qi emerged, weaving through the crowd from the Golden Phoenix Building.


    Screams echoed one after another, and within seconds the street fell silent. Almost thirty people from the Golden Phoenix Building, none survived.


    At this moment, the Patrol Guard of the inner city also arrived, but seeing Qin Hao¡¯s power, they didn¡¯t dare approach.


    Without even glancing at those on the ground, Qin Hao, with Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er, walked further in.

 Chapter 965: 965 Revenge

    Chapter 965: Chapter 965 Revenge


    The onlookers were shocked. Someone actually killed the people from the Golden Phoenix Building in the inner city, truly aggressive and domineering.


    However, although these people are powerful, this is Yuxing City. No matter how strong they are, can they be stronger than the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion?


    The Golden Phoenix Building is backed by the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion. So many people have been killed, how will the Golden Phoenix Building let this go easily?


    Qin Hao and his companions walked for a while and arrived outside a restaurant and inn named the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Qin Hao ordered a secluded courtyard pavilion and some of the restaurant¡¯s signature dishes.


    Inside the secluded courtyard pavilion, Xian Yin looked at Qin Hao and softly asked, ¡°Young master, are you alright?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, just feeling a bit emotional.¡±


    Both Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er felt his change earlier; he seemed colder than usual, and his actions more ruthless.


    ¡°Master, I feel this place is more dangerous than other cities,¡± Ling¡¯er said.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s the same everywhere. As long as you are strong, there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±


    After speaking, Qin Hao opened the Merit Mall to take a look. After killing those people, his merit points had increased a bit, but not much. He was browsing the divine skills and secret techniques.


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er had few divine skills, only the one he gave them. He planned to exchange two more divine skills for them to use.


    Qin Hao looked for a while and selected two divine skills: the Snowflake Immortal Finger and the Seven Apertures Exquisite Steps, one is a finger technique, the other a movement technique, both are top-level divine skills.


    After exchanging these two divine skills, his merit points were almost depleted. He engraved the divine skills into spirit stones and handed them to them: ¡°Inside here are two divine skills, a finger technique, and a movement technique. You should practice them well.¡±


    Neither of them was polite and accepted the spirit stones: ¡°Thank you, master (young master).¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Ling¡¯er, the divine skill Red Luan Silk Hand I taught you last time, you should share it with Xian Yin as well.¡±


    Ling¡¯er giggled and replied, ¡°Master, I already taught it to Sister Xian Yin. Sister Xian Yin is also teaching me how to play the zither, but I can¡¯t learn it.¡±


    ...


    The Golden Phoenix Building.


    The news of Tao Bin and others¡¯ deaths quickly spread back to the Golden Phoenix Building.


    Guo Xiangtian¡¯s face was ashen upon hearing this news: ¡°Someone actually dared to harm my Golden Phoenix Building¡¯s people in Yuxing City. Someone, gather the men and go capture those people.¡±


    ¡°Yes, boss.¡±


    Guo Xiangtian is the owner of the Golden Phoenix Building. He managed to develop the Golden Phoenix Building to its current state by relying on the various female cultivator beauties within it, many of whom were kidnapped from outside, some being former loose cultivators, some being young ladies from small families, and so on.


    After bringing these people to the Golden Phoenix Building and employing good management, the business of the Golden Phoenix Building was booming. Now, the Golden Phoenix Building was arguably the best and most popular brothel in all of Yuxing City, as you could find any kind of beauty here.


    About five to six minutes later, the men were already gathered. Guo Xiangtian rose and walked out of the room.


    In the courtyard stood dozens of men in black, all trained by Guo Xiangtian, and a few experts who were hired at a high price. ¡°Today, someone killed dozens of my Golden Phoenix Building brothers in the inner city. This feud must be avenged by me, Guo Xiangtian, or how can the Golden Phoenix Building hold its head high in Yuxing City?¡±


    One of the experts in the Innate Realm spoke up: ¡°Mr. Guo, it¡¯s said that person¡¯s strength is very strong, Tao Bin and the others were instantly killed by the opponent with no chance to fight back. Tao Bin is also an expert in our Golden Phoenix Building, if we go rashly, it might not be enough to kill them.¡±


    Hearing this, Guo Xiangtian¡¯s expression slightly stiffened: ¡°Is he really that powerful?¡±


    ¡°I personally inquired, that person¡¯s strength is indeed terrifying, and may very well be a Grandmaster Realm expert.¡±


    Guo Xiangtian showed hesitation on his face. If it was really a Grandmaster Realm expert, then it would indeed be difficult to handle, but he couldn¡¯t swallow this anger.


    After hesitating for a moment, he said: ¡°Come in, let¡¯s discuss this matter.¡±


    After speaking, he returned to the room. Inside the room were four beautiful servants who hurried over to support him when they saw him return: ¡°Master, fighting and killing are too dangerous, let the servants handle such matters.¡±


    Four people followed Guo Xiangtian inside. They were the four major experts of the Golden Phoenix Building, with strengths ranging from late to mid-Innate Realm stages.


    While they were working in the Golden Phoenix Building, they not only enjoyed a large amount of cultivation resources but were also served by different beauties every night, living comfortably.


    Of course, they also knew their duties; they definitely had to solve problems for Guo Xiangtian, or else why would Guo Xiangtian provide for them.


    Guo Xiangtian is not only not stupid but also very clever, and his strength is also terrifying; he is already a Grandmaster Realm expert.


    Sitting amidst the beauties, he looked at the four people and asked: ¡°How do you think we should solve this issue?¡±


    One of them spoke up: ¡°We don¡¯t know the exact strength of that person, but guessing they might be at the Grandmaster Realm, acting rashly is likely to take a loss. It might be better to let the soldiers of Yulan City capture them; those people causing carnage in the inner city have already violated city regulations.¡±


    Guo Xiangtian nodded slightly: ¡°Indeed, if he dares to resist Yuxing City¡¯s Patrol Guard, then he is declaring war on the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, challenging the dignity of the Skyfire Dynasty.¡±


    After thinking it over, he showed a cold smile, took out a transmission jade stone, and informed the command of Yuxing City¡¯s inner Patrol Guard.


    This commander often came to play at the Golden Phoenix Building and had a good relationship with him. After I¡¯ve supported you for so long, it¡¯s time you do something for me.


    After hanging up the communication jade stone, Guo Xiangtian said: ¡°Mr. Wang will go shortly to capture those three people. We can just wait.¡±


    ...


    Inside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Qin Hao and his companions were having lunch: ¡°Ling¡¯er, this is roast celestial goose, try some.¡±


    ¡°Master, you should eat too. The food here is really quite delicious,¡± Ling¡¯er said with a smile.


    The signature dishes of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion were quite impressive, with dishes made from things that fly, run, and swim, all of which were exquisite.


    Qin Hao was also eating with great relish; no wonder it¡¯s a major restaurant in the county capital; the culinary skills were indeed excellent.


    Just as they were about to finish their lunch, a group of Yuxing City¡¯s Patrol Guards arrived outside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, numbering in the hundreds.


    The owner of the restaurant and the people inside were stunned: what was going on?


    Could it be that the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion wanted to take action against the Drunken Immortal Pavilion?


    The Drunken Immortal Pavilion wasn¡¯t an ordinary restaurant; it¡¯s said to be backed by the Ziyang Sect of Yuxing County, which was a major sect in the county, not to be underestimated.


    Anyone who could open a restaurant or shop in this inner city was not an ordinary person, they either had connections, background, or were themselves experts.


    Wang Danyuan walked into the restaurant, his tone lacking its usual arrogance, with an official air: ¡°Mr. Liu, did three people just check into your inn? One man, one woman, and a little girl?¡±


    Mr. Liu responded: ¡°That¡¯s right, Mr. Wang, what do you mean by bringing so many people to my Drunken Immortal Pavilion?¡±

 Chapter 966: 966: Flattening the Golden Phoenix Building

    Chapter 966: Chapter 966: Flattening the Golden Phoenix Building


    Wang Danyuan explained, ¡°Mr. Liu, don¡¯t misunderstand. Those three people just committed murder in broad daylight, killing nearly thirty people from the Golden Phoenix Building. I am here to take them back for investigation, to give an explanation to the deceased and to the Golden Phoenix Building.¡±


    Liu Zhong from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion instantly understood what was going on; he frequently stayed in Yuxing City and was very familiar with the background relations within the inner city.


    Those three must have offended the Golden Phoenix Building, and now it¡¯s using official means to retaliate against them.


    Liu Zhong wouldn¡¯t meddle in such matters since it had nothing to do with his Drunken Immortal Pavilion.


    He said, ¡°They¡¯re inside. However, I hope, Mr. Wang, that you don¡¯t make too much commotion.¡±


    Wang Danyuan nodded, ¡°Alright, Mr. Liu, we¡¯ll just take them back.¡±


    With that, he turned to the soldiers behind him and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, get in and arrest them.¡±


    A large group of soldiers entered the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, heading to the back, where there were several standalone courtyard pavilions.


    Qin Hao and the other two were staying in courtyard number eight, and Wang Danyuan led the soldiers to instantly surround it completely.


    There were many guests in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, and such a scene was quite rare, attracting the attention of many who were watching from a distance.


    Inside the pavilion, Qin Hao and the other two also sensed the situation outside, and Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er hurriedly looked at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression was calm, without any change, still eating his lunch indifferently.


    At this time, Wang Danyuan¡¯s voice sounded outside, ¡°Listen up inside, I am Wang Danyuan, the commander of the Yuxing City Inner Guard. You are suspected of murder, please come with us.¡±


    There was no response from inside, Wang Danyuan frowned slightly, turned to glance at a few people beside him, signaling them to take a look inside.


    Four soldiers exchanged glances and entered the courtyard. As soon as they stepped in, there was a whistling sound, and the four screamed as they flew back, their bodies landing heavily on the ground. Upon turning around, each had a chopstick buried in their forehead, piercing through their steel helmets and into their brains.


    Wang Danyuan¡¯s pupils contracted, shock appearing on his face. He hadn¡¯t even seen what it was just now because it happened too quickly, so fast they had no time to react. If that chopstick had been aimed at him, what would the outcome be?


    Thinking of this, cold sweat rose on Wang Danyuan¡¯s back.


    Guo Xiangtian indeed brought trouble; this is a master for sure, at least a Grandmaster Realm expert.


    What should be done now?


    At this moment, retreat was no longer an option. He now represented Yuxing City and the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, and if he retreated out of fear, it would be a disgrace to the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, and Guo Xiangtian would also have nothing to report back.


    His brain spun rapidly, and a few seconds later, he spoke, ¡°Listen up inside, we are the Yuxing City Guard, under the command of the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion. You have violated the city¡¯s regulations, please come with us. If you resist, you will offend the entire Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion.¡±


    He had no choice but to bring out the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, believing it could suppress Qin Hao.


    If Qin Hao really was a Grandmaster Realm expert, he was still nothing more than an ant before the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, not worth mentioning.


    Qin Hao¡¯s voice came from inside the pavilion, ¡°Don¡¯t use the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion to pressure me. I know you are standing up for the Golden Phoenix Building. When the Golden Phoenix Building captured dozens of us, why didn¡¯t you dare come out? Now that the Golden Phoenix Building has suffered losses, you want to arrest us. Leave now and you can still save your life, otherwise, none of you will be spared.¡±


    His words were full of killing intent, sinister and frightening, making the people around feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave.


    The onlookers were also shocked by Qin Hao¡¯s words. These were not mere family guards, but soldiers under the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, and none will be spared; where does that leave the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion¡¯s face?


    This person is truly arrogant. The power of the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion is unfathomable, and even the sects in Yuxing County wouldn¡¯t dare to be arrogant before the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, let alone you, a mere individual.


    Hearing his words, Wang Danyuan replied, ¡°How dare you, not give face to the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion!¡±


    ¡°Do I need to give face to the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion?¡± Qin Hao retorted disdainfully.


    With these words, a commotion arose; he was too arrogant, even disregarding the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion. Even if he¡¯s a Grandmaster Realm expert, he cannot escape death.


    Wang Danyuan was also infuriated by his words, ¡°Such audacity, the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion is not yours to insult, you deserve to die.¡±


    Qin Hao flew out of the pavilion, standing in mid-air, finally revealing his face to the crowd. He was a young man, about twenty-four or twenty-five, dressed in black robes, with a bright gaze and an extraordinary aura.


    He coldly glanced at Wang Danyuan and the others, ¡°Deserve to die? Indeed, deserve to die.¡± With that, his body spun in the air, and sword qi rained down like a storm.


    ¡°Hiss hiss hiss¡±


    ¡°Ah ah ah¡±


    In an instant, Wang Danyuan and others were enveloped by sword qi, like a torrential rain, terrifying, and many immediately summoned spiritual energy to resist.


    Some could not resist at all and were cut into pieces by the sword qi on the spot, while others struggled to hold on.


    Liu Zhong and the guests in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion all watched, stunned by the terrifying sword qi released by Qin Hao. This person was a master of the Sword Dao.


    Cries of agony echoed within the Drunken Immortal Pavilion; those strong enough could hold on for a few more seconds, while the weaker ones died instantly.


    Dozens of seconds later, there was barely any sound left below; Wang Danyuan and most of the soldiers he brought were all dead, except for a few fortunate ones near the entrance of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.


    Seeing the desolate Chang Jing like a scene from hell, they were terrified, turned around, and fled.


    Qin Hao did not chase them; he needed some to spread the word. He surveyed the surroundings from above, ¡°Tonight, we shall flatten the Golden Phoenix Building.¡±


    His voice was clear and loud, spreading across the entire Drunken Immortal Pavilion, and the fleeing soldiers heard it too, fleeing even faster.


    This person actually said he would destroy the Golden Phoenix Building; who on earth was he? How could he be so frightening?


    Didn¡¯t he know the Golden Phoenix Building¡¯s background, yet dared to openly declare its destruction?


    The people in the tavern were also stunned by his words, wondering what kind of person he was; could he be an elder from some major sect?


    After speaking, Qin Hao returned to the courtyard pavilion, leaving Liu Zhong and the others exchanging glances.


    A waiter whispered to Liu Zhong, ¡°Boss, how should we handle the bodies?¡±


    ¡°Clean them up,¡± Liu Zhong instructed.


    The waiter asked, ¡°Then... Should we ask the guests in that courtyard to leave?¡±


    Liu Zhong turned to him, ¡°If you have the guts, go ahead.¡±


    The waiter hurriedly shook his head, having witnessed the terrifying scene just moments ago, he wouldn¡¯t dare to utter such words even with a hundred lives.


    The events at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion quickly reached Guo Xiangtian at the Golden Phoenix Building, and also the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion.

 Chapter 967: 967: Xian Yin Takes Action

    Chapter 967: Chapter 967: Xian Yin Takes Action


    The news that someone was going to level the Golden Phoenix Building tonight spread throughout the inner city at an extremely fast pace.


    The main reason was that Guo Xiangtian had offended many people in the inner city by relying on the Commandery Prince¡¯s residence, with some people fanning the flames behind the scenes.


    After this news spread across the inner city, it caused quite a sensation.


    Someone wants to level the Golden Phoenix Building? What does that mean for the Commandery Prince¡¯s residence? Who in Yulan City doesn¡¯t know the Golden Phoenix Building relies on the Commandery Prince¡¯s residence?


    Guo Xiangtian of the Golden Phoenix Building is the brother-in-law of the Princely Heir Gao Youwei, and surely Gao Youwei will go to help at the Golden Phoenix Building tonight.


    The Princely Heir Gao Youwei most favors Guo Jingjing, and because of this affection, he also treats Guo Xiangtian quite well.


    There was a lot of chatter in the city, talking about all sorts of things.


    Many people were waiting for the night to come; since that person dared to spread word about leveling the Golden Phoenix Building, he should also dare to go, and surely there will be a good show to watch by then.


    Many people were also speculating about who this mysterious expert could be, which sect he might be from, and how he dares not acknowledge the Commandery Prince¡¯s residence.


    Inside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.


    Qin Hao returned to the pavilion, and Xian Yin asked worriedly: ¡°Young Master, are you really going to level the Golden Phoenix Building tonight?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°If I don¡¯t level the Golden Phoenix Building, how will these people recognize my strength? Isn¡¯t it that strength rules here? Today, I¡¯ll let them feel what it¡¯s like to be weak.¡±


    Ling¡¯er spoke up: ¡°Master, I support you. These bad people should be punished.¡±


    ¡°Young Master, shall I investigate the background of the Golden Phoenix Building?¡± Xian Yin suggested.


    Qin Hao shook his head: ¡°No need, the background of the Golden Phoenix Building should be the Commandery Prince¡¯s residence. So what if it is? If the Commandery Prince¡¯s people dare to show up tonight, I will kill without hesitation.¡±


    The strongest in the Commandery Prince¡¯s residence should be the Commandery Prince himself, an Early Stage of Heavenly Human Realm expert.


    Throughout the Skyfire Dynasty, there are approximately dozens of commands; the lowest level Commandery Prince in each is typically at the Early Stage of Heavenly Human Realm, with few at the Mid Stage, and almost none at the Late Stage.


    At this stage, advancing even one minor level is challenging, requiring not only a large amount of training resources but also breaking through the barriers of the realm, which demands extremely high talent.


    Even though Early Stage Heavenly Human Realm experts are very strong, Qin Hao was undaunted; without having had a duel, no one knows who would live or die, and even if things don¡¯t go well at the end, Qin Hao could use the space mecha to escape.


    In the afternoon, Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er pondered new Divine Skills, while Qin Hao meditated and adjusted his state.


    Time passed bit by bit until it was soon half-past six in the evening, and the sky was gradually darkening.


    Qin Hao opened his eyes and called for the shopkeeper of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, who came in reverently and without a trace of disrespect: ¡°Young Master, you called for me?¡±


    ¡°Bring out all your signature dishes,¡± Qin Hao instructed.


    The shopkeeper hurriedly nodded: ¡°Yes, Young Master, please wait a moment.¡± Saying this, he hurried off to arrange everything.


    As he left the courtyard, he felt a bit speechless; this guy still had the mind to eat dinner, and didn¡¯t he think about the battle tonight? Or maybe he never intended to go?


    Several minutes later, the dishes were served, at which point Ling¡¯er and Xian Yin also came down from upstairs.


    ¡°Wow, it smells so good! Master, if we keep eating like this, I don¡¯t want to leave here,¡± Ling¡¯er said with a smile, sitting next to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to leave, then Master will let you stay here.¡±


    Ling¡¯er¡¯s expression immediately turned anxious upon hearing this, and she clutched Qin Hao¡¯s arm: ¡°Master, don¡¯t leave Ling¡¯er behind.¡±


    Though she knew Qin Hao¡¯s tone was joking, her heart still trembled.


    Qin Hao saw her eyes instantly redden and, smiling, said, ¡°Master is joking; it¡¯s okay, Master won¡¯t leave you, let¡¯s eat.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± Ling¡¯er obediently nodded, sitting there to start eating.


    Xian Yin wore a gentle smile on her face, elegantly picking up her chopsticks to eat dinner.


    At seven in the evening, the three of them finished their dinner, and Qin Hao said: ¡°Let¡¯s go, to the Golden Phoenix Building.¡±


    ...


    The three walked out of the courtyard; many in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion were waiting for Qin Hao to come out, and upon seeing Qin Hao and the others emerge, the surrounding people perked up¡ªwas it finally time?


    Qin Hao, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er left the Drunken Immortal Pavilion and walked toward the Golden Phoenix Building.


    The Golden Phoenix Building was not very far from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, and after about twenty minutes, the three of them slowly reached outside the Golden Phoenix Building.


    Immediately upon arriving, Qin Hao noticed a faint fragrance emanating from inside the Golden Phoenix Building.


    On a usual day, the Golden Phoenix Building would be crowded by now, but today, it wasn¡¯t open for business. Despite this, there were at least thousands of onlookers surrounding the Golden Phoenix Building.


    When Qin Hao had just left the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the people here received the news.


    They had been waiting for Qin Hao¡¯s arrival and hadn¡¯t expected it would take him over twenty minutes to walk here.


    On the street, Qin Hao looked up at the plaque of the Golden Phoenix Building, with its three gilded characters sparkling brilliantly.


    With a wave of his right sleeve, the gilt plaque of the Golden Phoenix Building fell from above, breaking in two: ¡°The people of the Golden Phoenix Building, come out and meet your death.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s resonant voice echoed throughout the entire Golden Phoenix Building.


    The doors of the Golden Phoenix Building opened from the inside, and a group of enforcers from the Golden Phoenix Building ran out, with Guo Xiangtian walking out at the end. Clasping two young beauties with each hand, he appeared completely unfazed.


    Upon arriving outside, Guo Xiangtian noticed Xian Yin and Xue Lingling, and his eyes lit up: ¡°Kid, these two beauties beside you are nice. Offer them to me, and then serve under me obediently; I promise you won¡¯t be mistreated.¡±


    Qin Hao coldly laughed repeatedly: ¡°You don¡¯t even qualify to carry my shoes, and it¡¯s just you today? Where are the people behind you? Bring them out together.¡±


    Guo Xiangtian: ¡°To deal with you, there¡¯s no need for anyone else, just a mere Later Stage Innate level? I thought you were a Grandmaster Realm expert, ha!¡±


    People around were dumbfounded: Later Stage Innate? He dared boast about leveling the Golden Phoenix Building at such a level?


    ¡°Not possible? Just Later Stage Innate? I thought he was a Later Stage Grandmaster Realm expert.¡±


    ¡°What the hell, he was pulling my leg. Damn it, I thought there was a great show to watch but turned out he¡¯s just Later Stage Innate?¡±


    ¡°Damn, wasted my enthusiasm for nothing, that young man really knows how to pretend.¡±


    ¡°True, he¡¯s making Later Stage Innate strength look like Heavenly Human Realm level.¡±


    ¡°Does this kid not know the capabilities of the Golden Phoenix Building? Guo Xiangtian himself is an Early Stage Grandmaster Realm expert, reportedly secretly training several Grandmaster Realm experts.¡±


    ¡°What? Secretly training several Grandmaster Realm experts? Really?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll know the truth in a bit.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao turned to Xian Yin and said: ¡°Xian Yin, leave him, kill the others.¡±


    Xian Yin nodded, rose into the air, wielding an ancient zither. Her presence was exquisite and captivating, like a celestial being coming down to earth, dazzlingly beautiful, causing everyone present to stare in wide-eyed amazement.

 Chapter 968: 968: Stunning Everyone

    Chapter 968: Chapter 968: Stunning Everyone


    So beautiful, beautiful enough to shock, beautiful enough to take one¡¯s breath away.


    The most captivating thing about Xian Yin is her aura, extraordinary and refined, graceful and elegant, with every move so enchanting.


    Even Guo Xiangtian and the others were entranced, while the two young beauties beside him showed a look of jealousy.


    Seated in mid-air, Xian Yin had a guqin before her, and her slender and long jade fingers began to play on the instrument.


    ¡°Zheng zheng zheng¡±


    Suddenly, the street was filled with intertwining sword light and blade shadows, and Guo Xiangtian¡¯s men were caught off guard, slaughtered by those gleams.


    She is now at the Late Stage Innate Realm, advancing very quickly, and with the cultivation of the Burning Moon Immortal Scripture, her divine skills are of the highest grade, granting immense power.


    Although there were several experts at the Late Stage of the Innate Realm among them, their real combat power was far inferior.


    In less than a minute, the music stopped, leaving Guo Xiangtian with only the two young beauties, with everyone else slain by Xian Yin.


    Guo Xiangtian and the onlookers were shocked; such powerful combat ability, killing more than thirty people in less than a minute, including several experts of the same level.


    Guo Xiangtian: ¡°Beauty, I will give you one more chance to choose, willingly follow me, and you will enjoy endless wealth and glory, but if I capture you alive and enslave you, I will make your life a living hell.¡±


    Xian Yin¡¯s expression remained cold, her beautiful eyes looking at him indifferently: ¡°A worthless thing like you is unworthy to stand beside me.¡±


    Guo Xiangtian¡¯s face darkened upon hearing her words; when had he ever been insulted by a woman like this: ¡°Fine, very well, capture her.¡±


    As his words fell, a figure flew out from within the Golden Phoenix Building, rushing towards Xian Yin in mid-air.


    ¡°This is an Early Stage Grandmaster Realm expert, I did not expect the Golden Phoenix Building to really have a Grandmaster-level expert; Guo Xiangtian hid it deep.¡±


    ¡°These two young people with a child dared to say they would flatten the Golden Phoenix Building, it really seems ignorant and ridiculous now.¡±


    ¡°Guo Xiangtian doesn¡¯t even need to take action himself; a Grandmaster Realm expert is enough to handle them.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already imagined the outcome, the man will be killed, and the two beautiful women, large and small, will be captured alive and enslaved for Guo Xiangtian¡¯s pleasure.¡±


    ¡°Ha-ha, this is the consequence of ignorance and arrogance.¡±


    ...


    The figure in the air revealed itself, a middle-aged man, an expert at the Early Stage of the Grandmaster Realm.


    He charged directly toward Xian Yin, intending to capture her alive with absolute speed.


    Xian Yin¡¯s expression did not change; she used the newly learned Seven Apertures Exquisite Steps, and while she had just started learning this divine skill, she had already grasped the basics.


    Her steps were mysterious, with each step she moved far, with the second step, her figure appeared in another position; her speed was dazzling.


    Xian Yin simultaneously executed the Seven Apertures Exquisite Steps while playing the guqin in her hands, generating over a dozen powerful sword qi along with the rhythm, slashing toward the middle-aged man.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    The middle-aged man raised his sword to block, brilliant light shone, and spiritual energy surged.


    Clashing with Xian Yin repeatedly, the middle-aged man¡¯s expression changed drastically as he could clearly feel the power of the sword qi.


    After blocking three sword qi, the powerful attack force sent the middle-aged man flying backward, and several other sword qi followed closely.


    ¡°Crack¡±


    The treasured sword in the middle-aged man¡¯s hand was shattered, while other sword qi directly penetrated his body.


    ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡±


    Chunks of flesh fell from the air, blood dripping, terrifying beyond measure.


    Guo Xiangtian and the onlookers were dumbfounded; could it be that an Early Stage Grandmaster Realm expert was just slain in a single exchange? How is that possible? How could a mere woman be so strong?


    The crowd was dumbfounded, their eyes staring blankly at Xian Yin in the air, who, at the Late Stage Innate Realm, could kill an Early Stage Grandmaster Realm expert, showcasing overwhelming combat power.


    Many glanced at Qin Hao; with the woman beside him being so powerful, how strong must he be?


    Just who is he?


    Guo Xiangtian¡¯s face became tense: ¡°All together now, if we can¡¯t capture her alive, kill her.¡±


    Three figures flew out from the Golden Phoenix Building, immediately unleashing fierce techniques, with sword light piercing the air, slashing toward Xian Yin.


    Using her movement technique, Xian Yin evaded the sword light, while playing the guqin, sword qi surged, enveloping the three people.


    In an instant, the three were forced into defense, intending to launch a strong attack, but as Xian Yin¡¯s playing speed increased, the sword qi grew more numerous and powerful.


    Xian Yin¡¯s form flickered incessantly in the air, swift as lightning, the music continuous, with sword qi, blade shadows, and spear images emerging one after another, attacking the three.


    Her music revealed a sense of fierce battles, a scene of fighting fearlessly, as if taking one back to the ancient battlefield.


    Human ancestors battled powerful monsters, fighting fearlessly for the entire human race, battling to the last ounce of strength, making one¡¯s heart mournful, resonating with them.


    ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡±


    At that moment, the sound of blades piercing bodies suddenly resonated; the three major Early Stage Grandmaster Realm experts from the Golden Phoenix Building were slain by the music, dying with wide eyes, unable to believe it.


    Guo Xiangtian and the onlookers snapped back to reality, their eyes shocked as they looked at Xian Yin.


    Her music not only conjured sword qi, blade shadows, and spear images but also affected the combatants¡¯ minds, causing distractions and exposing flaws, leading to their death.


    How terrifying, they had never heard of such attack means, and today was their first time seeing it.


    At this moment, besides those courtesans, Guo Xiangtian was the only one left within the Golden Phoenix Building.


    Xian Yin descended from the air, standing beside Qin Hao, exuding a graceful and ethereal aura.


    Qin Hao looked at Guo Xiangtian and said in a calm tone: ¡°Whatever means you have left, feel free to use them.¡±


    Guo Xiangtian¡¯s face was somewhat embarrassed; four Grandmaster Realm experts were slain, even if he personally fought, he could not be sure of defeating Xian Yin.


    Moreover, judging by Xian Yin¡¯s demeanor, it seemed she regarded that man as her leader, and if she was so strong, how powerful would that man be?


    He hesitated as he looked at Qin Hao: ¡°Do you know my relationship with the Commandery Prince¡¯s residence?¡±


    Qin Hao, upon hearing his words, realized he was at his wit¡¯s end: ¡°You are nothing more than the Commandery Prince¡¯s illegitimate son, today, you will undoubtedly die.¡±


    The onlookers were in an uproar: ¡°Such arrogance!¡±


    ¡°Not even putting the Commandery Prince in his eyes, he must be someone significant?¡±


    ¡°They seem like disciples from a major sect of the dynasty, if they really are, why not reveal their identity?¡±


    ¡°If they truly are major sect disciples, their cultivation techniques and divine skills should be familiar, but the techniques and skills that man used just now don¡¯t belong to any sect.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Guo Xiangtian sneered: ¡°The nerve you have, repeatedly insulting the Commandery Prince¡¯s residence, what do you think you are? Taste my sword.¡±


    He lunged forward, a long sword appearing in his hand, unleashing his Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm power.


    Qin Hao¡¯s figure vanished from his original spot.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    A muffled collision sound ensued, and Guo Xiangtian found himself flying back faster than before.

 Chapter 969: 969 Princely Heir of the Commandery Princes Mansion

    Chapter 969: Chapter 969 Princely Heir of the Commandery Prince¡¯s Mansion


    Qin Hao dashed forward, a metallic long sword appeared in his hand, and in the blink of an eye, he caught up with the flying Guo Xiangtian.


    Before the sword could fall, a voice came from afar: ¡°Stop.¡±


    Qin Hao snorted coldly, the metallic long sword fell, leaving Guo Xiangtian decapitated, lifeless.


    At that moment, a beast carriage soared in the distant night sky, two Red Fire Fierce Lion Beasts instantly arriving above the Golden Phoenix Building, carrying a young and handsome man on a luxurious carriage.


    Seeing Guo Xiangtian¡¯s corpse on the ground, he slightly frowned: ¡°You have a lot of nerve.¡±


    Those around, seeing the man on the carriage, looked shocked: ¡°Is that the Princely Heir from the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, Gao Youwei?¡±


    ¡°He actually came! Is he here to avenge Guo Xiangtian?¡±


    ¡°The son of the Commandery Prince, he is essentially second only to one in all of Yuxing County, and no one dares to offend the son of the Commandery Prince.¡±


    ¡°Gao Youwei is a once-in-a-century prodigy of the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, it¡¯s said he¡¯s now in the Late Stage of the Grandmaster Realm, his combat power terrifying beyond measure.¡±


    ¡°I saw it with my own eyes back then, Gao Youwei slaughtered a beast in the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, one must know beasts of the same realm have formidable combat abilities, at the very least comparable to cultivators at the Peak of Grandmaster Realm.¡±


    ¡°The current young generation in the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion has many talents, Gao Youwei doesn¡¯t even dare claim to be the top genius among them.¡±


    There was a lot of chatter among the crowd, all eyes on Gao Youwei in the luxurious carriage mid-air, only twenty years old and already at the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, with a high chance of surpassing the current Commandery Prince, becoming a superior warrior in the future.


    Qin Hao looked at him and said calmly: ¡°Who the hell are you? You think I¡¯ll stop just because you say so?¡±


    Arrogant, bold, domineering, powerful!


    This was everyone¡¯s impression of Qin Hao, now facing the Princely Heir without a trace of fear, becoming even more domineering, just where did this reckless man come from?


    Gao Youwei looked down from the air at Qin Hao and the others below: ¡°Qin Hao, I know your combat strength is formidable, you have killed several Grandmaster Realm experts, including those in the Late Stage, but this is the Commandery Capital, the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion.¡±


    The crowd was shocked at Gao Youwei¡¯s words, what did he call this person? Qin Hao? Why does the name sound so familiar?


    ¡°I remember, I know who he is.¡± Suddenly someone in the crowd shouted loudly.


    ¡°He¡¯s the one who killed the governor of Jiangping State, destroyed the Red Cloud Sect, and silenced the Bi Yu Sect¡ªQin Hao.¡±


    ¡°Damn, so he¡¯s that Qin Hao??¡±


    ¡°No wonder he dares proclaim to level Golden Phoenix Building, others aren¡¯t qualified, but he is!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s Qin Hao, no wonder he¡¯s so fierce and overbearing, even the Bi Yu Sect remains silent under his pressure, let alone the mere Golden Phoenix Building, although it¡¯s related to the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, it¡¯s not directly part of it, just some connection.¡±


    ¡°The Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion probably doesn¡¯t want to offend a powerful figure like Qin Hao either; if he grows stronger, the future will be terrifying.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao spoke calmly: ¡°So what if this is the Commandery Capital, so what if it¡¯s the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion? If people don¡¯t invade me, I won¡¯t invade them. If you want to avenge Golden Phoenix Building, then come down and fight.¡±


    Gao Youwei smiled lightly: ¡°Such people have no eyes; dying serves them right. I¡¯ve helped him plenty, considered benevolent, but I¡¯ve heard your combat strength is formidable, tonight I want to witness it myself.¡±


    After speaking, he flew down from the luxurious carriage, landing on the ground to stand opposite Qin Hao.


    The crowd saw Gao Youwei¡¯s movement, feeling exhilarated, the young genius of the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion was going to fight Qin Hao? This would undoubtedly be spectacular.


    One is the famed Qin Hao, the other a young genius of the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, both fiery as they confront each other, a showdown of young prodigies.


    ¡°Who do you think will win in the end?¡± Someone asked softly.


    ¡°That¡¯s hard to say, although Qin Hao is only in the Innate Realm¡¯s Late Stage, his combat strength is terrifying, having slain Late Stage Grandmaster Realm experts.¡±


    ¡°I think the Princely Heir Gao Youwei has a better chance, he¡¯s in the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, trained for years by the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, his cultivation techniques and divine skills are far superior to those of the same realm, his combat strength must be even more frightening, not something ordinary Late Stage Grandmaster experts can match.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, I also think Gao Youwei has a bigger chance of winning, his combat strength is certainly beyond a typical Late Stage Grandmaster expert.¡±


    ¡°Qin Hao is just a loose cultivator, hasn¡¯t undergone focused training by a sect or family, his combat abilities are limited.¡±


    Qin Hao could sense the surging spiritual energy within Gao Youwei, speaking calmly: ¡°If you wish to fight, then let¡¯s fight, I too want to experience the strength of the Commandery Prince¡¯s son.¡±


    Gao Youwei revealed a smile, assuming a stance: ¡°Let me see if you truly are as formidable as the rumors say.¡±


    Qin Hao simply stood there: ¡°Come on, make your move first, otherwise you won¡¯t have the chance.¡±


    ¡°What bold words.¡± Gao Youwei snorted coldly, a long spear appearing in his hand, the tip flashing with thunder¡ªit was his magical weapon, the Thunder Gun.


    ¡°Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡±


    The long spear in her hand brandished, blue spear glows imbued with thundering power roared at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao remained unmoved, suddenly, sword qi surrounded his body, forming a protective sword qi, terrifying.


    ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡±


    The spear glow collided with the invisible sword qi, dissipating immediately, unable to break through the sword qi defense.


    Seeing this, Gao Youwei frowned slightly, such strong protective sword qi, this person¡¯s mastery over sword qi is truly frightening.


    I, at the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, haven¡¯t mastered spear intent, yet he, merely in the Innate Realm¡¯s Late Stage, has grasped a touch of sword intent.


    ¡°Lightning First Appears¡±


    Gao Youwei flew into the air, the Thunder Gun pointed at Qin Hao, a spear glow swift as lightning, flashing violet, rushing at Qin Hao, more potent than the previous spear glow.


    Qin Hao waved his arm, several sword qis met the spear glow head-on, dispersing it mid-path, the momentum unyielding, slashing, stabbing, chopping toward Gao Youwei.


    Gao Youwei¡¯s expression changed slightly, swinging the long spear, shouting: ¡°Thunder Moves in Nine Heavens.¡±


    This was the second form of the Thunderbolt Spear Skill, more potent, more terrifying, immediately followed by the third form of the Thunderbolt Spear Skill, ¡°Thunderbolt Across the Sky.¡±


    The sword qi was shattered, the spear glow assaulted again.


    Both sides exchanged blows fiercely, neither yielding.


    ¡°Is this all you¡¯ve got?¡± Qin Hao sneered, his tone somewhat disdainful.


    Gao Youwei¡¯s face turned red, he, a Late Stage Grandmaster Realm expert, facing Qin Hao, an Innate Realm cultivator, could not achieve an overwhelming advantage, this was a massive humiliation for him.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s finish this.¡±


    With that, countless sword qis erupted from Qin Hao¡¯s body, rushing at Gao Youwei, filling the entire starry sky, stars dimmed, the sun and moon veiled, the scene was terrifying.


    ¡°Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡±


    Countless sword qis bore whistling sounds of piercing through space, vanishing in an instant.


    Gao Youwei¡¯s face was extremely grave, the Thunder Gun wielded to the limit, the Thunderbolt Spear Skill was demonstrated to its fullest, in less than a second, he unleashed all six forms of the Thunderbolt Spear Skill.

 Chapter 970: 970: Invitation from the Commandery Princes Residence

    Chapter 970: Chapter 970: Invitation from the Commandery Prince¡¯s Residence


    Spear lights were everywhere, radiant and bright.


    Gao Youwei had been practicing the Thunderbolt Spear Skill since childhood, and his understanding of it was very deep. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to execute six moves of the Thunderbolt Spear Skill in less than a second.


    Thousands of Sword Qi collided with six radiant spear lights as bright as small suns.


    An intangible wave of energy rippled out, causing the buildings below to collapse under the pressure.


    The Sword Qi dissipated, and the spear lights dimmed.


    After a dozen seconds, the spear lights faded away, but Qin Hao¡¯s Sword Qi still remained, all striking Gao Youwei¡¯s body.


    Light radiated from Gao Youwei¡¯s body as his protective artifact activated. Despite the powerful protective artifact, he could barely hold on, spitting blood, his figure trembling in mid-air.


    Qin Hao focused his index and middle fingers, slicing through the air with one hand, creating a Sword Qi of more than ten zhang in length out of thin air, aiming to slash Gao Youwei¡¯s head.


    Gao Youwei¡¯s face changed dramatically. He was severely injured internally, completely powerless to counter, only able to watch helplessly as the Sword Qi soared towards him.


    He was unwilling and incredulous, how did he lose so quickly? I am in the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, and he¡¯s just in the Late Postnatal Realm.


    The onlookers were equally shocked, Gao Youwei lost? He lost so quickly, the battle hadn¡¯t even lasted a few minutes, and he¡¯s defeated, isn¡¯t this Qin Hao too abnormal?


    Seeing the Sword Qi Qin Hao unleashed, many people¡¯s expressions changed, was he going to kill the princely heir Gao Youwei?


    This is too fierce, wasn¡¯t he afraid of angering the Commandery Prince?


    Although Qin Hao hadn¡¯t broken through in cultivation, his understanding of Sword Intent and Divine Skills had deepened compared to before, and his combat power was incomparable.


    Just as the Sword Qi was about to reach Gao Youwei, a streak of light shot from the distant night sky, scattering Qin Hao¡¯s Sword Qi.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, let this matter end here,¡± a voice came from afar, slow and calm yet exuding authority.


    Qin Hao narrowed his eyes slightly, showing a grave expression. This person is a master, a very powerful master; could it be the Commandery Prince of Yuxing County?


    The onlookers heard this voice and were startled, ¡°Is this the Commandery Prince of Yuxing County¡¯s voice?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s the Commandery Prince¡¯s voice. If it weren¡¯t for his intervention, Gao Youwei would surely have died.¡±


    ¡°Unexpectedly, even the Commandery Prince intervened in the end; Qin Hao is truly terrifying, and it seems he hasn¡¯t used his full strength yet, his combat power is incredibly frightening.¡±


    ¡°How is it that he is so strong being in the same Innate Realm?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this unfair, is he the heavens¡¯ favored child?¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao looked at the distant night sky and said indifferently, ¡°Today I will give face to the Commandery Prince, but next time, don¡¯t blame me for being merciless.¡±


    Arrogant, conceited, domineering...


    His words completely elevated his status to the same level as the Commandery Prince.


    The Commandery Prince was silent for a few seconds, then spoke, ¡°Good!¡±


    His reply made everyone incredulous, since when was the Commandery Prince so agreeable? Moreover, his reply implied he regarded Qin Hao as an equal.


    Could his combat power rival the legendary Heavenly Human Realm masters?


    Many looked at Qin Hao with disbelief; is he really that terrifying?


    At that moment, a wave of energy came from the distant night sky, instantly sweeping away Gao Youwei in mid-air, disappearing from everyone¡¯s sight.


    Qin Hao glanced at the ruin of the Golden Phoenix Building, then turned and left with Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er.


    ...


    In the lounge of the Commandery Prince Mansion, Gao Youwei had been brought back by his father.


    Gao Youwei looked at his father and spoke with his head lowered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, father, for disappointing you.¡±


    Gao Yuan looked at him and said, ¡°Even if I fought him, I wouldn¡¯t be certain of victory; this person is too strange.¡±


    Gao Youwei was shocked, ¡°Father, you are a Heavenly Human Realm master, even facing him you lack certain victory?¡±


    Gao Yuan: ¡°Only seventy percent certain, no guarantee of victory. Don¡¯t provoke such a person.¡±


    Gao Youwei nodded, the shock in his heart indescribable, even his father wasn¡¯t certain of victory, how could he be so formidable?


    Drunken Immortal Pavilion.


    Qin Hao and his companions returned, Liu Zhong saw him and showed full respect, ¡°Mr. Qin is back, I¡¯ve arranged special female attendants in the courtyard. If you need anything, Mr. Qin can directly tell them.¡±


    He had seen the result of the battle just now, terrifying, abnormal. This kind of person is not someone he can afford to provoke, even the sect behind him wouldn¡¯t want to offend such a person.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°I appreciate it, Mr. Liu.¡±


    ¡°No trouble, no trouble at all, Mr. Qin is too kind,¡± Liu Zhong replied quickly, feeling honored.


    Qin Hao and his companions returned to the secluded courtyard within the pavilion. Two young female attendants stood at the entrance, and upon seeing Qin Hao and his companions return, they bowed slightly, ¡°Master, Miss.¡±


    Back in the room, Qin Hao checked the system, finding that after defeating the people in the Golden Phoenix Building, he had gained about five thousand merit points.


    At this moment, the Spirit Stone in his storage space was nearly exhausted. The three of them used a lot of Spirit Stone for cultivation, especially as their realms reached higher, the consumption of Spirit Stone increased geometrically.


    If he wished to break through a small realm now, he would need to expend at least tens of millions of lower-grade Spirit Stones.


    However, he was pleased that Xian Yin¡¯s realm was now the same as his, and Ling¡¯er had reached the Late Postnatal Realm, counting as a minor master.


    The next morning.


    Qin Hao and his companions were planning to leave after breakfast. Just as they were finishing, a maid entered, ¡°Master, Miss, someone from the Commandery Prince Mansion is seeking an audience outside.¡±


    Xian Yin paused, puzzled, people from the Commandery Prince Mansion? Could it be for revenge?


    Qin Hao spoke, ¡°Let them in.¡±


    The Commandery Prince Mansion controlled the Transmission Array of Yuxing City; he didn¡¯t want to completely offend the Commandery Prince Mansion until necessary.


    Soon, an old man with white hair walked in from outside. He was spirited, despite his white hair, exuding a powerful aura, ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Xian Yin, I am the steward of the Commandery Prince Mansion, my surname is Gao.¡±


    ¡°Is there a reason for Mr. Gao to seek me?¡± Qin Hao asked calmly.


    Mr. Gao: ¡°By order of the Commandery Prince, I¡¯ve come to invite Mr. Qin and his companions to be guests at the Commandery Prince Mansion. The Commandery Prince has no other intentions, just wishes to make friends with heroes like Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Alright, lead the way.¡±


    ¡°Please, Mr. Qin.¡±


    The three of them exited the secluded courtyard. In front of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion stood a luxurious carriage. Qin Hao and his companions climbed aboard, and Mr. Gao from the Commandery Prince Mansion steered the beasts.


    Two beasts took to the air, speeding towards the central Commandery Prince Mansion in the inner city.

 Chapter 971: 971: Competition

    Chapter 971: Chapter 971: Competition


    Many people witnessed this scene: how did Qin Hao and his two companions end up on the Duke¡¯s residence carriage? Are they heading to the Duke¡¯s residence?


    Last night Qin Hao almost killed the Duke¡¯s heir, so what¡¯s the purpose of going to the Duke¡¯s residence today?


    It seems the Duke¡¯s residence has invited Qin Hao. Could it be that they plan to ambush and eliminate him?


    That possibility is unlikely. Qin Hao¡¯s combat power is terrifying; if the battle takes place in the Duke¡¯s residence, it might demolish half of it.


    It¡¯s very likely that the Duke¡¯s residence is extending an olive branch to Qin Hao, as a young genius like him is extremely rare, it¡¯s better to befriend than to offend.


    The Duke¡¯s residence.


    The beast-driven carriage descended into the front yard of the Duke¡¯s residence. Upon disembarking from the carriage, Mr. Gao spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, please come with me.¡±


    Under Mr. Gao¡¯s guidance, Qin Hao and his two companions walked through a corridor, passed several halls, and arrived at the expansive rear garden of the Duke¡¯s residence.


    Reaching the inner yard, where flowers were in full bloom, and there was the chirping of birds, fragrance of flowers, ponds, pavilions, spirit beasts, ancient trees¡ªtruly a paradise.


    After a short distance, Qin Hao arrived outside a pavilion where a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious robes sat. The front of his robe was embroidered with an ancient fierce beast, and on a grassy area outside the pavilion, three young men and women were honing their martial skills.


    ¡°Duke, Mr. Qin is here.¡± Mr. Gao stood respectfully outside the pavilion and said.


    Gao Yuan turned around, stood up, and said, ¡°Please have Mr. Qin come in and take a seat.¡±


    Qin Hao and his companions entered the pavilion and sat on jade stone stools, which were made from special jade stones that made the body feel warm all over, and the speed of cultivation technique operation would unconsciously increase a bit.


    Pretty maidservants soon brought up some spirit fruits and snacks.


    Gao Yuan looked at Qin Hao with a full smile and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we can say we got acquainted after a fight. My son was young and impulsive, if there was any offense, I hope Mr. Qin does not mind.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It was just a sparring match, Duke, you¡¯re overthinking it; I didn¡¯t take it to heart.¡±


    Gao Yuan smiled faintly, turned to the two men and one woman outside the pavilion, and said, ¡°Linglong, the three of you come over.¡±


    Gao Zhan Tian, Gao Youwei, and Gao Linglong walked into the pavilion and stood behind Gao Yuan.


    Gao Yuan smiled at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, these are three children I think highly of; what do you think of them?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded and said, ¡°They all have great talent for cultivation, their future may be far greater than Duke Gao¡¯s.¡±


    He was speaking the truth, these three siblings, each more terrifying than the other, Gao Youwei was in the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm and had a great potential to break through to the Heavenly Human Realm in the future.


    Gao Zhan Tian was also in the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, and Gao Linglong had just reached the Peak of the Grandmaster Realm; judging by her aura, she seemed to have just broken through and not yet stabilized.


    Gao Yuan laughed heartily. Clearly, he was also very satisfied with his three children: ¡°It¡¯s their honor to be praised by Mr. Qin.¡±


    Gao Youwei¡¯s expression was a bit complicated, not realizing how naturally his father conversed and laughed with Qin Hao.


    Gao Linglong felt somewhat unconvinced: ¡°I heard Mr. Qin¡¯s combat power is astounding, and I would like to learn from him.¡±


    Gao Yuan¡¯s expression faltered: ¡°Linglong, don¡¯t be disrespectful. Even though Mr. Qin¡¯s realm is not high, his grasp of the rules of heaven and earth is very strong, and his sword qi moves with his heart. Such an understanding of Sword Dao even I cannot achieve.¡±


    Gao Linglong was his beloved daughter, and she was very promising, having just reached the Peak of the Grandmaster Realm, very close to the Heavenly Human Realm.


    ¡°Father, it¡¯s because I heard that Mr. Qin is very powerful, and he defeated my brother last night, so I wanted to spar with Mr. Qin,¡± Gao Linglong said, pouting her rosy lips.


    She was also very beautiful, with a fiery figure, a perfect face inherited from her mother, exquisitely beautiful.


    Xian Yin spoke, ¡°If Princess Gao wishes to spar, perhaps I could spar with her first. If she wins, she may challenge my master later.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s eyes inevitably turned to Xian Yin, and upon seeing her appearance and figure, they couldn¡¯t help but sigh in their hearts: What a peerless beauty!


    Gao Linglong was about to speak when Qin Hao opened his mouth and said, ¡°This is Xian Yin; her strength is also formidable. If Princess Gao can defeat her, then challenge me.¡±


    ¡°Very well, Miss Xian Yin, please.¡± Gao Linglong nodded in agreement upon hearing his words.


    She did not believe that a woman by Qin Hao¡¯s side could be so formidable.


    Gao Yuan spoke, ¡°Just demonstrate your skills, do not injure each other.¡± With that, he tossed an object from his hand.


    That object expanded in the wind, eventually becoming a large arena in the air.


    Gao Linglong and Xian Yin flew up, and once both sides were prepared, they started their match.


    Gao Zhan Tian and Gao Youwei watched the two on the arena intently, disbelieving that any woman by Qin Hao¡¯s side could be so extraordinary.


    Gao Yuan also found it hard to believe; his eyes fixed on the two in the arena. When the two engaged, the strength Xian Yin exhibited made Gao Yuan¡¯s eyes narrow slightly.


    Very strong, this Xian Yin is very strong, not falling behind in the fight with his daughter. Her movement technique and musical attack are impressive, even overpowering his daughter in that aspect.


    The two fought on the arena for over half an hour, through hundreds of rounds, unable to gain the upper hand.


    Gao Linglong unleashed her strongest Divine Skills, and Xian Yin left no reserve, engaging in a fierce clash.


    ¡°Alright, Linglong, step down now.¡± Gao Yuan spoke at this moment.


    Continuing would mean little; Xian Yin¡¯s movement technique and attacking Divine Skills were very strong and impressive. If she further improved even a small realm, his daughter might be no match.


    After separating from Xian Yin, Gao Linglong looked at her and said, ¡°Miss Xian Yin, your skills are extraordinary, Linglong is impressed.¡±


    Xian Yin smiled gently, ¡°I am simply benefited in movement and Divine Skills. If Princess Gao in the future learns powerful movement and Divine Skills, she could easily defeat me.¡±


    Gao Linglong chuckled, ¡°Miss Xian Yin is too modest.¡±


    The two descended from the air arena, returned to the pavilion, and Gao Linglong said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, if I was rude earlier, I hope you¡¯ll forgive me.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°Princess Gao, there¡¯s no need to be polite; it¡¯s human nature.¡±


    Gao Yuan laughed heartily, ¡°Mr. Qin is indeed a person of good character. The reason I invited Mr. Qin here today is to discuss something with you.¡±


    ¡°Duke Gao, please speak freely.¡±


    Gao Yuan: ¡°Mr. Qin, are you aware of the century-old young talents selection tournament on the Southern Continent?¡±


    Young talents selection tournament?


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware of this.¡±


    Gao Yuan: ¡°The Southern Continent¡¯s young talents selection tournament happens once every century. The young talents selected from the various empires and kingdoms of the Southern Continent will gather at the Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy to witness this once-in-a-century grand event. The Skyfire Dynasty will likely announce the competition in the next couple of days.


    All young generations from the Skyfire Dynasty, under the age of thirty, can register to participate. Only the top five ranked in the entire dynasty can proceed to participate in the Southern Continent¡¯s grand competition.¡±

 Chapter 972: 972: Heavenly Talent Selection Competition

    Chapter 972: Chapter 972: Heavenly Talent Selection Competition


    Upon hearing Mr. Gao¡¯s words, Qin Hao pondered, Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy?


    Mr. Gao continued, ¡°It seems Mr. Qin doesn¡¯t know about the Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy. To put it plainly: this academy is the most prestigious institution in the entire Southern State. Countless princes, princesses, and young talents from various dynasties and empires yearn to join. It offers countless cultivation resources, powerful cultivation techniques, divine skills, magic treasures, and more.


    As long as you pass the assessment and join the Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy, the mentors there will wholeheartedly teach you. In the future, you will definitely become a top master. And by top master, I don¡¯t mean someone like me, but a leading master of the Southern Continent, whom emperors of dynasties and empires would greet with utmost respect.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°It seems like a pretty good place.¡±


    It was somewhat similar to the institutions in Qin Hao¡¯s world, cultivating various talents into form.


    Gao Yuan: ¡°The Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy is one of the five major academies on the Hidden Dragon Continent. It has stood for millions of years, with profound foundations and incredible power. Mr. Qin, you possess extraordinary talent and astonishing combat power. If you register, there¡¯s a good chance you could enter the academy.¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°The Southern Continent is vast and endless, with countless dynasties and empires and innumerable young prodigies. Mr. Gao overestimates me.¡±


    Gao Yuan¡¯s expression turned serious, ¡°I¡¯m not joking, Mr. Qin. With your strength, there is great hope. I am telling you all this because I want to know if you are interested in participating in this major competition?¡±


    Qin Hao answered straightforwardly, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m interested.¡±


    Currently, his most urgent desire was not to go to Xingyue Palace, but to enhance his strength. Without strength, he probably wouldn¡¯t even make it to Xingyue Palace.


    Only when he was strong enough would he venture to Xingyue Palace. If Xingyue Palace still disagreed, he could even use force if necessary.


    Upon hearing this, Gao Yuan smiled and said, ¡°To participate in the genius selection competition of the entire Southern State, you must first pass the selection of the Skyfire Dynasty. The Skyfire Dynasty only has five slots available, so the dynasty selects the top five strongest warriors. As the Commandery Prince of Yuxing County, I have three guaranteed slots at my disposal to let you bypass the Yuxing County selection and directly enter the capital for the final selection.¡±


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°How about giving me two of those slots, Mr. Gao?¡±


    Hearing this, Gao Yuan was taken aback, ¡°Is Mr. Qin trying to secure a slot for Miss Xian Yin?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Exactly!¡±


    Gao Yuan, ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, since you are straightforward, I, Gao Yuan, will also fulfill your wish and agree to Mr. Qin¡¯s request. However, I do have a condition.¡±


    Qin Hao knew he wouldn¡¯t help him for no reason, ¡°Mr. Gao, go ahead and say it.¡±


    Gao Yuan glanced at his daughter Linglong and sighed, ¡°Among my children, only Linglong has some talents. If Linglong is fortunate enough to make it into the top five of the dynasty, I hope Mr. Qin can lend my daughter a hand during the academy¡¯s grand competition.¡±


    Qin Hao asked in confusion, ¡°How can I help? Wouldn¡¯t that be cheating?¡±


    Gao Yuan smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin still doesn¡¯t quite understand the rules. The preliminary chaotic grand competition is conducted simultaneously for everyone. As long as you pass that selection, you can enter the academy as an ordinary student. The better the results in the subsequent competitions, the better the treatment you receive.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Alright, I will definitely do my best to help Princess Gao at that time.¡±


    ¡°With Mr. Qin¡¯s assurance, I¡¯m relieved. If this girl can¡¯t even make it into the top five of the dynasty, she can only blame herself,¡± said Gao Yuan.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°When does Mr. Gao plan to set off?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, the royal announcement should come down, and then Yuxing County will have one month for martial arts selection. Once the top ten in the county are selected, we will set off for the capital together. During this time, Mr. Qin can stay in the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, as I¡¯ve already arranged for accommodations. Additionally, I have an opportunity to present to Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback, an opportunity?


    ¡°Let me keep it a surprise for now, and you will know when the time comes. Come, let¡¯s go sit and talk in the palace,¡± said Gao Yuan.


    The group went to the hall of the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, where they chatted for a while. Gao Yuan then left Gao Linglong and the others to keep Qin Hao company while he dealt with some confidential matters.


    After having a midday feast at the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, Qin Hao asked Gao Linglong and the others to take him to the Scripture Pavilion of the mansion. He planned to browse the ancient texts there, assuming that as this was the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, the collection would be rich, and he might even find information about the Butian Sect.


    However, after half an afternoon of browsing, Qin Hao still hadn¡¯t found anything useful.


    He returned to the room arranged for them by Gao Yuan, a palace with several rooms within.


    In the main hall of the palace, Xian Yin saw him return and asked, ¡°Any news, sir?¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°No, but I did see some information about the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.¡±


    ¡°Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion?¡± Xian Yin was taken aback.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Yes, this Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion seems very powerful, with intelligence networks covering the entire Hidden Dragon Continent. Even they haven¡¯t found any information about the Butian Sect, so it¡¯s unlikely we¡¯ll find anything in the royal library either.¡±


    ¡°Master, don¡¯t be disheartened. Since we now have the news about Xingyue Palace, we¡¯ll definitely come across information about the Butian Sect in the future,¡± Ling¡¯er comforted him.


    Xian Yin agreed, ¡°Yes, sir, we will definitely find it.¡±


    Looking at them, Qin Hao smiled warmly. Having them by his side felt good; if he were alone, he wasn¡¯t sure how he would be faring now.


    ¡°Master, try some of the snacks from the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion. They¡¯re delicious,¡± Ling¡¯er said, placing a piece of snack near his mouth.


    Qin Hao opened his mouth and ate it, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s quite delicious. The cook at the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion must be top-notch. If it wasn¡¯t good, they¡¯d have been dismissed long ago.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Xian Yin.¡± At that moment, Gao Linglong entered from outside.


    The three looked up at her, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Princess Gao?¡±


    Gao Linglong smiled slightly, ¡°Mr. Qin, please don¡¯t call me Princess. Just call me Linglong. My father has prepared the dinner and invited you all to join.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Miss Linglong, lead the way then.¡±


    Soon, they arrived at a palace where a variety of delicious dishes were already set on the table, and the smell of meat wafted through the air the moment they entered.


    Seeing them arrive, Gao Yuan stood up with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Xian Yin, Miss Ling¡¯er, please have a seat.¡±


    Qin Hao and the others sat down, ¡°Mr. Gao, you¡¯re too kind; I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t properly express my gratitude.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, please make yourself at home. Treat this place as your own. Come, pour wine for Mr. Qin and the two ladies,¡± Gao Yuan instructed the maids behind him.


    Immediately, young and beautiful maids came over, skillfully and deftly pouring wine for Qin Hao and the two ladies.


    Gao Yuan, ¡°Mr. Qin, this is the Fire Spirit Wine I¡¯ve treasured for years, a royal offering. Please try it, it¡¯s beneficial for cultivation.¡±

 Chapter 973: 973 Gao Yuans Gift

    Chapter 973: Chapter 973 Gao Yuan¡¯s Gift


    Qin Hao picked up the wine cup and took a sip, immediately feeling a rush of heat flowing down his throat, warming his entire body, and accelerating the circulation of spiritual energy.


    ¡°Good wine,¡± Qin Hao said.


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er took a sip, and their cheeks instantly turned red. It was strong, tailor-made for cultivators.


    If cultivators drink too much, they too will get drunk.


    Gao Linglong and the others also took a sip. The wine was quite strong, and they found it somewhat overwhelming.


    After several rounds of drinks and various dishes, Gao Yuan became more talkative. Qin Hao drank a lot but was still sober.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, where are you from originally? I never expected such a young hero to emerge from my Yuxing County,¡± Gao Yuan asked.


    Qin Hao: ¡°In the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, outside Nanxing City, Jiangping State.¡±


    Gao Yuan: ¡°Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range? That¡¯s a very dangerous place. For Mr. Qin¡¯s family to live there, their capabilities must be extraordinary.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled lightly: ¡°It¡¯s manageable; we can protect ourselves.¡±


    After dinner, the three of them made their way to their accommodation, and because Qin Hao drank quite a bit, he felt a bit dizzy, walking slightly unsteadily.


    Xian Yin, who hadn¡¯t drunk much wine, supported one of Qin Hao¡¯s arms: ¡°Sir, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, just need a night¡¯s sleep,¡± Qin Hao replied with a smile.


    Like Xian Yin, Ling¡¯er only had a sip at the beginning and didn¡¯t drink much afterward, and she was fine too.


    Back in the palace, Xian Yin said to Ling¡¯er: ¡°Ling¡¯er, why don¡¯t you rest first, I¡¯ll help Mr. Qin to his room for a bath.¡±


    Ling¡¯er giggled mischievously and dashed upstairs without speaking, making Xian Yin¡¯s face blush slightly.


    She supported Qin Hao to the room, where there was a bath with steaming hot water that flowed when the switch was turned on, and it was the kind infused with spiritual energy, beneficial for bathing.


    Xian Yin was inwardly amazed by the families¡¯ resources, everything from food to drink, sleep to use, benefiting cultivation significantly.


    A few minutes later, the water in the bath was ready. Xian Yin walked to the edge of the bed, and Qin Hao was drowsy, swaying.


    Seeing him like this, Xian Yin said, ¡°Sir, the water is ready, you can bathe and change.¡±


    ¡°Mm... okay,¡± Qin Hao tried to get up but had trouble; the effect of the Fire Spirit Wine was kicking in.


    Seeing his condition, Xian Yin quickly helped him to the bathroom.


    Qin Hao was quite intoxicated. Xian Yin expended significant effort to remove his clothes and place them on the rack beside.


    Xian Yin placed him in the bath and then retrieved some sobering and calming herbs from the storage space.


    Bathing Qin Hao was an exhausting task.


    ...


    The next morning, Qin Hao woke up feeling immensely refreshed with fast spiritual energy flow.


    He stretched and realized he wasn¡¯t wearing anything, quickly dressing up.


    What happened last night? He remembered drinking too much, and Xian Yin supporting him, but everything afterward was hazy.


    Exiting the room, he coincidentally saw Xian Yin coming downstairs, her cheeks slightly flushed: ¡°Sir.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Ling¡¯er isn¡¯t up yet?¡±


    ¡°No, not yet.¡±


    The two walked out of the palace, enjoying the fresh air outside enriched with pure spiritual energy.


    After a while, Ling¡¯er came down too, and the Commandery Prince¡¯s servants inquired and then served breakfast.


    During breakfast, Gao Linglong approached: ¡°Mr. Qin, my father wants you to come over after breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Miss Linglong, sorry for the trouble,¡± Qin Hao replied apologetically.


    After breakfast, the trio went to the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion¡¯s guest hall. Gao Yuan, seeing them arrive, said, ¡°Come with me, Mr. Qin.¡±


    The trio was a bit puzzled, not knowing what he intended.


    Gao Yuan, Gao Linglong, and Qin Hao entered the underground palace complex within the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion.


    The underground palace complex was vast, and after walking for a long time, they arrived at an ancient bronze door.


    Gao Yuan turned to Qin Hao and said, ¡°Inside here is the spirit vein of my mansion. The spiritual energy concentration is dozens to hundreds of times that of the outside world. A day of cultivation here equals several dozen days outside. This is my gift to you, Mr. Qin. You all can cultivate here for this month, and I¡¯ll wake you when Yuxing County¡¯s selection ends.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at Gao Yuan and said, ¡°Mr. Gao, this is quite a generous gift.¡±


    ¡°As long as I can befriend a young hero like Mr. Qin, it¡¯s worth it. Linglong, guide them inside,¡± Gao Yuan laughed heartily.


    With that, Gao Yuan opened the bronze door, and a surge of extremely dense spiritual energy rushed in, immersed in white mist, a sign of high concentration.


    Gao Linglong smiled at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Xian Yin, Miss Ling¡¯er, please go ahead.¡±


    With a nod, Qin Hao, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er walked inside. After they entered, the bronze door closed, and gleaming talismans flickered on the door, an array formation restriction preventing spiritual energy from spilling.


    Gao Linglong said to the trio, ¡°The deeper you go, the denser the spiritual energy, but the pressure is also greater. Find a place you can bear and start cultivating there. Don¡¯t push yourselves too hard, or you might explode.¡±


    Qin Hao, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er nodded and proceeded forward. The spiritual energy grew denser with each step, as did the invisible pressure.


    After about ten steps, Ling¡¯er was struggling a bit, so Qin Hao spoke: ¡°Ling¡¯er, you can cultivate here.¡±


    Ling¡¯er nodded: ¡°Alright, Master.¡±


    Qin Hao, Gao Linglong, and Xian Yin continued onward; after thirty steps, they felt the pressure intensify, with every step multiplying it.


    At the thirty-third step, Xian Yin and Gao Linglong stopped, unable to go further, but Qin Hao could still manage.


    His body glowed brilliantly, and he stopped at the thirty-ninth step.


    He then settled down, and even before using the cultivation technique, Qin Hao could feel the spiritual energy in the air pouring into his body through his pores. The spiritual energy was so abundant; it automatically flowed within him even without absorption.


    [First chapter, seek recommendation votes]

 Chapter 974: 974: One Month

    Chapter 974: Chapter 974: One Month


    Qin Hao could clearly feel that every cell in his body was trembling and excited, like land finding rain after a long drought.


    He began to operate the Immortal Burying Skill, fully absorbing the dense spiritual energy in the air.


    Here, they didn¡¯t feel the passage of time at all; they were fully operating their cultivation techniques, madly absorbing the spiritual energy because such places were very rare for the three of them. This was an opportunity.


    ...


    In Yuxing County, Gao Yuan had posted about the young talents selection tournament across the entire county, initially selecting by city basis.


    The top five from each city would enter the state competition, and the top five from the state would compete in the county city. The top ten from the county city would participate in the final selection in the royal city.


    The top five would receive rewards from the dynasty and also qualify to compete at the Heaven and Earth Academy in the Southern Continent.


    Then, these five would participate in elimination matches with young talents from various parts of the Southern Continent.


    This was a centennial young talents event in the Southern Continent; only true young talents could enter the Heaven and Earth Academy to learn.


    After the announcement, all the young talents in Yuxing County were eager to show their skills in the selection tournament, and later compete against all the young geniuses of the Southern Continent.


    The selection tournament in Yuxing County started the following day, with arenas set up in each city for registrants to enroll and participate.


    As time passed, Qin Hao and his group of four were cultivating in the underground palace of the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion while Yuxing County¡¯s young talents selection was in full swing, attracting many spectators. Such an event was extremely rare.


    Many families sent their most talented disciples, and many young talents emerged from deep mountains.


    Almost every day, the martial arts arena witnessed some impressive young experts.


    In the blink of an eye, nearly a month passed. That day, the underground bronze door of the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion was opened from the outside, and Qin Hao and his group opened their eyes from cultivation.


    A month has passed? Qin Hao opened his eyes, showing a hint of confusion.


    In this place, he couldn¡¯t feel the passage of time at all, thinking it had been only a quarter of an hour since he started cultivating.


    Gao Linglong and Xian Yin also got up, and Qin Hao walked over: ¡°Has it been a month already?¡±


    Gao Linglong smiled and said: ¡°It should be. When I first came here, it was the same; time seemed to pass quickly. Mr. Qin and Miss Xian Yin, you¡¯ve both broken through to the early stage of the Grandmaster Realm, congratulations.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled: ¡°This is all thanks to Mr. Gao.¡±


    Xian Yin nodded: ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Mr. Gao, we wouldn¡¯t know when we could break through to the Grandmaster Realm.¡±


    Gao Linglong chuckled and said: ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Xian Yin, no need for thanks, let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go see Ling¡¯er.¡±


    The three walked outside and soon saw Ling¡¯er, who had also awakened and her strength had broken through to the early stage of the Innate Realm. Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s group arriving, she smiled: ¡°Master, Sister Xian Yin, Sister Linglong.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her and praised: ¡°Not bad, you¡¯ve broken through to the Innate Realm.¡±


    Ling¡¯er giggled: ¡°I want to catch up with Master and Sister Xian Yin, then I can protect you.¡±


    The four talked and walked out, standing outside the bronze door with the steward of the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion.


    He saw Qin Hao¡¯s group and respectfully said: ¡°Commandery Princess, Mr. Qin, the Commandery Prince is waiting for you upstairs.¡±


    The group followed the steward of the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion out to the palace above, where Gao Yuan was waiting for them. Seeing Qin Hao and others coming out, Gao Yuan smiled and said: ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Qin, on breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm, your combat strength must have increased significantly.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°This is thanks to Mr. Gao¡¯s generosity; I, Qin Hao, will keep this favor in mind.¡±


    Gao Yuan helped Qin Hao in order to befriend him. After all, the spirit vein continuously produced spiritual energy, so letting Qin Hao and his group cultivate there didn¡¯t cost anything; instead, it made their relationship closer.


    ¡°No need to be polite, Mr. Qin, it¡¯s just a friendly gesture.¡± Gao Yuan replied with a smile.


    He continued: ¡°The young talents selection tournament of Yuxing County has ended. The top ten have been selected. Tomorrow morning, I will lead you to the royal capital of the Skyfire Dynasty. Today, let Linglong show you around Yuxing City. There might not be another chance in the future.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble Miss Linglong.¡±


    Gao Linglong: ¡°Mr. Qin, no need for politeness.¡±


    ...


    In the morning, Gao Linglong took them for a tour around the inner city of Yuxing City. There happened to be many scenic spots and famous cultural sites.


    Many people within Yuxing City saw Gao Linglong touring with Qin Hao and his group and were somewhat surprised; wasn¡¯t this Qin Hao? Haven¡¯t seen him for a month, and he¡¯s still in Yuxing City? And seems to have a good relationship with Commandery Princess Gao Linglong from the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion.


    Could it be that he now has a good relationship with the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion?


    He hasn¡¯t left; could he have also participated in the young talents selection tournament of the dynasty?


    In terms of age, Qin Hao qualified to participate; if he really did, why didn¡¯t they see him compete?


    ¡°Given his relationship with the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, along with his strength, he must have been admitted directly. The Commandery Prince has three direct admission spots.¡±


    At night, Qin Hao had dinner at the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, and both parties drank some Spiritual Wine.


    The next morning, around seven o¡¯clock, many people gathered at the Transmission Array square in the inner city of Yuxing City.


    Gao Yuan, with a group of guards from the Commandery Prince¡¯s mansion, stood at the front; behind him were Gao Linglong, Qin Hao, Xian Yin, Ling¡¯er, and the ten young talents who had qualified through the selection tournament.


    Gao Yuan looked at everyone and said: ¡°You are all top young talents of Yuxing County. This time, going to the royal capital for the competition, I hope everyone can achieve a good rank, bringing honor to Yuxing County, and also winning a good future for yourselves.¡±


    As long as they achieve a good ranking, even if they don¡¯t enter the top five, they will be given priority by the dynasty for cultivation and will become experts in the future.


    When Qin Hao arrived, he observed those ten people; their realms were about the same, mostly late-stage Grandmaster Realm, with a few in the mid-stage. Nine males and one female, all were exemplary figures of the young generation.


    Many were also watching Qin Hao and his group; they had long heard of Qin Hao¡¯s renowned name. Although Qin Hao had killed several Grandmaster Realm experts, these young talents had their pride and did not think much of Qin Hao.


    Like these top ten individuals, each had killed more than one late-stage Grandmaster Realm expert; they had the pride and strength to back it up.


    ¡°Let¡¯s set off.¡±


    Gao Yuan saw everyone was ready, his voice loud and clear, spreading throughout the entire square.


    The crowd gradually entered the Transmission Array; many of those ten young talents came from big families, so they were accompanied by many guards and clan members.

 Chapter 975: 975 Zuixiao Building

    Chapter 975: Chapter 975 Zuixiao Building


    The Transmission Array was very large, enough to hold thousands of people. Once everyone was on the array, Gao Yuan activated it.


    With a flash of light, everyone disappeared into the array.


    A few seconds later, at the Transmission Array in Xia Chuan City at the northernmost edge of Yuxing County, light flickered, and Gao Yuan and hundreds of others appeared within the array.


    In Xia Chuan City, they needed to fly tens of thousands of miles to reach the border city of the next county, where they could take another Transmission Array.


    With Gao Yuan and the guards from the Commandery Prince¡¯s residence alongside them, there wasn¡¯t much danger. Even when encountering blind demonic beasts, the guards quickly dispatched them.


    After flying for a day and a half, they reached Tengyang City, the border city of Yongjiang County.


    Traveling from Yuxing County to Skyfire Dynasty¡¯s capital, Skyfire City, requires crossing four counties, estimating about five days of travel.


    Using the Transmission Arrays doesn¡¯t take much time, but traveling between counties requires flying a certain distance, some being shorter and others longer.


    ...


    Five days later, in the Skyfire Dynasty¡¯s capital, outside of Skyfire City¡¯s outer city Transmission Array plaza.


    Gao Yuan led Qin Hao and the others out of the array, where there were people specifically tasked to receive them outside.


    Upon seeing Gao Yuan and his group, a person in the plaza approached and said, ¡°Mr. Gao, please follow me.¡±


    Gao Yuan slightly nodded and said, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t leave the group. Once we settle in, you can explore as you wish.¡±


    Qin Hao observed the Transmission Array plaza, noticing it was crowded with people. Many groups had already arrived. Looking at other groups of young talents, he noticed that the top ten talents from each county were generally at mid-stage or late-stage Grandmaster Realm.


    Typically, those who achieve the top ten ranks in their counties are the main disciples of prominent families or sects. Due to their good talent, they receive the best training and resources from their families or sects, hoping to nurture an expert to strengthen the family or sect.


    About half an hour later, Qin Hao and his group arrived at the accommodation arranged by the dynasty, where all the young talents from each county were housed in large, standalone courtyards, each allocated its area.


    In the main hall of Gao Yuan¡¯s residence, he addressed the group, ¡°The competition takes place in five days. At that time, I¡¯ll lead everyone to the large martial arts arena in the capital. For these few days, if anyone wants to explore the capital, you can do so, but try to keep a low profile.¡±


    Everyone nodded in agreement. Although many of them were the main disciples of prominent families or sects, this was the capital, where nobility and aristocracy were everywhere.


    Apart from the nobility and aristocracy, there were many experts here. Even though everyone¡¯s abilities were quite formidable, Gao Yuan did not want them to cause trouble within the capital.


    After advising everyone, Gao Yuan assigned each of the ten individuals a separate courtyard and pavilion.


    Qin Hao, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er were assigned to a single courtyard. After the assignments, everyone gradually left.


    Gao Yuan said to Qin Hao, ¡°I have some matters to attend to and may not return for these few days. I¡¯ll be back the day before the competition. Mr. Qin, I know your character, but try to keep a low profile here.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Gao doesn¡¯t trust me? I can¡¯t change who I am. I won¡¯t provoke others unless they provoke me first.¡±


    ...


    After leaving the hall, the courtyard assigned to Qin Hao and the two others was right next door.


    All the courtyards for those from Yuxing County were adjacent. Inside the pavilion, Xian Yin went to tidy up the room, while Qin Hao and Ling¡¯er sat in the living room sipping tea.


    Soon, someone entered their courtyard and knocked on the door.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Qin Hao said.


    A young man entered, smiled at Qin Hao, and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I am Liao Chengcai from Kangshui State in Yuxing County. We¡¯re planning a gathering and would like to invite you three to join us since we all hail from Yuxing County.¡±


    At that moment, Qin Hao used his Divine Sense to see the other nine people waiting outside the courtyard.


    He nodded slightly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go call Xian Yin.¡±


    One minute later, Qin Hao, Xian Yin, Ling¡¯er, and Liao Chengcai went outside. Seeing Qin Hao, the others eagerly greeted, ¡°We¡¯ve heard so much about you, Mr. Qin.¡±


    ¡°You overstate it. I don¡¯t have much of a reputation,¡± Qin Hao chuckled awkwardly.


    To be honest, when Qin Hao initially saw their abilities, he was a bit surprised. They were all uniformly at mid-stage or late-stage Grandmaster Realm, meaning those prominent families and sects were deeply concealing their strength.


    After all, these families and sects have their concerns. If everyone knew, it might make opposing forces wary, leading them to assassinate their talented disciples.


    ¡°Mr. Qin is too modest. We¡¯ve all heard of your esteemed name in Yuxing County,¡± Dong Mengqi, the only female in the group, said.


    Liao Youcai laughed and suggested, ¡°We haven¡¯t invited Princess Gao yet. Mr. Qin, since you¡¯re familiar with her, why don¡¯t you invite her?¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t decline. They approached the pavilion of Gao Yuan¡¯s courtyard, where Qin Hao entered, finding Gao Linglong busy cultivating in her room.


    He requested an attendant, ¡°Please inform Princess Gao that Qin Hao wishes to see her.¡±


    ¡°Please wait a moment, Mr. Qin.¡± The maid serving Gao Linglong went upstairs.


    Soon, Gao Linglong descended the stairs with a smile, ¡°Mr. Qin, you were looking for me?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Liao Chengcai and the others plan to get together this afternoon, and they invited me along with asking me to extend the invitation to you. I heard you were cultivating?¡±


    Gao Linglong chuckled dryly, ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll make the top five, just trying to sharpen my skills at the last minute.¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Cultivating doesn¡¯t help much at this point; mindset is key. Relax a bit, come along?¡±


    Gao Linglong nodded slightly, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go together.¡±


    The group of fourteen left the area and reached the street. Someone asked, ¡°Does anyone know where a good restaurant is around here?¡±


    Most of them hadn¡¯t been to the capital before.


    A handsome, burly young man said, ¡°I¡¯ve been here a few times; Zuixiao Building is good. Why don¡¯t we go there? I¡¯ll treat you all to lunch.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to Zuixiao Building, but Mr. Fan shouldn¡¯t pay for lunch alone. We should each contribute something.¡± The group knew the capital was expensive, and not being from poor families, they couldn¡¯t let someone else bear the cost alone.


    ¡°Yes, everyone can chip in for the meal. Let¡¯s go to Zuixiao Building.¡±


    The group headed towards Zuixiao Building. The streets were crowded but not congested due to their width.


    After about twenty minutes, they arrived outside Zuixiao Building. It was a well-known establishment in the capital, bustling with business inside.

 Chapter 976: 976 Gathering

    Chapter 976: Chapter 976 Gathering


    Qin Hao and his group walked in, and a young, beautiful waitress immediately approached: ¡°Welcome to Zuixiao Building.¡±


    Fan Zhenzhe, having been there once, was familiar with the place and said, ¡°Can we have a large private room? Are there any left on the third floor?¡±


    The waitress smiled and replied, ¡°Sorry, sir, there are no private rooms left on the third floor, but there are still some on the second floor.¡±


    With the big competition of the dynasty¡¯s young talents about to start, many people had gathered in the royal city. Some were there to participate in the competition, while others were just there to watch the excitement. Such a grand gathering of young talents was very rare.


    Fan Zhenzhe turned to Qin Hao and the others and said, ¡°Shall we go to a private room on the second floor?¡±


    ¡°The second-floor private room is fine too, it¡¯s just for dining anyway,¡± the group replied.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go to a private room on the second floor.¡±


    The waitress said, ¡°Gentlemen and ladies, please follow me.¡±


    Led by the waitress, they arrived at a private room on the second floor. It comfortably seated more than ten people. After ordering their drinks and dishes, the waitress left.


    ¡°Since we¡¯re all from Yuxing County and this is our first time gathering together, many of us may not know each other. Let¡¯s sit down and introduce ourselves first.¡±


    Around the table, aside from the three ladies, Dong Mengqi, Xian Yin, and Gao Linglong, the rest were men. Of course, little Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t count.


    Everyone took turns introducing themselves, getting to know each other briefly.


    The efficiency at Zuixiao Building was high; just as Qin Hao and the others finished their introductions, the drinks and dishes started coming in.


    Liao Chengcai said with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s fill our glasses, meeting like this is a matter of fate. Let¡¯s toast to it with the first glass.¡±


    Dong Mengqi smiled gently and said, ¡°Yuxing County is so vast, to meet and know each other is indeed a matter of fate. We are all the elites of Yuxing County, the big competition in the capital is just days away, and here I wish everyone a bright future and dreams come true.¡±


    Under the enthusiastic atmosphere created by Liao Chengcai and Dong Mengqi, the group continued drinking after finishing the first glass.


    Fortunately, the wine wasn¡¯t too strong, otherwise, everyone would have been drunk.


    The group took turns making toasts; Qin Hao, Gao Linglong, and Xian Yin drank quite a bit, leaving the two women¡¯s cheeks slightly flushed and tipsy, deciding not to drink any further.


    This lunch lasted for almost an hour and still wasn¡¯t finished. At this moment, the communication jade in Qin Hao¡¯s storage space rang, so he got up and left the room.


    ¡°Is this Mr. Qin? I¡¯m from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion,¡± a middle-aged man¡¯s voice came through the sound transmitting jade.


    Qin Hao asked, ¡°This is Qin Hao.¡±


    The middle-aged man said, ¡°After our careful investigation, across the entire Hidden Dragon Continent, including throughout the regions of the five major continents, there is no sect named Butian Sect, not even in any past records. This sect simply does not exist.¡±


    Hearing this, Qin Hao frowned slightly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t exist?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Mr. Qin isn¡¯t intentionally mentioning a non-existent sect, is he?¡± the man asked suspiciously.


    They had put in a lot of effort, spending considerable manpower and resources, to investigate this Butian Sect.


    Qin Hao picked up on the dissatisfaction in his tone and replied unhappily, ¡°Do you think I have that much free time?¡±


    The man sensed the change in Qin Hao¡¯s tone and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, we¡¯re truly at a loss regarding this Butian Sect.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s drop it,¡± Qin Hao said, hanging up the communication jade.


    At this moment, Xian Yin, Gao Linglong, and Dong Mengqi came out of the room, noticing Qin Hao¡¯s unpleasant expression. Dong Mengqi curiously asked, ¡°What happened, Mr. Qin?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Qin Hao said with a faint smile, his face returning to its usual demeanor.


    The private room where Qin Hao and his group were situated was adjacent to the stairs. At this moment, a group of people came down from the third floor, each dressed in luxurious attire, with jade belts around their waists.


    They all looked decent and respectable, yet exuded an air of arrogance.


    These individuals descended the stairs, chatting and laughing. When they saw Qin Hao¡¯s group by the stairway, their eyes lit up¡ªthese three young women had quite the aura.


    ¡°Hey, beautiful, what¡¯s your name?¡± one of them asked Xian Yin.


    Xian Yin snorted coldly, turning her head without responding to him.


    The others teased Dong Mengqi and Gao Linglong, ¡°Hey beautiful, your figure¡¯s quite nice, how about keeping us company?¡±


    ¡°Scram,¡± Gao Linglong said coldly, her pretty face icy.


    ¡°Oh, quite the fiery personality, eh? This young master likes beauties like you. It¡¯d be even more fun on the bed,¡± one of the arrogant young men laughed brazenly.


    Inside the room, Liao Chengcai, Fan Zhenzhe, and the others heard the commotion outside and came out.


    All of a sudden, more than a dozen people emerged, intimidating the five young noblemen a bit.


    One of them spoke up, ¡°What, trying to scare me with numbers? My father is the Duke Protector of the Skyfire Dynasty. Come, dare to lay one finger on me.¡±


    ¡°My father is Duke Rong,¡± another one said nonchalantly.


    ¡°My father is Duke of Defense.¡±


    ...


    The group consisted of sons of four dukes and one Marquis of Martial Prowess, a truly formidable background.


    Although the Marquis of Martial Prowess was just a marquis, not as high-ranking as the duke¡¯s sons, his title was renowned throughout most of the Skyfire Dynasty, often regarded as the first expert within the dynasty.


    After revealing their backgrounds, the aura of Liao Youcai, Fan Zhenzhe, and the others dissipated. The sons of the king and the Marquis of Martial Prowess¡ªsuch powerful families were beyond their capacity to confront.


    The son of the Duke Protector, Zhai Tengfei, seeing their diminished vigor, sneered, ¡°Which county are you from? Coming to the capital for the competition, better keep a low profile. This isn¡¯t a place where you can be arrogant.¡±


    The son of the Marquis of Martial Prowess, Wu Yang, looked at Xian Yin with a lewd smile, ¡°Hey beautiful, got time? Let me show you the natural scenery of the capital. In the evening, we can also have some in-depth exchanges and discussions about martial arts.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha,¡± the others laughed boisterously.


    These guys were only in the early stage of the Innate realm, while Xian Yin and the others were in the Grandmaster Realm.


    ¡°Slap,¡± ¡°Slap¡±


    The sound of slaps reverberated, leaving two blood-red handprints on Wu Yang¡¯s face, his cheeks quickly swelling up.


    Qin Hao said coldly, ¡°With your pathetic skills, where did you find the courage to bark in front of me?¡±


    Everyone around was stunned, eyes wide open at Qin Hao, including Dong Mengqi, Gao Linglong, and the others.


    This was the son of the Marquis of Martial Prowess, and Qin Hao dared to strike him in the capital?


    Wu Yang glared at Qin Hao, infuriated, ¡°You damn well dare hit me? You¡¯re finished, I¡¯ll ruin you.¡±


    ¡°Slap, slap, slap, slap¡±


    Light flickered, and four more slaps sounded, leaving Wu Yang seeing stars, his head buzzing.


    The others were terrified; usually, when they revealed their identities, people would be too scared to speak. Getting physically hit was a first: ¡°You... you¡¯ve got some nerve.¡±

 Chapter 977: 977 Purple Pattern Elixir Furnace

    Chapter 977: Chapter 977 Purple Pattern Elixir Furnace


    Qin Hao once again slapped the other four people, in his view, offending one was no different from offending five.


    Liao Youcai, Fan Zhenzhe, and the others were all dumbfounded. These were the descendants of four Dukes and a Divine Martial Marquis, and you just hit them without hesitation?


    No wonder it¡¯s Qin Hao, still so domineering even in the royal city, not caring about the sons of Dukes.


    Seeing Qin Hao beat them, while they felt somewhat satisfied, they also thought Qin Hao was too reckless; after all, this wasn¡¯t Yuxing County, there were many nobles and big families here, which weren¡¯t easy to mess with.


    ¡°If you have the guts, leave your name.¡± Zhai Tengfei¡¯s face was grim¡ªthey, as dandies, valued their reputation the most. Being beaten by Qin Hao meant if they didn¡¯t find a way to save face, they would have no standing in the royal city anymore.


    ¡°Yuxing County, Qin Hao!¡± Qin Hao answered lightly.


    Zhai Tengfei nodded fiercely: ¡°Fine, just wait for me.¡± After speaking, he left with his group.


    After they left, Qin Hao glanced at the others, whose eyes were somewhat timid and slightly reluctant to get too close to Qin Hao.


    Because they feared that getting too close to Qin Hao would attract the forces behind Zhai Tengfei¡¯s group, which was not a good thing for them.


    Qin Hao also noticed their thoughts and smiled faintly: ¡°Everyone, I have some matters to attend to, please excuse me.¡±


    After saying this, he walked downstairs, and Xian Yin, Ling¡¯er, along with Gao Linglong and Dong Mengqi hurriedly followed him.


    Dong Mengqi felt that Liao Chengcai was too cowardly, not at all manly, as among those humiliated, she was one, and none dared to speak up.


    Outside Zuixiao Building, Gao Linglong spoke to Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Qin, should I inform my father?¡±


    ¡°No need, Miss Linglong, I can handle these minor matters.¡± Qin Hao replied.


    He did not believe these people would dare to bring their fathers; if they dared tell their fathers, they¡¯d probably be beaten even worse, at most they¡¯d call for some high-level guards.


    Qin Hao knew very well, as long as he didn¡¯t kill them, the families behind them wouldn¡¯t act.


    Xian Yin asked: ¡°Sir, where are we heading now?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s wander around the royal city; we hardly come by.¡± Qin Hao said with a smile.


    After speaking, he turned to Dong Mengqi: ¡°Miss Dong, are you heading back? Or shall you wander with us?¡±


    Dong Mengqi curved her lips into a smile and said: ¡°If Mr. Qin doesn¡¯t mind, I¡¯d of course like to join you in exploring.¡±


    ¡°In that case, let¡¯s all explore the bustling and thriving royal capital together.¡±


    Gao Linglong chimed in: ¡°There¡¯s a large market in the West District, let¡¯s head there too, maybe we can find some good stuff.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her curiously and asked: ¡°Miss Linglong, are you very familiar with this place?¡±


    ¡°My hometown is here, would you say I¡¯m familiar?¡± Gao Linglong rolled her eyes at him.


    Qin Hao was taken aback: ¡°Your hometown is my royal city?¡±


    Dong Mengqi chuckled and said: ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re so familiar with Princess Gao yet didn¡¯t know? The Commandery Prince Gao is the third son of the Duke Gao family, the royal city Duke¡¯s mansion.¡±


    Gao Linglong nodded: ¡°Mr. Qin really never knew?¡±


    Qin Hao gave an awkward smile, he truly didn¡¯t know this. Hearing Dong Mengqi¡¯s explanation, he understood almost immediately that without connections in the royal city, Gao Yuan couldn¡¯t have become a Commandery Prince.


    As the group conversed, they walked, arriving at the West District in over half an hour¡ªit was a major trading site in the royal city.


    Everything from herbs, materials, magical artifacts, pills, to cultivation techniques and divine skills was here. As long as you have Spirit Stones, you could buy almost anything.


    Of course, the top-tier items were rare; but if you were lucky, you might find something valuable.


    Shortly after entering the West District, they saw a relatively large archway with a plaque bearing the gilded words ¡°Trading Market.¡±


    Upon entering, it was noticeably livelier inside than outside, with many people buying and selling items, and hawking loudly.


    ¡°Herbs, herbs, hundreds of herbs for concocting various pills, cheaply sold.¡± A herbal stall displayed hundreds of different herbs.


    ¡°Various rare metallic materials, perfect for crafting magical artifacts.¡±


    As Qin Hao and his group walked, every item they saw generated a name and brief description in Qin Hao¡¯s mind.


    After a while, Xian Yin purchased some herbs at a stall.


    Dong Mengqi curiously asked: ¡°Is Miss Xian Yin an Alchemist?¡±


    ¡°Barely considered one, I can only concoct some low-level pills.¡± Xian Yin replied with a gentle smile.


    The others did not purchase anything, simply wandering around, but as Qin Hao¡¯s gaze swept over one stall, he suddenly froze.


    ¡°Purple Pattern Elixir Furnace, top-grade Spiritual Artifact, a pill furnace for alchemists to enhance pill formation chances, produces higher-quality pills, contains Purple Pattern Spirit Fire, the flame is mild and delicate...¡±


    Qin Hao walked to the stall, with Xian Yin, Gao Linglong, Ling¡¯er, and Dong Mengqi following, their eyes curious on him.


    This stall was filled with various antique items, though usually these were fakes, imitation antiques disguised and sold for more money.


    The stall owner was a scrawny middle-aged man, sly-looking, with a hint of lifelessness around him.


    Such people often frequented tombs, essentially grave robbers.


    Seeing Qin Hao¡¯s group approach, he smiled and said: ¡°Have the young lords and ladies seen anything they fancy? These items are legitimately from ancient cultivator tombs.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at him and said, ¡°You survived an ancient cultivator¡¯s tomb?¡±


    ¡°I have my own special techniques.¡± The man said proudly.


    Gao Linglong couldn¡¯t help but caution: ¡°Mr. Qin, most of these people are frauds; these items are largely imitation.¡±


    The man hurried to explain: ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t speak rashly. I¡¯m not like those swindlers, these items came from tombs. Although many burial items are high-grade imitations, they¡¯re hard to distinguish. As for authenticity, even I¡¯m unsure but there are definitely genuine pieces; your eyesight and luck will determine what you acquire.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t lying here, for he once had the fortune to acquire some cryptic tomb raiding skills, skilled in identifying feng shui tombs.


    Often the burial treasures of many experts are high-grade imitations because the expert¡¯s status and position weren¡¯t very high; to avoid looking shabby, they¡¯d use imitations.


    Except for super tombs, only those wouldn¡¯t use high-grade imitation items.


    People of the Hidden Dragon Continent believed in reincarnation, so when burying, they¡¯d seek feng shui treasures, various burial goods, etc. Some even used formations to construct terrifying tombs.

 Chapter 978: 978: Prince?

    Chapter 978: Chapter 978: Prince?


    Qin Hao looked at the rusty bronze sword on the stall and asked, ¡°How much is this sword?¡±


    The stall owner smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, you really have an eye for things. To be honest, I took this sword from the tomb of a Heavenly Human Realm expert, probably a mid-level magic treasure at least. You can take it for just fifty thousand spirit stones.¡±


    Qin Hao pointed at the Purple Pattern Elixir Furnace behind it and asked, ¡°What about this?¡±


    ¡°This thing was found in a ceremonial tomb. According to inscriptions inside the tomb, the person was a great alchemist, so this is likely the alchemy furnace he used, at least two hundred thousand spirit stones.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Then what about this little bell?¡±


    The middle-aged man replied, ¡°What about this little bell?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, this bell is also a good item. I¡¯m not exactly sure what effect it has, but if you want it, ten thousand spirit stones will do.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I want all three for thirty thousand spirit stones!¡±


    ¡°Thirty thousand? Mr. Qin, that¡¯s way too low. No one bargains like that. How about two hundred thousand spirit stones? I¡¯ll throw in the sword and bell for free.¡± The middle-aged man said with difficulty.


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, his divine sense noticing several young men in luxurious clothes heading towards them nearby.


    Afraid of any unexpected trouble, he said, ¡°Fifteen thousand spirit stones as my final offer. If you don¡¯t want to sell, never mind.¡± After saying this, he turned around intending to leave.


    He was sure the stall owner would call him back. Since he mentioned two hundred thousand, the price of fifteen thousand would be acceptable.


    Sure enough, as Qin Hao turned to leave, the stall owner called him back, uncertain if Qin Hao was bluffing or truly leaving. If he left, the stall owner would lose a customer, and fifteen thousand spirit stones was already a lot for him.


    ¡°Fifteen thousand, it¡¯s a deal.¡±


    Qin Hao took out the spirit stones and tossed them to the owner, who also handed over the three items.


    Gao Linglong asked perplexedly, ¡°Mr. Qin, why do you want these three pieces of junk?¡±


    Qin Hao was about to answer when suddenly a voice came from beside him, ¡°Let me see the bell in your hand.¡±


    Everyone turned to look, including the stall owner, towards the speaker.


    It was the group of young nobles Qin Hao had just seen, dressed in luxurious clothes, with jade belts, obviously not ordinary people, exuding a noble air.


    Qin Hao replied calmly, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t want anyone else to see it.¡±


    The man¡¯s face slightly stiffened; his bright eyes flashed as he looked at Qin Hao.


    Someone behind him displeased said, ¡°It¡¯s just a broken bell, what¡¯s wrong with taking a look? Are you keeping it as a family heirloom?¡±


    It was clear this person was trying to flatter the man in front but made things worse.


    Qin Hao summoned a spiritual artifact, instantly entering the bell which quivered slightly. He turned to Gao Linglong and said, ¡°Miss Linglong, lend me a drop of your essence blood.¡±


    Gao Linglong was momentarily stunned, not understanding why he needed her essence blood. She hesitated for a moment but squeezed out a drop.


    Under Qin Hao¡¯s control, the essence blood dripped into the bell, which suddenly shone brightly, causing the rusty spots to peel away, revealing a golden bell that glowed even brighter, lighting up half the sky.


    ¡°Is this... a spiritual artifact?¡± The person who spoke just before was shocked, incredulously eyeing the bell in Qin Hao¡¯s hand.


    Everyone else was dumbfounded too; a spiritual artifact, it truly was a spiritual artifact!


    In the Skyfire Dynasty, spiritual artifacts were rare, and now one has appeared out of nowhere.


    The stall owner was taken aback; a spiritual artifact, which would easily fetch a market price of at least tens of millions of spirit stones in an auction, with bidding crises potentially arising¡ªyet I sold it for just fifteen thousand spirit stones!


    At this moment, he was filled with regret.


    He looked at Qin Hao with a difficult face and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I won¡¯t sell this bell; I¡¯ll return the fifteen thousand spiritual stones to you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already received the spirit stones; do you think that¡¯s possible?¡± Qin Hao said, handing the bell to Gao Linglong: ¡°Miss Linglong, this bell suits you, and you¡¯ve just claimed ownership with your essence blood, so now only you can use it.¡±


    Gao Linglong was stunned; a spiritual artifact just given to me like this? ¡°Mr. Qin, I can¡¯t accept this; it¡¯s too valuable.¡±


    Dong Mengqi and the nearby young noblemen were shocked too, amazed at the generosity displayed. Giving away spiritual energy so readily? Is this how one pursues romance?


    The stall owner hastily said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I said I won¡¯t sell it; surely you can¡¯t force the sale?¡±


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°Force the sale? You agreed to sell it to me just now.¡±


    ¡°Who saw that? Clearly you forced me to sell it. Mr. Qin, you must stand up for me; this person uses strength to oppress, forcing me to sell three magic treasures.¡± The stall owner rushed to the young man¡¯s side, clinging to his leg.


    This sudden change left Dong Mengqi, Gao Linglong, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er stunned; this guy sure knows how to act!


    The person who spoke earlier was named Ye Xiaotian, who looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°You dare force sales in the royal city; you have great courage, dismissing the dynasty¡¯s rules?¡±


    ¡°Idiot.¡±


    Qin Hao curled his lips, insulting him, clearly noticing these two were putting on a double-act.


    The people behind Ye Xiaotian, being smart individuals, instantly knew what to do: ¡°How dare you have the audacity to not only force sales but also insult Mr. Ye. Tired of living, are you?¡±


    Prince?


    Is this person a prince? Typically, princes are brothers of the emperor; is he the emperor¡¯s brother?


    Qin Hao sized up Ye Xiaotian, ¡°If you leave now, there won¡¯t be any trouble; but if you keep talking nonsense, I¡¯ll have you crawl back.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Dong Mengqi and Gao Linglong were stunned, thinking, brother, that¡¯s a prince, brother to the emperor of the Skyfire Dynasty; having him crawl back to the royal city?


    Ye Xiaotian and his companions laughed heartily upon hearing his arrogant and presumptuous words.


    They had never heard anyone speak to them like this during their time in the royal city.


    Someone threatening to make a prince crawl home? For saying that, they believe Qin Hao has limitless courage.


    ¡°Mr. Ye, this person must be mentally impaired.¡± someone laughed.


    ¡°A mere early stage grandmaster realm is daring enough to speak so arrogantly, as if he were a Heavenly Human Realm expert.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Ye, aren¡¯t the beauties by his side pretty nice looking? Why don¡¯t we capture them for your pleasure?¡±


    Ye Xiaotian now noticed the three beside Qin Hao, Xian Yin, Gao Linglong, and Dong Mengqi, all of whom were quite attractive, with unique appearances, physiques, and temperaments.


    ¡°Kid, I¡¯ve taken a liking to these three beauties; give them to me, and I¡¯ll spare your life.¡±

 Chapter 979: 979: Overbearing Dominance

    Chapter 979: Chapter 979: Overbearing Dominance


    ¡°Prince, you happen to be short of a few maids. These three would make fine maids for you.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes glinted coldly, and a Sword Qi formed out of thin air, several meters long, cut through the air towards Ye Xiaotian and the others.


    Ye Xiaotian¡¯s expression changed slightly upon seeing this. He swiftly retreated, waving his hand and releasing a Sword Qi from a ring artifact on his thumb.


    His Sword Qi only blocked for a brief moment before it dissipated.


    Among them, only he was at the Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, while the others were almost all at the Innate Realm. Faced with such powerful Sword Qi, their expressions changed drastically, and they turned to flee.


    The vendor reacted even faster. As soon as Qin Hao released his Sword Qi, he had already dashed away, disappearing without a trace, his speed not inferior to Ye Xiaotian¡¯s.


    Ye Xiaotian retreated while counterattacking, taking several moves to finally dispel Qin Hao¡¯s Sword Qi.


    He was somewhat shocked inside. This man, merely at the Early Stage Grandmaster Realm, had such powerful Sword Qi. Could he be one of the young geniuses participating in the competition?


    Currently, with the young genius competition happening, many talented young people have come to the royal city. Qin Hao must be one of these young talents competing, right?


    ¡°You have quite the nerve. Do you believe I won¡¯t ask my royal brother to disqualify you from the competition?¡± Ye Xiaotian spoke, his heart trembling at Qin Hao¡¯s strength.


    Qin Hao scoffed disdainfully, ¡°Oh really? If you¡¯re so capable, why not just stop the entire dynasty tournament?¡±


    ¡°Protect the Prince.¡±


    At this moment, Ye Xiaotian¡¯s guards came to their senses and stood in front of him, six in total, each at the Early to Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm.


    Seeing them arrive, Ye Xiaotian was displeased, ¡°What the hell are you standing around for? Get up there and kill him.¡±


    The six guards hesitated not a bit, instantly charging at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao snorted coldly, and countless Sword Qi appeared in the air instantly, enveloping the entire sky with streams of light and crisscrossing Sword Qi.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    ¡°Clang clang clang¡±


    The sounds of Sword Qi clashing were constant, sparks exploding, radiant and dazzling. Those men were desperately defending with their weapons, but the Sword Qi Qin Hao exuded was too strong and seemingly chaotic yet contained the rules of the Sword Dao.


    Seconds later, all of them were injured by Sword Qi, falling to the ground, losing their fighting ability.


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t kill them, for this was the royal city, and openly killing would certainly be unfeasible; injuring them was of little consequence.


    Ye Xiaotian, seeing his six guards defeated in such a short time by Qin Hao, stared with wide eyes in utter disbelief.


    He was already scared out of his wits and turned around to flee.


    Qin Hao looked at his figure, his eyes flashed with sword light, and a Sword Qi rapidly caught up with the fleeing Ye Xiaotian, standing on his leg.


    Blood flashed, and a scream resounded as Ye Xiaotian¡¯s legs were cut off, leaving him sprawled on the ground.


    Everyone was dumbfounded, including Dong Mengqi and Gao Linglong. This... this Qin Hao was too domineering, wasn¡¯t he? He said let him crawl back, and so he shall crawl back?


    This was a prince, after all, the brother of today¡¯s Skyfire Dynasty emperor.


    Though the emperor had dozens of brothers, he was still the emperor¡¯s brother. By doing this, how could the emperor save face? How could the royal members save face?


    Qin Hao looked towards the vendor not far away, and a Sword Qi instantly arrived in front of him, ¡°Do you wish to die or live?¡±


    ¡°Mercy, senior, spare me! It was him who transmitted a message to me, forcing me to do this. It wasn¡¯t my fault, I was coerced,¡± the man immediately knelt on the ground, pleading loudly for his life.


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°Deceptive, wanting to slander me for the sake of Spirit Stones. Today, I¡¯ll cut off your arm, what do you have to say?¡±


    ¡°No, I dare not, I dare not,¡± he replied repeatedly.


    ¡°Shhh¡±


    A cold gleam flashed, and the vendor¡¯s arm was severed. He dared not speak further, packed up his stall, and left with his severed arm.


    In fact, the severed arm could be reattached later through medication without any side effects, but the pain from the severing would leave a lasting memory.


    ¡°Congratulations to the host for punishing an evil noble, rewarded one thousand merit points.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations to the host for punishing an evil vendor, rewarded five hundred merit points.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao turned and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Dong Mengqi, Gao Linglong, and the others looked at him with complex expressions, unsure of what to say.


    After leaving the western district, on the way back, Gao Linglong couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Mr. Qin, you have caused big trouble, that Ye Xiaotian is of the royal family.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression was calm, without any change, ¡°So what if he¡¯s of the royal family? Does it mean just because he¡¯s royal, I and my friends should endure his insults? Impossible. Even if it¡¯s the emperor of Skyfire Dynasty himself who dares such a thing, I would do the same.¡±


    Gao Linglong and Dong Mengqi were shocked both inside and out by his words!!


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er showed no change in expression, but instead, looked at him with admiration.


    He was only at the Early Stage Grandmaster Realm, where did such courage come from? Could he be from a powerful hidden sect?


    Soon they were back at their residence, just as they reached the doorstep, they were blocked by a group of people.


    This crowd was none other than the ones they met at the tavern today. They had not only brought some guards but also summoned a helper.


    Wu Yang pointed at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Sister, it was he who beat me.¡±


    Wu Yutong looked at Qin Hao, who was also sizing her up. She was a young beauty, around nineteen or twenty years old, youthful and charming.


    She spoke, ¡°Was it you who hit my brother?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Don¡¯t you already know your brother¡¯s nature? He deserved it.¡±


    Wu Yutong frowned slightly, ¡°Even if he deserved it, it¡¯s not your place to discipline him. The Wu Family naturally handles such matters.¡±


    By now, a crowd had gathered around, mostly young talents from various prefectures, watching the scene unfold.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s skip the nonsense and get to it. Show me what qualifications you have to speak to me that way,¡± Qin Hao remarked calmly.


    Wu Yutong snorted coldly, ¡°Just an early stage Grandmaster Realm, yet so arrogantly, since this is the royal city, I¡¯ll let you know, there¡¯s always someone stronger.¡±


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    Her figure disappeared from view, instantly appearing before Qin Hao, fist clenched, charging fiercely towards his face.


    Qin Hao maneuvered evasively, with remarkable agility, avoiding every one of Wu Yutong¡¯s attacks.


    This Wu Yutong had considerable strength, at the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, her combat power was formidable, and with each movement, Spiritual Energy surged, brilliant and radiant.


    ¡°Hmm? You have some skill, stop dodging if you dare,¡± Wu Yutong said, surprised by his speed.


    She unleashed her movement technique, forming palm seals with both hands, and with each seal released, the air temperature around rose instantly, becoming intensely hot.


    The onlookers retreated slightly, faces showing amazement as they watched Wu Yutong, ¡°Is this the Fire Spirit Palm?¡±

 Chapter 980: 980 Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards

    Chapter 980: Chapter 980 Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards


    The Fire Spirit Palm is a renowned Divine Skills within the Skyfire Dynasty. It possesses great power and is a skill rewarded by the dynasty¡¯s emperor to the noble families. Many noble families possess the Fire Spirit Palm.


    Many have practiced it, but people¡¯s comprehension varies, and few can reach Wu Yutong¡¯s level of mastery with the Fire Spirit Palm.


    Once the palm seal is unleashed, it feels as if one is trapped in a fiery hell, incredibly terrifying. The talent of this woman astonished many in the arena.


    She has comprehended the Fire Spirit Palm to perfection.


    Qin Hao, unfazed, forms the Heavenly Gang Palm Seal with his hands, emitting gale winds akin to knives, swords, and spears, forceful and domineering, decisive in slaughter.


    The Heavenly Gang Palm and the Earth Evil Fist, one extremely yang, the other extremely yin, are equally powerful and both very terrifying.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    In mid-air, Qin Hao and Wu Yutong are locked in an intense battle, Wu Yutong is not an ordinary late-stage Grandmaster Realm, her combat strength is incredibly formidable and terrifying.


    After dozens of rounds, Wu Yutong shows a look of surprise: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have some skill, let¡¯s continue.¡±


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    A loud voice comes from nearby, and in an instant, an elderly man with full white hair arrives.


    He looks at Wu Yutong and Qin Hao, saying, ¡°This is a place where young geniuses live, and fighting is prohibited. If you wish to fight, you can duel on the stage in five days.¡±


    The old man possesses great strength, and many felt chills down their spines upon seeing him. He is a formidable expert, highly likely to be a Heavenly Human Realm expert.


    Wu Yutong looks at Qin Hao saying, ¡°Our score will be settled in five days, hope you don¡¯t get eliminated beforehand.¡±


    Qin Hao smiles slightly, not responding at all.


    Wu Yang and others appear somewhat unwilling, blaming the old man for coming out too soon. If he had appeared a bit later, perhaps Qin Hao would have been slayed.


    Just as everyone was about to disperse, a vibration suddenly comes from the street outside.


    Everyone turns curiously to see enormous beasts galloping over, carrying cultivators clad in black armor, numbering over twenty, each riding a huge, fierce beast.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t those the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards from the emperor¡¯s side?¡± Someone exclaimed in shock upon seeing the group.


    ¡°The Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards are the emperor¡¯s protectors, each cultivator having emerged from a sea of blood, with a minimum strength of Grandmaster Realm, and capable of easily slaying those of the same realm, even one against five, extremely terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Why would the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards come here? They usually accompany the emperor, is he touring?¡±


    ¡°No one else is behind them, doesn¡¯t seem like an emperor¡¯s tour.¡±


    While everyone was puzzled, the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard commander spoke: ¡°Who is Qin Hao?¡±


    Everyone was stunned, immediately turning their gaze to Qin Hao, wondering why the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards were looking for him. Could he be a prince?


    Impossible, many were aware of the emperor¡¯s number of sons present, Qin Hao was certainly not among them.


    The Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard commander followed everyone¡¯s gaze: ¡°You¡¯re Qin Hao? Dared to cut off Prince¡¯s legs in public, how bold of you, take him away, await punishment.¡±


    Upon hearing the commander¡¯s words, everyone was dumbstruck, including Wu Yutong, Wu Yang, and Zhai Tengfei, who were all shocked.


    What? He cut off the Prince¡¯s legs?


    Dammit, you are indeed formidable!


    This is the royal city, and you audaciously severed the emperor¡¯s brother¡¯s legs, you truly have a death wish.


    Zhai Tengfei, Wu Yang, and others were at a loss for words; this guy is truly fierce, where did such a ruthless person come from?


    Now they slightly regretted provoking Qin Hao. The Prince¡¯s legs were amputated by him, compared to that, they merely suffered a few slaps, much better than the Prince.


    The onlookers were also incredulous, staring at Qin Hao in the distance, unsure how to describe him.


    Arrogant? Domineering? Forceful? Formidable?


    ...


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er showed a worried expression while Dong Mengqi and Gao Linglong also turned their gaze to Qin Hao.


    At this time, two Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards jumped off their Bloodthirsty Beast, intending to take Qin Hao away.


    Qin Hao spoke: ¡°What crime have I committed?¡±


    ¡°You severed the Prince¡¯s legs in public, defying royal dignity. What crime do you say?¡± The Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard commander spoke coldly, his aura exuding a heavy murderous intent.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Is it just because he is a prince, and I must endure his insults and robbery of my belongings? I can¡¯t do it, don¡¯t mention royal dignity to me, I have dignity too. If you refuse it, come at me, I shall slay you all.¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, everyone silently thought of one word: formidable.


    A word many had contemplated but none dared to utter.


    Wu Yutong stared blankly at Qin Hao, utterly shocked, wondering who he was to dare speak like that, so...so astounding?


    The Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard commander listened, his murderous aura intensified: ¡°Take him down.¡±


    The elderly man in the sky did not speak, simply observing the scene, it was not appropriate for him to intervene in royal matters.


    The two men quickened their pace, charging forward, Qin Hao soared to meet them, executing Heavenly Gang Palm Seal with one hand, Earth Evil Fist Seal with the other, channeling his Spiritual Energy, emitting dazzling brilliance.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Qin Hao engaged in a battle with the two Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards, both mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, they were strong individuals who had experienced numerous wars.


    In less than a minute, each of them was struck by a Heavenly Gang Palm and Earth Evil Fist, vomiting blood and flying back heavily before the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard commander.


    Facing the displeased commander, Qin Hao said: ¡°Come at me all at once, you alone are insufficient.¡±


    ¡°Arrogant.¡±


    The Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard commander flew up from his Bloodthirsty Beast, a red spear appearing in his hand, wielding it with overwhelming murderous spear light, revealing late-stage Grandmaster Realm strength.


    Qin Hao launched a series of Heavenly Gang Palm Seals, instantly dispelling the commander¡¯s murderous spear light.


    ¡°The Mountain of Corpses and Sea of Blood.¡±


    The commander chose not to waste time, utilizing one of his strongest attack techniques, a killing move realized on the battlefield.


    Instantaneously, it seemed everyone was in an endless battlefield, soldiers charging, battling, limbs severed, blood flowing like rivers, a horrendously gruesome scene.


    A crimson spear glowed in the void, stretching dozens of zhang long, emitting intense murderous and killing aura, causing many onlookers¡¯ scalps to tingle, breath constricted.


    ¡°What terrifying murderous aura.¡±


    The crowd collectively retreated, the spear light emanating an overwhelming force, a collision at such proximity posed a risk of accidental harm.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned serious; the man possessed deep understanding of spear techniques, this spear attack was exceedingly powerful.


    He formed seals with his hands, a massive hand gradually materializing behind him, ultimately becoming a radiant five-finger mountain, bursting with brilliance.

 Chapter 981: 981 Princess Lingyi

    Chapter 981: Chapter 981 Princess Lingyi


    ¡°What kind of divine skill is this?¡±


    Everyone widened their eyes, seeing the massive hand tens of meters behind Qin Hao.


    ¡°Kill¡±


    The Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard Commander shouted, locking his spear light onto Qin Hao, charging forward rapidly.


    ¡°Go¡±


    Qin Hao squinted slightly, extending his palm. The gigantic hand behind him surged forward. The Heavenly Gang Palm Seal grew larger in the wind, becoming more substantial, like the hand of the heavens, terrifying beyond belief.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    The blood-red spear light clashed with the golden yang-colored palm seal.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    In an instant, it was as if a small sun exploded in the sky. The light illuminated the entire royal city, causing many experts within to open their eyes and look this way. Quite a few were rushing over, wanting to see what had happened here.


    The energy waves produced by the explosion rippled out, causing those nearby to vomit blood and retreat violently.


    An elder in the distance took action, protecting the surrounding buildings, knowing that if the energy spread out, buildings within several miles might be reduced to ruins.


    The clash between the two was terrifying.


    The Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard Commander used his strongest attack move, trying to end the battle quickly, while Qin Hao had no choice but to use a high-attack divine skill to counteract.


    When the energy waves calmed down, the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard Commander and Qin Hao were still standing in the air, unmoving.


    A few seconds later, the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard Commander suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and fell from the sky.


    Those watching showed a subtle change in expression. Had the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard Commander actually been defeated???


    At this moment, many of the city¡¯s experts had arrived, just in time to see the defeat of the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard Commander.


    Wu Yutong¡¯s face was stunned, showing an expression of disbelief. She knew well how strong the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard Commander was, and now Qin Hao had defeated him. Was this guy really that strong?


    The other Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards quickly caught their commander and the remaining twenty-plus members rushed forward, forming a strangling formation in groups of five.


    Xian Yin wanted to act upon seeing this situation, but Gao Linglong stopped her: ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush, Miss Xian Yin. Mr. Qin probably hasn¡¯t used his full strength yet. If he truly can¡¯t handle it, it wouldn¡¯t be of any use for you to go up there.¡±


    Qin Hao snorted coldly. Instantly, countless sword qi appeared in front of him, densely packed, numbering in the thousands or tens of thousands, flashing cold light, full of murderous intent.


    ¡°Kill¡±


    The sword qi slashed out, and in an instant, the sky was engulfed by sword light, covering the five strangling battle formations of the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Dozens of seconds later, all twenty-five Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards were killed by the endless sword qi, perishing on the spot.


    Everyone was shocked, including the heavily injured Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard Commander on the ground, who couldn¡¯t believe it. He thought Qin Hao was already at his limit, yet he still had such a powerful battle force. This man was absurdly strong.


    The onlookers were equally astonished. This person¡¯s combat power was truly terrifying. If they encountered him during the five-day competition, they would have to be on their toes.


    Wu Yutong was solemn. Others might not understand the might of the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards, as those people rarely visited the royal city and didn¡¯t know about them.


    But she had grown up in the royal city, and she knew very well the combat strength of these Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards. Even a random guard was as strong as any young genius participating in the competition.


    This man was unbelievably strong, and if she had truly gone against him just now, she wasn¡¯t confident she could win.


    Qin Hao stood in the air, looking down at the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard Commander: ¡°Since this dynasty can¡¯t give me respect, I¡¯ll carve out respect for myself. Who else is unsatisfied?¡±


    The Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard Commander looked at Qin Hao and said: ¡°Daring to kill the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards, you won¡¯t escape today.¡±


    Qin Hao sneered: ¡°Oh? Then have someone kill me, and see if they can.¡±


    At this time, a luxurious carriage was flying in from the distant sky, drawn by two green luan beasts, its team elegant and noble.


    The crowd could not help but turn their heads to look. The green luan carriage, could it be from that person in the palace?


    The green luan carriage quickly approached, and on it sat a young woman, elegant and regal. Every move exuded a noble aura that was bone-deep and innate.


    ¡°Is that Princess Lingyi?¡± The crowd was awestruck upon seeing the woman on the green luan carriage, their eyes revealing amazement.


    She was extremely beautiful, no less so than Xian Yin, possessing her own unique charm and aura.


    Ye Lingyi sat on the carriage, looking at Qin Hao in the sky, with a brilliant light flickering in her beautiful eyes: ¡°Mr. Qin, my father has already investigated the matter, the fault lies with Prince Xiaotian, and my father has punished him. These Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards misunderstood my father¡¯s command; he only wanted someone to bring you over to meet the young hero who slew the Jiangping State Governor and destroyed the Red Cloud Sect.¡±


    Whether or not these words were true, coming from Ye Lingyi¡¯s mouth, they sounded extremely pleasant.


    Qin Hao looked at her with a calm expression: ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s leave it at that.¡±


    Ye Lingyi smiled at Qin Hao and said: ¡°Mr. Qin, my father would like to invite you to visit the palace. What do you think, Mr. Qin?¡±


    Everyone felt a chill. An invitation to the palace? Could he really leave alive after saying all that?


    Would Qin Hao agree? Everyone looked at Qin Hao expectantly.


    Qin Hao replied easily: ¡°Since it¡¯s an invitation from the Emperor, I, Qin, shall naturally go.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, please get on the carriage.¡± Ye Lingyi stood and invited him.


    With a single step, Qin Hao was at the green luan carriage, where there were just two seats, and he sat down in the spare seat beside her.


    The crowd was envious beyond belief, as many sons of nobility in the royal city had wanted to ride with Princess Lingyi, but none had ever succeeded. Now another man had.


    The green luan carriage quickly left, flying towards the palace within the royal city.


    The Skyfire Dynasty¡¯s royal palace was vast, as large as four ordinary cities, with palaces in clusters, majestic and magnificent.


    Especially when viewed from the air, the entire palace seemed to be arranged according to some deep, mysterious pattern, like a grand formation.


    On the carriage, Ye Lingyi looked at Qin Hao with a cold expression: ¡°Mr. Qin, though you are only in the Early Stage Grandmaster Realm, your combat power is truly terrifying. May I ask where Mr. Qin learned such skills?¡±


    ¡°I belong to no sect or school.¡± Qin Hao replied.


    Ye Lingyi¡¯s beautiful eyes flashed with surprise: ¡°Are you saying all of Mr. Qin¡¯s skills were self-taught?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°If they weren¡¯t self-taught, what else could they be? Innate?¡±


    Ye Lingyi, hearing his words, was almost speechless. Does this man even know how to talk? ¡°Mr. Qin truly has heavenly talent. To have such strength at only twenty-something years, it¡¯s unheard of.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve only been practicing seriously for less than a year.¡± Qin Hao replied.


    ...

 Chapter 982: 982: Superior Spiritual Artifact

    Chapter 982: Chapter 982: Superior Spiritual Artifact


    Ye Lingyi heard his words and was filled with disbelief, practicing for less than a year? This person really knows how to boast.


    Approximately six minutes later, the Qingluan carriage landed in the depths of the royal palace, in the West Garden.


    Stepping off the carriage, Ye Lingyi said, ¡°Mr. Qin, please follow me.¡±


    Qin Hao walked beside her, passing through corridors and palaces. The royal palace was heavily guarded, with checkpoints every three steps and sentries every five steps, all at the very least at the Grandmaster Realm¡ªa truly terrifying sight.


    And those were just the visible sentries; there were even more hidden ones, with greater strength.


    After walking for a long time, Ye Lingyi led Qin Hao into a palace that looked like a study, with an ancient wooden table and a dragon chair, completely void of people otherwise.


    Qin Hao looked at Ye Lingyi with a puzzled expression, ¡°Princess Lingyi, weren¡¯t you saying the Emperor wanted to see me?¡±


    Ye Lingyi, with nimble steps, walked over and sat on the dragon chair, ¡°My father had some insights recently and is currently in seclusion for cultivation. All state affairs, big and small, are secretly handled by me.¡±


    Qin Hao was taken aback, ¡°So what does Princess Lingyi want with me?¡±


    Ye Lingyi looked at him and said, ¡°Nothing much, I just wanted to see how courageous you are, whether you dared to come. It seems Mr. Qin indeed has a straightforward personality. Aren¡¯t you afraid of not being able to leave the royal palace?¡±


    ¡°Since I dared to come, I naturally have the confidence to escape.¡± Qin Hao¡¯s tone was calm but exuded a strong sense of self-assurance.


    Ye Lingyi¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of curiosity at his words, ¡°Really? With the palace¡¯s heavy restrictions, checkpoints every three steps, sentries every five steps, I wonder how Mr. Qin plans to escape?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°If Princess Lingyi wants to try, you can naturally feel free to test it.¡±


    Ye Lingyi¡¯s aura suddenly shifted, ¡°Mr. Qin thinks I wouldn¡¯t dare? Just the words you¡¯ve said are enough for a death sentence.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at her nonchalantly and found a chair to sit down.


    Ye Lingyi: ¡°Mr. Qin, this is the royal palace, this is the study room, not a place you can sit as you please.¡±


    Qin Hao ignored her, examining the items in the study room.


    ¡°Swoosh¡±


    Ye Lingyi¡¯s figure vanished from the original spot and reappeared in front of Qin Hao, her index and middle fingers together, pointing at Qin Hao¡¯s chest.


    Qin Hao reacted extremely quickly, his right hand shot out like lightning, just in time to grasp Ye Lingyi¡¯s two jade fingers.


    Ye Lingyi¡¯s expression changed slightly, attempting to withdraw, but her fingers were gripped tightly by Qin Hao and wouldn¡¯t budge.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    The jade bracelet on her arm suddenly emitted light, a blade light shot out, slashing towards Qin Hao¡¯s arm.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes gleamed with sword light, gathering Sword Qi to fend off the blade light.


    Ye Lingyi¡¯s face turned slightly cold, unleashing a formidable power from within. Qin Hao instantly released her arm, retreating, looking at her with some astonishment.


    ¡°Mr. Qin¡¯s strength is indeed terrifying.¡± Ye Lingyi looked at him, a hint of battle intent flashing in her beautiful eyes.


    If not for the fact that it was in the study room, she would have had a proper spar with Qin Hao to see just how strong he was.


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°Does Princess Lingyi have anything else? If not, I should be heading back; it¡¯s already dark, and I need to rest.¡±


    Ye Lingyi smiled faintly, ¡°Mr. Qin, there¡¯s no need to hurry, I have already arranged for an evening banquet, feel free to dine here tonight.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Qin Hao directly refused.


    Ye Lingyi: ¡°Most people would jump at the chance, don¡¯t refuse so quickly, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao wasn¡¯t sure what she was up to, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    Seeing his insistence on leaving, Ye Lingyi felt a bit displeased. In the entire royal city, countless people wished to dine with this princess, yet this guy outright refused. Does this princess have no charm?


    She spoke again, ¡°Since Mr. Qin insists, then please go ahead. I hope you can act more low-key in the future, your personality offends people too easily, usually, those who live long are more tactful.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was born stubborn, can¡¯t act tactfully.¡±


    Ye Lingyi almost choked on his words, this princess was kindly reminding you, yet you don¡¯t appreciate it: ¡°You should leave quickly, someone outside will escort you out.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao left the study room, and someone escorted him towards the exit of the royal palace. After about half an hour, Qin Hao returned to his residence.


    Inside the room, Gao Linglong, Dong Mengqi, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er were seated, and seeing Qin Hao return, they hurriedly stood up.


    ¡°Why is everyone here?¡± Qin Hao asked, somewhat surprised.


    Gao Linglong looked at him and inquired, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°What could happen to me?¡± Qin Hao replied with a faint smile.


    Gao Linglong: ¡°The way you spoke, I thought the Emperor would kill you.¡±


    ¡°To kill me, they would need the ability.¡±


    Dong Mengqi stood up and said, ¡°Since Mr. Qin is fine, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Mm, take care, Miss Dong.¡±


    After seeing Dong Mengqi off, back in the room, Gao Linglong curiously asked, ¡°What did the Emperor say to you?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I didn¡¯t see the Emperor, I only met Princess Lingyi.¡±


    Gao Linglong was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood, ¡°Is Princess Lingyi testing you?¡±


    ¡°Does this Princess Lingyi have the Emperor¡¯s favor?¡± Qin Hao asked with curiosity.


    Gao Linglong nodded, ¡°You could say she is the most favored by the Emperor, her cultivation talent is extremely high, the highest among the Princes and Princesses, known as the number one young expert of the royal city. It is said she broke through to the Grandmaster Realm at fifteen¡ªher talent is indeed terrifying.¡±


    Qin Hao understood a bit more, it was no wonder this Ye Lingyi could handle various state affairs on behalf of the Emperor.


    ¡°By the way, have you had dinner yet?¡± Qin Hao felt a bit hungry.


    ¡°Not yet, I¡¯ll have someone bring it up shortly.¡± Gao Linglong replied.


    A few minutes later, a sumptuous dinner was delivered, and the four of them ate while chatting,


    Gao Linglong took out the bell, ¡°Mr. Qin, this bell is too valuable, I can¡¯t accept it.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°It pales in comparison to the favor Mr. Gao granted me. Accept it, it¡¯s of no use to us.¡±


    Saying this, he remembered the Purple Pattern Elixir Furnace and took it out from the storage space, handing it to Xian Yin, ¡°This is a Spiritual Artifact, the Purple Pattern Elixir Furnace, use it for Alchemy in the future.¡±


    Gao Linglong and Xian Yin were stunned, initially, Xian Yin felt a bit of loss seeing Qin Hao give Gao Linglong a gift, but now seeing Qin Hao giving something to her, she was overjoyed, although she didn¡¯t show it on her face, ¡°Master, is this also Spiritual Energy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a top-grade Spiritual Artifact, arguably the highest-grade Alchemy Furnace.¡±


    Gao Linglong was shocked, ¡°A top-grade Spiritual Artifact Alchemy Furnace? That¡¯s extremely rare not just in the Skyfire Dynasty but also across the entire Southern Continent.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Xian Yin didn¡¯t refuse, accepting it with a beaming smile.

 Chapter 983: 983 Wei Country Manor

    Chapter 983: Chapter 983 Wei Country Manor


    Xue Lingling hurriedly asked, ¡°Master, is that sword you received also a spiritual artifact?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled wryly, ¡°That¡¯s just scrap iron.¡±


    Xue Lingling was a bit disappointed, ¡°Oh.¡±


    Qin Hao understood her little thoughts, ¡°Next time I find something good, I¡¯ll prioritize giving it to you.¡±


    Ling¡¯er chuckled, ¡°Master is really nice.¡±


    Gao Linglong spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, my father just sent a message saying that he wants to invite you to our home tomorrow.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll come find you tomorrow.¡±


    After dinner, Gao Linglong chatted with Qin Hao and Xian Yin for a while, then left. Qin Hao and the other two saw her off at the door. Gao Linglong turned and smiled, ¡°Mr. Qin, Miss Xian Yin, Ling¡¯er, you all go back, it¡¯s so close that there¡¯s no need to see me off.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, watched Gao Linglong return to the pavilion, and then went back to the room with Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er.


    In the living room, Xian Yin took out the Purple Pattern Elixir Furnace Qin Hao had given her, and dropped a drop of her essence blood on it, while infusing it with a large amount of spiritual energy.


    The rust on the surface of the Purple Pattern Elixir Furnace began to fall off, revealing its original color. It was a purple-bronze furnace adorned with densely packed, profound, and mysterious patterns.


    ¡°So beautiful.¡± Ling¡¯er showed a look of amazement upon seeing the exquisite furnace.


    Xian Yin also admired it, ¡°Master, how did you discover this? This is a premium spiritual artifact, there¡¯s not a single premium spiritual artifact in the entire Skyfire Dynasty.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°It requires keen eyesight.¡±


    ¡°Master, you¡¯re amazing.¡± Xian Yin smiled faintly.


    ¡°Go and practice well, the competition is in a few days.¡±


    ...


    The next morning around eight.


    Gao Linglong came to Qin Hao¡¯s place; at this time, Qin Hao and the others had just finished breakfast. Seeing Gao Linglong, Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Miss Linglong, have you had breakfast? Then shall we go?¡±


    After speaking, he told Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er, ¡°You both stay home and practice well, wait for me to come back, and try not to wander around.¡±


    He was worried that the people he had offended might make a move against Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er.


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er understood what he meant and nodded gently, ¡°Master, go ahead, Ling¡¯er and I will wait for you at home.¡±


    Qin Hao and Gao Linglong left the pavilion, and after they left, Ling¡¯er suddenly said to Xian Yin, ¡°Sister Xian Yin, do you think Sister Linglong might fall for Master?¡±


    Xian Yin¡¯s heart trembled at the words, ¡°Why do you think about so much, little girl? This is Master¡¯s business, we can¡¯t interfere.¡±


    Ling¡¯er giggled, ¡°Sister Xian Yin, I know you like Master. If you like him, just boldly say it, don¡¯t be so reserved.¡±


    Xian Yin blushed intensely, ¡°Shoo, shoo, you little girl knows nothing.¡±


    On the other side, Qin Hao and Gao Linglong, along with several guards of the Commandery Prince¡¯s residence, walked down the street.


    Gao Linglong said while walking, ¡°Mr. Qin, I have a list here, do you want to take a look? It records the young talents participating in this competition, mainly some pretty formidable opponents.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°No need, there¡¯s nothing particularly interesting.¡±


    Gao Linglong nodded slightly with a bitter smile and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, with your extraordinary combat prowess, getting into the top five should be very easy. It¡¯s different for us; we have to thoroughly study our opponents.¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Stop flattering me already; I think that Princess Lingyi is quite terrifying.¡±


    Gao Linglong reminded, ¡°No one has seen Princess Lingyi¡¯s exact combat strength, but she¡¯s definitely the most terrifying participant in this competition, and she might have a spiritual artifact. The added combat power of a spiritual artifact is extremely terrifying.¡±


    In the competition, contestants can use any means necessary to win, because the result is everything.


    Some people feel it¡¯s unfair, but is there really absolute fairness in the world? If someone has a spiritual artifact and is not allowed to use it, then others might find your divine skills to be too powerful, and you shouldn¡¯t be allowed to use those powerful skills either. Then what¡¯s the point of the competition?


    So the rules are simple, as long as you can win, it doesn¡¯t matter whether you¡¯re using hidden weapons or any other means; it¡¯s all your ability.


    As they talked, they soon arrived in front of a massive mansion: Wei Country Duke¡¯s Mansion!


    On both sides of the mansion¡¯s entrance, there were two mighty and extraordinary spiritual beasts. Seeing Gao Linglong, the guards at the gate respectfully called out, ¡°Miss.¡±


    Gao Linglong nodded slightly, leading Qin Hao into the mansion. Wei Country Duke¡¯s Mansion was huge, the scenery inside was beautiful, and the palace was extremely luxurious.


    After walking for a while, they encountered a group led by a young man about the same age as Gao Linglong.


    Seeing Gao Linglong, he smiled and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this sister Linglong?¡±


    Gao Linglong¡¯s face was not good, ¡°Do you have any business?¡±


    Gao Zhixing laughed heartily, ¡°Is that how you talk to your cousin? No manners at all. I think it¡¯s all taught by your lowly mother, right?¡±


    Gao Linglong was enraged, her face flushed red, ¡°Gao Zhixing, if you dare speak ill of my mother again, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, quite defiant, did I say something wrong? Isn¡¯t your mother just a lowly prostitute?¡± After saying that, Gao Zhixing laughed heartily again.


    Gao Linglong¡¯s face turned livid, just as she was about to make a move, the sound of slaps suddenly rang out continuously, lasting for more than twenty slaps.


    After the slaps stopped, Gao Zhixing¡¯s eyes were starry, his head buzzing, his body swayed, and if not for the servants supporting him, he would have fallen to the ground.


    ¡°Mr. Gao has done me a favor, if you dare to insult Mr. Gao¡¯s wife again, I¡¯ll cut off your head.¡± Qin Hao¡¯s voice was chillingly cold, filled with killing intent.


    Gao Linglong felt grateful to Qin Hao, knowing he understood her difficulties; whether or not to act was a hard choice.


    She also knew that if Qin Hao said it, he was capable of acting on it. He didn¡¯t even regard the emperor¡¯s brother highly, let alone the son of a duke, ¡°Qin Hao, let it go. Don¡¯t bother with him.¡±


    She worried that if Qin Hao really killed Gao Zhixing, it would not sit well with her grandfather, and the relationship between the Gao Family and Qin Hao would deteriorate.


    Gao Zhixing, a dignified duke¡¯s son, surrounded by admirers, had never been beaten like this before, let alone at home.


    ¡°Gao Linglong, you bitch, just like your damn mother, so low you dare find a man to hit me, don¡¯t you? Someone kill him for me.¡± Gao Zhixing screamed hysterically.


    The servants behind him immediately surged forward, while the guards behind Gao Linglong also rushed to the front, both sides in a standoff.


    But this was the Wei Country Duke¡¯s Mansion, and Gao Zhixing¡¯s father, also Gao Linglong¡¯s uncle, had inherited the duke¡¯s title, making him the head of the house here.


    The guards in the mansion were pouring in; in no time, dozens of people gathered.


    Seeing this, Gao Zhixing pointed at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Get him, kill him. Anyone who kills him gets a million spirit stones.¡±


    These people initially were concerned about Gao Linglong, but upon hearing the young master¡¯s words, they all charged forward, swords pointing at Qin Hao, attacking fiercely.

 Chapter 984: 984: Extraordinary Appearance

    Chapter 984: Chapter 984: Extraordinary Appearance


    The guards of Gao Linglong soon fell into a pool of blood.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression was calm, and he did not make a move, but his black dragon-embroidered robe fluttered without wind, and thousands of Sword Qi appeared around him.


    He walked as if strolling through a courtyard, and with each step, several guards fell to the ground.


    Before long, Qin Hao and Gao Linglong arrived at the open plaza outside the main hall of the Duke¡¯s Mansion. Although there were still more than a hundred people surrounding them, no one dared to attack because the power Qin Hao displayed was too terrifying.


    Gao Zhixing¡¯s face turned pale with fear. Where did Gao Linglong find such a powerful man? Too terrifying.


    Just then, a cold light flickered in the air, and a Sword Qi shot toward Gao Zhixing¡¯s neck, intending to sever his head.


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    Two streams of light flashed from a distance and instantly dissipated Qin Hao¡¯s Sword Qi.


    At the same time, three figures appeared and approached the plaza, including Gao Yuan, who had just sent out one of the beams of light.


    The two other middle-aged men looked a bit like Gao Yuan, suggesting they were his brothers.


    One of them squinted at Qin Hao, eyes flickering with killing intent: ¡°Who are you to dare cause trouble in our Duke¡¯s Mansion?¡±


    Gao Yuan said, ¡°Big brother, this is a friend I met in Yuxing County, named Qin Hao.¡±


    Gao Feng snorted coldly, ¡°Isn¡¯t your friend a bit too arrogant? Planning to kill my son in our Duke¡¯s Mansion?¡±


    Qin Hao replied, ¡°Your son is undisciplined, repeatedly calling other people¡¯s mothers lowly. Did you teach him that?¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Gao Feng and Gao Yuan¡¯s faces changed. They immediately understood what had happened just now because they were smart people.


    Gao Feng looked at Qin Hao with a dark expression: ¡°You have a lot of nerve. Seize him!¡±


    Beside him, Gao Chuan hurriedly said, ¡°Big brother, this person cannot be taken.¡±


    Gao Feng questioned in confusion, ¡°Why can¡¯t he be taken?¡±


    Gao Chuan explained, ¡°Yesterday, this person killed nearly thirty Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards and severely injured the Guard Commander. His fighting power is terrifying. Unless father or our third brother takes action, no one can subdue him.¡±


    Gao Feng¡¯s face changed slightly: ¡°This person killed so many Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards and is still alive?¡±


    ¡°Not only that, yesterday he also severed Prince Xiaotian¡¯s legs, and after killing the Forbidden Guards, he was invited to the palace by the emperor. It seems the emperor didn¡¯t make things difficult for him,¡± Gao Chuan had been at the scene yesterday and was truly shocked by Qin Hao¡¯s fighting power.


    The Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard Commander¡¯s power was comparable to a Half-step Heavenly Realm Master, yet he was defeated by Qin Hao, indicating the terrifying extent of Qin Hao¡¯s power.


    Hearing his second brother¡¯s words, Gao Feng¡¯s face showed uncertainty, and for a moment he didn¡¯t know what to do.


    At this point, Gao Yuan spoke, ¡°Mr. Qin, let it go. I see that our nephew Zhixing knows his mistake; don¡¯t hold it against him.¡±


    Although he said this, he still harbored some anger. Previously, the whole family almost entirely opposed his and Linglong¡¯s mother¡¯s relationship; Gao Feng and others completely looked down upon Linglong¡¯s mother, which led to him, in a fit of anger, taking his family to Yuxing County.


    Leveraging their father¡¯s influence in the court and his own breakthrough in power, he eventually became the Commandery Prince of Yuxing County.


    In the entire Wei Country¡¯s mansion, apart from their father, he was the only Heavenly Human Realm expert. Now the servants no longer dared to act arrogantly as they once did.


    Qin Hao looked at Gao Zhixing and said plainly, ¡°Your luck saved you this time. If there¡¯s a next time, no one can save you.¡±


    Gao Zhixing¡¯s face was ashen. He wanted to speak harshly but didn¡¯t dare, especially when even his father said nothing; he dared even less, and he turned and left.


    ¡°Disperse, everyone. Return to your duties,¡± Gao Yuan commanded with authoritative finality.


    The subordinates, intimidated by his power, left without a word, which enraged Gao Feng. Who was the head of the family here? Did none of you recognize me as the Duke?


    After this, Gao Yuan looked at Qin Hao and Gao Linglong and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, Linglong, come inside.¡±


    Gao Feng knew that Gao Yuan was definitely angry inside. Although he hadn¡¯t really taken it out on his son, he surely harbored some resentment. His attitude of turning the tables just now said it all.


    Logically, it should have been him inviting them into the hall.


    He didn¡¯t say anything because he was not as strong as Gao Yuan, despite cultivating for nearly a century without breaking through to the Heavenly Human Realm.


    Inside the main hall, Qin Hao and Gao Linglong sat down, and Gao Yuan addressed Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, I heard about what happened yesterday. You were quite bold.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just my nature; Mr. Gao needn¡¯t say more.¡±


    Gao Yuan nodded slightly, ¡°I heard from Linglong that you gave her a Spiritual Artifact?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Gao Feng and Gao Chuan widened their eyes. He gave Linglong a Spiritual Artifact? No way, was he bluffing? Their entire Duke¡¯s Mansion didn¡¯t even possess a single Spiritual Artifact, and he was giving one away?


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°I owe Mr. Gao a favor. Consider this as a token of my gratitude for his help.¡±


    Gao Linglong took out the golden bell, ¡°Father, it¡¯s this.¡±


    Gao Yuan took it to look at, while Gao Feng and Gao Chuan also examined the golden bell. Was this a Spiritual Artifact?


    Gao Yuan infused it with Spiritual Energy, and the bell shone brilliantly with golden light.


    ¡°Ding¡±


    The sound of the bell sent out an invisible energy wave, shaking the entire hall. Gao Yuan hurriedly withdrew his Spiritual Energy and looked at the bell with some astonishment.


    Gao Feng and Gao Chuan were incredibly shocked, staring at the bell with eyes full of fervor. Such strong power, it was undoubtedly a Spiritual Artifact, resonating with the Spiritual Energy of the heavens and earth.


    Gao Linglong said, ¡°Father, this Spiritual Artifact has many uses and is very powerful.¡±


    She had tested it last night and was utterly astonished. She conservatively estimated that this Spiritual Artifact could increase her combat power by at least fifty percent. With this bell, she was more confident about ranking in the top five.


    Gao Yuan returned the Spiritual Artifact to his daughter, ¡°Since Mr. Qin gave it to you, keep it and use it.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Linglong nodded slightly.


    Gao Yuan looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, this gift of yours is a bit much; I don¡¯t even know how to repay the favor.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, ¡°No need to be polite, Mr. Gao. I consider Linglong a friend, and I don¡¯t have any use for the item, so I gave it to her.¡±


    As they were speaking, an old man emerged from the back hall, ¡°We have guests?¡±


    Gao Feng and the others hurriedly stood up, ¡°Father.¡±


    ¡°Grandfather,¡± Gao Linglong also called out.


    The old man nodded slightly and came over, ¡°This young master¡¯s face is extraordinary, a dragon among men, destined to be a great figure.¡±


    Qin Hao calmly replied, ¡°The senior overpraises me.¡±


    The old man said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯m not flattering you; I possess a secret technique for reading faces. Your face carries the aura of a king, imposing and extraordinary, indicating a future of remarkable achievements.¡±

 Chapter 985: 985: The Grand Competition Begins

    Chapter 985: Chapter 985: The Grand Competition Begins


    Qin Hao stayed at the Wei Country¡¯s Duke Manor for a long time, and he had lunch here as well.


    After three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, he and Gao Linglong left the Duke Manor.


    On the way back, Gao Linglong said, ¡°My grandfather actually has never liked me and doesn¡¯t think much of my mother, feeling she isn¡¯t worthy of my father.¡±


    ¡°It looks much better now than it did before,¡± Qin Hao said blandly.


    Gao Linglong nodded, ¡°Only when one¡¯s own strength is strong enough will they change their attitudes. Sometimes I find them really disgusting.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°This should be human nature, right? It¡¯s best to just let it go.¡±


    Gao Linglong slightly nodded: ¡°Mr. Qin, why do I feel your mind is like that of an elder?¡±


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯ve experienced many things.¡±


    Although he was not very old, he had experienced quite a number of things, so richly varied that others might find it hard to believe.


    The two soon returned to their residence, and Gao Linglong invited, ¡°Would Mr. Qin come inside to sit for a while?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°No, go back and study that bell well; understanding it thoroughly will benefit future competitions.¡±


    Gao Linglong nodded, ¡°Alright, goodbye Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao returned to the residence, where Xian Yin was playing the guqin upstairs, and Ling¡¯er was listening beside her. They had created a sound barrier, so the music couldn¡¯t reach outside.


    After all, many people lived here, some of whom were in closed-door cultivation, adjusting their states, and the sound of the guqin could disturb them.


    If some were enchanted by her music, it would also be troublesome for her.


    Qin Hao walked lightly up to the second floor, and the tune played by Xian Yin contained a touch of longing, which reminded him of his distant parents, Du Wanrou, Xia Qing, Chang Jing, and others in another world.


    After the tune ended, Gao Linglong saw Qin Hao behind her. He seemed lost in thought, so she did not disturb him, quietly watching him from there.


    Qin Hao¡¯s face showed a complex expression, with longing, guilt, sadness, nostalgia, determination...


    What truly resided in his heart?


    After about ten minutes, Qin Hao came to his senses and found Ling¡¯er and Xian Yin watching him.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Why are you staring at me? Is there a flower on my face?¡±


    Ling¡¯er looked into his eyes and said, ¡°Master, you cried.¡±


    Qin Hao paused, ¡°Cried? No way! I rarely cry since I became an adult.¡±


    Xian Yin shifted the topic, ¡°Mr. Qin seemed entranced by my tune.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, it was quite good.¡± Qin Hao admired.


    Xian Yin: ¡°If Master Qin likes it, Xian Yin can play for you every day.¡±


    ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be too polite,¡± Qin Hao said with a smile.


    Xian Yin¡¯s face flushed slightly, shyly she said, ¡°It is Xian Yin¡¯s fortune to play for Master Qin.¡±


    ...


    As days passed, Qin Hao and the others did not go out, focusing on cultivation and adjusting their states.


    In the blink of an eye, the day for the dynasty¡¯s young talent trials had arrived.


    This day at seven in the morning, all the young geniuses of Yuxing County gathered together.


    Gao Yuan looked at everyone and said, ¡°Today is the grand trials. I hope everyone can achieve good results and bring glory to Yuxing County. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    He led the crowd toward the tournament arena in the city; many teams were heading toward the competition.


    The entire Yuxing County comprised forty-seven commanderies, plus the talented juveniles of the royal city, with a total of over six hundred participants. Half would be eliminated on the first day.


    About ten minutes later, led by Gao Yuan, Qin Hao and the others entered the grand tournament city of the royal city.


    The tournament arena was vast, with ten large battle platforms, and enough surrounding seats for tens of thousands to watch. At this time, the arena was already crowded, extremely lively, almost having no empty seats.


    The competitors had specific seating regions close to the battle platforms.


    After leading them to the Yuxing County area, Gao Yuan let everyone sit down, and not far from there was a judges¡¯ seat where dozens were seated.


    Beside the judges¡¯ area was a VIP seat, occupied mostly by famous figures of the Skyfire Dynasty, such as its emperor, dukes, nobles, and others.


    At eight o¡¯clock, all participating teams and members had arrived at the arena.


    An old man with white hair on the judges¡¯ stand spoke, ¡°I hereby declare the commencement of the Skyfire Dynasty¡¯s 98th Young Genius Trials.¡±


    The vast arena instantly quietened as everyone attentively listened to him speak.


    The old man continued, ¡°Next, each commandery¡¯s Commandery Prince will come on stage to draw lots for the contestants.¡±


    Dozens of figures flew onto one of the battle platforms; these were all Commandery Princes, experts of the Heavenly Human Realm, and only at this time could the royal city gather so many Heavenly Human Realm experts.


    They quickly completed the drawing and returned. Qin Hao, Gao Linglong, and eleven others each received a tag, marked with the participant¡¯s number.


    Qin Hao¡¯s tag was number 145, and Xian Yin¡¯s was number 146.


    After the drawing, the dynasty¡¯s officials announced the first batch of opponent matchups, with twenty people simultaneously competing in ten arenas.


    In the first round, none were from Yuxing County, yet everyone sat watching the battle platforms with solemn expressions, only Qin Hao looked rather relaxed.


    The battles on the ten platforms had begun, and those people displayed their strongest methods. Their skill levels were close, and victory depended on practical experience.


    Most of these people¡¯s skills were at mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, with few at late-stage.


    About ten minutes later, the winners and losers were decided on stage, ten were eliminated, and ten advanced to the next round.


    The second round began, featuring someone from Yuxing County, Dong Mengqi.


    Everyone encouraged her, ¡°Go for it!¡±


    Dong Mengqi flew onto the number 1 battle platform, meanwhile, a young man also flew up, and both bowed to each other before starting upon hearing the referee¡¯s cue.


    Dong Mengqi was at the late-stage Grandmaster Realm, and her opponent was at mid-stage; her chances of winning were greater, given the difference of a minor realm.


    Not everyone was as formidable as Qin Hao, able to kill across realms.


    Every competitor was a young genius selected from thousands, each a standout.


    Dong Mengqi fought the opponent, her strength and Divine Skills formidable, leaving the opponent only defensive power.


    The audience was closely watching; such scenes of young geniuses fighting were rare, cultivation techniques dazzling, divine skills contesting, and this battle among geniuses would reveal many divine skills unknown to the masses.


    In less than five minutes, Dong Mengqi defeated the opponent and flew gracefully off the platform, while other platforms¡¯ matches continued.

 Chapter 986: 986 Invincible Sword Intent

    Chapter 986: Chapter 986 Invincible Sword Intent


    The competition continued without a break at noon; Qin Hao, Xian Yin, and Gao Linglong had yet to take the stage.


    Three contestants from Yuxing County had already performed; except for Dong Mengqi who won, the other two lost, suffering serious injuries. However, the dynasty provided healing pills, and the injuries would heal quickly.


    This kind of competition is watched by dozens of judges; anyone who dares to deliberately kill will not only be disqualified but also punished by the dynasty.


    ¡°Arena Number Three, Contestant 144 against Contestant 378, both contestants prepare to enter the stage.¡±


    Gao Linglong was number 144; she flew onto arena number three, accompanied by a young man who also ascended to the stage, her opponent was a mid-stage Grandmaster Realm.


    In the early rounds, it¡¯s usually late-stage Grandmaster Realm competing against early-stage Master Realm opponents, which helps eliminate some weaker competitors, leaving only the elite.


    The match began.


    Gao Linglong formed hand seals, Spiritual Energy surged, dazzling rays burst forth, her opponent, knowing his difficulty, displayed his strongest Divine Skills, clenching fist seals, advancing against the wind.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Dozens of palm and fist seals collided, dazzling lights and rampant Spiritual Energy ensued.


    Gao Linglong¡¯s hands unleashed palm strikes, her opponent responded with fist strikes as well.


    After over twenty rounds, Gao Linglong¡¯s opponent could no longer withstand it, his fist seals shattered, he coughed blood and flew back.


    ¡°Contestant 144, Gao Linglong wins.¡±


    ¡°Arena Number Three, Contestants 145 and 421 prepare.¡±


    ¡°Master, go for it,¡± Ling¡¯er hastily encouraged upon hearing Qin Hao¡¯s name.


    Xian Yin also spoke, ¡°Young Master, go for it.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled slightly, rose and flew onto the stage, attracting curious gazes from other contestants in Yuxing County, observing Qin Hao on arena number three.


    Qin Hao had a great reputation in Yuxing County, but they had hardly seen Qin Hao in action, none present during the day Qin Hao slayed the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards, thus remained unaware.


    Among the tens of thousands watching, few knew of Qin Hao¡¯s prowess.


    Seeing a cultivator in the early-stage Grandmaster Realm flying onto the stage, many were stunned.


    ¡°What¡¯s this? In this young talent competition, how is there an early-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator?¡±


    ¡°Which county is he from? Are there no talents left? Can early-stage Grandmaster Realm participants even compete?¡±


    ¡°Looks like someone from Yuxing County; earlier that young beauty from Yuxing County was incredibly strong, defeating an opponent in twenty rounds.¡±


    ¡°Yuxing County is in the southernmost part of the dynasty, it¡¯s probably the worst county, with less concentrated Spiritual Energy than others, always at the bottom in past competitions.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s opponent was a young expert from Gaowu County in the late-stage Grandmaster Realm, a renowned place known for producing many talents and experts, bringing a formidable lineup this time, a luxurious roster.


    That person didn¡¯t expect his opponent to be an early-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator.


    He looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Brother, you should concede; you¡¯re not my match, fighting will only cause unnecessary injury.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled calmly, ¡°Without exchanging blows, no one knows the outcome.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s begin,¡± The person bowed in accordance with competition rules.


    Everyone watching was also cultivators, with extraordinary sight and hearing, many heard the conversation between the two.


    ¡°Not conceding yet? Isn¡¯t this looking for trouble?¡±


    ¡°How many rounds do you think he¡¯ll last? I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll make it past ten rounds.¡±


    ¡°Ten rounds? You¡¯re overestimating him; he probably won¡¯t last five rounds, the gap between two minor realms is significant.¡±


    ...


    After both Qin Hao and his opponent bowed, the judge declared, ¡°Begin.¡±


    The person from Gaowu County wielded a long sword, instantly unleashed six Sword Qi slashes, the first six forms of a sword skill Divine Power, executed with full strength.


    In his perspective, these six skills were enough to make Qin Hao retreat.


    Six green Sword Qi beams, pierced through the air majestically, with strong momentum, slashing towards Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao stood still, his robes fluttering spontaneously, a buzzing sound could be heard, above him, Sword Qi began to gather.


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡±


    Sword Qi crisscrossed, glistening shadows flew, within less than a second, the entire arena was engulfed by Sword Qi.


    The judge at arena number three was astonished, disbelief all over his face: Sword Intent? Commune with the heavens and earth¡¯s Spiritual Energy, gather Sword Qi, this young man actually comprehended Sword Intent?


    Many also focused on arena number three, seeing this scene, were equally shocked, an uproar ensued.


    ¡°What¡¯s this? Sword Intent, is this the legendary Sword Intent?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s merely at the early-stage Grandmaster Realm, how could he comprehend Sword Intent? Impossible, even a Sword Dao master who has trained for hundreds of years may not comprehend Sword Intent.¡±


    ¡°What kind of talent does it take to comprehend Sword Intent? It¡¯s terrifying.¡±


    Many around also noticed the anomaly on arena number three, Sword Qi enveloping the entire stage, too powerful to discern the situation inside.


    After more than ten seconds, the Sword Qi dissipated, Qin Hao stood unmoved, his stance unchanged throughout, while his opponent, covered in wounds, severely injured, lost the ability to fight.


    ¡°Contestant 145, Qin Hao wins.¡±


    Qin Hao flew back to Yuxing County¡¯s area, attracting many gazes, including contestants and spectators, acknowledging his strength; although only early-stage Grandmaster Realm, his combat capability was terrifying, perceived Sword Qi seemed to be Grandmaster Sword Intent.


    Returning to his seat, many from Yuxing County looked at him in shock, too formidable, defeating a late-stage Grandmaster Realm expert in just over ten seconds, truly monstrous.


    As Qin Hao returned, Xian Yin ascended the stage, her figure graceful, appearance stunning, aura extraordinary, drawing many gazes likewise.


    ¡°Wow, so beautiful, such presence.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s also early-stage Grandmaster Realm, could she be as monstrous as Qin Hao?¡±


    ¡°No way? Many heavenly talents from Yuxing County, how could they produce so many?¡±


    ¡°Her opponent is also late-stage Grandmaster Realm, also from Gaowu County, what a coincidence.¡±


    ¡°The match began.¡±


    The Gaowu County contestant didn¡¯t hold back just because Xian Yin was a woman, having learned from the previous instance where an early-stage Grandmaster Realm easily defeated their late-stage expert in mere seconds.


    The arena immediately exploded in radiant brilliance, dazzling palm strikes.


    Xian Yin utilized Seven Apertures Exquisite Steps, her figure flickered across the arena, her opponent unable to capture her movements, unable to land a strike on Xian Yin.


    In fractions of a second, Xian Yin appeared beside her opponent, executed Red Luan Silk Hand, immediately after appearing on another side, then in front, behind, etc.


    In less than a second, Xian Yin unleashed four palms.


    Four dazzling, radiant palm strikes, transformed into a Red Luan, screeched roared, charging towards the male contestant.

 Chapter 987: 987 Dual Cultivation

    Chapter 987: Chapter 987 Dual Cultivation


    Xian Yin¡¯s movement technique was incredibly fast, the Seven Apertures Exquisite Steps were top-tier movement Divine Skills, and the Red Luan Silk-Grasping Hand was also top-tier Divine Skills.


    She cultivated the Burning Moon Immortal Scripture, something these people couldn¡¯t compare to at all. In terms of Cultivation Technique or Divine Skills, even the major sects on the Central State couldn¡¯t measure up.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Four palm prints struck the person, light blossomed from his body, and a low-grade protective garment emitted a glow, shielding his whole body.


    This was a protective garment his family had treasured for hundreds of years, given to him for the competition, hoping he would achieve a good ranking.


    But the protective garment shattered in less than three seconds.


    ¡°Pfft¡±


    The person spat out blood and their figure was thrown off the stage.


    The crowd widened their eyes in disbelief, an Early Stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator managed to knock away a Late Stage Grandmaster Realm expert, what on earth was happening today? How could an Early Stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator be this overwhelmingly powerful?


    The previous one could be excused, after all, he grasped Sword Intent, making his attack power incredibly terrifying, but this one hadn¡¯t grasped anything, how could he be so terrifying?


    There was only one explanation, this person¡¯s Cultivation Technique and Divine Skills far surpassed others, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t be so formidable.


    Xian Yin flew back from the stage and landed beside Qin Hao, many eyes were drawn to them, seeing Xian Yin standing affectionately next to Qin Hao, revealing envy and jealousy in their eyes.


    A beauty as such forming a lifelong partnership would be a great happiness indeed.


    It seemed this beauty had someone in her heart, a beauty paired with a hero, no one could say it was inappropriate.


    The competition that day ended at six in the evening, nearly half the people were eliminated, only five from Yuxing County advanced to the next round: Qin Hao, Xian Yin, Gao Linglong, Dong Mengqi, and Fan Zhenzhe, while the others were sadly eliminated.


    In the evening, after returning to their accommodation and having dinner, Xian Yin smiled and said to Qin Hao, ¡°My lord, the moonlight is nice tonight, why don¡¯t we go upstairs and admire the moon? Xian Yin will play a tune for you.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll trouble you then, Xian Yin.¡±


    ¡°You are too kind, my lord.¡±


    Ling¡¯er laughed knowingly and said, ¡°Master, I will go cultivate, you and Sister Xian Yin can take your time appreciating the moon.¡±


    Xian Yin¡¯s face flushed slightly upon hearing her words, thinking this girl was truly clever, understanding so much at such a young age.


    Qin Hao shook his head with a wry smile, ¡°Then make sure to cultivate well. After the dynasty¡¯s competition is over, I¡¯ll take you to see the vast and boundless Southern Continent.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Ling¡¯er¡¯s eyes showed a glimmer of anticipation.


    Qin Hao and Xian Yin went to the second-floor terrace of the pavilion, from there they could clearly see the bright, perfectly round moon in the night sky, like a jade disc.


    Both of them looked up at the bright moon in the night sky, and a homesickness welled up in Qin Hao¡¯s heart.


    Xian Yin slowly sat down, first setting up a soundproof barrier, then laying the guqin across her lap, her slender fingers plucking the strings, a melody resonated, touching the heart.


    She played that piece ¡°The Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix¡±, a tune about matters between couples!


    A few minutes later, after finishing the piece, Xian Yin looked up at Qin Hao¡¯s figure, who stood there unmoving, lost in thought.


    Xian Yin observed his back, her beautiful eyes continuously shifting in emotion.


    Qin Hao had already made his mark in the dynasty, and would surely attend the competition at the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy, where more young talents and beautiful ladies would gather.


    Although Xian Yin was confident in her appearance, she had little confidence when she reached the central region of the Southern Continent.


    Ling¡¯er had told her in the past few days that if she didn¡¯t seize the opportunity, once in a broader world, many would pursue the master, and if Sister Xian Yin liked the master, she should seize the opportunity early.


    Currently, many beauties already surrounded Qin Hao, including Gao Linglong, the Commandery Prince¡¯s daughter, the National Duke¡¯s granddaughter, having eminent status, and most importantly, beauty and figure that didn¡¯t lose to anyone. Apart from knowing Qin Hao earlier, she had no advantage.


    If delayed any longer, with Qin Hao¡¯s extraordinary talent, he might attract even more beauties in the future, making her chances even slimmer.


    A myriad of thoughts flashed through Xian Yin¡¯s mind, and finally, a look of determination appeared in her eyes.


    She decided to let go of the last shred of restraint and fight for her own happiness.


    Xian Yin put away the guqin, stood up, and slowly walked to Qin Hao¡¯s back, extending her arms to embrace him from behind.


    Qin Hao reacted, his body stiffened, and he sighed, ¡°Xian Yin, why must you do this.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t foolish; he had long understood Xian Yin¡¯s feelings towards him.


    Xian Yin said, ¡°I know you have a partner, but I don¡¯t care; I only wish to remain by your side for a lifetime, and I¡¯ll do my best to let your partner accept me.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°They are not in this world.¡±


    Xian Yin was taken aback, not in this world? What did that mean?


    She didn¡¯t ask further and said, ¡°For the rest of my life, I wish to accompany my lord.¡±


    Qin Hao turned around to look at her, and Xian Yin also looked up at him, her flawless face full of seriousness.


    Just then, Xian Yin suddenly stood on her tiptoes and kissed Qin Hao.


    Xian Yin had a peerless visage, although her figure wasn¡¯t extremely voluptuous, her aura was ethereal, making her an absolute beauty. Had she belonged to a prominent family, she would definitely be a fairy or goddess among countless cultivators.


    A few minutes later, the two separated, Xian Yin¡¯s face was bright red.


    She nestled her head into Qin Hao¡¯s chest and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito¡¯s, ¡°My lord... Xian Yin is ready.¡±


    Qin Hao took a deep breath, picked her up and carried her into her room, setting her on the bed before arranging a soundproof barrier.


    ¡°My lord, remember to operate your Cultivation Technique, the first time balancing yin and yang greatly aids in enhancing power.¡±


    When a male and female cultivator became partners, during such activities, operating their Cultivation Techniques to balance yin and yang increased their power, which was commonly referred to across the continent as Dual Cultivation, providing significant benefits to cultivation.


    Their Cultivation Techniques operated, with massive yin and yang essences entering both sides¡¯ meridians.


    ...

 Chapter 988: 988: Red Phoenix Leading by a Silken Thread

    Chapter 988: Chapter 988: Red Phoenix Leading by a Silken Thread


    The next morning.


    Qin Hao opened his eyes and looked at Xian Yin in his arms, feeling a myriad of emotions: ¡°Why don¡¯t you open your eyes even though you¡¯re awake?¡±


    Xian Yin heard his voice and slowly opened her eyes, her pretty face quickly turning crimson: ¡°Young Master.¡±


    ...


    It was around seven o¡¯clock when the two finally left the room. Ling¡¯er was already up, sitting in the living room on the first floor. Seeing them come down, she giggled cheekily.


    Upon hearing her laughter, Xian Yin¡¯s cheeks turned red, and she glared at her fiercely.


    Qin Hao spoke sternly, ¡°Little girl, what are you laughing at? Clever but mischievous.¡±


    Ling¡¯er playfully stuck out her tongue, ¡°Master has a competition today, you and Xian Yin sister better be careful.¡±


    ¡°You mischievous girl, you dare to tease me, see how I don¡¯t hit you.¡± Xian Yin couldn¡¯t help but walk over, and although she said that, her heart was sweet.


    After breakfast, the three left the courtyard; Gao Yuan, Gao Linglong, Dong Mengqi, and others were waiting for them.


    Some of those eliminated yesterday didn¡¯t come, while others did. Those who didn¡¯t come probably felt embarrassed, while those who came wanted to see who would make it to the top five.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s here, let¡¯s head out.¡± Gao Yuan said upon seeing Qin Hao and the others.


    Today¡¯s matches are fewer than yesterday¡¯s, so the competition starts at eight-thirty. However, the competitors advancing are quite strong, and if they meet each other, the battle is likely to be intense and could last longer.


    The arena was no less crowded than yesterday because these matches become more exciting as they progress.


    Yesterday¡¯s hundreds of matches gave many people a visual feast, but what shocked them most was the performance of Qin Hao and Xian Yin.


    Two Early Stage Grandmaster Realm cultivators easily defeated Late Stage Grandmaster Realm cultivators, which was a bit terrifying. Defeating opponents across realms is rare in the dynasty.


    Additionally, there was Wu Yutong, the daughter of Marquis Shenwu, who performed outstandingly, defeating her opponent in a few rounds.


    At eight-thirty in the morning, the matches started on time.


    Fan Zhenzhe was up in the first round. He was also at the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm and had considerable strength. His opponent was at the same realm, making it a fierce battle.


    Once the judges announced the start, both displayed divine skills against each other, with palm imprints, fist imprints, and sword gleams constantly striking on the battleground.


    Both showcased their signature divine skills, neither willing to be eliminated at this stage; everyone wants to study at the Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy, where entry equals transforming like a carp leaping through the dragon gate, turning life around.


    Qin Hao glanced at some other arenas, where battles were equally fierce and intense. Everyone was making full use of their abilities, with various divine skills and swordsmanship dazzling the spectators.


    After hundreds of rounds against his opponent, Fan Zhenzhe broke into a sweat; both had expended significant energy but remained evenly matched despite the lengthy battle.


    He furrowed his brow, contemplating how to win.


    ¡°Kill.¡±


    At that moment, his opponent charged again, with movements imbued with abundant spiritual energy. The brilliant palm imprint struck like a mountain.


    Fan Zhenzhe felt the power of the palm imprint, his expression slightly darkening. To have such strength, he hastily raised his sword to block.


    The sword gleam soared to clash with the palm imprint.


    Fan Zhenzhe¡¯s sword gleam shattered, the remaining force of the palm imprint struck him, causing him to cough blood and stagger back.


    His opponent seized the chance, advancing to take him down while he was weakened.


    Just as the opponent was about to reach Fan Zhenzhe, a square box appeared in Fan¡¯s hand, from which three streams of light shot out at lightning speed.


    ¡°Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.¡±


    Caught off guard, the opponent was hit by the hidden weapons, making his body stagger, falling to the ground with an unsatisfied expression.


    Fan Zhenzhe won, but many scorned such tactics, drawing disapproving sounds from various areas of the audience.


    He returned, and Gao Yuan offered encouragement: ¡°Keep up the good work.¡±


    About sixty people were eliminated by noon, leaving Fan Zhenzhe among the remaining from Yuxing County; others have yet to compete.


    No break for lunch as the matches continued, with Dong Mengqi first from Yuxing County to enter.


    Her opponent was also at the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, but fell short in cultivation technique and divine skills, leading to Dong Mengqi¡¯s victory.


    Soon it was Gao Linglong¡¯s turn; her abilities had nearly reached the Peak of Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, proving extremely formidable. Her cultivation technique and divine skills surpassed others, winning her match with ease, defeating her opponent in dozens of rounds.


    Next was Xian Yin. Her presence immediately drew numerous gazes, not just because of her beauty, but also her strength and charisma.


    Her previous opponent was a Late Stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator, and this time the opponent was the same. By now, few Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm contestants remained, with Qin Hao and her being exceptions.


    Xian Yin¡¯s opponent looked solemn. Once the judges announced the start, he wielded a curved blade and swung it, emitting fierce blade gleams capable of splitting mountains and rocks.


    His swordsmanship centered on a relentless momentum, wielding powerful and domineering force.


    Xian Yin didn¡¯t want to waste time. Using the Seven Apertures Exquisite Steps, her figure flickered incessantly on the battleground, leaving afterimages, with none of the blade gleams striking her.


    A few seconds later, numerous palm imprints appeared surrounding the opponent, exuding powerful momentum and brilliant radiance.


    He hastily swung the curved blade again, barely a second passed before dozens of blade gleams encircled him, confronting Xian Yin¡¯s Red Bird Linking Silk Hand.


    ¡°Bang, bang, bang.¡±


    Blade gleams collided with palm imprints, causing dazzling flashes on the battleground as several invisible energy waves rippled.


    The opponent staggered back consecutively, when a grand, radiant palm imprint struck, transforming into a Red Bird Immortal Beast midway, its cry echoing through the battleground.


    The crowd on the audience seats watched in shock: ¡°What divine skill is that? Such powerful momentum.¡±


    ¡°Is this the legendary Red Bird Immortal Beast?¡±


    ¡°Is she using a top-tier divine skill? Otherwise, how could it create such phenomena?¡±


    Even those wary elders on the judges¡¯ seats were stirred, watching the Red Bird Immortal Beast manifested by the palm imprint.


    Xian Yin¡¯s opponent¡¯s expression shifted, ¡°Damn it, she¡¯s merely Early Stage Grandmaster Realm, how can she be this strong? Is she actually a Heavenly Human Realm expert?¡±


    ¡°I concede,¡± he quickly declared.


    The judge of the arena promptly intervened, releasing a fist imprint to hit the palm imprint sent by Xian Yin.


    ¡°Boom.¡±


    The fist imprint and palm imprint collided, neutralizing each other, forcing the judge to retreat two steps.

 Chapter 989: 989 Final Competition

    Chapter 989: Chapter 989 Final Competition


    The entire venue was in an uproar.


    The judge¡¯s face also showed a look of shock; the power of this palm imprint was somewhat beyond his imagination.


    Everyone present was also stunned. Damn, this judge was a half-step Heavenly Human Realm expert, yet he was pushed back several steps? How could this woman be so terrifying??


    Too scary, too terrifying.


    Many contestants saw this scene, their pupils contracted sharply, and a massive wave surged in their hearts.


    ¡°Xian Yin, wins.¡±


    The referee¡¯s voice paused before it sounded.


    Xian Yin nodded slightly, then flew back to the Yuxing County area.


    Upon returning, Gao Yuan and the others looked at her in shock, ¡°Unexpectedly, Miss Xian Yin¡¯s strength is also so terrifying.¡±


    Xian Yin smiled faintly, ¡°Mr. Gao overpraises.¡± After saying that, she returned to Qin Hao¡¯s side.


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°Your mastery of the Red Luan Thread Hand is quite remarkable.¡±


    Xian Yin gave a sweet smile, feeling much happier receiving Qin Hao¡¯s praise and recognition than hearing a thousand compliments from others.


    ¡°Number 144, Qin Hao; Number 289, Yuan Kai, please proceed to Arena Six.¡±


    Upon hearing his name, Qin Hao flew onto Arena Six, and at the same time, a young man also stepped onto Arena Six.


    Many people in the audience turned their gazes towards Arena Six, and most of them focused on Qin Hao, a terrifying genius who comprehended Sword Intent.


    Yesterday, Qin Hao¡¯s fight became a hot topic for many people. An early-stage Grandmaster Realm young genius comprehending supreme Sword Intent¡ªsuch a thing they had never heard of before.


    ¡°The match begins.¡±


    In front of Qin Hao, dozens of strands of Sword Qi instantly condensed, like a stream of light, flying towards Yuan Kai opposite.


    Yuan Kai¡¯s expression was solemn, wielding a three-foot treasured sword, slashing out sword beams one by one.


    His sword beams couldn¡¯t compare with Qin Hao¡¯s Sword Qi. Qin Hao¡¯s Sword Qi followed his will, as if alive, capable of dodging the sword beams, attacking Yuan Kai from every angle with no blind spot in a complete 360-degree surround.


    This is the power of Sword Intent¡ªfierce attacks, following one¡¯s will, able to appear anywhere to attack in any manner.


    Although Yuan Kai was in the late stage of the Grandmaster Realm, in terms of combat power, he was utterly unable to compare with Qin Hao. The Sword Qi attacked from all sides. Although he had crushed dozens of Sword Qis, they continued to flow endlessly, with quantities still increasing.


    He now only had the strength to parry, with no strength to fight back.


    Yuan Kai held on for dozens of seconds, which to him felt like a year passing, unbearably long.


    ¡°Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!¡±


    Qin Hao suddenly increased with dozens of Sword Qis, and Yuan Kai could no longer withstand, exposing several vulnerabilities, getting slashed by Sword Qi. After Yuan Kai was slashed, he no longer had the ability to resist as dozens of Sword Qi stabbed towards him.


    But just as they were about to reach him, they were pulled back by Qin Hao.


    Yuan Kai¡¯s face was grim, unwilling, not wanting to lose; he wanted to win, he wanted to enter the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy.


    Thinking of this, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly launched a streak of glowing light from his hand, stabbing straight towards Qin Hao¡¯s chest.


    The few streaks of light were incredibly fast, vanishing almost in an instant. Ordinary people simply didn¡¯t have the chance to react; this was his trump card, a hidden weapon bought with a significant sum.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned slightly cold, Sword Qi gathered in the air.


    ¡°Clang! Clang! Clang!¡±


    Three flying darts fell onto the arena, their glow dimmed; these darts bore Formations, fast and powerful.


    ¡°Slash!¡±


    Yuan Kai¡¯s arm fell off, severed by Qin Hao¡¯s Sword Qi.


    ¡°I concede,¡± he hurriedly said.


    At this time, a Sword Qi was only a few centimeters away from his other arm.


    Had he been just a fraction of a second later, then this arm would have been lost too.


    ¡°Qin Hao wins.¡±


    Many contestants saw this scene, a sense of powerlessness rising in their hearts. Using such strong hidden weapons, yet unable to defeat him, this person was too strong, like a towering mountain blocking everyone¡¯s path.


    During the competition now, no one wanted to encounter him, because meeting Qin Hao meant they didn¡¯t even have a ten percent chance of winning.


    ...


    After today¡¯s competition was over, there was a day¡¯s rest because some people, after winning, had also paid a significant price and needed to recuperate and adjust.


    The tenth day of the competition.


    After rounds of eliminations and selections, only ten contestants remained. Among these ten, only five could go to the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy.


    Among these ten, Yuxing County had four, Qin Hao, Xian Yin, Gao Linglong, and Dong Mengqi.


    Dong Mengqi¡¯s later performance surprised many people; nobody expected her to persist till now, not even Gao Yuan, Qin Hao, and others, who didn¡¯t think she would make it here.


    This year, Yuxing County¡¯s performance left everyone incredulous; ten people, Yuxing County occupied four, which was truly terrifying.


    Gao Yuan looked at Qin Hao and the others and said, ¡°Everyone, do your best, let¡¯s strive for all of us to make it into the top five and participate in the match of the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy together.¡±


    Everyone nodded; now, these ten remaining people were the fiercest young talents of the entire dynasty, and none of them could be underestimated.


    The audience on the seats today was more numerous than before; many people didn¡¯t have seats and stood at the back watching.


    Meanwhile, on the judges¡¯ bench, those judges were discussing the next matches.


    A few minutes later, one judge stood up and said, ¡°In the next matches, the pairings will be randomly determined to decide the top five in this dynasty competition. The five losing contestants, if they wish to challenge the ranked contestants in the top five, must select the strongest among the five who lost to challenge for advancement.¡±


    ¡°Next, the first match, Wu Yutong versus Xu Yunfeng.¡±


    The audience instantly became lively; Wu Yutong was the daughter of the current dynasty¡¯s Marquis Shenwu, her strength, and talent very formidable. Moreover, her looks and figure were first-class, garnering high popularity among the audience, with many supporting her. In previous matches, she almost easily won each time.


    This Xu Yunfeng was also extraordinary, hailing from Gaowu County, the only contestant from Gaowu County to make it into the top ten. He was once hailed as the number one young genius of Gaowu County, possessing terrifying strength.


    Wu Yutong and Xu Yunfeng both watched each other, and after the judge¡¯s start signal, both their figures moved.


    They vanished from their original positions, ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± engaging in close combat, dazzling light and surging Spiritual Energy.


    In an instant, the two sides fought dozens of rounds, fiercely battling without distinction.


    After separating, in less than three seconds, they engaged again. Wu Yutong displayed the Fire Spirit Palm, and the temperature of the arena increased sharply, with fiery red palm prints appearing.


    Xu Yunfeng¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he displayed his signature Divine Skill, the Ice Palm, and the temperature sharply dropped again.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    The entire arena shook; the terrifying power generated made people change their expressions.


    The arena at this moment formed two extremes, one side fiery red and scorching, the other a frozen icy land.

 Chapter 990: 990 Xian Yins Advancement

    Chapter 990: Chapter 990 Xian Yin¡¯s Advancement


    Their realms are the same, but Wu Yutong¡¯s strength is slightly higher, though not enough to be decisive.


    It still depends on the strength of their cultivation techniques, divine skills, and hidden trump cards.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    The collision between Fire Spirit Palm and Ice Palm continues; if the martial arts stage had not been reinforced with formations, it might have shattered by now.


    ¡°Crack¡±


    The sound of breaking comes from the stage, as Fire Spirit Palm and Ice Palm finally collide, ending in a draw.


    In Wu Yutong¡¯s hand appears a long spear; she had never used it in previous matches, this is the first time.


    The spectators¡¯ eyes lit up upon seeing this, is she planning to use her trump card?


    Xu Yunfeng also draws a treasured longsword, ready for battle.


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡±


    The spear cuts through the air, displaying a fierce and domineering spear technique. The spear light, as bright as a torch, races towards Xu Yunfeng.


    Xu Yunfeng counters with his sword, using sharp and cunning swordsmanship.


    The collision of spear light and sword light produces blinding brilliance, the stage bathed in resplendent light, a ripple of spiritual energy surges forth. This is the spiritual energy unleashed from the clashing spear and sword lights.


    The two are evenly matched, exchanging close to a hundred rounds in mere minutes.


    From the clash of palm divine skills to the clash of weapon spear techniques.


    The battle has reached a fever pitch, consuming a lot of energy. After over a hundred rounds, Wu Yutong lets out a clear shout, her silver-white spear glowing brilliantly, exuding a powerful aura from the spear light.


    ¡°A low-grade spiritual artifact?¡±


    The crowd senses the aura emanating from the spear and their expressions change dramatically, looking incredulously at the spear in Wu Yutong¡¯s hand.


    She actually possesses a low-grade spiritual artifact?


    Many also glance towards the VIP seating area where the Divine Martial Marquis is; it¡¯s well known that the Divine Martial Marquis¡¯s weapon is also a low-grade spiritual artifact. Who would have thought his daughter¡¯s weapon is also a low-grade spiritual artifact.


    Xu Yunfeng¡¯s face slightly darkens, a low-grade spiritual artifact? He has never seen one, nor experienced the power of a low-grade spiritual artifact.


    Wu Yutong swings her spear, a spear light sweeping out, as spiritual energy gathers from the void, enhancing the spear light¡¯s power.


    Xu Yunfeng hurriedly raises his sword to block.


    Spear light meets sword light.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    The sword light shatters upon contact, the formidable spear light causes Xu Yunfeng and the spectators¡¯ faces to change color, is the spear light from a low-grade spiritual artifact really this terrifying?


    ¡°Bang¡±


    The spear light strikes Xu Yunfeng, sending him flying backward, landing outside of the martial arts stage.


    ¡°Wu Yutong wins.¡±


    ¡°The second match, Xian Yin versus Tan Fei.¡±


    Xian Yin leaps onto the stage, Tan Fei¡¯s face doesn¡¯t look good; he didn¡¯t expect his opponent to be Xian Yin, one of the scariest contestants aside from Qin Hao.


    The previous matches have been watched by the contestants, and Qin Hao and Xian Yin¡¯s performances have been the scariest, making them the ones everyone hopes to avoid.


    ¡°The match begins.¡±


    With the judge¡¯s voice, Xian Yin immediately uses the unrivalled Seven Apertures Exquisite Steps.


    Seeing Xian Yin not holding back at all, the person¡¯s face looks grim; he can¡¯t even capture Xian Yin¡¯s image, how is he supposed to fight?


    He possesses the strength of the late-stage grandmaster realm, but can¡¯t bring it to bear, forced into passive defense.


    The Red Phoenix Thread Hand is executed, palm imprints appear in all directions, prompting the person to hurriedly counter.


    Xian Yin¡¯s divine skills are too strong; every time the palm imprints clash with him, it forces him to retreat by several steps. He barely manages to shatter a dozen palm imprints, the powerful recoil causing blood to seep from the corners of his mouth.


    At this moment, an even stronger palm imprint attacks.


    Tan Fei¡¯s face changes; every one of Xian Yin¡¯s matches has followed this pattern. Although the pattern is old and everyone knows what move will come next, no one can withstand it.


    In Tan Fei¡¯s hand, a sword blooms with shimmering light, and his aura surges sharply.


    ¡°Top-grade artifact??¡±


    The crowd¡¯s eyes narrow, this Tan Fei is hiding deep, actually possessing a high-level artifact.


    Artifacts are commonly referred to as treasures, classified into low, mid, top, and peak grades, above which are spiritual artifacts, graded similarly.


    Tan Fei swings his treasured sword, releasing sword lights to strike the palm imprint unleashed by Xian Yin.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Numerous sword lights and palm imprints collide, the sword lights shatter, and the palm imprint dims, yet still carries a hint of force, striking Tan Fei.


    Tan Fei coughs up blood, sent flying backward five to six meters, though he negated most of the imprint¡¯s power, he still sustains minor injuries.


    Just as he¡¯s about to rise, a silver-white finger light suddenly attacks, swift and fierce, like lightning, at extreme speed.


    This is the Snowflake Immortal Finger taught by Qin Hao, the first time Xian Yin uses it.


    Tan Fei has no time to react, he can only place his top-grade sword horizontally to block.


    ¡°Bang¡±¡ªsparks fly.


    Tan Fei¡¯s body is sent flying by the immense force, breaking two stage guardrails, landing outside the stage.


    ¡°Pff¡±


    Tan Fei can¡¯t help but cough up blood, looking down, he sees a small dent on his sword¡¯s blade body.


    This churns a massive wave in his heart, this is a top-grade artifact, yet her finger light actually damaged it? How is this possible?


    ¡°Xian Yin wins.¡±


    ...


    Xian Yin returned to Yuxing County, as the first contestant from Yuxing County to advance to the top five.


    ¡°Congratulations, Miss Xian Yin,¡± Gao Yuan, Gao Linglong, and Dong Mengqi all offered their congratulations.


    Xian Yin smiled demurely, ¡°You guys also do your best, let¡¯s all meet and witness those geniuses from the Southern Continent.¡±


    Gao Linglong and Dong Mengqi nodded, ¡°Mm!¡±


    ¡°The third match, Gao Linglong versus Luo Yunshan.¡±


    ¡°Good luck,¡± Dong Mengqi and Xian Yin said to her.


    Gao Linglong took a deep breath and flew onto the martial arts stage. In the VIP seating, Gao¡¯s old Grand Duke, Gao Linglong¡¯s grandfather, sat watching.


    Someone next to him said, ¡°Old Gao, I didn¡¯t expect you to have such an impressive granddaughter, I think she has a chance to make it to the top five.¡±


    ¡°Old Gao, it seems your eldest and second sons aren¡¯t that remarkable, it¡¯s the third who shows promise, why did you have to make things so tense back then?¡±


    Gao Yuanhua¡¯s face turned somewhat awkward upon hearing their words, this is nearly his biggest regret, clearly, the person is rubbing salt into his wound.


    On the martial arts stage, the match had already begun.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Gao Linglong and Luo Yunshan started fighting, palm imprints and fist imprints clashing, dazzling lights, ethereal light swirling, spiritual energy surging.


    Their realms are nearly the same; in fact, Qin Hao can see that Luo Yunshan¡¯s strength is slightly superior to Gao Linglong¡¯s, the situation doesn¡¯t bode well for Gao Linglong.

 Chapter 991: 991 I Surrender

    Chapter 991: Chapter 991 I Surrender


    After more than a hundred rounds, Gao Linglong had already fallen into a disadvantage.


    Her cultivation technique and divine skills held no advantage. Although Gao Yuan was a master of the Heavenly Human Realm, his foundation was shallow and he lacked good cultivation techniques and divine skills.


    The two resumed their battle, and after dozens of rounds, Gao Linglong was forced to retreat, a trace of blood appearing at the corner of her mouth.


    Luo Yunshan was secretly pleased. As long as he pushed a bit harder, Gao Linglong would be defeated, allowing him to enter the top five.


    At this point, Gao Linglong took out the bell given to her by Qin Hao. If she didn¡¯t use it now, she would lose.


    Luo Yunshan was about to rush forward, but when he saw the bell in Gao Linglong¡¯s hand, his eyebrows twitched, and a bad premonition arose in his heart.


    ¡°Ding¡±


    The bell in Gao Linglong¡¯s hand rang, crisp and melodious, exquisitely pleasing.


    A Sword Qi over ten feet long appeared suddenly, its power formidable and terrifying, accompanied by a piercing sound as it slashed toward Luo Yunshan.


    Luo Yunshan sensed the power of that Sword Qi, his face slightly changed. What kind of treasure was this?


    ¡°Bang¡±


    The Sword Qi clashed with the sword light emitted by Luo Yunshan, scattering the sword light on the spot, while the Sword Qi continued toward Luo Yunshan.


    Luo Yunshan formed a fist seal, instantly launching over a dozen fist seals, barely neutralizing the Sword Qi.


    ¡°Is this a low-grade Spiritual Artifact?¡± The elders on the judging panel, all seasoned experts, instantly recognized the bell in Gao Linglong¡¯s hand as a Spiritual Artifact.


    Many in the surrounding audience heard the voices from the judging panel and were in an uproar: ¡°Another Spiritual Artifact? When did our Skyfire Dynasty have so many Spiritual Artifacts?¡±


    ¡°She actually has a Spiritual Artifact too? Mr. Gao only uses a high-grade treasure artifact, right?¡±


    The nobles in the VIP seats were stunned, all looking toward Gao Yuanhua. When did the Gao Family have a Spiritual Artifact, and how did we not know?


    These nobles were very clear about their backgrounds. It¡¯s impossible for the Wei Country¡¯s Duke¡¯s Mansion to have a Spiritual Artifact. It must have been acquired by Gao Yuan in Yuxing County and given to his daughter, right?


    Using a Spiritual Artifact, although it consumes quite a bit, the opponent must expend even more Spiritual Energy to nullify the attack, and may even be injured or killed.


    ¡°Clang¡±


    The bell¡¯s sound suddenly changed, becoming dull and suffocating, an invisible sound wave spreading.


    Luo Yunshan, being the closest, had his face change instantly, feeling intense pain from the depths of his mind.


    ¡°Ding Ding¡±


    The bell¡¯s sound became crisp and pleasant again, as two Sword Qi condensed in the air, autonomously absorbing the Spiritual Energy, making the Sword Qi even more powerful.


    The Sword Qi sliced through the air. At this moment, Luo Yunshan had not yet recovered from the previous sound of the bell, utterly incapable of resisting.


    ¡°I concede.¡±


    He hurriedly admitted defeat, for if he delayed a few more seconds, he would have met his end.


    ¡°Gao Linglong wins.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Gao Yuan exhaled a long breath, a smile unconsciously appearing at the corners of his mouth.


    This time it¡¯s all thanks to the Spiritual Artifact given by Qin Hao to Gao Linglong; otherwise, her situation would have been much grimmer.


    This was already the third match, with two more remaining. In Yuxing County, there were still Qin Hao and Dong Mengqi.


    Whether one or both of them advanced, the name of Yuxing County would spread throughout the entire dynasty, similarly attracting the emperor¡¯s attention and many supportive resources from the dynasty.


    ¡°Fourth match, Ma Bufan versus Chen Ding.¡±


    Upon hearing the lineup, many people¡¯s faces showed slight surprise, especially those from Yuxing County, who were a bit dumbfounded.


    The fourth match was these two, so wouldn¡¯t the fifth match be Qin Hao versus Dong Mengqi???


    Xian Yin, Gao Linglong, Gao Yuan, and others all glanced at Qin Hao and Dong Mengqi.


    Qin Hao was also taken aback, not expecting to face Dong Mengqi; it was a bit amusing to him.


    A trace of gloom flashed in Dong Mengqi¡¯s eyes, a bitter smile forming at the corner of her mouth, as the thing she feared most still happened.


    Among these people, she had a few chances of winning against anyone, though the odds weren¡¯t high, at least two to three out of ten. But against Qin Hao, she had absolutely no confidence. He was a mysterious man, impossible to see through.


    ...


    On the martial stage, the two had already begun fighting. Ma Bufan and Chen Ding were of equal strength, both in the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, battling fiercely from the start.


    After nearly a hundred rounds, Ma Bufan released several hidden weapons during the fight, which would have been disastrous if not for Chen Ding¡¯s timely response.


    Separated, Chen Ding glanced at the wound on his arm, his face slightly darkened.


    A black pill appeared in his hand, which he swallowed instantly, causing his aura to soar, and his body¡¯s bones emitted cracking sounds. The intense pain twisted his face.


    ¡°Kill¡±


    He charged out, his speed several times faster than before, his power greatly increased, doubling his combat effectiveness.


    Ma Bufan sensed the change in Chen Ding, his face drastically changed. What did he eat? How did his power become so terrifyingly enhanced?


    The audience also witnessed Chen Ding¡¯s change in combat power, many speculating: ¡°He must have taken some pill that instantly boosts power; otherwise, his combat power wouldn¡¯t change so drastically.¡±


    ¡°A pill that boosts power, what kind of pill is that?¡±


    ¡°If you visit those dynasties, you¡¯ll see. There are many alchemists there, with a vast variety of pills. I¡¯ve seen many kinds of strength-boosting pills before, though some have severe side effects, while others are mild.¡±


    ¡°Pills like these? How is it different from cheating?¡±


    ¡°Such pills are very expensive, costing at least hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones.¡±


    ¡°So expensive?¡±


    ¡°Hundreds of thousands of low-grade Spirit Stones, too expensive? Go to those dynasties and see, where trades generally use mid-grade or high-grade Spirit Stones.¡±


    ...


    On the martial stage, Ma Bufan was already in retreat, and after Chen Ding took the pill, his combat power almost reached the Peak of Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, totally overwhelming Ma Bufan.


    Dozens of rounds later, Ma Bufan was beaten to the point of vomiting blood repeatedly by Chen Ding, ultimately hit squarely in the chest and sent flying, severely injured and in critical condition.


    If the judges hadn¡¯t administered the pill in time, he would have been dead.


    ¡°Chen Ding wins.¡±


    ¡°Fifth match, Qin Hao versus Dong Mengqi.¡±


    Many people looked at Qin Hao and Dong Mengqi, as the last match unexpectedly turned out to be an internal battle among Yuxing County.


    Gao Yuan and the others didn¡¯t know what to say, it could only be attributed to Dong Mengqi¡¯s bad luck in encountering Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao was universally acknowledged as the most formidable among them, even though his Realm was only at the Early Stage Grandmaster Realm, his combat power was terrifying.


    The two flew onto the martial stage, Dong Mengqi looked at him and said with a bitter smile: ¡°Please advise me, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao glanced at her and then said to the judges: ¡°I concede.¡±

 Chapter 992: 992: Demon Cultivator?

    Chapter 992: Chapter 992: Demon Cultivator?


    As Qin Hao¡¯s words came out, the entire scene fell silent.


    Admit defeat? Damn, did he say admit defeat?


    Whether it was the judges¡¯ seats, the VIP seats, or the audience seats, everyone wore an expression of astonishment and disbelief.


    No one expected him to say such a thing.


    Even Dong Mengqi was stunned, looking at Qin Hao with a bewildered and puzzled expression.


    ¡°Does he not want to go to the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy? What is he doing?¡± someone wondered.


    ¡°No way, who would give up such a good opportunity? With his ability, he has a chance to enter the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy.¡±


    ¡°I think he might want to go for the challenge tournament, isn¡¯t there still one person among the five eliminated who can freely challenge to advance?¡±


    For a moment, everyone was talking and speculating about Qin Hao¡¯s reasons for doing this.


    Qin Hao thought Dong Mengqi was decent overall, and from these past few days of interactions, her character seemed fine.


    They knew each other, so Qin Hao didn¡¯t want to make a move against her, intending to participate in the final challenge match.


    ¡°Dong Mengqi wins.¡±


    The judge had to announce the result, which many people did not expect.


    Qin Hao said to the judge, ¡°I want to participate in the final challenge match.¡±


    The judge nodded slightly, ¡°Please wait a moment, we need to ask the opinions of other contestants.¡±


    The four contestants who were just eliminated, two were seriously injured, and the other two had expended a lot of energy.


    About five or six minutes later, that judge returned and addressed Qin Hao and everyone present, ¡°After inquiries, all four eliminated contestants have forfeited, and now contestant number 144, Qin Hao, has the opportunity to randomly challenge someone.¡±


    ¡°May I ask whom you wish to challenge?¡±


    Instantly, many people¡¯s hearts were raised, curious about whom he would challenge.


    The three from Yuxing County are unlikely, Qin Hao seemed to value friendship, so that only left Wu Yutong and Chen Ding.


    Whom would he challenge between these two?


    Qin Hao said indifferently, ¡°I want to challenge that Chen Ding.¡±


    From not far away, Chen Ding heard Qin Hao¡¯s words, his expression slightly sinking. He did not expect things to develop to this point but was fearless.


    ¡°He¡¯s actually challenging Chen Ding? Chen Ding is probably the strongest among them, right? Peak of Late Stage Grandmaster Realm strength, and I think this person hasn¡¯t revealed his true trump card yet.¡±


    ¡°Wu Yutong¡¯s trump card has already been exposed, it¡¯s a lower-grade Spiritual Artifact, and given Qin Hao¡¯s strength, it¡¯s relatively simple to defeat her.¡±


    ¡°This Chen Ding is deeply hidden, I feel this person is very dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see, this is definitely the most exciting battle, a fierce clash between young prodigies.¡±


    ...


    Chen Ding flew up from below to the fight stage; at this moment, the effects of the pill he took hadn¡¯t worn off yet, lasting for two hours, and only half an hour had passed.


    The judge took out a Spiritual Energy restoration pill and gave it to Chen Ding, ¡°Considering Chen Ding just went through a match and consumed significant Spiritual Energy, here¡¯s a pill to replenish your Spiritual Energy, and once it has restored fully, the duel can begin.¡±


    Chen Ding did not hold back, taking the pill and sitting cross-legged on the stage to meditate and restore.


    Qin Hao stood there waiting.


    The crowd quietly watched the two on the stage, as time slowly slipped away.


    After less than ten minutes, Chen Ding¡¯s internal Spiritual Energy was fully restored, he stood and said to the judge, ¡°I am ready.¡±


    ¡°Both sides prepare.¡±


    ¡°The match begins.¡±


    Qin Hao and Chen Ding almost simultaneously made their moves, the fight stage filled with Sword Qi as light and shadows flashed across.


    Chen Ding initially intended to advance and engage Qin Hao in close combat, but Qin Hao didn¡¯t give him the chance, blocking his path with numerous strands of Sword Qi.


    ¡°Let me see what skills you truly possess.¡± After saying that, a black short whip appeared in his hand.


    ¡°Crack crack crack¡±


    The Black Vajra Whip lashed through the air, producing piercing sounds of air exploding, as strands of whip light met the Sword Qi.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    ¡°Boom boom boom¡±


    Chen Ding wielded the black short whip tirelessly, the whip light like meteors clashing brilliantly with the Sword Qi.


    Everyone felt the power of the whip light, their eyes slightly narrowing, ¡°This is a high-grade treasure weapon??¡±


    This Chen Ding indeed had quite a few good things, from strength-enhancing pills to the high-grade treasure weapon black short whip!


    The peak of Late Stage Grandmaster Realm combined with high-grade treasure weapons could rival Wu Yutong and Gao Linglong, who possess lower-grade Spiritual Artifacts.


    Even if Chen Ding encountered them, the chances of winning were quite high.


    Strands of Sword Qi collided with whip light, producing dazzling flashes like colorful fireworks.


    Qin Hao had comprehended Grandmaster Sword Intent, his Sword Qi displayed invincibility at the Grandmaster Realm, but this Chen Ding wasn¡¯t simple; he had utilized the full power of a Peak of Grandmaster Realm master.


    ¡°These two are so strong, is this the first time Qin Hao¡¯s Sword Qi has been obstructed?¡± Everyone discussed.


    ¡°One has comprehended Grandmaster Realm Sword Intent, one has consumed a strength-enhancing pill, the two are truly evenly matched.¡±


    Seeing the Sword Qi wasn¡¯t significantly effective, Qin Hao formed the Heavenly Gang Palm Seal and charged forward.


    Seeing this, Chen Ding¡¯s heart was pleased; he didn¡¯t enjoy the idea of exhausting battles with Qin Hao. His pill¡¯s effects were for two hours, now less than an hour remained.


    He too wanted a quick fight, Qin Hao rushing over was exactly his intent.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s palm seals collided with Chen Ding¡¯s, and only then did Chen Ding truly feel Qin Hao¡¯s terrifying strength.


    Qin Hao¡¯s palm seals were immensely powerful and terrifying; each palm strike carried forces of ten thousand pounds. Even with his Peak of Late Stage Grandmaster Realm strength, he struggled to bear it, stirring shockwaves in his heart.


    How could he be so strong? What kind of palm technique is this?


    The watching crowd saw this, equally surprised beyond words, Chen Ding being overwhelmed, it was terrifying.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    In a few short minutes, the two exchanged dozens of rounds, Chen Ding was forced into retreat, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth.


    Qin Hao¡¯s offensive was fierce, unrelenting, giving Chen Ding no chance to breathe.


    Quickly, Chen Ding revealed a flaw, seized by Qin Hao, a palm seal hit his chest, causing him to cough up blood and fly backwards.


    Chen Ding flew back seven or eight meters, quickly steadying his posture, looking at him with shock.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression was calm, without any emotion.


    To Chen Ding, this seemed an insult and contempt.


    A black flag appeared in his hand, spewing black mist, seemingly with wailing souls and fierce ghosts, malevolent.


    As this weapon appeared, the entire fight stage instantly chilled.


    The elderly judges frowned upon seeing this, questioning what kind of weapon it was. Could this person be a demonic cultivator?


    A tumult of thoughts roused, many faces turning ugly; the dynasty¡¯s grand competition had allowed a demonic cultivator to sneak in, if he joined the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy¡¯s competition, it would be scandalous.

 Chapter 993: 993 Ten Thousand Thunder Breaking Skill

    Chapter 993: Chapter 993 Ten Thousand Thunder Breaking Skill


    Chen Ding knew what those people were thinking and said, ¡°This magical artifact was something I accidentally obtained in a cave; this is the first time I¡¯m using it, and today I¡¯ll use you to consecrate it.¡±


    Qin Hao sneered, ¡°Just some crooked ways.¡±


    ¡°Kill¡±


    Chen Ding brandished the Soul Stealing Banner, and streaks of black light flew out from it, transforming into fierce ghosts mid-air, roaring and ferocious, terrifying beyond measure.


    The powerful force made many change their expressions, ¡°Is this a low-grade demonic cultivator¡¯s spiritual artifact?¡±


    How does this Chen Ding have so many tricks? Isn¡¯t this too terrifying?


    Pills to enhance strength, high-grade treasures, low-grade demonic cultivator¡¯s artifacts...


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression remained unfazed, forming the Heavenly Gang Palm Seal with his hand, radiating brilliant light, launching continuous pure and vigorous Heavenly Gang Palm Seals.


    The pure and vigorous Heavenly Gang Palm Seal was specifically made to counter such lewd and shadowy things.


    The palm seal and the light collided, making ¡°hissing¡± sounds, like water meeting fierce fire, the sound of evaporation.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s Heavenly Gang Palm Skill was already incredibly terrifying; coupled with its perfect counter to Chen Ding¡¯s Soul Stealing Banner, its power was even greater.


    This situation slightly exceeded Chen Ding¡¯s expectations; he frowned slightly, frantically channeling spiritual energy into the Soul Stealing Banner.


    The Soul Stealing Banner stood firm in the void, slowly enlarging, as endless black gas surged from it, enveloping the entire arena.


    The arena now looked like an ocean of black gas, so abundant that neither Qin Hao nor Chen Ding¡¯s silhouettes could be seen clearly.


    ¡°Soul Devour¡±


    Chen Ding shouted loudly, and the black gas in the arena began to surge, wave after wave, making it impossible for those outside to know what was happening inside.


    Within the black gas, Qin Hao¡¯s whole body glowed with surging golden light, dazzling, like a War God in golden armor, invulnerable to all.


    Sword light flowed around him, protecting his entire body.


    The surrounding black mist surged like waves, eroding Qin Hao¡¯s defense.


    ¡°Tricks of the trade.¡±


    A long alloy sword appeared in Qin Hao¡¯s hand, infused with spiritual energy, radiating a dazzling light.


    Raising the alloy sword, his eyes shone with brilliance, and he softly chanted, ¡°Ten Thousand Thunder Breaking Skill.¡±


    With that, he wielded the long sword in his hand; it was a new move he devised through studying the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill and sword intent, considered the fifth move of the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill.


    The Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill originally had only four moves; this fifth move was his own creation.


    Just then, the sky suddenly filled with dark clouds, a fierce wind arose, and thunder echoed from within the clouds.


    The spectators were astonished at the spectacle in the sky, speechless with disbelief. What on earth was happening?


    Within a two-mile radius above the arena, everything was shrouded in dark clouds, oppressively heavy, making it difficult for many below to breathe.


    Blue lightning snakes flickered and darted within the clouds, and the thunder grew louder and louder, shaking the entire arena.


    Everyone, with faces full of shock, watched the scene unfold, eyes wide open in disbelief.


    ¡°This...this is communicating with heaven and earth. Isn¡¯t this a Divine Skill only mastered at the Heavenly Human Realm?¡±


    ¡°Using the rules of the heavenly way to slay opponents, that¡¯s a method of the Heavenly Human Realm,¡± said many of the old fellows in the judge¡¯s seat, incredulous.


    ¡°Could it be Qin Hao who is displaying this? Just how terrifying is his talent?¡±


    After two or three minutes of brewing, an arm-thick lightning bolt descended from the sky, striking directly into the black mist on the arena.


    ¡°Boom boom boom¡±


    ¡°Hiss hiss hiss¡±


    In an instant, with a thousandfold power of thunder descending from the sky, it engulfed the entire arena, with continuous booming, creating a terrifying scene as if heavenly thunder was punishing the world.


    A thousand thunderbolts crashed continuously for more than a minute before it calmed down.


    When the thunderbolts ceased, and the clouds dispersed, everyone looked intently and found that there was no trace of black mist on the arena now.


    The entire arena had become pitted and cratered. Even with formations reinforced, it couldn¡¯t withstand the violent thunder strikes.


    Qin Hao stood majestically, his black robe spotless, gazing calmly at Chen Ding across from him.


    Chen Ding was in a miserable state, his whole body in tatters, covered with countless wounds, kneeling on the ground, still clutching the low-grade spiritual artifact, Soul Stealing Banner.


    The Soul Stealing Banner had become tattered and had several black holes on the flag face, pierced by the lightning.


    Everyone was astounded. How terrifying was the attack to have pierced even a low-grade spiritual artifact like the Soul Stealing Banner?


    This Qin Hao was too terrifying, simply not a normal person.


    ¡°Show all the means you have,¡± Qin Hao said, calmly looking at him.


    Chen Ding struggled to raise his head to look at Qin Hao, astonishment filling his eyes, ¡°H-How are you so strong?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t walk the righteous path and chose to cultivate demonic skills. What a pity.¡± Qin Hao glanced indifferently at him.


    Chen Ding¡¯s expression changed slightly, not expecting that Qin Hao had seen through him. He had always concealed it well, even if he made a move, people wouldn¡¯t associate him with demonic cultivation.


    But today, because of the Soul Stealing Banner, he was exposed. Only demonic cultivation techniques could unleash its true power when activating the Soul Stealing Banner; the spiritual energy of righteous cultivators clashed with the demonic energy within the weapon.


    ¡°I originally did not want to kill you, but with at least a thousand wronged souls on you, I cannot spare you today.¡± As he finished, Qin Hao flicked his finger; a flash of sword light and Chen Ding¡¯s head flew away.


    ¡°Qin Hao wins.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao flew back to the Yuxing County¡¯s area, and the people in the judge¡¯s seat began to announce: This year¡¯s competition for young talents has officially ended, with the top five being: Qin Hao, Xian Yin, Gao Linglong, Dong Mengqi, and Wu Yutong.


    Except for Wu Yutong, the other four were all from Yuxing County.


    The five people stepped onto the central arena, where the Emperor of the Skyfire Dynasty personally awarded the prizes to encourage these young talents.


    The rewards for the top five were the same, with each receiving five million low-grade spirit stones, a high-grade treasure. At the same time, they could choose a grandmaster-level Divine Skill from the Royal Book Library.


    As for spiritual artifacts, even the national treasury had only a few, and offering them as rewards was impossible.


    However, the top five could cultivate for a month in a blessed land deep within the palace, something many desired.


    After the dynasty¡¯s young talents¡¯ competition ended, Qin Hao and others, led by Gao Yuan, entered the palace of the Skyfire Dynasty.


    Qin Hao brought Ling¡¯er with him; they arrived at a hall, where many people had already gathered.


    The Emperor of the Skyfire Dynasty, Ye Jingtian, and that Ye Lingyi were there, along with Wu Yutong. Beside Wu Yutong stood a majestic and mighty middle-aged man, looking like Wu Yutong¡¯s father, the Marquis of Divine Might: Wu Feng.


    Ye Jingtian looked at Qin Hao and the others with a smile, ¡°Gao Yuan, your Yuxing County¡¯s performance was very impressive this time, with four out of five people coming from Yuxing County.¡±


    Gao Yuan responded calmly, ¡°Your Majesty, this is all their effort, and I did nothing.¡±


    [The third update, a new week seeking votes, the New Year is approaching, with more things happening, updating in advance]

 Chapter 994: 994: Royal Secret Land

    Chapter 994: Chapter 994: Royal Secret Land


    Ye Jingtian smiled and said, ¡°No matter what, these people come from Yuxing County. In the future, the dynasty will allocate more resources to support the development of your Yuxing County, hoping to cultivate more talents for the use of our Skyfire Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± Gao Yuan bowed slightly.


    Here, bowing was not necessary, as everyone present was a cultivator, not ordinary people.


    Ye Jingtian turned his gaze to Marquis Wu Feng: ¡°Wu Feng, your daughter¡¯s performance was also not bad, where did you get that Spiritual Artifact from?¡±


    He wasn¡¯t eyeing Wu Yutong¡¯s Spiritual Artifact but was curious about where Wu Feng acquired it.


    Wu Feng laughed and replied, ¡°Your Majesty, there¡¯s a story to it. Yutong once went to the trading market in the western district, felt a connection with a spear she saw, and bought it. The vendor was an old man, but she never saw him again afterward.¡±


    Ye Jingtian was somewhat taken aback, then laughed and said, ¡°It must be fate.¡±


    Then he spoke to Wu Yutong, ¡°Young niece, do your best. When you get to the Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy, make our Skyfire Dynasty proud.¡±


    Wu Yutong nodded: ¡°Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will work hard.¡±


    Ye Jingtian was not as aloof as Qin Hao imagined; he was very amiable and approachable with his subordinates.


    Originally, he thought the emperors here would be like those in ancient Earth, but apparently, there were some differences.


    Ye Jingtian looked towards Qin Hao and his group, pausing his gaze on the younger Ling¡¯er, he smiled and asked, ¡°Who is this little girl?¡±


    Ling¡¯er timidly replied, ¡°My name is Xue Lingling, I¡¯m the disciple of my master.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and explained, ¡°Ling¡¯er¡¯s tribe was slaughtered by a demonic cultivator at one time. Her parents used the only Concealing Talisman they had on her, allowing her to escape. I happened to pass by and took her with me. Later, I encountered that demonic cultivator and killed him.¡±


    Ye Jingtian¡¯s face turned serious, showing a trace of anger: ¡°These demonic cultivators really ought to be wiped out.¡±


    Wu Feng interjected, ¡°Your Majesty, I am willing to lead a cleanup of all demonic cultivators in the dynasty and those shameless sects.¡±


    Ye Jingtian nodded slightly: ¡°I was planning the same, I¡¯ve heard about the Red Cloud Sect, such sects must be cleansed. Moreover, those incompetent City Lords need to be removed too. We will discuss this matter further; my dynasty¡¯s citizens should not suffer under these people.¡±


    After speaking, he looked at Qin Hao and said, ¡°Young Qin¡¯s strength is truly terrifying. Even I was astonished upon seeing it. At such a young age, to reach such battle power is comparable to the top young prodigies of other dynasties and major sects.¡±


    Wu Yutong said in disbelief, ¡°Are the young prodigies from those dynasties and major sects even more powerful than him?¡±


    Ye Jingtian nodded seriously: ¡°Yes, their cultivation resources are more abundant, their Divine Skills and Cultivation Techniques are stronger, the people and land produce many young talents. In the past, our Skyfire Dynasty participated in many selections of the Heaven and Earth Academy, but even our best talents couldn¡¯t defeat their weakest.¡±


    Although it¡¯s hard to admit, he had to explain clearly to these people to dampen their confidence, or else the future blows they receive would be heavier.


    There have been such instances before; the young prodigies who ranked in the top five in the dynasty went with full confidence to participate in the trials of the Southern Continent Heavenly Academy, only to be brutally crushed, losing their Dao heart. What was once a promising talent ultimately stagnated in their cultivation level for life.


    Upon hearing this, Gao Linglong, Wu Yutong, Xian Yin, and Dong Mengqi appeared stunned; even the strongest could not defeat the weakest?


    Ye Jingtian continued: ¡°Let me tell you about the last session. Five people participated and were brutally defeated by a young prodigy from the Nan Zhou Dynasty; three were killed, two seriously injured, and this was just one person acting.¡±


    Qin Hao remained calm, showing no change, but Gao Linglong and the others were indeed shocked; were those people really that terrifying?


    Ye Jingtian: ¡°Don¡¯t be too afraid, maintain your Dao heart, work hard on your cultivation, and you might not be inferior to them in the future. The future of the Skyfire Dynasty belongs to you young people.¡±


    ¡°Lingyi, take them to the Royal Book Library to select Divine Skills, then take them to the Royal Secret Place to cultivate. Depart in a month, seize the opportunity and cultivate hard.¡±


    Ye Lingyi, Wu Feng, and Gao Yuan were taken aback upon hearing this; training in the Royal Secret Place? This was a first.


    The dynasty¡¯s Royal Cultivation Secret Place had never been open to outsiders before.


    ¡°Yes, Father.¡± After speaking, she got up and led Qin Hao and the six others out of the palace.


    Arriving in the Royal Book Library of the Skyfire Dynasty, Ye Lingyi led them to the third floor.


    Ye Lingyi said to them, ¡°These bookshelves have Grandmaster Realm Divine Skills; you can freely choose one. After choosing, I will take you to the Royal Secret Place to cultivate.¡±


    Qin Hao wasn¡¯t interested in these secret techniques, and neither were Ling¡¯er or Xian Yin; having the Divine Skills Qin Hao gave them, they really didn¡¯t care for these.


    Gao Linglong, Wu Yutong, and Dong Mengqi each chose one Divine Skill.


    Ye Lingyi looked at Qin Hao and the three others with curiosity and asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, aren¡¯t you going to choose a Divine Skill?¡±


    ¡°No need, my Divine Skills are sufficient.¡± Qin Hao replied with a smile.


    It was a kind offer, but he couldn¡¯t outright say these Divine Skills weren¡¯t appealing to him.


    However, by answering this way, Ye Lingyi understood that Qin Hao and the others were indeed not interested in these Divine Skills.


    She continued, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you to the Royal Secret Place.¡±


    Leaving the Royal Book Library, on the way to the Royal Secret Place, Dong Mengqi walked beside Qin Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, thank you for going easy on me.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled lightly, ¡°Miss Dong, there¡¯s no need to be so courteous. Even if I didn¡¯t ease off, you could still enter the top five.¡±


    Dong Mengqi chuckled awkwardly, ¡°If Mr. Qin hadn¡¯t eased off, I wouldn¡¯t have had much confidence. I should thank Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Miss Dong is a good person, and most importantly, that Chen Ding was a demonic cultivator. How could such a person represent the Skyfire Dynasty in the competition?¡±


    ...


    They walked for about twenty minutes and arrived at a stone forest in the rear garden of the palace.


    The stone forest was filled with towering stone pillars forming a formation, a very powerful one.


    Ye Lingyi went to a fake mountain in the center, her palm radiating light as she placed it on the surface. The stone door on the fake mountain opened: ¡°Go inside, this is the Royal Cultivation Secret Place.¡±


    Qin Hao and the others walked inside, and as soon as they entered, they were greeted by a rich Spiritual Energy, making them feel extremely comfortable.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes lit up, judging that the Royal Cultivation Secret Place should be similar to the one in the Commandery Prince¡¯s residence, but with Spiritual Energy that was even more concentrated.


    They continued down the green stone steps, descending roughly two hundred meters underground, where the Spiritual Energy was incredibly dense, already forming a mist.

 Chapter 995: 995 Lanruo Temple

    Chapter 995: Chapter 995 Lanruo Temple


    With every breath, an enormous amount of Spiritual Energy surged into their bodies, activating the cells throughout their entire being.


    Eventually, they arrived inside a mountain cave, where the Spiritual Energy was even denser and purer.


    From time to time, Spiritual Liquid, condensed into a liquid state at the cave¡¯s top, dripped down.


    Inside the cave, there were several jade beds, and cultivators who practiced on them would speed up their cultivation by ten to twenty percent.


    Ye Lingyi said to them, ¡°Everyone, find a place to sit and cultivate, you only have one month to improve your strength. After one month, we will set off for the Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy.¡±


    Qin Hao randomly chose a stone bed to sit on, while Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er sat on the jade stone bed next to him.


    Everyone else also sat on the jade stone beds and began to cultivate in meditation.


    Qin Hao lacked nothing but cultivation resources. Although he had plenty of Spirit Stones, they were nothing compared to this treasure trove.


    He frantically operated the Immortal Burying Skill, drawing in the vast fog-like Spiritual Energy around him, which drilled into his body.


    Soon, a vortex of Spiritual Energy formed above Qin Hao¡¯s body. Similar vortexes appeared above everybody else¡¯s heads as well, but none were as large as Qin Hao¡¯s.


    This was mainly due to his cultivation technique, which allowed him to absorb and transform energy quickly.


    Thus, as time passed day by day, the strength of everyone increased day by day.


    There were still nearly six months until the competition at the Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy, but they had only one month for cultivation¡ªafter that, the remaining time had to be spent on the journey.


    The journey from the Skyfire Dynasty to the Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy was long, taking over three months, and they might arrive about a month early.


    The Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy was located in the northern part of the Southern Continent, in the central area among the Nan Zhou Dynasty, Heavenly Phoenix Dynasty, Beichu Dynasty, Flame Dragon Dynasty, and Thunder God Dynasty.


    It did not belong to any dynasty, nor did any dynasty have the privilege to manage the academy¡ªit is a transcendent, powerful force.


    Any top-level expert dispatched casually would command awe from the five large dynasties.


    ...


    A month later, the first to open their eyes in the Royal Cultivation Secret Place was Ye Lingyi. She had already set the time, and this wasn¡¯t her first time here, so she was familiar with it, lacking the initial sense of intoxication.


    She looked at the others, and upon seeing Qin Hao, her gaze visibly lingered. Gao Linglong, Qin Hao, and others were still cultivating, but the vortex of Spiritual Energy above Qin Hao was terrifying, several times larger than normal, with a tendency to liquefy.


    The Spiritual Energy above his head had already partially liquefied, and droplets of Spiritual Liquid occasionally dripped into his body, being completely absorbed.


    Ye Lingyi knew clearly that such phenomena indicated that Qin Hao¡¯s cultivation technique was truly terrifying. She was curious about Qin Hao¡¯s background and how he had such a formidable technique.


    A few minutes later, she woke everyone up, and everyone seemed somewhat reluctant, wishing they could continue cultivating here indefinitely.


    The Spiritual Energy here was already far less dense than when they first arrived. After a month of frantic absorption by the seven of them, even the low-grade Spirit Vein could barely withstand it.


    Further cultivation wouldn¡¯t have much effect now; recovering the cave¡¯s Spiritual Energy to its previous level would take about half a year.


    The underground low-grade Spirit Vein continuously generated Spiritual Energy, and as long as the Spirit Vein wasn¡¯t damaged, the energy wouldn¡¯t be interrupted.


    Qin Hao and the others clearly sensed the change in Spiritual Energy and exchanged glances with one another.


    Gao Linglong, Wu Yutong, and Dong Mengqi had already broken through to the Peak of Late Stage Grandmaster Realm.


    Qin Hao and Xian Yin had broken through to Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, and Ling¡¯er benefited greatly from Qin Hao¡¯s presence, advancing rapidly to the early Innate stage.


    Ye Lingyi¡¯s rosy, cherry-like lips slightly parted: ¡°Let¡¯s go, prepare, we should set off.¡±


    Among those going to the Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy for the competition was her, though she did not participate in the royal competition because the child of the Skyfire Dynasty had a spot.


    The group walked out of the Royal Secret Place, and it was afternoon when Ye Lingyi brought them into a palace.


    Ye Jingtian was inside handling state affairs. Seeing Ye Lingyi bringing Qin Hao and others back, a smile appeared on his face: ¡°Everyone must have gained a lot in this month, relax today and stay for dinner, I will personally lead you to the Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy tomorrow.¡±


    Everyone nodded slightly and then said, ¡°Thank you for the emperor¡¯s generosity.¡±


    Ye Jingtian smiled slightly: ¡°You are all young geniuses of the Skyfire Dynasty, no matter where you go in the future, no matter your cultivation stage, when the Skyfire Dynasty is in trouble, I hope you will come back to help.¡±


    He was lending a hand to Qin Hao and the others now as a gesture of goodwill¡ªno one could predict how formidable these people would become, but their potential warranted such action.


    After leaving the royal palace, Dong Mengqi said, ¡°Where shall we go?¡±


    Wu Yutong: ¡°Outside the royal city, there is a Buddhist temple called Lanruo Temple, with beautiful scenery, and the masters there are quite skilled. It¡¯s pretty auspicious, why don¡¯t we go there?¡±


    Qin Hao and the others weren¡¯t sure where to go, but upon hearing Wu Yutong¡¯s suggestion, they all nodded slightly: ¡°Let¡¯s go and have a look there.¡±


    Gao Linglong, Wu Yutong, Dong Mengqi, Xian Yin, Ling¡¯er, and Qin Hao walked out of the city together.


    While walking and talking along the way, Qin Hao and the others gained a general understanding of Wu Yutong, a straightforward yet meticulous girl, and she was quite decent.


    She hadn¡¯t brought up the incident when Qin Hao had fought her brother, recognizing it as her brother¡¯s fault for not seeing clearly.


    Out of the royal city, they flew quickly and arrived at the foot of the mountain where Lanruo Temple was located.


    Wu Yutong descended from the air and said, ¡°You cannot fly here; it is disrespectful to Buddha, everyone must walk from the foot of the mountain step by step.¡±


    Everyone landed, and Qin Hao looked at the endless stairway leading to the top.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s walk up,¡± Gao Linglong said with a smile.


    ¡°Sure, sure,¡± Ling¡¯er responded with a smile across her face.


    Qin Hao also said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    They stepped onto the stone stair steps and climbed up, amid a crowd, with some ascending and others descending, revealing the popularity of Lanruo Temple.


    On Earth, there are also Buddhism and temples, but Qin Hao had rarely visited them and felt indifferent about them.


    At that time, his idea was: what good is praying to Buddha? Can Buddha grant you peace, happiness, and wealth? It¡¯s better to work hard, make money, and be the best version of yourself¡ªbelieve in yourself over everything else¡ªpinning hopes on the intangible was not his way of living.


    Of course, he didn¡¯t oppose others believing in these things; having faith can sometimes be quite beneficial for a person.

 Chapter 996: 996 Master Kong Xian

    Chapter 996: Chapter 996 Master Kong Xian


    As Qin Hao and his group walked halfway, they heard the sound of a bell from the mountain top.


    The bell¡¯s sound was so resonant that even within the royal city, it could still be heard clearly.


    Upon hearing the bell, a hint of surprise flashed in Qin Hao¡¯s eyes because he felt a sense of ethereal clarity, almost as if some dust inside him had been cleansed, making the flow of spiritual energy inside him faster than usual.


    This feeling was perceived by Gao Linglong, Xian Yin, and Dong Mengqi as well, and they wore expressions of surprise: ¡°This bell sound is so soothing.¡±


    Wu Yutong smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, the bell sound here benefits one¡¯s practice, but it usually rings only twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Why is it ringing now?¡± She was somewhat puzzled after speaking.


    Now, Gao Linglong, Dong Mengqi, and others were even more curious about Lanruo Temple: ¡°Let¡¯s go up and take a look.¡±


    As they walked, Wu Yutong said, ¡°The spiritual artifact I use is actually something I sought after here. That morning, I came to Lanruo Temple to worship Buddha and got a fortune-telling. The monk told me to wait in the western part of the royal city for an afternoon, saying I¡¯d be blessed.¡±


    Dong Mengqi asked curiously, ¡°Is it really that effective?¡±


    Wu Yutong nodded affirmatively: ¡°When you arrive, you can also seek a fortune-telling, but there¡¯s a rule ¡ª only fated people can seek one and only once in a lifetime.¡±


    ¡°Is it that powerful?¡± Gao Linglong was a little surprised.


    Hearing Wu Yutong¡¯s description of such wonder, curiosity arose in everyone¡¯s hearts.


    About ten minutes later, Qin Hao and his companions arrived at the mountain top.


    The first thing that caught their eye was a large plaza. At its center stood an ancient bodhi tree with nearly a thousand years of age, lush and vibrant, like a giant umbrella.


    There were also pools, ancient bronze tripods, and ancient bronze bells in the plaza. In the front was a cluster of palaces, with the Buddha Ancestor Hall at the center, flanked by the Bodhisattva Hall and others.


    Qin Hao and his companions looked around, then proceeded ahead. In the plaza, a group of monks was chanting and meditating. Many disciples of Lanruo Temple were present, along with numerous individuals burning incense and worshipping Buddha.


    When they reached the large bodhi tree in the square¡¯s center, Wu Yutong said, ¡°It was under this bodhi tree that I sought a fortune-telling.¡±


    Qin Hao and others curiously examined this ancient tree, sturdy and towering, like a coiled dragon rooted in the earth, evoking an indescribable feeling.


    ¡°When you come out later, if you want to seek a fortune-telling, you can do so here,¡± Wu Yutong said.


    The group headed towards the Buddha Ancestor Hall in front.


    Wu Yutong said, ¡°I heard this Lanruo Temple has existed here for so many years, perhaps even older than the Skyfire Dynasty.¡±


    Gao Linglong was surprised: ¡°Really? The Skyfire Dynasty was established tens of thousands of years ago. Could Lanruo Temple be even older?¡±


    Wu Yutong: ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics. I just heard it.¡±


    They quickly entered the Buddha Ancestor Hall, surrounded by smoky incense. A golden Buddha statue displayed the gesture of holding a lotus, watching compassionately into the distance.


    Many people were there, offering incense, kneeling, and praying for blessings and wishes.


    Wu Yutong asked them, ¡°Would you like to offer incense and make a wish?¡±


    Gao Linglong, Dong Mengqi, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er said, ¡°Sure.¡±


    Subsequently, Wu Yutong went to purchase incense sticks and gave one to everyone. When handing one to Qin Hao, he smiled and said, ¡°Miss Wu, thank you, but I don¡¯t need one.¡±


    Wu Yutong paused, ¡°Mr. Qin, are you upset with the Wu family? If that¡¯s the case, I apologize on behalf of the Wu Family and my brother.¡±


    Qin Hao shook his head, ¡°Miss Wu, don¡¯t misunderstand. It¡¯s such a trivial matter; I haven¡¯t given any thought to it. I¡¯m just not a believer in these things.¡±


    ¡°Alright then.¡± Wu Yutong did not insist further.


    Qin Hao: ¡°You go ahead and offer incense and make your wishes. I¡¯ll wait for you by the side.¡±


    Wu Yutong, Gao Linglong, Dong Mengqi, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er solemnly finished offering incense and returned to the nearby prayer mats, kneeling and lowering their heads, wishing and praying.


    Approximately two minutes later, they rose from the mats, with Ling¡¯er returning to Qin Hao¡¯s side beaming.


    Just as they planned to explore other palaces, a monk approached, ¡°Honored guests, our abbot invites you.¡±


    Qin Hao and his companions were startled, the abbot invited? For what purpose?


    Wu Yutong asked curiously, ¡°The abbot is inviting us?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the abbot said there¡¯s a distinguished guest today, which is why the bell rang three times in welcome of the noble guest¡¯s arrival.¡±


    ¡°A noble guest? We are noble guests?¡± Wu Yutong had visited before and never received such treatment.


    The bell welcomed them, and the abbot wished to see them! It was said that even the emperor couldn¡¯t always secure an audience with the abbot, so shrouded in mystery he was.


    Wu Yutong glanced at Qin Hao and his companions. Who was the noble guest in the eyes of Lanruo Temple¡¯s abbot? Was it Qin Hao? Xian Yin? Or perhaps Dong Mengqi or Gao Linglong?


    ¡°Please, follow me.¡± The monk respectfully said to them.


    Ling¡¯er smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s have a look.¡±


    Wu Yutong and the others nodded slightly; they, too, wanted to know why Lanruo Temple¡¯s abbot wished to see them.


    Led by the monk, they entered the back hall, then exited through the back door, arriving at small palaces and secluded courts behind.


    The monk did not lead them into these secluded courtyards or small palaces but instead bypassed them, reaching the back of the mountain top.


    At the mountain top¡¯s rear stood a cliff. At the edge of the summit, a massive rock stood, upon which an elderly monk in robes sat cross-legged, facing the setting sun.


    The western sky was painted in shades of red, merging into a unique scenic beauty.


    ¡°Abbot, the noble guests have arrived,¡± the monk announced.


    The elderly monk turned around, his face benevolent and kind, ¡°The arrival of noble guests graces our humble place.¡±


    Qin Hao felt an unsettling sensation. His instincts told him this old monk was frightening. Even when facing the emperor of the Skyfire Dynasty, he never felt such dread ¡ª the monk was undoubtedly terrifying and powerful.


    ¡°Master Kong Xian, you flatter us. We are merely young juniors; you are the true senior,¡± Wu Yutong humbly said.


    Dong Mengqi added, ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of Master Kong Xian¡¯s renown in the royal city. It is a blessing three lifetimes over to meet you today.¡±


    Kong Xian looked at Dong Mengqi and said in a calm tone, ¡°Young lady, your face reveals untold nobility, aided by helpful benefactors in life. However, peril lies ahead. If you let go of past matters, smooth sailing is assured.¡±


    Dong Mengqi¡¯s expression changed slightly upon hearing the monk¡¯s words, with her heart surging with immense waves, but she soon regained tranquility, ¡°Thank you for your words, Master. I will remember them deeply in my heart.¡±

 Chapter 997: Taking a Disciple???

    Everyone was a bit confused upon hearing Master Kong Xian''s words. Who exactly was Dong Mengqi? What was her background?


    If Dong Mengqi didn''t proactively share, people wouldn''t proactively ask since it involved personal privacy.


    Master Kong Xian looked at Wu Yutong and said, "Miss Wu often visits my Lanruo Temple. Last time, she received some fortune. Today, this old monk will gift Miss Wu another chance."


    Wu Yutong was startled for a moment, then pleasantly surprised. Last time she got a lower-grade Spiritual Artifact. This time Master Kong Xian personally gifting her fortune, it should be better than a lower-grade Spiritual Artifact, right?


    "Thank you, Master Kong Xian."


    Master Kong Xian took out a jade slip and handed it to Wu Yutong, saying, "This is a spear skill Divine Skill called Sky Heart Spear Skill. It was originally given to me by an old friend to refine a bit. Although it''s not top-tier Divine Skill, it''s considered first-class on the Hidden Dragon Continent."


    Wu Yutong felt a bit excited upon hearing that, "Thank you, Master Kong Xian."


    Master Kong Xian looked at Gao Linglong, "Miss Gao, your fate is quite fortunate too. This lower-grade Spiritual Artifact protective soft armor is yours."


    Gao Linglong respectfully took it, "Thank you, Master Kong Xian."


    Everyone was amazed by his generosity. If not top-tier Divine Skill, then Spiritual Artifacts; Master Kong Xian must be incredibly wealthy.


    Master Kong Xian looked at Qin Hao and his group. The three of them respectfully greeted him, "Master Kong Xian."


    Master Kong Xian smiled at Qin Hao and said, "Little friend, your forehead is surrounded by purple aura, and your features contain imperial aura, which is truly extraordinary. Such a fate is only seen once in my lifetime."


    Qin Hao awkwardly smiled, "Master Kong Xian is too kind. I don''t believe in face-reading, only in myself."


    Master Kong Xian paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "Indeed, you''re no ordinary person. I have nothing suitable to gift you, so I''ll give you some words of advice."


    "I''m willing to listen to your words, Master." Qin Hao said humbly.


    Master Kong Xian looked at him calmly and said, "Mr. Qin, while your appearance is extraordinary, it also implies hidden dangers and a life filled with crises. If you focus on cultivation in a blessed cave and avoid exposing yourself, you will certainly stand at the pinnacle and overlook the world."


    Upon hearing Master Kong Xian''s evaluation of Qin Hao, everyone was startled. Such high praise was truly unique.


    Standing at the pinnacle and overlooking the world? What kind of expert is that?


    Qin Hao heard his words, smiled slightly, and said no more.


    Master Kong Xian smiled slightly and looked at Xian Yin, "Miss, your fate as a celestial phoenix indicates priceless prosperity in this life. Coincidentally, I have a superior-grade Spiritual Artifact to gift you. This zither is named Feng Xiao Zither, crafted from Ancient Parasol Wood from beyond the East Sea. The name derives from the legends of phoenixes resting on parasol trees and dragons lying in the clouds."


    Everyone was shocked by his words. A superior-grade Spiritual Artifact? That''s a bit intimidating.


    Xian Yin bowed and accepted it, "Thank you, Master Kong Xian."


    Master Kong Xian''s expression remained unchanged, "Today, I''ve given little gifts to you all to forge a good relationship, hoping for good karma in the future."


    Ling''er couldn''t help but ask, "Master, what about my gift?"


    Qin Hao and his group couldn''t help but chuckle upon hearing Ling''er''s straightforward words; after all, she''s just a child.


    Master Kong Xian laughed heartily, "I''ve prepared a big gift for you."


    Ling''er chuckled, "Then, thank you in advance, Master Kong Xian."


    Master Kong Xian looked at her and said, "You are destined with me, Buddha. I wish to accept you as my closed-door disciple. Would you be willing? Is this gift big enough?"


    Everyone''s expression froze upon hearing this, even Qin Hao was momentarily surprised, not expecting such a proposal.


    Ling''er immediately responded, "I have a master, I don''t want to become your disciple."


    "You have a master already? Who is your master?" Master Kong Xian was taken aback.


    Ling''er grabbed Qin Hao''s arm and laughed, "This is my master."


    Master Kong Xian looked at Qin Hao and paused, "Mr. Qin, I wonder if you could bear letting her go. She has profound enlightenment and is destined with me, Buddha. I will give her my full guidance, and she will surely become a top-tier expert recognized across the continent."


    Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "It''s better to let Ling''er decide such matters on her own."


    Xue Lingling immediately said, "I won''t become your disciple."


    Master Kong Xian''s expression was a bit awkward, yet he continued to persuade, "Do you know what your physique is?"


    "What kind of physique?" Ling''er asked curiously.


    Master Kong Xian replied seriously, "The supreme furnace tripod physique, something perhaps no one in this small kingdom recognizes. But if you go to Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy, it will be easily recognized. Do you know what the supreme furnace tripod physique means?"


    Ling''er shook her head, and Qin Hao and Xian Yin didn''t quite understand, as they hadn''t heard of this physique either.


    Master Kong Xian continued, "The supreme furnace tripod physique is highly coveted by all cultivators. If a Heavenly Human Realm expert possesses you, they can easily break through to the Peak Realm. If a Peak Realm expert possesses you, they can effortlessly advance to the next level. The supreme furnace tripod physique is something all cultivators desperately compete for.


    If you go with him to Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy, it will bring him great danger."


    Xue Lingling was stunned after hearing this, looking up at Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, "Don''t worry about these things, don''t let external factors influence any decisions."


    Xue Lingling nodded, then said to Master Kong Xian, "Even if I die, as long as I can die beside my master, I would willingly do so."


    ...


    Master Kong Xian sighed and said no more, "Keep this talisman safe. If you face difficulties in the future, crush it, and I''ll know."


    "Thank you, Master." Ling''er put away the talisman.


    "That''s it, let things follow their course. Everyone, this old monk is going to cultivate, may we meet again if fate allows."


    Qin Hao and the others left Lanruo Temple, and on the way back, everyone seemed troubled, especially Dong Mengqi.


    No matter what, she never expected that someone could know her identity, especially a monk she had never met.


    It''s too terrifying. Who exactly is this Master Kong Xian?


    Qin Hao and Xian Yin were also troubled due to Ling''er''s physique. Master Kong Xian had no reason to deceive them, and if it was true, Ling''er indeed faced danger.


    Gao Linglong knew what Qin Hao and Xian Yin were worried about, and comforted them, "Mr. Qin, Miss Xian Yin, you don''t need to worry too much. Once at Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy, no one dares to cause trouble there, let alone take people."


    Qin Hao spoke in an undeniable tone, "Even if someone dared, they could not take Ling''er away."


    Moreover, now Xian Yin and Ling''er both have the space mecha he gave them. Trying to capture them is simply impossible unless they face top-tier peak experts on the Hidden Dragon Continent.

 Chapter 998: 998 Departure

    Chapter 998: Chapter 998 Departure


    After understanding everything, Qin Hao returned to his usual self.


    They arrived back at the palace just as dusk was setting in, after leaving Lanruo Temple.


    Ye Lingyi led them into a banquet hall within the palace, where tables were arranged in neat rows. At the front was Ye Jingtian¡¯s seat, with another seat beside it for Ye Lingyi.


    ¡°Please take your seats,¡± Ye Lingyi said to them.


    Qin Hao and the others casually picked a table to sit at. The tables were for individual seating; Xian Yin took the table next to Qin Hao, while Ling¡¯er sat with Qin Hao.


    About three minutes later, Ye Jingtian entered from the back, and the food and drinks were served one by one.


    Each person had a palace maid standing behind them who carefully poured them a cup of wine.


    Raising his glass with a smile, Ye Jingtian said, ¡°I toast to all of you, and wish you great success in the competition at the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy.¡±


    Everyone raised their glasses in response and drank with Ye Jingtian.


    Then, Ye Lingyi also raised her glass and said, ¡°Once you arrive at the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy, you must work together, or passing the first round of the sea selection will be very difficult.¡±


    After a few rounds of drinks and a variety of dishes, the cheeks of Gao Linglong, Wu Yutong, and others were flushed, and they began to talk more, asking many questions about the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy.


    ¡°What are the rules for the first round of the sea selection at the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy?¡± Wu Yutong couldn¡¯t help her curiosity and asked.


    Ye Jingtian, who had been there many times, said, ¡°The rules vary each year, it¡¯s impossible to guess. However, the first round of the sea selection generally involves a competition among all participants, and it¡¯s crucial to avoid those stronger teams.¡±


    He then elaborated on the strong teams, mentioning the teams from the five dynasties and the dozens of major sects on the land of the Southern Continent.


    The strength of those major sects sometimes matched or even surpassed that of the enormous dynasties, being even more terrifying at times.


    A little past 8:30 PM, everyone left the hall and, led by the palace maids, proceeded to the accommodations arranged for them by Ye Jingtian.


    Qin Hao, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er were housed together in a small but exquisite pavilion.


    Inside, Ling¡¯er said, ¡°Master, Xian Yin sister, I¡¯m going to cultivate.¡±


    After Ling¡¯er went upstairs, Qin Hao turned to look at Xian Yin, who glanced back at him, then hurriedly lowered her head in shyness.


    Seeing her in this tender state, the flames within Qin Hao stirred. He took Xian Yin¡¯s hand and led her into the room.


    Inside the room, Xian Yin sat on the bed, her beautiful face slightly flushed as she helped Qin Hao undress.


    ...


    ...


    By around 6 AM the next morning.


    Qin Hao had just opened his eyes when Xian Yin awoke, snuggling up to him like a lazy kitten.


    ...


    By 7 AM, Qin Hao and Xian Yin emerged from the room, Xian Yin¡¯s charming face still imbued with a blush.


    Ling¡¯er soon came downstairs, and before long, the palace maids had brought in breakfast and snacks.


    As the three of them were having breakfast, Ling¡¯er looked at Qin Hao and Xian Yin with a chuckle, ¡°Master, should I start calling Sister Xian Yin my master¡¯s wife now?¡±


    Qin Hao cleared his throat, and Xian Yin quickly said, ¡°You cheeky girl, are you teasing me? Just call me Sister Xian Yin.¡±


    Ling¡¯er grinned, ¡°If I call you my sister, wouldn¡¯t that mess up the generations?¡±


    Xian Yin shot her a glance, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter; cultivators need not concern themselves with such things.¡±


    After breakfast, palace maids came to summon them, asking them to gather in the palace square.


    The three of them tidied up and walked to the palace square, arriving about six minutes later where they found Gao Linglong, Dong Mengqi, Wu Yutong, and others already present.


    Ye Jingtian and Ye Lingyi were there too, along with some palace guards.


    Once everyone had arrived, Ye Jingtian spoke, ¡°Everyone is here, so let¡¯s set off now. The journey to the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy will take over three months. It might get a bit tedious, but practicing cultivation will help pass the time.¡±


    The contingent heading to the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy, besides the six competitors, included Ye Jingtian and several hundred Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards.


    There was a large Transmission Array in the palace square. Ye Jingtian led everyone onto it, and moments later, they appeared in the northernmost town on the edge of the Skyfire Dynasty.


    The Transmission Array there was heavily guarded, as this border town housed millions of troops to ward off magical creatures and invasions from other dynasties.


    ¡°Hail to the Emperor.¡±


    The soldiers outside saw Ye Jingtian and the others and respectfully bowed.


    Ye Jingtian nodded slightly, ¡°There¡¯s no need for formality, warriors. Today I am taking the dynasty¡¯s young prodigies to participate in the grand competition at the Southern Continent Heaven and Earth Academy. In my absence, strengthen the defenses at the dynasty¡¯s borders; do not give others any opportunity.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, Your Majesty. We will do our utmost,¡± a Great General in armor stated with a resolute and firm tone.

 Chapter 999: 999: Beast Attack

    Chapter 999: Chapter 999: Beast Attack


    Ye Jingtian¡¯s eyes conveyed a sense of appreciation: ¡°Good, well done, everyone.¡±


    Led by that commander, Ye Jingtian and the others took a leisurely walk around the city before reaching the towering, sturdy city walls.


    This strategic frontier town was named Guard City, a purely military settlement with no civilians or loose cultivators¡ªonly soldiers and commanders.


    The walls of Guard City were dozens of zhang high and more than ten zhang wide, almost wider than the road inside the city itself. Elite soldiers stood atop the walls, exuding a heavy aura of hostility.


    Qin Hao and his companions stood on the city wall, gazing outward at the boundless mountain ranges.


    From within the mountains came the thunderous roars of beasts, whose sounds alone conveyed their formidable and terrifying power.


    Ye Jingtian spoke to Qin Hao and the others: ¡°Ahead lies tens of thousands of miles of beast-infested mountains, which are just the outskirts; throughout Hidden Dragon Continent, humans occupy only about three to four tenths of the land. Many areas are perilous grounds, treacherous lands, and beast-infested mountains. Beyond these mountains lie other kingdoms.¡±


    After surveying from the walls, Ye Jingtian tossed something into the air, which expanded with the wind to become a magical warship hundreds of zhang long and over ten zhang wide before their eyes.


    ¡°This is the warship we¡¯ll use to head to the Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy,¡± Ye Jingtian told Qin Hao and the group.


    Given Ye Jingtian¡¯s status, venturing into other kingdoms is impossible, akin to a lamb entering a tiger¡¯s den.


    The kingdoms surrounding them had some skirmishes and tensions, eager to eliminate and annex one another.


    Ye Jingtian was the first to fly onto the warship, followed by Ye Lingyi, Qin Hao, and the rest joining him.


    Ye Jingtian said a few farewell words to the guards on the wall before departing.


    The warship flew at ten thousand meters altitude, moving rapidly like a flash of light, disappearing from the sight of the soldiers on the wall in an instant.


    A protective shield of energy enveloped the warship, formed by the defensive array against the intense piercing winds brought by high speeds.


    Qin Hao and his companions were experiencing such a vessel for the first time, curiously inspecting the ship¡¯s features.


    The warship was crafted from rarer wood, three stories high, incredibly hard¡ªnot inferior to rare metals, propelled by spiritual energy.


    The warship housed countless acceleration formations, defensive formations, and attack formations.


    Ye Lingyi looked at them and said: ¡°Please follow me, I¡¯ll take you to your respective rooms.¡±


    ¡°Miss Wu, you¡¯ll stay in this room,¡± Ye Lingyi led them first to a room on the first floor.


    The interior decor was quite splendid, comparable to home accommodations, with a spirit gathering array inside the room, drawing and refining nearby spiritual energy for cultivation.


    Dong Mengqi and Gao Linglong were also assigned rooms afterward.


    Ye Lingyi looked at Qin Hao and the other two: ¡°Mr. Qin, this room is relatively large with two bedrooms; the three of you can stay here.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded: ¡°Thank you, Princess Lingyi.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, no need for formality. We¡¯re similar in age; we might become fellow disciples in the future, just call me Lingyi,¡± Ye Lingyi said with a soft smile.


    Qin Hao replied: ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll oblige then.¡±


    ¡°Mm, Mr. Qin, focus on your cultivation. I¡¯ll be leaving now,¡± After settling them, Ye Lingyi turned to leave.


    Though outwardly approachable, Qin Hao sensed a certain pride within Ye Lingyi.


    This was a pride stemming from confidence in her own strength, akin to contempt, believing Qin Hao and others were not on her level.


    Ling¡¯er spoke: ¡°Master, Xian Yin Sister, which room will you choose?¡±


    Upon hearing her question, Xian Yin¡¯s face blushed crimson.


    Qin Hao laughed: ¡°Any room would do, let¡¯s choose the one on the right.¡±


    Ling¡¯er nodded: ¡°Then I¡¯ll head to the left room and cultivate, Master, Xian Yin Sister, have a good dual cultivation.¡±


    ¡°You cheeky little brat,¡± Xian Yin couldn¡¯t help but tickle her.


    Ling¡¯er chuckled, quickly retreating to her room.


    Qin Hao and Xian Yin also returned to their room, Xian Yin slightly shyly asked: ¡°Sir, shall we cultivate separately or engage in dual cultivation?¡±


    ¡°Of course, dual cultivation¡ªit speeds up the process,¡±


    Facing each other, Xian Yin moved gracefully, cautiously sitting down.


    Dual cultivation essentially involves balancing yin and yang, harmonizing the yang energy from the man and the yin energy from the woman to form pure energy. This pure energy cannot be absorbed from heaven and earth, and this yin-yang harmonization can also aid in breaking through realm barriers.


    Aside from the Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guards, everyone aboard the warship was engaged in cultivation.


    ...


    ¡°Boom¡±


    As everyone was cultivating, the entire ship suddenly shook, jolting everyone from their cultivation.


    Qin Hao and Xian Yin also came to, swiftly clothing themselves, disappearing from the room.


    On the deck, Ye Jingtian, Ye Lingyi, and others emerged.


    A Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard reported to Ye Jingtian: ¡°Your Excellency, our warship is under attack by a Heavenly Human Realm beast.¡±


    As soon as the report concluded, a piercing cry echoed from the distant sky, painfully sharp and dizzying.


    Soon, a giant beast appeared flying towards them, its expansive wingspan measuring several dozen zhang long, overshadowing the sky¡ªterrifyingly immense.


    Such a colossal beast was a first-time encounter for many, though Qin Hao had seen larger beings, like the Bloodthirsty Demon Wolf he encountered upon arriving in this world, whose size and aura surpassed that of the beast now facing them.


    Ye Jingtian snorted coldly, wielding a celestial sword, he flew out from the warship, facing the Heavenly Human Realm beast.


    The beast shrieked, its resonant cry sweeping through the heavens and earth, sending beasts hundreds of li away scurrying and astounded.


    Ye Jingtian slashed his sword, a golden sword beam over ten zhang long streaked across the sky, its momentum towering to the zenith.


    With the heavens dimming and the void gently quivering.


    ¡°Pfft¡±


    The golden sword beam, like celestial radiance, sliced through the beast, its speed too swift, leaving no room for evasion.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    The colossal beast¡¯s body instantly exploded.


    With a single sword, Ye Jingtian dispatched a Heavenly Human Realm beast, his fighting prowess left those on deck stunned.


    Ye Jingtian waved his palm, the monster¡¯s core was drawn into his hand, while he returned to the ship: ¡°Continue onward, everyone no need for concern, the warship¡¯s defenses are robust; there will be no issues. In the following days, beast attacks might frequent as we approach the central region of the Southern Continent. The beasts here carry substantial strength.¡±

 Chapter 1000 - 1000 Jianglan City

    Qin Hao and the others nodded slightly. They had been in closed-door cultivation for a month and a half, and in less than two months, they would arrive at the Heaven and Earth Academy in the Southern Continent.


    The Heaven and Earth Academy is in the northern part of the Southern Continent, not in the central area of the Southern Continent''s land.


    They are still within the territory of a dynasty, and ahead lies the Nan Zhou Dynasty. After passing through the Nan Zhou Dynasty, they would be close to the Heaven and Earth Academy.


    It takes nearly two months to cross the Nan Zhou Dynasty, which indicates how vast the dynastic power ranges are on Southern Continent.


    Between this dynasty and the Nan Zhou Dynasty lies hundreds of thousands of miles of spirit beast mountain ranges, where the spiritual energy is dozens of times denser than that of the Skyfire Dynasty, and there are many spirit beasts as well.


    Strong spirit beasts are naturally more abundant here. Over the past few days, as their ship traveled through, they were almost daily attacked.


    They even encountered an attack from a Peak Realm spirit beast; if Ye Jingtian hadn''t driven the ship away at full speed, they might have become the prey of the Peak Realm spirit beast.


    About eight days later, Qin Hao and his companions entered the territory of the Nan Zhou Dynasty. The Nan Zhou Dynasty is adjacent to the Heavenly Phoenix Dynasty, and here, large numbers of humans reside, with fewer spirit beasts.


    The warship now flew along the edge of the Nan Zhou Dynasty, and after crossing it, they would soon arrive at the Heaven and Earth Academy.


    They occasionally saw other ships from various dynasties, all heading towards the Heaven and Earth Academy.


    After the ship stabilized, Qin Hao and Xian Yin resumed dual cultivation in their room.


    Time passed bit by bit, and before they knew it, they had left the Skyfire Dynasty for three months and ten days.


    Qin Hao''s strength had reached the Peak of Middle Stage Master Realm from the Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, only a step away from the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm.


    On this day, while Qin Hao and the others were cultivating, Ye Lingyi woke them up, and they came to the deck of the ship.


    Ye Jingtian was standing there, and seeing them all arrive, he said, "In about three hours, we''ll arrive at Jianglan City. Jianglan City belongs to the Heaven and Earth Academy''s sphere of influence, but it''s still a distance away from the Academy. We''ll take a transmission array from there."


    Qin Hao and the others nodded slightly, and Ye Jingtian continued, "Once there, conduct yourself discreetly. It''s not just dynastic teams gathered there, but also large sect teams. We will rest for a day there and use the transmission array to go to Tiandi City the next day."


    Qin Hao and the others took a look around; below was a lush green mountain range, and now they frequently saw ships or cultivators flying through the air.


    Gao Linglong, Xian Yin, and Wu Yutong had a look of anticipation in their eyes; they had long heard that the land of Southern Continent is incredibly prosperous, with abundant spiritual energy.


    They had already felt the dense spiritual energy, but had yet to see the cities here.


    Qin Hao and his companions did not return to their rooms to cultivate but stayed on the deck of the ship, enjoying the scenery.


    Wu Yutong said, "When we arrive in Jianglan City, how about we go shopping and experience the local sights?"


    Gao Linglong smiled and said, "Sure, sure. Miss Meng Qi, Ling''er, Xian Yin, Mr. Qin, will you join us?"


    Ling''er and Xian Yin looked at Qin Hao, seeing the hope in Ling''er''s eyes, Qin Hao nodded slightly, "Let''s go and take a look then."


    Ling''er, after all, is still young and playful.


    Dong Mengqi also replied, "Since everyone is going, I''ll join in the fun too."


    Wu Yutong looked at Ye Lingyi and asked, "Will Princess Lingyi join us?"


    Ye Lingyi smiled and replied, "I won''t go; I have some matters to attend to."


    About two hours later, the outline of a giant city came into view, Jianglan City was enormous, far beyond everyone''s imagination, several times larger than the royal city of the Skyfire Dynasty.


    Gao Linglong and the others were awestruck by this gigantic city; compared to Jianglan City, the cities of the Skyfire Dynasty are like babies compared to adults.


    As they approached Jianglan City, Ye Jingtian slowly landed the ship on the ground.


    The group disembarked from the warship, and Ye Jingtian put the ship away; their arrival attracted the attention of many around.


    "Which dynasty''s people have arrived?"


    "Skyfire Dynasty? Never heard of it, who knows from which corner they came."


    People around talked briefly and continued on their way into Jianglan City, as they, too, were participants in the Heaven and Earth Academy''s competition.


    The new selection of young talents for Heaven and Earth Academy is a grand event on the land of Southern Continent, and all eligible young talents can participate in the selection.


    Those close to the Academy have the qualification to participate; there are no personnel restrictions.


    No matter if you are a disciple of a large or small sect, or a mere loose cultivator, you can participate.


    Ye Jingtian and the others heard the discussions of those around but could only pretend not to hear them, as this was within the influence range of the Heaven and Earth Academy.


    The ones speaking could well have several Heavenly Human Realm or stronger masters behind them.


    Ye Jingtian couldn''t kill these people over a few words.


    There was once an example when a dynasty''s emperor was ridiculed, and he killed the person. Following that, several Heavenly Human Realm masters from that person''s family came and slaughtered the emperor and his team right on the spot.


    This event left a deep impression on many dynasty emperors at the time, and since then, the emperors from distant dynasties have become much more cautious.


    They reached Jianglan City, where the towering city walls exuded a sense of desolation and antiquity, with many traces of the years gone by.


    Deep claw marks, house-sized footprints¡ªwere they left by spirit beasts? This place must have experienced a severe battle in the past, right?


    Ye Jingtian said, "Let''s go in."


    The group walked into Jianglan City, and the guards at the city gate didn''t check them at all because, seeing Qin Hao and his companions'' attire, they could tell they were likely from a weaker dynasty''s team.


    Walking into the city, it was bustling and crowded. The competition for enrolling new students at the Heaven and Earth Academy was about to start, gathering many cultivators here.


    Qin Hao and the others walked and looked around. Truly, it was the most prosperous place of Southern Continent; the level of prosperity far exceeded their expectations.


    Master Realm experts could be seen everywhere on the streets, almost like numerous passing fish in a river, countless.


    Heavenly Human Realm masters were also abundant; it was terrifying.


    It''s truly a land of outstanding people and abundant resources, with ideal conditions for cultivation, nurturing many masters. Even those with ordinary talent might easily break through to the Master Realm.


    In contrast, conditions in the Skyfire Dynasty were poor, and breaking through to the Master Realm or Heavenly Human Realm required exceptional talent.


    Under Ye Jingtian''s lead, they quickly arrived at a decent-looking inn.


    "Five single court pavilions, for a day," Ye Jingtian said.


    The innkeeper: "Altogether, it''s five thousand medium-grade Spirit Stones."


    After paying the Spirit Stones, a server led them to the courtyard in the back. Transactions here generally used medium-grade Spirit Stones, with five thousand medium-grade Spirit Stones equating to fifty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.

 Chapter 1001: 1001: Bumpkin?

    Chapter 1001: Chapter 1001: Bumpkin?


    The group arrived at their respective independent courtyards, tidied up a bit, and then Qin Hao and the others came out from the courtyard.


    Dong Mengqi lived next to Qin Hao, and she almost came out at the same time as him.


    After a while, Gao Linglong and Wu Yutong also came out of their small courtyard.


    Wu Yutong smiled and said to the others, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s see the style of this big city in the Southern Continent.¡±


    The group walked out of the tavern, strolling aimlessly along the street, stopping to look at things that were strange and amusing.


    They wandered for more than an hour and arrived at the large market in Jianglan City, and they curiously walked in.


    Upon entering, they saw very few beasts, all locked in cages, some a few meters in size, and others dozens of meters, ferocious and terrifying.


    ¡°Is that a Grandmaster Realm beast?¡± Gao Linglong said, pointing to a Lightning Leopard.


    Wu Yutong nodded, ¡°To capture a Grandmaster Realm beast alive, at the very least, it takes a Heavenly Human Realm expert.¡±


    Not only beasts, but this market also had many precious alchemy materials, artifact refining materials, and more.


    Qin Hao and his group walked around and saw many shops selling beasts, and they even saw Heavenly Human Realm cubs for sale.


    ¡°Master, this spiritual beast is so cute.¡± Ling¡¯er crouched in front of a stall selling beasts, looking at a small, snowy-white spiritual beast.


    Qin Hao and the others also looked at the spiritual beast, with Xian Yin and the others showing a hint of affection in their eyes. Women generally have little resistance to such cute, fluffy little things.


    The stall owner smiled and said, ¡°Young lady, this spiritual beast is called the treasure-finding beast. It has a keen sense of smell and can even detect its owner¡¯s scent from miles away, but its greatest use is in finding heavenly materials and earthly treasures.¡±


    Qin Hao directly asked, ¡°How much for this spiritual beast?¡±


    Stall owner: ¡°Though this treasure-finding spiritual beast looks small, its value is immense, even greater than a Heavenly Human Realm beast, so it¡¯s a bit pricey. It¡¯s ten thousand medium-grade Spirit Stones, but seeing the young lady truly likes it, I¡¯ll give you a deal for nine thousand medium-grade Spirit Stones.¡±


    Nine thousand medium-grade Spirit Stones are equivalent to nine million low-grade Spirit Stones.


    Just a single spiritual beast actually costs millions of Spirit Stones, leaving everyone present a bit shocked.


    ¡°Master, it¡¯s so expensive, I don¡¯t need it,¡± Ling¡¯er sensibly said.


    Qin Hao said to the stall owner, ¡°Your asking price is too high. Are you taking advantage of us because we don¡¯t know the market? This treasure-finding spiritual beast only has a one-in-ten-thousand bloodline of a treasure-finding beast. Buying it would just mean keeping it as a pet, which isn¡¯t worth much. Since my disciple likes it, I¡¯d like to buy it for him. A thousand medium-grade Spirit Stones, if that¡¯s not okay, then forget it.¡±


    Hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, the stall owner looked slightly stunned. This person knows so much?


    He originally intended to fool these outsiders, but unexpectedly, he ran into someone who knows their stuff.


    The stall owner forced a smile, ¡°Since the young lady likes this treasure-finding beast, it¡¯s fate. Let¡¯s do a thousand medium-grade Spirit Stones.¡±


    Wu Yutong and the others were a bit dumbfounded. Does Qin Hao also know a lot about spiritual beasts?


    Qin Hao took out ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones and gave them to the stall owner, who collected the Spirit Stones and then opened the cage of the treasure-finding beast.


    Ling¡¯er carefully took it out and then held it in her arms.


    The stall owner reminded, ¡°Young lady, if you¡¯re going to establish a bond, you need to drip blood. Just feed it Spirit Stones normally.¡±


    Ling¡¯er nodded, squeezed out a drop of blood from her finger, and dripped it into the treasure-finding beast¡¯s body. A mystical feeling entered Ling¡¯er¡¯s body, and the treasure-finding beast grew closer to her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, continue strolling,¡± Qin Hao said.


    This market was huge. They walked inside for nearly half an hour more.


    Wu Yutong saw a shop called ¡°Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion¡± and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and take a look.¡±


    Qin Hao and the others looked at the shop she mentioned. The three golden words ¡°Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion¡± emitted a powerful aura, probably written by a Heavenly Human Realm Peak expert, or even a Peak Realm expert.


    But the aura had no effect on people, it only hinted at their strength.


    ¡°This shop looks impressive,¡± Gao Linglong said.


    Dong Mengqi said, ¡°The three words ¡®Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion¡¯ carry a strong aura and mysterious Dao rhythm, likely written by a Peak Realm expert.¡±


    ¡°A Peak Realm expert? Could the shop owner be a Peak Realm expert?¡± Gao Linglong was surprised and incredulous.


    Could a shop owner be a Peak Realm expert? With that kind of power, he could become the emperor of a dynasty.


    The group walked into the shop, Ling¡¯er holding the treasure-finding beast and feeding it with Spirit Stones in her hand.


    Entering the shop, it was quite spacious, with various items displayed on the counters, and many people inside.


    The shop had everything: all sorts of cultivation techniques, Divine Skills, magical treasures, spiritual energy, elixirs, precious medicinal herbs, artifact refining materials, formation materials, and more. Most items here were high-level, while low-level ones could be found at the stalls outside.


    Qin Hao and the others looked at the items inside the counter. Seeing the prices, they couldn¡¯t help but be shocked; less than tens of thousands of medium-grade Spirit Stones, and more than hundreds of thousands to millions, which was terrifying.


    However, the items there also opened their eyes, with high-level Supreme Cultivation Techniques priced close to a million medium-grade Spirit Stones.


    The shop had detailed classifications for cultivation techniques and Divine Skills from low, medium, high, to top-levels. Each of these levels had further divisions into lower, middle, upper, and supreme grades.


    Most family and sect cultivation techniques in the Skyfire Dynasty were barely high-grade lower-level, not even reaching medium level.


    Besides cultivation techniques, there were also high-level Supreme Divine Skills, an array that left Wu Yutong and others dazzled and deeply impressed.


    The shop also had a large number of low-grade Spiritual Artifacts and medium-grade Spiritual Artifacts for sale. The strength of the Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion amazed Wu Yutong and her companions, as anything from here would cause bloody storms in the Skyfire Dynasty, driving countless people crazy.


    ¡°There¡¯s even a Heavenly Human Elixir here.¡± Wu Yutong couldn¡¯t hold back the shock in her heart when she saw the Heavenly Human Elixir.


    Gao Linglong and Xian Yin were also stunned, staring blankly at the Heavenly Human Elixir.


    This is an elixir that can help one break through to the Heavenly Human Realm, and it was casually for sale in this shop.


    They were all at the peak of the Grandmaster Realm Late Stage, and this elixir was just what they needed, how could they not be excited?


    But when they saw the price, Wu Yutong and others calmed down, as a single Heavenly Human Elixir cost a whopping 1.8 million medium-grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to 18 million low-grade Spirit Stones.


    This price, perhaps only the emperor of the Skyfire Dynasty could afford?


    ¡°Where did these bumpkins come from? Can you stop making a fuss here? You¡¯ve never seen the world.¡± A nearby man in luxurious clothes couldn¡¯t help but interject, with scorn in his voice.


    [To provide a better reading experience, the author might increase the word count of subsequent chapters accordingly. Currently, each chapter has around 2,000 words. Regular readers are charged five cents per 1,000 words, while VIP readers get discounts. The pricing is based on the word count. Chapters with more words might be slightly more expensive, just clarifying so there¡¯s no misunderstanding with the author.]

 Chapter 1002: 1002: Powerful Slaying

    Chapter 1002: Chapter 1002: Powerful Slaying


    Beside the man in ornate clothes were two men and two women, all dressed in exquisite and expensive garments.


    ¡°Mr. Xing, why bother with this group of hillbillies who¡¯ve never seen the world? Isn¡¯t that below us?¡± a young woman sneered with a smile.


    Another man chimed in, ¡°Exactly, they probably have never seen these things in their whole lives. It¡¯s understandable they¡¯d be shocked to see such impressive things.¡±


    The sarcasm in his words was even more obvious.


    Compared to them, Qin Hao and his group indeed had the appearance of country folk compared to city dwellers.


    Their clothes, whether in terms of craftsmanship or material, were dozens of times better than those of Wu Yutong, Qin Hao, and others.


    Wu Yutong¡¯s pretty face flushed bright red, her beautiful eyes glaring angrily at them.


    Yet, feeling the strength of those few people, she hesitated. These individuals turned out to be masters at the half-step Heavenly Realm, and Mr. Xing was even a Heavenly Human Realm expert.


    A Heavenly Human Realm expert, it¡¯s actually a Heavenly Human Realm expert.


    Xing Kai, noticing the angry looks from Wu Yutong and her group, casually said, ¡°You few have some beauty. I happen to lack a few maids by my side. If you follow me and serve me, I promise you can enter Heaven and Earth Academy with me to cultivate.¡±


    Heaven and Earth Academy has regulations that any student who passes the selection can bring two maids or servants to cultivate with them. They can also audit classes but don¡¯t enjoy the same benefits as regular students.


    Beside Xing Kai, Shao Jian pointed at Xian Yin and Gao Linglong saying, ¡°Mr. Xing, I fancy these two. Can these two be mine?¡±


    The two of them had already started dividing people as if no one else was present.


    There were quite a few people in the Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion store, and at this moment, they were all watching this scene, including shoppers and store employees.


    ¡°These people probably come from some distant kingdom, right?¡± someone speculated, looking at Wu Yutong and her group¡¯s attire.


    ¡°Probably. From their clothes and strength, they might be top talents in that kingdom. Too bad this isn¡¯t Jianglan City; even their emperor has to tread carefully here.¡±


    ¡°The Xing Family behind Xing Kai and the Shao Family behind Shao Jian have considerable influence in Jianglan City. Even the emperor of these people would have to be respectful in front of them.¡±


    ¡°These young beauties will probably become Xing Kai and Shao Jian¡¯s slaves. It¡¯s a pity; in their kingdom, they should be high-ranking talents.¡±


    ¡°Now that they¡¯re being humiliated by Xing Kai and Shao Jian like this, do you think they¡¯ll resist?¡±


    ¡°Resist? What would they use to resist? Three at the peak of the late-stage Grandmaster Realm and two at mid-stage. With such weak strength, I alone could take them down.¡±


    ¡°Are these the contestants from that kingdom? They¡¯re terribly poor, embarrassingly so.¡±


    ¡°I think they¡¯ll resist. These individuals are notable figures in their own kingdom. Now that their pride is being trampled, they surely can¡¯t stand it.¡±


    ¡°Instead of staying at the hotel, they come out wandering, thinking it¡¯s their kingdom? How amusing, these bumpkins.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Swish!¡±


    At this moment, a piercingly powerful Sword Qi appeared out of nowhere, directly slashing at Xing Kai and Shao Jian, who had just spoken.


    The Sword Qi appeared too suddenly and moved too fast.


    Most importantly, Xing Kai and Shao Jian had not expected the other party to make a move, leaving them completely unprepared.


    Xing Kai, who had just broken through to the Heavenly Human Realm, reacted rather swiftly, retreating rapidly. Shao Jian¡¯s reaction was slower, and the Sword Qi was about to reach his neck.


    The people inside the store were dumbfounded, looking at Qin Hao in disbelief.


    Does he have a death wish daring to strike inside the Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion? The Pavilion is no ordinary faction; no one has ever dared to make a move inside, not even experts of the Heavenly Human Realm or Peak Realm.


    Wu Yutong, Gao Linglong, and Dong Mengqi were stunned. They also hadn¡¯t anticipated Qin Hao making a move.


    His character remained the same; even here in Jianglan City, he showed no fear.


    Just as the Sword Qi was about to hit Shao Jian, it suddenly came to a standstill, then shattered like glass, disappearing without a trace.


    ¡°Combat is forbidden inside the Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion. Considering your hard-won cultivation, and since you¡¯re unaware of the rules here, let¡¯s let it go this time.¡± A voice emerged from the sky, not loud but filled with authority.


    Qin Hao squinted his eyes slightly; the person who intervened was likely an expert at the Peak Realm?


    Everyone was somewhat shocked; so formidable, breaking that powerful Sword Qi easily without even revealing their face.


    The Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion indeed has experts everywhere, immensely powerful, truly one of the top forces on the Southern Continent.


    Many looked at Qin Hao: This man is quite lucky, receiving only a warning and not being slain.


    At this moment, cold sweat broke out on Shao Jian¡¯s back. It was too close; had it not been for the expert¡¯s intervention, even if he didn¡¯t die, he would¡¯ve been seriously injured.


    Reflecting on this, his face turned somewhat ashen. He was, after all, a half-step Heavenly Realm expert, nearly killed by a mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator. If truly slain, he would be ridiculed for eternity.


    ¡°Courting death, daring to sneak attack me, today I shall tear you into pieces,¡± Shao Jian said word by word with an ominous tone and ashen face.


    ¡°If not for the Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion expert¡¯s intervention, Shao Jian might have been killed by this person¡¯s sneak attack technique.¡±


    ¡°With Shao Jian not dead now, he¡¯s going to suffer.¡±


    ...


    Qin Hao coldly looked at Shao Jian and Xing Kai, among others, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you outside, and today I will behead you all.¡±


    ¡°Such bold words.¡± Xing Kai snorted coldly, his tone full of disdain.


    ¡°Heh, only mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, yet dares to speak such arrogant words? This isn¡¯t your kingdom,¡± Shao Jian exuded a murderous aura.


    ¡°Arrogant, let¡¯s teach these bumpkins a lesson today,¡± said a young woman beside Xing Kai.


    Qin Hao¡¯s eyes were like swords, extremely sharp. Without uttering more words, he headed straight out of the Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion.


    Everyone watched his reaction, their expressions surprised, bewildered, and disbelieving.


    He actually dares to go out? This person really doesn¡¯t know the immensity of heaven and earth, does he? You¡¯re just at the mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, do you think you can slay experts at the half-step Heavenly Realm and Heavenly Human Realm?


    ¡°As expected of someone from a remote dynasty, don¡¯t even know how to write the word ¡®death¡¯.¡± Someone whispered.


    Wu Yutong and the others reacted and hurriedly caught up with Qin Hao.


    Wu Yutong came to Qin Hao¡¯s side and said softly, ¡°Mr. Qin, let it go. They are too strong. This matter was also caused by me. Don¡¯t get yourself into trouble because of it.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, ¡°Are they really that strong? They¡¯ve just broken through to the Heavenly Human Realm, killing them is like slaughtering chickens.¡±


    Wu Yutong was stunned by his domineering words. Kill Heavenly Realm experts like slaughtering chickens? Isn¡¯t that a bit too arrogant?


    On the street outside the Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion.


    Qin Hao stood in the center of the street, at this moment Xing Kai, Shao Jian, and three others also came out, standing opposite Qin Hao.


    The patrons and staff inside the store stood at the entrance watching.


    Those on the street who saw this scene knew something good was going to happen and stopped to watch.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are the people on both sides going to duel on the street?¡±


    ¡°Call this a duel? One side isn¡¯t just half-step Heavenly Realm experts, but Heavenly Human Realm experts, while the highest on the other is only at the peak of Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, how do they fight?¡±


    ¡°One person on that side might just wipe out this group.¡±


    At this moment Qin Hao looked at Xing Kai and Shao Jian and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you all come at once? I¡¯d rather save some trouble than deal with you one by one.¡±


    The onlookers were stunned by Qin Hao¡¯s words: ¡°Is this guy a complete fool? Just at mid-stage Grandmaster Realm and dares to talk big like that?¡±


    Xing Kai couldn¡¯t help but laugh: ¡°Country bumpkin, I bet you¡¯ve never seen a Heavenly Realm expert make a move in your life, no wonder you dare say such things.¡±


    ¡°To kill you, I alone am enough.¡± Shao Jian took two steps forward, intending to tear Qin Hao to pieces, turning him into pulp.


    Qin Hao snorted coldly: ¡°Make your move, otherwise you won¡¯t have the chance.¡±


    ¡°Arrogant.¡±


    After the words, Shao Jian¡¯s figure instantly disappeared from the original spot and appeared in front of Qin Hao.


    In the meantime, he had already thrown several fist imprints, blasting towards Qin Hao¡¯s head and chest.


    Around Qin Hao¡¯s body, Sword Qi instantly crisscrossed, protecting his body.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    All of Shao Jian¡¯s fist imprints were blasted onto the Sword Qi.


    He was confident that these fist imprints were enough to pound Qin Hao into pulp since he was a half-step Heavenly Realm expert, and the skill he used was an Intermediate Middle Grade Divine Power.


    This bumpkin from who knows where probably doesn¡¯t even know what an Intermediate Divine Skill is.


    ¡°Boom boom boom¡±


    Sword Qi dispersed, fist imprints dimmed.


    Qin Hao was unscathed, the depleted Sword Qi instantly replenished.


    Shao Jian was slightly shocked by this sight, how could he withstand it?


    Everyone¡¯s faces also showed shock and astonishment; this mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator actually withstood it?


    At this moment, Qin Hao moved, his figure like a ghost, performing the Seven Apertures Exquisite Steps.


    This was his first time deploying it, the street was full of Qin Hao¡¯s afterimages, and those people simply couldn¡¯t see Qin Hao¡¯s real figure.


    Xian Yin upon seeing this, showed surprise on her face because she could clearly see, Qin Hao¡¯s understanding of the Seven Seven Skillful Steps was far greater than hers.


    ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡±


    Strands of Sword Qi pierced the air, covering Shao Jian from all directions.


    The piercing of Sword Qi was extremely sharp, accompanied by the power of thunder, a product of the combination of Sword Intent and Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill, much stronger than the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Skill itself.


    Shao Jian felt a bit flustered; he didn¡¯t expect a mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator to have such strong combat power, it far exceeded his expectations.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Shao Jian clasped his fists, resisting those strands of Sword Qi, and after all the Sword Qi was smashed.


    Qin Hao¡¯s figure appeared before him, giving Shao Jian no chance to catch his breath.


    His hands executed the Heavenly Gang Palm Seal, brilliant and dazzling, emitting light from all directions, the powerful momentum making Shao Jian¡¯s heart jump.


    This... what kind of Divine Skill is this? The force is too strong!


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s Heavenly Gang Palm Seal collided with Shao Jian¡¯s fist imprints.


    Upon contact, Shao Jian finally felt Qin Hao¡¯s terror.


    After trying to directly withstand five or six palm imprints, Shao Jian¡¯s fist imprints shattered and collapsed, Qin Hao seized the opportunity and palm imprints powerfully hit Shao Jian.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Shao Jian¡¯s body exploded into a mist of blood in mid-air, leaving no bones or traces, terrifying beyond compare.


    All of this happened in the blink of an eye, Xing Kai and others didn¡¯t even have a chance to step in to rescue, from the start of the confrontation to the end it didn¡¯t even take a minute, Shao Jian was turned into a mist of blood.


    [Chapter of over 3,000 characters]

 Chapter 1003: Slaying the Heavenly Human Realm

    Shao Jian was struck into a cloud of blood mist, giving those around a powerful visual shock.


    At the same time, people were also stunned by Qin Hao''s combat power. A Middle Stage Grandmaster killing a half-step Heavenly Realm expert, this combat power was terrifying.


    Most importantly, Qin Hao took less than a minute.


    If a Heavenly Human Realm expert made a move, would it be no different?


    Xing Kai and his group were taken aback, and even Wu Yutong and a few others were dumbfounded. They knew Qin Hao was strong but never thought he was this powerful.


    "Damn, what a powerful mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator," someone in the crowd couldn''t help but exclaim.


    "Could this be the combat power of a Heavenly Human Realm?"


    "Having such combat power at the mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, is this person really from a weak dynasty?"


    People had seen such monstrous combat power before, like the most talented princes of great dynasties or genius disciples of top sects, all capable of defeating powerful enemies beyond their level. But seeing such a talent from a weaker dynasty, they had never seen before.


    Xing Kai looked at him with shock: "You actually killed Mr. Shao; you have some nerve."


    "Not just him, you too will join him in the grave." After saying this, Qin Hao charged at him.


    The crowd was completely stunned by his dominance. This man was truly incredible. He just killed a half-step Heavenly Realm expert and now directly challenged a Heavenly Realm expert. This person was truly a battle maniac.


    Xing Kai snorted coldly: "You think you''re invincible after killing a half-step Heavenly Realm expert? Today, I will show you the power of a Heavenly Realm expert."


    He formed a palm seal, and with brilliant blue light, surging spiritual energy rushed out, fully displaying the strength of an Early Stage Heavenly Human Realm expert.


    Qin Hao remained unafraid, forming the Heavenly Gang Palm Seal and fiercely clashing with Xing Kai.


    The clash of palm seals burst with brilliant light, multicolored rays scattering, and the disintegrating spiritual energy rippling outward, waves of energy spreading.


    The surrounding shops activated protective energy fields to resist the terrifying energy waves.


    Although Qin Hao was only at the Middle Stage Grandmaster Realm, the spiritual energy within him was pure and abundant, not inferior to Xing Kai''s. In terms of Divine Skills, it far surpassed Xing Kai.


    After dozens of rounds, Xing Kai found himself at a disadvantage, being suppressed by Qin Hao.


    This shocked Xing Kai immensely, a monstrous tidal wave of emotions rising, while also feeling extremely stifled.


    He, a dignified Heavenly Realm expert, was being suppressed by a mid-stage Grandmaster realm cultivator. If this got out, how could he maintain his face in Jianglan City?


    "Kill"


    Xing Kai shouted, his entire body exploding with radiant light, unleashing the Heart Shattering Palm to its fullest.


    Qin Hao''s expression remained unchanged; he wanted to finish the battle quickly, wielding the Heavenly Gang Palm Seal, fiercely rigid and yang, and the Earth Evil Fist Seal, extremely yin and gentle!


    Xing Kai''s newly risen momentum was instantly crushed.


    The Heavenly Gang Palm Seal shone with golden brilliance, the Earth Evil Fist Seal emitted a terrifying dark glow.


    Upon collision, Xing Kai''s face changed dramatically as he was forced to retreat step by step, leaving deep footprints on the hard bluestone ground.


    The crowd was utterly astonished that Xing Kai, a Heavenly Human Realm Early Stage expert, was being beaten back repeatedly. It was unbelievable.


    How could this person be so strong?


    "Palm Settles the Universe"


    "Evil Slaughter Through the Ages"


    Qin Hao unleashed extremely powerful attacks with the Heavenly Gang Palm and Earth Evil Fist.


    His right hand shone with a divine golden light, holy and incomparable, like the hand of a celestial being, while his left hand flickered with eerie light, dense with evil aura, like a hand from the underworld.


    "Boom"


    The powerful might from the palm and fist seals made the void tremble, the earth shook.


    The spectators felt the formidable aura radiating from the palm and fist seals, retreating rapidly, their faces filled with shock as they looked at Qin Hao.


    Xing Kai in the arena felt it most acutely. Seeing the incoming palm and fist seals from Qin Hao, fear rose within him, and he had an urge to turn and run.


    But he knew that running would only make him die faster; only by fully defending could he have a chance of survival.


    Xing Kai regretted it immensely now, wondering why he had provoked them. If he had known earlier that there was such a terrifying person among them, he would never have provoked Qin Hao even in death.


    The remaining man and two women exchanged glances, seeing the fear in each other''s eyes. They wanted to run, but if they truly fled and the Shao and Xing families found out, their deaths would be even more miserable.


    Wu Yutong, Dong Mengqi, and Gao Linglong stared blankly at Qin Hao''s back. At this moment, Qin Hao seemed like a towering peak in their hearts, an overwhelming feeling of powerlessness emerging naturally.


    "Boom"


    The golden-bright palm seal, the terrifyingly dark fist seal clashed with the dozen or so palm seals Xing Kai had executed.


    In an instant, the street burst with light, brilliant rays scattering from the collision, as dazzling and striking as fireworks.


    A golden light, a dark light collided with Xing Kai''s palm seals, shredding them like thin paper, unable to withstand at all.


    "Bang"


    Xing Kai''s body exploded into a cloud of blood mist in the air, leaving no corpse or soul behind.


    The entire street fell silent, people dumbfoundedly staring at the figure in the center of the street.


    Draped in a black robe embroidered with several black dragons, long hair cascading down behind, a slender figure yet exuding a sense of grandeur.


    Qin Hao looked at the three people and said, "You three, come over here."


    Their bodies trembled slightly upon hearing Qin Hao''s words; at this moment, Qin Hao seemed like a demon in their eyes.


    One of the women, her voice trembling slightly, said, "Sir, we know we were wrong. Please spare our lives."


    "Come over and apologize to my friends." Qin Hao''s tone was cold, radiating a bone-chilling aura that made one shiver.


    The three hurriedly went to Wu Yutong and the others, bowing deeply in utmost humility: "We''re sorry, we were blind to your excellence, sorry, sorry..."


    "Get lost."


    Upon hearing Qin Hao''s words, the three felt as if granted amnesty and quickly left the place.


    Qin Hao returned to Wu Yutong and the others: "Let''s go back."


    Wu Yutong and the others nodded slightly. If not for Qin Hao today, they might have become the maidservants for Xin Kai and Shao Jian to play with at will.


    The origin of this incident was also due to Wu Yutong, she couldn''t hold back her shock upon seeing the Heavenly Human Elixir.


    But it wasn''t her fault either; how could one not be allowed to be surprised?


    Mainly it was because Xing Kai, Shao Jian, and others were snobbish.


    On the way back, Wu Yutong and the others were silent, their mood somewhat downcast, firstly because of what happened earlier, and secondly from worry about the future competition at the Heaven and Earth Academy.


    Any young person they randomly encountered here was unattainable for them, making one imagine how many experts would be present during the competition.


    "Thank you, Mr. Qin; today''s incident was all my fault." Wu Yutong walked beside Qin Hao and said softly.


    She already lost the arrogance she had when they set out; today''s events struck a significant blow to their Dao hearts.


    Qin Hao smiled slightly: "Miss Wu, there''s no need to thank me. This isn''t your fault; those people are snobbish. You don''t need to be discouraged; their talent isn''t necessarily higher than yours. They just happen to have naturally good cultivation environments. In places like this, even a pig, staying here for a few years, might become a Heavenly Realm demonic beast."

 Chapter 1004: 1004: Life and Death Duel [4,000-Word Chapter]

    Chapter 1004: Chapter 1004: Life and Death Duel [4,000-Word Chapter]


    His voice wasn¡¯t quiet, and Wu Yutong, along with Gao Linglong and Dong Mengqi behind, heard it too, finding it a bit amusing.


    Only he would dare say such things; if the local cultivators here knew, they¡¯d probably be mad with rage.


    At the same time, Qin Hao¡¯s words gave them confidence. The reason these people are so strong is not because of their incredible talent, but simply because of their good training environment.


    Of course, it doesn¡¯t mean there aren¡¯t amazingly talented geniuses here; there must be young geniuses.


    The sense of defeat Wu Yutong and Gao Linglong felt didn¡¯t stem from those young prodigies but from the fact that even mediocre talents here were stronger than them. This was the main reason they felt defeated.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin, for clearing things up.¡± Wu Yutong¡¯s face regained its usual confidence.


    Dong Mengqi came over and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, what kind of palm and fist skills did you use? How could they be so terrifying?¡±


    Gao Linglong and Wu Yutong both looked at him, wanting to know what Divine Skills he used.


    Qin Hao smiled and replied, ¡°That is the Heavenly Gang Palm and Earth Evil Fist, Divine Skills. You probably haven¡¯t heard of them; they¡¯re exclusive Divine Skills from my family.¡±


    Heavenly Gang Palm? Earth Evil Fist?


    The group indeed hadn¡¯t heard of them, but seeing the power Qin Hao had just displayed, they felt his Divine Skills must be of a high level.


    Xian Yin spoke up, ¡°Master, I just heard someone in the crowd say that Xing Kai and Shao Jian¡¯s families have some influence in Jianglan City.¡±


    Wu Yutong and the group¡¯s faces changed slightly; both Xing Kai and Shao Jian were so strong, let alone their families?


    Thinking of these things, their mood suddenly became heavy, and they looked at Qin Hao with worry.


    Qin Hao said calmly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. If we can¡¯t beat them, we¡¯ll just run.¡±


    Run?


    Can one escape from Heavenly Human Realm Peak or Peak Realm masters?


    But recalling Qin Hao¡¯s strength, they had some belief in their hearts.


    Around five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the group returned to the Qingfeng Restaurant. They didn¡¯t tell Ye Jingtian about the afternoon¡¯s events, as suggested by Qin Hao, because they didn¡¯t know how to explain it to Ye Jingtian.


    While in the Skyfire Dynasty, they received many favors from Ye Jingtian, already owing him quite a bit.


    If they told him now, it might seem like they were seeking protection.


    ...


    Around six thirty in the evening, Qin Hao and the group were called out by Ye Lingyi.


    Ye Jingtian saw Qin Hao and the others come out, wearing a smile, ¡°How was your afternoon? Is this Jianglan City more bustling than you imagined?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s quite bustling, but some people are rather annoying.¡±


    Ye Jingtian¡¯s face slightly altered upon hearing his words, ¡°Xiao Hao, did you encounter something this afternoon?¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled lightly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just ran into some dogs who look down on others, casually dealt with them.¡±


    Ye Jingtian¡¯s face shifted, ¡°Dealt with them? Who were those people?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, they didn¡¯t say.¡± Qin Hao replied calmly.


    Ye Lingyi furrowed her brow upon hearing this, feeling a bit disdainful towards Qin Hao. She had previously advised Qin Hao in the capital to change his character, or he would bring big trouble upon himself, but it seemed he didn¡¯t heed the advice.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, this isn¡¯t the capital; one must think thrice, or we might bring disaster upon ourselves.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but say.


    Qin Hao replied relaxedly, ¡°I¡¯ve already backed off quite a bit, but they kept pushing, so there was nothing more I could do.¡±


    Ye Jingtian interjected, ¡°Lingyi, enough. People think differently. When dignity is trampled, even if facing death, one must defend it. I believe Mr. Qin isn¡¯t one to provoke matters on purpose. Let¡¯s not dwell on it; let¡¯s go eat.¡±


    The group moved to the restaurant up front; many people were inside on the first floor, nearly filling all the seats.


    Ye Jingtian spoke to the Qingfeng Restaurant staff, ¡°Could you get us a private room on the second floor?¡±


    ¡°Certainly, sir, please follow me.¡± The waiter led them to the second floor.


    Upon reaching the second floor, Qin Hao and the group saw a few teams being led to private rooms by the waiter.


    Those people turned curiously when seeing others come up, and when they saw Ye Jingtian¡¯s group, one of the teams stopped.


    A middle-aged man in a yellow robe with a gold crown smiled faintly at Ye Jingtian, ¡°Isn¡¯t this Mr. Ye, the King of the Skyfire Dynasty?¡±


    Ye Jingtian looked coldly at the man, ¡°Li Xuanqing?!¡±


    Li Xuanqing chuckled, ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Ye. I still remember that arrow from back then.¡±


    Ye Jingtian snorted coldly, ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll be waiting.¡±


    Li Xuanqing¡¯s face grew cold, his eyes flashing with a frightful glint, which swiftly vanished as he scrutinized Qin Hao, Ye Lingyi, and the others behind Ye Jingtian.


    ¡°Are these the young talents of the Skyfire Dynasty this year? There¡¯s even a Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator? Has your dynasty sunk so low? Even such trash can come to participate in the Heaven and Earth Academy competition?¡± Li Xuanqing remarked with disdain.


    The thin-faced, hawk-eyed, sharp-nosed man beside him said sinisterly, ¡°Master, you¡¯re well-aware of the state of the Skyfire Dynasty. This Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator was probably found after much searching.¡±


    Ye Jingtian and the group heard their sarcastic comments, their faces turning grim, ready to respond.


    Suddenly, Qin Hao¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m the weakest contestant from the Skyfire Dynasty. Do you dare to sign a death contract and face me in a duel on the arena?¡±

 Chapter 1005: 1004: Life and Death Duel [4,000-Word Chapter]_2

    Chapter 1005: Chapter 1004: Life and Death Duel [4,000-Word Chapter]_2


    The second floor instantly fell silent, Li Xuanqing and Tan Zheng, the State Preceptor of the Xuanqing Dynasty, thought they had misheard, their eyes looking at him with some astonishment.


    Even the onlookers around were stunned, their eyes sizing up Qin Hao: Is this person crazy? He¡¯s actually challenging a Late Stage of Heavenly Human Realm expert.


    Ye Lingyi was also dumbfounded, was he seeking his own death?


    ¡°Haha, did I hear wrong? He actually said he wants to sign a life-and-death contract to compete with me?¡± Tan Zheng seemed to have heard a funny joke.


    A young handsome man walked out from behind Li Xuanqing: ¡°With your kind of trash, you still want to challenge the State Preceptor of our Xuanqing Dynasty? It¡¯s simply overestimating yourself, killing you would be enough for me.¡±


    ¡°Fine, see you on the life-and-death platform, if you chicken out, you don¡¯t have to go.¡± Qin Hao sneered coldly.


    He looked at the young man and thought he looked a bit like Li Xuanqing, guessing he might be Li Xuanqing¡¯s descendant, and killing him would surely pain Li Xuanqing.


    After speaking, Qin Hao asked the waiter, ¡°Does your restaurant have a life-and-death platform? Take us there.¡±


    The waiter was stunned for a moment, not expecting this situation to arise, hurriedly replying, ¡°Sir, we do have a life-and-death platform here, but both parties need to pay a thousand middle-grade spirit stones for maintenance fees.¡±


    ¡°Here are a hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.¡± Qin Hao directly handed over a hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones to the waiter.


    Li Weili also took out a hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones: ¡°Take us to the fighting platform.¡±


    Under the guidance of the waiter, this group came down from the second floor and walked toward the fighting platform at the back of the restaurant. The people on the first floor saw the looks on their faces and knew something was about to happen.


    Many people exchanged glances and followed them outside.


    In front of a fighting platform behind the restaurant, the waiter looked at Qin Hao and Li Weili and said, ¡°Both parties please step onto the fighting platform.¡±


    Qin Hao flew onto the stage, followed closely by Li Weili.


    The waiter initiated the formation on the fighting platform, light flared up, and a barrier of energy enveloped the whole stage.


    This was a life-and-death duel platform, the formation would only be nullified if one of the two died, others could not interfere unless they broke the formation, but even a Peak Realm expert would take a long time to break it.


    On the platform, Li Weili sneered at Qin Hao, ¡°Within ten rounds, I¡¯ll definitely take your head.¡±


    Qin Hao replied in a calm tone, ¡°Say a few more words, or else you won¡¯t have the chance to speak again.¡±


    Li Xuanqing and Tan Zheng were confident in Li Weili; he was Li Xuanqing¡¯s son, heavily cultivated, already reaching Half-step Heavenly Realm, undoubtedly the first young genius of the Xuanqing Dynasty.


    Qin Hao was only at the Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, for a Half-step Heavenly Realm to kill a Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator was as easy as pie.


    Ye Jingtian and Ye Lingyi felt a bit worried, Li Weili was Half-step Heavenly Realm, although Qin Hao¡¯s combat power was terrifying, he might still not be a match for Half-step Heavenly Realm experts.


    Wu Yutong, Dong Mengqi, and Gao Linglong appeared relaxed, having witnessed Qin Hao¡¯s terrifying combat power earlier that afternoon, it was truly frightening.


    This Li Weili was simply courting death.


    The onlookers seeing the battle between the two had mixed feelings, Half-step Heavenly Realm against a Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm??


    Why the heck is this worth watching? You can already predict the ending, a Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator getting brutally toyed with and ultimately killed.


    At this moment, Li Weili moved on the stage, his figure as fast as a flash, instantly reaching in front of Qin Hao.


    The reason he volunteered to fight was to vent anger for his father; when Li Xuanqing usurped the throne, he was ambushed by Ye Jingtian during the killing of the original king, suffering a minor injury, if not for the desperate protection of Tan Zheng and others, Li Xuanqing would have died at Ye Jingtian¡¯s hands.


    Ye Jingtian and the original king had a good relationship, rushed to assist, unfortunately, it was too late; Li Xuanqing and State Preceptor Tan Zheng had already succeeded in the coup.


    He had no choice but to make a move against Li Xuanqing, but ultimately failed to succeed, allowing Li Xuanqing to escape a calamity.


    Because of this incident, they developed enmities, leading to the scene just now on the second floor of the restaurant.


    ...


    Just as Li Weili reached Qin Hao¡¯s front, a hint of disdainful smile appeared on Qin Hao¡¯s lips.


    In an instant, countless Sword Qi appeared around him, sharp and terrifying, each with blue lightning entwined.


    Seeing this, Li Weili¡¯s eyebrows twitched, a bad feeling rising in his heart, the punch he intended to throw at Qin Hao withdrawn instantly, retreating swiftly.


    At this moment, the visible Sword Qi behind Qin Hao launched, hundreds of Sword Qi charged toward Li Weili.


    While retreating, Li Weili formed fist seals with his hands, throwing out more than a dozen fist seals as the Sword Qi rushed forward.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    Upon collision, Sword Qi dissipated, fist seals dimmed, the platform trembled, brilliant and dazzling light scattered with streams of colorful light.


    Qin Hao¡¯s thunderous Sword Qi seemed endless, with Li Weili relentlessly using Divine Skills to fend it off.


    Outside the platform, the onlookers were shocked that Qin Hao could hold his own against Li Weili: ¡°How can a Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator be this strong?¡±


    ¡°Such strong Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator, can actually hold their own against a Half-step Heavenly Realm expert.¡±


    ¡°Indeed strong, but unfortunately his tactics are poor, actually trying to exhaust against a Half-step Heavenly Realm expert, are his Spiritual Energy reserves comparable to a Half-step Heavenly Realm expert¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°Probably not poor tactics, maybe that¡¯s just his battle capacity, how could he quickly finish this with a two minor realm gap?¡±


    Li Xuanqing and State Preceptor Tan Zheng, upon seeing Qin Hao¡¯s combat power initially, revealed a look of surprise, worry arising in their hearts.


    However, seeing Qin Hao on par with Li Weili later, they slightly relaxed, with this wear and tear, that person was absolutely on a dead-end street.


    Ye Lingyi, seeing Qin Hao evenly matched with the Half-step Heavenly Realm Li Weili, had surprise in her beautiful eyes, his combat power was really strong.


    Truth be told, Ye Jingtian was also a bit surprised, being only at the Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, this talent and combat power were indeed quite terrifying, given time, he¡¯d certainly become great.


    Wu Yutong, Gao Linglong, and Dong Mengqi weren¡¯t surprised, rather, they were confused, what was Qin Hao doing? Why not just kill Li Weili directly?


    The reason Qin Hao didn¡¯t directly kill Li Weili was due to enlightenment during his afternoon battle, wanting to refine his Sword Qi.


    Now, his Sword Qi¡¯s attack wasn¡¯t very strong, it was getting hard against young geniuses at the moment.


    ...


    On the fighting platform, the radiance was splendid, the light dazzling, Sword Qi and fist prints, hand prints clashed incessantly, Spiritual Energy wantonly flared out.


    As Qin Hao¡¯s Sword Qi scattered, an endless stream of Sword Qi replenished.


    He concentrated fully using Divine Sense to condense and control the Sword Qi while recalling the scene of comprehending Sword Intent in his mind.


    After half an hour, the two were still battling on the platform.


    But now, the Sword Qi on the platform was much less, from thousands at the beginning to less than a hundred now.


    ¡°This Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator looks like he won¡¯t hold out much longer.¡±


    ¡°Such a strong Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator, to be evenly matched with a Half-step Heavenly Realm expert.¡±


    ¡°Indeed very powerful, if it were a Peak of Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, maybe he¡¯d still have a chance to kill Li Weili.¡±


    Li Xuanqing and Tan Zheng, seeing the scene on the platform, smiled, finally he can¡¯t hold out anymore, this young genius of the Skyfire Dynasty is about to fall.


    At this moment, on the fighting platform, a trace of disdain appeared at the corner of Qin Hao¡¯s mouth as Li Weili approached him.


    In an instant, countless strands of Sword Qi appeared around his body, incredibly fierce and terrifying, each Sword Qi entangled with blue lightning.


    Seeing this, Li Weili¡¯s eyebrows twitched directly, a sense of foreboding arose in his heart, and the punch he planned to throw at Qin Hao was instantly retracted, and he swiftly retreated.


    At this time, those tangible Sword Qi behind Qin Hao moved, hundreds of Sword Qi rushed towards Li Weili.


    As Li Weili retreated, he formed fist seals with his hands, and when the Sword Qi charged, he had already thrown out more than a dozen fist seals.


    ¡°Bam Bam Boom Boom!¡±


    A collision erupted, the Sword Qi dissipated, the fist seals dimmed, the platform shook, radiating brilliant dazzling light, with streams of colorful light bursting forth.


    Qin Hao¡¯s lightning-embellished Sword Qi surged continuously, while Li Weili struggled to unleash Divine Skills to parry.


    Outside the platform, onlookers were taken aback to see Qin Hao holding his own against Li Weili: ¡°How can a Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator be so strong?¡±


    ¡°Such a powerful Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator, to actually hold his own against a Half-step Heavenly Realm master.¡±


    ¡°Indeed very strong, if he were at the Peak of Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, perhaps he might still have a chance of cutting down Li Weili.¡±


    Li Xuanqing and Tan Zheng, seeing the situation on the platform, had smiles appear on their faces, finally unable to hold back their anxiety.


    However, seeing Qin Hao on par with Half-step Heavenly Realm Li Weili, Ye Jingtian and Ye Lingyi were a bit worried, Li Weili is at Half-step Heavenly Realm, and although Qin Hao¡¯s combat power was terrifying, he was probably not yet a match for a Half-step Heavenly Realm master.


    Wu Yutong, Gao Linglong, and Dong Mengqi showed no concern on their faces, having already witnessed Qin Hao¡¯s terrifying combat power earlier that afternoon, very terrifying indeed.


    This Li Weili was just digging his own grave.

 Chapter 1006 - 1005: Sword Qi Transformation

    People around heard the words of this man, and their eyes turned to Qin Hao on the martial stage.


    At this moment, only dozens of strands of Sword Qi surrounded his body, but his Sword Qi had undergone a qualitative change from before.


    Previously, most of his Sword Qi was condensed with Spiritual Energy, accompanied by a trace of blue lightning power.


    Now his Sword Qi appeared light blue, with lightning power flashing, and the Sword Qi was almost entirely condensed from lightning power, exuding a strong and domineering aura.


    Li Weili, opposite Qin Hao, had a very unpleasant expression as his eyes looked incredulously at those blue lightning swords.


    The spectators were in an uproar, staring at Qin Hao on the martial stage with stunned expressions.


    "Has he been using opponents to hone his Sword Qi all this time?"


    "If that''s really the case, then this man is terrifying, honing his Sword Qi during a life-and-death duel."


    "The most important thing is that it seems he succeeded, with such talent, it''s simply terrifying."


    "Is this truly a young genius from a weak dynasty? Such talent, it likely rivals those top sects and dynasties'' young prodigies."


    Below the stage, Li Xuanqing''s smile froze on his face, his eyes widened as he looked at Qin Hao on the stage; Tan Zheng was also dumbfounded, wanting to say something but unable to speak.


    Ye Jingtian and Ye Lingyi''s eyes twinkled with amazement; Qin Hao truly has unique talent, honing his Sword Qi under such circumstances, truly daring yet careful.


    Wu Yutong, Dong Mengqi, and Gao Linglong exchanged glances with a deep sense of shock in their eyes.


    Such talent is unimaginable!


    ...


    On the martial stage, Qin Hao''s Sword Qi moved, dozens of light blue lightning swords shot through the air, and instantly dark clouds gathered over the stage, thunder roared, and a powerful oppressive feeling emanated from within the clouds, making the spectators feel suffocated.


    "Communicating with the power of heaven and earth and condensing lightning swords, such methods, even Heavenly Human Realm masters can hardly achieve."


    "So terrifying, I never expected to see such unparalleled talent here."


    "Boom"


    The light blue lightning sword arrived in front of Li Weili.


    He struck with all his might, releasing a series of fist imprints and palm imprints, trying to block these terrifying lightning swords.


    But all efforts were in vain, the light blue lightning swords descended, the void faintly trembled, and the deafening thunderous sound shook the mind, scattering Spiritual Energy.


    Palm imprints shattered, fist imprints dispersed, Li Weili''s proud palm and fist skills were completely ineffective, helplessly watching as the lightning sword fell.


    "Bang"


    His body was struck by dozens of lightning swords, exploding instantly into a plume of smoke, leaving no bones or traces, his soul utterly extinguished.


    The scene fell silent, even Qingfeng Restaurant''s staff were stunned, looking at Qin Hao with a horrified expression.


    A mid-stage Grandmaster Realm fought against a half-step Heavenly Realm, and still won, it was unbelievable.


    The defensive array on the stage automatically withdrew, not waiting for Qin Hao to step down, Li Xuanqing angrily shouted: "You brat, return my son''s life!"


    His late stage of Heavenly Human Realm power erupted, spreading a strong aura, causing many people around to retreat.


    Ye Jingtian snorted coldly: "Mr. Li, the life-and-death duel was mutually agreed upon, is your Xuanqing Dynasty unable to afford defeat?"


    "Get lost, today I must slay him." Li Xuanqing was already slightly crazy, charging towards Qin Hao, but was stopped by Ye Jingtian.


    The two didn''t act rashly because this was Qingfeng Restaurant, where fighting is prohibited, and although both were as powerful as a nation''s ruler, they dared not act recklessly.


    This is not their dynasty, it''s the most prosperous place on the Southern Continent, even an ordinary shop owner could be a late-stage Heavenly Human Realm or even a Peak Realm expert.


    Just as Tan Zheng and others hesitated about attacking or not, angry shouts suddenly echoed from the night sky in the distance: "Qin Hao from Skyfire Dynasty, come out and meet your death."


    The crowd froze, Ye Jingtian and Li Xuanqing were stunned, as their Divine Sense scanned outside Qingfeng Restaurant.


    Outside Qingfeng Restaurant, there were two groups standing at the entrance, faces filled with killing intent, furiously staring inside.


    ...


    Qin Hao''s eyes flickered, instantly realizing that these people must be from the Xing Family and the Shao Family, right?


    Wu Yutong and others immediately grew tense, were these people from the Xing Family and Shao Family?


    "Qin Hao, you publicly killed my son on the street, today I must personally kill you to avenge my son." Shao Family Head Shao Xian said.


    Xing Family Head Xing Feng also spoke: "Just a participant from a dynasty, dares to kill my son Xing Feng, I''ll make sure your entire dynasty is left with nothing."


    The people inside the restaurant, upon seeing the two teams outside, were startled: "Isn''t that the Family Heads from Xing and Shao families of Jianglan City? What are they talking about? Who is Qin Hao?"


    "The young masters of Xing Family and Shao Family are dead? Could it be Xing Kai and Shao Jian? Otherwise, why would the Family Heads of Xing and Shao families come in such force?"


    "That Xing Kai is a Heavenly realm expert and Shao Jian is a half-step Heavenly realm, who is this Qin Hao?"


    At this moment, Qin Hao spoke in reply: "I killed them indeed, those arrogant fools."


    Hearing Qin Hao''s response from the martial stage, everyone present was petrified.


    "Is it him? Could it be that he killed Xing Kai and Shao Jian?"


    "Xing Kai and Shao Jian, one was a Heavenly Human Realm expert, the other was a half-step Heavenly Realm. Is he even human?"


    "A mid-stage Grandmaster Realm killing a Heavenly Human Realm expert?"


    Many people were shocked in their hearts, yet they also felt regretful for not witnessing that battle.


    Li Xuanqing, Tan Zheng and others were also stunned when they heard Qin Hao''s response. This person is called Qin Hao? Did he really kill a Heavenly Human Realm and a half-step Heavenly Realm expert this afternoon???


    Ye Jingtian and Ye Lingyi were overwhelmed with shock in their hearts. Is Qin Hao''s combat power truly this terrifying?


    Ye Lingyi couldn''t believe it, but the truth was in front of her, and she had to believe it.


    If it wasn''t Qin Hao who killed them, why would the heads of the Xing and Shao families come personally to seek trouble?


    "Although the Xing family and the Shao family are small clans in Jianglan City, the heads of these two families are both late-stage heavenly human realm peak experts."


    "Even the ruler of the Skyfire Dynasty is only a late-stage heavenly human realm peak, if the Xing and Shao families acted, they could destroy the entire Skyfire Dynasty."


    ...


    "You''ve got some nerve, dare you come out and fight?" Xing Feng''s face turned ashen upon hearing his words, filled with killing intent.


    Shao Xian: "Come out and fight, and I''ll grind your bones to dust."


    Xing Feng and Shao Jian were very clear about the strength of Qingfeng Restaurant. This was a major power in the Southern Continent.


    In almost every city, there are branches. The Qingfeng Restaurant in Jianglan City is very strong. The owner is a Peak Realm expert, and no one has ever dared to make trouble here.


    This is also why they didn''t dare to kill Qin Hao inside the restaurant.


    Qin Hao laughed loudly, showing no trace of fear: "You two old bastards, don''t you feel embarrassed saying such things?"


    Upon hearing this, Xing Feng''s face flushed a little. His juniors were killed, and he, as a senior, sought revenge, which would indeed make many people ridicule the Xing family. But as long as he could kill Qin Hao, he was willing to bear the shame. "Young brat, are you scared?"


    "If you''re scared, it''s simple, just crawl out of Qingfeng Restaurant on your knees and serve the Xing and Shao families for life, and we might spare your life," Shao Xian mocked.


    Qin Hao sneered, "If you have the guts, just wait outside Qingfeng Restaurant."


    After saying this, Qin Hao stepped down from the martial stage and headed to his small courtyard residence.


    Everyone was stunned, but they understood Qin Hao. If he acted now, it would mean certain death, but how long could you stay in the restaurant?


    Xing Feng and Shao Xian also noticed his move: "Let''s see how long you can hide in Qingfeng Restaurant."


    Qin Hao''s group was here to participate in Heaven and Earth Academy, and with less than a month to go before the academy''s selection, they would definitely have to come out.


    Qin Hao suddenly stopped, saying calmly, "Prepare your necks, within half a month I will definitely kill you two old wastes."


    Hearing his words, everyone was slightly stunned. Such arrogance, claiming to kill two late-stage heavenly human realm peak experts, where does his confidence come from?


    Li Xuanqing and Ye Jingtian were also struck by his words. Is he... joking?


    Xing Feng and Shao Xian laughed loudly: "Ignorant child, just hope you dare to come out."


    Qin Hao walked towards his residence, and Xian Yin and Ling''er quickly followed.


    Back in the courtyard, Ye Jingtian and others followed in, and Ye Jingtian set up a barrier to prevent spying.


    Looking at him, Ye Jingtian asked, "Mr. Qin, what do you plan to do about this matter?"


    "Give me half a month, and once I break through to the late-stage Grandmaster Realm, I have a fifty percent chance of killing those two," Qin Hao said calmly.


    Ye Jingtian: "What if you count me in?"


    "If Mr. Ye joins in, I have a ninety percent chance," Qin Hao replied.


    Ye Lingyi''s beautiful eyes looked at him in shock: "Where do you get such confidence?"


    Qin Hao looked at her and said, "Princess Lingyi, I know you despise me, but what you can''t do, others might be able to."


    Ye Lingyi blushed at his direct words, a little ashamed: "I was too arrogant before, please don''t blame me and everyone else."


    "Mr. Ye, I need to cultivate now, half a month should be enough," Qin Hao said calmly.


    Ye Jingtian nodded, taking out tens of millions of lower-grade Spirit Stones: "Use these Spirit Stones to cultivate, we will not disturb you."


    Wu Yutong, Gao Linglong, and Dong Mengqi said to him: "Mr. Qin, good luck, we believe in you."


    Qin Hao smiled slightly: "Alright, let''s all cultivate well during these days."


    Once everyone left, Qin Hao took Xian Yin back to the room.


    Xian Yin also knew the urgency of the time, quickly shedding her clothes: "My lord, let''s begin."


    Qin Hao was now at the peak of mid-stage Grandmaster Realm, very close to the late-stage Grandmaster Realm.


    Qin Hao took out a large amount of Spirit Stones and gave them to Xian Yin: "You can use this opportunity to cultivate as well."


    [End of the three thousand character chapter]

 Chapter 1007: 1006: Leaving Seclusion

    Chapter 1007: Chapter 1006: Leaving Seclusion


    In another part of Qingfeng Restaurant, a server said to a middle-aged man, ¡°Boss, the Xing Family and the Shao Family are asking to see you?¡±


    The middle-aged man replied blandly, ¡°I won¡¯t see them.¡±


    The server hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°Boss, they¡¯ve offered a very high price.¡±


    The middle-aged man looked at him and said blandly, ¡°In the future, pay more attention and stay sharp. If there¡¯s even a one-in-ten-thousand risk, don¡¯t do such things. That Qin Hao has exceptional talent. If we drive him away, do you think Xing Feng and Shao Xian can absolutely kill him?¡±


    The server was slightly taken aback: ¡°Two Late Stage Heavenly Human Realm experts should be able to kill him easily, right?¡±


    The middle-aged man shook his head: ¡°Not necessarily, plus they also have a Late Stage Heavenly Human Realm expert. If he escapes, he¡¯ll definitely hold a grudge against us at Qingfeng Restaurant. When he grows stronger, it¡¯ll be a big problem.¡±


    The server nodded somewhat understood: ¡°Yes, boss, I know what to do.¡±


    ¡°Go.¡± The middle-aged man said bluntly.


    ...


    Time went by, and the people inside the restaurant didn¡¯t leave but waited quietly.


    They wanted to see what Qin Hao¡¯s fate would be, whether he would be killed or the Xing Family and Shao Family would be destroyed.


    Anyway, there was still a long time before the big competition of Heaven and Earth Academy, they could wait for half a month.


    In the blink of an eye, fourteen days passed. This day, inside Qin Hao¡¯s room, he was dual cultivating with Xian Yin.


    At that moment, a strong aura emanated from Qin Hao¡¯s body, a large amount of Spiritual Energy overflowed from his pores, then reabsorbed.


    After being absorbed back, the Spiritual Energy surged out again and was reabsorbed.


    After a few minutes of this cycle, no more Spiritual Energy erupted from Qin Hao¡¯s body, and both he and Xian Yin opened their eyes simultaneously.


    Qin Hao had successfully broken through to the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm. In these nearly half a month, he had not only absorbed millions of low-grade Spirit Stones, but also a large amount of yin-yang essence.


    Xian Yin also successfully reached the Peak of Middle Stage Master Realm.


    She looked at Qin Hao with a smile on her face, ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Qin, for breaking through to the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm.¡±


    Qin Hao smiled, ¡°Xian Yin, thank you for your hard work.¡±


    Xian Yin blushed and snuggled into Qin Hao¡¯s arms, ¡°For you, Mr. Qin, Xian Yin can do anything.¡±


    ...


    At noon, Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Get up, let¡¯s go out and deal with those two old useless men after lunch.¡±


    Xian Yin blushed deeply as she got up and tenderly helped Qin Hao dress and comb his hair.


    After coming out of the room, Qin Hao sat in a chair and said to Xian Yin, ¡°Have the server bring some signature dishes.¡±


    Xian Yin nodded, ¡°Okay, Mr. Qin.¡± With that, she walked out.


    Not long after, Ling¡¯er came downstairs laughing and ran over to Qin Hao, ¡°Master.¡±


    She hugged Qin Hao¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Master, why don¡¯t we just run away, they can¡¯t catch us anyway.¡±


    Qin Hao laughed in reply, ¡°Why run away? These two old guys aren¡¯t that powerful, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Ling¡¯er obediently nodded, ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t want to see Master get hurt. If you¡¯re confident, then go kill those two old things.¡±


    ...


    Meanwhile, the news of Qin Hao coming out spread through the restaurant and quickly reached Xing Feng and Shao Xian.


    Is he finally planning to come out? Today, I must grind your bones to dust.


    Around eleven fifty at noon, the server brought up many of the restaurant¡¯s signature dishes.


    Those people seeing Qin Hao still had the mood to eat were somewhat speechless. Outside stood two Late Stage Heavenly Human Realm experts, was he not worried about dying at their hands?


    Ye Jingtian, Ye Lingyi, and the others also knew Qin Hao was out, and seeing him order several signature dishes, felt somewhat speechless; his heart is quite big.


    Li Xuanqing, Tan Zheng from the Xuanqing Dynasty didn¡¯t leave; they were waiting for the battle with the Skyfire Dynasty and the Xing Family and Shao Family.


    At the moment, Li Xuanqing was meditating in the pavilion. Hearing Tan Zheng mention Qin Hao was out, his face showed a trace of ruthlessness: ¡°Let them fight first, when the time is right, we¡¯ll strike the lethal blow.¡±


    Tan Zheng smiled sinisterly: ¡°The King¡¯s words are indeed wise, the vengeance of power cannot go unreturned.¡±


    Li Xuanqing¡¯s eyes flashed with a vicious and ruthless glint; whether Qin Hao or Ye Jingtian, they were targets he wanted to eliminate: ¡°When they fight, we¡¯ll hide in the shadows, don¡¯t go out and let them notice.¡±


    ...


    After lunch, Qin Hao, Xian Yin, and Ling¡¯er came out of the courtyard.


    Many were watching his courtyard; seeing Qin Hao come out, their spirits rose. Is the show finally about to start?


    Gao Linglong, Dong Mengqi, Wu Yutong, seeing him come out, also exited the courtyard.


    Then Ye Jingtian and Ye Lingyi came out too.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, are you ready?¡± Ye Jingtian asked as he looked at him.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly and said softly: ¡°Mr. Ye, did the people from the Xuanqing Dynasty leave?¡±


    Ye Jingtian was just about to remind Qin Hao, yet Qin Hao mentioned it directly, leaving Ye Jingtian quite impressed with his vigilance and attention to detail: ¡°They probably haven¡¯t left, it¡¯ll be best to be careful.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Ye Lingyi furrowed her brows; counting Li Xuanqing and Tan Zheng from the Xuanqing Dynasty, the foes they were facing weren¡¯t just the two Late Stage Heavenly Human Realm experts.


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Just stay vigilant, if those two dare come out, they¡¯ll certainly regret it.¡±


    Ye Jingtian nodded slightly. After speaking, they walked towards the outside of the restaurant, and everyone¡¯s Divine Sense followed them.


    At Qingfeng Restaurant¡¯s entrance, on one side stood Xing Feng of the Xing Family, on the other Shao Xian of the Shao Family.


    ¡°Qin Hao, you finally dare to come out, but only breaking through to the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, and you dare to speak such wild words?¡± Xing Feng said, sneering at Qin Hao¡¯s realm.


    Shao Xian: ¡°Today, none of your Skyfire Dynasty people will leave Jianglan City alive.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at them calmly: ¡°It¡¯s still uncertain who will live and who will die; this place is too small to show our skills. Isn¡¯t there a large duel arena in Jianglan City¡¯s central area? Let¡¯s go there and activate the arena¡¯s defensive array, fighting relentlessly till the end.¡±

 Chapter 1008: 1007 Peak Showdown

    Chapter 1008: Chapter 1007 Peak Showdown


    Xing Feng and Shao Xian were slightly taken aback by his words.


    ¡°What? Afraid?¡± Qin Hao sneered.


    The onlookers gazed at Xing Feng and Shao Xian; this should be an opportunity for them, a duel to the death in the arena.


    Xing Feng snorted, ¡°Afraid of what? Slaying you is like killing a chicken. As the Family Head, I¡¯m just worried that you might flee halfway.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Qin Hao walked out of Qingfeng Restaurant and headed towards the large arena in the center of Jianglan City.


    Ye Jingtian and the others hurried out as well, Xing Feng and Shao Xian exchanged a glance, then followed along.


    The crowd was incredibly excited; Qin Hao actually dared to duel with them. Where did he get such courage from??


    Could he really be confident enough to take down a Late Stage of Heavenly Human Realm master??


    A large group of people marched towards the place, attracting more as they went. They were curious hearing about the duel between a Late Stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator and a Late Stage of Heavenly Human Realm master.


    Where did a Late Stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator get his confidence from??


    Soon, they arrived at the arena, a large battleground meant for duels between masters above the Heavenly Human Realm because their destructiveness was too great.


    Fighting above the Heavenly Human Realm was prohibited on city streets, but the enforcement wasn¡¯t too strict; they usually turned a blind eye.


    Inside the large Jianglan City arena, Qin Hao and Ye Jingtian entered the battleground.


    Ye Jingtian looked at Xing Feng and Shao Xian and said, ¡°Weren¡¯t you boasting about wiping out everyone from our Skyfire Dynasty? Do you think there¡¯s no one from our dynasty?¡±


    Xing Feng looked at Shao Xian and said, ¡°I¡¯ll hold Ye Jingtian, you kill Qin Hao as quickly as possible.¡±


    Shao Xian nodded, ¡°Alright.¡±


    The two stepped into the arena, and the Transmission Array was activated. This energy barrier could prevent energy fluctuations from spreading out and protect the surrounding audience.


    ¡°Kill!¡±


    Xing Feng rushed towards Ye Jingtian as soon as he entered, his body surging with powerful spiritual energy.


    Ye Jingtian let out a long howl, a golden long sword in his hand, facing Xing Feng, the Heavenly Son Sword in his hand wielded with overwhelming force.


    Xing Feng sensed Ye Jingtian¡¯s combat strength, his expression slightly changed, and he formed a palm seal while secretly transmitting to Shao Xian, ¡°Hurry up and take out that lad; Ye Jingtian¡¯s combat strength is terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely kill this kid within a minute,¡± Shao Xian replied confidently.


    At this moment, he had already rushed in front of Qin Hao, his speed incredibly fast; in an instant, he was upon him, forming a fist seal, striking towards Qin Hao¡¯s chest.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression was solemn. This was a Late Stage of Heavenly Human Realm master, with terrifying combat strength. Although he had broken through to the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, he only had a fifty percent chance.


    He formed the Heavenly Gang Palm Seal and clashed with Shao Xian.


    ¡°Do you think Qin Hao is capable of being Shao Xian¡¯s match?¡±


    ¡°Are you joking? Can he match Shao Xian? If he lasts ten rounds, I swear I¡¯ll eat shit.¡±


    ¡°The gap between the Late Stage of Heavenly Human Realm and the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm is vast. Even the most talented geniuses cannot easily defeat an opponent beyond their realm.¡±


    Everyone nodded in agreement; it was fundamentally impossible for a Late Stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator to slay a Late Stage of Heavenly Human Realm master.


    No matter how extraordinary, no matter how genius, it¡¯s impossible!


    Across the entire Southern State, there¡¯s no such genius capable of overcoming great realm differences to kill an opponent.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s palm seal clashed with Shao Xian¡¯s fist seal, erupting in dazzling brilliance, waves of energy rippling outward.


    Their figures immediately separated, Shao Jian retreating two to three steps, while Qin Hao was pushed back seven to eight steps, the disparity in strength evident.


    Even though he practiced top-level cultivation techniques and divine skills, the difference in realm was too large, putting him at a disadvantage as soon as the battle started.


    However, his performance also shocked Shao Xian and the onlooking crowd.


    ¡°He can actually hold his own against a Late Stage of Heavenly Human Realm master, even though he¡¯s at a disadvantage, but that power is indeed terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, being able to withstand the impact without injury, his combat strength is undoubtedly impressive. For the Skyfire Dynasty, such a young genius emerging from a humble dynasty is sheer luck.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity he might fall here today. If not for drawing too much attention, he would have a great chance of entering the Heaven and Earth Academy, and his future would be limitless.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sometimes it¡¯s wiser to bide your time; that¡¯s not cowardice, it¡¯s strategy. Wait until you¡¯re stronger, then strike back.¡±


    ...


    At this point, Shao Xian dashed towards Qin Hao once more, not wanting to waste time, afraid that something might happen with Xing Feng, knowing if Xing Feng died, his fate wouldn¡¯t be far off either.


    ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡±


    Shao Xian and Qin Hao¡¯s palm seals collided fiercely, and in the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged more than ten rounds.


    Once again separating, blood trickled from the corner of Qin Hao¡¯s mouth, the intense collision causing slight internal injuries.


    Ye Lingyi, Wu Yutong, and others felt their hearts tighten upon seeing this.


    Ye Lingyi was more worried that if Qin Hao died, his father would probably not survive either. The anxiety on her face grew stronger at the thought.


    Many of the onlookers were surprised and said, ¡°He actually lasted for over a dozen rounds, how impressive.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the guy who said he¡¯d eat shit? Come out, eat mine instead.¡±


    ¡°Although he lasted over a dozen rounds, he¡¯s already seriously injured and won¡¯t hold out much longer.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity, a generation¡¯s genius is about to fall.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Kill!¡±


    Qin Hao shouted loudly, and dozens of pale blue thunder swords appeared in front of him.


    Shao Xian swooped down again, his fist seal dazzling and imposing, the void subtly trembling.


    The pale blue thunder swords met his approach.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    ¡°Boom boom boom¡±


    Dozens of thunder swords dissipated, simultaneously blocking Shao Xian¡¯s attack. Once they dissipated, Shao Xian charged again.


    Qin Hao remained unafraid, with the Heavenly Gang Palm Seal in his left hand and the Earth Evil Fist Seal in his right. One side shone with golden light, the other glimmered with a dark hue.


    The two clashed fiercely once more, neither holding back.


    On another front, Ye Jingtian and Xing Feng fought with equal intensity. Although both were at the same level, Ye Jingtian seemed slightly stronger, but the advantage wasn¡¯t overwhelming.


    Outside the arena, everyone watched the battle intently, eyes widened not wanting to miss even a moment of the fight.


    Li Xuanqing and Tan Zheng, hidden in the shadows, also kept their gaze fixed on the arena¡¯s combat.


    Tan Zheng glanced at Ye Lingyi and the others, cautiously sending a voice transmission, ¡°My lord, should we kill those people?¡±


    Li Xuanqing gently shook his head, ¡°Killing them won¡¯t help. If we kill these two, surely they can¡¯t escape, and then the entire Skyfire Dynasty will be ours.¡±


    Tan Zheng replied, ¡°As you command, my lord.¡± Afterward, he looked venomously at Ye Jingtian and Qin Hao in the arena.


    After several minutes, Qin Hao had already exchanged hundreds of rounds with Shao Xian, yet Shao Xian still hadn¡¯t managed to kill him.


    Their figures separated, and Qin Hao now appeared somewhat battered, his clothes torn, with many areas dyed red with blood.


    Shao Xian also had several wounds, although only minor ones, leaving him in disbelief. This Qin Hao was too monstrous; despite only being at the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, he could fight me one-on-one for hundreds of rounds. Such combat prowess is unheard of.


    All the onlookers, including Li Xuanqing and Tan Zheng in hiding, were equally dumbfounded and astonished.


    This Qin Hao is simply a monster.


    If he survives this battle, he will surely become renowned throughout the world, the thoughts in everyone¡¯s minds screamed, he¡¯s too monstrous, too abnormal.


    To battle a Heavenly Human Realm Peak expert for hundreds of rounds without defeat at the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, it¡¯s truly inconceivable.


    Li Xuanqing, hidden, harbored even greater killing intent; Qin Hao must be eliminated, otherwise, when he grows, it will be a terrifying prospect.


    ...


    The battle between Ye Jingtian and Xing Feng on the other side had reached a fever pitch, with both covered in a myriad of wounds.


    However, Ye Jingtian¡¯s situation was slightly better; Xing Feng was more injured, losing a lot of blood.


    ¡°Kill!¡±


    Ye Jingtian and Qin Hao both shouted almost simultaneously, charging at their opponents once again.


    The battle had reached a point where neither could retreat; whoever retreated would die first, making momentum critical.


    Ye Jingtian unleashed his most powerful divine skill, forming a sword aura tens of meters long, slicing towards Xing Feng.


    Qin Hao also pushed his Heavenly Gang Palm and Earth Evil Fist to the limit, with his arms glowing brilliantly, one side holy with golden light, and the other flickering with dark light.


    ¡°Palm Controls the Universe¡±


    ¡°Fist of Eternal Slaughter¡±


    Qin Hao shouted loudly, his whole aura reaching its pinnacle.


    Shao Jian also unleashed his most potent divine skill; this clash was set to determine the outcome of the battle.


    All four unleashed their most powerful divine skills.


    Ye Jingtian¡¯s sword aura first collided with Xing Feng¡¯s blade aura, both sides locked in a stalemate, desperately channeling spiritual energy.


    Qin Hao¡¯s palm and fist seals were about to clash with Shao Jian¡¯s fist seal.


    But at this moment, Qin Hao¡¯s figure suddenly disappeared, then reappeared instantly behind Xing Feng.

 Chapter 1009: 1008 Tiandi City

    Chapter 1009: Chapter 1008 Tiandi City


    Qin Hao¡¯s speed was too fast, so fast that Shao Xian and Xing Feng had no chance to react.


    At this moment, Xing Feng was desperately resisting Ye Jingtian¡¯s sword aura, unable to pay attention to anything else. Sensing Qin Hao appearing behind him, his expression changed dramatically.


    How could Qin Hao appear here? Wasn¡¯t he fighting with Shao Xian? What¡¯s going on?


    Before he could think, Qin Hao¡¯s palm and fist prints struck his body.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    Xing Feng exploded and died instantly, a mist of blood spreading like a blooming blood flower.


    Even though he was a Heavenly Human Realm Peak expert, all his Spiritual Energy was blocking Ye Jingtian, leaving him no power to counterattack. If he countered Qin Hao, Ye Jingtian¡¯s sword aura would be enough to kill him.


    No matter his choice, it would lead to destruction.


    The spectators were stunned. Xing Feng was dead? He was actually killed by Qin Hao¡¯s sneak attack, how was Qin Hao¡¯s speed so fast just now?


    ¡°Was that teleportation?¡± someone swallowed, exclaiming incredulously.


    ¡°Impossible, it definitely can¡¯t be teleportation. Teleportation is a Divine Skill only Supreme Realm cultivators can master. He is far from the Supreme Realm; it can¡¯t be teleportation.¡±


    ¡°Then how could he be so fast? He appeared behind Xing Feng in less than a fraction of a second, even avoiding Shao Xian¡¯s attack.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s terrifying, extremely terrifying.¡±


    ¡°No wonder he dared to speak so boldly before; he had such an incredible card up his sleeve. With this speed, even Peak Realm experts don¡¯t have such terrifying speed, let alone a Heavenly Human Realm expert.¡±


    Not only were Shao Xian and the spectators shocked, but Ye Jingtian was also utterly astonished. If Qin Hao had used this move on him, could he have dodged? Had any chance to react?


    The answer is no, because it was too fast, fast to the extreme.


    ¡°Kill¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s voice was icy as he charged toward Shao Xian, and Ye Jingtian, having reacted, joined in.


    Now, only Shao Xian was left, too weak to support himself. Just dealing with Qin Hao was difficult, let alone with Ye Jingtian of the same realm, he had no chance to turn the tables.


    In less than dozens of rounds, Shao Xian was killed by Qin Hao with the Heavenly Gang Palm, the absolute speed giving him no chance to react.


    The Defensive Array on the dueling platform was removed, and Qin Hao and Ye Jingtian exchanged a glance and stepped out.


    In the shadows, Li Xuanqing and Tan Zheng frowned, with Tan Zheng asking, ¡°King, should we intervene?¡±


    Li Xuanqing was equally conflicted; Qin Hao¡¯s displayed speed and combat power were too terrifying. If he acted now, he wasn¡¯t confident he could kill him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s think it over a bit more,¡± Li Xuanqing ultimately gave up, as there wasn¡¯t enough certainty.


    Qin Hao and Ye Jingtian returned to the Skyfire Dynasty¡¯s team, and they immediately set out towards the Transmission Array.


    The surrounding spectators stared blankly at Qin Hao, feeling waves of shock in their hearts. A Late Stage Grandmaster Realm expert killing a Heavenly Human Realm Peak expert¡ªa tale no one would believe if it spread!


    This year¡¯s Heaven and Earth Academy tournament will be very exciting.


    If you encounter this Qin Hao in the selections, avoid him if possible¡ªhe¡¯s simply not human.


    As they walked, Ye Jingtian said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you want to find a place and rest?¡±


    Qin Hao replied calmly, ¡°No problem, it¡¯s just a minor injury.¡±


    Ye Jingtian nodded slightly, and Ye Lingyi and the others were inwardly shocked. Too strong, Qin Hao was unbelievably strong, beyond imagination.


    Now, Qin Hao and Ye Jingtian had changed clothes, and their wounds had healed.


    From Jianglan City to Heaven and Earth Academy was still a long journey; traveling by Transmission Array would take about two days. There were nearly half a month left until the competition began.


    During these two days, they traveled by Transmission Array while meditating to recover.


    Two days later, the Transmission Array in Tiandi City glowed, and a group of people appeared on it.


    Among them were Ye Jingtian, Qin Hao, and others. Besides them, there were hundreds of people on the Transmission Array, some young talents here to participate in the Heaven and Earth Academy tournament, some accompanying juniors, and others here to witness this grand event of geniuses.


    Tiandi City was enormous, even larger than Jianglan City, and Heaven and Earth Academy was located in the central position of the city, atop a dragon vein.


    A dragon vein is similar to a Spirit Vein but more advanced, producing purer and more concentrated Spiritual Energy, one of the top options for cultivation.


    Ye Jingtian was energetic, his Spiritual Energy fully restored: ¡°Let¡¯s find a place to stay, and when the tournament day arrives, we¡¯ll go to the Heaven and Earth Academy.¡±


    Now with Qin Hao in the team, he had great confidence in this Heaven and Earth Academy tournament. With Qin Hao¡¯s strength, there was every hope of them entering Heaven and Earth Academy to study.


    Ye Jingtian led Qin Hao and the others to an inn for lodging. This inn was located further away, as the closer ones were already fully booked by powerful factions.


    In the inn, several of them had lunch together.


    While eating, Qin Hao asked, ¡°Do you want to go for a walk after lunch?¡±


    Wu Yutong and the others were about to respond but hesitated, recalling the events in Jianglan City.


    However, Ling¡¯er, holding her treasure-seeking spirit beast, smiled and said, ¡°Sure, Master, I wanted to buy some Spiritual Medicine for Bai.¡±


    Qin Hao looked at the treasure-seeking spirit beast in her arms, which now seemed to have grown fatter, indicating Ling¡¯er had fed it plenty of Spirit Stones.


    Xian Yin chimed in, ¡°Sure, I also want to buy some things.¡±


    Ye Lingyi, Wu Yutong, and the others, seeing Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er speaking up, also said, ¡°It¡¯s said that Tiandi City is one of the most prosperous in the Southern Continent. Not going for a stroll would indeed be a missed opportunity.¡±


    Ye Jingtian smiled at them and said, ¡°It¡¯s good to take a stroll. Every time I come here, I buy some natural treasures. There¡¯s so much here, so it¡¯s worth a look.¡±


    The group nodded slightly, and after lunch, they returned to their rooms, tidied up, and then left the inn together.


    The streets of Tiandi City were crowded, with many young faces¡ªyoung talents from all over here for the tournament, wandering the streets in their free time.


    Their group attracted a lot of attention, mainly because apart from Qin Hao, the rest were young women, lively and attractive, with charming figures.


    ¡°Wow, so many people,¡± Wu Yutong exclaimed at the bustling crowd on the street.


    Notably, on the streets, master cultivators at the Grandmaster Realm and Heavenly Human Realm were seen everywhere¡ªa rarity in the Skyfire Dynasty, where even Grandmaster Realm experts were considered formidable.


    Ling¡¯er hurriedly said, ¡°Master, look, there¡¯s a pair of monks over there.¡±


    As Qin Hao and the others looked up, the monks also looked over, their eyes flashing sharply, evidently having heard Linger¡¯s words.

 Chapter 1010: 1009 Green Cloud Sect Su Chen

    Chapter 1010: Chapter 1009 Green Cloud Sect Su Chen


    Ling¡¯er stuck out her tongue, a bit embarrassed: ¡°Aren¡¯t these monks¡¯ ears too sharp?!¡±


    One of the young monks, with a compassionate expression, gave Qin Hao a slight smile, then turned around and led the group away.


    Ye Lingyi spoke up: ¡°These people are so strong, they give me a sense of a mountain-like heavy aura; they should be disciples of Jialan Temple, right?¡±


    ¡°Jialan Temple?¡± Wu Yutong, Gao Linglong, and Dong Mengqi looked at Ye Lingyi curiously, wanting to know what this Jialan Temple was.


    Ye Lingyi, wearing a white dress, walked along with a light smile and explained to the others: ¡°Jialan Temple is one of the top-tier sects on the Southern Continent. These top-tier sects stand shoulder to shoulder with those vast empires, and some are even stronger than the empires by a few degrees.¡±


    The group was taken aback, to exist at the same level as those empires?


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that too strong?¡± Wu Yutong was a bit shocked, incredulous.


    Ye Lingyi: ¡°Of course, in top-tier sects like Jialan Temple, Peak Realm experts are too numerous to count, with many Transformation and Extreme Realm experts as well.¡±


    Qin Hao was stunned for a moment: ¡°Above the Peak Realm are the Transformation and Extreme Realms?¡±


    Ye Lingyi nodded: ¡°Yes, it¡¯s said there¡¯s even a realm above the Extreme Realm, but I don¡¯t know exactly what it is. I heard all this from my father. Apart from Jialan Temple, there are several other top-tier sects on the Southern Continent that cannot be provoked.¡±


    Xian Yin asked curiously: ¡°Which ones?¡±


    ¡°Void Palace, Taixu Sword Sect, Leisurely Palace, Green Cloud Sect, Yunv Sect, Sun and Moon Holy Sect, and this Jialan Temple.¡± Ye Lingyi enumerated them one by one.


    The group nodded slightly, Ye Lingyi¡¯s words opened a door for them all.


    Ye Lingyi continued: ¡°Similarly, on the Southern Continent, there are five great empires that cannot be provoked, the Nan Zhou Dynasty, Sky Wolf Dynasty, Beichu Dynasty, Flame Dragon Dynasty, and Thunder God Dynasty. The Nan Zhou Dynasty was established fifty thousand years ago, they overthrew the original Nandong Dynasty, making it the most recently established among the five. The other empires have stood for millions of years.¡±


    It was the first time Qin Hao and the others heard about this, and they were amazed by the vastness of the Southern Continent.


    They walked for over half an hour, reaching the broad street where Heaven and Earth Academy is located.


    ¡°How magnificent, is this Heaven and Earth Academy?¡± Xian Yin and the others were momentarily stunned upon seeing the gate of Heaven and Earth Academy.


    The gate of Heaven and Earth Academy resembled an ancient archway, with one large gate and two small gates on either side. The pillars were intricately carved with dragons and phoenixes, vividly portrayed, lifelike.


    In the middle hung an ancient plaque with the four golden characters ¡°Heaven and Earth Academy¡± inscribed on it.


    The four characters on the plaque exuded a profound Daoist charm, giving an enigmatic feeling, while a surge of noble righteousness emanated, speeding up the circulation of power for those passing by.


    This strange sensation was also felt by Qin Hao and his companions, leaving them a bit surprised.


    ¡°This should be written by a top-tier expert,¡± Ye Lingyi remarked, looking at the four golden characters.


    Qin Hao: ¡°Let¡¯s go over there and have a look.¡±


    They headed towards the north district of Tiandi City, where the flow of people was evidently higher than elsewhere, as this area not only hosted the biggest marketplace of Tiandi City but also the land of beauty, where various extraordinary beauties could be seen.


    At around two-thirty in the afternoon, Qin Hao and his group arrived at the trading market of Tiandi City, arguably the largest, most comprehensive trading market on the Southern Continent, unmatched by any other place.


    Almost any kind of herbs, materials, and pills, etc., can be purchased here.


    As long as you have enough Spirit Stones, you can buy almost anything here.


    The marketplace was crowded. Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er bought some herbs, Xian Yin intended to use them for Alchemy, while Ling¡¯er bought them to feed her treasure-hunting spirit beast.


    Currently, Qin Hao wasn¡¯t particularly lacking in Spirit Stones. After slaying Xing Feng and Shao Xian, he and Ye Jingtian each got a storage ring filled with not only a large number of middle-grade Spirit Stones but also some materials.


    Dong Mengqi also bought some herbs, spending tens of thousands of middle-grade Spirit Stones, which equate to tens of millions of lower-grade Spirit Stones.


    After wandering for a while, Ye Lingyi, Wu Yutong, and Ye Linglong each bought a few things.


    As they walked for a while, Xian Yin suddenly said: ¡°Sir, shall we take a look inside this Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion?¡±


    Beside them was a shop, the Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion, which was the same one from Jianglan City, but this was the headquarters, while that was just a branch, and this location was larger with more categories.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Let¡¯s go in and take a look.¡±


    They all entered the Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion, where many were shopping, and there were many attendants, all young and beautiful female attendants.


    ¡°Hello, welcome to the Ten Thousand Treasure Pavilion.¡± A female attendant greeted Qin Hao and the others with a smile as they entered.


    ¡°Sir and madams, is there anything you need?¡± the female attendant asked.


    Xian Yin spoke: ¡°I¡¯d like to buy some rare fabrics.¡±


    The female attendant smiled: ¡°Please follow me, miss, we have fabrics of all equivalents here, please have a look and let me know which one you like.¡±


    Xian Yin and the others followed the attendant to one side, where quite a few people were also selecting fabrics.


    The prices, materials, etc., were marked on the fabrics, with the lowest costing a thousand middle-grade Spirit Stones. Xian Yin looked them over, planning to make two new robes for Qin Hao, as his clothes were damaged in the last fight.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take this one,¡± Xian Yin pointed to a cloth valued at six thousand Spirit Stones.


    Ye Lingyi, Wu Yutong, and a few others glanced at Xian Yin, then at Qin Hao, clearly realizing the fabric was for men¡¯s clothes; Xian Yin should be planning to make them for Qin Hao, right?


    Xian Yin paid over six million low-grade Spirit Stones for it, which was almost her last savings¡ªthough most of it was supplied by Qin Hao.


    As Xian Yin put away the fabric and Qin Hao¡¯s group prepared to leave, a handsome and dignified young man approached.


    He came directly to stand before Ye Lingyi and Xian Yin: ¡°Ladies, I am Su Chen, a disciple of Green Cloud Sect. May I have the honor of befriending you?¡±


    They were momentarily stunned before Ye Lingyi smiled: ¡°Of course, it would be our honor to be friends with a disciple of the Green Cloud Sect.¡±


    Su Chen wore a smile on his face. Walking out, his identity as a Green Cloud Sect disciple was a golden signboard. When he mentioned it, everyone had to show a respectful expression.


    ¡°Where are you from?¡± Su Chen asked in a casual tone.


    Ye Lingyi: ¡°We come from the Skyfire Dynasty.¡±


    Su Chen was surprised. Skyfire Dynasty? He hadn¡¯t heard of it; it must be a remote dynasty, this thought bolstered his sense of superiority: ¡°Are you also here to participate in the Heaven and Earth Academy¡¯s grand competition? For this session, there are many young experts, as the seven top-tier sects and five great empires have sent their most elite young disciples.¡±

 Chapter 1011: 1010 Invitation

    Chapter 1011: Chapter 1010 Invitation


    Qin Hao and his group all sensed the arrogance in Su Chen¡¯s eyes, as if he saw himself as superior.


    Although Wu Yutong and the others were disgusted, they found it hard to express it openly. After all, this was a disciple from the Green Cloud Sect, one of the seven top prestigious sects that no one dared provoke.


    The Green Cloud Sect was not like the small families of the Xing Family or the Shao Family; it¡¯s a colossal entity with a rich history spanning hundreds of millions of years in the Southern Continent, profoundly deep and incredibly powerful.


    Ye Lingyi wore a smile on her face, ¡°This is the first time we¡¯re participating in this martial arts competition, so we¡¯re not quite sure. Aren¡¯t there always many young talents each year?¡±


    Su Chen gave a slight smile, ¡°This year is different from before. In the past, these top prestigious sects rarely participated, but this year they all are. The competition will be fiercer than ever before.¡±


    Ye Lingyi nodded. Interacting with these disciples from prestigious sects does indeed yield a lot of information.


    Su Chen continued, ¡°Moreover, Heaven and Earth Academy¡¯s martial arts competition this year is also different, it seems they¡¯ve added an extra elimination round, but I¡¯m not entirely sure.¡±


    Qin Hao and the others were taken aback. An extra round compared to previous years?


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Su.¡± Ye Lingyi smiled faintly. As a princess of the Skyfire Dynasty, she was well-versed in the art of conversation.


    Despite her disgust for Su Chen, she showed no trace of it on her face, giving Su Chen a sense of vanity.


    Su Chen smiled faintly, ¡°No need to be polite, I still don¡¯t know the last names of these ladies.¡±


    Ye Lingyi replied with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m Ye Lingyi, this is Wu Yutong, Gao Linglong, Dong Mengqi, Xian Yin, and Qin Hao.¡±


    Su Chen glanced at Qin Hao, and upon discerning his strength, a deep disdain flashed in his eyes.


    He then turned to Ye Lingyi, ¡°There¡¯s a gathering of prodigies tonight at Fengyue Building, hosted by the City Lord¡¯s son of Tiandi City, inviting young prodigies from various places. I can bring one person inside, would Miss Ye like to come with me tonight?¡±


    Just one person?


    Ye Lingyi was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood Su Chen¡¯s implication, her mind racing with numerous scenarios.


    She finally responded with a smile, ¡°Mr. Su¡¯s kind invitation is so overwhelming that it would be rude to refuse.¡±


    Upon hearing her response, Su Chen¡¯s smile broadened, ¡°Miss Ye, I¡¯m quite familiar with Tiandi City, why don¡¯t I show you around? Tonight, we can also join my fellow disciples from the Green Cloud Sect for the banquet. Such an event is not for ordinary people.¡±


    Ye Lingyi, feeling a bit helpless, turned apologetically to Qin Hao and the others and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, you should head back first. I¡¯ll stay with Mr. Su for now.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Please go ahead, Miss Ye.¡±


    Seeing Ye Lingyi speak to Qin Hao, Su Chen felt a bit displeased. A mere waste at the late stage of the Grandmaster Realm, not even worth speaking to.


    ...


    The two quickly left, Wu Yutong glanced at Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, why is this Princess Lingyi going with him? That guy¡¯s arrogance thinks he¡¯s so impressive.¡±


    Qin Hao replied calmly, ¡°Princess Lingyi has her considerations. The Green Cloud Sect is one of the seven top prestigious sects; she probably doesn¡¯t want to offend the Green Cloud Sect.¡±


    Wu Yutong, with a straightforward nature, said, ¡°He¡¯s just a disciple of the Green Cloud Sect. Refusing him, can it really offend the entire Green Cloud Sect?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled faintly, ¡°Let¡¯s go, stay a bit longer and head back.¡±


    The group lingered in the market for a while longer before making their way back.


    When they returned to the inn, Qin Hao was about to return to his quarters when a Bloodthirsty Forbidden Guard approached him, ¡°Mr. Qin, the King requests your presence.¡±


    Qin Hao told Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er, ¡°You two head back first. I¡¯ll go see what¡¯s up.¡±


    Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er nodded, heading back to the courtyard pavilion, while Qin Hao followed the Forbidden Guard to Ye Jingtian¡¯s pavilion.


    In the living room, Ye Jingtian was sitting there, sipping on a cup of Spiritual Tea. Seeing Qin Hao enter, he smiled and said, ¡°Please sit, Mr. Qin.¡±


    Qin Hao sat down, immediately served a cup of tea by a maid.


    Ye Jingtian curiously asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t Lingyi come back with you?¡±


    ¡°A disciple from the Green Cloud Sect invited Princess Lingyi out for a stroll.¡± Qin Hao replied calmly.


    Ye Jingtian flashed a look of surprise and then let out a long sigh, ¡°Where strength is lacking, one must bow and endure everywhere. I hope Mr. Qin will take care of Lingyi in the future; she is my most beloved daughter.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly. During their time in the dynasty, they had received favors from Ye Jingtian. Just a few days ago in Jianglan City, Ye Jingtian had helped them, though it was tied to the safety of the Skyfire Dynasty, it was ultimately Qin Hao who brought on the situation.


    ¡°Then I must thank Mr. Qin.¡± Now Ye Jingtian saw Qin Hao as an equal; possessing fearsome combat strength at the late stage of the Grandmaster Realm, the future holds endless possibilities for him.


    Qin Hao, ¡°Please don¡¯t mention it, Mr. Ye. Did you summon me for something specific?¡±


    Ye Jingtian took out a gilded invitation and handed it to him, ¡°This was sent by the City Lord¡¯s Mansion of Tiandi City, inviting you to attend a banquet.¡±


    Qin Hao looked puzzled as he took the invitation. A few lines of gold letters floated in the air, inviting him to the banquet of prodigies at Fengyue Building.


    ¡°This Du Qinghao is the son of the City Lord of Tiandi City. I don¡¯t know him, why would he invite me?¡± Qin Hao asked in confusion.


    Ye Jingtian explained, ¡°Our incident of killing Shao Xian and Xing Feng in Jianglan City must have reached Du Qinghao, hence the invitation.¡±


    Qin Hao closed the invitation, ¡°If that¡¯s all, I will take my leave now, Mr. Ye.¡±


    Ye Jingtian hurriedly asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, do you not plan to attend tonight?¡±


    ¡°Seems pointless, what¡¯s the use of going?¡± Qin Hao replied indifferently.


    Ye Jingtian said, ¡°Your combat prowess is terrifying, and your future boundless, but one will inevitably face difficulties. It¡¯s wise to make friends; many friends make the journey easier. With your strength, Mr. Qin, you can earn the respect of those young talents. It¡¯s a good place to make some acquaintances.¡±


    Qin Hao pondered for a moment upon hearing his words, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ye, I will give it some thought. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    With that, he turned and exited the living room, returning to his small courtyard where Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er were sitting in the living room.


    ¡°You¡¯re back, young master.¡± Xian Yin greeted with a smile as he returned.


    Ling¡¯er giggled, ¡°Master, what did Mr. Ye want from you?¡±


    Qin Hao, ¡°Nothing much, just an invitation.¡±


    ¡°What kind of invitation?¡± Ling¡¯er asked out of curiosity.


    Qin Hao took out the invitation sent by Du Qinghao from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, which Ling¡¯er curiously took in hand and said in awe, ¡°What a luxurious invitation. Let me see what kind it is.¡±


    Xian Yin also leaned in curiously to take a look. After reading the contents, Xian Yin was slightly taken aback; isn¡¯t this the grand banquet that Green Cloud Sect¡¯s disciple mentioned during the day?

 Chapter 1012: 1011: Banquet of the Proud Heavens

    Chapter 1012: Chapter 1011: Banquet of the Proud Heavens


    Curiously, Xian Yin asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, why would this Du Qinghao invite you?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe the fight in Jianglan City a few days ago reached here.¡±


    Xian Yin nodded slightly and didn¡¯t ask further, taking out the fabric bought in the afternoon and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll make you two sets of clothes. Last time during the fight, your clothes were torn.¡±


    Ling¡¯er laughed, ¡°Sister Xian Yin, use the leftover fabric to make me some clothes too.¡±


    Xian Yin gently tapped her on her delicate nose, ¡°It¡¯s already bought for you.¡±


    Qin Hao sat on the chair browsing through the merit mall in his system; he now had over twenty-three thousand merit points.


    The people he slayed all somewhat increased his merit points.


    As long as those people had killed ordinary folks or cultivators who hadn¡¯t committed evil deeds, Qin Hao would gain merit points by killing them.


    Exiting from the system, Qin Hao watched Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er chatting over there, his gaze contemplative.


    Around six in the afternoon, Qin Hao opened his eyes from meditation. At this moment, Xian Yin was still making clothes, and Ling¡¯er was playing with her treasure-seeking spirit beast.


    Qin Hao got up and said, ¡°Ling¡¯er, Xian Yin, I¡¯m going to attend the banquet. I¡¯ll be back once it¡¯s over.¡±


    Xian Yin smiled lightly and nodded, ¡°Mr. Qin, go ahead. Ling¡¯er and I will be waiting for you at home.¡±


    Qin Hao left the tavern and walked towards Fengyue Building as mentioned on the invitation. Today, almost all who could attend Du Qinghao¡¯s banquet were disciples from top sects or genius disciples from dynasties.


    This is a high-class social circle, and it¡¯s difficult for ordinary talents to enter this circle.


    Yet still, many people are desperately trying to get in.


    Given that Du Qinghao personally sent the invitation, it would leave a poor impression not to attend, though it wouldn¡¯t necessarily offend him.


    Since Du Qinghao is the son of the City Lord of Tiandi City, entering Heaven and Earth Academy shouldn¡¯t be hard for him; he may become a figure in the future.


    By now, Tiandi City was already shrouded in the veil of night, though the streets were even more crowded than during the day.


    Many people were constantly flooding into Tiandi City because many young talents were participating in the selection; it was estimated to be thousands if not tens of thousands, though Qin Hao was not exactly sure, it was just a guess.


    Heaven and Earth Academy imposed a quota on the dynasties from remote and small territories, but for local cultivators, there was no limitation as long as they met the criteria, so in Qin Hao¡¯s view, there should be a lot of people.


    About half an hour later, Qin Hao found himself outside Fengyue Building.


    At this moment, Fengyue Building¡¯s exterior was lined with luxurious mounts, some extremely extravagant, others exuding a murderous aura, with the mounts all being Heavenly Human Realm Peak-level beasts.


    Seeing these vehicles was an eye-opener for Qin Hao, and at that moment, a cry came from the distant sky.


    He turned to look, only to see two streaks of light, one blue and one red, rushing toward him in the sky¡ªit was a magnificent and noble carriage pulled by a blue-luan and red-luan.


    These luan beasts were far superior in bloodline compared to the one Ye Lingyi had.


    On this noble carriage sat a woman, her beauty impeccable and flawless, with a flawless figure and a fiery-red mark like a flame between her brows.


    Her bright red clothing only accentuated her elegance, yet it emitted an aura of coldness.


    ¡°Princess Yuya of the Heavenly Phoenix Dynasty has arrived.¡±


    A voice rang out from within Fengyue Building, and the red luan carriage quickly landed at the doorstep.


    At this moment, a large number of people poured out from Fengyue Building, led by a handsome, majestic, extraordinary young man, with eyes like swords, dark and bright, akin to dazzling stars.


    This man was Du Qinghao, the host of tonight¡¯s banquet. He smiled and said, ¡°Welcome, Princess Yuya, pleasure to meet you.¡±


    Nangong Yuya grinned slightly, ¡°Since Mr. Du has personally invited me, how could Yuya not attend?¡±


    ¡°Princess Yuya, please enter,¡± Du Qinghao gestured.


    Although Du Qinghao was merely the City Lord¡¯s son, this was Tiandi City, not an ordinary city. His status, while not superior to Nangong Yuya¡¯s, was not much different either. After all, the City Lord of Tiandi City was the Enforcement Elder at Heaven and Earth Academy, a very powerful figure.


    Very soon, those people went in, and calmness returned to the entrance.


    Qin Hao stepped up to the entrance and was about to enter when two young beautiful women at the door stopped him: ¡°Sir, Fengyue Building has been booked for a private event today. May I ask if you have an invitation?¡±


    Qin Hao took out the invitation. The female attendant took a look and then respectfully said, ¡°Mr. Qin, please follow me.¡±


    Following a female attendant, Qin Hao was led to an open area in the central garden at the back of Fengyue Building, where numerous tables were set up. Many people had already arrived, numbering in the hundreds.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, please feel free; if you need anything, just call us,¡± the female attendant said with a smile.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Alright.¡±


    With the female attendant gone, Qin Hao looked at the crowd and then went over to a table, picking up some snacks and starting to eat.


    Many people around were engaging in conversation. Seated inside were young geniuses of major sects or dynasties, and others simply weren¡¯t qualified to sit there.


    There, Qin Hao also saw the monk he had encountered on the streets during the day. The young monk was sitting with Du Qinghao and Nangong Yuya, wearing a compassionate expression, silent and reserved.


    Seated around the table were also several young men and women, handsome and charismatic young men, and pretty young women, each an extraordinary talent in their own right.


    As Qin Hao was eating snacks and observing, the voice of Ye Lingyi suddenly rang out, ¡°Qin Hao?!¡±


    Qin Hao turned his head to see Ye Lingyi approaching with some delight, followed by Su Chen and several young men.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, you¡¯re here too?¡± Ye Lingyi asked joyfully as she came over.


    Qin Hao smiled lightly, ¡°Mr. Du invited me, so I came.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Du invited you? Aren¡¯t you afraid to bite your own tongue saying such big words? Do you think you¡¯re worthy of Mr. Du¡¯s invitation?¡± Su Chen¡¯s voice resonated, full of disdain.


    Even Su Chen himself was not qualified to be personally invited by Du Qinghao, although his senior brother had that privilege.


    To Su Chen, this Qin Hao must have snuck in. Given his Late Stage Grandmaster Realm strength, he had no right to be here.


    Everyone invited here was a master of at least the Heavenly Human Realm, no less.


    Someone next to Su Chen also mocked, ¡°With your Late Stage Grandmaster Realm strength, claiming Mr. Du invited you? What do you think you are?¡±


    Another person chimed in, ¡°Yeah, do you think you¡¯re a top genius? Just a trash Late Stage Grandmaster, anyone here can crush you with one hand.¡±


    Ye Lingyi, hearing their words, looked a bit embarrassed and uneasy. On one side stood Su Chen from the Green Cloud Sect, on the other was Qin Hao.


    Given Su Chen¡¯s current behavior, she had to make a choice between the two.


    Finally, she turned to Su Chen and his group and said, ¡°Please watch your words, he is my friend.¡±

 Chapter 1013: 1012: Cut Down with One Sword

    Chapter 1013: Chapter 1012: Cut Down with One Sword


    Su Chen heard Ye Lingyi¡¯s words, and his face darkened, feeling a bit embarrassed. Her words clearly showed her stance, to side with Qin Hao.


    He was seething with rage in his heart, Ye Lingyi actually chose to stand beside that good-for-nothing.


    Damn, this b*tch, does she have a fling with him? Just imagine, I wasted so much effort during the day.


    ¡°Stupid b*tch, turning against me so fast. If it wasn¡¯t for me bringing you here, would you even have the right to enter? Such trash, why should I respect him?¡± Su Chen¡¯s tone was full of disdain.


    Ye Lingyi, knowing Qin Hao¡¯s strength and character, said, ¡°Forget about it, Mr. Qin, don¡¯t bother with such people.¡±


    Hearing her words, Su Chen¡¯s expression became even more sour. Ye Lingyi was the one he brought here, and her actions and words now put him to shame: ¡°Hold on, this is not a place for you, get out now and don¡¯t stain this distinguished banquet.¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°What kind of thing are you to bark in front of me? Get lost, or dare to speak nonsense again and I will cleave your head off.¡±


    Su Chen laughed out of extreme anger: ¡°Just by you, want to cleave me? I can suppress you, a Late Stage Grandmaster Realm waste, with one hand.¡±


    Many people around had already noticed the situation over here and turned to look. Who are these two? Why are they arguing at the banquet?


    ¡°Su, what¡¯s going on?¡± At this time, a group came over, and a man among them looked at Su Chen and asked.


    Su Chen hurriedly replied, ¡°Mr. Han, these two not only sneaked into the banquet but also arrogantly said they would cleave my head.¡±


    Han Lin frowned slightly, looking at Qin Hao and Ye Lingyi, one at the Peak of Grandmaster Realm, the other at Late Stage Grandmaster Realm.


    He snorted coldly, ¡°You two have some nerve, to say you¡¯d kill disciples of the Green Cloud Sect. Who gave you the guts?¡±


    ¡°So there was actually someone disputing with the disciples of the Green Cloud Sect, this is bad.¡±


    ¡°Look at the strength of these two, only Grandmaster Realm, how could such people come into the banquet?¡±


    Qin Hao: ¡°Not distinguishing between right and wrong, immediately defending your own sect¡¯s disciples, is this the style of the Green Cloud Sect?¡±


    Su Chen sneered: ¡°It¡¯s not for you to say how my Green Cloud Sect does things, who do you think you are?¡±


    Han Lin showed a disgusted expression on his face: ¡°Today is Mr. Du¡¯s banquet, and I don¡¯t want to anger Mr. Du. You two kneel and apologize to my junior, and this matter will be over.¡±


    Kneel and apologize?


    The crowd was shocked in their hearts. What an overbearing Green Cloud Sect, kneeling down is more humiliating than being crippled.


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression turned slightly cold, and suddenly the aura from his body erupted.


    The surrounding people took a few steps back with a clatter, and the two nearby tables were even overturned by his invisible aura.


    Han Lin, Su Chen, and the disciples of the Green Cloud Sect took two steps back, hurriedly resisting, with expressions of shock as they looked at him.


    ¡°Holy shit, what a strong aura.¡± The faces of several people around turned pale, stunned by Qin Hao¡¯s aura.


    At this time, the people inside also felt the strong aura over here, they all turned to look this way.


    Du Qinghao¡¯s eyes showed doubt, his brows slightly furrowed, who dares to cause trouble here?


    He stood up and walked over, and the other five people at the table also stood up following him, wanting to see what was happening.


    ...


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you all getting angry?¡± Du Qinghao walked over and saw the scene beside him, his brows slightly furrowed.


    Mao Yunlong saw Han Lin and Su Chen, and also frowned: ¡°What¡¯s going on with you guys?¡±


    Han Lin hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Mao, these two not only sneaked into the banquet but also brazenly claimed they would kill our Green Cloud Sect disciples, truly too arrogant.¡±


    Qin Hao sneered: ¡°If your junior hadn¡¯t insulted me and my friend, this would not have happened. Today, no one can save you two.¡±


    The crowd gasped, this person is so wild.


    Who is this person? Still dare to speak so arrogantly in front of Mao Yunlong?


    Du Qinghao and several others looked at Qin Hao, and their faces showed slight surprise when they saw his realm: Late Stage Grandmaster Realm??


    Suddenly Du Qinghao¡¯s mind shook, as if he thought of something: ¡°Are you Qin Hao, Mr. Qin?¡±


    The crowd was shocked by Du Qinghao¡¯s appeal, what¡¯s going on here? Du Qinghao knows this Qin Hao? And judging by Du Qinghao¡¯s words, he seems to regard Qin Hao as an equal.


    Mao Yunlong, Nangong Yuya, and several others showed a look of confusion in their eyes, Qin Hao? Is this the top genius of some sect?


    Qin Hao: ¡°Mr. Du, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m not giving you face, these guys are too much, making me and my friend kneel? Such great might, aren¡¯t you two bluffing because you¡¯re Green Cloud Sect disciples? Dare to come to the arena for a life and death duel with me? I¡¯ll let both of you come at once.¡±


    The crowd was startled, he actually wants these two to come at once, does he really have this strength, or is he just pretending?


    Du Qinghao, hearing Qin Hao¡¯s words, almost understood what¡¯s going on. Qin Hao, too, is a young genius, and the most important thing for young geniuses is face.


    He couldn¡¯t mediate and ask Qin Hao to let it go because of Han Lin and Su Chen. What would that do to Qin Hao¡¯s face? If Qin Hao refused his mediation, he would lose face in the end.


    He glanced at Mao Yunlong: ¡°Mr. Mao, what do you think of Mr. Qin¡¯s challenge?¡±


    Mao Yunlong looked at Han Lin and Su Chen and said: ¡°This is the trouble you brought upon yourselves, so settle it yourselves, but whatever you do, consider the face of the Green Cloud Sect.¡±


    Han Lin and Su Chen understood Mao Yunlong¡¯s meaning, if they avoided the battle, the Green Cloud Sect would lose much face.


    ¡°Fine, we accept your challenge, but to kill you, I alone am enough,¡± Su Chen said.


    Qin Hao replied indifferently: ¡°No matter, one by one is fine too.¡±


    After he spoke, he stepped onto the nearby platform, and Su Chen¡¯s eyes flashed fiercely, flying up to follow.


    The defensive formation of the arena opened, and the people didn¡¯t expect such a good show tonight, sitting there and watching the two on the stage.


    ¡°Whoosh¡±


    Su Chen moved first, rushing towards Qin Hao, forming hand seals, dazzling and brilliant, with an overwhelmingly strong momentum.


    Qin Hao stood still, and in front of him, a light blue lightning sword condensed, arcs swirling, and lightning flashing.


    ¡°Slash¡±


    Qin Hao shouted, and the lightning roared out like a thunder dragon, as fast as can be.


    ¡°Bang¡±


    The lightning shattered Su Chen¡¯s hand seals, pierced through his body, and left a large hole in his chest.


    Su Chen slowly lowered his head, full of disbelief.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    His body exploded violently, bursting into a blood mist in the night sky.


    The scene was silent, and almost everyone¡¯s eyes were filled with shock and horror.


    So strong, a single sword killed Su Chen at the Early Stage of Heavenly Human Realm, and he¡¯s only at the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, how can he be so terrifying?


    Han Lin was dumbfounded, with a look of fear in his eyes.


    Mao Yunlong, Nangong Yuya, and several others were somewhat shocked, turning to look at Du Qinghao. Since Du Qinghao knows this person, he must also know his background, right?

 Chapter 1014: 1013: Heroes from All Sides

    Chapter 1014: Chapter 1013: Heroes from All Sides


    Qin Hao stood on the platform and looked at Han Lin, saying, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just want me and my friend to kneel? Now you kneel and apologize, and I can spare your life.¡±


    Han Lin¡¯s expression was uncertain. If he were to fight on stage, he would most likely die at Qin Hao¡¯s hands, but kneeling and apologizing was also something he couldn¡¯t do; after all, he had the Green Cloud Sect backing him.


    Mao Yunlong looked at Du Qinghao and said, ¡°Du, let¡¯s drop this matter. Please speak on my behalf, and I owe you one.¡±


    Seeing Mao Yunlong say this, Du Qinghao could only reply, ¡°I¡¯m not that familiar with Mr. Qin, but I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    ¡°Then I leave it to you, Mr. Du.¡± Mao Yunlong smiled slightly.


    Du Qinghao flew up to the platform and said to Qin Hao, ¡°Mr. Qin, for my sake, let¡¯s drop this matter. A step back for both parties is good for everyone.¡±


    Qin Hao said indifferently, ¡°Since Mr. Du has put it this way, I naturally have to give you face. Let¡¯s drop it. But if it happens again, I will spare no one.¡±


    Just now, Du Qinghao didn¡¯t ask for someone from the Green Cloud Sect to plead, which already gave Qin Hao face; now Qin Hao also gave him a bit of face.


    He had already killed Su Chen of the Green Cloud Sect, revealing his power to everyone. Now choosing not to make further fuss not only gave Du Qinghao face but also showed his prowess to others.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Qin. Please, Mr. Qin, take the main seat.¡± Du Qinghao smiled and said.


    Qin Hao flew down from the platform, and now no one dared to underestimate him. A late-stage Grandmaster Realm who could instantly defeat an early-stage Heavenly Human Realm disciple from the Green Cloud Sect. His combat strength was terrifying.


    Among all those present, except for a few top-tier geniuses, no one else could do it.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, and this young lady, please take the main seat as well.¡± Du Qinghao smiled at Qin Hao and the Ye Lingyi next to him.


    Qin Hao slightly nodded and led Ye Lingyi to the innermost seat.


    His purpose for coming here tonight was to see if there were any people worth befriending. Currently, Du Qinghao seemed to be a person who handled things with discretion. Whether they could form a deeper friendship would depend on the future.


    Mao Yunlong said to Han Lin, ¡°Why not get out quickly? Do you not find it shameful to stay here?¡±


    Han Lin dared not say anything: ¡°Yes, Mr. Mao.¡± Then he left dejectedly.


    If not for Mao Yunlong pleading, he wouldn¡¯t have escaped death tonight, which he understood.


    Inside, around the round table, Du Qinghao and a few others sat back down, but now the table included Qin Hao and Ye Lingyi.


    Ye Lingyi never imagined she would be seated here, among the top sects and royal dynasties¡¯ young geniuses ¡ª something she had never dared to dream of before.


    All of this was because of Qin Hao beside her.


    Du Qinghao smiled and said, ¡°I was just about to mention Mr. Qin to everyone. I¡¯ve met Mr. Qin for the first time myself, but I¡¯ve heard of his achievements more than once.¡±


    Nangong Yuya, Mao Yunlong, and several others curiously looked at Du Qinghao, eager to know about Qin Hao¡¯s feats.


    Du Qinghao smiled and said, ¡°A few days ago, there was a battle in Jianglan City. Mr. Qin, with his late-stage Grandmaster Realm strength, killed a Heavenly Human Realm Peak expert, which caused a sensation throughout Jianglan City. The news also reached me, and when Mr. Qin¡¯s group came to Tiandi City, I personally sent an invitation.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Mao Yunlong, Nangong Yuya, and the others were shocked. Late-stage Grandmaster Realm defeating Heavenly Human Realm Peak?


    Are you kidding me?


    Their first reaction was disbelief, as even they weren¡¯t confident they could do it.


    But Du Qinghao had no reason to lie, and since he didn¡¯t know Qin Hao, he didn¡¯t need to lie.


    ¡°A late-stage Grandmaster Realm defeating a Heavenly Human Realm Peak master is simply unbelievable. Mr. Qin truly is a peerless genius,¡± the bald monk at the table exclaimed.


    Qin Hao chuckled awkwardly, ¡°And who might this master be?¡±


    Du Qinghao quickly laughed and said, ¡°Mr. Qin, forgive me for not introducing him earlier. This is Master Hui Zhen from Jialan Temple. Though young, his Buddhist spirit is profound, and he is currently the strongest expert of his generation at Jialan Temple.¡±


    Hui Zhen humbly said, ¡°You flatter me, Du. I¡¯m just a bit lucky.¡±


    Du Qinghao continued, ¡°This is Princess Nangong Yuya of the Heavenly Phoenix Dynasty. The most favored princess and the most talented disciple of the emperor, she has reached the late stage of the Heavenly Human Realm.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Qin.¡± Nangong Yuya smiled gently.


    Qin Hao immediately replied, ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Princess Yuya.¡±


    Du Qinghao: ¡°This is Mao Yunlong from the Green Cloud Sect, Mr. Mao, the top expert of the Green Cloud Sect¡¯s younger generation, with a three-foot-long blue blade that cuts down evildoers worldwide.¡±


    Mao Yunlong nodded to Qin Hao, who nodded back.


    Du Qinghao: ¡°These two are from the Nan Zhou Dynasty, Prince Zhou Liuxing and his sister Zhou Wanqing, known as the Twin Dragons of Nan Zhou.¡±


    After each introduction, everyone greeted each other.


    Qin Hao and Ye Lingyi also introduced themselves briefly.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the Skyfire Dynasty adjacent to the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range?¡± Master Hui Zhen asked.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Has Master Hui Zhen visited there?¡±


    Hui Zhen nodded, ¡°I went there to train a few years ago. The Ten Thousand Demon Sacred Mountain is there, and its beasts are terrifying.¡±


    The Ten Thousand Demon Sacred Mountain is one of the forbidden areas on the Hidden Dragon Continent, known to nearly every cultivator, inhabited by top-tier monsters.


    After chatting for a while, Du Qinghao invited everyone to enjoy various performances.


    The performers were beauties from Fengyue Building, playing music and dancing; they were very impressive. Fengyue Building had its unique charm, surviving in Tiandi City for so long.


    After listening to music and watching dances, the feast officially began, with signature dishes being served along with top-quality spiritual wine.


    The beautiful waitresses behind them filled everyone¡¯s glasses.


    Du Qinghao raised his glass and said with a smile, ¡°I toast to everyone, thanking you for honoring us with your presence. If you need anything in the future, feel free to ask me, Du Qinghao.¡± He finished his drink in one gulp.


    Qin Hao and the others also drank, and after doing so, Qin Hao looked at Master Hui Zhen in surprise, ¡°Master Hui Zhen also drinks?¡±


    ¡°Am I not allowed to drink?¡± Hui Zhen smiled bitterly.


    Du Qinghao and the others looked curiously at Qin Hao, not understanding why he would say that.


    Qin Hao chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Apologies, Master Hui Zhen, in my hometown there are monks, but they¡¯re forbidden to drink, considering it a sin.¡±


    Hui Zhen was taken aback, ¡°I see, but at our Jialan Temple, we have no such rules.¡± He then picked up a piece of demon beast leg and started eating.


    The scene was somewhat comical to Qin Hao. Could this be what¡¯s referred to as ¡®wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart¡¯?

 Chapter 1015: 1014 Assassination

    Chapter 1015: Chapter 1014 Assassination


    After a few cups of wine, the faces of several people at the table were slightly flushed. This was top-grade spiritual wine, which accelerated the speed of cultivation technique circulation and aided in the absorption of spiritual energy.


    Nangong Yuya looked at Qin Hao and smiled faintly, ¡°Mr. Qin, I wonder where you learned from? I¡¯m sure they are all curious about what kind of person can teach someone with talent like yours.¡±


    Qin Hao chuckled dryly, ¡°Princess Yuya, you¡¯re too kind. I just figured out cultivation on my own, I don¡¯t have a master.¡±


    The expressions of the people at the table froze for a moment. Being able to cultivate to this level by oneself suggested that Qin Hao must have had some great opportunity.


    The banquet lasted until after half past ten at night.


    Du Qinghao personally escorted Qin Hao, Nangong Yuya, Zhou Liuxing, and others out, ¡°Gentlemen, take care.¡±


    Nangong Yuya, Zhou Liuxing, and Zhou Wanqing boarded a luxurious vehicle, as the acts of traveling by a dynasty¡¯s princes and princesses were always grand.


    Figures like Master Hui Zhen and Mao Yunlong arrived in beast-driven war chariots. Though not as luxurious, they exuded a killing aura, hinting at tremendous power.


    ¡°Brother Du, Brother Qin, farewell,¡± several people said their goodbyes.


    After those people left, Qin Hao said to Du Qinghao, ¡°Brother Du, farewell.¡±


    ¡°Brother Qin, Miss Ye, take care,¡± Du Qinghao smiled.


    Qin Hao and Ye Lingyi walked together towards the direction of the tavern, Fengyue Building was quite far from their residence.


    Upon arrival, Qin Hao had already spent more than half an hour walking.


    On the way back, Ye Lingyi looked at Qin Hao and asked, ¡°Mr. Qin, Mr. Du also mentioned that the selection for this year¡¯s Heaven and Earth Academy is different from previous years. Are the competition rules really changed?¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Probably, I just don¡¯t know how they¡¯ve changed.¡±


    Ye Lingyi was a bit worried, if there was an extra round, then there would be an additional risk.


    As they walked more than half of the way, just as they turned into a street, Qin Hao halted, because a dozen black-clad figures were besieging Nangong Yuya.


    Although the fight on both sides was dazzling with beams of light radiating everywhere, no sound was transmitted, because there was a huge barrier around that not only dampened sound but also blocked divine sense transmission.


    Ye Lingyi was stunned for a moment, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Princess Yuya? Didn¡¯t she already leave in her vehicle?¡±


    Qin Hao said, ¡°Looks like she was intercepted and attacked halfway.¡±


    The battle ahead was intense, although Nangong Yuya was powerful and combative, those dozen black-clad men were each at the Heavenly Human Realm Peak. Moreover, they were well-trained, specializing in assassination and combined attack skill.


    Forming three groups of four, they performed a combined attack formation that could unleash stronger offensive power, comparable to half-step Peak Realm experts.


    It seemed they had been fighting for quite a while, and Nangong Yuya already had wounds on her body. If this continued, feared she would perish in bloom.


    Who exactly were these people that they dared to assassinate a dynasty princess? Qin Hao¡¯s mind raced with thoughts.


    By now, the street was deserted, as it was already late at night.


    The appearance of Qin Hao was surprising to the attacking black-clad figures, but upon seeing the power of Qin Hao and Ye Lingyi, they breathed a sigh of relief, as stable-stage Grandmasters weren¡¯t likely to break the barrier.


    This barrier required Heavenly Human Realm Peak strength to break it.


    Nangong Yuya¡¯s combat power reached, but she simply didn¡¯t have time to breach the barrier, even if given the chance, it wasn¡¯t something that could be broken easily.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, what should we do?¡± Ye Lingyi turned to ask.


    Qin Hao hesitated for a moment then said, ¡°Stay back, I¡¯ll go help her.¡±


    Ye Lingyi nodded slightly as she stepped back a distance.


    Qin Hao gathered more than ten lightning swords before him and directly stabbed at the barrier shield.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    ¡°Boom boom boom¡±


    Lights blossomed, dazzlingly bright, causing the entire barrier shield to shake.


    The faces of the dozen black-clad men inside changed slightly, shocked by Qin Hao¡¯s attack. How could a late-stage Grandmaster Realm¡¯s attack power be so strong?


    Nangong Yuya felt a surge of joy upon seeing Qin Hao.


    Meanwhile, a team broke away and charged towards Qin Hao. They couldn¡¯t leave him attacking the barrier unchecked, as the powerful energy fluctuations would attract more people, foiling their assassination attempt.


    ¡°Kill¡±


    The four experts at the Late Stage of Heavenly Human Realm Peak rushed forth, exuding a terrifying aura.


    In these black-clad eyes, the task of killing Qin Hao, a late-stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator, was like child¡¯s play.


    Qin Hao ceased breaking the barrier, focusing his might on engaging the four Heavenly Human Realm Peak experts.


    ¡°Bang bang bang¡±


    ¡°Boom boom boom¡±


    They exchanged intense blows, sword lights, palm seals, and fist seals crashed together, releasing dazzling rays and a powerful aura rippling out from there.


    The expressions of the four black-clad figures fighting Qin Hao changed slightly. Initially, they thought they could defeat Qin Hao quickly, yet his combat prowess was absurdly potent, locked in a stalemate with them.


    The intense energy fluctuation from their clash was noticeable afar, soon attracting attention.


    Nangong Yuya, there, had improved a bit with one less group to contend with, for now, it seemed unlikely anything would go wrong.


    Ye Lingyi stood at a distance, watching Qin Hao single-handedly battling four Heavenly Human Realm Peak experts, utterly shocked, he was so strong, extremely strong!!


    Qin Hao wielded the Heavenly Gang Palm Seal with his left and the Earth Evil Fist Seal with his right, his body ablaze with light and spiritual energy, fiercely colliding with the four.


    After dozens of exchanges, Qin Hao parted ways with them, a trickle of blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.


    He had sustained light injuries internally but it was no major issue.


    ¡°Again.¡±


    Qin Hao shouted, his aura escalating, appearing more formidable than before, he rushed up to engage the four again.


    ¡°Kill¡±


    The four black-clad figures¡¯ eyes were sharp, killing intent evident, each exerting their full power.


    Now, people were already coming from afar, in growing numbers, for their clash with Qin Hao emitted extremely strong energy waves.


    Within two to three minutes, hundreds of cultivators had gathered around, and more were streaming in.


    These people were astounded upon arriving and witnessing the scene inside.


    ¡°A late-stage Grandmaster battling four Heavenly Human Realm Peak experts? Is this an act??¡±


    ¡°That young woman inside too is terrifying, battling eight Heavenly Human Realm Peak experts solo, what kind of monsters are these?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the Heavenly Phoenix Dynasty¡¯s Princess Nangong Yuya?¡± Someone recognized Nangong Yuya, as her fame was immense, surpassing Qin Hao¡¯s.


    The place buzzed instantly, ¡°Is that the Heavenly Phoenix Dynasty¡¯s Princess Yuya? Who sent these black-clad figures? They dare to assassinate the dynasty¡¯s princess.¡±

 Chapter 1016: 1015: Terrifying Combat Power

    Chapter 1016: Chapter 1015: Terrifying Combat Power


    ¡°Boom¡±


    A powerful aura suddenly erupted on the street.


    This burst forth from Qin Hao, who displayed the ¡°Palm Settles the Universe¡± from the Heavenly Gang Palm Skill and the ¡°Massacre of the Ages¡± from the Earth Evil Fist.


    Both sides violently clashed, brilliance dazzling, spiritual energy rampant, and a formidable aura erupted outward.


    The four black-clad figures retreated violently, spitting blood from their mouths.


    Qin Hao¡¯s moves were too powerful, with a true explosive force comparable to the Half-step Peak Realm.


    In this fierce clash, Qin Hao also suffered a strong counterforce, retreating violently, blood continually seeping from the corner of his mouth, neither side gaining any advantage.


    But it should be noted that Qin Hao was only in the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, and single-handedly facing four top Heavenly Human Realm experts was already terrifying enough. Now, achieving a draw left the surrounding crowd with gaping mouths, incredulous.


    ¡°Again.¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s body radiated dazzling light, with his aura still rising, causing the four black-clad figures to change expressions slightly.


    This person actually fought more valiantly and grew stronger, which was incredibly terrifying.


    Damn, are you really a Late Stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator?


    Qin Hao stood towering in the void, forming a hand seal, radiating dazzling light, his aura terrifying, giving the onlookers a sense of suffocation.


    It was a feeling that only arose when facing an unbeatable opponent.


    This was a form from the Heavenly Gang Palm Seal, even more powerful than the ¡°Palm Settles the Universe.¡±


    The spiritual energy within him frantically gathered in his palm, and the surrounding spiritual energy also surged madly toward his palm.


    ¡°Palm Shatters the Heavens¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s expression was cold, his black hair fluttering as he shouted word by word.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    The void trembled, the earth quaked, the bright moon lost its color, and the stars twinkled and dimmed.


    The onlookers felt the power of this shattering heavens, their faces changed drastically, stepping back repeatedly; this aura was too terrifying and too powerful.


    The Heavenly Gang Palm Seal flew out, directly striking at the four black-clad figures.


    The four black-clad figures activated all their spiritual energy, displaying their strongest Divine Skills, each wielding a sword, with four dazzling sword beams merging to form an even more powerful sword beam.


    ¡°Boom¡±


    The palm seal and the sword beam collided, instantly bursting forth dazzling light, like a small sun exploding, illuminating half of Tiandi City.


    The shops below would have been reduced to ruins without the protection of formations.


    The four black-clad figures flew backward like kites with cut strings, spitting blood, while Qin Hao also spat a mouthful of blood, but his entire being looked more vigorous.


    ¡°Slash¡±


    With a wave of Qin Hao¡¯s hand, a lightning sword suddenly appeared in front of one of the black-clad figures.


    The lightning sword descended, severing the body, with blood spraying.


    After the black-clad figure was killed, Qin Hao had already rushed up, using one hand for a palm seal and the other for a fist seal, explosively destroying the other three.


    The entire scene fell into a dead silence, with only the sound of a pin dropping.


    A Late Stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator slaughtering four top Heavenly Human Realm experts, this was something one wouldn¡¯t believe without seeing it with their own eyes.


    At this moment, a group of people flew in from afar.


    ¡°How bold, daring to assassinate a royal princess in Tiandi City.¡± A middle-aged man appeared, waving his large hand, causing countless streams of light to shoot out, turning another eight black-clad figures into ashes instantly.


    This level of skill left everyone present in shock. Who was this person? So powerful!


    With a wave of his hand, nearly ten top Heavenly Human Realm experts were exterminated. What kind of strength was this?


    Someone spoke up: ¡°This is Du Zhixuan, the City Lord of Tiandi City, and the law enforcement elder of the Heaven and Earth Academy.¡±


    ¡°No wonder he¡¯s so formidable, it turns out he is Mr. Du.¡±


    Du Zhixuan glanced at Qin Hao, then landed beside Nangong Yuya: ¡°Princess Yuya, are you alright?¡±


    Nangong Yuya had a few minor injuries, but they were not serious. She shook her head slightly: ¡°Thank you, City Lord Du, for your assistance.¡±


    At this moment, Du Qinghao arrived. He was slightly stunned seeing Nangong Yuya and Qin Hao in the scene: ¡°Qin, Princess Yuya, what happened?¡±


    Nangong Yuya¡¯s eyes turned slightly cold: ¡°We were ambushed on our way back, luckily Mr. Qin happened to pass by and helped us in time, otherwise, I would have been in grave danger.¡±


    After speaking, she looked at Qin Hao and asked: ¡°Mr. Qin, how are your injuries?¡±


    Qin Hao¡¯s face was slightly pale, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just that the consumption of spiritual energy is a bit high.¡±


    Nangong Yuya took out an exquisite jade bottle, ¡°Mr. Qin, this contains high-grade pills for recovering spiritual energy, please take a few.¡±


    Qin Hao didn¡¯t hesitate, took the jade bottle, and opened the cap. Immediately, a faint and refreshing fragrance wafted out, soothing to the senses.


    ¡°City Lord Du, Mr. Qin, I have some matters to attend to and must return. I¡¯ll visit you another day to express my gratitude.¡± With that, Nangong Yuya left.


    Qin Hao said to Du Qinghao, ¡°Mr. Du, I¡¯ll be heading back as well.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, let me escort you,¡± Du Qinghao said quickly.


    Qin Hao smiled lightly, ¡°No need, it¡¯s alright.¡± With that, he headed toward the tavern to find Ye Lingyi.


    Not long after Qin Hao left, Du Zhixuan and Du Qinghao also departed. On the way back, Du Zhixuan asked, ¡°Do you know that person?¡±


    Du Qinghao was taken aback for a moment, ¡°Father, which person are you referring to?¡±


    ¡°The young man who helped Nangong Yuya,¡± Du Zhixuan clarified.


    Du Qinghao said, ¡°Yes, he attended the banquet today. A few days ago in Jianglan City, he and a Heavenly Human Realm Peak expert fought against two other Heavenly Human Realm Peak experts. Those two were killed, and he played a significant role. Although he might not be able to kill a Heavenly Human Realm Peak expert in single combat, he¡¯s still quite formidable and worth befriending.¡±


    Today at the banquet, Du Qinghao told others that Qin Hao had once killed a Heavenly Human Realm Peak expert in Jianglan City.


    The purpose of saying this was to elevate Qin Hao¡¯s status, to give him some face,


    Du Zhixuan replied nonchalantly, ¡°Just now he single-handedly fought against four Heavenly Human Realm Peak experts and killed them all.¡±


    Du Qinghao¡¯s body trembled upon hearing this, and he widened his eyes in disbelief, ¡°He killed four Heavenly Human Realm Peak experts by himself? How¡¯s that possible? He¡¯s only at the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm.¡±


    Du Zhixuan responded, ¡°To slay four Heavenly Human Realm cultivators with the strength of a Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, such talent and power are truly rare. Xiao Hao, you¡¯re grown up now, with your own life. As your father, I won¡¯t interfere, go ahead and pursue your path.¡±


    Du Qinghao nodded slightly, ¡°Thank you, father.¡±


    ...


    On the other side, Qin Hao and Ye Lingyi were walking toward the tavern.


    Qin Hao was greatly exhausted; although he took pills, his spiritual energy only recovered a little.


    He was the type to grow stronger with adversity and fiercer with combat; the more intense the battle, the more his potential was triggered, making him stronger.


    After various post-battle side effects set in, this battle indeed stirred a lot of his body¡¯s potential, and now he felt a bit weak in his limbs.


    Although Qin Hao had some spiritual energy in his body, the post-battle side effects were quite severe this time.


    After walking a while, Qin Hao couldn¡¯t hold on anymore, his body staggered, and if not for Ye Lingyi¡¯s timely support, he would have nearly fallen.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, are you alright?¡± Ye Lingyi asked with concern as she supported him.


    Qin Hao gave an awkward smile, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just feeling a bit exhausted.¡±


    Ye Lingyi, holding one of his arms, her face instantly flushed with a hint of red.


    Qin Hao also noticed and felt a bit embarrassed.


    These matters are better left unsaid.


    Ye Lingyi took about ten minutes to help him back to the tavern.


    She escorted Qin Hao to a pavilion, where Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er were waiting for him to return. Seeing Qin Hao covered in blood upon his return, their expressions changed dramatically.


    Xian Yin hurriedly asked, ¡°Young Master, what¡¯s happened to you? What is this all about?¡±


    Qin Hao sat on a chair, smiled, and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a bit spent, I¡¯ll be fine after a few days¡¯ rest.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, please rest well, I should go now and will visit you again in a few days.¡± By this time, Ye Lingyi¡¯s face had returned to normal, and she said with a smile.


    Qin Hao nodded, ¡°Thank you, Princess Lingyi.¡±


    ¡°No need to be so polite, Mr. Qin, I¡¯m leaving now.¡± With that, Ye Lingyi turned and walked out.


    After Ye Lingyi left, Xian Yin and Ling¡¯er helped Qin Hao back into the room.


    ¡°Master, you scared me to death; I thought something had happened to you,¡± Ling¡¯er said with lingering fear as she saw him sitting on the bed.


    Qin Hao chuckled, ¡°What could possibly happen to your master? I just encountered injustice and ended up fighting a bit fiercely.¡±


    ¡°Master, take good care of your injuries, I won¡¯t disturb you,¡± Ling¡¯er said sensibly.


    After Ling¡¯er left, Xian Yin prepared some medicinal herbs, intending to give Qin Hao a medicinal bath to help his body recover quicker.


    A few minutes later, the medicinal bath was ready. Xian Yin helped Qin Hao undress, then entered the bath herself.


    Her face slightly flushed, she said, ¡°Young Master, dual cultivation, with the harmonizing power of yin and yang, is also very helpful for recovering the body¡¯s vitality.¡±


    ...

 Chapter 1017: 1016: Southern Continent Earth Rankings

    Chapter 1017: Chapter 1016: Southern Continent Earth Rankings


    A week passed in the blink of an eye.


    The battle from that night had spread throughout Tiandi City, being widely discussed.


    The first focus was the assassination attempt on the princess of the Heavenly Phoenix Dynasty, a major topic of discussion.


    The second point that intrigued everyone even more was Qin Hao¡¯s feat of single-handedly killing four Heavenly Human Realm Peak experts.


    For a Late Stage Grandmaster Realm cultivator to kill four Heavenly Human Realm Peak experts was a feat beyond imagination.


    Even some young prodigies had to acknowledge Qin Hao¡¯s power.


    It was terrifying; they had never heard of Qin Hao before.


    But after this battle, Qin Hao¡¯s reputation soared, ranking as the thousandth on the Southern Continent¡¯s Earth Rankings.


    ...


    Suddenly, a powerful aura burst out from the tower where Qin Hao resided, but it quickly vanished as if it had never appeared.


    At this moment, Qin Hao opened his eyes in the bath, having completely absorbed the medicinal power.


    He remained in the same position with Xian Yin.


    Xian Yin opened her eyes, looking at him in shock, ¡°Mr. Qin, did you have a breakthrough?¡±


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°Not exactly a breakthrough, just reached the Peak of Late Stage Grandmaster Realm.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin, your breakthrough speed is so fast, is this the legendary ¡®shatter before establishment¡¯?¡± Xian Yin was still at the Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm.


    Qin Hao faintly smiled and said, ¡°Perhaps, without this battle I certainly wouldn¡¯t have broken through.¡±


    ...


    Around eleven in the morning, Qin Hao and Xian Yin emerged from the room, with Ling¡¯er playing with her treasure-hunting spirit beast in the living room.


    ¡°Master, Sister Xian Yin, you¡¯re out?¡± Ling¡¯er beamed at them.


    Qin Hao sat down and asked, ¡°How many days have I been in seclusion?¡±


    ¡°Five days. During these days, someone named Nangong Yuya came looking for Master, but upon hearing Master was in seclusion, she left. Princess Lingyi also visited a few times,¡± Ling¡¯er explained.


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Order some signature dishes; I always feel my stomach is empty without eating anything.¡±


    Xian Yin: ¡°Alright, Mr. Qin, I¡¯ll instruct the waiter right away.¡±


    Soon after, Xian Yin returned, and the dishes were served quickly, with impressive efficiency here.


    While they were eating, Ye Lingyi and Ye Jingtian arrived. Seeing Xian Yin, they knew Qin Hao was no longer in seclusion and came over immediately.


    ¡°Mr. Qin, how is your injury recovery?¡± Ye Jingtian asked as soon as he saw him.


    Qin Hao smiled and said, ¡°All healed, Mr. Ye, no need to worry. Have you eaten? If not, sit down and join us.¡±


    Ye Jingtian didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and, with Ye Lingyi, took seats, the table laden with dishes like exotic birds, beasts, and aquatic monsters, all signature dishes of the tavern.


    ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Qin, you made it on the Earth Rankings,¡± Ye Jingtian said, smiling.


    Qin Hao paused, ¡°What Earth Rankings?¡±


    Ye Jingtian explained, ¡°In the Southern Continent, there are Heavenly and Earth Rankings for experts; the Heavenly Rankings list top experts across the Southern Continent, while the Earth Rankings focus on young experts of the Southern Continent Emperor, under 30 years old, who have the requisite strength.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly: ¡°Which organization compiles this? Is it accurate?¡±


    ¡°Do you know the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, Mr. Qin?¡± Ye Jingtian asked.


    Qin Hao paused, ¡°Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion? That¡¯s the intelligence organization, right?¡±


    Ye Jingtian: ¡°Exactly, the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is very mysterious, reportedly spread across every corner of the Hidden Dragon Continent, like a terrifying network; even in some remote dynasties, they have branches and outposts, their intelligence arguably world-class.¡±


    From what Ye Jingtian said about them, Qin Hao realized the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was indeed formidable, even capable of investigating Xingyue Palace in the Central State.


    Ling¡¯er curiously asked, ¡°Mr. Ye, where is my Master ranked on the Earth Rankings? Is it first place?¡±


    Ye Jingtian felt awkward, ¡°Not first; Mr. Qin is ranked one thousandth on the Earth Rankings.¡±


    One thousandth?


    Ling¡¯er pursed her lips, ¡°This ranking surely is inaccurate; how is my Master only at one thousand when he¡¯s so powerful?¡±


    Ye Jingtian chuckled bitterly, ¡°You might not know, but the Southern Continent Earth Rankings compile all young prodigies across the continent.


    All cultivators under thirty are counted, with the qualifying number in the tens of billions; Mr. Qin being in the top thousand among billions is extraordinarily impressive.¡±


    He paused and continued, ¡°In the top thousand, many are seasoned students of Heaven and Earth Academy, younger but already intensively trained, with rapid strength advancement.¡±


    Qin Hao asked in surprise, ¡°Doesn¡¯t Heaven and Earth Academy hold selections once every hundred years?¡±


    Ye Jingtian: ¡°That¡¯s the centennial major selection; Heaven and Earth Academy also holds minor selections every few years, not public to the entire Southern Continent; some uniquely talented prodigies are specially recruited.¡±


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like being ranked one thousand is quite impressive for Master,¡± Ling¡¯er remarked.


    Ye Jingtian dryly laughed, ¡°It¡¯s more than impressive; it¡¯s extraordinary. Old students of Heaven and Earth Academy alone number in the thousands, not including top talents from various sects and dynasties. Even top representatives from these selections only rank in the seven-eight hundreds this year.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Qin ranked lower partly because of his low realm; nearly all those are Heavenly Human Realm Peak, or Half-step Peak Realm, the top five hundred predominantly Peak Realm experts.¡±


    Ye Jingtian saw much room for Qin Hao¡¯s growth; with sufficient cultivation resources or secluded cultivation environments like Heaven and Earth Academy, Qin Hao¡¯s realm would undoubtedly progress rapidly.


    His Late Stage Grandmaster Realm strength could already defeat Heavenly Human Realm Peak experts; breaking through to the Heavenly Realm could be terrifyingly potent.


    Considering the resources those disciples from elite sects and dynasties possessed compared to his lack left Qin Hao at a disadvantage.


    He had reached the Peak of Grandmaster Realm, yet breaking into Half-step Heavenly Realm would require untold quantities of Spirit Stones.


    After lunch, Ye Jingtian stayed a while before leaving, while Ye Lingyi stayed, chatting with Qin Hao and Xian Yin.


    Xian Yin was making clothes for Qin Hao with the rare materials she bought for needlework.


    At this moment, Wu Yutong, Gao Linglong, and Dong Mengqi entered from outside, seeing Qin Hao, they said unanimously, ¡°Mr. Qin, is your body alright now?¡±

 Chapter 1018 - 1017 Selection Rules

    Qin Hao smiled and said, "It''s okay now, I''ve fully recovered."


    Wu Yutong: "Mr. Qin, you''re quite the celebrity in Tiandi City now. I heard people talking about you even when I was dining at the inn. They said you, in the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, killed four Heavenly Human Realm Peak individuals. Is that true, Mr. Qin?"


    Qin Hao laughed dryly, "Just good luck."


    Wu Yutong was speechless, "Is this really just a matter of luck? You''re a real freak, aren''t you? When I first heard about it, I couldn''t believe it; to think you''re actually that powerful."


    Qin Hao looked at Wu Yutong and her group in surprise, "You all broke through to the Half-step Heavenly Realm?!"


    Wu Yutong smiled and said, "The Spiritual Energy here is much denser than in the dynasty. Since we came back that day, we''ve been cultivating non-stop and managed to break through. It''s so great here; even if I don''t get into the Heaven and Earth Academy, I plan to stay here for decades."


    The three of them have considerable talent, but the natural training environment was too restrictive. If they had always stayed in the dynasty, they might barely break through to the Heavenly Human Realm in their lifetime. But here, it''s different.


    There''s a good chance of reaching the Peak Realm, but the distance from here to the Skyfire Dynasty is too far. Without a flying boat, flying oneself wouldn''t even guarantee survival back to the dynasty.


    Not to mention how far the journey is; just the terrifying beasts alone are daunting enough.


    Dong Mengqi spoke up, "Mr. Qin, today is the Jiayuan Festival on the continent. The street is lively; shall we go for a stroll outside?"


    The Lantern Festival is a unified holiday throughout the Hidden Dragon Continent. No one knows when it was passed down or the origins of the holiday.


    Anyway, it has a long history and is now considered an important and joyful day by most people, including ancestor worship, riddle guessing, and the shared Lantern Festival feast.


    It''s a bit like Earth''s Spring Festival, but different. The New Year Festival is similar to the Pure Spring Festival; this holiday is even more grand than the New Year Festival.


    "What kind of festival is the Lantern Festival?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Wu Yutong briefly explained it, and Qin Hao nodded slightly, stood up, and said, "It''s a bit boring to stay at home; it''s good to go out and have a look around."


    "Let''s go, let''s go, let''s go have fun," Wu Yutong quickly said with a smile.


    The group left the pavilion, and the streets were brightly illuminated, with nearly every shop hanging red lanterns of various shapes, a splendid display.


    Besides lanterns, there were also Spiritual Energy couplets posted, written by experts themselves. Up close, one could feel a vast amount of Spiritual Energy overflowing from them, beneficial to cultivation.


    The street was even more crowded than a few days ago, and people chatted as they walked.


    Gao Linglong looked at the bustling scene and said, "It''s so lively here."


    Qin Hao was touched by the scene around him. He missed the Spring Festival on Earth a bit, wearing new clothes, setting off firecrackers, and visiting relatives during that time!


    "Bang, bang, bang"


    Suddenly, several loud noises came from afar. Qin Hao and his group looked up and saw fireworks exploding in the sky not far away, blooming into spectacular displays.


    "The fireworks are so beautiful. Let''s go and have a look," Ling''er quickly said.


    The group walked towards the place where the fireworks had just been set off, and after about ten minutes, they arrived.


    This was a vibrant red-light district, almost exclusively composed of such establishments. Each one was lavishly decorated and bustling with activity.


    In the center of this red-light district was a stage set up by a few of these places, and they were also responsible for setting off the fireworks.


    Currently, a group of young, beautiful women with alluring figures were performing a hot and sexy dance on the stage. They wore very little, almost tantalizing.


    A large crowd watched below the stage, mostly male cultivators, with women largely accompanying them.


    Xian Yin and the others exchanged looks. How did they end up in such a place?


    They all sneaked glances at Qin Hao, whose expression remained calm. He glanced at the stage performance and then looked elsewhere.


    Ye Lingyi said, "Mr. Qin, do you want to watch here for a while?"


    Qin Hao: "Forget it, there''s nothing much to see here."


    As they were about to leave, a voice suddenly called out, "Qin."


    Qin Hao turned and saw Du Qinghao, accompanied by a few others, some of whom Qin Hao recognized.


    He smiled and said, "Oh, it''s Du Yingqiang."


    Du Qinghao looked at Qin Hao and his group, smiling as he said, "Qin, are you out playing?"


    Qin Hao: "Yes, today is the Lantern Festival, after all. Just wandering around."


    Du Qinghao: "Qin, if you don''t mind, shall we stroll together?"


    Qin Hao nodded slightly, "You''re too kind, Du Yingqiang. I''m sure many would love the chance to wander around with you."


    "Haha, are you teasing me, Qin?" Du Qinghao joked.


    The group left the area and arrived at the only riverbank in Tiandi City, lush with greenery and serene, with a very beautiful environment.


    Many people were here for spring outings and walks, and the place had a calming tranquility, away from the noise.


    Du Qinghao, Qin Hao, and the Prince Zhou from the Nan Zhou Dynasty, along with Zhou Wanqing, walked in front. The others didn''t even have the qualification to walk alongside them and had to follow behind.


    "I almost forgot to congratulate Qin on making it to the Earth Ranking," Du Qinghao said suddenly.


    Zhou Liuxing: "Late Stage Grandmaster Realm reaching the top thousand of the Earth Ranking is unprecedented; Mr. Qin, you are truly terrifying."


    "You''re too kind, Prince Zhou. I just got lucky," Qin Hao replied modestly with a dry laugh.


    Zhou Wanqing laughed and said, "Mr. Qin, stop being modest; your strength is almost universally acknowledged now."


    Dong Mengqi, following behind and listening to their conversation, had a glint of sharpness in her eyes.


    After walking for a while, Zhou Liuxing and Zhou Wanqing made excuses to leave, leaving just Qin Hao and Du Qinghao.


    Du Qinghao said to Qin Hao, "Qin, tomorrow, Heaven and Earth Academy will announce the rules for this selection."


    "What rules?" Qin Hao asked curiously, looking at him.


    Du Qinghao: "In the first round, over a million contestants will enter a single secret realm. Inside, there will be abundant beasts, with the highest-level beasts at the Peak Realm.


    Killing beasts of different levels will earn different points, and you can also seize points from other contestants. The top ten thousand in points will enter the second elimination round, and the top thousand will be directly admitted to the Heaven and Earth Academy, skipping the second elimination round."


    Qin Hao and the others behind him listened to his words. So, these are the rules for this Heaven and Earth Academy competition?


    "Secret realm? What secret realm?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Du Qinghao: "It''s a kind of secret spatial realm, but I don''t know the specifics either."


    As the two talked, Qin Hao looked ahead and suddenly froze. Why are they here?


    Du Qinghao noticed his gaze, "What''s up, Qin?"